My Verta

Prologue

It was a cold night, the first cold night that they have had after what felt like ages of hot ones. There, in the middle of no where, lived James Potter in a house two stories big that he built all himself. He had worked countless days and nights, and though he had all the money in the world to get someone else to do it, he had to do it all himself. He had to make the blueprints, the foundation, the bones — everything. James Potter had to make it perfect... he had to make it perfect for the two babies that slept soundly in their crib not far from him. His pride and joy… his only reason to live on now.

The little Potter twins slept soundly as the night went past, their father casted a spell to make sure that their crib rocked them gently so that they may get the rest that they needed. This is the only time they slept at the same time, the only time James had a break and he didn’t want to ruin it just yet. James Potter, like many others, was extraordinary.

Like many others in the long bloodline he came from, he was a wizard. Able to cast spells, brew potions like many can and are doing probably at this moment. Of course, he had to learn it all somewhere which will be relieved later on in the night. James knew that his kids were gonna be like him, he had only hoped that there was someone with him that would help him in the endeavor. That was his biggest fear, right now, to mess things up. He had to do good, there was no other choice than to do good. Maybe that's why he created things, to help him with the creations that he was most proud of. He was working in the living room on a trinket, so his house can have power and his only light didn't have to be the candles that he had on right now -- along with the fire place. So, James Potter worked away the night, a picture of his wife with his kids on the coffee table that he worked on while he was singing softly. A song that his wife used to sing to help his kids sleep, that song along with every other song he heard her singing was always in his head.

"My baby, my baby... you're my baby say it to me..." James sang softly. "Baby, my baby... tell your baby that I'm your baby..."

He trailed off as the light outside from the torches went away, the next second they came back and he knew right away that someone was here. He shook his head, hoping that no one had found him and his family until he heard a knock at the door.

Surly if it was another attack, they wouldn't give the curtesy of knocking... then again, the last attack came out of no where.

So, James looked at his children and grabbed his wand, casting a shield over their crib before making his way to the door. He held the end of his wand against the door while he opened the little hatch that was at his face level to see who it was. When he was greeted by very old man with silver hair and a beard, long enough to tuck into his belt.

He was wearing long purple cloak that swept the ground and high healed buckled boots. James looked at his blue eyes, light and bright and sparkling behind half spectacles. He glanced behind him to see a tabby cat, sitting on the lawn.

"Albus Dumbledore," James detected, lowering his wand. "To what to I owe the pleasure?"

"James," Dumbledore greeted.  "May we come in?"

James' eyes flickered a bit between the two before shutting the hatch. Dumbledore glanced back at the cat who had now turned into a stern looking woman who was wearing emerald green robes, he hair tied back in a tight bun and square glasses. They shared a look, a moment that felt like eternity went by as they heard clatter form inside the house before James opened the door, tossing his glasses on his face.

"Professors," He said, letting them inside.

James led them to the living room where he had cleaned up before letting them into the house. For the first time, he had visitors so he tried to prepare for it. He tucked away his trinkets andd folded the blankets as swiftly and as quietly as he could so his twins could sleep as much as they can. He waved his wand to cause tea to appear as the stern looking woman went to the crib.

"Uh, just... be careful," James cautioned. "Euphemia is a bit of a light sleeper, Professor Mcgonagoll, just be careful."

"James, you may call me Minvera now," She told, rocking the crib softly. "It's been a while since you were my student."

James looked at her, tried to speak but then sighed and shook his head, "No, that's strange..."

Dumbledore looked around the room, seeing the different inventions James had made along with all the baby proofing he had done and the many baby bottles and toys he had around the house. It was clear that whatever he was doing, he had been trying to juggle that and many other things now.

"Excuse the mess, it's been a rough week," James said, taking the tea pot in his hands and offered, "Tea?"

"Please," Dumbledore agreed. James went on to pour three cups and Dumbledore went on, "That's not why we're here..."

James paused for a moment, his eyes flickering a bit before setting the pot down.

"No," He said quickly, grabbing the sugar cubes. "One or two."

"James-"

"Fine," James said, setting the sugar down -- interrupting McGonagoll. "No sugar, how about cream?"

"James, it's been half a year," Dumbledore reasoned.

"It's been seven months," James corrected, stirring his tea cup. "Seven months and twenty-five days... right? It's the twenty-fifth?... I need to send flowers to someone soon... it's the twin's birthday soon."

"James, it has to be discussed," Minvera said. "Rumors are you're hiding out... keeping the twins from the world after what happened. I mean... what happened with Lily."

"You don't think that could be the reason why?" James huffed, placing his cup down and turning his head to her. "My wife was killed by a monster, instead of mourning the hero she was -- the world is celebrating. I had hundreds of letters, dozens of people coming to my door and I couldn't take it. So yes, I left that all behind and I would like to keep it that way -- forever if I could. So, if you're here to ask if I will ever return or if my children will join the school-"

"The prophecy changed, James," Dumbledore interjected.

James froze in place, looking at him, his eyes were flickering again and his hands started shaking. He felt the cup and saucer fall from his hands, McGonagoll waved her wand causing them to freeze in place before they could shatter on the floor. She gave it a flick to place it on the table before James finally came back to reality.

"Uh, what?" James questioned in disbelief. "So, that means... a new dark lord? Nave Cladem is gone."

Dumbledore gave a soft shake of his head before saying, "No, I think you know that he will return. No... it speaks of two now... born together..."

James' furrowed his brows then looked at his children who were still sleeping in the crib. He looked back at his old teachers who were both looking at him as if he should already know the answers. James slowly started shaking his head as he processed what they were telling him.

"No, they're..." James trailed off, but the expressions on their faces gave him answers. He sighed, "Our fight isn't over."

There was a soft cry from the crib, Harry had woken and in turn, so did Euphemia. They were both awake now, James went to the crib, but McGonagoll picked Harry up and started soothing him, he calmed down right away.

"Oh, uh-"

"Calm yourself, James," McGonagoll told, as she bounced him. "It's okay to ask for help."

James looked at them for a moment, but then looked at his now crying daughter and picked her up as well. Mcgonagoll looked at Harry in her arms, moving his tuff of hair out of the way to see a thin scar in the shape of a lightening bolt on his neck. James held his daughter up right so she was able to see a matching one on her neck.

James caught her and spoke, "It's all they had, in case you're wondering, they both got them that night."

"It's true," McGonagoll sighed, placing the sleeping Harry down in the crib again. "James, we're sorry to come to you like this. We wanted to make sure you would be prepared, even out here."

"How did you find me?" James questioned, rubbing his daughter's back softly as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Professor Zale," Dumbledore answered. "They were the only one you told, said that they would know who to give it to and when."

"There isn't anyone I trust more than them," James replied. "She was one of Lily's most trusted... well, her and you two."

They shared a smile before James went on, "I'm sorry for being very... uneasy, it's just... My kids are turning two soon and their mother won't be there... it took them a month to stop crying out for her."

"I'm sorry, James, we can only imagine what you're going  through," Dumbledore gave sympathy. "We just wanted to inform you, let you know that we're still working to keep peace, and help will always be given at Hogwarts."

James looked at them and nodded softly, saying, "And if you need my help to keep him from returning, I will be more than happy to oblige."

They nodded, Dumbledore went up to the crib as James placed  his daughter back in -- next to her brother.

"Such lovely kids you're going to raise," Dumbledore spoke.

"I hope so, for Lily," James sighed.

Dumbledore looked back the children and spoke, "They will do great things, the world is gonna know their names. Best of Luck to you... the two who lived, Harry and Euphemia Potter.