DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 4
The Prophecy
Harry took a deep breath and exhaled noisily. He had no trouble remember the words that had haunted him since he heard them. "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..."
Remus inhaled sharply and gaped disbelievingly. Harry could not look him in the eye. Now Remus knew. He knew Harry would be a murdered. He knew it was all Harry's fault that his parent's dies, Cedric died, Sirius died. Remus growled, actually growled. "That S.O.B. I can't believe it. He knew. That's why. Ugh, I'll kill him."
Harry looked somewhat fearfully at Remus. "I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to kill them. I didn't..." Harry's voice broke.
Remus was startled out of his homicidal strategies by the fear evident in Harry's voice. "I'm sorry, Harry. Its just I believe you have answered some of the questions I have been pondering for quite some time." He stopped and gazed intensely at Harry. "It is not your fault!"
Remus gave Harry a few minutes to ponder this and the asked softly. "So what do you make of the prophecy, Harry? How do you interpret it?"
Harry glared at Remus and answered insolently. "Well obviously I have to kill him or he kills me."
Remus pondered a moment. "Are you sure? Prophecies are funny things, Harry. They often cannot be deciphered properly until after the event has taken place."
"Huh?" Harry asked. "I don't understand."
Remus sighed. "Let me put it this way. Does the prophecy mention you? Does it mention V-Voldemort?"
"Well, yeah."
Remus' eyes lightened. "Does it? I heard no where Harry James Potter."
Harry just looked at Remus perplexed.
"You see, Harry. I won't lie to you. This prophecy may in fact refer to you. But it could just as easily refer to someone else."
"You mean Neville?" Harry asked.
Now it was Remus' turn to look perplexed. "Huh?"
"Neville, he and I were both born at the end of July and our parents both defied Voldemort."
"Ah." Remus nodded. "Perhaps, Harry. I don't know exactly. But let's start there. You say you & Neville both fit the prophecy..."
"No. I'm the marked one." Harry held up his bangs to reveal the curse scar.
"Perhaps." Remus replied. "But did you ever notice that Neville, well, Neville seems a bit clumsy, forgetful? He was given a memory charm by an incompetent ministry official the night his parents were attacked. You never memory charm a toddler it can effect growth, in particular magical growth. Anyways, how do we know that the charm didn't mark Neville as his equal."
Harry looked stunned.
Remus continued. "And also, certainly you boys weren't the only ones born at the end of July. I didn't hear anywhere it was only a wizard, only born in Britain, did you? Hmm, let's see, it does say him so I suppose that does narrow it down to boys, but it doesn't say anything else to give us a clue."
Harry nodded and waited for Remus to continue with a sliver of hope. "So it might not be me?"
"Like I said, Harry, prophecies are funny things. It may be you and be a dark lord, you know, they all seem to use that title, one hundred years in the future. Dumbledore seems to have decided that it does refer to you and Voldemort but it can by no means be a certainty. There are simply too many other interpretations. I also notice it says vanquish not kill. Look at it this way, if there were a prophecy that told you the wolf would give the lightening a gift. How would you interpret it?"
Harry gave Remus a half smile. "I'm getting a gift?"
"True but couldn't it also mean that someone with a wolf tattoo would give someone with a lightening tattoo a gift. You see, there are many interpretations. Though I'll grant that Dumbledore's is a likely interpretation it is by no means certain." He growled suddenly. "And by no means something to base a life on."
He glanced at Harry. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes." He replied earnestly.
"Good. Rest. I'll be back."
