Everyone returned from their "in desperate need of a drink" break. Astra moved in closer to Harry, eyes slightly narrowed.

"I couldn't even get a buzz off of the hard stuff," Astra told him.

"Yeah, that happens," Harry said. "Turns out, I may have upped your tolerence to alcohol when our souls were bound together. I can't get drunk, I can't get high, I heal from injuries quick, and my sex drive…is notorious."

"Mmm, hmm," Sara said nodding fervently at the last point.

"Thankfully, you can't feel when people die," Harry said. "As far as I know."

"So, you can't get drunk?" George asked in shock.

"At all?" Fred asked.

"At all," Harry said.

"He once drunk Andre the Giant underneath the table," Sara said.

"What sort of giant is named Andre?" George asked.

"Oh, he's a professional wr…do they even have wrestling in the wizarding world?" Kara asked.

"No," Hermione interjected. "Although the professional dueling circuit is kind of like the WWF, or WWE now, I guess. With the colorful characters and predetermined outcomes and rivalries and everything like that. Right down to the guy running it being Vince McMahon's magical counterpart."

"Fascinating," Sara said. "But, perhaps a conversation for another time."

"Yes," John agreed. "Last chapter was the most insane thing I've ever written. And when we get this year done, we're going for that mirror."

"Yes, we are," Sara said. "Although the damage has already been done in the past."

"I just don't want anyone to go near that thing," Harry said. "Let me know when you're doing it."

"We will."

"You weren't kidding about getting to the Firewhiskey early," Ron said. "Oh, and Ava and Mick are going to be a bit indisposed for a minute. Lita's keeping an eye on them. And I guess I'll be good enough to go over this chapter."

"Harry seriously can't get drunk," George said.

"Yes," Harry said. "I've even drunk alcohol that has been made to get speedsters a buzz. Nothing."

"Cisco's vowed to find something that will make you drunk," Kara said. 'So, far he's unsuccessful."

"He wouldn't be the first," Lena said.

"Well, I'm sure the others will be back," Sara said. "Gideon, let's roll."

"Chapter Thirteen," Gideon narrated. "Nicholas Flamel."

Everyone sat up and paid attention. But no one said anything.

The opening part of the next chapter plays out, right up to Ron telling Harry that Dumbledore was right, that mirror could drive him mad.

Barely a couple of paragraphs in and John Constantine's sour mood regarding Dumbledore returned. And he was not the only one.

"The most galling part is he knows," John said. "He knows, he pulls this shit, and people still trust him. And he can charm anyone he wants to."

"Dumbledore has that knack of making you feel at ease," Ron said. "And he's done enough really good things, which do a good job at masking the bad things."

"He's human," Hermione said.

"And he does admit to some of his mistakes," Harry said. "Doesn't help when the damage is already done."

"No, it doesn't," Astra agreed.

Hermione's return, the passage of time, and Harry's extra Quidditch practices. The Weasleys claim Wood was turning into a fanatic, but Harry disagreed.

"No offense meant, mate, but you were kind of like Wood Junior sometimes," George said.

"Well, I didn't think Wood was turning into a fanatic," Harry replied. "He's already one to begin with."

"Truer words have never been spoken," Fred said.

"Best captain we had," George said. "All due respect to Angelina."

"She wouldn't disagree with you," Harry reminded them.

The Weasleys were goofing off, and Wood drops the news that Snape is refereeing the next Quidditch game. Which caused George to really fall off of his broom.

"Oh, that looked like it hurt," Nora said.

"It did," George said. "But, I was shocked and appalled,"

"Snivellus could barely fly a broom," John said. "Surprised he went this far."

"If he's trying to murder Harry, maybe not," Lena said.

"I'm not sure about this," Astra said. "But, his actions are suspicious."

"Kind of sus, yeah," Kara agreed. "He doesn't make many friends with how he acts."

"That's Snape for you."

Lita popped back into the room.

"Aunt Ava and Dad are having a bit of a sleep off," Lita said. "Oh, and we're going to need more Firewhiskey."

"You didn't have any, did you?" Sara asked.

"Of course, I didn't," Lita said. "The drinking age is twenty-one in America. Not sure how the jurisdiction works when you're on a time ship, but I'm not going to chance it."

"You lot can vote before you can drink alcohol," Ron said. "That's kind of mental."

Those who were American smiled. They could not disagree.

"And enlist in the army as well," Sara said. "America is kind of weird about the entire alcohol and drugs thing. Let's not forget the DARE program."

"Oh, that's still going on?" Kara asked.

"Mmmm hmmm," Lita agreed.

"Dad knew an officer who was in that program," Sara said. "He got busted for cocaine a couple of years back."

"That's just as bad as Chris Hanson having to sit down for a chat with himself," Kara remarked.

"If Ava was here, she would be about to lecture us for getting way off topic, "Zari said. "Like, way, way off topic."

"Right, let's move on," Sara said.

Ron and Hermione playing Chess, and Ron and Harry's belief that it was good for her due to being one of the few things she lost at.

"They're not wrong," Malfoy said.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Malfoy.

Harry informs Hermione and Ron about Snape being a Quidditch referee. And their bad suggestions.

Ron winced at what his younger self said.

"Really break your leg?" Ron asked. "That was bad."

"All of those suggestions were bad," Astra said.

"Especially considering Pomfrey could have mended a broken leg in a minute," Harry said.

Neville returns to the Gryffindor tower, hopping all the way. Everyone laughed except Ron, Harry, and Hermione, with Hermione quickly moving over to do the counter-curse.

"Huh, in the original, Hermione was the only one who didn't laugh," Lita said.

"I must have overlooked that bit," Harry replied dryly. "Joanne did take a liking to Hermione."

"A bit too much," Ron murmured underneath her breath. "Not as bad as Steve Kloves though."

Ron shuddered when mentioning his own personal Voldemort.

"Seriously, what the hell is wrong with the rest of Gryffindor?" Astra asked.

"Kids can be cruel," Kara said.

"And they grow up to be adults and are somehow worse," Zari said.

"But, not everyone," Harry said.

"We weren't up there," George said.

"Although we did have our moments," Fred said darkly.

Neville explains it was Malfoy who did it to him.

"Yes, I'm an asshole," Malfoy drawled in a bored voice.

"I notice the lack of past tense," Zari said.

"Well, yes," Malfoy said. "Longbottom was an easy target. I took advantage."

"Only because you knew he wouldn't want to cause any trouble," Kara icily said.

And again, Malfoy did not dispute that fact.

Harry tries to perk up Neville's spirit by giving him a chocolate frog card and saying he is worth twelve Malfoy and making a comment about how Malfoy was in Slytherin.

"Bit harsh comparing everyone in Slytherin to him," Zari said.

"Really wish I hadn't slammed Slytherin just to make a point," Harry said.

"I understand, you didn't know any better," Astra said. "Malfoy did. And he chose to still be a pompous peacock."

"The Malfoy family bird," Malfoy said. "So, it's fitting."

"And here I thought you were a big fan of NBC," Nora said.

"What?" Malfoy asked.

"I bloody hate NBC," John grumbled.

"Why?" a curious Sara asked.

John declined to answer that question, but a stormy expression still spread over his face.

Neville gives Harry the card, and Harry finds Nicholas Flamel on Dumbledore's card.

"Should have remembered that," Harry groaned.

"Who would expect you to remember a name you read on a chocolate frog card months later?" Kara asked.

"I should have remembered that," Harry said. "I knew it from somewhere."

"Well, you're welcome," Malfoy said.

"For what?" Harry asked.

"Because, if I didn't curse Longbottom, you would have never found out who Nicholas Flamel is," Malfoy said. "So, you're welcome."

"That's a bit of a stretch," Lena said.

"Kind of reminds me of how Shredder technically was responsible for creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," Sara said.

"Or that Mojo Jojo had a hand in creating the Powerpuff Girls," Nora said.

Everyone responded with a nod.

"You are very helpful, Malfoy," Ron said. "Just like you got Harry on the Quidditch Team. How did that work out for you by the way?"

"Oh, I'm sure he enjoys Wood's yearly fruit basket," George said.

Malfoy realized he had stepped into it. Again.

Hermione goes and finds her light reading.

Everyone eyed the size of the tome Hermione pulled out with raised eyebrows.

"That's not light reading," Sara said. "That's a murder weapon."

"You murdered someone with a book before?" Zari asked.

"Once," Sara said.

Hermione reads about the Philosopher's Stone, and makes a snide comment about how Ron and Harry don't read.

"Granger, you wouldn't have known if Potter hadn't found that name on the card," Malfoy said. "And Potter wouldn't have known, if I didn't hex Longbottom."

"And you wouldn't be here if your mother learned how to brew a contraceptive potion," Ron said.

"Oh, that's rich, given your parents thought a contraceptive is a musical instrument," Malfoy snapped back. "And you wouldn't have been here if your mother didn't want a daughter."

Ron curled up his fist as if imagining burying it into Malfoy's throat.

"Oh, low blow!" George yelled.

The Weasleys were very well aware that their parents were trying for a daughter, at least since their mother had Charlie.

"Okay, break it up, ladies," Sara said.

The trio reads about the Philosopher's Stone and comes to the conclusion that's what Fluffy is guarding.

"Hey everyone, can I ask my question now?" Nora asked.

"Sure, Nora, it's no longer a spoiler," Harry told her.

"Right," Nora said. "I'm sure, you know my father. You know, Damien Darhk."

The Legends just all smiled.

"We've met," Sara said.

"Wait, your father is Damien Darhk?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, but that's not the issue, "Nora said waving it off "My big issue is that my father attempted to steal the Philosopher's Stone. He actually told me about it when I was being prepared to bring Mallus to Earth."

"What's a Mallus?" George asked.

"An all powerful demon which we defeated by using a bunch of totems to create a giant Beebo to curb stomp it," Sara dryly said if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"What's a Beebo?" Fred asked.

"An unholy monstrosity of terror," Kara said, the entire Beebocon incident fresh in her mind.

Asking Kara about Beebocon was like mentioning the Cursed Child to Harry. Just was not done. At all.

"We're getting off the subject, again," Hermione said. "So, your father was Damien Darhk? And he attempted to steal the Philosopher's Stone."

"Three times, twice in the 1970s and once in the 1980s," Nora explained. "The problem is, Flamel had his own magical security system to protect the Philosopher's Stone. Nicholas invited him in the third time he tried to steal it for tea. And if there's one thing Nicholas Flamel distrusted, it was the goblins."

"We know the Stone was there," Hermione said. "It was at Gringotts. And then it was at Hogwarts. And then…"

Hermione got tongue-locked to prevent giving out future spoilers.

"I'm not sure if it was," Nora said. "Flamel never would have given anything to the goblins. I'm thinking Dumbledore wanted the Stone as bait for a trap, and Flamel put a dummy stone in an unused vault at Gringotts to get Dumbledore off of his back."

A revelation dawned upon the entire reading group.

"And Dumbledore fell for it," John said. "The old meddling fool got played by an even older, more meddling fool."

"If the Stone was fake, the danger we were all in was real," Ron said.

"It's…if Dumbledore was tricked, that was rotten of Flamel to do," Hermione said.

Harry thought Hermione was missing the basic point of what was going on.

"You sure Flamel wouldn't put the stone in Gringotts?" Harry asked Nora.

"Well, I can't say for certain," Nora admitted. "But, Dad was adamant Flamel thought goblins were flaky, with their constant rebellions. And you have to admit, that is Flamel's life's work. Would he risk it?"

"I can't believe Dumbledore would fall for it," Hermione said. "He knew Flamel."

Harry snapped his fingers so only he and Hermione could speak.

"And I thought I knew Dumbledore," Harry said. "Funny how that worked out."

Harry restarted time and turned to Astra.

"The fact the Philosopher's Stone might be a fake makes this a whole lot worse," Astra said.

"The danger is still the same if it's real or fake," John said. "Because, the person Dumbledore's baiting believes it's the real deal down there."

Harry decides to play Quidditch. Hermione and Ron are a bit anxious.

"I understand where you're coming from," Astra said. "But, you could be a bit less negative."

Everyone looked at Astra and she sighed.

"I know," Astra said. "But you could."

Lead up, with Harry deciding that Snape must be able to read minds.

Harry said nothing.

"Well, it's not actually reading minds," Malfoy said. "Snape is able to interpret thoughts and review memories to make certain conclusions."

"Sounds a hell of a lot like mind reading to me," Nora said.

"Sounds unethical and something that should not be done to minors," Lena said.

"Please, we've gotten past that point already," Sara said. "The moment they put that Stone in the school. Real or fake. Behind a door where a first-year could open with an unlocking charm."

"We did make it past that door," George said.

"Of course you did," Hermione said.

"Yeah, although we were used to pulling an exit stage left," Fred said.

"Let me guess," Ron said. "You went up there the first night back."

"Next morning," George said. "Sloppy performance on our part though."

"Although, it seems like after you found it, Dumbledore or someone did a better job at locking that door," Fred added.

Not good enough, Harry mentally mused.

Harry prepares for Quidditch, while Hermione and Ron prepare the leg-locker curse for Snape.

"That's rather cold blooded of you, Granger," Malfoy said. "Snape's legs snap together, he falls off the broom, and lands on the ground. Neck snaps. He's dead. Congratulations, you're a murderer. Enjoy a one way trip to Azkaban."

Hermione shivered. She had been to Azkaban as a visitor. As a prisoner, no thank you.

"Well, you gave us the idea, Malfoy," Hermione said.

"For someone who respects the teachers, you are rather quick to maim or murder them," Malfoy said. "Your first thought to distract Snape was to set him on fire, after all. And now you're going to do something which could kill him."

"It could kill him," Hermione said. "He could survive"

"Right, you might only be guilty for attempted murder," Malfoy said. "My mistake."

"Will I actually get to enjoy watching Harry play Quidditch for the enjoyment of it?" Astra asked.

Those who were in the know racked their brains for the answer.

"Yeah, about that," George said.

"A couple of times, I think," Fred said.

"But, trouble follows Harry around wherever he goes," George said. "Poor lad is a magnent for it."

"Started early for that one," Sara said.

The entire school was out there, including Dumbledore.

"Well, at least you don't have to worry about the attempted murder," Lita said.

Astra raised an eyebrow at Dumbledore's arrival.

"He's there," Astra said. "It's almost like he expects trouble."

"So, who was the Hufflepuff Seeker out there?" Nora asked. "It wasn't…"

"Not Cedric, no," Harry said.

We switch to the point of view of Ron and Hermione watching the game. And Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle showing up with Malfoy being his usual charming self, talking about how people got on the Gryffindor team because they got felt sorry for.

"Better to be a charity case than to be on the team because you have a rich father," Ron said.

"Oh, I'll pass that burn onto my twelve year old self," Malfoy said.

"Just to let you know, anything that happens to you next," Harry said. "You've brought it on yourself."

Neville repeats Harry's earlier comment to Malfoy.

"Stand up to him, Neville," Astra said. "He's nothing but an entitled piece of trash and a bully."

"I'm sitting right here," Malfoy said.

"Fine, you're a shithead as well," Astra said. "And I'm glad Harry fucked your mother."

"Must you people keep bringing that up?" Malfoy asked.

"We don't have to," Sara said.

"But, it's a pleasant reminder of how karma bit you big time," Kara added.

Malfoy kept needling Ron, until Ron snaps and attacks Malfoy. And Neville helps fight off Crabbe and Goyle.

"Are you a wizard or not, Ron?" Hermione asked with a bit of a smile.

"Now's not the time," Ron said. "I do regret something here."

"And what's that?" Harry asked.

"I didn't hit Malfoy harder," Ron said.

"Oooh," Astra said. "If only you would have knocked him into next week."

"Poor Neville," Zari said.

"Crabbe and Goyle have had bigger stools than Longbottom," Malfoy said. "I wonder what he was thinking."

"Likely more than Crabbe and Goyle at any given time," Harry said.

Malfoy could not dispute that.

Harry blows past Snape and catches the Snitch in record time

Astra jumped up, as did Nora and Lita.

"That was amazing!" Astra yelled.

"It really was," George said.

"Blink and you miss it," Lita said.

"The best," Kara said with a grin.

"Now, I'm disappointed I was too busy shoving my fist down Malfoy's throat to pay attention," Ron said.

Harry dismounted, Dumbledore's words to Harry about not brooding over the mirror follow.

Astra's good mood because of Harry's amazing catch faded.

"And that's not brooding, that's having your brain messed with by a cursed artifact," Astra said.

"And I was only keeping distracted because I was worried about Snape making a fresh attempt on my life," Harry said.

Snape spits on the ground after the match.

"Oh, he's charming, isn't he?" Zari asked.

"Really makes himself popular with all of the students," George said.

"Seriously, is he like five?" Lena asked.

"Sometimes, I wonder," Harry dryly said.

Harry follows Snape and Quirrell into the forest and overhearing Snape and Quirrell's conversation. Quirrell stutters like a madman, Snape tells Quirrell he doesn't want as his enemy.

"Oh, you just had to be nosy enough to follow people who might want to kill you into the forest," Kara said.

"Of course, that's the only way I could ever learn anything," Harry said.

"He's…not wrong," Hermione reluctantly said.

"For sure," Ron said.

"Even though Dumbledore never wanted to get Harry involved anymore than he had to," Hermione said.

"And yet, I get involved more than I should," Harry said.

"This entire conversation is sus," Lita said. "What were you supposed to think?"

"That Snape was just one step away from tying someone to train tracks," Harry said. "Or cutting them in half at a sawmill."

"Quirrell's more of a wreck than usual," Lena said.

"He's overplayed his part," Zari said.

She had seen it, someone playing a character for a reality show or for social media, and they eventually turned up a certain aspect of their personality so much that it was blindingly obvious it was phony.

"His part?" Astra asked.

"Let's just keep watching," Zari said.

"Snape really never does himself any favors," John murmured.

"Never," Harry said.

Harry meets up with Ron and Hermione and informs him what he saw in the forest.

"And there we go," Kara said.

"I'm not sure what I make of what I just saw," Astra said. "Quirrell and Snape both look shifty as all hell now."

"They really do," Sara agreed.

"See, Astra, my life wasn't in danger once," Harry said.

"For the first time," Lena said.

"And Harry had that amazing catch," Sara said. "So, should we bring back McGonagall for the next couple of chapters?"

"Yes," Harry said. "We'll wait."

Sara left, and at that point, Ava stumbled back in.

"Oh, Firewhiskey on an empty stomach was a mistake," Ava said.

"I warned you," Harry said. "Here, drink this."

Harry handed Ava a vial and she drank it.

"Thanks," Ava said.

"No problem," Harry said.

"Mick's still snoring," Ava said.

"Which mean's he's still breathing," Lita said. "He'll be up soon enough."

"Too bad, he missed a breather chapter," Nora said.

McGonagall returned to the room.

"Ah, Fred, and George," McGonagall said. "It's been a long time."

"Yes," George said. "How's our favorite Transfiguration professor doing?"

"Much glad that past Minerva has to deal with you two, and not me in the present," McGonagall said.

"Too true," George said with a chuckle.

"So, should I ask her about the thing?" Nora asked.

"Nora has a theory she wants to run by you about the Stone," Harry said. "We could use your perspective on it."

McGonagall realized what they were coming up on and it was not one of her finer moments. Still, if she heard this theory, she could delay relieving this moment.

"Very, well, Ms. Darhk," McGonagall said. "Tell me your theory."

To Be Continued.