"This is it, Harry!" Hermione gasped. "I knew we'd find it."
Harry put down the book he was perusing, turning to Hermione's end of the library bench. Amid a scattering of books, quills, and parchment, a large tome lay open. The words were in a tiny scrawl, hand written hundreds of years before; only saved from the oily fingers of hundreds of students and the years by the spells cast regularly upon the shelves and books by Madam Pince, warden and guardian of the trove of ancient knowledge. Hermione was pointing to a line midway down, in the same thin, elaborate cursive as the rest.
The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. There have been many reports of the Philosopher's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel, the noted …
"It's a Philosopher's Stone?" Harry asked aloud. "They're keeping one here? Are they mad?"
"Maybe they thought it would be safer here than with Mr. Flamel, if someone is after it," Hermione said wisely.
"Maybe," Harry muttered. "Just think of the amazing magic in that one stone."
"It's incredible, isn't it?" Hermione said. "All the gold you want and you can live as long as you like. Think of how much you could accomplish?"
"That does make it more dangerous," Harry reflected. "After all, if someone is after it, they can't be up to any good."
"We didn't think they were up to any good, in the first place," Hermione countered. "Now we at least know why anyone would be interested in what Fluffy is guarding."
"Doesn't that seem a bit…simple?" Harry asked. "You get past a three-headed dog and you can access the greatest alchemical stone ever created."
"I'll bet they have other professors protecting it, too," Hermione said, packing up her books before they headed to class.
"Ah, yeah!" Harry exclaimed, hoisting his bag over one shoulder. "I'm sure McGonagall and Flitwick could come up with something."
"And don't forget the Headmaster," Hermione said. "He's said to be one of the greatest wizards of all time."
They shifted through the library to head to class. The library was fairly full. With only a few days before the end of term, most of the professors had set large essays to reinforce what they had learned throughout the fall. They squeezed between a few Hufflepuffs standing in the main aisle chatting before they were able to walk comfortably again.
Hermione asked, "Has your broom arrived yet?"
"It should be here any day," he said. "I can't wait!"
"It is supposed to be one of the best, right?" Hermione asked, watching Harry smile at the thought.
"Well, that's only part of it," he said.
"Why else?"
"Well," Harry answered, "it will be nice to bring my own broom so Madam Hooch doesn't spend twenty minutes examining it before each practice. It's maddening."
She was laughing as they made their way through the door when a trio of Slytherins pushed past.
Malfoy turned toward them as they left, saying, "It's amazing what some people will just talk about aloud in a crowded library. Very interesting, eh, Goyle?" He winked in Harry and Hermione's direction as he went, his constant smirk in over drive.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other as the three sped off down the corridor.
"Uh-oh," Harry said.
"Did they-?" Hermione began.
"They could have," Harry answered. "We weren't exactly whispering about it, were we?"
"How bad do you think it is?" Hermione asked.
"Bad," Harry said, sighing. "He's been little more than annoying so far, but if he goes after the stone, that could be trouble."
"Why would he need it?" she asked. "The way he talks about his family's money, he doesn't need gold, and why would he be worried about dying of old age any time soon."
"Who knows!" Harry replied. "Maybe he wants to brag about it, put the stone on his mantlepiece."
"It is a powerful magical item," Hermione said. "Maybe it has other uses..."
They had to separate before Harry could think of what those uses might be. As he worked his way to Charms class, Harry couldn't help worrying about this powerful stone in the hands of someone like Draco Malfoy or, worse, his father.
As much of a pest as Draco could be, Harry knew of his father by reputation. One of the professors - he could not remember which - had once told him that Lucius had been among the horrible band of Voldemort's followers, the dreaded Death Eaters. After Voldemort disappeared, those who weren't killed or caught pretended to be under the Imperius Curse when they had done Voldemort's will. As that was difficult to refute, many had walked away, clean, Lucius chief among them.
Since, he had dealt mostly in politics at the Ministry, meeting and donating to all the "right" people. Harry understood that he was close to the Minister and often could be found hosting Wizengamot members in his home. The idea of someone so close to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named on the loose and with a Philosopher's Stone was rather terrifying.
Professor Flitwick interrupted his thoughts, telling him, "Harry, I understand your new broom has arrived at the owlry. Professor McGonagall will have the house elves bring it to your dormitory when we are done with the protection enchantments."
The pair entered the Charms hallway, making their way to the class together. As young as Harry was, he still towered over the short professor. He found himself leaning toward the man as they walked to speak with him more easily.
"Brilliant, professor!" he answered.
"No doubt it will help our chances in the next game, eh?" Flitwick added in a conspiratorial whisper.
"I'm sure," Harry said. "They say it is one of the fastest in the past few years."
"Well, do your best, Harry," the professor said, crossing to the front of the class to prepare his class notes and pass out the latest graded essays.
Harry took his seat. He was excited about his new broom, the new Nimbus was meant to be a revolutionary upgrade from their last pitiful offering. Several renowned Quidditch teams were outfitting their members with one. Harry heard Gwenog Jones of the Hollyhead Harpies had recently gone on a test ride, as well. He would have to wait a week or so for the professors to add their protection spells, and he did want to know more about what they came up with. Problem solving with magic wasn't strictly taught in classes, after all. Still, it wasn't the only thing on his mind today.
Draco Malfoy was going to be more of a problem. If he was after the stone as well as the two mysterious figures…it really just complicated things. Harry glanced at his paper when it came back, not top marks but close enough. He had found the more that he concentrated on this troubling topic, the lower his grades tended to go. He was worried, that was the key thing. Still, one thing comforted him, for now. With the holidays a week out, Draco would have little time to go after the stone before he was shuffled off to his manor. Coming back with orders from his father to get the stone could be a problem later, but Harry and Hermione would have time to think about what to do.
The next week passed in a blur of papers and the rapid decoration by the Hogwarts staff, and the holidays were upon them. He wished Hermione a happy Christmas at dinner, and the next day the school was all but empty. He and a few fourth and sixth year Ravenclaws were all that remained in his house. The other houses were more or less the same. He did note that the Weasley twins and two of their other brothers (the Weasleys were known for their numbers) had remained, as well. One, a prefect, sat away from them, conversing with older students in a serious and important manner. The other was Harry's age, and he hung around the twins, playing Exploding Snap at the table in the Great Hall.
As the other Ravenclaws had left dinner early, Harry grabbed his plate and cup and walked over to the Gryffindor table. He approached the twins and their brother just as Fred made a spectacular explosion that turned the youngest boy's face black with soot.
"Oh, sorry there, Ronniekins," Fred said, whooping with laughter.
"Didn't think it'd blow up that much," George added, wheezing.
"What is wrong with you two!" the youngest said, storming off in a huff. He bumped Harry's shoulder on the way past without so much as a 'Sorry.'
Harry let the twins' laughter subside before he asked, "Might I join you?"
"Ah, Harry!" Fred cried. "Just the -"
"Test subject we needed," George said, smiling sinisterly, his mouth twitching to avoid laughing.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess," he began, looking at the dark burn on the table that was slowly healing itself, "you wanted to make Exploding Snap more literal."
"First in the class," Fred said, looking proud of the younger student.
"But you still have much to learn, young apprentice," George said, stifling a snicker.
"He's my apprentice," Fred said, looking stern.
"Nope, called it first, brother mine," George said, grabbing Harry by the shoulder. "I'll train you in the ways of the prank, and you shall be a light of hope and laughter to all."
The twins gave each other a stern look, held it for about three seconds, and then burst into laughter again.
"Have a seat, Harry," Fred said, scooting so Harry could fit between the pair.
"Super Exploding Snap?" George offered.
"No thanks," Harry said, sitting down. "I think it needs a little work first."
"Yeah," Fred said, "that wasn't nearly enough ash. We'll need to work on that."
"His hair was practically clean," George stated, sadly.
"So," Harry said, taking a sip from his drink, "why'd you stay back for the holidays?"
"Mum and dad are off visiting our brother in Romania for Christmas," Fred said.
"Figure she didn't want us playing with the dragons," George said, sounding down.
"Dragons?" Harry asked.
"Charlie," Fred said.
"He works with dragons in Romania," George said.
"And he would let you play with them?" Harry asked.
"Who said anything about let?" Fred asked.
"Honestly, Harry, you think permission has anything to do with it?" George said, sounding put off.
Harry chuckled. "Well, good to have some company stay at Hogwarts, at least," he said. "Wouldn't be the same without a prank or two."
"Awww, was Harry-kins going to miss us?" Fred asked.
"So shweeet, Harry," George added.
"Yeah, yeah," Harry said, waving as he laughed.
"Any new adventures planned, Harry?" Fred asked.
"We battling an acromantula this week? Swimming the lake to battle krakens?" George asked.
"Adventures?" Harry asked.
"Like Halloween," Fred said.
"A bit tame, but there was a giant three-headed dog, at least," said George.
"Well, we think Draco Malfoy knows about what the dog is hiding," Harry said, offhand.
"How would he know that?" Fred asked.
Harry grew red and shut his mouth.
"Oh ho!" George exclaimed.
"Our little Harry is all grown up and hiding something from us," Fred said, his eyes lighting up.
"But we have our ways of learning what you know," George said, looking superior and knowing.
"To the dungeons!" Fred exclaimed.
"Dungeons?" Harry asked.
"The torture machines are ALWAYS in the dungeons," George said.
"Obviously," Fred said.
"You could, I dunno…ask?" Harry suggested. He was still hot in the face. He hadn't intended to speak to the twins about this, but it was too late to un-say what he had about Draco. They knew he was hiding something and would be the biggest pests in history if he didn't just tell them.
"Nope," George said, grabbing Harry's arm.
"This is more fun!" Fred said, grabbing the other.
They march-stepped him out of the Hall, loudly proclaiming the torture would begin shortly and that they wouldn't rest until Harry had spilled his guts for them. Harry found himself dragged down the stairs towards the dungeon, feeling like a brick wedged between other bricks. He didn't resist as he was fairly certain they were joking. Whatever pranksters the twins might be, he didn't think they would actually try to hurt anyone. He hoped…
Fred stopped them in the middle of a corridor, they slipped into an un-used classroom and sat Harry down in a chair in the middle. Fred pulled some things out of his pocket until he found an old piece of parchment. Harry couldn't hear what he said, but lines and shapes appeared all over its face. Looking it over, Fred appeared satisfied. With a tap of his wand, it went blank. Putting it back in his pocket, he said, "Okay, we're free to talk here, Harry. No one is around."
"So, spill Harry," George said, face close to Harry's, leaning over him. They could be rather intimidating, if they wanted to be.
"What's this all about, Harry?" Fred asked.
"I-I told you before about how we overheard someone say they were after something hidden behind the three-headed dog, right?" Harry asked.
"A fine recap, Harry m'lad," Fred said.
"Indeed," George said, "insofar as it really told us nothing."
"Yes, well," Harry said, "it turns out the dog is Hagrid's. He named it Fluffy."
"Pleasant name for a man-eater," Fred said.
"As is the norm for Hagrid," George said, sagely.
"You have no idea," Harry said, thinking back to all of his more 'interesting' magical creatures over the years. He had requested Dumbledore let him get a manticore at least three times. "Manty 'd be a great name fer 'im, eh?" Hagrid had asked Harry later.
"Go on," Fred urged.
"He also let slip that what it was guarding was between Dumbledore and someone named Nicholas Flamel," Harry said. "I remembered that I had seen the wizard's name on a Chocolate Frog card. It indicated the two had worked on alchemy together. We did some research and found that Flamel is one of the few creators of a Philosopher's Stone."
He stopped. The twins just looked at him expectantly.
Harry shook his head in frustration. "The Philosopher's Stone is a powerful magical object that makes other metals into gold and is a primary ingredient in the Elixir of Life potion. You will live as long as you regularly drink that potion. Flamel is hundreds of years old!"
The pair stared, shocked.
"And this is in the school?" Fred asked.
"Yes, and we know some people are after it, maybe Draco, now that he's heard of it," Harry said.
"Hey, Fred," George said, "think of all the things we could make if we had unlimited gold."
"All we wanted," Fred said.
"Focus," Harry snapped. "The stone is in danger."
"It is guarded, though," Fred said.
"Yes, but nothing is perfect," Harry said. "If people are after it, they could get it. They just need to figure out how to get through the traps."
"Then, you should tell a professor," George said, simply.
Fred stared at him as if he didn't know his twin. "Tell? Are you mad?"
George cracked up. "I can't believe you fell for that," he said, practically crying with laughter.
"Ass," Fred said. "To think, my twin a goody-goody."
"It is a good idea," Harry said. "Maybe I should alert the professors."
"And tell them, what?" Fred demanded. "I think some people might be after it. I don't know whom or why, but I went around all sneaky-like to find out what it is, revealed it to other students, and wanted to let you know people might be after it."
"Ridiculous, Harry," George said, shaking his head.
"I didn't mean for Draco to hear about it," Harry protested.
"You didn't need to," Fred said, "but you can still get in trouble for it."
"Why get in trouble when you can solve the whole thing and then get rewarded, instead?" George asked.
"What are you suggesting?" Harry asked, looking incredulous at the other two.
"Simple," Fred said, "you are pretty sure someone will find their way to get it, right?"
"Yeah?" Harry asked.
"Then, we have only one choice," Fred answered.
"We take it first," said George.