Sometimes, I wondered what the exchange student program was for. If it would only serve to torture the students involved. As much as I enjoyed the company I kept in Hogwarts, it wasn't the same as Durmstrang. The people here were different—kinder, companionable, and infinitely less bloodthirsty than my Durmstrang colleagues.

In Durmstrang, it was a dog eat dog world. Everybody wanted to be better than everyone else, and usually, on everything else as well. Perhaps that was the reason why I had triumphed in that school. I was intelligent—no doubt about it. But I was also beautiful, I excelled in sports, I was charming. But then, charm had a different definition in Durmstrang. Charm was ruthlessness, competitiveness, the undeniable need to push everyone who was in the way. So, even if I wasn't the friendly, smiling, lovely, loveable fairy princess that were usually considered as charming, in Durmstrang, I was.

I had thought that returning after the Christmas break would somehow change my perception of the school. Perhaps, a few weeks away from the place would make me—God forbid—sincerely miss the school.

But I shouldn't be that harsh. Hogwarts did have its good points like how Slytherin was a microcosm of Durmstrang because charming had a different definition here as well. Although, I did seem above the mark. There were those I could truly confide—or rather, one, who was Malfoy. Primarily because we had accidentally spent Christmas together and had to endure each other's presence for a few weeks.

Which wasn't that bad, admittedly—but that was beside the point.

But upon arriving at Hogwarts, after the few weeks I spent in the Malfoy estate, the feeling of dread was the same. I still didn't love the school. I tolerated it, at the least.

The Slytherin Common Room was the same as ever. After unpacking my bags, I unceremoniously sat in one of the sofas and started playing with my tarot cards. I was bothered by the noise, of all the students walking around saying greetings and exclamations. I couldn't concentrate with my cards, and I ended up putting them in a pile.

I leaned back on the sofa and closed my eyes, my fingers on my temples. Amidst all the chaos, I felt someone sit beside me on the sofa. 

"Why the sour face?" Malfoy asked beside me.

Not opening my eyes, I replied, "I didn't think I'd be happy to return. And guess what, I'm not."

"Well, I heard something that would liven you up. Callista has apparently spent the holidays with Ron Weasely, in his home, no less."

"Must I throw a baby shower?"

"Sooner than you think."

"You are deliciously evil," I said in return. "Remind me to not forget you when I leave this blasted school."

"It seemed that my good news had no effect on your sour mood." Malfoy laughed. "I knew you had a good time in my mansion, but really, Lara, you can't stay there forever."

I looked at him blankly. "That would have sounded feasible...if we take out Draco Malfoy out of the equation."

"After the wonderful time we've had, this is the thanks I get?"

"If you considered the bathroom scene wonderful, yes."

He didn't say anything then, and neither did I.

"I'd rather we not talk about that," he said.

"Agreed."

But somehow, the mental image was still there, no matter how badly I wanted to erase it.

Lara, you are becoming an idiot.

To divert my attention, I quickly grabbed the tarot cards and started shuffling. Malfoy was silent, but he was still beside me, watching me furiously shuffle the cards. I was thinking of the future I wanted to tell, but for lack of anything to tell, I decided to merely cast the cards without any thought. But then, I knew that it would result in a worthless reading, but I needed the distraction. And if I had to make up some story, I'd be more than willing to do so.

Pansy sat beside me in the sofa, just as I was about to draw the cards.

"Hey, Malfoy," she said with a simpering laugh. "Hi Lara," she added in a normal tone of voice.

I shut my ears to the conversation and started shuffling again. Concentrate, I said to myself. Don't let Pansy's annoyingly high pitched voice get to you—the kind of voice she uses when she's flirting with Malfoy.

I drew the first card.

A GIRL

Pansy and her idiotic remarks, I thought savagely. She was telling Malfoy a lengthy narrative of her Christmas break in the tropics, which explained the bronzy glow of her usually pasty skin. But then, since Pansy wasn't actually the prettiest girl in the world—the most flirtatious, arguably—so the change of skin tone wasn't very flattering.

"There were a lot of gorgeous boys, Malfoy, but I only thought of you," she said in sugary voice.

A RIVAL

Me, perhaps, because even though Pansy was my friend, there were limits to friendship. Such as annoying voices.

"That's nice of you, Pansy," Malfoy replied, with lack of anything else to say. "Seemed like you enjoyed it."

I drew another card.

SYMBOLS

Why did it seem familiar?

TWO BOYS

"I did, but I had hoped you were there. Where did you spend the holidays?"

"At home, with my mother."

I felt Malfoy fidget in his place in the sofa. But I couldn't think of it right now. For some reason, the world disappeared and it was just me and these cards, speaking to me, even though I had not intended for it to tell me anything.

EVIL

"And?"

It was happening, over and over again...but it couldn't be. But it was happening. And I knew why. It was the mysterious in the Forbidden Forest, it was my necklace, it was destiny entwined with life, destiny that was inescapable. But why was it coming back? What did it need to tell me?

LOVE

Callista's cards? Or mine? I no longer understood. Something was going to happen. It had too. These cards would not repeat itself and would only do so if it was a milestone, a landmark of the present colliding with the future. The final card would tell me.

"Actually, Lara was there."

"What?"

"Lara was there."

DESTINY

"No..." I whispered, watching the card helplessly, confused.

 "What? You were there, Lara," Malfoy said.

"It can't be..." I stared at the cards, noticing that the pristine white edges of the Destiny tarot had turned into an ominous black.

"That bracelet on your wrist looks awfully familiar—oh wait, I gave it to you last Christmas."

"You gave her a bracelet?" Pansy half-shrieked. "You gave her something?"

Don't fret my precious Lara. You will soon find out the part you will play. I only needed to remind you so you will not stray away. Remember the power you have, remember your importance. You do not wish to die, do you? Because if you do, you only need to turn away from me, to disobey me.

And right in the middle of the Slytherin Common Room, while students were happily reunited with their friends, I burst into tears.

"Lara, what's wrong?" Malfoy asked.

"I have to go," I said with a ragged sob. I stood up abruptly from the sofa, and ran out of the common room. I climbed the staircase, passed hallways, not knowing what to do and where I was going.

Why hadn't I realized before? This power that I had—it was destined for something. And I cried because I didn't know what it was, and never had a lost control of my life. But someone was pulling the strings, my strings. But why? And how?

It was no use. I had this power, and I was meant to do something. And I knew that it was important, I knew it couldn't be ignored.

And one thing that I couldn't reject was importance.

So, I resolved to carry on. No more crying spells, Lara dear. You must be strong.

I heard footsteps, and to my pleasure, I saw that it was Callista. The fairy princess, lovely, charming, friendly, loveable fairy princess Callista, who, apparently, just came from the holidays with her ogre boyfriend in some destitute old house.

"Your stomach's slightly larger than before…" I smirked when she passed.

No answer. The girl was learning to ignore me? Inconceivable!

"My oh my…what did your parents say? It's such a disgrace to your family," I added, waiting for some kind of reaction. "I mean losing it while you're still so naïve."

Callista kept on walking, her dark hair swishing behind her, tempting me like a cat to a ribbon. And I was ready to pounce.

"I mean, hello? You are living up to being a whore…nice one Callista darling, I respect the path in life you are willing to take."

I laughed.

But still she kept on, ignoring me, not minding the taunts. And suddenly, my throat was burning, as if with too much energy, and my hand was burning as well.

I don't like being ignored.

The next thing I knew, the suit of armor right next to Callista fell in a crashing heap. I saw her fall, but she had avoided the axe.

Before she could recover, I ran away, half-tripping as I escaped. Flights of stairs and hallways blurred as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, with the same thought running in my head:

I didn't do it.

What had just happened?