Chapter 19: Learning the Truth

The Opposite

Chapter 19: Learning the Truth

Dumbledore was sitting in his office, reading biographies of registered Seers. He'd come to none that seemed to have the amazing power that the Seer who changed everyone's destiny did. He sighed and sat back in his plush armchair. Fawkes made a noise, and he looked over at his master. Dumbledore smiled at the loyal Phoenix. He then continued his search through the papers. He came to one witch that caught his eye. She didn't seem particularly old. In fact, she looked rather young. She had white hair and crystal blue eyes. She appeared to be frowning at the camera that was taking her picture. Something in her eyes made Dumbledore think twice. He took out a quill and parchment and scribbled a quick note to Professor McGonagall. He handed it to Fawkes.

"Take this Professor McGonagall, Fawkes. She'll know what to do," Dumbledore said, for the first time looking remotely happy." Fawkes took the parchment from his master and disappeared in a flash of light. Dumbledore sat back in his chair, smiling serenely.

"Dannato! Ciò ha doluto!" Aurora yelled as a burning hex hit her arm. Harry stopped moving and smiled sheepishly. He'd gathered that the Italian words she said weren't good.

"Sorry, Aurora," he said. Aurora glared maliciously at him and then examined her arm. It wasn't burned, but it was stinging like hell. She rolled up her sleeve and looked at the red skin. Hermione ran up to her and examined it.

"You'll live, Aurora," Hermione giggled. Aurora continued to frown and rub her arm. Harry sat down next to Ron. Ron was currently murdering Draco at chess. Draco was scratching his head furiously. Ron looked smugly at him, sitting back in his chair.

"Checkmate," he said calmly. Draco glared at him.

"You cheated."

"Can't take a fair loss, huh, Malfoy? That's so like you. This is chess. I'm King of Chess Strategies. There is no way your simple-minded arse," Ron said sarcastically. Neve chuckled a little. Then Drake and Fionnula walked in. Drake observed the scene before him and crossed his arms.

"Shouldn't you all be practicing? Why is all this loitering going on? You don't have that much longer before the first." Drake sounded very annoyed. Everyone tried to look as innocent as possible, but, unfortunately, this was Fionnula and Drake Onsu. They were like American drill instructors; they weren't lenient at all. Hermione stood up and cleared her throat.

"Well, we were just resting, right guys?" she said, turning towards the others. They all looked at her and nodded quickly. Drake and Fionnula stood, unmoved by their display. Hermione sighed. "Please, Drake! We need to rest. We've been practicing so, so much. We give our all every time. Now, we just need to sit for a minute," Hermione said, reaching out to touch Drake's shoulder. Drake grabbed her by the wrist and twisted it. Hermione whimpered in pain.

"Do you think Voldemort and his cronies will wait when you say timeout?" he asked. Hermione shook her head. Ron stood up.

"Let her go! You're hurting her! You're just gonna let him do that?" Ron yelled at Fionnula, who just nodded her head.

"He's right. You shouldn't be loitering and hanging around sluggishly. We need you all to be in tip-top shape, and you're just wasting time," Fionnula said. Drake released Hermione, and she stumbled back into Ron's arms, holding her wrist close to her.

"Get back to work," Drake said. Both Drake and Fionnula turned on their heels as Dumbledore, McGonagall, and a new face appeared in front of them. Drake and Fionnula jumped back and pulled their wands. Dumbledore smiled a little.

"It's alright, you two. I have with me someone I like you all to meet," he said. Fionnula and Drake put their wands up and looked past the headmaster at the small woman with long, stringy white hair. She stared back at them. "This is Sofia Cartell. She's the Seer who altered the past," he said. Sofia nodded as she looked around the room. Dumbledore conjured chairs in the room and everyone sat. Sofia looked at Ron.

"You are Ronald Weasley, no?" she asked. Ron nodded hesitantly. Her eyes bore into him for a moment. Then she looked over the rest of the group. Her eyes rested on Aurora and Neve. They both stared at her with blank expressions on her face. "I see that my plan has worked," Sofia whispered. Aurora and Neve looked at each other and then back at Sofia.

"You're the one who went back and made it possible for Ginny to be born?" Neve asked. Sofia shook her head.

"No, I was not the one who did that. I was the one who saw the future in two different ways. I am what they call a Doppio Seer. I can see the future happen in more than one way and choose to change it if I feel the need. I am not a fan of the Dark Lord, nor will I ever be. I saw what could happen if Ginevra Weasley was never born and what could happen if she was. I told two confidantes of mine. One was a Graviostetria, and the other was a Time Keeper..."

"A Time Keeper? What's a Time Keeper?" Neve interrupted. Sofia gave her a funny look, and then went back to talking; she apparently didn't like to be interrupted.

"A Time Keeper is just that: a person who keeps time. Well, not necessarily keep. They more or less are the ones that make sure that when witches or wizards use time altering devices such as Time Turners and such that they suffer the consequences if they are seen. Not many people know about them, but being a relatively knowledgeable person, I knew one that could help me. This Time Keeper was a German witch named Lorelei Braun. Lorelei went back in time with one other person, Jendayi Sef, an Egyptian Graviostetria. Together, they altered time by slipping Molly Weasley the Gravidanza Potion, giving her the ability to bear another child. I saw all of this before Sibyll Trelawney made that prophecy about Harry Potter, the Dark Lord, and Aurora Assante. Then, I saw Sibyll Trelawney make the prophecy and knew that I had to change it. Believe me; you all should be grateful that I altered this," Sofia said. Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" Draco asked. Sofia looked at him. She stared at him for a long moment, as if reading something in him. Then she blinked twice.

"The future without Ginevra Weasley is a horrible one. Harry needs Aurora's help in defeating Lord Voldemort. Because Aurora was killed by that dementor, Harry did not live in his battle against the Dark Lord. Voldemort became a genocidal maniac, which I guess you can say he's always been. He killed every witch or wizard that opposed him without a care or doubt in the world. Muggles were being killed if they refused to do his bidding. It was a very, very bleak future. I could not let that happen, so I decided to change it."

"Can you tell us if we survive this ordeal?" Hermione asked, looking hopeful. Sofia looked her way and smiled.

"No. To reveal what I know would be to alter it yet again."

"Why?" Neville asked. Sofia sighed and intertwined her small, chubby fingers.

"If I was to tell you what would happen in another week or so, you would know, but then you wouldn't be able to complete that. Thus, my prediction would not be true. Contrary to popular belief, Seers can be wrong. That and a person who has Ginevra Weasley's talent can alter a Seer's words. I can, however, give you subtle hints. I have only a few for three of you. If I may, Headmaster?" Sofia asked Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded and stood up. Sofia looked out on the group. "I will start with you, young one," she said, looking at Neve. So, everyone left except Neve.

"So what is my destiny?" Neve asked once everyone had gone. Sofia smiled wryly.

"I cannot tell you that. What I can give you is guidance. I can give you a choice. Listen, you need to do something. The choice you make can affect any one of your friends. You have to choose who. That's all I can tell you. Tell the Longbottom boy to come in," Sofia concluded. Neve nodded and then left. Neville entered.

"Yes?" Neville asked. Sofia observed him for a moment and then sighed.

"Well, Longbottom, I can tell you this. You are not known for your magical abilities, are you?" she asked. Neville blushed and shook his head no. Sofia nodded. "There will be a time when you will be the only hope someone has in surviving. I cannot tell you who or what to do when this time comes. Just know that they will need you. Tell the Weasley boy to come in." Neville nodded and left. Then, tall, muscular Ron entered. He sat down in front of the small woman, staring at her intently. "Ronald, you have the one choice that I think is the hardest," Sofia said. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it with her wand. Ron looked at her with a blank expression.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you sure you want to know this?" Sofia said, looking at him with a dismal expression on her face.

"Yes."

"There is a difficult choice you must make between the two people you love the most. I think you are not that daft as to not know to which two I am referring to. But, this choice is one you must make on your own."

"Are you saying that I have to choose between Harry and Hermione?" Ron asked. Sofia sighed, looking distraught. She nodded. Ron's face went very pale. He sat back in the chair lackadaisically.

"I'm sorry to say this. One of them will die. There is nothing you can do to stop it. Which one is your choice," Sofia said. Ron stared at her with unbelieving eyes. He was going to have to choose between the two people he would give his life for. Sofia looked sadly at him. "Ronald, there is one thing I can tell you though."

"What's that?" Ron said his voice uneven. Sofia took a long hit of the cigarette and sat forward. She looked very mischievous and rather happy. Ron didn't understand why someone could look like that after giving someone news like that.

"There is something you can do to change it after the fact. But, you must make the choice first." She took out a box and handed it to him. "Open it after the battle. Then, go talk to your sister. You must not tell anyone what I have told you." Sofia stood. As if on queue, Dumbledore and McGonagall walked in. Ron stood along with Sofia, looking down at the box.

"Finished, I presume, Sofia?" Dumbledore asked happily. Sofia nodded.

Ron walked slowly up the stairs, trying to avoid seeing Hermione or Harry. Hermione saw him first and ran over to him. She saw the dreadful look on his face.

"Ron, what's wrong?" Hermione asked. Ron looked at her and tried to smile. Hermione could see he was faking it.

"Nothing, Mione." Hermione frowned at his words.

"What did that woman say to you?" Hermione asked as they walked out to the ball launcher on the field. Ron sat down and sighed.

"I can't tell you. I'm not supposed to tell anyone. So, please don't ask me about it or remind me about it." Ron looked down at the box in his hand. He resisted the urge to open it at that moment. Hermione got up and turned on the launcher.

"Help me practice, Ron," Hermione said. Ron nodded and stood up.

Aurora tapped Dumbledore on his shoulder. Dumbledore turned around and smiled down on the short girl.

"What is it, Miss Assante?"

"IknowwhereGinnyis," she said quickly. Dumbledore looked at her in an odd fashion.

"I beg your pardon?" he said. Aurora realized that she must've said that a little too quickly.

"I know where Ginny is. I managed to reach her yesterday. She is at Bellatrix Lestrange's country home near Southampton. She said it was virtually invisible and is surrounded by charms and such. She also said that she does not know if anyone else that is missing is there. She just heard them mention Professor Snape's name. She has not seen him," Aurora said quickly, but not as quickly as the first time. Dumbledore stared at her for a long moment.

"We cannot take action, but I will alert the proper authorities of their location so that when they come to us, we can send some of the Magi and Aurors to the Lestranges' home simultaneously. We cannot risk them hurting Ginny or anyone else for that matter. While they hit us, we'll hit them," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling down on the young girl. Aurora nodded sternly. "Off you go. I will return soon," Dumbledore said. Aurora nodded again and ran off.

Ginny was staring up at the ceiling when she heard the door to her room open. Turning her head, she saw Lucius Malfoy enter with another girl. Ginny's eyes widened when she realized who it was.

"I just thought maybe you two could use some company." Lucius pushed the other girl inside. It was Lavender. She looked a little malnourished, and her hair was wet. She smiled weakly at Ginny and nearly collapsed on the floor. Lucius smirked and left the room. Ginny helped Lavender to the bed.

"How are you?" Ginny asked. Lavender nodded in an awkward way, like it was hard to do it. She turned her head and looked at Ginny.

"Well, I haven't been cursed nearly as much as Luna or Seamus. So, I'm pretty good. I learned to keep my mouth shut. Can't say as much for Seamus or Luna, though. Parvati was the first to go. She mouthed off to Bellatrix Lestrange. "We have no idea what became of her..." Lavender's voice trailed off.

"She was returned when they got me," Ginny said quietly. Lavender looked at her. "Are you the only one here?" Ginny asked. Lavender nodded.

"They split us up into different places after Neve left. I guess that was so no one could raid one place and find us all. How is Parvati?" Lavender asked. Ginny looked down.

"Last I saw her, she looked slightly insane. They really did a number on her. She might be beyond repair. Dumbledore took her to St. Mungo's. Do you know if Snape is here?" Ginny asked. Lavender shook her head.

"Most of the time, I've been blindfolded or whatnot. I haven't really seen anything. That's why this room's light is starting to hurt my eyes. Every morning they would come to feed me, then torture me shortly thereafter. They say their intention is not to kill me. That I'm not worth that honor or something like that. Ginny, what day is it?" Lavender asked. Ginny's eyes widened at this. It was March 25th, exactly one week before April 1st.

"It's nearing the end of March. That means we will be getting out of here soon," Ginny said, sounding both relieved and afraid at the same time. Lavender nodded, and then closed her eyes. In mere seconds, she was out cold.

Bellatrix opened the door and looked at Ginny malevolently. She walked forward and grabbed her by the arm. Ginny was wrenched upward. It was pretty painful.

"Ouch! You almost dislocated my arm, you bitch!" Ginny yelled. Bellatrix ignored her for the first time and kept walking, pulling Ginny painfully along. They went back to the room where she would normally meet with Voldemort. He was sitting in his usual place and smiled when Ginny came in. Bellatrix practically threw her down on the sofa across from him.

"Hello, again, Ginevra," Voldemort said. Ginny stared at him, putting up her blocks. He put his hands on the armrests and continued to look at her in his usual manner. Ginny squirmed in her seat.

"Hello," she said, knowing that he always liked answers.

"Well, Ginevra. As you've probably already guessed, next week is the final day I will see you. I need you to tell me two things," Voldemort sneered. Ginny glared spitefully at him.

"I'm not telling you anything. At least, I'm not telling you anything that might harm my friends or give you an edge," Ginny said. Voldemort's smug look vanished from his face. He snapped his fingers, and Lucius walked in with none other than Professor Severus Snape. Ginny gasped at the condition the man was in. His greasy black hair was messy, and he had cuts and dried blood all over him. He looked as though he'd been through hell and back.

"Ginevra, I really don't want to kill this man. He really means nothing to me. He's more or less just a bargaining tool. Even if he is a traitor. I see no reason to shed unnecessary blood." Voldemort waved his hand carelessly. Lucius was gone after practically pushing Snape on the ground. Snape looked Ginny in the eyes. He seemed to be pleading with her. "Now, Ginevra, tell me two things, or the professor here dies." Voldemort took out his wand.

"What?" Ginny asked, squeezing her fist together.

"What kind of powers do Harry and Aurora possess separately and what do they possess together?" Voldemort asked. Ginny stared at Voldemort with all the hate she could muster. She looked over at Snape, who was shaking his head furiously.

"I can't tell you that," Ginny whispered. Voldemort frowned and pulled his wand. He pointed it at Snape, whose eyes widened. He closed his eyes in anticipation.

"Crucio!" he yelled. The light shot from his wand and hit Snape in his chest. The man squirmed and reeled in pain, screaming. Then Voldemort lifted the curse. He turned back toward Ginny, who was squeezing her eyes shut. Snape let out a long sigh of relief. "Tell me, Ginevra, or next time I will not be so kind," Voldemort said. Ginny looked back at Snape.

"Don't tell him anything, Weasley." Snape croaked. Voldemort snapped his head towards the man. Snape looked defiantly back at him. Then Voldemort turned his gaze back to Ginny, who was practically shivering with fear. Tears were burning her eyes. Her vision was becoming distorted and blurry.

"No..." Ginny said quietly. Voldemort frowned and turned towards Snape. He sighed deeply and pointed his wand.

"You leave me no choice, Ginevra. I will not kill your beloved professor, though," Voldemort said slowly. Ginny's face softened.

"You're not going to kill him?" Ginny asked. Voldemort looked at her and smiled. Ginny cringed at it. He really was a horrible looking man. She looked in his snakelike eyes and saw something she didn't want to see. "No..." Ginny whispered as she realized what he was going to do.

"Dolore mortale!" Voldemort yelled, all the while smiling at Ginny. Ginny watched as Snape took the curse head-on. He opened his mouth in the same way that Astrid had done. Ginny's eyes widened. She looked horrified at the sight before her.

"STOP IT!" she yelled. Voldemort didn't stop. He kept the curse going. Then, Snape stopped moving. That was when Voldemort lifted the curse. Ginny by now had tears streaming down her face. Voldemort smiled evilly.

Ginny looked down at Snape. He had the same listless look in his eyes as Astrid. He didn't seem to be breathing. He stared up at Ginny. Then he blinked, signaling that he was alive. Ginny breathed a sigh of relief.

"Lucius! Bella!" Voldemort yelled. The two aforementioned people came in. "Bella, take Miss Weasley back to her room and don't feed her. Lucius, get this scum out of my face." Voldemort waved his hand. Bellatrix grabbed Ginny viciously and pulled her off. Ginny watched Lucius Malfoy carry Snape off.

Aurora's eyes popped open. She was breathing hard. Draco was making his usual noises as he slept. Aurora snuck out from the bed and headed downstairs. She passed the wine cellar and paused. Then she went down to it. A light was lit already down there. Walking slowly down the stairs, Aurora saw Ron, drinking his heart away. Ron pulled his wand rather slowly, and then realized it was just Aurora. Aurora sat down next to him.

"What's wrong, Ron?" Aurora asked. Ron looked at her and took another swig of firewhiskey. He passed it to Aurora. She took the bottle and looked at it. Then she glanced back at Ron.

"I can't tell you that, Aurora. Just know that there is something wrong," Ron said, slightly slurring. Aurora looked at him sadly. Then she narrowed her eyes.

"Does it have something to do with what that woman told you?" Aurora asked. Ron nodded.

"I can't tell you exactly what it entails, though. She gave me this. I'm not supposed to open it, though. Not until after the battle. Aurora, is this going to be the end?" Ron asked. Aurora took a long gulp of the firewhiskey and coughed as it went down her throat. She made a face. Then she looked at Ron.

"I cannot predict the future, Ron. I do, however, have a feeling that this is not the last time we'll have to fight Voldemort," Aurora said. Ron nodded lazily, and then snatched the bottle out of her hands. Aurora jumped a little at his aggression, then watched as he chugged the stuff. Aurora smiled a little. "You know that stuff is not good for you, right?" she said, giggling a bit. Ron looked at her and swallowed.

"I didn't see you complain when you were drinking it," he retorted. Aurora laughed.

"I did not drink it like it is water, though." She took the bottle from him.

Dannato! Ciò ha doluto = Damnit! That hurt!