The next day
"I had you looking in the wrong section" Hermione said slamming down her book. "How could I be so stupid?"
"Stupid about what?" Alfred asked, looking up from his sloppily folded paper football.
"Flammel" Ron answered for her.
"I checked this out months ago for a bit of light reading" Hermione added.
"That's light reading. Wow Hermione, you really are dedicated. I think that's really great, really admirable eh." Mathew said looking stunned at the book.
Hermione smiled; at least someone appreciated her immense knowledge.
"Thank you Mathew, at least someone appreciates me" she said glaring at Ron.
She opened her book to a page towards the end and pointed to the name.
"Nicolas was heavily involved of the finding of the sorcerer's stone" she read aloud.
"That's it?" said Harry.
"Sorry, that's all it says" responded Hermione
They were searching the page for any other information when America starts laughing.
"Dudes" he chuckled, "If you wanted to know about Nicolas you coulda' just asked."
The three looked at him.
"You know who Flammel is?" quirked Ron.
Mathew nodded, "Yeah Arthur and him used to be best friends before he went into hiding so we know a lot about him."
"Well, spill" Harry prodded.
So Alfred started to explain everything Arthur had told him, but for obvious reasons leaving out that they were the 'Life force of North America'.
"What's the sorcerer's stone?" asked Ron.
"Seriously?" Hermione groaned. "Don't you guys read?"
Hermione flipped a few more pages over and pointed.
"The sorcerer's stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will transform any metal into pure gold and produce the elixir of life, which will make the drinker immortal. Some believe that it is actually the mythical fountain of youth."
"Immortal?" Ron questioned.
"It means you'll never die" Hermione answered, not bothering to look up.
"I know what it means." growled Ron.
Harry quieted him down and Hermione continued.
"The only stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flammel, the noted alchemist, who last year celebrated his six hundredth and sixty fifth birthday."
"Well that's almost everything" Alfred responded, "The only thing missing is that Flammel went into hiding after he went mad, like anyone who was alive before the U.S.A was even an idea would."
"And that without the 'Life force of North America', which was never found, it is completely useless. Some say the only reason it works for Flammel is because he struck a deal with the local natives for a piece of the 'life force'."
The three nodded and Hermione once again spoke.
That actually was right, apparently to buy his silence Arthur gave the Flammel a pint of blood from each of them to run the stone.
"That's what fluffy is guarding on the third floor. That's what's under the trap door. The sorcerer's stone."
"Now all we have to do is find the 'Life Source of North America'" Ron added, "Whatever that means".
Then he looked over and saw the twins.
"Hey since you know so much about it, do you know what it is?"
The twins quickly shook their heads no.
A little too quick for Harmonie's liking.
"Are you sure?" she asked, fully expecting to be lied to.
And her expectation was filled.
"Yeah, eh" Mathew answered, "No one, except maybe Flammel knows".
"Hey guys, Mattie and I need to go. We've got to meet with the History teach'. Apparently he wants us to help design the lesson for World War One or something like that" Alfred said, grabbing his backpack.
The three looked at them suspiciously, before packing up to head back to the dorm room.
They wanted to get some sleep before they went out tonight.
As the two walked out the door they were thinking the same thought.
"Great, now there looking for the life force of North America. Also known as me. This is somehow England's fault."
That night
That night the four woke at eleven o'clock sharp.
Harry and Ron quietly creaked out of bed and trotted on the floor.
Unfortunately for them once again, war tends to make you a very light sleeper.
The twins bolted up and saw the two.
"Where are you going" Mathew asked.
"Were going to talk to Hagrid about the stone" Harry answered "Do you want to come?"
He felt as if he should invite them, they were the ones who showed them what the stone was in the first place.
They nodded and silently hopped out of bed.
Ron was impressed at the complete soundlessness. That must have taken years of practice to be able to move a crinkly blanket and trod on squeaky wood without even making a peep.
The four crept down stairs and saw Hermione.
Recognizing her look Harry mouthed. "It felt right to invite them".
Hermione nodded and the four were on their way.
They scrambled out of the castle and trotted along the wet muddy path to Hagrid's hut.
Hey walked up and Harry knocked on the door three times.
Hagrid opened the door and saw the five kids faces.
"Sorry, but I'm not in a state to entertain today" he said beginning to close the door.
"We know about the Sorcerer's stone" the three spoke in unison.
"Ohh…" Hagrid trailed opening the door. "Fine come in".
The five walked in and took off their wet cloaks.
"First, why are the Gryffindor doubles here?" Hagrid asked.
"Hi dude, I'm Alfred, and this is my Bro Mattie." He said sticking out his hand. "We told them all about Flammel; my big bro was a good friend of his. BTW they also know how it works and about the whole 'life source of North America' dealeo'"
"Well isn't that just dandy" Hagrid grumbled.
"We think Snape is trying to steal it" Harry added.
"We do?" questioned Alfred and Mathew, but they were ignored.
"Snape" Hagrid groaned "You're not still on about him, are ye".
"It's not really aboot Snape" Mathew piped.
"Dude I keep telling you. It's About not Aboot".
Mathew just rolled his eyes.
"Hagrid we know he's after the stone we just don't know why." Harry continued and the five took seats in the various couches throughout the room.
"Snape is one of the teachers protecting the stone" stated Hagrid forcefully. "He's not about to steal it".
"What?" Ron asked.
"Right, come on now I'm a bit preoccupied today" he said gesturing towards the door.
"Wait a minute, one of the teachers" Hermione deducted. "There are other things protecting the stone aren't there! Spells, enchantments."
"That's right. Waste of bloody time if you ask me, ain't no one gonna get past fluffy. Not a soul knows how, 'cept for me and Dumbledore."
"...I shouldn't have told you that" he added at the end.
Then they noticed a boiling pot start to shake in the corner of the room.
Hagrid walked over to it and took out a black egg with orange markings.
"Cool" America said jumping out of his chair. "It's a Norwegian Ridgeback egg, there very rare."
"Wow Norwa- I mean Lukas would be so excited eh." Mathew cheered.
"But Hagrid how did you get one?" Ron asked.
"Won it, off a stranger I met down at the pub" Hagrid shrugged. "Guy seemed rather eager to get rid of him".
Now the egg was trembling wildly.
Then all of a sudden it popped open and a long green wing stuck out, followed by the rest of a grass shaded body.
"Is that… a dragon" Hermione gaped in disbelief.
"Yeah, and like Alfred said, a real rare one too" Ron answered. "My brother Charlie works with these in Romania".
"Isn't he beautiful" Hagrid exclaimed like a proud parent. "Oh bless him; look he knows his mummy, Hello Norbert."
"Norbert?" Harry blinked.
"Well he's got to have a name, don't he? love you Norbert" he said, tickling the dragon under his chin.
Suddenly the thing shot back a small stream of fire.
No one noticed how Alfred reacted way more a normal person would, and Mathew didn't even flinch.
His smile just grew much more feral looking.
America looked worriedly at his brother, hoping that he was misinterpreting his face.
But he wasn't, the seed had been planted.
But that's a story for another time.
"Well he'll have to be trained up a little bit of course."
"Wait" Alfred yelled. "Who's looking though the window?"
The five turned and in the window staring was Draco Malfoy.
'That's odd'.
Draco was watching from the window and had seen the dragon discharge its fire.
He saw Alfred staggering back as if looking death in the eye, way more than a normal wizard would.
But for once, Mathew was the real interesting one.
He didn't step back at all, no, he took a step closer.
The previously calm and collected face he had worn was replaced by an almost feral or even deranged glint.
He, the opposite of his brother, looked as if he were staring at life itself.
He was lost in thought when he saw the faces all turn to the window.
"Malfoy!" Harry yelled.
Draco now ran as fast as he could from the dinky hut.
Ready to take some notes, and do some research.
But first a quick pit stop.
"Hagrid always wanted a dragon, told me the first time I ever met him".
The five were walking down the corridor on their way back to the dorms.
"Yeah, I love dragons" Alfred said "although they have too much fire for me. I'll stick to horses at my house".
"It's crazy", Ron commented. "He actually bought a dragon though".
"And worse" Harry resumed, "Malfoy knows."
"I don't understand, is that bad?" asked Canada.
"Yes it's bad!" answered Ron.
"Good evening" Mrs. McGonagall said formally.
They jumped and Mathew tried to fade into the background.
"Not this time Mr. Williams" she said staring right at him.
She had figured out if you don't, he turns almost transparent.
Then, when the five were standing wide eyed, Draco walked out behind her smirking.
"My office, now".
And the five trudged across school and to the teacher's room, while Malfoy strolled triumphant besides them.
"Looks like you were playing with fire." he whispered to the twins.
Alfred straightened more and winced, and Mathews already alight, eyes glowed even brighter.
"Don't talk about that around them" Harry said, seeing the reactions and inferring.
More for the fact that Mathew grew even more psychotic looking than when they first pulled them out of the mirror.
And that image may have scarred him for life.
"I'll do what I want potter. Fire, fire, fire".
Each time Alfred shrunk back a little more, and Canada's Maniacal glint festered more and more.
"Boys! Inside now" the professor called.
This served to extinguish Canada enough to let him pretend not to have the itch back. At least for a while.
The five stood in front of her desk with their heads hung.
"Nothing, I repeat nothing, gives a student the right to walk about the school at night." She scolded. "There for as punishment for your actions twenty five points will be taken."
"Twenty five" gaped Harry.
"Each. And to ensure it does not happen again all six of you will receive detention."
Draco's victorious face dropped.
"Excuse me professor, maybe I heard you wrong, or you were referring to Alfred nine different personalities, but I thought you said the six of us."
"No you heard me correctly Mr. Malfoy" she sourly stated. "You see, as honorable as your intentions were, you too were out of bed after hours. You will join your classmates in detention."
Now the five were smiling, it was almost worth it.