Trelawney's Acute Inner Eye.
Severus Snape walked into the staff room, which was unusually empty.
Usually, after dinner on Fridays all the staff, bar one seer, turned up for a glass of something or two.
However, this particular Friday, the only two professors in the room were Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, and Minerva McGonagall.
As Severus took his usual arm-chair by the hearth, he felt no need to announce himself, for he knew they were there, and they knew he was here- so why bother with unnecessary speech and effort?
Summoning a glass of Fire-whiskey, he cast a critical eye over the other two teachers.
Wilhelmina was gazing into her glass, somewhat pink cheeked, and Minerva was at her damn cross-stitch again.
From what he could see, it was just a mess of colours- but apparently it would be the sorting hat with the four house shields behind it, and 'Hogwarts' emblazoned across the front.
Why she didn't just charm the thing to do it itself he didn't know. She'd said something about 'relaxation within concentration' or some fluff like that when he'd asked.
She herself looked rather haggard, he noticed; as he looked up from the ever darting needle in her hand.
Her eyes were red, and her breathing was rather irregular.
He sighed. Some people just couldn't take care of themselves. Probably some kid had voiced his disdain for her subject.
Severus looked up with his dark, guarded eyes as the door creaked open.
The fire was to the left of the door as you came in, and because the door swung open in an anti-clockwise direction, the door neatly hid whomever opened it from Severus's view.
He took another mouthful of his fire-whiskey, and almost spat it out again as someone walked into the room, and closed the door.
There stood the one woman who never left her tower.
In all her beads and shawls, stood Sybil Trelawney.
She looked around the room; with those magnified eyes, which seemed to settle on Minerva.
"Sybil." Minerva rested her hands in her lap. "How nice to see you."
Her voice sounded hoarse, barely more than a whisper.
'Perhaps she had shouted at a student? That always seems to put her down.' Severus mused, swilling his drink around his goblet before taking another sip.
The Seer regarded Minerva as though she hadn't spoke. The she lifted a thin, shaking hand and pointed a lone finger at Minerva.
"I have seen a great sorrow." She rasped, with a strange, song-like lilt to her voice.
Minerva gazed at Sybil with a strange, sad understanding; like a guilty student being told off and punished (when their conscience has already punished them enough).
Then her brows knitted together and the corners of her mouth turned down as tears welled in her eyes.
"Hear that Minerva? Slytherin will win the cup again this year." Snape called from 'his' corner of the room; in a twisted attempt to make McG smile again.
Instead her body shook as a sob racked her thin frame, and she put her face in her hands as she silently cried her heart out.
Severus frowned, confused at Minerva. What the cauldron? (A/N Wizarding equivalent of WTH) He shook his head, and concluded it must be the week before she went on heat. She always acted a little weird then.
At the sound of his voice, Sybil had slowly turned around; and was now watching Severus, with what he though of, as he slid his eyes from Minerva to the woman standing in front of him, as a rather disconcerting and off-putting expression.
She raised her finger again, and in the same eerie voice warned Severus "Great Sorrow."
He involuntarily shivered as she turned away.
Once the door had clicked closed behind her, Minerva's cries became more audible.
Wilhelmina got up, and crept towards Minerva; kneeling beside her chair's armrest, and wrapped her arms around the trembling woman.
"Oh, stop your snivelling, woman!" Severus exclaimed, slamming down his drink on the coffee table and glaring at Minerva.
He could be understanding; but really. If Minerva insisted on weeping like a toddler- then she'd be treated like one.
"Honestly!" Wilhelmina retorted to him, in a whispered shout, giving Minerva a worried glance- but the Gryffindor was already glaring daggers at the man who she had long decided was incapable of emotion.
"Well!" She yelled; standing up and balling her hands to fists.
Severus also shot up, and had his wand in a tight grasp behind his back.
"I suppose you're happy, now?" It sounded more like an accusation, being shouted with venom to the man not three metres in front of Minerva.
The happy chatter stopped as Xiomara Hooch, Filius Flitwick and Aurora Sinestra froze coming through the door, looking as shocked and confused as Severus at the shouting Minerva.
"Huh? Come on, I know you're drying to gloat!" Minerva narrowed her eyes, lowering her voice.
Severus shook his head smiling, and cross his arms leaning back comfortably on his heels.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said, far too sweetly for Minerva's taste.
"Lily and James!" Minerva screamed, fresh tears flowing down her face, her voice catching.
Severus tilted his head, frowning slightly. "What. About. Them?" His voice was dangerous and yet monotonous.
"They're dead! He killed them!" Minerva screamed, feet rooted to the spot and yet leaning forward as she accused him. "YOU KILLED THEM!"
Severus turned cold, and his dark eyes burned with fury.
"No." He said, teeth clenched. "NO!" He screamed, throwing a curse at Minerva in a wild fit of rage; as if destroying her traitorous lies would bring them back.
He barely noticed Dumbledore running from the doorway, casting a silent shield charm; and restraining Minerva as she struggled trying to get to Snape, to hurt Snape.
He didn't notice either, the other teachers; most of them had filed against the far wall; out of the way of the argument, now talking amongst themselves 'the Potters are dead?'
Severus didn't notice any of this; because he was slumped against 'his' chair, where he had fell from shock; and was now thinking hard.
Lily; Lily couldn't be dead. No, he would have know, he would have felt. She couldn't be. Dumbledore said he'd protect her- Dumbledore!
"ALBUS!" Severus demanded, making several people jump at the sudden outburst.
"Albus!" Severus repeated. jumping up and then stalling as the man appeared before him, not in his rooms.
"Lily." He said simply, a hard lump rising in his throat.
Albus bowed his head, "I'm sorry, Severus."
A livid frown formed on Snape's face. Rage burned in his eyes, and his mouth was pressed into a fine line.
"I did all I could..." Albus called after the Potions master; as he ran out of the room, no doubt to Lily's side; in a vain attempt to see it wasn't true.
Behind the Headmaster, Minerva sat weakly in her armchair, with Xiomara perched on an arm, her back to Albus, both crying into each other's shoulders.
"...But I guess it wasn't enough." Dumbledore finished.