Out of the Past, Into the Future (a Harry Potter fanfic)

7 - Into the Shadows

Chapter Seven - Into the Shadows

31st of October, 1981

St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries

"Where are we going?" Remus asked as they hurried down the corridor. They made quite a party; Dumbledore in front, robes billowing, Remus rushing beside him, James with an unconscious Lily, Sirius with Harry's limp form, and Frank bringing up the rear, wand drawn and wide-eyed.

"Headquarters," Dumbledore growled as they reached a small secluded room containing only a bed and a fireplace. It was a worn mattress; a threadbare blanket sat neatly on top, but there was no one in it, nor did it look as though anyone had been there for some time, due to a think layer of dust that sat atop it. The fireplace looked as though it had had its time - its scorched wood showed years of gold use but the plaster and paint was peeling. The group crowded round it.

"Go!" Dumbledore commanded, and Remus stepped into the fireplace and was quickly sucked away by the flames. Sirius went with Harry after a nod from James, who went next, cradling Lily in his arms. Dumbledore nodded at Frank to go next. He stepped into the flames and was just twisting away when he thought he caught a glimpse of Dumbledore leaving the room at a high-speed, but told himself he must be just unlocking the door or something like that.

In fact Dumbledore was leaving the room. He ran outside and only paused for a few seconds to catch his breath (he was getting older, after all) before turning back to the building he had just vacated. He pointed his wand at the hospital, and pulled from the caverns of his mind a spell that he had learnt many years ago, from none other than Gellert Grindelwald himself. He almost smiled to himself at the irony of the whole business.

"Obliviatima Maxima!" he cried majestically. No one else but him saw the entire building light up; it seemed to glow with the spell. Then Dumbledore with a final satisfied nod, disapparated, with not one person able to tell of what had just happened.

Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix

"I thought you were right behind us!" Remus accused Dumbledore, as he walked into the front room of the small house the Order used as headquarters.

James had laid Lily down on the sofa and was stroking her hair, and Sirius had conjured up a cot and had laid Harry down gently and pulled some blankets over him.

"My apologies. There was something that I had to take care of, shall we say."

Remus and Frank exchanged a look.

"What was it?" Frank asked patiently, but Sirius had had enough.

"Look here Dumbledore, what in Merlin's beard is going on, because right now, I am not amused, 'shall we say', " Sirius demanded rudely.

"I suppose I should tell you now," Dumbledore mused.

Sirius, who was still furious, opened his mouth to complain but Dumbledore cut him off.

"It may be a long story, but I'll start from the beginning. James, you were supposed to die."

The mens' mouths fell open.

"Bloody hell," James remarked, almost casually.

"As you know," Dumbledore began gravely, "a prophecy was made. I won't go into details, because frankly, it's highly dangerous knowledge for you all to have, but it concerned the downfall of Voldemort. I was there when the prophecy was made, and as the seer is not aware of what they said, I am the only person who knows the full extent of the prophecy.

But someone else heard part of it - and the information was unfortunately related back to Voldemort. As soon as he found out, he assumed it was your son, James, but it equally could have been yours, Frank. Now, if anyone can stop him, it's Harry, and that is why Voldemort has been tracking you, James, Lily and Harry for a year.