"Er...don't 'ave no preference I don't think... Do you sense I might be better at one of those than the other?"

() "I have no idea" Gaia said looking at Magnus with a grin on her face. "Why don't you take a break and play with runes stones. They are made of Amethyst so all the runes are different in shape and smooth to the touch." Gaia poured more tea and went to the back office to find some biscuits and sweet tarts she had asked for in the kitchens. After all Divination is a hunger inducing subject... or so Gaia always said.

For once in this subject, he was beaming. He took one of the runes in his hands and felt a tingle. He could feel the power it had. "Amethyst is a type o' quartz. It got its name from the Greeks who thought it warded off drunkenness," he said, happy he had some knowledge to impart. "On one of me birfdays at the orphanage, I was taken to a museum and kept 'anging 'round these gems. The lady from the Charity that took me to visit it, bought me one." He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small rock. "Always 'ave it wif me, except on shifting days as I don't wanna loose it." That, he had never told anyone, not even his parents. "Don't know why, but I really like them. Funny though cos me birfstone is a pearl and alexandrite."

"It is believed that crystals record memories. The vibrations can help you channel an important emotion or memory when you need it. These here are very special. They have been in my family for many generations not only does the crystals possess energy but it is also mingled with the Kavanaugh energy and essence. I don't let many people touch them, but I figured you could use some relaxation and fun." As she spoke there was a glint in her eye, but before Magnus could notice she drank some more tea which now tasted like vanilla ice cream. ()

He considered her words and it made sense to him. His rock always seemed to make him feel better when he touched it. He blushed a little when she said she didn't let people hold the runes, feeling honoured that she trusted him with them. "'Ow does one play wif the runes? Is there some kind of game or more just rolling 'em and seeing what they spell?" He had an odd flash of the muggle game Yahtzee in his mind.

() "Try whatever is most comfortable for you." Gaia sat a little straighter on her chair.

"All right," Magnus said, wondering if Gaia sensed something. He held the runes in his hands for a few moments. He thought of pleasent things--his friends, flying on his broom, making potions... then he started rolling the runes in his hands letting them slide around his fingers--feeling their shapes. He was so relaxed he wasn't even sure he was thinking anything. Then he rolled the runes onto the table. "I like these."

() "I figured" Gaia said pleased with herself "Sometimes Divination is difficult for some because they don't have the right tools to help open their inner eye. To read the future like a book you might need reading tools. Does that make sense?"

He nodded. "It does," he said, "though I don't think that's the only reason I'm awful at this subject though. But maybe there's still 'ope for me."