For their Easter break, all the teachers had given the fifth years so much homework that Diana thought she was likely to graduate from Hogwarts before she finished it.

     Regulus didn't need to study as much as them because he was in his fourth year and so didn't have O.W.Ls until next year, but he still accompanied Diana and Layla to the library some days, reading books.

     Shortly before the end of the Easter holidays, Diana and Layla walked down from their dorm and into the Slytherin common room only to find a few people gathered around the notice board.

     "What's that?" Layla questioned, moving closer with Diana to see what was the new note hanging on the board.

CAREER ADVICE

All fifth years will be required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the beginning of the new term, in which they will be given the opportunity to discuss their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below.

     There were also a batch of pamphlets, leaflets, and notices concerning various Wizarding careers appeared on the tables in their common room. While Layla had gone to pick up one of the catalogs and the leaflets, Diana checked the list for her name, seeing that she was expected in Professor Slughorn's office in a few weeks on a Monday, at ten-thirty. Which meant it was right after her Ancient Runes class.

***

"Listen to this one," Layla said on the last evening of the holidays. They were sitting in the common room with Regulus, looking through the career leaflets. "'Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel, adventure, and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting Curse-Breakers for thrilling opportunities abroad...' That sounds cool — wait, no. They actually want Arithmancy."

      "Didn't you want to become a Potioneer?" Diana asked Layla, not bothering to read any of the leaflets.

     "I did... but I've been having so much progress in spells and curses. I've actually become the top student among the fifth year Slytherins when it comes to wand work."

     "What about this one?" Regulus started, who was looking through their catalogs as well. "It's for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

     "I've read that one. Being an Auror sounds pretty cool, too." Layla grinned.

     "It's not about being cool. You have to actually like catching and chasing after Dark Wizards and Witches for a living. And with everything that's going on right now... that's probably the most dangerous career you can pursue," Diana reasoned, but Layla only scoffed.

     "Ha! I laugh in the face of danger."

     "What career do you want, then? I haven't seen you look at even one of these," Regulus asked Diana.

     "No point." She shrugged. "Father wants me to work with him at the Ministry. It's some stupid desk job, but there's no way out of it."

     "Oh, come on. There must be something you would like to do," said Layla. "Like... don't you want to be a professional Quidditch player or something? Working at the Ministry in a boring office doesn't sound much like you."

     Diana sighed. "Trust me, as long as I'm stuck with my parents, it doesn't matter what I like to do."

***

It was already 10th of May and the day of career advice had arrived. Diana's meeting with Professor Slughorn was right after her first class.

    It was a Monday, and so as usual Diana left the Great Hall after breakfast to get to her Ancient Runes' class. Although to her surprise, when Diana got there, Remus hadn't arrived yet. She went and took her seat at the front of the class, but Remus didn't show up even when the lesson came to an end.

     Diana had no idea why Remus missed the classes every few weeks, and the surprising part was that all the teachers seemed to be all right with it. It was as though every once in a while he completely disappeared from the castle without an explanation.

     After the class came to an end, Diana made her way down to Professor Slughorn's office, knocking at his door and entering after she heard a faint 'come in'.

     "Ah, Miss Greengrass! Please, do sit down," said Professor Slughorn as he shuffled the many pamphlets littering his desk.

    "Good morning, Professor," said Diana, sitting on the chair which was placed in front of his desk.

     "As you know, I'm here to assist you and talk over any career ideas you might have. It's important. Very important indeed, because your career will specify which subjects you should continue into sixth and seventh years," said Professor Slughorn. "Do you have anything in mind?"

      "Er... well... I guess I will be joining my father at the Ministry. In the Accounting Department," Diana replied unsurely.

     Slughorn must've sensed the hesitation and unwillingness in her voice, because he looked up from the paper he had in hand and put in down on the desk.

     "And is that something you're fascinated in?" he asked.

     "Not sure... I'm not really the type to sit an office all day long."

     "Well, you should've taken Arithmancy, so I think the Accounting Department is out of question for now."

Diana felt a sudden happiness, but it quickly faded when she realized that her mother would kill her now that she couldn't work at the Ministry with her father.

"And how about Department of International Magical Cooperation? The good thing about it is that it's not only an office job. You'll get to travel and communicate with witches and wizards from all over the world."

     I'm not the type to communicate with people either, Diana thought to herself, but didn't dare to say it out loud.

     "But for that you'll need to speak other languages," Slughorn went on. "Do you know any other languages?"

    "Um... I can speak a little French."

     Only the curse words, she thought.

      "What subjects do you like the most, Miss Greengrass?"

"Well, I do like Quidditch, but I don't want to become a professional player. I also really like Ancient Runes."

"I would've said you may consider working at Gringotts as a Curse-Breaker in that case, but unfortunately that too requires Arithmancy." Slughorn then sighed. "I suggest you take another look at the leaflets, Miss Greengrass. I'm sure you'll find a suitable career for yourself eventually. You are a very smart student, indeed. You still have a few months to decide."

"Right... thank you, Professor," said Diana politely as she got to her feet, thinking to herself that this meeting really wasn't useful at all.

Just as she was getting up, her eyes fell on the list of students on Slughorn's desk, which had their appointment times written down on it. Although what had caught Diana's attention was the date written on top of the page.

It was 10/5/76.

"Miss Greengrass?" Slughorn called her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Sorry, Professor. Goodbye," Diana said quickly, leaving the office in a rush with her mind racing.

Those were the exact mysterious numbers she had written in her book in the History of Magic class; one, zero, and five.

As she walked down toward the dungeons with her footsteps echoing through the empty hallways, she got a weird feeling in her gut. Diana didn't know how she knew this, but she had a feeling that something terrible was going to happen tonight.