"I feel all the anguish within me arise. Of a ship in distress. The tempest, the rain, 'neath the lowering skies."
Music. Les Fleurs du mal. Charles Baudelaire.
II
The chilly air was thick with fog, making it hard for Hermione to see the old buildings in Diagon Alley. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, feeling cold as she stood outside Gringotts Bank. The sound of footsteps, voices, and laughter filled the air as witches and wizards went about their business. Hermione spotted someone she knew in the crowd, Bill Weasley. He greeted her with a warm smile, which made her feel more relaxed. She had planned to meet him here after Harry had told her about his job.
Bill had been called to Gringotts that day to help with the bank's security. A wizard had recently tried to break into one of the most protected vaults, causing a lot of panic and damage. Bill loved being a Curse-Breaker. He traveled to different places, exploring old tombs and temples, and dealing with dangerous magical objects. He had a lot of knowledge about dark objects, which is why she hoped he would agree to help her.
"Hermione! It's so nice to see you. What brings you here?" Bill asked, genuinely curious.
Hermione looked around nervously, making sure no one was listening. "Bill, I need your help. Can we talk somewhere more private?" she pleaded.
The tall wizard could tell by her voice that something was wrong and nodded with concern. "Of course. Where do you want to go?" he asked, wondering what was bothering her.
Hermione thought for a moment before suggesting an idea. "How about the Department of Mysteries?" she proposed, hoping he would agree.
Bill raised his eyebrows in surprise at her choice. "The Department of Mysteries? That's risky, don't you think? But you're right, it would be private and safe," he agreed.
They made their way to one of the secure rooms and Hermione showed him the two cursed objects she had brought. The ring caught his attention right away. "This ring has a fascinating history," Hermione said, her eyes shining with excitement. "It belonged to the Gaunt family for many years. It was lost for a long time, but now we've found it."
The witch watched as Bill carefully examined the object. He noticed the cracked stone and the lingering dark magic on it. "Looks like someone tried to destroy it," he said, furrowing his brow in thought.
Then, he turned his attention to the book, which had a cover stained with blood. He looked at it with a worried expression. "This book seems to be even more sinister than the ring," he said.
Hermione nodded in agreement as Bill inspected the book. "I've been trying to find information about it ever since I went to Little Hangleton," she admitted. "But even Dumbledore and Flamel couldn't help me much."
Bill leaned closer, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Have you tried looking for other sources of knowledge or expertise?" he asked.
"Dumbledore told me to find a curse-breaker," Hermione replied, her tone suspicious. "But he didn't seem willing to share everything with me. That's why I came to you."
He examined the items more closely and said, "These two objects are connected, probably from a dark ritual gone wrong. But the power of the ring has been shattered. I'm sorry, Hermione, but I don't have much to offer you."
Hermione felt a pang of disappointment, but she appreciated Bill's honesty. "Thank you for trying, Bill. Your skills are extremely valuable to me," she expressed sincerely.
As they left the security chamber, Hermione couldn't shake off her worry. The ring and the book still held secrets that she couldn't unravel, and she knew she had a long and dangerous quest ahead. She reached a dead end and decided to seek the help of Lily and James Potter, Harry's loving parents and respected Hogwarts professors.
Hermione had been mentored by Lily, the professor of Magical Theory, during her advanced program in her seventh year. James, on the other hand, was a charismatic instructor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Since it was summer, she thought it would be a good idea to visit them at their home in the historic Godric's Hollow.
She arrived just in time for dinner and was warmly welcomed by the kind couple. "Hermione, dear, it's wonderful to see you!" Lily exclaimed, giving her a tight hug. James grinned widely and added, "You're always welcome here. We've missed your company."
They all gathered around the dining table, and the atmosphere was a mix of nostalgia and excitement. They reminisced about the summers Hermione had spent with Harry at their house, sharing stories of their adventures and pranks. The room filled with laughter as they recalled the magical moments.
After a delicious meal prepared by Lily's talented hands, they moved to the cozy corner of the Potter's small library. The shelves were filled with books of different shapes and sizes, their covers showing signs of age and wisdom. Hermione sat on a comfortable armchair, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Thank you both for your hospitality," she said gratefully. "I really need your help with something that has been bothering me."
Lily looked at the young witch with concern as she gently touched her arm. "Of course, dear. We're here for you. What's troubling you?" Lily said in a soft and calm voice.
Hermione took a deep breath, her mind filled with racing thoughts. "It's about two cursed objects I've found. I've been trying to figure out their secrets, but I've hit a roadblock," she admitted, frustration evident in her tone.
James leaned in with interest, his eyes full of anticipation. "Cursed objects, huh? That sounds fascinating. Tell us more," he encouraged.
Hermione showed them the book and the ring, her eyes determined. She was eager to share what she had learned. The Potters listened attentively, their faces transitioning from interest to a mix of worry and intrigue.
James rubbed his head, lost in thought as he considered the items. "Well, I agree with Bill that it should be safe to touch them now. The ring has been destroyed, and the book is inactive," he said cautiously.
Lily's emerald eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined the book. Despite its old and torn state, it was captivating. She noticed that the pages were blank, devoid of ink or writing. "It's strange," Lily said, lightly touching the book's spine. "Despite its poor condition, the leather cover and the paper suggest it was made with care."
James's face lit up with recognition. "I remember now," he exclaimed. "I had one of these books. It was a diary, a common possession among pureblood families back then."
Lily continued examining the book, her mind filled with possibilities. She cast several spells, attempting to uncover its secrets. Eventually, she reached a conclusion. "It seems that this book has been enchanted to prevent anyone from reading it," she said.
James, aware of the Gaunts' paranoia, chimed in. "It's likely a blood curse. But, Hermione, if you're careful enough, you can continue researching it. Just be cautious, as some of these books have spells that cause harm if you try to break them."
That night, Hermione returned to her small flat in muggle London, feeling restless and uneasy. She made a resolution to pursue the truth more boldly in her research. As she lay in bed, ready to fall asleep, strange dreams plagued her.
A young boy in a dark room, a looming threat, and a snake that suddenly appeared. Hermione woke up startled and decided to seek answers at the Department of Mysteries the next day.
The Ministry corridors were crowded with people, but her thoughts were consumed by the cursed objects. She never expected to run into Ron Weasley, her old friend and former fiancé. Seeing him stirred up a mix of emotions within her.
Ron was now married to Lavander Weasley, formerly known as Lavender Brown, and they were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. Although time had passed, his betrayal still pained Hermione, and she did her best to keep her distance from him.
Despite her efforts, Ron spotted her and approached with a smirk on his face. He delighted in taunting her and belittling her accomplishments, always attempting to make her feel like she had lost everything. Hermione prepared herself for his rude comments.
Ron greeted her with a fake smile. "Ah, Hermione, there you are," he said. "I just wanted to share how happy I am with my wife and our soon-to-be baby."
Anger rose within Hermione. Ron was aware of her desire to be a mother, but she couldn't. A magical illness prevented her from having a child. The Head Healer at St. Mungo's had informed her of this just before their planned wedding.
"Sorry, Ron," she said, her voice tense. "I have to go. I have important work to do."
However, the wizard didn't listen or seem to care. He continued talking about his recent visit to the Ministry, the leave he had taken to be with his wife, and the clothes they had bought for their baby.
"You should see the cute robes we got for the baby," Ron said, ignoring her frustration. "They're in Gryffindor colors, of course. We want our child to be a brave Gryffindor like us!"
Hermione tried to interrupt him. "Ronald, I have to go. Can we talk later?" But he continued, his voice filled with excitement. "And Lavander has already decorated the nursery. It's a magical creatures theme. It's amazing!"
She pleaded with him. "Ron, please, let me go. It's urgent!"
But he carried on, unaware of her distress. "I've been reading all these parenting books. There's so much to learn, and I want to be the best dad ever. Lavander and I are thrilled about this new chapter in our lives."
Frustration overwhelmed Hermione. Suddenly, something snapped. Her frustration reached its limit, and a burst of wild magic filled the air. The wizard barely managed to dodge the magical blast, causing him to fall back in pain.
"Ouch! What the hell?" Ron shouted, irritation in his voice.
The witch gasped in shock, realizing what she had done. "I-I'm so sorry, Ron! I didn't mean to hurt you. It was an accident!"
Ron's anger rose, his voice harsh. "Well, maybe if you were more polite and didn't lash out like that, I would have listened!"
Hermione had reached her limit with his impoliteness. "You know what? I don't have time for this," she said, turning away and leaving him behind. She understood that she needed to focus on her own work and not let him bring her down.
Her destination was the laboratory in the Department of Mysteries, a place where secrets were uncovered and the unknown was explored. It was a place where she felt comfortable, surrounded by mysteries and magical experiments.
As she began her work, a strange burst of wild magic filled the air, causing her to pause. She looked at her wand, aware of its power, but decided to ignore it for the time being. She had more important things to do and couldn't afford to be distracted.
With caution, she placed the secure container on her workbench. The cursed objects inside presented a new puzzle for her to solve, a challenge she enjoyed. The witch sensed the potential for discovery in their dark essence, the opportunity to uncover the secrets of dark magic. It was a risky endeavor, but her thirst for knowledge and desire to unravel the mysteries of the wizarding world drove her forward.
Hermione spent the day attempting to unlock the secrets of the mysterious book. She tried every method she knew, from simple charms to complex spells. She tapped the diary three times, hoping it would reveal itself. "Aparecium!" she exclaimed, but nothing happened.
"Come on, show me your secrets!" she persisted, refusing to give up. Then tried three potions from Nicolas Flamel and even some forbidden curses and spells from her hidden collection. Yet, the book remained silent.
"You're very stubborn, aren't you?" she muttered in frustration. Hermione sat at her desk and began writing down all the spells she had tried on the book. To her surprise, as she finished writing, the list vanished, and words appeared in an elegant handwriting. It read, "You used some powerful magic in your quest. But you only had to ask."
