Chapter 11: The Prophecy

A/N: This chapter is going to bounce around a lot at first… I'll probably confuse myself. Enjoy

February faded into March and March turned into April, and with the rapidly approaching N.E.W.T.s, Hermione had everyone on a tight study schedule. With all the revision, homework, Quidditch practice, and Harry's extra lessons with Dumbledore, he and Amanda rarely had time to spend together.

One weekend morning found the seventh year Gryffindors, with the exception of Amanda, who hadn't been feeling well and went to the hospital wing, studying. All was well until Harry's scar exploded in pain. Voldemort was furious for some reason and Harry couldn't use his Occlumency through the pain. Harry collapsed, bashing his head on the table. Ron and Seamus managed to carry him from the common room to the Hospital wing while Hermione ran to get Professor Dumbledore.

What she saw in his office made her faint.

"Th-thanks, Madam Pomfrey." Amanda opened the door to leave the hospital wing. Ron and Seamus were carrying Harry toward her as fast as they could.

"What happened?" she asked, alarmed. Madam Pomfrey came to see what the commotion was and instructed Ron and Seamus to put Harry in his bed (identified by a plaque bearing the words Potter's Place).

Hermione, looking extremely pale, entered with the headmaster in time to hear Ron describe what happened to Harry.

Voldemort was outraged. Any Death Eater that got in his way was in a lifeless heap on the floor a second later. Wormtail hadn't been seen all day and it had been reported that he and the captive girls had escaped. The Dark Lord was storming through his hideout as fast as his serpentine body would allow. Wormtail would be dead within a day if the rumors were true.

"Welcome back, Mr. Potter. Poppy, might I borrow your favorite patient? I need to speak with him in my office." Dumbledore asked, receiving a glare from the matron.

"There's nothing wrong with you now, Mr. Potter, just don't make this a habit. We can't have you fainting from pain in your scar all the time, can we?" Madam Pomfrey released him into Dumbledore's care.

Walking back to the headmaster's office, Harry was filled in on the most likely reason Voldemort was enraged enough to cause that much pain. Peter Pettigrew was currently in Dumbledore's office seeking refuge until the end of the war. Cho Chang, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell were residing in guest rooms, much like Peter would be after his talk with the headmaster.

As soon as Harry entered the office he seized Wormtail by the neck and lifted him from the floor. Dumbledore, Amanda, Ron, and Hermione all demanded him to stop. Ron simply wanted to kill the despicable rat himself. Ron had never gotten over the betrayal he felt when he learned that his pet rat had in fact been a wizard who was responsible for his best friend's parent's murders.

Harry threw Pettigrew to the floor and stepped backward. "Why are you here, Wormtail? Don't bother lying, your pal Voldemort isn't the only one who can tell…"

Pettigrew stood up, fear evident on his face, and looked Harry in the eye. "You'll kill him, won't you?" his eyes pleaded for Harry to confirm his hopes.

"Why are you here, Wormtail?" Harry repeated threateningly.

"I've switched sides. I just can't do it anymore. The killing… the torture… it's all too much. I-I can't…" Wormtail broke down in tears. "Those girls… they… they know…"

"Mr. Pettigrew refers to Ms. Chang, Ms. Bell, and Ms. Johnson. They are currently in guest rooms. The Weasley twins have been informed of their arrival, as well as Ms. Chang's boyfriend. The three gentlemen are on their way." Dumbledore said, responding to the blank looks on everyone's faces.

"Mr. Pettigrew risked his own life to return the ladies to safety. He has been their caregiver for months and has let no harm come to them, other than the emotional anguish of being held captive. He has been a lifeline of sorts for them."

Harry scoffed in disbelief, even though he was using Legilimency on Wormtail and could see that it was true.

"When… when you kill him… I'll turn myself over to the Ministry. Until then I just… I just want to stay here…" Wormtail dissolved into tears again.

Dumbledore looked at Harry and allowed Harry to read his thoughts. If he leaves, he'll be killed.

No more than what he deserves… he killed my parents!

He is trying to make amends. Nothing can change what he has done, but if we throw him to the wolves, he'll never have a chance to do any good.

Harry audibly sighed. I know… but I don't have to like it…

"Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. Potter will lead you to the guest rooms. You will be in the fourth door on the right. The password is…"

"Fanged Frisbee." Peter supplied. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at him. "Err… James, Sirius, Remus, and I often… took… our dates there. We each had our own rooms. Remus was two, I was four, James was six, and Sirius was eight."

Harry and Amanda laughed, though Amanda looked nervous about something. No one noticed, however, because everyone was looking at Harry. "What? Six is a magnificent room, my father had excellent taste." Harry said, laughing again. His voice changed, filled with venom. "Come on, rat."

Wormtail followed Harry to the guest room in silence, afraid of the waves of fury radiating from Harry.

Harry refused to leave the common room that evening when everyone else went to eat. Amanda said she'd send Dobby up with some food if he wanted, but he refused. He simply sat there in front of the fire with a box of photos that Remus had found at Grimmauld Place the previous year. They were all photos of his parents, Sirius, Remus, and Peter while they were at school. Probably seventh years, judging from the fact that his mum and dad were obviously in love. Seventh year was when they got together, according to Sirius and Remus.

Peter was obviously only there because his friends were powerful. James and Sirius were the best at whatever they did, according to everyone but Snape, and Remus was just as powerful, just not a show off. Lily was exceptional at anything that could be used to help someone, especially medicinal charms and potions. Peter was just… weak… Why couldn't anyone else see that? How could the Sorting Hat place him in Gryffindor?

It took bravery to defy the Dark Lord and rescue Katie, Angelina, and Cho… It took bravery to come here… It took bravery for him to talk to you, Potter… You would have strangled him to death if it hadn't been for everyone else…

Harry got up and left the common room, perhaps he was hungry after all.

Along the way to the Great Hall, Harry stumbled across Sybil Trelawney, accidentally knocking her down because he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. "Oh, I'm sorry Professor. I didn't mean to… are you ok?" she looked like she hadn't slept in a week

"Hmm? What? Oh, hello Mr. Potter. I see you're still among the living." She reeked of cooking sherry. "Would you mind escorting an incompetent old bat to the Great Hall?"

"Of course, Professor. I was heading that way myself."

They walked in silence most of the way, but after a while she looked over at Harry. "I miss you in classes, Potter. You had a promising aura about you, and I heard about your visions of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named… Your Inner Eye just needs to be developed."

Harry made a non-committal noise in his throat, "I didn't pass my O.W.L. though."

"Those examiners don't possess the Eye. They are unfit to test on Divination! And that mule that tried to take my job away!" she began mumbling unintelligibly.

Harry and Professor Trelawney reached the Great Hall. Harry moved to the Gryffindor table and Professor Trelawney sought an empty chair at the Staff table. Unfortunately for Professor McGonagall, that chair happened to be beside her.

The meal wasn't as good as it usually was, but Harry suspected that was because he had too much on his mind. As the plates cleared and everyone stood to leave, a booming voice echoed throughout the Hall.

THE EGGS WILL SOON HATCH... A NEW WAR WILL BE WAGED... FOUR EMERALDS WILL GLOW IN THE DARKNESS OF THE SNAKE'S LAIR AND WHEN ALL HOPE IS LOST, A LIGHT WILL SHINE FROM THE SHADOWS. ONE EGG WILL BE DESTROYED. PREPARE…

Harry looked up and saw Professor Trelawney sink back into her chair. Oh, Merlin… Another one…

Dumbledore stood up and called for silence. Harry knew he would have to meet Dumbledore in his office. Every time Trelawney made a prophecy it was about Voldemort or himself, after all. He nodded at the headmaster and left the Great Hall, Amanda close behind.

"Harry… that was another prophecy about you, wasn't it?" Amanda asked with fear in her voice.

"Probably, she seems to be mine and Voldemort's private Seer." Harry answered; his hatred of being a pawn in whatever cosmic chess game was being played was obvious.

After fifteen minutes of waiting, Dumbledore entered his office and found them sitting across from his chair. He seated himself and sighed wearily. "I do not believe this prophecy concerns you, though there seems to be a reference to Voldemort. The bit about the Snake's lair and eggs, at least." Dumbledore looked as if he had aged fifty years in the time it took him to speak, which was shocking considering he was over one hundred and fifty.

"Do you have any idea what it could be about?" Harry asked, visibly tensing.

"No, unfortunately. This prophecy is most perplexing. I suggest you forget about it. As in most cases, it seems that this prophecy will only make sense when the event it describes has come to pass." Dumbledore rubbed his temples in an uncharacteristic sign of weariness.

"Mr. Potter, if I begin to think of any connection you may have to this prophecy, I'll inform you at once."

"Yes, sir." Harry said, standing up.

"Oh, and Harry…" Harry turned to face the headmaster, "Try to find some way to get along with Pettigrew. He may be a big help to us. You felt the regret he feels for everything he's done, I trust?"

"Yes, but I still don't feel like I can forgive him. That will take a long, long time… If it is even possible… The fact remains that he killed my parents."

Harry and Amanda left the room and made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. He needed sleep. He needed to talk to his parents and Sirius.

Harry looked around and saw his body lying in his bed. Like a ghost, he was floating above it, though unlike a ghost, he was doing so with wings. Opening the curtains and leaving the bed, he found himself face to face with his parents, Ginny, Sirius, and the baby he knew to be his sister.

"Mum! Dad! Sirius!" He shouted, hugging each of them in turn.

"What? No hugs for your dear sisters?" Ginny asked, opening her arms and laughing. Harry hugged her as well.

"Hullo Karen." He said, plucking the baby from Ginny's arms. "How did I get here? I'm… I'm not dead, am I?"

"No, Harry, you called us. When you sleep you are closer to our world, and apparently you can bring yourself here." Lily ran her arms along her son's wings, "See, you're mostly phoenix. Well, I don't suppose you can see. Your hair has been replaced by feathers and you've got wings… probably more too, you probably have talons or something."

"We know why you're here, son. Wormtail may not deserve forgiveness, but he deserves a chance to try to redeeming himself." James sighed deeply. "Padfoot doesn't agree with us. Then again, if I had spent twelve years in Azkaban because of Wormtail, I wouldn't agree either."

"That's right! You would have still been alive if that rat hadn't turned on us! Harry would have his family, and knowing you two that would mean more than one sibling! Merlin, Harry! They would put the Weasleys to shame!"

"AH! Sirius! Don't tell me that!" Harry said, shaking his head. He couldn't cover his ears with Karen in his arms. Looking down at the baby girl he sighed, "They're trying to traumatize us, kid!"

Lily smiled and took her daughter. "It'll be fifty years or so in your world before this one is old enough to be traumatized by anything these two say."

"Oh, mum! Trelawney made another prophecy… could it be possible…" he looked at his sister.

"No, dear, I don't think so. In most cases babies that are born here are here for two or three hundred years in your world."

"Good, I don't want her to be taken from you like you were from me…"

"Oi, Harry, back to why you called us!" Ginny shouted. "I think Wormtail deserves a second chance, even though the slimy rat did come into my bedroom and lay on my pillow while I was sleeping…" Ginny shuddered. "Hit him for that, will you?"

Harry smiled. "Right. I'll give him a chance, but if he blows this one…"

"Make sure the rat turns himself in, then… If you don't… everyone gets here sometime, Harry…" Sirius smiled and clapped him on the back.

"You have to go now, Harry. It's almost time for breakfast. If you don't wake up soon they'll have you in your other bed in the hospital wing." James said with twinkling eyes.

"Right, right, I'm going." Harry said. He hugged everyone and bid them farewell before forcing himself to wake up.

Amanda sat alone in the Great Hall. She had come down for an early breakfast but couldn't manage to eat anything but toast. She felt sick again and tried to think of a way to settle her stomach. Eating toast or crackers had always helped before, so that was the first thing she thought of.

She looked up when she saw Hermione standing beside her. "Hi, Hermione. You're up early."

"So are you. Listen… I… I think I have a problem. Can I count on you to keep a secret?" Hermione looked panicked so Amanda immediately assured her that her secret was safe. Hermione leaned over and whispered something in her ear, causing her eyes to grow as big as saucers.

"Really? Isn't that interesting…"

"Oh, you won't tell anyone, will you?" Hermione pleaded, her eyes full of fear and anxiety.

"If you'll keep my secret, I'll keep yours." Amanda said and pulled her friend close to whisper a secret of her own.

"Oi, Ron, get up! Breakfast!" Ron sat up quickly and pulled on his robes. Harry laughed and clamped his hand down on Ron's shoulder. "Want to join me for breakfast? I have a rat to visit…"

"Wha? Why d'you want to visit him?" Ron's voice would have poisoned anyone but Harry when he spoke the last word.

"Mum, Dad, Sirius, and Ginny said I should. Are you going to argue with them?" Harry said, raising an eyebrow.

The two of them made their way through the castle and down to the place Harry had taken Amanda two months prior, stopping at Wormtail's door this time. Harry knocked, loudly, three times. Katie, Angelina, and Cho opened their doors on the other side of the corridor and looked out, but Wormtail didn't respond.

"Open up, Wormtail, or I'm breaking it down." Harry called through the door; the resentment he felt was evident in his voice.

Wormtail was shaking as the door opened. "H-Harry… nice to see you… to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Padfoot and Prongs sent me to say hello…" Wormtail's eyes suddenly looked as if they would pop out if something hit him in the head.

"C-c-come in, come in…" he stuttered as he ushered them inside.

"Why so nervous, rat?" Ron asked as Wormtail closed the door. "One would think that you're hiding something."

Wormtail looked at the two of them for a moment. "How would you like being in a room with two people who expressed their desire to see you dead?" He said sadly.

Harry sighed, "I know how it feels to be in a room with a dozen people who want to kill me, a graveyard full of people who want to kill me, and I know how it feels to be the number one target on that red-eyed git's hit list. He conjured three chairs for them and sat down, peering over his fingers at Wormtail as he did so. "Why?"

Amanda and Hermione made their way back to the common room, arriving a short time after Harry and Ron had left, which thoroughly confused them, because they couldn't find the boys anywhere. They hadn't been in the Great Hall or on their way there and the girls were at a loss as to where to look. Hermione had rummaged through Harry's trunk, but she couldn't find the Marauder's Map. The invisibility cloak was there, so it wasn't likely that they had snuck into Hogsmeade.

"Maybe they went to the Room of Requirement." Hermione suggested after exhausting their other ideas.

The journey was faster than usual, perhaps because the ladies were so determined to find their male counterparts, or perhaps it was the conversation they were having in hushed tones, neither could be certain, but their disappointment, confusion, and rising irritation when they couldn't find them in the room made the walk back to the common room longer than ever.

Harry and Ron were waiting in the common room when they returned. Both looked stressed. Harry was rubbing his temples and sighed deeply at frequent intervals. "Not now…" Hermione hissed at Amanda, receiving a fervent nod in reply.

"What's wrong?" both asked as they sat down beside their men.

"Wormtail… told us everything… Why he turned on Harry's parents, why he's done everything since then…" Ron gulped loudly, "He was responsible for Ginny before they killed her. He watched over her and kept her safe until then. That's one reason he turned back to our side. He watched out for her all her life, until he ran back in our third year."

"Why did you go see him? Harry, you didn't try to hurt him again, did you? Amanda demanded.

"No, nothing like that… I wanted to though. I talked to mum and dad last night. They told me to give him another chance. If they can forgive him, I suppose I can try." Harry sighed again, "It'll take a long time, but I'll try."

A week later, Hermione burst through the portrait hole and headed for Amanda. Harry was helping Ron make up his Divination homework, so Amanda forced them to leave her table. She couldn't get any work done with them laughing about Ron's predictions. When Hermione tapped her on the shoulder, she nearly jumped out of her seat. The older girl pointed to the staircase with her head and began to walk toward it.

In their dorm, Amanda comforted a crying Hermione. Her words were broken by sobs and hard to understand, but Amanda knew exactly what she was saying.

Harry looked up when Hermione and Amanda left for the staircase. Her thoughts were turbulent and Harry couldn't help but know everything on her mind no matter how much he tried to block it out. Ron looked up when Harry's breath came out as a gasp. His face was contorted into a look of horror, shock, confusion, and fear all rolled into one. Ron followed as Harry shot from his chair like a bullet and ran to his own dorm.

"Oi, what's going on, mate? You're acting strange." Ron asked as Harry jumped into his bed and closed the curtains.

"I'll be back in a second, I just had to make sure no one saw me Apparate like this." Ron saw a flash of flames and knew Harry was gone.

"Killing him won't help, 'Mione…" Amanda's voice said as Harry appeared in his usual fashion.

"Hermione, are you-"

"You know, don't you Harry? I knew you would find out. Snape and Dumbledore can probably tell what I'm thinking…"

"Yeah, I know," Harry's voice was quiet and sounded slightly sad, "But you don't have anything to worry about."

"How can you say that? I don't… I can't…" she collapsed on her bed, tears flowing like a river.

Amanda drew Harry's attention and took hold of his hands. "She's not the only one, Harry. I'm pregnant too."