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"Maybe you're right." The old wizard stated. "After all, prophecies have a way of coming true no matter what you do once set in motion. And if Fate wanted you the neglected child, it just moulded you into it. Maybe that was what was necessary to put all the events in motion, to make sure all the pieces to the puzzle fell into place uninterrupted, I don't know…"
"What pieces of the puzzle?" Severus asked, getting more and more angry.
"As you heard, you two are not the only ones mentioned in the original prophecy." Merlin explained. "The one who Sees and her sister who is not her sister, the keeper of magic that is old. There are two more people in there and maybe all this was to lead them into the right path too."
"So we already know these two women?" Severus asked. "And we have influenced them somehow?"
"I wouldn't know." Merlin stated. Severus and Harry looked at him in disbelief. "No, I really wouldn't know. It was Morgana who made the prophecy and she bestowed me with the knowledge of what I have told you because I had experienced similar events in my life. Those two women, she said, were her responsibility. And if someone knows how a prophecy should be handled, that would be Morgana. All I can tell you is what she told me; that their paths are now clear and telling you of the prophecy would do nothing to divert them from their way. So maybe the road that led you here was the right one after all." While Harry had no idea what to answer to that, Severus broke out laughing, what started as chuckles ending at a hysterical note. Both Harry and Merlin stared at him from their spots as he laughed and laughed, so hard that tears started forming in his eyes.
"I fail to see how anything I've said was that funny, Severus." Merlin stated, sharing a concerned look with Harry.
"No, it wasn't." Severus agreed, breathing in and trying to control his laughter. "But you said that the paths of everyone mentioned in the prophecy are now set."
"Yes."
"So, no matter what we do they can't be, let's say, derailed?" The potions master asked.
"No, they can not. The prophecy has now been set to motion and, even though the ending is still debatable, the facts that will lead there themselves…" But Severus interrupted him with another bout of carefree laughter.
"Dad?" Harry asked fearing for the worse.
"Don't you see, Harry?" Severus asked, wiping a few errant tears. "You might still hide the fact that you're the Boy Who Lived from the world so that your brother may be trained and so that you keep making your own choices but we don't have to be so secretive any more." Harry just looked him stunned.
"Ah." Merlin exclaimed, chuckling softly. "I'm guessing that what Severus meant to say is you don't have to be that careful anymore; the appearances have been kept for so long, you're not in direct danger to be uncovered as the Boy Who Lived unless you go right out and say so yourself. You can be a little more… lax? Yes, lax with the measures you've taken up to now."
"And with Voldemort coming back and all," Severus began, standing up from his chair and pacing the room "it will be like easing them into the truth. Because Voldemort will find out he made a mistake sooner or later and he will tell the world."
"But that may not happen for years…"
"Or it might happen tomorrow." Severus pressed on, cutting Harry's protest short. "Pettigrew's gone, and you" he added turning to Merlin "said that all the pieces of the original prophecy are falling into place. It can't be that long now." Harry nodded morosely. There was some logic into that statement, that was certain.
"So what are you suggesting?" Harry asked.
"Keep the fact that you're the one who defeated the Dark Lord a secret. Tell the world everything else; you've been hidden away for too long." Severus offered, his eyes burning bright. "If the Dark Lord rises tomorrow, I want you to have lived your life to the fullest before entering the war so, when it's over, you can look back and have no regrets." Harry smiled, feeling his eyes watering.
"You're assuming we'll win." The teenager stated.
"I know we will."
"You know, Arthur once gave me a speech like that." Merlin stated out of the blue. The two younger wizards looked at him wide eyed.
"He did?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Yes." Merlin stated laughing. "I was having a panic attack before facing Maev and he told me he was certain we'd make it through. He was right too and has never let me live it down since we won; the prat brings it up every chance he gets!" Harry wasn't sure what sounded weirder in that statement; Merlin having a panic attack, King Arthur still being alive and apparently a prat, or the great Merlin using the word "prat".
"Well, it will definitely solve your troubles with finding test subjects for the Wolfsbane anonymously." Harry stated giving in. Severus looked at him confused.
"You have me there." Then he smirked wider. "And we'll get to see James and Sirius's faces once they realize you're the creator of the Firebolt." They both started laughing at the mere thought until Merlin interrupted them.
"I fear it's time for me to go." The old wizard stated, looking at the two men in front of him fondly.
"So, should we expect you to pop up in that portrait again?" Severus asked, a smile permanently etched on his face.
"I fear not." Merlin stated. "My work here is done." Harry nodded somewhat sad.
"We did see you twice." He stated. "That's, well, twice the times any witch or wizard alive can claim they have seen you."
"Who said you won't see me again?" Merlin asked, receiving two confused stares as an answer. "It will just take you a long, long time, I hope." He added. "Gentlemen, it has been an honour." And like that, he disappeared from the portrait for good. The two wizards turned to look at each other.
"Now what in the world did he mean with that?" Harry asked.
"You know what, Harry?" Severus asked. "I don't even care right now. We have some planning to do."
"Planning?" The smirk on the potions master face was nothing sort of mischievous.
"We're stepping out of the shadows with a bang kid." Harry figured he liked the sound of that and just smirked back as Severus plotted away.
HI GUYS IF YOU WANT READ 200 + CHAPTERS THEN VISIT
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