Frozen by what had happened, the friends stood still for a few moments, staring at each other in horror. Their chances of staying unnoticed were now zero.
"Looks like Snape took measures…" Harry whispered, frantically looking around for an escape.
He even tried to climb one of the shelves, but just then, they heard the sound of quick footsteps outside and Filch's triumphant shout:
"Got you!!!"
Without a word, they hid under the invisibility cloak and froze in the far corner of the open space, surrounded by shelves, even trying not to breathe.
"They're here! They're here, professor! Your trap worked!" Filch exclaimed impatiently and triumphantly, "Caught you, my little darlings!"
"Quiet, Mr. Filch," Snape's calm voice scared the friends much more than Filch's yelling.
"Solutio Vinculum." His voice echoed behind the bookshelves, and they immediately began to slide apart, creating a passage. Within seconds, Snape and Filch entered.
"Lumos," said the Slytherin Head of House.
Everything around the friends lit up with magical light.
"It can't be!" Filch exclaimed, looking around and even glancing up to make sure no one had climbed the shelves, "They couldn't have escaped!"
"Calm down, Filch," the professor said in an icy voice, his gaze becoming hard and unkind. "Stand in the passageway."
With these words, Snape began to slowly move in a circle within the space bordered by the shelves, spreading his arms and trying to feel anything in the air. With each step, he came closer and closer to the friends. Pressing against each other, they tried to quietly retreat along the bookshelves but knew that their chances of evading Snape were nearly gone.
However, just as Snape stretched out his hand and nearly touched the cloak, a loud sound of breaking glass suddenly echoed in the corridor. Filch immediately darted out of the restricted section and, a few seconds later, shouted: "Got you! Stay where you are!" and rushed after his target. Snape, casting one last glance around the room, quickly followed Filch, missing the hiding students by mere inches.
The friends, exhaling in unison, quietly followed and slipped out of the trap. Ron was already imagining how quickly they could get back to Gryffindor Tower, but suddenly Hermione stopped them, whispering:
"Look!"
Not far from the entrance to the library stood Filch and Snape next to a large broken vase, and standing beside it with his head lowered was... Elliot Grimm.
"What is he doing here?" Hermione whispered in surprise.
At that moment, Snape asked Elliot the same question. The Slytherin stayed silent, standing still in front of the professor.
"Let me take him to the dungeon; I'll make him talk there," Filch croaked, his face twisted with malicious delight at the thought.
"Leave this to me, Mr. Filch. This student is from my house. I believe he wouldn't want to ruin his relationship with his Head of House by hiding the truth... unless, of course, he intends to leave Hogwarts," Snape said, giving Elliot a piercing look.
Grimm seemed to shrink under Snape's gaze.
"Y-yes, Professor..." he began, still looking at the floor. "The thing is... the Headmaster left us the Seeking Sphere to study. Tonight, Casper Honeydew and I spent all our time before lights out studying it." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Then we went to bed. But half an hour ago, something woke me up, and I couldn't fall back asleep. Something was bothering me..." His voice trembled slightly. "And then, I realized! It was the Sphere! Dumbledore mentioned how rare and valuable it is. Casper and I had joked earlier that if someone stole it, we'd be the prime suspects. Then I remembered Granger showing interest in it... she mentioned wanting to find something in the library."
At the mention of Hermione, Snape's eyes narrowed like he'd found his prey. Meanwhile, Elliot continued:
"I was so worried that I decided to sneak into the club room to make sure the Sphere was still there. But when I got there, it was gone!" His voice tinged with panic. "Afraid we'd be blamed for its disappearance, I headed to the library, hoping to catch Granger... But when I got there, I heard the alarm and... panicked. Seeing you, Professor, and Mr. Filch heading toward the library, I hid behind this vase... then... it just exploded!"
Elliot fell silent. For a few more seconds, Filch and Snape stared at him. Filch's gaze was openly distrustful and hostile, as usual towards all students. Meanwhile, Snape, pondering the situation, turned and glanced around the library before saying:
"So, you claim that the Seeking Sphere is missing from the club room and Granger is behind it?"
"I... think so," Elliot replied quietly.
"Fine!" the professor snapped. "Let's wake McGonagall and punish that know-it-all!"
As he said this, the professor quickly strode toward McGonagall's room, with Filch and Elliot hurrying after him. Hermione looked at Harry and Ron in fear, unsure of what to do.
"Quick!" Harry whispered. "We need to return the Sphere and get back to our dorm before McGonagall arrives."
Hiding under the invisibility cloak, they ran as fast as they could to the club room. Once there, Hermione carefully placed the Sphere back on the table, and they quickly left. But they had barely moved away from the club room doors when they heard fast-approaching footsteps and McGonagall's outraged voice:
"So, you're claiming that Miss Granger stole the Sphere and was wandering around the library with it at night? And you didn't find her there, nor did you bother to check if the Sphere was actually missing from the club room?! Do I understand you correctly, Professor Snape?!" McGonagall's irritated voice clearly showed how displeased she was about being woken up in the middle of the night. She was not in the mood to be polite to those responsible for this.
"Exactly!" Snape shortly replied, as he also quickly walked towards the club room.
"Faster!" Ron now urged everyone toward the Gryffindor dormitory.
The friends ran ahead, not waiting for the outcome of the inspection in the club room or the end of the argument between the Heads of Gryffindor and Slytherin. Their hearts pounded wildly as they raced through the corridors of Hogwarts and finally entered their dormitory. Quietly slipping into the room, Hermione quickly changed and got into bed, trying to appear as if she was asleep. Her breathing hadn't yet calmed, and she felt each heartbeat echoing in her ears. Almost immediately, she heard voices outside the door.
"I'm absolutely certain that all my students are asleep and not wandering around the castle in the middle of the night..." McGonagall paused for a couple of seconds before adding, "Stay here, Severus, you can't go up to the girls' dormitory."
After these words, footsteps were heard on the stairs, and Hermione heard the door open. She tried to put on a serene expression of a sleeping girl. It wasn't easy; she was still out of breath from running through the castle, and her heart started racing again with anxiety.
From the slight movement of air, she guessed that the Gryffindor Head had peeked in, pulling back her bed curtains. Hermione froze, not even breathing, feeling the professor's piercing gaze. It seemed to her that McGonagall was looking at her for too long, and she desperately wanted to take a breath, but that would immediately attract the professor's attention. Finally, McGonagall stepped away from the bed and left the room, closing the door behind her. Hermione exhaled loudly...
Outside the door, she heard the receding footsteps and then Professor McGonagall's voice:
"Hermione is in her bed," she said confidently, adding, "And I hope that tomorrow morning we see some points docked from Slytherin. I believe nighttime wanderings in the castle cannot go unnoticed, regardless of the reasons behind them."
"Of course," Hermione heard Snape's curt reply.
***
The next day, Hogwarts was buzzing with rumors after the library alarm incident. News about the strange event involving Elliot Grimm spread like wildfire. Filch, the school caretaker, prowling the corridors with a grim expression and muttering threats under his breath, only added fuel to the fire. "I'll find out who did this… I'll catch them, and then…," he would finish ominously, leaving students confused and scared.
By the end of breakfast, the whole school was talking about it. Students gathered in groups around the long tables in the Great Hall, discussing various theories. Some claimed that You-Know-Who had come to the library for books on the dark arts. Others said Filch had single-handedly driven away an evil force trying to raid Hogwarts' repository of knowledge. The stories grew more fantastical with each retelling, sparking everyone's interest. Hermione's name occasionally popped up in these conversations, and she felt curious glances from whispering students.
But the main focus was on Elliot. This was especially noticeable among the Slytherins, who quickly connected the emerging rumors with the loss of twenty points in the house cup competition. Many of them took great pride in Slytherin's achievements and reacted strongly to the loss. One of them was Draco Malfoy, who, sitting at the table surrounded by his loyal cronies, loudly proclaimed:
"Well, maybe it's time to expel this Elliot from Hogwarts? And if not expel him, then at least transfer him to Gryffindor," he said with his characteristic sarcastic smile. "I think that's even worse than expulsion."
Draco's words elicited laughter and approving nods from his companions, who made no secret of their disdain for the other houses, especially Gryffindor.
Meanwhile, the Gryffindors paid little attention to this loud first-year. They were buzzing with excitement too. The news of Slytherin losing points was welcomed with joy, as it put Gryffindor in first place for the House Cup. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were also pleased with this turn of events, but Hermione's happiness was dampened by her personal worries.
"Hermione, we'll come up with something," Harry tried to reassure her, though it seemed like even he didn't believe it anymore.
Hermione shook her head wearily, her face showing a complete lack of interest in anything.
"I feel like we've exhausted all options. All my attempts to find a way to get rid of this amulet and regain my strength... It was all for nothing. We combed through the entire library, looked through every book, but found nothing. Even the Seeking Sphere didn't help..." Hermione trailed off. Then her gaze shifted to Elliot, who was sitting dejectedly at the Slytherin table, away from his classmates. "And I don't understand why Elliot went after us. It was so risky. He wasn't in any danger, unlike me. And he didn't have an invisibility cloak. It's all so strange... though it doesn't matter now, does it?"
Classes that day dragged on like slow motion for Hermione, Harry, and Ron, who were barely staying on their feet from exhaustion after their nighttime adventures. Each lesson felt like an eternity, and they longed for the end, dreaming of rest and sleep. Their distraction and fatigue didn't go unnoticed, especially with Hermione.
In Transfiguration, which was usually one of Hermione's favorite classes, McGonagall immediately noticed her unusual behavior. As the professor began the lesson, explaining a new spell, Hermione, who was normally at the center of attention, seemed distant and preoccupied. She kept catching the intense and assessing gaze of the Gryffindor Head, feeling increasingly uncomfortable as the lesson went on.
When it was time to practice the new spell, Hermione tried to focus. But her wand barely responded to her commands, and each attempt ended in failure. Next to her, Harry and Ron, though struggling, were more successful. Noticing Hermione's struggles, Harry turned to her and shrugged apologetically, understanding perfectly well the reason for her difficulties.
At the end of the lesson, the students began to rise from their seats, gathering their books and chatting happily. At that moment, Professor McGonagall called out to Hermione.
"Miss Granger," her voice was soft but stern, "please come to my office after lunch. We need to discuss some important matters." There was serious concern in the professor's eyes, and when their gazes met, Hermione felt a knot tighten in her stomach.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione swallowed hard and walked out of the classroom, feeling the curious eyes of the other students on her.
In the corridor, Harry and Ron joined her and, noticing her anxious state, began trying to calm her down.
"She'll just ask you some questions! She can't prove anything - don't worry," Ron said confidently, though his face showed his own tension. "Just say that we went to bed at midnight, and you woke up in the morning. You don't know anything; you didn't hear anything..."
Hermione walked beside them, listening and nodding, but their words didn't do much to calm her. It was unlikely that it would be so easy to deceive the Head of House. She knew that Professor McGonagall was not only strict but also extremely perceptive. Images of the previous night flashed through Hermione's mind, and she tried to recall if there had been any slip-ups that could give them away. 'What exactly does the professor know or suspect?' she wondered, quickening her pace down the corridor.
Hermione barely noticed what she ate for lunch. Surrounded by other students, they couldn't freely discuss the previous night's events and mostly stayed silent. However, as soon as they headed toward McGonagall's office, Harry and Ron started trying to reassure her again and gave her advice on how to handle the situation with the professor. As they reached the office, Harry gave Hermione one last piece of advice:
"McGonagall is always fair, and she probably doesn't have anything more than suspicions. Plus, you've always been the best in class and her favorite. Don't worry!"
With this encouragement, Hermione entered the Gryffindor Head of House's office. Professor McGonagall was sitting at her desk, sorting through some documents. Seeing Hermione, she gestured to a chair without looking up from her work.
"Sit down, Miss Granger."
Hermione sat down and nervously waited for McGonagall to finish looking through the documents. All the while, thoughts swirled in her head: 'Should I admit that I was in the library? And if so, how do I explain why?' Finally, the professor put the papers aside, gave Hermione a stern look that sent chills down her spine, and said:
"Miss Granger, I've noticed that your academic performance has significantly declined recently. Your spells, which were once flawless, now seem... well, to put it mildly, less effective."
Hermione, expecting something completely different, almost laughed with relief. Noticing this, McGonagall looked slightly offended:
"Do you find this amusing?!"
"No, no, not at all!" Hermione quickly composed herself. "Professor, I... I don't know what to say. I'm trying my best."
"That's strange, Miss Granger," McGonagall continued, still staring at her intently. "You used to be one of the most talented students. But lately... And it's not just me who has noticed this; other teachers, like Professor Flitwick, noticed it too."
Hermione sat silently, thinking about how to respond. The professor continued:
"Could it be related to your new friends? Potter and Weasley? I can't help but wonder if this is affecting your academic performance."
Hermione looked at the professor in surprise.
"You think my friendship with Harry and Ron is affecting my performance?"
"I'm not saying it's a fact, but sometimes friendships can distract from studies, Miss Granger. I believe your focus on your education should remain a priority."
"I think they don't negatively affect me. On the contrary, I help them with their studies and try to improve their results."
"Excellent, Miss Granger," McGonagall said with a smile, "then I have just one more question." After a brief pause, she asked, "Could your late-night visit to the library have anything to do with your clearly declining academic performance?"
The professor's gaze focused on her, ready to catch any lie. Hermione, who had just started to relax, felt her breath catch.
"I... I was in my room all night, Professor," she stammered, trying to avoid eye contact and looking into the corner of the room instead.
The question was so unexpected that Hermione forgot all her prepared responses and looked everywhere but at the professor. McGonagall waited another minute, but hearing no more, she said:
"It seems your dreams are extremely realistic, Miss Granger!" The professor's smile turned into a smirk. "Would you care to share what you were dreaming about? Perhaps, Miss Granger, you were diving deeply in water in your dream?" Each word dripped with sarcasm. "So deeply that while I was observing you last night, you didn't breathe even once... And the sweat on your forehead—apparently, just water droplets from your dream? Am I right?"
McGonagall fell silent, staring intently at Hermione, who still couldn't bring herself to meet her favorite teacher's eyes.
"No..." Hermione whispered, blushing. Then tears welled up in her eyes, and she quietly said, "You're right, I was in the library last night trying to find information... about the League of Light..." She couldn't bring herself to mention the amulet.
"About the League of Light?! But why?" The professor's expression immediately turned to concern.
"Because they attacked me at the Christmas fair," Hermione said, still unable to look McGonagall in the eyes. Through the tears filling her eyes, everything around her became blurry.
"Yes, I know. The Ministry informed us about the attack. But why would you...?" the professor trailed off, looking at the tearful Hermione. Then her face softened. She stood up, walked over to Hermione, and hugged her.
"You poor girl, don't worry. You're safe here. I'll talk to Albus, and we'll see how we can help you. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
Hermione, shaking with sobs in McGonagall's arms, just shook her head. A few minutes later, she left the professor's office with mixed feelings. On one hand, she felt relieved that she had avoided punishment for her nighttime outing, but on the other, she doubted if she did the right thing by not telling McGonagall about the amulet.
Together with Harry and Ron, who had been waiting for her, Hermione walked a little away from the Head of House's office and sat on a bench by the window. She lowered her head wearily and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. Her friends sat down beside her, anxiously waiting for her to share the news. Finally, Hermione opened her eyes and told them everything about her conversation with McGonagall. Harry and Ron occasionally interrupted with exclamations.
When she finished, Hermione fell silent. She had no idea what to do next. More than anything, she just wanted to sleep. Suddenly, an owl landed on the bench beside her. It held a small note tied with a neat ribbon. Hermione looked around in surprise. Harry and Ron just shrugged, so she untied the note from the owl's leg, unfolded it, and read:
Essence of the Sky Vortex. Recipe.
To prepare the essence, you will need the following ingredients:
Charged amulet Sky Vortex Unicorn milk – 20 drops Dragon Blood of two true wizards, 10 drops each
Preparation method:
Using dragon fire, melt the amulet. Add the unicorn milk to the molten mix and stir well until the mixture turns a bright golden color. Let it cool to room temperature, then mix in the blood of two true wizards. Stir well until it turns emerald green. Let the mixture stand for at least three days. After that, your potion will be ready for use.
Effect:
The energy stored in the amulet will transfer to the wizard who consumes the potion.
At the bottom of the note was a simple signature: "Friend."