CHAPTER 1

Lily Potter was worried. No, she was worried during James's pranks, and this was not a prank. She was frightened. She had a feeling, a very bad feeling of impending doom. She didn't know why she was feeling so unhinged but she did know that the more she stayed with her little one and a half year old son, the more she felt anxious.

She sighed. "Why have I become so pessimistic? It never did anyone good to dwell on unfounded fears and feelings.. I think I need to get a break from this". Thinking thus she kissed her sleeping son and went downstairs to the living room, reflecting on the changes in her life since the past year.

She had joined the Order, a group started by Dumbledore to fight against Voldemort's ever increasing hold on their world, with her husband James to fight for what they felt was right. Shortly after that she had become pregnant with Harry. Co-incidentally, her best friend Alice Thompson, now Longbottom, had also become pregnant at almost the same time and both had been expecting around the end of July. Then suddenly Dumbledore had come to them saying that they were in danger and they had to move. He ordered them to reside in one of the Potter properties at Godric's Hollow under a Fidelius Charm to stay safe. What Lily didn't understand was that since this is a war, thus everybody is in danger. So why they had to specially go into hiding? No they were not alone, the Longbottoms- Frank and Alice, having had a son at the end of July, were also in hiding. Lily didn't understand why Dumbledore was asking them to go into hiding, but all she knew was that she did not like it one bit, since Dumbledore had never even given them any reason. Then regarding the secret keeper. They had decided to use Sirius as they had always intended, but then suddenly Dumbledore came to them saying that it would be better to have Sirius as a decoy and Peter as the actual secret keeper. Though she could intellectually understand his reasons for doing so (what they had been told anyway) she still like that and also she was unnerved by the way Dumbledore took an almost unhealthy interest in their and the Longbottom's lives. She had told about her fears to James and even though he ahd listened to her patiently, he had sensibly pointed out that there was nothing they could do and after all she had always had a tendency of overthinking things.

Thus Lily mused and came down to the living room and sat down on the couch. James was out on some work for the Order, or so Dumbledore had told them.

"Again with the hypocrisy. First he told us to go into hiding and then he asks James to come with him for some work in the order? Why? Why is Dumbledore taking such an interest in our lives?" Lily groaned aloud. 'Oh Gods, I am again over analyzing things and trying to find hidden connections when there aren't any."

Suddenly she heard a misty voice say "It was always a good habit of yours, my dear."

Lily shrieked and jumped up. She pulled out her wand and aimed it at the ceiling. "Who's it? Come out! I said, come and show yourself coward!"

"Tut, tut. Show some respect for your elders." this time a male voice said.

Lily was enraged "Oh so there are two of you are there? Still can't show your cowardly face? Come out or I will hex your bits off."

"And how, pray tell, will you hex someone's bits when you can't even see that person?" a mocking male voice said.

"I.. I will.." Lily spluttered.

"Oh hush, child. It never do anyone any good to be hasty. Now are you going to ask us nicely who we are so that we can reveal ourselves to you?" a motherly voice chastised her this time.

Lily decided that though this was odd it didn't seem that dangerous, for what kind of Death Eater would have a motherly voice? She thought it was more likely a prank set up by James and the rest of the Marauders. So she decided to humour them, whoever they might be. "Oh I am terribly sorry Your Majesties, I forgot my place. What can I -an oh-so-lowly mortal do for you? Would you possibly care for tea, My Lords and Ladies?" she finished her sarcastic recital with a flourish and a bow.

She half expected someone to start clapping, but what she didn't expect was the mocking male voice to say "Well its hard to stay for tea when you are dead, isn't it?" Lily snapped her head to the side, to see an extremely odd sight.

An old man with black hair and black beard and extremely outdated emerald green clothes was reclining on the sofa. But what was amazing was that he did not seem entirely solid, nor did he seem silvery and transparent like a ghost.

Lily gaped at him.

"Wh- who are you?" she stuttered.

"Perhaps we all should answer that together." said a voice from behind.

She turned around to see another old man with reddish - brown long hair and a tall hat very much like the Sorting Hat perched upon his head, a sword hanging from his belt and he too was wearing outdated clothes of a brilliant red. Along with him were two women both extremely beautiful. One had a kindly, motherly face almost like Madam Pomfrey (the matron of Hogwarts). She had blonde hair that were tied up in a bun at the top of her head she too wore outdated clothes, a sun yellow robe. Lastly was a regal looking lady wearing a beautiful tiara and she was wearing a beautiful but long outdated blue robe.

Lily's mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish. "B-but.. I..I d-don't.." she stammered.

The lady in the blue robe smiled. "Listen my dear. You are a logical thinker are you not? Then why don't you try and piece together our identity from what information you can gather about us?"

The man in the green clothes grumbled, "Knowledge for knowledge's sake my arse! We'll be here all night! I say we just tell her and be done with it."

The man in red robes glared at him and said, "Nobody asked your opinion. So why don't you shut up?"

The green robed man promptly did just that after saying "Humph" for the sake of appearances.

Lily was looking bewildered by this exchange. Seeing that the yellow robed lady said kindly," Well lass what're yeh waiting for? Go on guess our identities!"

Lily started and then nodded. She observed the 'visitors' carefully. "That hat.. I have seen it before.. looks a lot like the Sorting Hat.. Your tiara.. and there's the talk of a diadem being lost... ''Knowledge for knowledge's' sake'' is the motto for Ravenclaw I think.. You are wearing odd clothes, as if from an ancient time, you are wearing red, yellow, blue and green - the colours of the houses..." Her eyes widened at the obvious conclusion. "No.. no it can't be.."

At this the blue robed lady smiled and prompted her, "Yes, we are?"

Lily breathed," The Founders!"