Chapter 9: Help From Some Slytherins

"I don't care, guys. You could have been caught," Hermione chided as the four first years walked to dinner. It was the last day of free holiday time and the students who had left for home had come back. Classes were to continue the next day.

"But Hermione, you should have seen me, I was the Quidditch Captain, and Head Boy, and everything," Ron said with motioning his hands. Harry and Josh exchanged glances and rolled their eyes.

"Like I said, It doesn't matter. You lucky you weren't caught," Hermione replied. "And I can't believe you didn't even try to find any information on Nicholas Flamel."

Josh rolled his eyes. "Harry tried, once," he added. Hermione glared at him but he just ignored it. "But it didn't work."

"Yeah i asked Fred how to get into the Restricted section, and he told me that you have to have permission from a teacher," Ron explained as he stuffed his face with some chicken.

"Well fine, we should go to the library then and keep looking," Hermione said making the three boys sigh. Josh took a bite of shepherds pie when he heard someone hopping. He turned and saw that it was Neville hopping towards him.

"Neville?" Hermione, Harry, and Ron followed Josh's gaze. "Neville what happened?" Josh asked as Neville stopped in front of him.

"Leg Locker curse," Hermione said.

"Let me guess, Malfoy?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, i ran into him and he did this to me. Said he needed someone to practice on," Neville replied with a tired out voice. Josh and Harry shook their heads.

"Go to Professor McGonagall," Hermione urged Neville. "Report him!"

"I don't want anymore trouble," Neville mumbled.

"Neville mate, you need to stand up for yourself and not let people push you around," Ron explained as he ate. Neville bowed his head, blushed, and shrugged.

"Especially Malfoy," Josh added. Ron and Harry nodded.

"Okay, I'll be happy to do the counter curse," Seamus said a few seats away with wand in hand.

Neville shook his head violently. "No way," he said. "I don't want you to burn my legs off like you do everything else." he finished making Harry, Josh, and Ron snort in laughter.

Seamus gaped in anger. "Well i think I'm great at magic. And if you haven't noticed, my eyebrows have grown back," he said pointing at his eyebrows. He had burned them off in Transfiguration class one day by accident. Seamus then stomped out of the great hall seething. Josh, Harry, and Ron laughed as they saw a bald spot on the back of Seamus's head.

Josh shook his head and took at his wand and said the counter curse for Neville who fell to the ground exhausted. "There you go mate," Josh said with a smile. Neville smiled in thanks back and continued to lie on the ground.

Hermione stood up. "Come on, let's head to the library." she said.

"I can't," Harry spoke up as he started gathering his things. Ron nodded in agreement.

"And why not?" Hermione huffed.

"Well, you see, Wood gave us a late night practice, and i have to be there," Harry replied smoothly. Josh looked around. If Harry was lying, then he picked the right lie as his teammates were not there in the Great Hall at the moment. Hermione seemed to notice this as well.

"Yeah and i have to go and be...their..." Ron said trying to come up with an excuse. Harry was rolling his eyes at them.

"Their water boy?" Josh supplied. Ron nodded eagerly.

"Yeah that," he agreed then left with Harry out of the Great Hall to who knows where.

"And what about you? Have to feed your pet turtle?" Hermione said hotly to Josh who stared back blankly.

"Yes Hermione, I have to feed my imaginary turtle," Josh replied sarcastically with a straight face. Hermione looked away with a sad look in her eyes a nodded, then stood up. Josh rolled his eyes at her sad look, but he couldn't help to want to help her when she looked like that. "But." She turned back to Josh who sighed. "I already fed him so i guess a little research couldn't hurt." he finished with a smile. Hermione brightened and smiled back, and the two headed off to the library.

An hour later, Josh stood up to go fetch a book Hermione asked for that happened to be in the back of the library. He found the book and grabbed it, only to be grabbed back, but luckily he held a tight grip on it. He pulled the book back only for it to be pulled back the other direction. Josh then put both hands on the book's spine. "Alright you bloody book, come on!" he growled and pulled as hard as he could only to have flown back into the wall, book sprawled out in his face. "Ow," he said.

"I need that book!" someone said from next to him. Josh slowly pulled the book from his face and saw Daphne staring blankly at him. He smiled.

"Hi," he greeted.

"Hi," she replied with a raised eyebrow.

"So, what's up?" Josh asked as he stood up with book in hand.

"Not much, but i do need that book you have there in your hand," Daphne said pointing at the book with a raised eyebrow.

Josh smirked and started flipping through the book. "Really?" he said. "I dunno, i kinda need it right now. Trying to see if i can find information on Nicholas Flamel, do you know him?"

"Hmm, name sounds familiar," Daphne said with a thoughtful look. "Tell you what, If you give me that book there, i will help in anyway i can to see who this Flamel person is. Deal?"

Josh smirked and handed Daphne the book. "Deal." he replied. Daphne smiled in thanks.

"Josh, have you found that...book?" Hermione started from around the corner but stopped when she saw Daphne. "Greengrass." she greeted with a cold glare and icy tone.

"Granger," Daphne greeted with the same look and tone. Josh looked in-between the girls sheepishly.

"Um, sorry Hermione. It looks like Daphne here got the book before i did," Josh said sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. Hermione turned her glare towards Josh.

"Daphne?" she huffed. Josh clenched his teeth and tried not to widen his eyes at his mistake. "Since when are you on a first name basis with her."

"Yeah, Anderson," Daphne sneered. "I seem to not even recall you giving permission to use my first name." Josh kept from rolling his eyes.

"Er sorry, Greengrass," he said and walked away with Hermione in tow who was seething in anger. Seconds later, the duo made it back to their table and sat down. Josh opened a book just as he heard one slam closed. He jumped and looked over to see Hermione with an angry expression on her face. "Er, what's wrong?" Josh asked cautiously.

"Nothing!" she snapped back. Josh raised an eyebrow and went back to his book. He was about to read it when Hermione spoke up. "You know, that's the second time i found you with her. And i don't see how you know her first name since you can't seem to remember Parvati's name at all." Hermione said really hotly."I guess using her name was a slip of the tongue then, too?"

Josh sighed and rolled his eyes. "Hermione, first of all, I'm pretty good with names and faces. Parvati is just a hard name to remember for me sometimes because its different." Josh explained making Hermione roll her eyes. "and second, What's it to you anyways? Why are you so mad about me running into Da..er..Greengrass again and knowing her name?" he asked as he read his book.

Hermione looked down and fiddled with the cover of her book. A blush was showing upon her cheeks red as cherries and her anger fading. "I'm not," she murmured softly.

Josh sighed. "Whatever," he mumbled and kept reading his book and didn't notice Hermione peering at him shyly.

Half an hour later, Josh shut his book violently making Hermione look up and look at her friend curiously. This was the tenth book he looked through and he still hadn't found anything about Nicholas Flamel. It was so stupid. He had to be labeled somewhere since Dumbledore knew who he was. Josh looked at his watch. He had an hour before curfew so he decided to leave and go for a walk.

"I'm going for a walk," Josh sighed as he stood up and stretched.

"Would you like some company?" Hermione asked politely with hope in her eyes.

Josh yawned and shook his head. "No thanks," he replied not noticing Hermione deflate a little. "Can you take care of these?" Josh asked motioning towards the books he had collected. Hermione nodded and Josh left the library and continued into the corridors.

Josh was in the third floor corridor when he had run into some trouble. He was walking towards the door that held Fluffy when he heard a voice that made his blood boil.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Anderson, Potter's second sidekick."

Josh turned around and saw Theodore Nott flanked by Vincent Goyle and Millicent Bullstrode. "Nott," Josh greeted with a cold tone. "What are you doing here?"

"Well same as you i expect," Nott smirked. "Looking for some fun." he smiled evilly as well as Goyle and Bullstrode did.

Josh eyed the three and saw them pull out their wands from their robes. Maybe declining Hermione to join him was not a good idea. Josh did the same and pulled out his wand, but very discreetly. "Look, I'm warning you guys right now. Leave, or suffer the consequences." Josh said confidently.

Nott and his two friends laughed out loud. "You! Warning us?" Nott laughed out. "Look around Anderson, you're outnumbered."

Josh snorted. "Really, I think we're pretty even since Goyle and his girlfriend can't even produce a simple disarming charm at all," he said with a grin. Josh then noticed someone appear from behind the three Slytherins, and it happened to be his lab partner Blaise Zabini. Blaise noticed what was going on. He nodded at Josh and pulled out his wand and waited for someone to make the first move. Nott, Goyle, and Bullstrode sneered. Josh connected eyes with Blaise and gave a slight nod.

"Expelliarmus!" Josh shouted at Nott first since he was more of a threat. Nott's wand soared towards Josh as he ducked from Goyle's curse that sailed over his head and the wand clattered to the floor.

"Colloshoo!" Blaise yelled and the jinx soared and hit Bullstrode who wobbled on her feet that were now glued to the ground and fell to the ground, wand flying from her hand.

"Expelliarmus!" Josh then screamed on one knee at Goyle and caught his wand and thrown it to the ground.

"Furnunculas!" Blaise yelled and his jinx hit Goyle who then sprouted painful boils all over his body.

"Herbifora!" Josh yelled towards Nott who then had yellow flowers sprout out of his head. Josh nodded at his three victims, one touching his flowers finding it hurt when he pulled on them, one that was trying to pull her feet off the ground that seemed to be glued to it, and the last one who was groaning in pain from his boils. Josh smiled in triumph as Blaise walked over to him. "Hey."

Blaise nodded back and turned to look at their handiwork. "Pretty good, eh?" he observed with a smirk.

Josh nodded. "Yeah, i think so." he said with his own smirk, then patted Blaise on his shoulder. "I owe you one." Blaise smirked and nodded. "Well, see ya." And the two first years went their different ways.

The next morning, breakfast was met with a happy Josh, but three not so happy Gryffindors who happened to be his friends. He looked at all three of their somber expressions.

"Something i miss?" he asked as he grabbed some food.

"Yeah, Snape's refereeing the Quidditch game," Harry said a little depressingly in his Quidditch Robes.

"Yeah, so?" Josh said as he ate some of his eggs.

"Did you not forget how Snape tried to kill Harry in the last game?" Ron asked.

"Oh, yeah," Josh replied and then turned towards Harry. "Don't play or something." Ron and Hermione nodded their heads in agreement while Harry shook his head no.

"Yeah, say you're sick," Hermione added.

"Say you broke you leg," Josh said.

"Really break your leg," Ron said earning a glare from Hermione as Josh raised an eyebrow as if he was thinking about it then looked at Ron.

"Oh no, you are not breaking my leg on purpose," Harry said noticing his two best friends. "Plus, I have to play, they don't have any other reserve Seekers. If i back out now, Gryffindor can't play at all."

"Well, it seems as if you do have to play," Hermione said. Harry nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, I'll bet Dumbledore with be there this time," Josh said trying to comfort Harry who nodded.

"Talking about Dumbledore are we," Percy said as he sat down next to Ron looking pompous as ever.

Josh nodded. "Yep." he said.

Percy nodded. "Well, did you know that he defeated a Dark Wizard named Grindelwald and he came up with twelve uses of dragon blood," he said as if he were lecturing.

"Yeah," Harry replied. "I read that somewhere." And then it hit Josh.

"The Card!" he shouted making his friends jump. "Percy, you're a genius." He said then stood up.

"Well i do keep up my studying," Percy replied with a smile making Ron roll his eyes.

"Wait, what card?" Hermione asked Josh. Ron and Harry looked at him questioningly.

"The chocolate frog card!" Josh said excitedly. "The one Harry got back on the train." Josh's friends looked at him as if had grown a second head. Josh turned to Harry. "Do you still have that card?"

"Yeah it's in my trunk," Harry answered.

"Okay, then let's go get it and I'll show you!" Josh told his friends who nodded.

"Oi! Harry!" Harry turned to see Oliver calling him over.

"Don't worry," Josh said. "You guys go ahead and I'll bring the card over to the field." Harry and the others nodded, and Josh took off as fast as he could towards Gryffindor Tower.

Minutes later, he bursted into the dormitory and ran towards Harry's trunk and started rummaging through until he found a few Chocolate cards.

"Gryffindor, Darwin...Merlin.." Josh mumbled as he looked through the cards. "No, no, No, ah ha!" He shouted as he held up the Dumbledore card which read; 'Dumbledore is particular famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner Nicholas Flamel.' "I knew it!" Josh shouted as he jumped to his feet then looked towards the open window as he heard loud cheers coming from the Quidditch Pitch. He then ran out of his dorm and his common room and out the portrait.

"Anderson!" someone yelled as he ran out of the portrait. Josh stopped and twirled around to see Daphne Greengrass leaning against the wall.

"Daphne, what are you doin up here?" Josh asked his Slytherin friend.

"Well, i saw you running so i decided to follow you and tell you what you wanted to know," Daphne replied calmly as she pushed off the wall and walked over to Josh.

"Great, what did you find out?" Josh asked her.

"Well, before i tell you," Daphne started the looked Josh up and down. "I want to know why. Why do you want to know about this Nicholas Flamel?"

"What do you mean?" Josh asked suspiciously.

"Because, this guy is old and he knows his stuff," Daphne answered.

"Okay, what else?"

"You have to tell me what you and you're little friends have got into, first," Daphne told him.

"I dunno, i mean Harry thought we should keep this quiet, i mean, he's the one who was almost killed last Quidditch match," Josh told the Slytherin before thinking.

"So someone was trying to kill Harry that day, I knew someone had to jinx his broom," Daphne said. Josh face palmed himself. He just let something slip by accident. Oh he's going to hear it from Hermione, if she ever found it that is. Josh sighed then started walking cause he needed to get to the Quidditch Pitch where his friends were. Daphne followed next to him. "So did you find out who tried to kill Harry?" Daphne asked.

Josh sighed. He might as well tell her. "First, you have to promise me you will never repeat any of what i'm going to tell you okay?"

Daphne nodded eagerly. "I promise."

"Okay, it was Snape."

"Snape!" Daphne shouted.

"Shhh!" Josh shushed her.

"Snape?" Daphne said a little quieter, Josh nodded. "You mean to tell me that Professor Snape, our Potions teacher, Head of Slytherin House, tried to kill Harry Potter?"

Josh nodded again. "Yes it was and I saw him with my own two eyes."

"I can't...I don't.." Daphne stuttered.

"What? You mean to tell me that you don't believe that your Head of House hated Harry enough to kill him?" Josh said as he walked down the steps with Daphne following. Daphne shrugged.

"I dunno, i guess it's possible," Daphne murmured. "So what does that have to do with Nicholas Flamel?"

"We're not sure but let me tell you something," Josh told her then continued on telling Daphne about Fluffy and the trapdoor and that the three headed dog was guarding something that was between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel and how they thought Snape was trying to get through the trapdoor as he had a dog bite from Fluffy. When Josh finished his little tale, the duo were on the third floor.

"Wow," Daphne breathed out utterly shocked by this information. "But are you guys sure about Snape, i mean, he's a Hogwarts teacher. He would be protecting what's down there."

"Positive," Josh said.

"Well it's possible considering what's down there," Daphne said. Josh turned to her questioningly.

"You know what's down there don't you?" Josh asked her. Daphne nodded. "Well tell me. tell me what you found out."

"Well, I found it in a book I already had," Daphne started. "It was in Eldest Witches and Wizards. I read that Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker for the Sorcerer's Stone!"

"The what?" Josh said. Daphne rolled her eyes.

"Look, Flamel was an Alchemist who created this stone. This stone is pretty amazing. It will transform any metal into pure gold, and it also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal," Daphne explained.

"Immortal?" Josh replied.

"It means you'll never die," Daphne answered.

"I know what it means," Josh said making Daphne roll her eyes.

"Anyways, it also read that this Sorcerer's Stone is the only one ever created and that Albus Dumbledore was a great friend and partner of Nicolas Flamel who recently just celebrated his 665th Birthday," Daphne explained as the two reached the first floor.

"Wow, this is big," Josh murmured. "I need to tell the others about this." Josh was about to run off, till Daphne violently grabbed him.

"You're not going to tell them I gave you this information, are you?" Daphne asked.

"No, i'm not," Josh answered. "If i did, then Ron and Hermione would shun me, Ron for befriending a Slytherin and Hermione for asking for help from another smart girl who's not her and who's her nemesis." Daphne smiled at the last part. "Don't worry, I'll tell them i found the information in the Library." Daphne nodded and let go of Josh who took off running towards the Quidditch Pitch. Daphne turned and went to her dorms.

About Halfway there, Josh ran into some trouble. While he was running, he was stopped by four Slytherin first years, Malfoy, Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Malfoy said with his arms crossed. "If it isn't Potter's second sidekick, Anderson."

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Josh asked

"Well, Anderson," Malfoy started. "Number one, I would like to get Revenge for what you did to my fellow Slytherins." Josh gulped. He was definitely outnumbered this time, and he did not have anyone else by his side. "And number two, I want you to stay away from Daphne Greengrass!"

"What? No way?" Josh replied. "What's it to you anyways?"

"Well, if you have to know," Malfoy started. "She is to be my betrothed."

"Your what?" Josh asked. Did he just make up a word?

"Oh you wouldn't know what that means since you not a pureblood," Malfoy replied with a smirk. "It means she'll be mine in the coming years. She will be my wife."

"Ha!" Josh laughed. "Yeah, that'll be the day." Malfoy and his cronies sneered. "Look here Malloy, Daphne would never ever let that happen. Besides, you guys wouldn't be able to take me."

"Wanna bet?" Malfoy said as he pulled out his wand. Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle pulled out their wands as well. Josh pulled out it wand and still had the Dumbledore card in his left hand.

"Back off, M..Ma...Malfoy."

Josh and the Slytherins turned their heads to the right to see Neville standing there looking shy and very very nervous.

"Well, well, well if it isn't the Squib," Malfoy said then smirked at Neville. "And what if I don't back off?"

"Then I...I'll j..jinx you," Neville stuttered making the Slytherins laugh historically. Josh looked at the Slytherins and took this as his chance.

"Furnunculus!" Josh shouted at Goyle.

"Arg!" Goyle shouted as he fell to the ground covered in boils once again surprising the other Slytherins. Malfoy, Nott, and Crabbe turned towards Josh who smiled as he raised his wand again. Neville lifted his wand towards Malfoy, but nothing came out.

"JaleaCruro!" Josh shouted at Crabbe causing his legs to become useless and fall to the ground unable to get back up.

"Langlock!" Nott shouted at Josh who ducked at the spell.

"Tarantellegra!" Josh shouted at Nott who received the jinx which cause his legs to dance uncontrollably, then Josh ran to the left.

"TraspiƩ!" Malfoy shouted at Josh which hit and causing him to trip and fall to the ground. Malfoy then raised his wand at Josh who covered his head in his arms.

"Clurclclaustium!"

Malfoy's legs then locked together and fell over. Josh flipped over to see Neville had his wand pointed at Malfoy whose face was in the ground.

"Well done, Neville," Josh said from the ground. Neville lowered his wand and smiled at Josh.

"Tha-"

"Mr. Longbottom!" Josh and Neville froze, turned their heads, and saw their head of house McGonagall standing and looking very stern and angry. "Explain yourself!" she ordered Neville who started stuttering.

"Actually Professor," Josh started as he stood up from the ground. McGonagall turned towards Josh. "The guys here," Josh said motioning at the Slytherins. "Tried to attack me, so I had to defend myself and Neville here only used one spell on Malfoy and I did the rest," he explained to McGonagall's stern expression. "He was only trying to keep me from being cursed badly."

"Very well," McGonagall said as she waved her wand at Malfoy, Nott, and Crabbe who were cured of their jinxes. "Gentlemen, you will accompany me and take Mr. Goyle to the Hospital Wing and we will discuss Detention." The Slytherins groaned as they picked up Goyle, who was groaning in pain, from the ground. McGonagall turned to her two Gryffindors. "I will discuss Detention with you later," She told them. Josh and Neville nodded, and McGonagall and the Slytherins left.

"You know Neville, I think that that was worth getting a detention," Josh said to his fellow Gryffindor. "What do you think?"

"I feel the same," Neville agreed with a grin that then faded. "Too bad no one was here to see it. Now they won't believe me."

Josh smiled. "Don't worry Neville. They won't believe you, but they will believe us." Neville smiled at Josh.

"What's going on?"

Neville and Josh turned to see Ron and Hermione walking over to them. Other students were passing them by signaling the end of the Quidditch Match.

"Oh nothing, just a little brawl," Josh said as he glanced at Neville who smiled triumphantly.

"Brawl!" Hermione nearly screamed incredulously making Ron jump.

"So who won?" Josh asked changing the subject.

Half an hour later, Josh, Hermione, and Ron were wondering the corridors looking for Harry as he seemed to be missing.

"Where is Harry?" Ron said exasperatedly.

"He's here somewhere," Josh replied.

"Or, He's right behind you."

The three Gryffindors turned around to see Harry walking up to them.

"You guys won't believe what I just heard." Harry said as he joined the group.

"Cool, me too as well," Josh said.

"Let's find an empty room," Harry suggested. They found one and Josh told him all he learned from Daphne but didn't tell them he got the information from her.

"That's crazy," Ron said.

"Yeah, you see," Hermione said in thinking mode. "The dog must be hiding the Stone! I bet Flamel asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him because they're friends, and he knew someone was after it so he moved it out of Gringotts."

"A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying," Harry said. "No wonder Snape's after it. Anyone would want it." Josh and Ron nodded in agreement.

"So Harry, what did you find out?" Josh asked. Harry looked at his friends and told them what he heard between Snape and Quirrell.

"So we were right!" Ron exclaimed.

"And he's trying to force Quirrell to get him past Fluffy and Quirrell's hocus pocus, which means..." Josh said.

"That it's possible there's more spells and enchantments guarding the stone!" Hermione finished for Josh.

"So you mean, the stone is safe if Quirrell stands up to Snape?" Ron said. Harry nodded and shared a glance with Hermione and Josh.

"If he can stand up to Snape," Harry replied.