Severus Snape pulled the hood of his cloak down before he walked into the Hogs Head. He made sure he wasn't spotted this time. A few weeks earlier he had been thrown out of the inn after hearing Sybil Trelawney speaking with Dumbledore.

Albus Dumbledore was already sitting at the same secluded table where he was earlier. Severus made sure to hide his face as he sat down across from the older man. "Severus, nice to see you this time."

"Professor," he mumbled, keeping his eyes down.

"None of that, at least call me Dumbledore." At that a one of the woman working the bar came by to drop off a mug, her eyes wandering over to Severus. "I don't want to waste time here, you told him, didn't you?" They both knew he was referencing the Prophecy had made, the words still echoing in his mind. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.

Severus shook his head, as if to make the words leave his mind before he spoke again, "You have to protect her."

"Alice? Or do you mean Lily?" Dumbledore questioned. "You put both of them at risk by telling Voldemort."

"He's going after Lily. I tried telling her, but she wouldn't listen."

"You're sure?" Dumbledore referenced the fact that he was going after Lily. While he spoke, he traced the rim of his cup with a finger, eyes fixed on the wood table. He knew full good and well that Voldemort wanted the two most powerful couples of the Order or rather their children.

"It will be some time before he acts, he's still not ready."

"What about Frank and Alice?" Dumbledore looked over him with his bright blue eyes, scanning his old student's face.

"I'm not privy to everything," Severus admitted as he looked down not able to meet his gaze.

"I'll promise to protect her, but I want your help. The Order needs informants and what better person than you?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling. "The information will help not only her, but countless other people."

"I'll think about it." He got to his feet, his cloak swirling about his legs.

"You may think he'll kill you, but could you handle living with the blood of innocent people on your hands?"

Snape walked toward the door, turning his head toward Dumbledore's, but not allowing himself to look at him too long, just long enough to let sad eyes linger on ones that were unreadable.


It was a week later when Lily was in the kitchen cooking, the incident with Severus pushed away in her mind. There was much more to worry about than some warning from a person who was no longer her friend. Remus had not sent word, the Death Eaters seemed to be growing in numbers and things were getting more dangerous. Someone else might label her a housewife, but every moment she spent at home she made sure it was worth while. Whether it was brewing a potion, studying maps or researching she made sure was doing work for the Order.

The clock chimed at the hour and she looked up. James was due home any minute and she looked forward to it. Harry had been off all day, but she couldn't tell what was wrong with him. As the pot began to bubble she heard the door swing open and hit the back of the wall. She turned her head. "James?" she called out, but heard nothing. Immediately her hand went to her wand as she took a cautious step forward. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw her husband deposit his satchel on the ground. "I'm-
He didn't say anything, but took a step forward and bent his body in the shape of a question mark around hers. His arms tightened in an embrace, one hand on the back of her head caught up in her hair.

"What's wrong?"

He still didn't say anything, but let out a sound...Crying? She tried to pull away but he kept a firm hold on her. Soon enough the sound of crying broke through the otherwise quiet house. James released her and took a step back, heading towards the kitchen. She followed him and saw him scoop up Harry and cradle him against his chest. He still didn't say a word. As she walked closer, though, she could hear the soft strains of a song. "Hey Harry, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let her into your heart. Then you can start to make it better…"

If it was any other time she would have laughed and teased James for using a muggle song and changing it, but then she remembered when she had seen him like this. The last time he was like this Agatha had died. He wasn't angry or distant this time, but that almost made it worse.

"James…" She walked over and wrapped an arm around him, resting a head on his shoulder. Harry seemed to be content for the first time that day and James seemed calmer. Eventually she let go and moved their dinner off the stove. By then James had migrated upstairs and laid Harry down in his crib. He sat on a chair, staring at a wall with his hands propped up by his hands.

"It's not fair," he said when she ran her fingers through his hair. "He wasn't even sick a few days ago."

"Charles?"

"Yeah, I would have sent for you, but it happened so fast. I was about to leave for a mission when Frank said I got an owl from St. Mungo's. It was Dragon Pox apparently, when I saw him...he was only...I only had a few minutes…." James stared at their son, curled up peacefully, eyes shut, looking so serene.

"At least he got to meet Harry." Her hand drifted to his back where she rubbed small circles.

"And see us married." He cracked a small smile at that. "He always said that it would be his biggest regret, he liked you a lot Lily."

"Like father like son," she recited. "My parents would have loved you."

He pulled her on top of him and held her tight. She rested her head on his chest and ran his hands through her hair. No matter what they would always have each other.