Dueling With Destiny

Summary: Everyone has a destiny. But for Hermione, that destiny is something she has been fighting her whole life…
Rated: K+
Disclaimer: Now really, what a silly thing to think? As if a multi-millionaire (or is it billionaire now?) would be sitting in this little office space.

Author's Note: I'm sorry it took me a while to put this chapter up. I had to change the story around and explain some things a bit more to fit in what has happened in Half-Blood Prince. Yes, I have decided to incorporate Book 6 in the story so warning to all who have yet to read it.

THERE ARE BOOK 6 SPOILERS AHEAD!

Anyway, for those of you who have read book 6, enjoy! Please read and review! It really does wonders for my ego.

Chapter 1: Are You Happy?

June 24, 1998

Hogwarts Castle

Seventeen Years Later

Hogwarts Castle was quiet this June evening. Many of the students had already headed to the Great Hall for the final feast before the school year ended. However, one dark figure seemed to hurry through the halls on a mission. The lights illuminated her bright red hair as she turned a corner and pushed open the door to the library.

Once inside she stopped as if searching for something. Her eyes focused on a lone figure seated at a table near the back. She quickly hurried over.

"Hermione?" she called as she approached the table where the bushy haired girl lay, her face thoroughly pressed into a book. She moved slightly but made no sign that she had heard her name be called.

"Hermione," she tried once again. Still nothing.

"Hermione!" she called once again, this time more forcefully. Mumbling to herself, the girl lifted her head up out of the book to look at one of her best friends, Ginny Weasley, standing beside her with her arms crossed.

"Ginny?" Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion. Still partially sleeping, she turned to survey her surroundings. "Oh no!" She groaned. "I didn't! I couldn't have!"

Ginny nodded knowingly. "You did though. Third time this week too. Are you sure you're ok?" She asked, concern etched in her face. "I mean, falling asleep in the library really isn't like you at all"

Hermione smiled. "I'm fine Gin. Just overtired from my Head Girl duties and NEWTS this year."

"Alright! If your sure," Ginny said as she picked up some of the books that surrounded Hermione and began to put them back. "Well, we better get going then. The end of the year feast is about to start and you have to give your farewell speech."

"My speech!" a look of horror crossed Hermione's face at the two words. Frantically, she scrambled through her papers. "Oh no! What am I going to do? I never finished writing down my notes! I have nothing to say! No quotes, no goodbyes, NOTHING!"

"Calm down Hermione," said Ginny soothingly. "It's going to be alright. Forget about quotes and stuff like that. You don't need it! Just tell everyone how you feel about leaving and you'll do fine. I have the utmost faith in you!"

Hermione smiled at her friend. "Thanks Gin!" She hugged her friend close as they stood.

"No problem!" said Ginny as she returned the hug. "Now let's get going! I don't know about you, but I could eat a hippogriff!"

Hermione laughed at her friend as they hurried out of the library and headed toward the Great Hall.

"Where do you think she is? I'm starving!" Ronald Weasley sat next to his best friend Harry Potter at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.

"Relax Ron. She'll be here. Know Hermione she probably went to the library to work on her speech." replied Harry calmly as Ron fidgeted in his seat.

At that moment the doors to the Great Hall opened and Ginny and Hermione bounded into the room laughing hysterically.

"Laughter! Never a good sign!" exclaimed Ron as the two girls approached.

Harry chose to ignore his friend's comment and watched as the girls sat down across from them at the table.

"What's so hilarious?" he asked them curiously.

The two girls looked at each other before bursting into fits of giggles once more.

"Shouldn't have asked that mate," muttered Ron to Harry.

"What was that Ron?" asked Ginny innocently.

"Nothing Gin. I just told Harry how happy I am that you two got here safely…. finally" he said muttering the last part.

Both Ginny and Hermione rolled their eyes. Ginny opened her mouth in retort but stopped herself as she noticed McGonagall rise. The rest of the Great Hall slowly fell silent as well as they waited, knowing that Professor McGonagall was about to give the end of the year speech.

"As the school year draws to a close I would like to wish all of you the best this coming summer. I doubt that any of you need reminding of the dangers lurking out in the world." She paused for a moment as her eyes scanned the four tables.

There were more seats empty now than ever before. After the attack at the end of last year, many parents had withdrawn their children from Hogwarts. The school had been on edge for most of the year, awaiting the Dark Lord and his follower's next move. Both teachers and students alike had been affected by the attack, none however more than Harry. Out of respect of Dumbledore's last wish, Harry had remained at Hogwarts and finished his final year. As the school year drew to a close though, he became more determined and longed to bring an end to the man formerly known as Tom Riddle.

"This is a dangerous time for all of us," she continued. "I hope that you will remember to take care of not just yourself but of others around you as well." She smiled then, a thin, sad smile. Professor Flitwick, who was sitting next to her, grasped her hand in sympathy. She continued. "Well, enough said! I would now like to have the Head Boy and Girl come up and say a few words before the leave us. Mister Shafting, Miss Granger. Would you please step forward?"

Hermione and Brendon Shafting from Ravenclaw stood as the students around them cheered. Hermione smiled nervously, the color rising in her cheeks. With trembling hands, she head toward the teachers table in the Great Hall. Brendon smiled at her as they climbed the stairs to stand next to McGonagall.

Brendon spoke first to the group. He talked about the usual things that were spoken in a farewell speech, memories, lessons. He spoke of receiving his letter, arriving to Hogwarts, and of becoming Head Boy. It was a normal farewell speech with the usual somber feeling to it. Very well planned and excellently spoken. After about five minutes, Brendon ended his speech and stepped back.

Hermione took a deep breath, willing her heart to calm. She glanced down at the note cards in her hands. Although she had never finished them there was still enough written there for her to talk for half an hour. Suddenly however, none of it seemed very important. The words felt stiff and awkward. They stuck in her throat, refusing to come out.

Hermione closed her eyes and suddenly she heard Ginny's words once more.

'Just talk about how you feel'

Taking another deep breath, Hermione opened her mouth and the words suddenly just came pouring out.

"Throughout our time at Hogwarts we have always had someone here to guide us, to help us along the way into making the right decisions. When we needed help, there was always someone there to turn to. We were guarded and protected when we needed it the most. From this moment on, however, we no longer have that protection. Our lives are now our own, our choices our own, our mistakes are our own. There is no longer anyone there to guide and help us with the choices we will have to make. There is no one there to blame when we mess something up. The people both inside this school and out have tried to mold us into certain people throughout our lives. Now it is our time and our choice in deciding what we are to become. We are all different people, each and every one of us with different lives ahead. We may remember the teachings of those who went before us but in the end we all must decide what we ourselves want. We must live our lives from this moment on for ourselves and no one else, not our friends or our family. I quote an old muggle poet in the poem 'Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.'

"We are on that road right now and although we may not know it the decisions that we make affect the final outcome in our lives. So I tell all of you now, think about yourselves, think about your lives, but most of all think about what you really want, for in the end that is all that really matters. Happiness is all that really matters."

She paused then looking about the hall at the people she had grown up with and shared so many memories with throughout the past seven years. She thought about the ones in front of her and the ones who were now gone from this world, taken by Voldemort.

"Happiness, that's the most any of us can strive for. I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one want to look back on my life in ten, twenty or even fifty years and be completely satisfied with the choices I have made and the things I have done. I want to know that my achievements, my triumphs, and even my downfalls were all due to me and no one else. I want my life to be my life and no one else's."

The room about her rang, echoing her words and with a final look about the hall, Hermione glanced at her friends and teachers before ending the speech.

"Thank You"

Silence filled the hall as Hermione ended her speech. Then slowly, people all about the hall began clapping. Some stood as she headed back towards her seat. The Gryffindor table was shouting as loud as possible and soon spread their noise to the two tables near them. Even the teachers continued to clap and Hermione could have sworn she saw McGonagall wipe a tear from her eye. All of Hogwarts seemed to have loved the speech save for the Slytherin table who had chosen to remain moodily silent.

Hermione however didn't care. She had said her peace of mind, she had spoken what she felt and she didn't regret it what so ever.

As Hermione arrived back at the table Ron gave her the thumbs up sign and even Harry smiled encouragingly at her.

"Nice job," Ron whispered.

"Thanks," Hermione smiled at him before turning her attention to McGonagall who once more had stood.

One by one, every in the Great Hall noticed the Headmistress standing once again and the clapping soon ceased. McGonagall smiles as she gazed out at the students.

"Thank you Mr. Shafting, Ms. Granger. Very touching speeches on both your parts."

Her eyes rested briefly on Hermione.

"Now I am sure the moment that you have all been waiting for, the announcing of the winner of the House Cup."

McGonagall paused and took a sip of her goblet filled with pumpkin juice before continuing.

"The points for each house are as followed. Hufflepuff with 349 points, Ravenclaw with 370 points, Slytherin with 383 points, and Gryffindor with 395 points."

She paused then as he smiled down at the Gryffindor table.

"Congratulations to Gryffindor for your outstanding work this year. Now, let the celebration begin!"

McGonagall clapped her hands together and in an instant the Hall was transformed with decorations to fit Gryffindor's win.

At eleven that night, the Gryffindor common room could still be heard celebrating their victory of the House Cup. Tables were filled with treats (some edible and some from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes). Drinks of firewhiskey and red current rum that has been snuck in filled everyone's hands. The 7th year boys sat off to one side, discussing with the younger years quidditch plays for the upcoming season. The girls sat on the other side of the room talking about the usual; boys and beautifying charms.

"You have to read the article in 'Fashionably Wicked'!" cried one of the girls. "I tell you it completely changed my view on relationships!"

Hermione sighed. In all her years at Hogwarts she had never understood the fascination with the teen magazine 'Fashionably Wicked'. With a big yawn, Hermione stood and headed for the girls' dormitory.

"Going to bed so soon Hermione?" called Lavender

"I'm afraid so Lavender," Hermione put on her best despairing face. "We leave on the morning and I still have half of my packing left to do."

"Well alright," Lavender said looking a bit doubtful. "See you in the morning then Hermione."

"Yes, well goodnight girls." Hermione turned and headed back up the stairs, a smile playing on her face. She had of course finished her packing a week ago but the need to escape the monotony of the common room was far too great to not produce a tiny white lie.

In the girls' dormitory a fire was blazing in the grate reflecting upon the five bedposts that filled the room. As Hermione turned to her bed, she noticed a single piece of parchment lying on her pillow. Curiously, she picked it up and stared at her name written in curvy, black lettering. For a moment, her heart stopped beating. With trembling fingers she unfolded the note and read.

'Well done tonight, my dear. Now tell me, are you happy with your destiny?'

Hermione's eyes turned dark with rage. She quickly crumbled up the letter and tossed it across the room into the corner.

Still trembling, she dressed for bed. A glance at her reflection in the mirror showed a pale, wide-eyed girl. Suddenly she seemed so frail and vulnerable, even to herself.

Hermione shook her head, her curls flying about her face wildly. She climbed quickly into her bed, wrapping the covers around herself tightly. She pretended to be asleep as the other girls entered later on and tiptoed about preparing for bed. Long after all the others had fallen asleep, Hermione lay awake watching the embers in the fire die.