Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,
Chapter 30, Tarot
"How did you do it," Severus shout-whispered to Raislen as soon as he settled into a seat beside the older boy at lunch. As usual Raislen was saving the seat for him so that no other fifth year would take it.
At the question, Raislen's face split into a pleased grin. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about, Kid. If I did know what you're talking about, though, I would say that having Hufflepuff friends who can slip something into food because their common room is connected to the kitchens is very useful indeed."
Severus's eyes widened. "Brilliant," he breathed. "That is bloody brilliant."
"How did it happen," Heather asked quietly from where she sat on the other side of Raislen. Severus studied her calm expression. How did she remain so bloody composed in the face of such a wonderful, much deserved bit of victory?
"Why are you looking so calm like that," he asked just as quietly. "It's strange."
"If I look too eager, it will draw suspicion," Heather said. Her tone suggested that Severus was thick for asking and he flushed.
"Yeah that's true. You're right."
"So how did it happen," Heather persisted impatiently. Her tone sounded impatient but her face was still calm and even impassive. Severus was impressed.
"Oh it was so beautiful," he said. Though he struggled to keep the glee from his face, he knew he'd never be as good as Heather at hiding how he felt. If he was half as good, he'd be satisfied. "It was in Divinations class. They soiled themselves literally in class! And it smelled like something rotten! To clarify, by that I mean worse than someone's waste usually smells."
"Clearly," Heather said, lips twitching.
Raislen snickered. "I bought sulphur drops from Zonkos. The bottle promises that if you put a drop in someone's drink, they'll pass the most foulest of gas. Apparently some freaks find that funny. But I got to thinking... What if someone had an entire fourth of a bottle in their pumpkiney pumpkin juice?!"
Severus spluttered with laughter that he unsuccessfully attempted to contain. "But wait," Heather said. "There is more." Though her tone and face remained implacably calm and impassive, Severus could see the mirth dancing in her eyes.
"Well then I also got to thinking that what if I worked an enhancement charm on the bottle of sulphur drops before I arranged for my very loyal friend whose common room is attached to the kitchens to put it in the juice the four Gryffindor Gits would receive with their breakfast." Raislen's smile was extremely self-satisfied, as it should be.
"Oh gods," Severus murmured in open awe.
"Yep," Heather said, giving Raislen a proud grin. "He did good. I bet those Gits haven't stopped shitting themselves yet!"
"They could run out of shit," Raislen speculated thoughtfully.
"Well then there's always liquid," Heather said.
Raislen nodded sagely. "There's that."
"That is the most brilliant," Severus said carefully. He spoke carefully to avoid shouting with glee.
Raislen grinned. "Thanks, Kid. They had it coming. I could've done far better, but I had to keep it harmless to avoid being expelled or something." He chuckled. "The point is, it certainly won't be harmless to their precious wittle egos."
"The egos of bullies are always fragile," Heather said."Else they'd not have those emotions that make them want to bully."
"What emotions," Severus found himself wondering.
Heather shrugged. "Dunno. Not a bully."
Severus laughed. "Fair enough." He grinned at Raislen. "And you're right. That really will hurt them in the worst of places. Raislen you are so bloody brilliant!"
Raislen grinned happily. "I know, but I am in good company." Raislen had always had a grand self esteem, but he never needed to be the star, always sharing the glory with his friends. Severus had a good self esteem himself, when it came to his own intelligence, so this worked for him. The only thing he felt self-conscious over was the fact that Grandfather Prince kept him so poor. It was humiliating. That and the ever-pressing-fact that though he was a far more skilled duelist than any of the four Gryffindor Gits, they could still manage to get the best of him when in a group. Not today, though, he thought with an inner cackle. Today they weren't even getting the best of the toilet!
How he wished he could manage to corner and attack them today. He could show them how good it felt to be ganged up on. Even though he'd be one while they were four, they'd be too busy soiling themselves or trying not to to fight back. Alas, he hadn't been able to watch them suffer further after Divinations, because they hadn't attended the next two classes before lunch. He assumed they were likely in the hospital wing. As such, it was no surprise that they weren't attempting to eat lunch. If they had, it would likely just exit again quickly, right into their chairs just as had happened in Divinations class. That image caused Severus to think of the tarot lesson. "Say! What do the two of you think of tarot? Do you think it's real," Severus asked glancing from Heather to Raislen. "I myself think it's a load of rubbish."
"Well tarot decks are most definitely real," Raislen said dryly and Severus kicked his leg under the table. Raislen laughed, jerking aside so that his shoulder accidentally bumped Heather's. She didn't seem to notice. Her expression was thoughtful as she studied Severus.
"I have actually gotten some rather accurate tarot readings from gypsies during the dry, hot, miserable summer travels while my parents tour."
"Really?" Raislen turned to her in interest. "How did you know they were accurate?"
"Yes, how," Severus chimed in.
"Well I got a reading when I was twelve that said I'd make a new close friend the next year. That's when you came to Hogwarts, Severus. When Raislen and I were thirteen."
Severus frowned. "But that's so general. Everyone makes new friends." Well everyone normal. Severus didn't make many new friends. He had made Heather and Raislen in his first year, then Regulus and perhaps Mulciber in this, his third.
"True," Raislen backed him up.
Heather shook her head. "But there was more! The gypsy who cast those cards said that this friend had a tough family life. I didn't even know that the reading was so accurate until you told us about how dreadful your grandfather is to you and you know, what had happened to your dad," Heather told Severus quietly. "Any would-be reader can invent generalities that apply to everyone, but she was more specific. She also said that you are a good and loyal person," she added, giving him a warm smile. "So does this prove that at least some tarot readers are accurate?"
Severus shrugged, still undecided. "That's still somewhat general."
"True," Raislen agreed.
"A reading I got last year told me I'd be a Prefect," Heather said. "Is that specific enough for you?"
Severus and Raislen exchanged a glance before both shrugged nearly as one.
"Sure, if it works for you, Heather Toy," Raislen said, giving her a casual smile.
Twisting in her chair, Heather struck Raislen in the stomach with an angry fist, then did it again.
"That was different," Severus observed. "Usually it's just the once."
"Yeah," Raislen wheezed as he doubled over in pain. "What gives, Heather Toy?"
"Sit up so I can get you again for that," she snapped darkly. "The second one was for patronizing me about my tarot experiences. You weren't there."
"But I wasn't," Raislen protested without straightening up. That was wise, as it kept him from being hit again, but he couldn't remain doubled over all day, Severus thought. "I really did mean if it works for you. Severus and I haven't had your experiences, is all. We can't just believe something without experiencing it." Severus nodded in silent agreement.
"Fine," Heather said. "Sorry for that second one, then. I'll give you a pass on the second Heather Toy and call it even this time. Are we good?""
Grinning, Raislen straightened. "For sure," he agreed.
"So you haven't had an accurate tarot reading," Severus asked Raislen.
"I got accurate generalities that could be true for most people, so I couldn't draw conclusions. I think the cards are basically designed for accurate generalities, though. That's their shtick." Severus nodded, because that made sense.
"How about you," Raislen asked.
Severus shrugged. "I'd never had a reading until today in class. The Gryffindor Gang of Gits had their smelly accident just in time to keep me from having to give a return reading, so it was doubly brilliant," Severus said.
"So your reading was accurate generalities, then," Heather asked.
"Well no," Severus said. "Just wrong. We were told to ask a specific question about something. The good thing about that is, well it's harder to keep it general with a direct question."
"So," Heather asked. "What was it?"
"I couldn't think of anything good to ask," Severus admitted. "So I chose something that I already basically know the answer to and asked if I'd get to visit Raislen's library... ur I mean Raislen for the holidays again this year," Severus said. He flushed because the library slip up had truly been accidental. He did miss that library, though. He missed it so very much. He did wish to see Raislen over the break as well, but he had literal dreams about sleeping in that library again.
Being surrounded by the heavenly smell of old books while staring at floor to ceiling shelves that were literally packed with them. The soles of his feet still recalled the literal hum of power he could feel from the floor that always seemed to call to him, welcoming him lovingly as he entered.
"So what, the cards said you'd be visiting," Raislen asked. "And I will tactfully ignore the bit about visiting my library instead of me," he added pointedly. Severus flushed again, but Raislen was grinning in open amusement.
"Oh no, that's just it," Severus said."The experiment just proved what I already believe about tarot being fake rubbish. According to my partner Mulciber, the cards said that I won't be allowed to visit. I can't see why not, so it is clearly all rubbish."
"What if Mulciber simply doesn't have a talent for tarot," Heather asked. "The cards can't do it all on their own without a skilled reader. It's a fifty-fifty thing."
Severus shrugged. "I don't know, but for now I think they're rubbish. If I ever get an accurate reading, I'll change my mind."
"Fair enough," Raislen said, nodding. Just then Regulus hurried up. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were bright with excitement. "I had to write Kreacher about the good news," he said. Of course they knew precisely what good news he meant.
"You just missed the secret explanation of how it went down," Heather told him. An amused smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Ooh you must tell it again, then, please," Regulus said. "Just wait while I get a chair." There were no empty chairs at their part of the table, so he grabbed one from where all the first years were sitting and dragged it close to Heather's. "I didn't do it," Heather said, gesturing at Raislen. "He'll explain it all, but of course, you can't tell a soul."
"Obviously not," Regulus said. "Just Kreacher, but you know I tell him everything."
"Sure but not in letters. You tell him when you get home over the Holidays or if you see him in person again for Hogsmeade before the holidays," Raislen said firmly.
Though his face fell a little, Regulus nodded. "Letters could be tampered with. I understand."
"Good lad," Raislen said, then proceeded to fill Regulus in on how he'd managed to make the Gryffindor Gang of Gits make a big smelly mess all over Divinations class. Severus picked up the story to tell of exactly how it had unfolded during his own lesson. He concluded by asking, "Do you believe that tarot is accurate?"
Regulus shrugged. "No idea, and don't care."
"You may when you have to do it some day in Divinations," Heather said with a laugh, and Severus rolled his eyes.