A/N: IMPORTANT! As of 9/27/21, the first three chapters of the Warriors stone have been revised to fill minor plot holes and things I wanted changed. If this is on your favorites list, the changes are detailed at the Authors note on the bottom, in case you don't want to re-read.

/~/

Transfiguration was with Ravenclaw, which Harry was very happy about. He hadn't had a chance to talk to Hermione since the boat ride. He'd already gotten Neville on board with the study group, and he was hoping to add two more names to the list with this class.

He got to Transfiguration class with Neville in tow, the first class of the third day, fifteen minutes early. Most Hogwarts students weren't punctual, but it seemed Hermione wasn't most students.

There was a smattering of students in the seats, but the classroom was mostly empty.

The bushy haired brunette was sitting in the front row practically bouncing with energy.

"She really does love learning." Harry thought with a smile that couldn't help but show.

At the front of the room, a tabby cat was sitting on the desk with its tail whipping lazily behind it.

"Neville, I'm going to go sit up by Hermione, want to sit with us?"

"Thanks James, but no way am I going to sit in the front of the class. I've heard the Professor is scary." Neville said nervously.

Harry shrugged, "Suit yourself. See you after class Nev."

Harry walked to the front of the room and called out to Hermoine, who turned and smiled once she saw who it was.

"James!" She exclaimed brightly.

"Hey, Hermione. How are you liking Ravenclaw?" Harry asked pleasantly.

"I like it so far! Everybody seems to enjoy learning so I think I got the perfect House!" Hermione gushed.

"I'm glad you like it. And classes are going well?" Harry questioned.

"Yes! It's like what you said on the boat, most of the material is theory so far and very easily understood. I'm excited for the harder material, honestly." Hermione said, basking in the attention and the chance to talk about school.

"How did you know what the curriculum would be for Hogwarts? I read Hogwarts, a History; and it never mentioned anything about it." She questioned, an earlier thought coming back to her like an itch.

"She's perceptive."

"I grew up in a magical family, the curriculum is well known." Harry said easily with a kind smile.

"Oh… Well that makes sense. I'm surprised I didn't think of that. Dumb." Hermione said, tapping her temple with her hand.

"The smartest people look over the simplest things." Harry said wisely.

"James," Hermione rolled her eyes. "One mistake does not mean I look over the simplest things." Hermione retorted.

"True." Harry conceded, before asking the question he'd had in mind when he wanted to sit by her.

"Hermione, I've been thinking of starting a study group if you'd be interested in joining. We'd mostly be going over what we learned in class, but if some are ready to go beyond that we will start to learn ahead." Harry offered.

"YES!" Hermione exclaimed, nearly standing out of her seat in her excitement, before she lowered herself back into her chair with a blush on her face. "I mean… Yes, James. I would like to join. Thank you for inviting me." Hermoine said genuinely.

"No problem," Harry said casually. "You're smart and aren't embarrassed to learn, I'd be stupid to not invite you."

"Oh well... Thank you for your compliments. They mean a lot to me." Hermione said, almost at a loss for words.

Harry just nodded with a smile and pulled out his book for the class period, this one was titled Introduction to Sustained Transfiguration. It was interesting and was hopefully able to answer some questions left unknown about the properties and capabilities of his wand.

He doubted it though. If Nic didn't know, this book wouldn't.

Students slowly trickled in the sooner it got to the start of class. The seats filled up but the one to Harry's left was still unoccupied.

Then the angelic klutz named Luna swooped in and slinked into the open seat.

"James, Hermoine. Hello." Luna said breathily, not looking towards them. Her attention was fixated on the tabby in the front of the room.

"Hey Luna! How are you doing?" James asked politely.

"Oh James. Don't you worry about me. Your Nargle infestation is smaller than before, it's good to see."

"I'm ok, thank you for asking. The nargles haven't been bothering me so much today." He said with a smile. "Hey Luna, would you be interested in joining a study group? Hermione's in it too!"

"Will we be learning about Crumple-Horned Snorlacks? I've seen daddy's research but it didn't teach me too much."

"Um… I'm not sure what that is but we can look into it during one of the classes." Harry offered kindly, even though he was pretty confused.

"Perfect. It's a date." Luna said.

"What?" Harry coughed out.

"You heard me James." Luna said, finally glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

"Not correctly evidently," Harry said with a sigh. "It's a study group, Luna. And I don't want a girlfriend. I'm 11." Harry said matter of factly.

Luna just smiled wide, "I'm only kidding James, you're so easy to rile up."

"Oh…" Harry trailed off. He'd been fooled.

Harry glanced at Luna and her attention was still fixated on the cat in the front of the room.

"She must really love animals."

The class was filled to the brim at this point, and there was still no sign of the teacher. Class should have started at least three minutes ago.

"What a way to make a first impression." Harry thought.

The annoying red-head from his House, Ron, ran into class with his eyes wide and his breathing labored, his face as red as his hair.

"Sweet Merlin, the teacher isn't here yet?" Ron addressed the class.

"No, you're lucky today." Hermoine said.

"Yea I am!" Ron agreed, "It's a good thing the dumb McGonagall's late, I wouldn't have gotten in trouble."

The cat Luna had been staring at hopped off the desk and transformed into a stern looking witch, a plethora of gasps of amazement were heard from the students. "And now you'll be in more trouble, Mr. Weasley. Five points from Gryffindor."

"But Professor! I got lost!" Ron pleaded.

"The points aren't for being late, Mr. Weasley. It's for insulting a teacher at Hogwarts. I suggest you remember that, or your housemates won't be pleased with the results. Are we understood?" She questioned fiercely.

"Yes, Professor McGonagall." Ron said lamely.

"Then go take a seat." She said sternly, "Today we will be learning about the wonders of Transfiguration... " She started. Harry didn't care to listen to things he'd already heard, so he pulled his attention back to his book and tuned the teacher out.

The lecture ended quickly enough and then the class moved on to the practical side of things. Each student was given an eye-less iron needle, and told to turn it into a steel needle that contained an eye. A simple transformation of metal and an addition of a circle. Easy.

Harry didn't want to draw attention to himself, so he performed the correct wand motions and said the correct words, and did it correctly on his first try.

Harry didn't realize doing it correctly on the first try would be drawing attention to himself anyways. Not to mention reading an advanced transfiguration book, now that he thought about it.

He was just glad Hermoine got it right on the first try as well.

Professor McGonagall approached the both of them and awarded five points to Gryffindor to each of them.

"Mr. Flamel, would you please stay after class?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes Professor."

The class ended soon after, and Harry walked to the back of the classroom to tell Neville to not wait up for him. Neville gave him a smile and left.

Before long, only McGonagall and Harry remained.

"Mr. Flamel, I couldn't help but notice that you were reading an advanced book, and completed the transfiguration in class today quite easily." McGonagall said, leaving the sentence open.

"Yes Professor. I've studied and learned with my parents before coming here, most of this is quite easy." Harry said, shrugging his shoulders.

"I'd much rather prefer a physical example." McGonagall started, walking over to her desk to grab the teacup that sat upon it. "Change this teacup into a tortoise, with as much detail as possible."

Harry grabbed his wand and just flicked it in the direction of the teacup, effortlessly changing it into a tortoise. The detail was immaculate, from the green hue of it's skin to the acorn-colored shell.

McGonagall gave Harry another look, "Mr. Flamel. Hogwarts wouldn't be the premier school of Witchcraft and Wizardry if we allowed a talented student such as yourself too…" She paused, searching for the right word. "Stagnate." She gave Harry a pointed look.

"I'll be talking to the Headmaster and set up a meeting to talk about possibly moving you up to an older class." McGonagall said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

"Fuck."

"Yes, Professor." Harry answered neutrally, none of the rising anger and worry that was festering in his belly showing on his face.

"I'll send you the details on the time and location through your prefect. I suggest you be as punctual as you were today."

It seemed McGonagall had a habit of suggesting things in situations where choice didn't matter. How fun.

"Yes, Professor. Am I free to leave?" Harry questioned.

"Don't treat this like a death sentence, you should be proud." McGonagall advised.

"Yes, Professor." Was all Harry said.

McGonagall sighed, "You are free to leave. I look forward to seeing you in the next class, whichever one that may be."

Harry nodded in acceptance and left the room.

After he had gotten out of the classroom, Harry allowed his true emotions to show. He was pissed, and scared. He had just found out Dumbledore was the reason he'd suffered so much, and now he was being thrown into the lion's den.

/~/

Albus Dumbledore waited in his office, sucking on a lemon drop.

A few hours ago, the knowledgeable Professor McGonagall had given him a glowing description of one of his friend's children. Evidently, he walked along the same path as his father, the path being one of a skilled wizard.

He wouldn't have James moved up to a higher class, the old wizard had already decided. Distancing a talented child from his classmates was not a good idea, he'd learned that from Tom Riddle and his love for leeching knowledge from the best sources-his teachers.

The meeting would be a good chance to see what the boy was like; his character, morals, things like that. The Headmaster liked to connect with all the talented students that came through Hogwarts doors. Knowing who could possibly turn dark and who would fight for the light was important, Hogwarts was more than just a school after all.

Hogwarts could be graced by love but corrupted by evil, and not too long ago the division between the two was both closer and farther away than it had even been before; the effects were still seen today. None more apparent than the feud between the newest Weasely and the Malfoy heir; Albus was just grateful Draco wasn't throwing out insults about Ron's pureblood status.

Albus was broken from his thoughts when the stone gargoyle covering the entrance of his office slid open, and James Flamel walked into the waiting room. Albus called him in and once James was in front of the desk, he gave him a grandfatherly smile and told him to sit.

"James, it's quite nice to meet you. I've heard only good things from Professor McGonagall so far." The Headmaster said with a wizened look on his face.

Harry deigned not to say anything, intent on judging how Albus made himself out to be.

"I won't dawdle, it seems you've been rather exceptional in your Transfiguration class." The Headmaster said, putting both hands on his desk and leaning forward slightly. "And on your first day of class no less."

"Yes, Headmaster. Professor McGonagall wanted me to move up classes. I don't really want to, but she was pretty set on it."

"Professor McGonagall can be stubborn." The Headmaster said, a twinkle in his eye. "However, the only person who can approve the transfer of classes is the Headmaster. If you don't want me to approve it, I won't."

"Really?" Harry questioned, his emerald eyes widening in surprise.

"His eyes look just like Lily's."

"Of course. I wouldn't want to do something terrible like dragging a young man from his friends. I don't think I could young James." The Headmaster said kindly.

Harry's open expression of surprise shifted into something more sinister, and then closed off before Dumbledore could tell what the look actually was.

"I'm glad you wouldn't do something that terrible." Harry said simply.

Albus Dumbledore wasn't a man who didn't get answers, even when he hadn't asked a question. His mannerisms were quite strange, it called for some subtle digging.

"Legilimens."

Dumbledore's touch was light as a feather, he was expecting snippets of thoughts and emotions but no memories.

What he wasn't expecting was to meet a well-practiced Occlumens shield, bearing down on his light touch like an elephant stepping on a mouse. Dumbledore hastily retreated from the young man's mind with a look of embarrassment on his face.

"I'm sorry I had to do that, James. You were acting strange and I needed to make sure there was nothing ulterior going on, you understand." The Headmaster said hurriedly, looking to move on from the topic.

"I don't think I do understand, Professor. My father will be hearing about this." Harry said stiffly before standing and storming out of the Hokage's office.

Dumbledore sat speechless in his office before he began to laugh quietly.

"Time for damage control," he thought as he pulled out parchment, ink and a quill. Nicolas would understand, surely.

/~/

At the cottage in the meadow in the kitchen of the expansive house, Perenelle raged. Reading Harry's letter had destroyed any respect she had for the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

"That Dumbledore is a meddling fool! He has no right to just throw Harry to muggles who would abuse him! Any respect I had for that man is gone!" She spat and slammed her hands onto the countertops. "And now our Harry is right in that coot's lap, where Dumblefore can meddle more! We need to pull Harry out of the school." Perenelle said firmly to Nic, who looked deeply troubled.

"You know we can't pull him out of school, Perenelle, but it is troubling." Nic said, and wrapped his arm around Perenelle's shoulder. "Dumbledore is a meddler but he's no fool, we need to go about this carefully. We're safe because his identity is hidden, and that's how it must stay." Nic advised wisely, rubbing his hand in soothing circles on his wife's back.

"Maybe it won't be good enough! Dumbledore is terrible." She cried out.

"It will be enough. He won't be looking for someone that doesn't look like Lily or James Potter." Nic said firmly.

Perenelle leaned into her beloved, "It just scares me Nic. Our little boy has so many people who want to hurt him and we can't do anything but sit back…and hope." She said, her voice cracking with sadness.

"Hey, hey…" He said. Nic pulled her off of him and softly grabbed her chin with his hand, turning her head so she was looking in his eyes.

"We will still help him, Perenelle. We just have to learn how to do it in a different way, that's all." Nic said gently.

Perenelle nodded a couple times and wiped the angry tears from her eyes, "I guess leaning now is better than later. We both know Harry would hate to be protected like he was just a child."

"Yea, our boy thinks he's all grown up." Nic said, smiling at his wife. "He's strong and works hard too. Don't you forget that."

They talked about a wide range of plans; from the more extreme plots, like murdering Albus (Perenelle's crazy idea); to the more realistic ones, like telling him to just lay low and to not let his emotions get the best of him-which is what they settled on.

Perenelle grabbed a quill and piece of parchment and started to draft up a letter; saying how much she and Nic missed him, and the plan to lay low and not draw Dumbledore's attention.

"We shouldn't worry too much about Harry protecting himself. We need to make sure he's taking care of himself." Nic said.

"Harry always wants to make sure others are okay, it's just the way he is. He has a big heart." Perenelle agreed, drawing up the final portion of the letter.

"It's the best and worst thing about him, it's going to get him into trouble." Nic said, shaking his head.

Perenelle folded the finished letter and was moving to the owlery in their house to send the Flamel family owl to Hogwarts. She was near the middle of the 20 stair landing when a light knock drew her attention towards the window. She looked over and saw the symbol on their family crest, gently tapping its beak like it was asking for permission.

"Fawkes." She seethed.

"Nicolas! Come here now!" Perenelle ordered.

A heavy sigh could be heard from the other room, "Yes, dear. I'll be right there."

"Now Nic! It's Dumbledore!" Perenelle exclaimed.

A chair screeching against the marble floor showed Nic understood he was actually needed, and there wasn't just some animal in the yard she had wanted him to look at. (She loved to call him out of his office to look at deer.)

He sprinted up the stairs and saw the phoenix and his glowering wife, he moved his mouth behind her head so Fawkes couldn't catch what he was saying.

If it was Dumbledore's phoenix the damn thing could probably read lips.

"Stay calm. We can't give anything away."

Perenelle nodded sharply at Nic's words then turned to the phoenix and gestured inside with a smile.

The phoenix flashed out of existence and then whirled back into reality with a wreath of fire; clutched in its talons was a letter with the official seal of Hogwarts.

Nic reached forward and plucked the letter from the phoenix's grasp and nodded his respect towards the animal. No matter how Nicolas felt about the bird's master, it was a beautiful animal and the cycle of death and rebirth resonated with him.

The phoenix nodded his respect back, and disappeared in flames.

Nicolas held the letter in his hand for a moment, and the couple met eyes. They walked back down the stairs and moved into the kitchen.

Perenelle grabbed the letter out of Nick's hand and opened it, and read it aloud.

"Dear Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel,

Your son was acting strangely, like he was being controlled. I performed a light Legilimecy, just to see if he was in fact being subverted. He was not, but he seemed furious that I wanted to help. Please do talk to your son,

Best Regards,
Albus Dumbledore."

"He dares…" Perenelle breathed out angrily. "Nic, go get me a howler." She ordered.

"Perenelle-" He started to object.

"Nic. Go. Get. Me. A. Howler." She said, barely containing her emotions.

"Yes, dear." Nic said, only a little scared of his wife's temper.

/~/

Harry didn't have much time between his meeting with the Headmaster and his last class of the day, Defense Against the Dark Arts.

He walked into class barely containing his anger and plopped down in the first open seat he could find. Harry was in no mood to talk to anyone, he'd likely just lash out at them. Two random students filled the spots beside him, and Harry was grateful he wouldn't have to talk to Neville or Draco for the period.

It'd be harder to explain his anger to Neville, so he was doubly grateful that Longbottom didn't have a chance to sit beside him.

The class soon filled up, Neville waved at him and Draco sent him a concerned look.

Draco could always tell when he was pissed, "Later," Harry mouthed. He knew Draco would figure it out.

Harry was looking to escape the world that was crumbling around him, all due to one man who was praised as a saint.

He pulled out the Transfiguration book he had started on earlier and dove right in, looking for an escape. Harry tried to read and take note of theories and methods that could help him figure out the limits of his wand, but none of the words seemed to make sense; it was all a jumbled mess, he figured it was what dyslexic people felt like and he shuddered.

Having to work so hard to be able to read would just suck, entirely possible, but harder than it should be. Thankfully, the Defense teacher strode in the room, a turban on his head and a pronounced stutter as he introduced himself.

"Hel.. Hello class! I'm Professor Quirell, y...your Defense Against the d...Dark Arts Teacher!" The Professor stammered. Professor Quirell scanned the classroom, passing over James with no more than a side-long glance before something-Harry didn't know what-caught the Professor's attention and his eyes darted back to Harry once, then up at Harry's forehead a second time.

"Weird."

Professor Quirell didn't give him any more attention than that for the rest of the period, and Harry was grateful to have the time to just simmer down and pop his chill pill. He was still angry, like a river of dark emotions eroding anything that stood in its path, but controlled. A dam had been placed and the river of emotion was halted, for now.

Perfect timing, as well. Draco sauntered up to him in the hallway.

"Flamel, do you have a list for the people you want in the group?"

"Yea, I've only got three so far, but quality over quantity." Harry said with an impish grin.

"Only three?" Draco questioned in disbelief. "I've already gotten five! You need to step it up." Draco said seriously.

Harry just waved him off, "And how many out of the five are in Slytherin, and Crabbe and Goyle don't count." Harry said.

Draco at least had the decency to look abashed, "I've got three then too. Whoops."

"Like I said, quality over quantity." Harry said victoriously. He loved winning verbal spats with Draco.

"It's probably best to have fewer people," Draco relented, "Definitely makes it easier to keep what we learn a secret."

"Exactly! I was thinking we should meet at the library tomorrow an hour before supper to get the details ironed out. I was thinking about having our first meeting in a week, or so." Harry suggested.

"That works for me, Flamel. I've got to go, but I'll see you at the library tomorrow." Draco said, turning on his heel.

There was still around an hour until supper was ready to be eaten, but Harry was emotionally drained. Just talking with Draco, his closest friend at Hogwarts, left him wanting no company but his own.

Thoughts of the Dursley's started to swing back into his mind like they always did when he was stressed, so he dealt with it the same way he did yesterday. The clearing in the Forbidden Forest called out to him, and he would answer.

It still wasn't dark, by the time he finally arrived at the training grounds. Yesterday, he'd worked on the wandless stuff, but he wasn't really all that interested in doing meticulous work that needed his full attention.

He just wanted to let go, and be free. His magic responded, flaring to life and out of him like a barrel filled with water that had a hole drilled out of the side. The magic pouring out his wand and into the forest overrode the glamor Harry had placed, letting the regality of the wand be shown to the world, the yew wood shone with a white etheral light that was muted by a brilliant red light pouring through the cracks in the white lights visage. To a man walking by, Harry's wand shone the color of blood.

A wand of death.

He raised his arms, and the forest moved with him. Branches and vines twisted, grew and moved towards the sky in a desperate gambit to leech sunlight. The tips of the small tree limbs sharpened, and a metallic glint shone from the point.

Harry threw his arms down towards the floor, and once again the forest responded. The metallic points shredded the ground like a farmer plowing the fields, leaving nothing but loam and upturned soil. His arms returned to his sides, and he took in deep greedy breaths of air.

He was certainly capable of performing great feats of magic, but it still left him drained.

"Can't wait until I grow into my damn core."

He moved towards his resting spot located on the rocks, and began his daily cooldown of observing nature and trying to find inner peace that continued to elude him.

Like yesterday the unicorn waltzed into the clearing with no warning. It didn't seem rushed or scared, like it had the day before. The silver eyes of the majestic animal shone with intelligence and curiosity, and it slowly ambled towards Harry. The beast kept eye contact, and kept walking towards him, only stopping a few meters away.

Close enough for both of them to get a good look, but far enough that neither could touch. The unicorn sniffed the air, bowed its head towards Harry, and bounded off into the forest.

/~/

A/N: Next chapter some major plot points for the first year start to unfold. Changes from the first three chapters are detailed below.

Changes:

General spacing was changed and fixed.

Chapter 1 changes: Fixing some plot holes mentioned by Tenjo, who has my thanks. Harry doesn't know what Buckingham palace is. Stone can't transfigure souls, instead of the brain. The stone can transfigure anything that is tangible, the soul is not tangible, thus it can't be transfigured.

Chapter 2 changes: Harry still has the same natural talent, but hard work is inserted. Nic basically tells him "jack of all trades, master of none." Scene with Lucius and Flamel parents added.

Chapter 3 changes: Harry is adopted by the Flamels, and Nicolas transfigures Harry's face so he's disguised. He is a strawberry blonde with a mixture of Perenelle and Nicolas's face. Ron is in Gryffindor.

More minor details might be missed, for the full scope just re-read.