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Josephine swiftly collects several books on the Room of Requirement before departing the library. Her objective is clear—to immerse herself in these book within the room, to hopefully help her find the horcrux. As she navigates the hallways, her bag laden with books, she silently pleads for the room's magical door to open upon her arrival.
In addition to her quest for the horcrux, she can't forget about the impending Order meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
"Josie?" Alora's presence in the corridor catches her by surprise.
"Oh, hi, Alora," she greets, approaching the professor.
Alora's brows furrow. "Are you alright?"
This encounter serves as a stark reminder that she has never told Alora about her true parentage. Her thoughts have been consumed by more pressing matters, including the uncertainty of her accommodations once the school year concludes. Perhaps Alora and Karina would let her stay again, but the thought weighs heavily on her conscience.
"Oh yes, I'm fine. I just need to talk with my friend, but I can't seem to find them anywhere," she lies, concealing her true intentions. No one can know what she's truly up to.
Alora doesn't appear entirely convinced. "Alright, dear. I'll see you later for tea."
Josephine nods before continuing on her way. She decides to broach the topic of her parentage with Alora during their tea meeting.
And then, there's also the matter of meeting Hagrid for tea.
Despite the mounting responsibilities and unanswered questions, Josephine's unwavering determination centers on finding the horcrux.
A few minutes later, she finds herself standing outside the Room of Requirement, her desperate need for it echoing in her mind. She silently thanks Merlin as the door slowly materializes before her. She enters and securely closes the door behind her.
With the books now in hand, she eagerly pores over them. Disappointment strikes as she realizes they contain nothing new, only reiterations of what she already knows. Her frustration culminates in the forceful closure of one of the books.
She resolves to embark on her second search for the horcrux within the room. The scene mirrors her previous visit, with towering heaps of miscellaneous objects strewn about.
"Diadem," she whispers, a fervent plea escaping her lips. "The lost diadem."
She feels an almost irresistible urge to beg for its appearance. "Please," she beseeches in a hushed tone as she navigates past yet another obstacle.
How difficult can it be to find the object here?
As it turns out, really fucking difficult.
Josephine twists and turns throughout the room, her mantra of "the lost diadem" becoming a near-constant murmur. Her exasperation grows palpable.
Then, at the height of her frustration, her eyes catch a glimmer—a hint of blue concealed beneath layers of objects.
Reluctant to raise her hopes, she hurries over, lowering herself to the level of the elusive blue item. It appears to be a blue gem, though she can't be certain.
Yet, she can't see it entirely, wedged within a small crevice amidst the jumble of miscellaneous items.
With determination, she reaches her arm in and feels her hand close around the blue gem. It isn't the diadem she seeks; the object's nature is distinctly different.
With a gentle but determined pull, she extracts the object from its hiding place—a necklace.
The pendant boasts a captivating blue gem encircled by intricate silver detailing. The chain, though slightly weathered, holds a timeless charm.
The necklace has likely been nestled here for an extended period, Josephine muses, her thumb lightly caressing the gem's smooth surface. It is undeniably beautiful.
She carefully stashes the necklace in her pocket, appreciating its allure. Besides, she reasons, it's not as though anyone would notice its absence. If someone has lost such an exquisite piece, perhaps they don't deserve to reclaim it.
One last sweep of the room and she walks back. The books she has scattered around her bag remain as she has left them. She sighs before deftly arranges them back inside her worn bag.
She needs a new bag, she realizes, as the current one barely holds together by a fraying strap. Maybe she can fix it with magic? Or, if possible, purchase a new one. Money, however, is now a scarce resource. In the past, she had received an allowance from Euphemia and Fleamont, but those days are long gone.
She ponders the fate of her real parents' wealth. It seems plausible that they were rich; after all, Aspen hails from the Ravenclaw family. Serena, despite her leaving home, comes from a pureblood lineage. But the mysteries surrounding her inheritance and the allocation of her family's wealth remain unsolved.
Perhaps, in the distant future, she will endeavor to uncover the truth, maybe even seek out her aunt, Nyla. Though, she admits to herself, the likelihood of such an endeavor is slim.
With her bag slung over her shoulder, Josephine steps out of the Room of Requirement. She is on her way to meet Alora for tea, intending to finally disclose the details of her true parentage and the newfound knowledge she has acquired.
