With how ridiculous FFN's bugs have become, it's worth giving a reminder that I also post my stuff on AO3. I don't plan on abandoning this site since most of my readers are here, it's just disheartening to not have had any story stats since Sep 15th and now the site doesn't even give me email notifications.
Author's Note: This chapter takes direct lines from POA and OotP
Thursday September 2nd, 1993
In an act of reluctant necessity, Melissa got up early the next morning and prepared for the day. A talk with Adrian secured her an old copy of Unfogging the Future, and another with Rusalka providing her extra books to help her (hopefully) speed through Trelawney's Fourth Year material. Breakfast also was an early and heavy affair. Knowing her plans for the morning, it will be a long time before lunch will be an option for her. That, and she needs time to find a hideaway between time-jumps. Once her bearings were more-or-less secure, she headed off to the North Tower where the third year divination class was set to take place.
As she waited in the tower's landing, pairs and trios of third years started to trickle in. Greengrass and Davies. Granger and Longbottom. Patil and Brown. When Jones, Moon, and Macmillian came in she learned they were the only Puffs to take Divination this year. Same for Cornfoot's trio of Ravens. Instead, a large number of Gryffindors and Slytherins took up the roster for this year's class. Which seemed odd, at first. Though with the alternatives being Arithmancy and Muggle Studies, the option must have been inevitable with those two houses.
"What are you doing here?" The question of disgust, coming from Pansy Parkinson, broke her out of her musings.
"It's considered bad form for a seer to not take divination," Melissa answered. "Dumbledore's strong-armed me into auditing some classes to catch up to my year."
"Do you even need this class?" The question came from Dean. "Can't you see what's going to happen?"
"Not everything. It's a bit random, to be honest." Then a thought crossed her mind, offering a cheeky grin for the group. "Though I can tell you that Trelawney's going to predict someone's death. That's not a prediction from me, mind you. That's just something she does every year."
"Hmph!" Parkinson gave a snooty huff. "I bet Runcorn was one of them, wasn't he?"
An awkward silence fell upon the third year students. Melissa, on the other hand, acted pensive. "You know, I never thought to ask." A clatter above broke the quiet as the trap door opened up and released a silvery ladder and Melissa's feet. "Well, no time like the present to ask a future seer about the past! Shall we?"
Not waiting for an answer, she climbed up the ladder and claimed the closest armchair to the door. The others trickled in, each taking time to look about the gaudy, incense heavy room. The last to appear was Ron Weasley. He, like the others, continued to gawk rather than find a seat. "Where is she?" He asked.
A breath of a voice answered, "Welcome. How nice to see you in the physical world at last." Trelawney appeared from the shadows in all her gaudy glory. Arms, neck, and fingers adorned with more jewellery than practical. Something the woman has always done; and yet it seemed to Melissa that today was especially worse compared to how she presents herself during the few meals she's attended. She probably dresses up for these First Day classes.
"Sit, my children, sit." The younger teens all scrambled for seats. None chose to sit with her. No surprise there. Though poor Ron, having been at the back of the crowd, wasn't able to find a seat among his friends, and sheepishly sat on the pouffe across from her.
"Welcome to Divination. My name is Professor Trelawney. You may not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye.
"So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts." Chosen isn't a word I would use. "I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can only take you so far in this field… Many witches and wizards, talented though they are in the area of loud bangs and smells and sudden disappearing, are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future." Loud smells? What? What does she think that has to do with magic?
As she mused the thought, the teacher turned suddenly to Neville. "You, boy, is your grandmother well?"
"I think so," Neville quivered in answer.
"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear," said Trelawney. That was a really weak cold reading. Melissa thought. Did that happen in the books? I can't remember. "We will be covering the basic methods of Divination this year. The first term will be devoted to reading tea leaves. Next term we shall progress to palmistry. By the way, my dear," she turned to Parvati, "beware a red-haired man."
Parvati shot a look of fear at Ron. The boy looked confused by the reaction. So much so that he even looked helplessly to Melissa for guidance. Of course, it didn't make sense to her either, so she shrugged as much to him.
Trelawney ignored all of this as she continued. "In the summer term we shall progress to the crystal ball - if we have finished with fire-omens, that is." Wait, hold up, fire omens actually sound really cool. "Unfortunately, classes will be disrupted in February by a nasty bout of flu. I myself will lose my voice. And around Easter one of our number will leave us for ever."
*KHT!*
The class swivelled, disturbed, at the pronouncement and the snort alike. Being the centre of the sound, Melissa ducked her face beneath her hands, shielding the expression as best she could because oh my god she actually predicted it! THAT'S HILARIOUS!
"I wonder, dear," The professor continued on, oblivious of her own spectacle, "if you could pass me the largest silver teapot? …Thank you, my dear. Incidentally that thing you are dreading - it will happen on Friday the sixteenth of October." Wait, who in the what now? She looked up, but didn't catch which student Trelawney was talking to.
Alas, the professor moved on, instructing them to gather their cups of tea and how to prepare for a proper reading. Of course, in the Seer's continued fashion, she predicted that Neville would break a cup, yet was gracious enough about it. Only asking that he take a blue cup after he breaks the first one. Despite Neville being… well, Neville, it was decently impressive that it happened so quickly after the woman's prediction.
Melissa took a sip of the tea, flinching against the scalding heat. Not to mention the lack of sugar or lemon or anything remotely appetizing. Annoyed, she took out her wand, but paused at the question on her mind. "I don't suppose there's any harm in using a cooling charm, is there?"
"I'm afraid so, my dear. Interfering magics of any sort can cloud the Inner Eye. Even from the seer's wand you at last have in your possession," Trelawney answered. The latter statement, unsurprisingly, caught the attention of those around them. The lot eyeing the wand in sudden interest. Yep. Really not going to live that down.
"I ought to mention," The woman continued, "that for you this year shall end in veneration and infamy alike."
"Huh. Thanks, professor."
The woman wandered away, searching for students who had already finished their drinks. When she left, Ron turned to her. "What was that all about?"
"No idea. Maybe the tea will explain it?"
The pair submitted to the burning beverages. Finishing it as best they could before swishing the dregs and tipping it as instructed. They swapped cups and opened their textbooks up to the list of tessomancy symbols. "Right," Ron clipped, "what can you see in mine?"
"Let's see… the book says I should start with what's biggest, then go by what's closest to the rim. That's the nearest to come. In that case…" She squinted at the clusters in the cup. "There's a big line with a bunch of bumps on it near the bottom. Grass? A city skyline?" She glanced through the list in the book for ideas. "Oh, suppose it could be a crown? That symbolizes 'success and honour', so that's nice. Not much near the rim. This thing on the side kind of looks like a rat, though you've already dealt with that," she looked at him playfully. Ron didn't seem to get the joke. With a cough, Melissa compared it to the chart. "Rats, 'losses through enemies or employees.' Well that sucks. And that looks like a sword nearby, so… 'arguments, especially between lovers'. Judging by that, my guess is that someone you date will end up dumping you for an enemy."
"Really?" Ron craned his head over to the cup. "But I'm not dating anyone."
"What can I say? It's the somewhat-distant future. On the plus side, the little dots around the crown can mean money along with the success and honour. So I'd say your future is fine, overall. How about mine?"
Ron squinted into the cup. "That squiggle looks like a snake, no surprise, and that there looks like an hourglass. Maybe that you're running low on time by being in this class?"
"Ha! You're not wrong about that!"
Her laugh caught Trelawney's unwanted attention. The professor jingled her way over to them with a beckoning hand. "Let me see that, my dear." She swiped the cup away. At the action, the class paused to watch, listening closely. "A worm, secret enemies are nearby."
Joy. As if known enemies weren't a problem already.
"A pear among triangles. Great wealth is coming to you."
"I thought it was an hourglass," Ron muttered.
"Hmm… A fish, good news from another country, yet a unicorn for a scandal. A most strange cup, my dear." She twisted it about, examining it further. With a gasp and a scream, the cup dropped from her hand. Ron managed to catch it before it could shatter. Though no one else paid it mind. Trelawney, in full dramatics, placed a hand on her heart and sank into the empty third seat, trembling. "My dear girl, my poor girl - no - it is kinder not to say - no - don't ask me…"
"What is it, Professor?" Dean asked.
"I'm guessing I have the Grim," Melissa answered casually.
Most of the students flinched back, hands to mouth with horror. Trelawney herself gave a shuddering gasp. "You already know? Oh, you poor dear - to face your fate so bravely!"
Confused, Dean couldn't help but ask. "What's a Grim?"
"A terrible omen, the worst omen. It is a giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards. My dear boy, it is an omen of death!"
Now the other muggleborns looked rightly horrified by the omen. All but Hermione and Melissa. The former seemed dismissive of the pronouncement. She walked over to take a look, and probably make herself look the fool in the process.
"I don't think it looks like a Grim," she said haughtily.
Trelawney looked the girl up and down with dislike. "You'll forgive me for saying so, my dear, but I perceive very little aura around you. Very little receptivity to the resonancences of the future."
"She's got you there," Melissa said with a smirk. Peering down at the cup she mused loudly. "Though I quite enjoy the tales that consider the Grim a protector against unwanted spirits or a guide for newly departing souls."
Hearing this, the professor shook her head. "I don't know what fanciful tales the muggles have told you, but the Grim is a true omen of death. Don't let it deceive you."
"I'll take that to heart, Professor," Melissa said, her smile remaining.
"I think we will leave the lesson here for today," Trelawney said quietly. "Yes… please pack away your things."
Melissa happily obliged. Being the first to do so and slide down the ladder. No one was waiting yet. Excellent! That gave her time to run over to her chosen hideaway and await Hermione. When said girl arrived, it was with a scowl on her face. "Cheer up, kid. You're not the one with the death omen."
"As if you honestly believe that nonsense!"
"Yes and no. She has her job for a reason; but, like I said, there's always someone with a death omen every year. A little surprising that it's me, though. Considering I'm not actually in your year." Then again, Harry's was going to be about Sirius. That, and that canine in the cup didn't look quite like a grim.
Hermione gave a derisive sniff. "She probably only chose you because of your reputation."
"Maybe. May-be," She sighed. "But I'll worry about that later. For now I have a second First Class to attend to."
"Where were you, earlier?" Jacqueline hissed as Melissa slipped into DADA. "I didn't see you at breakfast."
"Had to talk to Trelawney first-thing," Melissa explained. "She insisted on doing my tea leaves. FYI, apparently I'm dying. Practically announced it to the third years to give them a scare."
"Circe help us," Rusalka rolled her eyes. "It's always someone."
"A-hem!" A loud throat clearing caught their attention. At the front of the class, Señora Torrero-Ramirez stood at parade rest, eyeing their chatter with an intensity that shamed them into silence.
"Welcome, students, to Defence Against The Dark Arts. I am Luisa Torrero-Ramirez, Capitana de Los Caballeros de la Espada y la Cadena. For those with short memories, another of my esteemed order served as your professor three years ago, so you should be well aware of my credentials and capabilities. For those who doubt it, a step out of line will volunteer you to find out exactly what I am capable of."
The students subconsciously sat straighter at that statement.
"I have been informed that you fifth year students will have rigorous testing at the end of the year that will determine your futures beyond schooling. I have looked through tests given in previous years, and know of the standard you will excel from." Doesn't she mean the standard to reach? "We will first review your fundamentals. These will be assessed and corrected by the end of this week. Then we will move forward. Students, to your feet!"
The teens scrambled to pack their things away and move from the desks. Torrero-Ramirez then banished the desks away with several flicks and brought forth a series of targets against the wall. "At my call, you will fire a spell at the target. You will fire only the spell I call and no other. Any questions?"
One hand raised. A glinting one. The professor called them out, and George Weasley stepped forward. "I might need to sit this test out. My wandwork's a little rusty these days."
There was an audible groan along the line. The professor, perhaps missing the joke, looked unimpressed. "You are Marcello's young protégé, are you not?"
George blinked in confusion at the descriptor. "Um, yes?"
"Then I expect you to not disappoint me. Wand or no wand, you will do as instructed."
"...Sure thing, ma'am," he stepped back into the line.
"Good. Then we begin!"
The Gryffindors and Slytherins gossiped amongst each other as they headed to Divination. George hadn't been lying about his lacking wandwork. What they didn't realize (until after the professor pushed him) was that he's now able to perform magic wandlessly!
"Did any of you know about it?" Adrian asked Angelina Johnson, Jason Adams, and Beatrice Vance, the lonely Gryffindor trio to have chosen Divination.
"Not a clue," Angelina answered.
Jason shook his head. "They've been pretty tight-lipped about it. Said they'd show us everything they learned in due time. Which probably doesn't bode well for the school. Though it might be fun when it happens."
"If they try anything they'll have to answer to me," Beatrice stated. "Ken's a coward, but I'm not letting them run amok just because George lost an arm."
"Cheer up, Bea. It's only the first day. You don't have to take the Prefect thing seriously yet."
"I don't want to, but you've seen what their brother is like," said Beatrice. "If those two cause trouble on my watch, I'll never hear the end of it from Poncy Weasley."
The group laughed at the Head Boy's unflattering nickname. It brought a break in conversation that allowed Angelina to look over the half-dozen slytherin. "By the way, Bennett, why are you walking up with us?"
"Dumbledore's making me take divination now."
"Really?"
"Mhmm."
Rusalka gave a vicious grin. "Trelawney's already given her a death vision."
"Already?!" Adrian asked. "We haven't even been here a full day, yet!"
"What can I say, the woman works fast."
Behind them, Jacinth snickered. "You realize people will try to use it against you?"
Melissa rolled her eyes. "No different than what they're already hoping."
"I doubt 'There was a prediction about it' would stand in court," Amy mused.
"Never know," Warrington shrugged, leaving it at that.
To the third of the class in-the-know, Trelawney's quivering came at a lack of surprise. The others started to whisper among themselves. Their questions were heard in snippets, prompting those in green and red to answer in hushed tones. Melissa, hoping to mitigate some unwanted questions, approached the professor with a look of understanding.
"Professor, I apologize for startling you with the tea reading."
"Apologize? To me?"
"Yes. After all, it's not that I wasn't aware of it. …Though, for everyone's sake, let's put the past few minutes behind us. No need to trouble them with such disturbing news. Focus on your lessons, keep on a brave face. What do you say?"
"Yes… yes, perhaps that is for the best," she answered quietly.
Melissa nodded and ducked away before the woman could say more. Finding and claiming an empty chair with Amy and Adrian as the class began.
"Good morning, and welcome back to Divination." The professor paused for a moment, hesitating before speaking again. "You will find on the tables before you copies of The Dream Oracle, by Inigo Imago. Dream interpretation is a most important means of divining the future and one that may very probably be tested in your O.W.L. Not, of course, that I believe examination passes or failures are of the remotest importance when it comes to the sacred art of divination. If you have the Seeing Eye, certificates and grades matter very little. However, the headmaster likes you to sit the examination, so…"
Her voice trailed off in a way that expressed just how much she disliked the notion of people 'testing' her subject of expertise. "Turn, please, to the introduction and read what Imago has to say on the matter of dream interpretation. Then divide into pairs. Use The Dream Oracle to interpret each other's most recent dreams. Carry on."
Grateful at not having to borrow another book, Melissa read through the introduction. Careful to keep her lumos shallow against the dim, red light. When finished, they spent the scant few minutes remaining of the class on dream interpretation. It wasn't hard to do. Melissa was well aware of what her most recent dreams meant. The sort that leaves you with misty breath on waking. Her friends had more playful dreams to interpret from, so those ate up the time instead of bringing hers to light.
When the bell rang, the professor instructed them to create a dream diary for the next month. Which, actually, was a pretty nice idea. It barely constitutes as homework, not to mention dream diaries can be useful tools for therapy.
The extra classes are certainly a drain, on principle. But maybe, just maybe, the course load will be something she can handle as the year goes on.
Author's Note: I used this site to get my tessomancy symbols: teahow -dot-com /how-to-read-tea-leaves-the-complete-guide-and-the-symbols/
