Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JKR does.

Chapter 9

Selena opened her eyes slowly, trying to shut out the splitting head ache she had.

The first thing she felt - besides the head ache - was her left hand being held in a dath grip, as though someone was trying to crush her fingers.

' Sirius,' she croaked.

' Lena! ' he exclaimed, gleefully hugging her.

' I...can't...breathe...' she managed to splutter from underneath his tight hold on her, which, of course, caused him to let go at once.

She looked around her bedside to see that her four male friends were there.

' How are you? ' Remus asked, ' you look a bit peaky.'

' Well wouldn't you if you'd just fallen from all that way up? ' Sirius responded, rolling his eyes at his sensible friend.

' What happened? ' Lena asked.

' You fell off your broom, ' Peter told her.

' I know that,' she sighed, ' I mean, how am I still here? A fall that great should have killed me, once I hit the ground.'

Sirius looked over at one of his fellow marauders and grinned, ' James caught you. '

' What? ' she asked, incredulously.

Sirius continued, ' yeah, we all saw you fall, and then he just flew down straight after you and managed to catch you on his broom. Course, you were unconsious, but you were alive. '

Selena propped her self up on her elbows, ' James, really? ' she smiled softly.

' It was nothing ' he insisted, ' anyone would have done it for a friend. You'd have done the same for me.'

Lena scoffed, ' I doubt I'm strong enough to go around catching falling chasers. But seriously, thanks a lot, I owe you one. '

' Nah, I was just being a good friend. '

' When the hell did you start being so modest ? 'she laughed, ' get over here and give me a hug

James obeyed his friend's order, brushing past Remus and Peter to reach her side.

She leant up and threw her arms around his neck enthusiastically, and he - though taken rather aback by her forwardness - retaliated by carefully encirling her waist.

' My knight in shining armour, ' she grinned, kissing his cheek.

He smiled bashfully, and when, a minute later, Madam Pomfrey told them that they'd been there too long and they should be going and the boys did as they were told, he stood outside the hospital wing for a moment, and touched a hand to his cheek.

--

Friday morning was the first divination lesson of the term.

(Well, technically, the first had been on Thursday morning, but Madam Pomfrey refused to let Lena leave the realms of the hospital wing until Thursday evening)

After climbing up the ladder and in to Professor Vablatsky's room, Lena intended to sit at the same table she had sat at since 3rd year, with the same two people.

The tables in this room had always been arranged for three people to sit at, and Lena had always sat with James and Sirius.

But then the three of them felt guilty about leaving their other two friends out, so made certain that Remus and Peter sat at the table next to them.

5 was a difficult number to sort out, in classes.

When they had to sit in pairs, it was always - and had always been - James and Sirius. Then Lena would sit with Remus, and Peter would be left out.

They were therefore quite glad to see that the classroom had been reorganised - in to tables for 5 people.

As Professor Vablatsky began revising tea leaves with them, no one was really concentrating.

Not even Lena was paying much attention, because it was a warm day - far too warm compared to a usual autumn day, but the summer had come late that year, and they were having an odd year with the weather.

It was too warm for anyone to pay much attention, and the heat simply made everyone sleepy.

In any other classroom, it might not have been so bad, but the divination class room was most definitley the warmest in the castle.

' Professor? ' James called out, waving his hand at her.

' Um..yes, Mr Potter? ' asked a suprised Professor Vablatsky, who did not usually get many people asking questions in her lessons.

' It's far too stuffy in here, can we not open a window ?' he asked.

Professor Vablatsky shook her head in disapproval, ' This room is at the perfect temperature for the inner eye to see. '

James sighed, ' Right, then I've come to a conclusion, Professor. ' He announced.

Remus and Lena exchanged exapserated looks, wondering what their friend was going to do now.

James continued, ' If you won't open a window, then I'll just have to take my shirt off. ' he grinned devilishly.

True to his word, he did begin to unbutton his shirt - all the students having already removed their outer robes.

By the time he was done, the eyes of every girl in the room were fixed upon him - Lena being no exception.

Of course, she'd seen him shirtless plenty of times. The Potter's had a pool in their house...he'd often remove his shirt on a warm day by the lake...and sometimes she'd go in to their dormitory only to find one of the boys half clothed.

But it was as if before now, she'd never really payed much attention to his physical attributes...the curve of his biceps, well toned from plenty of quidditch practise...the well defined stomach muscles...he really was a sight for sore eyes.

The teacher sighed, ' Potter, put your clothes back on...I'll open the window if I must, but I'm not happy about it. '

James looked satisfied and sat back down in his seat at the table with his friends.

As he buttoned his shirt back up, Lena watched him in interest, something he noticed - and was rather pleased with.

' Lena? ' he asked, causing her to tear her gaze from his chest.

' Huh? ' she said in a daze.

' What's the matter...see something you like? ' he smirked, raising one eyebrow flirtatiously.

' Wouldn't you like to know,' she grinned.

The exchange earned them both watchful glances for the rest of the lesson from Sirius.

Sirius wasn't stupid, he saw the way his best friend would flirt with his sister, but James was a natural flirt, so Sirius never thought much of it.

Now, he realised, he might have to watch the situation more carefully.

After class, it was time for break. Lena told the boys that she wanted to have a quick word with the divination teacher, and that they should just go on without her, and she'd catch them up.

She told the old woman about the dream she had had on her first night back in the castle, and how she'd had similar ones every night since.

' A man , you say? ' the older female asked, with an amused smile.

' Yes. Sometimes we're in diagon alley, or at Hogsmede, or in a little house, but it's always a man...though I never see his face properly...like they dream doesn't want me know who he is. What does it all mean? '

' My dear, ' Professr Vablatsky smiled gently, ' I believe that this may be your future. '

' You do? Really? '

' It's very likely - I've always sensed that there was something mystical about you. It is as if the spirits of divination are drawn to you. How old did you appear to be in these visions? '

' Not much older than I am now, Professor. Maybe three, or four, years older, I guess. '

' Yes, I believe that what you see is your future. That in three or four years time, you will be engaged to a man, and the scene in Hogsmede with Rosmerta will happen. '

' But why can't I see his face? '

' Because that would ruin the suprise, dear. But you'll know who he is, when he comes along, and all those lovely things from your vision will happen without you even having to make them..it will all come natural. It looks like you're set to have one happy future. '

As Lena left, it occured to her that she didn't care how senile other people said Professor Vablatsky was - she would always respect the woman, because whilst Molly and Alice had ismissed the dreams as nothing, the teacher had given her hope, and had listened to her.