Hey, guys! Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews that I received. I have said it many times, and I will say it again- the reviews really make my day. I also want to give a shout out to Meg who pointed out a mix-up I had made. I really should get a beta-reader. The only thing that I don't like about having one is the same reason Anne Rice doesn't have an editor- I feel like it take some of me out of it. Like it really isn't my ideas as much anymore. But thanks again to one and all! Enjoy!
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"If it keeps on raining, the levee's going to break. If it keeps on raining, the levee's going to break. And the water's going to come in; have no place to stay." – A Perfect Circle, "When the Levee Breaks"
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The heavy sound of rain pounded on the dry tent's exterior. Minerva McGonagall glanced up at the ceiling of the tent and was thankful it was waterproof. Her quill doodled small symbols where she had copied the prophesy in an attempt to solve it. Her mind began to drift, thinking of simple things. Her eyes glanced over the figures she had drawn. One seemed to look like a boy- and was standing next to the words "Pure and half will collide..." She bolted straight up and began looking over the paper with and newly found passion. This had to be it. Throwing on a cloak, she rushed out of her tent.
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The dark haired Professor Sinestra picked up another letter, breezed over it, and then threw it into a stack of already read letters with a look of disgust on her face.
"My sentiments exactly," said Snape as he tossed the letter he had been reading into the stack. "I mean, I appreciate that these parents are concerned about their children, but apparating to bring their children home is not a wise decision. You-Know-Who would attack sooner if he got wind of this."
Suddenly, a breathless McGonagall burst into their tent. "Minerva!" said Sinestra happily. "Will you help us with these? I'm starting to fall asleep."
"I've... solved it," McGonagall said, still trying to regain her breath.
"What?" said Snape, standing up.
"I've figured it out." Then she stood there, as if waiting for Snape to say something.
"Well, go ahead! What is it? Do you need a personal invitation?"
"It's pretty straightforward once you have caught on to it. Okay, for the Aztec Sphinx, there are three parts- a woman's head, a lion's body, and a snake for a tail. So three people are going to make this up."
"Which three?" said Snape hurriedly.
"Well, what I think it is is for the woman's head, it is an adult woman. The lion's body is a Gryffindor, and a snake tail is a Slytherin. One of these is a half-blood, while the other two are pure. Also, one of the purebloods will die."
"So do we know who the three exact people are?"
"No. But for the Half blood, I believe it is Harry Potter. He, after all, was predicted to destroy You-Know-Who or be destroyed. As for the other two, I don't know."
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Draco Malfoy was digging through his things; he knew he had that wand polish somewhere. In his search, his hand touched cool metal. Pulling it out, he found the demon killer sword in his hands. "This wouldn't be good if it fell into the wrong hands," he thought to himself. He also remembered Hermione also had one. Best to keep them together and in a safe place. Draco knew the exact place to keep them.
He walked over to Hermione's tent, where he was relieved to see it was empty. Right now, he didn't feel like explaining what he was doing. Also, running into Ron or Harry right now would not be a welcoming situation. Setting his sword on the ground, he began rummaging through Hermione's things. Ignoring such things as clothes and jewelry, he found the sword. Setting them both on the ground, he said a spell to shrink them. He then pulled a necklace out from under his shirt. It was an invisible one; very helpful because, other than him, no one could see it or feel it. Opening its circular top, he slipped the two swords into the cylinder tube. Draco's father had given it to him before he had left for his fifth year. Even though Draco despised Lucius, the necklace was extremely handy.
Fixing everything the way it was before, his hands grazed over a book. As much of a bookworm Hermione was, McGonagall had instructed them to pack lightly and practically. Wondering what book it was, he pulled it out of her pack. The fly cover read Hogwarts, A History. Draco grimaced. Of all books to bring, why didn't she bring something practical, like a book of jinxes? He casually flipped open the book to a random spot, to discover something that was definitely not in Hogwarts, A History. He quickly opened to the cover page. This page read differently than the fly cover; it said Sales Upetir Mecrithls Sands. Smiling in recognition, he said, "Well, Miss Hermione Granger. Not a total white innocent are we?"
A bell was heard tinkling in the air as Draco closed the book. The teachers had developed a system to which the entire student body could be called if need be. The current way was by a bell. Draco, just as a safety precaution, shrunk the book and inserted it in the cylinder tube as well.
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"So what do you think this one's about?" Harry asked Ron.
"Don't know," said Ron as he cast an angry glare towards Malfoy. Hermione was standing near Ginny, still looking rather hurt.
"Maybe they've gotten new information or something," Harry suggested.
"Maybe we get to go home," said Ron hopefully.
"I don't think so. Ever since we left Hogwarts, my scar has been hurting. It's still hurting now. I think we're still going to head for Beauxbatons."
Ron didn't answer. He folded his arms in silence and looked at the ground as the rest of the school arrived to hear the announcement.
"Well, whatever it is," Harry began, "It has to do with the Veelas."
Ron looked up at Harry. "Why do you say that?"
"Well, if you would stop looking at the ground, Malfoy, and Hermione, you may notice that two of them and McGonagall are standing up front."
Ron looked up towards the front and found indeed that McGonagall, as well as Mithle and Cordelia, were in the front talking.
As soon as everyone was there, McGonagall gave a sign for everyone to sit down. Nervously, she began to speak. "As many of you are aware, the Ze Bellahs and their people have been aiding us in this fight against You-Know-Who. What you may not be aware of is that they have fought a few battles that we have not. The Death Eaters have tried to attack in the night, but their excellent forces kept them at bay. They have lost some of their people, as we have ours. Because of this favor they have granted us, they have asked only one thing; that we give up two of our students to be transformed into Veelas and to live with them when this war is over. They are going for population and reproduction needs. They have observed you and have handpicked two students. These two are Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger."
For the second time, Parvati Patil made the mistake of letting a laugh escape her lips. Others were talking in hurried whispers.
"Something you find humorous, Miss Patil?" said McGonagall icily.
"Sorry, Professor, it's just, Hermione and Malfoy? How does that work? They despise each other." She looked at the two of them and they back to McGonagall. "Don't they?"
No answer was given to her.
"Don't they?" she said, louder this time. "Perhaps this is some mistake."
"It isn't a mistake," Draco heard himself say. "Hermione and I are dating."
Looks of shock, envy, and disgust were thrown at him and the now crying Hermione from all angles.
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"Hermione, it's going to be okay," said Harry as he rubbed her back in her tent that night. Well, her tent was now her and Draco's tent once again, under orders of the Veelas.
"No it isn't," she sobbed, clinging to her pillow. "I'm not going to be a witch anymore, I'll never see you and Ron again, and..."
"C'mon, Hermione," he said, picking her up and letting her cry on his shoulder. "You'll still have magic even if you are a Veela. Professor Malfoy is a Veela and she can do magic. Ron and I will come and visit, and so can you. The Veelas don't have to stay in one place forever. Once you and Malfoy, as much as I dislike saying this, do you thing and you have a baby, you can come back and live with us."
"But I'm too young for this," she said into his shoulder.
"For what? Being a mom?"
She nodded fiercely.
"Well, not really in the medieval times. Most people married at about thirteen and had plenty of kids after that. Plus, you don't really have to be a full time mom. I'm sure there are Veelas that would love to have a child to take care of."
Hermione was calming down. "That's how Professor Malfoy grew up."
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"I asked her once where she got her last name since she is only related to Narcissa and she told me about her childhood."
"I'd like to hear that sometime," Harry said thoughtfully.
She nodded and buried her face into Harry's collar. He, feeling as though he didn't have anything else he could say, smoothed down her hair and rubbed her back. The tent flap opened noiselessly, admitting Draco. Harry frowned at him and mouthed, "Don't." Draco took the hint and exited as silently as he entered.
Harry grabbed a handkerchief and gave it to her. She wiped her nose and wiped the tears from her eyes and weakly smiled at him. He grinned back. "Thank you," she said.
"Anytime," he answered. He then quickly kissed her on the mouth. Before Hermione could question what he was doing, the kiss was over and he was standing up.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"C'mon," he answered. "It's time that you and Ron ended this silly argument."
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"Well," said Ron after much discussion, "I can't say I'm too happy with this whole thing."
"I don't need you to be jumping for joy," said Hermione, "but can you accept it?"
Ron was silent for a minute, his ears pink.
"I reckon. But I refuse to be friends with the slimy git."
Happily, Hermione jumped up and wrapped her arms around her other best friend.
"So," said Ron. "When you turn into a Veela, do you think that will get rid of your fuzzy hair? Because, really, it was starting to grow on me."
She glared at him and then playfully slapped his arm. It was good to be back.
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Dragonfires