And here's the update! ^^ Like I promised ~ posted once it's finished! Just finished it now *o* Before ANTM! Yeey to me! ^^ (ooh it's gonna start now! *o*)
So readers in America... Who's team Obama here? \o LOL. Just curious I guess. Right, let's get down to business shall we? I shall try my very best to update this chapter every Tuesday or Wednesday. My Naruto fic hopefully will be updated every Wednesday or Thursday. Finally, I shall leave my Fridays and Saturdays for translating Megan Allard's "O Mais Belo dos Lírios" (The Sweetest Lily) and for any new story that my mind might decide to come up with! For those YJ fans... I do have something in mind which might be coming out soon! ^^ Yes, it shall be Chalant. I'm forever Chalant. ^^
Anyway, thank you Poseidon'sdaughter3 for the review! Puh-lease keep the wheelchairs to the cardboard me ONLY! I'd hate to have wheelchairs thrown at me. Must hurt g.g. Anyway... I'm reaaaally happy you're enjoying this *-*
That actually goes out to all that are enjoying this. When you enjoy, I enjoy \o/
Okay... Enjoy! ^^
Nicholas Flamel and the Forbidden Forest
January started just as cold as December had ended. Jessica was walking around the castle covered in a large, blue wool blanket. The students would be arriving back within the next hour or so and she was just happy to have Hermione back. Harry had spent a good amount of his time in the Library searching for anything related to Nicholas Flamel. He'd been gratefully unlucky though, almost got caught at least three times. Ron soon got tired of being the main victim of snowballs and since she didn't feel like bothering her two siblings, who were busy with their respective friends, Jessica was left alone, exploring the large castle.
"You seem distracted." Hermione grinned. Jessica squealed and ran towards her friend, hugging her tightly. "Wow... I didn't think you'd miss me that much."
"Oh shut up. I don't care if you're going to make me sit and focus on schoolwork, I'm glad you're back!" Jessica grinned.
"Wait... You still haven't finished your assignments?" Hermione gaped. "To the common room immediately, young lady!" Jessica whined and groaned as Hermione dragged her across the castle.
x.x
Ron was going through his timetable for the millionth time that evening. Hermione was re-reading all her essays and homework. Harry and Jessica were going through their collection of chocolate frog cards and exchanging. "I have five Dumbledore's here. Need one?" Jessica asked, going through her bundle.
"I have him." Harry said, taking out said card. "He was the first one I ever-" Harry cut himself off with a loud gasp, startling the other three that were around him. "I found him! I found Nicholas Flamel!" Harry grinned excitedly.
"What?" Hermione asked wide-eyed. "How? Where?"
"It's on the card! Listen: 'Dumbledore is particularly famous 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'!"
"Oh my God! Stay here!" Hermione shouted, dashing back towards Gryffindor tower as fast as she could. Harry and Ron exchanged glances while Jessica continued to squeal and bounce happily.
Hermione eventually returned carrying a large book in her arms. She let the book drop on the table with a loud thump! "I never thought to look in here! I got this from the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading!"
"This is light?" Ron smirked.
"Hush!" Hermione ordered, instantly silencing all three. Hermione quickly read through every page of the book and eventually stopped and squealed. "I knew it!"
"Are we allowed to speak yet?" Ron asked grumpily. Hermione ignored him completely.
"Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's stone!"
"The what-now?" Jessica asked confused.
"Honestly, you should all start reading more." Hermione huffed. "Alright, listen carefully: '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. Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday!'. That's what's under the trap door!"
"And Snape's after it!" Jessica exclaimed.
"Who wouldn't be? It makes gold and allows you to live forever." Harry stated.
"We should talk to Hagrid, shouldn't we?" Ron asked.
"Yes... Let me just take this back and we'll head over there." Hermione said.
x.x
It was almost 5pm and the sky was already pitch black. The four head down to Hagrid's hut as fast as they could. Once there, Harry anxiously knocked on the door. No one answered. "The lights are on." Jessica whispered.
"Hagrid!" Ron called as he knocked on the door, just as anxious as Harry.
Hagrid eventually attended them, barely opening his front door. "Oh. 'Ello you lot. What are ya doin' round 'ere?"
"We need to talk to you." Harry said.
"Well I'm a bit busy at the momen'." Hagrid smiled.
"We promise we won't be too long!" Jessica pleaded.
Hagrid sighed and allowed the students inside. Ron soon spotted something inside a pot, over the fire. "Is that a dragon's egg?" He said in bewilderment.
"Dragon? Are you allowed to have that?" Jessica asked curiously.
"Uh... No. But I've always wanted a dragon. Got it down at the pub!" It took Harry quite a while to get to the subject of Nicholas Flamel. Hagrid was excitedly telling them countless stories about dragons. Ron wasn't much help, seeing as he too seemed excited about it. It was almost 10pm when the egg decided to hatch. A small creature made its way out of the shell and stared up at Hagrid. It coughed a few times, setting Hagrid's beard on fire. "Oh Norbit... He know's 'is mummy." Hagrid laughed.
"Norbit?" Ron and Jessica asked.
"Harry! It's late. We need to get back!" Hermione whispered.
"Hagrid, there's something we need to talk about... We've been researching and-"
"Oh no." Jessica said, staring out the window.
The others turned to find Draco Malfoy smirking back at them. "Malfoy." Ron muttered angrily.
"We're in for it now." Hermione groaned.
The four ran back to the castle and hoped to make it back to Gryffindor tower unnoticed. Their hopes were cut short when they discovered Professor McGonagall waiting for them and Malfoy right by her side. "Follow me." The five followed McGonagall in complete silence. Jessica glared at Draco every now and then but he didn't seem to notice. They all paled once they reached McGonagall's office, except Draco. "Nothing." She started, watching as the four Gryffindors tensed. "Nothing gives the right for a student to be out of bed after hours. Fifty points will be taken."
"Fifty!" Harry and Ron shouted together, shocked.
"Each." McGonagall stated. "And the five of you will be receiving detention tomorrow night." Jessica perked up slightly and tried to fight off the wide grin that wanted desperately to spread across her face. Had she heard right?
"Excuse me Professor, perhaps I heard you wrong. Did you just say... Five?"
"Actually Mr. Malfoy, you heard me loud and clear. You too were out of bed therefore shall be punished like the others. Now I want all of you to head back to your rooms. Immediately."
x.x
The following day went by quickly. Jessica wasn't looking forward to detention and was constantly wondering who'd be in charge of them. "I just hope it's not Snape. He'd give us the worst time possible." Ron groaned.
"Or not... Let's not forget Malfoy's with us." Hermione stated.
"And Snape treats Malfoy pretty nicely." Harry added.
"No! It can't be Snape! We should get stuck with someone calm and nice... Like Professor Flitwick!" Jessica grinned.
"He's not always calm." Ron moaned.
"Well that's because you never do his assignments properly." Hermione said, tying her hair into a braid.
"It just can't be Snape."
They all met Draco and Professor McGonagall in the courtyard at 11pm. Filch was also there, smirking away and holding up a lantern. "You get Hagrid tonight. I want you all in bed once you're finished." McGonagall stated before leaving.
"Ironic isn't it?" Jessica said, making everyone turn towards her. "That we're meant to be up after hours serving detention."
"Be quiet! You don't want McGonagall to hear you." Hermione whispered, pulling on her friends arm.
"Alright all set. 'Ello you lot!" Hagrid said cheerfully. "Ready ter get goin'?"
"Where exactly are we going?" Draco asked, sounding as snotty as ever.
"To the Forbidden Forest." Filch smirked. "Don't stick around too long Hagrid!" The students watched as Filch headed back towards the castle, where he met up with Mrs. Norris.
"The Forbidden Forest? Please tell me he was joking." Jessica said worriedly.
"Come on now! Haven't got all night!" Hagrid shouted.
"He wasn't joking, was he?" Jessica said dramatically.
"I don't think so, no." Hermione answered.
The five hesitantly followed Hagrid into the forest. It was dark, cold and damp. Noises could be heard everywhere and it only made them even more scared. "Right. We're splittin' up! Let me know if yer find any unicorns." Hagrid stated. "Hermione and Ron can come with me."
"Fine! But we get Fang!" Draco smirked and Harry nodded in agreement.
"Sure! I should warn yer though. He's a coward!" Hagrid smiled. "We'll meet back 'ere in a bit!"
Jessica, Harry, Draco and Fang headed deeper into the forest. The place seemed to get slightly colder by the minute. "I guess now we all understand why this place is forbidden." Jessica whispered.
"Wait until my father hears of this." Draco muttered.
"As if he'll do anything." Jessica said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh shut it, Selwyn." Draco hissed. A loud howl was heard amongst the trees, making the three students and giant dog jump. "Did you hear that?" A pale and frightened Draco Malfoy asked.
"Let's move faster so we can leave sooner." Harry said, taking the lead.
They walked around for another forty minutes before finally coming across something interestingly strange. There was a hooded figure leaning over a fallen Unicorn. Harry started to feel a sting in his scar as Jessica attempted to get closer and accidentally stepped on a twig, which broke and caught the figures attention. "Oh... This can't be good." She said to herself. Draco screamed once he saw the figure coming towards Jessica, grabbed Fang and ran in the opposite direction. Harry did the same, but managed to grab hold of the girl before running.
"What the heck was that?" Jessica asked, breathing heavily. The figure reappeared before the two of them before Harry could answer. The pain on Harry's forehead seemed to increase as the figure got closer to him. They were both so terrified that they couldn't even scream. The figure was almost touching Harry when a large creature appeared, scaring it away. The creature was muscular, tall and had blond hair. "Wow... You're a centaur." Jessica said in bewilderment.
Harry continued to stare at the spot where the dark figure once was. "Are you both alright?" The centaur asked. The two nodded.
"T-thank you." Harry breathed. "What was that?"
The centaur didn't answer. He stared at Harry with his astonishing light sapphire blue eyes. "You are the Potter boy." He said. "You are not safe here. You better get back to Hagrid."
"How does he know we came with Hagrid?" Jessica whispered to Harry, not taking her eyes off the centaur.
"Come, climb on. Both of you." He said, gesturing towards his back. "My name is Firenze, by the way." Harry quickly made his way onto the creatures back and held out a hand for a hesitant Jessica.
x.x
"But did it hurt you?" Ron asked. Harry had explained the entire situation to both Ron and Hermione once they were back in the common room and in their pyjamas. Firenze had safely taken him and Jessica back to Hagrid, who was very shocked to see a centaur carrying humans. Hagrid had asked what had happened because Malfoy came running and screaming towards him. Harry had insisted they were both fine, just frightened by the forest itself. He only mentioned the dark, hooded figure to Ron and Hermione.
"Do you know who it was?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Of course we don't! We couldn't see his face!" Jessica pouted.
"What if it was you-know-who." Hermione whispered, making the three stare at her in shock. "We also met up with a group of centaurs and they started talking about how dangerous the forest had become after his appearance there. Though, no one seems to believe their word. Except, perhaps Hagrid."
"But he's dead... Isn't he?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Yes... Supposedly he is. But I remember reading that you can live off Unicorn blood. It's not exactly living... It's more like a half life." Hermione stated.
"You're making no sense at all." Jessica said, rubbing her forehead.
"I actually have to agree with Selwyn." Ron muttered.
"What happened to first name basis?" Jessica pouted, hitting Ron on the shoulder.
"Focus!" Hermione said. "What I mean is... He's alive but not exactly. That is, if it's really him. His soul continues here but he must depend on a human's body. That's what I mean by half life."
"Sounds more like a cursed life to me." Jessica muttered.
"That's it then!" Harry whisper-shouted. "Snape doesn't want the stone for himself. He wants it for Voldemort!"
"Ssssh! Don't say his name!" Jessica protested, covering Harry's mouth with her hand.
Harry rolled his eyes and pried her hand away from him, taking them into his own. "There's no need to be afraid of his name. It's ridiculous." Jessica blushed slightly and pulled her hand back to herself.
"It makes sense." Hermione, who seemed to be deep in thought only a minute ago, said. "What should we do?"
"Tell Professor Dumbledore of course!" Ron said excitedly.
"Wait... What do we do if... You-know-who-" Harry rolled his eyes once more and quietly laughed to himself. "Comes after Harry again?"
"Jess... You're forgetting one little detail: Dumbledore!" Hermione said happily.
"Again, you're making no sense." Jessica face palmed.
"Listen to me!" Hermione groaned. "Who is the greatest wizard? Who is the only wizard you-know-who ever feared? Dumbledore! With him around, Harry can't be touched."
"You better be right." Ron said worriedly. "I would hate to come across that thing."
"You'd definitely be traumatised for life." Jessica nodded.
"We should get to bed." Harry sighed. "We'll meet here tomorrow, before breakfast."
Guuustan? I truly hope so! *o* Review please? Pretty, pretty please! *Puss in boots cuteness eyes*
So I'll hopefully see y'all back here next week! *-* Please schedule, make me get this right! :x
xoxo personas! (ps - oooooh who saw the new GG episode? *o* OMFGGG.. BART BASS WTF ARE YOU UP TO? D: ) :x Spoiler alert!