89 Ch 86: A Nightmare after Christmas

*Anos's POV*

"I still can't believe all of you found it before me," Hermione said, huffing and being irrationally annoyed at seeing all of us completing the mystery of the vault before her.

"Hey don't blame us. It was a wild goose chase, I missed dinner so many times I would've lost muscles." Simon replied haughtily.

"He's got a point, he would've lost that one muscle he got in his arm by mistake. Would've been a shame. I believe he would've straight up dropped into the malnutrition category after that." I replied, making some coffee for myself and Alucard in the kitchen.

" But I didn't even leave for that long! We still have two days before Holidays are up." Hermione continued and I just smiled and looked at the sky gazing at the stars.

It had become a sort of urge that thankfully with the Common room having a magical roof and allowing me to see straight up at the wonderful array of stars was placated easily. It felt serene to stargaze before going to sleep.

I smiled and got back to the coffee.

" There were also 5 of us in the school figuring this out instead of you alone. Draco, how close did you get to solving it?" Alucard asked, offering to placate Hermione.

"Close? I ended up learning about Runic Doors, Heart Trees, and Greenhanded Skin changers. Do you know how messed up I was seeing those things in my Uncle's library in France? If I scourged every bit of that damm library I still wouldn't have figured it out. I know so much about skinchangers. Someone Obliviate me, just wipe the last week from my mind." Draco said downtrodden.

He was still tired and not very gentleman like as he was lying belly down on the couch. Considering he came straight from France to here using a Chariot since his uncle was still excessively egregious in spending his wealth stupidly.

'Maybe I should start searching for a way to directly Apprate or Conjure myself to the school? It would certainly be helpful.' I thought putting that train of thought on the backburner since I hadn't even tested my Aries Bracelet.

"See. We even had extra clues and we still figured it out one day later than you did. Goddammit if only you could've sent an Owl or a Raven or a damn chicken we wouldn't have gotten berated for missing Christmas Dinner." Simon said agitated now.

Hermione became flustered and didn't reply for a bit before continuing.

" I thought someone else might read it. They would've figured it out and what if it got into the hands of whoever wants it." She replied though she seemed to be questioning herself at the same time.

" That's awfully thoughtful of you. But don't question yourself, for as small a chance it might have been of that happening it could've still happened. You did the right thing, we can still use the information without having risked anyone else finding it out." I replied entering back into the Common room and finding a place to sit down.

"He is correct. There are ways to capture such a letter and read it without any of us ever finding out afterwards. The safer methods of relaying information are something else entirely, I'll try to find some that can be used through the Castle's Wards." Alucard offered and Hermione finally seemed to nod and then sigh.

"And you. Stop teasing her about it or you don't get to copy my Potions homework." I said and immediately shut Simon up.

I had offered him to copy it. I'll even help him so Dad doesn't notice I helped him.

"Here." I handed the coffee to Alucard who took it gratefully.

"Cough it up, rich boy," I said smiling and he just sighed and opened his blood vial and dropped a bare hint of it into the liquid.

I had gotten him the blood vial and also the blood in it as the blood he had for himself wasn't concentrated enough to fill in the vial and I couldn't exactly do blood thickening in the Castle's cauldrons without making people faint.

It had become a little exchange we did where we used one of our 'Stash' aka blood vials for drinking, we had a simple system. The last time I had done it and this was his turn.

"Cheapskate," I said before sipping on my coffee.

"It's not me who was looking at veins for a week," Alucard replied and I took that defeat since no one else knew about the horrid wretch I was before the ritual due to not getting blood.

"By the way, what makes you think that no one in the room can listen to us? We've talking sentient portraits, you know." I said changing the topic.

Hermione immediately shot up alarmed and I could notice that she had gotten goosebumps.

"Don't worry, I check every once in a while and I had checked before settling here. There's nothing here that can listen in and the roof from the outside doesn't appear to anyone." Alucard replied and Hermione calmed down.

I had done a bit of checking myself, and besides those few rooms that we couldn't open up for whatever reason, all other areas were safe. No object that shouldn't have magic had it.

I had probably rooted out some of Dumbledore's attempts as well though I had to respect the idea of sneaking in a wood log to listen in. He tried the first few times using the House-elves but seems to have given up.

It was already late into the night and the room seemed a lot more livelier than it had been just a day before. With all of us sporting a ring gifted by Simon and Hermione holding onto the book I had gifted her.

'Achilles heel and how a little healing studies help'. A classic and the subject matter was humorous and informative. For all of her reading, Hermione was still a library of magical books behind me in terms of completed books. Though I have to admit she was giving it her very best to shorten that gap.

"Where's Harriet?" Simon asked suddenly.

"In her room. Probably is a bit tired, she worked very hard to find what's in that vault and is probably now trying to find who's trying to get into it" I replied.

She had disappeared a few minutes ago, sneaking off into her room if the sound I heard from across the hallway was correct. Better senses helped though I usually tried to keep them in control, sometimes they upped themselves naturally.

" Oh well, I'm only helping her with that after at least a week," Simon replied, sinking into the couch.

'Well let's see where she's gonna try to sneak off.' I thought as I sipped my coffee and felt warmth.

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Author's Notes: So I was sick, and so got a bit of time to watch The Last Kingdom, great show, highly recommended. I'm done with the first 3 seasons, next time I get some free time I'll finish the rest and then start the books it's based on.

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Thanks for reading the chapter, I hope it was enjoyable.

Hope everyone has a nice Day/Night.