Chapter 9: The Beginning
Albus awoke in the presidential suite of hospital rooms. Sunlight flooded the large room from a window on his right. Ashley was asleep on a cot next to his bed. There were three empty cots next to her. James was asleep in the recliner on the far wall.
"Morning sunshine. Nice of you to join us." Harry was sitting on a love seat on the other side of the door from James' recliner. He smiled. "Lily and Mom are grabbing a quick bite in the cafeteria. You want anything?"
Albus shook his head. "Am I dead?" he asked.
Harry conjured a chair next to the bed and took a seat. "What do you remember?" he asked.
Albus looked down. "Everything up till that Travers guy pointed his wand at me. I thought he was going to kill me. I think I remember him casting the spell, but I'm not dead, so he must not have."
Harry leaned back in his chair. "Do you know what Adam Travers means?" Albus shook his head again. "Adam is originally a Hebrew name meaning earth. Originally Travers was a surname for a gatekeeper. So Adam Travers means 'Earth's gatekeeper.' I believe he is taking that as a title and motto. But even Earth's Gatekeeper can't beat the Master of Death," Harry said with a wink, placing a shinny, silver cloak on his lap.
A look of recognition spread across Albus' face. "The cloak," he whispered.
"Death cannot find you under this," Harry finished, patting the cloak. "I'm curious. Did you know that wand was going to explode?"
Albus shrugged. "I knew that it would backfire. I was hoping that Travers would grab it first. But the wand still called me master. Binding its owner was one thing, but it wouldn't kill its master."
Harry smiled, "You have studied a lot about me, haven't you?"
Albus shrugged. "That is information I'd rather keep to myself he said." Albus' smile faded. "I failed dad. Travers escaped. I didn't take him down."
Harry reached out and grabbed his hand. "Al, I thought you had studied me. I never defeated Voldemort. Never. Most times I ran for my life. Voldemort escaped me 5 times. There's no shame in Travers getting away."
Albus looked at James. "You think he'll ever accept me?" he asked, almost sheepishly.
"According to your mother, James spoke of nothing but you all day. He didn't eat, didn't sleep. He kept calling the ministry to see if they had heard anything about you. When I returned home, I had to trick him just to get out of there. When I summoned Ginny, your sister and your brother both refused to be left behind. He was the one who found you in that graveyard. He may tease you, but he loves you Al. He'd do anything for you." Harry let those words seep in. "But, if he does tease you again, know that you have something which makes you unquestionably a Potter."
"What's that?" Albus asked.
"Look at your left arm," Harry said. Albus raised his arm and saw nothing. Then he turned it to look at the top of the arm. There, in the middle of the forearm was a scarlet, lightning shaped scar. Albus stared at it for what seemed like an eternity. "The cloak only blocks Death," Harry said. "The spell got through. I'm not sure if you'll have the connection I had with Voldemort, but the scar will be there. I'd wear long sleeves though."
Four days later, the whole Weasley extended family (including Albus Potter) and Ashley Wright were gathered in the Potter's living room, enjoying a massive breakfast courtesy of Harry with a little help from the Hogwarts house elves; whom Hermione had forced to take breaks. Their conversation was interrupted by a tap at the window. Albus got up and let the owl in. The owl flew in silently and dropped a letter on Harry's lap. He opened it and read it.
"I'm sorry everybody. It's Cho. She said that Professor Trelawney has made another prophecy."
"But she only makes predictions about..." Hermione began.
"I know. That's why I'm leaving. Go ahead and go to Diagon Alley. I'll meet you all at George's." And before anyone could protest he was gone.
Harry moved quickly through the halls of the ministry, ignoring the planes poking him in the face. When you leave for a few days, the memos are horrible. He headed into the lifts. He emerged on floor nine, "Department of Mysteries" barely audible behind him. He headed down a long hallway with a dark door at the end. Harry hated the place.
Cho was waiting for him at the door. She led him through the rooms and into a dimly lit library full of shelves and shelves of crystal orbs. However, there were significantly less than the first time Harry had been here; mainly because Harry and his friends had destroyed them running from Death Eaters.
"We're not sure what this is about," Cho said as she led him down the aisle. But Trelawney only talks to us about the Dark Lord, so we decided to contact you."
They were passing row 25. "And if it is not about me. What happens if I touch it?"
"We've made it so that you can touch any of these as you requested."
"I requested that for every auror," Harry said.
"Well, we don't trust anyone else," Cho said, turning down row 33.
She stopped halfway down the row and pointed to a shelf at eye level. There was a plaque which read:
S. P. T. to N. L.
Necromancer
and equal?
Master of Death
Harry took the globe and broke it. A ghostly shape of his old Professor rose from the shards.
The Necromancer has marked his equal...The third war has begun...Father and Son must fight alone...The snake shall rise, the lion shall fall...The Master of Death will fight with Death...Victory comes when the four fight as one...
"What does that mean?" Cho asked.
Harry sighed. "It means that I need to make a visit to the Minister," he said. "'The Third War has begun.' This time the Ministry will be ready, I promise you."
END OF PART ONE
