Lily and James Potter were the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl, whom they named Rosalie Briar. Rosalie to keep Lily's family tradition of naming all girls after flowers, and Briar to pay homage to James' sister, who had died not long before James started his schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Rosie, as they affectionately called her, was doted upon by her loving parents; with Lily cooing over her every move and every blink of her emerald green eyes and James smiling at her whenever she giggled. The girl looked very much like her mother, with a tuft of red hair crowning her face, and those trademark emerald eyes that James had fallen for.
James already knew that his little girl would be able to get him to do whatever she wanted him to with just a bat of her eyelashes and that doe-eyed look Lily often gave him. Lily, in turn, was already aware that she would have to make sure James didn't spoil Rosie too much, or she would grow up into a girl not unlike that Slytherin girl Lily had seen hanging around Severus so much, with a sneer permanently pasted on her visage.
Unfortunately for her, Lily had forgotten to consider how James' friends, Sirius, Remus, and Peter would act around her baby girl. Sirius, who had been pouting for weeks because they had not named him godfather, was now determined to be the uncle Rosie loved the most; he would be the one who fed her sweets when Lily said no, and the one to sneak her little presents under her parents' noses. Remus, fortunately, was more mature about his role as godfather. Reluctant though he was to accept the role, he was now captivated by the baby's charm, and he vowed to never let any harm come to his beautiful god-daughter. Peter, on the contrary, seemed squeamish around Rosie. He never held her, and he would side-eye the little girl every time he came over to their house in Godric's Hollow.
Lily was very pleased that Remus was taking his role seriously, and she could only hope that the Ministry would be willing to overlook his condition should anything happen to her and James. Rosie's godmother had been chosen by Lily. She knew that if she had let James choose the godmother, he would have chosen someone just as immature as Sirius, who he had wanted as godfather before Lily vetoed it. Minerva, Lily thought, would be the perfect godmother for Rosie. As a professor, she knew how to handle children well, and she could be very gentle if she wanted to. She had been very pleased when Lily had offered her the role, and had accepted immediately, assuring Lily that she, although she hoped it would never come to this, would be happy to take care of Rosie if the need arose.
On a cool September evening, when Rosie was just over a year old, Lily and James were playing with Rosie in the upstairs nursery when a giant, glowing silver phoenix flew in through the window. The phoenix, which Lily and James identified as a Patronus, spoke calmly in Albus Dumbledore's voice.
It said: "James, Lily, can you spare a moment? I would like to speak with both of you. Now, if possible. Sirius can take care of little Rosalie, of course."
Lily looked at James, "Do you think we should? It's almost Rosie's bedtime."
James pouted, "Of course we should, Lily! It's Dumbledore, after all."
Lily frowned, "I don't know, James. He's been quite aloof lately. I also don't want Sirius to be taking care of Rosie this late. Goodness knows what he will do with her."
"Lily, I think you're overthinking this," James said, "Dumbledore obviously has something important he wants to tell us, otherwise he wouldn't be calling us this late. And we can probably bring Rosie with us, anyway. I bet Minnie will be at Hogwarts, and she'd love to see Rosie again."
Lily sighed, "Alright, then. And you know Minerva doesn't like to be called Minnie, James. I don't know why you and Sirius insist on doing it. How many detentions did that earn you during school, anyway?"
James smiled cheekily, "Not enough, Lily-flower! Now let's go see Dumbledore!"
Lily shook her head, but stood and scooped up Rosie from her spot on the floor, James ruffling Rosie's now auburn-colored, curly hair as she did.
"Are we Apparating?" Lily asked.
"Nah," James replied, "Let's just take the Floo."
Lily nodded and followed James downstairs to their living room. James reached the fireplace first and picked up a pouch that lay on the mantelpiece. He offered it to Lily.
"Ladies first!"
Lily smiled ruefully, but tightened her hold on Rosie as she gathered a handful of Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace, saying, "Hogwarts, Headmaster's Office," as she did so.
James did the same, waiting until Lily and Rosie had spun out of sight before picking up his own handful and putting down the pouch. "Hogwarts, Headmaster's Office," he cried, stepping into the fireplace and feeling the familiar sensation of being whirled around before stopping and getting out in Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts, smiling as he saw Lily comforting their daughter after the journey.
"Ah, James," Dumbledore said jovially, "It's nice to see you again, my boy."
"Same," James responded in kind, going over to his wife and daughter, "So why did you want to speak with us?"
Dumbledore's face became troubled, "I'm afraid I have some bad news," he said sorrowfully, "Do sit down, James, Lily."
Lily remained standing. "If you don't mind, Professor, I would like to bring Rosie to see Minerva."
"Oh, yes, of course you may, Lily." Dumbledore smiled, with a grandfatherly twinkle in his eye.
Lily turned and left the office in search of Rosie's godmother, leaving James with Dumbledore.
