At seven in the m, Glenn opened his eyes. Today was the day he and Hermione would return to Hogwarts.

  Attempting to move his right hand proved futile. Glenn calmly turned his head to fily what he'd expected - Hermione, as usual, had his right hand clutched tightly to her chest while she slumbered peacefully.

  Hermione was generally a peaceful sleeper, preferring to curl up on her side - perhaps it made her feel more secure. When sleeping alone, she remained perfectly still. However, Glenn had noticed that whehey shared a bed, he'd wake to find the young girl in different positions each time. After futile attempts to correct this habit, he'd simply learo accept it.

  Since he was effectively trapped, Glenn decided not to force himself up. Instead, he reached for his pou the bedside table with his left hand and pulled out an alchemical creation - his ented camera.

  Silently casting a Sileng Charm on the device, he raised it and captured the moment with a soft click, preserving the image of Hermione and his captive self. This would join his colle of dozens of simir photos doting Hermione's various sleeping positions - a colle that roag triple digits. He'd started this "plete catalogue" after accepting he couldn't ge her sleeping habits, pnning to show them all to her someday.

  Putting the camera away, Glenn quietly y back down, waiting for Hermioo wake naturally...

  Forty-three minutes and twenty-six seds ter, Gle his right hand being released.

  Ah, Hermione was awake.

  "Good m," Hermione, wearing pink fleece pajamas, greeted him with sleepy eyes and a big yawn. She sat cross-legged on the bed, smag her lips slightly.

  "M. Let's get ed up first, then you check if there's anything else you want t. I'll heat up some sandwiches and prepare food and water for the journey," Glenn said, smoothing dowousled hair before they both headed to the bathroom to brush their teeth and wash up.

  W effitly together, they quickly prepared for departure. Hermione picked up Crookshanks, Glenn locked the door, and they hailed a taxi oreet.

  They arrived at King's Cross Statiht on time, passed through Ptform Nine and Three-Quarters, and successfully boarded the Hogwarts Express.

  Hermione pulled out her notebook and began preparing for the uping final exams (still more than ten weeks away). She was determio maintain her academic rivalry with Glenn and secure her sixth secutive victory after her current streak of five. Though Glenn knew she had already mastered all the first-year material, he uood her personality well enough to let her proceed as she wished.

  Meanwhile, Glenn chose to tinue his resear different magical circuit positions - their simirities, differences, simplicity, plexity, and various binations. He carefully doted his findings in his notebook, divided by different aspects. Glenn had a growing suspi that magical circuits followed certain rules, but without any clear leads, he could only proceed with the most basic approach: breaking down spells one by one, analyzing and paring their magical circuits, hoping to discover the underlying mysteries.

  The train journey erfect for academic pursuits - he'd save his alchemy experiments for the Room of Requirement.

  Except flenn insisting that Hermioake an afternoon nap, they both remained absorbed in their respective studies. Time flew by quickly, and before they k, darkness had fallen and the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station.

  They disembarked, followed the professor's lead, took the thestral-drawn carriages, and arrived at Hogwarts.

  Upoering the Great Hall, Glenn chose not to apany Hermione directly to the Gryffindor table.

  "Hermione, I o see Dumbledore first," Glenn informed her. She didn't question it, simply waving him off as she headed to find her girlfriends, Crookshanks in her arms.

  Glenn walked straight to the third floor where the gargoyle guarded the entrance. He pulled out a long piece of part listing numerous wizarding sweets - things like "Cockroach Clusters," "Lemon Drops," and "Chocote Frogs." Dumbledore's password was always among these, so when Glenn didn't know the current one, he would quickly recite the entire list until the gargoyle jumped aside.

  However, the gargoyle, apparently having developed a ditioned response, moved aside as soon as it saw Glenn pull out the part.

  Glenn raised an eyebrow but said nothing, then smoothed his eyebrow back down. He'd noticed he ig up many of Hermione's mannerisms after spending so much time together.

  Glenn uood exactly why this was happening, recalling a theory from his previous life:

  The Chameleon Effect.

  In the presence of others, we automatically mimic their postures, gestures, facial expressions, smiles, tone of voice, and other behaviors. Moreover, this mimicry tends to make us more likely to gain their favor.

  "So I want to gain Hermione's favor? What an iing feeling..." he pondered silently while maintaining his posed expression as he waited for the moving staircase to carry him to the office.

  He po mention to Dumbledore that Quirrell might try to extraformation from Hagrid. As for the rest, he sidered it none of his business.

  Meanwhile, oher side...

  Just as Hermione was about to find her girlfriends to share her Christmas experiences and subtly brag about how wonderful Glenn had been to her, she was intercepted by two people before she could reach the Gryffindor table.

  Harry and Ron.

  The two boys were nearly frantic. Before Christmas, they had been desperate to find information about Niel, but ohe holiday began, they pletely fot about it, enjoying their first Christmas at Hogwarts. Now that the break was over, they suddenly remembered their unfiask.

  Oh dear, what a mess.

  Seeing Hermione appear alone, without that Slytherin boy nearby, the two were overjoyed.

  Finally, a ce to ask her questions!

  Tears of relief practically welled up in their eyes - no one could uand their struggles (not really). Seeing the know-it-all now was like finding their savior. They hurriedly called out to Hermione and pulled her aside to a secluded spot.

  "Niel? Why do you want to know about him?" Hermione asked curiously. Givewo's abilities and knowledge, how could they possibly be involved in anythied to Grandpa Nicos?

  The boys exged gnces and decided to tell Hermione Granger everything about Snape's apparent attempt to get past the door ohird floor and how it reted to Niel.

  Their reasoning was simple - besides Harry, Sargeted Hermione Granger most harshly in css.

  Not only were her raised hands ignored, but she was also mocked. On the rare occasions when Snape called on her out of frustration, he wouldn't aoints even for correswers. This led to intense gring matches between Snape and Hermione during every lesson.

  This made them believe Hermione would firmly stand with them against So save Hogwarts.

  After listening to their bad-forth description of Snape's as and supposed iions, Hermione discreetly rolled her eyes.

  Him, trying to steal something from Hogwarts? Right under Dumbledore's nose?

  That was impossible.

  Not to mention Snape's retionship with her and Glenn - Hermione was ohousand pert certain this was nonsense.

  Watg the two tiheir impusible theories about Snape's motives, Hermio a headache ing on. Arguing with them would probably make it worse, but nui potentially getting dragged into their schemes.

  How annoying. She didn't want to deal with this.

  Just as Glenn had been influenced by Hermione, she too had been influenced by him.

  Normally, she would have helped with legitimate s, even though they had upset her before. She didn't hold grudges against housemates she saw daily. However, Harry and Ron's story sounded more absurd by the minute, and she had no desire to get involved in something that was clearly misguided.

  Oh well.

  "Stop, stop, stop. Just hold on," Hermioerrupted their train of thought, earning slightly annoyed looks from Harry and Ron.

  "I know about Niel," Hermioated directly, knowing this would hook them.

  "What is it! Please, have merd tell us, it's really important!" Harry and Ron excimed delightedly. Finally, this troublesome matter would be resolved - Hermione, you're our savior!

  "Niel, the great alchemist, is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone."

  Bnk faces.

  "That's it? That's all?" Harry and Ron asked incredulously.

  "What else did you expect?" Hermione said exasperatedly. Did they expect her to pull out a book ahem a detailed biography of Grandpa Nicos?

  Harry seemed to realize something and suddenly asked, "Hermione, do you know what the Philosopher's Stone is?"

  Hermione lifted her proudly - this she knew all too well: "Of course. The Philosopher's Stone is Grand... er, Fmel's greatest alchemical creation. It transform aal intold, and more importantly, it produce the Elixir of Life, which makes the drinker immortal. Niel is currently six hundred and sixty-six years old..." Her voice trailed off as she remembered something, her proud tone being subdued. Thinking about hoa Nicos and Grandma Perenelle had decided to face death with dignity made her heart heavy and her eyes moist.

  "Immortal!" Harry excimed, his face darkening as something occurred to him.

  "Pure gold!" Ron gasped, his expression incredulous.

  her noticed Hermione's sadness, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Harry's eyes grew distant as he seemed to uand what Snape was trying to steal.

  He blurted out, "You know what? When Hagrid took me totts before school started to get what my parents left me, we visited another vault. Hagrid took out a small package, and now knowing this, I'm certain - that package taihe Philosopher's Stone! And that Stone must be - no, definitely is! - behind that door ohird fluarded by the three-headed dog Fluffy! Snape is trying to steal it!"

  Still caught up in her mencholy, Hermione was bewildered by this stream of information, her emotions being jumbled.

  What?

  The Philosopher's Stone?

  Snape wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone?

  But isn't the Stoh me?