Chapter Six: Your Fate is Upon You, Take Heed
New traveled fast when it came to Hermione and I snogging in the hall. It seemed everyone in all the houses knew, and they had taken it upon themselves to tease us relentlessly about it. I knew I could handle it, but I was a bit concerned for Hermione, she had never been in the "limelight" I guess you could call it, and now to suddenly be thrust into it as The-Boy-Who-Lived's girlfriend, I was sure she was feeling a little in over her head.
I made my way down to the Great Hall for breakfast, a few days after Dumbledore had led us to his office, only to be cornered by my arch nemesis, Draco Malfoy.
" Where's your little mudblood girlfriend, Potter?" he asked, spit flying from his mouth. If Ron were here, I know he wouldn't have stood for Malfoy calling Hermione a mudblood, but I have always kept my anger inside. But today his little name calling game got the best of me.
" What is wrong with you Malfoy? Jealous?" I prodded. I knew he wasn't really jealous but to get the response I wanted right then I would've said anything.
He threw his head back and laughed out loud. His two cronies suddenly materialized right next to him. I didn't feel as confident with Crabbe and Goyle behind him. I began to think it a bad idea to stand up to him, but then the thought of Hermione flooded my brain and I knew I had made the right choice.
"Listen Malfoy, laugh all you want, but Hermione Granger will always be more talented, compassionate, and smarter than you, no matter how hard you try."
At that Malfoy stopped laughing. He took a step closer to me and leaned in, so our faces were almost touching, and then he whispered.
"Don't you dare, EVER, compare me to that mudblood ever again, got it Potter?"
At that point I think I lost it. I totally neglected my wizard training and reverted back to Muggle fighting. I shoved him in the chest as hard as I could and he went flying into Crabbe and Goyle, nearly knocking them over.
"Don't worry Draco, there isn't anything to compare." I said giving him a little wink then continuing on to the Great Hall for my breakfast.
I sat down next to Hermione at breakfast and leaned over to give her a peck on the cheek. She smiled in response and continued eating. I observed my fellow Gryffindors to see what their reaction to what they had just witnessed was. Ron gave me a little smirk then unfaltering his gaze returned to that of Luna Lovegood over at the Ravenclaw table. Seamus and Dean tossed me a thumbs up sign and began eating again. I saw the girls of Gryffindor swoon over my act of kindness. All except for Ginny, she had a look of hurt on her petite face. I wasn't sure what that meant, but I could've sworn that Hermione and Ron said she had gotten over me years ago. I made a mental note to talk to her about it later. I then looked up at the professor's table taking note that Professor Snape wasn't there, along with Dumbledore. I wondered where they were. I could sense that Hermione had noticed also, but not wanted to worry anyone we kept our mouths shut.
After breakfast Hermione and I said our good byes to Ron as we proceeded onto our N.E.W.T level Potions class. Since I had achieved such good marks on my O.W.L.S. in Potions, Professor Snape had been much kinder to me, but not so much as to make anyone wonder what was going on.
Hermione and I took our seats in the front of the class. Her choice not mine. And we immediately set up our cauldrons to begin that day's potions class. Snape had not yet appeared for class so everyone sat there quietly, knowing that he could storm in at any minute and no one wanted to lose house points for the day. As the minutes ticked by I began to grow worried. Snape was not usually late for his seventh year potions class, or any class for that matter.
At that moment I heard some commotion in the hall outside of Snapes dungeon. I leaned over to whisper into Hermione's ear.
"What do you think is going on?"
She shrugged her shoulders, and then started packing her things back into her satchel.
"What are you doing?" I questioned her.
"I'm not going to sit around here wondering what's going on when someone out there obviously knows." She started packing my things up as well. "Lets get going Harry" She handed my back to me, I smiled at her. If I didn't care so much for her already then I knew it was swiftly approaching, I mean how could I not when she was as wonderful as she is.
"Alright"
We slung our bags over our shoulders and I grabbed her hand and let her out the dungeon door. The lights were flickering on and off in the hallway which made it very eerie. I could hear Hermiones breathing speed up and then stop as if she was willing it to slow down. I turned around to give her a look of reassurance but due to the dimness of the hallway I wasn't sure if she got my look.
I continued leading her towards where I knew the door to the main castle was when suddenly the lights flickered out completely. I heard a tiny moan escape Hermiones mouth as the lights died, and I pulled out my wand muttering "Lumos" and a small light emanated from the tip of my wand lighting our way slightly.
I could see the door about ten feet in front of me, I knew we were going to reach it, and whatever was causing the lights to go out would present itself to us on the other side. Unfortunately we never made it to the door. Right at that moment my scar discharged the searing pain that I only receive when Lord Voldemort is near. I doubled over in pain taking Hermione with me down to the ground. I remember screaming out loud. Not being able to control the volume in which I was yelling. I could see Hermione hovering above me trying to comfort me, trying in vain to heal my pain.
Suddenly I saw Sirius. He as alive and well, and he was smiling at me. Telling me as so many others had, that it was about time. About time for what? Then without warning my mother and father appeared right next to him. I felt elated at seeing all three of them together, then the feeling of happiness disappeared as I saw their faces change from euphoria to that of udder anguish.
My father who was holding my mums hand let go of it and walked towards me. He knelt down next to me on the ground and his hazel eyes stared intently into mine, so much like my mothers, and said.
" Your fate is upon you, take heed."