Chapter 12: Mirrors and Flamel

You could have woken me up,l, you know." I said to Harry at breakfast the next morning.

He had explained to me from the moment we woke up until now about his wild night in his invisibility cloak. He had used it to break into the restricted section to look for a book on Flamel. Filch had almost caught him, so he ducked into this room with some big and unusual mirror. In it, he had seen his parents.

"You can come tonight, I'm going back, I want to show you the mirror. said Harry, seeming like he felt a little bad for not including me on the adventure.

"I'd like to see your mom and dad." I said enthusiastically.

"And I want to see all your family, all the Weasleys! You'll be able to show me your other brothers and everyone!"

"You can see them any old time." I said, waving him off. "Just come round my house this summer."

Harry's face seemed to light up at the invite. Of course i would invite him over for summer vacation. I would let him live there if my house wasn't already packed to the brim. Then again, I was sure Mum wouldn't have objected.

"Anyway, maybe it only shows dead people. Shame about not finding Flamel, though. Have some bacon or something, why aren't you eating anything? Are you alright? You look odd."

"What if I can't find the room it was in again?" said Harry, looking discouraged. "I did accidentally run up on it. I should have left a marker or something."

"Don't worry, we'll find it." I said.

Later that night, we walked under the cloak, retracing Harry's steps for over an hour. At first, it was exciting. Then, with lack of properly warm clothing that we neglected to put on, it got really cold and dull.

"I'm freezing." I said through chattering teeth. "Let's forget it and go back. We can try again tomorrow night."

"No!" Harry hissed. "I know it's here somewhere."

Another thirty minutes of walking and then Harry exclaimed "It's here, just here...yes!"

We pushed the door open. Harry dropped the cloak from around his shoulders and ran to the mirror. He looked in the mirror and smiled hard, like he did when he went flying on his Nimbus 2000 for the first time.

"See?" Harry whispered, pointing to the mirror.

I looked. I didn't see anybody but us.

"I can't see anything." I said

"Look! Look at them all... there are loads of them..." Harry said happily.

"I can only see you." I said.

Harry looked confused. "Look in it properly, go on, stand where I am."

I stood and stared hard in the mirror, trying to see his family, like he said. Instead of them I saw...

"Look at me!" I said.

"Can you see all your family standing around you?" asked Harry.

"No! I'm alone, but I'm... different. I look older, and I'm head boy! I am! I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to, and I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup! I'm Quidditch captain, too! Bloody hell! I look good!" I said, extremely impressed.

I couldn't help but be overjoyed. This was everything that I had aspired to be every since I got my letter. I felt like I was seeing the future. At least, the future I wanted for myself.

"Harry, do you think this mirror shows the future?"

Harry looked down with a glum expression. "How can it? All my family are dead. Hey, let me have another look!" he said, pushing me out the way.

That was unusual.

"You had it to yourself all last night, give me a bit more time." I said, nudging him over a bit.

"You're only holding the Quidditch cup, what's interesting about that? I want to see my parents." he yelled, pushing me roughly out the way.

"Oi! Don't push me!" I said, shoving him back. What the bloody hell was his problem?

Suddenly, a noise from outside broke us away from our conversation. We looked at each other, afraid.

"Quick!" I said, grabbing the cloak and throwing it quickly over us, just in time. Mrs. Norris had came inside the room and was looking around. We both has the same thought. Could cats see through invisibility cloaks? Know how much of a nosy ass this one was. I was inclined to believe so.

"This isn't safe! She might have gone for Filch, I bet she heard us. Come on." I said, grabbing a resisting Harry by the arm and practically having to drag him back to the tower.

The next morning, Harry was still in a gloomy mood.

"Want to play chess, Harry?" I asked.

"No."

"Why don't we go down and visit Hagrid?" I suggested.

"No... you go..." sighed Harry, staring at the fire as we sat in the common room.

I could tell by the look on his face what was on his mind. "I know what you're thinking about, Harry, that mirror. Don't go back tonight." I said

"Why not?" he asked.

"I dunno, I've just got a bad feeling about it. And anyway, you've had too many close shaves already. Filch, Snape, and Mrs. Norris are wandering around. So what if they can't see you? What if they walk into you? What if you knock something over?"

"You sound like Hermione." joked Harry.

"I'm serious, Harry, don't go."

"Fine, Ron. I won't." said Harry. "I'm just gonna take a walk. Clear my mind. See you later."

He got up and walked off. I already knew where he was headed. And I knew I couldn't stop him.

The mirror seemed great, but I kind have gotten the feeling that Harry could get lost in it. I truly felt bad for him. To never had known any of his wizarding family and on top of that, his folks? I couldn't even imagine the pain he felt. I probably wouldn't have been able to function without mine, despite sometimes feeling like I was overlooked sometimes.

I decided to take some time out and write Bill again. He had written me back a couple days ago, and I had to return his letter.

Dear Bill,

Thanks for the trainers. They are bloody wicked, and just what I needed. Fred's old shoes were starting to get holey and I would have had no choice but to walk around in my socks.

Christmas was great. Mum made Harry some fudge and also his very own Weasley sweater. It made him feel very good, and minus the red hair, part of the family. You think if I asked her, Mum would adopt him? Then I could have two favorite brothers instead of just you.

I know you asked how Hermione and I were doing last time. We're still good. She still nags us from time to time, but I really don't blame her. It's mainly about homework, so it's not like she's doing it for no reason. She's alright. For a girl, I mean. Nothing like Ginny though. I don't think Ginny would forgive me if I replaced her with Hermione as a sister.

As for Malfoy, I still hate his bloody guts. He didn't stick around for Christmas, thank Merlin, so Harry and I have had a lovely break from his ass. I know you told me I should try to get along with him, but I honestly don't see us ever being friends. He never has anything nice to say, he always picks fights, and anyone that puts down my family the way he does, doesn't deserve my friendship. And the way he speaks on Harry's parents is revolting. It's like who in the bloody hell raised you?

Speaking of Harry's family, he found this mirror a few nights ago that showed all his family members in it. I know that it means a lot to him to see them, but I feel like he's bloody obsessed with it. I'm kind of worried about him, but he won't listen to me. I really hope he leaves it alone one day.

Well, I gotta go. Write back soon!

Love,

Ron.

Hermione, along with the others who had gone home, came back the next day. She was none too pleased at Harry and I. Not only for being out of bed and roaming the halls three nights in a row ("If Filch had caught you!" she scolded. "But he didn't, so there!" snapped Harry.), but also because we took zero time in finding out who Nicolas Flamel was. As a result, we got an almost hour long lecture that I halfway tuned out about responsibility and breaking the rules.

We spent the next few days once again in the library, looking for his name. Nothing.

One day, Harry had to go and practice for the upcoming Quidditch game. Hermione and I stayed in this time, as it was raining and we both didn't fancy getting wet

We sat in the common room bored. I was writing Mum a letter, while Hermione was reading Hogwarts, A History. For the fourth time.

"Wanna play chess?" I asked, dying to do something with myself.

Hermione glanced up over the book. "I don't feel like getting slaughtered by you, if you don't mind." she said, putting her eyes back on the page she was reading.

"Awh come on, Hermione, please? Just one game? You never know, you might beat me."

"I seriously doubt it."

"Pleeeeeease?" I whined, poking out my bottom lip.

Hermione laughed and closed her book. "Oh all right. One game. And no boasting this time, Ronald.

She always called me that when she was being really serious with me or if she was greatly irritated by me. At first it was weird. Only Mum and Auntie Muriel called me Ronald sometimes. But after awhile, it grew on me.

I jumped up quickly and ran to my dorm for my chess set. I came back and set them up, while Hermione set up the ones that were a part of the school chessboard.

The game started out quiet. Only words that were said were us telling the pieces what to do. I beat her in less that 14 moves. I had to beg her even more and promise that I would let her read a chapter of that book to me if she would play me again.

Yeah. I was that bored.

"So," I began after a couple moves into our second game. "You never told us how your holiday was."

"It was boring actually." said Hermione, taking my pawn with her knight. "My parents weren't around much because they had a lot of appointments lined up."

"I must say, I really don't get why one would willingly want to work in someone's mouth." I said.

The wizarding world doesn't have dentists?"

"No. We have spells for teeth correction." I told her.

Hermione looked intrigued. "Spells? Really?"

"Yeah. Loads. Spells to keep them forever white, spells to fix them if they break, spells to clean your mouth if you don't have access to a toothbrush-"

"Can you shrink them?" she asked.

"Oh yeah." I said, taking her knight with my bishop. "That too."

Hermione nodded, her face looking as if she was trying to come up with something.

"What did you see in that mirror?" she asked me.

"Me being successful. Head Boy and quidditch captain and stuff. Like my brothers." I said, proudly.

"If I looked in it, I think I would see myself being the Head Girl."

"That's it?" I asked. "I'm surprised you don't have a long list of things."

"Oh shut up." said Hermione, sticking out her tongue at me. "Well, maybe also a professor. I think I could be a good one."

Oh bloody hell. No way could she only see boring things for herself.

"What about something fun?" I asked her as I watched her take my bishop. Damn. I. needed to focus.

"Fun?"

"Yeah. I mean education is alright and blah blah blah, but what about something fun? You have fun, right?"

Hermione looked as if she was mulling my question over. "I guess I'd also see you and Harry in there too or something. I have my fun with you guys."

"Brilliant." I said, satisfied with the answer. "Only, make sure I'm tall and devilishly handsome."

Hermione scoffed, but laughed. "You're so full of yourself."

We continued to play and to my surprise, Hermione had me in a jam. As I studied the board, calculating my next move carefully, Harry came in and sat beside me.

"Don't talk to me for a moment." I said, glancing over at him. "I need to concen - wait. What's the matter with you? You look terrible."

"Wood told us that Snape if refereeing our next bloody next game." whispered Harry.

"Don't play," said Hermione at once.

"Say you're ill!" I said.

"Pretend to break your leg!" Hermione suggested.

"Really break your leg" I said.

"I can't," said Harry. "There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all."

At that moment Neville hopped into the common room. How he had managed to climb through the portrait hole was anyone's guess, because his legs had been stuck together with the Leg-Locker Curse.

Harry and I couldn't help but laugh along with everyone else. Hermione gave us a disapproving look as she quickly performed the countercurse.

"What happened?" Hermione asked him, helping him to walk over to where we were sitting.

"Malfoy," said Neville, nervously "I met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practice that on."

"Go to Professor McGonagall!" Hermione urged Neville. "Report him!"

Neville shook his head. "I don't want more trouble."

"You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" I said, angry that Malfoy had done him like that. "He's used to 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." Said Neville, beginning to cry.

Harry pulled out his last Chocolate Frog out of his pocket and gave it to Neville.

"You're worth twelve of Malfoy," Harry said. "The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin."

Neville attempted a weak smile as he unwrapped the frog.

"Thanks, Harry. I think I'll go to bed. D'you want the card, you collect them, don't you?"

Harry thanked him and took the card and looked to see who was on it.

"Dumbledore again," he said, "He was the first one I ever-wait...

He read the card intently.

"I've found him!" he whispered. "I've found Flamel! I told you I'd read the name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here! Listen to this: 'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel'!"

Hermione jumped to her feet. "Stay there!" she said, and she sprinted up the stairs to her dorm. Harry and I exchanged mystified looks and then she was back in a flash, carrying an enormous, thick, and tattered looking book. How she ran with it, I wouldn't know. The book was almost as big as her.

"I never thought to look in here!" she whispered excitedly. "I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading."

"This is light ?" I asked, earning a glare and a "be quiet" from her l. She turned the pages frantically until she found what she was looking for.

"I knew it! I knew it!"

"Are we allowed to speak yet?" I joked. She ignored me.

"Nicolas Flamel," she whispered excitedly. "is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!"

She looked at us as if we were to be astounded by her words. We looked back at her with blank expressions on our faces.

"The what?" Harry and I asked at the same time.

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed. "Oh, honestly, don't you two read? Look, read that, there."

She pushed the book toward us and we read the passage together:

The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Sorcerer'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.

There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).

"See?" said Hermione, when we had finished. "The dog must be guarding Flamel's Sorcerer's Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!"

"A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!" said Harry. "No wonder Snape's after it! Anyone would want it."

"And no wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry." I said. "He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?"

"We've really got to keep our eyes and ears on him." said Hermione. "Who knows what he may use it for.

"Don't you think it would be pretty obvious? He can make the Elixir Of Life and be a slimy greasy git forever!"

"He might want to do something else with it, Ron."

"Oh like what? Turn shit to gold?"

"Language, Ronald! He could try to sell it!"

"Or he could try to make all the gold SHIT he wanted and then try to live forever!"

"Will you two shut up?!" laughed Harry.

The next morning in Defense Against the Dark Arts, while copying down different ways of treating werewolf bites, Harry and I were in a discussion over what we would do with the stone if we had access to it.

"I think I would make all my clothes into gold and flaunt it in front of the Dursleys" said Harry.

"I would buy my own Quidditch team, of course." I said.

"Shit." said Harry, in a gloomy voice. "You just reminded me. Snape is refereeing this game."

"What are you going to do?" asked Hermione.

"I'm going to play." he said. "If I don't, all the Slytherins will think I'm just too scared to face Snape. I'll show them! It'll really wipe the smiles off their faces if we win."

"Just as long as we're not wiping you off the field." said Hermione.

Gameday had arrived. Hermione and I sat in the stands with Neville, each of us looking as if we were about to have panic attacks. Even though we were both as nervous as could be, we had came up with a plan of action, just in case.

"Now, don't forget, it's Locomotor Mortis," Hermione whispered to me as I slipped his wand up his sleeve.

"I know." I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Don't nag."

"I'm not nagging. I'm just reminding."

"You're nagging."

"Reminding."

"Stop arguing with me."

Thankfully, Dumbledore had showed himself at the match. We smiled and high fived each other. There was no way Snape would try anything slick under Dumbledore's watchful eyes.

Snape looked positively pissed.

"I've never seen Snape look so mean." I told Hermione. "Look, they're off.

Suddenly, I felt a hard poke in the back of my head. "Ouch!"

I turned around and there was Malfoy.

"Oh, sorry, Weasley, didn't see you there." said Malfoy, grinning broadly at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on his broom this time? Anyone want a bet? What about you, Weasley?"

I didn't answer. I was trying to ignore him and pay attention to the game.

"You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team?" said Malfoy loudly in my ear. "It's people they feel sorry for. See, there's Potter, who's got no parents, then there's the Weasleys, who've got no money. You should be on the team, Longbottom, you've got no brains."

Neville's face turned red, but he glared meanly at Malfoy.

"I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy," he stammered.

The three idiots laughed, but I couldn't have been more proud of him.

"You tell him, Neville.". I said, eyes still on the game.

"Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something."

I was trying desperately to concentrate on the game. No matter how badly I wasn't to beat Malfoy into a pulp, I had to be there for my best mate.

But the urge to slug him was making my hand twitch.

"I'm warning you, Malfoy, one more word, and-"

"Ron!" said Hermione suddenly, "Harry!"

"What? Where?" I said, looking around anxiously

Harry had made a brilliant dive, even though it had almost scared Hermione to death.

"You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground!" said Malfoy.

I snapped. Before Malfoy knew what was happening, I was on top of him, wrestling him to the ground. Seconds later, Neville had surprisingly jumped in.

I heard Hermione say something. But I was too into thing to slug Malfoy, and trying to avoid being hit by Crabbe and Goyle.

"You...fucking...peasant... scum!" Malfoy screamed in between taking blows for Neville and I.

"Go to hell, Malfoy!" I yelled, punching him is his sorry ass mouth.

The punch threw him back, and he picked himself up and ran off, with Crabbe and Goyle in toe. During all of this, Harry had caught the snitch and won the game.

We caught up with Harry about an hour later.

"We won! You won! We won!" shouted I, thumping Harry on the back. "And I gave Malfoy a black eye, and Neville tried to take on Crabbe and Goyle single-handed! He's still out cold but Madam Pomfrey says he'll be all right - talk about showing Slytherin! I've waiting for you in the common room, we're having a party, Fred and George stole some cakes and stuff from the kitchens."

"Never mind that now," said Harry breathlessly. "Let's find an empty room, you wait 'til you hear this."

We went into an empty classroom and sat down and listened to Harry tell us about what he overheard. He had heard Snape threatening Quirrel over wanting his help to retrieve the stone.

"So we were right, it is the Sorcerer's Stone, and Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help him get it. He asked if he knew how to get past Fluffy, and he said something about Quirrell's 'hocus pocus'. I reckon there are other things guarding the stone apart from Fluffy, loads of enchantments, probably, and Quirrell would have done some anti-Dark Arts spell that Snape needs to break through." explained Harry

"So you mean the Stone's only safe as long as Quirrell stands up to Snape?" said Hermione.

"It'll be gone by next Tuesday." I said, discouraged.