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.
Lily remained pensive for a moment. "Excuse me, Charlus. I know that we're going to die, so the copies will die then, while we survive somewhere in hiding. Is that correct?"
Her father-in-law nodded. "Yes, my dear. That is the plan."
Lily let out a deep sigh. "In fact, I have cast a protective charm at Harry, so that my sacrifice will make him survive. Of course, I can't be sure if it'll work, but if so, Harry's copy will survive. I have to ask this, but just how long is the copy going to last? I mean, if our Harry decides to venture out into the open, for example to attend Hogwarts when he turns eleven, will there be two Harrys running around?"
"He's such a cute boy. I wouldn't mind having two grandsons." Charlus grinned, before his expression sobered. "That depends on how much magic is involved. Merlin?" He cast the older wizard a questioning look.
Merlin shrugged. "I suppose that it'll last maybe three or four months at the most. By the time young Harry here is ready to enter Hogwarts as a student, the copy should long be gone."
"Lily, what do you think?" James cast her a questioning look.
Lily nodded. "I believe that this is the best idea we had so far. Please go on with it. However, I'd like to return home for a little while and take some of our most valuable belongings with us as well as Harry's teddy bear. We will, of course, leave a copy of everything at our home."
"Will we be allowed to tell our best friends about this?" James cast Lily a pleading look. "Sirius…"
"No." Lily glared at her husband. "We should not tell anyone if we really want to be safe. If we'll survive Voldemort's attack, we can still tell him and Remus."
"And Peter," James added.
Lily nodded, wearily. 'Somehow, I don't trust Peter,' she thought. However, she had no reason to doubt the Marauder. It was more of a feeling of foreboding, which she shook off quickly.
HP
After lunch, which they took in a small part of the ministry canteen that was reserved for the Unspeakables and allowed them to lift their hoods within their own privacy charms, Lily and James returned home for a little while, leaving Harry with Charlus and Merlin – much to the toddler's delight, as the two older wizards were much fun and gave him their full attention.
They took the family wands, leaving fake copies, as well as Harry's beloved teddy bear, leaving an exact copy as well.
"Let's leave everything else here," James decided. "Our copies have to feel well and comfortable here, so that everything will work out as planned."
"That's true, and our friends mustn't notice that anything is off, either." Lily remained pensive for a moment, before she shook her head. "Let's make copies of our whole wardrobe content to take them with us. I also want to take a few books."
James nodded. "You're right as always, my clever wife."
Thirty minutes after leaving, they were already back in the Unspeakables' Office, glad that their team room was equipped with a fireplace, which they could easily access from their home.
Merlin cast them a sharp look. "Now, are you ready to leave everything for a new life?"
Lily and James exchanged a glance. "Yes sir."
"Excuse me," Lily spoke up, "if you make the copies, they will know what we know. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that is correct," Merlin confirmed. "However, I will obliviate them about everything concerning the Unspeakables as well as the fact that they're copies. They will have the knowledge that you had, when you first entered the Department of Magical Mysteries this morning."
Lily let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Merlin."
"I believe that now would be a good timing," Charlus spoke up, "considering that Harry is asleep. Merlin, will you please do the favour?"
Merlin nodded and swiftly made the three copies, before he motioned them to return home through the fireplace.
Lily eyed them with apprehension. To her relief, they did not ask any questions, although they surely noticed their presence. Copy James went ahead, and Copy Lily followed him carrying Copy Harry through the fireplace, unbeknownst of the obliviating spell that Merlin cast at them in quick succession, as soon as they stepped into the fireplace.
"Let's head to the North Pole and watch on the screen how they are faring." Merlin sounded pleasant, as he ushered them towards the fireplace as well. "I already forewarned my brother and his wife that you might arrive today. The address is Santa's Workshop. Now, this is one of two fireplaces, from where you can floo right to the North Pole."
"Where might the other be?" James voiced, causing Merlin to grin.
"That's for me to know and for you to possibly find out some time."
To Lily's relief, Merlin went ahead, so that they did not arrive just by themselves at an unknown place.
HP
When they stepped out of the corresponding fireplace, they found themselves in a small room, which was equipped with a large screen as well as a portrait occupied by an older wizard. In front of the screen was a large oak table surrounded by comfortable looking chairs and sofas. A middle-aged couple was occupying the sofas apparently enjoying some tea.
"There you are," the woman greeted them, sounding pleasant, as she stood before them to shake their hands. "Welcome to the North Pole."
"These are my brother Santa and his wife Claire. These are Lily, James and Harry Potter."
Santa rose as well and greeted them with apparent enthusiasm. "Ho Ho Ho! Welcome to the North Pole," he boomed.
"We're happy to have you here," Claire added, smiling. "Holly!" she called out, and an elf popped up in front of them.
He looked different from the elves whom Lily had met in the magical world and was clad in a dark green suit with embroideries in gold and red. 'The colours of Christmas,' she realised.
"Holly, these are Lily, James and Harry, and they're going to live with us from now on. Please show them to their igloo."
HP
When Holly led them towards what seemed to be the entrance door, Lily cast Harry a worried look. He was eagerly toddling after the elf, who was barely taller than himself. 'I should've taken out his snowsuit from the shrunken luggage in our robe pockets,' Lily inwardly scolded herself, seeing through the nearby windows that the grounds outside were covered by a huge layer of snow.
However, when Harry's giggling of obvious pleasure brought her back to reality, she realised that their clothes were automatically changed into warm winter clothes. Her shoes even changed into warm boots the instant she stepped through the door. Harry was now dressed in a thick snowsuit in colours similar to Holly's suit.
Lily's eyes widened in disbelief, when Holly led them to a small igloo that made her wonder if as much as a double bed would fit inside. However, the instant she passed through the entrance door, not only her clothes were changed back, but she realised that the inside was huge. They found themselves in a living room, which rivalled the one at Godric's Hollow in size, and it was agreeably warm due to an enormous fireplace.
"From this fireplace, you can floo directly to the screen room," Holly explained. "If you need anything, please just call for Holly."
"Thank you, Holly," Lily replied, warmly. "We appreciate your kindness."
They had barely finished packing away their belongings, when there was a knock at the door. It was Charlus.
"Your copies are doing well. Merlin and I have observed them on the screen for a while. Just relax."
"I wonder if Sirius will notice that something is off." James let out a deep sigh. "Dad, do you think we could watch him as well?"
Charlus nodded. "We can check any place or person on the earth at any time."
"Ganda!" Harry caught his attention. "Ganda pway wif me?"
Charlus playfully lifted Harry into his arms. "Let's go and visit Santa and Claire. I know for a fact that they always have the most delicious biscuits and cakes." He stared into the toddler's eyes and breathed, "and even hot chocolate! Do you want one?"
"Yeah!" Harry cheered, giving his grandfather a toothless smile.
"Charlus." Lily smiled at the older wizard. "It's good to have you back."
"Absolutely," James agreed, gently laying his arm around her back, as they returned to Santa's workshop.
tbc...
Thank you for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. Please continue feeding my muse. Any ideas, suggestions or opinions are welcome.
