Tea Leaf Fiasco
It was dark outside by the time Irlynn left Snape's quarters. She wasn't sure she could classify their time together as pleasant but it was a step in the right direction. She was glad to know a little about her mother. She would be sharing it with Harry the moment she saw him. Unfortunately, she didn't run into him. As she wandered the corridors, she ran into Ginny.
"Hi Ginny."
"Oh, hi Irlynn." Ginny looked a lot better than the last time Irlynn had seen her.
"How are you doing?" Irlynn asked.
"Alright. Glad classes are done for the day. You look like you've lost something."
"Not exactly. I've just been looking for Harry and I can't find him. Have you seen him?"
"I think Ron said he went to the Hospital Wing. He wasn't feeling well."
"Thanks."
Irlynn reversed direction and moved as quickly as she could without running up to the Hospital Wing. She burst in to find Harry lying on one of the beds, reading his Defense book. He looked up when he heard footsteps.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better. But still a bit off. Thought I'd best come here before Hermione hexed me and dragged me." Irlynn laughed a little.
"So…I had dinner with Snape."
"You did?"
"Yeah. Wasn't too bad. Though his decorating needs help. It's all black and dreary. Anyways, he told me about Mum." Just then Madam Pomfrey walked out and Irlynn looked guilty.
"Madam Pomfrey…do you think you could look me over. I felt some of the things Harry did when the Dementor attacked." Harry raised an eyebrow but kept quiet as the mediwitch led Irlynn to another bed. Ten minutes later Madam Pomfrey gave her a nod and Irlynn returned to Harry's bedside.
"I'm fine. Snape will be happy."
"So…what did he say about Mum?"
"Oh that she was one of the best in their year. She really liked Potions. They grew up near each other."
"Oh. Well…no wonder Aunt Petunia doesn't like magic. She didn't like Mum spending time with Snape."
"Well…he did drop a tree branch on her head."
"He did?" Irlynn nodded.
"Brilliant."
"You realize you just complimented Professor Snape."
"Must be the after effects of the attack." Irlynn smacked him on the arm.
"I should go. Feel better."
"Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow."
Shortly, Harry was left alone in the Hospital Wing. He lay there, looking up at the ceiling for what must have been hours. He was counting all the times he'd found himself there over the last two years. It had definitely been too many. Most of them hadn't been his fault. Quirrell put him there in his first year. Lockhart's lame attempt at magic had put him there a second time and now a Dementor attack. He finally managed to quiet his mind enough to fall asleep.
The next morning, Harry woke up to sun streaming through the window next to his bed. He rolled over away from the light but it seemed to be coming from everywhere. He tried to block out the sound of footsteps moving towards him but failed.
"Mr. Potter. You can leave now." Harry groaned.
"Come now. You're going to be late for your classes." Harry pulled himself out of bed and blearily walked towards the Great Hall. Ron caught him on the way and spun him around.
"What about breakfast?" Harry complained.
"We're going to miss the start of Divination."
"So. I hear Trelawney is a nutter."
"Still she's a nutter we've never had before."
The pair wound their way up the tall spiral staircases. They were both short of breath by the time they reached the top. They walked into the room to find it cluttered with pillows strewn everywhere and crystal balls sitting on every table. Trelawney was nowhere to be seen. Ron and Harry sat down at a table near Seamus and Dean.
"This is going to be good," Seamus hissed just as a door in front of them opened and Trelawney walked out. She was dressed in an oversized dress with bangles dangling from her wrists and large glasses perched on her nose. She looked like she'd just stepped out of a tornado.
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning, Professor."
"Today, we will begin our journey into the quest to see the unknown. We will begin our journey with reading tea leaves." It was then that Harry noticed the tea cups sitting on the tables next to the crystal balls.
"I told you she was mental," Ron whispered across the table as Trelawney continued to babble about tea leaves and the inner eye. After another five minutes of long winded nonsense, Trelawney instructed them to read their partner's leaves. Ron and Harry switched cups and looked at the dregs at the bottom.
"I don't see anything," Harry said.
"Me either." Just then Trelawney stumbled over to them.
"Go ahead, young man. Tell me what you see." She was looking at Ron. He gulped.
"Uh well…this bit looks kind of like a wonky cross sort of…" Ron began and flipped through his book.
"And that means suffering. But that part up there looks like the sun…which means happiness. So…he's going to suffer, but he's going to be happy about it?" Seamus and Dean snickered behind them.
"Great," Harry grumbled to himself. Trelawney took the teacup from Ron and looked at the contents. She stumbled back and let out a raspy breath. No one noticed that Hermione had just shown up.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
"The Grim."
"The Grim?" Trelawney nodded feverishly.
"What's that?" Harry hissed.
"It takes the form a great dog. It's a bad omen." Harry and Ron looked at Hermione.
"When did you get here?"
"I've been here the whole time."
On the less than happy note, class was dismissed. Harry, Ron and Hermione traipsed down the stairs and out onto the grounds.
"You really think something is going to happen? I mean…I thought I saw a dog this summer….Irlynn and I found paw prints under a bush in our front yard."
"Harry, tea leaves is a load of rubbish," Hermione said.
"Divination is a complete crock if you ask me, poor excuse of a discipline. Ancient Runes. Now that's a fascinating subject."
"Ancient Runes…how are you ever going to use that?" Ron scoffed. Hermione just shook her head.
"Besides…isn't that class the same time as Divination?"
"Don't be silly Ronald. I couldn't be in two places at once."
The rest of the morning passed by uneventfully. Harry looked up every now and then, catching the faint shadow cast by the circling Dementors.
"Harry are you alright?"
"Yeah….just…I really don't like the Dementors. They make me nervous."
"I don't think anyone likes Dementors, mate. But they're not bothering anyone now…Dumbledore said we'd be safe."
"Yeah…but he can't control everything all the time, can he?"
"You're being silly, Harry. The Dementors haven't come near the castle or any of the students. Dumbledore would send them away in an instant if they did."
"Just trying to be realistic. Since I've apparently got a bad omen following me."
"For the last time, Harry. Nothing is following you. Not Sirius Black. Not Dementors."
"I wish I was as confident as you, Hermione. I really do. I need to go do something." Harry turned back around and started up the hill.
"Harry, where are you going?" Hermione shouted. Harry just ignored them. He made his back to the castle and started his way in the direction of Dumbledore's office. He was nearly there when he ran into Professor Snape.
"Going somewhere, Mr. Potter?"
"I need to talk with the Headmaster, Sir. It's important."
"He is off the grounds at the moment."
"Oh." They stood in an awkward silence for several minutes.
"It's just that I really have a bad feeling about the Dementors. I don't know why…maybe it's because they attacked me. I just wanted to make sure that Professor Dumbledore was really serious about not letting them get in the way…" Harry began to babble.
"Mr. Potter, do I look like I have the time to listen to you babble?"
"What?"
"I suggest if you need to speak with someone, you talk with Professor McGonagall." He began to walk away, leaving Harry to stare in stunned confusion. Had he just started to ramble on to Snape? Harry shook his head and changed direction. He must really be going nuts. He finally reached Professor McGonagall's office and knocked. There was the sound of movement from within and McGonagall finally appeared at the doorway.
"Yes, Mr. Potter? Is there something you need?"
"Uh…not exactly. I was just wondering if you had a minute to talk…"
"Please, come in. What is bothering you?"
"The Dementors. I can't help but think that they are going to attack again."
"I assure you, Mr. Potter. The Dementors are not going near any of the students."
"I just have a really bad feeling, that's all."
"Your…bad feeling has been noted and I will inform the Headmaster of your concern once he returns. Now, why don't you go outside and enjoy the fresh air." Harry gave a small nod and left her office.
