Harry Potter and The Secret of The Heirs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Nineteen

The Prophecy

Slytherin the founder shrewd,

Fell out with all the others

His Heir would rise above the rest

And scare all under covers,

But he would fall upon the hand

Of a small baby fair,

The baby a young lion be

And also be an Heir.

Dumbledore was staring at the parchment. It was Trelawney's original prophecy. Her first true prediction, the one that had made people stand up and listen to her. Dumbledore sensed that there was more to it than that. It couldn't be that simple, not now that Voldemort had returned. The prophecy only told half the tale. What the other half was, still remained to be seen.

*~*

Hermione turned to the piano and began playing again. This time she did not use any music. She played from her own head.

Because I love you so much,

When you're not here with me it hurts me so

And all I know about what I feel is that I need you here

Holding me near to you.

He looked at this longing girl. She looked so vulnerable siting there on the stool.

'Harry, if you're suffering as much as I am please tell me?' she whispered. There were tears in her eyes.

'I don't know what to say Hermione,' he said. He felt his heart clench. He was torn between his head and his heart.

'Please Harry.'

He walked over to the stool and sat down. He held her close. He wanted to comfort her but once he held her, he realised that he could never let her go. He picked her up. She gazed into his eyes as he carried her back to Gryffindor Tower.

She placed her gently on the couch before he kissed her. She did not draw away. There was a unique sensation in the air. He couldn't deny it any longer.

'I am suffering Hermione,' he said. 'I'm suffering in a way you'll never know.'

Shivers ran down his spine as he kissed her again. Her back hit the bottom of the couch, as he kissed her again. She slipped her hands underneath his jumper, as she pulled it off. She seemed so awkward with her hands, but she managed to get it off without too much trouble.

He felt her hands against his skin. He wasn't sure what he should do. He knew that he wanted this, despite everything else that was going on. Harry reached to slip off her blouse; he was unsure how to go about it. The only time he'd been in a similar situation before was when he had spent the night at The Leaky Cauldron with Lavender and she'd been wearing pyjamas and he hadn't even taken them off.

Somehow, although he couldn't explain how, he managed to slip off her blouse.

It was then that he saw the look on Hermione's face.

'What's wrong?' he asked. 'We can stop if you want.'

'It's not that Harry,' she whispered. 'I want you, I really do, and it's just that I've never done this before.'

'What?' Harry said. 'What about Ron?'

'We were only going out for such a short period of time that we didn't exactly get a chance to. I'm just not sure what to do.'

Harry laughed. Hermione looked hurt.

'Sorry,' he whispered softly. 'Nor am I.How about we take things slightly slower? I'll just hold you and we can fall asleep here.'

She smiled softly at him. Somehow he knew that their lives would no longer be the same. They had found each other at last.

*~*

Harry awoke the next morning with a strange feeling plaguing him. He saw Hermione sleeping peacefully next to him. The sun was rising in the window.

He didn't know how he felt. It was indescribable. He wasn't sure what had happened or for what reason, he just knew there was a reason.

He stroked her beautiful curly brown hair as she slept peacefully in his arms. It felt different to the time when Lavender had slept in his arms. That had been nice. This was something completely different. There was a completely different sensation associated with holding her in his arms.

He watched her sleep as he watched the sun rise.

*~*

Dumbledore was madly searching his office for signs of the parchment on which he had written Arabella'sProphecy. He had arisen early. He felt the prophecy awakening. He had not felt it for many years, not since Voldemort's fall sixteen years ago.

He couldn't believe he had been so careless to have misplaced it. That was completely out of character. Was he losing touch?

He didn't know why he felt it was so important. He just sensed that there was more to it than just Harry. Sure, he was a powerful wizard, how could he not be when you look at his lineage and achievements. But he felt the need to protect the young boy. A somewhat paternal instinct that he could not explain.

At last he found something.

The world would celebrate the fall

Think that evil now was gone

But they were all deluded

As the boy in glory shone

The Dark Lord much more powerful,

Then the lion's slender frame

The Dark Lord would arise again

His supporters hide in shame.

Arabella's Prophecy. The second parchment.The first part of a four part prophecy that no one would believe. That no one would even find plausible. Could it possibly be right? Dumbledore himself had been reluctant to believe it, although he had never known Arabella Figg to give an inaccurate prediction. If only he could remember the other two parts before Sirius and Chrystal said anything to Harry.

If it was right, it could change the path of the future that looked bleak at the moment. Dumbledore knew that Voldemort could be destroyed, he just was unsure how. He hoped that The Prophecy could give him an insight as to how and why.

*~*

'Wake up Hermione,' said Harry as he shook Hermione gently as he tried to wake her.

She rubbed her eyes and smiled at Harry as she awoke.

'Where does this leave us now Mr Potter?' she asked with a pang of concern in her voice.

'Get dressed and we'll take a nice long walk,' he replied. 'We can talk in private.'

'Harry, it's not like someone's going to disturb us here,' she said as she looked at him questioningly. 'Okay then, if that's what you want.'

Harry wondered what the answer to that question was. He cared about Lavender very much and didn't want to hurt her. She was fun to be with and she cared about Harry. But he had to face facts. She just wasn't Hermione. And if he was completely honest he had been seeing Hermione in a different light for months now. Since his birthday, if he was honest. Being near her was simply intoxicating. But that didn't give him an answer to the question. What should he do?

She appeared in his doorway ready to go. He took her hand and led her towards the lake. A tremendous feeling of guilt was hanging over his head.

*~*

The Heir of Slytherin has returned again,

More powerful than ever,

But who is there to face him now,

When most around him quiver.

The time will come for three to stand

To match the Dark Lord's power

But whom they are not one soul knows

In this earth's darkest hour.

The part Arabella could remember. Dumbledore couldn't understand why it was that she couldn't remember the entire Prophecy. Had her memory been wiped? It was possible. Many memory charms are hard to reverse. One of Voldemort's operatives could have erased her memory, so that they couldn't learn the truth. If that was the case there was only one way to reverse it and it was very dangerous.

Dumbledore stood up. He was resolved to find Arabella. He had to find out the truth.

*~*

Harry sat there looking at Hermione. They were sitting by the lake. The sky was clouded, mystical in appearance.

'I don't know where that leaves us Hermione,' Harry finally confessed breaking the silence. 'Things are complicated, but I feel like yesterday my eyes were opened. This happened for a reason Hermione, I don't know what it is but I know there is a reason. However I don't want to hurt Lavender.'

She was looking up at him.

'You really care about her don't you Harry,' she said. 'I thought it was just an infatuation. I never understood why you didn't tell me about it.'

'I didn't know how I felt,' he said struggling to find the right words. 'I was trying to work it out but everything was confusing me. I kept thinking about you. At first it was just her, but then you began infiltrating my thoughts. Hermione I think I'm in love with you, but I'm not going to hurt Lavender.'

'Just make sure you don't hurt her because of it Harry,' she replied. 'Be honest with her, she'll come around eventually. I'll wait Harry as long as it takes. I will wait for you. I've already waited this long.'

'Thanks,' he replied. He felt so guilty. How could he do this to her? How could he do this to both of them?

*~*

The Heirs must rise to match his power,

This much had been made clear,

But how to find the Heirs right now

They are surprisingly near.

A perfect triangle is that which

The founder's Heirs will form

A triangle that equals that

Of the ancestors we mourn.

There it was, lying on Arabella'sdesk. The third part of the prophecy. She had been working on it. It had been given only weeks after the first part. It had been given only a week before Trelawney's prophecy. Months before Voldemort's fall. It looked as though it had been scrawled in a moment of control before the darkness had enveloped her. The room was empty. There was no sign of the old Divination teacher.

Voldemort must have believed Arabella'sprophecy. For him to have gone after James and Harry like that, he had to have believed. If he had believed the other he wouldn't have tried to kill Harry. Unless he was mad and delusional and just went around killing everyone. But Harry had said that Voldemort had given Lily a choice.

The question remained; did Voldemort know who the others were? Dumbledore was certain about one, but the other remained a mystery.

*~*

Harry was gazing into Hermione's eyes. She was so beautiful. Why hadn't he seen it earlier? He tried to resist, not to tempt fate, but he couldn't. He leant over and kissed her. She replied by kissing him back.

*~*

Dumbledore made his way to the top of the stairs. Arabella was sitting there in the Divination tower staring into the Orb.

'I wondered when you would join me Albus,' she said. 'I have consulted the Orb; you know what you must do. It will be revealed.'

'It may destroy you Arabella,' he said regretfully. 'You will never be the same again.'

'I have foreseen it,' she said. 'What is meant to be will be. I am prepared to take the risk. The information you seek is valuable. You will perform the spell and the final piece will be revealed. Whether or not it will help you is to be seen however.'

With apprehension Dumbledore raised his wand.

'Recipero memoria oraculum.'

A flash of light filled the room before everything became dark.

*~*

A loud crack of thunder filled the air. A large crack of thunder that made both Harry and Hermione shiver at the sound.They pulled away from each other. Rain began to pelt from the sky as lightening struck the lake. They ran for cover, both spying Hagrid'shut as they ran from the lightening.

*~*

Arabella's eyes became fixed straight ahead.

Her voice became low.

She looked as if in a trance. She was no longer herself.

A lion, Gryffindor's Heir will be,

The youngest of the lot,

Courage and nobility

Afraid the boy is not.

Hufflepuff'sHeir, sweet and fair,

A young Seer she will be.

Faithful and loyal though,

There's far more we don't see.

And finally the beauty Ravenclaw,

Like her ancestor she tries

To seek knowledge and truthfulness

As though the air she flies.

But who will fall we cannot see

The path taken is not clear,

And how to find those to face the snake

They are those who are so dear.

The Covenant will then be formed

When all the Heirs are found.

The triangle will members be,

Of the table, large and round.

The Covenant will stand for good

Its members proud and true

Will be the special chosen ones

That will the Prophecy fulfil.

Dumbledore carried the old lady to the hospital wing, barely alive. He assisted Madam Pomfrey in tending to her. She would survive, but he did not know what the price had been.

He then headed straight for his office to contemplate The Prophecy. Although that was all that was given, he somehow sensed it was not complete. There was more. Who would fall?

*~*

Harry and Hermione hauled open the door to Hagrid's hut and shut it tightly behind them. They knew it would be empty; Charlie had been staying in it and had gone home as well. They held each other tightly as the thunder and lightening continued to plague the outside world.

'Something's happened,' said Harry.

'How do you know?' she asked. 'I think so too.'

'I sense it,' he replied. "Somehow I know it's got something to do with me. I don't know how and I don't know why, I just know it's got something to do with me. It's not necessarily a bad thing.'

He looked over at Hermione. She was shivering and her lips were blue.

'We have to get out of these wet clothes,' he said. 'Why don't you find some blankets to wrap ourselves in and I'll light the fire and make us some tea.'

Hermione nodded blankly as she went to find some blankets.

Harry reached for his wand, conjuring up a spark and soon there was a roaring fire. He filled up Hagrid'skettle and then placed it on the fire. By the time he had managed to locate and make them tea Hermione had appeared with a couple of blankets. She had already wrapped herself in one. She pointed toward a room where Harry could strip off his clothes and wrap himself in the blanket. He came back out and offered the tea to Hermione. They drank their tea in silence, and then made their way to Hagrid's bedroom where Hermione wrapped them in the third blanket. They held each other as they fell asleep, trying to shake off the cold.

*~*

Dumbledore relayed The Prophecy to them. Sirius was only half listening. He knew it involved Voldemort and Harry. Harry was obviously the lion. That made sense; not only was he a Gryffindor, he was also a Leo and soon would be a lion Animagus. But the other clues didn't make much sense.

'So are we looking for two girls?' Snape asked.

'They're older than Harry Sirius,' Chrystal replied. 'Women. It clearly states that the lion is the youngest. And so it's simple, we're looking for two women one who likes flying and one who is faithful and loyal.'

'That should be so simple,' Snape snarled. 'Where should we start Miss Defence Against the Dark Arts?'

'They're old or present Hogwarts students,' she replied. 'And they may or may not have been in the respective houses of the founders. I would suggest they're not. And you could consult Miss Granger's book, 'Arithmancy and the Founders.' It also makes reference to this Prophecy. Hermione was asking me about it. It says they will form a triangle, equal to that of the founders we mourn. Given that we don't mourn good old Salazar you should investigate any triangles formed by other three founders. Additionally they will be from old wizard families. Like the Potters and Tom Riddles mother's family. So you can rule out most of the Muggle-born students unless their parents were Squibs.'

Chrystal saw Dumbledore flinch at the mention of Squibs. She raised her eyes at Sirius.

'Fine,' Snape said as he continued to scowl. 'I shall go and find a remedy to fix my old Divination teacher and you can go and locate Miss Granger and her book. Trust you to turn to a book when in doubt Miss Àille or whatever it is you wish to call yourself. Books don't have all the answers.' The tone in Snape's voice was not exactly friendly and it sent shivers down Chrystal'sspine. No matter what Dumbledore said, Snape was not a nice person.

Snape turned and walked out the door.

'Will Professor Figg be alright?' asked Sirius.

'I can but hope,' Dumbledore replied. 'She will never see the future again however. I am afraid the charm I used was far too powerful that it will have destroyed her ability to see the future. It is unfortunate because you rarely find a true Seer. They're a rare and dying breed. Trelawney is only a scratch on the real thing.'

'What is our course of action?' Chrystal asked. 'I apologise for upsetting Snape, I fear I have a tendency to do that all too often.'

'Severus will recover eventually,' Dumbledore replied. 'He was very much opposed to your appointment Chrystal and yours as well Sirius. Yet, he realises that we have to work together to overcome Voldemort. There is much to do and never enough time to do it. For now, I would like to talk to you alone Chrystal. Sirius can find Harry and Hermione and bring them up here. We should speak with them before the night is over. The time has come to move forward.'

Sirius left the room leaving Dumbledore and Chrystal behind.

*~*

They couldn't shake the cold. The wind was still roaring. Hermione leant over and kissed him.

'I want you Harry,' she whispered softly in his ear.

He looked at her. She looked so serious. But she had never looked so beautiful.

'Are you sure Hermione?'

She nodded.

He kissed her again.

It was a little less awkward this time.

They fell asleep in each others arms.

*~*

Dumbledore looked down at her hand. The ring was still there, the one that McGonagall had seen. It was in the shape of a tiny bird.

'Minerva told me about a ring you wear Chrystal,' he said. 'Are you aware of its significance?'

Chrystal nodded her head.

'You are unable to remove it I take it,' he said. 'Once it chooses an owner it remains there until that person dies. It can only be placed on certain people's fingers. Where did you come across it?'

'It was my mother's,' she replied. 'I took it from her finger when I killed her. This you know, you were there I recall.'

The look of despair was evident on the woman's face. She had been through so much, he didn't want to drag it all up again but it had unfortunately become necessary.

'Perhaps I overlook things occasionally. How many know of the events that occurred that night?' he asked.

'Only Crouch, you and my father,' she answered. 'Crouch kept it quiet, he didn't really want his Auror's involved despite his security 'upgrades' and his authorisation of us using the Avada Kedavra Curse to bring Death Eaters to justice. You wouldn't tell anyone for similar reasons and my father certainly didn't want it broadcasted everywhere that my mother had been a Death Eater. I was licensed to kill, but she was the only one I actually did, and it was only because I was so angry. If I hadn't killed her, she would have killed me. I know it doesn't make it right, but I have to justify it somehow. To be able to go on.'

'You discovering this ring would've coincided with you telling Sirius to forget all about you,' Dumbledore commented. He saw the look on her face. 'I know a lot of things I don't mention Miss Àille. I take it you knew immediately what the ring meant and the implications associated with it. Hence you didn't say anything to me earlier in the year when we discussed the implications. You don't want it to be true, do you?'

'Of course,' she replied. 'You understand my actions now don't you? How could I continue our relationship with that hanging over our heads? Is it exactly fair for me to bring a child into the world with that kind of risk?'

'Of course I understand,' he replied slowly. 'What I fail to see is why you would continue it now, if I am guessing your reasons for terminating it in the first place.'

'Because I love him,' she replied. 'I can't live a lie, not anymore. I've wasted far too many years trying. I am willing to take the risk. I am willing to take responsibility.' The look of desperation on her face was moving.

'Does he know?' he asked. He watched her shake her head regretfully. 'Then I suggest you tell him, sooner rather than later. He needs to know the truth, especially if you're going to marry him. Please leave me now; I have much to think about. Return with Sirius, Harry and Hermione.'

He watched her walk out the door. She was one of the many of the generation who had been ripped apart because of Voldemort. Now it was destroying their children and their future.

As soon as she had gone she was back with Sirius in tow.

'I can't find them,' Sirius said. 'I've looked everywhere; they're simply not in the castle anywhere. And the storm's still raging outside. Do you know where the map is?'

A look of concern came over the old man's face.

'We must find them immediately,' he said. 'I trust you Sirius, but one man cannot search an entire castle, we will look again before we venture outside. If they are indeed outside I am sure they have enough sense to find some shelter somewhere.'

They headed down the stairwell to try and find the missing pair.