The Potter Twins and the Philosopher's Stone

Chapter 7: Desire and Fear

One day, in the Great Hall where most of the students, particularly the Weasleys, are eating, Harry and Michael sit in front of the fireplace.

George, "do you like yours, Ron?"

Ron turns to Harry and Michael, who still sit in front of the fireplace, who are very quiet.

George, "Ron?"

Ron, "I'll be right back", he leaves the table and comes up to the twins, "want to play chess?"

Harry, "no."

Ron, "we go and visit Hagrid?"

Michael, "no."

Ron, "Michael, Harry, I know what you're thinking, but don't. There's something not quite right about that mirror."

The twins nod and Ron leaves to go back to the table as Harry and Michael continue to stare at the fireplace.

….

The next night, Harry and Michael are back in the room where the mirror is, gazing longingly at the reflection where their parents and Michael's mysterious companion are in. Dumbledore appears far behind them.

Dumbledore, "back again, boys?"

The boys turn around and stand up.

Dumbledore, 'I see that you, like so many before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised. I trust by now you realize what it does. Let me give you a clue. The happiest man on earth would look into the mirror and see only himself, exactly as he is."

Harry, "so, then it shows us what we want?"

Michael, "whatever we want?"

Dumbledore, whilst looking at the mirror, "yes…. And no. It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desires of our hearts. Harry, you, who have never known your family, you see them standing beside you. Michael, you see this as well, but also someone to love standing beside you."

Michael, "and…. What do you see?"

Dumbledore gazed into the mirror, and saw a younger version of himself, standing with a man with peculiar eyes and white hair.

Dumbledore muttered, "someone I loved…. But remember this, Harry, Michael. This mirror gives us neither knowledge nor truth. Men have wasted away in front of it, even gone mad. That is why tomorrow, it will be moved to a new home, and I must ask you not to go looking for it again. It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, Michael, and forget to live."

Harry and Michael look back at the mirror, knowing that Dumbledore is right.

….

It is snowy in the daytime, Harry is out in a main courtyard, bundled up, with Hedwig on his arm. He stops and she lifts off, soaring away into the sky….

….

As the time passed when she returned, it was now springtime.

Harry, "hi, Hedwig."

Hedwig has just flown down to the table where Harry, Michael, Ron and Hermoine are studying.

Hermione, "look at you playing with your cards. Pathetic! We've got final exams coming up soon."

Ron, "I'm ready! Ask me any question."

Hermione, "alight, what are the three most crucial ingredients in a Forgetfulness Potion?"

Ron, "... I forgot."

Hermione, "and what, may I ask, do you plan to do if this comes up in the final exam?"

Ron, "copy off you?"

Hermione, "no, you won't! Besides, according to Professor McGonagall, we're to be given special quills bewitched with an anti-cheating spell."

Ron, "that's insulting! It's as if they don't trust us", he checks a card, irritated, "Dumbledore again!"

Just then, Neville comes hopping into the Great Hall with his legs stuck together as the other students laugh at him.

Ron, "Leg-Locker Curse?"

Harry, "Malfoy."

Neville approaches them amidst laughter from the other students.

Michael, "can't he pick on anyone his own size?"

Ron, "you have got to start standing up to people, Neville."

Neville starts wobbling uncontrollably, "how? I can barely stand at all!"

Seamus jumps up, wand at the ready, "I'll do the counter-curse!"

Neville, "no, that's all I need…. You to set my bloody kneecaps on fire!"

Seamus slams his wand down angrily, "I don't appreciate the insinuation, Longbottom. Besides, if anyone cares to notice, my eyebrows have completely grown back!"

He then stalks off angrily, showing a large chunk of hair missing from the back of his head.

Harry, "I found him", hands Ron a Chocolate Frog card of Dumbledore.

Ron, "'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945-'"

Michael suddenly looked at Ron when he heard that familiar name.

Harry, "go on."

Ron, "'-for his discovery of the 12 uses of Dragon Blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner Nicolas Flamel!'"

Harry, "I knew the name sounded familiar. I read it on the train that day."

Michael, "right! Also, Dumbledore told me he was once very close to Grindelwald…. But he never told me that…."

All three boys seemed befuddled by that before Hermione suddenly thought of something and exclaimed, "follow me!"

The quartet tears out of the Great Hall, leaving poor Neville still flailing around.

Neville, "hey, wait, where are you going? What about the counter-curse?!"

Before he can say another word, he topples over backwards, the other students start laughing.

….

In the library, Harry, Michael and Ron are seated, reading until Hermione comes up with a huge book and thumps it onto the table making Harry jump.

Hermione, "I had you looking in the wrong section! How could I be so stupid? I checked this out a few weeks ago for a bit of light reading."

Ron, "this is light?"

Michael, "I'd hate to see what you consider heavy…."

Hermione, "of course! Here it is", as she reads the description in the page, "Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone!"

Ron and Harry, "the what?"

Michael whispered, "could have sworn it was Sorcerer's Stone…."

Hermione, "honestly, don't you three read? The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will turn any metal into pure gold and produce the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal."

Ron, "immortal?"

Hermione, "it means you'll never die."

Ron, "I know what it means!"

Harry, "shh!"

Hermione, "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 3rd floor. That's what's under the trapdoor…. The Philosopher's Stone!"

Michael, "but…. What would Snape want with the stone?"

They all look at each other in concern.

….

It is nighttime in the castle grounds, Hermione, Ron, Michael and Harry are running across to Hagrid's hut. They knock on the door and Hagrid, who is wearing an apron and oven mitts, opens it from the inside.

Harry, "Hagrid!"

Hagrid, "oh, hello. Sorry, don't wish to be rude, but I'm in no fit state to entertain today."

He begins to close the door.

All four kids say, "we know about the Philosopher's Stone!"

Hagrid opens the door again.

Hagrid, "oh…."

They all come into Hagrid's hut.

Harry, "we think Snape's trying to steal it."

Hagrid, "Snape? Blimey, Harry, you're not still on about him, are you?"

Michael, "Hagrid, we know he's after the Stone. We just don't know why."

Hagrid, "Snape is one of the teachers protecting the Stone! He's not about to steal it!"

Harry, "what?"

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

Harry, "wait a minute…."

Ron soon sees Hagrid's boar-hound Fang, who sniffs him.

Michael, "one of the teachers?"

Hermione says whilst sitting in a large chair, "of course! There are other things defending the Stone, aren't there? Spells, enchantments."

Hagrid, "that's right. Waste of bloody time, if you ask me", Hermione looks at Ron, who is still being sniffed in the face by Fang. Finally Ron shuffles away, "ain't no one gonna get past Fluffy. Hehe, not a soul knows how. Except for me and Dumbledore…. I shouldn't have told you that. I should not have told you that", a cauldron over a fire begins to rattle, "oh", Hagrid hurries over and grabs something, "ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!"

He places it on the table. It was an egg. The group crowds around.

Harry, "uh, Hagrid, what exactly is that?"

Michael, "it looks like an egg…. But what kind?"

Hagrid, "that? It's a…. It's um…."

Ron, "I know what that is! But Hagrid, how did you get one?"

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

The egg rattles and cracks open as pieces fly off; a small baby dragon emerges. It squeaks and slips on an egg piece. It's covered in a frost of some kind.

Michael, "no way…."

Hermione, "is that…. A dragon?"

Ron, "that's not just a dragon. That's a Greenland Gargantuan! My brother Charlie works with these in Romania."

Hagrid, "isn't he beautiful? Oh. Bless him, look. He knows his mummy. Hehe. Hallo, Norbert."

Norbert squeaks as it looks at Hagrid.

Harry, "Norbert?"

Hagrid, "yeah, well, he's got to have a name, doesn't he? Don't you, Norbert….", he raises fingers back and forth across Norbert's chin, "dededede."

Norbert backs away, until he hiccups and blasts a small blue fireball into Hagrid's beard!

It smolders and frosts at the same time!

Hagrid, "ohh", he quickly pats out the smolders in his beard, "oooh, ooh, ooh, well…. He'll have to be trained up a bit, of course."

Norbert hiccups, and then turns to look at Michael. They slowly approached him, and he smiled as he slowly reached out and patted the dragon on the head. Norbert made a soft purring noise. Michael managed to recreate the noise himself, and he and Norbert purred together.

Hagrid sees someone looking in the window and asks, "who's that?"

It turns out to be Draco Malfoy, who scampers away.

Harry, "Malfoy."

Hagrid, "oh, dear."

….

Michael, Harry, Ron and Hermione are walking back through a corridor as an owl screeches.

Harry, "Hagrid always wanted a dragon. He told us so the first time we met him."

Michael, "I'm happy he at least managed to accomplish that."

Ron, "it's crazy. And worse, Malfoy knows."

Harry, "I don't understand. Is that bad?"

Ron, "it's bad."

They stop as McGonagall, in her nightgown, appears sternly.

McGonagall, "good evening."

Then, Malfoy appears smugly beside her.

Michsel mutters, "oh pumpkin juice…."

….

Inside McGonagall's classroom, the four are now standing in front of McGonagall's desk, while Malfoy is feet away, smirking.

McGonagall, "nothing, I repeat, nothing gives a student the right to walk about the school at night. Therefore, as punishment for your actions, 50 points will be taken."

Harry, "50?!"

McGonagall, "each. And to ensure it doesn't happen again, all five of you will receive detention."

Malfoy nods, then his smile vanishes with great concern.

Draco, "excuse me, Professor. Perhaps I heard you wrong. I thought you said…. The five of us."

McGonagall, "no, you heard me correctly, Mr. Malfoy. You see, as honorable as your intentions were, you too were out of bed after hours. You will serve detention with your classmates."

Michael, Harry, Ron and Hermione grin, as Draco sags, knowing that the tables have turned.

….

The next night, Michael, in his new scarf, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco are being led to Hagrid's hut by Mr. Filch.

Filch, "a pity they let the old punishments die. There was a time detention would find you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. God, I miss the screaming", Draco gulps, and Hermione rushes by, "you'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight. He's got a little job to do inside the dark forest", Hagrid appears with a crossbow. He sniffles, "a sorry lot this, Hagrid. Oh, good God, man, you're not still on about that bloody dragon, are you?"

Michael, "Hagrid? What's wrong?"

Hagrid sniffs and sighs, "Norbert's gone. Dumbledore sent him off to Romania to live in a colony."

Michael, "awe…. I'm gonna miss the little guy…."

Hermione, "well, that's good, isn't it? He'll be with his own kind."

Hagrid, "yeah, but what if he don't like Romania? What if the other dragons are mean to him? He's only a baby, after all."

Filch rolls eyes, "oh, for Gods sake, pull yourself together, man. You're going into the forest, after all. Got to have your wits about you."

Draco, "the forest? I thought that was a joke! We can't go in there. Students aren't allowed. And there are….", a howl sounds, "... werewolves!"

Michael, "I never thought I'd say this…. But I agree with Draco…. Ugh, that feels so wrong to say…."

Filch, "there's more than werewolves in those trees, lad. You can be sure of that", Draco looks frightened, "nighty-night."

He leaves to go back into the castle.

Hagrid, "right. Let's go."

….

In the Forbidden Forest, the group walks along a path to a tree. Hagrid stops, bends down and dips his fingers in a silver puddle. He pulls out his fingers and rubs them together. A silver trail smears with his fingers.

Harry, "Hagrid, what's that?"

Hagrid, "what we're here for. See that? That's unicorn's blood, that is. I found one dead a few weeks ago. Now, this one's been injured bad by something."

Harry suddenly sees a large cloaked figure walking through the trees. He looks at Hagrid. Michael sees it too, and freezes.

Hagrid, "so, it's our job to find the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, you'll come with me."

Ron, "okay."

Hagrid, "and Harry, Michael, you'll go with Malfoy."

Draco grimaces, Michael rolls his eyes, and Harry nods.

Draco, "okay. Then I get Fang!"

Hagrid, "fine. Just so you know, he's a bloody coward."

Fang whines.

Harry, Michael and Draco are walking through a part of the forest, with Fang leading. Draco has the lamp in his hand.

Draco, "you wait till my father hears about this. This is servant's stuff."

Harry, "if I didn't know better, Draco, I'd say you were scared."

Draco, "scared, Potter?!"

He scoffs, but suddenly hears a howl.

Michael, "scared, Malfoy?"

Draco, "did you hear that? Come on, Fang. Scared."

Michael, Harry and Draco approach a flat ground with gnarled roots all over. Fang stops, then growls.

Harry, "what is it, Fang?"

Michael, "nothing good, I imagine."

Up ahead is a cloaked figure who is crouching over a dead unicorn, drinking its blood from its wound. The figure raises its head, silver blood dripping from its mouth. Harry gasps and grabs his scar, which is hurting. Draco screams with pure fear and runs away with Fang.

Draco, "HELP!"

Michael, "get back here, you coward!"

Harry and Michael are left by themselves at the mercy of the figure who slides over the unicorn and rises erect. It advances towards the twins, who back up in fear!

The figure lunges at Michael, but suddenly, the boy's scarf glows! It's as if a force field surrounded him! It bounced the figure back!

Michael looked down at the scarf before he began to back up with his brother, and the two began to crawl backwards after tripping! Suddenly, there is the sound of hoof-beats. A figure leaps over Harry and Michael and lands near the cloaked figure. It is a silver centaur called Firenze. It rears, and the cloaked figure retreats, flying away.

Michael is in awe, as is Harry, as they gaze upon the creature.

Firenze, "Harry and Michael Potter, you must leave. You are known to many creatures here. The forest is not safe at this time. Especially for you."

Harry, "but what was that thing you saved us from?"

Michael, "yeah…. It was so…. Terrifying…."

Firenze, "a monstrous creature. It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death. But at a terrible price. You have slain something so pure that the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half-life. A cursed life."

Michael, "that's horrible…."

Harry, "but who would choose such a life?"

Firenze, "can you think of no one?"

Harry, "do you mean to say…. That, that thing that killed the unicorn…. That was drinking its blood…. That was Voldemort?"

Firenze, "do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"

Michael, "the Philosopher's Stone."

Fang suddenly barks and Harry and Michael look up to see Hagrid, Hermione, Ron and Draco appear. Hagrid has his crossbow ready, but lowers it when he sees Firenze.

Hermione, "Harry!"

Ron, "Michael!"

Hagrid, "hello there, Firenze. I see you've met our young Mr. Potter's. You alright there, Harry? Michael?"

Harry and Michael nods.

Firenze, "Michael and Harry Potter, this is where I leave you. You're safe now. Good luck."

He leaves as the group looks at the dead unicorn….

….

Reviews:

Canadude2029: glad you enjoyed the chapter.

Bailey Radcliff: the person touching Michael's shoulder in the mirrpr was meant to foreshadow his romance in the future. Anyway, glad you enjoyed the chapter.

2016: glad you're enjoying the story so far. Don't worry, I update every Friday.

….

Some of you may be asking, why did I change the race of Norbert?

Well, that'll eventually be solved….