The Great Hall

Raegan pulled a face, glancing down at the tarot cards- "Wait! Stop!" She stood up suddenly, almost shrieking down her ear as she made to grab at Tessa's arm before she could touch them. "You..." Her voice faltered, eyes clouding over. A number of cards had fallen picture side up but the majority lay in various states of disarray. "I'm... sorry."

"Your future... It's confusing but I- It's easier if I just tell you." She sat down on the stone slabs that made up to floor, crossing her legs and beginning to gesture to the various upturned cards. "There are actually three ways it can turn out." Raegan admitted as the light returned to her eyes. "The first path is of prosperity and happiness: by far the best route. You'll fight and survive before settling down with the one you hold the dearest in your heart, surrounded by friends and family who truly care for you."

She pointed to a few cards at her question. "VI The Lovers, the Ace of Cups, et cetera, et cetera. The cards line up and I simply see." Her explanation was unhelpful at best, after all, she had never bothered to explain her abilities before now and it came to her naturally anyway. "The next two... aren't so - for the lack of a better word - happy. The second path is a dark one where you still walk this earth yet only misfortune and misery comes your way. Despite winning what will be initially thought as a hopeless battle, your beloved will rip an irreparable wound in your soul that even the strongest mind will break under. After losing your closest companions to others, you will live your days alone, or worse... Unable to cope with the strain and pressures that this route will bring, it can only lead to an untimely demise."

"I'm simple telling you what the cards are saying." She said rather impatiently, lowering her gaze as she moved on. "Three possible outcomes and three chances for change. It's all up to you and your actions as to which path you'll follow. The last one is also the shortest, you'll - ah, hang on - succumb to your condition, leaving a trail of despair in your wake." Raegan took a deep breath before gathering up the fallen cards by pulling out her wand and uttering a quick spell. They rose up into the air and shuffled themselves with an expert grace before being neatly stacked and landing in her outstretched palm. "The future isn't always as clear as we want it to be, Tessa Russe, but nothing is set in stone. May good fortune fall upon you and steel yourself for what is to come."

"People come to me a lot," she admitted eventually, pulling a small piece of ribbon from her pockets and knotting it around the cards. "But I tend to not speak unless they give me something, you know, like a fair exchange, equivalent if you will. The bigger the request, the more they're expected to offer in return."

"I'm... Letting it slide this time, so to speak, an apology for dumping this information on you... Just don't tell anyone else or else they'll all be clambering for a free reading. I have enough requests as it is." A faint smile appeared on her features as she stuffed the cards back into her pocket, her hand still clinging to them as she spoke. "As for my own future... It's fuzzy. I catch short glimpses every now and then but never anything I can string together."

"Good luck, Tessa Russe." Raegan murmured quietly after her, watching her retreating figure disappear from view before turning back to her food that had long since grown cold. With a simple shrug, she grabbed the tub of spread she had used for the toast and a sugar cube from a silver dish, sticking it into her mouth before making her way back to her house common room.

Riley was already sitting at his table. He seemed to be asleep and was lying face down on the book Jane had given him.

After a minute, he sat up, the book stuck to his face. Groaning, he peeled it off. Did I seriously fall asleep again.