A stone's delight

In a moonlit glade hidden within the depths of the Ilvermorny training coliseum, Tom stood confidently, his stance firm and determined as he faced his daunting adversary. The air around them was thick with anticipation as if the very fabric of the night was holding its breath. Before him towered Fred, the fearsome werebear with rippling muscles, his claws gripping the haft of a gargantuan hammer. The beast's eyes glinted with a feral cunning, promising a formidable challenge.

The surrounding trees stretched their branches towards the sky, their leaves rustling in the cool night breeze, casting intricate patterns of shadows that danced and twirled upon the soft grass beneath their feet. The silvery moonlight bathed the scene in an ethereal glow, transforming the training grounds into a realm suspended between reality and dreams.

With an effortless flick of his hands, Tom conjured enormous boulders that tore themselves from the ground and sent them hurtling towards Fred with astonishing speed. The air around them snapped and crackled with the intensity of the wandless magic.

Fred, however, remained entirely unfazed by the impending onslaught. He planted his feet firmly, sinking his claws into the earth, and gripped his colossal hammer with a primal determination. As the boulders hurtled towards him, the werebear unleashed a mighty swing of his hammer, the sheer force of which seemed to slice through the air, creating a resounding boom that echoed through the coliseum.

The hammer met the boulders in a cataclysmic collision, and the impact sent a shockwave rippling outwards, rattling the surrounding trees and causing the ground beneath them to shudder violently. Each boulder shattered into a thousand fragments, the sound akin to the earth itself splitting apart. The debris flew in all directions, propelled by the raw, devastating power of Fred's strike. Dust and gravel filled the air, momentarily obscuring the battlefield in a hazy cloud.

As the dust settled, Fred sneered at Tom with an air of arrogance, his chest heaving from the exertion. "Is that really all there is, to the great Thomas Knight?"

Tom's grin broadened, and with a casual nod of his chin, he urged Fred to look around. "See for yourself."

A sudden, unnerving chill gripped Fred as he turned, only to find himself surrounded by dozens of imposing stone warriors emerging from the very earth beneath them. Each figure was meticulously crafted, displaying intricate details and lifelike features. Their granite bodies were a tapestry of rock and minerals, displaying a myriad of shades, from the deepest obsidian to the palest marble.

These stone sentinels stood tall, their broad shoulders and chiselled muscles showcasing their immense power. Their eyes, hollow and unyielding, seemed to bore into Fred's very soul, instilling a sense of dread that he had never known. Their mouths were set in grim lines, devoid of mercy or compassion.

In their unyielding grip, each warrior brandished gleaming metal weapons, forged from a variety of materials conjured using Tom's metal bending ability. Some wielded razor-sharp swords, the edges glinting menacingly in the moonlight. Others gripped formidable axes, the cold steel of their blades promising a swift and merciless end. Still, others held massive hammers or menacing spears, each weapon a testament to the sheer might of Tom's conjured army.

The sight of this silent, formidable legion surrounding him sent shivers down Fred's spine, and for the first time, doubt began to creep into his mind. The warriors stood like statues, awaiting Tom's command, their unwavering gazes never leaving the werebear.

Tom's grin never faltered. He could sense Fred's growing unease, and it only served to fuel his determination.

That night on the training ground, Fred's gruelling and horrifyingly tortuous training began. Monitored and adjusted to Tom's sadistic whims in an attempt to truly bring out his friend's full potential.

***

But far away in Hogwarts, a young girl awoke from her blissful sleep, the pattering of water against the glass pane beside her a harmonious symphony to accompany her incurable giddiness. She stared at the bracelet that adorned her wrist with wrapped fascination, unable to tear her gaze from it in the slightest. the sunshine, refracted by the water droplets staining the window, created a marvellous sight as the metal glistened beneath its radiance.

"Wow, Hermione!" Padma exclaimed, her dark eyes shining with interest as she gazed at the glinting bracelet adorning Hermione's wrist. Her twin, Parvati, leaned closer against her bed frame, her expression mirroring her sister's.

"It's beautiful!" Parvati chimed in. "Where did you get it?"

Hermione glanced back down at the bracelet after a brief shock at their appearance and couldn't help the blush that crept onto her cheeks. "It was a gift," she began hesitantly, feeling the warmth of the sun spilling in from the large window, and the rush of excitement mixed with nervousness as she prepared to divulge the events of her night.

"From who?" Padma pressed, her interest piqued.

Hermione hesitated a moment longer before replying, "Thomas."

"Thomas Knight?" Parvati exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise, a frown quickly developing as they next question filled her mind. "But... isn't he in Ilvermorny right now? how can he be here?"

"No clue," Hermione shook her head, equally puzzled, yet a fond smile played on her lips as she thought of him nevertheless.

"Tell us everything!" Padma demanded, casting the puzzling question to the back of her mind, her voice full of girlish excitement. The twins shared an eager look, their earlier activities momentarily forgotten as they sat cross-legged on their beds, wiping their eyes to dispel their drowsy spirits before listening intently.

Hermione gave a soft sigh, her mind swirling with the memories of that night, "I was just reading a book on spells- offensive spells when I suddenly had this feeling. A feeling I only got when Thomas was around..." She started, the words flowing naturally as she painted a vivid picture of her night and eventual encounter with Tom.

The girls listened with rapt attention, their faces glowing in the budding light as Hermione detailed the unexpected visit. She spoke of the hushed tones and whispered words, the warm glow of the floating candle, and the comfort in shared silence.

When she reached the part about the bracelet, both the twins gasped, their eyes sparkling with delight. "That's so romantic!" Parvati squealed, clasping her hands together in glee. Padma nodded in agreement, her gaze fixated on the bracelet that was now more than just a piece of jewellery.

Hermione continued with the story, explaining the magical qualities of the bracelet and the heartfelt poem Tom had inscribed on it. The room filled with a collective sigh when she described how the poem appeared, a beautiful cascade of fire spinning the words in the air.

"That's something out of a fairy tale," Padma sighed, her eyes gleaming with disbelief as she took in the depth of the emotions hidden behind Tom's gift.

As Hermione wrapped up her story, revealing how she had watched Tom walk away under the moonlight, the room was filled with intense silence. The kind of silence that spoke volumes, the kind that contained a mix of happiness, longing, and a dash of envy.

Parvati was the first to break the silence. "Well, Hermione," she said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I think someone's smitten."

Hermione blushed, but didn't deny it. After all, how could she? The evening had been nothing short of magical, and as she thought of Tom, a warm feeling spread throughout her, a feeling that hinted at the start of something wonderfully new and exhilarating.

"We're happy for you, Hermione," Padma said, her voice sincere. "You deserve to be treated like a princess."

With the words of the twins echoing in her heart, Hermione felt a lightness she hadn't felt in a long time. She closed her eyes, holding the magical bracelet close to her heart, a tangible reminder of the enchanting night she would always remember.

In the warm glow of sisterly chatter and girlish giggles, Hermione knew that this moment, like the bracelet, was something she would hold close to her heart.

***

As the day began to yield to the approaching night, Hermione found herself sequestered within the confines of the castle's observatory. Solitary but for the company of the telescopes and ancient celestial charts, she was an isolated figure against the vast expanse of the forest that unfurled below the tower's windows.

The Forbidden Forest - a sprawling quilt of lush greenery that concealed within its depths a menagerie of magical beasts. Some were as innocent as the nifflers, and others as dark and dangerous as acromantula. Now, however, under the waning light of the day, the forest's innate eeriness had been momentarily forgotten. The characteristic gloom that lurked within its canopy was now veiled by the painting of twilight, the sky ablaze with streaks of red and gold, imbuing the leaves with a fiery glow that seemed almost ethereal.

The sight was as bewitching as ever, but tonight Hermione's gaze was more captivated by the delicate band adorning her wrist. The bracelet glinted under the dying sunlight, serving as a tangible reminder of Thomas Knight, who had charmed her in more ways than one.

She lifted her hand, turning the bracelet gently, and, as if drawn by an invisible force, she pressed her lips to it softly. It was not the cool, metallic touch she craved but rather the warm, comforting touch of Tom. It was a kiss meant for him, a silent confession conveyed through a simple yet poignant act.

The bracelet seemed to respond, a shiver of magic rippling across it. The mystical script once again materialized, dancing with the same vibrant energy as it had the first time. Words of love and companionship, a sonnet intricately weaved, yet designed for a single reader. It was Tom's heart spilled out in prose, a declaration concealed within the delicate tracery of the magical inscription.

___

Once upon the weave of time, in chapters bathed in sunlit rhyme,

Two hearts crossed paths, as stars align, in the tapestry divine.

Laughter echoed through the trees, dancing on the summer breeze,

Moments sewn in golden fleece, a timeless masterpiece.

.

In gardens bathed in morning light, they chased the fleeting wind,

Through wildflowers and dreams of night, their adventure would begin.

Hand in hand, they'd run untamed, through realms only hearts knew,

In each laugh, a love unnamed, as strong as morning dew.

.

The adventure's song was fierce and bold, through tempest, heat and cold,

Their shared laughter, never old, a saga of courage told.

Tales spun in the twilight glow, echoed in the canyon's heart,

Underneath the moon's soft glow, each laughter was an art.

.

Yet 'twas not just the roar and riot, that bound their souls so tight,

But the quiet moments of silent quiet, beneath the stars' soft light.

In the hush of dusk and dawn's caress, they found a peace so rare,

Unspoken feelings would express, in the silent air.

.

Beneath the whispers of the pines, in the stillness of the night,

A language formed from love's designs, in the moon's silver light.

Their hearts whispered without a word, as stars around them twirled,

In the quiet, their feelings heard, their love for each other unfurled.

.

Their tale is sung by the winds, in the valleys and the peaks,

In every sunrise that begins, and in the silence that speaks.

Of laughter shared, adventures dared, and quiet moments so tender,

Of feelings bared, of how they cared, a love they'll always remember.

.

So here is their story woven in time, a tale for the heart to treasure,

Of love, of laughter, a rhythm, a rhyme, of moments beyond measure.

Through joy and tears, through hopes and fears, their bond would never sever,

A testament to the passing years, a tale of their time together.

___

Hermione hummed quietly, accompanying the dispelling fire that filled the air as she, once more, cast her longing gaze, back into the now dark forest below.

An: tell me what you think.