Chapter 1: The Middle Child

"Harry." Luna said in her usual dreamy voice. "Hermione told Ron to tell me to tell—"

"Luna could you hold on a second, I'm trying to finish this report. Its very important." Harry asked not even bothering to look up from the stack of papers in front of him. Luna hesitated before muttering, "If you insist."

An hour later Harry's quill stopped scribbling furiously. He took a deep calming breath before leaning back in his chair.

"Now what is it you wanted to tell me Luna?" Harry asked. Luna who had been studying a small gray spider on the wall said, "Did you know that some female spiders eat their mates? It's because of the kinkerwazits that come around after they mate. It makes them cannibalistic." Harry's lip twitched.

"Umm Luna did Ron give you a message for me?"

"Oh yes. Hermione told Ron – who was in a rush and unable to tell you himself— so he told me to tell you that Ginny is in labor."

Harry's green eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell me the minute you came in?" Harry demanded grabbing fistfuls of his jet-black hair. Luna looked puzzled. "I tried to. But you told me to wait."

Harry sighed and rushed to grab cloak. "I'm going to kill Ron." He muttered to himself. "Next time anything—like this for instance, something important happens just tell me immediately! If I ask you to wait, ignore me and tell me anyway." Harry told her as he put on his black cloak.

Luna tilted her head looking perturbed, "What would you classify as important? Would a new species of shizzyfuzbulls be important?" she asked looking thoughtful. But it was to late Harry had already Apparated.

When Harry arrived in Ginny's room at St. Mungos the Healer in charge of her was on her way out. "Mr. Potter." She said nodding politely before exiting the room.

Ginny who was caressing her swollen belly looked up and smile brightly at Harry. "Oh Harry!" Her emerald eyes glittered.

Ron turned around looking slight exasperated. "What took you so long? I sent Luna hours ago!"

"What!" Hermione demanded. She glared fiercely at Ron who looked as though he had just seen a giant spider.

"You sent Luna? Didn't I tell you to tell Harry that Ginny went into labor!"

Ron pouted. "You also told me to get my arse over here as soon as possible, and I couldn't find him so I asked Luna to give him the message. And obviously she did." Ron said gesturing towards Harry.

Hermione growled "Yes but that was two hours ago!" and continued to scold Ron.

Harry ignored them; and turned to his wife who was smiling softly as she watched her brother and his wife squabble.

Harry pulled a chair to Ginny's side and took her cold hands into his clammy pale ones. "How are you?" he asked squeezing her hands slightly.

"I'm fine. You get like this every time. Don't worry. Nothing went wrong for James or Albus and nothing is going to happen this time. I'm always labor for a couple hours or so." She told him.

"Does it hurt?" he asked. "Does anything hurt? Because if it does—" Ginny silenced him with a quick kiss. "I'm fine." She assured.

Then she gave him that special smile, the one she reserved just for him. The one that made his heart want to jump out of his throat, the one that made forget his name, the one that made his knees shake. That smile.

Bang! The door to the room swung open. In the doorway was the healer Harry had seen when he came in, she was clutching an old woman.

"I'm sorry Mr. Potter but she absolutely insisted that she see you. We told her to wait but—" the old woman wiggled out of the healers grip and stepped forward into the room.

She had frizzy hair that was mostly gray with traces of brown. She wore a gauzy shawl and had chunky bangles, covered with shining sequins and she wore thick glasses that made her eyes look like two over sized marbles.

"Trelawney…" Harry heard Hermione whisper. Harry squinted; it was in fact his old Divination professor. Trelawney opened her mouth and in the same trance-like voice she used when she foretold a true prophecy said,

"The second child of the one who

Defeated the Dark Lord before

A War beckons at his door

Perish or Triumph, Rise or Fall

The third soul though tainted decides it all

Intertwined fates, one choice will tip the scale

Whether the second child succeeds or fails

The second child will not tempted, he cannot be turned

But his greatest ally may watch him burn

His role is invaluable, and death he accepts

To come from behind and play the final steps

Be warned this prophecy has come in three

But only one has come to me"

Trelawney's voice receded back into her throat. Her head rolled down then up. When she looked back at Harry she no longer looked as though she were in a trance. Instead she seemed to be quite aware and very confused.

She glanced around the room, her gold bangles clanging as she shuffled. "Harry?" she asked when her large gray eyes stopped at him.

Harry stood completely still as if he had been petrified.

When Trelawney got no response from Harry, she turned to Ron and Hermione who were holding hands and looking to Harry with worried expressions on their faces. She then looked to Ginny only to see her emerald eyes were filled with tears.

"What has happened?" Trelawney asked in her usual misty voice. Harry's pale face tightened, his jaw clenched. His pale clammy hands curled into fist, which trembled at his sides.

"Get her out of here," Ron said giving the Healer a desperate look. The healer grabbed the divination teacher and ushered her out. Harry looked to Ginny, Ron and Hermione eyes turned looked back and forth between them both.

"Albus." Ginny said in a weak voice. Harry nodded and rested his head on her hands. His son, his two-year-old son, his sweet mild mannered second son had received his first prophecy. And there was nothing Harry could do to change it.

------------------------Ghouls Swamp------------------------

The room was small, and humid. Scented lavender candles were strategically places to give the room a dull but present light source. An old fashioned cherry wood table was placed in the center; on it was a large oriental lantern.

On the sides of the room against the wall were bookshelves each five or six levels high with large books covered in cobwebs and dried blood. A young man in his twenties entered the room with very pretty woman in his arms.

"The Baroness will reward us richly for this Glacier! We'll be able to buy a luxurious place and have little tots running about the place. We'll get married." the young man said, his blue eyes bright with pride and adoration. The pretty woman in his arms named Glacier blushed, her tan skin was smooth and clear and her full lips were stretched into a wide and dazzling smile.

"And we'll be together." Glacier said, her voice was softy and melodic. The young man smiled and enveloped her in his arms. "Always." He whispered into her long black hair.

"Forgive me for interrupting this… heartwarming moment." The young couple pulled away and bowed as a tall woman in a midnight blue cloak entered the room. "No apology is necessary my lady." The young man said bowing.

"Please take a seat my Lady." Glacier said scurrying towards the table and pulling back a chair. The Baroness took the seat and the young man sat down opposite her. Glacier took the seat at the head of the table.

"Why have you called me forth today, Payrus?" The Baroness asked. The young man smiled confidently and took Glaciers hand. "Glacier told a prophecy. One that concerns your plan."

The Baronesses yellow eyes widened slightly. "I see." she turned to Glacier. "Would my lady like to hear it now, or shall we give you the crystal ball?" Glacier asked holding out a small crystal ball towards the Baroness.

The Baroness shook her head. "I would prefer to hear it from the source." Glacier nodded and folded her hands and closed her eyes.

When she reopened them, they were glazed as though she was in a trance.

"Perish or Triumph, Rise or Fall

The first soul heir to the Dark Lord before

A tainted soul decides it all

Three fates intertwined, the third tips the scale

The third soul decides who shall prevail

Born the day the moon and sun reverse

Heir to the family of Knight

Savior or undoing

But be warned this prophecy has come in three

And only one has come to me"

Glaciers eyes closed and her neck drooped, then she opened her eyes and looked up. "We haven't been able to figure out what all of it means." Glacier said looking to Payrus.

Payrus nodded. "But we have figured out the last part. The prophecy said your savior or enemy would be born the heir of the family of Knight." he gestured to Glacier.

"Glacier knows of a child who was born last week, she is the daughter of Maria Knight. Heir to Knight family. She is the child the prophecy speaks of." Payrus said confidently.

The Baroness gave no reaction. "And that is the only proof you have? Her surname?"

"Of course not my Lady. What Payrus forgot to mention was that, " Glacier said. " the girl was born during a solar eclipse. The day the moon and sun reverse."

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