The second prophecy!
Some where in Romania in a muggle library:
An old man with a long silver beared sat on a table reading a book, his nose almost touching the pages.
His expression seemed to be bewildered as he looked up to a younger man in the twentys with fire red hair:
" Charlie, how could this happen? Why have we never heared from this before?"
"Then it is true? You have never heared of it? Do you think it is important, do you think she meant Harry?"
" Charlie", Dumbledore had raised his hands at this point trying to calm the anxious man, " I am afraid I can not answer this question…yet. I need you to tell me who made this prophecy and why I have never heard of it before."
"It make sense, she…. the one who made the prophecy, well she was a muggle. Or apparently she wasn't. That is the part that I don´t understand. The prophecy appeared in an old muggle book that is why you haven´t read it before, but how can a muggle do such a prophecy?"
"Ahhh, I see, I see ", the usual twinkle had returned into Dumbledores eyes, " In the past or to be exact in 1843 in which time this prophecy was made, the wizard school system in Romania wasn't really advanced. The wizard schools in Romania didn't allow the muggle born wizards to visit the shool. Often the muggle born wizards didn´t even know anything about magic but they were wizards.
Naturally they showed some of they potential. So I reckon that this woman had high potential in divination and made, even without proper teaching, this prophecy which…….if I might add, seems to be very true."
" So she really means Harry, well it is rather obvious marked with the lightening bolt… a friend of mine who lives here read it. He is muggle born.
So what is gonna happen?
What are you going to do?"
"It seems, like I shall visit Hogwarts again. We will have to announce a meeting of the Order. I am sorry to interrupt the hollidays of your family but I must insist on your help as well as on the help of Arthur and Molly. I am going to leave now, I hope your family will follow soon."
With that said he flicked his wand and apparated away.
"Great", mumbled Charlie to himself, " Hollidays end!!! Ron will have a fit!" well at least his mind added silent, he might see Harry again in Hogwarts.
Dumbledore apparated to the brink of the apparation wards of Hogwarts and walked in a, for a man in his age quick pace, to the castle.
He was quite surprised when he couldn´t find Severus in the castle but found a note on his desk, which said:
I am sorry to have left this castle without informing anyone.
But I found out some starteling news concering Mr. Potter and his welfare.
The note was obviously written in a haste, it didn´t even say where Severus had gone but Dumbledore expected him to be in his Manor.
With a worried frown because of the unusal concern and missing of sarcastic comments regarding Harry , Dumbledore threw some floo powder into the fireplace and stepped in the green flames while speaking with a clear voice "Snape's Manor".
At Snapes Manor, Snape had just got Harry successfully into his new room on the bed and Hermione went downstairs to fetch some water in case Harry should wake up when he heard a loud scream from her.
With a glance making sure that Harry was o.k. he ran downstairs to check on Hermione.
Hermione was just passing the living room heading to the kitchen to fetch some water for Harry when Dumbledore steppted out of the oven.
Normally she wouldn´t have screamed that frightened because of this little surprised moment, but today was not a normal day and she couldn´t hold herself toghether anymore.
Just as Dumbledore had calmed Hermione down, Snape bolted into the room his wand in his right hand ready to fight.
" What is going on Miss Granger is everything……"
He didn´t finish the sentence as he noticed Dumbledores present.
" So I see, you have returned from your secret Mission. You have read the note?", a nod from Dumbledore confirmed his suspicion. Hermione sank slowly down on the couch the day has clearly been to much for her, " Then I belive I shall tell you that Harry Potter is now staying upstairs in the guestroom beside my room and that I, and Miss Granger here have literally saved him from his so called relatives, after Miss Granger showed me evidence that he has been abused."
Confusion was clearly written across Dumbledore's face and the Snape sat down on the couch as well and started the long explanation.
" I have never thought of this possibility, his only relatives abusing him", the twinkle had once again during Snapes speach dissapeared and one single tear had dripped down his cheek," I am truly sorry. How could I not see?"
"This is not your fault", this was the first time Hermione had said something in Dumbledores presence, " no one knew, because he didn´t want us to!! He said it himself in the letter, he said he didn´t want you to know because he thought you would have felt ashamed."
A few moments of silence followed, all three were sitting on the couch everybody thinking this one thought.
"After reciving this grave news", Dumbledore interrupted the long silence," I am afraid I have to announce some grave news as well!
I am just coming from Rumania where I visited Charlie and the other Weasleys. Apparantly a muggel born wizards friend of Charlie Weasley has found a prophecy about Harry which we haven´t found yet."
"Albus", Snape interrupted Dumbledore in his speech," do you think it's wise to discuss this matter infront of Miss Granger?"
"Well Severus you see, since this prophecy does mainly deal about Harry we would have to tell him and he would surely tell his friends, now wouldn't he?"
Here his eyes twinkled again as he look down at Hermione, who's eyes where getting bigger by the moment.
"Anyway, I was just going to inform you, Severus, about the content of this prophecy"
" And why would you do that Headmaster?"
"Why Severus, of course because you are the spy and often in contact with Voldemored. Also I wanted to discuess with you weather this prophecy is true or not!"
Dumbledore laid the muggle book on the table and Snape picked it up and read out loud:
The innocent marked with the lightening bolt,
He posesses a skill which he does not know yet,
The reason of fight he shall never forget,
For if, the pain will turn his heart cold.
The strengh is the advantage shining bright,
On first sight it seems to stand on the side of light,
But beware the strengh posesses a weakness deep within,
He will turn dark if he does not see the reason.
A long silence followed, no one dared to speak a word. The expression on Hermiones face changed from utter shock to hope, to an expression of deep concentration. While Snapes expression was unreadable.
It seemed like the silence would last forever, the fire in the fireplace made soothing noises, a dripping sound from the outside announced that it had started raining.
Hermine leaned back into the green couch, she was tired everything was too much, her eyes were getting heavyer by the minute.
But she didn´t want to sleep, she needed to think about this prophecy and what it meant.
The sound of the fire was sooo soothing, she was right about to fall asleep, when she heard a loud scream from upstairs.
"Nooooooo, please! NOOOOOOO!"
Then a sound of a heavy object making contact with the floor and a painful scream.
Hermione and Dumbledore jumped to their feet. But Snape had already reached the stairs and was just running upstairs taking three steps at once.
Opening the guest room Snape saw a wide awake Harry lying on the floor apparently fallen from the bed clutching his stomache in obviouse pain but not making a noise while enduring it.
His eyes where searching the unknown room, clearly confusion written on his face.
As Snape moved to lift him up on the bed, Harry desperalty tried to move away. Precisely at that time Dumbledore and Hermione entered the room to see a Harry holding his arms in front of his face as if shielding his face and whispering in a raspy and silent voice:
"I didn´t do anything, I swear uncle. Please I didn´t. I won´t run away again!"
Snape touched his arms in an attampted to lower them, but the response he received was not one he had expect. While the whispering of the boy had sounded defeated and pleading his voice sounded now harsh and was a little louder:
"Don´t you dare touch me, let go. I haven´t done anything."
"So the boy has not been broken yet."
Carefully Snape let go of Harry and spoke in a as calm as he could master it to be voice:
" Potter as cruel as you may think that I am, Im not going to touch or hurt you so calm down and let me help you since you are so obviously in pain."
As if just only now seeing the room for what it was, Harry's eyes seemed to focus as he looked at the face of Severus Snape while lowering his hands.
" Professor, where am I?
What are you doing here?
What…sir what happened."
The disturbing sound of a closing door in the silent room made Harry tense up once again but his searching eyes just met Dumbledores as he silently walked his path to Harry's location followed by a very worried looking Hermione.
"Ohh my dear boy, I am so very sorry that I did not see how bad your relatives treated you at your home. If I had only known I wouldn't have sent you back there. But I can´t change the past now can I?
The only option I have now is to hope , that you will forgive me for the pain that I have sent you throught."
Here Dumbledore made a long pause as if waiting for an answer or a sign of aknowledgemeant from Harry , but Harry just sat there staring at the Headmaster as if he had grown another head.
"As for your other question, Harry you are here at Snapes Manor. Miss Granger here and Severus saved you from your uncle.
And I have to say it was a close call!
Your injuries, as Severus informed me ,were and still are rather grave.
But they will explain everything in more detail once you are in a comfortable position……"
Dumbledore nodded to Severus who as if talking to a small child began to explain:
"Listen Potter I will just carry you back to your bed, is that all right with you?"
He lifted Harry up and lay him down on the bed where he tucked him safe under the blankets.
" Miss Granger will just tell you the basics of your rescue and then we will leave you to rest…"
With the premission of Dumbledore Hermione stepped up to Harry and gave him a careful hug worry written all over her face.
"Ohh Harry, I was soo worried about you.
Why haven´t you told me…?"
As she realised that Harrys face changed into fear she quickly talked on:
"Well of course I can understand that you wouldn´t want to talk about it, …I would have probably done the same…anyway about your rescue……………………"
And so she just babbled on and on and didn´t even notice as the headmaster and Snape left the room.
To the shock of Harry who had observed them both from where he ley while listening to Hermione:
Both smiling.
TBC
(AN: Thanks to my beta reader Nathan, and of course I thank all the reviewers.
I hope the next chapter will be up soon, but truthfully it could take a while. SORRY)