Harry Potter and the Occidental Ranger

Chapter Four A Prophecy Revealed


The next thing they knew they were once again in Professor Dumbledore’s office. Professor McGonagall walked directly over to a chair and collapsed. Harry suddenly jumped with a start, patting at his robe.

“My wand!” he exclaimed. “Umbridge has our wands!”

“Here you are, Harry, Hermione,” Austin said, reaching into his roo wio withdraw the wands. “Forgive me, it’s been a rather busy day.”

All around, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Harry and Hermione shared a hell of a laugh at that understatement.

“You can say that again,” Professor Dumbledore gleefully added. “You’ve given this old wizard quite a shock but a very pleasant one, I must add. Tell me, Austin, how long have you bherehere amongst us? And what do you know that we don’t?”

“That’s a tall order, Professor, as we say across the pond,” Austin smiled and walked over to Professor McGonagall, where he stopped to pat the tired old witch lightly and affectionately on her shoulder. After she looked up at him and gave him a grateful nod of thanks, he turned back to look at the old wizard. “The very day you spoke with Martin and apprised him of the grave peril we were all in; that’s the very day I was sent here. Since then, I’ve monitored the comings, goings and conversations of magic folk over a fairly broad area.”

Austin walked over and sat down next to Harry. “Now, you asked me what I know that you don’t. First, from what I gathered from your conversations with Professor McGonagall, you have rightly deduced over ninety-five percent of what Tom Riddle’s plans are. Honestly, I was somewhat surprised once I found out just how many evil underlings are so loyal to him. This includes associates who had killed for him in the past and are, even now, ready to die for him.

The ranger hesitated a few moments, looking back up into the eyes of the old headmaster before continuing. “And die they will. From this day forward, I will go about that grisly task, choosing the timd thd the place, until all are destroyed or incarcerated. The only exception will be those instances where Riddle or his evil underlings pose a clear and present danger. Those I will take on as they happen. And they will most probably happen.”

“Are there others of your Order about?” McGall all asked.

“No, ma’am. One riot, one ranger. That’s the way it’s always been,” Austin replied. Everyone was clearly astonished by that revelation.

“And how may we be of assistance?” Dumbledore asked.

“Actually Professor, my initial plans have been unexpectedly altered. Before I cnue,nue, I’ll need to regroup and rethink my strategy. You see, Riddle had fully expected Harry to rush off to the Ministry of Magic this very evening. Harry has been having troubling dreams, you see, about something he must find within the Department of Mysteries. The dreams have been induced by Tom Riddle, as he is unable to complete the mission himself,” Austin turned around to face Harry.

“You see, Harry, Tom Riddle is after a prophecy, which happens to be stored on a shelf within that particular department. Only you and you alone can retrieve the small globe, which contains the prophecy, from its shelf. Riddle’s plan was fairly simple and straightforward, as I understood it. You see, once you took possession of the small orb, Riddle’s plan was to have his so-called Death Eaters take it from you and then quickly carry it on to him. At the present time, the prophecy means more to him than anything else. And that means even you. He is totally obsessed with it.”

“A prophecy about what?” Harry asked, his attention shifting from the ranger to Dumbledore.

“Harry has yet to be made aware of the prophecy, Austin,” the old professor said, looking towards the Boy-Who-Lived. “I’m now somewhat regretful, Harry, that knowledge of the prophecy has not been made known to you. Perhaps it is now time, at long last, to do just that. What I’m going to tell you happened on a cold, wet night some sixteen years ago. I must say; it came as quite a shock.”

The old headmaster walked around his desk and took his seat before continuing. “I had gone to the Hog’s Head Inn to interview an applicant who had applied to teach Divination at Hogwarts. Even though it soon became evident the woman showed no signs of being a Seer, something eerily prophetic did occur. You see, Harry, as I was about to leave her a guttural, raucous voice erupted from the smallish woman. I immediately realized what she was uttering would probably be the most far-reaching, influential prophecy in centuries, as it impacted the whole of our magical world.”

“It wasn’t Professor Trelawney was it?” Hermione asked.

“Yes,” the old wizard nodded his head. “Indeed it was, Hermione.”

“She’s nothing but a fraud, Professor,” Hermione quickly replied.

“Sibyll Trelawney has her moments. On those rare occasions, it’s as if she’s a direct conduit from unseen prophets, a mouthpiece, if you will. In this instance, she foretold one would be born with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord. He would be born of parents who had on three occasions defied him. The prophecy said the Dark Lord would mark him as his equal,” Dumbledore lifted a hand and pointed with a long, skinny finger to Harry’s scar. “Most forbidding, however, was the last part of the prophecy. It warns that either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live if the other survives.”

When the old headmaster finished, not a sound could be heard within the office. McGonagall and Hermione stared at Harry in breathless shock.

After some moments of long silence, Austin was the first to speak. “Harry, Professor Dumbledore informed his brother, Martin, of the prophecy some weeks ago. Although I am charged with dealing with the criminal conspiracy, it is you, Harry, who must confront Tom Riddle. He will have to die at your hands.”

McGonagall gasped and brought her fist to her mouth to stifle the shrike of anguish welling up from within her like a volcano. Hermione, too, was horrified at what Austin’s cold words meant.

“You’ve had to face Riddle alone in the past, Harry. This time, if we have our way, many will be at your side,” Dumbledore warmly stated.

“Yes, indeed,” Austin quickly added. “And we’ve much to do. Riddle has relied so much on his pathetic underlings to help him carry out his evil schemes in the past. In the days ahead, I will begin eliminating them. My mission, Harry, is to prepare the way. As far as I’m concerned, there will be only one indicator of my mission’s success. And that will be the day you meet Tom Riddle for the last time, and he stands absolutely alone.”

“Why should the prophecy be believed?” Hermione asked, concerned for Harry’s safety. “Who’s to say it wasn’t Voldemort himself who used Trelawney to voice it for his own evil purposes?”

“It is as it is, Hermione,” Dumbledore flatly stated. “One day I should like to show you the many proofs we have of other such divinations. And Tom’s eagerness to get his hands on it only proves he had nothing to do with it the day it was revealed to me.”

The door of Dumbledore’s office opened and a breathless Ronald Weasley quickly entered. He looked to be in a frightful state.

“Professor!” he called out. “Filch, Goyle and Crabbe have lost their ever-lovin’ minds!” He looked to his left and saw Hermione and Harry sitting anxiously in chairs. “Harry! Hermione! We gotta get outta here ‘fore Umbridge finds us! They’ve all gone mad!”

Professor Dumbledore came to his feet and held up his two hands. “Calm yourself, Ronald Weasley! Calm yourself down!”

For the first time, Ron noticed the strange, young wizard sitting in a chair next to Harry. He jumped back again in fright.

Harry quickly came to his feet and reached for his old friend. “It’s all okay, now, Ron. This is Austin. He’s come to help us deal with Voldemort.”

Ron didn’t take his eyes off the wizard, as he excitedly went about telling Harry what had happened to him. “I ran around a corner and right into Crabbe. He grabbed me and threw me to the ground. As he was pounding away at me, he started screamin’ out for Goyle and Filch. Next thing I know, they’re draggin’ me down below to the dungeons, talking about stretchin’ me out on a rack until my bones cracked. Damn, Harry! I was scared more than I’d ever been.”

Ron stopped speaking as Harry half pulled and half pushed him back into a chair. “Sit!” Harry commanded.

“I don’t know what happened, Harry. They were afixin’ to pull me up on this rack, when all of the sudden,” Ron’s eyes went wide in disbelief and his arms flew up into the air, “bam! I don’t know what happened. It was like I was knocked out. Next thing I know, I come around and saw Filch, Crabbe and Goyle all stretched out on these old torture rack lookin’ things. Damn’dest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“What’d you do with them?” Hermione asked.

“Hell, I didn’t touch ‘em. As far as I know, they’re still screamin’ and hollerin’ down there in the dungeon. I took off running back up here to find you guys. What the hell’s happenin’, Harry?”

“Sorry, Ronald,” Austin spoke up, smiling mischievously. “I seem to have forgotten all about them, too. What would you like done with them, Professor?”

“I’d like to see them, first. Why don’t we take a peek? It will probably be a vision I’ll recount over and over again on those cold nights rocking before my fire. One always needs a pleasant thought to brighten one’s day.” Dumbledore grinned widely, in a childish, rascally way.

“If you’d all stand up, then,” Austin directed them, then looked up to Fawkes. “Don’t worry ol’ fella. I’ll remember to leave yore tre this time.”

After a brilliant flash, they found themselves all standing outside the corridor to the dungeon. Filch, Crabbe and Goyle were still screaming to beat hell.

“Yep!” Ron exclaimed. “Sounds like they’re still tied down.”

They all filed into the dungeon. Dumbledore walked up to the rack where Argus Filch was stretched out. His hands and feet were tightly locked into manacles. Through a system of pulleys, the manacles were attached to a heavy weight. It appeared that four or five inches had already been added to the man’s height.

“You look to be somewhat uncomfortable, Argus?” Dumbledore said, finding it hard to keep from laughing out at the obnoxious squib.

“Professor!” he screamed out. “Save me, Professor! Some evil wizard been up to a nasty bit of work.”

“How did you happen to be down here in this keep? You realize, of course, that it’s been off-limits for more than a century,” the old wizard queried.

“It’s that Umbridge woman, Professor. She’d ordered me to do it, sir. I’d no choice in the matter,” Filch cried out. “You know I’ve a kind heart, Professor.”

Dumbledore grinned again. “Indeed, Argus. Just make yourself as comfortable as you can for a few more minutes. I’d like to see what these young Slyterin’s have to say.”

The old wizard walked up to the next torture rack where Crabbe was in considerable pain. Then he looked over to closely examine Goyle. “Ah!” the old headmaster exclaimed in a startled sort of way. “Been up to no good, I see, boys? I’m assuming Professor Umbridge threatened you into doing her biding?”

The two big youths tried their best to nod their heads but their arms were stretched out so tightly against their ears, the only thing moveable happened to be their eyes and mouths.

“Austin, these two should join their partner in crime at Azkaban. I’ll be retaining Filch here at Hogwarts,” Dumbledore said with a large smile.

“Indeed, Professor,” Austin replied.

Instantly, Crabbe and Goyle disappeared. Filch’s manacles magically opened and the filthy man was assisted into a seated position by Professor Dumbledore.

“In the future, Argus, I forbid any access to this room. You fully understand?”

“Yes, Professor, sir. Don’t wanna be part of this, I don’t. Never again, professor,” Filch said, painfully rubbing his shoulders.

“Right you are! We’ll leave you now to put everything back in its proper place, especially those whips and canes you’ve sat out. Then lock up and bring me the key,” Dumbledore instructed.

“Yes, Professor. Right you be,” Filch nodded his head but couldn’t look up into the old headmaster’s face.

Dumbledore smiled at Austin, who knowingly nodded his head. In a flash, they were again all standing within the headmaster’s office.

Future plans . . .

Dumbledore asked everyone to again take t sea seats before they continued.

“Austin, what do you suggest we do with Harry in the near term?” the old wizard asked.

The young man turned to face the famous, young wizard. “Harry, I think it best if you stay with Sirius Black this summer. I’ll be there, too, for the first few days, as I’ll be wanting to add some special charms and curses to protect thsidesidence,” Austin stated.

A large smile came to Harry’s face as soon as he heard that. The others in the room knew how much that meant to him, too.

“What else will need doing, Austin?” Dumbledore asked.

“As I interrupted things today before Harry could make it to the Department of Mysteries and considering the hoopla from the happenings at the Ministry, my first targets have undoubtedly scattered. First thing, though, I’ll make my way back to Malfoy’s Manor. Lucius Malfoy is Riddle’s second in command, so he will be the bit of flypaper I’ll use to spring my first trap. With luck, I’ll swat a number of them there.”

“What if you encounter Voldemort?” Harry anxiously and worriedly asked.

“I’ll be purposely avoiding him, for now. It would do absolutely no good for me to confront Riddle and obliterate him. His evil soul would forever dwell in this plane of existence, unless he’s properly destroyed. That means, of course, at your hand, Harry. But I have the means of moving, unnoticed and undetected, amongst him and his followers. He will soon grow impatient and may even attempt to disappear for a time. It will necessitate us making adjustments, as we go along.”

“Ron and Hermione can come and go then, whenever they want? I mean, at 12 Grimmauld Place?” Harry asked.

“Yes, of course. I will make it possible for any belonging to the Order of the Phoenix to visit as often as they wish,” Austin assured him.

Harry was as happy about that fact as he was knowing he was staying with Sirius. And even more than that was the wonderful feeling he had come over him when he realized that meant a summer without the Dursleys.

“You must be famished, Austin,” McGonagall said, coming to her feet. “Why don’t you take your evening meal with us down in the Great Hall? Our end-of-term feast is about to begin.”

Austin walked and and offered his arm to the elderly witch. “I’d like that,” he simply replied.