"Shut up right now." He says, covering my mouth with his hand.
For a moment we both stare at each other, not quite sure what to do next.
My body is frozen against the wall. All I can focus on is Draco's minty breath that dances across my face.
Hi...
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I do my best to smile at Dumbledore before walking over to my Grandmother and curtsying to her (I know it sounds weird but my family are kinda traditional).
"Good morning, Grandmother." She nods her head at me, signalling that I can stop with formalities and I immediately wrap my arms around her frail body.
"It's okay, my child. You are safe to discuss your vision now." I've always loved Grandmother's voice. She has an incredible way of making me feel instantly comforted.
I glance over to Dumbledore who is staring at me intently, waiting for me to begin my recount. So I do. The trouble is that many people don't realise that even talking about what I see in my vision is difficult. All the feelings and emotions I felt when I first had it last night are sparked again and its just as painful. I recount every detail I can remember, shutting my eyes to see it all again. I don't want to do it, but I have to. I talk about the bright green flash, the body, Harry's scar. Most importantly I talk about You-Know-Who. I do my best to describe him but I know that they won't understand. They won't see it as I do. When I finally finish, tears are streaming down my cheeks and my body is rocking back and forth. Grandmother sits beside me and stretches out her arm to comfort me whilst Dumbledore paces around the study.
We're interrupted by a reluctant knock at the door. On cue, the headmaster looks up and utters a spell under his breath, resulting in the floor flinging open to reveal an awkward looking Harry shuffling about.
"Come in, Harry." Dumbledore mutters. "I'm glad you received my message."
Harry looks as if he's on the verge of shitting himself. I can't blame him though- I've never heard Dumbledore shout the way he did last night. I offer him my best attempt at at smile, which he reciprocates. Much to Draco's dismay, I'm good friends with Harry. I met him, Hermione and Ron in first year potions class. Hermione and I were often partnered together so it was only natural that I joined her in helping the boys catch up on content they had missed outside of class. Thankfully I've somehow managed to miss out on all the crazy shit they get up to and have stuck to just offering advice here and there.
"Um... Sir... what am I doing here?" Harry asks sheepishly.
"I have asked you here to meet with Miss Monet." What? "Francesca will assist you in your preparation for the competition."
"Not to be rude..." Harry says, giving me an apologetic look, "... but how exactly is Fran going to help me? We have a pretty similar skill set, you know, we're in the same year so we've learnt all the same school content."
Dumbledore gives me a nod before gesturing for me to come forward and speak to Harry.
"Harry, what you are about to hear is of the utmost secrecy. Under no circumstance are you to tell anyone what is said in this office." Dumbledore says, grasping hold of Harry's shoulders and staring him dead in the eyes. Harry frantically nods, with the worried expression creeping its way back onto his face. "Good, Francesca- please go ahead."
I stare blankly at him, then Harry, then my Grandmother.
"Right... well the thing is, Harry... you see, we don't have the same skill set. I'm a seer. I can sometimes see visions of the future." Harry's face drains itself of all colour as I speak. Poor boy, he's had the shock of his life yesterday and I don't suppose my revelation is bringing him any comfort.
"Go on then- do I die?" He asks breathlessly.
"No, no- at least I don't think so!" It was an attempt at a joke on my part but looking at Harry's face I realise it was clearly a gross misreading of the room. "Kidding, kidding..."
"Francesca has had a vision involving Voldemort." Dumbledore says, breaking the silence.
"I don't know why he was in my vision but he was and... you were there too- at least your scar was." I follow.
"Brilliant!" Harry exclaims sarcastically. "First I'm somehow entered into some stupid competition that I'm highly likely to die in but what you're telling me now is that if I don't die in the actual competition then Voldemort will come and finish me off. Truly brilliant."
I do feel bad for him. Some people are jealous of Harry for always being the centre of attention and going on adventures some adult wizards can only dream of but, they fail to realise how taxing it is on him. He risks his life annually just because moldy Voldy's ego took a hit when he couldn't kill an innocent baby. How fucked up is that?! I don't think it helps that Harry's public enemy number one at Hogwarts now for seemingly cheating the system. I truly question the academic intellect of our student body sometimes. After all the shit Harry's gone through do they really think he wants to win some meaningless competition?
"Harry we are all here to support you through this." Dumbledore says sternly to the dark haired boy who seems to be in the middle of a mental breakdown.
"Come on Harry, lets go and get a bite to eat." I just want to leave the room and Harry's in desperate need of some fresh air.
-
We sit down by the lake to avoid the taunting Harry will receive from the rest of the school if we were to step foot in the Great Hall.
"So basically your my babysitter for the rest of the year?" Harry asks, cracking a smile for the first time since yesterday evening.
"Sounds like it." I laugh.
Both of us are silent for a while before Harry speaks again.
"I can't believe you're a seer. I mean there was always something about you but I never saw that coming."
"You really can't tell anyone, Harry. It could put me in serious danger." I stare deep into his eyes, hoping he understands how important this is.
"Don't worry, Fran. I know how it feels to constantly be looking over your shoulder- I wouldn't do that to you." I give him a weak smile and continue eating my apple.
"There you are! Hermione told me you'd been dragged off by McGonagall- I've been looking for you everywhere." Theó saunters down the hill to where Harry and I are sat. He gives Harry a nod before passing me my books which I had left at the table.
"Thanks, Theó." I say before getting to my feet. "I'll see you around, Harry- I've got potions with Snape so being late isn't an option." Harry nods his head in agreement and mutters something about having a Charms essay due the next day before hurrying off to the library.
"So..." Theó says suggestively.
"What?"
"Just wondering what McGonagall wanted with you. No need to snap." He gives me a cheeky smile.
"Oh...um... I was supposed to help her out with clearing up after class yesterday but left early and she was just telling me off." Even I'm not convinced by it but Theó doesn't push it. He knows when to keep his questions to himself.
We walk to potions together and sit next to each other. We don't usually partner up but Theó's a bit behind on potions and he could use a bit of my help.
"Turn to page 118 of your textbooks." Snape's monotone voice drones to the class. "Today we will be brewing Weedosoros."
-
A/N:
sorry guys i have end of years/ mocks next week so i've been a bit distracted lately.
i'm v excited for summer when all my exams are over and i can spend my time writing!
thank u for reading, don't forget to comment & vote! love u <3
