Disclaimer: There are parts of the story that have been taken directly from the book. I am not trying to make any financial gain out of this fic, so I don't know why I was so unceremoniously threatened with being reported. I think it goes without saying that everything, including the characters, belong to J.K. Rowling. I am just adding my own twist to things. Yes, I am keeping it canon because it is very easy to cook up an entirely new story, but very difficult to create an AU which is canon compliant. I am really hoping this story doesn't get banned because someone didn't want it to be specifically canon compliant. Let me know what you think in your reviews or PM me. Thank you.

Harry skidded to a halt at the breakfast table on Monday morning, completely out of breath.

"Did you run all the way?" Ron asked, taking his seat beside Harry.

"Yes." Harry wheezed, gratefully accepting a goblet of pumpkin juice from Neville.

"Why?" Neville asked.

"It's Monday!" Harry exclaimed, "I wanted to be here before the post arrived."

Hermione walked past the three boys with her nose in the air, she had refused to talk to them since the day they had accidentally discovered the three headed dog.

Hedwig dropped a package next to Harry's breakfast, knocking off his goblet of pumpkin juice. Before Harry could remove the package from her leg, she gave a loud screech and jumped on Ron's lap. Ron gave a surprised yell and toppled off his seat, with Hedwig landing on top of him and hooting indignantly.

"Harry, duck!" Neville yelled, and Harry looked up just in time to see seven owls carrying a long thin package and heading straight towards him. The owls however, landed with much decorum on the table, placing the package in front of Harry, before zooming out.

"Looks like your broom arrived from home, Harry." Ron said, looking at the package on the table. Petting a still mad Hedwig, who was busy glaring at Harry.

"Sorry, Hedwig." Harry apologized, retrieving his package from her, "Would you like some toast?"

Hedwig hooted softly, hopping on to Harry's lap and accepting the toast gratefully. Harry meanwhile was busy opening the letter he had received.

Dear Harry,

I hope we embarrassed you well and good with our last letter. It seems that our biggest gift to you arrived early, and you may have already received it. If you haven't already opened the package, please don't open it at the table. Professor McGonagall had specifically requested that you open your broom in the common room or in your dormitory; she wants you to keep a low profile till the match. You can open the rest of your gifts on the table. Also, we sincerely hope you like all our gifts; we have already booked ourselves for your first match. I can't tell you how proud I am of you. Seriously, what did I do right in life to have a son like you? Moony and Padfoot miss you a lot but I miss you the most, bud. If you like our gifts, send us a howler, Merlin knows, its been days since we have heard your voice. Stay out of obedience and being good, it brings a bad name. Don't bully anyone, Sirius and I were horrible, don't do that. Actually, just do what Moony asks you to do, that sneaky wolf knows how to cause mischief without hurting anyone. Now, go open your presents and skip around like the monkey you are.

Love

Dad

Harry looked up from his letter to Neville, Ron and now Arianna and Kate staring at him intently.

"So, what does it say?" Arianna asked, "We know it's your broom, why haven't you opened it yet?"

"Dad says McGonagall wants me to keep a low profile, I can't open it here. I will open it later."

"I think you should go to the common room and open it now." Arianna said with a sly smile.

"Anna, its just my broom, I will open it later. Now, let me have breakfast."

"Believe me Harry, you would want to go to the common room and open your broom now." Anna said grinning broadly.

"Do you know something?" Ron asked.

"Maybe."

"What?" Neville asked through a mouth full of porridge.

"Something." Arianna replied, flippantly, "Now, Harry why don't you run up to the common room? It would be empty and you will have the chance to celebrate properly."

"You will not even give me a hint, will you?" Harry asked, packing his toast.

"No. That would just ruin the surprise. Now go, have fun. I will see you at lunch."

"Why does she get to know everything?" Neville complained.

"Perks of being the eldest, squirt." Arianna called.

"Come on." Harry said, "Let's go already, I am curious now."

Harry, Ron and Neville had just turned the corner to the staircase when they came face to face with Draco Malfoy and his cronies.

Malfoy seized the package from Harry and felt it.

"That's a broomstick," he said, throwing it back to Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them."

Ron couldn't resist it.

"Maybe he will get in trouble or maybe you are just a brat. Now why don't you move aside so that we could go live our lives in peace." he said.

Malfoy's eyes flashed angrily, "With the lot of you breeding like rabbits, I wonder if you know what peace is, Weasley."

Before Ron could answer, Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow.

"Not arguing, I hope, boys?" he squeaked.

"Potter's been sent a broomstick, Professor," said Malfoy quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's right," said Professor Flitwick, beaming at Harry. "Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"

"A Cleansweep Seven, sir," said Harry, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy's face. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it," he added.

Harry, Neville and Ron headed upstairs, smothering their laughter at Malfoy's obvious rage and confusion. "Well, it's true," Harry chortled as they reached the top of the marble staircase, "If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be on the team..."

"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" came an angry voice from just behind them. Hermione was stomping up the stairs, looking disapprovingly at the package in Harry's hand.

"I thought you weren't speaking to us?" said Harry.

"Yes, don't stop now," said Ron, "it's doing us so much good."

Hermione marched away with her nose in the air.

Harry, Ron and Neville ran to the dormitory, with Harry tearing open the package on the way.

"Oh, Hell No!" Harry yelled, staring at the broomstick in his hand reverently.

"A Nimbus Two Thousand!" Neville said, awed. "I never thought I would see it for real."

"I can't wait to see the look on Malfoy's face when he realizes that Harry got a Nimbus because of him." Ron said, laughing loudly.

Unfortunately, before they could admire the broomstick properly, the three boys had to rush off for their morning classes.

All through the day Harry's thoughts were stuck were on the broom under his bed. He really wanted to take it out for a fly before his practice session with Wood at 7:00 p.m. However, by the time Harry really had time to breathe it was already 6:15 p.m. He hurriedly retrieved his broom and ran down to the pitch to meet Wood. He reached with five minutes to spare, not bothering to wait for Wood he took off. His Nimbus was amazing, it seemed to understand him telepathically, one small tug and the broom would respond to him immediately. No wonder these were the running favourites for the World Cup.

"Hey, Potter, come down!"

Oliver Wood had arrived. Harry landed next to him.

"Very nice," said Wood, his eyes glinting. "I see what McGonagall meant... you really are a natural. Had you been a novice I would have explained the rules, but I am sure you would know them better, so join practice three times a week. Tonight we will just test your skill. Any questions?"

Harry shook his head. He just wanted to get started already.

"We won't practice with the Snitch yet," said Wood, "it's too dark, we might lose it. Let's try you out with a few of these."

He pulled a bag of ordinary golf balls out of his pocket and a few minutes later, he and Harry were up in the air, Wood throwing the golf balls as hard as he could in every direction for Harry to catch. Harry didn't miss a single one, and Wood was delighted. After half an hour, night had really fallen and they couldn't carry on.

"That Quidditch cup'll have our name on it this year," said Wood happily as they trudged back up to the castle. "I wouldn't be surprised if you turn out better than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons."


James Potter had just settled at his desk with a cup of tea and the Gringotts file. The Gringotts break in, had them all puzzled. He knew Dumbledore was worried and he knew that the old professor was hiding something. Despite their seniority and experience, Fudge had requested that James and Sirius not be a part of this investigation, the rumor was that it was not Fudge's idea, but Umbridge's. She had told anyone who would listen, that she didn't think that some members of the Auror department were as loyal to the ministry as they ought to be. Dumbledore had pulled some strings to ensure that James gets some say in the case, Scrimgeour and Amelia Bones had agreed, so now, James was the expert observer on the case. Meaning he would have restricted access to information and no hand in the investigation process. The most he could do would be to make suggestions, it was only due to his reputation that a junior Auror had agreed to share the case file with him, in the hopes of getting some insight on taking the investigation forward. He scowled as he remembered the look of absolute glee on Umbridge's face, that woman was a piece of work. He was brought out of his reverie with a soft knock. Remus and Sirius smiled from the door.

"Since when do you two knock?" James asked with a slight grin.

"I didn't want to" Sirius said, "But Moony beat me to the door. So, here we are!"

"We were just heading out for a couple of drinks." Remus said, "Coming?"

James glanced at the file, sighed and nodded. He was about to get up from his chair when the mail chute dropped in a howler at his desk.

James turned it and his face lit up. "Its from Harry."

"THANK YOU!" Harry's excited voice screamed, "THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! YOU ARE THE BEST DAD ANY KID COULD EVER WANT! NIMBUS 2000 IS AMAZING! WORLD CLASS! YOU CAN TRY IT DURING THE BREAK! I JUST HAD MY FIRST PRACTICE AND WOOD IS SURE THAT WE WILL WIN! HE THINKS I AM BETTER THAN CHARLIE WEASLEY WHO WOOD RECKONS COULD HAVE PLAYED FOR ENGLAND HAD HE NOT GONE CHASING AFTER DRAGONS! DAD! THIS IS THE BEST! ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THE HOWLER! THE ENTIRE SCHOOL IS TALKING ABOUT IT! AND FRED AND GEORGE, RON'S BROTHER ARE POKING ME NOW, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN CAN THEY MEET YOU! THEY ARE THE BIGGEST FANS OF THE MARAUDERS IT SEEMS! I HAVE TO GO FOR DINNER. I WILL WRITE SOON. IF PADFOOT AND MOONY ARE WITH YOU, TELL THEM THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! LOVE YOU"

"What in the name of Merlin is happening here?" Rufus Scrimgeour asked from the of James' cabin.

"Nothing." James said hastily covering the file, "Just a howler-"

"From your son, about Nimbus and school teams." Scrimgeour finished looking annoyed, "You could have silenced the cabin. I bet the entire ministry heard you and people are working here."

"Sorry." James said, sheepishly. Scrimgeour nodded and left.

"Looks like the squirt liked his gifts." Sirius commented mildly as James slipped the Gringotts report in his pocket. Harry's howler had made him too happy, he didn't want to come back to the office.

"James," Remus asked curiously, "What did you just pocket?"

"A report." James said shortly, "And I need your help with it. Should we just go home? I have tons of firewhisky there and we can have dinner and discuss it there."

Sirius looked at James and nodded briefly.


"So, the inferius were involved?" Sirius asked taking a bite of his mince pie.

"Yes." James replied, "A goblin, Griphin had gone missing over two months before the break in. He had stolen nothing apart from the key to a vault that belonged to Nicolas Flamel. The goblins didn't report it as they assumed he had betrayed them and run off, but they had informed the vault holder. Flamel had requested them to change the security procedures for his vault immediately. However, the goblins refuse to tell us what was in the vault, they cite it under client privilege."

"You don't think it was the Philosopher's stone, do you?" Remus asked.

"The what?" Sirius asked nonplussed.

"The Philosopher's Stone." Remus replied, "It can turn any metal into gold and is used to make the elixir of life, Flamel is the only one known to have it."

"How do you even know this?" James asked.

"In my free time, I try to follow the development of the Wolfsbane Potion, there was a time when a potioneer suggested that the Philosopher's stone might help with the making of the potion but it was downright impossible to get hold of Nicholas Flamel. He is over 600 years old it seems."

"So, you think this Flamel person was hiding the stone in a vault in Gringotts?" Sirius asked.

"It is one of the safest places on Earth, maybe he was afraid that if he had it someone might track him down and do something to him and take it from him." Remus said with a shrug.

"That makes a lot of sense." James said slowly, while Sirius looked skeptical. "Think about it, if I have something like that, even I would want it well protected."

"Yes, but he is also 600 years old and a very powerful wizard." Sirius said, "Think about it, he must know loads of protective charms. All he has to do is cast a Fidelus charm at his home and no one can trace him. Look at all our Manors, we are practically invisible to the wizarding world too. And he would need the stone to make the elixir of life again, right? I don't know how frequently he takes the elixir but still, wouldn't he want to keep it handy?"

Remus and James nodded, thinking hard.

"So, this goblin was brought back as an inferi and he was used to breach security protocols, right?" Sirius asked.

James nodded.

"Why hadn't the goblins removed his access from their vaults?"

"Ugh, they figured he won't return." James replied.

"Inferi is very dark magic." Remus commented tightly, "Maybe Flamel made notes about how to make another stone and the elixir of life through it. Maybe he kept them in the vault. And I could think of only one wizard who has the skill, evil and motivation to want such a stone."

James paled considerably, "He is back, isn't he?" He whispered.

Sirius and Remus shrugged at the same time.

"Merlin!" Jamed exclaimed, jumping to his feet, "I should bring Harry home, straight away."

"James, stop!" Sirius said, "We don't know if he is back or if someone is working under his orders. His followers are equally evil and crazy. With Dumbledore at Hogwarts, Harry is as safe as he could be, don't let the threat of Voldemort dictate Harry's life. Whenever he comes back, he would eclipse Harry's life anyway, let the kid live till then. We should focus on finding out who is helping Voldemort."

"We can't do it officially, of course." Remus said, "You can keep an eye on the case. Sirius and I can check with some people, someone must have heard something."

"Don't worry." Sirius said, clasping James' shoulder. "Harry is safe, and we will die before letting anything happen to each other. Let's go get drunk now!"

Remus gave James a small smile and followed Sirius out of the kitchen. James traced his fingers on the report, sighed and followed Remus. Without any more clues, there was nothing anyone could do about the case, he just hoped to God that it was not Voldemort but one of his followers.

AN: I know I am not giving much here, but it will all add up in the end. Please leave a review. Even if it is to berate me for not writing enough. Would love to hear from you!