The news of the next morning was heart-breaking. Albus had just apparated to Godric's Hollow, to return Iris to her parents. He had been thinking how to break the news. But when he got there, he saw the house, and knew it was empty. He knew what had happened. The bundle in his arms began to cry, almost as though she knew what had happened too.
"Terrible, isn't it Dumbledore?" Albus turned. Standing next to him was Bathilda Bagshot. "I dare not go in, but I can hear a voice, a child; crying. You don't think?"
Dumbledore handed Bathilda Iris in her bundle and ran into the house, hoping to find something.
When he was just through the door, he nearly fell over. He looked down to what it was that nearly tripped him. The sight brought tears to his eyes.
James Potter, dead. His blue eyes shining, but completely blank, his skin completely drained. Albus had promised him he'd bring his daughter back. But he was too late.
Dumbledore left James, left the kitchen. He ran upstairs, looking for Lily. Then he heard it. The cry of a small animal, or perhaps... a child.
He saw Lily sprawled on the floor, dead also, her crimson hair splayed almost fanlike across the carpet. But next to her, was little Harry, crying. Upon his forehead, a single lightning shaped scar. This was the boy to defeat Lord Voldemort, The Boy Who Lived. His sister, The Elemental. The most powerful pair in the world. Their lives had to be kept apart.
As Albus Dumbledore emerged from the house, Remus Lupin apparated into the square. He ran to the house and saw the ruin before him. It was true. James. Lily. Dead. Two of his best friends, gone in one night. His footsteps suddenly felt laboured and worthless.
He reached Bathilda the same time as Dumbledore did. The sight that greeted him was one that struck momentary joy into his heart.
"The children..."
"Remus, meet Harry James Potter. The Boy Who Lived." Dumbledore allowed himself to smile. Voldemort was gone, for now, thanks to a little boy.
Remus smiled too. At least they weren't all gone. He then turned to Bathilda. She was holding something too.
"And meet his sister, Iris Lily Potter. The Girl Who Escaped," Dumbledore gestured to the bundle Bathilda was holding, "Elemental of our generation."
Bathilda, unfortunately, was oblivious to what was being said. In her old age she was becoming hard of hearing and the whispered tone that Albus Dumbledore had adopted was to quiet for her to hear.
"That's... that's amazing. Truly Amazing. But, is it true? Are James and Lily...dead?" He asked even though he dreaded the answer. He knew it in his heart.
"Yes. Their children are all that remain of their life." A tear fell from beneath the half-moon spectacles.
There was a moment of silence. Poor Harry and Iris, they had no home, no parents to love them.
"They will have to be separated, Remus. They are too powerful to be left together."
"Albus, you can't! They only have each other now."
"No Remus. Iris would have had to have come with me anyway. She needs a special upbringing that, oddly enough, operates on the lunar cycle. She will live with you and between the waxing and waning half moons, including the full moon; she will come to Hogwarts and undergo the teachings from the separate lords. Their power is stronger in a place of magic, and Hogwarts is just that."
"And Harry?"
"He will go and stay with his aunt and uncle."
"Muggles? What makes you think he'll be safer with muggles?"
"In the muggle world, no-one will know who he is. He can grow up without his title. No-one will know." Dumbledore turned to face the house, speaking loud enough for Bathilda to hear. "I will take Iris back to Hogwarts with me. She will be safer there tonight."
"Full moon," muttered Remus.
"Yes, Remus. I don't think you will be in a fit state to look after her later this evening." He turned and spoke to Bathilda. "I will leave Harry with you until later. I will send Hagrid along to bring him to his aunt and uncle."
"Where do they live?" asked Remus, curious. "If we have to keep them separate, then we need to make sure there is no chance of them meeting."
"Surrey," said Dumbledore, turning back to Remus, after exchanging the two children so that he was now holding Iris, "far enough away from Hogwarts, and your small house, up on one of the Scottish Islands. No-one will know that she exists."
Remus nodded, apprehensive for being responsible for his goddaughter. He glanced up at the house where so much life had once lived and a tear fell from his eye. He turned away and coughed slightly, wiping one of his hands across his face.
He stood there for a moment, watching Bathilda taking Harry back to her house next door. Harry looked over her shoulder and waved to Remus, almost sadly. Remus waved back at the small boy and smiled. This wouldn't be the last time that he saw him.
He turned to Dumbledore beside him and lent down to kiss the forehead of little Iris. She opened her eyes blearily at him and gurgled slightly, reaching out with her hands. He placed one of his fingers in hers and she gripped tightly.
"Goodbye Iris, I'll see you soon." He smiled briefly at the little girl once more before straightening. He nodded to Dumbledore and took one more look at the house behind them, before apparating as the touches of dawn crept over the roofs.
Dumbledore turned also and nodded his head in respect to the house, and then to where Harry now temporarily resided. He sighed, and looked down into the tiny baby in his arms, with James' eyes blinking at him. He held tight to the child, before apparating himself back to Hogwarts.