Chapter Four - To Catch a Snitch
Skye made her way down the long corridor, heading towards the North Tower, grumbling to herself as Fred and George guided her way to the Divination Classroom.
"Oh, and don't look her directly in the eye. It's how she enslaves her followers," George forewarned her.
Skye shook her head. So far their advice had consisted of warnings not to breath in her intoxicating fumes, drink her poisoned tea, or stare at her inner eye. 'She gets weird about it,' Fred had joked.
"You guys aren't helping," she stated bluntly, a small smile escaping her lips.
"You know the offer to join us is still open," George offered.
"As much as I would love to help you blow up a toilet, I think I'll pass," Skye laughed.
"Well, this is it; Divination Tower. Ready to face the beast?" Fred asked her.
"If I don't come back, tell Tabitha and Mikey to avenge me. Tabitha gets permission to use 100% evil capabilities," she said, taking a deep breath.
After a half-hearted chuckle, the twins wished her luck, a brief look of sympathy plaguing their faces before they covered it up with a smile. Soon, Skye was making her ascent, glad the twins had dropped her off at the stairs. At this rate, she was questioning how fit she was as she climbed, red faced and breathing heavily. At the top, she braced herself, climbing the ladder to knock at the circular trapdoor.
"Enter my dear," came a low and raspy voice.
As Skye climbed upwards, she was hit with the pungent smell of incense. The room itself was scorching and humid. Glancing around, she was almost startled as she spotted a bug-eyed woman staring at her from across the room.
"Err, hello. My name is Skye," she introduced herself, her hand outstretched for a handshake.
The woman marvelled at her and Skye had to wonder if she had something on her face. Clasping her hand, the Professor began nodding.
"It is such a pleasure, my dear. I have foreseen your arrival at Hogwarts for many long years. To finally find someone as gifted as myself. It is a rare sight indeed," she breathed.
"Oh, well, thank you?" Skye responded, not quite sure what to say.
"Of course you must have many questions, but I assure you, all will be answered at the right time. Now if you would join me," she instructed, indicating the table in front of the fireplace.
Skye sat down, the heat from the fire burning into her skin. Immediately, she began to sweat, feeling highly uncomfortable in the heat. Or perhaps it had more to do with the crystal ball that was placed between them.
"Tell me what you see," Trelawney rasped.
Skye opened her mouth to say something, but was hushed as the Professor repeated her question. Sighing, Skye looked within the crystal ball. All she could think about was the complete lack of instruction. What was she even supposed to do? Ask it a question? Instead she just stared as the silence droned on. After what felt like a century, Skye saw a small round ball and the fast flutter of wings.
"The snitch," she gasped.
"Not quite, dear, but you are close. What you see is a guide, someone who can lead you, teach you what you need to know. These are all embodiments of myself and my guidance," she explained.
Skye raised an eyebrow as she watched the ball flutter around within the smoke of the crystal. Never one to correct a teacher, she shook her head, deciding she would be better off trying to find out what she needed to know.
"Thank you, Professor. I was actually wondering if there was anyway I could… control the visions? Maybe stop them?" She inquired.
"My dear, you can not simply command the Second Sight. Each vision is a gift, an insight into the beyond," she rambled, holding her arm out into her imaginative 'beyond'.
"But, Professor, what's the point? I get these visions and either they don't happen, or once they do, it's too late to do anything about it," she complained, exasperated.
"As Seers we are merely observers, Skye. We forewarn and watch as the events transpire," she explained.
Skye stared at her open mouthed. 'What was the point,' she had asked and her answer was that there was no point. We just tell them what is going to happen and we do nothing.
"I can't accept that," she whispered.
"I see a rock face, strong and stubborn. Yet, over the years it is attacked, withered by the sea. Reduced to rubble, beaten and warn," Trelawney droned on.
Skye's eyes narrowed, a storm brewing within them. If she had to live her life seeing visions of buildings being destroyed and people suffering, she was going to make damn sure that she could do something about it. Unfortunately, that meant she couldn't just hide away from her visions, she had to understand them.
"Professor, I need you to teach me how to interpret my visions," she pleaded with the woman.
"And thus your journey begins. One day you will stand in my place, the most gifted Seer of your time," Trelawney exclaimed.
If Skye was as brave as the Gryffindor she was supposed to be, she would have said there and then that she would never be like Trelawney. Instead, she kept quiet, listening intently as the Professor gave her a copy of 'Unfogging the Future' and droned on about the many tools they would use to interpret the future. Skye listened intently, trying to pick out anything useful from her ramblings as best she could. Unfortunately, the future depended on them.
XxX
"Dare I ask?" Mikey prompted her warily.
Sitting on the stands of the Quidditch pitch, Skye sighed, closing her book. She had acquired quite a few recently, all on the topic of Divination, hoping they could be a better guide than the absolute nut job that was Sybill Trelawney.
"Don't get me started," she whined. "She keeps warning me about a raven. I half expect she's going to set one loose on me, just to prove herself right."
Mikey chuckled with a shake of his head.
"But is it helping? If anything you seem more spaced out," he pointed out, eyes full of concern.
"I know. I was worried about triggering more visions and honestly, I was right. Another correct prediction," Skye said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I just can't let what Trelawney said come true."
"I wish I could help," Mikey sighed, picking up her book. "Maybe you should start writing down what you see and what you think it means. Then once it happens, you can learn from it."
"Well, it can't hurt. Thanks for the advice," Skye smiled.
"Speaking of predictions, did you ever figure out that one about Tabitha and the Snitch?" He inquired, eyebrows raised.
"Well, when she signed up for Seeker, I just knew it wouldn't work out, but I saw her catch a snitch and she was ecstatic. Like she had just won the World Cup," Skye explained.
"Maybe she gets rejected, and decides to steal the snitch in evil retaliation," Mikey suggested.
"Knowing Tabitha? That's pretty likely," Skye laughed.
"Look, there she is," Mikey exclaimed.
Skye looked down on the pitch and saw Tabitha waving her arms around at them, her broomstick almost hitting Oliver Wood in the face as he tried to round up the potential recruits. Soon, they were kicking off the ground, and Skye watched as Tabitha raced around the pitch, maneuvering her broom expertly, dodging both students and bludger alike.
"She looks pretty good out there," Mikey commented, impressed.
"She was practising all summer. I mean, she was pretty good with a broom already, but this is another league," Skye agreed.
"I wish I was that confident with a broom. According to Madam Hooch, they refused to rise because they sensed my fear…" Mikey frowned.
"I had the opposite problem. I got angry at my broom and it hit me in the face instead of rising into my hand," Skye sulked.
"I bet she was a natural," Mikey mused.
"The damn thing flew straight into her hand," Skye muttered.
Flying had been the first thing that Skye hadn't really excelled in. That and Herbology. It seemed that her ability to kill any plant other than a cacti translated into the wizarding world as well. Skye owed her competence to Madam Hooch's insistence that anyone could fly under her instruction. As for Herbology, she was passing because Adam actually remembered to water the plants they were supposed to be looking after throughout the semester.
"By the way, I thought Adam was coming to watch with us. Where is he?" Skye realised suddenly.
"He had some stuff to do," Mikey said with finality.
Skye raised her eyebrows at him wondering if they had fallen out over something. Now she thought about it, she hadn't really seen Adam for a while, other than in the classes they shared with Hufflepuff. He didn't always hang out with them, but she expected to see him a bit more often than this. With a shake of her head, Skye could see it wasn't a subject Mikey wanted to talk about, so she looked back out over the Quidditch pitch.
"What are they doing now?" Skye wondered, watching as Tabitha and a fifth year split off from the group.
"That must be Snot-nose," Mikey concluded.
Skye nodded in agreement. Snot-nose had been what Tabitha deemed her only rival for the position of Seeker. Soon, she was watching as Wood appeared to charm what looked like ping-pong balls for them to chase in the air. Snot-nose was the first up.
Both Skye and Mikey watched intently as the fifth year flew around the Quidditch pitch, chasing after the charmed ball. His first attempt left them in hysterics as he was so focused on the ball, he flew right into the goalpost and ended up hanging upside down, hooked on by his foot. With his next two attempts as successful, Skye was sure that Wood had slowed the balls down for his last two. Even she could follow where they were in the end. Next up was Tabitha, and Skye held her breath as she watched her friend focus intently, as if scheming an evil plot. From there it was all downhill. Tabitha's flying was excellent, but she just couldn't keep track of the ball. It was like she didn't have the attention span. Two catches under her belt, out of five, meant she was tied for the position.
"She looks ready to break that broom in half," Mikey observed.
Skye couldn't help but agree as she watched Tabitha pout, while Wood talked it out with the pair. Soon, a golden glint was released and she realised that this was the final test. They were both looking for the real thing. Winner takes all. Skye stood up, gripping the bars of the stands with anxiety.
There were several near misses. While Snot-nose was better at spotting the Snitch, as soon as he raced after it, Tabitha was the better flyer and could pin it down. Unfortunately, this happened on repeat before they both lost it again. Skye groaned, peeking out from behind her fingertips.
"It's like they're both equally terrible," Mikey frowned.
Skye gave him a glare to rival McGonagall, before catching a glint of gold out of the corner of her eye. It was the Snitch and it was circling Tabitha, almost taunting her.
"Tabitha, it's right there!" She yelled across the pitch.
Tabitha jumped, startled by the Snitch's presence and grabbed at it. Out of nowhere, Snot-nose came zooming in, the pair falling to the ground as the fifth year once again became oblivious to his surroundings at the sight of the Snitch. Skye and Mikey ran to the field, racing towards the circle of Gryffindors that had encased the pair.
"Tabitha, are you alright?" Skye yelped as the two bustled their way past the crowd.
Tabitha looked as white as a sheet as she cradled her arm.
"Can you move your arm?" Mikey asked as he went to touch it.
Tabitha yelped, twisting her body away from Mikey's hand.
"Should I go get Madam Pomfrey?" Angelina asked.
Skye watched helplessly as Mikey took off the jumper he was wearing and tucked it under her arm, after a lot of convincing on his part. She was impressed as he managed to wrap the arms around her neck in a makeshift sling, her arm resting on the neckline.
Next, they managed to get her on her feet, tears streaming down her face as the entire Quidditch team escorted her and Snot-nose to the medical wing. Upon seeing them, Madam Pomfrey tutted, muttering something about banning Quidditch. Skye and Mikey waited outside impatiently.
"Where did you learn to do that sling?" Skye whispered to Mikey.
"I used to do a Boy Scout thing. We learnt quite a lot of first aid. I really liked how you could turn anything into a sling if you thought about it enough," he explained.
Skye nodded, impressed. Soon, the Quidditch team rose as Madam Pomfrey emerged from the room.
"Five minutes, and that is all. They need their rest," she barked, promptly returning to her patients.
Skye and Mikey were the first on the scene at Tabitha's bedside. Skye was glad to see some colour had returned back into her cheeks and she smiled as they approached, the rest of the team gathering around the two Gryffindor's beds.
"Will you live?" Mikey asked dramatically.
"Just about. I had a dislocated shoulder. I wish you could have seen it. It looked disgusting," Tabitha beamed with pride.
"Only you could injure yourself and be proud about it," Skye shook her head. "How did the other guy fair?"
"I think he has a concussion, but forget him. Do you think I made the team?" Tabitha frowned, looking at Wood.
"Sorry, Hart, but we're going for the other guy. Don't give up though, I think you'd make an excellent Chaser," Wood broke the news to her.
It seemed that despite going for the other guy, Wood wasn't too happy about it as he wandered off, muttering about going to talk to McGonagall. Tabitha was similarly outraged, her pouting causing her to wince as she crossed her arms.
"But I worked so hard," she complained, her eyes softening in disappointment.
"Don't worry, Tabby cat. Wood was really impressed with your broom skills. I'm sure you'll make it next year," Fred chirped up.
However, it seemed that Tabitha was already in a pit of gloom as she rolled over, sniffing. In response, the team decided to start heading off. Between them, Skye and Mikey exchanged a look, having never seen Tabitha so sad. The question that passed between them was obvious; what were they going to do about it?