Chapter 24- Dumbledore explains.

The school year was quickly approaching, and Dumbledore had still not told him anything about why he wanted to keep so many secrets from Harry however things were busy as ever with getting ready for school and also taking care of the new baby Dumbledore knew this of course so he was waiting until everything was a bit calmer until he told them what the prophecy was. He actually never told the Potters what the prophecy was he just told them that he thought that it concerned them. It was just before Harry's birthday that James and Lily received in the post that Dumbledore would be coming over to discuss the prophecy and to also see if he could take Harry to run an errand with him. James and Lily wrote back saying that the day before his birthday would be a good day for Dumbledore to come over and have a talk with them. Harry was currently playing with Emily right now, so they went into the sitting room to inform him about it.

"Hey Harry." Lily said as they entered the sitting room.

"Hey mom, dad." Harry responded.

"So, Harry Dumbledore wants you to help him run an errand with him the day before your birthday. Are you ok with that?" James asked.

"Yeah, sounds good. Do you know what he wants me to help him with?" Harry asked.

"No, he didn't say." Lily answered.

"But afterwards he said that he wanted to talk about the prophecy concerning you." James added.

"Oh ok." Harry responded. "Do you guys know what the prophecy is?"

"Sorry Harry we don't the only thing we know is that it concerned you." Lily answered.

"Anyways we'll tell Dumbledore that your able to go." James said as James and Lily left the room to write Dumbledore that Harry would be able to help him.

"You know Emily when you become turn 11, you'll be able to have a normal life at Hogwarts and not worry about anything that I have to deal with because I'll make sure that the world is a better place when you're that old." Harry said to Emily as he was putting her in her crib to let her sleep.

The night before Harry's birthday Dumbledore to pick up Harry to help him run the errand with Dumbledore and then they would talk about the prophecy. Dumbledore hadn't told James and Lily what he needed Harry for, so they were waiting for them to come home. It took them around an hour to get back from their errand.

"How did it go Harry?" Lily asked when Dumbledore and Harry came inside the house.

"It went well mom we were able to convince an old teacher to come back and teach Defense." Harry said.

"Oh, really who is it?" James asked.

"Professor Slughorn." Harry answered.

"Harry professor Slughorn teaches potions not Defense." Lily said.

"Wait does that mean Snape will be the new defense teacher?" Harry asked Dumbledore.

"Yes, Harry professor Snape will be the new defense teacher and professor Slughorn will be the new potions teacher." Dumbledore answered.

"No sir, not Professor Snape." Harry moaned dreading having to take that class with him.

"I'm sorry Harry it's hard to find a teacher to teach a class where the teacher only ever lasts one year." Dumbledore said. " Now, should we get down to the business of discussing the prophecy and how it concerns Harry."

"Yes, Emily just went to sleep so we have the time before she wakes up." James said.

"Excellent, let's start off with what the prophecy is. The prophecy is The one with the power of 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 the power that 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." Dumbledore said as he relayed the prophecy. He let them process what he had just said before continuing. "You see there are actually two people who this prophecy could've referred to."

"Who is the other person that it refers to sir?" Harry asked.

"The other child it could've referred to is Neville Longbottom." Dumbledore answered.

"Alice and Frank's child?" Lily asked. Dumbledore nodded in response.

"But why did he choose me?" Harry asked.

"I believe that he chose you because like you he is also a half-blood like you. Therefore, then he marked you as his equal." Dumbledore answered.

"But why are you just telling us now?" James asked.

"I wanted Harry to have as normal of a life as possible before he got thrown not the deep end of this war. That's why I kept you so far away this year to try to keep your life as normal as possible." Dumbledore answered.

"Sir I'm ready to do whatever it takes to end this war." Harry said.

"Are you sure Harry?" Lily asked.

"Yes, I'm sure I want to do my part to end this war." Harry responded. James and Lily shot a look at each other before Lily spoke.

"Ok Harry if this is what you want to do then we're with you." Lily said.

"Well now that has been decided I must be elsewhere, and Harry come to my office every Wednesday night at 6:00 for additional lessons." Dumbledore said.

"Alright Sir." Harry answered.

"Is there anything else we should know?" James asked.

"It's probably best that you don't go out unless it is absolutely necessary and if you have to make sure that you contact the order first, so we have members protecting him." Dumbledore answered. "And Harry make sure that you always carry the invisibility cloak with you at all times."

"I will Sir." Harry answered once again.

"Excellent. If that is all the questions that you all have, I must be going." Dumbledore said as he left.

"Mom Dad in the prophecy it said that you guys have defied you-know-who three times can you tell me how?" Harry asked.

"Well Harry the first time we defied him was when he tried to recruit us to his cause, and we of course turned him down." Lily started

"The second time we were on a mission with the order, and he took down our entire team except your mother and me." James continued.

"And the last time we defied him was when he surprised attacked us and captured us right before we got pregnant with you, and he gave us a last opportunity to join him but instead we fought back and escaped from him." Lily finished.

"I'm surprised that Dumbledore didn't want Lily to go to Slughorn's to guilt trip him into teaching again." James said

"Well Dumbledore said that he doesn't want anyone who isn't part of the order to know that you're alive." Harry told them.

"Make sense since Dumbledore has been very secretive about us being alive again." Lily said.

"Did Slughorn already invite you to his Slug Club?" James asked.

"His what?" Harry asked back.

"It's basically his elite club of students who either do really well in school or have very powerful connections." Lily answered.

"Mom, I know you went because he still had the pictures of you at them but, what about you dad didn't your dad make Sleekeazy's hair potion?" Harry asked.

"Slughorn did invite me to them but after the first prank I pulled in potions he never invited me again." James answered. "Anyways you should get going to bed Harry you have a lot to think about and don't forget tomorrow's your birthday."

"Yeah, you turn 16 and we have a lot planned tomorrow so you're going to need your rest." Lily added.