"You and Zabini break up? He's flirting with that younger redhead you lot hang out with."

Lena looked up from her book on wizarding history to where the Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team (and the ex of Marietta Edgecombe) was leaning on the table next to her with a cocky smirk on his face. Smiling slightly, she glanced across the hall at where Blaise and Ginny were laughing about something, the boy meeting her eyes questioningly as if he knew she was looking at him. She just looked back up at Rodger Davies with a raised eyebrow. "I wanted quiet and they wanted to hang out. Does it matter if they're flirting?"

The boy shrugged a single shoulder lazily. "It doesn't if you're not dating… and even if you are…"

Closing her book and putting it in her bag, she gave the boy her full attention, slowly taking in his overconfident posture and the smug tilt to his lips as if he'd already won something. "You were sent here as a dare or a joke. I'm curious- what was it?"

"I- uh-" His mask faltered for a long and obvious second before it slammed back up with a grin, but his voice was lower than before- as if telling a secret. "Those guys. In the corner of Ravenclaw. They bet me good money I could get with you… if we do, wanna split it?"

"Do not disappoint me by falling for such cheap slander. This is pathetic."

Or perhaps this could be fun…

Riddle made a noise of outrage. "Fun? Lena!"

"A game... I see." Lena tilted her head just slightly, letting her lips pull up in a mischievous smile. "How about this instead. You tell me who you hate the most out of the whole school and I'll do… a little something for you."

"Lena, you're mad. Batty. Nutty. Whatever '-tty' you want to be, you can't honestly be considering this."

Davies smirked, regaining the pompous tone to his voice. "Terry Boot. He's some know-it-all muggle-born that's worse than even that Granger girl." The boy jerked his thumb to where a boy with slightly long blonde wavy hair was wearing thick glasses and leaning over a book. "Total dweeb. Now, about that 'little something'… you wanna go to the storage closet on the third floor?"

He held out his hand.

Taking it, she stood, pulling him in so her lips were almost against his ear. "What I'll do for you will be this: I am going to let you have this single moment where I will graciously allow you to touch me, then you will leave me alone or I will make sure no one ever finds the remains of your severed genitalia." Feeling him flinch, she pulled back and let go of him, taking her bag and walking past him without a word.

Though she swore he was holding his breath as she did.

Moving to stand at the edge of the Ravenclaw table, she smiled as gently as she could when Terry Boot looked up in surprise. "Mr. Boot… may I sit next to you?"

"Is- is this a joke?"

"I promise it isn't. I just thought that since I was alone reading and you were alone reading that maybe we could read separately but together." Taking his stunned expression as a sign she could sit down, she did so, reaching to pull out her book as well as a small paper bag. "Would you like chocolate? I have peppermint, caramel, and cherry."

Terry blinked owlishly behind his glasses. "Um- uh- caramel please."

Lena nodded, pulling out a single wrapped chocolate in the shape of a 'J' and setting it in front of the boy. "There you go." With one last smile, she opened her book again to the page she'd dog-eared and started to read.

The study hall went peacefully and she was engrossed in reading when a hand tapped her shoulder.

Blinking up at where Daphne was smiling at her questioningly, she sighed. "Ah. It's time for Nicolas' death maze, isn't it? Very well." Folding the corner of the page, she stood with a smile to the boy watching her curiously. "Oh, I almost forgot- I'm Lena. Lena Farland."

"I know." The boy flushed slightly, stuttering adorably as he ducked his hand. "I mean- well- you're the Queen of Slytherin and- and- I mean everyone knows who you are!"

She held out her hand, with an amused smile. "And you?"

The boy flushed further. "Oh- I-" Seeming to catch himself, he took her hand nervously. "I'm Terry Boot, Miss Lena."

"No 'miss'. Just Lena. All my friends call me that." Pretending like the boy's wide-eyed look at the term didn't upset her slightly, she glanced at Daphne, who looked amused with all of this and released his hand slowly. "If you need somewhere to sit we always have room at Slytherin."

"Oh, I couldn't..."

"He's not worth it."

Shut up.

She arched an eyebrow, something about Riddle's tone making her rash and wanting to prove him wrong. "Tomorrow. Breakfast. You'll sit next to me."

The boy immediately nodded, looking a bit overwhelmed. "Oh- okay."

"And let me or one of the other snakes know should anyone have a problem with you. I'll skin them." Then she nodded and turned on her heel, starting for the door to the hall, pretending she wasn't slightly out of her normal waters of interacting with people.

"What was that?"

Lena made a soft sound of frustration. "His soul is probably made of cotton compared to me… It's adorable, but I think I might be the worst thing to ever happen to that poor lamb."

Daphne just laughed brightly, patting her shoulder. "Or the best. Now come on. Let's try not to die to your crazy alchemist friend's insane ideas of physical exercise."

To her surprise, a nervous-looking Terry Boot was already waiting at the end of the Slytherin table when she came in earlier than the rest of her house, as was usual. "Terry. Wonderful. Have you been up long?"

"Just- well- maybe a bit?" The boy shrugged shyly, not looking at her. "I'm a morning person."

"Ugh. Disgusting." Starting to walk away, she paused when she realized he wasn't following her. With a mental sigh, she moved back to where the boy had frozen with wide eyes, putting a hand on his shoulder softly. "Sorry, that was supposed to be a sarcastic jab. I personally hate mornings and everything they stand for. I didn't mean it as an insult."

Terry looked at her for a long moment, before seeming to come back to his senses and flushing. "Oh- oh sorry I didn't mean to-"

"Don't do that. You had every right to be upset with my bad joke." Taking hold of his wrist lightly, she pulled him towards the head of the Slytherin table. "Sit and read if you want, no one will bother you here."

"I-... thanks." Shy brown eyes crinkled slightly around the edges even if his lips were being pressed together in what looked like slight mortification.

Lena just nodded, as she too had this slight embarrassment building in her chest at her actions, though she was significantly better at hiding it. "So you like Arithmancy? I'm not all that great at it, though I do okay. I like Runes better."

"How disgustingly Ravenclaw."

You're really being a prat, you know that?"

Riddle scoffed. "He's not worth your time."

Terry smiled widely, seeming to come to life with the question. "Well it's all basic math and- and I've always been good at math! Potions are enough like Chemistry too- but, well, I'm not too good at Charms or Transfiguration..."

"Then maybe if you help me in Arithmancy I can help you in Charms and Transfiguration?"

"I don't understand. What do you see in him?"

When the boy beamed and started to talk about Arithmancy proofs that were way above her head, she just smiled and put her chin in her hands.

What I see is someone not tainted by blood and darkness. I see hope and retribution, dear… I see sunshine.

"You'll never be able to keep him, less stain that purity with your bloody hands. I only want what's best for you, darling... Let him go."

I can't talk to you right now- not when you're blatantly trying to manipulate me.

Taking off the locket, she slipped it in her bag, starting to guide Terry into a part of Arithmancy she understood better so they could talk.

Dumbledore was sitting in a chair by the window in his office when she opened the door without even bothering to knock, moving around the ornate desk to sit in his chair, knowing the man would speak his mind when he wanted.

The specially-made muggle chair that would help with back pain was carved with runes she and Sinestra had collaborated on to make the chair look like his usual throne as not to upset the sensitive Board of Directors.

Lena was spinning around in the muggle chair lazily when the man finally spoke.

"I heard... that you are fighting as a general in the war I started."

"Started?"

She voiced the thought that Riddle had. "And how did you start this war? It was Tom that went mad with power."

Blue eyes were sad and tired as they caught hers. "I did not believe. I could not see past Tom Riddle's flaws and instead pushed him further into the dark magic he was so tempted by." The man's eyes flickered to where she was wearing the locket and she moved to tuck it under her shirt to hide it instinctively. Dumbledore looked back out the window. "That be-damned prophecy though… ruined so many lives."

"Prophecy? Theodore's father- he said something about-" Stopping the chair and closing her eyes, she tried to remember his exact words. "He told me… the Dark Lord would be pleased to know I would die or something, but before he said that, he said that I was one of the two twins of the Prophecy."

Dumbledore didn't look at her (or couldn't).

Lena clenched her hands on the armrests of the chair. "I thought he was crazy. I thought…"

"The prophecy was- is real." Standing, the old headmaster moved to a bookshelf to her right and pulled out a thick tome, laying it on the desk and flipping it open. Inside the hollow box disguised to look like a book was a glass orb that seemed to be floating around in a magical containment center. "There was said to be a child that would be the downfall of the Dark Lord born at the end of July, 'as the seventh month dies'. That neither could live while the other survives."

She just stared at the broken glass shards, voice coming out in a whisper. "It's real then."

The man nodded, something of a frown on his face before he turned away. "It is. And that is where the mystery comes in. I had thought that one of you would have to die, that I would have to raise you or your brother to kill my former student… but then after that night, I thought maybe because both of you had died, that it was over. But you came out of the shadows, along with him… and now I don't know what to think."

Lena reached out, listening to the prophecy in absent horror, and when the last line finished she let it go and sunk back into the chair. "It's predicted. Final. This… this has to happen?"

"I don't know." Dumbledore moved back to his chair. "I thought during the war that fighting was the only way to survive Voldemort's madness… But know I just don't know."

"How?" Her stare was on the orb, her voice vacant as if trying to connect how this small glass orb had effectively ruined her life, hand twitching as she controlled her urge to smash it. "Who, if this was here… who told Voldemort?"

The man only looked at her with those tired eyes for a long moment, voice soft. "Lena, dear child, you don't want to-"

"TELL ME!" Her face was flushed with anger, hands clenched on the chair as her voice then sunk to a deadly whisper. "If this prophecy was spoken in confidence to you, then what Death Eater would be close enough to you to tell-..."

And then, in the cold light of the setting sun, she had a realization.

A horrible, horrible realization that wormed its way into her brain and cut into her heart, taking a deep breath and letting it out in something ragged with her eyes burning. Closing them against tears, she thought she could feel her throat clogging up with the betrayal.

Severus Snape.

Severus Snape had told Voldemort the prophecy.

"Lena," The old man stood with soft footsteps, "you have to listen to me. It wasn't his fault. He didn't know it was your family that was-"

"Does that make it okay?" It was a bare whisper, cracking slightly.

Dumbledore paused for a long moment. "He was working outside of Hogwarts at the time, under Voldemort when he heard the prophecy, as it had happened without warning in one of the Hog's Head's rooms. If he had not told what he'd heard- the first few lines- then he would have been killed as Tom was past insane at the time." A hand settled on her shoulder. "After he found out who Voldemort had killed because of him he came to me as a last resort, drowning in guilt and liquor, and asked if I would save him even knowing what he did. I did."

There was the sound of shattering glass from around her as the room shook slightly with the force of the windows exploding, her temper rising to where the bookshelves were rattling on the walls. "The prophecy was spoken in The Hog's Head? " The wood of the desk creaked dangerously. "Is my life- my fate- my happiness… worth so little to you?"

"Lena, I was interviewing teachers." Dumbledore held up his hands just slightly, not even blinking at how his office was being ripped apart by her magic. "I didn't know what fate had in store."

The shaking slowly lessened as she curled up in the chair and put her head to her knees.

"Lena-"

"Quiet. I'm trying not to kill you." Her voice was waspish, but Dumbledore clearly knew better than to say anything about it.

The grandfather clock in the corner of the room filled the space with quiet ticking and she slowly breathed through all her feelings, trying to get back to a rational state of mind.

After a few minutes, the old man spoke, seeming to sense her magic slowly coiling back under her skin. "The reason I brought you here today was that Severus told me about the promise you made to him about keeping yourself safe until you turn 17 and I wanted to encourage you to not come back to Hogwarts next year."

"WHAT?" Riddle's voice was a surprised shout.

Lena looked up, feeling as tired and emotionally drained as the man looked, the bags under his blue eyes seeming more prominent along with his wrinkles. "...What?"

"I thought perhaps young Mr. Malfoy would have told you, but Lucius Malfoy is running to be the next Minister. Along with that, Lord Gaunt- who I am not sure if I trust with you yet- has decided to take up the Defence Professor's position next year as well as being on the school board." There was then something to the man's eyes, something like regret paired with determination as he stood from the armchair by the window. "I would like you to have my wand, as I have another, and even if it isn't as powerful as this one I will at least know that you are protected."

"You," her voice broke slightly, "...you're giving up. Aren't you? You expect them to kill you- to replace you from the post you've held fast for so long..."

The Headmaster nodded. "There is little I can do now. Those I fought with in the first war have kids of their own or are too old to face this coming force." Moving forward, the man put a gentle hand on her head. "You, my dear, are the last hope we have and I will not make you face this before you are ready. So I ask that you run. Run... and take my wand with you."

Lena couldn't breathe.

She was only fifteen and yes, Jack had told her she'd do great things, but running from an oppressive government until she could take down a Dark Lord three times her age wasn't what she thought he'd meant by that.

When she finally found her voice, it was hoarse and strangled, as she was currently ignoring that she was on the edge of crying. "You will not lay down and die." Standing and knocking his hand off her head, she narrowed her eyes at him. "I will take your wand and run, fine, but if I do then you have to promise me that you will fight to your last breath to keep all those that I care about safe. You will have them write letters for me and send those letters when you can, keep them from Voldemort's gaze- and most importantly- tell me if he so much as takes a threatening step towards one of them."

"You're just going to- to run away?"

I have no choice. In the state I am in now, with the government against me, I won't be able to act unless I get stronger and I won't be able to do that under Voldemort's gaze.

Dumbledore nodded. "I will do that, as well as get some guides and portkeys to places I know are safe and out of sight. However, I ask that you go to the Potter's for the first month of your summer so that I can make sure that when Tom thinks you are out of the county, I can see where he searches so I know where not to send you."

As she nodded, not able- in her tired exhaustion- to say no, she started to dread this plan.

What kind of boring and horrible 'safe places' away from her family would he send her?

Lena found herself laying, sprawled out against the sofa in the Chamber of Secrets, staring at the ceiling that she'd charmed to look like the night sky.

(She'd needed something to do with her magic that wasn't destroying something.)

:Delphi… what would you think if someone told you that you had to kill someone because of a prophecy?: Her voice echoed slightly off the walls and though the snake wasn't in sight, she knew that she'd be heard.

Like a ghost, Delphi slid out from behind a statue where she sometimes curled up, moving to instead loop herself around the sofa and laying her large diamond head over Lena's torso. One great big poison green eye blinked slowly at her. :Prophecies can often be misleading. What was spoken?:

:The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies and the Dark Lord will mark her as his equal, but she will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.: Lena recited the words easily having been thinking them over for the last hour or two, trying to find some meaning or sign that she had any chance to survive against the Dark Lord.

The snake seemed to consider her words. :Shall I eat the person opposing you?:

Lena snorted softly, petting a hand over the scales and shaking her head. :They too are a speaker and I would not have you go against your nature just to hurt them.:

"That is what the other version of me did." Riddle sounded curious about her words.

And the other version of you was being an idiot.

"...fair enough."

:Then Heiress will have to fight them.:

She nodded absently, as she'd already come to that conclusion. :Yes… that is what I fear.: