Chapter 23: The Warm Fire and Whispering Star Wishes (Part 1)
The flutter under the mistletoe was like a stone dropped into the lake of her heart, its ripples lingering within Hermione for a long time. But the Christmas magic of Hogwarts possessed a wondrous healing power, quickly enveloping that shyness in the warm, boisterous festive atmosphere.
The list of students staying at Hogwarts was finalized. Gryffindor Tower was much quieter than usual, yet also held a touch more warmth. The fireplace in the Common Room burned exceptionally brightly, golden-red flames dancing, casting a warm glow on the scarlet tapestries and comfortable armchairs. The air was filled with the fresh scent of burning pine, the sweet aroma of hot cocoa, and the caramel smell of 'Sparkling Candies' that Fred and George had acquired from somewhere, which crackled as they were eaten.
Hermione and Lynn occupied a corner of a large sofa by the fireplace. Hermione was wrapped in a thick wool blanket with a cartoon owl pattern (brought from her Muggle home), with her deep blue starstone notebook open on her lap, surrounded by several ancient texts on Norse Yule magic traditions borrowed from the Library. She was rapidly recording something in the notebook with her pen of the stars, the starlight script flowing gracefully from its tip. Lynn, meanwhile, leaned against the armrest of the sofa next to her, holding a heavy volume titled 'Etymological Studies of Ancient Runes', his calm gaze sweeping over the intricate symbols on the pages, occasionally taking a sip of hot cocoa from the small round table beside him.
Outside, the cold wind of the Scottish Highlands howled past the Tower, whipping up fine snow and pattering it against the stained-glass windows with a soft rustle. Inside, the warmth of the fireplace enveloped them. There was only the soft scratch of the pen on paper, the crackling of the fire, and Hermione's occasional whispered pronunciation of an obscure Runic word. It was peaceful and serene.
"Lynn," Hermione suddenly looked up from her notebook, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of a new discovery, "Look at this!" She turned the starstone notebook towards Lynn. On the deep blue page, she had sketched a simple diagram with starlight, accompanied by a few lines of explanation. "This book, 'The Magical Connection of Holly and Mistletoe,' mentions that ancient Druids believed the sharp thorns of holly symbolized protection, while the flexibility and parasitic nature of mistletoe symbolized connection and vitality. Under specific astrological alignments, mixing mistletoe berry juice with holly leaf powder can create a very simple 'Guardian Connection' charm, which is said to subtly enhance telepathy between wearers!"
Her tone was full of yearning for ancient magic and an urge to experiment, her small face flushed in the glow of the fire.
Lynn's gaze shifted from his own book to Hermione's diagram and her excited face. He could clearly feel a warm, joyful ripple emanating from the moon-white stone on her chest. He put down his book, took the starstone notebook, and his slender fingers brushed over the simple pattern formed by starlight.
"Extracting berry juice requires magical guidance, and the fineness of the holly leaf powder will affect energy dissipation," Lynn's voice was calm as he pointed out the key issues. "And, 'subtle telepathy'... the effectiveness is questionable." He wasn't being a wet blanket, merely stating facts.
Hermione's enthusiasm wasn't dampened; instead, she became even more animated: "That's why we need to try it out! The book says that during Christmas, especially Christmas Eve, is when this type of natural magic is most active! We can try it! The ingredients should all be available in the Castlegreenhouses! Professor Sprout said that students staying at Hogwarts can help out in the greenhouses with the magical plants!" She was already planning, her eyes curving into crescents.
Watching her eager expression, a faint smile flickered in Lynn's eyes, and he didn't object: "Alright."
Just then, the Common Room door was pushed open, letting in a gust of cold air. Harry and Ron, wrapped in thick scarves, their cheeks red from the cold, entered breathlessly, carrying several large rolls of parchment. Neville followed behind them, carrying a large cardboard box.
"Merlin's smelly socks! It's freezing outside!" Ron rushed to the nearest sofa by the fireplace as soon as he entered, rubbing his hands exaggeratedly.
"We just got back from the Owlery," Harry placed the parchments on the table—they were Christmascards and gifts sent from home. "Hagrid asked us to bring this to you all." He gestured to the large cardboard box Neville was holding, which bore the Honeydukes logo.
"Wow! Honeydukes!" Hermione's attention was instantly captured, momentarily forgetting her magical experiments.
The box was filled with all sorts of magical candies: screaming jelly beans (Ron immediately grabbed a handful and crammed them into his mouth, nearly choking from the jelly beans' screams), chocolate cauldron cakes (with hot strawberry syrup inside), gold-foiled nougat, and a large bag of Fizzing Whizbees.
"Lynn! Hermione! These are for you!" Harry pulled out two smaller, beautifully wrapped packages from the bottom of the box and handed them to them respectively. "Hagrid said thank you for... uh, what happened last time." He was referring to the Troll incident.
Hermione took the package; it was a square box wrapped in deep blue paper with gold stars, tied with a silver ribbon, very exquisite. Lynn's was a rectangular box wrapped in thick dark green kraft paper, tied with a simple hemp rope.
"Can I open it now?" Hermione was a little impatient, her eyes sparkling.
"Of course!" Harry and Ron said in unison, curious to see what Hagrid had sent.
Hermione carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside lay a thick book with a dark brown hardcover and brass-bound edges. The title was in embossed gold, ancient script: 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Special Illustrated and Annotated Edition)'. Flipping through the pages, it contained not only detailed textual descriptions but also numerous vivid, colorful magical illustrations; the magical creatures seemed ready to leap from the pages at any moment! Tucked between the pages was a clumsy but heartfelt Christmas card from Hagrid: "To the bravest and smartest little Witch! Hope you like these furry (or scaly) little critters! —Hagrid."
"This is amazing!" Hermione caressed the pages, overjoyed. "I've always wanted this illustrated version! Thank you, Harry! And please thank Hagrid for me!"
Lynn also unwrapped his package. Beneath the kraft paper was a handmade, slightly rough but very sturdy wooden box. Opening the box, it was lined with soft moss, and resting quietly on the moss was a... unicorn tail hair, as long as a forearm, gleaming with a cold metallic luster and exceptionally sharp! Beside it was another card from Hagrid: "To the lad who knows how to protect! This hair came from the grumpiest old Unicorn in the Forbidden Forest (don't ask me how I got it!), and it's said to imbue weapons with pure power to ward off evil! Maybe it'll be useful for your 'pen of the stars'? —Hagrid."
Lynn picked up the unicorn tail hair; it was cold to the touch and contained pure, powerful magical energy. He looked at the pen of the stars in the box, its sapphire tip bearing a tiny crack, lost in thought. Hagrid's gift, though seemingly rough, was unexpectedly thoughtful.
"Whoa! unicorn tail hair!" Ron leaned over, looking enviously. "That stuff could fetch a lot of Galleons on the black market!"
"Ron!" Hermione glared at him disapprovingly.
Christmas Eve finally arrived. The students staying at Hogwarts gathered in the Great Hall and enjoyed an unimaginably lavish Christmas feast. The Great Hall was decorated like a fairy tale, with twelve giant fir trees surrounding them, hung with magical ornaments. Real, non-melting snowflakes drifted down from the "sky" on the ceiling. Headmaster Dumbledore led the way by putting on a singing pointed nightcap, which made the students burst into laughter.
After the feast, students returned to the Common Room in twos and threes. The fire in the fireplace burned even warmer. Harry and Ron were working on a giant magical jigsaw puzzle (a gift from Mrs. Weasley), and Neville was dozing with Trevor. Fred and George were mysteriously hiding in a corner, seemingly researching their new products.
Hermione and Lynn still sat in their usual spot by the fireplace. Hermione had given up on the complex charm making (because the greenhouse manager had politely declined her request for materials on Christmas Eve), and was now contentedly flipping through the fantastic beasts book Hagrid had given her, occasionally pointing out some furry creature on the page to Lynn, her eyes sparkling.
Lynn, meanwhile, held the unicorn tail hair and the pen of the stars, writing and drawing in the starstone notebook, seemingly researching how to repair the crack in the pen's tip and integrate the tail hair's energy. Deep blue starlight script flowed across the pages, forming complex energy circuits.
Time flowed by in tranquility. The wind and snow outside seemed to have intensified, but inside the Tower, it was warm as spring. Hermione let out a small yawn, rubbed her eyes, and unconsciously leaned closer to Lynn, as if seeking more warmth. The illustrated guide in her arms slipped, and Lynnquickly caught it.
"Tired?" Lynn asked softly, gently placing the book on the small round table beside them.
"Mm... a little." Hermione nodded shyly, pulling her blanket tighter around her. She looked at the dancing golden-red flames in the fireplace and said softly, "Today... was really fun. Better than I imagined spending Christmas in the magical world would be." Her voice held a hint of satisfied languor.
Lynn looked at her profile, softened by the firelight, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes. He was silent for a moment, then took a small, square box, meticulously wrapped in deep blue paper with a starry pattern, from his pocket.
"For you." He handed the small box to Hermione.
Hermione instantly sobered up, her sleepiness completely gone! Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the small, clearly carefully prepared gift, her cheeks quickly flushing: "For... for me? A Christmas present?" She hadn't expected Lynn to prepare a gift just for her!
"Mm." Lynn responded.
Hermione carefully took the box, her fingertips trembling slightly as she untied the delicate silver ribbon and opened the lid.
Inside lay a small, exquisite brooch. The main body was a pure silver crescent moon, elegantly and smoothly shaped. Nestled within the embrace of the silver moon was a tiny, grain-sized, deep blue starlight gem, as profound in color as a solidified universe, with what looked like a nebula slowly swirling within it! The moon and star clung together, simple in design yet imbued with endless beauty and profound meaning. Moonlight and Starlight, illuminated by the fire, flowed silently within the gem, as if holding a miniature night sky in her palm.
"Ah..." Hermione let out a soft gasp of awe. She picked up the brooch, her fingertips brushing the cool silver moon and the warm starlight gem, unable to put it down. The gift was too beautiful, and... deeply meaningful. She looked up at Lynn, her eyes sparkling with a light brighter than the fire, filled with undisguised affection and a hint of shy sweetness, "Thank you, Lynn! It's... it's so beautiful! I... I love it!" She was a little incoherent.
"As long as you like it." Lynn watched her joyful expression, a faint warmth spreading in the depths of his eyes.
"I... I prepared a gift for you too!" Hermione seemed to remember suddenly, her cheeks flushing even redder. She fumbled in her satchel, which was on the other side of the sofa, and pulled out a square box, carefully wrapped in light gold wrapping paper and tied with a beautiful deep blue bow. She solemnly handed it to Lynn, "Merry Christmas!"
Lynn took the box and unwrapped it. Inside was a neatly folded scarf. The scarf was made of soft, thick wool, in a warm, gentle light gold color (like her hair), but at both ends of the scarf, two rows of simple yet elegant star patterns were woven with delicate deep blue yarn (like his star-patterned wand). The craftsmanship wasn't perfectly flawless; some stitches were a little clumsy, and there were even signs of having been unraveled and re-knitted, but the thoughtfulness and warmth were clearly conveyed through the soft wool.
Chapter 24: The Warm Fire and Whispering Star Wishes (Part 2)
Lynn's fingers brushed over the slightly rough Star pattern on the scarf, feeling the softness and warmth of the wool. He could imagine Hermione awkwardly holding knitting needles, unraveling and re-knitting, just to make those Stars as perfect as possible. That clumsy earnestness touched the cold Star region deep within him more directly than any exquisite magic creation.
"Thank you." Lynn's voice was low, carrying an unprecedented warmth. He didn't put it on immediately but carefully folded the scarf and placed it on his lap, his slender fingers unconsciously caressing the deep blue Stars, as if feeling the sentiment contained within them.
Hermione watched his actions, her small face flushed with shyness and anticipation, like a ripe apple. She mustered her courage, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible nervousness: "You... won't you try it on? I don't know if the length is suitable..."
Lynn looked up at her. The golden light of the fireplace danced in her bright eyes, reflecting her cautious concern. He nodded, picked up the scarf, and gracefully draped it around his neck, the ends hanging down his chest. The light gold wool softened his calm face a few shades, and the two rows of deep blue Stars fell perfectly over his heart, subtly echoing the star stone beneath his clothes.
"It fits perfectly." Lynn's voice was soft but firm. The warmth of the scarf enveloped his neck, dispelling the last trace of chill from the Castle's stone walls; that warmth seemed to soothe him right to his heart.
Hermione's eyes instantly lit up, as if the entire Star river had fallen into them. She looked at him wearing the scarf, and a huge sense of satisfaction and sweetness surged in her heart, sweeping away her previous apprehension. She subconsciously touched the Star and Moon brooch she had just pinned to her chest; the cool silver Moon and the warm star stone against her skin brought a strange sense of peace.
"Mine... looks good too," she whispered, her fingertips gently brushing the shimmering Star and Moon light on the brooch, her cheeks flushing even deeper.
The fireplace's firelight danced, stretching their shadows, softly merging on the crimson carpet. The air was filled with the scent of pine, the sweet aroma of cocoa, and a faint, elusive fresh scent from a girl's hair. Harry and Ron were quietly arguing in the distance about where the last piece of the puzzle should go, Neville's snores were soft and even, and a suppressed chuckle and a slight 'pop' (possibly a test of their new product) came from Fred and George's side. Everything was enveloped in a warm, peaceful, festival-only tranquility.
Hermione sighed contentedly, sinking relaxed into the soft sofa, pulling the blanket tighter around her. She looked at the open book, 'Etymological Studies of Ancient Runes,' on Lynn's lap, and next to it, the unicorn tail hair and the pen of the stars with a crack at its tip.
"You want to use it to repair your pen?" Hermione asked softly, pointing to the tail hair that shimmered with a cold luster.
"Mm." Lynn picked up the pen of the stars, his fingertip brushing over the deep-colored sapphire at the tip, which had a tiny crack. "unicorn tail hair contains pure power to ward off evil; perhaps it can mend the crack and even bestow new properties upon it." He paused, then looked at Hermione, "Hagrid's gift was very timely."
"Need help?" Hermione immediately sat up straight, her eyes full of interest and a hint of eagerness. "The book says that a Unicorn's tail hair magic is very pure but also very 'stubborn'; it requires extremely delicate guidance and... um... a 'pure field of intent' to soothe it during fusion?" She recalled the description from the bestiary.
Lynn looked at her small face, full of curiosity and enthusiasm, and nodded: "A pure field of intent is key." He meaningfully glanced at the moon-white stone pendant on her chest, which was emitting a soft and pure glow.
Hermione immediately understood what he meant, and her face flushed again, but more with excitement. She straightened her back, trying to calm herself and concentrate. The moon-white stoneon her chest seemed to sense her intention, and the milky white halo it emitted became softer and more stable, like a small, pure moonlight barrier, enveloping her. She reached out, carefully and with a touch of reverence, and gently touched the cold unicorn tail hair.
The moment her fingertip touched the tail hair—
***Buzz...***
An extremely faint resonance, as if from the depths of a soul, sounded! The cold metallic luster on the unicorn tail hair seemed to be imbued with life, lighting up with a soft, pure milky white halo! This halo created a wonderful echo with the light emitted by Hermione's moon-white stone, harmonizing like water and milk blending! At the same time, a clear warmth emanated from the star stone in Lynn's chest, and a deep blue Star glow flashed in his eyes.
Lynn gently brought the tip of the pen of the stars (the end embedded with the Star sapphire) close to the unicorn tail hair, which had been 'soothed' by Hermione's intent and activated. He didn't use any spell, but merely extended a wisp of pure Starlight Magic, like the finest silver thread, carefully towards the crack at the pen's tip, while guiding the pure milky white energy flow from the unicorn tail hair to slowly approach.
The deep blue Starlight Magic was like a Star-light solder repairing a crack, while the pure Unicornenergy was like the gentlest adhesive and enhancer. In the pure field of intent maintained by Hermione, and guided by the star stone, the two forces, under Lynn's incredibly precise control, began to slowly and steadily mend the tiny crack.
This was an extremely delicate process, allowing no room for error. Lynn's gaze was as focused as the most precise instrument, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead. Hermione also held her breath, concentrating fully on maintaining the purity and stability of the field of intent; the moon-white stone's light was steady and soft, as if singing silently.
Time seemed to become viscous and slow. The firelight of the fireplace danced on their focused profiles. Harry and Ron seemed to have finished the puzzle, letting out a small cheer, but their voices quickly lowered, as if afraid to disturb them. Another thud and a low complaint came from Fred and George's side.
After an unknown period, just as Hermione felt a little mentally fatigued—
***Ding...***
An extremely faint, pleasant chime, like crystal cups gently touching, rang out!
The tiny crack on the deep blue sapphire at the tip of the pen of the stars disappeared! Not only that, the gem's color seemed to become even deeper and purer, and the slowly rotating nebula within it seemed to gain a hint of liveliness! And on the metal ferrule near the gem at the pen's tip, a single, extremely fine, almost imperceptible fiber of unicorn tail hair, shimmering with pure silver light, quietly coiled around it, like a natural magic pattern!
The repair was complete! And more perfect than expected!
Lynn let out a long breath, his taut nerves relaxing. A warm current emanated from the star stone, as if celebrating. He picked up the newly repaired pen of the stars, feeling the magic flowing within it was more harmonious and stable, even imbued with a hint of pure protective aura.
"It worked!" Hermione also breathed a sigh of relief, her small face full of excitement and a sense of accomplishment, and the moon-white stone's light also happily flickered. She looked at the renewed pen of the stars, genuinely exclaiming, "It looks even more beautiful!"
Lynn handed her the pen. Hermione carefully took it, her fingertips brushing the cool pen body and the warm, as-new sapphire, feeling the more harmonious power contained within. "It feels... like it has more 'life'?" she asked curiously.
"Mm, the Unicorn's power has imbued it with a touch of pure spirituality." Lynn nodded, his gaze resting on Hermione's face, flushed with a healthy glow from excitement and concentration. "Your field of intent was indispensable."
Hermione's cheeks flushed again, but this time with a sweet pride. She looked at Lynn, then at the light gold scarf with the Star pattern that she had personally knitted around his neck, then at the Star and Moon brooch he had given her on her chest. An indescribable, full, and warm emotion filled her chest. They had exchanged not just gifts, but intentions, strength, and silent guardianship and companionship.
"It's almost midnight," Harry's voice came from the other side of the fireplace, with a hint of excitement. "I heard the Hogwarts Christmas bells are very special!"
As if to confirm his words, from deep within the Castle, a melodious, rich, and seemingly magical bell chime penetrated the thick stone walls and the howling wind and snow, clearly reaching the tower.
***Dong—Dong—Dong—***
The bell chime was solemn and warm, like the whisper of a Giant, announcing the official arrival of Christmas.
In the common room, Neville was startled awake by the bell, rubbing his eyes groggily. Fred and George cheered, tossing several small, faintly golden glowing spherical objects into the air. These small balls exploded in the air, transforming into countless unextinguishable Sparks that slowly drifted down like golden snowflakes, bringing a small cheer.
Hermione and Lynn exchanged a smile. There were no more words, only the dancing flames in the fireplace, the golden Sparks falling from the air, the howling wind and snow outside the window, and the melodious bell chime echoing through the ancient Castle, symbolizing peace and hope. The star stone and moon-white stone beneath their robes, separated by the scarf and brooch, emitted a soft and synchronized glow, like two Stars quietly resonating and embracing each other in the Christmas night sky. Hermione quietly, and more tightly, wrapped the blanket around herself, her body unconsciously leaning closer to Lynn's warm direction, feeling this cozy, understanding peace and beauty. ChristmasEve, blessed by magic, had arrived peacefully.
Chapter 25: Xue Ye Ying Yang and Xin Yi Wei Lan
The warm afterglow of the Christmas holidays still lingered, but Hogwarts had already welcomed a biting January.
The cold winds of the Scottish Highlands carried fine snow, and the Castle's stone walls were covered in a thick silver blanket.
The Common Room fireplace became the most popular corner, and the air was filled with the scent of hot cocoa and roasted chestnuts.
The days after returning to school quickly became tense again.
In the Library, Hermione frowned at the complex steps for Shrinking Potion in 'Magical Drafts and Potions,' her quill scratching softly on the parchment.
Lynn sat opposite her, his repaired pen of the stars smoothly outlining Ancient Runes energy models in his dark blue notebook, the sapphire at its tip glowing with an understated starlight.
"Lynn," Hermione looked up, rubbing her tired eyes, "Professor McGonagall said the Quidditch team tryouts for new members, especially Seekers, start next week.
Charlie Weasley graduated, and Gryffindor desperately needs a replacement."
She paused, looking at Lynn with a hint of expectation she herself didn't notice, "Will you… will you try out?
Your flying talent…" She remembered his brief, stunning levitation above Diagon Alley before term started.
Lynn's gaze shifted from his notebook to Hermione's face.
The snowy light from the window illuminated her serious expression.
"Quidditch?" he said calmly, "Not very interested." Guarding and exploring magic itself was his core objective; intense sports competitions were not his first choice.
A flicker of disappointment, barely perceptible, crossed Hermione's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by understanding.
She nodded: "Right, training takes up a lot of time.
But Harry will definitely try out!
Ron said he's been muttering about broom models in the Common Room every day, his eyes practically glued to 'Quidditch Through the Ages.'"
The topic shifted to Harry, and Hermione perked up again, beginning to analyze the technical points of each position, her small face filled with the earnestness of a top student.
Lynn listened quietly, occasionally nodding.
A few days later, on a weekend morning, the cold wind was still biting.
The Quidditch Pitch was covered in thick snow, gleaming a cold white under the dim sky.
A sparse scattering of students, mostly Gryffindors bundled up against the cold to cheer on their house, sat in the stands, their breath instantly vanishing in the air.
In the center of the Pitch, Gryffindor Quidditch Captain Oliver Wood was waving his arms, loudly explaining the tryout rules.
Beside him stood several veteran players, including the red-haired twin brothers Fred and George Weasley.
Harry stood among a group of nervous first-years, wringing his hands, his eyes fixed on the various house brooms at Wood's feet.
Lynn and Hermione sat in the front row of the stands.
Hermione was wrapped in a thick scarf and wool hat, only her bright, sparkling eyes visible, clutching a thermos charmed with a warming spell, filled with hot cocoa she had specially brewed that morning.
Lynn wore a dark overcoat, his light gold star scarf casually draped around his neck, highlighting the serene lines of his profile.
"Look! It's Harry!" Hermione pointed below.
Harry took a deep breath and mounted what looked like the oldest Comet Two Sixty broom.
With a whistle from Wood, the tryouts began.
Harry's performance exceeded everyone's expectations.
He seemed born for the sky.
The old broom he had disdained became remarkably docile beneath him; taking off, diving, stopping short, turning—his movements were as fluid as breathing.
He was like a keen peregrine falcon, weaving through the cold wind, several times narrowly brushing the broom tails of other tryout participants, eliciting gasps from the stands.
"He flies so well!" Hermione exclaimed, her small face flushed from excitement and cold.
She opened the thermos lid, and a sweet, warm steam wafted out.
"Here, Lynn, warm your hands." She poured a cup of hot cocoa and handed it to Lynn.
Lynn took the warm cup, his fingertips accidentally brushing Hermione's cold fingers.
He glanced at her: "Cold?"
"I'm fine…" Hermione Shrinking his neck, tucking her slightly reddened hands into her sleeves, her gaze still following Harry, who was skillfully weaving through the field.
Just then, a harsh burst of laughter erupted from the sidelines.
A group of Slytherin students, wearing silver and green scarves, came over, clustered around Draco Malfoy, clearly there to watch the spectacle.
Malfoy stood with his arms crossed, his pale face bearing his usual sneering smile.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, look at our great Potter, the 'Boy Who Lived,'" Malfoy drawled, his voice unusually clear in the open Pitch, "Riding an ancient Comet Two Sixty?
Sponsored by the Weasleys, perhaps?
Or picked from a rubbish heap?
Can this broken thing even catch the Golden Snitch?
I bet it can't even outrun a goblin!"
Crabbe and Goyle behind him clumsily joined in the laughter.
Several Gryffindor first-years turned red with anger, and Ron wanted to charge over but was cheerfully held back by the twin brothers.
Harry on the field clearly heard it too; his movements faltered slightly, and a flash of anger crossed his face.
Hermione frowned, greatly displeased by Malfoy's nastiness.
She was about to retort when she felt Lynn move beside her.
Lynn didn't even stand up.
He was still watching the Pitch, holding the cup of hot cocoa in his left hand, his right hand casually resting on his knee, his slender fingers flicking ever so slightly in the cold air, like plucking a string.
There was no light, no incantation.
Just a soft "poof" sound by Malfoy's feet, accompanied by a smell of something burnt!
The tip of the right shoe of his brand-new, gleaming dragon-hide boots, without warning, turned into a… fluffy, silly, bright yellow rubber duck head!
The duck's beak was even comically agape!
"Quack?" The duck head by Malfoy's foot let out a realistic, confused quack.
The entire field fell silent instantly!
All eyes shifted from Harry, focusing on Malfoy's utterly ridiculous shoe.
The sneering smile on Malfoy's face instantly froze.
He looked down in disbelief at the tip of his right shoe, which had turned into a rubber duck, his pale face rapidly turning a pig-liver purple!
Crabbe and Goyle behind him gaped, making strange "uh-uh" noises, and the other Slytherin students were also dumbfounded.
"Pfft!" Fred Weasley was the first to burst into thunderous laughter.
"Hahaha! Malfoy! Is that your new pet?" George followed, clutching his stomach.
After a brief silence in the stands, Gryffindor students erupted in a cathartic roar of laughter!
Even some Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students couldn't help but chuckle.
"Who?! Who did that!" Malfoy shrieked furiously, stomping his foot wildly, trying to shake off the cursed duck head, but only making it emit more silly "quacks," looking utterly ridiculous.
His fierce gaze swept over the stands, finally landing on Lynn's calm, unperturbed profile.
Lynn acted as if nothing had happened, slowly taking a sip of hot cocoa, his gaze returning to Harry on the Pitch, who had already shaken off the distraction and was attempting a beautiful dive to catch the Golden Snitch (a test Snitch released by Wood).
Only Hermione, sitting beside him, clearly caught the fleeting, extremely faint curve of his lips as he put down the cup.
Hermione looked at Malfoy's pathetic state, then at Lynn's subtle counterattack beside her, and a huge wave of warmth and security washed over her.
She couldn't help but curve her lips too, her earlier displeasure vanishing.
She quietly nudged her slightly numb fingers closer to Lynn's arm, which rested on his knee and wore the light gold star scarf, feeling the comforting warmth radiating from it.
"Silence! Silence!" Wood had to blow his whistle, forcibly quelling the chaos, "Tryouts continue!"
The tryouts finally concluded with Harry catching the test Snitch.
Wood rushed over excitedly, clapping Harry on the shoulder, and immediately announced him as Gryffindor's new Seeker!
The Gryffindor stands erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
On the way back, the snow crunched underfoot.
Hermione and Lynn walked side by side.
Hermione held the empty thermos, feeling very happy.
"That… that was you, wasn't it?" Hermione couldn't help but ask softly, her eyes bright as she looked at Lynn, "Malfoy's shoe?"
Lynn didn't deny it, merely saying, "He was too loud."
Hermione laughed, her white breath dissipating in the cold air: "Well done!
That duck… Pfft!" She remembered the comical sight and couldn't help but laugh out loud again.
Lynn looked at her smiling face, his gaze softening a few degrees.
He noticed a few glistening snowflakes clinging to the ends of her hair, which were exposed outside her wool hat.
Naturally, he raised his hand and gently brushed away the snowflakes from her hair.
His fingertips grazed the edge of her slightly cool earlobe.
Hermione's laughter abruptly stopped.
Her body stiffened slightly, and her cheeks quickly flushed, like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow.
She quickly lowered her head, her heart beating uncontrollably fast.
How many times had this been already?
His natural, protective touches?
Lynn withdrew his hand, his fingertips retaining the coldness of melting snowflakes and the soft sensation of her hair.
He said nothing, just continued walking forward.
Hermione lagged half a step behind, watching Lynn's tall figure, the light gold scarf with star patterns she had knitted herself fluttering slightly around his neck in the cold wind.
She subconsciously touched the cool star and moon brooch on her chest, then touched the strands of hair he had just brushed, an indescribable, bittersweet flutter spreading in her heart.
She jogged a few steps, once again walking beside him.
Snowflakes fell silently, covering the Castle's ancient stone steps.
A quiet understanding flowed between the two, broken only by the sound of falling snow.
Hermione secretly tilted her head, looking at Lynn's serene profile.
He seemed… very close to her, yet also… held many secrets of the stars.
She quietly extended a finger, and through her thick wool glove, very lightly, tentatively, she touched the back of Lynn's hand, which hung by his side.
Through two layers of wool, the touch was very light, very vague.
But Lynn's footsteps paused imperceptibly.
He didn't turn his head, nor did he pull away, simply allowing that tentative and dependent touch to exist through the fabric.
The star stone in his chest pulsed with a clear and warm rhythm.
Hermione's fingertips recoiled as if scalded, her cheeks grew even redder, and her heart pounded as if it would burst out.
She frantically lowered her head, staring at the footprints her boots made in the snow, but her lips unconsciously curved into a secret smile.
The snow fell heavier.
But the silent warmth between them seemed to melt the surrounding cold.
The beginning of the new year unfolded in the faint light of the snowy field and the quiet testing of their feelings.
Chapter 26: Shadow Stealth and the Moon and Stars
Harry's excitement at becoming Gryffindor Seeker had not yet fully subsided when a greater mystery quietly loomed. In a corner of the Library, Hermione pushed several open, thick tomes in front of Lynn, her brows furrowed.
"Look here, and here!" Her fingertip traced over the yellowed parchment pages, her voice very low. "'Secrets of Modern Alchemy,' 'A Study of the Philosopher's Stone Legend,' and the appendix of this 'Illustrated Guide to Medieval Magical Artifacts'… all mention the same legendary Alchemist Master! He pursued transmuting lead into gold and the Elixir of Life his entire life, leaving behind countless legends, but the most crucial information—his name—has been deliberately erased from all these reliable documents! Only an abbreviation, 'N.F.,' remains!"
Lynn's gaze swept over the passages that had been blackened with ink or torn out. The star stone on his chest emitted a faint, warning warmth. Such widespread, deliberate erasure was highly unusual.
"And Hagrid!" Hermione continued, her small face flushed with excitement. "Remember he mentioned it? 'Fluffy' is guarding 'Hogwarts's most important thing'! What kind of thing needs a three-headed giant dog to guard it? Combine that with the lifelong pursuit of this Alchemist Master whose name was erased…"
"The Philosopher's Stone," Lynn calmly finished her deduction. The word seemed to carry magic, making the surrounding air momentarily still. The ultimate Alchemical creation, fabled to transmute lead into gold and produce the Elixir of Life.
Hermione nodded vigorously: "Exactly! Only a treasure of this level would require such strict protection! And that 'N.F.' is very likely the former owner or creator of the Philosopher's Stone! Was his name erased to protect the whereabouts of the Philosopher's Stone? Or because of some other danger?"
The clues were like scattered beads, all pointing in the same direction but unable to be strung together. Just as the two fell into thought, Harry and Ron ran over, panting, their faces showing the excitement and tension of a new discovery.
"You'll never guess!" Ron whispered, his eyes wide. "We were just on the third-floor restricted corridor… we heard something! It was Snape! He was threatening Professor Quirrell! We heard it clearly! Snapesaid, 'What have you decided?' 'Don't try any tricks!' Professor Quirrell was stammering, terrified!"
"What does Snape want from Quirrell?" Harry eagerly added. "It must be about the Philosopher's Stone! He wants to force Quirrell to tell him how to get past Cerberus!"
Snape's involvement instantly escalated the already murky situation. Hermione's face grew serious: "Snape… he's always coveted the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor position, but Headmaster Dumbledore gave it to Quirrell. If he really wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone…"
"We have to stop him!" Harry declared, his green eyes burning with determination. "Before Snape gets his hands on it!"
Stop him? Easier said than done. Their opponent was the unfathomable Potion Professor, and what he guarded was a legendary treasure whose name couldn't even be spoken. The quartet fell into a brief, heavy silence.
A few evenings later, Harry mysteriously approached Lynn and Hermione, carrying a heavily wrapped large object. "Look at this!" He unwrapped the package, revealing a fabric that shimmered with a silvery-grey, wave-like luster and felt cool and silky to the touch—an invisibility cloak!
"This was left to me by my dad!" Harry's tone was filled with excitement. "It was sent anonymously at Christmas! With it, we can quietly investigate the third-floor restricted area! Find out exactly what Snape is up to, and even… find the Philosopher's Stone's protective measures!"
Night exploration of the restricted area! The suggestion was both dangerous and tempting. Ron was eager, while Hermione was worried, her small face taut: "This is too risky! Breaking school rules is secondary; if Snape or Cerberus finds us…"
"We just need to investigate, not get close to Cerberus!" Harry insisted. "With the invisibility cloak, if we're careful, we won't be discovered! Lynn, what do you think?" He looked at the silently observing Lynn.
Lynn's fingers unconsciously caressed the cool body of the pen of the stars. The star stone emitted a steady warmth, not a warning, but more like… a confirmation. The secret of the Philosopher's Stone, Snape's ambition, and the erased name all pointed to a vortex that had to be uncovered. Passively waiting would be even riskier.
"Alright," Lynn's voice broke the silence, "but only investigate, no contact."
Harry and Ron cheered. Hermione looked at Lynn's calm eyes, and her unease strangely subsided. She took a deep breath and nodded: "Okay… but we must plan thoroughly! And…" She looked at Lynn, her eyes holding a trace of reliance she didn't even realize, "We… go together."
As midnight approached, the Castle fell into a sleep-like silence. Only the occasional crackle of torches on the walls echoed in the corridors. Filch and his scrawny cat, Madam Norris, could be heard intermittently in the distance.
Four figures huddled under the invisibility cloak, their movements clumsy and slow. Harry led, Ronfollowed closely, Lynn was at the back, and Hermione was sandwiched in the middle. The invisibility cloak had limited space, so the four were pressed tightly together, clearly feeling each other's body heat and breath.
Hermione was particularly nervous. She was so close to Lynn that her back was almost against his chest. Lynn's steady heartbeat and the clean, forest-after-rain scent (mixed with the faint Starlight of the star stone) permeated through the fabric, becoming the only anchor in the darkness, calming her pounding heart slightly. She could feel one of Lynn's hands hovering at her waist, a protective gesture through the invisibility cloak that inexplicably reassured her. The moon-white stone on her chest emitted a gentle warmth.
They carefully avoided the patrolling suits of armor (enchanted to report anomalies), skirted around the gossiping portraits (their eyes covered with cloth), and held their breath as Madam Norris strolled past in the adjacent corridor with elegant steps. Every step was like walking on thin ice.
Finally, they reached the end of the strictly forbidden third-floor corridor. A heavy oak door was tightly shut, a faint sliver of light escaping from the crack, and from within came… heavy, wet breathing? From more than one source!
Harry took a deep breath, signaling everyone to stop. He very slowly and silently pushed open a crack in the door.
The sight inside instantly made the four under the invisibility cloak hold their breath!
The room was large and empty. The only "furniture" was the mountain-like giant beast in the center of the room! It had three enormous, hideous dog heads, drooling slimy saliva! Six blood-red eyes glowed like burning coals in the darkness, flashing with savage light! Its massive body was covered in tangled black fur, and its thick paws were like stone blocks. At this moment, it seemed a bit drowsy, its three heads drooping, emitting thunderous snores and wet breathing from its throats. And between its huge, pillar-like hind legs, a square entrance, covered by a heavy trapdoor, was prominently visible on the floor!
A trapdoor! The entrance to the Philosopher's Stone was indeed here!
Just as the four were stunned by the immense size and ferocity of Cerberus (the three-headed dog), a sudden change occurred!
Cerberus's middle head seemed to catch an unusual scent (perhaps the magic of the invisibility cloak, or the four's body odor), and it suddenly lifted! Its blood-red eyes instantly locked onto the crack in the doorway! A low, threatening growl rumbled in its throat! Immediately after, the other two heads also startled awake, their six eyes sweeping towards the doorway like searchlights! A foul, pungent odor assailed them!
"Oh no!" Hermione's heart leaped to her throat! Ron was so scared he almost screamed, but Harryclamped his hand over his mouth.
Cerberus's massive body began to turn towards the door, its heavy paws scraping the ground, making a teeth-grinding sound! Its three gaping maws opened, revealing dagger-like fangs, and a low roar echoed in the room, about to pounce!
In the nick of time!
Lynn moved! His left hand, hidden under the invisibility cloak, shot out like lightning, not to pull out his wand, but to tightly grasp Hermione's cold, slightly trembling hand in front of him! Their fingers intertwined!
The star stone and moon-white stone, upon contact, simultaneously erupted with an intense warmth that only they could clearly perceive! An invisible, gentle yet powerful energy field instantly spread out from the two of them, like ripples on a lake when a stone is thrown in!
This energy field was not an attack; it was more like an extremely subtle "calming" and "concealing." It cleverly mimicked the "calm" aura of the surrounding environment and carried a natural, tranquil power derived from the stars and moonlight.
Cerberus, about to erupt in a furious attack, suddenly froze its three massive dog heads! The savage glint in its six blood-red eyes was replaced by a hint of bewilderment and confusion. Its huge noses twitched vigorously, as if trying to discern the fleeting "threat" scent, but they were disrupted by the gentle, tranquil energy field. Cerberus let out a few confused, sneeze-like snorts, its massive body restlessly turning twice in place. Finally, under the continuous calming power of the tranquil energy, its three heads slowly drooped again, its heavy eyelids began to droop, and the thunderous snores resumed.
Crisis averted!
Under the invisibility cloak, the four sighed in relief as if exhausted, cold sweat almost soaking their inner clothes. Hermione's hand was still tightly held by Lynn's. She could clearly feel the warmth of his palm and the undeniable sense of strength, as well as the synchronized post-crisis tremor from the star stone and moon-white stone. She even forgot to be shy, instinctively gripping his hand tighter, as if it were her only anchor.
Harry carefully closed the crack in the door, and the four, like startled rabbits, retreated from the restricted corridor with the fastest speed and lightest movements. Only when they had run back to the safe area behind the fat lady's portrait in Gryffindor Tower and pulled off the invisibility cloak did they dare to breathe deeply.
"Merlin's beard! That scared me to death just now!" Ron collapsed onto the common room carpet, his face pale.
"That monster… it was terrifying…" Harry shivered, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.
Hermione leaned against the cold stone wall, her chest heaving, her small face still pale. She looked at Lynn, her gaze complex, filled with lingering fear, gratitude, and an indescribable tremor. In that moment between life and death, he had tightly held her hand, he had activated that strange power… calming the beast's fury.
"Thank you, Lynn." Hermione's voice trembled slightly, her gaze falling on their hands that had just been clasped and were now released, her fingertips seemingly still retaining his warmth.
Lynn merely nodded slightly, his breathing also a bit hurried, the warmth of the star stone not yet fully subsided. Forcibly activating the resonance of the two stones to create a large-scale calming field had consumed a considerable amount of energy.
"We found the entrance! The trapdoor!" Harry became excited, temporarily suppressing his fear. "It's right under Cerberus's feet! But… how do we get past it?" The thought of those three hideous dog heads instantly dampened his enthusiasm.
"Music!" Hermione suddenly remembered, her eyes lighting up. "Hagrid said it! Cerberus has a fatal weakness—it falls asleep when it hears music! Last time, he used a broken accordion to make it sleep! We just need to play music before we go in!"
This crucial information was like a ray of light in the darkness!
"That's great!" Ron jumped up. "I have a Muggle tape recorder! Fred and George modified it; it's loud enough! We can record something!"
The plan seemed to have a breakthrough. But amidst the excitement, a bigger question surfaced.
"But…" Harry frowned, "what's under the trapdoor? Snape, or anyone else who wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone, how are they going to get past Cerberus? Do they also carry musical instruments?"
Hermione and Lynn exchanged glances. This question went straight to the core—the Philosopher's Stone's protective measures were certainly not limited to Cerberus. Beneath the trapdoor, more complex and dangerous trials, personally set by the Hogwarts Professors, were surely hidden. And the person coveting the treasure had clearly obtained some key information.
The thrilling night exploration temporarily ended, but the undercurrents surrounding the Philosopher's Stone were just beginning to stir. Lynn's gaze turned to the deep night outside the Tower window. The star stone steadily emitted warmth on his chest, as if silently responding to the coming storm. And the girl's gaze beside him, filled with reliance and trust, became the clearest guide in this fog.
Chapter 27 Undercurrent and Starlight (Part 1)
The thrill brought by the invisibility cloak had not completely faded, and Harry and Ron's excitement crackled like the leaping fire in the Gryffindor common room.
They huddled on an old sofa by the fireplace, eagerly replaying every detail of what had just happened in hushed whispers, especially Lynn's miraculous way of calming Cerberus.
"Merlin's old socks! Lynn, how on earth did you do it?" Ron finally couldn't help but turn to Lynn, who was sitting in an armchair a little further away, his eyes full of pure admiration, "Just like that! Those three heads that could swallow a person whole just… just fell asleep? More effective than Hagrid's accordion!"
Harry also looked over eagerly, his green eyes sparkling in the firelight.
Tonight's experience gave him a whole new understanding of his quiet classmate.
Lynn was looking down, caressing the star stone pendant hanging around his neck; it had returned to its usual gentle glow, as if the power that had erupted moments ago was just an illusion.
Hearing Ron's question, he looked up, his face showing no particular expression: "Coincidence.
Perhaps it," he tapped the star stone with his fingertip, "plus Hermione's moon-white stone, created some kind of… resonance under that tense state.
It calmed Cerberus's emotions." He paused, then added, "The principle is unknown, and it may not be effective next time."
His tone was calm, carrying an undeniable sense of stating facts, cleverly avoiding the core.
Hermione sat on a low stool beside Lynn, a copy of "Analysis of Common Magical Creature Behavior" spread on her lap, though not a single page had been turned.
She keenly caught the deliberate reservation in Lynn's words, but she didn't press him.
The tight grip, the strange and reassuring warmth when the two stones resonated, were more truly imprinted in her heart than any explanation.
She just softly hummed, her fingertips subconsciously brushing over the moon-white stone pendant on her chest, feeling its steady pulse.
"Well, whatever! We succeeded anyway!" Ron's attention was quickly drawn to a more realistic problem, "The problem now is, how do we deal with that big dog?
Hermione, you said music? Will it really work?"
"Absolutely." Hermione was immediately pulled back to the main topic, leaning slightly forward, her tone returning to its usual certainty, "Hagrid said it himself, and he demonstrated it.
Cerberus is defenseless against music; any soothing melody can quickly put him to sleep.
Ron, is your modified recorder loud enough?"
"No problem!" Ron thumped his chest, assuring them, "Fred and George added a 'Sonorous Charm' and a 'Penetration Charm' to it; it's loud enough to play rock music on the Quidditch Pitch!
Should we record a lullaby or… um… a slow song by the Weird Sisters?"
"A lullaby is safer." Hermione made the final decision, "Simple melody, strong hypnotic effect.
We'll start preparing tomorrow." She clearly assigned tasks, "Harry, you're responsible for finding an opportunity to naturally confirm with Hagrid the details of Cerberus's reaction to music.
Ron, the recorder debugging and song selection are up to you.
As for after we get through the trapdoor…" Her delicate brows habitually furrowed again, and she looked at Lynn, "We need to figure out what's down there.
Since the Professors set up protective measures, there certainly won't be just Cerberus as a single hurdle."
Lynn nodded: "Quirrell and Snape are the breakthroughs.
One is responsible for guarding, the other harbors ulterior motives, both might leave clues."
"Exactly!" Hermione's eyes lit up, "Especially Professor Quirrell! He's so… nervous, maybe his office will have some oversight?
Or we can subtly probe…"
"A night visit to Quirrell's office." Lynn calmly continued her thought, using a declarative sentence rather than a question.
This overly bold idea made Harry and Ron both gasp.
"Are you crazy?" Ron whispered, "That's a Professor's office! Ten times more dangerous than the Restricted Section corridor!
Getting caught will definitely lead to expulsion!"
"So we need the invisibility cloak, and even more, a plan." Lynn's tone was unruffled, as if discussing tomorrow's weather, "The goal is clear: to find clues related to the Philosopher's Stone's protective measures or Nicolas Flamel (N.F.).
Don't take anything, just look.
Avoiding Filch and Madam Norris is the top priority, followed by choosing a time when Quirrell is most likely not there."
Hermione's heart beat faster due to nervousness and a hint of secret excitement.
This was risky, but Lynn's calmness anchored her.
She quickly retrieved information in her mind: "Professor Quirrell goes to the Library Restricted Sectionevery Wednesday evening from seven to nine to organize a batch of Ancient Runes texts; this is a privileged time he applied for from Madam Pince.
His office will be empty then.
Tomorrow is Wednesday."
The time window was set.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances; although still apprehensive, Lynn and Hermione's composure gave them courage.
"Alright," Harry took a deep breath, "Let's do it! But we must be extremely careful!"
---
On Wednesday evening, twilight draped Hogwarts Castle in a thin, grey-blue veil.
At six fifty, four figures once again squeezed under the invisibility cloak, passing silently through the quietening corridors like moving shadows.
This time, Hermione and Lynn were closer.
Every movement in the narrow space, the friction of fabric, the slight touch of an arm, made Hermioneclearly perceive Lynn's presence and his clean scent.
The moon-white stone pressed against her skin, sending waves of steady, reassuring warmth, as if silently echoing the heartbeat of the person beside her.
Quirrell's office was located in a secluded corner on the third floor of the Castle, with a dried, oddly shaped hornbeast skull hanging above the doorframe, emitting a faint, strange smell of mixed herbs and dust.
The corridor was empty, with only the faint snores of figures in distant portraits.
Lynn leaned his ear against the heavy wooden door for a moment, confirming there was no sound inside.
He took out his wand and softly chanted at the keyhole: "Alohomora."
With a soft click, the lock sprang open.
The four held their breath, and Harry gently pushed open a crack.
Inside, it was pitch black, permeated by a stronger, mixed scent—a rich garlic smell (which Quirrellclaimed was to ward off Vampires he encountered in Romania), old parchment, and some indescribable, moldy herb-like odor.
After confirming it was safe, the four quickly slipped in, and Harry closed the door behind him.
Quirrell's office was narrow and cluttered.
The walls were crammed with tall bookshelves, piled high with dusty scrolls, rusty instruments, and glass jars containing suspicious liquids or specimens.
A large desk, also cluttered, occupied most of the space.
The only light source was a dim oil lamp on the desk; the lamp oil seemed to be running out, and the flame flickered weakly.
"Split up and search, quickly!" Harry urged in a very low, suppressed voice, "Be careful not to knock anything over!"
Ron was immediately drawn to a miniature pyramid model that rotated on its own, placed on a shelf, and cautiously approached it.
Harry, meanwhile, quickly flipped through the scattered documents on the desk—mostly student assignments and manuscripts on Dark Arts Defense theory, with messy handwriting and heavy corrections.
Hermione's gaze quickly swept over the bookshelves, looking for any titles that might be related to the Philosopher's Stone or Alchemy.
Her fingertips traced over thick book spines: "Atlas of Eastern European Vampire Variants," "Basic Defensive Charms Theory (Revised Edition)," "Common Phobias in the Magical World and Their Cures"… no clues.
Lynn did not blindly rummage like the others.
He stood in the center of the office, his gaze, like the most precise detection spell, calmly scanned the entire environment.
Airborne dust motes floated in the dim light, and there was an imperceptible wear mark on the edge of the desk, as if someone often leaned there.
His gaze finally settled on a half-open drawer on the left side of the desk.
He walked over silently.
The drawer was crammed with all sorts of messy things: several used bandages (with a faint, strange medicinal smell), a box of damp matches, a few rusty bronze Knuts, and… a book with a dark purple hardback cover peeking out from underneath.
Lynn carefully pulled it out, avoiding disturbing other items.
The book was thick, its cover made of heavily worn dark purple dragon hide, without any gilded title, only a small, familiar ink mark in the bottom right corner—a raven holding a scroll.
His pupils constricted—this was Snape's personal mark!
He had seen a similar symbol on the door of the Potion Professor's office.
Turning to the flyleaf, a familiar, ornate and slightly cutting italicized line of text caught his eye:
*"advanced potion-making: Extraordinary Art and Forbidden Boundaries"*
*—By Severus Snape*
*Personal Annotated Edition*
This was Snape's personal, heavily annotated Potion treatise!
It absolutely should not be in Quirrell's drawer!
Lynn quickly flipped through the pages.
The pages were filled with that cold scent unique to Snape's office, a mixture of Potion ingredients and old books.
The blank spaces on the pages were covered with dense notes, the handwriting identical to that on the flyleaf, Snape's own hand.
The content was extremely profound, involving many advanced and even dangerous Potion recipes and theories.
However, what alarmed Lynn was not the knowledge itself, but the deep creases left on several pages that had been repeatedly turned, and the shaky, faint pencil marks next to certain paragraphs, distinctly different from Snape's handwriting—obviously left by Quirrell.
He sharply scanned the paragraphs marked by Quirrell:
*"…For certain highly parasitic Dark Arts entities, a mixture of moon-white stone powder and Unicornblood, combined with specific counter-curse gestures, can temporarily suppress their activity, at the cost of the host enduring intense soul-burning pain…" (Next to it, Quirrell's shaky handwriting: Tried it, effective but excruciatingly painful, not sustainable)*
*"…Devil's Snare's photophobic characteristic can be reversed by high-intensity light and heat spells, but one must be wary of its wrapping power multiplying when stimulated…" (Next to it, pencil mark: Needs strong light, Incendio? Lumos extremely effective?)*
*"…To deal with magical creatures guarding treasure, understanding their core weakness is crucial.
Music has a powerful calming and hypnotic effect on some species with acute hearing (such as Cerberus), this being a significant biological flaw…" (The blank space next to this paragraph was heavily circled by Quirrell)*
Lynn's heart sank.
These marks were as clear as signposts on a map!
They pointed to the key checkpoints guarding the Philosopher's Stone: suppressing some kind of parasite (most likely the trouble on Quirrell's own back of the head), passing through Devil's Snare, and using music to deal with Cerberus!
Quirrell was not only researching but very likely scouting for someone (or the entity on the back of his head)!
Snape's book was Quirrell's strategy guide!
"Someone's coming!" Ron, who was guarding the door and nervously peeking through the crack, suddenly let out a hurried, distorted gasp, like a chicken being choked.
Almost simultaneously, footsteps were heard outside the corridor!
It wasn't Filch's heavy boots, nor Madam Norris's light cat steps, but… a dragging, hesitant, slightly neurotic scuffing of shoes!
Accompanied by a few suppressed coughs—it was Quirrell!
He had returned early!
Chapter 28 Undercurrent and Starlight (Part 2)
The four people under the invisibility cloak froze instantly, their blood seemingly congealed. Hermionesubconsciously gripped Lynn's arm tightly, her nails almost digging into his skin through the fabric, her heart pounding as if it would leap from her throat. In the darkness, Lynn could clearly feel her body's tension and subtle trembling. He turned his hand and squeezed her wrist firmly, conveying a silent command: Calm down!
Lynn's reaction was extremely fast. As soon as Ron gave the warning, he had already lightning-fast shoved the dark purple Potion book back into its original drawer and brushed away any dust traces he might have left. His movements were fluid and silent, as if rehearsed a thousand times. His other hand quickly and firmly wrapped around Hermione's waist, pulling her away from the desk into a corner completely shrouded by the shadows of tall bookshelves.
"Hide!" he commanded in a whisper only the three beside him could hear.
Harry and Ron also reacted, scrambling towards the same corner. The four of them huddled together under the invisibility cloak, pressed against the cold, rough stone wall and the musty-smelling backs of the bookshelves, desperately shrinking into the deepest shadows, not daring to breathe.
Creak—
The office door was pushed open.
Professor Quirrell's figure appeared in the doorway, wrapped in his signature purple scarf, his face looking particularly pale and haggard in the dim light. He seemed very tired, muttering something about "wrong translation... Madam Pince really is..." as he rubbed his temples and shuffled in. He didn't immediately turn on the lights, just fumbled his way towards the desk in the darkness.
Under the invisibility cloak, four hearts were squeezed by an invisible hand, rising to their throats. Hermione pressed against Lynn's chest, clearly hearing his steady, strong heartbeat, a sound that miraculously slightly quelled her own panic. Lynn's hand remained firmly on her waist, his warm palm conveying a reassuring strength through the fabric. He lowered his head slightly, his warm breath brushing her forehead, bringing a slight tickle and an indescribable flutter. In the darkness, the moon-white stone and star stone, through the fabric, transmitted a strange, comforting warm resonance in sync.
Quirrell fumbled and lit the dim oil lamp on the desk. The faint yellow glow barely illuminated a small space. He slumped heavily into the chair behind the desk, letting out a long, pained sigh. He irritably tugged at his scarf, his fingers nervously tapping the desktop, his eyes staring blankly at the flickering flame, seemingly anxious about something, continuing to mumble words like "Master... time... pain..."
He completely failed to notice the slightly denser shadow in the corner of the office than usual, nor did he detect the almost imperceptible faint breaths behind the bookshelf. He sat there for several minutes, sometimes sighing, sometimes nervously wringing his fingers. For the four under the invisibility cloak, these few minutes stretched into what felt like centuries.
Finally, Quirrell seemed to have made some decision and suddenly stood up. He walked to the drawer Lynn had opened and pulled it open! Hermione's heart instantly leaped to her throat! If he discovered the book had been moved... Quirrell's hand fumbled in the drawer, pulling out a small black bottle containing a viscous, dark red liquid. He uncorked the bottle, an expression of extreme disgust and fear on his face, pinched his nose, and tilted his head back, drinking the liquid in one gulp! Immediately, he let out a suppressed, extremely painful groan, his body convulsed violently, beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead, and his face became even more ashen. He leaned on the desk, gasping for breath for a while, before throwing the empty bottle back into the drawer and locking it again. Then, without even glancing at the rest of the office, he stumbled out, seemingly eager to go somewhere to alleviate the pain caused by the Potion.
It wasn't until Quirrell's footsteps completely disappeared down the corridor, and after a good while, that the four people under the invisibility cloak dared to slowly and silently exhale a long breath they had held for so long.
"Merlin..." Ron's voice was filled with the exhaustion and trembling of someone who had narrowly escaped death, "What in Merlin's beard was he drinking?"
"It looked like... blood?" Harry's voice was also tight; that scene just now was too bizarre.
"He mentioned 'Master'!" Hermione's voice was extremely low, filled with shock and a chill, "And that pained expression... Lynn, that book..."
Lynn pulled Hermione, signaling everyone to leave this dangerous place first. The four once again transformed into flowing shadows, returning to Gryffindor Tower with the fastest speed and lightest movements.
When the fat lady's portrait closed behind them, and they were safely back in the noisy, warm common room, the four tore off the invisibility cloak, their faces pale with lingering fear.
"That book belongs to Snape!" Lynn said concisely, quickly recounting the key information he had seen, especially Quirrell's markings regarding suppressing parasitic entities, Devil's Snare, and Fluffy's weaknesses. "Quirrell is using Snape's research to try and bypass the protections for the Philosopher's Stone. He also has someone behind him, whom he calls 'Master.'"
"Parasitic entity... pain Potion..." Hermione's face was solemn, analyzing quickly, "Combined with how he drank the Potion just now... Professor Quirrell might be controlled by some powerful Dark Artscreature or... a Dark Wizard? Is he being forced? Is that why he's so afraid?"
"Snape threatened him! That day in the third-floor corridor!" Harry suddenly remembered, "Is Snapeforcing him to help 'Master' steal the Philosopher's Stone? Or stopping him?" The clues were intertwined and confusing, pointing to an even darker conspiracy.
"No matter who wants to steal it, Fluffy is just the first hurdle." Lynn's gaze swept over everyone. "Devil's Snare is the second hurdle. We need to prepare a strong light source. Hermione, you're good at spells."
"An extremely powerful version of Lumos, or... precisely controlled Incendio." Hermione immediately got into character, her brain working at high speed, "I need to practice."
"And that Potion..." Ron rubbed his arm, as if he could still feel Quirrell's pain from drinking the Potion, "He seemed very dependent on that stuff."
"The immediate priority is to get past Fluffy and Devil's Snare." Lynn made the decision. "Ron, your lullaby, it must be recorded by tomorrow. Hermione, the strong light spell is up to you. As for Quirrelland his 'Master' behind him..." He looked at the deep night outside the common room window, the star stone beneath his clothes giving off a faint, warning warmth, "Let's wait and see, gather more information. They're in more of a hurry than we are."
The plan progressed tensely and orderly. Ron got the recorder working, capturing an ancient, extremely gentle and soothing lullaby hummed by a House-elf in the Hogwarts Kitchen, which the twins' modified machine played loudly and clearly. Hermione, meanwhile, threw herself into spell practice, often spending hours in empty classrooms, aiming to boost "Lumos Maxima" to a strength sufficient to illuminate an entire room and make Devil's Snare instantly recoil, or to precisely control "Incendio" to only scorch the vines without causing a fire.
During these days of tense preparation, the Castle also quietly underwent changes. As January deepened, signs of melting snow became increasingly apparent; the wind blowing through the Castlecorridors was no longer biting, but carried a hint of damp earth. Students' heavy winter robes gradually gave way to slightly thinner woolen robes. And a more significant change was the restless yet sweet atmosphere that permeated the air.
The atmosphere of Valentine's Day, like a creeping vine, quietly spread throughout Hogwarts.
Pink and gold ribbons conjured by magic began to appear on the corridor window sills, and enchanted paper cranes clumsily flew around carrying love letters or small gifts, occasionally bumping into armor or portraits, eliciting good-natured laughter. Peeves had been particularly excited lately, scattering blush-inducing bubbles and magical confetti that sang off-key love songs everywhere.
"I can't stand it!" Ron exclaimed on the way to the Great Hall for breakfast, waving away a silver paper crane carrying a heart-shaped candy that almost hit his nose. "It's only the end of January! Valentine's Day is still two weeks away!"
"It's a Hogwarts tradition." Hermione shrugged, but her gaze was also involuntarily drawn to an elegantly flying blue paper crane carrying a small bouquet of magical roses. "Apparently, a notice has been posted on the bulletin board that this year's Valentine's Day special event is a 'Starlight Ball.'"
"A Ball?!" Harry and Ron exclaimed simultaneously, with different expressions. Harry was bewildered, while Ron looked a bit terrified.
"Yes," Hermione nodded, a hint of unnoticeable longing on her face. "It's on Valentine's Day evening, in the Great Hall. It's supposedly to help everyone relax after intense studying. The requirement... ahem, you need a partner."
"A partner?!" Ron's face instantly flushed crimson, like a boiled lobster, his eyes darting frantically. "This... this is too sudden! Who... who would..."
Harry also awkwardly ruffled his messy black hair.
Hermione's gaze seemingly unintentionally swept over Lynn beside her. He remained expressionless, walking quietly, as if the noisy Valentine's atmosphere and the word "Ball" had nothing to do with him. Hermione's small hope and nervousness, like a punctured balloon, quietly deflated a little. She pressed her lips together slightly.
Over the next few days, the "Starlight Ball" became the hottest topic in the Castle. Girls gathered excitedly discussing what dresses to wear, while boys awkwardly practiced invitation phrases (or, like Ron, tried to shrink into an invisibility cloak). Even the Library was not spared, with hushed discussions and low laughs of successful invitations often heard in the corners.
This afternoon, Hermione was practicing "Lumos Maxima" in an abandoned spell practice room on the seventh floor of the Castle. She was completely focused, the tip of her wand repeatedly erupting in dazzling white orbs of light, illuminating the dim classroom as bright as day. Sweat dampened the stray hairs on her forehead. After another spell, the orb of light hovered steadily and brightly in the air, lasting a full three seconds longer than last time. She let out a satisfied sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from her temple with her sleeve.
"Great progress." A calm voice came from the doorway.
Hermione jumped, almost dropping her wand. Turning around, she saw Lynn standing there, leaning against the doorframe, she didn't know when he had arrived. He held two books in his hand, his gaze fixed on the lingering glow at the tip of her wand.
"Lynn? How did you..." Hermione's heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
"The Library was full." Lynn explained concisely, walking in. "Heard the commotion on the way." He walked to the center of the classroom, looking up at the lingering magical light traces on the ceiling. "The brightness and stability are enough to repel Devil's Snare. What about Incendio?"
"Still practicing control range." Hermione answered honestly, walking to the side to pick up her kettle and take a sip. "Precisely controlling the flame not to spread is a bit difficult."
"Hmm." Lynn nodded, seemingly unsurprised. He put down the books he was holding, his gaze sweeping over Hermione's flushed cheeks and bright eyes from practice, pausing for a moment. The classroom was very quiet, with only the occasional sounds of students' laughter and paper cranes flapping their wings from outside the window. That sweet, peculiar Valentine's Day atmosphere in the air seemed to have quietly seeped in as well.
Hermione felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze, lowering her head to organize her wand. She could feel her cheeks getting slightly warm.
A brief silence. Lynn's gaze moved past Hermione, landing on a small object hanging from her backpack in the corner of the practice room—it was a small music box, inlaid with tiny sapphires, a Muggle gift her parents had sent at Christmas, which she had enchanted a little to play simple melodies.
"Starlight Ball," Lynn suddenly spoke, his voice still flat, betraying no emotion, "Do you have a partner?"
Hermione suddenly looked up, meeting Lynn's deep, calm eyes. Her heart felt as if an invisible hand had squeezed it, then began to pound wildly, thumping against her chest like a drum. The temperature of her cheeks instantly soared. He... he asked that? What did it mean? Was it a simple question? Or... She opened her mouth, feeling her throat dry, her mind blank; her usual pride in logical thinking and quick wit had all abandoned her. Those secret expectations that had quietly lingered in her heart, only to be forcibly suppressed, now surged up like a lake into which a stone had been thrown.
Outside the practice room window, a golden magical paper crane happened to fly by, scattering a string of tiny light points and off-key, sweet musical notes.