Big Promises
The week leading to Harry's trip to Diagon Alley was nerve racking. Harry only left his room to go to the loo and make breakfast for Dudley and Vernon. He was nervous about telling Neville and also about sneaking out of the house. The Dursleys wouldn't care much but Molly and the Order were sure to have some words for Harry when they found out.
Aside from the breakfasts he made, he barely ate surviving on chocolate frogs and treacle tarts until his birthday arrived that Wednesday. With that he received a fresh supply of birthday cake from the Weasleys and some fruits from Hermione most likely via her dentist parents. He found the apples and oranges a nice respite from the sweets and fat laden breakfasts that he served the Dursleys.
Friday came and Harry left for Diagon Alley. Neville wasn't going to be there 'till the next day and Harry hadn't gotten him a birthday present so he decided to explore a bit. Harry went to the wizarding bank and withdrew enough galleons to pay for his weekend stay and his school supplies along with a little extra for Neville's present.
After wandering about Diagon Alley for a couple hours looking in all the stores, Harry reluctantly decided to go into Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze's. The Weasleys didn't know Harry was in Diagon Alley and neither did Dumbledore. He wasn't supposed to arrive until Sunday and then he was to wait in the Leaky Cauldron until Molly and Arthur arrived to get him.
"Harry, my dear chap. How do you do" Fred belted out when he saw Harry. "George get out here, our favorite share holder is here."
George burst in from the back room. "Them muggles get to ya' already Harry? What would you like, puking pastilles, canary crèmes, or perhaps something more sinister?"
Harry laughed lightly and replied. "No, no it's nothing like that."
"So you want supplies for Hogwarts then? Just a sec here, we have a new product called Hogwarts Hoodwinks. It's an assortment of our best and our finest."
"No, I'm not here to buy anything."
Fred frowned when Harry said this; he really had higher hopes for the boy.
"I need a safe place to talk about something important. I have a meeting tomorrow and was hoping I could use your back room. It's really important and I don't want anyone overhearing what I've got to say."
"What time?" George asked.
"About twelve thirty. It shouldn't take long."
"Okay, but on one condition." Fred smirked "You have to take one Hogwarts Hoodwinks collection."
Harry didn't see any harm and had plenty of money with him. "Okay how much do I owe you?"
"Why nothing." George answered.
"Consider it a birthday present." Fred added.
Harry obliged and thanked the twins. He then exited back to Diagon Alley still searching for present for Neville. Wandering down Diagon Alley trying to think of a gift for Neville, he passed a small shop he hadn't seen before, the sign on the window said Boligrafo's Quills. Right then he new what to get Neville, a set of muggle pens. He remembered a stationery store just around the corner from the secret entrance to the leaky cauldron. Unfortunately, it was too late to do anything about it today. He had forgotten to exchange any galleons for pounds and Gringott's had closed for the day.
When Harry entered the stationery store the next morning, he was quite surprised. He never thought there could be so many kinds of pens. However, Harry didn't think Neville would understand the reasoning behind a pen that had glitter ink or a 24K gold barrel, because really, he didn't understand either. After perusing the wide variety of pens and having the finer points of fountain versus roller ball versus felt tip explained to him, Harry had made up his mind. He decided on a mid level fountain pen. It had a soft cushy grip and light gold lettering. For all its niceties, Harry had chosen it because it would be closest to writing with a quill Harry also purchased a twelve pack of Bic disposable ball point pens as this is what he wrote the letter to Neville with.
Harry was waiting in the bar of the leaky cauldron. He had been there about a half hour hidden in the back corner. It was a quarter after Noon when Neville walked in. Wearing a green cloak and his sandy blonde hair disheveled, Neville nervously looked about the bar. Not seeing Harry, a frown crept upon his face and he dropped his head as he took a seat at the bar. As Tom the innkeeper approached Neville to take his order stood and walked toward Neville.
"Neville, what ya' so down for?" Harry called out.
"Huh?" Neville turned around, his eyes brightening as he caught sight of Harry. He quickly dropped his gaze to the floor and his cheeks tinted pink with embarrassment. "I thought I'd missed you."
"Don't worry about it I was trying not to be seen. Here, I have birthday present for you." Harry pulled a dark cherry wood case from his cloak and handed it to Neville.
Neville opened the case. Inside lying on purple velvet was the pen Harry bought that morning. Neville's eyes opened with excitement but scrunched back up in confusion just as quickly.
"It's beautiful, but what is it?" Neville asked.
"It's a muggle pen. You write with it like a quill."
"Is that what you wrote the letter with?"
"No, well yes. It was a different kind of pen. Just a sec." Harry reached back into his cloak to pull out the package of disposable pens. "Here ya' go Neville, these are for you too."
"Thanks, Harry. How do they work?"
"That one there works just like a quill, dip the pointy bit in ink and write. With these other ones the ink is inside and you just press the tip to paper and write. Eventually you use the ink up and you throw it away."
"Must make writing those potions essays a snap."
"No, not really. The disposable ones don't work at Hogwarts. Hermione tried our first year. The other one might though, as it works the same way as a quill."
"Why would muggles use this one if these others don't require you to carry around a bottle of ink?"
"Have you ever seen when Fudge signs some new piece of legislation?"
"I've seen pictures of it in the Daily Prophet."
"It is kind of like that, he doesn't sign them with an ordinary owl or eagle feather quill. He uses a peacock feather. The fancy pen is for special occasions or to impress people with."
"Though the pen I gave you is more like a feather from a snowy owl than a peacock" Harry quickly added.
Neville suddenly looked crestfallen again. "Thank you for the pens. But I'm afraid I can't accept them as I don't have a gift for you."
"Nonsense, you don't need to give me a gift." Harry replied. "Anyways there is always next year." Harry wasn't too sure about the last bit, but he wasn't going to spoil the moment, not yet anyway.
"Thank you Harry." After a brief silence Neville continued, "Well, you asked me here to talk about something but I can't recall what."
"That's because I didn't really tell you." Harry mumbled to himself.
"I remember know it was about our…"
"Not now Neville." Harry interrupted. "Lets go somewhere with a little more privacy." Harry stood up and glanced around so see if anyone was staring at them. Content that nobody was the watching, he led Neville out the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley.
"Where are we going?" Neville asked, the quiver in his voice quite noticeable.
"Here we are." Harry announced. They were in front of Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze's. The sign said closed but Harry ignored and opened the door.
"It says they're closed." Neville piped up.
"They know we're coming." Harry retorted and continued into the store.
Looking at the ground as he walked, Neville reluctantly followed. Harry continued on towards the office in the back of the store. Harry knocked on the door three times.
"Come on in." A voice called from the other side of the door. "It's unlocked"
Harry entered the room with Neville close behind. To the right of the room George was sitting in a high backed black leather chair behind a dark mahogany desk. On the desk set a name plate, it read Fred Weasley in blinking rainbow colored letters. To the left of the room was a matching desk and chair. Along the sides of the room were filing cabinets, each drawer with a label. Harry was taken back by it all. The twins certainly took their business seriously.
"Hey George." Harry started. "I hope I'm not a bother."
George was shocked that Harry realized it was him and not Fred. "Oh no problem, anything for you Harry. I'll be back at one thirty. Will that give you two long enough?"
Harry looked at his watch. It was only a quarter to one. "Plenty of time. Thanks again."
"No problem." George answered as he left the room. He glanced at the other boy with Harry, recognizing it was Neville he shot a furtive glance back over his shoulder towards Harry.
Harry shut the door behind George then cast a silencing charm. He looked about the room then went to sit in George's chair.
"Neville have a seat." Harry started.
Neville sat in a wooden chair that was on the opposite side of the desk from Harry.
"Why did you call him George," Neville started, "the name plate on the desk said it was Fred?"
"He was trying to trick me. It's a game they play. I've been able to tell them apart since third year. Every once in awhile I'll play along with their little gag but I didn't feel like it today."
Neville simply replied with an "Oh." "You wanted to talk about our trip to the Department of Mysteries."
Harry reached into his cloak and pulled out a chocolate frog. "Would you like one Neville?"
"Uh, no thank you."
Suddenly, Harry blanched. He realized he was acting just like Dumbledore. Not really being proud of that and never liking being on the other side of Dumbledore's desk Harry stood up. He pulled out his wand and levitated the desk between him and Neville setting it down on its twin.
"I'm sorry about breaking the prophecy Harry. I wish I wasn't so clumsy sometimes."
"You breaking that prophecy was probably the best thing that could have happened. And I'm the one that should be sorry. I should have never dragged you guys there to begin with"
"But we'll never know what it said. And you didn't drag me there," Neville replied defensively "I was proud to go."
"That isn't true. The bit about not knowing what the prophecy said. Dumbledore was present when it was foretold. He recited it too me just before we left school."
"That's good then. We know what it says." Neville looked slightly relieved at this news but also a bit wary. If Harry had called him here to talk about the prophecy, then it clearly couldn't be all good news.
"It's good and bad. Knowing what it says is good. But what it says is certainly not good."
"What does it say then. I'm guessing that is why you brought me here?"
"Yes it is. But first I need to ask you something. Dumbledore and I are the only ones that have heard the whole prophecy. Voldemort has heard part of it and would probably do next to anything to hear the rest. I haven't told anyone about it. I don't intend to tell anyone either. Its too risky and if too many people know it will be a danger to everyone. Neville, will you promise not to anyone what I tell you today, to never tell anyone that I recited the prophecy to you today, to never utter or write the prophecy on parchment?"
"Uhh, okay, I think so, uhh I mean yes. I promise to never mention what we do today."
"Okay, thanks." Harry continued, "Wow, I've never said it aloud before. Here it goes.
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 the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
"Harry could you repeat it again?"
"Okay,
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 the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
"That means you doesn't it? You have to kill him, or he has to kill you."
"That's what Dumbledore thinks. I think there is more to it than that. I'm not going to tell you now. But we can talk about it when we get back to Hogwarts. In the mean time we shouldn't contact each other it's too risky."
Neville didn't like the way Harry said this. His birthday was at the end of July too. Not noticing Neville's rapid change in mood, Harry looked at his watch, it was one twenty five. He stood up and Neville did the same. Just as he did so Harry noticed a pink fleshy bit of something wriggle its way out under the door.
A/N: Thank you to anyone that is still reading this almost exactly a year after I last posted. I appreciate it. And to anyone that is new thank you also. Now, I'm going to ask you to please give me feedback. I've tried to put more detail and length into this chapter and will do the same with future chapters. So please leave a review whether positive or negative about any aspect of the story or writing, be it mechanics, style, grammar, or characterization.