3. Top Secret

At Hogwarts...

The merry ceremony of sorting into houses ended. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were climbing up the stairs to their Gryffindor common room sleepily, when suddenly a low and serious voice hit their backs.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione, I have something important to tell you. Please follow me."

The three turned around, and saw Dumbledore sliding downstairs. Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked at each other wonderingly, shrugged, and then quietly followed Dumbledore. They turned a few corners until they reached a corridor that none of them has ever seen before. Jolt of excitement was stirring up in Hermione. The three whispered curiously as Dumbledore stopped in front of a huge door made of stone and muttered a spell. The door opened to reveal a very wide but empty circular room that had a tiny candle in the middle. As soon as Dumbledore and the three wizards entered the room, the massive door closed with a giant thud.

Now the only source of light was the dim purple candle in the center of the room. Hermione felt her lips shiver, as the room was freezing cold. Dumbledore sat beside the little candle and motioned them to sit around him. The three wizards awkwardly did so, wondering what the heck was happening right now.

"What I'm about to tell you three is a top secret that I haven't told anyone, and never will tell anyone except you."

Dumbledore said darkly. Everyone suddenly chilled. Ron gulped. Hermione had a hunch that it was about the Dark Lord, and... something that Goyle had said. Goosebumps started to form on her arms.

"Professor Dumbledore, if it's top secret, why are you telling us? What about professor Mcgonagall?"

Asked Harry in aghast.

Dumbledore opened his mouth heavily.

"Because, sadly, professor Mcgonagall doesn't seem to have the power."

"Power to what?" Ron hurried to ask."

"I am the only one who know about this secret. Even Voldemort doesn't know."

"Power to what, professor?"

Ron asked impatiently. Harry and Hermione frowned at him, and he became silent.

"Now I will tell you three the secret."

Dumbledore continued. Hermione was horrified. She was only 17, so why was he telling them, not professor Mcgonagall, the secret?

"But why, professor?"

Harry asked before Hermione could.

Suddenly, the purple light circled around the 4 wizards and changed its color to indigo blue. Hermione gasped.

"Because interestingly, I've found that all three of you from Gryffindor of Hogwarts, are of the 7 people on Earth that have the power. The only 7 that can open the gate that will change the Earth's fate, for eternity."

Dumbledore said dazedly. Hermione suddenly felt dizzy. Her stomach churned and the world started to spin round and round, like that windmill that she made with her parents when she was 6. She felt like vomiting. Hermione looked at Harry to see how he responded to Dumbledore. He was stony still with his eyes unfocused. He probably felt the same thing Hermione did. Crazy. Then she looked around to see Ron, whose head was on the floor. He must have fainted, Hermione thought and sighed. She shook him, but he didn't wake up. Dumbledore calmly continued.

"I am also one of those 7. I do not know why those eight people got the power, or how. All I know is that they all seem to have a strong aura that I can feel with my 8th sense."

8th sense?! Hermione dropped her jaw. Dumbledore's gray eyes sharply gazed into Hermione's, making her shiver again. Is he seeing my aura right now? How do we have this 'aura'? Why? How did Dumbledore find out about all this information? How powerful IS Dumbledore? What gate of fate? I can open it? Why? What? How? I don't understand! The world spun around faster and faster, until Hermione couldn't take it anymore. She vomited right on the candle, and the indigo blue light disappeared, leaving the room pitch-black dark. Dumbledore's cloak made a rustling sound as he slowly stood up.

"We cannot talk any longer. The indigo blue light is gone. What we say now can be transmitted into Voldemort's ear. Lukalaias!"

At Dumbledore's spell, light filled the room brightly, showing them all the vomit Hermione had spilled and Ron's unconscious body sprawled across the floor. Dumbledore sighed.

"I was planning to tell you when you were older, but..."

Dumbledore hesitated.

" I think I've told you enough for today. I am sorry to have bothered you after a long, tiring trip. Harry, would you please carry Ron to his dormitory? Let us go now."

Dumbledore said softly and left the room.