The Twin Who Loved (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 27 - Prisoner of Azkaban

        In Divination, Professor Trelawney was going on about how to use the crystal balls set up on all of our small tables,

"Broaden your minds. You must look beyond. The art of crystal gazing is in the clearing of the Inner Eye. Only then can you see. Try again. Now, what do we have here?"

While the professor went on, Eric, Harry, Ron and I couldn't be bothered to actually try to comprehend the images we saw in the fog of the crystal balls.

"Oh, do you mind me trying?" Hermione smiled sweetly. It seemed as though she had just appeared out of nowhere. With a quick nod from the professor, Hermione took just a moment to look into the cloud of the crystal ball between Harry and Ron before hastily speaking, "The Grim, possibly."

Professor Trelawney shook her head with a sigh,

"My dear, from the first moment you stepped foot in my class... I sensed that you did not possess the proper spirit... for the noble art of Divination." Trelawney examined Hermione's hand in hers, pointing at the lines of her palm, "No, you see, there. You may be young in years, but the heart that beats beneath your bosom is as shrivelled as an old maid's, your soul as dry as the pages of the books... to which you so desperately cleave."

Clearly upset by Professor Trelawney's words, Hermione angrily stood and smacked the crystal ball off the stand. The ball rolled away toward the classroom's exit as Hermione grabbed her bookbag and left after the crystal ball. Confused, Trelawney questioned, "Have I said something?"

After class, as Eric, Ron, Harry, and I descended the staircase, Ron complained about Hermione storming off,

"She's gone mental, Hermione has. I mean, not that she wasn't always mental... but now it's in the open for everyone to see."

The four of us stopped when Harry and I noticed the crystal ball that Hermione had knocked off the table.

"Hang on. We better take this back," Harry said, picking up the crystal ball. I nodded in agreement, but Eric frowned, and Ron cringed,

"I'm not going back."

"Fine."

I waved as my brother and I turned to go back up the stairs,

"See you later."

"See you," Eric replied, and he and Ron continued down the staircase. It didn't take long before Harry and I were back in the Divination classroom. Professor Trelawney was nowhere to be found, but we spotted an empty stand on her desk. Harry walked ahead of me, carefully placing the ball on its stand, but before we could leave, the two of us both heard a voice whisper,

"Harry and Ella Potter..."

Looking at the cloudy haze inside the crystal ball, I could swear I saw the face of Sirius Black. Suddenly, Professor Trelawney appeared, grabbing Harry's and my shoulders I gasped while Harry asked, shocked,

"Professor Trelawney..."

"He will return tonight," the professor spoke with a distanced look and raspy voice, as though she was out of breath. Harry and I were both confused,

"Sorry?"

"Tonight, he who betrayed his friends, whose heart rots with murder... shall break free. Innocent blood shall be spilt... and servant and master shall be reunited once more..." Professor Trelawney started coughing, seeming to regain her right mind, "Oh! I'm so sorry, dear children. Did you say something?"

"No," I shakily answered before Harry added,

"Nothing."

My brother and I tried to calmly walk away and to the stairs but then quickly rushed out the door and down the now-empty staircase to our common rooms.