Magyk: Darkness and Light

Chapter 18

Hermione dressed quickly and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. She was looking for Draco and Tom over the Slytherin table. The two boys sat down at the end of the table, isolated themselves from Slytherin students with books and scroll of papers lay on the table. She smiled and running towards them, holding her textbook tightly on her chest. "Morning, Draco, Tom", she greeted them with cheerful voice and settled down beside Tom. "Morning, Hermione", the boys chorused. She looked at Tom, who was so engrossed by book called Salazar's Biography meanwhile Draco was reading news in Daily Prophet. "I see you still reading about Salazar Slytherin again", Hermione said while peeking over Tom's shoulder, he didn't reply back but Draco answered her question. "He's been obsessed about it when we found out his surname was written in Salazar's family tree", Draco said. "His surname? We never knew about Tom's family back then. Are you saying that Tom could be Salazar's long-lost descendant?" Hermione frowned, in curious. "I'm quite sure about Salazar could be my ancestor, it was said that he knew how to control animals whenever he wants without commanding them, just like me", Tom said in determination. Hermione stared at Tom and said, "We might need more evidence to prove that", she pursed her lips, mind still thinking on how to search about Tom's family. "I found out Salazar could speak Parseltongue", Tom said with proud, his dark eyes gleamed in satisfaction. Hermione's eyes widened as she looked back at Tom. "You always speak that language, too", She whispered, slowly, amazed by the similarity of Tom and Salazar. Draco continued to read his newspaper. A black capital letters written clearly as it said, 'BREAK-IN OF GRINGOTTS WIZARDING BANK, PHILOSOPHER'S STONE HAS BEEN STOLEN BY GRINDELWALD' and the picture of mysterious stone was taken by the auror. According to an investigation that made by The Head Auror, Grindelwald was risen again by making an unexpected attack at the Gringotts last night. It was widely believed that he was planning for something bigger this year. The goblins haven't said anything about the break-in. Hermione was shocked when she saw the picture of the stone, it was exactly similar to the stone that has been given by Huath to her in her dream.  She touched her pocket and could feel the magic rushed through her palm. 'It couldn't be the same stone, right?' Her instinct kicked in saying it was the same stone that could give a hint about her identity as a witch. She looked at her best friends, only to find them staring at the Daily Prophet intently. "What's wrong?" she immediately asked them with concerned voice. "Do you remember when we told you about how we get caught by the dark wizards when we accidentally spied on them?" Tom asked Hermione while looking into her eyes. "It was him who kidnapped you?" Hermione shivered when the memory of Tom and Draco came back home with bruised face, she thought back how scared she was when they told her about unknown evil wizards kidnapping them, but they managed to escape. "It says that Grindelwald managed to get away and make a scene in Ministry of Magic to steal an important document about Morgan Le Fay's history. I think the stone and the documentary have something to do with his bigger plan, isn't it?" Draco said, puzzled by the mysterious event that happened so quickly just for one night. Hermione was silent, there was an uneasy feeling with her mind warning her to be careful about Grindelwald. She couldn't figure out why she felt that way. Why would the same man that kidnapped her best friends years ago looking for the stone that was similar to what Huath gave to her? Why was Grindelwald stealing the document of Morgan Le Fay? Could she be the one that destined to be Fae Queen by protecting the stone? "I think there is something I need to tell you about last night, but not here", she whispered quietly. Tom and Draco frowned at her confession but didn't say anything so that she could proceeded the story. She led them to the library and told everything that happened last night. The boys were silent at first, but Hermione could tell by their face, they were shocked about it. Then, Draco break the silent by saying, "Maybe that's why he did all these things. You could be in danger if he found out about the stone, Hermione", Draco narrowed his eyes, dislikes the idea of Hermione's life might be exposed because of the unknown danger. "But he doesn't know about it, yet. " Hermione protested a little bit. She also felt a little bit guilty to left out about her encountered with Avery and Dolohov because she knew that Tom and Draco will be mad about that and might doing something that could risk both of them being expelled from the school if they tried to fight Avery and Dolohov. They went to do researching about the mysterious stone in the Restricted Section. It was Tom who found out his way to get into the section by the permission of Madam Pince. Hermione had no idea how he done it but he just knows how to get things when he wanted it. She was torn between disappointed or impressed because she too, desperately wanted to look for more answers about her heritage in the History Achieve. After an hour later, they managed to know the origin of the stone. Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which make the drinker immortal. It was guarded by the fae through the generations over the centuries ago. It can only be found in the land of Avalon. Morgan Le Fay's descendant was the only one who can have the right to own the stone. Now, they just realised that all of the strange events that happened to her was actually makes sense. The question is how do they wanted to hide the stone? She couldn't just carry it along besides her all the time, if she was being careless or clumsy, she might attract attention from other people.  They have to find a place to hide the stone before someone else know about her secret. Without they know it, a pair of obsidian eyes watching them from afar with evil smile. He was hidden behind the bookshelf not far from where the trio sat down discussing about the stone. He walked away from the library with evil chuckled. It was a fine morning as it is like yesterday, Hogwarts was a busy place where students, professors and other workers starting their usual daily routine around the castle. Hermione went to the Great Hall for their breakfast. On her way to the place, she started to notice that other students staring at her and then whispering furiously behind her back while holding the magazine on their hands. It's making Hermione nervous and wanting to shout at them for being rude, all she could do was just ignored their penetrating stares. 'What's on earth going on here? Why all of them holding a magazine? Did I miss something?' She kept asking the questions inside her mind, it was intimidating to be a centre of an attention in front of all of the people and to her horror, people started to whisper with each other while looking at her strangely. "Hermione!" A loud voice yet familiar calling her name behind her back. Before she turned her head, a pale hand grasped her elbow. Tom led her away from the Great Hall. "Where are we going?" Hermione asked gently, still confused by stares people directed at her a moment ago. "Something's bad happened. Someone spilled your secrets this morning through the magazines and Daily Prophet. I will find out who did this to you. People started to being suspicious about you, Hermione", Tom said seriously. He hated to see people started being nosy and making Hermione uneasy when she clearly had no idea what had happened. Hermione was stunned into silence; she was shocked by the news. "How did it happen so fast? Why would this person wanted to expose me in the public?" She was clearly distressed, it's too early to ruin her mood in the morning. "I think we've been followed and heard by someone else yesterday", Draco said in grave tone. "If it doesn't stop, the rumour is going to be worse, you could be constantly questioned by the others", Tom turned his head to his shoulder, eyes looking back into Hermione's. "We have to find the culprit as soon as possible", Hermione said with determined, still worried about what would happen to her now that everyone knew about her secrets. As usual, their class would begin early and she didn't have time to breakfast in the Great Hall since the boys leading her away from everyone else, Draco brought the toast and shepherd pie because he know Hermione haven't eaten anything, don't ask him how he knew it, but he always bring some foods in the pocket when they spent hours studying in the library.