Excitement for the summer holiday had spread through the majority of Hogwarts students. There were a handful of solemn stragglers, like herself, who got lost in the revelry. They were easy enough to spot if anyone bothered to look… Most muggleborns couldn't keep up the pretense of shared happiness for the extended time away from the safety of the castle. Others, with less discernible reasons, added their silent scowls.

For the first time, Harry wasn't one of them. He had developed an abnormally optimistic outlook towards the extended break. A transformation that happened to coincide with the beginning of his relationship with Ginny. The recent realization he was weeks from being freed of the Dursleys' abuse bolstered his euphoric disposition to an annoying degree.

Hermione's patience was slowly dwindling for the love-struck couple and she'd begun to see things from Ron's point of view. There was no ill will, but a couple of hours apart would do them both some good. No matter how unlikely that was to happen with exams completed and their month-long separation closing in.

Days…

She had four days left until everything changed…

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"Father said our adventure would have to wait and I will have to make do with the Freshwater Plimpies that live in the stream nearby," Luna explained to a much-too-invested Ron, who had made a point of being exceptionally nice to the witch in the weeks since he had learned of her indifferent feelings toward him. "He is right, of course. Keeping our readers informed is more important…"

"The Gulping Plimpies will always be there," Ron reassured her, dodging around a group of wrestling third years. "You only get one chance to be the voice of truth when people need it."

Luna halted their progress to the courtyard and glared up at the tall wizard, "People have needed to hear the truth for a very long time and my father has provided it, without exception, for a decade."

"Uh… Right, you are!" He glanced around for help that did not come. "I… uhh… meant… he is brave for reportin' on the bad stuff goin' on that the Prophet won't."

Hermione, attempting to cover her amused smirk, turned and used a Protego charm to force the members of the lighthearted quarrel apart, "No fighting. Five points from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Now shoo, before you get yourselves in more trouble!"

Angry grumbling followed the group of boys as they dispersed back into the castle to become someone else's issue. She turned back to the conversation and found that Ron had managed to be forgiven in the time it had taken for her to handle their shared responsibility. A feat that, undoubtedly, had more to do with Luna's gracious nature than his muddled pacification.

"You have never tried Freshwater Plimpy soup?" Luna asked, aghast at the possibility. "You will have to make time for a visit this summer. Father's friends are constantly after my recipe."

"Yeah… I will be sure to do that…" Ron pretended to retch behind the blonde witch's back when she spun around and proceeded down the well-worn path.

"You are laying it on much too thick," Hermione whispered over her shoulder as she followed behind.

He quickly caught up and whispered back, "I'm not hearin' complaints from her and it's her opinion that matters. I didn't want to hurt her feelings."

She shook her head in exasperation but refrained from the lecture on his lack of tact, "Of course you didn't. None of us mean to. I'm sure I wouldn't have done better if the question would have been between myself, Ginny, and any other girl..."

"That is a load of hippogryph shit and you know it."

"It is not. If you don't believe me, go ahead and ask her."

His horrified blue eyes widened at the idea and his rejection was interrupted by someone shouting her name.

"Hermione Granger! Hey! Wait up!" They both stopped and turned as Natalie McDonald, a second year Gryffindor Hermione had never spoken to, ran up and shoved a sealed envelope at her, "Professor McGonagall… said it was important…. I got this to you!"

"Oh… Well, thank you for taking your assignment so seriously." She took the ominous offering from the wheezing witch.

"I went… to the common room first... Ginny Weasley said… you would be here." Natalie explained with a sheepish grin.

"And did my sister say why she was there and not in the Owlery sendin' Fred and George a letter like she said?" Ron interjected.

"Ummm, no." The poor girl gave him a confused look, which was understandable, considering she had no context for the excuse given for the youngest Weasley's absence.

"Thank you again." Hermione smiled to soften the clear dismal. She hardly heard the polite acknowledgment of her gratitude before she pivoted to face Ron. "Leave them alone."

"They are lyin' now! I'm supposed to act like I don't know that?"

"Yes… Because they did it for you with Lavender."

"I… Ugh… You don't have to be right all of the time." His accusation was playful but he still glared at the space above her head.

She ignored him, tore open the letter, and skimmed the sparse contents. "I need to go to McGonagall's office…"

"What? Why?" Anger shifted into concern as he registered the strangled tone of her voice.

"I will tell you later. I need to go, but..." Her feet started to retrace the path she had just taken before she was completely done with her warning. "I'm not kidding, Ron. Let Harry and Ginny be."

"I already said you were right! What more do you want?"

"Easy, give me your word that you will go down there, explain that something came up, and hang out with Luna for a bit. I will be back as soon as I can." She prompted.

"Fine. I'm goin'..." He did what was asked and reluctantly began the short trek that led to the fountain where their friend waited.

As soon as she was out of his sight, she rushed to the third floor.

Dumbledore was back and wished to speak with her.

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The sound of the house elf's disapparition rang throughout the office. Winky had earnestly agreed, with permission from her employer, to care for Draco and his mother. Brought to tears at the critical request, it had taken an eternity to calm her down enough to explain the complexities of the arrangement… And another half an hour to get the tiny creature to agree to return to Hogwarts at the first sign of mistreatment.

Hermione sighed with frustration. There was no relief as part of her enormous burden was passed to another. If anything, it allowed her to focus on more sinister worries that had been pushed aside for problems with practical, albeit fatiguing, solutions.

"Thankfully, that is all settled…. Now, let us move on to the matter that forced me to cut my trip short." The twinkling light that could always be found within the knowledgeable depths across from her had faded further since the last time she had seen the wizened wizard. There was little doubt left, whatever curse had taken his hand would end up with his life. Sooner rather than later. Seemingly undisturbed by the eventuality, Dumbledore gave a reassuring smile before he pressed, "What are the details preceding Trelawney's latest prophecy, Miss Granger?"

She recounted the surreal experience, providing additional description when it was requested. Her body remembered it better than her mind and made her relive every second. Anger, shock, nausea, annoyance, relief, confusion and fear. Dulled though they were, the echoed feelings yielded a clarity to the memory that had evaded her otherwise.

A soft smile turned up the corners of Dumbledore's lips as he listened to the end of her long-winded rambling, "No, I do not think you have to put any serious worry into your positioning for Head Girl."

"Oh thank the Gods… I know that it is selfish to be anxious over something so trivial, but I have worked so hard the last six years." Her explanation was rushed as she wrung her hands into twisted knots.

"I have to admit that I am surprised you are not planning to join Mr. Malfoy in homeschooling for your seventh year. Not that I am complaining, of course." He confessed. "It would wound me to see both of our star pupils forgo their formal educations due to a single reckless decision."

"I… I go where Harry goes until he no longer needs me." Hermione told him, confused. How wasn't that the most obvious conclusion?

"Even if it means the abandonment of your beau and your academic dreams?"

"Yes."

Dumbledore nodded his appreciation for her immediate answer. "Good! Fair-weather friends will not suffice."

"I didn't know he had those." She replied, uneasy with the direction the conversation had turned.

"I fear he might be confronted with that fact one day." His bright blue eyes darkened with the uncomfortable warning. "Alas, I needn't have worried. He will have you if it ever does come."

Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to figure out how to respond to the odd compliment. Who was this fake friend? Ronald? Ginny? Luna? Neville? And how in Erebus did she outrank any of them? They were not shagging his nemesis behind his back…

Harry was royally screwed if she was the best he had to look to for support.

"Yes, I do believe he will be just fine." For a moment the fingers on the old wizard's good hand stroked at his white bread while he was lost in his thoughts. After quite a lengthy silence, Dumbledore remembered her presence and straightened up. "Would it be alright with you if I were to make a copy of your memory for the Prophecy Record?"

She paused as the realization of what he asked sunk in. Her throat went dry and she glanced around for a drink that she didn't have. "Y… You want… to go…"

"Inside your head? Yes, I figured you would rather have someone you trust rather than a Ministry employee do it."

"I cannot refuse?"

"What gave you that idea, Miss Granger?" He looked aghast at her bleak perception of the situation before looking down to the pile of papers in front of him. "I do feel I should disclose that if you do, there will be no formal record. When the time arrives, even if the future headmasters and headmistresses do not misplace your script, wizardkind will not know to look for clues here."

A trapped breath was released and she whispered, "So it wasn't about me?"

"I highly doubt it. You know how unlikely it is for a prophecy to be made in the attendance of the person it belongs to." Dumbledore rejected her presumption with a quick wave of his hand.

"But Harry…"

Distracted from his work by their continued conversation, he gave a soft sigh and looked back up at her. "As we have discussed at length before, Mr. Potter has an extraordinary proclivity to find himself outside the usual laws of magic."

"True…" Hermione accepted the reassurance, even though it did nothing to alleviate the weight of her troubles. "Fine, I give you permission to take what you need."

"Allow me to give thanks in place of the future generation that will need the insight your sacrifice will provide." Dumbledore bowed his head in a placating gesture.

"Sacrifice?"

"Relinquishing control and trusting another person with your sanity could be considered a sacrifice by some."

"Can we get it over with? I don't want to dwell on the stupidity of my choice any longer than I have to…" To conceal her abject terror, she lowered her trembling hands to her lap and clasped them together. The fingernails of her right dug into the knuckles of her left as a way to keep herself present. Her animalistic instincts told her flight was the best option to save herself, but she knew it wouldn't be like the times before. This wasn't an invasion, the interloper had been willingly invited…

He shuffled to his feet and made his way over so that he stood in front of her. "Concentrate on Professor Trelawney's face and words. There is no need for anything else, child. It will only end up getting trimmed before being placed inside of the Prophecy Record."

She nodded, closed her eyes, and did as she was instructed.

"IN DUE COURSE THE END IS COMING…"

The cool tip of his wand pressed to her temple and warmed as the spell began to work. Hermione replayed the chilling prediction four or five times before she felt a strange tugging at the inside of her head. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't exactly comfortable either. The feeling evoked the memory of Procaine. She could sense the movement and pressure of his magic but wasn't able to pinpoint where he was pulling from.

"And there it is…"

Her eyes popped open and she watched as the silver stands of Trelawney's forewarning floated from the end of Dumbledore's wand.

He patiently coaxed the crucial wisps into a small glass decanter before placing the stopper securely in place. Without looking at her, he turned and limped to his seat. "If there is nothing else, I must send this off and start on the unexpected task of finding Mr. Malfoy and his mother a safehouse that none of the Order are aware of."

"My grandmother's cottage…"

"Will be the first place Voldemort looks for you."

Any argument her mind formulated in response was quickly quashed by the reality in the ancient wizard's assessment. The one place she had counted on was no longer safe. Her existence had tainted yet another beautiful thing. "...Thank you, for all of the help."

"There is no need for gratitude, Miss Granger. It is the least I can do to rectify my worst mistakes." Dumbledore slowly lowered himself into the chair, picked up a quill, and started to scratch his thoughts on a slip of empty parchment.

Hermione shifted in the awkward silence, not sure if she had been dismissed or not…

After a drawn-out interval of hushed quiet, she decided formal farewells were not in the cards and stood. She walked over to the door and pivoted before she walked through, "I have a bad feeling."

"Oh?" He looked up from the half-written letter.

She looked him in the eye and voiced her biggest fear. "I… I think that he is still planning to kill you."

"I know."

He stared back until her eyes burned and she blinked first. Unaffected by the news, he returned to the matters he could control. Safehouses… Prophecies… War plans… Anything but his ever-encroaching death.

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"Quick" Author's Note:

Instead of putting this long ramble of a disclaimer at the beginning, I felt that the tiny alteration to canon at the very start of this chapter would go unnoticed by most readers and could be forgiven. I did change the fact that exams are already over (including Ginny's O.W.L.s). This is to avoid the plot hole during Ch. 25, The Seer Overheard, HP . Ginny is busy studying when Harry is called to Dumbledore's office the night they go to get the locket. Dumbledore's death date is listed as June 30th, 1997. Students leave for summer holiday on July 1st... I tried going back to the dates O.W.L.s were taken in OotP, to see if Hogwarts just liked adding that kind of stress to the final day of term for fifth years, and ran into another inaccuracy between canon (June 18th) and the actual calendar date of 1996 (June 20th). Either way, all exams would have been completed by the time this chapter takes place, June 28th, 1997.

I understand that was quite a bit of thought for a single line, lol. Gotta love the rabbit holes that happen sometimes!

I hope that everyone has entered 2025 healthily and happily!

As always…

Much love,

SlytherclawLuv