Chapter Twenty Two: The Mate to the One

There was a moment of silence, and then Remus stood, and moved to the Headmaster's side. "Would you like some assistance back to your chambers, Albus?"

"Yes, Remus, thank you... I do believe that Miss Weasley will do nicely. Miss Weasley, there is something I've been meaning to discuss with you, if you would be so kind as to accompany me?"

Harry looked at the headmaster with mild alarm.

"Of course, Professor," Ginny looked confused as she glanced at Harry and shrugged.

"Do you want me to come?" Harry asked her.

"No, Harry. Ginevra and I will do nicely on our own. Do not worry, I will have Fawkes accompany her back to the Tower when we are done."

Harry watched as Dumbledore left the room, Ginny on his arm.

"Sir..."

"Please, allow an old man a moment to think, my dear."

Ginny was silent, walking along beside him until they reached the door to his chambers. With a flick of his wrist, the statue moved aside, revealing the door.

"Come, Miss Weasley..." Dumbledore stepped onto the staircase. "We will have tea."

"Sir?"

"I have something you must see, Ginevra," He nodded. "Come."

"I don't understand, Professor," Ginny said as she followed him up the staircase.

"You will," he nodded, preceding her into his private office and moving behind his large desk. "Come, sit down."

Moments later, a house elf appeared with a tea tray.

"Cream, no sugar?" he asked.

"I... yes, thank you..." Ginny was distracted. How on earth did the Headmaster know how she took her tea?

"What has Harry told you about the prophecy?"

"Which one?"

"The one about the six," Dumbledore looked over his half-moon glasses at her.

"I've read it," she said. "Why?"

"Did Harry tell you what I told him concerning the... person who made the prophecy?"

"Umm.. not really... I think he might have mentioned something about it being a muggle..."

"Yes, Miss Weasley. It was, indeed, a muggle woman. Sarah Albright, twenty years old. She was at a muggle dance club on the evening of August eleventh, sixteen years ago, when it was attacked by Death Eaters. Most of the muggles inside were killed. The muggle authorities attributed it to a gas explosion... however, Miss Albright was brought to St Mungo's because she was chanting the same thing over and over... and over."

"The prophecy," Ginny said.

"Yes. The prophecy. I arrived, some time later to find the mediwitch, young Julia Spinnet..."

Ginny's eyebrows rose.

"Yes, indeed, Julia is aunt to our own Alicia Spinnet who attended Hogwarts until two years ago. Her elder brother is Alicia's father. I arrived at St Mungo's to find Miss Spinnet sitting with our patient. She was still chanting the prophecy repeatedly. Strangely, shortly after I arrived... she stopped."

"She... she didn't..." Ginny paled.

"Oh, no, no...Miss Albright is alive and well, the last time I checked. She has three lovely children... she, of course, has no idea of who I am, or that she spent three days in our magical world once... her memories were adjusted, and she wandered into a muggle hospital, disoriented from the blast, several days after the explosion. She has no memory of it, of course."

"However... once she stopped repeating the prophecy of the Six, she sat up in her hospital bed quite suddenly, and delivered a second prophecy, or what I and the officials at the Department of Mysteries agree is a second prophecy."

Ginny looked at him, rather frightened by what he was telling her.

"Now, Miss Weasley, by rights, I should be presenting this to you in the company of your parents, as you are an underage witch. However, in light of recent events... well, I feel it is better to present it to you now."

"This second prophecy... is about me?"

"Indeed," Dumbledore smiled, taking a piece of parchment from his desk drawer and handing it to her. He sipped his tea as she looked at it.

A prophecy. About her, Ginny Weasley.

"Hermione says it's very rare to have two prophecies concerning the same individual."

"Indeed, I have never known our Miss Granger to be mistaken about anything that can be found in the Hogwarts library. I'm quite convinced that she has read things there that I have not, and I have been here a very, very long time."

"I'm sure she has," Ginny agreed. "She's a walking encyclopedia."

"At times, it has served you all well, I'm sure."

"Yes. Is it true?"

"To the best of my knowledge," his eyes twinkled at that, "there have been five known instances where an individual is named in more than one prophecy, yes. Now, there are six."

"You, and two of the original founders of Hogwarts..."

"Yes. Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw. Two that we know of. However, no one knows how many they may have been referenced in which are lost to us. Up until the last century, once a prophecy was fulfilled, it was removed from the records."

"And you," Ginny said, still looking down at the folded parchment in her hands. She didn't know if she wanted to open it or not.

"Yes. Myself, and Tom Riddle..."

"And Harry."

"And Harry. And now, you, Ginevra Weasley," he nodded at the paper in her hands. "It is nothing... terrible, I assure you. In fact, I think that it is something that, in your heart of hearts, you are already fully aware of."

Ginny swallowed, then quickly unfolded it, reading it before she could hesitate any longer.

"She is born this night.

The mate to the One is born.

Seven of seven of seven of seven,

She carries the magic of the ancients.

Her likeness to give him life,

she to hold it."

"Miss Weasley, how much do you know of your family history?"

"I... I knew my gran, my dad's mum... but, well, most of Mum's family was taken before I was born..."

"Yes. It has been a very long time since a female child has been born to the Weasley family. You are the first in eight generations."

"Yes," Ginny nodded.

"Your mother's line... the Prewitts... were a very powerful family. Your mother is one of seven children, yes?"

"Yes, the youngest."

"Indeed. Her mother was one of twelve, actually, the seventh. And your mother's maternal grandmother, too.... the seventh child."

Ginny's eyes glanced up at him, then back down at the parchment in her hands. "Seven of seven of seven of seven."

"Yes. And this reference to 'born this night'... the prophecies were made the night you were born. In fact, the second prophecy was made... so far as I can tell without questioning your mother... very near the exact time of your birth.

"I was born just before midnight," Ginny said quietly. "August twelfth was my gran's birthday... and Mum said I was a few minutes early to be a proper birthday present."

"As I thought," Dumbledore nodded.

"And... her likeness...?"

"Ah, yes..." Dumbledore nodded. "You bear a most striking resemblance to Lily Evans, Ginevra. Several people who knew her and have subsequently seen you, Professor McGonagall and Professor Lupin included, and even Professor Snape, have commented on it."

"So, you're telling me..."

"You know what this means, Ginny. But the prophecy merely reinforces something that I believe you already knew."

"I know I love him," she said quietly.

"Yes."

"But am I what he needs to... to do this thing he has to do?"

"I think that you are, or you intend to be, which really is much more important."

Ginny sighed, looking back down at the parchment in her hands. "I'm frightened."

"As anyone would be."

Ginny thought for a moment. "I won't do anything to make Harry do anything he doesn't want to. If it's not me for him... it doesn't matter if it's him for me. I won't... manipulate him, Professor."

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "I expected no less from you, really. You have seen the damage that has been done in the name of our cause... I promise you, Miss Weasley, I have no intention of making such a mistake again."

"So, I am... destined to be his mate?"

"I prefer to think of it in terms of... you are predisposed to the choice. We make our own fates, Miss Weasley, as I expect you know."

"Yes, we do, Professor," she agreed. "I'll be there for Harry, no matter what."

"I expected no less," the old wizard smiled.

"Some school rules will more than likely be broken in the process," she warned him.

"I fully expected no less," his knowing eyes twinkled. "Just... try to not shock Professor McGonagall too badly, hmmm?"

"Is that all, then, Professor?"

"Yes," he nodded, standing as she did. "For my part, at least. If you feel the need to... well, both Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey have been warned that you may be needing to speak to them. I am sure either, or both, would be more than willing to listen, should you need..."

"Thank you, sir," she nodded.

"Now... Fawkes will escort you back to your Tower... I'm sure you'll forgive an old man for not walking out in the cold corridors again this night."

"Thank you, Professor... I'm sure that I'll be fine. There is no need for Fawkes to be disturbed."

"Oh, but I promised Harry, my dear. Fawkes doesn't mind, do you?"

A trill from the golden plumed phoenix made Ginny smile. "Thank you, Fawkes."

Ginny was halfway back to the tower, Fawkes swooping about her, when a figure became visible walking towards her. Harry, walking quickly, had just pulled off his invisibility cloak.

"Gin?"

"Harry..." she smiled. "Thank you, Fawkes... I'll be fine now."

With a trill, the phoenix swooped away, heading back the way they had come.

Harry came up to her, a concerned look in his eyes. "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

Harry nodded, obviously curious as to what Dumbledore had wanted to discuss with her, but not knowing if he should ask.

"Harry, we need to talk," Ginny said.

"Gin?" he looked at her, alarm in his eyes.

"Harry, there was a second prophecy that night," she said, taking his hand and moving in the direction of the tower. "We need to talk about it, that's all. And I don't think we should be talking about it out here."

"But you're not going to leave me?" He asked quietly.

"Not unless you want me to," she looked into his eyes, concerned at the tone of his voice. "Never, unless you want me to."

"Then never," he said softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and heading for the Tower.

It was late, and they retreated to the boys' dormitory without being seen, Ginny wrapping his cloak around herself and following him up the staircase. Harry opened the door to his room and checked to make sure that all was clear before stepping in and to the side, so Ginny could follow. Silently, she moved to his bed where he parted the curtains and climbed in behind her. When the draperies were closed, and a privacy charm cast, Ginny pulled the cloak off, her cheeks glowing.

"Well?" Harry asked, leaning back against his pillows.

Ginny pulled the parchment out of her pocket, silently handing it to him. Harry took it, pulling out his wand.

"Lumos," he said quietly.

A moment later, he looked up at her, his eyes wide.

"And Dumbledore..."

"He says it's me," she said simply.

"And you..."

"I'm frightened, Harry," she said quietly.

"I'll never hurt you, Gin... and nothing you... if you don't want this, then..."

"No," she shook her head, smiling slightly. "It's not that."

"Then why?"

"Because I don't know if I have it in me to be what I need to be for you."

"You are what I need."

"How do you know?" She asked, looking at him from where she sat on her knees, at the end of his bed.

Harry sat up straight, taking her hand and pulling her to him, laying back against the pillows as he did so, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly.

"Because I do," he said. "I just know."

"Can I stay here tonight?" she asked.

Harry hesitated. "You can, but..."

"But?"

"But Ron is going to freak," he sighed.

"I don't care," she said. "And you shouldn't either, Harry. This is... this is so much bigger than..."

"I know," he agreed in a whisper against her hair. Her hair that always smelled of strawberries. "The truth is, I'd prefer it if you stayed."

"Oh?" she smiled, turning and burying her face in his shoulder.

"I don't have nightmares when you're here, Gin. I actually... when you're with me, I sleep. I rest."

"Then I'll be here," she said simply.

Once again, I must thank my fabulous beta. James Milamber is a wonderful friend and author who keeps me from making an utter fool of myself regularly. Without his efforts, this story wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable, for you or for me!

Also, a few of my favorite reviewers have gone MIA... I hope all is well...

CQ

MedievalWoman: I don't agree with EVERYTHING JKR does... after all, she killed Sirius off, didn't she?

NotYourAverage: Hey! Whose story is this, anyhow? Grumble, grumble...

Sumer's Girl: PDA freaks?

Larna Mandrea: You're just determined that I have to kill off Harry, aren't you? I'm beginning to wonder about you. You must like personal danger... coming to a Harry Potter fanfiction site... with all us little Potterites drinking the Kool-Aid... and showing your disappointment every time he survives! Lavender is an under-utilized character, I think. Everyone portrays her as a bit of an airhead (I'm guilty of this myself, actually) but I think there is room there for a little creativity.

UnRealityCheck: Hmmmm, you never know... Actually, Harry and Ginny together is a pretty powerful combination. What I mean by that is, together, two people who truly love each other are capable of amazing things. I know how it happened for me, and I can only write my experience. Once I met my DH, others didn't exist, even though I tried to cover it over by dating others, it just wasn't there. When you know, you know, and I would like to portray, in some way, that that is what it is for Harry and Ginny. There are, and will be, many "significant events" in their relationship. And you're right, they aren't "average"... a few people seem to be concerned that they're moving too fast, but they're not your average teenagers... never have been. As for the Harry running from Ginny thing, I was thinking about the way he deals with things... not necessarily Ginny herself, but how he would deal with his feelings for her, should he have them. It's not canon at all, but I felt it worked.

MrsSakuraPotter: You know, one of the joys of fanfiction is being able to say "I don't care what they did in canon, this is the way I want it..." and going with it. Yes, it's unfortunate that JKR sinks so many ships, an I have a feeling that H/G will never really happen in canon, but hey, here, we can live the fantasy, right?

And others who reviewed so nicely!: MysticRuby, Sabine Strohem-Moss, Merlindamage, SexyGod, VT, Kordolin, BJ, Rhysenn Riddle, Pdlegirl, Nebulia, India, GiGiFanfic