Bowl or no bowl? Bowl or no bowl? Bowl or----

Definitely no bowl.

As soon as they were given the green flag for go, Charner was darting about in a near fit of joy. One stone here, another there, maybe another there. Soon there were more than fifteen stones piled up beside her, and her hands were making work of the earth, carving out a small 'natural' bowl. She could have used her wand, admittedly, but she did like to get her hands dirty more often than not. Once the 'bowl' was created, she set about carefully lining the base of it with stones so that the water would not seep into the earth and then used the last fifteen to border her little pit.

The actual glass bowl she did however borrow to run water from the lake into her 'eyeglass'. Once all was said and done and she had a proud little seeing bowl before her, she listened attentively to the Professor; a task which was hard given her excitment.

But wait...what was this now? Frowning, Charner poked her hand up into the air. "Uhm, excuse me Professor, but how does birds flying in the sky create ripples on the water? Reflections are just mirror images, the sources of which don't cause disruption unless they are close enough." She probably should have asked how reflections created ripples, but given the birds created the reflections she figured it was a point of logical connection.

Alyssa tried to concentrate on what the Professor was saying. She didn't know about the other students but she was struggling to catch up with him. Alyssa quickly scribbled down notes and looked back at at her reflection in the water in the bowl. She then raised her hand and asked, "Professor does this mean that in order for us to get a proper reading from a surface, the smoother the surface is, the more accurate the reading will be?"

Great, more points off for talking! The Gryffindor prefects are really gonna hate me now! thought Willow, giving Thereos an apologetic smile. Right, no more talking!
Willow collected a bowl and went over to the lake to fill it up with water. She then found some stones and layed them carefully around the edge of the bowl.

Looking into the water, Willow saw her face at first, but when she moved it out of the way she saw the blue sky and clouds moving lazily, as if they didn't have to be any where in a hurry. Well of course they didn't, they were clouds after all! She also saw a few birds, soaring above with the wind.

Willow smiled back at Cael and lightly shrugged her shoulders. This year certainly wasn't going very well for her! Hopefully she could win back those points soon!

"Hmm, so practice made perfect?" thought Willow...

As Thereos had finally spoken again, establishing what exactly they were going to be doing now that they were outside. Not to mention that they in fact were still discussing ornithomancy, which she'd never really thought was a question. It seemed others had, though, only to get a bit of a withering reply from the centaur professor. She was definitely finding out that most of the professors here at Hogwarts weren't exactly open to random questions, but at least she'd refrained from asking them. She wasn't stupid after all, and getting points was infinitely better feeling than losing them, even if she hadn't actually experienced the latter.

The bowl direction threw her off for a moment, however, but she still retrieved a bowl then went off in search of rocks. Most of the other students had headed for the lake, so she thought about going the opposite direction momentarily before deciding the rocks along the lakeshore probably would work better for the assignment. The water would have worn them smoother, at least, which would make them easier to work with. Once she'd located about eight or nine stones, she carried them carefully back to the class and set them up around the edge of her bowl before taking her wand out. "Aguamenti," she cast, letting water fill the bowl gently before sliding her wand back into its holster as the discussion had moved on.

So the goal was to watch for bird flight reflected in the water, and hope that they'd be at the right time and angle to actually see whatever current Thereos was talking about. Sounded like a good enough assignment to her, although she wasn't entirely sure she'd want to come out in the snow whenever that came just to see if she could get any reflections. Actually, she hoped that wouldn't be required at all, but then the lesson didn't seem to be over yet. She couldn't say what else might happen.

Hearing another question, Thereos looked over to see it was asked by a young Ravenclaw. Not a bad question and one that was actually expected, dealing with the weather and whatnot. "Precisely. Trying to get a reading on a windy or cloudy day can have an effect on the accuracy of the reading. But if you'd like, as you're practicing Ornithomancy, you should try it out in different weather conditions..." You know, just to see for yourself and all.



"Might I ask you something similar? How does visions form in crystal balls?" Thereos challenged. It worked sort of similarly, except this was using a live creature and water as the medium.

"Yes. That is exactly what I was insinuating," Thereos confirmed of the older Gryffindor boy. "You'll see the shape of the flight pattern reflected in the medium, which happens to be water."

And Thereos just chose to ignore the boy's next question about centaur women. Wizards could be so ignorant sometimes. If he was serious about the question, he'd ask again ... if he dared ...

Nodding at the next student as he told him what he saw in the water, Thereos answered, "Good. Keep trying and you'll see a pattern." Eventually. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually. Maybe.

Ah, another good question! "It's not one of the preferred methods of Centaur divination..." Thereos answered truthfully. "But once in awhile. And generally speaking, yes. When done correctly."

"The flight patterns does not give indication to a good week or bad week," Thereos informed, wondering if the girl had paid attention during the talk on flight patterns. "More insightfulness over what might come? Whether you should be expecting time alone or ... with company ... that sort of thing." Not really good or bad.

"That would be correct. During flight, is what is the important thing, not take off or landing," Thereos nodded, confirming the girl's thoughts.

"You could say that, yes," Thereos nodded. "At least in the start of your interpretation, the smoother the surface of the water, the more accurate your reading will be."

***

Now addressing the class as a whole again. "Well then, if there are no further questions, you may head back to the classroom and collect your things. The assignment will be posted on the notice board outside the classroom later today." Thereos paused. "But if you'd like to linger and try to get some readings under my supervison, you're welcome to do that as well."

Minerva decided to stay and try out the readings. She was very interested in the lesson. "Professor do I just lean over like this and look in?" Minerva leaned over to look in her bowl. She saw the sky very clear.

Sierra hung her head and walked a bit closer to Thereos. She was going to stay and do the readings, but there was something she felt like she needed to say first. "Err..., Professor Thereos?" she said. That was what she should call him, right? Was it the same for centaurs and humans? She decided not to dig an even deeper hole for herself by asking.

"I'm going to stay and do the readings," she said, rocking back on her heels, "but could have a word with you first?" He wasn't going to trample her or something, was he?

Tori wasn't sure if she was even going to be able to get an accurate reading, since all she saw was her reflection and some clouds, but she figured she might as well stay and try. She'd done gone and gotten her bowl of water and everything anyway.

The redhead leaned back on her hands and glanced up at the sky, and then down at her bowl of water. Sigh. She'd thought that Gryffindor had had a legitimate question: Were there women centaurs out there, galloping around topless?! Ewwwww.......

Alyssa raised her hand asked, "Professor could you teach me how to get some readings while we're still here, I would really appreciate it."

Oh...well then, Kurumi was clearly in the wrong place to be performing Ornithomancy. Smiling nervously, Kurumi bent down and began picking up her rocks, placing them in her robes as she had done earlier before bending down to pick up her bowl as well. She had to waddle a bit because of the weigh from the rocks, but Kurumi eventually made it to an empty patch where, when she looked up, had no tree branches blocking her view. Now time to set up again.

They were done already? Well, Kurumi wasn't entirely up to heading back to the classroom just yet, especially considering she had only just NOW found a decent spot for her to actually try for a reading. Hopefully none of her Gryffindors would head back to the castle, several of them SHOULD stay behind to try and make up respect points with Thereos at least.

Kurumi sat down on the ground Indian style with her elbows resting on her knees and peered into the water. There was not a ripple in sight, minus once or twice when the wind caused them, so she at least had the smooth surface bit down. Now all she could do was wait...and wait...and wait...and wait some more.

Kurumi sighed, after all, the centaur had mentioned that they probably wouldn't see anything in their bowls today and would have to come back another time. As long as she was waiting..."Thereos, what if you saw another animal in the water, not a bird but perhaps...a bat or a sugar glider." Hey, anything was possible and sugar gliders were really CUTE! "Is that an entirely different branch of Divination, or does it relate to Ornithomancy?" Bats were kind of all over the place in their flight patterns if Kurumi remembered correctly.

Then, Kurumi saw it in the water before she heard anything - owls were silent fliers like that - and she pushed herself up on to her knees as she watched an owl slowly glide through the air in the reflection in her bowl. Just as it was about to disappear on the other side, it veered to the right making a sort of V on it's side shape. Just before it disappeared from view in the top part of her bowl, she heard it hoot loudly, as if announcing that it was there.

So...she had an owl, a snowy one, who painted a v-shape flight pattern in the air but where one side was a little shorter than the other. Well, a lot shorter really. Had come from the right side towards the left, but exited the bowl's viewing field from the top and had hooted as it exited. Hadn't she skimmed her book and seen something about a bird's song also being related?

Hopefully Thereos had seen this taking place. If not, she would be more than willing to explain what she had seen. Kurumi reached into her pocket for her parchment on notes relating to flight patterns and scanned down until she found what he had said about V-shapes.

"V formation is significant to the fact that teams are your friend. Your friends are important to help get you through those trying times and sometimes you have to work together..." she read. But, her's was on its side, and it was only ONE bird. Did it even matter that its path had been a V-shape? Kurumi looked up to him for some sort of confirmation, her mind clearly going into overload at the moment.

Charner blinked. Opened her mouth. And then promptly clamped it shut.

A frown started to work its way on her brow. She had never even stopped to consider how visions formed in crystal balls, and now that he mentioned it......how did they?

With puzzlement, she eyed the Professor. Did he know? Because it was going to bother her all day. But there was the opportunity to stay and try to get some readings. Maybe she could figure it out with observation. Observation always seemed to work for learning.

Wiggling onto her stomach, Charner propped her chin on her hands and stared at the water. If she was going to see ripples, it would have to be from the right angle....how was she supposed to find the right angle?

With a frown, she poked her nose over the ridge of the rock wall she had created and tried not to breathe too hard. Goodness she didn't want to do a reading based on the breath of her nose!

"Professor..." Her eyes came up but her nose rested where it was. "Is there a way you would suggest to sit or look at the water to see these...ripples?" That didn't exist but did?

Well, of course Nora wanted to stay and do some readings before she leaves. She didn't take this class for nothing, did she?

Not exactly knowing what to do, she hesitantly raised her hand. "Sir? I'd like to stay." As in, please help her because she is clueless when it comes to Divination. At least that's what her face was saying.

Louisa's smile ceased when Mr. Centaur declared the end of the class. She thought they were going to talk a bit more about... well, Divination and birds and centaurs and stuff. "Mister Thereos.." She skipped toward the Centaur, beamy face all over, "..I'd like to stay and observe through the bowl too." He didn't really need to be skipped toward or even talked to, but she wanted to get nearer and feel the aura around him.

*feels*

It was exceptionally good. Louisa returned back to her bowl and knelt in front of it, bringing her face above it so the sky was half visible.

Ira was completely baffled by all of this...Her head was muddled and she really really needed a break! How can one predict future by gazing in the water and observing bird flight patterns? Now that she was free to go, what should she do? Stay back and learn something more and maybe understand a little more or just go back?
She decided to give it one more try..."Thereos, I would like to stay back..." her face had a big question mark! She was absolutely clueless about this whole divination thing!

Jory decided to stay, he was very interested in the ripple stuff. He raised his hand. ''Sir, I would like to stay.''

Alyssa waited for awhile while the Professor worked with the other students. But she realized that the time was getting late and she was falling asleep. She decided to pack up and go back to class. She went up to the Professor and said, Professor Thereos, I know that you're very busy, so I think that I'll leave now. Maybe next time, you can teach me more about readings. Thank you for your time though." With a smile, Alyssa nodded thank you, returned the emptied bowl to the Professor and went back to the classroom to pick up her things.

Maddy was confused, "Excuse me professer" she raised her hand " [COLOR="rgb(255, 140, 0)"]What kind of readings are we supposed to get, i'm finding this a little unclear?[/COLOR]" She figured it would be like looking into a crystal ball, hopefully she's get some sort of prophesy for her future!

Selina wanted desperately to get out of his class as fast as possible. However when he mentioned doing readings Selina paused. She was good at that, it was LIKE she could see the future or something. Part of her wanted, more than anything, to give it to Thereos that he was not all that and a side of chips, but the other side of her wanted to shack up and leave.

The Slytherin in her won out and she walked over to Professor Thereos, "Alright Professor, what kind of readings are we doing, sir?"

Louisa was bending down in front of her bowl trying to get a glimpse of any flying patterns. A minute passed, then another, and another.. up till a full five minutes with nothing to be seen in her bowl. She made a quick look at the Gryffindor Prefect's bowl and saw that it was exactly the same.. so why hadn't Louisa seen a thing yet? Pout.

"Si- umm.. sir Thereos? Can we change the place of our bowl in case we don't see a thing flying from our original place?" Or does it ruin the mojo?

"What and how exactly do we observe the birds' flight pattern and how to interpret it? I getting a little confused, sir! And what happens if we don't see any birds?" Ira asked her doubts, hoping that he wouldn't cut her points for not knowing these basic things. It wasn't that she had not paid attention, but still she had difficulties in understanding....

"Just sit up straight, clear your minds..." Thereos began as they started to bombard with questions on how to do it. Divination was an art. The how was difficult to explain. "Looking up at the sky is a good way to clear the mind. When you're ready, just gaze down into the bowl... about a forty-five degree is usually best." Straight down and you won't see anything useful.



"The ones we discussed in the classroom. You're looking for the flight pattern in the water..." Thereos replied to the two students who asked about that. "They provide insight as to yours - or whomever - future. What might come in the next couple weeks." Should you expect solitude or company. Oh he hoped that was what they wanted to know; for if not, then they would ask another question....

"Yes you may, but often the location of the water bowl doesn't have much to do with the reading," Thereos replied. "It just might not be a good day, weather-wise." Too much sun.... too little sun... too cloudy.... all sorts of problems that could occur with the weather.

He had already answered the first part of the kid's question with earlier comments to other students, but, "If you don't see any birds? Perhaps it's just not a good day, weather-wise. Or perhaps your mind is fully cleared." Or other reasons.

"As long as the animals flight pattern appears in the water, it doesn't matter, as technically, bats and sugar gliders are still birds." Technically. Oh look! The Prefect had gotten all into her reading!

"Excellent work! Look class! Miss Hollingberry has got it!" Surely as the girl was a prefect, she was used to having attention on her, right? Hopefully.

A word? Huh?

"Yes... Miss..." Oh he had no idea what her name was. Tate really should have given him the whole roster instead of just informing him of the Prefects and Captains. "Is everything alright?" He couldn't recall she having done anything to make him upset...

Janice followed Thereos' instructions and found herself looking into some emptyness inside her bowl. Probably some birds will come by, she thought. And create ripples on my bowl, how ever they will do it.

She peered inside her bowl, but no birds showed up. Her neck began to ache.

Listening to Thereos' instructions, Nora did as she was told and sat up straight, and tried to clear her mind. That was a bit difficult to do, only focusing on her growling stomach. Yes, she was hungry, and it was almost impossible to clear her mind when her stomach was yelling for food.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried it, anyway.

When she finally thought her mind was clear enough, she gazed down into her bowl from a forty-five degree angle, just as Thereos had said. That made sense, actually, because she would've seen her face if she had looked straight down.

But... nothing. All she could see was the sky.

The other problem was that she was afraid to ask what they were supposed to see. Birds, perhaps? But what if there were none flying at the moment?

Nodding her head at Mr. Centaur she grabbed her bowl and moved to lay it next to the Gryffindor Prefect's... since that one saw something! Then Louisa sat on the ground on her knees and closed her eyes following the professor's advice so literally. And after a few seconds she opened them and watched the sky above waiting for any possible bird to fly by... once it did, she was going to look into the water to see the flying pattern.

One minute...two...three... fo-

A crow croaked loudly and Louisa's whole body jumped as a response. She leaned into the bowl, excitedly, and had to tilt her head a bit to see the flying black creature pass by. Concentrating and staying still the girl saw no flying patterns whatsoever. It just flew by rather quickly in a straight line - it did twist its way at some point though. Louisa frowned thoughtfully at the bowl before shrugging and continued to watch..

Minerva looked up in the sky trying to clear her mind. Could she really do this? How do you know it's a good day she thought looking around. Minerva clear your mind. Breath.. Ok, she looked down into her bowl just as the professor told her. She was only seeing the sky though no birds.