Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any of the Potter-verse. Everything you recognise belongs to the magnificent Ms Rowling. I do, however own any characters you don't recognise.
A/N: I've realised I make my stories move really slowly. What do you guys think? Is it too slow? I'm trying to get to it all, but so far I've spent four chapters on just one day, and it's not done yet! Granted it is, for Harry, one of the longest days he's ever had, but to me it's frustrating thinking about it!
Anyway, I'm not entirely happy with this chapter – though I like the beginning and the ending, the middle just seems a bit… bleh. What do you think?
By the way, I've posted the first chapter to another fic idea I had (time travel – not very original, but I like them and wanted to try my own version), I'd like to get peoples opinion on whether or not I should keep going on it. It's called Harry Potter and the Ethereal Time, and can be found in my bio.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!:
Surarrin – sorry! Here's the next part to that scene anway.
cariluv – okay, here you go!
Britni Puccio – thanks :) as to Snape, there is a reason he is no longer evil to Harry, it's explained in this chapter, and will (hopefully) be shown in flashbacks in future chappies.
Larna Mandrea – thank you! I felt really special receiving two reviews in a row! What was the other story you read that had Harry in a band? I've read a couple and thought it sounded like a kind of cool thing for him to do.
Sorry if I missed anyone! I love getting reviews, they make me happy :D
Fulfilling Prophecies
Chapter nine
October, 29th 2000
"If you would be good enough to tell us why we are here, Harry?"
Looking around at all those in the room, Harry saw expectant faces. He could see that they knew it was bad news they were going to receive, but they wanted to know it nonetheless. He admired their strength. They had all lived through not one, but two wars against Voldemort, and both Dumbledore and McGonagall had lived through the time of Grindelwald as well. Now he was about to tell them they would have to go through it all again, unless they could act quickly – very, very quickly Harry decided as he thought through the way events must have happened.
"As you know when I left almost three years ago, I hadn't planned on coming back until I had completed my muggle education. As of this year, I am only a third of the way through it, yet I have come back." Repressing a sigh, Harry looked around the room, his eyes landing on Fawkes. The phoenix seemed to sense Harry's trouble in saying what needed to be said, for he gave a short comforting trill which strengthened Harry enough to go on. "I came back because of the third rise of Lord Voldemort."
The reactions were immediate. Flitwick gave a squeal and fell sideways out of his seat, Shacklebolt gasped and turned pale, though not as pale as Severus who was now clutching his arm where the dark mark used to be. Remus had simply closed his eyes, as though he was trying to wake himself up from some nightmare, all the while clutching his cup of tea with whitening knuckles. McGonagall had dropped her cup and was oblivious to the hot liquid seeping its way through her robes. Albus, Harry decided, had doubled in age in an instant. There was no trace of the twinkle in his blue eyes; he was holding his hands to his face in such a display of emotions that Harry hadn't seen from him before.
"I'm sorry I had to bring such bad news. Unfortunately I can't tell you much more about it, as I don't know the full details myself," He said after he had given them enough time to get over their shock, now he needed to get them down to business. Assuming the air of the commander he had been last time around, Harry stood and looked each of them in the eyes, "I know this doesn't seem entirely possible, we never really planned for this situation, even though we always knew it could happen.
"The stone was hidden, and somehow some of the remaining Death Eaters must have gotten hold of it and the necessary spells to reverse the process. As far as we know they have only just started the process, since it has to take place over the same time of year as when he was imprisoned. That gives us a starting date of at the earliest, early yesterday morning. The ritual itself takes four days, and if it is interrupted at any stage it will not produce the full results. I felt the first twinge in my scar late this morning, which leads me to believe the rituals were only started today. This gives us until the end of the first to find and interrupt them." He paused to let them catch up. It was so easy to slip back into the person he had been in the height of the short war, and he could see the others doing the same, they were straightening in their seats, concentrating on every word he said, thinking through facts and possibilities. "Any questions so far?"
"I have one, Harry," Snape said, speaking into the silence. "How come I haven't felt anything? From the remains of my mark?" He gestured with his left arm where a faint outline of the mark could still be seen. Harry had managed to block most of Voldemort's magic off when the potions master had been discovered as a spy, though it wasn't a complete block meaning Snape had still managed to receive a slight sensation when Voldemort used the marks, and should have sensed something this morning.
Frowning, Harry thought it through. Theoretically it should work in much the same way as Harry's scar, connecting the wizards' to their master through magic. But what if the stone only bound his soul? My connection is based on a part of his soul being forced onto me along with his magic, but the dark mark…Harry trailed off his thoughts. He had never really thought about there being a difference between a wizard's soul and their magic, they were so closely entwined that nobody ever differentiated them. Harry began to uncertainly explain what he was thinking. "I think that maybe the stone only captured Voldemort's soul, and his magic died along with his body. My scar must connect us through our souls, while the dark mark is only a connection to his magic. I'm not entirely sure about that, but it would explain a lot, I could never manipulate his magic through the connection, nor he mine, which would most certainly be the case if it was based on our magic." His mind racing ahead, Harry suddenly gasped in shock, "if the stone bound only his soul, and his magic died with his body, then, if they do manage to bring him back …"
"… He would be no better than a muggle!" Dumbledore finished off Harry's thought, the others only a moment behind, "even if we do not manage to stop the rituals there may be hope to stop this before it really begins." There was some of the twinkle back in the headmaster's eyes, and Harry saw that it strengthened not only him, but all the occupants of the room. "Now, Harry, if you would tell us what your plan of action is so far? I know you've already got one."
Harry had to smile, it had been something he always did – make plans as he learnt of a situation. After Sirius' death because of his inability to plan and think ahead he had learnt to make plans as he went, adjusting them to account for new information.
"Yeah, I've got a plan."
An hour later, the professors were smiling in grim satisfaction. They might not like what was happening, but at least they felt a little more comfortable knowing there was a plan in place. They now sat around, talking over small details, or, in Harry's case, talking about what he had been up to in the past years. As Harry was in the middle of telling Remus about his small part in the band, a ringing sound came from his pocket. Starting briefly at the foreign noise, Harry apologised to Remus and answered his cell phone.
"Hello? Oh, hey, can you wait just a moment? Thanks." Looking around the room, Harry apologised to the teachers, some of whom were looking a little confused at the use of a muggle device within Hogwarts. As he left, Harry heard Minerva and Remus explaining to them about how he had enchanted it before his seventh year so he could keep in touch with his aunt and uncle. He had gotten a lot of useful advice from Sirius' old notes that had been made when he was enchanting his motorbike to fly.
Once he was out of the room and standing on the spiral staircase, Harry once again spoke into his phone.
"Sorry about that Allie, I was just in the middle of something. What were you saying?"
Allie's voice came through the speaker slightly muffled due to the magic, but there nonetheless. "Connie's here. She said you guys were supposed to be doing something tonight. I thought I'd see if you were or not."
Harry was about to just answer no and leave it all at that when he remembered Ron was still there. It wouldn't be a good idea for Ron to see Connie before he understood the situation, it might bring up too many memories of Hermione. He might (or rather, would) overreact, leaving Connie in an uncomfortable situation.
"Allie, have Ron and Connie met? Good, keep them apart." Harry's rushed tone obviously confused the blonde at the other end as she stammered a question. "Ron was Mione's boyfriend, and Connie looks startlingly similar to her. I really don't think Ron would react well."
"Okay, but it's going to be hard to stop the two from seeing each other, Connie's asking if she can stay here while her place is being painted."
"Bugger," Harry racked his brain for a solution to one of an increasing number of problems. "Is Jayce still there? Can you put him on for a moment then?"
"Sure, just a second." Harry heard a brief conversation between Allie and Jayce before a new voice came down the line.
"Hey Harry, what's up?"
"Hey Jayce, look, I hate to do this, but I need a favour."
"Sure, whatever you need." Jayce obviously knew Harry was stressed at the moment, because he didn't make any sort of teasing comments.
"Have you met my old friend, Ron, yet?"
"The one who you were worked up about this morning? The red-head who is currently asleep in your room? Yeah, why?"
"Could you take him back to your place and let him stay until Connie moves back to her place?"
"I suppose. Why don't you want the two meeting?"
"Let's just say it wouldn't be an easy meeting." Harry sighed, he really did not want to deal with a distressed and confused Ron on top of everything else. "So that's all right then? Thanks Jayce. Oh, and can you remind him he needs to write my letter as soon as possible? He'll know what I mean. Thanks, I'll probably drop by tomorrow anyway, but in case I don't see you then, Happy Birthday."
"Heh thanks. I didn't think you remembered. I was trying to keep it quiet, and nobody else has said anything." Jayce sounded pleased that someone had remembered, but a little embarrassed as well. Harry understood. Jayce had never done much to celebrate his birthdays when he was younger, and still felt a little uncomfortable when people made a big deal about it. "I gotta go now; Allie's trying to rip the phone off of me. See you later."
Harry managed a quick goodbye before Allie came back on. "Harry, are you still going to explain everything to me tonight?"
Groaning, Harry said, "I don't think I'm going to be able to get back tonight. The shit has really hit the fan, and I need to stay where I am and make sure everything proceeds as it should to keep the situation under a modicum of control. I'm sorry Allie." He really was – he hadn't meant to leave her hanging like this for so long. "Look, I'll see if I can sort something out. Can you let me talk to Connie for a bit?"
"Sure, but you are going to tell me soon. I'm getting sick of all these delays."
"I know Allie, I really hadn't meant for this to happen." But then, I hadn't meant to tell her at all, Harry thought. He heard her put the phone down and call for Connie.
A moment later, Connie spoke down the phone a little unsurely. "Hello?"
"Hi Connie, it's Harry. Look, sorry about tonight, I kind of forgot amidst everything else that has been happening today."
"It's alright, Allie told me about your friend coming." She sounded like she understood. "Is he a friend from Hogwarts?"
"Yeah, it's Ron. Ron Weasley, Hermione's boyfriend. I don't think you should see him; it wouldn't be good, particularly not now. He's going to stay with Jayce for a while, so you won't have to worry about it."
There was silence on the other end as Connie was processing the new development. "Oh, okay. That means the situation you're dealing with is to do with the wizarding world." She paused, thinking. "Where are you now?"
"I'm at Hogwarts, I was speaking with the headmaster and a few of the other professors."
"I thought you must have been somewhere around there, but I didn't think you could be at the school if you were talking on the phone. Something about magical interference on technology?"
Harry allowed himself a small chuckle, "you really are Hermione's cousin. I fiddled with the phone so it would work here. Anyway, I actually wanted to ask if you could do something for me."
"If I can, I will." She said sincerely.
"Can you try and explain about my life to Allie? Or at least the basic idea of the wizarding world?"
"You don't ask for small favours, do you Harry?"
"Don't worry about it then." He said, interpreting what she said as a refusal.
"No, it's okay. But I don't think she'll believe me without proof, and it's not like I can show her magic."
"You're right, she won't accept it very easily." Harry thought about what he could do. He couldn't tell Connie to get anything magical out of his trunk as it was magically locked. "I'll try to get back tonight, but if I can't, I'll send you an owl with a letter and some sort of proof. But don't start explaining unless you get it."
"Okay, I can do that. Just a warning though Harry, if you don't get back and I end up explaining it all to her she might be a little bit pissed off at you for not having told her yourself earlier."
Snorting gracefully at the understatement, Harry replied, "don't I know it? No worries, if it comes to that, I'll talk with her and she'll understand. She might not be happy, but she'll know why things had to be like this."
"Better you than me," Allie said in a light, playful tone.
"Well, anyway, I better get back to my more serious problems."
"More serious than all this?"
"Much more," Harry said with a sigh. "Say goodbye to the others for me. And stay out of the way of Ron until he leaves."
"Will do, Harry. See you later."
"Bye Connie."
Hanging up his phone, Harry removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Things just had to get more complicated, didn't they? "Someone up there must really hate me." Harry said softly to himself as he looked towards the ceiling.
"Either that or they want to give you a challenge once in a while," sounded a silky voice from the top of the stairs, "just for a change." Harry looked up and saw Snape standing against the wall of the stairs.
"I don't know if I can do this again, Sev." Harry confessed in a helpless voice to the former spy as he sank to sit on the stairs. "I gave it everything I had the first time round and lost so much. I'm not sure how much I'm willing to gamble this time."
"I'm afraid you don't have much choice, Harry. If you decide to sit back and wait to see what happens, you'll lose so much more. At least with your plan we have a chance at getting the jump on Voldemort." Seeing the younger man still looking helpless, Snape mentally sighed. They needed Harry to be strong again. He was the one who held everyone together last time, the one who gave everyone hope, not Dumbledore, not even the boy-who-lived, but Harry.
Severus had gained respect for the boy after he saw the way he handled himself as Voldemort's captive at the end of his sixth year. He had been strong, even after two long months of torture and the Dark Lord's failed attempts at transferring his power to himself. It was after that that he had made a deal to stop calling him 'Potter', except when he later became friendly enough to use it in jest. That respect rose even more when the boy had protected him from Voldemort's rage through his mark. Harry had used a lot of magic blocking it off, saving Snape's life. He hadn't yet paid back the life-debt, but it didn't hang over him like the one to the boy's father had.
Snape adopted his former, cold manner once again. "You know, Potter, I never thought you would be the sort to give up," Harry's head snapped up from where it had settled in his hands to look the tall potions master in the eyes, "your father certainly was arrogant enough to persist through difficulties. And Merlin knows your mother was the most stubborn witch I knew." He paused and offered a hand down to Harry. Severus' voice softening as he said, "they would have been proud of the way you've handled yourself, managing to overcome everything and succeed, despite feeling things are hopeless. You've done it before Harry, you can do it again." Seeing the faith and respect in the man's eyes, Harry took Severus' hand and pulled himself up off the stairs.
"Thanks, Sev," Harry said with a smile, "though I will have to pay you back for calling me 'Potter' again."
