Well it seems that the reviews have stopped. Hopefully you guys aren't getting bored : ( Perhaps it's just the busy time of the year. Anyways, hope you enjoy. The story will be picking up again soon.
"Well I have some good news and bad news." She began to gently explain to James as they sat in the living room with two cups of tea. "The good news is, I went to Saint Mungos," LIE "and found out I am not sick." Well at least that part is true, she thought to herself. "But I am…." She gnawed on her bottom lip for awhile wondering how he was going to take this, "Pregnant."
James blinked a few times and then repeated the word back to her, "Pregnant?!"
"Yes… Pregnant."
"Well that's swell Lily! Is it going to be a girl or a boy?!" he asked excitedly.
"Uh, A boy?" she said a little surprised by his sudden happiness.
"A Boy!" He said even more delighted. "We need to get some cigars! Where are the boys?! We need to celebrate!" he got up and started bustling around.
"This is wonderful!" he said to Lily and pulled her in for a big kiss right on the lips. "I'll be right back! Are you ok? Do you need anything?"
She shook her head no and with that, he ran out the door to fetch the cigars, the streamers and non-alcoholic champagne.
"There is a child who is to be born to the Potters." Snape informed Lord Voldemort in his monotone voice. "But I ask of you to please spare the mother."
Was he out of his mind?! Asking Lord Voldemort to spare a mudblood in his favour?! But he was desperate. There was no where to turn.
"Spare the mother Severusss?" Lord Voldemort repeated, not quite understanding.
"Yes my lord. She is of no consequence and she has been a valuable source of information relating to the Order. I am sure that if she is spared, and I comfort her after the loss of her son and husband, she will tell me everything."
Severus had hoped that this might work. To make the dark lord believe he was only seducing her to get information and by sparing her, they could develop a closer bond.
"Very well Severusss, you can have your reward for being such a loyal servant. I will do what I can."
Severus knew he would not get anything more, and accepted it most graciously.
"Thank you my lord, I assure you that I will not fail you."
Upon leaving the manor, he knew this was not enough. He needed to protect her more. Lord Voldemort was not to be trusted, especially when dealing with the life of Lily Evans. Apparating in Hogsmeade, he entered the tavern and checked into the room in which he first heard about the prophecy. Dumbledore was already waiting. He stood as Severus entered and closed the door behind him. At first Severus thought he was going to attack him but realized he was putting up silencing wards and intruder alerts.
"You can never be to safe." He assured Severus, with that same twinkle in his eyes that Severus remembered as a student. He could feel his gaze penetrating his soul, although this was very different from Lord Voldemort. A lot warmer and welcoming but Severus did not open his mind. Not yet.
He could not find the right words to start this conversation either. Dumbledore sat back down and magically transformed Snape's hard wooden chair into something a lot more comfortable and over stuffed like his own. Severus took a seat across the table.
"I know about the prophecy, it was me that night at the door." Severus began, thinking this would be a good place to start. Despite the surroundings he felt as if he was sitting in Dumbledore's office and it made him feel guilty like a little schoolboy who had skipped class, a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time as he was scrutinized under the eyes of Albus Dumbledore. "But only the beginning!"
"I am aware." Dumbledore replied and knitted his long, knobbly fingers together that were starting to wear away after the many years of use. His wand remained on the table to show that he meant no harm and Severus also placed his down.
"The child…" Severus's voice was beginning to sound more desperate now. "The child is Lily's."
"Yes, well that is one possibility, but I don't see why a death eater, such as yourself, would be concerned with matters such as these." He said calmly. Severus could feel himself begin to lose composure and the walls he had built over the years were crumbling down.
"He will kill Lily if he can't get to the child." Beads of sweat were beginning to form on Severus's forehead.
"Awh yes. And what would you like me to do about that? Hand over the child to Voldemort so that he can kill another innocent life to spare Lily's?"
"No." Severus replied, although part of him wanted to say yes. He did not know how much Dumbledore knew or didn't know. Was he aware that they had been sleeping together? "You need to hide them. Somewhere that the dark lord can't find them."
"I suppose I could, but how do I know you are telling the truth and how would it benefit the order? What can you offer me?" he asked, raising one eyebrow. "I could easily turn you over right now to the ministry and use the Potter family as bait."
Was Dumbledore threatening him? He was a little shocked the old man had it in him.
"There is no saying that you could actually kill the dark lord and then their lives would be wasted. Is it really worth the risk? And I will give you anything." He said, falling to his knees before Dumbledore's feet. "I'll give you anything. I don't have much. You can have my money, my house, my services."
"And how am I suppose to know this is not some ploy?" Dumbledore's eyebrows furrowed and Severus waited for him to force his way into his mind, but he did not.
"Because…" was all Severus could answer at first…
"HHHmmmmm?" Dumbledore leaned in closer to Severus who was still begging on the floor.
"Because I love her!" he announced, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his soul and he didn't know if he ought to cry or laugh. But knowing he couldn't do either, he waited there stunned. Dumbledore probably thought him mad… that he was a big liar… I mean what kind of Deatheater..
"Stand up deer boy." Dumbledore chuckled, he couldn't help himself and wished to lighten the mood. Severus obeyed slowly.
Dumbledore waved his hand to indicate to sit back down across the table. "There is two things I request of you, and then I will promise to keep Lily, James and the baby safe." Severus scowled at James's name. "First, I expect you to become a member of the order and to give any information I wish, to benefit the cause, at any time."
"Yes, yes of course." Severus expected that and was actually rather… pleased. After the last few months, he realized that there was more to life than power and wealth.
"Second, Hogwarts is in need of a potion master and I know from your past experiences that you meet the requirements."
"A potions master?" he repeated, not expecting that.
"Yes"
"And what am I suppose to tell the dark lord?" he asked, still surprised.
"Tell him what you like." He shrugged. "Tell him you meet the requirements of the job and you have convinced me that you changed and I believed you and it could benefit him to have someone on the inside. Tell him whatever he needs to hear in order to be convinced. From what I've witnessed, you are a very good occlumens. Do we have a deal?"
Severus didn't think about it for long. He had lied to the dark lord before, how would this be any different. "Yes." He agreed.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore clapped his hands together and went back to his cheery self. "Here is the document binding us to the agreement. You, Severus Snape, will serve as potions master to Hogwarts school beginning of September and serve the Order for the greater good, and I, Albus Dumbledore, promise to keep Lily Evans safe in return. If you fail to comply, than the contract will break and you will suffer grave consequences. Now just sign the bottom line." He passed Severus the quill.
"Sir, would it not be more beneficial if I were to teach Defense Against The Dark Arts?" He held the quill above the paper.
"I'm sorry, but I do not think that wise." Dumbledore's face got a little more stern and Severus sighed quickly before he changed his mind.,
"Very good, now I must be off. I shall see you in September, Professor Snape. I would suggest…" Dumbledore added just before he was about to leave, "that you take your time leaving." Dumbledore winked and with that, vanished through the wards and apparated away.
Severus's head fell into his hands, and tears began to leak from his eyes. He touched his cheek with his fingers and was shocked, he did not know he was still capable of such an emotion and quickly wiped it away.
Lily, James, Peter, Sirius and Remus all sat around the kitchen table as they waited for the arrival of Dumbledore. Since the war started, they couldn't remember the last time they all sat and conversed together. It was rare that they were all home at the same time, and Peter came over less and less. Dumbledore apparated right into their living room, giving them all a bit of shock.
"Merlin's beard, how do you do that." James breathed out and they all lowered their wands that were pointed in his direction. Dumbledore frowned.
"My apologies, I find it very rude to drop in like that but desperate times calls for desperate measures." He explained, looking rather grave.
Lily felt very apprehensive and was trying her best to remain calm and emotionless. She was using some of the breathing techniques that Severus had taught her in their lessons. It also helped with keeping the vile back that would often rise in her throat due to the first trimester of pregnancy. A small bump was beginning to protrude under her clothes, but was still concealable. Dumbledore sat on the empty unfolded chair that was placed at the kitchen table for him. It was a tight fit being such a small apartment.
"Well I have some good news, and some bad news." He began with and looked around at everyone. "It appears that a prophecy has been created by Sybill Trelawney, the great-great granddaughter of Cassandra Trelawney." he explained, hoping everyone was following along, "And it says that the one born at the end of the seventh month shall be the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord and he will mark him as his equal." He reiterated the quick version to them, leaving out information.
No one responded.
"I don't get it." Sirius eventually said, "A baby at the end of the seventh month will defeat he who shall not be named?"
"Right." Dumbledore answered.
"You can't mean Harry?!" Lily looked down at her stomach. Lily and James had decided to name him after James's father.
"I'm afraid so." Dumbledore decided he would be as truthful as he thought possible.
"Well that's bloody mad!" James got upset, while Lily was trying to choke back tears. "How the hell is a baby suppose to defeat the one who shall not be named! Do we know if he knows?"
"Lord Voldemort only heard part of the prophecy, which is the good news. All he is aware of is that his equal will be born at the end of July which gives us the advantage. I believe the best plan of action is to hide you until we know."
"Well their baby can't be the only baby born at the end of July" Remus observed.
"That is true." Dumbledore answered, raising one finger in the air to make a point. "But the only other baby that meets the requirements are the Longbottom's and they to will be hidden if they so choose."
Lily covered her mouth in horror as she continued to listen,
"But this means you will have to pick a secret keeper. Someone who you can trust, and will be the only one who will know your whereabouts. We can give you a few minutes to discuss it between yourselves, and come back with your answer."
Lily was beginning to feel very overwhelmed. She nodded, not entirely sure if this was all making sense.
"I chose Peter" James announced to all their surprise.
"Peter?" Lily repeated. Peter would have been her last guess.
"Yes Peter! I mean, no one would expect us to pick him, and he hasn't given us any reason to doubt him. I mean, it seems only logical."
"Alright, well if you think that is best?" Lily agreed, not feeling 100% confident, but she then figured she never would. At first when Dumbledore told them to pick someone trustworthy, her mind automatically went to Severus Snape, but she knew that would never be possible. And probably extremely dangerous.
"I think that Sirius would be the obvious choice. Sorry mate. And although we love you Remus, you would be a wild card around the full moon, which leaves us with Peter."
"And are you sure about this." Dumbledore asked them, looking over his glasses now at the couple.
"Yes." James responded trying to sound confident and looked at Lily and held one of her hands.
"Yes, I am sure Peter will be a good secret keeper." She gave him a soft smile.
"Alright." Dumbledore pulled out a bright shinning gold key and a small parchment of paper. "By accepting this key Peter Pettrigrew, you are taking the responsibility to be their keeper. Once you have memorised the address, the paper will dissolve and a charm will be set upon you so you shall never forget it. The key is the only one that will break the wards."
Peter nodded and looked down at the piece of parchment.
43 Godric's Hollow.
"Now that we have taken care of that business. Lily, I need to speak with you privately." James looked a little upset and confused. Dumbledore stood up and offered his arm for Lily to grab on. "I assure you I will have your wife back soon. I would suggest James Potter that you start packing." Lily was trying to figure out why he emphasized the word Wife while they disappeared and felt as if they were being sucked through a tiny straw.
"Where are we?" she asked, as she looked around the what appeared to be a room at an inn.
At the sound of her voice, Severus lifted his head hopeful, to see both Lily and Dumbledore standing in the room.
"It appears we have much to discuss." Dumbledore said sternly as Lily and Severus stared into each others eyes.
Oh boy, Dumbledore is not happy and it looks like some smut ahead.
