MGGS User27/09/07

Chapter 4

The Prophecy

Dumbledore looked anxiously at the last bed in the hospital wing, on which the very still figure of Hermione Granger could just be seen.

"How is she, Poppy?"

"Can't tell all, Albus, but she's got three broken ribs and a broken nose. One of her lungs has a puncture, no doubt from one of the ribs. Her body is covered in bruises, some of them minor, others quite deep and must be healed quickly to prevent infection. She suffered minor concussion and there are scratches on her inner thighs; there is a chance she was raped. That's all I can say until I do the blood test, but one thing for sure, Albus, another hour out there and she would have died. She was very lucky on Merlin's name to have you come along and find her."

"Yes quite," he whispered. He was looking at Hermione; her breathing was uneven and now and then she would cough. His observation was disturbed by the arrival of Professor McGonagall.

As soon as she saw Hermione, she rushed over to see for herself the damage that was inflicted on the prefect. She gasped as she saw the almost unrecognizable shape of her best student.

"Albus, who would do such thing, look at her, she looks like she was torn apart and sewn back together!" cried the stunned Professor.

"Yes she is hurt badly, Minerva, but what you can see is only the external damage. Her organs have suffered no less. As for who has done this, she told me."

The room was brought in to a stretched silence.

"Well, aren't you going to tell me?" McGonagall asked in a fake calm voice

"Not yet, I wish to wait for Severus to arrive first."

Their wait was cut short by the appearance of a greasy haired man in long, black billowing robes. He made his way silently past the many hospital beds until he reached the back of the ward. He paused near Hermione's bed and bowed his head low, to examine for him self her poor shape.

"Ah, Severus, you're here at last, I presume you got my message?"

"Yes," was the curt reply

"Wonderful; now that you're familiar with the situation, would you care to guess who has done this to Miss Granger? Do you perhaps know any one who would have the motive to harm the muggle born prefect?"

"No," snapped Snape

"Well then, I must admit I find myself lucky that Miss Granger managed to tell me herself."

Snape didn't reply to this and Dumbledore continued.

"Mr Malfoy, it appears, was wondering the corridors at night."

Here he paused to let his words sink in. The silence didn't last and was soon interrupted by the shrill voice of Minerva McGonagall.

"That blonde little nuisance, he must be expelled at once Albus. Draco Malfoys is turning out to be just like his father, I won't even be surprised if next year he is asked to join the Death Eaters."

Her ever growing shouting was silenced by the rise of Dumbledore's hands.

"Let Severus speak Minerva, after all, the boy is from his house and it is for him to determine the appropriate action."

Snape stood silent. He didn't move nor make a sound or even show any sign of being present in the room. He was staring at Hermione; then his eyes drifted to the window just above her head.

The night sky looked bright; the stars were made invisible by the hard glow of the moon. Slowly Severus turned and faced the Headmaster.

He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it sharply as he saw Madam Pomfrey rushing towards them from her office. Sheer excitement was written all over her face.

"I've got news Albus! The blood test results have just arrived from St Mungo's. It seems my suspicions were correct; the girl was raped and now she's pregnant."

At this McGonagall gasped and Dumbledore sighed; only Snape remained still and silent.

Dumbledore moved over to stand next to Madam Pomfrey.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," she answered, "the tests don't lie, Albus."

"Then this changes everything."

"Why is that?" asked Snape harshly

For some time Dumbledore didn't reply. He was too far inside his own mind to pay them much attention. Memories were flowing through his mind, one after the other. They were all random pictures of his past: none of them were the least bit important to him right now. He needed only one memory, the one that could explain to him everything that happened that night. Finally he managed to find it.

Dumbledore pressed his wand to his temple and lifted the memory from the depth of his mind. Then he carefully placed the transparent substance into a crystal bottle, pushing the cork tightly down.

"Minerva, please go to my study and bring me my pensive. The password is 'Jelly beans', a Muggle sweet I'm rather found of."

McGonagall couldn't care less what Jelly Beans were, but she rushed off to the study immediately.

Dumbledore sat down on the corner of the bed opposite the one Hermione was sleeping on.

"Severus, you didn't tell me why you were late for our meeting today, though I must thank you; should you have come on time I might never have found Miss Granger."

"I believe now is not the best time Albus. It is a long and interesting story that will have to wait for another time."

Dumbledore just smiled at his old friend. Severus knew best: when the time for his stories should come, and the last thing he wished to do was to push him. Though the old professor had to admit he was most interested to hear his tale.

Minerva McGonagall came rushing into the room, a huge pensive levitating in front of her. She passed the rows of empty beds until she reached the huddled party.

"Marvellous, Minerva, I hope it wasn't too much bother. It is a rather heavy piece."

"Nonsense, I'm fine. There is a reason we have wands, you know."

"Oh yes, how could I forget?" He spoke with a soft chuckle.

"What was it that you wanted to show us, Albus?" asked the quiet voice of Madam Pomfrey.

"A memory, of course; a very special memory, in fact. It is a memory that I have always cherished. You are all familiar with the name Marina Merryweather I suppose?"

"Of course, she was the only know descendent of Merlin himself, not to mention an incredibly gifted seer," said McGonagall.

"Yes, she was indeed, her gift was known throughout the magical world. Everybody wanted her to make them a predicament. I was lucky enough to be one of the last to hear her make a prophecy. Pray when she told me it, I was a foolish hearted young man. All I saw in her words was the fact that a very famous seer had spoken to me." At this Dumbledore gave another chuckle.

"It is quite sad to admit, but over the years the panic of the magical community from the rise of Voldemort has driven Marina's prophecy out of my mind. Now it comes back to me, driven by the waves of hope. If I am right, we may be on the road to defeating Voldemort."

With that said Dumbledore removed the crystal bottle from his robe pocket, uncorked it and poured the contents into the swirling pensive. He then pointed his wand at the pensive bowl and whispered a spell. The pensive glowed red and a figure started to slowly emerge from the depth of the bowl.

It was a woman; her figure looked frail and weak in age. The many beaded necklaces that were covering her skinny neck were glowing bright, yet not as bright as her smile. Her dress was silky and seemed to be made from parts of different coloured material. In all she was a pleasant looking witch. As soon as she was well out of the pensive and flouting about a meter over the bowl, she spoke in a trance like voice:

'The stars are light the trees are tall, the leaves shall all enlighten fall.

With morning comes the morning bright, with sunset comes the darkness

The order of the world shall stay untouched, the world will always spin.

One day the world will face grave changes and peril shall be known through out the land.

Until fate shall unite the King of Slytherin and Queen of Gryffindor and they shall conceive a child.

This infant shall be born with powers greater then any known to man.

This infant shall be born a legend, the powers of which shall be used to defend or destruct our world.'

Then she lowered herself back into the bowl until nothing more could be seen of her.

The silence in the room was stifling. No one knew what to say; Dumbledore was known well for never being wrong about his theories, but the three onlookers were not convinced.

"Albus you don't mean that…"

"Yes it does sound quite incredible doesn't it? Yet I am quite sure; you see, Minerva, I have been keeping a close tab on the students of Hogwarts for many years. Marina's prophecy has convinced me to work at Hogwarts, were I can keep an eye on the students. I have been watching for many years but have never seen a Slytherin and Gryffindor relationship. With the rise of Voldemort I have abandoned my watch, but now it's all coming back."

"Headmaster I do not mean to be rude but there are millions of people out there who have at some point in their lives come to Hogwarts and have been sorted into Slytherin and Gryffindor. After graduation some may have forgotten their school rivalries and married or had intercourse. That would make it impossible to guarantee that Miss Granger is pregnant with the legend child," said Snape.

"Yes, you are quite right; however, the school only provides a house for the students and teachers who reside at Hogwarts; after graduation the students no longer belong at Hogwarts and therefore lose their house title. I am quite sure that Miss Granger is indeed pregnant with the legend child."

"If so, surely the girl is in a lot of danger. Why if wind of this catches Voldemort's ears, we can consider her as good as dead!" was the panic stricken voice of Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes, yes, that's why her pregnancy must remain a secret, dear Poppy. I shall send the girl away from Hogwarts to live in my holiday home by the sea. It is a very neat cottage quite close to the little town of Vavercamp. She shall remain there until she gives birth."

"But Albus what if she decides she doesn't want to keep the baby? After all, this child is the product of rape! I doubt she would wish her first born to be a constant reminder of this horrid incident."

"No Poppy, I'm afraid if it comes to that, you are to ignore her please for an abortion; I will come to speak to her tomorrow, and tell her everything she needs to know. Now I believe it's getting rather late; we had all better get some sleep, after all, tomorrow is Monday. Minerva and Severus, you have classes to teach and must wake up extra early. Please go and get some rest, but Severus remain here. I need a word with you."

"I still think you're taking this a little far, Albus, but you know me. I will follow you whatever you decide to do," said McGonagall.

"Thank you Minerva. It's always nice to here people speak so trustworthy in your name."

McGonagall turned to leave sharply, and with a fast pace left the hospital wing in a frenzy of robes.

Madam Pomfrey walked over to Hermione's bed and began to rub different potions into her wounded body.

Severus Snape turned towards the Headmaster and asked in a low tone,

"Why is it you wanted to speak to me, Albus?"

"Severus, I want you to show no sign of knowing about Mr Malfoy's crime. He must remain unknowing to the fact that Miss Granger is now pregnant with his child. If he finds out he may be tempted to tell his father in hope that he would clear the incident, permenantly, and this may cause problems."

"I see."

"That's all I have to say, Severus." With that said Dumbledore rose from the bed he was once again sitting on and moved toward the exit doors. "Goodnight Severus, Poppy "and with a few quick strides he was gone.

"I must go too" said Madam Pomfrey "Severus, please shut the door when you leave. Goodnight."

She left to her office, closing the door quietly behind her with a soft click.

Severus Snape was left alone, and that's the way he liked it really. His mind was always thinking and having people around always made it difficult to think. Slowly he turned and took a long look at the only patient in the ward. He was wondering to himself, if after so many fruitless years, they had finally found a way to destroy the Dark Lord. If that was the case then it probably didn't matter that the legend would be born from a Mudblood. But Severus had doubts; he didn't want to hope for anything. In his experience hope was a fools dream. Dumbledore was putting everything on hope, so was that old know it all' McGonagall. In his opinion it was gambling, gambling the wellbeing of the magical world. After all, that Seer did say defend or destruct ', so the coin could flip either way.

Snape sighed and turned towards the exit; he walked out of the Hospital wing with one thought on his mind.

Hope is a fools dream.'

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