The Fidelius Charm
Oops. Got the date wrong last chapter. I meant the end of JULY, not June. Soz!
Lily didn't return to her bedroom that night. She sat awake in the children's room, watching over Harry. He looked so innocent, just lying there. Why would anyone want to harm him? He was no danger to anyone. If it wasn't for Dumbledore …Lily couldn't bear the thought of her little boy being harmed.
She stretched out a hand and stroked Harry's cheek softly. He slept on. Lily wondered what he was dreaming about. What did babies dream about? Lily gave a small sigh. Her son wasn't even one yet, and he was already set to have a troubled life.
The silence was suddenly punctured by a baby's cry. Lily looked over at her son, but it wasn't Harry who had cried out. It was Jane. Lily scooped up the screaming girl in her arms. "Ssh." She soothed. What would happen to Jane if …if the Fidelius Charm didn't work? You-Know-Who was famous for destroying anyone in his path.
Lily soothed Jane back to sleep, and then crept out of the room, stealing one last look at her adorable baby son before gently closing the door. Then she headed into her husband's room. James was sitting crossed-legged on the bed, his head buried in his hands. He was breathing deeply and Lily knew that he had the same thoughts running through his mind as she had had.
"James." She said softly. James looked up abruptly. His eyes were dull and despairing. He spared Lily a small smile.
"James, I had a thought. If …if it doesn't work then what will happen to Jane?" Lily asked, voicing her worries.
James' face fell even further. "She'll be fine." He said. "Fine."
Lily bit her lip to stop herself from replying. She knew that James was trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince her.
The next morning, Lily and James were both awake and dressed by the time the sun rose. They each had bags under their eyes as neither had got any sleep. Jane and Harry also woke early, as though they knew something was happening.
Lily was sitting in the living room, reading "Babitty Rabitty" to the enthralled Harry and Jane. James was sitting on the stairs in the hall, watching the front door impatiently.
At 8:00am, there was a familiar crack and a knock on the door. James threw it open without bothering to draw his wand. Lily came hurrying after him, trying to balance Harry and Jane in her arms. Dumbledore stepped into the house.
"Good morning." He said. "I hope you had a pleasant sleep?"
Neither Lily nor James answered.
"Good." Said Dumbledore, as though he had received a reply. "Now, may I borrow your living room?" he asked, waving a thick book called Anciente Protecktive Spelles. James nodded and silently gestured towards the living room. Dumbledore nodded appreciatively and sat down in the middle of the floor, opening the book in front of him to a page entitled The Fidelius Charme. Lily and James watched him for a few minutes as he twirled his wand and muttered under his breath. Then they left him to it.
Lily sat down in the kitchen and sat Jane and Harry on the table, where they sat happily, kicking their legs. James strolled over to the calendar in the kitchen and read it, for want of something else to do.
"I forgot!" He cried. "It's the twins' birthday in two weeks."
Lily looked up sharply. "Oh …yes, it is, isn't it? Will the twins still be able to have a party, d'you reckon?"
James shrugged. "It can't hurt to invite a few people, can it?" he asked.
Lily nodded. James sighed and turned away from the calendar. For a minute he stood still, watching Lily dangling her wand tantalisingly out of reach of the twins grasping hands. Then he was startled by a knock on the door.
Harry and Jane began to cry. They had sensed the change in the atmosphere. Lily took them in her arms. "Ssh, it's ok!" she whispered, but she looked at James fearfully. James walked out into the hallway. He could see Dumbledore still sitting on the floor, oblivious to the world around him.
James drew his wand and pointed it at the door. Taking a deep breath and thinking of his family, he threw open the door and pointed his wand at the man standing there.
"It's nice to see you, too." The man said, with a smile. James sighed with relief and thrust his wand back into his pocket.
"Sorry, Padfoot." He said, sheepishly. Sirius waved a hand casually.
"Don't worry. I …heard the news." Sirius said, suddenly serious. He rocked backwards and forwards on his toes.
James nodded, and found he couldn't speak for the lump in his throat. There was a heavy silence.
"Well, come in then." James said, forcing a smile. "Dumbledore's here, so we have to be quiet."
Sirius nodded. "I know." He told James. "Dumbledore invited me. He says he needs me 'cos I'm your …Secret Keeper or something."
"Oh!" James said, as realisation dawned. "Well, he's in there. I don't know when he wants you." James pointed into the living room which was now full of a strange purple hue. Sirius made a face and then entered the room. James watched him turned purple. It should have been funny and on any other day it would have been. Not today, though.
James went back into the kitchen, where Lily was sitting in the same position as he had left her. She looked up sharply as he entered the room and James saw that she had her wand out.
"It was only Padfoot." James answered to her unspoken question. Lily gave a trembly grin and released her firm grip on Harry's arm.
The seconds seemed like minutes. James watched the minute hand move, painfully slowly, around the clock face. After what seemed like days, Dumbledore and Sirius walked into the kitchen. Sirius was grinning as usual, and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again.
"It worked." He told them. "We'll be going now."
Lily stood up and threw her arms around Dumbledore, and gave Sirius a grateful look. "Thank you." She whispered, her voice full of emotion.
There were tears in Dumbledore's eyes as he returned her smile. "Well, I hope to see you soon. You …it would be best if you didn't leave the house." Dumbledore warned them. Lily nodded knowingly, and James did too, although he looked a little disappointed.
"Oh, one more thing!" Lily cried, as Dumbledore turned to leave. "This might sound silly but …can the twins still have a birthday party?"
Dumbledore twirled a strand of his beard thoughtfully. "I don't think so. Well …only your neighbours can come. They will have noticed that your house has suddenly disappeared." He replied. "But that's all. Not …Sirius can't come, I'm afraid."
Lily and James were disappointed, but this was a small price to pay for Harry's life. They would do anything for him.