“Are you sure we should tell Professor Snape about it?” Jessica asked hesitantly as they approached the dungeon corridor.


    Scarlet nodded with a reassuring smile. “He’s your mother’s friend, Jessica. He cares about you, and I think you know how much he values your skill. He’s been teaching you more about potions while you’ve been helping him prepare ingredients, hasn’t he? Not many people get a chance like that. A Potions Master – let alone someone as precise as Professor Snape – doesn''t just ask anyone to assist him. You must’ve impressed him with your brewing talent for him to even consider testing you.”


    “Really?” Jessica’s eyes brightened. “Most students don’t like him, but... I think he’s a good professor. Strict, but good. I really hope I can pass his test and become his assistant.”


    “Then you’ll need to keep putting in effort during the extra lessons he’s giving you,” Scarlet said, her tone encouraging. “But to help with that, he needs to know about your situation. How was your sleep last night?”


    Jessica thought for a moment. “I think I dreamed about something, but I can’t remember anything - even the dream about the Chimaera feels so fuzzy now... Is that what the blindfold was supposed to do?”


    “Exactly,” Scarlet nodded. “I charmed it to help you sleep better and blur your memories of the dreams you had. You’ll forget most of them, and even if you remember something, it’ll eventually fade away. You’re too young to deal with such vivid visions just yet.”


    Jessica mulled over this. “But I’ll still need to adjust when I’m older, won’t I? Like how the dreamcatcher didn’t work this time – eventually, the blindfold might stop working too?”


    “Maybe.” Scarlet admitted, her expression clouding slightly. She didn’t want to dwell on the idea of Jessica fully embracing a Seer’s ability someday. Having visions of the future was never easy, and Scarlet wasn’t sure if Jessica would be ready to bear such a burden.


    The two girls lapsed into silence as they reached Professor Snape’s office. Scarlet knocked firmly on the door, and after a curt response from inside, they entered.


    Professor Snape was bent over his desk, meticulously brewing a potion. He glanced up, his dark eyes narrowing slightly when he noticed Jessica standing beside Scarlet. Scarlet hadn’t mentioned Jessica in the request note she had sent.


    “Ms. Hong,” Professor Snape began, his deep voice slicing through the quiet, “be certain of the urgency of any future requests. I do not waste my time with trivialities.”


    Scarlet stood her ground as Professor Snape’s cold gaze bore into her. “Jessica has the potential to become a Seer,” she stated plainly, locking eyes with the professor, whose expression briefly flickered with surprise. “I believe this is a matter of the utmost importance.”


    Professor Snape gestured for them to sit as he extinguished the flame beneath his cauldron and set aside the potion he had been working on. Taking his seat, he folded his hands on the desk, his voice low and commanding. “Explain yourself, Ms. Hong. That is a bold claim, and I trust you understand the consequences of wasting my time with baseless assertions.”


    Scarlet nodded, recounting in detail everything Jessica had told her the previous day. She spoke clearly and without adding her own opinions, allowing Jessica to interject with details she could still recall. Finally, Scarlet concluded with an explanation of how she had sealed Jessica’s dream using an enchanted item as a temporary measure to help her forget the troubling visions.


    Professor Snape didn’t storm out of his office in a fury. Instead, he remained seated, though his expression was one of clear irritation. “Lockhart,” he said with disdain, “wouldn’t have the spine to kidnap a student. The man’s far too cowardly for such things.”


    He paused, scrutinising the unsettled girl before continuing. “If Jessica truly is a Seer and her dreams are prophetic, then the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry would have recorded the prophecy immediately and catalogued it into their archives.”


    Scarlet nodded thoughtfully and followed his reasoning. “So, if we could consult an Unspeakable from the Department of Mysteries - and if they were willing to disclose whether a new prophecy has been added – we could confirm if Jessica is really a Seer.”


    Professor Snape narrowed his eyes at Scarlet. “Judging by your demeanour and words before the explanation, you are already quite certain that Jessica is a Seer - or at least has the potential to become one. Her manner of accessing prophecy or foreseeing the future, however, seems vastly different from what I’ve encountered. To others, these might appear to be nothing more than vivid dreams. But you clearly have a different opinion.”


    Scarlet held his gaze, her tone steady. “Because I sensed that Jessica’s soul was shaken.”


    Her words startled Jessica, and Professor Snape leaned back slightly, his sharp eyes locking on Scarlet.


    “But... but I was just dreaming...” Jessica said nervously, her voice shaking.


    Professor Snape, clearly displeased, demanded, “Explain yourself, Ms. Hong.”


    Scarlet spoke calmly, meeting his icy glare. “As you already understand, Professor, I inherited ancient magic tied to death and the soul. This allows me - if I fully focus my abilities – to observe souls directly. However, such focus takes significant effort, so I typically keep a lower perception, using glimpses to read the essence of a person’s soul, such as its colour, which reflects their personality and emotional state.”


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Jessica listened in the wide-eyed amazement as Scarlet continued. “Last night, I observed Jessica’s soul when I blindfolded her. I noticed traces of resonance – an impact that had shaken its stability. That’s why she experienced the seizure: her soul was disrupted. The only significant factor that could’ve caused this is the vividly detailed dream she experienced, which clearly didn’t correspond to the present”


    Jessica clutched Scarlet’s arm, trembling and confused, while Professor Snape’s expression darkened. “You have more to say. Get to it.”


    Scarlet nodded, her voice growing graver. “This situation is incredibly dangerous. Jessica’s soul isn’t strong enough to withstand the strain of peering into the long river of time. Our bodies serve as vessels that contain and nurture our souls. When a soul is impacted by external forces, it can fracture, shatter, be warped, or even be forced to leave the body. The soul is delicate and not easily healed. Any disturbance can affect sanity, lifespan, memories, and more. In Jessica’s case, if she gazed too deeply into the river of time, her soul could be ejected from her body, which almost always results in death.”


    Jessica gasped, clutching Scarlet’s arm tighter. “I don’t want to die just because of a dream! I didn’t ask for any of this!”


    “I know, sweetie. I know,” Scarlet said soothingly, patting Jessica’s hand. “That’s why we’re here – to ask for help. Professor Snape will help you.”


    Jessica turned tear-filled, pleading eyes to Professor Snape. “Really?”


    Though his posture remained stiff, Professor Snape gave a curt nod, quickly turning back to Scarlet. “You came with a plan in mind. Let’s hear it.”


    “With sufficient preparation, she can withstand the impact,” Scarlet explained. “Jessica can’t escape the visions entirely, but the blindfold buys us time to prepare her. Her soul needs to be strengthened. She’ll have to practice magic connected to the mind – whether it relates to memories, thoughts, or similar areas – which is part of Defence Against the Dark Arts. Unfortunately, few professors excel in this field besides you and Professor Dumbledore. However, the Headmaster is tied up with numerous responsibilities, leaving only you to mentor Jessica.”


    Professor Snape considered her words briefly before responding. “Fine. She will come to me every night for additional lessons. I will prepare her using my expertise, and I trust you will support her as well.”


    “Of course. She’s my sister.” Scarlet gently patted Jessica’s head, soothing her. The girl visibly relaxed, comforted that Professor Snape - a figure she trusted, having associated his mastery of Potions with the legendary pioneers of chemistry she so admired – had agreed to train her.


    Professor Snape huffed. “Now, let us turn back to what she dreamt. Lockhart would never dare to drug a student, but I wouldn’t put it past him to experiment on animals with whatever idiotic ideas he concocted. While it’s unclear what – or who – he drugged, it seems evident that a Chimaera has entered Hogwarts Castle.”


    His sharp gaze darkened in thought. “The Magical Creatures Reserve falls under the care of Professor Kettlebutn and Hagrid. Kettleburn has raised numerous creatures within the reserve, many of which classified as extremely dangerous beast, meticulously catalogued by Mr. Newt Scamander, the renowned Magizoologist.”


    Scarlet’s eyes widened in terror as realisation struck her. “He’s keeping a Chimaera as a pet?! An extremely dangerous creature within Hogwarts grounds, where students could wander anywhere?!”


    Professor Snape gave a curt nod. “His passion for magical creatures burns brightly, even after losing several limbs in pursuit of it. Rather Gryffindor behaviour, I would say. That Chimaera is the only plausible explanation for Jessica’s vision; smuggling such a creature into Hogwarts from Greece via black market would require connections and resources Lockhart likely lacks - and frankly, I doubt he has the nerve to involve himself with such unsavoury dealings.”


    Scarlet furrowed her brows. “I’ll report this to Professor Dumbledore. Dangerous creatures like that have no place on school grounds.”


    Professor Snape smirked faintly, as though relishing an opportunity to expose a flaw in Scarlet’s reasoning. “You’ll find that rather difficult, Ms. Hong. Caves where Chimaeras nest are known to produce rare herbs used in highly expensive medicinal potions. Hogwarts relies on such resources. You don’t seriously think the school could sustain itself on tuition fees alone, giving how laughably affordable they are?”


    Scarlet froze, stunned by the logic. Hogwarts’s tuition fees were astonishingly low compared to the financial demands she’d outlined though the wizarding news summaries. The truly costly items were school supplies, for which financial aid was available. Had Professor Snape not sponsored Jessica, Hogwarts would have provided support as well.


    Hogwarts was vast, encompassing not just the castle but expansive grounds, the Great Lake, and the Forbidden Forest. Supplies for lessons often included consumable materials that needed frequent replenishment. The school couldn’t rely solely on Ministry funding or inconsistent, sporadic alumni and parental donations. Hogwarts had to have other revenue streams...


    Professor Snape must have been selling potions brewed with ingredients harvested from the Hogwarts ground, likely splitting the earnings with the school. The same probably applied to Professor Sprout with her greenhouse harvests and Professor Kettleburn with creatures raised in the Magical Creatures Reserve. Even part of Professor Flitwick’s research earnings might contribute to Hogwarts’s funds, given his use of the extensive library resources... Thoughts whirled in Scarlet’s mind before she huffed reluctantly. “Well, he could at least ensure his pets stays secure and doesn’t break out of the reserve!”


    “His pets are secure, contained within an enclosure designed by Mr. Scamander,” Professor Snape replied in his signature sneering tone. “However, it seems a simple warning sign - ‘Beware: Dangerous XXXXX Magical Creatures’ - is not sufficient to deter all idiotic individuals.”


    “I’ll remind Professor Kettleburn to tighten the security around his pets,” he said, his tone laced with a menacing threat. Then, softening slightly, he instructed Jessica, “Come to my office tomorrow night after dinner. I’ll have your lessons prepared by then.”


    “Thank you, Professor Snape!” Jessica’s eyes lit up with gratitude. “You’re the best professor in Hogwarts!”


    Professor Snape gave a stiff nod, his features betraying little emotion, before resuming his discussion with Scarlet.


    Eventually, they agreed not to maintain an overly heightened state of alarm before the Christmas holidays, aware that excessive wariness could, paradoxically, create situations aligning with prophetic visions – much like those chronicled in history. Instead, Jessica was instructed to remain with others whenever possible, while Scarlet continued her patrols of the school grounds alongside the Aurors. Meanwhile, Professor Snape collaborated with Professor Kettleburn to fortify the enchantments that kept the magical creatures securely contained in the Magical Creatures Reserve.


    Professor Kettleburn, an energetic old man with a wooden leg, bounded around merrily as he patrolled the Chimaera’s habitat. Professor Snape, accompanying him to gather potions ingredients, raised an eyebrow as he exclaimed with delight, “Oh, you don’t know how thrilled I was to discover that my dear Chimmy is going to be a mother! Her egg is under her careful watch. We’d best steer clear of the cave, or Chimmy might not take it kindly!”


    An egg? Professor Snape noted this detail, storing it for later consideration. Without a word, he continued surveying the reserve, carefully selecting the herbs he needed for his brewing.