Chapter 14

The game was brutal. It wasn't so much that Hufflepuff was putting up a fight, despite Oliver Wood's frantic planning, it seemed they were a bit of a joke, instead it was the ominous presence of the Head of Slytherin House that was giving Gryffindor an unfair disadvantage. Snape, going along with his trademark vendetta against all Gryffindors - especially Harry Potter - was handing out fouls and penalties in Hufflepuff's favor left and right. Ally felt herself yelling along with the rest of her housemates in a similar outraged fashion when a Bludger clipped Alicia Spinnet's shoulder, yet another Hufflepuff player received the penalty.

Amidst the constant commotion, and odd lapses of vertigo, Ally's eyes remained glued to the red blur she was positive that was Harry, jumping and screaming with the rest of her schoolmates whenever Gryffindor made a goal and laughing at Lee Jordan's humorous commentary. Her heart clenched at the thought of Harry getting hurt, not yet having forgotten about the events his first Quidditch match. Snape remained as suspicious as ever, and the fact that he was deciding to referee a game that Gryffindor was supposed to have in the bag made Ally nervous. Thankfully, Dumbledore had decided to attend the match, something that Snape probably did not appreciate, but did calm Ally's racing heart at the sight of his unmistakable silver beard.

"Angelina Johnson in the air, by Merlin is that girl attractive, ("Mr. Jordan!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed in a scandalized tone, "That is not appropriate!") -won't go out with me though, but let's see if by the end of this match I can change her mind! She swipes the Quaffle from Smith, decent fellow, not too good at Potions, and she zooms towards the goal, and she shoots… GRYFFINDOR SCORES!"

"Jordan!"

The stadiums roared with laughter and cheers and Ally didn't know what was funnier, Lee's commentary or Professor McGonagall's reactions. As she caught the sight of Oliver Wood blocking a Hufflepuff shot at the goal out of the corner of her eye, Ally made sure to keep her eyes trained on either Harry or Snape, the latter looking like an overgrown bat trying to balance on the school's shoddy broomstick. Suddenly, during one of the intervals when the sounds of the match and the cheering crowds seemed to dwindle right before starting up again with gusto, Ally heard her favorite cousin's patent sarcastic drawl.

"You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team?" said Draco, his cronies no doubt behind him, as Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty for no reason at all. "It's 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."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Neville turn bright red, yet he turned in his seat and retorted Draco's statement with something Ally couldn't hear. Draco and his goons laughed meanly, although Ally smiled when she heard Ron encourage Neville. Ron was somehow managing to not tear his eyes from the game, despite Draco's taunting getting on his nerves.

"Longbottom, if brains were gold, you'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something."

Ron's nerves were already stretched to the breaking point with anxiety about Harry.

"I'm warning you, Malfoy - one more word

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed suddenly, "Ally, look! Harry-"

"What? Where?"

Harry had suddenly gone into a spectacular dive, which drew gasps and cheers from the crowd. Hermione stood up and latched on to Ally's arm, while Ally signaled to Dean to hold up the other side of the poster once more, shouting and stomping along with the rest of the students as Harry streaked toward the ground like a bullet.

"You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground!" Draco sneered, not anticipating the redheaded blur that went to wrestle him to the ground, Neville following bravely soon after.

The girls screamed at the sight of Harry speeding straight at Snape, missing their Potions professor only by inches and nearly knocking off his broom, as the scarlet streak that was Harry Potter pulled up and out of his dive, his arm raised in triumph, the Snitch clasped in his hand.

It had to be a record. Ally had never been one to keep up with Quidditch teams or game statistics, but spending enough summers at the Malfoy Manor had led to her hearing Draco gush about one player and another enough to know that a Snitch had never been caught in under five minutes. Much less with the ease and natural talent that Harry possessed. The stands erupted with cheers and stomping, and she and Hermione danced up and down, hugging each other and anyone else in their vicinity.

Ally saw from the stands how Harry jumped off his broom and looked around as if stuck between a state of shock and absolute bliss. She saw Snape spit on the ground and stalk away from the crowd and towards the castle. She saw Dumbledore approach Harry and whisper something to him as he patted his shoulder his pride.

She hung back as the entire House rushed onto the field, including Ron who held his heavily bleeding nose between two bloodied fingers, sitting on the cold bleachers as she recovered from a sudden dizzy spell. Ally wished her fear of heights was just that - fear - instead of what it really was, horrible vertigo that always managed to hold her back from being like everyone else. A pained moan roused her from her ruminations as she spotted a familiar platinum blonde head sprawled on under her seat. Not bothering to hide the fond smile that quirked at her mouth, Ally clambered down to where Draco was cursing under his breath.

"What did Aunt Cissy tell you about getting into fights, Dray?"

Draco looked up his cousin, glancing calculatingly at her new haircut, noticing that she looked paler than usual. She kneeled next to him, peeling back his fingers and inspecting where Weasle-bee had clumsily landed a punch beforehand. Crabbe and Goyle were passed out next to him after Longbottom had somehow managed to use his clumsiness to his advantaged, and they had knocked their heads together while trying to punch the blood traitors.

"First of all, Weasle-bee and Longbottom attacked me," he defended, shooing her hands away from his face when she managed to poke a particularly sensitive spot, "and how about you Al, what did your Father tell you about being careful with your condition?"

Ally rolled her eyes and taking out her wand she muttered a couple of basic healing spells she had been practicing over the light cuts and bruises over Draco's face and hands.

"It's not a disease Dray. I'm fine. I just got a little dizzy from all that jumping. Besides," Ally quirked an eyebrow, "who are you to talk Mr. I'm-So-Cool-I-Get-Into-Fights-During-Quidditch-Matches."

Draco poked his tongue out at Ally, taking a chance when she dramatically dropped her mouth in faux-shock to ruffle her hair.

"I like your hair by the way," he remarked, "much better than that ginger mess you kept pulling into a ponytail that looked like you were using it to get rid of your remaining brain cells."

Ally shoved him playfully, before pouncing and pinching his cheeks mercilessly.

"Thank you, Dray. I'll make sure to tell Aunt Cissy about how her favorite son is such a gentleman. I'm sure you have Parkinson drooling at every turn."

Draco turned pink as they finished exchanged teasing remarks, making sure to monopolize as much of Ally's time as he could before they had to return to their respective Houses. He refused to admit this to anyone, but he missed his little cousin telling him about the latest book she had read, her fiery locks swishing around for his to tug boyishly, and her olive green eyes bright. He still remembered how dull they used to be.

Swinging an arm around her shoulder, he pulled her briefly into an embrace that he made sure no one else had seen. Ally glanced up at him happily. He smirked down at her and ruffled her hair one last time before swaggering over to where Zabini was sure to be waiting for him. Crabbe and Goyle would eventually wake up.

Right?

Harry felt like he was still flying. He had finally proven himself. He had done something himself, something that he could be proud of - no one could say he was just a famous name anymore. The evening air had never smelled so sweet. He walked over the damp grass, reliving the last hour in his head, which was a happy blur: Gryffindors running to lift him onto their shoulders; Ron and Hermione in the distance, jumping up and down, Ron cheering through a heavy nosebleed.

What made it really special was, as always, Ally.

Looking up into the crowd and seeing the painted lion and her handwriting declaring "Potter for President!" as she raised it high with a smile, he felt he unstoppable.

After the crowds had trickled away, the upper years planning parties in their respective common rooms, and Hermione hauling Ron off to the Hospital Wing, he saw Ally waiting for him on the side of the Pitch, holding a rolled up paper he knew had to be the poster she had made.

His scarlet robes her stained with grass, sweat, and soil, and he self-consciously wiped one of his palms against his uniform in the hopes of getting rid of the dirt. Ally called his name, and when he looked up to see her holding her hand out to him, his heart soared. Harry entwined their hands in a similar gesture as that morning and took a moment to take in Ally's new haircut.

She looked happy and relaxed, a combination he had not seen since that night when they had visited the Mirror of Erised. He knew that he had seen his parents, as well as plenty of other Potters standing behind him, and looking at him with love. It had been hard, knowing they were so close yet so far, and he wondered what Ally could have seen to make her break down the way she had. He knew asking Hermione was out of the question, and he hoped she knew she could tell him whatever was on her mind. For now, he would simply have to enjoy her company.

"Harry, you were brilliant! Snape almost fell off his broom, the overgrown bat, it was hilarious!" Ally laughed.

Harry snorted at the image she had conjured as they swung their hands in between them.

"Yeah, well, serves him right for not giving Gryffindor that penalty point when Alicia got hit by that bludger."

Ally tightened her grip on his hand and slowed to a stop.

"I'm glad you're alright Harry, you deserved to win," Ally blushed prettily as she stuck out the hand that held the poster she and Dean Thomas had been holding up during the match. "Hermione, Dean, and I made this for you, I'm sure you saw us holding it up, and Ron and Neville helped too. I- We want you to have it, as a memento of the match where you beat a Quidditch world record!"

She disentangled their hands and placed the poster in Harry's empty hand instead. Ally glanced at the castle awkardly and then turned back to Harry with an easy smile.

"Well, I guess I better go check on Ron, I saw Hermione taking him to the Hospital Wing. Draco isn't much better off if it makes him feel any better," Ally rolled her eyes. "I'll see you later in the common room!"

Harry nodded and watched as she stuck her hands into her pockets and bounded towards the castle. His eyes trailed after her until he caught sight of a suspicious figure that resembled an overgrown bat go swiftly down the front steps of the castle, clearly not wanting to be seen. It walked as fast as possible toward the forbidden forest.

His victory faded from his mind as he watched. Harry jumped back on his Nimbus Two Thousand and took off. Gliding silently over the castle he saw Snape enter the forest at a run.

He followed.

A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for reading, make sure to leave me a review! They make my day (and help me post a little faster too...)

I just wanted to address the name change of this fan fiction. This story has been known as Ally Hopewell and the Sorcerer's Stone for over five years now. I figured that despite the nostalgia that comes with that name, I wanted to release the story from the confines of writing a new fic with each HP book. This way I can time skip more efficiently and make this story more of my own. I chose "Flamel's Secret" as sort of an homage to the original name and also because it will serve a greater purpose throughout the story and Ally's personal development.

Thanks to all my original readers who have stuck with me since the beginning, as well as all my new readers for giving this story a chance.

Hope you enjoy.

Vera