The Chosen One's Battle

By: Neen

Author's Note:

This is merely my prediction and theories…please do not criticize me if you do not believe any of these…as I said before, these are most likely NOT going to be correct!

Please do not give me a long explanation of how you think that so-and-so shouldn't be like that…this is my story that I think is how the seventh Harry Potter novel will turn out vaguely like.

Please read this story with an unbiased (even if you pretend and still call me crazy on the side) view! Thanks.

Please be gentle (like, 'This needs some work' or something of the sort) because this is my first Harry Potter crew story…I've mostly concentrated on Lily and James (Marauder's Era) stuff…but I felt the need to post up this story because I have so many theories and thoughts…Thank you.

Chapter Three: A Quest To Begin

Harry stared out the small window in his bedroom. He had not slept the entire night. Instead, he was pondering what he was going to do, where he was going to go.

As dawn came, he packed hurriedly and took only the things he was sure he was going to need: his wand he pocketed in his flowing black robes, the Invisibility Cloak, the Marauder's Map he felt he somehow needed, the Magic Tracer from the Weasley's and nothing else. He sighed as he stroked Hedwig and left the Weasleys a farewell note.

Harry took his now much lighter luggage and silently descended the stairs.

He was nearly out the door when someone said in a strong, unwavering voice, "I'm coming with you."

It was Ginny. She had been sitting at the kitchen table with Ron and Hermione, who also looked like they hadn't slept the entire night as well.

"I know I can't stop you guys," Harry said a bit exasperated, sighing.

Ginny smiled. "Good. I was prepared to use the Bat-Bogey Hex on you should you had attempted to stop us."

"Nothing can stop you, can it?" Harry smiled as well.

Ginny did not blink. "Nothing."

"Well, let's get going!" Ron said in a hearty voice that did not match his face.

Hermione nodded and they clutched their baggage.

They went out to find a mist of adventure, a looming danger, and an eternal bond of friendship and love.

o.O.o.O.o

"So, where are we headed?" Ron asked as soon as they stepped outside.

"Hogwarts first," Harry said simply. He had thought it all out the night before. "To visit Dumbledore one last time before I attempt this journey."

"All right. We need to Apparate with a good distance away though—you know you can't Apparate onto Hogwarts grounds!" Hermione reminded them and Harry was reminded deeply how she had once said that so many years ago. Harry gripped onto Ginny's arm and all of them squinted, envisioning the beloved castle where they all had learned magic from.

They appeared with a loud crack a few blocks away and walked towards the castle.

Hermione frowned. "Harry…you won't be able to get in—not with all the security it has going on…"

"We'll see," was all Harry said. They had arrived at the front of the gate.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter," a voice called out from inside the gate and it proceeded to open the gate for them.

It was the barman from Hog's Head. Harry stared at him, dumbfounded. "Aren't you from Hogsmeade?"

The barman merely nodded and said, "I am Aberforth Dumbledore, brother of the late Albus Dumbledore. It was I, who wrote that letter to you during your birthday."

Harry winced at the usage of 'late' but did not say anything and followed Aberforth into the castle. He could not see how Dumbledore had such a brother so unlike him.

"Come inside," Aberforth gave the password to the gargoyle and it jumped aside, admitting them.

They went through the spiral staircase and stepped into Dumbledore's office. It was still intact and nothing had been removed. The only thing off was the absence of Fawkes.

"Albus left you a couple of things in his will. Albus! Dear brother, wake up! Harry Potter is here," Aberforth called out to the recent portrait of Dumbledore behind him.

"I understand that, Aberforth. I was merely pretending to sleep like so many of my colleagues have done. Have some fun, dear Aberforth," Dumbledore smiled at all of them as he readjusted his half-moon spectacles on his long, crooked nose.

"Hello, Harry. I have indeed left you some possessions of mine and have come to give you some advice," Dumbledore continued.

"The Pensieve, is yours…however, the Pensieve cannot be taken out of the castle. If you need to ever use it, you must come to the castle. My office will be open to you at all times. The other thing I am going to give you is Fawkes. Fawkes has gone for now, but he will return in your time of greatest need—your darkest hour. Truth to be told, I believe he has grown rather fond of you and even if I had not given him to you, he would still go to you. Now, for my advice. Do not seek revenge on Severus Snape, Harry," Dumbledore said firmly, noticing that Harry's mouth was open to protest.

"Sir, why do you trust Snape so much? He—he killed you!" Harry was outraged, sick of Dumbledore being so trusting on everyone, even the person that betrayed him and murdered him.

"Harry, I am perfectly clear who killed me. Trust me, Harry. Do not seek revenge on him. You will know my reason. You have a more important task to do—you need to defeat Voldemort. Further more, do not, whatever you do, forget all that I have told you. Love is the most important and powerful object in the world. It is not tangible and its force can leave us overwhelmed, ripped free of evil and life. You must remember this, Harry. What is more is that I cannot give you any advice any longer—I can only do so much. I have gone, Harry, so please do not think that this portrait is a substitute of me, for it never will be. Although this portrait might sometimes beg for cuddly socks or scratch its nose, I have truly gone. Good luck, Harry, and may you succeed." Dumbledore suddenly halted, closed his eyes, and emitted a loud snore, breathing deeply again.

Harry stared at Dumbledore's portrait, still not quite believing what Dumbledore had told him about Snape.

Aberforth cleared his throat. "That is all, I think. Quite crazy, my brother."

"Do not speak of him like that!" Harry said sharply, his wand raised.

"Silly boy," Aberforth muttered but he did not say anything else and left the office.

Harry looked at the Pensieve, watching the silvery contents swirl like a violent maelstrom.

Why do you trust Snape so much—after all he's done? Harry thought, blinking tears back.

Snape's face formed. He was extremely pale and looked frightened. "Dumbledore—Dumbledore…I told Voldemort! I told. He did not do as he promised me. He killed her! He killed her!" His angry voice echoed over and over again in the small office.

Suddenly, it switched to another memory—one of no doubt, Lily Evans near by the lake with James Potter, strolling along hand-in-hand. They looked cheerful and were talking happily. Lily laughed when James made a joke. James then leaned in and kissed Lily. A sallow-faced, pale boy with a hooked nose framed by raven hair standing hidden by a tree glared after the pair. He threw a small bouquet of delicate flowers he had conjured to the ground and crushed it. It was Snape.

Then another memory…it was Snape, frightened, shaking, dripping with water. He had just come in from the rain. The room was dark, unnaturally dark. Snape spoke quickly with his head bowed low, "My Lord, I have just come from overhearing a prophecy—a prophecy regarding you, My Lord."

"Speak," a high, chilling voice commanded. Snape nodded.

"Sibyll Trelawney prophesized: 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…" Snape said in his silky voice, to Harry's horror.

"The Longbottoms…or the Potters," Voldemort pondered out loud.

"The Potters, surely—they are getting more powerful," Snape said. Harry was shaking with fury.

"Indeed…I will wait after the Mudblood has given birth and then I will approach their house. You say someone close to them has come to our side? Who?"

"Peter Pettigrew—Wormtail. He is trying to convince Sirius Black to let him be the Secret Keeper for the Potters if they are to go into hiding. Just like you predicted, My Lord," Snape said, smirking.

"I shall kill this infant who cannot be powerful enough to defeat me…an infant," Voldemort scoffed.

"My Lord, may I make a simple request?" Snape asked cautiously.

Voldemort did not speak for a while. "Your reward, of course. What do you want Severus?"

"Do not kill the girl—the Mudblood, I beg of you, My Lord," Snape said quickly.

"She is a Mudblood—a disgrace to wizards—I will dispose of her," Voldemort said indifferently.

"My Lord, please—I—I owe her my life—I am in debt to her…My Lord, please, you know the effects of a wizard debt…could you save me…?" Snape said, desperately pleading this time, a note of panic rising in his normally silky voice.

Voldemort laughed. "My dear Severus, you should have said it sooner…I will not kill the Mudblood. You may leave now, Severus."

Again, it swirled and showed Dumbledore extracting thoughts from Snape's head and placing them into his pensieve.

Harry nearly collapsed. Ginny held on to him.

"Harry…"

"Snape—my mum saved him…" Harry whispered in horror.

Hermione shook her head. "No, I don't think so, Harry. I think that Snape was just using that as an excuse. I think he was in love with your mum…"

Harry jerked his head. "No…"

Ron looked uncomfortable. "I think Snape let Dumbledore enter his mind, Harry."

Harry closed his eyes. So Snape let him see his thoughts. He was really on our side.

But he would not let in sink in. "He could've made those thoughts up! WHY DID HE KILL DUMBLEDORE?"

"Harry, Dumbledore was a highly skilled Legilimens…and if Snape had been lying, he would have suffered major memory injuries later on…but he hasn't, has he? I think Dumbledore made a sacrifice. Oh, don't you see, Harry? Dumbledore—that's his greatest weakness and most powerful force at the same time: he sees the good in people…he loves. You said that Snape made an Unbreakable Vow—Snape would have had to finish out whatever Malfoy was going to do—kill Dumbledore—so he had to, Harry! He had to!" Hermione was nearly in hysterics, her voice rising.

Harry stared open-mouthed at all of them. "It can't be true, can it?"

"I think it is, Harry," Ginny said calmly, placing a hand on Harry to stabilize him.

"I was going to kill him—seek revenge," Harry said quietly.

"Good thing you didn't," Hermione said softly.

"At least that's one enemy you don't have to kill, eh, Harry?" Ron said, forcing a joke in the tense atmosphere. When nobody smiled and only glared at him, he sighed. "You lot—get real! We need to get rid of Voldemort's crazy soul-splitted things! He could do us in any moment now!"

Harry slowly nodded. "You're right, Ron. Getting a bit out of it. Thanks, mate."

"Any time," Ron said, grinning.

Harry returned the grin, his heart feeling oddly lighter in days.

Author's Note:

Ahh, I explained a lot of my theories, didn't I?

Yes, I do believe that either Snape loved Lily or that Lily did something great for him (like saving his life) so that he begged Lord Voldie to not kill her. Otherwise, why would Voldie, who killed countless Mudbloods—as he calls them—and says to Lily, "Stand aside, you silly girl—you don't need to die…" (or something of the sort…forgot the exact quote, but I'm dead sure it's quite similar..) Why would Voldie show mercy for Lily? I don't see her as the Death Eater type…soo…yeah, my theory.

I just have a bit of theory that I haven't figured out yet. Yes, it involves a horcrux…the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw one, in fact! However, I believe that the horcrux is actually a Ravenclaw relic as the only Gryffindor one is the sword and I can't see that as being one, oddly enough…so a Ravenclaw relic…if anyone knows anything about a Ravenclaw relic, please include it in your review! It would greatly help me out…otherwise I might just invent something crazy…ahh, why not…you can do that too…invent a Ravenclaw relic to be a horcrux! I already know where I'm going to be hiding these Horcruxes…so just the item, please! Thanks.

Yes, this is the list of Horcruxes that I believe contains Lord Voldie's soul pieces:

Tom Riddle's diary – destroyed

Marvolo's ring – destroyed

The Slytherin locket – destroyed

Hufflepuff cup – still a Horcrux

Ravenclaw relic – still a Horcrux

Nagini – still a Horcrux

Lord Voldemort's body – still there

Anyways, please review!

Thank you.

Thanks to Harry Potter Ninja, hphotshot, firebirdgs, and Silenius!

firebirdgs : wow, i'm inspiration? haha, thanks!

Silenius : Thanks for all the compliments! It makes me feel appreciated around here..