The most famous healer-headmistress in Hogwarts history was sitting in an armchair inside her portrait, knitting a pale yellow scarf.
"Yes, Headmistress Derwent." Gerald nodded at the portrait.
"He isn't here yet. You can sit for a while or look around. Albus never minds students touching his things, as long as you leave the silver instruments alone. He hasn't had time to deal with some Dark Magic Objects he got from Knockturn Alley." With that, Derwent lowered her head and went back to knitting her scarf.
Gerald had indeed been intending to do just that.
He had visited the Headmaster's Office several times, but every time he had sat in that hardwood chair under the scrutiny of Dumbledore's blue eyes. He had never had a chance to take a proper look around the room.
He soon noticed the ruby-studded Sword of Gryffindor in a glass display case.
The blade gleamed with a cold silver light. Two thumb-sized rubies were set into the guard, and Godric Gryffindor's name was engraved on the hilt.
The panel also displayed a message at that moment: [Low-grade spirit artifact discovered: Sword of Gryffindor.]
Gerald froze slightly.
It was actually a spirit artifact. This was the first time the panel had rated a magical item as a spirit artifact.
His kirin horn wand and Ravenclaw's Diadem had only been identified as high-grade magical artifacts.
Yet this Sword of Gryffindor was a spirit artifact.
Being rated a spirit artifact meant that this sword was no longer merely a weapon imbued with magic, but possessed some sort of self-awareness approaching sentience.
Perhaps this was also why, in the original story, it could appear of its own accord before someone who needed it.
Gerald reached out and took it in his hand. To his surprise, the sword was practically