Wow! Thank you all for the reviews! It made my day! And I know you all have questions, but hold on to them for a second, because this chapter addresses some of those questions.
On with the chapter!
Chapter 38. Prophecy girl.
July 30th, the summer after Harry's fifth year.
Dumbledore sat at a small privately placed table, a small glass placed in front of him. The seat opposite him was empty, but a delicate cup of lemon tea was placed on the table, steam rising up into the smoky air. He nodded in greeting to other wizards and witches in the pub. It seemed that wherever he went, people always recognized him. Thankfully, now that the Daily Prophet had pronounced him sane, as opposed to their normal 'crazy lunatic', people were greeting him kindly.
The pub, the Three Broomsticks, was crowded, and every table was full. Wizards lined the bar and Rosmerta was swept off her feet with the demands of the punters. His eyes traveled to the left, under his silver bushy eyebrows, and smiled at the young couple who was sharing a drink. He looked to the right, and saw a middle aged man, dressed in black robes, clutching his drink close to him, his eyes searching the Daily Prophet on the table.
Finally, the person he had been waiting for entered the pub and her eyes immediately traveled to Dumbledore. She smiled softly and seemed to glide towards Dumbledore.
"Terribly sorry I'm late, Albus." She said, sweeping down onto the chair. "But, of course, I told you I would be two days ago." She added.
Dumbledore smiled kindly. "Yes, Sybill, I recall."
Trewalney peered down at the tea, her large glasses enlarging her eyes. "Lemon?"
"What else?" Dumbledore replied, and Trelawney smiled again. Her arm, adorned with bangles and bracelets, reached to the cup and she lifted it softly to her thin lips.
"Yes, my taste for sherry seemed to have disappeared." She muttered softly, hoisting her glittery shawl onto her shoulders. "I see Minerva fell ill." She said. "That is the reason she is not here."
Dumbledore smiled, not having the heart to tell Sybill that Minerva simply refused to accompany Dumbledore with his meeting with Sybill. "And how are you doing my dear?"
Trelawney set her cup onto the saucer, and leant back on the chair. "It's rather crowded in here." She observed, and Dumbledore agreed. "But, Hog's Head will also be rather crowded at this hour."
"Yes, we should have scheduled our meeting earlier." Dumbledore said, but Trewlawney shook her head, and gestured with her heavily ringed hand.
"It would not matter."
"And how are you doing my dear?" Dumbledore repeated.
Trelawney sighed and lifted the cup to her lips. She took a minute sip and lowered it back to the saucer. "As well as one can be, Albus. It seems that my Inner eye has been clouded as of late. I had half a mind not to come tonight, but I thought better of it. I have not had a chance to speak to you for many days."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrow. "What would you like to speak about?"
Trelawney sighed heavily. "Have you found a replacement for Umbridge? I do not want another Ministry mongrel in Hogwarts." She said, making a grotesque face as she said the name Umbridge.
"I have one in mind, is this all that bothers you?" Dumbledore asked.
Trelawney shook her head. "No, of course not Albus, I would also like to inquire about…" She trailed off, and her eyes suddenly started to roll. Dumbledore sat up in his seat. She looked as if she was to have a seizure, but then; she started to speak, not in her usual whispery voice, but in a harsh voice unlike her own.
"Sixteen years after her sister's death…the slayer shall fall…then… the Dark Wizard can be defeated…and only then can his equal fall…until the slayer dies…neither can be vanquished…only after she falls…they can be killed." Trelawney paused, and Dumbledore thought she had finished. After the pause, Trelawney opened her mouth and continued in that harsh voice. "Only one spell can kill the Dark Wizard…and only one can kill his equal…only after the slayer is resurrected for the second time…can the spells be revealed…and only then can the Dark Wizard and his equal fall forever…"
Trelawney's head fell forward. The chair on Dumbledore's right scraped across the floor, and footsteps disappeared into the din of Hogs Head. With a loud grunt, Trelawney's head jerked up and she pulled her shawl, which had fallen sometime during the prediction, onto her shoulders with her ringed hand. "I am terribly sorry Albus, I am very tired. I must apologize."
Dumbledore smiled weakly, and shook his head. "Not to worry Sybill, I know the very feeling." He said, his mind processing and committing to memory the prediction that had just befallen upon him. And that was when he looked to the right, where that man had been before, and found, dismayed that the table was empty.
End flashback.
There was only a few seconds of silence, until all hell broke loose.
Willow was rooted to the spot as others fought around her, her eyes on the body of her best friend. A small tear slowly leaked from her eye, but she did not bother to wipe it away. Her hand found Tara's, and Tara squeezed Willow's hand comfortingly. Tara other hand was held out in front of her, erecting a barrier around the pair. Once the barrier was formed, Tara pulled Willow along with her and hurried to Harry, whose hand was wrapped in Hermione's.
Meanwhile, Spike, Angel and Xander had launched themselves at the Death Eaters, the trio blinded by grief. All of the past disagreements were forgotten, their slight dislike for each other was forgotten as the three worked as a team, fighting Death Eaters simultaneously. Angel broke a Death Eater's leg, than moved onto another one, knocking the Death Eater unconscious. Xander dodged curses and flung himself on a Death Eater, pummeling the man until the Death Eater was unconscious. Spike dodged curses and flung punches right, left and centre, his wild fighting style emerging from his grief.
Like Willow, Sirius had remained stationary, his doggy eyes fixed on the limp body of Buffy. The fight surrounded the body, but no one had yet touched it. No one had made sure she was actually dead. Sirius tried to leap forward, but Charlie and Lupin hung onto the dog.
"Sirius, don't. Don't forget who you are." Lupin reminded Sirius. Sirius lifted his doggy head and stared at Lupin. "She's gone Sirius. She's gone."
She's gone. She's gone. The words whispered in Sirius' head like a mantra and he leapt and attacked the man who had killed Buffy. His sharp canine teeth sank deep into the Death Eater's leg, and he screamed in pain. The Death Eater shook Sirius off him, and Sirius turned and faced the man, his fangs bared. Sirius growled, and leapt again at the Death Eater. The Death Eater was ready, and shouted 'Stupefy'. Sirius dodged the spell, but landed far away from the Death Eater. Next to Buffy.
Her green eyes stared lifelessly up at Sirius; her mouth was slightly parted as she took in one last breath. Tears had dried on her cheeks and her expression was blank. With a furious howl, Sirius turned from her and leapt back into the fight, barely registering Harry was to his left.
Faith stared at Buffy's body with disbelief. A lump formed in her throat and she screamed with rage and grief as she leapt into the growing fray. She dodged curses right and left, and used her full strength against the people who had killed her sister slayer. She barely registered the thuds of bodies impacting with the wall as she threw them aside, not dead, but unconscious. She barely registered a large cut forming at her stomach as a Death Eater threw a curse at her. She lost count of all the wands she snapped in half, of all the bones she broke and the fractures she caused. Her mind was filled with a blind rage and she did not care who she hurt until she reached her goal. She fought her way across the room until she reached it. Sirius, in his dog form ignored her as he stared at the body, and then jumped back into the fight. They all ignored her as Faith picked up the limp body of Buffy Summers and carried her away from the fight, laying her on the table in front of several students. They gasped in fright as they saw the dead body, but she ignored them. Faith lifted two fingers to Buffy's neck, feeling for a pulse, but her face fell as she found none.
"Faith…" Hermione whispered softly, placing a hand on Faith's arm. Her eyes darted from the fight to Buffy's body, then back to the fight. "Help them…" Hermione pleaded. Faith looked up at the students, looks of terror on their faces. They were crouched against the wall, there wands out in a feeble attempt to defend themselves.
"Faith." Tara said breathlessly, as she made her way towards the slayer, her hand in Willow's. Curses were shot at the pair, but it bounced off an invisible shield, making the shield shimmer in a purple light.
"Get them out of here." Faith instructed, looking blankly at Willow, who looked lost. Tara nodded, and quickly started to usher the students out of the room. "Willow?" Faith said, facing the red head witch. Willow looked up at Faith with sad, tired eyes. She lifted up her hands and magic crackled through her fingers. Sparks shot out from the tips of her fingers, and slowly, her hair was turning black.
"Get me out of here." Willow whispered. Faith nodded, and Tara took away the shield, then returned to protecting the students as she ushered them out. Lupin and Professor Flitwick joined Tara and helped her. Lupin glanced at the body of Buffy, who lay peacefully on the table, then turned and ushered the students out of the hall. Faith took Willow's hand and ran. She pushed Death Eater's out of the way, dodged curses, but did not let go of Willow hand as they ran. And soon, they were out of the Great Hall, and Willow rested against the door. Students crowded around the doors, wondering what was going on, gasping as the doors opened and Death Eater's were sighted.
"Stay calm Willow." Faith said desperately. "Someone take her up to the hospital wing!" Faith shouted at the crowd. "Stay calm." Faith repeated, and without a backward glance at the witch, she pushed the doors opened and leapt back into the fight.
Meanwhile, Harry's wand was out and he shouted and dodged curses right and left in a blind rage of fury. He had lost Hermione, Ron and Ginny some time ago, but he spared no thought to it. He passed Dumbledore, who was dueling with five Death Eaters and seemed to be winning. He passed Charlie, who dueled with another Death Eater. He passed Spike, Angel and Xander, who punched and kicked Death Eater's right and left. He passed Faith, who was shoving people against the wall and seemed to be making her way to Buffy's body. He passed Neville, who was dueling a Death Eater with Ron and Ginny's help.
And he suddenly found who he was looking for. The Death Eater seemed to have been waiting for him all this time. His cloak was torn, and it looked like Sirius had bitten him. Good, Harry thought. Cold, grey eyes glinted maliciously from slits in the mask. Harry had seen those eyes many times before, in the Department of Mysteries, in Flourish and Blotts, and almost everyday, whenever he saw Draco Malfoy. The person who had killed Buffy was Lucius Malfoy, and Harry was ready to kill him.
"Come to kill me Potter?" Malfoy laughed. "I never knew you two were so close." He said, referring Buffy. It was true, Buffy and Harry had never been close, and they had been in a fight hours ago. But despite all that, Buffy had died for Harry, like his mum had died for him. All the hate that Harry had held for Buffy had disappeared, and he was now ready to kill Malfoy, to avenge Buffy's death.
"Stupefy!" Harry shouted, pointing his wand at Malfoy.
"Protego!" Malfoy said, deflecting the spell. Harry was sure Malfoy was grinning under the mask. "You cannot fight me, Potter. The Dark Lord protects me!" He shouted.
"Well, let's see if he's a good protector. Petrificus Totalus!" Harry shouted. Again, Malfoy deflected the spell.
"You're going to have to try harder than that Potter!"
Harry raised his wand again, his mind cast back to Buffy's dead body and the fact he had just lost another family member.
"Crucio!" His wand was pointed at Malfoy as he uttered the Unforgivable, and at first he thought it did not work. But then Malfoy's screams sounded in the room, and Harry felt pressure from his wand. It was hard maintaining the curse, but Harry held it on, wincing from the screams that were issued from Malfoy. The curse was powerful, and it was taking a lot of energy from Harry to maintain it. After ten seconds though, he felt the curse weaken as he lost too much energy. He did not have the strength to maintain it anymore, and he let his wand hand drop to his sides, panting from exhaustion. He looked up at Malfoy with cold eyes. Malfoy was crouching on the floor, panting also. He looked up and met Harry's gaze.
"That's quite a lot of hate in you boy." He stood up. "But not enough." He smiled under the mask, and Harry winced. He knew what was coming next. "Crucio."
Harry crumpled to the floor, his body wracked with pains. His body was exploding with pain; every each of him was in pain. It was like being stabbed with knives all over your body, every millisecond. His mind was exploding with the pain; his thoughts were completely revolved around his suffering. He registered nothing around him, not the cruel cackle that was issued from Malfoy's lips, not the screams of pain from other Death Eaters. He didn't register the soft 'pop's and Death Eaters left Hogwarts by portkey as they realized they could not win, he didn't hear the crying from Ginny, he did not see the swash of robes in front of him as Dumbledore angrily strode to Malfoy, in a rage of fury. He registered nothing, until the curse was abruptly lifted and he was left shivering in pain.
"How dare you." Dumbledore hissed, his eyes glinting furiously that chilled Malfoy down to the bone. "How dare you use an Unforgivable on my student?" Malfoy timidly raised his wand, but Dumbledore raised his wand first. "Stupefy."
"Protego." Malfoy said, but Dumbledore was powerful and Malfoy was thrown backwards onto the ground. Malfoy glanced at the crowd of adults surrounding Dumbledore, glanced at Harry who was crouched on the floor with a large black dog and Hermione, and then looked back at Dumbledore. Dumbledore glared at Malfoy, and Malfoy could feel the air around Dumbledore vibrate with power. Before Dumbledore could stop Malfoy, he delved into his robes and touched a small pendant with the Dark Mark on it. He instantly disappeared from Hogwarts, leaving Dumbledore and the rest behind.
Okay, do you remember that prophecy that was mentioned many chapters ago? This is the prophecy. And now for those questions:
Will Buffy stay dead? Obviously not, because if you look at the prophecy, you will she has to be resurrected for Voldemort or Harry to die.
The characters were OOC: Dumbledore makes choices, and this was another of those choices. He had to make a sacrifice so that the world would be rid of Voldemort. So he had to stand by and watch Buffy die.
Also, I read on the J.K Rowling site that the half blood prince was NOT Harry or Voldemort, so who you think it is (JoeHundredaire)? I reckon its: Dean Thomas or Mark Evans. Or it could just be a whole new character.
Anyway, please review!!
