Author's Note: I know I'm horrible! It's been YEARS and I feel horrible, its been crazy the last while has been insane. I DO plan on updating this story and my others as well as new ones as soon as humanly possible. I really hope you stick with the story it's going to get interesting!
THREE
Getting up the next morning I felt relatively normal. Fred and George being there when I woke helped with the normalcy of it all. Once we were all showered, dressed and semi-half-awake we trudged to the Great Hall. Food was already on the table and we began to shovel some on our plates. It wasn't long after when the Slytherin arrived and a crowd had gathered around Draco. He was doing a ridiculous impression of him swooning into a faint and there was a fit of laughter following. Part of me wanted to Draco out of the Great Hall by the ear and scold him, Harry wasn't the only one who fainted in the train last night. A cold pit settled into my stomach.
"Hey, potter!" Shrieked Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl with a face like a pug (an insult to the pug if you asked me). "Potter! The Dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooo!"
I swallowed the lump in my throat as my cousin dropped into the seat beside George. Fred passed me my third year schedule.
"What's up with you, Harry?" George asked.
"Malfoy," Roy said bitterly sitting beside Fred glaring at the Slytherin table.
George scowled.
"That little git," he said calmly. "He wasn't so cocky last night, came running into our compartment later on, didn't he Fred?"
"Nearly wet himself," Fred added with a contemptuous glance at Malfoy.
I frowned I didn't remember that part, it must have happened while I was out.
"I wasn't too happy myself," George retorted "They're horrible things, those Dementors…"
"Sort of freeze your insides, don't they?"
At the mention of them my stomach rumbled mutinously. My body tense with anxiety.
"You didn't pass out, though, did you?" Harry asked in a low voice.
Fred and George didn't answer, but I knew they were avoiding looking at me. But apparently they didn't need to as Harry's gaze passed over me.
"We'll see how happy Malfoy looks after our first Quidditch match," Fred said changing the subject.
That seemed to perk Harry up as he helped himself to food. Meanwhile I busied myself with my new schedule
"Oooh, good, we're starting some new subjects this year." She said happily.
Hermione and Ron began arguing and I tuned it out like normal. They squabbled like an old married couple. Hagrid stopped by our table on the way to the staff table. He looked both excited and nervous.
"Yer in my firs' ever lesson! Right after lunch! Bin up since five getting' everythin' ready…"
He grinned broadly, I then noticed he had a dead polecat in one hand.
"Wonder what he's been getting ready?" Ron said, I heard a hint of anxiety in his voice.
I shook my head, honestly Ron was such a worry wart. I, for one, was excited for the Care of Magical Creatures Class. It would help with ideas for my animagus shifting. Glancing at my schedule I realized I had Divination first, and it was all the way at the top of the North Tower. A trek in and of itself. Squeezing both Fred and George goodbye, I stuffed a piece of toast in my mouth and grabbed my bag full of books.
Our next class was Divination, and it was in the North Tower. I wanted to groan at the knowledge of trekking up to the North Tower. Adjusting the straps on my book bag, I heaved my way up the almost never-ending steps. I had arrived early, a few people sitting on the landing. Glancing up there was a circular trapdoor with a brass plaque on it.
Sibyll Trelawney, Divination
"How're we supposed to get up there?"
Glancing back at the landing I saw Harry, Ron and Hermione. The two boys looked out of breath, I found it rather amusing and kind of ironic. Harry was in shape due to being on the Quidditch team and Ron had five older brothers a trek up the North Tower should've been relatively easy for them. Almost as soon as Harry had spoken a silvery ladder descended down from the trap door at Harry's feet. The once chittering landing grew silent and eerie. I followed Harry up the Ladder, and we came into the oddest room I'd ever been in. It didn't look at all like the other classrooms – even Professor Snape's whose was in the dungeon and brimming with oddities. It reminded me of the old basement and an old fashion tea shop. Rather than desk and chairs like normal classrooms – there were twenty small, circular tables, surrounded by chintz armchairs with weird prints, or little poufs. While quaint, everything was lit in a dim crimson light, the curtains on the windows were drawn and the windows closed, and most of the lamps were draped with red scarves. It was grossly warm and the fire that was burning under the crowded mantle was giving a sickly perfume as it heated a huge cooper kettle. I could almost immediately feel a headache forming from the smell.
"Where is she?" Ron said.
A voice was light and misty, almost dream like.
"Welcome," it called. "How nice to see you in the physical world at last."
A bug – a large glittering insect or someone's eccentric grandmother. As Professor Trelawney moved into the firelight I realized she was very thin; her large glasses made her eyes bugged and several times their actual size, and a gauzy spangled shawl rested on her shoulders. There were too many chains and beads that hung around her spindly neck, and her arms and hands were enveloped in bangles and rings.
"Sit, my children, sit."
Looking around we all clamored awkwardly into armchairs or sank into poufs. I sat a table with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Professor Trelawney seated herself into a large purple winged armchair that sat in front of the fire.
"Welcome to Divination." She settled into the chair. "My name is Professor Trelawney. You may not have seen me before. I find that going down in the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye."
Your incense is clouding mine I though irritably
"So I have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that you do not have the Sight, there is very little that I will be able to teach you…Books can only take you so far in this field…"
So why are we all here? If we don't have the Sight, what's the point?
"Many witches and wizards, talented they are in the area of loud bangs and smells and sudden disappearings, yet are unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future," Professor Trelawney continued, her large eerie eyes moving from face to face. "It is a Gift granted to a few. You boy."
She stopped her bugged gaze on Neville who nearly fell off the pouf he sat perched upon.
"Is your grandmother well?"
"I think so," Neville replied nervously.
"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear." She said mysteriously, the firelight glinting off her long emerald earrings.
I glanced over at Neville who now looked paled and worried. I felt bad for him, he was already so nervous, did she really need to say that to him.
"We will be covering basic Divination this year. The first term will be devoted to reading the tea leaves. Next term we shall progress to palmistry."
She then turned her sights on Parvati Patil.
"By the way, my dear, beware a red-headed man."
I wanted to laugh as she gave a startled look at Ron who sat behind her and she edged her chair away from him.
"In the second term, "the Professor went on, "we shall progress to the crystal ball – if we have finished with the fire omens, that is. Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of the flu. I myself will lose my voice. And around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever."
Well that's not ominous at all.
Vaguely I wondered if seeing the future would come in hand or if it would just be a giant hassle. My head throbbed murderously as I attempted to use my brain to function. Trelawney continued on as if there wasn't a giant tense silence following her words.
"I wonder, dear," she said to Lavender Brown, who was nearest and shrank back in her chair, "If you could pass me the largest silver teapot?"
Lavender was another Gryffindor, and wasn't overly fond me, nor I her – she was huge gossip and loved to know everything about everyone. She took an enormous teapot from the shelf and put it down on the table in front of Professor Trelawney.
"Thank you, my dear. Incidentally, that thing you are dreading – it will happen on Friday the sixteenth of October."
Lavender paled and trembled as she returned to her chair.
"Now, I want you all to divide into pairs. Collect a teacup from the shelf, come to me, and I will fill it. Then sit down and drink, drink until only the dregs remain. Swill theses around the cup three times with the left hand, then turn the cup upside down on its saucer wait for the last of the tea to drain away, then give your cup to your partner to read. You will interpret the patterns using pages five and six of Unfogging the Future. I shall move among you, helping and instructing. Oh and dear," - She had caught Neville by the arm as he made to stand up, "after you've broken your first cup, would you be so kind as to select one of the blue patterned ones? I'm rather attached to the pink."
There was little time between her request and the sound of breaking china when Professor Trelawney was there with a dustpan and brush. I sat with Hermione as we drank our tea. It was tasteless and quite disgusting. We both did as Professor Trelawney instructed and then swapped cups once when we finished. By now the throbbing in my head was now effecting my vision as things were blurry. I saw Hermione glance at me in concern.
"Are you alright?"
I shook my head, both to answer her and to try and clear my vision.
"Headache is killing me." I mumbled rubbing my eyes.
"Oh dear…"
I jumped startled, for and old lady with so much jewelry on her - was surprisingly quiet.
"Your head is clouded and foggy – are you well?" She asked.
There was no inflection of concern in her voice, just the question.
"A bad headache Professor," I mumbled.
She nodded almost immediately.
"You do not have the Gift, this class will be of little used to you my dear, here is a letter, take it to your Head of House, so we can maybe find a different class better suited to your - unique abilities."
I looked at her curiously as she handed me a piece of parchment.
"Come, come off you trot."
I packed my things and looked at Hermione and the boys bewildered as I passed by with the piece of parchment in hand and exited the classroom. My headache lessened almost immediately after exiting the smoky room. I sighed in contentment, but it was still a roaring headache. Familiar with the layout of the school I began down the hallways my eyes opened only slightly to see where I was going. The bright lights from the outdoors not helping.
"Ms. Evans?"
I whirled around startled. I felt my heartbeat erratically as I took in who called out to me. It was Professor Lupin who I had run into on the train, and who Professor Dumbledore mentioned was our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"I'm getting a bell for all the teachers to wear," I muttered.
Professor Lupin chuckled – I flushed with embarrassment – I hadn't expected him to hear me.
"Not skipping out on class – it's barely the first day."
"You'd skip out too if you had class with Professor Trelawney," I deadpanned.
His face stretched into a broad grin as he laughed this time.
"Yes I've heard of Professor Trelawney's…interesting teaching methods." He said amused.
"That's one way of putting it," I mumbled rubbing at my forehead – trying to will away the pounding in my ears.
I felt Professor Lupin's concern practically radiating from him.
"Sadly I'm not skipping," I said holding up the letter.
Professor Lupin took it from me and read it over, before he could respond and familiar scent joined us in the hallway.
"Skipping class on the first day are we Ms. Evans?" A voice drawled.
Professor Snape had joined our little party in the hall.
"I wouldn't get caught if I was skipping Professor," I said grinning slightly at the Slytherin Head of House.
"I ran into Ms. Evans as she was on her way to Professor McGonagall's office."
Professor Snape raised an eyebrow – he wanted an explanation. I had grown able to interpret his facial expressions quiet well by now. I could also feel him scrutinizing me.
"Professor Trelawney was using incense in her class – caused a massive headache – she excused me from class." I said shortly pointing to the letter in Professor Lupin's hand.
The was a pregnant pause of silence – which was slightly awkward as I got the feeling that Professor Lupin and Professor Snape were not friends.
"Come with me Ms. Evans – Minerva is away from her office at the moment. I will fetch something for your headache and ensure we get this this straightened up."
I saw surprise flit upon Lupin's face at Snape's offer, but handed the letter back to me.
"Hope you feel better Ms. Evans." He said kindly.
"Harper please – Ms. Evans is my mom." I mumbled.
He chuckled, but there was a peculiar look on his face I couldn't interpret – however I followed Professor Snape's swirling cloak.
Moments later I was in the cool dark of the dungeons in Professor Snape's office with a beautiful Moonstone at my forehead. I was a gorgeous gem – no impurities – and I could feel the headache ebbing already. Professor Snape had left me in one of his armchairs while was the fireplace no doubt sending a message to Professor McGonagall wherever she was at the moment. I learned over the summer that the staff used the fireplaces as a mean of instant transportation and or communication. I paid no attention to it as I felt the Moonstone work. It was a wonderful tool I vaguely wondered I he'd let me keep it.
"Professor McGonagall excused you from her class – you are ahead as it is." He said quietly as he returned to his desk. There were a stack of papers on his desk.
"Grading already sir?" I wondered aloud.
He glared at the paperwork.
"Remedial potions essays from students over the summer,"
I winced as he circled a T for Troll on one of the papers in bright red ink.
"That bad eh?" I asked.
He gave me a pointed look.
"Not all of my students can be as competent as you are in my class."
I beamed at him – that was as good as a compliment from him – and I was a Gryffindor.
"Is the reason the incense caused me so much pain – because I can…you know?" I trailed off.
We were in Snape's personal office – but I didn't trust any of the portraits that lined the walls NOT to go blabbing to anyone.
"Very possible, your senses are enhanced. I wouldn't doubt it if would cause discomfort."
I mused for a moment.
"No offense, but I don't think Divination is a subject I'd subject myself willingly." I mumbled.
A small smirk appeared on the Professor's face.
"It is not so terrible if you had a proper teacher. Though I doubt the Ministry will allow you to miss the subject on your first year."
I grumbled.
"We will figure it out Ms. Evans – don't give yourself another headache."
I waited a few moments – watching Professor Snape grade some more papers – his scowl becoming more and more prominent.
"You sure you don't need one of these?" I asked gesturing to the stone.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb index finger.
"I'll need a drink by the end of this grading session I believe." He mumbled.
I busted up laughing.
Professor Snape didn't let me keep the Moonstone but gave me permission to come and use it when needed. I joined the rest of the thundering crowd in the Great Hall for lunch. I spotted Ron, Harry, and Hermione I sat down beside Harry. Fred and George weren't anywhere to be seen – likely getting caught up in another prank – or with Lee Jordan somewhere.
"Ron – cheer up," said Hermione, pushing a dish of stew toward him. "You heard what Professor McGonagall said."
Ron filled bowl with the stew and then turned to me with a sour look on his face.
"How did you manage to skip Divination AND Transfiguration?"
His voice was bitter and accusing – and it wasn't very quiet. Several people turned around to look at the four of us. My cheeks blazing I ducked down my hair covering my face.
"Announce it to the world why don't you, Ron?" I hissed at the Weasley.
Ron didn't respond but just glowered.
"I had a raging headache from the incense – I ran into Professor Snape – he took me back to his office and gave me a Moonstone. Professor McGonagall excused me from class."
"A headache? You got out of class with a headache?" He said red faced, now he was angry. "Oh that's just great, and you're cozying up to the Slytherins now? You're becoming a lot worse than Fred and George with skipping out of classes."
My mouth dropped open – as did Harry and Hermione's. Hermione smacked Ron with one of her books.
"I'm not cozying up to anyone, Ronald! And for your information I'm ahead of class in Transfiguration as is Hermione. You would be too if you actually settled down and studied for once your life." I whispered at him.
Ron rolled his eyes his face nasty.
"Please you skip class and don't get in trouble for it. You've got to be doing something for someone for getting away with things all the time."
My face flushed red at the insinuation.
"You're an absolute shit Ronald Weasley, if you had bothered to ask I'm tutoring your brothers in Potions." I said coldly.
Ron's face fell at my tone and what I had said, he tried to say something again but I was already gone – lunch untouched. Ron was an absolute, total git. I was half tempted to return to my room – but it was likely spat would reach the twins before long. Honestly I didn't want to deal with facing them at the moment. I would have rather transfigure into something and wander about the castle. But there were too many people around, too many risks that I really didn't feel like taking a chance on.
"Are you alright Harper?"
Turning slightly, I saw Professor Lupin standing nearby with a book in his hands. Apparently the professor walked and read at the same time. While my animagus forms allowed me better balance, my human form was often very uncoordinated. At least I hadn't cried – I hated crying – especially when I was angry.
"Just a spat with Ronald – he said some unkind things."
"One of Arthur Weasley's kids?" He asked.
I nodded.
"The youngest boy," I nodded.
Recognition lit his face.
"I hope it wasn't anything too serious."
"Jealousy isn't a good look on him."
Professor Lupin shook his head as he came and stood beside me as I leaned against the wall, scowling at a particular spot in the stone.
"Jealousy is an awful emotion – but one we live with, what was he bitter about?"
"Apparently I must be doing something in order to get out of so many classes, bloody git knows I'm ahead in my classes."
"You're tutoring the twins in Potions I've heard,"
I nodded.
"For extra credit for me in his class, they're helping me in Professor Bins." I explained.
Realization lit his features.
"Ah well – Professor Binns has never been the most lively of fellows." He admitted.
"Dates and events like that are hard for me, the twins at least are able to explain it to me where I can actually retain the information."
"I've heard the twins are doing much better in their studies as well, you do very well in tutoring."
I flushed at the comment.
"I enjoy learning. Potions isn't so different from cooking."
At that Professor Lupin laughed lightly.
"An old friend once said the same thing, she was bright for her age."
I smiled.
"She was Muggle-born like you, you remind me a lot of her."
Before I had the opportunity to ask whom it was the bell for lunch rang.
"Well Ms. Evans – I look forward to you in my class, it was a pleasure speaking with you."
"Likewise Professor,"
With a small wave I headed to my next class, my heart lighter and no more ugly feelings in my heart.
