Prologue

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It was well past midnight when baby Joshua got her out of bed. Jodie hadn't slept much either way and after the third child, she had gotten used to the nocturnal rises. Not that she wanted another one; three were just enough.

After caring for little Josh, Jodie wandered around the deserted Institute. Most of the Shadowhunters were out - including her husband. There was quite a big gathering of Demons at the moment, so everyone was needed; except for those who had the future generation of Nephilim to look after and those who were injured, of course. Jodie was both.

So here she was, again. Alone at night, waiting for the others to come back. As much as she loved her children, it was her natural instinct to go along and fight with her fellow Shadowhunters. Waiting had never suited her.

Hearing a flap of wings behind her, Jodie spun around to face the window of the corridor she was standing in. She recognised the owl immediately with its brown feathers sprinkled with white here and there. Yet still, she couldn't believe her eyes.

As she stepped closer to the glass separating her from the familiar creature, the owl gestured to the right, its dark eyes gleaming in the moonlight outside. Following the owl's movements, Jodie laid eyes on one of the side exits of the Institute.

Without a second thought, she rushed through the door and out into the park that surrounded the London Institute. Though the moon didn't give much light, Jodie's eyes immediately spotted the silhouette next to the giant oak tree. He was not alone. In his arms, a small child was sound asleep.

"Daniel?" was the only thing that came out of Jodie's mouth as she came closer.

"It's James, now," replied the man. "Permanently, you know."

His remark ripped her out of her trance.

"What the Hell do you think you're doing her?"

"I've missed you, too, sis."

James stepped out from under the tree.

"Oh, don't you dare call me that, after all you've done!" Jodie halted, now careful to keep her distance. "You do know that you're not only putting yourself in danger right now, but also me and my family? Do you have any idea what the Council would do if they found out you were here?"

"I know, I'm not allowed to make contact with you or any of the others...," he paused. "But I had to see you."

"Clearly."

James sighed.

"Look, I'm well aware that you must be terribly made at me. But I do hope you know that I never wanted to hurt you - I just had to distance myself from the Clave, not my family."

"Unfortunately, these two go hand in hand as we are not family anymore, James Potter!"

"Jodie-"

"Why are you here?" She stared him down.

"I need your help."

"Of course you do. But I'm not sorry to say that you're in no position to ask for it." Jodie turned around to leave but was stopped by James' hand on her arm.

"Jodie, please... don't you want to at least meet her?"

"Her?"

Jodie's gaze fell on the small bundle in James' arms.

"Yes, this is Lucy. Your niece."

"I thought as much." Her voice had gotten a soft tone.

The little girl stirred in her father's arms, irritated by the cold night air.

Her face was almost completely covered by auburn curls.

"She looks just like her mother," said James as he pulled her closer causing Lucy to relax and fall back into her deep slumber.

"Well, I can clearly see some of the Redcliff traits," Jodie smiled faintly while pulling back a few of Lucy's curls. "Why did you bring her here?"

"To keep her safe." A shadow crossed James' features.

"Safe from what?" Jodie bit down a snarky comment about the Wizarding World.

"I'm sure you've heard about a dark Wizard gaining more and more power in Britain?"

"Yes."

"Well, there is word of a prophecy-"

"A prophecy? Daniel, what have you gotten yourself into?"

"Let me explain." James sighed again. "The prophecy is about a boy who can defeat You-Know-Who. This boy is supposed to be Harry, Lucy's twin brother."

Twins? Jodie didn't want to believe what she had just heard. Twins were never a good sign, especially in the Redcliff line.

"And now?" was all she asked.

James had a hard time looking his older sister in the eye.

"We have to go into hiding - Lily, Harry and I."

"What about her?" Jodie gestured to the small girl.

He looked down at the ground.

"I was hoping I could leave her with you for a while."

"Daniel," it was her turn to sigh. "I don't want to be pulled into any Wizarding business."

"You won't be, I promise," he replied. "Lucy isn't mentioned in the prophecy, as far as I know, and I wish to know her safe."

"I don't know..."

"Please, Jodie, just until this whole thing is over. I don't want to put her in unnecessary danger."

"And you think it is wise to separate twins?"

"It won't be long."

Jodie looked him sternly in the eye. After what seemed like an eternity, she let out another exasperated sigh.

"Fine."

"Really?" James wanted to hug his sister.

"Yes," she paused. "But under my conditions. She will be treated like a Nephilim child and she will receive her markings. She has Shadowhunter blood after all."

"If that's what it takes, I won't object."

"Good."

They remained silent for a moment staring at each other. Jodie hadn't seen him in such a long time. He looked different, she thought. Thinner, his wiry form now more prominent due to the lack of training. He wore glasses as well, no longer having runes to enhance his eyesight. What stood out the most however was the worry that clouded his features.

James was the first to break the silence.

"What are you going to tell the Council?"

"That the little girl was lying on my doorstep with a letter-" She cracked a half-smile. "-which I burnt immediately out of anger."

"Sounds like you." Her brother let out a short laugh. "Thank you."

"I'm doing this for her, not for you."

"I know."

James cleared his throat after a while and handed over the small bundle to his sister who pulled her niece close.

"She's a cute little one."

"That she is - she has your eyes after all."

"Our eyes." Jodie replied without lifting her gaze.

"Yes, our eyes." Her brother nodded.

"James?"

He looked at her in surprise.

"Be careful."

"I will."

And with that he apparated and vanished from sight.

Jodie knew immediately what had happened when a member of the Council knocked on her office door five months after her niece had arrived at the Institute. The little girl had been screaming and crying the whole night before.

Her little brother had managed to get himself killed, thanks to the Wizarding World. There had been no survivors in that house.

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A/N:

Hi everyone! This is my first ever real fanfic, so here goes nothing...

Just a fair warning, this story is going to differ from canon in many ways. As much as I've figured out by now, you can classifie this as an AU crossover or fusion fanfic. Call it whatever you want!

This fanfic is placed during the time that Harry is at Hogwarts. As far as the Shadow World is concerned, the story starts a bit more than a decade after the Dark War, so the timelines of both fandoms are a bit mixed up.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor Mortal Instruments.

If you're interested in how this will continue, keep on reading and I'm excited to have you as my reader! As English is not my first language, I'm sorry for any obvious grammar mistakes I make. I'm always up for honest feedback and reviews. Let me know what you think...