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re eleven。 The knowledge would be too much at such a young age。
'I should have recognised the danger signs then。 I should have asked myself why I did not feel more disturbed that you had already asked me the question to which I knew； one day； I must give a terrible answer。 I should have recognised that I was too happy to think that I did not have to do it on that particular day： YOU were too young； much too young。
'And so we entered your second year at Hogwarts。 And once again you met challenges even grown wizards have never faced： once again you acquitted yourself beyond my wildest dreams。 You did not ask me again； however； why Voldemort had left that marl； on you。 We discussed your scar； oh yes： we came very； very close to the subject。 Why did I not tell you everything？'
'Well； it seemed to me that twelve was； after all； hardly better than eleven to receive such information。 I allowed you to leave my presence； bloodstained； exhausted but exhilarated； and if I felt a twinge of unease that I ought； perhaps； to have told you then； it was swiftly silenced。 You were still so young； you see； and I could not find it in myself to spoil that night of triumph：
'Do you see； Harry？ Do you see the flaw in my brilliant plan now？ I had fallen into the trap I had foreseen； that I had told myself I could avoid； that I must avoid。'
'I don't …
'I cared about you too much；' said Dumbledore simply。 'I cared more for your happiness than your knowing the truth； more for your peace of mind than my plan； more for your life than the lives that might be lost if the plan failed。 In other words； I acted exactly as Voldemort expects we fools who love to act。
'Is there a defence？ I defy anyone who has watched you as I have … and I have watched you more closely than you can have imagined … not to want to save you more pain than you had already suffered。 What did I care if numbers of nameless and faceless people and creatures were slaughtered in the vague future； if in the here and now you were alive； and well； and happy？ I never dreamed that I would have such a person on my hands。
'We entered your third year。 I watched from afar as you struggled to repel Dementors； as you found Sirius； learned what he was and rescued him。 Was I to tell you then； at the moment when you had triumphantly snatched your godfather from the jaws of the Ministry？ But now； at the age of thirteen； my excuses were running out。 Young you might be； but you had proved you were exceptional。 My conscience was uneasy； Harry。 I knew the time must e soon：
'But you came out of the maze last year； having watched Cedric Diggory die； having escaped death so narrowly yourself： and I did not tell you； though I knew； now Voldemort had returned； I must do it soon。 And now； tonight； I know you have long been ready for the knowledge I have kept from you for so long； because you have proved that I should have placed the burden upon you
before this。 My only defence is this： I have watched you struggling under more burdens than any student who has ever passed through this school and I could not bring myself to add another … the greatest one of all。'
Harry waited； but Dumbledore did not speak。
'I still don't understand。'
'Voldemort tried to kill you when you were a child because of a prophecy made shortly before your birth。 He knew the prophecy had been made； though he did not know its full contents。 He set out to kill you when you were still a baby； believing he was fulfilling the terms of the prophecy。 He discovered； to his cost； that he was mistaken； when the curse intended to kill you backfired。 And so； since his return to his body； and particularly since your extraordinary escape from him last year； he has been determined to hear that prophecy in its entirety。 This is the weapon he has been seeking so assiduously since his return： the knowledge of how to destroy you。'
The sun had risen fully now： Dumbledore's office was bathed in it。 The glass case in which the sword of Godric Gryffindor resided gleamed white and opaque； the fragments of the instruments Harry had thrown to the floor glistened like raindrops； and behind him； the baby Fawkes made soft chirruping noises in his nest of ashes。
'The prophecy's smashed；' Harry said blankly。 'I was pulling Neville up those benches in the … the room where the archway was； and I ripped his robes and it fell：'
'The thing that smashed was merely the record of the prophecy kept by the Department of Mysteries。 But the prophecy was made to somebody； and that person has the means of recalling it perfectly'
'Who heard it？' asked Harry； though he thought he knew the answer already
'I did；' said Dumbledore。 'On a cold； wet night sixteen years ago； in a room above the bar at the Hog's Head inn。 I had gone there to see an applicant for the post of Divination teacher； though it was against my inclination to allow the subject of Divination to continue at all。 The applicant； however； was the great…great…granddaughter of a very famous； very gifted Seer and I thought it mon politeness to meet her。 I was disappointed。 It seemed to me that she had not a trace of the gift herself。 I told her； courteously I hope； that I did not think she would be suitable for the post。 I turned to leave。'
Dumbledore got to his feet and walked past Harry to the black cabinet that stood beside Fawkes's perch。 He bent down； slid back a catch and took from inside it the shallow stone basin； carved with runes around the edges； in which Harry had seen his father tormenting Snape。 Dumbledore walked back to the desk； placed the Pensieve upon it； and raised his wand to his own temple。 From it； he withdrew silvery； gossamer…fine strands of thought clinging to the wand and deposited them into the basin。 He sat back down behind his desk and watched his thoughts swirl and drift inside the Pensieve for a moment。 Then； with a sigh； he raised his wand and prodded the silvery substance with its tip。
A figure rose out of it； draped in shawls； her eyes magnified to enormous size behind her glasses； and she revolved slowly； her feet in the basin。 But when Sybill Trelawney spoke； it was not in her usual ethereal； mystic voice； but in the harsh； hoarse tones Harry had heard her use once before：
'The one with the power to vanquish the… Dark Lord approaches： born to those who have thrice defied him； born as the seventh month dies： and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal； but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not： and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives： the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies：'
The slowly revolving Professor Trelawney sank back into the silver mass below and vanished。
The silence within the office was absolute。 Neither Dumbledore nor Harry nor any of the portraits made a sound。 Even Fawkes had fallen silent。
'Professor Dumbledore？' Harry said very quietly； for Dumbledore； still staring at the Pensieve； seemed pletely lost in thought。 It 。。 did that mean： what did that mean？'
'It meant；' said Dumbledore； 'that the person who has