Sands of Time

Chapter 2

The first week went by in a blur of activity and work. Their professors obviously believed that good hard work, piled on top of even more hard work, would prepare them for their OWLS. Harry was at a loss to explain how he was supposed to find the time to study for the OWLS while he was occupied with writing such scintillating essays as `Discuss the importance of frog liver in potions´ and `Explain why the goblin leaders Brack and Brock are not the same goblin´. It was ridiculous really, though Hermione seemed happy that they were finally delving into the "world of minutiae" that she loved. When she had said that, Ron had asked her to delve into it even more and write his own essay if she was so happy. Harry had agreed, though he was bright enough not to say it.

One of the highlights of the year was definitely their new DefenseAgainst the Dark Arts teacher. Professor Elyas was from Greeceand spent most of his classes telling exciting stories about his encounters with hydras and chimera in the backwaters of Greece. He assigned very little work as well, which made him a hero in most people´s eyes.

Perhaps the only problem with his classes is that they were always running long past the time when they were supposed to be dismissed. Harry and Ron had Divination after Defense, but Hermione was always anxiously debating whether or not to stay and hear the interesting stories (which might, or might not be on the exam) or go to Arthimancy. By second week, Harry was sure she was going to explode with anxiety before running out of the room when Professor Elyas had once again spoken for far too long.

Harry and Ron were slower to gather up their things and begin the long trek to the Divination classroom. Professor Trelawney never seemed to take away points so there was really no reason to arrive on time. They wandered through the castle discussing the upcoming trials for the Gryffindor quidditchteam. They were in the corridor outside the room that stood below the Divination classroom when they heard voices. The two of them ducked into a nearby alcove and made themselves as small as possible behind a statue of Catherine the Crazed. Two voices drifted down the corridor.

"Trelawney," hissed Ron.

"And Dumbledore," whispered Harry. They pressed themselves further into the alcove when the voices moved closer, nearly holding their breath as they listened.

"It was there Headmaster, written in my own handwriting! He´s going to die I tell you!"

"Now Sybil, there is no need to over react. You´ve predicted Harry´s death hundreds of times," said Dumbledore. Ron tried to catch Harry´s eye, but Harry ignored him to focus on the conversation.

"But I don´t remember this prophecy! That´s always a sign. It´s a wonder I was able to write it down," she protested in her airy voice.

"I´m sure all your wonderful years of training are paying off." Harry could see Dumbledore in his mind, eyes twinkling while he spoke.

"Well yes...but Headmaster. Surely we must tell the poor boy? He must know of his fate so that he can prepare for it."

"You may tell him if you like Sybil. No doubt Harry will take your warning to heart. I believe he is in your class at the moment?" Sybil gasped.

"My class! I see great chaos. I must return." They could hear her steps retreating down the corridor. Of Dumbledore, there was no sound. After waiting for a long time, they peeked into the corridor, looking in both directions.

"Nothing," said Ron in disgust. "I don´t care what Hermione says, he must be apparating."

"We´re going to wish we could apparate if we don´t get to class soon," said Harry. He checked his watch. "It´s half way through already." They ran towards the classroom, thankful that Trelawney had left the ladder down. From up above they could hear strange noises and a girl screaming. Ron looked at him and Harry shrugged. He climbed slowly up the ladder and poked his head through.

Chaos reigned. It appeared that the teacups had been enchanted to fly around the room. One was gnawing at Lavender´s hair and he realized that they were biting tea cups as well. Someone had pulled a huge prank on Trelawney. Their professor seemed to be busy fending off the teacups, so Harry and Ron slipped quietly in and took a seat, doing their best to avoid the flying porcelain.

Harry was prepared to spend the class in his usual stupor, which would give him time to think over the rather alarming conversation he had heard in the corridor. But Trelawney finished up with the teacups, than spotted him in his usual seat.

"Oh you poor boy! Today as I took my tea I had a premonition of your death." She was sobbing and wiping her eyes on her large shawl. The rest of the class were sniggering except for Lavender and Parvatiwho were frowning at the others for their disrespect. Harry should have expected her to bring it up, but it didn´t mean he wasn´t annoyed with the professor when she did. A thought occurred to him.

"Professor. I´m rather upset over your news. This is something I really have to think about. If I could have some time..." He trailed off. She swept down on him, and pulled him into a surprise hug.

"Of course. Take all the time you need. You don´t have to return if you don´t want too." Her voice sounded muffled from where he was being held against her. Harry extricated himself from her grip and grabbed his things while the class stared at him open-mouthed. Ron winked at him, but he didn´t return it. He would have felt better about his escape, if he weren´t so sure that this time Trelawney´s prediction was real.

He stumbled down the ladder, still in a daze, though whether from the smoke or from the prediction he didn´t know. There was something else bothering him as well. Dumbledore knew that Trelawney did occasionally give true predictions. One of the biggest signs that she had had one was that she couldn´t remember it. But Dumbledore seemed to be dismissing it out of hand, and was even teasing Professor Trelawney, though he wasn´t sure if the professor had realized that. No one seemed to realize that Dumbledore was making fun of them when they were talking to him. Harry wondered how many times Dumbledore had been teasing him and he had never known.

However, the more important question was why hadn´t the headmaster cared about Trelawney´s prediction? Didn´t Harry´s death matter to him at all? "Maybe he wants my death," thought Harry darkly, but he quickly dismissed the idea as unlikely. Dumbledore had kept him safe for so long. Why would he let him die now? Harry wandered his way down to the Gryffindor common room and reluctantly came to the conclusion that Dumbledore obviously knew something he didn´t, though he would keep an eye out. Just in case.