Chapter Three - Seeker of Truth

"Jazzles," said Professor Dumbledore.

Skye watched as the gargoyle on the seventh floor stood aside, allowing them to ascend the spiral staircase. Arriving into the office, she was astounded by the assortment of objects contained within the room, but her eyes rested on the vast library the old wizard had collected.

"It always amuses me to see what items draw my students to them," Dumbledore mused with a twinkle in his eye.

"Well, I'm sure without the books, no one would be able to understand many of them," Skye murmured, brushing her fingers against the spines of a few leather bound books. Coming from her trance, she realised who she was talking to, "err… sorry."

"Understand their intended uses, perhaps, but sometimes I find that an empty mind can provide a new purpose entirely," Dumbledore smiled, taking a seat at his desk. In response, Skye blinked. "Now, Miss Knight, please take a seat."

With a wave of his wand a chair materialised across from his own, and a silver tea set began serving a steaming cup of tea, spoons and sugar floating around at their own accord. Skye sat down. Tearing her eyes away from the tea set, she looked at Dumbledore expectantly.

"First of all, I would like to assure you that Professor Mater is well, but has suffered a most tragic loss. You see, Miss Knight, the Professor and her husband found it difficult to have children, but in April were thrilled to discover they were expecting a child of their own. She had hoped to return this year, but, most tragically, it seemed it was not meant to be," he explained grimly.

"She lost the baby?" Skye breathed.

"Yes. Professor Mater has requested that Professor Quirrell, the man who was her replacement once the baby was due, cover her classes for the year."

Skye nodded, feeling sad that the Professor had finally been able to have a child of her own, only to have it taken away. Then, she recalled her dream, and how the Professor had been cradling a bundle in her arms.

"Sir, I don't mean to sound insensitive, but my dream. Do you think it was trying to warn us about the baby? Maybe we could have done something to save him…" she wondered, sadly.

"It does you ill to think like that, Miss Knight. Though many think that to know the future is a great gift, it is a terrible burden in that despite your best efforts, being forewarned does nothing once the events have transpired. No one ever seems to dwell on those events averted, or those that never occur," he cautioned.

"Then you think that the boy from my vision was Professor Mater's baby?" Skye wondered, recalling the boy from her vision.

"It crossed my mind, as one of many possibilities, that it was a perception of what could have been. That this is your belief certainly makes the assumption more likely," he concluded.

Skye nodded with a sigh. Pulling at a string that was loose on her chair, she took a moment to embrace the silence, trying to push away thoughts of a young and innocent boy that never had a chance in this world.

"Professor, I think there's something else you should know. I saw the boy again this evening, in the Great Hall. He was standing hand in hand with Harry Potter and this voice spoke to me. It said 'the first of many, and the beginning of the end'," she sighed.

The Professor rested on his desk, hands clasped to support his head. Skye watched him, as he took in this information, most likely trying to piece together a terribly complex puzzle with too many incorrect solutions.

"Thank you for letting me know. I wish I could provide some answers, but at this time all I have are half-hearted guesses that I do not wish to plague your thoughts with. However, it is evident your skills are growing and I believe this is something we must address. Here at Hogwarts, we offer Divination as a third year subject, but obviously your abilities are far beyond that. Perhaps, you would be interested in some private lessons?" Dumbledore questioned her.

Skye examined her knees. Right now, her visions and prophecies were rare occurrences, but to explore them in private lessons? Skye couldn't help but feel that she was just inviting them to the forefront of her mind. Believing it was a truly terrible idea, Skye looked at Dumbledore prepared to politely decline, yet looking the wise man in the eye, she shocked herself when the opposite was already on its way out her mouth.

"Of course," she answered, cursing her need to please everyone.

Dumbledore nodded, "I will make the necessary arrangements, so please expect a note on the matter within due course. Is there anything else you wish to discuss, Miss Knight?"

Skye shook her head, already regretting her decision. She thought it best that she escape before Dumbledore suggested they start gazing into a crystal ball right this moment. Bidding him goodnight, Skye left the Headmaster's office, all too ready to crawl into bed back in the Gryffindor dormitory. Walking along the quiet corridor, she looked up startled as a hissing sound could be heard echoing amongst the walls.

"What do we have here?" Snarled Filch. In his arms, he cradled Mrs Norris, who sat, hair raised and glaring at the young Gryffindor. "The feast ended a while ago. What business do you have to be wondering around?"

"I…" Skye began, but the man cut her off.

"Detention," spat Filch.

"But I didn't do anything!" Skye complained.

"Is everything alright here, Mr Filch?" Squeaked Professor Flitwick, who came bustling around the corner to witness the scene.

"I found Miss Knight wondering the corridor, Professor," Filch explained with a glare.

"Well, I'm sure there is a good explanation. Skye is one of my best students. A true natural at Charms!" The Professor puffed with pride and Skye gave him a shy smile.

"I was invited to speak with Professor Dumbledore in his office, sir. I was just heading back to my common room," she explained, ignoring the hiss from Mrs Norris.

"There we are, all cleared up. Now you better head back to your dormitory," he prompted her, politely.

"Of course, Professor. Although I actually wanted to talk to you about this book I read over the summer, 'The Charms That Changed the World'," she decided to mention while Filch glared at her.

"Oh, a brilliant read! What was it you were…" Filch sneered in annoyance and Flitwick gave him a sidelong glance. "Err, perhaps we better talk about this after our first class, Skye. Off you pop," he declared.

Skye gave the man an enthusiastic nod and wished him a good evening. Heading off to the Gryffindor common room, she could still feel the deadly stare of Filch and Mrs Norris as she turned onto the next corridor. To say she had made a dangerous enemy was an understatement.

XxX

"Why don't you just tell him you've changed your mind?" Tabitha suggested.

"I can't. I've already agreed and he's probably started making all the arrangements. I can't just turn around and say I don't want to do it anymore," Skye whined.

"Why not, it's your decision," Tabitha sighed, spinning to sit upside down in her chair, her feet dangling over the headrest.

"I just can't, okay?" She shot back.

"Hey, Weasleys," Tabitha bellowed across the common room. The room quietened as four red-headed boys looked across in their direction. Skye tried to blend into the background as best as she could. "The idiotic ones."

Skye watched as the two twins bounced across the room, happy to be summoned as 'the idiotic ones', it seemed.

"Merlin's beard, guys. How many siblings do you have?" She moaned.

"Enough to take over the Ministry of Magic," George grinned.

"What can we do for you, Tabby cat?" Fred asked, intrigued.

"You guys took Divination, right? Why don't you tell Skye what a brilliant idea it is to have private lessons with that Trelawney woman?" She schemed.

Both twins looked shocked.

"What did you do to deserve that punishment, Skye? Did you pick McGonagall as your next feline target?" Fred inquired.

"You'll be my next target if you're not careful," she warned him.

"Now that I would like to see," George smirked.

"Guys," Tabitha breathed.

"Well, let's see. After two whole lessons I've learnt I will die a tragic death and haunt the Hogwarts faculty until the end of days. I'm quite disappointed really, I always thought I would join the ghoul in our attic when I passed on," Fred mused.

"You have a ghoul in your attic?" Tabitha asked, amused.

"What is wrong with you people?" Skye shook her head.

"I don't know why you would have private lessons with her, Skye. She's bonkers. I doubt she's made a correct prediction in her life," George guessed.

"Lucky her," Skye sulked.

"Guys, have you signed up, yet?" Interrupted Oliver Wood. Skye glanced at the burly fifth year, giving him a glare to rival McGonagall. Completely oblivious, Wood chatted on. "I've just put the list out for the Quidditch team. I've spent all summer divising new tactics. We just need to find ourselves a new Seeker and we're golden!"

"How are we supposed to have signed up if you've just put out the list?" Fred asked.

"Never mind that, just make sure you do it," Wood ordered, storming over to Angelina across the room, who was talking to Katie Bell.

"What about your new Chasers?" Tabitha wondered.

"Well, there's Spinnet. Wood has been pestering her all summer about practising enough to leave the reserve team. Plus, I think quite a few people want to go for the other position. Wood's really worried about finding a Seeker though. No one wants to go for it after Charlie," George explained.

Tabitha frowned, deep in thought. Then, she span 180 degrees and walked up to the noticeboard. Holding her hand out, Skye sighed and routed around her school bag for a quill to hand over. Watching, she saw Tabitha write her name down, followed by 'Seeker' under the 'desired position' column.

"What are you doing? You've trained all summer for the Chaser position," Skye pointed out.

"I'll be just as good at being a Seeker. Plus, the Seeker gets all the glory in Quidditch. Just picture it, Skye. Me flying above the crowds and I've caught the snitch! The whole crowd are cheering that we've won the Quidditch cup," she cheered, proceeding to mimic the roars of a crowd with long and breathy roars.

"I don't think…"

"I've made up my mind, Skye. I can do this!" She grinned.

Skye knew better than to convince Tabitha otherwise when she had made up her mind. Unfortunately, Skye had a sneaky suspicion that it wasn't going to work out quite as planned. Quick as a flash, Skye envisioned Tabitha; her hand was outstretched and within it she held a yellow ball, it's wings fluttering faster than a hummingbird's. With a shake of her head the image was gone and Skye was left to wonder which of her premonitions she was supposed to believe.