Sight

Chapter 2

Harry Potter's first day at Grimmauld Place was going nothing like he expected it to. But he couldn't say he hadn't been warned- Ron had been right. Houses definitely shouldn't be left abandoned for so long, especially not ones belonging to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black- and therefore, by definition, were already home to a frightening number of Dark artefacts. Hermione had already learned to avoid anything with the family motto ("Tojours Pur") on it, and though the charms were more forgiving to the half-blood Harry, a couple of necklaces had tried to bite him. "No wonder Sirius hates this house, he muttered. "It's practically a Death Eater itself."

His friends shivered. "Pretty ironic choice for headquarters," supplied Ron, and Hermione looked as if she was going to jump in, but Molly Weasley chose that moment to inform that that "No, you are not done for the day- there's still the Library. Which you might as well start, since you're all finished with lunch," and ushered them all to the Black family library.

"It's so... beautiful," said Hermione, taking in her surroundings. While much smaller than Hogwarts' library, it's books were much rarer, and Hermione couldn't resist pulling one off its shelf. Her choice made Ron and Harry burst out laughing- the inscription read 1001 Ways to See the Soul, and the cover displayed a picture of a woman, not unlike Trelawney, with a huge third eye on her chest. Hermione huffed, but joined in. After all, it was rather funny that amongst thousands of books, she had picked up one about maybe the one subject she was troll at. She was about to put it back in its place and get on with the cleaning (though the library had been peculiarly well-preserved), but Ron had other ideas. Prying the book from her grip, he opened the book randomly and began to read.

"To See is an art, and one only the most capable can excel at....You must open your soul, allow your inner eye to reach into the unknown and see.."

"What utter rubbish."

"The gift of sight comes in many ways. While most witches have the gift of the present, allowing them to interpret the emotions and thoughts of another-"

"Honestly, it's called empathy, and the only reason wizards wouldn't have it is because sometimes you have the emotional range of a teaspoon!"

"Witches and wizards carrying the gift of the future may prophecy in episodes they have no recollection of, and should take care, lest their Inner Eye be crowded and unable to see the whole-"

"Come on, Ron, you've had you're fun, let's move on" Hermione admonished, secretly a bit disappointed. A part of her had always thought maybe there was a more precise side to divination, a side Professor Trelawney just didn't include, but it looked like the lot was ludicracy."

"Yeah, you're right, Hermione- Harry, your turn to have fun!" Laughed Ron, chucking the book at Harry, who carried on where he had left off.

"The rarest gift of all is that of the past, which enables the Seer to see the past of anyone he touches. Though the gift is most often found in muggleborns (for theories, please turn to "why mixed blood yields rare magic"), it requires a charm to unlock, and therefore often goes undiscovered." Harry stopped there, and looked up at Hermione. "Come on, let's try it!" He thrust the book towards her.

"I really don't think this is a good idea, Harry."

"Oh, come on, Hermione, it's the only fun I've had all summer!"

"Well, alright I guess- it's not as if I've got any aura or anything anyway. Aperi animam meam!"

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"Hermione? Hermione, are you all right?"

The first thing Hermione saw when she came to was Harry's worried face, echoing the emotion in Ron's words. What she felt, though, was of much more importance to her- her head was pounding, and she was sprawled on the carpet of the library.

"I'm fine. My head hurts, but I'm fine."

"Thank God." Harry visibly relaxed. "I couldn't live with myself if something happened because I'd made try the stupid spell."

Ron, however, was still agitated- "You, um, you don't think it worked, do you?"

"Me, Ron? Divination? What are the odds?"

"You're a muggleborn and one of the most powerful witches of our ages, so quite high, actually."

"Well, I'll just have to touch one of you and find out, won't I?"

Harry shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. We actually read the book while you were, er, out, and it doesn't work for memories you've already been told about, anything not important enough to make an emotional impact, or stuff the person doesn't remember. And we've already told you all of the rest of our lives. Besides, apparently it takes like a month to figure out if it's worked or not- you'll get a surprise reading of whoever you touch first after it's activated- if it activates, that is- and then after that you'll be able to control it, and it'll only happen when you want it to, like a spell."

"How long was I out for again?"

"About half an hour? You had us really scared, Hermione."

"Oh. Sorry, I guess- and serves you right for trying a spell before not reading up on it properly!"

The boys smiled apologetically, and Ron tried to make amends. "Why don't you get some rest, Hermione, and we'll finish up the library?"

"Don't be silly, I-" she tried to get up, only to find that she was swaying on her feet. "Maybe I should lie down."

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It must have been two in the morning when footsteps downstairs woke Hermione up- she had already been sleeping lightly because of her sleep schedule being out of whack. Thank you, boys. Deciding she might as well get up, she made her way down the stairs, intent on a trip to the kitchen. But she never got there- someone was in the side room, whispering in hushed tones.

"Severus, my boy, you can't go on like this."

Hermione startled- she would recognise that voice anywhere. But what was Dumbledore doing up at this hour?

"This is what you require of me, Albus." Snape hissed.

"Be that as it may, you need medical attention. You're wearing yourself too thin, and you're too valuable of an asset to lose. Especially when we can prevent it."

Too valuable an asset? He's a person, thought Hermione, hoping they wouldn't realize she was there, and maybe even shed some light on what the order was doing.

"You know as well as I that the only cure for this is for us to win the war."

"Still, I wish you would take better care of yourself."

"You wish for a lot of things, Albus-"

"Amongst which is you thinking better of yourself-"

"-But I assure you, I am perfectly fine. Now if you'll excuse me, some of us have to get up in the morning."

She cursed under her breath, muttering a disillusionment charm and retreating into a corner. No new information today, it would seem.

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

"Take care."

Snape banged the door open with so much force, it was a wonder it didn't drop off it's hinges- or worse, wake up the whole house. Resting his weight on the door frame for a second, his eyes darted around almost as if he sensed her- then again, maybe it was habit. Almost imperceptibly squaring his jaw, he made his way out. The echo of a limp was still there.