Chapter 728 - Interview for Divination Post Ⅲ (1/2)
With Sybil Trelawney's interview over, Albus had been about to excuse Sybil Trelawney by courteously explaining that he did not believe her fit for the position. Just then her face became solemn and blank and a harsh, hoarse voice emerged from her throat. ”That which Cassandra has spoken is gone, but that which spoken can never be truly be taken. And so, it returns, and so I say, 'Two stars have fallen, both equal in might…. Both filled with darkness and despair…. But neither can live for the Hydra hides in the shadows…. Long forgotten, long thought gone, but not all things that are forgotten are ever truly gone...The Hydra will consume them both….and the world shall finally perish and fall away into utter darkness...-Yet life and death will clasp hands in solemn accord, the Hydra must perish...”
Albus stares at the young witch, who sleepily blinks her eyes twice as if awakening. A flush of embarrassment creeps onto Sybil's face utterly mortified and humiliated that one of her strange fits occurred before the headmaster. ”I am so sorry, Professor Dumbledore!” Sybill stammered with tears of humiliation creeping out from the corner of her eyes. ”I-, I'll go now!”
Sybill scrambles to her feet, when Albus with a pensive expression says, ”Miss Trelawney, I cannot say for certain yet, but I do believe that you are the most suitable candidate to fulfill the present opening for Professor of Divination.”
”Truly?” Sybill gasped in her normal tone of voice, her soft, ethereal voice completely forgotten.
”Yes,” Albus truthfully muttered, ”I shall convey my final decision within a week, Miss Trelawney. However, might I make one minor suggestion?”
”Yes, Headmaster anything!” Sybill eagerly replied.
”You possess an infinite amount of talent, Miss Trelawney be more confident in your demeanor,” Albus pointedly said as he not so subtly gazed at the rows of beads and chains slung around her neck.
”Oh,” Sybill flushed in embarrassment. ”My mum and grandmother thought since I lacked sufficient experience it would be best to present a strong front. I guess we got a bit carried away.”
”No lasting harm done, Miss Trelawney,” Albus replied, before adding, ”then, I look forward to our continued cooperation.”
”Yes, Professor!” Sybill earnestly answered, before hurrying off with a happy pink flush on her face to tell the wonderful news to her family! She even looked quite pretty at that not that she knew. But more a few patrons had watched her vanish into the cold, wet night intrigued.
At the bar, Aberforth had almost broken a wooden mug in his hand as he happened to overhear the prophecy that he had once heard before and received from the deceased Alphard Black. His eyes scan the pub trying to locate, who else could have paid attention to the Albus, but no one's eyes remain fixed on that corner. However, that proved nothing as he knew that his pub was under watch.
Struggling not to grind his teeth, Aberforth temporarily puts a closed sign on the bar in crude, but large letters that read, ”OUT. TOUCH the ALE. BANNED for LIFE!” The patrons sitting at the bar wisely decide to sit elsewhere until the bartender returns.
Aberforth manages to catch Albus's eye as he storms into the back. Albus takes a moment to don his cloak, before making his way out of the pub into the wet night. Tromping around the inn through the mud, he enters again through the back. Butters, a professional escape-goat and con artist happily lets out a cry at spotting Albus. Albus pauses to scratch the wily goat under the chin, before knocking on the back door.
The door is instantly wrenched upon to reveal the furious figure of his younger brother, Aberforth. Seeing the dangerous scowl on his younger brother's face, Albus wisely climbs up the staircase to Aberforth's personal alcove followed by the angry stomping of his younger brother's footsteps.
A warm fire is blazing and shedding a gentle light upon the old bookshelf and the recently dusted old furniture. As usual, the frame of Ariana Dumbledore hanging on the mantelpiece is spotless. Her c.h.e.s.t-length golden hair is neatly pulled back as her bright blue eyes stare straight ahead all the while cradling a book in her arms. Albus's gaze lingers on the portrait of his younger sister, who had yet to speak in his presence. She never had and likely never would. He knew that he more than earned his younger's sisters silence, but how he yearned to hear the voice of his younger sister once more.
”What were you thinking, Albus?!” Aberforth roared as he slammed the door behind him. ”Have your wits at long last deserted you or are have ye truly gone mad!?”
”Well, I certainly wasn't expecting for the blood of Cassandra Trelawney to still carry true in Sybill Trelawney and for there be a glimmer of a true seer in her” Albus said only to be cut short by Aberforth.