A/N: Sorry about the wait, life sucks at times plus I'm not paid for this so sometimes to the back burner it goes, that said I plan to do all 7 years and add some more people but that's for later.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my thoughts and phone and laptop.
Friday morning dawned with both its normal brilliance and accustomed chill. All throughout the school students and teachers alike were grudgingly leaving the warmth of their beds to prepare for the day.
Breakfast was its normal affair. The buzz and drone of hundreds of students, some chatting about their plans for the weekend while others ate and finished last minute assignments. Slowly but surely those who had classes left while the those who had a free period took their time.
One group of those lucky enough to receive a late start on Fridays where the first year puffs. Halfway down the table sat Toph and Hadrian, Toph had a slightly distracted look on her face while she was picking at her food. Not liking the unusual quietness from his friend spoke up. "Hey Toph, are you alright?"
Stiffening slightly she replied with her regal tone. "I'm fine, why?"
"You seem a little off is all. You also aren't eating and you only do that when something is bugging you," he said softly and if he was being truthful he was worried about her.
In a softer but still stiff tone of voice she replied, " I could ask you the same thing you know. Mr. I Fainted and almost cracked my head open," the last part she said with a slight hint of laughter in her voice.
Trying to bring her further out of her funk he placed her hand over his heart and pulled a pained face. "You wound me Toph."
"I did no such thing Hadrian. The desk did." She said in a deadpan voice.
"What is this about you being injured Mr. Bei Fong?" Madame Pomfrey as she walked over, looking almost as stern as McGonagall.
Making a gesture as if to glance at each other they busted into gales of laughter. After taking a moment to calm down Hadrian replied. "No ma'am I'm alright we where just joking around is all. I assure you that if the need ever arises that I will make my way to you post haste."
"Well then see that you do." She said sniffing and then walked off to the infirmary so she could tend to her duties.
Still chuckling he playfully swatted at Toph's shoulder saying, "good going you almost got me in trouble with the healer."
"Oops." She said, not at all sounding remorseful. Then said as if in after thought, "besides with everything dad taught you wouldn't you be able to sweet talk yourself out of it?"
"It doesn't work all the time Toph, in fact I have yet talk you out of hitting me." shaking his head he stood up and held out his hand. "Now come on lets go get our stuff we have charms today and then we have to meet Hermione for tea at Hagrid."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Come on lets go find out what Flitwick has in store for us today." With that they headed back to their rooms for their bags and then to class, speaking to several portraits along the way.
As they rounded the corner to the Charms corridor they heard Professor Flitwick dismissing his class. Flitwick having spotted them through the throng of students hailed them into his domain. Bowing to him on the way in the two sat in their preferred spot and settled in to wait for their classmates.
At long last the rest of the class filed in in groups of twos and threes. Shortly thereafter the bell signaling the start of class and Flitwick hopped up onto his book stacked stool to take roll.
Clearing his throat he began the lesson. "Today class we will be starting on the Tarantallera charm. This charm when correctly applied correctly causes the the afflicted to move their legs and feet in a manner that mimics dancing. The type or style of dance depends on the motion you make with your wand when you cast. For instance," he said as he pulled out a kitten to preform the charm, "if you flick upwards, like so." He flicked his wand upwards and clearly intoned the charm. The kitten started doing a reasonably paced tap dance. "Will, as you can see, mimic a simple tap dance."
Canceling the spell Flitwick hopped off his desk and started passing out model figures for his students to practice with. Once everyone had one the tiny professor made his way back his podium and addressed the class once more. "Now, I've handed out some figures for you to practice on as I find it easier for students to practice on something that both has legs and can not think for itself. And remember class that pronunciation is important, Taran-ta-leg-ra. Lets see what you kids can do shall we."
For the next hour and a half there where shouts of the spell, some excited and others exasperated. Laughter came in peals as plastic animals did all sorts of wild moves across the desktops. Toph had added a bounce and backwards sweeping motion that had her dog-like figure doing a moonwalk. Hadrian had done a slow and drawn out counterclockwise circle that had his bear doing a waltz amusing the young lord to no end.
On the other side of the room a group of muggleborns had somehow got their figures to do what was later explained to them as the Electric Slide. All in all it was successful and eventful charms class that ended with no homework for a majority of the students.
As it turned out Hagrid was delighted to meet Hermione and soon all three of them where laughing at some of the stories that the games keeper was regaling them with. Most where tales of great mischief staring a group of people called the Marauders and a few involving the Weasley twins.
Snorting into her tea Toph spoke offhandedly, "makes me wonder what those two would do if they came across that three headed dog in the castle."
In an instant all laughter left Hagrid's voice while it adapted a slight edge of fear and apprehension. " How do yer know 'bout Fluffy?"
Before Hermione could stop herself she responded with a slight screech, "That thing has a name?"
Looking slightly affronted Hagrid retorted, "'Course 'es got a name, 'es mine. Bought him of a Greek chappie last year."
"That still doesn't explain what hes doing in a school filled with children." She returned.
"Now ne'er you mind 'bout that. That's between Dumbledore and friend Nicolas Flamel, that is."
"So there's someone named Flamel involved," stated Toph as she morphed a dirt clod into a scale model of the now named Fluffy.
"Er...I shouldn't have said that. Forget I said that." Hagrid insisted slightly panicked.
Kicking Hermione softly under the table, mostly to quiet her for a moment, Hadrian picked up the conversation. "Don't worry Hagrid we wont say anything about it. But back to the subject of three headed dogs, are there any other types of animals of interest in the area?"
Glad for the promise and a topic that he could talk all day on, Hagrid went on to talk about some of the creatures in the forest. He started with the unicorns and one in particular that started coming to the edge of the forest for a little while every evening and then retreating back into the darkness. Then he broadened into the centaurs and their love of the stars. From there it went to other sentient creatures.
Then Hagrid took to a tone of longing, "now what I really wan' is a dragon. Always 'ave ever since I was a lad."
At this Toph and Hadrian let out a surprised gasp while Hermione looked at them oddly. However before she could even formulate how to ask about it Hadrian spoke. "You mean they exist here? That they haven't been hunted to extinction by fire masters? They are still alive."
"'Course they're still alive, we got reserves all over the place. Two o' the biggest ones are in China and Romania," said Hagrid who Hermione noticed looked wounded and pale at the thought of dragons being extinct.
Facing each other momentarily then turning back to Hagrid the spoke simultaneously, Toph's eyes glowing with excitement. "We'd like to see one someday."
Laughing Hagrid got up and clapped both of them on their shoulder before leading his company to the door. "All righ' yer three off with yee. I kept yer rather latter than I meant ter but if yeh leave now yeh should make it back to yer rooms 'fore curfew sets in." Giving them a hard look that was out of place on him he spoke once more, "and remember yer promise."
They left with conformations of their promise and a good night. Once they where out of earshot of the Keeper of the Keys, Hermione spoke up practically hissing at Hadrian. "Why did you kick me; we could have found out what the dog was guarding!"
Sighing softly Hadrian answered honestly, "I did it to shut you up. Hagrid became guarded after you asked about why er...Fluffy was there. He was about to clam up, I believe the saying is." He said the last bit kind of hesitantly, still unsure of some of the sayings people around him kept using.
"How can you be sure?" She asked, this time sounding like someone denied her candy.
It was Toph who spoke this time, her tone kind of bald but not mean; "Hermione in case you've forgotten we're blind. We've had to learn to 'read' people through their heartbeats and inflections of tone and voice to determine their moods. I'm not saying that its fool proof but nine times out of ten we are usually right. Be it a lie or someone being upset."
Looking stricken Hermione spoke sounding close to tears. "I'm sorry, I just don't like not knowing something. I guess that it upsets a lot of people. I'll understand if you dont want to be my friends anymore." Trying really hard not to cry at the thought of losing two of her only friends she made to walk away a little faster.
Sensing this both benders pulled her into a hug while stopping. It was slightly awkward but they felt it necessary. After a few moments Hadrian spoke still holding his friends, "Hermione we are not going to stop being your friend over something like that. Its part of who you are, besides we all have parts that we need to work on."
Squeezing a little bit extra Toph spoke up next, "we good?"
"Yeah, we're good," said Hermione breaking the hug. "But I still wish we could find out what the dog was guarding."
Smirking dangerously Toph spoke again, "well Hagrid did give us a few clues, so its enough to do some guess work."
"But we promised not to." Hermione responded looking slightly put out.
Hadrian laughed. "No we didn't Hermione; we promised we wouldn't say anything involving Flamel, Dumbledore, and Fluffy to others, not that we wouldn't investigate further."
Thinking on it a moment Hermione spoke, "that's absolutely one of the most open ended loopholes I've ever seen, why didn't I notice that?"
"Don't worry Hermione, dad has been training Harry here to take over the family one day, finding loopholes and leaving room for you to change your mind is all part of that."
"Alright, lets talk about it in the morning. I think we all need to rest." Hermione said as they finished their trek and split off to their dorms.
~*~ Next Day ~*~
Come mid Saturday we find one Severus Snape in his accustomed shadowy corner for the monthly staff meeting. Oh how he loathed these things, however this did give him a chance to speak to the other house heads. As he sat there he contemplated the apparent legal torture that was early morning meetings with no caffeine and other matters he wanted to bring to light to the teachers the old lemon sucking goat interrupted his thought train.
"And what of your classes Severus, are they adjusting to the new schedule?"
In a drawl that had sent most first years fleeing from his classroom he answered. "Well, seeing as I no longer have to worry about members of Slytherin and Gryffindor trying to sabotage each others cauldrons and blow us all up into tiny pieces I will admit that it is easier to teach. However that said the only students to show any promise are the Bei Fong children and those who study with them. None of them are anywhere near Potions Master level and most likely never will be, but they are efficient enough in class."
Clearing his throat Dumbledore figured that it was time to end the meeting. "That is quite enlightening Severus; if that is all?"
Snape cut in before the Headmaster could dismiss most of them. Drawling once more he spoke. "Actually Headmaster I do have a concern that pertains to everyone present at the moment."
"And what would that be Severus, seeing as you said your classes were going well?" Dumbledore asked losing some of the stupid twinkle in his eyes.
Keeping a sneer in place was difficult when all he wanted to do was laugh at the thought of the disco ball eyes going out. "I wanted to bring up the potential problem of the Bei Fongs taking the written portion of their final exams. I say this knowing that the spells that they use to complete both their classwork and homework with no doubt trip the anti cheating spells we use. I figured it was best to bring it up before it became and issue."
"I haven't thought of that," started Professor Sprout sounding slightly miffed at not spotting a potential problem for two of the students in her care. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"I'm sure we will figure something out before then. We can not have you failing them over something like that." McGonagall said curtly, following her instinct to keep face.
Clearing his throat once again Dumbledore spoke. "A valid concern Severus and one that will be looked into as soon as possible I assure you. If there is nothing else?" He waited a moment and when no one spoke up he continued. "Well then with the exception of the Heads of House you are free to enjoy your Saturday."
With that dismissal everyone else left the staff room. Severus keeping his eyes on Quirrell's slight frame. He didn't know why but he didn't trust that man since his sabbatical over seas. He had a feeling that he was after the stone, and his feelings were normally close.
It was Albus' voice that once again broke him from his thoughts, "has there been any more developments in any of your respective houses that I should be made aware of?"
With a sigh McGonagall spoke. "The youngest Weasley has yet to pull up his grades and has been shunned by most of the house because of the incident during the winter holidays. The Twins seem to focus most of their attention on their younger brother I plan to step in if it gets harmful. Other than that two of my first years seem to have grown quite to the Bei Fongs."
"I've noticed that too Albus," Flitwick squeaked excitedly, "their group is normally in the library on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Its one of the most diverse group I've seen in all my years here."
Smiling proudly Pomona Sprout spoke up. "Those two are something else. They've even gotten the Slytherins who study to get along with the Gryffindors. Granted there is a bit of teasing and bantering but there's nothing malicious in it."
"As much as I hate having to concur with your statement, I will concede that a few children from the more prominent families seem interested in joining them during their study time, as all of them are top of their year." Snape sneered.
"While this is interesting do any of you have anything of relevance?" Albus asked feeling a small headache building.
"And what would you count as relevant headmaster?" asked Professor Sprout.
With that
"I'll take that as a no, since that is the case I shall take my leave. Have a pleasant day." With that the Headmaster left the staff room.
In his wake he left three slightly confused House heads. Seeing an opportunity Severus spoke up once again. "Before we depart I have one more thing to bring up. The Bei Fongs have asked me for a place in the dungeons to practice their martial arts. However in asking what they would need for this space I must reluctantly admit to needing assistance in its construction."
Unable to resist Minerva spoke up, "And what, pray tell, is so difficult that you would need our help?" A smirk flitting across her face as Snape scowled at the word help.
"It's is not the room itself but what they would like the inside of it to be that is out of my area of expertise. Forgive me for I thought it prudent to keep the two students that quite literally have the ability to pull the castle down around us happy." He said in his normal drawl.
As that statement processed among the remaining house heads it quelled most of their earlier merriment at the situation. In truth what those two could do terrified both Sprout and McGonagall as they had seen first hand how the troll fared against them. Flitwick who had only been told about the incident later only seemed to be slightly put off but asked what the two female heads were thinking, "you don't really believe they would do that, do you Severus? I mean they are so well mannered in class and outside of it as well."
"I think that Mr. Bei Fong is the calmer of the two, however that doesn't mean that he wont lose his temper at some point. Truth be told I would rather not be around when that happens. Remember how Lily was? Calm and easy going but a hell of a temper and whether or not he knows it he is her son and has her temper." Snape said simply.
Not so surprisingly it was Sprout who switched the subject back to its main course, "and just what have they asked for Severus?"
"In theory it is really quite simple. But as I have said it is also not my area of expertise. They would like the space to be similar to a valley in a sense. They asked if it was possible if we could make it a small ecosystem with vegetation and hills and dirt, not just the 4 walls."
"It will be tricky but we may be able to cobble something together, I think if we could see the area you plan on letting them use it would make it easier on all of us. Then we can decide whether or not it can be done and if it can how best to go about it." Squeaked Flitwick.
"That can be arranged, I believe that I have some free time tomorrow afternoon after lunch if that is agreeable. If not then I may be able to set some time aside some time during the next week." Snape said.
"No Severus, tomorrow should be just fine." McGonagall said sigh.
Nodding his head Snape turned and strode out of the staff room without a backwards glance. Had he looked he would have seen the smiles breaking out on the faces of the renaming staff. When he was out of ear shot the other professors started conversing about different possibilities and how their youngest professor had taken to the two hufflepuffs.
*~* Meanwhile *~*
In a secluded part of the library we find our trio surrounded by tons and tons of tomes. Hermione speed reading while Toph and Hadrian where stuck going at a more sedate pace. Slowly but surely the table they where using filled up with useless books.
As the minutes turned in to hours and hours turned into the afternoon and then to early evening they still hadn't found anything. Then just as they where about to give up for the day or rather Hermione was about to check out some books for "light reading" the got an unexpected clue.
Neville seeing his friends huddled around the far table went over to investigate. "So this is where you guys have been hiding all day."
Hermione jumped at the sound while Toph raised her hand in greeting and Harry said a quick, "hello, Nev" before returning to his book.
Grabbing a seat that wasn't covered in books he sat down and turned to Hermione. "So what are you guys looking for? Its not homework or the rest of the gang would be here."
Glancing up from her book Hermione sighed. "You're right this isn't class related. We're looking for someone by the name of Nicolas Flamel."
"Why?" Was all Neville could think to ask.
"We've promised not to say." Hermione said.
"No Hermione, we promised not to tell anyone about Fluffy, not that we think the hes protecting something, or that we believe that Flamel might be involved somehow." Harry corrected.
"But you just told him Hadrian, you just broke your promise." Hermione said looking stern.
"No I didn't Hermione, I was correcting you and he just happened to overhear. This is why its good to know where to look for loopholes. Neville can you promise not to mention this to anyone? It will keep us and a few others out of trouble." Harry said calmly.
"Sure but I want to know what's going on." Neville said and with that they spent the next half hour explaining everything to Neville. From the three headed dog and the set of rooms beneath it, to what Hagrid let slip and what they had been trying to guess from it.
"So let me make sure I got this right. You," he said pointing to Hermione, "believe that this Flamel guy was or is a friend of the Headmaster's and that he may have given him something that he wanted protected. And that you two," this time pointing to Toph and Harry, "think that assuming Hermione is correct, that that is what the dog is guarding. So you are trying to find out if he is famous in hope that he is and can hopefully give you a clue as to what the object is."
"That about sums it up." Toph said as she set another book to drone on.
"Well if it helps any I remember gran talking about someone with that name being a famous alchemist, I don't know what he did to get famous though." Neville said and then after a thought added, "but whatever it was she heard it from her Great great grandparents."
At this the three groaned and banged their heads on the table, causing a stack to wobble ominously and a book to fall on the back of Hadrian's head causing him to eep. "We've been looking in the wrong places."
Unable to contain a few snickers Neville asked "and where have you looked?"
Hermione, rubbing her temples in a manner similar to staving off a headache, answered. "Thus far we've gone through, Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, Notable Magical Names of our time, Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and a Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry."
After taking a moment to compose himself Neville spoke with a smile. "Well seeing as my many times great grandmother knows the name I doubt hes that recent."
With a laugh everyone took a minute to unwind from being hunched over the tomes all day. Neville was just about to suggest heading down to dinner when Hermione slapped herself on the forehead and ran off towards the history section in the far back corner. Her return trip was much more sedate and when she got to the table they saw why. She was carrying a tome about half as tall as she was and so wide she could barely get her arms around it.
Popping it open she started skimming through it, slowly at first then faster and faster. Without looking up from the pages she started talking, "I can't believe I didn't think to look in here. I checked this out last term for some light reading. I returned it without finishing it because with everything happening I ran out of time."
Finally she stopped on a page and let out a triumphant ha while tapping the spot with her finger. "Guys I believe I've found him. Listen to this," she said as her eyes scanned the page before her. "Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosophers Stone. Considered the pinnacle of Alchemy, the Philosophers' Stone is a legendary substance with astounding powers. The most noted being able to turn any metal into pure gold or silver. The stone also produces a substance known as the Elixir of Life, which is said to make the drinker immortal. While there have been many claims, the only stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel. A highly acclaimed alchemist and opera lover; Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Pernelle (who is six hundred and fifty eight.)"
After she finished reading the passage Hermione looked up at the others to see their shocked faces. Then Neville let out a slow whistle and spoke. "Well it looks like we now have a working theory as to what the mighty mutt is guarding. But I think the better question is who is after it and why is it in a school full of children?"
"It would have to be one of the professors, yes Hermione a professor, they are the only ones who would know it is even here. Possibly also what may also be guarding the other chambers." Toph said.
"Ya know," started Neville with a serious face, "if I had found this out before break I would of suspected Snape without a single doubt in my mind. But now I don't know who to suspect."
A/N: I'm writing the next chapter out so yeah, also sorry about the abrupt ending there it wasn't on purpose
