Chapter 26 - DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES

Harry POV

It was December now, it was pouring with snow outside. I had just come back from the Room of Requirement from practicing fiendfyre and magical aura detection. I was incredibly impressed as Tracey and Hermione finally managed to produce patronus shields before the holidays started! Although they were weak and barely lasted a second or two, it was still great progress! Daphne was astonishing though, she had mastered getting the patronus shield down, she had started on trying to form her corporeal patronus!

I then walked up to my empty room in Gryffindor tower, the twins and Lee were gone, they went back to their home for the holidays. How lucky they were… to have a real family to go home to… I then pushed those thoughts out of the way and looked and saw Hedwig perked up by the window with a letter in her claws. I took the letter out of her claws and opened it.

Dear Harry,

A reminder to come to my office tonight during your time at Hogwarts during the holidays! As promised, I will be taking you to show you what I have hinted at the last time you were at my office. Happy Holidays!

P.S. I love gummy bears

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin first class, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump of the ICW.

Wow… does he have to write that every time he sends a person a letter?

I then started to head for Dumbledore's office.I got to the stone gargoyle and said gummy bears. The stone gargoyle then opened its wings and I got onto the stairs. I waited patiently as the stairs then slowly started to ascend. Once, I got in front of Dumbledore's office again, I, however, noticed this time the vast amount of magical objects present in his room before knocking on the door to enter.

My magical training in detecting objects has come a long way since last month…

However, before I knocked on the door Dumbledore said, "Come in!"

I then pushed the heavy door open and entered the Headmaster's office.

"Ah Harry… lemon drop?"

"No thanks, sir".

Dumbledore stared at me for a bit before saying,

"Right then, I'll cut straight to the point then Harry. Today, we will be going to the Department of Mysteries within the Ministry of Magic. I wasn't able to organize a meeting any sooner, as the Unspeakable in charge would not allow me in until the break during the holidays".

I was about to retort when Dumbledore explained that he was denied access. I then understood and nodded my head.

"Before we go, Harry, do you mind if I test your Occlumency? If my past experience in your mind plane was any indication, I know your Occlumency is sound, but what you are about to see and hear is essential, should it fall into the wrong hands, the consequences may be detrimental".

I nodded, Dumbledore then took off his glasses and locked eyes with me. After a second or two I felt his presence within my mind, I quickly emptied my thoughts and shut my Occlumency shields. However, Dumbledore still made it through! He was still in my mind, although he couldn't view any memories yet, he was fighting back. I tried to shut him out but couldn't. I then decided to get a bit creative, I created a false memory and presented it to him. While he viewed this false memory, I caught him red-handed in my mind and successfully pushed him out.

"Well done Harry, your bait with using a false memory was indeed very creative of you! However, you need to be aware that more powerful wizards, such as Voldemort, will not give up trying to penetrate your mind and break off the connection simply because you locked down your mind and stop them from viewing your memories. You must be vigilant, and seek to completely push them out".

I then nodded at Dumbledore's warning. It was the first time I had a real encounter with a legilimens who knew what they were doing. My encounter was Snape was quick as he didn't want to be seen trying to view my memories in public as legilimency was technically illegal. Snape only tried to get a snippet of my memories then, and couldn't further probe at my mind.

"Harry, if I may offer another piece of advice, you could get your glasses charmed like mine here and have them help you better defend against legilimens. You could also have it charmed to stick to your head and not fall off, and automatically clean them if they get dirty, it could be helpful for quidditch".

I was surprised at this…

Wow, I love magic…

Dumbledore then got up and went over to his fireplace and chucked some floo powder in.

"Unspeakable Croaker's office, Department of Mysteries!"

After a brief moment, a person with a mask and hood appeared in the fire.

"Albus? I will let you and your charge through shortly…"

Dumbledore and I then patiently waited for the Unspeakable to give us the all clear.

"Alright! You may come through now".

I went first and groaned slightly. I threw the flew powder down and yelling out the location Dumbledore previously said.

"Unspeakable Croaker's office, Department of Mysteries!"

I then disappeared in a flame of fire. I then was launched out of the fireplace at Unspeakable Croaker's office and landed face first onto the floor. Dumbledore shortly followed, stepping gracefully out of the fire.

I knew this was going to happen!

I scrambled onto my feet.

"That was a most interesting arrival Mister Potter", said Unspeakable Croaker.

I didn't know if he was being sarcastic or not. Kind of hard to tell with the mask and everything.

He then turned to look at Dumbledore.

"Shall we? Both of you, follow me".

Dumbledore and I followed Unspeakable Croaker out of his office and down a giant room. On the way, I saw a bunch of cool and scary different objects. I first saw something like a tank with a bunch of brains, then I saw a door with a strong love potion smell coming off it, and finally, I saw a bunch of time turners!

"Oooo Harry, go get one! Oooo come on!"

Um Godric… I don't think that is why we are here…

We then entered a section with a bunch of tall shelves with blue orbs on them. Some were glowing, whilst others were dark. After a couple of rows, Unspeakable Croaker stopped and looked at me and pointed at an orb on the third row of the shelf.

"Go ahead Mister Potter, take it, and we will go back to my office".

Wait… so that's it, I came here to get a bloody blue ball? I must be missing something…

I was still standing there thinking when Unspeakable Croaker spoke up again.

"Come on, we don't have all day Mister Potter, only you can retrieve this one here as anyone else who tries to would go crazy and possibly die from the protective wards placed on the prophecy".

My mind then shook, prophecy? I then took the glowing blue orb off the shelf. Unspeakable Croaker grabbed both me and Dumbledore and the world started to spin around me. When we landed back in the Unspeakable's office I almost lost my footing and dropped the orb.

"What was that?"

Dumbledore chirped up at my question.

"No Harry. I believe you and I just traveled by portkey".

Great… no wonder I feel like shit. Another form of magical travel. First floo travel, then night bus, and now portkey… I cannot even start to imagine how apparating must feel...

Unspeakable Croaker then spoke up.

"Now Harry, although Dumbledore has heard it before, take your wand and tap the orb and the three of us will hear the prophecy".

So this is what Dumbledore kept from me! A prophecy? Why would Dumbledore make such a big deal out of this unless…? I then remember how Unspeakable Croaker said only I could take this specific one… was the prophecy about me? Oh no…

I then gulped down a breath and took my wand out and gently tapped the orb. A raspy women's voice then filled the room.

"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 Dark Lord shall mark him as his 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…"

The room was eerily quiet, nobody dared to make a single sound or even breathe. Now it was clear why Dumbledore didn't want to tell me.

I mean who would want to tell a thirteen-year-old kid, yeah hey kid, I know you enjoying school and all, but ya gotta kill the greatest Dark Lord we have ever seen later on down the line yeah? Oh, by the way, said Dark Lord is also immortal still, got a couple of good ol Horcruxes lying around to stop himself from dying! Good luck!

Unspeakable Croaker was the first to break the deathly silence.

"Well… that was… illuminating…"

I looked up at Dumbledore.

"So I will have to face him… and fight him in a battle to the death?"

Dumbledore nodded gravely, I noticed that his eyes did not contain his customary twinkle.

"And what is this power that I have that Voldemort doesn't?"

Dumbledore then answered without any hesitation.

"It is love Harry, Voldemort is incapable of it, hence it is the power he knows not".

I thought it was some sick joke for a second, my power over the greatest and incredibly skillful practitioner of dark magic was an emotion? I then remembered back to my conversation with Death. 'Remember what Ignotius valued…' That was it… family… love… The willingness to sacrifice and defend someone, that was the most powerful thing in the world. Like my mother and father did for me…

"I believe that will be enough for Harry and I today Croaker, I trust you will keep this information to yourself, if this information gets out, and especially into the hands of the Dark Lord…"

No wonder Dumbledore tested my Occlumency shields, Voldemort didn't know about the prophecy, but wait… then why did he come target me as a baby. Dumbledore told me before Voldemort came to kill me, not my parents… Did he only know part of it and not all of the prophecy?

Unspeakable croaker quickly knocked the orb out of my hands as it got smashed onto the floor. Dumbledore and I both stared at him in shock for a bit before he chuckled.

"Whoops, that was an accident. At least nobody else can find out about the prophecy now..."

I gave Unspeakable Croaker a tiny smile, but I was still severely troubled by the revelation of having to face off against the greatest Dark Wizard of all time. It felt like the entire world just got placed on my shoulders. Dumbledore and I said goodbye to Unspeakable Croaker as he vanished the remains of the prophecy. We then flooed back to Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts.