Raylynx's POV

By the time I woke, Sirius was already gone for his morning shift. I felt a twinge of guilt when I thought about how tired he must be. I got up and showered, feeling relieved that my body seemed nearly back to normal condition. I had just made some breakfast when the doorbell rang. It was Alice. She hugged me tightly when she saw me. I led her in and set down some toast, eggs, and coffee on the table.

"You holding up all right?" I asked Alice, and she immediately knew I was referencing Dorcas.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she answered in a small voice.

"And how's the baby?" I asked.

At this, Alice gave a tiny smile. "The baby's coming along fine."

"Just don't overexert yourself, Alice. You're an Auror and an Order member and a soon-to-be mum. That's a lot."

Alice nodded. "'ll take care of myself, Ray. Don't worry. I just have shift at Marlene's tonight and I'll be done."

Something about that sentence struck me as odd, but I couldn't quite place my finger on what. I shrugged it off.

We talked about little things, like how she and Frank had gotten a Vanishing Cabinet or what to name her baby if it was a boy or a girl. Around midday, she had to leave for her shift. I prepared for my own shift in Hogsmeade. Although I wasn't in the best condition, I knew I had to keep up my end of responsibilities and do as many shifts as I was able. The Order's numbers were too few to afford me any more days off. I sent Dumbledore a Patronus to alert him that I would be patrolling tonight.

When night fell, I used Floo Powder to go to the Hog's Head. I stepped out of the fireplace, brushing soot from my shoulder.

Right when I stepped out, I thought I saw a strangely familiar person just pass into the hallway of private rooms. I hesitated. Was that who I think it was?

Aberforth noticed me standing still on the rug. "Kingsley?"

"One moment," I said, and then, hunching over and staying close against the wall, I lithely ran down the hallway and turned the corner.

Sure enough, there he was, ear glued to the door. Severus Snape. No doubt spying on Order members.

I immediately pointed my wand at him. "Petrificus Tota-!"

"Sectumsempra!"

He reacted so quickly and so nervously that I didn't even finish my spell.

His spell barely missed me, instead leaving three long gashes on the wooden wall behind me.

My mouth dropped open, my heart thundering.

He almost killed me.

Snape looked at me with wide eyes. "Kingsley!"

"What do you think you're doing!?" Aberforth's frightening roar erupted behind me just then.

"Get out of here, boy!" Aberforth snatched Snape by the scuff of his neck and began to drag him away.

I meant to chase after them, but then the door Snape was eavesdropping on opened and Dumbledore appeared. My heart sank. If it was Dumbledore, the information had to have been of utmost stood there in the doorway, a serious expression on his face. Behind him, a woman of the most magnificent and gaudy dress appeared. She had on a huge shawl with all sorts of beads and overly magnified glasses that gave her the appearance of a praying mantis. Who is this woman? Why is the Headmaster in the Hog's Head? What did Snape overhear?

Dumbledore was still gazing down the hallway, but he inquired, "What has just occurred, Ms. Kingsley?"

"There was an eavesdropper at your door, Headmaster."

"Indeed. Who?"

"Severus Snape."

"Where is he now?"

"Aberforth caught him and chased him out," I informed him. "Headmaster, should I…?"

"There is no need for that, Ms. Kingsley. Or rather, we are too late."

"Too late?"

"Ms. Sibyll Trelawney, thank you for your time. It seems I must leave you early," Dumbledore said and firmly stepped away from her. He turned instead to me and said, "I shall alert Minerva to head over to the Longbottoms immediately."

Alice and Frank?

"Headmaster?" I said, feeling uneasy and frightened. Could Snape have heard something of such importance that it might threaten the lives of all the Order members?

"Ms. Kingsley, you must leave for the Potters' at once. Tell them they are to designate a Secret-Keeper immediately."

"A Secret-Keeper?"

"Yes, I shall be along shortly. Please hurry. Time is of utmost importance here."

I hastily ran out of the pub and Disapparated.


Lily's POV

I had just fallen asleep in our bed, entering a bizarre dreamland.

Strangely, Sev had appeared in my dream. It was the first time I had dreamed of him in a very long time.

"Lily, run! Run!"

"Sev? What are you doing here? We're not friends anymore."

"Lily, you have to get out of here!"

"Why are you trying to protect me, Sev? We're over."

"No, not over. We still care about each other. We don't want to, but we can't help it. We're always this way. Always."

James suddenly wrapped his arms around me. I jolted awake a little, reaching up to hug his arms around me. It all seemed normal, until I realized he was trembling.

"James?" I mumbled, turning over.

James was wide awake, looking at me with concerned eyes. His forehead was sweaty and he looked miserable.

"What's wrong?"

I sat up and using my sleeve, I tenderly wiped the sweat from his forehead. "James, talk to me. Please?"

James sighed and turning away from me, he closed his eyes and draped his arm over his eyes. "It's nothing, Lily. Don't worry about it and go back to bed. I'm sorry I woke you up."

"Don't dismiss me like that. I know something's wrong if you're calling me just 'Lily'." I tugged on his arm.

James sighed, letting his arm slip off of his face. "It was a dream."

"A nightmare, I take it."

"Yeah," James nodded, slipping an arm getting around my ever growing waist-line. "I was fighting and you came to help. And then…" He fell silent.

"I died," I guessed quietly.

James' eyes flashed and he looked so deeply pained.

"I'm right here, sweetheart," I said, taking his hand and squeezing it.

"I know that, and I know I can't make you promise that you won't fight anymore," James said.

I felt so torn. I hurt him by fighting, but at the same time, I knew I could not sacrifice that fire in me that kept me chasing after him every time he went off and tried to fight without me.

"I'm sorry?" I said, but the apology sounded more like a question.

James didn't react for a long time until finally, he sat up beside me and kissed me on the forehead.

"Don't apologize, Lily love. It's not your fault. I know I should never expect you to be anything less than you are. And I know a lot of this is just gender norms, you know, expecting women to be at home. I'll get over it, I promise. But in the meantime…"

"In the meantime?" I prompted.

James removed a necklace from around his neck and slowly draped it on my neck, clipping it on in the back for me.

"What's this?" I asked. "I know you said it's from Sirius, but…"

"It's a protection charm. Sirius said it's worked for him many times," James told me.

"Thank you," I said. I kissed him and then asked, "Well, since we're both up, why don't we have some tea or something? It's not late at all, really."

James nodded and we slipped down to the kitchen.

But then, there was a pounding on the door.

James and I traded looks, and we drew wands.

"Lily! James!"

I paused. That was definitely Raylynx's voice. I ran over to the door, with James right behind me, and opened it. Raylynx hurried inside and quickly shut and locked the door behind her.

"Ray," James said, startled. "What is it?"

Raylynx turned around to face us, breathing hard. "Dumbledore," she said. "He said you have to designate a Secret Keeper. And quickly!"

"A Secret Keeper! Us? But why? What for?"

"I'm not sure of the details. But I know a Death Eater overheard Dumbledore speaking with someone. So this is urgent."

I looked at James, feeling anxious. James thought hard for a moment and said, "All things considered, I trust Sirius the most. Let me call him-"

"Don't!" Raylynx said, stopping him from throwing Floo Powder into the fireplace. "What if your network is being watched?"

"Being watched? Ray, you're making this sound like a huge threat. What happened?" I said, unconsciously resting a hand on my baby bump.

"I'm not sure, but Dumbledore was involved, so it has to be an important plan that was overheard, right?" Raylynx said.

"Do you know who the Death Eater that overheard it was?" James asked Raylynx.

For a moment, I thought I saw Raylynx's eyes flash to me, but our conversation was interrupted by the polite ringing of a bell.

For a moment, I imagined it was Severus, come to warn us. Severus, telling us he had joined the Order instead.

It was Dumbledore.

Put such childish thoughts away, I told myself sternly.

"Headmaster!" James said, surprised. "For you to have come yourself…"

"Please calm yourselves and do not worry. Since the intruder was caught immediately, preventive measures are already in effect. Have you selected a Secret Keeper?"

James nodded. "Yes, sir. Sirius Black."

"But what exactly is the secret here?" I asked. "I don't understand what we are trying to protect."

"In this case, yourselves," Dumbledore answered grimly.

"Why?" James asked. "What would cause us to be specifically targeted?"

Dumbledore sighed. "A prophecy has been made.

"A prophecy?" I said, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "I don't understand what such an uncertain thing has to do with the Order and the Death Eaters."

"The prophecy foretells, at least, so I predict, for prophecies are truly very uncertain, that the child with the power to defeat Lord Voldemort will be born in July to parents who have trice defied Voldemort."

I gasped, "In July? But that means me. My baby."

"Yes, it means you… or perhaps, not you at all," Dumbledore responded, his eyes keen.

"What do you mean?" James asked, his eyes hard at the thought of Voldemort coming after our baby.

"The Longbottoms also fit these criteria," Dumbledore explained. "It could very well mean their child instead."

"Alice," Raylynx breathed.

"Professor McGonagall is assisting them at this very moment," Dumbledore reassured. "But the issue arises from the fact that a certain Death Eater overheard this prophecy. So you see the need for a Secret-Keeper? The two of you must go into hiding, at least for the time being."

"Into hiding…" James said thoughtfully. "Then, we'll be off the front lines? And Alice and Frank as well?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"That's not enough numbers," James began to argue, but I stepped forth and squeezed his shoulder comfortingly.

"We can't risk this one, James," I said to him. "You know how much I want to be out there, too, but this is too important. If the prophecy is true..." My heart skipped a beat as my hands folded tightly over my baby bump. My baby might have the power to defeat Voldemort...?

James sighed before giving in and nodding.

"But with all due respect," Dumbledore said and he hesitated slightly before finishing his sentence, "I would not select Mr. Black as your Secret Keeper."

I saw James' eyes go hard. I knew that when it came to matters of the organization, James trusted Dumbledore and worked hard to keep the balance of the Order intact, even if that meant entertaining the notion of his best friends being traitors. But in his heart of hearts, in regards to personal matters like these, James' loyalty and trust in his friends was not to be questioned, nor ever to be swayed.

"Sirius will be our Secret Keeper," James said stoutly. "I'm adamant on this point, Headmaster."

Dumbledore gave a long sigh and said, "Then so be it. Ms. Kingsley, if you would go and fetch Mr. Black. I have some more instructions to give to James and Lily."

Recognizing the dismissal, Raylynx looked slightly insulted as she got off of her feet, but she left hurriedly to fetch Sirius.

Dumbledore turned to us. "While I am here, I wish to hear your reports firsthand. You and the Longbottoms have been taking turns guarding the McKinnon house, as I asked, yes?"

We both nodded.

"And you have not told anyone else of this mission, including your good friends Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin, and Ms. Kingsley?"

"I used Peter as a messenger to the Longbottoms once, but that was it," James affirmed. Dumbledore nodded.

"Thank you. I know it is of utmost difficulty to keep these missions hidden, but I fear it is a necessary protection," Dumbledore said to us.

Those words made me feel unbearably sad, but I only kept my eyes down and nodded. Oh, Raylynx, Remus, Sirius… how did things turn out this way?

"You understand how a Secret Keeper works, I presume?" Dumbledore asked us. "The Death Eaters will not be able to see or invade your home even if it is right before their eyes unless the Secret Keeper reveals the location, whether by speaking or through writing. The Secret Keeper must be most… trustworthy."

"I understand," James said. "That's why Sirius is perfect for the job," James insisted.

Dumbledore said nothing, only seemed to heave a quiet internal sigh.

"Are you sure the Longbottoms are all right, Professor?" I asked nervously.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, you see, they have an extra defense mechanism you do not have- a Vanishing Cabinet."

"Oh, but I have my own defense mechanism," James said, and a genuine grin spread out over his face.

"James?" I said, confused. "This is not the time for a prank," I warned.

"No," James agreed. "But perhaps it is time to reveal how I performed them." He got up out of his chair and disappeared upstairs. At that moment, Sirius and Raylynx walked in.

"I hear I'm needed," Sirius said, entering the kitchen.

"Yes, Mr. Black, you were called for," Dumbledore greeted him.

"At your service, Headmaster," Sirius replied.

Then, James came running downstairs.

"Look, Headmaster. My Invisibility Cloak!"

Dumbledore blinked in surprise. "An Invisibility Cloak?"

"Yeah. It's no Vanishing Cabinet, but as far as Invisibility Cloaks go, mine seems pretty decent. No wear, no tear... even though it's been handed down for generations. And no spells work on it either."

"Indeed. Perhaps some may call it a true Cloak of Invisibility," Dumbledore spoke in a very curious tone. His eyes flashed and something in his air seemed to quiver.

"So I wouldn't worry about us too much, Professor," James said. "What I mean is, please look after the Longbottoms as well as you can, too."

"Of course, James," Dumbledore said warmly. But then he held out his hand and asked, "May I please examine that Cloak?"

"Of course," James said and handed it to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore seemed to marvel at it, running his hands over the thin, silvery fabric.

"Truly of a rare quality, one might say of a magical quality, like something out of a tale," Dumbledore muttered. "May I request that I inspect this cloak for a short time, James? Of course I will bring it back to you, but I would like some time to… discover its qualities."

James nodded. "Yes, Headmaster. Please, take your time with it."

"Thank you, James. Now, I shall be off," Dumbledore said, stowing away the Invisibility Cloak in his own cloak. "I shall, as you so good-heartedly suggested, be on my way to visit the Longbottoms."

"Though-" Dumbledore chuckled, stopping halfway to the door, "the Longbottoms have yet another defense you do not, Mr. Potter."

"What might that be?" James asked.

"None other than Mrs. Augusta Longbottom herself."


Raylynx's POV

I closed the cover of my old book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

I pulled a piece of parchment over to me and slowly traced out three shapes, culminating in one symbol.

"The Deathly Hallows," I whispered. "They're real."

I had doubted it all this time, doubted it because even though I lived in a magical world, I did not think this sort-of magic truly existed. But there had been no mistaking that glint in Dumbledore's eyes when he saw the Cloak, and the way in which he examined it and held it. It was no mere Invisibility Cloak. It was a "true Cloak of Invisibility". It was a Deathly Hallow. I sat back, stunned.

But then, an eerie question rose in my mind. Dumbledore had gazed at the Cloak not only with mere curiosity, but with a kind-of desire. It was not the normal kind power he had of defending others nor of the furious kind of power he had in the name of bestowing justice but a sort-of desire of power for power's sake. I hesitated. Of course Dumbledore is using his power today for good reasons. There's no question about that. But how did he get his power anyways?

An impossible answer arose in my mind, one that I scoffed at, but it wouldn't quite dismiss itself from my mind: The Elder Wand.

What if Dumbledore is wielding the Elder Wand right now?

I bit my lower lip. Impossible. Ridiculous.

But James has the Invisibility Cloak, my mind argued back. Isn't it only fitting for Dumbledore to have the Elder Wand?

No, Dumbledore wouldn't associate himself with that sort-of violent and bloody power. I remembered what Ollivander told me: The Elder Wand is marked by its history of bloodshed.

Dumbledore wouldn't allow himself to hold such a wand.

But Bathilda had said to me: "Not a night went by without an owl pecking at Gellert's window, and it was always Albus alerting Gellert to some fantastic new idea he'd conjured up!"

Dumbledore used to be friends with the likes of Grindelwald.

I inhaled sharply. This was all too much to deal with.

But not really, my mind whispered. If you really want to know who holds the Elder Wand, you know where to go.

That was true. Through Ollivander, I had heard the rumors that Gregorovitch, the wand maker, had last held the Elder Wand.

Do you really want to do this? I asked myself. No. But the question of what I want is irrelevant. There is only one way forward now. I have to know.


The next morning, I headed to Diagon Alley just as the first rays of daybreak spilled over the horizon. But instead of taking my usual route to Ollivander's, I made my way down to Carkitt Market in a disguise.

When I came to the shop I was looking for, I opened the heavy oak door and a shop much more dressed-up and handsome than Ollivander's, but far too flashy for my taste, came into view.

"Very early customer…" someone muttered, coming around from the back room, which I knew to be the crafting room. "We're not open for a couple hours at least, so please come back then."

I studied the man. He was short and sturdy in stature, and he had the unmistakable air of a wandmaker.

This is going to be difficult, I thought, for I knew by my experiences with Ollivander that wandmakers are very difficult to deceive.

But if I truly wanted to know, I had to try.

"What a shame." I laid on a bit of an accent. "For I was willing to spend quite a bit of money for the best wand I could find…"

Gregorovitch looked me up and down. "The best wand, you say?"

"You are Gregorovitch, are you not?" I asked, a bit haughtily.

"Yes…"

"Then show me your best."

"I think you are mistaken about something," Gregorovitch shook his head. "There is no best wand, only the wand that best suits you."

I laughed, trying to keep my nerves steady. Here goes. "Of course there is a best wand, Mr. Gregorovitch. Haven't you ever heard of the Elder Wand?"

His complexion paled.

"I see you have," I noted coolly. "In fact, though, I was hoping you'd have more than just heard about it. I was hoping you'd have it."

Gregorovitch stood stock-still for a long time before he slowly shook his head.

I raised an eyebrow and pushed harder. "But then, how are you not dead? The Elder Wand only passes by bloodshed, does it not?"

Gregorovitch fidgeted uncomfortably. "Why I am telling you this, I do not know. But since you already know so much about the Elder Wand, I think I am only confirming what you know. I do not have the Elder Wand." He swallowed hard. "It was stolen from me."

"Stolen from you?" My eyebrows furrowed. By who? Not Dumbledore, I suppose.

"A young boy… He came in the dead of night. Grindelwald."

Grindelwald! Then when Dumbledore heroically defeated Grindelwald, it means that the Elder Wand passed allegiance to him. And no one has beaten Dumbledore in a duel since.

My heart pounded in my chest. This confirms it. Dumbledore has the Elder Wand.

"I see. Then I have no purpose here," I said, faking my disappointment. With a slight bow, I walked out of the store. I took the long way around back to Diagon Alley and ditched my disguise behind a building in a narrow cobblestone alley.

I tried to pull myself together before I headed off to Ollivander's, checking several times that I was not being followed as I went.

As soon as I entered the shop, Mr. Ollivander gripped my shoulders tightly.

"My dear girl, thank Merlin you are alive."

I smiled warmly at Ollivander. "Thank you, sir. I heard you were a great help."

"Oh, my dear, if I were any younger, I would have gone galumphing off after you like those three boys. I'm only sorry I could not have prevented it."

"Your defensive charms kept the wand secrets safe, though," I said, and grinning, I pulled out the charmed envelope, which, though a little blood-stained, were unopened.

I spent a happy day at Ollivander's. We ended a bit early for the day, and I brought out my wand to clean it. Ollivander looked at it, and then did a sharp double look.

"It's cracked."

"What? Where?"

"Just at the very tip. Barely, just barely visible."

I looked at the tip of the wand and sure enough, there was the smallest crack.

"Let me see that," Ollivander said, holding out his hand. I handed it to him.

Ollivander tutted. "Barely visible on the surface, but it runs deep." He held it up to his ear. His eyebrows lifted. "It's crying," Ollivander noted.

I thought back to all the missions I had done, all the curses and hexes, even the Dark Magic I had cast once or twice. That wand was not meant for any of that. It was not on the adventure it wanted to be on and because of that, it was crying.

"Sorry," I whispered to it as I took it back from Ollivander.

"Perhaps the time is coming soon where you will have to choose a new wand," Ollivander commented, his voice rather ominous. He knew I had been casting Dark Magic.

With something close to resentment washing over me, I slid my wand back into my robes before I helped Ollivander close up shop.