The Stag Prophecy

'Regrettably Neptune passed through Scorpio last night... My creative surges were too overwhelming to concentrate on homework," Sibyll said in a spacey voice.

Professor Dumbledore narrowed his eyes under his moon-shaped glasses. A faint smile hide under his long, white beard. In his ten years at teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, his Pensive was full of amusing excuses for incomplete homework. However, Sibyll Trelawney's were by far the most delightful.

"Sibyll, I am glad you are so- erm...'in tune' with your astrological charts, however you must use your Aquarian dedication and persistence to complete your assignments," Dumbledore replied.

Sibyll gently nodded at her professor, while maintaining her fixed 'tragic' expression. "Professor, I can see you are influenced by the kind planet Venus. You were born in late August, correct?"

"January actually," Dumbledore mumbled.

The entire class, with the exception of two students, laughed at this comment. Sibyll continued to stare into space, and Dumbledore was quite sure her over-sized glasses had a 'mellowing' charm to add to her dazed expression. The other student who did not laugh, was however glaring straight at Dumbledore, as he slouched in his desk. This student was of course the one student Dumbledore had always felt a negative aura around- and strangely enough always suspicious of...This student was Tom Riddle.

"Mr. Riddle, would you please show the class your drawing of your Patronus?" Dumbledore asked.

Tom Riddle preserved his heinous stare. His Slytherin cloaked arms were crossed in an imitating posture. Under his dark bangs, his bright, green eyes sharply widened, as he scoffed, "The assignment was ridiculous. I refused to complete it."

The other Slytherins in the class grinned and giggled at his unobtrusive comment, while the Hufflepuffs gasped, and whispered in anticipation of Dumbledore's reaction.

"Why did you find it ridiculous, Mr. Riddle?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

"Well, for starters- we are all fifth years, I'm sure we are all capable of drawing-"

"That wasn't the purpose of this exercise, Mr. Riddle," Dumbledore interrupted, yet not raising the volume of his composed voice. "In order to cast a successful and powerful Patronus, one must be to envision it."

Tom Riddle simply rolled his eyes, pleasing his Slytherin peers who again laughed.

"So, Mr. Riddle? Would you please like to share with the class what your Patronus looks like?"

"No, as a matter of fact I wouldn't," Tom snapped. "The image alone would scare the pants off these Hufflepuff wimps. But- I'm sure Sibyll Trelawney would be delighted to share hers- that is, if she's not on Mars."

Again Slytherin laughs filled the classroom. Dumbledore did not scold the class, for he was concerned with Sibyll. She seemed to be in some sort of deep meditation. Her eyes were slightly hidden by her dark make-up eyelids, and she appeared to be whispering a chant.

"Sibyll? Are you alright?" Dumbledore asked, waving his hand in front of her face.

Sibyll did not blink. Her mouth continued to loosely form a quiet, chanting whisper.

"Poppy Pomfrey, please go contact the nurse," Dumbledore instructed a Hufflepuff student.

Then Dumbledore slowly waved his wand in front of Sibyll's translucent face, whispering "Chantorous." Suddenly Sibyll's eyes enlarged, causing Dumbledore to jump a tad in shock.

"The...Dark...Lord," Sibyll mumbled. "The Dark Lord will rise in power in the years of the Marauders..."

"The Dark Lord?" Tom Riddle asked with a sudden interest.

"Please Tom, stay quiet," Dumbledore snapped, and then returning his attention to Sibyll.

"The powerful group...Yet when the smallest pillar falls, the three others are knocked over..."

"Oh, this is a load of-"

"Tom! I said please remain silent!" Dumbledore whispered in a hiss.

"A crumble from the Stag's hoofs shall be watered by the flower..." Sibyll swayed in her desk as she spoke. "The crumble shall defeat the Dark Lord...Once in the beginning...Later again..."

"Sibyll, please try to focus. Try to focus on your predication," Dumbledore said, placing his hands on Sibyll's shoulders hoping to support her flimsy body.

"The Dark Lord will return...To steal life from the one he scarred...from the crumble...The sharing of life shall begin- with the highest good and the deepest evil..." Sibyll continued. "Upon this merger, good shall defeat evil- forever...Though good's crumble shall erode in the stolen blood."

"Interesting..." Dumbledore mumbled, losing himself in Sibyll's glazed daze.

Then, Poppy Pomfrey burst in the classroom, clutching the nurse's robes, and trying to catch her own breath. "I...I think a Sal- a Salamen Charm will do the trick," Poppy gasped.

At Poppy's enthusiastic, loud voice, Sibyll fainted in Dumbledore's arms. The classroom was filled with gasps of startle and fear.

"Nurse, if you will please settle the class and watch over my class for a moment, it would be most appreciated," Dumbledore said, as he lifted Sibyll from he desk.

"But shouldn't I care for-"

Dumbledore gave a serious look of concern and remarked, "I'd better see Headmaster Dippet about this one."

The Nurse nodded, as Dumbledore left the classroom with Sibyll in his arms. Surely he could not have heard what he thought...Surely Sibyll had not made a viable predication...

* * * * *

"The Marauder's Map..." Albus Dumbledore read the green, curly ink form of the piece of parchment.

"Er...Yes, it's a toy we put together...Nothing more than that," James Potter sheepishly replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Oh boy, was James in trouble...It was in fact his first time in Headmaster Dumbledore's office, and the room was twice as magical he had imagined. Many a nights had he and his friends mischievously plotted to gain excess to the most yearned for room in Hogwarts. Now James was finally there- in Dumbledore's office- however under far different circumstances as he had hoped.

"We?" Dumbledore's eyebrows raised. "You mean you're not the only one responsible for this map?"

"Did I say that?" James quickly rebutted. "I mean...I mean..."

"James, there is no need for explanation," said Dumbledore. "I am quite astonished at this."

"I'm really sorry-"

"No, no, no," Albus interrupted. "There is no need for apology."

James head sharply looked up at Dumbledore with surprise. Suddenly it felt as though he could 'appreciate' the room. His eyes immediately left Dumbledore's and explored the paintings of previous headmasters and mistresses.

To James' dismay, Dumbledore soon dismissed him. "You may take your 'toy' and leave now."

James nodded and followed Dumbledore's instructions. Before leaving the circled-shaped office, Dumbledore added, "Oh yes, please tell the other Marauders- Remus, Sirius, and Peter to take care of that map. A map like that can be quite useful."

And that was it...That was the proof that Trelawney's prediction was accurate...It was indeed the time of the Marauders.