Well, not quite two months this time, right? I'm getting better, right? Review, it's positive reinforcement! This chapter is depressing, but a pretty major plot point!
Chapter 24- Of a Prophecy
It was late, his fire had burned down to nothing, and a creeping cold began to invade the room, but staring into his dying fire, Albus Dumbledore didn't notice. Over and over again the words rang through his head- "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…"
He sighed, his mind running in the useless circle of why now and why these children. Of course, they were hardly children anymore, considering they would soon have children of their own, but they seemed that way to him...so young. Too young to be facing danger and death every day, too young to have this sort of responsibility. They should be looking forward to the births of their children with nothing buy joy, without a vague and terrifying prophecy hanging over them.
He actually considered not telling them, letting them have their happiness and damn the consequences, but even as that occurred to him he knew they had to know. He was not the only one who had heard of the prophecy; it had been overheard, through his own carelessness, meeting the Seer in a place like the Hog's Head. Of course, who would have suspected she actually was a Seer, he had certainly guessed, in the course of their interview, that she had no gift whatsoever. He could hardly believe when she had made a true prophecy, this prophecy, that carried such importance for their world.
He knew he had to consider the possibility that the very Dark Lord mentioned in the prophecy knew of it, and it would take him very little time to figure out who the children mentioned in it were.
And so, they must be protected, and to be protected, the parents had to know. It fell to him to tell them, and it was a task that Albus Dumbledore wished he did not have to face.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Lily knew James was awake, but showed no more inclination to get up, or even to move, than she did. It was Saturday morning, and there were just not enough days when they got to actually stay in bed all morning and sleep, or not sleep as the case sometimes was. At any rate, it was a rare luxury.
"What do you think of William?" She asked suddenly.
"William? Who's William?" He sounded suspicious.
"One of my many lovers." She answered sarcastically. "As a name James, for the baby."
"Oh. I don't know, I don't love it. And we can't use it now, because every time we said his name I'd think of your "many lovers"."
"How about Andrew?"
"Gods, no, remember that Slytherin kid with the funny teeth who used to stare with his tongue hanging out whenever you walked by? His name was Andrew."
"I kind of like David."
"That's better. But see here, I still like James Jr. Start a tradition and all. He can name his son James Potter III, and it sounds all impressive."
"It's not that I have anything against the name love, it's just that if we have 2 Jameses, they'll start calling him Jamie or Jim or Jimmy or something, and you know Sirius will call him Jimbo. And it would drive me crazy."
"My Mum used to call me Jamie. When I was little, I mean."
"And when you were twenty, I remember."
"I hated that. Okay, you're right."
"Of course I am. You see how easy it is when you just accept that?"
"How about Harry?" He suggested.
Lily sat up suddenly in bed, a shocked look on her face. "Oh bloody hell…oh…no, oh shit!"
"Well, it's not that bad, I kind of like Harry!" He exclaimed defensively. His wife did not swear often.
"No, not that! It's Saturday!"
"Yes…?" He thought this obvious, why else would they be lying in bed pondering names and not at work?
"We were supposed to meet Dumbledore on Saturday morning, in…bloody hell, ten minutes!"
James threw aside the covers, repeatedly muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "duck" but Lily guessed that was not exactly it.
"You didn't tell me that!" He voice was muffled from inside the closet.
"I did so!"
"Did not." He muttered, then before she could respond added. "What does he want to see us about?"
"Didn't say. And I did so."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Frank and Alice apparated to the gates just outside Hogwarts, the castle looming above them. It was a beautiful day, not too warm, with a slight breeze so that waves skittered across the lake. Despite that, Frank had a feeling of foreboding. No matter how old you are, there was something about being summoned by the Headmaster that made you feel like a first year about to get detention.
"Are you sure he didn't say what this was about?" He asked his wife. She sighed and pressed her lips together, a pretty good indication that he had asked that question one too many times.
"For. The. Last. Time. No."
"Sorry."
"We're about to find out anyway."
"I don't like it, I don't get why he summoned only us and not the entire Order. That can't be good."
"Well, there's only one way to find out."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Severus glanced out the window and was surprised to see someone with blazing red hair approaching the castle. He squinted and decided that it was indeed Lily Evans, which meant the man with her would be Potter. He could not imagine what they would be doing at Hogwarts, there was no meeting of the Order planned, and in summer the castle was empty except for a few teachers who remained, and somehow he doubted they were there to see Professor Sprout.
Lily Evans was visibly pregnant now, and that made Severus scowl. The last thing the world needed was more Potters. The only thing that could possibly be worse, in his opinion, was the idea of Black procreating. And with that disturbing thought he turned back to his potions text. He would not concern himself with Potter, Evans, or their potential offspring.
He barely regained his concentration before he was again distracted by a tapping at the window. He glanced up in annoyance and saw a distinctive bird, a dark grey owl that he knew too well. He relieved it of its letter and it flew off immediately, indicating no response was necessary. And when he saw the note he could see why, it was an order, not a request.
Severus, meet me at the manor at half past two, it's important. L.M.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Jelly slugs," announced Lily to the gargoyle in the hallway. James started at her.
"How do you know the password?"
"He said it in the note."
"The note you didn't tell me about?"
"Is it my fault you never listen?"
"Hard to listen to something you never told me."
She blew out a breath in frustration and knocked on the door.
They were more than a little surprised when they stepped in the office and found Frank and Alice already there. All four faces bore traces of relief now, figuring it couldn't be so bad if there were other people there too.
"Hey. I didn't know…anyone else would be here. Is Dumbledore…?"
"Not here yet." Frank replied. "We just got here too." There was a brief, nervous silence. "Any idea what this is about?"
Lily and James both shook their heads. "Some sort of mission, you reckon?" James ventured.
"It doesn't seem like out of the entire Order he'd pick us for a mission now." Alice pointed out logically.
"Oh, good point."
They got no further than that because the door opened and the Headmaster stepped in, looking as sober as they had ever seen him, and looking every one of his many years.
"Thank you for coming."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Severus had long ago ceased to be awed by Malfoy Manor. It did not take a great deal of skill to inherit a vast manor and fortune from your father, though with the way Lucius lorded over the place you'd think he'd built it with his own two hands. Severus knew Malfoy had never done a day of work in his life, unless you counted bowing and scraping to the Dark Lord.
And Lucius was in is prime "Lord of the Manor" position when a house elf showed Severus to his study. Sitting in a high-backed leather chair with a glass of amber liquid in his hand. "Good afternoon Severus. May I offer you a drink?"
"Thank you, no." He said stiffly. This act did not impress him.
"So formal, Severus darling," hissed a voice behind him. He turned to see Bellatrix draped elegantly over a chair behind him. He was not surprised to see her there, he had long suspected she and Lucius were sleeping together. He was willing to bet Narcissa was off shopping or on a holiday at some sort of resort. She was pretty, but too compliant, and she lacked the insane quality Malfoy liked in his women. No matter which side you were on, Bellatrix Lestrange was insane. He wondered, idly, if Rodolphus knew he was sharing his wife with Malfoy, or if he even cared. Then Severus realized he really didn't want to think about the bizarre sexual practices of his fellow Death Eaters, he had enough trouble sleeping as it was.
"What is so important? I shouldn't be long away from Hogwarts, Dumbledore will notice."
Lucius narrowed his eyes. "Do not forget who your real master is Severus."
He narrowed his eyes in return. "I can best serve him by maintaining my position at Hogwarts. It would do precious little good to my real master were I to be discovered."
Malfoy seemed to accept that, and gave a short regal nod. "There has been a prophecy."
Severus snorted. Divination was, in his opinion, a joke. A waste of time to pay it any mind. Malfoy gave him an annoyed look. "Well, what of it?" He said. "There are thousands of prophecies made. They're mostly rubbish."
"Mostly." Malfoy swirled the liquid in his glass. "Not always. This prophecy was told to Albus Dumbledore. It is about the one with the power to defeat the Dark Lord."
He arched an eyebrow.
"Unfortunately, my source heard only half of the prophecy. I would like you to find out the rest, from the old man. Also, find out what you can about the new Hogwarts Divination teacher, it is she who made the prophecy."
"What was the prophecy? It will be easier to find out what he knows if I am not completely ignorant."
"It could be many things. We think it concerns the Potters or the Longbottoms. You attended Hogwarts at the same time they did, did you not?"
"I was no friend of theirs." He said quickly. That, at least, was the truth. "I won't learn anything from them."
"No matter, I have another source to learn about the Potters."
"Who?" He asked, curiosity getting the better of him. "Not Black again? I suppose he'll be more careful who he's taking to bed." Then again perhaps not.
"No, someone else. Never mind. Work on the old man."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Dumbledore regarded them through his half moon glasses almost sadly as he sat behind his desk. James thought that he had never seen Dumbledore look so troubled, and that frightened him, for a wizard who had done and seen so much to look so worried…
"A few days ago…" The old wizard began, seemed to reconsider, shook his head, and began again. "A few days ago, I went to the Hog's Head, in Hogsmeade, to interview an applicant for the post of divination teacher. If I had my way I would not continue to offer the subject at Hogwarts, but there are parents who wish their children to study it, and this particular applicant is a descendant of Cassandra Trelawny, a well-known Seer. I was not surprised that she showed no sign of having a gift. But as I was leaving, she spoke, she made a prophecy that I believe to be real." He sighed, his eyes strangely bright, and then waved his wand so that a silvery figure appeared out of it. It spoke in a harsh, rasping voice.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…"
Confused as he was, a few things penetrated James's mind. Born as the seventh month dies…that's the end of July. Born to those who have thrice defied him…that can't possibly mean us. He looked up at Dumbledore, who lowered his wand as the figure dissolved into nothingness.
"What…what does it mean?" Muttered Frank, in a strangled voice.
"The one the prophecy speaks of, I believe it to be one of your children," said Dumbledore simply. There was no way to soften the blow of these words.
"It might not be!" Alice said, her voice verging on hysteria. "It might be another child, it might be a muggleborn child!"
"Whose parents have three times defied Voldemort?" He asked gently.
Lily was slowly shaking her head. "And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…" She repeated, looking at Dumbledore with huge eyes. "That means…that means that this child has to either kill Voldemort…or die?" The bleak sound of her voice on the last word was heartbreaking.
"Yes."
"What is the meaning of-" Frank began to ask something else, but was interrupted by Lily, who had risen.
"No!" She said, her voice sharp. No longer frightened, but determined. Her eyes blazed at the headmaster. "It's not true! I won't allow it to be. I have given everything, everything, for this war! My childhood, I've risked my life; I have done everything you've asked of me! I don't care what some prophecy says, I will not sacrifice my child! I don't give a damn about the wizarding world or the greater good, this is my child and I won't let him be hurt! You can just find another savior for the wizarding world because it will not be my baby!"
She turned and fled the room, followed a moment later by James.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
He lost her when he got caught by a trick stair, and there were unlimited hiding places in a castle the size of Hogwarts. He finally found her in the library, staring out a window unseeing at the grounds, tears coursing down her face.
"Lily?" He said softly.
"Why? Why us? Haven't we given enough? I don't understand." she gasped out.
"I don't know why."
"I won't let it happen James. I don't care what I have to do. He'll be safe, and happy. I can make it not be true."
"We both can."
She turned into his arms, pressing her face into his shoulder. He could hardly believe that an hour ago they had been planning and laughing about names. The birth of this baby that they were so looking forward to now seemed fraught with dangers. A helpless baby, it would be in their hands to protect him from this prophecy becoming a reality.
"We can protect him Lily." He said, still very much afraid, but determined.
"You will not do it alone." Said Albus Dumbledore from the doorway.