Shadow of Light
400 years ago:
A woman on her deathbed made her final entry in her journal:
"The risen Dark Lord shall fall, Fall to the legacies of those who defied him thrice, To those born as the seventh month dies.
Brothers and sisters in all but blood, Will ensure that he is truly dead, For the Dark Lord shall mark his fall.
On turning twelve, the heir will get what's rightfully his, Till reaching ides, his powers he'll hide, To sustain or destroy is at his will, The fall of darkness approaches as the seventh month dies."
Present day:
Albus Dumbledore was in the Leaky Cauldron, meeting with Sybil Trelawney for a scheduled interview for the position of Divination professor at Hogwarts. After the death of his previous Divination professor at the hands of Voldemort, Dumbledore had been searching for a genuine person to teach the art. When he heard about the great-granddaughter of the renowned seer Cassandra Trelawney, he had hopes of finding the right candidate. However, little did he know that Sybil had no talent for Divination and had been using her great-grandmother's journal to make accurate predictions during important events. She decided to use this knowledge to secure the job and lead a peaceful life at Hogwarts. After the greetings and a cup of lemon tea, she began her act, entering a trance-like state and delivering the prophecy from her great-grandmother's journal.
As she recited the prophecy, a commotion erupted outside, grabbing their attention. Dumbledore went to investigate and discovered a man in black robes fleeing. He returned to inform Sybil that they needed to leave immediately, but she continued with the prophecy:
"Brothers and sisters in all but blood, Will ensure that he is truly dead, For the Dark Lord shall mark his fall.
On turning twelve, the heir will get what's rightfully his, Till reaching ides, his powers he'll hide, To sustain or destroy is at his will, The fall of darkness approaches as the seventh month dies."
Dumbledore understood the gravity of the situation and offered Sybil the position of Divination professor. They both retreated to his office to ensure her safety and contemplate the significance of what they had just heard.
If the prophecy was true, they had a chance of winning the battle against Voldemort. Dumbledore knew they needed to protect the right people as Voldemort would likely target any family that could bring about his downfall. Seated in his majestic chair, Dumbledore pondered over the situation, realizing he had much to consider and little time. Feeling the weight of his age, he wrote a note and sent it to Remus Lupin, requesting an urgent meeting.
Riddle Manor (same time):
Severus Snape awaited his audience with the Dark Lord, having requested an urgent meeting. Bellatrix informed Voldemort of Snape's request, and Snape knelt before him, awaiting permission to speak.
"What brings you here, Severus, and why did you request such an urgent meeting?" Voldemort asked impatiently.
"My Lord, I overheard a prophecy made by Trelawney to Dumbledore," Snape replied, fear evident in his voice.
Voldemort's curiosity was piqued, and he asked Snape to repeat the first three lines of the prophecy. Worry clouded the Dark Lord's face upon hearing them. Snape took his leave and went to Spinner's End to relax for the night.
Three days later, in Dumbledore's office:
Dumbledore sat in his chair, deep in thought on how to break the news to the others present in his office. The room, which was typically secluded and empty, now housed seven individuals, their faces filled with fear and anticipation. James Potter's impatience got the better of him, and he rudely demanded to know why he had been called there.
Dumbledore locked eyes with James and said, "I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
"What's the good news?" Sirius Black asked seriously.
"The good news is that we have a chance to win the war and put an end to Voldemort," Dumbledore replied.
"And what's the bad news?" Frank Longbottom asked solemnly.
Dumbledore put on a placating expression and said, "I'm afraid both Alice and Lily are due in a few months."
James responded with a mix of emotions, failing to conceal the tremor in his voice. The prophecy was then revealed to them. The group, except for Dumbledore, paled significantly, fully comprehending the significance but not ready to accept it. Remus broke the silence, questioning whether Lily's and Alice's children were involved.
"Didn't you mention that Alice is having twins and Lily is having triplets?" Dumbledore asked. Frank confirmed this, and Dumbledore outlined his plan.
"Voldemort knows the first three lines of the prophecy. It is best for you to go into hiding for a few years," Dumbledore explained. The group nodded in agreement, and it was decided that the Fidelius Charm would be employed. Remus would be the secret keeper for the Longbottom's, and Sirius would be the secret keeper for the Potters.
Two days later:
Everyone necessary was gathered at Godric's Hollow, the safe house for the Potters. The group included the Potters, Longbottoms, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew, also known as Wormtail. The plan was set in motion, with the exception that Peter would be the secret keeper for the Potters, as nobody suspected him, throwing off the Death Eaters. Although this put both Sirius and Peter at risk, they were willing to take the risk for the sake of their friends. Dumbledore cast the Fidelius Charm, and both families went into hiding.
31st July, 11:20 pm:
"AAAAARRRGGGHHHH! Frank Longbottom, get yourself over here!" Alice's cry cut through the silence of Godric's Hollow. For the safety of the families and the newborn children, it was decided that the births would take place under the watchful eye of Madam Pomfrey. James and Sirius paced anxiously, Remus sat with his face in his hands, and Peter supplied towels nervously, biting his nails. Lily, in another room, began her labor.
A few minutes later, Poppy emerged as the screams subsided, and the cries of a baby boy and girl filled the air. Everyone rushed into the room to witness the sight of Alice Longbottom with two children by her side. Frank lifted the firstborn boy and declared, "Meet Neville Frank Longbottom, Heir of House Longbottom." Alice sat up, cradling her daughter, and announced, "This is Glory Augusta Longbottom."
Screams from the other room drew everyone's attention, except for Alice and the newborns. James hurried to Lily's side, trying to reassure her. "Everything will be fine, Lills. Just breathe, okay?"
"JAMES POTTER, IF YOU EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN, I AM GOING TO SKIN YOU ALIVE!" Lily yelled, causing James to pale. Poppy urged her to push, and James massaged and rubbed her hands. At 11:50 pm, the firstborn son was delivered, followed by his younger brother and sister at 11:54 pm and 11:59 pm, respectively. All the other babies began to cry.
Amidst the chaos, the sound of flames roared, and Albus Dumbledore stepped into the room. James picked up the firstborn, who stared at everyone with a calculating gaze, analyzing the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you Harry James Potter, heir to the Potter family," James declared proudly.
Lily took her second son in her arms and announced, "This is Daniel Henry Potter." James gently set Harry down and picked up the baby girl, saying, "And welcome Rose Lillian Potter."
Dumbledore requested permission to scan the children's magical cores, assuring everyone that it would do no harm. He began with Neville and found a very powerful magical core, declaring that Neville would become a great wizard, potentially surpassing Frank. The same result came with Glory—she too possessed a strong magical core.
Dumbledore then scanned Rose and was shocked. Her magical core was exceptionally strong, and she shared a twin bond with Daniel. He explained that Rose and Daniel shouldn't be separated for long until their bond stabilized. Finally, he scanned Daniel and became even more perplexed. The child possessed one of the strongest magical cores Dumbledore had ever seen, surpassing even his own and Voldemort's.
"Daniel will be very strong, perhaps even stronger than me one day," Dumbledore announced, leaving everyone in the room excited and hopeful. It was well-known among ancient families like the Potters and Longbottoms that the firstborn child in a case of twins had the maximum amount of magic. With Harry's scan still pending, there was great anticipation.
Dumbledore proceeded to scan Harry and became increasingly confused. He scanned again to confirm, and shock was evident on his face. In all his 150 years, he had never seen anything like it. Turning to the room, Dumbledore finally spoke...