Chapter 11: Seers and Socks
Lexie woke up as the sun's final rays were filtering through the hospital windows. She still felt tired, but it wasn't the bone-deep exhaustion she had felt that morning and was more of a drowsy feeling. She briefly remembered Sirius carrying her here but didn't remember anything else. She was thankful that at least the nausea had vanished and she was actually quite hungry. She slowly sat up and turned her head towards the rest of the wing and startled when she saw Dumbledore sitting on a chair next to her bed.
"Good evening Lexie, I trust you are feeling better?"
"Much. What are you doing here? Do you check up on every student who becomes ill?"
Dumbledore smiled, "While I wish I could say yes since that would surely show a Headmaster devoted to the care of all of his students, sadly I do not have the time to assess every cold and broken arm. However, given the fact that you don't have a legal guardian and from what Poppy has told me, I thought it might be a good idea to check in with you."
"Who's Poppy?"
Dumbledore smiled, "Madam Pomfrey."
Lexie felt nervous now, "Oh… wait why? Is there something really wrong with me? Am I dying? What did she say?"
He chuckled and gave her a kind smile, "No, you are not dying and there is nothing permanently wrong with you. However, I am curious about what happened to you. Poppy informed me that you were suffering from severe exhaustion and I wanted to make sure you were adjusting to Hogwarts. I also wanted to remind you that you are welcome to bring any concerns to me as my office is always open to you."
"I'm actually doing much better sir and like Hogwarts a lot now. I didn't sleep well last night because I was having strange dreams-" Lexie paused, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you something about my dreams?"
"Ah, well dreams are often mysterious and not well understood, but yes you may ask and I will do my best to answer."
"Right, well I guess I'll try and explain them. See I have photo dreams sir, well that's what I call them. Really they're just dreams where I see people. Except the people don't move in them or do anything, it's just a still shot of someone. Sometimes they're people I know, well I know them now that is. I had dreams at the orphanage but I never knew any of the people in them, but now I've realized a lot of the people in my dreams are actually students or professors here at Hogwarts. Sir, why do you think I'm having these dreams?"
Dumbledore looked at Lexie thoughtfully and placed his long fingers together and rested them against his chin, "I'm not entirely sure why you're having them, and you said the people don't ever move?"
Lexie shook her head, "In fact most of the time the people aren't doing anything really, just sitting or standing."
"Hm, unusual. Well I have my theories Lexie, but I believe you must possess something much like a seer."
Lexie frowned, "A what sir?"
Dumbledore smiled, "A seer is a gifted person who has the ability to see into the future, most commonly in the form of prophesies although there are a few rare seers who have experienced visions. It sounds like you are seeing bits of the future in what you refer to as photo dreams."
"The future sir? Do you really think that's what I'm seeing?"
"I can't be absolutely certain as I have never heard accounts of what you call photo dreams nor am I a seer, but you did mention that before Hogwarts you saw people who you now recognize correct?"
Lexie nodded and he continued, "I can only assume that you were seeing people who would make an appearance into your life."
Lexie thought about what he had said and while it did make sense, she just couldn't wrap her head around it. Why did she have this ability and where did it come from? And why did the dreams last night drain her much more than they had ever done in the past?
"Sir, I have one last question."
"Of course, go ahead."
"Well, why do you suppose they make me so tired? Especially the ones I had most recently?"
"Ah, I was hoping to find what had drained you so thoroughly of energy. While I am not certain why you feel so tired afterward, I must ask if your dreams last night were any different than those before? Did they last longer than usual?"
"It's hard to tell sir, it's awfully boring you see to just stare at someone for what feels like hours, no offense but my photo of you wasn't even that interesting after a few minutes."
Dumbledore's eyes crinkled at the corners and allowed Lexie to continue.
"I guess I had more of them last night now that I think about it, normally I see at most three people and last night, well I lost count but there had to be at least a dozen, if not more. If I hadn't already been asleep I would have fallen asleep with boredom."
"Are you always tired after you have these dreams?"
"Normally I am, but not nearly as much as I was this morning. Do you think it's because I had so many more of them sir?"
"I think that is very possible Lexie. I also think that they aren't dreams, at least not under the typical definition of a dream. I think it's very possible that when you have these photo dreams as you've aptly named them that you aren't actually asleep, much like a seer who is having a vision. That might explain why you are so tired afterward. I would imagine that whatever is causing you to have these dreams requires energy and so you aren't actually resting, but actually becoming more exhausted despite feeling asleep."
"Is there any way to make them stop?" asked Lexie.
"Sadly, I know of no cure for preventing seers from seeing the future. However, I can have Poppy give you some Rejuvenating Potion that you can keep on hand should you wake up from more visions, that should restore most of your energy and if you feel it is inadequate you are free to come here and will be excused from classes. I also think that it might be beneficial to try and remember those you see in your dreams, you never know when you could run into them in real life and perhaps a connection can be made."
"Oh, well I do draw some of them sir. I have a sketchbook that Mrs. Tobias gave me that I use occasionally."
"Excellent, keep up the sketches and perhaps overtime the dreams will make more sense. Don't forget about the potion either Lexie, I would hate for your excellent classwork to suffer from something beyond your control."
"Of course sir, I guess that's as good as I'm going to get. It's really too bad, they are incredibly boring these dreams."
Dumbledore chuckled, "Well then, I will have Poppy release you for today and prepare some potion for you. Oh and Lexie, it might be a good idea not to disclose your abilities. I find many people are quite skeptical of seers while others try to abuse their abilities."
"Yes sir."
With that Dumbledore wished Lexie a goodnight as he went to have a word with Madam Pomfrey.
"Alright Ms. Hall, you are free to leave. Here is some potion and if you ever feel like you need extra rest you may come by and rest here."
"Thanks," said Lexie grinning and taking the potion, "Oh, do you have the time by chance?"
"It is almost six, just in time for dinner."
"Thanks, see you later Poppy!" said Lexie brightly and before Madam Pomfrey could scold her for the use of her first name she skipped out the door.
Lexie felt completely rejuvenated and much less confused after her talk with Dumbledore and now the only ache she felt was that caused by her empty stomach. On her way out the door she ran right into Sirius and wobbled slightly but felt him grab her shoulders to prevent her from falling.
"Lex! You're free!"
"Of course, I wasn't terminally ill or anything! Hey guys," she said to the other three boys who were standing behind Sirius.
"Hey Lexie" they chorused.
"So are you up for dinner?" asked James.
"Definitely, I'm starved! I haven't eaten all day."
"Well then let's go!" said Sirius enthusiastically as he put his arm through hers.
"What's in the bottle Lexie?" asked Peter.
"Oh, just some potion in case I start to feel ill again. I don't want to miss any more class. Speaking of which, what did I miss today?"
"I'll lend you my notes," offered Remus and she smiled at him as a way of thanks.
"Hey Sirius?" she asked remembering the events of that morning, "Can I ride on your back again?"
"What do I look like a hippogriff? I don't think so."
"Oh come on please, I've had such a hard day."
"Nice try Lex, all you did was sleep."
"James?"
The messy haired boy shrugged, "Yeah, okay."
"Really? Oh you're the best James, I don't know why Lily hates you so much," she replied sarcastically.
James scoffed as Lexie climbed onto his back, "Who cares what Evans thinks, she's just a know-it-all-suck-up anyways."
"Wow, tell us how you really feel about her James," said Sirius laughing.
"I don't think she likes you either mate," added Remus.
"Especially after today," mumbled Peter causing the other boys to laugh.
"Why, what happened today?" asked Lexie towards James' back.
"Oh err, I may have accidentally added some powdered hellebore to her potion making it utterly useless."
"What do you mean 'accidentally?' You realize she already thinks you're an arse, was it really necessary to ruin her potion?"
"Yes, it was too perfect," said James stubbornly.
Lexie sighed knowing this wasn't an argument she was going to win, "Fine James, but five years down the road don't ask me why you can't get a date with her."
"Ewwww, why would I want to date her? It would be like dating a textbook."
Lexie had no reply, she liked Lily well enough, but the two girls hadn't quite connected either. At least not nearly as much as she connected with the boys, Lily just didn't seem to have the same idea of what was fun as she did. James had a point – she was definitely a great source for facts but a little bland.
The group reached the Great Hall and Lexie slid off James' back as they entered and made their way to the Gryffindor table.
"So since you're all having awful Christmases, although I guess Lexie isn't anymore since she insists on staying here alone, I have to get you all amazing gifts to make up for your holiday of horrors. So what do you all want?" said James through a mouthful of potatoes.
Sirius just grumbled something and went back to his food, every time James brought up the holidays (which he was doing a lot lately) he just felt like melting into the floor.
"Wait a second, you're buying us gifts?" said Lexie panicked.
"Well yeah, of course. That's what friends normally do for Christmas. So I expect some in return," he said gleefully.
"Well fuck," said Lexie frowning, she now had to figure out not only what to get everyone, but where she was going to get the money for it. She remembered Dumbledore's promise at the beginning of the term and while she didn't think this was what he had in mind when he offered her money. It was worth a shot though. Lexie jumped out of her seat, "I'll see you later boys, I've got to check something," she said frantically before darting off.
"Is it just me or does she do that a lot?" asked Peter watching her skip out of the hall.
"No, it's not just you, she sure recovered quickly," mumbled Remus also watching her.
"Err, was it something I said?" asked James.
"I think it's always something you say mate, maybe you should stop bringing up the bloody holidays," grunted Sirius.
James sighed, with Christmas in two weeks he just wanted to try and cheer his friends up. He went back to his plum pudding in silence, he would just have to come up with gifts on his own.
Lexie darted through the hallways towards the gargoyle statues she knew guarded Dumbledore's Office, "chocolate frog" she gasped. They slid aside and allowed her to enter. Lexie knocked on his door and when she heard his kind voice she opened it finding him behind his desk.
"Ah Lexie, I was not expecting you so soon. Is this about your dreams?"
"No sir, this is uh, actually about something completely different."
"Well come have a seat and I'll see what I can do for you."
Lexie went and sat in one of the plush chairs in front of his desk and immediately began talking at rapid speed, nervous that he would dismiss her before hearing the whole story. "Sir, I know that you offered me financial help at the start of the term and while I'm not sure this counts because it's not really something I need, but the thing is, I don't know how I'm supposed to buy anyone gifts for Christmas. Normally I wouldn't bother, but James said I had to get him something and that means that I should also get Sirius, Peter, and Remus gifts because if they give me something and I don't get them something in return they'll probably disown me as a friend and I can't possibly let that happen" she said in one quick breath trying to get it all out before he had a chance to say no.
"Ah, yes, I see the dilemma."
"Sir, I wouldn't ask you if I had money I promise and I swear I won't buy them anything really expensive and I've never even bought gifts before, but I just, well I like them as friends and I don't want them to know I'm well, broke and orphaned. I feel horrible asking for even more favors since you've already done so much, but I just can't think of what else to do."
Dumbledore smiled, "Of course, it's understandable and it is customary to give friends gifts. I will be happy to give you a small allowance for gifts and for the future as well. I'm sure it should be no problem seeing as you haven't requested any money all term. I did see you plan to stay at the castle during the holidays, perhaps while you are here I can arrange for someone to bring you to Diagon Alley for shopping."
"Really sir? Wow that would be fantastic, thank you sir."
"Of course, I would also hate to see you lose Mr. Potter as a friend. Now is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Not at all sir, thank you," she said standing. Just before opening the door she turned around, "Sir, if you could have anything for Christmas what would it be?"
Dumbledore regarded her over his glasses, "One can never have enough socks."
Lexie grinned, "Thank you sir and have a nice evening."
"Goodnight Lexie" he said as she left.
Once the door had closed he chuckled to himself, she certainly was one of a kind, it was such a shame she had been through so much.