...She took a small breath, muttered the spell, then moved her wrist in the exact speed and motion needed. Suddenly in Harry’s mind, an image began to brew. It was that of a small hand, its tiny thumb and forefinger pinching the head of a needle. Nearby, a fire crackled… On the table, the ring shifted. …The other hand was clutching some kind of doll made of wax… The ring stilled. Then it began to tremble for a moment before emitting a soft zing! as it transformed into a golden plate. …The nimble little fingers brought the

...THE hair on the back of his neck stood up and he took a step back towards the seats he just passed up on the right. Behind the compartment’s closed doors, he saw a girl peacefully sleeping, her body stretched across the length of one side of the benches. But just a moment ago, he saw her… Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permitted*I’m not going mad,* he fumed. Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permitted="

Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permitted="red">Tag not permittedThe young woman turned her eyes on the flaxen-haired Slytherin with mild interest. She pulled slowly on the slender rod of Randoux root until it came wet and glistening at the end her pursed lips. A faint gasp escaped him. Harry thought he saw the slightest tremor rip through the other wizard’s Tag not permitted="

...Harry’s heart made a resounding thud! in his chest, then stilled as if it had quit beating. Snape was curling his long, pale fingers around the young witch’s wrist and Harry shivered violently, horrorstruck as Snape and the girl smiled at each other. He shot a look across the hall, clenching his fists as he and Draco locked eyes. Draco then coolly ignored Harry and returned his penetrating stare on their acquaintance, licking his lips as he brushed a hand over the golden Prefect pin on his chest...

HEAT prickled all over Harry’s skin, a searing pain threatening to reopen the wound on his head. He felt both heavy and light at the same time, his thoughts going blank as his mouth moved and sounds rumbled from his throat. He felt two hands grab his arm and forcibly yank it down. He snapped back into consciousness and found Ginny tightly grasping the hand that held his wand. “You almost uttered the Unforgivable Curse,” she whispered, and he looked around in shock to find the entire hall had come to a complete stand-still. Ron had sank back into his seat, his mouth gaping in disbelief. H

HARRY silently ran his eyes over their meanings. “Is that good?” Ron pressed. “No...” Trelawney uttered, her voice suddenly deep and serious, eyes glazed. “You will experience treachery…A disturbance is made aware to all, but lies hidden from you…The enemy is close at hand--”

...HE placed his bag on the table and slowly pulled out the book. Its cryptic faded gold letters were mocking him. He slid his thumb under the cover and a thin sliver of crimson liquid began leaking from the pages. He slowly raised his hand and watched as a fat, quivering drop unfurled in a scarlet ribbon across his palm. *Wow…looks like blood.* He tilted his arm slightly, letting it wind down his wrist. It felt strangely cool, like a snake twisting around his arm. He sat mesmerized, not realizing for a time that the substance oozing from the book had begun pooling across the table...

...HARRY didn’t get the chance to question her any further. At that moment, the heel of a gleaming leather shoe was suddenly ground into his shoulder. He snapped around in his seat and was greeted by the viciously cool half-grin, half-snarl of Draco. At Draco’s side was a Slytherin that Harry had spotted periodically around school two years ago. His raven black hair stood on top of his head with the help of a generous amount of shiny styling potion. He was busily dissecting Harry with his piercing hazel eyes. “Didn’t see you there, Potter,” Draco dragged his shoe across Harry’s robe as i