4 The Prophecy

At the rather unsubtle reminder of Peter's betrayal, James slumped back down into the chair nearby.

He hung his head before sighing and looking back at Albus.

"I truly do apologise, James." Dumbledore looked at him with a pinched expression, as if weary on how James was going to react. It was uncharacteristic – but it spoke volumes to how deeply Albus felt about the whole ordeal.

James forced a weak, forgiving smile and shook his head, "No need, Headmaster. We understand it was a decision you felt you had to make – but even still, next time, Lily and I would like to be privy to any and all information that concerns us."

"Of course.", Dumbledore appeased. "I will need your co-operation even more now, than I did before."

"You'll get it as soon as you tell us what the Prophecy says." said Lily. "And the full thing please, Headmaster."

Dumbledore nodded slowly. He seemed hesitant, and looked to be contemplating – but

whatever he was thinking of was ultimately brushed aside as he cleared his throat and recited, "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-"

Lily let out a light gasp. Despair wretched itself onto the faces of everyone listening, because truly – who else could the prophecy be talking about if not Arthur? Pity and regret for the boy filled them as they listened solemnly to Dumbledore.

"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..."

Lily held onto Arthur desperately, her fingers biting into the corners of his arm reflexively. This prompted crying from Arthur, and from there – Lily could not hold back the tears any longer.

Barely restrained choked sobs sounded from the Mother and Son.

It was unfair. Fate had dealt her son a hand so terrible, that the weight of their world quite literally depended on him.

Charlus and Dorea stood beside James and Lily, sharing their suffering as they understood – just as Lily and James could potentially lose their child, they too could lose their grandson.

"I'm afraid that this isn't the only issue you'll be facing," Albus spoke softly.

He brought out his wand and conjured a stool beside the cot, next to Hadrian. He sat down on the chair and continued to say, "Young Hadrian is…well, it is unlikely that he'll be able to use magic in the future. It seems that Arthur borrowed Hadrian's magic – something which I had thought impossible – and used it to reflect the killing curse. Because of this, his magic may never resurface, and if it does, it will not be enough to make use of a wand."

They all turned towards the raven haired boy, taking in his features for the first time in what felt like a while. Preoccupied with Arthur, they only just realised that the boy had been sleeping soundly the whole time – undisturbed by the raucous inside the clinic.

"He's a Squib?" James frowned. "He won't be going to Hogwarts? He can't use magic?"

Dumbledore was quiet for a beat, before slowly shaking his head no. "I am sorry, James."

"What does it matter?" Charlus asked gruffly. "So the boy's a Squib, doesn't mean a thing to us."

"Us neither." Lily said as she wiped her tears and assured Charlus and Dorea.

Dumbledore looked at them with a darting gaze. It was imperceptible, and carefully restrained. Caught only by one other person in the room. Dorea Potter.

He turned his eyes towards Hadrian and lifted him delicately out of the crib with his wand. Slowly, the boy spurred awake – gurgling as his starkly green eyes fluttered open.

"I just wonder if you would even..."

James and Lily looked at Dumbledore with a bewildered look.

"Wonder if we would care if Hadrian became a Squib?" Lily assumed. "Albus, how dare you presume such a horrid thing?"

He grimaced under her admonishment, but a determined gaze flickered through as he replied,

"That is not what I was referring to, Lily. With Arthur's recent achievement, the safety of your children is now something that could be compromised. Without his magic, Hadrian will not be able to protect himself from any of the Death Eaters who might seek revenge for their master. Especially when you have Arthur to worry about."

"What?" Dorea hissed. "Albus, if you are implying what I think you are – you'd do well to remind yourself that you are not a member of this family. Out of all the characters in your obnoxiously long name, I do not remember seeing 'Black' or 'Potter'."

"Arthur will become a figurehead of peace overnight. Word will get out that he was the one to defeat Voldemort, and when that happens – he will need to be trained. Time and effort will be needed to cultivate 'the power he knows not' to prevent Voldemort's second coming. I do not doubt that you are good parents, James, Lily. However, you must see reason. You will be bringing Hadrian into a world where he will be defenceless against those that would do him harm because of tonight's ordeal."

"I will protect my son." James promised with vehemence. "And you're forgetting, it's his world too."

"James…" Dumbledore breathed as he looked at him with pity. "All it takes is one day. If it were not for Arthur – I fear it might have been today."

A vein made itself pronounced on James' face as his jaw set tensely. The implication was heavy and true, James had failed to protect his family once already – what was to stop it from happening again?

A tightness in his chest grew, and his head began to ache. "How long."

"James!" Cries emanated from the other three Potters.

"You can't possibly be thinking about sending Hadrian away!" Dorea objected.

"Mum, he's right!", James bit back sharply. "All it takes is one day! One day where Lily and I are not looking or busy with Arthur! If…If something ever happened to Harry, I don't think I could live with myself." He put his hand on Lily's shoulder, urging her to understand. "Lily, if it's safer for Harry, we must do it."

She bared her teeth and said, "No, James. I will not give up my child!"

"Lily, you can't honestly believe I don't feel the same things as you do. I don't want to do this.", he recoiled back, offended that she thought him so callous. "He's my son too! And besides, it's not like we'll forgo contact with him – we'll still see him every single day!"

She shook her head, astounded by what she was hearing. "James, I will not hand custody of my child to someone else – Merlin! We don't even know who yet, and you've already agreed!"

"I haven't agreed!" he said. "I just think it's a viable step we should take to ensure our son's safety, even Dumbledore agrees!

"Well, actually-", Dumbledore started.

"No, James." Charlus' said quietly, cutting off whatever the Headmaster had to say. "It's not that Dumbledore agrees with you – it's that you agree with everything Dumbledore says."

"Dad." James ground out as his nostrils flared slightly in outrage.

"No." Charlus declared resolutely. "I cannot believe this is the son I sired. How far into his clutches have you fallen, James? To abandon your child on the whims of a conniving old man!"

Dorea looked ready to speak out in defence of her son, but Charlus' hand on her shoulder stopped her, and she knew instantly what Charlus wished to do.

"We'll take in Hadrian, if ever you come to that decision, that is. And quite frankly, I hope you do. We'll make sure he's safe and looked after."

"No one is taking my son away from me!" Lily bit out, red and seething. "I am his mother, I will not be separated from Harry, regardless of what James thinks he can decide!"

Dorea eyed Lily softly, trying to discern something. "Whatever conclusion you reach – I hope you'll reach it without any interference."

Albus stood up abruptly, his hand waved nonchalantly as Hadrian slowly floated back into the crib.

"I think we should all remain level-headed and make decisions after long deliberation," Dumbledore said, trying his best to diffuse the situation.

Charlus and Dorea ignored him as they swung open the door to leave – giving one solemn look to the remaining people in the room before departing.

"Great." James croaked out softly. "My own parents, can you believe that?"

Lily didn't deign to look at him, her anger was palatable – and it was clear in her dismissal that she had chosen her side already.

Though it hurt him, James knew that it was something he had to do. It stung, to feel like the villain when he'd been trying his best to do well for his family, but he remained steadfast in his ideology. He would never let what happened that night, occur ever again.