Chapter Two - Secret Keepers
By Agent Alika
"Professor Dumbledore! You've got to be joking! Why would a powerful wizard like Voldemort go after a harmless baby?" James protested.
"Yeah, Professor, I could understand why Voldemort would want to come after James or Lily because they are members of the Order, but why Harry, he's just their son?" Sirius asked.
"To get James or me. Or possibly both of us. No duh, Sirius!" Lily said sarcastically.
"Quiet everyone! There isn't much time to explain, but I will give you all a brief explanation and you can ask me anything you would like afterwards. But all I am asking for now is your undivided attention," said Dumbledore.
"Would you like me to leave then, Professor, since this does not concern me?" Sirius asked.
"No, Mr. Black. You may stay. In fact this may concern you also, so I think it is better if you do stay. Just remember, nothing leaves this house," Dumbledore said.
"All right, I understand."
"Good. Now, as some of you are aware of, our recent Divination retired from her post a year ago..."
"Yes!" Sirius and James muttered.
"...and I considered just dropping the subject all together. The applicant of the post was the Great-granddaughter of a celebrated seer, so I thought it common courtesy or hear what she had to say. "
James started muttering wildly under his breath and Lily stomped on his foot to shut him up.
"Anyway," Dumbledore continued, "I met with her in a room above the Hogs Head Inn. After the interview had been conducted, I was disappointed..."
At this, James gave a derisive snort.
"...because it seemed she had not received a trace of the gift herself. However, when I turned to leave, she fell into a daze. She prophesized that the one who had the power to defeat Voldemort would be born at the end of July. His parents would have defied Voldemort thrice and the Dark Lord would mark him as his equal. However, he would have power that the Dark Lord knows not and one would have to die at the hand of the other..."
Lily gasped.
"...for neither can live while the other survives. There are two possible candidates for this prophecy: your son and the Longbottom's, Neville.
"I understand Professor. But why do we have to go in hiding for a prophecy that we don't even know is about our son?" James asked.
"The Hogs Head tends to attract a rather interesting crowd and it is never safe to assume that you aren't being overheard, especially in a place like that," Dumbledore said. "Fortunately in our case, the eavesdropper was caught and thrown from the building part way through the prophecy. He only overheard that a boy was to be born in July that had the power to defeat his master and that his parents defied him three times. Of course, he reported this back to his master. Voldemort believes Harry is a danger to him more than Neville. He sees himself in Harry because according to him, they are both half-bloods. He does not know however that by attacking Harry he risks transferring his power thus marking Harry as is equal. One of my spies has informed me of Voldemort's not so recent discovery and advises that the best way to keep Harry safe is to go in hiding. Our best method is the Fidelius Charm. Do you have any knowledge of it?"
James shook his head, but Lily replied, "I have a bit of information on it, Professor. I did a bit of reading on it back in school for extra credit work for Professor Flitwick. It is a piece of ancient and difficult magic that involves the magical concealment of a secret inside of a single living soul. The secret would be impossible to find unless the Secret-Keeper wishes to divulge it. Basically you could be in the same room as say, Voldemort, but he wouldn't be able to see you if the charm worked and the secret was not divulged. Are you thinking of using the Fidelius Charm for when we go in hiding, sir?"
"Precisely, dear. Now I have no doubts that you have the ability to perform this difficult charm, however, the main concern is finding a Secret- Keeper. You are more than welcome to use me," said Dumbledore.
"Or me," Sirius said hopefully.
"Professor," James interrupted. "How long would we be in hiding? A few weeks? Months? Years? For the rest of our lives?"
"I don't know. From this point in time, it seems like years considering the fact hat your son will be the one that will defeat Voldemort.
"Well, all right. Even though I am against the idea of having my son grow up in hiding, I will do it for his safety," said James.
"Good, then it's settled then. Now onto the next situation. And that is, who are you going to choose to act as your Secret-Keeper? I, of course, am more than happy to volunteer."
"As am I," Sirius offered.
"Thank Professor Dumbledore and Sirius for your more than generous offers, but we will need time to consider who we want to act as our Secret-Keeper," James said.
"Very well then. Don't take too long, though. Let's say the decision must be made by tomorrow morning, 10 AM?" Dumbledore asked.
"OK. That will be fine. Good day to the both of you," Lily said as Sirius disapparated.
"Oh, by the way, I should warn you. Keep in mind that when you are choosing your Secret-Keeper, be sure that it is someone that you can really trust. My spies inform me that there is a traitor in our midst, someone especially close to the two of you," Dumbledore said as he disapparated with a *pop*.
"We've got some serious decisions to make, no pun intended," groaned James as he placed his only son in his crib and followed Lily to their bedroom so that they could discuss the imminent problem.
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update the story. Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I was planning to write more, but I decided not to because I've kept you a waiting too long. BTW, I really need a beta reader, so if you would like to volunteer for this dreaded job, please leave your e-mail address in your review so I can contact you with the next chapter. Thanks!!! Please review, it keeps me motivated to know that people are reading this story :D!!! I don't mind flames either.....
"Professor Dumbledore! You've got to be joking! Why would a powerful wizard like Voldemort go after a harmless baby?" James protested.
"Yeah, Professor, I could understand why Voldemort would want to come after James or Lily because they are members of the Order, but why Harry, he's just their son?" Sirius asked.
"To get James or me. Or possibly both of us. No duh, Sirius!" Lily said sarcastically.
"Quiet everyone! There isn't much time to explain, but I will give you all a brief explanation and you can ask me anything you would like afterwards. But all I am asking for now is your undivided attention," said Dumbledore.
"Would you like me to leave then, Professor, since this does not concern me?" Sirius asked.
"No, Mr. Black. You may stay. In fact this may concern you also, so I think it is better if you do stay. Just remember, nothing leaves this house," Dumbledore said.
"All right, I understand."
"Good. Now, as some of you are aware of, our recent Divination retired from her post a year ago..."
"Yes!" Sirius and James muttered.
"...and I considered just dropping the subject all together. The applicant of the post was the Great-granddaughter of a celebrated seer, so I thought it common courtesy or hear what she had to say. "
James started muttering wildly under his breath and Lily stomped on his foot to shut him up.
"Anyway," Dumbledore continued, "I met with her in a room above the Hogs Head Inn. After the interview had been conducted, I was disappointed..."
At this, James gave a derisive snort.
"...because it seemed she had not received a trace of the gift herself. However, when I turned to leave, she fell into a daze. She prophesized that the one who had the power to defeat Voldemort would be born at the end of July. His parents would have defied Voldemort thrice and the Dark Lord would mark him as his equal. However, he would have power that the Dark Lord knows not and one would have to die at the hand of the other..."
Lily gasped.
"...for neither can live while the other survives. There are two possible candidates for this prophecy: your son and the Longbottom's, Neville.
"I understand Professor. But why do we have to go in hiding for a prophecy that we don't even know is about our son?" James asked.
"The Hogs Head tends to attract a rather interesting crowd and it is never safe to assume that you aren't being overheard, especially in a place like that," Dumbledore said. "Fortunately in our case, the eavesdropper was caught and thrown from the building part way through the prophecy. He only overheard that a boy was to be born in July that had the power to defeat his master and that his parents defied him three times. Of course, he reported this back to his master. Voldemort believes Harry is a danger to him more than Neville. He sees himself in Harry because according to him, they are both half-bloods. He does not know however that by attacking Harry he risks transferring his power thus marking Harry as is equal. One of my spies has informed me of Voldemort's not so recent discovery and advises that the best way to keep Harry safe is to go in hiding. Our best method is the Fidelius Charm. Do you have any knowledge of it?"
James shook his head, but Lily replied, "I have a bit of information on it, Professor. I did a bit of reading on it back in school for extra credit work for Professor Flitwick. It is a piece of ancient and difficult magic that involves the magical concealment of a secret inside of a single living soul. The secret would be impossible to find unless the Secret-Keeper wishes to divulge it. Basically you could be in the same room as say, Voldemort, but he wouldn't be able to see you if the charm worked and the secret was not divulged. Are you thinking of using the Fidelius Charm for when we go in hiding, sir?"
"Precisely, dear. Now I have no doubts that you have the ability to perform this difficult charm, however, the main concern is finding a Secret- Keeper. You are more than welcome to use me," said Dumbledore.
"Or me," Sirius said hopefully.
"Professor," James interrupted. "How long would we be in hiding? A few weeks? Months? Years? For the rest of our lives?"
"I don't know. From this point in time, it seems like years considering the fact hat your son will be the one that will defeat Voldemort.
"Well, all right. Even though I am against the idea of having my son grow up in hiding, I will do it for his safety," said James.
"Good, then it's settled then. Now onto the next situation. And that is, who are you going to choose to act as your Secret-Keeper? I, of course, am more than happy to volunteer."
"As am I," Sirius offered.
"Thank Professor Dumbledore and Sirius for your more than generous offers, but we will need time to consider who we want to act as our Secret-Keeper," James said.
"Very well then. Don't take too long, though. Let's say the decision must be made by tomorrow morning, 10 AM?" Dumbledore asked.
"OK. That will be fine. Good day to the both of you," Lily said as Sirius disapparated.
"Oh, by the way, I should warn you. Keep in mind that when you are choosing your Secret-Keeper, be sure that it is someone that you can really trust. My spies inform me that there is a traitor in our midst, someone especially close to the two of you," Dumbledore said as he disapparated with a *pop*.
"We've got some serious decisions to make, no pun intended," groaned James as he placed his only son in his crib and followed Lily to their bedroom so that they could discuss the imminent problem.
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update the story. Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I was planning to write more, but I decided not to because I've kept you a waiting too long. BTW, I really need a beta reader, so if you would like to volunteer for this dreaded job, please leave your e-mail address in your review so I can contact you with the next chapter. Thanks!!! Please review, it keeps me motivated to know that people are reading this story :D!!! I don't mind flames either.....