A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E | HIATUS

Chapter 1 ♢ Ardor Glacio

Ardor Glacio:
A charm that causes fire to become harmless to those caught in it.

"It was simply enthralling."

♢♢♢♢

"Ardor Glacio!"

With a flick of her wrist, Hermione had frozen the flames that were quickly growing in their place. She was immune to it, although she reached out to it as if she wanted to get burned.

The fire was vibrant. It was an array of colours that blasted from the mini explosion on her lab table. Sparks that were stilled in the air looked like stars, but it only illuminated Hermione's tiredness. Her sunken puffy eyes. Pale cracking lips that she kept on biting. Her dishevelled appearance. The flames reflected in her dull eyes.

It wasn't often that you saw Hermione Granger stumped. Frustratingly stumped. It was yet again another failed attempt at creating the potion. Her neat pony tail was reduced to a faint memory, compared to the frizzy bushy mess it was now. She released annoyed indistinguishable sounds and slumped down to the red and white tiled floor.

All you could hear was the harsh bang of her fists as she sank lower, followed by the out of time tapping from her head banging.

Tears welled up in her closed eyes as she let out a deep sigh. As strong as she was, she couldn't help it. The air was filled with overbearing despair and defeat. After a moment you could see her small palms on the table pushing defiantly as she picked herself up, shaking her head as she wondered what went wrong this time.

Although she had been testing and experimenting constantly, it seemed that there was a component missing. While others slept, she was experimenting. While others studied, she researched. There was hardly a single minute that she had not spent her time doing something to further the progress of her experiment.

It was clear to see the painful toll of lack of sleep and frustratuon. To most it would seem tranquil and determined, but underneath all of the façades she was disturbed and slowly being drained. Rubbing at the furrow between her brows, she decided to take a break.

She pushed away thoughts about being so very close, yet so far away. All the hardship she went through now, would only make a successful result all the more worth it. She wasn't doing it to relieve herself of guilt, but for those who couldn't do anything.

Relaxing in a nearby armchair she became less tense and let herself put down the weight on her shoulders for even a moment. A small reminiscent smile spread across her face as she picked up a large hardcovered book. The spine was old yet was only beginning to wear away; thread that had woven it was fraying. It was also riddled with creases, and the beautiful royal blue colour it once had was faded in parts. The only thing that remained intact was the shiny silver illustration and title on the front cover. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, the title alone sparked intrigue. Everywhere else had the silver foiling flaked off.

Even though the book was archaic, it was still one of the most mesmerising treasures she had ever seen. A magestic collection of magical beasts stood out from the cover.

She opened the book with the slight of her hand and carried on where she had previously left off.

Unicorns.

She had seen some in her earlier years as a student, however now they had been relocated. She remembered the lesson as if it was yesterday. She felt connected to the unicorn. She trusted her and although they never spoke to each other, they'd created a bond when she had let Hermione stroke her. Some of the boys were not so lucky.