Stroke of Midnight
Chapter 4: The Last Prophecy
Harry and Draco ran down to the dungeons. They made it into the class seconds after it started. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, Please take the two empty seats upfront. Now if we can begin our lesson?" The two boys made their way to their seats. They put their bags away under their chairs and listened as their Potions Master told them of what was happening.
"Here at Hogwarts we have the sixth years take a test in each of the classes they are taking. This test will decide whether they can take a special course or not during their seventh year. If they pass they will move on to a seventh year variation of the class immediately. Then next year you will take an advanced course to train you to teach that subject. You can take more than one of these courses. Of course," He looked all his students in the eye. "you must get the highest grade obtainable to take those courses.
"Today we will be making an Imperfection Potion. This potion will cure all small imperfections in the body such as scars, vision problems, disfigurements, and other things. Too bad the potion doesn't work on magical imperfections, eh Potter?" Harry's face tinged red, but he said nothing.
Snape snapped his fingers, directions appeared for everyone. "Begin now." Harry went of crushing the petals of the rose like it stated. Snape hovered over everyone trying to make sure that no one cheated or destroyed his classroom. Harry ignored him and began to think of all that had happened over the past few days. In no time Harry was finished with his potion and was passing it in. Besides Hermione, and Draco everyone else had yet to finish.
Harry knew his potion was perfect. It seemed that once he learned to tune Snape out, and learned to pay better attention to the directions, that he was a natural at Potions. Harry was the third best in Snape's N.E.W.T.s class, bested only by Hermione and Draco. So he gathered a vial of the potion he had just brewed and put it in his pocket. 'I should really take this and get rid of these glasses. What if they fall of in the midst of a battle? Then I would be royally fucked.'
"Potter I would like you to stay for a couple minutes." Snape growled at him. Harry shrugged as the class ended. Snape locked the door, and made sure that no one could listen.
"What is it now, Sev?" Harry asked amused. At the beginning of the year Snape had come forward and admitted that he no longer hated Harry. They had become close and only kept up the act of hate so that Voldemort didn't get suspicious.
"A couple things. First, your potion is perfect."
Harry laughed. "I was taught by the best."
Snape smiled. "I assume that you took a vial of the potion?"
"Yah, hold on a second." Harry took off his glasses and tossed them into his bag. He then proceeded to drink the vial of his potion. His vision immediately cleared itself. "Is it permanent?"
"Yes. The last thing I wanted to talk to you about is that you need to drink this." The professor held out a vial to Harry.
"What is it?"
"Please don't ask. Harry, I can't tell you because it's personal and private to somebody here at the school. Just trust me. You'll need to take it once a month."
Harry looked appalled. "Did you just suggest that I trust you?" Harry gave a mock shudder. "That is the most screwed up thing I have ever heard." One look at Snape had them both laughing.
Finally the young man shrugged and drained the vial being offered to him. "Damn Severous. Can't anything you force on me taste non-putrid?"
Harry left the dungeons to go to Transfigurations, as Snape chuckled and began to grade the potions he had been given.
He barely made it before the class started. Just as he sat down next to Draco, as there was no other seat available, McGonagall walked in. She gave the same speech that Snape did and then told them that the test would only take half of the class. Beforehand they would be testing to see if anyone had the ability to become Animagi. In either class those who did would learn to become their Animagus form.
She went around casting the charm on each student. The charm would show a glowing image of the animal form of the student, if they had one. Only Hermione, Ron, and Neville had animal shapes. Hermione was an owl, Ron a lizard and Neville a lion. When McGonagall tried the charm on Draco she gasped. And repeated the charm four times. Each time it showed her a silver orb. "Mr. Malfoy, do you know what that means?" McGonagall looked at the rest of the class when he shook his head. "Does anyone know what this means?" Not even Hermione raised her hand.
McGonagall sighed and continued to speak. "There were five wizards and witches in history that could transform themselves into any animal. They were Merlin himself, and the founders of this school. Draco has the ability, just as they did, to transform himself into any animal. Including magical ones." The whole class went silent. McGonagall shook her head and went to the last student that she had to test, Harry.
As with the others she cast the charm and was rewarded with a silver shape. She cried out. "Oh, my!" And proceeded to try again. Now everyone was watching and gasped when over Harry's head there was once again a silver orb.
"Potter, both you and Mr. Malfoy are- are- are Uncountes Animagi. It means Uncountable Animal Shifter. It was believed that no more would ever surface, let alone both in my class sitting next to each other." Harry and Draco looked at each other.
"Uh, professor, I can believe that I'm one. I'm the descendant of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor." Harry said quietly. Once again everyone gave a gasp of shock.
"And I would be a descendant of Merlin himself." The Slytherin answered just as quietly. At this some of the other students fainted. McGonagall quickly cast a revival charm.
"Well, this has been exciting hasn't it? Now we need to take that exam." McGonagall was obviously trying to get people to stop gaping at the two Uncountes Animagi. Suddenly everyone had a leaf. "Now I want you to turn the leaf into fire, not set it on fire, but turn it into fire."
By the end of class only Harry, Ron, Draco, Hermione, Neville, Blaise, Pansy and Seamus had successfully turned their leaves into fire. "The rest of you will remain in this class; however, your schedule will change. All the sixth years will get new schedules tonight at dinner."
With that said she dismissed the class, save Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Draco. She nodded at Harry who cast his spell. "Sileincio Obscura Vison!" They all looked at their Professor.
"Oh my," she said sitting down at her desk. "I can't believe that I've got two Uncountes Animagi in my class. This is really quite remarkable." Then McGonagall seemed to remember that she had asked the students to stay behind. "Oh, yes, there will be another meeting in two weeks. Touch the coin and say 'Phoenix'." She nodded to Harry who took off the spell. "Now go on to your next class."
They all left and she slumped down into her seat once again. This was going to be a long day.
Outside the classroom, Harry turned to the Slytherin. "You're in the Order?" He asked under his breath so no one but Draco could hear him.
Draco nodded. "Since the summer between our fourth and fifth years. I was spying on my father, but now I guess I'm just there for advice." At Harry's questioning look he mouthed "Later."
Harry nodded and the four went on with their day. Nothing exciting happened and they found themselves at dinner quite soon. Harry was mentally exhausted. He kept trying to avoid Draco, but the older boy wouldn't have it. He sat next to Harry in every class, and walked next to him in the halls. Harry would have been in heaven except for a tiny fact that kept jumping in his head. 'Voldemort's still out there.'
They sat with Ginny in their usual seats. They asked Ginny how her day had gone. She didn't have classes with the other fifth years; she was being taught everything in the fifth and sixth year so that she could be in her seventh year with them next year. It was then that Pansy and Blaise came up to them. "Hey Draco. You've been sitting over here for the past couple of days. Are you mad with us or something? Or are you just fonder of The-Boy-Who-Won't-Die and his friends?"
"I was sitting with my friends; I didn't think you would mind. And don't insult Harry." Draco looked at them a murderous glint in his eyes. Ron and Harry missed it for different reasons. Ron because he was stuffing his face full of food, and Harry because he was lost in his thoughts about what to do about Draco.
"Whoa there. Do you mean to tell us that you've befriended our nemesis?" Blaise asked with a curious look in his eye.
"You mean your nemesis?" Hermione smiled and began to laugh. They all looked at her save Ron who was still stuffing his face.
"That's exactly what Harry said when I asked him that question!" She managed to spit out before laughing again. Pansy smiled, Harry smirked, Draco looked confused, Ginny giggled, and Blaise joined Hermione in the laughter. Finally Harry turned to the standing Slytherins.
"Listen I wouldn't mind starting over if you wouldn't. Maybe we can finally end the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Of course we'll still kick your ass at Quidditch." Blaise smiled and opened his moth to answer but was interrupted.
"Oh, you think so huh? Well the match is coming up in three weeks so we'll settle this once and for all then, hmmm?" Harry turned to Draco.
"You wish you could beat us. I'll catch that snitch before you can even see it, Malfoy." Harry smiled. He had said the last word playfully, and got the reaction he wanted.
"Yah, well I can out fly you any day, Potter." Once again the statement was full of playfulness.
"How bout a little game this weekend?"
"Prepare to go down, Gryffindor."
Harry mock gasped. "You did not just refer to me as a Gryffindor."
"You bet I did."
"That's it!" Harry launched himself at Draco and began to tickle him. After a few moments, McGonagall appeared.
"Boys, stop fight-" She was cut off by Draco's cries of "I give, I give!" It was then that she realized they were not fighting. Both boys came up flushed and smiling. "Well this is an interesting installment." She turned and walked back to the teacher's table not exactly sure that she had seen right. It looked like Potter and Malfoy were friends. 'No, that can't be right can it?'
"Well, Draco, if you want to sit at the Slytherin table, you know where to find us. The rest of you can sit with us if you like." Pansy began to walk away with Blaise when Harry spoke to her.
"You can sit here anytime, if you accept my offer." She turned around. Blaise nodded and shook Harry's hand.
"If you are Draco's friend then, I guess I can try to start over. Even if it is with a Gryffindor."
"Would it help things if you thought of me as an almost Slytherin?"
Everyone at the table gasped, including Ron with all the food in his mouth. "Don't even joke about things like that, Potter."
"I'm not. Every time I put on the Sorting Hat it still insists that I would do so much better in Slytherin. I barely made it into Gryffindor as it is."
"Why didn't you ever tell us mate?" Ron asked mouth free of food for once.
"Does it really matter?" Harry asked him casually. "Anyway, I did manage to talk it out of putting me there didn't I?"
"That's as Slytherin as you get. Talking the Sorting Hat out of its decision. Why didn't you ant to be in Slytherin anyway?" Blaise looked at him trying to understand.
"Well, After the things I heard about Slytherin from Hagrid, and the fact that Draco insulted my first friend here and that he had already been sorted into the house...I just didn't want to go there. Well it doesn't really matter does it? I mean, I'm friends with you, Draco, and I'm trying to start over with you two."
Pansy nodded. "I think you're worth giving a try, Potter. I mean you do break rules, lie to teachers and sneak into the Slytherin common room." She shook his hand.
"Call me Harry."
"What do you mean sneaking into the Slytherin common room?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"Oh, in second year you know when Crabbe and Goyle ended up in a storage closet?" Draco nodded. "They were there all night. Harry and Weasley used a Polyjuice Potion to sneak in and talk to you about the Chamber of Secrets. I saw them as they were changing back into their original forms running out of the common room." One look at Harry and Ron confirmed her story.
Pansy laughed and continued. "Well we had better get back before all of Gryffindor decide that there are too many Slytherins at their table. Bye Draco, Harry." Both said goodbye to Blaise and Pansy as they returned to their table.
Harry decided that there was no use in trying to avoid Draco. 'He just pops up everywhere! Besides as long as I don't get involved with him he should stay safe right?' A voice inside Harry laughed. 'You don't really believe that do you? Come on any of your friends could get hurt by Voldemort. And don't you dare avoid them because it'll make you go insane. It was hard enough when you were in a depressionable state because of Sirius but if you avoid your friends it'll drive you mad. Then where will that leave them? Alone in a world against Voldemort, because you can't defeat him.'
Harry sighed then visibly relaxed. Hermione looked at him then decided not to comment, as did Ginny. Ron had returned to stuffing his face full of food. Draco looked nervous. "Harry, I was wondering…"
"Yes?"
"Um, would you like to have dinner with me one night?" Draco was really shaking. Harry's heart leapt for about a second. Then it plummeted down into his stomach.
'God this hurts so much.' "I'm sorry Draco, I can't." Draco's face dropped. "I really like you but-"
"It's only like a friend?" Draco asked his voice bitter.
"No! I like you so much more, but I can't. Not only has Dumbledore forbidden me to date, but Voldemort is still out there." Draco looked into Harry's eyes and Harry almost broke.
"Why? I don't care about He-Who-Must-Fuck-Up-Everything."
Harry laughed lightly. Then he was deathly serious. "Draco, I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you. What if he found out? He would try to use you to hurt me." Harry stroked Draco's cheek with his thumb. "I want this more than anything but I just can't Draco. I just can't."
Ron thankfully hadn't heard any of this. He was willing to accept that Harry was gay, and Draco on probation, but he would freak if he found out that they both harbored feelings for each other. It was hard to accept that Draco may have been an okay person but to accept him having feelings for his friend would have thrown Ron over into the deep end.
Ginny and Hermione glanced at each other and knew that they would be talking later. Meanwhile Harry and Draco had gotten lost in each other's eyes. Suddenly Hermione noticed something. "Harry where are your glasses?"
Harry let go of Draco and looked at her. "Took you long enough to notice. I took the potion we brewed today; I decided it was too dangerous to have glasses. What if I lost my glasses in the middle of a battle?"
"You look nicer without glasses." Draco murmured only loud enough for Harry to hear. Harry smiled at him.
"Draco, please cheer up. Listen if you really want this, when Voldemort is gone we can go out alright?"
Draco's eyes widened. "You're willing to promise that? Hmmm, maybe I have a chance after all."
"A very good chance, Draco." Harry said so low that Draco almost didn't catch it. Draco blushed and was about to say something when Dumbledore decided to make an announcement.
"We have three new students joining us. They are sixth years and have already taken today's tests. Please treat them as you would treat any of your fellow students." Dumbledore paused as the door opened. "Ah, here they are now."
In walked a girl wearing Gryffindor robes. She had black hair and dark skin that matched it. Her hair was shoulder length and flowed as she walked in. Behind her trailed a grey cat with black on its paws, tail, and face. She kept her chin high and had a look of arrogance about her.
Next was another girl wit black hair but she was almost completely opposite. Not only did she wear a Slytherin robe, she had very pale skin and her hair was very short, barely making it to her ears. She had a snake wrapped around her shoulders and neck. She looked joyful and it was obvious she was trying not to laugh.
Finally bringing up the rear was a tanned boy also wearing Gryffindor robes. He had brown hair that rivaled Harry's in its messiness. There was a hawk perched onto his shoulder, looking around studying the room. His ocean blue eyes held a sorrow showing that he had seen things no one should.
The boy sped up to sit next to Harry and glared at the dark skinned Gryffindor that he had walked in with. The girl scowled at the boy and sat next to him. The Slytherin just smirked and sat next to Ron. "Hello, my name is Greg. Nice to meet you, Harry." The boy held out his hand.
"How do you know my name? I haven't even told you yet." Then Harry frowned. "If you just want to be friends with me because of my fame forget it."
The girl next to Greg slapped him upside the head. "You dolt, do not invade other's privacy like that! Now you could have blown our cover!"
"With you yelling that we have a cover to be blown it won't take long." He hissed back at her. "Besides, I didn't invade his privacy. You know the other thing we're not supposed to talk about?" She nodded slowly. "Put two and two together." Her eyes widened.
"I'm sorry. I just figured…" She trailed off and he hugged her.
"Don't worry. Just don't always just to conclusions ok?"
The Slytherin just burst out laughing. "Jeeze, you two never stop fighting do you?" She turned to Harry. "He probably recognized you from all of the media you get. Trust me; none of us need to befriend more famous people." She shot a look at Greg.
"Hey, don't blame me about that. How was I supposed to know that they would jump us at the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Says the one who has tried people most of his life."
Greg turned to Harry. "Listen, I didn't mean to scare you. I really don't want anymore media. I just want to be your friend." Again he held out his hand. This time Harry shook it. Greg turned to everyone else. "I'm pleased to meet you all." And he shook everyone's hands. Finally he got to Draco. As soon as their hands touched Greg suddenly looked lost. It was as though he was looking through something.
"Why now?" The Gryffindor muttered under her breath. She pulled him back and set him upright, looking straight through Ron. "Hi, I'm Shaniques. Nice to meet you." She also shook everyone's hands however she did not go into a trance. It was about then that Greg returned to normal.
"So you're a seer?" Hermione looked curiously at Greg. "I've never met a male seer, although I really don't believe in Divinations and such. "
Greg was shocked and could only gape. "How did you know that I'm a seer?" Suddenly he looked amused. "Well, that's interesting. I've never seen a score so high on a test, but then again you are the smartest witch in your year aren't you Hermione?"
She paled. "How did you…?" Her eyes widened. "You're a-"
"Do you really want to finish that sentence? I did find more than the test score you know." She looked at him venomously. "Before you ask, I was considered for Slytherin , but the Hat thought my loyalty and bravery were too overpowering."
"Well, as interesting as this is, what just happened?" Draco asked confused.
"Oh, Hermione knows one of my secrets and I know plenty of hers."
"I'm Marlena by the way." They all looked to the Slytherin. "What? If you people weren't going to acknowledge me, I'm going to force my way in." Everyone laughed.
"Wow, Harry. You managed to make to teacher's course for all of your subjects. Charms, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Divinations, Care of Magical Creatures, and Transfigurations."
Harry looked up. "What are you taking Ron?"
"Teacher's Charms, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care for Magical Creatures, And Transfigurations. I'm also taking a teaching class on Flying."
Harry began to go around the room. "Hermione?"
She answered without looking up from her book. "Same as you but with teacher's Arithmancy and excluding Divinations of course."
"Greg?"
"Same as you." He smiled. "I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other huh?" Harry smiled in return. He really liked the three new students that had joined them earlier this evening.
"Shaniques?"
"Same as Hermione but with teacher's History of Magic."
"Well Draco has the same classes as I do." Harry looked thoughtful. "Does anyone know what Marlena has?"
"Same as us." Greg answered. "Wow, the seven of us have the same classes except Ron who doesn't have Potions, and Hermione and Shaniques because they don't have Divinations. I have a feeling we'll get to know each other really well. And I'm not saying that because I foresaw it." The common room was filled with laughter.
Then they all made their way to bed. Greg had been given a bed next to Harry. Everyone quickly made their way to the world of slumber.
It was dark. Harry stood among ruins that had not been cleared away even after fifteen years. He looked around and immediately felt another presence. Harry smiled and called, "Come out Riddle. I know you're here."
Red piercing eyes shone out of the darkness. A pale man stepped out of the shadows and sneered. "Potter. Do you even know where we are?"
"Yes. This is where it began and where it shall end. But you already knew that it would end here didn't you? You've known since your powers were stripped away, just as I have. That's why I haven't come back and neither have you. Because like last time only one will leave."
"The results will differ this time, brat."
Harry nodded. "Yes they will. This time I will kill you. I'll make sure that you can't come back."
Voldemort laughed. "My soul is immortal! I cast a charm created by the son of Slytherin himself to ensure that I could not die. It is one of the oldest known spells."
Harry glared at the killer of his parents. "I'll find a way."
The pale man snorted. "So, Voldemort, why did you mark me and not Neville? You had to have known my mother was a pureblood." After Voldemort's eyes had widened Harry smiled. "Oh yes I know all about that. So was it the fact that I'm the descendant of Gryffindor, or that I'm the descendent of three of the four founders?"
Voldemort continued to be silent. "Oh just so you know, Wormteil owes me a life debt. Thought you would be pleased to know that the Deatheater who you keep close has to obey me."
Harry turned and began to walk away. He stopped. "Riddle, do remember to owl me when you want the final battle to commence. I know how much you love surprises and stealth, but for once play fair."
Voldemort snarled. "I'll warn you about the battle but that's all I'll promise."
Harry nodded and continued to walk away. He thought he saw Greg disappear out of the corner of his eye. He shrugged. 'I must be imagining things.'
Harry jerked awake. He quickly dressed and got out his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map. He quickly rushed out of his dorm not realizing that another person was awake.
He made it to Dumbledore's office and flicked his hand at the gargoyle. It jumped aside, as he ran up the stairs. It was when he knocked on the headmaster's door that he realized Fawkes was with him. He stroked the bird absently as the door opened.
"Harry, what is it?" Dumbledore quickly moved aside and Harry stumbled in. "Have you had another vision?"
"No. Sir, I talked to Voldemort. Neither of us were trying to control each other but we actually talked."
"What did you talk about?"
Harry took a deep breath. "Professor, I know where the final battle will take place. How quickly can you call an Order meeting?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "There is a meeting in two weeks, can it wait?"
"I guess so. Voldemort said he would let me know when we would have the final battle."
"Can we trust him?
Harry shook his head. "For some reason we couldn't lie in this dream. We both felt it. I also know how Voldemort survived last time. He used a charm to make his soul immortal. The charm was created by Slytherin's son."
Dumbledore sighed. "I suspected so. Where is the final battle going to take place?"
Harry looked right into the older man's eyes. The bore into him, sorrow and fear quite clear in the emerald globes. "Where it all began, Godric's Hollow."
It had been a week since that night. It was their first Divinations class with Greg in it. He had been doing something for the headmaster, and didn't show up for this class for the past week. Greg, Marlena, and Shaniques had grown close to the other five that they sat with. Blaise and Pansy even occasionally sat with all of them.
Everyone took their seats with their partners that had been assigned at the beginning of the teacher's course. Harry sat at a small table with Draco, who was trying to catch his eye. He had been trying to get Harry's attention ever since he had asked Harry out a week ago.
It was then that Trelawney walked in. "Hello students. It seems that our mystery student has finally made it." She paused to look around and saw Greg. She gasped. "Greg, it can not be you, can it?"
"Sibyll, its good to see you again. How have the others been?"
"Oh, we do need someone to guide us. After your grandfather passed away, we were left without a leader." She remembered that they were in a class at this point. "Class, this is Gregory Curley. He comes from a long line of male seers. He is undoubtedly the most powerful of all the seers, even at his young age."
Greg blushed. "Professor, please. Just because I can remember my predictions doesn't mean that-"
"When you can gaze at will it does. Besides you forget your other family gift."
"We aren't allowed to speak of that professor. Dumbledore has ordered us not to."
"Well let us get on with class shall we?" They all began to gaze into their crystal balls and try to predict the future of their partner. Class ended and Harry and Greg stayed to clean up the classroom.
"Greg, if you can gaze at will can you see were Voldemort plans to strike?"
"Harry, I already do. I'm in the Order so don't worry."
"Well boys, thank you for cleaning the tables and such." She turned to Greg and they began to talk of the Seer Division. Harry packed his bags and turned back to say goodbye when they both stopped talking.
Harry saw the same expression on both of their faces that he had seen on Trelawney almost three years ago. They both spoke in unison, both voices flat.
"Slytherin's heir lives…….Blood of Merlin shall be spilled……..The Dark Lord plans to raise his ancestor…….Only the inheritance can stop him……..The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord shall lose all dear to him……. One shall perish at the hand of the other at the stroke of midnight……..Should the Dark Lord win, darkness shall reign all……. If the Savior succeeds he will be given the chance to rectify all that was lost……. Slytherin's heir shall survive……."
With that they both passed out.