Chapter Nine: The Sorting Hat and the Tri Libera Seers

"In me the need to talk is a primary impulse, and I can't help saying right off what comes to my tongue."

- Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

November 22

It's been a while since Sirius and I caught Lily and James in the act. I've noticed they've been avoiding each other like the plague. Perhaps they've had a fight? I must investigate. Maybe I can pull Sirius and Remus in with this plot. Peter is much too incompetent, and Sandy and Damien are sending googly-eyed looks at each other. It sickens me, it truly does. Why won't they just stand up and start snogging each other already? Why won't those two just... Get together? The sexual tension between them is killing me...

Yes, Remus has been told of the incident. We all shivered at the end of Sirius's elaborate tale that day. Still makes me shudder, thinking of Lily and James (of all people!) doing It. (Yes, this diary shall remain at a safe rating of PG-13. After all, who knows who might be reading this...)

The plans will have to wait, though. Dumbledore has called me up for a little "chat" in his office. The manipulative but powerful man has something up his sleeve. I know it.

Don't get me wrong; Dumbledore's a... nice guy. He has these little tendencies like his odd fascination with Lemon Drops and his ability to know exactly what's going on in his school. We Slytherins can all agree that it was possible the Headmaster had been in Slytherin during his glory days. Or rather, his school days. We have yet to truly know which house he was previously in. His conniving ways have earned a grudging respect from the House of Snakes, but we have yet to like him because of his unmistakable favoritism towards the Gryffindor House.

Ai. It's time for our "chat". Now if I can only get out of this dorm without attracting Narcissa and Bellatrix's attentions...

Ah, did I mention that I'm not exactly happy with the Marauders at the moment?

- Delayna Warbeck

Of House Slytherin

I slipped my quill in its usual position and slid the diary in my pillow case. I pulled the curtains apart and an awkward silence ensued. Narcissa and Bellatrix Black, my dorm mates extraordinaire, stared at me. They gave me the obviously well-practiced 'I-Am-Holier-Than-Thou' look and glanced away to study their nails. I rolled my eyes and proceeded out the room. Those two idiots can't hurt me with their obvious disdain. The only reason they got into this house is that they demanded that the Sorting Hat place them in Slytherin, most likely. The Sorting Hat isn't as strict as he used to be, so I'm told. He's letting what people ask him sway his decisions.

I descended the familiar flight of stairs and crossed the Slytherin Common Room, where the ones I passed naturally glare at me. After all these years, you'd think they could grow out of their grudge against me and accept me into their ranks. But oh, ho! No! They must make Delayna "suffer" because she doesn't fit the mold of a proper inhabitant in the House of Snakes.

I sighed as if suffering, and narrowed my eyes once again to its normally half-open state. Nothing really interested me. Why was I placed in Slytherin...? Ah, yes. I remember it now...

"You're an interesting child..." The Sorting Hat had muttered into my ear as soon as it was placed atop my head. "Where shall I place you, now?"

"Ravenclaw'd be nice."

"Ah, yes, it would, wouldn't it? I thought I was supposed to sort you... When did it change?"

"It didn't. Just pointing out facts."

"Ah yes. That's Ravenclaw material... RAVE"

"Hold up!" The Hat stopped. I was going to be content with Ravenclaw, but something within me urged my thoughts to possibly nudge the Hat another way. Any other way. "So fast? What happened to you, Hat? I thought you were more exciting than that! Father had told me many tales of you."

"Mmm, yes, William Winston Warbeck the Fifth. Often teased of his name, wasn't he?"

"Mmhmm. People used to call him 'Winnie the Fifth'. Ooh, they got a good right hook for those... Never called him that, again!"

"Did they now...?"

"Mmhmm! Hey, aren't you supposed to be Sorting me?"

"Ah! Yes, I am... I was merely sifting through your mind..."

"Y'like it?"

"Very intelligent, open-minded... Yet... There's something..."

"Mind telling me what that something is?"

"Ah! Yes, I think I shall go with... SLYTHERIN! Good luck, child..."

I chuckled as I reminisced over that memory. I cleared my head with a shake and returned my eyes to their usual half-narrowed state. The Sorting Hat is an interesting character. I didn't know why I suddenly had the instinct to stop the Hat when it was about to sort me into Ravenclaw. If I did, how different would I have been from what I am now? 'More introverted, that's for sure, instead of my utterly outgoing self,' I thought somewhat arrogantly.

My reminiscings were cut short by a loud call of my name. I frowned and turned to see who it was. I smirked slightly as I saw who was approaching.

"Lily-doll, how fabulous of you to happen to come by!" I exclaimed in a slightly mocking tone. "It's wonderful that you can step off your throne for a few seconds to greet us lowly servants." She rolled her eyes at me, smacking me upside the head. I yelped and sent her a puppy-eyed look of hurt. As I glanced at her, though, I noticed a few more... less welcome figures swaggering in our direction.

"Sirius, James, Remus, Peter," I recited curtly with a nod. I'm not exactly in a friendly mood towards them at the moment for the prank earlier today they had set upon the whole of Slytherin house. Today, I had decided to sit with Damien towards the end of the table to catch up on gossip and such. Although we didn't show it, we were quite flustered at having our robes suddenly flash neon colors and our nose hairs growing abnormally long. Damien sighed through his nose (or tried to with all the nose hair sprouting out) and enunciated the counter-curse for the two of us. He could hardly care for the others, for they have done nothing for him.

Anyways... I was again quite surprised at the presence of two more welcomed figures behind the four unwelcome ones.

"Sandy! Damien!" I glanced at the hands that were attached and raised an eyebrow. I shared an elated look with Lily before scrutinizing the situation again.

Here was the eight of us, two from Slytherin, six from Gryffindor. We were standing in the corridor, Damien and I sizing up the Gryffindors. James and Sirius's stances were arrogant, while mine, Damien, and Remus's positions were just smoothly confident. Lily, Peter, and Sandy fidgeted somewhat uncertainly, but Lily was more confident in her posture. Sandy and Damien were stealing furtive glances at each other, and Sandy ducked her head with a blush while Damien just smirked triumphantly. Remus was on the point of rolling his eyes and dug his hands into his pockets modestly. Sirius was cocky and a smirk graced his features as well. James, however, was resolute on his purpose - that which I have no idea whatsoever. Peter just seemed to be tagging along, while Lily avoided being near James.

And then there's me, too.

"Anyone going to talk, or are we just going to stand here?" I spoke up dryly.

"I like standing here," Sirius retorted. I threw a sneer at him.

"Good, well, you can stay there and I'll just head up to the Headmaster's Office, then," I smiled sweetly, before it faded into an expression of blankness. I wheeled the other way and walked briskly to my destination.

"Wait! 'Layna!" Lily called behind me. I sent her a small backward glance, before turning myself and walking backwards.

"We're going with you!" Sandy yelled. I stopped and resisted the urge to fall to my knees and start banging my head against the hard stone floors. Oh, this is just precious...

"So... What did you do to get sent up there, D?" Damien asked of me as our little "group" trekked up to Dumbledore's office. I snapped out of my thoughtful reverie and gazed up at him in confusion. He repeated his question.

"Actually, I'm not sure," I shrugged. "He just told me to go to his office after sunset. Sneaky man, he is..."

"Watch it!" James snapped sharply. I raised my eyebrows at him with narrowed eyes and turned to Damien as if James hadn't spoken.

"What are you going there for?" I inquired, putting emphasis on 'you'. I heard, rather than saw, the sneer that James had thrown in my direction.

"Same as you..." Damien replied, lifting a shoulder carelessly. The eight of us stopped in front of the familiar statue of the gargoyle.

"Fizzing Whizbees," James enunciated curtly. The gargoyle moved aside, and all eight of us climbed the steps noisily. James, who was leading the group, knocked on the wooden door of Dumbledore's office.

"Come in," Professor Dumbledore called from inside. James turned the knob and we filed inside. Damien, who was the last in, closed the door. We stood awkwardly, waiting politely for Dumbledore's invitation to sit. It came, and I was surprised to find eight comfortable chairs placed in a semicircle around the Headmaster's desk. I took a seat facing directly opposite Dumbledore, with Lily to my left and Sirius on my other side.

"Good, good, you have all arrived at the same time," Dumbledore began. There was a gentle, yet irritating, twinkle in his eyes as he spoke. "What I am about to say shall not leave the room, yes?" He looked each of us in the eyes as we nodded our affirmation. Damien and I were wary, while the others were plainly curious. Peter was the only one who fidgeted slightly in his seat, though he had met the Headmaster's eyes.

"Excellent." Dumbledore clapped his hands together. The twinkle disappeared from his eyes, which were serious. "Miss Warbeck." My gaze snapped up to meet his as I heard my name uttered. "Let us start with you."

"What about me?" I peered at him beneath my eyelashes suspiciously. Dumbledore took a deep breath, and I held mine in anticipation. What about me...?

"I'm sure you can recall the... experience you went to earlier this year?" Dumbledore said without preamble. I nodded my head quickly, careful to keep my expression blank. The others inside the office turned to look at me closely.

"Sources tell us they did not mean to get you, but another," he continued. His gaze turned to Lily, who swallowed somewhat visibly. "They had meant to get you, Miss Evans." Lily sunk in her chair and she reached for my arm for support. I held her hand there, patting it absentmindedly. I'm not very good at comforting people...

"However, they had captured you instead." His attention reverted back to me. "Your capture proved to be more of import to them than they had realized. You, my dear, are one of the Tri Libera Seers: the Three Free Seers."

"What kind of name is that?" I blurted out. I hid a blush as the others glared at me. "Three Free Seers? Who made that up? Whoever it was has a strange fetish for double e's, let me tell you... Three Free Seers?" Sirius nudged me and gave me a look. I cut off my rant and felt slightly embarrassed. Dumbledore smiled and shrugged.

"It is what the first Seers decided to call themselves," Dumbledore replied in a calm voice, like I hadn't been insulting the name in the first place. "The first three Seers were imprisoned under a past Dark Lord, and called themselves such to feel more of a sense of self." My cheeks reddened lightly, but I kept my head up and stared into his eyes without hesitation.

"And how am I one of the Tri Libera Seers?" I tried - I really did! - not to cringe at the name that flowed out of my mouth. Seriously, though, they needed a few more lessons in Latin. Dumbledore just continued to gaze sternly at me before replying.

"The one who rescued you told me they called you Present. Surely you can remember that?" Those words triggered a flood of memories to suddenly overflow my thoughts. I blinked a few times, trying to sort them.

"Yes, I can..." My eyelashes fluttered again in an attempt to clear my thoughts and untangle the rumble of thoughts that suddenly wove together.

"Do you know why?" Dumbledore continued patiently. I shook my head, afraid that if I spoke, I would suddenly toss my cookies.

"It's quite a long story," he said in his version of a storytelling voice. "I believe all of you have to know this so that you will not investigate further without my permission." At those words, he gazed at me pointedly. I decided not to look in his eyes, since he knew I was going to investigate on my own. He knows little habits like that of everyone.

"The Tri Libera Seers..." He began with a frown. "Where shall I start?"

"The beginning's always good," I quipped. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at me again. Gr. I really want to poke his eye and see if he puts little things in them that makes them twinkle that way.

"The Tri Libera Seers, although they didn't know it then, were formed by a trio of three men, actually. Peus, D'mitri, and Kagan were the first.

"Peus was the Seer of the Past. If you asked him anything about the past, he would tell you with astounding accuracy. He would tell you what you are asking for with the century, month, year, day, hour, second, millisecond, and any other measurement that is known to man. He would tell you everyone who was involved in this. If you did not stop him, he would continue on and on until the grandchildren of a passerby was named.

"Kagan was the Seer of the Future. He, like his Past counterpart, could tell you anything about the upcoming future. His predictions are always correct, partly because of psychology. If someone believed that they would meet someone who loved them in the near future, they would believe it so much, that even a smile from a stranger would seem like a declaration of love. He, however, could sprout out prophecies without the initial inquiry.

"D'mitri was the Seer of the Present. He, somewhat like his Libera Seers, could tell you anything about the world of now. He was amazingly always right when it came to questions asked of him. D'mitri, in his Seer mode, did not know anything about the Past or the Future. He could only tell you what was happening right this moment. Anything even two seconds ago would be considered Past, and not his expertise." Dumbledore ceased his speech to gaze at us, who were paying surprisingly rapt attention to him, especially me.

"The Seers, though, had one flaw in their talents. They, with the exception of Peus, could not use their gifts unless somebody had asked them a direct question. Of course, questions such as 'Where is he?', and, 'What is he doing at the moment', were ignored, because they had no knowledge of 'he'. Questions such as 'Where is Delayna Warbeck?', however, were answered." Dumbledore again stopped speaking and looked at me.

"Delayna, may I have permission to use you as an example?" Dumbledore inquired politely. I acquiesced and the Headmaster cleared his throat.

"Where is James Potter?" Dumbledore demanded calmly. I remained quiet.

"Why did she not answer?" Sirius asked curiously.

"It's because my father is also named James," James answered, his attentive gaze on me. "Where is James 'Prongs' Potter?" My back stiffened, and my gaze blackened. I fought hard to keep consciousness.

"He is in Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dubmledore's office, in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, seated alongside of Sirius 'Padfoot' Black, Lily Marie Evans, Remus 'Moony' Jonathan Lupin, Peter 'Wormtail' Pettigrew, Sandra Diane Allen, Damien Edwin Brewer, and Delayna Aeryn Warbeck. He is sitting on a red plush chair that is conjured by"

"Delayna, cease," the Headmaster said in a commanding tone. My speech broke off, and my posture slumped. I put a hand toward my throat and breathed in. It was as if a whole different person had occupied my body during those moments. Oh Merlin, they found out my middle name... And Damien's. Oh bloody hell, he's going to kill me for that...

"As you can see, she is very thorough in her description of location in general. She, nor any of the Seers, cannot answer any questions about why anything happens. Sure, she probably could, but she would keep on explaining each reason of each everything until finally, she dies of starvation. A Seer's digestive system does not operate while in their Seer mode." Dumbledore breathed deeply.

"The reason why I had called the eight of you up here is because of your close proximity to Delayna during normal hours. You will constantly be throwing questions at her. Delayna, you shall be practicing control over your gift. You cannot withhold information from anybody, I'm afraid, but you will practice only using a minimal amount of energy to use it. I'm afraid I cannot have you falling unconscious every time a teacher asks a question. You should be lucky your gift is still at an early stage, otherwise, every direct question anyone throws anywhere would be answered by you. You would starve to death."

"Thorough, yes?" Damn those twinkling eyes!

Author's Notes: Ah, this was a particularly long one. Satisfied with it? I do hope so. I got threatened with a frying pan and duct tape by one BlackRoseofMoonlight, so I made it my best. It's not a very active chapter, but it provides sufficient background to the Seers, yes? I tried updating it faster truly, I did! but I found if I updated it lightning fast that I would just turn up something that isn't worth reading. If you have any questions about the Seers, please leave a review or e-mail me. My e-mail is on my Author Page.

I'm glad you all liked the last line to the last chapter. I particularly liked it as well. A strange chapter, the last one, but yes.

Happy Belated Birthday to Sabrina! I'm sorry I could not greet you sooner, but consider this as another birthday present from me!

- Cerulean Asphodel