Secrets Lie Within: Year 1

Secrets Lie Within: Year 1 Part 10

Chapter 10:

Hermione is outside studying in one of her classrooms when she hears soft footsteps nearby. She looks up from her book to see the all-too-familiar Hufflepuff walking down a corridor. Granger notices that Roselia is heading towards the medical wing while holding onto one of her wrists. "Is she injured?" the young Gryffindor asked herself before deciding to follow her.

Ever since their encounter on the train at the beginning of the year, Granger has always been curious about the young Softpaw.

Her footsteps soften as she quietly follows Roselia. There have been a few times where she quickly hides because the white-haired girl turns around sensing something, or someone, following her.

Roselia finally arrives at the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey immediately sees the new visitor and hurries over. "What happened?" she asked, examining the student's arm.

"S-Someone pushed me-me off my br-broom," Roselia stutters with a few tears in her eyes.

"Let's get you bandaged up and I have a potion to ease the pain."

Pomfrey leads her to one of the beds. She leaves for a few moments to get the bandages.

Softpaw watches carefully while Madam Pomfrey gently wraps her arm and also her paw. There wasn't any negative judgment towards the student when the pale, small hand slowly turns into a wolf's paw. "Y-You're not sc-scared?" she asked softly.

"Why would I be scared?" Madam Pomfrey asked her with a smile. "I am trained to heal humans, animals, and beings in-between," she tells her, getting back to work.

Shock spreads through the small body. Not once another wiser woman has ever given the young wolf such gentleness and kindness before. "D-Do you l-love your job?"

"Yes, I do, but I don't see it as a job, I see it as a passion to heal others," the wiser woman continues before finishing up the wrapping. "I am going to get a sling, would you like to come with me?" A smile curls on her face.

Roselia's whole face lit up when she offers. She smiles back, nodding her head.

Madam Pomfrey leads her towards where most of the medical supplies are located. She even teaches the young student of each is called and what they do.

Hermione watches from afar at what's going on. A soft smile curls on the bushy-haired girl's face. "She's coming out of her shell more," she enjoys seeing this new side of the shy Hufflepuff.

"You know," the healer speaks softly after putting Roselia's arm in the sling, "if you like on your free days, you can volunteer here."

"V-Vonlun-t-teer?" the wolf girl tries the new word. "Wh-What's that?"

She chuckles. "It means you can help me here if you like."

"R-Really?" Roselia asked with a smile.

"Yes, well, you're all good to go," Madam Pomfrey speaks. "If you want to help out, I start at the crack of dawn each day," she mentions, sounding stern.

"O-Okay, thank you!" Softpaw smiles before heading out.

Hermione turns from her hiding spot and smiles.

Softpaw is walking down the hallway a few days later. She needed to head towards the library for a particular book. The moment when she entered, her wolf hearing picks up something.

"I've been looking in the wrong section!" a familiar voice speaks, sounding annoyed with herself. "How can I be so stupid? I checked it out weeks ago for a bit of light reading."

Roselia feels curiously building in her body but plans on ignoring it. She continues walking and soon finds the section she needs.

"Nicholas Flamel is the only known owner of the Philosopher's Stone!" Hermione reads, stopping Rosela's hand in mid-air.

"The what?" two other voices speak.

"The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers," her enhanced hearing picks up more. "It will transform any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life, which will make drinker immortal."

"Immortal?" Ron asked, confused.

"It means you'll never die," she says, looking at him.

"I know what it means!"

Harry shushes his best friend.

"The only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nichols Flamel, the noted alchemist, who last year celebrates his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday." Hermione looks up. "That's what Fluffy's guarding on the Third Floor. That's what's under the trapdoor." Softpaw listens closer. "The Philosopher's Stone!"

"So, Flamel knows someone's after the Stone....gives it to Dumbledore to keep safe at Hogwarts," Harry says, thinking out loud, "not realizing that the one who's after it-"

"Teaches at Hogwarts," Hermione finishes, realizes it.

"So? Snape wants piles of gold and to live forever. Who wouldn't?" Ron's not getting it.

Hermione closes the book, troubled by something.

"What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"I don't want to scare you, Harry," she turns to him. "It's just if all Snape wants is the Philosopher's Stone, why did he try to kill you that day on the Quidditch pitch?"

Confusion spreads through the white-haired girl's face. Why would Professor Snape want to kill the young Potter? Sure, he's a stern professor, but Roselia doesn't think he's THAT cruel. "Maybe I should ask Daddy about what I heard," she thinks before leaving the aisle with the book in hand.