Chapter 15

"I think I'll go say hello to Charlie," said Remus, quickly exiting the kitchen, but not without giving Harry a wink.

"Him and half the rest of the world," Ginny muttered. "So what were you talking about Harry? Remus said to tell me something."

"Er, nothing, Gin," said Harry.

"Oh, come on," said Ginny, making herself a cup of cocoa. It was apparently the drink of choice. "You can tell me. How bad can it be?"

"Oh, it's pretty bad," said Harry, mesmerized by the way her back muscles moved beneath her turtleneck shirt.

"Come one," coaxed Ginny, taking her cocoa to the table and sitting down. "You can tell me. We have the kitchen to ourselves for now, everyone is trying to unload all of Charlie's stuff and get him settled. I won't laugh at you, if that's what you're afraid of."

"I don't think you'll laugh," said Harry unconsciously counting the freckles on her face.

"Well then tell me," said Ginny, putting a hand on his back.

Harry's breath stopped. "You don't want to know," he said.

"Yes, I do!" said Ginny. "Now tell me, before I put a Bat-Bogey Hex on you."

Harry didn't waste anymore time, but used his Gryffindor bravery and quickly said, "I love you, Ginny."

* * *

Draco and Hermione sat together in the library for a long time. He was absorbing her strength and she was happily giving it. Eventually, Hermione decided it was time to retire. The rest of her questions would wait until morning.

"I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow?" she said, getting up to leave.

"Yes," Draco kissed Hermione softly. "Until tomorrow."

Hermione smiled at him and left.

Draco stalked to his Head of House's quarters and pounded on the entrance.

"What is it?" Snape demanded as he opened the door.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me?" asked Draco menacingly.

"Oh, Draco," said Snape. "Yes, well, come in. I suppose the Granger girl has gone and run off her mouth, telling you twice what we told her to tell you. Now I shall have to do damage control."

"Don't talk about her like that!" Draco practically screamed. He had just had one of the most emotionally draining nights of his life; he did not want to be spoken to like an indolent child. "I demand an explanation!"

"You demand?" said Snape with a sneer. "You are hardly in a position to make demands, Mr. Malfoy. What do you demand I explain?"

"Hermione spoke of a prophecy. What does this prophecy say?" Draco struggled to control his emotions, but succeeded. He was proud of himself.

"Just something about three warriors and one who has to kill his 'sire' and two who have to be bound, and one who has to die to save the other two. It's all quite confusing, really, I'm sure you would rather go to bed as would I. So if you will excuse me, I'm sure you can find your own way out," Snape said in one breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. He didn't want to deal with this tonight.

"One of us is going to die? Who is the third warrior? Hermione mentioned that two were her and me."

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, one of us is going to die, and I am the third warrior. Now sit down, and I will explain everything to you as you seem to refuse to go away."

Draco plopped in a large armchair and waited for his Professor to say something.

Snape started the story and didn't stop until all was told. Draco stood up and began pacing. The Professor knew that many Slytherins did this; it relieved emotional tension that students refused to express in other ways.

"You say one of us is going to die. Do you know which one?" asked Draco.

"That seems to be the question of the day, Draco. No, I don't know, but for all our sakes, I hope it's me."

Draco's head snapped toward Snape in shock. "What do you mean, Professor?"

Snape sighed. "I shouldn't have said that. I know I shouldn't have said that. Draco, you'll understand something once you get older. And that is that you get tired of living. At least I have. And when you see someone so full of life with so much potential stretching out in front of them, and then that life stolen away from someone who wants it so badly, you can't help but think that it should be you. They should have the life you don't want. You realize how very unjust the world is. So now, I wish to bring some justice to this plane of existence, and go myself into the next one."

The young Malfoy nodded. He didn't know what to say. "I do not wish death on anyone but the suffering, sir," said Malfoy, "and perhaps you are suffering. But I want you to know that I will die for Hermione, if I have to. You may not be bringing justice quite yet."

Snape nodded at Draco. "Fair enough. How do you wish to proceed from this point?"

"Hermione must be kept safe. You and I can do some scouting and research, figure out what is going to happen in that blasted prophecy. Why do they always have to be so unclear? But we have to keep her safe. She can stay here all summer, I'm sure Dumbledore will agree, and then in the fall she can be taken on as an apprentice by one of the staff."

"Mr. Malfoy, we must also figure out a means of your protection."

"My protection? Why?"

"All three warriors must survive, at least for a time, for the prophecy to come true. You shall be going to a safe house once the school year is out."

"What about Hermione?"

"She has safe quarters. You need not worry about Miss Granger's safety. She is well taken care of."

"What does that part mean, about two will be bound? I don't understand."

"There is much you have yet to understand, Mr. Malfoy," said Snape. "And I doubt you will understand it in a state of extreme fatigue. Go to bed. We can all three discuss this in the morning."

"Yes, sir," said Draco. He yawned and looked at the clock. It was almost midnight.

"Good luck, Draco," said Snape.

"Thank you sir," said Draco. "Sleep well."

Snape nodded and the blond Slytherin walked out of his quarters, leaving the Potions Master to contemplate what exactly he was going to tell them tomorrow.

A/N: Sorry it took so long! I've had a major does of reality and also of other fics (I'm trying to write a story and get it betaed before I post it later on, so I've been caught up in that). I've also had a massive case of writer's block. I hope this was okay! I have big plans for these guys in the future! Review please!