Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize. JKR owns it all, I just play in her universe.
"May the gods avert the omen."
- Marcus Tullius Cicero
Prologue: Fate, Averted?
A multicolored, ditzy dragonfly in human form, gracelessly stumbled around her home. The stench of firewhisky formed a heavy cloud about her person that even the flies were loath to travel near. The multitude of gauzy shawls she draped around herself, the numerous bangles, and the giant glasses made her seem like a child playing dress up instead of a recent Hogwarts graduate. Sybill Trewlaney, self-professed seer, was late for her meeting with Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. It didn't really matter, however, because Sybill had already seen that she would be hired for her incredible talents with the sight. After all, she was THE Cassandra Trewlaney's only great-great granddaughter. Well, technically she was one of two, but her twin sister, Selene had married that crazy Lovegood boy so she didn't really count anymore. Combined with the fact that she was also descended from gypsy's on her mother's side, well, Sybill's inner eye was unparalleled. Alright, sure, she may not actually be descended from gypsies but well, it sure sounded good, her inner eye was squared!
Sybill had decided to celebrate her impending hire, by drinking what must have been at least half her body weight in Ogden's Old Firewhisky. The few memories she had of the previous night seemed to indicate she had a wonderful time both at the bar and afterwords at home. Sadly, she was not having a wonderful time the morning after her celebration. She had managed to convince both Crabbe and Goyle to get dressed and leave her apartment, somehow gotten dressed herself, and was now attempting to make a hangover cure she'd heard about from Selene's husband. She squinted at the slip of paper Xenophilius had given her then tried to rub off the butterbeer stains, but only managed to smear the writing further.
"Does it say one egg or two eggs? And are they supposed to be cooked or raw? Eh, I have leftover eggnog from last year's Christmas; I'll use that instead. What's Worcestershire sauce, hrmmm, maybe it's like ketchup! Damn Lovegood, he should have just written ketchup, not made up some strange name. Poor Selene, stuck with him, but I suppose it's not her fault, she doesn't have my inner eye to warn her away from strange men. Let's see…black pepper, well I have red pepper, that's practically the same thing but I'll put double what he said just to make sure. Hm, salt, of course, just need to mix and there it's done. Bottom's up!" At first, there didn't seem to be any effect. Then, the pain hit.
"AAIIIIIIEIEEEEEEE!!!!! HOT HOT HOT! GAAAAAAAHHHHH!! WATER! NEED WATER!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!" Anyone watching would be highly impressed by how quickly Sybill's face went from white to red to green. They would have also been highly amused by the way she ran around her apartment, arms flailing in every direction. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Crabbe or maybe Goyle, had forgotten his briefs and while Sybill was running she managed to catch her foot in them, causing her to trip. Sybill, having apparently been a terrible person in her past life, managed to smash face first into her coffee table, flip over it, twice, hit her head on the side of the couch, and then somehow slide three feet into the kitchen counter. She finally slumped to the ground after hitting her head on a table leg and knocking herself out.
Meanwhile, in the Hogsmeade's Hog's Head Inn, Albus Dumbledore was waiting patiently for the only candidate for the currently vacant Divination professorship. Or at least he appeared to be waiting patiently. In truth, the wizened headmaster was switching between cheerfully hoping Sybill wouldn't show up and guiltily avoiding the bartender's glares. Finally, once about half an hour had passed, Albus Dumbledore, sprightly bounced to his feet, glanced over at the bartender, winced at the furious glare, and rapidly walked out of the bar. Once out of the bar, Albus peered around making sure Sybill really hadn't shown up, then tore off toward Hogwarts, pausing only to let out a loud "YIPPEEE!"
While Dumbledore planned which class the money, previously earmarked for the now canceled divination class, would be transferred to, an unconscious Sybill had begun to snore in her apartment. All of a sudden, Sybill's eyes snapped open as she went completely rigid. In a deep, somewhat masculine voice, nothing at all like her own, she spoke, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will pursue the one, but the one will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can truly live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…" After this pronouncement, that in the empty apartment, no one else heard nor recorded, her entire body relaxed. Dead to the world again, Sybill curled up on her side, placed her thumb in her mouth, and once more began to snore.
