Chapter 1 Dismissing the Headmaster

Sometime in 1980, a quick narration

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.

Although Albus Dumbledore had a pretty good idea who the prophecy might be about, he didn't tell anyone any more than what Voldemort knew. He didn't want them to go against him and raise a child that was powerful without his help. He felt only he would be able to guide a child strong enough to vanquish a Dark Lord.

Lily and James Potter, however, were not stupid. They knew the Leader of the Light had a problem with keeping things close to his vest, and they suspected that there was more to the prophecy than what he was telling them. So they went to the Department of Mysteries and listened to the white globe. The only reason they could is because the person that was the prophecy spoke about was not identified and would not be until the children were born.

Later, they took the Longbottoms and after hearing the mysterious words that might pertain to one of their children they started planning. They spent many nights together collaborating on how to make sure that if their child was the one spoken of they would make sure that that child was raised to know what was in store for them.

Frank and Alice were very concerned, because their child was due around the same time as the Potter twins were, if Lily carried them to term. You never knew with twins. The Potters were a bit hopeful that the boys would be born early, but that would leave the Longbottom child at risk. Still, maybe they could convince the Healer to help both of them deliver early and make the prophesy void.

Frank dissuaded them of that notion right quick. He knew that the Healers would never induce labor unless there was trauma to the unborn child or mother. His mother had tried it when he was overdue. She didn't want to carry him more than nine months. Augusta loved to tell him that story when he was growing up. So that venue was out. They decided to drop that topic until it got closer to delivery date.

Godric's Hollow, June 1, 1980

"Hello, Headmaster, what can I do for you today?" James asked as he opened the door one summer morning. His wife was not feeling well, as one can imagine, since she was due in two months. "I don't think now is a good time for a visit, Lily isn't very chipper this morning," he said as he held the door close to him. He really didn't want the man to come in, since his wife was in a very foul temper. She had already thrown her slippers at him, for not rubbing her feet, which he was just settling down to do when the knock came.

"Ah, James, it is such a beautiful morning that I thought now would be a wonderful time to pay a visit. To the matter at hand, as you know Lily will be giving birth any time now, and I was wondering what your family was planning to do to keep the young ones safe?" the elderly man asked as he gently shouldered his way into the house, ignoring the last part of James' statement.

James sighed and followed him, giving Lily a 'what can I do' shrug. She glared at him and then focused on the Headmaster. Her eyes narrowed at his intrusion and she was not happy that her morning had been interrupted.

Albus ignored her glare and looked around the room. The living room was quaint: only a couch, two chairs and a coffee table littered the medium sized room. They were all done in mute browns and gold. A nice large floral rug was seen peeking out from under the couch and coffee table. Two matching smaller ones were thrown under the chairs. Scenic pictures of the ocean side lined the walls, with the brass, gas light fixtures, that were common in all wizarding households.

Lily was perched on the sofa with her swollen bare feet up on the table in front of her resting on a pillow. Her glare did not lessen as the man made his way into the room.

"How are you today, my dear?" Albus inquired, taking the chair across from her and folding his hands over his beard, making himself appear like a grandfather figure.

"How do you think I'm doing?" Lily snapped rudely, her bright green eyes narrowed in anger. She was still upset that he rudely made his way into the room. If he didn't listen to James that wasn't her problem, he was warned. "I feel and look like I've swallowed a house, my feet are swollen. You interrupted my morning, and James was just about to help me relax. Now I have to wait, no thanks to you."

"You'll have to forgive Lily, Headmaster," James said, joining his wife. He grabbed her ankles and swung her feet around and put them on his lap so he could rub them. "She is not feeling well right now. Perhaps you can come back at a better time, maybe after the boys are born and we get better settled here. Then she might not be so crabby then," he chuckled, earning a dark look from his wife.

"Don't talk about me as if I wasn't here, James. Unless you want to spend the next two months sleeping on the couch," the pregnant woman snarled, pulling back her foot and shoving his leg. He just chuckled again and resumed rubbing her ankle, making her moan in pleasure. "If you keep that up, I promise not to make you sleep on the couch." She gave him a wink then looked back Albus. "We'll be more settled after the boys are born," she conceded with a sigh.

They had just moved to the cottage in Godric's Hollow, because James' family home was still being repaired after a Death Eater attack, just a month before, which had killed his parents. The couple still mourned over their loss. Had it not been for the fact that Lily was to deliver soon, they would be more sorrowful. They had been at the Healers at that time, and were sorry that they couldn't be there for his family. But since Lily was carrying twins the closer she got to her due date the more often she had to go to the hospital.

James wanted his boys to have an ancestral home to grow up in. Since the manor was old, it needed to be repaired carefully. Until that time, they were staying in the cottage, which had been purchased for their honeymoon the year before. The cottage was two stories high and had three bedrooms. They were making the largest bedroom into a nursery for the twins. They would have the babies sleep in the same room, until they were older. Magical twins often remain together so that a bond could grow between them, making them magically stronger.

Right now, James was working with Sirius, Remus and Peter to put up wards on the cottage. However, wards took time to erect, since you can only put up one at a time, and only one per week. That way the ones you cast first would mesh with the new one. So far they had the hardest ones up, barring the Fidelius, since they were targets. That and at least one of their friends would come by daily to check on them.

"Alas, I was hoping that you would have time for me," Dumbledore said with that tone of voice he took when he wanted people to not disappoint him. His eyes twinkled as he looked over his glasses. He sighed and shook his head. "I will try to come again at a later date to discuss what you will be doing to protect your boys from Voldemort. I only want to insure that your families are safe."

"I understand that, Headmaster, I just don't think now it the time. She'll only get worse has the pregnancy progresses," James said as he continued to rub Lily's left foot, ignoring her when she kicked him with her right.

"Quit talking about me. I'm warning you…" she started, only to have him talk over her.

"We're almost there, aren't we Lily-flower?" he cooed, trying to keep her temper at bay. "You're doing so well." He reached up and rubbed her belly. "Do you need anything to help make you more comfortable? You know Alice is due soon too."

"Yeah and?"

"Maybe we can get Frank to bring her by and you two can compare what you are going through and talk about what horrible husbands you have for getting you this way in the first place," he offered. "Will that make you feel better?" he asked in a gentle teasing tone as he watched Lily lower her feet and try and get up from the sofa. Being the good husband that he is, he got up and helped her stand.

"Yes, I think a good session of husband bashing might be just what we need this close to the due date. You should ask him after you see the Headmaster out," Lily said as she gave a glare to the man in question. She then waddled out of the room.

"As you can see, sir, we're not up for talking about depressing things right now. Like I said, you should probably come back after the boys are born. Take heart in knowing that we are putting up as many wards as we think we can get away with here. The last one we're putting up is the Fidelius, I'm not going to tell you who the Secret Keeper is going to be, but Sirius, Remus and Peter are helping. I'll see you when the next Order meeting is called," the messy-haired man said as he guided the old man gently, but firmly, out the door.

"I will endeavor to gain an audience with you when that time comes. Congratulations once again, my dear man. Please, let me know if there is anything I can do for you and your family," Dumbledore said as he let himself be directed away, knowing he would not be able to talk to this couple anymore today. Maybe, he would attend the Longbottoms.

In the end, James did call Frank and asked him to bring his wife over to the cottage in the next day or so. He let him know of the meeting with the headmaster and wanted them over so they could go over their plans. He hoped that between them and each family's Grimoire, they could find something to protect the children. He didn't really trust Dumbledore completely, as the old man was prone to playing with other people's lives. First he wouldn't give them the whole prophesy and now they knew there was a spy in the Order. However, Dumbledore refused to make everyone take a vow stating they hadn't turned nor would they turn to Voldemort. So they had to do their best with what they had.