Chapter 14 : A Meeting with Dumbledore
James sat down in front of Professor Dumbledore and smiled at him. Lily sat down next to James nervously.
"So how has your first day gone?" asked Dumbledore.
"Good," replied James. "The usual."
"That's good," said Dumbledore who then sighed and looked at the sheets in front of him. "We have another report of muggles being attacked. It seems a boy and girl were killed last night at a beach. Luckily, I suppose, there were no eye witnesses. So no memories had to be modified. But we did find the Dark Mark about them, so we know it was Voldemort's doing."
"But why?" asked James as he leaned forward and looked Dumbledore square in the eye, something Lily would never do.
Dumbledore sighed again massaging his temples. "For fun," replied Dumbledore at last and Lily's mouth hung open.
"How is killing fun?" Lily asked in a frightened tone.
"I have never liked it myself," answered Dumbledore. "But on a brighter note, it seems we have recruited more wizards to join our fight. One of my biggest concerns at the moment is whether or not I can recruit more of the Dark Creatures to our side."
"Why don't you ju..." asked James as his voice trailed off and he felt like hitting himself for almost asking why Dumbledore didn't just ask Remus to talk with the werewolves.
"I do not think he could help us with this," replied Dumbledore. Lily looked from Dumbledore to James wondering what they meant.
"Is there anything else we need to know?" asked the quiet Lily.
"No, unless either of you have a question for me?" asked Dumbledore as a smile returned to his face. He looked fondly at the two young adults in front of him.
"Why," said James suddenly after Dumbledore had asked his question. "Why us? You could have picked two other Seventh years who are smarter and more capable of helping you run Hogwarts, but you picked us, why us?"
Dumbledore smiled once more and this time, it was a brighter and happier one. "I was waiting for one of you to ask me. The answer is simple, Mr. Potter. You two make an excellent team." Lily's mouth dropped open in horror at what Dumbledore had just said and stared at him.
"We do NOT!" snapped Lily.
"Well," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "I suppose not at the moment. But when you are married and have kids, when it is time for you to fight Voldemort, I suppose then you will make a good team."
"Kids!" said Lily. "I don't want kids until I am at least 25."
"Well, with the war beginning, I would be surprised if you lived to be 25," replied Dumbledore. "Another reason why I was keen on setting you two up. By James marrying you Lily, you will be more protected by ancient magic that I can't put on you."
"What do you mean ancient magic?" asked James. "I don't have ancient magic."
"Not any magic you can do," replied Dumbledore. "But Godric Gryffindor made sure his descendents would be protected from the Slytherin descendents quite well. Your ancient magic runs in your veins James, and once Lily marries you, it will run in hers too."
"Voldemort is a descendent of Slytherin?" asked Lily horrified.
"Course," replied James. "The Ministry has been trying to keep it hush-hush though. If word leaked out he was a descendent of one of the founder's of Hogwarts, well let's just say we would have very many little wizards and witches not coming through Hogwarts."
"And of course there is the Prophecy, to consider," added Dumbledore as he smiled at James and Lily.
"What Prophecy?" asked Lily nervously.
"That one day there will be a great battle between descendents of the Four Founders and one of the Four will trump over the other and become the sole ruler of the magical community," said James simply and watched Lily's face turn white.
"So one of my kids, or grandkids, could be killed by Voldemort?" asked Lily staring at Dumbledore.
"Well, it's likely that even if you didn't marry James, one of your kids or grandkids would be killed by a dark wizard. You're a powerful witch Lily and your kids will also be powerful. It's only a matter of time before Voldemort tries to kill you off," replied Dumbledore calmly. Lily stood up and gaped at the old man sitting in front of her who was no longer smiling.
She really didn't understand. And that was something Lily Evans did not like being able to do. She didn't mind not being beautiful, she didn't mind not being athletic and able to play sports, but she did mind not being able to understand what was going on around her.
"I don't want this," said Lily as she stared at James.
"Like I do?" asked James, now glaring at Lily. "Do you think I just understood when my parents explained to me that I was on the "Wanted List" of over a hundred dark wizards? That one day I could be forced to fight and kill men? I didn't ask for any of this Lily. Don't be so stupid to think I would want you to have this too."
Lily stared at James and a realization slowly hit her. All the times when her friends had had their hearts broken by James was just because he had been looking out for them. He could never let anyone get close to him because it could mean their life. And he had probably known his whole life he would have an arranged marriage. He just didn't know with who.
"Is that why you asked me out all the time? You wanted to find which of the Gryffindor girls was the best kisser?" asked Lily sadly, keeping her gaze on James.
"NO," said James innocently. "I liked you, I mean, I thought I did at least. And I liked that you didn't like me! It was a challenge that I liked... But I gave up at the end of last year knowing I might be finding out about if my parents would be having me marry someone...But I have to admit you are a very good kisser."
Dumbledore coughed loudly from his desk and Lily began to blush when she realized that she had forgotten all about him.
"So as I was saying," said Dumbledore as Lily sat down again in her chair, "It's very important that you two get married. It's vital that James is given a son as soon as possible." Lily flinched and James began to blush in confusion.
"I-I'm only 17," said Lily.
"And you will be married this June," said Dumbledore. "So hopefully we can expect a descendant sometime next spring."
Lily stared openmouthed at Dumbledore. This was unlike the man she had met on occasions before. He seemed bossy and rude.
"No," said James as Dumbledore stared at him, taken aback. "We need to wait to have any kids."
"And why," asked Dumbledore as he raised his eyebrows at the young man before him. "Do you say you need to wait?"
"I barely know Lily," said James. "And plus, it's a little early for me to have any kids. I still need to grow up, myself."
"So true," mumbled Lily as James turned and glared at her.
"When could we expect a new heir?" asked Dumbledore patiently. Dumbledore looked at James expecting an answer, but James wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Two, three years," replied James which made Dumbledore sigh and looked close to tears.
"Why does it matter any ways if the Gryffindor has an heir? There are two other heirs that could kill off You-Know-Who," said a frustrated Lily as she hit her knee with her hand.
"Because," said Dumbledore. "Gryffindor is the best. Ravenclaw, yes had the brains, but it was Gryffindor that carried out the plans. Slytherin was cunning and could fool anyone into thinking something else while Hufflepuff was kind and caring."
"It's vital we win," said James. "Gryffindor is a mixture of all four and would be the only one brave enough to rule the community."
"I just don't want to be pressured into things I don't want," snapped Lily in reply.
"What if we never have any kids?" asked James as he turned away from Lily's upset face. "Couldn't I just fight Voldemort?"
Dumbledore sighed for what was the millionth time and massaged his temple with his fingers. "What if you died though? You need to have a son that will your spot." Dumbledore looked at the papers in front of him again and Lily noticed he looked very strained from last time she had talked to him early this summer.
"Why a son?" asked Lily. "A women could easily fight and kill You-Know-Who."
James rolled his eyes and stifled a laugh. "Godric Gryffindor was a male," said James patiently like he was talking to a little kid. "You need to have the same sexes in the final battle. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw female while Gryffindor and Slytherin are male."
"Oh," replied Lily as she looked around Dumbledore's office and saw the famous paintings watching their conversation intently.
"Until you two are married, I want you to try and get along. Be nice to each other and get to know the other one. Many people will be trying to rip you two apart. And James, begin to study the courses that we laid out for you," said Dumbledore as he began to excuse Lily and James.
"What courses?" asked Lily.
"Auror courses," replied James as he didn't even come close to meeting her eye.
"WHAT!" said Lily as she looked from James to Dumbledore with anger. "So you are going to go and get yourself killed while I raise our bloody son!"
Dumbledore's eyebrows shot into his long silver hair as he looked at Lily in surprise.
"Would you like to be the auror then?" asked James in a joking way.
"YES!" said Lily as she stomped on James foot. He screamed in pain while jumping up and down and clutching his hurt foot.
"THAT HURT!"
"GOOD!" replied Lily. "IT WAS SUPPOSED TO!"
James leaned forward and pulled out his wand as if he was about to blast Lily into pieces while she smiled at him haughtily knowing very well he would and could never hurt her.
"Stop," said Dumbledore as he pulled out his wand and both Lily and James were flung back into their chairs. "Neither of you will ever get a job as an auror if you behave like that." Lily blushed and turned to James, glaring at him rudely. "James, you and Lily. And anyone else interested can come to an informational meeting tomorrow night... I will have someone come in and explain to you and your friends about what being an auror is... now leave," said Dumbledore as he raised his hand half-heartedly and ushered them out the door without another word to either but a nod of some sort to James as if an indication of something...
AN: Hi everyone! Hope you like this Post... It's a little random.. Or at least I think it is.. I have just finnished writing chapter 25! The story is moving along very well I think and I kind of have an outline for the rest of the story at the moment!! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed my story! It means a lot to me! If you have any advice please feel free to give it.. I'd like to make my story better!
Thankx again to all my readers
x0x0
KAci