Nicholas Flamel
Harry had truly been convinced to not visit the Mirror of Erised again when he couldn't resist the urge to go searching for it again couldn't find it, so he had instead taken to finding out things about his presents-- other than the Invisibility Cloak, which was buried at the bottom of his trunk. He and Lisa had taken to trying to teach Luna and Padma different muggle Christmas things. He thought it'd work best as a distraction for himself, but he wasn't quite sure it worked. Ever since he stopped being able to go to the Mirror, he had been having familiar nightmares of his parents, but now that he had an idea of how they looked, they were much worse, as he could put their faces to their screams. He was able to imagine the light leaving their eyes, and he began to fear sleeping.
However, it seemed none of his friends minded him being endlessly tired, and they were very glad to sleep around with him. When they weren't, however, they were finding fun ways to use most of their presents-- and he'd found out something about the book Draco had sent. He'd written in it, to see why it was so special-- and he found that it was sort of like letters, just a lot quicker, and he didn't need to use Hedwig.
And he had even more distractions anyway; Snowball fights, even tricking Mrs Norris or Filch using the invisibility cloak, and Harry had even taught Lisa and Padma a few Christmas carols; to his surprise, they hadn't known any. But it should've stayed that way, really, because he'd immediately regretted it. They were singing them for hours on end, throughout the days until break had ended. No matter how many times he'd asked them to stop, he'd heard them all the time, humming or whispering under their breath. He figured they had tried, but maybe he wished from time to time he had a way to block out his hearing until they'd stopped.
When Hermione returned the day before term started, she had been half torn between fear of Harry getting injured-- "Walking around at night, when it's all dark, knowing you already can't see!" -- and half disappointed about the fact that they hadn't found anything new on Flamel.
Once term had started, there was little time for research anyway. Madam Pince seemed to have gotten more books, so that was "helpful," but Harry had even less time than his friends to check at all. He was still getting less sleep, and he had begun forgetting where classes had been. With the addition of Quidditch practice and homework, things had been hard, and he began to treasure the breaks between classes. Atleast at practice, Steve needed more help than Harry, so Etta let him sit out every now and then.
After one long practice, Harry, exhausted, though excited, made way for the Ravenclaw common room, dragging his bag along with him. He and Hermione had finally found the book. When he got there, Lisa had been playing Ron, who he was surprised to see there, at chess, but apparently, Lisa's chess pieces were feeling particularly disobedient today, because they didn't go any direction she told them to. She'd been half-way to throwing a fit, it looked like, because she was very pink and her ears were twitching wildly.
"You better be real quiet, or they're gonna throw a chess piece at you," said Padma jokingly, reading up a history book on a nearby couch. When she looked up at him, she was shocked. "Great Merlin, Harry, take a seat! You look like you're gonna fall out any second!" She said, sitting up straight to make room for him.
"No, nevermind me, we've found it! The book! I've been in the restricted section, see, I used the cloak-- and I got the book!" He forced the enormous book out of his bag. Had it gathered dust while he was at practice? He hoped not. But that didn't really matter. "Nicolas Flamel! He's the only known creator of the Sorcerer's Stone! The study of alchemy is concerned with making the Sorcerer's Stone-- legendary, and almost impossible to recreate-- and it has astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold, and it makes the Elixir of Life, which makes the drinker immortal! There've been plenty of reports over the years, but the only Stone in existence resides with Flamel and his wife! He celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday just last year, and he's still going!"
"Okay, that's kind of cool," Padma admitted. "but we still don't know what he's working with Dumbledore for. Y'know, a reason. And did you tell Hermione you found it already? She'll go mental if she figured out you told us before she could make us feel stupid."
"I don't think she tries to make us feel stupid," said Luna. "Maybe she's just trying to, well, help us. She wouldn't try to make us feel bad."
"Right," Ron nodded unconvincingly. Lisa had been busy arguing with one her chess pieces, angry that it kept going right instead of left. "Definitely not Hermione, nope."
"Can you all stop being indecisive and listen for a moment?" Harry snapped. "And yes, I did already tell her. She asked me to say it because she thought you all would call her it a know-it-all. But we did a bit of thinking- that the stone's got something to do with the reason. It might be what the dog's guarding! Flamel's friends with Dumbledore, and knew someone was after it, so he wanted it out of Gringotts! Hagrid said that Hogwarts was the safest place next to Gringotts, and when he took me to Diagon Alley on my birthday, he'd gotten a little package for Dumbledore! I mean, putting the pieces together, it's obvious."
"You're starting to sound like Hermione. Has she infected you?"
"What? No. And that's not even a bad thing. Mione's got common sense."
"Well, anyway," said Luna, "we know what Fluffy's guarding. So, what do we do now?"
"What do you mean?"
Harry was glad he wasn't the only one confused by whatever it was she meant. Ron and Padma were too, and even Lisa had looked up from her chess piece.
"What do we do now?" Luna repeated. "We didn't say what we'd do after we figured out who Nicholas Flamel was, did we? I just didn't remember, but I didn't think we did."
"I don't think we even planned that we'd figure out," Lisa commented, pushing the chess piece she had been arguing with off to the side, as well as sweeping along one of Ron's.
"Oi! I saw that!" He said, jumping over.
"Great! You might like to know I've been getting off your pieces while Harry's been giving you a very valuable history lesson," Lisa said, laughing. "I'm amazing, aren't I?"
"No! Well yeah, sure-- it's amazingly shocking how you haven't been in detention yet. But I don't find you very amazing when it's at the expense of my chess pieces! I've only got a pawn left!"
"No, you've got your king and your queen, a knight, and a bishop, see. Well, you did," Lisa taunted, as her rook and her king cornered Ron's king. "Checkmate! Check-maaaate! I win, I win!" She cheered. "You've finally lost! Revenge is sweet! Sweeter than sugar, it is! Ooh, it is, it is, it is!" She jumped around and danced, as Ron gawked in horror.
"Who's going to tell her she only won because he wasn't looking?" Luna whispered, smiling.
"She probably won't listen anyway," Padma shrugged, returning to her book. "Did either of you finish your assignment for Charms? I might've forgotten..."
By the time of the next Quidditch match, where Gryffindor would be facing Hufflepuff, Harry had gotten himself back on track. He'd have to remember next Christmas break to not relax as much as he did; If he got unfocused, he'd probably never catch up if he waited too long. Lisa had still been on her boasting streak, taunting Ron that she finally beat him at Wizard's chess. He was anything but pleased whenever she brought it up, and he tried his best to spend as little time around her as he could. And Harry found that would be perhaps the perfect chance.
Draco had told Harry he'd be skipping the match, and naturally, Harry planned to do the same. Hermione informed him the day before that she would be skipping too. She didn't care for Quidditch. He thought it was a very perfect time, as they now knew about the Sorcerer's Stone, they wouldn't have any reason to research either. But they still met in the Library-- Draco and Harry, both, with Hermione and Luna. He had decided while nobody else would be there, he'd tell Hermione the truth. Padma and Lisa, who understood his plan, would be in the Gryffindor Stands with Ron. Partially distracting, partially enjoying the game, because Padma had actually intended to go. He was very sure Lisa would be so bored with the game that she'd forget she was even boasting at all, so it'd work out for Ron, too.
Hermione and Luna had both already picked out books and began reading by the time Harry and Draco arrived.
"Harry! There you are!" said Hermione, once she noticed them. But then she paused. "And... Malfoy? Er- hi."
Luna looked up, smiling. "Hi, Draco."
He nodded at her. "Luna."
"Right, er... Hermione-- this is Draco. Well, you already know him. Okay, I mean... you know how the school thinks we hate eachother?" Harry asked, and Hermione nodded. "Well, none of it's true-‐ he's one of my friends, like you and--"
"Oh, that's what you were telling me?" She took a breath and seemed to have recollected herself quickly, returning to her book. "Just as long as he doesn't shame me for being raised by muggles like the other Slytherins do, then I don't care in the slightest."
"I won't. I've got common sense, you'll notice," Draco scoffed. "My mother taught me that Muggles are just different. Other Slytherins were raised believing muggles were worth as much, if not less, than the dirt under our shoes. And even if I did, I wouldn't have agreed to come here."
Hermione hummed. She looked at him with something between approval and apprehension. "Alright, then, fine. I'm not going to doubt your judgement, Harry. But Malfoy, I want it to be clear, we don't have to be friends. And to be quite frank, I don't want to be your friend, but if it comes to it, I will atleast pretend to get along with you. For Harry's sake." She stuck out her hand.
"I'm fine with that," Draco agreed. Harry had to shove him to make him shake Hermione's hand, but atleast they were willing to try and get along. He found himself smiling. It'd be a bit before he wanted to tell Ron; He and Draco got along worse than anyone Harry had ever seen. Something to do with their families feuding, but Harry didn't really care. It wasn't his problem and it didn't affect him until he had to tell Ron.
"How lovely," said Luna. "Cousin, come look at this book I found. I think you'd like it."
"Cousin?" Hermione repeated. "You and Malfoy are cousins?"
"Yes, can't you tell? We look quite alike, do we not?"
"We're hardly cousins, really," Draco shrugged. "And when you're pureblood, nearly everyone's your cousin. Well, with Luna, it's sort of complicated, I suppose-- her mother was cousins with mine, but her father's... er..."
"My dad's an estranged Malfoy."
"Luna!"
"Yes?"
Draco sighed, sounding exasperated. Luna, apparently, didn't seem to understand why and smiled, continuing to read her book.
"You can't just- you can't just say that, Luna. It's not proper for--"
"Oh, I know, but I don't really mind. And it's true."
Draco's face went pink and scrunched up as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Hermione burst into giggles, hiding behind her book, and Harry forced back his own laughter. He looked a bit like a wrinkled tomato.
Harry found that they hadn't done a lot of studying actually, but they had much more fun than he suspected they would've if they really were studying; Hermione was very intent on making sure they knew that. He wasn't very bothered, though. On his way up to the common room-- Luna said she'd go ahead and meet with Lisa and Padma and Ron while he went to put up the books he'd absolutely notstolen-- he caught sight of a cloaked figure running down the corridor. He recognised the walk easily as Snape's; nobody else in the school had a robe that billowed quite like his, and it was impossible to miss. If Harry was entirely honest, his walk looked a bit off. But that was the least of his concerns, because what was Snape doing this close to dinner? He was a teacher, and he didn't think he'd ever seen them miss meals. Or maybe he didn't pay full attention, but he was mostly sure Snape was always at dinner.
Despite his better judgement, he acted before he thought and sneakily began to follow Snape. And apparently, Snape truly had somewhere to be. He'd run down the front steps, rushing towards the forbidden forest. And again, though he really, really should've gone back to the castle and just went to dinner, Harry kept following. When Snape finally stopped at a shadowy clearing, Harry hid behind a tall bush nearby. He peeked between the leaves, and saw Snape wasn't alone-- Quirrell had been there too. He remembered that Padma didn't like him much... for some reason. But any reason was good enough to not trust him-- adults were hardly ever much help, and it wasn't as if there was any reason to trust stupid, stuttering Quirrell.
"... d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus..." Quirrell sputtered out.
"Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," Snape muttered, his tone icy. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone, after all."
Harry leaned forward, and squinted to get a better look. Quirrell was mumbling something, and spitting out every few seconds-- good grief, he needed to do something about that stutter. It was really tiring. Snape interrupted him presumably midsentence.
"Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"
"B-b-but, Severus, I--"
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," Snape said lowly, taking a step toward him.
"I-I don't know whatever you--"
"You know perfectly well what I mean."
An owl hooted loudly, and Harry nearly yelled out. He managed to hide himself in time to hear Snape say, "-- your little bit of hocus-pocus. I'm waiting."
"B-but I d-d-don't--"
"Very well," Snape cut in. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie." Snape grunted, throwing his cloak back over his head, and sprinting right past Harry's bush.
He felt overwhelmed. He couldn't tell anyone of this, he was certain. Hermione and Padma would think Quirrell was trying to get the stone, but Ron had it rooted deep in his mind that it was Snape. Lisa might just suspect the both of them, and Draco hadn't even been filled in on the whole thing. Luna might just smile and say either one of them.
When looking at it like that, he had even more of a reason to keep it to himself, right? Right, he told himself, watching Quirrell leave. It was hardly anything important... Snape being a jerk was nothing new, and Quirrell being... Quirrell, was hardly worth mentioning. He'd remember... incase it was really important, he supposed. He wouldn't forget. He'd just... not mention it.
Very hesitantly, he snuck through the trees and back into the castle, running straight for the Great Hall. People were still eating, he could tell, as he put his ear up to the door. Giving himself a chance to catch his breath, he slipped in and went to his regular seat.
"Harry, you alright?" Lisa asked, eating the last of her steak.
"Just fine," He swore, piling up his plate with food he wouldn't eat.
Padma hummed. "The last time you said you were just fine, you were sneaking out in the middle of the night to go see a mirror."
"That's a different story, just--" Harry snapped, but he caught himself before he said something he rather would've regretted. "I mean it this time. I'm fine, really, I'm just tired. I'll be back to normal in the morning."
"Are you sure? You look like you've been caught by some wrackspurts," said Luna, and the look she gave him made it very obvious she knew something was the matter. But he was sure Lisa and Padma were looking at him just the same... they always seemed to know, really, when he wasn't being fully honest. Maybe his lies weren't as convincing. Not that he liked lying, of course... it was just helpful sometimes...
"Maybe," he admitted. His thoughts did feel a bit scrambled.
Lisa and Padma shared a look before looking back at him.
"You just agreed with Luna that you've been caught by... wack- wrackspurts. Are you hearing yourself?" Lisa said uncertainly. He scoffed at her, and she rolled her eyes before going off on some tangent. "Anyhow-- I heard that Gryffindor's throwing a party tonight. They're in the lead for the Quidditch Cup, and they're definitely excited about it. Ron said we're welcome to come, if we want to--"
"Ooh, Parvati told me about that earlier! Should we go--?"
Harry stopped listening after a while, nodding whenever it seemed right. By the end of dinner, it turned out that he hadn't eaten any of the food he put on his plate. When they got back to the common room, after dinner had ended, he was hungry, but despite that, he bid Lisa and Padma a goodbye as they went to the Gryffindor common room.
He forced himself down the stairs to the dorm, still thinking over what he saw. He didn't bother to change out of his day clothes as he climbed into bed.
He could still practically hear Snape speaking; "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie."
He'd definitely have to keep an eye out; For both Snape and Quirrell.