Smile - Book One of the RP Saga

The Photograph ( 10 )

Hurriedly throwing her books into her bag, Hermione ran up the stairs before stopping abruptly when she spotted Rachel looking back at her confused. Rachel hadn't noticed Dean and Seamus had left her on the stairs alone.

"Hey, I thought you would already be inside?" She said to Hermione walking with her up the spiral staircase.

"Well, I had to see Professor McGonagal... about... something." She replied glancing at the floor, fiddling with her hair nervously.

"Oh. Right." Rachel nodded.

Hermione stopped and grabbed her arm. "Listen, it's rather important and I will tell you soon but you have to promise not to tell anyone."

"Pinky promise." Rachel smiled, holding out her pinky finger.

Hermione grinned and shook it before carrying on up the stairs. The girls both agreed that divination was useless and they barely understood the point in it, but then the two approached a ladder leading to what seemed to be the classroom.

"I suppose we climb this then..." Rachel grumbled glancing up it.

"Oh, for the love of Merlin, this is so silly!" Hermione sighed.

"Last time I wear a skirt to divination." Rachel laughed tugging at her skirt before climbing the ladder.

The class were sat down on various cushions, stools and bean bags. There were very few tables, one was occupied by Harry and Ron, making sure no one sat next to them.

"Hey, guys." Rachel whispered pulling out her book and sitting down. "What have we missed?"

"Bloody nothing, this woman's a nutter!" Ron complained, he looked at the girls before furrowing his brow and pointing at Hermione. "Hang on. You was here just now... how come you've just walked in?"

"Oh, Ronald, stop being so silly, I've just walked in with Rachel." Hermione replied bluntly.

"Well, hang on he's right. You were behind us... how come you suddenly appeared 10 minutes late?" Harry questioned.

"Listen! I just walked in with Rachel, I had to stop because... because my bag ripped, you know with all these books. Only you didn't hear me so you were no help. I simpy used a repairing spell to repair my bag." Hermione snapped.

Before the boys could interject, Professor Trewlaney apparels, speaking in a weird dreamy voice.

"Today we are studying the art of tea leaves, so, please take the cup of the person opposite you."

Harry took Rachel's cup, Ron had Harry's, Hermione had Ron's and Rachel took Hermione's. They peered into the damp tea leaves, confused. They took some time flicking between the book and the cup, sighing occasionally.

"Okay, I think I've got this right." Rachel picked up the cup. "Well, Hermione, it looks like you're life will be unexpected. Things aren't what they seem. That looks like a heart... that means love. So, basically, your whole life will be unexpected... including your love life?"

Hermione scoffed loudly. Harry had just placed Rachel's cup down and stared closely at his textbook.

"Well, Rach, something's going to happen soon. Something big. Things aren't going to go your way... but you will be happy. It's just going to take some time... Apparently." He said facing me.

"I think it's a load of old rubbish." Hermione shook her head. "How can a bunch of old soggy tea leaves predict your future?"

"Merlin, knows." Rachel shrugged, thinking back to what Harry had said.

She wasn't a believer in the divination stuff, personally she couldn't understand it. But her message seemed too close to home. The Sorting Hat had told her she would meet someone, not to mention the boy in the Mirror of Erised. She slumped into her chair, defeated.

"Your pulse is quickening! Are you in the beyond?" Trewlaney shouted behind Rachel's head at Ron, causing her to jump.

"Uh, yes... well, I think so. Um, well, that looks like a wonky cross. Well that means suffering and that looks like a sun so that means happiness." Ron mumbled before looking at Harry confused. "So you're going to suffer, but you're going to be happy about it."

Rachel couldn't help but hold back a laugh as she watched Ron and Harry exchange glances.

"Give me the cup." Trewlaney sighed dreamily, she grasped the cup before screaming and throwing it to the floor. "My boy... my dear boy." She cried. "You have... the Grim."

"Grin? What's the Grin?" Seamus laughed from the other side of the class.

"Not Grin, you idiot, the Grim!" One student corrected before picking up his book. "Taking form of a large spectral dog, it's one of the darkest omens in our world. It's an omen... an omen of death."

Soon later, class ended and it was now break time. The four decided to head to the common room as it looked quite bleak and dreary outside. Rachel excused herself to go to the bathroom on their way back. She headed off on her own down a corridor and pushed open the door to the girl's bathroom.

As Rachel washed her hands, something fell from her pocket. She ducked down and grabbed it only to realise it was the photo from earlier. "Oh, crap! I forgot to give this to Harry." She cursed herself.

Rachel's curiosity towards the photo drove her slightly insane, she was sure Harry wouldn't mind if she looked at it. Besides, she might be able to tease him in some way for it. With a grin, she unfolded the photo to reveal two people dancing hand in hand, smiling at one another. It bought a slight smile to Rachel's face. But it soon faded.

These weren't just any two people.

They were her parents.
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