CHAPTER EIGHTEEN- The Prediction (Peggy's point of
view)
Something was wrong. I knew it. Something was very wrong. Ron had been talking to me less and less, as well as Harry. They often looked at me, as if studying me or something. And frankly, I was getting very annoyed. But. I couldn't ask what was up. Too busy studying. The teachers piled more and more homework on us, expecting more and more of us in school.
"If this is Ordinary Wizarding Level, I'd hate to see Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests." I said one evening while we studied in the library.
Amy, Hermione and Jasmine all laughed. Harry and Ron gave fake laughs. As we headed to the common room, I grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him into an empty closet. I fumbled for my wand and held it up. "Lumos." And the closet was lit up. It wasn't that cramped but every time I moved, I knocked into him slightly. "Okay, what is up with you, Ron?"
"Nothing, Peggy. Nothing." He said.
"Oh come on. You're being really weird towards me. You and Harry both." I said, staring at his face which glowed from the light from my wand.
"Studying for the O.W.Ls is pretty tiring."
"This is not being 'tired', Ronald Weasley." I snapped angrily. "Now tell me- what is up?!"
"Peggy I just. its just. well."
"I am waiting." I hissed.
"I-well we, Harry and me, well we-and its like. wellllll. you see we. and then there's. Peggy, I'm sorry its just. well and."
"Oh forget it." I growled and flung the door opened and sulked all the way back to my dorm.
***
Before anyone knew it, it was late February and time for the Gryffindor versus Slytherin game. This would decide who would go against Hufflepuff and the Quidditch cup.
And as much as Jasmine and Draco loved each other, they argued.
"I can't support both teams." Jasmine said as they sat in their usual meeting spot.
"Then support me." Draco said.
"But Harry's my brother."
"And I'm your boyfriend."
Jasmine groaned at this. "Draco."
"Jasmine, please?"
"Great, I don't believe this. having to decide to support my brother or my boyfriend."
"Well." Draco said and inched closer to her. "I can give you a better reward then he could." And with that he kissed Jasmine quite passionately.
When they finally parted, Jasmine was scowling. "That is-that is cheating!" She accused.
Draco just smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. "Well?"
"Ugh!!! FINE!" She shrieked. "I won't wear either gold and scarlet nor green and silver."
"Is that it?" Draco asked.
"I'll. I'll wear a yellow acacia." She finally sighed. Draco kissed her cheek. "But I'll still root for Harry."
"Oh come on."
"Sorry, Draco. But take it or leave it."
"What if I leave it?" Draco asked.
"I'll wear scarlet and gold and yell swear words at the Slytherin team."
"Jasmine!"
"Well?"
"Fine then. Root for him but PROMISE you'll wear a yellow acacia." Draco said.
Jasmine kissed his cheek. "Promise."
*** (Ron's point of view)
It was the night before the game. I was figuring of another good night but no. I had another weird dream. I was in the Forbidden Forest. It was almost pure black except for the dancing white lights in the distance. I began walking forward and found a black marble stone in the middle of the path. It was round, flat, smooth and sunk in the ground. Like a stepping stone. I slowly stepped on it. The air hummed with a note and a second stone appeared, this time resting on the ground. I stepped on that and another note sounded as well as another stone appearing. This one was an inch off the ground. I slowly stepped on that and it floated, another note sounded and another stone appeared, an inch above the stone I was on. When I stepped on that, another stone appeared an inch above the one I was on now, another note sounded and another stone appeared. and so on. I climbed up the stones that seemed to wind in a spiraled staircase-like way.
Soon I was high above the forest, and I could see Hogwarts. As soon as I was completely out of the trees, music continued without me stepping on any stones yet stones continued to appeared. I climbed high. into the black swirling clouds.
When I was above the clouds, I saw a palace made out of the same black marble the stones were. Lightning cracked behind it but no thunder was heard. Shapeless white things floated in circles around a few of the turrets. A great black path appeared in front of me, heading to the palace. I slowly began walking, listening to the very frightening music.
As I got closer to the palace, a fire started burning all around it. and black demonic shapes started dancing around. I trembled but continued walking. Black smoke rose from the heatless fire. The fire stopped at the path so I passed through, unharmed.
The horrible music continued and got louder as I pushed open the cold black doors. The front hall of the palace was long and made of black marble with no visible end and nothing on the walls or anything. I began running down it, going faster and faster. Finally I saw a green light appear at the end. When I got to it, I saw it was a green fire. I passed through it, unharmed.
On the other side was a huge room. Pure white. Blinking, I stared straight ahead. There was a black marble throne that stood out brilliantly against the whiteness.
On the throne sat You-Know-Who, holding a tall black scepter with a green glowing stone on the end.
"Welcome to my palace." He said. Around him, Death Eaters appeared but with no masks and their hoods down.
One was Lucius Malfoy. Two more looked like Crabbe and Goyle. Another looked like the other Slytherin boy, Nott or whatever.
"Come forward." He spoke to the tiniest one of all. The only one who wore the hood up and had a mask. The Death Eater went forward. "You have been most loyal."
"Thank you." Said an extremely familiar voice. I realized it was the Death Eater, stationed at Hogwarts and close to Harry. I didn't recognize the voice but it was so familiar.
"Come forward." He said again and a young girl appeared. She had extremely curly, midnight black hair that shone brown in a bit of light. Her skin was pale and she had an immense feeling of power about her. "Yes, Voldemort?" She asked with seemingly no fear.
"Arva. you know what to do with this boy." He said and the girl turned. Her black eyes were filled with coldness.
"Yes, Voldemort." And she smiled a twisted, evil smile. She pointed her wand at me. "You know what my name is?" She asked.
"Uh. Arva?" I asked.
"Think of this backwards." And she pointed her wand. "Avada. Kedavra."
Green light surrounded me and I screamed out. As I fell to the ground, I expected to wake up but didn't. Yet I wasn't dead.
"What? No! I am the only one the curse doesn't work on! Avada Kedavra! AVADA KEDAVRA!" She screamed but I was still alive.
Ron! I looked around and saw a winged horse. It was red brown and lovely. It dropped something at my feet. It was a dagger. the blade was made of a sharp, sharp looking silver and the handle was gold. I knew what I had to do. I flung it at 'Arva'.
It sunk into her body and she fell to the floor, dead.
Then I woke up.
***
"Hey guys." Ron said, sitting with the others in the stands.
"Hey Ron." Hermione, Amy and Jasmine replied.
Peggy was obviously still upset over the ordeal of Ron being weird and said nothing.
"I have a question." He said.
"Okay." Hermione said.
"What song is this?" He asked and hummed the song in his dream-thing.
"Sounds familiar." Hermione said slowly.
"Yeah I know I've heard it before." Amy said.
"Its in the Muggle Disney movie 'Fantasia'." Jasmine said, fiddling with a yellow flower that was tied to the end of her thick braid.
"I know what it is." Peggy said quietly.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
"I might not tell you." She said with a scowl.
"Peggy." Ron begged. He spotted Lee Jordan getting ready to start commentating. "please. I'm sorry."
"Well." Peggy sighed and brushed back some hair. "Its 'A Night On Bald Mountain' by Modeste Moussorgsky." She said.
"Oh yeah! That one in Fantasia- the one with the demons!" Jasmine said and shuddered. "ooh, scary."
"Yeah. It is scar-" Ron never finished because Lee interrupted.
"Welcome! To the game of Gryffindor versus Slytherin!" His voice rang out. Everyone began cheering as the players zipped out. "The players take their positions as Madame Hooch steps onto the field. the golden Snitch is released closely followed by the Bludgers. The Quaffle is up- and the game begins!" Like always when it was Gryffindor versus Slytherin, the game was brutal and lots of cheating from the Slytherin side. Cheating from everyone, that is, except Malfoy.
Ron was only half surprised as Malfoy, for once, played fair. He had a feeling it had to do with the pretty little red-head next to him.
The game went on. both sides scoring, both sides battling so ferociously that it seemed they were dragons instead of witches and wizards.
Suddenly Ron felt an odd sensation. like he was going to be sick. Very, very, very sick. He grabbed his stomach.
"Ron?" Hermione asked.
"I. feel. sick." He moaned, closing his eyes.
"Let's get him out of here before he throws up on everyone." Amy suggested.
"But-the game-" Jasmine sputtered then sighed. "all right."
The four girls (Peggy included) carried Ron (since he couldn't walk) into the totally empty castle. He was moaning, groaning and getting paler by the second.
Suddenly, Jasmine let go of Ron's arm and the three others stopped. "Jasmine?" Hermione asked, trying to hold up Ron's other arm.
"Jason says to let go." She said.
"Who the heck is Jason?" Amy demanded, clutching Ron's middle.
"LET GO OF HIM!" Jasmine suddenly screamed and the three girls dropped Ron onto the stone floor. Jasmine leapt at them and shoved them back, just in time.
Ron suddenly let out a terrifying scream and flung himself onto his back. His whole body began shaking and his eyes rolled back in his head so only white was showing.
"HE'S DYING!" Hermione screamed, clutching Jasmine.
"He's gonna EXPLODE!" Amy yelled, clutching Peggy.
"He's got a terrible disease that's going to kill us, too!" Peggy whispered, clutching Amy.
"No! Jason says. Jason says." Jasmine trailed off, eyes wide. "He's. no. he is? Oh my. Jason says Ron's. well, predicting."
"Predicting?!" The three girls shouted but jerked back as Ron's voice screamed out.
"THE DARK LORD HAS RISEN AND HIS EVIL WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE LAND MORE POWERFUL AND TERRIBLE THEN BEFORE!" The four girls whimpered slightly, and pushed back against the wall. "A POWERFUL AIDE IS BY HIS SIDE. AN AIDE THAT CANNOT BE KILLED BY ANY CURSE! DEATH EATERS WILL ROAM THE LAND, SEARCHING FOR THEIR PREY!" Ron's voice fell silent as the last words echoed down the halls. They stared at him.
"Is it. over?" Hermione whispered, so obviously frightened.
"A BATTLE-" Ron continued causing the four girls to jerk back again. "A BATTLE LIKE NO OTHER WILL TAKE PLACE! A BATTLE OF GOOD VERSUS EVIL! MANY EVIL WILL DIE BUT ONLY ONE GOOD WILL! JUSTICE SHALL BE SERVED UPON THE BETRAYER, WHO WILL BE DISCOVERED! THE TRAITOR SHALL DIE! ONE GOOD SHALL DIE! ONE GOOD SHALL DIE! THE TRULY EVIL WILL ESCAPE! THE STONE OF POWER! THE STONE OF POWER MUST BE PROTECTED!!" and Ron fell silent. He slumped forward on the floor, barely even breathing.
The four girls stood there, hardly breathing themselves.
"I-is. it. done?" Amy whispered, extremely pale and shaking.
"I think so." Peggy said and was the first to step out. She knelt over Ron's body and felt his wrist. "He's. he's alive but. we better get him to the hospital right away."
*** (Harry's point of view)
"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" Lee screamed out over the cheering crowd. I landed on the ground, out of breath, clutching the Snitch in my hand.
Malfoy landed near me and scowled. "Good catch, Potter." He sneered. "too bad you didn't fall off your broom." And with that, he walked off.
I nearly had fallen off my broom. But I managed to stay on, catch the Snitch and win us the game. Angelina, Alicia, Katie and Allison hugged me and kissed my cheeks. Fred and George gave me high five's.
I looked at the crowd pouring onto the field then frowned.
No Ron.
No Hermione.
No Jasmine.
No Amy.
No Peggy.
I shoved the Snitch at Madame Hooch and, clutching my Firebolt, ran as fast as I could to the castle. I ran into the Entrance Hall and looked around. For some reason I had a feeling to go to the hospital wing so I ran towards it.
Going in, I saw Jasmine, Hermione, Amy and Peggy surrounding a bed. All pale. All shaking. All scared out of their wits.
"HARRY!" Jasmine screamed and flung herself at me. She began crying into my shoulder.
"What's wr-" I spotted Ron and immediately thought he was dead. "Ron!" I yelled.
"He's alive." Peggy whimpered.
"But he. he. he." Hermione whispered, eyes wider then I had ever seen them before.
"He what?" I asked, hugging Jasmine.
"He said. he said stuff." Amy mumbled, hands covering her face.
"Stuff? What?" I asked.
"He did a prediction, Harry." Hermione said.
"Ron. made a prediction?" I gasped in shock.
"Yeah." Peggy said, nodding.
"He. but. the." I stammered.
"The prediction was about. You-Know-Who. and a battle and. other things, I can't remember." Hermione said, tears coming to her eyes.
Peggy recited the prediction and my eyes went wide. "Ron said that?" I asked and the four girls nodded, Jasmine's face still buried in my Quidditch uniform.
I stared at Ron's pale, pale face and then thought of Trelawney. "But. I've seen a prediction done before and the person didn't faint."
"Maybe its cause Ron's so young." Amy said, voice muffled through her hands.
"D'you think that. you know. the prediction will. come true?" Hermione whispered. I knew she didn't believe in any type of Divination but I guess we all had a sense of foreboding since it had come from one of us. Indeed it was like there was a shadow cast on the room.
"I don't know." I said.
"Harry. what did he mean by 'the betrayer'? Does he mean Wormtail?" Hermione asked.
"Something like that." I muttered.
"But he said 'who will be discovered'. Well. Wormtail has already been discovered as the traitor. Or maybe he means 'discovered by all'. Or. oh I don't know! This is why I quit Divination! Its stupid and foggy and nothing clear and nothing makes sense and its all a bunch of hooey." Hermione spat out angrily. "Out! Young Weasley needs his rest!" Pomfrey snapped at us so we reluctantly left.
***
The Dark Lord has risen and his evil will spread across the land more powerful and terrible then before. A powerful aide is by his side. An aide that cannot be killed by any curse. Death Eaters will roam the land, searching for their prey. A battle- a battle like no other will take place. A battle of good versus evil. Many evil will die but only one good will. Justice shall be served upon the betrayer, who will be discovered. The traitor shall die. One good shall die. One good shall die. The truly evil will escape. The stone of power. The stone of power must be protected.
Voldemort read these words over and over and over. There was an addition on the back.
'I think Potter knows someone close to him is a servant. I do not think he knows it is me. Signed, your faithful servant'.
"Do you know what this is means?" Voldemort asked with a wicked smile.
"That the Death Eater at Hogwarts is going to die?" Arva asked, casually sipping tea as if this were a sunny afternoon in a garden.
"Well who cares about that. I think we should start fufilling the little prediction Potter's friend has made." Voldemort snapped his fingers and Lucius Malfoy appeared.
"Yes, my lord?"
Voldemort smiled his evil, twisted smile. "Go and torture and kill every Muggle, Mudblood and Half-born you come across."
Lucius's eyes lit up and he smiled as well. "Tis a task to my pleasing, my lord."
"Well spread the pleasure to the other Death Eaters."
"Yes. my lord."
Lucius left to inform the others.
***
Two dozen or so black hooded and masked figures entered the town.
"Let me do the honors." Lucius smiled and pointed his wand to the sky. "Morsmordre!" A huge skull appeared in the sky with a snake coming out of its mouth.
The Death Eaters looked at Lucius and he lowered his mask. "Let's have some fun."
And the Death Eaters parted.
"Reducto!" A house was blown apart, revealing the terrified residents.
"Mama!" A young boy shouted, clinging to his mother.
"CRUCIO!" The family writhered in pain. their screams echoed out.
Down the street, Death Eaters entered houses and tortured their victims.
In one particular house, Mr. Vernon Dursley woke with a start. Listening to the screams, he quickly woke his wife.
"What is going on?" Petunia yawned.
"Mommy!" Their overweight son ran into the room and clutched to Petunia.
Suddenly a tall, hooded figure came in with a mask. Vernon saw the wand in its hand.
"Crucio."
***
"HARRY!" Harry looked up as Hermione ran into the Common Room, clutching a paper in her fist. "Harry." She whispered and handed him the paper.
There was a black and white picture of the dark mark. 'He Is Back' was the headline. "2 dozen Death Eaters, yesterday, attacked the down of Little Whinging, Surrey. oh my God that's where the Dursleys live.. lived." Harry whispered. He didn't care too much for the Dursleys but STILL.
"Continue." Hermione said.
"The attack left a fourth of the town dead, a fourth in shock, and the other half in Wizarding hospitals. When they get out they will have the Memory Charm on them."
"Maybe-maybe the Dursleys are still alive. I know you hate them but-"
"I didn't want them DEAD. I just wanted them gone. Out of my life. Somewhere else but not-but not dead. maybe sent to the North pole or something! But not dead!" Harry said, shaking his head. "Death Eaters will roam the land, searching for their prey." He recited from Ron's prediction. "A day after his prediction and it starts coming true."
"Oh Harry, you don't think that the rest will." Hermione said.
"I don't know, Hermione. I really don't."
*** (Ron's point of view)
The first thing I saw was a small crowd around my bed. Harry, Hermione, Peggy, Jasmine and Amy.
"Hi guys." I said, sitting up. "What. what happened to me?" I asked, rubbing my head.
"You d-don't remember?" Jasmine stammered.
"I don't think you can if you do that." Harry said.
"Do what? Remember what?" I asked.
"Ron. you had been having vision-like dreams, right?" Harry asked.
"He has?" Amy asked in surprise.
"Y-yes." I admitted.
"And you saw. into the crystal ball and actually SAW something." Harry continued.
"Yes." I said.
"Couple of days ago you." Harry trailed off. "I can't tell him."
"Tell me what?" I asked.
"Ron you made a prediction and its already starting to come true." Hermione blurted out.
I sat there, slightly shocked. "What?" I finally asked.
"Y-you made a p-p-p-prediction and-and-and its already s-starting to c-come true." Jasmine said, crying. By the redness and puffiness of her eyes I saw she had been crying for quite a while.
"I made a prediction." I said slowly.
"Yes." Peggy said.
"What. prediction?" I asked.
"Peggy remembered it all and we wrote it down." Amy said, looking at a piece of paper Harry held.
"I don't want to read it!" he said and shoved it at Jasmine.
"N-not me!" She sobbed and shoved it at Amy.
"Oh no. Not me." She handed it to Peggy.
"Oh honestly!" Peggy said and cleared her throat and recited my prophesy/prediction.
There was complete silence for about three minutes. "I said. I said that?" I asked.
"Yes. It was when you said you were sick and. in a corridor we dropped you and you began shaking and your eyes rolled back into your head and you screamed it out." Hermione somehow managed.
I buried my face in my hands. "I did NOT make a prediction."
"You did and its. already starting to come true." Harry said and I looked up.
"What?"
"Death Eaters will roam the land, searching for their prey. It started. the day before yesterday. the day after you made the prediction." Amy said.
"Death Eaters attacked Little Whinging, Surrey. Where the Dursleys are. A fourth of the town is dead, another fourth in shock and the rest in a Wizarding hospital. I dunno if the Dursleys are alive or not." Harry explained and held up the Daily Prophet.
The Dark Mark was hovering on the front page. "I-I made a prediction and its starting to come true." I said very slowly. The others all nodded. "No." I said shaking my head. "It-it MUST be a-a-a-a coincidence!"
The others remained completely silent. Not even Hermione believed it was a coincidence. "Maybe we should go to Trel-"
"No!" Harry and I both shouted and Amy fell silent.
"She'll just-no. It'll make things worse. Just. just promise not to tell anyone about this." I said.
"We promise." The others said.
***
I was out of the hospital the next day. I felt a bit weak but otherwise fine. We all knew one thing. we needed to do research. We needed to find out as much as we could out predictions and things like that. And we needed to find out what the Stone of Power was.
So we had that PLUS I was studying about my dreams (hoping I'd discover who the traitor is) PLUS loads and loads and LOADS of homework from teachers PLUS the prediction threatening to come more true PLUS Death Eaters attacking Muggle towns ruthlessly. Nonetheless my sixteenth birthday wasn't a very good one.
Something was wrong. I knew it. Something was very wrong. Ron had been talking to me less and less, as well as Harry. They often looked at me, as if studying me or something. And frankly, I was getting very annoyed. But. I couldn't ask what was up. Too busy studying. The teachers piled more and more homework on us, expecting more and more of us in school.
"If this is Ordinary Wizarding Level, I'd hate to see Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests." I said one evening while we studied in the library.
Amy, Hermione and Jasmine all laughed. Harry and Ron gave fake laughs. As we headed to the common room, I grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him into an empty closet. I fumbled for my wand and held it up. "Lumos." And the closet was lit up. It wasn't that cramped but every time I moved, I knocked into him slightly. "Okay, what is up with you, Ron?"
"Nothing, Peggy. Nothing." He said.
"Oh come on. You're being really weird towards me. You and Harry both." I said, staring at his face which glowed from the light from my wand.
"Studying for the O.W.Ls is pretty tiring."
"This is not being 'tired', Ronald Weasley." I snapped angrily. "Now tell me- what is up?!"
"Peggy I just. its just. well."
"I am waiting." I hissed.
"I-well we, Harry and me, well we-and its like. wellllll. you see we. and then there's. Peggy, I'm sorry its just. well and."
"Oh forget it." I growled and flung the door opened and sulked all the way back to my dorm.
***
Before anyone knew it, it was late February and time for the Gryffindor versus Slytherin game. This would decide who would go against Hufflepuff and the Quidditch cup.
And as much as Jasmine and Draco loved each other, they argued.
"I can't support both teams." Jasmine said as they sat in their usual meeting spot.
"Then support me." Draco said.
"But Harry's my brother."
"And I'm your boyfriend."
Jasmine groaned at this. "Draco."
"Jasmine, please?"
"Great, I don't believe this. having to decide to support my brother or my boyfriend."
"Well." Draco said and inched closer to her. "I can give you a better reward then he could." And with that he kissed Jasmine quite passionately.
When they finally parted, Jasmine was scowling. "That is-that is cheating!" She accused.
Draco just smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. "Well?"
"Ugh!!! FINE!" She shrieked. "I won't wear either gold and scarlet nor green and silver."
"Is that it?" Draco asked.
"I'll. I'll wear a yellow acacia." She finally sighed. Draco kissed her cheek. "But I'll still root for Harry."
"Oh come on."
"Sorry, Draco. But take it or leave it."
"What if I leave it?" Draco asked.
"I'll wear scarlet and gold and yell swear words at the Slytherin team."
"Jasmine!"
"Well?"
"Fine then. Root for him but PROMISE you'll wear a yellow acacia." Draco said.
Jasmine kissed his cheek. "Promise."
*** (Ron's point of view)
It was the night before the game. I was figuring of another good night but no. I had another weird dream. I was in the Forbidden Forest. It was almost pure black except for the dancing white lights in the distance. I began walking forward and found a black marble stone in the middle of the path. It was round, flat, smooth and sunk in the ground. Like a stepping stone. I slowly stepped on it. The air hummed with a note and a second stone appeared, this time resting on the ground. I stepped on that and another note sounded as well as another stone appearing. This one was an inch off the ground. I slowly stepped on that and it floated, another note sounded and another stone appeared, an inch above the stone I was on. When I stepped on that, another stone appeared an inch above the one I was on now, another note sounded and another stone appeared. and so on. I climbed up the stones that seemed to wind in a spiraled staircase-like way.
Soon I was high above the forest, and I could see Hogwarts. As soon as I was completely out of the trees, music continued without me stepping on any stones yet stones continued to appeared. I climbed high. into the black swirling clouds.
When I was above the clouds, I saw a palace made out of the same black marble the stones were. Lightning cracked behind it but no thunder was heard. Shapeless white things floated in circles around a few of the turrets. A great black path appeared in front of me, heading to the palace. I slowly began walking, listening to the very frightening music.
As I got closer to the palace, a fire started burning all around it. and black demonic shapes started dancing around. I trembled but continued walking. Black smoke rose from the heatless fire. The fire stopped at the path so I passed through, unharmed.
The horrible music continued and got louder as I pushed open the cold black doors. The front hall of the palace was long and made of black marble with no visible end and nothing on the walls or anything. I began running down it, going faster and faster. Finally I saw a green light appear at the end. When I got to it, I saw it was a green fire. I passed through it, unharmed.
On the other side was a huge room. Pure white. Blinking, I stared straight ahead. There was a black marble throne that stood out brilliantly against the whiteness.
On the throne sat You-Know-Who, holding a tall black scepter with a green glowing stone on the end.
"Welcome to my palace." He said. Around him, Death Eaters appeared but with no masks and their hoods down.
One was Lucius Malfoy. Two more looked like Crabbe and Goyle. Another looked like the other Slytherin boy, Nott or whatever.
"Come forward." He spoke to the tiniest one of all. The only one who wore the hood up and had a mask. The Death Eater went forward. "You have been most loyal."
"Thank you." Said an extremely familiar voice. I realized it was the Death Eater, stationed at Hogwarts and close to Harry. I didn't recognize the voice but it was so familiar.
"Come forward." He said again and a young girl appeared. She had extremely curly, midnight black hair that shone brown in a bit of light. Her skin was pale and she had an immense feeling of power about her. "Yes, Voldemort?" She asked with seemingly no fear.
"Arva. you know what to do with this boy." He said and the girl turned. Her black eyes were filled with coldness.
"Yes, Voldemort." And she smiled a twisted, evil smile. She pointed her wand at me. "You know what my name is?" She asked.
"Uh. Arva?" I asked.
"Think of this backwards." And she pointed her wand. "Avada. Kedavra."
Green light surrounded me and I screamed out. As I fell to the ground, I expected to wake up but didn't. Yet I wasn't dead.
"What? No! I am the only one the curse doesn't work on! Avada Kedavra! AVADA KEDAVRA!" She screamed but I was still alive.
Ron! I looked around and saw a winged horse. It was red brown and lovely. It dropped something at my feet. It was a dagger. the blade was made of a sharp, sharp looking silver and the handle was gold. I knew what I had to do. I flung it at 'Arva'.
It sunk into her body and she fell to the floor, dead.
Then I woke up.
***
"Hey guys." Ron said, sitting with the others in the stands.
"Hey Ron." Hermione, Amy and Jasmine replied.
Peggy was obviously still upset over the ordeal of Ron being weird and said nothing.
"I have a question." He said.
"Okay." Hermione said.
"What song is this?" He asked and hummed the song in his dream-thing.
"Sounds familiar." Hermione said slowly.
"Yeah I know I've heard it before." Amy said.
"Its in the Muggle Disney movie 'Fantasia'." Jasmine said, fiddling with a yellow flower that was tied to the end of her thick braid.
"I know what it is." Peggy said quietly.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
"I might not tell you." She said with a scowl.
"Peggy." Ron begged. He spotted Lee Jordan getting ready to start commentating. "please. I'm sorry."
"Well." Peggy sighed and brushed back some hair. "Its 'A Night On Bald Mountain' by Modeste Moussorgsky." She said.
"Oh yeah! That one in Fantasia- the one with the demons!" Jasmine said and shuddered. "ooh, scary."
"Yeah. It is scar-" Ron never finished because Lee interrupted.
"Welcome! To the game of Gryffindor versus Slytherin!" His voice rang out. Everyone began cheering as the players zipped out. "The players take their positions as Madame Hooch steps onto the field. the golden Snitch is released closely followed by the Bludgers. The Quaffle is up- and the game begins!" Like always when it was Gryffindor versus Slytherin, the game was brutal and lots of cheating from the Slytherin side. Cheating from everyone, that is, except Malfoy.
Ron was only half surprised as Malfoy, for once, played fair. He had a feeling it had to do with the pretty little red-head next to him.
The game went on. both sides scoring, both sides battling so ferociously that it seemed they were dragons instead of witches and wizards.
Suddenly Ron felt an odd sensation. like he was going to be sick. Very, very, very sick. He grabbed his stomach.
"Ron?" Hermione asked.
"I. feel. sick." He moaned, closing his eyes.
"Let's get him out of here before he throws up on everyone." Amy suggested.
"But-the game-" Jasmine sputtered then sighed. "all right."
The four girls (Peggy included) carried Ron (since he couldn't walk) into the totally empty castle. He was moaning, groaning and getting paler by the second.
Suddenly, Jasmine let go of Ron's arm and the three others stopped. "Jasmine?" Hermione asked, trying to hold up Ron's other arm.
"Jason says to let go." She said.
"Who the heck is Jason?" Amy demanded, clutching Ron's middle.
"LET GO OF HIM!" Jasmine suddenly screamed and the three girls dropped Ron onto the stone floor. Jasmine leapt at them and shoved them back, just in time.
Ron suddenly let out a terrifying scream and flung himself onto his back. His whole body began shaking and his eyes rolled back in his head so only white was showing.
"HE'S DYING!" Hermione screamed, clutching Jasmine.
"He's gonna EXPLODE!" Amy yelled, clutching Peggy.
"He's got a terrible disease that's going to kill us, too!" Peggy whispered, clutching Amy.
"No! Jason says. Jason says." Jasmine trailed off, eyes wide. "He's. no. he is? Oh my. Jason says Ron's. well, predicting."
"Predicting?!" The three girls shouted but jerked back as Ron's voice screamed out.
"THE DARK LORD HAS RISEN AND HIS EVIL WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE LAND MORE POWERFUL AND TERRIBLE THEN BEFORE!" The four girls whimpered slightly, and pushed back against the wall. "A POWERFUL AIDE IS BY HIS SIDE. AN AIDE THAT CANNOT BE KILLED BY ANY CURSE! DEATH EATERS WILL ROAM THE LAND, SEARCHING FOR THEIR PREY!" Ron's voice fell silent as the last words echoed down the halls. They stared at him.
"Is it. over?" Hermione whispered, so obviously frightened.
"A BATTLE-" Ron continued causing the four girls to jerk back again. "A BATTLE LIKE NO OTHER WILL TAKE PLACE! A BATTLE OF GOOD VERSUS EVIL! MANY EVIL WILL DIE BUT ONLY ONE GOOD WILL! JUSTICE SHALL BE SERVED UPON THE BETRAYER, WHO WILL BE DISCOVERED! THE TRAITOR SHALL DIE! ONE GOOD SHALL DIE! ONE GOOD SHALL DIE! THE TRULY EVIL WILL ESCAPE! THE STONE OF POWER! THE STONE OF POWER MUST BE PROTECTED!!" and Ron fell silent. He slumped forward on the floor, barely even breathing.
The four girls stood there, hardly breathing themselves.
"I-is. it. done?" Amy whispered, extremely pale and shaking.
"I think so." Peggy said and was the first to step out. She knelt over Ron's body and felt his wrist. "He's. he's alive but. we better get him to the hospital right away."
*** (Harry's point of view)
"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" Lee screamed out over the cheering crowd. I landed on the ground, out of breath, clutching the Snitch in my hand.
Malfoy landed near me and scowled. "Good catch, Potter." He sneered. "too bad you didn't fall off your broom." And with that, he walked off.
I nearly had fallen off my broom. But I managed to stay on, catch the Snitch and win us the game. Angelina, Alicia, Katie and Allison hugged me and kissed my cheeks. Fred and George gave me high five's.
I looked at the crowd pouring onto the field then frowned.
No Ron.
No Hermione.
No Jasmine.
No Amy.
No Peggy.
I shoved the Snitch at Madame Hooch and, clutching my Firebolt, ran as fast as I could to the castle. I ran into the Entrance Hall and looked around. For some reason I had a feeling to go to the hospital wing so I ran towards it.
Going in, I saw Jasmine, Hermione, Amy and Peggy surrounding a bed. All pale. All shaking. All scared out of their wits.
"HARRY!" Jasmine screamed and flung herself at me. She began crying into my shoulder.
"What's wr-" I spotted Ron and immediately thought he was dead. "Ron!" I yelled.
"He's alive." Peggy whimpered.
"But he. he. he." Hermione whispered, eyes wider then I had ever seen them before.
"He what?" I asked, hugging Jasmine.
"He said. he said stuff." Amy mumbled, hands covering her face.
"Stuff? What?" I asked.
"He did a prediction, Harry." Hermione said.
"Ron. made a prediction?" I gasped in shock.
"Yeah." Peggy said, nodding.
"He. but. the." I stammered.
"The prediction was about. You-Know-Who. and a battle and. other things, I can't remember." Hermione said, tears coming to her eyes.
Peggy recited the prediction and my eyes went wide. "Ron said that?" I asked and the four girls nodded, Jasmine's face still buried in my Quidditch uniform.
I stared at Ron's pale, pale face and then thought of Trelawney. "But. I've seen a prediction done before and the person didn't faint."
"Maybe its cause Ron's so young." Amy said, voice muffled through her hands.
"D'you think that. you know. the prediction will. come true?" Hermione whispered. I knew she didn't believe in any type of Divination but I guess we all had a sense of foreboding since it had come from one of us. Indeed it was like there was a shadow cast on the room.
"I don't know." I said.
"Harry. what did he mean by 'the betrayer'? Does he mean Wormtail?" Hermione asked.
"Something like that." I muttered.
"But he said 'who will be discovered'. Well. Wormtail has already been discovered as the traitor. Or maybe he means 'discovered by all'. Or. oh I don't know! This is why I quit Divination! Its stupid and foggy and nothing clear and nothing makes sense and its all a bunch of hooey." Hermione spat out angrily. "Out! Young Weasley needs his rest!" Pomfrey snapped at us so we reluctantly left.
***
The Dark Lord has risen and his evil will spread across the land more powerful and terrible then before. A powerful aide is by his side. An aide that cannot be killed by any curse. Death Eaters will roam the land, searching for their prey. A battle- a battle like no other will take place. A battle of good versus evil. Many evil will die but only one good will. Justice shall be served upon the betrayer, who will be discovered. The traitor shall die. One good shall die. One good shall die. The truly evil will escape. The stone of power. The stone of power must be protected.
Voldemort read these words over and over and over. There was an addition on the back.
'I think Potter knows someone close to him is a servant. I do not think he knows it is me. Signed, your faithful servant'.
"Do you know what this is means?" Voldemort asked with a wicked smile.
"That the Death Eater at Hogwarts is going to die?" Arva asked, casually sipping tea as if this were a sunny afternoon in a garden.
"Well who cares about that. I think we should start fufilling the little prediction Potter's friend has made." Voldemort snapped his fingers and Lucius Malfoy appeared.
"Yes, my lord?"
Voldemort smiled his evil, twisted smile. "Go and torture and kill every Muggle, Mudblood and Half-born you come across."
Lucius's eyes lit up and he smiled as well. "Tis a task to my pleasing, my lord."
"Well spread the pleasure to the other Death Eaters."
"Yes. my lord."
Lucius left to inform the others.
***
Two dozen or so black hooded and masked figures entered the town.
"Let me do the honors." Lucius smiled and pointed his wand to the sky. "Morsmordre!" A huge skull appeared in the sky with a snake coming out of its mouth.
The Death Eaters looked at Lucius and he lowered his mask. "Let's have some fun."
And the Death Eaters parted.
"Reducto!" A house was blown apart, revealing the terrified residents.
"Mama!" A young boy shouted, clinging to his mother.
"CRUCIO!" The family writhered in pain. their screams echoed out.
Down the street, Death Eaters entered houses and tortured their victims.
In one particular house, Mr. Vernon Dursley woke with a start. Listening to the screams, he quickly woke his wife.
"What is going on?" Petunia yawned.
"Mommy!" Their overweight son ran into the room and clutched to Petunia.
Suddenly a tall, hooded figure came in with a mask. Vernon saw the wand in its hand.
"Crucio."
***
"HARRY!" Harry looked up as Hermione ran into the Common Room, clutching a paper in her fist. "Harry." She whispered and handed him the paper.
There was a black and white picture of the dark mark. 'He Is Back' was the headline. "2 dozen Death Eaters, yesterday, attacked the down of Little Whinging, Surrey. oh my God that's where the Dursleys live.. lived." Harry whispered. He didn't care too much for the Dursleys but STILL.
"Continue." Hermione said.
"The attack left a fourth of the town dead, a fourth in shock, and the other half in Wizarding hospitals. When they get out they will have the Memory Charm on them."
"Maybe-maybe the Dursleys are still alive. I know you hate them but-"
"I didn't want them DEAD. I just wanted them gone. Out of my life. Somewhere else but not-but not dead. maybe sent to the North pole or something! But not dead!" Harry said, shaking his head. "Death Eaters will roam the land, searching for their prey." He recited from Ron's prediction. "A day after his prediction and it starts coming true."
"Oh Harry, you don't think that the rest will." Hermione said.
"I don't know, Hermione. I really don't."
*** (Ron's point of view)
The first thing I saw was a small crowd around my bed. Harry, Hermione, Peggy, Jasmine and Amy.
"Hi guys." I said, sitting up. "What. what happened to me?" I asked, rubbing my head.
"You d-don't remember?" Jasmine stammered.
"I don't think you can if you do that." Harry said.
"Do what? Remember what?" I asked.
"Ron. you had been having vision-like dreams, right?" Harry asked.
"He has?" Amy asked in surprise.
"Y-yes." I admitted.
"And you saw. into the crystal ball and actually SAW something." Harry continued.
"Yes." I said.
"Couple of days ago you." Harry trailed off. "I can't tell him."
"Tell me what?" I asked.
"Ron you made a prediction and its already starting to come true." Hermione blurted out.
I sat there, slightly shocked. "What?" I finally asked.
"Y-you made a p-p-p-prediction and-and-and its already s-starting to c-come true." Jasmine said, crying. By the redness and puffiness of her eyes I saw she had been crying for quite a while.
"I made a prediction." I said slowly.
"Yes." Peggy said.
"What. prediction?" I asked.
"Peggy remembered it all and we wrote it down." Amy said, looking at a piece of paper Harry held.
"I don't want to read it!" he said and shoved it at Jasmine.
"N-not me!" She sobbed and shoved it at Amy.
"Oh no. Not me." She handed it to Peggy.
"Oh honestly!" Peggy said and cleared her throat and recited my prophesy/prediction.
There was complete silence for about three minutes. "I said. I said that?" I asked.
"Yes. It was when you said you were sick and. in a corridor we dropped you and you began shaking and your eyes rolled back into your head and you screamed it out." Hermione somehow managed.
I buried my face in my hands. "I did NOT make a prediction."
"You did and its. already starting to come true." Harry said and I looked up.
"What?"
"Death Eaters will roam the land, searching for their prey. It started. the day before yesterday. the day after you made the prediction." Amy said.
"Death Eaters attacked Little Whinging, Surrey. Where the Dursleys are. A fourth of the town is dead, another fourth in shock and the rest in a Wizarding hospital. I dunno if the Dursleys are alive or not." Harry explained and held up the Daily Prophet.
The Dark Mark was hovering on the front page. "I-I made a prediction and its starting to come true." I said very slowly. The others all nodded. "No." I said shaking my head. "It-it MUST be a-a-a-a coincidence!"
The others remained completely silent. Not even Hermione believed it was a coincidence. "Maybe we should go to Trel-"
"No!" Harry and I both shouted and Amy fell silent.
"She'll just-no. It'll make things worse. Just. just promise not to tell anyone about this." I said.
"We promise." The others said.
***
I was out of the hospital the next day. I felt a bit weak but otherwise fine. We all knew one thing. we needed to do research. We needed to find out as much as we could out predictions and things like that. And we needed to find out what the Stone of Power was.
So we had that PLUS I was studying about my dreams (hoping I'd discover who the traitor is) PLUS loads and loads and LOADS of homework from teachers PLUS the prediction threatening to come more true PLUS Death Eaters attacking Muggle towns ruthlessly. Nonetheless my sixteenth birthday wasn't a very good one.