The Prophecy
Sunday June 29th 1980
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 2 Am
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was the current Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . He had been since 1964 when he took over from Professor Armando Dippet. He was the Magnificent Leader of the Light, as well as the Founder of the Order of the Phoenix and the defeater of Gellert Grindelwald himself. He was leading the resistance against Tom Riddle a former Hogwarts student now called Lord Voldemort leading a group of supremist to rid the Wizarding World of those of who he considered of lesser blood heritage and to conquer both the Muggle and Wizarding Worlds in order to achieve Pure-Blood dominance.
Tom Riddle usually called You Know Who these days as many were afraid to say his name. Tom was nearing the height of his reign causing terror within the British Wizarding Community. Nearly every day now Muggles, Squibs, Muggle-Borns, Half-Bloods and even Purebloods who did not agree with the maniac’s ideals were found murdered after being brutally tortured, more often than not, in their own houses. A place families were supposed to feel safe, were discovered with the mark of the self-appointed Dark Lord shining above their houses, inflicting terror and fear. Voldemort and his followers were wiping out entire families whether that be adults, teenagers, or even young children. It did not matter to the Dark Lord whether the people were only affiliated to those who worked against him, they were taken out first in order to cause maximin damage.
He sat alone in his office in thought. You see the night before he was interviewing a former Ravenclaw Sybil Trelawney, who had graduated several years beforehand. Sybil was the great great granddaughter of Cassandra Trelawney who was a celebrated seer. Sybil herself was and alleged seer but he did not believe it until last night. He had been interviewing Trelawney for the position of the Divination teacher. He himself did not exactly wish to continue Divination at Hogwarts but he had been overruled by the alumni of Hogwarts including Lucius Malfoy much to his surprise.
He had arranged to meet Sybil at Hog’s Head though much to his displeasure she did not display any of Cassandra’s divinatory skills however she entered a trance and ended up making a prophecy about Voldemort’s defeat. In order to protect Sybil he hired her on the spot. Her words echoed in his mind constantly for the past day: “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 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.”
Sybil’s Prophecy could apply to two couples: the Potters and the Longbottom’s.
Jameson ‘James’ Fleamont Potter, the Lord of House Potter was from a somewhat respected Pureblood family. He was the only surviving child of Euphemia Potter and the only son of Fleamont Potter. Despite his lack of effort he had been brilliant in school and an excellent Quidditch player and Captain during his time at Hogwarts. Now James was one of the top operatives of the Order. He married Lily Josephine Evans in the middle of 1979. Lily was from a family of Muggles being the thirdborn daughter of Rosanne and Cedar Evans/ and had been sorted into Gryffindor just like her husband. She even made Head girl in 1978. The couple was about to become first time parents to three wonderful babies at twenty years old. Lily had difficult carrying children and as they were in the middle of a raging war neither Lily nor James wanted to wait to start their family as they did not know how much time they had left.
Lily and Alice had been close since first year, even sharing a dorm, and as Alice was content with how her family was at the moment she volunteered to be the couples surrogate it was unconventional but not completely unheard of within the Wizarding Community. However it appear fate had other plans for both women as just after Alice had discovered that the embryo transfer had worked, Lily had discovered that she was pregnant as well with a baby boy she had managed to carry to nearly full term and Alice had still managed to conceive her own biological child as well. These days the women spent hardly a day apart.
The other candidates were Alice and Frank Longbottom. Lord Francis ‘Frank’ Castor Joseph Kristopher Algernon Elroy Longbottom was the Lord of the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom succeeding his father Elroy as Lord. Frank was the sixth out of eleven children born to Elroy and Augusta Longbottom and the eldest surviving son. Frank had made Head boy and was Quidditch Captain during his own time at Hogwarts and these days he was one of the Auror Department and Order of the Phoenix’s top members.
Frank had followed in his father’s footsteps of becoming a hit wizard, after taking the accelerate Auror program that had taken two years to complete rather than three. The program was more challenging, but he had passed with flying colours. Alice and Frank were three years apart in age. Frank had been in the same year level as Alice’s brother Lewis and her stepsiblings Isaac and Juliette Fortescue. The two had grown up together and had been best friends. According to their parents ever since Alice was able to crawl she would follow Frank like a lost kitten and then when Alice turned five it was the other way around, Frank doting on her every desire. As per tradition with Pureblood families Alice had a marriage arranged for her to an older man as age gaps were not that uncommon in the wizarding world. Her parents wishing to rid themselves of their problem child. It was not Alice’s desire, but men would not respect a women’s wishes however they would respect a man’s so Frank approach his father about his intention to court Alice. The Longbottom’s were a high standing family and a far better match, so Alice’s parents had no choice but to accept the proposal especially after Alice made it clear that a match with Frank was also her desire for if you have to marry who better to marry than your dearest friend?
The couple were wed at the end of June in 1975, during the term breaks so the newly married couple could adjust. While Frank entered the Auror Training Program his wife entered her next year of schooling. It was more common than not for pureblood girls to only finish their fifth year of Hogwarts however some families like the Blacks and Longbottom’s prided themselves in their family members having a full education. After the wedding Alice no longer resided at Hogwarts instead she would travel to and from Longbottom Chateau. It was unusual but it was nothing the school had not seen before.
Purebloods were expected to marry in their mid to late teens and pop out an heir immediately after, so it was no surprise when the Longbottom’s welcomed their first additions to their family in early 1976 Hyacinth Eloise, Amaryllis Augustine, and Hyperion Aldous Longbottom.
Adalheidis “Alice” Caterina Amaryllis Eugenie Geraldine Margret Aloma Longbottom nee Prewett-Griffiths- Blishwick- Fortescue had come from an unorthodox family situation and was one of the best minds he had ever seen. Her lack of height was made up for with her big personality. The woman was capable of taking someone down with just one spell, something that the marauders had learned the hard way. Like her husband she was a well-respected Auror making the second half of ‘the Gamblers’. With a young family on her hands Alice spent most of her time investigating crimes and training the next aurors though when she did get on the battlefield she was quite the force to be reckoned with.
Both couples fit the requirements of the prophecy, but he had a feeling which couple would be chosen. The Longbottom’s were a well-respected Pureblood family with several Pureblood children while the Potters were a less respected family about to welcome their first offspring, Half-Bloods just like Tom. Tom would not waste Purebloods if he did not have to.
The fireplace flared to life and the Longbottom’s appeared, Frank offering his arm to his wife. Alice was a gorgeous short, curvy women with skin as white as white as snow standing around 5'2. Her long fiery ginger curly hair cascaded pass her waist in tight ringlets. Her Sapphire blue eyes were framed by simple yet elegant glasses that highlighted her dozens of freckles and at least half a dozen beauty marks scattered on her heart-shaped face and her ears were pierced in several places. Her husband Frank was a handsome man towering his wife at 6’8, it was often joked that somewhere in their blood the Longbottom’s had giant ancestry, he had curly, silky deep brown hair , warm brown eyes, tanned warm brown skin with several tattoos, was a lean but muscular from his time as the Gryffindor keeper, one could describe him as having the body of a Greek god.
"Frank, Alice I am so glad you make it on such short notice" Dumbledore greeted two of his former students and fellow Order of the Phoenix members. Dumbledore was tall, thin and old, judging by the silver of his hair and , which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing a long green cloak which swept the ground and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice.
"Good evening professor, would you mind telling us what this is all about?" Alice asked impatiently annoyed at being woken up at such an unreasonable hour as several hours from now she would be awoken by her screaming children wanting to fed or one of her children having a nightmare or a crying baby needing a diaper change. “You are aware that we have young children, correct?”
"Just a moment my dear, I will tell you everything soon I just ask that you wait for Lily and James as this concerns them just as much as much as it concerns the two of you !" Dumbledore said, “And my apologised for having to wake you up so early in the morning but this is extremely urgent”.
“Oh It is honestly fine sir” said Alice giving the expected answered not meaning a single word of it at all “I did not feel like sleeping anyway” she muttered only loud enough for Frank to hear.
Frank gave a weary smile, he had seen the calculating look in the old man's eyes before he had schooled his features into a grandfatherly expression, it was not the first time in recent years that Frank had an unsettling feeling that Dumbledore followed his own plan whatever the hell that was and had no desire to share them and he knew that this most likely would not be the last time he saw it either. He knew that Dumbledore would likely use whoever he liked to ensure that things went according to his own desire. Frank was sure Alice was of the same mind as him from the quick but subtle look she had given him a few seconds ago before he had time to ponder the thought any longer though the fireplace in the Headmaster’s office flared to life once more revealing the Potters.
Heir Jameson "James" Fleamont Potter of House Potter stood tall and proud as surveyed the room.. He was a desi man standing at 5 foot eight and with an athletic built man, hazel eyes and incredibly untidy jet-black hair that stuck up in all angles, particularly in the back. If she was honest Alice could not recall a time that she had ever seen his messy black locks tamed, James had a habit of ruffling his hair at school making it even more untidy so that it would give the appearance he just came from quidditch practice. James was from a somewhat respected pure blood family depending on who you asked the Potters were Purebloods however they were considered Blood Traitors for over a century, and it did not help that Fleamont Potter had taken a second wife, a Muggle. During his time at Hogwarts James had been both Head boy and Quidditch Captain.
Lily Josephine Evans Potter was a delicate woman with thick dark red hair a little passed her shoulders, and with emerald, green eyes oval shaped eyes. Her eyes are extremely bright and distinctive. Her nose is round, and she has large cheeks and ivory skin. She was Head girl beside James during her seventh year of Hogwarts as well.
Dumbledore conjured enough chairs for everyone to sit down as Lily and Alice greeted each other warmly. He was just about to finally tell them what was so urgent that he had awoken them at two in the morning when Alice cut in.
“So Albus do you mind telling us what is so important that you had to wake us up at two in the morning” Alice asked again still extremely annoyed at the fact that she was woken up. Alice was not a morning person at all, and she never had been a morning person a well-known fact at and not to mention that she was a mother to eleven young children, multiples ran high in her family, and was pregnant not that she regretted any of her children or agreeing to carry James and Lily’s child for them, but she needed her beauty sleep or coffee, a whole lot of coffee but her husband would not allow her to have to much coffee in this state. Curse her for marrying a man that actually cared about her.
“Last night I had an interview with a someone for the divination teaching position and a prophecy was revealed.” Dumbledore explained.
“How does that concern us?” Lily asked curiously.
“Yeah, what does this have to do with us Albus?” James said.
“The prophecy goes like this: 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." Dumbledore stated, “From what I have deciphered there are two couples have defied him three times each and are both expecting at least one male child each as the seventh month dies” he continued “And they are sitting in front of me at this second” The salience was deafening after he spoke, and it remained that way for several minutes.
" So, you believe that it’s either one of Lily and James's sons or our baby boy?" Alice asked breaking the silence, still completely shocked by the revelation that one of the children born to the people sitting in this office was destined to save the wizarding world. Now that was completely crazy and unbelievable.
“Yes, I do” Dumbledore answered in all seriousness.
“Which seer made the prophecy?” Alice demanded. “Who has declared that my son or my godsons will save the wizarding world?”
“That’s not important- “Dumbledore began.
“Are you Albus Dumbledore telling me that a person made a prophecy possibly threatening the life of my unborn child as well as my three unborn godchildren and you won’t even tell me who this person is?” Alice exclaimed glaring at her former headmaster. “Do you believe I have no right to know? You best just tell me sir either way I shall find out.”
“Sybil Trelawney” Dumbledore finally answered cowering under the glare Alice directed at him.
“Are you sure that Sybil is not mistaken by any chance surely there has to be someone else that the prophecy could fit?” Alice asked hoping that this was all some horrible dream, and she would wake up beside Frank and realise that it was just a terrible nightmare.
“Yes, I am quite positive that it is either yours or Lily and James’s son” Albus replied knowing that that was not the news Alice was hoping for.
“What are we going to do Albus?” Lily interjected worriedly she had already children before, she was not about to lose any more if she could help it.
“For now, I believe that the four of you should go into hiding under the fidelius charm separately or together, whichever you prefer. Dumbledore answered “If you want, I could be your secret keeper” he offered the two couples rather quickly.
“Of course professor” James responded, “If you believe it to be the best course of action”.
“I do” Dumbledore responded.
“Thank you Albus but this is something Alice and I need to discuss in detail, we are after all a team. We will get back to you once we made our decision.” Frank replied.
“Frank is right running is against our very nature we really need to discuss what we are going to do. We have other children to think about” Alice added as her husband helped her up.
“Come on Dove we should get home the children will throw a tantrum if they realise their parents had left them with their gran in the middle of the night. We both know that more often than not a child ends up in between us or beside one of us in the bed”.
“Especially in this time I swear they can sense that something is going on” Alice muttered “Thank you Albus we will see you guys soon”.
“Alice” Lily called out just before the Longbottom’s were about to floo back to their home “I know that you are not the type to stay on the sidelines and hide, that’s not the way you were raised, you were raised by strong and outspoken parents I know you do not like to back down from a fight”.
“Well actually it is quite obvious that they are not the type to hide I mean they have eleven young kids and are still fighting for the light-” James interrupted. He stopped himself when Alice cast her glare at him. It resembled her father so much and Auror Griffiths was not once to take any bullshit.
“We have to James” Alice sighed “If we die we know our children will be well cared for by their enormous family, but we want them to have the same chances we had growing up, before this Voldemort nonsense. The chance to interact and play with Muggle children. The chance to explore the wizarding world. It is a chance they also deserve,”
“But keep in mind that you are not only carrying your own son, but you are also carrying my son, from a soon to be mother to a mother please keep him safe go into hiding please!” Lily begged on the verge of tears this was her chance to become a mother, to have a family of her own and she did not want to risk losing her babies like she lost all the others. What if she lost the twins like she lost the rest? Her last chance laid with Alice, the woman had yet to lose a babe.
“We will not let anything happen to your son Lily, but this is still something Alice and I have to discuss” Frank promised. “But we still have to go home and relieve my mother she is not as young as she use to be and the children take so much energy out of her these days.” He paused for a moment “They get it from their mother’s side of the family.”
“Well I cannot deny that” Alice chuckled “Goodbye Albus, James, Lil.” She smiled “Longbottom Château” Just like that the Longbottom’s disappeared into the green flames.
“Do not worry James, Lily” Dumbledore cut in “Alice will come to her senses.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Lily asked.
“She will” Professor Dumbledore promised.
“We both know that Frank will stand by whatever decision Alice makes” James muttered.
“She will come to her senses,” Lily said, “She has to James.” She leaned her head against her husband's shoulder and continued listening to James and Dumbledore as they discussed secret keepers.