what's blind, but can see? (one shot)

Before Hogwarts ended for the summer, Wade had invited Marilyn to Clacton where he lived. He had many reservations about her being around his family, but Clacton wasn't all bad: it had a sea front, a beach, arcades, amusements, rides; plenty for them to be getting on with. Perhaps they could spend time together without even interacting with his family, which would be the best case scenario.

Wade had no idea where the nearest floo network was to his house, but he'd told Marilyn that he'd work it out somehow. Atticus had told him that muggle households could be connected to the floo network temporarily, but Wade's house didn't have a fireplace or a chimney, so that was impossible. The only house that seemed to have one near his street was one owned by a blind old woman and seeing as his options were limited, Wade thought he'd at least check it out.

As he approached her battered old cottage one afternoon, he was surprised to see her stood outside by the road. She smiled to no one, but distinctively said to him: "It's about time."

Bemused, Wade stared at her. Balancing only just about on a withered cane, her skin like shrivelled old leather, she looked as though she had surpassed a hundred years old. Her eyes were hidden behind large, circular lenses that seemed like two obsidian rocks planted right into her skull. Her hair was short, white and wispy. What looked like an old fashioned Persian rug was wrapped around her shoulders and her long, moss green frock swept over the pavement.

She turned back towards her house. Holding a surly look, Wade watched as she disappeared behind the door but left it open.

Normally he would have grunted, turned down the street, and left this woman to the mercy of burglars and arsonists and whoever else she was too naive to realise existed in this neighbourhood. But he couldn't do that. For some reason, he found himself following her: right through her front door. Closing it behind him, he walked into the sitting room and saw her already sat before the hearth: the fireplace he'd been looking for.

"You can use it," she said, "Not just tomorrow - whenever you like."

What? Stunned, he couldn't find his voice.

"Yes, I am a witch. A Seer. Have you learnt about those yet, at Hogwarts?"

"Er," he heard himself say, feeling his throat unsticking, "Yeah. Suppose. Weirdos who can see in the future and crap."

"That's right," responded the woman, unperturbed by the gruffness of his voice, use of language or the fact she was called a weirdo.

But how can you see into the future when you can't bloody see anything?!

Wade was puzzled. He shifted his weight onto his other foot, frowning as he considered the situation. There had been a witch living up the road this entire time, and he had no idea. She seemed to know about him though: she also knew about what was happening tomorrow, that he was a wizard who attended Hogwarts and was looking for a floo network. There was something unsettling about it all, but she didn't seem the least bit threatening.

"Well, you seemed to have worked it all out now," she said, making a glass appear in her hand which was now filling with water. "I would say you can come and have a chat whenever you like, but you're thinking that you're not a charity. You don't talk to old bats just because they might be lonely. Well, I don't like talking to people either, and I'm quite happy on my own. So we're on the same wavelength there."

He blinked. This was weird.

"So I can use ya fireplace for floo tomorrow?" he pressed, sounding frustrated. He didn't like the idea of this woman being able to read his mind.

"I already said you can."

"Er, cool..."

"Until then."

Irritated by how confusing all of this was, Wade turned promptly to get out of the cottage.

"Don't ride the ferris wheel tomorrow. It's going to break down with you on it."

"Tsh. Whatever..." As he left, he thought he saw the woman grinning to herself. Was that part actually true, or was she messing with him? Then again, if he could see the future, he'd probably say things like that just to wind people up.

When he got outside, he glanced back at the cottage. She was definitely a creep, but there was something about her that Wade liked. At least now he could give Marilyn an address that she could use.