Charley followed Belle's actions closely.
"Thank you!" she said as she took the smore Belle had made for her.
"And you just eat it like a sandwich, right?"

Renée sent Emily a smile as she stammered her way through a correction of what had been said earlier. She hadn't truly taken the idea that she'd meant real sacrifice to heart, not after that first moment, but she appreciated the fact that the girl felt the need to correct herself. Even after it had already been somewhat straightened out. "I appreciate the explanation, even though I think it all got figured out. I can't imagine anyone would suggest that, anyhow," she replied. At least, nobody that she knew of that was currently attending. Historically, that could be more questionable. Either way, now they could get back to the lesson.

It seemed she still had some people who were getting distracted by the marshmallows, but Renée nodded back to Dianna as the Slytherin paused. "Of course," she replied, as the girl spoke. "We're not exactly going to be attempting capnomancy, but that is definitely another form of pyromancy." Still. It seemed the creativity wasn't exactly coming out, but she wasn't losing hope just yet. perhaps the ideas of sacrifices were making people nervous, even though there was no way anything even close was going to happen. Hopefully nobody thought otherwise, even though she was fairly certain she'd made her position known.

Even though it was pretty dark by now, except for the firelight, Renée noticed when Kurumi had blushed. Feeling sympathy for the girl, as well as a bit of guilt at the idea that she had caused the embarrassment. It hadn't been that odd of an idea. To the contrary, it had probably been one of the most creative responses, at least amongst the actually feasible ideas. Either way, there was a few tense moments before she realized the Gryffindor had relaxed again. At least she hadn't caused too much damage, which became even more evident as she noticed the interested look on the girl's face. "Not everyone seems to think that, since not everyone sees images in tea leaves, but if you look at it as symbolism it can in fact be quite interesting," she replied with another smile. It wasn't exactly one of her strong suits, but perhaps there could be a bit of delving into the subject later.



As she heard a few voices mentioning palm reading, Renée turned to see who had spoken with a bit of an amused smile. At least it isn't more repetition, she thought, nodding the slightest bit toward Feenella and Belle. "Cheiromancy, also known as palmistry, is definitely a form of Divination. It isn't usually attached to pyromancy, but perhaps if you like I could explain it later," she responded, to both of them. She hadn't really explored it too much, but she was slightly more skilled at that than some of the other types of Divination. She wanted to get things back on track with the subject of this lesson, though, so any discussion would need to occur later. Unless she decided to teach a lesson on it.

Renée's emotions regarding if the lesson was a success or not were still murky, but at least the feeling that she'd had some level of success when it came to helping Selina was clear. And positive. There was still a rough road ahead for the Gryffindor, but as long as she kept herself moving forward, things seemed like they might work out. At least to the point of being less afraid. The giggle was even better, and elicited another little grin from the professor. "I wouldn't think so. And, just a question, but do you think they even were truly seeing the future in the fire?," she posited. Hallucinations, images, perhaps, but true visions were something entirely different. Those needed a clear mind to manifest, which possibly was why she preferred not attempting to look for them. Tarot and similar pursuits were simpler in that way.

It seemed the discussion hadn't really gotten Jake's attention, but Renée wasn't worried. As long as his snitch didn't disrupt anyone else's focus, and he managed to understand even a little of what had been discussed, things would owrk out fine. And it seemed his antics, especially as he had kept them toward the back of the group, hadn't caused too much trouble. She'd noticed his lack of participation after a certain point but enough other things had been going on that she hadn't let it bother her. She grinned a little as he finally spoke, however. "I'd be curious what type of Divination you'd suggest that uses rubber chickens," she replied, noting the slightest of movements next to the Hufflepuff that meant at least he'd been getting notes down. They'd be moving on soon anyway.

Hearing Evelyn speak, Renée glanced back at the Slytherin. Who it seemed had spent the entirety of the discussion hypnotized by the flames. At least the Slytherin hadn't seemed to have moved much closer to them, so the fire-trance was okay. Even oddly amusing, given her discussion with Selina about trance states. She was fairly certain Evelyn was just enraptured by the flames, as opposed to anything else. The response was questionable, though. "Let me know if you see any," she said with a smile. "While I move things along." For now, it seemed safer to just let her continue with sitting there. First movement closer to the flames and she would step into action. There hadn't been any injuries yet, and she was determined that there wouldn't be any. Especially from stupidity brought on by pyromania.

Hearing another voice, Renée turned from watching Evelyn to smile at Chloe. It seemed people were still stuck on suggesting the forms of pyromancy they'd discussed, or other forms altogether, which hadn't been the intent of her question. Perhaps she hadn't been clear enough, though, so she gave the Gryffindor the benefit of the doubt. "Alomancy is a form of pyromancy, and one that would be fairly simple, assuming we had salt on hand. Unfortunately, I don't think snow works the same way, or marshmallows. It was a good suggestion though," she replied. They definitely needed to move on, and she needed to try and get things back on some sort of track.

Turning as she heard another response, Renée decided she definitely needed to get things back on track, even as she sent a smile over to Maddie. She'd tried, even if that wasn't exactly what they were discussing currently. "Both are definitely forms of Divination, which were discussed a bit earlier in the term," she pointed out gently, trying not to say anything that would hurt the Ravenclaw's feelings. At least Tarot had been. Runes had been looked at in overview, but not much further. "I wouldn't recommend trying to mix cartomancy and pyromancy, however. You wouldn't exactly get the result you wanted," she added with a grin. Unless your intent had been to burn the cards, which would be disappointing.



By that time having decided she really needed to move things along, Renée turned to the fire for a moment to gather her thoughts. It seemed nobody had really looked beyond the containers near the flames, so she'd have to go at things a bit differently. Returning her attention to the class, she sent a smile over to Nika as the girl seemed to be trying to eat another marshmallow more carefully, seeing the other few girls actively making s'mores as well, then noticed Lexi's demeanor seemed a bit less animated than usual. In fact, the Gryffindor was scowling, and she instinctively felt that it hadn't had anything to do with Salander. Therefore it had been herself, and she sent an apologetic smile toward her in hopes it would help. Since she wasn't exactly sure what had triggered the change, she didn't want to say anything. Calling the girl out wouldn't help anyway. She could enquire later. Hopefully.

With another glance at the s'mores makers, she headed over to the tiny pile of blankets and leaned over to scratch her crup puppy's head a moment before reaching into the nearby container and withdrawing a hazelnut. Time to be a bit more specific with the class, so she returned to the bonfire. Angling herself so she was fairly well lit, she held the nut up in one hand before addressing the class. "Does anyone want to identify this, and possibly give an idea how it can be used in, well, maybe not a real form of Divination, but what could be considered an amusing one?," she asked. Obviously, she knew it was a hazelnut, but there was the slight possibility everyone else wouldn't. And she was more interested in the second half of the question.

ooc: Hopefully a mini-activity soon. Then homework, wrap-up, etc. But feel free to have a bit of fun in guessing what the activity is first.

Still on 'The Hunt for Hot Dogs' the Lion looked up expectantly at the Professor as she askd the students to Identify something, "Professor thats a Hazlenut."

A hazlenut not a Hot Dog, poo!

Listening to the second part of the Professor's question, the LionBoy had an idea, perhaps giving the right answer would mean he would get a hotdog as a reward.

"Perhaps very similarily to Osteomancy, we could cook the Hazlenuts and observe the cracks and divine from them."

Patroclus didn't like Roasted Hazlenuts.......but he did like hotdogs.

Kurumi had thought about the same line as Patroclus, but seeing as he had already explained the idea, Kurumi picked her brain for another possibility. "Professor, aren't hazlenuts an object in Irish witchcraft? There was a divination practice where you put a flame between the two nuts to see how they reacted to one another as well as the flame. For example, if the nuts burnt quickly, then that was a very bad sign." When she thought about it, it really wasn't that much different from what Patroclus had said.

Great minds think a like!

Let her know if she saw any? WELL...that was definitely a task the Slytherin will be willing to do! She would totally stare at the fire waiting for any ashwinders. Besides, who didn't like fire and snakes? Huuuh?

Smiling, Evelyn went and did just that. Stare at the fire. And wait for any ashwinders.

Until of course the professor picked up something and then asked something and then Evelyn forgot...something. That is, until someone said something about the something that she forgot. Hazelnut? Aww okay, they were using that as a form of divination? AND it was an amusing one? "Perhaps you're supposed to put the hazelnuts in the fire and wait until they're blazing hot and then eat them...and then you're supposed to tell the future or something by the way they burn your tongue."

...

Well, that was amusing to her.

Emily looked up at the object Professor Bishop held in her hand.
"Its a hazelnut", said Emily, mmm hazelnuts yummy. Emily was suddenly craving nutella. But how on earch was that related to pyromancy?
Where they going to burn it?, eat it?.... this didn't seem to make much sense.
"Um... does it perhaps react somehow to the flames- so that way we can divine by observing the flames?.. ooohh or does it change the colour of the flames?... no thats silly". Emily was ranting now, still not entirely sure about what was going on, or what could go on.
"We're not going to eat them are we?" she asked. She wasn't really in a mood for charcoal flavoured hazelnuts.

Luin looked around, the fire, having made herself a s'more now and found her spot again. she sat listening to her teacher talking. The teacher then pulled out a nut, hmm, she did recognize that, and she did rather enjoy eating those. She raised her hand without any of the marshmallow goo or chocolate on it (although she did have to first take some of that chocolate off, it was getting everywhere. "It is a hazelnut, Professor. I think I heard somewhere before that you could carve a question into it and put it by the fire. If it pops the answer is no, if it doesn't the answer is yes."

Maddie blushed. She'd obviously missed part of the question - the part that involved the pyromancy. She hadn't even noticed that all of the other students were naming things that involved fire. What an idiot. 'Sorry professor,' she said. 'I must've missed part of the question...' because she had been too busy looking for Justin, like an idiot.

Anyway, swiftly moving on. She grabbed a marshmallow and a stick and began to toast it, waiting until it was perfectly crispy before eating it. Yum. She looked up and listened - closely, this time - as the professor asked another question. She put her hand up again, determined to redeem herself. 'It's a hazelnut, Professor. Don't you put them by the fire, and then assign a goal or an aim or something to each one. If the nut explodes, it's likely that the thing assigned to that nut will happen, and if it just smoulders it's likely not to happen?'

Right. What was going on here?
What was with the nut?
"That's a hazelnut." Obviously.
What they were supposed to do with it, Emily had no idea.
"You don't have to eat it do you?" she blurted out. She hated nuts!
"Um... do you... have to roast them or put them on the fire, and see what the nut does? Like, if it pops open or something like that?"
Total guess. But that would be kind of fun! As long as the nut didn't get anywhere near her. She'd be fine.

When people started offering ideas as to what to do with the hazelnuts, Renée started feeling like things were back on track. Well, except for the fact Patroclus still seemed to be looking for something, and she nudged the container of hot dogs toward him again with her foot. Somebody wanted to eat them, at least, which meant less she'd need to send back to the kitchens later. But back to the actual responses, and she smiled at the first few, from Patroclus, Kurumi and Evelyn, who seemed to have found something new to focus on beyond the fire itself. "Yes, it is a hazelnut," she confirmed. "Although I can't say you've got the idea of what we're doing with them quite right. They're all interesting ideas, though. I'd imagine looking for cracks in one of these might be a bit more difficult than the larger bones and shells used in osteomancy and plastromancy, however."

She paused for a moment, idly glancing at the flames again before continuing. "Yes, Kurumi. You're correct there too. Hazelnuts are commonly used in witchcraft, as well as in various foods. That's another interesting practice as well, as it inherently assumes both the nuts and the flame might be sentient. But we aren't going to be trying that either." Letting some of the students play with direct flames seemed highly dangerous, actually, and Evelyn's answer fit with that idea nicely. "In fact yes, Evelyn. We will be putting the nuts at least near the fire, but unfortunately no. Burning your tongue isn't going to be part of things." Eating them was entirely their own decision, but she hoped they wouldn't be so eager as to burn themselves in the process.



Moving along, Renée smiled again as the Emilys offered their own opinions as to what they could be doing with the nuts. It seemed the idea of eating them wasn't as popular as Evelyn's response might have said. "No, we won't be eating them. Unless you'd like to," she replied, before turning to the Ravenclaw. "Like throwing anything into the flames, throwing a hazelnut would affect them at least for a moment. And the idea that they might change the color of the flame isn't as silly as you might think. There's oil in the nut, and chemical reactions aren't impossible." The little Gryffindor's idea wasn't as far off either, actually a bit closer to what was planned. The reaction the nut had gotten was curious, and the idea of eating it, but the activity suggestion was possible closer than the girl had thought. "Seeing how the nut would react when introduced to a flame . . . Do you think it would pop open like popcorn, or react differently?," she mused, somewhat rhetorically. It was entirely possible the nuts would just burn if left in the flames too long, but that was why she was looking at the activity idea as just an amusement.



Hearing two more voices as she mused about nut reactions and the idea of hazelnut divination as an amusement, Renée's smile grew as she focused on the two Ravenclaws, and she nodded in response to Maddie's apology. Perhaps things weren't going to be as strange as they could have been, considering she hadn't gotten too many crazy ideas. Not to mention nobody had thrown anything into the bonfire quite yet. "Good ideas, Luin and Maddie," she replied. "And not far off from what I was leading toward. Carving the nut isn't exactly going to happen, but putting them by the fire is. In fact, Maddie seems to have gotten the idea down, although usually it's specific ideas that are assigned to the nuts." Redeeming herself a little, but then that was what could happen when one paid attention.

"Actually, the form of divination I was thinking of usually is done as a Hallowe'en activity. Part of those festivities, but I think the usual focus of it could apply to February as well," she thought aloud, letting the students think about what sorts of goals could be assigned to the nuts. They should get ideas given the month, but truly any sort of goal would probably work. Of course, in the same way, the focus of the hazelnut divination could veer from amusing to otherwise rather quickly, but she was hoping they could contain themselves. "Does anyone know anything about what I'm referring to?" If not, she could just keep talking, but she was aiming for more participation. She knew enough to know the students had to want the points that questions led to.

Making hazlenut cookies? Kurumi was already thinking of a recipe in her head, but decided not to verbalize that thought. "Professor, are you talking about the tradition where a married couple would throw hazelnuts into the fire to see if their relationship would be good or not?" Any snap, crackle, or popping would be a bad omen...which seemed like it would happen no matter what nut you threw. Nuts popped when they were heated up!

Nika had no idea. Halloween? How does that have anything to do with hazelnuts and February? Nika tried to think about the question a little deeper. Maybe she wasn't thinking hard enough. "February well there is valentines day. And what do valentines day and Halloween have in common? and hazelnuts?" Oh no she was talking to herself again. She grabbed a marshmallow and decided to switch things up. Maybe she would make some smores this time? She took a piece of chocolate and BINGO. She had an idea. "Professor could it have anything to do with choco-late?" she looked down at her feet. That was a ridiculous answer. "Because you know, you could have hazelnut chocolate? and hazelnuts in chocolate?" How did this have anything to do with divination.

Selina felt much better about the way the lesson was heading. She was not nearly as nervous as when she entered the lesson earlier in the night. When Professor Bishop smiled at her substance remark Selina beamed back. Things were getting better for her. Sure her visions were still not under her control, but she was making the effort to learn something. The more she educated herself the better off she would be. Thanks to Professor Bishop she knew that it was possible to live with her visions.

As the lesson was moving toward the positive it crashed when Bishop asked her about seeing the future. Sure it was not about her abilities personally, but it made her uncomfortable none the less. "I-I, uh, I-I don't know. Why are you asking me that question. I'm just a first year. And I don't know if I even really believe in Seer abilities in general..." Lies, all lies. The last thing Selina wanted to do was draw attention to her abilities.

Charley raised her hand excitedly.
"In Celtic paganism, there are two holy days, Hallowe'en, more commonly known, and Imbolc, or Candlemas, celebrated on the first or second day of February to commemorate the first signs of spring. I've only heard of this being done on Hallowe'en, but in some parts, they were used for divination purposes. They were placed in a pan over a fire and roasted. As they heated up, they would pop open. It was believed that if they popped enough to jump out of the pan, it guaranteed romantic success. That would be why it would apply to February-Saint Valentine's Day."

ooc: I'm mostly Irish and know a bit, this is from my brain and my father's.

Helping herself into more marshmallows, Di looked up to see the Professor holding up for the whole class to see, a nut. A hazlenut to be more specific. Dot dot dot what does Divination have to do with a nut? Touché with the marshmallows. Professor Bishop explained to them a certain connectivity with the nut to Halloween and in muggle festivities.

"Is it like Samhain? The Celtic year Samhain? I know that games featured apples and nuts from the recent harvest, and candles played an important part in adding atmosphere to the mysteries." she said as she lowered her hand.

Emily jotted down some notes in her note-book. For once she was fresh out of ideas, so instead of partcipating in the conversation, she just listened intently. Waiting to see what the night had instore for them.

Luin took some notes on parchment that she had balanced on her knees, and then thought about the what the teacher said. She quickly raised her hand then, "I would guess that it has to do with relationships. I think I've heard of some Scottish tradition where they light a flame between the two hazelnuts. If they burned fast, it is assumed that the relationship would not survive under stressful conditions. If the two hazelnuts moved away, they were not meant to be with one another. It was done on Halloween...although not in February, but Valentine's day is in that month."

If the looks on some of the students' faces could be interpreted, Renée was fairly certain she'd thrown them for a bit of a loop by bringing up Hallowe'en. Especially after the previous mention of how they were currently in February and how that could be important. She gave those who ventured a guess credit for at least trying, though, and she smiled at little Nika's response, nodding as it seemed she was thinking aloud. "Not quite. Although hazelnut chocolate is rather good, come to think of it. But no, that isn't quite the connection I was trying to make," she responded. She didn't have any of that at this exact moment, but perhaps she'd need to acquire some next time she went out to buy snacks.

Still waiting for someone to hit on the right connection, Renée found it even more promising when she heard Dianna start speaking. At least it proved people paid attention in history class, as she imagined that would be the most logical explanation, aside from personal interest, for people to understand the connection between Hallowe'en and Samhain. "Hallowe'en and Samhain are in fact one and the same holiday, feast day, however you'd like to look at it. And everything else you're mentioning is true as well, although it's easier to acquire the elements at any time of year nowadays," she replied, letting the Slytherin continue munching on marshmallows. They still hadn't quite gotten to the exact point of her question yet.

Things with Selina had seemed to be going rather well, given the difficulties Renée knew quite well they were struggling against. The Gryffindor hadn't completely lapsed into silence, or asked to leave, at least. That had to mean she was learning to fight past her fears. Until it seemed her lightly amused question had been misinterpreted, and, given her current state of mind waiting for guesses as to the hazelnut/fire/divination connection, the response Selina gave startled her and she raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Just a hypothetical question," she reassured the Gryffindor. Because she'd asked about if those people had only seen the future as opposed to anything else. Nothing had been meant by it all, but apparently the girl was still jumpy about things.



Starting to think her clues hadn't really been good enough, or that the students weren't quite aware of every possibility out there, Renée had almost resigned herself to having to explain it all on her own by the time she heard Kurumi start to offer her own idea. And the words, along with those that quickly had followed from little Charley and from Luin made her have faith in the class again, and she smiled. "Yes," she said simply, directing the word at all three of them. "Although I'd need to point out that the same concept can be used when it comes to any relationship. Not just after a marriage. But yes, Valentine's Day was the connection I was making. We aren't going to try the two nut idea, however. That seems a bit too complicated for us to be doing out here in the grounds." Not to mention the few students who she was starting to think shouldn't be trusted close to flames.

"Anyhow," she continued, turning her attention back to the whole class. "The basic idea is to assign something to a nut. Simply by saying it or in some other way, and to make it easier on everyone you don't have to involve a relationship, or a couple, if you don't like. Some sort of goal should work for our purposes." She had a feeling there were enough people who would think it amusing to theoretically divine if a relationship would be successful. "Hazelnuts are in the container over there by my puppy. Don't bother him if you don't feel comfortable around animals, but he shouldn't cause any problems with you retrieving a nut. And once you have your nut, and have decided what you want to divine, establish that and set the nut by the flame. It'll probably take a little time, but eventually the nut should either pop or just burn. Popping means positive things, most commonly success, and burning the opposite," she informed them. Hopefully they wouldn't get too crazy. "Feel free to continue munching on the marshmallows, s'mores, and hot dogs as well, and I'll still be around to answer questions or help in any way." Not to mention keeping her eye on people to make sure nothing got incinerated that wasn't a nut or other sort of food item.

But for now they were set loose to try their hand at trivial divination games before she'd set the homework and let them all go back inside from the cold. She somewhat wanted to head back inside as well.


ooc: As mentioned, RP getting your nut, setting the goal that you want to test, and placing the nut near the bonfire. NOT INSIDE IT. And then you can decide how your nut will react. I'll still be around for any assistance, and we'll let things continue for a few more days before I assign the homework. *nods*

Kurumi had almost forgotten about food as she had been too focussed on the subject of at hand. She had never made a smore before...and smelling the roasted marshmallows and melted chocolate made her stomach growl. She would have to attempt making one of those after retrieving a hazelnut.

Grabbing a nut, along with a marshmallow and roasting stick, she returned to her spot and rolled the nut around in her hands. Now, what was it that she wanted to divine? There was still that question that was hanging over her head. Always wondering if she was ever going to know the truth about her family...about her father...about why her mother was so afraid. All this time she had been asking 'if' questions. It was about time she started asking more direct questions.

Formulating a question in her head, Kurumi set the nut by the fire and waited. Professor Bishop did say that it would take some time, so she might as well try and make one of these smore things.

K-Lee grinned at the adorable puppy as she grabbed the nut. She set about figuring out what she'd choose.

She could do about achieving something maybe... like becoming a fantastic witch with her dream job of working at The Daily Prophet.

Or maybe she could become a superhero. Cape and all. Yeah, that would be awesome! That's her choice!

Setting down the nut around the fire, she grinned, awaiting to see the results.

-- 5 minutes later---

Finally something happening! K-Lee peered down at her nut. POP!

SUCCESS! She will become a superhero in a cape when she was older! But maybe that just meant auror? Meh, aurors are cool too. Though maybe... she could become an auror in a cape!

Now to come up with her superhero name...

Oh nuts.. Dianna stood up and went over by the crup to collect her nut. "You're so cute! I wonder what your name is?" she absentmindedly asked the puppy. She then continued by getting a nut and returning to her place by the bonfire.

As she thought of what her "Some sort of goal" as the Professor had put it, Di helped herself on some marshmallows. But deep down inside, she knew what her goal or at least unanswered question was.

Placing the nut near the flames, Di watched it getting roasted. She hoped it wasn't going to get cooked, she needed that nut to go pop.

Lucy didn't think if she could actually tell the future just by the way the nut reacted when kept near the bornfire. She didn't believe in such things, but as it would be quite interesting at times to predict your own future only by a nut.

She grabed a hazelnut and some hot dog ingredients as she loved hotdogs, hope professor's puppy don't get upset by me eating a hot dog she thought and grined.
After taking her things she settled down some place that was near the fire.

Now, it was time for her to see the future. She took the nut in her right and thought if she could be an auror in the future. Looking at the nut she placed it near the fire. "hmm, till the nut predicts my future, maybe i should just make some hotdogs for myself" she thought and began preparing for the hotdogs

As she just completed making her hot dog, she looked at the nut, to see what was happening, as she turned, the nut poped. Hmm, now thats a good sign, a sign of success as professor said. Wow, this is awesome, anyways i shouldn't just rely on this nut, k should work hard on my goal she thought and took a bite of the hotdog she had made delicious she said and took some more bites and relaxed eating it completely.

Helena walked over to the adorable puppy to get a nut, then got back to her... 'seat'.

Now... what should she divine? She could try something like 'Will I graduate from Hogwarts?' But that was definitely going to happen.

... Right?

Okay, think.

She had always wondered whether she'll ever get the chance to be the best at... something. Anything. So she placed her nut near the fire, and watched as it started to burn. No pop. No nothing. Just burned.

Sigh.

Emily stood and and stretched, watching the fire was beginning to make her sleepy, so sleepy in fact she would probably have been able to fall asleep on that log. After stiffling a yawn Emily wandered over to collect a hazel nut.
"Hey puppy", she said as she knelt down the give it a pat and a scratch behind the ears. It was so cute.

On her way back to her seat Emily took another couple of marshmellows, it would keep her occupied while she was waiting for her hazel nut.
In all honesty there were two questions that Emily wanted to ask, and she wasn't sure which one she wanted to know the answer to the most. In the end she decided to go with the one she was the most concerned about, the most uncertain about.

Will Xavier Black and I, have a happy and successful marriage? she asked internally.
She set her hazel nut down near the fire- though not in it, and waited.

Skewering a marshmellow she held it up near the flames and watched as it began to blister and bubble... mmm gooey marshmellow.

Time passed slowly, Emily kept an eye on her hazel nut, waiting in anticipation for her future to be decided... or discovered?... Either way, she waited in silence.

A few minutes passed and finally Emily got the answer she was waiting for.
Her hazel nut had begun smoking, turning a horrible shade of black, and within a couple of seconds caught alight. Flames engulfing it where it sat.
Oh dear....

Emily raised her hand. This wasn't good news... not in the least. Though she already sensed it would turn out this way. She had been feeling out of touch with Xavier for long enough now to realise that they weren't going to be the happy couple their parents wanted them to be.

Still unsure of her divination skills Emily raised her hand.
"Professor?... am I doing this right?" she asked uncertainly.
"And how accurate is this form of pyromancy?" she asked, wondering whether or not she may have placed her hazel nut too close to the fire.

Oh! Yay! She'd got it right! Maddie grinned. Hopefully now she didn't seem like a complete idiot. She popped another marshmallow in her mouth and debated over whether or not to take a hot dog. In the end, she decided not to. Instead, she took another couple of marshmallows.

Then, she got up and headed over to where the hazelnuts were. She took one, and gave the adorable little puppy a tickle behind the ears. She loved animals. She headed back to where she had been sitting and moved a little closer to the fire. What was she going to assign to the nut? Seriously, she had no idea. She thought for a little, and then came up with the perfect idea - she was going to ask it something that she already knew would happen, so then she could see if this was working.

Will I have a sugar quill at the end of this lesson?

She knew she was going to, just like she did at the end of ever lesson, as long as Sel wasn't around to steal it from her. She placed the nut as close to the fire as she dared, not wanting to burn herself - or it. And then she sat back to watch and wait.