Chapter four

Harry stepped over to the desk where an man in his sixties sat, 'Which department do you want?'

'The hall of prophecy,' Harry had removed his cap before entering the room, he also made sure his scar was seen.

'Mr. Potter, this is a surprise, I did not know you knew about the prophecy.'

'I was filled in, do I need to sign in or something?'

'Yes, just sign your name then go through the blue door.'

Harry signed, 'Thanks,' he smiled then walked through the door to be met with an elderly woman, 'Hello.'

'Mr. Potter, are you here about a prophecy?'

'Yes, I heard a rumour there was one made about me, before I received my scar.'

'Yes, I heard similar, as I am not privy to who's name are on the prophecy's, nor am I allowed to enter the hall as I have not been named, you will enter alone.'

'How will I know where to look?'

'You don't, the moment you step through this door behind me, a prophecy orb will appear in front of you then you can take it.'

'Oh, so no one will know if a prophecy comes to me or not.'

'There is a record Mr. Potter, if an orb appears in front of you and the moment your hand touches it, you're name will appear in our records.'

'What if one appears but I don't take it?'

'Then it will show you never took the orb but it appeared before you.'

'What if none appears before me?'

'Then nothing will be recorded.'

'Oh, well, you seem to have everything covered. What if a prophecy has been fulfilled?'

'Then you will be notified that there once had been a prophecy, but no longer, and yes, that would be recorded.'

'So even if there was one and say it was fulfilled there is a record either way, that's good then. Just one last question and it's really just curiosity, I know you might not be able to tell me, but can anyone access your records?'

'If a prophecy was to appear to you, whether you take it or not, no, no one is can access our records Mr. Potter, not even me. So your visit will not be known by anyone unless someone saw you enter the department of mysteries. Then all anyone will know is you stepped into this department, but nothing after that. If there had been a prophecy but it is no longer then yes, the minister for magic and myself has access to those records.'

'Thank you, and even though I would like what I do to be kept private, I wasn't counting on it.'

'Then through the door, it will take a few seconds for the orb to appear, if one does contain your name. It is only rumours that one exists.'

'Yes, that's why I'm here to see if it's true or not.'

The woman watched young Harry Potter step through the door. She was curious if there truly was a prophecy, but unless the boy told her she would never know, unless there wasn't one. She would look in those books the moment he left. Even if she found out one way or another she could not tell anyone.

When Harry returned, he thanked her again but said nothing else, he just hurried away. She went to her small office and called up the files of fulfilled prophecies, then called for the files dated today.

This was the first time Harry has had time to himself, so he headed down into muggle London and spent the bit of muggle money he had left, that he found while cleaning Dudley's room last holidays. He normally wouldn't steal anything but he figured this was his payment for all the work the Dursley's made him do. He bought three pairs of jeans, a new pair of sneakers, in black, a good jacket, three t-shirts, some undies and socks. Now all he had left was ten pounds, but he knew he could get to his vault when he needed to buy his school supplies.

Harry got back to Little Whinging, he decided to get something decent to eat before heading back to the Dursley's. Harry never thought of that place as home, in fact Harry would never call that place home. He had said it three times now, once after he found out he was a wizard when he was eleven and again when he returned a few weeks ago, and again now.

After eating he grabbed a few things he could eat cold and a couple of soft drinks. When he was ready to head back, he thought about the potion, then decided he wouldn't use it, he wanted the order to see he had got past them and he hoped they told Dumbledore. He would say something if it was brought up but he would make sure to say something in front of Sirius and Mrs Weasley, if he could organise that, he just wasn't sure he could.

Harry held four bags as he approached Privet drive, he saw the shocked look on two people's faces who were staring at him, one woman, she was young but with bright purple hair, the other was an older and very scarred man who seemed to have a fake eye. Harry gave them a wave as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on then stepped into the house. He got to his room before he laughed.

Harry sat at his desk, wrote three words, "I found out", then tied it to Hedwig's leg.

'Make sure only Sirius gets that, if anyone else tries to take it then get out of there quickly. If it's Sirius, he might want to reply, so wait,' Harry took the owl to the window and again watched her fly away.

Since he wasn't hungry anymore, but he was tired, Harry decided it was time for a nap. He removed his jacket, put his wand under his pillow, took his shoes off then climbed under the covers.

Sirius had just stepped out of his old bedroom when Hedwig flew straight to him. He held out his arm then stepped back into his room, sealing it with the strongest locking charms he could.

'Thanks girl,' Sirius took the note, 'I wonder if it's yes or no?' Sirius noticed Hedwig didn't fly off, 'Okay, give me a second,' he wrote his reply then tied it to Hedwig's leg before watching her fly out the window, 'Now I hope there wasn't anyone downstairs to noticed Hedwig.'

Late that night Harry had a very interesting conversation with Sirius, but they also put some plans into action. Harry figured it was time he got something for himself, but this would help Sirius as well.

'Let's hope this works Sirius.'

'I don't see how it couldn't, you just have to hold strong, no wavering especially when he tries to guilt you with that look and that "I'm very disappointed in you" statement he uses often and on everyone. A magical child can refuse to go to Hogwarts, they can go to any magical school, even halfway through their seven years. You also have the right to leave your magical education completely and attend a muggle school. Once you reach seventeen the trace is lifted either way. If you do end up at Hogwarts then you know what to do and by law he would have to.'

'Okay, I need a question answered if you know it, my guardianship since you're still known as a convicted criminal.'

'The ministry, under Albus's push made your living relatives your guardian, so Petunia and Vernon Dursley are your guardians until you are eighteen. But as you are a wizard you can leave at seventeen.'

'Do you think we could threaten the Dursley's into signing emancipation papers?'

'We could, not here though, I would need to use magic where the order would not pick it up.'

'I can work on a way to get them out of the house. I wish I had time now though.'

'Well, you don't really need to be at the Burrow for another week so you could write to them and say you need a few more days. If we use disguises and use a few very good charms we could get those papers done and have them signed in two days.'

'You would help me?'

'Yes, there's no guarantee that I will get my name cleared but it doesn't affect your other plans. This way he won't know you're legally allowed to look after yourself until it's too late.'

'Okay, I'll work on a letter to be delivered tomorrow, it has to be important enough that it will get both of them out of the house. I could use an emergency but that would take too much to set up, like a hospital. I need to think about this.'

'You mentioned to me once that they enter those stupid muggle contests, for best gardens or something.'

'I do most of the work, but yeah, they do. Okay, your idea will work, but where will I send them? The building will have to look right for them to step inside.'

'We make sure they have to be there at eight o'clock, we'll go early to make sure no one is there, confund them if we have to.'

'Okay, where?'

'Any garden centre that's close, some lights on, a bit of soft music playing to make it sound and look legitimate. I can conjure some mannequins then charm them to move so it looks like a lot of people are there. The moment they are inside, we cut all that and have our…talk.'

Harry grinned, 'I like the way you think Sirius, very sneaky.'

'Sneaky like a Slytherin but I won't use my sneakiness to hurt anyone, this is helping you. Okay, set it for the night after. Have a letter delivered tomorrow and I'll meet you down at that park you mentioned. I will take you by side along apparition. Tomorrow we will need to get to London, so I would use polyjuice again but this time I brought you a hair to use. I saw one of that lumps friends earlier, summoned some of his hair,' Sirius handed Harry another flask and a vial with some hair in it, 'At eleven in the morning you leave as one of Dudley's friends and I'll meet you at the park.'

'Sounds good, let's hope it works.'

'It will, I better go, I hate climbing fences though.'

'The stupid order and Dumbledore don't believe any magical person would climb over a dozen fences to get to me, it's ridiculous.'

'It is, stay safe, I'll see you tomorrow,' Sirius hugged Harry again then slipped the cloak on before heading downstairs and out into the back garden. He checked to make sure no one was around then carefully and slowly climbed the first of ten fences.