With Sophia

Lucretia couldn't help but take another look before Sophia closed her sketchbook, the portrait of the giant chieftain lifelike.

"Professor Binns didn't mention these details. Especially the expression on his face... such deep sorrow, not like the savage, bloodthirsty creature in the textbook."

Sophia's voice grew softer, her gaze drifting into the distance: "Because he wasn't. His name was Gram, the chieftain of the Skall Clan. His people guarded that forest for generations until the Ministry of Magic enforced the relocation order..."

Her fingers lingered on the portrait, as if caressing a real person.

"The forest was burning, and Gram tried to save the ancient sacred tree, but it was too late. Flames consumed everything, even the air was crying."

She pointed to the stone pendant on the giant's neck in the painting.

"That pendant was a gift from the forest elves to his ancestors, representing the duty and honor of a guardian. But he failed... he couldn't protect anything."

Lucretia looked at Sophia's pale face and gently took her hand: "Did you... see all of this?"

A wry smile flickered across Sophia's face, and she nodded.

Lucretia bit her lower lip and thought for a moment: "There's still some time before the next class. Shall we go sit in the garden for a while first? Sunlight and fresh air are good for headaches, and the History of Magic classroom is too stuffy."

Sophia nodded gratefully. The two tidied their bags and left the classroom.

The September sun streamed warmly into the Hogwarts courtyard.

Lucretia pulled Sophia to sit on a stone bench next to the herbology greenhouses.

The fragrance of flowers and plants wafted around them, and these plants seemed particularly vibrant next to Lucretia.

"Feeling any better?"

Lucretia watched Sophia close her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

Sophia replied softly, "Yes, much better. Sometimes these echoes are too strong, like those emotions pouring directly into my head..."

Lucretia nodded in understanding: "It's like how sometimes the feelings of plants are too strong and make me dizzy. I can feel their vitality, their needs, sometimes even their... memories."

Sophia opened her eyes and looked at her curiously: "Memories?"

Lucretia looked at an ancient oak tree: "Yes, especially those trees that have lived for many years. They record everything that happens around them, stored in their growth rings, like a living history book. Sometimes I can feel the seasons they've seen, the storms they've weathered, even the laughter of children playing at their roots."

Sophia nodded, looking at Lucretia's hands.

"Perhaps our abilities aren't so different after all... the echoes I receive from people and objects, the memories you perceive from plants... we are both listening to the stories of this world, just in different ways."

Both fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.

Sophia opened her sketchbook and gently ran her fingers over the portrait of the giant chieftain, then she turned to another page.

This painting was completely different from the previous giant.

The lines were hesitant, the details blurred, as if the artist was unsure whether to draw it.

The painting depicted the back of a woman, her long hair scattered in the wind, but her outline seemed to waver on the paper.

Lucretia leaned closer: "Who is this?"

Sophia's voice was very low: "Professor Sheffield. But not as she is now... a fragment of the past."

"Where is she? Is that... the forest? Is she on an Auror mission?"

Sophia pointed with her charcoal pencil to a small circle on the woman's neck in the painting.

"A forest, and she's standing there... I can always see that necklace, very clearly. But everything else... what she's doing, who she's with, is all hazy, like looking through fog. Only the emotions are clear. Sadness... and deep regret."

Lucretia asked softly: "Do you really believe she has... that kind of secret?"

Sophia pondered for a moment, then slowly closed her sketchbook.

"Everyone has secrets, Leia. And some secrets carry a weight that people bear for a lifetime. I don't know what Professor Sheffield's secret is, but I can feel that it's related to her special attention towards us."

The distant bells chimed, reminding students that the next class was about to begin.

They stood up and walked towards the castle.

Lucretia flipped through her schedule: "We have Defense Against the Dark Arts class soon. Maybe we can discreetly check if Professor Sheffield is actually wearing that necklace?"

Sophia smiled thoughtfully: "If she is wearing it, she'll definitely hide it under her collar. But... I think you can also sense something different in her teaching style, right? She doesn't just focus on books and theories like other professors."

Lucretia nodded cautiously, not revealing what Little Barty had mentioned in his letter: "She does emphasize practical application and adaptive thinking more."

Sophia said softly: "Like Professor Binns' lecture on the Giant Wars today. Those Ministry officials were too focused on rules and procedures, which ultimately led to a tragedy that could have been avoided. Sometimes, intuition and understanding are more important than fixed strategies."

Lucretia and Sophia walked along the third-floor corridor towards the classroom.

Sunlight streamed through the tall arched windows, casting bright geometric patterns on the stone floor.

In the distance, Little Barty and Regulus were leaning against a window sill.

Little Barty was looking down, but as if sensing something, his gaze swept over.

Upon seeing Lucretia, a smile immediately appeared on his face, and he waved.

Regulus followed his friend's movement and his previously serious expression while doing homework instantly softened.

He put down his quill pen and also waved at Lucretia.

The two stood up from the window sill almost simultaneously, wanting to talk to her.

This synchronized reaction drew curious glances from other passing students.

Lucretia said to Sophia, "Phi, you go ahead and grab a seat. I need to say a few words to them."

Sophia nodded quietly, "Okay, see you in class."

Regulus closed the notebook in his hands, a quill pen still tucked between his fingers. "Just finished Magic History? Did Professor Binns cover anything today that could keep you awake?"

Lucretia's eyes lit up, her whole demeanor becoming excited. "The Giant Wars! And the Giant Rebellions and the Migration Act between 1707 and 1720! I found it quite interesting, especially the part about the connection between giants and the natural environment."

Little Barty's eyebrows rose even higher. "Really? Most people start drooling within five minutes, if I remember correctly, Reg? "

Regulus rolled his eyes and slapped the notebook in his hand directly onto Little Barty's face.

The heavy book made a thwack sound. Little Barty clutched his nose and took a step back.

Lucretia laughed at their interaction. "Some giant tribes could sense the pulse of mountains or the changes in forests. It sounds like a form of primal natural magic, doesn't it?"

Regulus nodded. "Indeed, no wonder my sister didn't fall asleep like I did. Ancient magic always has a closer connection to nature. Modern wizards often rely too much on wands and spells, neglecting more primitive forms of magic."

Lucretia thought of the boy who had slumped his head onto his desk and chuckled again. "All those Hufflepuffs fell asleep. Emma did too, but Helena was also very interested in this period of history."

Little Barty gestured vaguely in the direction Sophia had left, his tone becoming somewhat flat. "Speaking of your roommate... how did that potion work out last time?"