"Well obviously the first step would be to pour tea into a cup without the use of a strainer, then of course the person who is being read for must drink the tea. No one else" Lee blurted out without even putting his hand up. He blushed slightly.

"proffessor, you have to drink a cup of tea and leave a small bit in the bottom with the tea leaves" said luna enthusiastically agian

Nadia raised her hand, "The first step would be preparing the tea. You have to enter a calm state of mind for this, inhale deeply and quiet your mind, then pour the tea into your cup and remain calm and contemplative as you wait for your tea to cool to a comfortable temperature."

She paused, and not to be repeatitive, added, "There's a recommended tip before you drink the tea. If you are right-handed, lift your tea cup with your left hand. If you are left-handed, lift your tea cup with your right hand. If you are ambidextrous, reach for the vessel as you normally would, stop and use the other hand."

Professor Kotkin replied. "That is right Lee, but it is also important to let the person who is being read to also pour the tea into the cup. This helps to concentrate their unconscious powers while their hands are occupied with a 'concious' action."

ahh, thaught luna, she had jumped ahead a little

"That's quite all right. The next step is to drink all but about a half a teaspoon of tea in the cup, just enough to allow the dregs of the tea to float. Nadia is right about the use of your hands. Can anyone tell me what hand you are supposed to use to swirl the tea leaves, and how many times to swirl?"

"is it the left, no wait right, no left" said luna uncertainly

"Yes, it is the left hand. How many times are you to swirl the cup and in what direction?"

"three counter clockwise, i think" said luna uncertainly she was quite an uncertain person but coulnt help feeling she might be right

"It is counterclockwise if you are a girl, but if you are a boy, then it should be clockwise. Can anyone tell me the next step?"

"do you tip the leaves onto a saucer?" said luna, this she was definately unsure of, she had read this but had heard you just read the tea leaves from the cup

*Sniv looked around uncertainly, not able to come up with an answer*

Raising her hand, "The next step is, when the tea has cooled to a comfortable temperature, drink until the cup is nearly empty. If you see a twig or little stick floating in your tea, that is an early sign representing an imminent visitor. There will be a little liquid and remaining leaves within your teacup. Swish them about as desired.

"If any moisture remains it is shaken out onto a napkin. Another method is to leave a little moisture in the cup. This allows the leaves or dregs to be swished around. The cup is the upturned into the saucer. The reader picks up the cup and begins examining the formation of the dregs.

"Time frames are also indicated by estimating the proximity of the leaves to the rim. Dregs closer to the rim and handle represent the immediate future, while those at the cup's bottom indicate the far future. Some diviners say they can only predict twenty-four hours into the future."

Professor Kotkin smiled at Sniv, knowing what she must feel like. Divination definitely did not start off being her best subject. Quidditch was much more exciting then reading tea leaves.


"Yes Luna, you turn the cup upside down on your saucer to drain the cup. After that you need to pick the cup up again with your left hand, and swirl again 3 times. This time clockwise for the girls, and then counterclockwise for the boys."

(ooc: You will find different methods for reading tea leaves. I find this one much more entertaining!)

*Sniv nodded and quickly scribbled it all down on a parchment in order to remember it after class, feeling this was important to remember.*

"ahh," said luna, she was on a roll, she definately enjoyed this class more than anny other, she smiled to herself and looked back to proffessor kotkin

Professor Kotkin continued....
"Now the cup is still upside down, so if you are reading it yourself, then you should now turn the cup upright so the handle is facing toward you. If you are reading for someone else, then take their hand and turn it over, again, with the handle toward you. Can anyone tell me why we use the left hand so much in tea reading?"

Kristal took notes on each instruction on reading the tea leaves. Then she followed the directions and smiled as she looked down on her fully swirled tea leaves.

Jenna scribbled down silly notes, barely concealing a grin. She looked up at the professor, who had just stated an even more confusing step. She coughed, trying to hide her laughter (without prevail).

Ridiculous. She thought, smiling and shaking her head back and forth.

*While fumbling with her tea cup so get it in the right position, Sniv thought about the Professor's question, frowning slightly in concentration*

luna frowned slightly at the girl concealing a laugh and scribbled down some notes, this was something she didnt know

Jenna finished writing, and took a deep breath. She looked up, but caught a glare from a girl sitting nearby, and hastily returned to her teacup.

It may actually work if I take this seriosuly. Forcing back another grin, Jenna followed the instructions she had written down. After placing her cup back upright, and making sure the handle was facing her, she leaned back in her chair, waiting for the professor's next step.

Professor Kotkin was surprised no one had the answer. "The left hand is known as the 'intuitive' hand. While you are holding the cup by the handle with your left hand, you can use your right hand to support it if needed. Now you can tilt the cup in any direction to get a full view of the cup. If you have a problem with seeing the images, close your eyes and open them again to try and get an overall picture."

"Now, let's get our tea and try and follow these steps. Remember to write down what you see, and pay special attention, as Nadia mentioned, to see if there are any twigs or sticks floating in your tea before you finish drinking it. Try and concentrate on a question you might want answered as well."

luna focused and drained her cup, she wrote down what she did and looked carefully inot the cup concentrating as hard as she could she saw what looked like a sun and a wavy sort of line, concentraing more she also notcied a circle "proffessor, what does this mean?"

*Sniv blinked several times trying to get a 'clear' image in her tea.

Seeing something which looked like a snake, she quickly scribbled it down and stuck her nose in her cup again in order to have a better look*