Advance Arrangement
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

With magic, almost everything is possible...


Twenty-one-year-old Lily Potter, née Evans, was a Seer. She knew that Voldemort would sooner or later find and kill her and her husband James because of a prophecy, which Sybil Trelawney had uttered in front of Albus Dumbledore. 'Complete rubbish, but if Dumbledore and Voldemort believe it, we better take precautions,' she decided.

In the evening of the first of October, she spoke with James about the matter. Her husband was still quite childish, especially, when he was together with his best friends, the so-called Marauders. However, when she told him about her visions, he became serious for once.

"Lily, let's speak with Croaker, the head Unspeakable. If anyone is able to help us, it'll be him."

Lily nodded, knowing that she could trust her husband with her and Harry's life. However, she had never been in contact with any Unspeakable. She had only heard people speak of them very highly. For James, it seemed to be different, probably due to his position as an Auror. The Auror's Office was supposed to be close to the Department of Magical Mysteries. "Please seek his advice."

"I will," he promised, before he soothingly pulled her in a firm embrace.

HP

When James returned home from the ministry, where he was working together with Sirius, his best friend, he grinned, reassuringly.

"Lils, we have an appointment with Unspeakables Caesar and Merlin first thing tomorrow morning, and yes, we can bring Harry with us."

"Caesar and Merlin? I've never heard of them. Are you sure that this isn't a trap?"

James cast her a look of pure disbelief. "I went to speak with Croaker, and he told me that, considering who I was, we should speak with them. It's not as if our situation could get much worse now, could it?"

"No," Lily conceded, letting out a deep sigh. "That's true."

James nodded and pulled her close. "Come, Lils, let's go to bed and do something to distract ourselves."

HP

As soon as they and fourteen-month-old Harry were ready to leave early the following morning, they used the fireplace to travel to the Aurors' Office, which was thankfully empty that early in the morning.

"Uncy Paf?" Harry asked, looking around wide-eyed, seemingly disappointed that his funny godfather was not present.

"You'll see Uncle Padfoot later on," James promised and offered Harry a piggy-ride through the ministry.

'I really have two children,' Lily thought, inwardly shaking her head, as they stepped through the connecting door into the Department of Magical Mysteries.

"We are Lily, James and Harry Potter and have an appointment with Unspeakable Croaker," James told the Unspeakable who was guarding the entrance.

The Unspeakable nodded and motioned them to wait for a moment.

"I thought our appointment was with Caesar and Merlin?" Lily whispered.

"Yes, but Croaker will introduce us to them in his office."

A few minutes later, the Unspeakable returned and motioned them to follow him. He led them into a small office, which was cramped with books and parchments from the floor up to the ceiling. Lily inwardly grinned. She loved books.

"Unspeakable Croaker," she spoke up. "Thank you so very much for meeting with us. We were hoping that you might be able to help us."

Croaker nodded as he wandlessly moved five piles of parchments to vacate chairs, before he offered seats to them. "Please take a seat. I've already called for Merlin and Caesar. They will join us shortly."

From the corner of her eyes, Lily observed how the parchments arranged themselves to a large pile on one of the few empty spots on the floor. "Thank you, sir," she replied, as she took a seat and carefully lifted Harry onto her lap.

"I took the liberty of discussing your situation with Caesar and Merlin, considering that we don't know how much time you have left," Croaker informed them, and Lily and James nodded in understanding, before Lily explained in detail about her visions, noticing in relief that Harry simply leaned into her robes and went back to sleep.

HP

A few minutes later, two Unspeakables entered the room, and in spite of knowing that Unspeakables never lifted their hoods, she felt disappointed to not get to know their identities.

Merlin merely revealed that both of them were related through James' father's side of the family.

"There are more Unspeakables related to you through your mother's side of the family," Croaker added in apparent amusement.

"But you're still not going to reveal yourselves to us?" Lily spoke up, feeling slightly angered. "How are we supposed to trust you?"

"Why would we trust you?" Merlin countered. "Unspeakables never reveal their identities to others than their own team mates. Croaker here is the only one who knows everyone. Anyway, first of all, you must swear an oath to keep the secrets of the Unspeakables, which you will get to know if we help you."

"We shall do that." James' response was fast and firm.

Lily nodded.

"If you wish to get to know our identities, you must become Unspeakables yourselves and join our team, which is Team 1, as I am by far the oldest of all Unspeakables and have been the first Unspeakable in history."

'He doesn't sound old though,' Lily thought, only to realise that the Unspeakables' hoods probably changed their voices.

James frowned. "Will I still be able to keep my job as an Auror if I join the Unspeakables?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "James, this is about saving our lives. Isn't that more important?"

"Yes, but what am I going to tell Sirius?"

"What will you tell him when you're dead?" Lily glared at her husband, who quietened in apparent understanding. "Yes sir, we would love to join Team 1 of the Unspeakables. Thank you so much for inviting us. Will we be allowed to bring Harry though, even if he can't swear you an oath yet?"

Caesar nodded and reached out to take Harry from her, who to her surprise nestled contentedly into his robes.

"Does he know you?" she asked with suspicion.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out, after Croaker and Devil agree for you to join Team 1."

"Devil?" Lily mouthed, horrified.

Croaker chuckled. "Devil is our trainer."

Too soon for Lily's liking, they got to know Devil, whose name was absolutely fitting in her opinion. Croaker made them swear their oath, before he handed them Unspeakable robes.

"Have you thought of proper Unspeakable names for yourselves?"

Lily stared at Croaker. The thought had not even crossed her mind.

"Please call me Prongs," James replied, causing Lily to roll her eyes. 'Too many people know that name,' she thought; however, decided to not contradict. "For my wife, I suggest Unspeakable Fluffy."

Lily raised an eyebrow in silent question, however, did not contradict for once. 'It doesn't really matter,' she thought, as she gently caressed Harry's soft skin.

Croaker nodded, seemingly contented. "I shall take you to Devil for your assessment and morning training now. Afterwards, you will join Merlin and Caesar in their team room. I suggest leaving young Harry with Caesar for the time being. As you can see, he is comfortable with him."

James fidgeted in his seat. "Excuse me, Croaker, but I am supposed to work at the Aurors' Office."

Croaker nodded in understanding. "I've already spoken with Moody last night and excused you for today."

Lily observed how Caesar and Harry interacted with each other. The scene was too familiar to not recognise it. 'Is that Charlus?' she wondered, just when the same thought seemed to cross Harry's mind.

"Gwanda!"

James eyed the scene in front of them with apparent suspicion. "Croaker, I'm sorry, but I'd prefer taking Harry with us if that's possible."

"Let's ask Devil."

Together, the whole group went to the Unspeakables' training room to see Devil.

"That's fine. Let's have the little one here as well. One can never begin training too soon." The trainer cooed at Harry, as he tickled his toes, causing the child to return a small giggle.

"We shall see you at lunchtime." Merlin nodded and left, closely followed by Caesar.

"Could Caesar be your father?" Lily whispered to James, while Croaker and Devil exchanged a few whispered words.

"He's dead."

"Well, yes, I thought so, too," Lily replied. 'Oh well, maybe I'm wrong, but Harry noticed it as well.'

She became distracted, when Devil set up a playpen for Harry and taught him how to playfully bat at the tiny plants that slowly grew up from the thick mattress, on which he sat him. When he efficiently managed to hit a plant, it changed into a small stuffed chicken. Upon another bat, the chicken transformed into a kitten and further into a stuffed dog.

"Do you like dogs?"

Harry nodded with enthusiasm. "Paf doggie."

While Harry was eagerly trying to change a whole lot of plants into doggies, playing with each of the dogs, as soon as he efficiently managed to make them, Lily and James fought Devil in forests, mountain areas and fog.

By the time Devil ended their training, which was only two hours later but for her seemed to have lasted a whole day, Lily was outright exhausted and knew that her defensive abilities were as good as not existent. James, in spite of being a full-fledged Auror, was not much better off, and Harry, who was surrounded by three dozen stuffed puppies, was fast asleep in his playpen. Lily could not help smiling at the sight.

"He has stamina," Devil commented, grinning. "It'll be a pleasure to train him."

'Of course, he has,' Lily thought, as she cradled the child close, feeling very proud of her baby. 'He's our son after all.'

HP

When Devil accompanied them back to Croaker's office, from where the Head Unspeakable led them to Team room 1, Lily could not help feeling excited. 'I hope it is Charlus. I really liked him, and I wonder who Merlin is,' she thought, as she walked next to James with Baby Harry fast asleep in her arms.

As soon as Croaker had left, Merlin lifted his hood. "Until recently, Team 1 only consisted of myself, before Charlus joined me two months ago," he informed them. "I am Merlin, which is my real name. Merlin Clause."

Lily's eyes narrowed. "Merlin as in the Great Merlin?"

Merlin chuckled. "That would be me. I am a great grandfather of Charlus here as well as of course James and Harry."

"Dad!" James stared at his father in disbelief, when Caesar lifted his hood. "Why? I mean, why did you make us believe you were dead?"

Charlus let out a deep sigh. "I am really sorry, son, and please believe me if I tell you that I missed the three of you badly. But I just couldn't go on with normal life, after the Death Eaters took Dorea from me. I loved her so much." A lone tear leaked from his eyes.

Lily stepped over to her father-in-law and hugged him. "Thank Merlin we finally got to know about this masquerade. We missed you very much, too."

"You're welcome." Merlin chuckled.

James frowned. "Excuse me, sir, but if you're the real Merlin, you must be at least one thousand years old. How…?"

"I am exactly 1103 years old. I suppose that you know my brother, Santa Clause?"

Lily stared at the old wizard who did not look his age in shock. "Santa Clause as in Father Christmas?" she asked in disbelief.

"He is my brother. He lives on the North Pole, where the magic of the North Pole is keeping him young. I was lucky enough that he invited me to live with him and make efficient use of the North Pole's magic as well."

"Why don't you openly show yourself though?" James stared at the older wizard. "People would worship the ground you walk on."

Merlin shook his head. "No, they would not worship me as much as they do now believing that I was dead." He grinned. "I am sure of that, and I don't need interaction with people. I rather gather very special wizards and witches around myself. Now, while the other teams have their specialities, such as, for example, Defence, time travel, potions or creatures, we usually remain in the background and simply research what comes to mind."

He grinned, and Charlus spoke up. "Since Croaker told us about your problem, we have been thinking about it and have a suggestion to make."

Lily and James stared at the former Lord Potter in expectation. James nodded at his father. "Please tell us."

"We wish to make copies of the three of you, who will return to your home and continue your normal life, while we hide you here in the Unspeakables' Office or, if you prefer, at Merlin's brother's place on the North Pole. I have been invited there, and I love it. You will like it as well, especially as it will give you the opportunity to observe everything that occurs here in detail."

tbc...?

If you are interested, I will post this story in small, daily chapters. Please tell me what you think. Any opinions/ideas/expectations will be welcome.