A/N: okay so I'm procrastinating on my studying and writing another chapter, this time a bit longer than the last one. Just hope I still pass my exams otherwise I won't be able to post until may 15th (end of the semester)….I hate college. Thanks for all the great reviews though!
~Kandimoon
Chapter Thirteen
Hermione awoke on a chilly November morning to find a lightly browned barn owl with a letter in her beak staring into her green-flecked cinnamon eyes.
"Hello there." She exclaimed to the creature as it released its burden and flew out the small oval window. Hermione looked at it for a few seconds, noticing her name in a very neat and detailed handwriting, recognizing it immediately as the Headmaster's.
Dear Miss Granger,
Your presence is requested in my office after breakfast this morning; the meeting will not take very long so as to not interrupt your first classes of the morning. The new password is 'peppermint sticks'.
Sincerely,
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore
'Well that's odd,' Hermione thought to herself as she got up to start her morning rituals. After a quick shower and a 20 minute struggle to tame her wild curly brown hair, the early arisen daughter of Earth set forth to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Morning Hermione." Harry called as she ran, literally, into him.
"Oh, Hello Harry, you're up early." She exclaimed, feeling slightly guilty about not spending as much time as she used to around her best guy friend, aside from Ron that is.
"I received an owl from Dumbledore asking to meet after breakfast so I figured I should head to breakfast early." He replied.
"I got a letter this morning too, I wonder what it is he wants to speak to both of us about?" She asked as the duo entered the Great Hall and took their usual seats at the red and gold Gryffindor table.
"I have no idea." Harry replied quizzically. The pair talked about classes and how Gryffindor was fairing with Quidditch practices.
"We have a really great team this year, I can't wait to beat the crap out of Slytherin this year. The House Cup is practically ours." Harry shouted merrily. He didn't have to worry about anyone really hearing him, the only other people in the Great Hall this early were a couple first year Ravenclaws and of course Dumbledore and McGonagall, the latter had a smile and a gleam in her eye at the sound of Harry's comment, no doubt she too was looking forward to winning the House Cup this year also.
Dumbledore rose slightly from his chair, Professor McGonagall following suit, he turned towards the two seventh years and spoke.
"If you two are finished with your meals, we can head back to my office for our meeting." He explained with his trademark twinkle in his pale blue eyes.
The two, who had finished up their plates five minutes ago, nodded silently and rose from their chairs to follow the two professors.
Dumbledore took a seat behind his large oak desk, as Professor McGonagall stood slightly off centered behind the older wizard. Hermione nearly gasped in shock as a tall dark figure strode forward through the office doors and glanced around at the four other occupants of the room. Professor Snape was always made a menacing entrance, Hermione thought to herself, why would today be any different.
"Now that we're all here, we can officially start this meeting. I'm sure both of you are wondering why I called you to my office at such an early hour of the day. I needed to be certain that there would be no chance of anyone overhearing our conversation, for even the walls have ears sometimes when they are in tuned to listen."
He paused briefly then moved his wise blue eyes back to the young pair of Gryffindors. 'Too young to be taking on these responsibilities, but there is simply no other choice at this time,' he thought darkly to himself.
"Hermione, or would you rather be called Earth?" Hermione gasped in shock, but then thought about it and knew that very little escapes the wise old eyes of the Headmaster.
"We," the Headmaster glanced briefly at the other two professors, "know of your powers and the legends behind them. We have called you here, and only you, because should this information fall into the wrong hands, this last bit of hope could be lost."
"But Headmaster, surely you could trust Ginny with this knowledge?"
"I'm sure you have taken notice to Miss Weasley's…involvement…with young Malfoy." Snape replied with his trademark sneer.
"Yes." Hermione replied meekly and then waited for Dumbledore to continue his speech.
"Though Miss Weasley's intentions may be good, should she spill anything over to Mr. Malfoy, then our plan, and lives, would be in danger, much more than they are now. I know you are both aware of Professor Snape being a spy, he has been my eyes and ears at each and every Death Eater gathering. He has informed me that Voldemort," at the name Professor McGonagall twitched slightly, "is aware of the power of four and is using Draco as a pawn to lure Virginia to the dark path."
"But sir, why does he want to take just Ginny?" Hermione asked, Harry's confused face just glanced back and forth between the old wizard and his best friend.
"Because he wants to destroy you."
Hermione sat back, face turning pale and cinnamon eyes growing large with shock.
"As Earth, you possess a power far stronger than that of the other three, and therefore are the greatest, and really only, threat to Voldemort. Without your power, Harry cannot defeat him, he knows of this and is using this to his advantage."
"But if I'm the strongest, why doesn't he attack me personally, why use Ginny to destroy me if I have more power than her?"
"Because Ginny is the only one that you cannot, or would not, kill. Mr. Malfoy and you, rumor has it, do not get along, and therefore you would be less hesitant to destroy should the need arise."
"And Gavin?"
"Mr. Hawthorne will never turn to Voldemort, for he has sworn revenge on Voldemort's followers." At this Snape flinched slightly, remembering the conversation he had with the younger man the day he arrived.
"Is Malfoy officially a Death Eater? Is that why he is working with Voldemort to lure Ginny away from us?"
"Mr. Malfoy is but a pawn to Voldemort. Voldemort knows Draco's power, but knows that it is not strong enough to destroy you, and ultimately the four powers. Young Draco is not aware of this deceit, he thinks he will be rewarded greatly if he hands over Miss Weasley to him."
"So what do you want me to do? And why is Harry here as well?"
"Mr. Potter's destiny is and forever was, to destroy the very creature that tried to destroy him. However, he needs your power, and ultimately the power of four, to add him in the final attack. I have called both of you here, first to discuss the power of four with him, as I can see he is still rather confused about the conversation so far, and second to devise an attack strategy to gain all four powers together and eliminate Voldemort."
The Headmaster finally clued Harry in on the powers of the four Goddesses and who each carrier was and what their power included. Upon hearing the news of Malfoy and Ginny, his lip curled in disgust and his eyes glared like green fire. Hermione squeezed her friends hand to reassure him that everything was okay and that Ginny was not in danger.
"Sir, I know this may sound rude, but isn't Professor Snape being here a liability to our cause? If Voldemort were to suspect something and gave the Professor Veratiserum, he could spill all the secrets of our attack strategy." Harry announced, feeling the steely dark eyes of Snape on him from behind.
Sensing Snape's temper rising, Dumbledore quickly explained his intentions so as not to madden his younger friend even more.
"Professor Snape has devised a potion that will keep everything spoken here locked in his memory with absolutely no chance of Voldemort gaining access to it. He is also here because he will be working on a potion, or rather poison, that will temporarily take away the Death Eaters powers for a short time, to give you two, or five, a better chance of getting rid of Voldemort without distraction."
"How will the potion be administered to all the Death Eaters at one time, Headmaster?" Hermione asked the older wizard.
"Surely you are aware of the 'gatherings' that take place between the followers. Before dinner, if carefully administered, the potion will be slipped in the goblets of everyone there at the time. That will buy enough time for precious Potter, to get rid of Voldemort." Snape spat out bitterly to the two students. Though the two knew his attitude was mostly a façade due to the loyalty he was suppose to portray to the Dark Lord, he still made such bright news and discovery seem so…sour…
"Do not think that you will be alone in this, children, for we will be there also helping you each step of the way. We could never forgives ourselves if we let the lives of our students willingly become endangered just for the sake of a chance at defeating You-Know-Who." Professor McGonagall spoke up after being quiet for most of the meeting. She glanced at the two with care; her prized student and the boy she watched grow up from the baby she first met him as.
"What we need to accomplish now, is a plan to get Miss Weasley out of harm and, preferably, the gain Mr. Malfoy's loyalty for the Light." The Headmaster continued.
"What about Gavin?" Hermione asked, trying to keep the concern from her voice as much as possible. With a glare from her Potion professor she could tell she failed miserably. Dumbledore's blue eyes sparkled merrily with interest…and something else…something Hermione couldn't put a finger on.
"I suspect Mr. Hawthorne is already on our side. Even if he is not aware of it yet."
The rest of the meeting, which lasted only another twenty minutes because of classes starting, was used to formulate ideas and possibilities for the upcoming battle.
The pair walked back to Gryffindor Tower in relative silence, too busy thinking about the information they were given.
'Ginny is supposed to destroy me?'
'Hermione is an incarnation of a Goddess? And so is Malfoy?' The latter made the dark haired, green-eyed wizard chuckle a bit.
"What's so funny?" Hermione asked as they neared the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Just imagining Malfoy being a Goddess." He replied with a smile.
Hermione laughed along with him, "Yeah, I guess it is kinda funny if you think about it."
"So what powers do you have as Earth? I'm still confused a bit on what exactly is the difference between your witch powers and your 'goddess' powers." Harry asked.
"Well, I haven't even told Ginny this, but I'm different than the others a little. I am the reincarnation of the actual Earth Goddess herself, I have been born many times throughout history, usually during times of crises. My strength's mostly center around wisdom and knowledge, I can also communicate with animals and other wildlife. I have a tool, Ginny's is a staff with a ruby on it to signal her firepower, but mine is a necklace, on it rests a pentagram with a single emerald, green for Earth. And as Dumbledore mentioned I have the power to destroy Voldemort alone, but I would also destroy my life, my immortality and the lives of the other three powers, which I'd rather not due if there was any chance we could beat him and still live." She exclaimed forlornly. Harry watched his friend battling the demons in her head. He knew the toll Dumbledore was asking of her, and him, it would be a long and troubled road ahead that would force both of them to grow up way ahead of their years.
'Goddesses give us strength.' He silently prayed as the two parted to go to their separate dorms.
The days passed rather uneventfully. Hermione hated keeping secrets from Ginny, but she knew deep down it was for the best. No one could know what they were plotting, not even the other powers. She spent most of the afternoons catching up with Ron and Harry, both hated keeping something this important from their friend but knew that telling him would endanger his life even more. Dinners were spent keeping up with homework and her studies, early nights were spent gossiping with Ginny or tuning her powers, weekends spent plotting with Dumbledore and Harry, and late nights for thinking on the Astronomy Deck while star gazing.
"Winter's here, you'll soon catch cold sitting out here each night." A voice spoke from behind her on the dark Yule Night. Christmas break was soon approaching and most students were indoors studying for last minute exams or packing to go home for the holidays.
"The cold no longer bothers me." She replied while gazing up at the bright crescent moon.
"Nor I." The voice responded.
"Will you be leaving for the holidays?" She asked.
"Where would I go?"
"I don't know, I was just curious I suppose."
"And you?"
"It's too dangerous for me to spend in the Muggle World. It's safer at Hogwarts so I'll be staying."
"You seem saddened." The voice commented, this time from right behind her seated spot near the ledge.
"I miss my parents and I worry for their safety. They're prim targets if Voldemort planned to attack, and there's nothing I can do from here at school, it's like I'm just letting them die." She explained, a solitary crystal tear sliding down her pale cheek.
The voice didn't comment, she would have thought the person to left had she not been able to feel the presence behind her. Suddenly a pair of arms circled her from behind and she rested her head back on their shoulder. They stayed that way for most of the night, both battling their own internal demons. Morning came as they watched the sun rise in the eastern sky. Neither wanted to move but both knew they had to get up and prepare for the day. Once inside, Hermione turned to her nightly company before walking back to her tower.
"Thank you, Gavin."
He nodded in response and left towards Ravenclaw.
In another part of the building a sleepy redhead woke up from beside her blonde haired companion.
"Draco, it's morning." She announced.
"Yes." He responded in short reply.
"Will you be leaving to go back home tonight?" She asked referring to the holiday break.
"My father has plans for me, yes I'll be leaving."
He sounded so distant, almost like he wanted to tell her something but couldn't. She got up and threw her robes back on. On her way out she lightly kissed his cheek before placing an invisibility charm on herself and heading back to her room in Gryffindor.
"I'll miss you, Virginia." The blue eyed dragon whispered long after the redhead left, before quietly going back to sleep.
A/N: Wow, longer than I expected. Well hope you enjoy and don't forget to review!