The classroom fell into an awkward silence. No one had expected Hermione—so famously dedicated to her studies—to outright abandon Divination without warning. Clearly, her long-held frustrations with Trelawney had finally reached a boiling point. For Hermione to act so dramatically was completely out of character.
Professor Trelawney, for her part, seemed to have completely forgotten her ominous pronouncement moments earlier. She suddenly turned away from Augustus's desk, tightened her gauzy shawl around her shoulders, and took a deep, steadying breath.
"Ha! I always said Hermione was the most decisive of the three," Malfoy sneered, clearly still irritated from his earlier exchange with Trelawney. "What a bold move—absolutely commanding. I bet that old bat is so shaken by Hermione's presence she didn't even dare stop her. Amusing, really."
"Wait—oh!" Lavender exclaimed suddenly, startling everyone. "Oh, Professor Trelawney! I just remembered! You foresaw this, didn't you? 'Around Easter, one among us will leave forever!' You predicted this all along, didn't you?"
Professor Trelawney's tense expression softened slightly, and she gave the class a serene smile.
"Yes, my dear, I did foresee Miss Granger's departure. Yet, people always hope to misinterpret the signs of the future... The Inner Eye can be a burden, you know." Her words left a deep impression on Lavender and Parvati, who shuffled over to make room for the professor at their table.
Lillian, watching the scene unfold, sighed softly. "Honestly, these people are a bit too dim. Trelawney's original implication was clearly about someone facing death—not simply leaving the class. Yet somehow, they connect it to this. Is Gryffindor truly full of brainless sheep, aside from Hermione?"
"Now, now," Malfoy said with a snap of his fingers, smirking. "No need to be so harsh. They're just clinging to their one source of emotional support. What do you expect them to do? Drop the class like Hermione? They're too young to see the bigger picture. It's almost pitiable, really."
Augustus couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Hermione's decision to quit Divination was indirectly his fault, after all. If it hadn't been for the confrontation between her and Trelawney, sparked by his presence, she likely wouldn't have acted so rashly. Even though he had no interest in Divination himself, Augustus knew his position required him to complete every subject, no matter how tedious.
Looking into the crystal ball on his desk, Augustus observed the thickening mist swirling within. It was like the uncertainty of the future—obscure and unknowable. Whether or not there was any truth to the ominous signs, the path ahead had to be walked step by step.
Easter arrived, but the mountain of homework left no room for any sense of holiday cheer. In Slytherin's cold common room, the fireplace crackled with green flames. Augustus sat slouched in a soft armchair, his quill moving across parchment at a speed that seemed almost supernatural. The stack of assignments on his desk could rival a small mountain, yet the essays—clear, concise, and straightforward—posed no challenge for him. Each paper, spanning several feet of parchment, was completed within half an hour.
For Lillian and Malfoy, sitting nearby, this was nothing short of torture. Not only did they have to struggle through their own lengthy assignments, but they also had to endure the sight of Augustus's inhuman writing speed. The dual blow left them both questioning their will to live.
"Mr. Augustus," Loki and Thor entered the room, noticing the trio by the fireplace. The green light reflected off the room's walls, and Augustus's silver eyes gleamed with intricate green symbols.
"You two seem quite relaxed," Augustus remarked, glancing up at them briefly.
"Our workload is just as heavy," Loki said with a sly smile. "We planned to study in the library, but this guy insisted on dragging me to the Room of Requirement for some spell practice. Naturally, I couldn't refuse. Of course, the result was a decisive victory for me—though I did have to lower myself to his level."
Thor looked slightly embarrassed. "Logically, lightning should counter ice magic, so I thought I'd have the upper hand. But even when we were at the same level, I couldn't beat him. Perhaps I lack sufficient combat experience."
Augustus chuckled. "Don't sell yourself short. Even if Loki suppressed his power to match yours, his understanding and mastery of elements far exceed yours. The difference between levels lies in how one controls the elements. It's only natural that you lost."
Thor nodded, his determination reigniting. "It seems I have much to learn about elemental control. One stage, one mastery—I may have challenged him too soon."
"Draco," Loki interjected, "the Gryffindor-Slytherin final is three days away. Do you think you can beat Potter?"
Though Loki wasn't particularly interested in Quidditch, he knew the match's outcome could affect the House Cup and thought it worth bringing up.
"In terms of equipment, my Nimbus 2001 isn't quite on par with his Firebolt," Malfoy admitted. "But in flying skills, we're evenly matched. Of course, I trust that luck is on Slytherin's side. Victory is ours."
"I had a dream yesterday," Lillian said coolly. "Gryffindor's team showed up riding dragons, and you got knocked off your broom by George's Bludger. Neville had to step in as Slytherin's substitute. Naturally, your team was utterly crushed. Considering your nickname is 'Little Dragon,' the dream suggests they'll dominate you. Your loss is inevitable. Stop deluding yourself."
Malfoy scowled but said nothing as Augustus quietly resumed his work, the green mist of the fireplace flickering around them.
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09