Parseltounge

"Speech"

Thoughts/Telepathy

/flashback/

Map writing

Chapter 13

Secrets Shared

Hermione and Neville were surprised to see Harry with Kira, Draco, and Blaise on the Hogwarts Express at the end of the holiday. The six youths shared a compartment and Harry explained that Voldemort had sent him a port-key so he could spend the holiday with family. Hermione noticed the tans they had and was told it was because they had been vacationing near the equator. The quartet felt the Disney World trip and other Dark Family activities to be family matters and not for public knowledge. Until everyone was certain where Hermione and Neville stood with the Cause, many secrets would be kept.

During the train ride Harry told them about the prank he heard the Weasley twins planning. They all agreed to avoid the tainted deserts. They piled into one carriage when they arrived at Hogsmeade and rode up to the castle together. Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall were both standing sentry at the doors as the children filed in to the castle. Harry was sure he saw a smirk in the snarky potion master's eyes. The six separated and walked to their respective tables.

The quartet noticed Dumbledore's veiled hostility as they sat. Kira flashed him a cheeky grin before sitting beside her brother. Harry leaned toward Gregory and whispered about the spiked deserts that would grace the table before long. Through quiet discreet whispers the entire table soon knew there was a prank planned against the school. Kira wondered if they should warn Snape, it was agreed that he should be told. Seventh year Marcus Flint was nominated to tell him. He walked up to the head table under the pretense of setting up a meeting about the quidditch team. Severus nodded and said he's see him tomorrow at eight. Severus then nodded slightly toward the quartet as Marcus returned to his seat.

The feast was a loud and boisterous affair. Soon the main meal was cleared and deserts piled high on the tables. The heirs looked with mystic sight to see what deserts were safe. They then took a little of every safe item. That was the signal for the rest of the house as to what was safe. They left the little Peep-like pastries alone as well as the bowls of candy that looked a bit like jelly beans and toffee. Suddenly a squawk was heard at the Ravenclaw table. The entire hall looked to see that one of the students had been transformed into a chicken. All around the hall students began to change into different animals. The only table unaffected was the Slytherin table. Even headmaster Dumbledore was transformed into a donkey.

The quartet suppressed their laughter. Without a second thought, Harry un-shrank the magic enhanced video camera he had gotten from Lucius at Yule. He began recording everything. Kira was quickly snapping pictures with her 35mm camera. Draco and Blaise couldn't wait to watch the videotape or see the developed pictures. As everyone started to change back Harry hissed a barely vocal parsel-spell to make his video camera invisible. Dumbledore stood and glared at the Slytherin table. "I will find the culprits of this prank and when I do they will enjoy detentions for the rest of the year, serving with the caretaker Mr.Filch," He announced angrily, "Everyone head to your dorms, curfew starts in fifteen minutes." There were only minor grumbles as the students complied.

The quartet burst into laughter as they entered the common room. Harry said between laughs, "Wasn't that so appropriate, Dumbledork as a Jackass?" The others could only laugh and nod their heads in response.

"You have to give it to the twins for getting everyone, even Weasel and his two cronies were transformed," said Draco.

"And did you see the eldest Weasel, he was, well a weasel," gasped Blaise.

The rest of Slytherin House was laughing. They were also listening carefully to the quartet. They now had a target for retaliation of future and past pranks. The laughter quieted as Professor Snape entered the common room. He looked over the sobering serpents and said, "Does anyone know who did tonight's prank?"

Harry said, "Yes sir, but we are unable to prove it."

Severus smirked, "I only need a name, the proof can be found later."

"Fred and George Weasley, but sir you do have to admit that was a brilliant prank," said Kira.

Severus nodded, "Not to worry, I won't be informing the headmaster. I intend to handle them myself. Now I wish all of you a good night." He then swept from the room his robes billowing behind him.

"I feel kind of bad about telling on them," commented Harry.

"Don't," said Draco, "Professor Snape is just likely to be harder on them in potions; after all it was transformation potions in those candies."

Harry nodded, "Well then, I say we all head to bed." The others nodded and exchanged their goodnights.

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Class resumed the next day and routine set back in. The second day back the quartet snuck to the room where the mirror had been, but it had already been moved. Harry became more certain that Dumbledore would use it in protecting the Stone, somehow. Two weeks into the term saw the second quidditch match for Slytherin House. They were playing Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff had beaten Ravenclaw back in late November. Depending on this game Slytherin could be assured a spot in the Quidditch Cup game.

The match occurred on a blistering cold day filled with low hanging clouds. The entire school showed up in spite of the cold, warming charms on the seats kept the spectators from freezing. The teams weren't so lucky, of course the Slytherin seeker wasn't above a little parsel-magic to keep himself warm. The Hufflepuff team's excellent offence and surprisingly strong defense made the game so damaging against the Slytherins as to force the win to ride on the catch of the snitch. Harry barely caught the snitch as both he and Cedric Diggory flew like maniacs chasing it. The end score was 360-310, Slytherin win. Because of how close the scoring was, Slytherin would need to beat Ravenclaw by no less then fifty points to ensure they would be in the finals.

Harry walked over to the handsome fourth year and shook his hand, expressing that he had enjoyed the game and looked forward to their next encounter. Cedric told Harry that he was also looking forward to a rematch, but had truly enjoyed the game. Both boys were better sportsmen about the outcome than the rest of their teams.

Aside from quidditch practices and studying, Harry, Kira and Vorla searched the catacombs for a way into the final room of the Stone's protections. Harry was the one who finally found a way into the room during the last Sunday of the month. Harry led the quartet into the room only minutes after opening the wall. Inside the circular room, with only one door, was the Mirror of Erised. Harry smirked proudly; his prediction had been on the money.

"I wonder how it works as a trap," mused Draco.

"Probably ensnares whoever is searching for the stone. Harry did say that the book about it mentioned men and women wasting away staring at impossible dreams," responded Blaise.

"I don't think that's how it works," murmured Kira as she gazed at it with mystic sight. All four were very cautious about not letting themselves reflect in it.

"Yeah, there are some new spells attached to it. They are keyed to the existing enchantments, but definitely not a strengthening of the ensnaring ones," said Harry as he too gazed with mystic sight.

"What do you mean?" asked Blaise and Draco.

"The spells appear to be concealment and temporal in nature," answered Harry.

"Which implies that they are designed to conceal the stone, perhaps in a pocket dimension, rather than ensnare the pursuer," completed Kira.

"So how do we get it out of the mirror?" asked Blaise.

"There has to be some riddle to be discerned. The question is what is that riddle?" said Harry.

"Well, the person after the stone," began Draco.

"Quirrell," supplied Blaise.

Draco glared at her, "Quirrell wants the stone desperately. That will be his heart's desire, to have the stone to use to prove his loyalty and strength to his master. Am I right?"

"Makes sense," responded Kira.

"I think you might actually be on to something, who knew there are some brains in that platinum head of yours," said Blaise. Draco glared at her again.

Before Draco could respond Harry exclaimed, "Yes! That's it. You need to want the stone but not want to use it in order to break the spells." He quickly moved to stand before the mirror so that he could see his reflection. Kira watched the strands of magic touch her brother and saw an image overlay his. The image was of him pocketing the stone.

Draco and Blaise waited with baited breath. Unlike Kira they had no idea if Harry was okay contending with the spells on the mirror. After about thirty seconds he turned toward them. A mischievous smile tugged at his lips as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a fist sized red stone.

"We did it!" cried Draco.

"You mean Harry did it," Blaise corrected in her driest voice.

Draco scowled again while the heirs laughed. They enjoyed the 'sibling' rivalry between Draco and Blaise, it was always very amusing. Kira then said, "Let's go contact father and tell him we retrieved the stone." The other three nodded and headed back into the chamber.

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A little over a week later, as the quartet was studying in the library, Hermione and Neville stormed up to their table. Well Hermione stormed, Neville just followed. Hermione leaned over the table and whispered, "The Weasel trio has been talking about Snape trying to steal something from Dumbledore. They're saying whatever it is, is being guarded by that three headed dog. They also said Snape tried to kill Harry."

Harry said, "Clubhouse now." The serpents stood and the six students swiftly made their way to Myrtle's bathroom. They carefully used hidden passages and stealth to reach the bathroom quickly and without anyone following.

Once inside the chamber Hermione said, "Okay, spill. What do you know concerning whatever Weasley is blabbing about?"

The truth? asked Kira.

Yes.

Kira nodded, "Sit and we will explain." Everyone sat. "Dumbledore is friends with an Alchemist named Nicholas Flamel. Flamel created an item of great power which Professor Quirrell has been attempting to steal all school year."

"Why?" asked Neville.

"Because he works for a wanna-be dark lord," responded Draco.

"A wanna-be dark lord?" asked Hermione.

"Yes, some dark wizard decided that Voldemort wasn't going to return to power and started to gather followers. Quirrell is one of his followers. His goal is to get Flamel's Philosopher Stone and use it to make his master virtually immortal," answered Harry.

"The Philosopher Stone?!" exclaimed Neville.

"You mean it's here at Hogwarts?" asked Hermione.

"Flamel must have felt Dumbledore could protect it better than Gringotts," said Kira.

"Do you remember the Dailey Prophet article on September first about vault 713 being broken into on the night of August thirty-first?" asked Blaise.

"Yes, and that was the vault Hagrid went to when he took me shopping in Diagon Alley," Hermione answered.

"He must have been removing the stone for Dumbledore. That was why the goblins reported that nothing had been stolen from the vault," commented Draco.

"That makes sense," nodded Hermione.

"So how do we stop him?" asked Neville.

"No need to," said Kira.

"But," began Neville.

"Because the stone is no longer where Quirrell can get it," finished Harry before Neville could work himself into a fright.

Both lions looked at the serpents questioningly. "What do you mean by that?" asked Hermione.

"A way was found to retrieve the stone without setting off Dumbledore's traps," replied Harry.

"Father has the stone safely hidden," added Kira.

Both lions paled, "You mean your father now has a way to achieve immortality?" asked Hermione.

"Yes and no," responded Kira.

"The stone is used to create the Elixir of Life, which will extend life and even bring a person back from the brink of death," Harry continued.

"But it doesn't convey true immortality," finished Kira.

"Yeah, if you stop taking the Elixir, you die," added Blaise.

"It's like an addictive drug with devastating withdrawal symptoms," observed Draco sarcastically.

"Its perfect if all you want is to extend your life for a finite amount of time because you simply stop taking it when you are ready to die," said Harry.

"So then Vol... Voldemort isn't planning on using the stone?" asked Hermione.

"Nope," responded the heirs.

"And even if he was, is that so terrible?" asked Blaise slyly.

Neville shook his head and whispered, "No, it's not."

Hermione quietly said, "No it's not terrible... its just hard equating the fatherly man we met with the monster portrayed by the wizarding world. I'm sorry I panicked and insulted your father." She looked at Kira.

"No apology needed, but I accept and forgive you," Kira replied.

"Since that's taken care of, who wants to raid the kitchens? We can shock the hell out of the Weasley twins if we go now," said Harry as he looked at a parchment in his hands.

"Sounds fun," said Blaise.

"Why not? They're the only tolerable Weasleys in the entire family," added Draco.

Kira, Hermione, and Neville just nodded. Harry then led them up the Hufflepuff passage because the badger dorms were closest to the kitchen. They exited outside the entrance to the badger dorms. They walked down two halls and stopped before a huge painting of a bowl of fruit. Draco tickled the pear and a green handle appeared on the painting. Fred and George froze in the middle of the kitchen as the six first years entered.

"Nippy," said Harry, "We would like a light snack if you would."

The house elf Harry looked at bowed, "right away master Harry Potter sir."

Hermione starred, she had never accompanied them on a kitchen run before. "What are they?"

"House elves," replied Draco.

"I've never seen them before," said Hermione.

"Well that's the sign of a good house elf," said Blaise.

"But..."

"Hermione, before you get all house-elf liberation on us, get to see them as they see themselves and for what they are," Harry said.

"House elves are bound beings. They do not do well when they are not tied to someone or something," explained Kira.

As the six sat down, with Hermione still rather dazed, the house elves piled food on the table. The twins were listening intently to the heirs without realizing it.

"Are they slaves?" asked Hermione.

"In the sense that they work for no measurable compensation, than yes they are," answered Kira.

"However, as Kira said they are bound-beings and therefore really can't survive as anything else," said Harry.

"What's a bound being?" asked Hermione. Neville also looked at them with the question reflected in his eyes. The twins wondered as well, they had never heard of bound-beings before.

"You're the born teacher, why don't you tell them," said Harry to Kira.

She nodded with a smirk, "There are four types of Magical beings; Light, Dark, Free and Bound. Light beings include unicorns and all creatures born of true purity. Dark beings include dementors and other creatures connected to the chaotic or entopic side of magic. Free beings are wizards, witches, and true Elves who can choose either light or dark. Bound beings are creatures that are incapable of choosing light or dark, instead they are bound by ancient primordial magics to an object, family, or ideal. Without this bond they become disoriented and slowly loose their will to live. Every once in a while an individual bound being will break free or be unbound, the strength of will they developed before this point will determine whether or not they survive."

"Amazing... so you mean that if the house-elves were given freedom they would become unbound and die?" asked Hermione.

"Essentially, yes," answered Harry.

"Some, maybe one in every twenty would survive," added Blaise.

The twins decided to slip out at that point. They had just learned a very interesting bit of information that had never come up in any class thus far. They wondered what else might have been glossed over in various classes. They also were surprised that the serpents had brought two lions, even adopted, into the kitchen with them. The six first years noted when the twins left, but didn't bother to comment. They only stayed a little longer before heading back to library to finish studying.

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AN: This is out a little later than usual because I worked an extra day this week and it cut into my obsession time, um did I type that, yeah I did... anyway here are the review responses.

Review Responses:

Evilevergreen: I respond to reviews based on date received rather than chapter based... that is why this is the first time you are mentioned even though you reviewed chapter's 1, 4 &6. Thank you for the reviews and I hope you have continued reading up till this point(at the very least) and will read more(gives you puppy eyes)

NatashaNiracval The dark family has its lovey-dovey moments (ie. Yule) But they aren't always so sweet. The dark lord is more than willing and able to use unforgivable curses (just usually not on "family" and never on his children or wife) I'm glad you like the idea of the 'clubhouse' and don't mind you using it at all(I recall reading another fic where the Chamber was much more than the crappy catacombs of the books) I just went one step further and have it also be a hangout place for the quartet.

LizaGirl Thank you for the honor of being on your fav list. (smiles stupidly) Dumbledore's reaction won't be given in a blow by blow account... I'm afraid the words used in a multitude of languages by the most esteemed headmaster are barred from Hogwarts, fanfiction . net and in general polite company, I apologize if this disappoints you.

Shadowface You'll what?

Romulan Empress This story is based completely on the idea that dark is not evil and light is not necessarily good. I am very glad that you think I'm portraying it in an interesting way, that tells me I'm doing something right (I had no idea I could do that) I'm glad you like it enough to want more. And yes Slytherins do RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Szihuoko Does NP mean no plot? That confused me because I've never seen that before. I hope that's not what it means, I thought I saw plot, maybe I'm delusional... well thanks for the compliment on character development.

Kage Mirai Sorry I didn't expand on their vacation, but as I said it would give away "family" secrets before I'm ready to reveal them. Thank you for staying with me I appreciate all the support you've given me.

Jean-Claude Iscarot Yes you are. Thank you for another wonderful review. I'm glad you liked the port-key, I think a bag on lemon drops as the port-key would have been a little bit too mocking... well maybe not. Now you know what's with Quirrell... the hints were there, I think, but yeah he serves the other dark lord, who's not really a dark lord.

Pearly –gets up off the floor- Thank you, but please be gentle. I am trying to keep to my schedule of one a week and I think I'm doing it. I'm glad you like.