Originally Posted by SilverTiger

Renée hadn’t really expected to surprise Jai by her question, but it seemed like she had. Her intent had been to get him to think further, and as he started to speak again, she nodded slightly. “Spoken by someone who seems a bit conflicted between the science of the matter and the magic,” she said lightly as he finished. “One would generally see whatever they liked in a crystal ball, as like most things, it is all about interpretation. One person could see the present, while another could see something representing the future, so you have a healthy outlook, I’d say,” she replied thoughtfully. That was one reason she rarely tried using a crystal for her work, but even so, it was a good topic to teach about. Even if that wasn’t exactly what she was planning on having them discuss.



As it stood, it seemed her students had done their homework when it came to the logical forms of scrying, and for the most part their responses had met with a nod and a smile. Renée hadn’t exactly been surprised that Evelyn would have brought up fire, or that Sierra, Kurumi and Treyen were involved in the responses. “Unfortunately, we won’t be discussing or dealing much with fire in class today, but yes, pyromancy could be considered a form of scrying, involving the flames and the smoke. As would the use of clouds, William. Neither are necessarily what we’re discussing here today, but they are valid and correct answers.” She wasn’t about to open herself up to the gossip mill this early, that she was endangering students.

“In this case, I was aiming for the methods that involve reflection. Mirrors, water, crystal . . . both in orb form and otherwise. Most often it requires a smooth surface, but there are cases where disturbing the surface could aid in finding images. Once again, it ends up being more an art of interpretation. Of movement, color play, tiny flaws. As I’m sure most of you would say, it’s highly inexact, but somehow people manage to predict things anyhow.” That would be the reason why she found Divination so fascinating, as well as the reason why she always felt the need to prove herself. Teaching was the easiest way to do that.







All along, Renée had been alternately listening and trying not to be too amused by Salander’s responses, to her and to those who he was sharing a table with. Most of it reminded her about what she’d determined at her first lesson last term, and she was tempted to comment that he was at least talking this time. Granted, his ideas were highly amusing, but she managed to keep a relatively straight face. She still gave him a little smile as he’d tried to offer something regarding the current discussion, though. “Once again, I don’t think we’ll be setting any fires this term, although it’s nice to know that made an impact,” she said wryly, referring to her little mini-party last term when she’d had them study pyromancy. She was going to be making sure he stayed away from her crystal ball now, however.

She’d turned to Janice as the little Hufflepuff suggested tea cups as a method, and gave her a soft smile. “I can’t say I’ve heard of tea cups, or tasseomancy, as a form of scrying, but that could be something to look into,” she replied gently, before realizing Simon had once again decided to join in with his own brand of amusing suggestions. Oddly enough, though, the Hufflepuff boy had made just as likely a suggestion as Janice had, so maybe he was learning. “Hmm. I can’t say it would be a common form, but using the moon as a method of scrying could very well be another possibility,” she said slowly. “Insofar as most of the methods involve interpreting images you might see in the surface.” Reading craters and the like. It was an interesting idea. But first things first, and she needed to get the lesson moving.

“Okay everyone, I think I’ll let you guys discuss things a bit on your own before we move things along to the activity I have planned,” she continued, giving the class another smile before explaining her idea. “Why don’t you choose something, one of the methods we’ve already suggested or something else entirely that you think could be considered scrying, and discuss how you think it’s actually useful or not. Whether, for example, you think it’s in fact possible for someone to think they see images that can predict things in a mirror. Work in your groups, come up with an argument either for or against and I’ll take a look after a little while. We can discuss your ideas again before moving along.” It could be dangerous, but she knew she could control them. And keep the possible pyromaniacs away from her crystal ball and lighting the curtains on fire or something.

ooc: I have work tomorrow, but I’ll be back after I get home again to check on you guys, continue things. So basically, you can have a character in your groups write the ideas down as you discuss them, or at least somehow keep track and we can have a little debate after I’m done with work again. I’ll try to continue things after a day, but at the latest I’ll move the lesson along after Weds. night when I’ll have time again. Try not to get too crazy, though, and I will definitely try to check in as often as I can. And this is not the official practical activity for the lesson. Just another fun way of having discussion. Points for participation are up for grabs though.

Originally Posted by McFeisty

Originally Posted by Macavity

Originally Posted by TwistedHearts

Zara smiled and nodded. How did she know Zara's name? Hmm. "Thank you, Professor. I'm sure I will," she grinned.



Zara simply listened as the others gave answers, seeing as she didn't get the chance to answer herself. So, she just listened and wrote down notes.


Zara raised her hand, "A mirror, perhaps?"



With this, Zara turned to face the rest of the people at her table and smiled. "Any ideas? I could probably write them down if you want."

Originally Posted by fanficfanatict

Professor Bishop was really into the topic of the future today. This whole conversation was slowly making Selina want to puke. She was getting paler by the minute but held down her panic. Part of her wanted to conquer this thing. If she was, for even a moment, being weak in the class that could educate her on her curse then she would do what was necessary to rid herself of the fear. Besides Bishop could not change her lesson plans because of the problem of one student. It would be a hindrance to the enter class. Selina didn't want that. She just wanted to go and hide under a rock while everyone discussed how cool it was to see the future.

But then beside her Kurumi spoke up and completely avoided the topic of the future by chalking it up to science. Selina shot her friend the biggest smile and whispered, "Thanks."

In response to Kurumi, Selina agreed, "Yeah I agree with Kurumi. The human mind is a wizard at making people believe that they see something when they really don't. Like when people are dehydrated in the desert. They begin to see shadows of what they want to occur. It really isn't there. So if we all wish hard enough for something to be seen, we may just see it."

But Selina didn't want to see anything. Yet, she was burdened with the reality of the future.

Originally Posted by affy7ann;10343085
[B

"Hey, Zara!"[/B] Tayla greeted when she noticed Zara seated at the table next to hers. "Hi Kurumi!" she said again, seeing Kurumi near her as well. "I think...I think people often see what they want to see. Not really what the future will be," Tayla began in response to Kurumi's statement.

"I was thinking about lakes and other still bodies of water...even puddles. I don't think they'd cloud over or anything, like a crystal ball is supposed to do...but haven't people since...I dunno how long ago...well, they look at their images in bodies of water? For some hope or...advice...?"

Tayla furrowed her eyebrows. She wasn't sure what she meant exactly.

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"You're turn to play the Lion Scribe?" Kurumi winked nodding to the first year. It was only fair that she passed the reins on every once in a while.


Kurumi nodded to Selina, hoping to not bring more attention to the second year. Kurumi had always wanted to tell her that she thought it was very brave of her to even attend Divination given her situation. Selina had told Kurumi the other night in the common room that the little baker had more Gryffindor in her than Selina had in herself, but Kurumi had to disagree. Selina had much more inner strength than she was giving herself credit for.

Kurumi then turned to Tayla when she mentioned lakes. "Do you suppose the medium and predictions would change if the lakes froze over? Naturally, ice does not freeze evenly, so there would be blotchy spots and cracks here and there." She giggled remembering something that Selina had just mentioned. "You would probably be more able to 'see' strange shapes then."


Kurumi then heard Simon speaking from the next table over. Seemed that her and him were on a similar line of thinking. "Like a finger print on a mirror and thinking that it was the shape of the grim?" she asked leaning over in her seat a bit. "I suppose you would need to use gloved hands when working with mirrors and other such surfaces in order to make the most accurate prediction possible." She nodded laughing at the sight of some gypsy woman dressed in bangles and deep purples wearing bright white gloves on her hands. "There is also the danger of dust falling into your cup of water..."

This stuff was beginning to seem less and less like an efficient way of performing Divination.

Originally Posted by aaetha

"Okay, okay fine. But tinfoil or not, tell me something- have you ever stared into a random, nonmagical reflective... thingy and seen a vision of the future that then came true?" Because Ariana was quite sure she hadn't. Divination was something magical, and that brought her around to something else...

"Plus, have you ever seen those street-corner "fortune tellers" in the muggle world? They look into crystal balls and pretend to see the future and they really don't. Proof, right there, that divination is magic and you need to use a magical object." There. Ariana had proven her point. Trust Nika to come up with some ridiculus explanation that made no sense just to be stubborn. They might be best friends, but in class, when it counted for points, Ariana would stop at nothing to be right.