There is a single candle on the table

July, 1981.

There is a single candle on the table, casting only a shadowed yellow light on the people sitting around it.

Alastor Moody polishes his wand with the sleeve of his robe, looks up calmly at Albus Dumbledore, who taps one finger lightly on the table, thinking. The door opens and a man dressed in black steps in. He doesn’t greet anyone, just moves to the other side of the table, pulls a chair out, and sits down. He stays seated back from the table, so that his face is all shadows. He has sickly pale white hands that he places on the table.

Moody puts his wand away in his belt, eyeing the man with the suspicion he ceaselessly maintains for all but a few people.

"The Dark Lord intends to attack the Potters," the man says.

Dumbledore internalizes his reaction.

"You are sure?"

"Yes. He received information about the prophecy-"

Dumbledore’s eyes flash up. "I was afraid of that."

"The eavesdropper was thrown out before the end of the prophecy. The Dark Lord therefore received an incomplete version, but He received enough information to guess that the child spoken of may be the Potter boy. He is bitter about their defiance of Him already, and has decided to take this chance to get revenge."

Dumbledore is thinking very quickly, now, thoughts are scattering across his eyes.

"Do you know when?" he asks, almost distractedly.

"Soon."

"Does he plan to attack the Longbottoms as well?"

"I do not know for sure. I would guess that He plans to eventually. His focus now is the Potters."

Moody is scratching his chin, watching the shadows on the table.

"How did you uncover this information?" he asks without looking at the man he speaks to.

There is a silence as the shadowed man looks at him.

"The Dark Lord feels very confident," he says finally. "He has bragged to us."

"And the information about the prophecy?"

"I spoke to the Death Eater who overheard it. More confidence, more bragging," a sneer, almost a smirk can be heard coming through the man’s voice.

"Alright." Moody nods, sits back in his chair.

"We’ll contact the Potters immediately, then," Dumbledore says. "You may stay, Severus."

"No, I’d rather not," he says. Suddenly, he stands. "Apparently there isn’t an option. I’m being called."

Dumbledore nods. "You may go, of course," he says. "Thank you."

"No," the man shakes his head and walks out.

The door closes behind him, and Moody makes a skeptical noise.

"I know, Alastor. You’ll have to just believe me. We can trust him," Dumbledore says.

A few minutes later, a woman walks in. She sits down and pulls her chair into the light- Lily Potter. It is only Dumbledore and the candle now- Moody is gone.

The candle is lower.

"James is at home with Harry," she says. "Has something happened?" Her face is calm, her eyes are worried.

Dumbledore speaks quietly to her, leaning across the table. He speaks in a sure way, like the situation is very much under control, lessens her fear.

"I have received word that Voldemort intends to attack your family."

The color drains from her face.

"Now, what we are going to do, is put you- the whole family- into hiding. You can use the Fidelius Charm. No one will find you. When it’s safe- although I can’t promise to know when that time will be- we can unlock it."

Lily has one hand over her mouth. She nods.

Slowly, she speaks. "Why is he coming after us? Is it the prophecy?"

Dumbledore nods.

"So he’s coming for our baby," she whispers, anger.

"I believe so."

"I’ll tell James. We’ll have a Secret Keeper by tomorrow." She stands and walks to the door. Dumbledore stands as well and stops her gently by the arm.

"I would readily be Secret Keeper for you."

"James and I will have to talk about it. I’ll tell him." She sees that he is frightened for them, hugs him. He is a little surprised, but recovers to kiss the top of her head.

"He won’t defeat us," she says, more confidently than she feels. "He’s tried before."

Dumbledore nods and smiles a little. How bold she is. She slips out into the hall.

He walks back into the room, alone.

And blows out the candle.