DISCLAIMER: I make no money off this writing, Harry Potter belongs to J. , as well as other affiliates such as Scholastic Books, etc. I claim no ownership over any characters or plot that I have borrowed from the books and movies for this fanfiction.
AN: Hey all, bit of a short chapter here to speed through some basic plot points and illustrate the dynamic of our main trio. Hope y'all enjoy!
It had started off innocently enough. They were leading Draco up to Ravenclaw tower, to show him what the Ravenclaw dorm looked like, when the staircases had shifted and they had ended up on the third floor corridor. Hermione had screeched at them not to explore but Draco had scoffed. "They wouldn't actually keep anything truly dangerous here. It's a school, Hermione."
She had followed after them, not wanting to be left alone, and they reached a large oak door. Hyacinth grinned at Draco before pointing her wand at the large padlock and whispering, "Alohamora." The lock had clicked open and the three made their way into the dark room.
"You'd think they'd put some windows in here or something with how dark it is. I can't see anything!"
"Ouch, Draco that was my foot!"
"Well it wasn't me, I'm next to Hyacinth!"
"I didn't do anything either!"
A loud snarl caused the trio to jump and they turned to stare into 3 pairs of very large, very red eyes. They ran from the room, slobber gushing after them. They shut the door tight and sighed before Draco exclaimed, "Was that a Cerberus?!"
"A what?"
Hermione turned on her, "Oh really Hyacinth, I lent you that book on magical creatures last week! I thought you would've finished it by now! A Cerberus, as in a three-headed hell dog."
"Oh. Right. I got stuck up on the mermaid chapter actually. Well anyway, let's run now, ask questions later."
Christmas came too quickly for Hyacinth, and soon all her friends had left for the holidays, Draco and Hermione each off to visit their parents for yule. Hyacinth was more than happy to stay at the castle, doubting she would be welcome back at the Dursleys during what was meant to be a happy family time. Therefore, she remained in the Ravenclaw dorm, the only one of her year in her house to stay behind.
She had borrowed one of the school owls to order Hermione and Draco their presents, as well as one for her favorite potions professor. She had gotten Hermione a lovely anklet and a variety of books on wizarding customs so that the other girl might fit in as well as possible with the ever judging eye of Draco upon her. Speaking of, Draco had recieved from her an assortment of his favorite candies, as well as a pair of Slytherin-themed cuff links for his robes. The dour Professor Snape had received an assortment of potions ingredients for his private stock.
What astonished Hyacinth was that upon waking up she had also received presents! Hermione had given her a two-way diary so that she and Hermione could write each other over any holidays. From Draco she herself received some treats, as well as a letter of invitation to spend part of the summer hols at Malfoy Manor with he and some other friends.
There was also a mystery gift. She couldn't tell who had sent it, there was no tag on the silver shimmering wrapping paper. She removed the string around it carefully and unfolded the paper. Before her lay a velvety-looking cloak. She let her fingers trail over it slowly, feeling the comfortable material.
Picking it up and swinging it over her shoulders, she gave herself a once over in the dorm mirror only to find that all she could see of herself was a head!
She gulped once. The cloak made her invisible! How delightful!
She turned back to the wrapping to discover a thin slip of parchment tucked into one of the inner folds, ink scraped neatly across its surface. "Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well."
Hyacinth squashed down the curiosity growing in her mind and instead began to write her thank you notes for the gifts she had received. She wondered if she would be able to buy an owl the next summer, so she didn't have to use the school owl anymore. It had squawked dreadfully at her when she had sent it off with the mail order catalogue.
Determined to get some new books before the break was over but knowing the library was closed during winter hols, Hyacinth donned her new cloak that night and snuck into the library. She ventured toward the shelves containing the standard second year textbooks and plucked a few out. Who knew when she would get the time to read next year's books once she was back at the Dursleys?
As she shuffled the books into her bag, she would return them in a few weeks, she froze at the sound of quick footsteps drawing near. There was a sudden clatter and Hyacinth turned slightly, watching in horror as Professor Snape slammed Professor Quirrell into one of the bookshelves.
"I don't know what game you're playing, Quirinus, but I do know that whatever it is, I will find out." Snape was spewing the words like venom, dangerously close to the defense professor's face.
Professor Quirrell stared at Snape with unabashed fear, "R-r-really, S-S-Severus, I d-don't have anything to h-h-hide." He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, "If th-this is about the ph-ph-philosoph-phers st-stone I assure y-you I did my b-b-best to pro-protect it -"
"Do not speak of it!" Snape's eyes darted around the room, "Just you be assured that I. Am. Watching. You."
The two swept from the room, heading in opposite directions after exiting the library and Hyacinth felt her tense shoulders drop an inch. Thank Merlin! That had been too close. She proceeded to leave the library, being extra sneaky as she did so.
As she neared the entrance to the dorms she felt a slight pull coming from around the corner. It felt as though her magic were leading her somewhere, a trail of breadcrumbs to some end. She followed the pull, trusting her magic.
She opened a small door and entered. She'd never been in this room before. She hadn't known it was even there! The large room was mostly empty, save a large mirror in the center of the room. Hyacinth approached it cautiously, reading the carved words at the top, "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi." Sounded like a load of gibberish. She looked into the mirror and gasped at what she saw standing behind her. Her mother, looking just like she had in the picture her Professor had given her, and a man, who she assumed was her father. Her parents, and they were here!
She turned around quickly and saw nothing but an empty room. She looked up again at the inscription, "I show not your face but your hearts desire." She choked slightly, throat closing and opening painfully.
"A cruel trick," she whispered, as she re-donned her cloak and strode from the room, tears fiercely pricking at the corner of her eyes.
When Hermione got back from break, Hyacinth had hugged her immediately, before rushing her off to their room. They could finally get some answers together! "What do you know about the Philosopher's Stone?"