Disclaimer: Harry, Neville, Trelawney and any other HP character, plot thing that belongs to JK Rowlings are not owned by me in a joint partnership... But they do in my dreams!

Chapter Seven Rise of a Seer

When Harry entered the divination tower for the first class he wasn't surprised to see Neville already waiting for Trelawney.

"Trelawney is takings those with – difficulties." Harry sniffed as he remembered Hermione's words. They were not at all comforting.

Harry lifted his hand in a silent greeting to Neville and started to climb the stairs. Plonking himself onto the nearest pouffe, Harry glanced around the dimly lit classroom.

On Professor Trelawney's desk was an orb. Standing from his comfortable position Harry reached out so that the tips of his fingers touched the smooth, glimmering surface of the orb. 'What's come over me?' Harry thought dimly, 'It must be all the incense.'

A burst of warmth suddenly flooded into Harry's hands, cutting short his train of thoughts. Apart of him wanted to wrench himself away from the now glowing orb but another part was completely and utterly transfixed. Behind his now closed eyelids Harry felt stinging tears forming and then he saw…

The two-way mirror he had used to enter Hogwarts unnoticed when Slytherin had asked him to 'borrow' Gryffindor's scroll on protective magics. Harry however seen became aware of a cloaked figure approaching quickly. Straining his eyes Harry could make out no detail whom the mysterious stranger might be.

The stranger on the other hand seemed completely oblivious to Harry. He walked past him briskly and stopped by the mirror. With a complete scan of the corridor to check that no one was coming the stranger moved the mirror to one side and quickly moved into the dank and musty tunnel.

Intrigued Harry followed just in time as the mirror swung closed behind him and he was just in time to see the stranger light a torch with magic. Muttering to himself the cloaked figure moved quickly and confidently through the passage, the torch held out in front of him. They allowed their fingers to drag lightly along the wall, which made Harry curious. But Harry so learned the reasoning behind this movement however, as the stranger stopped abruptly and played their fingers lithely over a small crack in the wall.

A door appeared and the stranger opened it revealing a vast room with hundreds of scrolls. He entered quickly and paused thoughtfully by a pedestal, then glanced about guiltily. Then as quick as a flash he pulled out a scroll from under the folds of his cloak and placed it quickly on the pedestal before hastily backing out of the chamber.

All Harry see as the man left the room, heading straight for him was the brown-gold glint in this eyes in the firelight…

"HARRY!"

Harry jumped violently and placed the glassy orb on its cushion and stepped back managing to crush poor Neville's toes.
"Owe…!" Neville cried, stumbling back and falling on his bum in an undignified manner.
"Sorry Neville," Harry apologised as he pulled Neville to his feet. He glanced back at the orb in wonder however… What had he seen?

"I was saying I am surprised to see you here."
Harry shook himself and forced himself to concentrate on Neville one hundred percent. "I guess I don't have the 'proper' aura for a seer." Harry thought this was rather ironic, seeing as he had developed a certain potential over the summer break.

Neville merely shrugged and flopped into the nearest armchair. Harry followed suit but cleared his throat. "Erm… Neville, do you mind not telling anyone that I touched the orb."
Neville's eyes widened with childish fascination before he asked in a husky excited tone, "What did you see?"

Fortunately Harry didn't have time to make any sort of answer because; Professor Trelawney chose that moment to waft into the classroom like a bad smell. Harry and Neville exchanged glances; they were the only ones to show up to class. Trelawney however, didn't seem the slightest perturbed. She drifted past both of the boys lazily and called down at the trap door. "You can come up, my dears."

Harry and Neville watched in dismal frustration as a few fifth year Ravenclaws and Slytherins entered the classroom. The later were hardly able to conceal their joy upon seeing two Gryffindor sixth years.

"Take a seat, take a seat." Trelawney pasted Harry and Neville, ignoring them both and continued with her address to her class. "Welcome to fifth year divination…" She paused and gazed in Harry's and Neville's direction and was interrupted by snickers from the Slytherins.

"I am aware that some of us…" Trelawney's bug eyes never moved from Harry's face. "Had a rather dull holiday…"

Harry furious at being put in a class of fifth years and being humiliated by one of his least favourite teachers replied tersely for the whole class to hear, "Well there was a death eater attack at my home this holiday and my uncle was killed… it broke up the monotony quite nicely."

Neville upon hearing Harry's response had to swallow hard in order to stop himself from laughing. There was also a murmur of appreciative comments through the Ravenclaw students.

Trelawney blinked her bug-like eyes rather slowly before she could make her reply, "I don't think it is your place to comment, my dear, since you failed your OWLs."
Harry bit back the nastiest response he could think of and instead simply retorted, "Excuse me professor, but it is a miracle anyone passed divination…"

Professor Trelawney sniffed and rearranged her glasses so that she could glare at Harry. It was obvious that Harry had not only managed to get under her skin but had hit a nerve, reminding her of her temporary sacking that the hands of Umbridge last year.

"Well," she huffed, "Well… then if you are so clever my dear give me proof that you should have passed last year…"

All the fifth years and Neville were on the edge of their seats waiting to see how Harry would reply. Standing slowly, aware that all eyes were on him, Harry turned to face the class. His hand slipped down his neck to touch the chain of the amulet hoping he would think of something to say to stop this humiliation. Before Harry could even stop himself words spilled from his mouth, "This lesson will be ending quite early professor. Something serious is going to happen and you'll be leaving Hogwarts."

Trelawney sniffed and Harry sat feeling uncomfortable and queasy. For the remaining of the lesson Trelawney had them reading out of their texts and copying down notes.

However twenty minutes before the end a first year student whom Harry recognised as Regin Standforde, came climbing up the ladder. Harry had time to notice his flushed cheeks before Trelawney glared at him and he was obliged to bend his head over his book and notes to make it look like he wasn't listening.

Trelawney ushered him forward with a curl of her long bony fingers. "What is it my dear?"
"It's Dumbledore!" Regin cried, glancing at Harry.
Trelawney glanced slyly at Harry, as if he somehow orchestrated the scene.

Regin took a deep breath and started again. "Dumbledore wants to see you immediately in his office… Something has happened…!"

Harry almost grinned and thanked heaven for his amulet, which he was sure had given him words to say in response to Trelawney's challenge.

As if to confirm what Harry was suspecting she turned in a flurry of skirts, "Class dismissed."

Harry took his time collecting his book and packing them away. Neville however decided to wait for him. "Wow, Harry how did you know that was going to happen?"
"Lucky guess…. I suppose…"