Laurel: A Very Long and Very Unusual Second Life

Part One: Renascentia [Rebirth]

Chapter Six: Prophetiae [Prophecy]

30 July 1980. 4:02pm

A tapping noise filled the air, sounding from leather boots as a man's feet fell against the hot pavement. This was a common sound in Godric's Hollow. There were many old folk in that neighbourhood, but none as odd as the old man who went by 'Dumbledore.' Children playing in the playground stopped and waved towards the merry old man, even after many sightings they remained in awe of his beard, so long that it tucked softly into his wide belt.

Dumbledore came to a stop at the corner of 'Chestnut' and 'Darrow', and bent slightly to push the creaking gate open with crooked, spindling fingers. Shutting the gate behind him, he made his way to the dark wooden door and gave a firm press to the doorbell that hung beside it.

Chimes could be heard ringing throughout the house, as well as the familiar shout that followed. Footsteps started and grew louder as they approached the door, it swung open to reveal a man with jet-black hair that almost stood on end and a toddler in his arms that had fluffy black hair hanging around her ears.

"Professor!" James shouted with a wide smile overtaking his face, mirrored by Laurel in his arms. Dumbledore gave him a soft, reserved smile.

"James, may I come in?" Dumbledore got straight to business. James' smile seemed to freeze, but he shook himself out of his stupor and beckoned his old teacher inside.

James knelt down and placed Laurel on her feet, taking her hand to lead her to the first step.

"Upstairs, kiddo. Go hug Mum for me?" Laurel's small head shook violently up and down and she started to make her way up the stairs, it had already been established by James and Lily that their little one knew what she was doing, but she took it one at a time with a hand reaching up to slide along the banister.

James made his way after Dumbledore and sat on the couch across from him, picking up the cup of tea that he assumed Dumbledore had magicked up. Dumbledore gave a sigh and seemed to deflate relative to his usual posture, blue eyes, not their usual twinkling, pierced James' through half-moon glasses.

"Frank and Alice Longbottom had their child early this morning, James. A boy, Neville." Dumbledore told him gravely. James stared back at him, oblivious.

"That's…great!" James said with a hopeful smile, entirely unsure of this sentiment due to Dumbledore's severity.

"I'm sorry, James. But, your son is almost undoubtedly the child of the prophecy, 'born as the seventh month dies'." Dumbledore quoted the prophecy. James gave a huff and sat back into the soft cushions, hands cupping the teacup to finish the drink in one gulp. He sat back up resolutely.

"That's fine. Lils and I will just deal with it. We're here under the Fidelius, no one can know where the house is or get in without our permission, right?" James raised his brow to Dumbledore, who gave a nod in return. "Then, we'll be fine. Just, have to be careful."

Dumbledore continued to look silently towards James, whose eyes seemed unable to make contact, instead darting around the room without settling on anything.

"Sorry, but would you be able to go? I have to talk to Lily." James asked with wide eyes.

"Of course, James." Dumbledore stood from his seat and waved a wand that appeared from seemingly nowhere, vanishing the two empty teacups. James stood as well, startling as Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "If you or your family require anything, you need only ask."

James stared after him as he walked towards the door, face dropping into a tired smile. He rubbed his eyes and then after he heard the door open and then shut, James made his way up the stairs to find Lily.

She was found lying in bed, Laurel lying beside her with a book in hand. All that could be seen of Lily was a large, protruding lump in the bed that signified her very pregnant self.

"Lils, that you? Or, did a very large bowling ball find its way into our bed?" James asked with a smile. Lily poked her head around her belly and gave him narrowed eyes and a crinkled nose, gaining a laugh in return.

James walked towards the bed and knelt on the side, falling over a squealing Laurel who we cuddled in his arms as he turned to look at Lily. She looked back at him with concern, folding a dog ear in her book and placing it on the floor beside the bed.

"Who was that at the door?" Lily asked with trepidation. James looked at her with serious eyes, Laurel looked up from where she was in his arms to dart her eyes between them.

"Dumbledore." James said shortly, continuing, "He had some news…Frank and Alice had their baby."

Lily's eyes widened and her brow furrowed in worry. One hand came up to rub at her pregnant belly, she was due any day now.

"But, it's fine, Lils." James reassured her. "We're gonna be fine, the baby's gonna be fine."

A soft sigh came from down around their shoulders as Laurel laid back with an accepting but disappointed look. Of course, she knew that Harry was the child of the prophecy, but it didn't make it any easier.

"What are you sighing for, Honeybug?" James cuddled her closer to him.

Laurel gave a squeak, mumbling only, "Nuttin."

James chuckled at his daughter and looked up to Lily, who he saw had a worried look overtaking her face.

"Hon, everything will be okay." James reiterated, Lily simply gave a nod, reluctant to accept this. She couldn't help but feel that it wouldn't.

31 July 1980. 11:13pm

"Goddamnit, Sirius!" Remus gave a quiet shout as Sirius placed three successive pick-up-4 cards. Sirius gave a bark of laughter and shot a wolfish grin at the glaring Remus.

"No swearing in front of the child, Remus." Sirius said with a mocking glare, gesturing towards Laurel who sat giggling across from him. "Pick up your cards, that's twelve!" He continued with glee.

"I know how to count, Pads!" Remus said exasperatedly as he added the aforementioned cards to his hand.

The two friends were playing Uno together, huddled with Laurel beside them in a waiting room at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, though they were not there for a malady nor an injury. Lily had gone into labour earlier that day and they had been there for hours. Their only respite was a dilapidated set of Muggle Uno cards that they had found in the corner amongst the baby toys. Luckily, Remus knew how to play and he quickly taught Sirius. Now, they were on their thirtieth consecutive game.

"Uno!" Sirius squealed at Remus, who was amused despite himself. Remus shook his head and put down a yellow six on top of its blue friend. Sirius quickly snapped down his last card, a yellow two, and jumped up from his chair. He gave a sharp fist pump into the air and fell back into his seat. "That's 28-2 to me!"

Remus' hand rose to pinch his nose between two fingers and he shook his head in frustration, wondering how his friend had gotten so good at the game he had been introduced to only earlier that day. Beside them, Laurel gave a great chuckle and continued to sway her feet back and forth as they hung below her on the chair.

Suddenly, a sharp squeal came from the hall adjacent to the waiting room, coming closer and closer until the doors burst open to reveal a beaming James.

"I have a son! Harry Potter!" He said proudly. Sirius and Remus jumped up from their chairs with excitement, Sirius immediately rushed over to crush James in a massive hug while Remus picked up Laurel and swung her into his arms. "You'll be the godfather?" James asked Sirius, suddenly very serious.

"What? YES! What? Yes." Sirius scrambled back and forth, nodding emphatically and hugging James even closer to him.

"Mate, I can't breathe!" James' breath whooshed out of him, and Sirius backtracked with a sheepish grin.

"Harry! Ah! My godson…" Sirius began to stare off, his sheepish grin turning wide and ecstatic. Remus came up to them, Laurel in his arms.

"Feels great, doesn't it?" Remus asks Sirius with a tired smile, nodding towards Laurel who looked sleepily up at them. Sirius turned his smile towards Remus and gave a low nod, bringing Remus and Laurel in his arms to him in another hug.

"C'mere, you." Sirius said, pulling James into the group hug. They stood like that for a minute, so happy and excited for the future that they forgot themselves. James finally pulled back and gestured for Remus to give him Laurel.

"Laur, wanna meet your brother?" James asked her, getting a tired nod in reply. Laurel's head dropped to her father's shoulder and he made his way out of the waiting room doors and back the way he had come, waving for his two friends to follow.

After a few twists and turns down wide halls, they came across room 402, located in the maternity ward. James pushed the heavy door and it opened to reveal Lily laying in a hospital bed looking tired, a small bundle held carefully in her arms. Hearing them, her head rose fractionally and she smiled in welcome.

"Hey, you three." Lily said to Sirius, Remus and Laurel, all of whom she had not seen for hours. James strode into the room and leaned down beside his wife's head.

Laurel's head swivelled around, looking down on the baby in her mother's arms. Baby Harry Potter. James placed her on the side of the bed by Lily's head, where she knelt and stared at Harry. Her father left their side after he was sure that Laurel was secure and joined his friends on the side.

"Hey there, Honeybug." Lily greeted her daughter with a soft, tired smile. "This's Harry, your brother."

Laurel gave a soft smile to mirror her mother's and a small hand came up to touch the baby's own wiggling fingers. Tiny fingers curled around her larger hand, causing Laurel's smile to grow.

"Harry." She said, eyes darting around to study her baby brother, noting with a heavy heart the blank, pink forehead that did not yet hold the lightning scar. If Laurel had any say in it, it would never be there.

After a few moments between new siblings, Sirius bustled up to the bed and looked pleadingly towards Lily who have an indulgent nod of assent. He gave a grin and bent down to take the dozing baby from Lily who held him up.

"Careful." Lily warned him, he scoffed in his pride.

"I did alright when Laur was a baby, thank you very much." Sirius cradled the baby to his chest and smiled down at his new godson. "Never have I seen such a handsome young man." There was that pride again.

"Thank you." James said with an almost reverent look towards his son. He turned to his wife and said, "We do make beautiful children, don't we, Lils?"

Lily gave a sigh and pulled Laurel into her arms, cradling her like she had the baby moments before. "Yeah." Lily said looking down at her daughter and then up at her son in Sirius' arms, she couldn't help but agree.