Chapter 43: Speak Now/Haunted
Harry stepped out of the carriage first, conjured an umbrella to keep the rain off him and turned back to offer a hand to Hermione and Luna. Neville then stepped down to the do the same for Hannah and Susan. Harry didn't even get inside the doors before being waylaid.
"Is it true what they said?" Draco Malfoy's contemptuous voice cut through the throng of students. "You and Longbottom passed out on the train. The Boy-Who-Lived? Felled by a single Dementor. What a hero."
Malfoy laughed and led his usual posse through the doors into the entryway.
"Seriously?" A taller boy wearing Hufflepuff robes piped up. "A Dementor is enough to make Potter pass out? What an embarrassment to the Potter name."
Harry's cheeks heated up. He didn't even know the boy's name, yet he had the audacity to insult not only him but his entire family?
"Shove it, Smith," Susan said. "Take your arrogant arse elsewhere; the courtyard's too crowded as it is."
Turning back to Harry she gave him an apologetic expression.
"Sorry about him. He's Zacharias Smith. Everyone in Hufflepuff wishes he'd sod off to another place... like Mars."
In spite of his rage, Harry laughed.
"Leave them to their daft opinions," Harry turned to see Daphne walking up with Tracey, Vinny and Greg bringing up the rear. "Everyone with a brain knows Dementors bring out the worst memories. Only thing Draco would experience would be the one time his mum wasn't there to properly wipe him."
Thankful for a release of tension, Harry laughed uproariously at the image.
"Thank you, Daphne," Harry said. "Let me know when would be a good time and place to meet."
"Will do, Potter," she gave him a small smile and they headed in toward the Great Hall.
"Mr. Potter!" McGonagall spotted him and made a beeline for him. "I was told you had an issue with the Dementor on the train. Madam Pomfrey is just over here in the antechamber next to the Hall. Mr. Longbottom? Miss Lovegood? How are you feeling? Professor Lupin said your reactions were rather severe."
"I am better, professor," Luna said. "Professor Lupin gave us chocolate and Harry was very supportive. I would like to eat something soon, however."
"I am okay," Neville was still shaken. "It's not an experience I would wish to repeat, however."
"Alright," McGonagall nodded after scrutinizing them both. "Mr. Potter, if you'll follow me."
"I'll save you a seat," Hermione said as they separated. McGonagall lead him to a cozy-looking room where a frantic Madam Pomfrey was pacing.
"About time," Pomfrey said. "I received word that you collapsed on the train. How are you?"
"I am recovering," Harry said. "It wasn't pleasant but after some chocolate, I feel better."
"Chocolate," Pomfrey sounded surprised.
"Professor Lupin gave some to us on the train," Harry explained. "He said it helps."
"Thank goodness we seem to have a competent defense professor this year," Pomfrey said. "Are you feeling anything else?"
"Now that you say that my arm feels really cold from where the Dementor grabbed me," Harry flexed his left hand as he spoke.
"Wait, it touched you!?" McGonagall's face reddened. "Where?"
Harry rolled up his sleeve where a black mark in the shape of a hand was still apparent.
"According to Hermione," Harry couldn't take his eyes of the marred skin. "The Dementor was trying to drag me away before Professor Lupin and Auror Tonks drove it away."
"Dementors are some of the foulest creatures around," McGonagall said. "Their touch has been known to cause severe frostbite. If they hold on long enough, it'll cause the skin to deteriorate to the point where amputation is necessary."
Harry blanched at McGonagall's explanation and moved his right hand protectively over his left arm.
"Do not worry," Pomfrey consoled as she withdrew a container from her bag. "You will have to put this on. It is a cream made from the saliva of a Fire Crab. If you put it on nightly, you will see the skin start to heal."
"If that is all," McGonagall was forestalled by the door opening with Dumbledore on the other side. He was wearing midnight robes with stars on them. In spite of himself, Harry snorted.
"Something funny?" Dumbledore's eye twinkled as he addressed Harry.
"Have you ever seen Fantasia?" Harry asked. Dumbledore nodded slowly.
"I do make it a point to spend time in the muggle world. A wonderful film if I do say so."
"Well your robes look like the wizard in The Sorcerer's Apprentice segment," Harry chuckled.
"I guess they do. I never considered that," Dumbledore laughed as the two witches stared in amazement. "I heard from Professor Lupin you came into direct contact with a Dementor. I wanted to stop in to make sure you are okay."
"Thank you, headmaster," Harry rolled his sleeve back again. "Not too serious and I've got something from Madam Pomfrey to help."
"I am sorry you had to experience this," Dumbledore said and Harry swore he saw his eyes harden for a moment. "They will be deployed at the boundary to the grounds. I have the assurances of the Minister that is where they will stay. Minerva, please feel free to get started with the feast. I need to make a call."
Back in London, Amelia Bones was on the warpath. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floors as she sped toward her destination.
"I'm sorry Madam," the woman sitting at the desk tried to forestall her. "The Minister told me not to interrupt him."
"Stow it, Miss Edgecombe," Amelia said. "Whatever the Minister is doing, it isn't more important than this. Tell Cornelius to make himself decent; I am going to be inside his office in 30 seconds.
True to her word, Amelia Bones walked through the threshold to the office 30 seconds later. Fudge was breathing hard and sweating as he rapidly closed the drawer to his desk.
"Madam Bones!" Fudge tried to sound jovial when instead he was panicking on the inside. "How may I help you?"
"I have just received a report from one of the Aurors I placed on the Hogwarts Express," Amelia withdrew a sheet of parchment. "Three Dementors searching the train, supposedly for Sirius Black. She has here two students who collapsed, at least one traumatized and the Dementors actually made physical contact with a student. That was one compartment, Cornelius.
"I told you, Cornelius," Amelia was hitting her stride. "I told you the Dementors were a bad idea. These are children! A host of children who will have no defense from them, should they decide a host of warm-bodied humans is a meal too enticing to ignore."
"I'm sure Dumbledore..." Fudge's next point was lost when the fire lit up to reveal the Hogwarts headmaster.
"Ah Madam Bones," Dumbledore addressed Amelia. "I might be too late. If my guess is correct, she is in your office for the same reason I am calling. Dementors searched the train and, in doing so, traumatized my students. Our agreement was very clear: the Dementors will not come close to any of my students. I am running a school here, not a prison."
"But Sirius-"
"-Sirius Black is a person," Amelia shot back. "He has already escaped the Dementors once and we don't know how. My aurors are not Pettigrew and the staff are all relatively skilled in combat."
"But they can't be everywhere, can they?" Fudge felt he finally had a foothold on which to stand in this argument. "There's more students than there are staff or aurors. The Dementors will stay, to help protect the students."
"If any of my students are seriously harmed by those creatures," Dumbledore said. "I will make sure everyone know where the blame for the ensuing fiasco falls. Think hard about this, Cornelius."
With that, Dumbledore vanished from the fireplace.
"I couldn't agree more," Amelia said. "I will be keeping a squad of aurors on site, both to look for Black and protect the students. Good night, Minister."
Amelia turned on her heel and stormed from the office.
"This is getting serious," Fudge slumped in his seat.
"It takes a special person to weather storms such as this," Lucius Malfoy pulled off an invisibility cloak. "You certainly have the ability to bear it. When the Dementors bring in Black, you will be vindicated. Thank you for lending me your cloak, by the way."
"You're welcome, Lucius," Fudge said as he stowed the cloak back within his desk drawer. As Minister, he was provided with a cloak, just in case someone had the idea to take his life. It came in handy, if not for the purpose it was provided. "I just wish Dumbledore could see the benefits. His students are safer with them at the castle. If not for them, Black could just wander right up to the gates, I'm sure."
"Well you just keep your resolve," Malfoy said. "You will be rewarded in the end."
"I would rather be rewarded now," Fudge glanced up at Malfoy. Malfoy snorted and withdrew a small pouch. He tossed the bag, coins clinking as he did, to Fudge. "Always a pleasure, Lucius."
"You have no idea," Malfoy smiled as he walked out of the office. He passed by Umbridge's office and mouthed the word more. She nodded and pulled a drawer open.
Up at the castle, the sorting had just wrapped up. Harry didn't pay a whole lot of attention except for when he heard the name "Greengrass" called. The girl, Astoria, was a polar opposite to what Harry assumed was her sister Daphne. She had dark hair and looked to have a boisterous amount of energy. The hat placed her in Slytherin and Harry was convinced when Astoria sat next to Daphne at the Slytherin table.
Dumbledore arrived halfway through and when the feast ended, he stood to address the students.
"To our new students, welcome and to our returning students, we have missed you," he gestured to the staff behind him. "I have a few staff changed to address. First, welcome Professor Lupin who will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Look at Snape!" Ron called out as the students applauded. Harry gazed at the Potions Master and saw him giving Lupin a look reminiscent of the one he gave Harry. Even after McGonagall and Dumbledore got him to back off, Snape was still bitter to him. No longer cruel but just simply bitter.
"Also," Dumbledore cut through conversation. "Professor Kettleburn has decided to retire, preferring to take his remaining limbs to a warmer climate where he can spend his days in peace. As such, our gamekeeper Hagrid has agreed to assume the post of Care of Magical Creatures. Welcome to you, Professor Hagrid."
Applause erupted from the Gryffindor table with a smattering of polite clapping from the other students.
"Of course," Ron said. "Who else would assign a biting book."
"Look at Malfoy," Harry poked Hermione. Malfoy was sat with Nott and Parkinson. They put their heads together, muttering something to one another.
"We need to keep an eye on him," Hermione said. "The git would love nothing more than to get Hagrid fired for his first lesson."
"One last piece of business," Dumbledore continued. "As you are now aware, Hogwarts will unfortunately be playing host to the Dementors of Azkaban this year as the search for Sirius Black (his eyes flicked to Harry) is ongoing. With Black on the loose and recent werewolf attacks, I must express extreme caution to you all. A Dementor is not one to distinguish friend from foe. They know not the term mercy and if you cross them, they will not give you any warning. As for the werewolves, the wards of the castle have been upgraded to keep werewolves from accessing the grounds. For that reason, the Forbidden Forest is not a place any student should find themselves. I say that every year but it is especially true this year. Due to the wild magic within, it is impossible to ward. I will be looking to our prefects and especially our Head Boy and Girl to keep track of everyone. If you see something that is amiss, say something. Now on your notice boards, you will see all the information for Quidditch tryouts, as well as any club information. Any club that was formed last year has automatically been approved for the coming year. Now I can see your attention is focused on your warm beds and less on the old fool talking. Off to bed, pip pip!"
Languidly, the assembled students trudged toward their dormitories. Harry pulled Neville over toward the fireplace and sat him down. Curious, Lavender and Parvati joined them, along with Hermione and Luna.
"Are you okay if other people hear this?" Neville asked.
"I trust everyone here but ultimately it is up to you," Harry's green locked on to Neville's blue. Neville held his gaze for a minute before nodding. Hermione cast a few privacy spells and Harry began the story.
He watched Neville's face as he recited the prophecy that put a target on both their heads. Neville figured it out quickly how the prophecy could have applied to both of them.
"Neither can live..." Neville repeated the refrain.
"While the other survives, yes," Harry nodded. Lavender's eye widened and Parvati leaned back heavily as the weight of that line sunk in.
"Which is irrelevant, really," Luna said. "You-Know-Who's goals were juxtaposed to the values of both of your families, to a lot of our families. None of us could have really 'lived' had he remained in power. That's why we celebrate you, Harry."
"But he's gone, right?" Parvati asked.
"No," Hermione said, making every head bar Harry and Neville snap to her. "He was riding shotgun on the back of Professor Quirrell's head first year."
"That must be why he smelled so horrible," Lavender crinkled her nose at the remembered stench.
"We fought him at the end of first year," Hermione said as pieced clicked into place.
"That's why you both were in the Wing at the end of the year, wasn't it?" Parvati asked the rhetorical question.
"Yes and he's still out there, a shade of his former self but he's out there," Harry said. "One day he will return, I'm sure. And on that day, me and everyone I love will be put right in the crosshairs."
"The power he knows not," Neville recalled the line. "What do you think that might be?"
"I'm not sure. Dumbledore thinks it is love, I think it is friendship," Harry said. "Voldemort (everyone bar Hermione flinched) has followers but no friends. There's a limit to where you'll follow someone. But for me, there's nowhere I'll go where Hermione won't follow, which is valuable. Who knows, though? It could be something different altogether."
"Well whatever it is, I'll be with you," Neville shook her blonde hair ferociously. "Wherever a Potter goes, a Longbottom follows."
"And where there is a Longbottom, there will always be a Potter," Harry finished the line. It was written in his family grimoire, after all.
"I'll be there too," Luna said. "I stand for truth and justice. You-Know-Who would oppose both of those ideals."
"And we'll be there too," Lavender grabbed Parvati's hand as both nodded vigorously.
"Hopefully that's years away," Harry said. "I'm hoping to enjoy the time we have until that point, starting with this year."
"Speaking of which," Hermione pointed to Percy Weasley moving around the common room. "It's late. We should head to bed."
"Agreed," Harry said, barely restraining himself from kissing her goodnight. They parted sorrowfully and headed up their respective doorways. Keeping this secret isn't going to be easy... or fun, Harry thought as he tucked himself into bed.
Hermione had a rough time sleeping. Every time she nodded off, her dreams were filled with images of the Dementors dragging a screaming Harry out of the compartment. That he was unconscious didn't factor into her dreams as she watched Harry dragged time-after-time, each time more brutal. At last, she gave up trying to sleep, venturing down to the common room to try and read.
"Couldn't sleep?" The voice she most needed to hear spoke out. "Me either."
"I kept reliving the train ride," Hermione said. "Every time in my dreams I wasn't strong enough, quick enough and you were dragged away."
"Shh" Harry soothed, nearly sprinting to hug his girlfriend. "It's okay. I'm here. I'm here."
Silent tears fell down her cheeks as Harry held her.
"But what if they attack again," Hermione wept. "If it weren't for Tonks and Professor Lupin, we'd have been totally helpless. Next time we might not have them."
"I know. It's why I came down. Well that and my arm hurts like you wouldn't believe," Harry rubbed the spot where the Dementor touched him. "I wanted to read the book Tonks gave me on Defense to see if there was anything about Dementors and the spell they used to repel them."
"Do you think Professor Lupin would be willing to teach us?" Hermione asked, finally relaxing from her hysterics. Harry walked them over to the couch next to the dying fire. Harry laid down with his arm wrapped around Hermione.
"We could certainly ask," Harry said. "Or maybe Professor Flitwick would know?"
"That sounds good," Hermione nodded and cuddled in close to him. "Where is this book?"
Harry chuckled and summoned it to them. With one hand pinned, he held the book while Hermione turned pages. That soon became irrelevant as both sets of eyes gave in to their tiredness.
Some time later, Harry was prodded awake by Dobby.
"Excuse me, Master Harry," Dobby said. "It is almost 6. Dobby was worried you might oversleep."
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry whispered before shaking the bushy mess of hair taking up residence on his left side, using his chest for a pillow. Hermione moaned as she woke.
"Good morning, girlfriend," Harry loved calling her that and, since there wasn't anyone in the common room, he was free to say it aloud.
"Good morning, boyfriend," Hermione said sleepily, a smile on her face. She gazed over her shoulder with a smile. "What time is it?"
"A little before six," Harry said. "I hope you don't mind being woken but I'm sure you'd like to get ready for today."
"Unfortunately, yes," Hermione said. "Though I do have to say you are a wonderful cure for insomnia. And an even better pillow."
"Glad to hear it," Harry chuckled and gave her a kiss that turned into a bit of a snog before Hermione suddenly pulled back.
"Ugh," she grimaced. "Morning breath and snogging; not the ideal combination."
"I'll be sure to brush my teeth then," Harry's eyes sparkled in mirth, causing her to laugh. "I'll see you back down here at 7?"
"You've got it."
"Are you ready to head down?" Harry asked when he reappeared in the common room. Hermione beamed, slipped a hand into his, threw open the portrait hole and together they headed down to the Great Hall. As they arrived at the lower level, the pulled their hands apart.
Settling down halfway along the benches, they started to serve themselves breakfast. As the rest of the student body filled out, a groggy Ron and Seamus lollygagged behind a chipper-looking Dean.
Ron brightened when he sat down across from Hermione and caught the enticing aroma of bacon. While he was serving himself a healthy portion, Professor McGonagall went down the table handing out schedules.
With gusto, Hermione grabbed hers, eagerly memorizing her schedule.
"Here you go, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. "I must say I am impressed with your decision on electives. Lily would have approved greatly."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry took his schedule. "It'll be a challenge but after this summer, I think I'm ready for it."
"Now Professor Flitwick told me he would speak to you both after your first Charms class which I believe is tomorrow."
"What're you taking?" Ron asked with his mouth full of his bacon-and-egg sandwich.
"Please swallow before asking next time," Harry admonished to general appreciation of everyone nearby. "I've got Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes, of course. I also decided to pick up Arithmancy. Oh it looks like we start that today. That and Care."
"Why're you taking all the hard classes?" Ron said before catching himself and turning to Hermione. "Though mum did say I have to work harder this year. Hermione, would you be willing to help me with some homework this year, to help me improve my grades?"
Ron gave her a pleading look that, in Harry's mind, looked utterly terrible and made him uneasy. Hermione, to her credit, rolled with it in stride.
"If you've done the work ahead of time," Hermione said in a tone reminiscent of McGonagall. "Then I would be happy with look it over."
"Thanks, Hermione. You're really saving my bacon," Ron laughed at the pun he made. "Looks like I've got Divination first, all the way up in the North Tower. Would you know where that is?"
"No idea," Harry had never ventured into that part of the castle. "Ask one of the portraits for help."
"If you stick close to us," Parvati said. "We'll show you the way. We've been up there before. Nobody goes there so it's a good place for Lavender and I to work away from everyone."
Ron brightened as Harry looked onto his schedule. Used to having a single class on Friday, he was surprised to see a second class add there. They'd have Charms every Monday, Wednesday and Friday now. Transfiguration was now a double period on Tuesday with a single period on Thursday, sandwiched around Arithmancy and lunch with Herbology and Care in the afternoons.
"Well I'd like to go find the Arithmancy classroom early, if you don't mind," Hermione swung her shoulder bag around as she stood, careful not to hit anyone in the general vicinity.
"Sounds good," Harry grabbed his bag as well to follow her. Thanks to a helpful painting of Seven dwarves in a mine shaft, they soon found themselves outside of the Arithmancy classroom. Hermione pulled out their course book to reread the introduction while Harry just marveled at the castle. The classroom was on the fourth floor which they had rarely traversed.
"Good morning, Potter," Harry turned to see Daphne and Tracey walking up.
"Miss Greengrass," Harry bowed as Neville taught him to do. "Miss Davis. How are you doing today?"
"We are well," Tracey said. "Summer was good and we are looking forward to the year."
"Have you found a particular time you would like to meet?" Harry pressed the elegant blonde on setting up the meeting.
"I am free on Friday," Daphne said. "There is a meeting room on the second floor by the tapestry of the school coat of arms that would work nicely for our chat. Feel free to bring Granger with you but aside from that, I would prefer to keep what we speak of confidential."
"Sounds good, I will add you to my schedule," Harry said. Before they could talk further, the rest of the class appeared. Susan came to stand next to them while Ernie MacMillan preferred to lean into the wall a ways away. The rest of the class was made up of Ravenclaws. Lisa Turpin flicked her shoulder length honey-colored blonde hair over her shoulder as she sauntered closer and batted her eyelashes at Harry. Glad that Hermione was enamored in her book, Harry instead engaged the quiet Padma Patil whom she only knew because of her sister.
"Good morning, Miss Patil," Harry bowed to her. "How are you this morning."
"I am well, Mr. Potter," Padma said without a trace of emotion. "I have heard positive things about you and Miss Granger from my sister. I hope half of what she says is true. You know my sister; she loves to exaggerate."
"That she does," Harry laughed. "Sorry I have not properly introduced myself before now."
"Hopefully we will get to know one another better through our electives," Padma gave him her first smile, reserved as it was.
Any conversation was drowned out as a tall brunette strolled down the hall. She tapped the door to the classroom five times in three different locations to unlock it.
"Welcome everyone to Arithmancy," she addressed the assembled students. "I am Professor Vector. Everyone file in and find a seat and pull out your books. Class will begin in 60 seconds precisely."
Thinking he had encountered a woman who was 60 percent McGonagall and 40 percent Snape, Harry hastened to find a seat in the front row. Hermione slid into the seat to her right. Next to her sat Tracey and Daphne with Susan finding her seat next to Harry. Padma sat right behind Harry with the rest of the Ravenclaws who all chose to sit in the second row. Ernie was the lone person to sit in the third row.
"Good morning, class," Vector, true to her word, started lecturing precisely 60 seconds later. "As I said in the hallway, this is Arithmancy and I am Professor Vector. Arithmancy is one of the more difficult arms of magic that you can learn. It is all based on precise calculations to help witches and wizards guide themselves to the logical solution. Some of your yearmates are currently in Divination looking up at the stars and into glass balls to try to divine the future. In this class, we cannot predict what will happen anymore than they will in that class but, using Arithmancy, we will be able to tell the dates that are significant for a ritual to happen or something that is significant to you personally.
"For example, I am sorry Mister Potter but October 31," Harry flinched at the date mentioned. "It is exactly three months from your birthday and is also Samhain where the Feast of the Dead happens. Samhain, both solstices- winter and summer- and Beltane are examples of significant dates on the calendar. As three is a magical number and Samhain is a hallowed day, it would serve us to predict something significant to happen to you that day.
"Nothing is guaranteed but you can see the pattern and with the equations you will learn, you will be able to better anticipate when something significant will happen. In Arithmancy you will learn about magical numbers and how they are relevant to magic as a whole."
Vector walked to the board at the head of the classroom and started writing.
"1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 13 are some examples of magically-powerful numbers," Vector said. "A lot of this is important in spell work. Somebody give me a spell."
Susan raised her hand and said "Levitation."
"Ah yes, one of the earliest spells you learned," Vector wrote out the name. "Wingadium Leviosa."
"It's Levi-O-sa, not Levio-saur" Harry whispered to Hermione who laughed in spite of herself.
"The spell in question has four syllables in each word with two parts to the wand motion," Vector said. "That's why the pronunciation is incredibly important. Even when you do spells nonverbally, in your mind you are still reciting the incantation. Another spell."
"Summoning," Harry said.
"Ah yes, not one I usually get the first day," Vector looked impressed. "Acc-io with a flick up. In this case you have two syllables with one motion. Two times one equals two and two plus one equals three. You will find magical structures within every spell. In this class you will learn how the two correlate. You will also learn about magical dates within the calendar and why they are magical."
The rest of the class had a particular focus on equations and mathematical properties. An hour later, Harry left the classroom an hour later with his brain hurting. There were so many numbers and equations and probabilities, it gave him a headache. Meanwhile, Hermione seemed alight with energy. Harry was still processing the class so intensely, he never noticed the somber mood of the other Gryffindors who arrived. Transfiguration was with Hufflepuff with Susan joined by a paler than normal Hannah.
"What's the matter?" Susan said. Hannah looked from Harry to the pale Neville who sat down heavily next to Hermione. She shook her head and continued to stare forward.
McGonagall went on to give her usual speech regarding Animagus transformations as they were set to begin the year on animate to inanimate transfiguration, the next level on the complexity of Transfiguration since you have to envision the way the item looks before and how that will have to transform to fit. She warned them about a misstep in the mice-to-snuffbox transfiguration where the student failed to properly take this into account and the internal organs were still there when they opened the box itself.
She then offset her lecture by transforming into her cat form and back into human again.
"What is up with you?" She wondered aloud. "This class has never been this quiet and this is the first time you've not applauded that particular transformation."
"Sorry professor," Lavender said. "We've just come from Divination."
"Ah, I see," McGonagall rubbed her temples at the thought of the irritating gypsy she was forced to call a colleague. "Who is it this year?"
"Pardon?" Harry thrust his Arithmancy lesson into the back of his head to focus on the here and now.
"Which of you is supposed to die," McGonagall said.
"Me," Neville said. "And, apparently, Harry."
Harry, Hermione and even McGonagall startled at that.
"We were doing tea leaves and she saw the Grim and two sevens in my cup," Neville said, not looking up from the blank sheet of parchment he was supposed to be transcribing notes onto. "She told me that there was a 'grim future for those born in the seventh month. That's me... and Harry."
"I hate to break whatever spell she has on you," McGonagall said. "But Professor Trelawney has been teaching her for 15 years. Every year she introduces herself to her class by claiming one of her students will die. She has yet to be correct. But if it is still making you uneasy, rest assured that if you die, I will not expect you to turn in the homework I assign."
"Oh that's a relief," Harry said. "Though if I didn't turn in a piece of homework, I'd expect Hermione to dig me up and revive me just long enough to turn it in, I assure you."
Hermione yelped and glared at his attempt at dark humor.
"20 points for delving into Necromancy to assure Mr. Potter doesn't fail," the corner of the stern professor's mouth flicked up. That cut the tension as the rest of the class started to chuckle to which Dean added "Weekend at Bernie's, Hogwarts Edition."
The purebloods were too far gone on the first joke to worry about the second one yet Dean's joke made Hermione snort which started a whole new wave of laughter.
"10 points for alleviating the tension, Mr. Thomas," McGonagall said. "Now back to the assignment at hand.
A while later, the class filed out and Ron cornered them.
"So you guys haven't seen the Grim, have you?"
"What's the Grim?" Harry asked as the group walked toward lunch.
"A big, mangy dog," Neville said. "Purported to be harbinger of death to come."
"Well we saw a big dog in our park this summer," Hermione said to general gasps. "He was cute, really playful and everything."
"But that's... that's bad," Ron said. "Everyone who sees the Grim dies shortly thereafter."
"No idea on the timing but we're both still fine," Harry said plainly, his stomach grumbling the closer they got to the Great Hall.
"But everyone who sees the Grim dies," Ron said.
"Everyone dies, Ron," Hermione reasoned. "It's the just manner and time that is different."
"This is serious, Hermione," Ron argued back. "My uncle Bilius saw the Grim and died a week later."
"That's either a major coincidence or a self-fulfilling prophecy," Neville flinched at Hermione's phrase.
"It doesn't matter, Ron," Harry said. "I'm not going to let some tea leaves dictate how I'm going to live my life. If I die, tomorrow then I am going to enjoy life as long as I can, okay?"
"If you ask me, Divination sounds like a wooly subject," Hermione said haughtily. They finally arrived at the Great Hall with the smells of hot soup beckoning them. Harry wouldn't have been surprised if he were floating, nose-first, to the table like in the cartoons. "I'm so glad I didn't end up taking it, thank you for talking me out of it, Harry. I much prefer our Arithmancy lesson. Didn't you think it was fascinating how she went into the different equations to explain how spells are created?"
"Yes but it was also very confusing," Harry said. "I feel like my brain is tired from trying to comprehend it all."
"But by learning it, you learn why each spell is constructed the way it is," Hermione said eagerly. "It opens up so many different opportunities to understand the magical world."
Harry laughed at his girlfriend, how her eyes lit up with the possibilities Arithmancy offered. He turned back to Neville who still seemed off.
"What's going on, Neville?" Harry asked.
"But what about the prophecy," Neville dropped his voice just above a whisper. "Neither can liveā¦"
"I can understand," Harry said. "Now that you know that prophecies are real, you're wondering if every spoken word in Divination is truth. According to Dumbledore himself, prophecies are few and far between with a lot of them being vague. Don't let the prospect of a grim future keep you from experiencing a full life. Now eat up; you'll need your energy for Herbology."
At the mention of his favorite subject, Neville brightened. Harry dug into his lunch, wondering what the rest of this day would bring.
(A/N: Oh I'm loving the corrupt Fudge so much and I'm meticulously planning how this is all going to end for him, for Umbridge and for Malfoy. As for why Dumbledore can call right in to the minister's office: remember that Fudge used to lean on Dumbledore's advice for a while there, giving Dumbledore carte blanche to call whenever and Fudge obviously forgot that)
