Chapter 37: La Gema de Dominio
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Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once." 
-William Shakespeare, "Julius Caesar", Act II, Sc. 2, line 32
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When Harry awoke, the shadows in the Hospital Wing told him it was late in the day. He stretched uncomfortably; the hard
hospital beds were not his favorite. He saw Remus Lupin talking quietly to Dumbledore on the other side of the room and lay
in his bed silently, trying to pick up on their conversation.

"...need some time alone, to find myself, you know? It's so hard...."

"...tragedy haunts us all..."

"...I should have known better... She was the one, and I knew it..."

"...not your fault..."

Harry concentrated intensely on their words, trying to follow the conversation, but he could not. Giving up, he sank back
into the pillow and sighed. Dumbledore heard him and began to walk towards his bed, gesturing for Remus to follow.

"How are you feeling, Harry?" Dumbledore asked kindly. Remus gave him a weak smile but didn't say anything.

"Loads better," he replied, glancing around the room. "How come everyone else is gone?"

"Most of them didn't have severe enough injuries to be up here for too long. The exception would be Mr. Shaklebolt, who has
been sent to St. Mungo's; apparently, he was knocked out a very powerful with a curse from a Death Eater in an invisibility
cloak." Harry nodded. Dumbledore sat in a rickety plastic chair, pulling it up towards Harry's bed. "Did you want to talk about
what happened?" he asked gently.

"Er... I guess," Harry stammered. Remus shuffled uncomfortably.

"I'll leave you two alone," he mumbled.

"Remus, wait," Dumbledore said, holding up a hand to stop him. "Will you be leaving now?" he asked, his words carrying a weight
that Harry couldn't understand. Remus shook his head sadly.

"I'll finish out the year, of course, I couldn't just leave you without a Defense teacher..." he replied slowly.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked, alarmed.

"I do not expect you to finish this year's classes, Remus. I am granting you a personal leave for the rest of the year." 

"Thank you," Remus mumbled, grateful. He looked at Harry. "Well, I guess this is goodbye then, Harry," he said, resting his
hand on Harry's shoulder.

"But - professor - where are you going?" he asked again. Remus smiled sadly.

"Just Remus, please, as I'm not your professor any longer. I'm not sure where I'll go. I need a break - a break from life."

"How long will you be gone?" Harry asked, struggling to sit up.

"Don't know," Remus said thoughtfully. "However long it takes." He smiled at Harry. "Don't worry about me, Harry. I'll be fine."
Harry nodded; he really didn't know if he believed that. "I won't say any farewells, that way you know I'll be back soon," he
said, winking, though his eyes had lost their sparkle. He turned and walked out the Hospital Wing door. Harry looked at Professor
Dumbledore speechlessly. Dumbledore sighed, removing his glasses and rubbing a hand over his tired eyes.

"Sometimes, Harry, life's obstacles can be hard to deal with. Some people give up - Peter Pettigrew, for instance." Harry 
shuddered at the sound of his name. "Instead of fighting for what he believed in, he took the easy path - easy, but wrong.
Others run away - like Adele Fleur. She knew her fate, her destiny, but she couldn't face her future. Remus Lupin has lost
so many loved ones, but he kept fighting. Right now, he just needs a break, a momentary escape from the pressures he knows
he must deal with. He'll be back, Harry," he added softly. "He hasn't given up, and he won't run away."

"I broke into Voldemort's mind," Harry said suddenly. Dumbledore's eyes widened. "I saw things - things from his childhood,
no one was playing with him and he got bad results on his O.W.L.s and he failed.... he failed so many times..." he said, trailing
off. "I guess I just never thought he was human," he added, softly. "Why does Remus take this? How can he have had so many
disappointments and not end up hating everyone?"

"Voldemort chose to deal with his failures with anger. Remus chooses to accept his quietly. Sometimes, he needs to get rid of
his emotions that are bottled up inside, and I'm hoping that his leave of absence will do just that." Harry nodded. "Now, let's
have a look at that arm of yours, Madame Pomfrey says it's dreadful..." Hurriedly, Harry pulled up his right sleeve; he had been
asleep most of the time and had not even noticed. He gasped as he saw it. A scar, tinged slightly green, wound up his arm from
elbow to shoulder in a spiralling pattern. At the top, a triangular shape could be seen - the head of a snake.

"Why - what -" Harry stammered, staring at it in disbelief. 

"That's what I want to know," Dumbledore replied. "How did that happen?" Harry sat in silence for a moment while he thought about 
it. The memory hit him suddenly.

"Voldemort cast the Killing Curse at Adele twice; the first time, it hit me instead, I was trying to protect her... It hit my
arm. That must be what it's from," he said, still running his hand over the scar in amazement. Dumbledore looked at him thoughtfully.

"He has marked you once again, Harry. And once again you have shown him that you are more powerful than he is."

"But I'm not!" Harry cried desperately. "I'm not more powerful, he is, I'll never be able to... kill him, or anything..."
Dumbledore looked at him sadly. 

"You must believe in yourself, Harry. The final meeting between you and Lord Voldemort is coming quickly." He said goodbye
and left the room with a swish of his cloak. Harry fell back into bed, confused. How does he know when it's going to happen?
he asked himself stubbornly. The door of the Hospital Wing creaked open again.

"Harry!" Rachel cried, running in and hugging him. "I've been coming in every day, but you were always asleep, we were so worried,
I can't believe it..."

"Everything's going to be okay," he mumbled, pulling her close to him and inhaling her sweet scent. "Rach - I want to talk to
you about something," he said hesitantly. She pulled away.

"What's wrong?" she asked immediately. He looked down, searching for the right words.

"I know we've been through a lot together," he began. "It's been hard, but it was worth it. But by knowing me, you're at risk.
By dating me, you could be killed. You'll be their next target. They are already mad that you didn't join their side-"

"I don't care," she whispered. "I will be here for you. Always." Their faces pulled close together, but they were interrupted
as the door swung open with a BANG!

"Harry! Mate, you're alive!" Ron cried, running over to his bed. Hermione laughed, giving Harry a suspicious look that said 
"I know exactly what you were doing before we came in". Harry glanced away, a bit embarrassed. 

"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked, sitting on the other side of his bed.

"Better," he replied quickly. "Hermione, Tonks told me before that they found out why... well, what was wrong..." he couldn't
finish the sentence. Hermione folded her arms. 

"You tell me your secrets and I'll tell you mine," she replied, smiling a bit. "I didn't know you knew what your prophecy said!
You never told us. I overheard Dumbledore talking about it yesterday," she said stubbornly. Harry sighed, looking up at Rachel,
Ron, and Hermione surrounding him.

"Okay," he said heavily. "Basically, it's this - either I will kill Voldemort, or he will kill me." Hermione and Rachel looked
alarmed; Ron was shuddering at the mere mention of his name. "When the Killing Curse didn't hurt me as a baby, he 'marked me
as his equal', according to the prophecy. If he kills me, there isn't anyone left that can destroy him. The whole world depends
on me. I don't know if I can do it," he finished with whisper. Ron stared at him, mouth gaping.

"Bloody hell," he whispered. Rachel let out a small sob.

"Of course you can, Harry. You can do it. And we'll help you," Hermione said softly but firmly. Ron and Rachel nodded. Harry
smiled, tears forming in his eyes.

"Thanks guys," he whispered, as they all came together in a huge hug. Everyone pulled back; Ron wiped his eyes hastily, as
did Harry. He cleared his throat. "Your turn, Hermione," he said as steadily as he could. She sat down on the edge of the
bed and sighed.

"Where do I begin..." she mused. "Well, we'll start with this." She touched a simple locket around her neck. Harry had noticed
it years ago, but had never thought much of it. She wore it every day. "My grandparents gave it to me for my seventh birthday.
I've worn it ever since. I don't know if you've ever heard of La Gema de Dominio..." Rachel gasped.

"I have," she murmured. "I grew up in Spain. I always thought it was just a myth!" Ron looked at Harry; they were both confused.

"What the heck is it?" Ron asked.

"It's a tiny stone filled with dark magic. It allows the owner to control another human, but the stone must be kept in constant
contact with the person they are controlling. It was discovered in southern Spain in the 1500's, but after its power was abused,
a woman cast it into the Mediterranean Sea and it was never seen again. But somehow, Voldemort found it, and when he took me
prisoner they put it inside my necklace... it must have been while I was asleep or something..." Hermione finished thoughtfully.

"So you've been being controlled by him since Christmas?" Ron cried. "Why didn't he make you try to kill Harry or something?"

"I suppose he didn't want to ruin his chances, Ron," Hermione replied, somewhat bitterly. "He wanted to make sure he got everything
right this time." Ron shook his head in amazement.

"What I don't understand," Harry said, speaking up suddenly, "is why he took you, Hermione. Why not someone else?" She smiled
wryly. 

"No idea, Harry. But does he really need a reason?"

"Oh, he had a reason," said a voice behind them. The group looked up suddenly to see Dumbledore standing behind them. "Maybe
he knows something that you do not, Hermione." She sighed, looking slightly angry for not knowing something, for once. Dumbledore
spoke up again. "Harry needs his rest. Everyone, out of the Hospital Wing, or Madame Pomfrey will be after me." They all 
laughed, slowly walking out the door, leaving Harry to his thoughts.

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The rest of the school year passed quickly. Hermione was, of course, upset that her state had kept her from studying for the
upcoming practice N.E.W.T. test, so she began reading twice as much as usual. Harry was studying as well, but aside from
homework, he tried to keep his activities relaxed and low-key. He and Ron spent much of their time playing chess in the common
room or simply talking. The ceiling in the Great Hall had been repaired by a number of middle-aged wizards in brown jumpers
who arrived one day in white vans with gold lettering on the side, spelling out "Magical Mending: You break it, we'll fix it!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched the workers for a while before heading off to their final class of the day, Transfiguration.
Professor McGonagall was in a surprisingly patient mood; she still had not gone off on Neville even after the fifth time his
cactus turned into a owl instead of an ottoman. The bird screeched across the room and flew out the window as Neville sighed
unhappily. 

"Class is dismissed," Professor McGonagall announced, and everyone grabbed their backpacks to rush out and begin the weekend.

"What're we gonna do tonight?" Ron asked, as the trio walked down the hallway.

"Dunno," Harry replied. "What do you think... Hermione? What's wrong?" he asked worriedly as she stopped, her hand to her forehead.

"I feel so weird all of a sudden," she mumbled. She walked off to the right and entered what Harry recognized as Moaning Myrtle's
bathroom.

"Come on, Ron," Harry said, pulling him in after Hermione.

"Mate, it's a girls' lavatory! I'm not going in there!" he cried. Harry rolled his eyes.

"We've been in there before, now hurry up before someone sees!" Finally giving up, he entered. Hermione was slumped against
the wall.

"Mione, what's wrong?" Ron asked, glancing around to make sure there was no one in the stalls. Moaning Myrtle was not even
present; Harry guessed she must be in the Prefect's bathroom or had been flushed into the lake on accident. Suddenly Hermione
looked up at Ron, her eyes wide but blank. "Bloody hell, he's controlling her again!" Ron exclaimed. Her mouth opened.

"He who can vanquish the Dark Lord has been marked as an equal again. The powers of both the light and the dark sides grow stronger, and soon one must conquer the other. The fate of the wizarding world will be decided when the web of prophecies is untangled. The cry of the Phoenix will identify the victor."
Hermione slumped against the wall again. Harry and Ron looked at one another in horror. "Mione?" Ron whispered. She stirred a bit, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief that she was still okay. "Hmm?" she mumbled as she opened her eyes. "What happened? Did I pass out or something?" she asked. "Hermione... I think you're a Seer," Harry replied quietly. ******************* You guys have been SO GREAT with reviews!! I love it!! The school year is winding down, so obviously the story is coming to an end... *sob* I'm pretty sure I will do a 7th year sequel or something though. There is at least one chapter left. Thanks to everyone for reading!!