Chapter 7 - 7: Divination

Hermione cursed under her breath as she triple-checked her schedule. It was Monday and it appeared that her last class of the day was Divination. She didn't even like the class, so how was it that it was now one of her electives?

Hermione sighed before tucking the scroll into her bag. It would not do her any good to dawdle and fret. She was going to be late if she didn't leave soon.

She walked up the steps of the tower. This professor had better not be like Trelawney.

She opened the door to find a small class of five already there. She noticed Abraxas and Kathleen right off the bat. Towards the front of the small group was Riddle. Well, that explained why she was taking a class that she did not sign up for.

Hermione found a seat next to Abraxas and sat down.

Abraxas and Kathleen both gave her warm smiles. "We were just talking about you," said Abraxas.

"We were worried that we didn't see you all weekend." Kathleen's words rushed out as she tried to explain.

Hermione's smile faltered at the thought of the weekend. Her gaze drifted over to Riddle for a second. "It was my parents' funeral," said Hermione.

Kathleen gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Abraxas gave Hermione a quick half hug much to her horror and utter surprise. He was nothing like the Malfoys of her time.

"How are you feeling?" Asked Kathleen.

Hermione gave them the warmest and most honest smile that she could muster. "Much better, thank you for asking."

Just then, the door slid open, and an older woman glided in. She wore a long brown dress and large wide-frame glasses. Her outfit and bushy white hair reminded her of an older version of Trelawney.

"That's Professor Trelawney," whispered Abraxas. This Trelawney must be the mother or even grandmother to her Trelawney.

Much to her dismay, they read tea leaves. According to the professor, Hermione was going to experience death and transformation in her life. She suppressed a laugh when the professor told Kathleen that she would die and that Riddle was already dead. What Hermione found funny was that Riddle was as close to and as far away to death as one could get. She had figured out that the boy had made two Horcruxes already, which meant that his soul was split, so he was kinda like a walking corpse that could never die. Honestly, Hermione just really needed to laugh and it helped that it was at Riddle's expense.

After the readings were over, she packed up her belongings and followed her friends out the door.

"That was so not hip," said Kathleen with a pout.

"You have to admit that it was kind of funny. Especially the bit about Riddle," laughed Abraxas.

Kathleen's pout turned into a small, amused smile. "Yes, I agree."

Hermione stopped and she started fishing around in her school bag. "What is it, Hermione?" Asked Kathleen as the girl noticed that their friend was no longer following them.

"I think I left my quill back there."

"You can have one of mine," offered Abraxas.

Hermione shook her head. "It's my favorite." Before they could say anything else, she backed away and headed for the classroom.

She had just reached the door but stopped from entering when she saw Riddle talking to Trelawney. Hermione summoned one of the Weasley's extendable ears that she kept in her bag in case of emergencies and used it to listen in on the conversation.

"You are a crackpot and a fake," accused Riddle. Hermione snorted as she found herself agreeing with him.

She heard Professor Trelawney moan and feared that Riddle had done something to her. "What are you doing? Let go of my arm," said Riddle before she had the chance to enter.

Trelawney's voice when she spoke sounded dreamy and far away. "A force from another time will enter your life, and you will come face to face with a choice: suffer eternal damnation or find the one thing you crave. One will lead you to a fate worse than death while the other will be your salvation."

"I already know that!" Growled Riddle.

Hermione decided that now would be a good time to enter. She put away the extendable ear and pushed open the door. Riddle looked at her with a scowl.

She looked down and saw that Trelawney had a tight grasp on Riddle's wrist. "Choose salvation and your soul will be split into two until the traveler's time." Hermione watched as Trelawney's eyes went from glassy and unfocused to slightly confused but focused. "Wha. . . What happened?" She looked down and immediately dropped Riddle's hand.

Riddle growled his frustration before turning to leave. Before he walked out the door, he surprised Hermione by grabbing her arm and tugging her with him.

"Let go of me," said Hermione once she snapped out of her confusion. Riddle stopped and looked at her like she was an idiot, which he probably thought she was. "May I have my arm back."

Riddle looked down at his hand clasping her arm in disgust. He immediately released her arm. "Were you listening in on our conversation." His question was more of a demand.

"What if I was," Hermione threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "I wouldn't give any credit to that crackpot anyways." Though Trelawney did mention something about a time traveler. That was probably the only thing she got right in that bogus vision of hers.

Hermione growled and stomped her foot. "My quill, I forgot it again!"

Riddle's expression was a mixture of annoyance and bewilderment. "Buy you a new one. I'll buy you a new one, just don't go back in there."

Hermione didn't hear nor understand his words, she was too focused on the fact that he told her to buy a new quill. She narrowed her eyes at him. "I will not! Accio, quill!" Her quill flew through the air and landed in her open palm. Why didn't she do that the first time?

"What is with you and that quill?"

"Harry bought it for me before. . ." Her voice broke off as her throat choked up with the thought of Harry. Her best friend, her brother. She will find a way to save him.

Riddle shut up after that and the two of them walked down the steps together. She was a little disappointed to find that Kathleen and Abraxas hadn't waited for her.

She kept on walking down the long hallway, Riddle staying a few steps ahead of her. "Don't tell me you're going to the library?" Growled Hermione. She was pretty sure that she heard Riddle chuckle.