Hogwarts Legacy: The Price of Power

Harlow

Dracaena stirred, sluggishly clawing her way to wakefulness. The dorm was empty, save for her, and she fought to disentangle herself from the sheets, her mind foggy with exhaustion. It was a wonder she hadn't just curled up on the floor somewhere and passed out.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes. What she wouldn't give for an extra hour or two in bed... but she had to get to class.

Or did she? Magical Theory was first thing, but the lessons held no allure for her anymore; the few she had attended had done nothing but make her miserable. It might even do her good to drop the subject entirely.

She glanced over her shoulder at her bed, the sheets rumpled, still warm and inviting. She squinted. The corner of something was poking out from under her pillow. She reached, and pulled out the small, thick book.

She swallowed, her grogginess fading away as she stared at the blank, leatherbound cover. Her magic had pulled it towards her, and she'd felt that there was something hidden in the pages that would help Sebastian to contact Rookwood. And... perhaps Professor Fig.

That thought was the only one that stopped her setting fire to it then and there. If she handed this over to Sebastian, there was no telling the trouble he could end up in. She opened it gingerly, hoping that by at least reading it herself, she could censor some of the worst bits.

Her heart dropped as she scanned the pages, flipping through them rapidly. The entire book was written in Ancient Runes. She couldn't decipher them, she only knew the basic numerals!

She snapped the book shut and shoved it back under her pillow. She couldn't decide what to do right now. She was too tired, her mind too full of a hundred different things to make a decision. She'd learned, to her detriment and Sebastian's, what came of rash decisions made in the heat of the moment.

With a sigh, she heaved herself to her feet and ambled to the bathroom, taking a bracingly cold shower in an effort to wake herself up. All it really did, however, was make her shiver and sneeze. Dressing, Dracaena bumbled through the common room and up into the main castle, grabbing a quick breakfast before ambling through to the Central Hall, leaning against the fountain and watching the students milling around, her mind still on her dilemma.

What to do? What could she do? She couldn't very well ask another student to translate for her, she'd end up getting into trouble, or worse, someone might connect the dots and turn their attention to Sebastian. She could try to decipher it herself, but that would take ages, and Sebastian would grow impatient. She couldn't even go to Ominis about it, he'd be so upset with her...

Glowering, Dracaena folded her arms. There was no easy solution. Why had she ever agreed to this in the first place? She needed to find a way to convince Sebastian to let go of his quest for a cure, but she'd have better luck turning lead into gold.

"Dracaena!"

She looked up, startled, as Poppy made her way through the crowd towards her, beaming.

"Poppy," she said, smiling as the small Hufflepuff embraced her, squeezing her tightly. "Good to see you."

"And you! No lessons this morning?"

"Uh... no, not until Care of Magical Creatures after lunch."

"Me either," Poppy grinned. "Oh, it's been so long since we actually spent time together! Do you want to go to Hogsmeade? Or maybe down to the Forest, it's breeding season for the Hippogriffs, I'd love to see a baby one..."

Dracaena smiled as Poppy chattered on, following her as they headed for the stairs, before Dracaena slowed, and stopped.

"You know, Poppy," she said, slowly. "I've got something to show you I think you'll like."