Reality Check

~* I worked out how to do itailcs/bold/underline now, so this story should look better from now on. I'm very sorry that I haven't updated this for ages, but I have been quite tied up with my new fiction, Cast Away. *~

Chapter 16 ~ Private Meetings

Harry sat in the Great Hall picking at his eggs. Ron was no where to be seen, so Harry was by himself. Dumbledore had caught Harry going to the Mirror of Erised, and warned him away from it.

Harry heard a noise and looked up in time to see Andrea walking towards him.

'Oh good, Ron's not here, I don't really fancy him that much,' Andrea said.

'What do you need?' Harry asked, looking back down to his eggs. Andrea swung her legs over the bench and sat opposite Harry. She dropped a large book on the desk, Hogwarts: A History.

'This has information about the maker of the Philosopher's Stone,' Andrea explained, and opened the thick book to one of its many pages. Harry eyed the book curiously.

'Go on…' He urged.

'Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone. The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixer of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.

There have been reports of the Philosopher's Stone over the centuries, but the stone currently in existance belongs to Mr Nicholas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera-lover. Mr Flamel, who celecbrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).' Andrea finished reading.

'So the dog is guarding the Philosopher's Stone?' Harry asked, making sure he understood it.

'That's right.' Andrea said smugly.

'A stone that makes gold and stops you ever dying, no wonder Snape wants it,' Harry said.

'Snape?' Andrea asked.

'Hermione said that Snape is after the stone,' Harry informed her.

~***~

Holidays finished quite abruptly, and before Harry knew it, Caprice was back, cheerful as ever. He knew he had to speak to her before the night was out, so he rubbed the ruby on his gold ring, and took off to the arranged destination, the clump of trees near the Forbidden Forrest.

Caprice arrived a few minutes after Harry, and wrapped him in a big hug as soon as she got there.

'Did you have a great Christmas?' She asked happily.

'Yes, thank you for the Nimbus 2000,' Harry said gratefully.

'Not a problem, I thought you could do with a good broom!' Caprice grinned.

'I needed to talk to you about something,' Harry said, and proceeded to inform Caprice of the new information Andrea had given him on the holidays.

'Wow, that's interesting, so when are you going to go get the stone so that old Snape doesn't get it?' Caprice asked when he had finished explaining everything.

'I don't know,' Harry replied, as he did, the pair noticed a cloaked figure walk swiftly down the front steps of the castle. Clearly not wanting to be seen, it walked as fast as possible towards the forbidden forest. Harry recognised the figure's prowling walk. Snape, sneaking into the forest while everyone else was at dinner - what was going on?

'Look,' Caprice pointed at Snape, she had seen him too.

'Let's follow,' Harry replied, grabbing Caprice's wrist and leading her into the forest after Snape. They reached a shadowy clearing, and stood back while Snape spoke to another person, Quirrell.

'… d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet me here of all p-places, Severus…' Quirrell stammered.

'Oh, I thought we'd keep this private,' said Snape, his voice icy. 'Students aren't supposed to know about the Philosopher's Stone, after all.'

Harry and Caprice leant slightly forward, Quirrell was muttering something, but Snape interrupted him.

'Have you found out how to get past that beast yet?'

'B-b-but Severus, I -'

'You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell,' said Snape, taking a step towards him.

'I-I don't know what you -'

'You know perfectly well what I mean,'

An owl hooted, causing Caprice and Harry to snap out of listening to Snape and Quirrell. They turned their eyes back to the clearing just in time to hear snape say , ' - well, we will have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think about where your loyalties lie.'

Snape threw on his cloak, and stalked out of the clearing, right past Caprice and Harry. They both held their breaths and waited until he was out of sight before they moved. They headed back the way they came, back to their clump of trees.

'It seems like Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help him get the stone, he asked about Fluffy, and I think there are more things guarding the stone than just the dog.' Harry said when he was sure no one was around to hear it.

'So you mean the stone's only safe while Quirrell stands up to Snape?' Caprice asked.

'It'll be gone by next Tuesday.' Harry said.

~***~

Quirrell, however, must have been braver than they thought. In the weeks that followed he did seem to be getting paler and thinner, but it didn't look as if he had cracked yet. Harry had forgiven Ron and Hermione, he wouldn't have anyone to talk to in Gryffindor otherwise. Everytime Caprice or Harry walked past the third floor corridor, they would press their ears against the door to see if Fluffy was still standing strong.

Hermione was stressing about exams, even though they were ten weeks away. She said something about it being only a second to Nicholas Flamel. Harry and Ron didn't pay much attention to what she was rambling on about anyway, something about having to pass exams to get into second year.

Unfortunately, the teachers seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione, piling on the homework so that the Easter holidays wouldn't be as much fun as the Christmas holidays. It was hard to relax with Hermione next to you reciting the twelve uses of dragon's blood or practicing wand movements. Moaning and yawning, Harry and Ron spent most of their time in the library with her, trying to get through all their extra work. Harry barely had any time for Caprice.

But she passed him one day between classes, and slipped him a little scrunched up ball of paper. Harry noticed Malfoy was with her, explaining why she barged into him rather than stopped for a chat. Harry uncrumpled the parchment and read what she had to say.

Dear Harry,

Mum just told me something about the rings, you can press the stone in, and it will click. Then my face will replace your stone, and your face will replace mine. It's a great way to talk incase we can't sneak away from our separate friends.

Love Caprice.

Harry finished reading the note, That sounds like a good idea, he thought to himself, and headed to class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

~* I don't know what else to write in this chapter, so I'll appologise for the shortness of it, and the lateness! Have a Merry Christmas everyone! *~

~Gryffindor Gal~