Disclaimer - I own none of this.

Hello Again, As you can see I am not dead :). Work kept me out of this for almost 2 months. I will try to get back to this in some form.

john73 - Thanks for your honest feedback. I will try to do better. As I said, I am learning to write a story and reviews like yours will keep me honest. Still no excuses, moving forward, I will try to dive deeper into the emotions of the characters and try to bring them out more. As far as rework is considered, I will not be doing that, because this fic is how I am noting if there is growth in my skill. If I rework that then it will not serve its core purpose. Again appreciate your comment.

Alex POV

Returning home for Christmas was a much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of Hogwarts. The warmth of the fireplace, the scent of freshly baked cookies, and the joyous laughter of my family made the holiday truly special. My parents were eager to hear about my experiences, their faces lighting up as I recounted stories of my classes and the magical world I'd been immersed in. Although I wasn't allowed to practice magic outside of school, they were still fascinated by the knowledge I shared, asking endless questions about the spells I was learning. My little sister, in particular, hung on to every word, her eyes wide with awe as I described the floating ornaments that had decorated the Great Hall during the Hogwarts feast.

However, amidst the festive cheer, there was a sense of melancholy as the days flew by too quickly. On the night before I had to leave, I sat by the window, looking out at the snow-covered garden. My heart ached at the thought of leaving my family behind so soon, but I knew that my journey at Hogwarts was just beginning.

Back at Hogwarts, the Room of Requirement welcomed me like an old friend. Its walls seemed to shift and accommodate my every need. Yet, despite the room's magic, I felt the first real snag in my training. Practicing spells alone lacked the dynamic challenge of a real duel or a target practice session. My spells hit their mark, but it felt hollow without an opponent to test my limits.

Determined to improve, I approached the study group with a new idea. "What if we included duels or target practice in our sessions?" I suggested, looking at the eager faces around me. "We could learn a lot from each other and make our training more effective."

Lisa nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds like a great idea, Alex. It would definitely make our sessions more interactive and challenging."

I turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, hoping they would join us. "What do you think? Interested in some friendly duels?"

Harry's eyes lit up with excitement. "Count me in. I think it could be really helpful."

Hermione, always cautious, added, "As long as we follow safety rules and learn from our mistakes, it could be very beneficial."

Ron shrugged, not quite as eager but willing. "If everyone's in, I guess I am too."

With the trio now part of our study group, the sessions became more lively and engaging. We paired off, practicing simple spells and helping each other refine our casting techniques. Instead of the Room of Requirement, we found an unused classroom that gave us enough privacy to experiment without fear of interruption. The practice wasn't overly intense—mostly focusing on refining basic spells, dodging, and blocking. Everyone seemed to enjoy the laid-back approach, and it kept us sharp without pushing any boundaries too far.

Returning to classes after the holidays brought a renewed sense of focus. Professor Flitwick's Charms class was particularly challenging, as we began learning more intricate spells. The Confundus Charm, with its complex wand movements, gave me trouble, and I found myself repeatedly struggling to get the flick just right. Despite the occasional frustrations, the progress we made in class and during our study group kept me motivated.

"Remember, it's all in the wrist," Professor Flitwick advised, demonstrating the spell with effortless precision. His charm hit the target perfectly, leaving it dazed and confused.

In Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall had us working on more advanced transformations. Turning a matchstick into a needle seemed simple, but achieving the perfect sharpness took immense concentration. My first few attempts resulted in blunt, misshapen needles, much to my annoyance.

"It's about visualizing the final form clearly in your mind," Professor McGonagall reminded me with her usual stern expression, though there was a trace of encouragement in her voice. "Focus, Alex. You can do it."

Potions with Professor Snape, on the other hand, remained as daunting as ever. The man had a way of making even the simplest tasks feel like life-or-death challenges. During one particularly tricky potion, I found myself sweating over my cauldron, trying desperately to get the mixture just right.

"Too much hellebore syrup, Mr. Phillips," Snape's voice drawled from behind me, making me jump. "Do it again. And this time, try not to waste my ingredients."

Despite the intensity, there was a certain camaraderie in our classes. We shared our successes and failures, helping each other through difficult spells and potions. It wasn't easy, but the shared experience made us closer as a group.

Harry POV

One evening, I lay awake in bed, the Invisibility Cloak folded neatly under my pillow. Ever since Hagrid let slip about Fluffy, the three-headed dog guarding something on the third floor, my curiosity had been gnawing at me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something more was happening at Hogwarts, something bigger than all of us.

Slipping the cloak over myself, I moved through the castle's dark corridors. The thrill of sneaking around at night made my heart race as I reached the library's restricted section. After rummaging through countless books, I finally found what I was looking for—Nicolas Flamel. The Philosopher's Stone.

The next day, I shared my discovery with Ron and Hermione. "We need to figure out what Fluffy's guarding. It's the Philosopher's Stone, I'm sure of it!"

Hermione, always pragmatic, was already thinking ahead. "If we want more information, we'll have to take some risks."

Ron looked skeptical. "What kind of risks?"

Hermione hesitated for a moment before speaking. "We need to get into the Slytherin common room and eavesdrop on Malfoy. He might know something we don't. I think I can brew a Polyjuice Potion to help us blend in."

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "That sounds dangerous."

"It's the only way," Hermione said, her expression resolute.

As the weeks passed, our days blurred together—classes, study sessions, and our increasingly secretive investigations into the Philosopher's Stone. The encounter with Fluffy had rattled us all, but it also fueled our determination. Alex had become more involved in our efforts, his knack for uncovering details proving invaluable.

Despite Hermione's best efforts, however, the Polyjuice Potion yielded only disappointment. Hours of preparation and sneaking into the Slytherin common room led to nothing but frustration. Draco Malfoy, much to our annoyance, knew no more than we did. Our investigation hit a wall, but our resolve grew stronger.

There was still so much we didn't understand, so much at stake. We knew that we were missing something—something that, if we didn't uncover soon, might come back to haunt us.

That's chapter 9 done. Chapter 10 onwards updates will be slower than they were used to. I really don't want to keep adding sub-2k chapters here anymore.