What's a Divination? PV Kibitzer

@Nico Shymane

Rosalind knew the harrowing journey from the common room to the classroom quite well. As a professor, she had been 'sorted' into Slytherin, although she hadn't become used to the difference in houses yet. It was standard small talk in America to ask about house membership. There were no Wampuses or Thunderbirds on this side of the pond, however, only sly snakes and industrious badgers.

To the untrained observer, it might seem that the professor was attempting to play solitaire without any knowledge of the game's rules. To her, the playing cards on her table meant so much more. But their meanings had been vague these past few days. The cards seemed to stutter, uncertain of what to say to her, delivering contradictory messages. Even to a talented diviner, sometimes the future was inscrutable.

Her thin fingers plucked up the stray cards, gathering them into the deck again and shuffling idly as the prefect made her way up the stairs. The professor drew just one, holding it up in front of herself, pinched between two fingers. A Queen of Hearts. Rosalind smiled as though she was looking at an old friend, and in a way, she was. In the sea of confused readings, this was a good omen. It was silly to put so much stock in it, but people often do silly things if it makes them feel better.

The kind old lady with her hearts was swiftly discarded when Nico showed up in the doorway. Could this be her queen of hearts? Nothing was guaranteed. The association made her greet the young lady with a smile, however. "Come in, please. You don't look like one of my students. Can I help you with something?"

Idly shuffling the deck of cards, the professor leaned back and nodded toward the other seat at her table, an offer to the student.

@Rosalind Kibitzer

Nervous about her first impression, Nico carefully sticked close to the wall when she went up the stairs. Standing in the doorway, the dhampir shyly smiled at the Professor. She looked abit scary. Ironic since she was a dhampir. Why were Professors so intimidating? Was it because they were adults and reminded her of her mother? Not in a good way. Or was it because the encounter she had with Professor Griffith was so... strange and traumatising? Whichever decision she had made at the Blossom Ball would be encraved in the old mans mind forever. He was... absolutely the scarriest of them all.

With a shy nod, Nico carefully entered the room. Trying to focus on her posture the girl took a seat infront of the Professor. However, it wasn't hopeless. Her experience with Professor Equinox was way better. He reminded her of her father. Robert Shymane was a soft and kindhearted man. Even though he was a dhampir, he was quite charming. Maybe that was why Nico felt so attracted to the mysterious figure.

'H-Hello. Y-Yes I'll only be in your classes next year, actually. I hope i'm not intruding.' Her fingers gently clasped around the rim of her bag. 'I... I suppose I have a weird habit of wanting to meet Professors face to face... whenever a new arrival has been announced.' A soft blush rest on her cheeks. Not that she was flustered. She just tried her utmost best to not make any mistakes. 'I... I honestly... don't know what Divination is about... I wanted to inform myself before stepping into that class next year. If that's... reasonable.' She smiled abit sheepish, her finger lightly scratching the bridge of her nose. 'M-My name is Nico Shymane. My-My apologies.' Good gracious. Already she flopped the first step of getting-to-know-someone-new.

@Nico Shymane

Rosalind was as relaxed as she ever got, sitting in her own classroom and enjoying some time with her cards. The deck had traveled with her since she was a teen - just a bit older than the young girl approaching her now. She had never feared her professors the way the students here seemed to, but she knew that some of her fellow students feared her back then. Perhaps it was just something about her in particular. Even if she was happy to see a visitor, her smile was slight and tight-lipped. She was never very concerned with being approachable.

The professor gave an approving nod as Nico took a seat and straightened her back, mirroring the professor's etiquette. The subtle adherence to protocol did not go unnoticed by Rosalind, who leaned in to listen as the girl spoke. Her tone was less impressive than her posture. She stuttered, and seemed unsure of her actions. There was no use in hoping she was not intruding if she was already here. It would be wiser to intrude with confidence.

"Is it a weird habit for students to meet their teachers?" Rosalind wondered, an eyebrow raised. The professor smirked as she watched Nico blush. It was the comment about not knowing what Divination was about that really tipped the scale, however. Rosalind's smile fell away, leaving her with a tired stare, her gaze locked on the second-year's eyes. It was the one thing she couldn't stand about making the switch from tutoring to teaching in Hogwarts - the lack of interest shown by the students. At least this one was making an effort. There was hope yet. "I would say that knowing at least the subject of a class you intend to enroll yourself in is very reasonable."

She let a moment pass, marking the silence with a slow blink. Her jaw clenched slightly. Unamused.

"I am Professor Rosalind Kibitzer. I tutored young seers in Boston before I was hired to teach at Hogwarts. A pleasure to see young students with an interest in the subject," she said, extending a hand across the table to shake hands with the girl. Despite the lucky draw on her cards, it seemed the professor was keen on pressuring the young Slytherin to make herself worth the time. "Nico Shymane... where have I seen that name? No uniform on. Are you in Slytherin?"

@Rosalind Kibitzer

'I-It's not really weird. I... I just have a rough time approaching.. Adults..' The last word nearly sounded like a whisper. This lady was more intimidating than she expected. She underestimated this encounter gravely. Oh gosh, oh gosh... Her experience with adults had been limited to her parents and her muggle school teacher. Teachers in primary school were there to support and help out a child in the best way they could. Parents...were.. parents. This school, with a high variety of teachers, they weren't even teaching math here, was a whole new level of anxiety. Nico felt a shiver go down her spine when the warm smile she felt so drawn to, so comfortable with, faded. It drooped down so fast, Nico could feel her blood stop pumping to her head. Not that it would be that noticable since she already looked close to a beautiful ghost. The silence that followed when Professor Kibitzer did find it reasonable to get to know the subject you were going to enroll in the year after, nearly made the dhampir pass out. This lady was scary... But she needed to keep her head above the surface. Be strong.

Nico felt tense as she tried her best to maintain eyecontact with her. Those eyes... They wanted yo make her cry but she couldn't. Don't be a crybaby, Nico. Be brave... When the Professor fully introduced herself, Nico felt a sense of relief wash over her. She didn't screw up yet. Better not take any chances. The child swiftly brushed her hand over her skirt before politely shaking Rosalindes hand.

'A pleasure to meet you, Professor. I'm am eager to know more about the class you teach. I'm... Before my time at Hogwarts, I didn't know much about the magical world. I didn't know of Hogwarts. My parents... never went here and... They're not really... magical either. Except well... My dad and I.. a-..' Could she tell her? What if she had a bad history with dhampirs? Maybe she'd chase her out of her office and get her expelled? She was going to take that risk. 'We're d-dhampirs, Professor. Yet we chose to live the Muggleborn life... Or we didn't know any better. My dad is pretty vague about it..' At this point Nico felt like she was rambling, wasting this womans time. Get to the point, Nico.

'I... Yes. I'm a Slytherin. At first I wasn't sure if the Hat made the right choice.. I heard on the train on our way to Hogwarts that Gryffindor was full of brave people. And... That sticked with me. I wanted to be brave too... But when I got dropped in Slytherin, I felt very... dissapointed.' Her eyes became gloomy for a second but quickly lit up again. 'However, right now, I got used to my House and I honestly wouldn't want to be sorted anywhere else...' She smiled warmly, forgetting her nerves in the heat of the moment. 'And..Ever since I got in Hogwarts, I have been... very curious to what subjects I'd get to see and learn from.' With that, she nodded with a certain confidence. No clue where it came from, but she spoke sincere and truthfully. Honest. She was determined to have a fruitfull time at this rather unusual school.

The poor girl looked like she might pass out right in front of the professor. She was ghostly pale, pretty and delicate like a short-lived flower. Rosalind could see the fear in Nico's eyes as she struggled to keep up eye contact, while the professor just stared her down. Impressively, Nico still managed to reach for the professor's hand, giving a respectable shake despite her readily apparent anxiety. Looked like there was still hope for her yet.

"I wouldn't say living as a dhampir is entirely the Muggle life, but I don't know much about Muggles..." the professor said, trying to keep an idle tone. She seemed unbothered that Nico was a dhampir, but there was a subtle change in her demeanor. Maybe she minded more than she let on. Whether Nico picked up on that or not, the professor was still giving off the impression that she was wasting her precious time. Maintaining an approachable persona was so difficult.

The comment on the brave Gryffindors made the professor laugh. This timid little mouse of a girl wanted to be sorted among the brave? She found that difficult to believe. She could barely tackle talking to a grown-up. How was she meant to run with the lions?

She had earned a place in the professor's good graces. Not only was she one of the house of snakes, but she was making an effort to learn. Especially admirable for a student who had lived as a Muggle beforehand, and one with her condition. She was braver than she thought.

"Miss Shymane, when faced with something you fear, being brave is the dumbest option you have," the professor said plainly, trying to sweep away any regrets that the girl could have about not getting Gryffindor. "Fear exists for a reason. I'll tell you what you ought to know as a Slytherin - when you're afraid, don't be brave. Be smart."

She stared at her for a moment before breaking into a smile again.

"But you seem to know that already. What do you think Divination is all about? We can work from there."

@Rosalind Kibitzer

Nico didn't expect this. Was this conversation actually going well? Even though the Professor still sounded cold, the words she said were... reasonable? Was that the word she was looking for?
Or was she reading her wrong? Was she actually being sarcastic and did she not feel the... sarcasm... What if she was testing her?

Her doubts washed away when Rosalinde bursted out in laughter. Apparantly her remark of wanting to be in Gryffindor was amusing to her... Thinking about it now... Maybe it would've been a silly place to be sorted in...

"Miss Shymane, when faced with something you fear, being brave is the dumbest option you have," Huh. That actually made sense. As if someone lit up a light in her head, it seemed so obvious now. The first example that appeared to her was how that one girl opened the door of their Common Room, letting in all those horrendous spiders. No one had agreed to it, but she took matter in her own hands, trying to be the hero. Victory was never guaranteed. At that time... it was completely foolish and dangerous...

"Fear exists for a reason. I'll tell you what you ought to know as a Slytherin - when you're afraid, don't be brave. Be smart."

Nico looked once more in her eyes. It all made so much sense. How did she not think of that. There was no need in blaming herself. Fear could be blinding and could drown you. Consuming you instead of the other way around... The dhampir nodded softly in agreement, her eyes slightly widened in awe. This lady was so wise! Oh, how she wished she could be as elegant as Professor Jensen and as smart as Professor Kibitzer! A few small tears welled up in the corner of her eyes when she smiled at her. That's all she wanted. To have Professors not think she's weird... That she too was brave but in a smart way. In the brainy clever way. Her heart hadn't felt so light in a while...

"What do you think Divination is all about? We can work from there."

Feeling more excited about this class now, she turned her head from side to side, taking in the room. Many small tables with crystal balls here and there. Tapestries on the floors and walls... It reminded her of the oriental parts of the Muggle world. The one with the bellydancers. She once watched a show on TV where they had a competition for that. She had tried to mimic them but... it was hard. Atleast the music was pretty nice. Of course. It would be very unlikely that they'd have dancing classes here. Not from Professors atleast.
'Does it have to do with... Seeing the future? I usually associate those balls with oracles. They usually do this...' Abit embarrassed, she wiggled her fingers in this manner....

'and then... speak in riddles. Is this... something similar?'

Rosalind was hopeful. The girl could be taught. She was hanging off of her every word. It was like the gears were turning in her head - pieces falling into place with the satisfying click of epiphany. It was the moment every teacher loved to see in their students; a moment of real learning. But then the girl opened her mouth. She spoke again, and it was like every ounce of joy had been sucked from the room. The sense of serene bliss and satisfaction from that 'learning moment' had lulled her into a false sense of security, like the calm in the eye of the storm.

After being rapidly pulled through the stages of grief, the professor's expression hardened into a mask of stern incredulity. She lifted her hands and wiggled her fingers back at Nico in that same foolish manner before letting her arms drop against the table with a thud. "I'm afraid that is not... well, not wholly correct. You do have something of a Muggle's view on the subject."

Looking around the room, Professor Kibitzer could see where she got the idea. She didn't entirely agree with the decor herself, but it was beyond her to think of changing it when much more urgent matter demanded her attention. The students needed protection and guidance. A lot of it, judging by this little one.

"Do dhampirs hang upside down when they sleep?" The professor threw a misconception right back at the Slytherin girl's face. Fighting fire with fire. Assumptions just made you look like a fool - if you wanted to advance, you needed knowledge. Rosalind reminded herself that that was why the girl was here in the first place. A gentler hand would be required. She was only young. "Of course not. The television is not where you should get your information on the branches of magic, young lady. Visit the library, it would do you some good."

"Regarding seeing the future - that is partially correct. Seeing is usually done only by Seers - you'll learn about those in the class, perhaps you have some idea what they are now. Non-Seers can use a variety of methods to gain insight into future events." The professor glanced down at the table, gathering up the cards she had been shuffling and holding them out to Nico to take a look at. There was nothing special about them at all, aside from being an unfamiliar brand. The box for the cards was on the table as well - some American brand for Muggles. How exotic. "Playing cards are a favorite of mine. The illustrations are fun."

A Muggle view... She wasn't wrong. Even though she wasn't really a Muggle, her mother was. Her father had always held back when it was about the Dhampir world. Next to her father and grandfaters, she never knew any dhampirs outside her own family. And then on Hogwarts, she ran into Kaegan and then this year, Alaric Equinox. The first other adult dhampir. Her life was changing fast...
Apart from that, she was raised in a similar way, except she needed to control her thirst for blood. That was... mostly the case. Don't mention the multiple peers she scared on purpose or by accident...

If Dhampirs hanged upside down... Nico wasn't sure if she needed to feel offended or that she should cry. Of course, the Professor was just trying to make a point, but it struck her in a weird way. As if she was a stereotype. Just like the bullies used to. Before she could react to it, the Professors point finally came across. Nico only wished she used a different example... But she was right. Televisions would only show you what they wanted you to see. A visit to the Library should be a good start to get a fresh view on things. She nodded in agreement.

Nico carefully put her hands on the edge of the Profs desk, carefully leaning in when she showed her a beautiful set of playing cards. Nico found the crystal balls pretty interesting but these cards caught her full attention. Truth be told, it was mostly because of the fancy illustrations on them. 'S-So every non-Seer has their own preference? As in, they all favor a certain medium to see things? I have heard of Seers before. Are these people that can get... visions without card or crystal balls then?'. At home they had one of these sets of playing cards, but she hadn't seen any like these before. Were they even European? 'Your cards look pretty cool, if I may say so...' She was intrigued by them. 'Will we be learning how to read cards in your class aswell?' Her eyes had gotten bigger, fueled by excitement. Imagine that. She could have her own set of pretty looking cards.

The girl seemed to shrink back a bit when Rosalind brought out the example of dhampirs hanging upside down like bats. No doubt it was something the girl had heard of before. Ignorance and misinformation had the power to hurt people. As toughened as Rosalind had become over the years, it still prickled the hair on her neck when she heard kids talking about Seers like Muggle psychics - frauds who wiggle their fingers and pop out a prophecy just to keep people busy every month or two. There was more to it then that. There was a science behind it. An aspect of skill that non-Seers could never understand.

Unless they made the effort to understand it. Nico was already on the first steps of the process. As she nodded in agreement, Professor Kibitzer smiled lightly, giving her a small morsel of approval. Enough to provide relief, but not satisfaction. The girl would need to impress her before the professor allowed her to have any of that.

"That's right," Rosalind said softly, another fleeting moment of approval. She would need to keep up with the conversation for more. Ask good questions. Make the right realizations. It wasn't a fair process to students who were slower to catch on, but Rosalind had high expectations. Especially for a Slytherin prefect that intended to be a student of Professor Kibitzer herself. "Seers get visions, no tools required. They hit you out of nowhere, but more often when you're... looking for them. Grips you all at once. Shows you something, anything. Sometimes it comes true, but it depends."

Depends on what? Just about everything, kiddo. That's fate for you - she's capricious.

"Non-Seers have a lot of methods. It just depends what you like. Mirror-gazing is one of my favorites, but it can take you to some dark places..." The professor gave the girl an ominous stare. She was pretty, although pale, too, likely as a result of her condition. Mirror-gazing most often just took Rosalind on a journey to her purse to look for something to smooth out her wrinkles, but it could be enlightening under the right conditions and with a good mindset. Seeing more than what was really there. It was a foundational principle of Divination, and part of what made it so divisive.

"You'll learn tarot cards. These are just playing cards - they sort of fell out of vogue in the 90s, at least where I'm from. It used to be you could get good hand-made sets. This one's just from a Muggle factory, so it hasn't got much magic left in it, if you ask me. Does the job, though. You heard of tarot?" Professor Kibitzer scooped up her cards, shuffling them idly before offering the deck to Nico for her to inspect. "Here - have a shuffle, draw a few and tell me what you think. They're American. Probably can't get them on this side of the pond."