Chapter 65. In the eyes of silence
Under the heavy shroud of all-consuming terror, Voldemort did not keep himself waiting for too long, and once again, like a dark ghost, he descended upon Azkaban. The news of his invasion pierced Harry, forcing him to return to those dark times when, after the devastation inflicted by Voldemort, the Ministry wizards were rebuilding this cursed prison.
Dark clouds loomed over Azkaban, its walls seemed saturated with malice and despair. Harry felt his heart constrict with tension as he imagined the wizards fighting the darkness to bring even a drop of light back to this cursed prison. He knew this battle would be bloody and cruel, but they couldn't allow Voldemort to take control of Azkaban, further enhancing his power and terror.
Harry recalled Dumbledore's words about finding light in the darkest moments. He decided that despite all the dangers and fears, he would stand alongside those who were ready to fight for freedom and justice. Harry would seek out reliable allies whose hearts would respond to the call to fight against the horrifying oppression of the Dark Lord and enter this dark labyrinth where every step could be the last, but where every victory would be a beautiful chord in the symphony of the struggle for good.
"And how will it all be?" Jeanne exclaimed, crumpling the newspaper. "How many times will we witness this insane cycle of destruction and restoration of the magical prison?"
Dudley simply snorted, glancing quickly at the newspaper headline.
"Someone has always rebuilt it after the previous destruction," he muttered grimly.
"Except now Voldemort will undoubtedly take the last Dementors with him," Hermione remarked subtly.
"And who knows what will happen if he summons trolls and giants again?" Ron complained, already losing his composure at the mere thought.
"I wonder if he took any trolls with him during his attack on the Ministry," Dudley pondered.
Ron shook his head, confirming that he hadn't.
"I'm telling you, Percy was there during the attack and saw everything. It was like a London monster unleashed. That guy had muscles that even a mountain troll would envy. The rampages weren't even comparable."
"A typical Berserker," Jeanne chuckled, skillfully biting into her bacon strip.
"What will happen if they summon you as a Berserker in class?" Harry whispered quietly to her.
"Of course, there will be changes," she replied just as softly. "For example, I'll turn into a fool, if anything."
"Oh yeah, right... By the way, Fujimaru's predictions are still coming true," Harry noted with a smile.
"Count on that for now," Jeanne giggled. "I'm not giving out any predictions myself yet."
"And I can only judge your love for making predictions based on your attitude towards prophecies," Harry looked at her intently.
"That's easy for you to say. But whose idea was it to ask me to write an essay on this topic?" Jeanne's response made Harry blush slightly. "How many times have you and Ron done it?
"But you were always so good at it..." he tried to shift the focus.
"Thanks, Harry! Your gratitude is noted", Jeanne smirked.
"Speaking of divinations", Ron interjected towards Harry. "I heard Trelawney was looking for you recently.
"Really? Are you serious?" Harry was surprised. "I thought I was done with all that."
"Well, you are." Ron replied. "But she wanted to discuss something with you."
"How did you end up there? Just dropped by?" Harry asked.
"Well, sometimes professors invite prefects for a conversation if they need something." Hermione chimed in.
"And she specifically invited you because of that?" Harry inquired.
Ron nodded approvingly.
"Well, I have no idea what she needed from you." Hermione remarked. "But she seemed very concerned."
"Did she ask you to deliver a message?" Harry asked.
"No, she said it was very personal." Hermione answered.
"Interesting." Harry concluded.
Harry was deeply puzzled. He couldn't recall a moment when Professor Trelawney ever invited him to her, but he certainly remembered her prophecies, not always matching reality. In his third year, she saw a grim omen in his tea cup, though... well, of course! It wasn't a grim, it was Sirius in his Animagus form as a dog! And those prophecies she made about Voldemort and his return? Even if she was trying to make a big impression in her classes and didn't see the future on demand, even if she seemed more like a charlatan among many, she was a true seer, and Harry wouldn't dare disregard such a significant figure.
Harry climbed the spiral staircase to the Divination Tower with evident unease, weaving through students who had already left the class. When he entered the actual office, his heart beat even faster. The seer turned to him, emitting a mysterious aura. With a slight motion of her hand, she beckoned him closer, enveloping the entire room with her enigmatic presence.
"Oh, Harry! I sensed you were coming here."
Harry locked himself in his thoughts, realizing that Professor Trelawney's face had become a portrait of mystery intertwined with foresight. In this mysterious, ghostly reflection, he saw the whisper of premonitions that wove their way through her fate-stricken soul. It was strange to acknowledge that hidden wisdom resided within the depths of her gaze - a gaze that pierced the depths of destiny and smiled with unprecedented understanding. The secrets of the world seemed closer with each of her breaths, as if she could read epochs in the shifts of her own breath. Her profound gaze seemed to look beyond his face, delving into his very heart, into the most intimate corners of his soul, as if he was an open book. He couldn't and dared not turn away from that gaze, but stood in anticipation of the unknown mystery he could not bypass.
"I know that you are also interested in the same questions as me. Something terrible is about to happen."
Harry looked at her puzzled. Well, of course, who else can know the future besides the seer who had already made prophecies about him?
"Fate will catch up with you at the end of this term." Trelawney said with a slight tremor in her voice. - Many heroes will die in battles. But no loss will be meaningless, Harry Potter. Your encounter with the wounded soul will provide you with hope and lead you to a true victory."
Harry was confused. How is he connected to destiny? Trelawney's words raised even more questions when she started talking about the Grail War.
"Many, many sacrifices will have to be made by all of us, Harry!" she continued, her eyes darting among visions of the future war. "A great battle is looming on the horizon, the dark army is emerging. Monstrous flames will obscure the sky above all clouds! A hurricane will turn light into dust, and only shadows will fill the world. Only one thing will remain unshaken. Beware, brave ones, your mortal hour is coming!"
Harry couldn't believe his ears that he became a witness to a new prophecy, but he couldn't understand what she was talking about. What did it all mean for him and his friends?
"Many will stand by your side... All castles will fall, and in the eyes of silence, we will be nothing more than stardust. - Trelawney murmured. - To achieve victory, you must... rise above fears and obtain what you will never seek in battle! It's not so easy to stray from your path, my boy... Harry, don't let doubts overcome you!"
Emotionally, she took Harry by the shoulders.
"Stay strong, Harry!" she whispered, and Harry saw tears in her eyes.
Before he could comprehend anything, Trelawney enveloped him in a hug and began stroking his head. He felt her tears on his shoulders. But as quickly as she grabbed him, Trelawney let him go.
"How much pain... you just stay strong, my boy..."
Harry experienced mixed emotions: fear, doubt, and confusion. Trelawney's words sounded to him like a prophecy of an inevitable disaster that he didn't know how to cope with. He felt a strong desire to escape from all of this, to find peace and safety. But he also understood that yielding to fear and doubts meant surrendering to the darkness he was determined to defeat.
Trelawney's tears left a bitter and melancholic feeling on his shoulders. At that moment, he was at a loss and didn't know how to find the strength to rise above his own fears. He looked at Trelawney with astonished eyes, not knowing what to say.
As Harry left her office, his mind was filled with thoughts and his heart was filled with doubts. However, continuing his search and resisting Voldemort were an integral part of his destiny. Now he had to find a way to understand and uncover the true meaning of Trelawney's prophecy.