James Potter had lived through many memorable moments. Some moments were good. For example, the day he and his best friends met; the moment when he first laid eyes on Lily Evans; the day he married her and the day she gave birth to their beautiful son, Harry. Harry, who was the light of his life and held every joy in his heart, was one of his best memories. However, James Potter also had many bad moments. For example, the time where he had to pull Snape out of the Whomping Willow to save him from Remus; all of those times when Lily rejected him; comforting Sirius as he cried about his parents, and the day his parents died in an attack from the death eaters. Yes –James Potter had many memorable moments, both good and bad. However, this moment was definitely a bad moment. In fact, it was a very bad moment.
James and Lily with Harry in James' arms were sitting in Dumbledore's office waiting for Dumbledore to arrive. It had been a long time since they had been given a mission for the Order, and they were getting a bit restless. Dumbledore had sounded urgent in his message, which made James anxious. Even little Harry could sense the tension in the room, and was squirming and whimpering, making quite a fuss. James was attempting to distract him (and by doing so, hopefully distracting himself as well).
"Harry," he said, bouncing him on his knee as he sat in Dumbledore's guest armchair. He was very familiar with the Headmaster's office, having been sent here several times as a boy for a number of reasons. And even as a man he came to the old man's office quite a lot for the order. Even so, all of the little devices and things that the professor had collected never ceased to peak his interest. "Harry is a bouncing boy!" he said in the baby voice he used to entertain his son.
Still bouncing a squirming Harry, he pulled out his wand and began to make brightly colored smoke fly around and form into shapes above Harry's head. Normally this was his sons' favorite game, but Harry didn't want to settle down and he completely ignored the smoke and continued fussing. After a few minutes of this, Lily could clearly see that her husband was struggling, and she sighed.
"James, give him to me," she said. He obliged, and Harry was handed off just as the door to the headmaster's office opened.
Both of them whipped their heads around, James with his wand drawn. But it was only Dumbledore, and the pair visibly relaxed. The old professor noticed this and smiled, although his eyes were not twinkling behind his half moon glasses, and his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.
"Thought I was someone else?" he asked. James nodded and put his wand back in his robes.
"You can never be too careful," he said. Dumbledore nodded.
"Agreed," he said. Dumbledore then saw little Harry and smiled, the twinkle returning.
"Ah, and I see you brought young Harry with you," he said, walking over to Lily and a still whining Harry. Lily attempted to calm him, but Harry wasn't having it. Finally, she sighed.
"Yes," she said. "We couldn't find a sitter, since you have both Sirius and Remus on a mission tonight and Peter was busy. But he does not want to calm down. Teething, I expect."
Dumbledore chuckled, but he seemed distracted. "Yes, I suppose I would be fussy too if I had razor sharp pieces of bone impaling their way through my gums. Perhaps a popsicle might ease the sting."
Lily smiled. "I don't think that's such a good idea for a three month old baby. Although a wet cloth would probably work nicely." Dumbledore nodded his head and held out his hand. A frozen wet blue washcloth appeared in it. He gave it to Harry who immediately put it in his mouth. The aging headmaster smiled fondly.
"He grows more and more every time I see him," he said with a sigh. "He really is a charming little boy. He looks like you, James. And he has your eyes, Lily." James beamed with pride, Lily smiled and Harry attempted to pull the headmasters long, white beard, managing to get a fistful of the long hairs despite his mother's protests.
Dumbledore smiled, and his glasses were pushed down his crooked nose as Harry yanked. Lily attempted to pry his hands away, but Dumbledore just chuckled and his wrinkly hands gently removed Harry's fists from his beard. Meanwhile, James was standing back and laughing quietly. "It's quite alright Lily," Dumbledore assured her, "he's just curious. James doesn't have a beard, and he just wanted to know what it felt like." James was laughing harder now. The headmaster patted Harry's head. "He really is a beautiful child, Lily," he said.
His expression suddenly got very solemn and serious as he pulled out his wand. The tension that had dissipated with the arrival of the headmaster had returned. Dumbledore walked to his desk, twirling his wand in his fingers. He stood there for a moment, as though contemplating what he was going to say, and then turned around to face them, looking older than either of them had ever seen him.
"I'm sorry I brought you here tonight and for any inconvenience this may have caused. I wouldn't have called if it weren't urgent. You see, last night, Frank and Alice Longbottom were attacked." Lily gasped and put her hand over her mouth, and James' eyes went wide and his fists clenched.
Lily shook her head, looking down. After what seemed like an eternity she spoke. "Do you mean that they're-" but Dumbledore shook his head.
"They are alive," he said. "But barely. It's too early to tell for certain, but we believe they were tortured to insanity."
James' expression grew hard, as though he were trying to suppress his tears and Lily began to cry softly. She sniffed and looked back at the headmaster, her cheeks tearstained.
"And what about their son, Neville?"
"He has been taken to his grandmothers for the time being. Although I feel it will become a permanent arrangement. Frank and Alice are currently being treated at St. Mungos, although it is unlikely that they will make a full recovery." Lily began to cry again, and even James choked back a sob.
"They were such good people," he said angrily. "What in heaven's name would posses someone to attack them?"
"Actually, James, that was precisely why I called you both here this evening. You see, I have reason to believe that Voldemort has uncovered some information: information we would have liked to have kept secret. The prophecy that I told you about a few months ago, the one concerning Harry and Neville?"
James looked shocked. "You mean Voldemort found out about that?" he asked. "How? When? How do you know this, Albus?"
Dumbledore held up his hands to signal for James to hold is questions. "All of your questions cannot be answered at this time, but yes, we think Voldemort has discovered at least some of the contents of the prophecy." For James, this new piece of information was overwhelming, and he collapsed in a chair. Lily walked over to James, caressing Harry softly. She put a hand on James' shoulder, who looked up at her gratefully, and put his hand over hers.
All of a sudden, there came a banging on the headmasters door. Dumbledore looked confused and James and Lily exchanged a look.
"Come in," Dumbledore said. The door opened and in walked Severus Snape, who froze when he saw James and Lily in the headmaster's office. James and Lily too were immediately on alert at the arrival of their former friend/enemy. Dumbledore, seemingly oblivious to the newly arrived tension, smiled and beckoned Snape to come inside.
"Ah, Severus," he exclaimed. "Just in time. I assume I told you about dear James and Lily's predicament?"
Snape shook his head. "You neglected to inform me of their coming here today," he said. Dumbledore waved his hand.
"No matter, since they are here now. I presume you brought what I asked you?" Snape nodded and held up a flask, containing a transparent silvery-blue potion. "Very good." Lily coughed, and Dumbledore whipped his head around.
"Ah, Lily, James, I seem to have forgotten you were here. Severus will be joining us."
James' face became angry for a moment, and then turned threatening. Lily just looked sad. "Are you sure we can trust him, Albus?" James asked. Dumbledore nodded.
"I would trust Severus with my life," he said. James' nostrils flared.
"Yes, but I don't," he almost spat. Snape glared and Dumbledore sighed.
"Nevertheless, we are in need of his services. I ask that the two of you be civil to one another." James frowned, but otherwise didn't say anything, and Snape continued glaring. That seemed to be good enough for Dumbledore, because he continued on.
"Now," he began, "actions must be taken to make sure you remain safe and out of Voldemort's reach."
"What does this mean for us, Albus?" Lily asked. "Now that Voldemort knows, what are we going to do?"
The professor sighed heavily. "It means, Lily and James, that in order to protect yourselves and young Harry, I must insist that the three of you go into hiding."
James' breath caught in his throat. Go into hiding? How on earth were they going to do that? Did Dumbledore just expect them to drop everything, to abandon their whole lives, just because of an old man's hunch?
He looked up at Lily and Harry. Then again, was it safe to take chances like that? To not go into hiding and gamble with his loved ones lives? He would do anything for his family, but if it wasn't really necessary, what would be the point? No, he had to get an explanation out of the old man.
"What do you mean, 'go into hiding?' Do you expect us to abandon everything on a hunch?" he questioned, rising angrily. Lily kept her hand on his shoulder.
"James," she warned.
Dumbledore looked at him pleadingly. "I know it is a lot to take in," he said. "But I must ask you to trust me."
"Why?" James asked. "You are asking a lot. To sacrifice everything-"
Suddenly, Snape who hadn't spoken at all interrupted. "For the sake of your wife?" Snape said his black eyes full of hatred, but also something else that James couldn't distinguish as he took a fleeting glance at Lily. "For the sake of your son? Or what about your own life? Do they mean so little to you that staying out of sight for awhile would be impossible? I knew you were arrogant Potter, but I didn't know you were selfish as well."
James was beyond furious. Snape could tell he had pushed him a bit too far, but he didn't seem to care as he sneered back at the other man. James marched right up to his old enemy and looked him in the eye.
"How dare you," he said, his voice and hands shaking with rage. "How dare you question my love for my family. They mean the world to me, which isn't something I expect you to understand."
Snape laughed a cold, cruel laugh. "Something I don't understand? Oh, I understand perfectly. What I don't understand is how an arrogant arse like you managed to steal her away," he gestured to Lily, "from me." He took a step closer to James, so that the tip of his crooked nose was almost touching James'. "You don't deserve her," he whispered. "You never did. She deserves someone who will protect her no matter what."
James was livid. "You shut up, Sni-Snape, or I'll-" he threatened, but Snape just sneered.
"You'll do what?" he said. "Hex me? Embarrass me? We aren't children anymore, Potter, we are equals as men, and your empty threats mean nothing anymore. You always were an arrogant prick."
"James!" Lily exclaimed loudly, drawing both men's attention. She would not stand to see her husband insulted like that, so she put Harry down in the chair and walked over to him, putting her arms around him. "Don't let him get to you," she said. "I chose you for a reason. I married you, didn't I?" And then she kissed him, right in the middle of Dumbledore's office. James was taken aback for a moment, and then kissed her back. Snape, who was watching from just a foot away, made a sound like a strangled animal, looking humiliated and his eyes were filled with grief.
After several seconds of this, the embarrassed headmaster coughed, which immediately sent the couple apart, looking like children who had been caught doing something naughty. Dumbledore glared at Snape, who shied away from his superior's scrutiny.
"I hate to break up this tender moment," he said to James and Lily. "But there really are pressing matters at hand. Now, do you trust me or not?"
James and Lily exchanged a look. Lily nodded. James appeared to sigh, but he gave in. He turned to the headmaster.
"Yes," he said. "Now tell us what to do." Dumbledore smiled.
"Now, Severus, if you would hand me the vile?" Snape obliged, and handed the tiny blue bottle to Dumbledore.
"Albus," he began, but he never got a chance to say what he was trying to. Dumbledore waved his request aside.
"Now Severus if you would please leave, the Potters and I have much to discuss."
Snape looked hurt, but with a fleeting glance at Lily, he turned on his heel and left, his robes billowing behind him.
James let out a sigh of relief. "Good riddance," he muttered under his breath. Then he noticed the potion. "Professor, what is that?"
Albus' eyes twinkled. "This, James, is a protection charm. It is called a Fidilus charm. It protects a location so that only a select few know where it is."
Lily nodded. "I've heard of this charm. I came across it while reading. It is supposed to be incredibly powerful."
"Yes Lily. It is incredibly powerful, mainly because it requires the use of a secret keeper," Dumbledore said.
"And what's that?" asked James.
"It's a trustworthy person; most often times a good friend who will guard the secret of where the location is that you wish to hide. In this case, it would be your home in Godric's hallow. That person and that person alone has the ability to tell others where the location is. If that person specifically doesn't say where it is, than it can never be found," Dumbledore explained. "On the other hand, anyone that person tells the secret to will know and be able to not only find it, but get to it. Not even you two could do that."
"And how do you select a secret keeper?" Lily asked.
"That my dear is up to you and James," Dumbledore said. "That decision is for the two of you to make. Hopefully it is someone extremely trustworthy. You must be willing to put your life in you secret keepers hands."
"I want it to be Sirius," James suddenly announced. Lily looked at him oddly.
"Are you sure, James?" she said. "I really think we should discuss this-" But James interrupted her.
"Lil's," he said. "I would trust Sirius with my life- with all of our lives. He is my best friend, and he would die before he would betray us."
Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "I hope it does not come to that," he said.
Lily nodded in agreement and took her husband's hand. "You see James that is what I'm worried about. It's no secret that the two of you are best friends, and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named could easily find that information out and exploit him. That would put Sirius in more danger than us! Is that what you want?"
James looked taken aback, but realized what Lily was saying. He sighed. "You're right," he said. "I don't know what I was thinking, willing to put my best friend in danger like that."
"I didn't say we should rule him out as an option," Lily explained, "but I'm saying we should talk about it first, before we jump to decisions."
Dumbledore cleared his throat to get their attention. They both turned their heads to look at him. "It seems you two have a lot to discuss. I should probably let you get home so that you can do it in private. Patronus me with your answer and we can set up the ceremony."
James looked confused. "Ceremony? What ceremony?"
"Why the induction of your secret keeper, of course," Dumbledore said. "The Fidilus charm requires an intense ceremony to make the protection strong. Then of course there will be the other wards as well in case that charm is broken."
James ran his hand through his hair, promptly making it messier than before (if that were even possible). "We best be getting home then, Lily." He turned to Dumbledore. "Albus, thank you for your help. We'll get back to you within the week with our decision." But Dumbledore shook his head.
"I'm afraid, James, that it will have to be sooner than that. Within the next two days would be necessary in order to beat Voldemort" (Lily shuddered at the name) "and keep your family safe. He is quick, James. Quicker than we'd like. Get me your answer as soon as possible and we will make arrangements."
James nodded. "Very well." He held out his hand to aparate and Lily took it, her other hand holding tightly to Harry, who had stopped fussing long ago and was still holding the cloth.
"One last thing," Dumbledore added quickly. "Secret keepers can have wards as well. Don't let sentimentality keep you from choosing the right person," Dumbledore said as James turned on his heel.
When the family was gone, Dumbledore sighed and walked over to his desk. He collapsed in his chair began fiddling with his wand. His blue eyes behind his half moon spectacles hardly twinkled at all. "I wish you two the best of luck, then," he said softly. "Yes, the best of luck."
A/N: This is a story I wanted to try. It was offered up in a prompt by author fredneverdied and I decided to take it (even though I have way too much on my plate as it is). What can I say. I like to keep busy. This is just the first chapter, so I don't expect much of a response, but if you could, please review. If you want to check out the prompt to see what is coming next, just look on fredneverdied's profile. I asked her to keep it up so that I could use it for reference. Anyway, I'm excited for the chapters ahead. I have a feeling this is gonna be fun. So let's get started!