The following morning, Professor Dumbledore paid the infirmary a visit and shared with everyone what had happened to Hermione. He knew because Harry had told him the evening before in private. He did not act until morning because other things were necessary before anything could be done.
"She's absorbed the prophecy," Ginny repeated, furrowing her brow. She looked to Luna – as if the Ravenclaw might be able to put it more simply, but even Luna could only blink at the revelation.
"What does that mean?" Draco asked, his tone half-worried and half-angry. "And how do we fix it?"
"Prophecy Records are a curious thing," the Headmaster mused out loud. "They are, as you all know, given by Seers, and since Seers do not ever recall the prophecies they give, it is imperative that someone who is present when the prophecy is told submits the memory for record – this doesn't always happen, mind you, and it has led to grave tragedy. Ah, there was once a Seer who foretold that there would be a devastating shortage of Typha Latifolia – or more commonly known as Cattails; very tasty when pickled. His daughter was the one who heard the prophecy but never bothered to have it recorded for review. She died about a year later from a venomous snake bite."
Confused looks were exchanged and Draco thought he saw Lupin roll his eyes, but no one said anything. No one had anything to say, at least, not to that bit of information. So the Headmaster continued. "A Prophecy Record is merely an extracted Memory that is reviewed, recorded, and stored under heavy protection. Only authorized Unspeakables – and those who the prophecies pertain to – can access a Prophecy Record, which is why Harry was able to retrieve the Record without injury. But what does one do with a Prophecy Record?"
"What does one do with a Prophecy Record, Headmaster?" Luna chimed.
"That is a very good question, Miss Lovegood. The Memory that becomes a Prophecy Record is enchanted so that it may only be reviewed by a Special Pensieve located in the Department of Mysteries; it will not work in any other."
"But what does that have to do with Hermione?" Draco asked, speaking slowly to keep from yelling out of impatience.
"A Prophecy must always be contained, and in the absence of something to contain it, the Prophecy may be absorbed by a person for holding. This person is rendered incapacitated once it becomes the vessel of a Prophecy, as Prophecies are not for everyone to know."
"So," Harry said, his brow wrinkled in thought. "Hermione has essentially become the same thing as that glass orb."
"Correct," Professor Dumbledore replied, smiling brightly.
"And how do we reverse this affect?" asked Draco, still perplexed by the Headmaster's obvious lack of concern. "Hermione can't be a 'glass orb' forever."
"Of course Prophecies can be extracted, but it is necessary that the right person do the extracting." All eyes turned to the Headmaster expectantly. "Oh, that isn't me," he said with a chuckle. "But someone will be along shortly from the Department of Mysteries to retrieve the Prophecy."
"What is the Prophecy, Professor?" asked Ron, glancing at his best friend. "I mean, we know it's about Harry, isn't it?"
The Headmaster and Harry exchanged looks. "I'm afraid, as I've said before Mr Weasley: not all Prophecies are for everyone to know. However, in due time, perhaps you will be enlightened, but, that is not a decision for you nor I to make."
"So, Hermione will be okay?" Ginny reiterated.
"Absolutely," Professor Dumbledore assured them, his bright blue-eyes meeting Draco's gaze. "In fact, I imagine she's had a better night than the rest of you."
With their injuries from their fight healed, Draco and the others were dismissed to return to their everyday school routine. Draco had wanted to stay with Hermione until someone from the Ministry had come and fixed her, but he was not allowed. The lot of them ended up walking out onto the school grounds together and, sitting by the lake in the sunshine, shared their experiences from the previous night.
"I was really hoping I could spend the summer with Sirius instead of returning to the Dursley's," Harry complained with a heavy sigh. "But with the way he is…" He trailed off without finishing, looking depressed.
"I'm sure he'll be fine, Harry," Luna reassured him, reaching out and patting his hand gently. "He's not dead, after all." Harry managed a weak smile of appreciation. "If you'd like, you can join me and Dad; he's taking me to Sweden. We're going to see if we can catch a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
Harry's smile twitched. "Umm, thanks for the offer Luna, but I don't think that would be the best idea," he replied.
"At least you've got somewhere to return," Draco said glumly. He shared about his late-night trip back home and his discussion with his mother. In the end, they had agreed that Draco would not stay with his Aunt Andromeda as well; it was better – safer – if they could not be found together. It had occurred to Draco that, perhaps the safest place for him to stay might be Hogwarts, but he had yet to discuss that with the Headmaster.
"Would you like to come to Sweden?" offered Luna.
Draco smiled and shook his head. "I hate to agree with Potter, but that really isn't the best idea. It'll put you and your father further in harm's way," he explained. It surprised him to consider someone else's well-being, but he was sincerely concerned for those he was with; they had all become targets – well, all of them plus Zacharias Smith, and he admittedly felt no remorse for giving his name instead of revealing that Neville was a Longbottom. The conversation carried on until dinner, at which time, they returned inside the castle.
To say the Slytherin table was sullen that evening would have been an understatement. The actions of Pansy, Millicent, and Daphne that night in Umbridge's office had resulted in most of their House Points being deducted, and with Professor Dumbledore reinstated as Headmaster, none of what they had done with the Inquisitorial Squad meant anything anymore – which disappointed even Draco, who had worked really hard to maintain Hogwart's good name. The Daily Prophet had also printed a front-page article regarding the Dark Lord's return that morning which left many Slytherin students who were associated one way or another with the Dark Lord's following unsettled.
"So," Blaise said, shifting in his seat next to Draco, "this is really happening, isn't it?"
"I'm afraid it is," Draco replied.
"So He is back then," Gregory Goyle mumbled, staring blankly at the empty plate before him. "Did you – did you see him?" he asked, glancing up quickly.
Draco shook his head. "But I'm sure of it. I was actually sure of it when Potter said He was back last year. You guys knew it too, didn't you?" No one said anything, but their silence was proof enough. "Look, guys –"
"Let's not talk about this," Theodore interrupted loudly. He wore a grim expression that showed more conviction than Draco had ever seen from his friend. "We all know what's going to be expected from us – on both sides. We know what's at stake. But none of that means anything for at least another five days, when term ends. So, for now, let's not talk about it." It was a rather roundabout way of saying things, but Theodore's message was clear: while they were still at Hogwarts, they were still friends and comrades. After that summer, everything would change, but summer was not upon them yet.
"Did you guys hear? They found Umbridge this morning," Blaise reported with a smirk. "Rumor has it Professor Dumbledore rescued her from deep within the Forbidden Forest. No one knows what happened to her, but she looked a right mess when the Headmaster carried her out. She was dismissed from her position and sent away immediately. Probably to St Mungo's. She looked like she needed medical attention."
The boys chuckled over the fate of Professor Umbridge until dinner was served. After eating their fill (and then some), they made their way back to the Slytherin Commons.
"Theo," Draco called out from behind, before the other boy stepped through the door. Theodore walked back to where Draco stood in the corridor. "I know we said we weren't going to talk about it but, there's something you need to know."
"Alright," Theodore agreed, nodding once.
"Your father was there – along with Vin's. And mine. They're in Azkaban now."
Theodore didn't say anything at first, and his expression was impossible to read. "Thanks," he said at length, his voice flat.
"I wanted to tell you because –"
"I know why," Theodore said, forcefully interrupting Draco for a second time that night. "I know why you're telling me," he repeated. "And I mean it: Thanks." He turned back toward the door, and when Draco didn't follow, he looked back. "Come on," Theodore said, with an exasperated smile. "Your other friends might be too kind-hearted to tell you, but you look like hell. Can't have your girlfriend waking up to see you in this sorry state, now can we?" Theodore threw an arm around Draco's shoulders and together, the two boys disappeared behind the door.
Hermione was released from Madam Pomfrey's care the next day, and for the remainder of the school year, Draco did his best to enjoy life as they knew it. The students received their year-end examination results, the fifth-years finally finding out how they fared with their O.W.L.s. Draco was pleased to have scored mostly Outstandings, but his overall rank in the school dropped a couple of places.
"Well, at least we won't have our fathers to answer to, I guess," Theodore joked, putting his report away in his trunk. With the end of term only a day away, Draco and Theodore were getting some packing done ahead of time. "Not that they would have anything to complain about; I'm pretty sure I've scored higher marks than either of my parents did when they were at Hogwarts. Plus, I'm the second-smartest student in our year."
"You don't need to remind me – again," Draco griped. "You didn't have nearly as much to deal with as I did this year."
"And whose fault is that?" teased Theodore with a smile. "Have you figured out what you'll do this summer yet?"
Draco had approached their Head of House and asked about remaining at Hogwarts during the summer, but he learned that was not possible. Since then, he'd been mulling several options over in his head. "Not sure yet," he answered. "What about you?"
"I… I have to go home, I think," replied Theodore, looking thoroughly displeased. "She's there, you know."
"I thought that's why you didn't want to return home."
"Haven't got a choice. Dad would kill me if I abandoned her, especially without him around."
With a smirk, Draco reminded his friend that their fathers were in Wizard Prison. Theodore laughed. "If you think that's going to stop my Dad, then you don't know him very well." Draco shrugged, taking that as a fair point.
After packing, they headed down to the Great Hall where they watched some students play a few rounds of Exploding Snap before they were all chased out by Filch. They wandered around before running into Luna in one of the main corridors; she appeared to be pinning some notices up. Draco called out to her and inquired what she was posting.
"They're just posters for my things that have gone missing."
"Why have your things gone missing?" asked Theodore with a frown, looking at the list.
"Oh, people take them and hide them," she explained casually. "It happens all the time, and they always come back but I'd wanted to pack early so I wouldn't miss the year-end feast tomorrow."
"We'll help you find your things, Luna," Draco said, nodding at Theodore. They took one of the lists and set off on their search. Luna had suggested they start in the odd corners of the school ("Things tend to turn up in out of the way places,") but they had a better idea. They walked until they found a group of Ravenclaw students – Draco recognized a few of them from the D.A.
"It's the girls," Anthony Goldstein said with a shake of his head. "They're always picking on her."
"And you don't do anything about it?" Draco reprimanded. "You're a Ravenclaw Prefect."
"Oh come on, Malfoy," Anthony laughed jokingly. "You know girls are crazy, right? They're more vicious than an offended Hippogriff when they pick on each other."
"Well, what about you?" Draco asked, turning to Michael Corner. "You're dating Ginny Weasley, and they're friends. Surely you can stand up to them?"
The Ravenclaw boys stopped laughing. "We broke up," Michael informed Draco sourly. "I don't care what happens to Luna or Ginny for that matter." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked off, the other boys following behind.
"Gits," Theodore muttered under his breath. "I guess we need to find some girls, then, don't we?"
"More vicious than an offended Hippogriff," Draco repeated. "You think that was a jab at me?"
"Come on," Theodore said, rolling his eyes as he steered Draco down the hallway.
It didn't take them very long to find some Ravenclaw girls, and, when confronted with the issue of Luna's Missing Things, it turned out that the Ravenclaw boys had not been lying.
"What," one of them drawled, cocking her head and raising an eyebrow at the two Slytherins. "You're accusing us of stealing Loony's things? Why do you even care?"
"Luna Lovegood happens to be our friend," Draco said, his aggravation quickly rising. "And I'm a Prefect."
"So?" another girl said with a laugh. "Detention won't stand on the second-last day of school, and the Inquisitorial Squad is no longer in affect, so it's not like you can deduct House Points."
Theodore stepped forward with his wand in hand. "What makes you think we care about House Points?"
"Watch yourself, Nott," a seventh-year warned, also stepping up with her wand. "This is Ravenclaw business. We'll do as we like to those in our House. And if you consider Loony one of your friends, it only speaks poorly of the company you keep."
Now Draco's wand was out as well, and he pointed it at the older Ravenclaw. "Luna is one of the brightest, most brilliant Witches I know. And she's too good for any of you." Before another word could be said, his wand danced over the girls, and every single one of them ended up with a new, very tight permed hairstyle.
"What!?" they screamed incredulously. They immediately retaliated, but Draco and Theodore easily repelled their hexes in one breath, and disarmed them in the next.
"You'll want to see Luna about the counter-spell for that jinx because I don't know it," Draco remarked as he casually tossed one of the girls' wand through the air.
"That will be a good time to return her things," Theodore added with a haughty smirk. "And don't touch her stuff again."
"You can't protect her forever," one of the girls hissed. "We'll make sure her life is hell for the rest of her years at Hogwarts, and it'll be all your fault."
Draco snapped his fingers and Winky magically appeared. "Yes, Master?" she said cheerfully with a bow.
"Winky, this is an order: Keep an eye on Luna Lovegood. If someone causes her trouble, punish them."
The house-elf bowed again, and when she straightened, she looked directly at the band of curly-haired girls. "Winky is watching," she said with a mischievous smile before disappearing.
The wand Draco was flipping dropped onto the ground with a clatter; he walked forward and placed his foot over it. "You were saying?"
Author's Note:
Because Slytherins aren't the only bullies.
