Rewritten Destiny

On her way to the library, she considered the events that had transpired this morning. Quirrell had been driven from the school, so the Stone was no longer needed to attract Riddle to the school, and the test was now made moot. She couldn't steal the Stone as she would want to use it to make gold. Immortality, a concept that had once held allure, had lost its veneer when you've been reincarnated after all; it made fearing 'the next great adventure', a euphemism for death, less daunting knowing that.

 

This left her with two ways she could use this to her own advantage. First, she could smash the Mirror and destroy the Stone along with it, thus preventing it from ever being a wild card in the future and used against her or allowing Riddle to resurrect fully. Whilst this was beneficial, it wasn't of personal benefit, so that left her with another option: getting Nicholas Flamel, the original owner of the Stone, to the castle and returning his Stone to him, a plan that would require careful persuasion and negotiation.

 

Nicholas Flamel wasn't just an expert in Alchemy, he had also mastered ritual magic and warding, which one would have to to protect their research. His wife Perenelle, a master at Charms, had a unique ability to manipulate light. Considering her own work with turning the Lumos spell into a Laser by focusing it into a convex lens, a convex lens converges all the rays when they pass through it rather than letting it light in all directions and then overpowering the spell, making it strong, but it wasn't all that energy efficient. She had treated the light from the Lumos much like one would the sun, an electromagnetic waveform, but perhaps there was a more straightforward way with magic, seeing as it didn't really obey the laws of physics like she had initially imagined it would.

 

Yes, Nicholas was, without question, a useful source of information about Alchemy, but it was Perenelle that Hermione was interested in. If she could get some guidance on how to use charms more effectively, she could apply this to all spellcasting, and it would allow her to have a much better understanding of magic before she made more spells. Considering the potential battles ahead of her, this made complete sense.

 

With her mind made up, she wrote her letter to the Flames.

 

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Flamel,

 

I trust this letter reaches you both in good health. I write to you urgently, as recent events concerning the Philosopher's Stone at Hogwarts have deeply unsettled me.

 

As you may be aware, there was an attempt to steal the Stone, orchestrated by Professor Dumbledore as a lure. This decision has deeply troubled me. Using children as bait in such a perilous endeavour is a grave misstep that I cannot condone.

 

Despite this risky strategy, the attempted theft was ultimately unsuccessful. I want to reassure you that the Stone remains secure and undamaged. However, the incident has highlighted significant vulnerabilities in its current location.

 

Considering the gravity of the situation, I implore you to consider the immediate retrieval of the Stone from Hogwarts. The safety of the children, who are unwittingly caught in the crossfire, should never be compromised in the pursuit of safeguarding such a powerful artefact.

 

On a personal note, Mrs. Flamel, I have always admired your wisdom and kindness. Your understanding and swift action in this matter would ensure Stone's continued safety and bring peace of mind to many concerned for the welfare of the students at Hogwarts.

 

I appreciate your attention to this pressing matter and eagerly anticipate your response.

 

Yours sincerely,

Hermione Granger

 

 

She headed to the Owlery, grabbed one of the school owls, and sent her parchment to him. Hopefully, this would benefit her personally, but either way, it was a net profit in her estimations.

 

On her way back to her dorm, she considered her spell; her spell used visible light ways on the spectrum; visible light, being in the middle of the spectrum, had caused a lot of damage to the Troll, which was highly magically resistant and healed quickly, Visible light is non-ionizing she recalled, which meant is dealt very little damage, the damage her spell caused was from the heat it generated, hence the flames it left behind. The Easiest way to make her spell more dangerous was to change its wavelength to something Ionizing. Visible light can transfer energy to the electrons around the atom. Still, gamma rays can destroy the nuclei of an atom, dispersing a thousand times more power in the cells of any living being, destabilizing any chemical reaction and breaking the chains in them; this always generates a lot of energy.

 

So, she could craft a spell to use this different wavelength, but ionizing radiation would create alpha and beta particles, killing her, so she would need to build some type of absorption filter into the spell. She wondered if she would be able to Move them away? Could she filter the shield to specifically target that type of wavelength to ensure it only hit her target and, after hitting them, then 'vanished away'?

 

A thousand times stronger would be a huge boon, but the way that Gamma Lasers had been theorized to work in her world was through the manipulation of positronium, which wasn't exactly accessible to her. However, hydrogen was within the air itself, although in small volumes. She could use her magic as the catalyst to split the oxygen and hydrogen from the moisture in the air as part of the spell, take the hydrogen and create a Hydrogen Laser instead of Gamma. This would create an infrared light-based laser, weaker than the one she had already made.

 

So, if she could take the hydrogen from the air, she would then need to get them into the same Quantum state, something she had researched earlier as magical resonance and had some success with; positronium is a hydrogen-like atom and a mixture of matter and antimatter—specifically, bound states of electrons and their antiparticles called positrons, Hermione could use magic to do this with some Arithmancy Calculations, this would then be her fuel for the spell, and because she was using the hydrogen already available in the air instead conjuring the power source, it would be more energy efficient. It would still probably cost her about twice as much magic per cast as her current spell did Secans Lumen, but if it then dealt 1000x the damage? A 500x increase in efficiency was well worth it; she could lower the initial input to bring the spell down to a 10th of the cost and still gain a 50x increase in power, with overpowering it still being an option if she needed to surprise someone.

 

She had no idea, however, how to create these absorption fields, so she hoped to speak to Perenelle about this and get her advice on the matter; after all, a mistake with this type of magic would be a swift end to everything.

 

Rather than start any major prep work on this project just yet, she would focus on her studies and potions for a bit.

 

As Hermione walked through the corridors, she noticed an unusual presence of Department of Magical Law Enforcement officials scattered around the school. They were interviewing students, their faces etched with concern and determination. The aftermath of the attempted theft of the Philosopher's Stone had set off alarms within the Ministry.

 

Hermione considered the events of the morning. Quirrell's expulsion meant the immediate threat of Voldemort's return had diminished, rendering the Stone less crucial as a lure. Her decision to contact Nicholas Flamel now seemed even more prescient; returning the Stone to its rightful owner could secure it from future misuse. She mulled over the complexities of her plan as she approached the library doors, wondering if her letter to Flamel would prompt a swift response. The prospect of gaining insights from Perenelle Flamel on charms and magical defences intrigued her, especially considering her aspirations to enhance spellcasting efficiency and power.

 

Entering the library, Hermione looked towards the Restricted Section, her mind buzzing with ideas about refining her spellwork and the potential applications of magical resonance in creating a more potent and energy-efficient charm. For now, she set aside thoughts of gamma rays and ionizing radiation, focusing instead on the foundational studies that would pave the way for her future magical endeavours. Potion-making and advanced charms beckoned; she grabbed a few books from the library and returned to her dorm.

 

As Hermione left the library, her thoughts were consumed with the intricacies of spellcraft and potential improvements. Taking a shortcut through a quieter corridor on her way back to the Slytherin standard room, she walked briskly, the flickering torchlight casting shadows around her.

 

Suddenly, a stern voice cut through her thoughts. "Miss Granger?"

Turning, Hermione saw Madam Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, approaching purposefully. Surprised and slightly nervous, Hermione greeted her, "Madam Bones."

 

"I've been looking for you, Miss Granger," Madam Bones began, her expression severe yet not unkind. "We received your letter concerning the recent dragon egg incident."

 

Hermione's heart skipped a beat. "Oh," she said, trying to gather her thoughts. "I see."

 

"I wanted to thank you," Madam Bones continued, her tone softening slightly. "Your information was instrumental in resolving the matter swiftly and without further incident."

 

Relief washed over Hermione. "You're welcome, Madam Bones. I'm glad it helped."

 

Madam Bones nodded, her eyes appraising. "It's not often we receive such detailed and accurate reports from students. Your concern for Hogwarts' safety is commendable."

 

Hermione felt a mix of pride and curiosity. "Thank you, Madam Bones. But may I ask how you knew it was me who wrote the letter?"

 

Madam Bones gave her a small smile. "We have detection charms in place for such correspondence. It helps us identify sources of information that might be relevant to our investigations."

 

Hermione nodded, impressed despite herself. "I see."

 

Madam Bones's expression turned slightly more severe. "May I inquire, Miss Granger, why you chose to approach the DMLE directly rather than a member of the Hogwarts staff with your concerns?"

 

Hermione hesitated, weighing her words carefully. "I... I felt the matter required immediate attention," she explained earnestly. "Dragons are highly dangerous creatures, and I was concerned about the potential risks to the school and its students."

 

Madam Bones nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, dragons pose significant risks. However, a teacher could have floo'd us for help, much faster than an owl."

 

Hermione considered this for a moment. "I didn't... I didn't trust that the faculty would act swiftly enough," she admitted reluctantly. "I believed contacting the DMLE directly would ensure a prompt response."

 

Madam Bones regarded her thoughtfully. "I understand your concern, Miss Granger. It's important to trust those in authority to handle such matters, but I appreciate your initiative nonetheless."

 

"Thank you, Madam Bones," Hermione said sincerely. "I only wanted to ensure the safety of everyone at Hogwarts."

 

"You've shown commendable foresight, and I agree with you about the faculty needing to be more swift. I imagine they would have gone to the Headmaster, who has been somewhat ineffectual in dealing with threats, much like the Troll," Madam Bones remarked, her tone reflecting both acknowledgement and concern.

 

Hermione's breath caught at the mention of the troll incident. She hadn't anticipated her actions during that chaotic moment would become a topic of conversation with Madam Bones, yet here they were, discussing her decision to intervene directly.

 

"I... I didn't plan to face the Troll," Hermione admitted, her voice steady but tinged with the weight of that memory. "It was a situation that escalated quickly, and I felt compelled to act."

 

Madam Bones nodded thoughtfully. "From what I've heard, your quick thinking and spellcraft saved lives that day."

 

Hermione's gaze drifted momentarily as she recalled the intensity of that moment. "I couldn't stand by while others were in danger," she explained softly. "I had to do something."

 

Madam Bones regarded her with a mixture of respect and curiosity. "Secans Lumen, was it?" she asked her tone both casual and probing.

 

Hermione nodded, surprised that Madam Bones knew the specific spell she had used. "Yes, it's a modified spell," she replied, choosing her words carefully. "I focused the Lumos charm into a more concentrated beam."

 

Madam Bones raised an eyebrow. "Impressive," she remarked. "To wield such powerful magic at your age speaks volumes about your potential. Although, I had heard it was Family Magic?"

 

Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly at the praise. "Thank you, Madam Bones. And yes, it is family magic, although I never said when it was added to the Grimoire." She said with a smirk.

 

Madam Bones lipped and twitched at the clever ruse. "Indeed, crafting your own spells at 11 is unprecidented. I owe you for saving my Niece, so do call in that favour if you ever need the Noble house of Bones."

 

They lapsed into a brief silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Hermione couldn't help but wonder what Madam Bones honestly thought of her actions. She had acted on instinct, driven by a desire to protect her fellow students, but she hadn't expected her actions to draw attention from the Ministry.

 

"I appreciate your acknowledgment, Madam Bones," Hermione finally said, breaking the silence. "But I must admit, I never expected my efforts during the troll incident to be discussed with the head of the DMLE."

 

Madam Bones smiled faintly. "Your actions didn't go unnoticed, Miss Granger. The DMLE values bravery and initiative, especially in times of crisis."

 

Hermione felt a swell of gratitude. To have her actions recognized by someone as esteemed as Madam Bones was both humbling and empowering. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I only wanted to ensure the safety of everyone at Hogwarts."

 

"You've demonstrated courage beyond your years," Madam Bones replied, her tone warm yet authoritative. "Keep honing your skills, Miss Granger. I have no doubt you'll continue to make a significant impact."

 

Madam Bones bid her farewell and left the standard room, leaving Hermione to contemplate their conversation. The weight of Madam Bones's words settled on her shoulders, reinforcing her determination to excel in her magical studies and to always stand up for what she believed was right.

 

Hermione felt a renewed sense of purpose as she watched Madam Bones depart. The challenges ahead were daunting, but with her knowledge, determination, and the support of those who believed in her, Hermione Granger knew she was ready to face whatever came her way in the wizarding world.