Disclaimer: See chapter one.
Author's note: I am so sorry for keeping you guys waiting. This summer has been extremely busy and a lot of the workers are going on vacation leaving me to work a lot of extra hours. Please forgive and thank you for your reviews and patience. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 9 Finding Flamel
The next afternoon Rhian and Harry were sitting in their father's quarters concentrating on an intense game of chess.
"I never thought a pair of eleven year old Gryffindors could look so intense." An amused voice said from behind them.
Harry smirked causing Rhian to turn to find their father staring down at them with an eyebrow raised.
Severus joined them glancing at the chessboard. "Clearly the both of you inherited your mother's chess playing skills."
Rhian rolled her eyes. "Chess isn't our forte." She said as Harry took her queen.
"I'm bored." Harry whined. "Let's go outside and play some quidditch." He turned to Severus. "You want to join us…Dad?" He asked a hint of hopefulness in his voice.
Severus sighed dramatically. "If I must." In reality he was quite pleased by the invitation.
Rhian and Harry quickly ran to their rooms to change and grab their gear. On the walk out Rhian turned to her father. "You could play ref Dad."
"Very well." He replied. "And oh by the way Harry do not be surprised when Wood announces that I will be refereeing your next game."
Harry paused in his step. "What, why?" He asked in alarm.
Severus raised a brow at his son. "Don't be daft boy. "I don't believe you forgot what happened at your last match?" He drawled.
"Oh" Harry whispered as it dawned on him. "To make sure nothing happens." He said.
"Precisely"
As the trio came out on the pitch the twins mounted their brooms and soared into the air. Neither of them saw the look of worry pass over their father's face or the soft whisper. "Don't do anything rash."
Rhian laughed as she grabbed the Quaffle out of her brother's hands. "I got it Harry…" she said teasingly waving it around the air as she rose higher into the sky.
"Rhiannon Lily Snape do not go any higher." The voice of her father shouted from below.
Rhian glanced down to find her father shoot up in the air on one of the school brooms. Lowering slightly Rhian met her father half way.
"What's wrong Dad?" she asked curiously.
Severus gave her a stern look. "You are going much too high for my liking Rhiannon."
Rhian gave him a shocked confused look. "But Dad…" she began to protest.
"No buts child, no higher than this." He ordered.
A pout appeared on Rhian's face as she brought out the puppy dog eyes in hopes to get her father to go her way. But Severus stayed firm.
Rhian sighed. "You're no fun." She grumbled.
Suddenly a large black blur flew past her grabbing the red ball from her hands. Rhian grabbed the broom handle in surprise as she saw her father fly towards the hoops at the other end of the pitch.
"Rhian" Harry called grabbing her attention. "Come on lets get him."
Smirking Rhian sped off towards Harry. For the rest of the afternoon Rhian and Harry played two against one with their father, never realizing until now that Severus could actually loosen up once and awhile. In the end Rhian and Harry one with a whopping 100-40.
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When Hermione came back with the other students a few days before term began she was torn between horror that the three had been out of bed after curfew and disappointment that they had not found anything about Flamel.
As the term began quidditch started up as well. Wood worked his poor teammates to exhaustion in his unwavering goal to get the Quidditch Cup.
Rhian would sometimes watch the Gryffindor team practice in the rain that had now replaced the endless snow. On odd occasions Rhian would notice her father stair out of a tower window silently watching the practices.
One rainy afternoon Rhian, Hermione and Ron were sitting in the common room working on a Transfiguration assignment when the team came storming in through the portrait hole.
"I can't believe this!" Fred Weasley shouted or was it George.
Rhian looked up. "What?"
The Weasley twins didn't answer as the team continued to discuss what was going on. Harry came in a few minutes later and smirked at his arguing teammates.
"Harry mate what's going on?" Ron asked curiously watching his brothers' behaviors.
Harry laughed as he dropped onto the couch between Rhian and Hermione. "Wood told us about Dad being the ref for the Hufflepuff game."
"Let me guess they absolutely flipped out about the news." Rhian said with a smirk.
"You know it." Harry replied. "This is going to be fun."
At that moment Neville toppled into the common room. How he had managed to climb through the portrait hole was anyone's guess, because his legs had been stuck together with what they recognized at once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to bunny hop all the way to Gryffindor tower.
Everyone fell over laughing except Hermione, who leapt up to perform the counter curse. Neville's legs sprang apart and he got to his feet, trembling.
"Who did this to you Neville?" Rhian asked as she helped Hermione lead the shaking boy over to the couch.
"Malfoy," Neville said shakily. "I met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practice on."
"Go tell Professor McGonagall!" Hermione urged. "Report him!"
Neville only shook his head. "I don't want anymore trouble." He mumbled.
"You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" Ron said incredulously. "He's used to walking all over people, but there's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier."
Rhian smacked Ron upside the head.
"There's no need to tell me that." Neville sniffled. "I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done that."
Beside her Harry pulled his last Chocolate Frog from him pocket and handed it to Neville.
"You're worth twelve of Malfoy," Harry said. "The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin."
Neville's lips twitched in a weak smile as he unwrapped the frog. "Thanks Harry…I think I'll go to bed…D'you want the card, you collect them, don't you?"
As Neville walked away Harry looked down at the card. "Dumbledore again," he said, "He was the first one I ever…"
He gasped causing Rhian, Hermione and Ron to jump. "What is it Harry?" Rhian asked curiously.
"I've found him!" He whispered. "I've found Flamel! I told you I'd read his name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here…listen to this: 'Dumbledore is particularly 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, Nicholas Flamel'!"
Hermione jumped to her feet. She hadn't looked so excited since they'd gotten back the marks for their very first piece of homework.
"Stay there!" she said, and she sprinted up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. Rhian, Harry and Ron barely had time to exchange mystified looks before she was dashing back, an enormous old book in her arms.
"I never thought to look in here!" She whispered excitedly. "I got it out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading."
"Light?" Ron questioned looking at the book, but Hermione told him to be quiet until she'd looked something up, and started flicking frantically through the pages, muttering to herself.
At last she found what she was looking for. "I knew it! I knew it!"
"Are we allowed to speak yet?" Ron asked grumpily. Hermione ignored him.
"Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!" she whispered.
"The what?" Harry and Ron asked.
"Oh honestly," Rhian muttered. "Don't you two ever read?"
Hermione pushed the book towards the boys who read silently a look of understanding passed over their faces.
"See?" Hermione said. "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."
"A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!" Harry said. "No wonder Quirrell's after it! Anyone would want it."
Rhian nodded in agreement. "We'll have to keep a closer eye on him."
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When the day of the Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor match finally came Rhian, Hermione and Ron bid Harry goodbye and good luck outside of the locker room before going up in the stands to find a good seat next to Neville. The three had brought their wands with them just in case.
Glancing around the stands Rhian gasped. Nudging Hermione she pointed to the teacher's stands. "Dumbledore is here!" she said. "Harry should be safe from 'Turban man' if he's here."
Hermione nodded smiling a bit in relief.
As the two teams took off into the air Rhian watched her Dad rise up as well. Suddenly someone jabbed her in the back and when she turned around she found Malfoy and his goons.
"Oh sorry Snape didn't see you there." He drawled then he turned to Ron. "I wonder how long Potty will stay on his broom this time."
The only hint that Ron had heard was the red tinge to his face and ears. Rhian knew he was trying to hold it in.
Rhian wished Malfoy would just go away but he didn't move instead he continued. "You know how they choose people for the Gryffindor team?" Malfoy asked as Hufflepuff was awarded a penalty for no reason. "Its 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."
Neville went bright red but turned to face Malfoy. "I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy." He stammered.
Rhian smiled patting Neville on the shoulder.
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle howled with laughter but Ron, still not daring to take his eyes off the game said. "You tell him Neville."
"Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasel, and that's saying something."
"Malfoy shut up." Rhian hissed.
Malfoy turned to her. "And you're a disgrace to your family being a Gryffindor." He spat.
"Look!" Hermione shouted pointing to Harry.
Harry had gone into a spectacular dive, which drew gasps and cheers from the crowd. Rhian could see her father go slightly pale as he watched his son dive. Hermione stood up, her crossed fingers in her mouth, as Harry streaked toward the ground like a bullet.
"You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted money on the ground!" Malfoy sneered.
Rhian knew that was it. Ron snapped. Before Malfoy knew what was happening, Ron was on top of him, wrestling him to the ground. Rhian and Neville hesitated, then clambered over the back of their seats to help.
"Come on Harry!" Hermione screamed jumping up onto the seat to watch as Harry sped toward his father…she didn't even notice Malfoy and Ron rolling around under her sea, or the scuffles and yelps coming the whirl of fists that were Neville, Rhian, Crabbe and Goyle.
Up in the air, Severus turned on his broomstick just in time to see something scarlet shoot past him, missing him by inches…the next second his son had pulled out of the dive, his arm raised in triumph, the Snitch clasped in his hand.
The stands erupted; it had to be a record, no one could ever remember the Snitch being caught so quickly.
"Ron, Rhian where are you? The game's over! Harry's won!" Hermione shrieked dancing up and down on her seat and hugging Parvati and Lavender in the row in front of her.
Rhian rose to her feet from where she lay dazed from a solid punch thrown by Goyle. Seeing Harry on the ground holding the Snitch triumphantly caused her to smile as she pulled Ron away from Malfoy.
"Come on let's go down." She said.
As they neared the pitch the three friends saw Dumbledore talking to Harry with a smile on his aged face. After the Headmaster walked away Rhian ran wrapping her arms around her twin.
"That was bloody awesome bro!" she crowed.
Harry smiled but his brow creased with concern when he saw the bruise forming on his sister's cheek.
"What happened?" He asked carefully touching the tender flesh.
Rhian shrugged. "No big deal, tell you later."
Harry nodded glancing at Hermione and Ron before jogging off the pitch to the locker room with the rest of the team.
Hermione and Ron started to walk away towards the castle. "You coming, Rhian?"
Rhian turned and waved them off. "Nah I'll wait for Harry."
"Ok we'll see you both inside." Hermione said as the two continued on inside.
Harry was the last to leave the locker room. "What are you doing here Rhian?" He asked confusedly.
Rhian shrugged. "I wanted to wait for you." She replied.
Harry smiled slinging his free arm around her shoulders. "Come on I have to put my Nimbus 2000 in the broom shed.
As they reached the shed Harry leaned against the wooden door and looked up at Hogwarts, with its windows glowing red in the setting sun. "Gryffindor in the lead…" He sighed happily.
"You're amazing Harry. You saved the day for Gryffindor." Rhian grinned.
Harry blushed slightly. "Rhian is that Dad?" he asked suddenly pointing towards the Forbidden Forest.
Rhian looked over to the forest indeed seeing Severus Snape entering the dark woods shrouded in a cloak.
"Let's go check it out." He whispered mounting his broom.
Rhian mounted quickly behind her brother. Gliding silently over the castle they saw their father at a run. They followed.
By the time they flew over the forest they lost sight of their Dad. Harry circled the trees getting closer and closer to the trees until they could hear voices. They glided toward them and landed noiselessly in a towering beech tree. Climbing carefully along one of the branches Rhian and Harry held tightly to the broomstick as they tried to see through the leaves.
Below them in the shadowy clearing stood their Dad, but he wasn't alone. Quirrell was their, too.
"Is it me or does Quirrell look terrified?" Rhian asked quietly.
Harry nodded silently.
"…d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus…"
"Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," Snape said, his voice icy. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone, after all."
Rhian and Harry shared a look and leaned forward. Quirrell was mumbling something. Snape interrupted him.
"Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"
"B-b-but Severus, I…"
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," Snape said, taking a step toward him.
"I-I don't know what you…"
"You know perfectly well what I mean."
An owl hooted loudly, and Harry and Rhian nearly fell out of the tree. Steadying each other the leaned in to hear better. "…your little bit of hocus-pocus. I'm waiting." Snape said lowly.
"B-but I d-d-don't…"
"Very well," Snape cut in. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie."
He threw his cloak over his head and strode out of the clearing. It was almost dark now, but Harry and Rhian could see Quirrell, standing quite still as though he was petrified.
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"Where have you been?" Hermione asked as Rhian Harry came through the portrait hole.
"We won! You won! We won!" Ron shouted thumping Harry on the back. "And I gave Malfoy a black eye, and Neville and Rhian took on Crabbe and Goyle. He's still out cold but Madam Pomfrey says he'll be alright…talk about showing Slytherin!"
"Never mind that now," Harry said breathlessly. "Let's find an empty room, you wait 'til you hear this…"
Making their way down the hall Harry pulled them into a Peeveless room. He told them what he had seen after he left the locker room.
"So we were right, it is the Sorcerer's stone, and Snape is trying to force Quirrell to tell him what he is trying to do."
Rhian thought about it. "If Quirrell is one of the keepers of the Stone then maybe the other professors have their own spells protecting the Stone."
"You're right." Hermione whispered.
"What are we going to do then?" Rhian asked.
Harry shrugged. "We need to keep an eye on Quirrell."
The other three nodded in agreement before quietly rejoining the party in the tower.
