Hey! I'm finally finished. Right! Gotta get my homework done. I hope you will like this chapter... I finished this chapter after racking my brain for three days... Phew, it has been really exhausting.
Disclaimer – Harry Potter and its other characters are not mine. I don't own them. It is J.K. Rowling's copyright. This is written completely in my view.
Chapter 5
Truth and Confessions
Next morning was a different affair. Everybody was busy doing their foot long essays or practising wand movements. It is nearing October. He knew he had to tell Ginny the truth. The common room started to empty that morning but Ginny was still in her dormitory. Harry decided to wait for her. He wanted to tell her this before Potions starts. Then, he saw a girl with flaming red hair coming down from her dormitory and he went over to her.
"Hey, Ginny. I think we need to talk," said Harry.
"Umm, okay. About what?" said Ginny. She sounded nervous but tried her best to keep her voice steady.
"Well, you and I need to talk about what's going on with us. You know, like what happened in the carriage on our first day back," said Harry feeling uncertain as to where she might take this to.
"Uh-huh... That? Sorry, I couldn't help it," said Ginny, but Harry wasn't convinced.
"I know you had a crush on me in your first year. I also know that you had broken up with Dean. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together," said Harry.
"Right, you got me. But what's that got to do with this?" asked Ginny.
"It's just, well... umm... bloody hell! I love you!" blurted Harry.
"Huh? I'm not expecting that, Harry," said Ginny. "But I do love you, even before you realised it," added Ginny seeing the look of disappointment in Harry.
"You... you mean, you still love me? After all those years?" asked Harry, still uncertain where this is going to end up.
"Of course I still do. Are you that clueless? Oh well, I better go down for breakfast. Class is starting is ten minutes," said Ginny.
"Yeah, I have to go too. Potions up first," said Harry.
Ginny was about to climb out of the portrait hole when Harry asked; "Ginny, would you want to be my girlfriend and spend time with me during the next Hogsmeade trip?" blurted Harry, not being able to stop himself. "Sure. I'll be there," said Ginny and they were off together, but now there is a slight difference. They were holding hands and kept smiling at each other, not knowing what else to say.
===============
Harry arrived at the dungeon and saw that he was two minutes early. He didn't bother for he was very happy and no one, not even Snape or Malfoy, could ruin it for him. Moments later, Snape entered the dungeon, raising his eyebrow, clearly curious to know what had brought him to be there very early. Fortunately, he didn't question Harry and went on with his usual business. As usual, he took out his register, and stopped abruptly at Harry's name.
"Well, well, who do we have here, if it isn't our Harry Potter. I'd have thought you to not pass your OWLs considering your very abysmal performance last year," said Snape.
"If you would know, sir, I have passed my OWLs and I expect you to know that beforehand. I know the qualifications for the Potions OWLs," said Harry calmly.
Snape stood there, not quite sure how to reply this boy's remark. He ignored this remark and went back to his register. The moment he finished it, he stood towering in front of the class and lectured them about the NEWTs Potions.
"NEWTs Potions is a very difficult NEWT you will ever face. As such, I will not tolerate any poor or abysmal performance from any of my students. If I find that you are not up to standard, I will make sure that you will work harder or leave my class. Is that understood?" said Snape.
"Yes, sir," replied the students.
After that, he made them do a very difficult potion but Harry was the first to finish it without having to redo it. His potion was in fact, perfect, even better than Hermione. Snape was breathing down every student's neck and kept throwing some difficult questions at Harry, who, to his surprise, answered them correctly and accurately. This had made the Slytherins throw evil glances from round the corner, but Harry chose to ignore it.
By the end of it, Harry was the only person to finish the potions exactly the way it is supposed to be. Hermione was wearing the look of surprise when they had got out of the dungeon.
"How on earth did you do that, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Well, I did a lot of studying and I could memorise every single book which we are going to use," said Harry.
"I know that you have been reading, Harry. It's just that it is very unusual of you," said Hermione.
Harry shrugged. He did not know what else to say about the matter. So, he changed the subject as they went into the Hall for their lunch. Only this subject was not even closely related with what they were talking about earlier.
"Hey, Hermione. What's going on with you and Ron?" said Harry.
"Nothing big. We're just acting the way we normally do," said Hermione, slightly pink.
"Don't tell me that. I know that you're with Ron, now. I've known this ever since we got on to the train at the start of term. Oh, wait, I think I've known it since before that even happened," said Harry.
"Oh... Umm... Okay, I love him, but I don't know whether he loves me or not. I'm starting to think that all of those dates we've gone through are just a fake," said Hermione with a sad voice.
"You know what, Hermione? I think it's time you and Ron have a talk," said Harry.
Right on cue, Ginny arrived and hugged Harry. Hermione had no time to reply, for Ginny had grabbed Harry by the hem of his robe and went straight out of the hall. She was looking at Harry straight into his eyes.
This made Harry's heart race a thousand times more than it was supposed to. He thought Ginny was going to blow him into a thousand pieces but Ginny did the contrary. Instead, she led Harry to the Gryffindor tower, through the portrait and into the common room.
"Harry, since you and I are officially together, I thought you might want to share one thing with me that is so important. I overheard Dumbledore last time, when I passed the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. I guess that they had forgotten to put the charm on because I heard Dumbledore talking about a prophecy," said Ginny.
"Umm... I don't know whether it is right for me to tell you about that," said Harry.
"Tell me, Harry. I have to know. What is this prophecy Dumbledore's talking about?" asked Ginny.
"Well, uhh... I think you should find Hermione and Ron because I wouldn't want to repeat it all over again. It's bad enough to hear it once. Having to talk about it is more than enough to take," said Harry.
"Okay, but I think you might want to talk about it tonight. It is ten minutes until the next lesson starts. I have Transfiguration up next," said Ginny.
"Yeah, I have Charms next. I think I'll tell them instead," said Harry.
After he got out of the portrait, he hurried to Professor Flitwick's class and took his place next to Hermione and Ron. It was rather fortunate of him to arrive there right on time. The lesson was spent by the usual NEWTs lecture and learning a new charm; a concealment charm which is used to hide something or someone. Harry muttered 'Encubierto' under his breath and his quill was gone. The next second, it was there after he muttered the counter-spell 'Revela'.
Harry had not had any trouble with the charm, so he grabbed this opportunity to talk to Hermione. Hermione, who wasn't having any trouble, was helping Ron, who had only half of his quill vanish.
"Hermione, have you talked to Ron about it?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, I did. Right after you and Ginny went out of the hall. And, well, he confessed that he loves me. I don't know why I'm telling you this. I guess it's because you were the one who had made me ask him," said Hermione, growing pink by the second.
"I have something to tell you, Hermione. You see, Ginny and I are together now. But there's something else I that I want to tell you and Ron but I think it's best if I tell you tonight. Meet me at the common room. Then we'll talk about it when it's empty," said Harry.
"Oh, okay," said Hermione.
They had stopped talking because the class is over and Harry and Hermione were each awarded ten points for performing a perfect charm. Harry, Ron and Hermione went out of the classroom and went for Transfiguration. As usual, Professor McGonagall started the class by taking out the register. When she had done that, she started to do what the other teachers had done; lecture them on the importance of the NEWTs.
"Transfiguration requires concentration and I will not tolerate students misbehaving in my class. Those who are not confident enough or do not want to learn this subject, I suggest you please leave my class now," said Professor McGonagall.
Nobody left their seats but some shifted uncomfortably. There was silence and then Professor McGonagall resumed.
"Today, we are going to learn the advanced transfiguration. You are going to turn whatever animal given to you into another animal. The incantation is 'interrio'."
Harry had successfully transfigured a mouse into a beautiful bird without any problem and was awarded ten points for it. Hermione wasn't having any problems either and was awarded ten points too. Ron had managed to do it correctly after making a few mistakes.
All in all, it wasn't a bad day for Harry. By the time he entered the common room together with Ron, Hermione and Ginny after dinner, he took out his homework. He had them finished before everybody except Ron, Hermione and Ginny went to bed.
They sat waiting anxiously for Harry to speak up. After a moment of silence, he spoke nervously because he was unsure of how they will react when they found out about it.
"Well, here goes. I told all of you to meet me here because I have something to tell. You see, I thought I wouldn't have to tell you all about this. But Ginny found out about this beforehand," said Harry.
"Oh, come on Harry. We want to hear about this," said Ron, sounding exasperated.
"All right. As you all know, there was a prophecy addressed to Lord Voldemort and me," said Harry.
"Yes," said Ginny.
"Well, I know what it said," said Harry.
"How can that be? It was smashed. Neville said so," said Hermione.
"It was merely a record of what had been said. The real prophecy was told to none other than Dumbledore himself by Sybill Trelawney. He told me about it the night we got back from the ministry," said Harry.
"Trelawney? Well, it might not be true after all!" exclaimed Ron, not noticing that Hermione was giving him an evil glare.
"It is true, Ron. I know how she looks like when she is having one of those. She was sort of in a trance. The next second, she wouldn't even remember anything that she said," said Harry.
"Well, come on. I want to know what it said," said Ron.
"Okay, I'll tell you. But I will ask you not to gasp or think of anything stupid," said Harry.
"We agree," said Hermione.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... 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... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..." said Harry as if he was in a trance.
Hermione was the first to speak, breaking the deafening silence. "Oh, Harry." She looked utterly speechless. Ron was wide mouthed, Ginny was silent still. Harry didn't know what else to say. It had caused a great impact on them and that had made Harry feel guilty.
"I shouldn't be telling you this. It's my responsibility, and I don't want to get you into trouble," said Harry.
"No, Harry. You did us a favour. Harry, I'll always be there for you. I will not leave you no matter what. Even if it means I have to face You-Know- Who," said Ginny with tears running down to her cheeks.
"Yeah, mate. We'll be there for you whenever you need us," said Ron.
"What Ron said," said Hermione.
"Thanks," was all Harry managed to say.
With the burden lifted off his shoulders slightly, he felt slightly better. He knew his friends would be there for him. On the other hand, he couldn't let them be Voldemort's next victim. He left his thoughts to wander and for the first time, Harry Potter smiled and honest smile even though it was for a moment.
Encubierto means concealed and Revela means reveals; they're Spanish
Sorry, this chapter does not include the new characters. You guys know the drill. Keep reviewing. I want to know if there are any mistakes I made or tell me whether you like it or not.