Explanations are Long Overdue.
The boys stared at Hermione in awe. "Wait...," Harry started. "You can't be the chalice, Hermione. Dumbledore must have translated wrong! I'm the Chosen One!" Harry didn't seem upset with Hermione's reasoning that he truly wasn't the Chosen One. He was more upset with finding out that his best girl mate was.
"Harry, I must be the Chalice." Hermione stated. "The Prophecy mentioned seven people; the Golden Trio and the Marauders. You are Leone, the lion. Ron is Portare, the bear. Sirius is Cane, the dog. Peter is Ratto, the rat. James and I both are the Gemellos, and James is Maschio, the stag. That leaves me to be Lupa."
Harry looked towards the ground. "Hermione, if you are the Chalice, that means you're going to have to fight Voldemort on your own." He seemed to shudder slightly. When he looked up, his eyes were so raw, so sorrowful, that they made James wonder what exactly had happened to make his son like this. "I don't want to loose you, Hermione. Not now. Not ever."
Hermione's eyes filled up with tears at Harry's statement. "Oh, Harry!" She cried, wrapping her arms around him. The other occupants of the room looked apprehensive and awkward. Hermione pulled away from Harry and whipped at her eyes.
"So, Grandfather," she started, "what shall we do now that we're here?" The six boys in the room looked to her as if she were crazy. Who was she addressing?
"Ahh, very good, Mya. I knew you'd be the first to figure it out." Dumbledore stated proudly.
Wait..., James thought, mom's a halfblood. (A/N: If she's not...lets just pretend she is.) Which means that one of her parents were magical. Could it be... "You're my mother's father, aren't you?" James asked Dumbledore. Dumbledore looked back at him happily.
"Yes, Jamie my boy. I am indeed your mother's father." Harry paled at this remark.
"You...have...got...to...be...BLOODY KIDDING ME." He screamed. Hermione winced, stepping behind Remus for protection. "MY BLOODY GRANDFATHER WAS ALIVE THIS ENTIRE TIME...AND YOU MADE ME LIVE WITH THE DURSLEYS? HOW COULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME! I TRUSTED YOU!"
Remus groaned, cupping his hands over his ears. God, this kid could scream. And let's just say that, added to werewolf senses, did not make for a happy Remus. Hermione reached her hand out gingerly and placed it on Remus's arm. "Don't worry, he'll quiet down soon enough. He always does." She stated. Remus gave her a thankful smile.
"Harry, be reasonable, now." Hermione stated, walking away from Remus. "First off, be careful what you say. This isn't the Dumbledore from your time. He doesn't know what's going to happen in a few years. He doesn't know what happens on Halloween, so give him a break." Hermione's hands were on her hips, and she was standing up to her full height. Her eyes were sparkling with an anger that could rival Molly Weasly's.
"Second, being Dumbledore's great grandson would only make matters worse for you. Just imagine how many more people would be after you! He did it to protect you. And Harry, quit the look. I know you're going to tell me that you can take care of yourself and blah, blah, blah, but you can't. You're strong, Harry. One of the strongest wizards ever. But do you think that at five you would've been able to defend yourself against a dark wizard? Do you think at ten you'd be able to take on a crowd of Death Eaters? Do you honestly think that?" Hermione stopped, and looked at her best friend...and nephew.
"Wether you like it or not, Harry, all everybody has been trying to do your entire life is protect you." Her voice had softened, revealing how hurt she truly was. "Besides," she started, her voice lightening, "don't you think he should have told me all of this stuff loooong before today?" Harry smirked slightly at that.
"Well said, Mya. Now, it's been an absolutely dreary day. I'm sure you'd all like to retire to your chambers, eh? The Marauders will take you to Gryffindor tower, where you'll spend the night. Harry, Ron, you'll be rooming with the Marauders. Mya, you'll be rooming with the other sixth year girls, including a Miss Lily Evans." Dumbledore stated. "I'll take care of everything else. Tomorrow, you six - and Miss Evans - can have the day off to go visit Hogsmead for anything you may need."
"Thank you, Grandfather." Hermione said sleepily.
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"So, Harry. Please tell me James and I taught you to keep up the Marauder traditions." Sirius stated once they settled into the Gryffindor common room. Harry froze.
"Um...well...not exactly..." He stuttered, refusing to look at James and Sirius.
"Well then, at least tell me that we taught you to be an animagus." James requested. Harry shook his head.
"No...you never got the chance to." The last part, of course, was muttered. Only Remus, with his werewolf hearing, heard him.
What on earth does Harry mean? Remus wondered to himself. He cast a glance in Hermione's direction, only to see her eyes practically overflowing with tears.
"Just tell them, Harry! We can't let that happen this time. I refuse to let it happen!" Hermione's cries were wild, powered by sadness. Harry looked at her for a moment.
"Harry...please...tell us." James begged. Harry took a deep breath and looked up.
"You die." He said simply. "You. Mom. Sirius. You all die." James and Sirius looked shocked.
"What?" Sirius choked out after a moment of silence. Hermione let out a strangled breath.
"Halloween. Voldemort comes to your house, James. He kills you. Then your wife gives her life to protect Harry. The killing curse rebounds off of him, and back to Voldemort. He is reduced to nothing; a wondering soul." Hermione didn't take a single breath the entire time.
"How can that happen?" Sirius wondered.
"Okay, wait. My wife and I knew we were in danger, correct?" James looked to Hermione, who nodded her head. "So we had to be in hiding, right?" Hermione nodded again. James considered this for a moment, before adding, "Well, then...how did..Vo..Voldemort get to us? I mean...no one but one person would've known where we were." Hermione started crying even harder. Ron walked over and started rubbing her back in a brotherly way. Harry looked at James, his eyes seemingly made of stone.
"Your secret keeper was on Voldemort's side." He hissed angrily.
"That's impossible!" James cried. "No offense to anyone here, but without a doubt, Sirius would be my secret keeper. He'd never betray me!" Harry laughed coldly.
"No, Sirius would never do that. Sirius spent twelve years in Azkaban for something he didn't even do." Harry said bitterly. Hermione proceeded to walk over to him and embrace him. "Sirius may never do that...," Harry stated, "...but a certain rat would." Harry fixed his fiery gaze on Peter.
The Marauders gaped at Harry. "You...you can't be serious!" Remus stuttered. Peter looked the most disturbed.
"How, Harry?" He questioned quietly. "I could...I could never do that to my friends."
"LIAR!" Harry spat angrily. Hermione placed her hand on his arm.
"Harry, this Peter is still innocent. Look in front of you. Your father is still here." Harry's muscles tightened in anger under her hand. "And Harry?" She started, turning his head to face her. "As your aunt, I can promise you...I won't let that happen twice."
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There had been a stony silence for a while after Hermione's words. Eventually, all but Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Remus retired to their beds to think about what they had been told.
"Hey...Hermione?" Remus asked quietly. She looked over to him with a 'what?' expression. "Thanks...for what you said earlier. You know...in Dumbledore's office. No one's ever done something like that for me before." He smiled sheepishly at her.
It's hard to believe...Hermione thought, that this wonderful, handsome boy turns into such a sad adult. That...that's just one more thing I refuse to let happen again... Hermione smiled sweetly at him. "Remus, you don't have to thank me. I care about you, Remus." With that, Hermione stood up, embraced Ron and Harry, and turned towards Remus. "Goodnight." She said softly, embracing him tightly. He sighed contentedly in her arms.
"Goodnight..." He replied. How can someone you just met mean so much to you already? Remus asked himself.
As soon as Hermione had retreated to the girls' dorms, Remus bade Harry and Ron goodnight, and went to his own dorm. Ron let out a long-held sigh.
Harry gave his friend a sympathetic smile. "Jealous?" He asked lightly. Ron colored, nodding slightly. Harry sighed.
"You know Ron...with everything we've found out..." He sighed again. "It doesn't look like Hermione and you will ever be together, mate."
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A/N: Aweeee...poor Ron. Oh well. Anyways...thanks go to amrawo, Mrs. ST. John Allerdyce, gooby, RosieLady, Lena Andromeda Black, Blossom1098, AlexandraKathleen, and TweakyTree.
Aweeee...poor Ron. Oh well. Anyways...thanks go to andQuick poll:
What should happen with the Marauders and Peter?
A.) They shun him.
B.) They reinforce their friendship.
C.) The Marauders shun him, but Hermione works to make sure he doesn't join Voldemort.