Meanwhile, a similar scene was unfolding in another classroom, high atop Hogwarts' North Tower.
The Divination classroom appeared hazy and indistinct, shrouded in layers of milky-white mist.
Professor Trelawney was giving a lecture.
She still wore her disproportionately large spectacles, a light-blue silk shawl, and dazzling crystal ornaments around her slender neck. Her arms and fingers were covered with bracelets and rings as well. With a little more preparation, she could easily have set up a stall in Hogsmeade and made a living as a fortune-teller.
The classroom was filled with the scent of incense and the dim glow of candlelight.
The pale-red flames danced without any wind, mingling with the mist and creating a dreamlike scene.
It perfectly suited the atmosphere of a Divination lesson.
"Come on, begin observing. Look at this crystal ball. What do you see?"
Trelawney gathered all the students around the round table in front of her, forming a circle.
She guided them in a seemingly mystical tone, creating an eerie atmosphere within the classroom.
Her hand repeatedly waved over the crystal ball as though she wanted to touch it, yet she never actually did.
The students craned their necks, trying their best to look as though they were paying close attention to the lesson.
But, honestly, it was still difficult to understand.
"I see clouds."
One student spoke.
"That's probably just the smoke in the room."
Professor Trelawney clasped her hands together and held them against her chest, although the clinking of her rings made it difficult for her to hold them tightly.
She continued, "You must feel it with your heart. Of course, clouds and mist are also common sights, and they foreshadow an unpredictable future."
"But you must observe carefully, dispel the fog, and see the true future."
"And what else, children? What did you see?"
"I saw your crystal ball shattering."
Luna spoke in a sleepy, almost absent-minded voice.
"No, that can't be. My crystal ball is…"
Trelawney patiently began explaining the material and function of her crystal ball.
Then a crisp sound suddenly rang out.
On the table in front of everyone, a barely perceptible hairline crack had appeared on the surface of the crystal ball, which rested on a smooth blue cloth.
Then spiderweb-like cracks rapidly spread across it.
Until, finally, the entire sphere shattered.
Trelawney stared blankly at what had happened, seemingly completely stunned.
The students hesitated, unsure what to say.
"Cough, cough."
One student, unaware of what was happening, coughed several times, probably because the recent cold weather had given him a cold.
The slight vibrations caused by the cough quickly triggered a chain reaction.
The crystal ball, which had struggled to maintain its spherical shape, finally collapsed completely.
It shattered into a pile of glittering fragments that landed peacefully on the cloth, announcing its demise.
Even students who had never properly studied Divination knew that a crystal ball used for Divination breaking was definitely not a good omen.
It was generally regarded as a sign of disaster.
Soon, Professor Trelawney's sluggish senses finally caught up with the terrifying event that had occurred before her eyes.
"A terrible omen!"
She cried out in horror, her eyes wide.
The woman waved her arms and struggled to rise from her chair.
"Hogwarts is about to be engulfed in war and smoke!"
Just as she was about to say more, she suddenly swayed.
Then she collapsed onto the cold marble floor.
"I think we should take her to the hospital wing first."
Luna supported Professor Trelawney with one hand and spoke helplessly.
The group of students hurriedly carried her to the hospital wing, where Fleur arranged an empty bed for her.
"What's wrong with her?"
Fleur asked.
"While Professor Trelawney was performing a Divination for us, the crystal ball suddenly shattered. She said that Hogwarts was about to face a war, and then…"
A Hufflepuff girl quickly explained what had happened.
"Divination often comes at a price. The more accurate and important the Divination, the greater the price."
Compared with the common prejudice against Divination, Fleur showed considerable understanding of the subject.
"Let her rest for a while."
As soon as Fleur finished speaking, Professor Trelawney suddenly sat upright on the soft hospital bed.
"I'm going to find McGonagall and tell her that Hogwarts is about to face a disaster!"
"As long as You-Know-Who continues expanding his influence, Hogwarts will inevitably be targeted sooner or later."
Fleur suddenly spoke.
This was self-evident.
Trelawney's eyes lost their sparkle, as though she were recalling Lord Voldemort's duel with Dumbledore at the Ministry of Magic.
Lord Voldemort's sinister threats echoed in her ears once more.
She screamed.
Then she fainted again.
The teacher who had been behaving strangely was clearly not in a normal state.
After a simple examination, Fleur determined that there was nothing seriously wrong with her and discharged her, advising her to get more rest.
However, Trelawney did not return to her classes.
Instead, she went to Professor McGonagall to explain the future she had "seen."
"Minerva, the situation is very serious now."
"Minerva, Hogwarts is facing a huge crisis!"
McGonagall tolerated her for the first few sentences, listening to her rambling in the office.
Later, however, she simply refused to engage with her anymore.
This professor was always behaving strangely.
At lunchtime, in the staff section of the Great Hall, Trelawney sat some distance away from Professor McGonagall and Flitwick.
"Minerva, there's an aura above your head. That's an ominous sign…"
"Filius, your complexion is just as ominous as Minerva's. You should be more careful lately."
"Oh, I see."
Flitwick responded impatiently, despite normally being extremely amiable.
The first warning had been accepted as a well-intentioned gesture.
But the constant stream of ominous predictions was something even the most patient person would struggle to tolerate.
"Mr. Slughorn, you're in luck. You're going to be safe in the future."
Trelawney raised a hand before sitting down beside him without hesitation.
"Uh… hehe."
Slughorn stroked his beard, neither confirming nor denying her prediction.
"There will be a traitor among us."
Professor McGonagall had just lifted a spoonful of pudding towards her mouth when she was interrupted.
Trelawney delivered the declaration with absolute certainty.
"Sybill, if you don't let us eat in peace soon, the worst thing that may happen to us is indigestion."
Professor McGonagall was furious.
"Prophets are destined to be lonely…"
Trelawney muttered before finally falling silent.
"By the way, where's Severus?"
McGonagall suddenly asked, glancing around at the people nearby.
"I don't know where he is, but he seems to be feeling unwell."
Meanwhile, the person they were discussing, who had only recently recovered from the pain, quickly found the student who had helped him earlier.
"Although I don't want to break my promise so soon…"
"However, this matter still concerns you, Draco."
"Your father is in trouble."
"He seems to have lost something very important to the Dark Lord."
Snape spoke grimly, his dark eyes fixed on his student.
Malfoy's expression was unreadable.
His fingers were clenched tightly as he stared blankly at the table in front of him, which was covered with various utensils.