"Skia… Skia, wake up…" Skia flopped one hand in the direction of the voice and muttered a rude phrase.

"What does THAT mean?"

"I think she said, 'go scew yourself."

"How you scew?" That voice was Parvati, with a hint of confusion.

"It's, 'Go screw yourself'. You're not supposed to take me seriously because you can't physically do it," Skia grumbled. A hand shook her shoulder lightly.

"Wake up, Skia. Time to go down to the Great Hall." Skia groaned and rolled over to block her ears.

"Lavender, help me find that vial she was talking about," Hermione ordered. There was a rustling noise, a thump, then a sound of disgust.

"Ewwww, that's blood? It's like, black!" Suddenly, a tantalizing smell hung in the air as a faint crack rang in the air. Skia shot up, grabbing the vial. With a sudden movement, she swallowed the contents and set the vial down with a sigh.

"Oh…kay…that's just weird, Skia." Lavender inched away with a weird look on her face. Skia raised an eyebrow. Experimentally, she lifted her hands like a zombie.

"Ooooooo, I will zuck your blooooooood!" she moaned, with a blank look on her face. Lavender squealed and scurried backwards. Unfortunately, she tripped on the stairs she just so happened to miss.

"EEEEEEEEEK!" The last thing Skia saw was a brown braid vanishing down the stairs.

"Wait, so you just oo-ed at her and she tumbled down the stairs?" Harry's face was one of confused amusement. You couldn't really blame him; he just saw a disheveled Lavender tumble into the common room babbling something about blood-sucking vampires. Ron was roaring with laughter.

Surprisingly enough, Harry and Ron had taken the news extremely well that she was a vampire. Well, actually, the entire Gryffindor house now knew that she was part vampire. The rumors had spread, and now the whole school knew about her 'secret'. The female population was alright with it. Apparently, high metabolism is something that most girls want. Males were neutral, saying that she seemed to be a decent enough person.

Entering the Great Hall, Skia saw Malfoy reenacting Harry's fit on the train.

"Just ignore him, it's not worth it…," Hermione hissed as Harry clenched his fists. Harry glared one more time, then, turned his back on the jeering Slytherins

Skia stuck her tongue out at them as she plopped down next to Ron and began munching a chocolate chip pancake. George and Fred came along, bearing news about Quidditch that made Harry cheer up.

As Harry began eating some sausages, Skia noticed Ron giving her odd looks.

"What?" she asked exasperatedly.

"Why are you eating chocolate so much?" Skia smacked his head.

"Ron!" Hermione gave him a scandalized look.

"What?" he protested. "I'm just curious!" Hermione whacked him with her schedule.

"Hang on a minute…"

"Ron, give me back my schedule!"

"Hermione…" Ron put it down with a befuddled look on his face. "They've messed up your schedule. Look-they've got you down for about ten subjects a day. There isn't enough time." Hermione snatched her schedule back and glanced at it hurriedly before shoving it into her bag.

"I'll manage," she snapped. "I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

"But look!" Ron snatched the schedule out of her bag as Hermione whacked at him with her spoon. "See this morning? Nine o'clock, Divination. And underneath! Muggle Studies, nine o'clock. And, bloody hell, Arithmancy, nine o'clock! I know you're good, but no one's that good. I mean, how're you supposed to be in three classes at once?" He looked around for support. Skia fixed Hermione with a look.

"Hermione, are you using a Ti-" Hermione stuffed Skia's mouth full of bacon. Not that she was really complaining, she loved bacon. Mmm, bacon.

"Seriously, Hermione, how're you going to manage being in three classes at once?"

"Honestly, Ron, don't be ridiculous. Of course I won't be in three classes at once. That would defy the law of, of physics!" Hermione huffed.

"Huh? What's-"

"A muggle thing, pass the marmalade."

"Oh. But seriously-"

"Are you going to pass it or not?" Skia silently passed the jar with a slight twitch of her lips. Rom was digging himself into a pit, and he was oblivious. If he didn't shut up, Hermione would fling her new Arithmancy book at him.

"But, Hermione-"

"Ron, if you don't shut up, Hermione will stab you in the family jewels with her fork." Ron stared at Skia.

"What are the family jewels? I don't have any, or I'd have a better broomstick."

Skia choked at the insult Ron just made to himself.

"Ah. So, since you don't have any family jewels or a good broomstick as you say, I guess you're either a eunuch or a girl masquerading like a boy. Probably the latter, did you do it because you wanted to ogle Harry when he sleeps?" Skia rested her chin thoughtfully on her hand as she regarded Harry speculatively. "He's pretty enough, I grant you, but still, have a little pride, woman." Both Harry and Hermione choked on their eggs; Fred actually sprayed his pumpkin juice across the table to hit George in the eye.

"Huh?" Ron still had a baffled look. Muffling sniggers, Seamus leaned over to whisper in his ear.

"OH! THAT'S what family- Of course I have those! I'm a guy, so I have jewels, I mean, I have that, that…er…you-know what! And it's not bad, I mean, I don't need a better, er, thing! I don't like Harry! I don't, I'm not, like THAT! I'm a guy! I like girls!" Skia arched an eyebrow lazily, enjoying the rich, tomato red color of Ron's face.

"Truly?" she drawled. "Prove it." The Weasely twins roared with laughter as Ron stammered and blushed madly. Hermione was wheezing as she held her sides. Harry was struggling between extreme laughter and extreme embarrassment.

"I-I, don't! Seriously! Ah, shut up, Skia," Ron grumbled, slumping in his seat as he tried to hide his red ears.

Skia laughed as she pulled Ron to his feet.

"C'mon, homo, time for Divination. Not sure why I took that retarded subject." Harry and Hermione followed, still laughing.

They quieted slightly as they neared the classroom. Bidding the mad Sir Cadogan farewell ("Mental," Ron muttered. He was still sulking about Skia's new nickname.), they stared up at a circular trapdoor that hung about them.

"Sibyll Trelawney, Divination teacher," Harry read off a plaque.

"And how do we get up there? Fly?" Skia asked skeptically. A silvery ladder tumbled down, as if in answer. Harry climbed up first, and the others followed, Skia in the rear.

Skia stared. It was like a mad attic/tea store. It was crammed full of the tools for Divination. The perfume wafting in the air made her sneeze.

"Where is she?" Ron asked, dumbfounded.

"Welcome. How nice to see you in the physical world at last," said a misty voice. Skia stared in disbelief.

A wraith-like woman with enormous glasses glided forth to greet them. Truth to be told, she looked creepy. They had a wanna-be mystic for a teacher.

"Sit, my children, sit." Skia gave her an odd look as she clambered onto a pouf. Hehe, soft pouf. Very soft. Skia snuggled into it as Professor Trelawney began some impressive speech.

"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…," began Trelawney. Kay, maybe she said something different. Skia really couldn't be bothered, she was dozing in the chair.

CRASH

"Whuh?" Skia looked up blearily to see Neville standing near a pile of glass shards.

"Skia! Pay attention!" Hermione hissed, keeping an eye on the teacher. Skia rolled her eyes.

"On what? It's obvious what she's going to do. Since Neville's standing next to a bunch of teacups, we're doing tea leaves. Considering the fact that this woman is a slave to drama, she's probably going to predict that someone's going to die. Boohoo. What a great lesson." Hermione snorted as she accepted a cup of tea.

Skia wrinkled her nose as she sipped the tea. Tea was not her favorite drink. Blood, definitely. Cocoa, hell, yes. Tea, ick. Swilling the dregs around, she forced herself to drain the cup and handed it to Hermione.

"Sooo, see anything?" Hermione ignored her. Think she's getting used to Skia's random, occasional funny but usually annoying comments.

Skia stared glumly at the tea leaves as she riffled through her copy of Unfogging the Future. Trelawney tried to muster some excitement ("Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!"), but failed miserably.

"Feh, Hermione, I'm just going to make a wild guess and say that you're going to break out with pimples in two days." Hermione finally lifted her nose out of the book and arched an eyebrow.

"How do you get that?" Skia shrugged.

"Two big leaves and a bunch of little pieces of leaves scattered around." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Let me see that, my dear," said a voice suddenly. Skia jumped, then relaxed as she realized that Ron was the one soon to be in trouble. She tuned out Trelawney's mutterings and peered at the cup again. Maybe she could pass the leaves off as freckles. Hmm, freckles, what meaning did those have in the stupid book?

A scream shook her out of her trance and she looked up to see Trelawney in a nearby chair, fanning herself weakly. Her eyes were closed in a splendid performance of shock. Skia stifled a snort. Hollywood was definitely missing someone.

"Oh, my dear boy…my poor dear boy… it is kinder not to say," she moaned. Skia rolled her eyes and saw Hermione giving Professor Trelawney a skeptical look.

"Just say it," Skia said bluntly. Trelawney fluttered her eyes opened and paused dramatically.

"My dear," she said in a foreboding voice. "You have the Grim." Skia couldn't help it, she burst out laughing.

"Right," she chortled. "And I'm related to Merlin." Trelawney shot a glare at her and resumed her misty look.

"What's the Grim?" Harry asked bewilderly. Trelawney gave him a look of utter shock.

"The Grim, my dear, the Grim! The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen- the worst omen – of death!"

Skia turned to Harry with a disbelieving look on his face, expecting to see doubt. Shockingly enough, Harry had gone pale. Surely he didn't believe that old fraud?

At least Hermione kept her head. She got up to peer into the cup.

"I don't think it looks like the Grim."

"Thank god," Skia said before Trelawney could retort. "At least someone keeps her head in here without believing silly little leaves." Hermione flashed a smile at her and set the cup down.

"It kinda looks like a Grim if you do this, but it looks more like a donkey from here." Seamus was squinching his eyes up.

"When you've all finished deciding whether I'm going to die or not!" Harry burst out. He looked surprised at his outburst.

"I think we will leave the lesson here today," Trelawney said hastily, trying to salvage her 'mystical' atmosphere.

Everyone packed up, avoiding Harry's eyes. Skia saw Harry fumble with his quill, cursing, and she pursed her lips.

"Oh, really," she snapped. "This is ridiculous!" Briskly, she gathered up Harry's things and crammed them into his bag. Snatching up his arm, she dragged him down the ladder and down to their next lesson.

'Skia?" he asked hesitantly as they turned a corner sharply, Skia still looking murderous.

"What?" she snapped.

"D'you…D'you believe it? The thing about the Grim?" Skia stopped and stared at him.

"Of course not! We humans make our own destiny. Whether not some prophecy is made, there is always a choice. The difference is whether you make it or not. Do you plan on dying?"

"No…"

"Then, good. That makes the difference between letting Death have you or you putting up a fight. You might not always win when you stand up, but it makes the greatest difference in the world. You need to understand that for when you fight Voldemort." Skia stalked off again, leaving Harry to stare blankly after her. He would figure it out one day. For now, she had Transfiguration to get to.

Skia scribbled down notes as Professor McGonagall told them about Animagi. Apparently, the spell was nonverbal and very difficult to learn. It required great concentration; one blunder might mean cat ears for the rest of your life.

McGonagall transformed into a cat right before their eyes. Normally Skia would've clapped, but she was too busy glaring at a staring Seamus.

"Really, what's gotten into you all today?" McGonagall asked, perplexed. She had changed back with a slight pop and was staring at everyone. No one said anything, but Hermione raised her hand.

"Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were doing the tea leaves, and –" She was cut off when McGonagall raised a hand.

"Ah, of course. There is no need to say more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?"

"Me," Harry said glumly. Professor McGonagall nodded, as if she was expecting it.

"I see. Then you should know, Potter, that Sibyll Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues-" McGonagall broke off to compose herself.

"Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and professor Trelawney-" She broke off again and scrutinized Harry for a moment.

"You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." Hermione and Skia snorted in laughter. The lesson continued, with Skia asking questions every minute.

Skia chewed her steak as Hermione argued hotly with Ron. Both were fighting over the stupid Grim with Harry in between, looking uncomfortable.

A sudden slam made her look up and see Hermione begin to stalk away.

"Honestly," Skia muttered. She grasped Hermione's arm and pulled her back down. Taking out her wand, she murmured a quick spell in Ron's direction and turned back to her steak.

Ron was opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of the water. He seemed to saying words, but something blocked the sound.

"There," Skia said calmly. "No more fighting. Ron can stay quiet while you calm down from your little quarrel. Sipping a bit of juice, she scanned the table lazily.

Something, or at least, someone caught her eye. Skia tugged Harry's arm.

"Er, what?"

"Who's the hunk?" Harry gave her an odd look.

"What?"

" Cutie, one o'clock. Tall, decent-looking. Sitting between Fred and Lee." Harry glanced over and choked.

"Did you just call Oliver Wood, my Quidditch CAPTIAN, a hunk!" Skia shrugged.

"So that's what his name was. Why, there a problem?" Harry stared at her.

"He's four years older than you." Skia held up a finger.

"Correction, he's two years older."

"Huh?" Skia sighed slightly.

"I'm fifteen, not thirteen like you guys. My age is kinda hard to tell."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh."

Silence.

"So."

"So." There was a very long pause, interrupted by a certain nerdy girl.

"We're going to be laaaaaate!" Hermione dragged them all off to Hagrid's hut.

Hello! Fwahwahwa, tomorrow, i will vanish for 5 days to go to japan! nope, i don't know japanese, but i did learn a few curse words. hehehe

AS for the last chapter, lets just say that Skia is lazy. :P she probably WILL sleep til noon. hell, i know that i do that. :P I'm trying to be weird in that chapter and yup, it does complicate things a bit. :P