Chương 49: ITW,H - Chapter 49 - (2) Imbolc

(Word Count: 1, 220)"Sure, I can do a reading," Harry agreed. The most recent divination method they were going over in class was a bit disgusting—it was reading bird entrails—so instead, he went with flame reading. Not so coincidentally, they already had some candles here. Flame reading, historically, was also the most common divination used on Imbolc.

"We haven't actually gone over how to read tarot cards yet, so I'll be using these candles." Harry looked at the candles that were already out in a circle. They were white, which symbolized truth, clarity, spiritual guidance, and/or new beginnings. That was good enough. Other colored candles lent themselves towards other meanings, but white was a good neutral way to seek answers. He grabbed one, snuffed it, and wandlessly cooled the wax first. Didn't want anything to mess with the divination.

"Okay, Tracey. I want you to hold the candle in both hands, and as you do, hold a question you want answers to in your mind. You don't have to tell me what it is, just keep it in mind." She took the candle, holding the base of it in both hands.

"Okay. I'm ready," she said nervously. Harry wandlessly lit the candles again and watched the flames.

"Just keep thinking about your question until I say we're done." The flame held steady and tall. The wax quickly began melting again. Little to no smoke. Harry watched for a few moments longer, and when nothing changed, he snuffed the candle.

"Okay. It looks like everything will be going well for you. Whatever your question was, it'll turn out well." Tracey smiled widely and cheerfully handed the candle over to Daphne.

"Your turn!" Daphne nervously held the candle in both hands. Again, Harry cooled the wax again so nothing interfered with the answers.

"Just like Tracey, hold a question in your mind." Harry went to relight the candle again, and frowned. It didn't light. Daphne paled.

"What does that mean?"

"Just a moment," Harry said. He tried again. Nothing. Once more. Nothing. On the fourth try, the candle flame sputtered to life. It was weak. It began smoking a lot. Harry watched it for a few more moments, and it split in two and the flames grew stronger, then snuffed out again on its own. Harry looked up to Daphne, and she was tearing up.

"What does that mean? None of that seemed good."

"Not as bad as you're likely thinking. When the candle fails to light, it only means that now is not the time to be asking your question. It's too early. It only lit up on the fourth try, so it's likely you'll only make some progress four years from now, though it's not exact. The smoke and the weak flame means that there's going to be a lot of trials to get that progress. The split flames means differing opinions, and the fact that it grew stronger at that time means that this differing opinion will be helpful.

The flame snuffing out means that the matter of your question gets resolved. That's a good thing." Daphne's face lit up in joy, "Really!" Then, completely contrary to the image Harry had of her so far, she squealed in delight and threw her arms around him.

"Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She began to cry laughing. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Harry just hugged her back.

"You were asking about Astoria, weren't you?"

"Yes!" She cried. At that, Tracey joined in the hug with her own squeal of delight.

"See, I told you! If she got married and had a kid, she had to have been cured! This is the best day ever! Thanks, Harry!"

"Well, I haven't really done anything, but I don't mind the hugs." They held the hug for a little bit longer, and broke away.

"Now it's your turn!" Daphne smiled and wiped away her tears. Harry took the candle and thought, ' anything to do with canon, I suppose.' He lit the flame. Contrary to what happened before, the flame seemed to put Harry into a trance. He was having a vision. He saw himself with Hermione, Neville, and Ron in Hagrid's hut. It was the day the dragon was hatching. Hagrid pulled the egg out of the pot and set it on the table. Norbert broke out of the egg, sending egg bits everywhere.

The scene seemed to fast forward until it was dark, and he was in the forest. Before him, was the wraith-like figure of Quirrell. He was floating along the ground like a lethifold, chasing after a unicorn. He snapped out of the trance and looked around to gather his bearings. The flame was snuffed out, and there was a bit of smoke curling off the wick. He couldn't tell if that was from the flames, or just the smoke that always occurs when the fire goes out.

"Woah!" Tracey looked at him in awe.

"Was that an actual vision?" Daphne asked. It was more subdued, but she had the same look of awe.

"Um, yeah," Harry took a moment to digest what he saw.' The night the dragon hatches, the first unicorn dies.'

"Wait, what did the fire do? Can you tell me what the fire was like?" Harry asked.

"It was wavy, and it had a lot of smoke," Daphne said.

"The fire was tall though, not like mine was."' So… there's going to be some complications, but for the most part things will turn out all right. I can live with that.'

"Well?" Tracey asked impatiently, "What did you see?"

"A dragon hatching."

"What! A dragon hatching? That's so cool! When? Where?" Tracey asked excitedly.

"Can we come see it?" Daphne asked. Harry ran a hand through his hair and smiled wryly." I don't see why not. As long as you promise not to tell anyone, I'll send for you when it happens."

"We promise! We totally promise, right Daph?" Tracey shook Daphne excitedly.

"Of course, we promise to keep it a secret," Daphne said, grabbing Tracey's hands to stop her shaking. Hopefully, Hagrid wouldn't mind when the time came. By the time they were finished with their morning picnic, the sun was already up above the trees. Judging by the time, it should be an hour or two away from lunch time. They packed up and made their way back to the castle. As they were passing the courtyard, Harry found his roommates all playing football.

The snow had melted enough that there was enough grass to play on. They spotted him returning and called out to him.

"Heya, Harry! There you are! Get over here and join us!" Saemus called.

"Yeah! We've just finished getting Ron and Neville caught up on the rules!" Dean said. Ron and Neville both looked haggard and winded already. Neville was bracing himself with his hands on his knees, breathing hard. Aside from climbing the stairs to the astronomy classroom, this was probably the most exercise they've gotten. Harry handed Daphne's bag back to her.

"I'll be staying here. Thanks for letting me join your nature walk. It was nice."

"It was our pleasure, Harry," Daphne smiled. She and Tracey continued on back into the castle, and Harry went to go play a game of football. All in all, it was a good morning for Imbolc.