Chapter Nine – The New Prophecy

Hermione left the library and headed for the hospital wing where she had taken Harry an hour ago.

"How is he? Do you know what's wrong yet?" she asked Madame Pomfrey as she strided through the door.

"Have a seat Miss Granger," Madame Pomfrey suggested as Ron, Rae and Ginny entered the infirmary. Ron put a supportive hand on Hermione's shoulder and they all braced themselves for the news.

"Harry is in a coma, he will wake but I don't know when," Madame Pomfrey explained, "We used legilimency on him to establish that he was hit with twelve Crucio curses at the same time."

"Will he have to go to St Mungo's?" Hermione asked.

"No we feel it would be advantageous for Harry to remain here, where friends can visit. I am more than capable of concocting the necessary potions for his recovery." Madame Pomfrey left them to visit with Harry.

"So how did he come back?" Ron asked.

"My ring," Hermione said quietly, "The ring Harry gave me, he promised certain things with it. A promise ring given by a wizard has magical abilities to make sure the said wizard carries out his promises. One promise he made was to protect me and that's how we managed to vanish in Hogsmeade that day. He also promised that one day he'd marry me."

"And he turned up just after you accepted his proposal!" Rae added.

"So the ring has magical powers?" Ron tried to clarify.

"Yes but the power of the ring is determined by how powerful the wizard behind the promises is," Hermione stated. She reached over to hold Harry's hand in her own.

"You've been in the library again, haven't you?" Ron asked with a small bemused smile.

"Ron!" Ginny chastised, "We'll see you later, ok Hermione?" Ginny said, ushering the other two out.

Hermione sat with the sleeping Harry for the rest of the day. At dinner time Madame Pomfrey came to give Harry his potions, "Dear are you still here," she said to Hermione, "You needn't worry, he will be fine."

"Thanks. What are the potions for?" Hermione asked.

"One to counter the damage Crucio causes, another to ensure he wakes as if from a long sleep, so he will be strong and ready to take on the world again and one for nourishment. You look pale, you've been here all day. Go downstairs and get something to eat and then get some rest. You have my word, I will call for you if Harry's condition changes."

Hermione smiled weakly and did just that.

***

"Harry? Can you hear me? Wake up, please." Hermione begged, stroking the back of Harry's hand with her thumb. He had been in the hospital wing for three days now and Hermione was feeling lonely.

"I thought I'd find you here," Rae said, walking up to Harry's bed, "You miss him, huh?"
Hermione nodded.

"Well, I just came because McGonagall wants to see you right away. Seemed kind of important."

"Thanks," Hermione got up and headed to the Headmistress's office.

"Ahh, Miss Granger, hello," McGonagall greeted somewhat motherly.

"Hi, Professor."

"I have some concerns for you. Take a set."

Hermione sat, feeling that McGonagall's invitation of a seat was more along the lines of a demand.

"I have reason to believe you are with child."

Hermione's mouth dropped open in confusion, "Huh? What?" she spluttered.

"I will explain in due course, but first we must see if you are indeed pregnant. I want you to take this potion back to your room and drink it. It is a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant you will see a blue glow around your stomach, if not the glow will be red. Please report back to me once you know and I will explain more."

"O-ok," Hermione was still confused but heeded her teacher's orders nevertheless.

***

Back in the Head's common room, Hermione drank the potion. To her pleasant surprise it tasted like the sweetest berries. She looked down at her stomach and waited for the glow. Less than a minute later she was enveloped in a blue light.

"I am pregnant," she whispered, sitting down to catch her breathe. How was she going to go through this, she was only 17 and the baby's father was in a coma!

"Ok, Hermione breathe," she coached herself, "I'll be fine, time to find out what McGonagall knows."

***

"Yes I thought that would be the case," McGonagall spoke softly after Hermione had told her the test was positive, "This is rather disconcerting news, I'm afraid. This should be a happy time for yourself and Harry, however this matter is a lot more complicated. There has been a new prophecy, concerning your child, witnessed by me this morning." McGonagall removed a Pensieve from the cabinet and proceeded to withdraw a memory from her mind.

Hermione sat in silence as she listened to the prophecy.

The one to vanquish the Dark Lord has passed on his blood.

The task is no longer his.

The one to vanquish the Dark Lord is not yet born but still exists.

The one to vanquish the Dark Lord is the heir of the Boy-Who-Lived.

Hermione sat, stone faced, scared. Her child had to vanquish Voldemort? No, that's not fair.

"Miss Granger, I know this is disturbing news – but you needed to know. And so does Harry. I want you to know you can come to me for anything."

Hermione nodded in understanding and went to tell Harry – even if he couldn't hear her.

***

Hermione's eyes stung from tears as she sat by the still comatose Harry.

"I need you Harry," she choked through her tears, "We're having a baby and it's so complicated. I can't do this by myself – please come back to me."

"Hermione?" Rae said, walking up to the bed with Ron, " Sorry, couldn't help over hearing, did you say you're pregnant?" Hermione nodded, "But that's great news, why the tears?"

Hermione recited the prophecy to her two best friends.

"Shit," Rae whispered, wrapping Hermione in a comforting hug.

"It's ok Hermione," Ron said, "We'll get through this. Harry will wake up and everything will be fine. Please don't be upset, look after yourself and the baby."

Hermione wiped away her tears, "Thanks Ron."

"Now come to class with us, it'll distract you from worrying so much."

***

Hermione, Ron and Rae sat down in the back row of the Charms classroom and took out their wands and books.

"Today we will be learning the charm called 'Serpentus Protectum'," Professor Flitwick explained, "It is a defensive charm used to ward off serpents, as not everyone has the ability to speak parseltongue. I have some small, non-venomous snakes here for us to practice on. Now get into groups of three and remember the incantation is 'Serpentus Protectum' and the wand movement is a sharp stab."

Rae collected a snake and returned to Hermione and Ron, "You go first," she said the Hermione. Hermione picked up her wand and with a sharp stabbing motion, knocked the snake back a couple of feet. She and Harry had both mastered non-verbal spells a while ago, to help Harry in his mission.

The snake slithered back over to the group and Ron raised his wand to ward it off. He jabbed his wand at the snake and said the incantation several times, but it wasn't working. The snake raised its head, as if to strike and Ron whimpered.

"Hsst hisshst!" The snake backed off and coiled up to fall asleep on the desk. Ron and Rae both looked at Hermione in shocked disbelief.

"What?" Hermione said, looking back and forth at her two friends.

"You – you spoke parseltongue!" Ron stuttered.

"What? Ron, don't be ridiculous, I'm not a parselmouth."

"Uh, yeah, apparently you are," Rae said, "Say something else to the snake."

"Like what?"

"Send it back to the cages," Ron said, "I don't like it sleeping in front of me."

"Ok, um, hsssss htshhhsst," Hermione watched in disbelief as the snake slithered back to the cages, "Wow!" she breathed.

For the rest of the lesson, Hermione sat, deep in thought and at the end of the class she headed straight for the library. She needed answers.

***

"Professor, I found something. I think I can fulfill the prophecy," Hermione said sitting across from McGonagall.

"I'm sorry Miss Granger, I'm not sure I follow you."

"Today, in charms, I spoke parseltongue and I had a look in the library and discovered that sometimes magical powers can be passed on through conception. I have Harry's powers and with some training I think I can vanquish Voldemort."

"Ah, I understand now. Yes you are right about magic passing on through conception. It only happens between very powerful witches and wizards, it seems, once again yours and Harry's powers have been underestimated. I will clarify one thing, however. Those powers belong to your baby, you can merely use them while you are pregnant. To vanquish Voldemort you would have to fight him while pregnant. It's very dangerous."

"It's better than the alternative. I don't want my child growing up with the same burden Harry has had to carry. Not if I can help it."

"Very well, Miss Granger, I will organize for you to start training."

Hermione left McGonagall's office, she had a big job ahead of her. She would do anything in her power to make sure her child was brought into this world happy and free of burden.