The Other Choice

Harry Potter FanFiction

Chapter 2: Dinner with the Potters

Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, and I do not own any of the Harry Potter world. The only part of this story that is mine is the plot, not including the prophecy. If I owned Harry Potter, I would not be writing FanFiction, I would be writing books!!

Summary: Neville is the Chosen One; the first war is still raging. Obviously AU. My first fic, so please review!!

A/N: Thanks loads and loads to my very first (and only) reviewer, Aimee K Norman!!! If anyone else is reading this story, please review!!

Alice declined the candy, and stood up quickly. Someone had just knocked. She stood on her tiptoes and peeked through the window.

"Who's there?" she asked

It was Lily and James; they had come a bit early so that Lily might help with the cooking.

James saw Dumbledore first. "Dumbledore! How good it is to see you!"

"Yes!" exclaimed Lily, "I'm so glad that you've come to dinner!"

"It is lovely to see both of you again and Alice too. Unfortunately, you all, as Order members, certainly know that not all visits are pleasant."

Lily's eyes widened and she abruptly sat down. James's grin faded and he sat down next to her. "Do tell, Dumbledore. We might as well get it over with." He said.

"Yes." Said Lily somberly.

"I've already told Alice the news, but she may want to sit down anyway."

"Oh! Yes!" said Alice and sat.

Dumbledore surveyed the quiet room, finally resting his eyes on James and Lily's faces. He began. "I was at the Hog's Head Inn yesterday, interviewing a candidate for our new Divination teacher. I was just leaving the room when she began to prophesize…"

Lily and James were immediately relieved that no one had died, but soon enough, their faces turned to slightly frightened expressions. When Dumbledore finished, James burst out: "So what are you going to do about it? We have got to do something!"

Lily patted his leg, telling him to stay calm, and that Dumbledore would know what to do. As a matter or fact, he did.

He first offered them both lemon drops, of which Lily declined and James took two. "I was thinking of using the Fidelius charm."

"Who should we use as our Secret-Keeper?" Lily questioned James.

At the same time James looked about saying "Fidelius Charm? Secret-Keeper?"

"Oh, James!" cried Lily, "Why did I ever marry you?"

"Because I'm handsome and smart!" he answered. Lily sighed.

"Let's get back to work now everyone!" said Dumbledore. "James, the Fidelius charm is a complex spell that involves the magical concealment of a secret inside a single living soul. The secret is hidden inside the chosen person, called a Secret-Keeper, and only he (or she) can chose to divulge it. From both of your families, I would like to know your choice of secret keeper in the next few days. I would suggest myself, or a close friend. Of course, if it is not myself, I do not need to be informed of who it is! Now Alice, Lily, what have you two got planned for dinner?"

"Meatloaf." Said Alice

'Chicken." Said Lily in the same moment.

They looked at each other and began to laugh.

"Well," said Dumbledore, still laughing, "You might want to figure that out before you serve it! James and I will play chess until Frank arrives, and then we will inform him of the news!"

The two pregnant women walked into the kitchen as the sounds of wizarding chess began to issue from the parlor.

"I hope Dumbledore beats James badly." Said Lily, "James needs to learn that even though he can beat me at chess, it doesn't mean he is the master of the world at it!"

"I'm sure." Said Alice, laughing. "So! What's for dinner?"

They both got down and rifled through the cupboards, finding the foods they had suggested at the same time and holding them up to each other, saying "I found it!"

They laughed, decided on Herb Chicken, and set about cooking.

From the next room came the sounds of James saying: "It's just luck, only luck that you're winning, Dumbledore!" and Dumbledore laughing.

A/N: Sorry that I misspelled Fidelius charm last chapter. Thanks to the Harry Potter Lexicon I can now spell:-) Also thanks to JK Rowling for the description of the Fidelius charm, and for the prophecy!