6th January 1992
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
I like being back into routine again. The four of us have spent ages searching the library; I just don't understand why we haven't found anything.
Harry was at Quidditch practice this afternoon, for our big game against Hufflepuff. Ron, Hermione and I sat on the sidelines and watched. If we beat them, then we would overtake Slytherin in the house cup. That hasn't been done for seven years! We all think a change is in order. I'd love to see their smug little faces filled with disappointment!
At the end, Wood called them in for a chat. They were about 2 metres off the ground. The 3 of us walked over. Suddenly, George fell off his broom. I couldn't help it but laugh; I ran over and helped him up. "Thanks" he said with a smile. But he had reasoning to... Professor Snape- the guy who hates Gryffindor with a passion- will be refereeing the match.
When we went up to the Common Room, we found ourselves seats by the fire. Ron suggested that Harry broke his leg, Hermione suggest he pretended. Harry said that he would play, for the team, otherwise the match would have to be cancelled, and he couldn't bear to see Slytherin's smug faces, either. I sat in silence, trying to work out why Snape would want to be in plain view of everyone. Somehow it didn't all add up.
Neville came in to the common room, hopping. Then he landed on the floor with an almighty thump. Hermione performed the jinx to undo the spell, being the only person who knows how. Turns out Draco performed the leg-locker curse (locomotor mortis) on him. Someone really ought to teach that boy a lesson.
"Stand up to him, Neville!" said Ron. "He's walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier"
"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done that.' Neville chocked.
He really had given up, the poor thing. I helped him up onto his feet. Harry chucked him a chocolate frog, "You're worth 12 of Malfoy."
Neville was nearly in tears, "Thanks, Harry! Do you want the card?"
Harry took the card from Neville, it was Dumbledore. He gasped. "I've found him!" he whispered to us. "I've found Nicholas Flamel!" He read out the card:
"Professor Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the 12 uses of dragon's blood and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flamel!"
Hermione looked like she had just received an 'Outstanding' on her potions homework; she ran off excitedly into our dormitory and came back with a massive book. The one she kept lovingly under her bed, "I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading." She said sincerely.
"Light?" Ron and I said in unison. Hermione ignored us and searched frantically through the pages.
She found what she was looking for, "I knew it! I knew it!" she was in her element.
"Yes?" Ron said grumpily.
Hermione read:
"Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone!
The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone,
a legendary substance with astonishing powers.
The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold.
It also produces the Elixir of Life,
which will make the drinker immortal."
"So Fluffy must be guarding Flamel's Philosopher's Stone!" Harry concluded. "And that's exactly what Snape is after."
1st February
This morning, the morning of the match, Harry was overwhelmed to see Dumbledore present. He was certain that nothing (too) bad could happen to him if the headmaster was around. His nerves turned into excitement and the match began.
Up in the stands, Draco Malfoy, (of all people) decided to stand right beside us, and he was joined by his cronies Crabbe and Goyle. It was like he was asking for trouble. He was being rude, as usual. I tried my best to ignore him.
"You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team? Its people they feel sorry for. See, there's Potter who's got no parents, then there's the Weasley's who've got no money- you should be on the team, Longbottom, you've got no brains." I overheard Draco. I had had quite enough of him, bullying my friends, and I felt myself get very angry, very quickly.
I threatened him, "Malfoy, if you don't shut up, next time we're in potions, my hot cauldron Might. Just. Slip. and you can say goodbye to having children. There's a sop story in itself, 'Draco Malfoy, the boy who's got no b-"
"Ok! Ok!" he looked as though he was having kittens. I glared at him.
I turned my back on him. Snape awarded Hufflepuff a penalty George hit a bludger at him; I would have too, given half a chance!
Draco started again, "Longbottom, if brains were gold, you'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something"
"MALFOY I'M WARNING YOU." I guldered at him.
"Harry!" Hermione yelled over all the commotion. I turned immediately; he was diving for the ground like he'd seen the snitch!
"You're in luck, Weasley; Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground!" I heard Draco say faintly in the background. But what was very distinctive was the sound of Ron's hand smash into Draco's face.
Harry caught the snitch. I mean, he actually caught it. The game only lasted 5 minutes! Hermione started hugging random people- me, the Parvati twins, Seamus, Dean, you name it! Harry was lifted up onto people's shoulders in the celebration. Gryffindor are winning in the house cup! WHOOOO!
Ron, Neville, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were all on the ground of the stands in a massive punching match. I don't think there was an inch of skin Ron had left untouched on Draco's pale face as I tore them apart for the fear that Draco would actually be dead under the mass of punches.
There he lay, unconscious on the ground. Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other like a pair of gormless geese, flapping their wings in confusion. I shoved them in the direction of Madam Pomfery, who was standing on the sidelines of the match, to go and get her assistance. I put him in the recovery position and hoped that he had finally learnt his lesson. A purple bruise was already forming around his left eye, not to mention the blood pouring from his lip as he lay there, motionless. When Madam Pomfery came, I stood and left her to it. "He's alive." I said.
"Thanks" I thought I heard in return as she sighed.
The pitches had cleared fast. I walked back up toward the common room, past the broom shed. Harry appeared from behind the door. "Congratulations!" I hugged him.
"Thanks! Wait, who is that?" he whispered, pointing to a hooded figure in the distance. It was Snape. Harry grabbed his Nimbus 2000, got on and said "Climb on!" I put my arms around Harry as we glided, following Snape toward the Forbidden Forest. We rested on one of the branches, listening into Snape's conversation with... Quirrell?
"d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all places, Severus" Quirrell stuttered, as usual.
"Oh, I thought we'd keep this private, students aren't supposed to know about the Philosopher's Stone, after all." Snape said. How unbelievably ironic? Quirrell started mumbling and Snape interrupted.
"Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?" questioned Snape.
"B-b-but Severus, I-"
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell." 'Too late but the sounds of it, Sev...' I thought to myself! He and Malfoy were just as bad as each other, threatening others.
"I- I don-t know what you-"
"You know perfectly well what I mean." An owl hooted from another tree, we missed the start of the next sentence, "-your little bit of hocus pocus. I'm waiting..." I looked at Harry in confusion. He shook his head and continued listening.
"B-but I d-d-don't know" Quirrell sounded even more terrified than normal.
Snape had given up, "Very well. We'll have another chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie."
Snape walked off. Quirrell stood looking petrified. Harry and I flew back to the broom shed and walked back to the common room in total silence.
Harry entered the portrait first, "Where have you been?" Hermione snapped at him the first chance she got. She looked at me climbing in after. "Did you two...?" she looked at me strangely.
"Gosh no." I said quickly, Harry didn't seem to hear, he had already been swarmed by Ron.
"We won!" Ron beamed, "And I gave Malfoy a black eye and Neville tried to take on Crabbe and Goyle single handed! He's with Madam Pomfery now; she says he'll be alright! Talk about showing Slytherin who's boss! Everyone's waiting for you, Fred and George even stole some cakes from the kitchens!" he was so excitable.
"Never mind that, now" Harry began, as we went into a quiet room to discuss where we'd been.
"So we're right about the Philosopher's Stone and Fluffy." I concluded.
Hermione spoke, "So you mean the Stone's only safe as long as Quirrell stand up to Snape?"
"It'll be gone by next Tuesday." said Ron.