Chapter Text
"Welcome, my students, welcome. I am Professor Trelawney. Welcome to Divination."
Professor Trelawney had massive bug eyes emphasized by large round glasses, and frizzy hair that puffed out from her head like cotton.
Phil was highly excited about this class. He had always been fascinated by divination, as his grandma had been a psychic. While his skeptical parents didn't quite approve of more dubious magic like divination, he had managed to pick up a couple things from his grandma before she died.
"Today, students, we will be practicing the sacred art of tarot,” Trelawney said in a shimmering voice. “I will be demonstrating on one student today in order to teach the method to the class. Do I have any volunteers?"
Phil eagerly raised his hand, and then, realizing no one else had, much less so eagerly, he lowered it slightly.
"Ah, Philip Lester. You have a strong energy about you. Come, sit."
There was a small table at the front of the classroom at which Trelawney was sitting, stroking a stack of large, battered cards. Phil walked up to the front and sat.
"Today I will be reading Philip's August, September, and October. The cards communicate the strongest psychic energy that Philip will experience in each month. We will begin with Philip shuffling the deck to transfer some of his magic to the deck." She passed the deck to Phil. "Please shuffle the cards as many times as you'd like until you feel ready to begin."
Phil took the cards and shuffled them with some difficulty - they were thick cards and there were far more than in a normal playing deck. As he shuffled the cards, Trelawney explained to the class the differences between major and minor arcana and what they depicted. But she halted immediately when a card flew from his hand to the ground.
"Sorry, it just-"
"You have a very strong psychic energy, Philip." He shivered. "This card will hold vast importance in your life," she said, her voice going deep. His heart thumped.
She picked it up, turning it over and looking at the face of the card. "The Knight of Wands."
"What- what does that mean?" Phil asked slowly.
"You will soon encounter a boy who will make a large impact on your life. An energetic warrior who is quick to love or hate. Keep open communication with this boy and you could reap great rewards. But beware - too much enthusiasm and too little thought will bring pain and sorrow." Her voice was soaring. Phil shivered again. "This is good news, Philip."
"Oh. Good."
"Moving on. I will be doing a very simple three-card spread today. Past, present, and future..."
Phil zoned out, turning over the cards when she asked but not listening to what she said.
The only thing he could focus on was the Knight of Wands. Who was this boy?