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Disclaimer – JK Rowling and various publishers own the world of Harry Potter.

Book 1 – The Elixir of Life

Chapter 10

Clues

November arrived quickly. The mountains turned from dark green to icy gray while the lake chilled. The ground around the castle was covered in frost and Hagrid was even seen defrosting the broomsticks on the Quidditch field as the first match for the season Gryffindor versus Slytherin was coming.

The match was on Saturday and Harry was preparing for his first official play. Oliver Wood, as expected by his team mates, had become increasingly insane, as his team was training every available minute of the day. Harry was very thankful to his friends Ron and Hermione for without them he wouldn't have been able to finish all his homework.

The day before the match Hermione, Ron and Harry were outside in the courtyard during break. Hopefully, though it was quite freezing, Hermione had conjured bright blue portable flames. They were standing with their backs to it so to keep warm. As they were sitting they saw Professor Snape emerging from the main gate limping rapidly. Few minutes later, Professor Quirrell came in from the same place, looking paler than usual. He, of course, noticed Snape who was few feet before him and swiftly changed direction muttering something under breath.

"That's curious." – Hermione exclaimed.

"What?" – Ron asked lifting his head from the course book.

"Did you not notice?" – Hermione said raising an eyebrow. "Professor Quirrell and Snape are obviously on bad terms."

"Hermione, everyone knows that." – Ron observed with a bored voice.

"I know but this looked different." – Hermione continued thoughtfully. "They came from the same direction, probably somewhere outside the school grounds. And then Quirrell veered off in the opposite direction looking quite shaken and stressed out."

"Why has this to be strange, Hermione?" – Harry said. "They usually do that. After all, Snape's after his job."

"No, this time, it looked different." – Hermione insisted.

"Alright for the purpose of arguing," – Harry said. "What do you think could be the reason?"

"I don't know." – Hermione answered honestly. "But I think it is strange."

"Well, I think it's normal." – Harry shrugged.

"We'd better go in." – Ron inserted.

After classes, they headed back to Gryffindor Tower. They sat near the window where Hermione was checking their homework. She would never let them copy hers ("How would you ever learn?") but by asking her to read it, she always corrected it. Ron and Harry were grateful, especially Harry. He had to do Wood's last minute Quidditch practice that was harder and crazier but Wood was a Quidditch maniac and the captain.

Hermione had lent Harry a book to read – Quidditch throughout the Ages from which Harry learnt that there are seven hundred ways of committing foul and that all of them happened during a World Cup match in 1473. He also learnt that Seekers are usually the smallest and fastest players, and most serious accidents seem to happen to them.

As Harry was reading the Quidditch book, he noticed someone going to the forest. He left the book aside and stuck his face to the window. It was Professor Quirrell with the all known turban on his head. Quirrell soon vanished into the depths of the forest before Harry could tell the others though he did not find it necessary.

Later in the evening, Hermione, Ron, Harry and the Twins were the only one left in the common room. The Twins were unusually quiet. They were working on something as their heads were close together. Ron was just relaxing on the sofa and enjoying the gentle warmth of the fire. Hermione was making last checks on all her homework.

Harry was still beside the window nose in the Quidditch book, which was so interesting, and at places difficult to believe. He had finished writing all his homework then he had had a conversation with Wood about the match tomorrow, and then decided to plunge into the book to take his mind off the match. It was in that moment when he noticed movement at the edge of the forest. He left the book aside again.

"Hey!" – Harry called Ron and Hermione. "Come here!"

They came at once.

"What?" – Ron asked.

"There!" – Harry pointed.

At the place Harry was pointing they saw a hooded figure, which exited the forest shade in a strange manner. It was moving backwards. It was so strange. The figure moved up till it reached the shadow of the castle wall. Harry, Ron and Hermione opened the window and bent over to see well. A few moments later, from the same spot Professor Quirrell appeared. There was no sign of the hooded figure. On the light of the entrance they was his face, it was pale with some silver spots around the mouth. Quirrell then vanished through the entrance.

Hermione closed the window. The three stood silent for quite a time before speaking.

"That was odd." – Ron said finally.

"Very odd, and what were those silver spots on his face?" – Hermione pondered.

"Was he the hooded figure?"

"Possibly." – Harry shrugged.

"We don't know that." – Hermione objected but did admit. "Though it was very strange."

"But why was he moving backwards?" – Ron continued to ask.

"Ron, we don't know whether it was Quirrell or not. There could have been two separate people. But this does not explain the silver spots. I've never seen something like that." – Hermione said.

"Could it be blood?" – Harry pondered.

"Well, we'll figure it out later." – Hermione said. "I'm off. See you tomorrow!"

Hermione packed her books and headed to bed. Ron and Harry remained a little while longer before going to bed. Harry was still thinking about what they saw. It was definitely Quirrell but why, this he did not know. He had no idea why he did not mention to Ron and Hermione that he had seen Quirrell enter into the forest earlier that evening. What was Quirrell doing in the forest that late? But the more he was trying to find an answer the less he was arriving at a plausible solution. After a time, he let it go because it was starting to give him a headache. He closed his eyes and fell quickly asleep.

The next morning dawned very bright but cold. The Great Hall was full of delicious smell and everyone's looking for a good a match.

Harry was comparatively calm given the good night sleep though the strange event of last night. Xsi had come over to the Gryffindor table to wish him luck. Cassie though she wanted to do the same did not as she was from the opposite team, and while Alamar was wishing Harry good luck, she only winked at him. Harry winked back.

Hermione was trying to get Harry to eat and though he was feeling calm he did not eat anything. The rest of the house was much exited. Seamus, Neville and Dean had prepared a little surprise. They had painted a large banner on one of the sheets that Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for President, and Dean who was good at drawing, had done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Hermione liked it at once and performed a complex spell so now the lion was changing colors.

By eleven o'clock the students took their place on the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many of the students had binoculars. Though the seats were quite high, it was still difficult sometimes to see what's going on. Ron, Hermione, Neville, Dean and Seamus sat in the top row.

Meanwhile in the locker room, Harry and the rest of the team were changing into their scarlet red Quidditch robes (while Slytherin would be playing in green).

Wood cleared his throat for silence.

"Okay, men." – He said.

"And women." – Chaser Alicia Spinet said.

And women." – Wood agreed. "This is it."

"The big one." – Fred Weasley said.

"The one we've been waiting for." – George Weasley added.

"We know Oliver's speech by heart." – Fred told Harry. "We were on the team last year."

"Shut it you two." – Wood barked. "This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. We're going to win. I know it."

Then he glared at them as if to say, "Or else."

"Right, it's time. Good luck to all of you."

Harry followed Fred and George out of the locker room, and walked onto the Quidditch field to loud cheers.

Madam Hooch was refereeing. She waited for the two teams, broomstick in her hand, in the middle of the field.

"Now, I want a nice clean game." – She said, once they were all gathered around her. Harry did notice that she was particularly speaking to the Slytherin's captain, Marcus Flint, who looked as though he had troll blood in him. "Mount your brooms!"

Harry clambered on his broom, Nimbus 2000, when Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. Fifteen brooms rose up, they were off.

"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor – what an excellent chaser, and rather attractive – "

"JORDAN!"

"Sorry, Professor!"

The Twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall. "And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinet, a good find of Wood's, last year only a reserve – back to the Johnson, and no Slytherin's got the Quaffle, Marcus Flint, Slytherin's captain heading straight for the goals, he's going to sc… no Wood demonstrates excellent defense, chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor takes the Quaffle, nice dive around Flint, and - OUCH – that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a bludger – Quaffle retaken by Slytherin, Adrian Pucey speeding off towards Gryffindor's goals, but he's blocked by a second bludger sent by George or Fred Weasley can't tell which, anyway Johnson is with the Quaffle again and off she goes, dodges a speeding bludger, the goal posts are ahead – come on, now, Angelina – Keeper Blutchey dives – and she scores – Gryffindor scores."

Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls coming from the Slytherins.

"Budge up there, move along."

"Hagrid." – Ron exclaimed while squeezing with Hermione to make place for Hagrid.

"Bin watchin' from me hut." – Hagrid said patting large size binoculars, "But it' isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the snitch yet, eh?"

"Nope." – Ron replied. "Harry hasn't had much to do."

Way up above them, Harry was gliding over the game looking for the snitch, which was part Wood's game plan.

"Keep out of the way until you catch sight of the snitch, "– Wood had said. "We don't want you attacked before you have to be."

When Angelina scored, Harry made a couple of loop-the-loops to express his feelings. Now he was back to looking for any trace of the snitch. A bludger came pelting his way, but Harry dodged while Fred Weasley came after it.

"All right there, Harry?" – He yelled while sending furiously the bludger at Marcus Flint.

"Slytherin in possession," – Lee Jordan commented. "Adrian Pucey with the Quaffle, ducks the two bludgers, and – Wait a minute – wasn't that the snitch?"

Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle as the snitch passed his left ear.

Harry saw it. In a great rush of excitement he dived downward after the golden ball. Slytherin Seeker, Terrence Higgs, saw it too. Neck-to-neck they hurtled toward the snitch – the Chasers of both teams seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing and were watching in mid air.

Harry was faster – he was seeing the round ball with its fluttering little wings darting ahead – he put some extra speed – and – WHAM! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below – Marcus Flint had blocked Harry on purpose – and the snitch was gone.

"Foul!" – The Gryffindors screamed.

Madam Hooch spoke angrily to Flint, and then ordered a free shot at goal posts, which Katie Bell executed with precision.

It was as Harry dodged a speeding bludger that darted pass him when it happened. His broom suddenly lurched, and for a split of a second, Harry thought he would fall off. He managed to get a grip of his broom though he never felt this way.

Then it happened again. His broom shook as though trying to throw him off. Of course, Nimbus 2000s don't suddenly decide to get rid of their riders. Harry tried to turn in direction of Gryffindor goal posts, and ask Wood for time out, but realized the impossibility of his wish. He had no longer control over the broom, which was now zigzagging with violent swishing movements that almost unseated him.

"Dunno know what Harry's doin'. " – Hagrid mumbled. "If I didn't know better I'd say he'd lost control of the broom…but he can't have…"

Suddenly people were pointing at Harry. His broom was rolling over, and over, with him only managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. The broom gave a wild jerk, and Harry swung off it. He was now dangling from it, holding on one hand.

"Did something happen when Flint blocked him?" – Seamus asked.

"Can't happen." – Hagrid objected, voice shaking. "Can't anything interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark Magic – no kid could do that to a Nimbus 2000…"

At these words, Hermione seized Hagrid's binoculars and started frantically looking at the crowd.

"What are you doing?" – Ron asked, white-faced.

"I knew it." – Hermione gasped. "Snape – look!"

Ron grabbed the binoculars and looked. Snape was in the middle of the stands opposite them. He had fixed his eyes on Harry and was muttering nonstop under his breath.

"He's doing something to Harry's broom." – Hermione said. "Jinxing it."

"What can we do?"

"Leave it to me."

Before Ron could say even one more word, Hermione darted off. Ron turned the binoculars back to Harry, whose broomstick was vibrating so much, it was not possible he could hang on for much longer.

"Hurry Hermione!" – Ron mumbled.

Hermione had fought her way through the crowd to the stand where Snape was, and was now racing along the row behind him, she didn't even stop to say sorry when she knocked Professor Quirrell headfirst into the row front. Reaching Snape, she knelt, pulled out her wand and conjured the blue fire on Snape's robes.

It took Snape, perhaps, thirty seconds to realize that his robes were on fire. A sudden yelp told her she had done her job. She scooped the fire into a small jar she had with her, Snape would never know what happened.

It was enough. Up in the air, Harry climbed back on his broom. He had seen the snitch just as Higgs. They were racing shoulder to shoulder. The Slytherin seeker jammed into Harry making him veer off passing by a column of the cheering crowd. Then they both darted speeding toward the ground.

Few feet from the ground, Higgs moved off as he did not want to crash but Harry managed to straighten up his broom horizontally, earning gasps from the crowd. The snitch was just several feet away from him when Harry stood up on his broom standing on his feet. He made a small step forward trying to reach the golden ball with a hand but then suddenly leapt forward falling off the broom. Hopefully he was just a foot from the ground. The crowd gasped as they saw Harry clap his hand before his mouth. It looked he'd be sick. Then he coughed – something gold fell in his hand. It was the snitch.

"I've got the snitch!" – Harry yelled, waving it above his head thus ending the game in complete confusion.

Flint was howling quite a lot though while Harry had the problem with his broom he had taken the Quaffle and scored five times without anyone watching. "He didn't catch it but almost swallowed it." Harry did not hear any of this, as he was in Hagrid's hut with Hermione and Ron having a strong cup of tea.

"It was Snape," – Ron was explaining. "Hermione and I saw him; he was jinxing your broomstick, his eyes fixed on you."

"Rubbish." – Hagrid said. "Why would Snape do somethin' like that?"

"I find this hard to believe too." – Harry said suddenly as he lifted his head.

Ron and Hermione stared at him unbelievingly.

"What?" – Ron blurted out finally. "He was jinxing your broom we saw it or you don't believe your friends anymore?"

"I didn't say this." – Harry said in reassuring tone, looking at Ron and Hermione. "I just said I find it hard to believe."

"Why?" – Hermione inquired.

"Look, guys, just because we have some suspicions doesn't mean he's guilty. Innocent till proven guilty as Thant always says. Hagrid, you said that to jinx a broom of the class Nimbus, this would require power Dark Magic, right?"

"Right." – Hagrid confirmed.

"So this would mean that in the school there are – what – how many that are capable of doing it?" – Harry continued.

"Well," – Ron pondered.

"Probably, all the teachers could do it." – Hermione said at once.

"Right but who were there at the time?" – Harry asked reaching his argument. "You said that for the spell to work you have to be in direct line of sight, right?"

"Yes," – Hermione admitted. "But then…"

"Then who was in direct line of sight?" – Harry asked.

"Snape." – Ron answered.

"Was he the only one?" – Harry continued to question.

"Harry, where are you going with this?" – Ron inquired confused.

"Oh, wait!" – Hermione suddenly exclaimed.

Harry all beamed. Hermione's got it now, probably, he thought.

"What?" – Ron turned to Hermione.

"Harry's right." – She said. "He wasn't the only one."

"Then who was it?" – Hagrid asked too.

"Ron, Hermione said that on her way she knocked off Quirrell…" – Harry inserted.

"So?"

"So," – Hermione continued finally getting Harry's thought. "He was on the first row in direct line of sight of Harry."

"Are you saying Quirrell jinxed your broom?" – Ron asked incredulously.

"It is possible, Ron." – Harry said. "Think about it – if it is possible to jinx the broom, it is also possible to counter it."

"Okay…" – Ron was uncertain where this was going.

"So if this spell is so powerful it should have worked but it didn't why?" – Harry continued. "My broom was lurching, trying to jerk me off. I was barely holding and yet I had the feeling that somehow the broom was resisting so if it really was this would be the following: someone's jinxing the broom and someone countering the jinx. All this would produce the effects I was experiencing." – Harry explained.

"You're right." – Hermione agreed. "The broom was resisting and since the brooms can't resist on their own unless there's some defense, this would certainly mean someone was countering it."

"Also, you said, it took Snape less than minute to realize he was burning but in this time my broom stabilized. So if Snape was jinxing it that would have been sufficient to throw me off, would it not be, Ron?"

"Hmm, well, as you put it that way I have to agree." – Ron admitted. "But then this would leave…"

"Quirrell, yes, it would leave him." – Harry nodded.

"But why would Quirrell want you dead?" – Ron asked.

"I don't know." – Harry said. "But I intend to find out."

"How?"

"Well, it seems we know nothing about him." – Harry said.

"And it is time that we do." – Hermione finished his thought.

"You three are of yer heads." – Hagrid joined in.

"I don't think so, Hagrid." – Harry shook his head. "There is something odd too. I mean we find Snape and Quirrell all the time close to the third floor."

"Yeah," – Ron agreed. "Where this three headed dog is?"

"The Cerberus, Ron." – Harry corrected.

"Who told ya about Fluffy?" – Hagrid suddenly blurted out.

"Fluffy?" – Hermione exclaimed.

"That thing has a name?" – Ron asked stunned.

"Of course, he does he's mine." – Hagrid replied gruffly. "Bought him off a Greek fellow I met las' year in the pub – I leant him to Dumbledore ter guard the…"

"Guard what?" – Hermione asked eagerly.

"In Merlin's name!" – Hagrid exclaimed as he had realized he had said than he should have. "No more questions! That's top secret that is."

"But Hagrid," – Hermione objected. "Someone's trying to steal it."

"Nonsense, no one's going to steal let alone a Hogwarts teacher – they'd do nothing of the kind."

"She's right, Hagrid." – Ron continued to pressure him. "Someone's already tried."

"I tellin' you all, you're wron'." – Hagrid said stubbornly. "I don't know why Harry's broom bein' acting this way, but nor Snape neither Quirrell wouldn't try to kill a student! Now you listen, you three, don't meddle into thin' that don't concern ya. Forget the dog, forget what's it guarding, that's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel - - "

"Aha, so there's a Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?" – Harry exclaimed pleased.

Hagrid did not reply but looked furious with himself.

On the next morning, in a spare classroom, the Capers met. Harry told Cassie, Xsi and Alamar all about yesterday and Hagrid's drop of a Nicolas Flamel. Cassie frowned.

"Who is Nicolas Flamel?" – Alamar asked.

"I have no idea." – Hermione and Xsi replied in unison.

"The name sounds familiar though." – Harry interjected suddenly.

"It does?" – Cassie looked up.

"Yeah, I've heard it somewhere though I'm not sure where or maybe I've read it somewhere, I don't know." – Harry replied shrugging.

"Oh as well, so Loki…" – Alamar said. "Going back to the castle for Christmas?"

Cassie ignored Alamar's question. She was rethinking what Harry, Ron and Hermione had told them and something was definitely bothering her.

"Loki?" – Xsi looked at her sister.

"There's something that bugs me." – Cassie replied.

"Like?" – Alamar inquired.

"Well, Nimbus is right about one thing. We seem to notice Snape and Quirrell too often around the third floor. And as I come to think of it, at the night of Halloween, Snape headed straight to the third floor while Quirrell warned of the troll. Something here doesn't fit." – She answered.

"Well, Snape headed to steal whatever was there and got bitten…"

"Not necessarily." – Cassie shook her head. "What if – highly hypothetically – what if Snape was heading to see if everything is fine with whatever is there…and Quirrell…Quirrell…"

Hermione was following Cassie's thoughts and as Loki trailed off finished her thoughts, "Quirrell could have been creating a diversion so to get to whatever is there first but Snape cuts his way…"

"Yeah," – Cassie nodded in agreement. "My thought exactly."

"And then willy-nilly comes along with Snape and McGonagall to the bathroom where Ron, Alamar and Nimbus were battling with the troll." – Xsi finished the hypothesis.

"Girls, this sounds crazy." – Alamar remarked. "And…"

"And we have no proof of it." – Ron finished his sentence.

"That's why, Pluto, it's called a hypothesis." – Cassie said.

"Yes, but one that strangely fits in." – Hermione observed.

"Alright, even if, and I stress on the if, it fits – what are the motives?" – Alamar inquired.

"Well, we don't know." – Cassie shrugged. "Yet."

"Oh as well, so Loki…" – Alamar said. "Going back to the castle for Christmas?"

"No, Mom and Dad will be going to Egypt where cousin Freela is. She had invited them over." – Cassie replied making a grimace. "So we would be spending it here."

"Oh, well. Harry, you could come with me." – Alamar said. "Mom'd be delighted."

"I'm sure she'll but I'll stay – to find anything about Flamel." – Harry declined politely.

"It's okay, mate." – Alamar grinned. "Hermione, you?"

"I'll be going with Mom and Dad, skiing."

"Really, that's cool."

"What's skiing?" – Ron asked bemused.

"Tell you another time." – Alamar smiled. "Though, the magic skiing is way funnier and better."

"How do you mean that?" – Hermione asked bewildered.

Alamar leaned forward and explained in whispers, then Hermione's eyes widened in surprise, before she rolled on the floor laughing.

"I told you!" – Alamar laughed.

"If only I could try it." – Hermione said, fighting for air.

"Well, if you could pass by, maybe we could organize something." – Alamar suggested.

"I don't know but I'll ask Mom and Dad." – Hermione said.

"Ron, what about you?" – Cassie asked.

"Ah, we're staying too. Mom and Dad will be going to Romania to visit my brother Charlie. He works there with Dragons." – Ron replied.

"Dragons – cool." – Xsi exclaimed exited. "It must be quite the job. I like Dragons."

"Well, tell something that you don't." – Harry interjected.

"Well, okay." – Alamar said. "I must be off – classes."

"Which?" – Xsi inquired.

"Potions with Snape." – Alamar replied, and walked off the room.

"So where do you propose we start looking for Flamel?" – Cassie asked.

"Well, the obvious place – into the library." – Hermione replied.

"Yeah, of course, how stupid of me to even ask." – Cassie admitted laughing.

"Never thought I'd hear that." – Harry said.

The next two weeks, the Capers spent time into the library looking for Nicolas Flamel but with little success as they did not know where to start. They did not know what Flamel was into. They looked into Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, Notable Magical Names of our Time, Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and a study of Recent Developments in Wizardry, but nothing. It was as though he did not exist. Hermione started to think that he might be a muggle but this seemed highly unlikely.

Hagrid, of course, was avoiding them for some time, making sure he did not make another slip.

As Christmas was approaching, in a morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke in several feet of snow. The lake had frozen solid while the peeks of the surrounding mountains were glittering like silver spears. The Twins were so exited that they were even punished for enchanting snowballs to bounce off the turban of Professor Quirrell. Only few owls managed to battle their way through the stormy weather and then they had to be nursed by Hagrid before flying off again.

Unfortunately for most students while the Towers and the Great Hall were full of warmth the rest of the castle was icy cold. Only few students were actually unaffected and those were Harry, Cassie and Xsi, as the Solmyr Castle was like that all the time. Of course, it was not very pleasant, especially in Snape's classes where their breath was turning to mist so the students kept close to their cauldrons.

"I do feel sorry," – Malfoy was saying in the last Potions class. "For all those who would be staying in the school for Christmas as they are not wanted at home." Of course, Draco who had become overbearing and bitter since Slytherin's loss, was saying this only to taunt with Harry but Harry was ignoring him completely, as he did not feel affected by his words.

He was not going to go home even if Thant and Saptienna were at home because he wanted to find this Nicolas Flamel, and to learn more about Hogwarts. Besides, it was interesting for him to spend Christmas in a castle such as Hogwarts, to have some diversity.

As they left Potions, a large fir tree was blocking the way ahead. A loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind the tree.

"Want some help there, Hagrid?" – Ron proposed while sticking his head through the branches.

"Nah, not all, I'm fine thanks, Ron." – Hagrid replied.

"Would you mind moving that out of the way?" – The cold drawl of Malfoy came from behind.

"Move it yourself." – Ron shot.

Malfoy replied something that made Ron's ears go red, and in the second Ron dived over at Malfoy but just as Snape came up the stairs.

"WEASLEY!"

Ron released Malfoy's robes at once but was watching him murderously. Harry assumed that Malfoy must have insulted Ron, since this was his favorite sport besides insulting Harry.

"He was provoked, Professor." – Hagrid defended Ron. "He was insultin' his family."

"Be that as it may, fighting is against the rules." – Snape replied silkily. "Five points from Gryffindor, and be happy they're not more. Now, move along."

Ron muttered something under his breath.

"Cheer up, it's nearly Christmas." – Hagrid said. "Come and see the Great Hall. It's wonderful."

So they followed Hagrid and the tree to the Great Hall where Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were busy with the decorations.

"Ah, Hagrid, the last tree, put it there in the corner." – Flitwick said with his tiny little voice.

The Great Hall was spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe were hanging around the walls, and twelve towering Fir Christmas trees stood in each corner and around the room, some glittering with hundreds of silver candles, some sparkling with tiny icicles.

"How many days have you got till Holidays?" – Hagrid asked.

"Just one." – Hermione replied. "Which reminds me boys, we still have time to hit the library before lunch."

"The library?" – Hagrid exclaimed surprised as he followed them out of the Great Hall." Bein' a bit keen, are we?"

"Oh, we're not working." – Harry told him brightly. "We'll be looking for Nicolas Flamel, ever since you mentioned him."

"You wha?" – Hagrid exclaimed shocked. "Listen here you all – drop it. It isn' your business to know wha…"

"We just know to know who he is, that's all." – Hermione said.

"Unless you'd like to save us the trouble?" – Harry added. "We've looked over a hundred books and still nothing but if you give us just a hint – I'm sure I've read his name somewhere."

"I'm sayin' nothin'." – Hagrid said flatly.

"Oh as well, we'll find him on our own." – Ron shrugged while they darted to the library.

But the time they spent in the library did not produce any results though Hermione made a list of subjects while Ron pulled books at random, and Harry even tried to snatch a book of the restricted section but Madam Pince, the librarian, caught him, and he had to leave.

"You will keep looking while I'm away, won't you?" – Hermione asked five minutes later as they're leaving the library.

"Of course, but you could ask your parents." – Ron had the sudden idea. "It'd be safe."

"Very safe, Ron, they are dentists." – Hermione said. "Muggles, you haven't forgotten, have you?"

"Apparently." – Ron sulked up.

"Well, have nice holidays." – Hermione wished, and darted off.

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