Winter slowly turned into spring and most of the classes were geared towards their upcoming exams. Oliver was working the team harder than ever, gearing up for their next match against Hufflepuff. There was an added pressure with Snape deciding to referee this one. Most of her teammates assumed that Snape wouldn't exactly play fair, given that he made his dislike of Gryffindors well known. Well, all except her for some reason she still couldn't quite figure out. it wasn't like she could go up and ask him why he was being so…'nice' to her. Irrespective of how pleasant he was to her, the potions master wasn't what she would call approachable. She would have better luck having an amicable conversation with Fluffy than that wizard.
Currently the very tired ginger was reading up more on her family. Ember couldn't thank you her mother enough for leaving this book to her. She was learning all sorts of fascinating things about her ancestors, their history AND their abilities. Idailia was probably the most interesting one of all, purely because she was the one they all descended from.
She sighed and flipped back to the beginning of the book, her exhausted brain struggling to take in anything new. The ginger hoped she would be able to focus on the stuff she already read…
The Matriarch: the one who started it all
Idalia, the youngest of five children, is a Fenix who lived on the planet, Helios. As Fenix's were all similar in terms of power and abilities, they all lived in relative peace. Due to this, there was no need for ruler nor any official hierarchy.
However, certain families (such as Idalia's) was held in higher esteem. It had nothing to do with power, mind you, but more the experience and wisdom that they possessed, especially as they had been around a lot longer.
Their civilisation flourished for several millennia until the 'dark times'. Better known as The Purge, Helios was attacked and most of the population wiped out. The few who survived fled to the stars, including Idalia. She ended up on Gallifrey where she 'became' a Time Lady in order to blend in. Eventually she fell in love, got married and became the Matriarch of the House Pyrrhos…
"Idalia", Ember murmured "so brave". A noise caught her attention causing her to glance up from her book. She chuckled seeing Felix muck about with one of the chocolate frog cards on the floor. it flipped out from between his little paws, landing at Ember's feet.
The ginger picked it up, noting it was Dumbledore. She was about to toss it back to the kitten when she saw something very interesting. "I don't believe it", she breathed. Flamel! After all this time, there he was! It was just typical for the answer to have been under her nose the whole time.
The hybrid stuck the card in the pocket of her robes and hurried off to the library where she knew Hermione and Ron were studying. On the way, she had to quickly phase though a flying knight's helmet, courtesy of Peeves. "Ooh the ickle firstie moves like the ghosties!" he cackled "what fun!"
Ember growled under her breath. She didn't have time for this! Purposefully turning her eyes red gold, glaring at the poltergeist. "Back off!" she ordered. Peeves actually appeared to be rather unnerved by her unusual coloured gaze and took off, rattling suits of armour as he went. The ginger relaxed, happy in the knowledge that at least for this time, she was able to scare off the naughty spectre. The 11 year old went on her way, only having to pause when she got close to the library upon seeing Malfoy tormenting poor Neville with some spell that seemed to stick the Gryffindor's legs together. "Hey!" she called. The sneering Slytherin took one look at her angry face and scarpered, his cronies not being around to 'protect him'.
The hybrid got out her wand and uttered the counter spell, silently thanking Hermione for influencing her to 'read ahead'. If she hadn't she probably wouldn't have known the spell to break the leg locker curse. Neville's legs sprang apart and the grateful boy slumped against the wall. "Thanks Ember", he panted.
"It's no problem" she started toward the entrance when Neville called to her
"Do you think the hat made a mistake putting me in Gryffindor?"
Ember stopped and turned to the boy "No. Not at all. Clearly the hat sees something in you. Something worthy of being a Gryffindor. You might not see it now but one day you will", she assured him. Neville smiled, feeling a slight boost from her words. The ginger entered the library, making a beeline for Ron and Hermione's table. "I found him", she proclaimed, tossing the card on to table, making Ron jump.
"You found Flamel", Hermione stated, picking up the card. She then darted off, disappearing behind a bookshelf.
"Who?" Ron asked, confused.
"Just someone we've been trying to research", the ginger answered vaguely. She wasn't about to tell him anything to do with whatever was hidden beneath Fluffy's paws. While he had been there when they'd discovered the large canine, they weren't friends so why should she share?
"Well, you've given me a break from studying so thanks", the Weasley boy said, grateful.
"Perhaps you should study more, if you want to pass your exams", Ember smoothly countered "now, if you'll excuse me". The hybrid headed off in the direction that Hermione had gone in.
"Oh, Em!" the curly haired witch exclaimed , nearly bumping into her and almost dropping the hefty book in her arms in the process.
"Sorry, I didn't want nosy Nora to find out whatever it was you'd discovered", Ember said, gesturing with her thumb back to where she had left Ron.
"Good idea", Hermione agreed. While she had dragged him along to the library in order to make him study, why she did it though, she'll never know. Ron wasn't her friend so why she should care whether he passed the exams? The witch supposed it was probably the way she was raised, to help people regardless of whether she liked them or not.
Hermione set the book down on the small desk attached to the nearest book shelf, opening it up. "I can't believe I'd forgotten about this book. I had checked it out few weeks ago for a bit of light reading", she explained.
"You call that light?" Ron scoffed, having followed the hybrid, his curiosity having gotten the better of him.
"Its light for me", Ember told him and he shot her a surprised look. The ginger just shrugged. Normally when she studies she has at least two books open at once, going from one to the other. She knew Hermione was rather jealous of how easily she was able to absorb information. Honestly, she couldn't help it. It just came so naturally to her that at first she hadn't even realised she was doing it.
Hermione flipped through the pages, stopping on a particular section "here", she said to the ginger haired girl. Ember moved closer to the book, using her body to block Ron's view of it. Her green eyes widened and she cast a glance at her friend, the brunette nods in confirmation.
"What is it?" the boy demanded, straining to get a look at what they were reading.
"Never you mind", Ember snapped, closing the book abruptly "Hermione, we need to talk…privately. And you…" she turned to Ron "study", she ordered firmly "and keep your big nose out of our business". She looped her arm around Hermione's and walked away from youngest Weasley boy.
"So…what do we do now?" the curly haired witch enquired as they exited the library.
"Now we talk to Hagrid. He's the only one who could shed some light as to why the stone is hidden at the school", Ember replied.
"And why a Cerberus is being used to hid it", Hermione added.
"Beside Snape, who do you think would be brave enough to face off against that thing?" Ember points out "I for one don't really want to tangle with it again".
"Good point", Hermione conceded.
Unfortunately the talk was going to have to be postponed till the next day, thanks to the quidditch match. Oliver had taken Ember aside just before they stepped out onto the pitch "I hate to add pressure but we really need you to catch the snitch as soon as possible", the older boy whispered "before Snape can favour Hufflepuff".
The ginger gave him a salute "aye, aye Cap'n", she agreed. She and the others walked out onto the pitch and the game began. Whilst everyone else tussles for the Quaffle, Ember stayed out of the way all the while keeping her eyes open for the snitch.
Suddenly her green gaze spotted the little golden ball flitting about below. "Here we go", she breathed before turning her broom handle downwards, going into a rather spectacular dive which had most of the crowd gasping with awe. The hybrid was just a blur of scarlet as she whizzed past Snape, clasping the snitch in her hands seconds later. With her free hand she pulled out of the dive and showed the little ball for everyone to see.
The stands erupted with cheers. Snape on the other hand, looked less than pleased. Ember would later learn that she actually had caught the snitch in record time.
Night has fallen and the three students were hurrying across the grass toward Hagrid's hut. Prior to the match, Ember had managed to find Peter and tell her about Flamel and the Philosophers Stone. She also mentioned that she and Hermione were going to talk to Hagrid to find out more and the brunet jumped at the chance to come with.
They knocked on the door and the half giant opened the door wearing an apron and a pair of oven mitts. "Oh, hello. Sorry, don't wish to be rude, but I'm in no fit state to entertain today", Hagrid said. He started to close the door when the trio cried
"We know about the Philosopher's Stone!"
Hagrid opened the door again "Oh", he said.
"We think Snape's trying to steal it", Ember said as they piled into the small home.
"Snape? Blimey, Ember, you're not still on about him, are you?" the Gamekeeper asked.
"Hagrid, we know he's after the Stone. We just don't know why", the hybrid insisted.
"Snape is one of the teachers protecting the Stone! He's not about to steal it!" Hagrid corrected her.
The ginger frowned "What?" That didn't make sense. Snape was injured! He got it from getting past Fluffy!
"You heard. Right. Come on, now, I'm a bit preoccupied today", Hagrid said, wanting to get them out of the hut.
"Hang on…one of the teachers?" Peter questioned, catching what the half giant had just said.
"Of course! There are other things defending the Stone, aren't there? Spells, enchantments", Hermione piped up.
"That's right. Waste of bloody time, if you ask me", Hagrid remarked "Ain't no one gonna get past Fluffy. Hehe, not a soul knows how. Except for me and Dumbledore", the students exchanged glances "I shouldn't have told you that. I shouldn't have told you that " A cauldron over a fire begins to rattle "Oh!" Hagrid hurries over and grabs something "Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!" He places it on the table. It was an egg. The group crowds around.
"That's…that's a dragon egg!" Peter cried, thanking the fact that the twins had told him all about their older brother's, Charlie, study with dragons "but Hagrid…how did you get one?"
"I won it. Off a stranger I met down at a pub. Seemed quite glad to be rid of it, as a matter of fact", Hagrid explained.
The egg rattles and cracks open as pieces fly off; a small baby dragon emerges. It squeaks and slips on an egg piece. Peter's eyes widened, recognising it "That's a Norwegian Ridgeback!"
"Isn't he beautiful? Oh. Bless him, look. He knows his mummy. Hehe. Hallo, Norbert", Hagrid cooed when the baby dragon turned its attention toward him.
Hermione raised a brow "Norbert?" she repeated.
"Yeah, well, he's got to have a name, doesn't he?" the brunette inclined her head in acknowledgement "Don't you, Norbert?" the dragon squeaks again.
Ember chuckled "actually she'd rather be called Norberta", she remarked "since he is a SHE".
"You understood her?" Hagrid questioned, surprised.
"Yeah I-I could", she admits "Just like I can understand my kitten". Thanks to her book, she now knew that Gallifreyans could understand hundreds… no thousands of languages, including animals. Given that she was descended from the House Pyrros of Gallifrey, it made sense that she could understand both Felix AND Norberta.
The little dragon glanced around the table at the others and then he suddenly hiccupped a small fire blast in Ember's direction. She threw her hands up instinctively to protect her face. "How are you doing that?" Hermione breathed, gaping at the hybrid or more specifically her hands. They were on fire! Peter stared at the girl, just as shocked as Hermione. The 'phasing' was one thing but this…this was something else altogether. Ember really was a ginger haired mystery, wasn't she?
"I have no idea", the 11 year old admitted, her twin hearts starting to slow down to a normal rhythm. She closed her fists and the flames disappeared. Hagrid had watched this with mild interest, having known the truth about the Potter girl. It appeared that she was starting to show some of her powers she'd inherited from her mother's side of the family.
"Who's that?" Hagrid asked, suddenly noticing two people outside the window. It was none other than Draco Malfoy and Ron?! They scampered away the second they'd spotted them.
"Malfoy and Ron", Ember replied.
"Oh, dear", Hagrid murmured.
"We better get back to our dorm before we're caught", the hybrid said and her friends nodded in agreement.