After dinner, Harry and Ron went back to Gryffindor tower to play chess.
Harry explained all about the meeting with Dan and Anastasia.
"I dunno...you say he keeps looking at Snuffles?" Ron asked as his bishop
demolished Harry's pawn.
"Yeah, it was really weird. And he wouldn't drop the subject about the
map.." Harry said as he moved his knight into a suicidal position.
"Ah Snape, what a prat! Course he was gonna tell about the map!" Ron spat.
Harry sighed. Ron was too good at chess...
At last, when all of Harry's pieces were ground to dust and his king was
cornered, the game was over. They started to put the things away. Harry
loved watching the pieces being put back together. Ron put the chess board
back on the games shelf.
"Wanna help me predict my horrible death?" He asked Harry.
"Divination? Sure!" Harry laughed. Ron darted up the stairs. Harry waited
in front of the fire. He heard the sound of bare feet on cement and looked
over. Abby was coming down the stairs. She was holding a small book. She
smiled at Harry and plopped down into a cozy armchair. Harry pulled his
eyes away from her as Ron came bounding down the stairs. They set up his
charts on a table.
"Right...now, first I think I'll have an unfortunate accident with..hmm..."
Ron trailed off.
"Er...one of the professors." Harry said, flipping through the book.
"Yeah! Because Mars is aligned with Mercury!" Ron laughed. Harry snickered.
"Then I can get pulled into the lake by the giant squid." Ron said as he gazed at the chart. "Because...." Harry said, looking at the chart. "Because Venus is in the 6th house." Harry and Ron looked across the room. Abby was still reading her book, but it was her that made the suggestion. "H-huh?" Ron asked. He had never been good at talking to pretty girls. Abby marked her page and looked up. "When Venus is in the 6th house, it means you will have a water tragedy. I saw the way she picked apart your homework last week, and thought maybe I would offer some helpful hints." Abby explained. She smiled. "You a divination buff?" Harry asked. "A true Seer?" Ron added. Abby quickly stifled a giggle. "No. Not a chance. I just have made up my charts so many times, I have the moons and houses memorized." She laughed. She quickly went back to her book. "Ah, beauty and a fair mind when it comes to knowing a load of unicorn dung when she sees it." Ron sighed. He went back to his chart. Harry just shook his head.
Harry didn't sleep well that night. He didn't know why though. He just woke up with dark circles under his eyes. Hermione quickly fixed that. Harry was sprawled out on the couch in front of the fire in his pajamas when Hermione came down the steps. She was staring at Harry. "Look terrible don't I?" Harry said, forcing a smile. Hermione muttered something that Harry thought sounded like 'impossible'. She blushed and pulled out her wand. "Here." She said. She knelt down next to him. Their faces were inches apart. Hermione traced her wand under Harry's eyes. The dark circles disappeared. "There..." She said in barely more than a whisper. "Th-thanks." Harry said. He was kinda uncomdortable. Hermione quickly stood up. "Er..I have to go to the library." She said quietly. She hurried from the common room. Harry went upstairs and got changed. He wanted to go visit Hagrid. Harry was almost out the entrance way doors when he remembered he forgot to take his pills. "I'll take them at Hagrids." He muttered under his breath. The sun was shining on the Hogwarts grounds. Some kids were sprawled out on the grass, other were reading by the lake. Harry made his way over to Hagrid's hut. He saw Hagrid, but there was someone else. Harry couldn't see who it was. When he got closer, he saw that Abby was kneeling down on the ground, rubbing Fang behind the ears. "Harry!" Hagrid cried. He rushed forward and hugged Harry tightly. Harry rubbed his ribs when they separated. Abby smiled, thanked Hagrid and swept off back towards the school. Harry stared after her. She seemed to be everywhere he was. "Spot o' tea Harry?" Hagrid asked. Harry nodded and followed him inside. Harry sat down at the scrubbed wooden table. "Could I have a glass of water as well Hagrid, please?" Harry asked. Hagrid nodded and handed him a ceramic cup. Harry pulled out the pill bottle and took one of the pills. He rested the bottle on the table. Harry popped the pill in his mouth and chased it with some water. When he lowered the cup, Hagrid had the pill bottle. He was reading the label.
"Ferxamandenine?" Hagrid read. He looked at Harry. Harry wasn't sure if Hagrid knew what the pills were for. Hagrid seemed to be thinking very hard. "Ye came outta that passage ter the Shrieking shack a bloody mess, yeh missed a week o school and yer on Ferxamandenine..." He said. Harry knew he was piecing it together. Would he figure it out though? Hagrid put the pill bottle back on the table. He handed Harry a cup of tea and sat down. Hagrid said nothing else about the pills. They talked mainly about quidditch and lessons. Harry glanced at his watch. It was almost lunch. He was starting to feel a little tired. He hadn't eaten anything with that pill. Harry said goodbye to Hagrid and made his way to the castle. Harry made his way into the Great Hall. He took his usual spot, but none of his friends were there. To Harry's dismay, a lot of girls came to sit with him. They all seemed very chatty. Abby was a little ways down the table, but waved to Harry. Harry smiled. He got up and left the Great Hall after he had had something to eat. There was a small cluster of girls following him. Harry groaned. Where could he go where the girls couldn't? The boys room... Harry made a left turn, then went up a flight of stairs. He could hear the girls giggling behind him. Harry quickly went through the door with the picture of a boy with a pointed wizards hat. He heard the girls sigh outside. Harry wasn't the only one in the bathroom. Ron and Neville were in there too. Neville seemed to have locked himself in one of the toilet stalls. "Neville, open up!" Ron said, banging on the door. Harry heard a great blubbering. He made his way to Ron. "What's going on?" He asked. Ron handed Harry a copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry read the title.
HANANGELA LONGBOTTOM ATTACKED'
"Hanangela?" Harry asked. "His grandmother." Ron whispered. Harry nodded. He read the article. It basically went on to say that Hanangela was in the hospital with critical injuries. "Come on Neville!" Ron whined. Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. Lupin was standing there. "Is Neville here?" He asked. Just then, there was the sound of Neville blowing his nose. Ron raised his eyebrows. Lupin nodded. "Neville?" He asked quietly. The blubbering stopped for a moment. "Y-yes Professor?" Neville sobbed. "The Headmaster would like to see you." Lupin said quietly. There was a moment of silence, then the sliding of a lock. The stall door opened and Neville stepped out. His face was red and puffy. Lupin lead him from the bathroom. "Lupin, a Professor?" Harry asked. Ron nodded. "I thought I told you! Dumbledore hired him back as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Ron replied. Harry stared at him. Ron shrugged and they left the bathroom.
Harry groaned as he saw the cluster of girls waiting for him. "What's this all about?" Ron asked. "I don't know! They follow me everywhere and I have no idea why!" Harry grumbled. Ron laughed. "Isn't it obvious? You're Harry Potter. The boy who won the Triwizard tournament, the boy who got a surprising amount of muscle over the summer...the boy every girl wants." Ron sighed. Harry couldn't help but laugh. This was ridiculous. "Ron, what a load of dragon dung!" Harry laughed. "It's not! My sister made a collage of pictures of you in her room. Ruined tons of library books cutting out your picture. Even Hermione..." Ron trailed off. Harry shifted. "She has been acting weird lately..." He added in an undertone. Ron nodded.
"Whoa!" Ron said. "What?" Harry asked. "I just realized something!" Ron replied as if he had seen a man made of gold. "What? What did you realize?" Harry laughed. "There's no one left on the Gryffindor house team except...you." Ron said simply. Harry stared at him. "They all graduated last year!" He groaned. Ron nodded. "That means, by the official Hogwarts House Teams Quidditch rules, that you are captain. That means, that you have to pick a new team." Ron smiled hopefully. Harry groaned. Tryouts were going to be murder! They made their way back to Gryffindor tower. Harry was trying to think of people that could play quidditch. Harry returned to lessons the next day to find that he had missed nothing. The first week was usually review. It was the end of the day when Harry was making his climb to the North Tower for Divination. Harry had had to use to washroom, so Ron had gone ahead. Harry walked along the familiar corridor, hearing only the echo of his steps. Then he heard the echo of someone else's steps. Harry turned around to see who it was that was coming. It was Abby. Was this girl following Harry? Harry couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked in her school uniform. She smiled at Harry and quickened her pace to catch up with him. "Hey." She said quietly. "Hey." Harry replied. There was an awkward silence. "I hate Divination!" Abby finally sighed. Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Me too. I bet you ten galleons that she predicts me death today." Harry said, sticking out his hand. To his surprise, Abby shook it. Her hands were so soft and delicate. "You're on." She smiled. Harry grinned and their hands separated. "So she predicts your death often then?" She asked, biting her lip. "Oh yeah. In my third year she said she'd spotted a grim. What a load of dung." Harry grumbled. Abby smiled. They appeared at the ever familiar entranced to Trenlawney's classroom. Harry and Abby were deeply immersed in a conversation. All the boys were staring at him. The trapdoor opened and the ladder appeared. One after the other, they filed into the class. As Harry had suspected, the room was smoky and smelled heavily of perfume. Harry and Ron found two pouf's in the corner. "What were you talking to Abby about?" Ron asked in a would be casual voice. "Not much. She's gonna try out for the quidditch team." Harry said quickly. Pink smoke started to waft around the room. "Welcome my dears..." Professor Trelawney's misty voice called. Harry felt that hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "Today, we will be ready the stars..." She said airily. Everyone pulled out their school books. Professor Trelawney placed a globe in the middle of each table. "Two boys and two girls to a table..." She instructed. Harry and Ron scooted over to the nearest table. They were soon joined by Abby and Lavendar Brown. Abby sat close to Harry as they peered into the globe that was filled with stars. As Ron and Lavendar started chatting, Harry whispered something to Abby. "You seem to like to be around me..." He said, stiffling a laugh. Abby blushed. "Yeah, well. I don't know many people here. You seem nice enough." She sighed. She was staring blankly at the globe. "Do you see any star formations?" She asked blandly. Harry laughed. "No, just make it up!" He laughed. Professor Trelawney glanced at them. "Look past the mundane and find what is not supposed to be found my dears.." She said airily. Ron groaned.
Abby looked into her side of the globe. "Er...I see something that looks like a heart...let's see, that means...love. Go figure!" She joked. Ron snorted with laughter and Harry had to stiffle a laugh. Harry glanced over his shoulder. Professor Trelawney was watching him. Harry quickly glanced at his book to see what the worst star formation was. "Ooh...I see something. It looks like a...a dagger. And those stars kinda look like blood..." He said quietly. Professor Trelawney took the bait. She hurried over. She looked into Harry's part of the globe and gasped. "My dear boy! You are going to be murdered!" She shrieked. A couple of the girls gasped or squealed. Harry heard Seamus and Dean stiffling laughs. "Well, it's about time. I mean when that Grim didn't get me, I got a little worried." Harry said, shaking his head. Ron tried with all his might to stiffle a laugh, but it was pointless. He ended up rolling around on the ground with laughter. "That's enough for today. Off you go." Professor Trelawney said in a sharp voice. Everyone clambered out through the trapdoor. Harry and Abby ended up walking together. "Eh hem..." Harry said, a smug look on his face. Abby looked at him. "I believe you owe me 10 galleons." Harry smiled. Abby grinned at him. She playfully slapped his shoulder. Ron hurried to catch up. "God Harry.... that was bloody hilarious! Ron laughed. His face was still red from his excited spur of laughter.
"Then I can get pulled into the lake by the giant squid." Ron said as he gazed at the chart. "Because...." Harry said, looking at the chart. "Because Venus is in the 6th house." Harry and Ron looked across the room. Abby was still reading her book, but it was her that made the suggestion. "H-huh?" Ron asked. He had never been good at talking to pretty girls. Abby marked her page and looked up. "When Venus is in the 6th house, it means you will have a water tragedy. I saw the way she picked apart your homework last week, and thought maybe I would offer some helpful hints." Abby explained. She smiled. "You a divination buff?" Harry asked. "A true Seer?" Ron added. Abby quickly stifled a giggle. "No. Not a chance. I just have made up my charts so many times, I have the moons and houses memorized." She laughed. She quickly went back to her book. "Ah, beauty and a fair mind when it comes to knowing a load of unicorn dung when she sees it." Ron sighed. He went back to his chart. Harry just shook his head.
Harry didn't sleep well that night. He didn't know why though. He just woke up with dark circles under his eyes. Hermione quickly fixed that. Harry was sprawled out on the couch in front of the fire in his pajamas when Hermione came down the steps. She was staring at Harry. "Look terrible don't I?" Harry said, forcing a smile. Hermione muttered something that Harry thought sounded like 'impossible'. She blushed and pulled out her wand. "Here." She said. She knelt down next to him. Their faces were inches apart. Hermione traced her wand under Harry's eyes. The dark circles disappeared. "There..." She said in barely more than a whisper. "Th-thanks." Harry said. He was kinda uncomdortable. Hermione quickly stood up. "Er..I have to go to the library." She said quietly. She hurried from the common room. Harry went upstairs and got changed. He wanted to go visit Hagrid. Harry was almost out the entrance way doors when he remembered he forgot to take his pills. "I'll take them at Hagrids." He muttered under his breath. The sun was shining on the Hogwarts grounds. Some kids were sprawled out on the grass, other were reading by the lake. Harry made his way over to Hagrid's hut. He saw Hagrid, but there was someone else. Harry couldn't see who it was. When he got closer, he saw that Abby was kneeling down on the ground, rubbing Fang behind the ears. "Harry!" Hagrid cried. He rushed forward and hugged Harry tightly. Harry rubbed his ribs when they separated. Abby smiled, thanked Hagrid and swept off back towards the school. Harry stared after her. She seemed to be everywhere he was. "Spot o' tea Harry?" Hagrid asked. Harry nodded and followed him inside. Harry sat down at the scrubbed wooden table. "Could I have a glass of water as well Hagrid, please?" Harry asked. Hagrid nodded and handed him a ceramic cup. Harry pulled out the pill bottle and took one of the pills. He rested the bottle on the table. Harry popped the pill in his mouth and chased it with some water. When he lowered the cup, Hagrid had the pill bottle. He was reading the label.
"Ferxamandenine?" Hagrid read. He looked at Harry. Harry wasn't sure if Hagrid knew what the pills were for. Hagrid seemed to be thinking very hard. "Ye came outta that passage ter the Shrieking shack a bloody mess, yeh missed a week o school and yer on Ferxamandenine..." He said. Harry knew he was piecing it together. Would he figure it out though? Hagrid put the pill bottle back on the table. He handed Harry a cup of tea and sat down. Hagrid said nothing else about the pills. They talked mainly about quidditch and lessons. Harry glanced at his watch. It was almost lunch. He was starting to feel a little tired. He hadn't eaten anything with that pill. Harry said goodbye to Hagrid and made his way to the castle. Harry made his way into the Great Hall. He took his usual spot, but none of his friends were there. To Harry's dismay, a lot of girls came to sit with him. They all seemed very chatty. Abby was a little ways down the table, but waved to Harry. Harry smiled. He got up and left the Great Hall after he had had something to eat. There was a small cluster of girls following him. Harry groaned. Where could he go where the girls couldn't? The boys room... Harry made a left turn, then went up a flight of stairs. He could hear the girls giggling behind him. Harry quickly went through the door with the picture of a boy with a pointed wizards hat. He heard the girls sigh outside. Harry wasn't the only one in the bathroom. Ron and Neville were in there too. Neville seemed to have locked himself in one of the toilet stalls. "Neville, open up!" Ron said, banging on the door. Harry heard a great blubbering. He made his way to Ron. "What's going on?" He asked. Ron handed Harry a copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry read the title.
HANANGELA LONGBOTTOM ATTACKED'
"Hanangela?" Harry asked. "His grandmother." Ron whispered. Harry nodded. He read the article. It basically went on to say that Hanangela was in the hospital with critical injuries. "Come on Neville!" Ron whined. Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. Lupin was standing there. "Is Neville here?" He asked. Just then, there was the sound of Neville blowing his nose. Ron raised his eyebrows. Lupin nodded. "Neville?" He asked quietly. The blubbering stopped for a moment. "Y-yes Professor?" Neville sobbed. "The Headmaster would like to see you." Lupin said quietly. There was a moment of silence, then the sliding of a lock. The stall door opened and Neville stepped out. His face was red and puffy. Lupin lead him from the bathroom. "Lupin, a Professor?" Harry asked. Ron nodded. "I thought I told you! Dumbledore hired him back as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Ron replied. Harry stared at him. Ron shrugged and they left the bathroom.
Harry groaned as he saw the cluster of girls waiting for him. "What's this all about?" Ron asked. "I don't know! They follow me everywhere and I have no idea why!" Harry grumbled. Ron laughed. "Isn't it obvious? You're Harry Potter. The boy who won the Triwizard tournament, the boy who got a surprising amount of muscle over the summer...the boy every girl wants." Ron sighed. Harry couldn't help but laugh. This was ridiculous. "Ron, what a load of dragon dung!" Harry laughed. "It's not! My sister made a collage of pictures of you in her room. Ruined tons of library books cutting out your picture. Even Hermione..." Ron trailed off. Harry shifted. "She has been acting weird lately..." He added in an undertone. Ron nodded.
"Whoa!" Ron said. "What?" Harry asked. "I just realized something!" Ron replied as if he had seen a man made of gold. "What? What did you realize?" Harry laughed. "There's no one left on the Gryffindor house team except...you." Ron said simply. Harry stared at him. "They all graduated last year!" He groaned. Ron nodded. "That means, by the official Hogwarts House Teams Quidditch rules, that you are captain. That means, that you have to pick a new team." Ron smiled hopefully. Harry groaned. Tryouts were going to be murder! They made their way back to Gryffindor tower. Harry was trying to think of people that could play quidditch. Harry returned to lessons the next day to find that he had missed nothing. The first week was usually review. It was the end of the day when Harry was making his climb to the North Tower for Divination. Harry had had to use to washroom, so Ron had gone ahead. Harry walked along the familiar corridor, hearing only the echo of his steps. Then he heard the echo of someone else's steps. Harry turned around to see who it was that was coming. It was Abby. Was this girl following Harry? Harry couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked in her school uniform. She smiled at Harry and quickened her pace to catch up with him. "Hey." She said quietly. "Hey." Harry replied. There was an awkward silence. "I hate Divination!" Abby finally sighed. Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Me too. I bet you ten galleons that she predicts me death today." Harry said, sticking out his hand. To his surprise, Abby shook it. Her hands were so soft and delicate. "You're on." She smiled. Harry grinned and their hands separated. "So she predicts your death often then?" She asked, biting her lip. "Oh yeah. In my third year she said she'd spotted a grim. What a load of dung." Harry grumbled. Abby smiled. They appeared at the ever familiar entranced to Trenlawney's classroom. Harry and Abby were deeply immersed in a conversation. All the boys were staring at him. The trapdoor opened and the ladder appeared. One after the other, they filed into the class. As Harry had suspected, the room was smoky and smelled heavily of perfume. Harry and Ron found two pouf's in the corner. "What were you talking to Abby about?" Ron asked in a would be casual voice. "Not much. She's gonna try out for the quidditch team." Harry said quickly. Pink smoke started to waft around the room. "Welcome my dears..." Professor Trelawney's misty voice called. Harry felt that hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "Today, we will be ready the stars..." She said airily. Everyone pulled out their school books. Professor Trelawney placed a globe in the middle of each table. "Two boys and two girls to a table..." She instructed. Harry and Ron scooted over to the nearest table. They were soon joined by Abby and Lavendar Brown. Abby sat close to Harry as they peered into the globe that was filled with stars. As Ron and Lavendar started chatting, Harry whispered something to Abby. "You seem to like to be around me..." He said, stiffling a laugh. Abby blushed. "Yeah, well. I don't know many people here. You seem nice enough." She sighed. She was staring blankly at the globe. "Do you see any star formations?" She asked blandly. Harry laughed. "No, just make it up!" He laughed. Professor Trelawney glanced at them. "Look past the mundane and find what is not supposed to be found my dears.." She said airily. Ron groaned.
Abby looked into her side of the globe. "Er...I see something that looks like a heart...let's see, that means...love. Go figure!" She joked. Ron snorted with laughter and Harry had to stiffle a laugh. Harry glanced over his shoulder. Professor Trelawney was watching him. Harry quickly glanced at his book to see what the worst star formation was. "Ooh...I see something. It looks like a...a dagger. And those stars kinda look like blood..." He said quietly. Professor Trelawney took the bait. She hurried over. She looked into Harry's part of the globe and gasped. "My dear boy! You are going to be murdered!" She shrieked. A couple of the girls gasped or squealed. Harry heard Seamus and Dean stiffling laughs. "Well, it's about time. I mean when that Grim didn't get me, I got a little worried." Harry said, shaking his head. Ron tried with all his might to stiffle a laugh, but it was pointless. He ended up rolling around on the ground with laughter. "That's enough for today. Off you go." Professor Trelawney said in a sharp voice. Everyone clambered out through the trapdoor. Harry and Abby ended up walking together. "Eh hem..." Harry said, a smug look on his face. Abby looked at him. "I believe you owe me 10 galleons." Harry smiled. Abby grinned at him. She playfully slapped his shoulder. Ron hurried to catch up. "God Harry.... that was bloody hilarious! Ron laughed. His face was still red from his excited spur of laughter.