Part Six: The Prophecy
"....You see, it all began with a prophecy..."
~Flashback~
Dumbledore sat at the Head table during the summer of Harry's first year. Beside him was Sibyll Trelawney and Minerva McGonagall. The other teachers had wisely went to their various homes to avoid any more problems like Voldemort returning and the like.
Dumbledore reached out and picked up one of his favorite treats -treacle fudge- and that is when Sibyll began talking.
"De Cirkel van Vijfzal de duisternis omringen en met behulp van het Scramde Een de Jaded zullen Een, zij aan licht rug aan de wereld brengen."
Minerva and Albus stared at her, one astonished and the other apprehensive. Albus knew that how Sibyll had spoken made what she said a true prophecy. But why was it in Dutch?
"Alright, Sibyll?" McGonagall said slowly, watching the Divination teacher carefully.
"Why, yes, of course, Minerva! Isn't this treacle splendid, Albus?" Sibyll said, completely unfazed. Albus and Minerva shared a look, to talk about it later, then calmly went back to their meals.
~End Flashback~
"So, generally, much like the first time I told you about, Harry," Dumbledore said, sparing a glance for the raven haired boy. "Sibyll told another, perfectly true prophecy."
"But what does it mean?" Duo asked. "Sorry to bother you and all, but Dutch wasn't part of my trainin'."
"It was part of mine," Quatre piped up, earning the looks of all the boys. "Could you please repeat the prophecy, sir?" Dumbledore obliged, going slowly so the sixteen year old could easily translate each word. "Alright, from what I can garner, the prophecy generally says 'The Circle of Five will surround the darkness, and with the help of the Scarred One and the Jaded One, they will bring light back to the world.' Just generally, of course."
"Not bad, Kit Kat. Didn't know you knew Dutch," Duo said,grinning.
Quatre blushed. "I also know Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, French, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Arabian," he said softly. "My father believed that the son of a Sultan should be well rounded in the language department."
"Did your sisters have the same treatment?" Trowa asked.
"No. They each knew one other language aside from Arabian, but nothing aside from that. Iria was the only one to learn English and French also, making her grand total three," said Quatre.
"Sisters?" said Draco.
"Yes. I am the youngest of thirty children," Quatre answered. He strongly believed that stating it this way, instead of just dropping the fact that he had more sisters than some men had teeth on the boys.
"You have 29 sisters? Wicked," said Harry, grinning. Then his grin faded and he looked thoughtful. "Wait a minute. You guys keep saying you're from another time, and earlier today Hermione asked if you were related to today's Sultan. You didn't give a clear response, yet now you say you are the son of a Sultan. What am I missing here?"
Quatre looked a mixture of uneasy and apologetic. "Sorry, but I don't really like the publicity being a Prince gives me. Besides, stating that I am one in a time several hundred years past my own wouldn't be wise. What if great grandfather Sudan caught word of it?" he said. "Please don't tell Hermione I lied to her. It does not sit well with my Uchuu no Kokoro."
"Your what?" Draco asked.
"Let's just say it's his magic," Duo said. "Now about us being from another time, I think Headmaster Dumbledore should explain that. It's what we all came to learn, really."
"Hai. And the prophecy wasn't enough," Heero added. "How could you know it was us five? How could you know what time to go to? How could you know we would even accept your ridiculously inadequate letters and come?" Heero's gaze was piercing as he finished off the unusually long sentence.
Dumbledore stood and moved in front of the fireplace. The paintings of past Hogwarts Headmasters were empty, all the men and women off somewhere on their own errands. He turned to the boys, a grave look on his face. "You are right. I couldn't have known who you were, or where to find you. No one but your families would know what would come of their lines," he said, pacing a step forward, then immediately turning and pacing back. "I believe young Draco may be able to explain it in a way you all will understand. Mr.Malfoy?"
"Of course, Headmaster," Draco said. He turned slightly in his chair, causing Heero, Trowa and Harry to turn with him. Duo and Quatre just sat passively and allowed their human chairs to move. "Well, to put it simply, every wizarding family, usually Purebloods but sometimes Muggleborns, have a psychic reading done. By a certified Fortuneteller and Prophet or Prophetess."
"So what you are saying is that some wizarding families have readings done about themselves?" Wufei asked.
"No. The reading is for their children. Right after a child is born in a wizarding family, a Prophet or Prophetess is brought forward to do their augurs -which you'll learn about in Arithmancy- and read their palms or just plain touch them and divinate," Draco continued. "Those families that have a child that will become someone important, like a Ministry official, will get a straight forward reading about that child's qualities."
"And a child that will do great things gets a vague reading, usually a sentence or nonsense paragraph," Dumbledore finished for him. "These sentences or paragraphs form prophecies to be carried out when all the clues are together. Not many prophecies are fulfilled, since this task is nearly impossible, but there are a few that do. For example, yours."
"How did you put together the prophecy?" Trowa asked.
"It was hard, but the families involved did it themselves, through a series of circumstances. For example, the Potters. Lily came to me the week after Harry was born with a strange request. She wanted me, a man with almost no prophetic powers, to do the reading on Harry," Dumbledore said. "She said that James claimed that he knew Harry would do great things, and that the power of the Prophet would not matter because the prophecy would be pretty evident anyway." Dumbledore turned one more time. "She was right."
"That night, I did the reading on Harry. And came up with nothing but two words. 'Scarred One.' I didn't understand until more than a year later, when Voldemort tried to kill him and left his mark. I began to see what was happening. A prophecy." The headmaster glided back to his desk to pick up a broken Sneakoscope and twirl it in his aged hands. "I began to remember the readings I'd heard about from six other families. One of them received a prophecy that distinctly had the words, 'Scarred One' in it. I began my search."
"The first fruit I gleaned was, predictably, the Winners, one of the wealthiest wizarding families in the Far East, rivalling even the Malfoys." Draco snorted and Dumbledore threw him a look. "Their son, Akbih Sudan Winner, was born. The Prophetess who read him received only these words. 'And with the help of the Scarred One...you can'. For some reason the first statement and the last few words were seperate, but it was obvious history was in the making."
"Next to come forward were the Cassells. Their son David is a little over nine now. He was the last piece of the prophecy, I later found, his birth being dramatically later than all the others. The words that accompanied Lucia and Xander Cassell's boy were a bit more solid, but still made no sense. 'The Circle of Five...find.' Still a bunch of gibberish. But add it to the words that accompanied Catrina and Marlin Bloom's son Triton, a popular name with the Blooms, it made a bit more sense. The Prophet that read him said 'Will surround the darkness...the boys.' Now all I truly had was the beginning of a prophecy with some extra baggage on the side." Dumbledore paused, then pulled out his wand and waved it once. And old tea service with eight cups and four kettles appeared.
"Tea?" he asked. Duo, Heero and Harry shook their heads. Quatre, Trowa, Wufei and Draco snatched a cup out of the air and held it out. Tea from the four different kettles filled their cups. Quatre tasted his first.
"Earl Grey! How ever did you know?" he exclaimed, happily taking another sip. Dumbledore just looked at him, eyes twinkling. Draco announced that his was something called 'Untainted Black' and Trowa said he was drinking 'Spearmint and Cloverweed', something that sounded weird and strangely poisonous. Trowa proceeded to tell them that it was indeed poisonous, but that over the years he'd built up a resistance to it, so there was nothing to worry about. Harry calmy set down his 'Iced Mist' Tea, suddenly not thirsty anymore.
"Go on, then," Draco said impatiently, actually interested in what the man he regularly referred to as 'that barmy old coot' had to say. "There's more, I'm sure of it."
"Right you are, young Malfoy. The next piece brought to my attention was, ironically, from your father Lucius. The reading done on you was just as short as Harry's. All I got from you was 'Jaded One.' Makes no sense, right?" Dumbledore said. "But I later discovered, about a year ago, actually, that the name matched you perfectly."
"But Malfoy doesn't have green eyes, and he certainly doesn't wear jade jewellery," Harry said. "It was pretty obvious I was the Scarred One, but all signs of him point to 'no.' You sure he hasn't got a brother or sister out there somewhere?"
"Actually, I happen to have an older brother. My mother named him Sissiphus, after a Greek myth, and people at school or just on our street teased him mercilessly. They called him things like 'Sissy' and other highly degrating names. Eventually, he cracked," Draco said with an emotionlessness that rivalled Heero's. "Sissiphus went insane and killed everyone who ever taunted him, including some teachers. He is now in Azkaban, the Dementor's kiss already administered, for the murder of three teachers, forty eight students, and twelve civilians. Oh, and one baby that was mimicking his older brother."
The gathered group stared at Draco, and Dumbledore looked on with eyes of intense sadness. He turned to the teens. "Now you see why Draco is considered jaded. It isn't a physical thing, but an emotional and spiritual aspect of him. His brother is in Azkaban, just turned thirty, and he has been treated badly by his father since before he could talk. He is constantly subjected to the Dark Arts, and is made regularly to watch someone, usually a Muggleborn, die." Dumbledore paused as he gazed unseeingly at the boys. "I believe it is safe to say that young Malfoy is sufficiently jaded."
Murmurs of agreement rose up as Draco turned away. Just when he was about to shut everyone out, a hand fell on his shoulder. He whipped around, intent on saying something scornful to his assailant, when he met vivid blue-violet eyes. The other boys didn't notice the drama ensuing between the two.
"You're not alone," Duo whispered fiercely. "And never think you are. My mother was raped before me when I was six, my best friend died before me when I was eight, and the orphanage I was staying at burned down around me when I was ten. And all these events I considered my fault. Why did that man have to attack my mother just because she'd lied to him about having a kid? Why didn't the medicine for the plague come sooner? Why didn't I run faster? Why couldn't I save all the orphans? How come the soldiers attacked the church after they promised they wouldn't?" Duo turned away for a moment, but made sure Draco knew he was still very much an active part of the conversation. "None of these questions were ever answered," he said. "And I doubt they ever will be. But I must go on."
"H-How can you? All the horrible things that happened...why didn't you take your life?" Draco asked sadly. He already knew the answer, though. Maybe not why, but what.
"I admit that I did try. Several times. But then I met Professor Gee and he gave me a purpose in life. Blow the suckers who destroyed my orphanage sky high, and any who are like them can go to hell. I became Shinigami, the self proclaimed God of Death. I vengefully took the lives of many a soldier in atonement for that one massacre. But it wasn't enough. Eventually, I decided that everything good I touch dies, and tried to off myself again." Duo laughed quietly and sardonically. "And I might have succeeded too, if it wasn't for Wufei and Trowa."
"What do Barton and Chang have to do with this?" Draco asked, immediately falling back on last names to keep people from becoming too familiar to him.
"The day I finally slit my wrist the right way, was the day I met them. They were pilots like me, just passing through the space port on their way to some solo missions. Luck would have it that I was kinda out of it and decided to off myself in the space port bathroom. Wu-man just happened to need to take a piss, and Trowa just happened by when he heard old Chinaboy yell," Duo said. "When he came into the restroom, Wuffie was screamin' bloody murder. Probably 'cuz my blood was all over the floor in little rivers, and he'd slipped in it. He was only fourteen at the time, and though a great fighter, he was still very impressionable."
"So he found you on the floor and Barton heard him squeal and hurried to his aid?" Draco asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Duo's lips twisted into a wry grin. "Yeah, somethin' like that. Wuffie's a strong man, but sometimes things can overwhelm you. Rivers of blood bein' one of 'em." Unconsciously, Duo slipped back into his old street talk. "Trowa came barrelin' in, guns totin', lookin' madder than hell. Then he saw me an' a blood covered Wufei. An' started whimperin' like there was no tomorrow. I had to smile at the sheer stupidness of the situation. I mean, ya slit yer wrists and yer dyin', two kids come in the room yer bleedin' all over, and their too squeemish to do shit. Ironic, ne?" Draco nodded just to keep the braided boy going.
"Well, eventually Trowa got over the shock of so much damned blood, and helped pull Wu-bear away from me. Then he sat next to me and took off his jacket, then his shirt, barin' all that delicious muscle..." Duo trailed off as his eyes glazed over with the images his mind provided him. Draco had a surprised look on his face. Sure, you'd immediately take Duo for a homosexual, but Draco never took anything at face value. One: it was rude. Two: it usually wasn't true.
"Maxwell? You in there, chap?" Draco said. Duo shook his head to clear it then grinned at Draco.
"Sorry. Got a bit carried away. Anyways, Trowa rips up his shirt and starts wrappin' it around my wrists. Now I'm thinkin', 'This sure as hell ain't goin' as planned', so I kicked 'im in the leg and tried to get up. By then, Wuffie was feelin' a bit better, and helped Trowa hold me down and bind me. Soon, aside from losing of so much blood I'd be light headed until I was eighty, the blood stopped flowin' an' I was generally alright. 'Course, Tro and Wu weren't too happy to discover that I was a pilot dedicated to servin' the colonies, and I was in a spaceport bathroom commitin' suicide. They brought me to Prof. Gee-man, where I got my ass kicked for recklessness, then got themselves assigned as my partners forever. Well, until Heero came, that is," Duo said. "But that's another story."
"Wow, and I thought life sucked arse. Now it sucks anything it can reach," Draco commented dryly.
"An' life sure ain't good with its tongue," Duo added.
"What the hell are you to talking about?" Heero demanded.
"Nothing, sir!" Duo immediately answered, straightening and saluting to the stoic boy sharply. He lasted for about a minute, then dissolved into a fit of giggles. Heero sighed in annoyance and proceeded to ignore the braided boy. Duo pouted cutely for a moment, then turned back to Dumbledore. "You still haven't explained why you went to our exact time and got us. It couldn't have been by chance."
"You are correct, Mr. Maxwell," Dumbledore began again, smiling softly at the boys. "The last pieces of the puzzle came together at the same time. One, the Changs, an arrogant wizarding family so uptight it seemed like each member had a permanent stick up their---ahem, anyway, their son Shaoran Chang was read, and a few words given to me to interpret. 'And the Jaded One...400 years.' Another fragment.
"Now here comes the interesting part. The Lowes, half-family to the Potters- -." Here everyone looked at Heero and Harry, suddenly seeing the similarities in their appearances. Where before they saw nothing, the boys began to notice the dark hair, and the piercing eyes that sparkled with equally bright intensity. "--had a son, Kamui, and he had a son, Odin. Now young Odin - Who looks almost exactly like you, Heero- had these words with him after the reading. 'They will bring light back to the world...hence'. The last clue."
"Oooh! I get it!" Quatre said excitedly. "Of course, the first part! 'The Circle of Five will surround the darkness, and with the help of the Jaded One and the Scarred One, they will bring light back into the world!'"
"Correct, Mr.Winner," Dumbledore said, his eyes beginning to twinkle faster.
"And the fragments! I get it also!" Wufei said with uncharacteristic enthusiasm. "From what I have been able to gather, it goes so far, 'You can...find...the boys...400 years...hence.' You can find the boys 400 years hence!"
"Right again. My, such bright boys!" Dumbledore said proudly.
"So you went back in time and--" Duo began.
"Searched for people matching the names and descriptions of the families involved with the prophecy. It wasn't hard finding your magical signatures. You all are pretty powerful wizards," the Headmaster said. "Now to the important part of this whole speech. In the prophecy, you time travelers are easily distinguished as the five. You know about Potter and Malfoy too. But it doesn't tell you why."
"Why?" Draco asked.
"Yes. Why they are needed here. Why we had to pluck them from their lives. Why they are found in a prophecy almost two decades old," Dumbledore said.
"I know why," Harry interrupted quietly. Everyone in the room turned to him. "To fight Voldemort, of course. To oust the great Dark Lord of the wizarding world." Harry sighed bitterly. "It's always about him, isn't it? He always has to wreck someone's life. Even across time." Harry's eyes shimmered as if he was about to cry.
"You are right, Harry, I am sad to say. Voldemort has once again meddled. Apparently, the prophecy about the heir of Gryffindor defeating the heir of Slytherin -and vice versa- is not entirely true. Seems Fate decided Harry needed a bit of help." Dumbledore looked around the room.
"Us?" Trowa said. The Headmaster nodded.
"So, now that you know what you are here for, I expect you all to be on your guard and learn all you can. The war between Darkness and Light is starting, and you are key players. I expect the best you can give." Dumbledore smiled. "Well, get to bed! It is after 9 pm. Past curfew, I believe."
Nodding, each boy said goodbye to the Headmaster and headed out of the office, then to their common rooms. Duo and Draco headed to the dungeons, Harry and Heero to Gryffindor Tower on the 7th floor, Trowa and Quat went to Hufflepuff House, and Wufei to Ravenclaw. The boys promised to sit together at breakfast and discuss the problem.
***
"Draco?" asked Duo, as they descended to the Dungeons.
"Hm?" the blond murmured, in deep thought.
"Where am I gonna sleep?" Duo asked.
"In the 6th year boys dorm, of course. Not many more are here, so there is room," Draco answered promptly.
"Draco?"
"Yes?" the blond Slytherin asked, slightly irritated.
"You're a good friend, even if we've only just met. I'll enjoy saving the world with you," the braided boy joked, grinning. Draco smirked back, then whispered the password to the Slytherin common room.
"So will I," he answered, sweeping past the other curious Slytherins. He turned down a hallway, then walked down a set of stairs, coming onto another hallway with three doors on each side. Each had a name plate. Draco pointed to the one with a D.M. on it. "This is your room. Mine has the same nameplate, but we are both intelligent enough not to confuse it. Goodnight, Maxwell."
"G'night, Draco," Duo said, winking. He disappeared into the room and shut the door. Draco shook his head and smiled, then entered his own room. Both lights shut off a moment later.
***
Heero and Harry waved goodbye as Trowa and Quatre entered Hufflepuff House. Wufei had long since went to the Ravenclaw corridor, so they continued up until they reached the 7th floor and the portrait of the fat lady. She was still awake, and greeted Harry warmly.
"And a good night to you also," Harry said cordially. He bowed to her then gestured to Heero. "This is Heero Yuy, a fellow Gryffindor."
"Well, hello child," the portrait said. Heero just nodded once, and the fat lady frowned a bit. "Well, password then. Hurry up, now. Haven't got all night."
Harry cringed at her dramatically changed mood. He expected it though, since Heero was being mean. "I believe it's mobilia mumbilitus or some such nonsense," he said uncertainly.
"Actually, no. But I'll let you in until Dumbledore tells you the new one. Good night, young Potter," the fat lady rejoined, swinging open. Harry smiled and led Heero in. The Gryffindor common room was full, since it was only just past curfew. A warm fire roared in the fireplace, and curious Gryffindors on scarlet couches turned curiously to see Heero and Harry. Hermione, who had been sitting beside Ron a moment ago, dashed up to them.
"Harry! Dumbledore made me go away and you didn't come back for two whole hours! What happened?! What'd he tell you?!" she shot off quickly. Heero looked a bit surprised, or as surprised as an emotionless shell could look, but Harry took it all in stride.
"I'll tell you later, 'Mione. Right now there are too many people around. Draco, Trowa and the others will be discussing it at breakfast, so be down early and I'll tell you, okay?" he suggested.
"Of course, Harry. I can wait until tomorrow," Hermione said brightly. "Well--"
"Why were you sitting with that redheaded boy?" Heero asked in his usual monotone. Hermione and Harry immediately stopped talking. Heero talked so rarely you had to freeze time just to hear him.
"You mean Ron? Well, even though he was being a total arse at the Welcoming Feast, he's still one of my best friends. I'm trying to get him to be nice to Heero and Duo," she answered. "He believes Heero is scum for being friends with Duo, and that Duo is scum just because he's a Slytherin. He also thinks that Trowa, Quatre and Wufei aren't worth his time. It's the principle of the thing, he says."
"Principle of what thing? Yeah, we were specially selected to go to Hogsmeade, and yeah, we all went to see Dumbledore, but that doesn't mean that we are all of a sudden Junior Death Eaters or something," Harry said.
"Death Eaters?" Heero said.
"Later, Heero. If we want to have any energy tomorrow, we need to get some sleep," Harry said.
"Oh, I get it. Diagon Alley, right?" Hermione said.
"Right," Harry said, smiling. He turned back to Heero. "Let's go." Harry led Heero up to the 6th years boys dorms and to the bed directly across from his. "Sweet dreams, Yuy."
"Hn," Heero answered. Both boys slipped into their beds after changing quickly, then drifted off to sleep.
***
"Do you think everything will be alright, Trowa? I felt a great sadness from Duo and Draco," Quatre said softly, snuggling into the arms of his lover.
"I could see it with my eyes. I already know that Duo is in love with Heero, but we don't know Draco very well," Trowa answered. "Don't worry, little one. We'll get to know him better, then we'll know what is bothering him."
"I know, Trowa," Quatre sighed. "Let's get some sleep, love. I suspect we have a big day tomorrow."
"This Diagon Alley you keep telling me about?" Trowa asked.
"Yes. Goodnight, love."
"Goodnight, little one."
***
"They are gathered, my Lord."
"Good. Now all we have to do is get the Five."
"Easier said than done, my Lord. We received information from our informant that the Five arrived with Muggle weapons."
"What is Muggle weapons to magic? We will still prevail."
"But my Lord, the Five are also wizards."
"What?! They can't be! It isn't in the prophecy!"
"Much isn't in the prophecy, Your Evilness. I've suspected that you haven't received the right prophecy for some time."
"And you haven't told me yet?"
"N-no, my Lord. I didn't want to anger you. I still might be wrong, you know."
"No, I don't know. And you have already angered me. Dare I teach you a lesson?"
"P-please, my Lord?! I didn't kn--"
"Crucio!"
***Tsuzuku or TBC***
"....You see, it all began with a prophecy..."
~Flashback~
Dumbledore sat at the Head table during the summer of Harry's first year. Beside him was Sibyll Trelawney and Minerva McGonagall. The other teachers had wisely went to their various homes to avoid any more problems like Voldemort returning and the like.
Dumbledore reached out and picked up one of his favorite treats -treacle fudge- and that is when Sibyll began talking.
"De Cirkel van Vijfzal de duisternis omringen en met behulp van het Scramde Een de Jaded zullen Een, zij aan licht rug aan de wereld brengen."
Minerva and Albus stared at her, one astonished and the other apprehensive. Albus knew that how Sibyll had spoken made what she said a true prophecy. But why was it in Dutch?
"Alright, Sibyll?" McGonagall said slowly, watching the Divination teacher carefully.
"Why, yes, of course, Minerva! Isn't this treacle splendid, Albus?" Sibyll said, completely unfazed. Albus and Minerva shared a look, to talk about it later, then calmly went back to their meals.
~End Flashback~
"So, generally, much like the first time I told you about, Harry," Dumbledore said, sparing a glance for the raven haired boy. "Sibyll told another, perfectly true prophecy."
"But what does it mean?" Duo asked. "Sorry to bother you and all, but Dutch wasn't part of my trainin'."
"It was part of mine," Quatre piped up, earning the looks of all the boys. "Could you please repeat the prophecy, sir?" Dumbledore obliged, going slowly so the sixteen year old could easily translate each word. "Alright, from what I can garner, the prophecy generally says 'The Circle of Five will surround the darkness, and with the help of the Scarred One and the Jaded One, they will bring light back to the world.' Just generally, of course."
"Not bad, Kit Kat. Didn't know you knew Dutch," Duo said,grinning.
Quatre blushed. "I also know Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, French, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Arabian," he said softly. "My father believed that the son of a Sultan should be well rounded in the language department."
"Did your sisters have the same treatment?" Trowa asked.
"No. They each knew one other language aside from Arabian, but nothing aside from that. Iria was the only one to learn English and French also, making her grand total three," said Quatre.
"Sisters?" said Draco.
"Yes. I am the youngest of thirty children," Quatre answered. He strongly believed that stating it this way, instead of just dropping the fact that he had more sisters than some men had teeth on the boys.
"You have 29 sisters? Wicked," said Harry, grinning. Then his grin faded and he looked thoughtful. "Wait a minute. You guys keep saying you're from another time, and earlier today Hermione asked if you were related to today's Sultan. You didn't give a clear response, yet now you say you are the son of a Sultan. What am I missing here?"
Quatre looked a mixture of uneasy and apologetic. "Sorry, but I don't really like the publicity being a Prince gives me. Besides, stating that I am one in a time several hundred years past my own wouldn't be wise. What if great grandfather Sudan caught word of it?" he said. "Please don't tell Hermione I lied to her. It does not sit well with my Uchuu no Kokoro."
"Your what?" Draco asked.
"Let's just say it's his magic," Duo said. "Now about us being from another time, I think Headmaster Dumbledore should explain that. It's what we all came to learn, really."
"Hai. And the prophecy wasn't enough," Heero added. "How could you know it was us five? How could you know what time to go to? How could you know we would even accept your ridiculously inadequate letters and come?" Heero's gaze was piercing as he finished off the unusually long sentence.
Dumbledore stood and moved in front of the fireplace. The paintings of past Hogwarts Headmasters were empty, all the men and women off somewhere on their own errands. He turned to the boys, a grave look on his face. "You are right. I couldn't have known who you were, or where to find you. No one but your families would know what would come of their lines," he said, pacing a step forward, then immediately turning and pacing back. "I believe young Draco may be able to explain it in a way you all will understand. Mr.Malfoy?"
"Of course, Headmaster," Draco said. He turned slightly in his chair, causing Heero, Trowa and Harry to turn with him. Duo and Quatre just sat passively and allowed their human chairs to move. "Well, to put it simply, every wizarding family, usually Purebloods but sometimes Muggleborns, have a psychic reading done. By a certified Fortuneteller and Prophet or Prophetess."
"So what you are saying is that some wizarding families have readings done about themselves?" Wufei asked.
"No. The reading is for their children. Right after a child is born in a wizarding family, a Prophet or Prophetess is brought forward to do their augurs -which you'll learn about in Arithmancy- and read their palms or just plain touch them and divinate," Draco continued. "Those families that have a child that will become someone important, like a Ministry official, will get a straight forward reading about that child's qualities."
"And a child that will do great things gets a vague reading, usually a sentence or nonsense paragraph," Dumbledore finished for him. "These sentences or paragraphs form prophecies to be carried out when all the clues are together. Not many prophecies are fulfilled, since this task is nearly impossible, but there are a few that do. For example, yours."
"How did you put together the prophecy?" Trowa asked.
"It was hard, but the families involved did it themselves, through a series of circumstances. For example, the Potters. Lily came to me the week after Harry was born with a strange request. She wanted me, a man with almost no prophetic powers, to do the reading on Harry," Dumbledore said. "She said that James claimed that he knew Harry would do great things, and that the power of the Prophet would not matter because the prophecy would be pretty evident anyway." Dumbledore turned one more time. "She was right."
"That night, I did the reading on Harry. And came up with nothing but two words. 'Scarred One.' I didn't understand until more than a year later, when Voldemort tried to kill him and left his mark. I began to see what was happening. A prophecy." The headmaster glided back to his desk to pick up a broken Sneakoscope and twirl it in his aged hands. "I began to remember the readings I'd heard about from six other families. One of them received a prophecy that distinctly had the words, 'Scarred One' in it. I began my search."
"The first fruit I gleaned was, predictably, the Winners, one of the wealthiest wizarding families in the Far East, rivalling even the Malfoys." Draco snorted and Dumbledore threw him a look. "Their son, Akbih Sudan Winner, was born. The Prophetess who read him received only these words. 'And with the help of the Scarred One...you can'. For some reason the first statement and the last few words were seperate, but it was obvious history was in the making."
"Next to come forward were the Cassells. Their son David is a little over nine now. He was the last piece of the prophecy, I later found, his birth being dramatically later than all the others. The words that accompanied Lucia and Xander Cassell's boy were a bit more solid, but still made no sense. 'The Circle of Five...find.' Still a bunch of gibberish. But add it to the words that accompanied Catrina and Marlin Bloom's son Triton, a popular name with the Blooms, it made a bit more sense. The Prophet that read him said 'Will surround the darkness...the boys.' Now all I truly had was the beginning of a prophecy with some extra baggage on the side." Dumbledore paused, then pulled out his wand and waved it once. And old tea service with eight cups and four kettles appeared.
"Tea?" he asked. Duo, Heero and Harry shook their heads. Quatre, Trowa, Wufei and Draco snatched a cup out of the air and held it out. Tea from the four different kettles filled their cups. Quatre tasted his first.
"Earl Grey! How ever did you know?" he exclaimed, happily taking another sip. Dumbledore just looked at him, eyes twinkling. Draco announced that his was something called 'Untainted Black' and Trowa said he was drinking 'Spearmint and Cloverweed', something that sounded weird and strangely poisonous. Trowa proceeded to tell them that it was indeed poisonous, but that over the years he'd built up a resistance to it, so there was nothing to worry about. Harry calmy set down his 'Iced Mist' Tea, suddenly not thirsty anymore.
"Go on, then," Draco said impatiently, actually interested in what the man he regularly referred to as 'that barmy old coot' had to say. "There's more, I'm sure of it."
"Right you are, young Malfoy. The next piece brought to my attention was, ironically, from your father Lucius. The reading done on you was just as short as Harry's. All I got from you was 'Jaded One.' Makes no sense, right?" Dumbledore said. "But I later discovered, about a year ago, actually, that the name matched you perfectly."
"But Malfoy doesn't have green eyes, and he certainly doesn't wear jade jewellery," Harry said. "It was pretty obvious I was the Scarred One, but all signs of him point to 'no.' You sure he hasn't got a brother or sister out there somewhere?"
"Actually, I happen to have an older brother. My mother named him Sissiphus, after a Greek myth, and people at school or just on our street teased him mercilessly. They called him things like 'Sissy' and other highly degrating names. Eventually, he cracked," Draco said with an emotionlessness that rivalled Heero's. "Sissiphus went insane and killed everyone who ever taunted him, including some teachers. He is now in Azkaban, the Dementor's kiss already administered, for the murder of three teachers, forty eight students, and twelve civilians. Oh, and one baby that was mimicking his older brother."
The gathered group stared at Draco, and Dumbledore looked on with eyes of intense sadness. He turned to the teens. "Now you see why Draco is considered jaded. It isn't a physical thing, but an emotional and spiritual aspect of him. His brother is in Azkaban, just turned thirty, and he has been treated badly by his father since before he could talk. He is constantly subjected to the Dark Arts, and is made regularly to watch someone, usually a Muggleborn, die." Dumbledore paused as he gazed unseeingly at the boys. "I believe it is safe to say that young Malfoy is sufficiently jaded."
Murmurs of agreement rose up as Draco turned away. Just when he was about to shut everyone out, a hand fell on his shoulder. He whipped around, intent on saying something scornful to his assailant, when he met vivid blue-violet eyes. The other boys didn't notice the drama ensuing between the two.
"You're not alone," Duo whispered fiercely. "And never think you are. My mother was raped before me when I was six, my best friend died before me when I was eight, and the orphanage I was staying at burned down around me when I was ten. And all these events I considered my fault. Why did that man have to attack my mother just because she'd lied to him about having a kid? Why didn't the medicine for the plague come sooner? Why didn't I run faster? Why couldn't I save all the orphans? How come the soldiers attacked the church after they promised they wouldn't?" Duo turned away for a moment, but made sure Draco knew he was still very much an active part of the conversation. "None of these questions were ever answered," he said. "And I doubt they ever will be. But I must go on."
"H-How can you? All the horrible things that happened...why didn't you take your life?" Draco asked sadly. He already knew the answer, though. Maybe not why, but what.
"I admit that I did try. Several times. But then I met Professor Gee and he gave me a purpose in life. Blow the suckers who destroyed my orphanage sky high, and any who are like them can go to hell. I became Shinigami, the self proclaimed God of Death. I vengefully took the lives of many a soldier in atonement for that one massacre. But it wasn't enough. Eventually, I decided that everything good I touch dies, and tried to off myself again." Duo laughed quietly and sardonically. "And I might have succeeded too, if it wasn't for Wufei and Trowa."
"What do Barton and Chang have to do with this?" Draco asked, immediately falling back on last names to keep people from becoming too familiar to him.
"The day I finally slit my wrist the right way, was the day I met them. They were pilots like me, just passing through the space port on their way to some solo missions. Luck would have it that I was kinda out of it and decided to off myself in the space port bathroom. Wu-man just happened to need to take a piss, and Trowa just happened by when he heard old Chinaboy yell," Duo said. "When he came into the restroom, Wuffie was screamin' bloody murder. Probably 'cuz my blood was all over the floor in little rivers, and he'd slipped in it. He was only fourteen at the time, and though a great fighter, he was still very impressionable."
"So he found you on the floor and Barton heard him squeal and hurried to his aid?" Draco asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Duo's lips twisted into a wry grin. "Yeah, somethin' like that. Wuffie's a strong man, but sometimes things can overwhelm you. Rivers of blood bein' one of 'em." Unconsciously, Duo slipped back into his old street talk. "Trowa came barrelin' in, guns totin', lookin' madder than hell. Then he saw me an' a blood covered Wufei. An' started whimperin' like there was no tomorrow. I had to smile at the sheer stupidness of the situation. I mean, ya slit yer wrists and yer dyin', two kids come in the room yer bleedin' all over, and their too squeemish to do shit. Ironic, ne?" Draco nodded just to keep the braided boy going.
"Well, eventually Trowa got over the shock of so much damned blood, and helped pull Wu-bear away from me. Then he sat next to me and took off his jacket, then his shirt, barin' all that delicious muscle..." Duo trailed off as his eyes glazed over with the images his mind provided him. Draco had a surprised look on his face. Sure, you'd immediately take Duo for a homosexual, but Draco never took anything at face value. One: it was rude. Two: it usually wasn't true.
"Maxwell? You in there, chap?" Draco said. Duo shook his head to clear it then grinned at Draco.
"Sorry. Got a bit carried away. Anyways, Trowa rips up his shirt and starts wrappin' it around my wrists. Now I'm thinkin', 'This sure as hell ain't goin' as planned', so I kicked 'im in the leg and tried to get up. By then, Wuffie was feelin' a bit better, and helped Trowa hold me down and bind me. Soon, aside from losing of so much blood I'd be light headed until I was eighty, the blood stopped flowin' an' I was generally alright. 'Course, Tro and Wu weren't too happy to discover that I was a pilot dedicated to servin' the colonies, and I was in a spaceport bathroom commitin' suicide. They brought me to Prof. Gee-man, where I got my ass kicked for recklessness, then got themselves assigned as my partners forever. Well, until Heero came, that is," Duo said. "But that's another story."
"Wow, and I thought life sucked arse. Now it sucks anything it can reach," Draco commented dryly.
"An' life sure ain't good with its tongue," Duo added.
"What the hell are you to talking about?" Heero demanded.
"Nothing, sir!" Duo immediately answered, straightening and saluting to the stoic boy sharply. He lasted for about a minute, then dissolved into a fit of giggles. Heero sighed in annoyance and proceeded to ignore the braided boy. Duo pouted cutely for a moment, then turned back to Dumbledore. "You still haven't explained why you went to our exact time and got us. It couldn't have been by chance."
"You are correct, Mr. Maxwell," Dumbledore began again, smiling softly at the boys. "The last pieces of the puzzle came together at the same time. One, the Changs, an arrogant wizarding family so uptight it seemed like each member had a permanent stick up their---ahem, anyway, their son Shaoran Chang was read, and a few words given to me to interpret. 'And the Jaded One...400 years.' Another fragment.
"Now here comes the interesting part. The Lowes, half-family to the Potters- -." Here everyone looked at Heero and Harry, suddenly seeing the similarities in their appearances. Where before they saw nothing, the boys began to notice the dark hair, and the piercing eyes that sparkled with equally bright intensity. "--had a son, Kamui, and he had a son, Odin. Now young Odin - Who looks almost exactly like you, Heero- had these words with him after the reading. 'They will bring light back to the world...hence'. The last clue."
"Oooh! I get it!" Quatre said excitedly. "Of course, the first part! 'The Circle of Five will surround the darkness, and with the help of the Jaded One and the Scarred One, they will bring light back into the world!'"
"Correct, Mr.Winner," Dumbledore said, his eyes beginning to twinkle faster.
"And the fragments! I get it also!" Wufei said with uncharacteristic enthusiasm. "From what I have been able to gather, it goes so far, 'You can...find...the boys...400 years...hence.' You can find the boys 400 years hence!"
"Right again. My, such bright boys!" Dumbledore said proudly.
"So you went back in time and--" Duo began.
"Searched for people matching the names and descriptions of the families involved with the prophecy. It wasn't hard finding your magical signatures. You all are pretty powerful wizards," the Headmaster said. "Now to the important part of this whole speech. In the prophecy, you time travelers are easily distinguished as the five. You know about Potter and Malfoy too. But it doesn't tell you why."
"Why?" Draco asked.
"Yes. Why they are needed here. Why we had to pluck them from their lives. Why they are found in a prophecy almost two decades old," Dumbledore said.
"I know why," Harry interrupted quietly. Everyone in the room turned to him. "To fight Voldemort, of course. To oust the great Dark Lord of the wizarding world." Harry sighed bitterly. "It's always about him, isn't it? He always has to wreck someone's life. Even across time." Harry's eyes shimmered as if he was about to cry.
"You are right, Harry, I am sad to say. Voldemort has once again meddled. Apparently, the prophecy about the heir of Gryffindor defeating the heir of Slytherin -and vice versa- is not entirely true. Seems Fate decided Harry needed a bit of help." Dumbledore looked around the room.
"Us?" Trowa said. The Headmaster nodded.
"So, now that you know what you are here for, I expect you all to be on your guard and learn all you can. The war between Darkness and Light is starting, and you are key players. I expect the best you can give." Dumbledore smiled. "Well, get to bed! It is after 9 pm. Past curfew, I believe."
Nodding, each boy said goodbye to the Headmaster and headed out of the office, then to their common rooms. Duo and Draco headed to the dungeons, Harry and Heero to Gryffindor Tower on the 7th floor, Trowa and Quat went to Hufflepuff House, and Wufei to Ravenclaw. The boys promised to sit together at breakfast and discuss the problem.
***
"Draco?" asked Duo, as they descended to the Dungeons.
"Hm?" the blond murmured, in deep thought.
"Where am I gonna sleep?" Duo asked.
"In the 6th year boys dorm, of course. Not many more are here, so there is room," Draco answered promptly.
"Draco?"
"Yes?" the blond Slytherin asked, slightly irritated.
"You're a good friend, even if we've only just met. I'll enjoy saving the world with you," the braided boy joked, grinning. Draco smirked back, then whispered the password to the Slytherin common room.
"So will I," he answered, sweeping past the other curious Slytherins. He turned down a hallway, then walked down a set of stairs, coming onto another hallway with three doors on each side. Each had a name plate. Draco pointed to the one with a D.M. on it. "This is your room. Mine has the same nameplate, but we are both intelligent enough not to confuse it. Goodnight, Maxwell."
"G'night, Draco," Duo said, winking. He disappeared into the room and shut the door. Draco shook his head and smiled, then entered his own room. Both lights shut off a moment later.
***
Heero and Harry waved goodbye as Trowa and Quatre entered Hufflepuff House. Wufei had long since went to the Ravenclaw corridor, so they continued up until they reached the 7th floor and the portrait of the fat lady. She was still awake, and greeted Harry warmly.
"And a good night to you also," Harry said cordially. He bowed to her then gestured to Heero. "This is Heero Yuy, a fellow Gryffindor."
"Well, hello child," the portrait said. Heero just nodded once, and the fat lady frowned a bit. "Well, password then. Hurry up, now. Haven't got all night."
Harry cringed at her dramatically changed mood. He expected it though, since Heero was being mean. "I believe it's mobilia mumbilitus or some such nonsense," he said uncertainly.
"Actually, no. But I'll let you in until Dumbledore tells you the new one. Good night, young Potter," the fat lady rejoined, swinging open. Harry smiled and led Heero in. The Gryffindor common room was full, since it was only just past curfew. A warm fire roared in the fireplace, and curious Gryffindors on scarlet couches turned curiously to see Heero and Harry. Hermione, who had been sitting beside Ron a moment ago, dashed up to them.
"Harry! Dumbledore made me go away and you didn't come back for two whole hours! What happened?! What'd he tell you?!" she shot off quickly. Heero looked a bit surprised, or as surprised as an emotionless shell could look, but Harry took it all in stride.
"I'll tell you later, 'Mione. Right now there are too many people around. Draco, Trowa and the others will be discussing it at breakfast, so be down early and I'll tell you, okay?" he suggested.
"Of course, Harry. I can wait until tomorrow," Hermione said brightly. "Well--"
"Why were you sitting with that redheaded boy?" Heero asked in his usual monotone. Hermione and Harry immediately stopped talking. Heero talked so rarely you had to freeze time just to hear him.
"You mean Ron? Well, even though he was being a total arse at the Welcoming Feast, he's still one of my best friends. I'm trying to get him to be nice to Heero and Duo," she answered. "He believes Heero is scum for being friends with Duo, and that Duo is scum just because he's a Slytherin. He also thinks that Trowa, Quatre and Wufei aren't worth his time. It's the principle of the thing, he says."
"Principle of what thing? Yeah, we were specially selected to go to Hogsmeade, and yeah, we all went to see Dumbledore, but that doesn't mean that we are all of a sudden Junior Death Eaters or something," Harry said.
"Death Eaters?" Heero said.
"Later, Heero. If we want to have any energy tomorrow, we need to get some sleep," Harry said.
"Oh, I get it. Diagon Alley, right?" Hermione said.
"Right," Harry said, smiling. He turned back to Heero. "Let's go." Harry led Heero up to the 6th years boys dorms and to the bed directly across from his. "Sweet dreams, Yuy."
"Hn," Heero answered. Both boys slipped into their beds after changing quickly, then drifted off to sleep.
***
"Do you think everything will be alright, Trowa? I felt a great sadness from Duo and Draco," Quatre said softly, snuggling into the arms of his lover.
"I could see it with my eyes. I already know that Duo is in love with Heero, but we don't know Draco very well," Trowa answered. "Don't worry, little one. We'll get to know him better, then we'll know what is bothering him."
"I know, Trowa," Quatre sighed. "Let's get some sleep, love. I suspect we have a big day tomorrow."
"This Diagon Alley you keep telling me about?" Trowa asked.
"Yes. Goodnight, love."
"Goodnight, little one."
***
"They are gathered, my Lord."
"Good. Now all we have to do is get the Five."
"Easier said than done, my Lord. We received information from our informant that the Five arrived with Muggle weapons."
"What is Muggle weapons to magic? We will still prevail."
"But my Lord, the Five are also wizards."
"What?! They can't be! It isn't in the prophecy!"
"Much isn't in the prophecy, Your Evilness. I've suspected that you haven't received the right prophecy for some time."
"And you haven't told me yet?"
"N-no, my Lord. I didn't want to anger you. I still might be wrong, you know."
"No, I don't know. And you have already angered me. Dare I teach you a lesson?"
"P-please, my Lord?! I didn't kn--"
"Crucio!"
***Tsuzuku or TBC***