Chapter Eighteen: Haunted by the Past
A tall man walked into a bar known as the Hog's Head, his purpose was simple: to interview a potential candidate for a nonsense subject: Divination.
"Albus," acknowledged Aberforth Dumbledore, owner of the Hog's Head.
"Abe! How are you, my brother?" asked Albus Dumbledore.
"Fine enough, I suppose. What can I do for you?" asked Abe politely.
"A large Firewhiskey. I might need it, I'm here to interview Sibyll Trelawney for a job," explained Albus.
"I'll make it a double, on the house. Good luck, you'll need it. I showed her up the stairs, she's quite a case, that one. I'll let you get to it, the faster you finish, the better," chuckled Abe.
Albus slowly made his way up the rickety staircase.
"Ahh, Professor Dumbledore, wonderful to see you again," said Sibyll Trelawney as she saw Albus come up the stairs.
For close to an hour, Albus asked Trelawney many questions about the art of Divination. Finally…
"Well, thank you for your time," said Dumbledore as he emptied his glass and turned to leave. Suddenly…
"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…" said Trelawney in a harsh voice.
Harry suddenly heard a commotion that he knew to be Voldemort's spy being thrown out of the bar. He quickly turned his attention back to Albus and Trelawney
"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…" rasped Trelawney as she finished the prophecy.
Suddenly, the scene shifted before Harry. His parents appeared before him.
"That's why he's hunting us?!" asked James Potter loudly.
"Calm down, honey. So, in the end it's either Voldemort or our one your old son?" asked Lily Potter.
"It would appear so. I suggest you go into hiding, prolonging his attack. I believe the Fidelus Charm will keep him at bay, provided we pick the correct Secret-Keeper," said Dumbledore.
"Okay, well there is only one person with whom I would entrust such a secret, my brother Sirius," said James confidently.
"I would prefer that you choose me," insisted Albus," but if those are your wishes, so be it…" as the scene shifted yet again.
"Give me the information, Wormtail," demanded Voldemort.
"The Potters are hiding at number three Griffin Lane in Godric's Hollow," recited Peter Pettigrew triumphantly as the cottage appeared before his master.
"Excellent, now leave," hissed Voldemort.
Voldemort marched up to the Potters cottage and whispered 'Alohamora'. He stepped inside and heard the Potters panicked voices.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off—" called James as Voldemort burst through the den door and emitted a high-pitched laughter.
"Ah, Potter. This is your final chance to join me," offer Voldemort.
"I think not, Voldemort. I'll never join the likes of you!" yelled James, "The only way to my family is over my dead body!"
"That can be arranged," said Voldemort, "Avadra Kedavra!"
A bright green light enveloped James Potter. The body of James Potter fell to the floor, unmarked. As Voldemort straightened up, he distinctly heard a baby crying. Voldemort headed in that direction. When he came upon a locked door, behind which was the source of the crying, he blasted it to shreds. Inside was Lily Potter standing between him and her child.
"Hand over your son and I promise I won't kill you," chuckled the Dark Lord.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" pleaded Lily.
"Stand aside you silly girl… Stand aside, now…." ordered Voldemort.
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead--- Not Harry! Please… have mercy… have mercy…" begged Lily.
Voldemort began to laugh.
"Avadra Kedavra!" muttered Voldemort as the spell erupted from his wand causing Lily to scream.
The light slowly enveloped her body, sending her reeling. Her body finally fell in a slump, never to move again. Voldemort turned to Harry.
"So, you little brat," hissed Voldemort, "According to prophecy you wish to replace me. That is only part of the reason… I'll make sure neither you nor any of your family ever live to defy me ever again! AVADRA KEDAVRA!"
Suddenly, the cottage was filled with Voldemort's screams of pain. The curse had been deflected off the baby and back to Voldemort, stripping him of his human body. The release of magic was so enormous that it caused the house to be blown to splinters.
Harry woke up screaming and clutching his scar. Ron, Neville, Dean, and Seamus came running to Harry's bed.
"Harry, wake up!" they all yelled.
Harry jerked up in bed.
"I'm all right but I have to see Dumbledore, now," said Harry firmly.
Harry quickly made his way to the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office.
"Bertie Bott's," commanded Harry as the gargoyle moved aside to let him pass. Harry felt as if some kind of magical alarm had been triggered, letting Dumbledore know he was there.
"Hello, Harry," said Dumbledore with a hint of sleep in his voice, "What can I do for you?"
"Not to be harsh, Professor, but I need you to be awake for this. I now know exactly what happened the night my parent's were murdered," said Harry gravely.
"Indeed," said Dumbledore as he stood up and erased any hint of tiredness," Then this is the proper time to give you this."
Dumbledore walked over to the cupboard that Harry knew to be the place Dumbledore housed his pensieve. Dumbledore pulled out a silver pensieve with a large 'P' on it and multiple different runes on it.
"Harry, this is your family pensieve. In it contains memories for your parents all the way back to Godric Gryffindor. Now, I'm going to teach you how to use it. Touch your wand in the silver fluid and place your wand to your temple. Think of your memory in its entirety, down to the very last miniscule detail. When finished, place your wand tip back into the pensieve. To retrieve a memory, think of a specific memory, or a general person's memory. Do you understand?" asked Dumbledore.
"I do," said Harry as he proceeded to do as he was told.
When he was finished, an echo of what happened appeared on the surface.
"He was concentrating on that night very hard tonight," said Harry at last, "I'm not entirely sure how I was able to see the rest of the prophecy nor your meeting with my parents,"
"That, I think, shall remain a mystery. Perhaps you didn't stay within the boundaries of the dream. Voldemort knew the basic necessities of that night because he used Legilimency on his spy. As you know, his spy didn't hear all of what had happened that night but he, apparently, knew enough," said Dumbledore, "Is that all?"
"Yes, sir. I had best get back to bed," said Harry as he stood.
"Well, may you have better dreams," said Dumbledore as he handed Harry the pensieve.
"Thank you, sir," said Harry as he received the pensieve, "Wingardium Leviosa, don't want to drop it."
Harry quickly made his way back to his dormitory and placed his pensieve under his bed. Harry climbed into his bed but was unable to fall back asleep. The next morning, his friends were asking him about his dreams.