Harry Potter and the Year of Revelations

Chapter 5: The Tarot Reading

Walking down the corridors to the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry realised that he again had no idea what the time was. He must have talked for hours with his aunt. He needed to find a clock. He soon did notice a grandfather clock standing not far from him. That was when he broke into a run. He only had five minutes left till ten o'clock, when he and Hermione would have to start patrolling. Time certainly flew. He was very glad that he only had to walk around the castle for an hour and he could finally go to bed and rest.

He thought of his day tomorrow. He would have Transfiguration in the morning and Divination after lunch. After that he could finally get to his DADA essay and would do the homework set on that day's classes as well. Of course, he also needed to make a poster announcing the Quidditch tryouts on Sunday. Ron would probably attend.

Just as he reached the portrait and he was about to say the password, it flung open and Hermione came out.

"Harry! Just about time! We have to start patrolling."

"Am I late?"

"Not really. Let's go!"

They started down the corridor Harry had just run through.

"How did it go with your aunt?"

"Great! I've found out a lot about her. Even some things that she didn't want me to."

"Oh really? I hope you won't have me wait until Ron is around as well."

"All right, I won't." Harry went on telling her about the exchange between Snape and Oya, then continued with what Oya had revealed to him. He also told her about the interesting private lessons awaiting him. "After that she got out an album that was full of childhood pictures of her and dad. She also told me lots of stories about what they did when they were little."

"Do you forgive her?"

"I don't really know... Maybe it's not even my place to forgive her. I think that she didn't tell me everything."

"Yes. Like you've mentioned a name, Ares. He is obviously dead if they talked about visiting his grave. Do you have any idea, who he could be?"

"No."

"He must be connected to both Professor Potter and Professor Snape. Ares is the name of the Greek God of war. However, I'm getting nowhere with this. Maybe you should ask her."

"Hermione, that would give away that I've been eavesdropping."

"True. Well, we'll find out sooner or later, we always do...."

Hermione screamed as a suit of armour fell on the floor with a loud bang in front of her. They heard a cackling laughter as Peeves flew over them, holding the armour's helmet. He dropped it almost on top of Harry's head.

"Peeves!!!!" they shouted in unison.

"Students out at night!" he called as he disappeared through the wall.

Just as they were about to go on and were trying to remember where they had left their conversation off, Filch came running down the corridor from the other end.

"Finally I've got you! Filthy students, wondering around the corridors after hours. Probably doing something illegal again." He went to them and grabbed their arms.

"Hmm, Mr. Filch? We're prefects on patrol," Hermione informed him, pointing to her badge.

"Potter a prefect?! What has the world come to?!"

Without another word, Filch turned around, cursing under his breath and began restoring the armour to its proper place.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other, shrugged and continued patrolling. When out of earshot, they talked about this recent event. No other word of Oya Potter or the mysterious Ares was mentioned. As soon they were finished, they went to bed.

That night Harry had another nightmare and woke up gasping for breath. Cedric died over and over again, Voldemort laughed. He held his head in his arms and got out of his bed. He had forgotten to take the potion! He thought of taking it then, but the nightmare was still fresh in his memory and he didn't really feel like closing his eyes again. He wondered what to read and then he remembered the book Sirius had given him. He got up and as silently as possible he got it out of his trunk. He went down to the Common Room after he got a robe over his pyjamas. He sat down on the battered old sofa in front of the fire and began to read. He blushed at some parts. After he was tired enough, he returned to bed and took the potion, wondering about some of the things that he had learned.

Harry woke to the sounds of the others getting ready, feeling as sleepy as ever. He had to remember not to forget the potion again, especially at the end of such a long day. After he had his glasses on, he looked at the timetable beside his bed, just to make sure that he remembered right. It was Tuesday and he had the whole morning devoted to Transfiguration. When lunch break was over, he would need to climb the silver ladder to Divination.

He got out of bed and went into the bathroom. Only Ron was there, doing something very odd. He was holding his wand over his face and slowly moving it around his mouth.

"Good morning Ron!"

"Oh, good morning Harry!" He stopped whatever he was doing and looked at himself in the mirror.

"Er, Ron? What were you doing?"

"Shaving of course."

So that's what it was? Harry almost told Ron that he didn't need it yet, but stopped himself.

"We have Transfiguration and Divination today," he said instead and got under the shower.

"I don't have Divination!" Ron shouted to be heard over the running water.

"You don't?" he shut off the water and soaped himself.

"No. I gave it up. I could do that at the start of this year and since I had such awful grades, Professor McGonagall didn't object. Of course, I had to take up something instead, so I decided on Muggle Studies. With Hermione and you to help me, it'll be easy."

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have dropped it too."

"You have better grades. Besides, with You-Know .... I mean, Voldemort around, you could perhaps find use for it."

"You could be right." He started the shower again to rinse.

"What about Professor Potter? What did she say last night?"

"It was very interesting...." Harry went on to tell everything to Ron the same way he had to Hermione. He only stopped while brushing his teeth and getting dressed, as the others could have heard him. By the time he had finished, they were already sitting at their house table, eating breakfast and waiting for Hermione. He had just finished talking, when she sat down.

"Morning guys! What are you talking about?"

"Well, Harry has just told me about Professor Potter."

"Oh, he told me last night. What do you think Ron? Who could this Ares be?"

"No idea. Maybe a friend, or Professor Potter's ex-boyfriend. Snuffles and even she said that she was .... you know." Ron finished with a blush.

"Perhaps," Harry said.

They all minded their food a bit. A few minutes had passed, when owl post arrived. A big brown one brought Hermione the Daily Prophet and swooped away with a bacon after being paid. She quickly went through the Headlines and then opened it on a page and began to read.

"Found anything interesting?" Harry asked.

"Yes. It's an article on Professor Potter. Here, read it."

Harry took the paper from her and looked at the page. There was a photo of her on it, smiling, waving. Obviously a recent picture.

Headmaster makes a doubtful choice of new teacher

Albus Dumbledore had not announced who the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts would be by the beginning of the term. The Daily Prophet has just recently got the news that it is Oya Potter. When observing this woman's history, one must wonder of the choice. Miss Potter is the sister of the famous James Potter, who was killed by You-Know-Who himself, and aunt of the also famous Harry Potter, who had defeated him. However, as the Prophet has learned, she is nothing like her relations. Many believe she had been a servant of the Dark Lord, however, this could never be proven. After the fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, she had fled the country to an unknown location and haven't been heard from until now. One cannot pass the activities Miss Potter had been engaged in during her time at Hogwarts. She is reported as having had a bad reputation. An old schoolmate says of her:

"If you wanted her, you got her. She didn't care who you were."

A highly doubtful choice of a teacher. However, looking at the recent happenings in Hogwarts, one doesn't wonder. Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster has been known to make unlikely decisions in his quest for a teacher for this position. Perhaps, it is his position that should be in doubt.

Harry was angered a bit by the awful article.

"This is...."

"The truth, Harry," Hermione said.

"Yes, but they don't write about the way she is now. I didn't know her before, but she's nothing like the person the article speaks about."

"You're right."

"Can I read it too?" Ron asked.

Harry handed him the paper, still angry. He was also mad about the last few lines, putting the blame on Dumbledore and practically calling him incompetent.

Suddenly, Harry could feel something fly past him. Just as he looked that way, he saw Oya Potter change into her human form. He looked up into his aunt's face and saw her smiling.

"Good morning, Harry!" she greeted.

"Good morning, er...."

"I'm Professor Potter in the classroom. Outside, it's Aunt Oya."

"Good morning, Aunt Oya."

"Bon appetit," she looked around at Ron and Hermione, "to all three of you!"

"Bon appetit!" they replied in unison.

She was just about to leave, when Harry called after her.

"Aunt Oya, I think you should see this," with these words he gave her the Daily Prophet that he had just taken from Ron. "Page two."

She looked at him and took the paper. Opening it on the said page, she quickly scanned the article.

"Well, the photo is good and there's nothing here that's not the truth. Well, except for the part about Dumbledore, of course."

"But they are not saying anything of the way you are now!" Harry insisted.

"Harry, you can't expect a paper like the Daily Prophet to care about a thing like that. This is what they can sell. Silly articles are the least you should be worrying about. Now go on eating, the bell will ring soon."

She gave them a beautiful smile, returned the newspaper and strode off to the teachers' table. Harry could see Snape direct an apologetic smile towards her, but she looked the other way. Oya sat down ignoring Snape.

"Obviously that must be about last night," Hermione said, having seen the exchange as well.

After breakfast, they rushed to Transfiguration. During the class they heard a speech on the importance of OWLs, then learned to change a large yellow box into a dog. Harry's was a bit square and yellow. In the second half of the class it was revision time. Transfiguring a match into a needle was a piece of cake compared to the other things they had done since that first class.

The trio sat down to lunch silently, a bit tired after the long session.

"You two have Divination now, right?" Hermione asked.

"No, you're wrong for once," Ron replied, smiling. "I have Muggle Studies."

"Since when do you take that class?"

"Yesterday. I talked to Professor McGonagall."

"You do know that you have to learn the material of the last two years, don't you? Also you have to take tests on the subject."

"Sure. However, with Dad and you two, I'd ought to pass."

"What does Mr. Weasley have to do with this?" Harry wondered.

"Well, he talks about Muggle stuff a lot at home. I should remember something."

"I'll give you my notes from third year," Hermione told him.

"Thanks."

"I'm proud of you Ron for taking this step. It had to take courage." She smiled at him.

Ron blushed a little.

"Well, I have to hurry to get to the tower. It takes a while. Bye!" Harry stood up and left.

"Bye!" they shouted after him.

Harry hurried to the tower, not wanting to be late. He was the last indeed to climb up the silvery ladder. He took his usual place, looking longingly at Ron's empty chair. Only the fun they had had during the lessons had made them worth attending. He stopped himself brooding and forced his eyes onto Professor Trelawney, seated in her usual chair. Her eyes were closed and only opened when the room became quiet.

"This term we shall learn about tarot cards. My inner-eye tells me that while a boy went, a girl will come in his place."

Just as she said that, the trap door opened and Isabelle Malfoy climbed up.

"Excuse me, I came from the Hospital Wing and lost my way."

"That's quite alright. You must be Ms. Malfoy."

"Yes."

"Please, take a seat then."

She looked around. There wasn't an empty chair left except for Ron's old place. She cast her eyes at it, then at Harry. Hesitantly, Isabelle walked to the chair and sat down. For a glance they met and Harry wasn't sorry about Ron anymore. Behind him he could hear Parvati and Lavender excitedly whisper that she had indeed came in Ron's place.

"So as I was saying, this term we shall study tarot cards. Take your books out and observe the most commonly used method, the Celtic Cross. With this method, first you ask a question, like 'What will happen to my love life?' and then spread the deck. After you've read the cards, you will have your answer. Now, work in pairs the usual way." She fell silent.

"Hmm. What's your question, Harry?" Isabelle asked him, whispering.

"How are you?" he whispered back.

"That's not what I've meant."

"I know."

"Harry, let's not talk about this now. Someone could overhear."

"All right. Then tell me if I die this year."

"That's not the proper question and you won't. Begin it the same way she did."

"Very well, what will happen to my love life then?" he grinned at her a little.

"Oh, let's get on with it."

Harry watched as she took the cards out of her bag. She took the cards out of their box and began shuffling them, her eyes closed, murmuring something. Then she took the deck in one hand and spread them in a fan-like fashion. Eyes closed, she ran her other hand over them, still murmuring. Her hand slowed and then her fingers closed over a card. She repeated this with every card, saying something when putting it down.

"This is it," she put down The Star card.

"This crosses it," five of Wands.

"This is the crown," The Moon.

"It lies on this," eight of Swords.

"This was before," Death.

"This follows," three of Pentacles.

"This is you," two of Swords.

"The place," seven of Wands.

"These are the hopes and fears," five of Swords.

"This is where it leads," The Lovers.

When she was finished, she looked at it for a while. While observing the cards, Professor Trelawney stepped to their table.

"Oh, the Death card. I see this year you will die, Harry. Your spread is full of closing cards."

"Professor, the Death card refers to the past here. Besides, Harry asked about his love life."

"Oh, well then. Go on. You will need the book, Miss Malfoy."

"No, Professor Trelawney, I don't."

Without blundering another word, she went away.

"Let me see now. The Death card is about your past, as I've said. It means that you have closed something that needed to be closed. Maybe a relationship or something like that. The five of Swords means that you are afraid of conflicts in your love life and of indignity. Now, let's see the present. The Star means that you have already met someone, whom you can start a relationship with. The approaching impulses according to the five of Wands are tests to your physical strength. You're unsure and afraid of starting a relationship, this is told to me by The Moon. The eight of Swords tells me of your subconscious. You don't let yourself love for some reason. There is always a 'but'. The two of Swords also talks of you. You don't want to make a decision in your love life that you need to. Now about your surroundings, the seven of Wands says that someone wants to attack you from the direction of your love life. Not a good present situation, but let's see the future. This looks like an interesting love story. Not dull, for sure. Hmmm. In the near future, you will make a decision that will lead to a full and stable relationship. Oh, good! And look at your distant future! The Lovers! That means a great love. Maybe even the love of your life! Let me summarise this. You've put the past behind you, but you still have fears and obstacles. There are many things that make this future relationship difficult, but in the end you will win. This relationship will probably be the most wonderful in your life. Maybe you'll never have another again. I mean, maybe you'll marry this girl and live happily ever after. I can't be sure, but everything points to a great love affair. The kind that books are about."

"This isn't the first time you've done it, isn't it?"

"No, it's a habit of mine."

"The cards really say that?"

"Yes Harry."

"So when will this happen?"

"Oh, as I've said, you already know the girl. When you two get together only depends on when you decide you want this relationship. From then on, you'll be happy with her. Now it's your turn."

"Wait, do you have any idea, who the girl could be?"

"No, Harry. I can't tell you if she's blonde or brunette."

"Oh well. What's your question?"

"Tell me about my love life," she smiled faintly at him.

* * *

In the deserted Common Room Harry looked at the sign that he had magicked against the wall. He had written down in plain words that he was looking for a Keeper, two reserve Chasers and Beaters. After Divination he had talked to all the members of the team and they agreed with him that for the sake of winning next year, they should begin training the replacements already. After dealing with captain duties, he had done some homework to Hermione's delight and had got Ron to join him as well.

He tore his gaze off the wall and was looking at the stairs in anticipation when he heard soft footsteps. Isabelle came wearing the same robes as on the first night. She looked at him and smiled brightly, then glanced around. After that she sat down on the couch next to him.

"It's good to see you again, Harry."

"It's good to see you too. Now can you tell me how you are and what had got you into the hospital wing?"

"I'm fine now. About the other thing ... after Defence Against the Dark Arts Draco told me to go to an old, unused classroom on the first floor, because Father was waiting for me there. I didn't dare refuse him. Then ... he wasn't pleased with me getting into Gryffindor. He said that even Hufflepuff would have been better."

"What did he do?" Harry asked, with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Punished me."

"How?"

"It doesn't matter. Harry, I don't want to talk about it." She looked away from him, down into her lap.

For about a minute Harry watched her sad face, the flames seemed to be dancing on her pale features. The urge to protect her frail being threatened to take him over from the inside.

"Harry, tell me about your aunt."

He sighed, the magic of the moment was broken and with it the need as well. So again he told everything and she listened attentively.

"What do you think?" he asked, when he reached the end of his account.

"Do you forgive her?"

"That's exactly what Hermione had asked as well."

"We are both girls."

"Yes."

"What did you tell Hermione then?"

"That I didn't know. I still don't. Perhaps I need to get to know her better."

"Well, she doesn't sound like a Death Eater, at least not now."

"You must have met many."

"Living with one of the most prominent ones does bring me together with a couple."

"What about Snape?"

"I have met him. He had been a dinner guest a couple of times."

"Nott, MacNair, Avery, Crabbe, Goyle?"

"Those too. The names I could list ... Though I was often kept upstairs during these dinners. However, I do have ways of getting information."

"Could we write down a list? I'd give it to Dumbledore, just to make sure that he knows of them."

"I don't know. If Father ever ..."

"I'll make sure that no one, but me and Dumbledore see it. After he reads it, we'll destroy the paper. Also, I'll write it down, not you."

"Very well. I did say that I'd like to help you and I'll be true to my word."

"Thank you, Isabelle." He took one of her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "I know that it is hard for you, because you are afraid of your father so much."

"And I have a very good reason for it. Oh, Harry, you can't even imagine ..." Her word ended in a small sob. Harry could feel one of her fingers caressing his hand as he still held on.

"Harry Potter, sir!" came a squeal from behind Harry.

He looked behind him, releasing Isabelle's hand in the motion. Behind him stood Dobby the house-elf in similar attire to what he had seen him in a year ago, except for different socks.

"Dobby!" Then he saw the huge eyes of Dobby dart to the girl beside him and the elf started to run towards him. Or so he thought, because instead, he jumped into Isabelle's lap, who hugged him with the biggest smile Harry had ever seen on her face.

"Dobby! My dear, dear Dobby!" she exclaimed.

"Isabelle Malfoy, miss! Dobby is so happy to see the miss!"

"I'm very happy too!" She planted a big kiss on his tea-cozied head. "I've missed you sooo much! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, miss." The house-elf looked up at her face. "Dobby has missed his mistress as well. Dobby works here at Hogwarts for Dumbledore now. Dobby is even paid!"

"I'm so glad! I was so happy when you were freed, even though it meant loosing my best and only friend. I especially missed you on those ... special nights."

"Dobby has been worried about Isabelle Malfoy. Who would give the miss supper, when miss was sent to bed without one? Dobby had been very worried indeed."

"I can't say that I was well without you, but ... I held on."

"When Isabelle Malfoy needs Dobby, the miss can come to the kitchen. Dobby mostly there. Harry Potter knows where the kitchen is."

"Thank you, Dobby. Now, be on your way." She gave him another kiss. "I will surely come and visit you."

"Thank you miss. Goodbye, Isabelle Malfoy! Goodbye, Harry Potter!" He waved his little hand and disappeared.

"I didn't realise you knew him!" Harry said.

"Well, it was you who freed him from Father."

"Yes, it's just that I didn't make the connection. I see you were friends. I'm sorry that I took him away from you. I never thought I was doing something bad for someone by freeing him."

"Oh, that's perfectly all right, Harry. I was really happy that you have freed him."

"But you lost a friend."

"I did. However, I wanted him freed. Father was really treating him in an awful way. At least ... he could get away from Lucius Malfoy's grasp," she shuddered.

Harry put a hand on her shoulder and she looked up into his eyes. He felt the connection again and felt her fear and pain. She quickly looked away and shrugged off his hand.

"Dobby is my friend and what makes him happy, makes me happy. I'd better go to sleep now, Harry. I'm afraid I'm still a bit weak."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I'm keeping you up, when you were just released from the Hospital Wing. You should lay down and rest."

"Good night, Harry. Have pleasant dreams, and don't worry about me."

"What makes you think..."

She silenced him with a smile.

"Good night, Isabelle."

They both went up to their dormitories. Harry undressed and showered, then took the potion in the bathroom. He felt drowsy within seconds and lay down in his bed. His last thoughts were on the fear in Isabelle's eyes. He wanted to help her, even though she didn't want it.

To be continued ...