Which Witch? Harry Potter

002.

TWO.
Suffragette City

Riley Jane regretted choosing Divination for one of her electives the second she began her journey to the classroom.

Going through the castle to North Tower was certainly not a task for the weak. She had to climb up several long staircases, pass up an obnoxious painting of "Sir Cadogan," and climb even more tightly spiraling steps. At last, she heard the murmur of voices above her and knew she had reached the classroom.

Riley Jane climbed the last few steps of the tower and emerged onto a tiny landing, where most of the class was already assembled. There were no doors off this landing, but looking up at the ceiling, Riley Jane saw there was a circular trapdoor with a brass plaque on it.

"'Sybil Trelawney, Divination teacher,'" Harry Potter read. "How're we supposed to get up there?"

As though in answer to his question, the trapdoor suddenly opened, and a silvery ladder descended right at Harry's feet. Everyone got quiet.

"After you," said Ron Weasley, grinning, so Harry climbed the ladder first.

When it was time for Riley Jane to go, she emerged into the strangest-looking classroom she had ever seen. In fact, it didn't look like a classroom at all, more like a cross between someone's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. At least twenty small, circular tables were crammed inside it, all surrounded by chintz armchairs and fat little poufs. Everything was lit with a dim, crimson light; the curtains at the windows were all closed, and the many lamps were draped with dark red scarves. It was stiflingly warm, and the fire that was burning under the crowded mantelpiece was giving off a heavy, sickly sort of perfume as it heated a large copper kettle. The shelves running around the circular walls were crammed with dusty-looking feathers, stubs of candles, many packs of tattered playing cards, countless silvery crystal balls, and a huge array of teacups.

The class assembled around, all talking in whispers. Riley Jane heard people muttering questions along the lines of, "Where is she?"

A voice came suddenly out of the shadows, soft and misty.

"Welcome," it said. "How nice to see you in the physical world at last."

Riley Jane's immediate impression was of a large, glittering insect. Professor Trelawney moved into the firelight, and they saw that she was very thin; her large glasses magnified her eyes to several times their natural size, and she was draped in a gauzy spangled shawl. Innumerable chains and beads hung around her spindly neck, and her arms and hands were encrusted with bangles and rings.

Honestly, Riley Jane appreciated her jewelry. Her own hands were decked out in an array of rings and beaded bracelets, as well.

"Sit, my children, sit," Professor Trelawney said, and they all climbed awkwardly into armchairs or sank onto poufs. Riley Jane sat by herself—shocker—in front of a round table.

"Welcome to Divination," said Professor Trelawney, who had seated herself in a winged armchair in front of the fire. "My name is Professor Trelawney. You may not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye."