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Deanna stretched her arms and yawned. It was the first rest day she had in weeks since she was busy with homework and Quidditch practice. She had also come to Slughorn's dinners but that was only to make sure that Cornick McSlugs wouldn't come near Hermione. She felt bad that she didn't get to spend much time with her father and that she wasn't able to visit Aberforth and Ariana that much but she had sent them letters and she was going to visit them the next day anyways.

"Pops, you're here!" Deanna gave him a tight hug, seeing that her father was behind his desk unlike the past few weeks. He was always somewhere else and she was getting worried for him.

"I missed you, love." Dumbledore kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry, your old man has been occupied with matters of urgency. How have you been?"

And she and Dumbledore exchanged stories about how their time had gone. What amused Dumbledore was the fact that Hermione Granger would be mentioned every 10 seconds or so. Of course, he didn't push on about that because he didn't want to fluster his daughter and he wanted to talk to her lots after missing her badly.

Dumbledore, on the other hand, was vague with his stories. He would just say that he was doing things for the Order and preparing more for their next lesson with Harry. He also said that he was learning more that he can about their prophecies.

"Hey, Pops. I have a question." Deanna suddenly said. Dumbledore let out a hum to tell her to continue. "I've heard from Mione –"

Deanna cut herself off and continued as if she had not said anything but the blush on her cheeks said otherwise. "I mean... I read that if someone was born out of a love potion, that person would lack the ability to love... Why did T-Voldemort fall in love with me?"

Dumbledore stared at her for a moment before nodding. "Your prophecy... It was a prophecy of a long time ago, long before you and Voldemort were born. Sibyll Trelawney's grandmother, Cassandra Trelawney, had made the prophecy in front of Gellert Grindelwald. Grindelwald had told me about the prophecy since it could have been Ariana, but then, you know what happened."

Deanna just nodded in understanding and squeezed his hand. Even if it had been a long time already, the pain had never gone away.

Dumbledore took in a deep breath and spoke again. "After Ariana's death, the prophecy was forgotten... Until you came, love. You came, and we thought that it could have been you, but then, you and Tom were in love with each other. None of us knew at that time that Tom was the Heir of Slytherin so once again it was forgotten. And three years ago, Harry, Ron and Hermione had discovered that Tom was indeed the Heir of Slytherin."

"You came back a year ago, and that was when we were sure. You and Tom are the ones in the prophecy." Dumbledore stared into Deanna's eyes. "Prophecies are so strong that they impact one's life, one's feelings and one's mind... Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

Deanna felt her voice get caught up in her throat and her eyes prickled with tears so she simply nodded.

Dumbledore's eyes turned soft and he spoke in a gentle voice. "You and Tom were meant to love each other. It was this prophecy that predicted your fate. He was afraid and he lusted for power. That was what changed the love you had for him."

"So, he can never love anyone else?" Deanna whispered. She may not be in love with Tom Riddle anymore, but there would always be a part of her that would be Tom's. That would never change. Tom Riddle was her first love, and that would never change. The fact that he could never love again broke her heart.

"You are the only one he has loved and the only one he will ever love." Dumbledore took her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "I know it's too much for you to take in, love, but I wanted to tell you the truth."

Deanna relaxed into her father's embrace and let her tears fall. For her and Tom. For the sad reality of their love. That a prophecy was a reason as to why they fell in love with each other. Whatever the case, she did not regret loving Tom Riddle because loving Tom had lead her to the life she had now.

'This is the only thing I can offer you. Because there is a greater truth that I can not tell you.' Dumbledore thought to himself while tightening his hug on Deanna.

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"Bring Fawkes with you." Deanna frowned at Dumbledore who chuckled at her and nodded.

"Yes, I will, love. Have a good time with Hagrid before going to Aberforth's." Dumbledore kissed the top of her head. Fawkes nuzzled Deanna's cheek before landing on Dumbledore's shoulder and the two of them disappeared with a Pop!

Deanna made her way to Hagrid's hut and knocked on the door. "Ruby?"

The door swung open to reveal a smiling Hagrid. "Dee!" He gave the small girl a tight hug and let her into his hut. "Are you ready?"

"Of course, it's my first time seeing Grawpy and Witherwings since the summer had started. Let's go!" Deanna let Hagrid lead her through the Forbidden Forest while listening to Hagrid's stories about his half-brother and the Hippogriff.

"Hello, Grawpy, Witherwings!" Deanna waved at the two of them when they finally arrived at the center of the Forest. The two were brought in by Hagrid so that they could have some fresh air and also so they could meet Deanna. "How have you two been?"

"Dee!" Grawp shouted and picked up the Hufflepuff who giggled and patted his hand. After a few moments, he put down Deanna on the ground. Deanna gave a bow to Witherwings who immediately nuzzled his head into Deanna's hand. Hagrid watched his three friends with a soft smile on his face. Deanna would always be his best friend no matter what. No one could beat the sincerity and understanding Deanna had in her.

"Aragog is dying, Dee..." At Hagrid's words, Deanna went to him and gave him a hug.

"Is there anything I can do, Ruby?" Deanna felt bad for him. Aragog was one of Hagrid's first friends, and she knew the pain of losing her friends. She had lost too much in what seemed to be a year to her, and the only thing she could do is be there for Hagrid.

"It'll be all right, Rubeus. It will be all right." Deanna pat the sobbing half-giant on the back and held him as much as she could in her arms. It would be all right in the end.

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After Hagrid had calmed down, he brought Deanna to Hogsmeade. Deanna made her way alone to Hog's Head and smiled at the man behind the counter. "Uncle Ab!"

"Oh my, little Ari!" Aberforth wrapped his arms around his niece and pat her hair. "Are you eating well? You seem like you've lost some weight."

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. How about you? Have you been taking care of yourself?" Deanna raised an eyebrow at him. Aberforth just laughed and motioned her to go into her old bedroom where Ariana was.

"Aunt Ari!" Deanna gave the portrait a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh dear. An excited puppy now, are you? I missed you too, Deanna." Ariana smiled widely at her niece who had lied down on the bed. "How have you been?"

Deanna told her about how the past months had gone, and she was extremely excited when she talked about Hermione and the Gryffindor's birthday. Ariana just laughed at it and wondered if her niece realized the extent of her feelings she had for Hermione. It seemed that she was thinking she only liked Hermione... But Ariana knew. It was something deeper than that already.

After talking with Ariana, Deanna had gone down to talk to Aberforth who had closed the store down. "How have you been, Uncle Ab?"

"I've been well, dear. Same old. How about you?" And Deanna started again. Aberforth would just laugh and listen because Hermione Granger wouldn't stop popping up in Deanna's story, but he thought that was how people acted when they had completely fallen for someone.

"But Uncle Ab..." Deanna suddenly got serious, and it worried Aberforth.

"Yes?"

"What do you do if you have this weight on you? Everybody's expecting you to do this thing... but it isn't that easy to do so. You have to fight people you once knew and all because it is what you are meant to do... And for the greater good." Deanna let out a sigh and sipped the chocolate milk Aberforth just slid over to her.

"What do you mean, love?" Aberforth asked cautiously, but somehow, he knew where this was going. Something once forgotten was coming up again, but he didn't want it to come. He may have expected it, but it didn't mean that he wanted it.

"I have a prophecy, Uncle Ab. The heir of Slytherin and the heir of the phoenixes... A love that was destined but broken by choices made out of love and thirst for power... A connection that will last until the phoenix burns... She is the wall standing between the Dark Lord and the Boy... Between the Dark Lord and the Boy, neither can live while the other survives... And the girl changes it all through choices she will make..."

Those words from Deanna made Aberforth's face fall and fists clench. Deanna let out another sigh and looked at Aberforth. "And it was the reason why I fell in love with Tom... Do you think we can win this, Uncle Ab?"

Aberforth nodded and forced himself to smile, bringing the girl into a hug to hide his tears. "We can win this, Deanna. We have you."

Deanna snuggled into his arms. "Thank you, Uncle Ab. I love you."

"I love you too, little Ari." Aberforth just tightened his hug to contain the emotions he was feeling. Anger, sadness, heartbreak, pity. He was feeling everything. When Deanna bid farewell, he ran into Deanna's old room and that was when he let his tears fall and sobbed his heart out.

"Ab, what's wrong?" Ariana asked worriedly.

"S-She's the heir... She's the heir of the phoenixes." Aberforth managed to say through his crying. Ariana's eyes welled up with tears, but she forced them down and spoke words of comfort to her brother. The wretched prophecy... The prophecy that spoke of salvation... Aberforth wanted to shout and curse them all, ask them to change it. But it was no use, part of it was already fulfilled. He just hoped that the hidden part wouldn't come.

Deanna was walking down the street when suddenly, someone screamed. She ran to the direction of the voice and saw one of the Chasers of Gryffindor, Katie Bell, rising into the air and there was a package near her while Harry, Ron, Hermione and one of the Hufflepuffs, Leanne, were trying to pull her down.

Deanna started running towards the school for help and she caught sight of Hagrid. "Rubeus, we need help! Katie Bell's been cursed."

"What?"

Deanna started pulling Hagrid back and they somehow bumped into Harry who was about to speak when Deanna cut him off. "It's fine. I told him, come on." They ran to where Katie, Ron, Hermione and Leanne were.

"Get back!" shouted Hagrid. "Lemme see her!"

"Something's happened to her!" sobbed Leanne. "I don't know what —"

Hagrid stared at Katie for a moment before scooping her into his arms and running towards the castle, the screams of Katie Bell fading away.

Deanna pat Leanne on the back to give her comfort. "It'll be fine, Leanne."

"Did it just happen all of a sudden, or — ?" Hermione asked her.

"It was when that package tore," sobbed Leanne, pointing at the package. Ron was about to touch it when Harry pulled him back.

"Don't touch it!" Harry crouched down and stared at it. "It was on display in Borgin and Burkes ages ago. The label said it was cursed. Katie must have touched it. How did Katie get hold of this?"

"Well, that's why we were arguing. She came back from the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks holding it, said it was a surprise for somebody at Hogwarts and she had to deliver it. She looked all funny when she said it... Oh no, oh no, I bet she'd been Imperiused and I didn't realize!" Leanne shook with renewed sobs.

"It's not your fault, Leanne." Deanna rubbed her back and let the girl sob into her shoulder.

Hermione patted her shoulder gently. "She didn't say who'd given it to her, Leanne?"

"No... she wouldn't tell me... and I said she was being stupid and not to take it up to school, but she just wouldn't listen and... and then I tried to grab it from her... and — and —" Leanne let out a wail of despair.

"We'd better get up to school," said Hermione, her arm still around Leanne. "We'll be able to find out how she is. Come on..." Deanna nodded and supported Leanne as they made their way towards the Castle.

"Malfoy knows about this necklace." Harry blurted out when they entered the grounds. "It was in a case at Borgin and Burkes four years ago, I saw him having a good look at it while I was hiding from him and his dad. This is what he was buying that day when we followed him! He remembered it and he went back for it!"

"I — I dunno, Harry," said Ron hesitantly. "Loads of people go to Borgin and Burkes... and didn't that girl say Katie got it in the girls' bathroom?"

"She said she came back from the bathroom with it, she didn't necessarily get it in the bathroom itself —"

"McGonagall!" said Ron warningly.

Deanna lifted her head and saw Minerva hurrying towards them. "Hagrid says you five saw what happened to Katie Bell — upstairs to my office at once, please! What's that you're holding, Potter?"

"It's the thing she touched," said Harry.

"Good lord," said Minerva, looking alarmed as she took the necklace from Harry. "No, no, Filch, they're with me! Take this necklace to Professor Snape at once, but be sure not to touch it, keep it wrapped in the scarf!"

Minerva led them into her office then closed the door. "Well? What happened?" Leanne had told Minerva the whole story while sobbing despite pausing a few times, and Deanna shook her head at Minerva when the Professor opened her mouth. Minerva nodded in understanding. "All right, go up to the hospital wing, please, Leanne, and get Madam Pomfrey to give you something for shock."

"I'll come with you." Deanna offered. She patted Harry and Ron on their shoulders and gave Hermione a squeeze on her hand. As she passed Minerva, she whispered. "I'll come later, Min. I expect some hotdogs." Minerva shook her head in amusement and smiled slightly while Deanna helped Leanne out of the office.

The way to the hospital wing was silent and Deanna would just give the older badger comforting pats. What she must have witnessed scared her and she knew what Leanne needed was someone to be there.

"Oh, dear. Come here then." Madam Pomfrey ushered them in. "Are you okay, Deanna? Any injuries?"

"I'm fine, Madam Pomfrey." Deanna smiled at the matron and gave Leanne one last pat on the shoulder. "Rest well, Leanne. I'll get going now."

"Thank you, Deanna..." Leanne said gratefully. Deanna nodded once at her and made her way out of the Hospital Wing. As she turned the corner, she bumped into someone, and to her surprise, it was Pansy Parkinson.

"Pansy Parkinson." Deanna smiled at the Slytherin. "How have you been?"

"None of your business." Pansy brushed past her and started on her way. Then, Deanna remembered what Harry had said about the necklace. Draco Malfoy must have bought it from Borgin and Burkes. She chased after Pansy and pulled her into the nearest broom closet where there was only a few inches of distance left in between them.

"W-What are you doing?" Pansy stuttered out, her cheeks flushing at the closeness.

"I just wanted to ask something." Deanna stared into Pansy's eyes, and it made her feel nervous. The stare that the Hufflepuff had on her was commanding, the kind of stare that examined you inside and out. "He made Draco Malfoy a Death Eater, didn't he?"

Pansy froze at that and she tried brushing past Deanna to get out of the closet. "Stop putting your nose into others' business. I'm out of here." But Deanna blocked her with her arm and leaned closer, wanting to make her point. She did not know she was making Pansy's heart speed up every inch she came close.

"You do know you don't have to make those choices, right? Just because your parents were Death Eaters, it doesn't mean you have to do the same." Deanna spoke gently with a soft smile. She didn't want to push them away but she knew they needed help. They were being suffocated by their parents' choices, and she wanted to free them.

Pansy did not know but her tears fell at Deanna's words. Those were the words they wanted to hear so much yet nobody had told them. But Deanna... of all people, Deanna Dumbledore was the person who had told her those words she desperately wanted to hear.

Deanna took the taller girl into her arms and wiped away her tears gently. She felt her heart break at Pansy's cries and cast a non-verbal Silencing Charm on the door with her wand. She let the girl cry because it seemed like it had been too long since she had last done so.

"So..." Deanna sat down beside Pansy and the two of them leaned against the wall when Pansy had calmed down. She smiled at the girl beside her. "I'll protect you as long as I can. This secret, you and the rest of the Slytherins. I'll do my best. When all this is over, you can all have a better life, doing what you can to fix yourselves and your lives."

"You think we can do that?" Pansy laughed humorlessly. "Children of Death Eaters. Death Eaters. We don't have a choice unlike you. Can you honestly protect us from him?"

"The moment you choose not to have a choice, you make your choice." Deanna squeezed Pansy's hand. "As for protecting you, I may not be able to do so now, but hold on for a bit. Hold on for a bit, and I'll do everything to save you and protect you from him."

Pansy wanted to protest but the sincerity in Deanna's eyes made her sigh and nod. "Thank you... Keep this a secret, please."

"Of course!" Deanna grinned at her. "And I'll tell you a secret too that I've never told anyone before so it'll be fair." Pansy perked up at that and she raised an eyebrow at the Dumbledore.

"I like Hermione Granger." Deanna blushed at the words she had just said. She looked down and wondered what it would be like to tell Hermione those words. It was her first time to admit it to someone else, to actually say those words, and it felt good to do so.

Pansy stared at her for a moment, her heart feeling heavy at those words. She honestly liked Deanna Dumbledore from the very first moment she laid her eyes on the badger, but someone else owned her heart so she just smiled. "Well, I guess we've both got secrets."

"Friends keep secrets well." Deanna nudged her teasingly, making Pansy snort and Deanna laugh. Soon, Pansy got infected by Deanna's contagious laughter and the two laughed in that small broom closet that somehow became a safe space for them.

Pansy smiled softly at the badger beside her. She may have been indirectly rejected, but she gained a friend. And suddenly, the world didn't seem that scary anymore.

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"Come – Aberforth." Albus Dumbledore sat up straight in his seat at the sight of his brother. Aberforth stormed over to him with a fury in his eyes. The same fury he had the night Ariana died.

"What – " Dumbledore was cut off because Aberforth had suddenly punched him in the jaw.

"You haven't changed at all." Aberforth trembled as he said that. "You haven't changed. For once in your life, can you not think about the greater good and think about your family?"

Holding his jaw, Dumbledore now realized that Aberforth had learned of the prophecy and Deanna's part in it. He stood up and tried to calm his brother down. "Aberforth –"

"You can't even tell her the whole of it!" Aberforth yelled at him, tears falling from his eyes. "For once in your life... Think about your daughter. You lost her once. You're going to lose her again." And without waiting for a response, he left Dumbledore there. Dumbledore was weeping but he tried to silence his cries because he knew Deanna was just up there, and she might be awake.

Dumbledore made his way up and took a peek into Deanna's room where Deanna was sleeping peacefully. He was just thankful his daughter was a deep sleeper and that she did not hear a thing.

As Dumbledore stroked her hair, he knew it would only be a matter of time before Deanna would know the whole prophecy. It would also be a matter of time before his own demise. But until then, he wanted to be selfish. He wanted to keep the innocence of his daughter before letting her know of the fate that awaited her.

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