Chapter 13 - Lavender's Prediction
October 15, 1997
Several uneventful weeks had passed. Lander became more restless as the days flew by. He missed Luna but they could not be seen together. They did not even have a class together so it was more difficult. He had to be contented with sending her an owl from time to time although he never received any from her due to the suspicious nature of the Slytherins. It was a wonder that their relationship still survived. He has heard that a handsome guy from her year was courting her but Luna, thankfully, brushed him off.
There was no news from Voldemort. No dark activities present. And no more close calls. Blaise and Pansy still did not trust them enough to reveal some useful information. Their menacing looks were not enough. They had to live up to their reputation to get into the "in" crowd. Therefore, they need to be more daring. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
"Hey, Devon. Come on. Get up! We're going to hex some people tonight."
"W-what? Are you crazy? What for?" asked a sleepy Devon.
"I've just realized something. Blaise and Pansy refuse to tell us anything because we haven't proven ourselves yet. Now is the right time. Come on!" said Lander.
"And may I ask who shall be the sacrificial lamb tonight?"
"Anyone...we just pick a fight with anyone...even better if we chance upon Hermione and Ron. We could make it appear like were avenging their humiliation a few weeks ago." he replied. "Look, your lot are having a 'study group' meeting downstairs. If we leave at this time of night, Blaise would surely order someone to follow us around. Your housemates are not a very trusting lot."
Devon considered it for a moment then lazily got up and brought out his wand. "Okay, let's go."
The two made sure to make a lot of noise as they went past the whispering group at the Slytherin common room.
"Hey, where are you going?" called out Blaise and eyed them suspiciously.
'Bingo!' thought Lander. "Oh, nothing. Don't mind us. We just want to get some fresh air."
Blaise nodded and whispered something to Crabbe and Goyle. As the two made their way to the Hogwarts corridors, they heard two pairs of heavy feet following them. They smiled triumphantly at one another and blatantly ignored the noise as if they had not heard anything.
'Come on. Where are the people in the neighborhood?' Lander thought. They were getting tired from all the walking but still they had not met anybody unlucky enough to cross their path - even the caretaker.
"Hey, you two. It's past curfew. You should be on your beds by now." yelled a familiar voice. It was Peeves.
"Shut up, Peeves, or I'll hex you beyond belief." said Devon.
"Oh, I'm so terrified." cooed the poltergeist. "I'm going to call the professors. STUDENTS! STUDENTS AT THE CORRIDORS!"
"Silencio Vox!" said Lander and the Poltergeist lost his voice at once. He acted as if he was going to put another curse on him and Peeves disappeared immediately in fright.
"I wonder why he obeyed Fred and George during their flight in our fifth year." commented Devon as he watched Peeves make a hasty exit.
"That was probably because he was ordered to create mayhem which was what he enjoyed doing." replied Lander caustically.
"So, it's you!" exclaimed another voice. It was Hermione followed by Macmillan.
The two grinned at one another. 'Finally!' Nothing like hexing the Head Boy and Head Girl to put them in the good side of the new Slytherin prince.
"Yes, it's us. You have any problem with that, mudblood?" sneered Lander to make things more realistic but Hermione did not even bristle at the nasty label. She had gotten used to it by now.
"It's way past curfew. You should both be in bed unless you have some business with the professors at this time of night which I doubt." said Macmillan.
"We want to get some fresh air." declared Devon arrogantly as if that simple statement settled the matter.
Hermione put her hands on her hips and glared at them. "We're going to inform the Headmistress about this."
"Oh, no. You don't. We won't let such a lowly being like you get us into trouble." said Lander and raised his wand slightly. Devon followed suit.
"We won't sink to your level. Twenty points from Slytherin for threatening the Head Boy and Girl." said Macmillan and started to leave with Hermione.
"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted Devon immediately and Macmillan became immobile at once.
Lander smirked at them. "I told you we won't let you get us into trouble."
"Finite Incantatem!" said Hermione to her partner and turned to Devon and Lander. "The war is not between Gryffindor and Slytherin but if you insist then we'll gladly oblige. Stupefy!" she pointed her wand at Lander but it only hit the wall behind him.
He grinned wickedly at her before he casually waved his wand and said. "Rictusempra!" It hit Hermione squarely on the chest causing her to roll on the floor with laughter.
"Impedimenta!" It was Macmillan's turn but he was still too disoriented to aim properly. His spell missed Devon by inches.
Devon glanced slightly at Lander as if asking permission to do something. Lander nodded and prepared for what Devon was planning to do next. "Crucio!" shouted Devon and Macmillan fell on his knees in pain but Lander did something to lessen the spell's effect so they both knew that the pain was not that severe.
Lander realized that it was now time to end the 'fight' before it got out of hand. "Infernus Galacticus!" he muttered softly and held the small ball of fire carefully in his hand. "Do you concede?" he voiced out the question in the most venomous tone that he could muster.
Hermione's eyes fell upon the ball of fire then at Lander's face. She tensed for a moment as she stared at their opponents. Her expression became suddenly unreadable as she continued to stare. It was as if her mind was working overtime but not about their current predicament. Even Macmillan looked confused. Then without another word, Hermione grabbed Macmillan's arms and backed away from the two.
"Merlin!" exclaimed Lander softly to himself.
"What was that about?" asked Devon in wonder.
"I - I ---" he began but was stopped short when they both heard several loud footsteps heading their way.
"Amazing! You scared those two - unbelievable!" exclaimed Blaise and he patted their backs for a job well done.
"Yeah. It was a good thing that Crabbe and Goyle 'accidentally' saw you and called us. I reckon they thought you wouldn't be able to handle them." gushed Pansy at them.
'Accidentally - Yeah, right.' thought Lander sarcastically.
"And you used an unforgivable curse! Very impressive! I admit I had some doubts regarding your capabilities before but now I think you could be a worthy addition to our club." said Blaise solemnly.
"It was nothing, really." said Devon dismissively. "We just wanted to get them back for what that girl did to you, Blaise."
"Besides, we were bored." added Lander and hoped that the idiots would take the hint and invite them into their little 'study group'.
"You're bored? How come you didn't tell us? Join us then. We're having a party tonight." said Pansy excitedly.
"Where to?"
"At the common room - where else? Don't worry. Snape doesn't care." said Blaise. "Go get your other friend, too."
"That's great! We're in. By the way, what are we celebrating?" asked Lander curiously.
"The Dark Lord's initial victory party!"
========================================================================
Hermione and Ernie did not go to the Headmistress at once. Ernie had decided not to report the matter immediately and Hermione agreed. She walked briskly to the Gryffindor dormitory to meet with the other DA members there.
"Password please." said the Fat Lady in the portrait.
"Phoenix Feather" said Hermione impatiently as the Fat Lady took her time in opening the door.
"My apologies, but someone was blocking the door so could you just give it a push." said the Fat Lady sweetly.
Hermione pushed the door and was surprised to see a number of Gryffindors staring in shock at the figure lying on the floor.
"What's going on here?" yelled Hermione. Her nerves were already on the edge since their encounter with the newcomers and this sight was not very welcoming at all.
"Oh, thank goodness, you're here. Hermione. Ron and Neville had already gone to fetch McGonagall. We were just having a discussion here when Lavender had some kind of an attack. She collapsed and her body was convulsing uncontrollably -- like she was being possessed or something." said teary-eyed Parvati.
"We tried slapping her but she wouldn't budge." said Fred anxiously.
Hermione racked her brain to figure out the logical thing to do when suddenly, Lavender's body twitched violently. Then she slowly opened her dazed eyes and spoke in a hushed eerie tone.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord had come…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...A terrible thunderstorm would arrive at the time when the final battle shall be fought...Seven loyal allies shall be with him...but one will not survive...The Dark Lord would invoke the spirits but the one would entrap their souls...his servants shall be overcome...he shall perish by his own sword ...and his remains shall reside at the snake's chamber till the end of time...The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord had come..."
"Oh, my God! The lost prophecy!"
Many heads wheeled around to find the ashen face of the Headmistress followed by their Professor Lupin, their current house head.
"Please take charge, Remus. There's something that I urgently need to do." she said excitedly and left without another word.
When the Headmistress was gone, Professor Lupin was bombarded immediately with questions.
"Did she just make a prophecy, Professor?" asked Ron curiously.
"What did Professor McGonagall mean?"
"What lost prophecy?"
"Who's the one who could vanquish the Dark Lord?"
However, the professor was unable to answer any of their questions. He was also mystified. If Harry was dead, then who else could the prophecy be referring to? Neville? But that can't be!
"Wait! First things first." he approached Lavender and requested some students to bring her to the hospital wing. Then he ushered the others to go back to their beds with the exception of Hermione, Ron and Neville.
"Professor, do you remember Malcolm - the one who taught us the Fireball technique?" Hermione began her endless queries.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" replied Lupin carefully.
"Professor, I was just wondering...that spell was very powerful, right? How come no death-eater used that spell before?"
Professor Lupin was taken aback. He did not expect that question and he was curious as to where Hermione was coming from.
"Malcolm is a very talented auror. He created that spell himself and it took him years to finally master it. That's why no death-eater could perform that technique. It was never taught to them and Malcolm denied any request to include it in the books. He said he would pass on the knowledge only to the worthy ones."
"You mean only the DA and Order members could perform that spell right now?" asked Ron in astonishment. It never occurred to him that they could cast a spell that not even the Dark Lord knew of.
"Oh!" exclaimed Hermione. "Professor, can you please confirm with Malcolm if he had shared that knowledge with anybody else aside from us?"
This time, the professor could not hold on to his curiousity any longer. "I will do that tonight but could you please tell me why you are asking me these things?" he asked softly.
Hermione evaded his eyes and fiddled with her hands before she replied with a tormented expression. "I need to know, Professor, because if Malcolm confirms that he never taught anybody else, then I have good reason to suspect that Harry is still alive."
Neville looked stunned. "What made you say that?"
"Remember that new boy? He performed that spell a while ago."
October 15, 1997
Several uneventful weeks had passed. Lander became more restless as the days flew by. He missed Luna but they could not be seen together. They did not even have a class together so it was more difficult. He had to be contented with sending her an owl from time to time although he never received any from her due to the suspicious nature of the Slytherins. It was a wonder that their relationship still survived. He has heard that a handsome guy from her year was courting her but Luna, thankfully, brushed him off.
There was no news from Voldemort. No dark activities present. And no more close calls. Blaise and Pansy still did not trust them enough to reveal some useful information. Their menacing looks were not enough. They had to live up to their reputation to get into the "in" crowd. Therefore, they need to be more daring. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
"Hey, Devon. Come on. Get up! We're going to hex some people tonight."
"W-what? Are you crazy? What for?" asked a sleepy Devon.
"I've just realized something. Blaise and Pansy refuse to tell us anything because we haven't proven ourselves yet. Now is the right time. Come on!" said Lander.
"And may I ask who shall be the sacrificial lamb tonight?"
"Anyone...we just pick a fight with anyone...even better if we chance upon Hermione and Ron. We could make it appear like were avenging their humiliation a few weeks ago." he replied. "Look, your lot are having a 'study group' meeting downstairs. If we leave at this time of night, Blaise would surely order someone to follow us around. Your housemates are not a very trusting lot."
Devon considered it for a moment then lazily got up and brought out his wand. "Okay, let's go."
The two made sure to make a lot of noise as they went past the whispering group at the Slytherin common room.
"Hey, where are you going?" called out Blaise and eyed them suspiciously.
'Bingo!' thought Lander. "Oh, nothing. Don't mind us. We just want to get some fresh air."
Blaise nodded and whispered something to Crabbe and Goyle. As the two made their way to the Hogwarts corridors, they heard two pairs of heavy feet following them. They smiled triumphantly at one another and blatantly ignored the noise as if they had not heard anything.
'Come on. Where are the people in the neighborhood?' Lander thought. They were getting tired from all the walking but still they had not met anybody unlucky enough to cross their path - even the caretaker.
"Hey, you two. It's past curfew. You should be on your beds by now." yelled a familiar voice. It was Peeves.
"Shut up, Peeves, or I'll hex you beyond belief." said Devon.
"Oh, I'm so terrified." cooed the poltergeist. "I'm going to call the professors. STUDENTS! STUDENTS AT THE CORRIDORS!"
"Silencio Vox!" said Lander and the Poltergeist lost his voice at once. He acted as if he was going to put another curse on him and Peeves disappeared immediately in fright.
"I wonder why he obeyed Fred and George during their flight in our fifth year." commented Devon as he watched Peeves make a hasty exit.
"That was probably because he was ordered to create mayhem which was what he enjoyed doing." replied Lander caustically.
"So, it's you!" exclaimed another voice. It was Hermione followed by Macmillan.
The two grinned at one another. 'Finally!' Nothing like hexing the Head Boy and Head Girl to put them in the good side of the new Slytherin prince.
"Yes, it's us. You have any problem with that, mudblood?" sneered Lander to make things more realistic but Hermione did not even bristle at the nasty label. She had gotten used to it by now.
"It's way past curfew. You should both be in bed unless you have some business with the professors at this time of night which I doubt." said Macmillan.
"We want to get some fresh air." declared Devon arrogantly as if that simple statement settled the matter.
Hermione put her hands on her hips and glared at them. "We're going to inform the Headmistress about this."
"Oh, no. You don't. We won't let such a lowly being like you get us into trouble." said Lander and raised his wand slightly. Devon followed suit.
"We won't sink to your level. Twenty points from Slytherin for threatening the Head Boy and Girl." said Macmillan and started to leave with Hermione.
"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted Devon immediately and Macmillan became immobile at once.
Lander smirked at them. "I told you we won't let you get us into trouble."
"Finite Incantatem!" said Hermione to her partner and turned to Devon and Lander. "The war is not between Gryffindor and Slytherin but if you insist then we'll gladly oblige. Stupefy!" she pointed her wand at Lander but it only hit the wall behind him.
He grinned wickedly at her before he casually waved his wand and said. "Rictusempra!" It hit Hermione squarely on the chest causing her to roll on the floor with laughter.
"Impedimenta!" It was Macmillan's turn but he was still too disoriented to aim properly. His spell missed Devon by inches.
Devon glanced slightly at Lander as if asking permission to do something. Lander nodded and prepared for what Devon was planning to do next. "Crucio!" shouted Devon and Macmillan fell on his knees in pain but Lander did something to lessen the spell's effect so they both knew that the pain was not that severe.
Lander realized that it was now time to end the 'fight' before it got out of hand. "Infernus Galacticus!" he muttered softly and held the small ball of fire carefully in his hand. "Do you concede?" he voiced out the question in the most venomous tone that he could muster.
Hermione's eyes fell upon the ball of fire then at Lander's face. She tensed for a moment as she stared at their opponents. Her expression became suddenly unreadable as she continued to stare. It was as if her mind was working overtime but not about their current predicament. Even Macmillan looked confused. Then without another word, Hermione grabbed Macmillan's arms and backed away from the two.
"Merlin!" exclaimed Lander softly to himself.
"What was that about?" asked Devon in wonder.
"I - I ---" he began but was stopped short when they both heard several loud footsteps heading their way.
"Amazing! You scared those two - unbelievable!" exclaimed Blaise and he patted their backs for a job well done.
"Yeah. It was a good thing that Crabbe and Goyle 'accidentally' saw you and called us. I reckon they thought you wouldn't be able to handle them." gushed Pansy at them.
'Accidentally - Yeah, right.' thought Lander sarcastically.
"And you used an unforgivable curse! Very impressive! I admit I had some doubts regarding your capabilities before but now I think you could be a worthy addition to our club." said Blaise solemnly.
"It was nothing, really." said Devon dismissively. "We just wanted to get them back for what that girl did to you, Blaise."
"Besides, we were bored." added Lander and hoped that the idiots would take the hint and invite them into their little 'study group'.
"You're bored? How come you didn't tell us? Join us then. We're having a party tonight." said Pansy excitedly.
"Where to?"
"At the common room - where else? Don't worry. Snape doesn't care." said Blaise. "Go get your other friend, too."
"That's great! We're in. By the way, what are we celebrating?" asked Lander curiously.
"The Dark Lord's initial victory party!"
========================================================================
Hermione and Ernie did not go to the Headmistress at once. Ernie had decided not to report the matter immediately and Hermione agreed. She walked briskly to the Gryffindor dormitory to meet with the other DA members there.
"Password please." said the Fat Lady in the portrait.
"Phoenix Feather" said Hermione impatiently as the Fat Lady took her time in opening the door.
"My apologies, but someone was blocking the door so could you just give it a push." said the Fat Lady sweetly.
Hermione pushed the door and was surprised to see a number of Gryffindors staring in shock at the figure lying on the floor.
"What's going on here?" yelled Hermione. Her nerves were already on the edge since their encounter with the newcomers and this sight was not very welcoming at all.
"Oh, thank goodness, you're here. Hermione. Ron and Neville had already gone to fetch McGonagall. We were just having a discussion here when Lavender had some kind of an attack. She collapsed and her body was convulsing uncontrollably -- like she was being possessed or something." said teary-eyed Parvati.
"We tried slapping her but she wouldn't budge." said Fred anxiously.
Hermione racked her brain to figure out the logical thing to do when suddenly, Lavender's body twitched violently. Then she slowly opened her dazed eyes and spoke in a hushed eerie tone.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord had come…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...A terrible thunderstorm would arrive at the time when the final battle shall be fought...Seven loyal allies shall be with him...but one will not survive...The Dark Lord would invoke the spirits but the one would entrap their souls...his servants shall be overcome...he shall perish by his own sword ...and his remains shall reside at the snake's chamber till the end of time...The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord had come..."
"Oh, my God! The lost prophecy!"
Many heads wheeled around to find the ashen face of the Headmistress followed by their Professor Lupin, their current house head.
"Please take charge, Remus. There's something that I urgently need to do." she said excitedly and left without another word.
When the Headmistress was gone, Professor Lupin was bombarded immediately with questions.
"Did she just make a prophecy, Professor?" asked Ron curiously.
"What did Professor McGonagall mean?"
"What lost prophecy?"
"Who's the one who could vanquish the Dark Lord?"
However, the professor was unable to answer any of their questions. He was also mystified. If Harry was dead, then who else could the prophecy be referring to? Neville? But that can't be!
"Wait! First things first." he approached Lavender and requested some students to bring her to the hospital wing. Then he ushered the others to go back to their beds with the exception of Hermione, Ron and Neville.
"Professor, do you remember Malcolm - the one who taught us the Fireball technique?" Hermione began her endless queries.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" replied Lupin carefully.
"Professor, I was just wondering...that spell was very powerful, right? How come no death-eater used that spell before?"
Professor Lupin was taken aback. He did not expect that question and he was curious as to where Hermione was coming from.
"Malcolm is a very talented auror. He created that spell himself and it took him years to finally master it. That's why no death-eater could perform that technique. It was never taught to them and Malcolm denied any request to include it in the books. He said he would pass on the knowledge only to the worthy ones."
"You mean only the DA and Order members could perform that spell right now?" asked Ron in astonishment. It never occurred to him that they could cast a spell that not even the Dark Lord knew of.
"Oh!" exclaimed Hermione. "Professor, can you please confirm with Malcolm if he had shared that knowledge with anybody else aside from us?"
This time, the professor could not hold on to his curiousity any longer. "I will do that tonight but could you please tell me why you are asking me these things?" he asked softly.
Hermione evaded his eyes and fiddled with her hands before she replied with a tormented expression. "I need to know, Professor, because if Malcolm confirms that he never taught anybody else, then I have good reason to suspect that Harry is still alive."
Neville looked stunned. "What made you say that?"
"Remember that new boy? He performed that spell a while ago."