Chapter 3: You've Got to Be Kidding!

"Could you walk any slower?" Snape said irritably once they had reached the statue of the gargoyle.

"As a matter of fact, I could," Harry said glaring at his professor.

"Fizzing Whizbees," Snape said, ignoring Harry's comment.

The statue of the gargoyle spun around, revealing steps. Harry didn't hesitate to go up them. Whatever Dumbledore had to say, it must have been important. Snape waved his wand to close up the statue and walked away once Harry reached the top. The raven haired boy raised his hand to knock but didn't need to.

"Come in, Harry," Dumbledore said.

Harry walked inside to find that Dumbledore was alone. Harry noticed the office had repaired itself while the Headmaster was away. It looked like it had the last few times Harry had gone in there again He took a seat in the chair opposite Dumbledore's desk.

"Lemon Drop?" Dumbledore asked, holding out a tin.

He was stalling. Harry knew it. He obviously didn't want to tell Harry what he needed to talk to him about. He knows Harry never takes a Lemon Drop. What Harry suddenly noticed though, was that Dumbledore was looking right at him.

"Er… No thanks, Professor." said Harry, keeping their eye contact.

Dumbledore sighed and set the tin down. Harry was waiting.

"I suppose you're wondering why I called you down here?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry nodded and he continued, "You're aware that a Prophecy was made concerning you and Tom Riddle?"

"Yes, but it smashed, so no one got to hear it."

"That's where you're wrong, Harry. Someone did hear. The night it was told, someone witnessed it."

"And who might that be?" Harry asked. He had a feeling he already knew though.

"Me," said Dumbledore. "One night in the Hog's Head.

He got up and walked to his black cabinet, coming back with a caved stone basin. Harry had seen these before. It was a Pensieve. He placed it on his desk and looked at Harry more seriously than ever before.

"It's time I explain to you why it is that Voldemort attacked you as a baby and how that Prophecy concerns you. I now see what could have happened tonight, because I have been keeping it from you. Someone could have died today just because I've been too stubborn to tell you the truth. An old man's mistake that I will fix now."

Harry nodded telling him to continue.

"You see, before you were born a Prophecy was made concerning who would be able to defeat Voldemort. A Prophecy that I just so happened to witness while seeking a Divination teacher. I met Sibyll Trelawney in the Hog's Head… I hadn't really wanted to, but thought it would be respectful since her Great-Grandmother was a very talented Seer. I'll show you what happened that night."

Dumbledore poked around through the silvery substances in the basin, then prodded one with his wand. The figure of Sibyll Trelawney rose out of it. She spoke in a voice unlike her own. A voice Harry had heard once before. A voice of true Seeing.

"The one with the power to vanquish 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 equal, but he will have power 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..."

After speaking, the spinning Professor Trelawney sank back into the Pensieve. Both Harry and Dumbledore were quiet. As well all of the portraits and Fawkes. Harry was still thinking about what this must mean.

"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry suddenly asked. "Did that mean that… Was it… What does it mean?"

"It means," said Dumbledore, "that the person who has the power to destroy Voldemort was born at the end of July nearly sixteen years ago. This child would be born to parents who had defied Voldemort three times already."

Harry felt his breathing become irregular, "It means… Me?"

Dumbledore looked at Harry through his half-moon spectacles for a moment. Harry felt a bit uneasy about all this.

"The thing is, Harry, that it could have applied to two boys, both born at the end of July to parents who defied Voldemort three times."

"Who is the other one?" Harry asked. He was desperately hoping the Prophecy was not made concerning him.

"I'm sure you know Neville Longbottom," Dumbledore said. "The Prophecy could have meant him too."

"Then… Why it is that the Prophecy had my name on it and not Neville's?"

"Well, they relabeled the Prophecy after Voldemort's attack on you as a baby. The keeper of the Hall of Prophecy thought it was clear that if Voldemort attacked you, then it must mean you were to one the Prophecy was referring to."

"Then… It may not really mean me? It's just a guess?"

Dumbledore looked at Harry very, very closely now. He sighed. This is not what he wanted to tell the boy. He had to know the truth though.

"I'm afraid that there is not doubt that it is you, Harry."

"But you said it could have been Neville-"

"You're forgetting something though, Harry. The end of the Prophecy. Voldemort will 'Mark him as his equal' and he did. He chose you and gave you the scar, not Neville."

"He might have chosen wrong!"

"He chose who he thought would be a bigger threat to him. And notice this, he didn't chose the pure-blooded wizard, which he says is the only breed worth living, but the half-blood like himself. He saw himself in you, Harry and instead of killing you like he intended, he marked you with that scar. He gave you powers and now you defied him four times already. More times than your parents or Neville's parents had ever achieved."

"But… Why did he chose me? Why didn't he just wait and see if it was me or Neville who was a bigger risk? Why'd be just go kill me?"

"Well you see," Dumbledore said, "he got the information of the Prophecy from a very incomplete source. A source that had only heard the first part of the Prophecy, before being thrown out of the Hog's Head. If he'd've known the full contents, I'm sure he would have waited."

"So," Harry said considering all the Prophecy, "one of us will have to kill the other? In the end?"

"Yes."

Harry just sat there. He couldn't believe this. He had to kill Voldemort. The fate of the Wizarding world was on dependant on him.

"Can I tell Sirius about this?" Harry asked suddenly.

"You should," Dumbledore said, "but not until after the trial."

"About the trial," Harry said, "Sirius won't let me go-"

"And he has every right not to."

"But it's not fair-"

"He's your Godfather, Harry. If he says you can't go, then you can't. I'm in no position to help you. I'm afraid, being your guardian, he has more authority on the matter than I do."

"But maybe you could talk to him-" Harry tried again.

"I've known Sirius for long enough to know that he's not going to give in and let you go."

"Can I at least say goodbye if he doesn't get freed then?" Harry asked.

"And what makes you think he won't be freed, Harry?" asked Dumbledore kindly.

"Fudge doesn't like him."

"But, fortunately for Sirius, all the evidence is supporting him, not Fudge."

"But you don't know that! He'll come up with something against Sirius!"

"Sirius will be under Veritaserum, Harry. He'll tell everyone what really happened and Fudge can't say anything against it. If he does, I'll be there to defend Sirius, as will Remus."

"Remus is going?" Harry asked, an idea coming in his mind.

"I would certainly think so. Sirius is his best friend after all." Dumbledore reminded Harry.

He sighed, defeated, and sunk back down into his chair. He didn't like the idea of this trial anymore. He wanted to say Sirius would be freed, but with Fudge, he could make no guarantees. And… Why was Dumbledore staring at him so much? Those blue eyes were driving him crazy! He looked down, avoiding his Headmasters gaze.

"Is something else troubling you, Harry?" he asked.

Harry didn't want to sound stupid, but said it anyway, "All this year you've been avoiding looking at me-"

"Yes, yes, I thought you would have noticed that. You see, I had hoped that in me distancing myself from you, I'd be protecting you. If Voldemort had ever realized that our relationship was more than that of Headmaster and student, I fear he would have used it against you. I, however, made a mistake. In distancing myself, I only made things more dangerous for you."

Harry only nodded. This was more than what he wanted to think about right now. He had an idea of how he could maybe get to this trial. He just hoped Sirius wouldn't say anything to Remus about not wanting him to go to the trial.

"I think I may owe you one more explanation, Harry." said Dumbledore.

Harry looked up, "What's that?"

"You may have wondered why I hadn't chosen you as a Prefect," said Dumbledore. "I just thought you had more than enough to be dealing with already."

"Right, staying safe from Dark wizards takes up all my time," Harry sighed. "I'm going to go see Sirius."

Dumbledore let the young wizard go without another word. What Harry was unaware of was that Dumbledore knew exactly what he was thinking. There was no way Sirius wouldn't warn Remus about not letting Harry go. He wouldn't say anything to Harry about it though. He'd like to see just how hard Harry will try to get into Sirius' trial. He wondered if Sirius would have the heart to tell Harry to leave if he managed to get in.

Harry got up and walked right out the door, not even saying his farewells to his Headmaster. He put the thought of tricking Remus into the back of his mind, and though of another matter. 'Kill or be killed' Harry mused. 'I don't stand a chance.' Maybe, though, after the trial Sirius would be freed and they could train together. Maybe Remus could help too. Harry would just have to wait and see. Yes, he'd tell them of the Prophecy after the trial.