Disclaimer:
This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N: This was what popped into my head after reading a plot bunnie on FAP. The specific plot bunnie is "Malfoy is in Divination Class when Trelawny makes a prediction. You choose if it's real or not, Malfoys reaction, etc., but the prediction must be about that certain someone he loves, which has now been revealed to the other Slytherins!"

Predicted

VI. The Translation

Hermione was out of the infirmary the next day. Everyone welcomed her back warmly, and she was able to get back to her normal routine quickly. So quickly that, soon, the incident seemed to have never happened. However, just because people were not gossiping did not mean that people weren't still thinking about it.

Some still speculated on the prophecy. It seemed to have not come true. But those who believed in Professor Trelawney said, to anyone that would listen, that the prophecy would just come true with the next full moon.

While students thought about that, Hermione was busy thinking of something else. Those words. What did Professor McGonagall mean?

It frustrated Hermione that she could not figure it out. The meaning could not be found in books or by any other logical means. Then what could she do?

And then she had an idea. Of course! It was so obvious! For something so cryptic, you go find the most illogical solution.

The next day, after class, she went to visit Professor Trelawney. She still didn't believe in the Professor's abilities, but it was worth a try. And it was her lost shot.

She entered Professor Trelawney's class to find the professor sitting down to a cup of tea.

"Ah, good afternoon, Hermione," Professor Trelawney greeted, without looking up. "I knew you would come." She smiled. "Sit, have some tea."

Hermione did sit and take a cup. After taking a sip, she cleared her throat. But before she could begin speaking, Professor Trelawney held up a hand and a plate of cakes.

"Have a piece of cake, too."

Hermione too one and smiled her thanks. She shoved the piece in her mouth and chewed. It tasted like heaven; all sweet, moist, and fluffy. It seemed to melt on her tongue. But that was not why she was here.

She wiped her mouth, and then proceeded to tell Professor Trelawney about Professor McGonagall's words. When she was done, Professor Trelawney just smiled mysteriously and said, "Have some more tea."

Hermione looked at her oddly, but took another cup of tea. "I knew I shouldn't have come here," she muttered under her breath.

"But that's where you're wrong," the professor said. "I do not know, for sure, what Minerva meant, but I can make a better guess than you. Or else why would you be up here?"

Hermione stared at her.

"Of course, if you don't want me to..." the professor trailed off, beginning to settle down with a biscuit.

"No, no, no. Please, professor, tell me what you think." Hermione pleaded, against her better judgment. Under normal circumstances, this scene would have not taken place. But these were not normal circumstances.

Professor Trelawney smiled. "Well, I'd say what she meant was that the prince of silver and green has fulfilled his part in the prophecy, and now it is up to you to decide whether or not to fulfill your part."

"Do I really have that choice? Doesn't a prophecy mean that it will come true no matter what?"

"Not necessarily. Not all prophecies come true." Professor Trelawney held her chin, in a thinking stance. "In fact, I think the only prophecies that come true are the known ones, the ones that have been spoken or read."

Hermione looked at her quizzically.

"Yes, I know it's quite puzzling. But, think about it, hmm? I think people feel compelled, unconsciously, to fulfill the prophecy because they think it's their destiny. Of course, there are those who try to stop the prophecy from coming true, and by doing so they realign the patterns of life to intertwine threads that would never have crossed and cause a shift in the balance, which causes destiny to rewrite its words. Either way, there are great consequences."

Hermione stared at her. "You know what? I think you're right, for once."

Professor Trelawney looked offended, but Hermione ignored it.

"I don't like Draco—I mean Malfoy—though. And I don't think I ever will. At least not in that way."

Professor Trelawney smiled that mysterious smile again. "Don't be so hasty, Hermione. And stop lying to yourself."

Hermione looked affronted. "I don't know what you're talking about: I am not lying to myself!" She claimed, vehemently.

"Why don't you sleep on it, hmm?" the professor suggested, patting Hermione's hand.

Hermione pulled her hand away and left with a huff.

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That night, Hermione slept fitfully. Every so often her sleep was scattered with dreams. But they weren't dreams, per se. They were more like memories and premonitions, all wrapped into one. One minute she was dreaming the most horrible thing—being beaten by those girls—and the next she was holding a beautiful baby girl in her arms, feeling like a proud new mother. Then, she was dreaming of her time in the infirmary; almost as if she was looking on from outside her body.

She saw her friends come in to check up on her. She saw the professors come look in on her. And then there was Draco. He had come several times while she was asleep, apparently. And just when the dream was about to fade into another, she saw him kiss her gently on the lips.

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Hermione woke up the next day feeling different. Those dreams were...odd, to say the least. How was it possible? She shook her head, better not to think about it.

But they felt so real. She couldn't just push them aside, and let that be that. They were too real for that. She had felt the pain all over again, with the memory of the beating. She had felt the joy to come, when she had held her own newborn daughter—she just knew that was her baby; call it instinct, if you like. Everything seemed so real, even that kiss.

That kiss. She sighed. Did that really happen? Or did she dream it up? Did he really visit her all those times? Or did she dream that up too? Maybe...wait a minute! It didn't matter! Not at all! Because she didn't even like Draco Malfoy that way. She didn't like Draco Malfoy, period. She shouldn't even be dreaming about him.

He'd been a prat all his life, and nothing could change that. Not even him seeing the light and being redeemed, helping to fight on their side. Which he did. But that didn't matter...

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"But he did save your life," Parvati replied, when Hermione voiced her opinion of Draco out loud.

"Yeah, but wait. How did you know it was him?"

"We've got the eye," replied Lavander."Anyway, he saved your life. Which means, he did sort of fight obstacles for you."

"The prophecy could have been fulfilled!" Parvati exclaimed, in a dreamy tone.

"You haven't told anyone that it was him, have you?" asked Hermione, interrupting the girls' daydream.

"No," Parvati and Lavender replied in unison, before looking at her suspiciously. "Why?"

Hermione shrugged. "No particular reason, really. Just that, he might get mad if people found out. You know, because it might ruin his reputation or something." She fidgeted, when the girls got identical smirks on their faces. "That's all. Really."

"Yeah, right Hermione."

"We know what you're really about."

"You care for him."

"It's so sweet."

"We wish you luck."

"The best of," Lavender added, as the girls once again drifted off into a dreamy state.

Their gazes glazed over and turned to a faraway place. Hermione knew it was hopeless trying to snap them out of it. So, she gathered her things and left their room, where she had gone to when a sense of nostalgia had hit. She had wanted to find comfort, so she had gone to a place where she had spent a good part of the last six years of her life: the dorm room she had shared with them in her first six years at Hogwarts.

She had been pulled into Parvati and Lavendar's gossip at once, like all the times before. She added in her own tidbits when she could, at least, until the topic had turned to her. Well, not only her, but Draco Malfoy also. Then, she had frozen up like ice. They had begged and pleaded, until she had finally cracked. She couldn't resist their puppy dog eyes, when both pairs were turned on her. Hermione sighed at the memory and laughed softly, as she waited for the staircases to stop moving.

She supposed they were right. He might not be such a prat after all, since he saved her life. Maybe they could do more than be civil. Maybe they could become acquaintances, and then friends, and then who knows? Maybe more.

Hermione entered her sanctuary—the library—and plopped down in one of the cushiony chairs near the back, and opened the book she had brought with her. Time flew, and she was in the middle of page four hundred thirty-seven before she realized it. She stretched and yawned, getting ready to leave. But then she paused in packing up her books. 'What was that noise?' she thought. She began her packing again, but then...'There it was again.'

Students out—Hermione looked at her watch—this late? This definitely needed intervention from the Head Girl. She walked towards the many bookshelves, where she was sure the couple would be hiding. But as she crept closer, she found that they were not involved in amorous activities, as she had first suspected, but, instead, were gossiping.

Hermione rolled her eyes. But then, something caught her ear. It was her name to be exact.

"...likes Hermione?" The girl seemed to be asking a question. Hermione hadn't caught the first part, but she started paying more attention, now that she had heard her name.

"Yeah. Heard it with my own ears," the boy answered.

"Heard what?" the girl questioned, eagerly.

"That Malfoy like Granger. I just finished telling you that." The boy answered, sounding exasperated.

"Oh, well you know how I forget."

"Oh yes, I know. I know how you forget your books in the library and make me come back to get them, only to find that you followed me."

The girl giggled.

"Now what reason would you have for that?" The boy questioned, his voice deeper than it was moments ago. Hermione could practically hear the sex oozing from his words. She knew what would happen shortly. She also knew that she should stop it, before it even started. But she couldn't. She was rooted to her spot, shocked at the knowledge that Draco Malfoy liked her. Was it true? She couldn't fathom that it was. It was overwhelming her, and she immediately turned around and fled the library.

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By the next morning, Hermione had come to a decision. And just as soon as she could find, and speak with him, she told him of it.

"I've come to a decision, Malfoy. I think that maybe we could give a relationship a try."

Malfoy stared at her in disbelief, before sneering, "How very generous of you. However, I think differently, and I don't accept." Then, he left, in a flurry of robes, leaving Hermione shattered and near tears.

Draco Malfoy fled down the hall, and around a corner, where he waited silently for Hermione to leave. He hadn't wanted to hurt her, but being with him would have hurt her even more. And maybe it had something to do with his ego too.

People didn't change overnight, most especially him. He still cared about what his housemates thought...slightly.

A/N: So it's summer. Yay! I'm hoping to finish this story and get a few new stories up. Oh, and I'm going to AX 2005 this weekend. Hehe...I'm excited:D

I hope this chapter was worth the long wait that I put you through. Sorry for that. Anyway, tell me what you think, please? And I'm still looking for a beta-reader. If you're interested, please contact me. :)

Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. ;)

TBC