Library duties

Eren was sitting on his chair in the Library, as always.

It was late November, and students who had enjoyed their first two months of freedom had realised this was the time to study for exams.

At least the seventh years did.

So did Hermione. Every day she would come and ask for supplementary books for the first year, he would promise she had read five different books just for the Lumos charm.

He was not annoyed because of her know-it-all attitude the Weasley boy had been calling her.

No, he appreciated her, she had been pushing him into learning magic.

The thought of similarities between her and Armin were clear, but Hermione was her own person and she was a kid.

But he did appreciate her company. Almost felt like he had a daughter of her own.

It was surprising how she had made him feel again, and it took from September to today for him to acknowledge that he felt protective of her.

"Can I go to the restricted section, Professor Yeager?" She had been calling him a professor since the beginning of the term. He did point out that he was not a professor, but she confessed Professor Yeager rolled on the tongue, Librarian Yeager did not. So she had the permission to call him that in private.

"What for? The restricted section is restricted for a reason. There are books that would literally kill or maim you."

"Kill!? They should not keep those books in a school full of children!"

"It is, after all, restricted is it not Hermione?" This silenced Hermione.

Hermione clenched her hands, finally deciding to ask Eren, even after Ron had warned that the adults were silent about the situation for a reason and that they shouldn't trust anyone to give them the truth.

"I wanted to know about Nicolas Flamel."

"Ah, Nicolas Flamel." Hermione eyes perked up as she thought Eren knew of Nicolas Flamel.

"You do not have to go to the restricted section for that." He checked his pockets for something and offered a chocolate frog to Hermione.

"Thank you, professor, but Nicolas Flamel?"

"See the card first, Hermione."

<ALBUS DUMBLEDORE< p>

CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling.>

Hermione digested the information and the fact she just had to eat chocolate for a hint of Nicolas Flamel. But...

"But sir, it says here that he is a famous alchemist, but I did not find anything on him in the history books of the past century. Not even a birthday."

"Because he is not of our age. You should check his name in the great wizard of the millennium, for he is more than half of that old."

"People can live that long!?"

"People can't, Wizards can Hermione. Mr. Flamel is a unique wizard." He checked his watch, which had stopped ticking. "You might want to return Ms. Granger. The first-year double potion classes are infamous for them to reach my ears here."

She blushed in embarrassment and ran off with three books in her hands.

.

It is now Christmas at Hogwarts, with snow falling. Hagrid is dragging a massive Christmas tree to the castle. Hermione walks to the Great Hall entrance with her luggage and wearing a scarf as the ghosts are singing Christmas songs.

Hermione looks from the massive Christmas tree as Flitwick uses his wand to put another ornament on the tree to Harry and Ron as they play Chess and walks towards them

She watches as Ron's queen goes over to Harry's knight and whacks the knight with her chair. Ron grins. Harry turns to Hermione.

"I see you've packed."

"I see you haven't." 

"Any luck finding who Nicolas Flamel is?" Ron changed his occupation from master chess player to professional speed eater.

"I found it." Harry leaned into Hermione's book, to see an old man beyond age.

"Here- Nicolas Flamel (c. 1326[-) is a French wizard and famed alchemist who was the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone."

""The what?""

"Honestly, don't you two read?- The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It'll transform any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life which will make the drinker immortal."

"The only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel, the noted alchemist who last year celebrated his 665th birthday." That's what the Cerebus is guarding on the 3rd floor. That's what's under the trapdoor. The Philosopher's Stone.

The duo had gone to Hagrid after Hermione had left for her home and weaselled out another "I shouldn't have said that" thing from the poor half-giant. 

.

It was the day of Christmas Eve. Children were exchanging presents and so were the adults. 

The majority of the Hogwarts students had left for home, and only a few of them had stayed.

"My mum made it." Looking back up at Harry. "It looks like you've got one too."

"I-I've got presents?" Harry runs down the staircase to see his presents. He sees a note on the present and opens it, reading it out. <Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use well>

"I know what that is. That's a bloody invisibility cloak! One of them could fetch like ten thousand galleons!" Harry wraps the cloak around his shoulders, making his body invisible.

"I'm invisible?" Harry spins around, looking down at himself.

"They're really rare." Ron looks down at the note. "I wonder who gave it to you."

.

In Dumbledore's office, he had received a stack of gifts from his friends, domestic and international relations.

One of them stood out, packed in a transparent gift wrap was a pair of woollen socks.

.

Eren had received some presents, including gifts from Minerva, Albus and even a potion from Severus. The one unexpected was from Hermione, a pocket watch.