For Neither Can Live While the Other Survives

Chapter Nine

Answers

Disclaimer: Nothing you might recognise belongs to me

"Albus, he has to know!"

"He's too young, he's not ready…"

"Albus! Look at these letters! He keeps asking why the other students point and stare at him, hell some even have asked him for his autograph! Harry needs to know the truth about his past and nobody can tell him but you! Please will you tell him?"

"Very well, Sirius. I will tell him tonight."

"Hey Harry, you've got an owl," said Ron, looking up from the chess board where he was playing against Neville.

Harry held out his hand for the letter, opened it and quickly read it. "Professor Dumbledore wants to see me in his office later tonight."

"Oooh! What have you done?" laughed Dean,

"I suppose he means to go after the Halloween Feast," said Hermione, lifting her head from the huge text book she was absorbed in,

"Yeah," said Harry. Maybe tonight is the night I get some answers.

Harry arrived at Dumbledore's office at half past eight that evening to find the headmaster and Sirius already waiting for him.

"Hey Sirius!" Harry said, giving his godfather a hug, "What are you doing here? I'm not in trouble am I?"

"No, no," reassured Dumbledore, "Take a seat, Harry."

Harry sat into the armchair next to Sirius and his guardian placed his hand comfortingly over Harry's.

"I understand you've been getting a lot of unwanted attention since you started Hogwarts," began Professor Dumbledore, "Do you know why?"

"I'm assuming it's because I apparently killed Voldemort and everything," mumbled Harry,

"Yes," replied Dumbledore, "You are right. However do you know how you defeated Voldemort?"

Harry shook his head and stared intently towards his headmaster.

"Harry, there was a prophecy made before you were born. It went as follows "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 that the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives," recited Dumbledore, heavily.

Harry gulped. "So, that means, I'm the only one who could have killed Voldemort?"

"Yes,"

"And I killed him when I was one?"

"Yes."

"How?"

Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Harry, what I am about to tell you is very strange and unbelievable but it is entirely true. It seems that you have lived a life before."

"What?" yelled Harry and Sirius,

"You have lived another life up until the age of seventeen and when you faced Voldemort the day before your graduation, you managed to kill him but you also died. As a result, time rewound until before your birth and on the night of your parents deaths- which, coincidentally is ten years tonight- Voldemort arrived at your home with the intent of killing you. However, somehow you once again managed to kill Voldemort and saved the Wizarding World from the terror of Voldemort which is of course why you are so famous."

Harry gaped as he struggled to take it all in. "But…why?" he finally managed to gasp out, "if I'd already killed him in my previous lifetime then why did I have to be reborn to do it again?"

Dumbledore steepled his fingers. "Ah, well that is to do with the line of the prophecy that goes 'for neither can live while the other survives'. You hadn't lived a proper life before so when you defeated Voldemort, Fate obviously decided to give you a better life and rewound time and you have had a good childhood so far haven't you?"

Harry looked at Sirius and grinned. "I can't imagine a better one."

"Thanks kid," said Sirius, gruffly.

Dumbledore beamed. "I'm so pleased."

"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked, after a moment, "Do you know what my life was like in my previous lifetime?"

The Headmaster's eyes stopped twinkling immediately. "I believe you grew up with your mother's sister and her family who treated you like a House Elf and one by one all your closest friends died before you reached graduation."

Harry gulped. "Why didn't Sirius raise me?"

"He was in Azkaban prison… you had been framed by Peter Pettigrew for the murders of Lily and James," Dumbledore quickly said before Sirius could butt in.

Sirius heaved a sigh. "Well I'm sure glad that James and I decided to let you know at the very last minute that Peter and I had switched as the Secret Keeper,"

"Very glad," agreed Dumbledore, "So do you understand Harry?"

Harry pulled a face. "I think so. It's going to take some getting used to though. Can I tell anyone?"

"Not at the moment," said Dumbledore, "One day you may be able to tell your closest friends. As for the others, I'll think up a story you can tell others, something believable. It shouldn't be difficult. After all, even now, you are an extremely strong wizard, Harry Potter."

Thanks to Anne for reviewing. I hope you managed to read the rest. I always find refreshing the page helps when it does that.

Only one more chapter to go.

Review please. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.