zumamoonlight, The Infallible Teller and Heikgan – Glad you like it

VirgoDust – I wouldn't do that, I want to see what happens next too ^_^

ElizaduGrey – Thanks! *beams* Yeah, I'll do that, but as you probably can tell – I take waaay too long to update.

Vesper – As far as I've worked out, there will be a little bit of fluff, so hopefully you'll like that but it's supposed to be mainly quite serious.

Spika Centauri – I knew it would be… I have to update faster!!

Crimson-Dragoness – Thanks, glad you like it so far – I did think of turning him into a ferret, but that would have been too blatant.

Chapter 4

It was bitterly cold when Hagrid and Hermione arrived back at Hogwarts. Desperate for a bath and a mug of hot chocolate, Hermione thanked Hagrid once again and headed for her room. Draco loped along beside her. However, when Hermione reached her room she remembered that she had no time for even the briefest of showers, for she was about to be late Divination.

* * *

Hermione clutched her book bag in one hand, hoisting it quickly over her shoulder. "Draco!" she called out. Draco obediently padded over to her and she scooped him up, running in the direction of the Divination classroom.

She arrived at the trapdoor, out of breath. Harry and Ron were waiting for her.

"We thought you might not want to go in by yourself," Harry explained. Hermione looked at both of them gratefully.

"Thanks," she wheezed. Ron climbed the ladder quickly, headed through the door and held it open for Hermione, who was having trouble climbing whilst juggling her book bag and Draco.

She finally struggled through and Harry hastily followed, closing the trapdoor behind him.

Professor Trelawney was watching Hermione intently through her spectacles. "We meet again, Miss Granger." Turning to the already assembled Slytherins and Gryffindors she added, "But of course I had been expecting this."

To Hermione's relief, Trelawney seemed to be much too interested in her lesson to make much of an issue of Hermione's sudden reappearance, much less of Draco's current appearance. Pansy Parkinson was another matter.

"You little mudblood scum," Pansy sneered quietly. Hermione ignored her, acting as if absorbed in the lesson. Pansy looked infuriated; she'd obviously been expecting some kind of reaction.

"Just wait," she continued venomously. "Draco will be back to normal soon," she said. "And when he is, you won't know what hit you."

Hermione looked Pansy straight in the eye. "If your memory fails you Parkinson," Hermione retorted in a low tone, "I'd like to remind you that this is your fault."

Pansy stared at Hermione in surprise.

"You bothered me in Transfiguration," Hermione said, raising her index finger. "You made fun of my parents," she continued, raising her middle finger. "You're then one who upset me enough for me to try to hex you." She raised a third finger. "And you're then one who moved out of the way of the hex, leaving it to hit Malfoy." Hermione ticked this off on a fourth finger imperiously. "Now please pay attention to the lesson, you're distracting others from learning."

Pansy stared again, open-mouthed. Clenching her fists, Pansy said, "You filthy–"

The retort died on her lips as a low growl filled the room. Draco had bared his teeth. The rest of the students gazed at the unfolding scene in shock. Slytherins and Gryffindors alike watched silently.

Professor Trelawney looked over and promptly waved Pansy back to her seat. "Everyone please," she said. "Go back to your crystal balls. We have much to do. Hermione, would you please stay behind after class? I need to speak with you."

Pansy smirked. "Now you're in for it."

By now, Trelawney had decided the time was right to test Harry's Divination knowledge once again. She was standing over Harry, Ron and their crystal ball. Harry was frantically trying to come up with yet another possible (yet highly improbable) scenario for his own death.

"I um, I see uh…"

"Well Harry?" Professor Trelawney said eagerly.

"Uh, I see huskies!" Harry said.

"Huskies?" Trelawney raised an eyebrow.

Ron stifled a laugh as Harry desperately thought of something to say. He waved at Harry, trying to catch his attention.

"Yes, blond-furred huskies." Harry suddenly noticed Ron's waving. He looked at him quizzically. Ron attempted to imitate somebody being mauled by a pack of wild animals. Surprisingly, Harry did understand Ron's feeble attempts and blurted out, "I'm going to be attacked by blond-furred huskies in the Forbidden Forest." Trelawney looked impressed. Relieved that it was over, Harry added, "I can't see if I survive or not."

"I'm glad that you have the courage to carry on," Trelawney said expansively, "after all of these terrible omens that insist on throwing themselves into your path."

"Uh…" Harry didn't know what to say to that. Luckily for him, Trelawney seemed be finished with him for now.

* * *

The bell announcing the end of the lesson finally sounded, and the students began to leave in groups until there was only Ron, Hermione and Harry left and Draco of course.

"Hermione, did you want us to wait for you?" Harry asked her.

Hermione looked at Ron, who had a bored expression plastered on his face.

"That's okay," she told Harry. I think Ron needs to get out of here a lot more than I need you to stay." Waving to Hermione, Harry and Ron climbed through the trapdoor and started down the ladder. Hermione turned to Professor Trelawney.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?" she said.

"Yes, Miss Granger. I merely wished to know how you found today's lesson to be."

Hermione looked at Professor Trelawney in surprise. Professor Trelawney? Asking me what I thought of her lesson?

Hermione hesitated, but decided to give a diluted version of the truth. "Well Professor," she began. "I think that Divination is just one of those subjects where you have to have a gift, or you can never truly succeed in it."

Hermione watched Professor Trelawney's face carefully, checking for any signs of annoyance. Finding none, she continued, "I did manage to get enough notes on the theoretical side for Draco though."

"Well Miss Granger, I must say, I do believe you have matured very much since you were last in my lesson."

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"After all," Trelawney swept on, "You now are able to admit that you did not succeed in the subject because of your lack of talent in this particular field. It's nothing to be ashamed of; we can't be talented at everything."

Hermione stood watching Trelawney in silence for a few moments. Finally sure that the Professor had finished putting her down, for now at least, Hermione asked to be excused.

Hermione picked up her book bag and called to Draco, who had been sitting quietly ever since the disagreement with Pansy. Opening the trapdoor, Hermione climbed through and began to slowly climb down the ladder. Just then she heard a strange voice. It sounded harsh, as if the speaker had a sore throat. It was coming from Professor Trelawney's classroom. Hermione peered back through the trapdoor – the voice was coming from Trelawney. Her eyes were wide and unfocused. Hermione listened intently.

"…will bring all of humanity together," Trelawney rasped. "Those in league with the Dark Lord will continue to stand in the way as they have throughout time. His followers shall yet attempt to fulfil the ideals of the Master of Serpents. Beware however, sons and daughters of the dark, for the cycle is coming to an end."

Okay, it's not very long, but I liked the way I ended it. Now that I've finished my exams *beams* I have tried my best to update this. I've actually already written half of the next chapter, so I won't take 6 months to post it next time!

Lady Deathscythe                       4th July, 2003 (6:07 a.m) ^_~