What the Future Holds

What Doesn't the Future Hold

Chapter 1

The entire potions classroom was deadly still. The only sound that could be heard was the occasional slopping sound issuing from a bubbling cauldron. Every student was apprehensive at the return of their professor, particularly since he was in such a foul mood. A loud cough or faint sigh could be heard throughout the classroom, but no student dare speak, not even the Slytherins, who where favored over all the rest of the students by Snape.

Across the room Hermione noticed Neville shaking violently, tears brightening his round, blue eyes. Just before Snape had departed the classroom, he had promptly taken 100 points from Neville for sneezing into his cauldron, and therefore ruining it's contents. In most cases, his fellow Gryffindor students would have been acting murderous towards him, but since it involved Snape, and an involuntary action, everyone pardoned his immense loss.

Harry casually looked over at Hermione, who appeared to be waged in a personal battle of her own creation. She kept shooting nervous glances at the door, which still remained still, and then glancing at a sobbing Neville with concern in her brown eyes. She looked as if a final decision had been made, and appeared to be scooting her chair back silently, when the door opened up behind her.

Just as Hermione yelped in surprise and quietly scooted her chair back in place, Snape walked in, almost at a jog with his robes billowing out behind him. Everyone was so interested in this uncharacteristic behavior that no one noticed that someone had been standing in the doorway directly behind him, and was left standing there uncomfortably. At first glance, she looked like she could be one of Hermione's family members, the resemblance almost uncanny, and she was absolutely beautiful. Her face looked so young, like she had wandered into the wrong year, but her tan skin, long brown hair, almond, almost orange eyes and the way she held herself seemed to pardon her baby face and make her seem just old enough to belong.

As Harry looked around, he noticed that most of the students were staring with glossed-over eyes at the new student, including all of the males of the class, and even a few females including Parvati Patil. Ron had been staring open-mouthed at the girl when Hermione noticed and promptly jabbed him in a non-gentle way in the ribs, achieving a satisfying spasm and muffled groan. The two had been going out since the summer previous to their 5th year, and still acted as if they were still just friends with benefits.

"Ron, how dare you!" Hermione exclaimed angrily, "That's my cousin, I already told you she was coming here from the U.S."

"But, why has she come here to Hogwarts just now?", Harry asked quietly eyeing Snape at the front of the class.

Ron cleared his throat importantly, looking as if he knew the one and only answer, "Well obviously she came because she knew all of the attractive lads reside here at Hogwarts. I've heard that those boys from America are cheeky ba-"

"Ron!", yelled Hermione indignantly, "That's not true and that is rude. Besides, America has produced that foxy lad, Josh Hartnett." , Hermione added that last part quietly almost as if she was talking to herself just as Ron and Harry snorted back laughter. Her tone of voice changed almost immediately to a sad whisper, "She came here because her mom and dad were killed recently. The three immediately became silent, and looked down at their desks.

Meanwhile, at the front of the class, Snape had completely ignored the scene taking place at the back of the class. And instead busied himself with looking for his roll-call parchment, and had finally turned around sharply, making his greasy hair cover his face. He made no move to remove it but instead motioned for the girl to enter the classroom. She complied slowly, and made her way up to the class and past many wide-eyed students. Harry noticed that the girl was trying to pull off looking comfortable with her new environment, but her discomfort was given away by her constantly roving eyes, taking in all of the gawking students. When she finally arrived at the front of the class, she stood silently, still uncomfortable looking, but this time she tried to hold her head up high, waiting for Snape to announce her purpose. It seemed that Snape wanted to make her feel as uncomfortable as possible, because behind her back he stood with a evil smirk on his face, his arms folded over his chest, and making no indication that he was planning on making any move to introduce her. The girl smiled nervously at the back of the class, where Hermione waved back exuberantly.

At this, Snape cleared his throat and stepped forward. "This is our brand new student, Justice Armatis, she is joining us from Heathbrooks Advanced Magical Studies from America." He looked around the class as if sizing them up for his next bit of news. "And, she has been sorted into Gryffindor", he added with a sneer on his face, "And we shall need someone to show her around to her new classes and to your...common room." With that last bit of information, a little over half of the class raised their hands in a fevered attempt to be chosen. Even including a few Slytherins, who quickly lowered them after a piercing glare was shot at them from Snape. Dean and Seamus in the back of the room, were having a private battle of their own, trying to show off to see who could raise their hand higher. Eventually, both of them stood up and looked like they were ready to scramble on top of the desk when Snape spoke up against the ensuing pandemonium.

"Silence!" His voice was a little over it's normal pitch, but anytime Snape wanted attention, he received it justly. "Since no one seems to be able to act their age", he paused for dramatic affect, "Then I will choose for her." He took up his roster, and slowly slid his finger down it, closing his eyes briefly. When he opened his eyes, he looked faintly surprised at his finger's random choice. "Potter and Patil will be helping her out together."

Parvati and Harry looked at each other briefly, each trying to hide their joy, but both turned away smirking happily.

The rest of the class went on uneventfully, until Neville melted another cauldron with his botched potion. The only thing interesting about this routine occurrence, was that just before the potion started to threaten the students with warts or boils, Justice stepped up and held out her hand. Everyone stopped their fevered attempt to jump onto counters and chairs and just watched her standing their, the potion inching ever closer, only holding out her hand steadily. She muttered an incantation and instantly the potion was seized up into a glutinous ball, and then to everyone's surprise, guided it effortlessly with her still outstretched hand into a previously vacated cauldron. After this surprising feat, she calmly went back to her seat and sat down, continuing her homework assignment.

After a long silence followed, Snape stepped forward to inspect the eviscerated cauldron and muttered, " It seems that was have a Magid on our hands"