The lively energy of Hogwarts was brimming with excitement.
Morning light pierced the illusory scenery displayed across the Great Hall's vaulted ceiling, shattering into shimmering light spots across the silver-plated plates on the long tables. Ian absentmindedly prodded the fried egg on his plate with the tip of his fork.
Earlier.
The milky-white Crystal Ball that had fallen out during Malfoy's "clumsy Acting Skill" glimmered in his other palm with rippling, water-like light. Like a tiny lightbulb, it cast faint spider web-like patterns across the tablecloth.
"Have you ever seen this type of Crystal Ball?" Ian asked his two roommates, shaking the Crystal Ball in his hand with considerable puzzlement.
Perhaps he was several dimensions stronger than his two roommates, but there was only so much he could learn in a year. There were probably things those two, born into wizarding families, knew better than he did.
Especially William.
His family could be called deeply established.
"My mother might know. All I can confirm is that it isn't natural crystal used for Divination." Michael, unusually, did not fight over food. After leaning in to examine it for a long while, he gave his answer with certainty.
"It's probably not worth much."
He offered that assessment at the end.
"You can tell whether it's valuable?"
Ian raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You have to believe in Black people's gifts." Michael chuckled, actually making a joke about his own race. He continued in a perfectly reasonable tone.
"And if you look into historical statistics, you'll find that Black people are more likely to produce Seers than white people. You could say we're born closer to this pretentious, mystical subject."
It was clear that Little Black Guy did not think much of Divination either. Since the end of term last semester, it had