The bulldog settling at Sybill's feet on her own bed strangely caused absolutely no indignation in temporary mistress. She even managed to fall asleep surprisingly easily and slept beautifully.
But she woke from someone's warm breath on her neck and light touch of lips. She sighed and opened eyes slightly, already knowing what, more precisely whom she'd see. Well yes, this wasn't a dog at all, if he even lit the fireplace. Sirius Black, cleanly washed, fed from evening and also apparently excellently rested, squinted slyly at her from under long dark lashes. She'd like such. However, why would she need them?
The man impudently smiled in her face and continued exploring with hands her body everywhere he could reach. Sybill sighed. Male dog.
"Still you spent too much time as dog," she noted, spitting on "good morning," squeals, hysterics and other nonsense supposedly appropriate for decent maiden who discovered in morning in her bed barely familiar man.
Black stopped advances and looked at her surprised.
"Something wrong?"
"Of course, if you throw yourself at such soup set," she gestured at her skinny body, straightened almost completely bunched nightshirt and covered herself with blanket. Room was still quite cool.
Sirius froze from surprise but then carried on something about graceful girls and exhausted unfortunate prisoners languishing in their absence.
"Merlin, what nonsense... and this he—to me! Should I be offended?"
"You know, Black... think rubber woman would help you better now than me."
Here he seems completely stunned.
"How do you even know about such?"
Sybill snorted.
"I studied only year younger than you, by the way, so long been big girl. And what exactly I've seen and how—not your business, Black."
"Did I ever manage to offend you?"
"Me?" she laughed, bit hoarsely, bit bitterly. "No, not me. There were enough other examples to keep away from you."
"But I never... I did nothing if they didn't want it themselves!"
"That's the point. You're fool, Black."
"And now the only woman who agreed to shelter unfortunate Stray refuses me... Why, Sybill?"
"Well, for now I'm not throwing you out, but had thoughts, won't hide. Simply I'm long not woman, hmm, Sirius, since you decided to switch to names. I feel your hands, your breath, lips... but feel nothing about it."
"This... how, sorry?"
"What incomprehensible did I say?" Sybill began really boiling. She'd never had to talk about this with anyone, she knew virtuoso how to avoid such topics. But now... What, she must urgently run from own bed? That's too much. He wants to know? Alright. Let him blame himself.
"I'm almost not human anymore. I'm—only voice and these damned eyes that see too much. I long feel nothing except fear. Fear and fatigue. Calm down, I don't fear you, Black. Fears only tiny part of me that still clings to this stupid world. And only two things—new prophecies and Grim. You know, you're similar when you're that other dog. Only you're actually not scary, I already understood. And he probably... Somehow I'll definitely learn this."
"You... are sick?" Sirius worried and surprised himself. After all, who is she to him? But for some reason everything connected with her was important.
Desire receded like water during low tide. For some reason this woman troubled him, strange, not beautiful, rough despite all external fragility, with drunk and completely unmelodious voice. Direct as... such simply don't exist. Her brittle, fakedly indifferent voice strangely scratched something deep inside, bitter words bit like splinters, but he couldn't not listen. He wanted to understand.
And he got full measure. Her gift-foresight, gift-curse... Gift burning alive. Ability to become one into whose eyes she looks and experience the most terrible awaiting him in life. Now he understood why in all stories seers were hermits. Merlin, who thought to drag her to school where so many eyes?! Why? From such someone goes mad, someone ends accounts with life themselves, and someone quietly burns out like her. Quietly and terribly.
"Not at all terribly, just tiresome, that yes. And why quietly? I'm here something like recorded flustered charlatan," she smiled.
"Can you read minds?"
"Don't you notice when you start thinking aloud? Ah yes, sorry."
"What sorry?"
"Solitary cell syndrome. Was it quiet there?"
Sirius shuddered. She saw even this...
"Yes. Very."
"Sorry," she repeated.
"Come on. Maybe somewhere there are specialists who know how to handle such gift as yours? Can't like this..."
"I don't know. No one was found for me."
"Who searched?"
"Parents, relatives... Spent whole inheritance on this. Headmaster, Head—when this damned gift started manifesting. Like me apparently born extremely rarely. Personally I think born for nothing at all."
"How can you talk like this?"
"Because you're all idiots. Because this is most stupid and absurd gift of all possible."
"But why?"
"Why doesn't any of you even try to fix something?" she suddenly broke almost to shout—first spoken aloud words seemed scab torn from wound. "Why do all obediently nod and go where it'll be worst for them? Why learn then, why shake over prophecies?! Why do they ask me? Why all my words, why at all—me?! Unfortunate morons!"
"But... How can something be changed?"
Sybill groaned.
"Very simply! I see what will be if I look at person here and now. And if you don't like what will be, change what you do. Here and now. Change yourself. Your behavior. Think about someone or something differently. Teach yourself to be different. Oh my Merlin, what idiots you all are!"
"Forgive fool," Sirius buried head in hem of her shirt barely she lowered feet from bed.
"Don't interfere," Sybill calmed as quickly as before got worked up, moved his head to blanket and stood. "Though I have only one lesson today and it'll be after lunch, time for me. And you can continue lying around of course. Only be so kind, then transfigure yourself some other bed. I like this one more."
"Me too," Sirius didn't abandon hope. Sybill attracted him more and more despite all she told. Or maybe just opposite, therefore... He never wanted to hug someone to cover from... world?
"What stops you from making copy?" she crossed arms on chest.
"How smart you are!.."
"Makes me sick," she finished. "Long ago, and this isn't joke."
Sirius sighed. Such girls he definitely hadn't met yet. Taciturn. Calm. Ironic. Unfeeling?.. Eh, no. Here different. Completely different.
While she washed, he dressed in carefully cleaned clothes. And thought, thought, thought...
Washed Trelawney looked complete girl.
"Listen," Sirius suddenly had idea, "what if someone tries... well, change... Can this help you?"
"No idea."
"At St. Mungo's?.."
"I was even taken to continent. This isn't treated, you know."
"This is so wrong: gift and at same time deadly disease."
"Life too is quite deadly disease. You're not aware everyone dies from it eventually?"
"You talk about it like that..." actually he never thought about such. And couldn't argue, after all what to say?
"If you saw this all in eyes of each of children you teach lessons to for over ten years, wouldn't talk like that."
"You... see each one's death?"
"Mostly. Sometimes major troubles. And what leads to them."
"Merlin... How does she endure this? How still hasn't gone mad?"
"But if still someone tries to change and changes their future?"
"No one's done such yet, what can I tell you?"
Sirius stood and raised hand. And let there be no wand in it...
"I, Sirius Orion Black, swear to change my life... change, swear to do everything so given prophecy won't come true, and may this oath help me! And may this help one who uttered my prophecy," he finished quietly but confidently.
She looked at him wide-eyed. Really? What is he saying? Before mental gaze again began rising images one after another... These for some reason were better.
"Accept. Accept please. Sybill..."
"I, Sybill Eda Trelawney, accept oath of Sirius Orion Black, and may it... help him," she sighed. "Why do you need this?"
"Don't know. Simply this will be right."
"Well, let's hope dog instinct won't fail," Trelawney winked.
Amazing girl. No snot, no pathos, no... nothing at all inherent to any girls he knew.
"You wear glasses to... not see?"
"Congratulations, starting to think," she tore from book from which wrote something on parchment.
"Where are your family? Relatives? Do they live in London?"
"Why necessarily London? Wales. No, I don't communicate with them and not going to explain anything. Let me work already."
She bent over table and Sirius sat nearby watching as her surprisingly even, slightly sharp handwriting lay in neat lines.
"What's this?"
"Lesson plan. Severus helped me greatly with this. I all this time didn't teach lessons but like kitten poked in corners, watered children with tea and made them compose nonsense. Just to occupy time. And he..."
"Snape?!"
"What surprises you? You know, I love him."
Sirius choked on air. Somewhere in memory was something connected with Snape, something not bad, even useful, but...
"Why love him?! He..." seeing her eyes he choked on prepared tirade and fell silent.
"He's the only one who always demanded only from himself," Trelawney looked slightly aside, sadly smiling at some memories. "He was angry, unhappy, he hated but... he always started with himself. And never pitied me. Simply took and helped when needed."
"Snape then..."
"Sirius, you still don't understand? I. Am. Not. Woman. If I love... this means I'll try not to look this person in eyes. That's all. Listen, maybe I should go to him for Polyjuice, as dog you were much calmer!"
"Don't leave... Let me just turn. You won't be scared anymore?"
"Alright, go ahead."
Irish wolfhound settled near fireplace and humbly put head on paws.
"Maybe my dog's smarter than me," Sirius thought. "At least he definitely never let anyone down yet. And Harry liked playing with him. With me... I was good dog?"
"Still bulldog in this room would be..." Sybill hesitated. More appropriate? Compact? Less noticeable? How to say? In her room any dog looked quite wild. "I'll still go for Polyjuice. Just in case."
Dog sighed sadly and in sign of agreement banged tail on carpet.
***
In morning almost whole house sympathized with Harry Potter who last night courageously rescued his school bag from paws of most malicious teacher and naturally got caught and got it according to given deed. Only Hermione looked displeased as she should but Harry still approached her closer—too expressively she frowned.
"Don't overact," she whispered. "Look, Weasleys already plan how to prank professor."
"Damn," Harry puzzled but instantly found way out. "Then I'll take this on myself!"
And until class start whispered about something with twins and satisfied as boa Ron.
After lessons Harry barely waited appointed time and joyfully rushed to dungeons. Only didn't think about possible meeting with someone from Slytherins. For example with Malfoy whom in haste almost crashed into turning from corner.
"Where are you going, Potter?"
"Hurrying to detention, Malfoy!" Boy-Who patted his shoulder and dashed to his Head's office.
Draco stood several minutes in corridor: information in head didn't fit. Potter flying to detention with Snape almost skipping and with such suspiciously pleased face...
"He's planning something!" Draco guessed. "Weasley whispered with him at breakfast, exactly! Must urgently warn!" And dashed after.
And since during working hours Head's office was open to all Slytherins, he flew in without knocking. And froze looking at peacefully conversing over some parchment Snape and Potter. Ability to speak didn't return immediately which of course professor took advantage of.
"Malfoy, there's one question, so even good you came so timely. How do your parents feel about dogs? Hope this isn't family secret?"
Potter at this time whispered something over parchment but had to answer so couldn't hear anything alas.
"Uh... If you deign to explain why you need this information, ready to provide it," Draco held with all strength.
If he tells, will they at least explain something?
"Alright, if you intend to bargain, will ask your father," Snape was impenetrable. However as always.
"We have greyhounds," Draco decided to "crack." "I heard father sometimes takes them for some strange hunt... But not at manor, kennel is near hunting lodge."
"After all, mere presence of conspiracy of these two can already be considered exclusive information. This is bomb! Something reaches me slowly today..." Malfoy yawned once, twice...
He didn't feel anymore how four hands at once picked him up and simply Muggle-style dragged to couch.
"This was nonverbal Somnus, yes professor?"
"More precisely Somnus cito minima."
"Will you teach?"
"Harry, about this later. He'll sleep five minutes, no longer. What do you suggest doing?"
Potter sighed. Clear teacher threw him another puzzle but solving it especially with peacefully snoring in neighboring chair "main object" proved not so simple. He already related to Draco as his own. Opponent but—his own.
"Extract memory would be most reliable but this will leave trace which means lead to you. You don't need conflicts with Malfoys."
"Absolutely. Further, Harry."
"Then will have to somehow... recruit? Ah! Have idea! Black—supposedly Death Eater, Malfoy also sort of, right? Means he can help Sirius considering him 'one of us.'"
"Don't forget he's cousin of his wife. Lord Malfoy of course can't be called henpecked but usually listens to wife. And he was going in couple days on some business to continent."
"Really? So you meant him? Eh, will need somehow figure out all these family relations. So little time!"
"I suppose you'll learn much curious, Harry. But Malfoy isn't our only option, remember this."
"Means can send Draco into own family so he finds out parents' attitude to Black. He'll consider himself initiated in secret... And I turns out then on Death Eaters' side?!"
"Why? You're simply on your godfather's side. You have no one else after all. And don't forget to make big sad eyes, only don't overdo. Yes, like that," Snape smiled with corner of lips looking at Harry's face. "Well, task clear?"
Snape shoved into Malfoy's hand small statuette expressively looking at Harry and turned away throwing:
"I'm to headmaster," and only door slammed.
"Huh?.." Harry swallowed. He was first time left independently handle situation. This was exciting because professor trusted him! He once more attentively looked at Malfoy, at small bronze griffin figure and smiled.
"Finite Incantatem," he waved wand toward Draco and quickly hid it in pocket.
He opened eyes and looked around puzzled.
"Where's professor? How?.."
"You're something Malfoy," Harry looked at him with most honest eyes. "Grab whatever especially in Head's office."
Malfoy some time contemplated statuette.
"Why did I take this?"
"He's acting strange... " Harry was surprised. "Sleepy probably."
"You're asking me? Professor Snape was called by headmaster."
"Long ago?"
"Almost as soon as you fell asleep. Five minutes ago."
"Why didn't you wake me immediately?"
"Simply you're so... cute when sleeping," Potter laughed. "Don't perform, don't nitpick. Beauty. Sat admiring. Think of it, few minutes."
Draco wanted to hit this smart aleck in forehead or at least say something caustic but nothing came to head and he remembered why came here. And now intended to find out as much as possible and fight with Potter also in Head's office... Hmm. And for questioning Potter fit much better than office owner. Draco perfectly imagined what Snape would tell him if he dares ask couple questions that actually don't concern him at all. But seems he himself asked something about dogs...
"Potter, what were you talking about attitude to pets?" he decided to start from afar.
"Will tell but only if swear by magic to keep secret!" Potter made big eyes.
Malfoy swallowed. Didn't want to swear but learn obviously considerable secret... Look how Potter sparkles with green eyes! He bit lip.
"Can I consult with father?"
"Rather with mother. She's Black maiden name right?"
"You mean..." heart sank from anticipation: really?!
"Oath, Malfoy."
***
After all he learned Draco sat long puzzled secluding behind baldachin of own bed. He... honestly admit sympathized with Potter, grindylow bite this scar-head, and still couldn't figure out how everything turned out. Escaped Sirius Black, Death Eater and criminal turns out is Potter's magical godfather which means... Means he couldn't betray Potters! And also this is mother's cousin and Draco perfectly remembered what was said about him at home.
Yes, Draco Malfoy had one weakness which however father encouraged. He adored secrets. As result by thirteen he learned well to eavesdrop and main thing not get caught. So with information about wayward cousin uncle he possessed. And now solved difficult task namely—how to deliver some information to mother. She'll definitely figure out and connect father. He'll be surprised!
Clear why Head listened to Potter and not at all made him scrub bunch of laboratory dishes. He's also Dark Lord's follower and therefore... No, but how to pass at least note? Owl post excluded: too unreliable. Though Malfoy owls and eagles never give letter to strangers' hands, shoot them down with spell and immobilize—couple trifles.
Fireplace talks also easy to overhear. Means need somehow get home. But Draco completely didn't imagine how this can be done. He already hundred times cursed himself for not taking two-way mirror—he you see didn't want extra control. If knew such would happen wouldn't refuse for anything.
***
Harry at same time led quite lively correspondence with cousin sitting in farthest nook of school laboratory while professor hissed at Weasley twins, Longbottom and some Hufflepuff guy together scrubbing laboratory dishes. And if only cauldrons, with them everything was more or less simple but flasks with narrow necks were real pain.
Harry frowned: detention will last long which means he'll have very little time left for communication with Snape. At least good they managed to discuss everything before punished students came when professor returned and sent Malfoy away. And simply excellent he supported Harry's idea to still try to connect if not Dursleys then Aunt Marjorie—definitely.
Over troubled head of Sirius Black gathered considerable clouds and though they were quite safe for his life Harry wasn't sure what would affect godfather stronger: Aunt Marge or dementors. He hoped for one thing: run away again godfather definitely will be discouraged. Aunt knows how to educate...