(Divination) Term IV: Lesson One: Chiromancy

[Prof. Allion Vickers]

The classroom looked as it had during the first lesson. The portraits of wizards and creatures still lingered high on the walls, surrounding the students and chattering amiably with one another. Shelves pushed against each other just below the paintings, holding stacks of books and numerous trinkets necessary for Divination.

A new edition, however, were the long windows spaced out all around the room. They let in a wave of light, always reflecting off the crystal balls and creating images and symbols to decorate the floor in shadows.

Allion entered the room from his office door just to the right of his desk. His yellow chalk had already written "CHIROMANCY" in large print on the blackboard, causing him to smile crookedly. Just as the chalk was about to scribble a brief explanation, he shook his head.

"How about we let them try and guess what our lesson is about today..."[/color]

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ashton climbed the ladder to the Divination tower, looking around the room with interest, he greeted Professor Vickers with a smile. "Hello professor, how are you?" He looked over towards the board to see what the day's lesson would be, and saw the word 'Chiromancy' written in yellow chalk. "Wow, Chiromancy. That should be interesting." he said, pleasantly surprised.

[Alexis Heart]

She wasn't sure why she wanted to take this class. She had already showed that she was inept at it but that didn't sit well with her. So climbing up all the stairs she made her way up to the tower. Opening the door she finished her ascent and walked into the room. Seeing a fellow Ravenclaw already there she made her way over to him. 'Hey there Ashton. Hello Professor.' Sitting down she looked at the word written on the board. She wasn't even sure how to pronounce it she tried to mouth it looking totally lost. Again she wondered why she was taking this class.

[Prof. Allion Vickers]

The new arrivals caused Allion to raise a brow, slightly amused by the irony of his first lesson the previous year lacking in Ravenclaws, and this one being quite the opposite. "Good morning," he said with a brief smile, eyes traveling to the board after Ashton's observation.

"Ah, yes. The wonders of chiromancy," he mused, the amusement not completely washed from his features. "Quite a complicated name for something we're all so familiar with..." He hinted in a low tone, unfocused eyes lifting from the board to Alexis, whom he greeted with a nod. Then, smiling broadly, he took a seat at their table and carefully pushed away both their textbooks. "You won't be needing those..."

"This lesson's the easiest on our budget," he added with a small wink. [/color]

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ashton laughed at Professor Vickers' remark. "All we'll be needing is our hands." he quipped.

[Alexis Heart]

This was a first having a teacher casually sit down by them. At first Alexis started to feel a little nervous teachers always seemed to have that effect on her try as she might not to let them. Then her nervousness turned into curiosity as the professor mentioned that their lesson wouldn't require textbooks. She immediately gave a quizzical look which turned into a pleased look as she grabbed hold of her textbook and shoved it back in her bag. Hopefully this would be a lesson she could understand. Last ones she wanted to run out of the room screaming that she was dumb she was dumb this had to be a different story the way he was making it sound. Deciding to pipe up she decided to ask.

'Is this lesson going to be easier than the rest I mean that word alone is scary.'

She said giggling.

[Shabnam Snapdragon]

Shabnam had watched dreamily from the far corner of the room as Ashton and Alexis had arrived, taking their seats at tables which, unusual for Professor Vickers’s classroom, were free of the usual teacups, crystal balls and thick textbooks. Despite Divination taking place straight after lunch Shabnam had been in here a good while already, for she usually spent the lonely eating hours in any classroom that harboured a teacher willing to have her company. The new year had been underway for several months but Shabnam had still not met many new friends since her others had graduated. There always seemed to be a thin mist between Shabnam and other people, but it had never stopped her before…

Perched on a fat cushion under one of the tall windows that flooded the room with beautiful while light, Shabnam had been rubbing the same smudge on the crystal ball in her lap, seemingly ignoring the three other people in the room as they answered each other cryptically. Knowing it was terribly rude to not have greeted them, Shabnam got up and gently set the crystal ball down on the cushion, tired of looking at the burning butterflies swirling around inside.

Alexis’s rippling hair caught the light and Shabnam studied it absent mindedly, sitting down. She laughed loudly at Ashton’s quip. ‘Have you ever read palms before, Ashton?’ She asked softly as she took his hand, as usual forgetting about the concept of personal space, and turned his palm toward the ceiling. His skin was pale and smooth, faint blue veins like rivers on a map climbing up his wrist.

She thought to ask how Maxi was, but decided against it. She didn't even know who Maxi was...

[Char Hadley]

The door to the room opened silently as Char entered, his eyes roaming past the portraits adorning the wall. He was momentarily blinded when they reached tall windows circulating the room, casting light on the empty tables.

He wondered if he had managed to walk into the wrong classroom, but then noticed the group of students at the front. Dropping his bag off his shoulder, he studied them and tried to name as many as he could, before smiling and walking over.

Taking a seat to the table next to Ashton's, he swiveled his chair to face them. Copying the Hufflepuff, he titled his head to once side and stared intently at his palm. "I once had my palm read," he answered the girl's question, his eyes brightening as he recalled his experience. "By a gypsy who was also a part-time accountant." He grinned.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ashton flinched slightly as Shabnam toook hold of his wrist, but quickly covered it up with a soft laugh. "No, I've never had my palm read." he said, in reply to her question. "What about you?" he inquired curiously.

[Prof. Allion Vickers]

Allion smiled broadly as Shabnam approached the others and he settled back in his chair. His eyes flashed as she gripped Ashton's hand, and he noticed her own irises growing a shade lighter as a finger smoothed over the Ravenclaw's palm.

"Ah, yes. I did spend a few months as an accountant in my earlier years," He said, suddenly, to the Gryffindor newcomer. "Although, I had to resign when suspicions arose about my uncanny ability to predict climbs and crashes in the stock market." Lost in thought, the professor clambered off his chair with a small grin.

Finally back at his own desk, he gazed at the small selection of students gathered in his classroom. Turning to Alexis, he lifted his palm and winked. "I think you'll find our lesson today is very... hands-on."

He knew Ashton and Shab would both grow tired of his elusive remarks, so let out a small laugh. "Let's get started right away, then." A yellow piece of chalk quivered at the blackboard, ready to jot down anything and everything pertaining to the lesson. "Who can tell me what Chiromancy is also known as?"

His gaze traveled across the room, foggy eyes glinting in the light from the unusual windows.[/color]

[Edward Niven]

After an entire semester of advanced potions, Edward had decided that he was in definite need of a class with less substance. He knew that in his last year before NEWTs, he'd need to sustain a full schedule, so had quickly signed up for Divination.

Of course, upon entering the room, he immediately regretted the decision. The selection of students already in the lesson looked as if they could not live up to his standards, and the professor, although Edward did not know him personally, was the Gryffindor Head of House.

Placing a well-practiced look of apathy on his face, the Slytherin took a seat a few tables away from the gathered crowd and swiftly sat down. He was aware he was late for the lesson, but thought a congratulations was in order considering he even showed up at all.[/i][/color]

[Bradyn Reed]

Bradyn had signed up for Dinivation, just to get a blow-off class but when he started looking into it he found it quite interesting. But only he would be able to show up late for the first lesson. Slipping in as quietly as he could, he took a seat over by himself so he would be less noticed. Then he glanced at the board and reguarded the teachers question. "It's palm-reading, isn't it?" Bray said, not bothering to raise his hand as was the know-it-all Ravenclaw curse.

He looked around the class and recognized a few people, Char Hadley, and Ashton being among them. The other people he had seen around but not talked to, but even still it looked like an interesting class.. or it was guaranteed to be with Professor Vickers. So far, Bray was pretty happy with Dinivation.

[Felicity Locke]

The door seemed to be open, and Felicity nearly leaped up in joy. She was late to class, but that was only because she had tripped and fallen down several stairs on her way here. Which was not her fault in the slightest. Except for the fact that she was trying to race to class because she had overslept, but that wasn't really the point.

Fay slipped into the room and tried to be as quiet -and quick- as she could as she entered the room. But, her foot hooked the edge of a chair and Felicity was sent sprawling forward, her books flying out of her hands. She quickly jumped up, picked up her books, and took a seat. Her hair was out of sorts now, and the tips of her ears were red. She quickly glanced around the room, biting down on her lower lip slightly. So much for being stealthy.

[briar]

Bry walked into the classroom carrying her class book in one arm and her favorite quill in the other. Divination was probably the only class Briar attended, maybe because it was the only subject she was interested. Bry had inherited the gift of premonition from her mother, but rarely told anyone. It was her little secret, probably because she didn't want to be picked on for occasionally passing out in the middle of something just because she had a vision.

Bry hid in the back of the room so she wouldn't disturb or interrupt the professor. She opened up her book and began to doodle in the cover. Without even looking up, she added to Bradyn's answer, "It isn't just your normal palm-reading though. Usually palm readers look at the 7 lines, but a Chiromancer looks distinctivly at the mounts in the hand, not just the lines," she said closing her book.

[Prof. Allion Vickers]

Allion nodded, smiling at the new arrivals in acknowledgement. He walked toward Felicity's desk with a raised hand, "Palmistry is quite right." He smiled and bent down, using the hand to pick up a stray notebook that the Ravenclaw had forgotten to pick up in her haste.

Sending her an encouraging smile, he continued his walk until he was in front of the blackboard once again. The yellow chalk had crossed out the word 'Chiromancy' and replaced it with 'Palmistry' a few seconds after Bradyn's answer. A few blue stones dropped in the miniature hour-glasses on Allion's desk, giving the Ravenclaw ten well-earned points.

"An interesting point, also, Miss. Vanderveer." Allion smiled. "Although it is true that chirologists pay close attention to the mounts, palmistry is not much different in that sense. I think of them as two of the same, a synonom of the other." He grinned then, walking to one of the tall windows and turning to Briar again.

"However, to add to your five points, would you like to name one of the seven lines you mentioned?" He gazed at her for a long moment, his glassy eyes regarding her curiously.

As he talked, a long curtain covered the tall window near his desk. On it was decorated an elaborate palm, glittering slightly with magic, and Allion grinned. If one had studied his palm carefully, they'd have realised that the one on the curtain was identical to his own.

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