Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Josephine and Pandora sit together in their divination class. A small smile graces Pandora's lips as she acknowledges Josephine's presence.
Meanwhile, Alora is busy at her desk, diligently arranging papers as their fellow students trickle into the classroom.
"Hey, Pandora," Josephine turns to her blonde friend. "You can sew right?"
Pandora nods with a gentle, affirmative hum. "Mhm."
Josephine pulls her bag closer. "The strap on my bag is falling apart. I was wondering if you could fix it." Josie knows she can fix it with magic or just get a new one. But she's had this bag for so long that she doesn't want to mess anything up by fixing it with magic.
Pandora examines the fraying strap with a light touch. "Oh, yes, definitely. I can do it tomorrow if you'd like."
Pandora returns her smile before turning her attention back to her books on palm reading.
Josephine leans in thoughtfully. "You know, I've been wondering... How's Xenophilius?"
Pandora quickly turns back to Josephine, a hint of blush on her cheeks. "Oh, he's good."
"I bet he's more than just good," Josephine teases with a mischievous smile.
Pandora chuckles. "I really do like him."
"We should all hang out sometime. I'd like to meet him," Josephine suggests. Despite being in the same house, she hasn't interacted much with Xenophilius.
Pandora nods. "I'll ask him."
Clearing her throat, Alora brings their attention back to the class. "Hello, everyone. Please take out your books."
Josephine exchanges a small smile with Alora before retrieving her palm reading book.
"After you've read pages ten through twenty, try to identify the lines on your partner's hand and match them with those in the book."
Josephine and Pandora delve into their reading, and after a few minutes, Josephine begins analyzing Pandora's palm.
"Okay, you definitely have a water hand shape," Josephine observes. She double-checks her book to confirm her assessment: narrow palms with long, flexible fingers, and cold to the touch.
Next, she focuses on Pandora's heart line, which curves slightly upward. "So, your heart line," she traces the line on Pandora's palm, "it's curving upward, which means you are very romantic and like to express your feelings to those you trust."
Pandora nods in agreement. "That's true."
Next, she meticulously examines each line on Pandora's palm before it is her turn.
Pandora hums softly. "Your hand doesn't seem to perfectly match any of these characteristics," she remarks before shifting her focus to the specific lines.
"Your heart line also curves upward," she notes, her tone taking on a playful note.
Pandora clears her throat, shifting to the life line. "Your life line sweeps widely, suggesting you have a deep lust for life," she says with a cheeky brow waggle.
Josephine can't help but laugh, and Pandora continues, "Your head line is quite long, indicating that you're a profound thinker and likely have a strong love for learning."
Josephine agrees, shivering slightly as Pandora traces her palm lines for a few more seconds.
The class concludes, and Josephine bids farewell to Pandora with a wave before leaving.
As she strolls down the hallway toward her dormitory, she inadvertently collides with Sirius.
"Oh, sorry," she mutters.
Sirius waves off her apology. "No worries, but..." His eyes dart around the hallway, and he leans in to whisper, "Meet at Dumbledore's office at seven for a meeting."
She has been looking forward to a nap, but it seems that won't be happening.
"Alright, I'll be there," she replies, and Sirius gives her a sly wink before walking away.
~~~
The overwhelming sense of déjà vu washes over her as she knocks on Dumbledore's office door once more. She can't help but hope that Fleamont won't be present at this meeting.
Dumbledore swings the door open, and she musters a strained smile.
Pretend. Pretend. Pretend.
Dumbledore gestures for her to enter, so she obliges, stepping past him into the room.
Inside, she finds the same familiar faces from previous meetings. James, once again, has his gaze fixed on her, but she resolutely ignores him. Instead, she engages in casual conversation with Dumbledore, discussing trivial matters until he deems it time to proceed.
The routine plays out as expected. They floo to a different location, the same one as before. To her relief, Euphemia and Fleamont are absent, and she almost lets out a sigh of relief at their absence.
Taking a seat between Lily and Remus, Josephine offers them a small, genuine smile before turning her attention to the front, waiting for the meeting to commence.
Her fingers unconsciously tap the table, and as soon as she realizes it, she forces herself to stop.
Dumbledore takes his place at the head of the table and begins speaking. A woman, whose name escapes Josephine, chimes in, revealing that they have inserted more spies into the enemy's meetings. Josephine finds it somewhat amusing how naïve these individuals are, believing they can trust them because they are students and could never be spies since they weren't in Slytherin.
The woman lists a few names of those involved in the enemy's meetings, and Josephine commits them to memory, repeating them silently.
The only significant information she gets is the existence of spies and the spells protecting one of their houses.
The last part she gathered from overhearing someone discussing the enchantments placed on their own house and the need to renew them soon.
The familiar sequence of events replays once more as they return to Hogwarts. She bids farewell to Dumbledore and resists the urge to steal one last glance at James before parting ways.
