Harry Potter and the Trelawney Prophesy

Chapter 7

Revelations

It was a couple weeks later that Harry had the opportunity to slip away to "visit" as was required in his "deal" with Voldemort. It was as Hogsmeade weekend and all Harry had to do was stay behind and he could manage to slip away.

To attempt this, he sat in the common room with his potions homework before him. Severus had assigned them a rather difficult assignment for the week and although Harry had finished it the day before, he knew he could bluff his way through using the homework to stay at the castle while Ron, Hermione and Ginger went to town.

"Ready, Harry," said Ron as he approached from the boy's dorm.

"Can't go," said Harry.

"Potions?" said Ron, looking at the stuff spread out before Harry. "I thought you finished that."

"I thought I had," said Harry. "Until I saw Hermione's. I totally screwed it up. I have to fix it."

"Want me to help?" said Ron.

"No," said Harry quickly. "I don't want Hermione to know I looked at her homework. You know how she gets."

"Well, I guess."

"Just bring me back something. OK," said Harry.

"Alright," said Ron, still looking suspicious.

"I'm ready," said Hermione as she stepped up to them. "Harry, what are you doing?"

"Trying to fix my potions homework, do you mind," said Harry, trying to sound irritated.

Hermione looked confused. Harry looked from Ron to Hermione. Ron looked as if Harry should fess up.

"All right," said Harry with annoyance. "I saw your paper, Hermione, and noticed how messed up mine was. I wasn't copying but now I have to fix it. You know how Snape gets with me now."

"Harry," said Hermione.

"Just go. I'm fine," said Harry.

Ron dragged Hermione out and caught Ginny by the robes as she entered the common room.

"Come along, little sister," said Ron. "Harry can't play right now."

"But-" said Ginny.

"I'll see you later, Ginger," called Harry.

Harry sighed as they all left, wishing he was with them but Harry had promised. After a full five minutes to make sure they didn't come back, he apparated to his chair in front of the fire.

Immediately screams of pain could be heard. Someone was being tortured. Harry sat up and looked across the compound. The Death Eaters were in a tight circle obviously watching someone being made an example out of. Voldemort and who ever the victim was were apparently in the circle.

Harry was in no mood to waste his time listening to someone (even if deserved) scream. Harry had promised to visit and so he would.

Harry transfigured and flew to a tree near the Death Eaters.

"Goyle," said Voldemort in a quite menacing voice. "You will not disappoint me again."

"No, master," cried Goyle, writhing on the ground. "I'm sorry, master."

Voldemort hit him again with the Cruciatus Curse. Goyle screamed.

Harry glanced around. Severus was nearby on the outer side of the circle. Harry hopped off the branch and flew to him.

Startled, Severus held up an arm to protect his face. Harry landed on his arm and Severus lowered it. Harry looked at him squarely.

Severus had not had the chance to look closely at Harry the first time that Harry transformed so he appeared surprised.

"My God," said Severus, taking in the hawk's green eyes and the silver feathers in the shape of a lightening bolt on his head.

Several Death Eaters murmured over the strange hawk that had flown to Severus Snape.

"What is going on down there?" demanded Voldemort.

"Master," said Severus. "We have a visitor. Notte you idiot, move." Severus stepped into the inner circle and held up his arm.

Harry looked over at Voldemort.

Voldemort laughed with delight.

"Goyle, you are fortunate, indeed. I am much too pleased now to finish with you," said Voldemort. "Get out of my sight."

Goyle scurried away while all the other Death Eaters turned to see what was so interesting.

Voldemort raised his arm. He could have said, "Come to me, Harry," the connotation was so clear, but only Lucius and Severus knew who he was. Harry also wanted to know how painful it would be. When Harry had transformed the first time and Voldemort had signaled, the pain had been less. How bad would it be?

Harry opened his wings and flew across the span toward Voldemort. the flinch zone, the pain was almost non-existent so Harry perched on Voldemort's arm. The pain was manageable.

Harry heard the Death Eaters around them.

"A black hawk?"

"Is it a sign?"

"What does it mean, Master?"

Harry looked at Voldemort who laughed and reached toward Harry's head. Harry instantly jumped off his arm and transformed on his way to the ground several meters away.

"The pain is less, Voldemort," said Harry. "But it's still there."

The Death Eaters gasped and murmured as Harry stood up.

"Enough," said Voldemort to his Death Eaters. "Leave us." He turned to Harry. "Very dramatic entrance, my son."

Harry smirked at him. "You taught me well."

Voldemort chuckled. "Come, Harry, speak with me," said Voldemort as they moved toward the fire. "Tell me, how are you to die this week?"

Harry laughed - had to. Voldemort knew how Professor Trelawney always predicted Harry's death.

"I've got the grim again," said Harry.

Voldemort chuckled. "She's given up on Nagini?"

Harry shrugged. "Who knows where she gets these pieces of pathetic predictions," said Harry. "Guess she figures I'm bound to die so she safe predicting it time and again."

"Still the pessimist, Harry?"

"Since I'm taking you with me, I'd think you wouldn't laugh," said Harry.

"Oh, Harry," said Voldemort. "If I took everything so seriously, I wouldn't be able to enjoy my power."

Harry stared at him.

"Yes, Harry," said Voldemort. "Relax and enjoy life. Yours has been trying, but you have good friends and people who love you. This entire camp would lie and die for you. Relax and enjoy your power."

Harry had a problem swallowing it so he didn't comment. He changed the subject.

"Voldemort?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Do you really think you can take over the world?" said Harry.

"Once you join me," said Voldemort. "Yes I can. With you, I will be able to do anything. And actually it will be take charge of the world."

"Take charge?" said Harry.

"Yes, Harry," said Voldemort. "The hierarchy of the wizarding world is a mess right now. Long ago it was always the most powerful wizard who was Minister of Magic, the one most respected and most feared. Now it's a pitiful popularity contest.

"We can restore order to the chaos that is the Ministry, Harry, initiate great change."

"You can't do that by simply killing everyone who doesn't agree with you," said Harry.

Voldemort chuckled. "I know that, Harry. But people can be stubborn and during my first reign, I didn't have you. I didn't foresee that I needed the balance of power to restore order."

Harry brain was starting to hurt again.

"But the killing-"

"Harry, how many people have I ordered killed?" said Voldemort.

"Karkaroff," said Harry. "And who knows who else you've ordered killed. I've never been in the conference tent."

"Harry, I haven't ordered anyone killed since your first threshold. I need the wizarding world to know you influence me, temper me. The balance of power.

"My legion has almost tripled since the graveyard because people are starting to see that the world needs change."

"Then why didn't you use Dumbledore for the balance of power?" said Harry.

"I told you, I didn't know I needed it until we met," said Voldemort. "Albus is a very powerful wizard but he is not an heir nor am I connected with him as I am to you. No, Harry. It must be you and I. The wizarding world will unite behind us and order will be restored."

It was like a light bulb clicked on in Harry's head. He got it. If Harry joined Voldemort, the world would be outraged, they'd feel betrayed and they would unite and would reorder the Ministry to destroy them both. But it was Harry's destiny to kill Voldemort. Once the world united, then Harry could kill him.

But I'm not ready.

"Soon, Harry," said Voldemort. "You will know when you are ready."

"That's getting very annoying," said Harry.

"What is?"

"That you know what I'm thinking," said Harry.

Voldemort chuckled. "It's simply that I can read your expression," said Voldemort. "I know the struggle you must go through every time you face me."

"Do you?" said Harry.

"Yes, Harry," said Voldemort. "I've said before, your loyalty and your steadfastness is admirable. You have a fierce determination not to betray your parents."

"I won't," said Harry.

"I know," said Voldemort.

Harry was confused again. "You killed them."

"Yes, Harry," said Voldemort, staring intently back at Harry. "Why?"

Voldemort was making Harry think again. Another test.

"My father was the heir," said Harry, still more confused than anything else. "But he wouldn't join you."

Voldemort nodded. "James Potter was a very powerful wizard."

"You could have used him for the balance of power," said Harry with dawning.

"No, Harry," said Voldemort. "I told you, I didn't know I needed it back then."

"But the prophesy-"

"Yes," Voldemort interrupted. "But I was a bit swept away by my own power, Harry. I just knew the heir of Gryffindor was against me.

"And he fought bravely," said Voldemort. "But he said something to me that I had forgotten until Goyle made the connection between us."

"What did he say?" said Harry breathlessly.

"He said, 'My heir will stop you' and you did, Harry. And when Goyle brought up the connection, I remembered the prophesy."

"So what are you saying?" said Harry. "That my parents knew?"

"I think they knew they had to protect you at all cost (which they would anyway being your parents)," said Voldemort. "But I think they knew of the prophecy and knew you had to live."

"You still killed them, Voldemort," said Harry, reminding himself as well.

"Yes, Harry," said Voldemort. "But if what I suspect is true, they not only died for you but for the wizarding world as well. I think Dumbledore knew you had to correct the chaos that had begun in the Ministry. He was reading the signs. Albus knew and he knows what will happen."

Now Harry's brain really hurt. Harry glanced at his watch. He tapped it, muttering, "What should I be doing?"

The watched flashed:

You should be sitting in the library. Ron and Hermione are looking for you.

Harry stood up and looked at Voldemort who was studying him intently.

"You know, Voldemort," said Harry. "I don't know which makes my head hurt more, you touching me or you talking to me."

Voldemort stood up. He didn't laugh. "The truth is sometimes painful," said Voldemort. "But I will not lie to you, Harry. When you accept your destiny, you will have control over your life. It will not hurt."

"I sincerely doubt that," said Harry. "And I'm still thinking about saying to hell with everything and going to Bulgaria."

Voldemort chuckled. "I know, Harry, but you won't. You are too steadfast to abandon your world now."

"Mores the pity," muttered Harry. "I'm leaving your exalted presence now."

"I will see you soon, my son," said Voldemort.

Another nightmare.

Harry found the book of prophecies from the shelf in the library then went back to the Common Room, looking for Ron and Hermione. Now he knew what had to be done and he needed some input.

The last person who had taken out the book was Malfoy and again Harry wondered how much Malfoy knew.

Walking down an almost empty hall, he wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone.

"Sorry," Harry and whoever he hit said at once. But Harry recognized the voice and turned. The other boy did too and Harry saw such sadness in his expression before it was covered with the normal Malfoy sneer.

"Watch where you're going, Potter," said Malfoy but his tone was lacking it's usual maliciousness.

"Malfoy, are you alright?" said Harry.

Malfoy made a long suffering sound. "You are so pathetic, Potter," said Malfoy and he turned to walk away.

Harry stopped him and Malfoy glared at Harry's hand on his arm until Harry removed it.

"I'm serious," said Harry. "Are you alright?"

"Bugger off, Potter," said Malfoy and he walked away with the parting words, "My problems aren't any worse than yours are."

Harry stared after him, then realized that Crabbe and Goyle were no where to be seen. In fact, Harry couldn't recall seeing Malfoy with any of his fellow Slytherins recently, except at meals and even then Malfoy seemed to be distancing himself from them.

With a frustrated sigh, Harry continued his search for Ron and Hermione.

Once he found them, he dragged them into Myrtle's bathroom.

"Using this as your private conference room now," said Myrtle.

"Sorry, Myrtle," said Harry. "Do you mind?"

"You want me to leave?" said Myrtle looking insulted.

"Not necessarily," said Harry, but Myrtle had started to cry and flew down the toilet.

"So what's up, Harry?" said Ron.

Harry handed Hermione the book and she opened it to the first page Harry had marked. She read aloud.

Through terror and mayhem the world will survive,

Amidst murder and chaos an heir will arrive

Confusion and fear will loom

A threat foreshadows doom

Who will be prepared to fight

When the heirs unite

Hermione looked up at Harry. She started to speak but Harry stopped her.

"Go to the next one," said Harry.

Hermione opened the book to the next marked page and read:

The heirs will unite with strength beyond measure

The balance of power will be restored, Justice re-lawed

Sacrifice the treasure

Hermione looked up sharply. "No, Harry," she cried. "There has to be another way."

Ron looked confused.

"There isn't," said Harry. "We've been looking for years."

"This is just a stupid prediction," said Hermione. "Like Trelawney's stupid Inner Eye." She looked back at the book and pointed at the last one. "Look," said Hermione. "It even IS her stupid prediction."

"Right," said Harry. "Ever wonder what the first actual real prediction she made was?"

"What am I missing?" said Ron.

Harry turned away to pace.

"Harry is reading to much into these prophecies," said Hermione. "He thinks he has to join Voldemort so that the world will unite." She took a deep breath. "And then he has to kill him."

"And," said Ron still looking confused.

"And," said Hermione. "He's the treasure. He has to sacrifice himself."

"Harry," said Ron. "Is this that thing about if you kill Voldemort, you have to die because of all the connections between you and him?"

Harry only nodded.

"Wait a minute," said Ron with horror. "She called you the treasure in Divination that day."

"I know," said Harry.

"But there has to another way," insisted Hermione.

Harry looked at her. "I don't see how," said Harry. "Even Dumbledore seems to know it. All this destiny and fate crap is making me sick. Voldemort makes it worse because he's so confident it's scary. He's never lied to me and everything he says happens. He says it's only a matter of time."

Harry looked at Ron.

"I think I'm almost out of time," said Harry.

"Oh, Harry," cried Hermione.

Ron grabbed Harry's shoulder. "You know we're with you, Harry," said Ron. "Anything you need, anything you want me to do, I'm there."

Harry nodded gravely. "I know, Ron," said Harry. "I just don't know what to expect."
"This is nuts," said Hermione. "We've faced death before. We'll get though this!"

"Hermione," said Harry.

"NO!" cried Hermione. "Don't get all brave about this. You know I won't let you die."

Hermione spun around and marched out of the bathroom.

Harry looked at Ron.

Ron shrugged. "She's right you know," said Ron. "We'll get you through this."

Harry could hope.