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The stone walls reflect the light for the clear skies. Main street was filled with the clinging of door bells, signifying the coming and going of shoppers. Such a sight is no stranger to any students who have visited the village. Whether from friendly outings or buying school needs.
There I stood in the busy square of Hogsmeade. The purpose of my visit is to accompany my older sister, Crescenta, in her part time job at Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop. Some of the other shops I see are filled with accessories not sold but to attract customers. A fair business strategy, though some are a bit extravagant for my taste.
As I waited for Crescenta to end her shift, a scream erupted from the southwest. An old woman spat out insults towards a card sized paper in front of her house elf. Curious, I reached for it after she threw it away to the crowd. I huffed in surprise as I saw its contents.
“ Cassandra Mason,
Please accept my deepest condolences for your husband's death. It has come to my attention that your recent acts have resulted in many shortcomings to those you met briefly. As a form of condolence gift, consider this humility as an offering to you.
Inside your store lies a jar of lapis lazuli gems. I must say, their brilliant blue hue shines especially when turned into paint. No doubt muggles would pay thousands for it.
I plan to take them away from your grasp as you took away the people's hopes of a new start. Await my arrival tomorrow night, 25th of November.
If you wish to find me, find the black haired Ravenclaw registered as pure blood. You might recognise my glasses.
—L’ermite .”
My surroundings started to buzz as they saw the signature of L’ermite. Men shout the words of justice. Women's whispers tremble in fear for their safety. Curious children were pulled away back home by their parents.
“L’ermite is in Hogsmeade again? Is he not satisfied after he robbed me?!” A man in a lavish suit exclaimed.
“a pure blooded black haired ravenclaw? That doesn't really narrow it down,” a gryffindor boy scratches his head, no doubt he knows multiple of them.
“If we report this to the Hogwarts headmaster, I doubt he'll even do anything!” His friend spoke to remind how little the headmaster does.
“I saw him once! He was running from Mr. Gallagher's house with a grey suit and a black cape! Oh and that terrifying mask!” A woman recalled the memory of his pure white mask with a trembling voice.
All eyes were suddenly pointed at me. “Flynn? He's a prefect who can't even say no to a first year's request.”
Crescenta walked in front of me. She seems convinced that I wasn't a phantom thief. After that, Mason said “That boy has helped me ever since he arrived at Hogsmeade! I know he didn't do it!” The villagers nodded knowing me as the student who has occasionally helped them at least once.
Their eyes moved to another pure blooded ravenclaw from the Fawley family. Hector Fawley shook his head and reminded them of his alibis. “I always stay in my common room to study! This is the first time I’ve even heard of L’ermite.” It wasn't a strong alibi, but he has his friends to testify the sincerity.
Their eyes averts towards the next pure blooded ravenclaw. Poor Duncan Hobhouse was already dissatisfied by the way Cassandra Mason looked at her whenever they found each other on the street. I wouldn't blame him if it was not for the fact that her stares were quite judgemental.
“I’ve seen how he stares at me! That boy must be L’ermite!” Mason shouted. Though there was not enough evidence to support this.
Sure enough, all three of us were brought into questioning by officer Singer. Fawley and I explained our whereabouts without hesitation. Meanwhile Hobhouse was sweating throughout the time of his questioning. Telling Singer how he was drinking butter beer at The Three Broomsticks. They know how unfazed the thief can be, and they believe that his reaction was of a thief who had been caught.
—
“Come in,” I heard a knock on the door outside my work room.
“Good morning, Flynn. I’m guessing you need my help with another one of your beloved complicated puzzles?” A boy wearing an outfit similar to that of a detective was smiling politely as he stepped inside.
“Vall’na, you're a detective, correct?” I say as I slip in today's newspaper. He opened his mouth to correct me but stopped when he read the contents. It was the same one he had read before. The headline says “L’ERMITE STRIKES HOGSMEADE AGAIN.”
“I had hoped you could help me with this problem of mine. The thief mentioned a black haired ravenclaw registered as pure blood. And some believe that it was me,” I sigh after explaining to him.
“And you needed my help to solve the mystery and clear your name?” Yubin smiled.
I returned his smile after giving him a sigh of relief “yes, that would be very helpful, my friend. Not to worry, your efforts will be paid for personally by me.” I felt like a burden by planning to pay him with a few galleons, as I may not have much on myself. In addition to that would be my prefect privileges. Which means he can get away from night patrols. And it would benefit him to quickly find the culprit.
“Well it says here that the ravenclaw is a pure-blood. And as I've studied his cases, he seems to be the type to never lie in his letters,” Yubin says as he studies the letter. “And you're not a pure blood.”
“Exactly, you already know that I'm half dragon and not pure blood. However, the Ysdraig family is known as a pure blood family as a means to hide our dragon heritage.”
The other two suspects were called again, this time to my office. Each one of us gave the same alibi they gave to officer Singer. I sat with him as we reviewed the recordings of the interrogation. Out of all recordings, Hobhouse had the most inconsistency. He was nervous throughout the process and kept forgetting what he was about to say. However, I find it hard to believe a coward like Hobhouse would be the gentleman thief.
“There is a possibility for Duncan, but I highly doubt it,” Yubin tapped his chin as he tried to get the thought out of his brain.
“As his prefect, I’d agree. My sister, Clementine, told me his boggart was a puffskein. It's hard to picture someone like that to be so confident. Prideful yes, but not confident,” I address my thoughts. Which means we have no luck in finding who L’ermite truly was.
We agreed to put the investigation on hold and continued the next day.
—
Newspapers were spread the next day. I sit on my usual desk to eat a few fresh grapes with cheese as I read the headline. “UNBREAKABLE CHARMED SAFE GETS BROKEN.” As I continue to read, it explained how Cassandra Mason put the jar of expensive lapis lazuli into a safe and placed layers of unbreakable charm. Only able to be solved by completing the hardest puzzles.
Judging from the list of charms there were two options: one is by dissolving the charm piece by piece, the other by going through her game and actually solving the advanced puzzles.
That day, all the ravenclaws are gathered in the DADA classroom with professor Hecat. I helped her organize each student and inspect their belongings. Meanwhile Yubin was questioning a few suspects that might have some leads. I could not deny the disappointed expression on our professor’s face. But it would be sensible to think if the culprit behind the pure white mask was a ravenclaw. Perhaps it was his poetic words? Maybe how his plans seem to work a little too well.
While I wasn't able to continue my investigation with Yubin, our prime suspect was finally being searched. I carefully searched through Hobhouse’s belongings. As I pulled away from his pouch, a single bright blue gemstone appeared in my hand. A lapis lazuli.
“Hobhouse… You are L’ermite?” Yubin asks with his brows furrowed.
“No! I’m not, I swear! I don't even know how this got in my pouch!” Hobhouse panics.
“I’ve seen enough Mr. Hobhouse. I shall report you to professor Weasley! As clever as you are, a thief is a thief,” professor Hecat lectures the boy. All Duncan could do is accept his fate.
“Wait…” I casted a revealing charm towards the gem. It had magical properties, which the lapis lazuli doesn't. Curiosity got the better of them when I used the transfiguration spell. A small and smooth pebble reveals itself. Too ordinary to be a brilliant gemstone. It seems that its only use is to be skipped at the black lake.
“This is not the lapis lazuli, professor,” I extended my hand to show her the tiny pebble.
“Then what were you actually doing? You said you went to The Three Broomsticks, but have no one to testify. Then you said that you went to Hogs Head instead?” Yubin took out his notes, reading the circled points he made on Hobhouse's alibi. The boy became completely quiet. His gaze was moved to every corner of the room. A pale face showing as if he had been sick after one second. Both hands gripped as they trembled. Most notably, the single dripping sweat flowing down his forehead.
“For heaven’s sake Duncan! Tell them that you were at Madam Snelling’s!” Samantha Dale shouted from the crowd that made the boy flinch. Yubin then flips a page from his notebook with his quill at the ready as Dale walks to the front of the class. It's revealed that along with his fear of puffskeins, Duncan Hobhouse is also allergic to them. Not only that he had Samantha accompany him to Madam Snelling's so it doesn't look like he wanted to dress up. He also made her swear to secrecy as such trivial things felt too embarrassing to him.
The students try to hold back their laughter knowing that Hecat is in the room. However, the fact that Hobhouse got a rash just from touching a puffskein was too hilarious to ignore. They erupted with laughter as they pointed at his pale face. It was satisfying to see the bully getting bullied.
More importantly, we still don't know who L’ermite truly is. I looked at the detective as he was too focused on his notes to laugh at Hobhouse. At the same time, I had a brief conversation with professor Hecat regarding the matter. She handed me a letter that was addressed to professor Black. Another heist was announced, and the next victim seems to be the headmaster himself. It reads:
“ To the esteemed Headmaster Black,
I have noticed that not only that you are neglectful towards your school and family, you have also neglected your riches. The luxurious gloves you bought at a high price were found alone in the trophy room. While I do find it hilarious that someone like you could be fooled by a random seller. I do not find any interest in such a counterfeit.
However, the magnificent trumpet in your room is confirmed to be genuine gold. Await my arrival to take it, along with your book of pure blood history that you seemed to never return to the restricted section. Catch me if you can tomorrow night, on 26th of November.
—L’ermite.”
—
That night, the ravenclaw common room was on lockdown. Many of the trusted students were tasked with guarding each corner of the common room, the rooftops, and even the stairs. Meanwhile as prefect, I was tasked to guard outside of the door. And as the night started to shine the morning sun, no student had caught my eye by leaving the common room.
As we all gathered to the great hall for breakfast, professor Black was unusually walking to the podium to demand answers. The book on pure blood history had been stolen. It wasn't a rare sight to see the headmaster shout with anger. Nonetheless, the hall was filled with whispers of shock as it seemed unrealistic that the thief was able to get through such tight security.
I met with Yubin at the Headmaster's office to investigate further. Black revealed that the book and the trumpet were put in the same suitcase, however only the book went missing. We inspected the trumpet to find it was no doubt made in real gold.
“How curious… he didn't take the trumpet despite it being confirmed to be real gold,” Yubin voiced his thoughts.
“Perhaps he mistook it for a fake?” I suggested. The detective went silent, seemingly thinking. The school is at a loss on who this phantom thief might be. “I received reports saying that there was no activity in the common room. I’m not sure how the thief could have escaped,” I pulled out the small papers regarding the written reports.
“Unless he's not actually a ravenclaw,” the brown coated detective muttered.
Which means L’ermite sent us on a wild goose chase. Now it seems the possibility is much wider than it was before. A gryffindor would boldly challenge their victims with a letter. A hufflepuff would target the rich perhaps as a means to give to the poor. A slytherin would be cunning enough to send us on a meaningless investigation.
“I see that this no longer concerns me then,” I sigh with relief. “I give my gratitude to you, Yubin. It was a pleasure to work with you. However, I only needed proof for my innocence,” I gave him a few galleons as we walked out of the office. “It's not much, but I can offer you to use the prefect’s bathroom for a month, and of course, more leniency with curfews. Not even my sisters get to have them.”
“It was a pleasure to work with you as well, Flynn. Although, I'm still disappointed that we never got the chance to reveal the culprit,” I noticed the boy looked down. He seemed to be excited to reveal the man behind the mask.
“Perhaps one day you will. You’re not Holmes yet, but you are a good detective nonetheless,” I smile before parting ways.
—
Yubin sits in his room, unable to shake the thought of being so close to finding the identity of the masked thief. He flips through his notes and listens to his recordings, finding any oddity in each log. That's when he realised: the letters never lied. He chuckled and wiped his face after the realization. He ought to have a visit with the ravenclaw prefect.
I review the papers that black has given to me. No doubt it was trivial tasks that he couldn't be bothered to touch. Suddenly, I hear a knock on the door. Yubin walks in and quickly shuts the door behind him. “I believe I found our culprit.”
“Have you finally found who he is? Tell me, so that the school can finally be at ease,” my eyes shine brightly at the news.
“It's you.”
The shine quickly fades as I hear his accusation. “You accuse me as a thief? Yubin, we both investigated him and proved that he was not a ravenclaw student.”
“That was an option, it could still prove that he was indeed a ravenclaw student. The reports may say that there were no movements yet you assume we would trust YOUR words,” the boy pointed at me.
“I’m a prefect, Yubin. I-”
“Which made it easier for you to turn Duncan into your red herring!” He cut off my words. “You were the one investigating their belongings, so it was much easier for you to put that transfigured pebble into his pouch. Along with your prefect privileges, you were able to guard the front door alone. They thought it would be much harder for the thief to escape if you guarded the most obvious pathway, they didn't realise that you would sneak off at any time!”
“This is a serious accusation, Vall’na. I’m not even pure blooded.”
“The letter says: register as pure blood. Not pure blood. And I am not only accusing you. I have other proof!” He rummaged through his notes.
“Cassandra Mason said that her jar of lapis lazuli was layered with charms. However, after further investigations, the charms were never lifted. Which means a puzzle loving maniac was able to solve through it quicker than she would’ve noticed. And the gold trumpet…” He smiles.
“I must say, I thank you for giving me leniency with the school curfew. Without it, I wouldn't be able to place the fake golden trumpet before you start your heist. And of course, you had to reveal that you knew it was fake during our investigation.”
The room went silent. Looking down at my papers after hearing the unbelievable words that came out his mouth. I took the chance to hold my wand, which made him flinch.
“Don't worry, I won't hurt you.” I point the wand at my own report paper of the night patrol. And it turns back to its original form.
“Such brilliant blue hues they have, don't you agree?” I smile as I reveal the jar of lapis lazuli that I recently stole from Cassandra Mason.
“Flynn Ysdraig… you are L’ermite,” the detective muttered in disbelief. “Why?”
“Cassandra Mason has been proven time and time again that she scammed newcomers to buy her shop. Making them risk their lives to fight a poltergeist and give up. Some of these people are poor villagers looking to start a new life and a new business. Yet, due to the lack of evidence, the inspectors refuse to arrest her. I intend to give their money back by selling these to a muggle painter. Though I admit, not even the ravenclaw uniform could produce such colors…”
“...And as for Black, he bought that trumpet from a foreign museum at a low price. I would've stolen it and shipped it back to its rightful owners. Had you not switched the gold with a fake one,” I say with a deeper voice to express my dissatisfaction.
“What about the book? You intend to bring it back to the restricted section?”
“When I'm not planning a heist, I enjoy my free time reading in the restricted section. I do believe that any useful knowledge is good knowledge. I’m only a bit peeved that the book I haven't finished reading has not been returned weeks after its due. I believe paying one perhaps two months' due fine should teach him a small lesson.”
“So you gave me this task to lead me in circles?”
“And yet you followed it.” I chuckled. It was amusing to see him run around in circles to find someone who was only one step beside him. I pointed my wand at my prescription glasses and transfigured it into a white mask. My smile was unseen as Yubin realized how I matched witness descriptions perfectly. “I needed them to be scared, I needed them to know who I am. So I gave them a chance to find me. But I couldn't risk my real identity to be discovered.”
“Tell me Vall’na, were my actions wrong?”
The room went silent once more. That silence means he understands. My actions may be against the law. But what does a gentleman thief compare to a scammer who risked others’ life for her own gain? L’ermite is not the only criminal in this castle. But he is the only one honest about it. After a few more silences in the room, he finally spoke.
“Your intentions are pure, but your methods are not.” His head looked down but his gaze moved to me.
“And as we speak, another family is burying their crimes with gold enough to pay for silence.” I stood up and turned my mask back into glasses. “If you’ll excuse me… these reports should be given back to the professor.”
“If I don't turn you in- would that make me unjust?” His words were quick.
I stopped, my hand holding the handle of the door. “The law isn't always just. Whatever you choose to do would either be for the written rules… or the truth. For me, I believe knowledge and justice go hand in hand.” I close the door behind me.
Yubin stood there in silence. His eyes wander to the lapis lazuli on the table. His hands reached for it and safely hid them in the office. The time I found the jar in my drawers was the time I realised his answer.
In his office, L’ermite writes a calling card for his next victim.