Harry Potter - The Prophecy Fulfillment

Chapter 1: Birthday Guests

It was July 31st and Harry was starting to stretch. When it finally clicked, he was wide awake. He was 17, of legal age in the wizarding world, but that would also mean his protection will lose its effect tonight. So he had no reason to stay here any longer.
But before he could make a right decision, the doorbell rang.
Uncle Vernon opened the door with a rather harsh "YES ?!" Harry took a breath when he recognized Hermione's voice. "Hello, my name is Hermione Granger and this is Ronald Weasley. We'd like to speak to Harry." Hermione spoke as if this wasn't anything special.
Harry waited for his uncle to have a fit of rage, but that didn't materialize. Vernon let her in and called Harry that he had a visitor.
Harry was flabbergasted, but when he got to the hallway, Hermione and Ron were putting their wands away.
Hermione immediately pulled him into a hug and kissed him on the cheek, Ron stepped over with a smile and gave Harry a hug too."I'll spare you the kiss! Happy birthday!" Said Ron, grinning. Hermione glared at him, but turned to Harry. "How are you?" She asked gently.
"I'm fine so far," Harry lied, leading her into the living room. But Hermione was not deterred "Harry don't lie to us! You and Dumbledore had a special friendship to each other and none of us can understand that, but we miss him terribly and you don't need to play the strong man in front of us!"
As always, Hermione was right, Harry missed Dumbledore very much and it pains him very much to think about him. And he thought about Dumbledore a lot after the funeral and everything that happened that night and why Snape ... / No! /, Harry shook his head vigorously and looked into two very worried faces. "You're right Hermione, I miss him a lot and I'm still processing everything that happened that evening. But, it's okay, don't worry," Harry tried to smile.He had told Hermione and Ron what happened before they stepped through the gate to the Muggle world and this time he hadn't left anything out. Even if he didn't really want to do it to them, but they had to know what to expect if they wanted to go with him.
Yes, he had thought carefully about Ron and Hermione wanting to go with them and he has come to believe that it can't hurt if they helped him find the Horcruxes. But he had to face Voldemort alone. It was his fate.

Hermione snuggled up to Ron while Harry was deep in thought. The two eyed Harry however left him with his thoughts.
When Harry found his way back to reality, he had to grin at the sight of his best friends. "You finally got it baked, yes ?!"
Ron and Hermione just grinned and blushed slightly!

"Listen Harry, Dad said you could take your Apperieren exam today.I had to do mine, Hermione and Mum insisted. "said Ron, covering his eyes with Harry and smiling very amorably at his girlfriend," Oh and on September 1st it's back to Hogwarts!
Harry, who was standing just now, had to sit down first. "How can that be? I was thinking now that Dumbledore ... I mean ..." Harry couldn't utter another word. He had firmly believed that the school would be closed and that the parents wanted their children with them.
"Well, the school boards are of the opinion that a good education is the most important thing, especially in times like this. Otherwise there would soon be no more magicians.", Hermione said to clarify the most important things.
"The parents agree and the Ministry and McGonagall are going to put loads of spells on the school. It will probably be safer than anywhere else and Scrimgeour said now that Dumbledore ... well you know ... the school is no longer a threat to Voldemort there.That idiot! "When Ron finished speaking he clenched his hands.
Harry hadn't really listened anymore after hearing how Scrimgeour could talk about Dumbledore in such a derogatory manner and that's why he also missed Ron calling Voldemort by name. How can this would - be minister be so imaginative ?!
"The Scrimgeour is really an idiot. Voldemort will still want to take Hogwarts only it is no longer his ultimate goal!" Harry was upset and he had trouble controlling his voice.
"Harry?", Hermin spoke to him timidly, "we well ... we were hoping you would come back too?"
"I'm supposed to what? Are you crazy?" Harry was shocked. Didn't he just say two months ago that even if the school opens he won't come back ?! But somewhere deep inside a voice told him to go back with him, but he can't explain what that should bring.
Hermione pulled him out of his mind again when she started talking."Harry understand, we'll really learn to defend ourselves and we could become Aurors. That would be the best starting point to finish off Voldemort. And- ...", but Hermione got stuck because an owl just flew in and everyone looked like spellbound on this owl, which flew straight to Harry. You knew this owl but that can't be ... it's impossible!
The owl dropped a letter at Harry's feet and disappeared again. Harry took the letter and started reading it.
'Dear Harry,
I know it's funny why I should write to you. If only because I tried to kill Dumbledore 2 months ago. I know you stood by the door under your invisibility cloak the whole time. I suppose Dumbledore had bewitched you and because of that he couldn't defend himself, could he?
I don't want to blame you either, after all, you didn't let the Death Eaters in and Greyback.
I didn't mean to kill Dumbledore, and neither would I!I'm so sorry for everything and you know why I did it. I don't want you to forgive me either.
I beg you to forgive Snape. Yes Harry Snape !!!
He may have killed Dumbledore, but it was arranged in some way. I don't know anymore, because Snape thinks it's wrong if I know too much, but Snape plans to contact you soon. He will explain it to you himself.
Harry please listen to Snape and forget that you hate each other like the plague.
He deeply regrets what he has done. Believe me, I know, I've often heard him speak in my sleep.
Draco Malfoy

PS: The dark lord doesn't care whether the Death Eaters kill you or he does it himself. He just said the main thing is that you are dead! ´

Harry swallowed and shivered. He handed the letter to Hermione, who read it through with Ron. After they finished, they didn't look much better than Harry felt. Hermione had to fight back tears and Ron just looked at the letter in disbelief.But Ron was the first to find his voice again. "What did he mean Voldemort doesn't care who kills you?"
"Snape ordered the others to let me live, he said Voldemort wants to kill me personally." Harry said, "Wait a minute ... since when have you been calling Voldemort by name?"
Ron just shrugged, but grinned and looked at Hermione.
"Does that mean Snape was protecting you? And it should have been agreed?" Hermione said softly, frowning.
Harry thought for a moment, that somehow didn't go together. But then something occurred to him again. "Dumbledore pleaded with Snape before killing him. I don't know if he pleaded for his life or to put an end to his agony. The potion got him pretty bad after all."
"Dumbledore is not begging for his life!" Said Hermione sharply.
"Right, but I'm afraid we won't get much further at the moment. What is more important first, what are you going to do if Snape wants to contact you?"asked Ron, looking straight into Harry's green eyes. Ron noticed how empty they had become. He had already noticed that they were less radiant after Sirius' death, but now? Hope seemed almost to be extinguished."
So, the three of them first thought about it. Harry thought about Snape. He hated him and now he's killed Dumbledore and yet the letter from Draco was a start and he wanted to know more.
"I don't know yet what I'll do when Snape contacts me," said Harry, rousing the other two from their thoughts.
"But what if it's a trap?" Hermione said this very quietly and fearfully.
Harry just shrugged and changed the subject.
"Tell me McGonagall is now the headmistress, who is doing the transformation and especially who is doing Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
Hermione had to smile now. "Well, Tonks is transforming since she's one of the Aurors guarding the school anyway.And Lupine will teach Defense Against the Dark Arts! "
Harry dropped his jaw, "You don't mean it ?! What if Slughorn can't get that werewolf-ban potion? Lupine himself said Snape is one of the few who can manage this potion!" Harry was horrified and shocked. It's not that he doesn't like Lupine, but he still remembers how Lupine almost bit him when he was in third grade.
Hermione giggled. "Since he's been with Tonks, he's been tame after his transformation. Like an overgrown dog!"
Harry laughed at the idea.

After he calmed down, Ron helped him pack while Hermione talked to Harry's aunt. When Harry said goodbye, his aunt was the only one of the three who took it seriously. She knew from Hermione that Harry will probably not come back and somewhere she could be happy and yet she hugged him goodbye and he should get in touch.He could send her a letter even if it were with Hedwig.
Harry was a bit perplexed, but Dudley and Uncle Vernon didn't quite know what to make of it either. Harry assured her that he will definitely write to her and he tries to send the letter by Muggle mail.
Then he went to Ron and Hermione. He performed a side-by-side apperation on the Burrow with Ron.

*****
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