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The office was just as Lily remembered it - noisy and slightly claustrophobic despite the high ceilings. The multitude of portraits on the walls had the effect of making the room seem small, noisy and horribly...open.
"For the record, I am not pleased she has been included in this meeting." Severus regarded the man with a critical gaze.
Dumbledore appeared unaffected, merely nodding before turning to address Lily.
"First, allow me to congratulate you. Children are wonderful, don't you think?" The twinkle in his eye threw Lily off guard a bit. "I hear you are due at the end of April."
Lily felt Severus's grip tighten on her hand and she did not miss the look Severus gave the headmaster.
Infact, she could not ignore it. She turned to face Dumbledore. "Thank you, sir. We are quite happy...despite everything." She smiled, her free hand going to her flat belly without thought. "However, we are not here to discuss our son or daughter's future at Hogwart's. Please...get to the point."
Dumbledore showed no reaction to her curt words or slightly harsh tone, but nodded slightly. "Severus, would you prefer to tell her?"
Severus's face twisted, but softened as he turned to Lily. "There is a prophecy..." His mouth opened, but no sound emerged. He swallowed before continuing. "It is regarding a child born at the end of April." His voice faltered and she reached for his hand blindly as the tears began to fall.
"Tell me..." she whispered, her eyes locked on Severus. She was nearly paralyzed by sudden fear. It could only be something bad considering Severus's reaction and the cold calm coming from Dumbledore. Besides, who had ever heard of a positive prophecy?
She was fighting back utter panic when she saw the unshed tears glistening in Severus's black eyes. His voice cracked and the words came out as a whisper. "The headmaster was there..."
They both turned to the man. His long fingers were steepled in a familiar, yet foreboding, manner.
"During a meeting with a potential teacher, she gave a prophecy." He seemed to pause for effect, causing Lily's teeth to grit. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born as the fourth month dies to those who conceived without a wedding vow...and the Dark Lord will know not his ruin...When all is done, none shall remain."
The silence following the last word seemed to ring in her ears. She tried to sort her thoughts, to quantify - rationalize what she had just heard. It meant little in the literal sense of things...she couldn't help but wonder why this was happening to her. Why was she meant to give birth to someone so special? Why couldn't she just have a normal, healthy child to love, care for and someday send to Hogwart's - where his first meeting with Dumbledore occurs because of his OWL results, not a prophecy. She knew her child would never be normal - never be left alone. Even if the Dark Lord never found out...even if they were able to keep the prophecy a secret...
Dumbledore would still know and as compassionate as he was trying to appear now, Lily could almost see the excitement behind his eyes. Maybe it was something else, but she suspected the headmaster was quite pleased a solution to the Dark Lord problem had arisen.
When Lily spoke, both men turned to her abruptly.
"Our child must be protected."
Dumbledore smiled at her. "My thoughts exactly. This meeting was to discuss the arrangements, Miss Evans."
Her head spun to Severus. "How long have you known?"
He was startled, but answered immediately. "Only a few days. Dumbledore felt I needed to know when I told him you were pregnant."
The pain in her chest nearly overwhelmed her then. She reached for Severus across the distance, their hands lacing together. "Oh, Severus...I am so sorry."
"What?" He looked concerned, rising from his chair to kneel in front of her - both completely ignoring the old man watching them closely. "What is it?"
Fat tears slid down her face, her hands moving to his cheeks. She suddenly - desperately - wished they were alone. She kept her voice low.
"You haven't been able to enjoy our...news...at all, Sev."
He looked completely taken aback. His dark eyes searched her face as she smiled sadly at him. He put his hands on her knees and leaned forward, her hands falling from his face to his collar. He spoke so softly, she wasn't sure at first that she had heard him.
"Thank you."
She hugged him tightly around his neck, his arms circling her to return the embrace. She pressed her face into his shoulder, letting her tears dry up as he held her, caressed her hair and kissed her cheek sweetly - almost self-consciously. They spent a few moments comforting each other this way before both seemed to remember their audience.
Lily turned to the headmaster. "What do we do now?" She did not release Severus completely, but he turned to the old man.
Dumbledore's expression had not changed. "You will need to go into hiding at least until the child is born."
Lily turned to Severus, who was staring at the headmaster with a blank expression on his face. "What do you want to do?"
He didn't look at her as he answered.
"Let's hear what arrangements the headmaster suggests and we will discuss it when we return home." He squeezed her. "We needn't overreact. We still have weeks before Halloween."
The cold dread she'd felt not long before was strong then. She swallowed heavily. "Okay."
Severus addressed Dumbledore. "Please continue."
"As far as I know, Voldemort is unaware of the prophecy. Obviously, that works in our favor, but it may change with time. We cannot assume he will remain ignorant. I think complex wards on the place you stay will be enough for now, unless there is a more compelling threat. Of course, I am getting ahead of myself."
Severus stood abruptly. "Sir, you know I am expected to report at the end of October."
"Yes, Severus, you have made that clear. I also realize Lily will not be able to stay in your home much longer."
"What?!"
Severus went paler than usual. "We did discuss this, Lily. It won't be safe for you or the child."
Lily fought not to curse both men, anger bubbling up in her unbidden. How dare they treat her like a helpless child - shuffling her around without asking what she wanted or if-- Her thoughts were interrupted.
"I will find you a place to stay, Lily." Dumbledore's words only enflamed her further.
"Damn it!" Lily startled them both, but ignored it. "I will not have the two of you planning my life - or the life of our child -" she looked pointedly at Severus "- without me. Understood?"
Severus nodded silently, his eyes riveted to her.
"Good," she said, feeling a bit calmer at once. "Sir, I know Sev here has tried to keep our relationship quiet, but I seriously doubt it hasn't been noticed that I am staying at Spinner's End. At the very least, people are aware I am no longer with James Potter and if anyone bothered to find out who I am with now..."
"Yes," Dumbledore said finally, after the silence had stretched on almost too long. "Unfortunately, it is likely Voldemort is quite aware of your relationship. I doubt he knows you are pregnant, however, and I think we need to keep it that way."
"Will it matter? When I start to show---"
Severus interrupted her - Lily's heart clenched at the sight of him. His face was still so pale. "You'll be in hiding before then."
She grabbed his hand. "With you?" He seemed to wince.
Dumbledore answered for Severus. "The two of you will have to decide. I have two options I feel are feasible for all involved."
Lily couldn't help but dread hearing the headmaster's options. Severus sat in his chair again, but kept his hand clasped to Lily's. She was grateful for it.
"The simplest answer would be to place you both in hiding until the birth. At that time, the situation could be re-evaluated."
Lily knew this was the "easy" option. Next would be the difficult one.
"There are drawbacks to that choice obviously. I will not elaborate now, but know that if Severus does not become available when his services are requested, they will seek him out."
She heard Severus sigh and rubbed her thumb over the firm skin of his hand.
"If the two of you were to split - prior to Lily showing - and she married an Order member, she could pass off the child as someone else's. If Voldemort heard the prophecy, the child would be overlooked."
Lily felt nausea and anger washing over her and she stood, eyes blazing - hair flying around her. "How dare you?! He came to you for help - to help you too - and you...you..." She was vaguely aware of Severus standing up beside her, his arms going around her, soothing words coming from his lips.
She shook him off. "What? Are you agreeing with him? Are you mad?"
Severus was nearly cowering. "No...but it's a sensible solution, Lily."
"No!" She pushed him away from her. "I won't. I can't. You do realize what he's implying, don't you?" She grabbed his shoulders. "He wants me to leave you for James. Surely, you see that."
There was absolutely no response from Severus. He simply stood, staring at the floor.
"Fine," she whispered, not sure what to do. She wanted to run away - run to the edge of Hogwart's and disapparate...where, she didn't know. But Lily had promised Severus she would not run away. "I think you and I need to go home, Severus. We can discuss it there."
He met her eyes and took her outstretched hand. Together, they turned to the headmaster.
Lily meant to say something cool and polite - dismissive if possible - but couldn't do it. Instead, she just nodded at him, eyes locked on the old man's hands. She refused to let the tears in her eyes fall now. She didn't want Dumbledore to see her cry any more than he already had.
"Good day, sir," Severus said quietly before leading Lily from the room.
---
Severus paced in the sitting room of Spinner's End as Lily sat in the chair by the dead fireplace, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
Neither had spoken since apparating into the house. Lily had tried, but every time she had choked up.
Suddenly Severus stopped, moving to kneel before her. His expression was unreadable, but she knew he was fighting something by the way his jaw was set.
"Lily," he said, his hands sliding over her knees to her thighs, her skirt moving up her legs along with his fingers. "More than anything I want you to be safe - more than I want to be happy, more than I want to hold my child in my arms...and if you and..." His hands covered her stomach gently, "...are safer without me, then..." He turned his face away.
Lily bit her lip. She absolutely hated his self-sacrificing tendencies, especially because she knew underneath his words of resignation, he was secretly (desperately) hoping she wouldn't leave him.
She sure as hell didn't want to.
"I really don't want to lose you," she finally said and he turned to her, skeptical. "I'd rather be alone than raise our child with Potter. You must know he would be awful to our child."
At this he smiled a bit, his long hands still resting on her belly. "Okay."
The relief she felt caused her eyes to slid shut and her hands to cover his on her stomach. "I love you."
She felt him stand and lift her up under her arms, so her face was level with his, chests pressed together tightly. She didn't open her eyes, savoring the feeling of his breath on her face.
"I love you, too..." He placed soft, wet kissed on her face, "...you are having my child, after all." His lips met hers, preempting her words, and she ignored the tears she felt forming as his tongue slid into her mouth, her arms tightening around his neck for stability and to be as close to him as she could.
He moved to kiss her neck, freeing her mouth.
"We need to discuss what to do in October, Sev..." Her voice becoming lost as his long fingers moved beneath her skirt. All rational thought, words and reasoning slipped from her mind as her knickers fell to the floor.
---
Lily threaded her fingers through Severus's dark hair, feeling the strands sliding over her fingers. She had cried as they had made love. He hadn't mentioned it, instead he lay cuddled against her after, his head tucked under her arm. She felt comforted by his presence, by his hands moving reverently over her bare skin, by his allowing her to hold him instead of vice versa.
She couldn't help but ruin the silence.
"Sev, would you go into hiding with me?"
His hand stilled on her breast, his fingers caressing the swollen skin gently. "Are you certain?"
She sighed. "Of course."
"If you are convinced, I see no other choice."
She tightened her embrace, wrapping her legs around him as well as her arms. "You would let me marry Potter?"
His voice was strained. "I would do what is right for you and our child."
"I need you to be more selfish...more self-absorbed, Severus. You are going to be a father. Your survival is as important as my own."
His hands covered her abdomen - it seemed to be his new favorite place to rest his hands. "We both know that isn't true."
"I'm already an unmarried mother, Severus--must I be a single mother as well?!" She tried to push him off of her, ready to get off the bed. He kept her in place with a gentle push. Their eyes met and she found her voice had deserted her.
"Lily, please, stop this."
"What? I don't understand. Stop what?"
He shook his head, his dark eyes locked to hers. She was holding her breath, waiting for him to answer.
"He or she will never be born if you are not kept safe."
She scoffed, her heart aching. "The prophecy basically states nothing can be done. I am having this child as a sacrifice, Severus. How do you think that makes me feel?"
"No," he said, his voice steady and harsh. "It can be interpreted in different ways. It doesn't have to mean--"
She grabbed his upper arm tightly. "You heard Dumbledore. 'None shall remain.' That seems pretty explicit to me, Sev."
He shook his head. "No. I won't allow it."
Her expression softened immediately. "Nothing can be done, Sev...really. We need to keep junior safe and maybe..."
His eyebrow lifted. "Dumbledore did mention when we met alone that there was one other child who might fit the prophecy."
"What?!" She was suddenly so annoyed, she wanted to scream. "Why didn't he say anything to me?!"
"I don't know," Severus said softly, bringing his hand to her face. He wiped away her tears, his crooked smile sad and gentle. "He seems sure the prophecy refers to our child."
"Who is the other couple?"
"I don't know," Severus said, his lips pressing against her cheek, "but I will find out."
"Thank you," she whispered, turning to kiss him. "When will you meet with Dumbledore next?" She was finding it more and more difficult to concentrate as his lips slid over her face and his hands moved down her body, over her smooth skin.
"Next week..." His voice trailed as he moved his lips to her earlobe. "When do you return to the healer?"
"Another month or so," she whispered, eyes heavy, hands moving down his sides and over his back as he moved over her. Lily found she had no energy...the day had caught up with her finally.
"Mmm..."
"You know we'll have to actually discuss what we are going to do," she said softly - trying to keep her voice light and easy.
He groaned, kissing her forehead before replying. "I know..." He lay beside her then and Lily was surprised at the loss she felt. She liked having him hovering above her.
Neither spoke for a few moments, their hands lacing together between them, shoulders touching as they lay side-by-side in the twin bed.
Finally, he cleared his throat. "Dumbledore has not said where we would be hiding, but I imagine he would wish to keep us under his watchful eye." His long fingers moved through her shorter ones over and over. "I don't think he is being honest with me, but I don't know why or about what."
"Yes, he does give that impression," she said softly, biting her lip in thought.
"We will have to disappear. When I don't appear at Halloween..."
"I know. We will make it work. We have to." She turned to meet his eyes and for a moment, she felt an intense wave of anger. She had finally found a purpose - something greater than herself - something good and right and she had helped to create it. Her life had a meaning. She wouldn't let Severus ruin it for her.
His response eased her worries. "Of course." It was said as if no other answer was possible. She met his eyes.
"Really? You will go with me?"
He held her gaze and she knew he was being honest and true. "Yes."
The tears came rushing from her eyes immediately. She grabbed him and pulled him to her, no thoughts coming to her except to kiss him...to feel his lips on hers and his tongue in her mouth.
---
A/N: So...yeah. Husband has finally gotten well enough to leave the house, so I've been working on this story (and others - my new favorite ship: Marcus Flint/Katie Bell, so don't be surprised if you see something from me about the Slytherin & Gryffindor). Hope ya'll like the story so far---the end is nigh.