Fate of Fangs, Claws, and Hearts | Marauders Fanfic / Part 1

27 - Days like any other

James' POV:

My gaze was locked on the crystal ball, and in that instant, I began to question my choice to take Divination as an elective. Not only was the subject dreadfully dull, but the professor was a catastrophe. Professor Flowstick’s name was not the only odd thing about her; she also had an eccentric appearance. A peculiar headband adorned with a crystal was always perched on her head, supposedly enhancing her prophetic powers. Her numerous chains, bracelets, and rings only added to the eccentricity, yet I resisted the urge to judge.
She was currently lost in thought, staring dreamily out of the window while the rest of us sat, staring blankly into our own orbs. What I was supposed to see in mine, I had no idea. Well, I knew the task: we were meant to note down our dreams from the past week and then search for glimpses of the future within these glass spheres. But since Lily Evans did not appear in mine, the whole exercise seemed utterly pointless.

This is stupid, I don't wanna do this anymore, I complained in my thoughts, eyes drifting closed, Boring...

Boredom clawed at me, urging me to straighten up and survey the room. Around me, students scribbled diligently, their faces set in concentration as if uncovering connections to their dreams. Padfoot and Moony were sharing an orb, writing as well. Peter, meanwhile, had dozed off, his head lolling.
»Psst!« I hissed at Padfoot and Moony, seated in front of Wormtail and me. Moony's long legs made him look almost comical on the floor. »Why are you writing so much?«
They turned around, unfazed. Professor Flowstick still lost in her reverie.
»Dunno,« Padfoot shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. »I’m just making stuff up. Like this!« He pointed at his crystal ball and then scribbled on his parchment. »Looks like a woman’s silhouette, so I’m writing about boobs. Not that I actually dreamt about them, but you know…«
Moony stifled a laugh, turning it into a cough, and kept his eyes on his orb. Padfoot’s idea of making things up did not seem half bad. Only Remus took this seriously, though even he might have been concocting some of it. Wormtail’s parchment read: I don’t dream, but if I did, it would be about the sky. The crystal looks like clouds, like the sky. Real, yet a dream.
I would have to commend his creativity later, but for now, my focus was on finding something in the orb that would bring me closer to Lily.

Yes, maybe I do believe in these silly crystals a bit, a tiny bit.

With a sigh, I turned my attention away from the orb, glancing around until my eyes found the real Lily Evans. She was writing with the same diligence as always. Her hair, without sunlight, looked a rich brown, but where daylight streamed in through the windows, strands of red and orange appeared. Yes, she was stunning.
»Psst! Hey, Evans!« I called softly.
Her head whipped around, eyes narrowing into slits, still clearly holding a grudge over the incident with the exploding faucets, even though it had been four days ago. Surely, she would forgive us eventually?

She did get her revenge, though.

»What?« she snapped.
For a moment, I was lost in her green eyes. She looked at me quizzically as I leaned my head back to see her. I probably should have just turned around.
»What do you see in your crystal?« I asked. Her friends, seated around her, shot me dirty looks, especially McKinnon, who was right next to her.
»That’s none of your business, Potter!« Lily retorted. Despite the sharpness in her voice, I simply shrugged, plastering on my usual confident grin.
»Maybe it is my business, Evans.«
»And why would that be, Potter?«
»Well, I’ve been dreaming about you. And just now, I saw you in my orb,« I lied smoothly, noticing her surprise. Continuing with mock innocence, I asked, »So, what’s in yours? Maybe it’s me?«
That did it.
»You’re insufferable!« Lily hissed. »If I see you in my orb, it’s only because I can’t stand you, and I’m cursing you in my dreams.«
»So, I am in your orb?«
»Ugh! NO!«
Before I could press further, Professor Flowstick turned from her window, starting her rounds. Her first stop was our table, thanks to Lily's outburst. I nudged Wormtail, who jolted awake, rubbing his eyes and trying to smooth his hair, though a stray lock still stuck up.
Flowstick took his notes, reading through them with a dreamy nod. »How delightful, Mister Pettigrew. I too have been admiring the sky. The crystal ball reminding you of clouds is simply lovely.«
I could hardly believe my ears. She smiled and turned to me, glancing over my blank parchment.
»Lucky for you, Mister Potter, I’m not grading this lesson,« she remarked before moving on to Moony and Padfoot.
»Excellent observations,« she praised Remus, and then took Padfoot’s notes. Anyone would think she would spot the fabrications, but no.
»Ah, wonderful!« Flowstick exclaimed, holding up Padfoot’s parchment. »So profound, so honest to your true self, Mister Black!«