At a quarter to eleven, the Slytherin team set off for the locker rooms. The weather couldn't have been more different from their match against Hufflepuff. It was a clear, cool day with a very light breeze; there would be no visibility problems this time, and Harry was feeling the excitement of a Quidditch match. They could hear the rest of the school moving into the stadium beyond. Harry took off his Hogwarts uniform and put on his Quidditch robes.
They walked out onto the field to tumultuous applause. The Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, were already standing in the middle of the field. Their Seeker, Cho chang was the only girl on the team. She was shorter then Harry by about a head.
"Flint, Davies, shake hands," Madam Hooch said briskly, and Marcus shook hands with the Ravenclaw captain.
"Mount your brooms . . . on my whistle . . .three —— one ——"
Harry kicked off into the air and the Firebolt zoomed higher and faster then any other broom; he soared around the stadium.
Harry saw the snitch glittering on the Ravenclaw end.
He rushed toward it catching it as Chang was still Five feet away.
The Quidditch final was the easiest one yet.
Harry easily dodged every attempt to stop with from getting the snitch.
Harry saw it on the slytherin end. He flew toward it. The gryffindor seeker tried to keep up but Harry easily was faster.
Harry caught the snitch and did a victory lap around the stadium. Harry was borne toward the stands, where Dumbeldore stood waiting with the quidditch cup.
Harry lifted it into the air.
Harry's euphoria at winning the Quidditch cup lasted at least a week. Even the weather seemed to be celebrating: as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps playing a casual game of gobstones or watching the giant squid propell itself dreamily across the surface of the lake.
But they couldn't. Exams were nearly upon then, and instead of lazing around outself, the students were forced to remain inside the castle, trying to bully their brains into concentrating while enticing wafts of summer air drifted in through the windows.
Exam week began and an unnatural hush fell over the castle. The third years emerged from transfiguration at lunchtime on Monday, limp and ashen faced, comparing results and bemoaning the difficulty of the tasks they had been set, which had included turning a teapot into tortoise.
Then, after a hasty lunch, it was straight back upstairs for the charms exam. Professor Flitwick tested them on cheering charms.
Harry showed off a bit and Draco was in fits of laughter and had to be led away to a quiet room for an hour before he was ready to perform the charm himself.
Professor Trelawney's voice called "Harry Potter"
The tower room was hotter than ever before; the curtains were closed, the fire was alight, and the usual sickly scent made Harry cough as he stumbled through the clutter of chairs and tables to where Professor Trelawney sat waiting for him before a large crystal ball.
"Good day, my dear," she said softly. "If you would kindly gave into the orb. . . . Take your home, now . . . then tell me what you see within it. . . . "
Harry bent over the crystal ball and stared, stared as hard as he could.
Suddenly the white fog began to turn black.
Professor Trelawney looked thoroughly startled.
She began to have some sort of seizure and spoke in a harsh voice:
The Nightmare Lord born as the seventh month dies
greater and more terrible then any before
Lied alone and friendless, abandoned by the light
Only when the dark finds his light
Shall he forge love most deep
Voldemorts Soul, the dark one shall reap
The doors cant be opened
Unless the heir finds his one true home
And then he, the betrayed one will rule all
Professor Trelawney's head fell forward on her chest. She made a grunting sort of noise. Then, quite suddenly, Professor Trelawney's head snapped up again.
"I'm so sorry, dear boy," she said dreamily, "the heat of the the day, you know. . . I drifted off for a moment.
Harry stood there, still staring.
"Is there anything wrong, my dear?" Professor Trelawney said.
"You just said a prophecy" Harry said.
"Do you remember the words?" Professor trelawney asked her voice dead serious.
Harry recited:
The Nightmare Lord born as the seventh month dies
greater and more terrible then any before
Lied alone and friendless, abandoned by the light
Only when the dark finds his light
Shall he forge love most deep
Voldemorts Soul, the dark one shall reap
The doors cant be opened
Unless the heir finds his one true home
And then he, the betrayed one will rule all
"Are you absolutely sure those are the words?" Professor Trelawney asked her face statue like.
"Absolutely!" Harry said.
You may go now, do not tell anyone that prophecy Professor Trelawney said.
Staff room
"Sybil is there a reason for an emergency staff meeting?" Dumbeldore said.
"Potter told me i said a prophecy but not just any prophecy, the Darkest Prophecy?" Trelawney said.
"I thought that was only a myth?" Dumbeldore said.
No it's real, it's older then Hogwarts itself" Trelawney said. The Darkest Prophecy is passed down from generation to generation until the day it might be needed.
"That day is today" Professor McGonagall said.
"We must prepare for a Dark Lord then" Dumbeldore said.
