Chapter 7
Ginny slept that night a little less tense than usual. Dumbledore had spoken to her parents about Draco and reassured them that he wasn't anything like his father, but that it would benefit their cause if Draco did not reveal how much he was against his father's cause. Molly and Arthur called her inside the library and the rest were sent to bed.
"Harry, Ron, will you please show Hermione, Lavender, Neville and Draco to their rooms please," Dumbledore told them.
"Yes, sir. Which rooms will they each be occupying?" asked Harry.
"Their names will appear on the doors of the bedrooms designated for them."
"Okay then. Goodnight sir. Aunt Molly, Uncle Arthur. Ginny, we'll see you in the morning."
The six of them made it to the second floor and looked at the bedroom doors for their names. They saw that Neville, Draco and Ron were placed in the West Wing - Ron's things had been moved - with Harry. They saw that Ginny's room stayed the same, Lavender was placed in the room Ron had occupied and Hermione's was a door next to the bathroom. The rooms were decorated the same as Ginny's with different hues. Ron and Harry noticed that Harry's side of the wing had been altered and now had four doors for each of the boys. They had been almost sure that the house was a muggle house, but seeing the rooms change within the span of a few hours was enough to convince them that though there were no moving portraits, they were living in a wizard's house - whose house it was they have yet to discover.
The six bid each other good night and settled into their room. Of course, Ron provided Lavender with a very lengthy good-bye kiss that almost put them over the edge in Lavender's bed had it not been for Lavender reminding Ron that his parent's were downstairs. Lavender smiled and shut the door before he had a more amorous idea on another lengthy goodnight kiss.
Harry, on the other hand, went inside Hermione's room and closed the door. He kissed her with tenderness and passion that left his and Hermione's head reeling with pleasure. He knew he'd have to stop himself soon or would continue to go further. He'd already had his hand on her breast when he realized what he was doing. He stopped abruptly to look at Hermione whose expression did not contain Harry's passion at all. Her eyes were smoldering with zeal that mirrored his own.
He stepped back to gain his control and Hermione missed his warmth immediately. She wanted to protest, but her practical mind instantly rebuked her and she sighed in defeat.
"I'd better go to my room," Harry told her near her ear when he took her in his arms in a gentle embrace. His warm breath sent shivers down her spine and all she could do was nod in agreement. She didn't know how much more she could take as well.
"Goodnight Harry," she whispered as she let go of his hand before she closed the door.
"Goodnight, love."
Draco laid awake in his bed wondering what Molly, Arthur and Dumbledore were doing with Ginny downstairs. He couldn't seem to take his mind off of her and then seeing her for the first time in almost a month, it was just too much for him to hold back when he stepped inside the door and saw her. He knew of course that it wouldn't be a good thing to just run to her and kiss her in front of her parents since they don't know about their relationship yet, so he had opted to stand where he was. He almost shouted his thanks when Dumbledore suggested they all go to the kitchen away from the adults prying eyes. He didn't care then. He knew they were all to be trusted. He could still taste her in his tongue even after the cake and butterbeer. Oh how he ached to have her near him.
Ginny on the other hand was trying to keep her composure as Molly and Arthur interrogated her.
"So, was there something you'd like to share with us Ginny, dear?" asked Molly sweetly.
Ginny looked at Dumbledore and he smiled reassuring the young lady that it was okay to tell them the truth. "Er. Well, Draco and I have been dating for a while now."
"Dear Merlin," Molly and Arthur gasped simultaneously. "Did you say dating?"
"Er, yes?"
"We thought you'd just befriended him from what Dumbledore was telling us."
"Oh," was all she could let out. How could she have been foolish as to expect Dumbledore to divulge the fact that they'd been dating?
"You - you mean to tell us that, that boy and you - have"
"Kissed?" supplied Ginny.
"Yes!" Arthur sputtered.
"Er, yes. That is what people do when they date." She answered matter-of-factly and gained some of her confidence back.
"Dear Merlin!" was all Molly could say.
"Mum, dad?"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Well, would you have let me? Seeing as you hate Luciuc Malfoy and then the way you reacted to Draco when he showed up at the door. He's not his father. He's actually kind, funny, a bit stubborn but he's brave too. He helped us out when were in the forest."
Molly and Arthur sighed in resignation. They knew they would have done everything to keep Ginny away from a Malfoy. But seeing her with the way her eyes lit up when she was describing Draco was enough for them to realize that she cared about the boy. They couldn't be unbending not knowing that Harry, Ron and Hermione were also being civil with him.
"Well, did Ron and Harry know?"
"Yes"
"What!"
"Don't worry, they were against it at first too, but they saw the way Draco treated me and they were adult about the whole situation."
That was the clincher. The word 'adult' made them re-evaluate the way they'd ranted and raved about how Draco was not a suitable friend for any of their children. They'd been immature about the whole thing and Ginny just put it in perspective for them. They could no more act as the adults they were than the way Ron and Harry accepted her relationship in an adult fashion. They relented.
"Okay, fine. But see here Dumbledore, I don't want any funny business with all these teenagers full of hormones running around this place."
"Don't worry yourself Arthur, I am sure the teenagers will behave themselves in a very respectable fashion. See for yourself they'd all gone to their designated rooms."
Molly and Arthur walked Ginny up to her room and they slowly checked on each of the others to make sure they were in their respective beds as well. Draco heard the door open, but feigned sleep. He was relieved that the Weasleys weren't there to curse him. He wanted to go to Ginny and ask her what happened, but he knew too that he'd have to wait until the next day.
"Okay, you are all probably wondering what you are doing here?" Dumbledore addressed them after they were all seated in the library. Harry next to Hermione, Ron next to Lavender, Draco next to Ginny and Neville alone in the armchair.
"Understatement," commented Harry. Dumbledore chuckled. He knew Harry could just as well feel what he wanted, but he was choosing not to. He was also aware that Harry would be able to read his thoughts if he'd figured out he had the power.
"Right, okay. Well you are here because your destinies are intertwined with each other. Do you think it was by chance that you are together in this room and that you are all friends and more? It was fate and as fate declares, you were all destined to be part of another's fate." They all looked at each other questions apparent on their faces.
"I'm sure some of you know about the prophecy and that Harry does have a destiny to be fulfilled in the destruction of Voldemort, but alas the prophecy was missing a few pertinent information." They listened intently to what he was about to say. No one dared to ask questions. He smiled at their determination to keep silent, especially Hermione whose mind he knew was already flooded with questions.
"Okay, there is a prophecy that Harry must fulfill in the fight against Voldemort, what the contents are is of no importance to you except for Harry. You will however be privy to a bit of information that was somehow overlooked.
'The chosen one will succeed
if and only if his circle of seven takes its seed.
When the seven songs of wizardy* are deeply seeded,
only then will the circle be completed.
Each one must find their truth within
for each is essential for the chosen one to win.
Together with the chosen one the six must stand
and form a circle of seven as planned.
If at any time the circle is severed,
the chosen one will fail and be lost forever.'
Everyone looked around and started counting at how many people were in the room. The only people there were the seven on them and Dumbledore. Harry already knew what his role was; he'd heard the prophecy in his fifth year. He couldn't believe Hermione or any of his friends were needed in order to fulfill his destiny. He knew the only reason his friends were there was because they were all part of the circle that needed.
"Sir, are you trying to say that we are the seven?" asked Draco.
"Yes. I am sure you have plenty of questions and I will answer each one if I can."
"What do you mean if you can?" asked Ginny.
"I mean that I can only answer a question if I deem it important for you in order to fulfill your destiny."
"Okay, I guess we know who the chosen one is?" Ron commented and looked at Harry. Everyone turned to look at him. Harry had an uncomfortable feeling. He was hoping he was somewhere else at that moment. He wished he could turn on his empath powers, but he'd promised.
"You are correct in assuming that Harry plays the role of the chosen one. Voldemort had been focused on him since his first birthday and it seems he'd chosen him. But you must remember the last line of the prophecy for it will be the determining point. I know you have been friends for quite some time and some longer than others, so this mission - and I do call it a mission- will determine just how true your friendship is to one another. You must remember also, that if the chosen one fails, there will be no other way to stop Voldemort and the world that you know now will cease to exist."
The seven felt a lump in their throat but could not swallow. They couldn't see any humor in the headmaster's eyes. The twinkle in his blue eyes has been replaced by very serious set of orbs. They've rarely seen him in that manner and it frightened them.
"Sir, why was it this part of the prophecy was only now discovered?" asked Harry.
"Well, the one that was broken seemed to be incomplete. I remembered listening to the prophecy, but it seems I heard only one part of it. There was another that was brought in after I placed the one I heard, but no one had ever heard it until recently."
"May we asked who brought in the other part of the prophecy?" asked Hermione whose head was filled with questions but unlike her younger days she had more restraint and patience to ask her questions when the time was right.
"That I can not answer, my dear, for it is not known even to me who had brought it the other part. It seemed no one saw it brought in and wasn't recorded anywhere that it was brought it. The only thing that we are completely sure about was that it was brought in after I had brought the other part in."
"Then how can we be sure it is even a valid prophecy?" asked Harry.
"Well, you see the next part of the prophecy will explain the rest."
'Two are youngest of seven with flaming hairs,
One with hair so light it glows.
One comes from a muggle home,
One shares the date of birth as the chosen one.
And last but not least will be one with a name
That is such a colorful one.'
They all stared at each other knowing well enough that each line holds a description of one of them. They were speechless and for the first time in their lives they didn't envy Harry the fame that he'd been trying to hide from since he entered the wizarding world.
A/N: I thought this was a good way to end this chapter. Stay tuned. Thanks for your reviews. There is one more chapter before I will be posting weekly or more if I could.