The Prophecy for Christmas
by Healer Pomfrey

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

10 December

Harry followed the professor's example and took a seat on one of the comfortable looking sofas, which were arranged around an old, wooden table in the middle of the large hall. The hall was void of any windows; however, it was very bright with light coming through the glass roof. 'How can it be so bright outside although it's so early in the morning?' Harry wondered in confusion.

The walls around the hall were completely covered with portraits. Some of the paintings only held one person, in others he could see couples or even more people.

"I believe that the people in these portraits must be the heirs of the Founders," Snape suddenly spoke up, pointing to a painting at the far side. "See, your picture is right next to the one with your parents and myself."

Just when Harry stared at the portrait of himself, the portrait swung back, revealing four people, who were dressed in strange clothes.

"The Founders," Snape whispered and rose from the sofa. "Professors," he said aloud, inclining his head, and Harry quickly followed his example.

The four Founders greeted Severus and Harry and introduced themselves, before Godric Gryffindor explained, "We have called you here to help you with an important task. My wife, Rowena, is a Seer, and she had many visions of Harry's future. Together with our two friends here, we have spent much time discussing the matter and searching for a way to help you."

"You must be more willing to do something by yourselves than during this last month," Salazar Slytherin growled, giving Harry a disgusted look.

"Easy Salazar, be nice to Harry. He's only a first year," Helga lightly reprimanded her husband, before she turned to Godric. "Harry won't be able to travel anywhere today," she told the Headmaster of her own time, giving Harry a sharp look.

Seeing the two young wizards look from Helga to Godric in surprise, Rowena Ravenclaw spoke up. "These paintings are the portraits of our heirs through the ages, and we, as well as our heirs, are able to use them in order to travel to the specific time of each of the paintings. However," she added in a sterner voice, "in spite of the fact that the time travel takes mere seconds, as you just have to go through a door, it affords a huge amount of magic, and you may only do so if you're completely healthy and well rested."

"Moreover," Helga threw in, "you must not travel back on the same day but always have to get a good night's sleep before going back or travelling further into another time."

"Excuse me, Professors," Harry asked, hesitantly, "to which time would we want or need to travel?"

Snape let out a long sigh. "Mr. Potter is not aware of either of the prophecies that have been made about him, nor does he probably know about the Dark Lord or the war that took his parents from this world."

Slytherin scoffed. "Now then it's your task as his uncle to inform him about these matters."

Snape looked at the older Potions Master and slightly shook his head. "Unfortunately, Headmaster Dumbledore deems Harry too small to know about the first prophecy and has thus forbidden us to inform the boy about the burden the magical world is placing upon him."

"Very well then," Godric said in understanding and proceeded to tell a completely shocked Harry about the first prophecy. Before Harry could voice his opinion, he continued, "Don't worry Leo, it won't be so bad. Due to our meddlings and plans, your Divination professor uttered another, new prophecy at the welcoming feast this year, and we believe that it's going to replace the old one."

"The vanquisher foretold to banish the undead shall unite with his blood. Guided by the celestial presence, Yuletide shall see them united," Snape recited Trelawlney's newest prophecy. "Is it correct to comprehend it in a way that Harry and I must travel back in time to meet the Dark Lord before he becomes active, so that we can try to prevent him from becoming the Dark Lord?" he then queried, quirking an eyebrow at the Founders.

"Exactly," Godric Gryffindor replied, smiling. "In fact, this is one of two possibilities that we came up with, but we're not certain if this will work. However, you still have time to try, and in the worst case we'll inform you early enough of our other plan."

Suddenly, Helga Hufflepuff from the painting of the Founders interrupted their conversation. "Harry, Severus, Madam Pomfrey has just woken up, so you'll have about twenty minutes, before Harry needs to be back in the hospital wing."

"Thank you Professor Hufflepuff," Snape replied, slightly inclining his head, before he turned back to the Founders, who were standing in front of him. "Please allow me one more question," he said, pensively. "When travelling to the past and then back to the future, will we be able to freely choose the date, on which we want to arrive?"

"No my boy," Slytherin answered this time. "You're able to choose the year within the life time of the persons in the portrait that you use; however, you cannot choose the date within the year. For example, if you travel tomorrow, on the tenth of October, you'll arrive at your destiny at the tenth of October in that specific year."

'Which means that we only have two and a half months until Christmas, and until then we have to fulfil the prophecy,' Harry thought on the way back to the hospital wing. He voiced his thoughts to the professor, before he suggested, "Let's speak with Madam Pomfrey about it. She'll surely understand and let me go, so that we can travel to the past right away."

"Your condition has to improve first," Snape replied, thoughtfully. "On the other hand, we really don't have time to lose. There's another problem though."

"What's the problem?" Harry asked in confusion. 'It seems simple though. We just travel to when Voldemort is a first year, then I'll friend him and prevent him from doing evil things.'

Snape cast him an incredulous look. "Don't you think we'll be missed here if we just vanish from the spot? And in case our mission is unsuccessful, maybe we'll be back in two months' time."

"Hmmm," Harry replied in understanding. 'That's true,' he thought. 'Ron and Hermione would surely wonder where I was.'

"I'm going to speak with the Headmaster," Snape said in determination, just when Madam Pomfrey came to check on Harry. "I'll come back right afterwards."

"No sir, please wait," Harry said, pleadingly. "Madam Pomfrey, we've lots of things to do because of the prophecy. Can you please release me right away, so that I can accompany Professor Snape?"

Pomfrey sighed. "Severus, are you going to take care of Harry?"

The Potions Master turned his eyes to view the Healer, who had been his first real friend apart from Lily Evans, the only love of his life. "Poppy, we might have to time travel, but we're going to remain together in any case, and I'll look after Harry."

"I don't like it," the Healer replied, sighing. "Where exactly are you going to go if I may ask?" she enquired, giving the two young wizards a questioning look.

"To the time when the Dark Lord was a first year," Snape told her and informed his friend of the plan.

"Oh well, good luck for both of you. I hope to see you back soon. At that time, my grandmother Theresa Pomfrey was the Healer at Hogwarts," she added, thoughtfully. "Severus, please take Harry to her and let her check on him. I'd feel much better knowing that you did."

Harry profusely thanked the Healer and hesitantly followed the Potions Master to the Headmaster's office, deep in thoughts.

tbc...

Thank you so much for your kind comments! More tomorrow...