Chapter 26

The Prophecy Unveiled

Roxanne had spent that night asleep with Harry. While he lightly snored the night away, Roxanne stared out of the window, her mind too full to sleep. What was this prophecy? She didn't understand. Why had she never been told? Questions spun round in her mind and she half wanted to send a stupefy spell at herself just so she could get some sleep. Voldemort had not explained a lot about it. So she was destined to marry Draco? The thought of becoming some kind of evil queen crept into her mind and she shuddered. Ok, so she was quite gothic, but evil queen was going too far. And spending her life with Malfoy? Having his children? It was a nightmare in itself. Roxanne never wanted to marry and having children was definitely the last thing on her mind.

The next morning was a Sunday and the whole day was to be spent lounging around and enjoying each other's company, but after breakfast, Roxanne made her way on her own to Dumbledore's office. She needed answers.

"Come in," came a voice when she knocked on Dumbledore's door.

She entered warily and was relieved to see just Dumbledore, stroking the feathers of Fawks.

"Ah, good morning Roxanne."

"Good morning Professor. I wanted to…um, ask you something," she said, casting her eyes at the desk.

Dumbledore smiled knowingly. "Sit yourself down then."

He sat on the other side and she took the cushioned chair. He made a gesture for her to start talking.

"I want to know more about this Prophecy. I- I think I have a right to know."

Dumbledore nodded, still smiling but his eyes looked less than happy.

"It was a whole year before Harry's was and no one heard it except for the creator -someone we have never found- and a woman called Jassameen."

Roxanne stared at him. "Wasn't she my aunty?"

Dumbledore nodded. "She was indeed. I don't think you know a lot about her, as she died a few months before you were born. But Jassameen was a very kind soul, I taught myself when she was at Hogwarts. But she did the regrettable thing of telling her sister Marilee that she had heard a prediction of her future daughter. It was a foolish thing to do, since she knew her sister was in with the Death Eater crowd. Marilee told Voldemort and had Jassameen taken to the Dark Lord, who tortured and threatened her until she told him the prophecy." He paused.

Roxanne looked down at her lap. So her aunty had died because of her?

"But it's not your fault, Roxanne. You did not create this prophecy," said Dumbledore, as if he could read her thoughts. "Voldemort was very intrigued with this prediction has it coincided with the other prophecy that he had found out about a few days earlier-"

"How do you know all of this, sir?" asked Roxanne suddenly.

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm somewhat of a memory collector. I put it upon myself to find out as much about Voldemort as I possibly could. Shall I continue?"

Roxanne blushed and nodded.

"Jassameen went to St. Mungos, she didn't remember anything and died a few months later. Voldemort had chosen Harry as his rival when he was born and you and Mr. Malfoy were protected by spells and Death Eaters. But on to what the Prophecy actually meant; something Voldemort wanted was someone who could take his place when he was killed, or perished or became too weak. He may be immortal but even he knew he wouldn't be forever. This Nuptial was to take place legally when you were both seventeen, but as you learnt yourself, Voldemort was eager to have it over and done with, as when you were supposedly going to get married, you were to have your souls split."

A small gasp escaped from Roxanne upon hearing this. Have her own horcruxes? It wasn't something that was frightening, but what did frighten her was the idea of becoming immortal actually appealed to her…

"Draco was to have three and you would have two, including yourselves it makes seven. He probably sees Draco as more important as he is the male, and the one who would take his throne, as it were."

"B-but this can be prevented, can't it?" she asked him.

"It already has, Roxanne," smiled Dumbledore.

She frowned but suddenly realised; "Because I'm in love with Harry?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Your love gives him strength and is what makes both of your very powerful."

Roxanne felt a little more relieved.

"I hope this information has helped you," said Dumbledore, looking at her over half-moon glasses.

She nodded and stood up. "Thank you Professor."

Dumbledore smiled and she left. Of course she still had many thoughts in her head, but they were no longer of a miserable life or being pregnant…

"Did he tell you?" asked Harry, the moment she entered the Gryffindor Common Room (of which she was surprised she was still allowed to enter.)

She stared at him for a moment, wondering how he knew where she had gone. "Oh- um yeah."

She sat down and there was a long silence in which she knew everyone was staring at her.

"So?" cut in Ginny.

Knowing she could not hide something like this from her best friends, she told them. Once again there was a short silence. Harry eventually reached over and hugged her.

"Its ok, Roxanne. It won't come true-"

"But there's a fifty percent chance it will, isn't there?" she said, looking up at it anxiously.

"I think there's a fifty percent chance any prophecies will happen," he replied, his face rather glum.

"Sorry Harry, I didn't mean-"

"Don't worry, it's not your fault," he replied, his expression passive.

Roxanne leant against his shoulder and closed her eyes while Ron and Hermione argued over who was going to replace the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

"What? What happened to Professor Scota?" asked Roxanne, sitting up suddenly.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other, baffled.

"Didn't you hear-"

"Well obviously not," snapped Roxanne. She instantly apologised.

"Well, she only came to teach for a year as she was practising to become an Auror and she passed her test!" said Hermione, beaming.

No one else shared her delight.

"But she was a great teacher," said Roxanne, frowning.

"Yeah but the positions cursed – I'm just glad she didn't get hurt," said Harry.

"I wonder if Snape'll get it…" mused Hermione.

"I hope so," said Harry, causing everyone to look at him in alarm.

"Well no one lasts do they? So hopefully he'll get the boot too."

They laughed, all except Hermione.

"He's a good teacher, Harry, and he's taught you-"

"Do I look bothered?" interrupted Harry. "He could get me an Auror job and I'd still hate him."

Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up. "I need to go see Professor McGonagall about this homework, it just seems too easy…"

It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes then. Hermione didn't see and when she had gathered her books she bent down to the kneeled Ron and gave him a hug. Roxanne stared blankly at them and Hermione spun around on her heel.

"Um, bye you three too!" she said in a high voice, and she hugged Roxanne, Ginny and Harry, she then rushed out of the room.

"That was…odd. When has Hermione started hugging people goodbye?" asked Harry, watching her disappear out of the portrait. He looked back at Ron who was reading a book with reddening ears.

Ginny giggled, which confused Harry even further.

"She always was an odd child," said Roxanne, with a knowing smile on her face. Harry frowned.

"Something you want to tell us, brother?" asked Ginny, smirking. "I haven't seen you with Berenice for a while!"

"Oh…yeah, we split up two weeks ok," replied Ron in a muffled voice.

"How come?" asked Roxanne, leaning forward so her hair covered her face.

"We just fell out, didn't have a lot in common," he replied.

"Single now then, eh?" asked Ginny, with a cheeky expression on her face.

"Uh…yeah."

A look of dawning comprehension appeared on Harry's face. "Oh I get it now!"

Ron glanced up at him, glowering. "Get what, exactly?"

Harry smirked but didn't have chance to reply because just then people began piling out for dinner and no one could be heard above the hungry raucous of shouts and complaints.