A/N: Hello again everyone! It's taken me a awhile, but I've finally started to revise Dealing With Destiny. There have been some big changes, and some not so big changes, but I hope you like it. I should be able to post the next chapter tomorrow, if I get some reviews, that is! (Hint)

The Unexpected

Lily paced in front of the couch, where her husband was sitting. James was staring intently at a thin piece of plastic that was laid on a cardboard box. She couldn't believe this was happening again – not this soon. Harry wasn't even a year and a half old yet.

James's watch beeped. They looked at each other for a moment before Lily reached for the strip of plastic. But she didn't read the results. Instead, she held it out for James to take.

"You read it," she said. He took it from her as she began to pace again.

"It's positive."

Lily snapped her head around to look at him.

"You're pregnant," he said as a lopsided grin spread onto his handsome face. Lily smiled as well. She sat down next to him and took the Muggle home pregnancy test from his hands. Yes, definitely positive.

James wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pull her close and kissed her temple as tears of happiness slid down her face.

"We're going to have a baby." Lily said, smiling up at her husband.

He beamed back at her. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she said before she kissed him.

"Well, this explains why you've been sick the past few mornings."

Lily laughed. "It most certainly does." She laid her head on his shoulder as James's hand moved to her belly. They sat in silence for some time before Lily said, "You know that there's going to be an Order meeting in a few hours, right?"

"Yeah, and we're playing host, right?"

"Right," Lily replied. "Dumbledore sent me his patronus when you were at work saying that he needed to speak with us. And this way, Harry will be more comfortable here."

"Are Frank and Alice going to bring Neville?"

"I don't think so. Alice has had the flu so I think she's going to stay at home with him."

"Do you want to tell them yet?" James asked.

Lily thought for a moment before replying, "Not yet. I mean, I don't care to tell Sirius or Remus, but let's hold off on telling everyone else."

"Okay."

They lapsed into another comfortable silence. Lily had nearly fallen asleep when Harry began to cry. She and James both went upstairs to check on their son.

But the minute Lily lifted him out of his crib, he stopped crying. She held him so that his head rested on her shoulder, humming softly and swaying back and forth until he fell back to sleep.

There was a knock on the front door. James said, "It's probably Sirius," and went down stairs. She heard her husband's best friend's unmistakable bark-like laughter as she laid the now sleeping Harry back in his crib.

000

Nearly half an hour, almost all of the Order members were there. All except for two. Lily was just starting to get antsy when she heard a knock. James made to stand from his spot on the floor when Lily said, "No, I'll get it," and beat him to the door.

Just as Lily had thought, Dumbledore and Severus had arrived. She opened the door, smiled and said, "Please, come in."

"And how are you this evening, Lily?" Dumbledore asked politely. Severus remained silent.

"Very well, thanks. Would either of you care for anything to drink?"

"No, thank you." Dumbledore replied. Severus merely shook his head; he looked as though he could not speak.

Lily led they way back to the sitting room, where the rest of the Order was seated, either on the couch and chairs that normally vacated the room, or else ones that had been conjured there. She made to sit on the floor, when Sirius said, "Here, Lily," indicating that she take his chair.

"Oh, no Sirius, I'm fine here on the floor," she replied as she sat down next to James, who wrapped his arm around her waist. She knew that Sirius, who had found out about Lily's pregnancy before the others had arrived, was just trying to be chivalrous, but in all actuality, she was much more comfortable leaning against James.

Dumbledore stood and the chattering instantly died away. Lily felt as though she were back at Hogwarts as everyone turned their attention to him. Over the next hour they went over some of the more general aspects of their various plans. Once the meeting had adjourned, the members stood around, catching up with one another.

Severus was the first to leave – and for good reason. For one, nearly the last place he ever wanted to be was James Potter's home. But more importantly, he could hardly stand to be in James and Lily's home. He could hardly take being in the same room as the couple.

It felt as though he were back in his seventh year at Hogwarts. Lily was just – if not more – radiant than she had been then. Her bright green eyes still lit up the same way they had done when they were children, when he would tell her things about the wizarding world.

Only now, it was someone else who made her eyes sparkle.

000

Once everyone but Dumbledore had finally left, he, James, and Lily sat down at the kitchen table.

"So, what did you want to talk to us about?" James asked.

Dumbledore's eyes filled with sadness. "I hate to bring this upon you, but I feel it best if your family goes into hiding."

James and Lily were taken aback. "But why?" Lily managed to ask.

"Because of a prophecy that was made shortly before the birth of your son, saying that a boy born at the end of July who would have the power to defeat Lord Voldemort. At the time it was made, it was unclear who was the boy that the prophecy spoke of. It could have been either Harry or Neville Longbottom. But for his own reasons, Voldemort believes that Harry is the one."

Silence met this stunning statement.

"Wh-What do you suggest we do?" James asked, sounding slightly desperate. Lily grasped his hand under the table.

"The Fidelius Charm." Lily head lifted slightly. "It involves the magical concealment of your location inside a single, living soul, known as the Secret–Keeper. As long as the Secret–Keeper never reveals your location, Voldemort will be unable to find you."

"It sounds perfect." Lily said.

"And I would like to volunteer myself to be your Secret–Keeper."

"We couldn't possibly ask you to do that for us," James said.

"Then who?" Lily asked.

"Sirius."

"Are you sure that is wise, James?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes," he replied, sounding slightly defensively.

"Very well." Dumbledore handed Lily a very old, leather bound book. "The instructions for the charm are in here." Dumbledore stood and headed for the door with James and Lily following suit.

After bidding their former Headmaster good–bye, James and Lily returned to their living room.

"Please tell me," Lily began as she curled up next to James on the couch, "that this is a dream."

"I'm afraid not," he replied, sounding much older than twenty–one.

It seemed incredible that only hours ago, they had found out that Lily was pregnant. Sure, they knew it would be difficult to raise another child when their first was still so young, but they knew they could make it work.

But now what? How was Lily supposed to go to a Healer's appointment when they were in hiding? What if they were still in hiding when the baby was born? What if something went wrong during the pregnancy and both her life and the life of the child was in danger?

And what about Harry? At nearly fifteen months old, he was the target of the most feared Dark wizard of all time. Lily's insides felt like ice.

James pulled her out of these terrifying thoughts by asking, "Do you think we should contact Sirius tonight?"

"Yeah."