Name: Chamber of Destinies

Author: Sweet-calmness

Genre: Romance/Action/Angst

Disclaimer: I own the plot, nothing more

Chapter 10

'Professor Lupin!'

Sure enough, the werewolf professor stood in front of her, looking as tired and as battered as the last time she had seen him. Lines were evident on his face, made more prominent by the sharp contrast of his dark crinkled robes.

Yet his eyes were the most friendly and heart warming thing a person such has Hermione could receive.

'Wha-what are you doing here Professor?' The Gryffindor asked, her voice filled with awe and suspicion. Something wavered and her voice got hitched in the middle of her throat as if hardly to believe that someone, anyone was welling to speak to her.

She was considered to be a deatheater after all. She had expected Lupin to be one of the first ones to cross over when Harry started to spread the rumors.

Evidently, she was wrong.

'Hermione…I'm sorry…'

The girl looked up and frowned. Before she realized what had happened, the ex-dada teacher came rushing forward and brought her into his arms, hugging her for all she was worth. Momentarily she sank into the warmth, but her fingers stung when it made contact, making her flinch away.

She stared down; unsure of where the pain had came from.

Until she saw her fingers which were covered with thick layers of bandages; blood started to seep through.

Apparently Madame Promfrey was not kind enough to heal all her injuries.

She quickly hid her hand under the covers when the dada professor obliviously turned to her. Thinking that she was just shocked from his sudden appearance, he easily summoned a chair and sat down.

'I know about the chamber, Hermione.'

Hermione turned her neck so quickly that she was sure it was going to break from the strain. Her eyes widened considerably, and for the first time in a long time, she saw someone smile at her.

'Perhaps you didn't know. I'm not sure if Gwen ever had the chance to tell you, but I'm actually your godfather.'

She was speechless, and acted so.

'I guess I should explain from the beginning. I had told you, Harry and Ron (her eyes darkened) before that I had three close friends when growing up - James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black. However, within that group, James and Sirius were best friends, and I wasn't all that close with Peter.'

'Instead I was best friends with a girl, being a rather black sheep of the group that I was. Whilst others were gallivanting off with the boys in pubs and such, I spent most of my time with a girl named Gwen Katherine Gryffindor.'

Hermione eyes widened.

'But how did you know that I am her daughter.'

Remus Lupin smiled, and gestured towards her everlasting necklace.

'When we were in Hogwarts, after Gwen and I became really good friends, she showed me the chamber. Sometimes we'd spend hours up there, just reading through her vast library collection.' The professor grinned sadly in memory. 'Did you know? We even dated for a little while…'Hermione gaped. 'But it never worked out in the end. We'd only loved each other platonically.'

'She was a rather docile girl. She was family friends with the Potters, and grew up with James. They had always been close friends too, perhaps the only girl that James truly treasures other than Lily. Because of her friendship with James however, Lily didn't exactly like her at the beginning. She thought that Gwen was just a conceited or macho as James was, and ignored her completely until fifth year, when a slight misunderstanding occurred. Most of the other girls did the same, frightened by her bloodline as well as her extraordinary powers, so she remained with us most of the times.'

Professor Lupin sighed, and bitterly traced his fingers over an empty portrait frame. He closed his eyes and smiled that sad smile again, almost as if he could feel Hermione's mother's presence beside him.

'Whenever we were doing a prank, she'd be there beside us, rooting us on. She is the smartest student in all of the subjects, although due to her lack of participation in class, she was usually seen as insignificant in the professors' eyes. Only when she was with us, was she really happy.'

'When she disappeared, everyone thought it was over. Accompanying the rise of Voldemort and the numbers of deatheaters roaming around free on the streets, we had thought everything was finished.'

Hermione nodded. 'Yes, but then Harry lived and Voldemort disappeared, right?'

The professor smiled at her, holding up his hands to ruffle her hair fondly. The girl bit back a wince as he touched a particular raw spot that had bled before.

Apparently Madame Promfrey had forgotten to treat several of her injuries.

'You are just like her when she was your age, did you know that?'

Hermione forgot about the pain completely.

Something was still tugging at her mind. She raised her head and looked at her newly found godfather.

'How did you know? And why now?'

His grin widened, and he lowered his eyes down to her level.

'I think Sirius is still alive.'

'You see, the order has been investigating the mystery of the Veil, hoping to bring Sirius back. I was there on patrol, and I thought I heard Sirius.'

Hermione gaped. Remus Lupin sound incredibly delirious at that very moment.

'To tell you the truth, when Harry told everyone that you were a death eater, I did believe him. I didn't even know you were Gwen's daughter, since there was no record of an heir ever being produced for the Gryffindor/Merlin line after your mother's death. However, that day beside the veil, I heard whispers.'

'It was Sirius, I'm sure of it.'

He is definitely delirious.

'He was talking about the prophecy. Harry's prophecy. Do you happen to know what it is?'

And all her thoughts died down in her brain.

Yes, she has heard the prophecy. Harry had told her and Ron in the beginning of the year - only her and Ron. It is not possible for others to know.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will him as his equal, but he will have the 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…

Hermione had instantly committed every word to her memory after Harry had told them to her. She had deciphered it down to its very last meaning, every syllable in hopes to find what this power that Harry possesses is.

Was it love from his mother?

Was it his love for his friends?

Was it his love for her?

Hermione silently laughed. Of course not! He does not love her anymore…

The statement left a bitter taste in her mouth.

'So, as I was saying, I heard Sirius's voice, and he was pleading for me to help Harry, to help you. I was completely mortified by his suggestion of myself helping a deatheater, and I was rather wary of you because of my past unfortunate friendship with that rat.' He spat out. 'Then I realized that I had thought Sirius was the criminal when in fact he was innocent.'

Hermione nodded, signing for him to continue.

'So I came back to Hogwarts as quickly as I could, only to remember you were on holiday. I was just going to take a walk outside when I noticed you by the lake.' His eyes suddenly clouded, growing darker and darker. What was it, regret? Guilt?

'I failed you as a godfather, and as a friend. When I saw you fall into the lake, I had thought-I had thought that you were dead. There was so much blood, so much that the lake was starting to turn red-'

Hermione was feeling nauseous again.

'I heard his voice again.'

'What did he say?'

'Moony, please…please save my daughter.'

Lupin quickly left afterwards, allowing the Gryffindor to rest. Hermione was glad to have someone to talk to. The unsent letters to Draco and conversations with a cat wasn't the most stimulating activities there are.

Talking about conversations with a cat, Crookshanks was able to live. Apparently the rat animagus had thrown her familiar over a hedge where it got stuck. It later escaped, and found itself guarding the place where Hermione had been kidnapping, after trying uselessly to get the professor's attention.

Months ago, the whole school would be frantic in search of her.

The irony of it all.

Lupin had assured had that he would sort everything else – convince the rest of the school about her loyalties to the light side without blowing off her identity. Two more hours and the rest of the school would be back from Christmas holidays, and for the first time in a long time, Hermione looked forward to seeing them again.

She still had to thank Professor Snape for rescuing her from the prisons. Madame Promfrey was most happy to let her go. She was on strict orders from a Professor Finch (Lupin in disguise so that he could teach at Hogwarts – Dumbledore's idea) to be polite to Hermione which in terms meant that the medi-witch ignored her.

Hermione's body had generally stopped hurting. Even though Promfrey was not kind enough to heal her injuries, the head girl was able to found several books in the Chamber of Destinies to cure her pain. Her hands are starting to heal as well as the bump on her head.

Waiting outside the great hall, the 15 year old waited for the first students to arrive. It was the second years.

She put on a brave smile, and tried her best to polite. Her heart faltered when the group of students almost ran past her, avoiding her eyes. Grabbing her pocket mirror, she checked her eyes.

Blue.

She sighed.

Standing there, she zoned out for a moment, before something seem to make her look up. There he was, her heart-beat quickened its pace – Harry.

She strolled up to him, ignoring the stares and whispers. People in her way parted as if she was some kind of disease, yet she didn't notice.

'Harry…I need to speak to you.'

He stared coldly back. For the first time, Hermione was unable to decipher the emotions on his face. Ginny, Ron, Neville and Luna all walked up to Harry, watching her with hated eyes.

'Please?'

'Fine.'

They found an empty classroom. Only Ron followed him, much to Hermione's annoyance.

'I want to tell you something. I'm not a deatheater.'

Harry gave a heartless laugh.

'Yes, of course Granger.'

Hermione's hands shook and her knees trembled, but she refused to give up.

'Draco and I aren't going out, we're actually cou-'

'STOP LYING!'

The sudden outburst made the 15 year old girl stop. Her eyes widened considerably, and all words wore forgotten.

'Stop lying! You've been playing us all this time! I had thought we were friends, I had thought I loved you Hermione! God dammit. I don't want to listen anymore!'

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but once again, the moment was taken when a certain blond hair Slytherine came running in.

'You leave Hermione alone, Potter!'

Things can't get any worse. It can't

Save her…

Please save her…

Harry, the prophecy…

The forbidden forest…

Whispers again, but this time, all four of them heard. Sirius's voice flitted around the room, echoing.

'Sirius?' She whispered.

That broke Harry's last nerve.

Slap!

Hermione left cheek burned as the contact was made. Slowly it started to tinge pink, until it finally changed into a fiery red. Incredulously, she turned back to Harry, who seemed surprised, himself, before anger covered his face.

'Don't you ever mention his name, you foul piece of being. I don't want you coming near me again, do you hear?'

With that, he and Ron hurried out the classroom. Draco was about to go after them, but Hermione gripped his arm, locking him in place.

The prophecy…

Hermione…

My daughter…

The prophecy…

Forbidden forest…

Tonight…

Author's message: There it is people…the wonderful chapter! Review, review, comment, criticisms and ideas are always a welcome. The more your review, the more I'll be inspired to write!

P.S. Thanks for all the reviews from previous chapter people. Sorry to disappoint you though, Professor Finchis not Sirius. Hehehe…. If you review and review some more…maybe I'll just stop being mean and bring him back. It's not a hundred percent sure though, because I'm a mean mean person :P and I like my reviews.