Chapter 37 – Back to the Future Again

Sirius observed that Gracie overcame a lot of her ingrained shyness during the Valentine's Day dance. Whether it was due to the closeness of Sirius and the three people that Gracie had come to see as close siblings and friends or the presence of so many other people her age was something that Sirius couldn't say.

Gracie was introduced to a lot of teenage witches and wizards alike as a close relative of Sirius Black. There were many students that came over during the course of the dance to congratulate the Potters about their performance or just to say hello. Gracie heard a lot of gossip about the school, and became just a little envious of the number of friends that her friends had.

Harry or one of his wives had taken Gracie up to the edge of the dance floor a few times so she could see the students dancing. She was very nervous about being one on one with anyone or having someone hold her close enough for a slow dance. Ginny and Hermione came up a one point to include her in a three way hug and she found herself slowly talking and moving around the open space in a sort of a dance. She was happy that they had made the effort to include her but she turned down all invitations from the young wizards that were intrigue by Gracie's good looks.

Hermione, Ginny and Harry danced together or with their friends and Sirius even took a turn around the dance floor with Professor McGonagall once. Gracie was never left alone at the table and eventually had some conversations with some of the other Weasleys or the other people that she had seen at Potter Manor. She reluctantly left with Sirius at the end of the dance but gave thank you hugs to Ginny, Hermione and Harry.

It was only a few days later that Gracie shyly asked and received permission from Sirius first and then Dumbledore to visit Harry and the others at school. At first it was a couple of hours during a Saturday afternoon but the four had such a good time together that it quickly became a semi-regular occurrence as Gracie could find time to come and visit. One of the conditions of her visiting was keeping up with the learning she was doing at home. Her reading had progressed to the point that she was reading almost to an entry point of Hogwarts. The other subjects that were taught by Mrs. Weasley, Andromeda Tonks and the others at Potter Manor were quickly bringing the animagus up to a mental and emotional level that she should have achieved normally.

Gracie was a little intrigue by the amount and diversity of the homework the three Potters had and none of them begrudged her looking over their shoulders while they were reading or explaining the spells or other subjects that they were trying to learn. Gracie eventually asked if it was okay to spend a night over at the Hearth and a class day with the Potters. Needless to say Ginny and Hermione quickly agreed and made up the bed in one of the two smaller bedrooms. The three girls sat up late talking in Gracie's bedroom and Harry wasn't too surprised that they were still laughing and giggling together when he retired to sleep.

Gracie was a little nervous having breakfast in the Great Hall but she and the others took some seats near the end of the Gryffindor table where they could sit by themselves. It didn't take long for some other students to pass by or join them. Neville and Susan came and sat down and began talking about the day they were about to have.

When Daphne and Tracey stopped by to say hello, Gracie just stared at them and her mouth dropped. "Those robes. They're Slytherins."

Harry stopped his conversation with Neville when he saw how alarmed Gracie had become. "Gracie, it's okay. Whatever Sirius has told you about the Houses and the rivalry is very out of date."

"But Gryffindors and Slytherins hate each other."

Hermione stood up and went to stand beside Daphne. "Not all Gryffindors are good and not all Slytherins are evil Gracie. Everybody is an individual. I'm wearing Gryffindor robes now right?"

Hermione made a pass with her wand and her robes vanished. "Am I any different now that I just have my regular clothes on?"

"No."

"Okay and if I were to do this…" Hermione waved her wand again and she and Daphne switched robes. Daphne was wearing the scarlet and gold of Gryffindor and Hermione was now in the unfamiliar silver and green of Slytherin.

"…would I be a different person or less of a friend to you just because of what I was wearing?"

"I guess not Hermione."

Ginny stood up and waggled her fingers a little ominously. "And if somebody banished all their clothes away you would see that you'd have two very attractive females that only differed in how their bits were laid out."

"Ginny!" The only reason Hermione and Daphne didn't leap across the table to attack the redhead was that Harry had already grabbed her hands and forced her to sit down. Both girls were blushing furiously but Tracey Davis was almost incoherent with laughter. Daphne swung around to slap her friend but Tracey danced away. "If it wasn't the Great Hall, you know you wouldn't mind showing Harry, Hermione or Ginny those delectable bits."

Daphne slapped a hand over Tracey's mouth and dragged her away from the three Potters. Neville had covered his ears and lowered his head to the table. Harry's mouth had dropped at Tracey's words but his wives were smiling and laughing together. The two Slytherin girls were almost back to their table when Harry finally found his voice and called out to Daphne. She swung around quickly although her cheeks were still red.

"Miss Greengrass, my youngest wife apologizes for her cheek and you're invited to the Hearth tonight to properly hear an apology and demand compensation. You may want to bring along Miss Davis too for that."

Daphne nodded and then took a deep breath. "Thank you Lord Potter…Harry. Can I bring my own paddle or will you provide one of your own?"

Harry's sleeve was being tugged by a nervous Ginny but Harry just ignored her. "Ladies choice Miss Greengrass."

"Thank you Harry." Daphne looked down at her robes and brought out her wand to cancel the color changes. She pushed the still giggling Tracey to a seat and then sat down beside her to grab some toast and tea.

Gracie turned to look at a smiling Harry. "Then you have friends in Slytherin?"

Neville volunteered to answer that question. "We all have some very good friend in Slytherin and throughout the other houses. We're all just trying to get along as best we can because the house rivalries don't mean much to some students here. There are of course other students that don't see things like Harry and the rest of us do and they keep to their own house mates for the most part. I think it's easier on everyone if we aren't trying to one-up each other."

"I think I understand that now. I guess it makes sense to have more friends than just the people in your own house."

"You've already started that Gracie. The adults that have visited Potter Manor and have been teaching you all belonged to different houses at one point. Has it really made a difference what color robe they wore when they were here at Hogwarts?"

"No, not at all. Although I think I'd like to be in Gryffindor if or when I do get sorted."

Susan said that any of the four houses would probably be better for Gracie's addition. Susan stood up a few minutes later and placed a kiss on the top of Neville's head. "I've got to go to Charms now and you better hurry along down to Hagrid's."

Everybody hurried and finished their breakfast and joined the rest of the Slytherin and Gryffindor third years on the path down to Hagrid's hut. Gracie walked with Harry and they talked about some of the more 'interesting' animals that the Professor had introduced to them over the year.

Harry paused on one of the switchbacks on the hill and saw that Ginny and Hermione had chosen to walk down with Daphne and Tracey. Harry was glad to see that the four were laughing and talking together.

It was almost funny what was going on further down the trail a dozen feet or so. Ron was between Cosmos and Lutharius Ferraforte and having a pointed discussion about something Quidditch related. (With Ron, it was usually Quidditch or food.) All three turned back to look at him once and then resumed their discussion. Harry wasn't sure if he was the topic of the discussion or not but he thought it was certainly interesting that Ron wasn't quite so adamant about his hatred of all Slytherins. He wasn't sure if was the result of having Narcissa Black for Potions instead of Professor Snape but Ron was doing much better in all his classes this year. Of course Luna's influence couldn't be underestimated either. Harry put the puzzling discussion between Ron and the Ferrafortes aside as Hagrid began his lecture.

Today's lesson involved peering into a large water tank that smelled distinctly of salt water. Hagrid reached in at one point with one massive hand and pulled out something red that looked like a cross between a fish and a porcupine. "This is a Shrake; something that only that a few of you may encounter in your lifetime. They don't come up near the shore or beaches much. This species feeds on other fish. It's also a little bit on the lazy side and goes after those that have already been caught up in Muggle fishing nets. Some people think a bunch of wizard fishermen created these about a hundred years ago because the Muggles were poaching on the magical fishing grounds. I don't know about that but there's still boats today that come back to harbor with their nets all tattered or missing."

Waterproofed dragonhide gloves were set on a table besides the tank. Every student got a chance to reach in and hold up one of the sharp tipped fish so that the others could make drawings about them and make notes. Seamus was totally surprised when one of the Shrakes felt the need to regurgitate its stomach contents on him. The scent of half-digested webbing combined with the bile from the fish made Hagrid excuse Mr. Finnegan from the remainder of the class because of the smell and the fact that his robes started to disintegrate. Seamus hoped he could get back to Gryffindor tower to retrieve another robe before his shirt also ended up with a mess of holes. Of course the cries of "Take it off" from a few of his classmates helped Seamus quickly disappear. The class ended only a few minutes later.

More than half of the students from Gryffindor also had to hurry along once the lesson in Care of Magical Creatures was ended. They had only a small break before they had to start their class in Divination with Professor Trelawney. Harry watched his classmates hurry back up the hill as he, Hermione and Ginny helped Hagrid clean up after the class.

"I found out what Ron, Cosmos and Lutharius were talking about on the way down here" Ginny said. "It concerns you Mr. Potter."

Harry paused in lowering a semi-frozen halibut into the tank for another of the Shrakes to eat. "Do I really want to know what?"

"It seems there's another debate forming amongst the House teams that we haven't caught wind of yet. It's whether you could go play professional Quidditch right now or not."

Gracie looked puzzled. "There's a professional league? Just for flying around playing Quidditch?"

Ginny nodded but Harry shook his head. "Don't people have anything better to do with their time?"

Both Ginny and Hermione snickered. "Ron was defending you this morning. He was saying that you're good enough to start playing for the Chudley Cannons right now."

"Hermione's good enough to start playing for Ron's favorite team now" Harry said jokingly. He received a slap on his arm from Hermione for that. Hermione would get up on a broom if she had to but preferred to ride along with her husband when they went flying.

Ginny continued on with what she learned from Ron. "It seems that Cosmos and Lutharius were arguing the other side. That you were very good for a school team but you wouldn't have much luck against some of the really good seekers in Europe. Like Victor Krum from Romania, Carlos Rodriguez from Spain or, their favorite, Primo Scaramozza from the Italian national team."

Harry finished feeding the last of the fish to the Shrakes. "I'd better tell Ron he doesn't need to defend me. I probably wouldn't be much good against those three. They already have a lot of international experience that I'll never get. I'll probably never even meet any of those other seekers."

Gracie looked over at Harry. "So you don't have any desire to become a professional Quidditch player?"

Harry slipped an arm around Hermione's shoulders. "As much as I get injured just playing here at Hogwarts? No, but it might be fun if I was a single bloke. I'd really don't want go to a lot of daily practices or on road trips where I had to do without my favorite snugglers for weeks at a time."

Ginny leaned up to give Harry a kiss on the cheek. "Best answer yet Harry but you know Hermione and I would support you if you wanted to actually do that."

"I know Ginny and that's okay. I'll leave the Quidditch career to my brother-in-law; that is if Ron ever gets over his nerves to try out for the house team next year."

"Mum and Dad wanted Ron to pull up his grades this year before he did that. With Wood graduating this year, he'll get his chance to try out for Keeper in the fall."

Harry was about to reply but then his stomach growled. Hermione rolled her eyes but quickly retrieved an apple out of her bag and tossed it to her husband. Harry cut it in half with the jackknife he had in his pocket and handed half to Gracie.

"Didn't you get enough for breakfast?"

"I was a little distracted when somebody threatened to make half the girls in the hall naked."

"It wasn't half the girls – just Daphne. And don't tell me you haven't had a stray thought about the figure under those robes."

"I refuse to answer that assumption on the grounds that it's not a proper thought for a husband who's totally devoted to his wives."

"You refuse to answer because you don't want to get in any trouble with said wives."

Gracie was trying to hold in her laughter but not succeeding very well. She really liked this playfulness between the three of them. Harry waved a finger at her and hoped it wouldn't turn into three against him again.

"That may be true or not but I refuse to answer anyway."

Ginny laughed and then hugged her husband. "How about we head to the library until lunch? Hermione said she would help Gracie find a few books about transfiguration and Animagus forms. That way we can help her if she has questions or trouble understanding the text."

Harry held out his hand and Gracie let him help her back up the path to the school. The four made their way into the library and Hermione helped Gracie understand how the books were arranged. They found two books for Gracie and she sat down and tried making her way through the books as Harry and his wives worked on their Potions. The end of session bell sounded around the school and Harry and the others packed up their bags. Hermione checked out a book for Gracie that she wanted to continue reading and they all made their way back to the Great Hall.

Harry was surprised to see most of their third year housemates already well into lunch when they walked in. They took seats close to their friends and Hermione asked Neville why they were released early.

"It was the strangest thing today" Neville started.

"Yeah, much stranger than normal. We were all reading our tea leaves and Trelawney…"

"Professor Trelawney Ron" Hermione reminded her brother-in-law.

"Right, Professor Trelawney was looking into the bottom of my teacup and said she saw a Grim in the tailings. Guess it was my turn this week to get the sentence of doom. Dean Thomas was told to make out his will last week during class. But, anyway, then the professor got a funny sort of look on her face and almost fell on me. She seemed real dizzy."

"More dizzy than normal anyway" Pavarti said. "Neville and I managed to catch her before she fell totally over and lowered her into an open seat. She cancelled class at that point and sent Dean to the Infirmary for Madame Pomfrey. We kind of waited around outside of the ladder up to the North Tower before Madame Pomfrey came hurrying up. She dismissed us from hanging around and floated herself up to the classroom. We heard Madame Pomfrey yelling out for Fawkes just before she closed the trap door so we think it might have been something pretty bad."

Both Hermione and Ginny looked worried at that point. Neither one of them held much belief in the subject of Divination or prophecies in general but Sybill Trelawney had already issued a type of death sentence in a prior prophecy about Harry. The three had secretly hoped that she could fully explain that prophecy to them someday. Having her seriously sick worried them however.

Lunch was almost finished when Professor McGonagall came into the hall and made her way directly to where the Potters and Gracie sat. "Good day, Miss Churchbright. Are you enjoying your visit and the day of classes so far?"

"Yes Minerva."

Ginny nudged Gracie with her elbow and whispered something quietly. Gracie blushed. "I apologize Professor McGonagall; it was improper of me to address you like that while here at school."

"You're forgiven this once Miss Churchbright. It is not a habit that you should get into if you ever want to attend classes here."

"Yes Ma'am. It won't happen again."

"If you are finished with lunch, you may accompany me to the Transfiguration classroom if you'd like. I have a class with Hufflepuffs if you wouldn't mind attending a first year class and I'll explain what the students will be attempting to do. The Headmaster requests that you and your wives report to his office Mr. Potter."

"Yes ma'am." Harry, Hermione and Ginny picked up their bookbags and headed out of the Great Hall to the worried looks of their classmates. Professor McGonagall turned to look at the rest of the Gryffindor table. "I hope none of you are late to your next class. It would be unfortunate if such usually prompt students would receive demerits speculating about things that may not concern them."

Professor McGonagall then started talking to Gracie and the two females left the Great Hall while the rest of Harry's friends wondered what the Headmaster wanted them for this time.

That question was foremost on the minds of the three Potters as they approached Mrs. Gowdie's desk on the seventh floor. Dumbledore's secretary was finishing up a conversation with Professor Trelawney. The professor turned and nodded her head toward the three and then left walking back toward the North Tower and her classroom and office.

"Hello Mrs. Gowdie."

"Good afternoon Harry, Mrs. Potters. Sibyll passed along the message that you and your wives were to go directly up to his office. He's up there with Madame Pomfrey. The three of them must have come back from the Divination classroom with Fawkes assistance because I didn't see any of them go by me."

"Thank you Wilhelmina."

Harry and the others rode up the circular staircase to find the door to Dumbledore's office already open. Harry knocked anyway as he saw that Madame Pomfrey and the headmaster were in a close discussion about something. Both looked up at the sound and Dumbledore waved the trio in.

Madame Pomfrey stood up and Hermione saw that there were three small glasses on the desk. All were empty. "If it's alright with you, I think I'll go back to the infirmary now."

Dumbledore nodded his agreement and Madam Pomfrey said hello to both Hermione and Ginny. When she got to Harry however, she looked him in the eye for a couple of seconds and then surprisingly gave him a brief hug. "I am so sorry about this Mr. Potter."

Harry hadn't any time to puzzle the healer's words or action out before she disappeared down the stairway, closing the office's massive door behind her. Ginny and Hermione had already taken their seats but Harry could see that they were just as confused as he was.

Harry turned to look at Dumbledore. "I'm very confused sir. Was there a reason you needed to see us? Are Professor Trelawney and Madame Pomfrey all right? We heard that the professor took sick in her class."

Instead of replying immediately Dumbledore went over and stroked the head of Fawkes for a couple of seconds before returning to his desk. "To answer your later questions, Professor Trelawney is very tired and will be cancelling her classes for the rest of the day. A good night's sleep will probably have her back up to snuff by tomorrow. Madame Pomfrey has had a certain surprise and shock to her system but she will be quiet fine after a little meditation and maybe another glass of firewhiskey."

"Are we not going to like the reason for those empty firewhiskeys on your desk Professor Dumbledore?"

Dumbledore surprisingly aimed a small smile at Hermione. "You are ever so observant Hermione. Yes there was a reason that Sybyll, Poppy and I had a bracing shot at this time of the day. You may want to take one yourselves after my news."

"Sir?"

"There's no real way to break this news gently Harry. There's been another prophecy made and the three of us that have heard it understand that it concerns you again."

Harry sat down totally gobsmacked as Hermione and Ginny quickly raised their voices in shock and alarm.

Xxxx xxxx

There were a few minutes of silence in Dumbledore's office after he broke the news. Harry's mind seemed to going in a million different directions and he could feel the same sort of reaction coming from Hermione and Ginny.

"It was Professor Trelawney that spoke another prophecy about me?"

"Yes it was and it's a very fortunate thing that her entire class didn't hear it.

"Why fortunate?" asked Ginny.

Hermione was a little relieved at what Dumbledore had said. "Because it's probably very dangerous and the more people that know about it, the harder it would be to keep it secret."

"Very good. Just like the first prophecy about Harry, it would only encourage unwelcome attention and possible threats against him."

That statement generated another round of silence until Harry spoke up again. "It was Madame Pomfrey that was the one to hear what was spoken then. That would explain her comment to me."

Dumbledore nodded and then lifted a small covering that was setting on his desk. A small glass orb was revealed, about 4 inches across, setting in a wooden base. It glowed and pulsed with a glow that seemed to have its own life. "This experience is quite outside anything that Madame Pomfrey has ever dealt with and she has become quite disquieted because of it. She is even now deciding if she would like to be voluntarily Obliviated to remove the experience from her memory. It is one thing to face pain and even death of others as a healer but quite another to deal with an uncertain prophecy about future catastrophes."

'That sounds horrible Harry.'

"Of course; it's about me isn't it? Guess we ought to listen to it first. Anybody want to leave?'

Emphatic mental 'No's' came back to Harry from his wives. "So how do we play that? It is a recording device of sorts, isn't it?"

"All you have to do is touch it Harry and you will hear the words that Poppy did. Professor Trelawney has no memory of what she said – just as before."

Harry stood nervously before the glass orb and wiped a sweaty hand on his pants. He looked at Dumbledore but couldn't read any sign of what the wizard was thinking. He sensed rather than felt Hermione and Ginny come up beside him for support. The time seemed to stretch on until the tension in the room was something you could almost touch.

"There is nothing definite in the prophecy Harry; they are subject to any number of interpretations as Hermione would probably caution you. The orb works on a principle much like what you have seen in a pensieve. In this case a memory from Madame Pomfrey is contained in the orb. There are only four people in the world that may access that specific memory stored there now. The person who made the prophecy, the person who heard the prophecy and the ones the prophecy concerns. You are one of them. The other…"

Dumbledore let the sentence hang. Harry could only guess who the fourth person was and he wasn't happy about it. He looked back to check on Hermione and Ginny. They were nervously holding hands but were reassuring him that they would still be right beside him no matter what the prophecy was.

Harry reached out and laid his hand on the fragile looking sphere. The orb lit up and Harry took a step back as a deeper version of Sybill Trelawney's voice filled the office.

"The converse one of the lionhearted trine will soon become the fourth… The Chosen One will be a witness and participant in the rebirth of the Dark One…in the place of family death and memories… the vileness shall be awoken by imposture and blood… death and disasters will follow the Dark Lord because of the trickery …..The converse one in the lionhearted trine will soon become the fourth…"

The voice faded away after the second telling and Harry turned and was a little surprised to become the middle of a Mrs. Potter sandwich. Hermione seemed a little hopeful but Ginny was still obviously working the prophecy over in her head.

The three retook their seats and all thought about the words they had just heard. Hermione was the first to voice an opinion. "This one doesn't say you will die Harry. That's better than the other one anyway."

"That's all and good but I'm supposed to participate in raising Tom up from the grave again? Not bloody likely if I have anything to say about it."

Ginny spoke up before Hermione could chastise her husband about his language. "Anybody got any guesses about Harry becoming a fourth?"

"Not a fourth; the fourth. Fourth what?"

"Well there's three of us Potters. Maybe it means we'll add another wife to the mix."

"And maybe you'll have another husband to deal with" Harry said a little testily. The reaction from his better thirds let Harry know what they thought about that idea.

"There is much to think about here" Dumbledore said. "Does death and disasters following the Dark Lord mean that he will be experiencing those things or will they be happening to others? I'm sure we will have further discussions about this matter and I need not tell you to discuss this only with people you trust. But now, we must turn to other matters."

"Other matters? After hearing that?" said Hermione with some righteous indignation.

"I'm afraid that the two Mrs. Potter must hurry along to their Defense class now. Please explain to Professors Lupin and Sirius Black that Harry is accompanying me this afternoon and will be unable to attend their class today."

"Where are we going sir?" Harry asked.

"That prophecy must be turned into the Ministry of Magic. Don't look so alarmed Harry; no one there is going to be listening to the prophecy. But it must be recorded and turned into the Unspeakables to be stored in the Hall of Prophecy."

"Does that really need to be done now?" Harry asked.

"There is a better chance of getting there and back now without Minister Fudge or his friends noticing us than later in the day."

Harry agreed with that piece of logic. He certainly didn't want the Minister poking into his business any more than he had to. "Okay I guess I'm going now then."

Hermione and Ginny stood up and reached for their bookbags. "This isn't going to be dangerous is it Headmaster?"

"No, just a little visit to a part of the Ministry that Lord Potter hasn't been to yet."

"Wouldn't Robb Loxley be a better person to go on this visit?"

"I'm afraid not Ginevra. Lord Gryffindor might draw the wrong type of attention and it would be wrong for him to be carrying a prophecy that concerns Harry Potter."

"Okay, it was just an idea to try and make things easier for Harry."

Harry smiled. "Thanks for thinking about my safety Ginny. You two better hurry up and get to DADA. Tell everyone I'm serving a detention for painting the Headmaster's door."

"But you haven't painted the Headmaster's door Harry."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "I haven't. Yet. Have I?"

Hermione grew thoughtful and then took the five steps over the door and pulled it open. She giggled and then threw it open for the other people in the room to view.

Instead of the normal brown oak finish on the door, the Headmaster's door now held a representation of a movie poster. Two men (one taller, one a little shorter and pudgy) in black suits, fedoras, and sunglasses were standing together in front of an old black and white car. There was a little bit of writing near the top of the door: 'They'll never get caught. They're on a mission from God.'

"Very pretty Harry. But The Blues Brothers?"

"It's a classic Hermione. Ginny loved the car chases."

"Very good Mr. Potter. But I think if my office door is going to be decorated for a few days I would prefer this." Dumbledore waved his wand and the faces of Jake and Elwood were replaced by a stark black slate with a bisected red circle with a cartoon ghost inside. 'COMING TO SAVE THE WORLD THIS SUMMER'

"Minerva and I get out every so often to take in a muggle movie. That one is still one of our favorites."

Ginny and Hermione leaned in to give their husband a quick kiss and hug before they hurried out the Ghostbusters door to class. Harry turned back to see a smiling Dumbledore. "We'll have to sit down some day Headmaster and compare our notes about movies."

"I look forward to it Harry. You bring the popcorn."

Xxxx xxxx

Harry exited the floo were carefully at the Atrium. He had something very delicate in the inside pocket of his robe and didn't want to take the chance of breaking it. He let go a sigh of relief when he realized he hadn't stumbled or fallen like many of the other times he'd used the floo system. Seeing that Dumbledore was waiting for him, Harry hurried to join the short line waiting to go through the visitor's desk. He was very surprised when he saw who was manning the desk at this late time of the lunch hour.

"Good afternoon Madame Bones. Is this one of your regular duties or did the Minister get especially upset with you about something?"

"Hello Lord Potter. No, I haven't been a bad auror. With almost all the others still out searching the countryside for Malfoy and the others, we're a little short of staff inside the building. Just to let you know, I do take a regular turn here. I don't believe in assigning my people to tasks if I won't do the job myself. Your wand please."

Harry handed his wand over for recording and waited until Madame Bones handed it back. He stowed it in his wrist holder and waited for the next questions.

"Are you here in an official capacity Lord Potter?"

Dumbledore had come over to greet Amelia and responded for Harry. "No, it's an unofficial visit today. Just Harry Potter."

"Good then I won't have to notify Cornelius. Your destination today Harry."

Harry tried to keep his voice calm as he replied "Department of Mysteries".

The lack of a reaction from the head of the DMLE made Harry feel a little bit calmer somehow. "Oh, that's a totally different story then. I can see who your escort will be but what is your final destination?"

"The Hall of Prophecy."

Madame Bones nodded as if it was an everyday occurrence but brought up another clipboard for Harry to sign, date, and put down the official time. There was another space open for Harry to sign out and a corresponding time for when he left. Madame Bones handed him an extra-large visitor's badge that was outline in yellow and black.

"You don't want to know how much trouble you'll be in if you lose this badge or wander away from your escorts. Just take my word for it."

Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'll keep an eye on him. We shouldn't be too long."

"On you go then. Nice seeing you again Albus, Harry."

Dumbledore directed Harry to an elevator that stood away from the ones that he had been on before when he visited the Ministry. There was a man in the scarlet and grey uniform of the Unspeakables and he was looking at them very carefully as they go closer to the lift.

"Hello Mr. Walker."

"Good day Professor. May I see your badges please." The man took a careful look at both Dumbledore's and Harry's badges and made a pass over them with his wand. "Sorry for the inconvenience; just making sure they aren't forgeries."

"Quite understandable. This must be one of the extra precautions that Madame Bones was talking about. Let me do the introductions. Mr. Cordell Walker this is Harry Potter. Harry this is Cordell Walker - fellow Gryffindor and an outstanding Keeper in his day. He had the fastest hands I've ever seen."

"Lord Potter." The Unspeakable did bow his head a little but Harry saw that his eyes never stopped sweeping the hall.

"Please, it's just Harry. Nice to meet you Mr. Walker."

"It's Cordell for anyone that's been on the Gryffindor House team. I hear you're very good at your position Harry."

"That's some people's opinion. "

"Modest as well. They'll be another auror to meet and escort you around down on Level Nine."

Mr. Walker pressed the button for the lift and the elevator doors opened silently. Harry and Dumbledore entered and Dumbledore pressed the one button next to the door. The doors closed and the Harry felt himself sinking as the small room descended to Level Nine.

The doors opened to reveal another surprise to add to Harry's day of surprises. "Lorie, err… Mr. Hardee, you're an Unspeakable?"

Harry's favorite floo installer (and anvil salesman) was wearing the scarlet and grey of a member of the Unspeakables. He smiled at Harry's wonder. "Good afternoon Albus, Lord Harry. Yes, I am. Don't you think my little 'side' jobs are a marvelous way to gather intelligence and see what's happening out in the magical world? But you didn't come here to see and talk to me. Come to visit your prophecy lad?"

Harry frowned a little but Dumbledore responded before Harry could say anything. "We're actually here to make a deposit Mr. Hardee."

Laurel N Hardee cocked an eyebrow but just nodded his head. "If you'll follow me?"

The Unspeakable went down a short corridor and opened a door which led to a circular room. The door to the corridor closed behind the three and Harry saw that there were a dozen handle less doors that led off in different directions. Harry wondered why they weren't moving but then the wall began spinning rapidly. Harry couldn't tell which of the black doors were which after the wall stopped moving but Mr. Hardee didn't hesitate to stride directly toward one door and push it open. Strong, bright light came from the chamber within.

Harry was between the Unspeakable and Dumbledore when they entered the room. "This is the Time Room Harry". Harry thought it couldn't be called anything else. Clocks of every size and description covered the walls and filled up every space on the many shelves and cabinets that were in the room. The three filled wordlessly through the room but Harry stopped in wonder before one display. A small clear bell jar on one desk showed the ongoing lifespan of a bird. It started out as an egg that hatched and the small grey bird flew upward and aged. At the apex of the jar it descended and the birds grew younger and ended up as an egg again. The process seemed to on an endless loop. Dumbledore let Harry have a good long look at the display but eventually tapped him on a shoulder and pointed to where Mr. Hardee was waiting by another door. The headmaster and Harry passed by a couple large display cases filled with various Time Turners and Harry briefly wondered which one had formerly belonged to him.

Harry paused at the doorway, almost overwhelmed by the size of the Hall of Prophecies. The room seemed almost endless, high and deep and filled with rows after rows of the glass orbs that held individual prophecies. There were small blue framed candles set up at regular intervals along the many shelves to provide illumination. Harry stared at the innumerable number of prophecies in wonder. Some of the orbs shone with an intense light of their own while other of the orbs seemed dark and dusty.

"This is where I stop" Mr. Hardee said. "Find an empty spot to place your prophecy. Be careful Harry; don't disturb any of the others."

Harry and Dumbledore walked down the narrow aisle between the shelving looking for an empty space amongst all the other little orbs of prophecy. Harry finally spotted an empty spot on the shelf numbered 103. At the Headmasters nod, Harry reached into the inside pocket of his robe and took the prophecy out carefully. He had to handle it so that the piece of velvet Dumbledore placed on it wouldn't fall off. Harry placed the prophecy in the empty space and noted the location mentally. Shelf 103, Row 10, Space 5. After Harry removed the covering he was surprised to see an identifying tag slowly appear on the wooden base the sphere sat in. The label listed his name, Trelawney's and the date.

"How did they do that? Is it the room itself or something the Unspeakables do?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled just a little bit. "I'm not sure Harry. That's one of the reasons they call this the "Department of Mysteries".

Harry resisted the urge to touch the sphere one more time to hear the prophecy again. But he didn't need to; between Hermione, Ginny or himself the phrases were permanently cast upon his memory.

"Do you want to look at your other prophecy while we're here Harry?"

Harry thought for a moment and then nodded. He should at least know the location so he could tell his wives. They were due for a long conversation when he got back to the Hearth and he might as well get as much in as he could.

Following Dumbledore, Harry walked back half a dozen shelves on the same side toward the entrance and turned down in front of Shelf 97. "Shelf 13, Space 13" Dumbledore said quietly.

'Figures' Harry thought as he looked for his name and Trelawney's again. He found it quickly but also found another surprise. The orb that that forecast his dire prediction in 1980 was dark, inert – totally dead!

"Dumbledore!" Harry called. He came up beside the young wizard and they both stared at the dark glass. "What does that mean?" Harry asked pointing.

"There are only two reasons for a prophecy to go dark like that Harry. One is that it is no longer valid and the second is if the subject of the prophecy is no longer alive."

"Since I'm here; does that mean the prophecy has been cancelled or is it that Voldemort is not alive at this point of time? He seems to come back from the dead at infrequent intervals."

"I cannot answer that Harry. The best we can do is to put in a request to the Keeper of the Hall of Prophecies to maintain a special watch on that to see if it reactivates at any time. We have a lot of things to think about and discuss now."

Harry couldn't decide if he felt relief or frustration at the appearance of the first prophecy concerning him. He would have to have a long talk with his wives, Sirius and Remus about this whole complicated issue. It was making him more confused the longer he thought of it.

A thoughtful pair of Hogwarts residents went back to the elevator escorted by Mr. Hardee. Harry shook his hand and thanked him for the escort. Dumbledore and he ascended the lift and nodded to Cordell Walker as they passed by him.

Harry distractively handed in his visitor's badge and signed out on the special clipboard that the person manning the desk held out for him. Neither he nor Dumbledore said much as they headed for the Atrium to floo back to Hogwarts.

Xxxx xxxx

Walden Macnair sat back in his chair and relaxed as he watched Harry Potter and Dumbledore walk away from him. He had bitterly griped when he had been assigned to watch the visitors' desk for an hour or two but now he felt a lot better.

He had almost brought up his wand when the pair had come out of the lift from Level Nine but realized he didn't have a chance to strike out at the Potter brat with Dumbledore standing close guard on him. He looked at the clipboard again before he put it safely back away. He wondered what Bellatrix or Lucius Malfoy would make of the news that Harry Potter had visited the Hall of Prophecy. And on a school day.