…Hi. Remember me? I'm that awful author that hasn't updated in about…ohhhh four monthsish??? Bad isn't it? And I fully and whole-heatedly apologize. It's just SCHOOL it's killing me these days. Plus there were the holidays and other things and yeah. But the POINT of the matter is that I have finally updated! WHOO! And with a rather killer chapter I must say. I hope it isn't too heavy for right now because I've been thoughtfully planning this out and it will all work out in the end, but here it is. So read it. Enjoy,
Chapter 8: The Prophecy
Oh my God, oh my God, OH MY GOD! Hermione took in shallow breaths as she made her way down the staircase towards Herbology, how could she have let this happen? How could she have kissed DRACO MALFOY?!?
THWAP.
She tripped down the last couple of steps and landed flat on her stomach. "Shit," she moaned, "Just shit." She rolled over, arching her back and extending her arms, then relaxing. "Nobody will ever believe this," she sighed, seriously contemplating the merits of lying on the dusty ground all day long.
There was no use ignoring the fact anymore, Draco Malfoy had changed. And whether the change was for the better, she still wasn't quite sure. The Malfoy she knew was conceited, spoiled, cruel, stupid, annoying, belligerent, insulting…oh how the list went on.
The things he was not were apologetic or caring or charming or…or most certainly not wanting to kiss her.
What on planet Earth could have sparked such an alarming turnaround in such a characteristically unpleasant boy? And, especially, why did said turnaround have to involve her so…inescapably?
Hermione sat up and leaned back on her hands. She was in too deep now; she would have to find out. She would solve the mystery of what happened to Draco Malfoy.
Although, in the meantime she planned on ignoring him heartily during lessons and annoying him by any means necessary while in the Common Room. He did, after all, take advantage of her when she was in a most vulnerable position and…well…she was down right pissed off!
The familiar ring sounded bringing along with it her irritatingly keen sense of responsibility. She had already missed one class today, she could not miss two!
So, Hermione hopped up, not even caring to make herself presentable, and sprinted towards the Greenhouses for Herbology.
It was only after she entered Greenhouse number four that she realized just who was in this class with her. The three people that she most desperately did not want around each other at the same time.
"Hermione!" Ron waved, "Over here! We saved you a seat!"
She smiled, walking quickly over to their table while trying to inconspicuously scan the room. Phew, no sign of him yet.
"Hi guys," she sat down and pulled out her notebooks only to find Ron looking at her pointedly. What was he doing? Oh. It was just then that she noticed Harry sitting beside him and looking extremely sour. After the morning's other err…events she had completely forgotten about their argument. "Harry," she reached for his arm and was glad when he didn't shrink away, "Can you ever forgive me for acting like a total idiot?"
He rolled his eyes, "More like a complete psycho case,"
She cringed, "Alright then, can you ever forgive me for acting like a complete psycho case?"
He grabbed for her hand, "Just as long as it doesn't happen again," she laughed and nodded, "AND," he added forcefully, "Let's promise not to talk about Malfoy any more. OK?"
Hermione almost yelped for joy, she could not have planned it better herself. "Harry," she beamed, "I could not think of anything else I would much rather promise. No more!"
"Here, here!" Ron joined and they all laughed, Hermione supremely enjoying their familiar company and natures. She was so glad they were her best friends. It was all one really needed in life, friendship and laughter…wait! Did someone just walk in the door-
False alarm. It was only professor Sprout. That was a close one.
"Hermione?"
"What?" She turned back to her friends to find them looking at her expectantly. "I'm sorry I didn't hear you I was…" Harry was already starting to look suspicious, "I was just thinking about how glad I was to have you as friends!" They smiled back at her.
Hey, it was the truth! Just not all of it.
She felt her smile begin to fade sitting there and watching Harry and Ron talk. Hiding this was beginning to exhaust her. She didn't know how long she could keep it up, like if he had walked in the door just now she probably would have cracked or blown her cover or messed up something. She smiled at her friends again and felt her heart ache, oh God please don't let me have to choose between them she begged silently.
But Hermione was lucky that day, because Draco didn't show up to Herbology. In fact, he didn't show up to any of his lessons.
And while this should have made Hermione extremely happy, it only served to make her so paranoid about running in to him that by the time she reached the common room she could barely stop her knees from knocking together.
Because not knowing what would happen was killing her. What would he do? What would he say? What was waiting for her on the other side of this picture?
This was ridiculous, she finally decided. She couldn't face him in this state! She was so tightly wound she'd probably hex him by accident if he made any sudden movements, which wouldn't be too upsetting aside from the fact that she'd probably get sent to Azkaban for it. No, what she needed was to be cool, calm, and collected.
She needed to release some of her nervous energy.
Perhaps some erratic dancing would help unwind her knotted nerves? So, she put down her books and promptly started to flail and bounce about like some strung out club dancer. That's right just get it all out Hermione, get it all out. Wooo. She jabbed her right arm up to the right and down to the left in a disco motion Woohoo! Shake it! And for the grand finale she whipped out the air guitar Rock on! Excellent! Rock-
"Feeling a little stressed there Hermione?"
"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" she flew so high up in the air that Draco was afraid he might have to catch her so she wouldn't hurt herself, "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
She could practically see the pleasure radiating off of him, catching her so off guard like this, "Just coming back to my bedroom before going to dinner is all. I hope that doesn't bother you…too much,"
"Of course not!" she quipped though she could still hear her voice shaking, "It's just, you weren't at any of your lessons today!"
He looked touched, "Aw you noticed. Did you miss me?"
"NO!" she cried, then pointed an accusing finger at him, "You snuck up on me!"
His lips curved upward in the most self-satisfied way, "Are you suggesting that I knew you would be in front of the common room doing to disco inferno?" He then did a mortifyingly accurate impression of her dancing.
Oh what fresh hell? Was it too much to ask for the floor to open up and swallow her whole?
Then he started laughing.
"Stop it!" she raged, "I order you to stop it this instant!"
"Relax Hermione! I'm only laughing and that's what friends do together, they laugh. You know ha ha ha."
"Yes well friends laugh with each other not at each other Malfoy," she sniffed.
"Draco."
"What?" she gave him a puzzled look.
"I asked you to call me Draco remember? After the…tax?"
She turned away, "Oh right. Draco." She'd just choose to ignore that last comment.
"So are you going to open the door Draco or shall I?"
He smiled and motioned to the door, "Be my guest Hermione,"
She said the password and couldn't help smiling back, so this was what being on civil terms with Malfoy felt like. Who would ever have believed it?
Hermione could not remember ever having more fun while doing her homework. It was so wonderful not to have to constantly be on edge waiting for the next attack or to hold her tongue while he made some senseless, prejudice comment. It was almost like…hanging out with Harry and Ron.
She sat on the floor with her work spread on the coffee table in front of a roaring fire. She didn't go to dinner because Draco had fixed them both grilled cheeses and she was just finishing hers off. She had to admit it was delicious, not to mention her favourite.
He lay down on the couch behind her, "So, is that the best grilled cheese you've ever eaten or what?"
She laughed, "I admit it is delicious," she took another bite, "Did you know it's my favourite?"
He put on a surprised look, Yes he did, "Is it? What a coincidence."
She nodded, "Yeah I know," she took another bite, "So where were you today? Out torturing poor little first years?"
"Har dee har har Hermione, but no. I'm not Weasley. Ow!" she had punched him in the arm, "Watch it!"
She turned to face him, "No, you watch it."
He laughed and raised his hands in defeat, "Alright, alright, no bad comments about the gruesome twosome, I've got it." She rolled her eyes, but he noticed it was only half heartedly. "So today," he stretched out on his back, "I was granted permission to stay here and catch up on all the work I missed since I was away for so long." He looked at her, "Big mystery wasn't it?"
But Hermione was deep in thought. This was her perfect opportunity to learn just where Malfoy had been for the past month. "I know an even bigger one. Where did you go Draco? Where were you for all this time?"
He shifted his gaze to the ceiling and sighed. So there it was. Out loud. She had finally asked him. Now what was he supposed to say?
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
She moved his feet and sat down on the couch facing him, "Try me."
He sat up and faced her, "If I told you I'd have to kill you."
"I'm being serious Draco."
"So am I."
She stood up in frustration, "God you're so insufferable! I thought we were friends. Now you can't even tell me one little thing?"
He looked at her intently, "It's not one little thing Hermione. It's one rather large thing."
"Well can you at least answer this? Wherever you went, is that the reason you've been acting so different?"
He lay back down on the couch feeling the conversation begin to spin out of control. He didn't want to tell her, not right now, not like this. Not when they had gotten so far, if he told her now it would all be ruined.
"Well?" she said impatiently.
"…Yes."
She seemed to absorb the information for a moment, "Was my necklace a portkey? Because I can't understand how it could have transported you wherever you went."
He sat up, not really considering this before. "I never really thought about that, but I don't think a portkey could have transported me where I went." But someone planted that necklace on her, he realized, someone must've known what it did. He stood up and started pacing.
"What is it?" she asked.
Dumbledore had said that it was unorthodox, even for his taste. That "they" had decided it was necessary. "You said your grandparents gave you that necklace?"
She nodded, "Yes,"
"Do they know Dumbledore?"
"No, they're muggles. But what has that got to do with anything?"
This whole thing, he finally realized, was all a plan. Someone had wanted him to go to the future where they knew he would fall in love with Hermione and where they knew he would come back and make her fall in love with him. But Hermione's grandparents? And why?
"Are you absolutely sure that you're grandparents don't know Dumbledore or any other member of the magical community?"
"Well…no, but I just can't see how they would. They don't know anything about our World."
"Right. I've got to see Dumbledore," there was a determined look in his eyes. Something was going on that he didn't know about and he was going to find out just what that was.
"Well I'm coming with you," he looked back at her and saw the same determination reflecting back at him through her eyes. His palms sweat just hearing her say those words, that she wanted to come with him, be the same place that he was, go where he was going. She looked so lovely by the glow of the fire.
"Hermione I don't think you should-"
"After all I've learned so far this involves me. It was my necklace after all, I have a right to know. I'm coming with you."
"OK, I'll bring you with me, but I can't promise you that Dumbledore will let you stay."
"Fine, but I'm coming now. Let's go."
As they ran through the halls Hermione was reminded of her numerous late night adventures with Harry and Ron. The secret of where Draco had gone, why her necklace had transported him, it was all so puzzling. Like, where could the necklace possibly have taken him that a portkey couldn't reach? The moon? Another planet? Another Universe? The only thing that she knew it couldn't do was-
"Draco!" she whispered urgently lighting her wand with his, "My necklace, it didn't transport you to a different place did it? It took you to a different time! You traveled through time!"
Draco kept staring ahead; they were almost at Dumbledore's office. A few more steps and he would see the silhouette of the gargoyle in the distance,
"Draco!" she hissed, "I'm right aren't I?"
They were in front of the gargoyle, he muttered the password.
"What year did you go to?"
They stepped onto the stairs and started rising upwards.
"Draco!"
"Shh!"
They rode in silence until they were standing right in front of the office doors. He grabbed her shoulders and wheeled her around to face him.
He leaned in very close to her left ear, soaking in her heavenly scent, "You're right," he whispered sending shivers down her spine, "I did travel through time. I went to the future."
Then the doors opened drenching Hermione in pale light, only serving to make her feel more like a deer caught in the headlights. The future that's where he had gone. The future. And she was involved…The future…And she was involved…
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger. To what do I owe the impromptu pleasure of your company?"
Draco stepped forward, "Professor I was just thinking over some things about recent events when a very troubling thought occurred to me. Miss Granger insisted she come along, but I don't know if her presence would be…such a good idea at this time."
Dumbledore observed Hermione, who still appeared very dazed, over his half-moon spectacles and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Miss Granger would you like to sit down?" Hermione nodded, "Please," he motioned to a chair. "And Mr. Malfoy you too."
They both sat down across from Dumbledore's desk while he seated himself behind it. "Well Draco I think it would be very rude to ask Miss Granger to leave now, so why don't you just tell me what's troubling you."
"Sir, should we explain to Hermione first?"
"If she has any questions I'm sure she'll ask."
Draco looked at her uncertainly, "Well, alright." He cleared his throat, "Hermione was wondering if her necklace had been a portkey sir, since it had transported me and all, and I realized that I'd never thought about that before. It made me think that someone had to have bewitched her necklace and planned for this whole thing to happen. And then I remembered that you'd said it yourself, 'it was unorthodox even for your taste,' you said. What I'm trying to figure out sir is who did this and why. Surely not Hermione's grandparents? She told me they're muggles."
He stared at them both thoughtfully, "Miss Granger had to get her magic from someone didn't she? Plus, we magical folk aren't above reaching out to our fellow man, magical or not, for help when the time calls for it."
"But Professor," Draco cried standing up, "What does that mean?!"
"It means Draco," he answered calmly, "That certain arrangements had to be made."
"Sir," Hermione spoke surprising them, Draco had almost forgotten she'd been in the room. "Did you know my grandparents?"
"Yes Miss Granger, I met them when I was asked to contact them last September," her eyes widened in recognition, "Yes Miss Granger right before your birthday. I was asked to make one minor adjustment to your birthday present, which ended up taking quite a long time."
Hermione's mind was spinning the future…her necklace…involved…minor adjustment…involved…her necklace…
"So was this all planned then?" Malfoy demanded angrily, "Even our positions as Head Boy and Girl? Was it all just one big set up?"
"No," Dumbledore boomed, sounding insulted, "I never appoint positions unless the recipients fully deserve them."
Draco looked sheepish, "Sorry Professor."
He waved it away, "I made sure things were taken care of as conservatively as I could. That necklace wasn't even supposed to do anything unless it was absolutely necessary. Obviously it was. Mr. Malfoy was simply a ghastly character before he was spirited away, wouldn't you agree Miss Granger?"
But Hermione didn't seem to notice she was being spoken to. Draco looked at her with concern.
"Miss Granger?"
"Hermione?"
But she was lost in thought. Draco had been sent to the future…her grandparents had been contacted…it had been planned…she was involved…he came back changed…
"Professor Dumbledore who asked you to contact my grandparents?"
Dumbledore sat back in his chair and smiled, "Ah what a bright girl you are Miss Granger, always asking the right things. To answer your question, the Head of the Department of Mysteries asked me to contact your grandparents."
She felt her heart sink. The Department of Mysteries. They Department of Mysteries had asked Dumbledore to bewitch her necklace so that Draco would go to the future and come back changed and she was involved. Why her necklace? She looked at Draco…she remembered all the things he'd been saying to her…
"Wh-why my necklace?" she asked softly, fearing the worst.
Dumbledore eyed Draco who was busy staring at the floor, "Did Mr. Malfoy not tell you who he ran into in the future?"
"No," she answered almost inaudibly, "He didn't want to talk about it."
"Oh my…" Dumbledore stood up, "This has become very complicated." He folded his hands together. "Well I'll just tell you what I know and let Mr. Malfoy fill in the holes for you shall I?
"The Department of Mysteries is infamous for very many things, but one of the most intriguing of all is its Hall of Prophecies." Both Draco and Hermione looked up at him in disbelief, it couldn't be, "As you both know there was a very famous prophecy about a certain boy who lived and who would live to defeat the dark lord. Well new prophecies have been made and new dark lords have been predicted, along with new saviors." He fixed them both with his most piercing stare, "And after the overwhelming success of the last prophecy the Unspeakables are taking these new prophecies much more seriously. Especially the most recent one detailing the birth of the Wizarding World's latest hero. Would you like me to read it to you?"
Draco looked at Hermione, but she was staring determinedly ahead. He nodded at the Headmaster.
Dumbledore began,
"A love born out of hate most strong
To one of brains the other brawn
Two prisoners of their own flesh
A bond no one on Earth would guess
Two opposites in constant strife
A tie so strong that no one's knife
Could bring them down; a child is born!
Into said s'pposed world of scorn
Unto this world that it shall save
That is of course, if they've forgave."
Dumbledore's last line echoed in the hollow silence of his office. Draco didn't know what to do, should he comfort Hermione? He also couldn't help wondering, was it Elsie or David? This chosen one?
"Of course you both know my opinion of prophecies, one I'm sure that Miss Granger shares with me."
Hermione looked up at him with shining eyes, "S-so you don't believe it professor?" she choked out, "You don't think it's true?"
"Miss Granger I don't know whether it is true or not, I too cannot see the future. But what I do know is that it isn't logical to live one's life according to a prophecy. It eliminates all passion and free will; all spontaneity."
He turned to Draco, "What I also know is that Mr. Malfoy did travel to the future and what he found there was not some fulfilled prophecy or international hero, but something real." Draco looked up at him, "Something that means very much to him."
Hermione felt her muscles sag with weight; this was all too much to handle. The Department of Mysteries, out to interfere with her future.
"Now you two look exhausted, why don't you go back to your common room and get some rest. It's the weekend tomorrow so you can sleep in." They both got up and moved towards the door, "Oh and Miss Granger," Hermione turned around, "Remember what I said. Don't let some silly prophecy run your life." She nodded and waved goodbye.
Riding the descending stairs with Draco she resolved to do just that. This prophecy would never be fulfilled, no matter what she had to do. She would stop Draco…no Malfoy from feeling whatever freaky emotion he did for her, which should be easy enough, and she would put an end to all of this.
She was not going to be any Unspeakables experiment; she would not go through with this prophecy.
She would never fall in love with Draco Malfoy.
Wicked huh? Can't wait to update for you all again! Hopefully soon, but I cant make any promises.
