Severus Snape A Soul Undiminished

Chapter 41 - Trelawney & Hagrid

Sirana was really not looking forward to her meeting with Professor Trelawney today. She seemed nice enough, but Sirana was always a bit suspicious of Divination.
Maybe suspicious is the wrong word,she thought.If clairvoyance was indeed a possibility, she did not feel comfortable with the idea of a prediction or prophecy hanging over her head. She preferred the mystery of not knowing what the future held.
Professor Trelawney met her in her classroom, then led her up the narrow stairs to the small room where she lived and worked. She looked around at all of the eclectic items in Professor Trelawney's room. Trelawney stared at her wide-eyed for a few uncomfortable moments, before finally offering her a seat.
"Professor Trelawney, I appreciate you inviting me to meet with you, but I need to tell you first that I am not interested in seeing any of my future before it happens. I prefer my path be fluid," Sirana said as politely as possible.
"Oh, dear," Trelawney said. "Our life is like a history book— already written, just waiting to be read. We are already dead..."
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Sirana thought about that, and answered, "If my life is already written, I would like to be the one to read it as it happens, not before."
Trelawney fidgeted as if she wanted to ask a question but was afraid of not getting the answer she wanted. Finally, her curiosity won out over her trepidation and she asked, "Would you allow me to take a peek at a few of your pages if I promise not to tell you what they reveal? Please, have some tea with me."
Sirana thought about the offer. She liked Professor Trelawney. She didn't feel any threat from the eccentric lady. She finally acquiesced. "Alright, but please, promise that you will also not share it with others if it is something dreadful."
Professor Trelawney agreed and prepared their tea. Sirana did as Trelawney instructed, then as she handed the cup for her to read, she couldn't stop herself from looking.
Trelawney saw her and asked, "What do you see my dear?"
Sirana answered, not seeing any harm as long as Trelawney kept her promise, "I see a fawn."
Trelawney looked for herself, and Sirana wondered what more she could see than she had herself. Trelawney gasped, looking up at Sirana and then reached out as if to caress her aura. Sirana noticed a tear fall down her cheek and couldn't help but wonder what would be so sad as to make her cry. But then, she saw Trelawney smile serenely and felt as if the tear was one of happiness instead.
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relawney & Hagrid
"Thank you, dear. Thank you for that. We may be bound by our books, but it's the chapters between the beginning and end that make up our stories."
Sirana felt at peace with that and thanked Professor Trelawney.
"Please, call me Sybill," the Professor continued. "I don't know if you were aware of the tribulations of the school year before your arrival, but I am happy to have been reinstated, and I will be here all summer if you need anything—even if it's just company."
They both reached out to grasp each other's hands, feeling closer from the experience,and Sirana offered the same invitation to her before leaving.
Sirana woke up early the next day to get ready to go see Hagrid. She hoped their first day together would go as well as her meeting with Professor Trelawney. Hagrid was already outside, waiting for her. He was carrying a leather satchel and a huge walking stick. When she approached, he handed her a walking stick that was more suitable for her height.
"We'll 'ave a bit o' a hike today inter the forest," Hagrid said, taking off straight away towards the forest. He continued talking as she followed him closely. "Dawn is the best time ter see 'em. Not everyone can see 'em, mind yeh, but we won' know if yeh can 'til yeh do."
She had no idea what he was talking about, but Severus was right—she enjoyed the good-natured way about Hagrid, and she
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was enjoying his company already. She felt like she was going on an adventure, and he was her giant guide. She had to take three steps to each one of his, but because of his size, he didn't move that swiftly, so it worked out nicely. He liked to talk it seemed, and she liked to listen, so that made for an enjoyable hike.
As they approached a small clearing, she noticed that Hagrid slowed his pace, breathing and walking more quietly, as if to not startle whatever he thought was ahead. Sirana gasped as she saw the creatures slowly appear from behind the trees and brush.
"They smell the meat I 'ave in me bag," Hagrid whispered loudly. "Clever creatures really...Can yeh see 'em, then?"
"Yes, I can. They're beautiful!" Sirana exclaimed breathlessly.
Hagrid raised his eyebrows at that. "Most people don' share yer opinion. I was hoping yeh wouldn' be scared of 'em. They're magnificent creatures in my opinion."
"I can see that. Can we touch them, or are they wild?" Sirana asked hopefully.
"Touch 'em! Ride 'em! This herd o' Thestrals are tame," Hagrid explained proudly. He pulled out a few pieces of raw meat and tossed them to the Thestrals closest to them. "If they take to yeh, maybe yeh can ride 'em one day. Of course, I don't ride too often, 'cause of me size. I'm too heavy fer most of 'em. Except fer Tenebrus. He's grown ter be pretty strong. He bravely offers ter give me a ride, but I don' like ter take 'm up on his offer too often since I know it's probably a strain fer 'em," Hagrid said affectionately.
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Hagrid handed Sirana a piece of the meat, motioning her to hold it out to Tenebrus. The large Thestral walked up to her and gently took the meat from her hand, then tossed it up in the air and caught it in his mouth. Sirana clapped. Hagrid said, "Show off!" to Tenebrus. The Thestral then walked up close to Sirana, sniffing her up and down, then laid his head on her shoulder. Sirana's mouth dropped open in awe, and she petted the Thestral on the muzzle.
"Well, he seems ter 'ave taken a liking to yeh," Hagrid said, with a bit of surprise in his voice. "Maybe next week, he'll let yeh ride 'm."
"Really?! That would be wonderful!" Sirana exclaimed. "Thank you so much for bringing me here, Hagrid. It's magical."
"Yer welcome. Thank yeh fer comin' with me. If yer up fer it, there's a few more magical creatures I'd like ter show yeh over the summer. Yeh can learn and help at the same time," Hagrid suggested hopefully.
"I'm up for it for sure," Sirana answered, and she had a much more optimistic feeling about the summer break.