A/N: It feels so good to continue this story after so many years. Thank you for all the support and please don't forget to favourite, follow and review this story if you like it! Your support is motivating and inspires me to update faster! In the next Chapter, Lola will face the inner-depths of her psyche.
Lola locked eyes with Professor Snape, a wave of unease washing over her as his piercing gaze bore into her. Her thoughts raced, and she replayed every moment spent with Harry and Ron, wondering if they had somehow been too indiscreet in their research, or if the Potions Master's Legilimency skills had uncovered their secret mission.
"I... I've come across references to Nicolas Flamel in a few books from the library," she responded cautiously, each word measured with the utmost care. Her instinct to keep her true intentions concealed since arriving at Hogwarts was now in conflict with a need to reveal a fragment of the truth because she had spent her whole life being an honest person. "He's a historical figure, and a renowned alchemist. But I'm not entirely sure why this is such a sensitive matter."
Snape's gaze remained unforgiving, and his countenance revealed nothing. He did notice that at times, the child spoke as if she was much older... And at other times, she was completely unimpressive. His eyes bore into Lola, his expression cold and disdainful. He spoke with a tone of impatience, deciding to exert pressure. "Miss Allen, it's essential that you understand, though I doubt an ordinary child like yourself possesses the intellect for it, the gravity of information concerning Nicolas Flamel. The consequences of your meddling with such knowledge can be dire."
A shiver ran down Lola's spine, the intensity of Snape's response making her uneasy. She realised she was trapped in a complex web of secrets and motives, leaving her feeling uncomfortable about not being able to remain truthful. After a brief moment of contemplation, she snapped back to the present.
Lola attempted to maintain her façade of innocence as her eyes locked with Snape's unwavering gaze, striving to appear as though she had divulged all she knew. Her mind, however, raced with a whirlwind of thoughts, a mix of anxiety and unrelenting curiosity. Before she could delve deeper into her own musings, Snape displayed his knack for skilful redirection, shifting the conversation's focus. It was clear that while he still harboured suspicions about Lola, his primary concern now rested on the matter of Professor Quirrell.
"Miss Allen," Snape's voice was frigid, and his gaze penetrating. "I must remind you that within a few short months of your arrival, you've managed to make an adversary out of Professor Quirrell. What is it that you are hiding, Miss Allen? What have you omitted?"
Lola maintained her innocent look, her blue eyes meeting Snape's with a practiced calm. He was smart, almost seeing right through Lola without being able to read her mind. Her reservations about her Potions Professor were well-founded, but a part of her couldn't help but respect him, probably being the only other person to do so expect for Albus Dumbledore, as she knew deep down Snape was on the side of good
"Professor," she responded, striving for a tone of candidness, "I've had no intention of making an enemy out of anyone. As for Professor Quirrell, I can't say why he has chosen to single me out."
Snape's unwavering gaze probed further, and it was evident he remained unsatisfied with her responses. He drew in closer, his demeanour akin to a hissing serpent or a poisonous spider.
"Could it be your inexplicable 'psychic' gifts, perhaps?" his tone was mocking. "Or your inability to stay out of business that is far beyond the scope of your understanding? Bringing that imbecile Potter into your meddling - "
Lola couldn't contain herself. There was something in Snape's disdain for Harry that triggered a strong urge to address it, even if it meant crossing into dangerous territory with impulsive behaviour.
"What does Harry have to do with this!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying both defiance and fear, quickly adding "Sir?" as she realised she had ventured into precarious waters.
Snape edged in even closer, the tension in the room reaching an almost unbearable level. "Potter?" Snape's tone was as sharp as a dagger. "Perhaps everything, I suspect."
Lola had stirred something in Snape, prompting him to fall into deep thought. It was a chance for Lola to breathe a little easier, though the weight of the situation remained. She had already mentally prepared herself for their next conversation for when the time would come and had formulated some blanket statements, but she had never anticipated the level of pressure she would feel and was now uncertain about revealing anything at all.
"Professor," her voice quivered with genuine fear, though the root of her fear wasn't about the current topic. "Please, do not trust Professor Quirrell. I sense a very dark presence about him. He lies, pretends, and deceives." The next sentence was a bold move, and she wasn't sure whether it was too dangerous to divulge this information or the perfect way to go about it. "His life is a facade, sir. Even the man he sees in the mirror is a lie. I don't know how to explain it, but his public image is not as it appears."
For a brief moment, Snape gasped, a look of dark comprehension crossing his face before he quickly regained his composure. Lola couldn't help but wonder if she had gone too far, but what followed surprised her.
"I have no time to waste on the stupid ramblings of an eleven-year-old girl," Snape sneered coldly. "Nothing you've said holds any concrete importance, Miss Allen. Rest assured, I am keeping a closer watch on you. Leave now!"
Lola's spirits sank as if a hook had pierced her heart. Approval from adults had always been a significant goal for her, and to feel like she had let one down was difficult to bear. She couldn't believe she was now on the receiving end of the same treatment her favourite book characters had endured for years. Needless to say, it felt terrible, and she couldn't see how to avoid these situations despite being many steps ahead of everyone. It was like being in a movie that she couldn't change the script of.
Lola swiftly turned on her heels, eager to exit Snape's office without causing any further annoyance to him. Had she made a grave mistake by opening her mouth, or was it just that Snape was the way he was?
As she reached the threshold of the office, Snape's voice halted her departure.
"And, Miss Allen," he called, making her turn around swiftly.
"Yes, sir," she replied, her eyes expectant. Had he realised his unnecessary level of harshness, maybe? An apology would surely improve her mood, however slight it may be.
"Don't ever interrupt me again," Snape admonished, his disdain evident. "Ten points from Gryffindor."
...
As the days passed and Christmas break came to an end, Fay and Hermione returned to Hogwarts, welcomed back by the snow-covered grounds. The crew was eager to reunite and fill each other in on the latest developments in their quest to uncover the secrets of Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone. Gathering in the common room, they exchanged hugs and laughter, thrilled to be back together. The cozy surroundings of Gryffindor common room felt like a warm embrace after the holiday break. Sitting in front of the common room's crackling fire, they began to catch up on everything that had transpired during the holiday.
Lola was the first to speak, explaining her recent encounter with Snape. She shared how the Potions Master had questioned her about Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone, leaving her feeling somewhat uncertain about their actions.
"Snape's a git," Ron chimed in, voicing his disapproval of the Professor, a sentiment he didn't keep hidden. The crew shared a knowing chuckle. The conversation then shifted to what they had learned about Nicolas Flamel, the Philosopher's Stone, and their recent conversation with Hagrid. They laid out the puzzle pieces they had gathered so far and the growing mystery surrounding Fluffy, the three-headed dog.
"I'm still not sure why Quirrell would be so interested in the Philosopher's Stone," Hermione mused, her brow furrowed in deep thought. "It's a legendary alchemical creation, of course, but what could he want with it? And how is it related to the odd occurrences involving you two?" She turned her gaze towards Lola and Fay.
Lola was impressed by Hermione's insight and her ability to formulate questions that nobody else had thought of. It was the first time she had fully appreciated just how clever Hermione was.
"Brilliant questions, Hermione," Lola commended her, a hint of pride evident in her voice. "Maybe the Stone has some sort of power that's valuable to him, or it's connected to whatever's behind his strange behavior. It's something we need to dig into."
Hermione blushed at the praise, responding to Lola's words with a small smile. It was clear she appreciated being acknowledged, and Lola decided to do so more often.
"Hold on," Hermione delved into her bag and retrieved a well-worn, thick book. "We already know about the powers of the stone..." She explained a she started searching through the book. The pages were dog-eared and filled with her meticulous highlights and notes. She traced a sentence on one of the marked pages with her index finger and began to read.
"The Philosopher's Stone can turn any metal into pure gold," Hermione read, her voice filled with enthusiasm, "and it can produce the Elixir of Life, which grants immortality to the drinker. According to a chapter in 'Advanced Potion-Making' by Libatius Borage, the Stone can also mystically amplify the user's knowledge of alchemy so much that anything is attainable..."
As Hermione explained the properties of the Philosopher's Stone, the crew pondered this knowledge once again, each face reflecting a mix of awe and curiosity.
Ron's eyes widened with amazement as he thought of the Stone's powers. "Gold and immortality..." he whistled, captivated by the possibilities. He looked fascinated and a little bit mischievous. "Imagine the gold we could make! We'd be rolling in Galleons."
Harry, who was typically more reserved, nodded thoughtfully. "But it's not just the gold. The Elixir of Life, that means... well, that's something a lot of folk would want."
Fay, her apprehension still evident, spoke up, "And Professor Quirrell, what if he wants the Stone to gain more knowledge, power, or something else entirely? This just makes the whole situation even more dangerous."
Lola, pleased with the crew's engagement, watched Hermione close the book with a sense of finality. "Indeed, we must be cautious, and find out exactly why the Stone is being kept here."
With this new knowledge and determination, they knew they had to delve even deeper into the mystery surrounding Nicolas Flamel, the Philosopher's Stone, and its connection to the enigmatic Professor Quirrell. Lola found solace in the progress they had achieved thus far, although an air of uncertainty hung over her as she contemplated the road ahead.
The truth loomed large in her thoughts – it felt increasingly inevitable that their journey would ultimately lead them to a confrontation with Voldemort. Just the mere contemplation of such a scenario sent shivers down her spine. But she had come to terms with the reality that, given the circumstances, she had no option but to face this daunting challenge head-on.
In other words, she could not succumb to cowardice.
"There's one thing I haven't mentioned yet," Harry began, his voice cutting through the sudden silence like glass. "Hold on, I'll show you."
In a flash, Harry dashed upstairs and returned a mere moment later. He glanced around the Gryffindor common room, ensuring it was devoid of onlookers, before revealing a shiny silver cloak.
When he slipped it on, his entire body vanished, leaving only a disembodied head hovering before their astonished eyes. The gasps of amazement filled the room, expect for Ron, who remained unfazed.
It was undoubtedly the fabled Cloak of Invisibility!
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, her excitement evident in her voice. "Is this... an Invisibility Cloak?"
"Duh," Ron chimed in.
"But where did you get it from? From the descriptions I've read, these are incredibly rare..." said Hermione.
"It was actually a Christmas gift," Harry responded, a puzzled expression on his face. "The note said it belonged to my father..."
"We don't know who sent it or how they ended up with it, but it's certainly something special." Ron said, an impish glint in his eyes as he started to speak the next few words. "I'm considering sneaking into Slytherin House with this beauty and giving Malfoy a taste of his own medicine. Maybe mess up his precious hair while he's asleep."
...
Snape marched briskly through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, his thoughts consumed by the enigma that was Professor Quirrell. Suspicion and doubt festered within him, twisting his expression into a mask of hostility.
As he reached Quirrell's office, an unshakable sense of foreboding intensified. The man's behavior, his peculiar interests, had raised more than a few red flags. The intrusion of these Gryffindor students into an already complex situation only fueled Snape's irritations.
He knocked on the door, the sound reverberating through the stone corridor. "E-Enter," came the muffled response from within.
As Snape entered, he found Quirrell seated at his desk, his back turned. The man appeared engrossed in some research, his shoulders tensed.
"Quirinus," Snape began, his voice dripping with disdain, "we need to talk."
Quirrell's response was hesitant, his voice trembling. "Ab-bout what, S-Severus?"
"About your sudden fixation on the Philosopher's Stone." Snape snapped, suspicion oozing from his words. He typically felt no need to beat around the bush, and this time was like any other. "We've all done our part to protect it, but I've heard you've been prying about, asking the others about their enchantments. Curious that you never came to me. But more curious is the presence of these children now – Potter, Allen, and their friends. It raises questions, doesn't it?" he asked, sneakily. Perhaps bombarding him with heaps of information at once might work this time, he thought. His last few interrogations of Quirrell hadn't yielded the results he had hoped for.
Quirrell swiveled his chair to face Snape, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. His voice quivered as he spoke, "S-Severus, you kn-know I have a deep interest in the D-Dark Arts. I've been studying various a-aspects of the S-S-Stone."
Snape's eyes narrowed, his skepticism palpable. "So what?"
"I've been r-researching it for a-academic purposes. There's n-n-nothing more to it." he said simply.
Snape's mind buzzed with suspicions. "And these children? What's your connection to them?" he asked, his tone as cold as ice.
Quirrell's gaze faltered, his eyes darting away for a fleeting moment. "N-no connection, S-Severus. I have n-noticed their trips to the l-library myself. C-can't say I have any involvement or un-understanding of what they are up to."
Snape was not convinced. The pieces of the puzzle weren't adding up, and his intuition told him that something far more sinister was at play.
As Snape made his exit from Quirrell's office, his thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of questions and doubts. He hadn't approached Quirrell merely for a casual chat.
What was Quirinus concealing behind his fragile demeanour? And a more troubling question tugged at Snape's consciousness – could someone have impersonated Quirrell, perhaps through the use of Polyjuice Potion? However, it had been months since Snape witnessed Quirrell taking a sip of anything, and as the Potions Master, he knew well that maintaining a Polyjuice transformation required periodic ingestion of the potion. The absence of this ritual was evidence against his theory.
With every step he took, Snape's pace quickened, the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts serving as a backdrop to his anxious thoughts. He contemplated the intricacies of deception, the art of maintaining a facade, and the myriad ways one could hide their true self.
Was the young Allen girl truly on the brink of a discovery, her instincts finely tuned to the secrets that eluded the ordinary mind? Or was she merely another dumb child who should not have been taken seriously? Once again, Snape's longing for Legilimency on this subject intensified.
If only he could peer into Miss Allen's thoughts, unravel her innermost secrets and motives... If only...
A/N: Things are getting juicy! As always, feel free to favourite, follow and review. See you in the Chapter! :)
