A/N - Here it is, my very first entirely non-canon chapter. I have now, a fairly good idea of where the story will go and know which parts will stay true to canon and which won't. I would also like to take this moment to say that JKR owns all characters (unless otherwise stated) and I only own the plot!! Anyway, please read, review and enjoy!

A/n - Sorry if I wasn't clear, but I realised that I glossed over that Ron and Ginny are fraternal twins and share Ginny's canonical birthday. Sorry for any confusion.

Chapter Three – Merry Christmas Harry

Harry James Potter was at Hogwarts, but this was different, he was sitting in the Headmaster's Chair and next to him was a smiling Ginny. What is this? He thought to himself. He realised that he felt a lot older than normal and on impulse stood up to address the students when he heard Ginny's voice, but it seemed far away. 'Harry, Harry, wake up sleepy head. My mum sent me to come and get you, it's nearly eleven.' Harry slowly stirred, not wanting to leave his dream just yet. THUMP! He was finally roused from his dream by a well placed pillow to the head from his red-headed friend. 'You know you can be rather painful at times?' Harry asked her. Ginny Weasley stood there smiling sweetly. 'Yes but what are friends for?'Harry couldn't help smiling back. 'Come on, we better head downstairs Harry.' Ginny said. 'Yeah I suppose so' Harry responded. They arrived downstairs minutes later and immediately had bacon and eggs placed in front of them. Harry gratefully shovelled the food into his mouth in a way reminiscent of Ron and received a punch on the arm from Ginny as she hissed, 'Slow down, stop being a pig like my dear brother Ronald.' He complied and once he had finished, he and Ginny, along with Ron, traipsed from the Burrow, along the well worn path through the swamp to the orchard, which was used as a makeshift Quidditch pitch. The three of them delighted in throwing around the old battered Quaffle that the Weasley's owned. Ron showed great skill against Harry and Ginny's onslaught and Ron was definitely the Keeper in the Weasley family. The three of the them continued to play until they heard Molly's voice ring out from the back door of the Burrow, calling them for dinner. They trekked back through the swamp to the house.

After dinner, Ginny trooped up to her room, and Ron and Harry climbed to the very top landing, to the room they were sharing, just underneath the residence of the Weasley family ghoul. Slowly Harry drifted off to sleep wondering what a new day would bring.

***

The next morning, Harry woke to a rousing chorus of 'Wake up Harry'. He groggily sat up putting his glasses on, hearing Ron and Ginny telling him to 'Hurry up and get downstairs, it's presents time.' Then it clicked. Harry realised it was Christmas. Christmas had never really mattered to Harry, because the Dursleys never gave him any presents. When he reached the living room, every single Weasley wished Harry a merry Christmas and he received a group present of homemade toffees and fudges, as well as an emerald green knitted jumper, with a gold embroidered H, made personally by Mrs Weasley. For the first time in eleven years, Harry was happy that it was Christmas. Presently, the family heard a tap on the window and looked up to see Hedwig, with a fairly large package tied to her leg. Harry hurriedly opened the package to find knitted scarves for each of them, with a letter from Hermione wishing them a Merry Christmas. Harry gave each of the Weasleys a trinket which represented the recipients' personalities.

Later, at Christmas dinner, the Weasleys and Harry sat down to eat. This was the first time Harry had ever been invited to a Christmas dinner and had been looking forward to it since he had arrived at the Burrow. He sat between Ron and Ginny and was quite happy allowing Molly to continually pile food onto his plate and was really enjoying the roast turkey Molly had prepared.

It was soon time for the flaming pudding dessert, and everyone gasped appreciatively as Arthur set the pudding alight with his wand. Once again, Molly placed a large portion in front of Harry, saying that he looked like he had never had enough to eat at the Dursley's, as Harry thought bitterly, 'She's right. I really wish I never had to go back to the Dursley's again.' Harry's reverie continued as he thought about the poor treatment he had received at the hands of them. He was finally snapped out of it by Ron and Ginny, who dragged him upstairs for a game of exploding snap.

***

Meanwhile, in France, a young bushy-haired girl was researching something Hagrid had let slip about a Dumbledore knowing a Nicholas Flamel. She had recognized the name but didn't know where from. She had been perusing books about muggle ideas of magic in a local second-hand bookshop when she spotted a book of interest, something she didn't expect to find in an apparently Muggle shop. The book was named Alchemy – The Study of the Ancients, but what surprised her more were the authors' names embossed in gold on the battered red leather cover N. Flamel & A.P.W.B. Dumbledore. Seeing this Hermione had, as soon as they returned to the hotel, opened a rather large book and turned it to a chapter about alchemy, seeing that Flamel was the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone. Suddenly she came to a realisation, the reason the third floor was out of bounds was that it hid the Philosopher's Stone. She had to tell the other three and hurriedly wrote a letter to them.

Harry, Ron and Ginny,

I was looking in a second hand book store, researching muggle ideas of magic and found something I didn't expect. It was a book on alchemy written by Nicholas Flamel and Professor Dumbledore! This is the connection we have been searching for. Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone. This has to be what is hidden on the third floor, and based on the events of this year. I believe someone is trying to steal it. I sincerely hope you enjoy Christmas and look forward to seeing you back at Hogwarts.

Love,

Hermione

As soon as she was finished, she was surprised to see Hedwig had once again found her, as if she knew Hermione needed an owl. Hermione attached the letter to Hedwig's wing and watched as the beautiful snowy owl once again took flight. Then she sat on her bed, and glanced at the calendar showing just eight days until they went back to school.

***

Harry, Ron and Ginny were sitting in Ginny's bedroom reading the note from Hermione in disbelief. The Philosopher's Stone, at Hogwarts? Surely it couldn't be true, and why would someone steal it? Who, for that matter, would steal it? Both Snape and Quirrell had been acting suspiciously, so which one of them had done it? Before they could consider these questions, Molly Weasley called out to them, 'Everyone, get your trunks, we need to be at King's Cross in an hour.' 'Coming', came the reply from the six voices of Percy, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny and Harry.

Almost seven hours later, the Hogwarts Express arrived at Hogsmeade station, returning the students after their Christmas break. Harry now knew that Privet Drive would never again be considered his home; that right belonged to Hogwarts and the Burrow. At that moment the wards that Dumbledore had placed around Privet Drive collapsed, and up in his office Dumbledore felt this.

A/N - I would just like to mention that for the most part my chapters will be fairly short, around 1000-2000 words, this is mainly because it is a long story and do not wish for you to get bored. If I skip periods of time, it is likely that nothing important happened. Having said that, this chapter seems mostly pointless but points the way for the remainder of the story. PLEASE REVIEW PLEASE!