HARRY POTTER AND THE PROPHECY TRUE

Chapter eighteen

"I don't understand," Harry whispered through the dark room. "How can these powers possess me?"

"You have already tasted the nectar of the lapis gelu," Dumbledore told him. "You have fought to refrain from its use, but you know how powerful and how intoxicating it can be. Once you have used it, Harry, the urge for more grows just as it did when you used it against Professor Snape. Voldemort is a much stronger wizard than Severus; you will need the full force of the lapis gelu when the time comes. The passion for the power will be at its extremist level. If you defeat the Dark Lord, if you kill him, it will take every ounce of strength you have. You will still have the power, but it will never be as strong, you will be able to control it. It's like a vampire, Harry. When the need for blood has been satisfied, the vampire can live a normal life, despite the rumors Muggles have surrounded themselves with. But if the need is not met, the vampire will continue to hunt, growing hungrier every passing hour until they willingly kill their own kind for just one taste of what they crave. You will crave the power and do anything to taste it again, even if it means using it against those who are closest to you."

"You mean Ginny?" Harry whispered, his heart feeling as if it were in his throat.

"I mean everyone who matters to you, everyone and everything."

"Hogwart's," Harry whispered again, remembering the image he had seen earlier. "It's what I saw in my father's mirror. I was dark, evil and behind me was Hogwart's, but it was destroyed. I did it. It was my future wasn't it?"

"Mirrors don't show us what will be, only what we fear most. It's a warning Harry, not a premonition. But if what you saw comes to pass, if that happens Harry, there will not be a witch or wizard alive who will not hunt you down. You will no longer be the boy we all hope to be our savior, but instead...."

"I'll be Voldemort," Harry surmised. "That's why everyone is so intent on teaching me, forcing me to continue working on my powers. It's not to teach me to use them, it's to teach me to avoid them."

"You are a very powerful wizard, Harry. One day that power will be your salvation, or your destruction." Harry closed his eyes and laid his head back against the headboard. His eyes filled with tears, not so much of fear or anger, but more of sorrow. All this time he rejected everyone's help, even Snape's and it cost him precious time, and cost Sirius his life. If he had only understood, if he had only been told about these powers and what they meant, he would have forced himself to listen to the others, he would have practiced in earnest.

"Harry, you can't change the past," Dumbledore said, as though reading the younger wizard's mind. "You can only prepare for the future."

"I will, Professor," Harry promised, this time knowing the words he spoke came from the very pit of his soul.

"I know you will, Harry," Dumbledore said as he stood and straightened the sleeves of his cloak. "Well, I must return to Hogwart's. I'm quite certain you can make it the rest of the night without my watching over you."

"Professor, if the day comes that I...I mean, if I don't kill Voldemort..."

"I will have no choice but to kill you," the Headmaster said, matter of fact. Harry nodded; he knew it was the only way. If he didn't kill Voldemort, then his death would come on the hands of the only wizard he truly trusted.

"May I please know of the prophecy, sir?" Harry asked in a tone stronger than he thought he currently possessed.

"I will give it to you tomorrow, upon your return to school."

"All of it?"

"Yes Harry, all of it. Now try and rest. You have a long road ahead of you and you will need all the strength you can summons." Dumbledore reached the door and began to open it when Harry stopped him with another question.

"Professor...why a wolf?" The old wizard turned and smiled, seeing the confusion on the boy's concerned face.

"Your father's animal was a stag if I'm not mistaken," he began. Harry nodded silently. "Sirius was a dog. They joined forces to keep Remus under control, who is a werewolf. Think about it Harry. A wolf is strong, noble, proud...just as your father was. He can also be wild and ruthless..."

"Like Sirius and Remus," Harry continued.

"A wolf is also loyal and compassionate. They mate for life, they hunt for survival and they defend those they love. All of this adds up to the person who possesses the soul of a wolf. They represent...you, Harry."

"I never thought of myself as a wolf before."

"I know of a young woman who never thought of herself as a tiger, but that is the form she takes when she transforms. I'm quite certain, given a choice; Sirius would have chosen something much more threatening than a dog. A dragon perhaps. You do not always choose the animal you transfigure into, but rather it chooses you. It's in you all along, you need only transform to discover your inner self." Harry sighed. He felt as if he had just been given another of Mutgleb's riddles, and he r-e-a-l-l-y hated riddles!

"Good night Harry," Dumbledore chuckled under his breath. "I will see you back at school tomorrow, before the evening meal."

"Good night, sir," Harry answered softly, watching the old man leave the room, closing the door behind him.

Harry lay back against his pillow and thought for several long moments about all that was said. He knew more now about his future than he ever had before, yet it did little to ease his mind. He had so much to think about; his future, his impending battle with Voldemort, his growing powers, his life or death situation, the threat of becoming his worse enemy, but most of all, he feared he would somehow loose himself in the midst of all the confusion. Was it possible to retain your soul when the threat of evil was knocking at your door? Was it possible to face your inner demons and conquer them? And if he couldn't, would he really be able to sacrifice all he loved...Ginny, Ron, Hermione, the Weasleys, Hogwart's...in order to feel the power he still fought to control? So many questions and no one around to answer them for him. If only he had his parents, maybe they could help him make some form of sense out of all of this. He sighed deeply. Never in his life had he wanted to be hiding back in the cupboard beneath the stairs, as he did now. Never had he thought he would want to be unknown and forgotten again.

Sleep was about to embrace the fatigue flowing through his tired limbs, when the door quietly opened again and a pale face shining out from a cloak of red hair, poked around the barrier. Harry lay there for several seconds pretending to be asleep, just watching the young woman slowly step toward the bed. With quiet actions, Ginny pulled the blankets aside and gently slipped between them, edging closer to his side. Harry refused to speak; he merely laid there, one arm braced above his head, the other across his stomach. Ginny slipped gingerly beneath his raised arm and laid her head on his chest. They lay that way for several moments, before Harry lowered his arm to her shoulders, hugging her closer to him.

"What did Dumbledore have to say?" she asked, making him aware that she had known he was awake the whole time.

"He just told me I was a prat and he would be glad when I graduated and was out of his hair," Harry lied, his tone light as he kissed the top of her head.

"Liar," she accused, but fell into silence. Several more minutes passed by, with the two young lovers listening to the sounds of each other's breathing. The moment was tranquil and the feeling of contentment filtered through the large room. Neither was willing to disturb it, for several long minutes.

"Did you enjoy it?" Harry asked after a few minutes.

"What?" Ginny asked, turning her head to look into his eyes.

"Malfoy's kiss."

"It was pleasant enough."

"That's not what I asked," he corrected sternly, but quietly. "Did you enjoy it?" Ginny sighed, raising herself up on one elbow.

"Yes," she answered, watching the dark expression cross over Harry's already shadowed features. "Would you have believed me if I lied?"

"It would have been easier to handle."

"Harry, Malfoy has had many lovers and he has...perfected his talents. He knows exactly how to kiss a girl, but it was no different kissing me then it would have been if he had kissed Luna Lovegood or Susan Bones. For him, it is just two sets of lips touching and he does it so often, that there is no emotion in it, no passion or desire. But with you, there is more life in a simple brief kiss then there ever would be in an entire night of snogging with Malfoy. When I kiss you, my heart jumps and my stomach fills up with butterflies. I'm like a little girl again, I can barely breath and all thought vanishes from my mind. That's how a girl is supposed to be kissed, and you do it exactly the way I want."

"So why did you kiss him then, if I'm the one you want?"

"It was Ron's stupid dare," Ginny grunted. "He dared Malfoy to kiss me, because he knew he would never have chosen the truth to his question."

"What was his question?"

"If he had ever shagged a Muggle." Harry didn't respond. He remembered the conversation he had with the Slytherin the first day of class and he knew that Malfoy would never have answered that question, regardless of who asked it. Harry doubted that he had yet to confront all the demons that surrounded that fateful night.

"I knew Ron was hoping you would come back in and find us kissing and punch Malfoy, or curse him, or something. He was so angry about the dare made on you and Hermione that he really just wanted revenge."

"That sounds like Ron," Harry grunted.

"Since we're on the subject, did you enjoy kissing Hermione?"

"Yes," Harry answered much too quickly then he should have.

"Do you really think you made the right choice?"

"Yes," he answered again, this time with a warm smile. "I have never regretted falling in love with you and regardless of how good Hermione kisses, she can't compare with the way you feel in my arms."

"If we weren't together, would you go after her?" Harry looked at the young red haired woman by his side and frowned.

"I don't honestly know," he said. "Hermione is a beautiful girl and she's really smart and kind and I treasure our friendship, but I don't know if I would even consider trying to take her on. She's too close of a friend. I wouldn't want to jeopardize that."

"Am I your friend?" Harry reached out and traced the line of her jaw, his thumb caressing her lips and he smiled.

"You are my heart and soul. Asking if you are my friend doesn't come close to covering what I feel for you."

"I have a confession to make," Ginny said a moment later, her throat suddenly dry she felt she would explode if she didn't get this over with. She looked up into Harry's eyes, then slowly sat across his legs and braced her arms on either side of his waist. She continued to stare into his eyes, watching as they turned from a frown of concern and curiosity, to a wide expression of disbelief.

Harry couldn't believe what he was witnessing. Where his Ginny had sat only a breath earlier, now sat a full-grown tiger. He gasped, scooting up the bed higher against his pillows. The large cat slowly flicked its tail, the red and black stripes shining in the pale light from the open window. It approached him, edging closer to his face. Harry gasped as a cold wet nose nudged him under the chin, a warm tongue reaching out and licking his jaw line and up the side of his neck.

"Ginny? How? When?" he began, his arms bracing him against the mattress as he actually tried to slide away from the cat. He watched as the cat began to transfigure back into the girl he had only moments before, thought of making love to.

Her paws grew narrow, the claws lengthening into slender fingers, the dark band around the claw of her left paw turning back into the ring Harry had placed there months ago. The tail disappeared and the sleek striped coat slowly turned back into long pale legs, a slender waist and long arms. The ears disappeared and the nose shortened, while the whiskers vanished. He was once again looking into the familiar face of Ginny Weasley.

"I've wanted to tell you for so long," she whispered, holding her place above him as if afraid he would leap from the bed and run away.

"Why didn't you?"

"I'm not registered, Harry," she said, her tone thick with emotion. "Dumbledore thought it best I not tell the Ministry, even my family doesn't know. He said that I might need it one day and that it would be easier for me if I weren't being observed. I never meant to hide it, I swear, but Dumbledore warned me from telling anyone, even you. I couldn't let you go through this alone, Harry. I know what you're going through and I want to help you."

"What else can you do?" he demanded, his own tone growing thick with suspicion. "You've already shown me you have the lapis gelu and can read my mind, now this. Can you predict the future as well? Or maybe you can summons the dead at will. What else can you do, Ginny?"

"Nothing, I swear it," she said, moving aside as Harry pushed her off his lap and stood up from the bed. "I'm sorry Harry, but I couldn't tell you. I was afraid you'd think I was evil or something."

"All this time, I've been worried about what might happen to you, I've tried to protect you and shelter you from the harsh reality of what my future holds, and all along you had the ability to take care of yourself. You never needed me, did you? You never once needed me to look after you. What a fool I've been. You could have rescued yourself from Voldemort last year, couldn't you? I never needed to worry about you."

"I would never have been able to save myself last year, and you know it," she said bitterly, standing up and facing him fully. "All right, so I have powers to equal yours, so what? Does that make you any less of a wizard? Does my being able to fight by your side intimidate you? Does it threaten your manhood, Harry Potter?"

"Don't be daft, Ginny. Of course I don't feel threatened, I'm just angry that you could keep all this from me. After all we've been through, and never once did you even suggest that you could do all of these things."

"And what if you had known? Would you have left me to Voldemort's devices? Would you have avoided rescuing me in Diagon Alley?"

"Of course not, but maybe I wouldn't have worried so much about your safety. It was my fault that you ran off to Diagon Alley that day in the first place, not to mention Voldemort coming after you. If I had known that you had these powers then, I wouldn't have felt the need to shelter you so much. I nearly got you killed, repeatedly. Do you have any idea what that feels like?"

"Is that what's bothering you?" she asked, placing a warm hand on his arm. "Have you been feeling guilty all this time because I went to Diagon Alley? Harry, that wasn't your fault. I was just...impulsive and stupid. I'm very independent and I was angry that I wasn't being allowed to do what I wanted. Even if you had know about my powers, that wouldn't have stopped you from worrying about me or trying to protect me, and that wouldn't have stopped me from leaving. You are not to blame for any of it."

"It's just that...I don't know," he sighed, running his hand through his hair. He had no idea why he just yelled at Ginny for doing something that he now could do himself, or that she had powers to match his. "I guess it has bothered me more than I thought," he conceded. "I can't help worrying about you."

"I don't want you to stop," she said gently, slipping her arms around his neck. "But now you don't have to hide from me. I can help you Harry. I can help with your lessons and help you practice your transfigurations."

"I don't want to practice," he answered honestly, his hands resting on her waist. "I don't like the feeling and I don't like the pain."

"It doesn't last Harry," she assured him, seeing the doubt in his eyes. "Do you remember the first night we made love?" Harry nodded silently. "That night I felt pain that compared to the first time I transfigured, but it didn't last and with time and lots of practice, I never felt it again. Now lovemaking is fun and easy to do. I actually look forward to it, if you could believe that?" Harry chuckled, his arms going around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

"So I guess that means, I'm a virgin at this transforming thing?"

"Something like that. But don't worry, with practice you'll be as much a pro at transfiguring as I am at love making." This caused Harry to laugh openly; the sound was something Ginny had missed hearing and a feeling Harry had missed experiencing.

"What's so funny, Mr. Potter? Are you saying I'm not good at making love?"

"I would never say such a thing. I just think it's amusing you consider yourself such an expert at it."

"Really? Well, maybe I should prove to you just how proficient I am."

"You can try, but I know what it takes to make you scream, you don't," he teased, lifting her into his arms and carrying her the few steps back to the bed.

"I do not scream," she clarified, her arms wrapping around his strong neck.

"Yes you do, and you call out my name, at least once every time."

"You're such a prat. A gentleman would never bring up such things."

"So who said I'm a gentleman?"

"I thought you were once. But now, I'm not so sure what you are," Ginny giggled softly when he laid on top of her, pinning her to the large mattress.

"I, Miss Weasley, happen to be the man you're in love with. And it had better never change. I'll just have to remember to have a few words with your brother and Malfoy tomorrow. I think I owe both of them a good hexing."

"I was involved as well," she told him sternly. "Does that mean you're going to hex me too?"

"Not exactly," Harry chuckled, reaching out to his wand on the bedside table. He pointed it to Ginny and smiled as she gasped, her clothing vanishing from her body, leaving her very vulnerable and tingling with anticipation beneath him. "What I have planned for your punishment, will take much longer then a simple spell."

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"Honestly Harry, it was just a stupid game," Ron complained the next afternoon when Harry had finally woken from his well-deserved slumber. He and Ginny hadn't fallen asleep until long past dawn, making their rising much later than originally planned. Harry had gone downstairs to the library where he found Malfoy, Ron and Hermione all sitting around the desk. Ron and Malfoy were engaged in a silent match of Wizard's Chess, while Hermione sat reading a book. Harry stepped into the room, wand raised and a determined look on his face. He motioned for Ron to step closer and watched in silent amusement as his best friend hesitated.

"I want to discuss this dare of yours, Ron," Harry said in an even tone.

"It was Malfoy's fault," Ron argued. "If he'd quit coming on to Hermione, maybe I wouldn't want him dead."

"He what?" Harry asked in surprise.

"He keeps making passes at Hermione," Ron insisted, looking back at the arrogant expression on the blond's face. "He's even suggested that she join him in his bed, more than once."

"But I thought you hated Hermione, because she was Muggle born?" Harry asked with a frown.

"That doesn't matter much, when you're horny Potter," Malfoy answered. "You kissed her, you should know what it's like, or at least you can imagine what it would be like. I've seen Weasel's face the morning after he's spent the night with Granger. If he can look that content, then I think it might be beneficial for me to give her a go."

"You son-of-a-bitch!" Ron snapped, grabbing Harry's wand from his grip and pointing it to the young man sitting at the table next to Hermione. Before they knew what was happening, Malfoy was transformed into the familiar ferret they had seen back in their fourth year of school. Hermione jumped up from her seat as the small creature began chattering angrily.

"Ron, what have you done?" she asked in alarm.

"I just gave him what he deserves," Ron answered proudly. "He's lucky I didn't turn him into a trash bin for the filth he was talking."

"I can't believe you did that," Ginny said in astonishment.

"I can't believe he got it right," Harry added in surprise. Ginny turned and smiled at Harry, who looked back with a big grin. Hermione stood with her hands on her hips and Ron handed Harry back his wand with a look of pride on his freckled face.

"Anyone hungry?" he asked, whistling his way out of the room and down the hall to the kitchen.

"What about Malfoy?" Hermione asked in astonishment and anger.

"You two go on ahead," Harry told the girls. "I'll take care of our furry friend." He watched the two leave then turned back to the white ferret. "You know you deserved that, don't you?" he asked, watching the little creature bare his teeth. "Okay, maybe the ferret thing was a little much, not to mention bad memories, but you need to lay off Hermione. At least now I understand why she's been so vindictive toward you. Look, I'll turn you back if you promise not to try and seek revenge on Ron. And you have to agree to leave Hermione alone." The Ferret-Malfoy chattered angrily for a few seconds while Harry patiently listened.

"That's the way it's going to be, Malfoy, or I won't change you back. I'll let you try and explain to Snape why you're a ferret and who did it to you. It should prove quite interesting to see the expression on people's faces when they find out Ron was responsible for your current condition. And they will find out. I know just the right people to tell, to make sure it gets around the school." The ferret chattered again, this time a little less angrily. Harry smiled, knowing he had Malfoy over a barrel. He wouldn't dare try and harm Ron, so long as Harry's threat stayed in place.

"One more thing," Harry said, raising his wand to the white furry creature. "Stay away from Ginny as well. She's mine, and if you try and go near her again, dare or no dare, I'll do a lot worse then turning you into a ferret. Understand?" Malfoy changed a moment later back into his bitter, sneering self.

"Afraid of your little girlfriend's attraction to me, Potter?" he asked after a moment to regain his composure.

"No, I'm just very protective of what's mine. Stay away, or next time there won't be a spell known that will save your sorry arse."

"Fine, whatever. Now about Weasel..."

"No more of that either. You know how much Ron hates it when you call him that. All it does is antagonize him and cause trouble."

"I can't get revenge, I can't call him by his given name, what can I do? I can't just stand around and watch him gloat, you know?"

"Why not? We've watched you strut and gloat for six years. He's due a little gloating of his own for a change."

"I will get even with you for this, Potter, I promise you that."

"I'm sure you will, Malfoy," Harry smiled. "But it won't be any time soon. Now, if you don't mind, I think we need to get something to eat and get ready to go back to Hogwart's. By the way," he paused just outside the door, turning back to the angry face of the blond next to him. "Thank you for helping me last night. I'm not sure how all of that happened, but I appreciate your helping me upstairs."

"Don't mention it," Malfoy answered, his brow cocked in just such a way as to make him appear more like his father than Harry would ever have stated. "I mean it, Potter. Don't ever mention it. I never want to hear about it again."

"Can't handle doing something nice for someone, can you?"

"It's not that, it's just that I don't want anyone to know I did something nice for you. I do have my reputation to think of, you know."

"Are you always this arrogant, or are you just practicing?"

"Unlike most people, being rude doesn't come easily to me. Therefore, I have to try twice as hard to be half as good. Just ask Weasel, he's rude enough to run for office."

"Lay off Malfoy. Leave the tormenting for the Quidditch pitch."

"Fine, I'll ignore the red haired fool for now, but the time will come when I get even. Mark my words, Potter. The Weasel will pay, someday he'll pay dearly for attacking a Malfoy."

"Is that before or after the Minister finds out a Malfoy kissed his daughter?"

"I'm not afraid of old man Weasel."

"Perhaps not, but you forget about the many sons the Minister has. What do you think they'll do when they find out you kissed Ginny? And you do plan on graduating don't you?" Harry warned as they walked toward the sound of voices in the kitchen, where he knew Ron was eagerly and proudly stuffing his face with a victory feast. "If I know the governors, they wouldn't take very kindly to the Minster of Magic's daughter being molested by the son of a Death Eater."

"You wouldn't dare?" Malfoy gasped, his eyes wide with horror. If the governors refused him his certificate of graduation, he wouldn't be able to regain control of the remainder of the Malfoy fortune still being held by the Ministry until he becomes of age and graduates Hogwart's. Without it, his small fortune would last barely a few years, and living without money was unacceptable to him.

"Lay off Ron, or I will."

"Fine," Malfoy conceded again. "I'll lay off, but you'd better keep him away from me. So help me, Potter, if I have to listen to any of his taunting or calloused jokes, I'll jinx him a thousand times over."

"Agreed. And don't forget, you have to leave off Hermione and Ginny as well."

"Fine, fine, whatever," Malfoy grumbled. "But have you seen Granger lately? She's got a body to kill for. I didn't know Muggles could look so good, not to mention that little girlfriend of yours. Age has been very kind to both of them."

"Keep it up Malfoy, and Hogwart's is going to have a stuffed ferret hanging on the entrance wall."

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"I'll join you in a few minutes," Harry said, shortly after enjoying a very pleasant feast with his friends in the Great Hall. He had caught Dumbledore's eye, who nodded and left the head table just moments before McGonagall told the students it was time to return to their houses. He glanced back to Malfoy, seeing the narrow of his eyes as he watched Ron and Hermione head toward Gryffindor tower. Harry had been able to warn Ron to leave off Malfoy...after a short due course of gloating...and was watching the two closely to make certain they both kept their promises to refrain from any further confrontations. He leaned closer to Ginny, kissing her cheek, then headed off toward the second floor gargoyle who guarded the Headmaster's rooms.

He stood in front of the entrance ready to speak the password, when the gargoyle suddenly jumped aside, causing Harry to jump backwards. On the other side of the statue were the moving staircase and he had to step up quickly as they began moving. He stepped off the stairs and stepped through the door to the Headmaster's private office, which seemed to open for him. Inside, Dumbledore stood by the window that overlooked the school grounds, his hands folded behind his back, his long white hair cascading down his back like a shroud. Harry cleared his throat to gain the old wizard's attention, though he knew it was not necessary. Albus Dumbledore knew everything that went on within the castle walls, and that didn't exclude his prized pupil.

"I trust you had a pleasant stay at your father's castle?" he said, turning to peer over the rim of his glasses. "All things considered, of course."

"Yes sir," Harry said with a smile. "For the most part that is. I'm still trying to get used to this whole wolf thing and then Ginny..."

"Ah, yes. I assumed Miss Weasley would be unable to keep such a secret from you. How do you feel about that Harry?"

"I was pretty freaked out about it at first," he said honestly, sitting in the chair Dumbledore motioned him to. "But I think I was just more shocked about my being able to transfigure. All of this is really happening too fast. I'm barely able to get over one thing, when something else pops up. It's getting so I'm afraid to look in the mirror. I keep wondering what's next."

"I understand," Dumbledore smiled, waving a teacup toward Harry. "Your mother had a difficult time for awhile, when she began showing her talents. Being Muggle born, she too had trouble adjusting to the changes, but after a time she adapted as I am sure you will."

"It's not that I'm afraid sir," Harry said honestly, ignoring the teacup tapping impatiently on the saucer before him. "I'm just...overwhelmed."

"Of course you're not afraid, Harry. You wouldn't be in Gryffindor if fear dictated your emotions. But it is completely understandable and even expected for you to feel a little confused and weighted down by the display of powers. It may have been easier on you to have them develop over a period of time, but one can never choose their powers or the manner in which fate dictates their appearances."

"I'll just be glad when..." Harry paused, unaware he was even thinking like this, much less speaking his thoughts.

"When it is all over?" Dumbledore finished for him, a look of concern etching the elderly features that watched across the desk. Harry nodded his head silently. "It has been a difficult life for you and being weary of it is only natural."

"Is it wrong to want an end to all of this? To stop worrying about what Voldemort's doing or what his next move is? I just want to be a normal teenager. I should be worrying about what my next step after graduation will be, but instead I'm thinking about how and when my life will end."

"I wish things could be different for you Harry," Dumbledore said with a heavy sigh. "I've seen the struggles you've gone through and I know the pain you've suffered is beyond any a boy your age should ever have had to experience. But the future is hard to predict even for the wisest wizard. Knowing the outcome of your path, only changes it and knowing that you should turn right when you turned left, only makes you stop at the crossroads to question your destiny. It is best you continue as you've been instructed and focus on the events of the present."

"You're right of course, but I still wish things could be different."

"You are so much like your father was," Dumbledore chuckled. "I remember a time, it seems like only last week, when he sat in that very chair and said nearly the exact same thing."

"My father? Why?"

"He and your mother had a falling out as I recall, something to do with his lack of commitment and her lust for helping other students. Anyway, Professor McGonagall had caught him trying to sneak back into the castle after curfew and she brought him to me. He had gone into Hogsmeade and thought drowning his sorrows in butter beer would be an easy escape for him. As I recall, it was the next day that your mother confronted him and he found the courage to declare his love for her. Things changed for them after that, but until then he just couldn't understand why things couldn't have been different. He found out, with a little luck and a lot of courage on his part, he was able to make a bad situation work for him."

"I heard about my dad being jealous, but I never really thought of him as being the sort of person to try drinking his troubles away."

"Luckily he was underage and it was only butter beer, but it could have been worse."

"So you're saying, that with a little luck and courage I can make the outcome of my battle with Voldemort works to my advantage?"

"I believe in you Harry, as do many other people. I know that the reason for your sudden expression of powers is a sign. You must learn to make them work for you. The time will come when all things fall into place. And speaking of which," Dumbledore reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a parchment. "This is the prophecy Professor Trelawney had before you were born. I have tried for many years to understand the contents, but alas, I have not discovered the entire meaning. Perhaps you and your friends will be more successful than I."

"If I know Hermione, she'll have it solved in a single night," Harry smiled, taking the parchment and trying to control the sudden mixture of dread and excitement that seemed to explode inside his veins. Dumbledore chuckled as Harry stood. Stepping around the edge of the desk, the Headmaster placed his hand on the shoulder of the young man.

"I should have shown it to you long ago, Harry. I'm sorry. I did not see you as old enough to deal with the extent of it."

"Maybe I wasn't then, but things have changed, haven't they?"

"Indeed they have." Dumbledore stepped to the door and showed his young visitor out, then turned back to the painting staring down at him from their frames. "Things have changed indeed."

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"This is very interesting," Hermione said later that evening when the common room was quiet and void of students. "I had no idea the prophecy was so long."

"Dumbledore said he's tried to decipher it for years, but couldn't understand the whole meaning," Harry said, rubbing his tired eyes.

"I can see why. It is very intense." Hermione scrolled back up to the top and began to read out loud, in a soft mumbling sort of tone as though speaking only to herself.

"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..."

"We know that Hermione," Ron said impatiently. "What about the rest?"

"It's all in riddles, I can't make any sense of it."

"Encase the evil within the star... a circle of friends one and for all...the green flame of time...the powers be mine...bound by the lives of those you stole...vanquish this evil to settle the score..."

"Obviously it tells of the five of us and Harry's defeat of Voldemort," Ginny suggested.

"Maybe, but it says, 'bound by the lives of those you stole'. I don't understand how you can bind evil by the lives of those already dead. I'll have to do more research on that."

"The circle of five...to keep one alive," Ron read over Hermione's shoulder. "Like points of a star...will never be far...together as one...the power be done...to defeat the evil...we share the vigil."

"Well if that isn't as clear as a bog, I don't know what is," Ron grumbled.

"The chosen one will join with the fire of a dragon and heart of a goddess..." Ginny said, taking the parchment from Hermione to avoid a late night argument between her soon to be sister-in-law and her brother. "She will be known by the mark of a star upon her right shoulder."

"That's you, we've already determined it meant that you and I were destined to be together," Harry told her.

"There's a lot more, if you want to hear it?" Ginny said in a rather tired, disgruntled tone. Harry tried to smile, but it came out more of a daring smirk than a friendly declaration.

"Please continue," he said, much harsher than intended.

"The soul of the two will be as one...while two others will come...the one a brother to the first will join with the strength of the one whose knowledge has outshined all others..."

"Ron and Hermione," Harry clarified.

"Together they will bring in the last...the fifth point of the star...one whom the Dark Lord is eager to gain power over...if unconvinced, the Dark Lord will gain control and the four will perish beneath the full moon. The world of the wizard will be no more...the fifth one will suffer great tragedy with the loss of a mother's arms...in two will he be torn...while sharing a bond of common depth with the chosen one."

"That predicts Malfoy's joining as the fifth point of the star," Harry said again.

"I still think it could mean Longbottom," Ron grumbled with a yawn.

"It's Malfoy," Harry said softly in a tone that stopped any further disagreement.

"The blood of the mother run through his veins...saved for the night when he breaks the chains...," Hermione continued retrieving the parchment again. "Powers known not will save or destroy...the points of the star he will employ...when the clouds have settled and all is done...kill or be killed...one or none."

"Why are so many parts of this in rhyme?" Ron asked with a frown. "I think it's easier to understand when there's just a bunch of riddles without the rhyming junk."

"Dumbledore indicates here in the side notes, that other entities were telling the prophecy through Trelawney," Hermione explained, pointing to the many notes written along the margins of the parchment.

"You mean she was actually channeling spirits?"

"It may be that she had a momentary lapse and experienced real talent," Hermione snorted softly.

"What's the end paragraph say?" Ginny asked, looking over Hermione's shoulder.

"Encase the evil within the star...a circle of friends one and for all...the wings of time a prison cell...the hour is neigh as told by the bell...the green flame of time a power of old...bound by the lives of the blood you once stole...payment now due the cost of your crimes...I sentence you to pay on the bell's final chime...blood of the magic and Muggle unite... to condemn you now your sentence to die."

"What's all that supposed to mean?" Harry asked with a deep frown.

"It's the same as the rest of it," Ron said. "A big bag of rubbish. Come on; let's go to bed. We've got history first thing in the morning, and it's going to be hard enough to stay awake in Binns class without being exhausted."

"Don't worry Harry," Hermione said, rolling up the parchment and standing from the table they had all been sitting around for the past two hours. "We'll figure it out." Harry didn't answer; he merely nodded his head and took the parchment she handed him.

Once alone, Ginny slipped her hand through his arm and laid her head against his soft jumper. They didn't speak; they just sat there silently wrapped up in their own thoughts. It wasn't until the old clock above the fireplace chimed two that Harry turned to her and smiled. She had fallen fast asleep, her head still resting on his arm, her soft red hair framing her delicate features. Slowly he stood, gathering her in his arms and carrying her to the sofa near the fireplace. He laid her down and summons a blanket from upstairs, covering her up and tucking in the edges. Gently he leaned down and kissed her forehead, then sat in the armchair near her head. He remained there for the remainder of the night; sleep less than inviting as the thoughts of the prophecy continued to plague his mind.

Sometime, in the early hours before dawn, Harry found a comfortable place within his mind where he could drift away on a sea of slumber. His dreams were mingled with thoughts of green flames and stars. But deep within the recesses of his mind, a voice called out his name. Harry frowned in his sleep, he'd heard this voice before and every time he did, he would find himself regretting answering the call.

"Harry, the time has come," the voice said as an image began to materialize behind his closed lids. "The child of the one who seeks to control the world has been born. You must not allow it to grow to know of their heritage. Take the child, Harry. Bring it to the place where your quest began. There I will give you further instructions. You must take it before the next full moon, when the ceremony of 'Vita Heres' will take place. The child must not become the legal heir to the dark powers of our world."

"I can't," Harry said through the darkness of his dreams. "Mutgeb, I can't just steal Voldemort's baby."

"You must. The time is short, Harry. You must do as you are told. On All Hollow's Eve, the ceremony will begin. At the end of seven days, the child will be the servant of the father. The future of our world is at stake, Harry. Bring the baby to the place where your quest began if you wish to save the world you know and the world you left."

"I hate riddles," Harry said in his sleep as the dream dissolved and the voice faded. Every time the witch visited him, he felt as though he was loosing his mind. "Once more," Harry thought through the images of his dreams as he began to reach out for peace. "Once more and so help me, I'll go stark raving mental!"

"Harry," he heard again, this time the warmth pressed against his chest brought his eyes open to the bright light of morning and the beautiful young red haired woman leaning next to him. Harry smiled and reached out, brushing the sleep tossed hair out of her face. Ginny smiled then pressed a soft kiss against his pale cheek.

"It's time to get up," she told him. "The others are going to be tramping down any minute, and we need to get ready for class." Harry frowned. It felt as if he had just fallen asleep, a feeling he reluctantly knew he had to abandon.

"I had a dream last night," he told her as he stood and gathered her hand in his. "Mutgeb came to me and told me Voldemort's bastard is born. She told me I had to take it to the place where my quest began."

"She wants you to steal Voldemort's baby?" Ginny asked in alarm. Harry nodded his head. "Has she lost her mind? Does she know how dangerous that is?"

"I don't think Mutgeb has ever considered my safety. She just assumes I will do it, no questions asked."

"You're not going to, are you?"

"I don't have a choice, Ginny. She said if he remains with Voldemort until the 'Vita Heres', he will become the servant of his father. I can't allow the son of Voldemort to threaten the world, any more than I can let his father take it over. I have to find a way to take him before Halloween." Ginny sighed, knowing he was right.

"I just want to know one thing," she asked as they began up the stairs to get dressed for class. "Is it too much to ask for, just to have one normal school year?"