Chapter 34

Harry

I admit I hated being sent to class, so when George and Fred suggested listening in, I was more than ready to ignore Dumbledore's instructions. And the Americans! We had covered for them several times, what happened to us being a team? Well eaves dropping didn't work as Dumbledore moved the discussion out of the study room and out into the open field where we couldn't listen in, so instead we hung around the study going over the prophecy and trying to make sense of it.

The first paragraph reminded me of something Sirius had said back at Grimmauld before school had started. He had been cut off by others at the time and never finished, but I figured that it was too close to be a coincidence. The second was about me, my dreams and learning occulemency, which wasn't going well at all. The third was completely mental and made no sense. I knew Percy was the child of Poseidon, so maybe he would have some idea what Poseidon's wall is. Hopefully Snape would know what the next part was about and after that I was completely lost.

No one else had any idea what any of it meant either, so at least I didn't feel dumb. After about an hour the Professors and Americans returned and joined us, acting as though nothing had happened. You could feel the chill radiating from the Hogwarts students, at least I hope you could. The Americans got hurt stares from us all.

"Before we begin, let us set aside certain animosity I sense." Dumbledore began. "Harry, you and your fellow students should know that upon your departure the Americas argued for your return and complained that your forced absence was harming their efforts, and yours, at building an effective team. I am truly sorry for that, however it was necessary, and I need you to trust me on this as you have trusted me so many times before. Now, where were we?"

Nothing takes the wind out my anger like Dumbledore taking the blame. One just can't be mad at the Headmaster.

"We were about to go through the prophecy and try to figure it out." Ginny said.

"No." Hermione interrupted, "Will asked if anything had happened to bring this prophecy about, or something like that."

"Yes, and I think I know what it was." Annabeth said. "When we were in the Gryffindor Commons earlier, with Shacklebolt and the Minister. You were asking our ages Professor."

"And you realized you forgot your boyfriends birthday." Piper quipped.

"Yes, uh. Well, remember that we are here on a directive quest from Hecate, Poseidon and Athena. Oh, and Zeus. So your prayer got a lot of attention. Anyway, part of our job is to 'protect the one too young to die.' Well, I always thought that meant another student, other than Harry, because we are ordered to train him and his friends and work with them and obviously that would include keeping them safe however we could. I mean, I think we all agree that Harry is the one that Voldemort is 'hunting' as Hecate said, but you said your age, and then added, for no apparent reason, that you were, what was it? 'Still young for a wizard?' and Percy asked"

"I thought the same thing." Hazel said.

"And I as well."

"Me too." Jennifer said.

"And I even asked, 'So you're too young to die?" Percy said, then added, "Although I entertained the thought that Sirius might be the one that is hunted and Harry was the one that might die too young, until then.

"I thought that as well." Rachel said.

"Yep" Leo added.

"Uh huh." Will said.

"Was there any demi god at that moment that didn't think "Albus Dumbledore is the one too young to die?" Jason asked.

They all looked at each other and knew why the prophecy came when it did. They had solved part of Hecates' quest by identifying who they were to save from death. Good, now someone else could get mothered upon.

"We should take measures to protect the Headmaster." Lupin said.

"That will not be necessary. I am able to defend myself." Dumbledore said. "I would not have anyone else harmed trying to protect me."

"Now you know how I feel." I said, still a bit pissed at the dis by the Americans.

"Yes. Quite so I imagine."

"Folks, slow down. Hecate didn't say we were to keep someone from being killed, she said we were to prevent someone from dying who was too young to die." Hazel said.

"What's the difference?" I asked.

"Well, there are a lot of ways to die other than being killed. For all we know the headmaster slips on a freshly waxed floor at the Saveomart and drowns in the lobster tank." Frank said.

"True... uh, what is a Saveomart and lobster tank?" Ron asked.

"Uh, its a super market, uh, where muggles shop for food and, well everything. Its open twenty four hours a day in case you need garden hose at two in the morning and in the meat department it has an aquarium that has live lobsters in it." Rachel answered.

"Oh uh.. what is garden hose and why do you need it at two in the morning, and why do they keep lobsters in an aquarium in the meat department?"

"Well, garden hose, its a plastic pipe you use to water your garden and I wasn't being literal, you wouldn't need it at two in the morning. I just always thought it odd that I could buy garden hose in the middle of the night. Oh, and the tank keeps the lobsters fresh." She answered. By now all the magicians were fascinated at this discussion except Hermione.

"Why do you want them fresh?"

"Well, they taste better than frozen. See they put them in a bag of salt water for you after they weigh them, then you can take them straight home and put them in a pot of boiling water with bay seasoning. Much better than frozen."

"That's barbaric! Why would you boil them?"

"Uh, because if you tried to eat them without cooking them first their little claws would pinch your nose I guess." Rachel replied, making the cutest pinching motion with her hands.

"But, why would you eat them? That's disgusting!" Ron said.

"Oh no, the tail, soaked in butter. Its quite yummy! Haven't you ever had lobster?" Rachel asked, innocently.

"No in Britain wizards generally grow their own food, or if you are rich enough to have a house elf they provide it." Ron answered.

"Some of the witches in London dine out. They might have lobster, but honestly, are we talking about those foot long bugs that live in the ocean? They look disgusting." George said.

"Yes, well... looks can be deceiving. Next time we're in London we'll find a restaurant that has seafood and dine there. My treat." Rachel said.

"Uh perhaps we should move along to something more pressing than crustaceans, like how to keep the headmaster alive." Hermione said and we all quickly agreed.

"Well as Frank pointed out, we don't know what the threat to the Headmaster is. Is there anything out of the ordinary that you're doing these days? Else wise I suggest a couple demigods and members of the Order accompany him when he goes outside the protection of Hogwarts. Until we know the threat, there isn't much we can do." Jason said and Percy agreed.

"No, I've tabled further research on the uses of dragon's blood as I am currently not in possession of any. I was going to seek more during the coming holiday break, but otherwise I am administering a school. I will advise all concerned should anything out of the ordinary arise. As to accompanying me, that isn't necessary" Dumbledore said before Hazel interrupted.

"Except we have orders from a higher authority than you I'm afraid."

"Quite so. In any event, I rarely travel except to Hogsmeade, and you already go with me there. I might have occasion to visit the Ministry, but I assure you I'm safe there."

"And we will make you that much safer." Hazel said firmly. "Look, I know you don't like it, but we have no choice, and by extention you don't either. This is what you prayed for whether you knew it or not. We should just deal with it and move on. This issue is settled, am I right?"

"Yes. I suppose you are." Dumbledore grinned.

"And don't pull a Harry and just agree with us to get us to shut up about it, promise you won't leave without a couple of us going along."

"Hey!" I said but was cut off.

"We know about the invisibility cloak Harry." Annabeth said.

"Ummm, okay, but I never actually lied."

"No of that I'm sure. I promise that should I leave Hogwarts you will be notified and some of you, depending on the occasion two or more, may accompany me. But I ask that in so far as possible you use only wands. I don't want to explain your swords to the Ministry as yet." Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Now onto the prophecy." Hazel said. "Any clues to make sense of this divine gibberish?"

Everyone was silent and looking to see who would say something stupid first. I figured it would be me.

"Back before school started, Sirius was about to tell me something about Voldemort trying to get something he didn't have before. That seems to match the first lines pretty close. Sirius, you never told me, and I can't help but think it is important." I said.

The order all looked at each other. The Americans and DA1 and 2 all looked at them too. Finally Molly nodded her assent.

"There is stored in the Ministry of Magic, in the Hall of Mysteries, a prophecy regarding Harry and Voldemort." Dumbledore said. "Now for the benefit of our students and our American friends, once stored there, a prophecy can only be retrieved by the person that it is about. Since Harry's dream about the room filled with glass spheres the order has placed a guard on it, just in case. It is clear that Voldemort seeks it and may try to recover it himself. We suspect he has already tried and found he could not. This prophecy tells the key to how Voldemort will be defeated."

"So we should go and get it and bring it here where its safer." I said.

"He cannot recover it there, only you can. Although it mentions him, it is clearly about you. Were it to be moved there is always the chance that the Death Eaters would be able to intercept it along the way. No, it is better to leave it where it is." Dumbledore said.

"But if it tells how to kill him, well, don't we need to know that?" Ron asked.

"Indeed, but we do. But you see a prophecy is known to the person it is about when he hears it, or recovers it from the Department of Mysteries. It is also known though to the person it was made to. In this case, Professor Trelawny made it to me, just over sixteen years ago. It may be the only actual prophecy she has ever made. I had hoped to not have to divulge its contents to you for two more years, but as the Americans remind us, Voldemort doesn't care how old you and your friends are, he wishes you dead. and so, ahem;

'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...'"

"So, the only way Harry dies is if Voldemort kills him, and the only way Voldemort dies is if Harry kills him." Ron said.

"So Harry just has to beat the most powerful dark wizard ever, without any help. You need to be practicing Harry!" Hermione said in her most nagging voice.

"Uh, yeah, I gathered that Hermione,"

"It doesn't say he has to kill him alone, it only says he has to kill him, strike the final blow in other words. It doesn't say we can't pound him like the Bismarck before that. Personally I look forward to softening him up." Percy smiled. "I'll always be ready and proud to fight at your side Harry." Percy was so sincere his words made me set aside the remaining bitterness I felt at being segregated earlier.

This actually made everyone think for a bit and we all came to the conclusion that although I had to be the one to actually stop his heartbeat, he could be beaten into hamburger before then. Looking back now, I realized that this, the simplest part of the Oracle's prophecy, would be the first we would misinterpret. I most certainly could err now.

"The next part, about projected on dreams... Professor Snape, can that happen? I mean, could Voldemort be projecting into my dreams what he wants me to see?"

"Certainly. I believe that lines three through six are precisely referring to that power. You must work harder at occulemency in order to control access to your mind and learn to discern between your own thoughts and those of the dark lord.

"Let me contact an old friend, I may be able to help with that." Jennifer said.

"Okay great, thanks!" I said. "Anyone know anything about fighting a snake?"

"Since his return it is reported that the Dark Lord has adopted a familiar, a boa constrictor, python or anaconda that is always by his side. This is the only snake I know to be relevant." Snape answered.

How he would know this I didn't know, but I was certainly curious.

"So we have to fight it, and lose?" Ron asked.

"Apparently. But prophecies can mean a lot of things. It doesn't mention anyone dying so perhaps we are just unable to kill it for some reason." Annabeth said.

"Okay Percy, what is a wall of Poseidon?" I asked, eager to hear this part as it felt like something concrete to understand from the whole thing.

"An ocean. In this case the Atlantic I believe. My read on this is that after we fight the snake, we go to America at Christmas time, and you guys come with us." Percy answerd.

"Oh! That will be so much fun! Have any of you ever been to America?" Piper asked.

"No, but we, well we have no way to get there, and no passports or visas when we arrive." Molly laughed. "I don't think we will be going to America, it must mean something else."

"No, I'm pretty sure that is exactly what it means. Why we're going I don't know, but we are clearly going. As to transportation we have that for everyone, provided you don't mind cruise ships and, well, where we're landing you won't need a visa or passport." Percy answered.

"Well that solves that. We have one thing figured out, which is our holiday plans. Woohoo!" Leo said with grin.

"Jason and I are to fly to Colorado to see dad at Christmas so I'm not sure what plans are made. We will need to work on it to coordinate schedules." Piper said.

"Percy and I are going to visit New Rome to check out the university, plus, Leo, were you going to hang a door there?

"Absolutely AC. We'll just have to work out with Terminous where we can. Reyna, is the university inside the protected area?"

"No, we should be able to find a spot there. Or outside the Senate, so long as no weapons pass through it should be fine."

"Terminus will freak out." Jason said.

"I agree, no way Terminus allows that. Leo, with a hammer, inside New Rome? Yeah, not going to happen." Frank added with a laugh.

"Who is Terminus?" Neville asked, "Is he the guy in charge?"

"You haven't told him?" Jason grinned.

"No, it, well it hasn't come up." Reyna answered.

"No, Terminus is the Roman god of boundaries. He guards the heart of New Rome to make sure no one passes into it who is not welcome, or who is armed. Weapons aren't allowed in New Rome." Frank said. "But no, he's not the guy in charge." Frank giggled.

"So,,, who is?" Neville asked.

"Lets talk about all that later. We have a prophecy to figure out first. So after the Yule season we return, to find pieces of what?" Reyna asked.

"Well it says the potion master knows how many, so, Professor Snape, what is it talking about? I asked.

"I'm sure I have no idea. Truly."

"Well see if you can't figure it out, because the Hogwarts guys and the demigods get to quest for them, however many they are." Hazel said. "It might be a good idea to know what we are looking for."

"I believe Professor Snape when he says he does not know. I take back my earlier comment, or edit them as such, I have been off and on working with an idea that goes back to the diary Miss Ginny found and that Harry destroyed in the Chamber of Secrets. But I must do further research as it would be folly to chase down that rabbit hole at present. If I am correct though it is not this Potions Master that the prophecy refers to, but rather to the Potions Master when Tom Riddle attended Hogwarts."

"Who is 'Tom Riddle?'" Hazel asked.

"That is Voldemort's real name, or at least the one he used as a student." I replied.

"Is Slughorn still alive?" Lupin asked.

"Oh yes, and I suspect actively being recruited by the Dark Lord. He is moving about so much I've had a difficult time keeping track of him." Dumbledore replied.

"So you think you can find out from him what it is we're looking for and how many of them there are?" Percy asked.

"Perhaps. He has not been willing to come forward to join either side, but I have some idea as to what might entice him." Dumbledore said.

"So that just leaves keeping the young alive, we think that is you professor, but of course we should try to keep everyone alive, and saving the one that dies like Leo." Hazel said. "Of course that leaves us with the problem of how to revive someone who has been blown to bits in mid air."

"I don't think it refers to how he died, but rather that he planned his death, and he planned his revival." Percy said, causing everyone who had not been sent to class to look around at each other suddenly. Percy noticed this, looked up and added "Yeah, its the bravest thing I've ever seen or heard of too."

"Well thanks Percy, but that's going to be a problem, unless we can hunt down Apollo, or Artemis, and then get in to see Asclepious and hope Zeus doesn't strike him dead again. No, I don't see how that would work." Leo said.

Everyone of us just stared at Leo, hoping for an explanation, but the Americans, well they just stared.

"Okay, so confession time. I haven't always been the lively, fun loving, good looking guy you see today. After the battle with Gaea, I was dead, but still good looking, and probably fun loving, I don't remember, cause, well, I was dead. Anyway, I was on Festus and I had programmed him to give me this stuff from Apollo's son called 'the physicians cure.' It healed me, brought me back to life and now I'm all better. Hazel and Frank knew about it because I needed their help, but they were sworn to secrecy and, well, I guess I never got around to telling everyone else. We've been busy since I got back. The thing is, we had a minor quest just to get it, and the folks that got it for us, well, I doubt they would again."

"Apollo has been helpful so far." Annabeth said.

"He's not going to stick his neck out that far. We'll have to find another way." Will said.

"Nico brought me back." Hazel said.

"Yes, but the doors of death were open then. And Hades didn't mind. I don't think your return upsets the balance the way a regular mortal does since you stay pretty sheltered by the camps and well, lets face it, as it turns out this is your time based upon the Prophecy of Seven. There is no guarantee I could even find who ever this refers to, remember I wasn't looking for you I was looking for... Well, that doesn't matter, I just don't think that would work."

Percy grimaced at this comment, but said nothing.

Annabeth though said something odd that we didn't discuss further at that time. "So I guess someone needs to become the master of death."

"Wait. How many of you have died?" Hermione asked.

"Well, lets see, me, Leo, oh and Annabeth and Percy fell into Tartarus, I think that basically counts. Oh, and Percy smashed his guts out apparating. So, wait, Reyna, did you ever die?" Hazel asked.

"No, I just left the physical plain for six years. And turned boys into hamsters, it was a sweet gig until Annabeth screwed it up. Orion almost had me last spring, but I killed him."

"Oh, and Nico lived with the Lotus Eaters for like 60 or 70 years, but thats not really death."

"Yeah, but he is free to travel to the underworld and back whenever he likes so I think he gets an honorary membership in the dead half bloods club."

"Thanks Percy!"

"No problem, you've earned it!" Percy grinned and gave a thumbs up sign, then they all laughed.

"So four, but one twice, and another honorary." Hazel said. "You know, given the lifestyle you would think it would be higher."

"Well Ares was going to kill Percy, oh and Zeus was going to a couple times, remember when he thought you had stolen his lightening? Oh Oh Oh! And then there was the time Mount Saint Helens erupted, we had a funeral for you then. Oh! Do you remember the look on Aphrodite's face? I'll never forget that." Annabeth said with the weirdest glee in her voice as she laughed at the humor no one else but Percy found.

"You were at the Mt St Helens eruption?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, I kinda caused the most recent one. I diverted a lake into a river of magma the giants were using as a forge." Percy said with a mischievous look.

"Is that why Aphrodite looked at you weird?"

"No, sorry, that was a different time because he turned down deification and immortality." Annabeth said.

"What? Why?" Sirius and Mrs Wesley asked.

"Because they weren't going to deify Annabeth with me." He looked at Annabeth then continued "Who wants to live forever without the one you love?"

"I... I always thought, you've never said why..." Annabeth said as her eyes filled with tears, she gasped for breath and she threw her arms around Percy.

"Well you were there, and it was kinda obvious. I figured you knew. " Percy said softly.

"Stupid seaweed brain." She said as her eyes filled with tears and her mouth attacked his.

"Perhaps we should take a break." Dumbledore said, to everyone's agreement.