Disclaimer: Harry Potter and characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and co. although I wish I had made them up. Enjoy!!
Hey all…this is my first time writing a Harry Potter fic. Actually first time writing a fic on ff.net ever. So be nice to me! Please read and review. I would love to hear what you guys think. Hope you enjoy!
The Secret
Chapter One: The Dream
She was looking down into a small, circular room. Looking around quickly, she noticed that she was floating just near the ceiling, eye level with a beautiful chandelier. The fixture, instead of being held by a chain, was suspended in air, drifting back and forth as if blown by a soft breeze that only affected the light. The knowledge that the room was situated in the darkest, most hidden dungeon in the lowest level of Hogwarts' tremendous castle appeared in her head out of nowhere.
Looking around the room, she noticed a dark, deep green tapestry filling one portion of the wall. A beautiful and intricately detailed silver dragon was flying from one end to another, never resting. She was surprised to see that while the beautiful dragon never ceased to move, it exuded an air of laziness and peace. While one would think non-stop movement would cause tiredness and such, the girl acknowledged that since the tapestry was from the magic world, she should not be surprised by anything. With this thought in mind, she looked towards the other tapestry.
It was directly opposite the other, of the same shape and size. It was of a different color, contrasting sharply with the deep green and silver one. This one was a brilliant scarlet color with a golden figure of a lion. The lion, extremely detailed and amazingly life-like, was also continuous in its motions, whether prowling from one end of the tapestry to another, or jumping high into the air, all the while projecting spine-shivering growls.
Curious as to why these tapestries, obviously depicting the mascots of the rival houses of Gryffindor and Slytherin, were displayed in such a room, yet not finding an answer, the girl took in the rest of the room.
Directly in the middle was a rather small, but beautifully hand-carved wooden table, the smooth mahogany color contrasting with the dark and textured stones that made up the walls. Four chairs of the same wood and coloring were carved to match the table. The room was so small that if each chair were pushed slightly back, it would almost touch the walls of the room.
So intent on examining her surroundings, the girl did not hear the footsteps that were approaching the heavy wooden door until it suddenly swung open, allowing four adults to enter. The appearance of the first two adults surprised her. The first she recognized as a younger version of Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He entered the room, quickly glancing around, eyes sliding right over her suspended body. This shocked the girl. She then wondered if she were a ghost, or in some sort of vision, which would explain the floating. Not being able to figure it out, she waited for the next person to enter.
It was Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarrts. She was faintly taken aback by the appearance of him. He looked much younger, and though she hated to admit it, darkly handsome. The ever-constant smirk that usually covered his face was gone, and his skin was no longer a sallow, sickly color. She also noticed that he looked slightly happier, freer one could say, and almost friendly. His hair was shorter, and instead of being greasy and oily looking, it looked soft and hung smoothly around his shoulders. Much to her dismay, she found herself wondering what it would feel like to run her fingers through that soft, silky looking hair.
The girl silently berated herself for such thoughts, but was interrupted by the arrival of the last two people. She didn't recognize them, but noticed that the woman looked extraordinarily like Snape. She too, had dark, raven-black hair, yet hers fell in beautiful tight curls down to her waist. She was fairly small in size, just reaching the professor's shoulder. The girl was able to catch a quick glimpse of the woman's eyes, which were the same, deep onyx as the professor's. The girl quickly deduced that the two were brother and sister, if not twins.
The man who entered after the lovely woman had dark hair as well, but instead of the raven-black of the other two, his was a deep brown, almost like a darker chocolate color. His eyes were a lighter version of his hair, yet one eye was darker than the other, with flecks of light brown mixed in. He was roughly the same height as Snape, yet wider in build, and tanner.
As she was studying the last two figures, the four adults had all taken seats, the two she did not know sliding their chairs together, so the man's arm could encircle the woman's waist in a protective and possessive manner. She was almost positive that they were either engaged, or already married. As she was puzzling over this piece of information, she noticed that the four had started a conversation. Quickly, she started paying attention to what was taking place before her.
"I assure you that this prediction is, in fact, one of Sybil Trelawney's true visions. I, myself, was present. And although I tolerate many false 'visions' from her, this one was unmistakably accurate," Professor Dumbledore was stating to the other three in an uncharacteristically grave voice.
"Then if this is true, what do you need us to do in order to keep her safe from Voldemort's reach until it is time for her to join Hogwarts?" asked the young man, concern and fear shadowed in his words.
"If I have thought this out correctly, and believe me, I have spent many a night discussing this with Severus here, then Alexial must not be allowed to grow up in the world of magic. She must grow up as a Muggle, away from Voldemort and his minions, and away from the danger of knowing everything from such a young age," Dumbledore replied, sadness echoing in each word.
The young woman gasped in shock as all the color drained from the man's face.
"But…but, this means that we, too, must leave the magic world, does it not? We must leave our friends, our family, everything from our world! Oh, there must be another way!! Please, we must think of another way…please…" the woman trailed off, practically weeping. The three men looking at her could tell that she was distraught and the man, suddenly looking older and substantially more tired, tried to console her, though he was in shock as well.
Quietly, the third man, Snape, spoke up for the first time. "Isabel, Mikhail, you both understand why Albus and I believe this has to be done. Make no mistake, if I thought that for one instant you three did not have to leave the world of magic behind, a world where all your friends and family are, a world where I, her uncle, would be able to see Alexial grow, then I would give you another option without a moment's hesitation. But, There. Is. No. Other. Option. If she stays, and grows up knowing the tale of He-who-must-not-be-named and the-boy-who-lived, then the opposite of Sybil's vision will come to pass. Instead of aiding the Light and helping bring down the Dark Lord, she will inadvertently destroy all we have worked for and help bring the Dark Lord into an unbreakable reign over the magical world. No matter how hard or well any of us teach her or ingrain a sense of good into her. And as much as I can not, no, do not, want to believe this, I too, know that this vision was a true one. And that bloody hell scares me."
Having said this, he went over to Isabel's side, as tears silently streamed down her cheeks. Unnoticed by all, the girl floating above them was surprised to see true sadness and sorrow in his eyes, and was shocked to see him lift the woman into his arms, giving her a bone-crushing, yet comforting hug.
As he gently rocked her, he spoke softly, "Shhh Isabel, shhh. I promise you that I will fight to the end for this to be alright. Voldemort does not yet know of my allegiance to the Light, nor does he know of the prophecy. You three will have enough time to get yourselves in order and disappear into the Muggle community. And though you may not see or feel our presence, there will always be people watching over you three, keeping you safe from harm, including myself. I will never stop caring for you, loving you as I always have, and always will. I will always be there, if not in body then in mind and soul. I will visit you often, though without Little Alexial's knowledge, as will others. Shhh little sister, shhh. I promise everything will turn out alright."
On hearing Severus Snape, hated potions master and affirmed "greasy git" of Hogwarts, call the woman 'little sister' in such a tender and caring manner, the girl let out a gasp. This went unacknowledged by the group of people sitting around the table, as Snape continued to rock the woman gently and with the utmost care.
As she recovered, the girl realized that the man, Mikhail, and woman were conversing quietly. After a moment or two had passed, he looked up at Dumbledore, and with eyes filled with sadness, quietly stated, "Alright."
That one word made Snape relax in relief, yet fill with sadness, both emotions seen through eyes that looked longingly at the couple. "I will truly miss you both, and hate with a passion that I will not see my beautiful niece grow up. Yet, it has to be done. I will always be with you, remember that. I love you both." With that, he silently glanced at each person in the room, quickly placing a kiss atop Isabel's head, before sweeping out of his chair and out of the room, robes billowing behind him.
His pain and grief was evident in the bottom-less onyx eyes that had piercingly gazed at each of them, and the girl felt a twinge of sympathy for the Potions master before being swept away from the room.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sixteen year old Hermione Granger woke with a start, not sure as to where she was. She looked around her in a daze, before realizing that she was in her bedroom at home. The familiar closets, vanity and bookcases comforted her, calming her down, before the visions from the dream leapt into her mind.
::What an interesting dream,:: she thought. ::I wonder who those people were, and what they were talking about. Hmmm…when I get back to Hogwarts I'm going to have to do research on this prophecy of old Trelawney's. Such an interesting dream!::
With that, she slowly drifted back into a dreamless sleep.