Donnie Black and the Philosopher's Stone
Hey guys, update time! Woo! Sorry for the wait, so many college assessments it's unreal. Thanks for the follows/favourites and now I shall let you all enjoy this new chapter! Hope you like it!
Chapter 7
All too soon November was upon them and a cold, unfavourable chill followed. Every morning the grounds were covered in fresh layers of frost, the high mountains gleamed in the distance with small amounts of snow icing the top. Hagrid had been seen defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, dressed up in many furs and skins to keep himself warm. At the moment, Donnie was looking forward to the Christmas holidays as the amount of work the teachers set them daily was crippling them all. The only up-sides to recent events, Donnie thought, were the now that Hermione Granger was their friend she helped them out with their homework. Of course she never let them copy, claiming they would never learn, but also the Quidditch season had arrived. The first match was Gryffindor v. Slytherin. Donnie had noticed over the last few days Harry had been quiet and paled whenever mention of the first match approached. Despite training in secret with Oliver Wood, where only tem members and occasionally Donnie, Ron and Hermione would watch, nobody else was meant to know of Harry being Seeker, so naturally the whole school was aware.
As Harry's nerves were on edge, Donnie had asked Hermione – who seemed to live in the library most days – to find a book to take his mind off everything. Hermione had succeeded and found Quidditch through the Ages. Right now they stood outside in the frost and biting chill, a small blue flame inside a jam jar – courtesy of Hermione – flickering behind them, warming their backs. As Hermione lectured Ron about their History of Magic homework, Harry and Donnie talked about all the interesting facts that Quidditch through the Ages had to offer. They were enjoying this break with the small flame keeping them warm in the chill, but they suddenly became alert when Donnie nudged them and nodded in a certain direction: Snape was crossing the courtyard and they were sure it looked as if Snape was limping. They all huddled together, their backs concealing the blue flame as they were sure it wasn't allowed, but something about their guilty faces tipped Snape off as he stopped and headed towards them. Donnie tried to hide his grimace as the greasy-haired potions teacher approached them. He hadn't seen the flame, but something in Snape's eye told Donnie that he was itching for a reason to tell them off.
Snape's dark eyes cast down to the open book in Harry's hands.
'What's that you've got there, Potter?' Harry showed him Quidditch through the Ages. A small light gleamed in Snape's eye.
'Library books are not to be taken outside the school,' said Snape. 'Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor.' Snape confiscated the book and limped away.
'That can't be a rule.' Donnie grumbled.
'He just made it up,' muttered Harry angrily as Snape re-entered the castle. 'Wonder what's wrong with his leg?'
'Dunno,' said Ron bitterly. 'But I hope it's really hurting him.'
X-X-H-P-X-X
The Gryffindor common room was particularly noisy that evening. The four had managed to sit in the armchairs closest to the fire. Hermione sat cross-legged on her seat checking over the boys' Charms homework as she never let them copy, Ron lay out on the carpet, playing a game of Wizards chess against himself, Donnie sat back in his seat, staring into the fire with his Walkman was plugged into his ears, thankful for the spell his brother Marcus had put on the device to allow it to work in the magic filled atmosphere of the school, which also allowed him to play Nirvana's Nevermind cassette which he had received via owl post one morning in the Great Hall from his foster parents back in Brighton. Harry was the only one who didn't seem as content as he was rigid in his chair, clearly restless with his nerves for tomorrow's game.
Donnie was shaken from his trance with the music when Harry stood up suddenly.
'I'm going to ask Snape for my book back.' Ron winced at Harry's words.
'Rather you than me,' the other three said and Donnie saw how restless the lack of Quidditch through the Ages was making his friend so he stood up and offered to come along. Both Hermione and Ron sharing a look. They both left the common room and into the darkened corridors of the school, the torches flickering shadows everywhere.
'Where do you suppose he is?' Donnie asked.
'Probably the staff room. And he won't refuse if there are other teachers listening.' Donnie nodded and the two set off in the direction of the staff room, Donnie letting Harry listen to Smells like Teen Spirit through the headphones as they walked. Once outside the door Donnie pushed Harry forwards and Harry – sending a small glare back first – knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He knocked again.
Nothing.
'Maybe he left the book in there?' Donnie suggested as he stood besides Harry and they slowly pulled the door open, guessing it was worth a try, and peered into the room. A horrible scene met their eyes.
Snape and Filch were inside, alone. Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs was bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages.
'Blasted thing,' Snape was saying. 'How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?'
Harry and Donnie looked at each other before Harry tried to close the door quietly, but –
'POTTER! BLACK!'
Snape's face was twisted with fury as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg. Harry and Donnie both gulped audibly.
'I just wondered if I could have my book back.'
'GET OUT! OUT!'
Donnie quickly pulled the staff room door shut before Snape could take anymore points from Gryffindor. They paused in the corridor, sharing a look of shock before sprinting back to the common room. They ran upstairs and through the portrait hole into the warm room, Hermione and Ron where they left them.
'Did you get it?' Ron asked and the two explained what they saw as they caught their breath.
'You know what this means?' Harry finished breathlessly as Donnie collapsed back in his chair. 'Snape tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween!'
'That must have been where he was going to when we saw him.' Donnie wheezed as he lay sprawled over the chair. 'He's after whatever it's guarding.' Harry nodded at his friends words.
'And I bet my broomstick he let the troll in, to create a diversion!
Hermione's eyes were wide as she told them her doubt.
'Honestly Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something.' Ron said. 'I'm with Harry and Donnie. I wouldn't put anything past Snape.'
'But what's he after? What's the dog guarding?' They all looked at each other, but none of them knew the answer. Soon they all left for bed. Donnie climbed into his bed as he thought. His head was buzzing. As he leaned up to close his drapes he saw Harry sitting on his own bed, clearing thinking of the possibilities also, but the Quidditch match was hours away.
'Don't worry about the match tomorrow,' Donnie whispered across the dormitory. 'You'll do great.' Harry sent over a small smile before the pair closed their drapes and went to sleep.
X-X-H-P-X-X
'I don't want anything.' Donnie, Ron and Hermione had been trying to convince Harry to eat something since arriving in the Great Hall. It was a clear crisp morning, bright and cold. The match was soon and everyone was wishing Harry good luck, but he was convinced he would need a miracle.
Soon they made their way down to the Quidditch pitch and the three said goodbye to Harry who headed over to the changing rooms as they left for the stands. They stood with the other Gryffindors and watched as the Slytherin captain Marcus Flint attempted to crush the fingers of the Gryffindor captain and keeper, Oliver Wood. Soon the match was off and everyone was in awe as the match played on. The three tore their eyes between the match and Harry, who sat high up on his new Nimbus Two-Thousand, seeking out the Snitch. As they were bunched up in the crowds, they heard a familiar voice.
'Budge up there, move along.'
'Hagrid!' Donnie waved their giant friend over who beamed at the sight of them.
'Bin watchin' from me hut,' said Hagrid, patting the large set of binoculars around his neck. 'No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?' They shook their heads as Harry had yet to do anything. Soon Harry's broom sped off across the pitch, Harry have clearly have spotted the Snitch.
'GO HARRY!' The three cried, though they were hardly heard over Hagrid's booming cheers, but soon the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws all booed and hissed as Marcus Flint deliberately blocked Harry, causing his broom to swerve off course and for Harry to hang on for dear life. Boos and hissed were all around and Lee Jordan, friend of the Weasley twins, who was commentating the match voiced his protests with words that had Professor McGonagall try to take the magical megaphone aware from him. Soon Harry was back up against the match watching. Everyone's eyes were watching between the match and Harry, who seemed to start buckling on his broom. Harry was zooming around and his broom was going crazy, as if trying to throw Harry off.
'What's going on up there with him?' Donnie asked as he peered through Hagrid's overly large binoculars.
'Did something happen when Flint blocked him? Seamus asked who was standing besides Ron.
'Can't have,' said Hagrid. 'Can't nothin' interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark Magic – no kid could do that.' Hermione snatched Hagrid's binoculars from Donnie and started searching through the crowds frantically.
'What are you doing?' Ron asked, grey faced as if he were up on Harry's broom, close to being thrown off.
'I knew it!' Hermione gasped and Donnie looked through the binoculars to where she had been looking.
'What?' Ron asked.
'It's Snape – look!' They all peered through the binoculars to see Snape in the middle of the stands opposite, his eyes fixed on Harry and muttering non-stop under his breath.
'He's doing something – jinxing the broom!' Said Hermione.
'What do we do?' Ron gasped, but Hermione had disappeared into the crowds. Donnie caught glimpse of her bushy hair and ran through the stands after her.
'Wait, what are you going to do?' he asked as he kept in pace with Hermione's frantic steps as they made their way up to the teachers steps. They pushed and shoved their way up.
'We need to break the eye contact.' They reached the row behind Snape; they never even stopped to help Professor Quirrel whom they knocked over. They reached Snape and Hermione crouched down to the hem of Snape's robes and pulled out her wand. With a few carefully chosen words, bright blue flames shot from Hermione's wand and ignited the end of the black robes and they sprinted off as they heard people cry out.
'I can't believe you did that Hermione! I wanted to be the one to set Snape on fire!' Hermione hid the small blush of pride on her face as they moved through the crowds. As the two rushed back to their seats, they saw Harry had regained control of his broom and was zooming across the pitch, the Snitch in sight.
'Come on Harry!' Harry was seen zooming straight for the ground but clamped his hand over his mouth. Everyone watched as he pulled himself up and spat something out into his hand, something small and gold. Donnie and Hermione stood besides Ron as Harry held up the Snitch high.
Gryffindor had won the first match!
X-X-H-P-X-X
'It was Snape, I'm telling you!' Donnie, Rom and Hermione had managed to convince Harry in seconds that they knew it to be Snape, but Hagrid far from believed them. They were all sat in the warmth of Hagrid's hut, the fire roaring as their large friend poured them all a cup of strong tea, a plate of rock cakes on the scrubbed wooden table.
'Rubbish,' said Hagrid, who hadn't heard a word of what had gone on next to him in the stands as Hermione had noticed Snape's muttering. 'Why would Snape do somethin' like that?'
The four looked at each other, wondering what to tell him. Donnie decided on the truth.
'We found something out about him.' He told Hagrid as the other three held their breath. 'He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it was guarding.'
Hagrid dropped the teapot he was holding.
'Who told you about Fluffy?' he said.
'Fluffy?' Harry said in disbelief.
'Yeah – he's mine – bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year – I leant him to Dumbledore to guard the -'
'Yes?' Harry said, all of them eager for Hagrid to go on.
'Now, don't ask me anymore,' said Hagrid gruffly. 'That's top secret, that is.'
'But Snape's trying to steal it!' Ron exclaimed as he placed his unbroken rock cake on his plate.
'Rubbish,' Hagrid said again. 'Snape's a Hogwarts teacher; he'd do nothin' of the sort.'
'So why did he just try and kill Harry?' cried Hermione. The afternoon's events had certainly seemed to have changed her view on Snape, despite his teacher status. 'I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid; I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him and Donnie saw him!' Donnie nodded in agreement as he forcibly swallowed a hunk of Hagrid's baking.
'I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!' said Hagrid hotly, clearly under pressure. 'I don't know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try and an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all four of yeh – yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel -'
'Aha!' said Donnie and Harry at the same time. 'So there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?'
Hagrid looked furious with himself.
The four soon walked back up to the castle, a new motive on their minds. The Christmas holidays were just weeks away and they were going to do all they could to find out who Nicolas Flamel was.
Hey guys, sorry if this seemed rushed, so much work to do and I wanted to get this chapter done. The next one will be a lot better I promise cause it's Christmas and we can see a bit more of Donnie's background next time. So I hope you liked it, feel free to tell me if you did or didn't, and I'll see you all next time – which will be soon!
