So, let me get this straight," Ron said, pinching the bridge of his nose in a picture of concentration. "Malfoy's on our side and you're the 'Chosen One' who is destined to defeat Voldemort?"
Harry nodded. "Yep, that pretty much sums it up."
He, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in one of their favorite spots on the Hogwarts grounds—under a sprawling oak tree that bordered the lake. He had been released from the hospital wing just a few hours ago, and after being stuck in that room for two days, the June weather and light summer breeze were a blessed relief.
"So, according to the prophecy, you both can't live, so one of you has to kill the other?" Hermione asked, fear evident in her voice.
Harry tried to smile bravely. "That's what it says, but believe me, I won't go down without a fight."
Hermione looked like she was on the verge of tears, but she quickly dashed them away as they saw the other members of Dumbledore's Army approaching.
"Hey!" Fred hailed. "We just went over to the hospital wing…"
"But Madam Pomfrey told us you'd already left!" George said.
They plopped down in the grass, the others following suit.
"You could've told us, you know," Parvati griped. "We've been searching everywhere for you."
"Um, yeah…sorry," Harry said. Ginny had sat down beside him, and he found himself being distracted by her closeness and how wonderful she smelled. She had become more comfortable around him lately—a fact that he wasn't complaining about in the slightest.
He couldn't resist sneaking a look at her, and as they locked eyes, she smiled tentatively. "How do you feel, Harry?"
"I feel fine," he said, feeling as if his fever had returned. "I'm just glad to finally be out. I felt like I was going crazy staying in that bed."
"Malfoy still hasn't woken up, has he?" Cho asked.
He shook his head. "Madam Pomfrey says that it should be any day now, though."
"I still can't believe that he actually helped us," Neville said softly. "I wonder why he did it…"
Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who both nodded subtly. They understood that everything about the prophecy and Draco had to stay between them.
"Who knows?" he said lightly. "I, for one, would rather not get inside of Malfoy's head. I already get enough of that from Voldemort."
It was a testament to how far they had come that no one looked shocked by his use of the dreaded name, and that some of them even laughed.
"So, what happens now?" Padma Patil spoke up.
Harry glanced at her. "What do you mean?"
"What happens to this—to Dumbledore's Army?"
"Well…since Umbridge is gone, I guess that we're disbanded."
He was surprised to see their faces fall in disappointment. He looked down at his hands uncomfortably, not knowing what to say.
"We may be going on break for a little while," Luna broke the silence, "but you're mistaken if you think that we're disbanded, Harry."
"That's right," Neville put in. "We're more than just an army—we're friends, and that can't be disbanded even if you tried. No matter what, when the time comes again that you need help, we vow that we'll be there fighting right alongside you, Harry." He turned to the rest of the group. "Right?"
They all cheered loudly, and Fred and George pumped their fists in the air enthusiastically.
Harry looked at them in amazement. In the aftermath of the prophecy, he had almost forgotten. He didn't have to do everything on his own. Things had changed since his days under the cupboard. He was no longer alone.