Commentary: Since this year involves divination I decided to do some method-writing. In which I mean I genuinely did tarot readings for characters and wrote down the results. I need to emphasize that these readings ACTUALLY HAPPENED- in that card order, as described- including the shuffles! (It actually scares me how relevant the readings are. The reading for Chapter 133 straight up fucks with me to this day.)

Note: At the end of the chapter there's a song loosely done to the melody of "Into the Unknown" from Over the Garden Wall.

Wednesday October 6th, 1993

"Mel? Me~ellll!"

"Mmm?"

"It's time to get up."

"Mm-nooooo!"

"You're going to miss breakfast."

"Don't care."

"And History of Magic."

"...I sleep there, anyways."

"Then you can sleep there; but you have to actually be there." Amy began to poke her in the face. "Come on, sleepyhead. It's time to get up."

Melissa whined in protest. "You're mean!"

"It's called being a good friend."

The covers were ripped off from her, flushing her body with a chill. Melissa tried to hug her pillow for warmth, but was soon pulled away, herself, by a pair of hands.

"Up, up, up! Come on, lazy brain. Go wash up."

"-M not lazy," Melissa grumbled behind closed eyes.

From somewhere in the room, Rusalka made a quip, "It's ironic. Last year she had trouble sleeping at all, and now she's always taking naps and sleeping in."

Had she been more awake, Melissa could have pointed out that she had tried the same last year, but kept getting interrupted by sleep-time possessions. That, or bring up a lack of sleep due to nightmares. Instead, in her current state, all she could think about was "You try having full classes and fight against people breaking into your mind twice a week!"

"Is it really that rough?" Amy asked.

"Exhausting!"

"A fair point," said Rusalka. "Plus you have those nights with Trelawney, right?"

"Ugh!" Don't remind me. "Yeah. Can one of you come with me again tonight?"

A telling silence followed.

"...You can ask Jacqueline?" Amy suggested. "I know she doesn't take divination, but maybe that'll work in your favour?"

"I guess."

"Good. You can ask her at breakfast. Which is where we should be. So go get ready!"

Times like this, Melissa was thankful for double History this year. She practically slept through the entire morning, and now was wide awake for lunch. The meal itself was filled with conversation and food alike. Though, as it wound down and people departed elsewhere, she still felt plenty energetic. Enough that she felt a whim to go outside for a jaunt.

"Pretty sure there's a rule that you're not supposed to go out without a Prefect," Rusalka cautioned.

"True…" She looked around, noting that Jacqueline and Garrick had already left for the common room. She craned her head over the Ravenclaw table, seeing who remained at the others. "We have Herbology after this. I'll ask one of the Puffs."

She rose with a stretch, then made a quick walk over to her yellow-clad classmates. "Hey, Cedric, would you be up for a walk outside?"

"Me?" Some odd emotion flushed over his face. "Umm, sorry, I can't. I have to… check something at the library before class. If you'll excuse me-" Cedric scrambled off of the bench and, with a shy wave to the group, walked out of the hall.

Well that was weird. Melissa glanced at the others with a questioning look, but those remaining shrugged - equally confused. "So… how about you, Steph? Interested?"

"I don't mind. Anyone want to come along?"

A couple of the other girls thought it over quickly. Sierra was the first to agree, followed by a pensive Lucy Yarbough. "Is it alright if we stop by Greenhouse Six, first? I want to check if there are any roses and raspberries around."

Stephanie nodded. "We can do that. Let's go, girls."

As the others started walking, Melissa spoke quietly to Sierra. "What are roses and raspberries good for?"

"A cake for Cedric," she answered. "His birthday's coming up."

"Oh, right. …Wait, roses?"

"Yeah?"

Melissa looked at Sierra incredulously. "It's a flower."

"That you can eat," Sierra answered, entirely amused. "Lucy's gotten into adding flowers since last year. They're really good."

"Wait- You guys bake each other cakes for your birthdays? Why not ask the house elves?"

"Why not?" She shrugged. "To be fair, it's mostly Lucy who makes them in our year. I tried once and ended up covered in flour and burnt my cookies to a crisp!"

They both giggled at the image. "Man, flower-laced cakes, home-made cookies, you Hufflepuffs have got it made! I should hang out with you guys more often."

"Yes you should!" Sierra bumped her arm, a grin following their giggles as they walked outside.

They made their way into Greenhouse Six, and were in luck to find plenty of rose petals to gather. How does one judge a ripe petal, anyway? The thought nagged at her, hammering itself in even as she was distracted by the main thought of how many flowers can constitute as being edible. She would have asked, for sure, had Lucy not suddenly shrieked away from the raspberry bushes, shouting "SNAKES!"

"Hey, hey," Stephanie took hold of Lucy with calming strokes, "it's alright. There's nothing to be scared of."

"But I saw them! They're adders! They're poisonous!"

Adders? "Oh, that's probably just Magpie." Melissa stepped closer to the bushes, half ignoring the question of "Magpie?" as she called out down the branches, "Are you scales-like-a-magpie?"

Somewhere in the brambles arose a selection of voices.

"A speaker?"

"A female speaker."

"We aren't supposed to talk to female speakers!"

"I know this one's scent. She's safe." A black and white body slithered between branches and thorns. Its little face popped out and gave a hiss. "Greetings, Moon-friend, Lissa."

"Greetings, Scales-like-a-magpie. How are you?"

As they hissed in conversation, the other witches shifted where they stood. "It's still odd, hearing snake language," Lucy confessed. "Don't you think?"

"I've gotten used to it," said Steph, begrudgingly. "The third years have made it a habit when they don't want people to overhear them. It's… It's something. Though at least they don't bring actual snakes into the common room."

"Right," Lucy shivered. "They're creepy."

"Oh, they're not so bad." Sierra took a step closer, crouching down to see the snakes at ground level. She spotted a pair of dark snakes looking up at Melissa and 'Magpie'. They didn't look like adders. At least, beneath all the branches, it was hard to make out any details. Though what stood out were two bright blue eyes. "Oh, and these ones are absolute beauties!"

The pair twitched, twisting their faces to stare at her, knowingly. It was unnerving. That and it looked like the thorns had moved with them?

"They want to know what you said," Melissa translated as the pair hissed.

"Oh! That's fine, you can tell them," Sierra watched as Melissa gave a translation. The snakes writhed at the hisses. They genuinely seemed pleased by it. "That's so cool!"

Melissa translated that part, too. "He says he likes you!" She grinned. "You made quite the impression."

"Well thank you!" Sierra nodded to the snakes. "Err, what are their names?"

Melissa asked. The response elicited a confused expression. "Okay, I'm going to butcher this, but one of them is Azerwal and the other one is Agil- no wait- Aghilas. I have no idea what either of those names mean. I'll have to check with H- Hufflepuff's Heir, or whatever it is you call him, to find out."

The witches gave a snort. "You can just call him Justin, you know?"

"Sure, but where's the fun in that?"

"Sorry," Lucy waved shyly, "but is it safe for me to…?"

"Oh! Right!" Melissa started hisses, then 'Magpie' slithered downwards. "They'll stay in that corner til we leave. We can gather the rest, if that's alright."

Lucy sighed in relief. "That would be nice. Thank you."

After a bit of slithering, the girls got to work. As they did, Sierra filled the air with conversation. "It is pretty cool to talk to animals, though. Even if it is just snakes. Do you think there are other languages out there?"

"No idea," Said Stephanie.

"But it had to have started somewhere. Oh! Maybe some magical snakes taught wizards how to speak parseltongue! I bet other magical creatures can do it, too!"

"It's possible."

"In the future," Melissa plucked out a raspberry, "people will learn to speak from an owl."

The others stopped and stared at her. "Come off it!" Sierra gave a snort. "...Wait, are you serious?"

"'Course I am."

The lack of eye contact made it feel like a joke. "Yeah, right. An owl teaches people to speak like an owl."

"His name's Duo," Melissa said casually, eyes still on her raspberries. "And, let me tell you, he'll be an absolute persistent bastard! Lord help you if you try to take a day off from language lessons. Hoots after you all damn day."

The three Puffs looked at each other for guidance, or- perhaps- sanity from what they were hearing. Alas, all they could do was shrug, and try to not think hard about Duo the talking owl.

"Thanks for agreeing to come, Jacqueline."

"It's no trouble. I have to admit, I've been interested to see what her classroom looks like."

"And smells like," Melissa muttered under her breath. She climbed up the ladder, at once awash in the choking smell of incense.

She helped Jacqueline through the trapdoor, gesturing her to a table with a pair of armchairs as Trelawney came in and made her usual *Spectacle*.

"We continue our study of five-card spreads!" The woman announced. She drew a tarot deck from her sleeve as she continued. "There are many ways one can interpret the future within five cards, and many spreads to try from."

Yes, you already said all that last time.

"You've had little success with the line or the cross, though I'm certain we will find a spread best suited for you." She turned to Jacqueline, practically thrusting the deck into her hands. "Be a dear and shuffle that, will you? Think hard on a question in your mind as you do. Your magic and desire must imbue itself into the cards. There, that's it.

"As for you, Miss Bennett, we will be doing a simple reading of past, present, and future using the horseshoe spread. You will place each card on these spots in that order. Oh my, done already, my dear?" She gestured for Melissa to take the deck from Jacqueline. "Very well, I shall guide you through the process. First we have the Past."

Melissa flipped the first card. An inverted card of three swords stabbing a heart. "Fun," she offered a wincing smile. "Good thing you didn't ask a romance question, right?"

Biting her lip, Jacqueline answered. "Actually, I did."

"Oh," Whoops! "I thought you were in the same boat as me with waiting until we're older?"

She fought an embarrassed blush. "Well we are older, aren't we? And, well- it would be nice to experience romance, don't you think?"

"I guess…" Melissa glanced down at the card. "On the plus side, I'm pretty sure this card being upside-down means that it's a less extreme version of grief and woes of the heart."

"Quite right, Miss Bennett." The girls jumped, having forgotten the professor looming behind Melissa. "Now for the Present."

This time it was a man instead of a heart, his body overtop ten swords in a way that would make Vlad the Impaler jealous. "That's a lot of stabbings," Melissa whispered.

"I suppose it being in reverse is also a good thing?"

"Um… Yeah. Let's see… it stands for courage, recovery, and turning towards higher resources."

"That's good."

"Right."

She turned the next card, symbolizing Unexpected Issues.

"More swords," Jacqueline commented.

"Mmm, the Seven of Swords means a failed plan, betrayal and spying."

"Not only that, child," Trelawney admonished. "This card can also be influenced by its surroundings to symbolise bravery and care."

Jacqueline's eyes flashed in understanding. "And the Ten means courage, you said!"

"Precisely, my dear!"

Betrayals sound more like an unexpected issue than bravery. Melissa considered, but she let it slide and moved on to Best Course of Action.

"...That says Death."

"Yep. …On the plus side, Death can just mean an 'end of an era' or a big change, um… a discovery that changes your life. Stuff like that. That actually works with what the card is meant to say."

"If you say so…"

"And the Outcome is…" She raised her hands to a ta-da effect. "Four of Wands! That's the wedding one. See, you're doing fine!"

"So… what does this all mean?" Jacqueline asked with a mild earnestness.

"Well…" She clicked her tongue, thoughts gathering as she looked over the cards. "We already know that you haven't had a chance to find love even though you want to, but you have a chance at finding someone good for you so long as you're brave about it and… learn more about yourself?"

"You're posing that as a question," Jacqueline said with amusement.

"Well- I mean- that's good advice in general, isn't it?" She asked. "We're only fifteen. That's hardly enough time to know enough about ourselves. Especially for what we need in a relationship."

"Though how does bravery get involved in knowing yourself?"

She started to answer, thinking of relationships with a muggle or muggle born, but closed her mouth - thinking it might bring up a bad idea. "What if one day you fancy someone that you know your parents wouldn't approve of?"

A look of confusion crossed her face "I can't imagine I'd ever involve myself with someone my parents would disapprove of."

"You never know," she glanced down at the cards, "that person might be your key to a happy love-life."

"Well put, Miss Bennett." The girls flinch, having forgotten about the teacher. "Your instincts appear sound with this reading. Perhaps you have a gift towards affairs of the heart."

The idea made her wince. "I'm not exactly the queen of relationships, or dating in general."

"Well there is a way to remedy that. There's a spread designed for finding love."

"Oh. Great."

Kill me.

"Now, now, go ahead and shuffle my dear, and do put focus into the question. …Now, allow me." Trelawney took the deck from her and readied the first card. "Let's see where you are in life. Lovely! The Six of Wands. Public acclamation, good news, achievement, and great expectations."

I have 'Public acclamation?' She wasn't sure whether it was a groan or a laugh she was stifling. Do you not know where I've BEEN this summer?!

"Your past relationships: The Moon, reversed. Silence, stillness, tricks, and white lies." Okay, that one is genuinely funny. "Something you're hiding, my dear?"

A lot, actually. She gave a nod, which was enough to satisfy the woman.

"Now we shall see what goes well for you." A flip revealed the Five of Cups. In doing so, it flipped Trelawney's smile into a frown.

Oh, this is too good! "Isn't that the card for bitterness and loss and relationships ending?" Screw the rudeness, this level of irony is gorgeous. "You're right, that does go well for me!"

Both Trelawney and Jacqueline shifted uncomfortably at the sarcasm. "Um, yes, well, let's see what your Past Troubles will reveal? The Seven of Cups. Dreaming instead of acting. An inability to choose a single path. It also represents illusion and an overactive imagination. Though I imagine the first is most likely, in your case. And finally, what you need to work on…"

"Ha!" Oh, come on, The Devil - reversed? How can I not laugh! "This is what I need to work on?"

Jacqueline looked between them nervously. "What does that mean, exactly?"

"A release from bondage," Trelawney answered. "A rest, or a new life's direction."

"Clearly, what this is saying is that I've got way too much baggage to think about a relationship. So we can move on now, right?"

Trelawney stared angrily at the cards. That woman had far too much faith in expecting nice cards in a "finding love" spread from a reincarnate three years too young to date. Heh! Serves her right!

"If the issue you need to work on is so serious," Jacqueline thought aloud, "perhaps there's a spread about how to achieve that?"

The idea put a gleam in Trelawney's eye. "There are spreads for those needing advice."

Ah, crap. Here we go. "Alright. Let's give it a try." Unlike the last time, Melissa made a conscious effort to shuffle the cards until they 'felt right'. Stupid as this all was, there was a reasonable part of her that wanted guidance for the crazy-that-is-her-life. So, after a long shuffle, she offered the cards back to the professor and watched the spread unfold.

"The first card will represent you as you are." She turned said card, revealing the Moon - reversed.

"Again?" Jacqueline asked. "Is that normal?"

"Not really," the group eyed it in mistrust, "especially since we only did five cards."

"It proves what was shown before," the professor said, "That the reason for your lack of relationships is because of who you are. Of your white lies or silence."

…I mean, fuck, she's not wrong.

"Now we shall see if you are on the correct path." She flipped to reveal the Five of Cups.

"Oh, come on! I shuffled these!" Melissa waved her arms wildly. "You all saw that, right?!"

"The cards are speaking to you, girl!" Trelawney admonished. "It's time you listen to them!"

Jacqueline unhelpfully added. "Which means No you're not on the right path."

Great, now they're both on my case.

"Next, your main obstacle. The Knight of Swords - reversed. Unsuccessful or erratic behaviour. Bad judgement and impulsive mistakes."

Jacqueline slapped a hand over her mouth, though not enough to completely stifle her laughter. Melissa returned it with a dirty look and a petulant tongue.

"What is helping you is Justice. Fairness, balance, legal matters, negotiations and equality."

"Well, that is true," Jacqueline said. "Justice was mainly on your side with- you know…"

Melissa shrugged. Agree to disagree.

"And finally, how progress can be made. The Five of Pentacles - reversed. Representing lessons in charity to be learned, new employment or courage, or new interest in spiritual matters. …Such as taking Divination seriously!" The woman glared sharply at her.

Melissa returned the look. Answering her professor with a simple "Sure." Inside, her instincts grated. Not fucking likely!

After supper, Melissa found mindless respite at the Music Club. True, she was meant to seek out Ravenclaws for next Sunday's interviews, but she, Kenneth, and Merton had already asked people last week (with little success). Eloise promised that some people she had reached out to in Ravenclaw would come out tonight, but Melissa opted to leave recruitment with the boys. Instead, she squirrelled herself behind the school's harpsichord, fiddling with the keys out of view of most members. Her eyes closed, letting the fingers drift with uncomposed chords. Just feeling the music. Floating. Basking in a world of sound.

"You're the Seer, right?"

A jarring voice cut into the floating. Melissa pried one eye open as her hands kept playing. Some curly-haired kid was standing beside the keys, looking at her expectantly. Three others were standing behind the girl, barely visible - though Melissa somewhat recognized Garrick's youngest cousin among them. Astoria, not unlike Melissa, looked surprised by the first kid's tone. Melissa looked back at the first kid, glancing at her red tie before meeting her eye.

"Let me guess, Harriet?"

The girl flushed with offense. Behind her, two of the girls giggled before one said "No, I'm Harriet."

"Mmm." There was bound to be one of them. She continued playing, glancing at the others' ties. Both reds. Ah, well… "What instruments do you play, Greengrass?"

The others swivelled behind them. Seems they hadn't noticed the fourth girl was with them, though they certainly seemed offended by it. Luckily that confusion made it easier to have a conversation with the little blonde girl.

"I play the lyre and the harp."

The fingers stuttered to a stop with both eyes open. "The lyre and the harp?" Melissa grinned. "That is fancy- and impressive!"

Astoria gave a tentative smile back. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Would you be interested in joining our Valentine club?"

Still smiling, Astoria made to answer; only to be interrupted by the curly-haired girl. "EXCUSE ME! I'M the one who's here to talk to you!"

Smiles fell away. She sent an apologetic look to Astoria before narrowing her gaze at the Gryffindor. "Alright then. Talk."

Curly wasn't fazed by her tone. "You can tell the future by singing songs, right?"

Really? That's a new one.

"Like the Eurydice Waltz," Harriet piped in. "We've been trying to figure out what other Weird Sisters songs have prophecies in them."

Wait… Oh, shit, people figured that out?! How did these firsties learn about it?!

"Ah. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but that song's the only prophecy I gave them."

Harriet and the third girl deflated. Curly, though, remained haughty. "Well how about now? Can you sing me a prophecy?"

Astoria, alarmed, stepped forward. "You're not supposed to ask a Seer to make a prophecy-!"

"Nobody asked you, Greengrass." Curly looked back at her expectantly. "So? Can you?"

I'd rather hex your face with boils and give you ass' ears. She continued to stare at the girl. Her displeased air had no effect on the rude little witch. In those silent seconds, the question folded into her mind. If rumours had been true, this would have been a 'Can I: Yes, Will I: No' situation. But it isn't, so instead the questions twisted in her mind.

Can I? No. Will I? …Eh, fuck it- "Sure, why not?" Her fingers grazed along the keys. "Mind you, I can't control it. So let's just see where the music takes us. Shall we?"

Eyes closed once again, her fingers started to play. It was nonsense, as before, moving automatically as her mind drifted. Futures, futures… She doesn't know this girl. She's too young to be anyone important to the plot. She could make something up, though false can be proven false. …Then again, why bother with the girl at all? Like she implied, whatever happens, happens. So let's have some fun with it!

The mind drifted. Thoughts floated. Memories passed. Ideas inspired, and notes shifted. The key changed. Melancholic tones filled the ears and mind, and all around the world went quiet.

"Once upon a future, stories told and transformed,

Now lost to the winds of fate.

Where agonies thrive and happiness is mourned,

A man lives in hate…

…but, oh, just you wait.

When destiny twines… its threads 'round the gate...

'Blood!', the beastling calls,

Flees, the prison falls-

-Behind, as he swims to shore.

Creeps, into the halls,

Up, to sleeping stalls,

Poised, as the children snore.

Will you wake, little red, as he stands by your bed,

Knife aloft to claim his prize?

On all Hallows Eve will the tragedies spread?

Will tales realize,

Or new futures arise?

When destiny twines… one can only surmise."

Melissa's hands lifted as the song called Complete. Eyes still closed, breath came in, then out, as a smile graced her face. How long has it been since she's made a song on the fly? Too long! Too long. But now, come again, at last! Her mind rejoiced at the feeling.

She opened her eyes, at once taken aback at not one, not four, but over a dozen fearful faces gaping at her.

"...What? The kid asked for a song."

Question: Does anyone know where to watch Over The Garden Wall? Haven't seen it, but I hear that the Exec bastards deleted it from existence.