A/N: Prompts for Chap3: tea, attention, danger;

Words: 881

~xxx~

Part 3:

Sybill Trelawney

Sybill Trelawney was a very special case of her own... I was never quite sure what to think about her. Generally I was convinced, this witch was a fraud.

When I first met her it was because I considered hiring her as teacher for Divination. I talked to her, asked her a couple of questions and soon found out that she hasn't had the talent she claimed to possess. A famous clairvoyant in her ancestry had tempted me into this meeting, but I got disappointed. The woman before me had nothing of a true clairvoyant and so I got up, ready to leave when I heard the meaningful sentences she spoke. Afterwards I was confused at first when she appeared oblivious to her own words...

The prophecy Lord Voldemort would so desperately seek for, even many years after it was told came from Sybill's lips and in an attempt to keep her and the prophecy safe I hired her however. A certain spy had been in the same pub and heard the first few words. I was worried Sybill's life could be in danger...

From then on Professor Trelawney spent her time in Hogwarts teaching the students clichés and, yes, most of the time pure nonsense. I endured it. And secretly I hoped she would accidentally teach them something useful. I should have known better though. Every year one of the heads of houses came to me complaining about Sybill frightening one of their children with the prophecy of their all too soon painful death. Once I tried to talk her into letting go of these ridiculous statements, but she was such a stressful, alien person... eventually I gave in and accepted her strange methods.

My personal likes and dislikes never interfered with me being the headmaster of Hogwarts. I stood behind my teachers as I stood behind my students, and I gave my best to not put anyone before another. Sybill Trelawney was to stay and no one ever dared to question my judgement.

When Professor Umbridge came to Hogwarts and expelled her everyone could see she was truly heartbroken. Desperately she clung to Minerva's sleeve, seeking help and a halt. I was furious. Yes, Sybill Trelawney was no good teacher; yes, she even spoiled some of the young naive girls, who would have their eyes forced open many years later to find it was all in vain; and yes, Sybill often drank a little too much. Just as often I would talk to her, try to get to her and free her from the alcohol, just unfortunately she wouldn't listen to anyone about this topic. And still, I once swore to protect her, to give her shelter – I wasn't about to forget my promise! When I walked through the door coming to her rescue I saw the relief and gratefulness on her features. I couldn't prevent her from losing her position as a Divination teacher, but I kept her in the castle whether Dolores Umbridge would approve my decision or not...

When I hired Firenze, who happened to be a quite good teacher for her subject she was, to put it elegantly, upset. I never really managed to convince her, that I didn't intend to replace her. However Sybill finally accepted the new situation. I couldn't blame her for her first reaction, she was just scared. Hogwarts was her home and the only place she ever really belonged to.

What nobody ever knew was that sometimes I would invite her to join me in my office. We then drank a cup of tea, for I would never allow her to drink her cherry in my presence. I knew that she clung to it and I couldn't keep her from drinking it, but I also thought that I must not accept her doing it in my office.

During those little 'meetings' we talked a lot, about the school, the situation in general and most important her life. She was a real Drama Queen that much was for sure. And I along with the other teachers mainly got annoyed with her behaviour. But when she sat across me, looking through her thick glasses into the cup in her hands and telling her stories, more for herself than for me I found she was very lonely. Her urge to always be the centre of attention originated in the human need for company... therefore I felt sorry for her, though I felt, she tended to carry everything to excess. However I tried to be a friend to her – and I think in some way I succeeded. I just wished she would have found herself someone to rely on, to share all her hopes, fears, laughs and thoughts with. I knew she kept many things from me and I never blamed her for it. There are some things you don't want to discuss with an old, silly man like myself when you're a rather young, special female...

She was a sparkling, alien woman, who would leave a distinctive impression – just that it was a very odd impression... she lied a lot, overacted, dramatised and was dreaded by almost everyone except for the few girls who clung to her every word.

Sybill Trelawney was a vagabond; a vagabond who always wanted to be a queen...