Spring 1992
Ronald Weasley
Ron's fingers trembled as he dragged a damp sleeve across his wind-bitten face. No matter how close he sat to the hearth he found it hard to stay warm, it seemed the cold had seeped into his bones.
"It was him," Ron muttered, his voice hoarse. "Harry was sure of it. He was drinking unicorn blood, it's mental."
Daphne, perched on the arm of the chair, leaned forward, her hands clutched so tightly together that her knuckles had turned white. "What if Potter's wrong?"
Ron swallowed and shivered. He could still see the fear in Harry's eyes and the horror when he had said the name. Harry would have had to have been incredibly wrong to believe himself so fiercely. Even Malfoy hadn't spoken much, and Ron knew getting him to shut up was often hard.
"The boy is right," Salazar added. He paced the centre of the room, his fingers combing through his facial hair. "Unicorn blood is a drastic measure. Only the truly desperate would dare to utilize its properties. It's possible that this Lord Voldemort was never defeated, just weakened. Weakened to such an extent that he must subsist on truly abhorrent magic."
Daphne stiffened. "You mean the war isn't over?"
Another shudder ran down Ron's spine. "My vision about Diagon Alley…"
"Yes," Sal nodded. "I'm afraid that the two events might be closely related. It seems that way, doesn't it? War often brings the destruction you've seen in your dreams. But as I've told you before, Ronald, you're no true seer. The future is yet to be made. And what we do next is tremendously important."
"Right…"
"Do next?" Daphne asked. "Shouldn't we tell someone else? Let them know that you believe you-know-who is running around the forest just outside of school?"
Salazar's frown deepened. "Doing so would be incredibly dangerous. We do not know yet who we may trust. I am sure that Harry Potter will tell someone, anyone, about what he has seen. That will serve us well enough without having to expose our own secrets."
Daphne nodded. "You're going to make Potter deal with it…"
"In some ways," Sal said. "And in others, we have to be proactive. As I've said, our mission isn't to kill some memory of a once dark lord. Our mission is to protect this school, and those missions may or may not align."
"Not align," Ron whispered. "But we can't just let Voldemort… return."
"No, I do agree with you there. But I believe all events this year must be related. We just don't understand how as of yet. This girl you've told me about, Sally Smith, was it? How does she fit into things? What about the troll and this item being hidden at Hogwarts? We need to string things together before our enemies outmanoeuvre us."
Ron's eyes widened slightly. "Flamel! Hagrid told me that the item in Hogwarts belonged to a Mr Flamel." He turned his eyes to Daphne. "Isn't he on a chocolate frog card?"
"What? Chocolate frog ca–" Her eyes widened. "No… it can't be…"
The room shifted at once, a section of the floor opening in front of the hearth and a large table containing books ascending from the floor. Daphne reached out and took the first one, her hands flipping through the pages rapidly.
"Here," she said pointing.
Ron leaned over to look at the text. His heart skipped a beat in his chest.
"Merlin, really?"
Daphne nodded. "The Philosopher's Stone. Nicolas Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone."
"He did no such thing," Sal interrupted. "Whatever text you're reading is a horrible account of history."
"You had one?" Ron asked. "Isn't it supposed to make you immortal?"
"Have one? No, of course not. I am no alchemist and nor would I ever want to be. But to say this wizard invented the stone is to lie plainly. Perhaps he has made one, and perhaps it's the item being hidden in Hogwarts. But I knew of two wizards who had accomplished this, and I know simultaneously of their very gruesome deaths."
"Jesus."
"Think, how many wizards and witches would kill to live forever?"
"Too many," Daphne answered.
Sal nodded. "I think we've solved one mystery, and perhaps we've connected the strings. Your Headmaster, blasted man, is hiding a Philosopher's Stone here at Hogwarts. It doesn't matter if it's for his own use or for the use of this Nicolas Flamel, all that matters is it's incredibly attractive to anyone seeking eternal life. And at the same time, we know of a former dark lord pillaging the forest and drinking unicorn blood for similar effects."
Ron's eyes widened. "Voldemort is trying to steal the stone."
"It's what I would assume," Sal nodded.
"And you've been doing this all by yourself?!" Daphne hissed. "Against THE dark lord? I'm going to punch you, Ron Weasley, if we even make it out of this year alive."
"He has not been alone, I've been guiding him," Sal defended on Ron's behalf. "And, if this Lord Voldemort truly is drinking unicorn's blood, then I suspect he will be a trivial enemy to vanquish. Easier than a troll I'm most certain."
"You want me to explode Voldemort?" Ron's mouth felt incredibly dry. Could he really kill him? He didn't feel like it.
"No, let's not take any unnecessary risks," Sal answered, which earned a look of approval from Daphne. "We should simply redirect this wraith's efforts. If he is here to steal the stone…"
"We get rid of the stone…" Daphne finished.
"It's what I think is best. Remember, we are here to protect the castle."
Ron dragged his hands through his damp hair. His heart was pounding heavily in his chest. "I have to steal the stone, don't I?"
"Yes," Sal nodded. "Before anyone else gets the opportunity."
"What about the blood? Why did they attack Sally Smith?" Daphne asked.
"I'm still not sure," Salazar answered. "It doesn't fit with everything else we know. Unless this dark lord is working with an accomplice."
"I heard two voices… but they sounded like students," Ron added.
"More than one accomplice," Sal corrected himself. "Perhaps he is seeking to rebuild his followers."
"He wouldn't have to try. So many of them weren't sent to prison at the end of the war," Daphne said bitterly.
"I see." Salazar sighed. "Well, then I propose that we keep looking into the blood. It would be best if we could find out which students were involved in this scheming."
Ron took a deep breath. He had finally felt like things were getting better, he had learnt some spells to protect Charlie and his family, but now the crushing feeling was drowning him again. He was never more glad that Daphne had discovered his secret. He didn't want to be alone in this, not anymore. Not when Voldemort was back, not when every waking moment of his life was filled with the smell of smoke. When the room drew too quiet he could almost hear the man's voice and his laughter.
"I don't know where the stone is," Ron said. "I'm going to have to ask for Harry's help."
Daphne scowled at him. "Hasn't Potter done enough?"
"Enough?"
"He was supposed to have killed you-know-who. This was all supposed to be solved."
"Oh… well it's not really his fault. I mean, you've seen that night…"
Daphne sighed. "I know, just… I wish it was someone else besides Potter. It was only a day or two ago that he was asking you about a dragon, then he was in the forest with you and he was also with you on Hallowe'en. I don't believe in coincidences."
"That is curious, isn't it?" Salazar mused. "It seems when Ronald and Harry are together, danger is sure to follow."
"But he wouldn't… you know… work for him. Harry hates the dark lord, it's the reason he's a Gryffindor and not a Slytherin."
"I know," Daphne huffed. "It's fine."
"So I'll ask Harry then? About the stone? Maybe he can help me steal it."
"Whatever you require," Sal nodded. "It just needs to be done. Sooner, rather than later. Every day you wait is a day sooner that Voldemort can use to steal it for himself."
Ron felt like his heart would explode from his chest at any moment. "Tomorrow night," he said and swallowed.I'll steal the stone tomorrow night.
Daphne bit her lip. "I'll look into Smith then. I can go visit her in the infirmary and see if she remembers anything about what happened."
"Hopefully she remembers everything."
"Well, hopefully you and Potter don't get yourselves killed tomorrow night. I swear, Weasley, if you die and let that monster come back, I'll spread rumours that you were his biggest supporter."
"What? You wouldn't…"
"Wouldn't I?" Daphne tilted her head slightly. "Don't die."
"Sound advice," Salazar commented. "But, do whatever it takes to save the school. Even if it has… consequences."
Merlin, I'm going to be sick.
"And don't let Potter bring anyone else into this," Daphne added. "If you get caught you could all be expelled."
"I'm more worried about dying than being expelled. I mean, what's the worst thing that could happen if we get caught? They snap my wand? I could buy another one."
"Or send you to Azkaban."
"But the stone would be destroyed. We'd all be safe, at least."
"No, Ronald. We don't know that." Salazar said and frowned deeply. "We are guessing at the best course of action, but we don't know for certain. Destroy the stone, steal it, and remove the temptation for the assault on Hogwarts. But don't think this is the end of things."
