"Three summer seasons it's been. Our small group of five has bonded so explicitly that it's ever a wonder we held such resentment towards Maven whence he first arrived here. Who is Maven? For much of a time I seem to have misplaced my journal. Much has happened since we were last together. Since then, our level of magic has far surpassed anything we could have dreamt. Maven's knowledge of the Old Religion is remarkable. Despite age, he has agreed to take us on as apprentices. He has done the majority of enchantments laced upon the school. It is magic he promises will withstand the passage of time. Many wards have encased our borders to deflect any unwanted foes. Him and Salazar have even created a chamber far beneath the school that is now home to a great serpent. It is a defense mechanism only to be used in the gravest of dangers. The two individuals have devised a language they now call Parselmouth to speak to the serpents. It has been based upon Maven's own role as a Dragonlord. Never have I met a man more powerful than he in all my years. Still there are many secrets yet to be uncovered. His lack of a wand is simply because he does not need one. The hues of his eyes turn golden as raw magic courses through his veins. Golden eyes! Emrys! Hermione internally exclaimed. Many theories have entered my mind in attempts to uncover the truth. It would seem the most plausible theories I have had are in relation to the Druids. These were magic users back in the time of Camelot, the kingdom upon which the castle lay. Hermione gasped. Camelot? This used to be Camelot? Suddenly things began to make much more sense. The Common room. Camelot has always been the password. She further thought back on the painting of Hogwarts that resides there. She remembers the surrounding town filled with busy people dressed all in peasant clothing. But that's not Hogwarts then. Or it is but it is Camelot before the school was founded on its remains. She decided to continue reading. This was back during the time of the 'First Great Purge'. Under the tyrant ruling of Uther Pendragon, any magic was held as a crime accountable to the 'sorcerer' upon punishment of death. Thousands of both magical and non-magical subjects were slaughtered, the dragons were drawn to near extinction and all who practiced were thrown into hiding. Much speculation has resulted from the time that followed. Uther Pendragon's son Arthur has long been revered for his known association with Merlin. Merlin. Perhaps a druid ancestry would explain Maven's knowledge in regards to the subject. I have long since assumed that he believed he had held the right to the castle because of his ancestry. But even my theory has far too many contradictions. Even for the wise woman by whom I am revered, the one thing I have always been unable to solve is he. He is by far the most secretive and fascinating person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting let alone knowing. ~Rowena" Hermione skims several more pages.
"My wildest dreams have never even come close to the truth that lies behind Maven Emrys. Yes! This is it! The school will soon finally open its doors tomorrow. After all that we have been through together, Maven has finally let his boundaries fall. I suppose my theory on the Druids were not wrong, but they were also far from right. We are the few to ever know Maven's true identity. This is a knowledge that will accompany me to my grave. Even with you, my trusted journal, I cannot explain it. The knowledge seems dangerous enough as it is just residing within my head. To write it down would leave me on edge. His name alone trembles the very fabric of my being. His past is filled with enough grief to last several lifetimes and I have shed tears knowing the amount will only increase. Were it not for his longtime dragon companion Aithusa, I fear what may have become of him. ~Rowena" Hermione skims many more pages. She reaches the very last two entries.
"Our hearts have shattered. Far too many of the students began to notice his presence among us and he decided it time to bid us farewell. Eight months have passed since his untimely departure. Aithusa still remains three kilometers into the forest housed in a clearing. His presence means a great protection for our school but it means that Maven has this time parted on his own. All four of us met the banding of our group on mutual terms. Long should we have done this before, but to do so would have meant to admit he was gone. Now there are certain promises to be kept. These promises will have a great impact on the future. To begin we must erase all evidence of Emrys' presence. No one apart from those present will ever know of his involvement until the time comes when he is once again needed. It is with sad tidings on us all that we must erase such a large part of all our lives. Not a word of this will be spoken to anyone. Help will be given once it is ready to be received and not a moment sooner. ~Rowena"
"Emrys, to you I say my last farewell. I do not know if you are reading this, or if you ever will, but it seems right to write this last entry. For now, I am waiting for the Baron's return of my daughter, as I remain fixed here on my deathbed. Hermione's heart skipped a beat at the time this last entry was written. The others are either disbanded or have long since passed. I have not even seen Salazar since his departure many decades prior. It took much deep contemplation as to what I would do with this journal, whether I should burn it or take it with me to my grave much like I am doing with your true identity. But something in myself couldn't carry out the task. The feelings I have come to recognize in my heart just for you have always remained hidden. In turn I knew I could never compare to 'Freya', your only true love and soul mate but I wish for you to know others care for you as well. Just because Camelot no longer governs, it does not mean you should ever completely be trapped out of time. I shall watch over you long into the day when you are once again needed. Long into the day when Albion calls back its great protector. I will place this book within your old private study. The one we have long since resided to feel closer once you were gone. The door should now open only to you. The room shall recognize your soul as kin and welcome you home once again. This is to last farewells. ~Your friend Rowena"
Hermione's tears still haven't ceased. She has just read some of the last words every written by Rowena Ravenclaw herself. But was she so adamant that he would ever get her message. Clearly he hadn't because it is still sitting here a millennium later. There are still things that don't add up. If this room is completely sealed to recognize his soul then how have I gotten it? And if he was around during the time of Camelot then how was he so much younger than the founders? What is the time frame between the two? Who is this Maven Emrys if that is not his real identity? And why is his house based off of an alias? There are too many questions still needing answers. Where do I fit into all of this? These are the questions Hermione is looking to answer as she heads back into the library labyrinth will a whole new set of topics in mind: Camelot, druids, dragons, and the Great Purge.