Chapter 4 Finding a secret keeper:
Dumbledore apparated to a large two-story home, residing far from any thing else. The Potter home. Dumbledore knocked hard on the large oak doors. They opened to reveal a red-haired woman with green eyes, young in her twenties.
"Dumbledore!" The woman exclaimed. "I wasn't expecting to see you at this time of night, is something wrong?"
"Lily," Dumbledore acknowledged, he gave a small smile, "I wondered if I could speak to you for a moment, if it's not to much trouble..."
"Of course." Lily opened the door welcomingly to Dumbledore.
He stepped inside; it felt good to be out of the cold. It was warm, a fire was going and everything looked so relaxing.
"And where might James be at this hour, not busy I hope."
"Oh, no, he's upstairs, do you need him?" wondered Lily.
"I wondered if I could..." started Dumbledore
"Of course, I'll fetch him shall I?" said Lily as she turned to go upstairs, her long red hair flowing behind her. Within a few minutes Lily was back with James at her heels.
"Good Evening, Dumbledore" said James cheerfully, pushing the bangs of his dark, black hair out of his face, revealing his Hazel eyes. He held out his hand, and Dumbledore gladly shook it. "What can I help you with?" asked James.
Dumbledore's smile faded a bit. "We need to talk."
James nodded. He and Lily took a seat. The fire blazing beside them. Dumbledore sat on the couch opposite of them. For a moment James and Lily watched Dumbledore curiously as he stared into the fireplace, it's fire's reflection burning in his eyes. Dumbledore looked up calmly.
"Something's happened. something that may concern you.." Slowly, with a heavy heart, Dumbledore told them what had happened tonight as he met with one who wished to be the Divination teacher. He told them of Sybill, the ease dropper...and a prediction she had made.
After the story, Dumbledore then recited all that he could remember of the prophecy she had made, again.
Lily and James hadn't spoke since Dumbledore's story, of which they only gasped. They sat there, their eyes wide as they put all the pieces together.
"A-and you think our future child i-is-" Lily tried to sputter.
"I hate to worry you so, but it is something to be feared." All three or them knew very well that Lily was due at the end of this month.
Dumbledore rubbed his hand down his face. Then rechanted, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord shall be born as the seventh month dies..."
Dumbledore continued, concerned, "If I count correct, it is the month your child should be born, as is the Longbottoms child... so we can not yet be sure of whom it is. Perhaps the months shall be off, I don't know, but risks are not to be taken. A secret-keeper is necessary. Someone of whom you trust with your life."
"A secret-keeper? Dumbledore, are you saying you're putting us into hiding?" asked Lily slowly.
"Not at this point, no. But the time may come when it will be necessary...choose your secret-keeper and trust no-one else."
Finally, James found his voice again and spoke, "But Voldemort doesn't know Lily is pregnant. Very few know, the only people of whom we've told is those near to us... Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and of course Sirius..." said James thinking hard. "Lord Voldemort wouldn't know."
"But if Voldemort were to find out, we need to have you safe." Said Dumbledore in a concerned manner. "As do we the Longbottoms. I told you of the easedropper."
"Yes, Dumbledore, you know very well that none of whom I told would sell us out. If we told them not to say anything-"
"James, I'm not pointing me fingers at anybody. But it is to be kept a secret. No one else can know." Responded Dumbledore calmly. "James, you are to resume your work as a Ministry Auror. You are not to mention the Prophecy... Not yet. That needs to be told privately to those who can help and be trusted. We're going to need it. For the Ministry and I have also noticed that Voldemort and his Deatheaters are beginning to take risks and are attacking those closest to the Ministry." Dumbledore gave a deep, sad sigh. "Voldemort is becoming more powerful and his Deatheaters more fearless. Muggle killings and tortures have greatly increased, and signs and threats of witches and wizard deaths are great. We've lost two families in the ministry already."
He stood up. "I have much to report. I must leave. I shall inform you more when the time comes."
James and Lily walked him to the door. Before leaving Dumbledore turned to James and said, "No one but Voldemort himself can know who will be the next innocent victim to die of his hatred. You can never know if it will be the last time you see somebody of whom you care and love. Voldemort's power for spreading panic and discord is great. Hold on to those dearest to you. For it may be the only hope. The only way to survive in this world."
With those last, wise words, Dumbledore left into the night. Leaving James, holding Lily tightly in his arms, whispering comforting words in her ear.
