Dumbledore was mildly surprised when Harry merely nodded as though the Headmaster had merely confirmed something the boy already knew. In his unease at Harry's stoic acceptance of hearing of the prophecy, Dumbledore revealed a bit more.
"Harry, everything in the prophecy that identified the focus points to you. You, Harry James Potter, are the only one with the power to stop him and eventually your destinies will collide. If you decide to leave and pursue your education elsewhere it may delay it for a while but it will happen. But it will result in many more deaths here in Britain."
Harry nodded at the Headmaster's words. Albus could see the boy considering his role. Then Harry said, "Of course, maybe I am supposed to leave to get training; maybe work with the Packs. Then fight Tom. Staying here untrained might give Tom the edge and cause him to win. Tricky things prophecies. I've been reading a bit about them the last few days." Harry paused and sipped his water. Then he looked at Albus with a small wry grin.
"I guess the silver lining is I don't have to worry about sleeping with my Mum." The comment shocked the old wizard. Harry had known about the prophecy! How?
Harry stood up. "I will contact Sirius tomorrow and have him come. I want to see your memory of the prophecy but I want him here." Harry paused. "Remus too. He is my Second."
"That would be acceptable," Albus said. "I would suggest keeping this information just between us. The fewer people that know, the better." Harry shrugged.
"I will tell my friends and family. They need to know so they can make informed decisions. I trust them. Besides, Tom knew enough to target me and I doubt Neville's family was attacked two days later by accident.
"Good evening, headmaster." Then Harry was gone.
Albus sat looking at the door in shock for some time after it closed.
....
Harry passed two patrolling Aurors but neither made a move to confront the Fifth year. They merely nodded acknowledgement and kept walking. In Harry's eyes that was a huge improvement.
Heading back to the room he still thought of as the holodeck, Harry was going through an intersection when he heard someone called his name.
"Hello, Harry Potter."
Harry turned towards the sound of the voice. Perched on a pedestal that normally hosted the bust of an ancient wizard was the figure of a young woman. A pair of torches mounted on the wall on either side of her burst into a soft white light; not fire but a magical light. With the additional light, what Harry saw one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen. With Kalina, Padma, and Fleur in his life, that was saying something. She wore a simple but elegant dress that looked like black silk that came to mid-thigh and left her arms bare. Her limbs looked supple and strong but were pale. Her hair was long and dark but had highlights of a light purple. Her facial features were elegant and expressive. But there was an odd cast to them that said this person was not wholly human. Her position on the pedestal managed to be demure and provocative at the same time. Even with the Beast and his occlumency, Harry felt a pull of attraction that beat the Veela attraction.
"And who are you?" Harry asked.
The woman smiled. "You mortals are far too free with your names. But you may call me Lea." The voice was clear and beautiful but also cold.
"Short for Leanan Sidhe, maybe?" The woman laughed.
"Yes, so I've been called. I wanted to meet you after you ruined my little game tonight," Leanan Sidhe admitted. "I have not yet ascertained how you learnt of my arrival in your little school but I heard the talk of it. No matter, the test will go on. But since you knew, I couldn't resist. I so wanted to meet you, Harry James Potter."
Harry shuddered at the Unseelie Fae's use of his full legal name. He hadn't given it to her but it was enough for her to convey some of her power. Fortunately, it was not also his full magical name.
"What test?" Harry asked.
"Why our test of you, dear boy. Thomas Marvolo Riddle let lose the power to rip open the boundaries between our world and this one. So long since I've walked this ground - so ripe, so innocent. But we watched that fight in the graveyard. Two champions battling; blood and bodies…" The Fae shivered in a blatantly sexual fashion at the talk of the fight Harry barely survived.
"My Queen ordered an investigation of this time," Leanan Sidhe continued. "The Dark Champion was gone too quickly, but you, we were able to follow. And such a wonderful place you brought me to! Such rich hunting ground!" The voice was still cold but now is was also cruelly anticipating pain and death.
"Hello, cousin," a new voice said. "Hello Furry Potter." Without losing sight of Leanan Sidhe, Harry turned to see Luna approach.
"Halfling," Leanan Sidhe hissed at the sight of the 4th Year Ravenclaw.
"Luna?" Harry asked with a whole bunch of questions in one word.
"I saw Harry playing with your servants so I knew you would be around somewhere. Plus the humdingers stopped their singing. I missed it. Will you go away so they start again?"
"Harry Potter must play out the game," Leanan Sidhe answered in a glacial tone. "The Queens have ordered it."
"Oh, I must send Paula a copy of the next Quibbler. She'll enjoy it." Luna commented absently. Leanan Sidhe's face took on a darker cast. But then she turned to Harry and smiled.
"We shall have to continue this conversation later, Harry James Potter, when we are not interrupted. But for now, the game continues." And then she was just gone and the magical lights faded out.
'What is it with me and weird, beautiful women dropping in to chat?' Harry wondered as he turned to his spacey friend.
"Luna?" he asked again.
"Oh, hi Harry," Luna said. "I see you met my cousin. Be careful with her. That bitch is crazy. Bye-bye!" Then she was gone skipping down the dark corridor.
Harry could only watch and wonder when he'd fallen down the rabbit hole.