A/N Thanks for all the reviews guys! I'm shocked I'm over 13,000 views for this story! I will re-iterate what others have said though, if you don't like it, don't read it. Marshmallows are tasty when toasted.

SlightlyOddPerson I like cliffhangers :D but you just wait, the cliffy to end all cliffies is coming up in a few chapters time! I went looking for PP/HP fics and couldn't find many at all, so I decided to write this one! I'm really pleased you're enjoying it.

Ann Jinn Thankyou.

RangerManaInSnuggieWar Harry won't go through the traps and he has responsible adults in his life now. He'll stay safe. :)

magitech Thanks. It seemed to me that the Harry in this story wouldn't want to run off, he's finally got a parent figure, why wouldn't he ask her?

Now on with the show. There's a new character introduced in this chapter - let me know what you think of him!

Chapter 21

Albus was surrounded by parchment and books. They were books on magical guardianship, books on blood bonds, books on orphans. None of them were giving him what he was looking for, there was not even a loophole he could use. He may have said that he wasn't going to interfere with Harry's bringing up, but that didn't mean he couldn't look for ways around the adoption and with enough hints and careful prodding he was sure that he could get the Poppy to make the decision "herself".

With the school year nearly at its end he had several other things requiring his time as well, although he had given most of the parchmentwork to his deputy to contend with.

He was just getting up to refill his lemon drops when two owls landed on his desk. Sighing, he sat down again and took the letters, his initial idea to forward them to Minerva scuppered when he saw one addressed to the Chief Wizard of the Wizengamot and the other written in a familiar hand.

He broke the Ministry seal and quickly read the contents before summoning his plum robes and touching a portkey, leaving the other letter unopened.

Thirty minutes later, Nicolas Flamel stepped gracefully through the floo into the Headmaster's Office and found it empty. A quick glance onto the desk told him everything he needed to know. He cast his patronus, a griffin, and sent it out of the window before flooing to the Hospital Wing.

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Minerva knew that the Headmaster had left the castle. She had felt the wards shift when he had portkeyed out. Now she was confronted with two of her first year Gryffindors demanding to see him.

"Professor Dumbledore is not here," she repeated. "Can I help?"

Ron shook his head and started to leave. They would just have to recover the Stone themselves. When he had done that, when he had saved the school, when he had fought a Death Eater, he wouldn't be overshadowed by his brothers, his parents would take note of him and the whole wizarding world would love him. People would say "Ron Weasley saved us" or "I want to be like Ron Weasley. He's really brave." Or perhaps even "Ron Weasley's my saviour."

He was so wrapped up in these thoughts that he missed Hermione blurt out "Voldemort's going to steal the Stone!"

Minerva set down her quill and looked Hermione directly in the eye.

"Miss Granger. I know you are friends with Harry and I know he has probably told you everything I have told him. However, the Stone is safe. Please do not feel as if you have to protect it. Voldemort will not get it, I can assure you."

"Thankyou Professor" Hermione managed to say before Ron practically dragged her from the room.

They gave the password to the Fat Lady and climbed through the portrait hole. "Tell Dumbledore you said. What part of that was tell McGonagall? What did you do that for?" Ron was almost shouting.

"You heard her Ronald. The Stone is perfectly safe."

"Why has she been training Harry then? What was all that for?"

"Oh Ron I don't know. McGonagall loves Harry as her own and Harry calls her Auntie. She wouldn't do anything that would hurt him. If she says it's safe, it's safe."

Ron couldn't let go of his dreams that easily. No adventure, no fame. In his eyes he was going to save the Wizarding World.

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Flamel entered Poppy's office, noticing as he brushed down his robes that she was busy with some patients. He conjured a tea set and calmly waited.

"Master Flamel, how good of you to come!" Poppy shook the offered hand warmly. "Severus is teaching at the moment but I believe he will be free shortly."

"Such a greeting I have not experienced in quite sometime Healer Pomfrey! Thankyou for your welcome. I took the privilege of making some tea, would you care to join me?"

"Of course Master Flamel. Thankyou."

"Nicolas."

"Poppy."

The two chattered away over their tea until Poppy heard the pounding of feet in the halls and the chatter and laughter of the students, meaning that a class had just ended.

"Shall we see if Severus is free?" enquired Poppy.

"That would be excellent. Albus does not know I am here as he left for an emergency meeting in the Ministry without reading my letter. I would like to keep it that way until we have discussed this fully amongst ourselves."

"We can floo directly to Severus's quarters. Do you mind if I invite Minerva McGonagall as well? She knows everything that is going on here."

"If you think she could add something, then invite her along certainly."

"Thankyou Nicolas, I shall just floo her and tell her to meet us in Severus's quarters."

"No need," the old wizard replied. He placed his hand on the office wall and shortly nodded his head in approval. "She will be waiting for us there."

"What did you do?" asked Poppy, astonished.

"I merely asked the castle to lead your colleague to Master Snape's quarters. No doubt she will be wondering why she is there now."

Poppy's mind reeled at the scope of the thing this man had stated so calmly. He didn't seem to think that asking requests of the castle was surprising. When a full minute had gone by with Poppy still speechless, Nicolas walked over to the fireplace and shouted "Severus Snape's quarters" into the green flames. Poppy could do nothing but follow on.

Minerva was indeed waiting for them. She was getting rather curious. Not five minutes ago another door had appeared in her office and she had got the idea that she was meant to go through it. Now here she was, in Severus Snape's living room with neither of them any idea why she was there. Then the floo flared green and out stepped a very old wizard.

Severus was on one knee in an instant. This was supposedly the greatest alchemist of all time.

"Good afternoon Master Snape, Mistress McGonagall" Nicolas said when he had brushed the soot off his robes.

"Master Flamel. Such an honour it is to meet you sir."

Nicolas winked at Minerva as he surveyed the man treating him reverently.

"I'm not as young as I once was so I can't come down to meet you. You'll have to get up to meet me, I can't do much meeting on your knees. Or is this a new trend that I'm not aware of?"

Severus blushed bright red as he hurriedly stood up and Minerva had to suppress a smirk. No-one could usually tease the dour Slytherin Head.

"So now we're all stood, let's sit. It's about time for scones I think, yes."

No sooner had the words come from his mouth than a full cream tea for four had appeared on the living room table.

"Now if Poppy has managed to get her brain rebooted after seeing me talk to the castle, she should be here any moment and then we can get down to business. Philosopher's Stone discussion always goes better with tea and scones I've found."

The corners of Minerva's mouth twitched up. She liked this man. She took her tea from him just as the floo flared green again to admit Poppy.

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"That was an excellent discussion and a very pleasant tea! I shall make sure to thank the house elves later. Now I must excuse myself unfortunately, I can be sure Albus will be in his office this time and we can enact the plan."

"How can you be so sure? Catching Albus is always a challenge." Minerva said to nods from Poppy and Severus.

"Ah, but you are not his mentor." Nicolas said mischievously. "I sent him a patronus message when I realised he had not read my first letter and told him that if he didn't want to annoy me more he would be in his office at five tonight. He'll be there. He won't have forgotten the last time I got annoyed with him."

"What did you do?" asked Poppy

"It's never wise to annoy an alchemist. Or a potioneer. Wouldn't you agree Severus?" His tone carried a large amount of humour and mischief and caused Severus to burst out laughing.

"You did that to the Headmaster?"

"Certainly." Nicolas said pleasantly "It served him right and he won't likely forget it in a rush either. Now I must be off, mustn't be late to my own meeting now must I?" He was gone in a rush of green flames.

"Severus what on earth was that all about?" Minerva asked hotly.

"A potioneer's favourite prank. You slip a little bit into someone's food or onto their skin and they suddenly get an extreme urge to eat that and only that. It is non-lethal but not always pleasant on the victim. The item can be anything at all and can last for up to a month. I'm not sure I even want to think what Master Flamel used!"

"Have you ever used it Severus?" Poppy queried.

"It's unofficially part of a Potion Master's training. Of course I have. It's perfectly safe!" Snape was smirking.

"Could you detect it beforehand?"

"Do you take me for an amateur? Of course it's undetectable. It's untreatable too. Hence why Nicolas knew that our dear Headmaster would be in his office. I can imagine seeing the Headmaster eating only trees for a month would see him in your care more than he - and certainly his pride - would like, Poppy!"

"Trees?!" Minerva and Poppy gasped simultaneously.

"That's the usual one but I imagine Nicolas would be much more creative." Snape smirked again.

"Well I hope you never use it on any person here Severus." Poppy admonished sharply. "You know the effects of such a thing."

The smirk vanished of the Potion Master's face. "Yes. Now, I have essays to mark so if you could leave me to it I would be most appreciative." He pulled a stack of parchments towards him and uncapped his red ink bottle ignoring that he still had visitors. The two witches took their leave swiftly.

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Upstairs in Dumbledore's office, Nicolas was also reminding his apprentice about said potion and the effects thereof.

"Do you recognise this vial Albus?" Nicolas said.

"Yes sir" replied Albus.

"Need I remind you what's in it Albus?"

"No sir."

"Do you remember what happened last time you annoyed me by repeatedly disobeying me Albus?"

"Yes sir."

"Right. So now we will fetch my Stone. Since you didn't think it necessary enough to read the letter from your mentor, I shall come with you and fetch it myself. You will take me there. Now." Nicolas's eyes were brimming with anger.

"Nicolas. Please sir. It is safe here." He still needed it to draw out the Dark Lord and hopefully, Harry.

"Bloody hell Albus, that's my property! Are you trying to deny me something that is mine? Do you have other reasons for wanting it in your castle? Was it just chance that Gringotts was broken into the day after you had taken the Stone or were you playing on my age and status to convince me? I will have my Philosopher's Stone and you will either give it to me or taste the delights of hippogriff dung and sawdust again. I will have you gnawing on the very table and chairs you are using. Every hour of every day. Even your bed. You will get no sleep. You will get no rest. There is no cure. Do I make myself quite clear?"

"Yes sir."

"Is there any ambiguity in what I have said?"

"No sir."

"Excellent. Lead on."