"Perhaps you're right," Hermione mused, her thoughts swirling with newfound hope.
"If this spell truly possesses such incredible power, maybe Professor McGonagall will find it in her heart to forgive me," she added with a cheerful tone.
This optimistic revelation prompted Hermione to savor two juicy steaks in quick succession. Later that evening, when Professor McGonagall made her way to her office after dinner, Hermione greeted her warmly and followed closely.
"The Aria of Light holds far more value than I ever imagined. By using it, the authenticity of the parchment is guaranteed, and with the evidence of the cave troll..." Hermione explained enthusiastically, her voice filled with anticipation.
Gandalf's associates were prepared, and Saruman had to keep pace with the strong orcs, she continued, excitement evident in her eyes.
A subtle twitch at the corners of Artel's mouth betrayed his amusement.
The next few days unfolded rather uneventfully. Hermione, in secret, meticulously transcribed the Aria of Light onto parchment and presented it to Professor McGonagall.
Although Professor McGonagall remained skeptical about the stories contained in the parchment, she recognized the immense power of the Aria of Light. In an effort to encourage Hermione, she generously awarded the young witch twenty points.
With the parchment in her hands, Professor McGonagall proceeded to Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore, renowned as one of the greatest wizards of all time, had cast the Aria of Light for the first time, inadvertently depleting a considerable amount of his magical energy. He spent the following week bedridden, suffering from the consequences.
Yet, the Aria of Light displayed astonishing results. It miraculously revitalized the Phoenix Fox, which had been on the verge of rebirth, returning it to the peak of health without going through the usual rebirth process.
Dumbledore believed that this spell might hold the key to curing lycanthropy and the blood curse, though rigorous testing was necessary.
In addition to the Aria of Light, Dumbledore delved into the parchment and its enchanting tales.
Both he and Professor McGonagall shared the belief that the parchment's age exceeded a thousand years. The stories, however, seemed to be an addition—a fanciful backdrop to make the spell more widely known and famous.
Dumbledore, not one to rely on conjecture, consulted his student, Newt Scamander, who informed him that no magical creature corresponded to the immortal Balrog.
"And the so-called cave trolls might well be troll mutants," Newt concluded, a notion Dumbledore readily accepted.
Another week slipped by. After diligent training, Snape's mental state markedly improved, nearly returning to its former state. However, some Gryffindor students noted that Snape seemed even more emotionally charged.
In reality, Snape's initial anxiety had dissipated after the first couple of days, replaced by a newfound sense of relief. He had hoped that this emotional display would lull the puppeteers behind the scenes into complacency.
However, after a week of fruitless searching, the culprits remained elusive, showing no signs of attacking the Philosopher's Stone. Snape and Dumbledore conferred and resolved to continue with their classes, their vigilance undiminished.
After all, it's not a problem to always live in the school doctor's office.
Once again, Professor Snape had missed Harry's presence.
"I heard from the third-year students that Professor Snape started coming back to class yesterday, and the Weasley twins, the mischievous troublemakers, managed to get themselves a whopping 20 points deducted!"
Harry had heard from Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds, that something terrible had occurred in the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Rumor had it that it was an Inferi. Meanwhile, it was said that the centaur tribe and the eight-eyed spider tribe were on the brink of a full-fledged war.
As they sat at breakfast in the Great Hall, Hermione leaned in and whispered to Artel, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern.
Artel listened attentively, his eyes dancing with interest. After they had finished their meal, he reached into his robes and produced an elegantly wrapped small box.
"For you."
Hermione blinked in surprise. "What?"
For a moment, she was taken aback, then filled with a mixture of embarrassment and happiness.
Artel grinned mischievously. "Isn't it your birthday today? This is my birthday present for you."
"Thank you," Hermione murmured, taking the gift with a hint of bashfulness. "Can I open it?"
"If you'd like to keep it a secret, you could go back to the dorm and open it there."
Hermione considered his suggestion, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Then I'll do just that. I'll go back to the dorm and open it in private."
With the small box tucked safely away, Hermione raised her chin slightly and regarded Artel with a shy, lingering gaze. It was a look he hadn't seen before, one filled with gratitude and a hint of something more.
Artel couldn't help but ask, "What's on your mind?"
Hermione turned away, her voice barely a whisper. "Nothing, really. I just... I'm so grateful, Artel. Meeting you here at Hogwarts has been the best thing that ever happened to me."
.....
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