LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 62: Chapter 37: The Truth?
At seven in the morning, Glenn opened his eyes. Today was the day he and Hermione would return to Hogwarts.
Attempting to move his right hand proved futile. Glenn calmly turned his head to find exactly what he'd expected - Hermione, as usual, had his right hand clutched tightly to her chest while she slumbered peacefully.
Hermione was generally a peaceful sleeper, preferring to curl up on her side - perhaps it made her feel more secure. When sleeping alone, she remained perfectly still. However, Glenn had noticed that whenever they shared a bed, he'd wake to find the young girl in different positions each time. After futile attempts to correct this habit, he'd simply learned to accept it.
Since he was effectively trapped, Glenn decided not to force himself up. Instead, he reached for his pouch on the bedside table with his left hand and pulled out an alchemical creation - his enchanted camera.
Silently casting a Silencing Charm on the device, he raised it and captured the moment with a soft click, preserving the image of Hermione and his captive self. This would join his collection of dozens of similar photos documenting Hermione's various sleeping positions - a collection that was approaching triple digits. He'd started this "complete catalogue" after accepting he couldn't change her sleeping habits, planning to show them all to her someday.
Putting the camera away, Glenn quietly lay back down, waiting for Hermione to wake naturally...
Forty-three minutes and twenty-six seconds later, Glenn felt his right hand being released.
Ah, Hermione was awake.
"Good morning," Hermione, wearing pink fleece pajamas, greeted him with sleepy eyes and a big yawn. She sat cross-legged on the bed, smacking her lips slightly.
"Morning. Let's get cleaned up first, then you can check if there's anything else you want to bring. I'll heat up some sandwiches and prepare food and water for the journey," Glenn said, smoothing down her tousled hair before they both headed to the bathroom to brush their teeth and wash up.
Working efficiently together, they quickly prepared for departure. Hermione picked up Crookshanks, Glenn locked the door, and they hailed a taxi on the street.
They arrived at King's Cross Station right on time, passed through Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and successfully boarded the Hogwarts Express.
Hermione pulled out her notebook and began preparing for the upcoming final exams (still more than ten weeks away). She was determined to maintain her academic rivalry with Glenn and secure her sixth consecutive victory after her current streak of five. Though Glenn knew she had already mastered all the first-year material, he understood her personality well enough to let her proceed as she wished.
Meanwhile, Glenn chose to continue his research on different magical circuit compositions - their similarities, differences, simplicity, complexity, and various combinations. He carefully documented his findings in his notebook, divided by different aspects. Glenn had a growing suspicion that magical circuits followed certain rules, but without any clear leads, he could only proceed with the most basic approach: breaking down spells one by one, analyzing and comparing their magical circuits, hoping to discover the underlying mysteries.
The train journey was perfect for academic pursuits - he'd save his alchemy experiments for the Room of Requirement.
Except for Glenn insisting that Hermione take an afternoon nap, they both remained absorbed in their respective studies. Time flew by quickly, and before they knew it, darkness had fallen and the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station.
They disembarked, followed the professor's lead, took the thestral-drawn carriages, and arrived at Hogwarts.
Upon entering the Great Hall, Glenn chose not to accompany Hermione directly to the Gryffindor table.
"Hermione, I need to see Dumbledore first," Glenn informed her. She didn't question it, simply waving him off as she headed to find her girlfriends, Crookshanks in her arms.
Glenn walked straight to the third floor where the gargoyle guarded the entrance. He pulled out a long piece of parchment listing numerous wizarding sweets - things like "Cockroach Clusters," "Lemon Drops," and "Chocolate Frogs." Dumbledore's password was always among these, so when Glenn didn't know the current one, he would quickly recite the entire list until the gargoyle jumped aside.
However, the gargoyle, apparently having developed a conditioned response, moved aside as soon as it saw Glenn pull out the parchment.
Glenn raised an eyebrow but said nothing, then smoothed his eyebrow back down. He'd noticed he was picking up many of Hermione's mannerisms after spending so much time together.
Glenn understood exactly why this was happening, recalling a theory from his previous life:
The Chameleon Effect.
In the presence of others, we automatically mimic their postures, gestures, facial expressions, smiles, tone of voice, and other behaviors. Moreover, this mimicry tends to make us more likely to gain their favor.
"So I want to gain Hermione's favor? What an interesting feeling..." he pondered silently while maintaining his composed expression as he waited for the moving staircase to carry him to the office.
He planned to mention to Dumbledore that Quirrell might try to extract information from Hagrid. As for the rest, he considered it none of his business.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Just as Hermione was about to find her girlfriends to share her Christmas experiences and subtly brag about how wonderful Glenn had been to her, she was intercepted by two people before she could reach the Gryffindor table.
Harry and Ron.
The two boys were nearly frantic. Before Christmas, they had been desperate to find information about Nicolas Flamel, but once the holiday began, they completely forgot about it, enjoying their first Christmas at Hogwarts. Now that the break was over, they suddenly remembered their unfinished task.
Oh dear, what a mess.
Seeing Hermione appear alone, without that Slytherin boy nearby, the two were overjoyed.
Finally, a chance to ask her questions!
Tears of relief practically welled up in their eyes - no one could understand their struggles (not really). Seeing the know-it-all now was like finding their savior. They hurriedly called out to Hermione and pulled her aside to a secluded spot.
"Nicolas Flamel? Why do you want to know about him?" Hermione asked curiously. Given these two's abilities and knowledge, how could they possibly be involved in anything related to Grandpa Nicolas?
The boys exchanged glances and decided to tell Hermione Granger everything about Snape's apparent attempt to get past the door on the third floor and how it related to Nicolas Flamel.
Their reasoning was simple - besides Harry, Snape targeted Hermione Granger most harshly in class.
Not only were her raised hands ignored, but she was also mocked. On the rare occasions when Snape called on her out of frustration, he wouldn't award points even for correct answers. This led to intense glaring matches between Snape and Hermione during every lesson.
This made them believe Hermione would firmly stand with them against Snape to save Hogwarts.
After listening to their back-and-forth description of Snape's actions and supposed intentions, Hermione discreetly rolled her eyes.
Him, trying to steal something from Hogwarts? Right under Dumbledore's nose?
That was impossible.
Not to mention Snape's relationship with her and Glenn - Hermione was one thousand percent certain this was nonsense.
Watching the two continue their implausible theories about Snape's motives, Hermione felt a headache coming on. Arguing with them would probably make it worse, but not arguing meant potentially getting dragged into their schemes.
How annoying. She didn't want to deal with this.
Just as Glenn had been influenced by Hermione, she too had been influenced by him.
Normally, she would have helped with legitimate concerns, even though they had upset her before. She didn't hold grudges against housemates she saw daily. However, Harry and Ron's story sounded more absurd by the minute, and she had no desire to get involved in something that was clearly misguided.
Oh well.
"Stop, stop, stop. Just hold on," Hermione interrupted their train of thought, earning slightly annoyed looks from Harry and Ron.
"I know about Nicolas Flamel," Hermione stated directly, knowing this would hook them.
"What is it! Please, have mercy and tell us, it's really important!" Harry and Ron exclaimed delightedly. Finally, this troublesome matter would be resolved - Hermione, you're our savior!
"Nicolas Flamel, the great alchemist, is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone."
Blank faces.
"That's it? That's all?" Harry and Ron asked incredulously.
"What else did you expect?" Hermione said exasperatedly. Did they expect her to pull out a book and read them a detailed biography of Grandpa Nicolas?
Harry seemed to realize something and suddenly asked, "Hermione, do you know what the Philosopher's Stone is?"
Hermione lifted her chin proudly - this she knew all too well: "Of course. The Philosopher's Stone is Grand... er, Flamel's greatest alchemical creation. It can transform any metal into pure gold, and more importantly, it can produce the Elixir of Life, which makes the drinker immortal. Nicolas Flamel is currently six hundred and sixty-six years old..." Her voice trailed off as she remembered something, her proud tone becoming subdued. Thinking about how Grandpa Nicolas and Grandma Perenelle had decided to face death with dignity made her heart heavy and her eyes moist.
"Immortal!" Harry exclaimed, his face darkening as something occurred to him.
"Pure gold!" Ron gasped, his expression incredulous.
Neither noticed Hermione's sadness, each lost in their own thoughts.
Harry's eyes grew distant as he seemed to understand what Snape was trying to steal.
He blurted out, "You know what? When Hagrid took me to Gringotts before school started to get what my parents left me, we visited another vault. Hagrid took out a small package, and now knowing this, I'm certain - that package contained the Philosopher's Stone! And that Stone must be - no, definitely is! - behind that door on the third floor, guarded by the three-headed dog Fluffy! Snape is trying to steal it!"
Still caught up in her melancholy, Hermione was bewildered by this stream of information, her emotions becoming jumbled.
What?
The Philosopher's Stone?
Snape wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone?
But isn't the Stone with me?