The True Journey of Harry Potter
Chapter 1 – Begin, began, begun
It all started even before Harry Potter was born. A prophecy made by a woman looking for a job, given while being interviewed by none other than the great Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
Sybil Trelawney was a descendant of a true seer, not that she acquired the skill, though she would love to act as one. She knew, of course, how a seer gave a prophecy. She also knew Dumbledore believed in it since he was named once in a prophecy made by one of her great-aunts almost a century ago.
It was a family's secret. Dumbledore was sent for when he was around 50 years old after great-auntie Sillery made her first ever prophecy. It was told in the family that the first prophecy of a seer would be the most impact one. Therefore, the new Hogwarts' Transfiguration professor was called to hear a prophecy mentioning him. The content of the prophecy was not passed down, either it was fulfilled and destroyed or it was not really needed to be mentioned. However, since then, Dumbledore was one of those who truly believed in prophecy.
Dumbledore was tired, having been awake since dawn to prepare his speech in the International Confederation of Wizard in the afternoon, which he had to travel via floo to the meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Then he had to rush back to Scotland for 2 interviews. Not that it was really needed, but Horace Slughorn, his current Potion Master and Head of the House of Slytherin, had talked him to announce a requirement for his position. Slughorn was a coward, not that Dumbledore would say to anyone. Tom Riddle aka Lord Voldemort had arisen many years ago. Dumbledore knew there was something Slughorn was responsible for, but he could not really guess. Whatever it was, Slughorn was very frightened and ready to flee.
Either it was greed or ambition or a vast illusion of the 'greater good', Dumbledore had always thought he was the one prophesized to take care of the Wizarding World, not just British Wizarding World, but as in the whole World. He craved for power. With a very well planned strategy, he was now the greatest wizard of the modern time, as it was described in the chocolate frog cards. A great wizard like him, people might think he should be the Minister of Magic, though he knew better. Being Headmaster of Hogwarts guaranteed that he would be more able to see and manipulate the new generation of wizards and witches.Minister of Magic came and went away as the term ended, either be re-elected or shunned by botches while in the office. So, being the headmaster of the best school of Magic in Europe, believed to be the best in the world, allowed more power and longer time until death.
'Death is but the next great adventure.' The phrase was once told by his mentor, Nicholas Flamel. Like he would believe that, Dumbledore knew about the philosopher's stone and its property. Of course, who would not know, it was a well-known fact in the wizarding world about the achievement of Flamel. Dumbledore thought that his mentor just said it to keep the stone for himself and his wife's. They were still alive anyway, if Nicholas truly believed in the phrase why did he not just leave this world then. Unbeknown to him, there was a reason for it and it would very much concern the great Albus Dumbledore, only if he knew or would ever know.
Now, back to the present, or was it? Albus Dumbledore was walking in to a tavern named Hog's Head, which owned by his brother. Albus did not get along with his brother, Aberforth, much or so people believed. Truth is Aberforth is Albus figure in the dark side gathering intelligences from all places via people who visited the bar or spent times staying there. Aberforth would pass the information to his brother once in a while, though all news would be laundered to the facts, not just rumors. That was why Albus knew so much. Unbeknown to Albus, again, his brother still held the grudge against him. Why? It was a secret of the Dumbledore family, in which would not be repeated and should not in anyway. And it was certainly not about Aberforth and his goat story as many would believe it was for it was not really a fact but just a rumor spread by none other Albus himself to discredit his brother.
"Headmaster," the tavern's maid greeted behind the counter bar while using a filthy looking cloth drying some glasses.
Albus looked at the girl beaming. This was one of his informants sent to spy on his brother. Although Albus believed all news he got from his brother, paranoid as he was, Albus sent Stephanie Spiral to get a job here as a cover and kept eyes on his brother. Of course, Stephanie had no idea why she needed to be here other than to keep a watch on her pseudo boss from doing something illegal. It was not really a good pay working here, but she got a nice sum from her real boss, Albus Dumbledore, anyway. It was not known by many the relation of the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the Hog's Head's owner. Those who knew would believe the rift between brothers.
"Good evening, Ms. Spiral." Dumbledore called back, "I believed there are some people waiting for me upstairs?"
"Yes, Headmaster," Spiral replied looking in a chart showing the list of guests. "A Mr. Snape is in room number 13 and Ms. Trelawney is in room 7. Would you like any refreshment sent up, Headmaster?"
Albus paused at the name of the second guest, though it might be a lingering from the first name. Being the headmaster, Albus remembered, or at least tried to, all of his students passing in the hallowed hall of Hogwarts. Severus Snape was one of talented students in Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts. News had it that Snape was one of the middle-ranked death eaters. 'What is the real motive of the boy?' Albus mused. At the time, he only knew that he would be interviewing 2 persons for a job in Hogwarts. With Snape, he could surmise the boy was after Potions or DADA post. But Trelawney, 'What would the girl want?'
"No, thank you dear." Albus waved off the offer and walked up the stairs.
20 minutes later, Albus left room 13. Contented with the outcome of the meeting, he would be able to tell Horace tomorrow that he found a new Potions Master. Sighing heavily, Dumbledore straightened himself before knocking on the door of room 7.
"Headmaster," a dreamily eyed behind a huge thick funny-looking eyeglasses young woman answered the door and greeted him.
"Ms. Trelawney," Dumbledore greeted smiling with his eyes twinkling full forced. "You have asked to meet me, have you not?"
"Of course, Headmaster," Trelawney smiled and stepped out of the way to let the headmaster in, "please come in."
Another ten minutes passed. Severus Snape was watching. His master had told him to apply for the job in Hogwarts, may it be DADA or Potions, to spy within the school. So, for the first part of his mission, Snape listened on the happening in the room. This could be news his master would need to know. Dashing quietly to the room 7, a slight gap of the door allowed him to see what was going on in the room.
"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 ..."
"What are you doing there?" A voice behind him asked.
Startled, Snape turned, masked his face with scowl. "Nothing," he spat, "none of your business." Snape walked away to his room with his robe billowing.
Aberforth Dumbledore was not a spy for nothing. He did know what the boy was doing in front of the room. Being a better spy as he was, Aberforth did not require standing in plain sight to eavesdrop. His brother might be paranoid and did not trust him so that he checked the room for any device of listening charm before starting a conversation. Being as arrogant and so self-confident, Albus dismissed the current talk as nothing other than listening to someone asking for help or talking about the weather. But still, you will never be too cautious. Albus knew, of course, that there were some devices installed in every room and that he could de-activate as told by his brother about them, Albus did just that, unknowingly activated the magic-compatible video camera implanted within the light sphere illuminating the room. People might believe Hog's Head to be old-fashioned next to nothing tavern. Even the great Albus Dumbledore believed that since his good-for-nothing-but-some-spying brother told him so. How so folly his brother was.
Aberforth was watching the screen viewing all cameras in his secret chamber under the premise. Seeing the death eater boy creeping in the corridor alerted him and he acted. He knew what was going on within the room 7, a plan laid well beyond his brother's imagination. Once scared the boy off, Aberforth retreated to his chamber to send a telegraph message. It was quite old-fashioned but the code message was a very effective correspondence within the ignorance of all muggle things of the wizarding world. Oh how Aberforth was so looking forward to the newest invention and to learn to use it. What was it called again? Comtuper? What-so-ever, he would know of it anyway. Now, it was time to appear in the bar and showed up before the hag, err, Stephanie got suspicious.
Meanwhile, in the room 7 of Hog's Head, Albus Dumbledore was having the time of his life. Standing in front of him, Sybil Trelawney was giving a prophecy. He would need to go to the Prophecy Chamber in the Department of Mystery to store it tomorrow. But before that, he would need to analyze it first. He did not really want to store them for the unspeakable to research if he could help it. But being under the oath of Wizengamot, any prophecy he heard required to be submitted for research in the DoM.
Trelawney was standing there in her trance. Dumbledore waited for her conscious smiling wide. "My dear?" he asked, "Are you alright?"
Trelawney snapped out of her trance blanching. "Ah, sorry, headmaster," she stammered, "I was thinking of the opportunity of being hired."
Albus smiled wider, eyes twinkling. "It's alright, Ms. Trelawney." He paused watching the girl blushing ashamed. "Considering yourself hired for the Divination post for the coming year. I will send Professor McGonagall to see you tomorrow to help you settle in the castle and please, as a colleague, call me Albus, Sybil."
Five minutes later, Albus Dumbledore bade farewell to his new Divination Professor and left the tavern. 'I will have see whom the prophecy mentioned and what does it mean by 'the power he knows not'. Would it mean there will be another figure with power?' Albus mused while walking up the gate of Hogwarts. 'What should I tell Bianca to leave her post since I have a true seer working for me now?' There were so many things to do and decisions to make. He never saw a pair of green eyes watching him walk. The green eyes twinkled not unlike Albus' own with mirth. Watching the headmaster vanished behind the pillar of the gates, the stranger vanished in thin air without a sound leaving no evidence at all that he was there.
In the room number 7, Sybil Trelawney grinned maniacally. She opened her windowpane to let a regal hawk owl carrying her reward; the reward for her acting given the prophecy. Being descendent of true seer did not make her any shameful for being a fraud. She knew about Divination, even got an Outstanding for her Divination NEWTs. Being jobless did make her accepted the proposition from a man she did not even know, not that she could refuse a sweet-mouth young and handsome guy like that. The owl flew out of the room and she prepared herself for a good night rest before the crazy day tomorrow. She had a lot to prepare. In her dream, Sybil Trelawney was seeing herself a princess in the Divination Tower.
Unlike Trelawney, Severus Snape could not sleep just yet. He was preparing for a small trip. The dark lord would want to know the prophecy since it did sound concerning him. He just wished it would not earn him a 'Crucio' for baring a bad news. He walked down to slip out of the tavern and turned to a dark corner. Donning his death eater's garb, Severus Snape disapparated to his master's lair.
In a conference room, somewhere on earth, in the head quarter of the most secretive organization, nine people were seated waiting for their leader. There was a ting sound announcing the elevator arrival to the floor. The door opened slowly showing a lone figure in dark cloak, unrecognizable face and two piercing green eyes.
"Greeting everyone," the figure said.
Everybody stood up and waited until the figure was standing at his seat. The figure opened his arms and in the flash, there were a phoenix landing on his shoulder, a staff in his left hand and a wand in his right. The other attendants were drawing their own weapon, various from ordinary thing like swords, wands and guns to the newest invention of the organization; the laser gloves. An incantation was heard from the head of the table and the light in the room dimmed.
"Please sit down," the head figure said, "let's see how the operation Potter goes."
They watched, some smiled at the scene they saw. Once the Dumbledore in the screen was out of the bar, they resumed their chat.
"So, the operation succeeded," one lady said. "I thought he was better than that."
Several chuckles were heard. They preceded their meeting and considered more plans. At the end, they all left the room. Only two remained; the head figure and the lady.
"So it begins," the lady said.
"Begin, began, begun," the head figure replied in a sing-song voice. They laughed and walked into the elevator.