snake in the lions den|| WTM

thirty three

Ada and Ron sat staring blankly at the foggy crystal ball on the small table in front of them wishing for the lesson to just end. "Relax... Let your mind... go..." Professor Trelawney tells the class. Ada looks over to Hermione who was rolling her eyes at their eccentric teacher. "Crystal-gazing requires that you clear the Inner Eye.  Only then, will you... See.  Oh my, what do we have here...?" As Trelawney eyes Ada's crystal, Hermione rolls her eyes once again. "Here we go again.  It's the Grim! It's the Grim!" The brunette girl mocks.

"You really hated her didn't you." Ron tells the girl, Hermione stutters for a bit before saying, "I didn't hate her, I just thought that her lesson was bullshit and not worth my time." All of her friends bite back a grin, they all knew she hated divination but they also knew she didn't like Trelawney one bit. "I mean she's not wrong." Mattheo tells Ada who nods in agreement.

Narrowing her eyes Trelawney snaps back fed up with the girls attitude "My dear, from the moment you first arrived in my class, I sensed that you did not possess the proper spirit for the noble art of Divination.  You may be young in years, but the heart that beats beneath your bosom is as shriveled as an old maid's, your soul as dry as the pages of the books to which you so desperately cleave." Stung, Hermione starts to reply, but remarkably seems incapable of a single word.  Rising gracelessly, she exits, knocking her crystal ball to the floor. Ada watches curiously as the ball rolls slowly out the doorway...

"'In late spring, one of our number will leave us forever!'  You knew, Professor!  You saw." Lavender Brown points out in awe.

"On these occasions, I take no joy in my gift, Miss Brown."

As the students exit, Ron, walking separately from Ada, turns to Neville. "She's gone mental, Hermione has. I mean, not that she wasn't always mental, but now it's out in the open for everyone to see..."

Hermione glares at the ginger boy while Ada whacks the boy over the head with a pillow with a death stare. "Oi! What was that for?" Ron shouts looking at his best friend. "Mate you don't call a woman mental, use your brain." Mattheo informs the boy with a smug look.

Ada then narrows her eyes at her boyfriend. "Oh don't act all high and mighty, you only know not to do that because the one time you did I threw a shoe at you."

Ron stops, glances at Ada, then moves off. Ada watches him go, along with the others, then spies Hermione's crystal ball lying on the landing. Ada sets Hermione's crystal back on its stand, starts to go, when the smoke within the crystal suddenly darkens.  Leaning close, Ada watches the shape that appears.  It is unmistakable:  Sirius Black.  Just then, a shadow crawls the glossy surface of the crystal and a hand snatches Ada's shoulder. She wheels, finds...

She gasps "Professor Trelawney."

"He will return tonight...." The girl stiffens.  Trelawney's voice is eerily hollow. "S-sorry"

"Tonight, when the clock strikes twelve, the servant shall break free.  He and his Master shall be reunited.  It cannot be prevented." Trelawney smiles savagely... then her head falls forward. When it rises, she blinks, eyes the hand that lies upon Ada's shoulder.  Her hand falls . "So sorry, dear girl.  Did you say something?" Her voice is normal once more. Ada shakes her head internally freaking out. "No.  Nothing."

"Freaky." The twins say in sync with wide eyes.

Speed walking out of the class she heads over to find her friends to tell them about the freaky encounter. She spots the executioner sharpening his axe in the courtyard, hurrying past she meets up with Ron and Hermione and they start heading towards Hagrid's hut "I can't believe they're going to kill Buckbeak!  It's too horrible." Hermione stresses.