When Harry woke-up and looked at the clock he realized how late it
was. Harry jumped up, threw open the door, and ran downstairs shouting,
"Sirius! Why'd you let me sleep-in so long? We're going to miss the train!"
"No, we won't. Come have breakfast," he said.
Ron stumbled down the stairs groggily to join them.
"Sirius, it's quarter to ten. If we left now I don't think we'd make it to the station on time."
"We're not driving. A certain number of students are allowed to make reservation to reach King's Cross by Floo Powder. I put Ron's, Hermione's, Renata's, and your names down on the list last June, reservations have to be made that early. Jenny will Apperate there to meet you all."
"What about you?"
"I have a meeting in half an hour. I don't think I'll be able to make it to the station. I'll try though."
Harry wasn't hungry anymore. Sirius had more important things to do than seeing them for the last time before summer? It didn't matter, not really. He'd see him next summer, or maybe Christmas. "I have to go make sure all my things are packed." He trudged upstairs. This sort of hurt; it'd be nice if Sirius showed up at the station, what was so important?
Harry looked around the room for anything else he wanted. It looked like he had just about everything. Most of the pictures were still on the walls and furniture, but he chose three or four of his favorites and packed them away. He was ready to leave.
He sat on the bed one last time, wondering if he'd ever come back. He hoped so. Let someone try and stop him! Harry and most wizards and witches usually got to Platform 9¾ by driving to King's Cross station in London and walking through the dividing wall between platforms nine and ten. There the Hogwarts Express would be waiting for them. Harry took one more look over his room before carrying out his trunk and slamming the door.
Ron and Sirius were waiting by the fireplace.
Sirius said. "Okay, for students traveling to Platform 9 ¾ times are set for each person. Watch your wristwatch, Harry. Ron, you leave at 10:30, Hermione at 10:33, Renata at 10:36, and Harry, you leave at 10:39. I don't know if the girls are coming over or if they are leaving from Jenny's house. Either way I've got to be going now. I'll try and get to the station in time to see you off. Goodbye, boys." He disappeared.
Harry kept his eye on his watch. They had ten minutes before the first of them would have to leave. Harry was just sitting down on the couch when someone knocked on the door. "It's open! Come in!" he called.
Renata and Hermione came in, hauling their things behind them. Hermione panted sarcastically, "Don't get up. We wouldn't dare want to inconvenience you."
Harry and Ron stood up to help them, it was rather pointless though as they only had a couple yards left. Harry's eyes widened. "You carried these all the way here?" It was at least a couple miles from the Delanos house and the trunks were heavy.
"No. We drove my mom's car. But still, some help would have been nice."
Harry looked at his watch, "Goodbye, Ron."
Ron brought his trunk over to the fireplace and took a pinch of Floo Powder from the lion-head shaped jar and through it into the fire Sirius had started that morning. "Platform 9 ¾!" He vanished into the emerald flames.
Three minutes later, Hermione did the same.
Only Harry and Renata were left.
"So? What's the problem, Harry?"
"Problem? I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have any problems."
"Yeah. You do. Just like the rest of us do. Just like the rest of the world does."
"I don't have any problems." He challenged, "What problems do you think I have?"
"The fact that you've been moping all week. Ever since Sirius brought you back from the place your parents and my dad are buried. How do I know?" She shook her head. "I know, Harry, because you've been looking and acting the same way I did when I came back from there the first time."
He said nothing. He sat on the couch, with his eyes cast down to the floor; he couldn't look at her. Not while she was stating the truth of things so plainly like that. Like a slap in the face.
"The cemetery isn't your only problem. Not by a long shot. But, it is tugging at your mind all the time, trying to figure out just why these things happened and what's going to happen next. You're also trying to figure out when you'll be able to stop looking over your shoulder for Voldemort." She shook her head.
Harry still couldn't answer her.
"I don't know the answer to those questions. I really don't. But I do know your biggest problem of all: you miss anything that's waiting right under your nose. You miss a lot of what goes on around you. Frankly, I wish you'd wise up a bit and notice things more." Having said her piece, Renata said no more.
The first thing Harry said was, "You missed your three minutes to get to the station."
"Did you hear anything I said?"
Harry stood in front of the fire with his trunk.
"Move over, I'm coming with you. It won't make a difference," she snapped to him, stepping in front of the fire too.
Together they said, "Platform 9¾!" and vanished. Harry felt himself whirled through the fire and ricocheted around. Finally it stopped.
The guard at the gate scolded them, "Only one person through at a time. You know the rules."
They murmured apologies as they gathered up their things. They found Ron and Hermione waiting by the train.
The two stopped talking as Harry and Renata approached.
"Did both of you come through the grate at the same time?"
"Yeah, we already got lectured by the guard. Let's get on the train," Renata said impatiently.
"I'm staying for a minute. I want to see if Sirius will show up."
Renata frowned. "I guess I should wait for my mom too. She did say she'd come."
"And my mum is going to drop Ginny off here." "All of you stay out here. I'll go find a free compartment for us," volunteered Hermione. "Just wait for your parents. Mine aren't coming, my sister has a tennis game today." She carried her things onto the train and vanished inside.
Harry watched as both Ms. Delano and Mrs. Weasly appeared to tell their children (and Harry) goodbye and to have a good term. It was five minutes to eleven and Sirius still hadn't shown up. Harry looked around. No sign of him. He saw with disgust that even Draco's parents had stayed to wish their son a good term. Harry wasn't sure why this bothered him so much. He'd survived all this time without parents, it didn't make a difference that his godfather wasn't here now. He boarded the train after one last glance at the station. He went looking from compartment to compartment, searching for his friends. He found them and they must have been able to read his face because they didn't ask about Sirius.
Hermione stared out the window, Harry sat down across from her with Renata on his left, and Ron across from Renata. They were all quiet for a minute before Hermione said softly, "I can't believe this is our last year at Hogwarts. It's gone by so fast. I'm going to miss it there. Hogwarts feels as much like home as, well, as home does."
Harry replied, "To me Hogwarts is home. It's a better home than Privet Drive ever was."
"The Gryffindor House is like having a family at school, sort of," Ron said.
"Yeah," agreed Renata and the others.
"What are you going to miss most about school?"
"Quiditch practice. And seeing all my friends everyday," Harry answered.
"I'm going to miss-"
Hermione cut her off. "Wait, we've got the whole year left. We can be sad later. Right now, let's focus on having a great year."
"You're right. I wonder who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be?"
"We ask the same question every year!" laughed Hermione.
"I know, and it's never the same person."
As usual the witch with the snack cart appeared somewhere between one and two o'clock. "Anything, dears?"
Harry went into the hallway and brought snacks back for his friends. They sat, eating them and talking about the good times they'd all had at Hogwarts. They were about halfway through when Ron said, "Hey, Hermione. You're Head Girl!"
Harry sputtered. "You just saw her badge? She's been wearing it all day and she brought it up three times this summer."
Ron mumbled something but Harry couldn't tell what it was.
Renata changed the subject. "So who's the Head Boy?" Harry could have sworn that she glanced his way but he couldn't be sure.
Hermione replied, "I don't know. I asked a lot of people but nobody knew. Harry, do you know?"
Harry reached into his pocket and pinned something on his chest. "Nice to meet you, I'm the Head Boy."
Ron started laughing. "Just like Percy!" He shook his head, still doubled over, laughing.
Neville came in. "Hello, everyone."
Harry was mildly surprised. Neville had hit a growth spurt over the summer. He was probably nearly six inches taller than he had been and his voice was deeper. Inwardly Harry shrugged, of course Neville was going to hit a growth spurt, he'd been due for one for some time now.
"Mind if I sit down?"
"Not at all." Renata cleared a place for him. "That's what I forgot to do!"
"What?" he asked.
"I meant to invite you over this summer. We all had a really great time."
"That's okay. I was busy most of the summer anyway."
They all chatted for a while. It began to get dark outside.
"I've got to go. I hadn't realized it was so late. I promised Susan I'd go talk to her. I'll see you later."
"Bye, Neville," they replied.
Renata said, as if to herself, "He grew up this summer."
Harry almost questioned her but decided to let it be, for the moment at least.
When the train eventually slowed to a stop and the voice in the ceiling reminded them to leave their bags on the train, they disembarked. It was raining outside and the sky was dark; the moon and all but one or two stars, covered with dark clouds.
Professor Snape called, "First years, come this way! Follow me to the boats now or you'll be left behind!" Severus Snape had attended school with Sirius and Harry's father. He and Harry loathed each other. Snape was head of the Slytherin House and Harry despised him from the top of his greasy hair to the bottom of his black robe.
Harry shuddered. He remembered when it was Hagrid who gathered the first years and took them to Hogwarts in a fleet of little boats across the lake. Hagrid, with his warm, beetle-black eyes, and bone crushing arms that could envelop you in a big bear hug that would crack your ribs. But there wouldn't be anymore Hagrid. Not now.
Harry and all the others who weren't first years made their way to the horseless carriages and stepped inside. Harry opened the door for Renata and she climbed in first. Next came Hermione, then he and Ron.
"Do you think the classes are going to be harder?" asked Hermione. "I'm sure they will."
Ron said to her almost soothingly, "You don't need to worry. You'll get top grades as usual."
"Thanks. But how can you be so sure?"
Ron was getting impatient. "Because you always do!"
Hermione didn't reply this time.
The carriage eventually pulled to a stop outside the main doors of the castle. The four of them got out of the carriage and together mounted the steps into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Moving as quickly as possible from the carriage to inside to avoid the rain. The Great Hall was decorated in it's usual back to school splendor and was filling steadily with students coming in the doors and taking places at the house table.
The floor in the entry was wet, as all the students had water dripping off them, Hermione slipped.
It happened so quickly. One second, Hermione was walking along side them and the next she was on the ground and it looked like she was trying not to cry. Ron was down kneeling on the floor at her side before the other two.
"Are you okay, Hermione? What happened?"
"My ankle. I think I sprained it. I slipped on the wet floor." She struggled to stand.
Harry and Ron helped Hermione off the floor.
"Come on, we've got to get you to the hospital wing."
"Can you walk if you put your arms on our shoulders?"
"I'll try." Together the three limped up to see Madam Pomfrey, with Renata tagging along behind them.
Madam Pomfrey gave Hermione something for the pain, wrapped her foot up, and gave her some crutches to help her walk before dismissing them to the feast. "And you may want someone to carry your books for you over the next week or so."
"Alright."
"Don't worry. I'll carry your books, Hermione," Ron told her. They made it back to the Great Hall and took seats at the Gryffindor table, not far from Parvati and Lavender.
"We missed the Sorting!" said Hermione, discontentedly.
New students were sorted into their houses by the Sorting Hat, an ancient wizard's hat given "brains" by Godric Gryffindor, put on each student's head to declare what house was right for them. Harry remembered that the hat had almost put him in Slytherin, almost. Once again he was thankful to be in Gryffindor.
Hermione looked up at the staff table, apparently counting people. "Short," she muttered.
Renata asked, "What's that?"
"Short, I said. We're a few teachers short. I don't see any new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Maybe he's late."
"Maybe." But she sounded as doubtful as Harry felt. They started eating the food that had already been sitting on the table when they arrived.
It was good to catch up with everyone and chat, Seamus and Dean were nearby and discussed major league Quiditch with Ron and Harry. Finally when the plates were at last gleaming gold again Dumbledore stood up.
"I have a few last announcements to make. Again, we will be enforcing the curfew very strongly this year, I would like to remind you that the Forest on the ground is off-limits as usual and that it will not be tolerated for any spell-casting against another student, and lastly, I regret to announce that this year, there will be no Divination classes. This is because Professor Trelawny has been killed and we've yet to find a replacement professor. For any of you who were supposed have her class this term, that is your free period until further notice, that is, until we can arrange for a new class for you or a new teacher. Thank you."
Everyone started talking at once.
Harry heard her whispered conversation between Parvati and Lavender sitting near by. "Dead?"
"What happened?"
"Do you think she foresaw it?"
"She must have been brave face death, knowing it was coming."
"I bet she saw a Grim. And she knew how she'd die."
"You're right!"
Ron couldn't help adding in a mocking tone, "You really think so? She's so noble!"
Harry couldn't keep from cracking up and he noticed Hermione couldn't either. Ron snickered as Parvati and Lavender scowled at him and then continued their conversation more quietly so he couldn't hear them.
"Seriously, though. Isn't this a little strange?" asked Harry.
"How do you mean?"
"Ron, I know nobody liked Trelawny but I have a hard time believing she was killed for no reason," Harry answered.
Hermione shrugged, "People die all the time. Everyday someone somewhere is being killed by another person for no good reason. How is this different, Harry? How is this any different"
"I don't know. I guess you're right. But it still doesn't feel right. I don't understand it."
"What's there to understand? The old bat's finally croaked," Ron told him bluntly.
There felt like there was more to it but Harry couldn't explain it. He wasn't sure himself.
"What's the matter, Harry?"
"That's just it. I don't know. This all just seems a little suspicious."
"Then try to forget it, because otherwise you'll keep talking about it and annoying us," Renata snapped at him.
The tables emptied as full, tired students made their way to their House common rooms and from there to their dormitories.
"No, we won't. Come have breakfast," he said.
Ron stumbled down the stairs groggily to join them.
"Sirius, it's quarter to ten. If we left now I don't think we'd make it to the station on time."
"We're not driving. A certain number of students are allowed to make reservation to reach King's Cross by Floo Powder. I put Ron's, Hermione's, Renata's, and your names down on the list last June, reservations have to be made that early. Jenny will Apperate there to meet you all."
"What about you?"
"I have a meeting in half an hour. I don't think I'll be able to make it to the station. I'll try though."
Harry wasn't hungry anymore. Sirius had more important things to do than seeing them for the last time before summer? It didn't matter, not really. He'd see him next summer, or maybe Christmas. "I have to go make sure all my things are packed." He trudged upstairs. This sort of hurt; it'd be nice if Sirius showed up at the station, what was so important?
Harry looked around the room for anything else he wanted. It looked like he had just about everything. Most of the pictures were still on the walls and furniture, but he chose three or four of his favorites and packed them away. He was ready to leave.
He sat on the bed one last time, wondering if he'd ever come back. He hoped so. Let someone try and stop him! Harry and most wizards and witches usually got to Platform 9¾ by driving to King's Cross station in London and walking through the dividing wall between platforms nine and ten. There the Hogwarts Express would be waiting for them. Harry took one more look over his room before carrying out his trunk and slamming the door.
Ron and Sirius were waiting by the fireplace.
Sirius said. "Okay, for students traveling to Platform 9 ¾ times are set for each person. Watch your wristwatch, Harry. Ron, you leave at 10:30, Hermione at 10:33, Renata at 10:36, and Harry, you leave at 10:39. I don't know if the girls are coming over or if they are leaving from Jenny's house. Either way I've got to be going now. I'll try and get to the station in time to see you off. Goodbye, boys." He disappeared.
Harry kept his eye on his watch. They had ten minutes before the first of them would have to leave. Harry was just sitting down on the couch when someone knocked on the door. "It's open! Come in!" he called.
Renata and Hermione came in, hauling their things behind them. Hermione panted sarcastically, "Don't get up. We wouldn't dare want to inconvenience you."
Harry and Ron stood up to help them, it was rather pointless though as they only had a couple yards left. Harry's eyes widened. "You carried these all the way here?" It was at least a couple miles from the Delanos house and the trunks were heavy.
"No. We drove my mom's car. But still, some help would have been nice."
Harry looked at his watch, "Goodbye, Ron."
Ron brought his trunk over to the fireplace and took a pinch of Floo Powder from the lion-head shaped jar and through it into the fire Sirius had started that morning. "Platform 9 ¾!" He vanished into the emerald flames.
Three minutes later, Hermione did the same.
Only Harry and Renata were left.
"So? What's the problem, Harry?"
"Problem? I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have any problems."
"Yeah. You do. Just like the rest of us do. Just like the rest of the world does."
"I don't have any problems." He challenged, "What problems do you think I have?"
"The fact that you've been moping all week. Ever since Sirius brought you back from the place your parents and my dad are buried. How do I know?" She shook her head. "I know, Harry, because you've been looking and acting the same way I did when I came back from there the first time."
He said nothing. He sat on the couch, with his eyes cast down to the floor; he couldn't look at her. Not while she was stating the truth of things so plainly like that. Like a slap in the face.
"The cemetery isn't your only problem. Not by a long shot. But, it is tugging at your mind all the time, trying to figure out just why these things happened and what's going to happen next. You're also trying to figure out when you'll be able to stop looking over your shoulder for Voldemort." She shook her head.
Harry still couldn't answer her.
"I don't know the answer to those questions. I really don't. But I do know your biggest problem of all: you miss anything that's waiting right under your nose. You miss a lot of what goes on around you. Frankly, I wish you'd wise up a bit and notice things more." Having said her piece, Renata said no more.
The first thing Harry said was, "You missed your three minutes to get to the station."
"Did you hear anything I said?"
Harry stood in front of the fire with his trunk.
"Move over, I'm coming with you. It won't make a difference," she snapped to him, stepping in front of the fire too.
Together they said, "Platform 9¾!" and vanished. Harry felt himself whirled through the fire and ricocheted around. Finally it stopped.
The guard at the gate scolded them, "Only one person through at a time. You know the rules."
They murmured apologies as they gathered up their things. They found Ron and Hermione waiting by the train.
The two stopped talking as Harry and Renata approached.
"Did both of you come through the grate at the same time?"
"Yeah, we already got lectured by the guard. Let's get on the train," Renata said impatiently.
"I'm staying for a minute. I want to see if Sirius will show up."
Renata frowned. "I guess I should wait for my mom too. She did say she'd come."
"And my mum is going to drop Ginny off here." "All of you stay out here. I'll go find a free compartment for us," volunteered Hermione. "Just wait for your parents. Mine aren't coming, my sister has a tennis game today." She carried her things onto the train and vanished inside.
Harry watched as both Ms. Delano and Mrs. Weasly appeared to tell their children (and Harry) goodbye and to have a good term. It was five minutes to eleven and Sirius still hadn't shown up. Harry looked around. No sign of him. He saw with disgust that even Draco's parents had stayed to wish their son a good term. Harry wasn't sure why this bothered him so much. He'd survived all this time without parents, it didn't make a difference that his godfather wasn't here now. He boarded the train after one last glance at the station. He went looking from compartment to compartment, searching for his friends. He found them and they must have been able to read his face because they didn't ask about Sirius.
Hermione stared out the window, Harry sat down across from her with Renata on his left, and Ron across from Renata. They were all quiet for a minute before Hermione said softly, "I can't believe this is our last year at Hogwarts. It's gone by so fast. I'm going to miss it there. Hogwarts feels as much like home as, well, as home does."
Harry replied, "To me Hogwarts is home. It's a better home than Privet Drive ever was."
"The Gryffindor House is like having a family at school, sort of," Ron said.
"Yeah," agreed Renata and the others.
"What are you going to miss most about school?"
"Quiditch practice. And seeing all my friends everyday," Harry answered.
"I'm going to miss-"
Hermione cut her off. "Wait, we've got the whole year left. We can be sad later. Right now, let's focus on having a great year."
"You're right. I wonder who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be?"
"We ask the same question every year!" laughed Hermione.
"I know, and it's never the same person."
As usual the witch with the snack cart appeared somewhere between one and two o'clock. "Anything, dears?"
Harry went into the hallway and brought snacks back for his friends. They sat, eating them and talking about the good times they'd all had at Hogwarts. They were about halfway through when Ron said, "Hey, Hermione. You're Head Girl!"
Harry sputtered. "You just saw her badge? She's been wearing it all day and she brought it up three times this summer."
Ron mumbled something but Harry couldn't tell what it was.
Renata changed the subject. "So who's the Head Boy?" Harry could have sworn that she glanced his way but he couldn't be sure.
Hermione replied, "I don't know. I asked a lot of people but nobody knew. Harry, do you know?"
Harry reached into his pocket and pinned something on his chest. "Nice to meet you, I'm the Head Boy."
Ron started laughing. "Just like Percy!" He shook his head, still doubled over, laughing.
Neville came in. "Hello, everyone."
Harry was mildly surprised. Neville had hit a growth spurt over the summer. He was probably nearly six inches taller than he had been and his voice was deeper. Inwardly Harry shrugged, of course Neville was going to hit a growth spurt, he'd been due for one for some time now.
"Mind if I sit down?"
"Not at all." Renata cleared a place for him. "That's what I forgot to do!"
"What?" he asked.
"I meant to invite you over this summer. We all had a really great time."
"That's okay. I was busy most of the summer anyway."
They all chatted for a while. It began to get dark outside.
"I've got to go. I hadn't realized it was so late. I promised Susan I'd go talk to her. I'll see you later."
"Bye, Neville," they replied.
Renata said, as if to herself, "He grew up this summer."
Harry almost questioned her but decided to let it be, for the moment at least.
When the train eventually slowed to a stop and the voice in the ceiling reminded them to leave their bags on the train, they disembarked. It was raining outside and the sky was dark; the moon and all but one or two stars, covered with dark clouds.
Professor Snape called, "First years, come this way! Follow me to the boats now or you'll be left behind!" Severus Snape had attended school with Sirius and Harry's father. He and Harry loathed each other. Snape was head of the Slytherin House and Harry despised him from the top of his greasy hair to the bottom of his black robe.
Harry shuddered. He remembered when it was Hagrid who gathered the first years and took them to Hogwarts in a fleet of little boats across the lake. Hagrid, with his warm, beetle-black eyes, and bone crushing arms that could envelop you in a big bear hug that would crack your ribs. But there wouldn't be anymore Hagrid. Not now.
Harry and all the others who weren't first years made their way to the horseless carriages and stepped inside. Harry opened the door for Renata and she climbed in first. Next came Hermione, then he and Ron.
"Do you think the classes are going to be harder?" asked Hermione. "I'm sure they will."
Ron said to her almost soothingly, "You don't need to worry. You'll get top grades as usual."
"Thanks. But how can you be so sure?"
Ron was getting impatient. "Because you always do!"
Hermione didn't reply this time.
The carriage eventually pulled to a stop outside the main doors of the castle. The four of them got out of the carriage and together mounted the steps into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Moving as quickly as possible from the carriage to inside to avoid the rain. The Great Hall was decorated in it's usual back to school splendor and was filling steadily with students coming in the doors and taking places at the house table.
The floor in the entry was wet, as all the students had water dripping off them, Hermione slipped.
It happened so quickly. One second, Hermione was walking along side them and the next she was on the ground and it looked like she was trying not to cry. Ron was down kneeling on the floor at her side before the other two.
"Are you okay, Hermione? What happened?"
"My ankle. I think I sprained it. I slipped on the wet floor." She struggled to stand.
Harry and Ron helped Hermione off the floor.
"Come on, we've got to get you to the hospital wing."
"Can you walk if you put your arms on our shoulders?"
"I'll try." Together the three limped up to see Madam Pomfrey, with Renata tagging along behind them.
Madam Pomfrey gave Hermione something for the pain, wrapped her foot up, and gave her some crutches to help her walk before dismissing them to the feast. "And you may want someone to carry your books for you over the next week or so."
"Alright."
"Don't worry. I'll carry your books, Hermione," Ron told her. They made it back to the Great Hall and took seats at the Gryffindor table, not far from Parvati and Lavender.
"We missed the Sorting!" said Hermione, discontentedly.
New students were sorted into their houses by the Sorting Hat, an ancient wizard's hat given "brains" by Godric Gryffindor, put on each student's head to declare what house was right for them. Harry remembered that the hat had almost put him in Slytherin, almost. Once again he was thankful to be in Gryffindor.
Hermione looked up at the staff table, apparently counting people. "Short," she muttered.
Renata asked, "What's that?"
"Short, I said. We're a few teachers short. I don't see any new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Maybe he's late."
"Maybe." But she sounded as doubtful as Harry felt. They started eating the food that had already been sitting on the table when they arrived.
It was good to catch up with everyone and chat, Seamus and Dean were nearby and discussed major league Quiditch with Ron and Harry. Finally when the plates were at last gleaming gold again Dumbledore stood up.
"I have a few last announcements to make. Again, we will be enforcing the curfew very strongly this year, I would like to remind you that the Forest on the ground is off-limits as usual and that it will not be tolerated for any spell-casting against another student, and lastly, I regret to announce that this year, there will be no Divination classes. This is because Professor Trelawny has been killed and we've yet to find a replacement professor. For any of you who were supposed have her class this term, that is your free period until further notice, that is, until we can arrange for a new class for you or a new teacher. Thank you."
Everyone started talking at once.
Harry heard her whispered conversation between Parvati and Lavender sitting near by. "Dead?"
"What happened?"
"Do you think she foresaw it?"
"She must have been brave face death, knowing it was coming."
"I bet she saw a Grim. And she knew how she'd die."
"You're right!"
Ron couldn't help adding in a mocking tone, "You really think so? She's so noble!"
Harry couldn't keep from cracking up and he noticed Hermione couldn't either. Ron snickered as Parvati and Lavender scowled at him and then continued their conversation more quietly so he couldn't hear them.
"Seriously, though. Isn't this a little strange?" asked Harry.
"How do you mean?"
"Ron, I know nobody liked Trelawny but I have a hard time believing she was killed for no reason," Harry answered.
Hermione shrugged, "People die all the time. Everyday someone somewhere is being killed by another person for no good reason. How is this different, Harry? How is this any different"
"I don't know. I guess you're right. But it still doesn't feel right. I don't understand it."
"What's there to understand? The old bat's finally croaked," Ron told him bluntly.
There felt like there was more to it but Harry couldn't explain it. He wasn't sure himself.
"What's the matter, Harry?"
"That's just it. I don't know. This all just seems a little suspicious."
"Then try to forget it, because otherwise you'll keep talking about it and annoying us," Renata snapped at him.
The tables emptied as full, tired students made their way to their House common rooms and from there to their dormitories.
