“Voldemort... he believes the prophecy Sybill Trelawney predicted is based on your son.”

The pair hadn't been talking anyway but the silence grew till it was deafening. If it had not been for the quickening breaths, you would swear the room was empty. Lily's face was completely blank. No emotion flickered in her emerald eyes. Her lips parted slightly. The moment dragged on for what could've been an eternity.

“...Harry? Our Harry?”

The grey-haired man, looked across the table, with that gaze that used to make James nervous whenever he was called to the headmaster's office. Dumbledore's face had aged ten years in a matter of minutes.

“Yes.”

Three little letters. One syllable. A sick joke. That's all this was. A twisted joke that knocked the breath out of her lungs and would surely have made her knees buckle if not for the chair supporting the weight underneath her. She glanced at James and the clench of his jaw, the way he was staring straight ahead at the bookshelf sitting behind Dumbledore was enough to confirm any doubts she had. This was no joke. It was all too real.

“He's just a baby.”

The words were a barely audible croak, cracking with emotion. Her skin was feverish and the cool Summer's breeze that lifted the curtain wasn't helping her at all. Dumbledore watched her carefully, eyes running all over her face. Suddenly, a violent urge coursed through her veins. How dare he? Simply sit there and give them the news that the most evil wizard the world had ever seen was after her Harry? Her baby?

Her knuckles turned white, her grip was so tight on the arm chair. It was the only thing stopping her from jumping up and smashing ever single trinket in the room with her bare hands. Dumbledore's patronizing gaze filled with something – pity, possibly? – was driving her to insanity. An acidic taste lingered on her tongue and she was regretting the sandwich she'd eaten for tea. James, who'd been quiet since they'd exchanged greetings with the founder of the Order of the Phoenix, finally spoke up. “Why not the Longbottom boy?”

The taste strengthened and she felt horror turn her veins cold. He wished this on someone else. He wanted Voldemort to go out and attempt to defeat someone else's child. A close friend's beautiful boy, no less. It was sickening but it was worse when she realized that her thoughts went bitter. It could've been someone else. She would've felt terrible, awful, she'd have taken Alice in her arms and let her cry on her shoulder but it wouldn't have anything to do with her. Her self respect crumpled when she realized how small a person she was – that in a heartbeat she'd give anything to have Alice, Frank and their little Neville Longbottom suffer through this, if it meant her Harry would be safe.

“He's pureblood.” Dumbledore's whisper carried strength, something only a man who'd seen it all would be able to do. “Voldemort's half-blood, like your son. It is my belief that he would want to inflict harm on the one he identifies most with. We're going to do all we can to keep you both – and Harry – safe. We'll move you to a house, situated in Godric's Hollow. We'll set up spells....”

It was wrong to stop listening but Lily was doing all she could not to empty her stomach out on Dumbledore's carpet. All that was keeping her from loosing her head was the rough, calloused hand wrapped around her's, thumb running over knuckles.

Knowing James was right beside her was the only comfort that would do her any good now.

Hello and welcome to GoWOW. The name be Chris/Chrissy/Chrisseh/Christina/Pineapple/Merlin knows what else. I'm not quite sure how fics I have but I know I've only one that didn't go inactive (and the was a one-shot....) so hopefully this will be the first. I have lots of plans for this fic and I hope you guys like it!

Chapter Index
Prologue