The Breaking Point

Professor Flitwick had somehow managed to interpret this situation as Oleandra being so severely depressed that even a grandmaster's Cheering Charm couldn't lift her mood. After a lot of pointless arguing, Oleandra finally managed to convince Professor Flitwick that she really was okay. 

Since Oleandra's rune-engraved soul protected her from most forms of magic that attacked the psyche, she was completely immune to the effects of the Cheering Charm, which was low-level mind magic.

"Sis, wait for me!" shouted Oleandra as she chased after Daphne, who had left the classroom ahead of her. Upon reaching the exit, Oleandra found her sister interrogating Harry and Ron.

"Where's Hermione?" Daphne was asking angrily. "She's the one who has the— Ugh! At any rate, just tell her to get her act together. I missed a class because of her."

"What are you talking about?" said Harry, looking awfully confused. "You didn't miss anything; you were right there in Charms with us."

"Just pass on the message to her," Daphne sighed. "She'll understand."

As soon as the two boys were out of sight, Daphne turned to her sister and winked.

"I'm not actually that mad that Hermione made me choose between Muggle Studies and Charms," she whispered. "Learning about Muggles is just so dreadfully tedious."

"She must have fallen asleep somewhere," Oleandra mused. "It's not like her to miss a class on purpose."

"Well, she was looking slightly wobbly in Arithmancy," Daphne said loftily. "I daresay not everyone has the privilege to gain their energy through photosynthesis."

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Half an hour later, the Slytherin Silver Trio were climbing the ladder up to the Divination Classroom. It looked as if they were done with palmistry, because the room was filled with crystal balls.

"Oh good," said Oleandra. "I dunno why she made us do palmistry in winter. It's so uncomfortable having to hold someone's freezing hands."

"It's not all bad," said Tracey, blushing slightly. "And it does get pretty warm in here after a while."

"You know what I liked?" Oleandra said. "Reading tea leaves. We got to relax and drink hot tea together."

"Oooh, that reminds me!" squealed Tracey. "I heard that seventh years do Tyromancy— the art of reading the future in cheese!"

"Mmm, cheese," said Oleandra dreamily.

"I'm sorry dears," said Professor Trelawney's voice out of nowhere. "I'm sad to say that Tyromancy is no longer being taught at Hogwarts due to… budget cuts."

"Aww," said Oleandra and Tracey simultaneously. Well, at least they still had Oneiromancy to look forward to in their fifth year, which was the art of interpreting prophetic dreams. Now that was something even Oleandra could do in her sleep!

"I have seen fragments of your future in the cards, Miss Greengrass," Professor Trelawney continued. "Your fate is that of the Fool; the vagabond— you will wander further than most. Perhaps fate will take you to Beauxbatons— seventh years may participate in exchange programs with other magical schools, and that school still maintains the tradition of teaching Tyromancy."

And upon saying those words, Professor Trelawney left the Slytherin girls alone and headed to the centre of the room to begin teaching the class all she knew about crystal balls. But throughout the class, Hermione would rudely comment on anything the teacher said.

Oleandra tried to focus her attention on her crystal ball and ignore the smart-alecs at the neighbouring table making snide comments. Mist swirled inside the ball; shadowy figures and indiscernible shapes forming out of shadows. Water, perhaps? The sea? And a tree…

"Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb?" Professor Trelawney said to the Gryffindor Trio.

"I don't need any help," Ron whispered. "It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight."

"Pfft," Oleandra tried to restrain herself from laughing. Aww, and now the shadows in her crystal ball were gone; she had lost her concentration.

"Now, really! You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations!" Professor Trelawney said irascibly, looking into the Gryffindor Trio's crystal ball. "Now, I am sensing something; it's moving… What could it be? My dear, could it be? No— It's becoming clearer… My poor boy, you have it… the Gri—"

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" said Hermione loudly. "The Grim, again? You have no imagination."

Hermione had gone too far. Oleandra had never actually seen Professor Trelawney get angry.

"I am sorry to say that from the moment you arrived in my class, my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don't recall ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly mundane." 

"Good, good, good!" yelled Hermione. "Then that's fine by me! I don't want anything to do with your scam! I've had enough, so I'm leaving!"

Hermione packed up her things into her bag and stalked off towards the exit. When she walked by Oleandra's table, she suddenly stopped to rummage in her things. Oleandra caught a glimpse of something golden in Hermione's hand.

"Here," she said, stuffing the item she had retrieved from her bag into Daphne's hands. "You can have this. I won't be coming back here, so you need this more than me."

Hermione kicked open the hatch and began climbing down the ladder. Just as everyone thought she was gone for good; Hermione popped her head through the trapdoor.

"Just don't forget about me for the other classes, Daphne," she added, before disappearing again.

Daphne looked rather pleased; Hermione had just relinquished possession of the Time-Turner over to her. Hermione was a prideful girl; she had been proud to be chosen as the holder of the Time-Turner for her year over Daphne, but clearly, she no longer found herself worthy: she had made Daphne miss a class and she had dropped a class of her own.

"Ooooo!" said a Gryffindor girl suddenly. What was her name again? Oh yeah, Brown, or something. "Oooooo, Professor Trelawney, I've just remembered! You saw her leaving, didn't you? Didn't you, Professor? 'Around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever!' You said it ages ago, Professor!"

Now that Oleandra thought about it, that was true! She looked at Professor Trelawney in admiration.

"I'm beginning to think Hermione was right," Daphne whispered. "There's probably a trend of students quitting around this time, when homework starts piling up. She can also influence things to go her way, since she teaches the class."

Oleandra and Tracey both scowled at Daphne.