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playground of characters.
Chapter 7 - Prophecy's Next Thought
Harry and Remus entered the headmaster's office. Looking around, Harry was pleased that his tantrum of the previous summer did not seem to effect any lasting change. It almost looked like he had not been here at all as the broken glass instruments were repaired.
Looking into the great eyes of the bird that had saved him several times, Harry said "Hullo Fawkes." Fawkes fluttered down to Harry's arm as he sat before the desk next to Lupin.
The headmaster eyed Harry and Lupin carefully, as the great bird perched on Harry's arm was a sight to see. Fawkes cooed a gentle song for Harry while evaluating his mood. Harry stroked the feathers and relaxed. Dumbledore counted to fifty before proceeding.
"Harry, as you know, you were Sirius' godson. What you may not know is that Sirius, according to his Last Will and Testament, was the last Black." Remus snapped his head so fast at the Headmaster that he wrenched it. Rubbing his neck, he continued to look across the desk, but said nothing.
The Headmaster politely ignored him. "He and I talked about this last summer when we adopted #12 Grimmauld Place as our headquarters. He decided on two things at that point. 1. That should anything happen to him that Remus and I share duties as your god-parents; and 2. That you should become his heir and receive one-half of one-third of all his possessions and wealth, Remus will receive the other half of the third of the inheritance." The old man paused here to let the words sink in before continuing. "That being said, there is additional information which I have kept from you..."
At these words, Remus stood and began to pace the floor. Harry looked up again, his first impulse was to question who the other two-thirds went to, but had learned long ago to ask questions when he thought there was a chance someone would actually answer him. Although his second fleeting thought was to scream at the old man again; rant and rave about trust and what he should or should not know. However, he held his tongue, but he wasn't sure why. When he did speak, it was soft. "Professor, before you go on, I would like Ron, Hermione, and Ginny to join us. I am having a real hard time staying calm, and they help me find that calm that I can't keep when you start telling me that you have LIED TO ME again." Breathing deep, Harry realized that if he continued to speak, he would be unable to calm down.
Remus, who had been quiet until this point, put his hand on Harry's shoulder. Leaning down to Harry's ear whispered, "Temper Harry, just try to hear him out."
Harry raised the arm on which Fawkes had been, sending the large bird back to his normal perch. Rounding on his 'new god-father', Harry began to yell, "WHY CAN'T YOU GET IT? I NEED THEM HERE. I NEED SOMEONE TO SHARE THIS WITH THAT I TRUST 100. NOTHING PERSONAL, Remus, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN MY CORNER." Pointing his finger first at one then the other, he shouted, "YOU TWO HAVE BEEN KEEPING THINGS FROM ME; THINGS THAT I SHOULD KNOW AND WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT PART OF THIS DON'T YOU GET? I DON'T TRUST EITHER OF YOU THE WAY I TRUST THEM. IF THEY CAN'T BE HERE, I WON'T STAY EITHER; IT'S YOUR CHOICE." He was breathing hard, trying to keep his magic and temper under control.
Remus looked as though he had been slapped. Dumbledore sat resolutely looking at them both. Harry, panting, tried to find a calm center again. He thought of the beautiful red-head who had given him more comfort than any other. He thought of his two best friends, who stood beside him regardless of the situation. After last year, he would never again doubt that they always watched his back.
Dumbledore was the next to speak. "Harry, before they hear this, you should hear it first; without spares that have no choice."
Harry, who had just barely begun to breathe normally, turned to the man behind the desk. His eyes were dangerously green now. His words slow, low, and controlled. His heart beating slower as the face of his three friends continued to swim in his mind, willing him to speak clearly before proceeding. Putting both hands flat on the desk, he said calmly and slowly, willing the old man to understand his words: "Spares? Voldemort called Cedric a 'spare' right before Wormtail KILLED him. How dare you say that about my friends." There was a dangerous edge to his voice as he continued. "Professor Dumbledore, I am tired of your games. I am fed up to the point of exploding with them. They do have a choice. They choose to help me in whatever situation you put me in. I never have to turn around to see what will happen to them. They have NEVER kept things from me that could have made a difference, unlike YOU. From the Sorcerer's Stone to fifteen minutes ago, I have not asked anything of them that they have not been willing to help me in. They each have the strength I do not possess. Each gives me something to move forward instead of standing where I am now. Either. They. Come. Up. Or. I. Leave. Period."
Dumbledore looked into Harry's magically angry green eyes; knowing that he should continue telling Harry the things he needed to know, but realizing that Harry would no longer listen. He sighed heavily. Turning to the box on his desk, he opened it and spoke clearly, "Ms. Black, would you ask the other three children to accompany yourself to my office?"
Harry left to meet his friends at the Gargoyle. Albus turned to Remus, "Have you seen her?" Remus nodded. "And is she as you remember?"
"No, she is so much more alive than when she left so long ago. Does she have any idea?"
"None…"
"It may be an interesting year after all. Oh, Remus, you should know that Harry has the photo albums from Lily and James' house. He has seen the pictures of the baby girl. You should expect questions, as I have not been willing to answer them."
The voice echoed through the office in Rowan's quarters. All four jumped at the sound. Looking at her students, she asked them what that was. Hermione stated that she thought it was a summons to the headmaster's office. They all stood, and walked out the door.
The gargoyle looked at the four people walking up, it was only then that they realized that no one knew the password. Standing for a few moments, it slid open. Harry asked Rowan to go up to the office, and that he would join her momentarily. As she left the group, Harry turned to his friends. "I really mad him angry this time."
Hermione gasped, "What did you do?" At the same time Ron smiled and said "Excellent". Ginny crossed her arms, no words leaving those pursed lips.
Harry continued, "He told me he had more to tell me. That there were things he had kept from me but that I needed to know now. I sorta stopped him there, telling him that if he had to tell me something that he needed to get you lot up there with me. He didn't want you there. I didn't want to hear it unless you were there. I… uhm… got mad and started yelling at him when he refused." Pausing to look at his closest friends, he breathed deeply. "But I really lost it when he called you lot… spares." Ron locked eyes with Hermione… Cedric… was the fleeting unsaid thought between them. Harry continued, "I told him that I couldn't have anything else thrown at me without your support. I hope I wasn't wrong."
Turning away from Ron, Hermione's scowl lightened, Ron put his hand on his shoulder, and Ginny took a step to face him. "I told you we would always support you. It's not just me. They'll always help you too. You knew that then, why are you doubting it now?" His face breaking into the first real grin since eating in the kitchens, Harry found himself in a group hug of sorts. "Ready to find out what the old coot has up his sleeve this time?" They all nodded and followed Harry up the stairs.
Dumbledore's office had expanded to seat the group of people before him. Breathing deeply, he began, "Harry, your new professor needs to be included in this as I believe she has a part in the end. She needs to gain your trust and love as she seems to have begun. She is excellent at research, and has a strong heart. Those qualities will be very important." The professor turned to his large cabinet. Pulling out a small pensive, he returned to his desk before continuing. "After the Department of Mysteries, we discussed the prophesy. You have told the others about it?" The teenagers nodded. He continued, "Unfortunately, you have seen only part of the prophesy. You need to see the rest of it. I had hoped to show it to you alone in order for you to make up your own heart as to how to proceed, but you seem to have already decided for yourself and your friends. I must warn you, it will affect all of your lives."
Professor thought for a moment, put the tip of his wand to his temple and extracted a shimmering silver strip of light. He added this to the swirl of the pensive. It took only seconds for Professor Trelawney to appear, floating upwards out of the basin, she began the deep throated sing song voice Harry had heard the day Sirius fell through the veil.
PROPHESY
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...
The power lies not within but without
The one will be joined by the sister not of blood,
Alone in her family
First in her line to have the gift
Her strength is of book
They will be joined by the brother and sister who share blood that is pure
They will be joined by the brother and sister who share the blood of their mother.
The blood of old they know not
Together the blood will have strength together the dark lord knows not
The six are joined by the seventh.
A child of an enemy
Who chooses to do what's right
These will be joined by one who loves, as only a mother can
The one who teaches is the mother of the 49th line
The end will come as the date of her birth approaches
Only the joint of heart can defeat the dark one
The power to defeat the dark lord is what he knows not...
Every one stared at the swirling figure. No one moved. No one dared breathe. As a collective, one long sigh brought sound to the room. Ron spoke first "What the bloody hell does that mean?" Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Rowan, Remus all looked to Dumbledore. Ron still looked around the room trying to understand. Each found his or her own thoughts, but could not speak aloud.
Finally, Dumbledore spoke. Quietly, deliberately, his voice floated around the room. "Harry, there is more you should know. If you are to ever trust me again, then you must know the rest."
Harry stared at the old man in the half-moon glasses. "How much more is there?" he was bewildered and it showed.
Dumbledore stood, returning his pensive to stand next to its brother in the cabinet. He removed rolls of parchment, his breath trying to hide a sob, as he steadied himself to speak. "Harry, you know of Sirius' last will; that you will share one-half of one-third of the Black estate with Remus. Remus and I were named your Godfathers until you are of age, which you will be in a few weeks time. At that time, you will also come into the rest of your inheritances. In order to prepare you a bit better, you should know that the home in Godric's Hollow is yours, in addition to the Potter family estate, which is a rather large estate near Ottery St. Catchpole, one of old and noble heritage. There is also the Evans estate."
He raised his hand to keep Harry from asking. "When your grandparents died, Lily and James received the 'lion's share' of your their holdings. Petunia was already married to Vernon and no one really… uh… seemed to be pleased with that arrangement." His eyes twinkled with amusement at the last statement. "Lily's father came from a banking line of muggles that was very successful. When they died, it was all put into trust for you. Petunia was told that they were bankrupt several years before. Dudley received only a few hundred pounds from your grandparents. However, I assume you have heard of the Bank of England?" Harry nodded. "Perhaps you are not aware that it is a private international organization. The head of the Board of Directors had been an Evans for just over two hundred years, when your grandparents were killed. It is one of the largest and most secure banks in the world. Your grandfather was the owner of that bank. Additionally, there are other estates around the world which you should be aware, a few islands, and items, but I will not discuss them now. You should also know that there is…"
At that moment, the fireplace erupted. Turning to the green flame, Bill Weasley's face came through yelling "Albus, Remus, there's an emergency, we need you NOW."
Albus stood and left the office into the floo network, as did Remus, leaving the five others behind. As the children stood, Rowan situated herself between the teenagers and the fire place. She assumed their first impulse was to join them, but Rowan would not move. Instead, she turned to Fawkes. "Please go to Dumbledore and if he needs us, please return with a green feather. If not, please notify us in my quarters when we should return here." Fawkes eyed her, but nodded his beautifully plumed head. With a flash, he vanished.
