Disclaimer: The Honourable J.K. Rowling owns the delightful magical realm of Harry Potter. I am just using—and abusing—her creation below. Please read, REVIEW, and enjoy. Se gap lai nhe.

Chapter IX

A Prophecy Overheard

Several months had passed since Alice had told Frank that she was expecting. Over those months, Alice's pregnancy was normal and she remained healthy. Frank & Co. continued the endless search for the Dark Lord. Barty Crouch's father, who held the same name, had become Minister of Magical Law Enforcement. Under his lead, Frank and his colleagues became respectable lawmen.

It was during this time, that Albus Dumbledore was to be found walking to the Hog's Head Inn. While there, he was going to interview a candidate for the position of Divination. Under normal circumstances, he would have simply cut the position. However, today was different. Today, he was going to meet with Sibyl Trelawney, the descendent of a very celebrated Seer.

Overall, the interview was not a very good one. Dumbledore noticed that Trelawney did not seem to have a Second Sight. Rather, she had a lot of mystical arrogance and pride. Neither quality appealed to the Headmaster. With this in mind, he turned dejectedly to leave, when a horrible chocking sound reached his ears.

"Sibyl, whatever could be wrong?"

Sibyl Trelawney's eyes rolled back in their sockets as she gagged. Then she spoke in a voice devoid of human emotion, quite unlike her own.

"THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES…BORN TO THOSE WHO HAV THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES…AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE A POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT…AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIFE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES…THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES…"

Dumbledore stood rooted to the spot in glee. "So she is a Seer," thought Dumbledore. "I have use for her."

His musings were cut short suddenly by a struggle at the door. The door opened, and Albus and Sibyl saw Aberforth Dumbledore standing over a prostrate figure lying on the ground, blood streaming from a cut over his sallow forehead. Severus Snape had been listening at the keyhole.

"Take him to my office, Aberforth. I shall deal with him there." He turned back to Sibyl Trelawney.

"Sibyl, my dear. You do appear to be most highly qualified. I would be proud to have you teach at my school. Make the necessary arrangements and be there within the month. I shall see to it that your quarters are prepared."

"Thank you, Headmaster," she said in her misty, ethereal tone. "But I had foreseen my appointment before hand. It is not always a burden to be blessed with a second sight, Headmaster."

Professor Dumbledore bowed quickly and left the room. He then walked back to Hogwarts to deal with the eavesdropper.