After the train ride, Daphne, Blaise and I rode the carriage and upon arrival, we sat by the Slytherin table and waited for the other students to come in. Then, the choir does an opening song together with toads. After their performance, Professor Dumbledore said, "Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say, before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups, which, while somewhat treacherous for those of us with facial hair..."
Professor McGonagall clears her throat and Professor Dumbledore changed the subject, "Mm. Yes. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you, Professor."
Dad stood up and shyly bowed. Some people applauded, while the others just looked at me but I just ignored them.
"As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid!" Professor Dumbledore continued and Hagrid stood up.
I met Hagrid in my second-year when I was the one who helped him gather the snails for the Mandrake to make the medicine for the petrified people. Anyway, moving on. Professor Dumbledore's face became grave.
"Finally, on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts -- at the request of the Ministry of Magic -- will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban." He said.
Then I saw Malfoy dramatically feigns a dead faint. I guess he heard Harry fainting but he doesn't have to tease him about it! What if he's the on who fainted and Harry teased him about it, how would he feel? Geez!
"The Dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds. While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as you go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving." He ended.
The rest of the feast was quiet and only a few talked. After the feast, Professor Dumbledore bid us a good night and told us to go back to the common room. Instead of going there, I went to Dad's room instead and bid him a good night then went back to the common room. I went to my room and changed into my pajamas. I remove my gloves, locked the door, went to bed and drifted off to sleep.
The Next Day...
We don't have school today yet so I just hung out with Daphne and Blaise in the common room. We were playing wizard's chess. Me vs. Blaise.
"Your turn, Ace." I said.
"It's obvious you're gonna win." He said.
"Even though I've won a thousand times doesn't mean you can't." I smirked.
He groaned and moved his queen. Ha! Big mistake.
"Ace, that was a really big mistake. You do realise my rook is just across from your king, right? And moving your queen, which was right in front of the king, would make me the winner." I explained.
His jaw dropped and I slowly moved my rook forward and it basically smashed the king. How awesome is wizard's chess?
"AND ANOTHER VICTORIOUS WIN BY LOUISA LUPIN!" I shouted.
Blaise was sulking in the corner so I came over to him.
"Hey, how about I make it up to you?" I asked him.
"How?" He asked.
"Well, in a few days we'll be going to Hogsmeade and I've heard from a few 4th years that the Three Broomsticks makes a delicious butterbear. How about that?"
He brightened up and said, "Thanks, Lou."
"Welcome, Ace. I'll see you guys later. I still need my dad to sign the permission slip."
"Ok. See you later, Lou." Daphne said.
"Bye, Dee! Bye, Ace." I exclaimed and left the room.
While on my way to Dad's room, I bumped into none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Is this how we're gonna keep meeting, Lupin?" He asked.
"I hope not because I might lose it and beat you again." I said.
"I admit you did give me a hard punch on the face and a kick in the...uhm...you know." He admitted.
I fake a gasp and said, "Is the world ending? Because Draco Malfoy just admitted someone's better than him! Wow!"
"I didn't admit you were better, I said that you just gave me a hard punch and kick." He protested.
"Yeah but you still admitted that me, a girl, is stronger than you, a boy and specifically the Almighty Draco Malfoy" I chuckled.
"Whatever. Where are you going, anyway?" He asked.
"Why do you want to know?" I asked.
What's with him today? First he admitted something, then he asked where I was going and that's so unlike him. Did I punch him that hard?
"Nothing. I just wanted to ask." He replied.
"Well, I'm not telling you so bye." I said.
Before he could say anything, I moved around him and continued my way to Dad's room. When I reached his room, I made sure that the letter is in my jacket pocket then when I felt the piece of paper, I knocked on his door.
"Come in." Dad shouted.
I entered the room and saw dad in his desk with a few scattered papers.
"Hi, Dad." I said.
"Hello, Lou. What do you need?" He asked.
"I need you to sign this permission slip to Hogsmeade." I said, taking out the paper and placing it on his desk.
"Alright but are you sure you want to go?" He asked.
"But of course. Why do you ask?" I asked.
He looked at my glove-covered hand then looked at me. Oh! Now I get it.
"Dad, I'll be fine. I haven't got any problems with it lately. It's still the same old ice-covered room but that's it." I said.
He sighed and said, "Alright but when something goes wrong, come directly to me, alright?"
I nodded. He signed the paper and gave it back to me.
"Thanks, Dad." I exclaimed.
"You're welcome, sweetheart." He said.
I kissed his cheek and left his room. I went directly to the great hall since it's time for dinner. I sat beside Blaise and Daphne and ate. After the feast, I did my usual routine and went to bed.
The Next Day...
We have school today, sadly. I did my morning routine, put on my uniform and went to the great hall. I sat with Daphne and Blaise and after the feast, dragged them to the Divination classroom. I don't like Divination but I don't hate it either. We have Divination with Gryffindors but I don't mind. I sat beside Daphne, while Blaise sat beside Malfoy.
" Welcome, my children. In this room, you shall explore the mysterious art of Divination. In this room, you shall discover if you possess...the Sight. Hello. I am Professor Trelawney. Together, we shall cast ourselves into the future. But know this. One either has the Gift or not. It cannot be divined from the pages of a book. Books only cloud one's Inner Eye." Professor Treloo-I mean Trelawney said.
"You, boy! Is your grandmother well?" She exclaimed at Longbottom.
" I... I think so." Longbottom stuttered.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that. The first term will be devoted to the reading of tea leaves. If all goes well, we will proceed to palmistry, fire omens, and finally... the crystal ball." She said.
She eyed Pavarti and told her, "By the way, dear, beware a red- haired man."
I saw Pavarti eyeing Ron and chuckled under my breath.
"Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And in late spring, one of our number will... leave us forever." Trelawney said.
Whispers and uneasy glances filled the room. I mean why won't it? She just said that someone's gonna die!
"Well then. Shall we?" She continued.
She told us to look at the cup on our table and I saw my tea leaves mutating into another form. I heard a cup breaking but I was too busy looking at my leaves to see what it was. Not understanding anything, I just listened to Trelawney. She was walking around the room and went to Harry and Ron.
"What do you see in Mr. Potter's cup, Mr. Weasley?" She asked Ron.
"Well, he's got a wonky sort of cross -- that's trials and suffering. But this lot here could be the sun -- that's great happiness. So... he's going to suffer but be very happy about it." Ron said.
Trelawney looked at the cup but then hurriedly put it down.
"My dear boy... You have the Grim." She told Harry.
The Grim? What's that?
"The Grin? What's the Grin?" Finnigan asked.
"Not the grin, you idiot. The Grim." Pavarti said.
"But what does it mean, Professor?" Dean Thomas asked.
Jeez! There's a lot of Gryffindor's in here!
"The Grim...Taking the form of a giant spectral dog, it is among the darkest omens in our world. It is an omen... of death." A dark-skinned boy explained.
I looked at my cup and saw a sun but I also saw a cross. Just like what Ron thought Harry's tea leaf was. But I don't think it means I'll be happy about my suffering, I think it means that I'll have great happiness but I'll also experience trials and suffering along the way. I just hope that not all tea leaf readings are true. I don't want to experience trials and suffering.