Two parts in less than 5 days! Yay for me!
Please Note: I'm sneaking to get even this part out today. There won't be any updates until Friday at least – I have 6 exams this week and believe me, I gotta study. I try and make the next parts extra special to make up for it, tho.
(roughly) From part 5:
"There was a second part to the foretelling. If you do not utterly destroy Voldemort within the next few years, the past will repeat itself and you two will die, leaving your son to fight your enemy. Voldemort can only be stopped by one of the Potter line.
*****************************************
Part 6: Home Again, Home Again
*****************************************
Harry's hand felt as cold as ice in her grip. Hermione bit back her own tears as she looked at him. Great, silent tears ran down his face and the emerald eyes she loved so much were huge and wet. He looked up at her, pleading with those eyes, but she didn't know exactly what he was asking. He reached out, though, and pulled her into his side, resting his face in her hair. Harry stroked it gently, reverently. A few very long, very quiet minutes later, he was the first to speak. His usually animated voice was heavy, low, and thick. Desperate.
"I don't generally believe in prophecies or fortunes, Professor. How can I know to believe in this one?"
"Unfortunately, we have the utmost belief in this one, Harry. So many other parts of it have come true that it's almost impossible to not believe that it has a thread of truth."
Neither bothered to asked what other parts there were.
Still in Harry's arms, Hermione's tears spilled out of her eyes and washed down her cheeks. "But Professor, I don't believe-"
"Oh come off it, child!" roared Snape, finally entering into the scene. "Can't you believe anything when you're told?" He stalked toward them, arms raised in fury. "Why can't you just accept something without thinking it to death?! Why the questions?"
Hermione broke from Harry's embrace and stood, her eyes flashing at Snape. Her voice was deathly quiet. "I just found out that someone has mapped my life for me, created a destiny that I don't agree with and would never have asked for. And I don't know if you know this, Professor, but I happen to think that having the safety of the entire world rest on your shoulders is something big. The entire world including you, your life. So excuse me while we have a life-changing experience here, and pardon my questions that I ask because I just don't understand."
Snape's expression remained stone-cold during her tirade, and long after she'd stormed out of the room. Harry faced him next on his way after Hermione.
"I hope you take more of this with you today than the fact that you saw two Gryffindors cry."
~~
He found her upstairs, facedown on her bed, clutching a pillow to her. Hermione didn't look up when he came in, so Harry sat beside her on the bed and waited. After just a few moments, sniffling sounds came from the bedspread. He reached out gently and laid his hand on her back. When she didn't shrug away, he started a slow motion up and down her spine.
"It's not fair, Harry," came a muffled whisper. "Why is it always you? Why do you always have to be the strong one? Why does he hate you so much?"
"I think, Miney, that maybe he doesn't hate me as much as he loves power. I just keep getting in the way of his plans."
"But why do you have to be so brave? Why is it that only you can fight him?"
"I don't know," he responded. Harry paused then, staring at the back of Hermione's head and the thick honey-colored hair that lay there. He trailed one hand up to her neck and reached through the thick strands to rub the back of her neck. "But for whatever reason, I can't let anyone else fight my battles for me."
She sat up quickly and spun around to face him. "It's my battle now too, Harry. Don't you dare think for one minute that I'm going to let you do everything in this relationship. It's my future too."
Harry smiled sadly and reached out to smoothe away the tear tracks running down her soft cheeks. "I can't let you get hurt, Hermione. I have to protect you."
"Then protect me, but let me protect you as well."
Her deep brown eyes relayed her firm stand and Harry had to smile inwardly. Putting his arms around her, he pulled Hermione into his lap and wrapped her up in his embrace. The subject was closed.
Hermione relaxed in his arms and hugged him to her even more tightly.
"I love you so much," he whispered in her ear, before kissing her cheek.
"I love you more," she joked back. A sudden thought occurred to her and she drew in a quick breath. "Oh no. Harry, I just yelled at a professor."
He laughed gently and attempted to calm her fears. "He had it coming, Miney, he really did."
She drew back and looked again into his eyes. "Harry, I yelled at Professor Snape. I don't know what came over me."
"I do." Harry brushed a strand of hair back from her face. "He made you mad, so you stuck up for yourself. Just like you'd do if anyone else got to you. I do have to say, I don't think I've quite ever seen you like that before."
"Neither have I." She frowned a little before smiling. "I think I liked it."
Harry laughed and snuggled her closer into his arms. 'Everything is going to be OK,' he thought to himself. 'We'll get through this. Together.'
~~~~~
Harry gazed out the window as the train rushed through the countryside on its way to Hogwarts. Not that there was anything to see out there. The landscape was shrouded in darkness, as well it should be at half past three in the morning. They'd left Kings Cross a few hours earlier and Hermione had fallen asleep on his shoulder just half an hour after that. He'd remained awake, however, contemplating all they'd been told.
McGonagall had left them in their usual compartment, alone. She'd taken one just a few feet down the hallway after saying she had a bit of work to do, and didn't wish to keep them from sleeping. Snape, however, had disappeared by the time Harry and Hermione had returned to her living room. Disapparated, actually, straight back to Hogwarts. McGonagall had told them that, but none said anything more about Hermione's confrontation with Snape.
Hermione's parents had returned shortly thereafter, following Hermione's phone call to their office. Per McGonagall's instructions, they were told next to nothing about the reason for Harry and Hermione's departure, but only that they were requested back at school for a special summer session. The Professor had explained that only the best and most promising students were invited – which pleased Hermione's parents enough to not question the matter. Hermione had asked them to trust her, and they did, not even blinking when they were asked to drop the magical trio off at the station to catch the 12:30 train.
Harry grimaced, remembering the good-bye between Hermione and her parents. She'd clung to them tightly, saying she'd owl as soon as she could. She hadn't cried a single tear until they'd reach the quiet of their compartment.
"I hate lying to them, Harry," she'd sobbed into his shirt. "Even if it will protect them. I've never lied to them before."
Harry knew what she was saying without actually saying it. She'd lost the entire summer with them, not knowing when she'd see them next, or if she would ever have the chance. Sure, the probability of Voldemort striking again so soon was extremely low, but nothing he did would ever surprise Harry again. He knew what the wizard was capable of, and that he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
~~~
Harry was still awake when the train neared the Hogwarts station. He gently shook Hermione, trying to wake her before the train stopped. He hated to do it, as she had tossed and turned all night, hardly settling for more than a few minutes. He'd let her sleep on, though, when it appeared her dreams were causing no fear.
"Huh? What's going on?" came her confused voice. "Lemme go back to sleep." She tried to snuggle down further into Harry's chest.
"Miney, love, it's time to get up. We're back at school."
She sat up at once, recognising Harry's voice. "Oh, it's true," she remarked sadly. "I thought it'd been a dream."
Harry's reply was interrupted by the entrance of their professor at the door of the compartment. "I see you two are awake. Gather your things, please, we're here." Hermione grabbed her knapsack from the other seat and smoothed down her hair before following McGonagall to the end of the carriage, Harry in tow.
The sun was barely rising when the train reached the end of it's journey. The air was wet and cool, but would signify the start of a stifling day. A single horseless carriage stood at the edge of the platform, waiting to take them to the castle.
The ride down the lane and through the giant gates was the quietest one ever for Hermione. She knew Harry was tired, but he refused to even doze on the way, having locked his gaze on the world beyond the window. McGonagall was locked away in her own world, reading from the large book on her lap. Not wanting to disturb either one of them, she too, turned to ponder the happenings in the gray dawn. In the stifling silence, the journey took longer than ever, and all passengers were relieved when the carriage stopped at last at the entrance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I'll try to get the next part out ASAP, but again, I don't know when that will be – prolly not till this coming weekend. I hope this will tide some of you over, although I personally don't feel that too much happened in this part – except Hermione grew up a little, and more was revealed about the seriousness of the situation.
Thanks a bunch, guys! ~*Adeleigh
Please Note: I'm sneaking to get even this part out today. There won't be any updates until Friday at least – I have 6 exams this week and believe me, I gotta study. I try and make the next parts extra special to make up for it, tho.
(roughly) From part 5:
"There was a second part to the foretelling. If you do not utterly destroy Voldemort within the next few years, the past will repeat itself and you two will die, leaving your son to fight your enemy. Voldemort can only be stopped by one of the Potter line.
*****************************************
Part 6: Home Again, Home Again
*****************************************
Harry's hand felt as cold as ice in her grip. Hermione bit back her own tears as she looked at him. Great, silent tears ran down his face and the emerald eyes she loved so much were huge and wet. He looked up at her, pleading with those eyes, but she didn't know exactly what he was asking. He reached out, though, and pulled her into his side, resting his face in her hair. Harry stroked it gently, reverently. A few very long, very quiet minutes later, he was the first to speak. His usually animated voice was heavy, low, and thick. Desperate.
"I don't generally believe in prophecies or fortunes, Professor. How can I know to believe in this one?"
"Unfortunately, we have the utmost belief in this one, Harry. So many other parts of it have come true that it's almost impossible to not believe that it has a thread of truth."
Neither bothered to asked what other parts there were.
Still in Harry's arms, Hermione's tears spilled out of her eyes and washed down her cheeks. "But Professor, I don't believe-"
"Oh come off it, child!" roared Snape, finally entering into the scene. "Can't you believe anything when you're told?" He stalked toward them, arms raised in fury. "Why can't you just accept something without thinking it to death?! Why the questions?"
Hermione broke from Harry's embrace and stood, her eyes flashing at Snape. Her voice was deathly quiet. "I just found out that someone has mapped my life for me, created a destiny that I don't agree with and would never have asked for. And I don't know if you know this, Professor, but I happen to think that having the safety of the entire world rest on your shoulders is something big. The entire world including you, your life. So excuse me while we have a life-changing experience here, and pardon my questions that I ask because I just don't understand."
Snape's expression remained stone-cold during her tirade, and long after she'd stormed out of the room. Harry faced him next on his way after Hermione.
"I hope you take more of this with you today than the fact that you saw two Gryffindors cry."
~~
He found her upstairs, facedown on her bed, clutching a pillow to her. Hermione didn't look up when he came in, so Harry sat beside her on the bed and waited. After just a few moments, sniffling sounds came from the bedspread. He reached out gently and laid his hand on her back. When she didn't shrug away, he started a slow motion up and down her spine.
"It's not fair, Harry," came a muffled whisper. "Why is it always you? Why do you always have to be the strong one? Why does he hate you so much?"
"I think, Miney, that maybe he doesn't hate me as much as he loves power. I just keep getting in the way of his plans."
"But why do you have to be so brave? Why is it that only you can fight him?"
"I don't know," he responded. Harry paused then, staring at the back of Hermione's head and the thick honey-colored hair that lay there. He trailed one hand up to her neck and reached through the thick strands to rub the back of her neck. "But for whatever reason, I can't let anyone else fight my battles for me."
She sat up quickly and spun around to face him. "It's my battle now too, Harry. Don't you dare think for one minute that I'm going to let you do everything in this relationship. It's my future too."
Harry smiled sadly and reached out to smoothe away the tear tracks running down her soft cheeks. "I can't let you get hurt, Hermione. I have to protect you."
"Then protect me, but let me protect you as well."
Her deep brown eyes relayed her firm stand and Harry had to smile inwardly. Putting his arms around her, he pulled Hermione into his lap and wrapped her up in his embrace. The subject was closed.
Hermione relaxed in his arms and hugged him to her even more tightly.
"I love you so much," he whispered in her ear, before kissing her cheek.
"I love you more," she joked back. A sudden thought occurred to her and she drew in a quick breath. "Oh no. Harry, I just yelled at a professor."
He laughed gently and attempted to calm her fears. "He had it coming, Miney, he really did."
She drew back and looked again into his eyes. "Harry, I yelled at Professor Snape. I don't know what came over me."
"I do." Harry brushed a strand of hair back from her face. "He made you mad, so you stuck up for yourself. Just like you'd do if anyone else got to you. I do have to say, I don't think I've quite ever seen you like that before."
"Neither have I." She frowned a little before smiling. "I think I liked it."
Harry laughed and snuggled her closer into his arms. 'Everything is going to be OK,' he thought to himself. 'We'll get through this. Together.'
~~~~~
Harry gazed out the window as the train rushed through the countryside on its way to Hogwarts. Not that there was anything to see out there. The landscape was shrouded in darkness, as well it should be at half past three in the morning. They'd left Kings Cross a few hours earlier and Hermione had fallen asleep on his shoulder just half an hour after that. He'd remained awake, however, contemplating all they'd been told.
McGonagall had left them in their usual compartment, alone. She'd taken one just a few feet down the hallway after saying she had a bit of work to do, and didn't wish to keep them from sleeping. Snape, however, had disappeared by the time Harry and Hermione had returned to her living room. Disapparated, actually, straight back to Hogwarts. McGonagall had told them that, but none said anything more about Hermione's confrontation with Snape.
Hermione's parents had returned shortly thereafter, following Hermione's phone call to their office. Per McGonagall's instructions, they were told next to nothing about the reason for Harry and Hermione's departure, but only that they were requested back at school for a special summer session. The Professor had explained that only the best and most promising students were invited – which pleased Hermione's parents enough to not question the matter. Hermione had asked them to trust her, and they did, not even blinking when they were asked to drop the magical trio off at the station to catch the 12:30 train.
Harry grimaced, remembering the good-bye between Hermione and her parents. She'd clung to them tightly, saying she'd owl as soon as she could. She hadn't cried a single tear until they'd reach the quiet of their compartment.
"I hate lying to them, Harry," she'd sobbed into his shirt. "Even if it will protect them. I've never lied to them before."
Harry knew what she was saying without actually saying it. She'd lost the entire summer with them, not knowing when she'd see them next, or if she would ever have the chance. Sure, the probability of Voldemort striking again so soon was extremely low, but nothing he did would ever surprise Harry again. He knew what the wizard was capable of, and that he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
~~~
Harry was still awake when the train neared the Hogwarts station. He gently shook Hermione, trying to wake her before the train stopped. He hated to do it, as she had tossed and turned all night, hardly settling for more than a few minutes. He'd let her sleep on, though, when it appeared her dreams were causing no fear.
"Huh? What's going on?" came her confused voice. "Lemme go back to sleep." She tried to snuggle down further into Harry's chest.
"Miney, love, it's time to get up. We're back at school."
She sat up at once, recognising Harry's voice. "Oh, it's true," she remarked sadly. "I thought it'd been a dream."
Harry's reply was interrupted by the entrance of their professor at the door of the compartment. "I see you two are awake. Gather your things, please, we're here." Hermione grabbed her knapsack from the other seat and smoothed down her hair before following McGonagall to the end of the carriage, Harry in tow.
The sun was barely rising when the train reached the end of it's journey. The air was wet and cool, but would signify the start of a stifling day. A single horseless carriage stood at the edge of the platform, waiting to take them to the castle.
The ride down the lane and through the giant gates was the quietest one ever for Hermione. She knew Harry was tired, but he refused to even doze on the way, having locked his gaze on the world beyond the window. McGonagall was locked away in her own world, reading from the large book on her lap. Not wanting to disturb either one of them, she too, turned to ponder the happenings in the gray dawn. In the stifling silence, the journey took longer than ever, and all passengers were relieved when the carriage stopped at last at the entrance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I'll try to get the next part out ASAP, but again, I don't know when that will be – prolly not till this coming weekend. I hope this will tide some of you over, although I personally don't feel that too much happened in this part – except Hermione grew up a little, and more was revealed about the seriousness of the situation.
Thanks a bunch, guys! ~*Adeleigh