Ok, here's the next chapter. Hope you guy's enjoy it. Please read and review!
"Harry, we've found it."
Harry and Ron spun around in their seats. They had been sitting in the library for three hours now and still had nothing to show for it. Hermione and Jessica had left about an hour earlier. Jessica had said her book was arriving today and the two had gone to fetch it from the owelery.
"Found what?" Ron questioned stretching lazily.
"Oh, for goodness sake Ron, what do you think?" Hermione exclaimed slamming a large book onto the table.
"Shhh," hissed Jessica, "we're going to get kicked out."
Hermione mumbled an apology, slightly embarrassed by her outburst, before quickly opening the book in front of her and pointing triumphantly. "Professor Talon was right. There was something helpful in the book he suggested. There are three tasks you-know-who has to accomplish to prove himself worthy of Am-Hem's gift. Unfortunately it doesn't say what they are because Am-Hem himself appears and appoints the tasks. But the third and final task is the one we have a chance at stopping."
"Isn't that cutting it a little close isn't it, shouldn't we do it on the first or second." Ron questioned.
Sitting down across from the two boys, Jessica answered, "No. From what little we've been able to figure out, the first and second tasks have to do with Voldemort only." Seeing their perplexed looks Jessica elaborated, "See, the first task is a battle inside Voldemorts mind. Whatever he's going to be doing will be in his own mind, where we can't enter, probably a battle of wills or something."
Hermione continued the explanation, "The second task will take place in a different dimension, one that Am-Hem will choose, and, consequently, somewhere we can't get go."
"And the third?" Harry questioned glancing back and forth between the girls.
"The third will take place at a place of Voldemort's choosing." Jessica replied. "This is our best bet because not even Voldemort is able to jump dimensions whenever he pleases so he's going to have to pick a place in our world. And it's probably going to be somewhere he feels safe or more powerful."
"The graveyard," Harry whispered. "In the Triwizard tournament when Cedric and I were portkeyed out of the maze we ended up in a graveyard. Voldemort's father had been buried there and he used the location to return to power. If he picks anyplace it will probably be that graveyard."
Hermione nodded brightly, "That's what we figured."
"As far as we can figure all the tasks are battles. If Voldemort doesn't lose the first two, we have to make sure he doesn't win the third or Am-Hem will grant Voldemort immortality and our world is history." Jessica said solemnly.
"But there are certain rules, right?" Ron pointed out, "Every ceremonial battle like the ones you-know-who will be participating in have certain rules. If we were to disrupt them in anyway, the battle would be forfeited to the one whom we were working against. So if we were to try and make sure you-know-who lost, the battle would be forfeited and victory would be his."
Hermione, Harry and Jessica all stared at Ron in open shock.
"T-that's right," Hermione whispered in awe staring at Ron completely dumbfounded.
"Oh, come on, you lot," Ron snapped testily, "I'm not completely stupid I do know some stuff."
"You're right, sorry Ron." Harry said shaking his head lightly.
"Anyway, we won't need to disrupt it. According to the text, that last battle is between Voldemort and his greatest enemy." Jessica said looking at Harry sadly.
Dropping his head into his hands Harry groaned, "I take it we're not talking about Dumbledore are we?"
"No. I think," Jessica said hesitantly, "this is what your prophecy has been leading up to."
Shooting Hermione, who looked just as confused, a look Ron questioned, "What prophecy?"
Harry sighed, and without lifting his head from his hands recited the very prophecy he had been told many months ago,
"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 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…" (This excerpt came from the fifth book, OOTP, and I don't own it as all rights belong to J..)
Silence reined at the table for what, to Harry, seemed like hours. He had had the same reaction when the prophecy had been told to him.
"What does that mean?" Ron whispered already knowing the answer but wanting to confirm it.
"It means that only I can kill Voldemort and until I do so I will never be free from this damn prophecy." Harry answered sadly.
"Why didn't you tell us about this?" Hermione questioned sounding hurt, and slightly annoyed.
"Honestly I haven't thought about it for a while and I didn't want to risk that it would somehow be leaked to Voldemort. As far as we know, Voldemort only knows half of the prophecy, that's why he tried to kill me as a baby. He didn't know that, by attacking me and giving me this," he pointed to the lightning bolt scar on his forehead, "that he would be setting the prophecy in motion and marking me his equal. I guess that's why some of his powers, like the Parseltongue, transferred to me. Now back to this third task…"
Seeing Hermione was still mulling over everything Harry had said Jessica was the one to answer, "Right, so anyway, the night of the task you will be summoned from wherever you are and delivered to Voldemort. You'll battle and if he wins he gains the immortality."
"What if I win?"
"We all get to live to see another day," Hermione said shrugging gently. "The text never said what would happen if the opponent won, apparently it's never happened."
Harry shot Hermione a sarcastic 'thanks' before dropping her eyes gloomily to stare at the table.
Jessica grasped Harry's hand, "Let's just worry about making sure you're the one to walk away from the duel with Voldemort. You know what that means don't you?" she stated seriously a grin edging onto her lips.
Harry groaned and thunked his head on the table in front of him in mock despair, "Not more training!"
His friends all laughed and after a moment Harry joined in. Although the whole situation wasn't really that funny Harry enjoyed the cheerfulness, knowing that in a few weeks time he and his friends wouldn't have much to laugh about.
Draco Malfoy stood next to his father in the circle of Death Eaters waiting, somewhat impatiently, for the meeting Voldemort had called to start.
Finally the Dark lord strode towards the group and into the middle of the circle, his snakelike face twisted into a grotesque smile.
"As some of you know, in three weeks time the Rebirth will begin. However most of you know not of what I speak." Voldemort said. So for the benefit of those who didn't know he gave them a quick rundown of what was to come.
"Does that mean your last battle will be against Dumbledore, my Lord?" one of the more courageous followers asked slightly confused about who his Lord's greatest enemy was.
"No, fool," Voldemort hissed, "my final battle will be against, Potter." He spat Harry's name out in disgust.
Draco's heart stopped and he fought hard to keep an indifferent look on his face, which proved to be quite difficult.
"When I defeat that boy once and for all I will be made invincible and will finally be able to finish what I was unable to fifteen years ago. And you my faithful followers will get your just rewards."
The robed men whispered excitedly among themselves, as they thought about what their reward would be.
"The night of my final battle, I want you all to make sure no one comes to young Potter's rescue. Dumbledore and the other teachers, not to mention those bloody Mystic Knights, must be kept away from us. That night you shall storm Hogwarts castle, and kill everyone, leaving Potter and I alone, so that I may kill him without interference. Is that understood?"
"Yes, My Lord." The congregation answered as one, smirks forming on their faces behind their masks.
One, however, was not smiling. Draco Malfoy stood stock still, his fear and anxiety thrumming through his entire body. The only thing on his mind was telling Harry as soon as possible.
"In three weeks time, our day shall come, and the world will fear and obey us."
The Death Eaters roared in hearty approval and bowed to their Lord, looking forward to their part in Voldemort's plan.
Harry sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Looking at the Slytherin in front of him he smiled in appreciation.
"Thanks for letting us know," he said quietly glancing around the nearly empty pub he Jessica and Draco sat in. "What do you think we should do?" he questioned his friends.
"Tell Dumbledore," Jessica responded immediately. "If we can find out the exact night the attack is to happen, Dumbledore can empty the castle and he and the other teachers, and volunteers to fight the Death Eaters that show up themselves. Leaving us to go to the graveyard, and fight Voldemort and the remaining Death Eaters he's bound to have there with him."
Harry bit his lip, knowing what he was about to say would probably anger his partner. "Maybe you should stay at the castle and help the others." He proposed softly.
A spark of anger shot through Jessica's eye, "No way! That's not going to happen, Harry. We're partners, I'm not going to throw you to the wolves and hope for the best, I'll be right next to you fighting. I promise."
Draco watched as the two Gryffindor's stared at each other, a silent battle raging between them, he shook his head slightly amused.
"Fine," Harry mumbled breaking eye contact, "Alright, do what you want." Though he wouldn't admit it Harry was glad she was going with him. He didn't want to go alone.
"I'm going to," Draco drawled, raising a hand to silence Harry when he began to protest, he explained. "My Father and a couple other Death Eaters will be at the battle that night, in case something was to happen. I have a score to settle with him, so I'll be there to help Jessica with the group while you deal with v-v-Voldemort."
Harry groaned and dropped his head into his hands knowing there was nothing he could say to change the Slytherins mind.
"You know, that if I should lose, you'll be labeled a traitor and killed right?" he had to make sure Draco understood that there was a possibility of that happening.
"I know," Draco shrugged.
Harry nodded and silence reined.
"When you tell Dumbledore about the attack, he's going to ask how you know this," Draco said slowly, "what are you going to tell him?"
"I'll just tell him I had another one of my dreams. I won't mention anything about you. He still doesn't know about what really happened with Snape and yourself and I would prefer to keep it that way." Harry whispered taking a sip of his butterbeer and glancing at Draco.
Draco nodded and the three finished their drinks in companionable silence. After paying their bill the three friends left the pub and worked their way back through Hogsmeade.
Jessica glanced at Draco, "Harry and I were going to step up our training and include Ginny, Hermione and Ron. Do you want to join us?"
Glancing at Harry and Jessica he mumbled, "I don't think they like me very much."
"Hermione and Ginny are still a little wary about you," Harry admitted, "but they like you. Ron, well, Ron is just really stubborn. But I think even he is starting to like you; I think his anger and resentment for you is more for show now a days. We'd really like it if you joined us…but it's your choice. If you want to come meet us by the Forbidden forest at four." Harry said before he and Jessica broke off from the Slytherin heading up the stairs towards Gryffindor tower.
"Four…as in A.M!" Draco yelled after them. When laughter was his only answer the Slytherin headed to bed himself, muttering about crazy Gryffindor's.
Well hope i didn't disappoint.