Chapter Four
Explanations and Apparitions

Ginny turned around and saw the present-day Dumbledore standing behind her, smiling weakly. And with a rushing spin, they were forced upward and out of the Pensieve.

"Ginevra, or... may I call you Ginny?" Dumbledore asked, once he and Ginny had landed and gathered themselves.

Ginny nodded. "Ginny, do you have any questions?"

"Yes, Professor, I do. My parents have always told me that I was the first witch to be born into my family for a long time, but did they know what that really meant?"

"No, Ginny, they didn't. I'm afraid that in this case, they told you everything they knew. But I know that it is referring to you because of the description of your hair color. Many people, including your parents, have noticed that your hair color is a few shades different from the rest of your family. You hair is scarlet, like the feathers of a phoenix'."

Ginny nodded, pretending to understand. "What did it mean, um, they alone will be matched in power'?"

"Well, Ginny, that again is how I knew it was you. That part refers to your magical prowess being equal to that of the Half Blood Prince. When you told me last year that Snape was lying in regards to knowing who the Prince was, I realized you had the gift of Legilimency: the ability to reach into someone's mind, and grab what you need. You have a supreme enough gift to tell when others are lying to you. So does Snape. Harry, also, had informed me on various occasions, that no matter how much he tried to close his mind, you always seemed to pull the truth out of him, and it was useless to lie to you, for you always seemed to know. I don't think you actually practiced becoming a Legilimens? But the prophecy said your power would be matched, so that means everything. I imagine you are very well-trained when it comes to curses and hexes, also?"

"It's true. I could always tell when people lied to me. But I never tried to do it. It just happened, and I thought it was some sort of instinct. And according to my brothers, I'm the best duelist they've ever seen, and that I could send the Death Eaters into a right state," Ginny responded, a shrewd smile spreading across her face.

"Well, Ginny, that may be true. And those other characteristics point to you also. But I actually knew it was you in that prophecy from the moment I received the news that you were born. You were the first girl to be born into the Weasley family for many generations. From the day the prophecy was made till the day of your birth, there had been no witches born into a pureblood family with red hair. I knew in an instant it must have been you," Dumbledore explained. "The other traits just confirmed my beliefs.

"As you may not have known, or maybe you did, Snape was a very troubled youth. He knew so many things he shouldn't have at his age, but he was brilliant all the same. You are, also. Brilliant, I mean. The only difference between your magical abilities is that he chose his for evil, and you chose yours for good. When I first heard the prophecy, neither Snape nor I knew that he was the Half Blood Prince. In fact, I found it quite peculiar that you, of all people realized he was the Half Blood Prince Voldemort had been talking about in the visions Harry received. Last summer, Snape retrieved the prophecy from the Department of Mysteries, after having realized he was the Half Blood Prince. For the description on the prophecy reads:

S.A.S. to A.P.W.B.D.
The Half Blood Prince and Ginevra Weasley

He had been serving Voldemort ever since then. When he admitted it, I realized I had been giving away information to a double spy. Luckily, I am Secret Keeper for the Order. Snape can give no explicit information to Voldemort about the Order, though he can use it to his own advantage. I suppose you've been wondering how I could ever trust Snape?" Dumbledore asked Ginny and let out a long sigh. He was obviously worn out and Ginny pondered how he could talk for so long without stopping to take a drink of water.

But Dumbledore was right. Since Ginny realized Snape was lying about being a double spy and being the Half Blood Prince, Ginny wondered more than ever how Dumbledore could've trusted him.

"Well, I will start with his first chance to join our side. When I first formed the Order, I became very worried about Severus. I knew he could be useful to us, but I feared he would stray along the path of evil, as Slytherins are so known for. I offered him a job on our side, and he spat at my feet, saying he planned to join the Dark Lord. Sure enough, he did. Then after the prophecy was made, I took him back to Hogwarts, to question him. I realize now that it was foolish not to use Veritaserum. But, I asked him what his intentions were, and he said he had been wrong in refusing my offer and that he wanted to make amends and join us. He could be a spy for us, he told me. And I tried to see into his mind, to see the truth. I had not yet known he was as superb as an Occlumens as he truly is. I trusted him, and believed him, and employed him as Potions master. I also believe after contemplating it since last year, he really did want to join our side. Not at first, but gradually he changed. At first I believe he was acting under the Imperius Curse, but he was able to fight against it, soon after he began to work for me. Then, in Harry's fifth year when I sought for Snape to teach Harry Occlumency, I wondered for the first time if he had deceived me that night he made the prophecy. If he had closed his mind when I questioned him that night. If, in fact, he was a double spy. It seemed doubtful, though, but I had not banished the thought from my mind permanently. Then, when Harry began having visions of Voldemort speaking of the Half Blood Prince, his most faithful Death Eater, being at Hogwarts last year, I started thinking deeply about the possibility of Severus having been lying to me. I can almost always tell when someone is lying to me, also. But I never confirmed my belief. But you Ginny; you knew when you searched his eyes. I must say, that you are a more powerful witch than you will ever know. And that is again, why you must leave to find Harry, and fulfill the prophecies together. And I know that with Harry leading this expedition', the moment of the Final Duel may be sooner than you think." Dumbledore finished, and motioned for Ginny to stand. She seemed to take it all in, but she still felt somewhat confused.

"Now, as promised, I will teach you to apparate. We shall leave for Number 12 Grimmauld Place as I promised. Tomorrow, Ginevra Molly Weasley is when you will leave in search for Harry. He needs to know that he can have help, and that you are the one who is to help him." Dumbledore handed Ginny the mirror Harry had given him. "Use this to try and contact Harry. He told me he has the other mirror. If you need to contact him, say his name, and you can communicate with him."

"Um, Professor? Can I ask you one more question?" Ginny requested after carefully obscuring the mirror inside of her robes.

"Of course."

Ginny cleared her throat. "Lily Evans had green eyes, didn't she? And Harry inherited his eyes from her. In the prophecy, um, it sounded as though Godric Gryffindor's eyes were green also. Is that right?"

"Yes, Ginny, that's correct. I would have expected a question like that from Hermione, but you are just as clever as she," Dumbledore replied with a smile.

Ginny grinned and proceeded with Dumbledore who was leaving for the door. He muttered something about it being easier to learn how to apparate and disapparate outdoors, but Ginny wasn't completely paying attention.