Blooming Flowers
The Sorcerer's Stone
After an intense Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor, which Harry spent watching the Snitch flutter around the field until the Slytherin Seeker caught it, he and Hermione headed to the library, while Draco celebrated with his house, and Ron mourned with his.
"Ah hah! Found it!"
Harry, who had gotten distracted by a rather interesting history about the school lake, looked up before leaning closer to his sister, who started reading out quietly.
"Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon blood, and his work on the alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel, who is famous for the Sorcerer's Stone. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and bowling."
"So you think it's the Stone that's in there?" Harry asked.
"Depends on what is does."
"Well, if it is the stone, it must do something powerful. And if so, there must be some kind of information on it."
"Well, these are all the books that Madame Pince said have anything to do with Nicolas Flamel, and none of them even mentions the Stone."
"That leaves only one other place, the Restricted Section."
Both looked in said direction, before going back to the book before Madame Pince looked their way.
"And how exactly are we supposed get in there?" Harry asked.
"Ummmmm..."
~.~
"We need to sneak into the Restricted Section of the library."
Fred and George stared.
"... How did you find us here?" George asked.
The Room of Requirement has always been their safe haven, for either inventing pranks, or running and hiding from Filch. And so far, no one, be it Professor or student, had ever been able to find them.
"A magician never reveals his secrets," Harry grinned.
"What's a magician?"
"Never mind that," Hermione said waving her hand, "back to the library. We need a way in without getting caught."
"You know," said Fred, "students usually come to us for pranks, and the best spots to make out. Not to break into the library after curfew."
"We'll make out with your brother later," Hermione said dismissively.
"Does Ron know about this plan?" George asked, amused.
"We're only breaking in because we need information," Harry finally said.
"What makes you think we even know how to get into the library?" Fred said.
Both First Years raised a Snape-like brow.
"Right, dumb question," Fred admitted, grinning sheepishly.
"And what kind of information do you need from the Restricted Section?" George asked.
"Something that will satisfy our curiosity," Harry answered.
"Fair enough, five galleons."
"Five?!"
"Only because we like you."
"And where are we supposed to get that?"
"From your Dad?"
"Keeps his money with him, and will want a reason why we need it especially since there isn't anything going on that requires it."
"Could always say you made a bet on the last Quidditch game."
"He won't believe that."
The twins were very tempted to ask what the siblings do so much that their father wouldn't accept that as an excuse, but decided against it.
"How about we just owe you one?"
Hmm. The more they thought about it, a deal with the Snape siblings, who were proving to be very entertaining and interesting, would actually be beneficial to them.
"Alright," said Fred.
"It's a deal," said George.
~.~
"Why did I agree to this?"
"Because you entered Parenthood thinking that you were in control, my lord," replied Lucius.
"That, and Severus has you by the balls," added Narcissa, smiling sweetly at the glare sent her way.
Grumbling, Voldemort went back to the papers. Which honestly, were not as bad as when he had first decided to go through with his idea.
There had been volumes of books then.
"At least all that construction is finally over with." The Dark Lord thought as he signed off on an order.
That had been a horror.
"How are things at your end, Lucius?" he asked, eyes scanning his next document.
"Going as well as could be, the rumors have already started up. And I have two newspaper editorials that I believe would benefit you."
"And do they know who they could potentially be working with?"
"While I did not admit it out loud, I also made no secret of it, my lord."
"Good. And you, Narcissa?"
"Everyone is still for your cause, and have spoken to others about it."
Voldemort nodded as he put the document aside and went about reading what he thought was the next document, but turned out to be a letter from Harry. A quick shuffle around, and he found two other letters from Hermione, and Severus. He read the children's first, smiling at news about classes, the friends they had made, and whatever else precocious eleven year olds could think to write about. They also expressed excitement about coming home for the holidays.
Severus's letter on the other hand, was mostly complaints. Still upset about not being able to reign terror on the children who had been bullying his children, Dumbledore all but interrogating him, and frustrated over the fact that he was sure the children were calling him 'Dad' even though it sounded like 'Professor'. The last part had Voldemort snorting.
'When we come back for the holidays, I want chocolate, liquor, and, you naked. And not in that order.'
"You know, they have stamina potions for that."
"Stop reading over my shoulder."
"I was merely trying to be helpful."
"It's very good advice, my lord, in my opinion."
"I am not listening to this."
~.~
The loud boom was his cue. After counting to five, still dressed in his pajamas, Harry hurried out of his hiding spot and towards the door the twins had told him about. Quietly, he opened it, went through and found himself right in the Restricted Section. A quiet whisper and a low glow of light followed Harry down the aisle as he looked for something promising.
"This looks good" He thought when he found a book titled Stones: Their History and Purpose.
A quick check of the index, a few pages flipped and Harry was quickly skimming the words.
'The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It is also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted 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 Perenelle.
"Got it!"
Harry pulled out a folded parchment, and with another quiet spell, the words were copied. Afterward, he closed the book, put it back, and quickly shuffled out the library. He round the corner, giggling when he heard Filch cursing up a storm. He made it back to his room safely, placed the parchment in his trunk and went to bed.
Morning came, and by the time he and his sister made it to breakfast, the twin's late night prank had already traveled through the school.
"The Witching Hour was most rewarding then," Draco said once Harry had shoved his sister down next to him, and taken his own seat.
Harry grinned before sliding his sister's plate to the right just in time for her to face-plant on the table. Breakfast went as usual and then it was time for class. While Harry and Hermione had Transfiguration, Draco had Potions, and he smiled innocently when Severus came in and paused to give him a Look. Severus narrowed his eyes before starting the class.
"So it gives eternal life," Hermione murmured later that evening after reading what her brother had copied.
"If it does, it's a good enough reason as any to do a break-in," Draco said.
"And we know it's a Professor," Harry spoke up.
"What makes you think that?" Ron asked, curious.
"Who would ever think that the thing that makes the Elixir of Life would be hidden in a school" Harry pointed out, "there is also Fluffy. He's guarding it, yes, but do you really think a three-headed dog is enough for someone really determined? The Headmaster is no fool, he would have some kind of back-up plan. Hagrid obviously knows what's in there, there's a good bet that the Professors know too."
"Even your Dad?"
"Most likely." Harry shrugged.
Ron thought about it, then he spoke, "So what do we do now?"
"That is a good question."
~.~
It was the last week before the Christmas Holiday break, Harry was in Defense Against The Dark Arts class, listening to Quirrell talk about counter-curses and hexes, when it hit him.
Professor Quirrell reminded him of his sister.
Not to say that he was a girl, but a lot of his mannerisms and something in the way he walked was a lot like what his sister did. It wasn't so often that it was noticeable, but Harry was sure that when it did happen, it was a sub-conscious thing. But it happened regardless, and while weird, wasn't something that cause alarm.
Maybe the Professor felt more like a woman than a man?
According to Hermione, such things happened. Which had been one very confusing, and awkward dinner conversation for Dad, and Papa.
Still, he couldn't get rid of the fact that something about it felt important with regards to Quirrell.
And there you guys go, the hint to who the big villian is, and yes the villain is the same one who attacked Harry in Four Seasons. Thanks as always goes to my beta YenGirl.
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