LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 27: Divination Test
Victor's second class of the day began at 3 PM.
As the hour approached, the Divination classroom steadily filled with students, nearly tripling its usual attendance. Among the crowd were the Gryffindor twins, Fred and George, accompanied by their close friend, Lee Jordan.
The trio entered the classroom with arms draped casually over one another's shoulders, their camaraderie evident.
Compared to the morning session, the Divination classroom had undergone noticeable changes.
Though still tidy and spacious, the curtains on either side of the attic windows were once again drawn. White candles now illuminated the room, placed evenly on each table. At the front, the previously lit fireplace had been replaced by a brazier on a stand, its flames flickering vividly.
Fred and his friends gravitated toward a round table near the brazier. As soon as they sat, their hushed but animated conversation began.
"I heard the seventh-year class this morning was incredible," Fred murmured. "A seventh-year Hufflepuff told me they learned how to use a pocket watch to divine which path was safer."
"Imagine what we could do with that," Lee whispered back, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "No more running into Filch during nighttime adventures!"
"Exactly!" George grinned. "I'm definitely paying attention today—"
Their chatter quickly strayed into territory that would no doubt make Professor McGonagall's eyebrows shoot up. But just as George began sharing another scheme, he caught sight of the brazier and paused, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"This doesn't look like we're using pocket watches," he said, tilting his head toward the flames. "Are we learning fire divination instead?"
"Close enough, Mr. Weasley."
The eerie, low voice came from directly behind them, making the trio jolt in surprise. They spun around to see Victor emerging from the shadows, moving with an almost spectral grace. No one had noticed his arrival.
Victor didn't linger by their table but strode directly to the podium, his expression impassive.
The class was about to begin.
Victor's dark, hollow eyes scanned the young witches and wizards before him. When he finally spoke, his voice carried an air of solemnity.
"Welcome to Divination, everyone. Before we begin, I have some unfortunate news to share."
The room quieted instantly, every student's attention locked on him.
Victor continued, "While many of you may find Divination intriguing, by the end of today's class, some of you will leave this room never to return—not due to any misfortune but because Divination is not a path for everyone. The ability to perceive the future requires an innate spiritual sensitivity."
"The process involves releasing your spiritual energy, connecting with the world around you, and interpreting the unseen responses. However, much like being born a wizard, the amount of spiritual energy one possesses is innate."
"Let me be clear: having less spiritual energy does not make you less of a wizard. It simply means your strengths may lie elsewhere, in areas where your talents can truly shine."
"To help identify those best suited to this discipline, I've prepared a preliminary test."
A ripple of unease spread through the room. Tests were rarely welcomed, and this one seemed especially daunting. After all, how could they prove they had the "spiritual sensitivity" required without prior experience?
George raised his hand abruptly, cutting through the tension.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley?" Victor said, acknowledging him with a slight nod.
"Professor, if we don't know anything about Divination yet, how can we pass this test?"
Victor gave a faint smile. "A fair question. That's why I'd like everyone to take out your Unfogging the Future textbooks. If you don't have yours, share with a neighbor."
A rustle of activity followed as students pulled the hefty books from their bags. Victor waited until the commotion subsided.
"Turn to page 15," he instructed.
More pages turned in unison. Fred quickly found the section: Various Symbols in Tea Leaf Reading.
"As you'll notice, this page lists images and their symbolic meanings—for instance, a sun represents one thing, and an eagle another."
"You won't need to interpret these symbols today. Instead, you'll observe the smoke patterns from the brazier and match them to the imagery described here."
Victor lifted a stack of parchment from the table near the fireplace and began distributing it. As the papers made their way around the room, low whispers of curiosity and apprehension filled the air.
George scanned the parchment as soon as it reached him. The questions were unexpected:
Question 1: In the smoke predicting this year's campus safety, which of the following patterns did you see?
A. Sun
B. Ram and horns
C. Raven
D. Crooked cross
Question 2: In the smoke predicting this year's magical world safety, which of the following patterns did you see?
The format continued until the final question:
Question 10: In the last segment of smoke, describe the scene you perceived, including its emotions and colors.
George gawked at the page. Even Percy's old Divination exams hadn't been this bizarre.
"At the end of class, I'll reveal the answers," Victor announced, his tone calm. "Those who correctly identify at least six symbols are encouraged to continue Divination. For others, I recommend exploring Arithmancy."
With that, Victor moved to the brazier, holding a wooden bowl of lettuce and a dish of spices. He sprinkled rosemary and forget-me-not petals into the flames, followed by a handful of lettuce leaves.
"The spices enhance sensory perception, while the lettuce strengthens spiritual connection," Victor explained.
As the ingredients burned, the flames surged dramatically, turning a deep purple. Pale smoke with glowing violet flecks rose, forming dense, shimmering clouds that hovered midair.
The class gasped in awe.
Victor's voice broke through their amazement. "Focus on the smoke. Observe carefully and record what you see."
Then, turning to George, whose hand was once again raised, Victor arched an eyebrow. "Yes, Mr. Weasley?"
George hesitated but pressed on. "Professor, if we guess six answers correctly, can we still stay in Divination?"
Victor's lips curved into a rare smile. "Why not? Guessing correctly suggests fate's guidance—a gift invaluable in this field."
"Well then," Victor said, glancing over the class. "Any further questions?"
The students shook their heads, and Victor gestured toward the brazier. "Begin."
----
you can read more advance chapter on my patreon:
pat reon.com/windkaze