Remember, Believe (Part 2)
Sirius curled up with a blanket and the box of photographs on the couch. He looked at them for hours while sipping a mug of hot tea. With every second, every minute, every hour, he hoped even more that she was still alive.
He looked closely at one photograph. Rhia wasn't looking at him this time, rather she was studying a piece of paper carefully. Sirius squinted at the writing, trying to make the words out. He blinked and the when he looked back, the scroll had disappeared.
"Come on, Rhia," he whispered. "Show me where you are - if you really are alive."
She smiled faintly up at him and dashed out of the picture. Sirius sighed and put it back in the box, picking up another picture. He sighed as Rhia ducked out again and came back with something clutched tightly in her hand.
It was the parchment roll. She unfurled it and Sirius squinted again, trying to read it.
The Dark comes silently,
Sweeping one away
Captive for eternity
Perhaps, they say
When twin names are christened
Prison chains are loosened
For a moment.
When twin dreams
Connect, the moment
Lasts forever.
Sirius smiled slightly at Rhia. She grinned back at him, but he caught a hint of sadness curbing her smile. He quickly copied the two paragraphs down onto a piece of paper and read them over again. It didn't seem that difficult to figure out.
Sirius scribbled words over the prophecy. 'The Dark' was obviously Voldemort, and he probably had come silently. He had certainly swept her away for what seemed like eternity. Perhaps, they say. Even the prophecy was unsure.
"When twin names are christened," murmured Sirius. "Of course. Rhiannon and Rhiannon. That's already happened." He checked that off. "Prison chains are loosened?" he pondered, scratching his chin.
"Hey, Sirius," said Remus from the door, grinning. He smiled at the box of photographs on the couch. "Reminiscing?"
"Yeah, I guess so. I found a prophecy in one of the photos, though. It's been pretty easy, at least so far," said Sirius, his quill scratching against the parchment as he wrote. "Prison chains are loosenedmaybe that means that she's free for a day, or something?"
Remus leaned over to look at the prophecy written down on Sirius's paper. He scanned it over twice and raised his eyebrows. "Don't you think that the second sentence of the second paragraph might mean that she was able to let you read the prophecy?"
Sirius frowned for a moment and wrote it down. "Maybe. How can twin dreams connect? Do they have to dream the same thing, or something?" he sighed in frustration.
Remus shrugged and disappeared into the kitchen, reappearing with an apple. He bit into it and sat down beside Sirius again.
"I never was much good at divination," laughed Sirius as he rolled up the piece of parchment and stood up, grabbing a chicken leg from the kitchen and gnawing on it hungrily.
"No, and neither was I," chuckled Remus as he finished the apple and the core disappeared into thin air.
Ron thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his robes and gritted his teeth. How could Hermione agree to going to dinner with Draco Malfoy? He could only hope that she would change her mind sometime.
A cold gust of wind swept his hair in every direction and he absentmindedly reached a hand up to flatten it, not succeeding. Ron closed his eyes and sighed as he continued to walk.
"Hey!" shouted a voice as Ron collided with a solid body. His eyes fluttered open and he blushed, embarrassed. But that silvery hair and tone of voice was familiartoo familiar.
"Malfoy?" he hissed as Draco stood up.
"And Weasel," sneered Draco, his lip curling.
"Why are you taking Hermione to dinner?" demanded Ron, glaring at Draco with a look of pure loathing on his voice.
Draco smiled quietly. "Jealous, Weasley?" he murmured. "Maybe you're just not - "
"I am not jealous!" shouted Ron, his hand balling into a fist. The icy edge to Draco's eyes was identical to his father's as they stared furiously at each other.
"Too bad all of Potter's friends had to come for the birth of his daughter," Draco sighed. "Hermione would've been just fine by herself. I suppose that criminal and that raggedy teacher are here too? Any chance I'd bump into them?"
"Quite likely," said a voice over Ron's shoulder. Remus smiled at Draco. "Ah, another former student of mine. How lovely."
Draco's eyes narrowed and he sneered at Remus and Ron. Ron glanced at his fingers, which were fingering his wand slowly.
"Hermione would never forgive you for killing us," Ron growled as his fingers touched his own wand and he gritted his teeth.
Draco turned on his heel, his cloak whirling around his sides as he walked away from them without another word. Ron turned to Lupin.
"What're you doing here? You didn't have to help," said Ron, slightly flushed from embarrassment and anger.
Remus smiled kindly. "Oh, I didn't want to miss that chance. I was actually on my way to Harry and Ginny's to see little Rhia."
Ron nodded and turned to step in stride with Remus. "What was the deal with her name, anyway? I don't think I ever heard."
Remus's face clouded and he remained silent for a moment, pursing his lips. "As I told Harry, it's best that Sirius tells you."
Ron sighed and continued to walk, his pace quickening. Remus followed, smiling at Ron's curiosity and quick temper.
Ron knocked lightly before pushing open the door. Remus followed, wiping off his boots on the rug and swinging off his cloak. Harry and Ginny walked in, Ginny carrying Rhia in her arms. The little girl was asleep, her tiny fingers clutched tightly onto a loose thread of the blanket.
"Hello, Ron, Remus," Harry greeted them, smiling crookedly. His eyes followed Rhia as she was carried into the living room.
"I ran into Draco," Ron blurted out. Remus tensed behind him and Ginny whirled, waking Rhia. Quietly, she shushed the baby's cries and turned to look at Ron. Harry's eyes dropped to his feet and he pursed his lips.
"So? What did he say to you?" Harry asked to quietly. Ron was aware of all the eyes on him. He swallowed.
"Well, he seemed generally annoyed that all of us were here, but he didn't say anything bad about Hermione, I guess," muttered Ron, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks.
"And?" prompted Remus softly.
"He said I was jealous," Ron whispered, his teeth clenching and his hands balling into fists. None of them spoke for a moment.
"Perhaps he speaks more truth than we give him credit for," murmured Ginny, lowering herself carefully onto the couch. She began to play with Rhia quietly, avoiding Ron's eyes.
Ron whirled and slammed the door behind him as he left. Harry went to the window, watching him disappear into the distance. He sighed softly and shook his head.
"He's never wanted to admit it," said Remus softly, smiling slightly. "He'll realize it one day, though, I think."
"You think?" said Ginny softly, a smile creeping over her face as well. "He hasn't for, let's see, about seventeen years."
"Yes, well, I think that it's Hermione's job to ask him out if she does like him," sighed Harry, running a hand through his messy black hair.
"But what if she doesn't?" murmured Ginny, her smile fading.
Harry grinned suddenly. "Oh, I'm sure she does. She and Draco - they'll never work, and she knows it." He shrugged. "Maybe she's just trying to make Ron realize it by himself - or maybe she just wants to tempt him," he laughed.
Ginny's smile returned and she stood up, walking back and forth across the floor. Rhia gave a soft sigh and her eyelids closed as she drifted off to sleep.
Hermione knotted her hair at the back of her head and draped a thin, periwinkle blue shawl over her shoulders as she floated down the stairs to wait for Draco. She adjusted her earrings quickly and smiled as Draco walked up and touched her lightly on the shoulder.
"Hello, Draco," she greeted him.
He made a soft noise in his throat and didn't speak for a moment. When he did, his tone was of utter astonishment. "You look - gorgeous, Hermione."
She smiled slightly. "Thanks. Are you ready?"
He nodded and they entered the restaurant silently, finding a table for two in the corner. Hermione opened the menu up and looked directly at her plate, saying, "Salmon."
An elegant dish of salmon appeared and she smiled up at Draco. He closed his own menu and ordered salmon as well. Hermione sipped her drink quietly as she studied Draco. He had certainly changed in the fourteen years, but so had everyone.
His silvery hair was as endearing as ever, but his eyes held an edge that was so icy, Hermione couldn't help but notice.
"What did you have to do with the Dark side after Hogwarts, Draco?" she asked softly.
He started and his hand hit his crystal glass, knocking it off the table. It crashed loudly and shards of crystal flew in all directions. Hermione pulled out her wand and murmured a spell. The crystal pieces disappeared and reappeared as a brand new crystal glass.
People around them muttered and turned their eyes away from the table. The volume in the room rose again and Hermione raised her eyebrows, looking questioningly at him.
"Nothing," he muttered, turning slightly red.
"Come on," she murmured. "I swear I won't tell Harry or anyone. I'm just curious." She smiled warmly at him and he fidgeted in his seat.
"All right. I was" began Draco, his voice dropping. Finally, he shook his head and sighed. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I just don't think that I can tell you yet."
Hermione smiled slightly. "That's okay. I think I might be able to guess."
Draco's eyes widened. "Please don't."
Hermione's smile widened. "Don't worry. I'll still keep my promise. I won't tell Harry or anyone that you are Voldemort's heir."
Draco froze in place, his icy eyes fixed on Hermione's brown ones. "How did you know?" he whispered. "I mean, I'm not anymore. I abandoned that."
"Really, Draco?" Hermione's eyes danced with laughter as she speared another piece of pink salmon and elegantly placed it in her mouth. "You're absolutely sure about that?" Her eyes twinkled as she watched him.
He glared at her. She just smiled sweetly back at him.
Hermione rapped urgently on Harry's door and waited impatiently, tapping her foot on the brick porch. Harry pulled the door open slightly and looked out at Hermione as he flicked the porch light on.
"Goodness, Hermione, come in! You must be freezing!" said Harry as he looked her up and down. She hadn't bothered to change out of her evening dress from her date with Draco and she was shivering in the cold wind outside.
She stepped inside gratefully and held her breath for a moment before letting all of her words out in a jumble. "Oh, Harry, I was right! Draco was - and I still believe he is - Voldemort's heir. I don't think he's given it up either!" she cried.
Harry's eyes widened and he glanced at Ginny. She was staring nervously at Hermione. Harry put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure?" he asked softly.
She nodded. "Positive. He wasn't going to tell me, but I guessed and he agreed. I promised I wouldn't tell you, Harry."
"I can't believe that you would do this, butthanks for breaking your promise," he whispered. The end of Hermione's mouth quirked as she smiled at him.
"I'm not as dumb as I may seem," she murmured softly.
Harry's gaze sharpened as he watched her. She continued to smile softly. "Oh, Harry, I know everything. I knew from the start that nothing would ever work with Draco and I."
Harry raised his eyebrows. He'd had some intuition that she'd known, but he'd doubted that she'd admit it this early. "But you don't know about - "
"Ron?" she finished softly, staring out the window. "Yes, I know about him, too. I just - I really do like him, Harry, but he has to figure out for himself that he likes me, too."
Harry nodded in agreement. "That's what I figured you knew." Hermione grinned slightly as she slowly paced the room.
"If you want me too, I can continue seeing Draco. I might be able to find out more about hisplans for his status," murmured Hermione as she clasped her hands behind her back, still pacing.
Harry hesitated before answering. "You know that would be dangerous, Hermione"
"I know," she snapped. "Why does everyone think that I can't take care of myself?"
"Let her do it, Harry," said Ginny softly, looking up at Harry. He stopped to look at her and shook his head, sighing.
"All right. Continue seeing him, then. Am I allowed to tell Ron?" Harry asked, chuckling slightly as he smiled at Hermione.
She wrinkled her nose and winked at him. "Not yet. I will in due time, don't worry. I won't make him suffer that much."
A/N: Okay, I forgot to include a disclaimer in the previous part, so this counts for both of them: J.K. Rowling owns everyone except for the two Rhias.