Disclaimer: None of this is mine it all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

A Prophecy Revealed

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.'

Harry lay in his bed at number four privet drive, repeating those words in his head. Just what did they mean? Dumbledore had explained what the prophecy meant back at his office but he didn't trust Dumbledore's explanation. There had to be more to it.

'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…'

That part was clear enough. A child born at the end of July to parents who three times defied Voldemort would be the one with the power to defeat him. But that could be me or Neville Longbottom.

'And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…'

Clearly that means me. I was marked when he tried to kill me, but I had the power of my mother's love. But it can't be that simple.

'And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…'

When he first attacked me he was reduced to but a spirit not really living but surviving. He even said as much when he was living in Quirrel's head. I was forced to stay here, under the cupboard. I survived the attack but I surely wasn't living. But what does that mean for the future, will I always suffer? Can I ever live a normal life? Do I have to kill him or him me. Is he the only one that can kill me and I the only one that can kill him? If that doesn't happen, will we both suffer, will we never die?

'And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…'

I was marked by Voldemort, but what did Dumbledore say during my first year? I was marked with the love of my mother! Yes, that was it. I was marked by my mother's love. It protected me from Voldemort when I was a baby and protected me from Quirrel. Neville must certainly be marked with his mother's love too. She protected him and was tortured for it. Though it wasn't done directly by Voldemort it was certainly done in his name.

But what powers do I or Neville have that Voldemort doesn't know of? I have my friends and the D.A. Of course that's it. By coming after me and not Neville he underestimated Neville. Assuming I would be a powerful wizard, but Neville is nearly as good at defense as I am. He certainly has power beyond Voldemort's expectations. By ignoring Neville in ignorance, he marked Neville his equal.

That must be it. They interpreted the prophecy wrong. It still could be Neville or maybe it is both of us. If Neville and I work together, there will be two of us to fight Voldemort. If one of us should fall, the other will survive to fight on. We both fulfill the prophecy and together we will vanquish him.

A/N: This is the start of a prequell to Quadrangular Quidditch Qup and Daughter of Dark. Daughter of Dark is currently on hiatus as I am not very happy with some of my characterization. As such I have decided to move forward with this story as practice for that story and in preparation of a re-write.