Chapter 15
Hermione was sweating bullets in the elevator. No one was looking at her, really, but she felt as though somehow they knew that she was doing something furtive. She'd made plans with Mr Bourbeau to come to the ministry as early as possible and avoid the protesters. After she listened to the prophecy, she would be free to come back to the lobby and slip into the protest hopefully unnoticed. Merlin, I hope I don't run into Malfoy, She thought.
"Floor One Hundred Twenty One! Department of Mysteries!"
The doors opened, but Hermione had to fight the overwhelming urge to back her way further into the elevator. She took a deep breath and stepped into a huge cavernous space, silent as the tomb. The elevator closed behind her and after that all sound ceased.
There was no atrium or visitor area, nor any helpful signs, just rows and rows of towering shelves replete with shimmering silver globes. She hesitated, trying to recall if they'd been by any offices when they'd battled here.
"Miss Granger?" A beautiful young woman with long straight shining raven hair had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Hermione swallowed hard, " Yes?"
"I'm Laura, Mr. Bourbeau's assistant. If you'll just come this way," She gestured towards a row of indistinguishable shelves.
"Yes," Hermione repeated stupidly. Well, no wonder Malfoy wanted to come to work rather than a protest. No one at her office looked like this. Laura walked confidently on sky high stilettos straight towards the shelves. Hermione flinched when it seemed like Laura was about to risk her perfect grecian nose, but the shelf dissolved in front of them, and suddenly they were standing in a standard Ministry office hallway.
"We've had to double up on space," Laura didn't even break her willowy stride.
"I see," Hermione responded.
"Mr. Bourbeau is already waiting," She said briskly, ushering Hermione into a large, well appointed office. Mr. Bourbeau sat at an immense desk that seemed to have been carved from a single tree trunk.
"Miss Granger, good morning," He stood up and came around to shake her hand.
"Good morning," Hermione said wryly.
"I'll leave you, sir," Laura exited.
"Please, sit," He said, summoning a chair from the far corner of the room and sitting down himself.
"So… what can you tell me," She perched on the edge of her chair.
"Ah… I'm afraid, Miss Granger, that it is what you can tell me that will be valuable," He began, " Prophecies are… delicate things, requiring extreme care and caution for us to handle. There are ways for us to record the prophecies to paper but some remain… elusive."
"You mean you have not heard it?"
"I cannot. And our record taker who tried to hear it was only able to tell us a little before his memory became muddled. It's a very tricky wicket, Miss."
"But you think it may have something to do with the prophecy that led to the marriage law."
"I can't confirm that," His face screwed up in concentration, " But I can tell you that your prophecy was recorded as being made at the same hour by the same seer as another prophecy. In fact, they were made concurrently."
"And that means…?"
"At the exact same time. That is extremely rare. Impossible some would say, for a seer to forsee so much."
"Let's just say I've never put much by what seers say," Hermione responded thoughtfully.
"There are many who would agree," He responded simply.
"But you do not," She finished his thought.
He shook his head, "I've seen too much to say that. But nevertheless, due to the… defensive nature of your prophecy, we believed it would be best for you to have the information." He smiled warmly and unlocked a drawer in his desk. Pulling on black gloves, he waved a hand over the drawer, and a silver globe, like so many on the shelves outside, rose out of it. It shook in the hold of whatever Mr. Bourbeau was using to handle it.
"Best take it, Miss Granger," He said in a strained voice. She lunged across the table and grabbed it out of midair. Immediately, it's vibrating ceased.
She straightened up, examining it. Were it not for the situation, she could have mistaken it for a decorative glass ball, because she could sense very little magic any it.
"How do I… uh…" She felt very out of her element. This whole situation was… completely surreal.
"Just tap it," He gestured to the desk, "And listen. I'll be going over some paperwork, so don't mind me."
Feeling very stupid, she did as he asked, giving it a gentle tap on the desk. It started humming, a slow sleepy sound. It went on and on and when it seemed like that was all that was going to happen, a raspy, unearthly voice worked it's way free from the hum. It was broken, as though the person was struggling to get the words out, and quiet. But it drowned out all other thoughts in her mind:
Two ennobled though not the equal in status
One of darkness and one of light
Divided by circumstance
And wrought by struggle
Will meet again in blood
Before a new day dawns
It being not before but not after
They will be separated and
They will by plot be married together
Like two warring metals
To make the stronger sword
And on the fourth risen moon thereafter
Will conceive a child to conquer
The darkness rising
After the dark one is vanquished
After the dark one is vanquished
Enmity will turn to true love
Love broken not even by death
Soul from soul
Life from life
Weighted but not bound
By the history of strife
The last word sliced through her like a knife, and all sound seemed to cease.
"Ah, Miss Granger, are you alright?" Mr. Bourbeau sat up as though she had been standing there for some time.
"I'm… I…" She murmured.
"Sit down, let me get you a glass of water," He set his papers to the side and conjured her a fresh glass with plenty of ice. She took it gratefully and took a long drink.
"What did it say, Miss Granger?"
"Um… did your… the person who listened to this, did they mention another person's name with mine?"
He nodded, "Well he almost said, but then he had to be taken to St. Mungos. But can you decipher it, Miss. Granger?"
"Yes, unfortunately," She responded.
A/N: Sorry for the short one! Thanks to all my reviewers, and people who follow this story, you rock! And a shoutout to all of the guest reviews that make me laugh until I fall out of my chair.