Love's Journeys *COMPLETE*

Chapter 25- Gryffindor’s in Slytherin Clothing and Prophecy of the Future


February turned to March. Classes continued. The feel around Hogwarts was very subdued. The feel was mourning and hatred. Almost the entire school blamed Hermione for Remus’ death. Hermione was walking to class alone after breakfast. All of a sudden she found herself surrounded by Seamus, Dean, and Neville. Over the weeks even Neville had turned against her.


“Going somewhere traitor?” Seamus asked.


“Leave me alone.” Hermione hissed as she tried to get around them.


“I don’t think so. Because of you Professor Lupin died. It should have been you that Malfoy killed.” Neville said.


“Get out of my way!” Hermione yelled as she tried to push through them.


They just moved in closer and pinned her against the wall. “Maybe we should help Malfoy. If you’re dead then all he will need is Snape. What do you think guys?” Dean asked.


Neville and Seamus nodded. Hermione began to shake in fear. She tried to back away but was pinned against the wall behind her. Before she could react Seamus raised his hand and struck her hard across the face. She felt the blood begin to pour from her lip that was split open. Once the shock wore off Hermione regained her bearings and started to fight back.


“Help! Someone!” she screamed.


As she screamed she tried to pull hair, scratch, punch and kick. Anything to get away from her captors.


“Shut her up.” Dean ordered.


Neville pulled her to him and slammed his hand over her mouth, muffling her screams of help. Hermione began to wiggle and squirm more. Just before Dean could throw in another punch, he was shoved away.


“Get the hell away from her!” Ron yelled as he punched Seamus, knocking him to the floor.


Harry advanced on Neville who was still holding Hermione against him like a human shield. “Let her go Neville.” Harry growled.


“No! She should be dead. Because she married that sadistic bastard she has brought nothing but pain and death to her family as well as her friends. She has to die!” Neville yelled.


Ron and Harry both drew their wands and pointed them at Dean, Seamus, and Neville. The group stood facing each other. Hermione struggled to break free of Neville’s grip.


“If you use your wands on me you’ll hit your precious Hermione. What will it be?” Dean taunted.


“Don’t make me hurt you. Let Hermione go. Now!” Ron demanded.


“WE are walking away from here unharmed with Hermione. There is nothing you can do to stop us.” Seamus said, smirking in triumph.


Ron and Harry realized there was nothing they could do without hurting Hermione in the process. Seamus, Dean and Neville began to walk away, taking a struggling and crying Hermione with them.


“This was a nice conversation. Tell Snape he can have his wife’s body back when we’re through with it. Ta ta.” Dean said.


The three Gryffindors and Hermione moved down the hall and around a corner. “Ron, go get McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Sirius. I’ll go get Severus. Hurry.” Harry ordered.


Ron nodded and the two boys ran off to find the professors. Ron ran to the staff room and found Albus, Minerva and Sirius sitting drinking a cup of tea. Ron skidded to a stop in the room.


“Mr. Weasley, what is the matter?” Minerva asked.


“Hermione…was…taken…by…Dean, Seamus, and Neville. They want to…kill her.” Ron gasped out.


“What!” the three teachers cried.


“They blame her for Remus’ death. We have to help her.” Ron answered.


“Let’s go.” Albus said.


Harry ran into the potions classroom where Severus was teaching a class of first year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Severus looked up when Harry burst into the room.


“Mr. Potter, what is the meaning of this?” He demanded.


“It’s Hermione sir.” Harry said.


“In my office. Class, keep taking notes and no one say a word or get out of their seats.” Severus demanded. Harry followed Severus into his office. Once the door was closed Severus turned to Harry. “What happened to Hermione?” Severus asked.


“Dean, Seamus and Neville have taken her. Me and Ron were heading to class and we found Hermione surrounded by them. Neville was holding her to him like a shield. We couldn’t do anything without risking hurting Hermione.” Harry answered.


“What? Where are they? We have to find them!” Severus cried jumping to his feet.


Severus headed out to his classroom, yelled for the students to return to their common rooms and he and Harry ran to find Hermione. In the main hall they ran into Ron, Minerva, Albus and Sirius.


“They have taken Hermione to the third floor corridor. To the room where we used to keep Fluffy. She is alive for now Severus, but we must hurry. Wands out and let’s go.” Albus said.


They all drew their wands and ran to the third floor corridor. They stood outside the door. From inside they heard voices.


************************************************************************


“Leave me alone you fucking bastards!” Hermione screamed.


“I don’t think so. You see, we made a deal. We deliver you to Malfoy, along with that husband of yours and we will be handsomely rewarded.” Neville replied.


Hermione’s eyes widened in fear. ‘No! How could they be helping Malfoy? They hate him!’ Hermione thought. “Why? Why would you guys want to help Malfoy? He’s our enemy?”


“That’s where you’re wrong. Malfoy was never our enemy. You see, we were going to become Death Eaters. We were followers of the Dark Lord. It was your fault that he was destroyed. The whole thing about Lupin was a façade.” Neville said.


“Even you Seamus? You’re only half. Voldemort wanted you dead too.” Hermione argued, trying to buy her some time.


“The Dark Lord understood where I was coming from. Do you think I like having a muggle father? Who do you think killed him and my mother? It was me. It was quite…liberating actually.” Seamus said with an evil grin.


At that moment the door was blasted off its hinges. Albus, Minerva, Sirius, Severus, Harry and Ron ran into the room. They found Hermione bound to a chair, her face bruised and dried blood caked her chin, forehead, and her cheeks.


“Drop your wands!” Albus ordered.


Seamus, Dean and Neville took out their wands. Instead of dropping them they pointed them at Hermione. “You’ll have to kill us. But the mudblood will die first before we go.” Dean said.


Severus was shaking in rage, hate and fear. ‘Think! You can’t let Hermione down!’ he thought as he pointed his wand at the three Gryffindors.


None of them noticed Harry and Ron slip around behind them.


“STUPEFY!!” Harry and Ron cried.


The three boys fell to the floor unconscious. Severus ran to his wife. He quickly untied her. Once free of her restraints she threw herself into his strong arms. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?” Severus asked as he held her shaking frame in his arms.


“I’m alright. Just a few cuts and bruises. Just get me out of here. Please.” Hermione cried.


“Severus, I’ll cover your classes for the rest of the day. Take Hermione to Poppy to be cleaned up. Why don’t you two go to Hogsmeade. Tonks and Moody are there. You’ll be safe. There are other Aurors and Order members there as well.” Albus said.


Severus nodded. He turned to Ron and Harry. “Thank you, both of you. For saving Hermione and coming to her rescue.” Severus said.


“Don’t mention it. We would die to protect Hermione and yourself.” Ron said. Harry nodded. Severus and Hermione left the room.


************************************************************************


After Poppy cleaned Hermione up they returned to their rooms. They quickly changed robes and apparated to Hogsmeade. They walked into the Three Broomsticks. There they found Arthur and Molly sitting at a table with Percy.


“Severus, Hermione. What are you two doing here?” Molly asked as she hugged the couple.


Severus explained what happened. Molly hugged Hermione gently. Arthur and Percy looked beyond furious. “That fucking son-of-a-bitch. Don’t worry Hermione. He will be found.” Percy said as he wrapped his arm around Hermione’s shoulders.


“Percy’s right. The public has been very helpful. We have already had dozens and dozens of leads. Unfortunately every time we have just missed Malfoy. But we will catch him. When Harry finds the wand Malfoy won’t be able to hide.” Arthur said.


Hermione and Severus felt more relaxed after hearing that. The five friends spent most of the late morning and early afternoon at the Three Broomsticks. Arthur and Percy returned to work and Molly returned home. Hermione and Severus walked around town.


“Severus, let’s go in a say hi to Fred and George.” Hermione suggested.


“Do we have to?” Severus groaned.


Hermione just smiled as she led her reluctant husband into Fred and George Weasley’s joke shop. They walked in and found the twins restocking the shelves. Fred noticed them first.


“Hermione! Professor Snape! How are you?” Fred asked as he walked to them.


“Fine. How are you two?” Hermione answered.


Fred and George both hugged Hermione and shook Severus’s hand.


“What are you two doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be up at the school?” George asked.


“Well, Albus gave us the day off.” Severus answered.


“Hermione, how are you holding up? Fred and I have been meaning to come by and check up on you.” George said.


“I’m hanging in there. It’s been hard, but I have a wonderful husband and loving friends who have been helping me through it.” She said.


They stood around the shop and talked for about an hour before Severus and Hermione decided to return to Hogwarts. They bid Fred and George good bye and returned to the school. They walked into their sitting room and saw that they had two hours before dinner.


“Severus, let’s take a nap before dinner. I’m a little tired.” Hermione said quietly.


“Okay. Let’s go love. I could use a nap after all the excitement from this morning.” Severus said.


He picked his wife up into his arms and carried his wife to their bedroom. They lay on the bed with Hermione tightly in Severus’s arms.


“I was scared today. The thought that Gryffindors could be following in Voldemort’s footsteps and wanting to help Draco in killing you…I can’t even think straight about that.” Severus said.


“I know. I was scared too. My thoughts were all blurred together. I was afraid I would never see you again.” Hermione said as she snuggled closer to Severus. They fell asleep in each other’s arms.


************************************************************************


Severus was the first to awaken. He looked at the clock on his wall and saw that they missed dinner. Quietly and slowly, so not to wake his slumbering wife, he crawled out of bed. He entered the sitting room. Before he could order them dinner there was a knock on the door. Severus opened the door and saw Harry and Ginny standing there with a tray of food.


“We noticed that you guys missed dinner, so we thought you might like some room service.” Ginny said smiling.


Severus stepped aside so they could enter. Ginny sat the tray down on the coffee table in front of the couch while Severus went to wake up Hermione. Five minutes later the couple returned to the sitting room.


“Hi Harry, Ginny.” Hermione greeted as she and Severus sat on the couch.


They ate in silence. Once dinner was over and the tray was gone, Severus summoned the book of Godric Gryffindor. “Harry, you said you found something about the wand?” Severus said.


“Yes. Actually Ginny found it. She’s been helping me. I was taking a nap when Ginny came running into my bedroom. Gin, tell them what you found.” Harry said.


“Well, there were two things. One was dealing with the wand the second was a prophecy.” Ginny said as she began flipping pages in the large book.


Ginny finally found the page she was looking for. She placed the book on the table and began to read the passage out loud.


“I have built a hidden chamber. Like Salazar, I too will one day have an heir. My heir will be able to beat the heir of Salazar. The chamber is called The Chamber of Light. Only my true heir will be able to find it. There is also a slight catch. My heir will find it but he or she will not be able to open it. To open it the heir will need the help of two people.” Ginny paused for a moment then continued.


“One of the two will be a fellow Gryffindor. One of incredible strength, courage, and loyalty to those that he or she loves and cherishes. The other will be a Slytherin. I find it strange that a Gryffindor and a Slytherin would ever get together but this Slytherin will be different. This Slytherin will be nothing like their house namesake. They will show many Gryffindor traits as well as Slytherin. These two will be the ones to open the Chamber of Light.


“The Chamber is hidden in the top most tower of Hogwarts castle. To find the entrance my heir must use their wand and tap on the wall to the far right of the room. Tap the wall four times, then the two others will both place their joined hands on the center stone and say, ‘Like the dawn chases away the night, light chases away the dark.’ Once in the chamber they will find a gold and jewel incrusted chest. Within the chest lies my wand.” Ginny stopped reading and looked at everyone.


“How do you know that me and Severus are the two that will help Harry?” Hermione asked.


“Well, that’s where the prophecy comes in. The prophecy describes you and Professor Snape to a ‘T’.” Ginny said as she once more began to flip through the book. “Here it is.” She said as she once more began reading out loud.


“Last night I had a dream. In the dream I was in another time but still at Hogwarts. I saw the strangest thing. In the dream there was a Gryffindor and a Slytherin. What was unusual about this was that they were in love and married. After I woke I went to see an Oracle. She confirmed my dream.” Ginny paused slightly then continued.


“She said that even though it is an unusual match, these two are soul mates in every way. Together with four of their truest friends will bring an end to the evil and terror Salazar Slytherin has created. Also, their children will bring about a new balance within the magical world. These six individuals will set the stage for peace for the rest of the world, both muggle and magical, for the rest of earth’s days.


“Once I returned from the Oracle, I was confused. Again that night I had a dream. In the dream I saw a battle. There I saw the couple and their children as well as the children of their friends. They were fighting for peace. I do not know when these events will happen, only that sometime in the future a Gryffindor and a Slytherin will decide the fate of both Witches, Wizard’s and Muggles. And it will lay in the hands of their children the fate of the world.


“The only vivid details I remember from my dreams are that of the couple. The man is tall, pale skinned, muscular, ebony black hair that is so shiny it looks like it is coated in grease. His eyes are coal black. They burn with passion, love and desire. He bears a black mark upon his left arm. He is one of unusual strength, courage and loyalty. These traits are rarely found all together in one person that is not in Gryffindor.


“The woman at his side is a Gryffindor in the purest sense. She is small, cinnamon colored eyes, doe brown colored and curly hair. She is very strong. She has fought and survived many things in her life. She is the complete opposite of her partner, but at the same time she is his equal in every way. I see now why these two are destined to be together. May their lives together be long and prosperous.” Ginny closed the book and looked at Hermione and Severus.


“Wow, if that doesn’t sound like you and Severus than I don’t know what does.” Harry said.


“I agree.” Severus nodded.


“Have…have you told Dumbledore about this? Maybe he knows more about it.” Hermione asked.


“No. But why don’t we go and tell him, McGonagall, and Sirius about this and see what they say we should do.” Harry replied.


The four rose to their feet and headed for Albus’s office. They entered and found Sirius and Minerva already there.


“Good you’re all here. We have found two very interesting pieces of information. One about the wand and the other about a prophecy. I think you three should hear this.” Severus said.


Ginny opened the book to the two entries and let the professors read over them. When they found the prophecy Sirius and Minerva were shocked, but Albus had a twinkle in his eyes after reading the prophecy. Severus noticed the twinkle in Albus’s eyes.


“What is it Albus? You knew something about this didn’t you?” Severus asked.


Albus leaned back in his chair and smiled. “Yes my dear boy I did. That is why I didn’t disapprove of you and Hermione. I knew the two of you were destined to be together.”


Silence floated over the office. Everyone looked at the Headmaster in shock.


“Sir, how did you know about the prophecy? I mean it was in this book and Godric said only I could open the hidden cabinet.” Harry questioned.


“I was told the same prophecy when I asked Severus to spy for the Order. I had just come from meeting with Severus. I was in Hogsmeade when this woman approached me. I knew right away she was an Oracle. She told me of a teacher and a student that would one day come together in love.” Albus stopped, took a sip of his tea then finished his tale.


“She said they would be as opposite as they could be. But at the same time be equals in every way. She spoke of the mark that you bear Severus and of the strength, loyalty, and courage that you have Hermione. She also mentioned four others that would stand by you two. Those four have to be Harry, Ginny, Ron and Lavender. So you see Harry that is how I knew of this.” Albus said.


Everyone just sat there absorbing the information they had just gathered. Everyone thinking the same thing.


“What doesn’t Albus know?”


T.B.C