Harry Potter and the Prophecy of the Strinx

Harry Potter and the Prophecy of the Strinx

By Moon Weasley

Chapter Four:

Predictions and revelations

After leaving Ron to face the wrath of Hermione Harry dragged his trunk up the remaining stairs and, shielding his eyes, entered Ron's violently orange Chudley Cannons Shrine. The room hadn't changed much since his last visit, he noticed wryly. Large posters of The Cannons were still plastered all over the walls and as Harry entered the players started zooming cheerfully in and out of the pictures trying their best to amaze and astonish with extravagant dives and sudden moves. The Cannons was Ron's favourite Quidditch team and although they hadn't won the league in a very long time (frankly speaking they hadn't won anything at all) Ron remained a truly dedicated fan.

Harry parked his trunk between two spare beds that undoubtedly had been squeezed in to house the twins during the visit from the Weasley relatives. Sighing heavily Harry sat down on the closest bed careful not to sit on the fake wand protruding from underneath the cover. He felt extremely guilty about intruding on the Weasleys like this. Although Mr. and Mrs. Weasley hadn't seem to mind that he and Hermione had turned up two weeks early, he still couldn't help but felt a bit awkward about arriving unannounced. With a groan Harry fell back on the bed covering his face with his hands. It just felt wrong taking advantage of Mrs. and Mr. Weasley's hospitality like this. He really should talk to Hermione about offering to stay at The Leaky Cauldron instead.

Speaking of Hermione, Harry was extremely anxious to hear why she had crashed the Dursleys' carefully planned barbeque and as good as kidnapped him away from Privet Drive. Not that he had any objections to the abduction, none at all actually. But still, it had to be something extremely important to make Hermione do something like that, Harry mused. She was always so careful and fussy about doing everything in strict accordance to rules and regulations. And yet today alone she'd performed magic twice outside of school, a clear and serious violation of Wizarding Law.

Well, Harry thought heavily, he wouldn't get to hear her explanation before Ron had managed to grovel his way into her good books again. He shook his head in disbelief remembering Ron's insane outburst in the kitchen earlier. Harry couldn't help but speculate if Ron by now had realized why the thought of Krum and Hermione together agitated him so much. Personally he wasn't entirely sure this had dawned on his dense friend yet, and wondered if he perhaps should talk to him about it. Maybe a few carefully dropped hints would make Ron stop harassing Hermione and make a move already?

While waiting for Ron to return from his mission, Harry entertained himself thinking up possible hints and clues to drop around Ron in the days to come. Chuckling evilly he tried to imagine Ron's reaction if Harry one day casually over dinner said something like "When are you going to ask Hermione on a date? Oh and please pass the pumpkin juice." But amusing as it undoubtedly would be he wasn't entirely sure he'd run the risk of pulling such a stunt. Ron could be a little hot-tempered at times and pushing it too far just might result in bodily harm.

Harry was still mentally debating how and when to bring on the topic of Krum/Hermione when the door suddenly opened and a somewhat red-faced Ron walked in. Without a word he crossed the room and kipped down on his Chudley Cannons draped bed making it squeak perilously. Harry immediately leaped of the spare bed and approached his freckly friend. Ron was getting shockingly tall, he noticed.

"Well," he inquired hopefully, "how did it go? Can we expect Hermione to talk to us any time soon?"

Looking at Ron's crimson face Harry's heart fell. Normally only a volcanic spat with Hermione could make him look this worked up and cursing inwardly Harry assumed they hadn't reconciled yet. Ron however sighed heavily.

"She will be up in a minute," he said in a low voice. Harry's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"You apologized to her then?"

"Yup," Ron replied still looking rather dazed.

He didn't offer any more information and Harry briefly wondered if he should ask why he looked so confused. He'd only seen Ron looking this concentrated when trying to work out his next chess move and Harry curiously wondered what could possibly have happened in Ginny's room just seconds ago. Reluctantly he decided against prying and instead dumped down on the bed next to Ron intentionally changing the subject.

"So, who are these relatives of yours that are staying here?"

This question effectively brought Ron out of his daze. He grimaced and turned his freckled face in Harry's direction.

"It's mum's Great Aunt Betsy and my second cousin Karen. The only trouble is that she isn't great at all. Mum's aunt, that is."

Harry laughed heartily making Ron waggle a finger in his direction. "You won't laugh tomorrow once she's trapped you in one of her dead boring conversations, I'll tell you that." Ron sighed resignedly and rolled his eyes to emphasize his point. Harry chuckled.

"She's as old as Dumbledore, if not even more ancient and talks almost continuously about the defeat of Grindelwald in 1945. Claims she played a vital part in the operations, but everyone who's ever listened to her story knows it's just a load of old tosh. I can't wait until they leave!"

Ron emphasized his point of view by rolling his eyes. "And it would be a relief to get the twins out of the room too," he continued with a scowl at the two spare beds. "They've made me their personal guinea pig these last couple of weeks. For WWW, you know," Ron hastily added upon seeing Harry's puzzled expression.

"The other day they actually replaced my blanket with a candy bedspread that turns into jelly when you tuck it around you. I had to wash my hair five times before I got it all out. Daft buggers! I was really having trouble explaining to Mum why I spent half the day showering. She obviously thought I was hogging the bathroom playing with myself or something along those lines. Honestly!!"

Harry raised a suggestive eyebrow and gave him a look saying as-if-you-didn't that Ron pointedly chose to ignore. The mental image of Ron covered in a thick layer of jelly did however make Harry laugh so hard he almost fell of the bed.

"You think that's funny, do you wonder boy?" Ron asked in a mischievous manner and before Harry could reply he'd been hit smack in the face with a pillow.

*

Feathers were raining all over the room by the time the two girls opened the door. Ginny let out a small cry and cracked a huge smile at the sight of the two boys chasing and hitting each other while desperately trying to avoid all the natural obstacles in the room. Hermione couldn't help but smile herself. It was wonderful seeing Harry looking so happy, she thought. The letters she had gotten from him over the summer had been cheerful enough, but Hermione knew Harry well enough by now to know that it was all just a cover. He didn't want them to worry about him she thought and that was just so typical of Harry. He never wanted to be a burden to anyone. But however much he kept his dark secrets to himself, they still did worry.

All the time.

The two boys still hadn't noticed them coming in but when Ginny eventually let out a loud cough, they stopped dead in their tracks and whirled around. Harry and Ron then proceeded to look at each other with identical mischievous grins, nodded in agreement and just milliseconds later Ginny and Hermione found themselves the victims of a flurried pillow fight.

Several minutes later (after putting up a respectable fight) the girls surrendered and they all sat down on the beds panting and laughing. This is just so great, Hermione though happily. All of them together like this, just mocking around like normal teenagers. She suddenly wished she didn't come bearing bad news.

It was Ginny who broke the silence first.

"So," she said looking from Harry to Hermione. "Do you mind letting us in on why you suddenly materialized in our fireplace?"

"Well don't look at me," Harry said shrugging. "I'm just along for the ride, it seems."

Three pairs of curious eyes looked at Hermione and she cleared her throat.

"Okay, here's the story," she began while removing some feathers from her hair. The others looked at her intently clinging to her every word. "Wait a minute," Ron interrupted glaring at his sister with narrow eyes. "Why is she still here?" He pointed at Ginny who immediately opened her mouth to protest but Hermione beat her to it.

"She's my friend and she's your sister - not some mortal enemy. She stays - if she wants to that is," Hermione added with a quick glance at Ginny. Ginny smiled shyly looking from one to another and finally nodded. "I'd like that."

Ron mumbled something about ruddy sisters but a stern scowl from Hermione quickly silenced him. He obviously wasn't willing to risk agitating her again so soon after they'd made up.

"Good, now that's settled I can go back to the matter at hand," Hermione said still looking sternly at Ron who was busy glaring daggers at Ginny in a futile attempt to make her leave of her own free will. He soon gave up as Hermione started on her story.

"I came across some quite startling information while we were in Bulgaria," she began and shot Ron another sideways look not wanting to get him started on the topic of Krum again. She could see a flash of anger in his eyes and he flinched slightly but refrained from speaking. Hermione saw Harry looking at him anxiously too and he was obviously relieved when Ron remained silent because he gave her a supporting look that encouraged her to go on.

"Well, on our second day visiting Viktor took us to see his old grandmother. She lives in total isolation at the foot of a very large mountain and it took us almost five hours by horse and carriage and then another hour by foot just to get there. On our way Viktor explained to us that she was regarded to be a very powerful witch mainly because of her abilities to correctly predict the future as well as recapture one's past."

Now both Harry and Ron were looking at Hermione disbelievingly.

"You went to see a Divinator?" Ron looked totally at a loss. "Willingly?"

Sighing Hermione leaned back against the wall knowing what she had in store. "But Hermione, you absolutely despise divination, and I believe your exact words were "a total waste of time" and "a load of guesswork and rubbish, not at all like Arithmancy.""

Hermione just glared at Ron, knowing of course that he was right. She had never put any trust in the predictions made by Professor Trelawney and as the firm believer in logical explanations that she was, she didn't blame them for their reactions.

"I know, I know," she replied exasperated. "I have never had much faith in that field of magic, I admit it but I have to say that after this visit my opinion definitely has changed." She chose to ignore the puzzled looks the boys were now giving each other. "But not about Trelawney," she added firmly making the boys snicker knowingly.

"Viktor's grandmother led me into a small room only furnished with two chairs and a table were the Orb was standing. She started to gaze into it muttering strange Bulgarian words to herself and I off course immediately thought she was off her rocker. But then she started to tell me about myself. You know, things I've done and said. At first I figured Viktor must have told her stuff about me, although I can't remember ever telling him any of the things she mentioned. I mean Viktor and I mostly talk about present things such as schoolwork and career plans but Olga Krum explicitly recaptured some of my childhood happenings." Hermione paused for a moment and stole a glance at the boys and Ginny. Ron still looked dumbfounded, Ginny openly intrigued and Harry plainly sceptical.

"Well, hearing a total stranger very accurately retell episodes from my life sort of made me wonder if perhaps she really could be the real McCoy. Viktor swore she didn't know we were coming and seeing as she strives to live in isolation I don't see why or how she could have obtained this information about me. But it wasn't until she started telling me things about you guys that she really won me over."

Three pairs of eyebrows were lifted almost simultaneously at this statement, but Hermione continued ignoring it and kept on talking. "She didn't say your names or anything but from what she told me there was never any doubt as to whom she was referring."

"What did she say then?" Ron was obviously craving some sort of proof and Hermione really couldn't blame him for that. The whole thing was pretty unbelievable. And they really did deserve some sort of evidence, but she felt a bit awkward telling them this. She knew it would embarrass them both terribly, but what else could she do?

In the end Hermione decided to just come right out and say it. Sighing resignedly she braced herself for an awkward couple of minutes. Still a little bit peeved with Ron because of their earlier row (plus the per-mail badgering) she decided to start with him. Closing her eyes Hermione could still vividly remember the meeting with the old Seer...

Hermione twisted nervously in her chair. It was extremely uncomfortable with its steep back and un-cushioned seat and while waiting for the old woman to start her "show" Hermione fleetingly wondered if she would survive an entire hour on this torturous piece of furniture. But just minutes into her session with Olga Krum Hermione had forgotten all about her discomfort.

How does she do it, she wondered? The old woman sitting opposite her was staring intently into a medium sized orb. Inside it a greyish mist was slowly spinning and swirling but no matter how hard or long Hermione stared at it all she saw was - well mist. But Viktor's grandmother obviously possessed a gift Hermione lacked because she managed to "see" an astonishing amount of things in that fog.

Hermione's newly acquired Translation Quill (she obviously didn't understand a word Bulgarian) had been writing furiously for the last couple of minutes and she'd been astonished by what was now recorded on the parchment in front of her. Viktor clearly hadn't been lying; Olga Krum really could recapture one's past and quite accurately at that. Hermione didn't really know how else to explain the many childhood memories she'd pulled out of the misty orb. That was memories she'd never shared with anyone from the Wizarding world, not even Harry or Ron. However much it pained Hermione to admit it, it looked as if she might just have to alter her previously so adamant opinion about divination.

Olga Krum had stopped speaking and was now looking with renewed intensity into the glass ball. Hermione's heartbeat quickened. She was fairly certain that the old woman could indeed see one's past. The important question however was: Could she tell the future as well? While Olga Krum continued to scrutinize the orb making a somewhat annoying clicking sound with her tongue, Hermione let her thoughts wander. What could she possible see? Obvious questions such as what would happen to You-Know-Who, how could he be defeated and would Harry be all right immediately came to mind. But she knew she wouldn't dare ask these questions. Because truthfully she was mortally terrified by what the answers might be. What if they weren't the ones she yearned to hear?

Shaking her head slightly Hermione tried to push any thoughts about You-Know-Who and Harry's future out of her mind. There had to be other things she could ask Mrs. Krum, Hermione mused. Safe, harmless questions she could use to check if Krum's answers corresponded with the future. A certain question immediately came to her but blushing profusely she quickly rejected it. The answer to that scared her also. Better just wait and see about that she decided.

Hermione jumped in her seat when Olga Krum the next moment once again started talking rapidly in Bulgarian. Her Translation Quill immediately sprang to life and eagerly she bent over the parchment to see what the old witch was saying.

Your past as well as future are closely linked to two strong souls.

Hmm Hermione thought, that definitely had to be Harry and Ron.

They are both of utmost importance to you. I see strong friendship, strong bonds created from past events, bonds that will strengthen in the future in different ways.

Hermione drew a breath of relief. The friendship would last, thank god! There had been times in the past (like third year when she and Ron didn't speak for weeks and last year when Ron and Harry had fallen out) that she'd wondered if perhaps that was it. No more Hermione, Ron and Harry. She couldn't bare it if that happened and Olga Krum's words were therefore a huge comfort to her.

The bond between you will change. Two will form a one. The third could find solace elsewhere but only if the Prophecy is fulfilled. That again depends on the awakening of the Strinx. If the Strinx should remain dormant the bond will break completely within a year.

Blushing again Hermione wondered what exactly she meant by "two will form a one". It did kind of imply something that she was sort of wishing for but she didn't dare ask Mrs. Krum to elaborate any further. But what was this prophecy she talked about? And what in the name of Ptolemy was a Strinx?

Hastily she wrote down these questions and watched in wonder as her Quill promptly translated them into what to Hermione looked like complete gibberish. It did however seem to make perfect sense to Olga Krum because she nodded and answered immediately.

The Orb does not give me full detail of this Prophecy but I'll tell you what I see. A marked boy faces an uncertain future. Dark shadows are hanging over him and there is a possibility of torture to both him and those close to him. Darkness is drawing closer and I also see someone, a friendly face, with a dark and hidden agenda. Hope is however present with the help of his Strinx and a unity.

Oh great Hermione thought despairingly. That didn't exactly clarify things, now did it? But before she had the chance to ask for a more explicit explanation Krum started talking again.

It is of no use asking further questions regarding this. The Orb shows nothing more of this prophecy.

Hermione felt like swearing. She was seriously considering leaving the session in frustration when the old witch suddenly spoke again. For the next few minutes Hermione watched in amazement as her quill documented a few very entertaining past events from Harry and Ron's lives that she knew for a fact were dead true. The session would have ended on a very cheerful note if it hadn't been for Olga Krum's leaving words.

"The Marked One is being tortured in his home and will continue to be so by people who hate him. He is suffering greatly physically as well as physiologically and will continue to do so if not rescued."

Hermione let out a terrified scream and bolted for the door. Harry was in mortal danger! She had to get him out of Privet Drive now!

"Well?" Ron's somewhat annoyed voice broke through Hermione's flashback. Looking at him she found him busily shredding a piece of parchment into minuscule bits littering his already messy bedroom floor. He met her gaze and her heart did a funny sort of flip-flop and she noticed that the tips of his ears had gone slightly pink. He's probably still a bit embarrassed about what happened in Ginny's room, Hermione reasoned. There was really no reason to read anything else into it, now was it...

Hermione felt this was very much confirmed when Ron the next moment was back to his annoying, impatient self. "Are you going to tell us what she said about us or not? She might have you convinced but I'm not putting any faith in this before I have some sort of proof you know." He turned to Harry. "Don't you agree?"

Harry looked stonily at Hermione. "Definitely," was his curt reply.

"Okay okay, keep your knickers on!" Hermione answered curtly. "Are you really sure you want to know? Honestly, don't you trust me enough to just accept it without proof?"

The boys simultaneously barked "NO!" at her and smirking Hermione leaned back on Ron's bed.

"Alright, but afterwards please do remember that you asked for it and I offered to spare you..."

"Oh stop dragging this out and just bloody tell us!" Ron practically screamed.

That settles it, Hermione thought gleefully. You're first Ronald.

Smiling like a Cheshire cat Hermione began speaking. "She said that a fiery friend of mine with a passion for orange (everybody looked at Ron's fiery red hair and then to his multitude of Chudley Cannons posters and memorabilia all which were bright orange), not long ago had been approached by a love struck brunette begging for his affection."

At these words Ron's ears went completely red and he tried to avoid Harry and Ginny's curious stares.

"Well, Ron you and me both know what she was referring to, don't we?" Hermione said quietly. She knew he didn't want her to mention that to anyone and she had promised him never to reveal it, but she needed desperately to convince them of the accuracy of the old woman's predictions.

"What the hell does Hermione mean by that?" Harry demanded and gave Ron a light smack on the arm.

"Nothing, just forget it," Ron muttered and looked angrily at Hermione.

"Oh come off it Ron. Don't be shy and share with us." Ginny seemed positively ecstatic at the thought of something to tease her brother about.

"Yeah, Ron we're supposed to be best friends and now I find that you are keeping secrets from me. I don't like that one bit." Harry was doing his best to sound offended but Hermione could tell by the twinkle in his eyes that he was just having him on. Ron however didn't seem to catch that, and actually looked worried.

"All right, then," he said in a low voice. "Ehh, it's just that Martha, you know that slightly scary fifth year with the really annoying high pitched laughter." Both Ginny and Harry nodded in recognition. Ron looked like he was trying to swallow down a pillow but bravely continued. "Well she kind of cornered me one night in the common room just before we went home for the summer. Said she had something she really needed to tell me, and..."

Ron had stopped talking. Hermione really felt bad for him now, his face all red and he was sitting just staring straight into his hands.

"And what?"

Hermione could see that Harry was getting impatient so she decided to spare Ron the embarrassment of retelling the event himself. "Basically she flung herself around his neck and tried desperately to kiss him," she said matter-of-factly. "I saw the whole thing. Poor Ron here looked as if he was going to dispose off all his dinner right there and then." She couldn't help giggling and Harry and Ginny both started to laugh uncontrollably.

"I am picturing this most vividly!" Harry managed to gasp out in between fits of laughter.

"Yeah yeah yeah, that's enough!" Ron had clearly had more than his share of attention for the time being and quickly told Hermione to get on with her story followed by a pleading look.

"Well, that's basically why I knew she hadn't gotten all her information from Viktor. I never told him about that and the only other person besides Ron and me who knew this ever happened was Martha herself, but after the way Ron responded to her affections I seriously doubt that she's told anyone." Hermione couldn't help but smirk. "Honestly Ron, you really ought to work on your rejection technique, can't say you handled that one particularly gracefully."

"Ha ha ha, very funny," Ron said sulkily and made a rude gesture at which Hermione pretended to be shocked.

Eventually Ron recovered somewhat from the shock of the "Martha-incident" being exposed to his friends and a huge grin suddenly spread across his face.

"Hey, you did say that she said stuff about your friends, you know plural form - as in more than one friend."

"I know what plural means, Ron," Hermione replied sarcastically. Ron glared devilishly at Harry.

"What did she tell you about this lad over here, then? Go on, spill the beans. No need to sensor anything on my account."

Harry's smile instantly vanished and he began sending her some very pleading looks that Hermione pretended not to notice. She supposed it was only fair to even the score a bit, and decided that Harry wasn't going to come off easily. She smiled as she continued.

"She told me that the boy with the mark," (they all glared at Harry's forehead and Harry self-consciously tried to flatted his fringe to hide the scar) would be well advised not to wander off into public areas again unless properly clothed." And now it was Harry's turn to get all flushed. "What on earth does that mean?" Ron was now hollering with joy.

Hermione decided to get the story out in the open as quickly as possible so that they could get back to the matter at hand as soon as possible.

"He was sleepwalking one night I was sitting up late in the common room finishing up a History of Magic essay. He came walking down the stairs from the dormitory wearing nothing but his boxers. He was halfway through the portrait hole when Professor McGonagall showed up. She woke him up off course, and gave him a very memorable lecture about not eating candy just before going to bed. Then she marched him off to the dormitory, but not before The Fat Lady had gotten a peak at his boxers." Hermione giggled. "She still calls him Bunnyman because of the cute little bunnies on Harry's boxer shorts."

And now it was Ron and Ginny's turn to burst out laughing.

"Bunnyman!" Ron cried out. "So that's what she means by that! I never knew there was an actual explanation to it, just thought it was something she made up to annoy you."

Harry was attempting a smile, but wasn't very successful at it, Hermione noticed. It took some time before Ron managed to get control over his laughing fit but as soon as the laughter was reduced to the occasional titter, Hermione continued with the story.

"Okay if you're all quite done making fun of each other I would like to continue if you don't mind."

"Sure mother," Ron answered with a mock-bow and Hermione scowled. He didn't make any further comments however and so she resumed.

"After she had managed to retrieve this information about your past just by gazing into the misty orb, you might say that she got my attention. And the predictions she then made about the future were quite alarming." She stopped to draw he breath and saw that she had their full attention now.

She began by telling them about Olga Krum's prediction saying that Harry was and would continue to be tortured. Naturally Hermione had assumed this meant that You-Know-Who or/and Death Eaters was plotting an attack on Privet Drive. Anxious to get Harry out of there she'd begged her parents to book the first plane out of Bulgaria. The only available flight thought wasn't until three days later and Hermione had finally managed to convince her parents to let her Floo back to England. Once safely back in The Leaky Cauldron she had exited into Muggle London, found a deserted alleyway and hauled the Knight Bus. She'd arrived directly in Privet Drive some thirty minutes later not bothering to dispose of her robe or hat.

Hermione did however feel a bit sheepish minutes later when Harry assured her that he hadn't seen hide or hair of any Death Eaters and certainly not Voldemort, as his scar hadn't hurt or throbbed for weeks. In the end they reasoned that the "torture" Olga Krum had mentioned most likely had been Aunt Petunia bossing him around like a badly treated house elf in preparation for the barbeque. Harry also made it quite clear that any time spent with the Dursleys could easily be categorized as torture and after actually meeting them Hermione had to concur. And they certainly did seem to hate him.

Still a bit embarrassed about her misinterpretation Hermione proceeded to explain what Olga Krum had told her about the incomplete prophecy. When she'd finished retelling Olga Krum's reading (purposely leaving out the bit about two becoming one. That could definitely wait for later...) she looked at her friends anxious to hear their reactions. Ron's mouth was hanging open in shock and Ginny looked as if she might faint at any moment. Harry looked a bit paler that usual but otherwise fine.

"What are we supposed to make out of all this, then," he finally asked.

It was Ron who finally broke the silence. "It's clearly a warning don't you think? That You-know-who might try to get you again, Harry." As he spoke Ron had gotten to his feet and was now pacing up and down the small space between the beds.

"No, really?" Harry said in mock outrage. "Honestly, this is just like Trelawney revisited." He rolled his eyes and imitated the Divination professor's misty voice. "I fear one among us will suffer a most tragic and painful death before Jupiter is in the twelfth house."

"Oh be serious, Harry," Ron responded. "This is nothing like that fraud Trelawney. A friendly face that might turn against us! That is definitely a cause for concern if you ask me." Hermione nodded at his words somewhat mesmerized by the fact that she and Ron was actually in agreement for once.

"I agree. But it also gives hope about a possible defeat of You-Know-Who." She looked at Harry wanting his opinion but he remained silent. "We'll have to start searching the Library for clues as soon as we return to school. There has to be some references to this Strinx somewhere, and perhaps we can even find the complete prophecy." Hermione looked very ecstatic at the prospect of another extensive library search.

Harry however still looked unconvinced. Sighing Ron tried to reason with him. "Oh come on, mate. This all comes from the mouth of Hermione. How can you doubt her, she's bleedin' never wrong!" This comment actually made Harry smile. Assuming he'd won him over Ron continued talking excitedly. "The first thing you have to do is to write a letter to both Dumbledore and Sirius telling them about this. Remember what they said about letting them know if something out of the ordinary happened?"

He was interrupted by Ginny.

"Who's Sirius?"

At these words Ron stopped pacing. Looking as if he wanted to hurt himself badly, he realized that he hadn't just manage to step in it this time, but rather belly-flopped. Harry was giving him a very scary piercing look and Hermione had put her hand over her own mouth staring mortified at Ginny.

Ginny looked from one face to the other without getting any response. No one said a word for what seemed like forever. "Not going to let me in on your little secret, are you?" she asked in a flat sort of voice obviously both offended and disappointed. "Well, are you telling me or not? Ron? Harry? Hermione?"

They still didn't say anything and Ginny was now getting really angry. She was used to everyone thinking she was just a little girl, and all her brothers always keeping secrets from her. But ever since she and Hermione had gotten so close over the last couple of months, she had really thought they would let her be a part of their group. But looking at the three people in front of her, sitting there all mute it was very clear to her that she had been gravely mistaken.

"Fine them, I'll be leaving now. Thanks ever so much for being so inclusive."

Well, she thought, at least I have my dignity. There was no way she was going to beg for them to tell her anything. Ginny got off the bed as gracefully as possible considering her rage turned her back on the trio and was just about to open the door (which she planned to slam really hard behind her) when it suddenly hit her.

She whirled around facing them again. "Sirius Black!!" she called out. "You're keeping in touch with Sirius Black, aren't you??"

At these words Harry jumped to his feet and in a split second he had crossed the room and was now covering her mouth with one of his hands. "Shush!" he told her intently looking her square in the eyes. Harry touching her like that instantly sent huge shivering waves of emotion down her spine and her entire body was trembling. Ginny couldn't have uttered a word even if she wanted to. She'd lost all ability to speak.

"No need to broadcast it nationwide!" Harry hissed nervously and reluctantly released the hand covering her mouth. "For crying out loud, don't scream!" Hermione and Ron looked pale and devastated.

Ginny couldn't believe her own ears. Harry, Hermione and Ron were chummy with the most dangerous convict in the entire Wizarding world? It was an understatement saying that she was lost for words. Harry looked as if he was thinking hard for a moment. Then finally he surrendered and sat down next to Ginny. Just being this close to him was nerve-wracking and Ginny couldn't help trembling.

"Sirius is my Godfather," Harry started. All Ginny could muster in reply was a faint gasp. Harry quickly continued to tell her the entire story. About Sirius and Scabbers who had actually turned out to be Peter Pettigrew; the real murderer. He also told her about the Shrieking Shack, the Timeturner, his Patronus and about how he and Hermione had rescued Sirius from the Dementors flying on the hippogriff named Buckbeak.

They spent the rest of the evening explaining and telling Ginny about most of their adventures from the last couple of years. They then continued to discuss the predictions made by Viktor's grandmother. Despite her ability to correctly retell incidents from their pasts, Harry couldn't help but be sceptic. But Hermione was persistent and maintained her view that this was something they should take seriously and in the end Harry agreed to talk to Dumbledore about is soon as they returned to school.

Later that night when he was laying on a spare bed crammed in between Fred and George (who were both snoring heartily) Harry thought about all the mind-blowing things Hermione had told them. What in the name of Lockhart was a Strinx anyhow? It all sounded pretty farfetched, but what if there actually was some truth to it? Had a prophecy telling of a way to conquer Voldemort really been predicted? Harry knew it was a very slim chance for it to be true, but still it gave them hope.

Hope is all we have at this point he thought with heavy heart. They simply had to follow up on it, but he feared they would be disappointed in the end. Looks like our fifth year will be just as complicated as the previous four, Harry thought dejectedly as he drifted of to sleep.