"Yes, Harry. It is a Prophecy that is behind the fate between you and me."
"A Prophecy," Harry repeated the words that Voldemort had just said.
How come there was a Prophecy about him, and Harry had no idea of its existence. And if it really existed, what kind of Prophecy?
Now, with all this information that Voldemort has dumped onto him, Harry was sure about one thing. Dumbledore must have been behind the prophecy.
Voldemort then began unveiling the truth behind it. "Severus Snape, my loyal Death Eater, was at the Hog's Head Inn. Aberforth is the owner of that Inn. While there, Snape saw Dumbledore talking to Sybill Trelawney. I'm sure you know this woman."
Harry had no time to ponder the fact that Severus Snape was, in fact, a Death Eater. That was going to be for another time. Right now, it was about Sybill Trelawney.
Of course, Harry knew her.
She was the professor of Divination, and during last year's class, Harry had a disagreeable moment with her. In that class, they were studying the art of Tessomancy. Professor Sybill took Harry's teacup and studied the tea. To her shock, she revealed that it represented the Grim, which was an omen of death. Harry had heard that she had made some predictions in the past that came true. But Professor McGonagall also revealed some instances where they did not happen.
"That day, Severus heard a prophecy that the woman was telling Albus Dumbledore. It began like this." Voldemort talked, maintaining his cold tone.
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Harry held his breath as Voldemort said the Prophecy. He began analyzing what Voldemort had said and realized that the last part, 'born as the seventh month dies', matched his birthday, the 31 July.
Harry's attention to solving the Prophecy was broken when Voldemort began speaking again, "But that is not the full Prophecy. My servant was found out by Aberforth eavesdropping and was thrown out of the Inn. He was not able to listen to the complete Prophecy."
"Oh," Harry thought. It was not the full Prophecy. There was more. Then his attention went back to the sound of Voldemort's voice.
"But still as loyal as he was, he came to me and informed me about it. At that time, I began searching for the answer. I found out that only two families had sought to stop me three times. The Longbottom family and the Potter family. Both were part of the Order of Phoenix, and both had a child born at the end of the seventh month. You, Harry Potter, and the boy Neville Longbottom. From my conclusion, I deduced that the Prophecy was talking about you and decided to kill you before you could rise against me. At that time, how would I have known that it was the manipulation of Dumbledore?" Voldemort's face became sad as if he did not know then what was really happening.
For the first time in his entire life, Harry has finally learned the true reason why Voldemort wanted him dead. All because of that manipulator, Dumbledore. Deep inside, Harry felt a spark of sadness for Voldemort.
"But as always, there is a twist. The very servant who informed me about the Prophecy asked me not to harm your mother, Lily Potter. From the action of Severus Snape, I believe he was in love with your mother. As I was happy with Snape at that time, I promised him not to harm your mother. And I'm someone who is true to my word. But that day, when you were finally within the reach of my wand to kill you, your mother jumped in between us, saving your life. How unfortunate that because of the manipulation of that old man, you became an orphan. Was I not enough for him to manipulate that he even targeted your parents and a small, innocent child like you?" Voldemort uttered in a tone laced with anguish.
Harry was left stunned, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.
He did not know when, but tears formed in Harry's eyes. He felt so much pain as he remembered his parents, especially his mother.
If only Dumbledore had not used her, she would still be here. How could he have done that? Harry had so much respect for Albus, yet behind the scenes, he had used his mother for his own agenda.
"Why?" Harry's voice broke as he cried out against Dumbledore, the mentor he had trusted for so long. "Why did he do that to my parents? To me?"
Voldemort, seeing the pain in the eyes of the young wizard, extended a hesitant hand, a gesture of comfort. In that moment of pure sadness, Harry, driven by the overwhelming emotions, leaned into Voldemort's touch, accepting the support he had never imagined from his greatest enemy.
The Dark Lord pulled Harry into an embrace.
This was a moment never seen before. Voldemort, the Dark Lord, was consoling someone.
Harry, in the arms of the very person he had fought against for years, found solace in the shared pain.
Harry could no longer hold it and burst into tears.
Voldemort, maintaining the embrace, whispered words of understanding, "Dumbledore's manipulations are unforgivable, Harry. The pain he has caused you, the lives he has toyed with, are his sins to bear. First, it was Grindelwald, then me, and now you as the third pawn."
As the moments passed, Harry felt that he was now understanding why Voldemort had done everything. They shared so much.
In the midst of Harry's cries, Voldemort revealed a secret smile, unseen by the broken boy in his arms. It was a smile of satisfaction, a moment of subtle triumph. The revelation of Dumbledore's manipulations had opened a door, one that Voldemort intended to exploit.
"You will become my greatest pawn, Harry."