Harry Potter and the Revelation of Prophecy

A/N: Another week, another chapter.

Hermione put up no resistance to Harry embracing her. Sure, it was a bit odd, considering that Harry had never done anything of the sort before. Still, there was a first time for everything. She wrapped her arms around Harry's back, feeling the strong muscles that he had developed through his recent training. They seemed to be too big to be explained away by two weeks of exercise, especially since Harry had never engaged in such pursuits before this summer. When Harry's lips had met her own, though, she lost all conscious thought.

A few seconds later, when Harry finally broke the kiss, he held Hermione's face for a few moments, looking into her eyes. She looked dazed, and had a glazed over expression, but, at the same time, deeper in her eyes, she looked deliriously happy. He smiled at her, and her smile in return told him everything was alright, and that she felt the same. He then turned towards the audience, where the reporters were snapping pictures of them with renewed fervor. He was sure that when they were released from their Secrecy Spell, the Daily Prophet would have a full page picture of him and Hermione in a slightly-more-than-friendly position, but this did not have the same effect on him as it used to. This would mean, however, that Harry would have to rush a bit so that he could tell those who needed to be told in person before they read about it in the paper.

He especially needed to get to Ron before he read the paper. He was sure that if Ron read the paper before Harry told him in person, the reaction would be exponentially worse than if Harry had told him in person. As it was already, Harry was sure he would have to subdue Ron with a few Strength Sappers to prevent him becoming a danger to himself and others. The fact that Harry would once again be exalted over Ron would probably not sit well with Mr. Inferiority Complex. Adding to that the fact that Harry seemed, in what Harry imagined Ron's logic would be, to have “stolen” Hermione from him, and Harry was sure that Ron would try to curse him. At the very least, Harry would probably have a broken jaw if he didn't prepare.

Pushing such morbid thoughts out of his mind for the time being, he kept his arm around Hermione's waist, and pulled her close to him while he waved and smiled at the cameras taking his picture.

Ten minutes later, with no end to the pictures in sight, Harry glanced up at Adrian. Adrian was sitting forward, his hands steepled in front of him, a bemused expression on his face. Deciding it was time to bring Adrian back to reality so they could get on with Hermione's initiation, Harry reached out with his Legilimency skill and, for lack of a better word, “poked” Adrian in the mind. This caused Adrian to jump up, and furiously glare around the hall, until his eyes met Harry's. Adrian looked over at the reporters, and, finally realizing the problem, raised him wand over his head.

“Fragor!” he shouted.

The noise that echoed through the hall was almost deafening. It worked, though. All of the reporters who had hereunto been annoying Harry and Hermione were now looking at Adrian with a cross between anger and fear.

Harry, having known what Adrian was likely to do to try and restore order, had drawn his wand and summoned an orange transparent shield around himself and Hermione. The shield, a sort of temporary version of a Muggle Haz-mat suit, was originally meant to protect from fumes, poison gas, and electricity. However, since it stopped the passage of air and force between the inside and outside of the bubble, it protected them from the wave of sound that had engulfed the hall. Dispelling the shield, he noticed, with some amusement, the reporters desperately rubbing their ears to try and clear them of the ringing he was sure they had. Harry was all too familiar with that spell, as Adrian had used it on him when Harry had been laughing at Adrian tripping in his battle armor and then unable to get up. When his pleas for assistance were drowned out by Harry's laughter, he had used the spell to get Harry's attention.

Now, the reporters had recovered, and were looking up at Adrian with anger, though Harry noticed it was tinged with more than a little trepidation.

Adrian, for his part, looked amused, and instructed them to return to their seats. Once they had complied, he then instructed Hermione to give the Bible to Harry. He held it out in front of her, and she rested her left hand on it. She took her oath, which was basically the same as Harry's with the appropriate changes for her name. When she was finished, Harry was forced to drop the Bible and brace himself as Hermione threw herself into his arms, and, taking the initiative, gave him a kiss to rival the one she had just given him. They quickly lost themselves in each other, and only broke apart at a telekinetic slap on each of their heads by Adrian, who was glaring at them from his seat above. They both looked sheepishly at him and then looked towards the audience, who were applauding once more.

Remus still looked shocked, which had probably been compounded by them kissing. Dumbledore had a broad smile on his face and an almost insane twinkle in his eye. The guests had a myriad of looks, from shock (most of the men and the older women) to happiness (some of the men and women) to rage and jealousy (most of the younger women). The rage and jealousy was mostly directly at Hermione, and Harry started feeling a seething hate at these people who were plotting how to steal him from Hermione, as if he was some trophy that could be possessed. Hermione was oblivious to this, of course, as her mental magical skills were still untrained. All she could see was a few women with dirty looks on their faces. To Harry, however, waves of hate so strong as to be sickening were pouring out of the audience. Shaking his head in disgust, he turned off his Empathy sense and looked around some more. The press corps had remained in their seats, grudgingly complying with Adrian's order. One could see, however, how their fingers itched to grab their cameras and snaps pictures like crazy.

Adrian stood, and so did everyone else in the hall. He then extended his hands out in front of him, as if a priest giving a blessing.

“Sic erit,” he stated, “Harrius Iacobus Potter et Hermia Iana Granger, vos spem novam Britanniae et mundi estis! Vadete in pace mundum amare et servire!”

“Deo gratias,” responded the crowd, (and Harry and Hermione, though a bit late).

With this, the crowd started to file out. Dumbledore and Remus left the row they had been sitting in, but rather than leave, they walked forward to the dais where Harry and Hermione were still standing, taking in all that had happened.

“Congratulations,” said Dumbledore upon reaching them.

“Thanks, Professor,” they responded together.

“Yeah, congratulations, but I still don't know what's going on,” said Remus.

“All will be explained, Moony,” said Harry cryptically, “but first we need to find someplace private to talk.” He looked up at Adrian, who was descending from the high seats along with the rest of the councilors. When he reached the bottom, he walked over to them and offered his own congratulations.

“Thanks Adrian, but we need someplace to talk, and I was hoping to ask you a few questions.”

“Sure,” responded Adrian, “Come up with me to my office, and we'll speak there.”

With that, he turned and walked towards the exit of the hall, leaving the four to follow in his wake.

A/N: Alright, the bit of latin means:

Thus shall it be. Harry James Potter and Hermione Jane Granger, you are the new hope of Britain and the world. Go in peace to love and serve the world.

Then everyone responded:

Thanks be to God.

I apologize, it was a bit short this week, but next week we are going to get to the trial, and our first meeting with an irate young Weasley. 0.92% of readers reviewing, almost there, just a little ways to one percent!