Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count - 357
Just Following Orders
Sybill sat at her desk, hunched over her books as she always was. Her mother would be expecting her to recite the entire chapter by the end of the week, and woe betide her if she couldn't.
Her mother was very stern, and Sybill hated to disappoint her.
Which she did. Often.
Sybill had been a disappointment since she was born, since her mother realised she didn't have her great-great-grandmother's sight. Once that realisation had been made, her mother had dropped all pretence of having any maternal instincts.
Now she demanded that Sybill study, and study and study, because if she didn't have natural sight, then she would learn to fake it.
…
"Mother, they're horrible," Sybill sobbed, her first night home from Hogwarts. "They tease me, they're mean to me all the time, because of how weird I am. Why can't I just be normal?"
"You are a Trelawney," he mother snapped, glaring down at her. "Get up off the floor, you mess. Sort yourself out, immediately. I will not have you behaving as such, no wonder the other children call you names!"
"It's because I'm different," Sybill replied sullenly, trying to stem her tears as she wiped her face. "It's because I'm always studying my divination books."
Her mother tutted. "You're being selfish, Sybill. Now, explain to me, in detail, the last book I sent to you."
…
"Danger's coming," Sybill whispered, her eyes focused on the wall. "Danger's coming for you. Within the year… you life will be no more."
Her mother stared at her for a long moment. "You almost made me believe that one. Keep practising. You must be perfect."
…
Little did her mother know that that prediction would be the first of Sybill's to come true.
When Sybill looked into the mirror, checking her appearance for the funeral, she smiled to herself. Her mother had always told her to ensure that people would believe her predictions; that it would bring glory back to the family name.
Sybill had only been following orders when she mixed the deadly potion into her mum's evening drink. Surely her mother was proud of her.
Written for;
Character Appreciation - 4. Studying
Disney - C3. Bagheera - A stern character
Leafpile - Crying
Back To School - Sybill Trelawney