A/N: Sorry for the long wait again. This seems to be a habit...Anyway, needed a little mysitcal chapter, just for you guys.
Summary: In 6th year when Hermione discovers that Harry's baseless acusations about Malfoy are more true than she had anticipated, she goes to Dumbledore who stages Draco's death and sends him into hiding. But thats not where her part ends. Dumbledore expects her to tutor him on the 6th year material. Left with more time together alone then ever before, they begin to see things differently, in this, the prelude to their end.
Chapter 11: Like a Crow Chasing a Butterfly
If Hermione wasn't satisfied with the arrangements before, she certainly was not now. Thankful for the return home and the start of a new term, she threw herself headlong into her studies, wishing to block out her present situation:
Ron was still mad at her, for some unfathomable reason. (Which wasn't entirely surprising, to say the least. At least he was maintaining some sense of normalcy.) Though the reasons for him to be angry had inherently disproven itself at the dinner table over break, he was loath to ever admit he was wrong. He would just as well stew in his own anger until someone slapped him upside the head. But never would he admit to being wrong.
Draco was now mad at her, as well. The reasons of which she had yet to understand. Though, she supposed, this wasn't entirely surprising either. He had been as such since they had met. Things were going so well though! He hadn't called her that foul word in such a long time. She didn't understand what had changed. She only had Ginny's astute observation that he had only acted that way out of being hurt. But hurt by what, niether of them knew. Perhaps she had said too much that night? She may never know.
Cormac was just being insufferable. Following her around, trying to woo her in the most neanderthalic ways. What did he not understand about Slughorn's party being only one date? She certainly had hoped he would be clever enough to see her real intentions, but if he wasn't then he definitely would not be dating her anytime soon.
Lastly, the dreams had come back, full force. She hadn't realized that they had all but dissapeared since starting her assignment. Yet again, dreamless sleep potion had no effect on these dreams, her roomates were out for blood until she put up the silencing charms, and Harry and Ginny gave her concerned looks at the dark circles under her eyes. She assured them it was just stress for the end of year exams. ("They were only 5 months away!") They just shook their head at her and smiled. ("Typical Hermione.")
There was only one option, she figured, as she stared at her unfinished arithmancy homework. The symbols danced around the page as she tried in vain to focus on them in her exaustion. Only one option.
She would give herself hell for this, when she was well rested, but this was her last ditch effort. She slammed her book shut and made her way up to the seventh floor in another wing of the castle. Up and up a long spiral straicase until she came upon the place she hated even contemplating going in her moment of weakness.
She walked into a dimly lit classroom, empty for the evening hour, the smell of incense wafting into her nose and making her lightheaded. At each table sat a crystal ball, simple and unadorned. But the majesty of the group was sitting on the front desk. Larger than the others, cleaner and less worn, it sat upon a mount of golden dragons twisting and swirling around it, with the magic that helped create it.
Mezmerized she sat in the chair before the desk and stared into the shining glass. Her vision blurred and distorted, and then suddenly, a clear picture formed in her mind.
It was her, yet somehow slightly older, wearing tattered clothing, covered in grime with a cut above her left eyebrow. She wielded her wand in front of her in a battle stance. after she got over the shock of seeing herself, she noticed the battle raging around her counterpart. Curses and hexes flying everywhere, bright flashes and rocks crumbling from walls. The destruction left the area unrecognizable.
Her counterpart wandered over to a hidden alcove, presumably to rest a moment and gather her wits before returning to the fight. A blonde man found her location and hugged her immediately. The blonde man she recognized as Draco. She felt curiosity, but could form no questions in her present state of mind. She saw them speaking, but heard nothing. A not-so-chaste kiss confirmed her niggling curiosity. As they stood on the edge of the battle she could hear the last words as though they had been whispered into her own ear.
"For Aurora."
The pair charged forward and her vision blurred and faded once more.
Returning to the present she heaved heavily. She felt like her chest was going to rip open. Oh Merlin she's gone and done it now! She finally snapped and started seeing hallucinations. Maybe Harry and Ginny were right about her studying so much. Maybe they...
"The minds eye seems to open wider when one is sleep deprived. No one is completely sure why."
Hermione jumped, eyes wide at the bespectacled professor Trelawney in front of her.
"What...you...I..." She stammered, still not able to catch her breath. She cleared her throat.
"What did I just see?" She asked.
"Only the perseon gazing upon the ball can see. If I were to look upon it, I would see only what I am meant to see."
"What am I meant to see?" Hermione asked desperately, her heart still trying to abandon her.
"A Lion and a Snake, will bear the greatest gift
A Haze of fear these two shall hope to lift
A symbol of unity, so named for the goddess of the dawn
Will embody the beauty of the world to look upon
One heart of stone, one heart of ice
Melt and crumble to make the ultimate sacrifice."
Hermione stared at the professor before her unblinklingly. Trelwaney didn't seem to notice her stare.
"Its an old prophecy, one I think will come into fruition before this war is over."
"What you mean to say is that the lion and the snake, that is, Draco and I, will come together to bring some sort of gift to save the world?"
"Not exactly, but basically, yes. Interesting that you should choose Draco Malfoy as 'the snake' in this case."
Hermione stared at her again for a moment. She then burst out laughing. And continued to laugh until her stomach could take no more.
"And once more, the eye is firmly shut within you."
"Yes, I quite like to think that my head is on straight, thank you."
Trelawney simply frowned. Hermione saw this as an opportunity to take her leave.
As she neared the door she heard Trelwaney's voice swirl around her.
"Reoccurring dreams are a sign of prophecy, my dear."
"Just like a crow chasing a butterfly
Danelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were getting high as outer space
I never thought you would slip away
I guess I was just a little too late"
The Crow and The Butterfly, Shinedown