Harry Potter: Another Chance

Chapter 180: Fate, Time and Hallows

Disclaimer:

Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I create.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

Chapter 180: Fate, Time and Hallows

"Fate?" He was not expecting to be asked about that topic.

"You mean like divinators and their prophecies?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"I'm not sure if I ever believed in them," Harry told him.

"Even though you were the subject of a prophecy yourself?" Dumbledore asked. He knew at least that much about his past as the Boy Who Lived.

"I always considered that a self-fulfilling one. It only worked because you and Voldemort believed in it so much… you let those words influence you and manipulate you…that's what I believe, at least."

"Many think the same way as you do, Harry… prophecies have always been a controversial topic. But I can assure you that divinators who possess the gift can truly glimpse into the future. I have seen it many times," Dumbledore promised him.

Harry shrugged. He also had this conversation many times, but it didn't change his opinion. "Why are we even talking about this?...what happened?"

Dumbledore sighed. The old man looked tired enough to collapse at any minute.

"During the end of the summer, I heard from the lips of many diviners…they have all become unable to glimpse into the future any longer. It's like they all lost their gift at the same time."

"All of them?...that's…"

"And it's not just that. The other day, I received a call from the Minister…something had happened at the Hall of Prophecies."

Harry flinched at hearing the name. That place brought back many unpleasant memories for him. This was one of his worst failures...when he let himself be lured into a trap that cost Sirius his life.

"What happened to the prophecies?" Harry asked.

"The crystal orbs have all gone clear…meaning that all the prophecies contained in them had just…vanished. Professor Trelawney said there was no more Fate."

Dumbledore appeared to have a hard time saying that.

"No more prophecies…" He never cared for them, but other people did. "Wait so…the Boy Who Lived prophecy?..."

Dumbledore shook his head. "It doesn't matter anymore… Neville is no longer tied by those words."

"Does the public know about this?" Harry asked.

"No…someone leaked bits of information to the Prophet but they didn't have any specifics. We told the public a story about a small accident occurring in the Department of Mysteries but that everything was under control. They know nothing about the prophecies being gone."

"Then we can expect that Voldemort will continue to aim for Neville."

Harry noticed the expression on Dumbledore's face change.

"Even if the truth is released, that won't change his mind. Voldemort will still want Neville dead. He won't take any risks, no matter how small those risks are. He is an extremely cautious man."

"Mmm…you are right, of course. He is that type of person."

"Is this what got you so obsessed?" Harry pointed at the pile of open books in the back.

"Yes…I'll admit it. I have been trying to find some answers to why this is happening. But no luck so far. It's like…this is the first time something like this has happened…in thousands of years of magical history."

"It's possible. I mean, there always has to be a first time for everything," Harry told him.

"I suppose… but people expect me to have all the answers… and I don't have them this time," Dumbledore lamented.

"Mmm…there is a chance this is also related to that other matter…" Harry suggested.

"The one at the chamber? If that is the case, we may have some answers soon."

"Oh?, did you find anything?"

"Not me, but my mentor promised to put me in contact with one of the greatest experts in time-related magic. I will make an appointment for that expert to visit Hogwarts as soon as is possible."

Harry nodded. "Let me know when that happens. I want to be present."

"Of course. I will." The Headmaster glanced at the mechanical clock on the wall.

"My apologies, it seems like I made you miss your curfew. I will write you a note in case the professors complain."

"Before I leave, there was something I wanted to request from you, Professor."

"A request?...what is it?" Dumbledore asked with curiosity.

"Can I borrow your old wand? You know the one I mean, the one you got from Grindelwald."

Dumbledore's eyes opened widely for a single moment before they went back to normal.

"I shouldn't be surprised you know about that…"

"No, you shouldn't," Harry agreed.

"That wand won't be of any use to you, I'm afraid."

"I already presumed it wasn't working, otherwise you would have been using it last year," Harry said.

"You know that too…" Dumbledore made a pause and then he appeared to remember something.

"The cloak! You…" He just recalled that the Potters had the cloak of invisibility in their possession.

"Yes, my father gave it to me. And as you were suspecting just now… it also stopped working last year."

"The Hallows lost their power?… I had assumed the wand had merely stopped answering to me for some reason. Why didn't you mention this earlier?" Dumbledore questioned.

"A lot of things happened last year!" Harry said in his defense.

"And besides, there was someone who I wanted to speak with first. Someone who had spent a large portion of his life researching the Hallows and knew more about them than you or I."

"And what did this expert tell you?"

"Not much for now, but he assured me that the power from the Hallows cannot just disappear so if it's not contained in these objects anymore, then it must have gone somewhere else."

"What about the stone?!" Dumbledore raised his tone. That was the Hallow he had the most interest in but could never get his hands on.

"Do you know where it is?"

"I know where it was in my time…"

"Where? Tell me? I must find it!" Dumbledore was almost shouting.

"Calm down, Professor. Use your head…if the wand and the cloak are powerless now…"

Dumbledore regained his wits. "My apologies for that poor display, Harry…"

"It's fine…I tell you what, I was planning on visiting that place sooner or later, why don't I take you there?" Harry suggested.

"Right now?"

"This weekend. Right now you need some rest. You won't be of much use as you are right now." Harry offered.