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Chapter 4

As Sirius finally settled down, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, he leaned back into the couch. "Alright, alright. So, James is Loki. Got it. What's next? You're gonna tell me Harry's secretly a Phoenix?"

James exchanged a quick glance with Lily, the playful air suddenly shifting. Lily cleared her throat, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavier.

"Actually, Sirius," Lily began, her tone much more serious now, "there's... something else you need to know."

Sirius, sensing the change in mood, raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what? You're not seriously about to drop another bomb on me, are you?"

James scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Yeah, mate. There's... one more thing."

Sirius's face was somewhere between wary and curious. "Alright. Hit me. What could possibly top you being Loki?"

Lily inhaled sharply, then spoke carefully. "I'm... not just Lily Evans. Before I became Lily, I was someone else. I was Artemis."

Sirius blinked. Then blinked again. "Like... the goddess Artemis? The one with the arrows and the moon? That Artemis?"

Lily nodded, her expression soft but resolute. "Yes. The same Artemis."

Sirius stared at her, completely silent for a moment. Then, he broke into a grin. "Right. You're Artemis, and I'm Merlin reincarnated. Really funny, Lily."

James nudged Lily, giving her an encouraging look. She sighed and pulled out her wand. "Sirius, I swear on my magic, what I'm about to say is the absolute truth. I, Lily Evans, am Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, the moon, and protector of maidens."

A faint glow shimmered around Lily as the magic bound her words, the same way it had for James. The truth now echoed in the air, undeniable.

Sirius, wide-eyed, looked between the two of them, completely flabbergasted. "You're—wait—what?"

Lily gave him a small, almost apologetic smile. "Zeus punished me. Stripped me of my divinity, sealed away my memories, and I lived as a human. It wasn't until Harry was born that my memories came back. That's when I remembered who I really was."

Sirius sat, jaw slack. "So... you're both gods?"

"Pretty much," James said, trying to lighten the mood. "Quite the power couple, eh?"

Sirius slumped back into the couch, trying to wrap his head around it all. "So... Harry's not a demigod then."

James shook his head. "Technically, no. Both his parents are divine, so that kind of rules out the 'demi' part."

Sirius groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Right, so Harry's not just any baby wizard. He's got the blood of the Norse trickster god and the Greek goddess of the moon running through his veins. That's... brilliant."

Lily laughed softly, looking down at Harry, who was fast asleep. "He's going to be something special, that's for sure."

Sirius looked up at them, his face a mixture of amazement and exasperation. "You two could've mentioned this earlier, you know."

James grinned, nudging him playfully. "Where's the fun in that?"

—

The sun was shining brightly as the birthday celebrations kicked off in full swing. Colorful streamers adorned the walls of the cozy living room, and the smell of cake filled the air. Baby Harry was the star of the show, his little hands covered in frosting as he giggled in delight at the mountain of presents stacked high around him. Sirius was in full overprotective godfather mode, darting around the room like a hyperactive guardian angel, ready to pounce at any sign of danger—like if someone tried to take the cake away from Harry.

"Easy there, Harry!" Sirius exclaimed, his eyes wide as he handed the baby another piece of cake. "We don't want you turning into a sugar-fueled tornado. Trust me, I've seen what happens when a toddler has too much sugar. It's a horror story I'd rather not relive."

Lily laughed as she watched Sirius fuss over her son. "You're acting like he's about to fly off the walls or something!"

James leaned against the wall, grinning at his best friend. "Sirius Black, overprotective godfather extraordinaire. What do you expect? He's been planning Harry's birthday bash since he was in the womb."

As the party wound down, friends and family began to leave, their laughter and joy echoing in the air long after they had gone. Once the last guest had stepped through the door, the atmosphere shifted slightly, like the calm before a storm.

Just then, the fireplace erupted into green flames, and out stepped Dumbledore, his blue robes swirling around him like a spellbound cape. "Ah, James, Lily. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

James and Lily exchanged a glance. "Not at all, Professor," James replied, gesturing for him to take a seat. "Just wrapping up the birthday celebrations for our little hero here."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he looked at Harry, but then his expression turned serious. "I have urgent news. A prophecy has surfaced—one that may involve Harry and the Dark Lord."

Lily's stomach dropped. "A prophecy? About Harry?"

"Indeed," Dumbledore said, his voice as calm and collected as ever. "However, I cannot divulge the specifics just yet. It would be... unwise."

James felt a surge of frustration. For so long, they had admired Dumbledore, hung on his every word, but now, the veil of trust began to lift. "Why can't you tell us everything?" he pressed, an edge creeping into his tone. "We're not children anymore. We deserve to know the full story."

Dumbledore regarded him thoughtfully. "James, Lily, I understand your concerns, but the less you know, the safer you will be. I suggest you go into hiding until we have more information."

Lily frowned, her thoughts racing. She exchanged a glance with James, who could see the uncertainty in her eyes. Ever since Harry's birth had awakened their true identities as Loki and Artemis, they had begun to question Dumbledore's motives more critically. They shared this sentiment with Sirius, who sat listening intently, trying to gauge the shifting dynamics.

"What do you mean, go into hiding?" Lily asked, her voice steady but tinged with worry. "What if we want to stay and fight? What if Harry is involved in this prophecy?"

"Harry is innocent in all of this," Dumbledore said gently. "And it is paramount that he remains safe. I can't emphasize enough how important it is for you all to go into hiding for your own protection."

Sirius, who had remained silent until now, chimed in, his brow furrowed. "Dumbledore, with all due respect, you can't just expect them to run off without knowing the whole story. They deserve to understand what's at stake here."

James nodded, his voice firmer. "We've followed you blindly for too long, Professor. We trusted you with everything, but after Harry's birth, we're starting to see things differently. We can't just pack up and disappear without knowing the truth."

Dumbledore's expression remained enigmatic. "I understand your feelings. I assure you, my intentions are for the greater good. I only wish to protect you all."

"Yeah, but at what cost?" Lily shot back, her patience waning. "Keeping us in the dark isn't protection; it's control."

The room fell silent, tension crackling like static in the air. Dumbledore studied their faces, weighing their resolve against his own wisdom.

Finally, he sighed. "Very well. I will reveal what I can when the time is right. But for now, I implore you to consider my advice."

With that, he rose from his chair, a shadow of doubt lingering over them. As he stepped back into the fireplace, the flames flickered and swallowed him whole, leaving the three of them in uneasy silence.

"Well," Sirius said finally, crossing his arms, "that was a load of cryptic nonsense."

James shook his head, still processing the implications of Dumbledore's visit. "What do we do now?"

Lily looked down at Harry, sleeping peacefully in his crib. "We protect him, no matter what. We need to figure this out together. Secrets can only harm us if we let them."

Sirius nodded, his protective instincts kicking in. "I'm with you guys. No more hiding in the shadows. We'll face whatever comes next head-on."

James felt a surge of resolve. "Right. We'll unravel this prophecy, and whatever darkness lies ahead, we'll do it as a family. Together."

*****

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