Dumbledore had done a good job convincing Harry not to look for the Mirror of Erised again, but he was haunted by the images from the mirror. Over and over, he had nightmares of his parent disappearing in a green light as a high voice laughed.

Hermione returned to the castle. She was horrified to learn of Harry's night time wanderings, but also disappointed that they hadn't found anything on Flamel. The group was losing hope of ever finding him as the new term started and they returned to only skimming books during breaks. More than once, Hermione complained that Hogwarts library had not yet discovered the Dewey decimal system. ("Who's Dewey?" Ron had asked.) The "Fixed Location" system the school used made it difficult to look up books by subject unless you already knew what you were looking for. The group had also agreed not to ask the librarian because, not only was she as mean as Filch, but the children did not want to tip off the other teachers of what they were up to.

Oliver Wood's quidditch training schedule had Harry and Violet so busy that he had even less time to search the library. (Though not officially part of the team and did not have a broom at school, Oliver occasionally had Violet join the team for warm up activities and had her play keeper sometimes so he could watch the other play and make corrections.) Hermione suggested they skip the Ravenclaw vs Slytherin quidditch match to continue the search, but was soundly out voted.

Winter faded into spring. After one of the practices Violet did not attend, Harry made his way back to the common room to join his sister and friends. Chess was one of the few things Hermione lost at. Harry and Ron thought it was good for her. Violet played her guitar. The random plucking from the last month had slowly morphed into a slow, somber song.

"…mistaken for destiny," she sang softly as she played. "But the truth is my destiny is…"

She stopped singing and frowned, unhappy with the words. She repositioned her fingers and tried again as Harry sat next to Ron to watch the game.

"You I've mistaken for destiny but the truth is my…" She hummed as she played a few more notes and then sang again. "… is not leaded by fate."

Hermione frowned as she looked at Violet.

"Leaded isn't a word."

Violet sighed, clearly unhappy with her lyrics.

"Queen to H6. Check."

Before Hermione could return her attention to the game, Neville toppled in, his legs bound together with a leg locking curse. How he had managed to bunny hop all the way to the common room was beyond Harry. Everyone laughed, except Violet and Hermione, who rushed to the poor boy. Hermione released the spell and Violet helped him to his feet and led him to a chair near Ron.

"What happened, Neville?" Violet asked kindly as she handed him a Chocolate Frog.

"I was coming out of the library and Malfoy said he was looking for someone to practice that on," Neville replied miserably.

"Report him," Violet and Hermione said together.

"You've got to learn to stand up for yourself, Neville," Ron agreed. "Just because he's used to walking over people doesn't mean you should lay down in front of him."

"I know I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor." Neville wiped his eyes.

"Come on, Neville," Harry said patting his shoulder. "You're worth ten of Malfoy. The sorting hat placed you in Gryffindor for a reason. And where's Malfoy? Stinking Slytherin."

The corners of his mouth twitched.

"Go on upstairs and wash your face," Violet said to him kindly. "It'll make you feel better."

"I guess. You want the card? I don't collect them."

Harry looked at the card as Neville left and then nearly dropped it!

"I found him!" he whispered excitedly. He read the back of the card. "Dumbledore is famous for 'his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flamel!'"

"Wait here," Hermione said, rushing to the girls' dormitories. She returned to the common room tugging along a book the size of her torso. "Violet, remember this?"

Violet raised an eye brow.

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"The Wizards Who's Who," Violet answered. "An up to date list of the most notable names in the wizarding world."

"I never thought to look in here," Hermione said. "I just assumed Dumbledore's fame would over shadow any of his associates. But if they've actually worked together…" Her voice trailed off as she flipped through the pages. Finally, her face lit up. "Here it is! 'Nicholas Flamell is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone. It can turn any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life.'" She continued reading to herself. "No wonder we had such trouble finding him. He and his wife are over six hundred years old."

Harry's eyes widened.

"So you mean…?"

"That's what Fluffy is guarding under the trap door," Violet concluded.

"And Hagrid knows," Harry said.

The Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff game was quickly approaching, making Violet nervous.

"What if Professor Snape hexes your broom again?"

Several times, she dragged her brother to McGonagall's office to ask about the investigation into the first incident with Harry's broom, but…

"I don't know what to tell you, Violet, Harry. Dumbledore looked into the matter himself and found nothing."

This did not sit well with Violet at all.

"I don't buy it. Dumbledore is supposed to be the most powerful wizard in the world but he couldn't find even a hint about who jinxed your broom?"

"Maybe he knows but doesn't want to say anything in case it puts Harry in danger again," Hermione suggested tentatively.

"McGonagall is still letting you play," Ron said. "Surely she wouldn't if she thought it would happen again."

Neither Harry nor Violet said anything to that. Truthfully, they weren't so sure because McGonagall seemed to value quidditch almost as much as exams and essays.

Game day came at last. Harry knew as he said good bye to his friends and sister that they were all wondering if this would be their last time seeing him again. This did not settle Harry's nerves as he followed the team to the locker rooms. Harry didn't know that Violet, Ron, and Hermione had learned the leg locker curse and planned to use it if Snape showed the slightest hint of hurting Harry. Violet borrowed Hagrid's binoculars to keep and eye on Snape as he sat in the teacher's section with Lee Jordan, Fred and George's friend who did the commentary for the games.

"Remember," Hermione whispered for the hundredth time, "it's locomotor mortis."

"I know," Ron snapped as Neville sat next to them. "Don't nag."

"Why do you all have your wands?" Neville asked as he sat on Violet's other side.

"Remember last game when someone messed with Harry's broom?" Violet asked him as she moved over to give him more room.

"Yea?"

"I'm not letting it happen again."

Neville swallowed nervously at the determined look on her face. She pressed the binoculars to her eyes and gasped.

"What is it?" Ron asked, his nerves strung tight.

"Dumbledore! Professor Dumbledore came to the match."

The three friends breathed a sigh of relief. No one would dare mess with Harry if Dumbledore was watching them.

"That's a relief," Ron said with a sigh. "Look, they're off- Ouch!"

Ron spun around to face who had poked him in the back of the head and found Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had taken seats behind him.

"Oops," Malfoy sneered. "Sorry, Weasley. Didn't see you there."

"Ignore him," Hermione whispered, keeping her eyes on Harry.

"Hi, Violet," Malfoy said almost pleasantly. She only replied with a rude gesture thrown over her shoulder. He frowned and looked up at Harry who circled above the game. "I wonder how long Potter will stay on his broom this time. Anyone care to bet on it? What about you, Weasley? I know you could use the money."

"Stuff it, Malfoy."

They watched the game in silence for several minutes.

"You know how I think they pick people for the Gryffindor team?" Malfoy said suddenly. "I think they choose people they feel sorry for. Potter has no family and the Weasleys have no money. You should go for the team, Longbottom, since you've got no brain."

Neville, trembling with nerves, turned in his seat to look the three Slytherin boys.

"I-I'm worth t-twelve of you, M-Malfoy," he stammered out.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle fell over laughing.

"You tell him, Neville," Ron said without taking his eyes off Harry.

Violet, too, kept her eyes on her brother, but she smiled proudly and placed a hand on Neville's arm. Malfoy scowled when he noticed the gesture. Neville turned pink.

"Longbottom," Malfoy spat, "if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley!"

"I'm warning you, Malfoy," Ron hissed. "One more word…"

He was cut off as Violet and Hermione both gasped. Harry went into a dive.

"You're in luck, Weasley. Potter's spotted some gold on the ground."

"That's it!"

Ron turned in his seat, drew back his fist and punched Malfoy hard on the nose. Malfoy fell back, clutching his now bleeding nose, but managed to punch Ron back, hitting him in the jaw. Ron tackled Malfoy and they rolled under the seats. Crabbe and Goyle stood to help their friend, but Neville hopped over the seats and grabbed Goyle.

"Come one, Harry!" Hermione squealed as the boys rolled, grunted and squealed behind them.

Violet reached her wand behind her and muttered under her breath. Crabbe went completely rigid. Neville yelped in pain as Harry pulled up from his dive. Across the way, none of them saw McGonagall and Snape getting up from their seats to rush their way. Violet and Hermione were too focused on Harry who held the golden snitch triumphantly in his hand.

"Yes!" Violet screamed.

Violet and Hermione hugged Lavender and Parvati in the row in front of them and then each other and they cheered. Finally Hermione turned to the fight, still happening in the row behind them.

"Ron! Ron! The game's over! Harry won! Gryffindor is in the lead!"

"Break it up!" McGonagall shouted.

She grabbed Ron and Malfoy each by the ear and separated them easily as Snape pulled Goyle off of Neville. Ron, Malfoy, and Goyle were dragged off to their heads of house's offices while Neville and Crabbe were taken to the hospital wing. Hermione accompanied Neville, leaving Violet to meet her brother on the field. She hugged him tightly.

Harry changed with the team and then met Violet outside the locker room. She explained then the fight and why Ron and Hermione hadn't met him on the field.

"Is Neville okay?" Harry asked.

Before she could answer, they saw a shadowy figure coming out of the castle.

"What's Snape up to?" Violet wondered aloud.

Thinking quickly, Harry hopped onto his broom and Violet climbed on behind him. They flew low and followed Snape into the Forbidden Forest. They landed on a large beech tree and watched as Snape approached another figure in a small clearly below them.

"N-not sure why you w-wanted to m-meet here of all p-places," Quirrell stammered.

"I thought we should keep this between us," Snape said coldly. "After all, students aren't supposed to know about the sorcerer's stone."

Harry and Violet exchanged shocked looks. Quirrell mumbled something but Snape cut him off.

"Don't give me that drivel. Have you found a way past that beast of Hagrid's?"

"B-b-but I…"

"You don't want me as your enemy."

"I-I don't know w-what you…"

Snape's tone went even colder.

"You know perfectly well what I mean."

An owl hooted loudly, drowning the conversation below momentarily.

"… your bit of hocus pocus," Snape was saying, his tone downright dangerous now. "I'm waiting."

"B-but I d-d-don't…"

Snape made a move as though he wanted desperately to grab Quirrell. Quirrell flinched and Snape stopped, seeming to think better of it.

"Very well. Play dumb if you like. We'll have another chat soon once you've had time to think and decide where your loyalties lay."

Snape turned on his heel and left. Quirrell stood in place trembling for several minutes before starting to wander back towards the castle. Harry and Violet exchanged looks again, both noticing the other had gone very pale.

"Harry, Violet, where have you been?!" Hermione squealed in fright when the siblings finally returned to Gryffindor tower.

Getting in trouble for fighting had not dampened Ron mood as he approached them with a broad smile and chanting, "You won! We won!"

"How's Neville?" Violet asked.

"Still out cold," Hermione reported, "but Madam Pomfrey said he'll be alright."

"I got detention since I technically threw the first punch," Ron said dismissively. "Completely worth it though because I gave Malfoy a black eye and broke his nose. Pity that Madam Pomfrey was able to fix him so quickly. Goyle told Snape and McGonagall that you were the one to hex Crabbe, Violet, but no one seemed to care. Probably because you're both of their favorite student."

"Speaking of Snape," Harry cut in, "wait until you hear this."

Harry looked around the loud and crowded common room and then signaled to his friends to follow him. They went to harry and Ron's dorm where Harry and Violet shared what they'd just overheard. Ron suddenly didn't look like he wanted to continue celebrating.

"I wondered what he was in such a hurry for. He ran off right after giving me, Malfoy, and Goyle detention and making sure Crabbe was okay."

'So we were right?" Hermione asked looking pale. "He is after the sorcerer's stone?"

"Looks like it," Violet said rather reluctantly.

"And it looks like he knows how to get past everything except Fluffy and whatever Quirrell set up," Harry concluded.

"So the stone is safe as long as Quirrell can hold out against Snape?" Ron shook his head tragically. "It'll be gone by Sunday."