The next morning, when Jane Yu and Daphne arrived at the Great Hall for breakfast, they found a group of Slytherins already gathered.
Draco Malfoy sat at the center like the moon surrounded by stars, vividly recounting a story to his audience.
"Don't they have post-holiday syndrome?" Jane muttered, placing a fried egg onto her plate.
Upon seeing her, Draco immediately demanded the game console—clearly addicted.
This played right into Jane's hands.
Taking advantage of the gathered crowd, she seized the opportunity to market the device and introduced a pre-order system, successfully collecting deposits from several students.
She felt instantly rejuvenated, as if even her post-holiday syndrome had been cured.
A true medical miracle.
Draco, so engrossed in the game console, didn't even notice his nemesis Harry entering the hall until most of the students had left. Only then did he snap out of it, springing to his feet in a panic.
"Why didn't anyone wake me?" he exclaimed in shock. "Where did everyone go?"
Crabbe and Goyle, still happily munching on their food, replied lazily. While the game console was entertaining, eating clearly brought them more joy:
"We called you several times, but you didn't respond... They've all gone to Transfiguration class. There are only five minutes left."
Cursing under his breath, Draco leapt up and dashed out the door.
Meanwhile, Jane was already seated in Transfiguration class.
In their third year, Professor McGonagall finally introduced the topic of Animagi.
"Perhaps I should turn you all into pocket watches so you can learn to be punctual," she said, clearly displeased as Draco, followed by Crabbe and Goyle, entered the classroom late. "Take your seats. Two points from Slytherin."
Draco's face fell as he slumped into the seat in front of Jane. He turned to complain to her but ended up whispering something entirely different:
"How do you get past Level Seven in Wizard Duel? Those little monsters..."
His hushed conversation was immediately caught by Professor McGonagall, who glared at him sternly.
"Mr. Malfoy, please remain silent in my class."
Under McGonagall's piercing gaze, Draco shrank back, feigning nonchalance as he opened his textbook. Yet, beneath the desk, his hands still clutched the game console.
Finally, the class proceeded smoothly.
But nothing could have been more mortifying for Jane than this lesson.
Because Professor McGonagall transformed into a tabby cat—right in front of her!
It was the very same cat she had caught during her first year!
No wonder she had found the cat in this classroom!
No wonder McGonagall had been late that day!
And now, the cat even leapt onto her desk, pacing back and forth as if on a catwalk!
The tabby cat, with its distinctive spectacles-like markings, shot Jane a triumphant look. It seemed to revel in showing off its fluffy body on her desk, as if indulging in some peculiar sense of humor, before leaping down and transforming back into Professor McGonagall.
Her usually stern expression now carried a faint, curious smile as she addressed Jane:
"Miss Yu, can you tell us what type of animals Animagi can transform into?"
Jane felt her scalp tingle, her toes curling in embarrassment.
"Each person can only transform into one animal, which is related to the wizard's personality and weight..."
"Usually, the transformation is limited to non-magical creatures, as transforming into magical ones can lead to unpredictable consequences..."
Perhaps Jane's contorted expression amused McGonagall, as she awarded Slytherin two points and spent the rest of the lesson directing questions at her.
"Miss Yu, do the habits of an Animagus's animal form influence the wizard?"
"Miss Yu, what's the difference between an Animagus and a Metamorphmagus?"
"Miss Yu..."
If there was ever a case of karma, Jane was experiencing it now!
...
Next came the elective Divination class.
Hardly any Slytherins chose this course, as they preferred Arithmancy—a subject rooted in a series of rules and rigorous mathematical calculations, essentially the wizarding equivalent of advanced mathematics.
"Divination is the least precise branch of magic. True Seers are extremely rare... And Trelawney..."
The Slytherins shook their heads, unanimously agreeing it wasn't a worthwhile choice.
Yet Jane, who had opted for both Divination and Muggle Studies, stood out as an anomaly among them.
"A Slytherin taking Muggle Studies!"
But her good roommate Daphne quickly came to her defense:
"You don't understand! Only by understanding Muggles can we better rule over them!"
"Her level of strategic thinking and planning is something you'll never achieve in your lifetime!"
The Slytherins, convinced by her argument, began praising Jane as an ambitious and visionary Slytherin.
As Jane made her way to the Divination classroom, she noticed more and more students whispering in the corridors.
"Professor Trelawney said Harry Potter is going to die!"
"A grim dog in the cemetery—a harbinger of death! That's what she said!"
Soon, she spotted Harry, looking utterly miserable, accompanied by Ron and Hermione.
They gestured dramatically at Jane, pulling mournful faces and pointing at Harry.
Harry, too, noticed her. His lips pressed tightly together, and his emerald eyes glistened with tears.
Ever since boarding the train, Harry had been having the worst luck.
First, the Dementors had drained him, and now Trelawney had predicted his death.
"You told me when you read my fortune that I wouldn't die," he said, pulling her into a corner as if desperate for confirmation. "But Trelawney... she said something different."
Jane smiled, fabricating a plausible explanation based on her knowledge of the future:
"Relax, Harry. You won't die."
"A grim dog is indeed a harbinger of death—but it's not your death... It's your enemy's."
After all, Harry would ultimately emerge victorious, and Voldemort would be the one to perish.
Her statement was entirely reasonable and accurate.
Harry, once again convinced, nodded, visibly relieved.
Of course, a true Seer's predictions are always precise!
Jane's ability to foresee not just death but also the death of his enemy left Harry in awe.
After she left, Ron and Hermione exchanged puzzled looks, their curiosity piqued.
"Since when did Yu learn Divination?" Hermione asked.
Harry inhaled sharply, realizing he might have accidentally exposed Jane's secret in his emotional state.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he stammered, trying to come up with an excuse:
"Uh, we... we did some summer prep. Yeah, that's it."
Hermione eyed him skeptically, her sharp mind immediately spotting the flaw:
"But you didn't even finish your homework. Why would you prep for Divination?"
Harry awkwardly clutched his scar, struggling to fabricate a reason.
"Be honest. Is she a Seer? A true prophet?" Hermione pressed, her tone incisive. "Otherwise, how else could she have preemptively solved the school's crises over the past two years?"
"Uh... well..." Harry stammered, finding it nearly impossible to lie to his friends.
"You might as well admit it!" Ron chimed in. "Don't worry, we won't tell anyone."
Ron and Hermione gave Harry knowing looks, as if to say, Your secret is safe with us.
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