Harry and Ron turned around in their seats to stare wide eyed at Draco and Hermione.
"Ah, yes, Come in Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy. Take a seat." Dumbledore exclaimed from behind his desk. He waved his wand, conjuring two more chairs for the couple. They hesitantly took the chairs and sat down, eyeing Harry and Ron warily. "So, Mr. Potter, do continue about your dream." Harry looked over at Draco, seemingly unwilling to continue with the Slytherin in his presence. He turned back to Dumbledore and reluctantly started to open his mouth.
"Did you say dream, Professor?" Hermione asked from her position, interrupting Harry.
"Why, yes. Why do you ask?"
"That's why Draco and I came to you also sir."
"Oh?" Dumbledore raised one eyebrow questioningly.
"Was, was it a Deatheaters' meeting too?" Harry quietly asked, eyes on the floor in front of him. Hermione shook her head.
"You both had it too?"
"Yea, it was bloody horrible." Ron cursed under his breath just loud enough for them to hear. All four looked up at the headmaster.
"Well, let me fetch my pensieve and I'll extract the dream from each of you and compare it. It will be easier than trying to listen to four accounts of the same thing. I'll be right back." With that the professor left and shortly returned with a bowl, resembling Draco's, in hand. He set it down on his desk and carefully placed his wand to Harry's head. He pulled forth the shiny, gray form that was the dream. The four teenagers nervously watched their headmaster extract and view each dream separately. Hermione found herself grasping Draco's hand. Hermione felt the fear slowly rush over her. The four of them dreaming the same about a Deatheaters' meeting, that couldn't be a coincidence. "Well, it is definitely the same dream. I fear it seems that all four of you have, in a way, traveled by spirit to the meeting tonight. I know no other way to describe it. It's extremely rare, I do believe I've only ever heard of one other wizard being able to do it."
"So, excuse me sir, but what does this mean?" Hermione asked, always the one to demand more knowledge.
"Well, it could mean a lot of things. One, you all have picked up on the rare talent of sleep transportation in a matter of hours on the same night, highly unlikely, two, Voldemort has managed to transport you himself, however he didn't seem to know of your presence so I highly doubt that."
"Well, could it be like that time I saw Mr. Weasley attacked through the eyes of the snake?"
"Very logical thinking, Mr. Potter. I'm impressed but I must say no. None of you took on the body and mind of another creature." Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and picked up his cup of tea.
"So, you have told us what it isn't, now tell us what it is."
"Now, Mr. Malfoy, patience." Dumbledore took a long sip before setting his cup back down and continuing. "Hmm, how shall I say this? You are all, in a way, bonded to one another." Disgusted looks pasted between Harry, Ron and Draco. "No, no, not like a wizard's bond." Dumbledore laughed. "More like a, bond by prophecy if you will." Harry sat up straighter in his chair.
"You aren't referring to, um, The prophecy are you?"
"Well, yes, Harry, I am." Harry looked dumbfounded at his headmaster.
"But, it just said that I had to be the one to fight and that I had to kill or be killed. It never mentioned any of them."
"Ah, yes, Harry. You are correct, at least for the part of it I told you."
"Will someone please fill me in here?!"
"Very hasty aren't you, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore sighed. "I do believe you will be able to associate quite a bit of it with this year's sorting hat song if I'm not mistaken."
' 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…' "That much should sound familiar to you, correct, Harry?" He shook his head.
'Others will be born of the same year that shall aid the marked one…all will know each other but one will defy the others…there shall be four total, one of each house…they alone shall be the heirs of the founders…together the power that the equal one possesses will be unleashed, but separate they will fail…they will be connected in ways unknown to wizards now…the ones with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord must become one…' Dumbledore leaned back in his chair again and closed his eyes. "There, that is all you need to know." Several confused looks passed between the teenagers. Hermione heard Draco murmur something that sounded along the lines of, "bloody nutcase, belongs in St. Mungo's." under his breath.
"Sir, I don't mean to contradict you but, I don't get it. That can't be us, it refers to the heirs of the houses, we are all Gryffindors with Draco being the exception." Hermione spoke up.
"Ah, yes, I was wondering which would be the one to notice that." Dumbledore opened his eyes and stood up. He went over to one of his many shelves and took down the sorting hat. He looked up at the three Gryffindors. "Now, when the hat was placed on your heads did you not already have your minds made up about which house you wanted to be put in?" Hermione thought over it. She had desperately wanted to be sorted into her current house. "The sorting hat will not go against the one wearing it. It simply will evaluate the wearer and determine which house would best suit them, but it will not place you in a house against your wishes, as Harry here knows quite well. If you seat yourself under it not caring where you are placed then it will put you in the house that you best represent, but if you have some idea where you want to be then it will put you there. Now, Harry, you already know you are the heir to Gryffindor. So let us test the rest of you. Mr. Malfoy, if you would?" Draco stood from his seat and walked over to the headmaster. He placed the hat on his head and seconds later it was lifted to reveal the sword of Salazar Slytherin. Draco stood staring at the beautiful weapon. It had a great serpent inlaid on the deep green handle. A silver jewel represented the eye.
"The heir of Slytherin." Dumbledore announced as Draco walked back to his seat, his eyes never leaving the sword. Dumbledore motioned for Ron to join him. Ron stood and made his way over to the headmaster. The hat was placed upon his head and once again seconds later a sword was revealed. The hilt was a bright yellow with a black badger inlaid upon it. A bright gold jewel served as it's eye. Ron looked at it, opened mouth.
"Hufflepuff?!" he exclaimed. Dumbledore chuckled.
"Yes, Ron, you are the heir of Helga Hufflepuff." Ron slowly walked back to his seat, turning the sword over and over in his hands. Dumbledore looked to Hermione. She slowly stood and walked over to her professor. He lowered the hat unto her head. 'O God.' was the only thought that repeated over in her head. She felt a heavy weight fall into her hair. The hat was removed and their laid the sword of Rowena Ravenclaw. She carefully turned it over to see the hilt. The bronze hilt housed a deep blue eagle with bronze eyes. She looked up to the headmaster who smiled down at her.
"The heir of Ravenclaw." For once Hermione was speechless. She sat back down, sword in hand. Dumbledore turned to them. "Now, I've always had my speculations that you four would be the heirs, all though Mr. Malfoy I wasn't to sure about. Now that you know, all four of you must begin Occlumency. Professor Snape will teach it to you seeing as how I am just simply to busy." Hermione saw the look of horror cross Harry's face at this news. "Now, I expect you to alert me if any thing out of the ordinary happens, it could be important to the prophecy. Now," he turned to Draco and Hermione. "this is not the first dream you two have shared." A looked of shock passed between them. "Professor Snape came to me, not to long ago and told me of the night Quidditch game you appeared to dream." A look of revelation dawned on Draco's face. "I noticed that your two dreams were the clearest out of the four also. Your bond seems to be stronger, for reasons I don't know. I suggest you talk about your dreams every morning with each other to see if this happens again. I'm sure I can rely on being informed when it happens again, as I'm sure it will." Hermione and Draco nodded. "Thank you, I believe that is all you may," Dumbledore was cut short as a battered Snape pushed aside the door to his office.
"Albus…forgive me…but the trio…and Malfoy," he spoke between gasps, still not looking up. His left arm was bleeding and he was covered in cuts and bruises. Dumbledore stood and walked over to the man, he put and arm around the Deatheater and dragged him to the nearest chair.
"Yes, yes, Severus. I have heard. Don't worry, it is only the prophecy answering it's time. You four are excused." They all stood up and made their way to the door. Hermione looked back long enough to see Dumbledore summon Madame Pomfrey.
Draco's POV
Draco put his hand out to keep the door from closing completely. Hermione looked questioningly at him.
"I want to, er, check on my godfather." he said, red tinting his face. Hermione just nodded before she turned to follow after Ron and Harry. Draco took in a deep breath before slowing reopening the door. He stepped in to see Madame Pomfrey leaning over Professor Snape. A soft moan came from the man as Pomfrey ran her fingers over an open wound. She muttered under her breath. Dumbledore looked up at Draco.
"He's going to be fine, Mr. Malfoy." Draco just nodded his head before walking over to sit beside the potions master.
"It isn't right." he mumbled, more to himself than for anyone to hear.
"Ah, yes, nothing is right about the dark side." He felt Dumbledore put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "But, Severus here knew what he got himself into when he first started." Draco once again merely nodded, too tired and confused for words. Draco sat next to his potions professor until all the healing was done and he had fallen into a deep slumber. "You should go now, Mr. Malfoy. I'm sure someone is looking for you." Draco stood and walked to the door. He turned back to look at the Deatheater. Sadness washed over him. If it weren't for that man then that too would have been his fate. He could still remember how when he first decided to turn against his father he went to Snape and he took him in halfway through their 6th year summer so he wouldn't have to face his enraged father anymore. That was the first time he realized that the assumptions were correct. His father had always said that Severus seemed to play on both sides of the fence ever so often. He was shocked to learn that his godfather was in fact a spy. He looked up to that man, more so than he would ever admit. Dumbledore called out to him as he started to close the door. "Tell the others that your lessons will be postponed for two days." He heard the door close as he followed the steps to the base of the Gargoyle where a figure emerged from the shadows.
"Hermione?" He asked as she swept him into a tight hug.
"Of course. Are you alright? What did he say?"
AN hey im sorry it took me so long to update, ive been really busy and I'm sorry its so short but there's alot of info so... ill make the next few chaps extra long :D thanks for all my reviews!!! Please keep reading and then do me a favor... any comment on my story is greatly appriciated!!! THXS!
OH!!! i have a question for ya'll:P ive been thinking about starting another draco/hermione fic... should i go ahead and start it now while i got this one goin or should i wait? im afraid i mite neglect Hermione's Dragon if i start another and id hate to just stop this story and have a group of angry readers after me... any answer to my question would help alot! thx!
Supreme Neo slytherin Countess: im sorry... i don't really understand your review... i didn't think i said anything about ron being a ravenclaw or hermione being hufflepuff in that chapter... i didn't even mention them being in different houses til this chap and its reversed... i'm sorry maybe i missed something... please help me to understand it! i'm so sorry! mayb point it out to me in the story so i can answer your question, i looked it over again but im still blind as to where it came from... I'm glad ya liked it though! lol. :)
Andrea: i really wanted to send that summary but i don't have your email!!! I'm sorry! if ya give it to me then ill more than happy to send it too ya! :)
And to the rest of you that reviewed: YOU GUYS ARE SO AWESOME!!! THX :D
moseysdragon