Hey readers - here we are with the next chapter : )
First of all - HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you all had a fantastic end to 2024, and I hope 2025 brings you all a brilliant year and lots of happiness XD
I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry for being gone from this story for like, a month, especially after I'd only just restarted it. I got so sick during the beginning of December that I couldn't get out of bed, let alone get any real writing done. Everything I've posted since the beginning of December in my other stories is stuff I had pre-written. Then with it being Christmas and spending time with my family and everything, I had virtually no time until the beginning of January to get back to working on this. So I decided to bench this story until the new year - now - before returning my attention to it. Thankfully, I'm all better now, so hopefully regular updates will be happening again : )
Beyond that, I just want to say an ENORMOUS thank you for the support you guys showed by favouriting, following and reviewing this story. It is very much appreciated, so thank you : )
Please remember that Harry Potter is not mine, and I hope you enjoy this story : )
A Promising Start
The Potters had made good on their word.
No sooner had James and Lily stepped out of the fireplace in the living room at Potter Manor after their emergency meeting at Hogwarts had the young couple gone sweeping off to the library, stopping only to set little Harry down for a nap along the way as he was starting to get sleepy. Then, with the help of their ever-eager-to-please House Elf Tisby, they had began scouring the ancient aisles of the Potter Family's most esteemed library, picking out any and every book, tome or scroll that might feasibly relate to the elusive topic of magical Seers. The remainder of the day had been spent in that fashion, right up until the sun had dipped down below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the sprawling grounds of Potter Manor. But even then, the air inside the library had still crackled with an urgent energy, not easing for even a single second. Dust motes had danced in the slanted rays of light filtering through the tall windows, illuminating the shelves packed tightly with ancient tomes, each a potential key to unravelling the mystery that enveloped their family. James and Lily had frantically searched through the towering stacks, their hearts still pounding with a strange mix of hope and dread. Naturally the weight of the prophecy was still looming heavily upon them, a shadow that threatened to snuff out the laughter of their infant son before it could even begin.
"Do you really think we'll find something here Lily?" James had asked at one point, subconsciously running a hand through his unruly hair, a habit that betrayed his growing anxiety.
His gaze had flitted from one dusty spine to the next with an air of desperation, searching for the right answer among the countless volumes. Lily, a fire of determination in her emerald eyes, had nodded resolutely in response.
"We have to James. We can't leave any stone unturned" she had replied, her voice steady despite the tremor of fear lurking just beneath the surface.
And so they continued.
Minutes soon became hours. Hours stretched into a day. One day quickly bled into two.
Still James and Lily continued their frantic search for useful information. Their determination and unwavering faith was an unspoken promise that they had both made to their son, a silent vow that whispered in the quiet corners of their hearts. They wouldn't allow a prophecy to determine their precious little boy's fate.
They wouldn't.
And that was how Lily was to be found on the second afternoon since their last meeting with Albus. The young wife and mother was nestled into the plush embrace of her favourite armchair in the sun-drenched corner of her favourite reading room at Potter Manor, where the golden rays danced through the tall windows, creating a cosy sanctuary of light and warmth. Quaffle, the family cat with a penchant for mischief, purred contentedly as she absent-mindedly scratched behind his ears, the rhythmic motion soothing her restless thoughts. Today, however, the heavy tome resting on her lap felt more like a weight than an lifeline, its pages whispering secrets she couldn't quite grasp. Perhaps the answer was being evasive due to the direct intervention of fate... or perhaps she was simply exhausted from reading for almost forty-eight hours straight now. Either way, Lily was getting nowhere fast, and it was really starting to grate on her nerves now.
A forlorn sigh eventually slipped its way past her lips.
"Oh Quaffle..." Lily breathed in an almost despondent whisper, still scratching behind the eager cat's ears, "Why does it all have to be so hard? Why can't we just be... safe... a normal family? Why do we have to be facing... this?"
Unsurprisingly, the cat had no answers to offer her.
Instead, Quaffle simply arched his back and stretched happily, clearly enjoying the affection that Lily had been bestowing on him. Once he'd had his fill of ear-scratches, the adorable cat then scampered off, disappearing under one of the other armchairs with a swish of his tail, no doubt intent on taking a nap. Lily was so distracted by the small animal that she failed entirely to notice that the door had just opened behind her.
"Ah! I thought I'd find you hidden away up here!" one James Potter, tall and handsome with tousled black hair, entered the room with a warm smile. He glanced around at his wife's favourite sanctuary with an air of fondness, "This room always was your favourite in which to lose yourself in a book".
Startled, Lily jumped, and her hand instinctively moved towards where her wand should be. She failed to find it there.
"James!" the young woman gasped, slightly flustered, "You scared me!"
"Sorry, my love" her husband chuckled warmly, his hazel eyes twinkling with playful mischief from behind his glasses, "Didn't mean to frighten you".
Calming down, Lily flashed him a teasing grin of her own.
"You're lucky I've got enough faith in the Manor's defences to leave my wand downstairs" Lily playfully reproached him, though it was obvious that she was only teasing him, "If I did have it on me though, you might have gotten an accidental hexing just then!"
James laughed good-naturedly; a warm, genuine sound.
"I think I'd be able to shield myself quite easily" the dark haired young man replied with a cocky grin, a hint of his old arrogance rearing its head. Naturally, Lily was very quick to confront it head-on.
"Oh, really?" the red haired young woman smirked, a new sparkle appearing in her emerald orbs as she took the bait her husband had just thrown her, "Challenging me to a duel, are we Potter?"
James' whole manner was incredibly playful as he grinned back at her.
"Well... normally I wouldn't condone raising a wand to my own wife... but perhaps a little practice duel would help us both blow off some steam" the dark haired young man smirked, clearly confident in his own ability to win in that scenario. The importance of their task quickly returned to him however, and so James begrudgingly added, "Shame we're a bit too busy at the moment".
His wife was about to let it go as easily as that though.
"Don't try and back pedal now, you big chicken" Lily laughed, brushing a strand of dark red hair behind her ear as she mockingly glowered up at man by her side.
James looked slightly confused.
"Back pedal? What's a 'back pedal', my love?" the dark haired young man asked, clearly not understanding the muggle terminology. A challenge grin quickly spread across his face as the rest of his wife's words struck, "Hey! Chicken?! I'm no chicken! I'm practically the embodiment of the brave Gryffindor lion!"
And as if to emphasize his point, James then threw back his head and let out a long, loud ROAR!
In the face of her goofy husband's dorky impression of a lion, Lily honestly couldn't help herself. She threw back her head and laughed, dropping her book as she clutched at her stomach, peels of laughter wracking her body.
"Oh James!" Lily wiped an amused tear from her eye, her worries and anxiety momentarily forgotten.
James' playful grin slowly morphed into a much softer, warm smile.
"It's nice to see you smile again, though" the dark haired young man said wistfully. It was true. Things had been far too dour for far too long around Potter Manor as of late.
Lily sighed as her mirth slowly faded away.
"I know" the young mother and wife admitted, knowing that James had a point. With all the stress of the prophecy looming over their family, the last few months had been hard on all of them, "It hasn't been much fun around here lately, has it?"
"No..." James agreed, before an optimistic expression overtook his handsome features, "But hopefully this new plan will help change all that".
Lily certainly hoped so.
"Speaking of which, have you found anything yet?" the red haired young witch asked eager, an air of desperation creeping into her eyes. With their baby boy's life hanging in the balance, they really needed a breakthrough, and fast.
Unfortunately, James looked slightly sheepish before he responded.
"Not yet" James admitted, running his hand through his unruly hair in a slightly self-conscious manner, "I… I got a bit distracted, I suppose".
His wife narrowed her emerald eyes at him in stern disapproval.
"James! This was your idea! We need to find a Seer!" Lily scolded him gently, not wanting to be harsh but needing to reiterate just how vital this task was to their son's future, "We need any information that might help us track down someone who can give us further insight into this prophecy".
If at all possible, James somehow looked even more sheepish.
"I know, I know" the dark haired young man held up his hands in surrender, hoping his pacify her worries, "It's just… Harry needed my attention. Desperately".
Lily couldn't help but snort at that. From past experience, her husband's definition of desperate greatly differed from her own.
"You mean he wanted to play on that toy broomstick again?" Lily flashed her husband a knowing grin. After all, she knew all too know just how obsessed her baby was with that particular toy, as well as the fact that her husband was always encouraging him, hoping to make a Quidditch player out of him. She sighed and shook her head in fond exasperation, "I still can't believe Sirius actually bought him that".
James couldn't help but laugh, a fond look in his eyes as well.
"You can't deny he loves it, though" the dark haired young man happily reasoned, his smile stretching from ear to ear, "Considering he can't even talk yet, he certainly lets you know when he wants to go on it!"
Lily giggled as fond memories of a specific incident swam before her mind's eye.
"Did he jab you with the handle again?" she asked knowingly.
Grinning, James reached down to his waist and gripped the helm of his shirt. He then pulled the fabric up to reveal a sliver of skin at his hip. There, a small round bruise clearly stood out against the unblemished skin. Lily couldn't help but smirk at the sight of it.
"We really need to work on getting him out of that habit" the young mother remarked, although her tone was far too amused to be genuinely serious.
James, who understood that his son was still too little to really understand, just smiled and shook his head.
"Ah, let him have his fun while he still can" he said without thinking, waving a casual hand through the air.
They both froze when the impact of the words hit them.
Both of the young parents glanced at each other, their expressions becoming uneasy. The laughter died in both of their throats, and tears began welling up in Lily's eyes.
"I... I didn't mean it like that" James stammered, his stomach churning uncomfortable.
The guilt he felt for upsetting his wife was practically palpable.
"No point shying away from it, is there?" Lily shook her head pragmatically, trying to muster up a strained smile for her husband's benefit and failing miserably, "Voldemort's after our baby, and we both know what that might mean..."
James' heart clenched painfully.
Having the truth spoken so bluntly, so matter-of-factly was like taking a dagger through the chest.
"I won't let that monster anywhere near our little boy. I promise you" James declared fiercely.
They both knew it was a futile oath to make though.
Lily slowly opened her mouth to respond, perhaps to even tell James as much, before sadly she never got a chance to. Before the young mother and wife could utter so much as a single syllable, something happened that caught both Lily and James off guard.
CRACK!
Both of the Potters flinched and almost jumped out of their skins as the loud noise split the quiet air of the reading room. Thankfully however it was simply Tisby, their devoted House Elf. She looked up at them both with an air of intense seriousness.
"Master James! Mistress Lily!" the little creature squeaked in greeting, bowing deeply to them both before she quickly straightened up to deliver her message, "The great wizard has just arrived through the Floo Network! He is most emphatic about speaking with you both, immediately!"
Lily and James shared a hopeful glance. They both knew that by 'the great wizard', Tisby was of course referring to Albus Dumbledore.
"Thank you, Tisby" James said graciously to the small magical creature standing before them, taming his excitement but hopeful that Albus' presence at the manor meant good news was in their imminent future, "Can you please go and check on Harry for me now? I just put him down for a nap. After that you can return to your duties".
"At once, Master James!" Tisby squeaked happily.
And then, with another piercing Crack! the House Elf disappeared again. That moment that she was gone, James turned his attention back to his wife, his hazel eyes glittering with hope and excitement. He was pleased to see the sparkle twinkling away in her emerald orbs.
"Do you think Albus has had any luck?" Lily asked her husband breathlessly, trying to keep her optimistic hope under control, "Real Seers are pretty rare, you know".
James' grin practically threatened to outshine the sun.
"I doubt Albus would just turn up without an important reason" James beamed down at her, and Lily was forced to admit he had a point there, "Let's go see".
"Yes, we shouldn't keep him waiting" Lily nodded in agreement.
So leaving the calm tranquillity of the reading room behind them, James and Lily both hurried out of the room, leaving Quaffle the cat still napping under his armchair. They swiftly made their way down the stairs, and within seconds the young couple were sweeping into the Potter Manor's main living room.
And there he was.
The headmaster of Hogwarts, the founder of the Order of the Phoenix. Standing in their living for the second time this week. It was starting to get a little surreal to be honest. The tall, kind-faced wizard was examining a framed photo of baby Harry with a twinkle in his eye.
"James! Lily!" Albus greeted them warmly, despite the fact their last meeting hadn't been entirely amicable. He soon returned his attention back to their son, "Such a charming little boy, even in a photograph".
"Thank you, Albus" Lily beamed, her heart warmed by the compliment.
"Would you like to sit down and have a drink, Albus?" James quickly offered, his tone polite and respectful. He still had some lingering guilt over going against him in their last meeting.
The wise elderly wizard was quick to put any residual awkwardness to rest.
"Thank you, that would be lovely" Albus graciously accepted the other man's invitation, taking a seat in one of the numerous plush chairs in the living room, "Especially considering we have much to talk about".
Unable to help themselves, Lily and James exchanged a hopeful glance.
"Does that mean you've found a Seer who might be willing to help us?" James asked Albus eagerly. The dark haired young man wasn't quite successful at keeping the utter desperation he felt from entering of his tone.
Albus nodded his head sagely.
"I believe I might have" the wise elderly wizard acknowledged, the trademark twinkle in his eye glistening particularly brightly today.
James and Lily positively beamed at him.
"That's wonderful news!" Lily exclaimed excitedly, her heart fluttering at the knowledge that they were potentially one step closer to ensuring her baby's safety, "Thank you so much, Albus".
"Yes, thank you" James said, bowing his head respectfully, "We're so grateful".
Albus simply waved their thanks away.
"Think nothing of it" the kind elderly wizard exclaimed heartily, as though what he had done and was still doing for their family was no big deal, "It is our common goal to put an end to Voldemort's crusade after all, and more importantly, keep young Harry and Neville safe".
"Speaking of Neville, have you informed Frank and Alice about this development yet?" James asked curiously.
To the Potters' surprise, the headmaster shook his head.
"Not yet, I was hoping to ask you if you minded hosting everyone here at Potter Manor first" Albus reasoned politely. Lily couldn't help but marvel at that fact that despite these being times of war, he was still keeping his sense of impeccable manners.
"Yes, yes, of course" the red haired young witch nodded distractedly, eager to get down to the matter at hand.
Knowing that Albus would prefer to cover this message once, Lily quickly walked to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder. After speaking her intended destination, Lily then bent down into the fire so she could Floo Call Frank and Alice.
Happy to let his wife handle that task, James meanwhile had taken a seat in his personal favourite armchair opposite the renowned great wizard. No sooner had he taken his position did an impressive china tea tray and a platter made of fine silver, filled to the brim with tasty cakes, suddenly appear on the coffee table. Albus chuckled as they both stared at the delicious-looking spread.
"Your house-elf is very attentive, James" Albus smiled warmly.
James smiled in a mildly embarrassed manner, running his hand through his hair as he usually did whenever a situation threw him slightly off-balance. He shyly picked up the teapot and began preparing them all some tea.
"Yeah…" James' smile held a great degree of fondness for the House Elf in question, "Tisby can't stand it if we have guests over without stuffing them full of food. I think she finds the idea of someone leaving here hungry insulting or something".
Albus smiled as James finished preparing him a cup of tea and handed it to him. Before he had a chance to respond to the younger man's observation however, he was distracted as the Floo suddenly roared to life behind him. Moments later, Lily returned to their side, accompanied by Frank and Alice Longbottom.
"You've found something, Albus?" Alice didn't waste any time exchanging pleasantries and immediately cut to the chase. With the weight of the prophecy looming over her family, Albus wouldn't hold it against her.
"Lily said you might have located a Seer for us to approach?" Frank added with an air of hope.
"I believe I might have" Albus confirmed with a warm smile.
The four younger witches and wizards beamed at him. Lily, Alice, and Frank all quickly sat down, eager to hear what he has to say. It was only once James had supplied them all with teacups and taken a sip of his own did Albus begin his address to them.
"Now, I apologise in advance, but I actually learned this information yesterday" the wise elderly wizard said to make it clear that he was being completely transparent with them. After how their last meeting had gone, he wanted to put any worries they might have about that to rest as soon as he could, "I know we agreed to inform each other the moment we discovered anything of use, but I wanted to verify my sources first, before I accidentally raised false hopes".
"That makes sense" Frank, ever the pragmatic Auror, nodded his understanding.
"Don't worry about it, Albus" Lily spoke for all four of them, more than happy to let it slid as long as they got down to business soon. The suspense was killing her, "Just tell us. What have you found out?"
The others looked just as eager to know that as Lily did. Albus decided to put them all out of their misery.
"I shan't keep you in suspense any longer" Albus chuckled softly, understanding their desire to cut straight to the chase.
From the depths of his pockets, Albus withdrew several pieces of parchments, along with a black and white photograph that was moving in the standard magical fashion. Albus placed all of them on the coffee table, a mischievous glint in his eye. Curious; James, Lily, Alice and Frank all leaned forwards in their seat for a closer look. They then reared back in surprise.
Whatever they had been expecting in that photograph, it most certainly was not what they saw.
The product of photography in question showed a particularly striking young man, handsome and dressed in an outlandish, clearly colourful outfit, performing a bizarre act in what looks like a circus sideshow tent. The black and white image added an air of vintage charm to the scene, but it was puzzling nevertheless.
Frank was the one to break the bewildered silence first.
"Really, Albus?" the renowned and talented Auror raised an eyebrow, a hint of disbelief in his voice, "You truly think this… this chap is a genuine Seer? He looks like… like…"
"Like a court jester!" Alice cut in, her voice laced with amusement, "Seriously, what is he wearing? I've never seen clothes like that before!"
To the surprise of them all, it wasn't Albus who supplied the answer to that question. Rather, Lily stepped in and supplied the information for him.
"He's dressed like a Muggle Fortune Teller, Alice" the red haired young witch explained with a gentle chuckle.
James, Frank, and Alice all exchanged confused glances. James, ever the curious one, spoke up.
"What's a fortune teller?" the dark haired young man asked his wife with an air of genuine curiosity in his tone.
Playfully rolling her emerald orbs, Lily began to explain for all of their benefits.
"It's a form of entertainment in the Muggle World, usually found at carnivals or circuses" the only muggle-born witch in the room put the concept into the simplest terms that she could, "Someone claiming to possess psychic powers will read your future for you".
James, as well as both of the Longbottoms, nodded their heads in understanding.
"So they use Divination?" Frank deduced sharply, before another thought struck him and he quickly amended his assumption, "Or at least the Muggle version of it?"
"Sort of, though most people treat it as a bit of fun" Lily tried her best to explain, a soft smile gracing her beautiful features, "Muggles don't take it too seriously, especially since many fortune tellers turn out to be fakes".
A heavy silence fell over the room as the others tried to digest this information.
"So, this guy is just a trickster then?" Alice scoffed derisively, turning her nose up at the moving photograph in front of them with an air of distain, "Albus, why are you wasting our time with this charlatan? You know how important it is that we find a real Seer, what's riding on the outcome!"
"Harry and Neville" James whispered, his voice dropping to a solemn tone.
As if any of them needed a reminder.
In response to Alice's challenge, the elderly wizard raised his hands in a calming gesture, his expression softening.
"I would never seek to waste your time when it's truly so precious, especially not now" the headmaster said assuringly to all four of the younger witches and wizards before him, "I understand your scepticism, and I confess, at first, I shared in it. But I implore you, give me a chance to explain what my research has yielded, and you will see what caused me to change my mind. I genuinely believe that this young man is, as they say, the real deal".
"The 'real deal'?" Alice scoffed again, frowning as she sook her head in disbelief, "Albus, you've always been a believer in the extraordinary, but this is pushing it".
Albus implored the female Auror to at least give him a chance to explain himself.
"Patience, my dear Alice" the headmaster gently urged her, continuing only when she gave a begrudging nod, "This is no mere whim. This young man, whose name is Caspian Kairos by the way, has a unique gift. He doesn't operate with the typical methods of our Divination teachers. His approach is… different".
It was clear that his words were only sowing more doubt and frustration.
"Albus, with all due respect..." James was the one who objected this time, doing his utmost to keep his tone respectful, "We need a real Seer who can help Harry and Neville. We don't have time for guessing games with some Muggle... fortune teller".
"James, calm down" Lily's calming voice soothed her husband as she placed a reassuring hand on his arm, "Albus wouldn't bring this to us without a good reason".
Albus flashed the red haired young witch a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Lily" he nodded at her, before he turned his attention back to the dark haired young man in the seat next to her, "As for your concerns James, this man is not a muggle, but neither is he a full wizard either. He is recorded to possess magic yet scarcely uses it. He seems to stride between the two worlds, belonging to neither but an observer of both. To be perfectly honest, I am not entirely sure what he is, but I firmly believe that this Caspian Kairos is the very Seer we so desperately need".
"What makes you so sure Albus?" Lily was the one to inquire.
"His abilities are unique, Lily" was the simple reply that the enigmatic man gave. Seeing their slightly confused expressions however, he quickly elaborated for his captive audience, "His powers... they touch upon the very fabric of time and destiny in a way I have never encountered before. His visions are… different. They aren't limited by typical Divination methods. They go beyond, and quite frankly, they are terrifyingly precise".
With a sweeping gesture, the headmaster pointed towards the pieces of parchment scattered about the table.
"These documents I've managed to uncover and compile detail his life, his apparent abilities, and the various accounts of his supposed predictions" Albus explained, a thoughtful frown tugging at his bearded lips, "Some of them are… peculiar, to say the least. But others… well, they are far too accurate to dismiss as mere coincidence".
Unfortunately for Albus however, scepticism was still rife in the living room of Potter Manor.
"Could you perhaps give us an example?" Frank, ever the pragmatic Auror, asked diplomatically. It was clear that he too had his doubts, but he was far too polite to just reject Albus' theories on the spot.
"Certainly" the headmaster immediately obliged. He picked up one of the parchments and began to read aloud.
"In a performance that happened in March of the year 1978, Caspian Kairos made a prediction that a young man in the audience named Barnaby would fall from a great height, sustaining injuries that would forever alter his life… but he would survive. Barnaby would find solace in the company of a woman with hair like spun gold and eyes like the summer sky. His path would be marked by sorrow, yet it would lead him to a noble purpose. This prediction was made in front of an entire audience, consisting of over two hundred people".
He paused, glancing at the others to gauge their reactions.
"This prediction... was made two years prior to Barnaby's accident, which only occurred last November" the headmaster let this titbit sink in before he continued ominously, "He became paralysed from the waste down and even magic couldn't assist him. He wedded two weeks ago to his carer, a young muggle woman with blonde hair and blue eyes..."
By the time that Albus was done making his account, all four of the others were gaping at him.
"That's... unbelievable..." James' jaw was practically hanging in his lap right now, but he honestly couldn't find it in himself to care at the moment. What he'd just heard was one of the most fantastical tales he'd ever heard before.
"And it is simply one of many examples I've come across over the past forty-eight hours" Albus nodded his own head at the incredibility of it all, "This is not just simple fortune-telling. This man has also been shown to have abilities beyond ordinary Divination, abilities that could be... invaluable in the current situation".
Frank leaned forward in his seat, more intrigued than before now.
"What kind of abilities?" the renowned Auror asked with an air of genuine curiosity.
A secretive smile flashed across Albus' lips.
"Caspian's abilities seem to involve… more than just fleeting glimpses of the future, not merely predictions" the wise elderly wizard did his best to explain, despite the fact that he barely understood himself, "By all accounts, he can actually see entire timelines, many different potential outcomes, not just probabilities. He can… see the threads of fate intertwining, and in some cases, even influence them".
Alice raised her eyebrows, once again incredibly sceptical.
"That sounds… impossibly powerful..." the female Auror remarked with an air of disbelieving suspicion in her eyes.
"Indeed, it does" Albus smiled in agreement, but it was obvious that he wasn't going to indulge her scepticism this time, "And yet, the evidence suggests that it is true. Caspian, I can assure you, is no charlatan, and somehow... more... than any other Seer I have ever heard of".
To emphasize his point, he quickly picked up another parchment.
"This one is particularly intriguing" the headmaster said, his tone and expression both filled with wonder, "It describes Caspian's ability to witness the past as well, to delve into the memories of objects and individuals".
Lily leaned closer, her curiosity piqued.
"That's… fascinating" the red haired young witch said with the same air of curiosity and wonderment about her, 'Could he, perhaps, help us understand what Voldemort is planning?"
Albus nodded earnestly at her in response.
"That is precisely what I hope for, Lily" he confirmed the young woman's trail of thought, 'It is a possibility, albeit a dangerous one. Caspian is, it seems, a force of nature, both a blessing and a potential curse. We must tread carefully in our dealings with him".
Those words sent an ominous shiver through the group.
"You're saying this… circus performer… this Caspian, could truly offer us insight into the prophecy?" Frank asked cautiously, working hard to keep his excitement in check. After months of researching the prophecy that may or may not apply to his son, just the knowledge that a potential answer was out there was very heartening.
"He could" Albus nodded slowly, his face unreadable now, "And it's not just that he's seen alternate futures, it's that he's seen glimpses of the 'how', the specific paths that lead to each of those different futures. He hasn't just predicted events, but presented pathways to either avert or influence them. Pathways I believe could be vital to your children's survival, as well as Voldemort's eventual downfall".
A feeling of cautious hope began to creep up on them all.
"You really think he can help, Albus? Help us protect our Neville and little Harry?" Alice asked slowly, unable to maintain her previous level of scepticism now, "You haven't led us wrong before, but… this just seems so… outlandish".
Her former headmaster gave the talented female Auror a patient smile.
"We have no other options, Alice" the wise elderly wizard replied, his tone solemn but firm, "Time is of the essence, and we cannot afford to dismiss any potential path that might lead to safety for Harry and Neville. I know I was against this plan initially, but I now firmly believe that this man, with his peculiar talents, holds the key to understanding the storm that is yet to come".
He let those words settle over them for a moment. Eventually, James was the one to puncture the heavy silence.
"Okay, let's say that we do reach out to this Caspian, what makes you think he'll be willing to help us?" the dark haired young man asked, and to be fair, it was a reasonable question, "I mean, we are all known enemies of Voldemort. Why should this man put himself on Voldemort's bad side for a group of complete strangers?"
"That's a point..." Lily muttered thoughtfully, chewing her lip anxiously, "We'd be asking this man to place himself in terrible danger just by approaching him for help".
A heavy frown crossed Albus' face at the point they'd both brought up.
"I will not lie to you" Albus took a deep breath, clearly having considered this possibility himself already, "We must be prepared to face disappointment in a refusal, or be willing pay whatever price he may seek for his services".
They others all looked at each other nervously. Just what would the price be for knowing the future?
"For what it's worth however, there is evidence here that speaks of his character" Albus continued before anyone had a chance to interrupt him or voice any concerns, "He appears to genuinely enjoy using his gifts to help others, particularly when children are involved. I believe if we approach him from the right angle, he can be convinced to assist us".
"You mean you think this guy has a soft spot for kids? Why?" Frank asked him bluntly.
"Is it because he's a circus performer?" Lily reasoned, a soft smile gracing her beautiful features, "Someone typically known for bringing joy to others, especially children?"
Albus couldn't help but smile. Lily always had been a very astute young witch.
"That is partly the reason, yes" the headmaster nodded, before he got to the main reason why he was convinced this particular Seer would be their best hope, "After all, considering the unique nature of his gifts, he could have used them very selfishly, for riches, immortality, power...:
"I see what you mean" James agreed, nodding his head seriously, "It wouldn't exactly be hard to become an all-powerful dark lord if you know about every threat before it even happens. Even Voldemort doesn't have knowledge like that at his disposal".
"Precisely, but this young man chose not to" Albus smiled. That alone spoke volumes as far as he was concerned, "He apparently never abuses his talents. That alone tells us volumes about him. Besides, there's more..."
"Another prediction?" Frank guessed.
"Yes" Albus nodded, before he picked up another one of the documents on the coffee table and began to explain, "This is a Muggle police report, detailing an incident where a young girl vanished from a crowded marketplace. It was a quite high-profile case in the Muggle World, baffling the authorities for weeks. But Mr Kairos, in a public performance just hours after the girl's disappearance, described the girl's appearance, her clothing, and most astonishingly, the exact location where she was being held captive by a group of criminals dealing in human trafficking and child exploitation. The police found the girl precisely where Mr Kairos described, saving her from a most terrible fate indeed".
"But... that's incredible!" Alice gasped. She knew from her line of work just how difficult missing persons cases could be to solve, and they had the added benefit of magic. Heaven only knew how Muggles managed them.
"It certainly is unusual" Lily nodded in agreement.
"And these are not isolated incidents, my friends" Albus assured them, gesturing at the pieces of parchment scattered about the table, "There are countless other examples of this man offering his services in solving crimes, averting natural disasters, saving people from the brink of certain death, all verified by reputable Muggle and Magical sources".
He gestured towards the moving photograph again. The others all looked at it with renewed interest.
"I think that if we explain that the lives of two young boys are on the line, we can compel him to help us" the headmaster said with a fair amount of certainty in his voice, "And that, I believe, makes him incredibly valuable. Possibly the most valuable asset the Order of the Phoenix might ever possess".
James, Lily, Alice and Frank all exchanged hopeful glances.
"Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm certainly convinced" James was the one to speak up in agreement first.
"I agree" his wife nodded, positively beaming from her spot next to him, "This does sound rather promising".
The Longbottoms weren't quite as optimistic as the Potters.
"Well..." Alice began slowly, a thoughtful frown overtaking her expression, "I do still have some doubts I admit, but we were the ones who decided it would be a good idea to consult with a Seer, even when Albus was against it... so it would seem rather ungrateful to throw all that effort back in his face now. What the heck, I'm in".
At her side, her husband was of a similar opinion.
"I have reservations too... but if it saves the life of both of our sons..." Frank trailed off thoughtfully, a bemused smile tugging at his lips, "Well, I'd take advice from Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump if I thought it would help. Alright, I'm in too".
Albus beamed at that. Considering that he'd been dead set against this idea to begin with, he had quickly come around to it.
"Excellent! Then I suggest we begin making preparations at once" the headmaster clapped his hands together happily, but he quickly became serious again, "I'm afraid we're going to have quite a long journey ahead of us".
"You mean this guy doesn't live in Britain?" James asked in surprise.
"I'm afraid not" Albus shook his head, "You see, according to the official records, Mr Kairos lives in New York City. Specifically the Broadway District".
"America?!" Lily gasped in a mix of shock and wonder.
"Yes" Albus nodded, his eyes twinkling at the young women's obvious excitement, "I confess that I did want to find a seer who was far enough away from Britain to not be directly dragged into the war, both for the individual's safety and as an added layer of protection to ensure that Voldemort does not discover the parts of the Prophecy he currently remains ignorant to".
The four younger witches and wizards all nodded at the logic.
"Well that makes sense. So what do you plan to do?" Frank was the one to ask the most obvious question, "We can't just apparate to America. After all, international travel amongst Wizarding Kind is strictly monitored and I'm not sure it's a good idea if our names are listed on the Ministry record at the moment".
"He's right" Alice quickly agreed, a little worried, "There are spies everywhere, and if the surnames Potter and Longbottom, along with Dumbledore, appear on the Ministry's list, it will be kind of obvious that something big is happening. That rules out Portkeys or the Floo Network too".
James chewed his lip thoughtfully as he tried to think of a solution.
"Well, there's always brooms I suppose, but that'll leave us all very exposed for a long period of time" the dark haired young man suggested, although he knew the idea was flawed, "And I doubt any magical beasts would be able to cover that distance without tiring. I'm not sure what magical transport we can use..."
"Which leads me quite nicely to my next point, thank you James" Albus said with an amused smile.
The others all quickly caught his look.
"Albus... what's with that mischievous grin?" Alice asked slowly, a smile tugging at her own lips, albeit involuntarily.
"Yeah..." Lily agreed, just as suspicious, "That's the look my husband always get whenever he's planning a particularly devious prank".
"Hey!" James exclaimed in playful protest.
"Let's just say..." Albus answered the original question in favour of joining in on the banter, "I think tomorrow is going to be a very memorable experience for us all".
That particular revelation left all four of the others in a state of shock.
"We're going tomorrow?!" Alice all-but shrieked, gaping at the headmaster as though he'd lost his mind, "But we need time to prepare for such a long-distance trip!"
Albus held up his hands in what he hoped was a pacifying manner.
"We do need to act quickly Alice" the wise elderly wizard reminded her patiently, knowing that time was of the essence, "Every moment Voldemort gains more power, and the danger he poses to your sons only heightens. I suggest that once we adjourn this meeting, you all begin packing. Several days worth of supplies should suffice. I also suggest that you make arrangements to leave young Harry and Neville with people you trust, presuming of course that all four of you want to come meet the Seer?"
The four young parents all nodded in agreement. The decision that Harry and Neville would not be leaving the magical protections of their respective properties had already been decided.
"My mother will be happy to guard Neville for us" Frank stated with an air of certainty.
"And I'm sure Sirius will be pleased to spend some quality time with his favourite godson" James added, knowing his brother in all-but blood wouldn't let him down if he asked.
"Just as long as he doesn't corrupt my baby with all his... Sirius-ness" Lily said teasingly, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness in her tone.
Albus chuckled, but quickly decided to end things before James could retort.
"Well if that's decided, I suggest we part ways for the evening" the headmaster recommended, gathering up the pieces of parchment and the photograph and returning them to his pocket, "We have a long trip ahead of us after all, so we'll need to get our rest whilst we can. Meet me in my office at Hogwarts at eight o'clock tomorrow morning with your luggage. Lily, James, thank you for being such gracious hosts. Good day to all of you".
And with that, the enigmatic man went sweeping off towards the fireplace. In a shower of Floo Powder and a flash of emerald coloured fire, he vanished off back to Hogwarts.
"We'll see you both tomorrow" Alice smiled warmly whilst Frank nodded at them both as well.
Moments later, the Longbottoms were gone as well.
As soon as they were alone in their living room again, James and Lily both turned to each with broad smiles. Their giddiness was practically palpable, but they just couldn't help it. This was really exciting after all.
"This is it Lily!" James was practically bouncing where he stood, his grin stretching from ear to ear, "It's really happening!"
The young red haired witch was just as jubilant as her husband.
"I know... After months of nothing but bad news and dead ends, we might have finally have some good fortune coming our way" Lily smiled, her whole face lighting up at the prospect, "I know we still have a ways to go yet... but it's hard not to be hopeful".
"I know what you mean, but we have to hope that Albus is right and this Seer will be willing to help us" James reasoned, "Now come on. We should start getting ready".
"You're right" Lily agreed, knowing they only had limited time to prepare for this unexpected trip, "I'll go start packing, and you can go Floo Call Sirius and ask him to come stay with Harry for a couple of days".
James nodded, and both he and Lily rushed off to get started on their respective assignments. Both of them had butterflies in their stomachs, but that wasn't enough to spoil their good spirits. Only one thing was for certain in that moment.
They couldn't wait to meet the mysterious Caspian Kairos.
And that marks the end of another chapter : D
I know this was quite similar in tone to the last chapter, i.e. all of the characters I've introduced so far in this story are just sitting around and planning, but it's very important to establish all this stuff early on, because it set the entire premise that this story is based on. Also, I will freely admit, me placing the Seer in New York was pure indulgence on my part. I actually visited New York for the first time last February, and I'm already planning another trip back there. It was there that I saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. It was... phenomenal, and it was seeing that production that actually inspired me to return to this project in the first place : D This was my way of paying homage to that : ) Side note - I also thought that Quaffle was a really cute name for the Potter Family cat. I couldn't find if it actually had a name in canon or not, but this felt like something James might have called his pet ; )
Anyway, I'm already working on the next chapter so it should be up much, much sooner than this one was. Also, it's going to be quite a long chapter, and a little more light-hearted and humorous than the rest of the chapters so far. I'll give you guys a little hint - the group find themselves trying to navigate the processes of Muggle Transportation ; )
And on that note, I think that's just about everything from me for this week, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please leave a review telling me your thoughts and opinions. Also, if you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see further on as this new timeline unfolds, be that characters, plotlines or events you'd like to see, please feel free to leave them in a review as well, and I'll give them due consideration : )
Until the next time, keep on reading : )