Please Read: I've called this story a sequel to The Will of All Others, but it's actually more of a parallel timeline beginning at about Chapter 9 of The Will of All Others. Either way, it will definitely be helpful to read that first so you know what's going on. Or, you know, you could just start reading from here and figure it out as you go along, I can't stop you!
One more note: There are going to be two different Harry's in this story, so that's going to be fun for me. I'll try to make it as clear as possible which one I'm referring to, and at the beginnings I'll name which character has the POV. If it's ever unclear, let me know in the reviews and I'll revise it.
Prologue: A Dubious Decision
• − ○ ◊ James ◊ ○ − •
Hogwarts was falling apart.
It wasn't something you noticed when you first looked at the castle. It was something you felt. It was a presence of brittleness. Ever since the Reformation of Hogwarts, its old bones had been crumbling. Rome wasn't built in a day. Hogwarts didn't fall in an afternoon. The magic was slowly leeching from the walls.
That's what was running through James' head as he waited in the dungeon for the Order meeting to begin. Those thoughts always ran through his brain in these dungeons. There was something about the dank chill, the low ceilings, the creeping darkness that put him in a sombre mood. Yet here was the wisest place for the Order of the Phoenix to converge.
They sat in relative silence while they waited, but the room was rife with tension. Tonight marked the end of a week of heated debate, harsh rebuttals, and scathing arguments.
At last, Dumbledore entered and took his place at the head of the table. The Order sat up apprehensively. The few scattered conversations ceased. They were a meagre bunch, just ten in number. Ten resistants in a world governed by darkness.
"Place your bets, people," Sirius muttered to only James and Lily could hear. "Will the Wizarding World meet its doom by manner of Lord Voldemort… or some avenging Champion?"
"Shut up, Sirius," said Lily. She was glaring at Dumbledore with guarded eyes. James reached across and squeezed her hand. What Dumbledore had to say tonight could change everything.
"Friends," Dumbledore began, giving a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "We have argued and debated and fought over this matter, but that time is over. I have made my decision, and after I reveal it, I must insist that we get on with whatever must be done without further discussion."
Lily's grip around James' hand was making his fingers throb. Dumbledore readjusted his glasses and gave a furtive glance in their direction before diverting his eyes.
"There is no doubt that we are losing this war," Dumbledore continued slowly. "Hogwarts' defences grow weaker every day, while the Dark Lord grows ever stronger, bound to life by his indestructible horcruxes. If we are to have any chance at restoring the way of the light, we must take drastic action. I sincerely believe we have come to a point where we simply have no other choice, and for that reason I have decided to go ahead with the Summoning Ritual."
James' heart sank. Lily opened her mouth to object, but Dumbledore raised a hand to silence her.
"Please, allow me to finish. I know there are strong opinions over the matter, and there has been some spirited debate. Both sides offer compelling arguments, but nevertheless, my mind is made up. We will use this ritual to summon a Champion of Worlds, someone with the ability to defeat the Dark Lord. It is true we do not know who this ritual will bring, be it friend or foe, which is why we will take every precaution available."
"Where are your ethics?" Lily burst out, leaping to her feet. "You would tear this stranger from their home?"
Dumbledore gave her an imploring look. "It is just one life, Lily," he said. "One life in the place of thousands. You must think of the Greater Good."
Lily had yet to come up with a valid argument to this utilitarianist viewpoint. She turned to the Order members. "Do we not have any faith left in ourselves?"
Most shifted uncomfortably beneath her gaze. Arthur – Kingsley – Peter, none of them would look at her. James understood, in a way. They were all tired, ready for this was to be over, ready for someone else to do the dirty work.
Mad-Eye Moody huffed at Lily. "We'd be stupid not to do this Ritual, Potter! It's practically guaranteed success! This is the fate of the Wizarding World we're talking about," he said.
"I curse the day I found that ruddy ritual, and you will all curse the day you decided to enact it!" said Lily.
She gazed blazingly around at the dimly lit faces, but not one of them would echo her beliefs. She stormed from the room with a flurry of blazing red hair. James remained where he was, torn between his allegiance to the Order and to his wife.
Dumbledore watched Lily go, and turned his ever-twinkling eyes to James. "And what is your viewpoint, Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked.
James hesitated. Lily had been adamantly against the Ritual from the beginning, but James had always been undecided – not that he would voice this reality in front of Lily.
"I stand by my wife," James said. "But if you idiots have decided to go ahead with this ritual, then I will do my part."
"Then the matter is settled," Dumbledore said. "We will begin preparations immediately."
The Order disbanded soon after to begin their preparations for the Ritual with an air of anticipatory dread. Sirius, however, didn't seem worried. He patted James on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, maybe this will all turn out fine," he said with an easy smile. "Who knows? The lad might be friendly."