Wish Upon A Star

Talons

Even though Ashlyn had tried her best to lighten up the mood, it became twice as heavy when they entered the classroom. Harry was sort of put under the spotlight. Everyone was eyeing him, as though he was going to drop dead at any moment.

McGonagall was teaching about animagus.  Ashlyn was super excited to learn and paid rapt attention to the class. She watched eagerly as McGonagall turned into the tabby cat with spectacle markings around its eyes. 

"Really, what has got into you all today?" said Professor McGonagall, turning back into herself with a faint pop, and staring around at them all. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not got applause from a class."

Everybody's heads turned toward Harry again, but nobody spoke. Then Hermione raised her hand.

"Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and —"

"Ah, of course," said Professor McGonagall, suddenly frowning. "There is no need to say anymore, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?"

"Me," said Harry blankly.

"I see," said Professor McGonagall, fixing Harry with her beady eyes. "Then you should know, Potter, that Sybill Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favourite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues —"

Professor McGonagall broke off, and they saw that her nostrils had gone white. She went on, more calmly, "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney —"

She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in."

Hermione and Ashlyn laughed. Harry felt a bit better. It was harder to feel scared of a lump of tea leaves away from the dim red light and befuddling perfume of Professor Trelawney's classroom. Not everyone was convinced, however. Ron still looked worried, and Lavender whispered, "But what about Neville's cup?"

When the Transfiguration class had finished, they joined the crowd thundering toward the Great Hall for lunch. Ashlyn was thinking about running back and asking McGonagall about the animagi course when Hermione tugged her arm and pulled her away from the crowd. Once hidden, Hermione put the chain around their necks and turned the time turner once. And they were back in time. 

The girls ran to their Arithmancy lesson. Hermione seemed to enjoy the lesson. Ashlyn felt more like sleeping. She was never good at math. And wizarding math was just not her thing. She might be dropping this subject. 

Ancient runes was much more interesting. And Ashlyn felt the previous sleepiness vanish as she took down notes.

After taking three first classes, the girls ran to catch Harry and Ron. They spotted them stuck in the crowd they had left them in. The boys didn't notice a thing. Together they marched off for lunch.

"Ron, cheer up," said Hermione, pushing a dish of stew toward him. "You heard what Professor McGonagall said."

Ron spooned stew onto his plate and picked up his fork but didn't start.

"Harry," he said, in a low, serious voice, "you haven't seen a great black dog anywhere, have you?"