01/06/2009 20:38:00

"It just wasn't meant to be," Hermione thought sadly as she hid in the forest. Huddled under ferns and a rather large tree with low hanging branches, she was almost invisible. She held herself in a position where her bruises could heal better, and just waited.

What am I waiting for? Redemption? Fate? Destiny? Hope? Or maybe…just maybe…love?

Pages rustled noisily as Hermione did some research in the library. She was so intent on her work she never noticed the teenager with tousled black hair and glasses. Harry tapped her shoulder lightly and startled her. "Harry! Have you started your essay on this chemistry vs. potions assignment? It's fascinating, these little diagrams of atoms—"

Harry interrupted her, "We have a problem,"

She straightened up, closed her books and gave him her full attention, "The problem is?"

"Snape came—"

"Professor Snape, Harry,"

Harry grumbled, "Professor Snape came back last night with more information. There's to be a meeting including Ron, you and I in five minutes. Apparently, it's very bad,"

Hermione nodded and put away the books. Her theory on magic and chemistry being related would just have to wait. Harry and Hermione headed down to the Room of Requirement, where a large meeting table was arranged.

Professor Snape was at the front, wand at the ready. The Heads of the Houses were present as well as Professor Dumbledore. Most of the Order was here and Ron was currently being smothered by his mother. Harry and Hermione snickered softly as they took their seats, watching Ron turn red as his hair.

Professor Snape began his lecture as soon as everyone was seated. He waved his wand and everyone had a copy of his report.

"He's been getting information from unknown sources. It's been a constant battle between Him and the books, searching what seemed weeks. I finally have our answer. Although he is mortal again, he is not worried at all. He told me last night of his plans. There happens to be a very old legend, which was based off a prophecy made in the time of Merlin. A copy of the legend is on the report. Please read through it," Snape sneered, and Hermione smiled. The professor wouldn't be caught dead reading a legend out loud. She turned her eyes to her paper and began to read.

Many summers away our tale turns. It is a time of flying metal birds and war. Magic seems to be in peril of extinction. A leader of evil and malice, taking pride in pain, misunderstood by the world is fighting his hatred and the world in a quest to fight his demons. The light continues to press their advantage of their demon-less fate, inching ever closer to him, foiling every scheme. Their world would have crashed and burned, had it not been for a set of friends. Two boys and a girl; a pureblood, a half-blood and a muggleborn will unite in friendship. The pureblood will be full of fury and of loyalty. Heir to Gryffindor he must be. The halfblood will be born of tragedy and fame, but he will always be the center, guiding friendships and forging love. Heir to Helga Hufflepuff he must be. The Muggleborn perhaps is the most important. Heir to Rowena Ravenclaw she must be. Her strength of character and intellect will show her the way. Their bonds last beyond the pain and the suffering. Their bonds will last though the ages of peace that follow the war. The leader of evil will find himself committed, an ageless tradition he must follow for redemption. The friends will bring the leader forth in new light and in new darkness, for there will always be a simple balance. Right and wrong, light and dark, and water and fire. The world will finally be enough light, and enough dark.

Hermione looked at Snape. He glared at everyone, his brusque attitude almost too perfect. Dumbledore was quiet, making no commentary. Ron was crowing like a rooster about being and Heir of a Founder. Harry seemed to be brooding about his predicament. The rest of the Order seemed to sit in a tense and anxious setting, waiting for instruction.

"It's a riddle," Hermione blurted out. Everyone looked at her. "Think about it. Everyone is in homeostasis, or the equilibrium of life. Sometimes that equilibrium is undone by outside forces. Knowing about Voldemort, we can safely assume the treatment as a child will have unsettled that balance. The leader is obviously Voldemort. I'm the Heir of Ravenclaw, Harry of Hufflepuff and Ron of Gryffindor. We were all placed in Gryffindor to know each other. Perhaps something along the lines of the the Sorting Hat being given special instructions from a previous owner. Such as Godric Gryffindor.

"We just need to understand what he is committed to, the Heir of Slytherin that is an ageless tradition he has to follow to be forgiven. It cannot be his current route as I doubt killing innocent Muggles is the way to go to get rid of personal demons. If anything, it adds on,"

Mrs. Weasley piped in, "If there's anything He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is committed to, it's killing Muggles and anyone who stands in his way,"

Dumbledore rose and addressed the group, smiling, "Perhaps we should be cautious until more is shown. After all, this is a legend. We would need the actual prophecy to make assumptions. I'll work on the Department of Mysteries to lend me a hand,"

The meeting was adjourned and Hermione went back to her final paper for Potions. She opened an inorganic chemistry book, found electron orbital theory and electron cloud theories, which made her bring out a sheet of paper. This was going to be a long night.