The Durmstrang Potter Twin

The Exiled Gods

Tara's POV

I set my hand down on the table gently, palm down, and glared at Minerva, "Let me get this straight. He's sending out our resources to defend a prophecy that Tom already knows most of?"

She sighed and nodded, "He believes it needs to be protected."

I sucked in a breath and hissed out, "Why?"

"He doesn't want it to fall into the hands of the Dark Lord," Snape drawled from the other side of the table. "It would be unwise-"

I shot him a look, "Did I ask you, Severus? If I recall correctly, you were the one who delivered the first part of the prophecy to Tom, which he then decided to act on."

He clenched his jaw shut, narrowing his eyes at me, and I turned back to Minerva. I had always liked her, despite the fact that she had always seemed to get along too well with Albus.

She shook her head at me, "He believes that the prophecy will hold some importance to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He thinks that he will try to use it in some way to benefit himself."

I shut my eyes and inhaled slowly through my nose, "How... in the name of Merlin... does he think that Tom will somehow use that prophecy as a weapon?"

She shook her head, "I don't know. He simply said that the rest of the prophecy would be important to him and, therefore, he would try and use it in some way."

I dragged a hand down my face, "You can't use a prophecy in that way. Not even a wizard prophecy. All he would get from it would be the rest of the prophecy and, frankly, having him know the rest of it wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen."

"But it wouldn't be good, would it?" Lily looked at me, eyes narrowed in thought. "If he knows the rest of the prophecy, he knows about the last part. That last part will put people in danger."

I sighed and rubbed the bridge of my nose, "The prophecy has already begun. It has already been acted upon. Whether Tom knows the rest of the prophecy or not, it will continue until it is fulfilled."

"But Harry will be in danger," Lily muttered to herself.

I took her hand, "Harry will be in danger either way. You know that."

She hesitated, but nodded after a moment. My hand spasmed and I blinked in shock at the sudden intrusion in my mind.

Tara, we have a problem.

Can it wait a moment, Hades?

It's very important.

Be quick.

Lily looked at me, curious at the sudden squeeze of her hand. I shook my head slowly. She kept her lips shut.

The Exiled Gods have escaped the Underworld.

I froze. The Betrayers.

How did they escape?

Hidden away in a soul that desperately wanted to be fully revived. One that still had connections to the physical world.

Tom Riddle.

Yes. They are with him and they cannot leave him. He thinks he has power over them. He does not understand the ways of gods.

My head fell forward a little bit, my eyes falling closed, resigning.

Leave my mind, Hades. I will come visit in a moment.

Tara, you know what this means.

Leave my mind.

He left in a flash and I looked back up to find everybody looking at me.