Here's chapter 8 enjoy.
"Double potions." Ron moaned the next morning at breakfast as he looked over his new time table. "I hate Monday's, look at this, Divination, History of magic, and double potions after lunch."
Hermione, who had been checking over her own schedule, glanced at Ron's. "Yes, well, at least tomorrow should be okay for us. Care of Magical creatures and Transfiguration in the morning, and Herbology and Defense against the Dark Arts after lunch."
"What do you have this morning while we're in Divination?" Harry asked buttering his toast and taking a great big bite of it.
"Arithmancy," she answered absently.
"Hey, Harry," a voice called from the other end of the great hall.
Harry turned and saw Colin Creevy sprinting towards him camera in hand. Colin was in his fourth year at Hogwarts and was a reporter for the school newspaper, Harry just happened to be Colin's favorite person to photograph.
"Hullo Colin," he answered automatically.
Colin beamed as he dropped onto the bench next to Harry, "Hiya Harry, I like your hair. I was wondering if I could get a couple photos of your new look and maybe an exclusive interview about what possessed you to make such a drastic change in appearance."
Harry narrowed his eyes, "You want to know why I changed my look? Is it gonna be in the school paper?"
"Oh yes," said Colin nodding vigorously, "I volunteered for this assignment, told them you were a friend and... well, here I am. So, how about it?"
Harry shook his head apologetically, "Sorry, Colin, I don't think so." He ignored the crestfallen face of Colin, "The story really isn't about my 'new look' is it, Colin? It starts out that way at first, just to get me to believe it, and then you subtly throw in questions about last year. Then we get to what you really want to ask me, about the end of the Triwizard tournament. That's what your editor wants right; he wants the exclusive interview with me, right Colin?"
Colin went beet red then glanced at Ron and Hermione (who had been listening) for help. Finding none there, he looked at the ground and nodded sheepishly, "But I didn't want to, he said he would find someone else to do my job if i didn't. I'm sorry Harry."
Harry shrugged, "I don't mind Colin, just next time tell the truth alright?" he checked his watch, "Ron we better go, Divination is way up in the north tower, we have to leave now if we want to get there in time. See you Colin, Hermione." With that, he and Ron strode out of the Great Hall.
"Hi, Harry." Cho Chang said as she and her friend Marietta stopped in front of them. She smiled kindly as she looked him up and down, "You're looking well, I like your hair."
Harry smiled back, "Thanks, your looking well too." He shot a look at Ron who was grinning and starting to snicker. "How was your summer?"
Cho's smile drooped a little, "It was alright I guess, after everything that happened last year, it wasn't too cheerful."
Silence rang between the four for a minute before Harry shifted uncomfortably and said, "Yeah, well it was nice seeing you but we have to get to class, if we wait any longer we'll be late. See you." he never got a chance to finish his sentence, he watched horrified as Cho burst into tears. "Was it something I said?" Harry whispered to Ron as they watched Marietta comfort Cho. Marietta shot Harry a glare before leading Cho into the Great Hall.
Ron scratched the back of his neck, "Didn't see that coming," he commented, "What set her off?"
"Talking about Cedric would be my guess." Jessica said falling into step with the boys as they climbed the marble staircase. "Even though she never actually said his name, mentioning what happened upset her all over again. And, of course, Harry's brush-off didn't help anything." She added throwing Harry a dirty look.
Harry threw up his hands defensively, "I wasn't brushing her off, we really were going to be late for class." He dared a glance at Jessica and saw she was shaking her head in disbelief, "Alright maybe I was snubbing her a little, but I didn't want to talk about things that happened last year."
Ron nodded sympathetically, "Yeah, I can understand that mate, she had no right to bring him into the conversation. It was going well until she mentioned last year's events." They walked in silence until they had reached Professor Trelawney's silver ladder that led into her classroom, he turned to Jessica, and said "ladies first."
Jessica climbed the ladder and emerged into the strangest looking classroom she had ever seen. At least twenty tables were crammed inside, all surrounded by chintz armchairs and fat little pouffes. Everything was lit with a dim crimson light; the curtains at the windows were all closed, and the many lamps were draped with red scarves.
"Interesting," she muttered as Harry and Ron joined her at the table farthest to the back and next to a window.
"Just wait until this class starts; it's so boring you'll wish you were in potions with Snape." Harry said while Ron stifled a laugh.
"Good morning class," Trelawney said in her soft, wispy voice. "I understand we have a new class member this year." She turned to Jessica and smiled kindly, "Jessica dear, you never took Divination in your old school did you?" Jessica shook her head, "Ah, my inner eye never fails me," she said shifting the folder she was holding from one hand to the other.
Jessica leaned over to Harry and Ron when Trelawney turned her back, "Or her regular eyes, my transfer papers are in that folder. She probably read it and saw that I had never taken Divination."
Harry and Ron laughed causing Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown to glare at them. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan glanced at them obviously wondering what was so funny, before turning back to Professor Trelawney as she spoke to the class.
"Today I thought we could try to read palms," she announced a large smile plastered on her face, "it may be difficult in the beginning but you should all get used to it over time, now partner up," she waited patiently while everyone grabbed a partner, "Jessica, dear, you can join Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter. Open you text books to page one hundred it explains how to read palms there. I will be walking around the classroom lending a hand if you need it, you may begin!"
Once Harry, Ron and Jessica had finished reading the instructions for palm reading they each took turns reading each others palms.
Jessica went first, she grabbed Ron's hand and stared intently at it, "Hmmm, let's see here. Oh my," She muttered to herself.
Ron, who had gone bright red when Jessica touched his hand, suddenly paled, "What? What do you see?"
Jessica shook her head sadly, "Oh Ron, it's horrible just horrible."
Ron swallowed hard and glanced at Harry. The rest of the class had gone silent and Professor Trelawney, always drawn to sounds of despair, glided over to their table and looked over Jessica's shoulder.
"What do you see, dear?" she asked a small frown creasing her brow as she stared at Ron's hand.
"Danger, Professor Trelawney, Danger. Something horrible will happen to Ron, a horrible encounter that could cost him his life." Gasps of horror traveled across the room while Ron whimpered.
By now, Professor Trelawney was very interested, "What else does his palm tell you?" she asked a smile creeping onto her lips.
Jessica ran her thumb over Ron's hand and momentarily closed her eyes, "I see, a-a giant spider. He is angry, angry at Ron."
Up until this point Harry had thought Jessica was just playing around, but when she mentioned a giant spider something clicked in his head. He had never told Jessica about Aragog, the giant spider friend of Hagrid's that he and Ron had met in the forbidden forest of their second year. Aragog, although being Hagrid's friend, had wanted to kill them and Harry and Ron had barely managed to escape. Hagrid later told them that Aragog was furious with their escape and would kill them on sight if they ever met again. How could Jessica have known about the giant spider when Harry had never told her?
A horrible thought suddenly occurred to Harry, what if this was one of the powers Greg had refused to tell them about? One of the powers he said they would have to figure out on their own, what if Jessica was having some sort of premonition?
"Ron's alone in a forest, during the night time. He's running from very big spider's lots of spiders, but accidentally runs right into the biggest spider of all, then." she trailed off and opened her eyes, "That's it," she muttered tiredly, "T-that's all I can see." She swayed dangerously in her chair before collapsing, unconscious, to the ground.
There was instant uproar as the class panicked. Professor Trelawney knelt next to Jessica trying to wake her up while the class talked loudly and irrationally. Ron sat perfectly still in his seat, pale as a ghost and not helping any. Finally, Harry stood on his chair and whistled loudly getting everyone's attention at once.
"Calm down," he told everyone patiently, then turned to Professor Trelawney, "Should I take her to the hospital wing, Professor?"
Soon Harry's found himself running down the hall toward the infirmary, an unconscious Jessica slumped in his arms. The old Harry Potter would never have been able to carry her, and Harry found himself thanking Greg for all the training they did that built up his muscles.
He skidded to a halt, so fast he almost dropped Jessica, as Peeves the poltergeist swerved in front of him holding a long walking stick, trying to block Harry.
"What have we here?" Peeves asked with a grin, "My, my Potter, have you been attacking the students again?" he laughed shrilly.
"Get out of my way," Harry said angrily as he tried to side step Peeves, he found himself getting very annoyed when Peeves continued to block. "I SAID MOVE!" he yelled heatedly.
"What's going on here? What's all the shouting about?" Professor McGonagall, the head of house for Gryffindor, asked sharply, striding toward them from behind Peeves.
"Peeves won't let me pass," Harry answered through clenched teeth, "And I have to get Jessica to Madam Pomfrey." He shot Peeves a dark look before shifting Jessica in his arms.
"Peeves leave now." McGonagall snapped, she ignored the rude gesture Peeves gave her before flying away, "What happened, Potter?" she asked as she and Harry walked quickly to the hospital wing.
By the time, they had entered the infirmary Harry had recounted the entire tale to his head of house, leaving out the significance of the giant spiders. As far as he knew no one but he, Hagrid, Hermione and Ron knew about their trip to the forbidden forest and their run in with Aragog, and Harry wanted to keep it that way.
Madam Pomfrey rushed over and her eyes grew wide at the sight of Jessica slumped in Harry's arms.
"What happened?" she asked all business as she motioned Harry to put Jessica down on the bed. After a short version of the story was told to her, Madam Pomfrey nodded understandingly. She checked Jessica over and quickly jogged over to a cabinet on the far wall. She cast a sharp glance at Professor McGonagall, "Do you think it's possible?"
Harry wasn't sure what they were talking about, and to tell the truth he really didn't care, because at that moment he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, and gasped. The pain grew worse with each growing second; he realized almost at once, what it was. Jessica was dying he could feel it just the way Greg said he would be able to.
"Mr. Potter, are you alright?" Madam Pomfrey asked concerned as Harry gasped again and stumbled back.
"I-I'm fine, it's Jessica that needs help. S-something's wrong." he answered pointing at Jessica's form on the bed, with a shaking hand.
Madam Pomfrey looked confused for a second before turning to the bed, sure enough, Jessica's body seemed to be convulsing. Madam Pomfrey gasped and rushed forward, Professor McGonagall right on her heels. Harry sat on the ground holding his stomach while he watched the two women, several agonizing minutes later the pain subsided and he stood up shakily and went to the bed.
"I-is she alright?" he asked looking down at the bed, worry etched onto his face.
"Yes, she'll be fine now. But that vision you said she had nearly killed her. It zapped all her strength. I gave her a potion to replenish her energy; she'll be fine. What about you, Mr. Potter? How is your stomach?" she eyed him warily.
Harry, just noticing he still had his hand on his stomach, blushed. He dropped his hand, and gave her a sheepish grin, "I'm fine, thank you. Just had a little too much to eat at breakfast that's all."
Harry spent the rest of Divination and the most part of History of magic at Jessica's bedside. He wanted to make sure she was Ok. Just before the bell, singling the end of History of Magic rang Professor McGonagall approached him.
"I suggest you head to the Great hall, Potter, lunch is about to begin." McGonagall said watching him closely.
Well there's another chapter for y'all. Please review and tell me what you think, and any suggestions you might have. Reviewing keeps this Story going. Cheers!