"Today is the day to test your talents. I'm very grateful to Professor Lockhart for suggesting this divination experience class, as it will save you some hassle in choosing courses next year."
"For those students who lack talent, I advise you to choose someone else's class next year. I'm not easy to fool, and getting credits from me is a very difficult task."
Professor Trelawney spoke seriously, handing a crystal ball to each little wizard, and then dramatically flung the scarves draped around her as she moved to the front.
"Actually, in the first class, you should be observing tea leaves, but for the experience class, I want to sift through you."
"Now, please close your eyes, take a deep breath... let your thoughts clear, and feel the guidance from the mysterious world." Professor Trelawney's voice was low and magnetic, like a witch leading souls through the mist. She had always been quite adept at impressing others with such theatrics.
Of course.
This batch of students, having witnessed her erratic behavior, had already seen through her bluster.
Colorful smoke rose from the incense burner in the corner, and Professor Trelawney began guiding the little wizards into divination, though her mystical descriptions left many confused.
Many had a blank mind, with nothing appearing, Ian included. Both astronomy and divination were not his strong suits, as he was only thinking about what to eat tonight.
"I don't need you to see a clear future. Without the celestial eye, you can't achieve that. So I just need you to see a little image."
Professor Trelawney hunched over and wandered the classroom like a specter. Occasionally, she would stop next to a little wizard and ask what they saw.
"I... I saw darkness," said an honest student, only to receive a regretful shake of the head from Professor Trelawney, who viewed them as a hopeless case.
Thus.
"Oh, I saw gold light, maybe it's the Golden Snitch," exclaimed another student, though it was unclear whether this little boy had genuine insight or was simply acting.
"Not bad, not bad, your 'visual field' is opening. Keep going, you have hope in the future." Professor Trelawney cheerfully approached, holding her own crystal ball, which showed no light or any other anomaly. After a glance, she unreservedly praised the student's statement.
"Is that for real..."
Ian rubbed his own crystal ball in frustration. He saw nothing, and his eyes strained so much he was on the verge of seeing the blood vessels in his eyelids, yet no 'visual field' seemed to be opening.
And then.
Professor Trelawney happened to come over.
"Child, have you had the honor of stepping into this extraordinary domain?" she asked warmly, clearly prepared to make a demeaning comment if Ian shook his head.
"I saw vividly colored black," Ian said, embellishing his view of a black void, assuming he'd be grouped with the untalented like the previous student who mentioned darkness.
Yet.
"Not bad, not bad, anything else?"
Professor Trelawney beamed at Ian, astonishing the surrounding little wizards.
What counts as vividly colored black?
"No wonder he's a young professor, seeing things we can't even imagine," exclaimed one of Ian's little admirers, immediately echoed by many Ravenclaw wizards.
"..."
Ian felt stressed out again.
He truly clashed with this subject.
"Indeed, I saw something else too."
In response to Professor Trelawney's query, Ian decided to speak randomly to show the other little wizards that even nonsensical things earn Professor Trelawney's approval.
Of course.
There's some technique involved in this.
"I saw disaster, yes, a terrible disaster." This was the trick to dealing with Professor Trelawney: the scarier the story, the more she appreciates it.
Indeed.
Hearing the little wizard's impromptu tale.
Professor Trelawney immediately became interested.
"What kind of disaster?"
Her eyes lit up.
"I don't think I should say, yes, I shouldn't." Ian hadn't thought of a sufficiently frightening disaster, so he utilized psychology, knowing everyone fears the unknown.
"Many prophecies and visions indeed shouldn't reach others, but I'm different. Telling me won't cause any unexpected incidents."
Professor Trelawney, quite the gossip, gave her assurance. However, faced with the professor's coaxing, Ian feigned hesitance and shook his head.
"I can't tell you, for this concerns a world-shattering event; in 1999, many wizards signed unspeakable confidentiality agreements over it."
"Even though it's 1991 now, I've seen it, and I signed that confidentiality agreement. The future me signed it, so naturally, I must abide by it now."
"This matter is just too big, unimaginably big. The confidentiality agreement is simply to prevent others from knowing, lest it brings about world destruction."
Ian didn't know what nonsense he was spouting. His aim was merely to pique Professor Trelawney's curiosity and then leave her without answers for a semester.
Little wizards hold grudges.
His neck still bore red marks.
"This..."
Professor Trelawney suddenly froze. She perhaps suspected Ian of deceiving her, so she frowned and glanced at the crystal ball in her hand again.
A moment later.
Professor Trelawney exclaimed.
"Amazing! Your talent is extraordinary! To glimpse secrets that could affect the world is surely not a foresight an ordinary person should possess!"
"Mr. Prince, your lineage is remarkable. Perhaps your ancestors once intermarried with divine spirits! You have the potential to become a great prophet!"
Professor Trelawney gestured excitedly. She didn't question Ian's absurd claims at all, instead tracing his genealogy on the spot.
"Uh..."
Ian glanced around.
He saw his classmates casting surprised and curious looks at him.
"..."
The little wizard, familiar with this group's nature, knew.
After today.
Rumors were bound to spread about him... His mixed-blood status, once single-digit, might now become a double-digit mutt.