Omens
The next day was pretty normal, well as normal as one can get at Hogwarts. Riley got to leave the hospital wing in the morning and headed down to breakfast to meet with Nicole and then, she thought with relish, classes. Finally, she would be able to relax and enjoy the simplicity of learning.
As she arrived in the Great Hall, she was met with stares and whispers. 'Whatever,' she thought. 'We passed the test. Now, we can just chill and go about our business without be tested all the time.'
"RILEY!!" Nicole shouted, as she got up and hugged her friend. "You're free!" She laughed. "Are you feeling better?"
"I still feel really weird," she began. She noticed, though, that her friend looked worried. "But, I'm completely cool. I mean it's over, so no biggie, right?"
"I guess," Nicole said slowly. "I'm still upset I didn't get past McGonagall, though. I've got one question for you, though. I don't remember a thing from your fight with Dumbledore. The only thing I remember is some pain. When I woke up, you were unconscious. Why's that?"
"That's because we passed out," Robin said coming up behind the two. She smiled. "It's good to see you up and about, Riles."
"Ok, so it's not just me going all psycho, short-term memory loss, then?" Nicole grinned and sighed dramatically. "Robin...you're table is over there. We don't see you till Potions this afternoon. So yeah! Love ya, bye!" She said giggling. She sat back down and started eating everything could fit into her mouth
"What's with her?" Robin asked watching Nicole scarf down her food.
"I think she's still mad at you for not getting into Gryffindor. Obviously, though, she's not that mad, or she'd be giving you the silent treatment," Riley explained.
"So, why did we pass out, Riley?" Robin probed.
"You don't know?" Riley was seemed shocked. "I used my powers to tap into yours. I think that's why you fainted. It shocked your system to be without your powers so suddenly. I think. I figured that you knew, though," Riley continued. "I mean I heard a voice tell me, 'Use the power of the three.' I thought you two could hear it as well."
"Nope, I didn't hear anything. But then, I don't hear thoughts. The only voice I hear is my own...and those that live in my head." Nicole said, with a smile.
Robin started at Nicole's voice. "Well, let's talk after classes today. How about we meet on the Quidditch field? I don't think any teams are practicing yet."
"Sounds good to me," Riley said sitting.
Nicole turned to Ron. "So, what's the Potions professor like?"
Ron choked on his food. "Snape?! That evil git! He favors his own house, Slytherin, and won't listen to the rest of us. He's really mean and probably evil, too."
"Professor Dumbledore is too smart. He wouldn't hire someone that was evil," Riley offered.
"That's debatable." Harry put in. "Dumbledore is wise, but he's not the best he's too trusting. One of our DADA profs, was a liar and into himself. Another was possessed by Voldemort. We then got Lupin, who's great—still, he's a werewolf. Last year was Moody, who turned out to be a Death Eater using Polyjuice potion. So, an evil professor is very much a possibility."
"Great," Riley muttered. She attempted to get a reading from Snape. As soon as she concentrated on him, she felt as if a barrier had been raised. Suddenly, he turned and stared her in the eye. Riley refused to look away. This test of will lasted until Hagrid spilled his drink in Snape's lap. "You're right," Riley said. "He's questionable."
Nicole laughed. "He's got her seal of approval." She joked before finishing her last bit of food. Then, she pulled some notes out of her bag and began reviewing them.
Nicole glanced up at Riley. "No comments about me studying," she said sticking out her tongue.
"Hm? What?" Riley asked distractedly.
"I swear if you spent half as much time doing stuff, instead of thinking all the time, you would be one scary chick," Nicole said.
"Well, then I guess it's a good thing," Riley retorted. "Plus, someone has to do it. Look, I'm going to head to class. I want to look something up." With that Riley grabbed her bag and a piece of toast with jam and left.
Nicole sighed, looked at Ron, and smiled. "She's just anxious about something. But, we'd better get to class. Don't wanna be late!" She grinned, stood up, and walked out the door.
"I would not lie, master," Snape sniveled. "She defeated Dumbledore. I'm sure that he was taking it easy on her, but it's still remarkable."
"And she was the only one to make it that far?"
Snape nodded.
"Do you know when the next challenge is?"
"Yes my lord. It will take place this Saturday at the Quidditch fields."
"Then I think we'll have to pay Dumbledore a little visit." A cold chuckle filled the dark room, and Snape was glad when he was dismissed from his master's side.
Everyone was barely seated, when Adrienne could no longer contain herself. "What happened yesterday, Albus?"
"Yes, I know that you went easy on her, but how'd she manage to defeat you? And, why'd she pass out?" Sirius questioned gravely.
"I'm afraid that I did not, Sirius," Dumbledore replied quietly.
"Did not what, sir?" Remus asked.
"I did not go easy on her. As to your question of why she fainted, well, I believe that that occurred because of the adava kedavra curse." There was a stunned silence.
Finally Sirius managed to speak. "You...you used the killing curse on her?" He asked his voice low.
"Yes, I did. I used the other Unforgivable Curses, as well. She broke the Imperius Curse rather easily and didn't even fall pray to the Cruciatus Curse. But, she used a lot of her energy." Dumbledore answered.
"B...h...wh..." Adrienne couldn't even form complete sentences. Finally, she managed, "You could have killed her!" The anger in her voice was evident.
"I realize that, Adrienne," Dumbledore said gravely. "I have a theory about her power, though. It would explain why she was so powerful. It was the reason that I took the necessary risks."
"And, this theory is what exactly?" Remus questioned.
"The Tenshi were created to work as one, correct?" At the nods, he continued. "After the first few attacks, I felt a tremendous energy surround Riley. At the same time, I felt the energy that represented Robin and Nicole disappear."
"What happened to their powers?" Sirius yelped.
"Nothing, my friend. Riley borrowed them. Well, that's my theory, at least."
"She can do that?" Remus looked amazed.
"It's the only way that I can rationalize what happened. If I'm right, the Tenshi are capable of defeating Voldemort, for good. As long as they are together, that is."
"But this is just a theory, right? I mean, you can't know for sure unless you ask them. But, would they be willing to tell us?" Sirius questioned.
"Everything we know about them is just a theory, Sirius. They either have to tell us or show us. We just have to trust them." Adrienne said.
"That's easier said than done." Remus pointed out. "They used magic I've never heard of before. Apparently, Severus hadn't either."
"Where is Severus?" Adrienne asked. "He slipped out of the Great Hall early this morning."
"I do not know. He comes and goes as he likes." Dumbledore answered, with a small smile on his face and his blue eyes twinkling. "Remus, I think that it's time you head to class. I'm sure you're first year class would appreciate their teacher's presence for their first lesson." Dumbledore suggested.
Remus jumped up with a guilty look on his face. "I almost forgot. Albus, Adrienne." He said, nodding. Then, he and Sirius exited the office. A slight pop told them that Sirius was now Padfoot.
"What should I do, Albus? I must admit that I feel pretty useless just sitting around this school waiting for something to happen," Adrienne implored.
"I believe you are an Animangus, am I correct?"
Adrienne nodded.
"You should go visit Professor McGonagall. She is teaching some of the finer points of being an animangus. You might be of some assistance until I can find something more for you to do." He smiled.
"Very good, Miss Devon," Professor McGonagall said smiling. Riley shrugged. 'This stuff is too easy,' she thought. 'Though, it's nice to have easy sometimes.'
"Now, who can tell me why it's dangerous to be an unregistered Animangus?"
Riley and Hermione both raised their hands immediately, followed by Nicole.
"Miss Eversly?"
Nicole took a deep breath before answering. "Being an unregistered Animangus can be dangerous for several reasons. 1) The government needs to know who is and who isn't an Animangus for book-keeping purposes. To be without that information, means that records are incomplete and history therefore is incomplete. 2) If you're a convict and you're an unregistered animangus escaping is easier. However, this might be a good thing, depending on who you are and what country you're in."
She smiled. "Plus, it's very dangerous to even be animangus. If something goes wrong and nobody knows you're an animangus...how will they know how to fix you?"
"Those are all very good reasons, but not correct, Miss Eversly. Miss Granger, would you care to enlighten us?"
Nicole sighed and wrote down what Hermione was saying. She turned to Ron and asked, "Did she sallow the textbook or something?"
He smiled. "No, she just memorizes it." Luckily, Adrienne walked in just as Nicole burst out laughing.
"What a bunch of bull sh-" Robin was complaining.
"Did you say something, dear," Professor Trelawney asked sweeping over to Robin.
"Yes, I said that I am excited to further explore my future," Robin lied.
"Then perhaps I could read your palm and tell you."
"Sure, why not?" Robin muttered at the old fraud.
Professor Trelawney leaned over Robin's palm, tracing a line here and another there and muttering before she let out a shriek.
Everybody in the class looked up, anxious to know what their professor had seen. "My dear, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you must be careful this weekend. Bad fortune will befall you."
"Right," Robin said rolling her eyes. At the professor's look she changed her tone, "Right! I see it too. Oh my, this is bad. I'll stay in my room all weekend to avoid it," Robin continued in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh no, you don't understand. This will happen to you indoors. You must stay away from buildings as much as possible." Trelawney said with a sagely nod.
"Yes Ma'am."
After Trelawney moved on to the next victim of fate, Robin dozed. She awoke to see Trelawney's big eyes staring at her. "Sorry, Professor. I was just so worried that I decided to meditate and I...uh...fell asleep. I dreamt about sadness...creepy, huh?" Robin said thinking quickly.
"Yes, dear. Sometimes, the fates decide to let us in on their secrets. You must be careful..." Suddenly, Trelawney's face went blank. "Watch out for the Star..." came an ethereal voice.
"What does that mean?" Robin asked.
"What does what mean, dear?" Trelawney asked her eyes wide once again.
"What you just said...about the star..."Robin was confused.
"I didn't say anything about a star..."
"But...I..." The bell rang before Robin could finish, and she was swept out with the rest of the class to go to potions.