A/N:
Thanks to Javier (J.F.C) for the help in plot and being a great beta! Thanks to all those who followed, favourited and reviewed!

Real or Not?

Lily Potter was in a dilemma as she sat in front of the Hogwart's Headmaster and the leader of Order of the Phoenix, a secret organization built up for the sole purpose of defeating Voldemort and his followers, popularly known as Death Eaters. Presently, the Hogwart's Professor was sitting in front of her and her husband as he explained the necessity to move in hiding. It was déjà vu as it sounded exactly the same as she remembered from her dream. She did not know what to say. But dreams are a reflection of sub-conscious. Will it be right to judge her friend and her husband's friend for years on the basis of a dream? A dream which she is not entirely sure of?

The question again played in her mind, real or not?

She sat silently throughout the conversation between James and Dumbledore. Both of them looked at her between sentences, expecting some input, but her mind was elsewhere. James assumed that she was still weak from her collapse a few hours prior. He did not wish to strain her.

James selected Sirius as the Secret Keeper without any second thought. Remus had been out for a mission for a long time now. So, he was out of question.

For lodging they chose a modest Potter property in the town of Godric's Hollow. James suggested they could try and install some electronics as the town was a Muggle and Wizarding one. He knew about the difficulties in compliance of electricity and magic, but hoped they could figure something out. Dumbledore was willing to help for the cause.

Lily did not say much about anything. She had been too grasped in her own thoughts.

Dumbledore suggested the move next week and James agreed. Soon after the agreement, Dumbledore bade farewell to the Potters.

As James went to make a floo call to Sirius asking him to come over, Lily went in Harry's nursery, where Harry was taking his afternoon nap. He looked angelic as he slept. A slow, serene smile spread on Lily's face as she saw her son laying peacefully, his chest rising and falling in rhythm. She ruffled his hair, which even at one year of age resembled his father's.

Silent tears clouded her emerald green eyes and not for the first time in the day, the dream replayed in her mind.

Whatever she saw in that dream might be true or completely bizarre. But she didn't want to lose her child or her chance with him.

xxXXxx

The week passed too slowly for Lily's liking. She and James were preparing for the move. It was the day before the move when Sirius and James were shifting the packed boxes and Lily and Marlene were sitting in the Living Room of Potter Manor.

"How are you feeling now, Lily?" Marlene asked as Lily returned from putting Harry to sleep and sat on the sofa with a tired sigh.

"I am fine, Marlene. Honestly, all you look at me like I will drop dead any moment." Lily said smiling at her friend.

"No, Lily it is not that... You've been terribly quiet since you fainted the other day."

"I am fine, really Marlene." Lily assured her friend. But Marlene knew Lily better. She wanted to probe Lily to know what is bothering her but the fireplace grew green at the precise moment.

The two friends turned to see Alice Longbottom step out of the fireplace.

"Why do I feel like you two are excluding me from the group?" she said in a way of greeting. Marlene and Lily smiled; this was her way to greet them, since Hogwart's times.

"Oh, I missed you Alice!" Marlene exclaimed, hugging her friend.

"Of course you did, dearie. How can anyone not miss me?" Alice said smiling.

Lily looked over to Alice, her mind going back to her dream. Alice and Frank had refused to go into hiding and had decided that Longbottom Manor would be safer. The same thing had happened in real life. According to her dream today was supposed to be the day when Marlene died and Sirius would be unable to be the Secret Keeper, a week later Sirius would suggest to make Peter the Secret Keeper. Lily looked out of the window, expecting someone to step out of the shadows. She had been feeling like she was being watched.

Her odd and silent behaviour did not go un-noticed by Marlene and Alice. While they had maintained a playful banter, like good old carefree days, Lily's sarcastic remarks and snorts or just plain opinion were scarce. She had been silent since greeting Alice.

Both of them exchanged a look and Alice began,

"What is wrong, Lily?"

Lily looked up at her two friends, in that moment all she wanted to do was tell them about her dream but she didn't want to sound like something which was synonymous to just plain crazy. It was not that she did not trust her friends, she just did not trust herself. She felt she had the weight of the world on her shoulders, like everything that happened in the future would depend somehow on her. If she would miss a step or take right instead of left, everything would change.

She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to tell her friends about her fears but she was cut off by the entry of James, Frank and Sirius.

"Well, hello ladies." Sirius said with a smile.

"Oh, hello Sirius." Alice said formally as she tried hard to not to smile.

"You can do better, Fortescue." Sirius said hugging her, "Honestly, I have seen you after so long!"

"It has been Longbottom for three years, Sirius." Alice replied in a way of greeting.

"Should I be afraid you are going to snog her again, Black?" Frank asked, with Neville in his arms.

"I wouldn't do that. Last time I did that I was slapped across the face." Sirius reminisced with a smile.

Everyone laughed as they remembered the particular day in Sixth Year when Sirius had claimed that all it takes to woe a girl is kiss her on the lips. He decided to kiss a random girl and the random girl was Alice who was dating Frank for almost a year, then. Obviously, Alice had slapped him across the face which had in turn made the Marauders and Lily and Marlene laugh like crazy hyenas.

The rest of the evening was passed, reminiscing about the Hogwarts days and playing with Neville and Harry. The evening was truly happy, just pointless talks and reason-less happiness.

It was late when they decided to disperse. Neville and Harry were asleep in Harry's nursery and James, Sirius and Frank were just finishing telling about the boys' dorm talks.

Marlene yawned tiredly as she got up, "I must go; I actually promised Mum I will be home for dinner. Michael was going to visit, too."

"I will come with you." Sirius said, getting up.

Lily had a sudden vision of broken dead body of Marlene lying in a pool of blood.

"Wait!" She exclaimed without thinking.

"What is it, Lily?" Marlene asked, stopping for a moment.

"N-nothing." Lily responded, receiving an odd look in return before Marlene resumed her goodbyes.

After the goodbyes, they left soon followed by Alice, Frank and a sleeping Neville.

Lily smiled at James as he sat beside her on sofa. James smiled back and kissed her on the forehead, "I was glad to see you smiling and happy. I know something is bothering you and I hope you tell me what it is in your time."

Lily smiled lovingly at him and muttered a thank you as she hugged him. When James had asked her out, she had been reluctant to accept. She had always assumed that James would hurt her, break her heart. But she knew now, that the only way James could break her heart was not being in her life. James was her life. She would not know how to survive without him. She rested her head on James' shoulder and James started rubbing her arm with his hand. It was so warm, so comfortable. She was content. She was starting to fall asleep when the flames of the fireplace turned green again to reveal a haggard looking Sirius. Lily's heart skipped a bit as she got the same sense of déjà vu again.

"What happened, Padfoot?" James asked as he and Lily got up.

"There was an attack at Marlene's house!" Sirius said, with a mixture of expressions in his voice, he seemed shocked, surprised, sad and angry at the same moment. He ran his hand through his dark hair in agitation.

"What?!" James exclaimed, his eyes wide in surprise.

"No one survived James. The house was already burning when we arrived, and Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon and Michael were all already dead." Sirius said, sadly. James understood. Soon after Marlene and Sirius had started dating, Sirius had gotten close to the McKinnons. They loved him like a son and Sirius returned the sentiments.

"It can't be." Lily whispered, falling back on the couch, shocked.

"The only way we could tell that their deaths was a result of those bloody pests from hell, was thanks to the skull and snake that was on the sky." Sirius continued, darkly, his voice cracking.

"How is Marlene, and where is she?" James asked, after not seeing her with Sirius.

"She is at her house, while Aurors interrogate her... I only came here because I thought it would be best if you two are also with her, especially you Lily." Sirius said, as he turned to look at her who had not managed to speak since her whispered exclamation and had her head in her hands, muttering incoherently.

Lily was completely frozen, as she couldn't manage to find her voice once again. All of her mind was now focus on that dream, and her repetitive question of that actually being a sign "real or not?"

xxXXxx

Oh, how Kismet hated being ignored. Her siblings always outshined her. She did not need the shine or praise, she wanted the power. She craved it. You can avoid her but you cannot do anything to stop her. She needed her presence to be known. The keen interest of her siblings in the Potter and Longbottom boys, did not go un-noticed by her. Karma, in particular was keen in giving 'justice' to them. Alas, Kismet was never fond of Karma and her pretence of 'you get what you deserve', she was supposed to be the second to Free Will, in importance and age, but Karma took the opportunity... She will always hate her for that. Because she just didn't take her position but expelled her from the coven. She was silly before. But no will no longer be naive. She was beyond wishing to be the second, now she wanted to be the first, she wanted to push Free Will off the throne and claim it as hers.

There was a distinct shuffle behind her.

"I don't think Karma would approve you being here, Destiny." She said with a smirk, without even turning to look at her.

"Karma never appreciates us much, does she?" Destiny asked with a faint smile.

Karma nodded. "Not even for our too-good of a twin brother, Fate."

"Yes, he's almost always taking her side and following her rules."

"Still, I am currently not interested in speaking of our twin brother or bad-mouthing Karma." Kismet soon followed, making Destiny to raise an eyebrow at her, "I am actually more interested in knowing what's Karma reasons behind Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom. She even convinced time to shift for those two boys."

"You already know everything." Destiny pointed out, "One cannot expect you to be the ignorant, Kismet. Your are upto something, aren't you?"

Kismet smirked. "This will be the perfect opportunity to let my presence known." She replied with a devilish gleam, which would scare the layman.

But Destiny was not even fazed.

"And of course, you're expecting me to help you." She stated with a smirk of her own.

xxXXxx

A/N 2:
I haven't written anything like this before. Your reviews and feedback would be greatly appreciated.

A/N 3:

I am going to update 21 Days to Marry You and Unforeseen Changes soon. Please be patient with me :)

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