HARRY POTTER AND THE PROPHECY TRUE

Chapter eleven

"I can't believe it," Ron said over breakfast the next morning. "You're a bloody Prince? I don't know how if I should bow or laugh."

"I'd prefer you not do either one, thanks," Harry answered with a sneer. "Besides, it was just a dream. Maybe I drank too many butter beers before bed."

"Of course it's true," Hermione said in her usual bookish tone. "I swear, you two never read do you? Binns went over all of this in second year. The royal family ruled over the wizarding world for seven hundred and forty six years. If you really want to know more about it Harry, then check out the book from the library."

"What book?"

"'The Battle For A Royal Ministry', of course. It's not a very long book, only about six hundred pages or so. It tells all about the rules and orders of the Ministry and the traditions of the government through the ages. It took the royal family to put an end to centuries of battles between our world and the Muggles."

"Does it say who the royals were?" Harry asked, ignoring the expression on Ron's pale face, after hearing the length of the book Hermione termed 'not very long'.

"It mentions the battle between the two most powerful families at the time, the Potters and Malfoys," Hermione continued. "It doesn't really talk much about anyone else by name, though. It does tell about Trenton Christopher Potter, the last king who initiated the Document of Cessation with the Ministry and explains the details of the document, including the need for the heirs to sign the document on their eighteenth birthday. If I remember correctly, the book examines the document and the power behind it."

"How do you know so much about all of this?" Ron snarled, stuffing a biscuit in his mouth.

"I read, Ronald. You should try it sometime, you may be surprised at what you might learn."

"I don't have to," Ron smiled wickedly at the attractive young woman next to him. "I have you and you tell me everything eventually. Besides, I have other things on my mind besides school work."

"Yeah, like Quidditch," Hermione grumbled, having endured an entire train ride to Hogwart's listening to Ron and Ginny discuss the sport and their plans on winning the House Cup again this year.

"Hey, Harry," Seamus interrupted, slipping into the seat next to him. 'Have you guys heard who the new DA teacher is?" Harry glanced to Ron and Hermione, then to Ginny who all shrugged their shoulders.

"He wasn't here last night," Ron said.

"Professor Dumbledore said he had Ministry business and would join us for classes today," Hermione continued.

"Well I'm surprised you haven't heard," Seamus said with a wide grin.

"Out with it Finnigan," Ron grumbled.

"I don't know, Ron. I wouldn't want to be termed a gossip."

"Who is it Seamus?" Ginny asked in a sweet tone, causing the young man to blush softly.

"It's one of your brothers," he answered with a wider smile.

"What? Who?" Ginny and Ron asked at the same time, watching Seamus stand and turn away from the table.

"You'll find out soon enough," he said, laughing as he walked out of the Great Hall. "We have Dark Arts with Slytherin first class."

"What did he mean one of our brothers?" Ron snapped.

"Which one?" Hermione asked, looking up at the empty seat at the log table where the rest of the staff was seated.

"Please don't let it be Percy," Ron grumbled again, pushing his empty plate aside.

"Would Percy know enough about the Dark Arts to qualify him to teach it?" Harry asked.

"Are you kidding?" Ron asked. "He couldn't even protect himself from the Dementors, remember? You've done the Patronus spell since third year and he can't produce more than a silver saucer."

"Maybe it's Fred or George," Ginny teased. "They've caused enough trouble to know how to get out of it."

"No!" Ron screeched. "I will not suffer an entire year with those two and their pranks. It's bad enough when they come home."

"We'll I guess we'll find out soon enough," Harry said, glancing over to Malfoy, seeing him motion his head toward the door. Harry nodded, finished his juice and leaned across the table to Ron and Hermione.

"I need to speak with Malfoy," he said quietly. "I'll see you in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Wait," Ron smiled softly. "I have something to tell old Ferret Face."

"What?" Hermione asked, standing up after Ron and Harry started to slip away from the table, followed shortly by Ginny, who wrapped her hand inside Harry's as they walked toward the main hall.

"Just a little secret I know."

"You are not going to antagonize him, Ron," Hermione insisted quietly. "He's on our side now, remember? Don't go pushing him away."

"I wouldn't dream of it 'Mione. I'd never deliberately go out of my way to confront the Blond Menace. You know me."

"That's what bothers me. I do know you, too well."

Outside the Great Hall, Harry kissed Ginny good-bye promising to meet her for lunch, then turned a weary eye back toward Ron. Malfoy had seen them leave and followed shortly behind them. He cleared his throat as he stepped past them, softly whispering next to Harry, "follow me." The three waited until he had rounded the top of the stairs before following him, then saw him step into the Muggle Studies classroom. Glancing around to make certain they were not being followed, Harry, Ron and Hermione slipped quietly into the room. Malfoy was sitting on the edge of one of the desks near the side of the room, staring out the window. He looked concerned, a deep frown creasing his brow. He turned to see the three join him and unlike every time before whenever he saw them, this time a smirk did not replace the frown.

"We have a problem," the blond began, his arms folded over his chest.

"So you've heard about Harry being a prince?" Ron said with a wide smile that caused Hermione to elbow him in the ribs and Malfoy to frown deeper.

"What are you talking about, Weasel?"

"It's nothing important," Harry interrupted. "What's the problem?"

"I received an owl from my father two days ago. He said there was a student that would help me find my way back to the loyalty of the Dark Lord. He said there were plans set in place to take over the school and he didn't want me here when it happened. He also said your days were numbered."

"I've heard that for years," Harry said seriously. "Did he say who this student was?"

"No, but he did say I would know him when the time came."

"At least we know it's a male," Hermione said.

"Well it can't be Crabbe or Goyle," Malfoy said, shifting his position on the desk to face the three fully.

"Yeah, where are your boyfriends?" Ron asked, this time receiving a punch in the arm from the bushy haired girl next to him.

"They left before school ended last year and didn't come back," Malfoy said, diverting his eyes from Ron to Harry. "I haven't heard or seen them at all this summer."

"Their fathers are a part of the Death Eaters," Harry said. "It's possible they joined them."

"It's more probable than possible," Malfoy said with a deep sigh. "They don't have minds of their own, never did. They do as they are told, whether by me or their fathers."

"Did you father say when this take over of the school would happen?" Harry asked again. Malfoy shook his head, looking at the floor. Harry frowned again. The Slytherin didn't look good; in fact he could venture to say he looked deeply troubled. His slicked back hair was a thing of the past, his chin was covered in a slight mist of a beard and he had dark circles under his eyes. He seemed quieter and somehow more subdued than he had ever been. This in itself worried Harry more than it would have a few years ago.

"There's something else, isn't there?" Harry asked, watching as the blond raised is eyes. He looked to Ron and Hermione, offering them a stare that told them to leave the room, what he had to say was for Harry's ears alone. Hermione took the hint and began dragging Ron out of the room by his cloak sleeve.

"We'll see you in Defense Against The Dark Arts," she told them, receiving a shocked expression from the red head next to her.

"Hermione, we can't leave," he argued. "Harry might need us, besides I want to be the one to tell Malfoy about Harry's family."

"Later Ronald. We'll be late for class and I thought you were eager to know which brother of yours was teaching?" Ron's eyes widened as he remembered what Seamus Finnigan had told them downstairs. He turned back to Harry and Malfoy and narrowed his eyes.

"I'll stay if you want me to," he told Harry.

"No thanks Ron," Harry said, holding back the amusement from his voice. "Just save me a seat." The two watched as Hermione finally managed to get the young man out of the room and closed the door behind them, offering Harry an apologetic look. Harry turned back to the blond who was again looking at the floor. He stepped to the desk opposite him and sat on the edge, folding his arms across his chest. It was odd, but he somehow knew his parents were beside him. He could almost hear his dad telling him to punch Malfoy while he had the chance. He watched for several long minutes before Malfoy raised his eyes. He looked as though he might cry, but quickly cleared his throat, pushing the sad look from his pale face.

"The Ministry granted my return of my family's property and money," he said quietly. Harry nodded. "I went home this summer and began going through my mother's personal belongings as well as sorting out some of my father's holdings and personal papers. I found a diary from when she was in school. I know what they did to your mother, Potter."

"They didn't succeed," Harry told him.

"No, but it was still attempted." Malfoy drew a deep breath and stood up, pacing to the window and looking out into the open field. "All my life, I have been told how someday I would take my place at the Dark Lord's side. I've been taught every dark spell known and trained to hate all but purebloods. I've seen the Death Eaters torture and kill Muggles, just because they had no magical blood. But it never meant anything to me before. It was as if I were in a daze. I did what I was told and never asked why." Malfoy drew another deep breath, forcing himself to continue speaking.

"The summer before my fifteenth birthday, my father brought home a young Muggle girl he'd found on a road outside London. She was barely more than my own age. A young oriental girl, dark hair and big brown eyes. She was very attractive actually. If she had been a pureblood I would have asked my father to arrange our meeting. But since she wasn't...there was no point in learning her name. He had placed her under a binding spell, so she couldn't speak or move. I remember he called me down for breakfast, maybe a week before school started and told me he had an early birthday present for me. He said it was time I became a man. He told me to change into my dress robes, which I did and then he lead me down to the dungeons below our mansion. He had the girl bound to the wall. She was so scared she was shaking even under the binding spell. He just laughed at her and raised his wand. I watched for nearly half an hour as he tormented her with unforgivable spells. She was so tiny and so frail; I don't know how she survived his torture. When he finished, he healed her wounds and stripped her naked. He removed the binding spell and left her lying on the floor, crying. I'll never forget that day as long as I live. He just smiled at me and said, 'there you go son, your birthday present. Do with her as you wish'. He left the dungeon and locked the door so neither one of us could get out. I didn't know what to do. I just sat there for the longest time, listening to her cry. It wasn't in me to comfort her, but it wasn't in me to kill her either.

"When my father returned later, he saw her sitting against one wall and me against the other. He asked if I'd used her to become a man. I had no idea what he meant, and that made him furious. He bound the girl to the wall again and beat me with his bare fists. I was certain he was going to kill me and I actually wished he would have. He told me he was disappointed with me, that I wasn't his son; no son of his would deny the gift of a virgin as a present and not use her. That's when I realized what he meant by becoming a man."

"He wanted you to..." Harry began, unable to speak the words.

"Rape her, Potter," he said boldly. "The word is rape, the same thing they did to that Ravenclaw nearly twenty years ago. The same thing they would have done to your mother."

"Did you...do it?" Harry asked softly, listening to the disgusted snort of laughter that escaped Malfoy's throat.

"I was a boy, Potter, terrified of being punished again. When faced with the wrath of my father or the very desirable body of a young girl, which do you think I chose? My father was very proud of me and told me so as he administered the killing curse on my so-called present. I never even knew her name. He just had the house elves dump her body at the side of the road he had found her, and never looked back." Malfoy paused for a moment, his eyes focused on the window frame without seeing anything beyond. "She still haunts my dreams," he said softly, barely above a whisper. Moments passed by before he turned back to Harry.

"There is much I will never forgive my father for...never forgive myself for. The girl is one. Your mother's treatment would have been unacceptable, Potter. My mother wrote in her diary that she was a great witch, and very kind. She actually saved my mother once from a vampire who was hiding in the Forbidden Forest, did you know that? I would never have forgiven either one of them, if they had done what they planned to do. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age," he snickered. "But lately I've found myself actually appalled by the treatment the Dark Lord has caused on Muggles. I think that's why I'm not as disgusted by Granger as I once was. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if my father wasn't such a pompous arse. Maybe we could have been...acquaintances."

"The word is friends, Malfoy," Harry said stepping to his side. "I don't think it will ever get to that point, but I am glad to have you on our side."

"Thanks. Just don't tell Weasel. I like keeping him on his guard. And what was all of that about you being a prince?"

"I'll let Ron tell you," Harry smiled wickedly. "He'd kill me if I told you."

"Where's the teacher?" the students were whispering when Harry and Malfoy entered the room. The buzz of soft voices echoed off the walls, each asking the same question. Harry sat down next to Ron, glancing from his sour expression to Hermione who sat on the other side.

"Where is he?" Harry asked.

"He hasn't arrived yet," Hermione said. "McGonagall was in here a few minutes ago and said he is on his way, but that he was detained at the Ministry."

"It's Percy," Ron grumbled. "It has to be. Nobody else would be so inconsiderate and selfish." Just then the door behind them opened and the dark cloaked, red haired man entered. Ron put his head in his hands and closed his eyes. He didn't want to see Percy's up tipped nose or raised chin. He wasn't ready to hear him tell the class all about his younger brother's failures.

"I am so sorry I am late," the voice said, causing Harry to elbow Ron in the ribs.

"Ron, it's not Percy," Harry whispered causing his friend to look up. His breath caught in his throat as he saw his elder brother Charlie piling books on the desk at the head of the classroom.

"This is brilliant!" Ron exclaimed a little louder than intended. Charlie looked up as his sibling and smiled as he tugged his traveling cloak off his shoulders.

"Thank you Ron," he chuckled. "I'm glad you approve. Now, since I am late and there is barely twenty minutes left to class, I'll just review a few of the old spells you've already learned and tell you what is expected this year. I know a few years ago, you were shown the Unforgivable Spells. This year we're going to delve into those a little deeper and learn more about why they are banded by the Ministry, as well as learn a few of the darker tricks You-Know-Who is so found of. Normally, these spells would never be taught, but considering the state of things in our world, the Ministry has granted Dumbledore permission for you to study these curses. The Headmaster of course, will be here when we actually begin to practice them, to make certain they are not used incorrectly."

"We're going to practice them?" Dean Thomas asked in surprise.

"They are forbidden. On whom are we practicing them?" asked Malfoy, causing the room to fall into silence. Malfoy glanced around the stunned silence, then quickly covered up his concern with his trademark sneer as he looked deliberately at Ron. "Because if you're asking us to choose our victims, I'll choose the Weasel." This caused the Slytherin to explode in laughter as Ron's face turned a deep shade of red.

"No Mr. Malfoy, we will not be choosing victims as you put it, or even using each other. I have secured a Boggart from a former instructor of yours and that will be our target. Now please listen closely," Charlie said looking to each student individually. "These spells are not for fun. They are extremely dangerous and anyone caught using them will automatically be sent to Azkaban. They are not, under any circumstance, be used outside this classroom and will not be used outside the direct supervision of the Headmaster or myself. Once class if over, you are to not mention it to the younger grades or to practice them in any form, either verbally or in any other form. Anyone who does not obey these rules will be suspended from Hogwart's and placed on trial before the Ministry of Magic. Do I have everyone's agreement on this?" The class began to nod their heads in agreement.

"I'm sorry, that won't do," Charlie told them. "This is such a serious situation, that you will be placed under the Magical Contract Honor spell. This will ensure that anyone breaking their promise, will be brought directly to the Headmaster for immediate punishment." Charlie turned and retrieved a small hand-sized caldron from his bag. He stepped up to the first student and held the caldron out.

"Remove a single hair from your head and hold it in your right hand." The class was silent as Parvati Patil pulled a hair from her head and held it between trembling fingers. "Take out your wand and wrap the hair around the tip." She did as told. "Now repeat after me, 'hair of my head, these word will be said; honor bound by my hand, break it lest I seek Azkaban'." Parvati did as ordered, her voice quivering as she repeated the words, watching the end of her wand light in a violet glow, traveling up the shaft of hair and vanishing softly.

"Now, place your hair in the caldron." Parvati nearly dropped the hair as she tipped her wand and allowed the hair to float into the small cast iron container. Charlie stepped to Lavender Brown sitting to Parvati's right and began to tell her to do the same, when he caught sight of Hermione sectioning off her hair to pull one out.

"No!" he snapped. "You will not remove the hair until I tell you to. I must see it happen." The class fell silent, allowing Charlie to continue his task of instructing Lavender. Ten minutes later, the hairs had been collected, the caldron sealed and replaced in Charlie's bag. The remainder of the class time was spent reviewing the many spells they had learned over the past seven years, as their instructor took notes.

"What about Jelly Legs Jinx?" Charlie asked when they had finished reviewing the spells.

"We were never officially taught it," Hermione said, glancing across at Malfoy, remembering how he had been struck with it during training for the Triwizard Tournament. "But we do know it, Sir,"

"Excellent. How about Appleby Arrows?" Everyone shifted in their seats. Those of the D.A. had practiced the spell in secret last year, but they had never been taught it outside of the Room of Requirements. "No?" Charlie asked with a wink to Harry. "Good. Then we will discuss this one. What about Curse of the Bogies?" Again everyone shifted, then shook their heads. "All right another one to discuss." This was the way the remaining minutes passed, until at last class was over and a list of over forty curses, hexes and spells had been promised to be taught. Harry was about to leave the room when Charlie called him back, causing a deep frown to crease Ron's brows.

"I know you weren't expecting to see me here," Charlie said when the room was vacant. "But Dumbledore felt it would be easier for you and I to continue our lessons of the lapis gelu. He knows you have a handle on it," Charlie said when he saw Harry's objection forming on his face. "But you have to learn to defend yourself against it. It can as easily be used on you as you can use it on others. You have to know how to fight it."

"Can you fight it?" Harry asked. Charlie smiled as he stood from his seat, placing a warm hand on the young man's shoulder.

"You can learn that when we meet. I understand you hold D.A. meetings on Friday, are still planning on doing this?" Harry nodded his head. There was no point in lying to the one person who was so willing to help him. "All right, then we'll meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Is that agreeable?"

"Sure. But what about Quidditch practice?"

"I would never stand in the way of Quidditch, you know that. We'll make compensations as time goes by. Now off to your next class, before Ron and Hermione think you've gotten lost"

Harry hurried to his next class, advanced transfigurations, and found Ron and Hermione already occupying their usual seats. The Ravenclaws were assembled, having this class with Gryffindor and there seemed to be a slight buzz when Harry entered the room. McGonagall had yet to appear, either in cat form or human, which left the students free to talk and visit.

"Hey Harry," Anthony Goldstein said, stopping him from joining his friends. "Are you still doing the D.A. this year?"

"Sure, why not?" Harry asked.

"I heard the Slytherin are planning on joining the meetings. You aren't going to let them, are you?"

"We are all still in danger of Voldemort," Harry said watching several students cringe at the sound of his name. "Every student has a right to know how to defend themselves. And in case you don't remember, the Slytherin helped last year when Malfoy and Ginny were taken."

"Yeah, but they're Slytherin," Terry Boot intervened.

"We'll discuss this later," Harry said seeing McGonagall enter through the back door of the room. He quickly joined Ron and Hermione and pulled out his books.

"They have a point," Ron whispered. "Slytherin are not to be trusted, and now with Malfoy's father saying there is a student that will bring him back to the dark side. You know it has to be a Slytherin."

"If it were, don't you think Malfoy would have recognized him at any of the meals or in their dormitory?" Hermione asked in a hushed tone.

"Malfoy is on our side, remember?" Harry asked, a little irritated at having to constantly remind Ron that their blond enemy was now on their side. "I can't believe all Slytherin are evil. They helped us get Ginny back, remember?"

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, do you have something you find necessary to share with the rest of the class?" McGonagall asked, putting a halt to the whispered argument being conducted in the center of her classroom.

"No ma'am," they answered together.

"Then if I have your permission, I would like to begin my lessons. That is if it not interfering in your social schedule?"

"Sorry Professor," Harry answered with a soft blush. He glanced to Ron out of the corner of his eye and saw the deep red of his face as he rubbed the arm Hermione had just slugged. At least the thought that Ron was going to have a permanent bruised arm, made Harry forget the argument and concentrate on the lessons being placed on the board in front of the class. With the promise of lessons on Animagus, Harry quickly forgot all else and began scribbling notes as quickly as he could take them. This was his last year at Hogwart's and he was determined to make it a memorable one, regardless of what Voldemort may have in mind.

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"Can you believe this homework Snape gave us?" Ginny grumbled in their common room after classes. She had arrived just minutes before Harry and the others, the table piled high with books as she began reviewing her lesson plans.

"It sounds like Snape," Ron said. "He loves to give large lessons. I guess it makes up for his lack of mentality."

"What do you say we all get ready for dinner and then we'll see what we can do to help you?" Harry said with a smile and kiss to the young woman's cheek. "We actually have a very light schedule today. Charlie didn't give us any homework at all and McGonagall had us work on our assignments in class. Even Binns didn't seem to think of homework, other than a one-page parchment on the history of Stone Henge and the theories Muggles place on the site. Even Ron and I should be able to get that done in just an hour or so."

"Can you believe Charlie is our new Defense teacher?" Ginny asked in amazement. "Everyone was talking about it today. He's already started the first years out on summoning spells. I didn't learn that until my third year."

"He seems to be eager to teach us what we need to know," Harry said, glancing briefly to Ron and Hermione.

"And what is this I hear about Slytherin joining us for D.A. meetings?" Ginny asked with her hands on her hips. "I know Malfoy isn't so much to tolerate anymore, but the rest of them? I will not study with Piggy Parkinson in the same room. She's a horror."

"Ginny, don't be like that," Harry scolded. "Am I the only one who remembers that the Slytherin house helped us last year when you and Malfoy were taken?"

"I know they did, and I am grateful," Ginny answered. "But not all of them think the same as we do. Maybe what you can do is set up a separate night for them to practice and not let them know what we're learning in the other class. If they are on Voldemort's side, then they won't know what we're really learning, so they can't tip off the Death Eaters."

"I'll think about it," Harry grumbled. "But I don't like the idea. I still remember that they fought on our side."

"You're mental if you think they've all changed Harry," Ron complained, his stomach growling in anticipation for supper. "But I don't want to argue about it. Can we just go to dinner? I'm starving."

"You ate two cream puffs after History of Magic just an hour ago," Hermione argued. "You can't be that hungry."

"Well I am. Now can we go, please?" Harry chuckled as Ron and Hermione started off out the portrait hole.

"Harry, I know you really want to believe that Malfoy has changed," Ginny said, holding him back from leaving. "And I think he has, but I can't help but worry about the rest of them. Harry, we have to be cautious. Hermione told me what Malfoy said about a student being here to take him back. If he learns what we're doing, what's to stop him from telling the Death Eaters? Not only would the D.A. be in danger with no defenses to surprise them with, but Malfoy could be in danger as well."

"I guess you're right Ginny, but I know what Blaise said last year and I trust him. They wanted to help and they did, without our asking. I won't believe that it's every Slytherin's dream to grow up and kill innocent Muggles."

"How could you ever doubt your feelings of compassion?" Ginny asked with a smile and kiss to his cheek. "You are so loaded with it, it's leaking out...all over the Slytherin House."

"That's not very funny."

"Maybe not, but it is honest. Now lets go join the others before Ron has a chance to eat our portions as well as his."

"Ginny, can I ask you something?" Harry asked as they headed down the stairs to the Great Hall. Ginny didn't answer; she just nodded and looked up into his green eyes. "Do you believe all this stuff about my being of royal blood?"

"I suppose so, but it's difficult since we don't have a royal ruler anymore. Why?"

"What if I'm not around for my eighteenth birthday? What if Voldemort succeeds and I die? What happens to the Ministry if I can't sign the paper?"

"Harry nothing is going to happen to you and you know it."

"No I don't, Ginny. I hope nothing happens and I survive when Voldemort attacks, but there is only a fifty - fifty chance. I have to be realistic."

"I guess so," Ginny said sadly. It took several moments of walking before Ginny drew a deep breath and looked back to him, her eyes moist with unshed tears. "Maybe we should talk to my father. He'll know what to do."

"Maybe we should find this book Hermione told us about, so we at least have something to offer him. An idea or a suggestion maybe." Ginny nodded again, causing Harry to stop near the Great Hall and pull her into his warm embrace.

"I don't want you to die," she began to sob as Harry kissed her forehead and cheeks.

"I don't want to die either, and I'll try not to. I have a lot of people training me and supporting me, but we have to be realistic. It could happen."

"Then there's something I want you to do for me," Ginny said with a raised chin. "I want to have your baby." Harry's voice caught in his throat, his air trapped behind a lump the size of one of Hagrid's homemade cookies. "I know you want me to finish school and I want that too, but I won't let you leave me alone. At least I'll have a part of you to love."

"Ginny, I don't think that is such a wise idea," Harry finally said. "If I don't survive and Voldemort or his followers find out about it, you and the baby would be in danger. I won't allow that to happen."

"But I can protect myself and our child, Harry."

"Not without help and you know it. Besides, I grew up without a father. I won't abandon any child to the life I've suffered."

"But he will have his mother and I will love him forever."

"Alone?" Harry asked, brushing the tears from her face. "Ginny, I love you, but I won't do this. I would sooner never touch you again then abandon you when you need me most."

"But I love you, Harry. I don't want to live without you."

"I won't let you live in misery either. My fate and destiny have already been written. I don't see a baby in either one of our immediate futures."

"Maybe we should ask Professor Trelawney what she sees," Ginny said with a watery smile.

"And have her predict my death again and the death of any Potter to follow? No thanks. I'd rather take my chances with Voldemort."

"Just promise me you'll think about it," Ginny begged. "I won't expect an answer right now, just think about it. Please?" Harry sighed, pulling her into his warm embrace. He had never denied her before and didn't know how to do it now, but he knew there was no other way. He would not leave her alone and in danger, and he would not leave a child to suffer the life he had endured.

"I'll think about it Ginny," he promised. "But I won't change my mind."

"Just think about it," she whispered.

"Hey, you two going to eat or just shag out here in the hall?" Parvati asked, as she walked toward the Great Hall with Malfoy, who snickered and sneered.

"You're a fine one to talk," Ginny snarled. "At least we don't have to use a linen closet."

"Must be convenient being in the same house," Malfoy asked. "Where do you shag her, Potter? In the common room or the bathroom?"

"Neither one," Ginny spouted angrily. "We have an actual bed and a room at our disposal."

"Lucky man," Malfoy said again.

"Must be nice to be The-Boy-Who-Lived," Parvati chimed in. "It seems to have come with a great many privileges."

"Sure did," Harry smiled as he pulled Ginny past them and toward the Great Hall. "I'll introduce you to my relatives sometime. I'm sure they'll love you as much as they do me."

"Prats," Ginny grumbled as they walked to the Gryffindor table. "I hope they choke on each others tongues."

"What's up Ginny?" Ron asked over a mouth full of potatoes.

"Nothing. Just Malfoy and his harlot," she complained, looking down the table to where Parvati and Lavender were whispering quietly, staring up the table to where Ginny and Harry were sitting. "I hate those two. I'm glad this is their last year."

"I'm sure Professor Trelawney will be greatly disappointed," Hermione snarled as the two in question began snickering over something they had said.

"Just eat and don't worry about them," Ron said, surprising Harry, Ginny and Hermione all at once.

"When did you become so compassionate?" Ginny asked her older brother who smiled a wicked grin at her.

"When I found out your boyfriend and my best friend happens to be a prince. I can't wait to tell Malfoy. He's going to flip."

"Don't start anything Ron," Harry said. "We still have to find out if its true or not."

"Why don't you two listen to me?" Hermione asked bitterly. "I told you it was true."

"Look, let's just get that book from the library after supper and check it out," Harry insisted. "I don't know anything about my heritage or even where this castle is, so there's no point in jumping to conclusions. I'd like to visit this place and see if it's real before you go announcing to the school that I'm having dreams of grandeur."

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After supper, Harry kept his word and helped Ginny with her potions assignment. He knew first handed just how vindictive Snape could be, so he made a point of making sure Ginny's parchment was neat and evenly spaced with excellent penmanship and grammar. All the information obtained were a combination of knowledge and information straight out of the book, so the greasy haired snake couldn't complain she had stolen anyone else's work.

Hermione had finished her assignment for Binns in less than fifteen minutes, then hurried off to the library to find 'The Battle For A Royal Ministry', along with 'The Greatest Wizarding Families of All Time'. By the time she got back, Ron, Harry and Ginny were finished with their homework and enjoying an unusually stress free evening. It was just a little after seven and the whole night was still ahead of them.

Ron told Harry and Ginny what it was like to have their own dormitory and how so far, they had yet to see each other's private sleeping chambers. The spells that kept the boys out of the girls dormitory in the rest of the houses was also used in the Head Boy and Girl's house, which meant he would have to wait for Hermione to come to him. It was less then the most promising of outlooks he had encountered, considering it was he who would visit Hermione at night back at the Burrow.

Hermione was flushed and she was out of breath as she hurried into the common room. In her arms were two rather large books, pages already marked with slips of parchment. She sat down in the vacant chair by Ron and picked up his bottle of butter beer, drinking nearly half of it.

"I can't believe this," she whispered in a breathless gasp. "Harry it's true. You are the next prince. I found your name here in the genealogy."

"Let me see," Ron ordered trying to pull the large book over in front of him, but was stopped by Hermione who placed a heavy hand on the top.

"Not here," she whispered. "Lets go to our common room. We can speak freely there." Harry and Ginny stood up and followed the other two through a portrait on the wall that lead to their private dormitory. They were amazed at how large it was and how much it resembled the common room of Gryffindor House. Even the portraits were of the same people, but with different posses and frames. Harry watched Hermione set the books down on the large table in front of the couch and flip open the page she had marked. His heart was pounding and his hands were suddenly sweaty. He sat down opposite his best friend and looked over the edge of the book.

"Your family line goes back all the way to Godric Gryffindor himself," Hermione began in an excited tone. "Harry, you are a direct decedent of Gryffindor and the witch Mutgleb, she was an ancestor of yours. She was a Gryffindor's aunt. Can you believe it?"

"That's why you got the sword of Gryffindor in the Chamber of Secrets," Ron said in astonishment. "It's because you were meant to have it, it was your right or something."

"I don't believe it," Harry said, leaning further over the book to read the names upside down to him. "Is there anything in there about my father?"

"Yes there is. Your father is listed here as the last Potter to sign the document and look here," Hermione said flipping the book so Harry could see it. "Here you are." Harry's eyes teared as he read his own name below those of his mother's and father's.

"I guess that makes me official," Harry said with a smile. He glanced across his shoulder, certain he could feel his father's hand on him and smiled.

"Look at this symbol next to your name Harry," Ginny said pointing to the small drawing of what resembled a coat of arms. "It's the royal crest, your majesty." Harry laughed at the title, his eyes twinkling as he looked at the three most important people in his life.

"So is this how you bow?" Ron asked, standing up and deliberately offering a curtsey. Harry laughed again as Ginny and Hermione both slugged an arm.

"I think you'd better stick with just saying hi," Harry teased while Ron tried to rub both arms at once. "It's much safer."

"Does it say where Harry's castle is?" Ginny asked Hermione who took the book and flipped the page.

"It does. But it's not just a castle. There are over three thousand acres of land, horses, stables, orchards, farmland and even a lake. It says it is near Ottery St. Catchpole in Devon."

"That's right by the Burrow," Ginny said excitedly. "Ron, it's the castle mum and dad always talked about when we were younger. They told us a great family had once lived there and that one day the rightful heir would return. Harry, it's the most beautiful area I've ever seen. Mum and dad took us there one time when I was about five. They got permission to pick peaches and we had a picnic in the orchard. I can't believe it's yours."

"That place is wicked, Harry," Ron chimed in. "Fred and George told me the castle was haunted and dared me to go inside. I was about seven I guess and I wanted to be just like them, so I did. It was really nice. It wasn't dangerous, or haunted, or anything. That is until the twins decided to sneak in behind me and scare the bloody hell out of me."

"Harry, you visit it when we go home for Christmas holiday," Hermione said.

"But I was taking Ginny to see Gilda for Christmas," Harry said, a tone of disappointment in his voice.

"We can do both," Ginny said. "There will be plenty of time."

"Maybe we can take a weekend and see the castle," Ron said eagerly. "I'm dying to see more than just the lower level."

"I have seen it and it's beautiful," Harry said distantly, remembering his dream from the night before. Hermione and Ron fell into silence as Ginny wrapped her arm through Harry's. They hadn't considered the impact the news would have on their friend. For the first time in his life, Harry had learned he had a real home, a place where happiness and love once reigned.

"We need to look at this document," Harry said after a moment. "I need to know what's in it. I need to know if there is anyway of keeping it in place if...anything happens to me before I become of age to sign it."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked with a frown.

"Ron, if Voldemort wants to stop Harry and declare himself King, he has to stop Harry from signing the document," Hermione explained quietly.

"Which means he will try and kill me before my eighteenth birthday," Harry continued. "We have to find out if there is any loop hole or side track that will allow me to sign the document early and prevent the Ministry from falling into Voldemort's hands."

"This is a pretty lengthy section, Harry," Hermione said flipping through page after page of details. "It's not going to be simple."

"Then we'd better get started," Harry said with a heavy sigh.

"Hey Harry," Ron said after two hours of studying the document's contents. "Did you know that somebody has taken the name of your great-great-uncle's name out of the book? It has your great-great-aunt's name, Guinevere, but your uncle's name is missing."

"How is that possible?" Harry asked, looking at the book where Ron pointed.

"Look at this Harry," Ginny said pointing to a few names above the missing uncle's. "Did you know one of your ancestors names was Evans? Wasn't that your mother's name?"

"Yeah, but I'm sure it's just a coincidence. My mother's family was Muggle."

"Remember what I told you about mixing bloods?" Ginny asked him. "Maybe this is the key to your mother's powers."

"I doubt it Ginny. I'm sure if there were any magical blood in my mother's family, my aunt would be flipping out about it."

"They tried to hide your magical powers from you," Hermione said. "What's to say they wouldn't have done the same thing about anyone from the past?"

"I don't know. I just think it's a little weird," Harry said with a strong tone of doubt to his voice. "My aunt was pretty ticked off when Hagrid came to collect me for school. I'm sure she would have blurted it out then if there were any magical blood in her lines. And she would have told me when I caught her with my mum's wand. I just think it's a coincidence."

"Well, it's possible, but that doesn't explain the missing name," Ron grumbled. "Why would anyone take a name out of a family tree? I know my mum wouldn't mind doing it with some of our relatives, but she never would."

"Didn't you read a list of all the Potters who signed the document and their immediate families?" Harry asked Hermione, who nodded, flipping through the pages to locate the one they were referring to.

"Here it is. Your ancestor was William Henry Potter, his wife was Elizabeth Smythe. They had one three children, William the second who signed the document next, Maria and George. He had one sister, Guinevere who married...there are only initials here, no name."

"What are the initials?"

"All it says is A.D. That could either be part of the date or the name, it's hard to tell."

"Well, if he wasn't a signer of the document, then it doesn't really matter much who he was," Harry said, rubbing his tired eyes.

"True," Hermione said with a frown. "Why don't we call this a night?" she asked. "I'm really tired and we have Hagrid first thing tomorrow. We're going to need all the sleep we can get for his class."

"All right," Harry conceded. "We'll read more tomorrow. I have to find a way to sign this document early."

"Well, lets just all go to bed and hope an answer will come to us in the morning," Ginny said holding Harry's hand and walking with him to the portrait hole. Hermione watched in silence as the two disappeared, before turning back to the books, picking up her reading on the document where she had left off.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked. "I thought we were going to bed and work on this again tomorrow?"

"Ron, I'm worried about Harry," Hermione said, setting the book back on the table. "His time is coming to an end. Voldemort has tried so many times before to kill him and never succeeded. He's getting desperate. He has to stop Harry from signing this document before his birthday. Ron, it's only a matter of time before Voldemort attacks and Harry knows it. We have to help him find a way to get the document signed, before Voldemort has a chance to strike. I'm worried Harry will get anxious and slip up. If he doesn't stay focused, it could cost him his life."

"And it's up o us to keep Harry's mind focused, right?" Hermione nodded silently. Ron sighed. "Okay, where can I help?" Hermione leaned up next to her and kissed him gently.

"Thank you, Ron," she said softly.

"He's my best friend too, you know? Besides, he promised to be my witness when we get married. Do you really think I'm going to let him back out of that?" Hermione chuckled as she sat the large book across both their laps.

"You mean he's there to make sure you don't back out and you'll repeat the sentiment when he and Ginny get married."

"You know the old saying, 'misery loves company'," Ron smiled back, kissing her forehead as he began reading the conditions of the Document of Cessation.