Hogwarts, Headmaster's office.
Sunlight reflected off the lake streamed through the glass windows and onto the lofty dome of the Headmaster's office, forming rippling waves of light across the painted ceiling and making the room as bright as outdoors.
Inside the office, Fawkes rested in its brazier, snoring softly. Deep in slumber, it occasionally let out a few crisp, pleasant cries.
On the wall behind the desk, apart from Headmistress Delores Umbridge, who had gone to St Mungo's to oversee treatment, all the other headmasters remained in their portraits.
Even some long-departed former headmasters, who spent most of their time asleep, had opened their eyes for once. They put on their reading glasses and studied the four legendary magical artifacts on the slender-legged desk with reverence.
Godric Gryffindor's Sword.
Salazar Slytherin's Locket.
Ravenclaw's Diadem.
Hufflepuff's Cup.
Bathed in the rippling light cast down from the dome, the four gleaming treasures radiated an air of mystery.
Clang—
Somewhat unwilling to accept the outcome, Amosta flicked the Hufflepuff's Cup he had only just acquired. Its hollow tremor stirred a resonance in the other three treasures, which began to quiver faintly as well.
Amid the mingled vibrations, there seemed to be a trace of joy, as though these four highly spiritual legendary treasures had recognized one another.
But after a long while, when the trembling finally subsided, the four treasures still lay quietly on the desk, unchanged.
Amosta's disappointment was plain to see.
"Ah, what a disappointing result—"
Dumbledore turned his head, taking in Amosta's expression.
"But I am more curious about what you had expected to see."
"I had expected—"
Amosta rubbed his brow, drew his wand, and conjured himself a high-backed armchair. After slowly sitting down, he let out a long breath and murmured,
"That the four great founders would step