Prologue
A Final Farewell
Godric's Hollow - October 30th, 1981
Her eyes shone with unshed tears, a look of determination and pain on her face. She closed her eyes briefly to try and calm herself, swallowed the lump in her throat and handed over the little bundle she clutched tightly to her chest. Her young husband stood by her side, his jaw set and wearing a similar expression to that of his wife's.
The young witch swallowed the lump in her throat, as she reluctantly placed the slumbering pile in the arms of their wizened old friend. She slumped into her husband, and she let the tears fall as soon as the bundle was gone from her arms, burying her head in her partner's shoulder, knowing that no length of time could repair the sorrow and hole that had been freshly torn from her chest. This was one of the hardest things they would ever have to do.
The wind whipped through the quiet English village, giving them the cover they needed. The young man clutched the old wizard's hand, a plea so clear in his eyes and his expression that it was hard to mistake.
"Please, Professor. Please. No one can know. Not until this is over. Not until he is gone. Please. Protect our child, in the ways you know we cannot. It is too risky even having him here with us. But he is too old now, he'd notice. Please, please old friend." he pleaded, his arm wrapped around his inconsolable wife. The old wizard nodded, sadness encompassing them all, as they realised they may be the last time they saw each other.
The wife cleared her throat, wiped her eyes, straightened up and extracted her wand. With a deep breath, she tapped the mens' clasped hands, pausing until fiery thread that weaved its way around them. Whispered words were spoken, and two other fiery threads joined the first, sealing the vow - making it Unbreakable.
The young man thanked the old Professor, hugging him, trying to maintain his composure, but even a stranger could tell it was beginning to crack.
"No one must know Professor. No one." The young woman said, her voice breaking once again. The Professor nodded, before re-positioning the bundle in his arms. He cast his bright blue eyes to the sky, then turned on the spot and vanished into thin air, leaving the young couple alone in the street, with tears streaming down their faces.
James and Lily Potter knew what this meant. They knew this would possibly be the last time they saw Albus Dumbledore, and the life he now held in their arms. Wrought with grief and fresh mourning - and blood-curdling fear, they turned and walked back into their home, hearing the cries of their young son, sensing the new loss and sacrifice his parents had just made.