Chapter 3
Hermione twisted the time tuner a half turn back and felt the rush as time flittered backwards around her to just before nine again. She knew her past self would be late to the arithmancy class, so she was safe to walk to muggle studies at a leisurely pace. At least she was rest assured to not have her bothersome seat mate in this class.
She cursed to herself for letting her emotions get the better of her. She knew what that slimy Slytherin was like, she should have prepared herself better to deflect his teasing and insults. She took a deep breath and steadied herself as she opened the door taking her seat in Professor Burbage’s classroom. She was the first to arrive and was able to get her preferred seating right at the front – less room for distraction. As she pulled her notebooks and quill from her bag she frowned, then audibly groaned dropping the satchel to the floor and letting her head fall into her hand. Her arithmancy notebook wasn’t there, Malfoy must have not collected it with her things. She sighed and made a mental note to retrieve it from the classroom at some point – she didn’t think she could quite face Professor Vector just yet, at least she would wait until tomorrow. Her face tinged pink as she recalled the events that were currently transpiring once again above her in the arithmancy class. She buried her head in her hands until she heard the rest of the class file in, and Professor Burbage begin speaking.
Deep breaths she thought as she focused on the lesson before her.
“Jeeze ‘mione, you look almost as bad as that orange devil you call a cat. What did McGonagall do to you?” Ron said concern in his eyes as the frazzled young witch joined them on the staircase seemingly just a few moments after she left them in the great hall. She seemed exhausted, her brown ringlets a frizzy mess compared to earlier.
“I’m fine and leave Crookshanks out of this, he’s better looking than all three of us.” Hermione scoffed making a mental note to tidy herself up before this class next week. Harry’s eyes locked with hers, worried frown on his brow. Hermione flashed him her best smile and started towards the north tower’s spiral steps. Seventh floor again she thought as her legs began to smart from the exertion for the second time. The trio managed to lose themselves in the twisting corridors and small staircases of the upper floors in their hunt for the right room, with Hermione skillfully leading the boys astray to avoid her past self’s just a few corridors away.
Eventually they came to a trap door with a silvery ladder and ascended into the divination classroom.
The room was lined with crystal balls and cabinets of bone china cups each one of varying patterns and sizes. Tables lay strewn about surrounded by large flat cushions, around which Harry, Ron and Hermione flopped down.
“That was rough.” Harry sighed slightly out of breath. “They really need to get a map of this place.”
The rest of the students filed into the classroom in similarly breathless and collapsing onto the cushions. Ron whipped his head around puzzled. “Where is the pro - ” he began to ask when suddenly a voice came from the shadows. “Welcome. My name is Professor Trelawney.” She glided to the front of the class showcasing her bejewelled emerald robe and bottle end thick skeptical. “I am pleased to guide you on your journey into Divination and the opening of your third eye.”
Hermione felt her eyes roll before she had a chance to stop it. She had feared this class might be more metaphysical than practical, but she didn’t expect it to be in the realms of a muggle physic at a carnival. The witch allowed her mind to wander as the beetle like teacher flittered about in the dusty sunlight from the windows explaining the syllabus. Stupid Malfoy, she thought bitterly to herself as she reflected on earlier events. She steeled her resolve; she wouldn’t speak to that boy again if she could help it – even if it meant placing a muffling charm on her eardrums.
“My dear…?” Trelawney’s voice cut through her daydream as Hermione snapped back to reality to find everyone looking at her expectantly. “Oh yes, as I thought.” The bespectacled face came very close to her studying her features.
“Pain, triumph and unlikely romances.” Hermione’s bewildered face looked around at her friends who were quietly sniggering. She shot them both a glare and they stifled their laughter while the professor glided over to her next victim of prophetic tomfoolery.
“Unlikely romances!” Ron and Harry cooed at her as they descended the staircase. Hermione scolded at them.
“Sod off you two!” she huffed, marching ahead of them and striding off towards the Gryffindor common room. “Wait Hermione we were kidding.” Harry chased after her catching her and linking her arm. “Yeah, we weren’t serious, that professor is an absolute bat.” Ron grinned linking her other arm. The boys looked at each other briefly a knowing glint in their eyes.
“However -” Harry began smirk pulling at his lips. “You will tell us about your - ”
“Unlikely romances wont you.” They finished in unison cackling with laughter as Hermione tried and failed to free herself from their steadfast grip.
“Oh, Merlin’s beard I hope she comes out with more brilliant lines like this year.” Ron chuckled as himself and Harry marched a very displeased Hermione back to the dormitory.
Hermione flopped down on her bed, thankful of the break before lunch and afternoon classes. She pulled out her timetable to check her schedule. As she scanned down the list her eyes paused on her final class before dinner. Potions. A single class, so potion theory. She paused before the realization hit her like a truck. “For fucks sake!” she exclaimed loudly to the empty room. Potions with the Slytherins. Potions with Malfoy.