"Good day to you all!"
The familiar, ethereal voice announced as Professor Trelawney emerged from the shadows, just as she always did. Parvati and Lavender shivered with excitement, their faces aglow in the milky light of the crystal balls.
"I have decided to begin crystal ball lessons earlier than originally planned,"
Professor Trelawney said as she gracefully seated herself, her back to the flickering flames in the hearth.
"Fate has whispered to me that your June exams will include the sphere, and so I am eager to provide you with ample practice,"
she added with a faraway look.
Hermione let out a derisive snort. Whether or not Trelawney heard it was unclear, but she continued speaking as though she hadn't noticed.
"The art of crystal gazing is a most delicate craft,"
she intoned, her voice dreamy and distant.
"As this is your first foray into the inscrutable depths of the orb, I do not expect anyone to see much. We shall begin by relaxing the conscious mind and the outer eye."
Ron stifled a laugh, stuffing his fist into his mouth to muffle the sound.
"Only by doing so can we clear the Inner Eye and open the subconscious. If we are fortunate, some of you may glimpse something before the end of the lesson."
And so the "scrying" began—which, in reality, was just a lot of blank staring at the crystal balls. Orli found the whole exercise rather absurd; perhaps she truly lacked an Inner Eye. Nevertheless, she had mastered the art of feigning interest to appease Professor Trelawney. Ron continued to chuckle quietly, Hermione clicked her tongue in irritation, and Harry looked as though he might nod off at any moment.
"What a waste of time,"
Hermione muttered under her breath.
"I could be practicing something useful instead. I could spend more time on those Cheering Charms we've just learned—Professor Flitwick hinted they might be on the exam—"
Professor Trelawney's robes and bracelets rustled softly as she approached.
"Does anyone require assistance in interpreting the shadows within their crystal ball?"
she asked, her shawl's pendants jingling faintly as she moved.
"I don't need any help,"
Ron whispered.
"It's obvious—there's going to be fog tonight."
Harry and Hermione exploded into laughter, and even Orli couldn't suppress a snort.
"You are disturbing the vibrations of the truly gifted!"
Professor Trelawney cried, her expression a mix of shock and indignation. She leaned over Harry's crystal ball, her enormous glasses reflecting two orbs.
"From here, it is clearer than ever before... My dear, your destined fate is striding toward you, drawing ever closer..."
"Oh, for Merlin's sake!"
Hermione exclaimed loudly.
"Not another ridiculous omen of doom!"
Orli gasped, clutching Hermione's arm tightly. The mounting pressure of her academic workload had been wearing her down, and her temper had been fraying. To openly confront a professor like this—she would never have dared in her first or even second year, not even last winter.
Professor Trelawney raised her enormous eyes to meet Hermione's defiant gaze. Parvati whispered something to Lavender, and both turned to stare at Hermione. Slowly, Trelawney rose, her movements dreamlike, turning toward Hermione, who stared back unflinchingly. At that moment, Orli broke the tension.
"Professor, could you help me interpret my crystal ball? I think I see something moving inside, but I can't make sense of it,"
Orli said, her tone strikingly similar to Parvati's, as she looked at Trelawney with an expectant expression.
Hermione turned to glare at her, as though she didn't recognize her, but Orli pressed her arm firmly under the table and gave a small shake of her head.
Trelawney paused, then finally smiled.
"Ah, yes, I remember you, Waters. Let us see what your crystal ball reveals..."
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