After the last year had finished their exams, Pomona went to the tower where Sybill was. She carried a basket of spices made from Dragon Tooth Geranium.
This was a favorite among Divination practitioners. It was said to put them into a half-dreaming, half-waking state, though Pomona personally believed that was simply the natural effect of Dragon Tooth Geranium pollen.
"Hi, Sybill. I was too harsh last time." As Pomona walked, she rehearsed the "scene" in her head, feeling thoroughly miserable.
Why should I be the one to apologize first!
Halfway there, she ran into students who had just come down from the Divination classroom. They were all talking over one another about what had happened in class.
"Professor!" Neville shouted. "I found Scabbers!"
"Really? Where?"
"In Hagrid's rat cage."
Pomona had intended to turn around and leave, but she glanced at the tower so close at hand and felt she should not go back just like that.
"I heard something seemed to have happened in class," Pomona said to Neville.
Neville nodded. "Hermione was thrown out of the classroom by Professor Trelawney."
"What happened?" Pomona asked, pretending to be surprised.
"The professor asked us what we saw in the crystal ball. Hermione said she saw an 'evil omen,' and then Professor Trelawney said that from the first day she saw Hermione walk into the classroom, she had felt Hermione lacked the 'gift' for studying this noble art. She was young, but her heart was like an old woman's, and her soul like dried-up book pages."
"Oh, really?" Pomona said in surprise.
In truth, she was not surprised at all. It sounded exactly like something Trelawney would say.
"Yes!" Neville's eyes widened in surprise, then he smiled. "I remember now, Professor."
Pomona wished Neville had said that sooner, rather than