Chapter 1
On the night of 22 July, 1980 Lily Potter and Narcissa Malfoy were visited in their dreams by Freyja,
“I am the Goddess Freyja, dau ghter of Njörd , and the children residing in your stomach are special ones. Born of the cosmos, one Sol and the other Mani, brothers of the stars have been gifted to you. There is a hard road ahead, and you must trust in each other. The two must be raised together, for they have already formed a bond among the stars, closer than twins even. Two corrupt Lord's of your world with the spirits of Hati, Hate, and Skoll, Mockery, in them will seek out your children for they are very powerful and the power pulls like a moth to a flame. You and your families must work together and keep each other safe. You must keep your families together and keep the evil out.
If Hati and Skoll catch the children of the cosmos, there is no hope in holding Ragnorak at bay, and the world as you know it will be shrouded in darkness. A world that neither favors the dark nor the light and will instead fall prey to the greed and hate that lurks in the shadows. I leave you with this, your children will have special abilities, the moon child, a vǫlva, w ith prophetic sight and the sun child with aura seeking abilities. There is a rat among you, Lillian. You will have nine days to prepare.”
Day 1
When Lily woke up she called an emergency meeting with her husband, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Peter was away somewhere and he had become less and less reachable overtime so she decided to leave him out of the loop for now. When everyone arrived, she dragged them to the pensieve and dumped the memory of the meeting with Freyja into the bowl.
Remus was the first to speak after viewing the memory, “It’s always you, huh, Potter?” he said with a wobbly smile.
“What did she mean by rat?”
Sirius and Remus made uneasy eye contact with each other after James asked the question. Both of them had been wary of Peter lately. He had been absent more and more, always wearing long sleeves regardless of the weather, and when asked about his whereabouts his stories never added up.
“I don’t think Peter can be trusted James,” Lily said, laying a hand on her husband's shoulders. “He hasn’t been around much and he’s been acting very shady, I know you’ve noticed.”
James looked down and nodded. He had noticed.
“Remus and I will go do some research on Norse Mythology. I believe that’s where Freyja comes from. You and Sirius should head to Gringotts and see what security measures they offer and what we can do to prepare. Sirius, you should think about reaching out to Narcissa.”
Day 2
The day after the dream, Narcissa feigned sick and lay in bed all day. She felt miserable, and for some reason she had a feeling that she would be the one not to survive this ordeal.
So on the second day she got up, and she began writing. She wrote letters to her unborn son, explaining the dreams, her family, and what her life was like. She wrote letters for his birthday every year until 21 and stored it in a lock box with pictures and mementos that she has treasured over the years.
Next, she went to Severus’ house.
She showed him the memory and pleaded with him to protect her son.
“You are the only person I trust with this task, and I know Dumbledore asked you to join the Death Eaters so you could spy.”
Severus looked up, surprised. “How did you know that?”
Narcissa smiled sadly, “I know you, Severus. This should not have been the path you were on. You deserve to love and be loved, and follow your dreams.”
Severus scoffed, “Don’t be so ridiculous, Narcissa”
She stayed silent.
“When I’m gone, you’ll have to reconcile with them, Severus,” she said quietly, “Draco needs you. You and Regulus. I need you, so please bite your tongue and swallow your pride. Also, I need some polyjuice”
Day 3
“The house elves are currently moving everything we have over to Potter Palace. Sirius and Remus, you’re coming with us. For all intents and purposes, we still live in Godric’s Hollow. No one outside of us four, and the kids, will know about Potter Palace for now. The Goblins should have more for us in a couple of days.” James looked to Sirius to speak after he finished his peace.
“I’ve been looking into the Wizengamot and the ICW lists. Hogwarts is close to the bottom and it gets worse every year. Dumbledore has a lot of power in the Wizengamot being Supreme Mugwump and yet he continues to isolate people with dark magic affinities and cores and dark creatures.” Sirius says, eyes shifting nervously to Remus, “He’s pushing for the banishment of all dark creatures from society.”
Remus sighs, he was expecting something like this. He wasn’t disillusioned by Dumbledore’s “kindness” from letting him attend Hogwarts, especially when he was the only one to do so.
“I think we’ve discovered the second destructive Lord”
Day 4
Narcissa slides the memento box she made two days ago across the table towards her cousin. “I want you to be the one to give him this, Sirius.”
They were sitting in the back of a cafe in muggle London, hoping to remain inconspicuous. Narcissa’s hand rested on her protruding stomach as she looked imploringly at her baby cousin.
“Why me? Why now?”
“I want him to have a connection to the Black family. I want him to know someone who was brave enough to forge their own path and who protects their own in spite of what others have to say.”
“What about Andromeda?”
Narcissa smirked, “I will handle her.”
-
Narcissa stood on the porch in a quaint muggle neighborhood. She looked around while waiting for someone to answer. She turned as she heard the door open, “Narcissa?”
She smiled. “Andy.”
Day 5
They all sat in front of the Potter family manager at Gringotts. Remus, Sirius, Lily, and James had just received the results of their cleansings and it left them feeling a bit shocked and to be quite honest, violated. They had all been under magical leeches and subject to compulsions connected to Dumbledore. They had compulsions urging them to fuel the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
“I’ll be contacting Severus,”
Sirius looked over at Lily, “Why would you contact Snivellus?”
Lily glared at Sirius, “Don’t call him that. I knew what his home life was like and I went and married his bully. Became friends with his tormentors and I turned my back on him, after he made one mistake that I know he instantly regretted. If I hear that name again, you won’t have any bullocks left to bugger Remus with Sirius Black.”
“Even if we were under compulsions, it doesn’t make it any better. That stuff sticks with you, I should know. Growing up with Petunia,” Lily’s voice cracked on that last part and James wrapped her up in his arms.
“I’ll apologize to him, Lily. You’re right. We were his tormentors, and we’re gonna need all the help we can get.” James said to his wife.
The beginning of a war seems to mature people faster.
Day 6
“Oh Lucius,” Narcissa moaned as her husband pulled out of her for the last time. She had been particularly randy lately and this is the third time they made love that day.
They’re facing each other now. Lucius has a hand on her stomach, the other arm tucked under his head.
“Have you decided on a name for my son, Cissy?”
She smiled at the nickname, “Draconis. But we’ll call him Draco.”
He smiled, “Yes, Draco Lucius Malfoy. A good strong name,” he paused to rub her extended stomach, “Thank you for giving him to me.”
She just smiled at him as she watched him nod off. They were of the few pureblood pairings that actually married for love. That’s why what she had to do made it that much harder. Only time would tell if she was making the right decision but she wasn’t sure if his love for their unborn son would trump his addiction and quest for power. She leaned over to the nightstand next to her bed, grabbing her wand as she pointed it at Lucius’ temple, silent tears rolling down her face.
“Obliviate”
Day 7
“Hello, Severus”
Lily stands across from her childhood friend, watching him watch her distrustfully and a bit warily. And it hurts, but she knows she has brought it upon herself. She watches the force that is Narcissa Malfoy stand close to Severus, squeezing his hand as a silent show of support. There was one point in time where that source of comfort would’ve been her.
They’re standing in a private room in the back of Gringotts with the Potter, Prince, and Black account managers. Severus’ eyes travel over Lily’s form pausing a second on her belly before making eye contact with each of the men behind her.
“Lily.”
James steps up beside Lily, “Thank you for joining us, Severus. I want to take the time to apologize for the way I’ve treated you while we were in school. I hope what we show you in this meeting will put some of my behavior into perspective, but it is still no excuse.”
Remus stepped up before apologizing and echoing much of the same sentiments as James had moments before.
Only Narcissa was able to discern the surprise that flitted across his face. He nodded.
“I appreciate the apology. I’ll offer my congratulations as well on the creation of your spawn.”
Sirius spoke up from behind the Potters, “Jealous it isn't yours, Snape?”
Severus’ lip curled at this, “I think my husband would disagree with that assessment.”
“Husband? Who would want to marry you?”
Severus’ smile was enough to chill everyone’s bones in the room, and Sirius wished for a second that he could take it back.
“Remember the baby brother you abandoned, Mutt? Or did you forget about him the moment he sorted into Slytherin?”
Sirius stepped back as if he had been slapped. He was never sure of what happened to Regulus, honestly he tried not to think about him. Only on nights where it was impossible for him to sleep would he entertain the thought that maybe his baby brother was dead. No one had heard from him in months but he wasn’t too sure of anything as of late so he wisely kept his mouth shut and swallowed his pride. There were bigger things than his childish dislike of Severus for no reason other than his house.
“I- I apologize. For school and just now. It was uncalled for and that’s not what we’re here about,”
Somehow the proud smile Remus aimed at him after he apologized made him feel even worse. Severus just nodded, not ready to speak to the man who was the main cause of his hellish years at Hogwarts. The goblins usher everyone into seats before the Potter account manager, Silvertooth, stood at the head of the table and began speaking.
“I am Silvertooth, Potter account manager. For everyone in this room, we have created golems.”
“What is a golem?” Lily asked, while Severus, Sirius and Narcissa looked grim at the idea that they would need one. Coming from dark families, or in Severus’ case being around and studying dark magic, they were well aware of what golems were. While not inherently dark, they are very old forms of magic that are usually passed down through word of mouth.
“They are lifeless creatures made to look like each one of you, that can be brought to life after a short ritual. Should you need one to stand in your place so you can, technically, be in two places at one time it will be there.”
Next, Ironclaw, the Prince account manager stood up and began to speak.
“I am Ironclaw, Prince account manager-”
“Why is the Prince account manager here?” Sirius cut in, “The last I heard the last eligible Prince was disowned.”
“You’ve heard wrong,” Ironclaw snarls at the interruption before turning to Severus who gives a slight nod in return, “Lord Prince is the one you know of as Severus Snape. The claiming of his title has not been made public, but he has been Lord Prince since his 17th birthday.”
“Why have you not made it public?” Remus asks.
Severus sighed, knowing these people were the few he could be upfront with if they were to work together to protect the children.
“Before I turned 16, Dumbledore asked me to take the mark and become his spy. At the time, I had no reason to turn him down so I did so. When I was 17, I received a missive from Gringotts letting me know that while my mother had been disowned from the Prince line, my grandfather still named me as his heir. Regulus and Lucius were able to help me train and teach me of all the ins and outs of being a Lord and having seats on the Wizengamot. Dumbledore does not allow professors to sit in the Wizengamot and prefers to hold proxy for them. I do not, and have never trusted, Dumbledore so I have seen it prudent to keep it a secret from him and anyone who would try and use the Prince line to their advantage and leave the Prince seats vacant for now.”
Ironclaw grabbed a brown rectangular box from the table in the corner of the room and brought it to where everyone was seated before he opened it, turning it so that the contents were showing the wix in the room. Inside the box were 9 different pieces of jewelry.
“These are goblin steel made protection pieces. The rings are for Regulus and Sirius Black, Severus Prince, Lily and James Potter and Remus Lupin, Ted and Andromeda Tonks, and one more person of your choosing. They serve as portkeys to a place of your choosing, you will just have to add it to the ring. They will heat up if you are about to consume a personality altering, memory, or love potion, and they will project light protection domes around the wearer. They will allow you to contact the other jewelry wearers in times of danger and they will only be seen by those you wish to see the pieces.”
“Why is there not one for Narcissa?” Sirius asks, looking at his pregnant cousin.
Narcissa smiles sadly, “I believe Draco will become a very powerful seer as he matures because I have been getting visions, if you will call them that, that I believe come from him. That is how I know I will have no use for the jewelry. You should give the last one to Alice.”
“Longbottom?”
Narcissa nodded the affirmative, “Yes, you will need another female presence to help raise the boys.”
James spoke up, “I will contact the others and get them moved into Potter Palace by tomorrow.”
Silvertooth spoke up, “Goblins have already been by fortifying the wards. You should add more blood to the ward stone, blood magic is very powerful. Write down the address of the Palace on this parchment and distribute it to those you want to know the location. Once you do that, and they arrive, the location of the Palace will become unplottable and only those who know the exact location and are keyed into the wards will be able to find it.”
Day 8
“Do you understand the plan?”
Severus tried not to roll his eyes again but they had been going over the plan for the last few hours and it was very full-proof. The only reason they were going over it repeatedly was for the sake of the mutt. He wasn’t exactly sure why Sirius was chosen for this project but he was overruled after he protested vehemently.
“I want to hear you repeat it Sirius,” Narcissa said in that tone she used when they were younger that let you know she really wasn't asking.
Sirius sighed heavily, actually rolling his eyes, “James will create a distraction causing Malfoy to spend all day in the Ministry. You will call your personal healer over and Severus will polyjuice into them while I wait for the baby-
“Draco”
“-right, for Draco to be delivered and I will feed him the blood adoption potion and immediately take him to the palace. Severus will stay behind tending to you until the potion wears off and remove all traces of our magical signature.”
“Yes, exactly.”
Day 9
On 31 July, 1980 in the east wing of Potter Palace at 9:03 am, a little raven haired bundle with one green eye and one yellow tourmaline eye was born to Lillian Potter nee Evans and James Potter. They named him Harrison James Sol Potter-Black.
On 31 July, 1980 in the west wing of Malfoy Manor at 3:09 pm, a pale platinum haired bundle with light mercury colored eyes was born to Narcissa Eltanin Malfoy nee Black and Lucius Abraxas Malfoy. Lucius didn’t make it home in time for the birth, so he didn’t see Severus Snape polyjuiced as their personal healer nor did he see Sirius Black take the baby away. He didn’t get to be with his wife as she held her son to her chest and took her last breath whispering I love you . The boy was named Draconis Narcissus Mani Potter-Black.