#tessomancy

[tragicc]

Source

[shyamanuensis]

Distractions - Sebastian Sallow x f!MC

Drabbled as I get myself reacquainted with writing. Feedback appreciated. Enjoy the fluffy drabble of Sebastian Sallow and f!MC xoxo

Divination class was just meant to be a waste of a free period...

You had become distracted. Again. A hot flush of desperation coloured the apples of your cheeks almost art like. Your gaze had been fixated for a little while too long at the red head boy who had, like time and time again, caught your attention from the opposite side of the divination classroom. Between the two of you, there was a coy, ambivalent smile shared which you’d photographed into your memory. A keepsake. Breathing in deeply the scent of freshly brewed tea and ink drawn quills, a helpless sigh slipped from between your lips. It was a puppy like lust that you could feel pulsing through your veins like an unexpected tsunami. Unfortunately, a hoarse clearing of a dry throat came from the seat beside you which snapped you back into reality.

“Could you stop doing that Y/N.”

It wasn’t quite a question or an insistent request. Just words dryly spoken by a friend which caused your brows to twitch softly as you turned to look at them. Sebastian, unlike yourself, had been focused on actual coursework. Divination was just a subject that two of you had taken on Thursday afternoons. To waste a free period. Resting your elbow lazily upon the desk you both shared, your palm caught your falling head, and your lips tightened – corners puling along with your eyes into an irritable scowl.

“Stop what?”, you whispered, noting that Professor Onai was nearing as she did her lap of the classroom which better resembled a cross between your grandparent’s attic back in London and an old-fashioned tea shop. In a hasty attempt to make it seem like you were involved in the coursework, you shuffled your seat across a little closer to where Sebastian sat and peered over his shoulder at the teacup, you’d earlier drunken out of that he was examining, firmly clutched between his hands.

“You know exactly what”, Sebastian replied, tilting the tea cup from side to side as he attempted to read the dried dregs and stumble across any patterns or shapes he could find. “Your ridiculous ogling at Garreth Weasley.” The name of your Gryffindor classmate left Sebastian’s tongue barely audibly, but heavy with annoyance.

“Firstly, I don’t ogle”, you started an explanation off; the four words causing Sebastian to roll his eyes unconsciously, but you had indeed noticed. “And secondly”, you continued, sweeping some loose hair behind your ear, “may I add that Garreth Weasley is just… so… so… dreamy. I’m sure that I’m not the only girl in history to have ever glanced his way.”

Fingertips gingerly reaching out to pick up the teacup that Sebastian had drank from draining away on the dainty saucer in front of you; you peered in past the rim, hoping to move forward from the conversation you were both having. Tessomancy annoyed you. Palmistry frustrated you. Crystal-gazing you were utterly unenthusiastic about. But taking divination meant that one – you could spend more time with your friends, two – lust quietly over Garreth Weasley and three – continue to be a thorn in Sebastian Sallow’s side which it seemed you quite enjoyed.

“Stars…”, you muttered, “I see stars.” You had to squint, twist your head and move the cup around in any and every angle imaginable but you were certain, to an extent, in what you saw. “Luck, I believe”, you recalled the symbolism from earlier in class when you’d been paying attention. Anyone who was looking at you was sure to see that the expression you wore matched the cogs turning inside your head. “…and a heart”, you continued as you came across a blob of dry dreg which loosely resembled the scribbles you’d drawn all over your parchment with your quill.

“SEBASTIAN… ARE YOU IN LOVE?”

The question was meant only to be for discussion between the two of you however not realizing how quiet the classroom was or how loud your tone had become, it seemed that everyone – Professor Onai, Sebastian, classroom of students included, had heard you and were staring. Snickers, smirks, mocks and hushed whispers began to lively fill the room, and you looked around, eyes laced with concern. Eventually, you glanced in Sebastian’s direction, ready to apologise however you were met earlier than you could speak with words you weren’t expecting.

“I have better, more important things to waste my time on.”

Harsh. Sebastian knew how you felt about love. You’d discussed it with him many a times as you felt it was one of the most important feelings in the world. Something that should be nurtured – delicately – that would paint the skies in hues of warmth and hope and illuminate the darkest of souls with a bright burning passion.

“Like?”, you barely managed. It was as if Sebastian had pressed a mute button on your voice only allowing you to utter a few syllables.

“Research..”, he trailed off. You noticed his shoulders tense before dropping. “..conversations which actually amount to something and don’t have the entirety of a classroom now chattering about me because of something ridiculous you’ve said. I don’t believe in love. Or lust. Or whatever fuzzy description of the term you plan on giving me.”

“Perhaps that’s just because you’ve never felt it”, you suggested with a small smile, placing the teacup down. The patterned fine China had done enough damage for today. “All I’m saying is that if you opened your horizons to the possibility that it could exist then maybe….”

You were cut off by Sebastian placing a finger across your lips. For that single second it took you to realise what was happening – everything slowed down; silenced. You had always romanticised blue and green eyes; but upon reflection into Sebastian’s own, you noted how his brown eyes were deeper and darker than woods you’d wandered in the Forbidden Forrest. A shade which held a mystery of unfathomable anguish and a warm promise of tenderness - that complimented the freckles which drew eloquently across his face. Although you’d been surrounded by it a hundred times before, his sweet boyish scent suddenly threw your head into a spin. You suddenly had no further thoughts. No further distractions. Sebastian’s lips curled into a sheepish smirk.

“Do you ever stop talking?”

As Sebastian pulled his finger away, you couldn’t bring yourself to shake your head or create some kind of smart retort and response to his question. Professor Onai wrapped up the lesson with homework you didn’t bother paying attention to the instructions of and you still hadn’t managed to move. Garreth Weasley was definitely dreamy… but Sebastian Sallow?

Perhaps he could be just a little dreamy distraction too.

[nehpetssanders]

Tessomancy at Madam Puddifoot's (Tea-Sons Greetings)

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Frankly, I was 'bit' disappointed with the "study" session with Cassandra in Madam Puddifoot's tea shop in the last update, so I decided to do something about it. So, this chapter is for those who feel the same way

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Winter had settled over Hogwarts that morning, casting the castle in an enchanting blanket of snow. As the chilly winds whispered through the halls, you and your classmates found yourselves in the Divination classroom that looked more like a cross between someone's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. Everything was illuminated by a soft, crimson glow; the numerous lamps were covered in scarves of dark red, and the curtains were drawn at the windows. It was oppressively warm, and the fire behind the packed mantelpiece was heating a big copper kettle while emitting a thick, nauseating kind of incense. 

Professor Trelawney, draped in flowing fabrics, looked around the room with her usual far-off gaze as she seated herself in a winged armchair in the center of the room.

"Now, my dear students," she began, her voice a melodic, misty murmur, "In the ethereal dance of destiny, we shall embark on a Tessomancy project. The patterns in the dregs of the tea leaves shall unveil secrets yet unknown to you as you gaze into the future! I have already divined the pairs through my Inner Eye, and it has whispered its choices to me."

The class listened intently as Trelawney listed the pairs, connecting students in mysterious ways only she understood, pairing students who are more than likely come to blows or heated duels before they could even have a sip of their tea to read their tea leaves. Case in point: Fischer being partnered up with Daniel (who already had his wand out, just in case), and Colby being partnered up with Ivy. Your other friends, Lottie, Kevin, and Robyn, were not safe from this either, with Robyn being paired up with a quidditch-hating, know-it-all attitude Ravenclaw, Kevin being paired up with a thrill-seeking and daredevil Gryffindor, and Lottie with a disinterested Slytherin.

For each partner she called, she instructed them to take a seat beside their partners

You, on the other hand, are desperately pleading, praying even, to Merlin and whatever wizarding gods you know to spare you from this fate. 

"Cassandra Vole and (Y/N) (L/N)," Trelawney declared, her eyes glazing over as if peering into the mystical threads of fate.

Alas, fate is cruel and has some twisted sense of humor it seems.

You suddenly felt your jaw drop out of disbelief. Daniel, Robyn, Kevin, did the same, while Ivy and Lottie had their hands over their mouth. The rest of the class exchanged glances started murmuring amongst themselves, surprised by the seemingly unlikely pairing. Cassandra Vole, known for her sharp wit and vain attitude, and you, a student whose path (and wand) often crossed with hers. The air seemed to crackle with a blend of anticipation and uncertainty.

After quickly composing yourself, you hesitantly made your way to Cassandra's side, she offered no more than a subtle nod of acknowledgment, before turning away in a huff, leaving you rubbing your nape awkwardly as Trelawney began partnering up the rest of the class. The unspoken understanding was that this was merely an academic collaboration, a project to be completed, and nothing more. You knew this as Professor Trelawney began spending the entire lecture on giving instructions on what to do for the project, expecting a report on their findings before the end of the week.

Looks like you've got your work cut for you, it seems.

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In the few short hours that followed, whispers of the Tessomancy project spread throughout the castle like fiendfyre. Students discussed with their partners and speculated on the outcomes of their readings. Rumors circulated that Professor Trelawney's divination insights had paired students who, under normal circumstances, might never have worked together, thus they were all bound to fail. You and your friends were, of course, aware of this as you sat in the Great Hall for lunch to discuss the project.

Daniel, who sat beside you, sighed and shook his head, playing with his beans for lunch, his elbow against the table, his head propped up with his hand. "I don't know if Trelawney is trying to deliberately make us fail her class—"

"—or she's just being mental and loony as usual," Robyn interjected, her face flushing from anger after some sort of disagreement with her partner for the project, no doubt it's about the Ravenclaw talking Robyn's ear off for the project.

"Well, knowing Professor Trelawney, it's probably a bit of both." Lottie added as she joined the table, looking a bit disheveled. Looks she too had some disagreement with her partner regarding the project. "She thrives on making everything unnecessarily complicated."

"Complicated is an understatement." Kevin grumbled, "My partner won't stop talking about the alignment of the skies and how it correlates with the steam rising from her tea. I swear, I might need to invest in earplugs if this keeps going for the whole week."

Amused groans and laughs resonated across the table as they shared in the collective struggle that was the Tessomancy project. Amidst the banter, a curious expression crossed Daniel's face as he noticed you being silent throughout, completely immersed in your own thoughts, no doubt worried about your partnership with Slytherin's vain 'Princess'. 

Truth to be told, you had harbored a small crush on Cassandra since your first day at Hogwarts, a crush that quickly waned as you witnessed her... less pleasant qualities. Still, you couldn't deny the charm she exudes—confident, clever, stylish, and powerful. And, of course, incredibly beautiful.

It wasn't that you despised her; you didn't hate anyone. You simply didn't appreciate how badly she treated your friends whenever the opportunity arose. Dealing with bullies had been challenging enough at your previous muggle school, and it was no easier at a magical school like Hogwarts. But you believed in standing up to bullies, no matter who they were.

"Speaking of which, how's your partnership with Cassandra going for you, (Y/N)?" he inquired, snapping you out of your stupor, his eyebrows raised in anticipation.

Robyn, who had been in a bad mood, suddenly perked up, her interest piqued. "Yeah, spill the tea—no pun intended. How's the dynamic between you two?"

While your friends giggled at Robyn's comedic wording, you merely sighed, running a hand through your hair. "Nothing. She just told me to wait for her owl to give me the specifics on when we'll start."

As if on cue, a loud screech from the ceiling caught your attention. You looked up, and a majestic snowy white owl suddenly swooped in, landing gracefully in front of you. Its beak carried a small, emerald-green envelope.

You regarded the owl with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. Taking a deep breath, you reached out, careful not to startle the elegant creature. It was evident whose owl this was, given its immaculate grooming. Cassandra's owl extended its head, presenting the emerald-green envelope, and the Slytherin crest embossed on the seal confirmed its sender. You gently nuzzled the owl and offered a meaty piece of your lunch before it gracefully took flight back to its owner.

"Well, open it!" Robyn exclaimed, her impatience matching the curious glances from your friends.

You examined the envelope, turning it over to see something written that said, "For YOUR eyes only."

Giving your friends a knowing look, they relented, granting you the privacy to explore the contents of the letter. After carefully breaking the wax seal and unfolding the parchment inside, Cassandra's elegant handwriting adorned the small page.

"(Y/N), Meet me at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop at 3 in the afternoon. Don't be late.  AND DON'T TELL ANYONE. -C.V."

The simplicity of the message struck you. No pleasantries, no unnecessary words. Just a direct command.

"Well? What did the letter say?" Ivy asked inquisitively, already finished with her lunch.

"Can't say, really," you replied, deciding to respect Cassandra's wishes regarding the letter.

Your friends raised their eyebrows at this, looking rather unconvinced, and seemed to assume more than they let on.

"Well, whatever it is," Robyn couldn't resist a teasing remark. "Looks like you've got a date with destiny, (Y/N)."

"More like a date with academic disaster," you mumbled, shaking your head.

The rest of your lunch passed with a mix of laughter and speculations about the mysterious rendezvous. As the appointed time approached, you couldn't help but wonder why Cassandra would pick Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop of all places to meet. The air was thick with anticipation, and you knew that whatever awaited you there would undoubtedly be intriguing, given the circumstances.

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The remainder of the afternoon crawled by, every hour marked by the anticipation of the looming meeting with Cassandra. You couldn't help but wonder about the purpose of this rendezvous. Was it solely for the Tessomancy project, or did Cassandra have something else in mind? The mystery surrounding her intentions hung in the air like an enchantment.

As the clock hands finally converged at 3 o'clock, you made your way to Hogsmeade and straight Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, a place usually associated with romantic rendezvous. As such you made none of your friends followed you on the way.

Upon arriving, the village of Hogsmeade bustled with activity, students roaming the cobblestone streets, their laughter and chatter intermingling with the magical atmosphere. The quaint tea shop exuded a warm glow, its windows adorned with delicate pink lace curtains and stacked teacups.

Upon entering, the aroma of various teas wafted through the air, creating an atmosphere of coziness. The interior was adorned with pink floral patterns, and small, intricately decorated tables were scattered around the room. You spotted Cassandra at a corner table, her posture composed and her expression already reflecting her disdain for the environment.

"There you are. Took you long enough," Cassandra remarked, her tone cutting through the air. "Well, don't just stand there! Sit down so we can get this over with."

You complied, taking a seat across from her in the flowery and frilly atmosphere of the tea shop. Madam Puddifoot approached with a beaming smile, eager to serve her special Couple's Special tea.

"Welcome to Madam Puddifoot's, bringing people together one cuppa at a time. Can I interest you dears in our Couple's Special?" Madam Puddifoot offered, her eyes glinting with a spark of matchmaking enthusiasm.

"Err, that's okay. Two cups of Earl Grey would be fine," you replied, preemptively dispelling any misconceptions.

"Are you sure? Our strawberry rose tea is made with an infusion of hibiscus blossoms and rose petals. It's sweet, floral, and ever so romantic," Madam Puddifoot persisted.

"Let me make this very clear," Cassandra interjected sharply, "This is not a date. The only reason I'm here with (Y/N) is because Trelawney assigned us as partners on a Tessomancy project. And the tea the Hogwarts house-elves make is vile."

"Very well, two cups of Earl Grey coming right up." Madam Puddifoot, though a bit disappointed, nodded understandingly and left to prepare the ordered Earl Grey.

"Finally. Now let's hurry up and do this stupid reading before anyone we know sees me with you. I'll go first, naturally," Cassandra declared, her impatience palpable. "I'll take a drink and tell you what I see in my tea leaves. You interpret what I say and make a prediction."

As soon as Madam Puddifoot arrived with the tea, Cassandra wasted no time. She expertly took her cup, blowing on the piping hot liquid to cool it down, and sipped until only the dregs remained. Following the instructions provided by Professor Trelawney on scroll of parchment you had on you, Cassandra swills the dregs inside her cup three times with the left hand, then turns the cup upside down on its saucer, waiting for the last of the tea to drain away.

Meanwhile, you frantically rummaged through your satchel, realizing with a sinking feeling that you had forgotten your copy of Unfogging the Future—the key reference for the Tessomancy project. Cassandra, noticing your mild panic, merely rolls her eye at you as she decides to give you her copy, sliding it across the table to you, all the while chastising you for being forgetful.

As the last of the tea drained from Cassandra's cup, the two of you finally began the Tessomancy project in earnest.

"Right," said Cassandra as you opened her book at pages five and six. "So, this blob looks like... an acorn?"

"I think that means..." You consulted Unfogging the Future, tracing you finger on the printed words. "You can expect a windfall of riches in your future."

"Really? Not that I'm surprised. It is the natural outcome, after all, for one as gifted and intelligent as myself." Cassandra replied, a hint of smugness in her tone. "In fact, you'd better pour me another cup. My future's too full of potential for one to be sufficient."

"But—"

Before you could even protest, Cassandra had ordered another two cups of Earl Grey from Madam Puddifoot. The process repeated, with Cassandra going through the same swilling and draining ritual as before. You just sighed at this as you held the textbook reference you had in front of you as Cassandra began peering into her drained cup.

Now I see... a cat? " Cassandra's brow furrowed as she scrutinized her teacup, turning it around as if seeking a better angle to decipher the dregs. "No, a dog? No... both?"

"That's an easy one," you responded confidently, scanning the pages of Unfogging the Future. "You're going to... develop an unlikely relationship with a polar opposite. In, other words, someone you wouldn't expect to get along with. Well, what do you think? Ring any bells?"

Cassandra's gaze shifted from the teacup to you, her skepticism evident, before she finally, ever composed, merely raised an eyebrow.

"It seems the pink and frills have gone to your head," she remarked dryly. "Well, I've had quite enough of this for one day. You can go ahead and leave first."

"But what about my reading?" You interjected.

"I don't have to look at your tea leaves to know what the future has in store for you, do I?"

Intrigued, you prodded, "Oh, really? And what's that?"

Cassandra leaned back, a knowing glint in her eyes, her gloved hand raised near her mouth, stifling a giggle. "A failing grade in Divination."

"Oh, har har. Very Funny." You rolled your eyes at her, "And I'm not leaving my seat until you predict my future, Cassandra." 

The air between you and Cassandra crackled with tension, a silent challenge passing between your eyes. The ambient sounds of the tea shop faded away as the world narrowed down to the space between the two of you. 

The seconds stretched into moments, and the bustling sounds of the tea shop became distant echoes. It was a peculiar tableau, the two of you engaged in a duel of gazes, oblivious to the curious glances from other patrons.

Her gaze was like a storm, intense and unyielding. Dark emerald eyes bore into yours with a sharpness that cut through the awkward silence. It was a contest of wills, a battle communicated through the language of stares. You, on the other hand, maintained a composed exterior, though the undercurrent of nervousness rippled beneath the surface. The challenge was set, and neither of you seemed willing to be the first to look away.

Cassandra's raised eyebrow suggested amusement, as if she found the situation more entertaining than inconvenient. Finally, Cassandra's lips curled into a half-smile, a subtle acknowledgment of the unspoken exchange.

"You're stubborn, I'll give you that. But fine." She flicks her golden blonde hair over her shoulder and sits closely to the table. "Hand me that stupid book," she declared, her words carrying a blend of irritation and amusement, "so I can predict your stupid cup and be done with this!"

In response, you acquiesced silently, sliding Unfogging the Future in her direction. Cassandra seized it without hesitation, her deft gloved fingers flipping through its pages with practiced efficiency. The sound of parchment rustling punctuated the air as she reached the designated pages, her focus shifting from annoyance to analytical determination.

Fortunately, you already have your tea cup prepared so it was a matter of just discerning the dregs.

"So? What do you see?" Cassandra impatiently asked.

"I see..." Your eyes narrowed with effort as you scrutinized the dainty cup. "Some sort of... thin bird? No, wait. Those lines on the edge of the wings continue, forming into some sort of a.... heart? A perfect heart."

Cassandra felt her breath hitch in her throat, and her cheeks warmed slightly before she composed herself almost instantaneously.

She then sighed rather dramatically, pinching the bridge of her nose. "It really does look like the frills and pink went to your head this time, (Y/N)."

"Hey, I'm just telling you as I see it!"

"Well, you clearly need to get your Inner Eye checked," Cassandra rolled her eyes, clearly not amused. "Why don't you go and order us some food from Madam Puddifoot, while I try to make peace with your cup. This whole ordeal is making me famished."

Deciding not to irk the Slytherin girl any further, you gracefully made your way to Madam Puddifoot's to order more tea and some food this time. Meanwhile, Cassandra seized your cup, examining the tea dregs herself. Imagine her surprise when she found out the dregs truly did resemble a heart.

The only difference was you had described it as perfect, but in her 'Eye,' it appeared crooked and blemished. Confused, she consulted "Unfogging the Future" and leafed through its pages until she found what she was looking for.

There were two drawings of a heart, one crooked and one perfectly shaped. The descriptions read: The perfectly shaped heart appears only to the owner of the cup, symbolizing a love that is harmonious and destined to be in his future. When one discerns the heart in its blemished form, crooked in any way, it signifies the fickle love or admiration they hold for the owner of the cup.

Cassandra nearly dropped the cup from utter surprise after reading the last passage from the book. Her eyes widened, and she looked from the cup to the book, realization slowly dawning upon her. The revelation left her in a momentary state of contemplation before she glanced up, meeting your gaze with an unreadable expression.

Returning with the ordered tea and food, you noticed Cassandra's thoughtful demeanor.

"Everything okay?" you asked, unaware of the revelations unfolding in the tea leaves and the pages of the divination book.

Upon speculation, maybe it's because of the fact you had saved her life on different occasions, especially during your nightly excursions in the Forbidden Forest for rare potion ingredients for some project, or maybe because you were the only partner she'd choose during your dance club practices. In fact, Cassandra can’t remember a time in the past few years you and her haven’t been dance partners. And when you asked her about it, she merely responded by saying you were the only one that did not have two left feet.

Whereas other students would praise her and practically throw themselves at her feet begging for her attention, you were the only one who treated her as a fellow student, and she seemed to have grown to admire that in you. Something she'd never openly admit to anyone. Especially to you.

"Yes, everything's fine." Cassandra blinked, snapping out of her introspection.

Upon setting the tray down, you sat back down and helped yourself to another helping of Earl Grey Tea as well as a fresh macaron from the tray. As you observed her, you couldn't help but marvel at the way her usually composed exterior seemed to waver ever so slightly.

"So," you started, trying to break the silence that had settled over the table, "What did your Inner Eye see from my cup?"

"A load of soggy brown stuff," Cassandra replied with a rather unnerving and sickeningly sweet smile.

One you'd wish to never see again, nor ask Cassandra ever again regarding what she saw in your cup.

[rose-of-the-grave]

The Great War: Chapter 3

Pairing: Mattheo Riddle x Reader

Hey, sorry for the wait, I was busy finishing up some requests but here's part 3! As promised we do finally meet Mattheo. As always I'm the author (please don't repost)

Masterlist. Series Masterlist. Read on Ao3

Warnings: divination class, tessomancy(tea leaf reading), smoking, use of nicknames(little lioness and princess), let me know if there's anything else

Word Count: 2698

Description: Y/N has a class with none of her friends, leading her to sit with some Slytherins. Later, in an effort to get some fresh air she runs into a mysterious figure she soon discovers the identity of.

Taglist: @sylveryfire, @undercover-smutlover, @relminnie

“Congrats on making the team!” Katie said, before walking over to sit with her friends.

“Thanks!”

Random people in Gryffindor had been coming up to her all morning to congratulate her on making the team. Taking a seat at the table she grabbed some food.

“Morning.” She said.

“Hey Y/N.” Harry greeted from his seat across from her.

Ron looked up, “Hey! Congrats!”

“You too!” She said, “Now all three of us will be on the team together!”

“Yeah. Speaking of, when’s our first practice?”

Harry looked over and said, “We start next week on Monday.”

Changing the subject, Y/N turned to Hermione and asked, “So, what’s your schedule for today? I have Charms then Divination.”

Hermione made a face of disgust. She had never liked Divination and had always wondered why Y/N continued to take the class. Y/N didn’t particularly like the class but since she had managed to pass with high enough marks on her OWLs she figured she might as well give it a chance.

“We have Charms together, then after I have Arithmancy.”

“Nice. I wonder who will be in Divination.” Y/N mused. She hoped that she would at least have some people she knew. Lavender and Parvati would be in it but she didn’t really like hanging out with them.

A little later in the day, after Charms class, Y/N trudged up the stairs to the Divination classroom. It was not for the faint of heart. When she got to the class she took a seat near some people she vaguely knew which unfortunately included Lavender and Parvati. They exchanged polite smiles but nothing more.

“Welcome, students to the class of Divination!” Professor Trelawney greeted in a breezy voice. Y/N looked around, most of the people in the class were Ravenclaws. She knew a few, but not well.

“For this class, I ask you all to please pair up with someone. They will be your partner for the rest of the year.”

Parvati and Lavender paired up together, leaving her no other option. She was going to have to find someone that would at least be bearable. Standing up she walked around, trying to see if there was anyone who wasn’t partnered up yet.

“Y/L/N! You can be my partner.” She turned around to see Pansy sitting at a table next to the only two other Slytherins in the class, Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott. Naturally, the two boys had paired up already, leaving Pansy without any alternative. Both Slytherins looked at their friend astonished that she would willingly ask a Gryffindor, a friend of Harry Potter no less, to be her partner.

She walked over and took a seat across from the black haired Slytherin girl.

“Thanks.”

The girl’s somewhat approachable expression turned to a disgruntled look. “Don’t thank me.” Message received. Pansy might be acting nicer but that didn’t mean that they were all of a sudden friends. She was going to have to work to ingratiate herself.

“Today’s lesson will be a review of what we learned in third year. Tessomancy, the art of reading tea leaves.” Cups of tea, already brewed, appeared at every table. “Drink up!”

Now, tea wasn’t bad but the kind of tea that Trelawney used tasted horrible. Everybody started to sip the tea, including Y/N.

“Ugh! This tastes worse than it did three years ago.” Draco complained.

“Just like your mother's cooking.” Theodore joked. Weird. She hadn’t been over to the Malfoy’s residence in years but she didn’t recall Narcissa ever cooking. Maybe she only did so when there weren't any visitors?

Y/N snorted, amused. All three pairs of eyes were suddenly turned onto her.

Malfoy turned to look at her with narrowed eyes, sneering, “So, Y/L/N. I’m surprised you were able to take this class. Weren’t you given an Acceptable on your OWL?”

Raising an eyebrow she responded, “Didn’t realize you concerned yourself so much with my OWL results. Perhaps next time you should check your facts. Professor Trelawney takes Acceptables for the NEWT level of Divination.”

“She’s right. How d’you think I got into this class Draco? You know I suck at Divination.” Pansy said.

“I thought you passed.”

“I did. With an Acceptable.”

He made a disgruntled sound before turning back to his table.

Her tablemate looked over at her, “What do you see in yours?” Pansy asked.

“Oh, not much, just a lump of tea leaves.” Y/N said, tilting her cup for Pansy to see.

“It kind of looks like a skull.”

She looked at again, “Huh. I guess so. What does that mean again?”

She was about to open her book when from next to her she heard Theodore say, “It means ‘danger in your path’.”

“Thanks.” That was easily the third time she’s ever heard him talk in all of her years at Hogwarts. The first was in first year when she had still sort of hung out with Draco and Theodore had first joined the friend group. The second time had been a lot more memorable however. In fourth year, after the ‘Incident’, he had been the only other one besides Blaise who knew the truth. She had expected him to tell the truth and get Blaise out of detention. He never did.

“What about yours, what does it say?”

Pansy showed her her cup, “I don’t know. What do you think it looks like?”

“It kinda looks like a bird.”

“Yeah, but what bird? They all have different meanings.”

“Falcon, I think.”

She hummed before leaning over to the boys’ table, “Hey Theo, what does a falcon mean?”

He sighed and without looking up said, “‘A deadly enemy.’”

Y/N pointed out, “But look, there’s also what looks like a sun. That’s ‘great happiness’.”

“So basically I’m going to almost die?”

“Looks like it.”

“Well, shit.” She scooted her chair a bit over to Draco and Theodore’s table. “What about you?” She asked while peering over his shoulder.

“A cross and an acorn.” Draco said.

“Well that’s not too bad.”

“It’s actually pretty fucking accurate considering…” He trailed off, both of them looked over at Y/N.

Interesting, she thought. A cross meant ‘trials and suffering’. Maybe he was connecting that to himself being a death eater. She mentally shook her head. They didn’t know that for sure. Although he was acting pretty suspicious, going into the Room of Requirement late at night. She probably should have mentioned that to Harry but he was already watching his every move on the Marauders Map so he most likely knew already.

By the end of class they had all shared their observations, with a few seemingly taking their predictions very seriously to the point of tears. Idiots, she thought. Most predictions that she had heard made in this class never came true, except for a handful. Then again, her views on the subject might be slightly colored by the fact that none of her friends liked this class. Hermione thought it was a load of dung while both Ron and Harry saw it as fairly useless. Both of them had barely passed the class, only doing so after coming up with all kinds of made up predictions so Trelawney thought that they were successful.

It was for this reason that she didn’t think much of her supposed future. ‘Danger in her path’? With Voldemort back from the dead of course there was going to be danger in her path. Only a fool would think otherwise. She may be a pureblood but she was considered a blood traitor for consorting with muggle borns and other blood traitors. Funnily enough, people had more of an issue with her being friends with Ron and Hermione than they did with Harry.

Grabbing her bag, she shoved her textbook in and took her cup over to the rack. She then followed the other students as they left the class. Finally, all of her classes for the day were over and she could now focus on the mountains of homework that had already been assigned.

“Why is there so much of it?” Ron whined, looking over the assigned writing for Defense Against the Dark Arts. “I swear he’s trying to torture us into quitting.”

Hermione looked up from where she was diligently working on the assignment, “Snape was right about one thing, we are woefully unprepared. Every year we have a new teacher who changes up the curriculum. We didn’t even learn anything from Umbridge. Thankfully we had you Harry, but there was only so much you could teach us.”

Harry gave her a grateful look from where he was pouring over his Potions book.

“It’s a miracle we all passed the OWL for the class, I didn’t even know some of the spells on it.”

“At least some of the curriculum this year is going over things we already know like the Cruciatus Curse. I mean, how can we forget Mad-Eye Moody’s approach.”

Harry made a noise but didn’t say anything. They all remembered the version of Mad-Eye that they had met first. How he got away with demonstrating the Cruciatus and Imperius Curses on students was unimaginable. It all made sense now that they knew he had actually been a Death Eater but still.

“That and Dementors. We know a bit about them thanks to third year. Plus, now we all know how to cast a patronus thanks to Harry so that part of the class shouldn’t be too bad.”

Ron looked over at her, “Yeah. What was yours again?”

“I can’t recall.” She said, shifting a bit in her seat.

“Wasn’t it a snake or something?” Hermione asked.

Y/N shrugged, changing the subject quickly to Slughorn. “So, Harry. I heard you joined the Slug Club. I thought you said you weren’t going to.”

He shrugged, “Changed my mind.” Well that was odd. He didn’t usually keep secrets from the group.

“But why?” Ron asked. He was still a bit put out that both Harry and Hermione had been invited.

“Slughorn knew my mom. I figured maybe he could tell me a bit about her.”

They all shared a look of understanding. It wasn’t something they talked about that much but there was always an undercurrent of knowing that all three of them had parents. Harry on the other hand barely knew anything about his. Sirius and Professor Lupin had both been friends with them but he didn’t get to spend much time with them. She still laughed a bit when she remembered all of the stories Sirius had told about him and Harry’s dad when they were all at school.

“How was Divination?” Hermione asked, her upper lip curling a bit when she said the word. Her long standing disdain for the class had become a running joke ever since third year.

“It was fine. It was mostly Ravenclaws.” Y/N wasn’t quite sure how they would all feel knowing that she had willingly sat with Slytherins, especially suspected Death Eaters. It was a well known fact that their parents were so it was only a matter of time before they joined in their eyes. She knew they wouldn’t understand unless she told them why she did it but she couldn’t do that. Dumbledore made her promise.

She looked down at her assignment for Ancient Runes. Merlin, she hated that class. The only reason she passed was thanks to Hermione. She didn’t have it again until Monday so she decided to wait to do it later. Instead she opted for finishing her assignment for Divination which was an illustration of her tea leaves, her observations, and what she thought that meant. Once she did that, she continued her DADA assignment. Only Snape would assign a ten page essay on Inferi on the very first day.

Later that night, after already being in bed she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After what felt like hours she accepted her fate and sat up. Everyone else was fast asleep. Tossing her covers she pulled on a pair of boots and grabbed a jacket.

The school was illuminated by the torches but the lack of natural light and other students made it feel creepy. Walking slowly, she paid attention to any little noise or shadow. Some of the castle ghosts were floating around in the halls but they paid her no mind. Soon she reached her destination.

The courtyard was dark and gloomy, the arches creating odd shadows. What was, during the day, full of students hanging out, had now become spooky. She continued walking away from the castle and into the main area. A sound echoed through the air, a stone on the ground. She whirled around at the startling noise, praying that it wasn’t Mrs. Norris, or worse, Filch. Y/N stepped out into the open courtyard, the moon finally visible and lighting her way. It was peaceful at this time of night, despite the threat of being caught out of bed past curfew but after five years of breaking rules now was not the time to start worrying.

Hearing another sound, she called out, “Hello?” Making sure her voice didn’t carry too much.

All was quiet until she heard yet another noise, if she wasn’t mistaken it almost sounded like the sound of a lighter being flicked on. Odd. Most of the students here used magic for light. Even fewer smoked so she heavily suspected that it was one of the older Slytherins. There were rumors of their use of alcohol and drugs at the parties they liked to throw. As a Gryffindor she had never been, but she had heard about them.

About twenty feet away, partially behind the shadowy figure of a tree was a small, flickering light. Curious, she hesitantly drew closer to it. The closer she got the more she was able to see. It was a student, that much was clear.

“Lumos.” Almost blinding light illuminated the courtyard, allowing her to see who sat before her. It was Mattheo Riddle.

“Lost, little lioness?” The light’s reflection dancing in his dark eyes.

“Don’t call me that.” She snapped.

“What would you prefer?” He smirked, leaning in a bit, his voice lowering, “Princess?”

Pulling back a few steps, she shot back, “Shouldn’t you be plotting to take over the world?” Trying to keep her cool. There was a reason so many girls fawned over him despite his heritage. He was beautiful, like a fallen angel, and had a voice that created butterflies in unsuspecting victims’ stomachs. That didn’t mean he was affecting her. She was strong.

Somewhat bitterly, he grimaced. “That’s my father.”

Arching an eyebrow, “And here I was, thinking it was genetic.”

“The same could be said of you. All of your family are Slytherins and yet here you are, a Gryffindor.”

Her brow furrowed. How the hell did he know that?

In answer to her silent question he simply said, “Malfoy.” He looked away, taking another drag of his cigarette. Her eyes caught on his ring. It was silver but she was fairly certain that she had seen it before. 

Of course, Bellatrix Lestrange. They had only met once, last year but she remembered it. It had been on her hand when she had been restraining Hermione before the Order had answered their call. There had been a rumor that she was his mother but there had never been any confirmation. People assumed, based off of his hair, just as curly as hers, and his friendship, if you could even call it that, with Draco.

Lost in thought, she didn’t realize that he had stood up and was putting out his cigarette with the heel of his shoe. Before she could do something he turned to her and said, “Good night, princess.” Before disappearing into the darkness as if he had never even been there. The only thing that indicated his presence was the smell of smoke and the silver lighter.

Bending down, she grabbed it, turning it over in her hand. An MR had been carved into the side of it. Brushing her finger against the carving, she pocketed it.

Chapter 4>>

(Let me know if you want to be tagged in upcoming chapters!)

[pengwenpen]

I figured I'd use my Tumblr to save progress and develop my "Percy as a Werewolf" story which keeps rapidly growing in my head. I already have a working title, that I will use to mark posts about it:

Cumbrian Moons

Feel free to mute/block the tag "Cumbrian Moons fic" if I annoy you with my update posts! More Info under the cut:

Working on this project means, it will be a long and cumbersome process. So I decided to merge it with other Percy-related ideas I carried in my head for the last year. This promises I will still be excited about this project in the long run (I hope). Headcanons included from this point onward:

Bisexual Percy

Squib descendant Audrey Flint (her father is a squib from the Flint family. Yes she is a cousin to Marcus Flint) She knows generally about magic but hasn't cared about it much until meeting Percy.

Percy exchanges letters with his great-great aunt Muriel F Prewett who is quite fond of him (as he is the only one of his siblings who regularly writes to her)

she won't be as mean as portrayed in the books, and she won't hold a stigma against Muggle Culture or Muggleborns (on the contrary, she relishes Muggle lifestyle and is well-versed and quite up-to-date regarding Muggle culture!)

Percy indulges in divination and shows Audrey some of the less magically involved methods before he tells her about magic. (Think Tessomancy and Bibliomancy)

Audrey is an avid hiker and happens to find Percy while group hiking (yikes) she proceeds to visit him out of curiosity and nosiness, but stays for conversations

Percy hides magic and his Lycanthropy from Audrey, but she grows more and more suspicious. Percy does not even think she could relate to the Flint family he is familiar with

It could be fun if Percy had a short something with Marcus in the past? He only realizes he is with his cousin when he has already done some stuff with Audrey xD The poor man is totally flustered upon combining the facts...

[highmarc]

Professor Onai: And now let’s practise reading tea leaves. Remember – the art of tessomancy demands concentration and determination.  Let’s start with mister Thakkar and mister Sallow.

Amit: *takes Sebastian’s cup and sees… THE GRIM* I-I-

Professor Onai: Don’t panic, mister Thakkar. Take a breath. Concentrate. And tell us what do you see?

Amit: Well-er-.. I see… grave-

*Sebastian gives him the look*

Amit: I mean – great – news! Something like sun. Yes, sun! And it’s beamy, oh my. So beamy! I almost want to close my eyes. Sebastian, it’s your lucky… time, yes, lucky, to fulfill anything you’ve ever wanted.

Professor Onai: Well done, Mister Thakkar. Seeing sun in one’s tea leaves means great happiness – a very good omen that is. Miss Dale, why don’t you share your reading with us?

Amit: *sighs*

Sebastian: Thank you.

Amit: I… erm… you’re welcome. Try not to die, though, okay?

Sebastian: I’ll try my best.

[inejdrabbles]

Kaz rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath, returning his attention to the teacup in front of him. Tessomancy, the art of reading tea leaves, was one of the subjects he seemed to find utterly pointless. The swirling patterns in the cup meant nothing to him; he didn't believe in such nonsense. Inej, however, took Divination seriously. It was part of her Suli heritage, a way to connect with the unseen and explore the mysteries of the future. When Kaz dismissed the whole thing with a wave of his hand, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of hurt. She had grown up with stories of the Suli's connection to the natural world, their ability to find meaning in the smallest details. It was a belief system that gave her comfort, and Kaz's disdain seemed almost insulting. She spoke softly, her voice barely audible over the murmurs in the room. "You know, there's more to Divination than just random shapes in a cup," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "It's about seeing beyond the obvious, finding meaning in the chaos."Kaz glanced at her, his expression hardening. "If you say so," he replied, dismissing her words with a flick of his wrist. 

shadow-kissed: Read on AO3

[our-flag-means-death-ao3feed]

Curses and Love are not so far apart

by hotcryptidsummer

Edward Teach asks the help of a magical practitioner, Stede Bonnet, to break a curse his ex-lover has put on him. How is he so sure it was Izzy? Well, only he would be petty enough to make sure he could never perform sexually unless it was while thinking about him. It was a rough break-up.

Words: 2967, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 4 of Izzy Hands Bingo

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands

Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Israel Hands, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet/Israel Hands

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Witchcraft, Angst with a Happy Ending, Post-Break Up, Ed and Izzy dealing with breakup feelings, Undercover Stede Bonnet, steddyhands endgame, Curse Breaking, Rimming (eventually), Morning sex (eventually), Slow Burn, Oral Sex, Biting, Hair-pulling, Israel Hands Needs a Hug, Tessomancy, Stede loves tea

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/48395164

[underthepyramids]

Let me present you my latest magick kit: 𝔗𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔬𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔶! The art of tea leaves reading​ -​ also known as tasseography or tasseoman​​c​y ​- ​appears to have begun around the XVIIth century, when the Chinese tea trade made its way into European society thus replacing the old techniques based upon spatters of lead or wax. ​My 𝔗𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔬𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔶 kit was created to introduce you to this method and includes everything one needs to begin immediately! ​It is READY TO SHIP and might even arrive in time for Lupercalia / Valentine's! It contains:​​ ✥ VINTAGE TEACUP & SAUCER​ Delicate yet generous and sturdy​. ✥ LOOSE TEA Your pick from a selection from ​@missmapletearoom. ✥ DIVINATION INCENSE​ Organic and handcrafted by me​. ✥ BOOKLET Very simple instructions on how to start Tasseomancy. ✥ SYMBOLS & DIAGRAMS A5 CARD Dictionary of 168 symbols with their possible explanation on one side. Two Diagrams on how to read your cup on the back. The card & booklet ​are illustrat​ed by ​@gwendolinoleum ​All the details can be found in the sh⋄p or on the blog​ (links in profile) . . . . #underthepyramidstreasures #underthepyramids #portablemagick #portablemagic #witchesofinstagram #witchythings #witchcraft #tasseomancy #tasseography #tessomancy #tealeavesreading #thelovewitch #hedgewitch #solitarywitch #greenwitch #plantmagic #herbalmagic #fortunetelling #witchythings #occult #darkacademia #cottagecoreaesthetic #cottagecorestyle #darkcapture #darkaesthetic #sombre_moods (at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZKfy6QI_jx/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thetravelingtarot]

🫖☕ morning cuppa 🍂 #greenwitch #tearitual #morningcuppa #creamofearlgrey #fancyteacup #heirloom #tealeaves #tessomancy #kitchenwitch #earlymorning #witchesofinstagram #witchesofig #tarotreadersofinstagram #adaliatravelingtarot #wildones https://www.instagram.com/p/CUSZclXLNMy/?utm_medium=tumblr

[incorrectpnatquotes]

Forge for the leaf?

I think I see a cornucopia, which predicts happiness and unqualified success, but Forge thinks it looks like his thumb, which means he’ll prove himself superior to those who despise him. Either way, it looks like something good is coming his way. There’s also a triangle-looking shape on the bottom of the cup, meaning he’s had a fortunate meeting (perhaps with Johnny?).

[askaliceprewett]

Tessomancy

Script by @asklunaloovegood​

Lavender, Ginny, + Hannah by @askaliceprewett​

--

Lavender loved Divination since the very first day of class- the mystery, the prophecies, the dramatics.

She could spend hours peering into a crystal ball, looking for a glimpse of her future life.

Sometimes it was hard to tell if she’d truly seen something or just wanted to see something. It didn’t matter though. The speculation was exhilarating.

The one method of divination she enjoyed more than crystal-gazing was Tessomancy: the art of reading tea leaves.

It was fast, it could be done anywhere, and was much cleaner than ovomancy.

Lavender took any opportunity she could to read people’s tea leaves.

--

--

--

There is power in Tessomancy, of course.

But there is just as much power, if not more,

in telling people what they need to hear.

fin.

--

(OOC: I’ve had a wonderful time bringing this script to life so a giant thank you to @asklunaloovegood​! Along with that thanks, thanks, and ever thanks to @angel-pirate-child​ for organizing this script swap!)

[lordofmasks]

Some tea leaves you can learn how to read in Basic Witches ☕️ 🍵

(Who knows what that last one means ¯\_💀_/¯ )

[kinderkindred]

My teacup and saucer came in the mail, and I'm so happy with how pretty it is! I can't wait to do some tessomancy with this.