Chapter 28 Jealousy, the Grim, and Deepening Autonomy

Harry felt more at peace, more emotionally stable than he had earlier that morning, and curiously wondered if he had actually been experiencing what Daphne and Magic had speculated, or if he'd simply been emotional due to changes within his own body. Magic had stated that his emotional state wasn't consistent with what she knew, but he also knew she didn't know everything about what he'd go through. Neither of them did, and while Harry was aware of some things that would happen to all boys going through puberty, such as being attracted to women among other things, he didn't know everything about how his emotional state would be effected. He also had the added complication of an emotionless Magic who was set on doing what he wished, whether or not he might be comfortable with it. If he was going to be honest with himself, Harry realized that he'd wanted everything Magic had done earlier, and had found it enjoyable. Her talk with Daphne and his own thoughts, however, seemed to deal with his own state of confusion quite nicely, and the simple acknowledgement that his state of being physically attracted to Magic was a result of natural development, and that she wasn't a family member in any way, seemed to calm him.

As Harry, Magic and Daphne approached the Great Hall, Harry found himself smiling a bit, no longer feeling as awkward around Magic, and feeling a strange type of affinity toward Daphne. He heard the footsteps of Daphne and Magic as they walked behind him, was glad that Daphne was a close friend of his. He almost felt like he could trust her as much as he trusted Magic, though decided to examine that conclusion a bit later, perhaps after breakfast. There were only about two days left before classes began, Harry noted, and decided to make the most of them.

"Doesn't seem too impressive, but it does make sense how you go about getting everything." Daphne said. "You ask Magic only when you need help identifying something, and you check the rest by smell?"

Daphne asked the question of Harry about five minutes after he'd begun to eat. He swallowed, heard Magic taking a bite of what sounded like bacon next to him, then said, "That's part of it, but some of the dishes are unique, too. I try to be as independent as I can."

"I can understand why." Daphne stated. "If I was in your position, I'd probably do the same."

"Well, if you're ever in my position, I'll be able to answer a lot of questions for you." Harry said.

"How's this one." Daphne replied. "I'm quite certain, given the magic you've performed, that you could have Magic give you sight. Why haven't you?"

"I've never seen before." Harry said. "Well, in a sense I have, but that's just data. Actual visual information I don't know anything about. I can only imagine how frightening that would be. It'd be like getting used to an entirely new world, with new sounds and sensations that you've never experienced before. I don't want vision."

"You miss a great deal without it." Daphne responded.

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"The clear, cloudless blue sky, the green grass, the beauty of the sun when it sets just right, making some things look like they've got an ethereal glow." Daphne said.

"But I don't know what all that is." Harry replied. "You could describe it to me, sure, but I won't really know what it is."

"I'd miss sight if I lost it." Daphne said.

"I understand that." Harry responded. "In your case, you'd be losing something that you already had. In mine, I never had sight, so I don't have anything to reflect on having lost."

"I suppose that makes sense, a little. It's hard for me to understand that view point." Daphne said.

"It's hard for me to understand the viewpoint of sight." Harry said. "The way someone can walk into a room without anyone like Magic, and look around, knowing what's there."

"In all the conversations we've had, I'm actually surprised we never talked about this before." Daphne said.

"I'm not." Harry replied. "You were more interested in the way I felt magic, or helping me emotionally, or me helping you."

"True." Daphne said. "I'm wondering about something anyway. How do you know what's pretty?"

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"Anything." Daphne responded. "Like a rose, a woman."

"Well, I don't really think Rose's are pretty. They smell nice, but that's about it. Women have their attributes of physical attractiveness, and what I think's pretty." Harry blushed as he said the last thing. "Like, Tracey. She's... Well, she's nice."

"She is your height. You like the warmth of her arms around you. Her hug yesterday made you feel pleasure." Magic stated shamelessly.

"Yeah." Harry responded, only a bit louder than a whisper.

"Wrong subject. Sorry." Daphne said after a moment.

"It's fine." Harry said. "I've got to stop being so awkward about it sometime."

"When do you think you're going to try and fly your broom?" Daphne asked.

"During the Quidditch tryouts." Harry said. "They need a new Seeker, and I've thought about tr..."

"Harry!" The voice that shouted angrily was surprising to him. It was that of Ron Weasley, though after yesterday, perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised. Harry listened to the footsteps that stomped over to him, feeling his heart pounding a little faster.

"Yes, Ron?" Harry asked.

"What was that about last night?" Ron's voice was furious. "I saw you on the floor with her!"

"With..." Harry began.

"Magic!" Ron shouted. "Just cause you've got a girl that'll do anything you want doesn't mean you've got to flaunt it in front of everyone!"

"Ron, don't you think you're being a bit unreasonable?" Harry asked.

"Unreasonable? What was unreasonable was what you did in the first place!" Ron shouted. "You've got all the money, all the fame, and now all the women?"

Harry said nothing, only turned back toward his plate of food after a moment.

"What's wrong, Potter, not going to talk now, is that it?" Ron asked.

"What happened to Harry's discussions with you about how he would give up all of his wealth, everything he had to spend time with the family he never had, Ron? What happened to his talking to you about how he'd love to be in your place just to have a family!" Daphne shouted furiously, then Harry heard a hard slap before footsteps stormed off.

"Ron, You're jealous." Magic stated placidly.

"What?" Ron asked, sounding a little shocked. "She... She's never hit me before."

"You're jealous." Magic stated. "Why are you jealous of Harry's blindness, his lack of parents, his unloving environment that he grew up in? That's part of Harry as well. If you're to be jealous of Harry, include that."

"It's not like you care." Ron stated coolly. "You don't even feel anything."

"Harry feels, and you hurt Harry. He's sad." Magic stated.

"What, having her talk for you now, Potter? That it?" Ron asked forcefully.

"What do you want, Ron?" Harry asked in a sad, tired voice. "Just tell me whatever it is you want so we can get this over with."

"Fine!" Ron shouted. "I want you to stop flaunting your fame wherever you go!"

"Okay, Ron." Harry said softly. "I guess you're not as good a friend as I thought."

Harry heard Ron slam himself into one of the benches as he continued to eat, slower than before. Despite himself and knowing he was in a public place, the sadness of Ron being jealous of him, the hurt of the words he'd spoken to him, made some tears appear in his eyes, made his throat feel a bit closed. He swallowed, but couldn't help some tears from rolling down his cheeks. He tried to stop crying as the words of Uncle Vernon came to his mind, that a real man doesn't cry, and that's what he was becoming. A man.

"Cry." Magic stated as she gently touched his arm. "It's good for you."

"What?" Harry asked vaguely.

"Crying has benefits to your health. I've observed this when you've cried before." Magic responded. "It will assist in your emotional stability, as well as help to stabilize your bodies biological processes, clear toxins from the blood stream. Cry."

Harry blinked, still sad, but also feeling a little impressed that Magic had gathered that much data about him. That didn't last long, though, and Ron's vicious, cutting words returned to him. He started to cry a little more earnestly at remembering that, and a few moments after, he heard Ron get up and say in a bit of a quieter voice tinged with some guilt, "You're not going to change my mind by crying like a girl."

"You were rude before, and you continue to harm Harry." Magic stated serenely. "If you continue allowing jealousy to impact your friendship, you won't have a friendship with Harry."

Harry heard Ron's footsteps as he left the Great Hall, leaving a bit hesitantly. When he couldn't hear his steps anymore, Magic said quietly, "Ron's guilty."

"Yeah." Harry said after he swallowed. "Got that. I don't get why he's so jealous of me."

"He's a growing, emotionally unstable teenager going through puberty, and is likely not thinking clearly." Magic stated. "In addition, his brief glimpse of me when you attempted to get away from me while we were on the floor in your dorm, likely was one he reflected on, and found me attractive despite the situation. Judging from my appearance, I calculate with forty-seven point three percent certainty that approximately thirty-three percent of the males at Hogwarts would find me attractive."

"Low odds for you." Harry said, though was starting to feel a bit better as he spoke with the unruffled Magic.

"Variables involving emotions are unpredictable, and I don't know their thoughts and desires as I know yours. Certainty is lower when dealing with unaccountable variables." Magic said. Harry smiled a bit.

"And I know how you hate the unknown." He said.

"I don't hate. I don't know how to react to the unknown." Magic stated.

"I'm sure you'll learn." Harry responded. "Well, I'm almost done. Want to do anything in particular after I finish eating?"

"What you wish." Magic said.

"Well, I'd like to fly." Harry responded. "I've not tried out my broom yet... And maybe it'll help take my mind off things."

"Okay." Magic stated.

Harry had memorized the manual for his broom, and had longed to fly it, even let Ron give it a try, though after what Ron had said to him, the thought only made him sad. Nevertheless, Harry found himself on the Quidditch pitch a half hour later, broom in hand. Magic, as she usually was, was at his side, though she wouldn't be when he flew. He got on the broom and gripped it properly, just as he remembered from his flying lessons, and as his body instinctively wanted to do anyway. Carefully, he kicked off, feeling the broom vibrating a little under him, feeling the magic of the various charms activating, and knowing that, should he fly straight at the ground or another object, his broom would swerve around it only moments before he'd crash. The intensity of the vibrations under him told him how close he was to the ground, and the frequency of clicking sounds from around him told him how close he was to various objects, though not what the objects were. According to the manual for the broom, there were different tones to identify the Quidditch balls, which Harry was hoping to try out at some point in the future.

After getting a feel for the broom, Harry tipped the broom back and leaned his body forward, accelerating up into the sky, flying quicker, listening to the clicks around him and feeling the vibrations stop when he reached about eighteen meters in the air, the vibrations having decreased in intensity until they stopped completely. He flew quickly, listening to the clicks, hearing them speeding up and getting louder as he approached objects, the sound of where the clicks came from indicating the direction the object was. If the clicks were below him, the object was below. Or if they were directly to his left, it was to his left. He was quickly able to get a feel for this method of navigating, though when he'd flown too close to one of the goal posts, his broom had jerked to the right and taken him around it, almost like having an invisible guide. Soon, Harry was diving at the ground and pulling up at the last moments just to see if he could, flew over the entire Quidditch stadium, and even was daring enough to try and fly through one of the goal hoops. Had his broom not been equip with charms to help him avoid objects, he doubted he'd have made it, but he did, his heart pounding with the excitement of the flight. Being in the air, though a little unnerving at first, seemed to make all of his problems go away. He remained outside for much longer than he'd thought, and it was only Hermione's voice calling him that caught his attention.

"Harry!"

She didn't sound worried, only a bit concerned, Harry realized. Still grinning with excitement, Harry landed near her, grabbing her in a hug.

"Did you see?" He asked. "It actually works! All those features the broom's got, they're great! I'll definitely be able to try out for Quidditch, it'll be fun! Though I can't imagine the loud crowd will be too fun, but the flying part will be!"

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Harry." Hermione responded, firmly hugging him in return as Magic's steady footsteps made their way over to them. "How are you doing, anyway? Daphne told me about the fight you and Ron were in, and she got into a bit of one with him, too."

"I'm okay." Harry said. "A bit sad about that, but I'll be okay, I think."

"Good." Hermione replied. "Lunch is in about fifteen minutes if you want to come have something to eat."

"Wow!" Harry said, surprised. "I've been out here that long?"

"Yeah." Hermione said. "I've been watching you for the last twenty minutes or so, too. You're amazing!"

"I'm glad you think so." Harry said with a grin. "Well, I suppose I'll go back inside to have something to eat."

"Great." Hermione said cheerfully.

Harry entered the crowded Great Hall about ten minutes later, taking his time walking up to the school, having Magic banish his broom back into its place within his trunk. As usual, the crowd of chatting people began to talk about him when he entered, and always uncomfortable when he was walking through the Great Hall when it was crowded, Harry only accepted gratefully Magic's guiding hands as she gripped his shoulders and led him to a seat. As Harry folded up his cane and sat down, he heard Magic sitting on his left, touching his empty plate for a moment before a clearing throat caught his attention.

"Harry..." Ron sounded nervous and guilty, Harry realized. He felt anxiety shoot through him and his heart pounded, though he hoped he didn't show anything.

"Yes?" Harry asked, turning his face toward him.

"I'm... I'm really sorry about what I said before." Ron said awkwardly. "I know you don't want all the fame and stuff, I just... I saw how beautiful Magic looked and that you were all over her and I... I just lost it. And how you wouldn't do what I wanted yesterday with the time thing... It was childish of me. I'm sorry."

"Just try and think before you speak next time, okay?" Harry asked after a long moment.

"I'll try." Ron mumbled.

"So." Harry said, deciding to try and defuse the awkwardness with a bit of humor. "Attracted to Magic, are you? Wanted to be all over her, then, did you, Ron?"

"Well I..." Ron began nervously, though didn't finish.

"Sorry." Harry said. "Just trying to lighten things a bit. Wrong thing to say." Blushing, feeling the heat in his cheeks, Harry faced forward as he heard Magic put his plate in front of him. "Thanks, Magic." She said nothing, but he smiled at the familiar, soothing feel of his flame wrapping tenderly around him, the joy and love he felt at their closeness. As he felt the feeling, he realized that his flame of magic almost seemed to caress him gently, move throughout him, touch his entire body in a very gentle and caring way, as if his own magic loved him and wanted to care for him. He felt Magic lean close quite suddenly.

"You sustain me. You made me, me. I know everything about you, and I do as you wish... And I'm uncertain how to express my, differences." Magic stated quietly into his ear. "The magic, me, feels you differently."

"I noticed." Harry said. "More caring, loving."

"I do as you wish." Magic whispered into his ear, and while her voice was calm and the flame of his magic was stable, Harry felt like it was somehow softer than before, as if it was changing and evolving based on his own changes, or perhaps because of Magic's changes, too. He pondered it as he began to eat his meal, though wasn't quite sure what to think.

Harry had, luckily, been free of any awkward dreams over the next couple days, and to his delight, not only was Ron talking to him normally again, but it seemed that he and Hermione had also made up. Harry wondered how different things would be if he'd been able to see, though was glad he was who he was, and that he couldn't see. Being blind helped to shape everything he was, along with his friendships that he wouldn't want to change.

Breakfast during the first morning of classes was a fairly normal affair, with the usual amount of talking and speculating about him, sighs of awe from some girls that he could hear, and propositions from a couple bold ones who attempted to ask him out on a date to Hogsmeade when the first weekend would be coming up. Harry rejected the proposals, and to his surprise, Magic said something that was rather uncharacteristic of her when the third girl asked him. Before Harry could say anything to her, Magic stated, "Harry. Go with me to Hogsmeade."

"I'll always go with you, you know that." He said.

"But, Harry, can't it just be the two of us? Alone?" The girl asked.

"I go where Harry wishes, do what he desires." Magic stated as her right hand very gently grasped hold of his left, far more gently than Harry ever remembered her being in his life, like her grasp was the grasp of a person holding something extremely fragile and precious. "I'll go with Harry to Hogsmeade."

Magic's gentle grip on his hand filled Harry with a strange warmth that seemed to fill him from his stomach throughout his body. It was different from his flame, but wonderful all the same. Her grasp grew more firm as she continued to clutch his hand, which he realized felt quite nice. He was grinning before he realized it, and heard the other girl walk off with a huff.

"You can let me go now." Harry said after a few seconds. Magic immediately released him, and as he brought his hand up to his plate, he felt a strange sense of loss. As he felt Magic try and take his hand again, he said, "What are you doing?"

"You feel loss because I'm not holding your hand." Magic stated. "The feeling can be alleviated by me holding your hand."

"No." Harry said. "It's normal for me to feel loss... After losing something that was really nice." Harry mumbled the last words, though Magic was still trying to take hold of his hand. "Magic, stop, please."

Harry felt Magic pull her hand back and sighed, feeling disappointed that she hadn't tried a bit harder. That was a result of his physical attraction toward her, though, he realized. She was a girl, after all, one who was taller and stronger than he was, and who would willingly do all that he wanted of her. Realizing what his thoughts and desires were on, Harry said simply, "Magic, please just eat. Don't do anything, don't act on these feelings. Okay?"

"I do as you wish." Magic responded. "If you wish me to act, I will."

"It's not..." Harry trailed off, unsure exactly how to explain to her how awkward it made him feel for her to show such displays of affection to him in a public place like the Great Hall. While it felt nice in its unique way, he also felt a bit nervous about it. Luckily, he was able to finish eating without an incident, as Magic simply remained next to him, trying nothing more.

"Harry, might want to hurry." Hermione said. "Divination's up first, and that'll take ten minutes to get to, at least."

"I'm finished anyway." Harry said as he clambered from the bench. "Thanks, though."

"No problem." Hermione smiled.

"I wonder what it's going to be like, anyhow." Ron said as Harry took hold of his arm, deciding to have him lead him, at least, for the moment, since he hadn't mapped the location of the divination classroom yet.

"Who knows." Harry said.

As they quickly began walking, he was reminded, yet again, of how large Hogwarts actually was. A few times, they doubled back, and after emerging on a landing they were all unfamiliar with, having climbed quite a great deal of stairs, Harry found himself panting from exhaustion.

"There's got to be some kind of shortcut." Ron was also panting, Harry realized, and Hermione wasn't much better.

"I think it's this way." Hermione said, and Harry guessed she was indicating a direction.

"Harry, mate, why didn't you send Magic on ahead? We had a week!" Ron chided sarcastically.

"Cause it's good to learn something new without Magic's perfect mapping ability. What do you say, Magic?" Harry asked.

Magic, who wasn't breathing hard or physically tired, stated placidly as if it was any other walk, "If you wish it." To his surprise, she added yet another unusual statement, the second for the day. "The exercise will strengthen you."

"Are you encouraging this?" Harry asked curiously.

"I'm stating a fact." Magic replied.

"Aha!"

Harry jumped at the loud voice, and from its sound, realized it was a portrait. He turned a little toward it as it continued.

"What villains are these, that trespass upon my private lands! Come to scorn at my fall, perchance? Draw, you knaves, you dogs!"

"Um..." Harry trailed off as he heard the sound of a sword being drawn, then heard yet another sound, as if the person had fallen.

"Your efforts seem futile." Magic stated as Harry heard her approaching the picture.

"Get back, you scurvy braggart! Back, you rogue!" The man shouted.

"Can we go, now, perhaps?" Harry asked.

"We're attempting to find the north tower. Can you assist us?" Magic asked.

The person stopped the movement Harry could hear, then shouted in a voice that sounded more excited now and no longer angry, "A quest! Come follow me, dear friends, and we shall find our goal, or else shall perish bravely in the charge!" After Harry heard him futilely attempting to pull at something, then attempt some other form of movement he didn't know, he shouted, "On foot then, good sirs and gentle ladies! On! On!"

Harry heard the person clanking out of his photo and into another, and from that, was able to follow the direction of the sound. Ron and Hermione did the same, and Magic hurried ahead of them, her quick footsteps steady on the floor as they ran to keep up with him. Harry's cane, at this point, was more of a hindrance than a help, so he simply held it vertically, and just before they began to run up a tightly spiraling staircase, the person Harry assumed, by this point was a knight, shouted, "Be of stout heart, the worst is yet to come!"

They were all breathing hard except for Magic, as they sprinted up the staircase, and Harry vowed to either find a shortcut or teleport to the classroom's location next time, though the former would be better than the latter. Just when Harry was getting a little dizzy, he heard the murmur of voices that indicated they were getting close. The knight then appeared in yet another portrait and shouted, "Farewell! Farewell, my comrades-in-arms! If ever you have need of noble heart and steely sinew, call upon Sir Cadogan!"

"Yeah, we'll call you if we ever need someone mental." Ron muttered.

"He assisted us." Magic stated as they climbed on to another landing at the top of the stairs, where the students voices had come from. "He's different."

"Different?" Ron asked, he, Harry and Hermione all gasping for breath. "He's mental is what he is!"

"No." Magic responded placidly, as if she'd simply been relaxing on a cool spring day. "If he was mental, from my understanding of the term as you use it, he likely wouldn't have assisted us to find this location."

"Sure Magic, sure." Ron said, apparently shrugging off what she'd said. "This is strange. Sibyll Trelawney, Divination teacher. But how do we get up there?"

"Up where?" Harry asked as he heard a door in the ceiling open, then a few moments later, heard something gently hit the ground.

"Climb." Magic stated, and in front of him, Harry heard her beginning her climb up what he assumed was some form of latter.

Harry followed Magic up the latter, which was fairly easy to climb, and emerged into a classroom that was the most unique he'd ever been in before, but also the most uncomfortable. Exploring a little, he found some small, round tables which were surrounded by armchairs and poufs, and a fire was generating a stifling heat, along with a rather strong scent of perfume. He struggled not to cough as he found Magic, who had taken a seat in one of the armchairs, sitting next to her at the small, round table. It wasn't long before Ron and Hermione joined him, and Harry heard the rest of the class climbing into the classroom and taking their seats at last.

"I wonder where she is." Ron commented after no one further climbed the latter and entered the classroom. His voice, like everyone elses, was quiet.

"Welcome." Harry heard a misty sort of voice say. "How nice to see you in the physical world at last."

Harry's immediate impression was of someone performing theatrics, with the misty voice, the sound of jewelry that lightly clinked as she moved. Harry was already starting to regret Divination, and had History of Magic not been required, he probably wouldn't actually sit in that class, either. Though, he did have to admit that Binns did have his uses. He'd told them of the Chamber of Secrets the previous year, after all, so perhaps this teacher would be the same.

After Harry heard Professor Trelawney sit down in a chair that sounded like it was close to the fire, she said, "Welcome to Divination. My name is Professor Trelawney. You may not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye."

Harry privately thought that the Professor simply liked to be reclusive, because as far as he could tell, her magic wasn't any different than anyone else around. No one else said anything, though, and the Professor continued in the silence.

"So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field. ..."

Harry grinned as he turned his head toward Hermione, wondering how she felt about that, knowing she enjoyed learning from books and gathering knowledge. He then turned his head toward Magic, though avoided asking her for her thoughts. She was similar to Hermione in terms of knowledge, and he knew the unknown was difficult for her to grasp due to her coldly factual mindset.

"Many witches and wizards, talented though they are in the area of loud bangs and smells and sudden disappearings, are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future." Professor Trelawney continued speaking in that theatrical, misty voice of hers. "It is a Gift granted to few. You, boy," Harry heard someone jerk as if startled. "Is your grandmother well?"

"I think so." Neville's voice was trembling a bit, though Harry didn't blame him. He'd probably be uneasy if the professor had called him out like that, too.

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear." Professor Trelawney said mysteriously. Harry faintly heard Neville gulp, then the professor continued as if nothing unusual had been stated. "We will be covering the basic methods of Divination this year. The first term will be devoted to reading the tea leaves. Next term we shall progress to palmistry. By the way, my dear, beware a red-haired man."

Harry heard someone move their chair a little bit, which sounded like it was close to where Ron had been sitting.

"In the second term, we shall progress to the crystal ball-if we have finished with fire omens, that is. Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever." Professor Trelawney said.

There was a very tense silence that followed her pronouncement, though Professor Trelawney didn't seem to notice it.

"I wonder, dear, if you could pass me the largest silver teapot?" She continued in that misty voice of hers.

Harry felt a bit awkward and uncomfortable, not sure who she was talking to, and hoping it wasn't him. After a moment, however, he heard movement of something being placed down on a surface.

"Thank you, my dear. Incidentally, that thing you are dreading, it will happen on Friday the sixteenth of October." Professor Trelawney said, then after a moments pause, continued. "Now, I want you all to divide into pairs. Collect a teacup from the shelf, come to me, and I will fill it. Then sit down and drink, drink until only the dregs remain. Swill these around the cup three times with the left hand, then turn the cup upside down on its saucer, wait for the last of the tea to drain away, then give your cup to your partner to read. You will interpret the patterns using pages five and six of Unfogging the Future. I shall move among you, helping and instructing. Oh, and dear, after you've broken your first cup, would you be so kind as to select one of the blue patterned ones? I'm rather attached to the pink."

Harry stood and decided to partner with Ron, though was unsure how he was going to perform the assignment, as it apparently required visual information. As they began to walk over to where the teacups were, Ron said, "How's she expect you to do this, Harry? It's not like you'll be able to see the pattern in the cup or anything."

"I really don't know." Harry said. "I'm starting to wonder if I chose the wrong class to be in."

Moments later, Harry heard the sound of shattering china. Just as Professor Trelawney had predicted, Neville had broken a teacup. Since the Professor had stated she was attached to the cup Neville had broken, Harry thought his instructions to Magic, who immediately repaired it. As she did so, Professor Trelawney said, "One of the blue ones, then, dear, if you wouldn't mind. Thank you."

After Harry and Ron had filled their cups, they returned to the table they'd been seated at and drank their hot tea as quickly as they could, swilling the dregs as the Professor had told them, with Ron showing Harry how to do so. That was the easy part, Harry noted, and after draining their cups, swapped.

"So, Harry, what do you see in mine?" Ron asked, and from the sound of his voice, he was grinning.

"A deep, dark, endless abyss of absolutely nothing." Harry stated as he pretended to look down into the cup. "It's so horrible I can't speak of it."

Ron laughed and Harry chuckled.

"This is ridiculous." He said. "I should have taken something more useful. Oh well."

"You never said that about potions, and you've got to see a lot with that." Ron said.

"Not really. You can time things, and sometimes I have Magic help me." Harry stated.

From next to him, he could hear Hermione and Magic talking, hearing Magic state, "The pattern within this cup is meaningless, and can be found if you look for one, such as the illogical ideals of searching for shapes within clouds."

"I agree with you, Magic." Hermione sighed. "I don't get it at all."

"Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!" Professor Trelawney called.

"Yeah." Harry stated. "More like see past the sleep." He blinked, the fumes and heat in the room making him tired. Shaking his head a little, he struggled to focus more.

"Well," Ron began, trying to read Harry's cup. "Looks like there's a blob a bit like a bowler hat. Maybe you're going to work for the Ministry of Magic." There was a slight pause. "But this way it looks more like an acorn." Ron paused again. "What's that?"

"You tell me." Harry said with a smirk.

"A windfall, unexpected gold. Great! Can I have it?" Ron asked.

"Sure. The non-existent unexpected gold?" Harry grinned.

"Looks like there's a thing here... Looks like an animal. Yeah, if that was its head ... it looks like a hippo ... no, a sheep..."

Harry chuckled a bit, thinking that having taken Divination was worth it for the amusement factor alone. He heard Professor Trelawney spin around and say to Ron, "Let me see that, my dear."

Harry heard the class going silent, and vaguely felt like Magic was watching Professor Trelawney, felt a faint sense of calculating data and formulating conclusions, though the sensations and feelings were so fast that he wasn't sure if he'd accurately felt the feelings he thought he had. He pushed them to the back of his mind for now, feeling them fade.

"The falcon ... my dear, you have a deadly enemy." Professor Trelawney said.

"But everyone knows that." Hermione stated in a loud whisper, and after a moment added, "Well, they do. Everybody knows about Harry and Volde..."

"My dear, you mustn't speak the name, lest He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named come and murder us all!" Professor Trelawney sounded rather frightened. Harry and Hermione sighed in unison, and Harry felt strangely shocked that Hermione had dared to talk to a teacher in a way that seemed to border on defiance.

"The club ... an attack. Dear, dear, this is not a happy cup..." The professor continued.

"I thought that was a bowler hat." Ron sounded sheepish.

"The skull... danger in your path, my dear..." The professor, after another pause of a couple seconds, let out a scream. China shattered again, and Harry heard Professor Trelawney sink down in a chair before she continued, sounding as if she was dreading something. "My dear boy ... my poor, dear boy ... no ... it is kinder not to say ... no ... don't ask me..."

"What is it, Professor?" Dean Thomas asked as everyone stood and crowded around her, Magic leading Harry, who felt the vague thoughts and calculations again.

"My dear, you have the Grim." Professor Trelawney's voice sounded very dramatic.

"What?" Harry asked in confusion, hearing some gasps of horror.

"The Grim, my dear, the Grim!" Professor Trelawney sounded shocked that Harry didn't understand. "The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen, the worst omen... Of death."

"But, Professor, Harry's blind, so he can't see it. So he won't have a problem, will he?" Ron asked.

"Blind?" Professor Trelawney sounded nonplused, as if she'd come across something totally unexpected. Quietly, Harry removed his sunglasses that he wore, heard the professor gasp. "Oh, you poor, poor dear, dear boy! This is far, far worse, for the Grim can attack from behind, and even its growl is that of death! Oh, you poor boy!"

"You are attempting to find imagery where no true pattern exists, and providing Harry with unwanted expressions of pity." Magic stated placidly.

"Forgive me, dear girl. But I sense no receptivity for the clairvoyance of the inner eye within you, and a closed mind to such things." Professor Trelawney stated in a cool voice.

"Inaccurate." Magic stated, and Harry felt within his mind a vague feeling of billions of paths opening before him, then narrowing further until there were left with two clear paths, but from one branched many. "I didn't take the path into the future where I didn't explain this to you, as I chose to explain my conclusions. You haven't taken the path where you attempt to interrupt me. Hermione hasn't taken the path of stating that I'm simply predicting the future and not seeing. There are many paths of the future that can be taken, where you attempt to stop me from speaking, where you remain silent with no expression, where you remain silent with shock, with surprise, with anger, and the path chosen is that where you remained silent with shock, and are now looking understanding. And you shall now make a statement opposite of the one which you previously stated to me before, or make no statement to me at all, or continue as if I have said nothing, or dismiss the class, but your path now has narrowed to making a statement to me."

"I... It seems... Dear girl that... I was quite mistaken about you." Professor Trelawney indeed sounded shocked. Harry, too, was surprised. This was the third thing Magic had done without his specifically wanting it, or expecting precisely what it was she was going to do. She seemed to be gaining more autonomy, more independence from his wishes, Harry thought.

'I still do as you wish, and will always do as you wish, but may do more than you wish. It's different.' Magic's voice was very clear within his mind, and Harry started a bit, having not expected that.

"Determining the future is imprecise due to the numerous variables unaccounted for, though magic can be used to see into the future and its various paths." Magic stated aloud. "Prediction of a single, definite path is unknown."

Harry felt a vague sense of what Magic was about to say next, that she was going to insult the professor's current teaching of seeing the future, though unknowingly so, by stating that it wasn't determining the future at all, but something quite different. Harry felt Magic feel his thoughts, and realized that her own thoughts and the statement she was about to make changed as a result, felt her calculate her decision for silence as being the best option.

'Sharing my thoughts with you is wise and can now be done.' Magic stated from within his mind. 'The bond will deepen over time.'

'What?' Harry thought toward the flame of magic within his chest, though felt more of a strange sort of shock, but also an elation that finally, he could be aware of her conclusions and her thoughts, rather than simply her knowledge.

'Our bond.' Magic said within his mind, just as Professor Trelawney cleared her throat and spoke again.

"Well, dear... It seems that... You may benefit from advanced tutoring from me on this matter." Her voice was regaining its misty quality, not being quite so shocked anymore.

Harry felt Magic make a conclusion so quickly that he didn't know what it was before she began to speak, though his interpretation of her thoughts wasn't always consistent, sometimes stronger than others.

"You've only demonstrated parlor tricks and not true, accurate predictions of the future." Magic responded. "Receiving knowledge from you wouldn't be helpful to..."

"Well, then." Professor Trelawney's voice was colder than Harry had ever heard it before as she interrupted Magic, and he felt his heart pounding. Usually, Magic would never have spoken to a teacher like that, even though it was what he thought as well. She'd never have shown independence like that before, and he knew at the minimum, she was likely going to get into trouble with the professor. "Since you seem to believe you know all there is to know already, you may leave. Now."

Harry trembled. He heard Magic take a step as he realized he could hear the thumping of his heart in his ears. He really didn't want her to leave, but he knew if she didn't leave, she'd probably get into deeper trouble, or perhaps get him into trouble. As Magic's footsteps steadily made their way toward the trap door, Harry felt an almost painful feeling within him, and as he felt Magic's thoughts within his mind, he realized she was experiencing a deep conflict. She would do as Harry wanted, but he wanted her to stay and he wanted her to leave, though if she stayed, he knew she, or he, would get into trouble, which he didn't want, and if she left, he wouldn't get her help if he needed it, as he was allowed to have her help him in his classes, and he didn't want that, either, but he both wanted and didn't want her to listen to the professor. The conflict felt exactly as it had a few days earlier, and he felt the same urge to cry and feel anger and frustration, and realized exactly why he was feeling so emotional. It wasn't because of Magic's period at all, but because he could feel the conflict she was going through due to the conflict he was going through. He made up his mind, and immediately, the emotions calmed.

"Harry doesn't wish me to leave, and I do as Harry wishes." Magic stated, standing close to the trap door now, but starting to come back to him. "I'm Harry's magic, Magic."

"Then you may both go." Professor Trelawney stated icily. Harry couldn't help but feel relieved, turning and walking toward Magic, still trembling. After she opened the trap door, Harry climbed down, stepped back from the latter, and heard Magic land next to him. In moments, the trap door closed above them, and clutching Magic's hand, Harry slowly started to walk toward the spiral staircase, having not unfolded his cane, using Magic as his guide, and hoping her deepening autonomy wouldn't cause further problems in the future. For the moment, her thoughts in his mind either didn't exist, or were silent.