Chapter 11: Trelawney's Predictions

The only thing Harry looked forward to was Quidditch and no one has heard of any news from Dumbledore if there would be any Quidditch season for the year. "Who do you think is going to be the new captain?" asked Harry one rainy day. "Dunno," said Fred, "When Dumbledore announces that we have a Quidditch season then we'll find ourselves a new captain and keeper."

Harry's least favorite class was now Divinations; he no longer hated Potions because Prof. Galder taught the class with compassion for everyone and didn't favor one student over another. This caused the Slytherin's to glare at everyone more than usual and they all were gloomier and more meanful to everyone. They clearly missed Snape and hated Galder. "I have decided to treat everyone the same," said Prof. Galder on Saturday 2 days before Halloween, "I know the Slytherin's hate me even more, but it doesn't help the rest of the students, my goal now is to try and help everyone to get higher marks and get much better at Potions." This had explained why he gave everyone partners to help each person. He had partnered Hermione with Neville so that Hermione would help Neville understand how to do potions and Neville became much braver in Potions and stopped shaking every time he came to class and had stopped melting cauldrons.

On the day of Halloween, they had Divinations last and they were trying to bend spoons with their minds. It wasn't going well and only Liana was able to bend the spoon and got mean looks from Lavender and Parvati as she got praises from Prof. Trelawney though she still seemed to go a little pale during each lesson. "It is just concentration on bending the spoon," said Prof. Trelawney but suddenly she went rigid and her eyes rolled back and her mouth sagged a little. "The Dark Lord has risen and is gaining strength, He becomes more powerful every day and his hate for the Boy who Lived is becoming stronger. Tonight he will send his servant who returned to him 2 years ago to Hogwarts will once again infiltrate the protected grounds of Hogwarts and will learn all he can about the new defenses Dumbledore has put up to protect the minds and bodies within. Beware, beware the wrath of The Dark Lord," then her eyes closed and everyone was staring at her. This time she had made a real prediction and no one could say otherwise. The bell rang and everyone but Lavender and Parvati went to find Prof. Dumbledore.

Harry and Hermione were in the lead because they were the only one who knew where Dumbledore's office was. Their loud shouts made Dumbledore to open the entrance because no one knew the password. They all went up to his office and waited for Dumbledore to sit down. "Professor, we think something happened to Prof. Trelawney," said Seamus with everyone agreeing, "She went all rigid and her voice changed and she said that you-know-who's servant is coming to the castle tonight to find out what new defenses you put up to protect us."

"I see, well I will talk to Prof. Trelawney after the feast, thank you for telling me this, I'm sure she is all right. You should be going down to the feast now, it will be starting soon," and he dismissed the class but Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Liana stayed. "Professor, what are we going to do?" asked Liana. "I know she was making a real prediction, she looked the same as that night 2 years ago," said Harry, "Wormtail is coming back, it was in the news yesterday, he broke out of Azkaban with a little help from Voldemort" said Dumbledore thoughtfully, "Hermione, do you still have that cat?"

"Yes sir," said Hermione who was going pale, "Do you want me to set him loose?"

"Yes, he is the only one who knows what Wormtail smells like and he will be able to find him. I want you to tell him to bring him to me, he will understand you," said Dumbledore, "Go down to the feast now so no one will become suspicious of you."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Liana sat away from everyone that night as the feast went on. They were a little nervous and their eyes darted around looking for holes in the walls. At the end of the feast, Prof. Dumbledore had an announcement to make. "I have decided," he said, "that as long as we have certain precautions, there is no reason why we shouldn't have Quidditch this year." The whole room shook with the loud shouts of joy that erupted from the tables "As long," said Prof. Dumbledore trying to regain control of the room, "as long as you all are careful and two teachers are present to oversee the training sessions."

That night, the common room buzzed with excitement as the team came together to decide who would become the team captain and keeper. It was decided that they first had to find a keeper and then decide who would be captain. "We have decided that starting tomorrow," said Fred, "we will be holding tryouts at the field 'till Sunday and announce who will be keeper and captain on Monday."

"Sound great, maybe I'll try out," said Liana. "You know how to play Quidditch?" said Ron slightly surprised. "Over the summer, before I met you, I did some research on Quidditch and Quidditch strategies. I also have a broom," said Liana proudly, "a Firebolt."

"You have a Firebolt," said Harry surprised and delighted, "me too! If you try out, you're probably going to have good odds that you'll be picked."

"We'd better let Crookshanks out now, he needs time to roam around the castle. Bet he's going to come out somewhere near the Slytherin room, they're probably hiding him there," said Harry to Hermione. "Right, let me find him," and she went off to her dormitory. "I'll come with you," said Liana calling after her and got up to join her. "Who d'you think is gonna try out?" said Fred as the twins came to sit with them. "I know Liana is gonna try, she's got a Firebolt!" said Ron excitedly. "A Firebolt! I hope she's good, wouldn't want that Firebolt gone to waste," said George.

As Fred and George went to tell the rest of the team about Liana, Ron and Harry went upstairs to talk in private. "If Liana gets in, the team we'll be unbeatable," said Ron. "Unless Malfoy buys Slytherin's whole team Firebolts," added Harry. "Gryffindor still beat Slytherin when Malfoy did that," said Ron. "Do you think Crookshanks is going to find Wormtail? Mind you, this time I'm not protecting him, what if he finds out how to penetrate Hogwarts?" said Ron worriedly. "Voldemort isn't going to try and take over Hogwarts, at least not yet. He just came back and he's still too weak to try and take over Hogwarts. He's not stupid, he's just preparing and he knows how to come back. He wants to come back with a bang so he's going to try and take over Hogwarts first, but he can't till he knows what he's up to, that's why he sent Wormtail," said Harry thoughtfully. "What if he finds out about our trip to Aspen? He might try and attack us there," said Ron. "He shouldn't, we have to tell Hermione and Liana not to talk about it so that he won't hear about it. If we have to, we'll write it down and then burn the parchment," said Harry.

The next day, they accompanied Liana after breakfast to the Quidditch field for some practice. Liana turned out to be quite good, she protected the goals quite well. "I think we're ready for tryouts," said Ron after practice. "I hope you get the spot, Liana, you're really good," said Hermione. "Thanks," said Liana a bit nervous.

A few hours later, the tryouts were on and a few people tried out including Seamus Finnigan, a few 7th years, a second year, and Liana. They were all good, but Liana was the best. The chasers did their best to score a goal, but Liana didn't let any go through, her broom was superior to all the others. Fred and George were keeping score and after the tryouts were over, they told everyone Monday night, their decision. "All those who tried out were great, but the best was, Liana. Liana, welcome to the team!" The room filled with shouts of praise and Liana was brought forward to shake the hands of the team and of those who lost. "With our new team, we'll be unbeatable!" cried Ron. "Team!" yelled George, "We need to have a meeting! We need a captain!"

"So, who wants to be team captain?" asked Harry. "Well, I think Alicia should, she's really good at strategies," said Angelina. "I second the motion," said Fred winking at Alicia making her blush. "Well, if no one disagrees we'll announce it to the rest of the house."

"Everyone!" shouted George, "We have an announcement to make, our new captain is Alicia Spinnet!" for the second time that night, the house filled with shouts of praise and encouragement. "I hope," said Alicia, " I can lead our team to winning another Quidditch cup-," BANG! A huge explosion blew up the side of the common room facing the forbidden forest. Screams filled the air as confusion and panic seized the students and everyone who was standing were trying to get up and run for the door. People were hurt all over the place, those closest to the blast were unconscious and others were hurt and bleeding. The team, who were farthest away from the blast got up and ran for those who were on the floor. Prof. McGonagall, Matthews, Dumbledore, and Hagrid all came rushing through the door. Quickly, all the Professors except Dumbledore went to help the team get people toward the opening to Madam Pomfreys. Dumbledore went over to the wall and put a spell on it and a golden haze covered the hole and the hole started to rebuild itself and then he went downstairs to inspect the area.

"Whomever did it is gone, they must have left when they blew up the tower, didn't want to linger," said Prof. Dumbledore a few minutes later when he came back into the castle. The whole school was again in the Great Hall as last year; they were all called down a few minutes after the explosion. "You will all sleep here tonight and every night until we fully cover the castle and guarantee safety," said Dumbledore in a fiery voice. They had never seen Dumbledore mad before and they knew he was very angry. Only Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Liana were the only ones who knew how angry he really was.

"Do you think their going to find Wormtail?" said Hermione. "I hope they do, I know he did it," said Liana. "I hope he didn't do something to Crookshanks," said Hermione, "I haven't seen him."