Seven

"Do you suppose that we'll have Divination together again this year?" Luna Lovegood sighed happily at the thought. Her large eyes stared at her Gryffindor friend, waiting for an answer, and smiled slightly when she realized that the movement of the Hogwarts Express was once again causing her to drift into sleep. "Kagome?"

Blinking away the familiar warmth that filled her dreams throughout the summer, Higurashi Kagome frowned somewhat at Luna's question. The drowsiness she associated with foresight slowly began to fade the more she blinked. Her frown quickly turned to a scowl, however, when she realized that she was once again allowing herself to slip away into the bright future that was ridiculous to begin with. "Hm?" she asked.

"Do you think we'll have Divination together this year?" Luna asked again. "I had heard that Professor Dumbledore is going to allow Professor Firenze to continue teaching a few classes this year alongside Professor Trelawney."

"I'm certain we'll be stuck together like always, Luna," Kagome chuckled.

Luna merely stared back, before she finally nodded at the assumption. The Gryffindor girl did have a point, after all. The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw fifth year class had been together each and every year thus far, so it would make sense that the tradition would continue on until seventh year. "You're probably right."

Rubbing lightly at her eye, Kagome glanced out the window to the ever-changing landscape. Her mind was muddled and distant, as she once again tried to convince herself that her life did not revolve around Draco Malfoy. The boy was an absolute git, after all.

"You have that look on your face," Luna stated matter-of-factly.

"Huh?" Kagome asked. "What look?"

"That look you get whenever you're thinking of Malfoy," Luna said. She would never admit to her Gryffindor friend that that very look that once held so much venom had morphed into some type of longing. That whatever she was keeping to herself was slowly changing her point of view. "As if you want to strangle the life out of someone."

Slightly red in the cheeks, Kagome huffed.

"What did you see last year in Professor Trelawney's class, Kagome?"

Knowing the exact moment the Ravenclaw girl was talking about, Kagome turned her head back toward the window. "It was nothing of importance." And it was not, she was certain. She would not end up with Draco Malfoy, and if, on the off chance fate decided to play another trick on her, she most certainly would not be happy if she did.

A sigh almost escaped the inquisitive Ravenclaw. She decided it best not push the subject, as she began to fiddle with the wand tucked neatly behind her ear. She would get the answer eventually. "Do you know why Professor Slughorn wanted you to meet him in his compartment?"

Smiling somewhat, Kagome replied, "You're just full of questions today, aren't you?"

Luna merely smiled back.

With a wave of her hand, the Gryffindor replied, "It's stupid, really. My mom was telling me all about it when she found out that Professor Dumbledore had decided to hire him back. Apparently he has something called the Slug Club, and he likes to gather a bunch of talented or well-known witches and wizards together so he can benefit from them when they're out of Hogwarts."

"Oh?" Luna blinked several times at the knowledge.

"My dad was apparently in it when he was little," Kagome chuckled. "My mom said he used to invite her to Professor Slughorn's parties all the time once they got older and started dating. Said it was weirdest thing, since no one could understand why a Hufflepuff was dating a Slytherin."

Her brow lifted somewhat, exaggerating her already surprised expression, as Luna asked, "Your father was a Slytherin?"

"Yeah," Kagome blinked. "I never told you?" When her friend shook her head, she continued, saying, "My mom always says she's surprised that I got put into Gryffindor so easily, but that my father would probably laugh and say it's because Slytherin and Gryffindor are supposed to be two sides of the same coin. But, to be honest, I'm really glad I wasn't put in with that lousy bunch. I'd have to deal with people like Malfoy all day."

Luna could merely nod, wondering.