Harry Potter and the Second Prophecy

Hey ya’ll!  I appreciate the reviews already!  I know that a lot of you have read my story; the author panel tells me that, but not a lot of you reviewed.  I would love it if all of you reviewed after reading it; they are very helpful!

I’m sorry if you happened to read the 1^st chapter in the making, I was having severe difficulties uploading it; but it is all fixed now!  And I also made slight changes to the end of the 2^nd chapter, I’m sorry if it messed up while you were reading it.

~*~

Chapter 3

At precisely 12:00 the next afternoon, Uncle Vernon grunted: “They’re late.”

Harry shrugged.Aunt Petunia was sitting straight-backed and she looked nervous, she was gritting her horse-like teeth.Uncle Vernon was in a suit complete with bow tie and would occasionally pull at his bushy mustache-not a good sign.Dudley was sitting on his hands with his mouth clamped shut, apparently still frightened from his previous encounters with wizards.

Harry still had no idea how they were planning on picking him up.He stayed awake the majority of the night thinking about it.He was currently listened hard for the doorbell, hoping that they would travel by a car, just this once.

“You ready Harry?Is this your trunk at the door?”

Mr. Weasley, Ron, Fred, and George had just stepped into the room.Ron looked like he had grown at least another two inches.And since he was with them, Harry knew they couldn’t travel by apparation.

 

“What is the meaning of this?”Uncle Vernon roared, standing up.

“Err…”Mr. Weasley looked quite uncomfortable.“Didn’t Harry tell you we’d pick him up today?”

“Well, yes he most certainly did!”said Uncle Vernon.  Mr. Weasley now looked thoroughly confused at his words.“Don’t you people know how to ring a doorbell?Or perhaps you came through the fireplace again?”

Uncle Vernon said that last sentence as if it was morally wrong and illegal to travel by Floo Powder.

Mr. Weasley smiled.“Doorbell?Is that ekeltrical?Does it have…wires?”Ron glanced at his dad.“Well, never mind, I’ll have a look at it later.No, we traveled by a portkey authorized by the Order.”

 

Uncle Vernon looked at Mr. Weasley like he was lecturing Quantum Physics.

“A…what?”

Mr. Weasley held up the dirty sock that Harry had just noticed as if Uncle Vernon was supposed to know what he meant.“A portkey.Are you ready Harry?Fred and George can bring your trunk.”

 

Harry stood up and looked at the Dursleys.

“You better be able to stay at that…school…over Christmas and Easter!”Uncle Vernon said.

“I always stay there for the holidays!”Harry walked out of the room with Ron.Mr. Weasley came out a few minutes later looked upset.

“Go on ahead boys.Tell your mum that we’ll be along in a minute.”

 

Fred and George apparated with the trunk and Hedwig.Mr. Weasley, Ron, and Harry all took a hold on the sock.

Looking at his watch, Mr. Weasley counted down, “Three…two…one…”

Harry felt that familiar tug and he was whirled until what he could see what blurry.He and Ron fell on the ground in front of The Burrow, the Weasley’s home that looked, and probably was, held up by magic.

-

…..

“Hello, Harry dear!”

Molly Weasley came bounding outside and pulled Harry into a bear hug, knocking his glasses askew and nearly chocked him.When she let go, he took a deep breath and smiled.

“Thanks for inviting me, Mrs. Weasley.  I really appreciate it.”

“Oh, not at all, not at all.Come in, you look famished.”

Harry had no idea why he looked hungry; he had just eaten with the Dursley’s. 

“Ah, lunch!” said Mr. Weasley as he walked inside.

The smell of food wafted to Harry’s nose from the kitchen when he stepped inside the kitchen.  Fred and George dropped his trunk and Hedwig’s cage, after letting her out, beside the stairs and sat down at the long table, where a petit redhead was already sitting.

“Hello Ginny!” greeted Harry.

“Oh hello, Harry!  Nice summer?”  Said Ginny

.

“It’s been alright.”

“I’m sure it has been in the muggle world!”  Fred butted in.  “There have been quite a few deaths and attacks here.”

“Yea and Mum still won’t let us join the Order.  She always finds an excuse for us not to join,” George did an impression of his mother: “It’s WAY to dangerous!  You could be killed!”

“Well you could!” said Mrs. Weasley, serving pumpkin juice.

Harry glanced over at an old newspaper on the table.  On the front page of the Daily Profit was a picture of the Dark Mark, Voldemort’s sign, suspended above a small cottage.  He picked it up and read:

An Apparent Mistake of You-Know-Who

Ministry officials approached the house of William and Mary Douglas, an elderly couple in southern London.  What had appeared to be another Death Eater attack, turned out to be a mistake.  The residents were scared to find the Dark Mark, a recent recurring find, floating above their estate.  Local inhabitant, Mal Succubi (a recent accusation of interacting with You-Know-Who landed him in Azkaban, but he was released after three days) says, “Well…then a Death Eater made a blunder.  I mean, if there wasn’t an attack, then what else can explain it?”

The Dark Mark represents death, as the Aurors were afraid they would find.  Quite the contrary, Kingsley Shacklebolt, a recent add to the Auror team finding You-Know-Who’s whereabouts and against certain Death Eaters, reports, “There is no damage done what so ever, from what I can tell.  This is highly unusual, but we will figure it out.”

When interviewed, Mr. Douglas (Mrs. Douglas was unavailable, due to her current state of shock) says that he didn’t even know it was there, so he couldn’t tell us how long it had been since it descended on his household.  He also can’t remember what he was doing prior to the arrival of Aurors, as Shacklebolt was eager to find something to base the Dark Mark’s sudden appearance on.

Ministry Aurors continue to search the area for any sign of You-Know-Who until further notice.

“You mean stuff like this has happened all over the country?” asked a stunned Harry.

“No, but now that I think about it, most of the attacks have been in the south.  Since that mystery attack, there have been two just like it; one in the same area!” said Mr. Weasley.

“Wow,” breathed Harry as he sat down with the Weasleys for his second lunch of the day.

“Yea, and Malfoy’s dad escaped from Azkaban, along with everyone else.  They are all in hiding, except for Mr. Malfoy.  He paid a lot of money to reinstate his name.”

“Yea, but everyone knows that the Malfoys are all scumbags now,” said Ron with satisfaction.

“Did Bellatrix Lestrange escape,” Harry said.

“Um, yes, I believe so,” answered Mr. Weasley.  “But don’t worry, everyone will soon be back in Azkaban.”

“But the dementors?” said Harry.

“No matter.  Harry dear, you must try the bread I made.” said Mrs. Weasley.  “Oh, and the turkey; George, can you pass it here please?”

…..

After lunch (it took awhile, as Harry let Mrs. Weasley badger him into thirds), he and Ron dragged Harry’s trunk up the winding staircase to the top to Ron’s room.

“So-,” hesitated Ron.

“So what?” said Harry.

“Well, so how are you holding up?”

“I’m fine. Didn’t Fred and George and Tonks tell you that?”  snapped Harry.

“Tonks visited you too?”  asked Ron; Harry gave him a look of annoyance.  “Oh well, you know.  We just thought you’d do something…after the accident and all.”

Harry turned no his heels to face Ron.  “Oh you thought I’d run away or something.”

“Well…” started Ron.

“YOU JUST DON’T GET IT!  YOU DON’T HAVE NIGHMARES ABOUT IT!  YOU WEREN’T EVEN THERE, YOU WERE GIGGLING OVER A STUPID BRIAN!” shouted Harry.

Hedwig ruffled her feathers and Pig stopped zipping around.

“Well actually that brain gave me nightmares for some time,” joked Ron.

“Dam it Ron!  That’s what I mean, you can’t be serious!”

“I’m just trying to make you feel better, and my so-called ‘giggling’ wasn’t my fault.  Your problem is that you’re too serious!”

“He’s right, mate,” said George, walking in with Fred.  “You need to calm down.  What happened in the ministry was an accident.”

“Accident?  Lestrange murdered Sirius!”  shouted Harry.  He dropped his head, he knew that yelling about it wouldn’t bring him back, especially yelling at his friends.  “I’m sorry, I’m just a little stressed out right now.”

“A little?” muttered Fred under his breath.  “Well Mum says that as soon as your booklists come in, we can go to Diagon Alley.  You can see our new store-all thanks to you mate!”

“That sounds good.  What did you sign up for anyway, Harry?” said Ron.

“Erm…Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures… Charms…and Potions,” replied Harry.

“Potions?!  You made an O on your OWL?  Wow…”

“No, actually I didn’t.”  Ron looked confused at Harry’s words.  “But the list said that I qualified for it.”

“Hell, I bet Dumbledore stopped Snape from not letting you in.”

“I don’t think so, Ron.   McGonagall already told me that Snape refuses to let anyone in without an O,” said Harry.

“Well then how else would you explain that?”  said Ron.

“I don’t know!  I think they made a mistake.  I’ll find out when the booklists come in.  What did you sign up for?”  asked Harry.

“Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Herbology.  Aurors require five NEWTS and I failed my potions OWL,” said Ron, shrugging.

“So you think you might want to do that?  Be an Auror?”  said Harry.

“Well, ya.  That is what you’re doing, so I thought I might give it a shot.”

“You know that you don’t have to do it just because I am,” said Harry.

“I know, but it sounds like fun.  Plus someone has to keep you in line,” said Ron, smiling.

…..

The next two weeks flew by.  Two days before the term started, Ron and Harry’s booklists came in (Ginny’s came as usual with her letter).  Harry jumped up from the breakfast table and took his from the school owl.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Please acquire a copy of each of the following books:

            The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6) by Miranda Goshawk

            Even More Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander Jr.

            Advanced Potion Making by Arsenuis Jigger

            Advanced Protection Against the Dark Forces by Quintin Trimble

(You will continue from your old Transfiguration book: An Intermediate Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch)

You will also need:

            1 standard size 3 cauldron (pewter)

See you on September 1^st,

Professor M McGonagall

Harry sat back down, so relieved that he almost laughed aloud.  He was able to do potions.  Then it hit him- that meant another year with Snape.

“Damn,” he breathed.

“What?  Didn’t get Potions?”  asked Ron, who was next to him and heard him curse.

“Yea I did,” Said Harry

“Um…then why-” said Ron.

“Another year with Snape,” Harry said.

“Oh…I get it,” said Ron.

“We can go to Diagon Alley and get all your books tomorrow,” said Mrs. Weasley.  “You three go pack your trunk and we’ll stay at the Leaky Cauldron; it’s more convenient to King’s Cross Station.”

“Hermione said that she’d meet us there.  She’s staying at the Leaky Cauldron too,” said Ron.

…..

The next day, after everyone had packed and Ginny found her booklist (it was in Fred and George’s room with a list of odd ingredients on the back of it.  “I swear, I thought it was a bit of spare parchment!” insisted George) everyone gathered around the fireplace.

Harry hesitated.  Last time he’d done this, he’d ended up in Knockturn Alley.

“Don’t worry Harry dear,” said Mrs. Weasley, holding Hedwig.  “Just don’t cough this time.”

Harry smiled and grabbed a handful of power.  He threw it into the fire, which turned from red to green.  Stepping in, hugging his trunk, he said as clearly as he could, “Diagon Alley!”

A few moments later he slid from the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron.  A few more moments later he was engulfed by a lot of brown hair and clawed in the back.  He shouted and the brown hair moved back.

“Oh sorry Harry!   Did I hurt you?” said Hermione, Harry and Ron’s other best friend.  She had grown a bit taller, but still shorter than Harry by a couple of inches.  She was tanned, her hair was a lot less bushy than Harry remembered, and, Harry couldn’t help noticing, she was extremely pretty.

“Harry?” 

He realized that he was starring at her with his mouth wide open.  He quickly shut it and stood up. 

“No, of course not.  Crookshanks clawed me in the back.  You’ve raised a killer.”

“Oh, Harry, I have not!” she said, picking up her oversized orange tabby cat.  “How has your summer been?”

Before he could answer Ron shot out of the fireplace; his trunk slid on the floor and knocked Harry down.  Fred, George, Ginny, Ginny’s trunk, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley with a disgruntled Hedwig quickly followed.

“It’s been alright,” Harry told Hermione, brushing soot off of himself, after everyone had detangled and stood up.

“Well that’s good to hear!” beamed Hermione.

“Hey Hermione, how was Spain?” greeted Ron.

“Oh wonderful!  The Spanish Wizards were fascinating.  They-“

“That’s nice, Hermione,” Ron cut her off before it was too late.

“Ok everyone.  I’ll go to Gringotts and meet you all at Fred and George’s…erm…store,” said Mrs. Weasley.

“And I’ll find us all rooms,” said Mr. Weasley.

After everyone had agreed and Mrs. Weasley had left, Harry turned to Ron with a questioning look on his face.

“She’s still a bit…erm, apprehensive about their store.  But Fred and George give us money every so often, so she’s catching onto the idea.”

Harry laughed and they ventured out into the streets of Diagon Alley, Fred and George leading the way with their chests puffed out very proudly.  They stopped before a crowd of people, a lot of them including Hogwarts students, in front of a store called “Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes”.  They pushed themselves through the crowd, and Fred and George unlocked the door.

“Nice turn out today, ‘eh?” said George, looking around at the crowd of people.

Fred smiled as he took down a notice from the window saying that the store was closed until today.

“You know, we put Gambol and Japes next door out of business,” said George proudly to Ron, Harry, and Hermione.

Harry looked around at the store with Ron and Hermione. It had everything they had invented: Skiving Snackboxes (including two new flavors: Spasm Suckers and Twinge Taffies), Extendable Ears, Headless Hats, Canary Creams, and loads more stuff that Harry hadn’t seen yet.  Harry was really impressed, as was Ron.  Hermione had a look of fighting between amazement and trying to be uninterested.

After a while, Mrs. Weasley squeezed in and handed Ron, Harry, and Ginny each a bag of money and hurried them outside (apparently she didn’t want them to buy anything from Fred and George’s store).  Mrs. Weasley told everyone to meet at the Leaky Cauldron after they bought everything, and she left to shop with Ginny.

“Why don’t we all go get our books first,” said Hermione and she led the way to Flourish and Blotts. 

They left ten minutes later, and headed to buy parchment and quills, Hermione struggling to hold all of her books. 

Harry took two of them off her load and asked, “Hermione, what all did you sign up for?”

“Well, I’m taking all the subjects I took last year,” said Hermione, setting down her books to look at quills.

“Are you crazy?  All of them?” said Ron.

“Well I’m not sure what I want to do after school, so I just signed up for everything,” explained Hermione. 

 

They all purchased new parchment, quills, and ink and dropped their packages outside of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor.  After buying three strawberry and peanut-butter ice creams, they sat down outside.  Harry noticed everyone was staring at him, much like when he was first introduced to the wizard world.

Hermione Harry looking around surprised and said, “Harry, haven’t you been getting the Daily Prophet?” 

“No, I just found out about all the attacks,” said Harry

“Well, everyone believes you now.  After everything that has happened, everyone has realized that you were telling the truth all along,” said Hermione.

“Yea mate.  There hasn’t been one article having a go at you in a long time,” added Ron

“That’s good, I guess.  How is about Fudge?”

“You know him.  He has said that he believed you all along; he just didn’t want to ‘worry the public’.  But no one believes him; they all know that he is lying.  And everyone is mad at him for not believing in you and Dumbledore in the first place, even though they themselves were convinced too,” said Hermione.  “But the only way for a new Minister of Magic to be voted in is if the old one has died, is terminally ill, or the public have voted for it.  There isn’t a limit to how long he stays Minister.”

“How do you know all that?” exasperated Ron.

“You would too if you paid attention in History of Magic,” said Hermione, matter-of-factly.

“Oh that explains it,” Ron said.  Harry laughed; Hermione looked irritated. 

Harry decided that the wizarding world believing him was an improvement as they walked back to the Leaky Cauldron, even if all the ogles were annoying.

He laid awake that night listening to Ron’s snores.  He was still grieving over Sirius’ death, but he couldn’t help be happy among the Weasleys.  Plus, no one was calling him a liar, no one pointed and whispered behind his back, and no one doubted that Voldemort was back and his Death Eaters were on the prowl once again.