Croaker sighed.
"It seems as though we find ourselves in a position where we must help each other out", he replied reluctantly. "Though the amount of help we give you will depend on your cooperation", he added seriously. "What can I do to help you?", Harry questioned confusedly. "I'm just a teenager", he reminded them.
"You can help us by giving us the contents of the prophecy you took", the second man cut in.
"I can't", Harry replied firmly.
"You will", the other man returned hotly. "Or I will take it from your mind", he threatened, drawing his wand.
"Stand down Filmore", Croaker commanded before turning his attention back to Harry.
"Mr. Potter we need to find a way to build some trust between us", he sighed. "How about I explain what we need from you and then you share with us everything you can willingly and then we go from there, either way you will help us but it will be much easier on yourself if you do it voluntarily, we will give you all the help you need", he offered. "I assure you we are on the same side", he added sincerely. From what Harry understood of the situation he had little choice in the matter. He could either cooperate with the men and take the offered help or he could refuse and be mind raped by Filmore, something that was not pleasant, as he knew from experience.
"Ok", he conceded. "What do you need my help with?", he asked uncertainly.
"Good man", Croaker answered, clearly relieved. "Would you like a drink, this could take a while?", he asked.
"Water please", Harry replied, feeling a little parched.
Croaker conjured a glass and filled it with water before passing it to Harry. He then became contemplative for a few moments deciding where it was best to start.
"Tell me Mr. Potter, how many people do you share your dormitory with at Hogwarts?", he questioned. Harry frowned at the unexpected question. "There are 5 of us altogether", he answered confusedly.
"There were twenty in mine", Croaker returned. "What does that tell you?", he questioned further.
"That there are less witches and wizards than there used to be", Harry concluded after a moment.
"Exactly", Croaker agreed. "Why do you think that is?", he inquired.
"Because of the war?", Harry asked.
"Mostly yes but it runs deeper than that", Croaker responded.
Harry again looked confused causing Croaker to sigh.
"What do you know about the pureblood families of Britain?", he asked. "Nothing really", Harry shrugged. "I was raised by muggles", he explained.
Croaker nodded his understanding.
"Well, before the last war there were around 220 pureblood families", he began knowingly. "At the conclusion of the war in 1981 there were only 50 left and now there are only 43", he explained. "The families were wiped out in service to Voldemort and by his followers if they refused to join him", he elaborated. "What have you noticed about the attitude that pureblood's have towards half-blood's and muggleborn's", he questioned.
"They don't like us mostly", Harry surmised. "They look down on us and think they are better", he concluded.
"Exactly, that means that they tend to marry only other purebloods which, with so few families left, is a real problem", he finished gravely. "How so?", Harry asked, becoming genuinely interested in the conversation.
"With so few families left the pureblood's are now inbreeding and producing more squibs than ever", Croaker began. "But that in itself is only half the problem", he sighed.
"Then what is it?", Harry asked with a frown.
"Muggleborn bloodlines only seem to last a generation or two themselves if they have children together", Croaker explained. "They need pure magical blood to maintain what they are given, we don't completely understand why, but that is how it works", he finished with a shrug.
"I'm sorry but what has that got to do with me?", Harry questioned.
"The truth is Mr. Potter, irreversible damage has already been done to our kind, it is only a matter of time before we die out and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it, especially with another war on the horizon, there is simply no way that we will survive any longer than a few more generations at best" he explained.
"I still don't understand what that has to do with me", Harry responded , shaking his head.
"That is why we need the contents of the prophecy, I know that it pertains to yourself and the Dark Lord", Croaker said knowingly.
Harry sighed and rubbed his temples in frustration.
"Ok, answer me this", Croaker tried. "Does it say that it is only you that can kill him?", he asked.
"It says that one of us must die at the hands of the other", Harry admitted reluctantly.
Croaker sunk back in his chair looking more than a little relieved. "Ok, that means we can definitely use this to our advantage", he exclaimed to Filmore, who nodded reluctantly. "Mr. Potter, we need you", Croaker said simply. "If our kind is to continue living then we need your help", he reiterated seriously.
"You said that it was irreversible", Harry pointed out.
"It is irreversible now", Croaker concurred. "But it only became that way in the years of 1978 to 1981 when most of the casualties of war happened after Barty Crouch signed the papers giving the Auror's the authority to kill", he explained.
Harry let what had been said be absorbed before he broke out in laughter in realisation.
"You are talking about sending me back in time", he stated disbelievingly. "I know for a fact that you can only go back a few hours with a time turner", he said knowingly and continued laughing.
"We are deadly serious Potter", Filmore cut in irritably causing Harry to curb his laughter.
"You're not joking?", he asked weakly.
"No", Croaker confirmed sternly. "You will be able to kill the Dark Lord before the damage to us all is done and save many lives in the process", he explained.