The Serpentine Documents Chapter 1, a harry potter fanfic

The telephone rang loudly besides the bed of one Professor Drake Doe, causing him to wake up. Grumbling in his native French he rolled over and answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you at such a late hour sir, but there is a message for you," replied the weary concierge's voice on the other end.

"Who could want me at this hour? Did they leave a name?"

"No sir, but he says he desperately needs to speak with you."

Drake sighed. He was going to be lecturing on some documents he had found in a mere few hours so one could see why he was cranky. He needed every ounce of sleep he could get. "Listen, you tell them that unless I get a name and a valid reason, there will be no speaking with anyone." Drake hung up before the concierge could even protest.

7:30 AM

Drake Doe almost fell out of his bed at the sound of loud banging on his hotel room door. Cursing quietly in French he placed the picture of his family at his side and got up to answer it.

"Are you Drake Doe?"

"That's Professor Doe thank you."

"Sorry, Professor Doe," although he didn't sound all that apologetic. "I'm an Auror for the American government. I was told you had a meeting scheduled with Nicholas Flamel? Is that correct?"

Drake thought for a moment. A few weeks ago, Nicholas Flamel, the noted Alchemist, had contacted Drake to schedule a meeting of what he said was of upmost importance. He told Drake that he had heard of the documents he had found and said that he had some information. These documents known only to Wizarding historians as the Serpentine Documents were said to hold evidence that Hogwarts founder Salazar Slytherin's story had more to it than what was once thought. No one really knew all that much about what had happened to Slytherin after he left the school but according to a diary entry written down by Godric Gryffindor as Slytherin was leaving Gryffindor noted his rival saying something about how when the proper time comes, others will know the truth. Other parts of the text suggest that the founder of Slytherin house was heard muttering something about keeping something (the ink was smudged here) a secret because it would somehow stain his image. Where the diary had come from Drake would never know as it had been sent to him from an anonymous source. The note that came with it indicated in a very loopy scrawl that this was only the beginning and that the thing Drake was looking for could be found at the center of the city of Alexander, directly under the eye of Ra, the Egyptian sun god. So at twelve noon on his third day in the city of Alexandria in Egypt Drake looked down at the thick scrolls that he had recovered with a triumphant look on his face. They were in fact now at Gringotts where no one else could get to them. He had made copies of them to carry around with him, which were in his briefcase under the bed and had spent several weeks trying to decipher them but even with his expert skills his efforts were useless.

Home, Drake thought, wishing that he was now there instead of here. The Auror's coughing brought Drake back to the present. "Oh um, yes Mr. Flamel and I were scheduled to meet right after my lecture in," he checked his watch, " two hours."

"Well then Professor Doe sir I'm sure you will be sorry to hear that Mr. Flamel died last night. But he left behind this message that said it ought to be delivered to you."

"The Aurors were called in to deliver a letter to me? I mean I am sorry he's dead but is this really necessary?"

In reality Drake was shocked to hear that the man had died, having not known that the Philosopher's Stone had been destroyed. He never paid much attention to the news anymore. He had however read much of Flamel's work and to hear that he was gone was heartbreaking. But prior to becoming a Professor Drake had spent several years as an Auror which taught him to keep his emotions to himself.

Faulkner the Aurur stared at the man before him. He was acting a bit to calm in his opinion. It just seemed that it was too much of a coincidence that this man just happened to be meeting with Flamel right when dies and yet he doesn't seem to show any sort of emotion upon hearing the news. And what was the deal with this letter? The two men stared at each other for a few moments in silence. The esteemed Professor Doe had long black hair which was swept back in a ponytail, pale skin, a height of about 6'2, and a strong muscular build. His French accent gave him away immediately. Faulkner on the other hand was of a shorter dumpier build, with short brown hair, and brown eyes.

"Sir I'm going to have to ask you to come with me. The Head Auror has actually requseted your presence at the scene. Apparently there was something there that requires your expertise as well." The Auror stopped Drake before he could protest. "You'll be back in time for your lecture Professor don't worry." And he ushered Drake out the door, glancing around before closing it and following the man out of the building.

'Great.' This is not how Drake wanted to spend his morning. It turned out that Mr. Nicholas Flamel had purchased a vacation house in upper New York (Sylvan Beach to be exact), which he told Drake during their first conversation that was for "reflection purposes only." It was a quaint little house off the beaten path. Drake stifled a yawn as the Auror let him through the front door and through a small entry way, down the hall, and into what was obviously Flamel's bedroom. Standing in the middle of the room was a man of about Drake's size and build with Hazel eyes and greying hair who came and immediatly shook Drake's hand.

"Good morning Professor Doe. My name is John Hilderson, I'm wanting to speak to you about something that we found. We thought you might be able to help us.

Hilderson produced some pieces of parchment that had been placed in an evidence bag.

"Thsee were found in the deceased's hands by the woman who was his neighbor. Apparently she'd come to borrow a few cups of sugar when she found the door unlocked which isn't uncommon in these parts from what I hear." He handed the papers to Drake who immediatly began studying them.

"I am afraid that it is going to take me more than a few hours to even attempt to decipher these. If I can just have a few days or so I will see what I can find and report back to you."

"That sounds fair," replied Hilderson. "Thank you for your time Professor."

Which Drake's services no longer needed, he decided to go ahead and leave straight to his lecture. Back in Nicholas Flamel's bedroom the two Aurors stood there and looked at each other. "I want a team of Aurors down there at that Lecture," said Hilderson to Faulkner after the Professor had been shown out.