"A soul from across time..."
Anne spun around. Professor Trelawney was slumped in her armchair, her gaze unfocused and her chin drooping.
"Professor?" Anne asked softly.
But Trelawney didn't respond. Her eyes began to roll. Anne realized this must be a true prophecy.
When Trelawney spoke, it was in a raspy voice entirely unlike her own.
"She will arrive in a new world... entangled in fate... betrayal and trust will unfold around her... the path she chooses will shape her destiny... something dreadful is approaching... the Dark Lord's return... will bring... death... and... despair..."
Her head dropped to her chest, and she gave a faint moan. Then suddenly, her head jerked up again.
"Oh, forgive me, dear child," she said, as if waking from a dream. "It's just so warm during the day, you know how it is, I must have dozed off..."
Anne stood frozen, her heart racing, cold sweat soaking her back and forehead. The room was still warm, but she felt like she was standing in the middle of winter, gripped by a bone-deep fear.
"Is something wrong, dear?"
Anne clenched her fists and took several deep breaths, but the heat and the smell of tea and ink only made her more dizzy. She barely got the words out through gritted teeth: "Do you... remember what you just said to me?"
Trelawney blinked and shook her head, utterly oblivious. "Did I say something? I must've simply nodded off..."
Anne nodded stiffly, her limbs wooden. Without another word, she turned and descended the stairs one step at a time.
"Anne, let's hurry, " Fanny began but stopped mid-sentence. She quickly pulled a handkerchief from her bag. "Is it really that hot up there? Anne, you're sweating buckets..."
Anne didn't take the handkerchief. Instead, she wordlessly pulled a bottle of water from her bag and gulped it down in one go.
"Anne, did Professor Trelawney... say something to you too?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Too?" That word hit Anne like a thunderclap.
With a loud crack, the glass bottle slipped from her hand and shattered on the ground. Anne grabbed Harry by the collar, her voice low and dangerous. "What did she say to you?"
Fanny and Ron stood frozen. Harry, struggling to breathe, knew he had no choice, Anne's eyes were fierce and threatening, and he suspected she might actually hurt him if he didn't answer.
"She said... the Dark Lord's servant... will seek his master..." Harry said through gritted teeth.
At the word servant, Anne's reason began to return.
Of course. Trelawney's prophecies usually referred to specific people and their immediate surroundings. It wouldn't make sense for her to say anything about Anne. Harry was the protagonist, the main struggle revolved around him and Voldemort. Her own secret should be safe.
Anne released Harry's collar and calmed herself. She gently straightened his robes and forced her voice to stay even.
"Sorry, Harry. I overreacted... I just..."
But Ron was already reacting loudly. "Wait, what did you say? You-Know-Who's servant?!"
Fanny carefully pulled Anne away from the broken glass and offered her the handkerchief again. "Anne, what happened?"
Anne took the handkerchief and wiped her face. "Professor Trelawney said something really frightening. I lost control for a moment."
"Did it have something to do with... You-Know-Who?" Fanny asked quickly, practically spitting out the name.
Anne nodded, exhaling deeply, and looked toward Harry. She paused before asking, "Harry, exactly what did Professor Trelawney say to you?"
Harry frowned. "When I was leaving, she said that the Dark Lord was lying alone, abandoned by his followers. That his servant had been imprisoned for twelve years. But before midnight tonight, that servant would break free and seek his master. The Dark Lord would rise again, stronger and more terrifying than ever."
Fanny and Ron both gasped, stunned.
Ron stammered, "That can't be real... I mean, Professor Trelawney must've been rambling nonsense..."
Fanny nodded in agreement. "She always predicts doom, but nothing ever happens. Harry, remember in first year, she said You-Know-Who would return, but it turned out Quirrell was behind the Stone... And in the second year, the Chamber was opened by Ginny..."
But as she spoke, she recalled the disturbing prophecy Trelawney had given Anne. It seemed too similar.
"Anne, what exactly did she say to you?"
Anne was relieved it hadn't specifically named her. She answered, "What she told me was similar to Harry's, but less specific. She said the Dark Lord would bring death and despair."
The words death and despair seemed to cast a chilling spell over them. All three immediately thought of Anne's Boggart, the tall, shadowy Grim Reaper (as Hermione had once explained).
They now understood why Anne had reacted so strongly.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
"Should we tell someone? Maybe Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked.
Alarm bells went off in Anne's mind. "No!"
All three turned to look at her. Anne met their eyes and asked, "Harry, did you ask Professor Trelawney about it? About what she said?"
"I... I did. She claimed she had fAaron asleep. Said she never makes prophecies that distant."
"Same here," Anne added. "She said she had just nodded off."
Ron and Fanny visibly relaxed. Ron clapped Harry on the shoulder. "See? She doesn't even remember saying it. Must've been more of her nonsense. You've been really stressed lately with exams and Black and everything..."
"But the night before the Quidditch match, I saw a big black dog..."
"Harry, you were nervous. I woke up when you did, remember? I didn't see anything. If Hermione were here, she'd back me up."
"Alright," Harry nodded slowly.
"Anne, Ron makes sense. Don't take it too seriously. Weren't you the one who said Divination was a big fraud just a few weeks ago?"
Anne glanced at them and nodded slowly. "Yeah..." She turned and looked back at the trapdoor above. Then murmured, "I'm dropping Divination next year."
"Great, I've been wanting to quit too," Fanny said as she walked with Anne down the stairs. "Let's grab lunch."
Ron and Harry followed behind, Ron looking particularly pleased with himself, his words had just comforted both Harry and Anne, and Fanny's comment that he made sense gave him an extra boost of pride.
By the time they reached the Great Hall, most students had already eaten. Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, glancing anxiously toward the entrance.
"Where have you been? I saw Minister Fudge and that executioner. We, " she stopped when she saw their pale faces, especially Anne's and Harry's.
"What happened in Divination?" Hermione asked.
"We..." Fanny began but was quickly cut off.
"Ask Ron and Harry," Anne said curtly. "We're eating. And just so you know, the Transfiguration exam is at two. As for Hagrid's hearing, you three go."
She turned and walked off without waiting for a response. Fanny gave the others an apologetic look and followed.
"I figured Anne might skip Hagrid's hearing, but what's wrong with her?"
Ron glanced at Harry, then explained the prophecy from Divination.
Hermione stood up abruptly, ready to march toward the Slytherin table, but Harry stopped her. "Hermione..."
She looked back at them and paused.
"Let's talk about Hagrid instead. You said Fudge and the executioner are here?" Harry asked.
Hermione glanced over at the Slytherin table. Anne was slicing a piece of lamb with her fork and knife, while Fanny poured her a bowl of vegetable stew.
"Alright. Let's eat first," Hermione said.
The three walked toward the Gryffindor table.
Anne and Fanny quickly finished their meal and left for Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration exam.
At 2 p.m., Gryffindor had their final core exam: History of Magic.
Afterward, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the exam hall, they spotted a large man in the courtyard polishing a massive axe.
"We've got to get to Hagrid's," Harry said.
The three rushed out of the castle, but just before Hagrid's hut, they ran into Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, hiding behind a boulder and spying.
"Maybe my father will let me mount Buckbeak's head in Gryffindor's common room," Malfoy sneered. "Look at that oaf. I bet he'll cry like a baby."
Crabbe and Goyle laughed. "Can't wait to see what that Anne Reeve brat looks like when they lose. Still trying to help, "
He didn't finish. Hermione's fist struck Malfoy square in the nose.
"Don't you dare call Hagrid a baby! And, " she shouted. Harry and Ron quickly held her back as she drew her wand. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle fled.
"That was brilliant, Hermione!" Ron grinned.
Outside Hagrid's hut, Buckbeak was already tied up in the pumpkin patch. They entered.
"Look at him, he loves the breeze," Hagrid said, watching the creature.
"Hagrid, what about the appeal?" Hermione asked.
"It was held at noon... Dumbledore tried, but he couldn't sway the committee. He told them Buckbeak wasn't dangerous, but they were afraid... Lucius Malfoy threatened them, I think... and the executioner, Macnair, he's an old friend of the Malfoys... But it'll be quick. I'll be with him..."
Hagrid swallowed hard.
"Oh no, this is terrible," Ron groaned. Hermione glared at him.
"Maybe we could sneak Buckbeak out?" Harry suggested.
Hagrid shook his shaggy head. "They'd know. Dumbledore would be in trouble. He's coming soon. Wants to be here... Good man, Dumbledore."
"We're with you too, Hagrid," Hermione said, standing.
"You need to go back. I don't want you seeing this. And if Fudge or Dumbledore catches you sneaking out of the castle, Harry, it'll be bad."
"Oh, right," Hagrid suddenly remembered. He grabbed a small box and pulled out a rat. "Ron, I think this is your pet."
Ron stared, stunned. "Scabbers! What are you doing here?"
"It's okay, Scabbers! No cats, nothing here to hurt you!" Ron said. But Hagrid's eyes were suddenly on the window, his face pale as parchment.
"They're here..." he whispered.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned.
In the distance, a group of men walked down the castle steps. Dumbledore led them, his silver beard catching the evening light. Beside him was Cornelius Fudge, followed by frail committee members and the executioner, Macnair.
"You've got to go," Hagrid said, trembling. "They mustn't see you... Go! Now!"
He pushed them toward the back door.
"Hagrid, we can't, "
"We have to tell them, "
"They can't kill him!"
"GO!" Hagrid roared. "You'll only make it worse!"
With no choice, they slipped out the door.
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