-- Hermione's POV --
After Harry finished filling out his form, I didn't stay in the common room any longer. Instead, I hurried back to my dormitory and threw myself onto my bed.
I can't believe I fell for Ron's words without even realising it. It was all just one big misunderstanding, and although Ron hadn't noticed anything, it was obvious from the look on Harry's face that he had understood something.
Ugh, it's Parvati's fault too. She really shouldn't go around telling people what happens in the dormitory, even if I know she meant well.
Sigh.
No... actually, this is all Extimum's fault. Ever since what happened that time, I've been feeling a little strange now and then.
It's like some kind of phantom sensation that runs through my body, leaving me feeling sensitive and restless. It's uncomfortable. Sometimes it even distracts me during lessons.
The only good thing is that it doesn't happen very often, and it usually comes at night, when the feeling grows even stronger...
Sometimes it's so intense that I end up letting out strange noises without meaning to, and I have to struggle to hold them back so Lavender, Parvati, or Fay won't hear me. Although, after what Ron said, it's possible Parvati already heard something.
Could these still be lingering effects from the Polyjuice Potion? But I really don't want to end up back in the Hospital Wing. At least not for a very long time.
Then again, perhaps it really is Extimum's fault. I've noticed the sensation seems to lessen whenever I'm near him... or maybe that's just my imagination?
Sigh.
I'm honestly confused.
I rolled over on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
«Is there something going on between you two?»
Ron's question echoed through my mind.
Is there?
Our relationship is... strange. We're friends, and I care about him. He's the person I'm closest to, followed by Harry and Ron. Beyond that... I don't know. The way he acts leaves me confused.
His personality is almost always calm and serious, but around women... or at least those closest to him... he becomes completely different.
He's still almost the same person, yet his words and actions become more... how should I put it?
Passionate?
Gallant?
Playful?
Sometimes he says things so sweet they make my heart tremble and refuse to slow down... and his eyes... simply looking into them makes me lose myself before I even realise it. Then there's the feeling of peace that washes over me whenever I'm with him. It makes my thoughts drift, and...
Then there are all the other girls he acts that way around.
Do the things he says to me even reflect how he truly feels?
Is that really what he thinks of me?
-- End POV --
.-.
Near the Black Lake.
Bloom: "Almost... Almost... Just a little more..."
Bloom was sweating slightly as she kept her eyes fixed on Extimum's hands.
Extimum: "Bloom... if you could stay quiet for just a second, I'm sure I'd be able to finish it."
Extimum paused his work to give Bloom a brief glance. She looked so nervous and anxious that it was beginning to affect his concentration.
He was currently inscribing the outer runic system of the amulet and only had one final rune left to write—one he had never tested before.
That meant there was still a certain chance it could explode if it proved incompatible.
Oddly enough, Bloom seemed far more nervous about that possibility than he was. Then again, she was currently hiding behind a tree five metres away while watching him work.
Bloom: "Alright, sorry. I'll keep quiet until you're finished."
With Bloom's promise, Extimum gave her no further attention and focused instead on the glowing golden characters floating before him. They vaguely formed an incomplete circle suspended in the air by magic.
After checking everything one last time, his eyes settled on the empty gap preventing the circle from being completed.
Extimum: 'I hope this works... or at least doesn't explode.'
Moving the enchanted quill in his hand, Extimum traced the final rune in the air and, with a gentle push, sent it into the empty space in the circle.
...Nothing happened.
(XD)
Bloom: "It worked!"
Seeing no reaction at all, Bloom happily flew over to him.
Extimum: "Sigh... Yes."
Extimum looked at the completed runic circle with quiet satisfaction as every rune now shone in perfect synchrony, functioning as a single component.
He had genuinely been prepared to turn and run if something went wrong.
The fact that nothing had happened when the circle was completed meant there had been no incompatibility or dissonance. As long as the runic circle followed a coherent magical logic, there shouldn't be any problems.
Bloom: "Come on, come on! What are you waiting for? Add it to the pendant already!"
Extimum: "Alright. It's not as though the runes are going to disappear immediately."
Even so, he wasted no time. He guided the pendant into the air and directed the runic circle towards it.
Under his control, the pendant gave off a faint glow, revealing a much larger and more intricate runic system, most of whose runes were blurred or impossible to make out.
As the new runic circle approached, it merged seamlessly with the outermost circle of the existing runic system, replacing it perfectly. Moments later, the entire runic system vanished back into the pendant, engraving the new runes into it.
[Runic system: A collection of different runic components that, when combined, form a complex, functional system capable of operating in synchrony to produce stronger or more specialised effects, much like the gears of a clock.
Runic circle: One of the methods of runic inscription that enhances the effects of the runes used by arranging them into a circular structure.]
Bloom: "Excellent."
Seeing that it had integrated perfectly, Extimum allowed himself a faint smile and beckoned the pendant back into his hand.
On the surface, the pendant looked no different. In most cases, changes to its runes were not something that could be seen with the naked eye.
If anything had changed, it was the instinctive sensation that now accompanied holding it. It felt as though all it needed was a spark of magic and intent to react.
The only thing that still unsettled Extimum was that, although he had repaired part of the amulet, the other half remained damaged. Not to mention that its true effect would only manifest once both halves were complete and working together.
The pendant's runic system consisted of two runic circles. Based on his observations and analysis of the runes involved, the outer circle focused on the body, while the inner circle affected the mind.
Although he would have preferred to restore it completely, he had made little progress deciphering the inner circle and had no choice but to settle for repairing the outer one.
[Img]
-- Extimum's POV --
"Alright, now I'll see whether it works."
Bloom: "Wait, wait. Isn't it a bit reckless to try it straight away? We still don't know whether it works, or even what it actually does."
"There isn't any other way. Before that incident, the pendant was little more than an ornament. It only reacted when whatever it was tried to take control of my body. That means its activation depends on a very specific condition—one that, as far as we know, has only ever occurred with me. There isn't another suitable test subject."
"Besides, the only confirmed activation didn't harm me. On the contrary, it interrupted that thing's influence. Even if the reconstruction is incomplete, the most likely worst-case scenario is that nothing happens."
Bloom: "But—"
Bloom was still worried that something might go wrong.
"It's alright. I've already reviewed the runic system, and I understand what it does. Besides, even if something does happen... don't I have you here with me?"
Hearing that, Bloom reluctantly gave in, though a look of determination flickered in her eyes.
Bloom: "Alright..."
I took a deep breath and looked down at the pendant in my hand.
Honestly, setting aside whether it will actually work, I don't even know whether its current state will be enough to achieve anything. At the very least, I'm reasonably certain it won't put my life at risk.
But I can't afford to delay this any longer.
Its influence... is growing.
Changing.
Like a breath against the back of my neck that refuses to fade.
Like a dark claw waiting for the slightest opening.
Small lapses that I can barely keep under control.
Like when I saw Bloom's true form.
What if something like what happened with Hermione were to happen again?
I can't lose control again.
I can't lose myself.
It won't happen again.
I won't allow it.
Without another moment's hesitation, I channelled my will and magic into the pendant in my hand, causing it to emit a faint glow.
** Trink, trink **
A sound like chains lightly rattling reached my ears before an oppressive, all-encompassing pressure descended on me from every direction.
As though gravity—or the world itself—had singled me out.
** Gasp **
The air grew heavy, and every breath became harder than the last. It felt as though an invisible hand had wrapped itself tightly around my throat, leaving only the tiniest gaps through which I could breathe.
Before I realised it, I was on my knees. I could faintly feel the grip loosening as harsh gasps tore free from my throat in a desperate search for air.
For a moment, I thought it was over.
Then, just as I finally managed to draw a full breath, a burning sensation began spreading rapidly and relentlessly throughout my body.
It felt strangely familiar.
Like last time.
But this time it was stronger.
Much stronger.
Had my senses not been so keen, I would have dismissed the bubbling sound of my own blood boiling as a hallucination. But it didn't stop there. My skin also began to grow hot, as though it were being burned... or corroded.
At some point, I could no longer tell whether I was still in pain.
It felt like one last moment of clarity before the fall.
Yet the cold sweat running down my back and across my forehead was the final thing anchoring me to reality.
Then everything became blurred.
I could vaguely hear Bloom screaming, but I couldn't tell where her voice was coming from.
Bloom: "~mum~... ~Exti~..."
*Grrr*
A low, hoarse growl barely escaped my throat as my hands dug into the earth, clinging desperately to my fading consciousness—or perhaps driven by nothing more than an instinct to release the agony consuming me.
And then...
Darkness.
The last thing I managed to think before it swallowed me whole was that putting up a barrier and concealing the area with illusion magic had been a good idea.
...
It's dark...
???: "She's dead..."
It's cold...
???: "Wasn't there any other way?"
It smells...
It smells like blood...
???: "No..."
Whose voices are those?
They sound so familiar...Yet so unfamiliar...Why can't I remember?
Remember...
Remember...
My eyes flew open.
A familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling greeted me as I opened my eyes.
What happened? Did I lose consciousness? Did Bloom bring me here?
But where are we? Where's Bloom?
And... why is it so dark?
It's been a long time since I last saw darkness like this.
Feeling my thoughts becoming muddled for a moment, I took a deep breath and forced myself to ignore my confusion and unease. My mind felt sluggish, and only after a few moments did I manage to compose myself enough to take in my surroundings.
I was in a large, dark room and, judging by the light filtering through the curtains covering the windows, it was morning. Even so, visibility inside was poor.
The only places faintly illuminated were the area beside the window and the space near the closed door, where a sliver of light seeped through.
A slight shiver ran through my body.
It's cold...
Cold?
Why do I feel so cold?
I raised my hand and tried to cast Lumos to light the room, but nothing happened.
I instinctively knew I wouldn't be able to use magic.
Without it, I walked over to the window, intending to pull the curtains aside so I could see where I was.
But when I tried to move them, they wouldn't budge.
They felt solid. Impossible to move.
** Abu... agugu **
Every hair on my body stood on end, and I nearly jumped where I stood as that strange sound reached my ears.
I quickly scanned the room, trying to find its source, but everything remained swallowed by darkness, leaving me able to make out only vague shapes.
I had been certain I was alone.
But without my night vision, it wouldn't be surprising if my other enhanced senses had weakened as well.
The strangest part was that losing those abilities didn't seem odd to me at all.
All I could do was strain my eyes and remain on guard as I searched the room through the dim light.
Or at least I did until I felt a cold breeze brush across my back.
With it came a little more light.
The window had been open, and as the curtain swayed, I caught a brief glimpse of the frozen landscape outside.
It was snowing.
The curtain failed to close completely again, leaving a narrow gap through which enough light entered to partially illuminate the room.
I looked around.
My eyes widened for a moment before narrowing.
I know this place.
I've been here before...
The familiar crimson curtains.
The elegant design of the walls and door.
The style of the furniture...
This room is...
???: "So... what do we do now?"
A woman's subdued voice broke the silence.
???: "Nothing has changed. We'll continue with the plan."
???: "Nothing has changed?! She... my sister is dead! Your wife is dead! Even if we achieve our goal, how can it possibly be the same?! How can you say nothing has changed?! Sniff"
???: "You... do you think this doesn't hurt me?! Do you think I'm not suffering? I... loved her just as I loved you, with all my heart. With every part of my being. None of this should have happened, but... it was her damned compassion. Her cursed... kind heart that made her choose this. If it hadn't been for that, things wouldn't have ended this way."
The man's voice was deep, hoarse, and heavy with grief.
The voices were coming from the other side of the door.
I was certain I had heard them before waking up.
And yet, although they stirred a faint sense of familiarity... They also felt unfamiliar.
Or perhaps... Incompatible.
Ignoring the conversation beyond the door, my eyes wandered around the room in search of the source of the sound I had heard earlier.
I didn't have to search for long.
My eyes eventually settled on a cradle standing in the middle of the room.
For some reason, the mere sight of it filled me with unease.
I didn't want to go near it.
But my feet seemed to have a will of their own, guided by curiosity and an instinctive urge that compelled me forward.
When I finally looked inside...
I froze.
I could only stare with what was probably the most intense expression I had ever worn.
All I felt was a mixture of unease and astonishment at what lay before me.
???: "You killed her!" the woman cried, her voice filled with anguish and rage.
** Whimper **
???: "You know that's not true! It all happened too quickly... it was an accident..."
There was a baby lying in the cradle.
Its pale body was naked...
And covered in blood.
???: "Come here... hold me. We'll bring her back. She'll return. He can do it. I'm sure he can. Once everything is over, I'm certain he'll bring her back because of everything we've done."
???: "B-but... what about the child?"
???: "We'll do what's necessary."
But the most important thing...
???: "But he's her—"
???: "Don't say it! That thing is the one most responsible for what happened, and it's only alive because it's necessary."
The baby...
Looked exactly like me.
** Clack **
The bedroom door swung open, drawing my attention.
But before I could see who those voices belonged to...
Everything went dark once more.
...
I woke again.
Just like before, everything was dark.
But this darkness was familiar.
Clear.
I could see the moon hanging in the sky while I felt the wind and the grass brushing against my skin.
It wasn't cold anymore.
-- End POV –
Lying beneath a tree, Extimum looked around in a daze as the scenes from that dream replayed over and over in his mind.
Bloom: "You're awake?"
Extimum: "Yes. I hope I didn't worry you too much."
Bloom: "Sigh. You really did, though only for a little while. After you lost consciousness, your condition gradually improved, and after some time you simply looked as though you were sleeping peacefully."
Bloom had been deeply worried, and more than a little upset as well, but she had spent the entire afternoon watching over Extimum, giving herself time to calm down while waiting for him to wake up.
"Do you feel any discomfort?"
Extimum: "No. Just a little tired... and confused."
"Do you have the recording of what happened?"
Bloom: "Yes. Here."
Extimum: "Thank you... for everything."
Bloom: "It's alright. You've done so much for me as well."
With that, she flew over and settled comfortably among Extimum's hair.
Extimum took the video camera Bloom had handed him and switched it on to watch the recording.
The camera was one of the few items he owned that did not belong to the magical world, and he only used it occasionally—such as during his first birthday celebration at Hogwarts, when he recorded everyone after they'd had far too much to drink.
In truth, he mainly used it because he had nothing like a portable Pensieve, nor had he purchased any magical device capable of recording events. The camera itself represented some of the finest Muggle technology currently available, and it certainly hadn't been cheap.
There were cameras in the wizarding world as well, but they were far too antiquated and intended primarily for taking photographs, making them unsuitable for his purposes.
Just as he was about to play the recording, however, he suddenly stopped.
Bloom, meanwhile, felt a sudden chill run through her body as the atmosphere around them turned noticeably colder. She instinctively pulled back the hand that had been about to touch one of Extimum's fox ears.
Only after she withdrew did the unnatural cold fade away.
At the same time, Extimum's fox ears vanished.
Extimum: "No."
He said nothing more as he returned his attention to the camera, but the meaning behind that single word was unmistakable.
Bloom merely puffed out her cheeks in a small pout at his cold response, though she didn't say anything.
After selecting the recording, Extimum pressed play.
-- Recording --
Extimum held the white jade pendant in his hands as it began to emit a faint glow.
Once it lit up, he remained perfectly still for several seconds before he began shifting uncomfortably where he stood.
Moments later, he seemed to struggle desperately for breath before clutching at his throat, trying to free himself from what appeared to be an invisible grip.
Bloom: "Extimum? What's wrong? Can't you breathe?"
Bloom flew anxiously around him, examining his condition with unmistakable concern.
She tried helping him with her magic and checked the potions Extimum had prepared beforehand in case something went wrong, but nothing seemed to have any effect.
Only after exhausting nearly every option did she realise that Extimum's suffocating sensation was, in fact, a hallucination created by his own mind.
Although it was causing him some physical harm, he was actually breathing relatively normally.
Even so, that discovery did little to ease Bloom's concern.
Soon afterwards, Extimum dropped to his knees, and his breathing gradually began to steady as he lowered his hand from his throat.
But Bloom had little time to relax.
Extimum's body suddenly began twisting unnaturally as his nine tails and fox ears emerged.
His skin gradually turned a deep, unnatural shade of red, while his nails lengthened and dug into the ground as he fought against the torment ravaging his entire body.
The violent reaction immediately alarmed Bloom.
Though she remained calm, she was growing increasingly anxious because she had no idea what she should do.
Extimum didn't respond to her calls, and she was beginning to consider taking more drastic measures.
Fortunately, she never had the chance.
Extimum finally gave in and collapsed unconscious onto the grass.
That sight left Bloom deeply worried and more than a little distressed, only calming down after confirming that Extimum was completely fine and that, despite losing consciousness, his condition was no different from someone simply sleeping from exhaustion.
After that, Bloom returned to her original form and carried Extimum over to the nearby tree in her arms.
-- End of recording --
Bloom: "You know, I let you sleep on my lap for a while. Did you have a nice dream?"
Extimum: "A nice dream?... I couldn't really say whether it was good or bad. Let's just call it... different. Putting that aside, don't you think it's a little unfair? You only took that form while I was asleep, yet now that I'm awake, I can't see it."
Bloom: "Ah... well..."
Extimum: "Hm? It's not as though I'm going to eat you, is it?"
Bloom: "Hmph. Who's going to eat whom? I'm the older one here. If anyone's going to eat someone, I'd be the one eating you."
Extimum: "Wait... Do you even know what "eat" means?"
After all, Bloom had only been familiar with the English language and culture for a few months.
Bloom: "Aren't you only saying that because you think I'm scared?"
Extimum: "Oh..."
Bloom: "I get the feeling you're not telling me something."
Extimum: "That must be your imagination. Then I'll just wait for you to eat me."
Bloom: "Nom."
Without warning, Bloom bit Extimum's finger.
Extimum: "What are you doing?"
Bloom: "Taking out my frustration."
Extimum: "...Hahaha."
He couldn't help laughing at the sight of Bloom sulking as she stubbornly gnawed on his finger.
'She looks adorable.'
Bloom: "What's so funny? Do you actually laugh when someone bites you?"
Bloom's eyes lit up, her annoyance forgotten entirely. It was a rare enough occasion to see Extimum laugh.
"Maybe... if I bite harder, you'll laugh even more."
She thought aloud and was just about to clamp down harder when—
** Pat **
Bloom: "Ow!"
Bloom gave a little jump after feeling a light smack on her bottom.
Extimum: "That's enough. Don't be cheeky. I wasn't laughing because you bit me. To begin with, who would laugh at something like that? I was laughing because you had such a funny look on your face. "
"We should head back to the castle. It's getting late, and we've been outside practically all day. People might start worrying and think the basilisk got us."
Bloom: "Hmph, alright... but don't smack my bottom. How do you even manage to hit me without sending me flying?"
She asked with genuine curiosity while gently rubbing the spot.
As for the basilisk, Extimum had told her about it quite some time ago.
...
After returning to the castle, Extimum only stopped by the Great Hall long enough to collect a plate of food before leaving without speaking to anyone.
He felt strangely exhausted and didn't have enough energy to talk to anyone beyond what was strictly necessary.
To keep anyone from worrying, he concealed himself beneath an illusion and had Bloom greet the others instead, handing them a small note that simply read:
"I'm fine."
After that, the two of them returned to his room together.
Once they had showered and eaten, both of them quickly drifted off to sleep.
«She's dead. »
«It's his fault. »
«It was an accident...»
«He's her—»
That night was destined to be a bad one for Extimum.
The images and words from that memory echoed over and over through his mind, stirring his thoughts while allowing other persistent ideas to quietly creep back in.
.
Easter break was drawing to a close, and the students seemed reluctant to say goodbye to their short holiday.
Two days had passed since Extimum had partially repaired the pendant.
Sitting beneath the shade of a tree, Extimum allowed his thoughts to wander somewhere other than the book in his hands for the first time in a long while.
The difference had become apparent the very morning after he activated the white jade pendant.
His body felt far lighter.
As though he had cast off a burden he hadn't even realised he was carrying.
On the other hand, the malicious thoughts and impulses had not stopped. If anything, they seemed to have grown even more active now that their advance into his physical body had been blocked.
Even so, his greatest concern—that his body might be taken over—had, at least for the time being, been resolved.
His study of the pendant's runic system had given him a rough understanding of its scope and purpose. He knew that the physical section of the runic system served two primary functions: suppression and condensation.
He had experienced the suppression the moment he activated the pendant.
The magic had suppressed the invading force, which had reacted violently before finally being restrained.
In addition, Extimum had also felt that the suppressive effect had slightly affected his Celestial Fox bloodline. However, that sensation had disappeared when he awoke the following day.
As for the condensation function, he had yet to fully understand it, so he assumed it might simply be a supporting function for the other runic circle.
Even so, Extimum was fully aware that, although the pendant was functioning properly, it was not functioning as intended—only partially. Therefore, it would not be surprising if it were incapable of completely fulfilling its original purpose.
For that reason, earlier that morning he had drawn another small sample of his own blood to examine its condition once again. Just as he had expected, the results confirmed his hypothesis.
The abnormal blood cells were no longer appearing as frequently before being destroyed, and the new ones that emerged afterward no longer seemed as strong as their predecessors.
The stalemate in that war of attrition had come to an end, and the Izorim bloodline was slowly reclaiming control.
For the moment, that outcome was more than satisfactory. Not only had he bought himself considerably more time, but he had also secured a countermeasure that would ensure he would not lose partial control of his body—or, to a certain extent, his mind.
Trudor: "Extimum! Extimum!"
Trudor's voice calling his name pulled Extimum from his thoughts, making him realize that, for the first time in a long while, he had become distracted enough to neglect even his personal studies.
Closing the book in his hands, he slipped it into his enchanted bag.
Pushing himself away from the tree beneath which he had been reclining, he walked toward the open area from where he had heard Trudor shouting.
It was nearly noon.
There was still some time before lunch, and he wondered what Trudor could possibly need that would make him search for him so desperately.
A moment later, as soon as Extimum emerged from between the trees, Trudor spotted him and hurried over. He looked slightly sweaty and was breathing heavily, as though he had been running.
Trudor: "Finally! You have no idea what we had to do to find you. If Steve hadn't thought of asking Bloom whether she knew where you were, we might never have found you. It was a good idea to leave her a note with your location."
Extimum: "Yes... leaving her a note with my location... In any case, why were you all looking for me so urgently?"
Trudor: "Ah, right!"
Trudor: "There's no time, Extimum. Come on, quickly—something terrible has happened."
Trudor grabbed Extimum by the wrist and pulled him toward the castle.
Extimum: "Something terrible? Why all the mystery? Can't you just tell me what happened?" As he followed Trudor, Extimum could not help commenting. If it was truly something serious, why keep dancing around the subject instead of saying it outright?
Trudor: "Well... listen, what I'm about to tell you might be difficult..."
Just as Trudor was about to speak, Steve and Mitchell arrived and interrupted him.
Steve: "You found Extimum. Good. Let's get back to the castle."
Mitchell: "Yeah, we need to get back to the common room as soon as possible. It was hard enough sneaking out here. We were just lucky we didn't run into any professors, or they'd have made us turn back."
Steve: "Right, let's not waste any more time. Did you tell him yet, Trudor?"
Trudor: "No, I was just about to, but... well, you know... it's delicate."
Steve: "Sigh And they say I'm the dramatic one. We're talking about Extimum. Even if you told him the castle was under attack, he'd probably stay perfectly calm." Steve shook his head with an air of superiority, as though he were stating the obvious.
"Listen, Extimum. There was another attack by the monster... and Hermione was one of the victims. She's in the hospital wing right now."
After Steve finished speaking, he, Mitchell, and Trudor all fixed their eyes on Extimum, watching for his reaction.
Even Steve, who had claimed Extimum would probably take the news calmly, had said it more to soften the blow than because he genuinely believed it. After all, Hermione's life was in danger—if she was not already dead.
For that very reason, he too was worried about how Extimum would react.
Yet, to the bewilderment of all three, Extimum showed no dramatic response.
Extimum: "Oh..."
It was barely even a reply, more of a quiet exclamation—and one that sounded remarkably indifferent.
His reaction took the three of them by surprise.
Although Extimum and Hermione's relationship had never progressed beyond friendship, they could still be considered very close friends.
Besides, it was no secret that Hermione received an extraordinary amount of Extimum's attention. Perhaps only Luna could compare to her in terms of the favour and consideration he showed, so they had expected at least a more emotional response.
That single remark could not help but reshape their impression of Extimum, while planting a few doubts in their minds.
Steve and Mitchell, however, quickly dismissed those thoughts. They had never truly managed to understand Extimum and simply assumed he was not showing what he really felt. After spending so much time with him, they could not believe he was genuinely indifferent.
Trudor remained lost in thought for a few moments as well, but eventually recovered.
Extimum: "Thank you for telling me. You should head back to the common room first. I'll go to the hospital wing right away."
Mitchell: "All right. We'll wait for you there so you can tell us how things are. Professor Flitwick is probably waiting until everyone's gathered before giving us an update. We'll fill you in afterward."
Steve: "Yeah. Go on."
Extimum gave a small nod and headed straight for the hospital wing.
Although Extimum appeared to be walking at his usual pace, within seconds he had disappeared into the distance.
In truth, while Extimum had seemed completely detached—almost indifferent—that had only been partly true.
The news itself had not come as a surprise.
He had considered that possibility long ago, and although Steve's words had concerned him the moment he heard them, a quick check through his psychic link had allowed him to sense that Hermione was still alive.
The only difference was that all of her physical and mental activity had been completely frozen.
To be honest, Extimum truly had not wanted her to be petrified, but neither could he deprive her of her freedom or remain by her side every moment to keep her safe. That would have been awkward and inconvenient for both of them.
So, unless he had chosen to confront the basilisk directly, there had never been any way to guarantee that he could prevent her from being petrified—or from suffering an even worse fate.
What if, instead, his actions caused her to lose the good fortune she had been granted?
And yet, despite repeating those very words to himself, the idea of going to kill the basilisk became increasingly tempting the closer he drew to the hospital wing.
In the end, however, someone else would kill the basilisk anyway, and he could spend that time on more productive things.
Still... the image of driving his sword through the basilisk's skull was undeniably appealing...
It would make quite the story.
Extimum: 'Damn this hormonal mind. Since when does killing a basilisk sound so simple? It's not as though I have Harry's absurd luck. To hell with how impressive it'd look. One day I'll kill a great dragon instead, and that should be more than enough.'
Extimum thought with a degree of conviction that surprised even himself.
He found himself wondering whether those intrusive thoughts were influencing his mind more than they should.
Normally, he would never think in such an uncouth manner.
On the other hand, it was not that he feared fighting the basilisk. It was simply that, at this point, he had far more to lose than to gain by doing so.
After all, it was not a genuine threat to him, and whether he intervened or not would not change the outcome.
He could always return later and butcher the basilisk for experiments as revenge for petrifying Hermione.
Shaking off those reckless thoughts, tinged as they were with a faint streak of self-destructiveness, Extimum stepped through the doors of the hospital wing.
The hospital wing was empty at that moment, and there was no sign of Madam Pomfrey.
She had probably gone to deal with something important, and since her only patients were little more than stone statues, she had likely seen no need to leave anyone watching over them.
Walking between the beds, Extimum made his way to a cubicle concealed behind a curtain.
As he looked at it, he could not help thinking how similar the situation was to last time, except that this time Hermione would not be able to tell him not to come in.
Drawing the curtain aside, he found a petrified Hermione lying on the bed.
She had been left with her eyes open and one hand half outstretched. Her skin had taken on a paler, faintly greyish hue, while her entire body radiated an unnatural rigidity.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Extimum sat down beside her on the bed and remained silent.
Extimum: 'How should I handle this? I can't depetrify you straight away. That would be far too suspicious and would raise questions—questions I have no interest in answering. I should wait at least a few days, then come up with a convincing excuse. Perhaps...'
'Should I steal you from the hospital wing and keep you all to myself for a while?'
'Ha, a tempting idea, without a doubt. Hmm... though... perhaps it isn't so unrealistic. I could even leave a substitute behind and depetrify you in my room instead. That way I could do it immediately without causing any trouble... I rather like that idea.'
Just as Extimum was about to act, the hospital wing door opened, followed by a familiar voice.
Pomfrey: "Extimum? Is that you? Sigh You know you shouldn't be here. They sent all the students back to their common rooms some time ago, and for safety reasons no one is allowed to wander the corridors alone without at least one professor."
Extimum: "Oh, then there shouldn't be a problem, should there? You're here with me, Madam Pomfrey. But how did you know it was me?"
Stepping out from behind the curtain, Extimum spoke naturally, brushing aside Pomfrey's reprimand as he discreetly wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
Pomfrey: "That's simple. I've had several intruders in my hospital wing over the years, but apart from you, not a single one has ever taken the trouble to tidy the place up every time they visit."
Extimum: "I didn't expect you to notice something like that. It's simply become a habit... Besides, it's my way of thanking you for everything you've done for me."
Extimum surprised even himself.
Had he perhaps become a little obsessive about order?
In fact, as he had walked toward Hermione's bed, he had unconsciously used wandless magic to return several misplaced items in the hospital wing to where they belonged.
It was something he had often done while helping Pomfrey tidy up, and over time he had fallen into the habit of doing it during every visit.
Even so, he had never paid much attention to it.
After all, it required nothing more than a few waves of his hands, as though conducting an orchestra, and within seconds everything out of place returned neatly to where it belonged.
Pomfrey: "I appreciate the gesture—I truly do—but you should still return to your common room before you get yourself into trouble. For now, I'll turn a blind eye and pretend I never saw you so you can say goodbye to Hermione. Would you like me to escort you back to your common room afterwards?"
A faint smile crossed Extimum's face at Pomfrey's words.
The time he had spent learning from her had brought them surprisingly close, so much so that the normally strict Madam Pomfrey was willing to bend the rules for his sake.
Extimum: "Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I've already finished visiting Hermione, and I don't think the monster will attack me. In any case, I'll be careful."
Pomfrey: "Very well. Just be careful, and don't stray from your way back to the common room."
Leaving the hospital wing, Extimum walked away while two of his tails carried Hermione's petrified body behind him.
Extimum had to admit that, this time, he had truly outdone himself with his Illusion Magic.
He had poured a considerable amount of magic into creating one of the most realistic illusions he had ever produced. It was so convincing that, unless someone actually tried to handle Hermione's body, it would be nearly impossible to realise she had been taken.
The illusion had come remarkably close to crossing the boundary into the physical. It was so tangible that it could be touched, and anyone would have sworn they were touching something real.
He had even managed to place the note the real Hermione had been holding into the false Hermione's hand.
Extimum did not believe anyone would discover the deception. After all, petrified victims were little more than stone statues. They did not need to eat or use the lavatory; all that mattered was making sure their bodies were not damaged.
Even so, he decided he would return to the hospital wing from time to time to ensure the illusion did not weaken. Besides, he had been forced to finish it in a hurry when Pomfrey had arrived.
Extimum: 'Illusion Magic really is convenient. More importantly, I've managed to brush against the boundary of the physical. Until now, my illusions could deceive the senses, but if anyone tried to touch them, they'd be nothing more than smoke. After this, although it takes a great deal of effort, I can make an illusion partially physical.'
As he made his way back to the common room, Extimum found himself in unusually high spirits as he reflected on that unexpected breakthrough in Illusion Magic.
It was important to understand that, before, his illusions could only deceive the senses. If someone tried to interact with them physically, they might feel the illusion at first, but the moment they applied even the slightest pressure, they would pass right through it. They were like bubbles. Now, however, they were beginning to brush against the boundaries of the physical. They were still imperfect, but they could offer a certain degree of resistance to touch.
...
After solving the riddle and passing through the common room door, Extimum was greeted by a room buzzing with activity.
From the sofas to the chairs, and even the staircase, the common room was more crowded than Extimum had ever seen it.
His arrival drew the attention of several nearby students, but they quickly lost interest once they realised it was him.
Meanwhile, Padma, Luna, and Bloom, who were among the students gathered there, came over as soon as they spotted him.
Padma: "Extimum, how's Hermione? Were you able to see her?"
Extimum: "Yes, I was. As for how she is... good? Bad? She was petrified, so let's just say her life isn't in danger."
"That aside, I understand why everyone's been sent back to the common room, but why is everyone gathered here?"
Extimum asked as he looked around at the crowd packed into the room.
The sheer number of people had forced him to keep Hermione's body suspended above their heads to avoid anyone bumping into it. Given how hyperactive wizards could be, even that didn't strike him as entirely safe.
Luna: "Professor Flitwick said that from now on, students have to spend all their free time in the common room, and whenever we move around the castle, we must be accompanied by a professor. Most people are waiting for one to arrive so they can escort us to the Great Hall for lunch."
Extimum: "I see. I'll go to my room to fetch a few things, then I'll be back. By the way, where are Steve and the others?"
Padma: "There were too many people here, so they went back to the dormitory until the professor arrives to take us to the Great Hall."
Extimum: "All right. I'll be back shortly."
Without another word, Extimum headed towards the entrance to his room.
However, when he reached it, he found himself unable to enter because a group of students was leaning against the wall where the hidden entrance was located.
Meanwhile, Bloom had followed him and had already settled onto his shoulder to keep him company. She had spent the entire morning with Luna.
The "secret" entrance was set into a wall near the staircase, and at the moment it was blocked by that group of students.
Extimum: "Excuse me, would you mind moving over a little, please?"
At Extimum's request, the students—who appeared to be third-years—looked at him in confusion.
They had no idea what he meant. As far as they could tell, there was nothing behind them but a wall, and they certainly were not blocking the stairs.
Student X: "You're Extimum, right? What do you mean by asking us to move? Do you need this spot for something?"
Extimum: "Oh? You're Malcolm. I remember you."— A peculiar look briefly crossed Extimum's eyes as he looked at the boy who had spoken — "As for your question... it'll be easier if I simply show you."
Malcolm felt inexplicably uneasy the moment their eyes met.
Even so, the surprise and confusion on his face outweighed everything else when he realised that Extimum knew his name.
Just as he was about to ask how, one of his friends' shouts interrupted him.
** Woah! **
As Malcolm turned around, he saw that two of his friends, who had been leaning against the wall, had fallen backwards onto the floor.
Student A: "Ow. What happened? How did we fall over?"
Student B: "Huh... Look behind you."
As soon as Student B finished speaking, Student A and the other two who were still standing—including Malcolm—turned towards the source of the commotion.
The wall, which only moments before had appeared completely solid and ordinary, had become translucent and intangible, revealing a dark corridor leading to an unknown destination.
Ignoring the students' confusion and astonishment, Extimum continued speaking.
Extimum: "Now that that's settled, thank you for your cooperation. If you'll excuse me."
Extimum walked straight between Malcolm and the other student, who were both still staring in disbelief at the dark passage. He then stepped over the two students lying on the floor and disappeared into it.
The moment he vanished from sight, and just as questions began to form in their minds, the two students still on the ground were pushed out of the passage by an invisible force.
A second later, the wall returned to normal.
The entire incident was witnessed only by the handful of students nearby, along with a few others who had turned at the sound of the boys' cries when they fell. To everyone else, it was as though nothing at all had happened.
Malcolm: "There was something like that here?" he asked, still stunned.
Student A: "Looks like it..."
.-.
Bloom: "Why did you let them see the entrance to your secret room? I'm pretty sure you could've come up with something to make them move, or simply made them ignore you."
Once they were inside, Bloom could not help asking. From her perspective, the whole scene had been completely unnecessary.
Extimum: "Rather, why not? It doesn't really matter if they know this room exists. I don't consider it all that 'secret' anyway. Besides, it doesn't matter. They'll forget about it within a few seconds."
Bloom: "What do you mean it doesn't matter? They could... oh... I see."
Bloom immediately understood what he meant and said nothing further.
"By the way, who was that Malcolm? I don't remember you ever speaking to him."
Extimum: "I never did. I only know his name because I looked into him out of curiosity. Nothing of any real importance."
And it truly wasn't.
The only reason Extimum knew Malcolm's name was because the boy had caught his attention once before.
Malcolm was the student who had been investigating the Love Potion the previous year.
Approaching his bed, Extimum moved the tails carrying Hermione's body and gently laid her on the mattress.
He did not know whether a petrified person could actually shatter like a statue or whether they were completely solid, but he had no desire to find out.
Bloom did not miss what Extimum had done and let out a startled exclamation when he dispelled the illusion concealing both his tails and Hermione's body.
Bloom: "So now we're kidnapping people? Should I start practising my villain lines? 'We have her. If you want her back, you'll have to pay...' Hehehe... All right, don't look at me like that. It was just a joke."
"Is she all right?"
Extimum looked away from Bloom and back at Hermione.
Extimum: "She will be."
With a wave of his hand, the wardrobe door swung open, and a small chest flew out before coming to a stop in front of him.
A single glance from him was enough for the sound of numerous gears turning inside it to begin. Moments later, every lock disengaged, and the chest opened.
Inside was a neatly arranged collection of translucent vials containing a thick, pale green substance.
Taking one of them, Extimum removed the stopper and tossed the contents into the air.
Bloom was about to say something, but immediately noticed that the liquid did not fall to the floor. Instead, it remained suspended, drifting slowly until it hovered above Hermione.
Extimum: "Don't be so alarmed. I have no reason to waste it."
Bloom let out a small huff at his words.
'If you didn't want to alarm me, then why throw it into the air so casually? Couldn't you have done it like a normal person?'
It was obvious he had only wanted to tease her.
Extimum smiled faintly at her reaction before quickly returning to a serious expression. He drew his wand and pointed it towards the green liquid suspended above Hermione.
The atmosphere shifted from playful to solemn as Extimum closed his eyes, held the wand near his face, and slowly began to recite while pointing it at the floating liquid.
"The essence has been lost, yet the flame of life still burns brightly. Let neither souls nor memories be forgotten, for the cold grave still lies far away, and the stony illusion of death is nothing more than a falsehood turned to stone. Therefore, restore the essence and return the living to what they truly are."
As Extimum's words echoed throughout the room, the liquid expanded until it became a cloud of greenish vapour that gradually enveloped Hermione's petrified body before merging with it.
Nothing could be heard except the fading echo of Extimum's final words, accompanied by the faint sound of droplets falling onto the floor.
Tiny drops of ruby-red blood, glimmering with faint golden and violet highlights, trickled down Extimum's right hand before dripping onto the ground.
Bloom felt as though the light streaming through the windows had slowly dimmed, as if dusk had descended ahead of its time and space itself had shuddered ever so slightly.
However, that strange sensation vanished as quickly as it had come, as though it had all been nothing more than a simple illusion.
However, that strange sensation disappeared as quickly as it had come, as though it had all been nothing more than an illusion.
Extimum: "It's done. Hermione should return to normal within a day or two. Though, well, that's only an estimate based on the usual effects, so I can't say for certain."
Bloom: "You looked really cool while you were performing the ritual."
She couldn't help but say it.
Extimum: "Thank you."
In truth, the ritual itself was fairly simple. It required little more than a small blood sacrifice; a single drop was enough, at least when that drop came from Extimum. According to his research, however, this method yielded better results than the conventional procedure for reversing petrification.
To a certain extent, it guaranteed a faster and more complete recovery.
As the greenish gas dissipated, the tiny drops of blood that had fallen to the floor vanished as well.
After finishing there, Extimum left the room together with Bloom. Once outside, he confirmed that the students from earlier had already gone, allowing him to leave without any trouble.
He had used a small Legilimency trick combined with a compulsion to make them forget what had happened and move away.
Thinking it over, Extimum couldn't help but feel that what he had done was, to a certain extent, morally questionable.
Although he had a certain degree of mastery over Legilimency, it was still a dangerous art to practise so casually. While that little trick would cause no harm, it was precisely the ease with which he had used it that unsettled him.
He had already crossed the line of taking a life, and manipulating people was not a mindset far removed from that of his family. Even so, he still retained a reasonable respect for life and was not particularly fond of toying with it unless it involved his enemies.
For that reason, a silent warning bell rang in the back of his mind.
On the other hand, he wasn't worried about Bloom thinking poorly of him. She rarely questioned his decisions beyond concern or simple curiosity.
After leaving, they did not go straight to meet up with Padma and Luna. Instead, they headed to the dormitory where Steve, Mitchell, and Trudor were.
The Ravenclaw dormitories were generally quite spacious, much like those in Slytherin, so rooms with bunk beds were exceedingly rare, if they existed at all. It wasn't something Extimum had ever bothered to find out.
Upon entering, he found Steve and Mitchell playing cards on one of the beds while Trudor was drawing something in a notebook.
Mitchell: "And I win."
Steve: "Damn it. Why do you always win whenever we play cards?"
Mitchell: "Hehehe, it's a talent. Well, that and the fact that if you want to avoid milking my family's goats, you'd better learn how to play cards properly."
Trudor: "What's so bad about milking a few goats? I imagine it's quite simple."
He asked without looking up from his drawing.
Mitchell: "No, no, you don't get it. They're not ordinary goats. They're one-eyed goats that breathe fire through their noses. They're terrifying. I don't even know what species they are, but I hate it whenever I have to milk them while I'm home. If their milk didn't sell so well, I wouldn't go anywhere near them."
Extimum: "They're called Cyclops Goats, and they're actually quite friendly."
Mitchell: "I never said they weren't," he replied almost instinctively.
Steve: "Extimum, you're back! How did it go in the hospital wing? Were you able to get there? How's Hermione? She hasn't..."
Steve: "Extimum, you're back! How did it go in the hospital wing? Were you able to get there? How's Hermione? She hasn't..."
Extimum: "She'll be fine. Like the others, she was only petrified. And I didn't have any trouble getting there or back. You should know by now that slipping around unnoticed isn't exactly difficult for me."
Mitchell: "It's a relief that she'll be all right, though it'll be a bit sad not being able to see her for a while."
Mitchell's words reflected what everyone else was thinking.
They were no longer as paranoid about petrification as they had been at first, though that didn't make the fear of becoming one of its victims disappear. At least they knew there was a cure... provided they were fortunate enough to be petrified rather than killed.
Steve: "Right, Extimum, when are you going to teach me how to disappear like you do?"
Wanting to lighten the mood a little, Steve changed the subject.
Extimum: "Hmm... I'm not sure. Why don't you get yourself an Invisibility Cloak? They're quite rare, but it's still possible to find one. Or you could learn the Disillusionment Charm."
Steve: "Wait... there's actually a spell that lets you turn invisible?"
Extimum: "Something along those lines. It's more like becoming a chameleon. That aside... I see you've been making good use of the bed I left behind."
Extimum's bed was being used to hold all sorts of belongings.
He didn't particularly mind. After all, he never slept there.
Steve: "Yeah. Since you don't use it anyway, we've been leaving things on it that we'll need again later. Saves us some time."
Trudor: "By the way, has a professor come to take us to the Great Hall yet?"
Extimum: "I don't know, but judging by the time, they should have arrived already... or be about to."
Mitchell: "All right, then let's go."
Without another word, they all got up and left the room.
Extimum: "Who was the person you were drawing, Trudor?"
Trudor: "Oh, now that I think about it, none of you have met her yet. She's my sister. We didn't see her last year because my father gave her a job that kept her extremely busy."
"Though I'm actually glad that was the case, because I usually try to avoid her. She's incredibly annoying."
Extimum: "I think you mentioned she was in Hufflepuff."
Trudor: "Yeah, she's a year older than me, so she's in her third year."
Steve: "Let me have a proper look. Tch, I'm not surprised you're good at drawing anymore, but... hmm, she looks familiar. I might know her."
Steve: "What? When?"
Steve: "Oh, you know. Sometimes you just wander about, come across things, and meet people..." —a faint sense of foreboding made him cut himself off— "Er... ahem, or maybe not, wait, I think I've got the wrong person. Yes, that's it, I definitely don't know her. I'll go on ahead and find Padma."
Without breaking stride, Steve immediately picked up his pace, hurrying down the stairs until he disappeared into the crowd.
Trudor: "Steve, get back here! I'll be a goblin if I believe that. Tell me what you did to my sister."
Trudor seemed quite agitated as he ran after Steve, only slightly behind him.
Mitchell: "Blimey, I didn't know Trudor could act like that."
Extimum: "Neither did I."
For a moment, Mitchell wondered whether that was truly what Extimum thought or if he was merely saying it for the sake of saying something. His tone had been as flat as ever.
Unperturbed by what had just happened, Extimum and Mitchell calmly made their way downstairs towards where they had last seen Luna and Padma.
Mitchell: "By the way, Steve must've paid off his debt by now, right? So... what was in that photo? I've always been curious about the things he gets up to, but he's always so careful. Can you believe he keeps his belongings in a trunk with a magical lock? I've never been able to see what those photos are."
Extimum: "Oh... you can see for yourself. Here."
Reaching into his bag, Extimum took out a photograph and handed it to Mitchell.
Mitchell: "This is..."
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discord.gg/ZZrUfk3msj