A/N: A very special thank you to ohnobetty, my beta reader, who made my cover image! I love it and her! If you haven't checked out her fic, I suggest you do that. It's called Albus & The Wolf and it's amazing. Also, another shout out to one of my amazing readers, nightbird! She's the main reason I've been updating so frequently, so you all have her to thank! Happy reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't make money from this fic.
January 30, 1980 Hogwarts, Scotland - Headmaster's Office
It had been nearly two years since James Potter had been in the Headmaster's office, and he hardly expected to find himself there once more. His contact with Dumbledore these days was mostly floo calls and owl post, or, for especially confidential matters, Order meetings would do. To James's knowledge, the only Order members who regularly visited the Headmaster were Alastor Moody and Hermione. But there he sat, alongside Lily, and, for some reason, Frank and Alice Longbottom.
"Thank you all for coming." Dumbledore started, looking them over before he began. "I called the four of you here today because of a very important revelation that has come to light. I have recently witnessed a prophecy foretelling a magical child, born as the seventh month dies, who will unknowingly bring the downfall of the Dark Lord."
"But, sir," Lily said, "There must be more expectant parents than just us whose delivery date is the end of July?"
"You are correct, Lily." Dumbledore said, "But the prophecy has given us more clues than just that. The full prophecy is as follows:
" 'A child will be born as the seventh month dies, born to those who have thrice defied the Dark Lord. The child knows not, but he will bring the downfall of the Dark Lord, who will mark him as his equal. Neither shall live lest the other die. The child who will save us all is born as the seventh month dies.'"
"'Those who have thrice defied the Dark Lord.'" Alice said, "But that can't be right, Headmaster. We've only faced You-Know-Who twice."
"No, Alice, that skirmish in Cornwall earlier this month makes three." Frank said, gravely.
"Sorry if I come across as ignorant, sir," James said, "But why does this matter? Assuming Voldemort doesn't know-"
"Ah, there's the point, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore said. "Voldemort shouldn't know. But it seems that when the prophecy was being told, there was another witness, a spy for the Dark Lord. I believe you all know one Severus Snape?"
"That little greaseball? You're kidding me!" James spat.
"I don't believe he heard the whole thing, but I am certain he will report back what he did hear to his master. Which puts you four in grave danger." He said, seriously. "As such, I'd advise you go into hiding. The missions you currently have from me will be your last, and I would like to see you safely holed up no later than the end of February." he said.
"Sir, we can't. Work, and-" Frank started.
"I've already spoken to Alastor about it, Frank. He agrees. He can't lose two of his best aurors to this prophecy. If he needs you, he'll be in contact. Until then, he wants you safe." Dumbledore said. The two Aurors nodded.
"What about Gringotts?" James asked Lily. "You had a hard enough time when you told them you were pregnant." Lily just shrugged.
"I'll tell Higgins what's going on. If he doesn't like it, I'll leave." She said, looking over to Dumbledore. "Is it alright if I direct him to you for more information, sir?"
"Of course, dear." Dumbledore said.
"You'll just give up your job at Gringotts?" James asked. "Just like that?"
"If it means keeping our child safe, James, of course." She said, slipping her hand into his. He nodded, a small smile slipping into place.
"How would you recommend we go into hiding, Headmaster?" Lily asked.
"The most effective way would be a Fidelius Charm. I believe you are aware of them, yes, Lily?" The headmaster said.
"Yes. I've seen them used quite a bit on some of the pricier foreclosed houses I've dealt with." She said. "We'll need a secret keeper, right?" Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes. But I don't want you to decide who just yet. Talk to your friends, your family, and decide who you want it to be. I'd like to do the charm myself to ensure it is done correctly. I'll come to the house at the beginning of March."
James nodded. The war was here, and there was no way he or anyone else could ignore it any longer. Not when they were caught in the middle of it.
February 9, 1980 Godric's Hollow, England - Potter House
"So you're going you're going off the grid?" Sirius asked. "Literally?"
"Yes." Lily answered, looking up at James, who was perched on the arm of her chair.
"There's more to it than just that, though." He sighed. "Listen, there's something that we've been meaning to talk to the two of you about." he said, standing up.
"What is it, James?" Hermione asked, furrowing her brows.
"We're in the middle of a war." He said. "And as scary as that is, I realize just how much danger we're all in. If history repeats itself, if the future that Hermione knows comes to pass-"
"That won't happen." She said firmly.
"But if something does happen, Hermione. If something happens to Lily and I, I need to know our child will be safe. Would you two be his godparents? It would put our minds at ease knowing that if something happens, he would go to you two." He said, looking between them. Sirius's face was a mask that James knew well. He had a tendency to hide his emotions from the man who was like a brother to him, but James knew him well enough to see them anyway. Hermione, though, looked taken aback.
"Me?" She asked, surprise written across all of her features.
"Yes, you." Lily laughed. "Who better than my best friend to raise my child should something happen?" She said gently.
"I don't want to think about something happening to you." Hermione said, and James could hear the emotion cracking her voice. "Either of you."
"I know, 'Mione." James smiled softly at her. "But we need a backup plan. Just in case." She nodded.
"Sirius?" Lily asked. "What do you think?"
"I believe I told you two," he said, "That if there was ever anything we could do for you, let us know, and we would do it." he said, squeezing Hermione's hand. She smiled up at him. "I believe I speak for the both of us when I say that extends to this, as well."
"Then it's decided." James said. "Now, there's just one more thing that needs deciding."
"Our secret keeper." Lily said. Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself, and all three looked to her to make sure she was alright.
"I knew this conversation would come, eventually." She sighed. "The Prophecy has been told, then?" She asked. Lily nodded.
"Of course, you both know my first choice is you, Sirius." James said, pacing the floor with his hands in his pockets. "But the problem with that is the Death Eaters have been after Hermione for four years. They'll have been after Sirius too. Personally, I think you two need to move, by the way." He said.
"I think it's time we move, as well." Sirius said. "Arkie told me the other day he's had some odd people in the shop, asking about us. I don't know how much longer we'll be safe there."
"Well, that leaves Peter and Remus. We know from Hermione's information that Peter was a spy last time around, so we should probably go with Remus." James said.
"No." Hermione said.
"What?" Lily asked, "But Hermione, you said-"
"I know what happened in my time, Lils, but hear me out." She said. "Peter, the Peter that I know- he'd never intentionally hurt his friends. You should have seen him, when I explained to him the path he was on. I left him sobbing in an empty compartment on the train. I believe this Peter, our Peter, is our best bet."
"Sirius?" James asked. "What do you think?"
"I think Hermione is right." He said. "But I think we need to tell Dumbledore who the real secret keeper is this time." Hermione nodded.
"I honestly believe that he won't betray us. But if he does, the world will know the truth." Hermione said. James and Lily shared a look and nodded.
"I trust you, Hermione." James said. "We'll do it."
March 1, 1980 Godric's Hollow, England - Potter House
"Okay, just relax." Hermione said, the stethoscope in her ears, and the chestpiece settled on Lily's belly. She nodded and James watched Hermione move the diaphragm around her bump, looking for the little pulse. She took removed the headset from her ears and draped the stethoscope around her neck and she came back around Lily.
"Well the baby's heartbeat sounds normal. This stethoscope is the closest I can get to an ultrasound right now, but it's got a charm or two on it." Hermione said. "Your blood pressure was great, so I think you should be all set for the next few weeks."
"Thanks for doing these check ups, Hermione." She said, hugging her friend. "It really makes things easier on us."
"Not a problem. I'll write up the report and give it to your midwife on Monday." Hermione said.
"I can't believe you're still working through all of this." James said, shaking his head at her.
"Sirius and Dumbledore have tried to get me to quit, at least for a time." Hermione said, "But I've just finished my Healer training. I want to use it a bit before we're forced into hiding."
"I know what you mean," Lily said. "I hate sitting in the house day in and day out. I feel so useless.
"Did Sirius tell you, by the way?" Hermione asked. "We're moving."
"No he didn't," James said, frowning. "Why, I thought you guys loved that flat?"
"We do, and Arkie's a great landlord, but we came home from the Order meeting last week to the place ransacked. There was a message left on the wall in the living room. 'We want the girl.' Sirius freaked out. Sent a patronus to Moody straight away and had him come check the place out. He left us a sneakoscope and put up some extra enchantments, but told us we needed to move as soon as we're able."
"Why didn't Sirius tell me?" James asked, feeling hurt. His best friend usually came to him with things like that.
"He's been working his ass off trying to figure out who did it." Hermione said. "It really struck a nerve with him, I think. Someone in our house. I think he started thinking about what would have happened if I'd been home." She said.
"Oh shit, yeah." James said, realizing what his friend was going through. If someone had come into his house while he was gone and Lily was there, he'd have been a mess. "Is that where he is now, still at the Ministry?" Hermione nodded.
"Ever since Frank and Alice went into hiding, Moody and Scrimgeour have gotten desperate. They've been taking Sirius on more and more mission. James, I'm worried about him." She said.
"About him not coming home?" he asked.
"No," Hermione said. "About him coming home, but losing himself on the way." James felt the color drain out of his face and he knew exactly what Hermione meant.
He'd been watching his friends, recently, when he got to see them. He'd been watching them as a war that he was forced to watch without helping in took its toll on the ones he held closest to his heart. Peter was growing thin, a little ball of nerves. He was to the point where he was only able to relax when all of them were in one place.
Remus was looking worse for wear than ever. These days, his transformations had been rough, and only Peter and Sirius had been able to accompany him on the nights of full moon, and sometimes even they weren't able to assist him, so he'd taken to locking himself in his old hideaway, the Shrieking Shack, during the moon.
And Sirius. James should have known Sirius was becoming obsessive with his work long before Hermione mentioned it. He barely talked to his friend any more, he mainly saw Hermione. He knew it wasn't healthy for him to get so caught up in hunting Dark wizards, but he also knew there was only one way to get him to see sense.
"I'll talk to him, Hermione." James vowed. "I think I know what's going on in his head."
"Thank you, James." Hermione said, standing and hugging him.
"Thank me after we've had the talk." He chuckled, hugging the woman back. "He may not like what I've got to say." Hermione arched a brow at him, but said nothing more.
James sighed as he release Hermione, thinking about what he was going to say to Sirius. He wasn't prepared in the slightest to have this conversation with Sirius, but he hoped his friend took it well, for both of their sakes.