" . . . it is the most curious thing," Dumbledore said.
This was not how Aria wanted to wake up. Keeping her eyes shut and breathing as steady as possible, she continued listening.
"I hid the stone in the Mirror," Dumbledore continued. "I made it so that the only way to extract it was for someone to look into the mirror, want the stone, but not desire to use it. Clever on my part."
"Indeed, sir," Harry answered. "Though at the time I didn't know that, so when Quirrell made me look in the mirror, I kept thinking about how much I didn't want it."
"Yes, I can see how that would be a reaction for you," the headmaster agreed. "Are you certain no one else looked into the mirror?"
"I'm sure," Harry said. "I mean, we all stood in front of it, but I'm the only one Quirrell made look in. Then he was cursing Daphne and stuff."
Dumbledore made a humming noise.
"Thank you for speaking with me, Mr. Potter," the headmaster said. "I shall leave you to rest."
"Headmaster?"
"Yes, my boy?"
"When I touched Quirrell . . . skin to skin . . . why did my touch hurt him?"
"I believe, Mr. Potter, that it has to do with your mother. A mother's love is a powerful thin, even in Muggles. If it is powerful in Muggles, how much more powerful is it in witches? Reports from your home that Halloween night have Lily Potter dying in front of your crib. I surmise she sacrificed herself for you and that her magic, somehow, protects you."
Footsteps faded. The infirmary door opened and closed. Aria opened her eyes to find Harry sitting up in his bed, staring moodily at his hands.
"What'd the headmaster want?" Aria asked. Harry gasped, a hand slapping against his chest.
"Don't do that!" Harry cried. Aria giggled as did Daphne and Theo from their beds. Clearly, they had also decided to eavesdrop. "He wanted to know what happened in the dungeons because that's actually where we were."
"We were?" Aria sat up, glad that her tailbone no longer hurt. "No wonder I broke my tailbone if I fell all the way into the dungeons from the third floor!"
Harry chuckled.
"Why'd you lie though?" Theo asked. "You could've told Dumbledore about Aria."
Harry glanced towards the infirmary doors.
"Something doesn't sit right with me about the headmaster," he muttered. "I don't know what. He's given me the creeps all year."
"Well he doesn't like Slytherins, we all know that," Daphne commented as Aria noticed her school robes hanging over the foot of the bed. She grabbed the robe and reached into the pocket, grasping the hard object within it. Pulling it out she drew in a breath seeing the gleaming crimson stone that now rested in the palm of her hand.
"You did get it!" Harry cried.
"Yes, I did," Aria stated. "I had a little help from my mum."
The infirmary doors opened. Aria rushed to hide the stone and her robes under her pillow. Three adults and a little girl rushed in followed by Professor Snape. A man and woman and the girl rushed to Daphne's bedside while the last remaining man strolled over to Theo's after casting a judging glare over at Aria and Harry.
"Daphne Greengrass, what were you thinking?" the woman cried, sitting on the edge of Daphne's bed. The younger girl sat on the nearby chair.
"Mother," Daphne cried.
"That is what I wish to know as well," Professor Snape said. "Mr. Potter we can excuse as he was forced along with this mad scheme, but you three? What do you have to say for yourselves?"
Aria looked everywhere but at her Head of House. She spotted several heads peering around the doors to the hospital wing. Hermione and Ron were two of them, as were Blaise and Tracey and Draco.
"Um . . . we weren't thinking?" Daphne suggested.
"That much is obvious!" Mr. Greengrass said. "You should have all gone to get Professor Snape." He gave a stern look to all four of them.
"Your father and relatives have also been notified," Professor Snape said to Harry and Aria. "Miss Bourne, I've already received a letter back from your father." He held it out. Aria groaned.
"Kill me now," she muttered, "he's going to be so angry!"
"As he should be," Snape snapped. "While protecting your friends is noble and honorable, rushing headlong into a fight with no backup plan or any experience is not! You four are lucky that you escaped an encounter with the Dark Lord with a broken tailbone and one bout of the Cruciatus Curse! People older than you and out of Hogwarts were not so lucky."
Aria gulped. Harry and Daphne hunkered down in their beds. Theo looked like he wanted to melt into the wall. His father glared at him, one hand on his shoulder.
"Now, Severus, we shouldn't frighten them that much," Lord Nott said. His voice was deeper than Aria expected. "I think this whole experience has taught them some valuable lessons. Correct, Theodore?"
"Yes, Father," Theo murmured.
Lord Nott gave Theo's shoulder one last squeeze before releasing it. He turned to Professor Snape.
"I think it's time that I went to the headmaster and demanded answers," he said. "Walk with me, Severus."
"Ah yes," Mr. Greengrass said, kissing Daphne's head. "I've got quite a few things I would like to ask too. Come along, dear. Astoria." Mrs. Greengrass kissed Daphne's cheek and took the younger girl by the hand. They all left and soon Ron, Hermione, Blaise, Tracey, and Draco showed up with treats.
They had a lot of visitors over the next day that they were in the infirmary, though all four of them were glad to finally leave it and Madam Pomfrey's fussing behind. As Prudence has put it when she, Tracey, and Marcus came by,
"It's the best kept secret at Hogwarts. Therefore, everyone knows."
Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones had visited from Hufflepuff, dragging their two Muggleborn year mates with them, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Kevin Entwhistle. The four of them had handed our chocolate frog cards to each of them.
Surprisingly, various Slytherins came to visit them too. Besides Draco, Blaise, and Tracey there had been the fifth-year trio of Prudence, Tracey, and Marcus; and Frank Treworgy and Teddy Lawrence came by with Cauldron Cakes. Draco had given them chocolate from Switzerland and Aria was beginning to contemplate the advantage of being friendly with Draco if it meant he got her sweets.
The worse moment came when Aria finally opened the letter from her dad. She could feel the disappointment through the letter!
I hope you know I'm disappointed in you, Kenneth wrote. You could've died, I hope you know! You're lucky you only walked away with a bruised tailbone! Don't get me wrong, I'm proud that you were so concerned for your friend and quick to go after him, but you ran in without a single thought for your own safety or your friends'. I know there will be times when you're going to be the only person fighting for your friends, I know that truly. But there are going to be more times when your only responsibility is to get an adult. Someone like Severus or that Professor McGonagall you keep writing about. I can't lose you too, Aria. I want you safe. I'm not sure about this Dark Lord stuff. You've never mentioned anything like it in your letters, so I expect you'll be explaining it when you get home. But after the incident with the troll, I'm not sure Hogwarts is the safest place for you. What sort of dad would I be if I put you in danger every year just because your school can't keep dangerous creatures or criminals away?
Aria hoped that that did not mean he was thinking of pulling her from Hogwarts. Regardless of the troll and Voldemort and people like Draco and Pansy bullying her, she loved Hogwarts. She got to magic! She made things float and could light up a room with her wand! She did not want to leave this world behind! She decided she would do everything she could to convince her dad to let her come back next year. No way was so going to stay at Spinner's End and go to St. Brigid's. She had friends here! A life! There was no way in hell she was giving it all up.
To the dismay of Slytherin, the little escapade with the Dark Lord had cost them 200 House Points. The hourglasses in the Great Hall reflected this loss the day after Aria, Daphne, Harry, and Theo had been released from the hospital wing. With the loss of 200 points came the embarrassment of having Gryffindor take the lead while Slytherin now sat in fourth place.
"That's not fair!" Aria complained to Daphne. "Perhaps we did deserve to have a few points taken to remind us to use our heads next time, but two hundred points? We faced a bloody Dark Lord! I didn't even know Dark Lords existed until Hogwarts. Shouldn't the terror of our ordeal at least make up for our poor thinking skills?"
"Best get used to it, firsties," Prudence said as she sat nearby. "Everyone knows Dumbledore favors every house over Slytherin. Don't look too worried, Bourne. We house knows it's not fully your fault. Lawrence'll make sure no one comes after you."
Aria poked her eggs. That didn't make her feel better. One glance at the Head Table told Aria that Professor Snape was furious at the loss of points and that McGonagall seemed stuck between being happy for her Gryffindors and being offended on behalf of Slytherin. Professors Flitwick and Sprout had wisely seated themselves away from their fellow Heads of House and the Headmaster that morning.
Just as breakfast was beginning to wind down a figure appeared at the door of the Great Hall, a man dressed in immaculate burgundy robes with golden embroidery. His silver hair hung in a neat plait over his shoulder while his beard was neatly combed. His sharp green eyes made several nearby students duck their heads, as if to avoid the ire that radiated off the man.
"Albus!" the man snapped. "I will have words with you."
"I'd like words with Dumbledore too," Harry muttered to Aria.
"Who's that?" Pansy demanded.
"I could be wrong," Aria said, "but I'd bet Theo's chess board that's Nicholas Flamel."
"You're not taking my chess board!"
"The alchemist?" Daphne questioned. Aria and Harry snapped their heads in her direction. "What? My uncle's an alchemist enthusiast. He's met Flamel several times. The man's like six hundred years old."
"Next time we need to know about someone, we're asking Daphne," Aria told Harry who only nodded.
Dumbledore rose from his seat and met Flamel where he stood.
"Shall we adjourn to my office?" Dumbledore suggested.
"You gave me your word that my creation would be safe," Flamel stated. Aria could just hear the faintest hint of a French accent from the ancient man. For six hundred some odd years, he looked quite young and healthy.
"Shall we adjourn to my office?" Dumbledore repeated.
"I would like to speak to the three students who were involved," Flamel said. "With their Head of House present of course."
Aria turned to look at Professor Snape who rose from his seat and with a flick of his hand, motioned Aria, Harry, Daphne, and Theo to his side. The three hurried to him and he led them to where the two powerful wizards stood glaring at each other. All eyes were on them. Aria was keenly aware of some of the older Slytherins, especially the seventh years, on her. The looks were heated and angry and she didn't blame them, she only wished they weren't directed at her.
Not that she could do anything about it.
In the headmaster's office, Flamel strolled around the lower level where the door and Dumbledore's desk was.
"Where's Fawkes?" Flamel asked.
"Having his morning fly," Dumbledore replied.
"What a pity, I would have dearly loved to see him," Flamel said. "He's the only other creature I know who's seen the world change as much as I have."
Who was Fawkes? Guy Fawkes? He was dead wasn't he?
Nicholas Flamel came to a standstill beside the headmaster's desk. Dumbledore sank into his throne like chair behind the desk, indicating for Aria, Harry, Daphne, and Theo to step forward.
"I wanted to thank you three for thwarting the Dark Lord in his attempt at stealing my Philosopher's Stone," Flamel said, his body bending ever so slightly at them. "I applaud your courage in the face of danger and, while I don't promote foolhardy headlong diving into dangerous situation, I admire your loyalty to your friend to even make it so far past the safeguards in place."
"I . . . didn't really do anything, sir," Theo said. "It was all Aria." Daphne nodded.
"You guys didn't have to come," Aria pointed out.
"Indeed, Mr. Nott," Flamel said. "I've met many Notts over the centuries and while I have not counted any as a friend for a long time, you acted with no less courage than many of your forefathers. A bit more Gryffindor than Slytherin, but it's my belief, having only heard of the famous Sorting Hat and its duties, we all have bits and pieces of the Houses in us."
"You didn't graduate Hogwarts?" Aria asked.
"Oh no!" Flamel laughed. "I graduated Beauxbatons. We sort our students very differently. But that, I cannot tell you, my young lady." He smiled; a small thing that made Aria feel like she was being handed a rare gift.
"I also wanted to apologize to you four concerning my stone," Flamel continue, his smile disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. "You four never should have been involved with it in the first place. It should have been well guarded, and the headmaster should have been aware of who or what was within this castle."
"There are ways even passed the most impressive of wards," Dumbledore stated, shooting Flamel a sharp look.
"Regardless," Flamel said, "you gave me your word that the stone would be safe within the school and that none of the students would get involved purposefully or accidentally. I think, old friend, we can safely say that your promises were not fully kept."
Dumbledore's face pinched like he was sucking on a lemon.
"As it is," Flamel continued, "my stone is now missing. I don't see myself or my wife using it any time soon, or perhaps now it's for the best if we destroy it, but either way, we must find it because we cannot have a Philosopher's Stone out on the loose."
That did not sound good. Aria glanced over her shoulder at Snape whose lips were turned into a deep frown as he stared into the distance, a thoughtful look over his face, like he was thinking hard about where the stone could be.
Aria almost smiled. Here she stood, before three of the greatest wizards she knew of, and she knew something they didn't, and had something they wanted.
This was power.
She turned back to Flamel, and immediately felt a push at her head. Like invisible hands shoving against her eyes. Her magic flared in defense before she could do anything more than cry out at the excruciating pain. Around her trinkets on shelves rattled, several books flew off the shelf. She squeezed her eyes shut and rammed the heels of her palms against her eyelids.
"Aria!" she heard her friends shout.
"Miss Bourne?" That was Snape. She felt his hands on her shoulders, turning her towards him, and his hand gently drew her hands away from her eyes where tears escaped her clenched eyes.
"It hurts!" she cried.
"Describe the pain," Snape ordered, his voice stern but gentle.
"Like someone was shoving their fingers into my eye," Aria answered. "God, the pain's spreading. My whole head hurts!"
"Open your eyes." Aria barely got her eyes to squint. She saw Snape reach into his robes and pull out a vial, which he handed her, and which she dutifully drank. Immediately her headache began to subside, and the sharp pain that had been left behind her eyes began to fade to a dull ache. Her magic, realizing that there was no more threat, automatically withdrew back into her, and the rattling of trinkets stopped.
"That is impressive magic you display, young one," Flamel murmured.
"I didn't mean to," Aria said. "I didn't even do anything." She blinked at Professor Snape, who was now looking more thoughtful than ever.
"Your magic acted on pure survival instinct," Flamel said. "It's not every day that one's magic reacts like yours did. Are you certain you felt like someone was poking your eyes?"
"Yes, sir."
Flamel hummed.
"I think that will be all from my students," Snape stated. "I wish to get Miss Bourne a stronger headache potion." Dumbledore nodded, waving them off. Aria let Harry and Daphne lead the way out of the headmaster's office while Snape and Theo trailed behind them.
"What happened to me?" Aria demanded once they were a few corridors away from the office.
"I believe someone tried to perform Legilimency on you," Snape answered.
"In English, please, Professor," Harry said.
"Legilimency is the art of being able to read someone's mind," Snape explained. "Its counter art is Occlumency, the ability to shield your mind from a Legilimens. The headmaster and Flamel are both rumored to be Legilimens; but one doesn't usually go about boasting about being able to perform Legilimency or Occlumency."
"Why not?" Daphne asked.
"Because, Miss Greengrass, those two skills are best used when no one else realizes that you can perform them. During the war, the Dark Lord used Legilimency to drive people mad. An accomplished Occlumens will be able to erect mental shields and walls to prevent access to their memories. A master will be able to feed false memories to the Legilimens. If someone does not realize you are skilled at Occlumens, then they will wear themselves out trying to break into your mind or be fooled. And, if you are a Legilimens, then why tell people that you can discover their secrets when you can just use their secrets later to your advantage?"
"Can you tell us more?" Harry asked, excitement building in his voice.
"As much as the topic is of interest, I have classes to teach, and you have classes to attend. So, I suggest running to the dormitory and gathering your things as the first classes start in ten minutes."
The four ran back to the Slytherin dormitory. Aria scooped the book she needed into her bag, pausing a moment to stare at her trunk. After a minute she flipped open the lid, pulling out the Philosopher's Stone.
She didn't need it. Dumbledore didn't need it. Flamel really didn't need it, but it wasn't hers to keep and, with Dumbledore still trying to find it, it might be best to try and return it to its rightful owner. Shoving the stone to the bottom of her bag, she hurried to join Harry, Daphne, and Theo in the common room before they journeyed back up into the main part of the castle.
"Who do you think was trying to break into your head?" Theo asked.
"I don't know," Aria said. "I was sort of blinded by the pain, so I didn't see anyone wave their wands or anything."
"I didn't see anyone wave their wands," Harry told her. "Maybe this is advanced magic that doesn't need a wand or a spell?"
"Voiceless and wandless magic?" Daphne questioned. "You'd have to be very powerful to do both at the same time. Mum and dad can do some voiceless magic, but only with their wands. My uncle showed me the few spells he can do wandlessly, but it's simple Hogwarts stuff and he needed to actually say the spell."
"So, it could've been either," Aria decided. "I mean, we all know Dumbledore's one of the most powerful wizards, but I bet Flamel is just as powerful."
"Mr. Flamel seemed genuinely worried about you," Harry said. "I thought Dumbledore just looked surprised."
"I would be too of someone just started yelling in my office," Theo commented. "Whoever did it, they now know that Aria's conveniently larger than normal magical core will protect her. That'll come in handy if anyone ever tries to off you, Aria."
"Should I be worried about that?" Aria questioned, her voice rising until it almost squeaked. They entered the entrance hall and turned to head up the staircase to the next floor when Aria glanced out the window to see Flamel already heading back towards the school gates.
"You guys go on to class," she told them, turning around and running for the front doors.
"What are we supposed to tell McGonagall?" Daphne cried.
"Think of something!" Aria called back. She jumped off the steps and ran down the path after the ancient alchemist.
"Mr. Flamel! Mr. Flamel!" she shouted. "Wait!" The man paused, slowly spinning back around to wait for her. She skidded to a halt in front of him, taking a moment to catch her breath and dig through her now jostled bag for the stone.
"This belongs to you." She held out the crimson stone which shone redder and more beautiful in the morning sun than it had in the infirmary light. Flamel's eyebrows rose to an alarming height as he reached out, taking the stone from Aria, and turning it over several times in his hand.
"You had it all this time?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Why not inform your headmaster?"
"Well . . . he's the reason we got into this mess in the first place. Why'd I give it back to him?" Aria shrugged. Probably best not to mention Harry's wary intuition of the headmaster. Flamel and Dumbledore were still friends after all.
"Why not keep it?" Flamel asked. "You could have sold it and been rich beyond belief."
"Really? I probably would have gotten underpaid," Aria said with a laugh. How much would that stone have been worth? "It didn't actually cross my mind. I thought about keeping it, but the person I would have given it to, if I knew how to use it, is already dead. So, what would be the point of keeping it? And I don't think the stone'll work on the other person I thought about giving it to."
"Why not?"
"He's Muggle, sir."
"I see. Well, I don't know if the stone would work on Muggles. In my six hundred years of life, my wife and I have had very few Muggle friends. Most of them died out in our first century. Magic folk have naturally longer lives anyway." Flamel slipped the stone into an inner pocket of his robe.
"You best be off," he murmured. "Your class has probably started. I thank you for returning my stone to me."
"It's no problem. Do you plan to use it?"
"No, child. My wife and I have been around far too long as it is. Immortality is not as wonderful as the tales will make it out to be. Again, I thank you for the returning of my property." He bowed to her and started back on his journey to the school gates. Aria started back towards the school, stopping just shy of the front steps when she saw Dumbledore standing at the doors.
"Good morning, Headmaster," she greeted, hoping her voice wasn't shaking in surprise. "Lovely morning." She walked by him and started up the stairs. Dumbledore did not call after her, but as she reached the hallway she wanted, she managed to peek over the railing as she continued on her way and noted how the headmaster's gaze remained on her until she couldn't see him anymore.
Unease settled in the pit of Aria's stomach. Had the headmaster seen her give the stone over? Or had he just seen her talk to Flamel? Either way, she was starting to understand more fully, Harry's wary intuition about the white haired, horrendous robe-wearing, harmless looking old man.
She entered the Transfiguration classroom only to be met with a stern frown from Professor McGonagall.
"Care to explain why you're late, Miss Bourne?" McGonagall demanded.
"I was returning the Philosopher's Stone to Nicholas Flamel," Aria answered, forcing her voice to be calm. "He was heading towards the front gates, and I wanted to catch him. I didn't think sending something like the Philosopher's Stone through the mail would be smart."
Everyone stared at her. Several students were even slack jawed.
"You returned the Philosopher's Stone to Nicholas Flamel?" McGonagall repeated.
"Yes, ma'am."
"You had it all this time?"
"Yes, ma'am, I did."
"And you didn't use it?"
"No. I really don't have a need for it."
"And why, Miss Bourne, did you not keep it to sell or use to some other advantage?"
Aria frowned. Was this a test of some sort? Professor McGonagall did not ask questions she did not want answers to.
"It's like I said, Professor," Aria finally replied. "I don't have a need for the stone. And while the money would be nice . . . it wasn't my stone to sell."
She slid into her seat.
Professor McGonagall stared at her for a moment.
"Eleven-years-old, and already more honest than some grown men," McGonagall muttered. Louder she said, "I think that, for your honesty in returning the Philosopher's Stone to its creator; for keeping it safe and not using it irresponsibly; and for not seeking to further glorify yourself through the selling or use of the stone, two hundred points will be awarded to you. You have shown great maturity, Miss Bourne. I am impressed."
The Gryffindors and Slytherins gasped. Several Gryffindor first years looked betrayed, mainly Fay Dunbar and Sophie Roper, but they had never seemed to like Aria anyways. Lavender and Parvati looked upset, understandably, and Dean Thomas made a dramatic showing of hitting his head against the desk. Neville tried to look pleased on her behalf, but failed miserably and Seamus wasn't even trying to hide his disappointment.
For a moment Aria wasn't sure she heard her professor correctly, but after Harry nudged her sharply, she managed to stutter out a thank you. Professor McGonagall hummed and peered over her glasses at Aria.
"Don't be late to my class again, Miss Bourne," she said. "Or I'll be forced to take points."