Yeah! I had 2 massive midterms today, and I just saw that I hit over 100 reviews! I'm so happy I think I'm going to pee my pants…er…scratch that, but I'm so happy! Thank you all so much! I have so much fun reading your quirky reviews! To Lily457: You don't like Ron? Aw shucks, he's my fav character…gotta love the irrational sidekick. To Veronica Lupin: you are the best you know that? How do I get my fic updated so quickly you ask? Simple: save studying for the wee hours of the morn, and be unemployed (which I am now currently…stupid theater, must do job search). Also, thank you so much for being so open to interpretation of characters, it means a lot to me. Oh yeah, congrats on being reviewer 100, you must feel elated :). To Ginny Potter: I haven't the slightest clue as to how long this will be, but I hope it's interesting enough for you to stick around till the end. MistyGurl: can't wait to see your fic around, lemme know when its up!
Ch. 16: A Few Slips of the Tongue
"This is going to be simply awful," Hermione moaned using the toe of her shoe to nudge the broomstick beside her.
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed rolling his eyes stepping up beside his own broom. "It's a broomstick, not a blast-ended skrewt! It's not going to bite you…or burn you…or even sting you for that matter." Hermione cast him a rather peeved glare.
"Just go along with it Hermione," Harry said leaning on his Firebolt, flashing a smile of reassurance for her. "You always end up being great at everything, what's different about this?" A brilliant blush appeared on her cheeks as she kicked aimlessly at the icy, slushy, mess that was snow under her feet.
"This won't break a nasty landing," she muttered ignoring Harry's words of encouragement.
"Tell you what I'll do," Jade said with mock seriousness in her voice. "I'll fall off first, than you can use me as a nice target to land on. Sure, you might have to flail your arms a bit, but I'm sure your aim is as good as your Transfiguration skills." Ron and Harry sniggered but were silenced by the icy glower Hermione had on her face.
"If you ask me, flying is terribly fun," Mandy Brocklehurst said pleasantly from across the way. "It's nothing you should get all hot and bothered about."
"Well, nobody asked you, did they?" Hermione seemed ready to shoot back until a jab in the ribs (courtesy of Ron) stopped her.
"Mr. Potter! If you could join me for a second!" Madam Hooch called from down the line. He left his friends and made his way towards the flying instructor.
"Now I'd like to get started, even though our other aide has yet to arrive," she said pulling on her dragon-hide gloves. "Very unlike her, but—," she was interrupted by a girl calling her name. She was racing towards them, cloak haphazardly thrown around her shoulders, broomstick in tow.
"I'm so sorry, Madam Hooch," Cho Chang said between breaths. "I forgot my broom wasn't in the shed. I had to run back up to the castle…'lo, Harry."
"Quite all right, my dear," Hooch replied. "Knew you'd only be late for a reasons. But you're right on time. I'll need you two to help out when everyone's up in the air." With that she began her instructions. "Nothing new today. Just place your right hand over your broom and say 'up'…"
"All right, Cho?" Harry managed without sounding too stiff.
"Fantastic, as soon as I catch my breath," she replied. "I forgot I keep my broom in the castle now."
"You couldn't leave a Nimbus 2001 in a broom shed," Harry replied at an attempt at wit. "It'd get cold and lonely. No, best if it were kept comfortable and cozy in front of a common room fire." Cho laughed pushed him good-naturedly. Harry grinned triumphantly through a very pink blush; Smart Motor Skills: one, Stark Humility: zero.
"I haven't the heart to keep it anywhere else," she replied, pulling her dark hair into a ponytail. They stood and watched as the students mounted their brooms and began to hover. Jade was doing well, and surprisingly so was Neville. Hermione was shaky and looked as if she were holding on for dear life two feet from the ground…but never the less, she was two feet off the ground. Ron's command of his broom was fluid and seemed completely effortless. Obviously he had been practicing with his brothers over the summer at the Burrow, and once again, Harry wondered why he didn't seem interested in trying out for the quidditch team in October.
"All right, now that you've all successfully lifted off," Madam Hooch was saying. "We're going to try some exercises to increase your expertise in air. Now don't look so worried, Mr. Longbottom, it isn't nearly as difficult as that look on your face makes it out to be."
"Seamus looks more nervous than Neville," Cho noted with concern. "And he's on your quidditch team."
"With the likes of him on the team, Gryffindor's destined to loose," came a drawling voice that whipped both Harry and Cho around. "I almost feel sorry for you, Potter." Cho's face darkened, and Harry refrained from knocking the smirk off Malfoy's face with his broom.
"Yeah, well I feel the same way about your mother," Harry said evenly, "having to give birth to you, and all." Malfoy's pale face flushed but he quickly regained his composer crossing his arms.
"Now let's not be jealous just because your mother isn't alive." That nearly did it. If it weren't for Cho holding him back or Angelina Johnson walking towards them, Harry would have clobbered the tall, pale, boy.
"What are you doing here?" Angelina exclaimed to Malfoy, looking a bit exasperated. "Let me guess, Avery couldn't figure out how to get out of the Slytherin common room."
"If you must know," he said looking with equal distaste back at her, "Avery's got the flu, and he's currently smoking at the ears from some potion or another whipped up by the nurse. I'm here to represent him…and the Slytherin quidditch team."
"What?" Harry and Cho asked confused looking from Malfoy to Angelina.
"Somehow they managed to cheat Gryffindor out of stadium privileges for a week," Angelina said hotly pulling her shoulders straight as to not hide her elegant height. "We need times to practice…especially with Seamus's circumstance."
"Ms Chang! Mr. Potter! If you would!" Madam Hooch hollered from above their heads. She landed when she spotted Malfoy and Angelina.
"I suppose you two can handle the class for a moment, while I have a quick conference with Mr. Malfoy and Ms Johnson," she said brushing at her spotless black robes. "Just make sure no one kills themselves." Harry and Cho cast uncertain glances at each other before taking off towards the group of gliding students up above. They were weaving around each other, tossing several balls slightly smaller than a quaffle from one person to the next. Jade was catching on quickly as was Neville who caught every single ball thrown to him. Harry watched as Hermione dropped one and Ron gracefully swooped to catch it. Seamus was the only one who didn't seem keen about this sort of 'game'. He flew slowly in circles a few short feet from the ground, looking up as if the sky would begin to fall at any minute.
"Heads up!"
With instincts built from hours of quidditch practice, he ducked as one of the balls sailed over his head. Ron had pulled up in front of him, catching it easily.
"Sorry 'bout that," Jade said sheepishly pulling up next to him. "Well, my papers did say I played football, not quidditch. Hey Cho."
"Hey, Jade," Cho replied ducking herself as one of the Ravenclaws sent a ball speeding towards her. "Who knew we had so many natural chasers?"
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked after commenting on Ron's seemingly hidden skills.
"She was behind me a second ago," Ron replied, a cold gust wind rustling his hair, making it look like his head was aflame. "Oh there she is." He pointed several feet away from them where Hermione looked as if she was clinging desperately to her broom in the gust. She kept on swerving even as Dean tried to persuade her to attempt to catch the ball. Ron's eyes narrowed.
"What's that git trying to do?" he said under his breath heatedly as he turned and made his way over to Dean and Hermione. "Don't tell me he's giving her flying advice."
"What's going on down there?" Jade asked them curiously gazing at Malfoy, Angelina, and Madam Hooch.
"Something about Slytherin taking practice time from the Gryffindors," Cho said. "They'd try anything to win." Angelina was shaking her head unbelievably, looking as if she had been personally insulted. Madam Hooch seemed a bit befuddled by the argument, picking up her clipboard and examining the quidditch practice schedule.
"Ben! Kyle! Stop it!" Cho hollered at two Ravenclaws who were attempting to bean each other in the head with the balls. She rolled her eyes at Harry and Jade before taking off to stop them.
"Seamus looks like he could use that practice time," Jade said sympathetically watching the form of the sandy-haired boy several yards below.
"You better get practicing again," Harry said nodding towards Seamus. She agreed, winked, and then took off as a Ravenclaw boy tossed her a ball. He turned his broom and quickly descended through the swooping mess of flyers.
"All right, Seamus?" Harry asked pulling up beside him.
"Could be better," he admitted bitterly.
"Don't beat yourself up, it's completely understandable."
"No it's not," Seamus replied examining a splinter on one end of his Nimbus 2000. " I'm bloody scared out of my trousers about flying."
"You just need time," Harry replied.
"But that's what we don't have." With that, he flew away and landed near Malfoy, Angelina, and Madam Hooch, dropping his broom and plopping himself down beside it. Madam Hooch was now talking solely to Angelina who still looked utterly upset. They didn't notice that Malfoy had picked up a fallen ball and was examining the flying students above him. A dangerous smirk was upon his face as he took aim. Before Harry could register whom he was aiming at, he threw the ball with surprising strength at Hermione several feet above.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled, but he was too far away. Suddenly, Ron, in a blur of red hair, his cloak billowing out behind him, sped gracefully towards her in attempts to intercept the skillfully thrown ball. Everyone seemed to freeze, watching the unfolding scene. Angelina watched with mouth agape from the ground. Hermione's eyes where like those of a deer caught in headlights. She was clinging helplessly to her broom as Ron swept up in front of the ball and caught it easily. The force of the impact drove him back, nearly toppling her, but he had thrown his other arm around her waist to steady her.
"Hermione! You okay?" Ron asked breathlessly. Hermione's arms were now wrapped tightly around Ron's neck, her face buried in his shoulder, as Harry and Jade raced towards them.
"Crap, are you okay?" Jade asked, eyes wide.
"Hermione!" Ron gasped turning a funny shade of blue. "Too tight! Air!"
It was then Hermione's brown eyes snapped open and narrowed.
"Who did that?" she growled angrily, pushing her self away from Ron a bit. Ron gaped at her.
"Well," he muttered hoarsely, mouth ajar. "Don't mention it, anytime you need saving, feel free to call and I'll be happy to let you strangle me."
"It was Malfoy," Harry said, brows furrowed. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Give me that!" she growled, ripping the ball from Ron's hand. She threw it with death-like accuracy at Malfoy who was doubled over with laughter, and was saved from another fall by Harry and Jade. It was right on target.
"Damn it!" they heard Malfoy cry out, blood spurting from his nose.
"What—," Madam Hooch was looking at the display before her in utter bewilderment. "Mr. Malfoy! Everyone! Everyone come down now! Mr. Thomas! Don't you dare throw that!" Angelina, who was right beside the flying instructor, was still staring straight up, particularly at Ron, eyes glazed over as if the lanky red-haired form were that of an angel.
"Why didn't Ron try out for keeper?" she murmured slowly.
"I didn't try out because number one, I was planning on trying out as a beater next year," Ron was explaining to the members of the Gryffindor quidditch team later that evening in the common room.
"That's right," Fred said.
"Following in his brothers' footsteps," George added.
"And two, Fred and George blew up my broom," Ron finished.
"We didn't mean too," George said.
"Who knew dung bombs and twigs were combustible?" Fred added with a guilty grin. Angelina rolled her eyes at the twins and returned her attention to Ron.
"We'll get you a broom," she said. "Keeper's not that different from beater…I mean you don't use a bat or anything, or even hit bludgers for that matter, but other than that, they're exactly the same!" At that, Harry looked sideways at his overly eager captain.
"Yeah, Ang," Fred said rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Why didn't I see that before?"
"But," Ron began looking up at Seamus. Surprisingly the sandy-haired boy was grinning from ear to ear.
"I'll even lend you my broom," Seamus announced.
"But you're keeper," Ron insisted going red in the face. Harry knew Ron would have killed for a chance to be on the quidditch team, but if it meant possibly trampling on someone else's dignity, he wouldn't touch it with a 20-foot broomstick.
"I'm not going to lie to you all," Seamus said, suddenly looking loads more confident. "If I have to play in two months, I'm not going to be able to…which would hurt me more than giving up my position when I know I'm not ready for it now. Listen mate, I feel better about backing out of the team now that I'm sure I'm not leaving them one-member short." Ron's brow furrowed and he looked up at Harry as if silently asking his advice. Harry just shrugged and waited along with the rest of the team for Ron's answer.
"Okay," he finally said, but before a cheer could erupt from the team members Ron continued. "But under one condition."
"Fine Ron," George said sighing dramatically. "You can have my autograph."
"No, you git," Ron replied raising his eyebrows at his brother. "My condition is that Seamus will play the last game, because…. because Keeper is rightfully his position."
"Deal mate," Seamus replied looking relieved and reached out to shake on it. They cheered and Harry clapped his best friend on the back, as a wickedly silly grin appeared on Ron's face. Eventually, after hands were shaken and Angelina had uttered words of thanks, the teammates dispersed, leaving Ron and Harry seated near the fireplace. Jade made her way over, the battered Defense Against the Dark Arts guide in her hands.
"Congrats Ron," Jade said giving him a high five.
"You heard?" he asked surprised.
"I just heard all that cheering and figured it out," she said. "Yep, just me and my gray matter." Harry and Ron grinned at her as she plopped down in an armchair across from them.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron said looking around. "I want to tell her the news."
"I think she's still down on the grounds receiving her punishment for smacking Malfoy with that ball," Jade replied, opening up to the chapter she was reading. "Bloody good will to mankind, what she did."
"Still?" Harry asked disbelievingly. "What? Did Madam Hooch send her through the Gauntlet twice?" As if on cue, the portrait swung open and Hermione stepped in looking as if there was an extra spring in her step.
"Hermione guess what?" Ron said excitedly. "I'm on the quidditch team! Where in the hell have you been?"
"Oh, I'm very well thank you," she replied sarcastically. "How about yourself?" Ron looked as if he were about to retort but Harry interrupted him.
"What took so long?" he asked. "I mean the most that could have happened to you was a detention."
"You'd think, huh?" she replied simply.
"You didn't get one?" Jade asked, shutting her book.
"No," Hermione answered smugly. All three of them stared at her, waiting for an explanation.
"Madam Hooch claims she didn't see a thing," she said with a grin. "Little Draco had a fit though, and she told him off about it, with me there as witness of course."
"No punishment?" Harry asked in awe.
"A reward actually," Hermione answered with a content smile on her face. "You should have seen the look on Malfoy's face. Congratulations by the way, Ron."
* * *
"It's another package from my parents," Jade said happily dragging a large box out of the Great Hall and up the staircase. Ron and Harry pressed themselves against the wall to avoid being run over by it.
"I've learned my lesson though," she said, blowing a wisp of hair off her face. "I'll open it in the hospital wing…just incase my mum sent me underwear again." Hermione sighed at Jade's bluntness and helped her levitate the box up the stairs, as Harry and Ron made to follow them. They made it to the infirmary where Jade excitedly tore the brown wrapping off the box. Inside were several articles of muggle clothing, numerous personal items including a stuffed dragon and a small pile of books. She rooted through the items as Hermione helped her organize them in a bureau Filch had dragged into the hospital wing for her.
"Come on, now," Ron whined crossing and uncrossing his arms. "I want to grab some toast before Transfigurations."
"You just ate," Harry said leaning against the door.
"I know that," he replied. "But I also know that a meager bowl of porridge, two hard-boiled eggs, and an apricot Danish thingy aren't going to hold me over till lunch." Hermione looked at him and cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
After a lunch of hot soups and deli sandwiches, they found themselves fighting through the crowd of students to their next class. Ron and Harry were talking about committing to the demanding schedules of quidditch practice while Hermione juggled her armful of books.
"I really think you should give Arithmancy one more go," Hermione was saying to Jade. "I mean, its so much more logical than Divinations…if I just help you study a bit more."
"She hasn't even tried Divinations yet, Hermione," Harry said shifting his bag by rolling back his shoulders. "It isn't that bad."
"Oh," Hermione replied indignantly, "other then the fact that Trewlawney's lessons are…well…are—"
"A crock of shit?" Ron asked mildly.
"Ron!"
"What'd I say?"
"Its not that I don't believe you when you say Divinations is not a class worth taking, Hermione," Jade said. "I'm taking it because I simply don't understand Arithmancy. I'm just no good at it. All those numbers and their patterns, which one relates to which and how they mark the exact date of …a horrible acne breakout or, or…." Jade rolled her eyes up so that only the whites were showing, curled her fingers, and let her tongue loll out unattractively.
"Point taken," Hermione muttered looking far from amused.
"Perfectly good point," Harry said with a laugh.
"The only thing I'm going to miss about that class," Jade continued wiping a bit of spit off her chin. "Is hanging out with you. If you didn't know it Hermione, you're a great friend." A brilliant blush swept Hermione's cheek and she uncrossed her arms, muttering something inaudible under her breath.
"Fine," she finally spoke up, not able to prevent a smile from spreading on her face. "But this better mean you'll pull up your marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts." She waved goodbye to them and turned towards the Arithmancy classroom as they continued forward. They passed the picture of Sir Cadogan who nearly ripped himself from the canvas when they approached. A few minutes later, Ron and Harry were leading Jade further up the North tower and up the silver ladder to Trelawney's classroom.
"You're taking this class now?" Lavender asked Jade curiously as she stepped through the trap door. Then she looked at Ron and Harry who had just pulled themselves through after her.
"I hope you find it as enthralling as those two do," she added flatly, choosing a seat next to Parvati on a pouf in the center of the room. Harry and Ron looked at each other and shrugged as Jade led them to a small table near a window right behind one occupied by Seamus, Dean, and Neville. Before any proper greetings could ensue, a familiar misty voice called for their attention. Trelawney stood in front of the perfumed fireplace, her back turned to them.
"My Inner Eye sees a new presence here today," she said slowly as if reading it from the flames. "We are one student more."
"What her inner eye has seen is her new class roster," Ron muttered rolling his eyes. Jade let out a laugh, but promptly clamped a hand over her mouth. Trelawney turned around, the yards of her gauzy, spangled, shawl flying around her spindly body.
"It's nice to see you in the physical world, Ms Cordonnier," she said looking straight at Jade who cleared her throat nervously. She managed a glare at Ron. The Professor paused for a second, before looking away from their table and dramatically sweeping across the room towards a shelf. On it were several moldy looking decks of peculiar cards.
"As we have spent much of last term exploring the rather ambiguous study of seeking the future from the dead," she said picking up a deck and turning to face her students. "We will now move on to the far more sensible art of tarot card reading." Harry raised an eyebrow at the word "sensible". She began to call her students forth handing each group of three a deck. Ron wrinkled his nose when she handed him a particularly moldy deck. He returned to their table and dropped it unconcernedly in front of Jade and Harry.
"The cards are of an ancient tool designed to reflect your most potent energies," she said, her voice low and mysterious. "They can lead you to the road of success if you consult them properly, or warn of precarious danger in your future." She paused and turned slowly so that she could cast a forlorn look at Harry. He refrained from groaning out loud and instead directed his eyes towards a silly drawing of a woman in bejeweled spectacles stuck in a crystal ball Ron was sketching onto his parchment. Jade was quickly taking notes in the margins of her Divinations book.
"For some of us," she continued turning from Harry with a tear in her eye. "The readings will come easily…for others they may be muddled and unclear. It takes a true-seer to completely comprehend the placements of the cards and their symbols, but anyone could glimpse a bit of the future if they concentrate."
"Er…Professor?" Dean asked raising a shaky hand. "Do these decks include the Death card? I've seen them in loads of horror movies and the girl always dies after seeing it."
"What?" Seamus asked as his eyebrows rose incredulously. Trelawney turned and peered at him through her bejeweled spectacles. Harry and Lavender were probably the only ones who knew what Dean was talking about.
"Why yes," she replied, simply ignoring the fact that she knew nothing of "horror movies". "But the Death card is the least of your worries—" Dean looked slightly more relaxed "—It's the Tower card you must be wary of…it is a foreboding sign." Neville gulped.
"We will start the lesson off with a simple three card spread," she began moving towards the winged armchair before the fireplace. "That is, one card for the past, one card for the present, and one card for the future." She shuffled her beautiful deck of cards, which had been kept in a dark wood box, and magicked a small table to her.
"Lavender? Parvati? I have perceived for several days now that you two would be assisting me." The girls looked at each other eagerly and moved to two chairs facing Trelawney and her little table. Harry's stomach churned. He had been sitting in one of those chairs when that strange message from his dream appeared from the indicator of Trelawney's Ouiji board. It was the day he had found Jade. He turned to look at her, feeling how strange it was that those dreams had led to those words spelt out by the mystical board, and those words had led to Jade's rather miraculous…and mysterious arrival. Maybe he was gifted with the Inner Eye and was just too plain dense to know it. It was coincidental, he thought pushing it from his mind. It shouldn't matter now, Jade was not an omen, but a friend. Her arrival may be strange, but there are more enigmatic things in the world then one could ever find answers for…would Harry had believed in a Magic world before those letters arrived at Privet Drive?
"Now you will take turns being the reader," Trelawney continued her dark hair glistening in the candlelight. "Hand the seeker the deck of cards and ask them to shuffle than cut it. As they concentrate on their energies, place the top three cards in a row before you. Looking in chapter eleven of our book, you will find the meaning of cards."
"Well now, looks like the Seeker gets to go first," Ron quipped.
"Very funny," Harry replied. "Are you taking your show on the road?" Ron grinned and handed him the deck. He shuffled and cut them, before handing them back to Ron.
"The backs should be facing up," Jade noted.
"Up, down, does it matter?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied. "It does."
"Excuse me," Harry interrupted. "Can we get on with predicting when my next scheduled death will be?" Jade raised an eyebrow. Harry and Ron quickly explained to her Trelawney's adorable little quirk about predicting deaths. She nodded knowingly explaining Hermione's habit of sharing her views about Trelawney's credibility.
"All right then," she said, now thoroughly amused. "Get on with it." Ron laid out the cards, three in a row. He then flipped them over left to right.
"Okay…the left is your past," he murmured placing the rest of the pack down as he mulled over the pictures and their meanings in his book. "Okay, you've got the…erm…it looks like a cow. Is there a cow card?" Harry rolled his eyes and peered into his own book.
"It's a man, I think," he said. "Yeah, that's right, it's the Hermit."
"Right," Ron replied consulting his book. "Your past consists of searching for the truth and being alone. Okay, that's close enough. On to your present…it's the Judgment card…that means that you're going to have to make an important decision. And lastly—" Ron paused theatrically "—your future…behold." He turned over the Strength card.
"Er…it says that you have 'male energy', but may need a fuse of 'female energy'," he looked up at Harry. "There is no way I'm interpreting that." Jade burst out laughing and Ron and Harry joined until one icy glare from Trewlawney came their way.
"My turn," Jade said. She handed the cards to Ron and took them back after he had shuffled and cut them.
"First card is the…Hanged Man," Jade read. "It means you see things differently than others around you. The second one, your present, is the Magician, how very appropriate. Yes, that means things will happen to you, for good or for worse, like magic. That really isn't a prediction as we do live in the Wizarding world…I can see why Hermione shuns this class."
"Yeah, yeah, go on," Ron replied.
"And your future…nice Ron—," she grinned mischievously at him. "The Lovers card. It means that you'll find that special someone in the future, but only after you find understanding in yourself."
"What?!" Ron asked wide-eyed. "That's so not…. its…so not wicked! How incredibly boring!"
"But look, they're naked," Jade replied amused, dancing the card of the two nude lovers in front of Ron and Harry's face. Harry grinned and pushed the card away hurrying Jade to shuffle the deck.
"How 'bout the Death card? Or maybe that cool bear thing," Ron was muttering. "No, the Lovers card…I knew I should have been concentrating on my energies more."
"You would have blown a fuse," Harry replied taking the cards back and laying them out on the table. "Right then, your past, Jade." Suddenly her laughter quieted.
"Yeah?"
"It's the…Hierophant card, that means that you've made a life-altering decision."
"That's very vague," she murmured.
"For you present…erm…it's the Death card."
"Gee Ron, jealous?" she asked, the grin returning to her face. Ron stuck his tongue out at her.
"And that means a cycle of change," Harry read from his text. "And finally, your future." Trelawney was now peering at Jade's cards over Harry's shoulder. He looked up at her before turning it over. It was the Tower card. Trelawney's face paled and she backed away."
"What? Jade asked. "Is Ron going to beat me in chess again?"
"It means major change against you," Harry read and wrinkled his brow.
"But not when it appears after the Death card!" Trelawney cried out weakly, throwing out a bejeweled hand onto their table to steady herself.
"That, Ms Cordonnier, is an omen," the Professor said woefully. Harry sighed and rolled his eyes. Wait for it…
"An omen of DEATH!" a few gasps escaped from several areas of the room. Ron hastily changed his snigger into a hacking cough as Jade stared at Trelawney calmly.
"Well," Jade said smiling at the faces around her. "Who knew I'd be the lucky student this term?"
"Don't you see?" Trelawney said in a high, choking voice as she collapsed into an armchair Parvati had pulled up for her. "Those cards together mean that all the universe is against your life. You, my poor and wretched girl, will soon meet your end."
"Oh," Lavender and Parvati whimpered. The tight look had returned to Dean's face.
"For god's sake," Ron exclaimed. "That's what all this mumbo jumbo's been saying about Harry for ages, and he's not dead yet." Harry glared at his friend.
"Thanks Ron."
"Anytime."
Jade looked thoroughly unaffected. She turned serious for a moment and looked directly at Seamus.
"Mr. Finnigan, I see Death in your future," she said her face completely stolid. "I'm sorry, but you've only eighty years to live." Ron couldn't hold it in. He started laughing, and soon everyone had joined in, even Parvati and Lavender who hid their smiles behind their hands. Trelawney suddenly looked less winded and more vengeful.
"I believe that is the end of the lesson," she said, her misty voice suddenly very snippy. "All the all-telling energies in this room have been temporarily dispersed…by those who do not understand them. If you would return your cards, and neatly charmed to stay together please, I would wholly appreciate it. Mr. Longbottom, please check under you chair for I have foreseen that your deck is incomplete." She turned from Harry's table and took her place in front of the fireplace.
"Something tells me I'm not going to get very high marks in this class either," Jade murmured.
"My big fat mouth," Jade said almost in an air of defeat after she, Ron, and Harry had met up with Hermione on third floor. "I thought you guys said Divinations was easy."
"Relax," Harry said shrugging. "She hasn't graded you on reacting to her death omens yet."
"I told you," Hermione said knowingly. "It's a very woolly subject, Divinations is, and so is that Professor. Are you sure you wouldn't like to give Arithmancy another go?" The thought of trying to cram in more studying seem to shrink her.
"I'll pass, thanks," Jade replied weakly. It was then a translucent figure slid though the wall directly into her. She shivered and fell backwards her teeth chattering.
"Nick!" Harry exclaimed. "Haven't seen you in ages." Nearly Headless Nick, the benign Gryffindor ghost greeted them warmly then looked over at Jade.
"Sorry about that," he said, fixing his ruff. "I believe you're a new one, if I be nearly headless."
"Jade," Hermione said. "This is the Nick, the Gryffindor ghost. Sir Nicholas, this is Jade."
"I thought I've seen all the ghost of Hogwarts," Jade said getting up and greeting him.
"Yes, well, I've been traveling a bit," he said cordially pulling an old parchment from his breast pocket. "Pursuing an acceptance to the Headless Hunt, which hasn't been fruitful mind you…I'm thinking I might start a petition."
"Nearly headless?" Jade asked, suddenly realizing how strange that sounded.
"Oh, don't do it, Nick," Hermione said looking pained. But before she could further protest, the ghost grabbed his ear and pulled, letting his head flop onto his shoulder like a hinged door.
"That's talent," Jade said approvingly. Nick beamed at her proudly and flopped his head back on.
"Quite a dreary talent," he admitted and shrugged. "But still…not enough for the comrades of the Headless Hunt. Suppose I start a Nearly Headless Hunt? Do you think that'll go well, Harry?"
"I don't know," he replied awkwardly. "Being nearly headless is almost….a…erm…a unique quirk of yours."
"Oh, you flatter me. Damned if I had to die partially beheaded, I could still feel my head flopping around on this bit of skin and sinew before I actually died."
"Nick, please," Ron said turning a shade of green.
"What was it like?" Jade asked curiously. "When you died, I mean?" It was the same curiosity she had about Professor Binn's ghost/death history.
"Oh, quite dreadful," he replied suddenly looking very pleased. "Really like the very fibers holding you to your body ripping away. Not pleasant at all."
"Oh no!" Hermione exclaimed looking at her watch. "We're late for Herbology. Sorry, but we should go."
"Perhaps we could discuss it another time?" Jade said hopefully. Ron and Harry raised eyebrows at each other.
"Oh yes," Nick said once again, fixing his ruff. "It'd be delightful."
"I doubt it," Ron muttered as they said goodbye and dashed down the stairs and out onto the grounds towards the greenhouses.
Hermione watched as Parvati and Lavender mulled over a set of Tarot cards with mild distaste.
"The only thing they're going to get from those are paper cuts," she replied simply before returning her attention to her Shepard's pie.
"And at the dinner table," Jade added sarcastically. "Oh hi, Angelina." Angelina had gotten up from her spot up the table next to Fred and joined them. She greeted them with a grin.
"Here you go, Ron," she said handing him a bit of parchment. "We've got to start practice right away. First morning one is tomorrow…so best get your rest. You'll make sure he shows up, all right Harry?"
"He's pretty dangerous during pre-dawn hours," Harry replied. Angelina grinned and departed. Ron was examining the schedule with a pained expression.
"Mornings three times a week?" he moaned. "And Saturdays? Maybe I'm not cut out for this after all."
"I think a little discipline couldn't hurt you, Ron," Hermione said sipping from her glass.
"Are you trying to say something?" he asked.
"Just that it'd be good for you."
"It's not that bad," Harry said in attempts to prevent a fight. "You get use to it quick enough."
"I bet," Ron said dryly finishing his second helping of stew.
Soon the Great Hall began emptying as students finished desert and made their way out, some milling about the Entrance Hall. Harry led the way out, filling Hermione in on their first Divinations class of the year.
"Ron's got the Lovers card," Harry said with a grin. Ron turned a brilliant red.
"Well, just another example how woolly Divinations is," Hermione replied.
"What's that s'pose to mean?" he asked.
"It means that Hermione is saying that its unlikely you would get a Lovers—," Jade began.
"I know that!"
"Hey guys," Cho said waving from her spot a few feet ahead of them. Harry's face went scarlet. It took a moment for him to move his feet, and when he finally did he greeted her in return.
"Heard about you making the team, Ron," she said when they reached her. "Congratulations."
"Thanks," Ron replied. He still sounded bitter about the morning practices.
"You wouldn't make a bad Chaser either, Hermione," Cho added. "Awesome throw by the way." Hermione smiled, pleased at the comment.
"Anyway Harry I just wanted to tell you that Madam Hooch is thinking of making Flying lessons a little shorter so—" She never finished. A group of Gryffindor fourth years tore up the stairs in a horse-playing frenzy, knocking Cho off her feet. She overbalanced and fell into Harry, who threw his arms around her waist to catch her.
"You okay?" he asked, his face burning. She blushed in returned and just nodded her head.
"Stop that!" Hermione called out. "I'll take away points, I swear!" She flashed her prefect badge and began telling the boys off.
"Er…could you…" Cho stammered arms still wrapped around Harry's neck. Jade sniggered as Harry finally released Cho.
"What?" Cho asked her, brushing at her robes.
"Nothing," Jade said with a grin. "It's just that I almost think Harry should have been the one to pull the Lovers card—," Jade's hands flew to her mouth as Harry's jaw dropped.
He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe Jade had just said that….that in front of Cho.
"Oh crap," Jade muttered.
"Sorry about that, Cho," Hermione was saying as she returned. "Some boys are just so very childlike." She stopped when she noticed the silence around her.
"I mean not that he likes you or anything," she blurted out. "Damn it…" She looked from Hermione to Ron for help.
"Oy, Cho!" a Ravenclaw sixth year called from up the stairs. "You coming?"
"Oh," Cho said snapping out of it, waving to her friend. "Yeah, I…sorry. I got to go." She smiled briefly at Harry and left. Harry couldn't manage to rejoin his chin to his face. He turned and watched her go, making an incomprehensible gurgling sound.
"Oh god," Jade said quietly. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, Harry."
"WHAT…DID…YOU…JUST…DO?!?" he sputtered loudly. He was so angry with her, why did she have to ruin the only…the only, tiny chance he had with Cho?
"I am so incredibly sorry," Jade tried her face twisting apologetically. "Please, I just slipped—,"
"You just told her…you just told her—ARGH!"
"Calm down, Harry," Hermione said placing a hand on his arm. He brushed her away and stood glaring at Jade.
"Come on, Harry," Ron tried. "She didn't mean it."
"I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you," Jade said pleadingly. "Really, I will."
"You just told Cho I liked her!" Harry exclaimed.
"No…not necessary…I said you didn't like her," Jade squeaked.
"Do you know how humiliated I am?" he continued enraged. "What if…What if I told Charlie Weasley that you fancied him, eh? How'd you feel?"
"I don't like Charlie!" Jade exclaimed, shocked.
"That's true," Ron said. "She fancies Bill." Jade didn't object, but her cheeks reddened.
"Are you taking her side?" Harry asked Ron incredulously.
"No comment?"
"Harry," Hermione said in her most commanding voice. "You're being childish. She didn't mean too and she said she's sorry. She can't take it back now."
"Well," Harry said, his nostrils flaring. "I s'pose if she can't even remember her parents, she couldn't possibly remember to keep my crush a secret!" That did it. Jade's face fell, and then tightened as her eyes narrowed and her face flushed.
"Harry…" she said shaking with anger and disbelief. "I didn't deserve that." And with that, she swept up the stairs, nearly knocking him to the ground as she passed.
"That was unbelievably harsh, Harry," Hermione said turning on him angrily.
"Oi! Hello!" He exclaimed. "I'm the victim here!"
"You're being so self-centered right now!" Hermione yelled back. "You're being such a…such a…a guy about this!" She huffed and made her way up the stairs, Harry gawking after her.
"Ron! Are you coming or not?" she called half way up. Suddenly a look of fear fell on Ron's face. His gaze traveled from Harry to Hermione as if having a mental struggle about who to be loyal too. Hermione glared and he practically whimpered.
"Come on, Harry," he finally managed weakly. He cast an apologetic look at Hermione before he turned Harry round. "Let's go see the house elves about some sweets."
A/N: There is a great fic called Padded Cell for One…do me a fav and read it…then demand that the unmentioned author (Veronica Lupin) updates sooner. I figure if she starts having a score of people threatening her to finish, she'll write quicker : ).