"This is ridiculous", Snape told the older man. "You are relying far too heavily on these youngsters to win a war they have little stake in."
"Listen Severus, Apprentice Phelps is now in her twenties, I very much doubt she would appreciate the tone in which you refer to her." Dumbledore replied calmly "Besides, it may help us to have input from all areas - despite how dubious they may seem to you."
A knock at the door closed the matter as the topic of conversation entered the room.
"Ah Miss Phelps, thank you for arriving so promptly", Dumbledore addressed the auburn haired young woman standing before him.
"Headmaster… Professor Snape" she replied, her eyes widened as she noticed the black clad man beside the headmaster's desk. "I hope I've not erred in some way, it is rare for my faculty to receive such a summons." She paused "Not that I am unhappy to be granted an audience!" She added rather hastily.
"Yes…well… it is not that I think any less of your subject Miss Phelps, it's just that I haven't had much… need you see" Dumbledore finally noted as the man across from him snorted, and if she had anything to compare the look on his face to, the girl would have sworn that the headmaster looked rather flustered.
"Oh, well, I'd rather hoped I would know by now what it is you require of me this evening, Sir" She said, hoping to escape the scrutiny of the dark man who had been watching her cynically since she entered the room.
"Ah.. yes, yes" Dumbledore began again. "As you are aware, we are in the midst of a terrible battle, and I was discussing with Severus here, that we should explore every avenue of magic available in our crusade to bring light to the dark" He looked at her. "I would very much like, my girl, for you to use your skills in divination to give us an indicator on what you see for our future."
Her eyes widened infinitesimally and she thought she must look rather ridiculous. But you see, never in her short life had Alicia Phelps, daughter of humble muggles; Margaret and Phil from Chester, been asked to use her talent in such a critical situation. Yes, she knew exactly what faculty and students alike thought of her particular 'gift' and many were all too happy to vocalize it. Even her friends remained skeptical and were rather surprised when she expressed interest in the Divination apprenticeship when it came up. Alicia had gone through her life with little expectation from her peers and even less understanding of her gift from the parents whose world of expectations she had left behind on the day she first boarded the Hogwarts Express.
And so it came as a complete shock to her to be standing before the headmaster having just been asked to be of help in some capacity to the war effort.
After what seemed like an eternity, the girl ceased her internal monologue and spoke in a timid voice. "Surely you have consulted with Professor Trelawney about this?"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, "I am just her apprentice", she added lamely when he failed to follow it up.
From beside the desk, Snape made a huffing noise and murmured something - Alicia was sure she heard the word 'charlatan' used more than once.
"We have already consulted with Sybil", the headmaster confirmed "However, Severus is rather…wary of her musings." He added in the most diplomatic tone possible. "We are simply in need of a second opinion." As he spoke, his eyes sparkled and a grin threatened the corners of his mouth and Alicia suddenly felt that she was being let in on some sort of joke between the men.
"Oh I see", she said from behind her hand, trying to stifle the giggle that was threatening to erupt when she thought of her scatter-brained mentor. "If you would allow me to speak freely, even I might question the craft were I to observe some of the readings performed by Professor Trelawney"
The boldness of her statement suddenly permeated the girl's brain and she looked rather worried about speaking ill of her tutor until she turned and witnessed the sardonic smirk on Professor Snape's face.
"At least one of you has some sense", he muttered. "Let us get this charade over with so we can get back to actually fighting this war."
Alicia was rather upset with the dismissive tone the stoic professor used, despite being used to the criticisms that plagued her trade. She wondered why she sought his approval so suddenly but was snapped out of her reverie by mutual clearing of throats from the other occupants of the room.
"Oh, of course!" She squeaked. Finally noticing the cups and crystals laid on the headmaster's desk, she added in a tone that she hoped conveyed a level of grave importance that had been absent until now, "I'm afraid I must gather my instruments from my rooms, it doesn't do to use the tools of another."
"I see, my dear. Well, feel free to use the floo for quickness", Dumbledore gestured to the grand fireplace that occupied one full side of the study.