Hermione in Ravenclaw

Chapter 9 Vacation and Information

To Hermione's great disappointment, all of the Raven Mavens had Christmas vacation plans with their families that could not be canceled. She sent several owls with messages begging her parents to let her stay for the holidays but they wouldn't let her.

She hoped that Professor Dumbledore would keep a good watch on Harry and prevent any further attacks like the get-ill card.

The Mavens dug through book after book at the school library, but no-one turned up anything on the name in the Famous Magicians section.

When Hermione got home she decided to try a computer search first thing. Muggle computers didn't have much accurate information about the wizard world but at least they could be searched faster than stacks of old volumes. What she found was a document on "Nicholas Flamel: The Immortal French Alchemist" which mentioned his name in connection with the Philosopher's Stone. She could hardly wait to get back to the library at Hogwarts to get the real facts about Flamel and the Stone. It almost spoiled her whole vacation.

Harry was finally released from the Hospital Wing.

"I would strongly caution you against playing Quiddich for the rest of the season, that is, I would if I thought you would listen to me," Madam Pomfrey said.

"I can't let the team down," said Harry.

"You'll still have some back pain for a while. Take it easy or it may become chronic."

Harry used the Cloak of Invisibility he received as a Christmas present to do some exploring in obscure parts of the castle. It took his mind off his back, especially when he discovered the Mirror of Erised. He went there again and again to see his parents until Dumbledore warned him of the addictive nature of the dreams the Mirror showed.

When the Hermione got back she went to the Alchemy section immediately and found a book about Flamel. She showed it to the other Mavens.

"He created Philospher's Stone which would enable a person to transmute other metals into gold and to make an Elixer of Life, a potion of youth that could keep a person alive forever," said Hermione.

"That has to be the valuable object that's being guarded at Hogwarts!" said Mandy.

"If a follower of You-Know-Who got hold of that, no telling what harm they could do!" said Lisa.

"It's vital that we keep an eye on Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell," said Hermione. "We need to know which one is after the Stone."

They divided up the task of tailing the two professors, trading off so that the men wouldn't notice the same person following them all the time.

A few days later, Alice noticed Professor Quirrell ducking into an empty classroom. She sneaked in through another door and hid behind a desk.

Quirrell seemed to be in pain, and he was talking to himself.

"Don't hurt me any more, Master! I'll get the Stone for you. It takes time to find out how to get through the traps. You will live again, Lord Voldemort!" said Quirrell.

Alice got out quietly, and made a note of his exact words to show the others. The next class was Potions. She had to rush down to the dungeons and she was nearly late. Homework had to be handed in on arrival to class. She tossed the homework papers onto the stack and took her seat quickly.

That night Professor Snape was grading papers when he found the note. Alice had accidently mixed it in with the other papers.

"Interesting," he said to himself. "Very interesting."