A/N: Sorry for the heavy reading in this chapter, but now the story is set.
Chapter 10-The Original Prophecy
Harry and Hermione giggled nervously each time they passed someone who looked at them strangely as they walked hand in hand. The number of people who looked surprised seemed rather small to Hermione. The real test was what would happen in the Gryffindor Tower when they arrived. They knew that they were too late to beat Ginny to the punch if she decided to spread the word.
They stood at the door with no one in sight gave each other a peck of a kiss. Hermione said it first but Harry was a close second. "Good luck and I love you." Harry said the password and they walked in proudly as planned. The only surprise as Harry took her hand coming through the door was the return of Parvati who noticed at once. "Have either of you seen Ron? Ginny said that if I saw you that I should tell you to look out for Ron."
"What do you mean Parvati?" asked Hermione noting there were only really young Gryffindors present and probably no harm in asking openly what she'd heard.
"Well, she said that she was going to make sure that Ron heard that she caught you two coming out of the Room of Requirement at 2 AM. She was kind of sarcastic when she said that it had been a while since a Dumbledore's Army planning session went that late and only included you two. Are you two seeing each other?" she asked in hind sight.
"Yes, Parvati, we are. I think that Ginny's just having second thoughts about breaking up with Harry," said Hermione just thinking how that may turn in their favor as far as the war of words that she could see starting was concerned.
"I always thought you two were a better match than you and Ron. But you told me you didn't ever think of Harry that way just a week or so ago?" questioned Parvati. Harry detected a tone of sadness and jealousy from their day out. Then he thought, maybe even anger that she'd been targeted and it was Hermione he longed for all along.
"Parvati, it was you telling investigators that it couldn't be me that meant so much to me. Hermione believed it and you confirmed it. It was while Hermione was visiting and standing up for me that I realized how wonderful she was. I mean in a way that I'd not seen in her before. So I had no idea when we went out that this was going to happen." Harry tried to not make it a speech but wanted to make the point.
"Well, don't expect a lot of people to really see any difference between you two," she said.
Harry looked puzzled. "What?"
"Anyone who has ever seen you two together knows you were in love. If they didn't they were lying to themselves, just as you guys lied to each other. I'm sorry your not single Harry, but I'm glad for you too." Parvati excused herself. "Excuse me please; I have to meet my sister for the planning meeting. It's in the Great Hall tonight, Hermione. Are you coming or are you two still on the honeymoon?" she faked a little kiss.
They all laughed. "Parvati, what's the topic tonight? We actually just got back from telling Ron. It was not pretty and we're exhausted."
A look of surprise crossed Parvati's face and then she replied with a raised brow, "We're selecting the type of music. We won't be looking for a band until we decide that. Any preference?" Before she let Hermione answer she added, "I'll bet it wasn't pretty. Surprised there are no bruises the way Ginny talked."
"Well, I kind of like Rock `n Roll but not the hard stuff. I guess the band at the Yule Ball was okay? Yeah, that type if you can remember."
"She doesn't remember because Krum was making her knees weak with his muscles and charm," he winked and she blushed without a word.
She turned to leave saying, "You know I can't keep this a secret. The rumor has officially started. You are a couple."
"You mean the gossip, don't you?" said Harry with a smile.
"Well, unfortunately, that too." She left with a smile and a wave.
Hermione looked at Harry with a sigh of relief. "50 down about 600 to go, that's the number of people who will hear it tonight first hand. The other number is how many will hear it from someone, who heard it from someone, who knew someone who attended the meeting in the Great Hall."
"I'll be sure to start one of those stories?" said a familiar voice. "I wish I'd thought of that idea before you left yesterday. I would have started it," said Ginny.
Harry started to say something when Ginny looked at him with a smile. "So, maybe you're not as stupid as you look. It's really too bad you decided to come out in the open so soon. But there are still a few surprises left for you, you'll see."
"Ginny why are you being like this and what's with the threats and the ring?" Harry asked.
"If what you said was true--that you talked to Ron, then you know. I don't want to talk to you. All my talking with you is done. I really hope you guys suffer for the way you've acted." Ginny just walked back up the stairs. "Oh," she said from the top of the stairs, "It was Draco and I in the hallway near the room Friday night. Too bad you didn't have your wands, or, did you just share your spare, short wand with Hermione, Harry?" She giggled.
Hermione and Harry felt a creepy-crawling sensation as Ginny spoke. Everything she said was venomous and cruel. Harry whispered, "I wish there were something we could do."
He felt helpless. If he did anything at all that involved touching her or restraining her, he would certainly get in trouble because she'd claim that it's in his head. He could no more prove she was cursed than he could have proved his innocence a week earlier. He needed others and Hermione would never be considered objective.
They sat down on the sofa facing the fire. "Well, wasn't that interesting?"
Ginny walked by again and left the common room for somewhere in the castle. She ignored them.
"This is going to be really weird," said Hermione. "So, aren't you glad all the homework is done?" Harry smiled. Shaking his head, knowing it was in appropriate and wouldn't say it aloud. Yeah, especially the anatomy lesson. He just smiled.
"I'm sure you had some smart and sexist remark to add. I do thank you for keeping it to yourself," she said quietly. "But the whole night was wonderful, Harry. We need to study like that more often. And, I do mean the study part." She said with a poke in the ribs.
"What? Hey, I haven't been that creepy sex-maniac for nearly three days now-give or take a day." He smiled. "Really, I learned a valuable lesson when you held me last night. You make me feel safe from the world too. Maybe not physically, but emotionally I am really okay when I know you're there."
They hadn't noticed, Parvati come back into the room. "Oh please, will you two get a room." She giggled. "I came to tell you Mrs. McGonagall sent me after you. Apparently, you have visitors."
They looked at one another and realized that maybe it was still Lupin and Tonks. They put their belongings in their lockers. First thing out of Harry's mouth when he saw Hermione, "Wand?" She nodded.
Proudly they walked hand in hand toward the Headmistress' study. Harry whispered, "I love holding your hand but I'll be glad when we've made our point." Hermione laughed as they let go for a second and wiped the sweat off their palms.
"I know what you mean, Sweetheart." She said.
Harry thought how wonderful it was that she used that term. She'd never said anything like that before. "And, out of curiosity. Do you remember what I did just before you wrote `stop, can't concentrate,' on your paper?"
"Of course, you'd just drawn these dreadful little men with a third leg on your paper," she answered. "Why would you ask that horrible question?"
"I wanted to make sure I was with you and not Malfoy using polyjuice, since you'd never called me sweetheart before," he grinned and raised his eyebrows. "I was going to make sure before I kissed you. By the way, that sounded wonderful."
They'd just arrived in front of her study as the door opened. "Ah, Harry and Hermione come in," said Minerva as she gestured for them to sit. Indeed, it was Lupin and Tonks who were visiting.
Hermione sensed a bit of a speech coming from the Professor. It hadn't been any more than a week or so since the night Harry was brought back and charged with assault. It was that night that she'd poured her heart out to the Professor with no mention of Harry in any romantic way. Yet today, they were together. Hermione sighed with relief when the topic was different.
"First, we have a security problem, I believe. If I permit you to come and go as you please because of your stature Harry, I will not have control of the rest of the students. It is that reason that I permitted Mr. Weasley to make his decision to quit school last week. I know that will be a shock to you, Hermione. But Lupin tells me that you heard a different version which indicates that indeed, it is probable that the Imperious Curse is being used again. Tonks will start the investigation tomorrow to begin documenting odd behavior patterns.
"However, I do not disapprove of the two of you leaving campus with prior notification to my office and, face-to-face with me. You will explain where you are going and what you are doing. I will become your moral chaperone," she said with an air of authority. "I quite agree that it is a wonderful thing for two people such as you to begin a new relationship, but I am also quite aware of the pitfalls of unsupervised young love. You are wonderful children and while you may be adults in the eyes of the Ministry, if you are to be in my school you will behave like students and role-models. Understood?" Harry and Hermione nodded.
"There have been many changes and a great many losses over the past year. One of those changes was made hastily. And, I am about to make amends. It would please me if the two of you would assume the position of Head Boy and Head Girl for Hogwarts. The positions had been disposed of, but I am reinstituting them. You are afforded special quarters that I have been told would already have been violated by your behavior this past Friday night. And I do not approve, nor will I condone it. Yet, Lupin and Tonks have ensured me that you are capable of spending the next nine weeks in close quarters without further incident requiring a reprimand. I trust you understand that I am aware that young couples will display affection from time to time, but there are bounds which must not be crossed. This is my official stance on the subject. Do you agree before we continue?"
Harry and Hermione were in shock and unable to speak. Officially, Harry knew that this was a great sign of trust from the Headmistress, but she was not one to be crossed. It would mean that events such as Friday's would not and could not happen again until after they graduated. He looked at Hermione. "I will accept if Hermione accepts."
"We accept," said Hermione.
"Very well. I am now speaking to you as one of the ranking members of the Order of the Phoenix. I am serious that you must avoid any type of untoward behavior. But I will not expect perfection, you are human. Just don't be too human until after you graduate."
"The primary reason other than you will be great examples for our students, if you do as I ask, is that I can place many magical safeguards around your rooms. These safeguards will not only repel intruders, but will have the capacity to keep a record of the goings on between the occupants." She looked at both of them. "I will not enable the ones which would involve your privacy without your permission. Unless there is a reason to think that you are willfully violating my earlier instructions. The threat of impostors being able to involve the two of you in scandals is reduced to almost nothing. If nothing else, I believe that exposing an agenda of hate toward you both will strengthen the message I want to send regarding study habits and good citizenship within Hogwarts."
"Lupin, please explain to Harry and Hermione what you were telling me earlier," the Professor said to Remus.
"There will no doubt be an outcry of favoritism. Those who expose themselves will be noted, but since it is a school and not a dictatorship they will simply be regarded as non-conformists. However, the ire of those who desire retribution will be raised exponentially. In other words, Harry and Hermione, they are gonna get really pissed, really fast." Lupin said quickly.
"Must you be so vulgar, Remus," said the Headmistress with a smirk as she attempted to maintain her dignity as Headmistress to the hushed giggles of everyone else.
"They may be left with nothing but brazen frontal attacks when the smear campaign fails or proves less effective than planned. You two cannot allow anyone to have your passwords to your rooms. You cannot allow yourselves to be alone with each other without first making sure that an impostor is not present. I know you think that you know each other, but I'll present you a scenario. Harry leaves Divination and Hermione leaves Ancient Runes. On the way to your rendezvous, one of you is waylaid. You go back to your room and the other pretends to have forgotten something after listening to the other password. Or, one of you opens the other's door out of convenience. No prearranged greeting was used to ensure the other was who he or she was supposed to be. The password is compromised in a short time with really no way of telling that the other was not the real Harry or Hermione. Other than extreme measures of security, there is no way to prevent this. We would hope that for this reason you would not share your private room passwords or speak them in each other's presence. Does that make sense?"
"Wait, are you saying that we have individual rooms somewhere here in the castle? Has this always been the case?" asked Hermione.
"The rooms have always existed, however their use depended on the degree of confidence of the Headmaster or Headmistress in the students' selected to those very important positions," said Professor McGonagall.
"Harry and Hermione, it is a great privilege and I saw the rooms just a few minutes ago, they're magnificent," said Tonks.
"Children, this is the best I can do for you. It is a formidable task for your enemies to discredit you or make your life miserable if you work within our guidelines. There are other types of security measures we are considering, but it will require the compliance of all staff and faculty. It will take time to implement. Are you ready to undertake your knew roles? They are not to be taken lightly. You must uphold the highest traditions of Head Boy and Head Girl." Professor McGonagall looked at them and for the first time let a crack in her armor show. "Harry and Hermione, you do look handsome together and I trust you. Professor Dumbledore adored you both as do I. Please be careful and judicious, but have fun." She disappeared with a trace of a tear into the living quarters behind her.
Harry and Hermione felt chills as they realized the enormous trust and love that was given them. But they also knew that it came with responsibility.
"Professor Lupin, I have thought about this many times when I thought I would see you soon. Would you give me more details on my parents? I am particularly interested in what my father was good at. My mother I know was a master potions-maker. I wanted to study some of that as well as something that my father was good at." Hermione smiled at Harry as he asked Professor Lupin. Harry's voice was serious about study as it had been that past Friday.
Professor McGonagall returned unexpectedly as Lupin began to answer, "Harry, there are a lot of things that you must learn about your parents. And…," Lupin was interrupted by Professor McGonagall.
Her face had returned to its normal stoic state, yet her voice was much milder and less standoffish. "I can authorize Professor Lupin to teach you some of those things Harry. As you may have noticed, I am running the school as I think Professor Dumbledore would have wanted." She sat down across from Harry and Hermione. She motioned for Lupin and Tonks to sit down. "There is one thing that Professor Dumbledore had hoped he'd live to see. It pains me that he has not lived to see it."
"Harry, prophecies are a mystical and wondrous thing in our world. In the muggle world they have Nostradamus and others who predict wars and pestilence centuries before the events occur. In our world, prophecies are much more common. Ones like that which guided your confrontation with Lord Voldemort are less common because of the number of years it involved. Most only predict a week or a month into the future if they prove true. The vast majority are ones that are some old phony who wants to make a name for him or her."
"The tradition of prophecy began before written records even in our world, but one was recorded that is believed to have been written centuries and possibly a millennium ago. It is known as the Original Prophecy. In the muggle world, it would be considered to be a law of nature. With us, since what we do is connected with very nature of the world itself, it is considered a prophecy. It has neither cryptic words nor special meanings, but it has held true throughout the centuries. It read as such:
To each generation will be born one who will preserve the light and love that is our existence against that generation's darkest manifestations. He shall lead with awesome power rarely displayed and show the way to our people.
"Harry, your teacher, Professor Dumbledore was that man for his generation. He believed that you are his successor. Within the mystical community, which I do not claim to be part of or know that much about, this person is considered to be a White Wizard. There are many who are born, Harry. Only a few demonstrate the ability to love selflessly which is the greatest quality a White Wizard can have. The term is not a mantle of Godliness nor is it meant to be such. It is simply a way to show the contrast to the reigning Dark Lord if there is one."
"Professor, is there a significance to Professor Dumbledore's defeating Grindelwald?" asked Hermione.
"Very good, Miss Granger. I really did forget how special a student you are," said Lupin.
"Yes, dear, it is believed that The Chosen One is the one who will defeat the greatest Dark Wizards of each generation. It is not entirely coincidence that you were dubbed The Chosen One last year. It infuriated Lord Voldemort to think that his nemesis and the fate of the natural or magical world were in the hands of an adolescent boy. He wanted to vindicate himself and prove that one more worthy must defeat him. That is why he feared Dumbledore and ordered his murder before confronting you. He knew if Dumbledore were alive you could not be defeated, because there were two White Wizards to defy him."
The story continued to send shivers through Harry. "I'm just a kid. I am no one special. Well, okay, that's false modesty. But truthfully, a…," he paused and held his breath for a second and let it out slow. "Forgive me, Hermione, I don't mean to embarrass you. I'm a normal guy with sex on the brain half the time. I admit there are things about myself I can't explain, but this is almost ridiculous."
"Harry, you don't have to find reasons why you are not the person you will become. You will become who you choose to be. You have the capacity for greatness. You show leadership skills beyond your years. Your courage is of the highest magnitude. You value life and friends more than anything. If someone or something shows that it is of a good nature, you will embrace it. I think of Doby in that instance. If it is evil, you will hunt it down and destroy it or it will destroy you. If you dispute these things then you have not paid attention to the last seven years of your life."
Harry sat quietly for a moment and then said, "I don't want to live as some wizard in the tower. I want to have a family like my father and mother, raise my children, and be happy without chasing goblins and ghosts." The frustration was clear.
"Now, it is time to find out some more things about your father." Headmistress McGonagall motioned to Tonks to bring the large pitcher of water that magically appeared on her desk with the glasses that appeared likewise. Harry had to smile at that piece of magic.
"Hermione, what are you thinking at this point?" asked Tonks to fill time while each of them took time to have a refreshing drink.
She had clutched Harry harder with each revelation during the past fifteen minutes. "I can only think of something I said to Harry coming home tonight. `Nothing is easy with you, is it?' I had no idea." They all laughed for a moment. "I know he's special. I don't care about all this because I think he will be who he is regardless of prophecies. He is just a good person."
"Miss Granger, say that to Harry again like you mean it and if you feel the urge to kiss him by all means do so," said the Professor. "Harry, forget all the history and responsibilities. Hermione has summed it up in three short sentences. Seriously, dear, tell him again."
"You are special, Harry. I don't care about all this because I think you will be who you are destined to be regardless of prophecies. You are just a good person," she felt and understood it and kissed him.
Harry felt blessed to have Hermione there, but wasn't sure what that proved. He lowered his head to listen again.
"Harry, your father dabbled in all areas of magic. Your mother as you mentioned was fantastic with potions as Lupin will attest. But your father was what could be referred to as a mystic in a very loose sense. He could make things from random objects and learned magic from just studying nature and people. One such thing is your invisibility cloak. It is a very advanced magic and complex thing. Another was the Marauder's Map, which by the way I will return to you tonight before you leave. He was to be Professor Dumbledore's assistant when he was killed."
"The source of the hatred between your father and Snape was that Snape was also a mystic who leaned toward the darker elements of our world. Your father was a very good man, but I hate to say, in some ways very jealous. Your mother did not hate Severus Snape like your father did. It may have been the only point of contention in their lives together. I think that Professor Slughorn mentioned your mother's popularity to you last year."
"Yes, he mentioned it. What about my father and Snape?" Harry said with the first glimmer of disgust he'd shown all night.
"As pitiful a person as he was in school, Snape and your mother often worked together in class. They were master potion makers by fifth year. They were never really close, but were on speaking terms. Your mother kept your father from teasing and demoralizing Snape on more than one occasion, I think you knew that too. Evidenced by the potions book you found last year, Snape also became adept in defensive and offensive spells to protect himself against your father. They developed each others skills to the point of mastery in their hatred of one another. Snape is also a mystic Harry and for a time before your father's death Lord Voldemort's primary assistant."
Harry was tired and this was not telling him what he wanted to know. "I'm sorry Professor, I'm not following why I need to know Snape's history when I want to know about my father."
"Be patient, Harry, I will teach you some of the things that your father shared with Sirius and I, but what you are hearing is very important and much of it is from secret writings the Professor was left by Professor Dumbledore," explained Lupin.
"Well, it is late so I will make this brief and answer questions that I know will arise at another time. To make a long story short, Harry. The Original Prophecy was not secret like the one between you and Voldemort. Your father and Snape both predicted that a great wizard would be born the year you were born. When the signs pointed to your father and mother being the parents of The Chosen One, it was reported to Lord Voldemort immediately. The other prophecy became more important because Voldemort hated that it predicted that a new born baby was a greater challenge for him than Dumbledore. The race was on."
"So, my parents would have survived probably and I would still be who I am today if Mrs. Trelawney had not made her prophecy in the presence of Snape," said Harry.
"We don't know that for sure Harry, but probably. Nevertheless, when the Dark Lord was thought to have been defeated, Snape immediately saw the need to switch sides. He saw the power that nature had imbued within you. He was a logical man with a dark past, but he was not evil yet as many of the others who were Death Eaters had become. He did what most mystics who align themselves with a particular wizard do. He took an Unbreakable Vow of servitude and dedication. Had it not been the wish of Dumbledore, Snape would have died when he made the vow to protect Draco."
"I promise Mr. Potter, this is all I have for you tonight. Whether you like it or not, you are bound to Severus Snape by the Vow he took with Dumbledore. He is your servant now, if he is still alive. Snape is who he is. He is surly and generally an ill-willed sort, but he is bound by duty. You, Harry, whether you want to believe it or not are now the most feared wizard with whom the dark side has to contend. You will always be the target. It is the nature of evil to try and destroy good, and vice versa."
"This is where I don't understand this gibberish," said Harry. "One minute I'm hearing this speech about wanting me to be a kid. `Oh, we should let him grow without the burdens of the adult world,' I hear. Then the same night I find out that as long as I'm alive I'm going to be pursued by the most evil people our world has to offer until I have to have Hermione or another trusted person hit me with the killing curse to release me from the madness. This is rubbish."
"Mr. Potter I had expected that your confrontation with the Dark Lord would have taught you some manners in dealing with things above your abilities. And, I certainly don't relish remembering that it was my duty to kill the greatest man I ever knew and the only one who truly trusted me." Harry's head whipped around in a cold stare to look at Severus Snape standing as he remembered him in dark robes. "Do you think that it was only that the Dark Lord wanted you for himself that I spared you at the gate? Your insolence will pain me greatly I can see. But I am and always will be dedicated to your well-being and the legacy to which you have been born. But to put it in the vernacular, I will not kiss your ass."
Hermione looked at Snape and back at Harry. "I can't believe this, Harry. What did we do to deserve this?"
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