Solving the Problem

"We have new information," Parvati and Harry whispered to Hermione, Dudley, Neville, and Padma. They were all in the library "studying."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"We just came back from Hagrid's," Parvati mentioned.

"We were talking about the quidditch game and he let it slip about the dog," Harry continued.

"What'd he say?" Dudley asked.

"He said that its name is Fluffy," Harry said with a roll of his eyes, "and that what the dog is guarding is between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel."

"Nicholas Flamel?" Padma asked astonished. "I've heard that name somewhere."

"So have I," Hermione agreed with a pensive look.

"I'll think about it and get back to you guys," Padma said.

"That's not all." Parvati said.

Harry paled and shuddered a bit.

"What?" Neville asked.

"Well, you see, Hagrid has a dragon egg."

"WHAT?" they shouted.

"Shh!" Madam Pince snapped.

"What the bloody hell do you mean he has a bloody dragon egg, Potter?" Dudley demanded.

"Just that," Parvati shot. "We need to do something."

"I'm going to talk about Ron about it," Harry said.

Only Hermione was able to hide her disgust for what Harry said.

Harry rolled his eyes again. Then he said, "Look, Ron is my friend. You're going to have to accept him."

"How about not?" Parvati asked as though the idea just came to her.

"His brother works with dragons in Romania, so I think I should talk to him," Harry said firmly.

"Do what you want man," Dudley shrugged as he stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got stuff to do."

"He means he has a girl to snog in a broom closet," Padma said after Dudley was gone.

"What?" Parvati cried. "Who on Earth wants to snog him?"

"Some third year who thinks he's cute," Padma said with a roll of her eyes. "I think it's repulsive."

"You're jealous," Neville grinned.

"Like hell I am," Padma snapped.

"Oh, yeah, jealous," Harry agreed.

"Shut up!" Padma cried before stomping off, leaving her friends laughing in her wake.

"Leave her alone. She's fine," Hermione gasped in between giggles.


"That stupid little-," Hermione started before Harry placed his hand over her mouth.

"What's wrong?" Dudley asked. It was another day and they were seated at the Gryffindor table. Harry's "friends" were joined in as well.

"Well," Hermione started. "Last night we went to go bring that stupid dragon to Charlie, right? Well, Draco Malfoy completely told on us! Now Harry, Ron, and I have detention with Malfoy. Tonight."

Padma tutted sympathetically.

"Wait," Parvati snapped. "Why weren't we in on this?"

"Because it's none of your business," Ron snapped.

"Look, Weasley-," Parvati started.

"Look Weasley, you may be friends with Harry and whatnot, but don't mess with Parvati, Padma, Neville, or me. You will regret it," Dudley said dangerously. Then he brightened. "If you'll excuse me, I have a piece of Ravenclaw meat waiting for me. One."

"One?" Ron asked. "What kind of way to say goodbye is that?."

"He means 'one'," Parvati explained with a roll of her eyes, lifting her index finger. "As in 'one world, one love'. Are you slow?"

Ron flushed red for a moment before becoming regular color.

"Parvati lay off," Harry snapped. "I'm heading toward Defense, is anyone coming with me?"

Ron and Seamus went with him. Dean was busy copying Lavender's homework, which she copied form Parvati who copied from Hermione.

"Could you guys just lay off each other?" Harry snapped as they went to Defense.

"She started it," Ron mumbled. "I don't know why you want to hang out with them anyway."

Harry bristled. "They're my friends. We've been friends since we were little, mate. If you can't get that-."

"I get it," Ron corrected Harry hastily. "It's just that, I'm surprised you haven't gone mad when them around all the time."

Harry cracked a small grin as he looked at Ron archly. "Me too."

They laughed and took their seats toward the back of the room. Quirrell, in Harry's opinion, deserved less than his full attention.

Hermione walked in later with Neville and Dean, Lavender and Parvati soon followed. She shot Harry a disapproving look but sighed and took her seat in the front of the room.

"Psst," Parvati whispered in an exaggerated whisper.

"What?" Harry hissed in the same tone.

"We gotta talk after class," she responded.

Harry grinned. "No problem!"


Later that evening, after Harry's detention, he hurriedly assembled his friends in the Gryffindor common room. He had just finished relaying what had happened to him that evening when Parvati blurted out, "What the hell do you mean that you saw Voldemort in the forest tonight?"

Hermione, Ron, Harry, Neville, and Parvati sat in the empty common room trying to soak everything in. Neville and Parvati did not go to detention but heard what happened through the three that did. Parvati held Harry tighter. He was shivering and stared into the fire without seeing.

"Not You-Know-Who per say, but, Harry why don't you explain?" Hermione said.

Parvati turned to Harry who stared into the fire.

"Snape is trying to steal whatever that dog is hiding for Voldemort."

"The Sorcerer's Stone," Hermione breathed. "I remember now! Nicholas Flamel is the only know maker of the Sorcerer's Stone. The drinker of the stone is known to become immortal!"

"Does that mean that if You-Know-Who gets the stone, he'll come back?"

"Do you think he'd try to kill you, mate?" Ron asked fearfully.

Harry sighed and hugged Parvati back. "I think if he had the chance, he'd have tried to kill me tonight."

Ron gulped. "And here I was worrying about my potions final!"

"So what are we to do?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know," Harry answered finally after a few moments of silence.

Do you HAVE to give up fanfiction for lent?
Uh, yes. Yes, I do.

Sorry it took so long to update. I seriously forgot about this story. I know, bad prue, bad!