Note from Nikki

Whoo! I did it! I managed to update again. Aren't you proud? I don't have time for reviewer notes today. I'm feeling really sick for some reason! I think my doctor is putting me on too much medication because I am all dizzy and weird and tired but I can't sleep. It's annoying! Thanks to those of you who have taken the time to review! I appreciate it very much! Thanks!

--

Dumbledore frowned as he looked upon the couples. "It is odd that both of you had your children at the end of July. The prophecy spoke of only one child. . ." his voice drifted off into silence.

"Dumbledore, I know what you are going to ask," Lily began, leaning back in the Headmaster's chair and holding onto baby Harry.

"Then I needn't ask it," Dumbledore said kindly.

"The answer is no," Frank said, shaking his head.

"We are not going into hiding," James agreed firmly. "We are part of this resistance and we will not run away and hide. It isn't who we are."

"One of you holds a child who will have the chance of defeating Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore pointed out.

"We realize this," Alice agreed, "but that gives us no reason to go into hiding. On the contrary, it makes want to fight all the harder."

"And why might that be?" Dumbledore asked sadly.

Lily shook her head. "Don't you see? We need to give everything we have to break this prophecy. I know that I never want my son to face that hideous monster. If I can kill him before he has the chance, my life will be happier."

"And if your plan fails?"

"We will die trying," James said, though his face paled a considerable amount.

--

FIVE MONTHS LATER

"But My Lord," Lucius said once again. "Wouldn't it be wiser to wait and discover who is the greater threat in the future?"

Voldemort hissed and his eyes burned a crimson color of red. He raised his wand and before any of the other Death Eaters could blink, Lucius was on the floor yelling in agony.

Dorcas watched with a sickening satisfaction. She hated Lucius and he deserved the Cruciatus Curse more than anyone she knew. But she also knew how it felt to feel the curse and she couldn't help but feel a small amount of sympathy. Narcissa, who had given birth to a blonde baby named Draco, didn't even flinch as her husband grabbed her robes in pain.

Voldemort slowly lifted his wand and looked angrily at the man who was attempting to get to his feet. "Do not suggest that your Master doesn't know what he is doing. I know that Harry is my greater threat."

Dorcas paled. No matter how many times the Evil Lord said Harry's name from those lips, she shook in fear. It still scared her to think that someone could hate Harry so badly. He was only a small child.

"B-but My Lord," Macnair volunteered. "Neville is the Pure Blood. Why choose a Half Blood?"

Voldemort sneered and Dorcas saw something flash inside of his cold, yet fiery eyes. Was it recognition? A fleeting memory?

"I chose the Half Blood for my own purpose and reason," Voldemort said softly, his eyes appearing distant. "They can be very powerful if they have the determination and will to do so."

"My Lord," Macnair went on bravely, "about what Lucius was saying. I know that you are highly intelligent, Lord, but perhaps we should wait until the babies are older. We will have a better idea of who the prophecy is meant for."

"ENOUGH!" Voldemort bellowed. Dorcas and the other Death Eaters flinched. "I will answer this one final time. I chose Harry for my own purpose and instinct. There is no doubt he is the one this ridiculous prophecy was made about. I know that I cannot be destroyed by a mere boy, younger than my years. I cannot even be destroyed by the fool Dumbledore, who is many years my senior. I want this foolish belief wiped away. I will kill Harry as a child, there is no point in waiting."

Murmurs of assent filled the room but it was clear to Dorcas that everyone else thought this was the wrong way to go. No one dared to openly admit it, of course, and there was still the horrifying trust. Voldemort did not get this far through idiocy. He knew what he was doing.

"What about the Longbottom's?" Bellatrix asked eagerly.

"What about them?" Dorcas shot back coldly, unable to stop herself. "Master knows that the child is of no use to us."

"Do not answer questions for me Dorcas," Voldemort said coldly. "I do not want to be forced to use a curse on you again."

"Yes, My Lord," Dorcas muttered, immediately regretting having said anything in the first place, especially when Bellatrix sneered delightfully in her direction.

"As for the Longbottom's," Voldemort continued, "they will be killed. It has been my desire to do so for awhile now. The child will also be killed."

Dorcas fought to keep her breathing normal. Voldemort had said the same thing for over five months now but every time he spoke the words she was filled with rage. It was because she felt such love and intensity for her friends and the fact that these horrible people were here planning their murder was more than she could bare.

"My Lord," Bellatrix said eagerly. "May I lead the group who will be responsible for their well deserved death?"

"You may," Voldemort agreed, smiling wickedly. "You will be greatly honored."

"My Lord," Severus said. "We still have been unable to locate the couples location."

Dorcas nodded slightly so that no one could see. Good job Severus. It was good to ensure that no one was suspecting the location of Godric's Hollow. It was a very remote area and Voldemort was unlikely to look there. James, Lily, Alice, and Frank were all given strict orders not to Disapparate anywhere. Voldemort could lock onto them and discover their whereabouts in a mere second. This didn't bode well for the couples but they reluctantly complied because there were so involved with their children.

"No, we haven't," Voldemort sneered. "But they can't hide forever. We will find their location. We only need time. You are all dismissed. Remember, Harry is mine."

Everyone bowed and Dorcas Disapparated immediately, wanting to get home. Noticing that Lily and James had candles flickering from their windows, Dorcas walked steadily to their front door and opened it without knocking.

"James?" she called. "Lily?"

"We're up here," came the happy response.

Dorcas followed the sounds of their voices up the wooden stairs and into baby Harry's room. Sirius, James, and Lily were all gazing fondly into the crib where Harry was laying gleefully. The child appeared to enjoy the attention because he kept giggling happily and waving his little fists at everyone.

"Hello Dorcas," Sirius said, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her.

"What's everyone doing?" Dorcas asked, smiling as Harry giggled happily.

"He's so cheerful," Lily cooed. "I didn't know that magical babies mature faster. Look into his eyes, little Harry is so intelligent already!"

Dorcas gazed into the child's bright green eyes and found that Lily was quite right. He looked directly at her, unafraid and cheerful. Dorcas saw a deep intelligence already glowing there. He appeared to be perfectly aware what was happening around him and he was perfectly content.

"He is," Dorcas agreed, brushing back some of his black hair. It was soft and still managed to stick up everywhere, just like his fathers.

"Did you go to another Death Eater meeting?" Sirius asked, his face turning from amused to very serious.

Dorcas nodded and her hand fell from Harry's forehead. "It's the same every time. Master is intent upon killing Harry. Thankfully he still has no new information about your whereabouts."

"I just don't get it," James said, shaking his head. "Why Harry? You would think that he would want to wait and see."

"We all wonder his motives," Dorcas agreed, shrugging. "But we will never learn them. He has a mind of his own. Perhaps he feels some sort of connection with Harry."

Lily shuddered at the thought and reached down into the crib, lifting the baby from it and kissing him softly before pulling him into a tight embrace. Harry grabbed a fistful of his mother's red hair and proceeded to stuff it in his mouth.

Dorcas smiled and pulled the hair away, kissing Harry lightly. "He'll never find you," she said reassuringly. "Just continue to do what Dumbledore says and everything will be okay."

Harry began to cry, his mood changing abruptly. "Oh he's hungry," Lily said, shifting him onto her hip. "Come on James. I need to teach you how to give him his bottle."

"I know how," James said grumpily.

"James," Lily replied, rolling her eyes. "I saw you. You were using magic to levitate the bottle but what you DIDN'T know was that Harry was already full and the milk was pouring all over the place because he refused to swallow it."

"Oh. . .well. . ." James said, willing himself to be dragged off by Lily. "I thought he was just playing. . ."

Dorcas shook his head, smiling at Sirius. "They are the cutest parents I have ever seen."

Sirius grinned. "I never thought James would ever have kids or get married."

"But you love it, don't you?' Dorcas asked, picking up one of Harry's toys and carefully placing it into his crib.

"Oh yeah," Sirius agreed, watching her carefully. "Lily and Harry are everything I could wish for my best friend."

"And what about you?" Dorcas asked carefully.

"I know what I want," Sirius replied. His fingers gently rested on Dorcas' hand and he looked at her seriously.

Dorcas stared down, avoiding his gaze until he lifted her chin slowly so that she couldn't help but watch him. Slowly Sirius moved his head closer to hers, his lips searching hers. Dorcas turned at the last second and backed away. "I can't Sirius," she whispered.

"Why?"

Dorcas turned and walked slowly toward the door. "I will never get over Gideon," she said sadly.

"I'm not asking you to," Sirius replied.

Dorcas shook her head. "There are some things that will never heal, Sirius. My heart is one of them. I can't get into a relationship with you without my heart being there. It'd be meaningless Sirius. I'm sorry."

Without waiting for a reply, Dorcas shut the door and walked swiftly down the steps. She shouted a brief goodbye to Lily and James and quickly left the house, thankful for the cool breeze blowing through her hair.