Human dreams are often a chaotic blend of thoughts, processing fragments of information gathered throughout the day and embedding them into memory and subconsciousness. Over time, these fragments shape a person’s perception of the world and, occasionally, fuel their inexplicable sixth sense – a concept yet to be fully understood.


    Wizard’s dreams, however, hold a unique significance. When vividly remembered after waking, they often reflect something meaningful.


    Jessica’s dreams before coming to Hogwarts had been unremarkable – a messy compilation of her daytime interactions. While most people forget their dreams moments after waking or retained only vague impressions, Jessica could recall hers vividly, sometimes days later. This peculiarity hadn’t concerned her until one night she accidentally joined her group of siblings at the orphanage to watch a horror film. After that, the nightmares began.


    Scarlet had gifted her a dreamcatcher shortly after, and it had proven remarkably effective. Not only did it shield Jessica from nightmares, but it also diminished her ability to recall her dreams altogether. She didn’t mind this – on the contrary, it relieved her. The vivid clarity of her dreams had once been so intrusive that she sometimes struggled to differentiate them from reality.


    Even at Hogwarts, the dreamcatcher had worked flawlessly, and Jessica had assumed she was free from vivid dreams for good, especially now that she was learning to control her magic. Yet, during an afternoon nap after lunch, an unexpected, strange dream overtook her – a dream so unsettling that she found herself seeking out her most reliable confidant: her non-blood-related sister, Scarlet.


    Jessica had never been to Scarlet’s private room, though her sister had once mentioned its location. Knowing how many responsibilities Scarlet shouldered, Jessica often avoided bothering her with minor issues. But this time, a deep, instinctive urge drove her there to share her dream.


    “I dreamed about this place - Hogwarts castle,” Jessica began, her heart still racing, “and a beast.”


    She leaned against Scarlet’s shoulder, steadying herself as recalled the details. “In the dream, I was small – fragile – and I was breaking through... something. Then I saw Lockhart. He said something, but it was muffled; I couldn’t hear him properly. Suddenly, I felt something forced down my throat – it was hot, thick, liquid - like the potion we brew in Potions... and I was furious.”


    Scarlet listened intently, her mind racing even as she kept soothing Jessica.


    “Then I became so strong, so powerful,” Jessica continued, clapping a hand to her throat. Her expression was a mixture of terror and confusion. “I breathed fire... and venoms. But it didn’t feel like me. It was more like I was watching it happen from someone else’s eyes – a strange first-person view, with colours I can’t even describe. Then everything turned chaotic.”


    Jessica’s voice wavered, her words trembling with emotion. “There were students, screaming and crying, running for their lives... from me. It was terrifying, and I tried to escape, looking for a way out. But I got stuck – surrounded by debris, everything charred and burning. Lockhart was there, near me, doing... something. I can’t remember that, but it felt like I was too tired – to heavy – to keep going.”


    “And then,” Jessica swallowed, her voice growing smaller, “I saw it. A beast, bigger than I was in the dream – bigger than the hallway. It roared at me.”


    Scarlet wrapped her arms around Jessica, silently comforting Jessica as she traced a few runes in the air. A sphere of warm air enveloped them both, creating a cozy haven against the chill.


    “It had a lion’s head, a snake’s tail... and I think I saw hooves,” Jessica murmured, her voice distant as she blinked at the memory. “It roared at me, and then everything went black. I woke up, and my back was covered in cold sweat.”


    No wonder her clothes feel so cold, Scarlet mused. She must’ve run straight here, likely forgetting to put on her sweaters or warm coat in her rush.


    When Scarlet didn’t reply for a long moment, Jessica glanced up hesitantly, fear flickering in her eyes. “Scarlet,” she asked quietly, “is this something bad?”


    “I’m not sure, sweetheart,” Scarlet said thoughtfully. “Your dream must mean something, but we’ll have to figure it out. It could be a warning - some wizards do have dreams that warn them of danger... Remember what I’ve told you about traits? It seems clear that dreaming is one of yours. It’s a talent, but I can’t say yet what this one meant.”


    The room fell silent. Jessica frowned, reluctant to burden her sister further. But before she could say anything, Scarlet asked, “Do you mind if I call Alexis in? Perhaps she’ll have some ideas.”


    Jesica tilted her head, curiously sparking amidst her fear. “I don’t mind, but... why Alexis?”


    “She’s got an incredible knack of bold ideas. Blue-sky thinking, you might call it. We might decipher your dream with her help,” Scarlet replied with a reassuring smile. “It’s worth a try.”


    Jessica nodded, watched as Scarlet left the room and returned moments later with Alexis in tow. Scarlet took the lead, carefully recounting Jessica’s dream as accurately as she could.


    Jessica observed Alexis’s reaction. The blonde eyes widened as Scarlet spoke, and she suddenly leapt to her feet. “Jessica can see the future!” Alexis exclaimed, her tone a mix of outrage and disbelief. “Merlin of Avalon! Lockhart’s gonna kidnap her!”


    Jessica flinched, startled by Alexis’s outburst. The American began pacing the room furiously, her wild gestures matching the high-pitched shrieks of her exaggerated accent, which now sounded almost chaotic to Jessica’s ears. “That slimy little fraud! I knew he was desperate to get his stupid fame back, but seriously? Kidnapping Jessica and forcing her into some crazy monster transformation just to stage some dramatic moment where he gets to play hero? Ugh, what is wrong with him?!”


    Scarlet furrowed her brows slightly. She neither agree nor disagree with Alexis’s theory but remained silent.


    “Lion head, snake tail, hooves? That’s totally a Chimaera!” Alexis fumed, her words coming out in a frantic rush. “He dared turned Jessica into some kind of beast and then forced her to fight a Chimaera?! How does he even find a Chimaera at Hogwarts? Oh. My. Merlin. He must’ve dropped a fortune in galleons on the black market to smuggle a dangerous magical creature in here. All this just to make himself a hero – again! What’s next? He thinks he’s some kind of beast tamer now?!”


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    “Alexis.” Scarlet snapped her fingers sharply, conjuring a breeze that brushes across the room.


    Alexis blinked, paused mid-stride as the soothing chill swept through her thoughts. Her frantic energy dissipated, replaced by a calmer clarity. She turned back toward Scarlet, who stood beside Jessica, one hand gently on the younger girl’s shoulder. Jessica looked both horrified and overwhelmed.


    “Oh, Merlin, I’m so sorry,” Alexis said immediately, pressing her hands to her chest. “Jessica, I didn’t mean to freak you out like that.” Taking a deep breath, she added firmly, “But like, for real, we need to protect her. We can’t let that fake professor lay even one grubby little finger on her!”


    “There are flaws in your theory,” Scarlet said, her tone calm and deliberate. “Let’s suppose Jessica did witness her future, and that Lockhart indeed planned to force some potion down her throat to turn her into a beast, all in an attempt to regain fame by vanquishing a magical creature. Even then, one beast would suffice. Obtaining a Chimaera would be unnecessary – it’s an incredibly rare and dangerous magical creature, not easily acquired.”


    Alexis sneered. “Who even knows what that fraud’s got rattling around in that brain of his, soaking in saltwater or whatever? He probably thought this was a troke of genius or something!”


    Scarlet’s gaze lingered thoughtfully. She couldn’t shake the feeling they were overlooking something important, though she couldn’t pinpoint what. Meanwhile, Jessica focused on one thing Alexis had said that Scarlet hadn’t dismissed.


    “So... I was really dreaming about the future?” Jessica asked hesitantly. “But maybe I was just having a bad dream.”


    “Well,” Alexis said, turning to her, “have you ever read about Chimaera? Or like, seen a picture of one anywhere?”


    Jessica shook her head. “No.”


    “Exactly,” Alexis declared firmly. “You know nothing about Chimaeras, yet you described it in detail. If it didn’t happen in the past, and you haven’t read about it, then it must be from the future!”


    Alexis added, “And, like, some people are just naturally gifted with stuff like divination or fortune telling – they catch a glimpse of the future. But just so you know, the future isn’t set in stone.”


    “Meaning...” Jessica paused, considering the implications. “I might be talented in divination?”


    “Most probably,” Alexis replied, her tone brimming with certainty. “Dreams are, like, the easiest way to peek into the future. No spells, no ritual, no creepy sacrifices – just sleep. Only really gifted people can do that. But...”


    “But what? What’s the downside?” Jessica asked, her voice tinged with unease.


    “Well...” Alexis rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “First off, you can’t really control what you dream about – at least, not unless you find a way to, like, practice or something. Then there’s the whole timeline thing. Dreams don’t exactly send a memo about when the stuff is gonna happen. You’ll end up stressing, thinking every single tomorrow might be the day, and honestly? Being mentally frazzled like that helps no one.”


    Jessica fidgeted anxiously. “So... what am I supposed to do? I-I don’t think I would like to keep dreaming about scary stuff like this.”


    “I dunno...” Alexis furrowed her brows, then suddenly brightened as she turned to Scarlet, “Sensei, maybe a Taoist Priest could help or something?”


    Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “Before I ask why you’re suggesting something so peculiar, care to explain why you’re so convinced Jessica has the ability to foresee the future?”


    Alexis blinked rapidly, stiffening under Scarlet’s gaze. Only now did she notice that Scarlet had remained quietly observant while she’d been rambling about dreams, divination, and all sorts of fantastical ideas. And truthfully, Alexis had no concrete evidence for her claims. The concept of Seers in the Harry Potter universe probably worked differently from what she described. Come to think of it, does simply looking into the future count as being a Seer?


    She winced, a sheepish creeping onto her face.


    “Well... I was just, um, making an educated guess?” Alexis admitted tentatively. “Y’know, like, I’ve been reading a lot of books, so I can’t exactly remember which ideas are from where... But, Sensei, you have to admit, my theory kinda makes sense. Right?”


    Scarlet nodded, though slowly, and Alexis let out a relieved sigh. Jessica, however, still seemed unsettled. She didn’t quite understand what the two older girls had been discussing – only that they had been arguing about her condition.


    “And you’re suggesting we find a Taoist Priest?” Scarlet asked, gently patting Jessica’s head as she seemed lost in thought.


    “Well, yeah,” Alexis replied cautiously. “I heard that this ability is called the Third Eye, Mystical Eye or something like that in Chinese culture. Taoist priests can close or seal these eyes - ‘coz, y’know, some kids are really disturbed by having them up, ruins families and stuff...”


    Alexis’s voiced trailed off as memories of the Chinese urban fantasy webnovels she’d read in her pervious life surfaced. In those stories, the protagonists or key side characters often endured miserable childhoods because their Third Eye wasn’t sealed. They were bullied for foretelling tragedies that later came true, or targeted by cultists wanting to harvest their ability. Usually, it ended up with life-or-death struggles and heartbreaking sacrifices... while the protagonists often rose to defeat their enemies and prove their worth, many key characters were unable to escape the fates their had glimpsed through their Third Eye.


    It occurred to Alexis that sealing Jessica’s ability – at least until she was mature enough to control or endure it – might be the best solution. The idea struck her as she recalled one of the Weasley brothers mentioning a professor from China who had visited the Red House wielding flying swords - and who, intriguingly, didn’t appear to practice magic.


    Scarlet’s eyes rested on Jessica, who looked up at her with a mixture of hope, worry, and fear. After a long sigh, Scarlet said, “Don’t worry, Jessica. You’ll be safe in our common room. For now, it’s best if you stay indoors until Christmas holidays - or stick close to seniors like Cedric. He’s a gentleman and quite skilled in Quidditch. Then there’s Emily and Jonathan; they’re sixth-year prefects and very reliable. I’ll come up with something. And remember, keep the pendant I gave you with you, okay?”


    “The pendant is always with me,” Jessica said, pulling the necklace from under her clothes to reveal a jade pendant hanging from the chain. “We’ve kept it with us since you gave it to us as talisman. It’s enchanted with protective charms, right?”


    “Yes. Keep it close - it can withstand one lethal impact,” Scarlet replied, wrapping Jessica in a warm hug. “I’ll escort you back to the common room, and I promise to come up with a solution tonight before you go to bed. I won’t let you dream about anything frightening again.”


    “Thanks, Scarlet... and I’m sorry,” Jessica murmured, lowering her head. “For bothering you with my problem.”


    “Don’t be,” Scarlet said firmly, lifting Jessica’s chin gently. “I’d feel awful if I were the last to find out that you’ve been struggling with this.”


    After escorting Jessica safely back to Hufflepuff’s dormitory, Scarlet returned with a determined expression, clearly having thought of a solution on her way back to her private room. Alexis, who had stayed, noticed her sensei’s unusual serious expression.


    “We don’t have much time before lights-out, and I have class later,” Scarlet began briskly. “I’ll need your help with something. Your suggestion is worth a try - I’m going to create something to temporarily seal her ability.”


    “Me?” Alexis yelped nervously, awkwardly catching boxes of items as Scarlet handed them to her from the enchanted storage in her pendant. “But... I-I don’t really...”


    “I need your microphone, your traits, and your song,” Scarlet said casually but with the weight of complete certainty. “I trust that you can do it.”


    “My... song?” Alexis stammered, fumbling with the items in her arms. But I don’t even know what my song does...! She didn’t dare voice her doubts aloud under Scarlet’s stern gaze. Swallowing her apprehension, she followed her sensei’s instructions to the letter.