Soulmates

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~Outside Hogwarts~

As bridge and castle glimmer in the distance, Hagrid emerges from the Forbidden Forest, dragging a fistful of dead ferrets by the tail. A bird appears, circles his head playfully, chirping merrily before it flutters off, pin-wheeling past flowers, into a birdbath, finally coming to rest upon an ancient tree. It twitters cheerfully, singing its lovely song, when -- thwock! -- a branch punts the bird into the air. As feathers fly, the Whomping Willow resumes its shape.

~Divination Classroom~

Harry, Ron, Y/n, and Hermione sit on fat little pouffes in a murky, incense-laden room, along with Neville, Dean, Tom, Seamus, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, and others. 

Y/n: "Don't sit next to me." 

Professor Trelawney: "Welcome, my children. In this room, you shall explore the mysterious art of Divination. In this room, you shall discover if you possess..." 

A crimson scrim flutters and Sybil Trelawney, Divination Professor, glides dramatically into view, eyes huge and bug-like behind enormous glasses. Professor Trelawney: "... the Sight. Hello. I am Professor Trelawney. Together, we shall cast ourselves into the future. But know this. One either has the Gift or not. It cannot be divined from the pages of a book. Books only cloud one's Inner Eye. 

Hermione: (under her breath) "What rubbish."

Ron spins. Frowns at Hermione. 

Ron: "Where'd you come from?" 

Hermione: "Me? I've been here all along." 

Professor Trelawney: (spinning on Neville) "You, boy! Is your grandmother well?" 

Neville: "I... I think so." 

Professor Trelawney: "I wouldn't be so sure of that. The first term will be devoted to the reading of tea leaves. If all goes well, we will proceed to palmistry, fire omens, and finally... the crystal ball. (eyeing Parvati) By the way, dear, beware a red-haired man." 

Parvati eyes Ron dubiously. Edges her pouffe away. 

Professor Trelawney: "Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And in late spring, one of our numbers will... leave us forever." 

As the class exchanges uneasy glances, Trelawney smiles brightly.

Professor Trelawney: "You! (points at Y/n) Have you been injured recently?" 

Y/n: "Nearly mauled to death by a kelpie, why?" 

Professor Trelawney: "You should get checked by a professional." 

Y/n rolls her eyes. 

Professor Trelawney: "Well then. Shall we?" 

Inside, a cloud of tea leaves mutates oddly. Harry, sitting opposite Ron now, frowns at the leaves, and consults the symbols in the textbook (Unfogging the Future) at his elbow. Trelawney walks amongst them, robes flowing. 

Professor Trelawney: "Broaden your minds, my dears. And allow your eyes to see... beyond." 

Trelawney takes Lavender Brown's cup, and peers inside. 

Professor Trelawney: "A five-leaf clover... You can expect to wake up with a horrible rash tomorrow morning, dear. (then, casually) Mr. Longbottom, after you've broken your first cup..." 

CA-CHINK! Neville fumbles the cup in his hands and the brittle crash of china is heard. 

Professor Trelawney: "... would you be so kind as to select one of the blue ones? I'm rather partial to the pink."  

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