Chapter 4:

The adults stared at the young man in awe, while Neville was quickly catching up with Harry's line of thought, as the boy truly wasn't stupid, "What's wrong with Quirrel? I met him last year, he seemed normal enough, maybe a bit crazy...is he in the dark faction?"

Dumbledore smiled, and before the adults could protest Dumbledore stopped them, "The boys are very advanced in Occulmency, I think if they have figured this out, it would be safer to bring them into the loop, but not tonight. Before you two go back to Hogwarts I will bring you two into this conversation, however, you will have to promise me that you won't tell anyone."

Harry looked at Dumbledore suspiciously, "Still testing me headmaster?"

The adults all looked incredulously at Harry, the Headmaster merely tipped his pointy hat, "Knight to E6 Mr. Potter, very good."

This gave Harry and Dumbledore a staring contest when he chipped, "Did I pass?"

"Splendidly."

With that, the Headmaster wished everyone a goodnight, while both mentor and pupil wore a satisfied smiles on their faces. Everyone followed the headmaster out except Neville and Ms. Longbottom who were staying at Potter Manor for the night. Lily was the first to chastise her son, "You shouldn't speak to the Headmaster that way Harry."

Said young man shrugged, "Mum you know how he is. He wouldn't have told you all to keep it from me if it wasn't a test. I am surprised you didn't all pick up on it."

James Potter sighed, "You're too young to know the things you know Harry. I have seen how it has affected you, and I don't like how much the headmaster plays with you, as if you are a toy, or worse maybe even a weapon."

Jack and Rosalie were watching the verbal volley, while Harry laughed, "Someone has to keep me on my toes around here. The headmaster has looked after me since I was really small. He understands I need to be challenged, and kept sharp. Jack and Rosalie both have relationships with the headmaster, but you don't ever say anything to them."

James and Lily exchanged looks, and James spoke, "You are much closer to the headmaster than anyone else alive right now."

Lily nodded, "I think you look forward to his visits more than you do for Sirius now, and he used to be your whole world!"

"Mum, Dumbledore is trying to prepare me for the future. I know you guys don't tell me anything. Don't you think it's a sign of maturity that I don't ask? Sometimes I feel I need to know things, like why you are going to Hogwarts next year. You treat me my age, but I think I have earned the right to be treated a little older. I don't break any rules, I always do my chores, and I stay on top of a training regime that most fourth years couldn't handle. I love Sirius to death, but I am trying to make myself the very best I can be, and Dumbledore recognizes that, why can't you guys?" Harry accused with an angry pout.

James and Lily both seemed to age before Harry's eyes. Lily took the other two siblings out of the room, while James took a knee in front of his son with a sad smile on his face, "Sometimes I feel that telling you the prophecy was the worse move I have ever made as a parent. It has changed you, Harry. In the past year you have done nothing, but train. You use your magic like no other young man your age has ever done. You are driven by a sense of duty, and as a Potter, I can respect that, and coming from you I know Grandpa Charlus is looking down and smiling at the bright future our family will have because you are so driven, but Harry you are only eleven years old. The prophecy isn't going to come true any time soon, and while I know you want to be the chosen one everyone needs, you have to remember that no matter what you are still my son, and that I want to do what is best for you."

Harry felt tears bubble in his eyes as his father spoke to him with such affection, "I know dad, but when that day comes, I never want Jack, Rosalie, and Neville to have to be in the middle of me and this prophesy because I was not strong enough. Professor Snape on the first day of our training told me how lazy and weak Potters were because of our arrogance, and after that session was over he never said it to me again."

"He attacked my mind over and over and over again, but I was not going to quit, it was only when mum came in and told him to stop was when he quit. I would've gone until I dropped because that is the way you brought me up. I wish Jack could prove the same thing to Professor Snape because I know Jack can do it too."

"You raised us to never give up, and I won't give up on this prophecy until it is over, and I have won. I may be eleven years old, but this prophecy has made me take responsibility. I recognize my duty because you explained it to a frightened ten-year-old boy. A year later I am only eleven and I am still terrified of that destiny, but I won't show that to Jack, or Neville, because they need to see my example and follow it, just like Dumbledore does for all of you."

Lily Potter was standing at the edge of the kitchen, out of sight, but she heard every word her son had said, and it simply broke her heart, while James embraced his son who was on the edge of tears.

She could hear her husband whisper soothing words into his son's ear, "It's going to be okay Harry. One day you are going to lead us all to a better future. I believe it because I can see your work ethic, I believe it, your mom believes it, and clearly, Dumbledore believes it as well. The headmaster and I may not see eye to eye on everything, but he was right on one thing, son you are destined for great things."

"Your mum and I can are going to do everything to keep you out of this fight, we are going to do everything to make sure if the fight makes it to you that you will decimate your enemies, just like my father did. Never forget that you are a Potter, and Potters don't go down without taking a dozen death eaters with them." James pulled apart from his son looking him in the eye.

"But it will take a thousand death eaters to keep your mum and me out of this. Harry, I know you feel the responsibility for all this, and that is natural you are only eleven for Merlin's sake. Just remember you are never alone. I know you don't want to show your brother and the others your tears, but your mum and I are here no matter what. Do you understand me? No matter the time, no matter the day, no matter our mood, you come to us if you feel it's becoming too much. We may not make it any less, but we will help you get through it, and as your father, and a Potter I give you my word on this."

The father and son embraced again, while Lily came into the kitchen massaging her son's head as he wept into his father's shoulder. It was such an emotional moment to see her son become a young man and to see just what his future would hold for him, and it was nothing short of inspirational to show just how we were going to handle it. The Potters went to bed that night as very proud parents.

Over the next few weeks, James Potter took a very forward role in his son's training. He taught him tricks in dueling and even delved into some very basic wards that Harry excelled in. Harry and Jack had even talked about sneaking the youngest Potter son into the castle some weekend so he could give him the tour, once he himself had established the grounds and everything.

The boy took that enthusiastically, and promised Harry he would practice his dueling technique so that way when they got back together he may throw up a better fight against his brother, whom he wanted more than anything to prove himself to.

The day of shopping at Diagon Ally had finally come, and the ally was of course packed as usual. The day had gone without a hitch until he went to Madame Malkins. Harry and Lily alone strolled into the robe shop, while the others had gone back to the quidditch shop, while the mother and son ordered Harry's size of Hogwarts robes when Mordred's reincarnation walked over to the oldest Potter son, "Potter. It seems that the Dark Lord didn't render you to a squib after all. I wasn't sure if you would get a Hogwarts acceptance letter without magic."

Harry slammed his occulomency shields down on his anger taking control of the situation, "I didn't know they accepted blonde ferrets into Hogwarts, magical or not. Guess we were both wrong."

Draco growled, "Watch yourself, Potter. The Gryffindors won't be able to watch your back all the time, and that one time they aren't I will be there. Just remember a Slytherin is only as cunning as his ambition to get things done."

Sarcastically Harry responded, "And you just have that in spades don't you Drakey?"

For a second Harry thought the boy might go for his wand, but instead, he merely held his chin up at him, when his mum entered the area again, "Come mother, I think I am done dirtying myself in the company of half-bloods, and his less than desirable company."

Lily clamped a hand on her son's shoulder as fast as she could to prevent him from drawing his wand right then and there. She knew he could get away with underage magic at the manor, but here in the alley with witnesses, he could get into some serious trouble. Harry seemed to recognize the move and glared at the future Slytherin.

As the Malfoys had walked out Madame Malkin apologized for her customer's rude behavior, but both Potters waved it off. Harry however was still seething, he had gotten all of his school stuff, and a familiar that was a snowy white hawk he named Hedwig. It was a magnificent creature, that Harry was sure his friend Hagrid would fall in love with.

When Harry made it back to his dad he mentioned what Malfoy had said when they were alone, and he growled, "If you kids weren't so young we could blood feud those bigots, but your mum was right, it's a good thing you kept your cool. Now come on, you should get to bed, the express leaves at eleven tomorrow, but we have to get there early to meet up with the friends and such. Get some rest son."

Harry hugged his dad goodnight, and in passing said the same to his mother, but as he lay in bed that night, he knew big adventures and times were ahead of him in the coming years at Hogwarts, and he couldn't wait for his next big adventure.