Chapter Two: The Flamels and the Potters
Albus took a detour on his way to the Potters. He knew that there was a spy in the Order of the Phoenix. And he didn't want anyone in the Order to be secret keeper for the family. He was turning to a couple who had not been in the public eye for the better part of one hundred years. Walking up to the front door, he knocked on the door.
The door opened. Standing in the doorway was a man who looked no older than his early forties. "Albus! It has been a long time since I saw you. I hope that you and Cassandra have been doing well." Nicholas Flamel said as he moved to embrace his old student. Accepting the embrace, Albus allowed himself to be guided to the sitting room.
"Albus! What a pleasant surprise!" Nicholas's wife Pernelle said smiling and going to embrace her husband's old friend.
"Pernelle." Albus said as he returned the hug.
"To what do we owe the pleasure Albus?" A curious Nicholas asked.
"There has been a prophecy about Harry Potter." Albus said.
The Flamels paled. "What was it?" Pernelle asked.
"Here I will show you the memory in your pensive," Albus said as he went to extract the memory. Placing the memory in the Pensive, he swirled the mist around with his wand.
Sybill Trelawney rose from the depths of the Pensive:
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches Born as the seventh month dies. Bound to the seventh and linked with his twin. Born to parents who will defy him four times, he shall have power the Dark Lord knows not. The Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal. One must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. Bound and Linked, the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born as the seventh month dies.
When the Prophecy was finished, Nicholas looked at Dumbledore. "What is it you wish for us to do?" he asked the venerable Headmaster.
"I would like for you to return to the public eye." Albus told them both.
"Why?" the both asked in unison.
"You are the only two who know about soulbonds and we will need you when it happens." Albus said.
"There was no mention of a soulbond in the Prophecy." Pernelle pointed out.
"On the contrary there was indeed mention of a soulbond. Bound to the seventh and linked with his twin." Albus repeated.
Pernelle gasped. "Bound to the seventh? I can only think of one family to which that pertains. There aren't many with seven children."
Albus laughed. "For not being inundated with the world at the moment you seem reasonably well informed."
"We try to keep ourselves informed of what is going on at least. How do you think we knew about the Potter Twins? We are aware that Molly Weasley is pregnant with her seventh and due in april. If this means what I think it means then Molly is going to get her wish. She will be having a little girl, of that I have no doubt. I think it is this child that Harry will be bound too." Nicholas said.
"You wouldn't know about that pregnancy if you didn't sneak into the ministry invisible and spy on the workers to get information." Pernelle admonished.
The great Alchemist, looked at his wife sheepishly. "Yes I know but you can't pretend that this hasn't helped us. I think we should do as requested." He said.
Pernelle nodded. "I agree. How do we help?" she asked looking at Albus.
"You become the secret keepers for the Potters. I want Harry and his sister to have as normal a childhood as he can. I think that the part of the prophecy that states The Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal, needs to happen as late as possible. Perhaps after Harry and his bond mate start Hogwarts. Now that I think on it. The bond, if it starts prior to Harry starting school then it will be I think prudent that Miss Weasley begin his year as well, as they will be in the same class regardless. The telepathy will ensure of that." Albus said.
"What of the twins' godfather? Or one of the other Marauders?" Pernelle asked.
"I do not think that would be a good idea. We have a spy in the order and it could very well be one of the other Marauders and while Sirius is the twins Godfather, I do not think that it would be wise to tempt fate. Even if he did perform the Godparent ritual for both of the twins." Albus said.
"That is sensible." Nicholas looked at Pernelle. They seemed to have a silent conversation.
"Very well, we shall be their secret keeper." They said together.
Albus smiled and shook his head.
"Good. Come it is time for us to go to Potter Manor. This will be a difficult thing for the entire Potter family. You may want to pack, you will be living with the Potters." Albus said.
"I do want to do a few things when Harry and his sister get older. I want to take them to Gringotts for a Heritage test." Nicholas said.
"Discuss that with their parents. Now come it is time for you to rejoin the world." Albus said.
Together the three of them apparated from the Flamels home and arrived just outside the gates of Potter Manor. Albus walked up to the gates and pushed one side open. Knowing he was keyed into the wards, he expected that there would be a house elf waiting to greet them.
As they reached the front door it was not a house elf that was there to meet them. James Potter himself answered the door.
"Albus to what do we owe the pleasure?" He asked.
"It is imperative that I speak with you and Lily. It is about the twins." Dumbledore said.
Nodding James let the visitors in. "I will go find Lily. The twins are with Pad...I mean Sirius." James said.
While the trio waited in the sitting room. Albus turned to Pernelle. "How do you know about the Marauders and moreso do you know who they are?" He asked.
"I am a friend of one of their friends. And I do know who they are but I will not tell you. That is their secret to keep should they so choose." As she finished, a huge bearlike black dog bounded out of the hallway and into the sitting room. Perched upon the dogs back were two eleven and a half month old twins. One with unruly black hair and vibrant green eyes and the other with long red hair and brown eyes like her father. They were shrieking happily as the dog ran around the room.
"Moe Pwaddy moe," the young girl shrieked while her brother just smiled and laughing held on for dear life.
The dog obliged as if it could somehow understand her, and sped up.
"Those two are going to be Quidditch players mark my words," a voice said behind them. The three adults looked to see a young twenty one year old woman with long red hair and vibrant green eyes the same color as her sons.
Albus stood. "Lady Lily, it is good to see you. May I introduce Nicholas and Pernelle Flamel." He said smiling and waiting for her reaction
Unfortunately there was no visible reaction to the names that he had mentioned other than a polite nod and "Welcome to Potter Manor," from Lily. Until she saw the twins riding their dogfather in his animagus form.
"Harry James and Hermione Lily Rose Potter! What have I told you about riding the dog?!" She screeched. Padfoot stopped immediately upon hearing Lily shout. Gently he laid down so the twins could climb down from his back.
Harry toddled over to his mother, and climbed onto her lap. "Hawwy Sowwy, Mummy," he said in his sweet innocent voice. Lily looked and saw that Hermione had climbed onto the lap of Pernelle. "Hermione sweetheart, I am over here." Lily called.
Hermione looked at her mother with her large brown eyes. Then she promptly snuggled her head into Pernelle's shoulder.
James smiled and laughed as he came in closely followed by Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. "She seems to have taken a liking to you Madame Flamel," he said.
Pernelle just looked at the young child and smiled, nodding her head.
"May I introduce the Godfather of the twins and the GodUncle of the twins as well, Lord Sirius Black and Lord Remus Lupin. Both of the most ancient and noble houses of Black and Lupin." James introduced his friends.
Albus was suddenly confused. He looked at James. "Where is Peter?" He asked.
"I do not know. He hasn't been seen for days." James said lookin.g at his former Headmaster.
"You wanted to speak with us about the twins?" Lily pursued
"There was a prophecy made just earlier this afternoon. It concerns Harry but also mentions Hermione though not by name. Before I tell you what this prophecy is however I would strongly advise you to make the Weasley family's acquaintance. They have seven children, the second youngest being the same age as Harry and Hermione and the youngest being a girl named Ginvera and she was just born in April. I think that as they grow the twins would benefit from knowing the two youngest. They are a good family and you don't have to worry about them supporting the Dark Lord. They are a light family and always have been. Not to mention they are very sweet loving and kind."
James and Lily nodded. "We know them, in fact Lily makes it a point to have Molly and the two youngest for tea. Harry seems to have taken a liking to baby Ginny." James said.
"Ginny?" Albus asked.
"Yes, that is what her nickname is as they don't always want to say her full name. Now this prophecy that you mentioned." Lily said curious.
"Yes of course." And doing what he had done at the Flamels, he pulled out his portable pensive, and placed the memory of the prophecy inside. Swirling it once more, Sybill Trelawney appeared above the basin:
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches Born as the seventh month dies. Bound to the seventh and linked with his twin. Born to parents who will defy him four times, he shall have power the Dark Lord knows not. The Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal. One must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. Bound and Linked, the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born as the seventh month dies."
Lily sat there with her hand over her mouth. "What do we do?" she asked.
"I have brought the Flamels out of their retirement because you will need a secret keeper. A death eater whom all of you know, Severus Snape heard the first two lines of the prophecy. No Doubt he has already mentioned it to Lord Voldemort. I would like for you to being tutoring the twins and the youngest two weasley's in Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Nicholas and Pernelle will work with them as well in those subjects. I want them each to be able to handle a mastery once they leave Hogwarts and while I know that it is a lot to ask I expect the four of them to be the best in their year. Now as to the part of the prophecy where it states he will be bound to the seventh. You have already told me that young Harry has taken a liking to Baby Ginny..." At this point Albus was interrupted by Harry. "'Inny," he said and then looked at Hermione.
"It seems that he even understands who it is that we speak of. Interesting. Now as I was saying I believe that the prophecy meant that he would be soul bound with Ginny. Nicholas and Pernelle are also soul bound. They will be able to help through this part of the prophecy more than any of us. Now Remus, I would appreciate it if you would consent to return to Hogwarts. I find my self in need of a Defense Professor and I know that you have your mastery in that subject. I will have Professor McGonagall tutor the children in transfiguration prior to coming to Hogwarts. Now if that will be all do you consent to having the Flamels as your secret keepers?" Albus asked as he finished.
Both the Potters looked at each other prior to giving an nod of their heads. "Yes we agree. I don't know if you are aware Mr. and Mrs. Flamel, but you are actually many many times great Harry and Hermione's grandparents. " James said directing his comments to the bond mates.
"Yes we know. And we hope that they will address us as such," Pernelle said happily.
Lily and James both laughed. "I am sure that will not be an issue. Hermione already adores you. Look she fell asleep on your shoulder. I think that it is time for bed for these two Paddy is waiting I am sure to keep them safe. Like he does most nights." James said.
Once the twins were put to bed. The Fidelius Charm was performed and as it was completed, the massive estate that Potter Manor stood upon vanished…..