Prophecies, Love and the Ancient Magic
By The Haydster
Disclaimer: The characters in this story are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling.
Warning. This story will contain slash (gay love), and is set in Harry's 7th year. This story does not comply with Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Chapter 3: Serenades and Truces
From chapter 2:
"Harry, the prophecy states that to vanquish Voldemort, you need to fall in love"
"Fall in love! Isn't it bad enough as is? How am I supposed to fall in love to defeat Voldemort!" Harry exploded.
"Harry, I don't expect you to calm down, but please sit down and hear me out." Dumbledore said, unruffled. Harry sat down, fuming.
"Harry, you have been through more than anyone your age. You have handled what many fully grown wizards could not. Don't you believe that you deserve love, regardless of any prophecy? The prophecy means what it says. It says that Voldemort will be judged and punished. As you are the only one that can vanquish him, it means that you will find love, as you need love to defeat him. So, in a way the prophecy gives us good news."
Harry looked calmer, but then something occurred to him. "Professor, but if I love someone, it makes them a target!"
"That is why I thought you would not take this news well. It is in your nature to push people away to protect them. Love is the one power that Voldemort has not, and it will be his undoing. Do not be afraid to love, Harry." Dumbledore told him, calmly.
"Sir, how will I know, though?" Harry asked, calming down.
"Harry, it is the same as with the original prophecy. If you love them you make them the person referred to, just like Voldemort made you the one to vanquish him by marking you. I am sorry that this burden falls on you. If you need to talk to me at any time, you know the password. By the way, the password to Gryffindor tower is 'fancy towels'. I suggest you get a good nights rest before tomorrow's lessons"
After leaving Dumbledore's office Harry ducked behind a tapestry that concealed a short cut to Gryffindor tower. At the portrait hole the Fat Lady was there, as always. "Hello Harry, it's good to see you again. Password?" she asked cheerfully. She swung open as soon as Harry said the password and he entered the common room. He found Ron and Hermione waiting for him.
After they greeted him, Hermione got straight to the point, as usual. "What did Dumbledore want to see you about?"
Harry explained the new prophecy, and its implications. Hermione said that she'd have a look in the library to try and find out who the fifth person was. Ron asked Harry which girls he liked.
Harry hedged around that question. He hadn't told his friends, but he hadn't been attracted to any girls since Cho. He had, however, had a few erotic dreams about other boys. He didn't know whether this meant he was bi, or whether it was just the fact that it all went so badly with Cho. After chatting for a while they all went to bed. Luckily Harry was able to get to sleep before Ron started snoring.
The next morning Harry woke up still confused about how he was supposed to fall in love, and how that was supposed to defeat Voldemort. After waking up Ron, they met Hermione in the common room and went down to breakfast.
A flutter of wings signaled the arrival of the morning owl post. Neville received his usual parcel of stuff that he had forgotten to pack, and a new remembrall (he had lost the last one). Harry looked across at the Slytherin table and noticed that Draco was sitting without Crabbe and Goyle. In fact, he was sitting without anyone near him, and he hadn't received any post. When he remarked on this to Ron and Hermione, Ron replied with "Looks like the snakes have exiled the ferret." Hermione looked thoughtful, and mentioned that she thought she knew why, again, but said they would have to discuss it somewhere private.
Harry was enjoying pancakes with maple syrup when an owl dropped a letter above his plate. His seekers reflexes allowed him to catch it before it hit his pancakes. It was just addressed to Harry Potter, with no return address. He pulled out his wand and cast a revealing charm, and it glowed green, showing that there was nothing dangerous.
As soon as he opened it, the letter gained a life of its own, just like a howler. Harry started to put his hands up to shield his ears, but instead of shouting, it began to sing.
It's
the thing that you do It's the way you make me feel I'm going to make you
mine It's the way you make me feel Make me feel , make
me feel When I look into
your eyes It's the way you make me feel Make me feel , make
me feel Tell me how can I
walk away
So physical
It's the thing that you
say
So flammable
You know I can't resist
Boy it's such a
shame
Do you belong to another
I don't wanna hurt nobody
but
my heart just can't hold back
The way you make me feel
Spinning my world around
Tell me how
can I walk away
I don't care what they say
I'm loving you
anyway
It's the way you make me feel
It's not impossible
Got to let you know
I'm
irresistible
Baby can't you see
You're the one for me
But
you belong to another
I don't wanna hurt nobody
But my heart
just can't hold back
The
way you make me feel
Spinning my world around
Tell me how can
I walk away
I don't care what they say
I'm loving you
anyway
It's the way you make me feel
Make me feel , make me feel
Everytime you smile at me
Oh I go weak inside
Baby
I just can't hide my love
The way you make me feel
Spinning my world around
Tell me how
can I walk away
I don't care what they say
I'm loving you
anyway
It's the way you make me feel
Make me feel , make me feel
I don't care what they say
I'm loving you anyway
It's
the way you make me feel
It's the way you make me feel
"It's the way you make me feel" by Steps
After the last word died away, the letter fluttered to the table, and Harry wished he could evaporate. All the girls at the Gryffindor table had "cute" looks on their faces and all the guys were laughing. Harry blushed bright red, and tried hard to act like he hadn't just been serenaded by an anonymous letter.
As he returned to his breakfast, still blushing, he noticed that the letter still contained a piece of parchment. Pulling it out, he noticed that his anonymous admirer had sent him a letter, as well as a song.
Dear Harry,
Please forgive the song if it embarrassed you. I want you to know that I meant every word of it.
I regret to say that I have fallen in love with you. I know you probably have heard this from others, but I love you for being Harry, not The Boy Who Lived.
I don't believe that you could ever return my feelings, but know that you are always loved. Please let me know if you can forgive me for this. Your owl will know how to find me.
All my love,
Your secret valentine
Harry immediately tried to hide the note, but Ron saw it and snatched it out of his hands. After reading it, Ron said "Harry, you've got a secret admirer" and before Harry could intercept it, he passed the note to Hermione, who got a "so sweet" look on her face. Thankfully she passed the note back to Harry after that, who promptly put it in his pocket along with the envelope.
"Well, I can't see what she needs forgiving for, but I guess you should 'forgive' her for loving you, Harry" Hermione stated matter-of-factly. Harry was still blushing red, and wished that Hermione hadn't said that.
Eventually the torture of breakfast was replaced by something far worse: Potions class. Harry, Ron and Hermione were on their way there when they ran into Draco Malfoy "I see the famous Harry Potter has got a love note. Always love the attention, don't you Potter" Draco drawled in his usual tone. "Shove off Malfoy" Harry shot back. "You loved the whole hall hearing about it, didn't you?"
"Why are you so interested Malfoy, did you send it?" Harry fired back, staring into Draco's face. Those eyes, their not angry. They look... empty.
Draco saw surprise in Harry's face as they made eye contact, and he quickly turned away and almost ran to the potions classroom. I hate this role, but what else can I do?
"Good on you, Harry! You stared down the ferret."
"Thank goodness it didn't come to hexes, as it usually does"
They reached the potions classroom and took their seats just as Snape came in. Harry and Ron paired off and Hermione paired off with Neville so he didn't make too bad a mess.
"Today we will be making a weightlessness potion. This potion is complex, and I don't expect most of you dunderheads to get it right. Be warned, if it comes into contact with you before it has simmered long enough, wherever it touches will turn red and boils will sprout as well" Snape gave a pointed look towards Neville, who gulped. He waved his wand at the blackboard and instructions appeared on it. With another wave of his wand the door to the storage cupboard swung open. "You have 2 hours, starting now."
Harry collected the ingredients from the student stores while Ron looked up the page in their textbook. Snape was right, the potions book was very clear about the dangers of getting any unfinished potion on you.
Snape was quiet during the lesson, just making his usual snide comments to Gryffindor in general. When their potions were simmering, he directed his comments at Harry personally.
"I see you seem to have made the wrong potion again Potter" Harry was not in the mood for this, and his face turned red, but he held his temper in reign.
"With you're abysmal skills it's amazing how you stay alive when those around you die"
Harry kept his mouth shut, but his potion started to bubble wildly.
"And now you potion is bubbling, which it should not be doing. You aren't even fit to care for a dog." Harry leapt to his feet, about to unleash a tirade at Snape.
Harry had just opened his mouth when his potion flew out of his cauldron directly at Snape. The whole class looked at Snape as he sprouted boils all over his body. "Two hundred points from Gryffindor!" He roared before collapsing.
Madam Pomfrey arrived on the scene and levitated Professor Snape to the infirmary. Class was quickly dismissed. Everyone left the classroom quickly, to enjoy their free hour.
How Snape had been drenched by Harry's potion was the talk of the school at lunch. The Gryffindors treated him like a hero, the Slytherins glared at him and the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were happy, as they hated Snape in general.
Herbology was uneventful, except when Seamus got a nasty bite from a Fanged Geranium. He was out of the infirmary by dinner. Ron bolted down his dinner as usual, and rushed off to meet Dean in the common room for a chess match. Soon after he had left Hermione left to start on their homework (on the first day!). Harry had a leisurely dinner of shepherd's pie and was among the last to leave the dining hall. As soon as he had left the hall, Draco walked up to him. "Hello, Potter" He said, without malice.
"Malfoy" Harry spat.
"Potter, I need a private word with you, in my room"
"Give me one good reason you're not going to hex me"
Draco pointed at the Head Boy badge on his robes. "I don't want to lose this"
Harry followed him suspiciously, with one hand on his wand.
Once they reached the fourth floor Draco whispered a password to the portrait of Sir Rodney the Ridiculous, who swung open, revealing a hole much like the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. Harry climbed in and looked around the room. The room was empty apart from Draco, who looked amused at Harry's surprise. "I did say I wasn't going to hex you. Letting other's hex you would be just as bad for my position."
The head boy room was decorated in Slytherin colours. Along with the usual four poster, it had a table and chairs, a couch, a desk and a door that looked like it lead into a private bathroom.
Harry sat down in one of the chairs. "Malfoy, state your business so I can be gone"
Draco sat down opposite him. "It's very simple. I want a truce" Harry's jaw dropped. "I was to get the Dark Mark these holidays. I refused" Draco pushed his sleeve up, showing unmarked skin. "Dumbledore has agreed to keep me safe. He is willing to induct me into the Order, as I made an unbreakable vow with him. I don't want to fight you anymore. I'm sorry for this morning. I am trying not to start the fights, but it is a hard habit to break"
Harry finally came to his senses. "Malfoy, why should I believe a word of what you say?"
"For the simple fact that I can say 'Number twelve, Grimmauld Place' which I wouldn't be able to do if I hadn't been told by Dumbledore, who is the secret keeper"
Harry knew he was telling the truth then. Under the Fidelis Charm, no one could speak the name of Headquarters unless they had been told by Dumbledore and they were speaking to someone else privy to the information.
"Very well, Malfoy. I believe you."
"Thanks. I really want to apologise for everything I have done. I don't want to be like that anymore I would also like you to keep all this to yourself. Please don't tell anyone, not even Weasley or Granger" Harry saw only sincerity and hope in his eyes.
"I accept your apology, and I will keep it quiet. Also, if you need to talk, I'm here. I know what it's like to be alone"
"Again, thanks. I may take you up on that"
"Bye, Malfoy"
"Goodbye, Potter"
With that, Harry left for Gryffindor Tower, feeling surprised but happy.