DITSY DIVINATION!

SEPTEMBER 1993

3rd Year

• • • •

The Great Hall broke out into applause as the choir and the toads finished their performance, the students moving back to their seats, Annabelle sending Cora and grin and a wink as she joined the Hufflepuff table, earning a small smile and a blush back.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," Professor Dumbledore bellowed, silencing the applause, "Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, professor." The man introduced the new professor - who stood up, earning more applause.

"Do you see the look on Snape's face?" Annabelle muttered to Neville, the pair giggling.

"Of course. That's why he knew to give you the chocolate, Harry." Hermione told the boy from the other side of her best friend.

"Potter! Potter!" The voice of Draco whisper-spat over, making them turn to him, "Is it true you fainted?" The Slytherin laughed, one of his posse mock fainting, "I mean, you actually fainted?"

"Shove off, Malfoy." Ron glared, turning Harry to face back to the front.

"How did he find out?" Harry sighed.

"Just forget it." Ron told him.

"He's a rat, Harry." Annabelle muttered.

"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs," Professor Dumbledore continued, "Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid," The man announced, another round of applause commencing. Hagrid smiled awkwardly, Professor McGonagall nudging him to stand, the table nearly toppling over in concession, making the students - especially the Gryffindors - clap and whistle harder, "Finally, on a more disquieting note," Dumbledore silenced everyone, "At the request of the Ministry of Magic Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black is captured. The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times," He waved his hand and extinguished a candle, "If one only remembers to turn on the light." His hand waved again, and the candle was relit.

***

Annabelle laughed, lightly shoving Fred away from her, "Stop poking me."

"Then stop shoving me." The older boy retorted as The Fat Lady's 'singing' came into earshot.

"Fortuna Major," Seamus tried again as his friends reached him, "Here, listen. She just won't let me in." The boy said.

Harry sighed, "Fortuna Major."

The woman held her hand up, "No, no. Wait, wait. Watch this," She continued to shriek, making everyone cover their ears, Annabelle smiling at the sight of Neville protecting Trevor's ears as everyone else - even the paintings - made sure to cover their own. The Fat Lady then smashed the glass against a column behind her, "Amazing. Just with my voice." She gasped.

"Fortuna Major." Harry repeated.

The Fat Lady sighed, "Yes, all right. Go in."

"Thank you." Harry sighed, everyone entering the common room, ranting to each other about the portrait guarding their tower.

"Good evening, Valkyrie." Annabelle smiled at the woman.

"And this is why you're my favourite." The portrait smiled back at the redhead.

"Suck up." Hermione giggled, linking arms with her best friend as they made their way up to their dorm.

"Says you." Annabelle nudged her side as they entered their dorm, the brunette following the redhead to her bed.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Hermione whispered.

A grin made it's way onto Annabelle's face, "Always."

Hermione grinned, taking Annabelle's hand and gently guiding her to the connected bathroom.

"You realise this looks quite dodgy, right?"

"Oh, shut up."

***

Cora, Neville and Annabelle sat together at a table in Divination class, trying not laugh as they watched their teacher address them.

"Welcome, my children," The woman greeted in a wispy voice, "In this room, you shall explore the noble art of Divination. In this room, you shall discover if you possess the Sight," She said, standing up and walking into the small table in front of her, causing Cora and Annabelle to hide their laughs behind their hands, "Hello. I am Professor Trelawney. Together we shall cast ourselves into the future. This term, we'll focus on Tasseomancy, the art of reading tea leaves. So please, take the cup of the person sitting opposite you." She instructed.

The three looked awkwardly at each other, before passing their cups around like a conveyer belt.

"What do you see? The truth lies buried like a sentence deep within a book, waiting to be read. But first, you must broaden your minds. First, you must look beyond."

"What a load of rubbish." Hermione rolled her eyes from between Harry and Ron.

"Where did you come from?" Ron asked her.

"Me? I've been here all this time." Hermione said, sharing a small smile with Annabelle at the table next to her.

"You, boy," Professor Trelawney gasped, pointing over at Neville, "Is your grandmother quite well? I think so. I wouldn't be so sure of that. Give me the cup," Annabelle complied, passing it to the woman. The professor hummed, "Pity."

Neville whimpered, staring down at his cup as the professor wandered away from them.

"Don't worry, Nev," Annabelle assured the boy, gently putting her hand over his, "I'm sure she's completely fine. Most of this is a lot of rubbish anyway."

"Broaden your minds," Professor Trelawney sang before letting out odd noises and gasping over at Ron, "Your aura is pulsing, dear. Are you in the beyond? I think you are."

Ron nodded, frightened, "Sure."

"Look at the cup. Tell me what you see." The professor told him.

"Yeah. Um, well," Ron consulted his textbook, "Harry's got sort of a wonky cross. That's trials and suffering. And that there could be the sun and that's happiness. So...you're gonna suffer, but you're gonna be happy about it." The boy told his best friend, making Annabelle let out a snort-like laugh.

"Give me the cup," The Professor said, looking inside it, before dropping it and retreating with a dramatic gasp, "Oh, my dear boy. My dear... you have the Grim." She gasped at Harry.

"The Grin? What's the Grin?" Seamus asked.

"Not the Grin, you idiot. The Grim," Cora told him, reading out of her textbook, "'Taking form of a giant spectral dog. It's among the darkest omens in our world. It's an omen... of death'."

Annabelle sighed, crossing her arms on the table and lying her head on top of them, "I hate this bloody class." She muttered.