I updated something!
Of course, Verasilyn probably meant TOTK, but I take the letter of the law, not the spirit...
About a week later, Harry was on the Hogwarts Express and headed back to Privet Drive, and he still didn't understand what exactly happened in that room at the Ministry.
Granted, his mind was reeling from a few other new discoveries as well. Dumbledore had chosen this of all times to impart his knowledge of Voldemort's motives for killing harry to him, and explained the Prophecy. Harry wasn't sure what to make of this. Granted, Trelawney had made it, and she wasn't exactly known for her accuracy or skill in Divination, but Harry had seen her make a true one, and Dumbledore did claim the Prophecy in capital letters to be a true one (and the capital letters did seem to give it credibility). Still. One cannot live while the other survives. He had to kill Voldemort, or he would die.
Not a bright prospect.
Still, he was determined to concentrate on living for now. Let what would come do so, but for now he just had to suffer the ministrations of his "loving" family.
Sirius had been pardoned, although there were still quite a few doubters in existence. This did not stop him from meeting Harry at King's Cross with the rest (sans Lupin, which was still a shock), albeit rather morose.
He made a gallant effort to appear normal, but Harry could see through it and they both knew it. There was no point in trying to talk to him now, and Uncle Vernon warily approached, but Harry made a resolution to discuss a few things with his godfather upon his arrival at Number Twelve.
Summer at the Dursley's was not exactly the most relaxing of occasions, but lack of attacks gave Harry the time to mull over what Dumbledore had explained to him. The Prophecy was not the solution, just a convenient one. If Harry died, which was a great possibility, there could be another way to defeat Voldemort. So Harry was not essential to the defeat.
Just very, very helpful.
Nice to know; he now had a bluff so that when Death Eaters or Voldemort caught him and taunted him with the presumption that now everyone was doomed, he could calmly explain that they weren't.
It seemed so simple here in safety. But he knew it wasn't.
He wondered what he would return to.
In their correspondence, both Ron and Hermione assured him that everyone was fine so far. Hermione had also said on a sidenote that Tonks was still grieving. This was news. Why would she be a special case?
Harry supposed he would find out once he returned to Grimmauld Place. He just hoped that life in the wizarding world had not changed too much since last he had been part of it.
But he would be leaving Privet Drive soon. In fact, his escort should be arriving to pick up him soon.
…Was that the sound of voices downstairs?