Harry Potter and the Guardian

Betrayal

Potter Cottage, Godric's Hollow | 31st July 1981 | 6:45 PM

"James! Could you get it?" Lily shouted at her husband while trying to change the diaper of her son, Harry.

Knock. Knock.

"James!"

Lily got up and went to open the door with Harry in one of her hands. She opened the door and looked at the person who knocked the door.

"Quite the cozy home you have here Lily. I'm very hurt you never called me here."

"What are you doing here Headmaster?"

The person who knocked the door was Albus Dumbledore, the leader of the light side and the person regarded as the strongest wizard alive.

"We are no longer at school child, feel free to call me Albus. As for why I'm free, it's to wish this boy a very happy birthday."

Dumbledore turned his face to look at Harry who was in his mother's arms, and smiled widely. His eyes twinkled and Harry giggled.

"Why are you really here Albus?"

"I'm afraid there was a prophecy about Voldemort. Someone was prophesied to kill or get killed by Voldemort."

"What does that have to do with us? We have stopped our participation in the war anyway."

James came downstairs in messy clothes, his hair still wet from the shower.

"I heard you shout Lily honey. Did something happen? Who is this - oh. Dumbledore." James' expression soured when he saw his old Headmaster.

"As I was saying, the prophesy,

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....

Only two children could be the person in the prophecy. One is Frank's and Alice's son, Neville. Really cheerful boy. Looks a lot like his father. Anyway, the other candidate is your son Lily."

Dumbledore became serious when he told the candidacy of Harry. Lily and James were shocked. James might have missed some of the discussion, but he was not an idiot and could put things to understand.

"What does this mean for us? Will death eaters come after us?"

"Not death eaters. Voldemort himself might be after the boy." Dumbledore's grave tone made the seriousness of the issue.

"I am here to persuade you to go into hiding. I understand that you don't want to leave this place. We can cast a Fidelius Charm over the house. All you have to do is pick a secret keeper."

After mulling over the security of their child, the Potters agreed to Dumbledore. They said they would cast the Fidelius charm themselves as only the owners of the property could cast a Fidelius on it.

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Order Headquarters | 2nd August 1981 | 4 PM

"Padfoot," James called out to his friend.

"Prongs!" Sirius went forward towards James and hugged him tightly. "Why didn't you contact us for such a long time? I even missed Harry's birthday because you wouldn't tell us where you live."

"It's about that Padfoot. We need to cast a Fidelius Charm over our house and we would like you to be our secret keeper."

Lily, who was beside James, smiled at Sirius.

Sirius beamed at James and Lily. "I'd be honored Prongs." But suddenly Sirius hesitated. He thought for a second and said, "Wait. If I were the death eaters, I would know you would pick me. I'm the best choice for a secret keeper. Think about it! I'm your best friend, and the god father of Harry. Who would you pick other than me? Nothing would happen to you if simple death eaters caught me, but Voldemort can crush my occlumency defenses in an instant."

The couple realized their mistake after Sirius' detailed explanation.

"So who should we make our Secret Keeper?"

"How about Dumbledore? No one can do anything to him?"

"No. He's assisting us with the charm because we aren't powerful enough to do it on our own. How about one of your other friends James?"

Lily pitched in a suggestion which gave Sirius an idea.

"How about Wormtail. I know you can't face him because of the... incident. But that's why he's the perfect candidate. Voldemort would think the relations between you and Wormtail are bad. He would never suspect him!"

James hesitated. Sirius' logic was perfect, but he simply couldn't face Peter because it would remind him of his dead son. Lily noticed her husband's hesitation and said, "Sirius. Would you be a lamb and ask for Peter? I need to talk to James."

After Sirius left, Lily posed James a question, "Tell me James. Which is more important, keeping your child alive, or being stuck in the past? Harry needs us! He needs you to make a decision!"

Lily's words cleared the wall that was stopping James. He wiped a tear from his eye, and said, "Ok."

Sirius came a few minutes later with Peter, and they explained the situation to Peter.

"Peter, I know I haven't been the best of friends for the past several months, but right now it's not about me. I plead for your forgiveness and help us, for Harry."

Peter looked at James, who almost bowed to him, and said, "James. I always considered you my greatest friend. It was me who failed you. I will use this chance to redeem myself."

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Malfoy Manor | 15th August 1981 | 7: 07 PM

"My lord, I have very important news." A death eater came forward and bowed in front of Voldemort.

"The Potter's have gone into hiding. They are under the Fidelius."

"Oh. And where did you get this information from?"

Voldemort was slightly angry, as it would be difficult to harm someone under a Fidelius. He would have to find the secret keeper first and extract the secret from him. If the secret keeper was Dumbledore, it would be neigh impossible for Voldemort to do anything to the Potters.

"Peter Pettigrew my lord. He also told me to tell you that he was the secret keeper for the Potters."

The second piece of information created a smile on Voldemort's face. He started laughing.

"Haha. It seems Dumbledore helped in casting the spell. Call our astronomers. Tell them to look for the day with most magical significance this year. The death of my prophesied rival must go down on history. He is very lucky, to be chosen to experience death by this lord's hands. Haha."