Disclaimer: The characters and setting belong to J K Rowling. I wish I owned it though :P

"In this chapter we will learn about the true nature of prophecies. Earlier in

chapter two we observed the tragic case of Oedipus; a man who thought

he could escape fate. The Oracle of Delphi prophesied that he would one day murder his father and marry his mother. Naturally he

didn't want that to happen but despite Oedipus's best efforts it came others have tried changing their

destinies but, all failed one way or another. The lesson we can learn from their mistakes

is that the more you try to fight against fate, the

more fate will fight you."

-"Introduction to Visionary Magic" Professor Tempest Stormson, Master Diviner

College of the Enlightened, Ireland

Act One Scene One:

"Mum, Dad!" exclaimed the girl cheerfully as she stepped through the stone barrier of King's Cross Station towards a waiting couple.
"Welcome back sweetheart", called out a man with bushy hair .
"How was school?", asked the woman.
"It was …good", the girl said reluctantly. She felt nervous. Nothing was said between the three people as they made their way to the car, until her mother broke the silence.
"We're just glad you are back, Hermione." Hermione smiled. She was home. She no- they were safe. At least she hoped.

Hermione wished it would rain. She turned her head towards the window. Why was it so sunny today? The sun's rays were shining through the window bathing her room with light and warmth. As if that would bring me comfort she thought wryly to herself. Standing next to her desk, Hermione ran her fingers absentmindedly over the black surface. Her hand felt something hard and square. Lifting the object to her face, Hermione recognized the simple, black frame. She held the photograph before her. An eleven-year old Hermione stared back. In her hands was her Hogwarts acceptance letter. This Hermione was grinning from ear to ear. Her proud parents were flanking each side. Her parents….

She could hear her breath catch. The picture shook furiously as Hermione's hands began to tremble, almost dropping it entirely. The picture in front of her started to blur in before her eyes. Not that she noticed; Hermione was preoccupied with another matter.

Not now Hermione ordered herself. Please not now! The familiar ache she had for the past week began to form again at the base of her skull, slowly spreading upwards. Feeling the energy being sucked out of her, she sank to her knees clutching the photo to her chest. Despite her best efforts, Hermione could taste the few, salty tears that managed to leak out of her eyes. Why did everything go wrong?

A sharp knock rang from the door. Hermione flinched and jumped to her feet. Her back was to the door. She hastily wiped her eyes and placed the framed photograph underneath one of the books on her desk. Hermione willed herself to stop shaking so hard. The door opened quietly behind her.

"Hermione, dear", a voice called out tentatively as if reluctant to speak at all.

Hermione didn't react. Instead she just clutched the desk in front of her so hard her knuckles turned white.

"Hermione ", the elderly voice called out again. This time more confidently.

Finally Hermione replied, "Yes?"
She still hadn't turned from her spot. Hermione hated how her voice cracked. It made her sound weak. That's because you are the treacherous part of her mind said.

"Are you ready?", the person asked. Hermione's chest tightened and she closed her eyes. Why did she have to go?

"Yes", Hermione gritted out. She clutched the desk tighter like it was her lifeline, but then let go. She could no longer ignore the way her fingers ached. Hermione calmed herself then turned around. Addressing the person in front of her she finally spoke, "I'll be right down."

The funeral was anticlimactic thought Hermione with a sort of morbid humor. The thick, black mourning clothes she had on made her sweat way too much to be considered comfortable. The sun clearly didn't make things any better. The heat and the sickening aroma from all the flowers the mourners brought were enough to make the witch nauseous.

Hermione turned her attention to the two large caskets in front of her. It has been a week since the incident happened. Before her, lay the shells of the two people she loved more than anyone else in the world. She looked at their faces impassively. Faces that used stare back with her with life no longer smiled back at her anymore. In their place were two stone, stiff look-alikes. So, Hermione just stared impassively back. Death was still a subject she couldn't yet wrap her head around…couldn't accept. No book she had ever read could have prepared her for the mighty blow she received when she heard the news.

A week ago:

Hermione was curled up at the couch next to the window in her father's study, reading a book her aunt had gifted her recently. To her delight, the book was an old edition of Alice in Wonderland. While turning the page, the home phone rang making her jump a little. Lifting her finger, Hermione saw a small bead of blood beginning to form; the paper had nicked her quite hard. Thought fully aware that sticking a wound in your mouth was not a smart idea, Hermione still stuck her finger in out of habit. A sharp ring from the telephone reminded her the she should probably pick it up. Reluctantly, Hermione got up from her comfortable perch and went to go see who it was. Hermione removed her finger from her mouth, the metallic taste slowly fading on her tongue as she picked up the phone. Probably Dad again Hermione mused to herself. Might have slept overnight in his office. He did that sometimes.

"Hello", Hermione spoke into the phone.

"Is this Hermione Granger", an unfamiliar, male voice asked.

"Yes?", she said cautiously.

The person on the line paused for a few seconds. She heard him take a deep breath and said,
"It's about your parents. There's been an incident."

Hermione felt her heart stop. She froze in place already dreading the worst before she asked, "What is it?" It surprised her how steady and calm her voice was.

The person continued slowly, "Right now they are in St. Helen's hospital Room 23 of the surgery ward. The doctors are doing their best to save your parents and we were told to call the next of kin. We called your grandmother beforehand and were told to tell you to meet her there."

"Thank you. I'll be right there", Hermione said panic evident in her voice. Quickly, Hermione threw a jacket on herself and practically flew down the stairs. She barely had put on her shoes when she threw the door open, locking it behind her and ran out into the night.

For the first time in her life, Hermione cursed the ministry for forbidding underage magic outside of Hogwarts. Calling the Knight Bus would have been much simpler. Instead, Hermione sat worriedly, bouncing her leg in a muggle bus with a haunted look on her face. Distantly Hermione could hear a child asking his mother why the lady was acting so weird.

"Don't look at her Billy", Hermione heard the mother whisper harshly. "She obviously has a problem."

Hermione covered her hands with her face shaking. Yes it appeared that she did have a problem. It's all my fault. Oh Merlin it's all my fault. Please- please-please….Merlin….God….anyone please let them be all right. The thoughts repeated in her mind like a broken record stuck on repeat- repeat-repeat...

After a thirty minute long ride, Hermione pressed the stop button for Hingherbury Street. Without thanking the driver, she ran out towards the main doors for Emergency. There she saw a familiar, stout, stern faced old lady. Her grandmother face full of worry got up to meet her. Hermione didn't bother waiting for her to muster enough strength to walk up to her. Instead she met up with her grandmother halfway.

"Where are they?", Hermione demanded briefly hugging her grandmother. Old lady Granger's lips thinned reluctant to say anything. Eventually she sighed and said,

"They refused to tell me anything. Just said to wait out here for news."

Hermione sank to a nearby seat once again covering her face in her hands. Why won't they say anything? They have to be fine she thought said nothing would happen. Hermione's grandmother sat in the seat next to her with some difficulty because of her age. Oh how she felt old, but she had her role to fulfill as the elder. Old lady Granger brought her left arm to her distraught granddaughter and leaned Hermione's head to her aged, bony shoulder. She caressed Hermione's head comfortingly trying to ease the concern in their hearts.

Many long, painful hours passed. Not a word was spoken between the two Grangers. Old lady Granger had been long asleep by the two hour mark. Hermione on the other hand had kept herself wide awake as if the situation would go for the worse if she closed her eyes long enough. Eventually the twin, automatic glass doors opened and a grim faced doctor in scrubs walked out.

He walked straight towards them. Hermione roused her grandmother so they both could hear the news. To their surprise the doctor didn't speak for the longest time. Only a look of determination was evident on his face.

He finally spoke, "Are you two Hermione Granger and Emily Granger?"

Hermione responded first,"Yes we are. Is there any news? How are they?"

The doctor didn't respond back, merely gazed at them. He bowed his head. Hermione just knew...

No!

"There has been a complication," he said grimly

No!

"Despite our best efforts—"

No no no no!

" We were unable to save Mr and Mrs. Granger. You have our deepest condolences."

Unable to contain her anguish, Hermione screamed.

She remembered that Monday evening, Hermione reminisced as she dropped a bouquet of roses into her parents' caskets. The doctor had informed her that Mr and were found in their respective offices on the floor and unresponsive. One of their assistants found the dentists. The assistant went to 's office first to discuss an issue of one of their patients, but instead found Mrs. Granger face down on the ground. Rushing to inform , the assistant also discovered in the same position.

From what the paramedics that arrived at the scene determined, both of the dentists had died of acute heart failure. All attempts of re-starting their hearts failed. Of course they failed remarked Hermione angrily in her mind. Hard to save someone from the killing curse. They also determined that it was just coincidental that both dentists had heart attacks so no foul play was suspected. Hermione knew better. Only a curse could have murdered her parents in such a manner and only one group in Magical Britain inhumane enough to commit the crime.

Hermione took one last look at her parents, drinking in the sight knowing it would be her last. "I'm really sorry. I'm so so sorry", she told them though they could no longer hear her apology.

She turned and walked back to the funeral party gathered, sitting around the two mounds of dirt. Hermione watched as some of her Dad's relatives began lifting the ebony caskets, lowering them to the ground. Many people came for the burial. Very few of them were friends and family of the deceased. Most were curious, nosy neighbours and townspeople wanting to gain newest gossip.
"Is that the Granger girl", Hermione distantly heard a voice a few rows down say.

"Hush", another voice chided. "She might hear us. Can't you see the poor dear mourning?"

"Oh do stop worrying. She's probably too focused on her parents to hear us anyhow," the first voice said thoughtlessly. Hermione frowned. She didn't like how this was going. "But, don't you think there is something odd about that girl?"

"Odd! Why do you say?", questioned the second voice.

The first voice snorted in derision. "Is it not obvious? Take one look at her. Don't you think that it's odd how the girl isn't shedding a single tear? I mean her parents died for Chrissake!" Hermione thought this was true. Why wasn't she crying? Probably because you of all people don't deserve to. There was that treacherous part of her head again.

"You can't say that!", the second voice whispered harshly sounding scandalized. "The poor dear is obviously in shock."

"Oh please", snapped the first voice. "That's no excuse. Anyways haven't you heard the rumours?"

"Rumours?", asked the second voice.

"Yes rumours! Christ you're slow", the first voice admonished. The second voice gasped offended but, the first paid no mind. "There's been talk you know. About where she goes to school. Some of the girls at the circle told me things. That the Granger girl ran with the nasty lot. Something about the drugs kids get into these days."

"That can't possibly be true!", the second voice exclaimed sounding skeptical.

"Oh, but it is", the first voice interjected eagerly. "In fact some of the girls told me that the poor dead dears tried their best to fix her that they sent her to some obscure year-long correction school. One in Scotland. You know, where they send the troublesome kids to."

"Oh my!", the second voice gasped."I never would have thought. She seemed like such a good girl."

Hermione gritted her teeth. So that was what people thought of her. But, really? Talking about her behind her back in her parents' funeral of all places? Those nosy banshees were about to cross a very dangerous line.

The first voice gave a girlish laugh. "Aye, that's what those sort want you to think! But you know? Dealing with such a troublesome girl, those parents must have been so sick of her!"

Do not go there Hermione willed the blabbering woman.

"She must be glad they're gone that nasty child"

Hermione had enough. Getting up from her seat she began to approach the two gossiping women.

Seeing the two women's faces for the first time, Hermione realized that she recognized them.
The second voice belonged to mousy, plain women in her late thirties. Hermione knew her as one of her neighbors. The neighborhood knew the woman as the mother of those evil triplets that wrecked havoc in the suburbs. A shrew who spent most of her time gossiping with the other women rather than raising her brats properly. Which is probably why she was dubbed the mother of all devils.

Hermione wrinkled her nose at the other culprit. The other woman was the flat-nosed,snake-faced assistant who had discovered her parents' bodies. Hermione instantly disliked the woman from the first time they met, however, she believed that even an evil ghoul like her wouldn't be capable of saying such tactless things. Voldemort would have like her Hermione thought humorlessly. Merlin, even Snape was more human than this person. Well if i have my way, mused Hermione nastily. She won't be able to say a thing at all.

Finally Hermione reached the twittering pair. The "Devil's mother" noticed her first. Her mouth fell open forming a "o" in shock. She was no idiot. She could tell from the hostility in Hermione's face that she heard enough. The assistant continued to chatter to her friend cluelessly.

Hermione reached out her right arm, grabbing the assistant by the shoulder. The assistant turned and finally acknowledged the girl in front of her. She gave Hermione a fake,simpering smile. Then with a sickening, sweet voice the assistant spoke,

"Oh Hermione! Darling! I'm so sorry for your loss." Then taking Hermione by the shoulders she look straight into her eyes. "If you ever need anything….anything at all, do not hesitate to come to me. Okay?"

Hermione was livid. Originally, Hermione was planing to tell the two women off but now all thoughts of settling this peacefully were out the window. Not able to take this anymore, Hermione let out a strangled, angry shriek and pounced.

"You're really lucky Mrs. Conner dropped the charges", Old lady Granger told Hermione. Holding a cotton ball drenched in alcohol in her hand, she dabbed the many cuts on her granddaughters face. Hermione said nothing, staring stonily at the wall of her bathroom. It had not been lucky at all.

Hermione already knew of the many undercover witches and wizards stationed all over Muggle London. She just didn't think there would be so many allies yet not a single one was around to save her parents. All it took to get rid of the charges were a few mind altering charms plus "obliviate". Hermione was then free to go.

"Hermione look at me ", ordered her grandmother. "You are normally much smarter than this. Honestly what on earth were you thinking?"

"You didn't hear what they said", Hermione bit out.

"That is still no excuse", snapped Old Lady Granger. Her eyes softened. "I'm just worried about you. This isn't normal. You aren't acting like yourself."

Like what Hermione thought bitterly. Like the obedient , know-it-all brat that you all love? Instead she said, "It's just the shock Granny. I read about it in a book. It's normal."

"Hermione you almost clawed that poor woman's face off", Old Lady Granger exclaimed in disbelief. Hermione hid a sadistic grin. Grandma Granger sighed. "If you need to see someone, just tell me alright?"

Hermione said nothing.

"Alright?", Granny Granger said albeit louder.

"Yes Granny", Hermione said. Old Lady Granger patted her granddaughter's head affectionately. Hermione wrapped her arms around her grandmother.

"I'm ok Granny. I really am."

There was no way for Hermione to sleep that night. Despite feeling like her body was about to melt through the floorboards, her eyes stared upwards at the ceiling wide open. She hardly slept since she received the news. That was a week ago. She looked to her left at the alarm clock on the nightstand : 12:54 am. Well she was definitely not going to sleep anytime soon.

She wondered how things turned out so wrong so quickly. For a minute she could relate to how difficult Harry's life must be to lose loved ones all the time. He even lost another this year Hermione recalled, remember the loss of Sirius. He must be feeling even worse than me. The difference between them however was, unlike Harry, Hermione was warned. She knew that it would happen but was unable to do anything about it. A suffocating feeling of powerlessness overwhelmed her.

There is no point thinking what would happen if things were different Hermione reminded herself. The wizarding world didn't care about her and her tragedy. No, the wizarding world rejected people like her. People that were mudbloods. But, the one person who should have cared failed her realized Hermione. Shaking, the thought from her mind, Hermione tried once again to sleep.

Professor Firenze looked at the magically conjured constellation in his classroom. The centaur was listening to Dumbledore and Professor Mcgonagall debrief him on the preparations for the return of the school's students in a few weeks. A particular shining dot on the ceiling distracted him from the eccentric Headmaster's tittering.

"Mars is exceptionally bright tonight", the centaur said cutting off the Headmaster. Professor Mcgonagall sniffed in derision, fully prepared to reprimand Professor Firenze for his rudeness, but Dumbledore held out his left hand ,stopping her. He looked at her with that familiar twinkle in his eye. The stern-faced professor had no choice but to back off.

"What was it that you said Firenze?", asked Dumbledore kindly. After experiencing much in his life, the man knew better than two ignore divine premonitions.

"Mars is bright tonight. It tells of war."

Dumbledore figured that Firenze was speaking of the imminent threat of Voldemort. Nothing new then, he determined. Bidding the centaur a cheerful goodbye Professor Mcgonagall and he left Firenze all alone in his divination classroom. Firenze didn't move his gaze from the ceiling. He already knew that even a human with as much intellect as Dumbledore still wouldn't be able to interpret the future in the stars. Mars was bright that night, but oddly enough, so was Jupiter.