Hi everyone and thanksto those whoreviewed:
alix33 - well, Dumbledore's actions could be seen as unethical I suppose, but he's Dumbledore so we know he's just trying to help. Also the age difference between the two is80 years! (but I imagine thats lesssignificant a difference in the wizarding world)
BansheeGirl - I promise I will keep writing...I know where this story is going and am determined to finish eventually although it will, as you say, be quite long!
Big thank yous to all you wonderful people who were so complementary - your encouragement isone of the major factors in this story continuing!
Now...on with the tale (and a most important chapter):-)
The memory faded abruptly and Minerva McGonagall got to her feet.
"Minerva?" asked Molly in concern.
"Sit down, Minerva," growled Alastor, "We've still got a lot to get through, and they need to understand."
McGonagall sighed.
"Could you continue without me for a moment?" she said in a hard voice, that was little more than a whisper.
Lupin stood up, "I'm sure they can," he answered.
"They?" queried McGonagall.
"I'll come with you."
"No thank you, Remus."
"Minerva -"
"I am quite alright by myself, Remus."
He nodded and sat back down whilst she slipped out of the room.
"Right," said Moody, determined to continue.
Minerva hurried into her first divination lesson, and as with all of her other classes, was the first to arrive. She took her seat and retrieved her textbook, parchment and quill, whilst waiting for the rest of her class to arrive.
Professor Caset smiled at her, "Minerva McGonagall?" he asked.
"Yes, Professor. How did you know?" she asked eagerly, "Divination."
"I'm afraid not, my dear," Caset smiled softly, "The truth, divination is a difficult thing to control, I cannot pick what I see, or even if I see. However, I have heard rumours about you; your enthusiasm and intelligence."
A small smile played with her face.
"Ah," said Caset looking up, "Here are the rest of your classmates."
The group, comprised of Gryffindors and Slytherins, filed into the room and took their seats.
"Right," said Caset loudly, still standing beside Minerva's desk, "Let us beg…" his voice trailed off and his body suddenly became rigid, whilst his deep brown eyes stared fixatedly at Minerva.
Some of the class began to whisper excitedly, "He's going to start the lesson with a prediction!"
"This is so exciting."
Caset's voice broke through the chatter, but it was different, harsh and powerful.
"You," he pointed a long thin finger at Minerva, "The Gryffindor lion will trust you, but you will betray him. He has power few can destroy – but you can. You will lead him to his doom, or else he will take all power from you."
A shocked silence filled the room as Caset blinked a few times and stared around the class.
"A prediction," he whispered to himself in realisation, "Is everyone alright?"
People immediately began nodding and chattering to each other about what had just happened. However, Minerva remained frozen in her seat, her hands shaking slightly.
"You're going to kill Dumbledore," growled a Gryffindor boy, "You are a Slytherin after all."
"Not if Dumbledore takes her power, she won't," said another, "I'm sure he will. He's stronger than her."
"Silence," ordered Caset immediately, "The prediction!" he demanded, turning to a small glass orb on his desk. He watched as his words were slowly repeated back to him and a frown creased his forehead.
"Miss McGonagall -"
"Please may I leave?" she whispered shakily.
He nodded, "Of course, but Miss -"
She was gone.
Minerva fled the divination room and headed for Gryffindor tower where she sat, silently contemplating the prophecy until her classmates entered and she quickly felt the need to escape.
She ran along to the corridor where the room of requirement stood and began to think desperately, "I need somewhere to hide, somewhere where nobody else will upset me."
The door appeared and she rushed inside, slamming it shut behind her and sank into the soft chair she found there.
"Hang on," said Fred, "So McGonagall is predicted to kill Dumbledore."
"Or him kill her," added George.
"Blimey," said Fred, "You think they'd be keeping their distance from each other wouldn't you."
"Boys," said Arthur Weasley, strangely taking on a disciplining role in his family, "This isn't funny."
"We"
"never"
"said"
"it was!"
"I honestly don't believe in the strength of a prophecy, boys," said Minerva McGonagall, framed in the doorway.
"How do you mean, Professor?" asked Hermione.
McGonagall entered and took a seat, "Its like the sorting hat and Albus have both said, our choices make us who we are."
"But if there are prophecies?"
"That suggests there are no choices" smiled McGonagall, pleased at Hermione's understanding, "But there are choices, always."
"Which means there can be no fixed path of fate or destiny?"
"Precisely," said McGonagall.
"But so many prophecies have been realised," said Hermione in confusion.
"I believe the key is our attitude to predictions, Hermione. Many prophecies are self-fulfilling; if we accept them into our lives and believe they are true, conduct our lives on the basis that they are true…"
"Then they become true," smiled Hermione, suddenly understanding.
McGonagall nodded, "Precisely. Remember that won't you?" her eyes flickered around the room, but Harry could have sworn they rested on him slightly longer than anyone else. However, he couldn't imagine why, it wasn't as though he was a strong believer in divination anyway.
But we know why...don't we! (remember this is OOTP christmas - no prophecyfor Harry yet)
Please R&R
More chapterssoon (promise)