A/N: I know, I'm a horrible writer. Whenever I get a plot bunny I just need to write it down. I can't get it out of my head and continue writing my other stories unless I finally get the first chapter done. Harhar, hopefully this kind of thing doesn't happen when I become an actual writer XD.
Kisses and Hugs,
BC
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In the fabled, magical world that is London before the Great War began, there lived, in a Grand House that stood at the top of the vast hills of Kensington, a household that could have had no wrong.
Through the golden gates that surrounded the impressive dwelling was thirty-five acres worth of land that bordered from the front to the back yards. Along the ice-blue stream that ran steadily across the large courtyard were ducks and swans, fiddling and swimming in flocks. Greek statues and Parisian rose bushes donned the lovely gardens around the front patio. In the backyard was a small cottage connected prior to a garden shed that grew hundreds of exotic blossoms.
The manor was heavily adorned with expensive fittings. The dining room glowed with hundreds of candle-lit diamond chandeliers, its library was tiled in expensive jade glass, and the bedrooms were delicately furnished in Persian carpets, Egyptian crafted beds, and Bohemian sewed blankets.
James and Lily Potter possessed— in addition to the ten digit numberings of their bank accounts, the elegant fifty-roomed manor, and the priceless family heirlooms that would have had enviable collectors eating out of there hands for a peek— there was also a family-named manor in Godric's Hallow, the penthouse in Muggle London, the estates in Birmingham and Yorkshire, the winter home in Manchester, and the sea-side summer castle on an island off the coast of Dublin. In spite of such riches Merlin had generously smothered them with in an almost comical abundance, there was only one true treasure that both of them could not have lived without. Well in this case, two treasures.
"Look at them James. Aren't they just the most darling things that's ever graced this planet?"
Two pairs of doe-like orbs gazed up at her from their enormous blue-ribboned crib. Both of them were dark-haired, red-cheeked, and almost identical in every way, save for their eyes. The first on the left was filled in with a rich emerald-green that was equal to Lily's own jewel-like orbs while his brother on the right matched his father's more russet brown.
"Yes, Dear. They are quite the pair, aren't they?" Came the tender reply.
Within the past few weeks of their hospital release, Mrs. Potter had kept an adoringly protective eye on both her sons. Hadrian, the brown-eyed babe, she concluded, was truly the more leading one- Brave, calm, gentle, and graceful, without a doubt shocked both parents as they watched him walk his very first steps at three months old. Unlike his brother; Harry was timid, clumsy, and loathed being in the spotlight, favoring to scuttle awkwardly behind Hadrian to hide himself whenever he felt uneasy. The brown-eyed twin did not mind in the least, already implying protectiveness over his brother.
Mrs. Potter cooed at them once more and the tots responded through small incoherent noises. Promptly looking at each other, they proceeded to happily go back to their little games. James gazed on with an affectionate laugh. He adored them just as much as his wife. In fact, as soon as he had gotten the pair home, he made it his responsibility to spoil the two rotten. Showering the infants with teddy bears, toys, popular modeled cribs, baby rattles, books- heck, he even decorated their whole nursery before Lily could put in a word. Much to his wife's amusement, he himself enjoyed beautifying his babies' nursery room and with that completely embarrassing end to his thought, he decided it was best kept a secret. Sirius, the conniving dog, would never let him live it down if he knew.
Hadrian and Harry; together they were angelic, captivating, and breathtakingly incandescent which easily earned them the loveliest of endearments from both doting parents. 'Angels', 'Little Darlings', and others echoed repeatedly through the nursery.
Harry silkily giggled and ruffled Hadrian's brusquely short baby hair. Hadrian calmly sat there and let his brother play with him in whatever way he wanted, occupying himself by gazing at the colorful pictures in his book.
Seconds into their playtime, a momentary flush of exhaustion took them and both gave out soft, tired yawns. Unconsciously hugging one another, Harry grasped Hadrian's waist with one hand and delicately held his snow-white teddy bear with the other before shutting his eyes. Hadrian casually stared at his brother before also drifting off.
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On the day of their namesake, a huge bash was made in celebration for their first year. Lily donned both of them in adorable, miniature suits and carried them down into the glittering ballroom. Aurors, Politicians, and other important figures paused their conversations and flashed their eyes appreciatively at the Lady of the house who was stunningly clothed in green satin to contrast her lovely garnet locks. Their searching gazes dropped curiously onto the two babies and the majority grinned in jubilance. It was the twin's first debut to the public and the populace could not deny that both were enchanting: Healthy buttermilk skin, sweet smiling dimples, and illustrious raven black hair.
"Oh their precious Lily!"
"Two sons, James? You lucky bastard!"
The room rang with praises and congratulations and applauses to the beaming couple. Still possessed in their mother's arms, Hadrian and Harry unpretentiously gazed at the different range of people of whom they had never even met. Harry shyly jerked away from a woman who tried to touch him and instinctively hovered towards his brother. The tall, cumbersome woman's brow furrowed in disbelief which only earned her a seething expression from Hadrian; his shoulders turned rigid and he scruffily gnashed his lips into a glare. Possessively wrapping his arms around his brother, he warily watched the indignant woman slowly pull away, "Quite shy, aren't they?" The woman stiffly lisped at Lily.
"Well, they are young. It'll take a while for them to get used to other people."
The gentle statement was met by an annoyed harrumph from the former as she steadily turned her head and stalked away. Lily narrowed her eyes in fury as she glared at the back of the woman's rather large head, who the hell did that woman think she was and how dare she sneer at her children? In fact, who were half the people in this bloody room! Not to put a damper on her babies' happy day, she flipped her frown upside down and strolled towards her husband who was currently conversing with the Minister for Magic.
"So I told him that the dung beetles weren't on the ground anymore, it was on him!" The group exploded in laughs as James spotted her and grinned, "Hello, Darling. You look beautiful, as always," Came the husky response.
"Hello Minister. James dear, I need to speak with you." She pronounced with a light grin plastered on her face.
"Of course, Darling. If you'll please excuse us Minister."
Lily bestowed both Harry and Hadrian into a kiddy corner and dragged James to one of the abandoned refreshment tables. She immediately narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms, even tapping her left leg in impatience as she evaluated her husband. The light tapping sounds reverberated from the flat side of her red high heels.
"What is it Lily Flower?" James hesitantly asked, knowing the all too familiar look of his wife's anger. She had had stabbed him with that particular expression multiple times when they were young.
"What is it? You ask. This is Harry and Hadrian's first birthday and I told you I wanted a small gathering. Emphasize on the 'small'. Now you tell me who in Merlin's name are half the people in this room!" She furiously whispered, her murderous stare aimed at him.
"Well—,"
"And don't even think about lying James Potter or you'll be finding yourself sleeping on the couch tonight!" She quickly seethed.
"Alright… there was a slight slip up on my part of the guest list as I 'may' have forgotten to limit the number of people my friends could bring, but I had thought it all worked out smashingly in the end." He nervously mumbled, waving his arm at the finely decorated scenery.
She chewed on her bottom lip, emphasizing her anger by clutching her wrist. "Are you kidding me? You purposely—," Cutting herself off from yelling, she gently inhaled before continuing, "Friends, uncles, aunts, cousins, I will gladly accept. Ministry officials, Aurors, fine. But you have clearly crossed the line when you let strangers into our home, much less our sons' birthdays!" She fiercely whispered with a stern expression.
"I know, I know and I'm so sorry Lily Flowers. After this, I'll make sure it won't ever happen again. Ever." He desperately pouted, lightly grasping her waist and bending her into his arms.
Lily sneered a few more minutes before calmly inhaling through her nose. Stopping her routine of slowly breathing in and out, she raised a perfectly arched eyebrow, "You promise?"
"I cross my heart and hope to die."
Her gaze lingered on her husband's handsomely angled face, his gorgeously disheveled black hair, and the nice muscular tone which his body exuded. Fiery heat exploded from her nether regions as her eyes traveled up and down his luscious form. She was so used to the smoldering heat of wanting him, desiring him- and yet even now she couldn't help the surprise that overtook her in moments like this. Five years ago, if someone came up and told her that one day she would end up marrying James Potter, the once egotistical chauvinistic prick, she would've concurrently whipped out her wand and hexed the fool to kingdom come. But now…she just couldn't get enough of him. In the beginning of their seventh year, he had turned over a new leaf: More mature, more sensitive, more elusive, more…well everything, and the rippling realization of her affection had made her helpless with love.
Leaning near his ear she intimately cooed, "Well I hope you keep your promise James Potter, because you're mine. All of you. And you'll be of no use to me if you're dead." Emphasizing her hidden gesture, she languidly slid her tongue at the bottom cleft of his ear. His quiet groan answered her call and his hands sensually slid down her arched back towards her rump.
"Alright break it up you two, there are children present!" A baritone voice lilted teasingly from in front of them. They whipped around and saw Remus Lupin crookedly smiling at them and on his arm hung Sirius Black who looked to be in a teasing mood.
"Always one to ruin a good moment aren't you mate?" James grumbled at Sirius, hesitantly pulling away from his wife.
"You know me Prongs, always one to move in for the kill." The cheery response came, only making James' eyes narrow even more. Remus took this into account and gladly stepped in, "Congratulations James, I'm very happy for you. For both of you." He gently stated, momentarily clapping James on the back before leaning towards Lily and giving her a brotherly hug.
"Well I'm happy. You know I'm happy." Sirius flatly declared, doing the same as well.
"Thanks for coming on such short notice Moony. I know the full moon is in only two weeks away but it means a lot to me to have both of you here. Um, just out of curiosity, where exactly is Wormtail? I haven't seen him the whole night, and I thought he'd come with you?" James inquired, peering around the room.
"Odd, he said he would be here before us." Remus stated.
"Let's just put Wormtail aside for a few minutes. Now, where are my two little munchkins? Their godfather has been dying to see them." Sirius goofily stated, rubbing his left and right hand together.
Lily grinned and pointed her finger in the direction of the kiddy corner, "They're right over th—," She was immediately cut off a harsh cry, "Someone's trying to kidnap one of the Potter twins! There!" The woman who hysterically cried pointed her forefinger at the swarming shadow that was running towards the entrance. Carrying the baby in its right arm, the figure safely dodged many of the hexes and curses already being shot at it from the Aurors.
"Close the doors!" James anxiously shouted, sprinting quickly towards the darkly cloaked figure. He grasped his wand out and sent as many spells and hexes as he could think. He had managed to lightly wound the being's shoulder but it did not waver its effort. And as the doors were about to seal, the unfortunate luck had chosen that time to vindicate them as the figure was able to jump through the small opening, still carrying a crying Hadrian with him. James immediately released the locks, almost slamming the entrance off its hinges. He ran outside to the blistering coldness of mid-June, and there was not a single soul in sight. Not one. However, there was an incongruous note left pinned on the wooden pole of the front porch. Looking down at it, the two black-inked letters were perhaps the most unholy thing he had ever seen. Written on the note were the words, 'I'm sorry.' scrolled in lovely, ominous calligraphy.
On that night, happiness formed into sorrow as Lily and James mourned the loss of half their entire world. Harry stared at the other end of his bed where his brother should've been. Oh yes, he knew something horrible happened. He wondered where his brother was. He kept his gloomy silence, just staring at that particular space until exhaustion overtook him.
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After that horrible event, the nightmare seemed to never end. They had sent out several detectives and inspectors to find their son, but it was for naught. In the end they could only guess that he was lost to them. Not too soon after, the Potters found themselves thrusted into an even harsher reality as they sat down on two wooden stools. Lily stared solemnly at the golden plaque sitting in front of her, 'Headmaster Dumbledore.', it inscribed.
"There has never been a more trying time then after the loss of a loved one. I'm sorry for both of you." Dumbledore exclaimed, sadly frowning at the pair.
"Thank you." James solemnly replied, hugging his wife to him.
"However, we have other matters at hand." He pronounced, jumping already to another topic. "Voldemort is gathering his forces for an ultimate attack, one that would perhaps knock the Wizarding world off its kilter." The bearded man's gaze flashed towards his file drawer before glumly stating, "But it seems we have a conclusive solution."
James and Lily looked up at the old man who was walking towards his drawer. Dumbledore opened it and instantly the gloomily lit room was lightened with blue rays of light. He calmly took out the luminous cerulean orb and showed it to them. "Do you know what this is?"
"It's a prophecy orb." Lily inspected, staring at the glass sphere. The inside seemed to be filled with a liquid whiteness that formed into blurring, murky images.
"Correct as always Lily, and in it contains a specific prophecy I would like both of you to hear." Dumbledore tapped the glass with his wand and suddenly a harkened voice leered outwards from the crystal ball.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives..."
It ended with a lasting word that perched through their minds. Lily stood their, widening her eyes in revelation. Her frown deepened and she frustratingly leaned against the wooden table, holding her head in her hands. Moments of silence passed before she spoke up.
"What does this mean Albus?" She grimly uttered, grasping the edge of the desk with her right hand.
"I think you know exactly what it means, Lily." Dumbledore sadly inclined his head in apologies.
"But…" Her voice began cracking, "He's the only son we have left." Tears filled her emerald orbs as she was enveloped her husband's strong arms. "You have to understand." She desperately sobbed, clutching her husband's suit jacket.
"I know this is hard for both of you as you have recently lost your child, but war does not generously give time nor does it give back lives it has taken. I have lost many of my loved ones as well while in the span of this conflict, but sacrifices must be made for us to put it to rest. It is the child's destiny." He sincerely replied, draping a fatherly hand on both their shoulders.
Lily felt a hand tighten on her own and she peered up at James. His face was solemn, blanched bags under his eyes were obvious from their lack of sleep. She lightly gripped onto his hand as well and grudgingly nodded her head, "What do we have to do?"
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They sought a secret sanctuary back to the original Potter manor located in Godric's Hallow. Acting on Peter's advice, they had chosen him as their secret keeper as Sirius would've been all too ideal. During that beginning week, Harry cried. And as the seventh day of that heart-rending week came to an end, he stopped. Right at midnight, Lily and James heard the concurrent silence fill the air. At present, they were thankful for a good night's rest, but they didn't expect what would happen next.
The next day, he sat in his crib and leveled off with an emotionless face while holding his snow-white teddy bear like it was his only anchor to the real world.
James and Lily did all they could to make him smile but the former stayed isolated, evading their attempts. They even tried to take the bear away but it only made their son even more miserable. He would shriek until he had it in his hands and then he would cry for another few hours until he slipped off into sleep. The prolonged impassiveness of their darling son was beginning to make them anxious. So anxious, that they decided to hire a Healer. Taking extra precautions, they made him swear to a wizard's oath before proceeding to let him in.
"What's wrong with him?" Lily inquired as she watched the Healer inspect Harry.
"His vital signs are fine… and I see no reason why he is like this…Perhaps… emotional trauma?" Lily and James looked at one another. "You did say he had just lost a twin brother. This could be a result."
"But how could it turn so serious?" James added, stroking his son's cheek.
The healer took off his round spectacles before promptly answering, "Twins, Mr. Potter— especially magical twins— have a strong mental connection to one another. They feel what the other does, sees what the other sees. Their half of each other, and at such a small age, young Mr. Potter has had half of him torn away." He grimly stated, using a small handkerchief to clean his glasses.
"What do we do, doctor?" Lily furrowed her eyebrows and softly glided her fingers over her little boy's hair.
"I'm afraid there is nothing you can do, but wait. As the saying goes, time will heal all wounds. You just need to give him time." Picking up his suitcase, he bid them farewell. Harry was taken up in the arms of his mother and laid in between both his parents. Lily delicately hummed a lullaby and eventually, Harry closed his eyes and slept.
He dreamt of himself, or so he thought. It was cold and dark. A heaving wind kept burning against his cheeks. He thrashed against the arms that restrained him but sooner rather then later, it became warm. Sunlight hit across his pallid face and he found himself in a foreign land, surrounded by fields of daisies and other assorted colors of pinks, yellows, greens, and blues. The finality of the dream had struck him confused, but naivety got the best of him. He was turned around to confront the face of a beautiful person. She pulled down her hood and sadly smiled. Her pale golden hair was ornately decorated and her face was softly angled.
She opened her lips and words sounded out. To Harry it was nothing more than meaningless sounds, but her voice was lovely nonetheless. Much to his pleasure, it was like a compilation of bells and flutes that rang like music to his ears.
"Please forgive me, but I had to save you... You will hopefully understand in the future, Hadrian." She petted his head and began walking out of the field towards a gigantic house that stood in front of them.
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Perhaps it was a crucial misunderstanding between the lesser parties that twisted the most famous story of Wizarding time, but the night of Lily and James Potter's death was nothing akin to what other witches and wizards were told. Many excited witnesses wanted a piece in the legendary tale that they jumped to state their claims of what happened, but eventually the family's story was so knotted and tangled that it covered a very important variable. A twin.
On the eve of the couple's death, a heavy storm was brewing near Godric's Hallow. The crash of lightning clapped in the skies above and smoky gray clouds collapsed an atmosphere of darkness and shadows onto the most light-sided of places. Irony it seemed, was working its most bitter of ways. The tall golden gates of the community suddenly rusted in the span of five minutes before exploding off its hinges. Dark cloud-like swirls came from the skies and landed directly in front of the decimated gates. The winds howled and the black cloud transformed itself into a standing body of Tom Riddle.
The Dark Lord stared at the ghastly red and yellow colored community with an expression of clear disgust. Trailing and forming behind him was his fellow Death Eaters, dressed in solid black and their faces were masked with shiny silver guises. Today was the day, he viciously thought, not only would he be able to annihilate the Wizarding world's final false hope, but at long last, he would be able to rule his England threshold with an iron fist. First England, then Europe, and then the whole world would be at his fingertips.
Meanwhile, in the center of Godric's Hollow, James and Lily were staggering in their sprints up the stairs. It had been only seconds ago that they had encountered the disturbing Patronus message revealing that someone had betrayed their location to Voldemort. They knew all too well who the traitor was but didn't have any time to display further shock. The enemy would soon be right at there doorstep, any minute now. Lily pulled her baby into her arms before gazing at James, her tears flowing feely down her cheeks. Her husband gave her a crooked smile, "If this is our last stand, Flowers, let us hit it off with a bang."
She chuckled before sobbing even harder, "James you idiot, how can you still joke at a time like this?"
"Because, I love you." James stated, moving closer to his wife and child. He placed a small kiss on her forehead before moving down to kiss his son's forehead as well.
"I lo—, I love you too." Her voice cracked and desperately clutched onto James. Within a heartbeat they heard a disturbing noise come from outside their home. James moved towards the door but was stopped by a hand tightening on his, "No, James. Please, no." She cried. James softly caressed the soft skin of his Lily's hand. This person that he loved most in the world, that he would do anything for. He wanted to take her tears away and cherish her, and protect her from anything that would hurt her. He lightly took her chin in his, oh how familiar the feeling was. He memorized her face, remembering the long years that led up to his first kiss with her. Leaning in, he softly rubbed his lips against hers and proceeded to lovingly caress her rosy-red cheeks. He kept on kissing her until he once again heard a loud bang reverberate from the front entrances. He unwillingly pulled away.
"Promise me…that you'll keep yourselves safe." James stated, his fingers gently coiling her red locks.
"I promise." She breathed, still gripping her husband's button up.
He heavily inhaled and extricated himself from her reach. Sadly grinning at her, he made his way towards the door with his wand held in his right hand. Lily stood there for a few more moments lulling in despair for her husband before finally crouching down. She placed Harry next to her and started knocking her fist against the crooked wooden floorboards. After two to three punches, she heard an empty 'Clunk' sound. Swiftly pulling the wooden board out, she swiftly took out the items already in there. Wiping at her tear drunken eyes, she calmly placed Harry into the floorboard. He lay there, staring up at her from inside the dark, hollowed out square.
"I love you." She solemnly stated, stroking his soft cheeks. With utter hesitance, she began placing the board back on its floor, but was momentarily stopped by the creaking sound of the nursery door. She whipped her head immediately and widened her eyes in horror, they had come.
She instinctively reached for her wand but it was immediately cast off, ricocheting to the farthest corner of the room.
The dark figure clicked his tongue and approached her, "I have heard of your great intelligence Mrs. Potter, and perhaps you shall be the one to make the smart decision, unlike your husband." He smirked at her, showing off the startling whiteness of his teeth. "Now give us the child Mrs. Potter and I will spare your life."
"I will never!" She screamed, placing herself between her child and the monster. Voldemort's smirk formed into a nonchalant blankness that only a maniac could convey.
"Such insolence could only come from you filthy mudbloods. Then I have no choice but," He raised his wand and uttered the words that had already took the lives of hundreds, if not thousands. "Avada Kedavra!" The shocking green overtook her body and swiftly drained the life from her. There was no pain as her soul streamed out from her body. Within a heartbeat, she found herself finally engulfed in a sinking darkness.
"He is under the floor boards, my Lord."
"Then why are you standing here, Nott? Fetch him." Tom flatly exclaimed. The apparent command was completed and as Tom stared at the boy clutched in his Death Eater's arms, he felt the delicious thrill of his maniacal tendencies. Positioning his wand heartlessly on the boy's forehead he began casting, "Avada Kedavra!"
It happened before anyone could blink an eye. The green ray struck the boy's head but the second before it could impact, a blue shield overtook the small body, covering it in a protective blockage that not only rebounded the killing curse but inflamed the hands of the Death Eater who was carrying him. The altogether magnitude of such a powerful force had thrown the whole house off its hinges. Like a dotted structure, the rooms slowly deteriorated down to small sand particles, also infecting the Death Eaters outside Harry's protective bubble. As the floor slowly disappeared, the shining orb that surrounded Harry floated him safely onto the downstairs ground.
Screams of pain and horror filled the dissipating residence, unknown to such innocent ears. The little boy laid there on the floor, seeing nothing but a radiant whiteness. He was happy though, because he sensed it; the natural, recognizable scent of his twin brother lingered within the complete whiteness. It warmed his insides and he instinctively drifted off as the obliteration of his dwelling had come to a complete halt, leaving only the room that he laid in. Seconds passed and the shield finally disappeared.
Soon after, dozens of uniformed men materialized into the room and discovered the small bundle. The aurors surrounded their captain and watched as the bearded man picked Harry off the ground. He peered under his half-moon spectacles at the lightning shaped scar that now marred the pale skin of the baby's forehead. What did this mean? His twinkling blue eyes flashed towards the floor as his left foot knocked against the familiar dark, black cloak. He widened his gaze and peered back at Harry.
So the prophecy had begun.
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