Chapter Three: Of Tea Leaves and Secret Loves

It was a day like any other, or so it seemed until Harry walked down into the common room. What had been so hard for Ron to pick in the half-light was glaringly obvious.

"Err…Harry?" Hermione went up to him. "Are you feeling alright?"

He looked at her strangely "Yes. Why?"

"You're not wearing your glasses."

"I'm not?" He said in surprise.

He turned back to go up the stairs. She blinked. Usually when he took off his glasses he became clumsy and disorientated. She shook her head. Maybe he'd done the Octavious charm on himself…but that wasn't like him. He knew the tabloids would have a field day and he didn't want to be in them any more that he already was.

She sidled up to Ron. "He's taking a long time" she muttered "Yeah" Ron replied "Do y'think I should go after him?" She nodded

Ron made his way up the stairs. Harry was sitting on his bed blinking.

"Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you put the Octavious charm on me last night?"

"No! Why would I do that?"

"I didn't do it…So why don't I need my glasses anymore?"

"You don't?" Ron was surprised

"No, I realized this last night when I was talking to you"

Ron was shocked. The Harry he had gotten to know was gone. He now didn't have to wear glasses and spouted different languages Ron didn't understand.

Ron often felt like a third wheel, though he didn't show it. Hermione was the brains and Harry was the spells. Where did he fit in? He wasn't the brawn and he couldn't heal either. Sometimes he felt like he was fading into the background as Hermione and Harry kept getting brighter. He had feelings for Hermione, he was quite sure he liked her and that scared him. He wasn't really sure where he stood anymore. Physical things scared him like spiders and peanut butter, but not feelings.

"Ron?" Harry said, he had been asking something

"Sure, by the way what did you just ask me?"

"Can you make these lenses glass?"

"Sure," Ron repeated "Glazius" he said and the lenses turned to glass

"Thanks" Harry said and they made their way down the stairs

Hermione was waiting at the bottom of the stairs looking worried.

"Is he okay?" She muttered to Ron

"Yeah," he replied "But he doesn't need his glasses after all"

She withdrew her breath in shock

"And he had a strange dream last night"

She nodded

"Let's go to breakfast" She announced brightly, shooting a worried look at Harry.

After breakfast they had Charms.

"Today," announced Professor Flitwick, from his stack of books "We shall be learning the Screaming Charm, which is very useful in duels, as your opponent is Screaming and cannot use spells. The duration of the spell is thirty seconds, which gives you enough time to gather your thoughts. Can anyone give me the incantation?"

Hermione and Ron's hands shot up simultaneously. "Mr Weasley?" Professor Flitwick said.

"Vociferatio" Ron replied

"Ron. How'd you know that?" Harry hissed to Ron

"Fred and George" Ron hissed back by way of explanation

Harry nodded and turned back to Professor Flitwick

"Now, get in groups of three and practise the spell" The Professor said, conjuring up a pair of earmuffs as he spoke and quickly putting them on.

Quicker that Ron, Harry jabbed his wand and "Vociferatio!" He proclaimed. Ron opened his mouth and began to scream.

Lavender got Parvati and Dean caught Seamus. Harry began laughing at the sight of Ron Screaming and didn't notice as Hermione got him. "Enough!" Squeaked Professor Flitwick and "Silencioed" the Screamers.

Hermione was silently laughing, as the whole class had been Silenced, tears pouring down her face at the sight of Harry and Ron screaming like girls.

"Have you all calmed down?" Professor Flickwick asked and lifted the spell

"Now, get out your parchment and quills, to write down the other uses of the Screaming Charm"

After Charms Harry and Ron went to Divination and Hermione went to Ancient Runes.

"Today," Intoned Firenze "We shall be revising Tea Leaf reading"

Lavender's hand shot up. "Didn't you say that was human Divination? Centaurs don't drink tea!"

He smiled "Professor Dumbledore has asked me to recap human Divination, as this is what you will be tested on in your NEWTS if you choose to continue after this week."

Harry made a face. Hopefully I won't be foretold to die this time, He thought.

"However," Firenze continued "We shall interpret the signs individually, rather as a whole. A future is not set, but changes all the time. When you attempt to foresee the future, you are seeing what might be, not what will be. Now, please choose a cup"

When they got to the cupboard there were not the pink and blue cups of third year, but beautiful white cups with pictures of centaurs stargazing. As to be expected, Neville dropped on, shattering it. Instead of breaking down, he whipped out his wand. "Reparo!"

The cup reformed and he carried it over to his table. At each table, pots of steaming tea, cold milk and sugar had appeared.

Harry muttered to Ron "It looks like Neville's finally got the hang of himself."

Ron nodded and turned his attention to the teatable.

Harry yawned and poured tea for both of them. They drank and turned their cups over.

Firenze had come over to their table. "Have you finished your tea?"

They nodded and indicated their turned over cups. "Very good"

Firenze moved on.

The table turned so Harry had Ron's cup and vice versa.

They picked up the cups and set them to one side. "We've got double potions today" Ron said morosely "Yeah" Harry pulled Ron's saucer over to him and pulled out his Divination book.

He checked Ron's saucer. "Alright…There's a heart next to a key…that means you have a secret love that will be revealed" Ron blinked and pulled out his book " Let me see that!"

Harry laughed "You mean it's true?" Ron blushed to the tips of his ears "…no!" he whisper-shouted

"Who is it?" Harry's eyes danced "Are they are in Gryffindor?"

Ron snatched up Harry's saucer "Oh look! It says you're going to be in danger for the next year! You'll be chased and yelled at! Especially by red headed Gryffindors!" he snapped sarcastically

"Very good, Mr Weasley," Firenze had come up behind them "I didn't know you were so adept at tea leave reading. Everything you just said was correct. Except for the red headed part"

Ron's jaw dropped "You're not serious"

"I am" He reached out to take Ron's saucer from Harry "May I?"

Harry nodded

Firenze began to speak "You will be in several life threatening situations for some time. I see a long journey to an unknown destination. Oh, and Light"

He looked around the amazed class. "Class dismissed"

As they clattered out for recess, Ron stayed behind for a moment. "Um…Firenze?"

The centaur turned around "Yes, Mr Weasley?"

"What did you mean by Light?"

"I do not know"

Ron absently began to help put the cups and saucers away

"The sign in your cup," Firenze continued "was an ancient rune for Light. In Harry's cup was the rune for Earth. I do not know what this means. Yesterday I had Mr Malfoy in my Slytherin class. His cup had the rune for healing"

"Hey Ron!" Harry shouted from the bottom of the stairs. "Coming!" Ron shouted back. He finished putting away cups and thanked Firenze. Hethen went down to meet Harry for recess.