A/N: While this is technically a sequel to 'Summer of the Dragon' I'm planning on making it a standalone since the genres are completely different. I, of course, would love it if you read that one first since it explains how Draco and Hermione fell in love, but if you're one of those people who is like, 'Who cares? They're in love!" then this is the right story for you.

This story might start out a bit fluffy, but it promises to get very darker.

So, for those of you who haven't read 'Summer of the Dragon' I will make sure to put special notes at the top of each chapter to explain anything that might need explaining but, like I said, I'm going to do my best to make those notes as minimal as possible.

For now all you need to know is Draco and Hermione are in love after working together for a summer, Ron's dating Astoria (who briefly dated Draco) and Harry and Ginny are married.

Also (I'm just going to say this once this time) I do not own Harry Potter. It belongs to JK Rowling.

So, without further ado …

The end of term was quickly approaching at Hogwarts and the professors needed a break just as much as the students did. That was why Headmistress McGonagall, Professor Hagrid, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Professor Slughorn, and Professor Trelawney were enjoying some mead and firewhiskey at the Hog's Head one night in early December.

The owner of the pub, Aberforth Dumbledore, came over and joined the group between orders from his other, fairly shady, customers. While the Hog's Head wasn't the nicest of pubs in Hogsmeade, it was the best place to come for anyone who wanted to let loose without judgment.

"I am telling all of you, Molly Mellick of Hufflepuff will be dead by next summer," Trelawney stated to the group.

"And what is it that makes Molly the special one this year?" McGonagall asked in an apathetic tone.

"I am not the one who makes these decisions, Minerva, I merely see them. That is the downside of being All-Knowing. You cannot change things, only predict."

McGonagall rolled her eyes. "As I recall, you predicted Harry Potter was going to die once or twice when he was a student. Last I checked he was still alive and kicking. Isn't that right, Hagrid?"

"Aye. He, Ron, an' Hermione came ter visit me jus' last week. None of 'em's kicked the bucket jus' yet."

"Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley came together?" Flitwick asked with great interest. Everyone leaned in towards Hagrid.

"O'course. They're still friends, yeh know. Maybe not as close as they once were, but those two 'ave been through too much ter call it quits 'cause of a breakup."

"But it was kind of a messy one, wasn't it?" asked Sprout. "I mean, we all saw her carrying on with Mr. Malfoy last summer. Considering their history, I can't imagine Mr. Weasley is happy about the two's budding romance."

"He's not a fan o' Malfoy, that's a given, but Hermione's happy and Ron has his own girlfriend now."

McGonagall's eyes widened. "Not Astoria Greengrass?"

Hagrid nodded.

"I admit, when I saw them dancing together at Potter's wedding I thought it was a bit off, but I suppose there are stranger couples out there."

"Do you think Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy will get married?" Flitwick asked in his high, little voice. "The rumor is they are heading in that direction."

"If they do then you might as well put purple fluff on me and call me a Pygmy Puff right now," said McGonagall, "because the world will have, in fact, turned sideways."

"If they do I demand you wear fluffy purple robes to their wedding," laughed Sprout.

"Gladly."

At that moment Aberforth came over with shots of firewhiskey for the table. He sat down and they all clanked glasses before shooting their drinks down.

"I don't think a wedding between those two seems so farfetched," said Slughorn, chiming in for the first time that night.

He had been particularly quiet with this group ever since Trelawney and he had snuck off together at the end of the year staff party last June, only to have her 'forget' about it the next day, which might have been true - considering she was intoxicated for the better part of each year - but was still suspicious since she blamed her lack of memory on her 'gift'.

"Oh, I simply cannot remember a thing from last night. My dreams were just filled with visions of unforeseen deaths and vacation plans to the Caribbean. Can you believe people are actually planning to go there during the hurricane season? What a waste of a trip!"

It all seemed like a load of Hippogriff dung to the rest of the professors, much like everything else that came out of her mouth.

"And why is that, Horace?" asked McGonagall.

"Like Pomona said, we all saw them carrying on together last summer. Meaning we all saw the way they looked at each other. They're in love. As improbable as that sounds."

"His parents will never allow that," said Flitwick.

"Are you talking about the Granger girl and that Malfoy brat?" asked Aberforth, quickly catching on to their conversation.

"Yes. Why?" asked McGonagall.

He shrugged. "From what I heard from Rosmerta, the brat's prick of a father already gave the okay."

"How on earth would Rosmerta know that?" Sprout asked. They all knew Draco's history with Madam Rosmerta of the Three Broomsticks. When he was a Death Eater he had used the Imperius Curse on her to get her to do his bidding. While she had let him stay at her inn last summer, he had still been far from forgiven.

"The kid got her father into some experimental treatment at St. Mungo's. When she goes to visit he always makes a point to meet her there. She actually seems kinda fond of him."

"While I'll admit, Draco Malfoy has changed, I still do not believe he and Ms. Granger will ever get married," stated McGonagall. "The world isn't quite ready for such an unconventional pairing."

Just then, Trelawney's hands slammed on the table. Everyone jumped and whipped towards her. Her eyes were staring blankly in front of her while she remained dead still.

"Sybill, dear, are you all right?" Sprout asked while putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. Trelawney snapped her head towards her. She shrieked and urgently removed her hand.

Returning her head to stare straight in front of her, Trelawney began to speak in a harsh, hoarse tone none of them had heard before.

"The Dark Lord is vanquished, the world is at peace, but his followers still remain, and they will not cease … Two opposite hearts join together as one, to create a new power surmountable by none … This power must remain firm within their grasp, in any other hands our future becomes our past … Love may be strong, but hold on tight, a new war will begin, and everyone must fight … Loyalties will be tested, and families torn apart, but the future is now, and it's all about to start …"

The door to the Hog's Head flew open and a huge gust of wind shot through the pub, bringing a resonating screech with it.

When the wind stopped Trelawney's eyes began to focus. After a few blinks she looked around and noticed everyone staring at her and looking horrified.

"Is something the matter?" she asked.

"Dear Merlin," whispered McGonagall. She was the only one capable of speaking, and even then it was just barely.

All of them were too caught up in everything they had just witnessed to notice the cloaked figure eyeing their group from the corner. The figure chugged the last of their butterbeer and headed for the door. After all, someone had to share the prophecy with the wizards and witches who wanted the wizarding world's future to be just like its past. Only then could they make sure it ended in their advantage.