Chapter 2: Someone Special

*Roses are red, violets are blue, I don't own, so you don't sue*

Dumbledore continued on his way until he came to a new and darker street. He wanted to come and check on Lily and James one more time before the Fidelius Charm was cast. He treaded on the dead leaves that littered the pavement until he finally arrived at a large, stone cottage where the Potter's lived. The curtains were still open and he could see them clearly.

Lily was sitting in a large armchair with the child on her lap. She appeared to have been reading to him from the 'Tales of Beedle the Bard' while he sucked on something silvery. The child continued sucking happily on the cloth while his mother was saying words he could not hear, her long dark-red hair falling over her face.

It was truly a sweet and loving sight as Dumbledore opened the small gate, which creaked a little as he stepped onto the property.

Albus had always been very fond of Lily and James Potter. Anyone who ever met them could not help but feel the same way. Remarkable people, similar and yet also completely different, it was almost like they were destined for each other.

Albus had had the blessing of meeting many extraordinary people, and Lily and James Potter were among the best of them.

He smiled again at the image of Lily reading to her 1 year old son before he knocked on the front door. He looked up at the window to see Lily looking fearful and was holding her child close to her as if she was expecting someone to come in and take her baby from her.

In these troubled times that have been happening a lot lately.

"Who's there?" demanded a tight voice from the other side of the door.

"James? It is I, Albus Dumbledore."

The man with jet black hair and glasses opened the door with a relived sigh. "Dumbledore. I thought that you said that you weren't going to come until later." He stood back to let the old wizard inside.

"Lily?" James called, "It's ok. It's Dumbledore."

He heard a sigh of relief from the next room before he entered to greet her.

Lily was holding little Harry in her arms and she smiled brightly when she saw Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore, sir?" she said politely.

"Lily dear, how many times must I ask you to call me Albus?"

The red haired woman grinned and even with the bags under her eyes and her strained tiredness it was a beautiful smile no less.

"Oh, I don't suppose I'll ever lose the habit of calling you 'professor,'" she replied, suddenly seeming very far away as she remembered the days of sheltered protection at Hogwarts.

At that moment, the energetic and very active child began to squirm in his mother's arms.

"Mama, mama, mama," Harry warbled out as he snuggled his head into the crock of Lily's neck.

For a moment, Lily held her son, breathing in his fading baby scent. Albus could practically feel the love that just seemed radiated off them both. Soon though, Harry pushed away and began to bounce in her arms as he babbled to her in a language all his own.

Harry did not like being in one place for too long. He had wanted to get up and run around, but Lily was not fast enough to catch him when he really got going. Leaving Harry on his play rug which grew a three foot high border the moment she walked five feet away, and walked over to her husband and guest.

"What brings you here professor?" she asked.

"I just wanted to check on you both one more time before the Fidelius Charm is cast," he answered. "I'm sorry that this had to happen but…"

"Albus?" James interrupted suddenly, "The prophecy that you mention… do you really think that it's talking about Harry?"

All three of them both looked over at the 1 year old that was still sucking on some kind of cloak and looking back at them with bright green eyes.

"I don't know," Albus said truthfully. "But Voldemort seems to think so."

"But he's just a baby," Lily said upset. "Why did it have to be MY baby?"

The three adults all went into the living room and sat down to talk some more about what's happening with the rest of the Order.

There Harry sat, unnoticed by any of the adults for a short time, he quietly began to suck on the silvery cloak again. His tiny little fingers were wrapped around it as they talked about how the McKinnons were killed just last week. Lily began to cry at that news.

Even the slightest things seem make Lily Potter start to cry. Maybe her senses were going mad these days, with the threat of Voldemort, and not knowing when and if they would be suddenly attacked by the dark wizard.

James leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips to calm her down. For a brief moment, Dumbledore could see her fears seemed to vanish for a brief moment, but sorrow once again filled her face once they broke away. It wasn't until she looked down at her son, did she smile again at the sight of his face, so innocent and happy.

Dumbledore looked down at him and noticed the object that the infant was sucking on for the first time. For a few moments, he couldn't make out what it was. "James? What's Harry holding?" he asked curiously.

James looked down at the cloak and said unruffled, "My invisibility cloak."

"Your what?" Dumbledore repeated, his eyes never leaving the cloak.

"My invisibility cloak," James repeated. "It's been in my family for years."

Albus got up to look over the pen to see the cloak better. Little Harry looked up at him with a corner of the cloak still in his mouth.

"May I see it Harry?" Dumbledore asked politely as if the boy could understand.

Without another word, Lily stood up and went over to lift up Harry out of his enclosure. James also got up and handed Albus an edge of the cloth, leaving the other half in his son's tiny hands. Dumbledore ran his hand over the silky texture and started shaking his head in amazement. After all these years… the third Deathly Hallow had been here all along.

"So this is the thing that's responsible for seven years of mayhem," Dumbledore said.

"Well more like six," James corrected. "First year was pure us."

Dumbledore looked over it once, he had long-since given up his dream of uniting the Hallows, but he couldn't help himself. "Do you both mind if I borrow this? Just for a few days?"

"Why?" Lily asked surprise. "Doesn't Mad-eye already have a couple?"

"Besides," James said unwilling to hand over the family heirloom. "I thought you told us that you didn't need a cloak to become invisible."

"I know," Albus said. His voice was calm, but his heart was racing. "But I just want to borrow it. A week at the most. Do you mind?"

James looked over at Lily before saying, "I guess its ok with me. I mean, it's not like I can use it trapped in the house but…"

"But what?" Albus asked.

"Good luck trying to get it away from Harry," Lily finished with a slight smile.

Dumbledore looked at Harry and he could tell right away that the child did not want this cloak to go away. Still clutching to it, Harry stared back at the headmaster. He had a bit of the cloak still in his mouth and continued chewing on it.

"May I have the cloak, Harry?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

Harry's answer was to increase his grip on the cloak and leaned back against his mother. Harry giggled, which was muffled due to the cloak still in his mouth.

"Harry, sweetie," Lily cooed, gently rocking him, "Dumbledore wants to take the cloak for awhile. He'll bring it back."

"Come on, Harry," James made to take his son away from Lily while she hung onto the cloak. Once he began to feel the silvery fabric leave his fingers, Harry began to wail loudly.

"Oh Harry," Lily sighed.

"He really likes that cloak, doesn't he?" Dumbledore asked.

Lily nodded. "No idea why, though," she said.

Dumbledore seemed to ponder for a moment or two. He then waved his wand, conjuring a small plush Snitch in the same fabric as the Invisibility Cloak. He handed it to Harry.

Who took the Snitch, stared at it for a second or two before he tossed it across the room.

Laughing, James ruffled Harry's hair, "I guess he doesn't like it."

As the three adults stood there, wondering how to sneak the cloak out of the house without Harry noticing. Albus was dying to look over the cloak, but he didn't want to upset the child.

Dumbledore looked at him soothingly until Harry's eyes met him. "May I please borrow the cloak Harry?" he asked gently, "I promise that I'll bring it back." He then reached over to touch the cloth, making sure the boy could see. "May I?"

Harry looked at him carefully, as if trying to see if he could trust the man. Then very slowly, his grip on the cloak slackened, and he finally let it go.

"Thank you Harry," Albus said as he ignored the baby spit. He shook the slobber-covered cloak before he carefully folded the Invisibility Cloak over his arm.

Harry clung to Lily with one arm and used the other to point eagerly to the rolled up rug in the living room. Lily waved her wand, causing a play rug to roll out to the middle of the room and toys to place themselves onto the rug. The moment Harry was set down onto the rug he reached for a pile of stuffed animals. The second Harry touched one of the toys, all of them came alive. They stood up and walked over to him. They surrounded him as they barked, howled, squeaked and neighed.

"Dance," Harry cried, pointing to the toys.

Instantly, the five stuffed animals began to dance around the little boy. Harry giggled and clapped excitedly as Lily looked on fondly. She sat down behind her son and watched him command his toys to do his will. They danced, jumped, and so much more, but often, they ended up in a free for all fight. While she paid attention to the child, Dumbledore and James continued to talk more about what's been happening to the Wizarding World.

"Albus," James asked. "Just how long do we have to stay hidden?"

"I don't know James," Dumbledore replied truthfully. "Voldemort is determined to go after your son. Who's to say what could happen."

"Daddy, daddy, daddy!" Harry chanted, standing up with his arms held out.

"Ha ha ha…" James mocked laughed as he picked Harry up.

"Daddy," Harry said, laughing.

"He's vocal isn't he?" Dumbledore said laughing. "Looks like you both have your hands full these days. Even without the Order."

"Yeah," James answered, "It's gotten harder now that Harry can walk. But Albus… I was wondering… do you think that maybe we can take Harry out for Halloween for just a little…"

"James," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "You know that its do dangerous for you to leave the house. What if someone were to see you? The news of what area you are in could get back to Voldemort. He could find you."

"Yeah but…" James began, desperate to find some excuse to get out of the house. He put Harry back down next to Lily as he tried to think of something to convince Dumbledore.

"James, I know that this is hard on you," Lily said sadly from the floor as she stroked Harry's hair. "It's hard on all of us, but we can't risk it."

Harry, at that moment, started to chase his little toy dog around the place until he bumped into the bookcase in the corner of the living room. The small toy broomstick Sirius had gotten Harry for his birthday a few month ago fell from the top of the bookcase to the floor. Harry squealed in excitement when he saw it hovering before him.

"Oh no!" Lily exclaimed in horror as she got up. "James get it before he…"

Too late. Harry swung a leg over the broom and mounted it; and he was off. James and Dumbledore both stood back as the baby went flying past them.

"I'll get him!" James yelled as he went after him. Albus kept laughing James bolted after his son with Lily coming from the other direction. Harry zoomed off in another direction and Lily and James ran right into each other. They fell to the floor in a heap. Harry laughed gleefully. He zoomed all around the room, two feet off of the floor. He bumped into the coffee table, knocking over a flower vase. He slammed into a side table, toppling over a beautiful lamp. Both fell to the floor and smashed into pieces.

As Harry zoomed around, Lily stopped for a moment and saw the camera on the table. Unable to help it, she quickly snapped a picture of James chasing Harry on the broom. After three months, Lily had a whole photo album of Harry flying around and bumping into things. Maybe she would send this one to Sirius. She knew that he enjoyed it; the picture would make another reminder to embarrass James with later on.

"How does he do it?" Dumbledore asked her as she lay the camera down. The one thing Harry would willingly do for hours was to fly on that blasted broom. And once he got going, there was no catching him. He flew as if he had years of experience. He could dodge left and right as if he instinctively knew how to get away from being captured.

"I'm going to kill Sirius for getting him that," Lily growled.

"I'll help," James said. Although Dumbledore knew that James was secretly proud of his son's ability. James once said to him that he pictured his son in Gryffindor Quidditch robes as a chaser, or maybe even a seeker. Harry seemed to enjoy the speed more than anything else, and Dumbledore wouldn't be surprised to see him on a Quidditch team when he went to school.

"Do you need some help?" Dumbledore asked politely though his eyes were still twinkling with laughter.

"Please," Lily said in defeat.

Dumbledore pulled out his wand and waved it at the child. The broom turned and began to slow down until it came to a stop before them. Lily picked Harry up causing him to yell in anger as James got the broom and hid it. Harry cried as he reached out for the broom.

"No, no, little one," Lily said sternly.

"Thanks Albus," James said smacking himself with his fist, "Why didn't I think of that?"

"I never was a big supporter of divination," Dumbledore said, "But I predict that he's going to be an amazing Quidditch player in the future."

Harry yawned and rubbed his face against his mother's chest. Smiling, James said, "Looks like he finally wore himself out."

Suddenly, there was another knock on the door. Tensing up, James pulled out his wand as he made his way to the front door. A minute later they heard him call out, "It's ok! It's just Sirius!"

Lily let out a breath that she wasn't aware that she was holding. Dumbledore, who was getting ready to leave, but Lily asked, "Can we talk for a moment?"

Slightly surprised, Albus nodded and followed her as she carried Harry upstairs to his crib to give him a nap. There was barely a sound as she opened the door to Harry's small bedroom. The soft carpet felt warm beneath her feet, a huge transition from the cool wooden floors in the hall.

Before Dumbledore entered the nursery, he watched the two for a moment. A soothing, quiet 'shh' escaped her lips as Harry settled once again to slumber, resting his head against her shoulder. Lily kissed her son's forehead and hummed a soft lullaby.

Though he slept, Lily rocked him for a while longer as she looked upon his face. Albus could see the love she had for Harry filled her heart as it always did when she looked at him. But with that love was a worry.

He felt guilty. The most evil wizard to ever live was after her son all because of a prophecy that he told her about. Voldemort wanted to kill Harry because one day Harry might be the one to stand before him and put an end to his reign of terror. With a deep breath, she put aside her worries. Pressing a small kiss on his forehead, Lily placed Harry into his crib, who fell asleep immediately once he hit his mattress.

"You know I was really surprised that he gave you the cloak like that," she said, not looking at Dumbledore. "Normally he gets really upset if he doesn't have it. It's like his security blanket."

Dumbledore ran his hand over the cloak again before he said, "I promise to bring it back."

Lily still didn't look at him, her eyes glued to her sleeping boy. "Oh I know that. But still, it was really surprising. A bit cruel though, taking his favorite thing from him and hope that he forgets it? I hope you borrowing it is for a good reason."

"Of course it is. Now that Sirius is here you can make him your secret keeper. The Fidelius Charm can only protect you if-"

For the first time in her life, Lily Potter interrupted him, and began to say things that seemed as if she had been dying to have an excuse to say. War did that to people.

"Sir, I know the risks, but I talked to you."

Albus noted the desperation in her voice and eyes, and nodded for her to speak.

The woman who was aged beyond her years sighed heavily, and Albus could almost see the walls she kept her emotions secured behind fall away before his eyes.

"I don't think I can do it anymore," she gushed, "I'm so tired of this ridiculous war. I can hardly sleep at night because I don't know what could happen tomorrow! And now this thing with the prophecy…" she faltered, looking down at her hands, emotions and fears spilling out as quickly as her words did.

"I keep feeling as if we'll be attacked at any moment, I trust P-Sirius with all my heart, but I'm so scared for James and Harry. What if I'm injured, or I die? What will happen to Harry? Who'll take care of him? I'm trying my very hardest to stay strong for them both, I am, really. But…" she sniffed, and wiped away the tears that were spilled freely down her cheeks.

Albus noted sorrowfully that these were almost identical response to what James had said the last time that he saw him, just with names reversed.

"This isn't right," she went on forcefully. "This isn't the life James and I were supposed to have, this isn't what we had planned and this isn't the world I want my baby to grow up in. In a world where he could be killed at any second? Where he will spend his whole life threatened with death, just because some prophecy was made about him! While me and James can't do anything except sit and hide and hope for the best, even when it seems that it has already been foretold that he could end up becoming Voldemort's next victim? It is wrong! Everything is all wrong… nothing is like it was supposed to be!"

Her breath caught in her throat, and she swallowed whatever she had been about to say. Closing her eyes briefly, she looked up at her old professor and mentor, eyes beseeching him to give her an ounce of hope. Something that she could hang onto. Albus stared back at her, sympathy and remorse shown distinctly in his warm gaze.

"Please… I'm so terrified for us all," she whispered barely audible to the man she was pleading with, though in truth she was pleading with the whole world. Albus knew that she saw him as some kind of beacon; the symbol of hope that could encourage her to carry on, and persuade everything to be as it should be.

Though, in Dumbledore's heart he knew… knew that he was just a single man, and that these were false hopes she carried. One man could not change the whole world, no matter how hard she pleaded, begged, or prayed.

Maybe one person could change the world… but it wasn't him.

Albus grasped her thin, pale hands in his own old ones, "Lily… that is why we are here; to change the world so that others after us may live as we hope to. No one can live without sacrifices; for us, I fear, those sacrifices will be great, but they will ensure that your child will live in a safer and more secure world. Harry, at least, has a chance for a better life. I cannot promise you it will all turn out for the best, but I can promise to try my utmost hardest to see that it does."

Lily wiped her tears off her face and sniffled, trying to get a grip on herself.

"Nothing is ever certain Lily, that is why we have to be strong, you have to be strong… so we can face together whatever they throw at us. For your husband, and your son. We all wish that none of this had to happen… but that won't mean that it'll be like this forever."

It was a speech to be proud of, but it was not praised; it only brought more tears to the listener's eyes, and pained the heart of the speaker. Albus knew the world had gone very wrong at some point, to let such innocent people suffer so, and force young families like the Potter's to fear for their lives. He wished with all his heart he could change it all; give these people a chance at a decent life. But that was just a promise that he couldn't make.

Harry Potter or Lord Voldemort… the world's fate rested on a baby boy and a twisted, evil wizard who was barely human anymore.

Words; all Albus had was words. They might spur hope and trust right now, but when the final battle comes; they would be useless.

Albus watched the woman before him; who part of him still saw the same little girl who first arrived on the Hogwarts Express, new to Hogwarts and the Wizarding World. She nodded to herself and him, wiping her red eyes and blotchy face.

"Harry, whether I liked it or not, will definitely be a spoiled child," she said quietly, smoothing down her robes and not looking up. Finally, she managed to control her glistening eyes, and meet the gaze of the man in front of her. "And we would make his birthday absolutely spectacular! And the Christmases! That's something to look forward to. And when he gets older, James'll play Quidditch with him, while I'll teach him all he needed to know for school. Then, the dreadful days when Harry will be at school… I'll most likely wondering how he's doing, if he was scared, or miss me and James. And when he finally has a girlfriend, I'm sure that he'll find the best girl, the perfect one, like she and James though of course that's not how they started."

She rubbed her eyes as she asked her old teacher, "That's something to hang onto right?"

Dumbledore smiled again, as he put his hand on her shoulder to offer her some comfort. "Yes," he said simply.

Lily gazed at her sleeping baby before she asked, "If… if something happens to me and James… could you keep an eye on him for us?"

Albus looked at the crib to Lily before he said, "Yes. I don't know what I can do… but I'll do my best to make sure he's safe."

"Lily?" James voice called from downstairs. Albus looked out the door before he said, "Let's go."

"Thank you, Albus," were her last words before she left the room. A second later, Albus realized she had not called him Professor. A sad smile reached his lips as he turned back to the crib to where Harry was. Even after hearing the prophecy himself, Albus found it strange that a child, not even 2 years old, might be the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord.

Voldemort sure seemed convinced that it's Harry that he's after, and had started looking for the poor boy as soon as he heard that there was a prediction that someone could be destined to defeat him. But then again, it might not be Harry… it still could be Neville Longbottom…

And yet…

Harry opened his eyes sleepily to look up at him for a moment. Their eyes locked together for that brief instant…

"You…" Dumbledore said softly to Harry as he looked at those emerald eyes, "Might be someone truly special. Someone who is destined for great things."

The child blinked at him before his eyes went to the invisibility cloak. Dumbledore went on, holding the cloak, "Don't worry, I promise that I'll give it back to you."

The boy smiled at him, as if he could understand what he said and he went back to sleep. Dumbledore left after that. He stopped to say goodbye to Lily, James, Sirius, and Peter Pettigrew who just showed up.

They will be all right, he told himself; they had to be.

*Outside*

If anyone was peeking through their shutters, spying on the lone man, they made no noise, for the silence hung over the whole village, like a great canopy, shielding the inhabitants. If anyone had been observing him, they would have seen him walk to the kissing gate that surrounded the cemetery. His deep purple robes swept along the ground after him, and his hair fell down his back, blowing softly in the wind.

Making his way under the arch that led to the graves, he walked amongst them, a living soul striding about the resting spirits of the dead. Leaves rustled beneath his feet, twigs snapped. Those were the only signs that someone was in the deserted graveyard.

He seemed to know where he was going, for he strode confidently past the newer graves, and slowed his pace only when he had almost reached the furthest corner of the lonely place. He drew to a halt at the end of a row of crumbling headstones and abruptly turned into it. Stopping at a grave somewhere in the middle, the man knelt down. He conjured up a bouquet of flowers and placed them on the headstone as he felt his eyes prickle with tears.

He did not try to fight it; he had been fighting it for too long. Instead, he let his tears flow. Tilting his body towards the neighboring grave, he gasped as more tears threatened to fall.

Kendra Dumbledore

And her daughter Ariana

Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.

Albus Dumbledore closed his eyes and took great, heaving breaths. His sister… his only sister… And he might have been the one to bring about her death. He was the cause of her death. He cursed his teenage self. So ignorant, so self-obsessed. And for what? He had nothing to show for it. He had not been clever at all, despite what he may have thought at the time. Why had he not seen through to Gellert's true self? But he, Dumbledore himself, had been plotting to overthrow the Muggles, so was he to blame also?

A happy family… like the Potters.

If he only had the chance…

If he could only say one thing to his mother, father, and sister… they could only be 'I'm Sorry.'

(Please! Please review!)

Preview: He suddenly finds out that Lily and James are dead. He makes plans for Harry to be moved to his aunt and uncle. He wonders what to do with the cloak.