A Day In the Life of Sibil Trelawney
by: Raving Gryffendor

Severus scowled down at trap door that he had just climbed up. Just ten minutes ago, he was in the Dumbledore's office, trying to keep the Headmaster from entering the depths of his mind. Even as a master Occulmens, he was not able to keep to meddlesome wizard from reading the flush that colored his cheeks when he mentioned her.

Her indeed.

He was lucky that his pale complexion recovered so quickly from the conversation that followed this discovery. It would have gone on further had he not promised to meet with her right away and talk.

Of course, there are many things one can <i>talk</i> about, so if my Slytherin cunning does not fail me, Severus just may land two birds with one stone.

With that thought in mind, Severus raised his fist and knocked tentatively on the door.

For a moment, he considered fleeing and submitting a resignation, but he didn't get the chance to do so, because at that moment, his feet betrayed him as the walked into the room when Trelawney softly called from within. "Please, do come in."

"Hi," Severus greeted his fellow staff member rather awkwardly as he stepped inside. Trelawney looked up serenely from a pile of cushions, where she had obviously been meditating or sleeping; seeing her hair in disarray, Severus was sure it was the latter. Completely oblivious to her rumpled hair and glasses askew, she smiled, nodding knowingly. "Ah, I knew you would come."

Severus couldn't help the snort that escaped him as he walked across the room in long fluent strides. Sybill rushed to meet him and grabbed his arm, mush to his surprise and distress. For a moment, Severus felt a brief tingling in his Mark, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

"My dear," the woman said urgently, guiding him towards a nearby table, "There are many things which have been kept from you." And with that, she closed her eyes and began mumbling words that Severus could barely catch. He distinctly heard the word, "romance" and "secret," but other than that he couldn't be too sure.

"My dear," Trelawney opened her eyes and solemnly stared at him. "I know what you came here for."

Severus raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You do?"

Nodding fervently, Trelawney rose, brushing her long, delicate fingers against a row of dusty teacups lined up on a shelf. Pausing for a moment, she grabbed a pink one and brought it over to him.

"These tea leaves hold the answers to your," she paused dramatically, taking in a deep breath, "Life."

Resisting the urge to run away and leave this crazy woman behind, he decided to humor the lady so he could say that he had indeed talked to her. "What do they say about my life?"

Snape rolled his eyes, looking annoyed as she took a seat next to him.

Trelawney's eyes clouded over as she waved her hands over the teacup, closing her eyes for effect. She even began humming some sort of mantra that he couldn't recognize. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Trelawney opened her eyes and drew a deep shuddering breath.

"You have a problem," said Trelawney, looking at Snape with wide eyes.

Severus gave her a calculating look, wondering where she was going with this. He frowned slightly in thought. "Yes."

Trelawney blinked, looking a bit disoriented. "You are having problems in your romantic relationships," she said, losing her airy tone for a moment. "You are obviously searching, searching, searching for the meaning of something. Ahh yes, but I see you have a complex."

Severus coughed violently to stifle surprise. "What?" he asked, unable to keep the incredulity out of his voice, "You're not actually serious, are you?"

"I am indeed serious," Trelawney replied, her eyes boring into Snape's. "My Inner Eye shows you are at odds with a part of yourself. You cannot accept a part of the world she belongs in. Until you do, you will not succeed in approaching her."

"I-" Severus opened his mouth, fully intending on protesting vehemently, but closed it again when he realized she was speaking of his current dilemma without even knowing it. "You know," started Severus, not wanting to give Trelawney a chance to figure out any more of his secrets. "I think I'm going to leave. I have a meeting with the Headmaster."

He was halfway to the door when a thin, bony hand shot out of nowhere and grabbed his shoulder. Startled, he turned around to look into the abnormally large eyes of Trelawney.
For such a fragile looking woman, she sure had a strong grip, and right now she was touching his shoulder. The tingling sensation he felt before was coursing through him one more.

"You cannot leave," the woman insisted urgently. "Not until you hear of what your future holds!"

Tensing as he was guided back to the table, Severus couldn't help but feel as if the old bat was trying to keep him there.
.
Trelawney guided him back down into his seat and sat down across from his. With a wave of her wand, a cup of coffee appeared onto the wooden table they were sitting, she vanished the empty teacups. Severus stared at the coffee.

"Have a drink, Severus."

"Wh-What?"

"Have a drink. It's not poisoned, I assure you." Severus took the cup hesitantly. The reason he had come was because he wanted to escape from the Headmaster's inquiry into his personal life. Coincidently enough, Sybill was the last woman he wanted to be in the presence of. She made him feel in a way so unlike anything else he ever felt before, and yet the awkward presence of her company felt so natural and familiar, as she sat before him, offering him coffee. Naturally, he had always preferred tea, but it would rude to request something else. Sighing, he drank it. He made a face when the liquid reached his tongue, and coughed and spluttered. Trelawney regarded him closely.

"What's the matter?"

"Sweet-too sweet." Severus choked out. "Is this liquid sugar or something?"

Trelawney waved her wand again and another cup appeared. "Let me offer you this then." Trelawney lowered the cup from Severus's lips, slowly but surely. She steadily placed his hand around the cup and pulled her hand away. "Try it now."

Severus tasted it again. "It's bitter, but better," he added hastily, not wanting to be rude.
Trelawney looked at him with huge magnified eyes thoughtfully. "Then maybe that's why you are having relationship problems of the romance kind."

"WHAT?"

"Quiet, dear. Do you know why I gave you this cup of coffee?"

Seveus shook his head.

"Because it reflects your character traits that define your relationships. If just a little sugar ruined your coffee, that means that no matter how much or how little kindness is shown to you, you will remain bitter. But since you say bitter is better, then the only kind of relationship that will be is one that can accept all these absolutes about you."

Trelawney's theory about the coffee and relationships sounded reasonable yet ridiculous at the same time--A drink? A relationship? But Severus's brain was slowly grasping the idea Trelawney was trying to tell him.
"What kind of coffee allows you to make the predictions you claim?"

Trelawney laughed lightly. "It's my own special blend. Dark Mark coffee. Great for espresso's."
Severus nodded, not wanting to comment on her choice of brand names. He had his own brand after all, but that was just a scar - - a curse - - that was to always remain a part of him; and yet, she seemed to somehow understand all of that.

"Hope your mind's a bit clearer now."

It was.

"Severus?" she questioned. His head snapped up, as she grabbed his wrist.

"Ah yes, this will make the coffee extra flavorful," Trelawney said, tightening her grip on his wrist as she leaned across the table, gazing intently at his dark mark.. "Yes, I know it will," she whispered, finally pulling back a little and peering into Severus's eyes.

"Coffee flavored coffee. If I wanted a scintillatingly scented coffee concoction, I would have brewed one up in my dungeon."

Severus's eyes widened in shock and bewilderment. <i>How could she stand to know what he is? WAS!</i> Something in his thoughts must have reflected in his eyes. "Don't be afraid, dear. The Dark Mark does not scare me. It inspired me actually. The Dark Lord will not find the power he is looking for, but I see you have all the answers in front of you. Be wise as a snake, and you will understand."

The corners of Trelawney's mouth turned downwards in a frown as she released him from her grasp. "Yes, well, that is all. I really do need to go consult further counsel from the crystal ball. Oh and Severus, please do close your mouth. You'll ruin your aurora."

Severus gawked at Trelawney as he stood to his feet. He continued mumbling to himself as he hurriedly walked out the classroom and headed towards his dungeons.

On his way down, he ran into the oddest of Ravenclaw girls.

"Hello Professor," the Lovegod girl greeted, looking up from her upside down issue of the Quibbler.

"Can I help you?" he mumbled, squaring his shoulders.


"She isn't crazy, you know," she said suddenly, snapping out of a trancelike expression that her features normally held.

Severus looked down at her, his lips curved into a frown. "What did you say?"

"Everyone thinks Professor Trelawney's is a bit odd," Luna said solemnly. "They just don't understand her."

"And you do?" Snape pressed apprehensively.

Luna shook her head and focused her orb-like on him. "No, she is different, but she knows things. The kind of things no one else knows..." She nodded her head as if she just hit some realizations. "Well, I need to be getting to Charms, Professor." With that, she walked away, leaving behind one, mixed up Potion's Master.