The Family Prophecy

JAMES

James apparated from Hogsmede to his home on Christmas eve to find his mother flustered and rushed off her feet.

"Oh, James, thank GOD you're here!" she gave him a quick hug, "Your Father is still at work, your Grandmother can't stay here on her own, I need to get to Diagon Alley before it closes and that's only in a few minutes time! I won't be long, can you take that tray into your Grandmothers?"

"No problem."

"Thank-you." And, with a loud noise, she was gone. He picked up the tray of his Grandmothers' food, apparated upstairs and knocked lightly on her door and opened it.

"James!"

"Hey, Nan." He put the tray on her bedside table, hugged her, and sat in the chair beside her, "How are you?"

"I've been good James, the healers say the curse will completely wear off soon."

"That's great, you'll be up and ordering me around soon then." He said making her laugh.

"Ahh, can't wait…anyway, who's your current female interest?"

"Current? I don't change them that often."

"Oh, yes you do!"

"Well maybe…I'm seeing this girl Lily."

"Annnddd…"

"And what?"

"Tell me about her! What does she look like? What is she like?"

"Here you go then." He took a photo out of robe pocket.

"Finally! A red head, this is the girl, James, this is your girl. The family destiny will go on!"

"What are you talking about?" he gave her a confused look as she pulled a portrait book from her bedside drawer.

"This, is…it's like our family tree from parents to parents…these are your parents, a red head girl and a messy black haired boy, who had a boy with messy black hair, just like your grandfather and I, this goes on, so your Grandfather told me, right back to Aidan of the Pottery and Mary of the Blacksmith. Soon after they got married Mary had a prophecy. Here, Aidan wrote it on this piece of parchment at the back." She gave it to him and he read it with his jaw hanging,

From Black and Red

To Red and Black

We marry those of colour that.

Our children have hair

Sooty Black

Until our Destiny's Track

Has been completed

Shall our genes be back

When a dark lord is defeated

A child will be born to us

Hair the colour of terracotta clay,

Hair with colour of our forges' flame

Born to one who is humble

And Born to one with unwanted fame

"But, this…I don't have unwanted fame. Neither does Lily."

"I know but this may not be your generation …maybe I showed you this too soon…now don't feel pressured to marry her, she may well be the wrong red head…"

"Nan…this is perfect…I was going to ask her…well, I know we've only been going out for a couple of months…but…I was going to ask her on New Years anyway…I got the ring and everything…even sent an owl to her father just to make sure…and…yeeeaaahhh…" he looked down at the prophecy.

"Ahh, James, you're a Potter to the bone." She laughed

LILY

Paintings of couples, the women with red hair, the men with messy black hair, holding baby boys with a tuft of black hair sticking up at the back…then Lily and James, in wedding attire, then Lily and James with a baby boy with messy black hair, then another man…a man with a lightning bolt scar, with a red haired wife, with a baby girl, with red hair…and words chanting in the background, with gaping holes of silence…To Red and Black…a child will be born…with unwanted fame…

Lily woke up on Christmas morning very confused after the dream she had had. Then she remembered it was Christmas. She checked her alarm clock and noticed that she had slept in…which wasn't surprising anymore, as being James Potters girlfriend involved a lot more than she had thought. Including staying awake worrying about what he was doing, and if he got caught this time, would he be expelled? Also catching up on homework after being distracted the rest of the time…mainly by warding of the hatred she had now earned from almost every other girl in Hogwarts, apart from her friends, although that was wearing down now, and she was getting a lot fewer hostile looks and when she asked to borrow a quill from Harriet, it may have been her oldest one, but it was better than a disbelieving laugh which said, 'you'll be lucky'.

She quickly showered and dressed before going downstairs.

"Afternoon, Lily." Her mother greeted her smiling, "This is a first, I've never known you to sleep any later than 8 o'clock in the morning.

"It's one of the ha-ha-hazards of being a marauders girlfriend." She said yawing, "you end up staying up all night waiting for them to come back, hopefully unharmed, un-detentioned and un-expelled. Some would say I'm being a bad head-girl…namely McGonagall…but, I'm not being as bad a head-girl as James is being a bad head-boy! Oh yeah, Merry Christmas," She smiled as she handed a parcel to her mother, "Where's dad?"

"Picking up your Petunia and Vernon from the airport."

"How could she marry such an idiot?"

"Lily…" her mother said in a warning voice, "be civil to him. Your sister hasn't told him that you're a witch, so…"

"So I'm not even allowed to apparate down the stairs."

"Lily, it's Petunia's decision not to…'

"No, Mum, He'll just have to find out my way, I don't care if Petunia hates me afterward, I'm not hiding my identity for an ignorant, horrible, disgusting, thick, ugly excuse for a human being! Neither he nor Petunia are going to be able to change me and I wish she would learn that I am who I am!" She apparated up to her room to find the owl that that she and James had bought in Hogsmede together was sitting on her window sill, and opened the window.

"Hello, Aphrodite." She took the parchment from her leg, tipped some owl treats into a small bowl and opened the letter.

Lily,

I found out something amazing yesterday. Can't tell you though, not until new years. Can't wait to see you.

How's your holiday been so far?

Write back.

Love, James.

P.S. Sorry. Can't give you your present yet. It hasn't been delivered.

She read it twice over, filled with curiosity. Then she took out a piece of parchment and wrote a reply.

James,

Please, Please, Please get me away from here! I'm having the worst Christmas ever! Please! Just tell me where you are and I'll apparate over there. I just need to get away from my family, they are seriously getting on my nerves. Help, help, help! And I could give you your gift in person. Write back quickly.

Love, Lily.

***

Lily had packed her trunk and written a note to her family, telling them where she would be, if, and only if, there was an emergency, before falling asleep, ignoring the knocks on her door. She woke up after midnight to the sound of Aphrodite tapping at the window, and hurried to open the it.

Lily,

Are you sure you want to come here? You'd be answering a lot of questions from my grandmother. She has this need to know everything. It could become very embarrassing for both of us. Hahaha, no, really I want you to come, I live at Godric's Hollow the Potter Mansion.

I'll see you soon then, come here as soon as you get this, no matter how late it is.

Love, James

Lily smiled and carried her trunk down the stairs. She left her note on the kitchen bench before apparating to the Potter Mansion.

TOGETHER

James was dozing in front of his living room fire, until he heard the loud cracking noise that was Lily apparating.

"James?" She called before seeing him walk into the hall

"Hey, Lily." He put his arms around her and kissing her, "So, what's happened?"

Lily rolled her eyes and told him about her sister, her brother-in-law, and why she was so angry with them all.

"Geez, he sounds like a dolt."

"The fattest dolt you could ever meet."

"This doesn't sound like the Lily I know…Lily Evans, Head-girl of Hogwarts, is kind hearted, and believes in equality, and not in appearances…Ah, who gives?"

"Exactly, Lily isn't always sweet." She laughed, "Anyway, why can't you tell me whatever it is you found out?"

"Don't worry, my Nan'll probably tell you tomorrow, she's not that great at keeping secrets for too long."

"Good. Sooo, where am I sleeping?"

James just laughed and showed her to the guest room on the platform between floor's one and two.
"There's extra pillows blankets and all that in this cupboard, there's some good books over in that bookshelf if you want to read, and I have to go to bed now before my parents realise you got here and I wasn't asleep an hour afterward. They say it's bad enough that I stay up all night at Hogwarts, but like hell are they letting me do that here. So, 'Night Lily."

"G'Night James, see you in the morning." She watched as he left the room, then fell back onto the bed and fell asleep without even changing.

***

Lily woke up at 8.30 the next morning feeling over tired, but not able to get back to sleep. So she padded downstairs, as she hadn't enough energy at that moment to apparate, to find herself almost colliding into James who was carrying a tray of bacon, eggs, and toast.

"Thought you might like breakfast in bed."

"Thanks, but I'm up now, and I want to meet your family."

"Alright then." He grinned cheekily at her and took her hand, leading her into the mansion's dining room.

"Mum, Dad, this is Lily."

"Oh hello Lily, sorry not to spend a bit more time getting to know you but we really need to rush, something big has happened and I'm needed to print a special edition of the Prophet." And with that, Mrs. Potter disapparated.

"Got to go too, sorry son, whatever's happened seems to need all Aurors on hand, bye, and take a tray up to your Grandmother!" he called as, he too, apparated away.

"They need all aurors on hand? But doesn't that mean it's something to do with…Voldemort?" Lily asked while shaking.

"Maybe…or it could just be death eaters."

"Hmmm…so," she picked up a piece of toast, "What does your mother do for the Prophet?"

"She's the editor. Can you grab that juice…thanks…well, Miss Evans, care to meet my over enthusiastic Grandmother?"

"Can't wait." She took another bite of toast and followed James from the room.

***

"Nan? I've bought you some breakfast, and I thought you might like to meet Lily."

"Yes, yes, come in." James opened the door and Lily cautiously followed him in.

"Hello, dear, you found our place alright then?" She looked directly at Lily, and in this light, you could still see the few wisps of red hair combined with her silver hair…Lily stared at her open mouthed.

Oh my god, she was in one of the couples in my dream…the ones before the ones before the pictures of James and I…how could I have seen her in my dream…then her eyes widened even more. And James' parents were the ones before us…ohhh my god.

"Everything alright dear?"

"What? Sorry, I was just sure I'd seen you somewhere else before." At which the old woman smiled.

"James, my boy, I was right!"

"Nan…"

"Alright, alright, James. Lily, sit." She waved her wand and two chairs landed at her bedside, "tell me about yourself."

"Er…okay." And she sat for the next hour telling her about her family, her classes, and everything in between until a Daily Prophet owl came in with the special edition.

James paid the owl and opened the newspaper. After reading for a minute he swore,

"OH SHIT! SHIT, SHIT, SHIT."

"James, what—" but instead of saying anything he passed her the paper and put his head in his hands. Lily looked at the article scared for what she might see.

YOU-KNOW-WHO ATTACKS AGAIN

You-know-who attacked a muggle village and surrounding town early this morning. The township (unnamed for security reasons) was burnt to the ground with the Dark Mark hanging over the few survivors heads. An eye-witness, one of the 5 survivors, who's sister attends Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry explained that the experience was traumatising.

"This man with a face like a snake came into our house and killed my parents. My husband and I were able to hide, but my parents bodies lay there with their mouths open, their eyes wide, but their bodies were completely flawless, not one cut, nothing—". She burst into tears and was quickly comforted by her husband. Mrs. Petunia Dursley (our eye-witness), will be the only one of the survivors not to have her memory modified.

When our Editor got in this morning at an emergency call, she found an envelope which resembled that of a howler, although it was green. When she opened it she was shocked to hear You-Know-Who's voice, she reported what he had said,

I didn't kill who I wanted to, although the ones I killed were just as useful. Lily Evans, you know what will happen.

Lily started screaming.

"Lily, it's okay, Lily…no-one could have…Lily, I'll make sure he doesn't come near you…Lily please—" a bright blaze suddenly distracted him, and he covered Lily protectively with himself, then noticed it was the headmasters' phoenix, "Fawkes?" the bird dropped a letter in his lap, cocked it's head at the sobbing Lily, and curled up in her lap, singing softly to her while James read the letter.

Mr. Potter,

I am sorrowed to say that yourself and Miss Evans are in danger, along with all those in residence at The Potter Mansion. There is a necklace in this envelope, I need you, your grandmother and Miss Evans to be touching this necklace in the next five minutes, I'll see you in my office.

He turned and looked at Lily who was absent-mindedly patting Fawkes, then looked at his watch, a minute had already passed, he looked at his grandmothers' door and wrenched it open.

"Lily, come on." He marched through the door, but barely noticed that Lily didn't follow him, before his grandmother could ask him anything, he turned around and went back to her, "Lily?" he grabbed her hand and tried to get her to stand up, but failed, after another 2 minutes had passed Fawkes grabbed the neck of her shirt and picked her up, "thanks Fawkes." He ran into his grandmothers room and pulled a ruby necklace from the envelope.

"Nan, hold onto this…" he thrust in into her hand, grabbed Lily's hand and wrapped it into the ruby chain, then grabbed the end himself with only 1 minute to go, "Nan, it's a port-key, we'll be in Dumbledores' office in a minute, 'cause this place is…well it's too dangerous now—" he had to stop because he felt a sudden jerk in his stomach and knew that the port-key was taking off.

***

They landed in a heap on James' grandmothers' bed, which had also been transported to Dumbledores' office. James looked over at Lily who was still sobbing. He put his arms around her and held her close.

"He killed them because of me…it's all my fault." He heard her whisper.

"No, Lily, it's not your fault…it's Voldemorts'."

"James, don't do that…I can only blame myself."

"Like hell, Lil. You didn't kill them."

"Mrs. Potter, Mr. Potter, Miss Evans?" they all turned to Dumbledore, "sorry to cut you off, I trust you have read the Prophets' special edition?" James nodded while Mrs. Potter shook her head, " Lily I am sorry for your loss, but there is something you both must realise. Lord Voldemort is now after both of you. There is a reason, but I cannot tell you yet, I am sure you will know later in this year, or maybe in the beginning of the new." His eyes sparkled for a second as he looked at James but a second later the sparkle was gone, "you two must never leave these grounds until I have told you it's safe, and come see me on the second of January. I will arrange accommodations for you parents and grandmother. I suggest you go to Gryffindor Tower, you'll be the only ones there this Christmas, all the others have gone home for the Holidays. Good Night." He nodded to them both and watched as James almost carried a grief stricken Lily out of his office.

***

Lily got over her immobilising part of her grief in a few weeks, their meeting with Dumbledore came and went, as James had not thought that a week after her parents shocking demise would be the best time to propose. In fact, it was six months before he finally came up with the courage. He had set up a picnic lunch by the lake with her, and hidden the gold and ruby ring in a pumpkin pasty, which he knew for a fact was one of her favourite foods. They sat on a blanket and as Lily looked around at all the daffodils and other flowers, James slipped the special Pasty onto her plate.

"Pumpkin Pasties! Great!" she took a huge bite and coughed the ring onto her hand unceremoniously…and laughed, "is there something you want to ask me James?" she wiped off the ring and held it up, when he didn't say anything, which was due to great embarrassment, she laughed again and said, "Yes!". James sighed with relief. Then he jumped up and pulled her off the ground laughing. He slipped the ring onto her finger and danced her around. They laughed together, danced together, until Fawkes called, dropped a small piece of parchment on their picnic blanket, and flew off again. James picked up the letter and read it out loud.

Meet you in my office.

Lily laughed as she packed up the picnic stuff, linked arms with James and walked with him to the castle.

***

"Firstly I would like to congratulate you both on your recent engagement." Dumbledore smiled, at their blushes, "Secondly, as you'll remember, on Boxing Day last year, I told you that the world outside this castle is unsafe, I am arranging safer accommodations for you, but I need to ask you to choose a secret keeper."

"A secret keeper…but…" Lily stole a look for courage, and charged on, "if we need that much…security…we won't be able to get married…we'll be stuck wherever the charm is…"

"Yes…we could adapt to your needs, or you could marry here." He smiled, " I would be honoured to marry you, and we will only allow those who you wish to be at the wedding."

"Alright, shall we marry in a week then?" James put his arms around Lily and they both started laughing at how things were going so fast

***

10 months later and Lily was almost to term. James watched as his wife slept, playing with the small curls of red hair behind her ear. The vibrant colour made him think of the prophecy that was in the back of the old portrait book,

I wonder if the prophecy is almost fulfilled, after that dream Lily told me…what did she say the voices said…To Red and Black, a child will be born, with unwanted fame…will that be our child…they won't need it…they'll have enough troubles without fame…who the hell want's fame? I hope…

Lily's eyes suddenly snapped open,

"J-James, I think that I just had a contraction."

I guess I'll be finding out soon then won't I? He almost smiled at the ironic coincidence, then hurried to call the mediwitch through the fire.