Authors Note: Hope everyone is enjoying this story so far. I would like to take a minute to thank ghzowy for giving me my first review. It is greatly appreciated. Hopefully there will be more to follow. And now on with chapter four!!

Chapter 4: The Decision

Harry went to the library to start doing some research for DADA. He wanted to look up different spells he could practice for the duels. He tried to concentrate, but his mind kept drifting to what Rayne had said.

"I will teach you to fight....harsh and painful will be hurt.....life or death.....never trust."

All these things ran through his mind over and over again. He knew he had to make one of the toughest decisions in his life. He had always shared everything with Ron and Hermione. He had never kept secrets from them. They were his best friends. The three of them had always done everything together. If Rayne really did know what she said she did, he had to choose to join her. It was his destiny, even if he had spent the last few years trying to deny it or wish it away, he knew he had to save the world from Voldmort. Perhaps it was better this way. If Ron and Hermione didn't know what He and Rayne were doing, they couldn't get hurt. He would at least be able to protect them. He flipped a page in the book, The Dark Arts Most Feared Followers, which he was supposed to be reading. He suddenly realized the page he had been staring at for the last 45 minutes was the page about the Dark Wizard Merrick, whom Sirius had mentioned in his dream. He took sudden interest in what the book had to say about this Wizard. He began to read.

The Dark Wizard Merrick was once one of the most feared Wizards of the World. He destroyed his Family at the young age of 14. He killed his mother in her sleep, his father, whose identity, to this day, is unknown, is said to have disowned him. No one knows what happened to his Brother and Sister. Only that they were never seen or heard from after their mothers death. It is assumed that he also killed them. After killing his family, he waged war against Lord Voldemort, determined to take out any competition. Two days before Merrick was about to make his final attack against Voldemort and take over leadership of his followers, he suddenly vanished and all his warriors were found dead. He was only 15 years old. It is said that a mysterious young Witch found Merrick's one weakness and finally put an end to his reign of terror. One of Merrick's followers was found barely clinging to life and was able to only confirm bits and pieces of the story before he died. To this day no one knows her name.

Harry couldn't believe it. He had heard the tales of Merrick, but never realized that the Wizard was only 15. How could a fifteen year old Wizard cause so much damage? Imagine what he would have been like when he was older. Voldemort would look like a kitten compared to him. Harry closed the book, now completely lost in his thoughts.

Rayne had quickly exited from the DADA class so as to not have another confrontation with Phoenix. She could feel Phoenix's eyes boring a hole through her as she left. Had she made the right decision in offering Harry a glimpse of her world? Would he accept?

"I hope I made everything crystal clear. Was I wise in letting him make a decision on his own? I need to put my trust and faith in him. I need to accept his decision. I need to never question him. I am ready, I just hope he is." Rayne thought.

Rayne had Divination after lunch that day. Much to her distress, so did Harry and Ron. She had to make other friends, and it would look suspicious if Harry was her partner in every class. She was kind of relieved when Harry went and sat over next to Ron. She knew he would avoid her until he had made his decision. Neville came up and sat down next to her. She smiled at him.

"How is your schedule going?" He asked her.

"Actually, I am finding it quite to my liking. I actually am pretty good at potions and DADA. Those are the only two classes I have had so far." She replied

Just then Professor Trelawney walked into the room.

"I sense a new aura in this room." She said in her usual mystical tone. "You, my dear. What is your name?"

"Rayne," she replied.

"Well, welcome dear." She said. "Now class, we are going to be predicting the future today. Everyone take your crystal ball and look for your partner's future."

Neville took the crystal ball and tried desperately to find Rayne's future in it.

"I never could figure these stupid things out." He said to her.

She took the ball from him.

"Here let me teach you a trick." She took the ball. "Focus your mind on the person you are trying to read. Get a clear picture of them in your head. Take your hand and place it just above the ball, while still focusing on the person. Count to ten and take your hand away. You should be able to see a vision in the fog. It takes a lot of practice."

Neville took the ball back from Rayne and did as she had instructed him. He looked into the fog and suddenly his face went white.

"Rayne I don't think I did it right." He said dropping the ball, his hand shaking.

Professor Trelawny had noticed the commotion and had come over to them.

"What did you see my dear?" She coaxed him.

"I saw you know who, and he was going after you. He had someone else with him; you were surrounded on every side." Rayne showed no sign of emotion at being told this.

Even Professor Trelawny noticed that she didn't flinch at the mention of he who must not be named. The Professor interpreted it as shock, and took the ball from Neville.

"You are right Neville, I don't think you did it correctly, it does take practice." Professor Trelawny told him, picking up the ball and seeing nothing but fog in it.

"Here let me try on you." She said with a smile. The whole class was still staring at her.

She placed her hand over the ball and counted to ten. She interpreted the fog and spoke calmly.

"Neville, I see you standing on a beach in what looks like California. You are there with a little boy, who looks just like you. I interpret that to be your son. You look very happy and content." She smiled.

Professor Trelawny looked into the fog and looked shocked,

"Yes dear that is correct." The Professor announced.

Everyone was getting excited now, and suddenly Harry rose out of his seat.

"Rayne," he called out.

The class became silent.

"Read my future." Rayne stood up and looked Harry straight in the eyes.

"I am not sure you are ready for it." Rayne replied.

"Try me." he said never breaking eye contact.

"As you wish, but I am not responsible for the consequences." She said.

Professor Trelawny as well as the rest of the class were now very excited. Someone was going to dare to read Harry's future. No one had ever attempted that because they were always afraid of the consequences. The answer to the war may be revealed. Harry sat down across from Rayne.

"Harry," she said "Are you sure about this? There are a lot of other people present here."

"Go ahead Rayne, I can take it." He said.

Rayne looked straight into Harry's eyes again and then closed hers. She focused on Harry and counted to ten. She looked into the fog. She knew that the entire class was waiting on her every word. Rayne knew that she did not dare focus on the far future, rather the near future, she knew she could manipulate the ball.

"Harry, I see you dueling, what looks like another student, a female, and being knocked to the ground unconscious. I believe you need to be careful in DADA class this year." She said with a laugh.

The rest of the room looked quite disappointed. Trelawney grabbed the ball and looked into it.

"Yes, yes that is correct." She said. Quite disappointed herself.

Ron looked like he was about to fall over laughing..."Harry's going to get beat by a girl"

The rest of the class followed suit and soon they were all laughing, everyone that is except Rayne and Harry.

"I don't understand. How come your future shows you battling Voldemort and mine shows me getting my ass kicked." Harry said in confusion.

"Do you think I am stupid?" Rayne asked him. "Did you honestly think I was going to reveal your future to you in front of all these people? Are you crazy! That would be certain suicide. Some things are better off not being known to people you aren't sure if you can trust."

"I never thought about it like that, you are right." Harry said with realization in his voice. "Thank you."

"I didn't think this was the appropriate time or place, and besides, I would never tell you the outcome of the war anyway, because the future can be changed depending on your decisions. Nothing is set in stone." She added.

With that the class dispersed and Harry was left with a very giggly Ron to tend to. By the end of the day the whole school had heard about Harry's future, but also of Rayne's. Harry sat upstairs in his room thinking about the day's events. He knew he only had a few hours to make one of the hardest decisions he would ever be faced with.

"What exactly will she ask of me if I accept?" He wondered. "She seems dedicated and knowledgeable, but am I ready to sacrifice the friendships I have had for seven years because I will be forced to keep secrets from them and maybe even lie to them."

Then a thought dawned on him. Ron and Hermione would always have each other. He had no one. He was happy for his friend, who finally seemed to have things going his way for once I his life. It made him Happy and Sad at the same time. He couldn't help but wonder if there was anyone out there who would fit in his life the way Hermione fit into Ron's. He shook the thought aside. He had more important things to worry about, like the answer he had to give Rayne in just a few hours.