Date: March 2005
Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter.
Pairing(s): Coming later
Summary: Hermione isn't sure where to turn after an attack on her home. And with so many people offering her advice she isn't sure whose council is worth heeding and whose should be disregarded...


Sybill sailed, uninvited, into Snape's office. "Here," she said, handing him a letter. "I've done half the work now. You can't lord anything over my head."

"Half the work?" Snape turned around with a frown.

"Yes. I've written the letter you can send to Albus. All you have to do is sign your name."

Snape hummed, putting down the vial he was holding. He snatched the letter from Sybill's hand and skimmed it over before affixing his name the bottom. "He'll probably come poking around in a few days so you better tell Miss Granger to keep her mouth shut."

Sybill waved a hand. "No need. I don't think that she's even aware of her power."

Raising an eyebrow, Snape nodded before turning around to attend to his potion. "Just before she doesn't say anything."


"So your house is burnt down."

Hermione looked up, pushing her hair away from her forehead, to look at the boy standing across from her. "That's not any of your business..."

"Theodore Nott."

"Right. That's not any of your business, Nott."

Theodore shrugged, sitting down. "Whether it's my business or not I know about it, Granger."

Hermione sighed before turning back to her book.

"What are you reading? Or is that not any of my business either?"

"Leave me alone."

Theodore smiled, grabbing the book. "Death: A Myth? This is dangerous material for someone in your state of mind."

"'My state of mind?'"

"Yes. Your state of mind."

"And what state would that be?"

"Grief."

"Grief, Mr. Nott? I highly doubt that someone as pragmatic as Miss Granger would research some of the darkest magic there is over grief," Sybill's voice floated into the room just as she appeared from behind a bookshelf. "Come on, Miss Granger. You and I need to have a little discussion over your reading choices as of late."

Hermione glared at Theodore, shoving the book at him. "Coming, Professor."

Theodore smirked as he watched the two traipse out of the library.


"Minerva, I tell you it was amazing," Poppy took another scone from the plate. "I never believed that she had the Sight, but, indeed, she does."

"Really? "

"Really! She told me that Miss Granger would be coming into the castle injured. She said that she'd have a collection of bruises, a couple of deep scratches, and a sprained ankle. Sybill told me to stay awake so that I could fix Miss Granger up after she arrived, but I didn't believe her. I am glad that I did, however. Miss Granger was just as injured as Sybill predicted."

Minerva gasped. "How did she know?"

"She said, 'Well, obviously, Poppy I read it in a magazine. How do you think?' She's horribly sarcastic."

"Dreadfully." Minerva leaned forward, clearly interested in the story. "So then what happened?"

"Well, after Miss Granger stopped sobbing I gave her a Dreamless Sleep Draught and, once she was asleep, fixed her injuries."

"Did Sybill tell you how she got them? Did she See that?"

Poppy shook her head. "She said that she found out what had happened to Miss Granger from Miss Granger. Apparently, the poor girl was victim of a Death Eater attack. Horrible bastards."

Minerva frowned. "That's strange. Albus didn't mention anything when I saw him this morning."

Poppy shrugged. "Perhaps he doesn't know."

"Perhaps." Minerva shook her head, picking up the tea pot. "More tea?"

"I wish I could stay longer, but, unfortunately, Ignatius is home with the flu. He's probably woken up by now."

"Oh yes. Run off, dear. Tell him that I hope he feels better."

"I will. Thank you for the tea." Poppy apparated away with a crack.


"Mr. Nott was right. That reading material isn't good for you, especially now."

Hermione rolled her eyes, taking another sip of her tea. "I don't really care, Professor."

"Well you should." Sybill glanced at Hermione over the rims of her large glasses. "Why are you reading that anyway?"

"Didn't you hear him? Grief."

Sybill snorted. "I am not an idiot." Adjusting her seat cushion, the divination professor continued, "I think that, perhaps, you were compelled by guilt."

"Guilt?" Hermione immediately colored, although the sullen look did not leave her face. "I have nothing to feel guilty about."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," Hermione said, standing up. Putting her cup down, she gathered the cloak Madame Pomfrey had lent her from a nearby chair. "Thank you for the tea, professor. We really must do this more often."

"Oh yes, we should. Seers should stick together after all!" Sybill called to Hermione's back.

The Gryffindor spun around to face her ex-professor. "What did you call me?"

"A Seer. That's what you are, Miss Granger. That's why you feel guilty, isn't it? You Saw it."

"I don't See, Professor Trelawney. I am not a Seer."

The professor nodded. "Fine. Just don't tell anyone important that you have that ability. Not even your friends should know, Miss Granger. You could land yourself into more trouble than you want."

Hermione stalked back to the tea table, grabbing a chair and sitting down. "What do you mean?"

"The Death Eaters need a good Seer. The Order has already found and trapped one."

"Trapped?" Hermione paled. "Who?"

Sybill laughed. "Me. I never wanted this job. I wanted to work for the Department of Mysteries."

"Well, go work there. You aren't a good professor."

"And you aren't a good student. Go work there, you say." Sybill laughed. "As if it is that simple. The Death Eaters need a Seer and Dumbledore is more than willing to tell the whole world about my gift if I don't play good professor."

"Are you honest? Dumbledore would never!" Hermione grabbed the table, her knuckles turning white.

"We are in the middle of war, dear. He would."

"Tell him to find another Seer."

Sybill smiled. "Fine. I will. When he comes this afternoon looking for you I'll tell him that I've found a replacement Seer. One Miss Hermione Granger. You and I are the only Seers I know of in England. We are small in number."

Hermione looked as if she would be physically ill. "Please don't, professor."

"I wouldn't." Sybill patted Hermione's hand. "I would never do that."

"Thank you," Hermione breathed in relief.

"Now, Hermione, how long have you been..." The doors to the castle groaned open again. "Damn. We'll continue this conversation at another time. It seems as if Dumbledore has arrived." Hermione nodded, getting up and slipping on the borrowed cloak. Sybill turned to the girl. "Before we go wash your face." Sybill pointed to an adjacent room. "It wouldn't do for you to look scared at the sight of your beloved headmaster." Hermione nodded, trying to tank down her fear, before scurrying into the bathroom.


"Albus," Snape greeted his employer.

"Severus," Albus replied distractedly, glancing left and right of the potions professor. "I heard that we have a refuge of sorts in the school."

"Yes. Miss Granger came last night. Did you not receive my note?"

"No," Albus stepped past Severus into the front hall. "I received it. I just wonder why you didn't mention the nature of her arrival."

"I assumed you knew. I assumed that you had placed wards on the girl's house."

"Wards?" Albus glared at Snape. "No. I didn't think the Death Eaters would bother to attack school girls."

Snape checked the urge to roll his eyes. "They would attack school girls who are best friends with Harry Potter, muggleborn, and brilliant. They are Death Eaters. They aren't idiots."

"Ah! Miss Granger!" Albus stepped around Snape, once again, to embrace the now-shaking girl.

"Pro-professor," Hermione greeted, weakly.

"Miss Granger. I've come to take you to Grimmauld Place."

"Did you not get Severus' note?" Sybill asked, placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"No, I did. I just assumed that Miss Granger would, now that she has calmed down a bit, want to be with her friends."

"Um... no, sir. If it is all the same to you, I would rather stay here."

Albus glanced down at the Gryffindor, shock apparent in his eyes. "Oh right." He adjusted his spectacles. "Whatever makes you happiest, dear. I am truly sorry for your loss."

Snape bit his tongue. He should be sorry. No wards.

"Thank you, professor," Hermione said quietly. She smiled at the headmaster, but looked as if she was trying to disappear.

"Now, I'm sure that one of these professors will take you to Diagon Alley soon to buy some clothing. I'll have Professor Snape transfer your parents' money to your Gringotts account."

"Thank you, sir."

"You're very welcome, Hermione. Now I'm going to leave, but I expect you to write to Harry and Ron at the very least. I'm sure they are very interested in your well-being."

"I'm sure they are, sir."

"Hmm, yes. Well, good-bye professors. Good-bye, Hermione."

"Good-bye, sir," Snape said, shutting the door soundly before Albus had even gotten fully out the door.


Draco,

You'd be surprised to find who turned up at Hogwarts late last night. Your favorite Gryffindor.

I heard that she might be going to Diagon Alley tomorrow to pick up some new clothing.

It might be in your best interest to keep your father out of town tomorrow.

How is your summer?

- T.N.


Dear Ron and Harry,

Hello.

Professor Dumbledore told me to write you, but I'm not quite sure what to say.

Death Eaters attacked my house. It's gone now. Burned down. And my family's dead. But I'm OK.

Don't blame yourself for this, Harry. It's my fault I'm so smart.

That was a joke.

I'm sorry. I just really don't know what to write.

Write back soon please.

Love,

Hermione


Dumbledore put down the letter. "There is nothing in here hinting to anything special about her except that she is the victim of a horrible attack."

"It's just known that those that Seers have visions about have something amazing within them. Harry Potter. Tom Riddle. Grindenwald. You. King Arthur. This list goes on."

Dumbledore readjusted his glasses. "Minerva, this time could have been a fluke. Maybe the girl just is Hermione Granger, an overly smart muggleborn Gyrffindor."

Minerva sighed. "Maybe. However, I would still watch if I were you."

Albus put down the letter with a shrug. Hiding a smile, he nodded. "Yes, Minerva. I'll continue to watch the post. Who knows? Maybe she's the next Minister of Magic and Merlin rolled into one."

"Albus," Minerva giggled. "She's a very brilliant girl."

"She's friends with Harry Potter. That's probably the only reason Sybill ever Saw her."

Minerva sighed. "You're likely right."

Albus nodded. He was sure that he was right, but he still was resolved to watch the incoming mail to Harry and Ron.


OK, so there it is. My newest chapter. Review, please.

runaway mental patient - Updated. Not soon, really, but updated. Thanks for the review.

prettypinkribbon - Yeah. I'm a fan of the underdeveloped. Theo Nott's becoming a bigger player in more fanfics though. However, my love for the minor characters I think leads less people to read my stories so it's a tradeoff. Yeah, Dumbledore doesn't value Hermione ask much as he does Ron or even Harry. I can see her getting left behind by both her friends and Dumbledore, kept as an outsider kind of. Yeah, I figured I'd let Hermione have the Sight 'cause it'd be kind of... ironic? I think that it's an example of irony. I could be wrong though. I'm so bad with irony. I like Trelawney. And I like my Snape here. I feel that he's a little weaker than Trelawney so I think I might work on him a bit more, but I like his shaky truce with Trelawney. I'll have to expound on their history a bit more. Thanks so much for reviewing, by the way.

Read and review!