Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Beta: Cookies and Cream1234567
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Albus rubbed at his wrinkled temples wearily, long fingers shaking ever so slightly. He fidgeted in his large chair and a lengthy sigh escaped his lips. The world was far too complicated, he decided. He had the burden of bringing the complications to light as well. It was him that had taken to telling students their family had perished. It was him that had taken to informing the Order of the sinister disasters that were occurring daily. The weight of it all was immense.
The first thing Albus noticed about an individual when he was informing them of something was their eyes. When they were angry a flicker would dash across their pupil and when they were sad the color of their iris darkened as tears threatened. Happiness, however, was a joy to witness. Their eyes would grow wide and little sparkles, or twinkles, would appear in the very corner. Those were the hardest to catch, but a trained eye would notice them anywhere. Albus' favorite emotion to see in the eyes of those around him wasn't happiness though. It was love. It brought deeper layers to eyes. They turned into richer, more beautiful colors and just looking into them filled you with peace.
There were some people who were constantly filled with love. It would mingle in their eyes with the other emotions they so easily experienced. Those eyes were often the prettiest, the ones whose color was the most noticed. Few had the ability to love so dearly that it shown through their eyes. They were the people who Albus had come to respect the most.
"You won't be able to break the news sitting there, Albus," Phineas drawled. Albus glanced up, peering over his spectacles.
"If you were in my place, Mr. Black, I think you'd find this rather difficult as well."
"How hard can it be? Mr. and Mrs. Potter, I am sorry to say that your unborn child is likely to be targeted by-" Dumbledore cut him off.
"It's not that simple, Phineas," he said, his voice becoming harsh. "These two have already seen so much pain, this child is the brightest light in their world."
"They aren't the only ones who have seen pain, Albus."
"I do realize this, we've all seen the horrors of Tom. Another problem has risen, however. Alice Longbottom is due the very same time in almost exactly the same position."
"They've faced him three times?"
"Twice, if I remember correctly. There is easily time for a third."
"And the Potters?"
"Lily has faced him directly. The escape from him was one, James contributed giving him a single defiance as well. Lily's assistance at the Diagon Alley counts for her second. James also encountered Tom on a mission he was on with Sirius. The two's parts in Tom's capture of the muggle borns is a third."
"Surely they have defied him more than three times, Albus."
"I thought of this, but there is a fine line between defying someone and doing something against them. They have defied him thrice, there is no question."
"Then you need to tell them."
"I understand this, Phineas, believe me. It's a delicate subject, however, and has to be treated as so."
"Remind me how long ago it was that the Trelawney women spoke the prophecy?" Phineas spoke angrily.
"I know it has been several weeks and I have already warned James. He can do what he will with the information."
"Warned him? What is that supposed to mean?"
"I informed him of a prophecy that may or may not be concerning his family. I informed him I needed time to evaluate and when I came to a full understanding of the words I have heard I would let him know."
"And you have reached that understanding?"
"Yes."
"Then you must tell them."
"I will, Phineas. Tomorrow."
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"Blankets?"
"Check!" James heaved his armful of colorful blankets onto the floor and ran back upstairs.
"Pillows?"
"Check!" he exclaimed once more as he deposited the pillows he had retrieved.
"Large assortment or muggle and wizard movies, including several chick flicks incase Lily gets tired of blood and gore?"
"CHECK!" James yelled, most excited about those. Horror movies were his favorites. Granted, he hadn't seen one in years, but he was sure they'd be great. How scary could they be?
"And last, be definitely most important…FOOD!" Sirius finished. James nodded eagerly and rushed into the kitchen. Several seconds later a few loud crashes along with an angry 'JAMES POTTER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING' ensued. Sirius decided that he should probably go help.
"Is there really all that much to carry?" Sirius asked walking into the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks as he saw what was in front of him.
He first noticed James, sitting on the ground, his glasses crooked on his nose. His hands were frozen by his head and in his hair was an awfully large amount of whipped cream. It was slowly dripping down forehead and onto his long nose. A large glob of the fluffy topping was resting on his shoulder. The second thing Sirius noticed was Lily glancing down at the can in her hand in shock.
"I…I just…" she stuttered, green eyes wide.
James finally made a move and swiped a finger full of cream out of his face and stuck it in his mouth, a slow smile beginning to appear. Seconds later her grabbed the pile on his shoulder and without second thought he flicked it right into Lily's face. Her lip started twitching and Sirius could tell she was trying not to smile.
Suddenly, she spun and sprayed her can right in his face, all over the front of his clothes and in his hair. Her laugh tinkled through the home and James and Sirius shared mischievous smiles. They grabbed two conveniently placed bottles of cream sitting on the table, but before they could make a move Lily dashed off, red hair flying behind her like flames. Her feet padded softly, but her never-ending laugh gave her away.
"You'll pay for what you did to me, Lily Potter!" Sirius called after her. "But first..." he spoke, turning towards James. A nice stream of whipped cream flew out of his newly opened can towards his best friend.
"You watch your back Padfoot," James exclaimed as Sirius dashed off. He shook his can eagerly, wanting to get the best out of his can. It was going to be a long night.
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"You still have whipped cream in your hair."
"Gosh dang it, I thought I had gotten it all out," James complained, swiping at his rumpled locks.
"Not quite," Lily laughed.
The three had immensely enjoyed their whipped cream fight and had started the large number of movies that they planned on watching. They had, of course, changed into clean clothes and were sure to wipe the walls that had been sprayed. Granted, there were some spots that they had missed, yet they were far too weary to do a thorough cleaning. Thus being said, they were on the ground watching Star Wars on Lily's telly, surrounded by junk food, blankets, and pillows.
Sirius had been thrilled to show James and Lily the many treasures he had found during his adventure at the grocery store, the pineapple soda being his crown jewel. Large cups of the fizzy liquid sat by each of them. Sirius found it brilliant, Lily found it slowly growing on her, and James thought it tasted like sugared carrots.
"I don't see how muggles can get in space like this…can wizards even do it?" Sirius asked, squinting at the flashing lights on the screen.
"They're not actually in space, riding giant space ships, and shooting lasers, Sirius," Lily said rolling her eyes.
"Then how are they in space, riding giant space ships, and shooting lasers?" He exclaimed, looking extremely confused.
"Movie magic, Sirius, movie magic."
"Muggles have…magic?"
"Not our kind of magic, their own kind, the digital editing and effects kind. It's quite brilliant really."
"So is it actually magic or not?"
"It is not. It's…technology."
"Just go with it, Sirius," James finally spoke. "I've stopped trying to understand muggles ages ago. It makes everything a lot easier, believe me."
"Fair enough," Sirius shrugged. "You have to admit though, these muggles are genius."
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One hour later
"What time is it?"
"Lils, it's only eleven o'clock," James answered.
"Eleven? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, we're positive."
"Well…I think Harry needs more pineapple soda, he's growing quite fond of it," she replied, rubbing her stomach.
"Harry's fond of it?" Sirius murmured to James.
"Apparently," he whispered back.
"Also," Lily started. "I'm pretty sure Darth Vader is Luke's father…"
"What the heck makes you think that?" Sirius exclaimed, head whipping around.
"Well Vader is father in German…"
"I think it's just the pregnancy hormones speaking, Lily," James assured her. She shrugged.
"Guess we'll just have to wait until the next one comes out."
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Two hours later
"Holy cow James, I don't think I've stayed up this late by my own free will." Lily spoke, eyes drooping.
"It's only one in the morning…"
"Still," she argued, beginning to shift in her seat. "I'm bored, let's do something fun."
"Movies are fun, right James? Movies are tons of fun," Sirius winced as the character on screen got his head sliced off.
"Not this horrible stuff! You're giving the baby nightmares!"
"I don't think babies dream, Lily," James argued.
"No, I think they do," she supplied, nodding her head.
"He can't even see the movie!" Sirius exclaimed.
"He can hear it though! That's almost worse," she said beginning to look worried. She hadn't moved her head from the movie the whole time. "What if one of those guys is in our neighborhood, James?"
"One of what guys?"
"The crazy, psycho axe murderers," she lowered her voice as they could hear her. Her eyes were focused on the screen and they'd widen with every new scene.
"Aren't crazy and psycho the same thing?" Sirius mumbled. Lily waved her hand in his face, signaling for him to be quiet. She pulled her leg's up and sat crossed them underneath her on the couch, fingers at her lips and brows furrowed.
"Oh my goodness," she breathed. "How stupid are you? Don't go down there!" She jumped, spilling a whole bucket of popcorn on the ground in the process. "I told you!" she exclaimed, pointing at the T.V. "Now you're dead," she shook her head before grabbing the remote and flipping it off. "NEW MOVIE!" she exclaimed.
"Have you ever seen a scary movie before, Lily?" James asked her, looking amused.
"Not really," she shook her head as she got off the couch and began sifting through their pile of videos. She suddenly stood. "I vote pancakes."
"Pancakes?" James asked, obviously confused. She nodded eagerly and swiped her cup of pineapple soda off the ground, sloshing several drops onto the carpet. Her long red hair, now tied up at the top of her head, flopped with each movement.
"Chocolate chip pancakes…with peanut butter…and string cheese."
"Is this one of those craving things Marlene told me about?" Sirius whispered to James as they watched Lily march into the kitchen. James sighed before standing.
"That's exactly what it is."
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Three hours later
"James?" Lily whispered.
"Yes, love?" he replied, eyes on the action movie he and Sirius had started. It was just getting to the good part.
"I think I'm dying," she murmured, seriously sounding worried. He glanced down at her head in his lap.
"And why's that?" he asked, rubbing her back. She was lying on her side, her feet stretched out onto Sirius' lap.
"The light hurts my eyes…and I'm hearing this weird buzzing noise…and my hand won't stop shaking," she moved her quivering hand in front of his face.
"You're just tired and full of sugar, you're fine, I promise," he assured her.
"Are you positive, James Potter? Or are you just trying to get me to stop talking?" she asked him. Sirius shushed them from the other side of the couch and she kicked his arm.
"I'm positive. You know you can go to sleep if you'd like? You don't have to stay awake any longer."
"I'm a big girl, James, I can tough it out," she nodded, not willing to give up. Once she realized she wasn't dying she knew she could do anything.
"Good for you."
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Three hours later
"James! James! James! Guess what!" Lily spoke happily. He looked up from the game of chess he had been playing with Sirius. Lily had gone to clean up their pancake mess from one in the morning and make herself some cereal.
"What?" he asked her.
"It's seven o'clock and do you know what that means?"
"That you successfully pulled an all-nighter?" Sirius supplied.
"Yes, but that's not the important thing," she said shaking her head.
"Then what's the important thing?" James asked, running a hand through his hair. His wife was hilarious when she was tired, he decided. She wasn't half as proper and serious as she usually was.
"I can sleep!" The biggest grin he had seen in ages was on her face.
"Um, Lily? I don't think so."
Both James and Lily turned to Sirius who had moved to their window. Sitting contently on the ledge was a gorgeous tawny owl, it's eyes an interesting hazel. Sirius was holding a note in his hand, one he had obviously retrieved from the owl's beaks. It was addressed to the Potters in the looping handwriting with green ink that they had all come to recognize.
Lily's sleep would have to wait.
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Chapter 8! Thank you all who reviewed last chapter, it really means a lot.