Tessomancy is the art of interpreting tea leaves to predict future events. It is the first thing taught to third-year Divination students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.[1] It appears in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
About[]
To observe tea leaves, the cup has to be filled and drunk until there are just dregs left. The dregs are swirled around in the cup thrice with the left hand before it is turned up-side down on a saucer. The last of the tea is drained away and the patterns left in it can be interpreted.[1] Pages 5 and 6 of Unfogging the Future provides guidance to readers on their interpretations.[1]
History[]
In September 1993, Harry and Ron interpreted their tea leaves in their first Divination lesson at Hogwarts. Harry told Ron he had a wonky cross for "trails and suffering" and a sun for "great happiness", deducing he was going to suffer but he would be happy about it. Ron saw Harry had an acorn, signifying a "windfall of unexpected gold" but struggled trying to interpret the pattern of a falcon. [Sybill Trelawney|Professor Trelawney]] saw the falcon and stated it signified a "deadly enemy", also finding a club for "an attack", a skull for "danger" and the Grim for "death", causing a stir in their lesson.[1]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 6