Silver Eyes
By: FreakyHotGeek
Note: Hey everyone, I'm back from vacation, freshly tanned, freshly rested, and ready to WRITE! Of course, the 12 hour car ride there lead to some more… interesting… ideas and plot developments. Let's see what you think of chapter five, eh?
Disclaimer: Sadly Harry Potter does not belong to me… curse it all! –sob-
Chapter 5
What I Am
I blink up at the teacher as she stares down at me, her large eyes glistening.
"You," she says airily, crooking a finger at me. "Will see me after class."
Whispers echo in the room. Already I am ostracized. I must remember to thank Professor Trelawney someday.
"Don't let her scare you," Blaise says quietly in my ear. "She's always trying to weird new students out. I'm sure it's nothing."
I wonder what it was on my face that lead him to believe I was afraid. In truth, I am merely numb. Whatever she has to say, I am sure, will not affect the way thins are, the way they will be.
At Blaise, I merely smile weakly, deciding that its better he thinks he soothed me than know the teacher hadn't scared me. That would be too much an explanation to muster.
"Now," Trelawney says, addressing the entire class, "It is a new year to learn Divination. I have taught you most all I can. Those of you in this room are those who possess the inner eye in some form."
Inner eye? It is now that I realize I have no idea what I've gotten myself in to. Unfortunately, I am about to find out.
"This year, what you must do is condition that inner eye. To do this, you must first open your mind ot the world around it. Therefore, we will meditate."
She begins to explain and demonstrate proper forms of meditation. Many students have difficulty getting into the position. Being clumsy as I am, I'm one of them. Blaise, beside me and already executing perfect form, is not.
"Sorry if I'm making you look bad," he whispers, smirking, as I fall over sideways.
"Zabini," the Professor says. "You're showing off rather than assisting your peers. Help Shiva into the proper position."
I gape and try to say that it won't be necessary, but as I am still lying sideways on the floor, my legs wound around one another, I know that it would be pointless to protest.
"Here," Blaise says gently, pulling me up. "Your problem is, you're too tense."
I raise an eyebrow at him, wondering how I am supposed to relax with Trelawney hovering and him right next to me. It doesn't help when he takes it upon himself to shift my legs into the proper position. I feel like a helpless child, letting him arrange me into the pose.
"There, you see?" he says, a playful twinkle in his eyes. His hand is still on my knee, and I know it's not by accident. He's curious. He wants to know how I will react.
"I don't think," I say softly, smiling at him, "That you're doing it right."
He lifts his hand and returns it to the correct position. "I have taught you well," he says, a glint in his eyes.
After everyone finally gets it right, she instructs us on the proper breathing, and then it is time to go. As I was told, I stay behind, nervous about being late to Transfiguration.
"Good luck," Blaise says with a wink before vanishing through the trap door. I feel a bit dumbstruck as I turn to Trelawney, who is looking kindly at me.
"I take it you are not aware of the powers you possess," she says gravely, removing her spectacles.
I'm a bit surprised by her, actually. From what I'd heard of her, she was an insane and useless woman. Then I recall the rumors about myself and color. I should have known better than to trust any hearsay in the regards of the natures of a person.
"N-no," I respond in confusion. I wonder what cruel joke or trick is being played on me, or what small and petty gift she thinks I have.
"I thought not. And perhaps that is best… those who know of such things from birth are prone to abusing them. As it were, I admire your mother for keeping it from you, and despise her all the same, for now the duty falls to me."
I blink at her, though carefully keeping my eyes away from hers, confused. She is speaking complete nonsense, but her tone is so grave I feel as though I must listen, mustn't judge.
"Professor?" I say, hoping to hurry her on.
"There is no need for such formality, Shiva. I call you by your name, you may call me by mind; Sybil. But alas, for names are not what we are here to discuss. It is a much darker, more serious matter."
I feel as if I am being tested somehow, perhaps for patience, perhaps character. I hold my own and stare levelly at her, never meeting her eyes. Though I doubt it will change anything if I pass this unspoken test, I may as well do my best at it.
"Ah," she says at last. "Perhaps you are more aware than I thought. That is a comfort, for I find this hard to say," She pauses, looks at me, and grabs my chin, tilting my face should that I would have to look her in the eyes, but I am practiced, and I avert my gaze. Another test. "You do not seek to use your power against others, I see. This is a good quality."
I know I have passed, but I still don't know what she's talking about. Still, I remain silent, waiting. The idea of missing class is beyond me now… I'm too curious, too confused.
"Strong and silent," she says, a small, wry smile on her lips. "Not unlike the last of your kind I encountered. And while we are on that subject, you can look me in the eyes if you wish. I am guarded from their spell."
I raise my eyes to hers because I sense that her words were not an offer, but a request. I fear that something strange or awful will happen, but she just smiles again.
"You are old enough now to know the weapon you possess," she says, and I fear the worst, though what that is I have no idea. "I have stalled long enough. Often, you've probably felt you are not like others; this is true. You were born with a dark and powerful gift; the gift to see into people's souls, to control them if you would so wish. The window to souls that your power both manifests itself in and uses to activate are the eyes. I imagine this sounds like codswallop to you, but I would not lie about this. You are different from me, but no less powerful in magic of the oddest kind."
I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. I can feel the truth in her words, but it sounds insane. It seems it could only be something staged, trying to get me, perhaps, to make eye contact with people, to talk more. But that is a folly… I am not of enough interest to them for that trouble.
"W-why… why wasn't I told this sooner?" I ask.
"Maturity," she responds levelly. "A young and foolish girl told she can control the wills of others can do a lot of damage. But now we feel you are ready."
I felt numb, I didn't know what to say. And then, it struck me that maybe, just maybe, I could be normal, that they could fix this. "What… how do I… can I be cured?" is all I could sputter out of what was racing through my mind.
"CURED?" Trelawney choked, staring at me, fire in her eyes. "It is not a sickness… you can not get rid of it."
"So… I can't ever look… anyone in the eyes?" I ask, the hope that I'd felt only a moment ago quickly receding.
"Of course you can. Once you can control this… I will not lie to you, not hide what you have from you… you can do nearly anything you please, and make others around do anything you please. But I will not stand for this abuse."
I stare at her again. What she is saying is so insane that I reach down and pinch myself, but I do not wake up.
"It's not a dream," Trelawney says kindly. "It's not going to go away."
I sigh, look up at the ceiling, and recognize another one of those strange chances that I shouldn't pass up which keep coming at me this year.
"Then teach me… to control it," I ask.
End note: Ha ha, the plot thickens! As I warned, it's getting a bit of a life of its own here. I hope you like it! See you at chapter six!