Professor Gale, the stand-in divination professor whilst Vinear was off with flu, went on, having spent the last five minutes discussing Maxine's 'aura'. It was the subject of the lesson but seemed to have strayed, though still Gale lingered, holding out her hand in a feigned fashion as she spoke. Nobody in that class was taking her seriously anymore, because, whether she was a true seer or not, her attitude spoke negatively and her bizarre movements that accompanied her low, unsteadily pitched voice were amusing and later had become irritating. Neither did her appearance give any level of professionalism, for she wore a long, wispy rove of lavender with a hood that concealed dark blonde hair. Her face, rather than being solemn, exotic or mystical like in most seers, was rather round and held equally rounder pale blue eyes with long, curling lashes framed by bright silver makeup. No, rather than giving the woman an sense of beauty, it made her look like a little girl. And so, as the Professor drawled on about Maxine, most lost interest and started mucking about, yawning or whatever else matched the mood of boredom.

Even Maxine was bored. She'd never liked divination and certainly didn't like being the subject of Professor Gales endless raving. In fact, it was excruciating, sitting ther and having to put up with all the rubbish that was flowing out.

"No, you do not have the inner eyes, but there is something about....something special. And you have an accompaniment..in this very room." 

Maxine looked round at Stefan as the Professor closed her eyes and rambled on. He linked her gaze and she grinned, his expression soon dawning similarly. She smiled, then turned again, a little more reassured. Stefan hadn't been his usual self the night before last, understandably, as she'd apologised about Theon only just before they'd gone to bed. The next day had been ok, just the usual studying, though everyone was stressed due to the outbreak of flu that infected quite a few of their classmates. But that morning...she hadn't been the problem, he seemed to be in a strange mood. When Maxine had asked what was wrong, he had only said on word; "Nightmares." Therefore all of first period herbology had been cheer up Stefan and ignore Theon. It had worked, but she was constantly checking on him before calling herself back for being motherly. He was now laughing to himself because of this, amused at Maxine's affections and concern, smiling at his friend as she sighed slightly in relief. 

She always looked out for him, as he did her. The perfect balance. Always there for each other, no matter what. But Theon...he broke Stefan's balance. Set it into overdrive. Something about the boy set warning lights off in Stefan's mind. And, being remarkably shrewd, Stefan knew that he needed to be wary of the boy. 

The essential thing was to make sure that Maxine was as uninvolved with the boy as possible. He knew he couldn't persuade his friend out of the study sessions, besides, they had actually helped her potions a lot - but she had to be kept away from Theon outside those meetings. It had been satisfying for Maixne to ignore the boy in Herbology. Yes, not only had Stefan felt reassurance, he had felt satisfaction. Because there was something personal there too.

Stefan looked down at his dream diary and sighed, looking at the entry. It was a lie - he hadn't dreamed about playing Quidditch - he had dreamt painful things, visions that had left both his heart and head aching as he had woken up with a start. But the strange thing was, he couldn't remember what those visions had been. Only the emotions they had caused. 

They had caused his quiet, brooding mood as the emotions and physical feelings had lingered, but Maxine had driven them away. She'd been there for him when he needed her.

He looked across at his friend as the Professor held her forefinger out and pressed it hard to touch Maxine's forehead. Stefan restrained a laugh at his friends bemused expression. She heard it, though, and turned her head to grin at him, pulling a face. 

"Yes...there...I feel it....a constant..." 

The divination professor began to mover her figure, still planted on Maxine's forehead, in circles. Half the class were hiding their laughs now and Maxine starting to blush. Luckily, before the laughs became hysterical, the school clock could be heard chiming the break and Professor Gale's finger came off Maxine's forehead and the class began to move out. Stil grinning, Stefan waited by the door as Maxine fled from the seer, garbling her bag and advancing towards the door. The teacher was still watching her as she and Stefan, the last ones out, moved to shut the door, her eyes misty and glazed. Maxine, however, simply burst our laughing as soon as they'd closed the door. But, turning round , giggling, Maxine and Stefan were suddenly greeted by Rose.

"Oh - hey Rose." Maxine greeted her friend wth slight confusion - Rose was meant to be two floors down doing Ancient Runes. 

"Hey Maxie, Stefan." She started walking beside the two of them. Maxine noticed her friend w as slightly tense and was just about to ask why she was up in the divination tower when Stefan did it for her,

"Er - Rose - aren't you meant to be in Ancient Runes?" Maxine turned her gaze onto her friend expectantly.l Stefan already looking to her.

"Well that's the thing - Fauna got taken ill half way through, suddenly fainted in the middle of reciting." Explained Rose, her brow creasing slightly in worry. "She's in the hospital wing now."

Maxine stared at her friend with questioning concern. "But she's ok now, yeah?"

Rose nodded. "Yeah - it's just flu - apparently she only fainted cause she was anaemic*."

"That must have been quite a scare though." Said the ever-sensitive and brotherly Stefan.

Rose laughed embarrassedly. "Well it was, sort of." She them brightened her expression. "But we can see her - they've put a quarantine charm around her."

"Well that's good." Maxine smiled. "I take it you came up here to get us?"

Rose grinned and nodded. "Yup." She seemed less shaken now, having the comfort of Stefan and Maxine. There was a slight pause as they walked and Maxine rummaged through her bag because of the involuntary impulse that she had forgotten something. "I take it you're okay to come?"

Stefan smiled. "Course." But Maxine, still going through her bag, failed to. Stefan chuckled at her in a bemused fashion and questioned her. "Max? Anything wrong?"

Maxine lifted her head and swore to herself. "I've forgotten my textbook." She glanced behind her. "I need to go back for it."

"Shall we meet you down there, then?" Asked Rose, looking back at her friend.

Maxine nodded but Stefan cut in. "I'll wait for Max, we'll follow on in a few."

"No, no, go Stefan. I'll catch up." Maxine insisted, pushing her friend forward as he opened his mouth to protest. "Go on!"

Rose laughed and Stefan gave in. "Ok, ok - see you in a minute." He put on a teasing face. "You sure you want to brave Gale on your own, though?"

She pulled a face at him and waved him away. "Be off with you." Stefan chuckled and turned back round, walking away down the corridor. She smiled, watching him go, pleased that he was no longer awkward around her friends and more like a brother. Turning, she sighed and made her way back to the classroom. She was dreading another encounter with Professor Gale - probably more prentious predictions would come and she'd be stuck there for half an hour. Still, it was that or never see her textbook again. Inhaling, she reached up and a pulled down on the cold brass handle of the door and entered the classroom. Standing from the entrance, she could see Professor Gale clearing up, picking up her abandoned textbook.

"Oh sorry Professor!" Maxine came forward, making the teacher jump and spin round. "That's mine - I've come back from it."

"My, you made me jump." Professor Gale placed her hand on her heart. "Yours, you say?"

Maxine nodded. "I left it here. Sorry."

The teacher approached, placing the book in Maxine's hand when she as closer before titling her head to the side and squinting at her. "Lestrange, isn't it? You know, you're very interesting."

Maxine smiled in an embarrassed fashion, really itching to go and to escape what she predicted would be another bout of the professor staring at her and rambling on about bonds and transitions. "I - er - have to go now." She said awkwardly after a long pause.

"Of course." The young teacher snapped out of her staring and turned. "See you next lesson."

Surprised that she'd got off lightly. Maxine turned hurriedly, eager to get out of the classroom. But, in the middle of her half hearted farewell to the teacher, she was interrupted. Professor Gale, approaching the desks, suddenly fell with a huge groan. Instinctually, Maxine let go of her bag and rushed towar the woman, the thought of Fauna fainting I'm her mind and giving her a sensible reason for the collapse. But instead, Gale was very much awake and gulping like fish as she knelt on the floor.

"Professor?" Maxine questioned in bewilderment. "Professor are you-"

"You! You wil die....I see you dead....in pain...unless-" The gasping woman halted in her terrifying words "-unless you transform. Unless you change your soul."

There was a deathly silence as the teacher's eyes rolled round and she collapsed fully on the floor. But Maxine didn't move to help this time, she was frozen with fear. She too was dead to the world. It was the same prophecy, the same one Stefan had  received. That she was going  to die unless she changed...but how could it be? How was she going to die? Her head began to flood with questions and she turned wildly, clutching it. Fear was filling her, terror at the foreboding of the message she had received. This was no hoax. It was true....this prophecy had to be true. What was she going to do? To die, she was going to...

"Miss Lestrange?" Maxine spun round to be greeted by a now a standing Professor Gale. The teacher seemed perfectly normal, simply standing there and holding out the textbook that Maxine must have dropped in shock. "Your textbook?" The teacher handed it to a stunned Maxine and looked at her in confusion that bewildered and confused Maxine beyond words. "Is there anything wrong, Miss Lestrange?"

Maxine paused, swallowed and shook her head.

"No." She breathed, turning round to go. "There's nothing wrong."