The Philosopher's Stone

Chapter Sixteen

Winter Break

Amestris

Yuery stepped through the fireplace and was greeted with a his from his parents. He had ridden the Hogwarts Express to London, then he, Draco, and Professor Snape had gone to Diagon Alley to travel home. Yuery had been suddenly glad to learn the Weasleys were staying at the castle over break when he realized otherwise, he would have had to listen to Ron's 'warnings' about Snape again. Ling, Lan Fan, and their guards had chosen to continue on the train. Yuery had wondered why but had decided it wasn't his place to ask.

As soon as he saw his Mom, Yuery realized how much he had missed her. He knew he had missed them all, of course. He missed his brothers and sisters too, and his Dad who he had seen a few weeks ago, but his mom's hug made him realize how homesick he had really been.

He had to go back though, because they had that stone. He didn't know if he should even tell his Dad and Yeye about it. They weren't going to let him go back if they knew, and they would go try to take care of it themselves…Yuery read the recent histories. He had overheard the conversations. He remembered just enough. He knew how his family had suffered because of the Philosopher's Stones even if they never said so directly.

Severus nodded to Dad over Yuery's shoulder before leading Draco toward the door. He would have to call Draco later, because he was sure Draco's Mom was waiting for him just as Yuery's Mom and Dad had been waiting. Dad asked how the trip had gone, and Yuery assured him it was uneventful before they headed upstairs where the rest of his family was waiting for him.

"Yuery, I have to admit, I don't think I'm okay with you returning to Hogwarts next year. I miss you not coming home every night." Mom said, and Yuery nodded.

"I miss you all too, Mom. I need to finish the year though. I'm doing well in my classes." Yuery said, trying to convince himself as well as his parents. "Plus, my friends would be worried if I didn't come back. Draco would be there all alone."

"One-year Yuery. After that I want you back at Xerxes. Your Father agrees." Winry insisted, and Yuery nodded in agreement. He hoped that he would at least still be able to write his newer friends. He thought it was likely, his parents didn't try to keep him away from friends before.

"Did Ling speak to you much while he was there?" Dad asked as they made their way upstairs where his siblings were waiting for him.

"Yeah. He found his way into the kitchens and liked to invite me along." Yuery said. "I don't think most of the students know the house elves are even there Dad."

"That doesn't surprise me actually." Dad sighed. "They seem in good health at least, and mostly happy. I wish we could do something for them now, but don't worry I am trying to work on it. Your uncle and I noticed them the first time we were there."

Yuery was then surrounded by his brothers and sisters who were excited to have him home. He was lead away to play with the others with a wave from his parents. William quickly caught him up on what was going on at Xerxes, while Maes helped the girls set up a game. Tad and Lizzie joined them a few minutes later.

Later that evening, Dad called Yuery to the study as everyone was getting ready for bed. Yuery joined his father with concern written on his face as he tried to think of what he may have done that his Dad found out about. He didn't think his Dad knew anything about his friends' research project, and if he did know Yuery could assure him that Yuery was keeping them from learning too much. Otherwise, there was nothing he could think of, after all he made sure no one knew about his conversation with the Headmaster. After all, his Dad was likely to storm the castle if he learned the man had talked to Yuery.

"Ling tells me your friends are seeking information of Flamel and the Sorcerer's Stone, and that you recently believed one of them had gotten closer to answers." Dad said calmly

"Yes, Hermione located information on Flamel, not much, it only really mentioned him as the only known creator of a Stone." Yuery sighed heavily. "I informed her and Ron that researching or creating a philosopher's stone is illegal in our country. I did not tell them why. I also told Ron that it's illegal to make gold since it was the only interest, he had in it."

"Why were they interested in Flamel to begin with?" Dad asked with a sigh. "He isn't listed on your syllabus that I saw."

"No. It was Hagrid. He mentioned that Flamel was friends with the Headmaster, but then he asked we forget he mentioned it which only made them more curious." Yuery frowned, now would be the time to mention that the Stone was in the castle but then his Dad wouldn't let him return. "I tried to steer them away from information…honestly, I have no idea how much to tell them of what I do know."

"It isn't a subject I like to talk about honestly, but it's not something I want you to feel needs to be a secret. By all means, tell them what you need to tell them to keep them away from that line of research." Dad sighed. "If you can spare them the years of wasted research you would be doing them a favor…and if anyone would continue the search, knowing what they truly are, so wouldn't want to be friends with such a person anyway would you?"

"Absolutely not! I don't think it's something any of them would want anything to do with if they knew the price." Yuery agreed.

"Then tell them the price." Dad said grimly. "I told enough of my own friends when I learned the truth. Ling and his siblings had all been sent here to find it, once they learned what it truly was, none of them wanted it anymore…well most of them. Some people, their greed outweighs their morals."

Hogwarts

Dumbledore was disappointed but not surprised that the boy had gone back to Amestris for Christmas. He was regrouping before attempting to approach the boy again as it was at any rate. Somehow, their first conversation had not gone how he had planned.

First, the boy seemed to have already understood how the Mirror worked. Then, he denied what he had seen in the mirror. Of course, the boy was likely lying. Only the Weasley boy had shared what he had seen, which had gone exactly as Dumbledore had predicted, therefore he assumed the other two boys had also seen what he had predicted because why wouldn't they?

Harry especially must be questioning things by now. He had been raised under a false name with a false history. Coming here, Dumbledore didn't know how Elric had explained the invitation, but surely once he arrived things hadn't added up for the child. After all, according to all his professors the child was intelligent. What bothered him though, was that apparently all of his professors aside from Binns had agreed to Elric's demand that they use the child's false name. They claimed the boy asked to be called Yuery Elric, but it was that man's influence. It had to be, after all he had been interfering right away.

At least he had finally left, now Dumbledore would have the rest of the year to talk the boy around to accepting his true history. Surely that must have been the biggest hitch in the plan. It was understandable really, that poor Harry was clinging to the lies he had been raised with while that man was here, but now Dumbledore would have a real chance to make it right.

He had heard rumors that some of the students suspected that Severus Snape was plotting against Harry and Gryffindor House in general. While Dumbledore hated the idea of hurting either of them, perhaps this was for the best as well, after all he couldn't trust Severus when it came to Harry. He already knew too much.

Quirrell was a problem as well. Clearly the man would eventually have to be dealt with, he had been corrupted and was working with Riddle. However, he could work with that too. After all, it would both boost the boy's confidence and gain his trust if Dumbledore were to allow Harry's curiosity to lead him to Quirrell's betrayal and allow him to be involved in stopping Quirrell. It would also allow him to see what training Harry would need in the near future before he was sent to fight Riddle.

Just the idea of all that laid before him made Dumbledore itch for a drink. He had been sober all year, the price of Severus' help. Severus wasn't here now, almost no students were here either. Perhaps one night would not be so bad, it was the holidays after all. Dumbledore sent Minerva a message that he was taking a few days away to look into something and headed to a familiar bar in Germany. He would be back before the students and Severus. No one needed to know more than that.

Amestris

Yuery and William were wandering around the garden with Breda following behind at a careful distance while Yuery described Hogwarts classes and his new friends. William was interested, of course, but mostly he was hoping that Yuery would want to return to Xerxes next year because he missed his brother. "Mom and Dad aren't going to let me do a second year at Hogwarts even if I wanted to Will, so don't worry. Mostly, I wouldn't want to anyway. Aside from a few of the kids who I like, I really prefer Xerxes. Our classes at Hogwarts is mostly covering things I already learned, and the House system is just strange."

"House system? What is that?" William asked.

"There are four houses, the students are all divided into one of them the first night." Yuery explained as they sat down. "Dad was mad about that; he didn't want me sorted. It was weird too, because at first the hat wanted to put me in Ravenclaw, then it started debating between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Finally, it settled of Gryffindor but the magic around me at the time felt intentional."

"DO you think someone rigged it then? That would be so weird and wrong. What house did Draco get?"

"Slytherin. Instantly. Seriously I felt like I was waiting for it to choose forever, and Draco didn't even get the hat on his head before it yelled Slytherin. It was weird."

"Hmm. That is strange." William agreed. "I know you like some people there but I'm glad you'll be back at my school next year."

"Okay. I need to tell you something, but you cannot tell Mom, Dad, Yeye, Nainai…or anyone who might tell them. Promise me."

"I promise. Unless its going to get you killed. Then I'm telling" William said seriously, before Yuery nodded with a sigh.

"They have a philosopher's stone hidden in the school. Their bad guy that the wizards are all so afraid of is trying to get to it using someone else." Yuery let out in a rush. "I don't know if I should tell Dad because then he probably wouldn't let me go back but that doesn't help my friends or get that stone away from the wizards. It needs to be brought to Dad so he can take care of it."

"I agree, but Yuery…you need to tell a grown up. Let them do it." William said with wide eyes. He knew like Yuery did what kind of trouble the stones caused his family and everyone else. "You shouldn't try to do this alone."

"I know. Once I figure out exactly what is happening, I promise I will write Dad and tell Mr. Severus immediately. Until then, I need to try to fix this, and I want to try to finish the year here. I would worry about my friends if they were left at the school with a stone and no one who knew what it could do."

"Just be careful Brother. I will be glad when this is all over and you are home again. I was so happy to hear they do winter break there too."

"Yeah, they have some sort of celebration that is involved. I didn't ask much about it, but I remembered that Draco said that before anyway because his Mom and Severus celebrate it with him still. They give out gifts and have a big feast is all I know about it. I believe from Draco has said it's meant to be a family holiday which is why everyone is sent home from the school."