Shifts in Destiny
Chapter 3
DADA Dojo
Being experienced Aurors, Madame Indigo and Alastor Moody took turns protecting Ollivander. Sometimes Sirius would help out in being a bodyguard. Because Tonks had been feeling overwhelmed, Dumbledore sent Tonks to Hogsmeade so the school could have more protection.
Sirius, Mrs. Weasley and other parents escorted their group to the train. Mr. Weasley was interested in getting to know Mr. Tsukino, and kept insisting on having a drink—much to their wives' chagrin.
"Dear, you have to go to work!" Mrs. Tsukino.
"Same for you, Arthur," Mrs. Weasley chided.
"Oh, it won't be a problem," said Mr. Tsukino. "I'd like to learn more about this wizarding stuff. Maybe he can help Serena find a job—you know Serena wants to be a teacher? What do you think about this cursed job at Hogwarts?"
The two men left the platform to the nearest coffee shop. Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Tsukino shook their heads. After saying goodbye their guardians and friends, the students boarded the Hogwarts Express. While searching for an empty compartment, Serena spotted Draco sliding open a compartment door. She exchanged glances with Harry and they grinned. Serena pushed Raye into Draco, making them both fall into the compartment.
"Potter!"
"Serena!"
"You two have to talk this out!" Serena exclaimed, shutting the door and securing it with a sticking charm.
"Potter—I'm a prefect!" Draco exclaimed.
"Yeah, well, I'm Quidditch Captain!" Harry barked and they walked away.
Raye pushed herself up off Draco. An object fell out of Draco's bag. Raye bent down to get it and was surprised to find that it was a Sailor Mars figurine.
"I see you've been to Fred and George's shop," Raye said.
"I was curious to know what you looked like transformed," Draco said, reaching for it. "So, do you really do this?"
Draco tapped Sailor Mars' hands. She pulled out an ofuda scroll from behind her and cried, "Be gone evil spirit!"
"Er, yeah, something like that," Raye said. "But I fling fire too, of course."
"Yes, I know," Draco murmured. "Listen, Raye, I want to apologize for my mother's behavior at Madame Malkin's. She shouldn't have been so…cruel to you."
"It's all right," Raye said, putting her trunk up. "I'm fine."
"Raye, you're a terrible liar," Draco said, smiling as he sat down.
Raye frowned. She had Occulmency lessons and she was able to keep her mind clear enough during the Death Eater party. She was very good at it. No one could read her mind. Lying was the difficult part. It was true. She lied about how quickly she was able to write the songs for her school musical. It did not come very convincing. Lying to her friends did not come easy—but to enemies—it was no problem.
She sighed and sat down. "So, your mother talking for you now?" she demanded. "Why you did you tell her about us anyway?"
Draco laughed. He always found Raye's temper enjoyable—unless she got very angry. "Hardly," Draco said. "My OWL results were less than satisfactory and she blamed you for it."
"She what?" Raye exclaimed. "What'd she say?"
Draco paused.
"Tell me what she said!" Raye cried. "Her exact words!"
"Well," Draco sighed, "she said, 'if you spent your time studying than with that tart Raye then you would have done better!'"
"Tart? She called me a tart? She thinks I'm some kind of hussy?"
"I told her it wasn't true," Draco said. "Then we argued about you. She demanded that I break up with you and I told her that we already did. She wanted to know why, of course and told me not to get back together with you, or even talk to you."
"So why are you talking to me?" Raye demanded. "Aren't you worried she'll ground you for talking to me?"
"I don't want us to continue this way," Draco said. "After what my mother said to you, I was thinking about us. Anything can happen now that the Dark Lord has returned, and well, I wanted to clear the air in case anything happened."
"Are you saying you want to get back together?" Raye asked, sounding not to sound too hopeful.
"No, we can't," Draco said. "Things have changed."
"Different?" Raye murmured. "What do you mean? I haven't changed."
"You have," Draco told her. "And so I have I. Things have changed. We can't keep a relationship at times like this."
Raye wanted to argue that they could. If they really loved each other, they could make it work no matter the circumstances. Instead, she pretended to agree.
"Oh, yeah," Raye said, "you're right. We're going to be so busy with our studies, and I've got sailor scout business. I guess…I'll leave you alone."
Raye stood up and took down her trunk.
"You're leaving?" Draco asked.
"As soon as I can get this door unstuck," Raye said.
"Wait!" Draco got up and grabbed her arm. "You can stay."
"But you just told me we can't work things out!" Raye exclaimed. "You're still mad at me, aren't you? I get it. We've got to move on."
"I'm not mad at you anymore," Draco insisted. "I forgive you. It was all a misunderstanding. Yeah, the whole reason for you deciding to go to Slytherin was a little messed up—just wanting to see if you could change us—but it worked! You changed me."
"Not completely," Raye said.
"Yes, not completely," Draco admitted. "But I learned some things. I really owe you. You had my dad go to prison. I know he's my dad and all, but I'm glad he's not at home and hurting me anymore."
"Yes, I didn't want him to be able to hurt you," Raye said.
"Things are just too complicated right now."
"Don't do this to me, Draco," Raye said. "I can't…Either we get back together or we stay away from each other."
"I don't want that and neither do you," Draco said. "We can't get back together but I don't want to act like we don't know each other anymore. I need you."
"You mean," Raye said. "You still want to be friends?"
"Yes," Draco said. "I think we should at least try."
"But what about your mother?"
"Well I'm not going to tell her," Draco said. "Are you?"
Raye shook her head.
Draco pulled her in his arms and hugged her tight. Raye melted. She missed this. It was almost as if nothing happened.
"I missed you," Raye admitted.
"I missed you too."
"Yay! It worked!" Serena exclaimed from outside.
Draco and Raye parted and looked out the window. Serena and Harry had been watching from the outside. Once they were spotted, Serena and Harry took off.
Raye groaned and shook her head. "That Serena."
Draco took away Raye's trunk and unstuck the door, so they could use the restroom when they needed. He stowed both heir trunks up on the rack.
"I wonder why Potter is trying to play matchmaker," said Draco.
"I guess he's just going along with Serena," Raye suggested, sitting back down. "So how bad were your grades exactly?"
"They really weren't that bad," Draco said. "I only failed Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy and History of Magic."
Raye raised an eyebrow. "And you don't even like those."
"I know," Draco said. "My mother's upset is because my only outstanding is in Potions. I just barely got an Exceeds Expectations in Runes and the rest were only Acceptables. I only managed to get an Outstanding because Snape is my teacher and my mother knows it."
"Speaking of Professor Snape," said Raye, "I heard him talking to your mother at the New Years Party."
As Raye told Draco of the story of Severus and his mother possibly having an affair, he didn't seem surprised.
"Yes, I know," Draco said. "She'd invite him over when my father was gone. Sometimes we'd go visit him in Manchester. He'd show me advanced Potions stuff sometimes, so I wouldn't get bored. He knew about how my father treated us and he told her plenty of times to run off with him, but my mother is worried what my father would do. Draco sighed; sometimes I wish Snape was my father."
"I have a question, Draco," said Raye, "Have you ever heard your mother call him the 'Half-Blood Prince?'"
Draco raised his eyebrow and shook his head. "No, that's news to me. I didn't even know Professor Snape was a half-blood. That'd explain why Mom didn't marry him. Her family is very strict of marrying purebloods, and doing things only a 'pureblood' would do."
"Aren't you proud to be a pureblood though?" Raye said.
"Yeah, of course!" Draco cried. "I feel so…regal knowing that my magical blood goes on for generations, on both sides. Still, I wonder if it's worth it when my dad treats me like he did Dobby sometimes. I think he only bothered mating with my mother so he could have an heir. He didn't want a child…just something to carry his blood when he passes on."
Raye frowned. "I'm so sorry, Draco."
"Hey, it doesn't matter," Draco said. "My father's in prison and he's not getting out. I have important things to worry about."
"Yes, like school and figuring out what you want to do after Hogwarts," Raye told him. "Do you know what you want to do? You said you were undecided during your interview with Professor Snape."
Draco shook his head. "No, I don't. I doesn't matter what I'll being doing anyway." Draco looked at the floor, looking slightly forlorn.
"What do you mean by that, Draco?" Raye asked curiously. It almost sounded as if he didn't plan on being around for long.
"Because I—well—I've too much money to know what to do with it!" Draco said with a laugh. "Yeah, both sides of my family are really wealthy. I probably will never have to work."
"What are you going to do with all that free time? Won't you get bored?"
"I'll have the rest of my life to figure it out," Draco said. "So, what did you say you were planning on doing after Hogwarts? Something to do with fortune telling, right?"
"No," Raye said, with a slight laugh. "I just do that as a hobby."
"Really? But I'm sure you aced Divination, didn't you?"
"Well, yes," Raye groaned, "but I don't want to get a job in that field. The market really isn't good for it. I think I'll work at the ministry. I've always wanted to be a business woman of some kind. Maybe I'll try for Umbridge's job."
Draco laughed. 'You'd definitely make a better Undersecretary than she is, just as long as you don't try to take over the school. I didn't mind the more authority when she formed the inquisitive Squad, but she just rubbed me the wrong way."
When the witch with the snack cart came by, Draco bought her some of her favorite treats. They continued to talk all the way to Hogwarts and it almost seemed like they never broke up.
There weren't many new first years. It was mostly muggleborn children whose parents did not know about Lord Voldemort and Death Eaters. After hearing of the catastrophe at the Ministry, parents of new comers did not want their little children at Hogwarts. The only pure or half-blood first years at least had an older brother or sister to take care of them.
"Not surprised to see a small group," said Hermione. "Parvati said on the train her parents almost wouldn't let her come to Hogwarts"
"But I won in the end," said Parvati. "Padma and I got really good OWLS. We weren't going to just let them go to waste."
After the feast, Dumbledore stood up and welcomed the students. He gave information about Mr. Filch banning products from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and instructed hopeful Quidditch Players and commentators to give their names to their Heads of Houses.
"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year," said Dumbledore. "Professor Hino will be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Short Grampa Hino stood up and bowed to the students. Some students laughed at his shortness.
"He's the size of Professor Flitwick," gasped Padma Patil of Ravenclaw.
"Raye—is he related to you?" asked Theodore..
"My grandpa," Raye answered.
"I wonder if shortness runs in the family," Pansy said to Daphne.
Raye ignored her comment.
"Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength."
Raye noticed that Draco was making his fork fly above the table, not paying attention to Professor Dumbledore. Raye nudged him hard in the ribs with her elbow, breaking his concentration and the fork fell to the table with a clatter.
"This is important!" she hissed at him.
"I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is," continued Dumbledore, "much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against careless nest on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them—in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and other's safety."
After Dumbledore's words of advice, he told the students to get to bed. The students did as they told. When Raye got to the Slytherin common room, Draco was nowhere to be found. She saw him leave the Great Hall—but where did he go? Her thoughts were interrupted when Blaise started talking to her.
"So your Grandpa is teaching Defense—please tell me he's better than Umbridge," he said.
Raye laughed. "Don't worry; he's not going to make us read a book all period. Actually, he didn't have a booklist. We may not have to read at all."
"So he's really hands on?" Blaise asked eagerly.
"Oh yeah," said Raye.
"What did he used to do?" Blaise questioned. "Was he an auror? Or he used to practice the Dark Arts and he switched sides?"
"No," Raye said, about to laugh again. "No, he was a Shinto priest. He ran our family Shinto shrine for years."
"Shinto?"
"It's basically a Japanese religion," Raye explained. "We sold charms and stuff like that. Brought good fortune."
"Oh, well that's interesting," Blaise said, looking slightly disappointed. "Well, goodnight I suppose."
Blaise walked to the boys dormitory. Raye sat down before the fire, deciding to wait for Draco. After thirty minutes, she realized she was being silly. They had broken up. Why was she waiting for him to come to the Common Room for dinner? She may have done this plenty of times when they were dating, but they weren't anymore. What was he going to say to her when he saw her sitting here, expecting him? They may have talked on the train and decided to remain as friends, but she couldn't act like she was still his girlfriend, could she? Was hanging out in the Common Room a friend thing or a girlfriend thing? When he did show up, what was she going to say to him anyway? What was she going to do? She couldn't run up and kiss him and hug him. She couldn't tell him how she longed to see him. How he made her so happy. Things have changed. She was only his friend now. She had to figure out how to be that for him.
"Friends," she told herself. "We are just friends."
Raye stood up and went to bed. Shortly after, Draco finally arrived. He felt a little surprised that Raye didn't wait up for him. She sometimes did that when they were dating. Then Draco sighed and shook her head. He reminded himself that they decided to be friends. It was going to be hard, since he'd rather have her as his girlfriend—just as things used to be. Things have changed now. He couldn't remain as her boyfriend. It would just make things more difficult.
"Friends," he said, making his way to the stairs. "We are just friends."
At breakfast, the Heads of Houses consulted with their sixth year students about their course schedules. Serena was complaining to McGonagal about her grades and her parents decision about teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Look, it says right there I've got an Outstanding," said Serena. "That ought to be good enough to be a teacher right? My parents are just paranoid, right Professor? Could you just write to them and tell them I can be a teacher?"
"Just calm down, Tsukino," said McGonagall impatiently. "Yes, you can still continue Defense. Professor Hino will accept students with any passing grade. If you insist, then I will write you your parents about your decisions."
"Oh, trust me, I insist!" Serena exclaimed. "I really, really, really want to be a teacher!"
"All right!" McGongall groaned. "I will write to them! Now get to your classes!"
McGonagall moved onto Lydia, ignoring Serena.
"But Professor, what other classes ought I take?" Serena called to her.
"I'm sure you can pick those," said Harry, looking at her results. "You've got another Outstanding in Transfiguration and two exceeds Expectations in Divination and Herbology."
"Yeah, I should be able to handle just four classes," said Serena. "I'll keep Divination—maybe I'll ask Firenze if he sees me being a teacher."
"We don't have Firenze," groaned Parvati. "We've got Trelawney."
"Oh, she's back to teaching?" Serena asked with a smile.
"Yes," said Parvati gloomily. "She and Firenze are splitting up the years. Divination is first. Shall we go?"
Trelawney's sixth year class consisted of Susan Bones and Mina from Hufflepuff, Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw and Raye from Slytherin. Pansy had achieved a high enough OWL to continue with Divination, but knowing that Raye would be in the class, she opted out. After Raye beat Pansy senseless and kicked her off the cheerleading squad, Pansy decided it was best to leave the fiery girl alone and stay away from her as much as possible. The North Tower had a strong smell of cooking sherry and Professor Trelawney really was not herself. She was upset that Firenze was still teaching her subject.
"Well, I am pleased you all have managed to pass the divination OWL," she said in her 'real' voice. She did not feel the need to be dramatic and misty, as she usually was. "Igt's nice to know that some people appreciate the art of divination. I hope that Firenze had not strayed you with his teachings. What exactly did that horse teach you anyway?"
"Professor, Firenze is a centaur," corrected Parvati.
"Oooh, forgive me," muttered Trelawney. "A centaur…I'm sorry, I never understood the centaurs version of divination."
"It was all right," said Serena. "He taught us astronomy, and how to read smoke signals when we burn certain herbs."
"Astrology? But I've already taught you that!" Trelawney exclaimed. "Perhaps he said all that I taught you was rubbish? Perhaps you lot would rather learn from him then?"
Parvati looked like she was going to get up. She kept looking at the trap door behind the group.
"Professor," said Raye, "we're happy you are still teaching. I don't think humans can really practice centaur divination anyway. They just read the stars differently. So, what will we be learning this year?"
"Palmistry," answered Trelawney.
"Palmistry?" said Lavender. "But Professor, you've taught us that already!"
"I have?" Trelawney inquired.
"Yes, in our third year, when we first started Divination," said Lavender. "don't you remember?"
"Let me see," said Trelawney, shuffling through a stack of papers. "You are all sixth years—correct—oh yes—my apologies. Palmistry and tea leaves is the syllabus for third years. Unfortunately, Firenze is teaching —here we are. We shall study Taromancy. Following which we shall use Lithomancy—the use of gems and stones in divination. Now let's get started on the Tarot. To make it easy, we will study one card per class. We will start with the major arcana and the move to the minor arcana She picked up the first card. "This is The Fool."
Serena stared at the face of The Fool. Instead of a standard card, it looked like Trelawney had pasted her own face on the card.
"With all his—I mean—her belongings, The Fool embarks on a quest for fortune. She does not know where she is going or how she is going to get there. The dog you see here, is her companion. It is supposed to warn the fool of danger, but of course, the fool doesn't listen, does she? Some fools, don't even have a dog to warn them! You see class, The Fool represents all of us! WE all start our lives thinking that we will be the best and have the best, don't' we? But we are wrong, wrong, wrong! I'm a fool, you're a fool—we're all fools! Destined to wander the world, never to find what it is we seek! All our dreams will be crushed by some fat woman in authority and you will lose your job to a horse!"
Professor Trelawney dropped the card and buried her hands face into her palms, crying hysterically. The class stared back, feeling uncomfortable. Serena wondered if she was right to continue Divination. Raye looked at the clock. There was still fifteen minutes of class time left and she wondered if Professor Trelawney was even in the state to continue teaching. She cleared her throat.
"P-professor, do you want us to leave?" Raye asked softly. "Give you a moment alone?"
"Oh, you would like that, wouldn't you?" Trelawney demanded. "Just leave me—I know you all would prefer to learn from that horse of a teacher!"
"No, no of course not!" Raye exclaimed. "You are good. Isn't she girls?"
"Well," said Parvati hesitantly.
"Of course you are, Professor!" Serena said, standing to her feet. "You just lost your confidence. Don't worry though. Umbridge is gone now. So what if you have to share divination with Firenze. You didn't lose your job completely."
"He gets to teach more than I do," complained Trelawney. "I only get the fourth and sixth years—and the sixth year class is combined!"
"Well, think of it this way," said Serena, trying to sound supportive. "You have more free time to relax."
"Relax, of course," said Trelawney, and she patted a paper bag next to her chair.
"What would you like us to do for the rest of the period, Professor?" Lavender asked.
"We can take turns reading about the cards or we can…we can…"
"Start working on our own deck of cards!" Serena exclaimed. "After you show us a card and it's meaning, we'll make our own card. Then by the end of the year,k we'll have our own personal deck."
"Oh yeah, that sounds like fun," Mina agreed. "And we can draw the characters in the deck based by people in our own personal lives."
"Isn't that what you've done, Professor?" Mandy of Ravenclaw inquired, pointing at Trelawney's face on the card.
"Well, on some cards, yes," said Trelawney. "This is just a standard deck of course or used to be. I am not very skilled artist, so I had to people out of pictures. Wait until you see who I included as The Devil." Trelawney gave a small smirk. "All right. For next class, please bring materials for making your own cards."
When the girls left their class, they talked about Trelawney's attitude.
"She's sure taking this sharing Divination with Firenze difficult," said Mina.
"I wish there was something we can do to help her," Lavender said. "But you know…maybe it's better that she just…steps down. I'd say she did put in a good sixteen years but if she can't teach like she used too…"
"No, no, she just needs to get her confidence back," Serena said. "I know…maybe she needs a man!"
"What?" Raye demanded. "Come on, Serena—that can't possibly be true!"
"She's always so cooped up in that Tower," said Serena thoughtfully. "We hardly see her in the Great Hall for meals. Maybe we could hook her up with one of the teachers. Hmm, you know, maybe Professor Snape might be a little more enjoyable if he started dating. What do you thing guys—would Professor Trelawney and Professor Snape make a cute couple?"
All the girls sweat dropped at the idea and shook their heads. "Oh come on guys!" Serena exclaimed. "Believe in the miracle of love!"
"If you think that," said Raye, "you tell Professor Snape."
"But I'm not taking Potions anymore," Serena said. "Who's taking potions? Anyone brave enough to ask Professor Snape if he'll be willing to take Trelawney out?"
"He'd give us detention for even asking," said Mandy Brocklehurst.
"And I'm sure he's not the dating type," Hannah Abbot agreed.
"Oh all right," said Serena. "But, put your heads together. We've got to find Professor Trelawney a man!"
When the sixth year students taking Defense Against the Dark Arts came to Professor Hino's room, their robes changed to Shinto temple attire in the color of their house. Their shoes disappeared, leaving them barefoot.
"What's going on?" said Serena.
"I would like you all to be dressed in this manner for class," said Professor Hino, who was sitting cross-legged at the front of the room. All the desks were gone and in their places were mats. The room was decorated much like the Cherry Hill Temple, save for a few martial arts posters. "Please have a seat everyone."
Professor Hino waited patiently for the rest of the students, even giving some leeway for those were late.
"This everyone?" Professor Hino asked, checking his list of sixth year students. The number of students in the room matched the paper. He cleared her throat. "Wonderful. Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts everyone. I am your teacher Professor Hino. I'm sure you all know my granddaughter, Raye?" he gave a small nod to Raye.
Everyone turned their heads to Raye. Raye looked straight forward, her face turning red.
"As with everyone, I expect you all to treat each other with respect," said Professor Hino. "Especially Raye. If you do anything to upset her I won't have to retaliate because she can do that just fine herself. She has quite a temper—so if she hurts you—consider that your detention."
"Grampa," Raye groaned.
"All right," said Professor Hino, "you will learn things a little different this year. Some of you may already know a few protective spells. We shall continue such spells, but we will include what to do should you ever become disarmed. Many wizards have made grave mistakes relying on their wands too much. What do you do when you are unarmed? Anyone have any ideas?"
Parvati raised her hand.
"Yes?"
"Run away?" said Parvati.
Several people snickered. The Slytherins agreed with her, but they did not want to voice it.
"That is one option, yes," said Professor Hino. "Nothing wrong with retreating so you can fight another day. Though are times where you must defend yourself when you haven't got a wand. Mr. Longbottom."
"Er, yes sir," said Neville.
"I understand your old wand broke in the fight in the Department of Ministries," said Professor Hino. "What was that like for you?"
"Scary," Neville admitted. "Disappointing."
"I'm sure you felt quite defenseless, didn't you?"
"ER yes, but I was more concerned about what my Gran would think," said Neville. "It was my father's wand, after all."
"I sympathize," said Professor Hino. "Harry—I understand you became disarmed as well? How did you handle it?"
"I um…tackled a Death Eater," said Harry.
Professor Hino nodded. "Nice work, Harry. You see, basic self defense is important. There will be times when you must defend yourselves without a wand. I will show you how."
"Cool!" exclaimed Dean Thomas. "Are you going to show us Kung Fu?"
Professor Hino shook his head. "That is a Chinese martial art. I don't' know the style. I only know Karate, Judo and Kendo. In addition, I will teach you Shintoism. Now if everyone would stand—will go through some basic stances."
Raye was quite impressed with her grandpa. He told her that his lessons would be a surprise. After the lesson, she got some praise. Some of the students were looking forward to learning Karate. A few pompous pureblood Slytherins thought the "muggle-style" of fighting was beneath them.
"You just think that when you don't have your wand on you," Raye told them.
Lydia leaned over to Harry. "Hagrid missed you in Care of Magical Creatures this morning."
"You kept the class?" Ron said. "Are you mental?"
"No, I just like animals," Lydia said. "I guess I'm the only one here. No one else signed up for his class."
"Are you serious?" Hermione asked. "Nobody?"
"Come of it, Hermione," said Ron. "I'm not surprised. So what did he show you today? A chimera?"
"No, a knarvle," said Lydia. "It resembles an overgrown talking ferret. Anyway—you guys should go visit Hagrid soon. He's a bit upset."
"We will," said Harry. "Thanks for letting us know, Lydia."
Lydia nodded and continued with her dinner.
After dinner, Serena discussed her day with Harry in the common room. They did not have the same schedule so they did not spend much time together.
"Divination was all right," said Serena, "but I'm concerned about Professor Trelawney. She hasn't been herself since Umbridge sacked her last year. I think she's just lost her confidence."
"And you're going to do everything in your power to fix that, aren't you?" Harry teased.
Serena gasped dramatically, imitating Trelawney's usual misty voice. "Oh, my dear—perhaps you do have an Inner Eye after all! You really should have continued Divination."
"I don't need an Outstanding in Divination to know you'll go the extra mile to help someone, Serena," said Harry.
Serena smiled, blushing slightly. "Yeah, I'm thinking that she probably needs a man in a life. I suggested to the other girls that maybe she and Snape try dating."
"Snape?" Harry laughed. "Seriously?"
Serena shrugged. "Well, I don't know of any other eligble male teachers—except for Flitwick and I know that won't work. He's so…little!"
"Yeah, you do have a point," said Harry.
"I asked for someone to see if Snape would be interested," said Serena. "But they're all afraid."
"I'll do it," said Harry.
"Just like that?" Serena asked. "We know you're not his favorite…he might give you detentions for even asking."
"Oh I always seem to do detention for him," said Harry. "Might as well get it out of the way, right? Besides…it might be worth it, just to see how he'll react.
"How was Potions anyway?" Serena asked him.
Harry groaned. "You know, I only managed to get an Outstanding because of luck. I bet I barely made it. Snape's more difficult than I remember him."
"What potion did you guys have to make?"
"Polyjuice Potion," he answered.
"But didn't you make it in your second year?" Serena inquired.
"Not exactly," said Harry. "Hermione did most of it. Polyjuice potion takes a month to make, you see and if you get it wrong, well, the results are not very good. Hermione mistaken a cat hair for one of Millicent Bulstrode's and—she became some kind of catgirl."
Serena didn't mean to laugh, but she did. "I'm sorry, that's just awful."
"It's all right, I found it funny too," admitted Harry. "Even Hermione is bound to make a mistake. But if the potion making was left to Ron or me, I'd hate to think what we turned into."
After talking, Serena walked up to the room. She knew that even if she wasn't Sailor Moon, she could still help people. She would use her new beginning to her advantage. She'll use whatever resource she could to get Professor Trelawney's confidence back. She'd work hard in her classes so she could become a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Nothing could stop her.
TO BE CONTINUED