A/N: I completely apologize for the very long hiatus that this story went on.

Chapter 10: A Birthday & Nicolas Flamel

January 1st, 1992
6:00 a.m.

I'm not really expecting anything for my birthday. I think I told Flora and Hestia when my birthday was, but I can't remember when. I haven't told Harry, Hermione, and Ron when my birthday was. They already got me Christmas presents, which is enough for me. I even sent Hermione, Flora, and Hestia an owl thanking them for their gifts. Would they regret giving a murderer presents if they knew?

When January 1st came, Adriana wasn't expecting more presents for her birthday. She already got plenty of gifts from her friends. It was strange getting actual presents from her friends. She wasn't used to the word 'friends' or even having friends. So she got dressed and went to the Great Hall, where Ron and Harry were at. She sat down next to Ron and got some toast.

"Morning, Adriana," Ron greeted with his mouth full. At least, that's what Adriana thought he said.

"Morning," Adriana greeted to them as she got some porridge.

The owls swarmed in, at least the ones who had made it through the cold weather. Adriana was surprised to see Pagan swoop in with two small packages tied to her legs. Pagan landed in front of Adriana and ruffled her feathers, and held her head up high, like she was trying to look dignified, as if she didn't have packages tied to her legs.

Adriana removed the packages, "Thank you, Pagan." Pagan took a piece of Adriana's toast.

"What did you get?" asked Ron.

Adriana looked at him and opened one package. It was lime green Fwooper quills. Adriana briefly wondered if they were picked because they were green like Slytherin or because they were some nice looking quills.

Adriana noticed a note that read:

Happy Birthday!
- Hestia

She set the quills aside, but Ron grabbed the note and looked surprised, "Oh, happy birthday, Adriana. If I had known…"

"It's okay," whispered Adriana. "I don't really…"

"Celebrate your birthday?" finished Harry. He looked like he sympathized with her.

In a way, Adriana wondered why he did, "Yeah. Ryan…"

"Usually celebrated it with you?" finished Ron.

Adriana nodded and took out three bottles of velvet red ink. She needed to remind herself to send them a thank you note.

"Happy birthday, then," said Harry.

"Thank you," replied Adriana.

They ate in silence, with Harry looking deep in thought.

"What's up with you?" asked Adriana.

"Nothing, just bad dreams," said Harry.

Adriana nodded, "Okay." She frowned, "Do you want to talk about them?"

"I talked to Ron about them," said Harry. "Do you have any idea on who Nicolas Flamel is?"

Adriana shook her head, "No. I know I read his name somewhere, but I can't remember where I did."

"Okay," replied Harry.

Hermione, Flora, and Hestia returned the day before term started.

Apparently Hermione was torn at Harry being out of bed for three nights in a row and not looking for Nicolas Flamel. Hermione had turned to chew Adriana out for not looking for Nicolas Flamel, but seemed to realise that she hadn't enlisted Adriana's help on that. Granted, Adriana was used to getting chewed out over something that really wasn't her fault anyway, so she didn't really care if she got chewed out or not.

Adriana was a bit surprised that Hermione apologised for almost chewing her out though and awkwardly accepted her apology.

Once term started, Harry had Adriana help them search for Nicolas Flamel in between classes, since Oliver Wood was working the Gryffindor team harder so they can overtake Hufflepuff in the House Championship.

Ron was trying to teach Hermione and Adriana how to play Wizard Chess. Adriana wasn't really interested in Wizard Chess and opted out of playing, so Ron decided to teach Hermione how to play. Hermione thought it was rather barbaric when a piece had smashed another piece.

Adriana was feeling a bit upset at the fact that her mother hadn't sent her a single letter. She had expected it, but it truly hurt to not anything be sent to her.

She opened up her journal and took out a quill and ink bottle. In her journal she wrote:

Was I born to be miserable?
Is this what I truly deserve?

She closed her journal right as Harry walked in. He was wet and slightly muddy. She was sure that if she listened closely, she can hear Filch screaming in rage.

Harry sat down next to Ron.

Ron said, "Don't talk to me for a moment. I need to con—" He looked at Harry, "What's the matter with you? You look terrible."

Harry said, "Snape has a sudden desire to referee the next Quidditch match."

"Don't play," said Hermione quickly.

"Say you're ill," said Ron.

"Pretend to break your leg," suggested Hermione.

"Really break your leg," Ron said.

"How about I break your leg for you?" asked Adriana.

Harry seemed slightly amused at Adriana's suggestion, but he looked serious once again. "I can't, since there isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all."

The portrait door opened and Neville toppled inside.

Everyone started laughing but Adriana got up and ran over to Neville. She performed the counter-curse and Hermione was beside them in an instant.

"Who did that to you?" asked Adriana as she helped Neville up. Adriana led him over to the table that she had been sitting at.

"It was Malfoy," said Neville. He was trembling. "I met him outside the library and he said that he was looking for someone to practise that on."

"You want me to curse him?" asked Adriana angrily. "I will." She liked Neville, she thought of him as a friend, perhaps not to the point of Hestia and Flora, or perhaps Harry, Hermione, and Ron. She decided that she should try spending more time with Neville.

Neville shook his head, "No, Adriana. That'll just make it worse."

"Go to Professor McGonagall!" Hermione said. "You should report him!"

Neville shook his head once again, "I don't want to cause more trouble."

"You need to stand up to him, Neville," said Adriana. "There's a reason that the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor. You're brave, Neville. You just need to find it."

Neville smiled at Adriana, "Thank you, Adriana."

Harry held out a package of Chocolate Frogs to Neville. "She's right. The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And Malfoy's in stinking Slytherin. You're worth twelve of Malfoy."

Neville looked like he was going to smile as he unwrapped the Chocolate Frog. "Thanks, Harry…I think I'll just go to bed…" He held the Famous Wizard card out to Harry, "D'you want the card? You collect them, don't you?"

Harry took the card and Neville started walking away.

"Dumbledore again," said Harry looking at the card. "He was the first one I ever—" He gasped and Adriana frowned. "I've found him!"

"Found who?" asked Adriana.

"Flamel! I told you I'd read the name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here – listen to this: 'Professor 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, Nicolas Flamel'!"

Hermione looked as excited as the time she had gotten her marks on their first even homework.

"Stay there," ordered Hermione and ran up the stairs and then she was running back down the stairs in what Adriana was sure was a record breaker.

Hermione had a very large book. "I never thought to look in here! I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit reading."

"Light?" questioned Ron looking at the size of the book.

Adriana had to agree with him on that one. That book surely didn't look light. She realised something: if Hermione considers that book 'light' reading material, what would be her idea of 'heavy reading material?

"Don't speak until I looked something up," said Hermione.

Adriana looked over Hermione's shoulder as the other girl flipped through the pages of the book.

Hermione finally found what she was looking for. "I knew it! I knew it!"

"Are we allowed to speak yet?" Ron grumbled.

"Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone," whispered Hermione.

"That what?" asked Harry and Ron.

"Oh, honestly, don't you two read?" asked Hermione.

"They obviously don't, since you do their homework for them," replied Adriana.

Hermione nodded at that and showed the book to Harry and Ron. Adriana glanced at the book and only read the first paragraph.

"So that's what the three-headed dog is guarding," said Adriana. "Everybody would be after that, since it gives gold and stops people from dying."

"And I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe because they're friends. He knew that someone's after it," said Hermione.

Adriana nodded, "Yeah."

"No wonder Snape's after it!" Harry said.

Adriana bit her lower lip on that. She wasn't entirely sure if Snape was after anything. She wasn't entirely sure if Snape was after anything.

"No wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry," said Ron. "He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?"

"What exactly are you going to do now?" asked Adriana. "If you think Snape's after the Stone, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know yet, but I know that we're not going to let Snape get a hold of it," said Harry.

Adriana found a spot in the stands with Neville, who didn't understand why Ron and Hermione looked grim.

"Why do they look grim?" Neville whispered.

Adriana shrugged, although she knew why. She didn't want Neville to even be more worried over everything than he was already was.

A few times Adriana had gone into the deserted common room to see Hermione and Ron practising the Leg-Locker Curse. Apparently they were worried that Snape was going to do something.

She doubted that since Dumbledore was in the stands with the other staff.

"I've never see Snape look so mad," said Ron. "Look – they're off. Ouch!"

Adriana turned to see that it was Malfoy with his goons. What were their names again?"

"Oh, sorry, Weasley, didn't see you there," said Malfoy, obviously lying.

"Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on his broom this time? Anyone want a bet? What about you, Weasley?"

Snape had awarded Hufflepuff a penalty because George had hit a Bludger right at him.

"You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team?" said Malfoy.

Adriana rolled her eyes. "They pick people that they feel sorry for. See, there's Potter, who's got no parents, then there's the Weasleys, who've got no money. Frost, your own mother doesn't even want you."

Adriana saw black.

"Get off of him, Frost," said an older student.

Adriana had somehow knocked Malfoy backwards and had started strangling him. She managed to get pulled off of Malfoy. Malfoy had a split lip and a now forming black-eye.

"Wait 'til my father hears about this!" threatened Malfoy.

"Was that a threat? Was that a threat? Go and tell your father that you got your arse kicked a by a girl! Run along know like the coward you bloody are!" yelled Adriana.

"You're mad!" yelled Malfoy as the three Slytherins took off running.

Ron just looked stunned, "That wasn't mad! That's bloody brilliant!"

Adriana was finally calming down. She wasn't entirely sure why she acted like that, but she knew that it was true, which hurt a lot to admit.

"What happened?" asked Adriana.

Neville was unconscious.

"Well, it all started when you punched Malfoy, not that he didn't deserve it, then you started punching and shoving him. Grabbe and Goyle were trying to get to him, Neville and I started fighting with them. Then you started choking him and that's when we tried pulling you away," said Ron.

Adriana nodded, "Oh."

"Gryffindor won, though," said Hermione with a frown at Adriana.

Adriana had a feeling that she was going to get a stern talking to from Hermione.

"What was that all about?" asked Hermione. They were in the Gryffindor common room celebrating the victory that Gryffindor had, especially since the match lasted ten minutes. The Weaseley twins had snuck out to get some cakes and drinks from the kitchens. Adriana took a cream cake and pumpkin juice.

"What do you mean?" asked Adriana innocently.

"When you gave Malfoy a black-eye," said Ron.

Adriana shrugged, "He hit a nerve."

Ron was now frowning, "He said—"

"I know what he said!" snapped Adriana. "And he just hit a nerve." She focused on her dessert while Hermione and Ron poked and prodded at her, that Adriana ended up getting frustrated and took off the girls' dormitory.

She took her journal out, along with an ink bottle and a quill. She sat down on her bed and pulled the hangings closed. She opened up her journal and started writing:

February 22, 1992

I got in a fight with Malfoy today. He somehow knew that Mother doesn't want me. Maybe he was just saying that because I stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas. I wish I knew how he knew that. Maybe he was throwing accusations around just to get under my skin.

I'm just tired of being bothered by the truth.

The truth?

Mother hates me.

And now Malfoy knows it, too.

If it wasn't true, no one would react like the way I did.

And the hardest part? Admitting to it and knowing that no matter what I do, she'll never be proud of me and that I was a grave mistake that she would never forgive.

And the worst part?

I still want her to be proud of me.

She finished the entry and set it aside and fell backwards on her bed.