I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANYTHING AFFILIATED WITH IT. I ONLY OWN DEVYN AND HER PARENTS.

AN: Sorry it's been awhile, guys. I've just been really busy with school. We have three books to read, two pretty big projects, and I've been dealing with early college applications. So anyway, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 25

Christmas and New Year's had passed without much event. Devyn and Moony had a nice quiet Christmas with just the two of them and they exchanged presents. Moony had insisted that Devyn needn't have gotten him anything; that her presence alone was enough of a gift for him, but Devyn ignored him.

And so had Mrs. Longbottom. It had been the Longbottom matriarch that took Devyn into Diagon Alley, where she had bought Moony his Christmas present: she hadn't known what to get him, so she bought him a new set of robes and a set of books on everything ranging from really Advanced Charms to really Advanced Potions. He was quite the academic, so she thought that he might like it. Plus, he really needed some new robes. It wasn't much, she had thought ruefully, as she looked at her necklace that Moony had given her for her birthday.

But, of course, that didn't matter to Moony. He beamed when he saw his gifts and hugged Devyn tightly. Moony's gift to her had been a photo album filled with pictures of her mum and dad. Some of them were with Moony, James, Lily, and two other guys; some of them were just her parents alone; and some of them, not many, but some were of her with her parents when she was a baby. In every single picture, her parents were smiling and waving up at her. Of course, they couldn't see her, but to Devyn, it felt as though she had opened a window to the past and they could see each other, instead of Devyn just seeing echoes of the past in picture form. Either way, she cherished it.

"Thank you, Moony!" she had told him. He grinned nervously and said, "Do you like it? I had to ask around for some of the photos, but most of them I had already…"

"Do I like it? Moony, I love it! It's amazing!"

She hugged her godfather happily, and said, very quietly, "I love you, Moony."

"I love you, too, Devyn," he replied, his voice breaking with emotion a little bit.

On New Year's, Moony invited Neville and Mrs. Longbottom over to celebrate with them. When the clock chimed midnight, Moony kissed Mrs. Longbottom on the cheek, making her giggle. In Devyn's opinion, Mrs. Longbottom had had just a touch too much wine.

Regardless, Devyn hugged Neville and said, "Happy New Year's, Nev."

"Happy New Year's to you, too, Devyn," he replied, smiling more widely than Devyn had ever seen him. She had a strong urge to kiss Neville on the cheek, like Moony had done to Mrs. Longbottom, but she resisted it.

She knew that it would embarrass Neville, and, at the same time, she was trying to battle a small feeling in her stomach that felt like butterflies fluttering around every time Neville smiled like he had just done.

She had a feeling that what she was dealing with at the current time was the beginnings of a tiny crush. But Neville was her best friend…surely it was only Devyn being fond of him because he was her best friend. Right?

Yeah, that's what it was, she convinced herself. It was nothing. Ignore it. It'll go away.

It has to go away. He's my best friend, Devyn thought as she lay in bed that night. I don't like him like that. I can't. He is my best friend. That's it. That's all he is. I do not have a crush on Neville Longbottom.

But somewhere in a dark corner of her mind, some part of her was rolling their eyes and settling down, waiting for her to stop lying to herself, even if she didn't know she was lying to herself yet.

Two months later – March, 1991

Devyn, Neville, Ron, and Harry were in the library yet again. It seemed like they were spending all of their free time in there, and Devyn felt as though she could now navigate the place in her sleep, with a blindfold on, if she was requested to.

Not that she had anything against libraries, but she was getting quite bored with scouring the shelves for books that looked likely to have Nicholas Flamel in them somewhere…and never finding anything. Besides, she thought that if she had to deal with Madam Pince, the very ill-tempered librarian, breathing down her neck for any more time, she might actually throttle her.

But today, Devyn had a feeling that today things would be different. For some reason, she had a feeling that today they might actually find something.

At the current time, Hermione was off looking in the shelves, while Harry and Ron were divvying up a stack of books to search through. Neville was looking in the index of one book and Devyn was reading a very long and boring piece on something called the Sorcerer's Stone.

Devyn realized that she wasn't taking any of it in when she reread the same paragraph for the fifth time. It was so mind-numbingly dull that she couldn't focus. It wasn't that the she found the Sorcerer's Stone a boring subject, but the author of the book.

The way it was written, she wouldn't have been surprised if Professor Binns was the author. Just for kicks, she checked the cover for the author's name. Much to her surprise, the name on the cover was in fact, Professor Cuthbert Binns.

She snorted and muttered to herself, "Now it all makes sense."

"What makes sense?" Harry asked her. She looked up and said, "This brain-cell-killing boring book was written by none other than Professor Binns. That's why it is so boring."

"Ah," Harry said, and went back to his book. Next to her, Neville had fallen asleep, and Devyn prodded him awake as Hermione came back over. She was carrying the biggest book Devyn had ever seen.

"I had you looking in the wrong section," Hermione said. Devyn tossed the book she was reading over her shoulder and continued to try and prod Neville awake. "How could I be so stupid?" she continued.

Hermione dropped the book on the table, making Harry jump and Neville jolt awake – and straight out of his chair. He landed on the floor and Devyn helped him up while Hermione said, "I checked this out a few weeks ago for a bit of light reading!"

Devyn looked at Hermione and the book and then shrugged; she was used to Hermione's reading habits by now. In fact, compared to the other girls in her dormitory, Hermione was perfectly normal in Devyn's eyes. At least she didn't stay up half the night giggling about the cute boys, like Lavender and Parvati.

However, Ron widened his eyes and said, "This is light?" as Hermione started flipping through the pages.

Devyn snorted when Hermione glared at him, but then said, "Of course, here it is! 'Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!'"

Devyn's eyes widened. She wondered how close she was in the book she had been reading. However, she doubted that Professor Binns would have concerned himself with Nicholas Flamel. Plus, she didn't think she would have lasted much longer with that book anyways.

"The what?" the three boys chorused. Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "Honestly, don't you three read? 'The Sorcerer's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It'll transform any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.'"

Devyn nodded, now figuring out that the Sorcerer's Stone was what Fluffy was guarding. Well, that certainly warranted a three-headed dog as protection.

"Immortal?" Ron repeated.

"It means you'll never die," Hermione told him.

"I know what it means!" Ron said indignantly. Devyn laughed silently at Ron's outrage. Clearly he felt that Hermione had insulted his intelligence.

Harry shushed Ron and Hermione continued reading, "The only stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel, the noted alchemist, who last year celebrated his 665th birthday.' That's what Fluffy's guarding on the third floor. That's what's under the trap door. The Sorcerer's Stone."

Finally! Some answers! Devyn thought happily while the others looked at each other nervously. Devyn started formulating yet another question in her head. Why would Flamel's Stone be at Hogwarts? Wouldn't he need it to continue to make the Elixir of Life?

After they figured out that the Sorcerer's Stone was what was under the trap door, the five of them knew who they had to talk to: Hagrid. He was the one who mentioned Nicholas Flamel in the first place, and if they were being honest with themselves, Hagrid was the only one who would listen to five first years, with the exception of perhaps Dumbledore.

So there they were, running as fast as they possibly could across the pitch black and wet grounds, trying to get to Hagrid's hut. It was almost midnight and for this reason, Neville hadn't wanted to go out. He didn't want to risk getting in trouble, but he also didn't want to be left behind. She tried to convince him to come along, but he decided against it in the end. Devyn had shrugged and said, "That's your choice, Neville. See you later."

Neville had looked relieved that he wasn't being forced to go and the four of them set out for Hagrid's hut. Harry got there first and knocked. When it opened to reveal their large friend, Harry said, "Hagrid!"

Devyn raised an eyebrow at the additions to Hagrid's normal attire (an apron and oven mitts) as he said, "Oh, hello. Sorry, don't mean to be rude, but I'm in no fit state to entertain today."

Devyn was slightly affronted when Hagrid started to close the door, but then all four of them exclaimed, in unison, "We know about the Sorcerer's Stone."

Hagrid opened the door again and said only this: "Oh."

He lead them inside after that and Harry immediately said, "We think Snape's trying to steal it."

"Snape?" Hagrid questioned. "Blimey, Harry, yer not still on about him, are yeh?"

"Hagrid," Devyn said, looking him square in the eye. "We know he's after the Stone. We just don't know why."

Hagrid had this look in his eye when he replied. Devyn wasn't sure what it was, but it looked something between amusement and pity. Either way, Devyn wasn't sure she liked it.

"Snape is one of the teachers protecting the Stone. He's not about ter steal it!"

Devyn wasn't entirely surprised as she flopped into one of the chairs, as did the others. She had figured that there would be other things protecting the Stone, like spells and enchantments. And of course, the other teachers would have protections as well, that was only logical. Unfortunately, with Snape taking part in protecting the Stone, he was in an ideal position to figure out the other teacher's protections. The teachers, and Dumbledore, would never suspect one of their own to be after the Stone. Even though she didn't like him, she had to admit that Snape was crafty and very smart. It was really no wonder that Hagrid didn't believe them.

Harry, on his part, was quite shocked, however. "What?" This seemed to be all that Harry could manage to say, he was so dumbfounded.

"You heard," Hagrid said. "Right. Come on, now. I'm a bit preoccupied today."

"Wait a minute," Harry said, as Fang, Hagrid's boarhound, sniffed Ron. "One of the teachers?"

There you go, Harry. Figured it out, good for you, Devyn thought, completely sincere. She knew that Harry was far smarter than he played himself off as. He might not have been as quick as Hermione, but he was really just as brilliant.

Speaking of Hermione, who was seated in a massive chair, she said, "Of course! There are other things defending the Stone, aren't there? Spells, enchantments."

"That's right," Hagrid said, confirming what Devyn already knew. "Waste of bloody time, if you ask me."

Hermione frowned at Ron, who was shuffling away from Fang, who was trying to sniff Ron. Taking pity on the poor boy, Devyn signaled Fang and the enormous dog bounded over to her. Devyn smiled and started scratching the back of Fang's ear.

"Ain't no one gonna get past Fluffy," Hagrid continued. He chuckled and said, "Not a soul knows how, except fer me an' Dumbledore."

Suddenly Hagrid looked angry with himself and said, "I shouldn't have told you that. I shouldn't have told you that."

And then the cauldron over Hagrid's fire began to rattle and Hagrid said, "Oh!" He hurried over to it and took something out of the very hot cauldron, and quickly put it on the table. The five of them gathered around the table with Hagrid and Devyn looked at what was on the table.

It appeared to be…an egg. A really big egg, but an egg all the same. Why would Hagrid have an egg? What was he hatching? What could be that big to come out of that size egg? Unless…no, he wouldn't. It would be far too dangerous. Hagrid would never…but then, he did have Fluffy….

"Uh, Hagrid," Harry said tentatively. "What exactly is that?"

"That?" Hagrid said, looking at the tan colored egg. "It's a…it's um…"

Devyn was alarmed that Hagrid couldn't even tell them what it was, which mean either he didn't want them to know, or he didn't know himself. Either way, it didn't look good.

"I know what that is!" Ron exclaimed. Then he looked confused. "But Hagrid…how did you get one?"

"I won it," Hagrid informed them. "Off a stranger I met down the pub. Seemed quite glad to be rid of it, as a matter of fact."

The egg rattled and cracked and shattered, and out fell – Devyn couldn't even believe her own eyes – a baby dragon. It was the same tan as its egg had been and looked around curiously at them all. It had small wings that Devyn was sure wouldn't remain small for long, with clawed toes at the end of them.

It squeaked a little when it slipped on a shard of egg and Hagrid positively gushed, as though it was a cute puppy or something. Devyn supposed it wasn't an ugly creature; it was actually quite exquisite, if a little disproportioned, but she didn't think that it warranted gushing over.

"Is that…a dragon?" Hermione asked.

"That's not just a dragon! That's a Norwegian Ridgeback! My brother Charlie works with these in Romania."

"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid said, sniffling as though he just witnessed the birth of his first child. The little creature turned and looked up at Hagrid. "Oh bless him, look, he knows his mummy!"

Devyn was now fairly sure that Hagrid had cracked up. He chuckled again and tickled the dragon under his chin. "Hallo, Norbert!"

Harry and Ron looked at one another and Devyn felt like bashing her head against the table. "Norbert?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Yeah, well, he's gotta have a name, doesn't he?" Hagrid said. Ron laughed and Hagrid went back to tickling Norbert under his chin. But then Norbert hiccupped, creating a fireball and accidently set Hagrid's beard on fire.

Hagrid frantically beat the fire out and once he succeeded, he said, "Well, he'll have to be trained up a bit of course." Hagrid suddenly frowned at his window.

"Who's that?" he asked. Devyn whirled around just in time to see a blonde head scampering away. She and Harry looked at one another in terror. The one person that caught them was the one person they both hated with an equal passion.

"Malfoy."