I do not own HP or SM.

Harry Potter and the Moon Crystal 29

The Interview

The fat Slytherin that had stood in the crowd with half his torso green and the other silver was brought into the hospital wing because he caught cold. Though he was sick he kept saying the cheers over and over as his friends escorted him to the hospital wing.

"Go green! Go silver! You're so cool you make us shiver!"

"Yeah, no kidding," muttered to his friend. "Paul, I told you to wear something warmer today. You made your self sick!"

"Oh, I'll be fine," Paul said and he sneezed. "Go Serpents, go Serpents, go!"

"We've already won!" groaned the other friend. "You don't have to keep cheering!"

"Too bad guys can't be cheerleaders," Paul said.

"Yeah, you could be the mascot."

Paul's friends set him on a bed and Madame Pomfrey gave him a spoonful of Pepperup potion followed by a sleeping potion so he'd stop saying the cheers over and over. When Paul's friends came to explain to the rest of the Slytherin common room about Paul, Raye laughed.

"Well, if we ever start having boys on the Cheer Squad," she said, "Paul Dibbs is my first choice!"

"Him?" demanded Pansy Parkinson in shock. "He's so…fat!"

"He's not fat," Raye said defensively, "he's just full of house spirit!"


When Hermione had first suggested it to him, Harry wasn't looking forward to having an interview with the wizard press. He didn't want to talk about how he told Cedric to take the cup with him, how he saw him die and how Voldemort came from a small sick-looking infant to a tall and strong wizard. However, after the recent events and the ministry's attitude toward everything, he became determined to have the interview. He wanted the whole wizarding world to know that Voldemort back, even if he had to give out the gory details. Harry practiced in mind what he was going to say and how he was going to say it. This interview was possibly his only hope to everyone believing the truth. In fact, Harry was looking forward to his interview with the press than his date with Cho. They met up outside the Great Hall and walked outside to the village. Harry looked at the Quidditch field. Angelina wanted to use the time for Quidditch practice. Even though it was a practice, Serena and the other cheerleaders were cheering the team on. Harry sighed.

"Miss it don't you?" asked Cho.

"Yeah," Harry replied, thinking Cho meant Serena and not Quidditch.

They entered the village without much to say. Harry glanced at the stores. Where were they going to go?

"Want to go to the Three Broomsticks?" he inquired.

"No," she replied, "there's another place I'd like to go to."

Harry's insides squirmed. Could she mean Madame Puddifoot's? Harry had wanted to go in there with Serena. As they came to the teashop at the end of the high street, Harry sighed. He should have known this was going to happen.

"Ever been here Harry?" Cho asked eagerly.

"Once."

"With Serena?" she asked, gazing at him which made him more uncomfortable.

"No, with Hermione."

"Oh, I see," Cho murmured.

"We came to get Ron," Harry explained, "he was here with Ami Mizuno."

"Right," she said.

They walked inside. Cho gasped.

"Oh look, she decorated it for Valentines Day!" she exclaimed.

"That's nice," Harry said, frowning at all the cherubs and pink and white decorations. They found a table next to Rodger Davies and his girlfriend. Cho ordered two coffees and for the most part, they didn't talk much. Cho had to start every conversation. They talked mostly about the DA and Quidditch. Harry was relieved she started topics on things he was willing to talk about. Then she turned the subject to Cedric unexpectedly.

"I've been m-meaning to ask you for ages," she said, her voice high and shaky, "did Cedric mention me at all before he died?"

Harry sighed. Serena had told him Cho would want to talk to Harry about Cedric. Cho wanted closure. However, Harry still did not want to talk to Cho about Cedric. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to tell her that Cedric was dead because Harry asked him to take the cup with him.

"No," said Harry, "he didn't."

"Are you sure?" Cho asked. "Perhaps he did and you might have forgotten. I know after seeing something…"

"Cho, Cedric did not have time to say anything about you," Harry said. "Don't you think if he had said something, I would've told you already?"

"Of course, but you've been busy."

"If he asked me to tell you something," said Harry, I would've told you by now."

"So, he said nothing?"

"Nothing," said Harry, and seeing Cho's expression he quickly added, "I'm sorry. There just wasn't time."

""What do you mean he had no time to mention me?" Cho asked, tears brimming in her eyes. "He knew he was going to die…he should've told you something. What happened?"

"I can't tell you," said Harry.

"Why not?" Cho demanded. "After forming the DA and everything, you should be able to talk to me. I need to talk about it. Surely you need to talk about it too?"

"I already have," said Harry, "to Ron, Hermione, Serena and--,"

"Oh yes, your little girlfriends!" Cho spat. "But you won't talk to me!"

"Don't talk about my friends that way!" Harry snarled, jumping to his feet. His chair fell down and Cho stared up at him with her watery eyes.

"Harry," she mumbled in surprise.

"I have an interview with Mr. Lovegood in half an hour," he told her. "I'm going to tell him about the night Cedric died. The reason why I don't want to tell you now is because I don't feel like repeating myself."

"I…but maybe…you wanted to tell me first."

"Well, I don't, okay?" Harry cried, slamming his hands on the table and leaning forward. "You're the last person I want to talk to about this! If you really want to know about that night, then you're just going to have to read the story when it comes out like everybody else!"

Harry dropped two galleons on the table and stormed out of the teashop, leaving a bewildered and sniffling Cho Chang behind. She looked around at the tearoom and at the spot Harry just had been standing. At the corners of the table where he had been grabbing it, there were two burnt handprints.

"What the?" she mumbled.

Cho got up before Madame Puddifoots noticed the damage to her table and would try to blame Cho for it. She hurried out of the teashop into the rain. She figured she might as well go back to school since her date with Harry Potter was ruined. On second thought, she decided to buy some chocolate to make her feel better. As she walked into Honeydukes, she bumped into Lita Kino.

"Oh, excuse me," said Lita, "sorry Cho. Hey, are you all right?"

"It's that Harry Potter," she muttered.

"Here, have some fudge," Lita said, giving her a stick of fudge. "Wanna go get a drink at The Three Broomsticks?"

"No, Harry's having his interview," Cho said, "I don't want to disturb him.

"Okay, let's go to the Hogshead instead," said Lita.

"Huh?"

"Come on," said Lita, "I was on my way there anyway."

The two girls entered the pub and removed their traveling cloaks. They placed them on their chairs and Lita volunteered to go get drinks. A moment later, she returned with two bottles of butterbeer.

"So, what'd Harry say to make you upset?" Lita asked, sliding into her seat and opening her butterbeer.

"It's what he didn't say," Cho mumbled, moving her butterbeer around. She didn't quite feel like drinking it. "We were in Madame Puddifoots. I asked him if Cedric mentioned me before he died and he said he hadn't."

"Cho, surely if Cedric had mentioned you," Lita said, "Harry would've told you already. Cedric had no time to mention you…or anyone."

"Yes, Harry said he had no time," Cho said, "but he wouldn't tell me about that night."

"He knew you were close with Cedric," Lita said after taking a swig of her butterbeer. "You can't blame him for not wanting to discuss it with you."

"Then why'd he ask me out if he didn't want to talk to me?"

Lita shrugged. "Beats me. Maybe he just wanted a distraction from reality. He had that interview set up, right? He'd be repeating himself he told you everything right before his interview."

"So?" Cho asked. "I had a right to know. I was Cedric's girlfriend, and besides, if I was the one giving the interview, I'd like to tell someone right before. Harry could've practiced on me."

Cho twisted the top off her butterbeer and took a small sip. "The way Harry was acting, it was like he's the reason why Cedric's dead."

"He isn't," said Lita.

"How did Cedric get killed? I have to know!"

"You'll just have to wait until Harry's interview is published," Lita told her.

"I don't want to wait!" Cho cried. "I want to know now! What is Harry's problem? He's being so…so selfish! Cedric was my boyfriend; I have a right to know what happened more than anyone!"

Lita was on her feet in a second. She slapped Cho hard across the face, knocking her clean out of her seat. Cho brought her hand to her slapped face and stared up at Lita in shock. Lita was shaking. She was looking down, trying to fight the urge to cry.

"You're not…you're not…"

Lita finally brought up her face. Her lips were brought back in a sneer and her hands were clenched into fists. It was hard to talk with the lump in her throat. She swallowed hard. She had to put Cho in her place. Everyone in the pub stopped drinking and looked at Lita and Cho. It was the second time that day Cho had caused a scene.

"You're not the only one who lost Cedric!" Lita exclaimed, tears stinging her eyes.

"I never said that," Cho mumbled.

"You didn't have to," Lita hissed.

"You didn't have to hit me!"

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," said Lita, "but I thought you needed a reality check. Don't think just because you were dating Cedric that you're the only one that was in his life. How do you think his parents feel? Have you seen them lately? Mrs. Diggory keeps Cedric looking the same as if he was still alive. Sometimes Mr. Diggory forgets his only son is dead and he buys something for him! What about Professor Sprout? And all the Hufflepuffs? You know how hard it is to walk into the common room and not find Cedric there? Well, do you?"

"I—I'm sorry…I just…wanted to know…what happened that night."

"Fine, you really want to know?" Lita demanded, "I'll tell you. Cedric didn't have a fighting chance! He and Harry took the cup together because they helped each other in the maze. They didn't know it was a portkey. It took them to where Voldemort was. Harry was supposed to come alone but because he wasn't, they killed Cedric first! Cedric was killed before he knew what was happening!"

Cho stared in shock. "He was killed…just like that?"

"Yeah, so whatever fantasy you had of Cedric dying in Harry's arms," Lita said coldly, "him asking Harry to give some kind of message to you, you can just forget it because it didn't' happen that way! Cedric didn't have time to tell Harry to talk to you or his parents and if Cedric did have time, I think he would've told Harry to give a message to his parents over you!"

Lita rushed out of the pub, crying more freely that she would've liked.


As Harry shook hands with Mr. Lovegood, he noticed that he didn't look like his daughter Luna. He didn't have the big blue dreamy eyes or the limp blond hair. Mr. Lovegood had auburn hair and brown eyes. When Mr. Lovegood smiled, however, he looked like Luna for a bit.

"Thank you for meeting with me today, Harry," said Mr. Lovegood.

"No problem," said Harry, "hello Mr. Mizuno."

Mr. Mizuno smiled and shook hands with Harry. The group sat down. Before Mr. Lovegood began the interview, he asked a few basic questions about Harry. Harry was grateful for that.

"All right," Mr. Mizuno took out a quill and pad of paper. To Harry's relief, he didn't hold an acid green Quik Quotes Quill like Rita Skeeter. "Let's start with the beginning of the Triwizard Tournament—who did you think put your name in the goblet?"

"I didn't want to believe it," Harry answered, "but I had a feeling it was someone that wanted to kill me. It was Barty Crouch Jr., sir and he was using Polyjuice Potion to look like Professor Moody…"

The interview went better than Harry thought it would. Mr. Lovegood didn't ask personal and deep questions but just the things Harry felt that the public should know. Mr. Mizuno silently sketched the things Harry saw in his point of view: the graveyard, the cauldron and what Voldemort looked like. This was not just to add pictures but to prove that Harry explained things so well that he couldn't have made it all up. An hour or so later, Mr. Lovegood finished the interview.

"I know that couldn't be easy for you, son," said Mr. Lovegood, "but I think you feel better now that it's out in the open."

"Oh, I didn't mind it," said Harry, "I really want everyone to stop thinking I'm a liar."

"Well, after reading this article," Mr. Lovegood said with a smile, "I'm sure they will."

"We'll send a copy of this interview to Kenji Tsukino."

"Serena's dad?" Harry asked.

"Yes, he's an editor too."

"But he's a muggle," said Harry, "are you sure you want Muggles reading this? How can he even publish something like this?"

"Oh, he won't publish everything," said Mr. Lovegood with a laugh. "Just about the Death Eaters and Voldemort…that they're dangerous people. Fudge should have notified the Muggle Prime Minister about this by now. But because he hasn't, we have to warn the Muggle world for him."

"We're also sending this to international papers," said Kenji, "I have colleagues back in Japan that can support you."

"Thank you sir," said Harry, "really."

"not a problem," Mr. Lovegood said, "You did your part Harry, now we'll do the rest. You just focus on staying alive."

"When will this be published?" Harry asked.

"In the next issue. You should get it in a week or so. We had already sent out February's. I had a great story on Crumple Horned Snorkacks."

"Oh, that's, interesting."

"Yes it is," Mr. Lovegood said, grasping Harry's shoulder. "We'll be in touch."


Harry was sitting with his Potions book open trying to study after dinner. Still wearing her cheerleader uniform, Serena came up to him.

"How was the interview?"

"Pretty good," Harry replied. "Mr. Lovegood is going to put my interview in the next issue of The Quibbler."

"That's great!" said Serena as she sat down. "How about your date with Cho?"

"Not as well as my interview with Mr. Lovegood," Harry said, disappearing behind his potion book.

"Why, what happened?" Serena asked.

"She wanted to talk about Cedric," said Harry, "she was hoping that Cedric mentioned her before he died."

"Oh," Serena mumbled.

"I couldn't tell her a thing," Harry said softly and he closed his book. "I didn't want to repeat myself. It wasn't hard telling the story to Mr. Lovegood but it was impossible for me to tell Cho what really happened. I don't' want her to know it's because of me Cedric's dead."

Serena slapped Harry and then grabbed him in a tight embrace, crying. "Stop it, Harry! It's not your fault."

"Serena?"

"It's not your fault what happened to Cedric," Serena whispered. "It was Voldemort. You two had no idea the cup was a portkey. It was good of you to take it together. You shouldn't have to blame yourself anymore. You had nothing to do with it."

Harry sighed and pulled his hands onto Serena's back. Serena was being so understanding. It was good to reminded that he wasn't to blame. Still, he wished he was the one to take the cup. He should've known something wasn't right.

Harry and Serena pulled back, staring at one another. Their chests heaved as they took in a single deep breath. Harry cupped Serena's face and brought it close to his, leaning toward her. This was the time. This was the time he was finally going to kiss her. Serena's eyes closed and her mouth opened. Their lips touched. It was like heaven. Harry couldn't believe he was finally kissing Serena. Harry pushed his lips closer to Serena's and for a split second, she saw Darien's face in her mind.

"Serena? What do you think you're doing?"

Serena broke the kiss and stood up. Harry gazed at her in surprise.

"Serena, what's the matter?"

"I shouldn't have let you kiss me," said Serena, "even though it was so nice, I shouldn't have let you."

"But I've always wanted to kiss you and you've always wanted to kiss me," Harry told her. "And now we have…"

The kiss didn't last as long as either of them had wanted. It was only like two seconds.

"Look, Harry, I care about you, I really do!" Serena cried. "But my destiny is set. I'm supposed to marry Darien whether I like it or not. I wish there was something I could do to change it, but I can't. Harry, I'm so sorry."

Harry got to his feet and tried to take Serena's hand. She backed away.

"Serena, please don't do this," Harry said, "I love you. I want to be with you."

"Don't make this harder than it is," Serena sobbed. "Please, just…just let me go!"

Serena turned and ran up to the girls' dormitory room. Her first kiss with Harry had finally happened but it wasn't as romantic as she wanted it to be. Darien was thousands of miles away but he was still in her mind. Why couldn't he just let her alone? She wished he would forget all about her so she could live her own life.


Voldemort grunted his pain and clutched his chest. He pulled back his robes to see a pink heart-shaped scar over his chest. It was a memoir of the attack Sailor Moon used on him. It was not enough to kill him but it still hurt time to time. As his chest hurt, he saw an image of Harry Potter and he heard a girl crying.

"Serena, please don't do this. I love you. I want to be with you."

"Don't make this harder than it is. Please, just…just let me go!"

It wasn't the first time Voldemort saw strange things when his scar hurt. It was very strange.

"Master are you all right?" asked a Death Eater at Voldemort's side.

"I'm fine, leave me!" Voldemort hissed, waving his arm.

"Yes, master," the Death Eater left and Voldemort felt his chest again. Something was indeed strange about all this. It seemed whenever this girl, Serena, was upset or excited about something, Voldemort felt it. Then he thought of something, could Sailor Moon and Serena be one in the same? If Sailor Moon was the one who gave him the heart shaped scar and if he felt the emotions of a girl named Serena, then it was very possible Serena was Sailor Moon. His scar linked him to Serena and the scar Harry had linked him to Voldemort. That meant Harry could sense things about Voldemort. Was Harry already sensing Voldemort's emotions? Could he see things the Dark Lord was doing? If Voldemort was careful, he might just make this work to his advantage.


Mail fell through the slot in Darien's door. Hearing the thunk, he went to pick the mail up and look through it. Within the mail he found an envelope with familiar writing.

"That's Serena's handwriting!" he exclaimed, ripping it open. He pulled the Christmas card out of the envelope and read it. He was very disappointed that there were no more than two words from Serena.

Merry Christmas.

"Merry Christmas?" Darien muttered. "That's all you have to say to me, Serena?"

Darien tossed the card down with a growl. The first time Serena contacts Darien in a year and all she can say to him is wish him a Merry Christmas? The card had come late. It was already February. Serena must've waited at the last minute to send him a Christmas card. How typical of Serena. Darien was furious. He kicked a chair over.

"Merry Christmas, Darien," Darien repated with a sour laugh. "Couldn't you at least wish me happy new year too? What's the matter with you, Serena?"

Darien paced around the room, his anger rising. He couldn't' stay in his apartment or he'd go crazy. He had to go and get some air. He grabbed his jacket and his keys and stepped out. He went down to the garage, muttering Serena's pathetic Christmas message under his breath. Darien pulled on his jacket and walked to his motorcycle. Riding his motorcycle always helped him clear his head. However, Darien made a mistake. He was too angry to remember his helmet or his wallet—which held his license. He was riding illegally and unsafe. Darien always drove responsively. This was the only time when he wasn't.

Darien sped away from the city limits. He just wanted to get away from Tokyo. He and Serena had too many memories here. He'd go to a camping spot. Someplace where he and Serena had never been. It was difficult. They had been nearly everywhere together. Even the moon.

Darien was cold with just wearing jeans, a shirt and his jacket. He sometimes at least dressed fit for a motorcycle ride.

"Why would Serena just throw away our future like that?" Darien said as he skidded around a corner. "Is she crazy?"

Darien drove his motorcycle up a windy and narrow road. He was driving far too fast. He hit a patch of black ice and he started spinning out of control Darien grunted as he tried to gain control of his motorcycle. A car was coming toward him. Darien couldn't stop. He was going to crash.

"No."


"What have we got here?" the doctors asked the paramedics as they brought a new patient in.

"Young male, motorcycle crash," the paramedics stated, "head wound, possible broken back."

"Any witnesses?"

"One, the girl said the guy was driving too fast on the ice and he fell over the cliff. He's lucky to be alive. He wasn't even wearing a helmet."

"Right," said the doctors, "okay everyone I'm going to need an X-ray! Move, move, move!"

The doctors ran test on their patient. They discovered that he had a couple of vertebrae. If he were to awake, he might never walk again. The paramedics found no ID on the man so they couldn't call any family. All they could do was keep him comfortable.

A girl with her brown hair in a ponytail wearing a volunteer outfit came to the nurse's station for duties.

"Hi, I'm Lizzy Furuhata. I'm supposed to meet with Nurse Miato?"

"Oh, you must be the new volunteer," said the nurse, "right this way."

The head nurse showed Lizzy around the hospital as she gave her instructions. The passed the room with the room with the unnamed man from the motorcycle accident. Lizzy peeked inside.

"What's wrong with this man?"

"He was brought in yesterday," Nurse Miato replied, "he was in a motorcycle accident. This way please, let me show you the pediatrics unit…"


The Quibbler with Harry's interview finally arrived and with it, loads of letters from people that believed his story. Very few believed that he was still a liar. Harry even received letters from people from Japan.

"I can't read this," said Harry as he handed a Japanese letter to Serena.

"Oh, this person says you were very brave to tell your story," Serena translated for him. "And the bone, blood and flesh spell is an old dark spell."

"What is all this?" said a high pitched voice. "Why do you go t all these letters, Mr. Potter?"

"Is that a crime now?" Fred said loudly. "Getting mail?"

"Be careful, Mr. Weasley, or I shall have to put you in detention," said Umbridge. "Well, Mr. Potter?"

"Harry's famous again, Professor Umbridge," Serena said with a grin.

"What's that?" Professor Umbridge asked.

"Yeah," said Harry, "I spoke to the editor of the Quibbler about what happened to me last June and he put it in for me. Very nice guy…"

"Yeah, see for yourself, Professor," said Lydia, tossing Umbridge the copy of The Quibbler.

Umbridge looked at the heading of the article and her face went red. "When did you do this?"

"Last Hogsmeade weekend," Harry answered.

"There will be no more Hogsmeade trips for you, Mr. Potter," Umbridge whispered. "How dare you….you could…" Umbridge breathed deeply. "I have tried again and again to teach you not to tell lies. The message, apparently, has not sunk in. Fifty points from Gryffindor and another week's worth of detentions."

"It doesn't matter if the message sinks all the way through my hand," Harry said as he got to his feet. "It's bound time people know what really happened last June."


Once Harry stepped into Divination, Professor Trelawney dashed to him and pulled on his arm. "Dear boy," she said, "the stars are surrounding you today!"

"Please tell me that's a good thing," Harry said as everyone looked at him.

Professor Trelawney put her arm around Harry's neck, nearly choking him.

"Class, I have an announcement to make," Professor Trelawney said, "I have been mistaken. Harry shall not die a terrible death. He will defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"I plan to," Harry gasped in her death grip.

"Harry shall live to a ripe old age, become Minister of Magic, marry Sailor Moon and have twelve children!"

"What?" Serena gasped and she fainted dead away into Lydia's arms.

"Serena!" Lydia cried, bending over her and waving her hand over Serena's face. "Serena, wake up!"

Harry grinned behind Trelawney's arm. "Really? I marry Sailor Moon?"

"Yes," Professor Trelawney cried, "yes."

"Twelve kids huh? How many boys and how many girls?"

"Didn't your teacher say before that the Inner Eye does not see on command?" Professor Umbridge inquired.

"Oh, I think I can try," Trelawney said, pulling Harry over to her desk and taking out a number of items. She placed them near her crystal ball. "Ahh, this be the pattern, first you count backwards from three and then you count forward. Boys and girls shall be equal and your first three children shall be a three bloomed flower."

"Um, thanks Professor," Harry said, rubbing his head. "but that doesn't make a whole lot of sense."

Trelawney repeated the message. Harry still didn't' get it.

"Sounds like you'll have triplets, Harry," said Parvarti, walking over to the three flowers Professor Trelawney laid on the desk. "That's what the three-bloomed flower meant—and I think they'll be girls too."

"Oh, yeah, I get it now!" Harry said excitedly. "A lily, a rose and a daisy…I guess I know what to call them. What are the rest of my kids' names?"

"Oh, dear boy, I cant' tell you everything about your future," Professor Trelawney waved her hand. "I'll leave the names to you. After all, where would be the surprise if you already knew everything? You know what you need to do, now do it."

"I plan to," said Harry, looking over to the out cold Serena. Lydia was still trying to get her up. When it was impossible, Lydia dragged Serena down to the hospital wing.

"She passed out in Divination!" Lydia explained to Madame Pomfrey. "I don't know what happened."

Madame Pomfrey helped Lydia put Serena on a bed. Lydia fell down in a chair and rubbed on her arms. "Goodness, Serena…you're pretty heavy."

Madame Pomfrey brought a steaming vial to Serena and held it under her nose. Serena woke right up, groaning.

"Serena, are you all right?" Lydia asked. "You fainted in Divination."

"Oh, right," said Serena, "and you would too if the divination teacher said you'd have twelve children. What am I, a rabbit?"

Lydia patted her shoulder. "Oh, I think Professor Trelawney only said that to intimidate Professor Umbridge. Besides, twelve children? You'd have to start at a young time…but I think Trelawney said something about having triplets."

"Triplets!" Serena said and she looked like she was going to faint again. Lydia had to slap her.

"Serena, stay with me!"

"Here," said Madame Pomfrey, giving Serena a potion. "This should help. And for your information, witches can have children far longer than muggle women. Up to their fifties I believe."

"I…really didn't want to hear that Madame Pomfrey," Serena said with a frown.

When Madame Pomfrey disappeared to her office, Serena looked to Lydia. "I can't have twelve children. I have a bad enough time with Rini!"

"Hey, maybe this will be one of the times when Professor Trelawney is wrong," Lydia said.

"I truly hope so," said Serena and she took a long drink of her potion.


The rebellion against Professor Umbridge was happening over again. Even though Umbridge had banned The Quibbler, students were able to transfigure it to different things and even other students had copies of the international papers with Harry's story in it. Umbridge couldn't read them so she had no authority to expel the students handling them. A few days later at dinner, a loud scream came from the entrance hall.

"What the heck was that?" Serena wondered out loud.

"I have no idea," said Hermione. "Hey…why is my fork sticking to my hand?"

Hermione pulled her fork from her hand and it came attached to her other hand. "What the devil?"

The same person screamed again. Curious, everyone piled out of the Great Hall to find Professor Trelawney yelling her head off. She looked a mess.

"Professor Trelawney?" Raye gasped.

"No!" Professor Trelawney shrieked. "NO! This cannot be happening….It cannot…I refuse to accept it!"

"You didn't realize this was coming?" Professor Umbridge demanded, smiling coldheartedly. "Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrow's weather, you must surely have realized that your pitiful performance during my inspections, and lack of any improvement, would make it inevitable you would be sacked?"

Raye tightened her fist. She so badly wanted to prove Umbridge wrong. How dare she sack Trelawney and humiliate her in front of everyone this way? What did Umbridge know about divination anyway?

"You c-ant!" Professor Trelawney cried as tears flowed down her face, "you c-can't sack me! I've b-been here sixteen years! H-Hogwarts is m-my h-home!"

"It was your home," said Umbridge, "until an hour ago, when the Minister of Magic countersigned the order for your dismissal. Now kindly remove yourself from this hall. You are embarrassing us."

"No she's not!" Raye cried. "You're embarrassing her!"

"Now Miss Hino, I realize that you are her prized pupil," said Umbridge, "but surely you would've known this was going to happen too?"

Raye sneered and folded her arms. Lavender and Parvarti started crying. Professor McGonagall walked up to Trelawney and gave her a handkerchief.

"There, there, Sybil…Calm down…Blow your nose on this…It's not as bad as you think, now…You are not going to have to leave Hogwarts…"

"Oh really, Professor McGonagall?" Umbridge questioned. "And your authority for that statement is?"

"That would be mine," Dumbledore said, stepping into the entrance.

"Yours, Professor Dumbledore?" Umbridge asked. "I'm afraid you do not understand the position…I have here"—she pulled out Professor Trelawney's dismissal. The second Harry laid his eyes on it, it burst into flames right into Umbridge's pudgy hand. She shrieked, dropped the burning dismissal and stamped out the flames.

"Well, I guess that means Professor Trelawney stays?" Serena asked hopefully.

"No, she can't stay here!" Umbridge barked. "She is an unfit teacher!"

"Look who's talking," Lita muttered under her breath.

"I understand Professor Umbridge that as High Inquisitor you can dismiss my teachers," said Dumbledore, "you do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the castle. I am afraid," Dumbledore gave a little bow, "that the power to do that still resides with the headmaster, and it is my wish that Professor Trelawney continue to live at Hogwarts."

"Ha!" Raye said, pointing at Umbridge's back, "So there!"

Umbridge did not hear Raye's taunt. "What?" she asked Dumbledore.

"Sibyl shall remain here," Dumbledore repeated and he turned to Professor McGonagall. "Might I ask you to escort Sibyl back upstairs, Professor McGonagall?"

"Of course," said McGonagall. "Up you get, Sibyl…"

Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick helped Professor Trelawney upstairs.

"And what," Umbridge said to Dumbledore in a whisper that everyone could hear, "are you going to do with her once I appoint a new Divination teacher who needs her lodgings?"

"Oh that won't be a problem," said Dumbledore pleasantly. "You see, I have already found us a new Divination teacher, and he will prefer lodgings on the ground floor."

"You've found--?" said Umbridge shrilly. "You've found? Might I remind you, Dumbledore, that under Educational Decree Twenty-two—"

"—the Ministry has the right to appoint a suitable candidate if—and only if—the headmaster is unable to find one," said Dumbledore. "And I am happy to say that on this occasion I have succeeded. May I introduce you?"

He turned to the open doors and everyone looked outside. Those close enough to the doors heard hooves clopping onto the ground.

"Who?" Serena mumbled.

Everyone was shocked, even excited to see a centaur walk his way into the entrance hall.

"This is Firenze," said Dumbledore happily to a flabbergasted Umbridge. "I think you'll find him suitable."

Serena, Raye, Blaise Zabini and others started laughing as they pointed at Umbridge. They knew that Umbridge was deadly afraid of centaurs.

"Yes!" Serena said. "Our new teacher is a centaur!"

"But, he can't," said Umbridge.

"Oh, centaurs are wonderfully gifted with divination, I assure you," said Dumbledore. "This way, Firenze, I will show you to your new classroom."

"Boo-ya!" Lita cried. "Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Umbridge!"

"All right, everyone back to your dormitories at once!" Umbridge shouted.

Everyone decided to joke at this. They made horse noises as they left Umbridge standing in the entrance hall.


"We're one up on Umbridge now," said Serena once the Gryffindors made it to the tower.

"But I'd like to do something help Professor Trelawney," said Lydia, "It was very wrong for Umbridge to talk to her like that."

"Let's make her prediction of her come true and kill her," said Ron.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I've got a better idea," said Lydia, turning to Fred. "Are you done with those headless hats yet, guys?"

"Just about," Fred said, "when are you going to tell us this plan of yours?"

"When you're finished with the Headless Hats," Lydia replied.

"Oh come on!" George groaned. "I'm dying to know!"

"Trust me, it will be really diabolical," Lydia said.

"Just give us a hint, please?" Fred said.

"Well, we'll be wearing them," said Lydia, "I'll tell you that much."

"During class?"

"Goodness no," Lydia said, rubbing her fingernails on her shirt, "that won't give a good headless effect. We're going to really freak her out. She might even resign if we play our cards right."

"Come on George," said Fred, "let's make more hats."

"And you might want to make things that make scary noises while you're at it," Lydia called after the twins.

Serena turned to Lydia. "You're really thinking of something awful trick to play on Umbridge?"

"Hey, if she thinks she can just invade our school, take away our student organizations and sack all our teachers then she'll have another thing coming."

TBC