1:00 pm Monday, September 1, 2008 North Divination Tower Professor Ophelia Grimlish Object of Lesson: This class is a combined class of 3rd, 5th and 7th years. It is less of a lesson as more of a practice session to see what the students already know as well as to train them in cold reading. It is treated as a meet and greet, with food and drinks. Students should enjoy themselves.

5th Years Bancroft, Faelyn Dark, Beatrix X Grimlish, Elijah X Padmore, Saffron Schlagenweit, Sasha X Ketteridge, Mystique X Sellaphix, Figaro X Amehurst, Ferguson X Dewar, Orlaith Pascal, Evie X Woolfolk, Neely X

7th Years Blake, Fauna X Gairden, Ainsley Ingberg, Lola Carter, George X Girard, Brennan Matthews, Devlin X O'Malley, Astrid X Quinn, Jasper Snark, Alexander Travis, Trent X

^{Students with names in Italics are inactive. They will not gain nor lose points for their house. If they should become active before the third official post (see rules) then they should post an entrance or lose points.}

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The Introduction

Opie was excited. She knew it was probably very un-teacherlike and unprofessional to have a 'meet and greet' for the first lesson, but she thought that it really was a great way to see what the students knew. Pop quizzes were all the rage with the older stricter teachers, but what fun were they if there was no tea and cookies involved? She thought that her approach would get a much better reception, which she needed since she had heard that Divination was one of the least attended classes in the school. It was Opies dream to change that.

Surveying the room, she took a deep breath and smiled. It was looking great. She had spent the morning carefully cleaning and turning all of the red accents and rugs and items into a rich purple. Each table had a clean china cup and plate, tarot cards, runes, a crystal ball and a star chart. There was a sweet and heavy scent of herbal tea and heliotrope incense in the air, mixed with the smell of cookies. The tea and cookies were arranged on a table in the middle of the room, fresh and hot. There was a phonograph playing the soft strains of some eastern meditation music, loud enough to register but faint enough not to obscure conversation.

Opie herself was sitting in a large chair in the middle of the room, right in front of a chalkboard, sipping her own tea and knitting as she read a book she had enchanted to float in front of her. Behind her on the board was written in neat script:

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Please enter and take your seats. There is only 2 chairs per table, so everyone should have a partner.

The scrumptious scent of tea and fresh cookies filled the air when Fauna poked her head into the Divination classroom, immediately struck by the sheer amount of purple! She breathed in the scents of food and incense and felt more relaxed. A soft melody filled the room. Fauna smiled at the new professor sitting in the middle of it all, who was engaged in an impressive feat of multitasking.

“Hello,” she said shyly, drawn in by the cookies. Fauna took a few and poured herself a cup of tea. “I’m Fauna,” she told the Divination professor, remembering her from the Welcome Feast. She’d seen many new faces Saturday night, some scarier than others, but this one had a kind and appropriately dreamy look about her.

Fauna wanted to ask her if she and Professor Gunnar had really been friends during their years at Hogwarts, but she didn’t want to pry or seem gossipy, so she took a seat by the window. The heavy curtains masked the sunlight, making it feel more like late afternoon or evening.

She began munching on a cookie. Soon, her rat Bernie peeked out of her front shirt pocket, stole a crumb, and munched contentedly. All was right with the world. For now!

Outfit

Astrid had a wonderful breakfast and had spent all morning anticipating Divinations class, which had been rescheduled to 1pm that afternoon during her spare block. Charms would take place at 2pm, which left Astrid a little disappointed, as it would mean she would only have an hour before she would have to leave. As much as she enjoyed the class she wished that the class would finish just a bit early so as to make time for Astrid to properly speak with the new professor. Over the past summer she had developed many questions of her little episodes and she needed them answered for her sense of sanity.

When the time came for class she bounced up the stairs to the Divination Classroom, eagerly looking forward to meeting the new professor more personally and getting a sense of just how talented she was in the realms of Divination. She hoped she was more legitimate than the last professor.

Bag banging against her bum she came to a halt at the doors to the classroom. Excitement was bursting from her as she smiled brightly. She turned the knob of the door and was instantly assaulted with the colour purple. “Brilliant!” She exclaimed loudly, she loved purple. The scent was so delicious and relaxing to Astrid as she was enveloped by it. That was one thing about Divinations it involved so many of the senses.

Reading the sign behind the professor she immediately went to get a cup of tea. She poured herself a cup but left the cookies untouched as she was unsure of their ingredients. Without hesitation she headed towards the teacher, “I’m Astrid O’Malley,” she smiled brightly giving a wave and then took a seat at the table that was front and center. She would have loved to go sit with Fauna but that table was just too far away for her tastes. To rectify the fact she had not sat with Fauna she turned and waved. If she wanted to sit with her she was more than welcome.

When Figaro entered the Divination classroom, he realized it was just as breakable as last year.  Tea cups and brittle leaves.  Glass balls, glass vials, glass mirrors - glass everything.  Twiggy incense, sheer silks and everything draping.  It was worse than his parents' apothecary with all the bottles and strings of dried herbs.  Clamboring up and out of the trapdoor into the lush, fragrant room, Figaro was having his own premonition - something breaking.

Just then, he felt a brush against his neck, like a hair spider alighting on his nape.  He flung his hand back to grab at it, and in the process, he accidentally caught against a pretty bit of tapestry tassel hanging down.  It came loose from one of its ceiling mounts and now hung crippled.

"Shi-! Dangling participle!" he swore and smacked at it, before turning to the rest of the room.  It was a pleasent sort of time, the light coming in all purple and hazy that the three witches within were momntarily disguised.  The pale-skinned queen on her throne - a waifish witch Professor Grimlish.  And the mousy seventh year Fauna.  (He'd carried a torch for her when they were younger, but now that Devlin had moved in on her, Fig had gave that up.)  And here at the table nearest was Astrid.  Fig liked Astrid, too, but in a different way.  He thought that Fauna was probably prettier, but Astrid was more exciting.  And most times, she'd speak with him as much as he cared to. 

He dropped his bags at the other chair at her table and loaded up on cookies before sitting down.

"So what's yer badge?" he asked, indicating the button pinned to her sweater.  "That a band?"

Mysti was incredibly excited about the first Divination class.  Especially since it was a big Meet and Greet with all of the years who were taking it!  Which meant she’d be able to be there with Fauna and a few other of her upper class friends.  Though Mysti had to take some extra time to find the Divination tower again. Despite this being her fifth year, she still got lost on the way there!

Finally, she found the correct twirly staircase and made her way to the room.  As she neared it, she could smell cookies and some tea.  Entering the room, Mysti saw the teacher, Ophelia Grimlish, as well as fellow Hufflepuffs, Fauna Blake and Figaro Sellaphix, and Ravenclaw Astrid O’Malley.  Waving hi to everyone, Mysti put her books down by the empty chair at Fauna’s table.

“Hey everyone! Ready for some Divination? And hello, Professor Grimlish. I’m Mystique Ketteridge!” Mysti said, excited for the class. She then went and got some tea and cookies before finally settling down next to Fauna near the window.

Outfit

Miss Evelyn Grace Pascal was just so excited for the day.  She’d had a wonderful one so far, and she didn’t intend on letting anything get in the way of that.  But she just hoped that this Divination meet and greet didn’t do that.  Now, Evie actually enjoyed Divination, which was why she’d decided to continue taking it instead of going to a different subject.  Evie didn’t anticipate much to go wrong.  And she was also happy that her dear friend Neely Woolfolk would be in the class as well.

As Evelyn made her way to the Divination room, she hoped that Neely would be there already.  Or perhaps just one of the other Slytherins.  But as she entered the room, she found that they only people there so far were Hufflepuffs, and a Ravenclaw. And of course Professor Grimlish.  Evie decided to at least be civil for now, despite some minor fashion mistakes being made by those in the classroom.  Evie might be wearing a couple of things not specifically mentioned in the dress code, but she felt it was deemed necessary.  She couldn’t possibly wear things out of fashion, even if they were part of the uniform. Besides, she figured the robe could cover most of what might be deemed against the code.

“Good afternoon, Professor Grimlish.” Evie said as she was making a cup of tea.  The herbal tea smelled beautiful, and Evie couldn’t help making a cup for herself. “And good afternoon, everyone else.”

Evie then took a seat at a table a little bit removed from the other four.  Though she didn’t necessarily have a problem with the others, she knew that Neely wouldn’t want to sit near them.  And especially near the rat in Fauna’s pocket, or near Astrid’s tights.  While they might look good with a different outfit, they positively clashed with the uniform.  

Setting her purse down to the side of her chair, Evie stirred some sugar into her tea.  She quietly sipped it while waiting for someone she knew a bit better to arrive.

Sasha couldn't help wondering if whoever had arranged their schedule was seeking to torture the fifth years.  Divination was hard enough on its own but to have it following on the heels of Arithmancy was just plain murder.  As if Divination didn't require as illogical and fuzzy a thought process as one could imagine.  Didn't whoever made the schedule understand that for as logical and systematic a brain wave as arithmancy required, Divination required the exact opposite? 

His first impression of Divination had always been that it wasn't a very 'academic' subject.  Over the summer, he'd wondered if the new professor would promote the topic to more academic standards but, as Sasha surveyed the design of the classroom, his hopes quickly faded.  It appeared as though success in this class would continue to depend on one's ability to get in touch with one's touchy-feely side.  For someone who could navigate magical history and chemistry without so much as a blink, getting in touch with the touchy-feely side was a real challenge. 

At least they had muggle studies after this.

Out of politeness, Sasha took a cup of tea but passed on the cookies.  He settled himself at an empty table behind Evie Pascal and, after discreetly glancing around the room, tugged his wand from his pocket.  Turning his attention to his cup, he sat, pondering how inappropriate it would be to transfigure his tea to coffee.

 What was Astrid O'Malley wearing on her legs? And, more the the point, why? These were the questions that immediately presented themselves and took their places, front and center, in his mind as Fergie Amherst entered the Divination class room. Of course, her shoes and bag weren't much better, but at least they matched. The sudden explosion of red and yellow roses on her legs just made it looked like she had had a freak Herbology accident earlier in the day.

 The fifth year shook his head and sighed to himself. Honestly, the uniform was one of the easiest things to properly accessorize. Some people, he supposed, were just born that way - fashion challenged. They really couldn't be blamed for anything except not having the sense to hire a stylist.

 Moving on, however, he now focused his attention on the professor. "Why, you can't be our professor!" He exclaimed, an incredulous expression taking over his face. "You look far too young. Anyone ever told you you could pass for a seventh year? I'm Fergie, by the way," he introduced himself, standing a little straighter and putting a hand up to smooth down his hair. "Fergie Amherst. It's a pleasure to be in your class."

 Looking up, his blue-grey eyes quickly scanned the blackboard and he became distracted from his new professor. "Oo, cookies!" He stepped up to the nearest available seat without hesitation and sat down, helping himself to tea and cookies, as the board had instructed.

[Uniform?]

Oh the excitement of being in her first Divination class! Beatrix Dark, seer of ALL that stood in front of her, was quit fond of Divination. Not only was she in the club, but she simply ate up the class. More like gorged, considering she was so intensely into learning. Bea's boots thudded up the tower as she stomped up the stairs. She adjusted her small tiara and put on her biggest smile right before she stepped up from the ladder and into the classroom. "BonJOUR!" Beatrix chimed, strutting in with her hips flying left to right. Miss Dark had no reason to NOT be over the top.

"Ohh. Miss O'Malley! I love your stockings." Beatrix immediately pointed out. She took a cookie and gave a wide smile to the Professor. "Professor Grimlish... Did you make these yourself?" Bea took a bite, "To DIE for!" she turned her heels and began to eye the seats... Oh my. Who could she sit with? Beatrix shrugged and sat down at a table in the front. Just then, she noticed the crystal ball that sat in the middle of the table...

"LOOK EVERYONE! I can see the future!" She squealed, standing up and nearly smashing her face into the crystal ball. "I see... Everyone will be poisoned they will all die!" She threw her hand over her eyes, dramatically, "Oh the humanity!" Beatrix had no true reason to have done this, but why not make an impression on the first day? Who knows... Maybe Grimlish poisoned the cookies and tea and planned on using their bodies as fresh fertilizer for Professor Bombay. Beatrix chuckled to herself and she sat down and munched on her cookie. Bea could have sat with Fauna... Or Astrid... Or Sasha... But that's not as fun, no, no. Hopefully someone would join her after that incident, but she truly doubted it. She poured herself a cup of tea and sat back. Ahh. It was nice to be at Hogwarts again.

Figaro turned in his seat and stared at Beatrix Dark - who was of course, notoriously insane.   She was dressed in crazy socks as well.  A trend that seemed to be spreading among the girls in his year, like some sort of shin blight.   All the fifth year girls were slowly becoming afflicted with violently colored legs in bright florals and stripes.

At her howling prophecy, Figaro burst into raucous laughter, and clapped.  He almost knocked over the crystal ball mounted on his own table.  Fig had to whirl around in his seat to catch it.

He was still snickering as he repositioned the lustrous sphere.  "Merlin, Trix, you're bold."

Astrid shook her head as she looked at Figaro who had decided to take the seat across from her, which she had absolutely no problem with. Figaro was the cute little hufflepuff boy that Astrid knew purely for the antics she heard he got up too. She sipped her tea watching him, he was pleasant enough to chat with which was probably the main reason she didn’t mind that he had chose her empty seat. Of course as soon as he had decided to point out her band she was even more eager to have him around.

“It isn’t a band,” she said quickly putting her cup and saucer down on the table in front of her. “It is in fact my latest cause,” Astrid might have many causes but they never got ignored. Still to this day she was calling for the freedom of frogs from the potions and the rights of the house elves in the kitchen, she had just toned it down since people obviously were not as interested as she was. This was a new cause and one she was not going to quiet on, especially with the news she heard on the train. “It is SAWS, Students Against Werewolf Segregation.” Astrid was not sure if he knew about Ollie or her situation, and since Fauna had not given her a go ahead that Ollie wanted to be the causes front story she wasn’t going to use it. “I am just outraged at the way our society treats the werewolves.”

Astrid waved hi to the few people that passed her as she spoke to Figaro so animatedly about her latest cause. She wanted people to know it wasn’t just something to wave off. Astrid though, was soon interrupted by Beatrix and her comment on her leggings. Astrid did love her tights, but she had done the crazy tights long before anyone else did it was always part of her character since she first stepped foot on the ground. Needless to say when drawn attention to what she dubbed normal attire it was a tad off putting, but this was Beatrix. Truthfully what bothered Astrid more was Beatrix’s actions and display on the first day of class. People could actually see the future. Astrid felt she could but she had no proof of that. Astrid took that as her que to focus more on the cup of tea but not before Astrid thanked Beatrix for her compliment.

This was the only class in the entirety of classes that Eli was dreading. Easily Eli’s second favorite class, normally the Ravenclaw loved the eccentricities that seemed to flow with the third eye, not today. He was finally living down the teasing, people stopped ragging him about his vampirical daddy; his mismatched family. That would all be changing right away. Eli loved his family, they were simply perfect, but he also loved his school, his time to be ‘normal’. Now, that was bound to change.

His Auntie Opie had taken up the position of Divination professor, and her craziness might be a touch too much for people that didn’t know her well. He wanted to be late, to show up like he had more important things to do, but that simply wouldn’t do. Ophelia would probably send an owl straight home to his mum and he’d get a howler. Or worse, Opie might reprimand him in class! That being said, he simply could NOT show up early. He didn’t want to seem eager to see his aunt, no matter that deep down he was dying to see her, though they had seen each other over the summer.

So, he waited until right before class was bound to start and he skedaddled on up to the tower classroom where his doom was to commence. Not really a shock, Eli almost giggled when he entered the room. A drastic change from previous years, maybe, but purple suited Opie just fine. Looking around the room he spotted Sasha, no reason not to sit by him, right? He walked over and got his tea, grabbed a handful of cookies, and headed the long way around to where Sasha sat. He didn’t want to be signaled out by his aunt. “Hey Sasha,” He said, trying for his normal friendly brilliance, but his voice merely sounded weak. Oops, his nerves must be showing.

After a long summer, Trent Travis was back on the ball and not going to class as usual. That WAS until he walked face first into multiple unrecognizable Professors and was sent off to class. Trench Coat Trent had no business attending classes. He was a grown wizard. He hardly even had to go to school... In fact... Why did he remain in school to begin with? With these unanswered questions aside, Trent lazily climbed up to the Divination room, only to knock into a small fifth year. "Watch it." He grunted, directly towards the flamboyant boy. One would normally watch their tongue, but Tatertot had no reasons to conform... Or be nice, for that matter. Trent grabbed a cookie and turned to see where he could sulk all class...

That was... Before he caught a glimpse of Astrid O'Malley. "Bloody hell..." He murmured, munching on the baked good. Trent had fallen head over heels for Astrid ever since the original love of his life, Ollie Folley, was expelled. Oddly... Astrid was a SAWS follower. Coincidence? Probably not. The strange part was... Astrid wasn't a Hufflepuff. She was a Ravenclaw. Trent Travis' hidden brilliance could no longer be a factor in this relationship, since she was probably way more superior to him. Well, that's what he thought.

The oh-so well known creepy grin fell into place as he waltzed over to Astrid and flashed her a crooked smile. "Lovely day we're having, aren't we, Astrid?" His usual pompous/jerky tone was now soft and comforting. It was no surprise that Trent would attempt to be normal around a girl who could be considered crazy. He eyed the boy who sat with Astrid and a small twitch formed in his lip. "Excuse me... Hufflepuff boy... Would you mind sitting somewheres else?" Trent bent down and whispered to Figaro. His tall stature hunched over as it took everything he had to not yell at the boy to move.

It was amazing. Devlin Matthews came to class... and was on time for once! The mere idea that he even attempted to make an appearance in his few classes indicated that there was more then just learning on his mind. And as he entered the incense filled, purple emblazoned classroom, he yawned lazily and focused on the reason for his rare entrance. She was sitting by the far window, her wispy dark hair outlined with a dim halo of golden light escaping the grasp of the velvet curtains.

With all the brightly colored clothes and hair in the room, one would think that a mousy girl like Fauna would all but disappear, but Devlin had no trouble finding her in the crowd. In fact, when his eyes fell on her, everyone else faded away. Nothing could distract him. Not Bea's atrocious hair... Trent's dingy trenchcoat... nor Astrid's blinding socks. Even the delicious homecooked cookies held no interest for him. He blindly poured a cup of tea and picked up a random cookie before approaching the girl.

At first he intended on sitting next to her, but remember their last encounter, he chose to continue past her at the last second, settling in the chair behind her. Even over the heavy incense and wafting tea, he could smell her soft perfume. Closing his eyes, he leaned back in the chair and rested his feet in Alex's chair, enjoying the smell. Peeking through his lowered lids, he admired her mess of waves, and the soft curve of her neck and cheek that they partially obscured. Without removing his gaze, he bit into his cookie and then winced, his focus broken. Ew raisins... What had this woman done to him that he would pick oatmeal raisin?!?!

Divination Class… he rather enjoyed it, if he were to be completely honest. Some of his mates gave him a hard time for keeping with it, though he took the harassment and gave them some back. It was different than the other classes… not so conformed and just so. There were possibilities and abstract answers that not everyone got the same on. And it was supposed to be like that. On top of the idea that something you might actually see could come try… or spell out some strain of truth… well, it kept the girls in the class, right?

Hearing some loud noise as he got closer, he shook his head. Someone was going on about the future. Stepping up into the room, his first reaction was to stare, a bit open mouthed, at the purple. After closing his mouth finally, George let his eyes move around the room. Yep, the girls. A sigh escaped his lips as he frowned slightly; Matthews should start wearing lipstick so he was easier to notice. Then he realized there were a lot more to the class than he’d… expected. A combination class? A groan threatened to escape but he held it in, swallowing it as he looked around for who to sit with. His eyes flittered over the board; tea and cookies?

Well… who was he to say no to food. Moving up to the front, he poured himself a cup and picked up a couple cookies, nodding to the professor. “Afternoon…” And as an afterthought, he gave her a little grin. “Thanks.” Turning now back to the class, he stopped as he looked around at the empty seats, trying to decide who he would sit with. Crazy legs didn’t have a partner yet… but she was also a bit dramatic. Then there was the posh little fifth year, Amherst—that was his name, right? The quiet Schlagwhatever, a Pascal, or—wait. A Pascal.

Grinning to himself, he was surprised she didn’t have any friends latching on to her yet. Might as well have some fun before the class settled in. Now… if he could just remember the girl’s name… Oh well, it was a ‘getting to know others’ day right? Moving over to her, nodding a hello to Astrid, and noticing she was also a bit crazy legged, he let out a breath and stood next to the younger Pascal. She also had the table that wasn’t up close and personal with the new professor, so he much preferred it anyway.

Sitting down in the chair next to her, he made sure the quill was still tucked behind his ear before relaxing back, lifting the tea cup up and motioning her way. “Afternoon.” Taking a sip, he grinned before setting the cup down, putting his hands, interlaced, behind his head, leaning the chair back on the two back legs. “How was your summer?” Might as well be social.