Halfway between the Great Hall of Hogwarts and the library, there was a small, tucked-away room. 'The Cozy Haven,' as the students called it, was a special place where the lines between houses blurred. Friends from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and even the haughty Slytherin often met in this neutral territory.
In the center of the room stood an old wooden table, covered with candles that lit up the space around it. In the corner, a small but cozy fireplace crackled, next to a pair of comfortable armchairs. In one of them sat Miranda Ravenclaw, holding a mug of cocoa. She and Hermione often met here to chat about studies, friends, their discoveries, and future plans.
When Hermione walked in, she immediately spotted her friend. Miranda, wrapped in a warm blanket, was staring at the fire dancing in the fireplace and didn't notice Hermione coming in.
"Hi, Miranda!" Hermione's greeting snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Hi, you're finally here!" Miranda said with a smile. "I made us some hot cocoa to warm up."
She pushed the second mug, which was on the table between the armchairs, towards Hermione.
"Great idea. It's freezing outside," Hermione replied, gently blowing on the hot drink and taking a sip. "It seems like winter just doesn't want to leave…"
The friends, as usual, exchanged news, recalled the latest Quidditch match where Gryffindor defeated Hufflepuff, and celebrated Hermione's house's success in the race for the Hogwarts Cup. Their conversation smoothly transitioned from regular topics to summer plans, but suddenly, Miranda brought up something unexpected, squinting mysteriously:
"Have you heard the latest rumors about the Bloody Baron?" she asked in a mysterious tone. "They say he was more furious than ever last night. Some students even think he's decided to mark the arrival of a new century," she added with a playful sparkle in her eyes.
Hermione, shifting her gaze from the fireplace to Miranda, asked in confusion, "Mark a new century? What do you mean? And how is it connected to the Baron?"
Miranda, a bit theatrically, smacked her forehead with her hand: "Oh, sorry, my dear. I keep forgetting you didn't grow up among us wizards," she said with genuine regret on her face. "There are many stories passed down among Hogwarts students from generation to generation. We grow up with them, absorbing them like mother's milk, and sometimes forget they aren't as obvious to others."
"So, what's so special about the Bloody Baron?" Hermione decided to cut off the explanations.
"According to one legend," Miranda began, as if telling a fairy tale, "once a century, the Bloody Baron is overcome with an irresistible urge to take someone's life. And until he finds his victim, he cannot be calmed."
"Do you mean... kill a person?" Hermione's voice trembled with surprise. "...or kill another ghost?"
"If it were only about ghosts..." Miranda spoke even more mysteriously. "The legend says that at these moments, the Baron gains the power to take a student's life. No one and nothing can stop him."
"But how is that possible?" Hermione's eyes widened with amazement. "Wouldn't the Headmaster and the teachers..."
"It's just a legend, Hermione," Miranda laughed. "Hogwarts is full of such stories. If you believed every one of them, no one would dare stay here."
Hermione's face relaxed, and a spark of curiosity flickered in her eyes.
"Miranda, tell me more legends. I want to know everything so that no story catches me off guard."
"Everything is too much," her friend said softly, "but I can share some of them with you." Her gaze grew distant, as if she were transported to another time. "Have you ever heard of the Green Cloak?"
Hermione shook her head, and Miranda continued:
"Among the green shadows of the Forbidden Forest, something extraordinary hides. The Bog Verdilisk—mystical creatures, masters of camouflage, whose poisonous spit can be a death sentence for an unwary traveler. Their home is the deep marshes, where they reign, immune to even the most powerful magic."
Tucking her legs under herself and settling more comfortably in the armchair, Hermione listened to her friend, trying not to miss a single word.
"The legend of the Green Cloak says," Miranda continued, "that wearing it makes a person indistinguishable from a Bog Verdilisk, gaining all its incredible abilities. But if you stay in the cloak for too long, you risk remaining in the form of this creature forever, even if you take off the cloak."
"But why take such a risk?" Hermione asked, puzzled. Even in legends, she looked for logic.
Miranda squinted, smirking slightly, and explained, "Bog Verdilisks are immune to regular magical effects. Their power and stealth make them almost invincible and extremely dangerous. Even a great wizard like Dumbledore would find himself in trouble in their territory—the swamps."
"Power and stealth? So, they're perfect for a surprise attack?" Hermione realized, impressed. "And they stay invulnerable to their victim's magic?"
"Exactly," Miranda confirmed. "Using the Green Cloak is very risky, but it also gives you incredible power. It's a temptation for those seeking strength beyond the ordinary."
"But it's just a legend, right?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"The Green Cloak, yes. But the Verdilisks are real and very dangerous," her friend clarified.
"That's incredible!" Hermione exclaimed with excitement in her voice. "There's so much interesting stuff in the magical world... I want to know everything." There was a mix of regret and impatience in her eyes. "But you promised to tell me more legends, and there are so many..." she finished, waiting expectantly for an answer.
"Of course, there's the Legend of the Chamber of Secrets. They say it's hidden somewhere in Hogwarts and houses a dangerous creature that comes out from time to time to... well, you know."
"Killing students again?" Hermione guessed, sounding disappointed. "Do all the legends have to be so grim?"
Miranda laughed lightly and replied, "Unfortunately, drama and danger often make stories more memorable. But not all of them are like that. There are others, like the Vault of Time."
"The Vault of Time?" Hermione leaned forward, intrigued. "What's that?"
"Rumor has it that there's a place in Hogwarts that exists outside of time. From there, you can observe any moment in history. According to the legend, it was created by Rowena Ravenclaw, who was fascinated by time magic."
Interest appeared on Hermione's face. After the events at the Christmas fair, her fascination with time magic had grown. But in the Hogwarts library, she hadn't been able to find anything about it.
"Time magic? I've read about wizards trying to master time magic, but I've never heard of any real achievements in this area."
"These stories are just rumors," Miranda said, her voice a bit disappointed. "And, of course, no one has ever found the Vault of Time. The legend has a convenient explanation for that: you can observe time from there, but you can't leave it." Miranda smiled apologetically, as if she felt responsible for the mysterious properties of the Vault of Time. "So, it's just another legend."
Hermione was silent, staring into the dancing flames of the fireplace. Her eyes reflected a storm of emotions, and Miranda sensed that her friend was hesitating before sharing something personal. Finally, summoning her courage, Hermione spoke a bit uncertainly:
"You know, Miranda? I think I might have affected time once." Her voice hung in the air, as if she didn't quite believe her own words.
Intrigued, Miranda leaned forward. "How?" she asked, a bit skeptically.
"It was before I knew about the world of magic. During a math lesson in a Muggle school, the teacher handed out tests, and I... I finished all the tasks really quickly. When I handed my paper back, she looked at me so strangely, asking where I got the answer sheet. It turned out that less than a minute had passed since she'd given out the tests…"
Miranda looked at Hermione, her eyes wide with surprise and admiration.
"I went through a real nightmare after that," Hermione continued, her face darkening with the memory. "Everyone thought I had stolen the tests from the teacher's office. Even my parents doubted me... Now I think that maybe I just stopped time or somehow slowed it down."
Miranda seemed impressed by her friend's story.
"That's incredible, Hermione. If it's true, you might really have unique abilities. It's a very rare gift; very few wizards are supposedly able to do such a thing... and all of it is unproven rumors."
Hermione, her cheeks flushed from Miranda's compliment, felt both encouraged and embarrassed. She decided to steer the conversation back to the safer topic of legends.
"But let's get back to the legends. What else did you want to tell me?"
Miranda, smiling, got the hint and enthusiastically began a new story, helping Hermione move on from the embarrassing subject.
"There's a story about the Hall of Illusions. They say it's another room in Hogwarts, but no one knows where it is. Those who enter find themselves in a huge world of illusions. According to the legend, no one has ever managed to escape, getting lost among the deceptive visions and eventually perishing there."
"Not much imagination with the endings," Hermione noted thoughtfully, already a bit skeptical about such grim tales.
"Or there's the legend of the Phantom Choir," Miranda continued.
"Ghosts who sing?" Hermione couldn't help but smile, picturing the scene in her head.
"Yes, according to the legend, there's an ancient dungeon at the heart of Hogwarts that hasn't seen living students for centuries. They say that every midnight, the Phantom Choir of former students and teachers gathers there, singing about the school's past. But anyone who hears their song is doomed to share the fate of one of these ghosts..."
"Yeah, quite predictable," Hermione commented with irony.
And yet, despite the simplicity of some legends, they ignited in her an insatiable desire to uncover all the secrets of the magical world.
"Legends... they don't just come out of nowhere. There's a grain of truth behind each one, isn't there?" she said, suddenly looking at her friend.
"Maybe," Miranda replied thoughtfully.
***
"Today, there will be a meeting of the Relicium Club," McGonagall informed Hermione at the end of Transfiguration class. The news was quite unexpected. At the last meeting, when they finished working on the Search Sphere, Dumbledore had announced that there would be no more gatherings this year.
Interested club members started gathering a little before the scheduled time, wondering why this unscheduled meeting had been called. The table they had used in previous meetings was gone, and all the chairs were arranged in a circle, suggesting a discussion rather than work on a new artifact. Many of those present whispered, casting glances at Hermione and Elliot.
When Dumbledore entered the room, the whispers immediately stopped. He greeted the students with a smile and slowly took his seat. His gaze swept over the gathered students, as if evaluating each one before he began to speak:
"You're probably wondering why I've called you here. We've finished the Search Sphere, and there's no time left for another major artifact. In addition, with the upcoming exams, you should be spending almost all your free time preparing for them. At least, I expect serious preparation from each of you for the exams."
He smiled slightly and gave everyone a keen look. Some nodded in agreement, while others awkwardly looked away.
"Alright, I won't beat around the bush and won't keep you long. You've probably guessed that this meeting is about the events from two weeks ago and the temporary disappearance of the Search Sphere from the club."
The club buzzed with chatter. Many had heard Elliot's version, but no one took it seriously since no one else could confirm the Sphere's disappearance.
"Yes, yes. The Sphere did indeed go missing…"
Hermione froze in fear. At first, she worried about being punished for her late-night trip to the library and for 'borrowing' the Sphere. But after talking with McGonagall, she had calmed down, and the events of the past few days had pushed those worries out of her mind. However, Dumbledore had brought it up again. Many of those present looked at Hermione with interest after his words.
"I won't go into the details of what happened," the professor continued, "but I want to emphasize two key principles. The first is the trust between teachers and students. It is the cornerstone of your education at Hogwarts. If you have questions or problems, it's important to seek help rather than finding ways around the rules. In our school, we value openness and honesty. Unlawful actions not only undermine our community but can also lead to unpredictable consequences."
As he said this, he fixed his gaze on Hermione. She felt many others also turn to look at her. Her face flushed, but summoning her courage, she looked directly into Elliot's eyes, who was watching her with an unmistakable challenge.
"Professor, what exactly happened to the Search Sphere?" shouted one of the students.
"Yes, we've heard so many rumors! Who stole it?" another chimed in.
"What happened that night?" the students clamored. Everyone was eager to hear the truth from the source.
Dumbledore, staying calm, raised his hand and called for silence.
"I understand your curiosity and excitement about this matter, but I don't think it's right to discuss the details publicly. All I can say is that the Sphere did indeed disappear from the room for a short time, so Mr. Grimm was absolutely correct in his claim."
Elliot beamed at these words. For the first time, someone had confirmed his version of events. Not just someone, but the headmaster himself. He shot a triumphant look at Hermione, barely able to contain himself from speaking out. At that moment, Dumbledore continued.
"But it's equally important to maintain trust and understanding among the students," his voice was firm and convincing. He fixed his gaze on Elliot, as if trying to make sure he understood. "At Hogwarts, we don't just teach you magic. We strive to create an atmosphere where each of you feels like part of a big, supportive family. Helping each other is the foundation of our community. If someone needs help, we help. If someone achieves something, we celebrate with them. There's no room for envy, malice, or betrayal at Hogwarts. Understanding and respect are the keys to true strength and wisdom."
Dumbledore paused, giving the students time to absorb his words. But the silence was suddenly broken by Elliot:
"Professor! So, if someone breaks the rules, we should support them? Like, help them steal the Sphere and go searching for something in the library? Is that right?" he said, glaring at Hermione.
"That's not what I meant, Mr. Grimm!..." Dumbledore began.
"I want to hear the truth about that night from Hermione!" Elliot interrupted, clearly unstoppable now.
"Elliot, maybe you should stop? What does Hermione have to do with this?" Casper tried to defend her, but Hermione was already furious with Elliot. Besides, in her discussions with Harry and Ron, they had concluded that Elliot was the League of Light's agent at Hogwarts. She wasn't about to let him get away with this.
"Why not? Let's talk about that night!" Hermione said sharply. "Maybe someone in this club decided to serve an illegal organization and set this all up? Any idea, Elliot? Who's that pale-faced creep to you? Been with the League for long?" she shouted.
"What are you talking about?! What league? You're just trying to avoid answering!" Elliot's face twisted with anger.
Dumbledore, with a furrowed brow, closely watched the two students, not intervening, just like most of the others present. Only Honeydew tried to ease the tension:
"Hermione, Elliot, what are you saying? Settle down!"
But they ignored him.
"Don't pretend you have nothing to do with this! Your goal is to destroy me, and you know it! You think Muggle-borns shouldn't be at this school, right? Isn't that it?!" Hermione, losing her temper, glared fiercely at Elliot. The shocked students could only look from one to the other.
"You're right about that! Especially not ones like you! Thief!" Elliot shouted, his voice full of rage.
"Elliot! How dare you say that?!" Casper yelled, jumping up from his seat. "I won't let you!"
"Quiet!!!" Dumbledore suddenly boomed. "This is not the place for such accusations and disputes. You both will go to your heads of house, and we will discuss this in a more appropriate setting. Miss Granger, your accusations are very serious! I will not allow any student to be accused of involvement in illegal organizations without sufficient evidence!"
"But..." Hermione began.
"Do you have any?!" the headmaster continued in the same stern tone, glaring at her.
After a moment of silence, Hermione lowered her eyes and shook her head. All her suspicions were based on things she couldn't share with the headmaster or her head of house. And she had no solid proof—just conclusions she had drawn.
"Mr. Grimm, did you catch Miss Granger stealing?" Dumbledore asked him sternly.
"No," Elliot said quietly, lowering his head.
"You both will go to your heads of house today. If you can't prove your accusations, you will be punished! This meeting is over!" With that, Dumbledore quickly left the room.
Elliot shot Hermione an angry look and also quickly left.
"Don't be mad at him, Hermione," Casper tried to calm her down. "I'm sure you'll sort it all out. Elliot's not a bad person."
"You don't understand anything!" Hermione snapped, frowning, and headed for the door. Casper hurried after her.
"Maybe. Do you want to explain what happened? I won't tell anyone, I promise!"
For a moment, Hermione paused, but then she shook her head.
"No, Casper, sorry. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just too personal. Maybe later."
Hermione left the room and ran to her friends. She had no idea what made her so angry and didn't know what to say to McGonagall.
***
Hermione stood in front of the door, staring thoughtfully at the ornate lion-shaped handle, trying to gather her courage. After the recent conflict in the Relicium Club, she felt like she was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Taking a deep breath, she knocked.
"Come in," came McGonagall's stern voice.
Hermione entered the office. The professor, dressed in her usual strict robe, was seated at her desk in the center of the room. McGonagall looked at her with a serious expression. For a brief moment, Hermione thought she saw a flicker of concern in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared. The head of Gryffindor, peering at Hermione over her glasses, said:
"Miss Granger, please have a seat."
Hermione sat down, trying to hide her nerves. She was doing her best to stay calm, knowing that this meeting could be crucial. She hadn't figured out how to explain her suspicions about Elliot but hoped to convince the professor to at least keep an eye on him.
"Would you like some tea, Miss Granger?" McGonagall broke the silence.
Hermione shook her head. McGonagall sighed.
"Miss Granger," she began, "don't you think you've been visiting my office quite often lately? And not for the best reasons."
Hermione lowered her head, knowing the professor was right.
"As much as I was impressed and inspired by your achievements at the beginning of the year, I'm now equally disappointed by your behavior and the clear decline in your academic performance. Maybe it's time to rethink your priorities? I want to see that brilliant student again, not someone who's constantly breaking rules and struggling in her studies."
McGonagall fell silent, her stern gaze fixed on Hermione. Hermione looked back at her from under her brows, feeling unsure of what to do. Suddenly, McGonagall's strict expression softened, and she spoke in a gentle, concerned voice:
"Hermione, tell me what's going on. Are you okay?"
Hermione remained silent, weighing whether she should mention the amulet. She was almost ready to speak when McGonagall, not getting an answer, shifted back to a more formal tone.
"Well then, Miss Granger. Let's set aside your academic performance for now. Your accusation against Elliot Grimm, claiming his involvement in a certain illegal organization, is very serious. If you have any evidence to support this, please present it now. First of all, what organization are you referring to?"
"The League of Light," Hermione said quietly, still looking down.
McGonagall didn't seem too surprised by the answer, as if she had expected it. She simply raised an eyebrow and asked the next question:
"Alright. What evidence do you have of Mr. Grimm's involvement with this organization? How does it show?"
"The pale-faced man who attacked me mentioned that he had sympathizers at the school and that one of them was a member of the Relicium Club," Hermione replied, still speaking quietly.
"There's a big difference between 'sympathizing' and 'serving,' which you mentioned during the club meeting. Don't you think?"
Hermione stayed silent, unsure how to argue back.
"Alright, let's set that aside too," the professor continued after getting no answer. "Did this 'pale-faced man' specifically mention Elliot?"
Hermione shook her head.
"He talked about things we only discussed during club meetings."
"And what were those?"
"The League of Light and my questions to the professor."
"Can you be more specific? What exactly did he mention?"
"I asked about the League of Light and then about the Sky Vortex."
"About what?" McGonagall seemed unfamiliar with the amulet.
"I read that the League of Light used this amulet against wizards from Muggle families."
"Interesting," Professor McGonagall said, jotting something down in her notebook. It was clear she intended to find out more about this amulet. At that moment, Hermione froze. She had just realized that by mentioning the amulet and the League, she had inadvertently given herself away. She'd asked questions about those topics after Christmas, even though the pale-faced man had attacked her during the holidays. However, it seemed McGonagall hadn't noticed this inconsistency.
"Anything else?" she asked. After waiting a moment for further explanation and getting none, McGonagall continued:
"Alright, let's assume someone in the club is connected to the League, though I'm not convinced—you're keeping too much to yourself, Miss Granger. But why are you so sure it's Elliot?"
"Because he's always trying to undermine me," Hermione replied. "Like that night in the library. And during meetings. I also feel like he's been watching me."
"That's all?"
"Yes." Hermione knew that her words weren't enough to convince anyone of Elliot's guilt.
"Miss Granger, do you realize that your claims are completely unfounded? Even if Elliot is watching you—which, by your own admission, is only a suspicion—that doesn't make him a League agent. I'm afraid I'll have to punish you if you don't provide solid proof soon."
"I understand," Hermione said, feeling resigned.
"Good, I'm glad you do!" McGonagall nearly shouted. "And I expect you to refrain from making such accusations in the future until you have evidence that you're actually willing to share with me!" she finished.
Hermione nodded, feeling lost as she thought about the possible consequences. Her mind raced from fear of punishment to a determination to uncover the truth about Elliot. She needed a plan...
"I have one more question for you, Miss Granger," the professor's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Can you identify if the pale-faced man you mentioned is among these people?"
With that, she spread several photographs in front of Hermione and waited. One of them showed the pale-faced man, smirking as usual.
"Him," Hermione pointed to the photo.
After a brief pause, as if reluctant to believe Hermione's words, McGonagall frowned and picked up the photograph.
"Yeah..." she sighed. "You've really found yourself in a tough spot, Miss Granger. This is probably the most dangerous suspected member of the League. The Ministry thinks he's behind all the recent attacks on wizards from Muggle families. And it seems," the professor sighed again, "you've just confirmed their suspicions."
"Who is he? What does he want from me?" Hermione asked, though she had a pretty good idea why the pale-faced man was after her.
"His name is Thomas Nightshade. He's from America. As for what he wants, I can't say, because I don't know myself. But what's important is that many of his suspected victims have died. He's been accused of multiple attacks, but there's never been enough evidence to prove it. He's very clever. Be careful, Miss Granger! I'll notify the Ministry of Magic. I think they'll need to arrange protection for you outside of Hogwarts."
"Thomas Nightshade," Hermione noted to herself. Finally, her enemy had a name. Now she could try to learn more about him, instead of just waiting for the next attack. Though it was a relief to have a name, the mention of his victims' deaths deeply worried her.
"I think that's all, Hermione," the head of Gryffindor said, sounding a bit distant. "If you ever want to share some of your secrets with me, you know where to find my office."