Chapter 20: Antiquitas et Futuras

            During her first week back at Hogwarts, Hermione made up her mind to do what she had been thinking about doing for a few weeks. For the first time in four years, she found herself climbing the long, spiraling stairway that led up to Professor Trelawney's room. When she reached the top of the stairs, she noticed that the trapdoor which led into Professor Trelawney's overstuffed Victorian parlour was open and as she approached it, a slim rope-ladder unrolled in front of her.

            "Yeah right, I'm sure she expected me" muttered Hermione under her breath, immediately scolding herself for putting down the Divination Professor's powers as she had been wont to do since she quit Divination four years ago. Still, Hermione was immensely skeptical about the whole area of Divination. Incarnation of Lachesis or not, Professor Sibyl Trelawney still had a long way to go toward proving to Hermione Granger her real powers.

            "Welcome, Miss Granger- I've been expecting you."

            I bet she says that to whoever happens to pop out of her trapdoor.

            "You always were a sceptic," said the Professor, peering at Hermione with her big, soulful eyes. She sighed. "Well, we can't win everybody. Sit down, my dear."

            "Good afternoon, Professor Trelawney," Hermione greeted the teacher, sinking onto a fat frilly pink poof opposite the tiny old woman.

            "Head Girl…That's no surprise." Trelawney observed Hermione's badge closely. "And I hope Mr Malfoy is enjoying his position as Head Boy?"

            "Yes, Professor."

            "Good, good. But I expect you haven't come here to make small talk or to tell me you wish to take up Divination for the NEWTS." Trelawney straightened up, her numerous bead necklaces tinkling softly together.

            "No." said Hermione. "I came here to ask you what you knew about the Malfoy prophesy and prophesies in general. I have been reading up on them in the library but have found no satisfactory answers."

            Sibyl Trelawney looked shrewdly at Hermione. "Curiosity killed the cat, Miss Granger. Oh dear, I'm afraid the past has a way of catching up with me! I had thought that matter was long buried by now. But people will keep hammering away at these prophesies you know- it's no use, I tell them. The Fates have spoken, what will pass will pass, but oh no, chip, chisel and hammer they will, trying to change the unavoidable." The old lady sighed dramatically.

            Hermione began to feel irritated, the way she had four years ago when the Professor had predicted the death of about four of her best friends in one day- none of which had come to pass.

            "Professor Dumbledore told me that every prophesy has a loophole. So what you say can't always be true." Hermione said, rather too tartly.

            Sibyl Trelawney looked a bit put-off. "My dear, your headmaster is a very wise man. But he didn't come to that information by himself- it was I who told him that. Yes yes, I am quite aware of these loopholes as you put it. The problem is, they really rather need not be around since, as far as I know, people hardly ever find out what they are and use them."

            "During my research in the library, I read about so many famous prophesies- the Tutankhamen Prophesy, the Merlin Prophesy, the Tudor Prophesy…all of which seemed to be unavoidable."

            "Well- those are the only ones worth reporting, aren't they? Not much of a prophesy if it doesn't come to pass."

            "But can they be avoided?"

"Of course. But the loopholes are so tiny, so obscure, that if you look too hard, they will elude you and if you don't look, you won't find them.We don't like to tell people about them much."

            "We?- you mean you and your sisters?"

            Sibyl Trelawney suddenly tensed and sat straight up in her velvet armchair.

            "Who told you?"

            "Professor Dumbledore. Well- he actually told Draco, then Draco told me."

            "Draco – is it? Well, well…" The old lady took off her glasses and peered so closely at her that Hermione felt like pulling her chair back. Realising it would be rude to do so, she resisted. "Ah…I see! Congratulations Miss Granger, I foresee a very happy event for you and Mr Malfoy in September…" the old lady put on her glasses again, "…but also a very sad one. How odd, is it not?"       

            "How did you know?"

            Sibyl smiled. "Its not very hard, dearie. All women in your condition have a very happy glow about them. An aura- it's not easily seen but it's noticeable. Had you taken Divination, you would have covered that topic last year."

            "Well, seeing as you know…I really need to know about the prophesy Professor. I'm trying to find out as much as I can about it."

            "Now I understand why. You are afraid of losing Mr Malfoy. You remind me of one of my other students long ago…she had the exact same worry as you. Poor Narcissa. I did all I could for her, but my powers only stretched so far."

            "Why are you here now, Professor? Why are you not with your sisters?"

            "Miss Granger, let me start at the beginning. But first, a cup of tea?"

            "Thank you."

            The two women sipped their tea. Professor Trelawney's hands shook as she held the cup. She looked immensely frail and old.

            "My sisters and I- as you have found out- are Seers. Some like to think of our powers as greater than that- in fact, as Fates. That is what they believed anyway, that we sat in some cave and weaved the fabric of men's lives." Here, the professor chuckled. "Clotho, as she is romantically known is my younger sister and was is the creator. Atropos, my older sister was called. She was the destroyer- and I, well, I had no such powers of life or death, I was simply the measurer. That is not the strictly correct understanding of us, however. Ridiculous! To think we sit in some slimy cave all day weaving! Where would we put all that cloth?"

            "We are really more like three prophetesses. Much stronger than the Siblys, of course- those ten mortal witches who had some powers of divination. Your Mr Malfoy is descended from one of them and women in his family have some of their ancestor's great powers. My younger sister- she sees the start of events. My older sister – she sees the end of events. I have some power to see the events being played out. The greatest difference between us is that while the two of them exist in two different planes of time: one at the genesis of all events and one at the finish of all events, I being the middle person, so to speak have to exist in present time. I see everything going on now. Of course, having some powers of foresight, I can see the future as well: but I am much stronger with my sisters around to help me and I can call them to me with great magic."

            "Why are you here at Hogwarts?"

            "Well, it is very comfortable, don't you think?" said the Professor, looking around her cosy parlour and smiling. "Biscuits with your tea?"
            "Thank you."

            "The last time I called my sisters back was when Albus asked me to help the Potters." The old lady's eyes filled with tears. "We told him it was no use. That nothing good could come out of that marriage. And we were right, they were all murdered within a year."

            "Except Harry. He came out of it- it was all not in vain."

            Professor Trelawney narrowed her eyes, "Yes- except Mr Potter."

            "Was Harry the loophole?"

            Professor Trelawney looked at Hermione and said shortly, "Yes, the famous parent's magic… but they would not have known that, would they? Who would have known that they would be called on to make that sort of sacrifice and that they would make it?"

            "Will the same work for Narcissa and Draco?"

            "Circumstances change, dear child. Every child is protected by the love of his parents, but there is stronger magic than that."

            This was news to Hermione. Surely nothing could be stronger than that which had reduced Voldemort to near-nothingness?

            "What is that?"

            "Free will. Some parents turn against their children- then the magic won't work. Some children turn against their parents. Some people make good choices, some people make evil ones. That is why in the warp and woof of life…we can't help but have loopholes. You mortals have the power of free will, and that may in the end change everything. Prophets can predict events- but we can't always predict how people deal with them."

            I have free will thought Hermione. Amore Domitum Omnie. How are they linked?

            "And the Malfoy Prophesy? Do you know what Grandmother Van Doren saw?"

            "She was a descendant of the Siblys. Their powers have diminished over the generations and their sight is different from ours. All I know is that she warned her daughter of marrying Lucius Malfoy- great harm would come to herself and to their son. Some others also had an inkling of the Prophesy- those with the Eye…such as You-Know-Who and Dumbledore himself."

            Trelawney paused and took a sip of tea. Hermione nodded. She had read the powerful wizards had a strong inner eye- Dumbledore and Voldemort would be among those. Perhaps even Harry would when he was older- although he and Ron took Divination as a joke now.

"As far as I know, Narcissa was so in love with Lucius that she ignored her mother…until Narcissa herself, who possessed some power of the Siblys, during her divination lessons with me foresaw some terrible fate of her son herself…only then did she begin to take it in earnest. I contacted my sisters at Albus and Severus' request- and showed her what we could to find out more. It was not good news. The poor girl was most distraught."

            "But she married Lucius anyway."

            Sibyl Trelawney poured the last bit of tea out of the teapot. "It was her own free will, my dear. But then, as I said in the beginning, what will come to pass will come to pass."

            Hermione finished her tea and stood to go.

            "Thank you, Professor. You really have been helpful."

            "My dear, would you like me to try and see your future? I would have imagined that is why you came to see me."

            Hermione slung her book bag over her shoulder. "If what you say is true, Professor, then I believe not knowing will serve me as much use as knowing."

            "Good luck, Miss Granger. Do come for tea again, I know you will."

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            Hermione wasn't sure if it was the information she had just received or the heavy perfumes in Professor Trelawney's stuffy parlour that made her light headed. She joined her friends in the common room, all the final years were studying for the NEWTS, noses buried in thick books.

            "I give up," said Neville desperately to Ron. "Professor Snape can fail me for all I care. I always sucked at potions and now I'm going to prove it to all by failing my Potions NEWT. I wish it wasn't a compulsory."

            "Yeah- I know" said Ron, taking Neville's book and staring at the complicated explanation. "If Hermione hadn't secretly helped you and me for the last seven years here, I think we would have been kept back every single year for failing potions."

            "What's up, guys?" asked Hermione, throwing down her book bag and taking a deep breath of fresh air to clear her head.

            "Potions, is what." said Neville glumly. "I've read this through about five times already and I still don't get it."

            Hermione took the book "Most Potente Potions" from Neville and Ron and glanced briefly at the page. Oh, a Friendship Philtrum! She quickly took out a parchment and a quill and began to draw a chart. Neville and Ron leaned over as she began to explain it to them in a low voice. The three of them were quickly absorbed.

            "Hi Hermione!" Hermione looked up in surprise. It was Ginny and Harry. "You three have been here for nearly two hours! Is Potions really so interesting?"

            "Just a sec- so Neville- do you get it? Why must Bloodwort always be the last ingredient in this potion?"

            "Because it requires the least boiling time of all the ingredients- if overboiled the whole potion has the reverse effect!"

            Hermione and Neville beamed at each other. Ron clapped his hands! "Woah! That was fantastic Hermione. I really think you should teach Potions instead of Snape."

            Hermione wondered what her friends would say if they knew that Draco would be the Assistant Potions Master here for the next year.

            "No problem. Hey Harry! Ginny! What's up?"

            "Nothing, we just wanted to know if you're coming to Hogsmeade with us this evening. Upper School has been given permission to go out for dinner tonight."

            Hermione really wanted to find Draco to talk to him about what she had found out, but she knew that it could wait till later.

            "Sure, let's all go together."

            Harry, Ginny, Neville, Ron and Hermione went to get their cloaks. They met Lavender Brown on their way downstairs so they asked her along as well. It was already April and spring was firmly here. Besides the NEWTS, the other event of interest to the school was the Graduation Ball. Parents had been invited. The prefects had been planning it since the Yule Ball ended.

            "I heard that Justin and Hannah broke up. Hannah's going with Terry Boot. I wonder who Justin'll take?" asked Ron.

            "Don't know" said Harry, as the friends tucked into a big meal at The Three Broomsticks.

            "He won't have a problem finding someone though…he's awfully good looking." said Ginny.

            "Better looking than me?" asked Harry, pretending to be jealous, and putting his arm around Ginny.

            "Loads!" giggled Ginny.

"And he's really buff too- he must have been working out lately" said Lavender turning a little red.

            "Next you'll be telling me Draco Malfoy's hot." said Harry, rolling his eyes.

            "But he is hot!" said Lavender and Ginny together. Ron and Neville choked on their butterbeers. Hermione felt like grinning. Ginny caught her eye.

            "We'll never understand girls" said Harry to Ron and Neville sadly. "Justin I can understand- broad, tanned….but Malfoy, snobby, slinky little … OW!"

            He received a sharp kick under the table from Hermione.

            "What happened, Harry?" asked Neville.

            "N-Nothing. Kicked the table leg with my knee." said Harry, staring ruefully at Hermione.

            "What are you going to do after graduation, Harry?" asked Lavender.

            "Work with the ministry- don't know which department yet."

            "What about you, Neville?" asked Ginny.

            "Same as Harry," said Neville, offering Hermione a butterbeer. She was just going to take it when she noticed Ginny frowning at her across the table. Oh, bother, well, she supposed Ginny knew best with a mother like Molly Weasley.

            "Sorry, Nev. Not tonight, been having a bit of a headache." Hermione said.

            "You've been studying too hard for the NEWTS" Neville said, pouring her some water instead. "Just relax. What are you going to do after graduation?"

            "Maybe get a muggle job- my parents are keen on me re-integrating myself with their world for a while. Then I'll decide what I really want to do."

            "Great."

            "Hey," said Lavender suddenly, "I heard that Pansy and Millicent were sent to a finishing school in Switzerland. So that's why they left so suddenly!"

            Harry, Ginny and Ron exchanged looks. "Yeah," said Ron. "Well, I hope they finish them off properly."

            Hermione laughed.

            "How's the ball coming along, Prefects?" asked Neville.

            "Good" said Harry. "We've sent out all the invitations- unfortunately, muggle parents can't step into Hogwarts, and we've planned out the decorations. It's to be a harvest theme- you know. Kind of like we've reaped the knowledge of Hogwarts…"

            "That's so corny!" laughed Lavender.

            "Yeah well, the other suggestions were all pretty bad- Finnegan suggested an Irish Pub theme but Professor McGonagall didn't seem to like it too much. And for this one Madam Sprout offered us a huge amount of hay and pumpkins to decorate the hall with."

            "Have you written your speech, Hermione?" asked Ginny.

            "Er…no. Too busy with NEWTS you know. I'm working on it."

            "It's too bad we have to listen to Malfoy as well as you Hermione," Lavender looked sympathetically at her friend, "I don't know why it has to be a joint speech."

            "Tradition" said Hermione, finishing up her potatoes.

            "Well, speak of the devil- look who's here" said Ron as Draco Malfoy and the other Slytherins swept into The Three Broomsticks and took up a large table. "It's your hot Head Boy, Lavender!"

            Lavender punched Ron in the arm.

            Hermione felt herself blushing. She caught Draco's eye across the room and they held each other's glances for just a second long enough for them to know that they were extremely aware of each other. She noticed Draco had a big Honeyduke's bag.

            "Here's to the past seven years at Hogwarts!" said Neville raising his glass.

            "Cheers!" the Gryffindors shouted and drank up. They were all in a merry mood by now.

            Suddenly, Hermione stood up, "And here's to the future, for all of us!" she called out.

            "Cheers!" her table shouted.

            She thought she saw Draco tip his glass in her direction. Looking at her best friends she felt extremely happy and thought, maybe everything will work out.