AN: So, as usual, I owe everyone a massive apology for the gap in updating. I had a summer from hell, and I was also eaten whole by another new fandom (Dragon Age this time), spending three months by basically nothing but reading fanfiction from that world. Hopefully I'll emerge now, though, and I'll do my best to make up the updates I've missed.

In case you've forgotten where we are now: Alduin told Harry about the Prophecy. He also told his best friend he had a drinking problem. Oh, and it's July.

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Harry didn't leave his room for the rest of the day, having Sibby bring him meals, and he didn't sleep much during the night either. Questions were chasing each other through his mind. The most prominent was, what was this superpower he was meant to have? Why had he not noticed it before? Did he really have it, was the prophecy right? Could prophecies be wrong, anyway?

Then there was the mysterious connection. He had never cared much about his scar either way, except to appreciate it because the Dursleys hated it, but now he knew this he wished it gone from his forehead as soon as possible. A connection to the man who killed his parents! It was disgusting.

The part about having to kill Riddle, on the other hand...Harry felt, from Alduin's look and words, that he should probably feel upset about it, but...he really, really didn't. As long as the prophecy was right and he had the power (and if it wasn't, then surely not even the part that he had to kill Riddle was true), then...why should he mind? It was great news that he'd be able to destroy this terrible wizard who went around killing people, and help the wizarding world to be rid of him. And Alduin would be training him, too, so that made him feel certain he'd be well prepared.

He wanted to talk this over with Neville, but realized he never asked Alduin if he could, so he sent Sibby with the question. It was in the affirmative, on the usual condition that Neville would be willing to be sworn to secrecy, and so Harry sent him a quick owl asking him to come over next morning.

He finally fell asleep in the middle of the night and missed breakfast in the morning, and, in fact, barely managed to get dressed and make it down before Neville came for elevenses. Harry stayed mostly silent as they ate, and only when they were up in his room, he said: "I've got something really important to tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, not even your Gran or Ron or Sophie or any other of our friends."

Neville looked worried, obviously remembering when Harry told him about his parseltongue ability. "Okay," he said slowly, "I promise. What is it?"

"You remember how I told you they speculated there could be a prophecy about me, right?"

"Yeah..."

"So it turns out there really is one. And basically, it says that I have some superpower that Riddle doesn't have, and that it's enough to destroy him, but that if I don't kill him, he'll kill me."

Neville's eyes got impossibly large. "There really is a prophecy about you that says all that?" He asked at length.

"Yeah. Or Alduin says it's about me, anyway. It really only says that it's a boy born at the end of July whose parents have thrice defied Riddle and who will be marked by Riddle as his equal."

Neville was literally gaping now.

"What is it?" Harry asked, not understanding why this would be the most shocking part.

"Harry...do you know when my birthday is?"

"A day before mine, right."

"Yeah. And my parents...they were Aurors. They met Riddle in a direct fight...exactly three times."

It was Harry's turn to gape. "What?" He asked.

"Yes. So...what is this business with marking?"

"Alduin say it's my scar, but we have to ask him about it. This is too weird. Come on, now!"

Neville was hesitant, but Harry grabbed his hand and dragged him across the house and into the nursery, where he found both of his cousins playing with Wynn. "Alduin," he said, "we need to speak to you."

The man looked up and, seeing their expressions, he immediately rose and led them to his study. "What is it?" He asked.

"What if it's Neville?" Harry asked without preamble. "The Prophecy fits him as well."

"Harry...have you forgotten about the marking? I'm sorry, but it's you."

"But it's only your theory that the marking means my scar, isn't it? What if it's something else, and Neville has it?"

Alduin sighed. "Sit down, both of you," he said, settling down behind his desk. "I went to see Dumbledore yesterday," he continued. "About the things I mentioned. Riddle only knows the beginning of the prophecy, the date of birth, the 'thrice defied' bit, and that you have the power. His spy was caught then. So the point is, he chose to go and eliminate you, Harry, not knowing about the danger of marking you as his equal. Effectively, by doing so he marked you, because he decided that you were the one who could bring him down, you were the worthy opponent. In a way, the scar is a manifestation of that."

"But why did he choose me, and not Neville?" Harry insisted. Not that he wished it had been Neville instead whose parents had died, especially as that likely meant their fates would have just been switched, but...

"No one will ever really know, I suppose," Alduin replied. "But I did discuss this with Alexandra, and her theory is that he chose you because you seemed more like him. A half-blood, one parent from an ancient magical family, the other from Muggle background. Neville, who was the perfect scion of a pure-blooded family...well, that was rather less like Riddle." Alduin paused, and then, looking at Neville, said: "But you paid for the prophecy as well, so I believe it's a good thing you can hear it from Harry. It will help you understand. From what we know, it seems Bellatrix Lestrange knew about the prophecy, and she knew who were the two boys who could fulfil its requirements. Once Riddle disappeared, she somehow decided that the other couple whom it concerned had to be involved in the defeat. That was the reason why your parents were attacked, it seems."

Neville looked away and was blinking rather rapidly, so Harry tried to help him out by drawing away Alduin's attention, and he asked: "How do you know? I mean, you've only heard the prophecy recently, didn't you?"

"Some months ago, and I've discussed it with Alexandra a lot, to get her historical insight. This is her interpretation. The reason for the Longbottom attack has long been a mystery, much more so than the Potter one, and I think this is the first clue we've ever had."

Neville rose from his chair rather abruptly. "I...I think I'll go home now," he said.

"Of course," Harry got up immediately as well. "I'll accompany you."

Once they were outside, Harry pressed Neville's shoulder rather awkwardly. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know, otherwise I wouldn't have..."

"It's all right," Neville said, rather unconvincingly. "I'm glad I know...I think. I just need a bit of time."

Harry could understands that, and so he saw Neville to the Floo and then returned to his room to think about this strange coincidence that bound him and his best friend together, and how it ruined both of their lives. Prophecies were terrible, he decided.

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Alduin was watching Harry very carefully in the following days, but it seemed the boy was more worried about how Neville was taking the news than about himself. That, Alduin supposed, was good, especially considering the power of love he was meant to be encouraging in his ward. Still, better safe than sorry, and so he waited another few days before he asked Harry for the first training session, as promised.

He had considered roping Kingsley in for these sessions, but he didn't quite feel ready to explain the prophecy. Big part of it, of course, was also that detailed questions about the marking and the scar could lead to the one topic Alduin was distinctly unwilling to talk about.

Abdullah now insisted on meeting him regularly and discussing both his drinking and his feelings about Harry's fate. Alduin had a strong suspicion his friend had been reading some books about mind healing. But he had to reluctantly admit that it was helping, a little. He still sometimes needed a drink or two to get through the day, but he mostly could handle the nights without it, and even get a few hours of sleep before nightmares interfered.

That still didn't mean he wanted to talk to anyone else about it.

He spent much of the first training session reviewing what Harry did at Hogwarts and asking him about it in detail. The net result was that he was almost happy Quirrell had Riddle inside of him and so had been sacked, because clearly, he had been a disaster of a teacher. Mrs. Leartes and Mr. Titus have apparently done a better job, not very surprisingly, and all in all, Harry was pretty decent in Defence. Certainly above-average with spells, though he was doing rather worse in theory, and knew nothing at all about strategy and tactics of fighting.

That was hardly taught at Hogwarts, of course, so it was natural enough, but it made it clear to Alduin what should be his priority. Strategy could be left for later, since hopefully it would be a long time, if ever, until Harry was required to plan an operation on his own, but tactics was a necessity.

"Where will you stand when you're fighting in a room, Harry?"

"Um...I dunno, I'll try to get to the door, I guess?"

"Yes, of course, but if the door is blocked?"

"I will try to avoid being pushed into a corner?"

"Actually, if you have no hope of getting out, a corner can be a very good place when you are alone. Your back and sides are protected there. But of course it can be hard to get away, so I recommend corners when you're alone, but can reasonably hope someone else will come to help you in time. Otherwise, or if you have at least one other person to watch your back, then keep to walls. That allows you to move."

They kept at it for some time, and towards the end of the hour Alduin had allocated for this, he asked Harry to try some simple spells.

"But isn't it forbidden outside of Hogwarts?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Yes," Alduin admitted, "but the rules weren't made with people who are prophesied to fight the Dark Lord in mind. Come on. You need to practice."

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Like last year, Alduin asked Harry what he wanted to do for his birthday apart from the usual garden party. Harry suggested another outing to a zoo or such, but this time, with all of his friends.

"I don't think that's quite within my capabilities," Alduin told him regretfully, "supervising that many children on an outing. Once you're older, by all means, but for now...either just pick a few friends – I can take you with Neville and Ron, and perhaps one or two others, anywhere you wish – or keep to the Manor."

So Harry gave it a lot of thought and decided that a small gathering for all of his friends, and only his friends, was in order. But before that, it was time for that more formal party. Since Neville wasn't allowed to have a proper party at home, Harry's more official one was organized on his friend's birthday and allowed him to, at least, sort of celebrate it with Harry and their other Ancient friends. Harry had suggested doing it the other way round, but Neville expressed some fear that his Gran could actually ban him from going to Harry's private party if it was directly on his birthday. "But a big garden party where she's asked, too, she won't want to miss and will reschedule my family celebration instead," Neville assured, and so it was done according to his wishes. After that prophecy fiasco, Harry was trying to go out of his way to cheer him up.

The party was nice, though.

It turned out that Roger apparently caught some of the same fourteen-year-old disease Maurice had last year, and tended to think that talking to 'little kids' was bellow him. Horatio, however, only rolled his eyes and dragged his friend to the group soon enough to ask how was everyone enjoying their summer.

"It's terrible," Kiara muttered. "Maurice's girlfriend is over all the time, and when she isn't, he only talks about her."

"So as bad as last year, then?" Harry asked sympathetically.

"I dunno. I mean, last year, Maurice himself was acting like a prat. This time around, he'd be acting mostly normal – if it wasn't for her."

Fred and George were sniggering. "We can give you some tips for making him pay for it," Fred said then.

Kiara seemed interested, but Horatio gave them a penetrating look. "And are you certain this isn't just you getting back at him for something or other?"

"Spoilsport," George muttered.

"Maurice is going to be a fifth year now, isn't he?" Neville asked. "Do you think he'll make prefect?"

"I hope not," Kiara replied with feeling. "If he can only ever think about his girlfriend, he wouldn't make a very good one, would he?"

"Right," Horatio said, "and you'll be starting your new subjects. What did you pick?"

"Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy," Kiara replied.

"Oh, Arithmancy is great," Roger said immediately. "Good choice."

"Hm, yeah, but your other one should have been Runes," Horatio added. "Runes are the best."

"Bill would agree with you," Ginny Weasley joined the conversation, "but go talk to Charlie and you'll hear all about how Creatures are the best. I remember last year when the twins were about to make their choices, how they did their best to hammer it in."

Fred and George's grimaces of pain indicated that they remembered as well.

"But really, do let's talk to Bill and Charlie," Harry said. They looked very interesting, Charlie with his scars and Bill with his ponytail. "I barely spoke to them and they'll be gone in no time at all again, and I want to meet them properly."

Draco grimaced, making it clear what he thought of such a plan, but followed the others nevertheless.

The two eldest Weasleys seemed a little surprised when they found themselves surrounded by the older half of the wizarding elite's children. "Um, hello?" Charlie said.

"What can we do for you?" Bill asked.

"Er, Harry just wanted to talk to you," Ron muttered.

Harry blushed. "It sounds really weird, said like this," he said, "but I wanted to meet you properly. Ron talks about you a lot, and I know all of his other siblings, so..." He paused, and then remembered something Alexandra had said last year, about Ron or Bill exaggerating. "Could you tell us about your jobs?" He asked. "They sound really exciting..."

They brothers obliged. Fred and George wandered away soon after that, knowing the stories well already, but even Ron and Ginny stayed to listen, proud of their brothers, and in the end Draco was forced to admit that it was, actually, relatively interesting. It was also proven that it had been Ron who was exaggerating. Harry didn't quite understand why – the stories were impressive enough in their original form!

"But have you ever visited actual Egypt?" Abdulaziz asked when Bill finished his stories about pyramids. "I mean, do you just spend time with other Gringotts wizards in archaeological tents, or do you ever to Cairo or Alexandria or..."

Bill smiled. "Of course I visit the cities sometimes. Why?"

"Well, it just seems so strange to me that you talk about Egypt and it's a completely different Egypt than what I think of when you say Egypt..."

"You've been there?" Bill asked in some surprise.

"Yeah, we go every year." Abdulaziz turned to Harry and added with a smile: "It's a tradition the same guy who built our house as it is now started. To remember our roots, he said." He shrugged. "Anyway, I like it. It's a nice trip."

"Where do you go?" Bill asked with interest.

"Normally to Cairo for a few days and then it depends. Sometimes to Luxor, sometimes to Asuan...and sometimes we visit outside Egypt too, like last year we were in Kairouan in Tunisia..."

Bill and Abdulaziz were soon deep in conversation about places and things Harry had no clue about. He turned to Charlie with a sigh. "So," he said, "dragons?"

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AN: Because Egypt is not just the place with pyramids. Seriously.