Chapter 9
Åsa noticed that Harry stopped going to the Mirror of Erised, which was good for his sleeping habits and mental health. But, as he told Ron and her, he started to have nightmares about his family and a green light, with a cackling laughter. Åsa told him that he should forget about it right now but if it gets worse, tell a teacher at the most.
Hermione, who came back after the holiday ended, was disappointed that Harry didn't find anything on Nicolas Flamel and in horror that he was out three nights in a row, one night with the other two. When term started up again, the three went straight to the library to find out who this Flamel man was. The other three almost gave up, but Åsa literally had to hit them upon the head to get them motivated.
One day while Harry was out practicing for Quidditch, Åsa was reading Dracula next to Ron and Hermione, who were playing Wizard Chess. Hermione lost every time, even to Åsa who used Ron's chessmen that only trusted the red head. Åsa noticed that Harry came back in the common room, observing the three friends. He sat down on the other side of Ron, who was into the game. His mood, obviously, was nearly depressing.
"Don't talk to me for a moment," Ron said when Harry sat down. "I need to concen—"
Ron looked up at Harry.
"What's the matter with you? You look terrible."
Whispering so quiet that Åsa could hardly hear, Harry told him about Professor Snape being the referee on the next Quidditch match. Åsa rolled her eyes at the stupidity of her friends, who were now in shock about Snape being a referee. The two suggested that Harry should lie and say he is 'ill' or has a 'broken leg.' They also said to really break his leg or just forfeit.
"I can't," Harry said. "There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all." Harry explained.
"Good for you Harry, actually facing your fears." Åsa stated in a sarcastic tone, but Harry missed that part.
"Thank you, Åsa." Åsa nearly face palmed at the brunette's reply.
After Harry said those three words, Neville came hopping through the portrait with his legs in a Leg-Locker Curse. Everyone was laughing, including Harry and Ron, but Hermione and Åsa were helping the fallen Longbottom. Hermione undid the Leg-Locker Curse and Neville got up to his feet, trembling.
"What happened?" Hermione asked, helping Åsa help Neville to an open armchair.
"Malfoy," Neville said, making Åsa's grip a little tighter. "I met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practice that on."
"You should tell a teacher, Neville." Åsa stated letting go of the now sitting first year but Neville shook his head.
"I don't want more trouble," Neville muttered.
"You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" Ron exclaimed. "He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier."
"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done that," Neville nearly sobbed out, making Åsa clench her hands.
"You are brave, Neville." Åsa sighed, but was ignored like usual.
"You're worth twelve of Malfoy," Harry said. "The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin."
Harry gave Neville the last of his Chocolate Frog package, which made Åsa smile at the two first years.
"Thanks, Harry . . . and Åsa . . . I think I'll go to bed . . . D'you want the card, you collect them, don't you?" Neville gave Harry the Famous Wizard card.
"Dumbledore again," Harry sighed, "He was the first one I ever—"
As Harry read the card silently, he gasped in the middle of his sentence. Rereading the card, he looked up at his three comrades in shock and happiness.
"I've found him!" He whispered to the three, "I've found Flamel! I told you I'd read the name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here – listen to this: 'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel'!"
Hermione excitedly jumped off her chair and ran to the girls' dormitories, only to be back before any of them could speak. She had an enormous old book in her arms, which didn't surprise the other girl.
"I never thought to look in here!" She whispered, excited. "I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading."
"Light?" Ron questioned, but only got shushed.
"I knew it! I knew it!" Hermione nearly jumped up and down, pointing to a section in the book.
"Are we allowed to speak yet?" Again, Ron was ignored.
"Nicolas Flamel," She said with a dramatic hushed voice, "is the only known maker of the Philosopher Stone!"
"That what?" Ron and Harry asked, making Åsa roll her eyes.
"Oh, honestly, don't you two read? Åsa, can you read this passage for them?" As nodded and read the section aloud.
"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 Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. There have been many reports of the Philosopher's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight)." Åsa stated in her quiet voice.
"See!" Hermione said when Åsa finished. "The dog must be guarding Flamel's Philosopher's Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!"
"And stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!" Harry said. "No wonder Snape's after it! Anyone would want it."
"And no wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry," Ron said. "He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?"
While in Defense Against the Dark Arts, where they were copying down different way of treating a werewolf bite or bites, Harry and Ron were annoying Åsa with their whisperings about Quidditch. She noticed that they weren't talking about the upcoming match until Ron said that he'd buy his own Quidditch team.
"I'm going to play," He told them after class. "If I don't, all the Slytherins will think I'm just too scared to face Snape. I'll show them . . .it'll really wipe the smiles off their faces if we win."
"Just as long as we're not wiping you off the field," Hermione said, trying to make a joke.
When the match was near, Åsa noticed that Harry was getting nervous like the rest of the team for Gryffindor. She never really understood what was so great about Quidditch since she was always inside reading or watching the Eurovision Contest in Danish. The only sport she knew was soccer, better known as football at her house, and the basics for soccer was easier than Quidditch.
As Harry started to get even more nervous, Åsa noted that he started to run into Professor Snape more often. It kind of amused her since he was trying to hard to ignore the professor but making himself only run into him more and more.
The day of the match, Åsa brought a book that her family gave her to the match. She was going to read it in the bleachers while Ron and Hermione actually paid attention to the match. The three wished Harry good luck outside the locker room and then went a spot next to Neville in the bleachers. Åsa quickly opened the book and started to read the World War History book.
"I've never seen Snape look so mean," Ron told the two, not noticing that Åsa had a book unlike Hermione. The two gave each other a sideways glance and then Åsa went back to reading.
"Look – they're off. Ouch!" Ron nearly squeaked out as a pale hand poked Ron in the back of the head. Åsa looked behind to see Draco Malfoy and his goons, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Oh, sorry, Weasley, didn't see you there." Draco sneered. "Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on his broom this time? Anyone want a bet? What about you, Weasley?"
"You know," Malfoy went on after being ignored. "how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team? It's people they feel sorry for. See, there's Potter, who's got no parents, then there's the Weasleys, who've got no money – you should be on the team, Longbottom, you've got no brains."
"I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy," Neville stammered, going bright red.
"Yes, Neville, you are." Åsa started, shutting her book. "Plus, Malfoy, he's got more brains then all three of you."
Ron, Neville, and Åsa all laughed after she finished it and Hermione even giggled a little bit. The three didn't start a war that they won't win, so they went back to Neville.
"Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something." All of them stopped laughing and Ron growled.
"I'm warning you, Malfoy – one more word –"
"Ron! Åsa!" Hermione pointed towards the field, "Harry—!"
"What? Where?" All the first years turn their heads towards the game and saw that Harry was flying towards the ground like a bullet.
"You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground!" said Malfoy. Ron then snapped and before anyone, but Åsa, knew it the Slytherin and Gryffindor first years were fighting. After hesitating, Neville went over his seat to help Ron out. Åsa thought the fighting was more interesting, but Hermione didn't even notice that the two boys went to fight the other three.
"Ron! Åsa! Where are you? The game's over! Harry's won! We've won! Gryffindor is in the lead!" Hermione danced, hugging Parvati Patil in the row in front of them.
"Harry, where have you been?" Hermione squeaked.
"We won! You won! We won!" Ron shouted, patting Harry on the back.
"Plus, Malfoy was given a black eye by Ron and Neville took on Crabbe and Goyle single-handed. He's with Madam Pomfrey, who says he's alright, but it was really brave of him." Åsa stated, chewing on a Licorice Wand.
"Never mind that now," Harry said, panting. "Let's find an empty room, you wait 'til you hear this. . ."
The four went into an empty room and Harry told them about the conversation that Snape and Quirrell had.
"So we were right, it is the Philosopher's Stone, and Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help him get it. He asked if he knew how to get past Fluffy – and he said something about Quirrell's 'hocus-pocus' – I reckon there are other things guarding the stone apart from Fluffy, loads of enchantments, probably, and Quirrell would have don some anti-Dark Arts spell that Snape needs to break through—"
"So you mean the Stone's only safe as long as Quirrell stands up to Snape?" Hermione summarized.
"It'll be gone by next Tuesday," Ron said.