Flamel and Winter

"I was thinking we could go see Hagrid after breakfast," stated Harry the following Sunday, less then two days after he and his friends had found the three-headed dog hidden on the third floor and managed not to get eaten or caught. "The three of us and Draco, I mean."

Stopping with food halfway to his mouth, Neville gulped audibly. "Oh. I thought we were just going to... you know, forget about it," he said hesitantly, hopefully.

Harry shook his head. He felt great after Laini looked over his flying yesterday and had officially added him to the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team as Seeker, so he wanted to keep going. "Oh come on, Neville, we're just going to talk with Hagrid, not fight a dragon or giants. It'll be fine."

"I don't know..."

"It'll be fun, Neville," spoke up Susan from across the table, a gentle smile on her face as she tried to put him at ease. "And if does go anywhere, we'll just forget about it, alright? Promise. Right, Harry?" She gave him a pointed look, and Harry nodded after a moment in confirmation.

"Right." Though he might go look on his own if that was the case. Maybe Draco or Susan would still help him, if he asked very nicely.

"Then I can only hope it doesn't go anywhere," mumbled Neville as he nibbled on a slice of toast and jam.

After collecting Draco from the Slytherin table - who told Crabbe and Goyle to "buzz off" and let him go off alone - the group of children trudged down to the hut that rested near the Forbidden Forest. Harry tilted his head towards the rising sun, the beams of light warming his skin while the light breeze cooled it moments later. It was a good and lovely day, with birds chirping in the distance and other students chatting has they headed down at the lake. People were obviously going to enjoy the day before they had to worry about last minute school work for tomorrow.

Even Hagrid was enjoying the outdoors, out in his garden tending some still small pumpkins when the four of them arrived at his home. Fang noticed them first though, barking as he bounded up to Harry from his spot of the front step. He jumped up at Harry, and being more then half his size he knocked him down to the ground with ease, Harry giving an 'omph' of surprise as the large dog then proceeded to lick his face clean, and the he just laughed. "Hello, Fang!"

"You really do have a way with dogs," said Draco dryly, giving Fang a look that said he didn't want the dog and his slobber anywhere near him.

"Harry!" said Hagrid happily when he noticed them, wiping his hands on his trousers as he stood and lumbered over to them. "Was wondering when ya would visit me again! Geroff him, Fang! And ya brought friends!" He seemed very happy just at the fact that Harry had friends. "Well, come inside, everyone, and I'll make use a pot of tea while you tell me how your liking school!"

The four followed him inside, Harry finally let up by Fang but continuing to scratch his head as they walked. For a man Hagrid's size, the hut wasn't all that big, but to the boy raised first in a cupboard and then a tiny hut with just enough room to sleep and keep a few belongings, it was wonderful - with room not only for a very large bed, but for a table, chairs, and even a fireplace.

"Rubeus Hagrid," said the giant man, introducing himself to the three that didn't know him as he gathered enough seats for everyone. "Ya can just call me Hagrid - I'm the groundskeeper. And who are all you?"

"Susan Bones, and its a delight to meet you, Hagrid," said Susan with an outstretched hand, and flinching only slightly when Hagrid shook it a little too hard.

"Neville Longbottom," mumbled the shy boy, raising a hand in greet. "Hello."

"And I am Draco Malfoy." This was said with a great deal of pride from the Slytherin. "Pleasure."

"You Lucius Malfoy's boy?" asked Hagrid with a slightly raised eyebrow, and when Draco nodded, he gave a little, "Mm. Well, how ya doing in school?" he said instead as he started gathering things for tea. "Did anything exciting happen in the last two weeks?"

Harry chatted as Fang decided to move his attentions to Susan and licking her hand - about how cool magic was and how much he was learning, how Labelle had started bullying him, and even getting on the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team. At that, Hagrid beamed.

"I've should have known! Yer father was a Chaser and the Captain of the Gryffindor team," Hagrid said as he set down mismatched mugs in front of everyone, Harry's a bright red with a chip on the rim.

"He was in Gryffindor? Was my mother in Gryffindor too?" Harry asked, wrapping his hands around the mug, letting them absorb the warmth.

With a nod, Hagrid plopped into one of the other chairs, the poor thing creaking under his weight. "Yah, she was - yer mum was one of the brightest witches of her age."

Smiling, Harry sipped at his tea, not really tasting. His parents seemed very impressive, though he was a little sad now that he didn't get Sorted into the same House they were. Still, he hoped they were happy about his own place in Hufflepuff.

Clearing her throat, Susan spoke up as she scratched behind Fang's ears. "Um, Hagrid? The reason we came out here... we wanted to ask you a question?"

"Oh? What's that?"

Susan looked pointedly at Harry, who scratched the back of his neck in nervous. "Hagrid - what did you take out of Gringotts for Dumbledore? When I saw you in Diagon Alley on my birthday?"

"Ehh?" Hagrid looked momentarily shocked, flushing before looking into his mug. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled into his tea. "Didn't take nothing out -"

"Then what the hell is that three-headed beast guarding on the third floor?" interrupted Draco, clearly not wanting to beat around the bush. "It certainly not in there for its health - or ours for that matter!"

"What?!" This time there was no hiding Hagrid's shock when dropped his mug, which hit the floor and shattered, earning a bark of surprise from Fang before he started to lap at the slipped tea. "Ya all know about Fluffy?"

"That thing has a name?" said Draco with horror.

"And you called it Fluffy?" went on Neville with a tone that was between a frightened whisper and a squeak.

"Well ya, he's mine! Bought him off a Greek chappie I met in a pub last year when he was only a pup," Hagrid explained as he leaned down to pick up the broken shards of his mug. "I lent him to Dumbledore at the beginning of the year to - well - that ain't any of yer business!" he said with a huff. "That's all top secret that is! How did you all find out about him?"

"That's not important," said Draco, brushing it off so they wouldn't get in trouble for being out their dormitories so late at night. "That bloody beast almost ate us! I surprised Harry managed to tame the thing."

"Tame Fluffy?" Hagrid looked over at Harry as he dumped his broken mug in the trash, one of his busy eyebrows raised. "How did ya do that?"

"Err... I'm good with dogs," Harry offered up lamely.

"Hm. Well, doesn't matter, cause I ain't telling ya anything," said Hagrid as he crossed his arms, looking resolute. "Now, listen to me, all four of ya. Yer meddlin' in things that don't concern ya - it's dangerous! I want ya to forget Fluffy, and to forget whatever it's guarding, that's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel -" He stopped, realizing that he had revealed more then he had intended, but it was too late. "Oh, I shouldn't have said that - I shouldn't have said -"

"Is that who owns whatever you took out of the vault?" asked Harry.

Hagrid shook his head. "I'm not saying anything else. I'm sorry, but yer all gonna have to leave. Now."

A minute later, as the door to the cabin slammed behind them, the four looked at each other for a long minute. It wasn't exactly what they wanted to learn, but it was something - it was a start.

"Who is Nicolas Flamel?" asked Neville, and the three boys looked at Susan.

She shrugged. "Don't look at me - I don't know everything. But," Susan said when Draco gave a snort, "He must be someone important, to have something so valuable or dangerous that Dumbledore would agree to keep it at the school. And Hogwarts does have one of the best libraries in the world. If we want to find Nicolas Flamel, that's the best place to start."

"You want us to spend a perfectly wonderful Sunday afternoon inside a dark, musty library?" said Draco with a grimace.

"Well... maybe not today," admitted Susan with a small smile. "Maybe we could go down to the lake instead? Like Draco said, it is a nice day."

They all agreed, and headed down to the lake, picking a secluded spot underneath a tree that was just on the edge of the water. Susan kicked off her shoes and socks and sat at the bank of the lake, letting her feet dangle in the water while she and Neville talked. Draco leaned against the tree and closed his eyes, quickly falling sleep. And Harry brought out some quill and parchment, setting to work on a letter to send back to Elysia and Morgan.

Mum,

Its been an amazing first two weeks, there's so much to see, so much to learn! The school is enormous, with a lake and a huge forest behind in for me to run in. Its called the Forbidden Forest, but since the Headmaster knows I'm use to it, I've been allowed to run in a couple of times, and its not so scary, unless you count the giant spiders. They're the size of a hut! And there is even a pack of wolves that live deeper in the woods, but I haven't had a chance to meet them yet.

I've been Sorted into Hufflepuff! They value hard work and loyalty, or so the Sorting Hat says. That's right, a hat! It talks and sings and reads your mind! I think it would put Morgan in Gryffindor, where they're really adventurous and brave. I wonder in which House Uncle Fenrir was put in? If he's still there, can you ask him?

We have so many different kind of classes, I can't believe any complains about homework, except for maybe History of Magic. Its taught by a ghost! Which would be kind of cool, except he just talks about boring stuff, like goblin wars. The stuff that I can read on my own is so much cooler! Out of all my new classes I think my favorite is Potions, which is taught by Snape, you remember him? He's the one that gave me my mother's picture. It kind of reminds me of working with Arianna. Hope she is doing alright.

The only thing that's been bugging me is a girl named Labelle, she's a bit of a bully. I don't care, I can ignore her, but I hate it when she picks on other people. If this were the pack I would know what to do, I would show her who is in charge. But this is the human world, and fighting back might get me in trouble, since I remember from preschool that I shouldn't fight girls. That's dumb, cause I know Morgan would kick my butt if she had the chance, but still...

What should I do, Mum? The teachers can't be around all the time to stop her, and neither can I. How do I get her to stop?

The only good thing to have come from Labelle was the fact that she accidentally helped me join the Quidditch team! It a hard game to explain, but its like playing kick the ball on brooms. Flying is so amazing, almost like running! And one of my teachers, Professor McGonagall, even got me a broom of my own called the Nimbus Two Thousand. Its the best on the market, my friend Neville told me. Our first game is in November. I wish you could see it.

She also said that my father was on the team too, and the captain!

Neville is my roommate, I met him on the train ride. He's a little shy, but he's nice, and really likes Herbology, and has a toad named Trevor. I don't think he has parents anymore, like me. He said he was raised by his grandmother, who seems a little scary. But he didn't even care about me being the "Boy-Who-Lived", and I think he was surprised that someone "famous" wanted to be friends with him. I can only image how he would react if he knew the whole truth, poor Nev would probably faint!

Another one of my new friends is Susan. I've only known her a couple of days, but she's a Hufflepuff like me. She seems really smart. She can remember all these facts after reading it just once, but they seem kind of random, which is still kind of cool.

And then there's Draco - I met him in Diagon Alley. He's a bit stuck up, but he defended me against Labelle, and he's pretty nice sometimes, if really sarcastic. Kind of like Uncle Fenrir.

I haven't really had a chance to talk with Dudley yet, but he seems to really have changed. He helped out a girl who had been bullied by Labelle, instead of doing the actual bullying! Maybe we'll get along better during the year.

How is everyone? I miss you and Morgan and Fenrir and Arianna so much. I wish you were all here so I could show you all these amazing things. I can't wait to see you all at winter break. Write back soon, and tell me how everyone's doing.

Love you.

Harry

Glancing it over as it dried, Harry was distracted by a sudden shout of surprise, followed by a splash. Looking up, he saw at the other side of the lake a girl kneeling in a couple of feet of water near the shores edge, soaked and trembling as a gaggle of girls laughed from a safe distance, wands in hand being tucked into their robes.

"Oh no, not again," mumbled Draco, one eye cracked open.

"What?"

"That's Regina Winters," Draco answered as said girl sat in the water, still stunned. "She's one of the girls in my House year. I don't really know her, but its a known fact that she's not Pureblood."

"And what does that matter?" asked Susan with a frown as she turned back to look at them, Neville looking back with her.

"While not everybody believes in that everyone of worth should be Pureblood, it does given them a good excuse, in their minds, to bully her." Draco said. "And she never tells on them, so they just keep going."

Putting away his letter and standing up, Harry mumbled that he'd be right back before he rushed to the other side of the lake. He remember her from the week before - Regina, the girl who had whispered her secrets to Shadow, the name she had given to his wolf counterpart. She was struggling to get up as he reached her, her uniform and robe heavy with lake water, dark hair sticking to her face.

"Hey, are you alright?" Harry asked, holding out a hand so she could pull herself out.

Startled, Regina turned to look at him with wide eyes, even though she didn't look at his scar - she just seemed startled to have someone try to help her. "I'm alright," she said with a shaky voice as she turned away, struggling to get to up the grass edge of the lake. But it was a bit steep and slick with mud, and with another cry, she was back in the water, and the same girls laughed at her distress. Her eyes turned glassy with tears. and trying not to look at her bullies or Harry, she looked at the water she sat in and said again shakily, "I'm fine."

"No you're not." Shedding his robes, socks, and shoes, Harry slipped down the edge and wadded into the water, much to Regina's disbelief. "Here." He held out his hand again. "Let me help you."

After a long pause, Regina slowly took his hand. It was trembling, slick and cool with mud, but Harry held fast as he helped her stand up. He climbed up the edge first and then helped her do the same. While only the bottom half of Harry's trousers were wet, Regina was soaked from head to toes, shivering in the cool breeze. She glanced at him, and her pale cheeks flushed a light pink. "Thank you," she said hesitantly.

"What happened?" asked Harry as she started to shed her heavy robes before trying to ring out the extra water in her uniform, while he slipped his socks and shoes back on.

"I tripped," said Regina with a shrug, a tiny but steady stream a water flowing to the ground as she rung our her shirt.

"Just tripped?"

She hesitated. "Yes."

Harry glanced back at the group of girls as they walked back to the castle, still chattering and laughing among themselves, and then grabbed his robe off the ground and put it over Regina's shoulders. "Here, its kind of cool out, take this."

"I can't -"

"Its alright, you can just give it back later," Harry said, waving it off. "I'll be alright without it."

"... Thank you," Regina said with a small smile. "That's very nice of you." She held out a hand. "My name's Regina - Regina Winters."

"Harry - Harry Potter," he answered, taking her hand.

"I know. I mean," Regina flushed again, "its nice to meet you."

"Do you want me to walk you back?" suggested Harry. "Its not trouble," he said when she looked hesitant. "I'll just tell my friends and grab my bag."

After a long moment, Regina nodded, giving him a small smile. "That would be nice. Thank you."

"What's going on, Harry?" asked Draco when Harry jogged back, grabbing his bag.

"I'm just going to take Regina back to your dorm rooms so she can get change," said Harry, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "What is it?" he asked at Draco's reluctant look. "Is there something wrong?"

"Just... be careful, Harry," Draco said with a glance around him and at Regina. "You already have Labelle going after you. I don't think you want them after you too for protection her."

"Whose them?"

Sighing, Draco named off, "Pansy Parkinson, Tracey Davis, and Daphne Greengrass. All Pureblood, and all with families that had their own... personal ties in the last war." He seemed reluctant to say that part, and his eyes darkened momentarily. "They probably won't hesitate to add you to their list."

"I'll keep that in mind," said Harry before waving goodbye and promising to see them all later before going back to Regina. "Ready."

"Are those you're friends?" Regina asked, glancing back at Susan, Draco, and Neville.

"Yeah, you might know Draco Malfoy? He's in your House, isn't he?"

"Oh." Regina nodded. "Yes, I know him." She shifted the damp clothes in her hands as they started walking towards the castle. "He doesn't really talk to me, though."

"Why?"

"It's... complicated," admitted Regina. She abruptly changed the subject. "Do you like it in Hufflepuff? I heard rumors that people were sure you'd be placed in Gryffindor. Some twins in that House lost a few Galleons on it."

"I really like it - everyone warm and inviting, and I've already gotten two great new friends in there. Plus, my Head of House is really understanding." Harry grimaced. "Besides, Gryffindor hasn't been exactly warm to me."

"I saw the end of your flying contest." Regina smiled. "You were amazing - I wish that I could fly like that."

"Well how did you do during the lesson?" asked Harry.

"I was able to get on the broom at least," Regina said with a shrug. "Managed to get about five feet off the ground before I panicked. It was my only my first time on a broom though."

"Me too," admitted Harry. "Professor McGonagall says it must be a family trait - my father was a Chaser when he was here, and the team captain for Gryffindor." Harry turned the question onto her. "What about you? Do you like it in Slytherin?"

"...No, not really," said Regina as they entered the castle, the halls practically empty. "I kind of wish I had been Sorted into Ravenclaw, or even Hufflepuff. I guess that I'm just not... ambitious enough for them, or for my family."

"Were they all put in Slytherin too?"

"Yes." Regina paused. "Well, except for my mother. She was a Muggle. I wish I could show her this - its amazing."

"So you were raised in the Muggle world?"

"I knew about the magical world, but yes." Regina laughed a little. "I really miss burgers and chips, strangely enough. I mean, I'm sure house-elves would make delicious ones if I asked for them. But there was a shop near my house, and they were just right. And I miss telephones, and my own bed." She shook her head. "Sorry, I'm rambling."

"No, its alright - though now I'm in the mood for burgers and chips," said Harry, clutching at his stomach with a dramatic groan. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't remember the last time he had burgers and chips. A thought suddenly came to him to him, and he took Regina's hand, who jumped slightly. "Come this way, I have an idea."

"Where were you raised?" Regina asked as Harry lead them down a different hall before letting go of her hand. "The Muggle world or the Wizarding world?"

"Muggle world, mostly," Harry answered. "But then I was pretty secluded - we didn't have television, or telephones. I do miss the forest though, which we lived near. I could be in there for hours and never want to come out." It was only partly a lie.

"It sounds nice... Where are we going?" Regina asked, glancing around as to figure out where she was as they reached the hallway that would lead to the Hufflepuff dorms.

"Watch this." Leading her to the picture of fruit, Harry leaned forward and ticked the pear. Regina stepped back in surprise when it giggled before swinging open, revealing the kitchens, a rush of air that was warm and filled with the smell of lunch that was just starting to be prepared. With a smile at her awe, Harry lead her into the kitchen, the pear door swinging closed behind them.

"It is Master Harry Potter!" squeaked a familar house-elf, Dee Dee appearing with a wide smile. "What can Dee Dee get for Master Harry and his guest?"

"I know its a little strange, but can you get us some burgers and chips, with two bottles of root beer." Harry paused, and then added, "And maybe some dry clothes for my friend? She fell in the lake."

"Dee can do that, Master Harry!" the house-elf squeaked, and rushed around. In only a couple of minutes, another elf appeared with a stack of fresh clothes, and with a snap of its fingers a screen appeared for Regina to change behind.

"Thank you," said Regina to the elf as she went behind the screen to changed, Harry glancing the other way even though nudity was nothing to him. A minute later, she appeared in fresh clothes, jeans and a black t-shirt that paled her a bit, and the same house-elf promised to get her own clothes cleaned and returned to her room. Just a few moments later, Dee Dee appeared with a basket, two bottle poking out the top.

"Here's it is!" Dee Dee announced, beaming. "Can Dee Dee get anything else for Master Harry?"

"No, and thank you very much, Dee Dee," Harry said, and flinched a bit when she teared up. "Come on, Regina, lets go eat."

It was still a couple of hours till lunch time, but everyone else seemed to be gone when Harry lead Regina into the Hufflepuff Common Room. Regina sighed as he took it in. "You're right, its so nice in here. This was really too much, Harry. Are you sure I'm even allowed in here?"

"It's fine," said Harry as he set out their food. "And not to be rude, but it kind of looked like you could use a friend." He smiled at her. "I just want you to know that there's someone here for you at Hogwarts."

Letting out a long breath, Regina smiled and teared up, but wiped them away quickly with a swipe of her hand. "Thanks," she said again. "Thank you so much."

"Come on, lets eat," said Harry, "I'm starving."

"Me too, actually." Regina sat down, grabbed a chip, and popped into her mouth. "This is really good," she said after a moment, almost laughing. "Not like back home, but almost."

Doing the same, Harry held back a groan at his first chip in ages. "It really is good," he said before eating another, forcing himself not to scarf down the whole plate at once and instead going for the root beer. It opened with a fizz, and taking a sip, Harry almost coughed. He wasn't use to the bubbles.

Regina openly laughed, her first real laugh, before slapping her hands over her mouth, blush a dark red. "Sorry," she said, but still smiled, and Harry smiled back.

They ate and laughed and talked for the next hour, and Regina opened up slowly to Harry, revealing little things about her; how much she liked to read fantasy Muggle books, which her mother promised to send her a box of new ones every two months. How she loved orange soda, and had a little cat named Cinderella, named after her favorite Disney princess and which stayed in her rooms. How she loved the color of a sunset, a mixture of orange and pink and purple, but hated the actual color pink. Then she told him about her brother.

"Half brother, actually." Regina stirred her spoon in a bowl of melted ice cream, which the house-elves had brought to them not long after they had finished eat their meal. "His father had an affair with my mother, which resulted in... well, me. He left his own wife not long after I was born, and neither my brother or I have seen him since, even though he still wires money into my mother's account at Gringotts once in awhile. I think my brother blames me for our father leaving."

"So, he goes to school with us?" Harry asked.

"Yah, he's only a couple months older then me." Regina set her spoon down and shrugged. "He pretty much ignore me."

"That's not fair, its not you're fault -"

"It doesn't matter, really," said Regina with a forced smile. "I'm fine. Maybe, someday, we'll get along. Its just... not going to be anytime soon," she finished with a shrug, and then she stood. "Anyway, I better get going. Thanks again, for all this. I'll see you around?" She sounded hopeful, and Harry nodded.

"Sure, I'll see you around."