A/N: Okay, so I was planning the last few chapters, and I'm thinking this story is only going to go to about 40 chapters, give or take a few...it's weird that I'm almost finished...anywho, on with chapter 32!

The Terrifying Truth

The next eight weeks dragged on. Having to feed their infant son every few hours and major lack of sleep were taking a serious toll on James and Lily. James had taken a week off after Harry was born so he and Lily could adjust to their new family. And after changing dirty diapers for a week, James was almost relieved to go back to being an Auror – almost.

Meanwhile, Lily was debating whether or not to return back to St. Mungo's at all. Sometimes she missed her job, missed being able to heal another person. But then she would hold her child, and they would just look into each other's brilliant green eyes until Harry fell asleep; at those times, there was no where else she would rather be. Marlene had said that Lily could take as much time as she needed to decide, but even after nearly eight weeks, she still had not made a final decision.

James, Lily, and Harry were sitting at the kitchen table, eating breakfast. Well, actually, Harry was snuggled close to his mother, quietly enjoying a bottle she was giving him as James ate.

James looked at his watch before he stood up. "I need to go. You want me to get rid of this?" he said, gesturing to his unfinished breakfast.

"No, I'll probably eat it later,"

"Isn't your Mum coming over today?"

"Yeah, she should be here soon,"

"Okay, I'll see you later...love you," He leaned in and kissed Lily.

"I love you, too," she smiled.

James bent over and kissed his son on his forehead. "I'll see you guys later,"

"Alright, be careful."

James gave her a wink before he Disapparated.

After she finished feeding Harry, Lily took her son into the living room to, hopefully, rock him to sleep. But just as Harry dozed off, there was a knocking at the door. Carefully, so as not to wake him, she stood to answer the door.

"Hello, Lily," said Sarah Evans brightly as she kissed her daughter's cheek. "And here's my grandson!" she beamed as she gently took Harry into her arms. He stirred slightly and looked up at his grandmother.

"My, my, you look more and more like your father everyday, don't you?" Sarah said playfully as they walked to the living room. Both Lily and Harry smiled as Lily flopped down on the couch while Sarah and Harry sat in the rocker. "But you have your mother's beautiful green eyes. How I wish Harold could have seen you." Sarah looked up at her daughter. "He would have been so proud of you, Lily, seeing you and James together with young Harry. But you know what's funny? I can hardly even recall that – that night."

A wave of guilt swept over Lily. Her father had been killed by Death Eaters, while her mother, sister, and her sister's husband had been tortured. But because they were Muggles, the Ministry had modified their memories to make them believe that Harold Evans had died in a car crash. Lily smiled sadly but said nothing.

"Lily, dear, you look exhausted...why don't you lay down?"

"Mum, I didn't invite you over just so you could watch Harry while I sleep."

"Darling, you need your sleep, you look like your going to fall over. I remember what it was like when you and Petunia were young, and it was hell. Just lay down on the couch for a bit and I'll take care of Harry.

"Are you sure?" Lily asked as her mother began to take Harry upstairs.

"I'm positive."

"Okay...there's a bottle in the fridge...and if he gets fussy, he really like his stuffed deer, it should be on the changing table..."

"We'll be fine, won't we Harry?" And without another word, Lily watched her mother take her son.

Lily opened her mouth to say something, but she closed her mouth. She was being silly, her mother was perfectly capable of taking care of her son.

As she sat down on the couch, it hit Lily...how could she go back to work and leave her son with some stranger when she could barely let her own mother do it?

She laid down on the couch, falling into a much needed – and deserved – sleep.

000

Lily could feel the edge of the couch sink as someone sat next to her. That same person ran their hand down her cheek...she knew that touch...

She opened her eyes to see James hovering over her, holding Harry, who was looking up at his dad. She smiled. "Hey babe, when did you get home?"

"About ten minutes ago. Your Mum just left, said she didn't want to wake you up."

Lily sat up and stretched. "What time is it?"

"Just after four."

Lily's eyes widened. "I've been asleep for eight hours!"

"Don't be ashamed," James laughed. "You needed it,"

"I do feel much better. Work must have been dull if your home so early."

"Yeah, no attacks to day...but I something odd did happen. I got a letter from Dumbledore, saying we wants to speak with us tonight. I already asked Sirius if he could watch Harry, and he said that would be fine."

000

At eight o'clock, James and Lily Apparated to Hogsmeade and started to walk up to Hogwarts castle. They walked in a comfortable silence, holding hands, until they reached the Headmaster's office. After they passed the stone gargoyle and went up the winding staircase, James knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Dumbledore somberly. "Welcome, please, sit." He smiled as the Potters entered his office, but it did not reach is blue eyes. James and Lily both noticed the Pensieve sitting on their former Headmaster's desk. "You both know that I have always preferred knowing the terrifying truth instead of a happy lie. And I know you feel the same." He gave a deep sigh as he looked at the young couple.

"About one month before your son was born, I conducted an interview for the post of Divination professor. I had considered discontinuing the subject all together, but as this woman, Sybil Trelawney, was the great-granddaughter of the very gifted Seer Cassandra Trelawney, I felt that I owed her a courtesy interview. But I was disappointed, this woman did not seem to have any talent in the area. As I prepared to leave, she made a real prophecy."

He waved his wand over the Pensieve as a figure of an woman with round glasses and large, magnified eyes rose from the shallow stone basin. In a horse voice, the figure said "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 was the seventh month dies..."

The image of Trelawney sank back into the Pensieve, leaving a horrified silence in her wake. Lily sat in the chair, gripping James's hand, staring at Dumbledore, her breathing uneven. Before Lily could even think of speaking, James said, "Wh – what exactly does that mean?"

"It means that a boy born at the end of this past July, whose parents have escaped Voldemort three times before his birth, is the only one who has a chance at defeating Voldemort." he replied.

"B–but what about marking him as an equal and ha–having a power that Voldemort doesn't know about?" Lily's voice was shaking.

"As to that, I fear that only time will hold the answer. But before we make any hasty decisions, there are some things that must be explained. This prophecy would not be a problem had it not been for one thing – one of Voldemort's Death Eaters over heard the first half, the part that talks of a boy born at the end of July whose parents have escaped Voldemort three times. From this information that he has surely passed to his master, narrows down the boys that the prophecy is referring to – Harry or Neville Longbottom. This means that Voldemort, assuming that he will act on the prophecy, must choose which boy he sees as more of a threat–"

"More of a threat!" Lily exclaimed. "Harry and Neville are only eight weeks old! How are either of them a threat!"

"But because of the prophecy, Voldemort sees them as being a threat later. He may try to – dispose – of them before they are able to fight."

Lily's face paled. "S–so Voldemort is after H–Harry?"

"Not yet, but the person who overheard the prophecy has now switched sides, and has become a spy for us. This way, if Voldemort does decide to come after Harry – or Neville – the Order will be a step ahead, and we will take the necessary precautions. And seeing as you already have quite a bit of protection on your home anyway, I do not believe any further measures must be taken...at this time, at least. Do you have any questions?"

"D–Do Alice and Frank know?" Lily asked, barely loud enough to hear.

"Yes, I met with them earlier this evening. Now, if you don't have any more questions, I suggest that you go home and get a good night's sleep."

James and Lily stood and walked over to the fireplace. Lily left first, spinning through the Floo Network, until she landed in her own fireplace. She stumbled out of the grate, dusting ash off of her robes. She saw Sirius laying on the couch, reading today's copy of the Daily Prophet.

"So how'd it go with Dumbledore?" he asked casually as he stood up.

Lily just looked at him...how could he act so calm when her world was falling apart?

"Lily? Are you okay?" Sirius asked, concern written on his face. Lily opened her mouth to reply, but then they heard James land in the grate.

"Where's Harry?" Lily asked Sirius as James came forward.

"He's asleep," he said, sounding confused. Without another word, Lily hurried up the stairs to check on her son.

The door to the nursery was partly open. Lily opened it quietly, but didn't turn the light on so the only light was coming from the hall. She could hear James and Sirius talking down stairs, but she didn't care...right now, all she cared about was Harry.

She leaned carefully over the crib, just watching...watching his tiny chest rise and fall. She put her hand down and touched his small palm. Still sleeping, Harry wrapped his fist around his mother's finger. Finally, the tears fell from Lily's eyes. It was too much to handle...how could this happen?

That was when she heard the floor creak. She whipped around to see James standing in the door way. He walked into the nursery and put his hand gently on Lily's shoulder.

"C'mon...let him sleep." He said softly.

Lily opened her mouth to argue, but couldn't find her voice. Instead, she nodded and let James lead her down stairs. They sat down together on the couch, Lily laid her head on James's shoulder, his arm around her waist, neither saying anything for quite some time.

Finally, Lily said, "What are we going to do?"

"Right now, there isn't much that we can do."

"Are we going to tell anyone?"

"I think we should tell Sirius, considering he's Harry's godfather...if something happens to us...he should know what he's getting into..."

She snuggled closer to James as his grip on her waist tightened. "We need to get some sleep." James said half-heartedly. "Maybe we can think of some in the morning." He made to stand, but Lily pulled him back down.

"No," she whispered in his ear. "Stay here...with me." She passionately kissed him and pulled him down to her...they both knew they weren't going anywhere for quite a while.