Prophecy Child

Lucius led the boy into the dining room again, setting the boy on a chair beside him again, and waiting for his Lord to begin the meal. This time, however, he turned to the child beside him and held up a small glass vial.

‘This is a potion – medicine. You must drink it all before you eat.’ Lucius instructed quietly.

Potter took the vial and hesitantly raised it to his lips, then tipped it up and swallowed down the lot. He made a strange face at the end, as if he could feel the way it affected his stomach. Lucius gave him a small smile, and the boy ducked his head, staring into his lap. Lucius filled both of their plates again, joining in nearby conversations, while keeping half an eye on Potter, sitting stock still and not so much as twitching towards the plate. Lucius turned his head to look at the boy, catching the attention of the Dark Lord, as well as several others around the table. Lucius could hear the child’s stomach growling, the appetite stimulant clearly doing its job. But the boy didn’t move.

 ‘This plate is for you to eat, chi- Harry. You can eat as much as you like. Go on.’ Lucius turned away again, wanting to give the boy some space, but after a few more minutes, the plate was still untouched.

‘Harry. Is there something else you would prefer to eat? Or do you need help to eat your meal?’ Lucius asked quietly, but the noise around the table had dropped, as people began to realise something was amiss.

Potter gave a slight shudder, then pointed at the plate. Lucius waited patiently. The child tapped the side of the plate, then his chest, then waved his hands strangely.

‘I don’t know what you mean, child. Can you say it out loud?’

The boy paled dramatically, stiffening in his chair and eyes darting around the room, lingering on the doorways.

‘Never mind, then,’ said Lucius calmly, even though he was feeling anything but calm internally. ‘Show me again what you mean. Something about the food?’

The child gradually loosened his posture enough to move, again tapping the plate, then his chest, then making a motion with his hands.

‘Washing dishes!’ someone called, making the boy flinch hard. ‘Sorry! Didn’t mean to shout. I think he’s miming washing dishes, though. The muggle way.’

Lucius asked quietly if that’s what Harry meant, and the boy nodded. ‘You want to know who washes the dishes after we eat?’

Potter’s eyebrows furrowed and he shook his head. He mimed washing dishes again, then he made a scrubbing motion over the table.

Various people began calling down the table, offering their suggestion about what the boy might be trying to communicate, but he shook his head each time, frustration growing, until Lucius could see tears glimmering in the child’s eyes.

‘Enough, everyone. Return to your meals, give the child some space.’

After a minute, in which everyone’s eyes finally left the poor child, Severus leaned across the table towards the boy. ‘Potter.’ He said, quietly. When that got no response, he tried again, a little louder. ‘Potter.’

Still nothing. ‘Potter!’ he said, more insistently. Lucius gave the boy a gentle nudge, nodding his head towards Severus.

Severus was giving the child a strange look. ‘Potter. While you are here, you do not have to earn your meals. The Dark Lord has enough elves to do chores, and enough money to feed you freely. Eat what is on your plate.’

The boy stared at Severus dubiously, then flicked his eyes to the Dark Lord, then Lucius, asking a silent question. Both men tried and failed to school their expressions. Potter cowered back from their angry expressions, before they both tried to smooth their faces.

‘They are not angry at you. They are angry at your previous guardians who did not look after you properly. I can hear your stomach growling from here, boy. Eat what is on your plate. Severus said, stern and blunt.

Potter gave a slight nod, then hesitantly lifted a hand towards his plate. When nobody reacted, he picked up a piece of potato and shoved it in his mouth. Lucius looked away, ignoring the child’s lack of manners in using his fingers. Everyone else followed his lead, ignoring the child, whose eyes darted around fearfully, even as he grabbed more food and shoved it in his mouth.

‘Nobody will take your plate until you are finished. Eat more slowly or you will choke.’ Severus reprimanded, and the boy flinched, then flushed, then carefully chewed his over-large mouthful and swallowed it down. He subtly dragged his plate closer to himself, hunching over it – as much as he could, considering how short he was and how tall the table. He still ate too quickly to be considered close to polite, but at least he wouldn’t choke. Probably.

***

‘Severus, head to my study. I will meet you there shortly.’

Severus nodded briskly at his Lord’s command as he left the table.

Tom stood and headed towards the downstairs guest quarters, where his younger followers tended to stay. He strode down a long hallway, stopping at a particular door. He rapped twice sharply, then opened it when a voice called out, ‘come in!’

Carrick Montgomery hastily scrambled from where he had been slumped in an armchair reading a book. The sight of his Lord in his quarters had taken him by surprise. ‘My Lord! What can I do for you?’ he asked, eager if not confused.

‘Come up to my study, Carrick. There is something we must discuss.’

Carrick’s heart raced as he followed his Lord up several flights of stairs. What could this be about? Perhaps his reward for bringing Harry Potter? Or maybe he was in trouble – he still couldn’t get the hang of some of the spells they were supposed to be learning – oh Merlin, was he going to be kicked from the Death Eaters ranks?! He didn’t have anywhere else to go!

When they finally reached the Dark Lord’s office, Carrick was confused to find others there, waiting for them. He hesitantly sat when the Dark Lord gestured to a seat, eyes roving the room and realising that he was surrounded by some of the Dark Lord’s top men. Snape, Malfoy, Crouch.

Carrick gulped.

‘How is your grandmother, Carrick? I didn’t ask when you returned earlier – granted our new guest was somewhat distracting. Is she well?’

Carrick nodded dumbly. ‘Er, yes, my Lord, she’s well. Or, er, well enough. She’s moving into a care home, can’t stay by herself anymore. I won’t be able to visit her again, or else my parents- ‘ he broke off, swallowing.

The Dark Lord hummed. ‘You know I will defend my own, Carrick. You are under my protection, and therefore under the protection of my other followers. I will not let such a thing happen to you again.’

Carrick nodded, dragging in a rough breath. ‘Yes, my Lord – and thank you.’

‘I wish to ask you a little more about Harry Potter, when you found him. You said he was playing in the garden?’

Carrick frowned. ‘Not playing, my Lord. In the garden, yes, but definitely not playing. He was pulling weeds. It was awfully hot in Surrey, my Lord, and he looked like he’d been out in the sun for hours already. He was sweaty and sunburnt and dirty. I asked why he didn’t go inside for a drink, but he looked afraid. I asked if it was safe inside, and he shook his head. That’s when the wards started pulling at me, my Lord. That’s when I decided I was going to take him away from there.’

‘You brought him here. You know he is the Prophecy Child?’ the Dark Lord asked slowly.

Carrick winced. ‘Yes, my Lord. I know what he is. But I also know he’s a little kid, and he wasn’t safe there. I would have brought him to you regardless of who he was. You saved me, my Lord. I thought you could save him too. I don’t know what the prophecy says, and if you say he has to – to die… well, I don’t know much about that sort of thing. But I know you would at least treat him better than those other people. You’d at least give him a kind death.’

The men all stared at Carrick with various expressions, considering him in a new light.

‘My Lord,’ began Lucius quietly. ‘Perhaps they also ought to hear… what you told me earlier?’

Tom cast his eye over the room. Barty was of course trustworthy. Severus had proven himself – and in fact was the one to bring the prophecy to Tom’s attention, even if he hadn’t heard the actual content of the prophecy. And Carrick – he was still young, and had much to learn. But Tom knew the young man was loyal. Difficult not to be loyal to the person that had taken him away from that dreadful situation, and given him a new home, a new purpose and sense of belonging.

‘Very well. Carrick, how is your Occlumency coming along?’ Tom asked.

‘Well, my Lord. I think my mind was eager for something to help… control the memories, and so it latched onto Occlumency quickly. Some of the other things we’re learning are… taking longer. I’m sorry, my Lord.’

‘No need for that, Carrick. I am pleased to hear the Occlumency is going well. One cannot excel in every field, some things take longer to master. If I share sensitive information with you, do you feel you could protect it? No shame in saying no, I would rather wait if you are not yet prepared.’

‘I can protect it, my Lord.’ Carrick said firmly.

Tom gave him a nod, then paused, letting the silence stretch. ‘Lucius has given me much to think about, and I have come to agree with him. You all know a prophecy was made, which is reportedly about myself and Harry Potter. If you are all willing to hear it, I will share it now.’

Tom let his heavy gaze travel over the men, who all sharpened their focus intently on him.

‘One with the power to destroy the Enemy approaches. Born to those who have thrice betrayed, born as the seventh month dies. He will have a gift the Enemy knows not, marked by the hand of Death. Neither can be free while the other survives.’

Silence reigned for a minute, then Barty spoke up. ‘It was only repeated once, my Lord?’

At Tom’s blank expression, Barty continued. ‘A prophecy should be repeated three times, if it is a certainty. There are different types of prophecy, my Lord. A prophecy only repeated once is a very broad one, which may or may not come true, either partially or entirely.’

‘How do you know if it will or will not come true, in that case?’ asked Carrick.

Barty shrugged. ‘You don’t. It’s a prophecy. They are notoriously unreliable and fickle.’

Tom sat back in his chair, causing Barty to wince. ‘I’m sorry, my Lord, I did not mean-‘

Tom waved his hand. ‘It’s alright, Barty. I learned that Dumbledore was taking it seriously, so I assumed it must be more important that it might actually be. But that also seems like the sort of manipulative game-playing that he would engage in, in order to try and lead me where he desires.’

‘If I may, my Lord, what evidence is there that the prophecy relates to you and Harry Potter?’ asked Severus.

‘You brought me the prophecy, Severus. What do you make of it?’

Severus was quiet for a while. ‘Born as the seventh month dies. Potter fits that description.  Born to those who have thrice betrayed. How does that fit?’

‘Leaving him in that house is a betrayal,’ grumbled Carrick. ‘Leaving a defenceless child to the mercy of those beasts.’

‘Perhaps the wards, too. Leaving him vulnerable to attack behind useless wards?’

Lucius sat up quickly. ‘Sirius Black. He is in Azkaban, but never received trial. They must know he is innocent, but they have left him there to rot.’

‘What are you talking about?’ growled Severus. ‘Black is no innocent victim, I assure you!’

‘He was set up. That riot in Hogsmeade? Those Light side idiots suspected him of using Dark magic, so they sent spies in to bait Black into casting Dark magic, then pounced on him and arrested him. Only a friend of mine was there, watching, and she told me the Dark spell he used was the counter-curse to some other Dark spell that hit a bystander. We all know many Dark curses can only be countered by their Dark counter-curse – Black knows that too. Regardless of what any of us may think about him as a person, he was raised a Black. He knows easily as much Dark magic as any of us. Maybe more.’

Tom pondered this quietly, watching Severus as the man grudgingly acquiesced. ‘Two betrayals, then. What might the third be?’

The men sat in silence, thinking hard.

‘Maybe it hasn’t come to pass yet? Or maybe it’s just something we don’t know about. Prophecies come from Lady Magic, she isn’t limited in knowledge or perspective like we are. Or maybe the prophecy just isn’t about Harry Potter.’ Barty shrugged. ‘We can’t know until it has all come to pass – or it hasn’t come to pass.’

Tom sighed heavily. He was begrudgingly glad to have brought others into his confidence in this matter – he certainly hadn’t taken the time to pick it all apart like they were doing now. He had taken it at face value, because he thought that’s what Dumbledore had done.

‘My Lord,’ Carrick began hesitantly. ‘The prophecy says Enemy. It doesn’t say Dark Lord, or anything more specific. If, like Barty says, the prophecy is open to interpretation, then maybe…’ Carrick paused, glancing nervously up at his Lord, who nodded at him to continue. ‘Maybe you don’t have to be Harry’s enemy. If the prophecy is even talking about Harry’s enemy, not someone else’s enemy. It’s pretty vague, I suppose. But if it means Harry’s enemy, and you are not his enemy…’

Tom gave Carrick a slow smile. ‘If I can win Harry to my side, and convince him that Dumbledore is the enemy…’

Several shark-like smiles spread around the room. ‘An interesting proposition. The boy is young, potentially has no contact with his family, if they allowed him to be treated in such a way. Presumably has not met Dumbledore. He likely has no reason to miss his guardians, beasts that they were. Is no doubt itching for a new family… Yes, I believe this is at least worthy of an attempt. You have a sharp mind, Carrick. Keep this up and soon I’ll be in your debt,’ chuckled Tom.

Carrick flushed a dark red, trying to stifle a beaming smile at the praise. ‘Thank you, my Lord, but my debt is far from paid.’

‘Let us not dwell on such things right now. Lucius, you have a son. Tell me, what might I bring the boy to begin wooing him to my side?’

***

Severus stopped the Dark Lord just before he left the study. The others were leaving too, but Severus held back. ‘My Lord, might I speak with you a moment?’

Tom nodded, turning to face him.

‘My Lord, Lucius gave you suggestions that would appeal to a normal wixen child. Harry Potter is not a normal wixen child. Did you hear me trying to speak to him at dinner?’

‘Yes. You were rather blunt.’ Tom said drily.

Severus shook his head. ‘Right at the start. I said his name three times, but he only looked at me when Lucius nudged him. My Lord, that child does not know his own name. Lucius’ gift ideas might be suitable later on, but not yet. The boy is not ready for toys and games. He needs very basic things, things he has not had so far in his life. Choices, safety, things like that. Toys will not win this boy over, my Lord.’

Tom eyed Severus. ‘Severus… I am sorry that you know these things. But I am glad for the help you offer me. You are right, I shall have to consider what might be an appropriate gift for right now.’ Tom laid a hand on Severus’ shoulder, nodded briskly, and then dropped his hand, watching thoughtfully as Severus left.