Chapter 12 - The Prophecy Revealed

"Ronald!" Mrs Weasley squealed excitedly as she saw her son and his friends approach. She pulled her son in to a mother bear hug, then did the same to Harry and Hermione in turn. She then sent unsure smiles to both Draco and Blaise. Mr Weasley gave the trio a jolly hand shake each. "How has school been, you three?"

"Oh, it's been fine Dad. Same old." Ron said with a dismissive wave. "We need to talk to you both about something."

Mr and Mrs Weasley looked at one another with fearful expressions. "Is somebody in trouble? Is Ginevra alright?" Mrs Weasley looked panicked.

"Mrs Weasley, Ginny is perfectly fine, I assure you" Hermione said.

"There is someone who needs your help though..." Ron said as he, Harry, Hermione and Blaise looked towards Draco.

Draco gulped as the Weasley's eyes fell on his. "Um, I'm Draco Malfoy. I know you have probably heard terrible things about me and... and they are most definitely true..." Draco hung his head in shame, "I haven't always been the kindest to these three" he gestured to each, his eyes lingering on Hermione's, "and that is putting it politely... however, this year we have become friends and we've helped each other in ways we didn't realise were even possible. I'm asking for your help knowing that you don't owe me anything, knowing that you aren't expected to help me, knowing that nobody would blame you if you choose not to but I'm asking you because right now I have nowhere else to turn."

Mr Weasley gave Draco a quick nod, "alright Draco, what's going on? What do you need?"

Hermione placed her hand on to Draco's shoulder indicating to the group that she would take over from him, "as you know, just before this Summer, my parents were killed in a muggle car accident and I chose to go home instead of come to the Burrow," Mrs Weasley clutched Hermione's hand as she let out a pained breath, "when I got home I found a letter and an official document. I am not Hermione Granger, my parents were my adoptive parents. I was really born as Hermione Zabini, daughter of Adrian and Adalane Zabini, twin sister of Blaise Zabini."

Mrs Weasley let out a gasp and looked towards Blaise, "how could this be?"

Blaise spoke up, "on the day Hermione and I were born, an old witch came to our Mother to relay a prophecy, our Mother was to 'give up' Hermione for the greater good. She found the Granger's who were more than thrilled to care for and raise Hermione. So that is what happened, they raised Hermione and my parents had to act as if they did not have another child besides me. It killed them everyday."

Hermione carried on for Blaise, "When I found the letter, I knew I needed to find my biological parents and twin brother. I thought of them and apparated, which I have never even been taught to do, my desire to see them was so great that I ended up right on Zabini Manor doorstep. I have had a powerful glamour placed on to me since birth." Hermione got out her wand and whispered a spell to shatter a window on the other side of the Three Broomsticks to make sure no eyes were on her, she then whispered the glamour charm to reveal her true appearance, "as you can see there are many similarities to Blaise. This is all true."

Mrs Weasley let out another, louder gasp "oh Hermione!" Mrs Weasley stood up and tackled Hermione in to the tightest Molly hug anyone had ever seen.

"Mrs Weasley, calm down," Hermione said as she patted her back in a soothing way.

"Hermione, you've been through so much in the last six months!" Mrs Weasley sobbed as she released Hermione.

Hermione muttered the glamour charm and said "it has been horrible but I found my family so it's not all bad."

Everyone's attention in the room was back to what they were all doing beforehand as Madame Rosmerta swore and cast a charm to fix her window. The fivesome and Mr and Mrs Weasley were silent as they digested everything they had been told. They didn't even realise when somebody pulled up a chair and sat down beside them, "I must say that was interesting." Everybody turned their attention on to Theo Nott who was looking rather relaxed and smug.

"Hermione Zabini. I think the Dark Lord would love to hear about that!" He clapped his hands together. "Yes, I'm sure he would."

A few things happened all at once. Ron and Harry drew their wands in unison, Draco pushed his body in front of Hermione as if sheilding her from Nott, Blaise pulled back his fist. A jet of red filled the room with a deafening crack and they were all blown backwards until they were in a pile of chair debris and dust. Hermione shot up with her wand raised looking around the room. Nott had vanished.

"Ronald, Hermione and Harry!" Mr Weasley barked, "you need to tell us what is going on, right now!" It was the first time they had seen Mr Weasley so angry and out of character. "We all nearly just died for Merlin's sake!" Worry was etched on every part of his normally friendly face.

"Not here, we need to act quickly before Nott relays the prophecy to Voldemort." Hermione was close to tears. What on earth was going to happen now?

"Everyone grab ahold of my hand," Mr Weasley commanded as he shoved his fist in to the middle of the group. Everyone placed their hands on to Mr Weasley and felt as if a hook was pulling them through a tiny hole by their nostrils. With a crack they appeared at the Burrow. "Now, tell us!"

Hermione was shaking, "Theo Nott is a Death Eater. He heard everything I said! He saw me change my appearance!" Hermione pulled her hair in agony. "He is going to tell Voldemort about the prophecy which means me and Blaise are no longer safe, neither are our parents. How foolish could I have been?" Hermione let the tears burst through, she was now scared. The most scared she had ever been. "I need to tell all of you about the prophecy but please, please help me save my parents first!"

Blaise looked at Hermione with a fierce courage, "let's go."

Mr Weasley put his fist to the middle of the group again, "grab ahold, I know where the Zabini Manor is, we will get your parents." Everybody grabbed ahold of Mr Weasley's arm once again and felt the familiar sensation of apparation.

As soon as Hermione landed in the foyer of Zabini Manor she called out Light's name who appeared instantly, "Miss Hermione, what is wrong?"

"Where are mum and dad?" Hermione asked panicked.

"In the Library, Miss Hermione. I will get them." Light looked worried so disappeared immediately and reappeared with Mr and Mrs Zabini.

Mrs Zabini ran forward to Hermione and Blaise and clutched them in to her arms, "what is going on?" Mr Zabini put his arm around Blaise's shoulder and kissed Hermione on the cheek.

At the worried expressions on her parents faces, Hermione burst in to terrifying sobs and fell to the floor. Draco rushed to Hermione's side and held her in his arms as Mrs Zabini gasped and latched on to Hermione's hands. "My darling, what in the name of Merlin is going on?"

Blaise spoke up for Hermione, "Voldemort will soon know of the prophecy about Hermione, we do not have much time."

Mr Zabini clenched his fists and spoke to Light, "we need to organise our departure from the Manor now. Gather our bags and take us to the Paris holiday home."

"No! Father, they will find you. You cannot go to any of our properties!" Blaise pleaded.

"Adrian, he's right. What are we going to do?" Mrs Zabini looked like she was going to be sick, "Hermione, Blaise, you need to leave, go back to Hogwarts where you are safe. We will leave and get in contact soon."

"This is absolutely absurd!" Mrs Weasley snapped, "of course you are coming to ours, we have plenty of room at the Burrow at the moment, that way you can still see and contact your children. I will not have it any other way!" Mrs Weasley looked sternly at Mrs Zabini. There was a moment of silence before Mrs Zabini threw her arms around Mrs Weasley in a thankful hug. "There, there dear." Mrs Weasley coaxed as she patted Mrs Zabini's shoulder.

XXX

Mr and Mrs Zabini were now surrounded by their luggage in the Burrow's kitchen. Light and the other house elves had obviously come with them, Light was currently helping Mrs Weasley make everybody cups of tea and sandwiches. Mr Weasley spoke up, "now that you and your parents are safe, Hermione, please tell us about this prophecy and what you would like our help with?"

Hermione took a deep breath and everyone looked to her with the upmost attention, "as Blaise said earlier, a witch told my Mother about a prophecy. This prophecy details the precise details of my birth; the date I was born, being born as a twin..." Hermione took another deep breath and closed her eyes.

Mrs Zabini stepped forward, grabbing on to her daughters hand, "allow me, darling." Mrs Zabini cleared her throat and spoke, all eyes were focused on her. "'On the nineteenth day of the ninth month, a duo will be born. If one is raised without magic, she is destined for greatness, befriending the one to be the boy who lived, she will help rid the world of evil. If raised with magic, she is destined for darkness and will be instrumental in the ruin of the world, killing the boy who lived.'" Mrs Zabini paused to let her words sink in. "This prophecy was told to me by an old witch who was present at the time of the prophecy's birth."

Hermione closed her eyes to try to stop the flow of tears. She didn't want to look at anyone. "I would never kill you Harry," she whispered. "That's why I didn't want to tell anyone."

Harry stood up and walked over to Hermione, he pulled her in to his arms and squeezed her tight, "I know you're not capable of that."

"If Voldemort finds the full details of the prophecy, he will do anything he can to kill Hermione, to get her out of the way. We had to give her away to ensure that she did not become an evil person under his thumb, she needed to stay as far from him and the pureblood world as possible." Mr Zabini said.

"I'll be safe at Hogwarts for now. The prophecy was likely destroyed last year in the Department of Mysteries." Hermione tried to assure everyone. "Now that you all know about the prophecy and why I wanted to keep it a secret, I need to ask a huge favour off of you two," Hermione gestured to Mr and Mrs Weasley. "I owe you both greatly already for taking in my parents in this scary time but I must ask if you can stretch your generosity to one more person."

"Who?" Mrs Weasley asked.

Draco stood up and walked to Hermione's side for her support. She brushed her hand against his as if telling him it was going to be alright. "My Mother." Draco said. "This Summer, I was going to be branded with the Dark Mark and become a Death Eater. My Mother, Blaise, Hermione and Mrs Zabini came up with a plan to save me from my fate. My Mother didn't want me to be trapped just like she was. Hermione apparated to Malfoy Manor and snatched me away. She saved me from becoming something none of us would ever want to be. I owe her everything." Hermione clutched his hand and smiled sadly at him. "The Dark Lord somehow found out that my Mother ochestrated the whole thing and he has been torturing her. He has moved her to Azkaban and we have a plan to break her out tonight but we need to be able to bring her somewhere safe. I know I am asking a massive favour from you, especially as we Malfoy's have never been the kindest to you..."

Mrs Weasley interrupted, "we will have your Mother here. I know how it feels to love your child so much that you would do anything for them."

Draco closed his eyes as tears threatened to appear. "Thank you so much."

Mr Weasley said, "this is all well and good, however how do you expect to get through Azkaban undetected to save her?"

"We are going to ride Thestral's to Azkaban and transfigure ourselves in to field rats in order to get past the Dementors and save Mrs Malfoy." Hermione told them.

"Absolutely not!" Mrs Weasley bellowed, "Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter, I forbid you of doing any such thing!"

"Mum, we are old enough now to make our own decisions especially with a war coming up. You can't forbid us from the inevitable!" Ron bellowed back.

Everyone looked on in shock as this was the first time Ron had argued back with his Mother and Mrs Weasley seemed to accept that she couldn't force the issue with a sniff.

"Molly, I will go with them. I will apparate them and make sure everything goes smoothly. We need to save Draco's Mother." Mr Weasley spoke gently to his wife.

"I will go too," Mr Zabini said to the group, "to help Arthur protect our children."