Scarlet Darkbloom and the Secret Tower

Chapter 7: Hermione Part 1

I walk into a huge sunlit tower, with windows filling the room from the very top of the high ceiling to the wooden floor. On the ceiling were patterns that seemed to be traced in gold.

There were simple drawings and along with that, very detailed sketches circling the small moonroof at the top. The walls, where there wasn't windows, were a blue velvet color, almost the color of Ravenclaw but with hints of teal.

Towering curtains fell on the sides of the window covered walls, and to the right was the biggest library I had ever seen.

All the way from the very tip of the ceiling and the bottom of the floor were covered in shelves with books, with a library ladder against the end, near the door, to reach all heights of books. The books were books of all kinds, and as soon as I had taken a closer look, there were topics you wouldn't even begin to think about. Subjects so in depth the person who worked here was probably the smartest of their age. All the subjects you would ever want or need to know stood before me.

At the very edge of the room there was a large desk, which taken at a closer look, seemed to be dusty. It was rather old, with quill scratches and what seemed to be a few claw marks on the side of it. There were candles, some burned down to the nub, on the edges of the desk to provide light when dark. At a closer look, to the right of the desk, almost completely invisible, stood a closet almost hidden by a curtain.

I slowly walked towards the closet, wand in my right hand, ready to defend myself nonetheless of the little magic I did know.

Slowly, I cracked the door open, it making a large squeak as it had not been opened in so long.

Instead of something endangering, I found quite the variety of stunning velvet cloaks, Muggle clothes, and a few of Hogwarts robes. Seeing they were very dusty, I took a closer look, dusting them off, and found they were old Gryffindor robes. I frowned slightly. Who's could they be? I investigated further, walking towards the desks and rummaging through all the drawers that were open.

In the first drawer, I found piles of empty parchment paper and bottles of ink with more candles or backup.. The second drawer contained a collection of beautifully colored quills, each put away carefully and more delicately than the last. The biggest (third) drawer contained a cauldron to go in the fire place with a few leftover potion ingredients, seemingly left here for a long time.

Reaching the last drawer on the left side, I open it to find some journals and more parchment paper. All the journals on the top were empty, waiting to be used. I took one out and set it on the desk, smiling to myself. It sounded nice, getting all your thoughts out in a tower nobody knew of.

I heard a thunk and looked down again to see a old, wrinkled journal that wasn't there before lying at the bottom. I slowly pick it up and open it to the first page.

"In the case that this falls into the wrong hands, please beware: it is not meant to be read by any other, and it will stay that way nevertheless the many pages you may turn."

I read aloud. I decided to ignore it as curiosity gets the best of most, it may seem. However, I paused. Looking down at the very corner bottom of the page, there were words you could barely make out.

"Property of Hermione Granger."

I gasp. Of course! Who other Gryffindor would have a secret tower just for knowledge? I get up and spin around in the sunlight, watching 6th and 7th years walk around below with the lake glittering by the lowering sun; the rain from earlier completely forgotten.

I suddenly run back towards the desk, more curious than ever to find what else may be lying in the desk.

I open the first drawer on the right and find a few bobby pins and hair ties. I laugh. Of course!

The second drawer was a bit different, filled with rings and necklaces of all kinds. Judging by the charts at the bottom, these were very special necklaces and rings indeed. It seemed as if Hermione had been doing more research on different creatures and spells more than anyone had ever known.

Lying at the bottom, however, was something that was supposed to be gone long ago.

Sitting there was none other than the famous time turner, known for allowing Sirius Black and Buckbeak the freedom they deserved.

I picked it up carefully, it wrapped perfectly and untouched for so long. Knowing she wouldn't have made the decision to keep it lightly, I set it on the desk and simply stare at it.

I was quite surprised that she had kept the one and only time turner, used in the third book of the Harry Potter series. In the books, she had followed rules so carefully. But looking here and now, I know that was a huge part of her, being a rule follower. I was too. The wizarding world was so magical you didn't ever want to take the chance to mess it up. But the love for magic and the education she gave herself with research and her mind was a huge part of her too.

It was as stunning as people described it before; a simple copper color with an hourglass in the middle, gold sand stilled waiting to be called again to change the time, hanging on a long gold chain to be put on, so impatiently waiting for a new chance at an adventure.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly slide it over my head and tuck it under my robes. The other necklaces and rings were beautiful too. This may have been Hermione's secret when she was at Hogwarts, but now it was mine, and I was going to use it to the best of my abilities to gain as much knowledge as I could: just like she did too.