Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters they all belong to Rowling. I would also like give my thanks to all who reviewed.

I would also like to give my thanks to imiko-hiei, my new beta reader

The wand makers' apprentice

Chapter 9

It had been two days since the Saturday, and Harry had just been freed to leave the hospital wing but only with the list of the twenty potions Madam Pomfrey had given him to take. Harry was grateful to finally be able to see his friends again, apparently no one but Morris was allowed to see him, on Dumbledore's orders, but except for the first day he hadn't seen Morris at all.

Harry walked into the hall that afternoon feeling content, Madam Hooch had postponed the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match until next Saturday, so he'd still be able to play, but it meant that Oliver Wood was pushing the team harder than ever before to win.

It was now the afternoon, Harry had to go through class without his wand, because he couldn't find it, or Morris. Harry sat next to Hermione and Ron, who were both very glad to finally speak to him. Unable to during lessons, he told them what happened with his magic, and what Morris had done before leaving.

"Oh, that's horrible," Hermione gasped, then frowned "he must have had a reason. Russell wouldn't do something like that without it being dreadfully important. We'll have to ask him when he gets back" she said.

Harry looked at her "Gets back from where?"

Ron and Hermione traded looks. Ron pulled out a small roll of parchment from one of his pockets and handed it to Harry. Harry looked it over. It had all of their names, and the seal that looked like it had been broken, probably by Ron. Harry unrolled it and began to read it to himself.

Dear friends,

I will be away on business until Sunday. If I'm not back by then, don't be worried, I am dealing with a rather usual situation, will miss you loads.

Russell

P.s tell Harry I'm sorry. He'll know what about, and probably tell you before you give him this letter. P.s.s I have Harry's wand with me, so he hasn't lost it, and don't worry, Dumbledore has told me that it wont be needed for this week.

I have a hunch ;-)

"When did Russell get so chummy with Dumbledore anyway, and what's that thing about mirrors all about" Harry huffed, handing the letter back to Ron who shrugged putting the letter in his pocket.

"Mad, the both of 'um. There's probably some sort of meeting place where all the crazy brilliant wizards go. They're all made from the same stone anyways" Ron joked.

Hermione suddenly clicked her fingers "Ron you're a genius" she said standing up, making Ron blush before she pulling the boys reluctantly to their feet, and dragging them out the great hall.

"I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier" Hermione said as they entered the library, which only got her a loud 'shhh' from Madam Prince. Hermione said sorry and began to pull the boys almost to back of the library, and from one of the book cases pulled out six large books and a smaller one.

"What are you doing Hermione?" Harry asked as he looked at the front of the top book, which had date that spanned for 654 years and had the large title written in silver "Meeting of Sorcerers"

"Sorcerers" Hermione began, as she open the first book, and handing two others to the boys. "Every seven years all the Sorcerers meet up and have a conference at Hogwarts when the students are having their summer break. It's the only place big enough to hold them all at the same time. Anyway, these" she ran her over the book she was holding "are the registers"

Ron and Harry looked at her blankly "So…?"

"So if Russell's got a chair as seventh Sorcerer, and Dumbledore is a Sorcerer, I'll bet you anything that so is this 'Nicolas Flamel'" she said mater-of-factly, opening the first book, and jumping straight in, slowly accompanied by the boys.

After about a half an hour, Ron found something, "Ollivan Ollivander, seventh Sorcerer and Wand Maker apprentice, seat chair 403, Russell Morris, trainee seventh Sorcerer and Wand Maker apprentice, seat chair 404" he read out "so Russell was four when he went to that meeting?" Ron said flipping over to the cover checking the date.

"He must have been" said Hermione looking over the book Ron was holding, Harry read over the small passage.

"That can't be right" Harry finally said "when I meet Russell he said he was Ollivander new apprentice" Hermione nodded in understanding of Harry's confusion.

"Harry, wizards that take apprenticeships are always new apprentices to the craft that the person has apprenticed themselves to." she explained "Its why Morris has had so many adventures all over the world for different wand makers, because he works for the craft itself not for a person" Hermione could still see Harry's confusion. "Its an old wizards tradition, its like a Wand Maker can make thousands wands, but only calls the first one he or she sold the first one he or she made, or throwing spilt salt over your left shoulder." Harry nodded, but now Ron looked confused.

"Why would you throw salt over your shoulder?" as Hermione tried to explain, Harry flipped the date book to the pages and read the first name.

"I've found him" Harry exclaimed in surprise, Hermione and Ron stopped talking and moved over to him, Harry pointed to a date "Nicolas Flamel, Grand Sorcerer, and alchemist apprentice seat 1"

"No I saw that, it can't be him" Ron said flipping through pages, at the start of every meeting in 620 years it had Nicolas Flamel written as Grand chairman, or in the first 20 seats, the last one he was sat next to Dumbledore. "He'd have to be…er…really old."

Hermione looked through the book, then got up and disappeared somewhere into the labyrinth of books, she came back with an amazingly large book that she could hardly hold.

She dropped the book and it landed on the table with a large thump. The title read "Alchemists and Their Alchemy", Harry and Ron watched in amazement as she read through the pages until she stopped. "Oh my" she said "no wonder Dumbledore's got that dog guarding it, look" she said pointing to a small passage in the book.

Philosopher's Stone

The Philosopher's Stone, sometimes known as Sorcerer's Stone, is known as one of most fabulous magic items of all time, many alchemists and wizards have searched for it, but there is only one such stone known to exist. One created by Nicolas Flamel (665 this year) and his partners Cadmus and Ignotus (last names unknown) but it is thought that Cadmus was very good with stone alchemy, and that the two of them had been using a form of the stone to live to great ages but didn't let them keep their youth. Before they choice to die, the stone when missing with their other brother, who died shortly after. The Philosopher's Stone can turn anything into gold and grant immortality.

"See?" Hermione said excitedly "The dog must be guarding the stone. I bet he asked Dumbledore to hide it for him, because they know each other from the Sorcerer meetings. They probably even worked together at some point"

"No wonder Snape wants it, anyone would, could you imagine" Harry said wondrously.

Ron shook his head. "Anything into gold." he smiled "All the rubbish in my house could be worth something" he laughed, punching Harry in the shoulder.

"Well, there is that," Harry said broadly "but just think, immortality, never facing death. Think of all the power you could have." Harry laughed, but his voice was filled with malice. "You'd be a god." Hermione and Ron were staring at Harry as if he'd just grown a new head.

"Harry!" Hermione said in horror. "You're bleeding!" She pulled out her wand and with a whispered "speculum"made a silver circular mirror. Harry looked into his reflection. Blood was dripping from his eyes, nose and scar.

Harry thought it weird, but there was no pain in fact, he felt rather giddy he smiled at himself goofily "you're right" he said happily and fell, rigidly and soundlessly, backwards off his chair.

8

Harry had a strange dream, he was laying on top of a long operation table, Morris was standing over him with a tall African man and an old man with eerie, moon-like eyes. They were dressed as doctors. Morris pulled out a pair of silver and gold tweezer-like instruments from his doctor's bag, that he kept in the common room, and slowly began to open Harry up.

"Don't worry, I'm going to fix you" Morris whispered quietly.

The African man then put his hand in Harry chest and closed his fist around Harry's heart.

8

Harry awoke with a shock, he was being floated hastily by McGonagall down the hospital wing corridor with Ron and Hermione chasing after them, unsure if he should say anything.

"Professor?" Harry asked quietly, McGonagall stopped and spun round. Harry was surprised to almost see a tear run down her face, then to Harry's farther surprise she grabbed him. Pulling him up and into a hug, she was quickly followed by a pale white Ron and deeply sobbing Hermione.

"What's going on?" Harry said blushing to his ears because of all the attention. McGonagall pulled away and composed herself, and gave Harry a strange look.

"You died, I checked myself, it was as if your heart had just stopped" she stared at him sternly "this better have not been a prank, Mr Potter."

Harry shook his head, and walked numbly into the hospital wing with Ron and Hermione as McGonagall watched from the doorway before rushing off to Dumbledore's office.

Madam Pomfrey made a loud puffing noise as she caught sight of the three walking into her wing. "You might as well sleep here instead of your dorm Mr Potter. You spend more time here anyway." she said as she scanned him with her wand, she then washed the blood from Harry face, not even asking how it got there, as she set up his bed.