ALWAYS

The Prophecy

"Wahhh.... Wahhhh". It had been a month since Harry was born and the family was back at home. 

"Babe, Harry's up again" said Lily as she gently shook James awake in her sleep. James woke up with a start and jumped off the bed. "I got it, I got it" he said, picking Harry up from his crib and bobbing him up and down until he slept.  A few minutes later Harry was asleep and James gently put him back in his crib and climbed back to bed. As he got in Lily felt the mattress go down under their weight and she sleepily turned around and nestled closer to James. She lay her head on his chest and fell back asleep. James hugged her close and he too closed his eyes. 

At around nine Lily woke up and gently broke free from James. She got off the bed, making sure she doesn't wake James up. Tying her hair back she walked to the crib and looked down at her son, who was awake and patiently waiting for someone to come pick him up. 

"Good morning Harry" she cooed as she kissed his forehead and walked to the kitchen to let James sleep a little bit longer. She sat him down on his chair and proceeded to make breakfast. She ate and then fed Harry. Half an hour later Lily was burping Harry when he threw up and dirtied himself. "Oh no" she groaned and slowly peeked in to the room to find James still asleep. She smiled and tiptoed across the room with Harry in her arms. She drew him a bath and began rubbing him with soap. After she was done she put him on the diaper changing stand and dried him with a towel. Picking out a dress for the day she walked to Harry and began fitting him into his tiny onesie. 

"Good morning" James whispered into Lily's ear wrapping his arms around her waist and planting a kiss on her cheek. She was dressing Harry and greeted him back, "Good morning". She finished dressing Harry and left James to get ready for the day. He walked out some time later and took the piping hot cup of coffee on the kitchen counter. They had lunch and at one Lily put Harry down for a nap in his crib and walked back to the couch and plopped her head onto James's lap. He stroked her hair gently. "Harry's asleep?" asked James. "Mhmmmm.... after a lot of effort" she said. "You're lucky you're not on night duty" he retorted and with that they burst out laughing. 

At four Harry woke up and was greeted by James who was all dressed and ready to take him to Uncle Sirius's house. He picked him up and the little family walked  a few blocks until they reached Sirius's house. They knocked on the door and were let in by Sirius who led the way into the kitchen. They found Dumbledore and McGonagall were seated around the table and had grim expressions plastered across their face. Sirius offered to take Harry from Lily. 

"Come to Uncle Padfoot Harry! Lets go have fun" he said playfully as they walked outside. "What's wrong Dumbledore?" asked James as he exchanged a worried glance with Lily. "I'm afraid it's not good James." he said as he looked at Minerva. She cleared her throat and looked at them, "I'll get to the point, a prophecy has been made yesterday. And the prophecy is about a boy born in June". "Harry" Lily and James said together looking at McGonagall. "Yes. Harry. Unfortunately Voldemort too has heard this and is now out to kill Harry. You guys need to leave this place and go somewhere safe" McGonagall explained. "Now?" asked Lily. "Yes Lily, I'm afraid you have to leave now. Go somewhere safe and don't tell anyone, including us about your whereabouts" he said. Lily and James looked at Dumbledore and McGonagall and left the room to find Sirius lifting Harry up in the air and Harry giggling at how fun it was. 

Sirius looked at James and Lily and handed Harry to Lily as his smile faded away. "So that's it? You're leaving?" he asked looking at James. "We're not leaving mate. We're just going some where else for a few days. But I would like to ask you one thing before we leave" James said. "Anything. What is it?". "Be our secret keeper Padfoot. You are the only one I trust. Of course Moony and wormtail can know but that's it. No one else" he said looking at Sirius. 

Secret keeper was a huge responsibility and one that has James, Lily's and even Harry's life was at stake. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I'm sure" reassured James. "Okay then" he said. 

"Where are we going?" Lily asked James as she stuffed Harry's clothes and toys into a bag. "My parents owned this place in Godrics Hollow. It's ancestral. We used to go there when I was very little but we've not been there for years now. No one even knows we have that place. I was thinking we can go there" he said looking at Lily. Lily thought for a minute. "Okay. Let's go" she said. "Really? You're okay with this?" He asked her. "Yes James, I am " she said walking up to him and kissing him. They broke away and each holding two bags walked out to see Sirius playing with Harry. They smiled at the sight and apparated to Godrics Hollow. 

It took them some time to find the right house. After a few minutes of walking across the street they found a house, where no one seemed to live in. Lily looked at James before opening the gate to the house and walking inside. Despite being abandoned for so many years the house was spotless from the inside. There were couches in the living room, soft cushions that made the couches cozy, utensils already laid out in the kitchen, three bedrooms, each with it's own bed and little balcony. 

"You got to admire mums taste" Sirius said as he looked around the house. "Yeah" said James awestruck by how well kept the house looked. "She caste a charm on the house didn't she?" Lily said turning around to the guys. "Yeah" the guys chimed in unison. Sirius helped them settle in and said he would be back a few months later when everything had calmed down and when he felt that no one was tailing him. They nodded and said a tearful goodbye as they hugged each other. "Be good Harry. Uncle Padfoot will be back in no time. But until then-" Sirius cooed as he looked at Harry who had grabbed Sirius's finger, Sirius pulled out a tiny stuffed animal- a black dog. Lily and James smiled at the gesture. "He will keep you company" he said getting up. Taking one last look at his family Sirius apparated. 

Lily sighed as she walked back in with James and Harry. It had been an eventful day. But was this their life from now on? Is this how it's always going to be? Always?