Things however adjusted pretty soon. Percy was angry at me for not keeping the twins at bay earlier (oh you know; the scene that happened at Honeydukes) but after the Quidditch crisis, he forgot all about being angry with me. 

Harry recovered after a week and thank God his arm was able to function normally. God bless Madam Pomfrey. 

Our studies were going as normal as ever with a few exceptions of slightly erratic arguments with Snape and Lockhart. 

I had started to take interest in Divination lately because I got to read that book about Prophecy making which I had seen in Flourish and Blotts earlier. It had taken a little persuasion on my side and besides Professor Trelawney was so pleased with me taking interest so yeah you get the point. 

I like books on Divination more than Crystal gazing or tea leaf studying. And I just found the thing here. 

Fred and George disapproved the idea of me studying that wooly subject but seriously who cares? I do not object when they show great interest in Muggle Studies, so there. Besides their love for Muggle studies is quite inherited from Dad. 

***

It was my free period and for once we were not practicing Quidditch so I went up to the North Tower so I could ask Professor Trelawney for some other books. I reached the classroom but the door was closed and a note was displayed: Do Not Disturb. Uh... Seriously? I knocked gently. 

Her misty voice came from inside, "come in Katerina. Just the person I was hoping to meet. And dear do not bother to lock the door. I see your brothers will come here soon and I do not intend to hear them banging loudly." 

Okay. I stepped inside and found her sitting on her desk writing what seemed to be a letter. 

"Morning," I greeted. 

"It's nearly afternoon," she replied but looked up at me and smiled, "so you've read the books?" 

I nodded, "they were interesting." 

She folded her letter and sealed the envelope, "good. Very seldom I find people who take interest in my subject. Barely one or two students who have true potential among hundreds of kids I teach. Disappointing enough." She tied her letter to an owl and it swooped off. Then she turned to me, "you have great potential, my dear." 

Okay... Thank you. "I was reading the book on Prophecies," I began, "and I have this question..." She nodded eagerly at me as if encouraging me to continue. "Is it necessary for every prophecy to come true?" 

There goes. 

She clasped her hands together and looked at me thoughtfully, "mostly they do. Whenever a prophecy is made it usually comes true whether people believe in it or not. But then there is a whole rule of breaking prophecies. The prophecy tells what should happen if a certain decision is made but however if you stop that decision, the prophecy is broken. But very less people know about this so usually whatever is said, comes true." 

It was indeed quite complex to understand. I nodded anyways. 

All of a sudden, she asked, "dear, do you have dreams that may seem slightly disturbing?" I was startled; how does she know? 

"I... I think so," I mumbled. 

"As I once said, you have the eyes of a Seer. Whatever you see either in reality or in your dreams must have a significant meaning. Don't take it lightly, my dear. It's not something that can be ignored. Since when are you having these dreams?" 

I thought for a while then answered, "I never had them before this year. At least I think... When I was little I used to dream about a man who looked sort of frightening and cruel and... And a woman who was crying... Begging for mercy. I don't... I don't know why. But it all stopped itself when I was quite young. And from this year I have these very realistic nightmares and they kick in when I'm least expecting it." 

She seemed intrigued, "how often? Or rather when was the last time you had such a realistic nightmare?" 

Let me think. I spoke, "the last time I had a nightmare was the day before I joined Hogwarts. But I keep hearing those voices. I saw the same things in my Crystal when we were, you know, crystal gazing and I excused myself. Then on the first Hogsmeade weekend when I visited the Shrieking Shack with my brothers. It's... It's quite disturbing." 

She nodded slowly as if pondering over something, "there is a force, a divine spiritual being that connects some of us to the spiritual world. And I think that force wants you to know something.  I think that divine presence is giving you some clues, perhaps warning you of what is about to happen." 

Okay... That's very deep but why would that force warn me of something that's bound to happen anyway. It's not like I'd be able to do anything to stop it so... Why the bother? 

She stood up and made her way deep into her book shelf, "I might have something that would help you." 

I saw her take out a thick book with midnight blue cover. She gave it to me. It was really thick like I don't think I'll get the time to finish it all. "It's on dreams and what the signs represent. You'll be able to find the meaning behind what the spirit wants you to know." 

I thanked her nevertheless and took it. She took my hand in her thin bony ones, "whenever you feel the need to talk to someone, I'll be right here. Who knows perhaps I'll be able of some great help to you." 

At that moment she really seemed a lot nice than I actually gave her credit for. It was just like discovering a new side in her similar to how I had discovered a new side in Percy. 

I smiled, "thanks Professor." 

She smiled back and was about to let go of my hand when something happened. Her eyes glazed and she grew stiff. 

Uh oh. Is she okay? 

"Professor Trelawney? Are you alright?" I asked. 

She didn't seem to hear me and seemed to be in an almost trance like state. 

I slightly shook her but no use, "Professor Trelawney, can you hear me?" 

No response whatsoever. 

And then her voice came out in a hoarse choked whisper:

"Prior to the Eve of Hallows when abandoned souls rise, the oracle will break the veils of time. Destined to fall. For the innocent soul suffering. Waiting imprisoned since 12 years. Destinies will be changed, balances will disrupt, hearts will be conquered... Until the moon lights the sky again!"

I was dumbfounded. I had no idea what had just happened but by the way it had looked... She was definitely making a prediction. A prophecy to be be exact. 

Soon enough she straightened and blinked twice. I was staring at her in shock. She cleared her throat, "what happened, my dear, did I say something?" 

I shook my head in a no. Then I grasped the book and stood up, "no, nothing at all. I'm getting late for class. I'll see you around soon. After I finish this book, that is." 

She smiled, "goodbye Katerina." 

I stepped out still disturbed about what I had just witnessed. I was about to shut the door behind me when she spoke in her misty voice, "oh and dear don't forget. Beware of falling. Your fall will change great destinies just like I said before." 

What? Fall...? Her words echoed in my mind again. Destined to fall... Destinies be changed... Does that mean that she was making a prophecy about me? 

"Shut the door please," I heard her again. 

"Oh sorry," I mumbled and shut it. Then I made my way as quickly as I could to the common room.

***

"And you believed her? Honestly Katerina?" Fred was shaking his head in disappointment. 

I know, right, I shouldn't have told them. "Hey don't call me Katerina, it seems... Weird," I mumbled. 

George spoke up, "oh come on. We call you Katerina when you totally surprise us. Like you do something we can't expect of you in the least. Look she was just scaring you, got it? Nothing's gonna happen and obviously you're not falling anywhere as long as you're with us." 

I hope so. 

"Exactly. That's what I've been telling you," Fred approved of George's statement, "and nothing whatever is stopping you from blowing Filch's office with us. No matter what Trelawney may predict, you are coming with us and doing your part in the prank. Tonight we're not doing anything serious. We're just checking the possibilities." 

Okay, okay I get it. "Fine," I sighed in defeat, "I understand completely that nothing's happening to me or anyone else no matter what she predicted. Happy, now?" 

Both of them grinned, "yeah. Loads better." 

After curfew all of us crept out of the common room. The Fat Lady was asleep and snoring so it just made slipping out even easier. We had decided just to explore the castle and look for escape routes near Filch's office to use in case of emergency. All three of us split up according to the plan. 

It was no big deal at all. In fact I was quite enjoying looking at all the mysterious things Hogwarts had to offer. I was just passing one of the corridors when a shaft beneath my feet slipped open and I fell right down the hole. I mentally rebuked myself for not stepping cautiously earlier. 

It was dark in here so I lit up my wand, "Lumos." 

I had fallen into a narrow winding tunnel. My curiosity took the better of me so I decided on exploring further ahead. Besides I still had fifteen minutes left after which I had to meet the twins outside the school kitchens. I proceeded deep inside the tunnel. 

By every step I took a lantern lit up all by itself. There were a lot of lanterns though. Kind of spooky and a bit creepy but honestly who cares? At nearly the end of the tunnel, there was something that was gleaming. I stepped closer to take a clearer look. 

It was a tapestry. It was quite colorful and when I observed closely I saw that it was depicting different areas of the castle at different times. Interesting. I reached out to touch it. It seemed to mesmerize me. 

But soon as my hand made contact with its fabric a strong pull gripped me. I felt myself being sucked inside the tapestry. This can't be happening. The tapestry was like swallowing me. I called out for Fred and George to come help me but it didn't seem to be of much use. 

Soon enough the strong grip took hold of me completely and I felt myself falling through a limitless void spinning endlessly. Spinning. More spinning to the point that it felt horribly painful. I couldn't see a thing and I had no idea why I was being hurled like a wooden chair caught in a tornado. And then something whacked me hard and everything kind of extinguished.

***