A/N: Thanks to all those who reviewed or followed this story, this is the best motivation one can get. This chapter is on the shorter side, but it's a very important one for the story. Hope you enjoy and next chapter will be longer.
Chapter 6 – Good Prospects
Diagon Alley was dark and only a few peoples hurried along the street when Hermione and Ginny apparated close to the Leaky Cauldron. A few enchanted oil lamps illuminated the area, but the shadows they cast looked creepy and obscure. Hermione already regretted coming. Ginny however seemed perfectly fine and grinned in her usual Weasley manner. "Don't worry", she said and put one hand on Hermione's shoulder. "It looks a little scary, right? But it's as safe as during daytime and we're not in Knockturn Alley after all."
Hermione relaxed a little and it was more thanks Ginny's touch than to her words. "Okay alright, so where do we have to go from here?", Hermione asked while straightening her posture.
"This way", Ginny answered and led Hermione past Quality Quidditch Supplies, Flourish & Blott's and Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. They crossed the street and headed for a small one-story building right at the intersection leading to Knockturn Alley. The shop did not have any windows and the door was made of dark wood, so nobody could see what was going on inside. A sign showing the word 'OPEN' was dangling from the door. It seemed to sway slightly even though no wind was blowing.
"You're sure this is the right place?", Hermione asked doubtfully.
"Of course I'm sure", Ginny said, but the grin on her face had diminished a little.
The redhead raised her fist and knocked on the door lightly.
"Come in", a voice from inside called. It unmistakably belonged to Professor Trelawney. Ginny opened the door and the two women entered the shop.
It felt like stepping into another world, strange but familiar at the same time. Familiar, because the room had lots of similarities with their old divination classroom. Strange, because it was not like anything Hermione usually saw in her everyday life. Long purple-colored curtains hung from the ceiling to the floor on every wall. Cushions and armchairs were everywhere. In between dreamcatchers, pictures of Chinese characters and astrology charts. A thick purple carpet covered the floor and it rendered their steps inaudible. A set of incense sticks gave off a smell of orange zest and lavender. A weird combination but not unpleasant, Hermione thought. In the middle of the room stood a small round table with a voluminous crystal ball on it. White and grey swirls were moving inside of it. Behind the sphere, on a wide green armchair, similar to the one in Hermione's office, sat Professor Sybille Trelawney, who was staring at them in expectation.
She gestured Hermione and Ginny to sit down on the two chairs opposite to her. "I knew you two would come, so I prepared two chairs", the Professor said in her usual esoteric voice.
Hermione wrinkled her nose, but decided not to say anything yet. The girls sat down on the chairs, only the table holding the crystal ball separating them from Professor Trelawney.
"Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley", Trelawney said and looked at them intently. She still wore the same glasses, which made her look like a giant insect. At every motion, dozens of chains and beads around her arms and neck gave off little jingling noises. "It has been some time", their old teacher continued. "I hope you have been well."
"Aren't you supposed to know that already?", Hermione said, raising one eyebrow.
"You're still full of doubt and distrust I see, Miss Granger. Predicting the future – divination – is not something that works on my command alone. Someone has to ask for advice, so that the full power of divination can come upon me. Seeing you have found me here, you clearly are in a situation where you need advice, am I right? Advice that cannot be found in books, but that only the heavens can let you know." Professor Trelawney's eyes wandered towards the ceiling as she said that.
"Exactly", Ginny said before Hermione could say anything that would offend the teacher. Hermione leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "Are you not teaching in Hogwarts anymore?", she asked. Professor McGonagall could have kicked her out, she thought. It might be possible since Professor McGonagall too, was not exactly fond of divination. Still, some of the fortune teller's predictions had been true.
"I am still teaching at Hogwarts", Professor Trelawney replied. "But only as a side job. This is my main occupation now, because those who come to ask me for advice know how to appreciate my abilities." Professor Trelawney shifted in her chair and leaned forwards to muster the young woman intensely.
"So?", she said stressing the 'o' more than necessary. "What do you want to know?"
"We want to ask something about Hermione's future", Ginny explained. "We-"
But Professor Trelawney silenced her with a hand gesture and turned her head towards Hermione. The scent coming from the incense sticks made Hermione feel a little dizzy, and it seemed like not only one but two pairs of eyes were staring at her from behind the glasses.
"The request", Professor Trelawney said, "has to be made by the client herself. Tell me what you desire to know, Miss Hermione Jean Granger".
Hermione gulped nervously. How the hell did the teacher know her middle name?
"Uhm…well, I think my life right now might not be the happiest one, but I am also not quite sure how I can change it", Hermione explained reluctantly. "I feel like there is something I should be doing, but I am not sure what this 'something' is. So, my question for you is…" Hermione clenched her fists into the fabric of her cloak and looked up at the teacher, "What should I do?"
Hermione and Professor Trelawny stared at each other for a few seconds, neither of them blinking even once. The fortuneteller's face did not show any expression at first, but then, ever so slowly, a crease began to appear on her forehead.
"You picked a question whose answer is not easy to predict", Professor Trelawney finally said as she leaned back in her armchair. "Indeed, it is one of the most difficult questions one can ask."
"So, you're saying you cannot help me?", Hermione eyed the Professor suspiciously. Of course, predictions and fortunetelling were nothing but fraud. She should have known better than to come here.
But Professor Trelawney only continued staring at her blankly. "I said it is difficult, but I never said it is impossible. Let me see what I can do for you."
After she said those words, the teacher set up straight and closed her eyes. When she did not open them after what seemed to be almost a minute, Hermione and Ginny exchanged a questioning look. Hermione wondered if she should do or say something, but finally the professor opened her eyes again and laid both her hands on the crystal ball. For a few moments, nothing happened. Then, the color of the shadows swirling inside changed to orange and red and shades of light brown. They were moving faster and faster. Professor Trelawney had closed her eyes again. Her hands were shaking and her features were distorted as if she was fighting against a power coming from inside her. Or maybe from inside the crystal ball?
The young women were surprised and a little scared, but they could not avert their eyes from the strange sight. Professor Trelawney's whole body was shaking now and noises that sounded like she was tortured by the Cruciatus curse, only way more muffled, came from her mouth.
And then she collapsed over the crystal ball, not moving anymore. Just when Hermione was about to jump up and check on the teacher, Trelawney suddenly straightened her posture and looked directly at Hermione. She opened her mouth and said: "You will find the way". Her voice was deep and vibrated in the air. It felt as if it was not only coming from her mouth but also from inside of Hermione. It rose to the air like mist, almost visible. Hermione thought like she could touch it. She had never heard a voice like that before.
"But!", the voice became louder. "A lonely soul will not find the way by itself. Someone is needed to guide the soul and the soul itself has to find that person, recognize it by the sign. Find the person and you find the way. Miss the person and you lose the way forever."
At soon as she spoke the last word, Professor Trelawney fell back into the armchair, looking extremely exhausted. "I hope, my prediction was satisfactory enough for you, Miss Granger?", she asked with her voice back to usual.
But Hermione did not answer. Her eyes were wide open, because she could not believe what she had just witnessed. Had she seen a real prediction? Was this what it was supposed to look like? It did not seem like a fraud at all, it had been too convincing.
She noticed Ginny shifting a little in her chair, which brought her back into reality. "Uhm, I-I think so, yes," she stuttered. "But what did you mean by 'recognize the person by the sign'? What is the 'sign'?"
"The prediction's interpretation has to be made by the client herself. Unfortunately, I cannot assist you with that", Professor Trelawny said. "Any more wishes? How about you?", she eyed Ginny expectantly.
Ginny seemed a little taken aback, apparently still stunned by what she had just seen. "Uhm, I-I uhm…let me think", she stumbled. "Okay, could you predict my chances to become Quidditch player of the year?" She blushed a little and Hermione would have laughed at the question, but she was too occupied with thinking about the prediction she had just heard.
"Of course, this should't be too difficult", Professor Trelawney said and put her hands on the crystal ball once more. This time she did not shake and seemed just fine. Her voice, too, was not any different from usual as she said: "You can become what you desire, my girl, but be aware of the enemy. Learn to cope with them if you want to reach your goal."
Ginny nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Professor Trelawney. We should go and think about what you told us."
All three of them got up and walked towards the door. Hermione still felt a little dizzy from all the fume in the room. Hermione and Ginny paid one Galleon, ten Sickles and one Knut each, said goodbye and left the shop.
Stepping out into the cold December night brought Hermione back to her senses. She looked at Ginny, who was standing right next to her. Even in the dark she looked pretty. "Do you really think we can believe all that?", Hermione asked doubtfully.
Ginny did not answer right away. She just looked at Hermione and with every breath white mist escaped from her mouth and nose.
"I think you can believe her words", she finally said. "It seemed really convincing, didn't it? And she spoke in a similar voice to Harry once…I'm not so sure about the prediction I got, though. It wasn't spectacular at all, was it?" She shrugged and began walking into Diagon Alley. They seemed to be the only ones around now, which, under normal circumstances, would have scared Hermione a little, but having Ginny by her side, she felt safe and secure. Why had that never worked with Harry or Ron? She wondered why it never had worked when she was with Harry or even Ron.
"Yeah, she seemed so uhm…normal when she did yours, right? But maybe it's because the question was easier? I really don't know. All this prediction and seeing the future stuff…" Hermione sighed. Would it really help her? She did not even understand what the prediction was supposed to mean. If she decided to believe it, she could do some research of course, but would it be worth it?
"Let's go home for today", Ginny said. "Get some sleep and think about it tomorrow, okay?"
Hermione nodded. Ginny was right. She had to work tomorrow and Ginny probably had Quidditch training. She felt something cringe inside of her as she thought about work and Pansy.
The two women walked a few more dozens of feet in silence. Neither of them wanted to say goodbye, although it was already midnight.
"Well", Ginny said hesitantly as she slowed her steps. "Let's meet sometime soon." She smiled at Hermione, the simple action making the latter forget about her worries for a second. How strange.
"Ginny, thank you so much for today…for everything." Hermione looked right back into the redheads eyes, trying to convey her gratitude. "Let's meet again soon. Maybe you can help me with interpreting the prediction and I'll help you with yours. I'll send you an owl". She reached for Ginny's hand and squeezed it lightly. Ginny seemed a little surprised at the touch, but then a smile spread over her face.
"Okay, let's do that. Keep me updated about everything."
Hermione nodded and let go of the other woman's hand.
"See you soon", Ginny said and disapparated.
"See you soon", Hermione replied, but Ginny was already gone. She stood alone in the dark for a couple of moments.
"I already miss you", she whispered before she disapparated as well.