Lily and James - The Prophecy

Chapter 1: The Prophecy
Lily strolled hand in hand with James through the Hogwarts grounds. They hadn't been there since they graduated and were more than a bit surprised when they received an urgent Owl from Dumbledore requesting their immediate attendance.

James released Lily's hand from his and wrapped a protective arm around her waist, pulling her closer as the gargantuan castle loomed into view. Light spilled from the Great Hall and a rush of warmth tickled them as they ascended the steps.

The castle was abuzz with action; students had arrived for the new school year just weeks previous and it seemed as though there wasn't a problem in the world. Lily and James knew differently, however. They were part of a secret organisation, the Order of the Phoenix, formed to thwart Lord Voldemort's rise to power. Outside of the shielded castle walls, a war was brewing and Voldemort was growing stronger with each passing day. The Order of the Phoenix was greatly outnumbered by Voldemort's Death Eaters and casualties were growing, both Magical and Muggle.

James looked longingly into the Great Hall. Life was so much simpler when he went to school here. The only evil they had to worry about was Sirius's demented relations and that slimy git, Snape, and the occasional overbearing amount of homework. James sighed heavily as Lily pulled him in the direction of the staircase leading to Professor Dumbledore's office.

"Wait," James said, grinning, "I know a short-cut!"

James dragged her towards a suit of armour under the staircase, pulled back a tapestry and kissed her fleetingly. Lily giggled and pulled away.

"Oh you haven't changed one bit, Potter," she exclaimed, hitting him lightly on the chest.

James surveyed her lovingly. Her deep, emerald green eyes shimmered - they hadn't changed once since they were kids. She bit her lip on his prolonged gaze before he drew her closer and pressed his lips against hers.

Lily pulled back again, shaking a disciplinary finger at her childish husband.

"You are going to make us late, young man," she chided before grabbing his hand and leading him up the dark corridor. Within moments, they opened a door concealed by a large portrait and emerged in front of Dumbledore's office.

"Sherbet Lemon," James said as the Gargoyle sprang to life. They stood on the steps and were led to the door of Dumbledore's office, which was opened instantly on their arrival by Professor McGonagall. Her expression was grim as she signalled them inside.

"Albus will be with you in a moment," she said before disappearing into his study. Lily followed Professor McGonagall as far as Dumbledore's desk and stood there, waiting.

James had not yet followed Lily. He was gazing in awe at the office. He, of course, had been here many times in his youth, but never could understand its constant amber glow, its comfortable silence, and the soothing sounds of retired headmasters snoozing in their frames. His gaze rested on Fawkes, Dumbledore's pet phoenix. His plumage was full and healthy, and James walked wistfully towards him. He stroked the bird's feathers gently and the phoenix uttered a few mournful notes in response.

James, suddenly being drawn back to earth as though his head had been ducked in a bucket of icy water, retreated his hand from the bird. A little perturbed, he walked slowly to where his wife stood, his eyes only leaving Fawkes when he was safely by her side.

Lily and James exchanged worried glances. They felt like children who had been very bold, and Dumbledore's prolonged absence only strengthened this feeling. The only information that the Owl brought was the password for the Office, which was a risk in itself, James had pointed out.

Finally, Dumbledore emerged from his study. Lily's face dropped when she saw him - his face was gaunt and pale, he seemed to have aged 20 years since they last saw him. His expression was sombre and he did not smile at them. He simply conjured up two chairs for Lily and James, and signalled that they should sit down.

James heartbeat was unpleasantly fast in his chest and Lily had lost all colour in her face. Dumbledore took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes before sighing loudly and lifting his head up to face them.

"Thank you for coming here so quickly," Dumbledore said, his voice croaking slightly, "I am truly sorry for calling you forth from your comfortable home. I am glad you could find your way here safely. I hope it has not been an inconvenience."

"I have called you here today to discuss secret Order business. I could not speak with you at the previous meeting for danger of being overheard. Although I request utmost trust within the Order, I fear we have enemies lying in our midst," Dumbledore sighed heavily and ran a thin hand down his long, white beard.

McGonagall stood behind the Professor looking determinedly ahead, her face rigid.

After a brief pause, James cleared his throat.

"Professor..." he began.

"Please, James, you are no longer in school here. Formal titles are not necessary. We are partners in the movement against Voldemort together and have moved past such authoritarian labels. Please, call me Albus," he said, with a short smile, one that did not meet his usually twinkling eyes.

"Alright, Albus," James continued warily, "Voldemort has been extraordinarily quiet these past few weeks. Has something happened that we should know about? Is that why we are here?"

Dumbledore sat back in his chair and surveyed him quietly. He closed his eyes briefly and seemed to be debating the best way of delivering such news. He opened his eyes slowly and observed the young people sitting in front of him. Lily, whose sparkling eyes now shimmered with the beginnings of tears. And James. James, who had been such a little prankster, only to be tamed by Lily.

Dumbledore remembered them, not long ago, as students in Gryffindor house. His eyes rested on James. Dumbledore felt responsible for this young man, in particular. It had been he, of course, who had convinced him to join the Order in the first place.

James swallowed hard. He never thought twenty minutes ago that Dumbledore would look so solemnly at them, as though the world had stopped turning and life was over.

Lily started to shake subconsciously and her eyes pleaded with Dumbledore to continue. At last, he obliged.

"There has been a prophecy made about the fall of Voldemort," he said simply.

They suddenly lit up and looked at each other disbelievingly.

"You're not serious," James exclaimed, not wishing to get too excited. Spotting the look on Dumbledore's face, James furrowed his eyebrows. This was good news. Why on earth did Dumbledore still look so upset?

Lily answered her husband's unasked question. "There is more, isn't there," she said, her eyes searching the old man's face.

"Alas, yes. I met with a young witch just at the end of the summer, applying for a job as the new Divination Professor here at Hogwarts. At first I believed her to be a fraud; after all, there are so few real Seers left today. But as I turned to leave, she made a real prophecy."

Lily was tingling all over and her mouth was growing drier. She urged the Professor to continue and he obliged.

"You must forgive me for not informing you of this event until now but I had to be certain of whom to inform. It could have applied to either you, or another, but prior circumstances have led me to you."

On finishing this statement, his eyes lingered on James and Lily, who let out a small gasp, before he continued. James grasped Lily's hand and looked her directly in the eye. He whispered quietly, so that no one, even in the still silence of Dumbledore's office, could hear, "We will do whatever we can, whatever it is, for Harry." He kissed her gently on the forehead as a single tear escaped her eye.

Dumbledore had now risen and was walking towards a press. Out of this he lifted a stone basin with runes engraved into it. He placed it on his desk and placed the tip of his wand to his temple, extracting a long, silvery substance from his head.

"If you will look into my Pensieve, you will see."

The two of them leaned closer and looked apprehensively into Dumbledore's memory. They saw a young witch sitting opposite Dumbledore, pleading with him for another chance.

"I am sorry, Sibyl," he said, rising to turn away. He was stopped by a sudden, ragged intake of breath. When he turned, he saw Sibyl had gone into a trance.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

Lily slumped back into her seat and broke down into anguished tears. James stood glowering at the image in the Pensieve and continued to stare after the image faded away, leaving him staring at a mass of swirling grey.

He sat down stiffly and Lily threw herself in his arms. James, however, did not want to cry. He switched his glare to Dumbledore, who looked prepared for the worst.

"Explain this. Now," he growled, his voice shaking with suppressed rage, "How do you know this even applies to us?"

"That, James, is the reason it took me so long to inform you," said Dumbledore, "As I am sure you can remember, you have fought valiantly for the Order three times and come out with only minor injuries while inflicting great losses for Voldemort's army. And your son was born at the end of July."

"So were lots of children! That doesn't mean it is our son," James wasn't trying to hide his anger now, and was shouting loudly at this man who stood before him, with a manner of teaching a bold child that two plus two equals four.

"Indeed, I had considered the Longbottoms, only for one detail - Voldemort will mark this child as his equal," he stated simply.

Lily looked up from her husband's shoulder and stared resolutely at Dumbledore from her watery eyes. "And what does that mean, exactly," she asked, her voice thick with tears.

"Frank and Alice were both born into pure-blood Wizarding families. Lily, as you were born into a Muggle family, I believe that Voldemort will relate more with Harry, as they are both half-bloods."

Lily nodded in understanding, but quiet tears still rolled gently down her face. She looked at her hard-faced husband but he did not return her stare. He was now looking at Professor McGonagall, who had stayed quiet throughout these revelations. She withered slightly under his stare, uncharacteristic for her. She coerced Dumbledore to elaborate before James cursed them into oblivion.

"I am afraid there is more I need to tell you," he said, in a voice smaller than they were used to, "A servant of Lord Voldemort's was present that day and overheard the beginning of the Prophecy. Voldemort has started the search for Harry Potter."

Lily stared incredulously at him. Her mournful tears were replaced by red-hot fury, the likes of which no one in that room had ever seen.

"He is searching for my SON," she screamed, standing up forcefully and knocking over her chair in the process, "MY BABY? How on earth do you think he has the power to over throw the Dark Lord? How is he ever going to get the chance to defend himself!"

"What does this mean, Albus," he spat, with particular emphasis on his name, "Our son has either to kill or be killed! He is barely one year old! He can't even talk, let alone say an incantation to protect himself!"

The young couple stood before their former educators, magical energy radiating from them. They were both seething in anger, and any doubts of them being powerful Wizards were flouted.

"There is still hope," Dumbledore said, "The Fidelius Charm."

James looked at him, befuddled, but realisation dawned on Lily's face.

"Of course...," she started, "But, well, we would have to go into hiding."

Still confused, James ordered that somebody better explain.

"The Fidelius Charm is a very powerful charm," McGonagall said, offering information for the first time that night, "A secret is stored within one person, and only that person can disclose the secret. What Dumbledore is suggesting is that the charm be placed on your home in Godric's Hollow. Voldemort could be looking in your living room window and not see a thing."

On this information, James relaxed a little bit. He sat down slowly and Lily followed suit.

"James, I feel somehow responsible for this turn of events," said Dumbledore sadly, "Had I not insisted on you entering the Order, you might not have found yourself in this mess. I would personally like to offer to be your secret keeper."

James, feeling guilty for his sudden outburst on the innocent man, declined his offer, "If you hadn't insisted on my joining the Order, I could already be dead."

He turned to face Lily. "How about Sirius? He is like a brother to me. I trust him more than anyone in the world. Well, next to you, that is," he added as an afterthought, grinning sheepishly at Lily.

"If it is alright with Sirius, it's alright with me," She said, slightly recovering from the Prophecy.

"Lily, I shall journey to your home in Godric's Hollow tomorrow to administer the charm," Dumbledore announced, as though he were just popping around for a cup of tea.

"Yes, well, we had better be going home. No doubt Sirius still has Harry wide awake and we will have some trouble getting him to sleep," Lily answered, as though theirs was a casual visit. She stood up and James did the same, and Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore followed them to the door.

"I am so very sorry to be the bearer of such bad news," Dumbledore said, placing an aged hand on James shoulder. They both turned to face him and apologized for their rash outburst of emotions.

"Better late than never," Lily added, in a cheerful voice, which she didn't recognise as her own, "If you hadn't told us, Voldemort would have turned up and we wouldn't have been prepared..." Her voice trailed off, as her imagination travelled to a place of horrible circumstances.

*

A little while later, James and Lily walked in silence from Hogwarts. Once at the entrance to Hogsmeade, they apparated into their home in Godric's Hollow. Sirius was a little startled by their sudden appearance, but smiled warmly at them nonetheless.

Lily grabbed Harry from Sirius's arms and hugged him tightly, crying thick, heavy tears. James pulled her into his chest and held them both in his arms, strong and stony faced.

"Bloody Hell! What happened to you? Surely Dumbledore can't give detention now we have graduated," Sirius asked in an attempt to lighten the tense atmosphere.