DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER.

A lot happened in the year 1979. Voldemort and his Death Eaters organized attack after attack on different Muggle neighborhoods or in random areas such as Broadway in London. With Dumbledore's leadership and the help of the aurors, several Death Eaters found themselves being challenged. Several times, Sirius and Amelia fought Bellatrix together, and Severus and Marlene once nearly took down both Rudolphus and Rabastan.

That year, Lily and James defied Voldemort two more times. The last time, they nearly lost their lives, but were saved in the nick of time by Severus, Marlene, Sirius, Amelia and Dumbledore.

Also, James, Sirius and Severus officially completed their training that year, and Moody described them as the best students he had ever taught so far. They were assigned to lead teams on missions. Many times, James, Severus and Sirius led their teams on missions together, and a lot of those missions turned out to be successful.

Around the start of the summer that year, Frank and Alice were married. Lily was Alice's matron of honor and James was Frank's best man, with Dumbledore performing the ceremony.

The relationship between Severus and Marlene deepened, and so did that between Sirius and Amelia. The two pairs of lovebirds went out on many dates whenever they could find time, and sometimes even double dates. In fact, Sirius and Amelia once fought against Voldemort directly, each refusing to leave the other's side. Severus and Marlene also faced Voldemort together once and enraged Voldemort by loudly declaring that Voldemort had lost him to Marlene! Lily, James and their friends had a good laugh when they all heard about that.

As 1979 gave way to 1980, James, Sirius and Severus became distinguished aurors, earning even more respect from Moody. Although Remus himself was not an auror, he would often join them in order to offer assistance. Several Death Eaters were caught and imprisoned by the Marauders.

Also, due to Severus' high sense of responsibility, he became a close confidante of Dumbledore. Dumbledore would often call him to discuss certain matters in private. Sometimes, Dumbledore would simply ask Severus to accompany him on a stroll, which is why, on the night of 14th of March 1980, he was accompanying him on his way to the Hog's Head for an interview with a candidate named Sybill Trelawney who wanted post the of Divination Professor.

Severus dreamed of all the happy things that had happened the previous year as they walked on towards the Hog's Head. Something wonderful had happened. Lily had become pregnant! She was expecting a child which was going to be born around the end of July. Severus was going to be an Uncle!

But unfortunately, that night, when he and Marlene had planned to go out together and find some things for the baby, he now found himself stuck in the middle of an interview.

Upon reaching the Hog's Head, Dumbledore and Severus were led to a private room by the innkeeper, Aberforth Dumbledore who was Dumbledore's brother. There, awaiting them was Sybill Trelawney.

Sybill Trelawney was a thin woman. She had thick glasses, which hugely magnified her eyes and caused them to appear about ten times their normal size. She spoke in a soft, misty, ethereal voice that was irritating Severus who just wanted this meeting to be over as soon as possible. It was as if the following mantra was going through his head, "Let this meeting end now! Let this meeting end now!"

Finally, after some time, it seemed like Trelawney was not going to be selected. She didn't seem to have any real talent. Severus didn't really care. All he wanted to do was escape from that boring meeting.

All of a sudden, Trelawney stood up straight, held out her right arm, and with her eyes bulging, spoke in a voice not her own, "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..."

Suddenly, Severus who had been jerked out his daydreams by her sudden behavior heard some shouting outside the private room where the interview had just taken place. He could hear Aberforth shouting, "Hey, what are you doing?! Out, out with you!"

Severus stepped outside and saw Aberforth dragging someone who was cloaked and hooded in black, towards the entrance. Instantly, he shouted, "Wait, who is he? Could you expose his face?"

All of a sudden, the figure instantly lashed out and struck Aberforth a punch in his stomach. However, the hood accidentally came off, and Severus paled as he recognized the figure in front of him. It was Mulciber, now a Death Eater.

Mulciber instantly ran out of the door, with Severus hot on his heels shouting, "Stop! Someone stop him! Don't let him get away!" But Mulciber managed to disapparated and escape once he had run a few meters away from the inn, managing to avoid all of Severus' stunners.

Severus, with a pale look on his face, hurried back to the room where the interview had been held and saw Dumbledore's eyes, wide with amazement.

"It seems we were wrong," he said, "She is a true seer!"

Severus cried out, "Wait, what was it that she said just as I went outside after hearing Aberforth shouting? Mulciber was here just now. I was unable to stop him from escaping."

Dumbledore paled for a few moments and gravely spoke, "Tell me he did not hear the prophecy that Miss Trelawney just uttered." Severus replied, "I think he heard a part of it. Just after the 'seventh month' part, it all started.

Dumbledore said, "Let me tell you all that she said. Here's how it goes: 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... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

Severus remained silent for a few moments as his mind absorbed that information. He then said, "As far as I know, there are only two couples expecting children by the end of July, and have defied Voldemort thrice. One is Frank and Alice Longbottom, and the other is Lily and James. Wait a minute, you said that the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but then that means…"

And then, he realized just what that meant. As he realized just what that meant, he was horrified. Lily was a Muggleborn, which meant that it was more likely Voldemort would pursue her, as he himself was a Half-blood!

And then, he knelt down in front of Dumbledore and cried out, "That means that Voldemort will target my sister! My sister is in danger!"

"Severus," Dumbledore tried to speak, but Severus could not wait.

He loudly pleaded, folding his hands, "MY SISTER AND BROTHER IN LAW ARE IN DANGER! PLEASE DUMBLEDORE, PLEASE, PROTECT MY SISTER, MY BROTHER IN LAW, AND MY SOON-TO-BE-BORN NIECE OR NEPHEW! PROTECT THEM, KEEP THEM SAFE, HIDE THEM ALL, PLEASE, DUMBLEDORE!"

Dumbledore clasped Severus' hands in his own and said, "I assure you, I will do everything I can to protect them. However, the first thing we need to do is to warn them as soon as possible."

A week later…

That night, Lily was sitting on the sofa in the living room of a cottage in Godric's Hollow. James was arranging furniture in the other rooms with some help from Arthur, trying to make it as best as possible.

Just one week ago during the night, the Potters had been planning to go to bed when Dumbledore and Severus had suddenly arrived in Potter Manor to speak to them. Dumbledore had explained to them about the prophecy and about Mulciber overhearing a part of it. Lily and James had been absolutely horrified upon realizing that Voldemort would come after their child and target him. Dumbledore had been the one to suggest relocating to a different house. James had initially disagreed, saying that the wards protecting Potter Manor would be enough. Severus however, had pointed out the possibility of Voldemort destroying the wards and entering the house while Lily was in labor. Finally, James and Lily had decided to move, and they had found the cottage in Godric's Hollow, in which Lily was currently in the living room, with James and Arthur arranging stuff. The last few days had been rather hectic for everyone.

All of a sudden, Dumbledore and Severus burst into the cottage through the front door with Remus, who had been acting as their security guard, and several others including Sirius, Marlene, Amelia, Peter, Andrew and Moody.

James and Arthur came into the living room. James asked, "Dumbledore is something wrong? Is everything alright?"

Dumbledore looked grave as he answered, "My dear boy, something terrible has happened." Severus continued for him, "Voldemort attacked Potter Manor today. He managed to take down the protective wards. We all managed to escape. But here is the worst part. Potter Manor has been destroyed."

James stood rooted to the spot where he was standing in shock. His ancestral home, his home, the link to his parents, the place where he had lived, destroyed by Voldemort!

After some moments, James burst into tears and cried out, "I should have been there! This just cannot be! I should have been there to do something! This is just impossible!"

Lily went and placed her hand on James' shoulder comfortingly before hugging him. Arthur went and placed a hand on James' shoulder and said, "I'm sorry for the loss James, but it's actually a good thing you were not there. Something could have happened to you and the child too. It's good that you are here now. You at least have a place to stay and raise your child."

James looked at Arthur gratefully as he realized just how right he was. He looked at Severus gratefully as well. For if he had not seen Mulciber that night, he would not have been able to warn them.

Dumbledore remained behind after the others except Severus left. He wanted James and Lily to be protected in the best possible way. He now wanted them to use the Fidelius charm. He even offered himself as the secret keeper. James and Lily however refused.

James said, "No Dumbledore, you've got enough to handle. We don't want to add to your troubles."

Dumbledore replied, "You're not a burden for me or anything like that! I want to help you keep yourselves and your child safe!"

James responded, "All the same, I don't want to impose on you."

Dumbledore asked, "But you need a secret keeper. Who will you choose?"

"Sirius Black is my brother in all but blood. I trust him with my life."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely."

Lily said, "The other person we can trust with our lives is Severus. He's my brother in all but blood."

Severus said, "Lily, James, I hope you know what you are doing. If you wish for me to be the secret keeper, then I will gladly protect you with my life."

In the end, Sirius was chosen as the secret keeper. Dumbledore performed the Fidelius charm, and Sirius became the secret keeper.

NOTE: Requesting everyone to please post your reviews on this story so far. And by the way, I'd really love to see your guesses regarding godparent selections for Harry.