Chapter 26: Written in the Tea Leaves

"Ugh, this is possibly the stupidest assignment I've ever gotten," Lexie moaned out loud to her four companions as they all sat in the common room trying to get through their assignments.

The additional course load of taking electives their third year seemed to be impacting them all since even Sirius and James had their heads together working on their Ancient Runes homework.

"What class is that for?" asked Sirius curiously watching Lexie swirl around a cup of tea with her head tilted to the side and one eye squinted shut.

"Divination," she grumbled.

That had even Remus looking up from his Astronomy chart, "Seriously Lexie? You're taking that as an elective."

"Ugh, I know but Dumbledore suggested it," she grumbled, "I'm beginning to think he wasn't actually being serious and was just pulling my leg."

"Why would Dumbledore suggest Divination?" laughed Sirius, "He can't honestly believe in that voodoo nonsense can he?"

James snorted, "More like imaginary hooha nonsense, Seers are just wizards and witches who have had a little too much," he mimicked smoking causing the other boys to laugh.

Lexie stayed quiet feeling a little insulted since she knew firsthand from her dreams that there was at least a little validity in seers, although she had to admit that even she was beginning to question how this class was even supposed to help her understand her dreams. Guess she couldn't fault James for making fun when so far, the class had been a whole lot of nonsense.

"So, what is the assignment," asked Peter who watched Lexie return her stare back into her teacup.

Lexie looked up to eight eyes looking at her with curiosity, "I'm supposed to read these tea leaves apparently. Something about my inner eye and a transference of my energy, ugh, except all I see are tea leaves!" she finished exasperated.

Sirius snorted, "Give it here, maybe we can help, maybe it's like seeing shapes in clouds, right?"

Lexie handed the teacup over to Sirius who tilted it this way and that, "mmhmm, ah yes, I see it so clearly. Oh, very interesting, very interesting indeed…"

Lexie perked up, "Really? What do you see Sirius?"

Sirius made his voice deep and breathy, "I see a snake wearing a tutu."

James cracked up, "You idiot, you just got back from pranking the Slytherin fourth years by changing their robes into tutus for tomorrow, we don't need tea leaves to predict that."

"Ah yes, well that must be it, yes very astute Mr. Potter."

Lexie tried to keep a serious face but couldn't help laughing along with the other boys.

"Okay, my turn," said James plucking the cup from Sirius' hand.

James turned the cup several times and inspected it for a few minutes while the others looked on patiently before he announced with confidence, "Oh I've got it, it's clearly a hat."

Lexie looked at James with derision, "All that and all you see is a hat?"

James pouted, "Well it's better than what you saw which was, what was that you said Lexie? A fat lot of nothing am I right."

Lexie sighed, "Ok you win." She flipped through her textbook, "Ok let's see, a hat, a hat… ah, what kind of hat?"

James returned to staring at the tea leaves, "A top hat maybe? What's that mean?"

Lexie laughed, "It means you will achieve something great in your life. Well, congrats James, hope it makes you rich and you share the wealth with your friends. Oh, and Sirius in case you were wondering snakes are a bad omen and will bring you misfortune."

Sirius scoffed, "Well it's not like I need a book to tell me that much. My family are all Slytherin, or have you forgotten?"

"Ah.. right, right," said Lexie sheepishly.

"My turn, my turn," squealed Peter excited to have a reason to ignore his own homework, James handed him the cup and less than a minute later, "Well you're both wrong, it's clearly a toad."

"A toad? Seriously Peter, how did you get a toad from my top hat?" laughed James.

Peter scoffed, "Well maybe you just don't have enough imagination. What's the toad mean Lexie?"

Lexie flipped through several pages, "Ah, oh dear Pete, maybe you should try again."

"What, why?"

"Urm, well a toad means deceit and unexpected enemies, yikes this isn't very happy stuff this tea reading is it. Maybe you should try Remus?"

Remus looked skeptical but took the cup from Peter and focused on the contents inside, he snorted, "It just looks like a lump of shrubs or bushes, I don't see a top hat or a toad and definitely no tutu wearing snakes."

Lexie flipped back through her book, "Ah shrubs, that means, an invitation into society, what is that supposed to mean? Like you're going to be part of a club or something? Or maybe become an important person, oooh like maybe the mayor or something! You're going to be famous Remie!"

Remus was overcome with laughter and was bent in half trying to get himself under control again. He didn't voice it out loud but the absurdity of a werewolf being welcomed into society at all, let alone being elected as mayor was just too much for him to take.

Once he had composed himself a little, he handed the cup back to Lexie chuckling, "This is indeed the stupidest assignment any one of us has ever had Lexie, I think you might need to just make something up."

Lexie sighed, "I figured as much, but hey at least you all gave me some ideas so cheers boys!" she said raising the teacup as if to toast them.

The five of them returned to their assignments still chuckling every couple of minutes, while Lexie scribbled down some nonsense about a top hat-wearing toad hidden amongst some trees. Wearing a tutu of course.