FIFTEEN

The Transfiguration class was by the far the best Harry had sat through yet. Despite McGonagall sending him heavy glances (apparently Dumbledore wasn't the only one who remembered the importance of his seat at breakfast), he hadn't been this interested in a class since returning to first year. Nearly every class held some aspect of boredom for Harry. Often the only interesting thing was honing his acting skills by holding off completing the given tasks on his first try every time. Today, however, Harry was very interested in the topic.

'Good morning. I hope your holidays treated you fairly, and that you did not waste the entirety of them lazing about ignoring homework.' McGonagall lectured in her no-nonsense tone. 'You can place your Unstable Transfiguration essay on the desk as you leave. Today's lesson, however, we will be focusing on a rather advanced piece of human to animal transfiguration that I am quite adept at. Can any of you guess what I might be referring to?'

Harry had sat up straight in his chair, but didn't bother raising his hand, as McGonagall had ceased choosing him at all after it became blatantly obvious she wouldn't be able to take house points, and would actually have to reluctantly award them, as he knew the answer 99.99 percent of the time.

'Miss Turpin?'

'Is it Animagi Professor? You are one of the few on the register.'

'Indeed. One point for knowing of the register as well.' McGonagall nodded. 'An Animagi is a witch or wizard who has learnt to turn into a certain animal at will. It was developed in Ancient Greece. The first known Animagi, a man called Falco Aesalon could turn into a Falcon. It was believed then that it was only possible to turn into Aves, or birds. The only exception being from the nursery tale which many of you will be familiar with: Babbitty rabbit. It was assumed that this was just myth until Cleopatra Amo turned into a cat in 1123 during a public performance that caused quite a scandal at the time. Currently there are only seven Animagi, and as Miss Turpin discovered, there is a list of us on a registry with the Ministry for Magic's department of Improper Use of Magic. Today only Elijah Prance takes the form of a bird; He is an owl.'

At this point McGonagall gave the class a slight smile, before shifting to her cat form, jumping onto the desk, then back onto the floor, then turning back. This time around there was applause (mostly from the Ravenclaws) as nobody was worrying over Harry's imminent death.

The Slytherin's did not applause, though Harry noticed most of them had looks of approval or of being impressed. Being an Animagus was a considerable feat, head of the nasty lions or not. Other than their first class in first year none of them had seen McGonagall transform. She didn't do it very often.

Harry, unlike his year mates, clapped politely. It was an impressive skill, and very hard to manage, but considering he knew of four unregistered Animagi from this century, he wondered how many others were out there and ignoring the law. It was a two-year stay in Azkaban as punishment, however it was still very tempting for obvious reasons.

McGonagall went on to discuss the magic involved in becoming an Animagi, as well as some of the history, and for once Harry took diligent notes. He hadn't known a great deal about the process, as Sirius had always been a bit vague, but he had always had it in the back of his mind to give it another try. After all, this time he had only been under one bout of Crucio, and he had already tested his nerves to find that they weren't damaged as much as they had been in the original timeline. He was yet to suffer that curse from a returned-to-full-strength Voldemort's wand, nor had he experienced living through the dulled pain of the visions. He also hadn't really been aware of what was involved, as he had tuned out this lesson to think of Trelawney's omens in the original timeline. At the time Animagi hadn't seemed that important, then later he had had other worries.

As he listened and took notes, he couldn't help but grin just a little.

…'The biggest deterrent, for most witches or wizards, is that beyond reaching the higher skill level necessary in Advanced Transfiguration, becoming an Animagus also requires learning the basics of wandless magic. I myself, took nearly four years to learn only the most basic's of the art.'

By this stage Harry was the only Slytherin truly paying attention. Most of them had been intrigued by the possibilities offered, but lost interest during the long lecture of skills to be learnt to even start the process. It was too much output for too little gain for most Slytherins. The Ravenclaws were all still on the edges of the seats, however a few of them had slumped a little at the sheer amount of work needed.

Harry however, was quietly optimistic. He already knew wandless magic, and at a level that far surpassed the most basic of the art. He also knew occlumency, which while McGonagall didn't outright state that it was needed, it was heavily implied in her discussion of understanding the workings of her inner self. Harry also suspected there was a (probably Dark) potion that could tell him what his inner animal was anyway, as he very much doubted that James, Sirius and Peter had had the patience to learn all of the meditation required. It was just the sort of thing likely to be found by a young Sirius in the Black library too. He hadn't looked at the book he'd got on becoming an Animagi in Knockturn alley yet, but even if it didn't have the potion, it would certainly mention it. It would just depend on whether the consequences (and there would be drawbacks, being Dark magic) would outweigh the benefits.

By the end of the lesson Harry was in an excellent mood, so good that even the four-foot essay on human to animal transfiguration due next class couldn't dampen his smile.

'We've got a double of Charms Next.' Blaise announced over his stew at breakfast. Harry made a mental note to be extra careful around Blaise, as he was quite interested in the timetable.

'That's unfair!' Theo moaned. 'Two core doubles in one day… and I hate stew.'

Harry looked across at him with a subtle snub. 'Not having the best start to the term?'

Theo winced. 'I was whining wasn't I?'

'Yes.' Said everyone but Harry gleefully.

'Potions after lunch though. The Professor has looked to be in a foul mood since we got here. At least we should get to watch some Gryffindors get decimated.' Theo brightened up, having snatched the timetable off Blaise.

Harry glanced up at the teacher's table. Snape didn't look like he was in a foul mood at all to Harry. He had that horrible sneer on sure, but anyone who knew him could clearly see he was enjoying riling up Remus. Remus was probably secretly enjoying it too, judging from the deep blush Sprout had on, sitting between the two. Some amusement must have shown on Harry's face, as Theo made an approving noise.

'Will you partner me Harry?'

'No. I partner Neville.'

'But you just practically agreed that the Gryffindors should suffer Snape's misfortune.'

'You're whining again.' Harry noted. Theo flushed red and glared.

'Well I couldn't agree more.' Daphne spoke up.

'Really?' Blaise drawled, sounding very much like he didn't believe her.

'Yes. Some of us have the common sense to realise that without Harry there to stop it, Longbottom probably would have killed us all exploding his potion long ago.'

'Neville does okay. His main problem is professor Snape.'

'Longbottom's a dunce.' Blaise disagreed.

'Uh-huh. Sure, and how many subjects did you top Blaise?' Harry teased.

Blaise glared. 'You know very well that you demolished the lot of us.'

'I did.' Harry said smugly having won his point, 'Except Neville, who beat me in Herbology again.'

'You must drive the Ravenclaws mad.' Tracey laughed. 'Not a single top mark between them.'

Harry just gave her a light smile then stood and headed for Charms. Harry smirked internally. He really must be driving them mad; they didn't get a second place either, shared between Hermione, Draco (Potions) and Daphne (Charms).

Charms passed with little fanfare. Harry impressed Flitwick quite a bit with his supposedly natural aptitude towards cleaning charms. Of course Harry got a bit of teasing from the Slytherin boys for this, however it didn't really faze him too much. Household charms were often the most useful, even in battle. However he was a little worried, as it was becoming increasingly difficult to perform at his grade level in Charms. He simply had the perfect muscle memory for the subject, and found it much more difficult not to get it on the first try than he did with any other magic. He spent the majority of the lesson staring longingly out the window at an upper year class lazing on the lawn listening to Hagrid lecture. Yesterday's rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale gray, and Harry could remember how the grass was springy and damp underfoot. Listening to Flitwick slowly explain why there were two turns not three was awfully hard to concentrate on when Harry knew it was because of the lines from the rune for absence. Flitwick had given Harry extra theory to study, but Harry already knew most of that too. He settled in to drafting his transfiguration essay and making a list of books to look up for references.

The class seemed to drag on, but eventually it was over, and Harry was just starting to wonder how to shake his friends when Flitwick called him back.

'A moment, Mr. Potter.' Flitwick was climbing down from the pile of books he lectured from, but seeing Blaise added 'Go on Mr. Zabini, I'm sure Mr. Potter will meet you at lunch.'

Harry nodded and Blaise headed out to the hall, hopefully taking Theo off with him.

'You are doing phenomenally well in my class, Mr. Potter, and while I was thinking you might be interested in some extra projects to keep your mind from wandering, I mostly thought you'd appreciate getting the slip on your friends. Divination just now, isn't it?'

'Yes.' Harry smiled, 'Sorry Professor. I didn't' mean to stop listening to your lecture, only I already know about the runes base, and can do that whole faction of Absi Charms.'

Flitwick sighed. 'Very well. But perhaps you wouldn't mind studying ahead in Charms rather than Transfiguration next time. Also, I know you will be buried deep in extra homework, maybe I might add a few extra questions to your essays?'

Harry smiled. He liked Charms, and despite the extra classes, he really didn't anticipate running out of time.

'As long as I can let you know if I am falling behind due to the extra work, that sounds excellent.'

Flitwick chuckled.

'It has been a long time since I had a student outside of my own house looking for extra work. Now, do you know the way to the North Tower?'

'And a short-cut.' Harry grinned.

'Hurry along then.'

Harry did. Not wanting to accidentally arrive back in the middle of a full classroom or hallway, He waited until he was half way to the North tower, and inside one of the secret passageways, before he paused and pulled the time-turner out from under his collar.

.:This is an unusual feeling:. He warned Apep.

.:Nothing is unusual around you:. Apep sniped. He'd been in a poor mood since Harry dropped a book on his tail in the dark that morning.

Harry just rolled his eyes. .:Whatever. You better loop some of your body through, I'm not sure what would happen otherwise:.

.:We shall try not to find out:. Apep insisted, sliding out of Harry's robe and through the time-turners chain, then over Harry's shoulder.

Harry spun the center of the little hourglass back one turn.

.:Welcome to the past:. He announced, as soon as the weird feeling of rushing backwards without moving ceased.

.:You are such a drama queen:.

Harry grinned, pushing Apep and the time-turner back under his robe, before continuing down the secret passage way, coming out through a false wall in an alcove opposite the bottom of the North stairs. Harry started up the stairs with an internal moan, and had reached the third level when he heard voices coming from the passage leading off to the left.

'There's - got - to - be - a - short - cut,' Harry grinned as he heard Ron panting. The Gryffindors had obviously still come from the first floor, and had made the mistake of traveling up to the fifth before entering the Tower. It was a mistake quickly learnt from by older students. The tower had an advanced charm placed on all the stairs, reducing the effort needed to climb them significantly. It was better to go down to the first level of dungeons, then climb back up, than it was to logically move upwards from the first floor.

'I think it's this way,' said Hermione's voice called out next.

'Can't be,' said Ron. 'That's south. Look, you can see a bit of the lake outside the window…'

'He's right.' That was Seamus. Harry didn't think he'd been in the class in the original timeline, but could only assume he and Ron had picked the same classes this time.

'Well, well, well. A lost pride, how amusing.' Harry got quite a lot more amusement from the way Hermione jumped when he spoke up from behind her.

'What do you want, Potter?' Ron sneered.

'I was merely heading to Divination, lost, are we?'

'You're studying Divination?' Hermione asked, obviously surprised.

'Obviously.'

Hermione frowned. 'Oh, I would have thought you'd have picked Arithmancy and Runes.'

Harry gave her an amused look (which made her bristle) but didn't comment.

'Come on.'

Harry turned and started heading up the tower again. Hermione followed, but Ron and Seamus seemed torn. Harry was pretty sure he knew why. Ron confirmed his theory a moment later.

'Hermione! What are you doing? Don't follow him. He's probably trying to trick you.'

'Don't be ridiculous Ronald.' Hermione replied. Harry sent her an amused grin, and she blushed heavily before pushing on ahead of him.

They walked one full rotation around the tower before hearing Ron and Seamus begrudgingly start to follow. Harry had no doubt that it was out of a desire to protect Hermione from a slimy snake, more than any trust they had that it actually was the right way.

After the first few turns Hermione seemed to realise that she wasn't at all out of breath, and started on a monologue of what they had learnt in Herbology that morning. Harry let her voice wash over him, not minding at all that his opinion didn't seem particularly needed, and just enjoying being close to his old friend. By the time they reached the room under Trelawney's trap door, Hermione had seemed to notice that she was talking a bit much, and had gone a lovely shade of pink again.

'Sorry. You probably don't care that much. I'm used to talking to Neville.' She admitted, as they rounded the last bend coming out to find Lavender and Parvati waiting in the corner giggling over a magazine.

'Satisfied that I didn't lead you astray?' Harry asked instead of replying.

'Well…' Hermione looked around. 'This is a bit of an odd classroom.'

Harry snorted.

'Look!' Ron panted, having reached the top of the stairs at a run. He was pointing up to the roof.

'Sybill Trelawney, Divination teacher,'' Seamus read. 'How're we supposed to get up there?'

As though in answer to his question, the trapdoor suddenly opened, and a silvery ladder descended right at Harry's feet. Everyone went quiet.

'After you,' Ron sneered at Harry. Harry just shrugged and began climbing.

He emerged into the classroom and sighed a bit at himself. He had forgotten how much he hated the cross between someone's attic and an old-fashioned teashop. But he could hardly deny Divination's credibility when he was the subject of a prophecy himself.

There were only four small tables, rather than the twenty that Harry was used to, but this looked to be just the Gryffindors and himself, rather than Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and a few Hufflepuffs. Having sat on all the chairs there, Harry made a beeline for a large blue one, which he knew to be comfortable for napping as well as taking notes. He contemplated transfiguring the red scarves draped over the lamps to a more transparent thinness before Trelawney arrived, but decided he'd just have to cast the lumonois charm on his book so he didn't strain his new eyesight.

Ron and Seamus arrived up the ladder next, quickly heading for the desk furthest from Harry. Lavender and Parvati followed, each choosing to drag a pink fluffy poufs from the side of the room and settled at the center of the group. Hermione came last, and hovered uncertainly at Harry's table, before heading to the empty table to his right.

'Don't be ridiculous Granger. You can't read your own tarot cards.'

Hermione glared, but looked around the room warily.

'Are you the only Slytherin taking Divination?'

'The only one in this class apparently.' Harry drawled. 'You know how time-table clashes go.'

(And wouldn't that comment annoy her later when she realised Harry was jumping about time too).

Hermione sighed and moved over to Harry's table, she settled on the dark red pouf opposite Harry, then seemed to cast an disapproving eye across the room, taking in the curtained windows, dusty feathers, stubs of candles and huge array of miss-matching tea cups.

'Where is she?' Ron spoke up, looking around the room for Trelawney.

'Welcome,' Trelawney spoke up a moment later. 'How nice to see you in the physical world at last.'

Harry felt his body involuntarily shudder at the voice. He had never truly forgiven her for prophesying his fate. He turned to see Trelawney drift into the firelight, reminding him again of some large, glittering insect. His eyes trailed to the gauzy spangled shawl that was draped around her, and had a quick flashback to Umbridge tearing it when she grabbed her to push her out the door. Oh well, Harry sighed internally there are worse teachers I suppose. He sighed and settled in to the stifling heat of the heavily scented room and turned to watch Hermione discovering the new teacher.

'Sit, my children, sit,' Trelawney said, before seeming to notice that they had taken Harry's lead and already done so.

'Welcome to Divination,' said Professor Trelawney, seating herself in a winged armchair in front of the fire. 'My name is Professor Trelawney. You may not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye.'

Her extraordinary pronouncement was met with silence, and Harry wondered again at his sanity for choosing to subject himself to this again.

'So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you…Books can take you only so far in this field…'

At these words, everyone but Harry glanced, grinning, at Hermione, who looked startled at the news that books wouldn't be much help in this subject.

'Many witches and wizards, talented though they are in the area of loud bangs and smells and sudden disappearings, are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future,' Professor Trelawney went on, 'It is a Gift granted to few. You, boy,' she said suddenly turning to the empty table Hermione had moved from. Trelawney frowned at the empty space.

'I was sure…' She muttered, before turning to look at the small class. 'How odd.' She said, turning to attend to the kettle burning over the stove giving no explanation at all. Harry raised one eyebrow. Well that was unexpected. Neville had sat there.

'We will be covering the basic methods of Divination this year. The first term will be devoted to reading the tealeaves. Next term we shall progress to palmistry. By the way, my dear,' she shot suddenly at Parvati Patil, 'beware a red-haired man.'

Parvati gave a startled look at Ron, and edged her chair away from him. Seamus grinned and jabbed Ron in the ribs.

'In the second term,' Professor Trelawney went on, 'we shall progress to the crystal ball — if we have finished with fire omens, that is. Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And around Easter, one of our number will leave us for ever.'

A very tense silence followed this pronouncement, but Professor Trelawney seemed unaware of it.

'I wonder, dear, if you could pass me the largest silver teapot?' Lavender, looking relieved that that was all that was said, stood up, 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 trembled. Harry frowned. Lavender's rabbit had died, after all.

'Now, I want you all to divide into pairs.' She paused and looked up, realising they were already in pairs. Hermione sniffed loudly.

'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 these 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-' She trailed off again and frowned. 'Choose the blue ones if you are at all clumsy. I am rather attached to the pink ones.'

She got up and headed to the side of the room to retrieve a textbook, but Harry could just hear her muttering.

'It's almost like a force from uncharted time is interrupting but… Oh, I should have had tea.'

Harry had a sort of startled look on his face as he made his way over, selecting the same green cup he had originally.

This time Harry cast a light cooling charm at his scalding tea before calmly sipping at it. At their table, Harry heard Ron let out an expletive as he burnt his tongue on the first sip. Harry swilled the dregs around as Professor Trelawney had instructed, then drained the cup and swapped with Hermione.

'Right,' Hermione started in a matter of fact tone, looking at pages five and six. 'What can you see in mine?'

'A load of soggy brown stuff,' Harry answered promptly. Hermione gave him a sarcastic frown.

'Broaden your minds, my dears, and allow your eyes to see past the mundane!' Professor Trelawney cried through the gloom.

'Anything else?' Hermione pushed.

'Tea leaves.' Harry teased.

'Come on, Potter. Do be serious.'

Harry laughed. 'Okay then.' He looked into her cup. 'You've got an arch next to a snake first.' Harry snorted and said, without looking at the text book, 'Well that's lovely you have a positive opening or opportunity, but with someone who does not deserve your trust.'

'How do you know that?' Hermione demanded, frustrated she ran her finger down the list of meanings, finding first the arch, then the snake.

'Well no wonder Slytherin is seen as it is.'

'What's the matter Granger, don't you trust me?' Harry teased.

'Oh, just get on with it. What's next?'

Harry turned the cup once, and looked again. He nearly let out a snort, stifling it at the last minute.

'Some dashes, and a bottle.' His eyes sparkled, and Hermione let out a huff before dragging the textbook closer.

'That's… many sho-short trips which may cause wasted time,' Her voice stuttered a little, having reached the same conclusion as Harry. Time-turners indeed. 'And the Bottle means… oh this is stupid.'

Harry grinned. 'An explosive atmosphere requiring caution; warning against overindulgence?'

Hermione huffed again, and Harry turned her cup once more.

'Lightning and a mask.' Harry could have laughed. 'Startling events or sudden insights, and a secret to be kept.'

'That makes no sense.' Hermione sounded more pleased than angry. Harry thought about how she was going to react to finding out he had a time-turner too.

'Not now it doesn't.' He agreed. 'The symbolism of the lightning explains a lot about my life though,' he added as mumbled thought to himself.

At the table next to them Lavender and Parvati giggled. They looked across at Harry and sighed, before giggling some more. Harry scowled internally.

'You need your Inner Eye tested, if you ask me,' said Ron loudly from the other table. Apparently Seamus wasn't having much luck either.

'Give me your cup.' Hermione insisted. Harry passed it over. Hermione peered into Harry's teacup, her forehead wrinkled with effort. She let out a little annoyed noise, then ran her finger down the text book, settling on a definition, then staring back at the teacup.

'I haven't quite got the hang of Legilimency, Granger. Out loud, if you please?'

Hermione went a bit pink. 'Oh, right. Well first you have a bird of some sort. I think it's a falcon, but I can't be sure.'

'It will be. Voldemort after all.'

Hermione huffed at Harry knowing the definitions without looking, again. She turned the cup though, and continued on.

'Well this looks like a goat, or maybe a sheep. No, it has horns. A goat… That means your persistence will pay off, but take some time to recreate… unless you're a Capricorn? When's your birthday?'

'July thirty-first.' Harry mumbled. 'I don't suppose it tells you how long?'

'No.'

'Of course not.' Harry groaned.

Hermione turned the cup once more, then frowned. 'You have another animal, but I'm not sure…'

Harry held his hand out for the cup. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Trelawney coming over.

Harry looked into his own teacup and couldn't hold back the laugh.

'Excellent!' Harry was actually quite pleased.

'What do you have?' Hermione demanded.

'The Grim.' Harry was ginning from ear to ear. Perhaps it was telling him he would get to chase down Sirius.

There was a shriek and the tinkling of broken china. Trelawney had dropped Lavender's cup and was staring at Harry in horror.

'What's the Grin?' Lavender asked. Harry looked up to find everyone staring at him.

'The omen of Death.' Harry said cheerfully. 'I'm probably going to die.' He added helpfully.

Trelawney loomed up behind Harry, looking slightly more composed. 'My dear boy, I doubt you truly have the Grim. You are taking your death far too- Aaargh!' She stepped back horrified from the cup.

Harry could find nothing but amusement in the situation.

'Perhaps I am the student that shall leave us forever at Easter?' he teased.

Professor Trelawney sank into a vacant armchair, her glittering hand at her heart and her eyes closed.

'My dear boy - my poor dear boy - you shouldn't joke about - oh dear.'

Everyone had got to their feet, and slowly they crowded around Harry and Hermione's table, pressing close to Professor Trelawney's chair to get a good look at Harry's cup.

'The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards is not to be taken lightly, an omen of death that suggests the imminent demise of the subject.' Hermione read from the textbook with a huff, before getting up to come around to take another look at Harry's cup.

'I don't think it looks like a Grim,' she said flatly.

Professor Trelawney surveyed Hermione with mounting dislike. Harry sighed internally. Some things time would let you mess with, and others…

'You'll forgive me for saying so, my dear, but I perceive very little aura around you. Very little receptivity to the resonances of the future.'

Seamus was tilting his head from side to side.

'It looks like a Grim if you do this,' he said, with his eyes almost shut, 'but it looks more like a donkey from here,' he said, leaning to the left.

'That's my goat. When you've all finished deciding whether I'm going to die or not!' Harry started, amused and noting nobody seemed to want to look at him.

'I think we will leave the lesson here for today,' said Professor Trelawney in her mistiest voice. 'Yes… please pack away your things…'

Silently they took their teacups back to Professor Trelawney, packed away their books, and closed their bags. Ron walked the long way around to avoid Harry's table.

'Until we meet again,' said Professor Trelawney faintly, 'fair fortune be yours.'

Harry and the Gryffindors descended Professor Trelawney's ladder and the winding stair in silence, then set off for the Great Hall for lunch. The Gryffindors all left the tower at the level Harry had found Hermione, Ron and Seamus, but Harry kept following the stairs down. He came out in the dungeons, and almost ran straight into Snape.