August | Hermione Granger x OFC

Chapter 123

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...The office dissolved but re-formed instantly. Snape was pacing up and down in front of Dumbledore. "–mediocre, arrogant as his father, a determined rule-breaker, delighted to find himself famous, attention-seeking and impertinent–"

"You see what you expect to see, Severus," said Dumbledore, without raising his eyes from a copy of Transfiguration Today. "Other teachers report that the boy is modest, likeable, and reasonably talented. Personally, I find him an engaging child. But Harry Potter is not the child I summoned you here to discuss."

Snape came to a stop, staring at Dumbledore expectantly. He waved a hand impatiently, as if to say well?

"Sybil made a prophecy today in the staff room," Dumbledore said casually, simply. "It rather caught me off guard - yes, it does happen."

"Who is the child?" Snape asked with narrowed eyes, and Dumbledore heaved a heavy sigh.

"That, I do not know."

"And the prophecy?"

"The one with the power to See, born to those who served him, born as the first month dies, the Dark Lord will wish to mark her, the Chosen One will need her in order to succeed, her choice will determine our fate..."

Snape sneered. "How stirring."

"Does anyone come to mind?"

"No."

Dumbledore shook his head, disappointed. "Well, the problem, Severus, is that there was another in the room when this prophecy was made: Professor Quirrell."

"So..."

"So, keep an eye on him, won't you?"

A whirl of colour, and Harry watched on as the scene changed again - though not by much. Now, Snape sat across from Dumbledore, waiting. By the looks of it, only some months, perhaps a year, had passed.

"Severus, do you recall the time I informed you of a second prophecy? Of a prophecy speaking of one with the power to See?"

"Of course I do."

"There has been a development: I know who the child is. Her mother went to a member of the Order begging for their help to save her daughter - a daughter, yes, by the name of Robyn Rosier. The Order member, in turn, came to me."

"Nadir Rosier," Snape surmised.

"Correct," confirmed Dumbledore. "His niece will join Hogwarts this coming September."

"She has the gift of Sight, then?" asked Snape curiously - he knew Robyn, but this was news to him.

"Indeed, she does. And now that we know the truth about Quirrell, we know that Voldemort, too, knows of the prophecy. But we can only hope that the girl's father will not identify her to him following his return, which is, I predict, inevitable."

"Zenith Rosier, you mean?" Snape scoffed. "But of course he will; he was, and remains, a loyal servant to the Dark Lord."

"And I," said Dumbledore, as though Snape hadn't spoken, "shall fix the hat to prevent the girl from joining Slytherin House, I am sorry to tell you, Severus."

"And keeping her from my House will do what, exactly?"

"Her choice will determine our fate..." Dumbledore said vaguely, not precisely answering Snape's query.

Another whirl of colour, and now everything darkened, and Snape and Dumbledore stood a little apart in the Entrance Hall while the last stragglers from the Yule Ball passed them on their way to bed.