My Eternal Curse

Chapter Thirteen

Dangerous Revelations

Ginny awoke slowly in her four-poster bed. She felt exhausted, but for some reason, she couldn't go back to sleep. Ix Chel was curled up on her stomach, fast asleep. She could feel that even Tom's consciousness was still in a very deep slumber. After everything that had happened to them yesterday, she couldn't blame them. That was enough excitement to last a lifetime. Protecting Harry, becoming bonded, forcing Tom into submission, even having her own brother turn on her... the only thing that seemed to remain a constant in her life was Mark. He was calm, caring, and genuine. She didn't have to worry about being judged when she was with him. He seemed to be everything she ever wanted in a person, so what was wrong with this picture?

Ginny had gone through too much to believe in 'what you see, is what you get.' Mark seemed 'too good to be true' for her. There had to be something wrong with him... and even if there wasn't, there was something wrong with her. Tom was a part of this equation, as much as she, or Mark was. Oddly enough, Tom hadn't made many smart arse comments about Mark. When she was with Mark, he was strangely subdued. It was almost as if he was afraid to intrude on their private moments. Come to think of it, Tom never really told Ginny what he thought of him. It wasn't really like Tom to be so tight-lipped on his opinions of others. Why was he acting like that when she was with Mark? Ginny didn't have a clue. She wondered, vaguely, what would happen if she asked him. Would he try to avoid the question, or lie to her? Ginny decided to wait with that question, until things got back to normal between them, if there really was a normal for them anymore.

Ginny sat up in bed, careful not to disturb Ix Chel too much as she moved her onto the bed. Ix Chel stirred slightly, and fell back asleep. She picked up the book on advanced potions theory Mark had gotten her, and began to read. She had an interesting day ahead, and she wanted to relax before she got started.

*~*~*

Tom awoke slowly to the sounds running water, and the sensation of water lightly pelting his skin. He opened his mental eyes and blushed, or rather, made Ginny blush. They were taking a shower. There were some things about joining with her that he just couldn't get used to; being a girl was certainly one of them.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked.

"Umm..." Tom said, almost sheepishly. "It's just that we're..."

"We're what?" Ginny asked. Then she realized what he was hinting at. Ginny and Tom blushed furiously. "Oh! I see what you mean..."

"Yes," Tom said. They fell silent for a few moments.

"Well, uh... Good morning, Tom," Ginny thought. "I'm surprised I woke you."

"Good morning, princess," Tom said. "Getting an early start on the day?"

"Sort of," Ginny thought. "It's almost eight in the morning."

"Oh," Tom said. It was too early in the morning for him. Tom Riddle was many things, but a morning person wasn't one of them. Normally, he wasn't really awake until they were at breakfast. "So... Is Ix Chel awake yet?"

"No," Ginny thought, getting out of the shower. Not feeling very communicative, Tom let himself fall back into a semi-conscious stupor as Ginny dried off and got dressed. Ginny took her time fixing up her hair and makeup, just as Tom had taught her. She took a long look at herself in the mirror. It was hard to believe that the image staring back at her was hers, somehow. Tom had remade her in his own image, and a beautiful one at that. As much as she hated to admit it, she had come to enjoy it. Ginny woke Ix Chel, who seemed to be just as bad as Tom when it came to mornings. Normally, she wasn't much of a morning person either, but her restlessness and inability to sleep had caused her to get up early. Ginny picked up her cloak on her way out, walked out of the Gryffindor tower, and headed down to breakfast.

Without warning, Professor Trelawney came out of nowhere, and stopped Ginny dead in her tracks. Ix Chel hissed menacingly at her Divination Professor.

"Merlin! Can't she find someone else to stalk?" Ginny thought, startled by her teacher's sudden appearance.

"I can feel a minor twinkle of The Sight in this one," Ix Chel hissed, studying the Divination teacher.

"Good morning, Professor," Ginny said.

"I see that you've decided to ignore the warning of the fates, Miss Weasley," Professor Trelawney said angrily. "My Inner Eye told me that you would."

"Yes," Ginny said. "You can't forbid me to use my gifts for good."

"The good of your own ego, or the good of all, Miss Weasley?" Professor Trelawney asked. "It has become obvious to me, that your arrogance has gotten the better of you."

"Waste of The Sight!" Ix Chel hissed, dangerously. "How dare she insult you like that!"

"Ginny, arrogant? Preposterous!" Tom said. "If she wants to see a good example of an egomaniac, all she needs to do is take a look in the mirror."

Ix Chel snickered, which made Professor Trelawney flinch. Thankfully, she didn't comment about Ix Chel.

"My ego has nothing to do with this," Ginny said, keeping her emotions in check. There was no way she was going to let Trelawney get under her skin.

"On the contrary, child," Professor Trelawney said. "It has everything to do with this."

"I'm not looking for your guidance, or your approval, Professor," Ginny countered.

"It is by my will alone that you remain in my class, child," Trelawney almost spat at her. "That could easily change, remember that!"

Professor Trelawney stormed off. Ginny sighed, she knew that Professor Trelawney wouldn't take her so-called 'interference in the way of things,' very well. Ginny resumed her trek to breakfast.

"Who was that woman, young one?" Ix Chel asked.

"That, was my Divination teacher," Ginny said.

"How could she teach anyone proper use of The Sight?" Ix Chel asked, unbelieving. "Is that the only instructor on The Sight's rightful use?"

"Yes," Ginny said.

"You will never learn your true potential listening to that person," Ix Chel said. "What you need is a new teacher."

"I know," Ginny thought. They entered the Great Hall. Almost all of the students in the hall looked up. A torrent of whispers rippled throughout the Great Hall. Many still looked at her with disgust, while others looked at her with fear and admiration, even the Slytherins' attitude toward her seemed different. What was going on now? Ginny sat at the Gryffindor table between Harry and Hermione. Ron was nowhere in sight. Ix Chel slid onto the table, patiently waiting for Ginny to feed her.

"Where's Ron?" Ginny asked, piling food onto her plate.

"You should read this." Hermione said, handing her a copy of the Daily Prophet. Ginny saw the headline and her mouth dropped open. When her eyes fell on the picture, she gasped. Ix Chel looked curiously at the paper.

Great Seer Saves Hogsmeade!

By Jonathan Tomas

Beneath the headline was a giant image of Ginny fending off the Death Eaters with Harry's wand, the magical shield blazing around them.

"It looks like we've managed to remain discreet, after all," Tom said, after the shock wore off.

"What is this paper that worries you so, young one?" Ix Chel asked Ginny, but Ginny was still catatonic from shock, and didn't hear her.

"It's a newspaper," Harry hissed in Parseltongue. "Newspapers are a medium for spreading news."

"Oh," Ix Chel said.

Ginny read on.

Powerful witch, and up-and-coming Seer, Virginia Weasley, known to her friends as 'Ginny,' who is believed to even surpass the noted Seer Cassandra Vablatsky. Had a vision in a small pub in Hogsmeade, known as the Three Broomsticks, yesterday afternoon. Witnesses say that she collapsed suddenly while in a heated discussion with Cornelius Fudge, Britain's Minister of Magic, and her father, Arthur Weasley, the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department. When she awoke from her deep trance, she informed them that an attack on Hogsmeade by Death Eaters was imminent. Also, that the reason for the attack was the attempted murder of Harry Potter, known as The-Boy-Who-Lived for his defeat of You-Know-Who at the age of one, and is said to be one her closest friends. Furthermore, she foretold that You-Know-Who is, in fact, alive and well, just waiting for the right moment to come out of hiding.

When Miss Weasley informed the Minister of Magic that she was the only one who could stop them, Fudge tried to stop her, out of fear for her safety. She quickly convinced him to change his mind and ran out of the pub, in search of The-Boy-Who-Lived. Miss Weasley found Mr. Potter just as the attack started. She protected him when he was injured, along with Hogsmeade, with her own life, an act which was almost in vain, when one of the Death Eaters tried to take her out with the Killing Curse. Just before the curse reached Virginia, she cast a powerful magical shield around herself and Mr. Potter, the likes of which has never been seen before; a shield that managed to repel even the Killing Curse. Miss Weasley then turned the tide of the battle with the Death Eaters, forcing them into a retreat.

This amazing young witch currently attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with The-Boy-Who-Lived. Albus Dumbledore, the current Headmaster of Hogwarts, declined to comment on the nature of the powers Miss Weasley possesses. When asked about her vision that You-Know-Who has returned, Dumbledore said simply: "Most anything is possible, in the right hands." The Minister of Magic had this to say about Miss Weasley: "She is an extremely gifted young witch, and the wizarding world owes her a great debt for her selfless actions. Her powers in The Sight are formidable, but I believe that the Death Eater attack is an isolated incident, and the Dark Wizards in question were acting on their own."

One can only hope that the Minister of Magic is right about You-Know-Who's return. Only time will tell what Miss Weasley and her visions, will have in store for us.

"Oh my god!" Ginny said, rereading the article. "How could this be? This can't be happening... please tell me this isn't happening. Tell me I'm not on the cover of the Daily Prophet this morning."

"I'm sorry, Ginny, but you are," Hermione said gently.

"Look on the bright side, princess," Tom said. "At least they managed to get a good picture of us."

"Shut up, Tom!" Ginny thought.

"You know what this means?" Tom asked.

"Yes, I do," Ginny thought, feeling downcast. "It means that any hope we had of staying anonymous is gone. What are we going to do?"

"All we can do now is roll with the punches, and pray no one finds out about us," Tom said.

"Why are you worried, young one?" Ix Chel asked, confused by their reaction to the paper.

"The publicity will make it harder to keep our secret," Tom explained. "Now everyone will be watching us, very closely. If we're not careful, the Death Eaters may become the least of our worries."

"I see..." Ix Chel whispered.

"Did Ron see this yet?" Ginny asked.

"He saw it and left, just before you came in," Harry replied.

"Great," Ginny groaned. "As if I didn't have enough problems with him. Now he's going to be angry with me about this, too... I wish someone would just hex me, and get it over with!"

"Don't worry, Gin," Hermione said. "Things aren't that bad."

"Aren't that bad?" Ginny exclaimed. "I am on the cover of the Daily Prophet, Hermione! This bloody paper says that I'm a greater Seer than Cassandra Vablatsky! You know how rare authentic, powerful Seers are; everyone does... now everybody is going to have these far-flung expectations of me. What am I going to do?"

"There's not much you can do about it, right now," Harry said. "You can't control other people's opinion of you, no one can. Just continue to live your life as you always have, and bugger everyone else's opinion of you."

"The world is coming to an end," Tom said. "I have to agree with Potter... Worrying about it will get you nowhere."

"Your right," Ginny sighed, putting down the paper. "I'm surprised Rita Skeeter didn't write this article."

"Oh, she's not going to be writing anything from now on," Hermione said.

"Why?" Ginny asked, puzzled.

"Look at page fourteen," said Hermione. Ginny looked for what Hermione was talking about and gasped when she found it.

"They sent Skeeter to Azkaban for being an illegal Animagus?" Ginny asked, shocked.

"Yes," Hermione said. Something about the glint in her eyes when she said this unsettled Tom and Ix Chel. "Apparently, someone tipped off the Ministry yesterday, to her illegal activities."

"Well, that definitely explains a few things..." Ginny shook her head.

"I bet you the little 'know it all' did it," Tom said.

"Why would Hermione do that to her?" Ginny thought.

"Remember the way she acted yesterday?" Tom asked. "I would bet all of the gold in Gringotts that it was her..."

"I have to agree, young one," Ix Chel hissed. "Her bloodlust is palatable... This one is a predator when crossed."

"You're both wrong," Ginny thought. "Hermione wouldn't do that."

"Don't be so sure," Tom said.

"Enjoying your time in the limelight, Weasley?" Malfoy drawled lazily. Ginny turned to face him. "Of course, all of it will come to an end, when they discover you're a fraud."

"Shove off, Malfoy," said Harry.

"Make me, Potter," Draco sneered.

"I'll rip his eyes out for that comment!" Ix Chel thought, ready to strike.

"Don't bother," Ginny said softly.

Ginny stood, glaring at him malevolently.

"Don't do it," Tom whispered. "Hurting him won't help us..."

"I know what I'm doing, Tom," Ginny thought. "Have a little faith..."

"I suggest you leave, Malfoy," Ginny said.

"Or what?" Malfoy challenged.

Ginny moved closer to him, so that they were almost nose to nose.

"Stay, and find out," Ginny said in a deadly whisper that promised violence. "Though, if I were you... I'd quit while I was ahead."

They stared each other down for almost a minute, each waiting for the other to blink. Finally, Malfoy broke the dangerous silence.

"You're not worth it," Draco said in a low voice, so that the others couldn't hear.

"Funny." Ginny matched his tone perfectly. "I was thinking the same about you."

Malfoy walked off. Ginny sat back down and started in on her food, ignoring the strange looks Harry and Hermione were giving her.

*~*~*

Severus watched Miss Weasley's expression shift from shock, to incredulity, to complete horror, as she read the Daily Prophet article about her. He felt an unexpected swell of pity for the girl. She obviously loathed gaining the notoriety, which she had earned over the past month or so. A notoriety that will, in all likelihood, spread throughout the wizarding world like wildfire.

All of this Seer business... When he had heard about her first vision, he, like many of his Slytherin students, had refused to believe it. He originally suspected that she and Potter had been in on it the entire time. Then it came true, but he still hadn't been entirely convinced. Soon afterward, her second vision occurred, and that had completely changed his mind. She was the real thing, and that was her problem. She didn't seem to want the dangerous lot she had been stuck with. Severus was surprised at that. He had figured she'd be just like her brother, dying for any chance in the spotlight, but, from the looks of it, she wanted just the opposite.

"A penny for your thoughts, Severus?" Dumbledore asked, shaking Severus out of his reverie.

"Just watching the look on Weasley's face," Severus said, indicating Miss Weasley sitting at the Gryffindor table. Her expression reminded him of a trapped animal.

"Yes," Albus said, turning to watch Miss Weasley as well. "She doesn't seem to be taking any of this very well."

"She does seem to loath attention," agreed Severus.

"You know," Albus said, with a small twinkle in his eyes. "She almost reminds me of you, when you went to Hogwarts."

"We're nothing alike," Severus snorted. "She's a Gryffindor."

"Don't be so sure," Albus chuckled. "Why don't you talk to her for awhile, while we're at Diagon Alley. You'll see what I mean."

"I very much doubt it," Severus said. Severus watched the girl stare down Mr. Malfoy, in a very un-Gryffindor fashion... Maybe it would be a good idea to talk to the girl, after all.

*~*~*

Ginny got up from the Gryffindor table, and put on her dark blue cloak. Ix Chel took her place on Ginny's arm again, and they walked into the entrance hall to wait for the others to be finished with their meal. Hagrid opened the heavy oak doors to the castle, walked inside, and closed the doors behind him. He saw Ginny with the snake on her arm, and stopped in his tracks. He eyed the snake for a few moments, then walked over to greet them.

"Good morning, Professor Hagrid," Ginny said.

"Strange..." Ix Chel hissed. "This one is sensitive to the anomalous ones."

"Hi, Ginny," Hagrid said. "What you got there?"

"This is Ix Chel," Ginny said. "She's my new familiar. Ix Chel, this is Professor Hagrid. He teaches Care of Magical Creatures here."

"It's a pleasure to meet such an unusual sensitive," Ix Chel said.

Understanding, along with an odd sort of recognition, crossed his face.

"You're bonded to her, aren't you?" Hagrid asked.

"How did you know?" Ginny asked in return, completely taken off guard by his observation.

"I could feel a connection between you two when she spoke to you," Hagrid replied. "A Divinus Animus... I've read about them, but I've never actually seen one. She's beautiful! With the connection you got, you'll be able to carry on a normal conversation in no time. Ix Chel, would you like to come to my class, sometime next week? Say, Wednesday? I think the first and second years would get a kick out of you. Maybe I can even get Harry to translate for us."

"I think I would like that," Ix Chel said.

"She agrees," Ginny said.

"Good," Hagrid smiled. "I'll talk to Harry about it later... Well, I got to be going now. Don't want to miss breakfast. Just remember, you can always come to me if you two need any help."

"Don't worry," Ginny said. "We'll be fine, and thanks for the offer."

"Bye for now, Ginny... Ix Chel." Hagrid said.

"See you later, Professor," Ginny said. Hagrid left for the Great Hall.

"What did you mean when you said that he was 'sensitive'?" Ginny asked.

"The Sight comes in many different forms," Ix Chel explained. "The ability to see the future is sometimes only part of the equation. Some wizards, like this Hagrid, are receptive to other ways of being. For instance, Hagrid can see and understand the hearts of what some of your kind see as 'the anomalous ones'. It is a very special gift..."

"Wow," Ginny exclaimed. "Are you saying, that's why he likes spending all of his time with monsters?"

"The term 'monster' is a matter of perspective," Ix Chel said.

"I guess so," Ginny said, "Sorry."

"Beginning to understand your familiar, I see," Professor Dumbledore said, startling them.

"A little bit," Ginny said, turning to see Harry, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Snape behind her, wearing their cloaks.

"Are you planning on bringing your familiar with you, Miss Weasley?" Professor Snape sneered.

"She must bring all of her magical elements with her, to ensure we get her the right wand," Professor Dumbledore said. "The life bond she holds with Ix Chel, makes Ix Chel as much a part of her as one of her arms. You should know that, Severus."

"Of course," Professor Snape said.

"What bond?" Harry asked.

"We'll explain later," Ginny replied. They walked into an empty classroom, and stood in front of a large fireplace. With the wave of Dumbledore's wand, a fire sprung up in the hearth. Professor Dumbledore took out some floo powder, and threw it in the fire. Then, one by one, they left Hogwarts behind.

*~*~*

Ginny stepped out of the hearth of the Leaky Cauldron last. Professor Dumbledore used a quick cleaning spell on her, to disperse the soot that clung her and her familiar. The first thing she noticed was that it was oddly quiet in the small pub. Looking around, she saw that almost the entire room was watching them.

"Why are they staring at us?" Ginny asked.

"Because, at the moment, you three are abominably famous," Professor Snape sneered. "I suggest we make a quick exit."

"I agree, Severus," Albus said. But as they began to head for the back door, people began to swarm around them like locusts. A horde of people started introducing themselves to them, and asking them questions. Ginny wished for the twentieth time this morning that she were safely anonymous again. The horde that surrounded Ginny started asking questions about Ix Chel and her visions, and, to make matters worse, they all seemed to want a reading from her. Ginny didn't know how to react to that, and began to back away, feeling like a trapped animal for the second time this morning. Almost without warning, people started to touch her hands and arms, directing their questions at her mentally.

A cacophony of images, sounds, and sensations flooded her senses, making it impossible to breathe. The first vision that surfaced was of an old woman watching her Granddaughter's muggle wedding; but before she could get more than a sense of what was happening, she was violently pulled into another vision. She was standing in a large house filled with children having a birthday party. The scene shifted, and suddenly, she was standing in the same house, but it was night. The house was filled with Death Eaters, trying to kill the attendants of what looked like a costume party. Without warning, she was pulled into the next vision with even greater force. She was standing in front of Lord Voldemort, who was holding up a beautiful necklace that seemed oddly familiar to her. The next vision hit her, and she saw a muggle man proposing to a young, brown-haired witch. Then she was watching the successful conclusion to a business deal. All of a sudden, Ginny was watching a Slytherin girl she had seen from time to time in Potions class, jump off the Astronomy tower at Hogwarts, plummeting to her death.

The visions came faster and faster, until she couldn't distinguish one from another. Ginny's sense of the outside world became confused and distorted. She felt like the life was being sucked out of her with each passing vision. After a few seconds, it became too much for her, and she began to panic. Her senses were set aflame from the sudden attack. She tried to scream as the strain threatened to rip her apart, but nothing came out. Tom cried out in agony, feeling every bit of Ginny's pain. Ix Chel felt their sudden distress, and knew she had to act to protect her charges, but she knew she couldn't hope to fight against so many.

"Help us!" Ix Chel cried out in desperation. "The weight of her visions is killing her!"

"Ginny's in trouble!" Harry yelled, trying to get to her. Snape saw the taunt, near agonized look on Miss Weasley's face, and acted. He pulled out his wand, and quickly shouted an incantation. Brilliant discharges of electricity and the roar of an explosion flew out of his wand, causing the crowd to panic, ducking for cover. He ran to where Ginny was standing, and managed to catch her before she collapsed. The jumbled images resolved to into one vision as he half-dragged, half-carried her towards the back door.

Ginny was standing in a large mansion, overlooking a dark and gloomy landscape. Masked Death Eaters encircled her, but she wasn't alone. The Dark Lord stood before her, looking enraged. Next to Voldemort stood Lucius Malfoy, who had a cold smirk on his face. Ginny heard a pained gasp, and looked down, gaping at the horror before her. At her feet lay Professor Snape, covered in his own blood. His wrist and his left leg looked badly broken, and were bleeding profusely. Ginny noticed Snape's wand on the floor behind the Death Eaters. Tears filled Ginny's eyes as she forced herself to look back up at Voldemort again.

"You betrayed us, Severus!" Lord Voldemort howled in rage. "What have you to say for yourself, before I squash you like the insignificant pest you are!"

"I am not proud of my past," Severus said weakly, staring up at the Dark Lord. Severus coughed up blood for a few moments before continuing. "Out of all the things I have done, I have but one regret... Do you know why? Because I've paid for my sins... Because, in the end, you're going to lose... No matter how many of us you kill, there will always be more to take our place. People ready to defy you, to fight to the death if they have to! Mark my words, Voldemort, your days are numbered! People like Dumbledore, Mr. Potter, and Miss Weasley are going to put a stop to your evil, sooner or later... I'm proud to have played a part in your downfall... My only regret now, is that I won't live to see it!"

"Your wrong, Severus," Voldemort said, bending down till they were at eye level. His red eyes gleamed malevolently at the badly wounded man. "By the time this is over, the ones you speak of will be gone, and the wizarding world will be at my feet!"

Voldemort stood once more and backed away. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Snape. Snape stiffened slightly, but his gaze, and his resolve, didn't waver as he faced his own death.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled at the top of his lungs, and the vision exploded in a blinding flash of green light and the rushing sounds of death itself.

The first thing Ginny was aware of, were strong arms around her, holding her up. She blinked away tears that blurred her vision, and realized who the arms belonged to. It was Professor Snape. They were standing at the entrance to Diagon Alley behind the pub, which was still closed off.

"She's coming around," Professor Snape said, seeing that she was self-aware again. He released her, but still looked poised to catch her, if need be.

"What happened to me?" Ginny said, grabbing the wall to steady herself. She felt like she had just been through the bad part of hell.

"I'm sorry, Miss Weasley," Professor Dumbledore said, looking severely disturbed, and a little guilty. "I had no idea that could happen to you. After the shock you just went through, maybe it would be better if we returned to Hogwarts."

"No," Ginny said. "We came here to get my wand, and Professor Snape's supplies, and that is what we're going to do... Please, let's just get this over with now, so I don't have to risk that again anytime soon."

"Gryffindor to the last," Professor Snape sneered.

"Do you want to go through that crowd again?" Ginny snapped, pointing towards the door back into the pub. "I certainly don't, and its not like I can get my wand mail-order."

"As much as I loathe admitting it, she has a point," Professor Snape said, ignoring her tone of voice. "No matter what we decide, we will still have a crowd to contend with."

"Are you sure you can handle Diagon Alley today?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, Professor," Ginny said.

"What did you see?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"When they all touched me, I saw images... visions," Ginny explained. "More than I could count... I couldn't handle it, there were just too many of them. I felt like the strain was going to kill me..."

"If they'd held on for any longer, they could have," Ix Chel said. Her voice quivered with apprehension. "Will you recover?"

"I'll be fine in a minute," Ginny said, trying to understand what had just happened to her.

"Tom," Ginny thought. "Are you-"

"Don't worry, your not going to get rid of me that easily," Tom assured her.

Ginny felt a wave of relief sweep through her. Relief for what, she wasn't sure.

"Too many visions can kill?" Harry asked Ix Chel, looking horrified.

"Yes," Ix Chel said, still sounding worried. "That is why so many great Seers isolate themselves from the rest. If they lose control at the wrong moment, anything can happen. If I knew that was going to happen, I would have made her stay at Hogwarts until I had taught her better control. I'm sorry, I failed you."

Harry relayed this to the others.

"You didn't fail me," Ginny whispered, so only Ix Chel could hear. "Never think that."

"She's right," Tom said. "There was no way you could have anticipated that."

"Thank you," Ix Chel said. "I will not disappoint you again."

"You can teach Miss Weasley control?" Albus asked Ix Chel.

"Some," Ix Chel said. "Enough to keep to keep such attacks at bay, and to set her on the right paths."

Harry repeated everything Ix Chel said.

"Good," Professor Dumbledore said, with a small twinkle in his eyes. "Please do so. I would hate for something to happen to her."

"She is in good hands, great wizard," Ix Chel said. Harry relayed the message, and Professor Dumbledore smiled brightly at Ix Chel.

"After what has happened, I suggest you all keep your hoods up," Professor Dumbledore said. "The last thing we want is to be recognized again."

"And, just in case they do..." Professor Snape said. He chanted a repellent charm, which would keep anyone from getting within three feet of them, while they were in the streets. Everyone raised the hoods of their cloaks to conceal their faces, and they entered Diagon Alley. During the trip to Gringotts, the vision of Snape's death plagued Ginny. She wanted to tell them what she'd seen, but she could feel with absolute certainty that telling them now would only make the future worse. She could feel that there was still plenty of time to change things... a few months, at least. With luck, they could stop it from happening. Ginny prayed that she was doing the right thing by not telling them right away, because Snape was going to die if she was wrong.

__________

TBC