Chapter One

Bright green eyes stared down at the bundled child in her arms, surprise glittering, "Oh." It seemed a magical pregnancy really could disrupt birth scans used to check on the babe. Twins were rare in the magical world and Poppy said that there were times she had delivered one baby only to deliver another a moment later. Theory was that the babe's inner magical core saw outside magic, of its womb and mother, a threat to its survival, almost like an instinct to live to birth. It was also why mothers-to-be were warned of excess magic, especially in places where constant use of spells like schools, could endanger the babe.

When Lily had first become pregnant, it was believed she was just having a little girl; at least, at that time she thought it was just a little girl, even Alice's hope at one time. She glanced over to an empty bed that once held the second mother, whom left earlier to allow family to view the newest Longbottom before disappearing. Then she glanced down, "My little surprise baby boy."

James, on the other hand, was still shell-shocked as he stared at his children, "I'm a dad." He still couldn't believe it.

"Congrats, Prongs!" Hazel eyes jerked upwards to find his best friends walking in, though Sirius was more like a brother than friend.

"Siri."

Sirius grinned widely as he bounced before them, eager to know, "What is it?"

"Sirius." James snickered at the pout Sirius threw to a weary Remus, both ignoring that just the night before was a full moon. At his side was the last of their group, quiet, meek Peter. "Hello, Lily."

"Come," was the only word from a tired but brightly smiling new mother.

Sirius blinked as he realized both parents were holding a small bundled, "Uh, Lils, weren't you suppose to have one? Where'd the other come from?" Remus smacked the back of his head, not daring to pull the throw, "Ow!"

"Thank you, Remus." Sirius once again pouted, rubbing the back of his head. Lily rolled her eyes as she sighed, "He's mine, Sirius. My son who came from the same womb as his sister. We all thought I was having a little girl but I was having both a girl and boy."

Bouncing resumed as Sirius demanded, "Who's mine? Huh? Huh? Who's my little Prongslet?"

Lily sighed heavily, frowning in the direction of an embarrassed and sheepish James, "I promised my husband he could name the godparent to our firstborn. I knew how much it meant to him to include you further in his life and family, Sirius."

"But, Lily, I didn't know it was going to be a girl!"

She patted the distraught man's arm as she turned her attention to an eager Sirius, "It's fine, James. So, Sirius Orion Black, please meet your Goddaughter, Ember Lillian Potter, the eldest by two minutes."

Black eyes stared down in awe at the tiny girl in his arms, watching those little fingers curl into fists as she yawned. "My Goddaughter."

Lily smiled softly as everyone awed over the first Potter child, waiting patiently until they returned their attention to the neglected little blue bundle, "Remus John Lupin, please meet your Godson, Harry James Potter."

Remus inhaled sharply as amber eyes teared up at the sight of this little child being placed gently into his shaking arms. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He was happy to even be included as a family friend but to find a permanent spot as family shocked him, but he still worried, "Lily…"

"You may be a werewolf, Remus, but you were nothing but a sweet man I knew in our school years. You haven't changed at all, despite what they might think. You are the chosen Godfather. It was my choice, though I was outvoted for our firstborn, you still were my choice."

"But…"

James quickly intervened, "Don't, Remus, don't. We chose you and Albus backs us in our decision. He helped us find a way to make it true, despite the ideals and laws against werewolves."

Amber eyes threatened to spill over as he stared at the sweetly sleeping Harry. He would do everything he could to keep the trust he heard in James and Lily's voice and eyes. "Thank you."

A throat cleared, ruining the moment, as Poppy came into view. "It's very late. I believe it's time everyone left so that Lily and the children may rest. You may return at an appropriate hour." She then bustled everyone but the tiny new family out her Hospital Wing.

Headmaster's Office

Albus sighed heavily as he leaned back from his pensieve. He had, once again, reviewed the prophecy and memory of three newborn infants. In one night three children had graced the Hospital Wing with their first cries, the last one being a surprise and appearing almost a minute before the first of August while Ember and Neville had joined their families two minutes before.

"Little Harry." Albus had been as shocked as the Potters and Poppy when Lily suddenly went back into labor two minutes after Ember had made her appearance. He had thought Ember or Neville would be the prophesized child; one would be the savior of this world, carrying a very large and heavy burden, until Harry. Now it was possible it could be Harry or little Harry could be the tip in the balance in this war, either for the Light or Dark.

A soft thrill caught his wandering mind, "Yes, Fawkes, this is worrisome. Three possible saviors will be chosen as an equal to Tom. One shall stand higher than two. But should it be Ember, we might still lose for Harry is a factor none of us saw." Fawkes gave another cry, as if scolding his very thoughts, "We will protect them. Perhaps, Fawkes, perhaps Fate will be kind to our surprise baby boy. Perhaps he will be 'the power he one knows not'." Yes, that might just be what the prophecy meant.

Albus immediately straightened, readying himself for the long hours ahead, "Gather the inner circle. We will need to finish preparations now." Blue eyes hardened with determination as Fawkes vanished in a column of fire, yes, we shall be ready, no matter the obstacles you throw, Tom.

Elsewhere in shadows

Deep in the darkness a lone figure floated, ghostly form slowly vaporizing to nothing, watching and listening to silence. Then a familiar voice, "you won this battle but the war shall reign. You tried to keep me from influencing the last battle. But they still fell to each other's hand. Now once more we rise for control. Do you still plot, my dear Morganna?"

Soft red light of rising flames brought color back into the shadows as a ghostly Morganna turned from the empty viewing wall to a smiling wizard, "You still live, I see, Merlin."

Merlin chuckled, "Magic does not die; it evolves. You should know this lesson well, dear. After all, who but the dragon in this very cave truly survives intact?"

"Yes, yes." She waved off his comment, "What are you doing here?"

"You fed the Dragon's ire, made him taste the flesh of life after you imprisoned me to my death. You gave in easily to obtain all, fed him those who also followed your chosen path. Now comes a serpent to his darkness and he will not rest easily. Your son still breathes, I noticed?"

"You leave him be!"

He laughed once more, "He is safe with the blood of his father. But remember, the Dragon had something to do with his father's blood. Your son walks a thin line as he might be the reason for the rise and fall. But rest, child, after all, you seem tired. For now he is safe."

Morganna turned away, worried for her son but could do nothing. She had used the last of her physical strength to bring back a lost soul and breathe life into it. For now, all she could do was let go of this world and fade back into the shadows she once was, hoping her voice still reached her beloved.

As she vanished, Merlin turned back to the large frozen statue that still stood after centuries, "We are but vessels now to the fire. He will be the hardest struggle of all, drenched in shadows and death but held in the light and life."

Elsewhere in ruins

"He's finally returned."

"But at a price as her blood still reigns."

"We swore an oath to our King. He was born of our King and not even death can deter that fact."

"But can we survive if it repeats as once again he rides away, ignoring the call. What is left of his spirit is drenched in shadow."

"We agreed that the oath will stand as will the punishment from its binding should it be broken."

The remaining few knights that had not broken the oath listened closely to the one man who went to temptation and came back fiercely loyal to only his King. Many had walked his path and failed, he was the only one that had not failed. They raised their swords, holding them out to the middle of their broken circle, "Agreed."

They would remain where once a splendor castle had risen around the circle of their oath, which fell to ruins due to time and nature. Here among the broken stood the last of the faithful, determined to hold to the oath as they watched the slumbering form of their King's son.

Headmaster's Office

"Albus?" Several inner Order members had arrived for a small secret meeting. They soon realized only very few were being called. It had to be a very important reason for not including everyone.

"Welcome, please sit. Anyone for tea?" Albus offered what refreshments he could to the confused group. He had only three faithful Aurors, Frank Longbottom, James Potter, and two Unspeakables. They were his inner core of the Order of the Phoenix. "I called only you few for a reason, one that mustn't leave this room, at least not passed our lips. As we know a war of Light and Dark is upon us but we finally have hope for winning. Not long ago I was given the grace of hearing a prophecy that spoke of a savior that would cause Voldemort's downfall," he ignored the sudden flinches as he continued, "we must prepare to protect this child as I believe someone may have also overheard part, if not the whole, prophecy. Voldemort will come after anyone who fits this prophecy."

"What child is it, Albus?"

Blue eyes stared at the concerned group as he answered the gruff tone of one Alastor 'Mad-eye' Moody, "They are in this room right now. I have already checked the registers of birth and only three children were born at the exact time as stated by prophecy."

James and Frank solemnly nodded, knowing it was them, answering as one, "Ours."

"I'm afraid so, my boys. Despite knowing what was spoken, I can only assume it to be either of your children. But I do believe it could mean Ember Potter and Neville Longbottom. I have a strong feeling it will be one of the two. They were born together after all." He quickly held up a hand to cut off a protesting James, "But little Harry is a surprise neither you or I, nor even Voldemort, could have planned. It's even more possible I shall be wrong and Harry is chosen. Or if he is not, he could be the tip in this scale of a war, one that could possibly be more disastrous than good."

This time James refused to be quieted, shooting to his feet, "Harry is my son! He's just a child!"

"Yes, James, a child but he was also not expected," Albus was doing what he could to placate the upset father, "but I believe we can compensate if Harry is not chosen. There is a theory of twins being able to share a bond in which one can use the power and talent of their fellow sibling in times of need. Or Neville will have two powerful allies in which he could use in his time of need."

"Then why say my son would tip the balance? Why implicate my son could destroy us?"

Here Albus grimly smiled, not wanting to upset one of his favorite ex-students, "Because a younger sibling must always contend with the older. How many younger children have hated their siblings? How many have pressure of living up to the standards set by those before them? After all, Molly and Arthur just had a son of their own a few months before. He must contend with five older brothers who have set their own paths through school, he must be able to stand up to what they could do study wise. Whose to say little Harry won't be the same should Ember become our savior? Many will worship and fawn over her, leaving him out."

"Lily and I will never push aside our children nor favor one over the other as you are saying. We will treat them equally."

"That is not always possible, James. Every parent has their favorite. You will be expected to favor one slightly more than the other. But what if Harry is nothing like you hope he shall be?"

Hazel eyes flared with anger at the implication he would even abuse, neglect, or abandon his son, "He is my son, Dumbledore."

Albus nodded, backing down, dropping his eyes momentarily in submission to an angered father. He could hear and see the conviction in the eldest Potter's voice, also in how James dropped calling him Albus or Headmaster. Using his last name showed Albus how serious James was in raising his son as if having a savior in the family meant nothing but a title, much like Head of family. "Very well, James."

James finally sat down, nursing his anger at the Headmaster, trying to bring back the subject of safety in order to not dare trying to hurt someone who seriously thought harm would come to an innocent child. "What about Secret Keepers?

"Excuse me?" Albus was intrigued that his boy thought of the same idea as him.

James shrugged, "It was Lily's idea. She has been reading into protection ever since you let slip about the prophecy to us before she went into labor. Secret Keepers could possibly keep us safe until we're sure the children are old enough to come to Hogwarts. They'll be safe here under your guidance during their school years."

"Very well, my boy. I shall leave the plans to you and Frank to discuss with your families. Just remember the Order is here should you need aide. All I ask is that you remain safe."