Chapter Eleven - Always

"We could make a run for it," Mikey hinted. He didn't sound so sure though. Skye was pretty sure that if Tabitha returned to find them missing from their little nest that they'd made in the corridor, they would feel her wrath for days. Apparently, today was the day that all would become clear. They were putting Skye's abilities to the test.

"Just humour her would you. She'll let it go soon enough," Skye wasn't exactly concerned.

"But what if you start predicting everyone's future? You'll be like that crazy Divination teacher everyone talks about. Apparently, she predicts one student's death each year," he shuddered.

Skye scoffed, "I doubt it. You read that book. Real seers are incredibly rare and the future is… complex."

"Well, this is cosy!" A bright and cheery voice emerged from the darkness of the corridor.

"A little too cosy…" George raised his eyebrows expectantly at the two lounged on the floor, backs pressed against the wall.

"What are you two up to? Actually, don't tell me. Should we clear the corridor?" Mikey was already preparing to flee it seemed. Wise boy.

"We are here upon request by our favourite little Tabby cat," Fred explained.

"But why…" Skye didn't get a chance to finish her sentence.

"I suppose you're wondering why I gathered you riff-raff today," Tabitha beamed. She appeared to be holding a picnic basket.

"For a picnic?" Fred eyed the basket.

"I do love picnics!" George settled down on the blanket thrilled at the prospect.

"No." She shot the boys down. "We're here to test the prophetic abilities of my friend here. Now I've got a crystal ball, some tea from the kitchens, these Divination cards, and I borrowed some standard books from my brother."

As she listed her goods they appeared from the basket. Skye suspected most things had come from the Divination classroom. She guessed Tabitha didn't exactly ask for permission for these things though. She glanced at the book titles, Unfogging the Future and The Dream Oracle. Lovely.

"Prophetic abilities?" Fred raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, yes, Skye might be a seer or something, so I wrote to my old naming Seer and she said we should test it, you know? Interpret some tea or dreams or something," she explained.

"Your family still use a naming Seer? My god, are you ancient?" Fred scoffed. A glance between Skye and Mikey confirmed they were on the same page. They had no idea what was going on.

"I think you might have missed the part where Tabitha said we might be in the presence of a great Seer, Freddie," he regarded Skye with interest. In response, she found great interest in the floor. Tabitha seemed to be busy pouring everyone a cup of tea.

"Drink," she ordered as she began to push cups into everyone's hands.

"Not that this isn't nice and all, but couldn't you have done this without us?" Fred inquired.

"You're the guinea pigs. Skye might know us too much, you know? Obviously, I'm destined for greatness. My future is obvious. You two, well, who knows? Also I wanted to know how you knew Filch was coming that night," Tabitha tilted her head.

The twins reaction was obvious. They glanced at each other at the corner of their eye and began acting shifty. Not suspicious at all. Fred began to drain his cup and shoved it into Skye's hand. His expression was a challenge, let's see what you can do, oh great Seer. Tabitha looked at her expectantly. Skye glared around her. Eventually her eyes sank to Fred's cup and thought about the question at hand: How had they known Filch was there that night. Honestly, it looked like loose tea leaves at the bottom of a cup.

"Umm… at a guess? It looks like a star," she guessed hesitantly. Tabitha scanned the pages of Unfogging the Future.

"There are about 50 different stars on this page." She turned the book around for Skye to see. "Does it look like any of these?"

Skye went with her best bet. Tabitha began to read aloud, "great distances, something that is unobtainable, a journey, magic, a messenger, hope, and guidance. So what does that mean, Skye?"

Skye glared into the cup looking for answers. She sighed, "I don't know. It could be any of those. Magic, maybe?"

George laughed, "Well you're not wrong. But I'm pretty sure magic could be the answer to most questions around here."

"Well, why don't you try reading the bloody leaves, then?" She huffed.

"Maybe we should look at something else? What about your dreams?" Tabitha encouraged her to go on.

"Tabitha, last night I dreamt that a bunch of foxes were running around Hogwarts to go see a Quidditch match. There was an entire zoo in the stands for crying out loud. I don't think that's going to be listed in The Dream Oracle, do you?"

"I think that's our cue to leave," Fred said as he began brushing himself off as he stood. Skye wished she could leave just as easily.

"Come on, Tabitha. I can't just force it, you know? Look, if I get anymore feelings or something I'll let you know," Skye promised with a pat on her friend's back.

Unfortunately, Skye didn't believe that things were finished. She could see that from the glances of sympathy she got from the three boys as Tabitha continued to seethe in her anger.

XxX

Skye sat in a pit of gloom, her mood reflected by the bleak dungeon where they brewed potions. Usually, she quite enjoyed Potions, despite the fact that Snape merely deemed her work passable, but by now she realised that was the best she was going to get as a Gryffindor. Today, she would be lucky if she walked out of the class boil-free. Snape had warned them all that if someone didn't succeed in making the Cure for Boils potion there would be no way to cure them all of the inevitability of their boil covered faces.

"Do you want me to go get your porcupine quills, Skye? Don't leave your potion alone for one minute."

Currently, their fellow Gryffindors had swarmed Skye, much to her embarrassment, taking turns to guard the potion that was the best chance of curing them of boils. However, all Skye could focus on was her best friend, sat beside her in brooding silence.

"Tabitha, have you added the slugs yet? It's just…" Skye's whisper trailed off as Tabitha scraped her chair back and headed towards the store cupboard.

Skye's eyes blinked rapidly, trying to clear her blurry vision. Wiping her eyes, she took a deep breath carrying out the final steps of her potion. As wafts of pink smoke rose from her cauldron, Snape called the class to order.

"Since you have all been so painfully slow at making such a simple potion we only have time to try a few." Snape's eyes swept the room assessing the smoke coming from each cauldron. "Hart, test your potion."

Skye took a deep intake of breath. Tabitha's potion was currently frothing with a red smoke rising from it. However, knowing Tabitha she took it as a challenge and scooped up the gloopy liquid into a flask. Staring Snape directly in the eye, she motioned 'cheers' to the class and went to down the potion.

"No!" Skye cried.

Before realising it Skye was off her seat, knocking the potion from Tabitha's hands. Unfortunately, it now smothered her own hands. Skye gasped as her hands began to sting, erupting in a severe case of boils. She grimaced as the Slytherins began to snigger the more her hands puffed up.

"How noble," Snape sneered. "Miss Knight obviously realised how pitiful your potion was, Hart. Unfortunately, it seems we have run out of time to test any other potions further. Class dismissed."

Skye tried to maneuver her pudgy hands to scoop up some of her potion, wincing as the boils spewed green sludge as they burst from the effort. Tabitha sighed, taking over to scoop up the potion.

"What do you think you're doing?" Questioned Snape. "I said class dismissed."

With a wave of his wand, Skye's cauldron cleared of her potion. Sniffling, she turned to clear up her potions equipment, her eyes stinging as much as her hands, before darting out the door in the hope to beat the crowds. Behind she could hear Tabitha yelling after her amongst the complaints of people she was pushing through.

Ahead, students filed from their classrooms, causing Skye to halt as she tried to desperately tug down her sleeves in the hope to cover her hands. Finally, Tabitha caught up to her, just in time to witness the tears streaming down her face. With a look of sympathy, her eyes darted around the corridor, rested on a broom closet, and motioned for Skye to follow. In the dark and dusty confines of the closet, Skye began to sob.

"Shh, shh. It's ok. Just drink this." Cooed Tabitha.

From her pocket came a vial of potion, similar to what Skye's had looked like.

"W-where did you…?" Sniffed Skye.

"It was Snape's demonstration potion. I swiped some halfway through class. I was going to sell it. You know how those third years get about their ache. Anyway, take it quick." Encouraged Tabitha.

Skye clasped the potion between her two hands and took a swig. The result was immediate, her boils clearing and the swelling slowly fading away. With a glowing smile, she embraced Tabitha, never before so thankful for her thieving ways.

"Look, I was an idiot. I just got too excited about the whole thing and I'm sorry for acting like a complete and total troll. Forgive me?" Tabitha's expression was a miss of remorse and hope, as she clasped Skye's now boil-free hands.

"Always," Skye smiled.