CHAPTER 5: O Future Tell of Secrets
She came upon the gargoyle and realized instantly that it guarded Dumbledore's office. Now, what had her father said the password at this time was?
"Ah yes," She said, remembering. "Fizzing Whizbees!" The gargoyle sprang to life and moved aside. She stepped in and began the climb up to Dumbledore's office.
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"Hello, Miss-" Dumbledore said graciously as she stepped into his office. Fawkes cooed softly, as if saying he approved of her. She smiled. It had been a long time since she had been in here.
"Snape," She supplied. "Selina Snape."
"Well, Miss Snape," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "What have you come to say of the future?"
"That it must be changed," Selina replied sharply, a deadened look appearing in her eyes. Dumbledore rose and walked over to her side.
"I believe we need to talk," He said gently.
"Yes," Selina said, closing her eyes briefly. "But I do not want to have to repeat my story. Could you get everyone here?"
"If you'll tell me exactly who everyone is," Dumbledore said.
"Sirius, Remus, Harry, Ron, Padma, Ginny, Draco-"
"Draco Malfoy?" Dumbledore interrupted. She nodded. "Good to know that he finally makes up with Harry, then." Selina continued the list as though he hadn't said a word.
"Moody, all the Weaslys come to think of it, all the professors, Tonks and Kingsely Shacklebolt."
"All right," Dumbledore said kindly to the girl. "They'll all be here in the morning. Where will you be if something should come up?"
"I'll be in the hospital wing," Selina answered. "I will bring Severus and Hermione once morning arrives and then everything will be told."
"Good night child," Dumbledore said softly as she walked away.
"Good night," Selina replied.
* * * * * * * * *
The sun rose slowly and Selina watched intently as the shadows were lifted from the ground. How long had it been since she had seen a sunrise? How long since there had been a sunrise to watch in her time? She turned away from the window, unwilling to dwell on such thoughts. Walking over to the bed, Selina gently shook Hermione then Severus, causing them to wake up. It was then Hermione realized how she had been sleeping and she jumped up, blushing. Severus groaned and sat up.
"Good morning," Selina said quietly. It felt strange to say that again.
"Who, who are you?" Hermione questioned.
"I am no one you know yet, and until you come with me to the headmaster's office it shall continue to say that way," Selina answered. "Can you walk, Severus?" He nodded and gingerly got off the bed. Hermione looked like she wanted to help him, but clearly knew he would refuse her.
"Let's go," Selina said and the three left the hospital wing.
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"Thank you all for coming," Dumbledore said. Crowded in the rather spacious office was the group Selina had specifically requested. Everyone was staring at the strange girl who looked like Hermione. Severus and Sirius had even forgotten to insult each other and that was saying something. Selina looked at each of them in turn, her eyes drinking in the people who had died years before. She took a deep, shuddering breath to keep the tears, which threatened to come, at bay. If she started now then her story would never be told, and nothing would changer, her trip to the past a waste.
"Hello," she said to the crowd. "My name is Selina Snape and I am from the future." A collective gasp was heard and Mrs. Weasly whispered, "Selina Snape?!"
"Why are you telling us this?" Sirius asked. "This could change the future you know."
"That is exactly what I hope it will do," Selina replied.
"But, that's illegal," Hermione said in shock.
"I don't care mother- Hermione," Selina said, looking at the ground. "You need to hear me out, all of you."
"Did you almost call 'Mione, mother?" Ron said incredulously. Selina smiled wanly.
"You might as well know," she said. "My parents are Hermione Granger and Severus Snape." Almost immediately the color drained from nearly everyone's face, except that is, for Draco Malfoy. He was laughing.
"Good one," he said through another fit of laughter. "You almost had me fooled for a minute there. Now who are you really?"
"I haven't hear you laugh since I was a baby, Uncle Draco," Selina said quietly. "And it's good for me to hear you now, as the last I did you sure weren't laughing, heck, you weren't even breathing." Draco stopped laughing, his eyes wide.
"What do you mean?" he asked, a slight tremor in his voice.
"Will all of you listen to me?" Selina asked. "All of you, will you listen to me with out interrupting?" One by one they all nodded and so she took a deep breath and began.
"In my time it is dark. There is no son and very few free people. Voldemort rules all and he disposes of anyone and everyone who might be a threat. All of you are gone, and have been for many years. Father died seven years back and it is just us younger ones now. Though," she added with a small grimace. "We aren't so young anymore. I know you are wondering whom exactly I am talking of, so I shall tell you: Victoria Malfoy, Cherie Weasly, Artemis Potter and Ryan Black. Vickie is Ginny and Draco's daughter, Cherie is Padma's and Ron's, Artemis is Harry's adopted daughter, whom he saved from Lucius Malfoy when she was a year old, and Ryan is Sirius's son, but we never found out who his mother was. We are the last group resisting Voldemort.
"A month ago I was looking through father's old journals and in one he mentioned a time travel spell that was used to create time turners. So I researched it more in his books and found out how to do it, for Voldemort had destroyed all the time turners and I was forced to make a new one myself.
"It was difficult, especially since I am the leader of the order now, though there is not so much to do anymore. And I had to care for Salazar, but I managed. Finally a few days ago in my time I finished. I got Salazar, told everyone where I was going and the next thing you know I was here. And I'm glad I am for it is about this time when Voldemort will make his next step toward taking over the world, the one that will ultimately insure his victory."
"What is he going to do?" Hermione asked. "And what can we do to stop him?"
"Who is Salazar?" Severus added. Selina looked sadly at him. She reached beside her and appeared to be grasping at air, until a man her age appeared and in her arms she held and invisibility cloak. The man had deadened, hallowed eyes and did not speak or look at anyone.
"This is Salazar," Selina said flatly. "He is my twin."
"What's wrong with him?" Ron asked curiously. Harry elbowed him. Selina gave a short, bitter laugh.
"Last year, everyone remain in the order, and we had more then than we do now," Selina said quietly. "Went to Voldemort's castle, what used to be Hogwarts that is. Everyone felt it was one more attack and then either he died or we died. During the attack we soon found ourselves out numbered and Salazar told everyone to retreat. However many of us were killed before we could make it and Salazar was captured. Two months later we found him in a coma just a mile away from our new hide out. Grimwauld was no longer safe. He woke up in just a few weeks, but he's never gone back to normal. I just wish I knew what they did to him." No one spoke, horrified and shocked by the news.
"You didn't say what you-know-who is going to do yet," Bill Weasly said suddenly.
"I still don't understand your fear of his name," Selina said softly. "What he has done so far is nothing to be afraid of, compared to what he will do."
"What will he do?" Sirius demanded.
"Voldemort is going to take his child back," Selina said.
"No," a new voice said. Everyone turned to look at Salazar and for a moment it was very clear he was Snape's son. "To be entirely correct, grandfather is going to get his child back." Then he went back to a lifeless shell.
"Snape is Voldemort's son!" Harry exclaimed.
'No," Selina said. "Hermione is his daughter." Everyone began to laugh, except for Hermione, Severus, Selina, Salazar, and Dumbledore.
"Come one," Ron said, gasping for breath. "Hermione, you-know-who's daughter? Are you a complete nutter?"
"Mr. Weasly," Dumbledore said sharply. Ron stopped laughing and the room went silent. "I assure you, Miss Granger is indeed Voldemort's daughter."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione said steadily. But she was shaking and Severus saw this and placed an arm around her.
"If you think that just because this girl says you're her parents then you can just consider yourself to be a couple with Hermione, then you've got another thing coming," Sirius threatened. "You are much too old for her."
"Really, Black," Snape said mockingly. "If I'm too old for Hermione, then what makes you think she'll fall in love with you who, if I'm correct, is almost a year old than I am." Selina giggled suddenly.
"What's so funny?" Sirius said irritably.
"Watching you tow fight feels like watching old reruns," Selina explained. "You two were always fighting over which one Salazar and I liked better."
"Er," Sirius said, starting to blush. "Just wondering, but who did you like better?" Selina shook her head.
"Ah," she said mysteriously. "That's for me to know and you to find out." Moody growled, causing everyone to jump because they had forgotten he was there.
"I am touched by these little 'reunions'," Mad-eye said harshly. "But I believe the more important thing is Voldemort's return. Girl, what is going to happen?"
"July twenty-first Voldemort will gather his most loyal followers and they will go to 18 Hollows Ave and kill Mathew and Emily Grange. Hermione will go downstairs upon hearing the commotion and be stunned. Then Voldemort will perform," Selina shuddered. "The ritual."
"The ritual?" Hermione asked, her voice fearful.
"It would be easier if I just showed you," Selina said softly. "But if I do you must remember that this is what you're trying to stop, not what has been written in stone." Determined looks met her squarely in the eyes and she nodded.
"Just wait," Selina whispered. "It will come to you." A curious sinking feeling took hold of each and a horrific thing came to their minds. They were now seeing the ritual.
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THE RITUAL
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Hermione is bound naked to a fairy tombstone (think Aragorn's necklace in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy), her mother's. Voldemort stand in front of her with only pants on and a gleaming gold dagger in his right hand. Yards behind him stand his most loyal death eaters, Malfoy, Crabbe, Golye, Lesteranges, and Nott. Hermione's eyes flutter open then close again. Voldemort raises the dagger and cuts a large X across Hermione's chest. She screams loudly, her cries echoing in the dark sky. Lightening crackles and thunder roars. Voldemort cuts himself in the same fashion but emits no sound. He drops the dagger and leans forward so the slashes touch. Hermione shudders but can do nothing. Voldemort lowers his head, mouth slightly open, snake like teeth glistening. He bites into her neck and begins to suck on her blood in a similar fashion to a vampire. A terrible pain courses through Hermione's body, feeling as though she was burning from the inside. Her mouth opens but no sound come sound, just a terrible rasping, choking noise, blood trickling out form the corner. Voldemort takes his lips off her neck and takes a step back. His mouth is stained with her blood and his chest a mingle of his and hers. His eyes glistening maniacally he opens his mouth and starts to chant:
"Blood that was stolen,
From eighteen back a day,
Poured back into the body,
Power replenished,
And life retaken,
Spell, which bound now, breaks,
And everything back I take."
A silver mist rises from Hermione's body and sinks into Voldemort. Her eyes roll upward and she falls unconscious. The dark lord lets out a cackle of victory and he and the death eaters vanish. Hermione is unbound and falls to the ground. Rain begins to come down.
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END OF RITUAL
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Everyone came back shaking, Hermione worst of all. Ginny was sick all over the floor, unable to get to a wastebasket quick enough.
"I know that was bad," Selina said quietly. "But I need you all to do one more thing."
"What/" Harry asked weakly.
"I need you to come to the future."
* * * * * * * * *
All right, what did you think of the ritual. I wasn't too sure what to do for that at first, and by the way yes it will be explained why he did that in the next chapter. Right now I would like to thank all my reviewers again and have no objection whatsoever to more reviews. Next Chapter: Visit the future, see why Selina needs it changed so desperately, meet the rest of the future Order, and find out more about the Ritual. ~ Remo