Chapter 50 Black Diamond Trap and Starlight Bracelet
The Starlight of the Astronomy Tower seemed to still linger on her lips, and Hermione unconsciously rubbed her lower lip, the heat in her earlobes not fading even as she walked into the Potion Classclassroom.
Lynn walked beside her, his expression normal, only the star stone beneath his clothes pulsed with a more stable and warm rhythm than usual, silently indicating the return of his primordial power.
The chilly dungeon classroom was filled with the bitter scent of herbs.
Professor Snape, his black robes billowing like a bat, was using his characteristic, venomous voice to "critique" Mr. Longbottom's cauldron of scabies Potion, which was emitting an eerie green smoke: "Mr. Longbottom, congratulations on successfully brewing a... new type of cleaner potent enough to corrode a cauldron?"
Hermione habitually pushed the prepared poisonous fang plant stems to Lynn's side, focusing herself on cutting the meditating caterpillars—this was the step she disliked the most.
Lynn took the stems, his fingertips moving slightly, and the silver-white Starlight, like the most precise carving knife, instantly decomposed them into uniformly sized thin slices, without losing any medicinal efficacy.
His movements were natural, as if he were merely brushing away dust.
"Before class ends," Professor Snape's icy voice interrupted their work, "place your shrinking Potionsamples and theoretical analysis parchment on the silver-plated tray to the left of the podium."
The students began to tidy up their assignments.
Hermione carefully poured the pearlescent blue Potion into a small crystal bottle and rolled up her parchment.
Just as she stood up to walk towards the podium, a short boy in Slytherin robes (Crabbe) rushed past her, head down, and "accidentally" bumped into her shoulder!
"Ah!" Hermione's hand trembled, and the crystal bottle flew out of her grasp!
A bony hand, quick as lightning, steadily intercepted the falling crystal bottle in mid-air.
Lynn had appeared beside her at some point, his gaze coldly sweeping towards Crabbe's stumbling retreat.
"Are you alright?" Lynn handed the bottle back to her.
"I'm fine." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, taking the bottle, but her fingertips touched a strange stickiness at the bottom.
She looked closer—a **black diamond brooch**, only the size of a button but emitting an ominous glow, was firmly attached to the bottom of the crystal bottle!
Inside the diamond, a wisp of viscous black gas slowly moved like a living thing!
Hermione's pupils contracted!
The dark resonance Lynn's Star Power had locked onto last night on the Astronomy Tower was exactly the same as this black diamond!
"Don't touch it!" Lynn's voice carried a rare urgency.
His fingertips instantly condensed a point of refined Starlight, precisely striking the black diamond—
Buzz!
The black diamond suddenly erupted with an invisible wave of mental shock!
Cold, slimy, seductive whispers instantly flooded Hermione's mind:
*"Come... come inside the walls... only there is safe... they are looking for you... run away quickly..."*
Hermione's eyes instantly became vacant, her body stiff, and the hand holding the crystal bottle uncontrollably lifted, the mouth of the bottle aimed at her lips—it contained concentrated shrinking Potion!
Once ingested, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"Imperio?!" Harry in the front row gasped, recognizing the characteristics of this evil spell!
"Hermione!" Ron was also stunned.
In a flash, Lynn's left hand had clamped Hermione's wrist like an iron vice, preventing her from drinking the poison.
At the same time, the Starlight from his right hand, which was striking the black diamond, did not retract; instead, its light surged, transforming into a condensed silver-white chain that instantly wrapped around the agitated black diamond!
"Sizzle—!"
A harsh corrosive sound rang out!
The Starlight chain and the viscous black gas emanating from the black diamond clashed fiercely, like ice water poured onto boiling oil!
The black gas twisted and struggled wildly, emitting resentful shrieks that could only be perceived on a mental level!
Hermione's body trembled violently, and her vacant eyes struggled with pain and confusion.
"Look at me, Hermione!" Lynn's voice was deep and powerful, carrying the unique resonance of Star Power, directly penetrating the evil whispers and crashing into the depths of Hermione's muddled consciousness, "Starlight never dies!"
This familiar call was like a lighthouse!
Hermione's scattered pupils suddenly focused, reflecting Lynn's close-up face, filled with worry and determination.
She gasped for air, cold sweat soaking her temples, and the crystal bottle in her hand fell to the ground with a "snap," shattering into pieces, the blue Potion splashing everywhere.
The black diamond, tightly bound by the Starlight chain, also rolled to the ground, its eerie glow dimming, and the black gas inside ceasing to move, as if temporarily sealed.
The entire classroom was dead silent.
Professor Snape had appeared by the podium at some point, his dark eyes fixed on the black diamond on the floor and Hermione's wrist, which was entwined by the Starlight chain, his face so grim it could drip water.
"Professor Snape!" Harry reacted, pointing at the black diamond and the still-shaken Hermione, "Someone used Imperio on Hermione! With this black diamond!"
Professor Snape ignored Harry, waved his wand, and a transparent magic shield instantly covered the black diamond on the floor along with the Starlight chain.
His sharp gaze, like a surgical knife, swept over Lynn's hand holding Hermione's and the lingering Starlight chain, finally resting on Lynn's face, his voice cold and slimy: "Exquisite... methods of resistance, Mr. Stone.
It seems you have quite a 'talent' for resisting the Dark Arts?"
The word "talent" was bitten off with extreme emphasis, full of scrutiny.
Lynn calmly met his gaze, the Starlight chain slowly dissipating: "Instinctive reaction, Professor."
He still held Hermione's cold, trembling wrist, not letting go.
Professor Snape snorted, not pressing further, and carefully used magic to levitate and collect the shielded black diamond.
"Miss Granger, go to the Hospital Wing after class.
Everyone else," his cold gaze swept over the cowering students, "continue to complete your... Potions."
***
The antiseptic smell of the Hospital Wing couldn't dispel the chill in Hermione's heart.
After an examination, Madam Pomfrey confirmed that she had only suffered a fright and a minor mental shock, and prescribed a bottle of calming, bubblegum-flavored Potion.
"It's Lucius Malfoy... it must be!" Hermione sat on the hospital bed wrapped in a blanket, her face still somewhat pale, but her eyes had regained their sharpness, "That black diamond... and the diary's aura are from the same source!
He wants to control me... to lead me to the Basilisk!"
She recalled the cold, seductive whispers, and her body involuntarily shivered.
Lynn sat by the bed, silently placing a cup of hot cocoa in her hand.
The warm ceramic cup dispelled the chill from her fingertips.
"It won't happen again." His voice was not loud, but it carried the weight of a bedrock.
He spread his palm, and a flowing wisp of silver-white Starlight floated above it.
The Starlight twined and shaped itself around his fingertips, finally condensing into a delicate and exquisite bracelet.
The chain itself was woven from fine Starlight, with a small, constantly emanating soft warmth **star core crystal** in the center.
"Give me your hand," Lynn said.
Hermione numbly extended her left hand.
Lynn lowered his gaze, gently fastening the starlight bracelet onto her slender wrist.
The moment the star core crystal touched her skin, a gentle yet firm warm current instantly surged through her limbs, dispelling the last trace of coldness that had lingered in her heart.
The moon-white stone at her neck resonated with it, emitting a soft, harmonious glow.
"It will guard your consciousness." Lynn's fingertips brushed the warm star core, then gently tapped her still somewhat pale lips, "More effective than Potion."
Hermione lowered her head, looking at the Starlight-flowing bracelet on her wrist, then at Lynn's focused profile so close to her, and a warm current mixed with an indescribable flutter rushed to her eyes.
She suddenly leaned in, quickly pressing a cocoa-sweet kiss, light as a butterfly's wing, on the corner of his lips.
"More effective than Starlight," she whispered, blushing, and gently rested her head on his shoulder.
The warmth of the star core bracelet enveloped her wrist, like his silent promise.
***
Deep in the dungeon, Professor Snape's private storage room.
The black diamond, sealed by a magic shield, floated above a boiling cauldron.
Professor Snape stared at the dormant black gas inside the diamond, fine silver-blue memory threads seeping from the tip of his wand, attempting to penetrate and analyze it.
Suddenly, the black gas violently erupted!
It condensed into a blurred and twisted juvenile face, letting out a silent shriek at Professor Snape!
A powerful backlash of mental shock slammed into Professor Snape's consciousness!
Professor Snape grunted, retreating two steps, the light at the tip of his wand instantly dimming.
A trace of pain and profound horror flashed across his pale face.
He stared intently at the now silent black diamond, complex undercurrents swirling in his eyes—surprise, apprehension, and a hint of... imperceptible tremor.
***
The Gryffindor Common Room's fireplace cast a warm golden-red glow.
Hermione curled up on the sofa, her injured left wrist resting on the armrest, the star core bracelet glowing with a tranquil light.
Her right hand held a pen, and in the blank space of the hearth agreement parchment, she seriously added a new rule:
> **Supplementary Clause Four: The Supervisor has the right to request the supervisee to create Starlight accessories as protective equipment.**
Lynn sat on the carpet beside her, leaning against the sofa, a copy of "Hogwarts: A History" spread on his lap (Hermione insisted he needed "relaxing reading").
His gaze, however, did not linger on the book, but fell on the mantelpiece—there, a tiny **Starlight Guardian Lion**, no bigger than a fingernail, condensed from Starlight he controlled, was majestically pacing, warding off the cold air attempting to spread from the shadows of the fireplace.
Hermione finished writing the clause, set down her pen with satisfaction, and her gaze was also drawn to the lively little lion.
She extended her finger, and the little lion immediately jumped onto her fingertip, nuzzling affectionately and leaving a touch of warm Starlight.
"It says," Hermione laughed, showing the little lion on her fingertip to Lynn, "that Clause Four of the agreement was executed perfectly."
Lynn looked at her warm, smiling face, illuminated by the fireplace, and then at the guardian Starlight on her wrist, the star stone in his chest resonating steadily and warmly.
He extended his finger, and the little lion lightly leaped back into his palm, transforming into a wisp of Starlight and merging into his body.
Outside the window, snowflakes fell silently, covering the eerie blue ice marks on the Castle walls.
But in the warm Common Room, Starlight flowed on her wrist, and the guardian pact was silently strengthened.
The shadow of the black diamond temporarily retreated, but on the chessboard, both sides had revealed their deadly fangs.
Hermione's fingertips unconsciously traced the words "Starlight accessories" on the parchment, her gaze sweeping over Lynn's calm profile, and the warmth in her heart dispelled all chill.
Chapter 51: Ice Mark Clues and Shared Starlight
When Filch nailed the sign warning of Madam Norris's icy petrification to the Great Hall doors, panic, like cold vines, tightened around Hogwarts' ankles.
The sign, written in scarlet paint, read:
**BEWARE THE CHILL FROM WITHIN THE WALLS! THE PURGING HAS BEGUN!**
**— THE HEIR'S WILL**
"Purging... He's talking about Muggle-borns!" Lavender Brown's voice trembled at the Gryffindorbreakfast table, her fork poking at the fried egg on her plate, completely without appetite.
"Filch is always yelling about expelling us, and now he's the one being 'purged'?" Ron scoffed, but his eyes also held a hint of unease as he glanced across the long table—Ginny was hunched over, mechanically stirring her oatmeal, her wrist hidden in her sleeve, the worn diary seemingly a part of her.
A steady warmth emanated from Hermione's starlight bracelet, dispelling the chill in her heart.
She naturally placed a slice of bread, spread with marmalade, onto Lynn's plate: "Sugar replenishment, per the hearth agreement." Since the Potion Class incident, she had been even stricter in enforcing the hearth agreement.
Lynn picked up the slice of bread, but his gaze drifted over the noisy Great Hall to the Slytherin table.
Malfoy was pontificating to Pansy Parkinson, a gleam of schadenfreude in his grey-blue eyes, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for those nearby to hear:
"...I've always said the Castle needed a thorough 'cleaning.' Some people, with their... scent, shouldn't be here.
Now, the true Guardians has begun to act, hasn't he?" He pointedly glanced towards Gryffindor, lingering especially on Hermione and Lynn.
"He's talking about us!" Harry clenched his fists in anger.
"Ignore him, Harry," Hermione said calmly, though her brow was furrowed.
"He's inciting panic and diverting attention." She looked at Lynn, lowering her voice, "The diary and the black diamond's resonance... Malfoy is definitely involved."
Lynn swallowed the bread, his fingertip unconsciously tracing a cold arc on the tablecloth, the star stone faintly throbbing—a residual sensation of the Basilisk's path through the serpentine pipes.
"We need proof," his voice was low, "proof pointing to the Chamber of Secrets."
The defense against the dark arts class devolved into a disastrous Lockhart solo show.
He attempted to recreate his "classic battle" of "wrestling a Troll," directing two clumsy, engorgement-charmed garden gnome dolls (substituting for Trolls) to flail about in the center of the classroom.
"Watch my footwork! Elegant! Composed!" Lockhart's golden hair flew as he dodged a gnome doll's wildly swinging carrot arm (a prop), nearly knocking over the podium.
"The key is to disarm their fighting spirit with a smile! Watch me—my charming smile attack!"
His response was Seamus Finnigan accidentally igniting the stuffing of another gnome doll, instantly filling the classroom with thick smoke and flying fluff.
Students coughed and scattered, the scene a chaotic mess.
"Cough, cough... This is practically murder!" Ron waved away the smoke and fluff in front of his eyes.
"We need real Defense Against the Dark Arts, not a circus act!" Hermione's cheeks flushed with anger as she pulled Lynn behind a corner bookshelf.
In the chaos, Lynn's gaze, sharp as an eagle's, caught something unusual—near the seam where the classroom floor met the wall at the back, a few extremely faint, shimmering, icy blue ice crystals were quietly forming!
The shape of the ice crystals resembled the cold condensation trail left by a large serpent's movement!
The star stone transmitted a clear throb—the Basilisk had just passed beneath here not long ago!
These ice crystals were residual magic dissipating from its movement!
"Look there," Lynn whispered, only loud enough for Hermione to hear, his fingertip subtly pointing to the ice crystal traces.
Hermione's pupils instantly dilated!
She immediately crouched down, using the bookshelf for cover, and pulled out a small crystal prism (an Astronomy Class tool) and a special parchment filter membrane that could absorb magical residue from her bag.
She quickly aimed the prism at the ice crystals, and a faint beam of light refracted onto the filter membrane, which immediately showed faint, winding, icy blue light traces on its surface—exactly the trajectory map of the serpentine pipes!
"magic residue imaging..." Hermione's voice carried the excitement of discovering a new continent.
"It can record the direction of the traces! Too bad it's too faint, limited in range..."
"It's enough." Lynn looked at the clear partial pipe direction on the filter membrane, and a crucial piece was added to the complete pipe map in his mind.
He looked at Lockhart, who was still trying to maintain his composure in the smoke; this chaotic class had become an excellent cover.
After class, students poured out of the smoke-filled classroom.
Around a quiet corner on the second floor, Hermione excitedly showed the filter membrane to Harryand Ron: "Look! These are the traces the monster left when it moved!
If we follow this direction, we're sure to find a key node for the pipe entrance!"
Harry and Ron leaned in to look at the icy blue serpentine light traces, their faces full of wonder.
"Cool! Hermione, when did you get this?" Ron asked.
"Just a slight modification of the magic imaging principle," Hermione said casually, but her eyes sparkled, and she secretly glanced at Lynn beside her.
"But the range is too small," Harry frowned, "the Castle is so big..."
"So we need more 'samples'," Hermione's eyes gleamed with Gryffindor fighting spirit, "We'll place filter membranes wherever it might appear again!"
In the Restricted Section of the Library late at night, the air was thick with dust and the smell of ancient parchment.
Madam Pince's footsteps had just faded when Hermione immediately emerged from the shadow of a bookshelf, carefully pasting the last special parchment filter membrane below a vent near the wall.
This was where Filch claimed to have "heard scratching sounds" yesterday.
"Done." She breathed a sigh of relief, dusting off her hands.
Turning around, she found that Lynn wasn't keeping watch but was standing in front of a dusty glass display case not far away.
The display case contained a large, open metal book, its pages covered with strange, incised patterns resembling the orbits of stars.
"'The Theory of Starlight and Leyline Resonance'..." Hermione leaned closer, reading the blurry brass plaque beneath the display case.
"A treasure of the Restricted Section? You're interested in this?"
"A little related." Lynn's gaze fell on the abstruse patterns, and the star stone resonated faintly.
He extended a finger, tracing in the air a pattern on the page that represented the flow of magic.
Just then, the starlight bracelet on his wrist (Hermione insisted he wear a matching Guardians) suddenly glowed.
Lynn's thoughts stirred, and a hair-thin wisp of Starlight seeped from the bracelet, penetrated the glass display case, and gently touched the indentations on the metal page.
Buzz—
The dormant patterns on the page suddenly lit up with a soft silver glow!
The wisp of Starlight was like a fuse, flowing rapidly along the incised tracks, instantly illuminating the entire complex and profound pattern on the page!
The light flowed through the dim Restricted Section, illuminating their surprised faces.
"merlin's beard..." Hermione covered her mouth, her eyes wide.
"It... it reacted to your Star Power?"
The light only lasted a few seconds before gradually fading.
Lynn retracted the Starlight, deep in thought: "This book... records methods for detecting and stabilizing leyline energy nodes using Star Power.
Perhaps..." He looked at the wall, "we can find a more precise way to locate the serpentine pipes."
Hermione immediately pulled out her notebook and quill: "Quick! Draw down the resonating patterns we just saw! We'll go back and study them!" Her eyes burned with a researcher's fervor.
Lynn took the pen and quickly sketched on the paper.
Hermione leaned in close, her warm breath brushing his ear, intently watching the lines flow from his pen.
Her faint citrus scent, mixed with the smell of parchment, lingered at his nose.
The cold air of the Library seemed to thin and warm with their closeness.
After drawing the last stroke, Lynn looked up, his gaze meeting Hermione's close-up, brown eyes, sparkling with the light of curiosity.
The distance between them was so close that he could see the tremor of her eyelashes.
The starlight bracelet on both their wrists simultaneously emitted a soft, synchronized glow, like two resonating heartbeats.
Hermione's cheeks flushed visibly, like ripe peaches.
She abruptly stepped back, nervously snatching the notebook and clutching it to her chest: "Uh... you drew it very well! I mean... it's very valuable for research!
We should go back! Madam Pince is coming!"
She turned to leave, her steps somewhat flustered.
Lynn watched her retreating figure, then looked down at the warm starlight bracelet on his wrist, feeling a steady, warm pulsation from the star stone.
He followed, one after the other, winding through the deep maze of bookshelves, only the Starlightflowing on their wrists silently connecting them, dispelling the heavy shadows of the Restricted Sectionand the chilling panic pervading the Castle.
Chapter 52: Star Map Guidance and Lockhart's Treasure
The Starlight patterns on the metal pages of the Restricted Section were precisely replicated by Lynnonto parchment, resembling a cipher where ancient star charts intertwined with earth veins.
Hermione almost pressed her face to the drawing, her fingertip tracing a winding silver line: "Look here! This energy node marker perfectly matches the ice crystal trajectory we found in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom!
It points to... a disused magic hub near the abandoned girls' lavatory on the second floor!"
"Myrtle's territory," Harry immediately reacted, "That's where the pipes are densest!"
"And according to the star chart," Hermione excitedly pointed to another intersection heavily marked by Starlight, "there's an ancient 'diversion valve' here, which theoretically can temporarily cut off or change the flow direction of energy in specific pipes!
If we can control it, we can set a trap on the Basilisk's path, or at least... seal off part of its activity area!"
Ron leaned over, scratching his head at the abstruse lines: "Sounds great, but how do we find this 'valve'? Is it in the wall?"
"The star chart shows the entrance is..." Hermione's finger moved along the patterns, finally stopping at one spot, "...beneath the stall where Myrtle is, behind a loose inscribed floor tile?"
"In the girls' toilet?!" Ron shrieked, his face crumpling, "Merlin's smelly socks! How do we get in? Are we supposed to wear an invisibility cloak and listen to Myrtle cry all night?"
"Perhaps... we could ask her for a favor?" Hermione looked at Lynn, a cunning glint in her eyes.
***
The process of convincing Myrtle was more 'lively' than imagined.
When Lynn calmly suggested, "I'd like to see the floor tile with the beautiful patterns beneath your stall," Myrtle first froze, then burst into even more piercing wails, stirring up echoing storms in the lavatory:
"Waaah—! I knew it! You living people are only interested in my toilet! You even want to steal my only secret corner! Waaah waaah waaah... why don't I just drown..."
Hermione endured the ear-splitting wails, stepped forward, her tone filled with genuine sympathy: "Myrtle, we're not trying to steal your spot.
We want to... protect it.
Recently, a terrifying 'icy' monster has been wandering in the walls of the Castle, and we suspect it might damage your favorite corner.
"She pointed to Lynn, "He has special abilities, and perhaps he can help reinforce this place for you, to make it safer."
"Icy monster?" Myrtle's crying stopped abruptly, her translucent body floated in front of Lynn, examining him curiously, "You? Reinforce my toilet? How? Turn it into a bubble bath with a bubble charm?"
She asked, sniffling.
"With Starlight," Lynn said concisely, a soft yet steady Star Radiance coalescing at his fingertip, which he lightly touched to the floor at the entrance of Myrtle's stall.
The Starlight flowed like mercury, outlining a brief but beautiful star-trail pattern on the surface of the floor tile, dispelling the cold dampness of the corner.
"Oh!" Myrtle covered her mouth (though she had no physical form), her eyes wide, "It's... it's so beautiful! Like the light from the most expensive wand in Ollivander's window!"
She instantly forgot to cry, floating around the Starlight pattern, "Alright... if it's to protect my territory from being destroyed by monsters... that annoying broken brick is behind the third toilet on the left!
Pry it open yourself! Don't damage my door!" She finished, and with a 'whoosh', she dove into the innermost flushing toilet pipe, leaving only the sound of splashing water.
Harry and Ron were dumbfounded.
Hermione gave Lynn a thumbs-up, then quickly pulled out a small knife and a crowbar (thanks to the twins' 'friendly contribution').
***
Just as the trio (Lynn was responsible for keeping watch and providing a steady light source) painstakingly pried open the loose floor tile, which was carved with faint serpentine patterns, revealing the dark, narrow passage entrance below, smelling of rust and limescale—
"Bang!"
The door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office was violently flung open!
Lockhart's signature golden hair and brilliant smile appeared in the doorway, followed by a reluctant Colin Creevey, his camera hanging around his neck.
"Aha! My brave little explorers!" Lockhart spread his arms as if to embrace the entire lavatory, "Mr.
Creevey told me you are on a top-secret mission against the Dark Arts?
How exciting! As your Professor and guiding light, how could I be absent?"
Harry and Ron instantly turned to stone.
Hermione quickly kicked the pried-open floor tile back into place (leaving only a crack), stood up, and forced a smile: "Professor Lockhart! We were just... well... helping Myrtle with a pipe blockage!
She was crying so sadly!"
"Pipe blockage?" Lockhart's eyes lit up, as if he had heard of excellent material, "What a dramatic challenge! Let me think... 'Seven Days of Battle with the Sewer Slugs'? Or 'The Weeping Ghost and My Pipe-Clearing wand'?
"He drew his wand, striking an exaggerated pose, "Witness greatness! Lockhart's exclusive secret technique — Aqua Eructo!"
A powerful jet of water shot from his wand tip, aimed directly at the toilet where Myrtle was hiding!
"Ah—!!!" Myrtle's scream, mixed with violent splashes, erupted from the toilet pipe, instantly drenching Lockhart from head to toe!
"Pfft!" Ron couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Harry quickly lowered his head, pretending to cough.
Hermione covered her face.
Lockhart, with his wet, no longer shiny golden hair, water dripping down his stiff smile, and his expensive gold and scarlet robes clinging to his body, looked utterly disheveled.
Colin Creevey's camera shutter clicked at an inopportune moment.
"Pro... Professor," Hermione stifled her laughter, "You are truly... truly heroic!
But please leave this to us!
You should go back and change your clothes quickly, lest you catch a cold!" Her tone was incredibly sincere.
Lockhart wiped the water from his face, trying to maintain his composure: "Ahem... it seems... this requires more... professional handling.
Children, remember, safety first! If you have any difficulties, always come to Gilderoy Lockhart!"
He left with a platitude, wringing the dripping hem of his robe, and left somewhat hastily, leaving Colinstanding awkwardly.
"Uh... do you need my help?" Colin asked quietly.
"No, Colin, thank you!" Hermione immediately said, "It... doesn't smell very good here."
After seeing Colin off, the three (plus Myrtle, who had floated out of the pipe, huffing) finally breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the narrow entrance.
"Now what?" Ron looked at the dark entrance, "Go down and see?"
"The space below is too small, and it might be dangerous," Hermione shook her head, looking at Lynn, "The star chart says that valve is magically controlled.
Lynn, can your Star Power resonate with it?"
Lynn squatted down, hovering his hand above the crack in the floor tile.
He closed his eyes, and the starlight bracelet on his wrist lit up, a wisp of condensed Starlight, like a spiritual snake, probed into the crack and disappeared into the darkness.
The star stone transmitted a clear pulse, sensing the ancient metal construct that had been dormant for a century below.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes, his fingertips moving slightly.
A dull 'click' sounded from deep underground, as if huge gears were meshing, and an invisible magic fluctuation spread out from the entrance.
"Valve status... locked," Lynn stood up, "It has temporarily cut off several main branch pipes leading to the Castle's East Wing."
"Well done!" Harry excitedly clapped his hands, "At least it restricts part of that monster's activity range!"
Hermione's face also showed a relieved smile, and her gaze towards Lynn was full of trust.
She habitually pulled out a piece of orange cake wrapped in tin foil from her pocket, broke it in half, and handed it to him: "A reward for the hero."
Lynn took it, his fingertips accidentally brushing her palm.
They exchanged a glance, no words needed, their unspoken understanding complete.
The starlight bracelet on their wrists flickered synchronously with a soft glow.
***
At dinner, the Gryffindor atmosphere was somewhat relaxed due to the successful locking of some pipes.
Hermione was sharing a new flavor of cake (raspberry chocolate filling) sent by Aunt Monica with Lynnwhen Ginny suddenly stumbled into the Great Hall, her face paler than ever, her lips purple, clutching the diary tightly.
"Ginny!" Percy immediately stood up.
"I... I'm fine..." Ginny's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes unfocused, "Just... a little cold..."
As she passed Hermione, her body swayed violently.
Hermione quickly steadied her.
At the moment of contact, the starlight bracelet on her wrist suddenly burst into a strong, warning cold light!
A bone-chilling cold aura suddenly shot towards Hermione from the point of contact!
"Ugh!" Hermione grunted, feeling as if she had been stabbed by an ice pick.
At the same time, the starlight bracelet on Lynn's wrist also lit up abruptly!
A gentle but powerful warm current instantly surged out, not only dispelling the cold Hermione felt but also forming an invisible barrier, forcefully pushing back the chilling dark aura emanating from Ginny!
Ginny, as if burned, trembled violently, abruptly shook off Hermione's hand, looked at Lynn in terror, and stumbled towards the Ravenclaw table, clutching the diary (she seemed to want to avoid everyone).
"What's going on?" Ron looked confused as his sister ran off.
"She has... a very strong chill about her," Hermione rubbed her wrist, still feeling lingering fear.
The coldness and malice of that dark aura just now were even worse than the black diamond from Potion Class!
The protective glow of the starlight bracelet slowly subsided, but the residual coldness left her fingertips icy.
Lynn didn't speak, he just held Hermione's cold hand in his warm palm.
Star Power permeated through their touching skin, continuously dispelling the lingering chill.
He looked in the direction Ginny had disappeared, his gaze as heavy as ice.
The diary's erosion had reached a critical point.
The threat of the Basilisk was like an ice pick hanging overhead, ready to fall at any moment.
The warm candlelight of the Great Hall could not dispel this silent chill.
Hermione clasped Lynn's warm hand in return, drawing strength from him.
Starlight flowed silently between their clasped fingers, like a tiny lighthouse against the darkness.
Chapter 53: Warm Hearth on a Cold Night and Starlight Medicine
Ginny's retreating figure from the Great Hall was like a withered leaf swept away by a cold wind, leaving behind a table of frozen silence and bone-chilling residual coldness. Hermione subconsciously rubbed her wrist, which had just been assailed by Ginny's cold aura; the warmth of her starlight bracelet was working hard to dispel that bone-deep chill.
"What's wrong with her?" Ron stared in the direction of the Ravenclaw table, his voice tight. "She looks like she's just been pulled out of an ice lake..."
"The diary," Harry whispered, his green eyes full of worry. "That thing is sucking her life force! Lynn, just now..."
"It's accelerating its erosion," Lynn's voice was deep and steady, his palm enveloping Hermione's slightly cool hand. Star Power flowed gently and firmly into her, like a warm stream soothing her taut nerves. He looked towards the teachers' table; Dumbledore's gaze was also passing over the bustling crowd, landing on Ginny, his blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles as deep as the sea.
Hermione took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She gripped Lynn's hand firmly in return, drawing strength from his composure, then turned to Harry and Ron, her tone imbued with Gryffindor's resolve: "We can't wait any longer. We must get the Basilisk's poisonous fang and destroy that diary! The valve has locked the east wing's pipes, but the main passage is still active. The star chart marks several possible 'node intersections'; for the monster to move, it must pass through there!"
"How do we know when it will come out?" Ron asked, his face troubled.
"It needs 'eyes'," Lynn suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but it instantly silenced the three. "Ginny... she is its eyes. The diary controls her to write down a target, and then the Basilisk attacks. The next attack... won't be far off."
A chill, more intense than what Ginny had brought, quietly crept up their spines. Hermione's hand trembled slightly in Lynn's palm, but he held her tighter.
Deep in the night, in the Gryffindor Common Room, the fire crackled in the fireplace, dispelling the cold outside the window. Hermione, wrapped in a thick blanket, was curled up on a sofa near the fire, a replica of the star chart and a pile of notes spread across her lap, her brow furrowed. Lynn sat on the rug beside her, leaning against the armrest of the sofa, eyes closed in meditation. The star stonebeneath his robes emitted a steady, warm pulsation, like a quiet heartbeat.
"The abandoned magic hub near Myrtle's lavatory is the best ambush point... but how do we ensure the Basilisk will pass through there? What if it takes another branch?" Hermione bit the end of her quill, muttering to herself in distress.
"Use 'bait'," Lynn said calmly, without opening his eyes.
"Bait?" Hermione looked up. "You mean... like Madam Norris last time? But Filch is watching Madam Norris even more closely now..."
"Not a living thing," Lynn slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of golden light passing through them. He spread his palm, and a wisp of condensed silver Starlight rose and took shape in his hand, finally solidifying into a Starlight crystal the size of a dragon's eye, emitting a soft, clear glow. Inside the crystal, tiny streams of light slowly rotated, like a miniature galaxy. "A pure energy body. For the Basilisk, it's the ultimate 'pure' temptation, and also a fatal threat. It will be instinctively drawn to it and try to destroy it."
Hermione's eyes instantly lit up: "Like moths to a flame! Put it near the pipe opening at the node intersection! The Basilisk will sense this high concentration of pure energy and will definitely be attracted to investigate or even attack!" She excitedly leaned closer, almost touching the brilliant crystal in Lynn's palm. "That's brilliant! Lynn! Is this... the power of the star core?"
"Mm," Lynn responded, looking at Hermione's close-up, sparkling brown eyes, shining with excitement, and the faint citrus scent lingering around her nose. The glow of the fireplace cast a warm golden edge on her fluffy curls.
"But... how do we deploy it?" Hermione's excitement was quickly replaced by practical concerns. "The pipe opening is deep inside the wall..."
"Resonance guidance," Lynn's fingertip gently tapped the node position marked on the star chart. "Star Power can penetrate matter and temporarily anchor. Create a miniature 'Star Power field' at the node as a beacon to attract the crystal's energy fluctuations."
"Like... fishing!" Hermione suddenly understood, then looked at him worriedly. "But won't that consume a lot? You've only just recovered..."
"Within controllable range," Lynn offered the Starlight crystal in his palm to her. "This, you'll need to process."
Hermione carefully took it. The crystal felt warm to the touch, carrying a comforting energy pulsation. "Process? How?"
"Wrap it in a layer of energy-inert shell, isolating most of the fluctuations, only releasing them at a preset time," Lynn explained. "It requires... the power of the moon-white stone."
Hermione immediately understood, taking off the moon-white stone pendant from her neck. The milky white stone shimmered with a gentle luster in the firelight. She mimicked Lynn, holding the pendant close to the Starlight crystal, concentrating, and attempting to guide the moon-white stone's restrained, gentle power.
At first, it wasn't smooth. The moon-white stone's light merely flickered faintly, like shy breathing. Hermione frowned in annoyance, tiny beads of sweat appearing on her nose.
A slightly cool hand gently covered the back of her hand, which held the pendant and crystal. Lynn's breath came close: "Relax. Feel its rhythm, as natural as breathing."
His fingertips carried a faint Star Power, like the gentlest guidance. Hermione closed her eyes, clearing her mind, and immersed herself in the moon-white stone's gentle pulsation. Gradually, the moon-white stone's light became steady and soft, flowing out like water, gently enveloping the brilliant Starlightcrystal.
The Starlight crystal's light gradually became subdued under the moon-white stone's soft glow, finally transforming into a smooth, white sphere with a pearly, warm luster, only a faint silver glimmer faintly visible from its core.
"It worked!" Hermione opened her eyes, looking with surprise at the warm "pearl" in her palm.
Lynn looked at the pure joy in her eyes and the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, his lips curving almost imperceptibly. He raised his hand and gently brushed away the glistening bead of sweat from her nose.
The cool touch made Hermione's body stiffen, and two red clouds instantly bloomed on her cheeks, hotter than the fireplace itself. She instinctively drew back her neck, like a startled small animal, but forgot that her hand was still covered by Lynn's.
They were extremely close, their breaths audible. The fire crackled, and time seemed to freeze at that moment. Hermione could clearly see the curve of Lynn's eyelashes and her own shy reflection in his eyes. The starlight bracelet and moon-white stone pendant simultaneously emitted a soft, synchronized warm glow between their intertwined hands, like two resonating hearts.
"Ahem..." Hermione was the first to falter, hastily pulling back her hand and clutching the wrapped "pearl" tightly in her palm, as if holding a burning coal. "So... that... the bait is ready! When do we act?"
Lynn withdrew his hand, the faint warmth of her skin lingering on his fingertips. The star stone pulsed steadily within his chest, carrying a strange sense of satisfaction. "Wait for Ginny's next abnormality. When the diary controls her to write a name, that's the signal."
Ginny's "signal" came sooner than expected. Two days later, just after Charms Class, Lavender Brownrushed into the crowd in a panic, finding Hermione: "Hermione! Ginny... Ginny's in the girls' lavatory! She... she's locked herself in a stall, and there are strange scratching sounds and... and whispers coming from inside! It's so scary!"
Hermione and Lynn exchanged a glance, instantly understanding! They took off running, Harry and Ronclose behind.
Several uneasy girls were already gathered at the entrance to Myrtle's lavatory. From inside the stall came a grating sound of fingernails scraping wood, and Ginny's broken, icy whispers, like a dream:
"...must...purge...the filth...Hermione Granger..."
Hearing her name uttered in such a cold and eerie way, a chill instantly shot up Hermione's spine. But the starlight bracelet on her wrist immediately sent a warm, firm sense of protection, dispelling the fear.
Lynn's eyes sharpened, and he kicked the stall door panel without hesitation!
"Bang!"
The door panel flew open! The sight inside was hair-raising—Ginny was kneeling on the floor with her back to the door, her face ashen, her eyes rolled back, showing only the whites. The nail of her right index finger was split and bleeding, and she was frantically scratching Hermione's name onto the damp floor tiles with her bloody fingertip! The open black diary lay before her, thick, tar-like black mist seeping from its cover, coiling around her body in wisps!
"Ginny!" Ron shrieked.
Just as the black mist sensed the intruders, it surged up violently, trying to lunge at Hermione! Lynnmoved!
The starlight bracelet on his wrist suddenly erupted with an unprecedented brilliant light! At the same time, Hermione, as if divinely inspired, forcefully threw the moon-white stone-wrapped "pearl" she had been clutching in her hand towards the pre-planned corner near the pipe opening!
The moment the pearl left her hand, the moon-white stone's soft glow on its surface shattered like an eggshell! The pure and powerful Starlight crystal light, previously suppressed within, instantly burst forth!
Boom—!!!
It was like a small sun exploding in the corner of the lavatory! The blinding, pure Starlight, with its fatal attraction to darkness, instantly filled the entire space! The surging black mist that had lunged at Hermione recoiled as if burned by a hot iron, letting out a piercing shriek that only souls could perceive, and violently retreated back into the diary!
And deeper underground, in the depths of the pipes, a furious hiss, accompanied by violent crashing sounds, boomed forth! The entire lavatory floor trembled! Wall dust cascaded down! The Basilisk was utterly enraged by that pure "star core" energy!
"It's coming!" Harry's face was ashen.
"Get Ginny out!" Lynn roared, stepping forward to shield Hermione, his body surging with Star Power, poised for action! His gaze was sharp as a sword, locked firmly on the ground near the Starlightexplosion point—that was the designated battlefield!
Hermione and Ron scrambled to pull the limp, unconscious Ginny from the floor. Harry, wand raised, nervously guarded them.
The Starlight in the corner slowly receded, as if the bait had been swallowed. And the terrifying hissing and crashing sounds from beneath the ground, like death's drumbeat, grew closer and clearer! A cold, foul wind seeped from the pipe cracks, carrying the grating noise of scales scraping stone walls.
Lynn stood alone at the very front, his back straight as a pine, facing the horror about to burst forth. The light of the starlight bracelet flowed on his wrist, like an unquenchable lighthouse. Hermione's worried gaze was fixed on him, but this time, her fear was replaced by a stronger trust. She handed Ginny to Ron and stood behind Lynn's side, her wand gripped tightly, the moon-white stone pendant shimmering with a steadfast light of protection around her neck.
The time for the hunt had arrived!
Chapter 54: Venomous Star Flame and Warm Light Kiss
A fishy wind, carrying the ear-splitting screech of scales scraping against stone, tore through the air!
The floor tiles in the corner of the lavatory exploded under violent impact!
Shrapnel mixed with foul-smelling sewage splattered everywhere!
A massive, grotesque, triangular snake head, covered in spectral blue ice crystals, suddenly emerged from the broken hole in the floor!
Two cold, spectral blue vertical pupils, like frozen abysses, instantly locked onto the lingering Starlight embers in the corner that hadn't fully dissipated!
The Basilisk! Its enormous body hadn't fully emerged, but its terrifying pressure and extreme coldness had already frozen the air!
Harry and Ron, dragging a comatose Ginny, retreated repeatedly, their faces ashen.
Hermione stood behind Lynn, her wand clutched tightly, and the moon-white stone pendant on her rapidly rising and falling chest emitted an unprecedented protective white glow, dispelling the chilling breath of death that assaulted them.
Just as the Basilisk opened its massive mouth, revealing dagger-like fangs shimmering with a spectral blue venomous glow, preparing to devour the residual Starlight bait—
"Now!" Lynn's low roar was like a clap of thunder!
The Star Power accumulated around him erupted in an instant!
It was no longer a defensive barrier, but condensed into a *Star Radiance Spear* of ultimate refinement, carrying unparalleled penetrative power!
Mysterious runes flowed on the spearhead, tearing through the icy air, and with a speed beyond vision, it pierced with unmatched precision into the depths of the Basilisk's wide-open mouth—targeting the root of the poisonous fang!
Pfft!
Like a hot knife cutting through frozen oil!
The Star Radiance Spear penetrated the Basilisk's vulnerable soft palate without hindrance!
It accurately struck and violently dislodged the longest, scimitar-like main poisonous fang on its upper jaw!
"Hiss-ao—!!!"
The Basilisk let out an earth-shattering shriek of pain!
Its entire head thrashed wildly, and spectral blue blood mixed with foul-smelling saliva gushed from its mouth like a fountain!
The enormous poisonous fang, dislodged by the Star Radiance Spear, emitted a teeth-grinding "crack" amidst its frantic thrashing and the continuous impact of Star Power, and cracks appeared at its base!
The intense pain drove the Basilisk completely mad!
It desperately tried to pull its entire body out of the hole, its thick, ice-crystal-covered serpentine body violently slamming against the narrow opening, sending debris raining down!
Those two spectral blue eyes of death, filled with raging hatred, instantly swept towards the source of the attack—Lynn!
"Close your eyes!" Hermione shrieked, simultaneously ducking her head and tightly closing her own eyes!
The gaze of death!
Extreme coldness, like an invisible giant wave, crashed violently into Lynn!
The Starlight Barrier, automatically activated around him, instantly appeared, but upon contact, it emitted a strained "crack, crack" sound, and spiderweb-like spectral blue ice patterns formed on its surface!
The star stone transmitted a violent impact of scorching pain and extreme coldness!
Now!
Hermione moved!
She didn't open her eyes, but relying on her absolute perception of Lynn's position and the guidance of the moon-white stone, she threw the specially made mithril dagger (its blade inscribed with guiding magic patterns) that Lynn had given her and that she had been clutching tightly, with all her might, towards the empty space between Lynn and the Basilisk!
The moment the dagger left her hand, Lynn, enduring the pain of the barrier's backlash, split off a wisp of Star Power and precisely struck the hilt!
The mithril dagger, as if controlled by an invisible hand, arced through the air with a silvery gleam, shooting with unmatched precision into the Basilisk's wide-open mouth as it shrieked in pain!
The target—precisely that spectral blue poisonous fang, severely wounded by the Star Radiance Spear, its base already cracked!
Pfft! Crack!
The mithril dagger, carrying the precise inertial Star Power controlled by Lynn, acted like the final straw, forcefully wedging itself into the crack at the base of the poisonous fang!
Accompanied by a clear, crisp sound like ice crystals shattering, that Basilisk poisonous fang, as long as an adult's arm and shimmering with deadly spectral blue light, was actually pried off from its root and spun out!
"Catch it!" Lynn's voice carried a suppressed gasp.
Harry erupted with astonishing reaction amidst his fear!
He lunged forward, disregarding the foul-smelling filth on the ground, and with a thick leather glove he had Transfigured, he narrowly caught the falling, enormous poisonous fang, which emanated terrifying coldness, in his hand!
It was bone-chillingly cold to the touch, as if he were holding a piece of ten-thousand-year-old profound ice!
Having lost a main poisonous fang and suffered severe injury, the Basilisk let out a mournful, desperate shriek, its massive body twisting wildly, spectral blue blood spraying like rain.
Its pair of hateful, spectral blue vertical pupils "glared" at Lynn's direction one last time, then abruptly retreated into the depths of the hole, leaving only a messy breach and echoing, painful, and malicious hisses.
The crisis was temporarily averted!
The Starlight Barrier around Lynn instantly shattered, and he grunted, swayed, his face ashen, a trickle of fresh red blood at the corner of his lips.
Over-exerting his Star Power to dislodge the poisonous fang and withstand the Basilisk's gaze meant the backlash was not to be underestimated.
"Lynn!" Hermione rushed to his side, disregarding everything, supporting his swaying body.
To her touch, his arm was frighteningly cold, and his breathing was somewhat erratic.
She unhesitatingly untied her thick velvet cloak and wrapped it tightly around him, trying to impart some warmth.
"I'm fine..." Lynn's voice was a bit hoarse, but his gaze was fixed on the poisonous fang in Harry's hand, "The diary..."
Harry immediately understood, enduring the bone-chilling cold from the poisonous fang, and clutching it, he rushed towards Ginny, who was slumped on the ground, and the open diary, which still emitted an ominous black aura!
"Destroy it!" Ron yelled.
Harry raised the heavy poisonous fang and, with all his might, stabbed it fiercely into the cover of the black diary!
Hiss—!!!
Like a red-hot branding iron plunged into ice and snow!
The moment the poisonous fang pierced the diary, an ear-splitting corrosive sound, accompanied by a strong burst of black smoke carrying the smell of sulfur and blood, erupted!
The diary trembled violently, twisting as if a living creature in its death throes!
The blurry face of a young boy on the cover twisted in pain and shrieked (silently, but perceptible on a mental level)!
The black aura entanglement around Ginny's body instantly disintegrated and vanished, like a severed rope.
Ginny's body suddenly trembled, letting out a faint groan, and her rolled-back eyes gradually regained focus; although still dazed and weak, the chilling emptiness that had been so unsettling was gone.
The diary rapidly turned charred and withered under the poisonous fang, finally becoming a small pile of foul-smelling ashes.
The gem embedded in the cover, once so alluring, also completely dimmed and shattered.
It worked!
The Hospital Wing was filled with the soothing fragrance of calming herbs.
Ginny was sound asleep under Madam Pomfrey's care; her small face, though still pale, was breathing much more steadily.
The Weasleys, having received the news, were rushing over.
Lynn sat leaning against the adjacent bed, his face still somewhat pale, but his breathing had stabilized.
Hermione sat on a small stool by the bed, carefully wiping the small scratches on his arm with a cotton ball dipped in warm water and Dittany essence.
Her movements were incredibly gentle; her head was bowed, her thick eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes, her expression as focused as if she were handling the most precise instrument.
Warm steam and the scent of herbs lingered between them.
"Does it hurt?" she whispered, her fingertip gently brushing the edge of the wound through the cotton ball.
Lynn lowered his gaze, looking at her focused profile and slightly pursed lips.
The star stone in his chest pulsed steadily and warmly, dispelling the fatigue and coldness of the battle.
"No," he said softly.
After applying the medicine, Hermione took out clean gauze and, with somewhat clumsy movements, bandaged him.
Her fingertips occasionally brushed his cool skin, sending a faint, electric-like sensation that made her earlobes flush slightly.
"There," she finally finished bandaging, letting out a soft sigh, and looked up.
She met Lynn's gaze, which was fixed on her.
That gaze was calm and focused, carrying a depth she couldn't fully interpret.
Hermione's cheeks instantly flushed as if ignited, and she frantically averted her gaze, pretending to organize the medicine bottles: "Madam Pomfrey said you need rest... and the Star Power needs time to recover..."
"Mm," Lynn responded, but his gaze didn't leave her.
Silence flowed in the warm ward, yet it wasn't awkward; instead, it carried a post-crisis tranquility and an indescribable intimacy.
The sunlight from outside the window streamed through the glass, casting golden patches on the pristine white bedsheets.
Hermione's fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, her heart beating a little fast.
She gathered her courage and looked at Lynn again, her voice as light as a feather: "Um... thank you... for standing in front of me..."
Lynn didn't answer; he just slowly raised his uninjured hand and gently brushed away a stray, soft brown curl from her cheek.
His fingertip inadvertently grazed her warm earlobe.
Hermione's body instantly stiffened, and her breathing stopped.
She looked at Lynn's close, still somewhat pale face, and her own shy reflection in his eyes, and an impulse surged within her.
She suddenly leaned forward, quickly and gently kissing Lynn's cool lips.
A touch and then she pulled away.
Like a butterfly briefly resting on a blooming petal.
Hermione's face was as red as a ripe tomato, and she abruptly lowered her head, almost burying her face in her chest.
The starlight bracelet on her wrist flashed rapidly, betraying her wild heartbeat.
Lynn was also stunned.
The soft warmth lingering on his lips, carrying her unique citrus fragrance and a hint of medicinal bitterness, felt like the gentlest feather brushing his heart.
The star stone in his chest suddenly erupted with an unprecedented warm and bright pulsation, as if a silent galaxy had been instantly illuminated.
A warm current rapidly spread through his limbs, even overriding the faint pain of his wounds.
He slowly raised his hand, not to touch his lips, but to gently cover Hermione's bowed, flushed head, his palm carrying the unique, reassuring warmth of Star Power.
"Mm," he responded softly, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hoarseness and warmth.
Sunlight filled the ward, and golden dust motes floated in the air.
The shy girl bowed her head, and the boy's warm hand gently stroked her hair.
Starlight flowed on their wrists, silently telling a tale of protection and stirring emotions more moving than words.
Outside, Hogwarts Castle had weathered a cold snap, but inside the ward, burgeoning affection, like a warm sun breaking through ice, quietly melted away all gloom.
Chapter 55 Warm Sun Shadow and Starlight Orange
The sunlight in the Hospital Wing seemed to carry a healing magic. Under Madam Pomfrey's Potions and the constant vigil of the Weasleys, Ginny's complexion grew rosier day by day. Although she occasionally woke up from nightmares, the chilling emptiness that had plagued her for months had completely dissipated.
Aunt Molly shed tears while hugging her little daughter, and Uncle Arthur clapped Lynn's shoulder forcefully, choked with emotion, unable to express his full gratitude.
Hermione had practically become a permanent "Supervisor" of the Hospital Wing. She strictly enforced the hearth agreement, punctually delivered Aunt Monica's special blood-replenishing nutritious soup (secretly double the beef and carrots), oversaw Lynn finishing every drop of Madam Pomfrey's magic-restoring Potion (its taste rivaled Snape's prized collection), and even took charge of organizing all his class notes.
At this moment, she was sitting on a chair beside Lynn's bed, meticulously peeling an apple. The peel formed a perfect spiral under her nimble fingers. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a gentle shadow on her downcast eyelashes.
Lynn leaned against the headboard, holding a copy of "A Field Guide to Common Magical Birds" (which Hermione had "recommended" as "relaxing"), but his gaze lingered more on her skillful movements and subtly pursed lips.
"Here, for your vitamins," Hermione said, handing him the peeled apple, cut into little rabbit shapes, a hint of pride on her lips.
Lynn took the small silver fork and speared a piece. The apple was sweet and juicy, carrying her thoughtfulness. "Good knife work," he commented, a rare compliment.
Hermione's cheeks immediately flushed, like a small animal praised, and she looked down, pretending to arrange the peels. "Practice makes perfect... Mom taught me." She paused, her voice softer. "It feels warmer than cutting with a wand, right?"
Lynn looked at her reddened ear tips, and the star stone resonated with a warm pulse. He said nothing, just forked another "little rabbit" apple and naturally brought it to her lips.
Hermione froze for a moment, then met his calm but focused gaze. Her heart skipped a beat. She parted her lips slightly and took a bite of the apple from his hand. The brief touch of his fingertips to her lips sent a subtle jolt, making both of them shiver slightly. The apple's sweetness bloomed in her mouth, mixed with an indescribable flutter, sweeter than ever.
"Mm... it's very sweet," Hermione whispered, lowering her head to hide her flushed cheeks. The starlight bracelet on her wrist glowed softly.
Hogwarts seemed to regain its vitality with Ginny's recovery and the Basilisk's disappearance (at least, so the students believed). The corridors were once again filled with noise and laughter. The panic about the "heir" and the "freezing attacks" gradually gave way to Quidditch tryouts and the upcoming Christmas.
However, there were always undercurrents beneath the calm surface. One afternoon, as Lynn and Hermione were leaving the Library, they were stopped by a Witch in a deep purple, gold-trimmed uniform with a rigid, serious expression—it was Aurora Hopkins, the Senior Undersecretary Assistant who had previously investigated. Behind her were two unsmiling Ministry of Magic guards.
"Mr. Lynn Stone, Miss Hermione Granger." Hopkins's voice was as devoid of warmth as her expression. "Regarding the 'freezing attack incidents' of the past period and Miss Weasley's unusual condition, the Ministry of Magic still requires your assistance in clarifying certain details. Please accompany us to the temporary office." Her gaze sharply swept over Lynn, with undisguised scrutiny, lingering for a moment particularly on Hermione's starlight bracelet.
"Clarify?" Hermione immediately became wary, stepping half a pace in front of Lynn. "We've already said everything we needed to! Ginny was controlled by a Dark Arts object, and the attacks were caused by a monster from the Chamber of Secrets! The diary has been destroyed!"
"Destroyed?" Hopkins's lips curled into a cold arc. "Evidence? Just a huge, chilling fang of unknown origin?" She clearly knew of the diary's existence. "The Ministry of Magic requires a conclusive chain of evidence, not speculation from students' adventure stories. Especially..." She looked meaningfully at Lynn, "...when it involves records of the use of certain... special talents."
The atmosphere instantly tensed. Hermione clenched her fists in anger, and Lynn's eyes also grew cold. Just then, a cold, smooth voice, full of arrogance, cut in:
"Madam Hopkins's concerns are highly professional and necessary."
Lucius Malfoy glided silently, like a magnificent serpent, leaning on his snake-headed cane. His grey-blue eyes swept over Lynn and Hermione with condescending disdain and a hint of barely perceptible malice. "Student safety is certainly important, but the order of Hogwarts and... the potential risks of certain sensitive powers require the Ministry of Magic's utmost attention." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, yet it was clearly audible to everyone. "Especially when such power might be connected to certain... dangerous, destroyed 'relics.'" His gaze pointedly flickered across Lynn's chest (where the star stone was located), then glanced at Hermione.
Blatant threat! He was implying a connection between Star Power and Lord Voldemort's Horcrux! Hopkins's gaze towards Lynn instantly became sharper and more wary.
Hermione trembled with anger, about to retort, but Lynn gently pulled her wrist. He stepped forward, calmly meeting Lucius's sinister gaze and Hopkins's scrutinizing eyes, his voice not loud, yet carrying a peculiar penetrative power:
"Evidence? I have it."
To everyone's astonishment, Lynn pulled out the huge Basilisk fang, still emanating a faint chill and wrapped in thick dragonhide, from his pocket (which had an Undetectable Extension Charm applied)! The moment the fang appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted!
Hopkins and the guards instinctively recoiled a step. Lucius's pupils constricted sharply, and his fingers tightened abruptly on his snake-headed cane, knuckles turning white.
Lynn ignored their reactions. He held the heavy fang in one hand, and with the other, he extended a finger, gathering a point of pure, warm Starlight at its tip. Under everyone's bated breath, he slowly injected that point of Starlight into the fang's eerie blue tip!
Hiss—!
Like cold water dropped into hot oil! The Starlight and the extreme icy magic contained within the fang clashed violently, emitting a piercing sound! The fang's eerie blue glow flickered wildly, an uncontrolled magical fluctuation, mixed with the Basilisk's savage will and a chilling aura of death, spread out!
This fluctuation was so clear, so evil, so powerful, that it instantly blanched Hopkins's face, made the guards' wands snap up, and even caused a crack in Lucius's carefully maintained elegant mask—for within that fluctuation, there clearly remained a trace of the same sickening dark aura as the diary he had given Ginny!
"This... this is that monster's..." Hopkins's voice trembled, no longer rigid as before.
"It's enough to prove its existence and danger," Lynn's voice remained calm. He stopped injecting the Star Power, and the fang's anomaly quickly subsided, leaving only a bone-chilling cold. "As for the source of its power..." His gaze, like an ice blade, shot towards Lucius, "Perhaps some people know better than I."
Lucius's face turned extremely ugly, his grey-blue eyes swirling with rage and apprehension. He stared intently at the fang in Lynn's hand, as if it were an undeniable proof of his guilt.
"Enough!" Hopkins took a deep breath, forcing down her shock. She looked at Lynn and the terrifying fang with a complex expression, then glanced warily at the ashen-faced Lucius. "The evidence... is sufficient to prove the monster's existence and threat. Miss Weasley's situation... the Ministry of Magicwill re-evaluate. As for the rest..." She paused, clearly not wanting to delve deeper into the secrets of certain powerful figures. "Today's questioning ends here." She left, almost hastily, with the guards.
Only Lynn, Hermione, and a grim-faced Lucius Malfoy remained in the corridor.
"Very well... Mr. Stone," Lucius's voice was like a snake's hiss, cold and slick. "You have once again... proven your... uniqueness." He gave Lynn a deep look, his eyes filled with malice and a hint of deep apprehension, then he abruptly turned, his golden hair cutting a cold arc behind him, and strode away.
Hermione let out a long sigh, only then realizing her palms were slick with cold sweat. She looked at Lynn, her eyes filled with lingering fear and deeper trust. "You... how did you think of using the diary?"
"The residual magical fluctuations are the best testimony." Lynn re-wrapped and put away the diary, its coldness lingering on his fingertips. He looked in the direction Lucius had disappeared, his gaze sharp. The sense of crisis from the star stone had not lifted, and Malfoy's retaliation would certainly not cease here.
As night fell, the wind from the Astronomy Tower carried the chill of early winter, but it couldn't disperse the warmth between the two sitting side by side. Hermione was wrapped in Lynn's large velvet cloak, holding a muffin with a thick layer of orange marmalade sent by Aunt Monica. She took small bites, a bit of golden jam on the corner of her mouth.
"Here," she broke off half and naturally offered it to Lynn's mouth, her eyes sparkling. "To calm your nerves, as per the agreement."
Lynn took a bite from her hand. It was soft and sweet, the tartness of the orange marmalade melting on his tongue, dispelling the lingering cold from the diary and the gloom of his confrontation with Malfoy.
"Today... thank you," Hermione's voice was very soft in the night wind. "For standing in front of me again... and for solving the trouble in such a clever way." She was referring to the diary as evidence.
Lynn swallowed the muffin and turned to look at her. The moonlight outlined the soft curve of her profile, and that bit of orange marmalade at the corner of her mouth looked like a tiny star under the starlight. He raised his hand and, with his thumb, very naturally and gently brushed away that sweetness from her lips.
The warm touch of his fingertips made Hermione's body stiffen, then a warm current instantly spread from the touched spot throughout her body, her heart pounding like a drum. She looked up, meeting Lynn's gaze, which was now so close. That gaze was no longer as calmly profound as usual; instead, it clearly reflected her image, carrying a focused light that made her flustered.
Lynn's fingertip did not immediately withdraw; instead, it slowly, almost confirmingly, traced her soft lip line.
This subtle movement was like a spark igniting a fuse! Hermione felt all the blood rush to her cheeks, her mind a blank. She forgot to breathe, forgot the cold, her eyes seeing only her reflection in Lynn's deep eyes, and the thrilling, gentle touch from his thumb.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment. The night wind ruffled their hair, and the starlight bracelet on each of their wrists silently flowed with a soft glow, like two hearts beating in unison.
Lynn slowly lowered his head, his warm breath brushing her bangs. Hermione instinctively closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling like startled butterfly wings, waiting for the anticipated yet heart-stopping touch.
A kiss as soft as a feather, with the sweet scent of muffins and the freshness of orange marmalade, landed on the corner of her lips.
It wasn't the fleeting shyness of her earlier touch, but a brief, tender, and cherished Stay.
Like starlight, gently kissing a ripe orange.
Hermione's breathing completely stopped. She felt as if the whole world had gone quiet, leaving only the soft touch on her lips and the frantic drumming of her heart in her chest. The glow of the starlight bracelet suddenly became bright and warm, enveloping her in a hazy aura.
Lynn slowly pulled back, his thumb still lingering on her burning cheek. He looked at the girl's shy appearance, her eyes tightly closed, long lashes trembling, and cheeks flushed. The star stone in his chest pulsed with an unprecedented warmth and brightness, as if a tranquil galaxy had been fully ignited.
"Mm," he responded softly, his voice a little hoarse with satisfaction. He pulled her closer into his embrace, wrapping her slightly trembling body in the velvet cloak.
The starry river sparkled in the night sky. The figures nestled on the Astronomy Tower became one under the starlight. The cold wind was still biting, but it could no longer invade this small world protected by starlight and warmth. Hermione buried her burning cheek in Lynn's neck, listening to his steady, strong heartbeat, the lingering kiss on her lips carrying the orange-flavored starlight, sweet to the deepest part of her heart.
More chapters available on WTR-Lab