An Overcast Evening, Early Spring of 1980
A single drop of rain fell upon a sign belonging to a candy shop in the quiet village of Hogsmeade. The sound of a bell chimed, and an old wizard exited the shop, carrying a hefty bag of sweets. He was wearing magnificent robes of a periwinkle blue that glimmered despite the sunless sky. Silver in color, his lengthy beard was tied with a white-gold chain adorned with sapphire gems. Having since traveled down the sign, the drop of rain fell atop his pointed hat. Letting out a hearty chuckle, he withdrew his wand, conjuring an umbrella. At that very moment, the rain began to pour in a heavy shower, pattering against his portable shelter. Strolling down the cobbled road, he began humming a tune that was inaudible over the sounds of the downpour.
After passing by welcoming shops and homey residentials, the old wizard stopped in front of a dismal towering inn located at the end of the street. The building's wood was dark and weathered with tendrils of wild ivy clawing up the sides. Its structure was crooked, likely due to wet rot and a sign was out front that read Hog's Head Inn. Under the text was a gruesome depiction of a severed swine's head. The old wizard lowered his umbrella and opened the door.
The Inn was warmer than outside but only just. More than a few windows had been broken and replaced with dirty rags that were crudely stitched together. With every gust of the wind, the makeshift windows swelled, giving the air of being inside some great hibernating beast. The fire looked dreadful, and the patrons even more so. They huddled around the pathetic fire, drinks sloshing onto the ground as they shivered. Someone or something was wailing, or maybe it was just the wind.
The barkeep was busy wiping down a grimy wooden countertop, and like the inn, he had seen better days. Bags were under his eyes of the deepest purple, and a scar ran jagged from his hairline to upper lip. Grumbling in bare acknowledgment as the visitor swept by, he noticed a single, brightly-wrapped sweet in the old wizard's wake, placed at the far corner of the counter. The man's grizzled lip twitched upward for a scant moment, then hardened as he returned to his cleaning.
The old wizard glided down a dimly lit hallway, halting in front of a shabby wooden door. He performed an intricate knock, and there was scrambling from inside. A young woman appeared opposite the entrance, her hair a mess of curls and frizz held up with a tribal scarf. She looked at him through thick rounded glasses that magnified her eyes, giving her the impression of a startled owl.
"Albus Dumbledore, I sensed your presence; come in and have a seat," she gestured inside, causing the many beads she was wearing to clink lightly.
The old wizard walked in, choosing a tasseled floor pillow situated at a kotatsu bearing a large crystal ball. Closing the door just as hurriedly as she'd opened it, the scrawny woman took a seat opposite him. He had a look around. It was apparent that she had been living in this space for some time. Towers of books littered the room relating to green witchcraft, paganism, and divination. Plants hung from the ceiling, crowded on tables, and the larger ones occupied the floor. The room smelled of white sage as several candles burned in unison; it was easy to become overwhelmed in the chaos.
He placed his bag of candies on the table, "Would you care for a sweet, Ms. Trelawney?"
She waved her hand like she was trying to swat a fly, "No, thank you, headmaster, I find that sustenance before a reading can dull the senses, and please, call me Sybill..."
Her eyes suddenly glazed over as she began to stare off into the distance.
Waiting patiently for her to return to the present, Albus unwrapped a sweet, popping the straw-colored candy into his mouth. A freezing cold draft suddenly permeated the air. A clear sign that her room was not exempt from the many broken windows of Hog's Head Inn. The wisp of a woman shivered, becoming cognizant again, focusing her gaze on the headmaster once more.
"I'm ready whenever you are," Albus offered, his eyes showing polite interest.
Sybill placed her bony hands onto the crystal ball in front of her, suddenly becoming animate.
"I see an epic love headed your way..."
Her tone was overly dramatic as she glanced in his direction, observing his response. Albus remained silent, however. She hunched over, peering further into the ball and continued.
"A true beauty full of divine feminine energy to rival that of Aphrodite herself!"
Protruding eyes gazed at him from over the crystal. Still, he remained expressionless.
The confidence in her voice faded, "I... I can see no more; my vision has clouded."
Drawing her wand, she conjured a tea set, offering to pour him a glass.
"No, thank you, dear Sybill. It seems as if I have other business to attend to. As delightful as this was, I don't believe I can offer you the position of divinations professor at this time. I had hoped with your lineage..." he trailed off, "But alas, the art can skip many generations..."
The woman looked devastated, "Please, headmaster, shall we try a tea reading? Or maybe, a palm reading? Oh... perhaps you would like some crystal healing? If you were to place Rose Quartz on your—"
Albus politely raised his hand to stop her before she could continue, "Thank you again for the offer; you were an excellent student of ours. Still, I can't in good faith continue to offer divination classes at my school without a proper teacher," he stood up to leave.
"Wait!" she called out.
Sitting knees to chest on the floor, she began to slowly rock herself. Cautiously, he stepped towards her, arm outstretched... suddenly, her head snapped up, tilting at a disturbing angle; only the whites of her eyes were visible. Albus quickly withdrew his hand out of shock and stumbled backward. The wind gave a loud howl, and every candle in the room blew out. Only one light source was prominent in the room; the crystal ball, painting the whole scene a ghostly blue. The woman's mouth opened wide, and she went very still. Erupting from her was a voice, eerie in pitch, like nails on a chalkboard, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born as the seventh month dies... A boy, born to those who have thrice defied him..."
Suddenly, a commotion sounded from outside.
"STUPEFY!" a man yelled.
A bright light flashed, and a tapestry fell, revealing an open window. Albus ran to it, leaning out. Racing into view was a man wielding a wand emanating a white glow.
"Aberforth! What happened?" he shouted frantically.
The man answered him, sounding exasperated, "It was Snape, Albus, he was listening through the window, he heard everything, I tried to stun him, but I missed and hit the bloody curtain, he ran off."
Albus turned to check on Sybill and slightly jumped, realizing she was just behind him, her bulging insect eyes full of concern. It seemed like she was back to normal with no recollection of what had transpired.
"Snape, was it? Come to pick up tips on how to handle an interview, I suppose," She smiled meekly, "about that job..."
Dumbledore nodded, "Mhm, yes... well I've had time to think it over, and I have decided that you may indeed come to teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; congratulations on your new position."
He said all this very quickly and extended his hand to shake hers. The woman stepped forward and fell to the ground, out cold. From exhaustion or surprise, it was unclear.
Albus dropped his hand, "Right," he muttered, then called out, "Aberforth!".
The man came to the window.
"Do me a favor and watch over her till she wakes up. Tell her that the position includes room and board, and she's to move in immediately. Accompany her to the castle, and I'll send someone out for her things."
Aberforth glared at him, "Sure, as if I don't have a bar to run."
Albus was on his way to the door when he passed the crystal ball; the inside was swirling with blue smoke. He looked down at Sybill, still motionless, and pocketed it.
July 31st, 1980
A healthy baby girl was born to a young couple in Hampstead, London. A copy of William Shakespeare's, The Winter's Tale was on their bedside table.