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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟖𝟗:
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐘
❝ 𝑯𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍... 𝑰 𝒃𝒆𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖. ❞
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❛ 𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇, 𝗐𝖺𝗂𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝖾
𝗂 𝗈𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗂 𝗌𝖾𝖾. ❜
━ o children, nick cave
February 27, 1980
"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...." whispered Sybill Trelawney as she let another vision take over her.
With one snap of his head, Dumbledore came back to his table with Trelawney. He sat, facing her with the most desperate and eager expression. Once he heard the very words of Voldemort being defeated, he knew he had no choice but to listen.
Listen, so that he could put an end to it all — but what intrigued him the most was that someone will be doing the job for him. He was going to put another pawn on his game for them to defeat his battle.
"Tell me more about this prophecy." he demanded at the seer.
Throughout Sybill's statements, his machiavellian mind was turning its gears as he connected the pieces one by one. For as far as he knows, there were 2 people that he knew might give birth at the end of the 7th month — Stella Potter and Alice Longbottom.
Dumbledore knew not to question how fate puts things, but he somehow had a hunch that it might not be Alice and Frank's kid that will be the chosen one to defeat the dark lord.
It was the Potters.
It was a given — Stella Potter is a seer, granddaughter of Grindelwald, an expert on wandless and non-verbal magic, and an empath.
One way or another, Dumbledore knew that Stella Potter's kid will inherit any of those abilities of her and that was already an advantage that the kid would have.
But what he didn't know for now was how a kid that would be born at the end of the 7th month, has the power to vanquish the dark lord — that reason alone was already bothering him.
One thing about Dumbledore was that he was very devious. He doesn't know how this situation will unfold. He could ask what Stella might see in the future, but the girl was not wrapped around his fingers anymore — she had already seen what he truly is. Sly and manipulative.
So, Dumbledore had a straight plan to let everything fall in its right place as he watches from afar how the scene will unfold — he won't do anything even if there was someone else's life on the line, as long as it meant to go with his plan.
From outside Hog's head pub, Severus Snape had heard it all — the prophecy about the dark lord. And with him being loyal to the dark lord, he apparated away — to tell him what he heard.
Severus Snape thought he had it all. He was the perfect servant and spy for Voldemort, he was welcomed, and praised at Voldemort's side, and he was wanted.
That's all he wished to have. All he wanted was to be wanted.
And he was wanted by them, making him think that he may have had it all.
Still, there was one thing he didn't know.
He didn't know that Stella was carrying that very baby that he told Voldemort about — and now, all of his death-eaters were searching high and low for them.
To end them.
March 3, 1980
After hearing Lucius and Narcissa's argument earlier at the Malfoy manor after their meeting, Snape did not hesitate to seek help for Dumbledore.
He had heard that Voldemort was planning to prepare a search for the Potters — specifically, Stella Potter.
The older wizard now heard Severus Snape crying, pleading for his help. "The prophecy did not refer to a woman. It spoke of a boy born at the end of July." he convinced and faced the kneeling boy.
"Yes, but he thinks it's her son." he whispered desperately, feeling tears stream down his cheeks. His heart was bearing so much pain that he thought he'd drown from it. "He intends to hunt them down, not kill them."
As soon as Snape had heard that Stella was pregnant with a boy that was due around the first week of August, Snape felt like he couldn't breathe.
Not because of jealousy, but because he feared that he might've lead to death the very one he wanted to protect.
Everyone on the dark lord's side now knew that the child that was born at the end of July and the one that will become his equal was either from the Potters or the Longbottoms.
All of them knew of that very sacred prophecy because Snape told the dark lord, in hopes of being favored — at the end of the day, Severus Snape was still held responsible for what his feared day would come.
Once Voldemort knew of the prophecy, he instantly knew it had to be Stella Potter who carries the child that will become his equal. So, he instructed every single one of his death-eaters to search high and low for the Potters — to see if Stella Potter really gives birth to a child at the end of July — and if she ever does, the Potters will be Voldemort's main target.
Severus Snape blamed himself for all of it — he knew was to blame if anything happens to his Stella... to James' Stella.
All throughout his life he only had 3 important people that stayed by his side. His mother, Lily, and Stella.
But he no longer had the last two of them.
Yes, he grew up with Lily, being her friend was a blessing to Severus but he felt like there was just something off with their friendship — as if something was neglecting them towards each other.
But with Stella — with Stella, Severus felt like himself, that he didn't need to fit in the crowds of her Gryffindor friends because she willingly goes to him, to give her undivided attention to him. On their first interaction, Severus felt the warmth that he has been yearning for. The one that he so desperately wanted and only Stella could ever give him that comfort. She was genuine with him, she never asked him to fit in more with her friends, she knows how to make everything right, and she was everything that Severus wanted.
But life isn't fair.
The only one that he wanted all for himself was soon torn away from him and it was all his fault.
Snape knew what he said that day left a void in Stella's heart, not because what he said was vile and cruel but because deep down, they both knew that Snape really meant what he said that day.
He had hurt her so much after everything that she has done for him — the least he could do was watch her from afar and keep her safe. That was a promise he made to himself.
But all those hard work of his came crumbling down as soon as he realized that he lead the Potters right into their deaths.
"Hide them." begged Severus, his eyes looking purely into Dumbledore's. "Hide them all, I beg you."
Dumbledore had a spark in his eye when he knew that Snape will be indebted to him — he was once deceived by Snape, he wanted none of that ever again.
So this time, Dumbledore intended on using him.
There was no denying that he knew Snape has undying love for Stella. "And what will you give me in exchange, Severus?" he asked.
"Anything."
The Potter manor was no longer living in its own space of silence — it was now filled with Harry's little cries and coos, making the whole manor's ambiance, alive again.
"Oi! be careful of him, you little shit!" shouted James Potter as he saw Sirius fly Harry around who still had no knowledge of what was happening.
"James!" shouted Remus and Stella from the kitchen. "Don't swear in front of Harry!" they both spat, putting away the cookies that they were both baking.
The mother of the group sprinted her way to the garden where she saw Sirius and a one-week-old Harry in his arms as they flew on a broom a few feet above the ground. "Sirius Orion fucking Black! you get down here right now!"
"And she says don't swear." muttered Remus as he watched the two grown men get scolded by his best friend.
Once Sirius' feet were standing stable in the grass again, Stella wasted no time grabbing Harry carefully and kissing his forehead. "Don't ever do that again." she reminded, lightly hitting Sirius.
They didn't know why but suddenly, Harry smiled at his Mum hitting Sirius. James raised his eyebrows and hit Sirius again, this time in his face.
Harry smiled again.
With that mischievous smirk on Stella's face, she hit Sirius again, lightly and oh, how little Harry strangely giggled when Sirius made 'ow' noises.
All of them were oblivious as to why Harry giggled and smiled when he was only more than a week old — all he could see for now was flashes of light and blurry visions. It made them wonder how he can somewhat see what was happening around him... or rather feel.
If Stella could describe what she was feeling at that moment, all she would say was that everything was yellow. It was all yellow.
Harry's adorable coos, James' snickering, Remus' laughter, Sirius' fake ow's, and her smile that completed them all like she was their missing puzzle.
Though, she still felt like something was incomplete.
She wanted Peter to be here, she wanted Eloise and Portia, she wanted Alice, Frank, and Neville, she wanted Belle and her godson, Blaise, she wanted Molly, Arthur, Charlie, Bill, Fred, George, and Percy to be there — to see Harry, and celebrate with him.
And most importantly, she wanted Collette and Théo to be there — to know that they have a very adorable nephew. But Stella knew better than to think of the impossible. Her wishes couldn't happen when one was hiding from the death-eaters and one was spying on them while being with them.
"You okay, love?" asked James when his wife suddenly got quiet.
Weirdly enough, Harry got quiet too.
"Yeah." breathed out Stella with a smile. "I'm okay, more than okay." she said, making all those negative thoughts go away before focusing on Harry again.
"Star!" called out Remus, pointing at their batter of cookies. He did not want to tear Stella away from her family, but he also wanted to keep Stella by his side, she was his favorite after all, not that he'll admit it. "Our cookies are waiting!"
Turning to her husband and to the godfather of her little cub, she handed Harry carefully to them, squinting as she did so. "If I see any bruise on Harry, I'll return it tenfold." she said, running after Remus to bake again.
"Did you hear that Harry?" asked James as he put Harry's head on his shoulder comfortably. "Mummy said to avoid Padfoot." he teased the long-haired boy. "Let's go and play peek-a-boo with Dada's magic blanky." he said, not minding his offended best friend.
"Can I join?!" he perked up.
"No!" shouted James in a joking manner before talking to Harry again.
Sirius only laughed at James but before he sprinted towards his godson and his best friend, he took a while to appreciate his surroundings. He looked at a smiling Harry
Momentarily, he got himself questioning: does he deserve all this? the happiness that was happening in his little group? after everything he did?
He knows for sure that he doesn't.
He also knows that maybe, this was just a preview of what his life would've been if everything was fine — because sooner or later, the consequences of his actions are going to eat him alive.
Sirius looked one more time at his boyfriend and his best friend. He knew he was in an unfortunate situation when he saw that damned smile on Remus' face — he could barely imagine himself telling his mistake and watch as the bright smile on Remus' face fade away, let alone his reaction.
"Sirius!"
The called boy looked straight to where the voice was coming from. "Yes, love?" he asked, Remus just pointed at Harry and James playing peek-a-boo with a confused Harry.
With one shake of his thoughts, Sirius was back to ignoring them again. "Yeah, I'm going!" he forced a smile for Remus and Stella.
Though, there was one thought he couldn't shake — would Remus forgive him still once if he finds out?
James Potter arrived from his mission as an auror from the Ministry — he was now working thrice as much, but not because he was forced to, but because he wanted to. Anything to protect his family.
Upon opening the door of Harry's room, he received a shush from his wife who was rocking Harry to sleep. "What did my little cub do today?" he hushed, hugging his wife from behind.
"All he ever did was slurp all the milk I made." she quietly laughed, pointing at the blue baby bottles that Harry has finished.
Breastfeeding was the only thing Stella couldn't do for Harry. The reason behind it was because she got pregnant too early and her body wasn't able to produce it for her baby. Still, she didn't let that obstacle bother her because as far as the marauders know, Stella was the best mother there is.
"And he pooped a lot — even on Padfoot and uncle Moony." she chuckled, placing Harry on his crib and turning on his lullaby mobile toy that has little lions, deers, and of course, stars.
She then faced her husband who really was worn out from all his missions. Stella told him to take a few weeks off of the Ministry — she herself had quit her job at St. Mungo's until Harry is capable without his mum.
It was bitter-sweet for all Stella's colleagues. Even if she stayed for only more than a year, it was impossible to not miss her. Especially August — the two had become civil between each other again, but August still tried his best to avoid Stella. He liked her, that's for sure but she already has a family of her own and for changing for the better, August decided to move back to a Wizarding hospital near Ilvermorny just after Stella left her last day of work.
"Goodnight, my little cub." bid Stella, closing the door very gently before intertwining her hand on James' and pulling him into their room which was next door.
The married Potter couple made their way to their bed and sat side by side.
"Come here." said James, pulling his wife to his chest as soon as they sat. Instantly, her Jasmine and Vanilla scents were tickling his nose and bringing tranquility to him. "Let's stay like this for a while." he mumbled.
His wife nodded and wrapped her arms around him. "I know something happened, but I won't force you to say it." she reminded, burying her head on his chest.
With a deep sigh, James closed his eyes and started speaking. "I went to Lily's house today." he said, pulling Stella back to their bed so they were laying comfortably within each other's arms.
Stella lifted up her head and looked at her husband. "Since when did you call her 'Lily'?" she asked, secretly fidgeting with her fingers and nails.
"Today." he answered, slight worried by her reaction, but he found it enjoyable — it was one in a billion chances to see Stella get jealous and if she does, James loves every second of it. "When the meeting finished, the Ministry assigned one of the Aurors to patrol houses — I was assigned on Lily's house today."
"Oh." she mumbled, letting her head rest on his chest again, hearing his relaxed heartbeat. "Okay." she whispered.
"Why?" he smirked, sitting up and letting his back rest into the headboard. "Jealous?"
"N—no! who said I was?!" she defended.
Stella Potter was an over-thinker, there was no denying that and James knew of it. Stella would let Belle gossip about her aunt who got left by her husband after she just had her baby, Belle thought it was because her aunt was no use to her husband anymore, so he left — after Stella gave birth to Harry, she couldn't help but think of the same.
"You know, I love it when you're jealous." he admitted, kissing the top of her head.
"I am not jealous."
"So, you won't get jealous if I spent the night at Lily's house today, to patrol and guard her house with the other aurors?" he asked, waiting for her answer as he unbuttoned his shirt.
"No." she answered firmly. "I know you can't do that because it'll break you more than it'll break me to even spend another hour away from me and Harry." Stella answered slyly earning a smirk from James.
Stella guessed she didn't need to worry at all, not even a little bit. The bewitched look on James' face said it all.
"Tired?" asked James as he felt her melt and sink down in his arms. James didn't mind at all, he knew how tired his wife was from all the care that she pours on to Harry, to the point where she was getting a little selfless. "I'm sorry I couldn't help as much with Harry these days, I promise I'll take some days off." he said, smiling down at her.
"James." she mumbles out, her voice demanding. "You don't need to apologize. I get it you're both doing these things for Harry and I, love. Don't apologize like I'm going to hate you for it." she added, hugging him better. "Take as much time as you need as long as you help me change his nappies every time he poops." she laughed, hearing his soft chuckles too.
"I will." he answered, stroking her hair so relaxingly that in a few minutes or so, James could hear her soft snores. He smiled down once more, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, mon coeur." he whispered before he felt himself drift into a comfortable slumber.
After that moment, James had been always off of his work and spent more time with Harry and Stella — he'd rather spent his time with them than look out for death-eaters that were oddly not showing up these days. James felt more assured when he was with his family, knowing that they're safe.
He'd do anything to keep them safe — even if it meant risking his life for both of them.
.
"Bambi! no!" Stella Potter's laugh could be heard from the kitchen as well as Harry's giggles. "You can't just drink and lick the left over formula milk for Harry!" she said, laughing at her mini-puffskein. Bambi has been the happiest ever since Harry was born, mostly because he has been licking all the baby milk formula.
Harry giggles loudly again when he got tickled as Bambi licked his cheeks. "Go bother Moony with his cookies." she said letting Bambi hop-off Harry's baby chair to run to Remus.
"Since when did you start giggling, little cub?" asked Stella, wiping off Harry's drool. All her tiredness from taking care of him everyday disappears whenever she sees and hears Harry's smile and giggles. "Don't bite Bambi like earlier, alright? he's your sibling not a pink floss." she explained, cleaning up Harry's mess.
"Star!" Remus called out, Stella heard excited voices coming from the living room. "They're here!" he shouted once more.
Stella lifted Harry up from his baby chair and took off his lion bib before she carried him to the living room. She furrowed her eyebrows as soon as she heard a gurgle of a baby — but not from Harry, it was from Ronald and Neville.
"Stella!" squealed Alice, she passed Neville to frank and quickly hugged the girl. Everyone's emotions were rocketing up right now, brightening the empaths' mood. "I've missed you so so so much!" she added.
"Me too—"
"Is this Harry?!" she asked, tickling his cheeks to which Harry loudly giggles at. "You're a happy baby." she whispered to him.
"Neville's a shy one." said Frank, hugging Stella. This was their only time meeting each other for lots of months. The last time that they did, was that both of the Potters and Longbottoms did not have any babies, and now they had one each, having their baby's birthdays one day apart from each other too. "I'm sorry we didn't invite you to our wedding — it was only us and Alice's parents for safety." he explained.
"It's okay." smiled Stella, tightening her grip on her baby so he doesn't fall. "Say hi to Ronald and Neville, Harry." she said, waving at the babies in front of her.
"Hello, dear." said Molly, kissing Stella's cheek. She lifted up Ronald, who was already 7 months old. 4 months older than her Harry. "I know you'd want me to bring Percy and the twins but I couldn't risk them being seen — I brought Ron since he just wouldn't let go of me." she explained, having her defenses high up ever since the loss of her twin brothers.
"It's alright, Molly. I understand." she responded. "Who helped you with these?" she asked, looking at the stacks of food Molly had brought them.
It was October 31, 1980 after all, a Hallowe'en night.
"Peter did!" she answered, pointing at the blonde who was talking with Remus.
Stella excused herself and Harry from the crowd to walk over to Peter. God knows how much she missed the boy. "You never come here anymore." she stated, as Harry poked his Mum's cheek. "We missed you, Peter. Merlin— where were you these days?" she asked, clearly worried because of the death-eaters roaming around.
"Just with my family." he quietly answered, giving Harry his star toy rattle. "Where's James and Sirius?" he asked, quickly changing the topic.
"They're on their way — they got caught up in the Ministry." explained Remus before facing his best friend who kept tickling her son.
"Stella!" Alice called out, urging her to join Molly, Frank, Ronald, and Neville in the kitchen for lunch. "Come on." said Peter, joining them all in the kitchen.
Chatters and giggles of babies were all James and Sirius can hear from the kitchen once they apparated back home. They did not hesitate to sprint over to the room. "Having lunch without us?" asked James, kissing the top of Stella's head and lifting Harry up in his arms.
"Hello, Ronald and Neville." said James in a baby-talk voice, the one that he uses whenever he and Harry would play peek-a-boo with his invisibility cloak. James then gave an acknowledging nod for Frank, Alice, and Molly — lastly, giving Peter a smile.
"I bought something for my little cub." said James, signaling Sirius to hand him over the paper bag.
Sirius brought out the cutest deer or stag onesie for Harry.
"Why a deer costume?" asked Molly, smiling at the cutest costume that Ronald was doing grabby hands at.
The Marauders looked at each other, awkwardly laughing. "Just because." answered James stiffly, scratching the back of his head.
Up to this day, no one knew that there were 5 unregistered animagi.
"But I bought a lion outfit for Harry." pouted Stella, remembering her old patronus and her animagus form as Harry nibbled on the soft antlers of the costume. She asked Woolly to fetch Harry's lion costume and show it all to them. "It's cuter."
Alice nodded along with Stella. "I agree with her." she said, kicking Frank under the table to agree because he favors the deer costume more. "I agree too." he said, smiling at Harry and then back to Neville.
"Let him pick." said Remus and Peter in unison, smiling at each other.
"Which one do you want, cub?" asked Stella lifting up the stag costume in her left hand and the lion costume in her right hand. "Mumma's or Dada's?"
Without a second, Harry had already forgotten about the antlers that he was nibbling on earlier and headed straight to the lion's costume to nibble on the fluffy tail that looked like Bambi.
The whole table laughed as Harry started chewing on the costume. "He's Mumma's boy." mumbled James bitterly as he sat down, though in a second, his fake frown turned into a smile.
"Definitely." answered all of them.
James and Sirius sat down at the table to resume their lunch. "You can buy another deer costume for Harry next year Hallowe'en, love." teased Stella before going back to her conversation with Alice and Molly.
It was all Stella could ask for — an unexpected small gathering for lunch in October 31st 1980. James really was right, every year since they met, good things always happens on Hallowe'en.
October 31st, 1980 was one of their memorable lunch as all they did was laugh after not being to because of everything that has happened to each of them — once again, they all felt happy.
Though, from that moment, no one at that table knew that this was one of their last moments together.
October 31st, 1980 was the start of everyone's downfall — with Stella, James, and especially Harry Potter being the center of all of it.
ੈ♡˳˚⸙͎۪۫⋆˙‧̍̊༄ ↳ 𝒃𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒂 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!
█.ೃ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆˙ 🙃
█.ೃ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆˙ as i published this, i am halfway through the last chapter (90 | the tragic of October 31st 1981) and let me tell y'all... i am crying. i'm legit fucking crying. 😃👍🏼
█.ೃ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆˙ heads up, next chapter will contain major death characters! and torture!. it will also be a 5k or more words kinda chapter bcs it's just so long and i have to fit everything in one chapter! (don't attack me for longer the next long chapter.)
█.ೃ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆˙ a lil smut, angst, and fluff before they die... 🦔
█.ೃ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆˙ p.s. thank you so so much for 300k reads and 13k votes! i honestly don't know how ppl read the first 20 chapters of this book which is just pure trash 😍 — still, to those who stayed and supported me, i love every single one of you <3
█.ೃ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆˙ vote or voldemort kills our dear james and stella... and leave harry an orphan.
█.ೃ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆˙ 1 chapter left...
𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐅 ━━ 𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑷𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓
( 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝟖𝟗 𝗂𝗇 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐢𝐢 ━ mischief )
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