Chapter 2

A/N: I own some Vans, a Rolling Stones shirt, and a green pen. But alas, I do not own HP or its characters. (Revised and remastered on this glorious evening of April 24, 2007… As a result of SUPER bad writing. You should be thanking me ;) )

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"So what you're telling me, Granger, is that we're stuck together for eternity and we get to take over the world?"

"Yeah, basically. That's pretty much the gist of it," Hermione said quietly.

She had spent the last fifteen minutes with none other than Draco Malfoy, sitting at a secluding table in the back of an abandoned aisle of the library, explaining to him all about the Devil's Symbol. He seemed to take the news fairly well, which was surprising; except he wrinkled his nose upon learning that he was bound to Hermione.

There was an awkward silence. "Say, Granger-"

"Hermione," she corrected. "If I'm going to have to speak with you, at least call me by my given name."

"Right, Hermione. Whatever. Do you want to go down to Hogsmeade and get a drink? I sure could use one. This is a lot for me to swallow. We can talk about it more there, and figure out what we're going to do."

She raised her eyebrows suspiciously at him, but nodded.

They walked down the main corridor, side by side, in silence. A few of the guys they walked past wolf-whistled and called crude sexual remarks in Hermione's direction, but she tuned them out. She had grown used to them. Ever since she had returned from summer vacation, it seemed that they guys paid her more attention than ever. She was a natural beauty, who wore no makeup and hardly looked in the mirror except when she was finished with her shower. Therefore, it was no surprise that she became the current interest of many young men at Hogwarts. It was frustrating at times, but she didn't really mind the attention; she had finally admitted that to herself. After years of being an outcast, it felt good to have her own place in the limelight.

Blaise Zabini, a very good-looking friend of Malfoy's, came up and fell into step with them. He said in a not so quiet voice "So you finally snagged the foxy little Gryffindor, eh Draco?"

Hermione glared at him around Malfoy's back, but the blonde replied, "We're going to Hogsmeade to study. That is it. Nothing else." His voice was firm and left Zabini no room to suggest anything more. Zabini didn't seem to catch this threatening tone, and wiggled his thick, black eyebrows.

"Alright then. I guess I'll see you later in the dungeons. Don't forget, Pansy would like to, ahem, speak to you before you retire for the night."

"Whatever. I don't want to see her, I've told you that already," said Malfoy with no emotion in his voice. Blaise clapped his friend on the shoulder, and then parted from the two, going down a corridor, presumably towards a group of Slytherins who were gathered there.

Draco and Hermione had almost reached the massive doors that led to the grounds when someone on the staircase called "Hermione!"

"What!" She turned around, exasperated. Then, seeing who it was, said in a much gentler tone, "Sorry Ginny. What was it that you wanted?" When the feisty little redhead peered over her friend's shoulder at an impatiently waiting Draco Malfoy, she wiggled her eyebrows. Catching the expression, Hermione said "We're going to study, you sex addict." She giggled. "Tell the guys I'll be up sometime later tonight. I have a lot of stuff I have to catch up on."

"Okay," said Ginny brightly. Then lowering her tone, "By the way, your study buddy can't keep his eyes off your rear end." Then she laughed and went back up the stairs.

Hermione spun around rather quickly with these methods than she would have otherwise, glared at Draco, and then opened the doors, letting the sunlight in.

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They reached Hogsmeade with no more interruptions. After getting some Butterbeers (Malfoy's spiked with a bit of Firewhiskey) from the Three Broomsticks, they sat on a stone bench outside the Shrieking Shack where they more than likely would not be bothered.

"So..." Hermione started.

"Your birthday is September 10th too, I'm guessing?" Draco asked.

"Yeah. I'm not sure I like this. You and me. No offense or anything, but you'd understand."

"None taken. I feel the same way."

What are we going to do? I don't want to take over the world!" She suddenly wailed, her conscience hitting her like a ton of bricks..

"Are you so sure?" Draco smirked at her. Damn that smirk. Those lips. Those utterly- Shit, Hermione, stop right there! That's Draco Malfoy!

Hermione forced herself to reflect on their predicament. Sure, she had a little part of her that wanted to rebel and have everyone bow before her, but didn't everybody? Be the center of attention, change the world at a whim? That little part of her was laying dormant, waiting for the precise time to come out and show everyone the true, commanding nature of Hermione Granger.

Looking into Hermione's caramel-coloured eyes, Draco said, "We all have that little chunk of power, but ours are apparently stronger than everyone else's. Looks like we've got two weeks to explain things to ourselves and to our families before things get out of control."

"Yeah, you're right." Again, there was a long silence. "I wonder who the others are." She said it quietly, like an afterthought.

"If it weren't you beside me Gra- Hermione, I would have thought it was you." This was said with total seriousness, although a slight smile was playing behind his lips. He was mocking her, but she ignored him. "I'm going to call Dumbledore up here. Although he is an aging old bat, I'm hoping he'll know what to do." Then snapping his fingers, parchment and a quill appeared. (A/N: Cough cough wandless magic cough cough) Scrawling a hasty note requesting the Headmaster's presence immediately in front of the Shrieking Shack, Draco sent it flying off towards the castle.

"Draco?" Said Hermione after a few more minutes of silence.

"Hmm?"

"You're not putting up a fight."

"Neither are you, if you've noticed."

"Well, you hate me. I could understand if you wanted the power, but why aren't you fighting against me?"

"If you're telling me the truth, which I suspect you are, since I've been peering into your mind, it's a prophecy. There's nothing I can do. Everything's been foreseen, so what's the point of using up extra effort fighting something that is bound to come out in only one result? Why aren't you practically killing yourself? You fight for the side of the light, remember?"

"I honestly hadn't thought that far. I think I'm just excited about this. I've never had something like this happen to me, and it's a nice change from being in someone's shadow twenty four seven. Maybe I can make a name for myself this way? I won't be the nerdy little bookworm with breasts."

"Even I'll admit, they are very nice breasts." Hermione glared at him. "Okay, that was too far off topic. But people already know who you are. Why be even more famous?"

"I don't know."

"I guess that's a good enough answer for me. You look concerned now." He had noticed she was nibbling on her bottom lip, her eyes darting here and there. "What just happened?"

"Wait. Why are we telling Dumbledore this? We might have to end up killing him or something."

"Well, right now we don't have much of a choice. We need his guidance more than anything. We're in the dark here, in case you didn't notice. If he gets in the way later, we can always get rid of him. But first we have to focus on what we're going to do in the near future, and then we'll need to concentrate on destroying the Dark Lord before he begins another destructive war."

"Alright. I guess that makes enough sense. I didn't even think of it like that. I'm starting to have serious misgivings all of a sudden." She glanced at him shyly. "Will you come with me when I have to tell my parents?"

"I don't know. We still don't know what we're going to do. Let's see what the Headmaster says first. Oh look, here he comes now." He pointed, and Hermione's eyes flitted to an aging man walking up the steep heel in an orange robe, a pink hat, and bright green buckled boots. She grinned. She loved the Headmaster and his clothes.

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Half an hour later, sitting in a quiet room in the Three Broomsticks, Dumbledore listened to the pair's story without interrupting, running his finger through his beard.

In a creaky old voice, he finally said, "I've heard of this legend many times. I never thought that I would live to see it fulfilled."

'Who said you would, you miserable old bat?' Draco thought to himself. He grimaced to himself, but didn't give himself away.

Dumbledore twinkled. "There is nothing I- or anyone else, for that matter- can do for you. You will just have to complete your destiny on your own. You'll have to support each other, and that means getting along. You'll have to put up a united front and be strong. And as to the part about your families? I think you should tell them face to face, and be at each other's sides."

"Professor, why is it me and Granger? Out of the whole bloody school it's her!" He crossed his arms and nearly huffed, but contained himself. Hermione glared at him.

"Believe me; I feel the same feelings Malfoy. I would not have picked you if I had a choice." She looked at Dumbledore, you twinkled at her.

"The Fates have their reasons, Mister Malfoy. I suggest you both keep a positive attitude about this situation. Now, if you will please excuse me, I am running a bit low on lemon drops. I need to stop at Honeydukes. Enjoy the rest of your day Miss Granger, Master Malfoy. I expect you to be in bed by curfew."

And with that, the flamboyantly colorful man left the little room. Hermione and Draco just stared at each other.

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Was it better? It's a slow, rocky start, but we're getting there…

--Teach me wrong from right and I'll show you what I can be-- Nickleback