If this chapter is a bit confusing, I'm sorry. That's just the way it came out without revealing too much and revealing just enough for you to still follow. Frankly; it required a lot of edits.

If you have some suggestions, I'd be willing to consider it to help the clarity, but I cannot compromise the storyline.

Disclaimer: No, I don't own the rights to the Harry Potter franchise. Why…what have you heard?

-Casualties in War-

Words of outrage met Dumbledore's request.

"You can't be serious, Albus. You can't expect us to comply," Minerva never usually questioned the Headmaster, but it was high time she did.

"I'm afraid so, it is not a hard request, is it?"

"It would not be hard, no. But it would be morally difficult as a teacher. Why are you so intent on pairing them up for everything?"

"It's a drastic measure on my part. I was confident that they would be fine on their own, but something has changed. Perhaps they need a little meddling."

Dumbledore cast a glance towards the other professors and the feedback he got read mutiny.

With a sigh, he continued, "Forgive me, but I see no reason to not do it."

"I'm rather fond of Miss Granger, for one. I do not wish to see her harmed or worse."

The others chimed in their confirmation of Minerva's worries.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and supposed it wouldn't hurt to—for this time only—include his fellow staff members in on his intentions

"There will be no intentional harm done towards Mister Malfoy or Miss Granger if they were brought together. It's quite the opposite, really," he paused at their confusion, "Early summer, Sybill here had delivered a most troubling prophecy."

"It was the Eye you see," Trelawney interjected, "It sought me out."

Minerva struggled not to scoff at her and instead settled for rolling her eyes.

"Yes, well. Regardless of the source, the prophecy is what will help us tip the balance in favor of our side if things go accordingly. We certainly couldn't do any worse than what was already foreseen."

"Prophecy?"

"Perhaps, it would be better if I showed you all."

The Headmaster brought out a pensieve and pressed the tip of his wand to his temple and carefully extracted a silvery strand. A memory. His memory.

Bringing it down to the surface of the pensieve, he then whispered a spell to project the contents in three dimensions.

The professors looked intently on the figures while Dumbledore frowned and Trelawney retained an air of smugness at her own abilities.

x

Dumbledore was surprised at Trelawney's behavior. They were walking down the corridor to discuss the incoming students when Trelawney stopped mid-step and exclaimed in a coarse voice so much like her own yet different, possessed.

"Foretold to lose to Dark—"

He listened closely, intent on remembering every detail of her words recognizing what he was hearing as a prophecy of some sort.

"Light has but one chance.
A girl. A warrior. A fallen.
The key to the end
But for which side?

"Born into Dark's womb,
Coerced into Light's embrace.

A boy. A traitor. A savior.
Her One to befriend
But how can she?

"An earthen girl from a mark which lies,
An untainted boy from Earth's riches.
A strife. A friendship. A choice.
Together they'll mend
But when will they?

"A stitch in time saves nine,
Change the future through the past.
A will. A way. A need.
A love without pretend
But can they fix it?—

"—years should change their appointed times from—Albus, are you alright? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

x

The memory ended and the figures disappeared.

Trelawney wasn't satisfied by the ending of the memory, but it was there nonetheless.

He began to share his interpretation, "An 'untainted boy from Earth's riches' 'born into Dark's womb' is Mister Malfoy with pure blood and a history of dark wizards in his bloodline, you cannot dispute. However, Miss Granger… 'an earthen girl', her muggle-born origin of course, but what of 'a mark which lies'? Nonetheless, who else but Miss Granger is a warrior for our cause who has great strife with Mister Malfoy? The latter half of the prophecy speaks of fixing their relationship's current state to change their future, our future. Do you not agree?"

"Suppose I believe that the prophecy concerns those two. That does not justify—"

"Minerva, were you not listening? 'Light has but one chance'. For a reason unknown to us, she is the key and together with him they create the shade of grey that would tip the balance in either Dark or Light's favor."

"I was merely thinking of Miss Granger's well being. Just one second, Albus, is this why Draco Malfoy was made Head Boy?" Her nostrils flared.

"I admit I had an ulterior motive in choosing Mister Malfoy as Head Boy over other equally qualified yet less mischievous and more trustworthy boys. This was it, yes."

"And the shared common room and lavatory?!" Minerva had fought him furiously on the last part before the school year began but he had been unyielding, "You changed the location of the Head Quarters from their own individual dormitories to a shared one."

"Yes, that too."

"That is dangerous for the both of them, Albus."

"You would be overjoyed then, to know that these two were destined for each other from the start even without my meddling."

She gasped, "Impossible."

"Improbable, but so very true. Unconvinced from my deductions still, Minerva? You see, I paid a visit to the Department of Mysteries and found something quite peculiar. An orb with both their names, retelling the same prophecy you have all just heard."

"Just because there is a record of the prophecy with their names does not mean that they are fated for one another."

"If you choose to ignore the clues in the prophecy, then no; it does not. Which is why I call to your attention this rune imprinted upon the orb," he extracted a piece of parchment with a rune transcribed upon it.

"What does it mean?"

"Bathsheda, if you would?"

The Ancient Runes professor slowly made her way to the front and examined the parchment and exclaimed, "Quas comprobo! The fates approve! Merlin have mercy."

Dumbledore tucked the parchment safely into his desk once more, "I came to the same conclusion."

"Forgive the ignorant, but an explanation is greatly appreciated."

Bathsheda Babbling turned to grip Minerva's arms, "My dear, Minerva, this rune has only shown up a few times in history for people whom fate deemed soul mates."

"So it is unavoidable then? You're telling me that the entire world's safety is depending on those two falling in love?"

"It is not as simple as that, I'm sure. However, essentially it is that. ," Dumbledore faced the entire room of witches and wizards who did not quite believe what they heard; "Do I have your cooperation?"

A squeaky voice in the crowd, it was Professor Flitwick, "Dumbledore, I do not believe in the ends justifying the means. However, your instincts have been known to be correct so far. I will pair them up at every chance, but I will not force them to like one another's company."

"That is more than I had hoped. Thank you. And the rest of you?"

They nodded their approval yet showed their uneasiness in their hesitance.

"You are dismissed."

The professors filed out leaving only the Headmaster and Minerva.

"One moment, Albus. If they are soul mates, why would we need to interfere? Eventually—"

"Eventually is too late. We need it now. I can feel his power growing."

"You mean, You-Know-Who?"

"Yes."

"If the two knew of this, they would still not consent."

"How right you are, which is why they will not be informed."

Weighing his options on informing his most trusted ally, he fell silent.

"Albus?"

"Minerva, are you aware of the Malfoys' obsession over purity?"

She did not know where he was leading her. Of course she knew, most everybody in the Wizarding world knew. She merely nodded.

"The extent is quite amazing," he glanced at her and continued once again, "To maintain that level of purity and malicious intent, they have developed a curse. Ingenious, really."

Minerva paled, "What is it? What's going to happen?"

"The curse, proditor; it is meant for traitors to the Malfoy bloodline," he paused once more, "It kills both conspirators, Minerva, it kills. Within two years of matrimony or relations," he couldn't stress that word enough.

The old witch's cheek's colored slightly at the implications.

"We have two roads lying before us. One leads to a dark, unmentionable world where the two will be no doubt feeling a void if they should even live. And another, a brighter path, not exactly perfect, but rid of Voldemort," she flinched, "where the two will be happy, for a time."

"They should be informed for that exact reason."

"I am thinking of the greater good! Do you really not see? Our side is destined to lose unless these two are together because there is something about it that changes the future so that our side is able to keep a hold over the balance between good and evil! How can they truly have a 'love without pretend' if they knew of the consequences that would result from falling in love?... or not falling in love…"

"And what of Harry Potter? Where is he in all this?"

His eyes regained their softened glimmer for a second before vanishing, "I have no doubt that in the end Harry will face Voldemort and win. However, there is something that Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy will provide or do to ensure his chance at it."

"You mean you were serious that you had no idea why those two should be together. You don't question it?"

"I wish I did. Alas, no. They are of vital importance, though, and I will not reverse my decisions."

He pinched the bridge of his nose again.

"I have provided the environment for true love to grow; now they must plant the seed. That is not too harsh is it?"

She was too speechless.

"Other than that, they do have a choice. There is always a choice…We must come to certain terms. We all die eventually. Some sooner than others."

x

Sadly, she left, leaving Dumbledore to worry if he was right in his machinations.

Love is such tricky business. Force without being forceful? Urge without really urging? Foster without having a hand in it… the decision was hard on the old Headmaster. But he did it.

Such double standards rising from such extreme conditions. He wanted them to have free will in order for the prophecy to be fulfilled or exacted to benefit Light, yet he would order such a thing of his staff despite their moral dilemma to try and limit the choices of the two.

The unknown, yes, he really detested the unknown. If he knew how the two's union would help their side, he would order them to do just that without having to corrupt the purity of their love and how it would be conceived.

He had not wanted to be this way. He did not like using his students as pawns, but it had to be done. Fate was on his side and that was all he needed to justify himself. Yet he still felt guilty.

In the end he comforted himself with knowing that in war, more than a few died from both sides. This way, less died. Less casualties. Less innocents.

x

Something was brewing.

Surprised? So am I with my shady updating history. You should probably overlook the horrible use of Latin, since I'm studying French.

.:IMPORTANT:.

I should state this now before any of you get confused… Mark is not an insignificant character, he's very important actually. And in this story, don't take what everybody says at face value. Just a little fair warning because this story is about to get a lot longer and a lot more complicated than I had originally thought. Actually, I'm so far off from seeing the end of this; it makes me want to cry. I might have to split it into two different stories. Oh well, enjoy.