Authors Note: I am really sorry this chapter has taken so long; real life has got in the way of my writing just lately. This chapter is quite short but I will make it up to you. Thank you for reading xD
P.S. There is a featured story in this chapter that is supposedly written in runes but since I would not be able to actually write in Runes, I have written it in (bad) Welsh. Apologies to any Native Welsh, speakers reading, I did try.
Chapter Twelve
The Cil O'r Anfarwoldeb
Hermione furiously scribbled translations as her eyes flickered between the book on the low table and the scrap of parchment in her lap.
The Gryffindor Common Room was exceptionally noisy for a Saturday afternoon; heavy snow overnight had cancelled the much anticipated Hogsmeade Weekend and barricaded all students within the confines of the castle.
Hermione sat in the quietest corner possible and tried to focus on Professor Babbling's gruelling homework; translating a long passage of Ddoeth Runes.
"Yes,"
Hermione looked up to the source of the noise.
"Checkmate," Ron shouted joyously as he beat Harry yet again in a round of Wizard Chess.
Hermione sighed and looked back down at her work as she tried to forget the hustle and bustle of what was going on around her.
"Ouch," she yelled as a first year came running over to retrieve his toy-sized quaffle. He took one look at Hermione's deadly glare and tried to retreat.
"I'm confiscating this," she said through gritted teeth as she held up the offending item that had just hit her at full speed, smack bang in the middle of her forehead.
The look on the young boy's face caused guilt to rise in her throat. It wasn't his fault she was in a crappy mood.
The boy still stood staring at her as she stood to gather up her things and stow them away in her rucksack; his ball left in her chair.
"Fine, have it back," she relented. "But don't let me catch you throwing it indoors again,"
"Yes miss," the boy stuttered.
Hermione pushed her way through the crowds to the exit through the portrait if the fat lady.
Despite the students being locked up, the well-trodden corridors to the library were deserted. It was a shame the same could not be said for the library itself. It was as busy as the common room had been but at least Madame Pince maintained a strict code of quiet. There were no comfortable bean bags free today nor even the horrible, strangely-shaped back, plastic chairs; Hermione had to settle on the threadbare carpet beneath the draughty window that was frozen shut. It took a few minutes for her to shuffle about and get comfortable but she soon forgot about any of her surroundings and got to work on her essay.
The following passage of Ddoeth Runes was inscribed on a stone tablet that was discovered buried deep within the Snowdonia mountain range in 1796 by a goat herdsman.
Homework: Translate the passage
Yn y mynyddoedd cymig roedd y cewri yn rhyfel a'u brenin, roedd Beddgelert yn ceisio dod â heddwch ymhlith ei bobl. Fe wnaeth y Giants eraill ei herio pan ofynnodd am rwystr i'r ymladd, ac yn y pen draw gofynnodd am help y Ddoeth Henuriad.
Roedd y Ddoeth Henuriad yn lwyth dewin a oedd hefyd yn byw yn nhiroedd Eryri ac yn cael eu hystyried yn ddoethaf o ddynion.
Hefyd am weld diwedd rhyfeloedd y Giant, cytunodd y Ddoeth Henuriad i helpu a llunio cynllun. Cawsant ugain o ddynion ar hugain yn gweithio nos a dydd, gan fagu cant o bopur yn llawn potsiwn arbennig.
Yna, dyma nhw'n tyfu i diroedd y cewri ac yn ychwanegu eu elixir arbennig yn araf i brif gyflenwad dŵr y Giant, y llyn.
Yn fuan bu i'r potsiwn gael effaith a chyhoeddodd Beddgelert ben i'r ymladd. Yn sgil y canlyniad, rhoddodd y Brenin Giant rodd o Dalaith fechan, The Cil O'r Anfarwoldeb iddynt.
Hermione had read through the passage several times before she noticed it. The Cil O'r Anfarwoldeb. A fire ignited deep within as she worked through the passage with a sudden intensity.
Hermione went to her next Ancient Runes lesson with a renewed vigour for the subject.
"Everyone brought their homework?" Professor Babbling asked waiting for the usual slew of excuses.
When everybody had taken their seats, the professor went around collecting the essays from the students that did have them.
"Did you find it interesting?" the teacher asked enthusiastically
The class responded with a reluctant murmur before Hermione called out.
"There was something I wanted to ask about that sir," she said.
"Yes, Miss Granger," the portly teacher replied as he turned to her.
"In the story, there was something called the Cil Or An-far-wold-eb," she said, a little unsure.
"Yes," he nodded for her to continue.
"Well, I was wondering if you know anything about it?"
"Well for those of you who completed your homework correctly would know that Cil O'r Anfarwoldeb translates to…?" he prompted looking around the less than enthusiastic class.
Hermione was the first to answer. "The chalice of immortality."
The professor spun on his heels to face her again. "Very good, Miss Granger. Five points to Gryffindor."
Hermione blushed but smiled.
"Well, in answer to your question. There is actually relatively little known about the Ddoeth Henuriad, they were a relatively small tribe that lived in the heart of Snowdonia, and much of their legend has been lost to time. Through the centuries we have relearned some of their stories through the discoveries of their prophecies which they inscribed on stone tablets, stone monuments with the same inscribing and carvings on trees in the ancient forests," the professor paused to take a breath before carrying on; failing to notice the class full of teenagers who had all zoned out. Only Hermione listened intently, silently urging her teacher along in his ramble.
"The Ddoeth Henuriad were noted not just for their skill in Divination but also their healing. The Chalice of Immortality is a theme in a few of the known translated tales," The professor continued satisfied.
But he had told her nothing.
"Yes, but what is the chalice of immortality?"
The professor looked at her as if she had temporarily been rendered stupid. "Well, it's the chalice of immortality. A cup of immortality…"
Hermione huffed but not so the professor would notice. She tried to form the words to get the answer she was looking, but as she opened her mouth to speak, she was interrupted.
"She wants to know if it's real," Draco sniggered.
"O'ho, a pessimist are you, Mr Malfoy," The Professor joked as he turned to face him. "Don't dismiss its existence that easily. Ancient Magical Artifacts are often found, it's a question of knowing where to look."
"It can't be real," Draco sat up in his chair and scoffed.
"You don't know that. The Ddoeth Henuriad were a real wizarding tribe why should it not be real?" The Professor said wisely.
Draco looked as if all of the wind had been knocked from his sails, he slumped down in his chair, visibly deflated. Hermione watched him for a moment, knowing the thoughts that flashed through his head.
"Right then," The Professor acknowledged the class. "On with today's lesson. Take out your books; we'll be working on page one hundred and ninety-eight."
The eagerness with which she had entered the classroom had slowly faded as she trudged through the work; her questions now completely forgotten by all but her and, she assumed, Draco.
When the Professor announced an end to their lesson, Hermione quickly packed away her quill and books as she noticed a flash of black bolting out of the door, Draco, always the first one to leave the class.
She was one of the last ones to file out, so was surprised to see Draco hanging around outside the room, waiting for her.
"I'm sorry," he said as he approached her. "I shouldn't have dismissed your theories. I have a lot of things going on at the moment. I shouldn't have taken my frustrations out on you when you were only trying to help."
Never before had Malfoy apologised to her and Hermione had to bite back a retort about him having a personality transplant. Though he seemed genuine, she could not take him seriously. It was Malfoy after all. The boy who had bullied her for blood status, the boy who she had punched in her third year. It was a fake apology and bid at sympathy to get her to help him.
She nodded, a much safer option than allowing to let a sarcastic remark slip.
"I need your help," Draco admitted.
"I know you do," Hermione agreed as she looked up at him. The bruises that had shrouded his eyes had now faded to a hint of yellow, a shadow of the injury. His lip remained a little swollen.
"Draco. What happened?" she asked.
He regarded her for a minute before responding. "Being the son of a failed Death Eater is not exactly fun in the house full of Death Eater offspring… I'm their new toy."
Hermione gasped. "That's terrible...have you told Professor Snape?"
Draco scoffed. "What can Snape do?"
Hermione stood up straighter, taller. "He can do plenty. He is your Head of House."
"He does enough for me," Draco said cryptically. "Just leave it."
Hermione chewed on her words but did as he had asked, sensing the subject was a bit too personal.
"Like I said. I need your help," He started again.
"Yeah," Hermione agreed, nodding at him with a tell me something I don't know look on her face.
Draco shrugged and looked at her expectantly. "So, where do we start?"
"Well I think with Ddeoth Runes and the stories of the Ddeoth Henuriad," she shrugged.
Hermione and Draco agreed to meet in the Library every day after the day's classes had finished, after a few day they finally managed a comfortable silence in which to work.
The library was exceptionally quiet today, and Hermione spotted Draco immediately, sitting on a beanbag that had been pulled up right next to her favorite.
Hermione took her seat beside him and picked a book from the pile that he had already selected without a word in the Slytherin's direction.
He nodded a cordial greeting when she finally caught his eye.
They had found it hard to find any mention of the Ddoeth Henuriad in the books in the library let alone the tales that Professor Babbling mentioned. Hermione did return to ask her teacher to see if he could point her in the right direction.
He dismissed her need to know much about them but Hermione insisted that they had fascinated her and would like to do some further reading. The Professor was not much help.
Professor Babbling had informed her that an ancient text The Mabignon, that contained tales of Ddoeth Henuriad was held at The Ministry of Magic Library but access was strictly limited to Ministry employees only.
"Other than that," he said. "There has been a lot of study into Ddoeth Runes since about the 15th Century so my suggestion would be to look at academic or tex books,"
So that is what they were doing now. This particular book that she had chosen was quite boring, The Study of Obscure Runes, Angus Bradshawe. Rather than giving much away about the few Obscure Runes that had been pictured, most of the book detailed the Author's life story with much emphasis on his adventures. It was narcissistic writing; it reminded her slightly of Professor Lockhart and his style of writing. She fought a blush as she remembered her now addled Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.
"So this is why you are spending all of your time in with library?" Ron sneered startling Hermione who looked at him from her book.
Ron's ears burned a flaming scarlet which quickly spread through his face. He stared down at Hermione darkly. "With him?" he spat.
Hermione held his fierce glare with equal temerity.
"I can't believe you, Hermione," Ron huffed. "That's Malfoy...he's scum."
"Yes, he is," Hermione nodded, agreeing. "But who I choose to spend my time with is my concern, Ronald. Not yours."
"But it's Malfoy… he hates you because of how you were born, and he has pointed that fact out at every opportunity he could get."
"Yes," Hermione nodded. "So think about it logically, Ron," she spat. "Why could me and Malfoy be sat together in the library poring over ancient runes books? Could it possibly be that were have to work together on an Ancient Runes assignment?" Hermione felt her cheeks burning with rage.
Ron huffed which was followed by a shrug of defeat. "Do what you want but don't bring his scummy germs anywhere near me," he sneered with a sidelong glance at Draco.
Draco went to stand up to challenge him, but Hermione shot him a look which caused him to think better of the idea.
"McGonagall wants you by the way," Ron muttered before storming off.
"Why?" Hermione called to Ron, confused. When he did not answer, she turned to Draco. "I'd better go."
Hermione left Draco to tidy up the books as she followed Ron out of the library.
Hermione hurried through the castle, slightly worried about why Professor McGonagall wanted to see her. She took a deep breath before knocking on the deputy headmistress's office door.
"Come in," her teacher called.
Hermione opened the door to be greeted by a wonderful warmth and smell of gingerbread. Professor McGonagall stood up from her desk. "Ah, Miss Granger. Take a seat." she pointed to the chair in front of her well-organised desk. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
Hermione nodded nervously and took the proffered seat.
McGonagall fussed about with the kettle as Hermione fidgeted on the chair to get comfortable. She looked around the room at the many framed quidditch pictures that littered the wall before her attention was turned back to the teacher as she passed her a mug of steaming tea.
Professor McGonagall took her own chair and looked over her glasses as her feline eyes bore into Hermione making her feel as if her Professor was searching for the answer deep within her soul. "How are you?" she asked a bit too casually.
"I'm fine," Hermione answered a little guarded. Suspicion nagged at her as she regarded her teacher.
"Your classes?" Professor McGonagall pressed gently.
"Yeah, all good," Hermione nodded slowly.
The Professor sat back a little in her chair as her fingers bridged together in quiet contemplation. "And you are managing with the workload?"
Hermione eyed her teacher before replying with a question of her own. "Have one of my professors said something?"
"No," McGonagall assured her quickly. "Not one of your Professors."
Hermione let out a deep breath she didn't know she had been holding as her shoulders relaxed. "I'm doing well, Professor. I promise. If my Professors haven't said anything, and I apologise for being blunt, but what is this meeting about?"
Professor McGonagall gave her a small smile before replying. "Mr Potter came to see me with a few concerns. He said you are struggling with the workload which is causing you not to sleep or eat properly. I must tell you, Miss Granger, that if you are finding anything difficult, I want you to come straight to me. We can sort any problem that you may have."
Hermione gritted her teeth as she fought back the rage that threatened to flood her. "Harry," she growled How dare he go to McGonagall about her. Had she not told him that everything was fine. She took a deep breath. "I am fine, Professor as I have told both Harry and Ron numerous times before," she assured the woman as calmly as she could. "They do not seem to like how much time I spend in the library," Hermione spat, the rage escaping her.
"Hmmm," McGonagall nodded. "And you would come to me if you did have a problem?"
Hermione nodded genuinely: she had always enjoyed a good relationship with her Head of House.
McGonagall held her gaze at Hermione and smile. "Mr Potter and Mr Weasley are just being protective you know," she said.
Hermione rolled her eyes but returned the woman's warm smile. "They are annoying,"
"They're adolescent boys, they usually are. But they are annoying because they care. You could have worse friends." The Professor insisted.
Hermione nodded but could not entirely agree with her Head of House. She felt incredibly betrayed by Harry right now, and she was none too pleased with Ron either, what with the way he acted in the Library.
Hermione paced back towards the library without even glancing at her surroundings, malicious thoughts towards her "friends" filled her mind instead.
Draco had already left when she returned, Hermione did not care. They were not friends; the situation had forced them together. Hermione went back to the already well read Ancient Runes section and gathered up the books that Draco had not long placed back. She rage read through one and a half books before she finally gave into the grumblings of her stomach and decided to call it a day.
Dinner had started long before Hermione made it into the Great Hall but masses amounts of food still remained. Hermione found a seat next to Lavender and Padma as she noticed Ron, Harry and Ginny whispering, their heads leant in towards each other as they each took turns to shoot her brief glances.
Whatever, carry on and talk about me. Hermione just about managed a few mouthfuls of the delicious food before she began pushing the food around her plate. The stares she felt burning into her back were bothering her. How had she fallen out with her friends without even speaking to them? At that moment she wanted to cry and worked hard to fight back the tears. Everything between them felt so different now.
Hermione glanced over at the Slytherin table. There was no sign of Draco. In fact, she could not recall seeing him eat in the hall for the past month or so. With what he had told her earlier, it was no surprise really. But what a sad and solitary life, he had. An outcast from his own house and an Outcast from the entire school because of his house and their affiliations.
Quickly becoming bored of listening to all of their friendly conversations and banter going on around her, Hermione excused herself just as pudding appeared on the tables.
She shot a look of pure loathing to Ron and Harry as she strode down the Gryffindor table but they did not dare glance up at her.
A translated version of the story.
Beddgelert and The War of the Giants
In the Cymraeg mountains, the giants were at war and their king, Beddgelert sought to bring peace amongst his people. The other Giants challenged him when he demanded a stop to the fighting and eventually he sought the help of the Ddoeth Henuriad.
The Ddoeth Henuriad were a wizard tribe who too resided in the lands of Eryri and were considered to be the wisest of men.
Also wanting to see an end to the Giant's wars the Ddoeth Henuriad agreed to help and formulated a plan. They had twenty-seven men working night and day, brewing a hundred cauldron's full of a special potion.
It was then that they snuck over to the giant's lands and slowly added their elixir into the Giant's main water supply, the lake.
The potion soon calmed the now peaceful Giants, and Beddgelert announced an end to the fighting. Delighted with the outcome the Giant King gifted The Ddoeth Henuriad with a small, stone Chalice, The Cil O'r Anfarwoldeb;The Chalice of Immortality.
