And finally, the long awaited result to the thing I've been polling the entire story. How is Harry destined to be together with? I was shocked at how awesome the replies were. Now, however, because of popular demand…Miss LUNA LOVEGOOD. BUT due to some of the awesome suggestions about possible OCs and my bizarre desire to take J.K's characters and…fix their personalities and such, Luna will undoubtedly be a bit different than what she is in OfTP
CHAPTER 19: It Happened Because it was Destined
Melissa held up her hand and saw now the white as snow skin of Stacy Melissa, but rather her natural, tanner color. Hurriedly she got up off the floor and rushed to a mirror. Melissa Rivera stared back at her. She blinked. So, it had worked after all.
Tom got up and rubbed his head, moaning softly. Melissa turned to look at him. Their eyes met and held each other for a minute, promising to speak later. There was much to discuss, after all.
"What happened?" Severus asked bluntly, looking at Melissa, then Tom, then back to Melissa.
"You did it," Melissa said with a small smile. "You full-filled the prophecy and changed the outcome of the timeline."
"What prophecy? Surely you don't mean the one…" Melissa shook her head, cutting Severus off.
"No, not the prophecy that Sybil Trewlany made 19 years ago," she said softly. "The one I'm talking about was made by Emily Granger 18 years ago, just before my death." Her smile vanished beneath a mask of sorrow. Tom put a comforting hand on her. Melissa did not reject it, instead leaning into him.
"Please explain," Hermione said, looking at her parents. Melissa nodded and took a deep breath before beginning.
"The prophecy basically said that it would cancel out the one made by Trewlany first off, (The prophecy will cancel another). And that only a person not in their rightful time period would be able to defeat the true dark lord, Everond (And only one out of time has the power, To bring about the dark lord's defeat). That was you, Severus, you were about 31 years ahead of where you were supposed to be. The next line of the prophecy (In the midst of a lie and deception) referred to both Salazar being the future Voldemort's spy in 4PD, as well as Everond's deception of the entire wizarding community, hiding under the guise of Albus Dumbledore. My golden serpent necklace that I always wore until I was killed was banished by Mathew Granger right into the year in which Salazar and Selina turned 21. Salazar found it and gave it to Artemis to 'reform' it. She melted it and created the dagger, which you killed Everond with (With a golden serpent reformed). The next part is sad, it can be taken either of these two ways. One, Selina had just died, and though you hadn't known her long, you still felt a connection to her, since she was your future daughter. Two, in a sense Albus Dumbledore, not to mention Minerva McGonagall, had died to you. They were no longer those people, rather, Everond Snape and Stacy McGonagall (And one dearest dead). The next line just repeats that only someone not in the correct time would be defeat the dark lord (Only one out of time has the power) however, the line after it (To save the present at hand) goes a bit further. Stating that this person, Severus, would be the only one who could correct the timeline and save it."
"That's all wonderful," a new, higher, smoother voice said from the shadows. "But that doesn't explain how you or I are here like we are." Stacy Melissa stepped into view. Severus gaped at his older sister. And indeed, she no longer looked like a teenager, but rather a grown woman of about his own age.
"She has a point," Melissa admitted. "The best I can come up with is that somehow we were so closely linked to Everond that when he died our lives where corrected."
"Restored," Stacy interjected.
"Restored," Melissa agreed. "Or our bodies, depending."
"Bizarre," Severus said looking out the window rather than the two women. Melissa laughed.
"That's putting it mildly," she teased. Tom's arm tightened around her. She smiled, it felt good to be held by the man she loved again.
"Um," Hermione said quietly, not wanting to break up anything important. "Shouldn't we go see what happened to the others?" Severus was shocked to find out that he had lost the will to sigh, or roll his eyes, or make a snide remark about Potter, Black, or even Weasly.
"What have you done to me?" he asked Hermione silently, smiling truly happy for the first time in quite a while.
"We should," Melissa agreed.
"Perhaps," Tom said hesitantly. "Perhaps it would be best if only Hermione and Severus went. They can more than handle themselves if something nasty is out there, and I don't think that the rest of their friends are going to be too excepting of us currently." Melissa sighed and rolled her eyes, but grumbled her agreement. Stacy said nothing but made no move to follow Hermione and Severus when they exited the office.
It didn't take too long for the couple to find everyone else, since they were all sitting outside the office, looking rather baffled.
"How'd you guys get out here?" Hermione asked curiously.
"In front of this office?" Sirius asked with a weak smile. "Or in this time? 'Cause I can only answer the former."
"Works for me," Hermione said.
"Well you see," Sirius said, a look of puzzlement coming onto his face. "We all suddenly found ourselves just outside the school. So we decided to come to see Dumbledore, thinking he might be able to tell us what happened, but when we got here we couldn't get in, so here we are. We're just sorta waiting for something to happen."
"Something's happened all right," Severus said, his words lacking all malice. "Can't say if you'll believe it though."
"Try me," Sirius challenged.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked before Severus could start.
"Well, you're the mortal Harry Potter," Athena said.
"Who are you?" he asked. Harry had not been sent back with everyone else, at least no to Hogwarts. "And where am I?"
"May I welcome you to the dungeons of Malfoy Manor," Athena said. "I'll be you guide, Athena."
"You mean like the Greek goddess of love?" Harry said skeptically. Athena looked at him, wearing something resembling a scowl.
"What is with you mortals and that question?" she said.
"Athena," a new voice said calmly.
"All right, Artemis, keep your power in check," Athena said, looking up. "I'm going." Turning back to Harry she said.
"If you want to know more about me, talk to Hermione or Severus when you get back, currently all I'm supposed to do is take you to your newest job," she reported, sounded almost bored.
"What?" Harry said. Athena pointed to a corner. In it lay a sleeping baby, one with silvery wisps of hair falling all over its head.
"No," Harry breathed. "No way."
"Yes, yes way," Athena said rather cheekily. "Now go get her." Stunned, Harry walked over and picked up the sleeping baby gently.
"You know what to call her?" Athena asked. Numbly, Harry nodded.
"Good," Athena seemed satisfied about something and Harry had the oddest feeling that it would be better for him if he didn't ask what.
"Now what?" Harry felt strange just standing there, holding the infant.
"Now you take her back to Hogwarts," Athena told him patiently as she could.
"How?" Harry asked what he thought to be a reasonable question.
"You mortals are so difficult," Athena remarked. The prison door swung open to reveal a badly light hallway.
"Go down that," Athena directed. "At the end there is a door, open it and pick up the old shoe. It will take you to Hogwarts. Oh," she added as an after thought. "I'd take out your wand." Then she was gone. Harry stood there for a moment, in a sort of stupor. Then he came to his senses and fumbled for his wand, still keeping a good hold on the baby Artemis. Cautiously he entered the hallway. A shrieking noise came from up above him. He looked up and saw bats, not deadly vampires or something like he expected. Sucking in a breath he coughed, the air stale and dusty. Taking short breaths, in out, in out, he made his down the hall, watching behind him as well as his front the whole time. The door was where Athena said it would be so Harry opened it. A horrendous creaking emitted and he was sure someone heard him. He was right, though, not strictly why he thought he was.
You see it would have been rather hard for Lucius Malfoy to miss it standing in the room behind the door.
"Potter," he sneered. "I don't know how you got here, but now that you are you aren't leaving. The dark lord may be gone somehow but those loyal to him are not. Die boy!" Harry saw an old boot in the senior Malfoy's left hand. Thinking quickly he bellowed, "Stupefy!" Knocking Lucius old cold. As the man hit the floor the boot fell out of his hand. Harry picked it up hurriedly and felt the familiar sensation of something pulling around his navel overcome him.
And then he was back at Hogwarts. Thankful he dropped the boot.
"Harry!" he heard someone call. He looked over at the castle gate and saw Hermione, Sirius, Ron, and surprisingly Severus rushing toward him. He picked himself up and moved Artemis a bit to a more comfortable position and walked over to them.
"My God," Sirius said as he saw what Harry was carrying.
"What the hell happened mate?" Ron asked, amazed. Harry turned to Hermione and asked.
"What does the name Athena mean to you?"
Well, my wonderful reviewers, I've enjoyed writing this story. Sadly, there is only an epilogue to look forward too. Well, that and two sequels…but no the point. So I would appreciate it beyond words if you would kindly, PLEASE review, you know, sort of as a good-job present…and maybe a congratulation on not flunking out this year. Thank you God! Not to mention surviving finals…school's finally out. happy dance Anyway, please review and the more reviews I get the sooner I will get out the epilogue and start the first sequel! Remo