This is a direct continuation of Hogwarts Mystery Chronicles Part 2 with chapters that I removed from that fanfic now available in this one, and I will be adding new chapters to not only catch up with the Hogwarts Mystery chapters that are out there as well as keep up with the latest ones that are coming out. Hope you enjoy this fanfic!
Chapter 1: Deciding the Future
After the long boat ride from Azkaban, Claire Krystal Apparated to her dorm room at Hogwarts before Lights Out. She fell into an uneasy sleep and woke up the next morning feeling awful. Nymphadora Tonks noticed this at breakfast, and sat across from Claire.
"I take it the second trip to Azkaban was worse," Tonks guessed.
"Yeah," Claire murmured. "It was one of the most terrifying experiences I've ever had. Getting attacked by Dementors, running into Patricia Rakepick…."
"Rakepick!" Tonks remarked. "How did that happen?"
Sighing, Claire reluctantly told Tonks everything that happened at Azkaban Prison the previous day from encountering Rakepick to fending off the Dementors that attacked them. Penny Haywood, Ben Copper, Jae Kim, and Charlie Weasley listened nearby with interest.
"Blimey," Tonks said after Claire finished talking. "You're a bona fide hero! Now I really want to become an Auror, so I can have adventures like that!"
"What about you, Claire?" Penny asked. "Are you thinking of becoming an Auror too?"
Claire couldn't answer.
"Maybe now's not the time to think about that," Penny said, retracting her earlier statement. "We've got other things to look forward to: the Summer Ball, N. E. W. T.s. Don't let this business with 'R' get you down, okay?"
Nodding, Claire ate her breakfast in silence. Then during Free Period, Claire met up with Corey Hayden and Merula Snyde in the courtyard who both looked on edge.
"Did I miss something?" Claire asked. "What's going on with you two?"
"Frankly, I don't understand why Hayden is part of our little in-group," Merula said in a blunt manner. "This business with 'R' has nothing to do with him."
"But it was my idea to make you a double agent, which I'm now starting to regret," Corey responded irritably.
"Guys, we don't have time for petty squabbles," Claire said. "There are important matters I wanted to discuss."
"Like what?" Merula demanded.
Claire paused and said, "Rakepick is in Azkaban."
Hearing Rakepick's name, Merula stomped her foot. "I thought we left her at the bottom of the Black Lake to rot! What is she doing there?"
"The Ministry got her out and brought her to Azkaban in the hopes of getting useful information about 'R,'" Claire explained. "It's why I went back to Azkaban yesterday with Mad-Eye Moody accompanying me. But then she tried to escape, which caused the prison to go on lockdown and I was unfortunately trapped inside."
"Did you encounter Rakepick?" Corey asked, looking concerned.
"Unfortunately, I did," Claire responded. "She was definitely off her rocker. But she said some disturbing things like someone at 'R' being even higher ranked than the Director, whom Rakepick seemed to be afraid of."
"So? Rakepick was afraid of the Director too," Merula pointed out.
"You say that like it's something to respect," Corey noticed.
Groaning, Merula glared at Corey. "I respect power in general, which is something you'll never understand being a pathetic Gryffindor!"
"Merula," Claire said, trying to get Merula's attention.
But Merula ignored Claire and continued, "You may think you've figured me out, Hayden, but you don't know me! This isn't one of those silly detective novels you love to quote so much."
Then Merula stormed out of the courtyard, leaving Corey speechless.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Corey said to Claire after a few minutes of silence.
"I couldn't come up a good answer," Claire said. "But I can't afford to have you two fighting like this, or we'll never get the jump on 'R.'"
"Look, I understand why Merula's position as a double agent in 'R' is important," Corey said. "But…I feel like she's keeping secrets from us."
Unsure of what to say, Claire left Corey to ponder about what he said. Her mind was left troubled all day and into the following morning when she arrived in the Divination Classroom at the top of the winding staircase.
"Hey, Claire made it on time," Badeea Ali said to Liz Tuttle. "I told you she would."
"Maybe I read my tea leaves wrong," Liz said.
Shaking his head, Talbott Winger said, "I still think Divination is nothing but phony science."
Just then, Professor Trelawney arrived looking as wild-haired as before.
"Good morning, everyone!" Trelawney greeted. "Today, we will begin preparing for the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test, or the N. E. W. T.s as they're commonly called. As you know, these exams are very important because they may help foretell what careers you will be able to pursue. I remember the tests were quite difficult when I was your age, forcing me to rely on my third eye many times. Thus, we shall expand our mind's eye by practicing Ovomancy!"
On everyone's individual tables were a pile of eggs and two plates. Following Trelawney's instructions, Claire cracked an egg onto her plate. She watched the egg whites separating from the yolk, trying to interpret its meaning.
"Hey, Claire!" Barnaby Lee said, breaking Claire's concentration. "Watch how many eggs I can fit into my mouth."
"I bet you can't fit more than four eggs," Tonks proclaimed.
Picking four eggs up, Barnaby stuffed them in his face. But when he tried to put one more in, the eggs cracked causing yolk and broken egg shells to drip onto Barnaby's school robe. While Claire giggled, Barnaby blushed and left to clean himself up.
"Maybe I should divine whether you should be an Auror or a Healer," Claire said to Talbott. "I've heard you're torn between the two."
Talbott shrugged. "Go ahead. Wouldn't hurt, I guess."
So Claire cracked another egg onto her plate after clearing the one that was already on there. After a few moments of interpretation, she said, "Honestly, it's a bit…muddled."
"Does it really matter what the egg yolk says or not?" Talbott argued. "I mean, it should be up to us to decide our futures. Not to have them decided for us."
"Hmm, you might be right," Claire admitted.
"Attention, class!" Trelawney said. "I have been watching your techniques, and have determined your future outcomes on the N. E. W. T.s. While some of you have a clear path ahead, some…are uncertain."
Feeling like Trelawney was referring to her, Claire left Divination in a more troubled state than before. Then on her way to her next class, her pet Short-eared owl Eban delivered a note from Merula telling her to meet her at the Lakeshore alone that night.
To be continued…
