Chapter 2

James sat and gazed blankly into the crystal ball in front of him. Small wisps of silver clouds, whirled around behind the thick glass. A sudden loud snore broke James free from his trance. He looked down at Sirius who lay, slumped across the table, only half awake.

"Psst! Sirius!" James hissed.

Sirius opened an eye and glared at James. "What?"

"Do you want some cheese?"

"Erm…yeah, okay!"

James produced a small piece of food from his pocket and broke it in two. He handed Sirius a piece, smiling like a lunatic. Sirius hastily put it in his mouth and began to chew. After a few second he stopped and stared at James.

"That wasn't cheese!" Sirius said as flashes of purple and blue light sparked from his mouth. The sparks made their escape, zipping around the classroom at high speeds.

The other students in the room noticed these flying sparks and began to laugh. As they twirled around the teachers head and became entwined in her hair. She spun around and looked furiously and the students. Sirius dived behind the table and hid there, trying desperately not to laugh. James sniggered behind his hand.

"What is going on in here? Hm? What the…?" she paused as a blue spark shot from behind Sirius' and James' table. "I might have known! James Potter! Where is Master Black?"

"He's - how would you put this - in the beyond?!"

Sirius bit his lip in an attempt to silence his laughter.

"In the beyond? Did you hear that class?" The teacher turned and addressed the rest of the class. Sirius hurriedly got back on his seat before she turned around again. "We think…ah! Mr Black! Back so soon?"

"Yes, it's not much fun in the beyond! All these spirits keep asking to speak with their families. But I told them straight! Wait till they come visiting!"

"Enough!" the teacher shouted as the class began to laugh. "That will do! Back to your crystal balls!" Sirius and James sniggered. A fierce look from their teacher silenced them.

The rest of the class calmed and settled down to work again. James and Sirius sat through the remainder of divination, telling each other that they were doomed. There was a sudden loud squeal followed by a thud, as Crazy (James and Sirius' name for the teacher) jumped backwards, knocking over a crystal ball.

"You. YOU!" she said backing away from the table.

"What?" a voice snapped in reply. Sirius and James froze. Laura's voice was sharp and angry.

"Get out!"

"Why? What have I done?" said Laura, slamming her hands down on the table. She glared nastily at the teacher.

"Just get out! I don't know why I haven't noticed you before!" she stammered.

"FINE! I don't know why I picked this anyway!" Laura picked up her bag and stormed across the room. Before she disappeared out the door she spun around and glared at the teacher. "And all you divination teachers are the same - on drugs and need a true bite of reality!"

Crazy scoffed, "That's cheap coming from someone like you!"

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" growled Laura, walking towards her teacher. Here eyes flickered dangerously. Sirius and James looked at each other. Laura and Crazy were not shouting loudly at one another.

The teacher raised her hand and struck Laura. Laura stood stunned for a moment. As she unfroze, her hand tightened into a fist. James noticed this and pointed it out to Sirius. They grabbed their bags and ran to where Laura stood. They were too late. Laura lashed out and hit the small, fat, frizzy haired woman. She fell to the floor with an almighty thud. The rest of the class gasped.

James and Sirius rushed forward and grabbed hold of Laura, trying to prevent her from hitting the teacher again. They hauled her to the door and hurriedly shoved her through it. The teacher's squeaky voice squeezed under the door and said that Laura was to go to Dumbledore's office. Laura shook the boys off and marched away. They swiftly began to chase after her.

"Laura! Wait up!" James shouted.

Laura slowed a little and waited for them to catch up. She kept her back to them but James could tell she was upset.

"Laura…Are you…"began James, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine!" she snapped, wiping tears of fury from her eyes.

"Why'd she chuck you out?" enquired Sirius.

Laura looked at him through glistening eyes, "Because I'm…different."

"You sure? If that's why, why hasn't she thrown Sirius out yet?"

Sirius opened his mouth to protest but decided against it. Laura sighed and smiled.

"Can you guys keep a secret?"

"Yeah, sure! We won't tell a soul what you say!" James assured her. Sirius nodded in agreement.

"She threw me out because…cause I'm a vampire." Laura's eyes fell to the floor.

James jaw dropped. Sirius raised and eyebrow and studied her carefully.

"Really?" he asked, "How come you haven't bitten anyone or burned to death in the sunlight?"

"I feed regularly from Jackie, that solves the issue of biting anyone, and magic protects me from the sunlight?"

"But why did she freak?"

"Only a few people knew. She wasn't one of them."

"Why not tell people?" asked James curiously.

"Can you imagine what would happen if everyone knew about Remus? He would never get a moments peace!"

They walked on down the corridors as Laura explained the rest f her story. James and Sirius listened intently (there is a first time for everything!) as they walked. Outside Dumbledore's office, Laura paused and looked at them happily.

"Thanks guys! You're the greatest!" Laura said, hugging Sirius and James. "I suppose I'll see you later. If I'm not expelled! Enjoy divination!" Laura grinned and disappeared up the stairs to Dumbledore's office.

James looked at Sirius.

"So she's a -"

"Yep."

"But she hasn't -"

"Nope."

"Okay, glad we cleared that up!"

The pair began to make their way back to the divination tower. Although they hated divination, they still had to go back.

Moments later, Sirius and James once again found themselves sleeping in the warm divination room. The teacher was muttering on about something or other and only one person appeared to be listening.

"Now class, I want you to look at your partners palm and tell them their fortune?"

James grinned at Sirius, "May I?"

"Oh James! Of course!" giggled Sirius.

James took Sirius outstretched palm and frowned.

"There is something bad…a dark name. Almost so dark it's black."

James bit his lip to stop him laughing. As did Sirius.

"And I see…a black dog. It - it wants to give you fleas!"

At this point both boys lost the plot, fell off their chairs with laughter and rolled around the floor with laughter.

The teacher growled softly and marched over to the side of their table. Just as she opened her mouth to yell the bell for the end of the class rang. Sirius and James leapt to their feet, swiped up the bags and ran hurriedly out of the room.

"What are we in next?" Sirius asked.

"I…don't know!"