I loved the gift Hermione got me. It was a book of advanced Potions. She knew that was my favourite class. I'm very good at it. Snape said I'm the best in the class, he also said I should stop being around Harry and the others. I got back, with Hermione, before the start of term. Harry had told us about a mirror that lets you see things you most desire. Hermione was focusing more on Harry getting caught, which he didn't. He also told us that he didn't find anything on Nicholas Flamel in the Restricted Section. But Harry is convinced that he read the name somewhere. Once term had started, we were back to skimming through books for ten minutes during our breaks. Harry had less time since Quidditch practice had started again. The Gryffindors were going against the Hufflepuffs. Since that was happening, Hermione Ron and I were in the Gryffindor common room. I was reading Too Far, Hermione and Ron were playing chess. Chess was the only thing Hermione ever lost at. Before coming here, I saw Malfoy near the library, I never seen him around there before. He was up to something but I didn't want to deal with him, he noticed me but he didn't say anything. I hear the door open. I turn my head and see Harry, he had another strange look on his face. What happened now? I put my book down. He went over to us.
"Don't talk to me for a moment, I need to concen-" Harry sat next to him.
"What's the matter with you? You look terrible." Ron said. Speaking quietly so that no one else would hear, Harry told us about Snape's sudden, sinister desire to be a Quidditch referee. I shake my head no.
"Don't play." Hermione said at once.
"Say you're ill." Ron said.
"Pretend to break your leg." I said.
"Really break your leg." Ron said. I nodded in agreement.
"I can't, there isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all." Harry said. I sigh in frustration. At that moment Neville toppled into the common room. I notice his legs were stuck together what I recognized to be the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to bunny hop all the way up to the Gryffindor tower. Everyone burst into laughter except for Hermione, she leapt up and performed the countercurse. Neville's legs sprang apart and he got to his feet, trembling.
"What happened?" Hermione asked leading Neville over to sit with Harry, Ron and I.
"Malfoy," Neville said shakily. I frown.
"I met him outside the library. He said he's been looking for someone to practice that on." Neville said. I shake my head. How come he didn't try it on me?
"Go to Professor McGonagall! Report him!" Hermione said.
"I don't want more trouble." Neville mumbled.
"It's going to happen again. Honestly, Neville, you've got to stand up to him!" I said.
"Nia's right, Malfoy's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier." Ron said.
"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done that." Neville choked out. Harry gave Neville his Chocolate Frog.
"You're worth twelve of Malfoy. The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin. No offense, Nia." Harry said. I smile.
"None taken at all actually." I said.
"Thanks, Harry...I think I'll go to bed... Nia, aren't you still collecting the cards?" Neville asked. I nodded. He gives me that card and Neville leaves. I look at the card.
"Aw, Dumbledore again," I said.
"I remember on the train-" I gasped. I quickly hand the card to Harry.
"Read the back!" I said. Harry's face light up.
"This is where I read his name, on the train coming here- listen to this: 'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel!" Harry said. I grinned. Hermione jumped to her feet. She hadn't looked so excited since they got their marks for their very first piece of homework. I wasn't there for that but Ron and Harry told me about it so this is really the first time I've ever seen her this excited.
"Stay there!" Hermione said, she sprinted up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. Ron, Harry and I barely had time to exchange mystified looks before she was dashing back, with enormous old book in her arms.
"I never thought to look in here!" She whispered excitedly.
"I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading."
"Light?" Ron said. Hermione told him to be quiet until she looked something up, and started flipping frantically through the pages, muttering to herself.
"I knew it! I knew it!" She cheered.
"Are we allowed to speak yet?" Ron asked grumpily. Hermione ignored him.
"Nicholas Flamel," She whispered dramatically.
"Is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!" She exclaimed. I looked at her confused.
"The what?" Harry, Ron and I asked.
"Oh, honestly, don't you three read? Look-" She moves the book towards us.
"Read that, there." She said pointing at a parapagh. It read:

The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with mak-
ing the Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with
astonishing powers. The stone will transform any me-
tal into pure gold. It produces the Elixir of Life, which
will make the drinker immortal.
There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's
Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently
in existence belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel, the noted
alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated
his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys
a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred
and fifty-eight).

"See?" Hermione said after we finished reading.
"The dog must be guarding Flamel's Sorcerer's Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!" Hermione said.
"A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying! No wonder Snape's after it! Anyone would want it." Harry said.
"And no wonder we couldn't find Flamel in the Study of Recent Developments in the Wizardry. He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?" Ron said.
"We've got to tell someone about this. Snape could be planning to steal the Sorcerer's Stone, right now!" I said.
"What are you three talking about?" Percy asked angrily.
"Nothing." Ron said.
"Well, if it's nothing you three go to bed and Nia go back to your common room." Percy said. I groan and get up.
The next day was the Quidditch match, Harry told us he was going to play. He doesn't want the Slytherin to think he's scared to play because of Snape. Ron, Hermione and I found a place in the stands next to Neville, he didn't understand why we all brought our wands. We've been secretly practicing the Leg-Locker Curse. Thanks to Malfoy, we were ready to use it on Snape if he showed any sign of wanting to hurt Harry.
"Now, don't forget, it's Locomotor Mortis." Hermione muttered. I slipped my wand up my sleeve.
"I know, don't nag." Ron said. After waiting for the Quidditch players to come out but as they walked onto the field, I noticed Snape looked very mad. Ron seem to noticed as well.
"I've never seen Snape so mad. Look- They're off. Ow." Ron said holding the back of his head. Someone had poked Ron in the back of the head. It was Malfoy.
"Oh, sorry, Weasley, didn't see you there." Malfoy said grinning broadly at Crabbe and Goyle. I glared at him.
"Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on his broom this time? Anyone want to bet? What about you, Backenter?" Malfoy asked. So he's calling me by my last name now. I glare at him and shake my head. I turn around watching as Snape give Hufflepuff a penalty because George had hit a Bludger at Snape.
"You know how I think they chose people for the Gryffindor Team?" Malfoy said minutes later, as Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty for no reason at all.
"It's people they feel sorry for. See, there's Potter, who's got no parents, then there's the Weasleys, who've got no money- you should be on the team, Longbottom, you've got no brains." Malfoy said. I turn around to tell Malfoy to shut up but I see Neville's face bright red facing Malfoy.
"I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy." Neville said. I smile that Neville actually stood up for himself. Malfoy and his minions laughed. I patted Neville on the back.
"You tell them, Neville." I said. I turned back around and watched Harry. He was in the sky, looking for the Snitch.
"Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poor than Weasley, and that's saying something." Malfoy said. I rolled my eyes. It seemed to angered Ron because he turns around. He's really getting on my nerves.
"I'm warning you, Malfoy- one more word-" Harry suddenly dove down.
"Ron!" Hermione said.
"Harry!" I said. Hermione and I both stood up. Harry was heading towards the ground like a bullet.
"You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground!" Malfoy said. I slam on the bench and turn around. I grab Malfoy's collar and punch him in the face. He falls to the ground and I start punching him again and again.
"Stop insulting my friends!" I shouted. I didn't notice that Ron and Neville began fighting Crabbe and Goyle. People started cheering loudly. I felt someone pull me off of Malfoy. It was Hermione.
"What are you doing?!" Hermione shouted over the cheers. Malfoy got up. He had tears in his eyes. And a black eye.
"You wait till my father hears of this." Malfoy shouted, backing away.
"Good for you!" I shouted back, while Hermione was still holding me back. Malfoy ran off with his minions following close behind.
"Gryffindor won." Hermione said. I look at her.
"Really?" I said surprised. She lets go of me and I go over and see Harry being lift up. I cheered and jumped as Harry looked over at us. I looked at Ron giving him a high five. I noticed he had a bloody nose.
We all waited for Harry in the corridors. Neville had gotten knocked out so we took him to the infirmary. The Gryffindors were having a party in the common room. We all see Harry coming down the corridor.
"Harry, where have you been?" Hermione asked. He ran over to us.
"We on! You won! We won!" Ron shouted, thumping Harry on the back.
"You should have seen it! Nia gave Malfoy a black eye," Harry gave me a look. I smiled.
"Neville and I fought Crabbe and Goyle! Neville fought! He's still out cold but Madam Pomfrey says he'll be all right- talk about showing Slytherin! Everyone's waiting for you in the common room, we're having a party, Fred and George stole some cakes and stuff from the kitchens." Ron said.
"Nevermind that now," Harry breathlessly.
"Let's find an empty room, you wait 'til you hear this..." Harry said. We look for an empty room and made sure Peeves wasn't inside, Harry shuts the door. Harry told us what he'd seen and heard.
"So we were right, it is the Sorcerer's Stone, and Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help him get it. He asked if he knew how to get past Fluffy- and he said something about Quirrell's 'hocus-pocus'- I reckon there are other things guarding the stone apart from Fluffy, loads of enchantments, probably, and Quirrell would have done some anti-Dark Arts spell that Snape needs to break through-" Ron said.
"So you mean the Stone's only safe as long as Quirrell stands up to Snape?" Hermione asked.
"It'll be gone by next Tuesday." I said.
After the party, I went back to the Slytherin common room to go to sleep. I was tired from eating too much and having fun. I walked inside the common room and stopped when I saw Malfoy sitting on the couch alone staring at something in his hand. Just ignore him, Nia. I nodded to myself and walked.
"Nia." I hear Malfoy call out for me. I stop and roll my eyes. I sigh and turn around. He standing up looking at me.
"What?" I asked sounding annoyed.
"I forgive you." Malfoy said. I look at him confused.
"I don't remember asking for your forgiveness." I said. He frowns.
"There you are!" I hear someone yell from behind. I look behind me and see Parkinson coming down the stairs and over to Malfoy and I.
"How dare you hurt Draco. I mean look at what you did." She said sounding angry.
"Well, he deserved it." I said. Parkinson went up to me.
"Apologize." She said getting in my face.
"Or what, Pug-face?" I asked getting in her face. Suddenly she swung her hand at me but I didn't have time to dodge it so she punch me in the chin. I hold my chin in shock. She actually punched me, I didn't think she had the guts. I look at Malfoy and he stands there shock too. I snapped. I pushed Parkinson to the ground and started punching her like I did to Malfoy. She started to scream but I kept punching her. Someone lifted me off of her.
"Let go of me." I said kicking my feet. Parkinson gets up and starts crying.
"What is going on here?" I hear Snape ask. The person let's go of me but she was still holding my wrist. It was Gemma Farley, the girl's prefect.
"This one was fighting with Parkinson." She said.
"That's because she punched me first!" I shouted.
"That's not true she just outright attacked me for no reason." Parkinson said. I glare at her.
"No, I didn't!" I shouted, pulling myself towards Parkinson but Farley kept me a hold.
"Well, which was it? Who punched who first?" Snape asked.
"She punched me first right, Draco." She said. I looked at Malfoy and he looked at me. I shake my head and look at the ground knowing Malfoy was going to side with Parkinson.
"No, Parkinson punched her first." I hear Malfoy say. I look up at him with a shocked look.
"Well, then, Parkinson, detention tomorrow. You too, Backenter." Snape said. I didn't really care, I was still shocked that Malfoy actually defended me. Farley let's go of me.
"All of you back to your dorms." Snape said walking off. Parkinson and Farley go upstairs while Malfoy and I stood there.
"Why?" I asked looking at him very confused. He shrugged.
"I don't know." He said. He comes beside me.
"I just felt like it." Malfoy said. I felt him put something in my hand.
"Happy Christmas." Malfoy said leaving. I stood there befuddled. Christmas was weeks ago. I look at the thing the Malfoy put in my hand. It was a fox brooch.
Why did he give me this?

Happy Christmas everyone. Hope you're enjoying it! ~ Poppy