Child of Hogwarts: Part I

Chapter Nine - The Seer

CHAPTER NINE

The Seer

Harry awoke several hours later in semi-darkness, the sun just finishing its descent through the windows. He felt refreshed and energised, despite his protests to McGonagall that afternoon. Unwilling to remain in bed any longer, Harry quickly pushed the covers aside and hopped out of the four-poster. Someone had changed him into pyjamas while he slept. He went to the wardrobe to get dressed, and saw that Dumbledore or McGonagall must have switched out his clothes while he was sleeping as well. All his old, worn-out things from the Dursleys had been removed, and the new purchases from that morning had been laid neatly on hangers and on the little shelves of the wardrobe. Harry selected new trousers and a blue button-down shirt, pulling his new trainers on as well. It was wonderful to have clothes that fit. Feeling happy in spite of his earlier annoyance, Harry bounded from the room and down the stairs.

Dumbledore and McGonagall were seated together in the study, very close – in Harry's opinion. McGonagall was pressed up against Dumbledore's side, and their hands were entwined in his lap. Harry pulled himself up short at the foot of the stairs, a bit surprised at the scene. The adults had clearly heard him. McGonagall immediately pushed herself a bit farther from the headmaster, releasing his hand and smoothing the skirt of her robes, a touch pink in the face. Dumbledore, completely unperturbed, smiled at Harry and motioned him closer. Harry approached slowly, looking between the two curiously.

'You're looking very smart, Harry,' Dumbledore said approvingly, gesturing to Harry's new clothes.

Harry blushed a bit. 'Thank you, sir.'

'And how are you feeling?' McGonagall asked shrewdly, pulling him a little closer so she could feel his forehead again.

'Fine,' Harry said, though he allowed her examination. 'Just like I felt fine before you drugged me to sleep,' he added a bit grumpily.

McGonagall gave him a stern look. 'Do not get cheeky with me,' she admonished, though the corners of her mouth twitched. 'Unlike before you slept, you no longer feel feverish,' she said in satisfaction. 'So, if you'd like to have dinner in the Great Hall, we can all go down together.'

Harry readily agreed, astounded to find he was quite hungry again. When they entered the Great Hall, Harry got a surprise.

Both Snape and Hagrid were in attendance for dinner tonight, Hagrid sipping at a huge tankard of what Harry thought might be mead, and Snape fingering a long-stemmed glass of deep burgundy wine. Seated across from Snape was a tall, thin woman Harry had never met. She looked, in Harry's opinion, like some sort of giant dragonfly. Her eyes were magnified hugely by thick spectacles, her wildly frizzy hair barely contained by a thick bohemian hairband. She wore robes of varying jewel tones, and her wrists and neck were both draped in so many bangles and beads that she seemed to glitter even from across the room. She reminded Harry a bit of the gypsy women he'd seen on Muggle television – the sort who read palms and tarot cards in dingy little shops. She turned at their entrance and stood solemnly to greet them.

'Good evening, headmaster,' she said in an ethereal voice, 'And Minerva as well – how charming.'

'Ah Sybill, what a welcome surprise,' said Dumbledore, taking her hand and giving it a small kiss, his eyes twinkling madly. 'I didn't expect to see you out of the tower tonight.'

Harry rather thought Dumbledore might be taking the mickey a bit. Next to him, McGonagall looked like she'd swallowed a lemon, her lips were pursed so hard. Harry could tell McGonagall was not Sybill's biggest fan.