Chapter three

'Another thing, something about a prophecy, can you explain?'

'There is one, Albus told your parents and me when you were three months old,' Sirius sighed but then recited the prophecy for his godson, the reason why his parents had been killed, 'I'm sorry Harry.'

'Don't be, it's the past, but it said vanquish and marked as his equal. Well, I did vanquish him that night and I was marked. As for that line, one has to kill the other, well, I did, his body disappeared. So if you look at it logically, then I have fulfilled the prophecy, from now on if Voldemort returns it has nothing to do with me.'

'Damn, why didn't I think about that, you're right, it was fulfilled that night. Okay, why does Albus still believe its active and you still have to fulfil it.'

'Because it gets him out of fighting, think about it Sirius, his so called famous duel was with his old ex lover, he probably just gave up. No one witnessed what went on and Grindlewald has never been interviewed since he was thrown in Nurmengard prison. Okay, Dumbledore is powerful but he's also very old, I read that our magical core can get old with us depending on our power. He's over a hundred, now muggles die before that age, well, most do. We know our magical core allows us to live longer, but not by much really, twenty or thirty years more, there have been the odd wizard that lived to one hundred and sixty. If his magical core is aging with him like everyone believes it does, then I doubt he would have the power to go up against someone like Voldemort. Okay, he could fight, but Voldemort is a lot younger, well, will be if he returns, he could outlast Dumbledore in stamina. All that man does it sit in his office eating bloody muggle lollies, he uses the floo all the time, I doubt his had any type of excersize since he became headmaster.'

'It's true about our magical core, so yes, Albus would not have the same strength in his power as he did twenty or thirty years ago and nothing like he did when he fought Grindlewald. So whether he did fight his old friend or not doesn't matter now as his power would be a lot less. You're right about his stamina as well, he wouldn't be fit enough to go the distance with a bloke like Voldemort. Okay, say you're right and he doesn't want to face Voldemort, which most would want him to unless he convinces everyone that you have to. You know what would help, for you to take a trip to the ministry and find out if there is a prophecy with your name on it. As it works only those who are named can remove them, so even though Albus heard the prophecy it automatically sends an orb to the hall of prophecies in the department of mysteries and no one but you or Voldemort could retrieve it. If he has found some way to return even if it's not a full body yet, he could not get the prophecy, even if he possessed someone.'

'Okay, well, I will sneak out early tomorrow morning, I just have to try not to let those outside see me until I get there or Dumbledore will find out.'

'I come prepared, I wasn't sure if I could speak with you here or have to sneak you away, but I also have it in case I need it,' Sirius pulled out two flasks from his pocket, 'This one is a match for some random muggle, I use that when I need to get out of the house. The other one hasn't got any hair or anything in it. You could use your cousin or uncle, even your aunt. This is just to get past the order which are outside, two at all times. You can't use this to get into the ministry, they have ways to detect someone using polyjuice potion.'

'Then I use my cousin, sneak past that lot then wait somewhere no muggle or order can see me, but far enough away that they don't detect any magic,' Harry took the flask, 'I'll sneak into his room soon, he sleeps like the dead.

'Just be careful, keep a hat on your head at the ministry. Have you ever been there before?'

'No, I don't even know where it is.'

Sirius grinned then went on to explain the visitors entrance, he told Harry what to say then when he got to the security desk that will be the first time someone will know his name. Hopefully he didn't make a spectacle; Harry could get to the department of mysteries then to the hall of prophecy. Sirius advised Harry to ask for another department just to get past the security, like magical games and sports, he could say he was thinking of a career in quidditch. It's not against the law for a visitor to go from one department to another, it will just be recorded in their visitor's book. So unless Albus went to the department of mysteries, he would not know that Harry had been.

True to his word Harry kept talking to Sirius about ideas until the hour was up. He knew it was Sirius but he had been betrayed before, he wasn't taking the chance again.

After getting some great and surprising advice from Sirius, some made him laugh some made him sit in shock, but he knew he had been right to send Sirius a letter. They hugged then Sirius quietly and using someone else's invisibility cloak, snuck out of the house.

Harry put his own cloak over himself then went to his cousin's room. He knew yanking someone's hair out will wake them but Dudley will hopefully believe it was a dream. Harry left the door open just enough even though it was hard to tell in the dark. He kept his arm covered, just his hand was visible, he grabbed hold of a few strands, pulled then quickly covered his hand with the cloak again.

Harry tried not to laugh as Dudley sat up and he had a baseball bat in his hand. It only took a few seconds before his cousin decided he imagined his hair being pulled, he went straight back to snoring. Harry snuck back to his room, stuck the hair into the flask then decided to get some sleep. He set his alarm to wake him at five, it was already after twelve now, but he could sleep tomorrow. He curled up on his side, hoping tomorrow went without incident.

If there was an orb Harry had already decided to take it so if Dumbledore tried to get the ministry on his side by saying it was up to Harry to finish off Voldemort then he would need to show proof, there wouldn't be one in there. But Harry truly hoped the orb was no longer, he did believe the prophecy was fulfilled the night his parents died. He tried not to think about it, he needed sleep.

Harry groaned as his alarm went off, he felt like he had only just closed his eyes. He quickly changed, hurried to the bathroom, apart from needing it, he wanted to splash some water on his face. He again snuck into Dudley's room and borrowed one of his caps then headed downstairs. He stood just behind the door, drank the disgusting potion, waited for the change then he steeled himself to make sure the order of the phoenix believed he was Dudley Dursley and not Harry Potter.

Harry got away from Privet drive without incident, but he hurried until he was at least a dozen streets away, where he waited behind a bunch of bushes in a part until the potion wore off.

Harry caught the bus to London, found the phone booth and slipped inside and slipped the cap onto his head. He pushed the buttons Sirius had told him, told the voice why he was visiting and received his visitors badge before the floor started to sink.

Harry tried to keep his head lowered but he couldn't help staring around as he walked over to the desk.

'Yes,' said a bored voice.

'I'm visiting the department of magical games and sports.'

'Wand.'

Harry handed over his wand and wasn't surprised when the man finally looked anything but bored.

'Is that all sir?' Harry asked politely.

'Yes, you keep your wand, I keep the receipt, but can I ask, why that department?'

'Oh, see I play seeker at Hogwarts and everyone has said I could go profession, I figured I would find out what's involved.'

'I hear you were the youngest seeker in a century, which tells me you know how to fly. Well, good luck Mr. Potter,' he held out his hand so Harry shook it giving him a smile then walking off.

People were starting to arrive but he got to the department of magical games and sports, asked for some information pamphlets, when he was handed a dozen, he thanked the girl then walked off.

Harry took a deep breath then stepped into the department of mysteries. He saw different doors and a man at a desk. This was the only part Sirius could help Harry with. The man would need to know why Harry was here, but one thing went in there favour. Anyone that worked in the department of mysteries were under confidentiality contracts, Harry hoped that meant he was safe from anyone finding out what he was doing there, finding or hoping he didn't find a prophecy orb with his name on it.