CHAPTER ONE: BEFORE THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

The Great Fortune Tellers of the Century by Aisha Shafiq

Divination is one of the most mysterious and imprecise branches of magic, and its practitioners are difficult to find. Only women possess the gift of predicting the future; it is, of course, usually inherited through bloodlines. There are families whose women were powerful seers, but these lines have died out as they lost the blood purity that once defined them.

A pure-blood witch may have more or less magical power than a half-blood or a witch of Muggle origin, but it is widely believed that only a pure-blood can inherit the Inner Eye and master it completely. How this inheritance system functions remains a complete mystery. The gift is passed exclusively through the paternal line, yet it is the witches who manifest it.

The Trelawneys are a prime example. Their women were renowned psychics, but the last confirmed seer was born many years before the events described in this book. Cassandra Helena, the last great psychic of this century born into the Trelawney family, could predict the future from childhood. She married a cousin, also of the Trelawney family, but had only sons. Of those sons, only one had children, and his were with a Muggle-born woman. Since then, the gift of divination has become extinct in that line.

The Weasleys are another case. Their women have always possessed the gift, and theirs was considered the most powerful of all. They could divine the future through any method, and some could even perceive the past. However, for a couple of generations, no female children have been born into the family, and it remains unknown whether the next Weasley girl will possess the Inner Eye.

Most women with the Inner Eye never married; most men found the burden of the gift too heavy. Those who did marry usually chose spouses within their own families to preserve the strength of the gift. For many women, the knowledge of their own and their loved ones' futures was too much to bear, and they chose a solitary life to avoid being tormented by the fates of their children and husbands.

o-o-o-o

The Weasley family had never forgotten the power their women usually inherited, even if the rest of the wizarding world seemed to have. Despite their lineage's impoverishment, the Weasleys still possessed certain family heirlooms: jewelry passed down to unmarried daughters and several unique books on divination written by the family's women to guide their descendants in the art.

Ginevra Molly Weasley was born on August 11, 1981, the first female born into the family in seven generations (over 200 years). Her birth was both a surprise and a great joy for her parents. Arthur Weasley had never expected a daughter, a child of his own flesh and blood; he had assumed, like many others, that his family was cursed and incapable of producing witches. Molly Weasley, née Prewett, was more delighted than surprised; it had always been her deepest hope to have a daughter, although she had reluctantly accepted, upon marrying her husband, that she might never have one.

They were both amazed, and of the newborn's six siblings, only the youngest was initially reluctant towards her, and that only out of childish jealousy. Despite the presence of her other older siblings, she quickly became the family's favorite baby.

Bill, the eldest, only knew her for a little less than a month before leaving for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that year. However, upon his return at Christmas and during subsequent holidays, he was always eager to care for and play with his sister, for whom he had great affection. It was through the summers they spent together and the photographs their parents sent him that he truly came to know and love her.

Charlie spent two full years watching over his baby sister. As the eldest son at home, he was primarily responsible for helping his mother with household chores, which included caring for his sister; he was already nine years old, after all. Having many younger siblings, he had long since overcome any jealousy regarding his parents' attention, so the focus on the new baby did not bother him; after all, he had never been the spoiled one.

Percy was five years old when his parents brought a new baby into their home. In his short life, he had already seen three babies, so he wasn't particularly interested—not at first—until he noticed that this baby was different. He couldn't remember his mother being so careful with any of the others. Furthermore, after his mother gave him a speech about how it was an older brother's responsibility to keep his younger sister safe, he began to care for her more closely. In later years, those who knew Percival Ignatius Weasley were surprised to learn that this cold and arrogant man adored and protected his sister so much, the same girl he had played with constantly as a child. After all, for six years he was the only one of his brothers to take an active role in her life; he was the one who taught her to read and who read her the stories their mother bought; he was the one who ensured she learned to behave at the table and in public; it was his hand she held when they left the house; and it was to his bedroom that she ran when she had nightmares.

Fred and George were four years old when the new baby arrived. Babies were annoying; they cried all day, but at least this one didn't follow them around constantly like their little brother. The first time they realized their sister was different was when they tried to play an innocent prank on her (they had simply taken some old stones from their mother's watch and placed them in a circle around Ginny). When their mother discovered them, they had never seen—or heard—her scream so loudly, not even when they pinched Ron to make him cry; they had never heard her scream like that, not even a year later when they turned Ron's teddy bear into a spider. She was their sister, and not simply because she was a child, she was special to them. However, they didn't truly take her into account until she grew up and they realized she could be fun and useful when they were making jokes.

Ron was just over a year old when his sister was born; in later years, he could never remember it, but it was then that the irritation he would always feel toward her began. He loved her, of course; she was his sister, after all. But it wasn't fair; she was special simply for being born a girl, while he never stood out in anything with so many male siblings doing everything first. Despite everything, he was the one who gave her the nickname by which everyone would know her until she started using her full name: he thought "Ginny" sounded better than "Ginevra."

Little Ginny grew up at the Burrow surrounded by family affection and warmth, with her parents caring for her and her older brothers protecting her. She had a happy childhood, albeit with some confusing moments that upset her, such as when she was three years old and her mother yelled at and scolded her, crying because she said she was a lady in her court. She sometimes perceived things that her family couldn't, from pleasant premonitions, like the feeling she was about to receive a gift, to distressing ones, like the night she cried in Percy's bed, with her parents repeatedly coming to comfort her, the day before her beloved kitten drowned in the pond after accidentally falling in.

Ginny developed a habit of sleeping with someone else in her bed. She hated being alone; it was her greatest fear. Her most disturbing visions occurred when she was alone. When she slept with someone, her dreams were positive, good, and beautiful. This pattern would continue into the future; this particular instance was the first time she dreamed of a girl so similar to herself that she could have been her twin, except for her appearance: taller, with even paler skin, and no freckles. Her clear skin was punctuated by blue, almond-shaped eyes, a long, straight nose, and vibrant red hair, so bright it seemed artificial, yet so beautiful it could only be natural. She also dreamed of other children playing together under the girl's protective gaze, the girl growing older with each dream until she became a beautiful young woman.

Another of her recurring dreams involved being in a grand court, as if she were a princess or queen, where everyone revered her, or dreaming of nights that made her blush with embarrassment. She never dared tell her mother about these more intimate dreams; something told her that her mother wouldn't be as pleased to hear about them as she was about the dreams of children playing and laughing under Ginny's protective gaze.

The only one in her family who didn't mind sharing his bed with a restless, kicking Ginny was Percy, but the night of August 31, 1987, was the last time he would do so for ten long months. She clung to her older brother as if her life depended on it that last night with him.

o-o-o-o

For as long as Ginny could remember, her parents had always believed her when she told them she sensed something was going to happen. Of her brothers, only Ron teased her when, according to him, she "started her show," but even he listened when she warned him about something.

That year, the train would take away her greatest comfort. Percy was leaving for his first year at Hogwarts. Ginny was devastated by the prospect of her beloved older brother's absence; she wouldn't see him for months. When nightmares came at night, she would have no one to turn to.

The next day, when Bill, Charlie, and Percy left, she cried while running after the train. She then cried in her mother's arms and later in her bed, feeling utterly alone and terrified.

The visions, often indistinguishable from nightmares, returned. First, she sought refuge with Ron, who almost pushed her out of his room the first night, annoyed by her screams that kept him awake. She then went to her parents' bed.

On the fourth day of her attempts to sleep with them, her mother spoke to her, telling her she was a big girl now and couldn't sleep with her parents all the time. She needed to be brave, her mother said, and her family would never let anything bad happen to her. It was forbidden for her to sleep anywhere but her own bed from then on. All Molly Weasley accomplished with this speech was to ensure that her daughter would never again dare seek comfort in her mother's arms.

Ginny endured a couple of nights alone, despite the fear and terror that gripped her. Although only six years old, she was too proud to seek comfort from the brother who had unceremoniously evicted her from his room or from the mother who dismissed her fears as childish and silly. That night, she had such a horrific nightmare that she woke without even screaming. She was so terrified that only hot, silent tears escaped. She sought solace in the only room she had never dared enter: that of her fearsome twin brothers. They had never done anything to hurt her, but she was still very afraid of them; only Ron was less approachable.

When she entered the room with two beds separated by a trunk, she hesitated, preferring to approach George; he was the kinder of the two and less likely to reject her. She approached his bed with a mixture of fear and resolve, slipping between her brother's sheets, suddenly hugging him and crying against his stomach, waking him. George was confused at first; a small, damp weight clung to his middle, soaking his clothes with tears. He could only hug her back, trying to comfort her, until he realized it was his sister. Her soft sobs also woke Fred, who looked at her with concern; the twins had never witnessed her nightmares firsthand.

The next morning, neither of the twins said a word about what had happened. Ginny knew she could trust them not to tell their parents, fearing her mother would scold her again for acting like a little girl. From then on, a silent understanding grew between the three of them. The next night, she returned to the twins' room, but this time Fred pulled back his sheets, inviting her to sleep beside him. This became a habit for several weeks, with Ginny sleeping alternately with her twin brothers, finally bringing her nightmares to an end.

o-o-o-o

Molly was proud of her beloved little daughter; she was so brave, facing her fears. She disliked having treated such a small child harshly, but she believed Ginny had to learn to confront them; no nightmare could be that terrible. That day, Molly woke up happy. It was Friday, her birthday. Her husband rose early, hugged her, and gave her a congratulatory kiss before leaving for work before dawn, so he could return before noon to celebrate with their friends and children.

She went to wake her daughter to help with the cooking and teach her how to make a cake. Finding the room empty, the bed untouched, it looked as if no one had slept there at all. Her favorite stuffed animals, storybooks, new blankets—a gift from her last birthday—and even the precious silver hairbrush, a Prewett heirloom, were missing from her simple dressing table.

She and Ron searched for Ginny, opening the door to his youngest son's room to find him sleeping alone in his messy bed. Not finding her there, Molly left the room and checked Percy's. Perhaps her daughter had had a nightmare and sought refuge in the room she always longed to be in, but she wasn't there either.

Only then did she think to look in the twins' room. The scene she encountered would be one she would wholeheartedly regret for years to come.

Molly didn't want to scream and frighten her daughter, but she couldn't contain her anger when she saw Ginny sleeping in her brother's bed, sharing the new quilt with him. Her stuffed animals were scattered across both beds, and her belongings were mingled with the twins' on the table. Ginny had clearly been sneaking into the room for some time, deceiving her. Her angry screams woke the three siblings, who were terrified to see their mother in such a rage.

George froze as he watched his mother yank his sister from the bed, yelling at the twins and scolding Ginny. His sister began to cry uncontrollably, calling for Percy, and even woke Ron, who came to investigate the commotion so early in the morning.

Molly felt ashamed; she couldn't believe she had lost control like that. Releasing her daughter's arm, she saw, horrified, the grotesque red marks her grip had left on Ginny's pale skin. Tears welled in her eyes, and she tried to hug her little girl, wanting to soothe her and beg forgiveness. But when she reached out, Ginny screamed even louder and scrambled behind Fred on his bed, closing her eyes tightly.

"Percy! Come, Percy!" Ginny continued to cry out, still hidden behind Fred. Each time Molly tried to approach, Ginny's screams intensified.

"Mum, it's better to let her calm down before you talk to her," George finally said, rising to stand between his mother and his sister. Molly, mortified, simply nodded and left the room. Behind her, Ginny's cries subsided into sobs as she continued to call for Percy.

Arthur arrived that afternoon to find his twins huddled with Ginny in their room and his distraught wife weeping on their bed. Through tears, Molly explained what had happened. He eventually managed to soothe everyone, even coaxing a small smile from Ginny, but the tension lingered.

"Pumpkin," George said to his sister later, "it would be better if you apologized to Mum. You scared her when she couldn't find you, and you disobeyed her. Although she regrets hurting you, you shouldn't have disobeyed in the first place." George watched Ginny's expression shift from surprise to a glassy-eyed struggle against tears. She then turned to her twin brothers, as if seeking protection. They avoided her gaze, staring at the floor, too young to openly defy their parents. Then, to their surprise, the six-year-old's face became blank, and she looked directly at her parents, apologizing in a clear, firm voice.

Molly and Arthur exchanged concerned glances, disturbed by this sudden change, but hesitant to press the matter. Molly simply offered a weak smile and gently cupped her daughter's stiff cheek, telling her she loved her.

The Ginny of before would have smiled, returned the sentiment, and embraced her mother.

This new Ginny only nodded, not pulling away from her mother's touch, but not returning it either.

She never consciously sought that closeness again.

o-o-o-o

That year passed slowly. The family's only daughter, exhibiting impeccable behavior, spent her time reading and studying, but she stopped going out and no longer accompanied her mother when she cooked.

She never sought out her brothers again.

Every night, before sleep, she gagged herself with a sock, tying it in place with an old T-shirt to muffle her screams and sobs. She endured each night in fear and terror, weeping alone in the room that had become her sanctuary. Gradually, she managed to discourage anyone from entering, and little by little, even Molly stopped going in, almost unconsciously.

Her parents were worried, unsure how to approach their daughter. They decided on what seemed like the wisest course of action: they found her a friend.

In the same town lived another wizarding family, the Lovegoods. Arthur had met Xenophilius at Hogwarts, where they were members of the same Muggle Studies club, and Molly had formed a favorable impression of Pandora, whom she considered the most grounded of the couple.

The two women developed a quiet friendship, and when Molly felt she could confide in Pandora, she told her about Ginny's situation. Pandora, with her interest in divination, was immediately intrigued. Before Molly could elaborate, Pandora offered to have Ginny spend afternoons playing with Luna. Both girls were lonely and would surely enjoy each other's company.

Ginny connected with Luna instantly. She even felt comfortable sharing some of her visions, and Luna accepted everything without question, judgment, or the frightened glances she received from her own family. In Pandora, Ginny found the maternal acceptance she craved. Pandora never expressed disappointment, never pressured her into unwanted activities like cooking, and never criticized her for sharing her visions or dreams.

In Pandora, she found a trusted and loved adult figure.

She had finally found solace for her anguish.

Then, the day of Percy's return finally arrived. Upon seeing him, she approached and embraced him with a tenderness she now reserved only for Luna and Pandora.

They returned to the Burrow and resumed their pre-departure routine. Ginny slept peacefully again, nestled against her beloved brother, and this time her mother did not interfere, unwilling to jeopardize her daughter's happiness.

The remaining days of the school year's vacation passed quickly. She resumed smiling with Percy, playing with Charlie, and enjoying being carried on Bill's shoulders. She visited the Lovegood house almost daily.

With the holidays drawing to a close and all her brothers present, Bill was preparing for his final year at Hogwarts as Head Boy. He was particularly melancholic, knowing he would soon depart for India to begin his curse-breaker training. Charlie was returning for his fifth year, excited at having just been appointed captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team; this year also marked his O.W.L. exams.

She even had a proper birthday party—her seventh. Her mother, deeply superstitious, insisted on a grand celebration for this particular milestone. Her father, though reluctant, agreed to host the party at Aunt Muriel's mansion, as the family normally disliked accepting charity.

The Lovegoods were invited, though Xenophilius was absent, searching for another mythological creature.

In the mansion's large garden, surrounded by family and guests, Ginny was largely unaware that only the most staunchly pure-blood families had declined the invitation. The vast majority attended. Pure-blood witches were rare, and these ancient families were keen to ensure their daughters did not marry Muggle-borns or half-bloods. Thus, at the age of seven, girls were presented at large parties to showcase them to these families as potential daughters-in-law, allowing them to meet other pure-blood children and forge friendships that could later blossom into marriage.

Arthur loathed this spectacle, the parading of his daughter as if she were livestock for sale. However, Molly, a proud member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, held a different view. While Molly Weasley was no blood purist—her kind, maternal heart ensured that—she respected her bloodline's ancient traditions. Not even Arthur could sway her opinion on certain matters, including her only daughter's social prospects.

While Molly would never object if Ginny chose to marry a half-blood or Muggle, she understood that her own actions could influence Ginny's chances if she desired a pure-blood match. If Ginny wasn't presented to society at this age, no pure-blood family would consider her for their sons when she came of age.

Ginny stood before her birthday cake, marveling at the gifts and festivities, when suddenly everything became too bright and vivid. Her saliva thickened, her skin grew acutely sensitive, the wind feeling almost painful. Abruptly, she saw her Uncle Billius collapse, his blistered hands clutching at his throat as if struggling to breathe. She watched in disbelief; the man's body was covered in horrible marks. He resembled the ghoul that lived in her attic.

She couldn't help but scream, as if possessed, calling for Percy while sobbing and cowering on the floor. The next thing she knew, she was in her older brother's arms. He murmured soothing words in her ear, gently stroking her back, just as he did when her nightmares drove her to his bed.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself in an ostentatious room, sunlight streaming through the window. She was alone, and a terrible headache pounded in her head; she felt as if her skull were splitting in two. As any seven-year-old would, she began to sob and moan. Her mother entered, closely followed by her father and Percy. Her mother tried to comfort her, but Ginny only sought her brother's embrace, still terrified by what she had seen. Safe in Percy's arms, she recounted everything, while only Uncle Bilius looked on in disbelief.

Ginny couldn't stop shaking. This had never happened before; she had only ever experienced sensations, never visions. Apart from the nightmares she barely remembered, she had never witnessed anything so horrifying.

The party ended early. The attending families promised discretion, but they were now wary of young Miss Weasley. It had been so long since witches with such abilities had appeared that they were unsure whether a marital connection to such a family was a blessing or a curse.

o-o-o-o

For the next few days, her parents treated her normally, though they avoided mentioning the events at the party. A week later, Uncle Bilius died in a fire caused by a cursed blaze. That day, Bill and Charlie regarded her with a hint of fear, but at a prompting glance from their mother, they approached and gently stroked her hair, offering her sad smiles. Fred and George simply ignored her with resentment, as if blaming her for their loss; they had loved their uncle dearly and shared his sense of humor. Ron, looking at her with fear, called her a freak, but after a scolding from their mother, he apologized, though he still cast her occasional resentful glances, seemingly yearning to be the center of attention himself.

Percy's behavior toward her remained unchanged; he was the only one who always acted with the same formal correctness. Had he not been her favorite, she might have laughed at his pompousness. But he was the only one whose affection and demeanor toward her remained constant.

With his departure, she was left with only the steady companionship of Luna and Pandora.

I'm correcting the grammar, just reading the comments I realized that the prefixes were mixed up. The text has no other changes.