Sorry... Sorry... I am... So, So, Sorry... Ages... It has been ages... But I am here with a chapter finally... Chapter 60 is here... Enjoy!
"Harry Potter is back..." squealed Neville, feeling overjoyed.
"Longbottom is losing it," chuckled Draco.
"Come off it, Neville... I made one joke..." remarked Harry. After a pause, he continued, "Ron's miserable fightback wrote itself," he said and roared into laughter.
"Ha ha... very funny. She's only beaten me twice... I have defeated her so many times," retorted Ron, disgusted with himself.
"In your dreams, Weasley... You mean, I let you defeat me? I just do that now and then so that you don't feel bad," chimed in Hermione.
"You let me? You didn't let me do anything... You're so pompous," retorted Ron, his face red.
"Fine... fine... calm down... I was just pulling your leg," retorted Hermione.
"I'm so happy today," remarked Neville, loudly. "Our first session in ages... It was so much fun," he added.
"I'm going back to my common room," said Draco. "Glad about today, lads... it was brilliant. Let's meet up again soon," he added.
"See you later Malfoy," responded a few in return.
"I'm going too, good night everyone," remarked Daphne and followed Draco's steps.
"He seems a changed man, doesn't he? I'm glad to see him like this," commented Draco glancing at Daphne.
"Good for him..." retorted Daphne, indifferently.
"Whatever he did while he stayed back from visiting Hogsmeade is to thank for," added Draco, paying little attention to Daphne's reply.
"I'm not thanking her," retorted Daphne and walked ahead.
"What is that supposed to mean?" retorted Draco, confused, but got no response.
Meanwhile, Neville, Ron, Harry and Hermione headed back to their dormitories. After a short time in their dormitories, Ron, Harry and Hermione headed back down to the common room, to relax.
After a few minutes, Harry spoke up.
"What's up with Fred and George?" he asked glancing at Ron.
"What about them?" retorted Ron.
"Oh, come on, Ron... Surely you have noticed how much quieter they have gotten," replied Harry.
Ron remained silent for a few moments before speaking up.
"You two did not hear this from me," he began. Harry and Hermione gave him a perplexed look.
"Fred and George haven't been the same since John died," he said. "They only told me about this after I pestered them with questions. John's death hasn't gone down well with them," he added, looking distraught. Fred, George and John had made up a long time back, and both Harry and Hermione were aware of how well their relationship had turned. But the twins' extended grief seemed a bit weird.
"Fred and George have plans... plans for a shop," continued Ron. "They were planning on selling their candies, sweets and other stuff... And John was helping them develop a lot more products," he added.
"He was?" retorted Harry, surprised. However, Hermione seemed to already be aware of this.
"He was," replied Ron. "But, what he didn't know was that Fred and George were going to make him the face of it," he added.
"What?" retorted Harry and Hermione, together.
"Yes... As a symbol of their apology and their gratitude... Their whole idea of opening up a joke shop was to help clear John's name in the eyes of everyone..." replied Ron.
"And out of nowhere, John died," he added, sombrely.
"Oh no," remarked Hermione.
"And they are now feeling guilty..." finished Ron.
"They did everything they could," retorted Harry. "It's not their fault," he added.
"Look who's talking," retorted Ron, with a chuckle.
"They could still open a shop," remarked Hermione.
"Yeah, I know... But I'm not sure if they will... Especially, not if John's not going to be there," retorted Ron.
"No," muttered Harry under his breath as streams of tears started flowing down his face. John's body writhed in pain in front of him.
"Answer and you won't feel the pain anymore..." he heard an eerily familiar voice say.
"Crucio"
Harry hadn't meant to do it. But somehow, he had. His spell hit John and John's body reacted vigorously to it. The screams of pain were too difficult to hear.
"Avada Kedavra"
Harry watched a jet of green light escape his wand and soar through the air to make its way towards John.
"No... I didn't do it," screamed Harry and woke up sweating profusely.
"Harry... are you alright?" asked Ron as e dashed towards him.
Harry looked around confused. It took him a couple of seconds to register that he had just woken up from a nightmare.
"Uh... I'm fine," he retorted, disgusted with himself.
Ron sat down beside him.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
It was the 3rd time in a week that Harry had woken up screaming in the middle of the night. The frequency of his nightmares had increased manifold ever since Voldemort revealed himself to the world.
But up until recently, they were much more benign. Keeping it to himself was much easier. And the recent occurrences angered him very much, for he was helpless.
"Yeah, no, I'm fine... Just a bad dream, eh?" remarked Harry in response.
Ron sat silently.
"I'm fine, Ron... And I'm going back to sleep," said Harry after a few seconds.
"Sleep well," replied Ron and got up from his seat.
The morning arrived, and fortunately for Harry, no more incidents had occurred for the night.
As Harry walked down to breakfast, he found everyone at the table and more.
"Hey, Harry... Good Morning... You have been sleeping late, haven't you?" said Colin, with a genuine smile on his face.
"Just a little tired," lied Harry in response.
"Are you alright?" asked Daphne, looking concerned.
"Yeah... of course," replied Harry nonchalantly. He glanced towards Ron and Hermione and found both sets of eyes on him. He was well aware that their silence was only because Daphne and Colin were there along with them.
After a moment, Harry spoke up.
"All set, Colin?" he asked with a smile.
"Shitting myself," retorted Colin.
"You're going to be fine... relax," chimed in Ron.
"And you're getting replaced after today... so, don't worry... You have nothing to lose," encouraged Harry with a chuckle.
"You're getting replaced after today?" asked Hermione, confused.
"I will be, won't I? Harry will be back on the team next year," replied Colin.
"This is our last competitive game for the season," added Harry.
As it turned out, Colin was the only saving grace for the Gryffindor side. The Gryffindor side took on Ravenclaw in what was an inconsequential game for the players in scarlet. The game began and almost immediately it became evident that the Ravenclaw side was much more up for it than Gryffindor. It wasn't obvious what the Gryffindor team lacked.
Were the chasers not up to the game?
Or, was it the beaters? Were they not alert enough?
Or was the keeper not good enough?
Whatever the reasons were, the Gryffindor team instantly found themselves staring at another embarrassing defeat.
But... there was one person in their team, who had other ideas.
Like a phoenix, risen from its ashes, Colin Creevey, the muggle-born who hadn't seen a flying broomstick till he was 11, grasped victory from the jaws of defeat.
The game finished 170 – 120 in the favour of Gryffindor and the scarlets discovered a gem in its ranks.
There were subdued celebrations in the common room later that evening.
Harry, after a rather enjoyable evening, went to bed, his thoughts very much filled with quidditch. However, this night, like the previous, was unkind towards him.
Harry woke up with a jolt in the middle of the night. Fortunately for him, this time, he didn't seem to have made any sound and hence, Ron was still asleep.
Harry sat up straight on his bed. His clothes were drenched with his sweat. He closed his eyes and tried to recollect what he had dreamt.
It wasn't every time that he dreamt of killing John with the killing curse. Sometimes, he'd dream that... quite often he would also dream about the night his parents were killed.
Ever since finding out the truth that John and Jane were there that night, he started dreaming "that night" in much better detail. They were just fragments but felt significant.
"... leave them alone..."
"... you are going to pay for this..."
"Avada Kedavra"
All that ended with a flash of green light.
Harry's dreams were varied. There were the ones with the flash of green light, and by now, Harry knew what they meant. And then there were the others, that he'd never make head or tail of. There were dreams filled with Dementors, there were ones that took Harry to some place so dark and lonely, a massive room that he had never seen before. There were ones with Ron and Hermione, and then there were ones much closer to home with Daisy, Aunt Petunia and Dudley in them. But in none of these, did Harry ever feel anything but something sinister.
After being lost in his thoughts for a while, Harry finally decided to lie back down on his bed. A few minutes later, he was once again asleep.
Luna had the habit of roaming in and around the castle. It was one she had developed in the 3 years she had been at Hogwarts. While, often she found herself outside, breathing the fresh air, walking through the bushes and trees, at that moment, she found herself strolling on the first floor.
She had just walked past the girls' toilet when she paused and turned around. She thought she heard something. And sure enough, the moment she stopped, she heard a feeble noise. It was imperceptible and almost felt like she was imagining it. But the longer she stood still, the more obvious it became that there was a noise and it was indeed coming from inside the toilet.
Luna walked in cautiously and she found the sound growing higher and higher in volume. It took her only a few steps to realise that it was one of the students and she seemed to be crying.
"Hello," greeted Luna and almost instantly the girl stopped crying.
"Is anyone there?" asked Luna, though she knew for certain that someone was inside one of the stalls, and was quite possibly crying. She waited for a few seconds but got no response.
"Are you alright?" continued Luna. She had half a heart to walk away and leave the poor girl alone when she heard her speak back.
"Go away..." came a distressing yell from the stall at the end.
"Oh..." gasped Luna, taken aback.
There was a few moments of silence. Luna stood stranded on her ground. And then Luna took a few steps forward.
"I said... go away..." came another distressed yell from inside the stall. Though this one was not as strong as the previous yell. And almost immediately after, Luna heard low imperceptible sobs.
Cautiously, Luna took a few more steps forward, trying hard not to make a noise. And within no time, she found herself directly opposite the girl inside, just the doors of the stall separating the two.
"I'm sorry..." she said the moment she got there. And the girl's sobs died down. "What happened, love?" she asked.
And there was silence again.
After a couple of minutes, the girl spoke up.
"I'm the stupidest person... ever," the girl grunted, finally breaking the silence. "I didn't think he would ever do this to me..." she added as her voice trailed off.
Luna's ears perked up. "What... did he do?" she asked, in a surprised tone.
"I should have known... they are always together..." the girl continued rambling.
"Daphne?" called out Luna. "Can you please come out?" she asked.
Daphne sat frozen inside the stall. Luna's voice played in a loop inside her head. She was yet to realize that it was Luna who was standing outside her stall.
The moment Daphne heard her name, she went dead silent. She couldn't believe it. It took only a moment for the panic to set in.
"It's me, Luna..." remarked Luna, in a low whispery tone, after a few seconds of silence.
"Luna?" wondered Daphne. "Luna Lovegood?" she thought to herself. "What is she doing here?"
"Go away... Luna," repeated Daphne, in exactly the same tone she had used right at the beginning.
"Please, go away..." she prayed to herself. A few moments of silence followed. Daphne strained her ears hard for the sound of retreating footsteps, but she wasn't sure Luna had indeed left her alone. Somewhere inside her, she wasn't sure entirely sure she wanted Luna to leave.
"Are you still there?" asked Daphne in a barely audible voice, breaking the silence. Daphne's heart beat faster with every half a second that passed thereafter. She was scared by the silence and was even more afraid of a potential reply from the other end.
"Hmm..." responded Luna after a couple of seconds.
"Oh..." was the only response Daphne could muster in return. Her mouth had gone dry.
"Can you please come out?" repeated Luna.
After a few moments of silent contemplation, Daphne finally mustered the courage to walk out. All that courage it took her to come face to face with Luna, didn't extend itself to helping her make eye contact with Luna.
The puffed eyes and irritated skin surrounding Daphne's cheek were hard to miss.
Luna suddenly felt herself out of options. The two girls stood in front of each other awkwardly. After a few seconds, she extended her arms slowly and half-patted Daphne around her shoulder.
Daphne, for the first time, glanced at Luna.
"What... happened?" asked Luna.
"It's nothing... not a big deal. I'm sorry, I just lost my head there for a minute," retorted Daphne nonchalantly.
Luna gave a chuckle.
"It really is nothing..." added Daphne, like she wanted to defend herself and everyone else. "I'm really cool with it most days... just some days, it gets more difficult than others," she added.
Luna stared at her confused.
"They are best friends after all... and have known each other for longer," continued Daphne.
"And it has been a tough few months for him... and her... all of us actually," she added and stared at Luna.
"You might as well spill it," suggested Luna after a few seconds.
"I have been with him for well over a year now... I still feel like I'm an outsider... All of them treat me like an outsider... And it has just gotten worse since..." replied a dejected Daphne and found herself pausing. After a moment she continued, "John was really nice. We never really spoke... correction, I always pushed him away," chuckled Daphne. "I can only imagine what Hermione, Harry and Ron would be going through..." she added.
"You must think I'm acting like a cold-hearted bitch..." she finished with a sulk.
"Well..." began Luna airily and gave an abnormally long pause. For a moment there, Daphne was shocked at the prospect of hearing a, "yes" from Luna.
After a few seconds, Luna continued, "I'd be upset too... if I were you," she said.
And suddenly, Daphne felt the weight on her chest dissipate. "Really?" she retorted intuitively.
"You should not let this eat at you," remarked Luna. And before Daphne could respond, Luna turned around and walked away and out of the girl's toilet.
"Luna..." called out Daphne, taken aback. "What happened?" and her voice died down in what was an abrupt end to a rollercoaster of emotions.
Harry, Hermione and Ron sat at the table, vigorously planning out their study schedules. Well, it was mostly Hermione's doing, but the boys were equally involved, for the exams were as good as here. The food on their plates had gotten cold and they had lost sense of the world around them.
"Harry... Mate, listen... HARRY..." called out Seamus repetitively, until Harry finally turned his head towards him.
"There's a kid here... waiting for you," said Seamus pointing at the first year, who seemed in awe of Harry Potter and equally terrified of disturbing him.
"Hi," greeted Harry, amused.
"Professor Dumbledore asked me to give this to you," replied the kid and handed Harry a note.
"Thank you," said Harry and took the note from the kid. Just as he did, the first year wasted no time and dashed out of sight.
Ron and Hermione eagerly watched as Harry opened the note.
"Good Morning, Harry! Can you come up to my office sometime today?
PS: It's 'Liquorice'"
"What does it say?" asked Ron, impatiently.
"He wants me to meet him in his office," replied Harry as he handed the note to Hermione.
"Why?" asked Ron, surprised. Harry shrugged in response.
"It must be something important... Something to do with You-Know-Who?" suggested Hermione as she handed the note to Ron.
"I suppose... what else could it be?" chuckled Ron.
And as requested, in the afternoon, Harry decided to make his way to Dumbledore's office.
Like everyone had to, Harry muttered the password, "Liquorice" and had the pleasure of watching the huge stone gargoyle stepping aside for him.
"Hello Professor Dumbledore, Good Afternoon," greeted Harry and only then realised that there was someone else also in the office. "Professor White... Good Afternoon," he added glancing at Benjamin White.
"Thank you for your inputs, Professor... If you don't mind, I'd like to spend some time with Harry here," said Dumbledore looking at Professor White.
White nodded at Dumbledore and then glanced at Harry to acknowledge his greeting, and a moment later, left the office.
"Hello, Harry... How are you?" greeted Dumbledore with a gentle smile on his face.
"I'm doing well, Professor. How are you?" replied Harry with a smile.
"The Gods are punishing me for my indulgences in old age," chuckled Dumbledore. Harry stared at him confused. "I'm doing just as well," he added. "How are your friends doing? How are your studies going?" he asked.
"Ron and Hermione are fine. Hermione is making both of us put in the hard hours for the exams," replied Harry with a chuckle.
"Good... Good," remarked Dumbledore.
There was suddenly an awkward silence that lasted a few seconds, while Dumbledore had a piercing glance at Harry.
"I hope some part of you has recovered from the tragedies of the year?" remarked Dumbledore, breaking the silence.
Harry's mind went blank for a moment, but the next, he replied, "Yes Professor," he said. But his reply wasn't too convincing.
In the silence that followed, Harry's mind raced all over the place. From remembering the events of that Valentine's day afternoon to finding out the truth about John and Jane.
"Is there anything you want to talk about?" asked Dumbledore, once again breaking the silence.
Harry looked shaken, but after a couple of seconds, he replied, "Yes Professor... there are some things," he said. After a pause, he continued, "John... Hermione told me about John," he said meekly.
Dumbledore nodded in acknowledgement. "She did?" he retorted.
"Yes... We spoke about it... She told me everything she knew," replied Harry. "How can it be possible, Professor?" he asked.
"That Mr and Miss Smith are your best friends' son and daughter?" retorted back Dumbledore.
"Yes... I mean, I get it... Time travel is possible... But why? Why would they travel back in time? How did they get past the fidelius in my parents' house? And why can't we use time travel to bring John back?" asked Harry, slowly going from calm to frustrated.
Dumbledore glanced at Harry sympathetically.
"John came back in time with one goal. And that was to protect you from Tom Riddle. He had his reasons, most of which he never shared with me or Professor McGonagall for that matter," replied Dumbledore calmly.
"We have to bring him back, Professor... You can do that, can't you?" retorted Harry.
"No, Harry... I can't," replied Dumbledore. "I do not know how to travel back or forth in time. None of us do... It is something that will be invented in the future by someone who was desperate enough," he added as Harry got dejected.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Harry spoke up, "when did he tell you his truth?" he asked.
"John... never told me the truth. I don't think he desired to tell anyone the truth. But, Professor McGonagall knew... and eventually, I found out from her," replied Dumbledore. "Although, when I did confront John with the truth, he did not deny it," he added.
"He should've used the portkey with me," sulked Harry. "What about Tom Riddle?" he asked, changing the topic.
"What about him?" retorted Dumbledore.
"What are we doing to stop him? To fight him?" asked Harry.
"He is moving his pieces... We are moving ours," replied Dumbledore coyly.
"Like getting his death eaters out of Azkaban? What exactly are we doing?" retorted Harry.
"Harry..." began Dumbledore and sat back in his chair with a distressed look. "I don't wish to burden you with war. You are an important part of it, but you are still a kid. I ask that, for now, leave it to us," he finished.
"Right... Not going to tell me anything, are you?" retorted Harry disappointed. "What am I doing here then, Professor?" he asked.
"I wish to tell you some things. But before that, I need to know some things as well. And I need your help with that," replied Dumbledore, making Harry curious.
"My help?" asked Harry.
"I want to know exactly what all happened that afternoon," replied Dumbledore. Harry looked at him, confused. Dumbledore was referring to the afternoon John passed away of course. But everything that happened on that day, was well documented by then. There wasn't anything that was left unsaid, not to Dumbledore anyway.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore got up from his seat and walked across the office and with a flick of his wand, opened the cabinet door.
Harry remembered what lay behind. And Dumbledore's statement made a whole lot more sense.
"Pensieve," exclaimed Harry and walked towards Dumbledore.
"Harry, would you mind?" asked Dumbledore.
"Professor... I... don't know how..." stumbled Harry.
"No need to worry... I'll help you. Just close your eyes and focus back on that day," remarked Dumbledore calmly.
Harry did as he was told. A few seconds went by, and a few more followed.
"Harry... you may open your eyes now," said Dumbledore and Harry opened his eyes, confused.
"That's it?" he asked. "I didn't even feel anything," he added.
"Better hold on," said Dumbledore and held out his arm. Harry held on immediately.
And in an instant, Dumbledore's office gave an almighty lurch and Harry felt thrown forward into the silvery substance. And the very next moment, he found himself walking through a crowded Hogsmeade.
At a distance, Harry could see himself, seated at a table, across from Daphne. For a moment, he got distracted by Daphne, but almost right away, Harry saw his memory-self look through him at someone, curiously.
Dumbledore tracked memory-Harry's eyes and spotted Barty Crouch Jr.
"Barty Crouch Jr," exclaimed Dumbledore in a whisper.
"Yes, he is a death eater," whispered back Harry.
Soon, the pair were following the memory-Harry through the crowd. They watched him bump into John, and then follow Barty from afar. The dark mark terrorized from the sky as memory-Harry and John got caught Lockhart and Barty Crouch Jr.
Seeing Lockhart, even through his memory brought a rush of unresolved anger to Harry's thoughts.
Soon, the pair watched memory-Harry and John taken to the Little Hangleton Graveyard.
"Redwood," exclaimed Dumbledore as he spotted the man standing behind Voldemort.
"Do you know him, Professor?" asked Harry in a whisper. Dumbledore nodded in response. This was not the time to tell Harry that Eldon Redwood was responsible for Vernon Dursley's death.
"Avada Kedavra" cried Voldemort and a jet of green light approached Harry.
"Protego Maxima" cried Harry.
Dumbledore and Harry watched the scene unfold in front of them, as a narrow beam of gold light connected Harry and Voldemort's wands. And soon thereafter, a transparent golden dome engulfed them.
"Avada Kedavra" screamed John. A jet of green light escaped his wand and made its way towards Voldemort. But his spell bounced away from the dome.
"Stupefy"
"Expelliarmus"
Harry's heart broke once again, watching John's attempts to finish off go in vain, for he knew what came next.
"Harry... Voldemort's here... This is what I have been waiting for... for a long long time. The only way we are both surviving this is if you go back home and call for help. I'll try to hold them off till help arrives. Call for the Order, send a message to Dumbledore," said John. "I'm not leaving this graveyard without a fight," he added.
"But how am I going to call for help?" asked Harry. He knew what he had to do. Believing that he could do it was a whole other story.
"Come on Harry... you can do it. Believe in yourself..." replied John reassuringly. "We don't have time... Go," he added.
Harry took out his necklace and held the totem in his hand. One second he was at the Little Hangleton graveyard with John, the next he was in front of the gate of 4, Privet Drive.
Harry jolted out of the Pensieve, with tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Harry," said Dumbledore. "I regret making you relive those moments," he added.
Harry remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking up. "I relive these almost every night, Professor," replied Harry. "It haunts me in my sleep, every night," he added.
Dumbledore knew exactly what Harry was going through. Even to this day, Dumbledore found himself reliving moments from his early adulthood, moments that sealed the fate of his younger sister, Ariana.
"We will find a way to help you, Harry... I'll tell Poppy to make something for you. Perhaps, we need to start thinking about training you," said Dumbledore. "Alas, I am digressing again," he added and didn't speak further.
After a few minutes of silence, Harry once again had questions.
"Professor," he called out. "Lockhart... who do you think killed him?" he asked.
"He was found dead in his mansion... Killed by the curse," replied Dumbledore.
"Do you think Tom had him killed, fearing what he might have to reveal?" asked Harry. "The papers seem to think so," he added.
"Maybe... maybe not," remarked Dumbledore unconvincingly. "I fear, this one has little to do with Tom," he added.
"Jane?" retorted Harry. "Losing a brother could of course make anyone do anything," he thought to himself.
Dumbledore nodded in response.
"There has been something bugging me for a long time," began Harry as gave a quizzical look towards Dumbledore. "John knew about Priori Incantatem, he knew that Tom and I share twin wands..." he added. "But, when he tried to kill Tom Riddle, he failed. Why did he fail, Professor Dumbledore?" he asked, puzzled.
"You've read about Priori Incantatem?" retorted Dumbledore, surprised. He clearly didn't expect Harry to know much about it.
"No, Professor... Prof... Uh, Jane told me about it, the day John... well, it seemed John and Jane had discussed it," replied Harry.
"Garrick informed me immediately after he sold you your wand. Wandlore isn't something that wizards have expertise in, I'm afraid. As Garrick loves to say, the wand chooses the wizard and not the other way around. Priori Incantatem is as old as magic itself. However, there is very little evidence informing us of its true nature. John would have realised that neither one of you nor Tom can kill each other with your wands. The protective shield that had engulfed you two, may not have been something he'd have planned for," replied Dumbledore.
Harry got lost in a train of convoluted thoughts when Dumbledore spoke up.
"Harry... thank you for sharing your memories. They have been of great help," said Dumbledore.
Harry who was just half-listening to Dumbledore's words nodded his head in response.
"Why does he want to kill me, Professor?" he asked suddenly.
Dumbledore played coy with Harry. "I beg your pardon, Harry?" he remarked.
"Why does Lord Voldemort want to kill me? What did I or my parents ever do to him? Why do we share a twin wand? Of all the wizards and witches, why the two of us?" repeated Harry, this time with more conviction.
There was a glint in Dumbledore's eyes. One could say, he was waiting for this question.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born as the seventh month dies... He will have power the Dark Lord knows not... Trapped with him in an unendless cycle, the Dark Lord will mark him his equal... Everything will be lost... Neither can live while the other survives... And it will begin once again..." recited Dumbledore as Harry watched him, confused.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I don't understand..." replied Harry.
"It was the 29th of February, 1980. I was interviewing for the position of divination. Frankly, I didn't believe in the necessity of such a vague science. But I was meeting the daughter of a legend. You see, Professor Trelawney is a descendant of Cassandra Trelawney. One of the greatest seers known to wizarding kind. Our meeting didn't leave me with any hope of filling the position. But then something happened," replied Dumbledore and glanced at Harry curiously. "Perhaps it is best, you see it for yourself," he added.
And the pair went back into the Pensieve. When Harry jolted back out of it, he knew exactly what Dumbledore had meant.
"A prophecy?" remarked Harry, shocked.
"Most of them are hoaxes... But, this is not one of them, or so I believe. Fortunately, Professor Trelawney remembers very little of this evening. I took her in, to put the walls of Hogwarts between her and danger. Unfortunately, when she made the prophecy, somebody overheard us and told Tom of the same," retorted Dumbledore calmly.
"But I don't understand the prophecy," remarked Harry, puzzled. "I understand fragments of this puzzle. But in entirety, it makes very little sense," he added.
Dumbledore looked at him curiously. "Why do you say so?" he asked.
"The power to vanquish... Born as the seventh month dies... Okay, I understand these parts. What's with the trapped in a cycle? Tom and I are trapped in some magical confinement?" asked Harry.
"Prophecies have to be taken with a grain of salt, Harry... Every word may not have meaning. Yet as a whole, they may mean more than they do individually. I would not recommend spending your energy deciphering it. If I may say so, that's what brought his downfall last time," replied Dumbledore.
Harry wasn't sure he was any more convinced than earlier, but he didn't prod. He knew he had something for Hermione to help him with.
After a few minutes, Harry spoke up. "He killed my parents over this prophecy? Why? Just because he was afraid of an unborn child? Every day I want to kill him more..." lashed out Harry, suddenly. "I have some power that he doesn't know I have... I am supposed to vanquish him. I am going to kill him," he added with an air of confidence.
Dumbledore stared at him with blank face. Though internally, he was alarmed.
"Harry... Stronger wizards than you have gone down this path. Please don't!" he remarked.
"Professor... I am sorry for lashing out," replied Harry instantly. "I didn't mean to. I don't know, I just got really angry thinking about everything he has done," he added genuinely.
After a few seconds of silence, Dumbledore spoke up. "I wasn't sure if I should tell you this. Perhaps, you should be aware of this..." he said making Harry's ears perk up.
"Professor?" he retorted, curiously.
"Harry... There is something that we found out about Tom Riddle a while back. He has Horcruxes," replied Dumbledore cautiously.
"Horcruxes?" questioned Harry, puzzled.
"A Horcrux is the word used for an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul... Well, you split your soul, you see, and hide part of it in an object outside the body. Then, even if one's body is attacked or destroyed, one cannot die, for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged," replied Dumbledore.
Harry looked at Dumbledore, stunned.
"That's how he survived?" he asked, shocked.
Dumbledore nodded.
"How many does he have?" asked Harry.
"We do not know the exact number," replied Dumbledore.
"How much could he possibly have?" asked Harry.
"A fair few, we think," replied Dumbledore.
"So, what do we do?" asked Harry.
"Until the time comes, that we don't destroy his Horcruxes, we cannot fully destroy him," replied Dumbledore.
The shock of everything Harry had found in the space of an afternoon had him completely occupied.
A short while later, it was finally time for their meeting to end.
"Professor..." exclaimed Harry.
"Yes, Harry," responded Dumbledore.
"Can I tell Ron and Hermione... about any of this?" he asked.
"Stay close to your friends, Harry," replied Dumbledore. "You're going to need them," he continued and took another pause. "And they are going to need you," he added. Harry had heard this advice before. "I have burdened you with knowledge... It's your choice whom you share it with," finished Dumbledore.
"A word of caution..." remarked Dumbledore after a couple of seconds.
Harry glanced back at him.
"I have learnt that not everyone reacts to the truth the same way..." he said.
Harry stared at Dumbledore hoping to gauge his tone. But after a few moments, he had nothing but his words ringing in his ear.
Harry had been gone for a few hours. He directly headed to the library hoping to find Ron and Hermione.
However, when he entered the library and his eyes fell on his 2 best friends at Hogwarts, something crept up in his mind and made him stop dead in his tracks.
When Harry resumed walking, there was one thought in his mind.
"Harry..." exclaimed Ron.
"You're back," remarked Hermione.
"What happened with Dumbledore?" asked Ron.
"Hey..." greeted Harry and sat beside Ron.
"That's all? What did Dumbledore have to say? You had been gone for a while mate," remarked Ron excitedly.
After a few seconds, Harry replied, "Nothing," and glanced at Ron and then Hermione with a straight face. And both of them glanced back at Harry, confused.
"Of course... I mean, he did have a few things to say," began Harry. "He wanted to know how I was doing," he said and quickly corrected, "... how we were doing," he said. "I had some questions for him... About You-Know-Who, you know?" he added.
"Oh, what did he say? What is he up to?" asked Ron, while Hermione sat opposite the pair, staring at the both of them.
"He is moving his pieces... and so are we," replied Harry with a disappointed look.
"What is that supposed to mean?" retorted Ron.
"He doesn't want us to know everything that's being planned," replied Harry.
"Why did he ask you to the office, then?" retorted Ron.
"He wanted to know about that afternoon... the day John..." replied Harry. "He extracted the memory from me and viewed it in the Pensieve," he added.
Ron and Hermione stared at him bewildered.
"He wanted to know everything... everyone who was there... all of it," continued Harry. "I also told him about my nightmares," added Harry and watched the pair stared at him in shock.
"You did?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah... He was glad that I told him. He's going to talk to Madam Pomfrey. As to why I keep getting them, he chalked it up to trauma," replied Harry.
"I wish the order told us more about what they are doing," remarked Hermione.
"Uh... I'm not feeling well. I'm going to go and have a nap," remarked Harry and got up from his seat.
Ron glanced at him, concerned but didn't say anything.
And with that, Harry got up from his seat and walked away from Ron and Hermione.
"Hermione..." called out Ron in a whisper, a few moments after Harry's departure.
"Yeah?"
"Do you reckon he's hiding something? Like he's not telling us something?" asked Ron, curiously.
"What?" gasped Hermione, shocked. "I mean... what do you mean? Why do you say that?" she asked.
"Don't know... He's acting a bit... different, I guess," replied Ron.
"I don't know, Ron. Honestly, what would he be hiding?" retorted Hermione.
"I suppose that's also true," remarked Ron and Hermione, mentally, heaved a huge sigh of relief.
"Sirius?" exclaimed Remus, confused. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"You are not going to believe it," gleamed Sirius. "Come with me," he added and grabbed Remus' arm.
"What happened? Where are we going?" remarked Remus. But before he could finish, they had apparated.
Remus and Sirius landed with a crack, right in front of 12, Grimmauld Place.
"What?" asked Remus.
"Get in," replied Sirius and led from the front, with happiness on his face long lost.
"Remus... Look who we have here," remarked Sirius. Remus walked in and his eyes immediately fell on a badly bruised, grubby-looking, short plump man, tied up with what looked like some kind of magical restraint.
"Peter?" exclaimed Remus, shocked. "Sirius... what is he doing here?" he asked, alarmed. "Did you do this to him?" he added pointing at Wormtail's bruises.
"You think very little of me, dear brother... I have a wonderful friend named Jane, remember her?" replied Sirius, with pride and happiness.
PS - This is the logical end of what started with Chapter 51. A set, that I would, for the lack of a better phrase, call, "Year 4".
Chapter 61 is ready, though, I would like to write some more chapters before I start publishing once again.
Until then, Ciao!