Chapter 3 – Revelations

Harry woke up to an incessant knocking on the door. A familiar sweet voice was shouting from outside his door. Harry smiled as he recognized the worried voice of his best friend.

"HARRY, are you all right? Wake up and open the door… Oh this isn't working Ron, oh my god, what happened to him? He is normally a light sleeper – god I hope he's all right. Let's try to blast the door open. BOMBARD-"

"HERMIONE WAIT" Harry yelled quickly, not wanting his friend to get into trouble for using underage magic.

"HARRY! We were standing outside your door forever. Hermione here was so worried that she was ready to risk Azkaban to get you out of there," Ron teased.

"Oh stop it, Ron! They don't send you to Azkaban if you use underage magic, unless of course you are Harry. Harry, thank goodness you are all right! Wait, are you all right? Why weren't you opening the door? Open the door now, " her tone quickly changing from that of relief to doubt to anxiety.

"I am fine, Hermione. Just wait a second!" Harry jumped out of his bed and unlocked the door. A leaping figure came from the other side and his face was quickly drowned in a lot of frizzy hair. He thought he was being attacked by a small grizzly bear judging by the ferocity of the attack – but then he remembered his friend's squeezing-me-to-death hugs and he smiled.

To ease her worry, he patted her back, and somehow managed to squeak something out of her hug.

"Hermione… I am.. absolutely... fine... Now... let... go… Can't… Breathe…."

"Oh Harry! You scared me to death; I was so worried that somehow the death eaters had gotten to you or that you were having those dreadful nightmares again." Hermione said pulling out of the hug.

Both of them suddenly realised that Harry was only wearing his boxer shorts and the turned away quickly blushing to their roots. Ron watched this whole scene with a huge frown on his face.

"Don't get dressed yet, Harry. You don't have enough time for that. The portkey to Snuffles's Place is activated in another… thirty seconds. Get your stuff and grab on to this," said Ron pulling out a yellow rubber duck from his pocket.

Still avoiding Hermione's eyes, Harry quickly gathered his trunk and other stuff. He told Hedwig to meet them at Grimmauld Place.

"Ok, you have everything. Good. 3…2…1… NOW!" He grabbed the portkey and experienced the familiar pull behind the navel.

They landed in a pile in the middle of the living room. Hermione who was now on top of Harry was staring into his brilliant green eyes as if in a trance, while Harry staring back into her soft brown eyes, both of them unwilling to move out of their compromising position.

They stayed like that for a while before they realised their position and Harry's lack of clothing. They blushed and quickly got up to a very red Ron and a very green Ginny.

After giving Hermione a cold withering look, Ginny quickly ran upstairs blinking away tears.

Both Harry and Hermione raised their eyebrows to Ron asking him what was wrong with Ginny. Ron gave Harry a death glare, frowned, and gave them an exasperated look.

"What! The great Hermione Granger can't figure a simple thing like this out. God, and I thought you were smart," teased Ron, in a very bitter tone. He stopped after he saw Hermione's McGonagall glare. He raised his hands in defence.

"All right, all right. Well, Ginny came down here to find her archrival in her battle for love, the perfect Ms. Hermione Granger, on top of her crush, Mr. Harry Potter, while Harry was wearing nothing but boxer shorts and you two were staring into each others eyes like a couple of love birds. Is that good enough?" After finishing his speech, Ron gave Harry another death glare, swirled around and walked out of the room leaving two very embarrassed people.

"Um.. Sorry 'bout that Hermione. I didn't real…" He was quickly cut off.

"That's ok, Harry. It's not your fault Ron and Ginny are jealous over nothing. But you better put some clothes on first before you give somebody else some wrong ideas."

She said the last very quickly and ran out of the room before she made a greater fool of herself.

She sat down on the sofa thinking about the recent events.

God, what was I doing there? He is my best friend, that's all. But he does have beautiful green eyes… well, he also has a great body; the Quidditch must do some good. Argh… what am I doing? He is also Harry Potter and he can have any girl he wants. I am lucky to be even friends with him; I am not going to go after something that has a very little chance of working out. That's it. He is my best friend and he will remain that way

With an air of finality, she headed towards the kitchen to join the rest for dinner.

Dinner was a very lively affair. Remus and Tonks were talking about the security wards in place for the Hogwarts train; Ron was, as usual, stuffing his face with all the food that he could find; Molly was fussing over Harry and how thin he had gotten at the Dursleys; Ginny was shooting death glares at her making her feel very uncomfortable; and Harry was talking to Dumbledore in a low voice. Curious as to what they were whispering about, Hermione took out a Weasley Wizarding Wheeze's Invisible Extendable ear from her purse and tried to catch something from their conversation. As she put the Extendable ear on, she heard Harry's worried voice.

"I am rethinking this whole thing, Professor. If I tell them the prophecy and everything, they will be in even more danger. I will have to push Ron and Hermione away. Voldemort could try to use them against me. I don't want to do that – I don't want to put them in any more unnecessary danger.." She heard Harry tell Dumbledore. Her eyes widened as she realised what they were talking about.

He knows the prophecy – but, how? Why doesn't he want to tell us? I am not letting him be alone – through thick or thin I will stick by him, I promise that.

"We discussed this before Harry; so I am not going to repeat the reasons for why they are already in danger. Besides if they are in a lot of danger, then they have a right to be given the full information about why they're in danger. Don't make the same mistake I did with you, Harry. Trust your friends, give them the information, and if they stick by you, as I expect them to, then so be it."

Harry sighed and hung his head down. "I just don't want them to be hurt. Fine… I'll tell them. Ron's a foolish Gryffindor – he'll probably stick by me. But, Hermione's smart; she'll realise that to stick by me is to stick by death. Hopefully, she'll be smart and avoid me."

Hermione fumed at his implication. WHAT! Oh, that idiot. He will get it tonight. How dare he! What does he take me for? Urgh… he is so dead.

"Oh I think you give Ms. Granger less credit than she deserves, Harry. I think she will be your most vehement supporter throughout this thing." He looked at her with a knowing smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes.

Hermione's eyes widened with realisation. Dumbledore knows I am listening; he wants me to pursue Harry in case Harry decides not to tell me about the prophecy. Smart man, Dumbledore.

Soon dinner was finished. Hermione started to go up to my room, when she heard Harry's voice.

"Um... Hermione, will you come into my room for a second? Bring Ron with you. I need to tell you guys a some things." Harry said this very hesitantly and he quickly returned to his room.

He plopped down on his bed and thought about how to tell them.

God, I hope both of them will know what kind of danger they are in. I don't think I can move on if they were hurt. Let's hope THEY know what is good for them.

Soon an angry and confused Ron and a very anxious Hermione walked in.

"Hey Ron, um.. I need to tell you guys something important. Do you remember the prophecy that Neville destroye---- Yes?"

All three heads turned to the door to see Ginny walk in.

"I just heard something about the prophecy, and I wanted to come in and hear what you have to say" said Ginny as if defying someone to say no.

Harry shook his head.

"Sorry Ginny, but you can't hear this. Dumbledore's orders – Dumbledore told me to ONLY tell them. Frankly, I agree with him - the less people know of this, the better. Believe me, you would be much safer if you don't know what anything is about"

Ginny looked ready to argue but Hermione cut her off. "Ginny as you can see Dumbledore himself told him not to tell so it's not in his hands. If you want, go and argue with Dumbledore"

Ginny looked like she might very well do that but she finally sighed and shot another glare at Hermione and left. Hermione just sighed at losing her best female friend.

Then, to the amazement of Ron and Hermione, Harry cast a silencing charm in the room to prevent anyone from eavesdropping. They looked at him inquisitively; Harry looked baffled for a moment and then it struck him.

"Oh, I forgot you don't know. Don't worry; Dumbledore cast a ward so that the Ministry of Magic can't detect magic here at Grimmauld Place." Harry explained.

"Actually there's a reason Dumbledore did this and it was part of what I wanted to talk to you about. First let me tell you about the prophecy because then it would make explaining everything else a lot easier."

Harry sighed heavily. "You should know that except for me and Dumbledore and now you two – NO ONE knows the entire prophecy. Voldemort knows the first part of the prophecy; this is why he went to the Department of Mysteries in the first place because he wanted to listen to the entire prophecy. Mind you, Voldemort may torture you to get it if I tell you. But then again, he might torture you to get it even if he THINKS I told you. So, I will tell you the prophecy."

"THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES… BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THIRCE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES…AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT…AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES…THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES…"

By the end of his revelation, Hermione was shaking her head so violently that it looked as though it may fall off any moment. Ron just sat slack jawed trying to drink everything in.

"Oh my god… no… you are lying… Divination's an imprecise art… that can't be true… you didn't even graduate ye-"

Harry cut her off. "No Hermione. This is a real prophecy – I have to do this – either I have to kill him or I have to die – that's my… fate"

He sighed and hung his head. Hermione leapt up from her seat and hugged him tight; tears freely flowing from her eyes.

"Why does it always have to be you? Why? Why?"

"I don't know"

"Hey, don't worry. I know that Harry can beat Voldemort any day – maybe you can convince him to play a Quidditch game – loser gets to die, heh?" Ron said grinning trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh I am sure he will try to cheat at that too, Ron" Harry shot back, thankful for Ron's efforts.

"Besides there's something else I need to tell you. I am a True Wizard." Harry said nonchalantly as if just declaring that he had toast for breakfast.

Hermione gasped. She then jumped with glee.

"I knew that you needed to be powerful to defeat Voldemort. Now, that you are a True Wizard you can beat him easily"

Ron was just confused about the whole thing – staring perplexedly between the two.

"Hermione… there's a problem. Voldemort is also a True Wizard. But, don't worry! Dumbledore thinks I am somehow more powerful. Let me just tell you everything that Dumbledore has told me on this matter"

" Don't worry Ron, I'll start at the beginning." Harry added smiling. And Harry proceeded to tell them everything Dumbledore had told him about True Wizards and his theory behind how Harry was more powerful. He ended by telling them about the training he would undergo for the rest of the year.

Hermione seemed positively ecstatic about the entire thing. As Dumbledore had expected, Hermione found the soundless magic part interesting.

"You have to teach me everything, Harry. I mean except wandless magic of course, but everything else – all spells etc. YOU HAVE TO TEACH ME! Ron, you should learn too – now that you are in danger too from Voldemort." Hermione ordered in a complete no-nonsense tone. Ron just nodded; not brave enough to tackle an angry Hermione.

As opposed to Hermione's reaction, Ron's was completely unexpected. Ron's expression grew from confused to concealed envy as Harry announced his new powers. He asked in a curt tone, "Is that all?"

Harry nodded.

Ron got up, ran a hand through his hair, looked at Hermione, and left the room.

Hermione raised her eyebrows at Harry at Ron's rude departure.

"I hope he isn't jealous of my new special abilities or anything. I mean there is also a death prophecy to go with it. I am jealous of HIM – I mean he has a family, a future, and you" replied Harry, shrugging.

"What do you mean – he has me?" asked Hermione frowning at its implication.

"Uh.. well… I mean he has your friendship for the rest of his life…while I might not…"

It was a feeble attempt at cover up but luckily it worked since it got Hermione's emotions worked up. She ran up to him and gave him another tight hug.

"Oh Harry, you will never lose my friendship, ok?"

"You can't know that" shot back Harry.

"Oh, I do know that. Nothing will happen to you. Believe me," cried Hermione, her expression pleading for him to believe her. Harry finally gave in to her; if him being alive meant Hermione was happy then he would stay alive.

"I do believe you" said Harry with a lot more conviction than before. Hermione just smiled and let go. She got up and made to leave the room. Then turned back at the door and added softly "You know, Harry, you should go and talk to Ron – you know, clear the air up. You need him, Harry."

"Yeah, thanks for the advice"

Harry, watching the retreating back of Hermione, added "and for everything."

He sat back on his bed mulling over the day's events.

Oh great! Now I have to go and deal with that jealous prat. And I actually should give him permission to date Hermione. Then, if they get together then maybe they will stay away from me more and it will get rid of his attitude. Even though I don't like the idea of Hermione dating Ron, I should do it for her safety… and his.

"Ok, now where is that prat?"

With that, Harry set off to find Ron and knock some sense into him.