Writer: Azure K Mello
Title: A Bond Never Dies
Part: 123 of ? or part 38 of Part Three
Words: 493
They sat silently around the kitchen table, it was close to two AM but no one could think of sleep. Harry was sitting in his favourite spot with his feet on the chair so that he could use his knees as a resting place for his tea. He was sipping the liquid from time to time and just thinking about the words they had heard. It had been so easy to get to, and to listen to, and to write down the prophesy.
And since then they'd barely moved; it had been a research party. And all four of his parents were home that night, milling about. And he asked, "Sevra? Don't you need to be in your quarters?"
"This is more important," he said with a small smile. And then, as if to prove himself he said the most intelligent thing anyone had brought up that night, "'Born to those why have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies' That's obviously Harry but I think we need to go outside the box. What if the 'power the Dark Lord knows not' is us? He didn't know that you are a mage at that first attack, he doesn't know that I'm not his servant."
James nodded still thinking. He'd heard the prophesy, and understood it, and he wasn't going to let his son fight, "But I'd like it if you stayed in the shadows on whatever plan we make. If we fail you'll still be on the inside." Severus nodded, used to taking orders from the people in charge, this was James' son they were saving, Severus didn't feel he could argue. "How much can a prophesy be bent?"
"Quite far," said Sirius and Severus in unison, they'd both been raised in families where the ideals of dark magic and bending laws for their own purposes had been ingrained in them.
"Well I was born in July too," said James.
"I don't want you to fight my battle," Harry said softly but with determination.
"It was mine before you were even born, baby, I'm not letting you get any closer to this than I have to."
"The problem is he hasn't marked you," said Remus, always looking at the technical, practical side. "'Marked as an equal.'"
"Harry, sit still for a moment, this might hurt," said James calmly as he wiped his hand over his son's face. The boy screamed and James shuddered as he stroked the spot where Harry's scar was concealed his hand was surrounded in red mist. He rubbed his hand on his face and the mark was clear, "You okay?" he asked and Harry nodded and sipped his tea trying to stop from shaking. He leaned to kiss the boy's forehead. "I have to do everything I can to protect you, I love you," he whispered so that no one else could hear. "Good enough?" he asked the men pointing to his forehead, "I'm carrying the mark."