The sorting had finished not a moment ago. Professor McGonagall smiled as she looked out over the students, the first years were congregating together at the ends of their tables with relief-filled faces as the upper years talked over the upcoming school year and the events that had happened over the summer holiday. And while the war may still be raging in the country the halls of Hogwarts were safe and she was going to ensure that no matter the cost. Looking over at the staff table as she took her seat to join them, the transfiguration professor bit back the sour taste in her mouth as she looked at last year's new addition.
Sybill Trelawney was, as far as Minerva was concerned, wholly unnecessary. While she seemed like a nice enough person, the divinations professor was rather stand-offish and wasn't interested in making friends with the other professors nor even being friendly when she couldn't avoid them. Add into account that Minerva felt that the divinations class was just a way for the students to receive an easy O, she didn't see the need for the woman to be at Hogwarts. After all, everyone knew that the divination classes were only useful for a true seer, and the odds of any child at Hogwarts being one was, well, McGonagall figured she would see more than three times as many animagi than ever seeing a single true seer.
"We begin another year here at Hogwarts," Dumbledore began but stopped as he was interrupted by a gasp come from the end of the table where the professors who were not heads of houses sat. "Sybill are you alright?" the headmaster asked as he watched the witch wheeze for air as she stared off blankly into the air in front of her.
"Sleep one who should not sleep for your prince is not yet true. The Witch will rise and death descends on those who keep magic pure. But fear not, for when the blood of the rose returns the tale will once more repeat. Tale, time, tune, and song will only live on if love can start anew," Trelawney panted out as the hall gaped in stunned silence.
While most of the other professors had doubted that Trelawney was a true seer the evidence was stating them right in the face. And the students seemed all the warier of the woman as that was not how she had given any prophecy in their classes. The odd professor blinked rapidly as she looked around the hall as all eyes were on her.
"I'm sorry… what just happened?" she asked looking along the staff table for answers as the hall stared back at her.
Somewhere deep in the department of mysteries, a small glass orb appeared on a shelf surrounded by many more. As the magic from long ago called forth and collected the accounts of seers and prophets. The mist within the orb was a deep red, rather than the blue and silver that dominated the numerous shelves, and at the base, a marker appeared. Like the others that surrounded it on the tag was the name of the seer, when the prophecy was told and who was present, on the back, a single name appeared.
Hermione Granger.
Hermione huffed as she watched Harry mess with the worn-out old potions book. She couldn't remember how many times she had tried to get him to turn it over to a professor, but he wouldn't budge. It had been attached to his hand for the last two weeks straight and Hermione worried that this would be like that Firebolt all over again.
Rolling her eyes, she figured that she could talk him into turning it in by the end of the month. Leaving the matter alone, for now, she got up making her way towards the door before she stopped. Looking down she spied a pile of apples sitting on the table, reaching out she plucked the one on the very top as she turned to speak, "I'm going to the library," she called out before continuing onward.
Without thinking she pulled the bright red apple towards her lips and bit into it. The moment the sweet fruit hit her tongue it dissolved leaving a rotten taste in her mouth. But Hermione couldn't even grimace as she felt herself fall, blacking out before she even reached the floor.