Disclaimer: once again, I own nothing. Kinda sad isn't it? I keep writing these things and you keep reading them. Oh well. It happens.
A/N: sorry for the late updates recently, but I've been uberly busy. Thank you to all my reviewers!!! You guys are the greatest. Here's another chapter for ya. Hope you like it!!
The New Prophecy
Chapter 16- The Real Prophecy
Dumbledore called Hermione to his office the day after the final battle. There were many things to discuss. Hermione marched proudly towards Dumbledore's office. When she got there she said the password ("Licorice Wands") and went up the spiral staircase. She knocked on the door.
"Come in," Dumbledore called from inside. She walked in tentatively.
"You needed to see me, Professor?" she asked.
"Yes, Miss Riddle," he answered. She closed the door and sat in a big, plush chair in front of the headmaster's desk. "I am sure yesterday was a very difficult day for you," he began, "I am sorry that you had to do what you did, but it was for the best. You astounded me with your talents, Hermione. I never thought you would be so powerful as to tap into the power of the ancient Egyptians, which were some of the very first witches and wizards in history. They were very powerful. I am proud of you."
"Professor?" Hermione started. "I thought Pot-Harry was supposed to vanquish Voldemort."
"Ah. That is the other reason why I called you here, Hermione. You see, the prophecy about Harry was a cover, a trick if you will. It was made so Voldemort wouldn't hear the real prophecy."
"The real prophecy?"
"Yes. This is the one that was made only minutes before the other. The second one, about Mr. Potter, is what is known as a cover prophecy, or protective prophecy. They only come with the most important prophecies. One's we cannot allow to fall into the wrong hands, or cannot allow to not come true. From that night, only Harry's prophecy was recorded and sent to the Department of Mysteries. I have the other here."
Dumbledore pulled out a pensive. With a wave of his wand, a ghostly Professor Trelawney appeared and began to speak.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born unto him yet given to those who are thought unworthy…she will return to him at the turn of the tide and learn her true power…for she will have power over the earth itself…his heir will betray him…a spy for those she should not associate with…a great battle will be fought and will only end when an ancient power is awoken…the wizarding world will know peace once again.."
Hermione sat there for a while, stunned. Her brilliant mind had already worked it out, but she couldn't believe it.
"Me?" she thought out-loud. "It's about me?"
"Yes, Hermione. You had to be kept safe. With you alive we were guaranteed a victory. We couldn't let you be killed."
"Harry was never supposed to kill him."
"Exactly. He was a sort of decoy, but at a terrible price. Poor Lilly and James. God rest their souls."
They sat there in silence for a while. Hermione looked around. The portraits of old Headmasters were all snoring, Fawks was perched, listening intently to the previous conversation; so many memories filled Hermione's head. She was really going to miss this place.
Dumbledore, as if sensing what she was thinking, said, "Don't worry. You can visit any time you want."
They both smiled. Hermione stood, told Dumbledore that she'd better be going, and left.
As Hermione was walking back to her room, Harry saw her and asked if they could talk.
"Hermione, can we talk?" he asked.
"Sure," she responded. Harry led her to an empty classroom. She sat on a desktop while Harry stood. "Well?" she asked, starting to get impatient.
"Oh. Sorry. Um…about all the stuff that happened earlier this year…can we forget it and start all over?" he questioned/begged. She looked at him. He was really nervous. She thought about everything, and decided that she would actually like to be friends with him again. She held out her hand.
"Hi. I'm Hermione Riddle. Nice to meet you…?"
"Harry Potter."
Harry took her hand, a huge smile on his face. They stayed in the room for a while, catching up on things. Hermione told him all about the prophecy. He took it rather well. "The best person for the job took care of it in the end" he had said.
Hermione finally reached her dorm just a little after dinner had ended. She stepped into the common room and found Draco sitting on one of the couches. He looked up when he heard her enter the room. He stood.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey to you too," she responded.
"Sit down, please."
"Sure. What's up?"
"We need to talk."
"I guess we do."
Silence.
"When…on the field…my dad…he said some things, and I didn't like them. Did he r-rape you?"
Hermione was a bit taken back by his question. She had been planning on telling Draco for quite some time, but she always lost her nerve, and the memory itself was horrible enough. She didn't need the image of Draco's face when she told him in there too.
'It's now or never,' she thought. She took a deep breath and started, "Y-yes. He did."
Draco just sat there waiting for her to continue. He knew it would be hard for her to get out.
"It was just after Voldemort had taken me and told me who I was," she began again. "We were in my father's study when Lucius walked in. he bowed, but when he stood up he caught my eye. He told Voldemort what a ravishing daughter he had. Then he asked if he give me a proper welcome. And…and…and my father, my own fucking father, said yes. He said that Lucius would show me what a real man was. I hadn't realized it until then, but Lucius had backed me into a corner. Then he…he…"
Hermione started to cry. Draco went over to her and pulled her into a hug, trying to console her.
"It's okay," he whispered. "He won't hurt you any more. The bastard got what was coming to him. He's dead. That'll learn him to mess with my girl."
Hermione giggled at Draco's last remark. He always managed to make her laugh when she was feeling like crap. She looked up at him.
"Thanks," she said.
"Any time," he replied. "Well. Hermione Riddle, you just saved the world by vanquishing the Dark Lord…yesterday…what are you going to do now?"
Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, "Go to Disneyland? I honestly don't know. A first, huh?"
"::laugh:: I guess so. I have an idea of what you could do though."
"And that is…?"
Draco gently set Hermione on the couch and stood in front of her. Hermione looked at him skeptically. Draco took a deep breath and got down on one knee; Hermione's hand flew to her mouth. A small, velvet box was now in Draco's hand as he looked at her.
"Hermione Annabella Riddle, I love you. You're the reason I get up in the morning. But now it's not enough. I want to wake up next to you… for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?"
Through all the tears, Hermione managed to say, "Yes. Yes, I will." Draco smiled and put the ring on her finger. It was beautiful. The band was silver, and around were small emeralds with a larger one on top. Weaving in between the stones was an Asiatic dragon, its mouth holding the large emerald and the rest of the body wrapped around the band. They kissed.
"I love you," Draco whispered.
"I love you too."
A/N: Wow! I never thought my story would be this long! I still have at least one more chapter coming. Hope you like it! I hope you liked this one too. Yeah. So sorry about the late updates. Stupid work. Oh well. We all go through it. So I was asked why I made Hermione an angel for Halloween in a recent review. Here's the answer:
I thought it would show what she was really like inside. All people saw was the cold, hard, evil exterior of Hermione and this was a chance to let the inside…well…out.
So there ya go, if you ever read this far. Next chapter soon!!! ::grumbles:: hopefully. Haha. Till next time kiddies. Spike-(a little bitter) "So that's all, then. Just come to pump me for information." Buffy-"What else would I want to pump you for? I really just said that, didn't I?" (season six-Once More With Feeling).