Prophecy

Allies

Rose looked for the school she had been dreaming about for over two months, but Hogwarts was not visible from here. James was looking towards Hogsmeade, and he grinned as he saw the WWW of the Weasleys' joke shop had replaced Zonko's. He made a mental note to check the Green Flower's profits as they looked at the town.

"Albus Dumbledore and I have been owling for some time now, and we decided to meet and I thought we'd make a vacation out of it as well. We have an appointment in about 2 hours to meet with Albus and some people he has brought into the project." Robert ran his hand through his hair as he finished speaking. The Evans family walked over to the pub, a place called The Three Broomsticks. They sat down and ordered a tea and coca, mostly because Robert didn't think Europeans could make real coffee.

He shrugged when James innocently pointed out that such an attitude was prejudiced. "I know it, but I like my coffee a little different than they make it over here, and I can never get anyone to make it the way I like it."

Rose looked at the ceiling. "Maybe that's because the way you like it, you need a steel cup and wards to keep it in the cup?"

"Hey, my coffee is not that strong," their father protested.

Mary looked over at Robert. "Robert, your coffee is so strong we have two coffee pots, one for you, and one for the rest of us."

Robert rolled his eyes. "If all of you are going to gang up on me, I'll just drop it." They chatted for a while, and then James and Rose asked to be excused. They were told to be back in an hour, as they still had the meeting to go to.

James and Rose wandered around the small village discussing James's idea. Since they were alone, they used the silent speech. "Do you really think we need this Brother?"

"I don't know, but I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."

"You know Mom and Dad would help."

"Yes, but the idea is a place nobody but ourselves knows about."

"How do you plan to do that?"

"A new business, financed by the Green Flower, but entirely separate, like the Jade Lily holdings or some such."

"I think you're paranoid brother mine."

"Hey, even noids have enemies." Wandering down a side street, they found what James had been looking for. No. 8 Quaffle Ln was a non-descript older place, with an air of disuse, and a heavily overgrown garden. "Rose, can you see anything?"

Rose concentrated, trying to see the house with her other sight. "Nothing."

"Good enough, there's nothing bad at least."

"Nothing good either brother."

"Calculated risk Sister."

Rose rolled her eyes at James's favorite phrase, one he used every time they were doing something with an uncertain outcome. "James, one of these days, your 'calculated risk' is going to seriously bite you on the butt, and I'm going to rub it in for months, but I'll be nice enough to wait until after you get out of the hospital to do so."

"Why Sister mine, are you saying I'm careless?" The mock-injured tone of his mental voice was accompanied by an image of his best innocent look.

"Careless? You? No, but you walk, no, run where giants and dragons think twice about going. I need you James, and now, it appears the whole world will need us, so try not to get us killed ok?"

"I'm not that bad." His protest was met with skepticism.

"Pardon me? Aren't you the one that went into a cave after a injured wolverine? The one that climbed the Daggerfall cliff when that stupid muggle shot the eagles? Just to rescue one chick?"

"All of that was carefully thought out, and I didn't get hurt too badly either time. More important, I saved the wolverine, her cubs and the eagle didn't I?" Rose shook her head. She knew that James had a streak of White Knight running through him just a little smaller than the Nile River, and even more unstoppable.

They rejoined their parents for the walk to Hogwarts, still carrying on their talk. Robert and Mary had seen this many times, and the walk was in silence. At the front door of Hogwarts, a wizard with oily black hair and an arrogant demeanor that had James fingering a number of disks in his pocket met them. Rose sent him a quelling thought as they followed him to the Headmaster's office. "James, that may be one of our teachers, do you really want to prank him when you can't hide who did it?" James sighed, and left the disk in his pocket. At a gargoyle statue, the wizard muttered a password, and led them up a flight of stairs to an overcrowded office. There were ten or twelve people in the office, but Rose only had eyes for the old wizard sitting behind the desk. She had never met Dumbledore, but after two months of dreaming, his face was as familiar as her own.

Albus Dumbledore looked at the twins that would soon be his responsibility, and saw two children, much like any other children that had attended Hogwarts through the years, until you really looked into their eyes. First year students had an air of innocence that came from being naïve, but these two had none of that. They had scanned every person in the room when they came in, and then looked at him. The three evaluated each other for a minute, and then Albus spoke. "I believe some introductions are in order here. Starting on my left, this is Fred and George Weasley, Ron and Hermione Weasley, Rubin Hagrid, Dustin and Valerie Clearwater, Jose Amigo, Harry and Virginia Potter, Richard and Penelope Longbottom and Professors Snape, McGonagall, and Hooch. Everyone, this is Robert and Mary Evans, and their children, James and Rose."

The next few minutes were murmured hellos, and everybody looking at everyone else. Harry Potter of course, was familiar to everyone, as was the Weasley clan, but Hagrid was a bit of a surprise. Standing close to two and a half meters, he looked as though he could pick himself up with one hand. Dustin and Valerie Clearwater were an average couple, so utterly non-descript as to be invisible. Richard Longbottom was another famous face from the Voldemort war, as was his wife, and the twins managed to avoid looking at the brutal scarring that covered both of them. Had it not been for a daring rescue pulled by Harry and the Weasleys, the Longbottoms would have gone the way of Neville's parents (their cousins), and they still showed the effects of more than four days spent at the mercy of the Death Eaters. James and Rose grinned at 'Jose Amigo', the slightly criminal wizard that worked with their father, and had many contacts among the criminal wizards. While most wizards were good people, there was an underground of thieves, fences and other crooks; and 'Jose' seemed to know every one of them.

The British wizard saw three people cut from one mold, with black hair and the vivid green eyes that marked an Evans as if it was written on their foreheads, and a tall regal woman with warm brown eyes and hair. After everyone settled down, Robert and Dumbledore took turns bringing everyone up to date on where they stood. The adults discussed options and plans for an hour or so, while James and Rose listened. Only once did they interrupt, because Rose had seen something about the topic they were discussing. When they finished, there was a moment of silence, before Hagrid asked the question that most of them had been thinking. "Can we put a name to the Eight yet?"

Dumbledore pulled a list of the first year students out of his desk. "Rose, if you would be so kind, tell us about the people in your dream again," he said.

Rose closed her eyes, calling up the scene in the great hall with her other sight. "There is a girl with the Evans eyes and red hair, and another redhead with brown eyes." The Potters and Weasleys looked at each other.

Ginny Potter was saying "Tiffany" even as Hermione was saying "Emma."

Dumbledore nodded, "So I have thought. It would be strange indeed to have something like this going on, and not have those two involved, given their parents."

Rose continued. "There is a really big boy, nearly Dad's size, sitting next to a pale blonde girl, and a girl with black hair and eyes. The last three are James and myself, and a boy with brown hair and eyes."

Hagrid grinned. "The big boy would be Hangeld, my son."

Everyone looked at Dumbledore, who was frowning. "The brown haired boy could be any one of a dozen on this list, although I favor Colin and Blaise's son Daniel. The black haired girl only fits one student, and that is Melissa Xavier, of the Xavier clan. The problem is, the Xaviers have always been Hufflepuffs."

Robert had looked up at the first mention of the Xavier name. "I think this one might make it into Gryffindor. If you remember, Debra Xavier was the Mediwizard that treated Elric when the Prophecy was given. I find it wildly outlandish that an Xavier would be here now, and not be part of this." Robert looked around. "Unless there's anyone else on that list that might fit?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "None. That though, is a minor problem compared to the last name. The pale blonde girl can only be Lisa Malfoy."

The British wizards flinched, and hatred blazed in most of their eyes at the Malfoy name. The Evans looked blank, except for Robert who merely looked resigned. Seeing the blank looks, Dumbledore explained the problem.

During the Voldemort war, Lisa's Father and grandfather had been on Voldemort's side until the tide turned, and Voldemort started losing. When things were at the worst, Draco Malfoy had cut a deal with the Ministry of Magic. He gave up his father, a high-ranking Death Eater, and a map to Voldemort's hide out. He also gave the MOM a map of the buildings, and in return, Draco got a three-year sentence to Azkaban, and all other penalties dropped. While the Malfoys had been very quiet since the War's end, hatred for them still ran high in the European wizard world, as Lucius and Draco had betrayed the MOM's plans in the beginning, causing the deaths of nearly 20 wizards, including Percy and Charlie Weasley.

Rose flashed on the future. She followed the path as far as she could, and then spoke. "Excuse me, but would anyone be interested in something we can do to Draco?" The Weasleys and Potters stared at her. Ginny Potter had a dangerous glint in her eye. Charlie had been one of her favorite brothers, and anything they could do to Draco was just fine with her. Rose's eyes were blank as she followed the paths in her Sight. "Draco Malfoy will try to make up to this wizard, just as he did with Voldemort. If Lisa is with us, the price of his joining the Patient Child will be turning her. But, Lisa is the Mental Wizard." Rose looked around at dawning comprehension.

Albus Dumbledore put it into words. "Mental wizard, even over Kin, no coin this Honor can buy."

Rose nodded, still in the paths. "The Patient Child will not be happy with Draco's failure." She came out of the future paths and looked at the adults. "Before this war ends, the Malfoy name will end forever." None of the adults looked upset at that idea, and Ginny in particular was smiling, although anyone she turned that smile on would not have been happy.

Robert spoke. "That will also give us one more advantage when the war starts. We know that Draco will be in contact with the Patient Child, and if we can follow him, we can find the enemy's location."

James was frowning as he thought it through. "Not that it matters anyway. We need her, and I for one will not judge anyone by the actions of their parents before they were even born." His last sentence was rather pointed, and the adults looked at him. He stared back, refusing to flinch under the stares of most of the room.

Robert winced. "As much as I hate to admit it in his hearing, James is right. If we judge this girl on her family, not her actions, we are no better than the pureblood bigots."

Harry agreed. "We'll have to warn the other members of the Eight though. Ginny and I will talk to Tiffany." The others agreed with varying degrees of reluctance, and talk moved on to building a support network for the next few years. Dumbledore repeated his warning about letting the MOM and Fudge know about any of this.

The meeting broke up a short time later, and on the way back to Hogsmeade, the Potters invited the Evans to stay with them while they were in England, but Robert turned them down, saying they had reservations and he had some work to do anyway. At the Three Broomsticks, the Evans used the Floo Network to travel to the Leaky Caldron where they would be staying while they were in England.

The next two days were pure fun, as the Evans played tourist, going to both worlds, and allowing the prophecy to move on without them. This routine was interrupted on the third day when Dustin Clearwater showed up. He had been watching the Malfoy estate, and Lisa Malfoy was in Diagon Alley right now. One of the problems they had been facing was talking to Lisa without her father knowing before they wanted him to. James and Rose went to talk to her, as two children would be less conspicuous than an adult.

They found Lisa Malfoy in a bookstore, and James stayed up front while Rose went to talk to her. As Rose went to talk to Lisa, James noticed the man behind the counter giving them both an odd look, as if he half recognized them, but was not sure why. Rose took a deep breath and stepped up next to Lisa. Before she could say anything, Lisa spoke. "Yes, I am a Malfoy, no, I don't know what my Father was thinking, and it's none of your business anyway." Her voice was sharp, and tinged with an acid bitterness.

Rose smiled gently. "Actually, I want to talk to you about something that has nothing to do with your family, only who you are."

Lisa had turned to examine her as soon as the accent had placed Rose as an American. "An American, from somewhere near the middle of the country. Athletic build, with calluses from hard work or martial arts training. The robes are well made, and expensive. You are either the youngest Auror I've ever seen, or something outside my experience entirely."

Rose was impressed with the accuracy of her observations. "Do you do that often? Show off how smart you are?"

"Too often for my parents, not often enough for me." Lisa examined her again. "What do you want anyway?"

Rose handed her a copy of the prophecy and began talking. The two talked for nearly an hour and at the end, Lisa would not commit, but did say she'd think about it. Rose was somber as she made one last comment. "You know there will be those that will not be happy about you being involved."

Lisa looked at her. "So? No one can cause me half the pain my father has already done." For one brief instant, 11 years of anger and bitterness showed before Lisa closed herself off again. As Lisa headed for the fireplace and her home, she looked back at Rose, and suddenly grinned impishly. "I do envy you that link with your twin though. It must be nice to have one person that you can always count on, no matter what." She Flooed away before Rose could ask her how she knew about the link or James, who had stayed away during their talk.

As Rose thought about that last comment, she had a sudden flash. She smiled softly. "I don't know how yet, but one day Lisa, you'll know what it's like too."

James and Rose spent a few minutes in the bookstore after Lisa left, looking through the books. Rose found one and they snickered as they set it aside to buy. Finding a box of books marked down they went through them looking for older books, as Uncle Alexander was always looking for old books that might be rare, or just out of print. At the bottom of the box, they found a book and they stared at it, and each other before lifting it out. "James, that's the family code on the spine."

"I know. I am curious as to what an Evans clan book is doing here." They opened the book, and read the first page. When they were done, they stared at each other for a long minute, and took that book and the others they had found up to the counter. The middle aged wizard behind the counter packaged the books for carrying, not saying anything until he reached the book they had gotten such a shock from.

He looked at them. "Your names are James and Rose, and you're from America." His comment was not a question, but a statement.

They both blinked. "How did you know that?"

He reached under the counter and pulled out an account book. Turning to the front of the book, he spoke in a conversational tone that had a hint of fear under it. "My Father bought that book 73 years ago, under some very odd circumstances. According to this, a couple came in one day, and sold him the book for a single Knut. They told him, and here I quote, 'Many years from now, a pair of twin children will come in the store. You will know them easily, for they do not talk to each other, but laugh and act as if they do, and they will be Americans. Their names will be James and Rose. Tell them the story of how you got this book, and they will give you 50 galleons for the book, if you tell them our names.'" The bookseller looked up at the twins. "Cassandra and Elric Evans sold us this book." The twins stared at each other, and then at the book. James was the first to speak.

"Rose, I believe him, even if Elric and Cassandra have been dead for over 800 years. The story is too weird to be made up."

"I agree, and that means we're paying an outrageous sum for a book, and then we're going back to the Inn. I've had enough of the Alley for today."

"Sister mine, I couldn't agree more." They paid for the books, and headed back to the Inn.

Mary and Robert came back from their wandering to find the twins lying head to head on the common room floor, reading a book. They had never known if one twin was reading to the other, or if both of them were reading the book when they did that. They watched their children for a minute, and Robert smiled down at Mary. "It appears that they look comfortable enough until dinner" He said, with a certain tone that Mary knew very well.

She looked sideways at him. "Why Mr. Evans, do you have some thing you want to do?" Robert leaned down and whispered something in her ear that made her blush and smile. Hand in hand, they headed up the stairs to their room. As they disappeared up the stairs, two heads turned to watch them.

"I wonder why they never had any more children," commented Rose.

"I'm not sure Rose. I think it has to do with that thing Dad showed us."

"Please, I've been trying to forget that." Rose shivered as she remembered the vault under their house.

"Sister mine, do you really think you can?" James was dubious.

"I can try." Rose was willing to try at least, because the thing in the vault gave her bad dreams sometimes.

"Good luck, and if you do figure out how to forget it, let me know."

The rest of the week passed in shopping, as the twins got the books and supplies they would need at Hogwarts. They passed a fun afternoon with Emma Weasley and Hangeld, and one with Lisa Malfoy as well. Once Lisa dropped the bitter attitude, she turned out to have a wicked sense of humour and a keen sense of the absurd. They missed Tiffany Potter and Daniel Creevy because the Evans were setting up the Jade Lily Holding Co. Robert had merely grinned when the twins had told him they needed his help setting up a company in this country. The day finally arrived, and the twins packed for Hogwarts. Arriving at the train station, they passed through gate 9 ¾ to the Hogwarts Express. Taking their trunks onboard, they went looking for the other members of the Eight. Emma Weasley and Hangeld were in the second car they came to, and James and Rose joined them. They talked quietly for a while, just getting to know each other.

The train pulled out of the station, and the friends watched London recede. A few minutes later, Daniel Creevey and Lisa Malfoy joined them. Lisa had a tight look around her eyes, and Daniel was fuming. "What happened?" asked James.

Lisa smiled thinly. "Let's just say that a couple of students had opinions about my family." James looked at her, and his eyes were flat and cold. Deep inside them was a fire that only Rose had seen before.

"Would you know the names of these students?" he asked in a deceptively calm voice.

Lisa cocked her head and looked at him carefully. "I might, but somehow, I don't think telling you right now would be the smartest thing to do."

James nodded. "OK, no problem, I'm sure they will point themselves out soon enough."

As the six young people chatted, and the fire slowly died in James's eyes, the door opened again, and a slender sable haired girl came in. They looked at her, and Rose knew her right away. "Hello Melissa." Melissa Xavier looked at the people her parents had been telling her about, matching faces and descriptions.

The two black haired children with the green eyes had to be the Evans twins, and the red hair on the other girl marked her as one of the extensive Weasley clan. The nearly two meter tall boy had to be the son of the famous Ruben Hagrid, and the short stocky boy that blended into the background so well was a Creevey.

She knew what they were seeing, a tall slender girl with long black hair and eyes to match. She sat down, and the introductions started over again. The trip to Hogwarts was uneventful, and they dismounted the train at the station. Hangeld started looking for his Father, who was gathering the first years for the tradition trip across the lake.

As they entered the boats, one of the other first years pushed Lisa into the water. As the friends started towards him, Hagrid reached out a long arm and picked the student up by the back of his shirt. "I saw that Boyo, and I think the Professors might have something to say about it, especially your Househead. I do believe you're the first student to ever lose points before you've even been sorted."

Lisa stared at the student that had pushed her, as James muttered something in her ear. She turned and looked at him, and an evil grin passed over her face, a grin that matched the ones on James and Rose's faces. In the boats, Lisa pointedly stayed far away from the student, and as they watched Hogwarts come into view, nobody noticed James sticking a disk to the student's robes.

Waiting in the hallway before the doors to the Dining Hall, James and Rose looked around. "Rose, where's Tiffany? I haven't seen her."

"Relax James, she's here somewhere, she'll be sorted with the rest us." James nodded.

He grinned suddenly. "Sister mine, can you see the sorting yet?"

"Yes, why?" asked Rose suspiciously.

"I was thinking of placing a few bets..." James suggested hopefully.

"Forget it James, the Sight is not for you to swindle your year mates with." Rose was not amused.

James shrugged. "Just a thought."

The students standing nearby looked at him, puzzled, but before anyone could say anything, Professor McGonagall and a short red haired girl appeared. "My name is Professor McGonagall and in a few minutes you will follow me through the doors to be sorted into your houses. When your name is called, Step up to front of the hall and sit on the stool you will find there." She looked over the new students, picking out the ones that they thought were involved in the prophecy, standing in a group. The only one missing had been Tiffany Potter, and she had been at Hogwarts all day, as Harry and Ginny Potter were consulting with Dumbledore. Harry Potter was replacing Professor Hooch as the Flying Professor, and Quidditch Instructor. Virginia Potter was going to be working in the Medwing with Madame Pomfrey, who was retiring next year. As a fully qualified Mediwizard, Ginny was going to take her place. "Everybody follow me now." Professor McGonagall led the first years into the Dining Hall.

In the Hall the sorting began after the Sorting Hat sang its song for the year, and the friends were watching carefully, waiting to see where they would go. While they waited, James nudged them. "Watch that jerk, the one that pushed Lisa."

"Crabbe, Martin" had been called, and as he walked up the aisle he suddenly tripped over nothing, sending a wave of laughter through the crowd. Crabbe got back up and continued to the Hat with his face a bright red.

"Slytherin!" called the Hat, and Crabbe was done with the Hat, although the laughter was not done, as he fell again on the way to the Slytherin table.

James was grinning as the embarrassed Slytherin sat down, and it was only when he turned to Rose that he noticed her frown. "Rose, what's wrong?" asked James, feeling her confusion.

"James, did you see that first Gryffindor? Adam Brooks?"

"What about him?"

"He's the last face in my dream. He and Daniel look similar, but he's the one."

James looked over at the Gryffindor table, but older students hid Adam. "Are you sure? Dumbledore said Daniel was the last one."

"He said, he thought he was. Apparently, Dumbledore was wrong, or my dream is."

"I don't believe the dream is, but we'll see how many of them get in Gryffindor."

Even as they finished their conversation, Creevey, Daniel was called, and he barely placed the Hat on his head when it shouted "Gryffindor!" He smiled broadly as he walked to an empty seat.

After "Fudge, Cary" was sorted into Hufflepuff, "Evans, James" was called. James walked up to the Hat and placed it on his head. A few seconds later, he was a Gryffindor. Evans, Rose was next and she was under the Hat long enough to start a murmuring in the hall. After nearly three minutes, Rose was sorted into Gryffindor. James visibly relaxed. The rest of the sorting went as they had expected, although the sounds and murmurs when Lisa was sorted into Gryffindor had James marking a number of faces for future pranks.

"Xavier, Melissa" was the last name called, and as she sat down next to Emma and Adam Brooks James grinned. "We got them all Rose."

Dumbledore stood up after the sorting and spoke briefly. "Welcome back to our returning students, and welcome to Hogwarts for the new ones. I have several things to say. First, the Forbidden Forest is just that, Forbidden. Second, Mr. Filch has added several new items to the list of banned items. The entire list may be found posted outside his office. I also wish to announce two new Professors for this year. Professor Potter will be taking over the Quidditch instructor and Flying classes, and Madame Potter will be working with Madame Pomfrey who is retiring next year. This year, due to circumstances from outside the school, both the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor house teams will need entire teams. In order to give them a chance to play, any first year student that has a broomstick already will be allowed to try out for the teams. I have a list of students that have broomsticks, and only those students will be allowed to try out." Dumbledore swept the Hall with his eyes.

"Many students have passed through these halls in the history of Hogwarts. Some have gone on to do great things, both for good, and for evil. However, while the students are here, they will not be treated differently than any other. To enforce this, I have instructed all teachers to take 100 house points from any student caught judging another student in a biased or prejudicial way. And with that said, we shall eat." The feast appeared, and the hungry students dug in, although the ones around Hangeld had to eat fast. Hangeld had an appetite to match his size, and entire dishes were disappearing in his vicinity.

When everyone was full, and even Hangeld was looking less like a ravening dragon, Dumbledore instructed the Prefects to take the first years to their houses. As they headed up the stairs, James and Rose closed around Lisa, making sure none of the other students pulled anything on her. At the Fat Lady's portrait, Prefect Moore gave the password (House cup) and led them all into the common room. In the common room, the eight new students gathered in a group to listen to Prefect Moore. He had just begun talking about the house cup when James and Tiffany met for the first time, and looked at each other.

Two sets of green eyes met and locked. Something passed between them, and Rose felt it dimly. It was as if everything that made each of them what they were, who they were jumped from them to the other person in the blinking of an eye. The rush of emotions, feelings, thoughts and sensations overwhelmed them, and they slumped, unconscious before they hit the floor.