What Was Foreseen...

Chapter 4

Sibyll was determined that she would not fail again. This was beginning to become a very thankless task, as the handsome Professor Lupin was not very welcoming toward her advances. She was not a woman to give up so easily. Besides that, the orb was never wrong.

As she began to think about it, though, the orb had never actually foretold their coupling. The orb had only warned Sibyll of the approach of this irresistible man. Sibyll shook those disturbing thoughts from her mind, and began to clear her thoughts in an effort to gaze yet again.

Sibyll closed her eyes and began to breathe deeply, urging the air into her diaphragm and out, counting her heartbeats, struggling to force thoughts of Remus out of her mind. The more she tried, however, the more she began to daydream about the day when they would finally see each other as potential partners.

She imagined the feel of his arms around her torso, pulling her into his chest. She imagined what he must smell like (sandalwood) and how she would close her eyes as she breathed in his unique aroma. In her dream, she could feel his lips touch her lightly as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and how she would tilt her head upwards in hope that his kiss would continue to fall upon her...

Suddenly, Sibyll opened her eyes. She heard the distinct sound of the trapdoor opening and the students climbing into the classroom. She composed herself and walked into the classroom, prepared to teach to the best of her ability.

She would not venture forth into the Great Hall that evening, she decided. There must be some other way or place to approach the striking Professor Lupin and engage him in conversation. She sat behind the orb, but not to gaze into its milky contents. This time she found herself examining what lay beyond her window. The night sky was illuminated with stars and the moon. Her sight became fixed upon the radiant sphere as she mulled over her plight. How in the world was she going to chat-up this...

And then something happened which Sibyll believed she would never be able to explain to anyone. She wasn't sure she believed it herself. As Sibyll looked at the full moon, she heard a howl that sounded almost human, then she saw Remus's face in the face of the man in the moon. Sibyll blinked, and the image disappeared.

Her breath caught in her throat, and the most brilliant thought burst forth: go see him in his office. She was so consumed by this idea that she did not hesitate. Sibyll made plans to visit Remus in his office within the next week.

Three days later, Sibyll had spoken to Professor Dumbledore to determine the best times to reach Professor Lupin in his office. She had decided that the coming Thursday after her third year Divination class she would visit her paramour.

The hours passed by slower than honey on a winter day, until finally her third years arrived for lessons on Thursday. She knew she must figure out a way to deter Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil from remaining behind class to discuss the intricacies of divination. Sibyll enjoyed the zeal the two students displayed for the subject matter, but at times it became tiring.

That afternoon, Sibyll quickly told Lavender and Parvati that they were gifted with perceptive inner eyes and sent them along their way. The girls appeared to be distraught at being sent away so quickly; Sibyll admitted that in the past she encouraged the two to hang around in an attempt to distract her thoughts from Professor Lupin.

Sibyll decided that she would wait for five minutes before she set forth from the North Tower to venture to Professor Lupin's office. As she walked through the hallway, Sibyll became suddenly aware that she had not changed out of her work robes before venturing out of her room. However, she continued along her way, too determined to speak with Professor Lupin that evening to turn back.

When she reached his office at last, Sibyll could feel her heart beating in her throat, and was afraid that she would be unable to breathe. She felt as though her heart would escape from her throat at any point in time and that she would die before Professor Lupin ever knew what her intentions toward him were. She swallowed, took a deep breath, and lifted her hand to knock upon the door.

At the very moment that Sibyll's hand made contact with wood, Professor Lupin opened the door and smiled at his visitor. "Would you like to come in, Professor Trelawney?"

Sibyll was unsure that she would be able to speak at this point. She wondered how she had allowed a simple attraction to this man turn into a full-blown teenage crush. She refused to turn away, though, and smiled back at Professor Lupin. "I'd love to come in," she replied.

He stepped back to allow her a walkway through the door, closed the door behind him, and gestured toward a small table with a teapot and two teacups upon it. "Professor Dumbledore informed me that I may be expecting a visitor at some point in this week," he almost whispered to Sibyll as he noticed the confusion upon her face. She looked into his eyes and dared herself to blink.

"Yes, I've been most eager to spend some time with you, Professor Lupin," Sibyll replied.

"Please, call me Remus. What can I help you with, Professor Trelawney?"

"If I am to call you Remus, I insist that you call me Sibyll. I am always very curious about the new faculty members here at Hogwarts, especially when I happen to see them in advance in my crystal ball. Are you enjoying your time here so far, Prof...I mean, Remus? I heard that you had taken ill after being here for only two weeks. Are you feeling better?"

"Wow, that's amazing that you noticed. Yes, I am feeling much better now. I love being back at Hogwarts."

"Remus? Back at Hogwarts? You were here before?"

"Oh, yes, of course. I attended Hogwarts about twenty years ago as a young boy. Those were the best years of my life. Everything changed after I completed my education. I've never been as happy as I was when I attended Hogwarts," Remus wistfully explained.

"Why haven't you been happy since you were at Hogwarts? I'm sure things aren't really that bad..." Sibyll reacted.

Remus vehemently shook his head in response. "I'd really rather not talk about it."

"Is there anything else you'd like to talk about? I'm willing to listen. I think everyone needs to have someone they can rely upon."

"Actually, isn't it getting time for dinner? Would you like to join me in the Great Hall for dinner?"

Sibyll smiled. "I'd love to."