Disclaimer : I do not own anything you recognize. It all belongs to J.KR.
Note : I'm replacing this chapter because I wanted to dedicate this to the great Richard Harris. I just found out today that he died, and I feel as though my heart is breaking. He brought one of our most beloved characters to life, and we owe him great respect. Rest in peace, Mr. Harris, you will always be in our hearts.
Part One
The year is 1794. While, in Muggle England, the aftermath of the French revolution, and the Napoleonic wars are causing all sorts of economic, social, and political mishaps, the Wizarding world is as wonderful as ever. Just as magical, just as peaceful, and caught up in the brilliance of a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A clever young man from a long line of respectable wizards and witches of Devon, Albus Dumbledore. 1794 would be his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, and he was Head Boy.
On the carriage to the Hogsmeade station, Albus was surrounded by what appeared to him to be an endless stream of seventh- and six-year girls who came in and out of his carriage to tell him about their summer and ask about his (this was done by apparating, which was taught in the fifth year at that time). Truthfully, Albus had never been that popular, though he was fairly handsome and smart, but until he was named Head Boy, no girls had ever paid much attention to him. However, he and his best friend, Nicholas Flamel, had been doing quite a bit of research in their sixth year, and it had caught media attention. Albus Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel had become household names, not just in England, but all over the world. Everyone wanted to know if they would be able to make the Sorcerer's Stone.
This carriage ride, Albus had two permanent companions in the compartment : Nicholas, and the Head Girl, Paulettina Farrows. Paulettina was a pretty girl of moderate height, a little plump, but that was the way to be, you know. She was very fair and had deep-set eyes of chocolate brown, and very long, straight brown hair. She was quiet-spoken to those who first met her, but much more witty and clever with her close friends, and smart. For this reason, Albus quite liked her company, and the fact that she was Head Girl, instead of the other candidate, a rather obnoxious Ravenclaw. There were no romantic feelings between the two of them, though Albus sometimes fancied that Nicholas quite liked her.
Nicholas was quite a character himself. Like the other two, he was studious and of a quiet disposition, and he was easily frustrated with those who were not as bright or clever as him. He had an interesting past. He was actually born in 1337, and 1352 was to be his fifth year at Hogwarts. However, he and some friends he met on holiday in Italy got a bit sloshed, and were having a bit of fun, and Nicholas ended up taking what we like to call the Draught of Living Death. He had woken up in 1792, and having not aged at all due to a spell cast on him by his parents, had to go back to Hogwarts for his fifth year, where he met a fifteen-year-old Albus Dumbledore, and they instantly became best friends.
Nicholas was tall and broad-shouldered, with a handsome face, turquoise eyes, and golden-blonde hair. Girls giggled and swooned when he was around, and he was constantly lavished with luscious smiles, but he paid no attention. Normally, he had his nose buried in some book, or he was pondering over an essay he was writing, with his quill in his teeth and a fistful of his golden hair in his hand. He was endlessly dedicated to his work and not easily distracted by anyone. If Helen herself had sat in front of him while he was doing research, he would not have looked up even once.
Albus was going to start swearing very strongly when another person apparated into their carriage, and then he saw that it was the lady with the food cart.
All three students stood and bowed their heads. The witch smiled and bowed in return.
"Oh, thank God it is you," Albus said, grinning, and taking a seat, "I was about to put a spell on to repel people from apparating in any more."
"No, it is just me, would you like anything, dears?"
"Some Pumpkin Pasties, please," Paulettina said, reaching into her purse and pulling out some gold, "And two Cauldron Cakes."
"There you are, dearest. I must say, Paulettina, you get prettier every year. No doubt you will find yourself a fine husband," She looked meaningfully at Nicholas, who was scribbling away on a piece of parchment.
"I will take some licorice wands," Albus jumped in, as Paulettina's face had suddenly flushed a very deep red, "And some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans."
"And you, Nicholas?" The witch turned to him.
"Hmmm?" He looked up, "Oh, um...A little bit of everything, here you are," He reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out some gold, which he dumped into the witch's hand. She took a bit of everything and put it next to him on the empty seat, on top of some more loose parchment and a couple of very thick spellbooks.
"That will be all then? Have a nice first day back."
They all stood and bowed again, and the witch disappeared.
Albus was just unwrapping his package of licorice wands when someone else appeared suddenly before him. They were shortly joined by another person.
"Oh, were you busy?" The first, a girl with very curly black hair and a rather wide mouth, like a frog, asked, "We will take our leave then, we certainly did not mean to interrupt."
"No, we will not," The second girl, who was very tall and bony with a very pointed nose, contradicted, "We will just join you for lunch, if that does not oppose your wishes."
And she shoved Nicholas' parchments aside and sat down, which scrunched them all up. Nicholas just kept on scribbling.
They all stood again (it was getting a bit tiresome to Albus), except for Nicholas, who didn't pay much attention to the customs of the time.
"I am Gabriella Patil," The tall bony girl said, "And this is Poppy Pomfrey."
"Paulettina Farrows."
"Albus Dumbledore."
"And this is Nicholas Flamel, no doubt?" Gabriella turned her admiring eyes towards Nicholas.
Nicholas grunted indistinctly in return.
"Pray, what house are you in?" Albus, who saw Gabriella's highly affronted look, and wanting to keep things friendly, asked.
"We are seventh-year Hufflepuffs," Gabriella pulled a small, shiny badge out of her pocket, "Prefects."
"Hm," Paulettina said, apparently as uninterested as Nicholas.
"Of course, you were all Prefects, so I expect it is not that impressive," Gabriella sighed, "We hear ever so much about you, in the Daily Prophet and such. All your research. I can not understand a bit myself, I was never one for Potions, but you seem to be quite brilliant. My father says he would not be at all surprised if you two became the most brilliant minds of our time."
"They already are," Paulettina said in her soft voice.
"Pray, what do you mean?" Gabriella asked, glancing at a few pages of Nicholas' work and then tossing them aside.
"Miss Patil, who else has made the Sorcerer's Stone?"
"They have not yet done it."
"They will soon, no doubt. Therefore, as I said already, they already are the most brilliant minds of our time."
Gabriella did not seem to like Paulettina at all, and her face showed it. Whenever Paulettina spoke, Gabriella pursed her lips and wrinkled up her nose.
"Well, I suppose," Gabriella said slowly, then smiled on Albus, "So what did you do other than research this summer, Albus?"
"Nothing. I was supposed to go on holiday with my family, but Nicholas and I got so wrapped up in our work that the summer was over before we even realized it, and we had to go to Diagon Alley to get our things, and now we are here..Talking to you." This last comment made his lip twitch, though not in a smile.
"But you must have done something else! No trips? No parties?"
"For God's sake!" Albus' voice suddenly raised itself a couple of notches, "Can you girls not think of anything to say but 'What did you do this summer, Albus?' It gets quite dull, you know!"
Gabriella looked absolutely shocked.
"I think I will take my leave now," She said, sniffing, "Come along, Poppy."
Then Gabriella was gone.
"It was nice to have met you all," Poppy said timidly, "Have a nice day. I look forward to seeing you at the feast."
Albus had just begun to stand, but she inclined her head, and was gone.
"Good God!" Albus exclaimed, "I think I am about to have a fit! If being Head Boy means I have to put up with them all year long, I rather think I shall reject the title. Just tell Professor Golander I don't want it any more! Give it to Nicholas! He would do well. Women are always flirting with him anyways."
"But then I would have to turn in my badge too, Albus," Paulettina said, "I could never do this without you."
"You could with Nicholas, though," Albus said, folding his arms across his chestand looking very cross indeed, "He would like that."
Nicholas looked up, one eyebrow raised, and then returned to his scribbles.
"You know, Albus, I think you might want to consider that charm you were talking about," Paulettina stated, "I think we could use some peace and quiet."
Note : I'm replacing this chapter because I wanted to dedicate this to the great Richard Harris. I just found out today that he died, and I feel as though my heart is breaking. He brought one of our most beloved characters to life, and we owe him great respect. Rest in peace, Mr. Harris, you will always be in our hearts.
Part One
The year is 1794. While, in Muggle England, the aftermath of the French revolution, and the Napoleonic wars are causing all sorts of economic, social, and political mishaps, the Wizarding world is as wonderful as ever. Just as magical, just as peaceful, and caught up in the brilliance of a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A clever young man from a long line of respectable wizards and witches of Devon, Albus Dumbledore. 1794 would be his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, and he was Head Boy.
On the carriage to the Hogsmeade station, Albus was surrounded by what appeared to him to be an endless stream of seventh- and six-year girls who came in and out of his carriage to tell him about their summer and ask about his (this was done by apparating, which was taught in the fifth year at that time). Truthfully, Albus had never been that popular, though he was fairly handsome and smart, but until he was named Head Boy, no girls had ever paid much attention to him. However, he and his best friend, Nicholas Flamel, had been doing quite a bit of research in their sixth year, and it had caught media attention. Albus Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel had become household names, not just in England, but all over the world. Everyone wanted to know if they would be able to make the Sorcerer's Stone.
This carriage ride, Albus had two permanent companions in the compartment : Nicholas, and the Head Girl, Paulettina Farrows. Paulettina was a pretty girl of moderate height, a little plump, but that was the way to be, you know. She was very fair and had deep-set eyes of chocolate brown, and very long, straight brown hair. She was quiet-spoken to those who first met her, but much more witty and clever with her close friends, and smart. For this reason, Albus quite liked her company, and the fact that she was Head Girl, instead of the other candidate, a rather obnoxious Ravenclaw. There were no romantic feelings between the two of them, though Albus sometimes fancied that Nicholas quite liked her.
Nicholas was quite a character himself. Like the other two, he was studious and of a quiet disposition, and he was easily frustrated with those who were not as bright or clever as him. He had an interesting past. He was actually born in 1337, and 1352 was to be his fifth year at Hogwarts. However, he and some friends he met on holiday in Italy got a bit sloshed, and were having a bit of fun, and Nicholas ended up taking what we like to call the Draught of Living Death. He had woken up in 1792, and having not aged at all due to a spell cast on him by his parents, had to go back to Hogwarts for his fifth year, where he met a fifteen-year-old Albus Dumbledore, and they instantly became best friends.
Nicholas was tall and broad-shouldered, with a handsome face, turquoise eyes, and golden-blonde hair. Girls giggled and swooned when he was around, and he was constantly lavished with luscious smiles, but he paid no attention. Normally, he had his nose buried in some book, or he was pondering over an essay he was writing, with his quill in his teeth and a fistful of his golden hair in his hand. He was endlessly dedicated to his work and not easily distracted by anyone. If Helen herself had sat in front of him while he was doing research, he would not have looked up even once.
Albus was going to start swearing very strongly when another person apparated into their carriage, and then he saw that it was the lady with the food cart.
All three students stood and bowed their heads. The witch smiled and bowed in return.
"Oh, thank God it is you," Albus said, grinning, and taking a seat, "I was about to put a spell on to repel people from apparating in any more."
"No, it is just me, would you like anything, dears?"
"Some Pumpkin Pasties, please," Paulettina said, reaching into her purse and pulling out some gold, "And two Cauldron Cakes."
"There you are, dearest. I must say, Paulettina, you get prettier every year. No doubt you will find yourself a fine husband," She looked meaningfully at Nicholas, who was scribbling away on a piece of parchment.
"I will take some licorice wands," Albus jumped in, as Paulettina's face had suddenly flushed a very deep red, "And some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans."
"And you, Nicholas?" The witch turned to him.
"Hmmm?" He looked up, "Oh, um...A little bit of everything, here you are," He reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out some gold, which he dumped into the witch's hand. She took a bit of everything and put it next to him on the empty seat, on top of some more loose parchment and a couple of very thick spellbooks.
"That will be all then? Have a nice first day back."
They all stood and bowed again, and the witch disappeared.
Albus was just unwrapping his package of licorice wands when someone else appeared suddenly before him. They were shortly joined by another person.
"Oh, were you busy?" The first, a girl with very curly black hair and a rather wide mouth, like a frog, asked, "We will take our leave then, we certainly did not mean to interrupt."
"No, we will not," The second girl, who was very tall and bony with a very pointed nose, contradicted, "We will just join you for lunch, if that does not oppose your wishes."
And she shoved Nicholas' parchments aside and sat down, which scrunched them all up. Nicholas just kept on scribbling.
They all stood again (it was getting a bit tiresome to Albus), except for Nicholas, who didn't pay much attention to the customs of the time.
"I am Gabriella Patil," The tall bony girl said, "And this is Poppy Pomfrey."
"Paulettina Farrows."
"Albus Dumbledore."
"And this is Nicholas Flamel, no doubt?" Gabriella turned her admiring eyes towards Nicholas.
Nicholas grunted indistinctly in return.
"Pray, what house are you in?" Albus, who saw Gabriella's highly affronted look, and wanting to keep things friendly, asked.
"We are seventh-year Hufflepuffs," Gabriella pulled a small, shiny badge out of her pocket, "Prefects."
"Hm," Paulettina said, apparently as uninterested as Nicholas.
"Of course, you were all Prefects, so I expect it is not that impressive," Gabriella sighed, "We hear ever so much about you, in the Daily Prophet and such. All your research. I can not understand a bit myself, I was never one for Potions, but you seem to be quite brilliant. My father says he would not be at all surprised if you two became the most brilliant minds of our time."
"They already are," Paulettina said in her soft voice.
"Pray, what do you mean?" Gabriella asked, glancing at a few pages of Nicholas' work and then tossing them aside.
"Miss Patil, who else has made the Sorcerer's Stone?"
"They have not yet done it."
"They will soon, no doubt. Therefore, as I said already, they already are the most brilliant minds of our time."
Gabriella did not seem to like Paulettina at all, and her face showed it. Whenever Paulettina spoke, Gabriella pursed her lips and wrinkled up her nose.
"Well, I suppose," Gabriella said slowly, then smiled on Albus, "So what did you do other than research this summer, Albus?"
"Nothing. I was supposed to go on holiday with my family, but Nicholas and I got so wrapped up in our work that the summer was over before we even realized it, and we had to go to Diagon Alley to get our things, and now we are here..Talking to you." This last comment made his lip twitch, though not in a smile.
"But you must have done something else! No trips? No parties?"
"For God's sake!" Albus' voice suddenly raised itself a couple of notches, "Can you girls not think of anything to say but 'What did you do this summer, Albus?' It gets quite dull, you know!"
Gabriella looked absolutely shocked.
"I think I will take my leave now," She said, sniffing, "Come along, Poppy."
Then Gabriella was gone.
"It was nice to have met you all," Poppy said timidly, "Have a nice day. I look forward to seeing you at the feast."
Albus had just begun to stand, but she inclined her head, and was gone.
"Good God!" Albus exclaimed, "I think I am about to have a fit! If being Head Boy means I have to put up with them all year long, I rather think I shall reject the title. Just tell Professor Golander I don't want it any more! Give it to Nicholas! He would do well. Women are always flirting with him anyways."
"But then I would have to turn in my badge too, Albus," Paulettina said, "I could never do this without you."
"You could with Nicholas, though," Albus said, folding his arms across his chestand looking very cross indeed, "He would like that."
Nicholas looked up, one eyebrow raised, and then returned to his scribbles.
"You know, Albus, I think you might want to consider that charm you were talking about," Paulettina stated, "I think we could use some peace and quiet."