Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot.

A/N: I found out my italicized words weren't coming out, so I've just up asterisks on Both sides of the word that's supposed to be italicized. Does anyone know how to Italicize words, by the way? I have no idea!

Chapter 4

"Get out, if you know what's good for you." Severus sneered. They had finally come to their senses and put their wands away. This would be a purely verbal fight. And fight, we did.

"I'm sorry, *Snape*, but the last time I checked, it was a free country." That *boy* had too much impudence to do him any good. I decided to bring him down a peg or two.

"Absolutely right, Potter. Thus, feel *free* to leave." I tried to ignore that little knot of guilt pulsing in my head. I wasn't going to let a pretty face distract me from being, first and foremost, a Malfoy, and second, a Slytherin. To prove my point to myself, I gave them a menacing glare.

Quite unfortunately, I was unable to stare them down, except Pettigrew. But then it would have been pitiable to take pleasure in that triumph, since he was only as tall as Arabella Figg (known to us Slytherins as 'the mouse- girl'). Potter and Lupin were just a little shorter than I was, and Black, at least two inches taller.

They didn't cower (I wasn't really disappointed, seeing that only first and second years did that) but I watched with barely suppressed glee as they shifted their feet nervously. They were still boys, under all that manly bravado.

Before anyone else could say anything, (and I *knew* Severus was bursting with insults, by the look on his face), A young woman walked in, peering at us in a birdlike manner.

"Let's hope no one's fighting. I'm Minerva McGonagall, your new transfiguration teacher." If her robes had been black instead of emerald green, I would have thought she was just another student. Despite her youthful appearance, she sounded strict and entirely no-nonsense. A voice echoed down the hallway.

"Minerva? Where are you?" Another woman entered in a dark blue cloak, wearing spectacles that made her eyes look very peculiar. Almost bug-like. She paused and looked around us dramatically. "Minerva," this was said very breathlessly, "I had a premonition---"

"Of my back?" I heard a few snickers from both sides of the room. At least this McGonagall woman had a sense of humor, dry though it was.

"No," Bug-lady looked rather annoyed at having been interrupted, "But the fates have informed me that---"

"Let me introduce all of you to your new Divination professor, Sybill Trelawney." That was really no surprise, with her talk about 'the fates' and premonitions.

"But you must listen to me, it's something very important and--" The train gave a jolt, and started slowly, gaining speed by the second. The two groups sat as far apart as possible, with the teachers in between. Crabbe and Goyle were already dozing off, and Severus had his Potions book out. Peter (Parkinson) was drawing something obscene on the windowsill, and I was left with nothing to do. Reading was out of the question, and so was sleeping. Who knew what those wretches were going to do while we were asleep?

I watched the scenery pass by, trying to figure out where Hogwarts was, exactly. But how could I, when everything looked the same? Green hills rolled along, and the only change I noticed was in the clouds.

Now, I just want all of you to know that I do *not* condone eavesdropping. I think it's the most repulsive way of spying. But I just happened to overhear the teachers' conversation (How could I not? The train *was* completely quiet, with the exception of Goyle's periodic snoring).

"Sybill, ninety-eight percent of your predictions are certified twaddle. Why would this one be any different?" McGonagall was saying, as she dug out her quill and began to sharpen it.

"Minerva! They are *not* twaddle! If they don't happen in this lifetime, then they're sure to happen in the next! The Fates don't lie!" What shocked me was that she actually looked like she believed what she was saying.

"Honestly, Sybill, you confuse me. Talking about Greek and Roman mythology, and then, very suddenly, you *jump* to Hinduism, with all your talk about rebirth?" She shook her head. "Would you *trust* an old crone with *your* string of life? *I* wouldn't. Heaven forbid they should grow so old they cut the wrong string on account of their failing eyesight."

"But I've had *several* premonitions, all related to the same thing!" Her tears of frustration were magnified through her amazingly thick eyeglasses. I agreed with McGonagall; predictions, and *fate* especially, were twaddle. I don't know *why* people actually listen to them, let alone believe them.

"And what, pray tell, is this *thing* they're all associated with?" The Transfiguration teacher asked dryly, one eyebrow raised.

"Three students." Both eyebrows were raised now, and everyone (except Crabbe and Goyle, both of whom were still asleep) who I thought was to busy to listen, was, indeed, listening very closely. And here I had thought *I* was the only one bored enough to listen.

"Students, Sybill? What about these students?" Trelawney was taking her time, now that she knew she had an audience listening.

"It isn't made very clear, but the Fates have shown me that the survival of hope for our *entire* world rests upon them, and what they do. One *single* mistake, and all could be lost."

********************* A/N: Please review! *commercial voice* This chapter was brought to you by reviews-reviews! Seriously, it took me a whole day to think up what to write in this chapter, so I hope you like it!

I'd like to thank those who reviewed:

Red Jasper- I absolutely *love* your story! Your Lucius sounds so mysterious and dark

Fuschia- thank you so much for reviewing! I really appreciate it! I totally agree about the Lucius/Lily friction part, so I'll be adding some in the next chapter, hopefully.

KittyKat589- Thank you thank you thank you! : )