Chapter 5: A Moonlit Flight to Conspiracy
The next two weeks fell into routine. Snape had settled on giving Harry the same potions task as the rest of the class with one exception: he asked Harry to add a specific effect alongside the potions normal effects. Transfiguration provided a decent challenge. Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts were Harry's bread and butter, and while he maintained a very good grade in History of Magic, the classes still bored him and most of the other students. Herbology was decent, though he certainly didn't have as green a thumb as Neville did. Astronomy was middle of the road as far as the rest of the classes went. It was interesting, but it held no great interest for him.
Hermione had finally been convinced to try flying again, but she consistently stayed close to the ground, refusing to go anywhere as high as the rest of the first years. This has gotten snide remarks and jeers from Draco Malfoy and his friends, though Harry did notice that Daphne Greengrass and a few others shot glares their way whenever they did.
Honestly, the girl, and her friends, confused him. She was always friendly to them in the club room, but whenever outside that safety, they kept a bit of…professional distance was the only way he could think to describe it. He understood it, on some level, but it still irked him. There was something there. Something his parents had told him about, tried to explain. And it was something that fed into Ron's natural distrust of most anything to do with Slytherin, though he'd been polite, mostly, to the few Slytherin's that had joined the Dragon Club. Most of them seemed to keep their friendships in house.
What ate at Harry the most, however, were the dreams. They didn't come every night, only two nights a week, yet never on the same days. Nor were they completely the same. Yet every time, the dreams would end in the room of dark blue green marble with the mirror hanging on the opposite wall.
An idea had taken root in his mind about it, yet he hadn't worked himself up to trying it. Mostly because he had only one question: what if he was right? But if he was right in his suspicions…
He shook his head. Professor McGonagal had finally cornered him after class and had asked him if he was still having the dreams. He'd been honest with her, having already written his parents about the irregular reoccurrence of them. She had sighed and sat down with him, and talked it out. He had to admit that he felt a lot better about things. She had been completely understanding, but if he continued to let himself be this distracted in class, she would have to go to the headmaster.
She let him go, leaving him only a few minutes to get to his next class. He took off at a sprint, taking one of the secret passages he'd discovered on the Marauder's Map, and nearly stumbled upon realizing it had taken him too close to the closed off corridor on the third floor. He made to turn the corner and paused.
"For the last time, Miss Greengrass, this corridor is off limits. Now, I've been lenient with you as a member of my House, but if I catch you lurking here again, it will be detention. Do I make myself clear?" Professor Snape's cold voice echoed to him.
"Perfectly, Professor." He heard Daphne say. "It won't happen again."
"See that it does not. I would hate to write to your father concerning your…obsession." Snape replied. "Now, get to class."
Before he could move, the two came swiftly around the corner. Daphne froze upon seeing him, but Snape narrowed his eyes. "And what are you doing here, Potter?"
"Professor McGonagal held me back a bit, and I was running late. Took a wrong turn though." He blinked at the man.
Snape sneered a moment, then waved a hand. "Then be on you way, or perhaps I need to deduct some points from Gryffindor?"
"Yes, sir. No, sir." Harry swiftly replied, before hurrying on. He glanced back to see Daphne staring at him, her face pale. Why would she be lurking around the third floor corridor? And from the sounds of it, too many times to count. Several pieces fell into place in his mind. Hagrid had said he'd lent Fluffy the cerberus to Dumbledore for something. To guard something. In his dream, hadn't there been a trapdoor? And he'd sung the three headed dog to sleep to get through. But for what purpose? The mirror…not the dragon one, of course, but the other mirror. The one with the furious man. He frowned. The corridor wasn't closed off for renovations. Something was being guarded within Hogwarts. And someone was trying to steal it. Of course, he had no doubt the man before the mirror was working for Voldemort. But then…how did Daphne Greengrass fit into it?
He slipped into the Charm's classroom and took the seat Neville and Ron had saved for him. As the tiny Professor Flitwick made his rounds, he paused in front of Harry's desk. "Ah, Mister Potter. Why were you tardy today? Everything alright?"
"Yes, Professor. Professor McGonagal held me back to talk to me, and then I had a run in with Professor Snape." He explained.
Professor Flitwick nodded. "I'm sure Minerva will corroborate your excuse. Now then, today, we are still going over the different levels of Alohomora and other magical locking charms. Any questions?"
"No, sir." Harry paused. "Actually, yes. I was reading over the spell and got curious about something. Is there a way to test how a lock has been locked? Like if it'll be a simple alohomora or if another spell would work better?"
"Ah, an excellent question!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed. He flicked his wand and chalk began scribbling on the chalk board. "Now there's the basic Revelio charm, which we will be studying in depth next year, along with it's more specified versions. Then there are some other charms that can detect more specific spells and magic in order to properly identify whatever magic was used to seal the lock you are trying to unlock. These types of spells are incredibly useful for those seeking to become curse breakers upon leaving Hogwarts. Ronald Weasley, I believe you're eldest brother, William, is one such example. Have you heard from him lately?"
"Yes, Professor!" Ron grinned. "He just wrote me about his latest work. He's currently in Egypt for Gringotts"
"Excellent! I knew he'd go far. A very good student of mine. Of course, Fred and George may just be even better! Their knowledge of charms is astounding. Even more so with the pranks they get up to!" Professor Flitwick smiled. "I must say, Ronald, you are quite getting the hang of them yourself. Now, enough distraction for the moment. I trust I answered your question adequately, Mister Potter?" Harry nodded. "Then let us get back to todays true lesson: the Alohomora charm."
They spent the rest of the lesson learning the different complexities of different locks, from more simple basic locks to more complex locks. Even a charm that conjured a basic lock.
Harry was sure his little brother had already found those spells in his parents book. The boy was eager to get his own wand, and he knew without a doubt, that he'd be up to even more mischief once he had magic at his fingertips. Technically speaking, underaged students weren't supposed to use magic outside of school, but he also knew that it was mostly up to his parents whether to enforce that rule or not. He briefly wondered if his parents would let him use magic, or if they'd be more strict. His dad probably wouldn't mind, but his mother could be strict at times.
At lunch, Harry had informed his friends of his bumping into Snape and the odd behavior of Daphne Greengrass. Ron and Neville were confused, at first, then looked at Harry with slightly wide eyes.
"I mean, I've noticed you toss and turn in your sleep a lot, when I've gotten up in the night for some water, but you say you have these dreams often?" Neville asked.
"That does explain your reaction to Hagrid's talk about Fluffy. You really think they brought in a three headed giant dog into the castle?" Ron asked. "I mean, it does seem a bit far fetched."
"At least you've spoken with Professor McGonagal about all this. Though if she says there's nothing to be concerned about.." Hermione began.
"Well, it wasn't that she isn't concerned. She just wanted to help to keep me from being obsessed with them." Harry shook his head. "They're just so odd. There's a pull, but not like an urgent kind. Just like a regular nudge to keep thinking about it."
Hermione frowned, thinking. Ron and Neville began bickering quietly between themselves. "What if it's…you-know-who?" She saw Ron and Neville's looks of shock. Harry blinked at her. "I mean, think of it. They say the only person you-know-who feared was Dumbledore, right? So, what better place to guard something against him than to have it here at Hogwarts. You-know-who wouldn't be able to act openly, not if he's been in hiding all this time."
"But why would he be? What could have made him just drop everything and vanish, right when he made a move against my family?" Harry asked. "No, something happened to him. And now he's trying to hunt for something that will help him come back."
"You're not seriously saying there's some connection between your weird dreams and you-know-who's disappearance, are you? That's just…" Ron shook his head. "As I said, it's just a bit far fetched, isn't it?" With that, he pulled out a book and began reading.
Hermione stared. "What's that you're reading? I've seen you with that book the last couple days now."
Ron held it up. "The Root of Numbers. It's kinda a beginner's guide to Arithmancy. We can't take the class till third year, but a fourth year in the club thought I'd be interested since I'm real good with chess. Asked me if I was any good with mathematics and such. So I told them yeah, I was. Was studying Algebra before coming to Hogwarts. Didn't realize Arithmancy was basically applying math to magic. Makes a load of sense to me, though. Probably going to sign up for it end of next year as one of my third year electives."
Harry tuned them out as Hermione began asking questions about the subject. Neville simply returned to his food, but Harry noticed that he gave him a glance. Neville understood where he was coming from better than the other two, though Hermione was certainly asking the right questions, he felt.
The next afternoon had him firmly setting his mind to his plan. Their flying lesson, one of the last of the year due to the Quidditch season beginning, had gone remarkably well, though Hermione still hesitated to go any higher than a few feet from the ground. She met his eyes as they headed into the clubroom after class, but hurriedly looked away. This weekend, he would take her flying, at night beneath the full moon, as his dream seemed to imply. He'd have his wand, his cloak, and the Marauder's Map. Just in case the serpent revealed himself.
Within the club, Daphne Greengrass mostly ignored him, though he did catch her steal glances his way from time to time. She left with her friends before he could say anything. Not that he was sure he had anything to say to her anyway. Though it was clear that she was worried, and that, more than anything, drew more suspicion towards her in his mind.
Saturday came, and Harry spent the day with his friends, working on their homework and simply hanging out in the club room. He had taken to watching some of the older students practice at dueling, even studying some of the more advanced spells and taking note of some to research later. One spell that he had picked up rather quickly was the disarming charm, Expelliarmus, though he soon picked up a few others, such as the knock back jinx and the leg lock curse. He may have been beaten more times than he won in the dueling ring, but he always left having learned something new. The older students were more than willing to help him improve and learn, seeing potential in him.
That night, Harry waited quietly, keeping himsel awake while the other boys drifted off to sleep. He had the Marauder's Map out, studying it to keep tabs of Filch the caretaker of the castle, as well as keep an eye out for Peeves, the resident poltergeist of the castle. So far, he'd managed to avoid the attention of the strange supernatural being, and he planned to keep it that way. His invisibility cloak hung loose about his shoulders.
Finally, he slipped out of bed, opened the door, and quietly slipped out. He pulled the cloak about him and moved quietly through the common room. He pushed open the portrait, and while the Fat Lady gave a brief mumble, she still dozed in her portrait. Like the flicker of a shadow, he moved quietly through the castle and slipped out into the night.
He kept the cloak pulled about him. Even though he had left the castle, a teacher looking out could still potentially see him moving across the lawn. Not to mention…other prying eyes.
Quietly, he pulled open the door to the clubroom, and slipped inside. He froze. Were those…voices? He quietly moved down into the club proper, intending to head to where he kept his broom secured. Tulip Kurasu and Daphne Greengrass were sat at the table. Daphne had a look of slight distraught, but Tulip was doing her best to comfort her.
"Are you absolutely sure that Potter suspects you?" She asked quietly.
Daphne shrugged. "He hasn't said anything. Hasn't asked. Not even Granger, Weasley, or Longbottom have said anything. And if Harry had any suspicions, I'd figure he'd talk to them. But Hermione has acted completely normal around me. I just…I don't know, Tulip! If he discovers us…"
"He will eventually, anyway. Remember what they told us: it has always been our intention to reveal ourselves to Harry Potter. So what if it occurs earlier than expected. With him skulking about, your dad said it was even to be expected." Tulip sighed. "Were you at least able to learn more about the cerberus?"
Daphne shook her head. "Nothing more than what we already knew: he's guarding the trapdoor. Beyond that, who knows what other teachers have placed down there to help guard the Stone."
"Shhh!" Tulip hissed. "Don't speak that aloud! It's bad enough Draco overheard you talking about Flamel with Tracy yesterday. You need to keep a lower profile, Daph. Remember your training."
Daphne sighed. "Fine. You're right, of course. Still, when you graduate, will be joining the Order full time? You sure act it."
"Of course I am." Tulip said. "Now that I've met Harry personally, I'm committed fully. I've no doubts left at all. But that's not something you need to worry about right now. Focus on school, on learning. Take Harry as an example. He's always pushing forward. Now, we need to be off to bed. And stay away from the third floor corridor! We can't have Professor Snape giving you detentions."
Harry quickly shuffled out of the entranceway and to the side, barely willing to breathe. Tulip paused at the door, frowning. Her eyes swept over the room, but she shook her head and pushed Daphne out of the room ahead of her. The door shut with a click, leaving Harry alone in the darkened room. What in Merlin's name had he just walked into? Tulip had mentioned an Order, but he knew it couldn't have been Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. While it hadn't been outright disbanded, it acted as something of a watchdog. Waiting for Voldemort to rear his head again.
Which left only one conclusion: there was a third group at work. Voldemort, Dumbledore, and now this mystery third. Though there hasn't been any movement from Voldemort's Death Eaters since just after his vanishment. The way Tulip spoke made it sound like they were somehow allies. At least he hoped that's how they were. The way the two girls had talked about him made it sound almost liken they looked up to him in some way. But that would be impossible, unless…did someone else out there know about the prophecy's existence? Had they heard the words he had yet to fully hear himself?
He shook his head and stamped all those thoughts down. Tonight, he had only one mission. He crept quietly over to the broom storage and tap the lock on his Numbus with his wand. It clicked and unlatched from the broom. He turned and headed back out. He exited cautiously, but he could just make out the two girls disappearing into the castle. He pulled out the Map quickly to confirm, then checked to make sure his quarry was in her dorm. He couldn't tell if she were asleep yet or not, but he knew from her talks that her bed was near one of the two windows of the first year girls' dorm room. He stuffed the Map and his cloak into his pajama shirt, then mounted his broom to silently take to the sky.
Gryffindor Tower was easy enough to find. He circled around, avoiding windows with lights still on, knowing older students might still be up. Really, he'd been fortunate the common room had been so empty. He soon came to the windows of the first year girls' dorm, and he carefully raised up just enough to peek over the ledge into the room. It was dark and quiet. Slowly, he raised himself a little higher, realizing that he was already at Hermione's window. He could just peek her brown hair through a gap in her curtain. He lightly tapped the window, just loud enough he thought she might here if she were still awake. The hair stirred, and he saw a hand. He tapped the window again.
Her face poked through the curtain, and her eyes widened when she saw him through the window. She glanced around the room, then put a finger to her lips. She slipped out of her bed, grabbed a robe from nearby, and pulled it over her pajamas before quietly creeping to the window. She quickly opened it. Harry didn't say anything, just swung a bit closer to the window and held out a hand.
Hermione blinked at him. She looked from his hand, to his face, then to his broom. She bit her lip, glancing back into the dorm, then she took a breath and reached out to take his hand. He helped pull her up over the window sill and settle onto the broom behind him. Her hands tightly clasped about his middle, and he reached out to pull the window almost closed. Then he angled them away from the tower and out into the night air.
They didn't say anything for a while as he flew them gently through the night sky, gradually increasing their speed. Hermione finally let out a small giggle. "I really can understand why you love flying, Harry. There's a danger to it, sure, but you love the thrill it gives. The freedom."
"Yeah. I really do." He replied quietly. "I'd meant to take you flying like this before, but…"
"But you were unsure because of your dream. What it would mean. I've thought about it too." She said. "So what now?"
Harry thought for a moment, then shook his head. He hovered in the air and turned to look at her as much as he could. "Well…how comfortable do you feel really flying?"
She kept her eyes on him. "With you? I trust you to not let me fall. So show me what it's like to fly. Show me what it's like, Harry."
He grinned and turned himself back forward. She clasped him tightly again, and he took off into the night air. At first, he felt her grip tighten, and she pressed herself to him. As he dipped and twirled, a laughter built up within them both, and she found herself enjoying the feel of the air rushing past, the way Harry was so certain of his flight path. He took them out over the forest, keeping a high distance above the trees. Hermione whooped in delight as he took them through dips and dives, twists and turns, and even a couple of loops. They carried on for some time, before Harry set them to drifting lazily again.
"It's still a bit scary, but it's more the fear of falling than flying." Hermione said quietly. She grinned at the moon. "But be honest with me, Harry. You could have done this a month ago. I was even expecting it, a little, after you told me about the dream. Why didn't you?"
"The serpent shadowing the moon." Harry muttered, though loud enough for her to hear. "The couple other dreams I had don't make a whole lot of sense, but…well, it feels like a couple pieces clicked into place the last couple days. And I think you were right the other day. I think Voldemort is up to something here at Hogwarts. I wasn't going to tell you till tomorrow but…" and he explained what he had overheard from Daphne and Tulip when he'd gotten his broom.
"Do you know much about the Greengrass family?" Hermione asked. "Or the Kurasu family?"
"The Greengrasses are one of the older pure-blood families, part of the Sacred Twenty Eight. I don't really know much more about them than that, though I've heard my parents and uncles talk about they've really toned down over the last few years. They've thought it odd, but if they're part of this other order against Voldemort…" Harry trailed off.
"It could explain their shift in values to be more lenient about blood purity." Hermione finished. "But the way you describe how Tulip spoke…it does make it sound like they're looking out for you. But why would…you-know-who want a stone? Any ideas who this Flamel is?"
Harry shook his head. "The name sounds familiar, but I can't place him. I know I've heard it somewhere, read it somewhere, but nothing." He grinned at her. "Wanna check the library with me tomorrow?"
Hermione's grinned back. "Of course! And…would you take me flying again, after? Maybe with a broom of my own?" Harry quickly agreed. "Good! Now what bout the Kurasu family?"
Harry shrugged. "I'm not as sure about them. I think I've heard Uncle Sirius mention a Kurasu the DMLE, but I don't know anything beyond that. We could ask Susan Bones, since her aunt is the head of that department, but since she's a close friend of Daphne, it might tip them off that we suspect them. Well, more than they already are."
Hermione nodded. "Right, since you bumped into her getting lectured by Professor Snape about the third floor corridor. Hmm. Then I suppose Flamel and his stone is where we'll need to start, then."
They continued to fly leisurely for a little longer before Harry flew her back to her dorm. Once she was inside and the window latched, Harry wheeled his broom about and flew back to the clubroom door. He slipped inside and secured his broom, then pulled his cloak out of his shirt along with the Map.
His breath caught. Two names stood just outside the clubroom, seemingly waiting for him. Rolanda Hooch and Quirinus Quirrel. He quickly stuffed the cloak back into his shirt, then tucked the Map in after it. He paused by the door, then quickly acted as though he were trying to be quiet and sneaky. No sense in alerting them to him knowing they were there.
Two voices softly called, "Lumos!" The light of two wands made him stumble.
"Potter! What do you think you're doing, put this late at night?!" Quirrel demanded quietly.
"Easy, Quitinus. I told you it was probably just Potter you saw. I saw him sneaking around, out for a late night flight. Tell you what, how about you go back to your rounds, and I'll deal with Potter, yeah?" Madam Hooch said.
Harry gulped. Was she going to confiscate his broom? Have him banned from Quidditch before he even got to pay his first match? Quirrel looked from Madam Hooch to Harry, clearly debating something. Harry thought he caught a glimpse of silver on the Professor's hands, before he pulled his cloak about him and stalked off into the night.
Madam Hooch waited until his figure had disappeared into the shadow of the castle before turning to Harry. "Now, Potter. Yes, I caught you out flying, and I saw who was with you. That was a nice gesture, and thought, but honestly! This late at night? I should dock house points and give a detention, but I won't this time. You understand? I feel you did a lot of good for Miss Granger, but in the future, just do it during the daylight. Now, come along. I'll take you back to Gryffindor Tower."
The way back to the tower was clear, and the castle was quiet. At the portrait of the Fat Lady, Madam Hooch turned to him. "Now, don't let me catch you out past curfew again, Potter." She lowered her voice. "The grounds aren't the safest right now."
Harry couldn't help himself. "Does this have to do with the death of those unicorns?"
She looked at him in surprise. "Hagrid let that slip, did he? Or he showed them to you when you've visited. Don't go spreading it around, but yes. And those haven't been the only…incidents in the forest. It's why Quir…Professor Quirrel was out tonight. He was patrolling the grounds near the forest. Now, off to bed with you. And again, while I don't want to catch you out this late again, I do think that was a kind thing to do for Miss Granger. We'll see how she does at our last lesson."
At breakfast the next morning, Ron and Neville were amazed at how Harry had gotten away with his night flight with Hermione. Hermione, at least, was somewhat abashed that Harry had barely gotten out of trouble, though she was no less eager about flying later that day. Their conversation was interrupted when Hector, the Potter family owl, landed in front of Hermione. She quickly slipped the letter of his leg, and Harry offered him some toast. She read the letter, a frown growing on her face. "Well, seems you were right, Harry. Our mums have gotten to be good friends, but your mum noticed a few…oddities. Turns out, Persephone had subconsciously used a memory charm on our parents. Their alright, but they've all been seeing a counselor. An Andromeda Tonks. Is related to the Tonks that's dating your brother, Ron?"
"Yeah! She's a healer at St Mungo's alongside her husband, Ted." Ron said. "She's more of a mind healer, while he deals more with intensive physical healing."
"Well, it thankfully seems like they're doing alright, though they're having regular visits with her to be on the safe side. Persephone's in a counseling program. Didn't understand what was happening to her, and apparently thought Hogwarts was a…well, not a good place. Basically was under the impression I was mental and had been sent away for treatment." Hermione frowned. She sighed and slipped the letter into her bag. "And they ended by saying Mrs Tonks may come talk to me too, though they didn't say when."
"At least that's been resolved now." Neville said. "What's the plan for the rest of our day?"
"Well," Hermione began, "Harry and I were thinking of hitting the library to look up a couple things." She lowered her voice. "We're looking for anything about someone named Flamel who has some sort of magic stone."
Ron and Neville both frowned. "I feel I've heard that name somewhere before, but I can't think of anything about a magic stone. Well, there's the supposed Stone of Resurrection, from The Tale of the Three Brothers, but that's just a story." Ron said.
Neville shuddered. "That one always creeped me out. Can you imagine just meeting Death like that?"
Hermione blinked at them all. "Wizards have different fairy tales?"
"Well, some of them." Harry replied. "But yeah, wizards have a lot more fairy tales than muggles. Though I doubt Flamel's stone is from a fairy tale. I know he's a real person. I just can't place where I've heard that name before." He thought for a moment. "Maybe something about frogs? But what would frogs have to do with a stone?"
"Hang on," Ron said, pulling his bag up from the floor. "Let's see, let's see." He cleared a spot in front of him and dumped out a small pile of chocolate frog cards.
Harry stared at the pile. "Why are you lugging around your card collection?"
"Wha? Oh! I got a new book to put them all in. Was gonna work on that while you two pilfered the library." Ron shrugged. "Madam Pince won't let me check out any of the higher level Arithmancy books. Said they're 'too advanced for first years'. Was a bit insulting. Was honestly thinking about asking Tulip if she could help me out." He noticed the looks that crossed Harry and Hermione's faces. "Oh, what's up with Tulip?"
"Yeah, what is up with Tulip?" The girl in question said as she seemingly popped up between Neville and Hermione.
"Hey, Tulip! Ron was just wondering if you'd be willing to help him check out some more advanced books on Arithmancy. Madam Pince was apparently cagey about letting a first year take out such higher year magic." Hermione quickly interject. "Which would actually be great, if you could, because we were about to head there ourselves. Something of an extra credit project."
Tulip eyed them all before settling on Ron. "Well, you have seem rather proficient with it. Plus, I couldn't help but notice some improvement to your spell work too. Figuring out practical application?"
Ron shrugged. "It's proven more useful than you'd think. I mean, if you really think about it, you can reduce most anything down to calculations, can't you? It's all like a chess board."
Tulip blinked and grinned. "Oh, that's such a brilliant way to look at it!" Her eyes fell on the table. "Are all these chocolate frog cards yours?" She picked one up. "Hey, it's Dumbledore! Think I had three of him, at one point." She handed it back to Ron. Anyway, a lot of us were thinking of holding another dueling tournament sometime this afternoon. So I thought I'd see what you four were up to."
"Well, this afternoon, Harry and I were thinking of doing some more flying." Hermione gave a smile. "He…helped me get over some of my fears last night. So I thought I'd give it another go today. But the tournament does sound fun too."
Tulip looked between her and Harry. "Really? Well, that's great! You'll have to tell me all about it!" She smiled. "The tournament will most likely be after dinner. Hope to see you all then!" She waved to them as she walked away.
Ron looked down at the card in his hands. Hermione looked thoughtful, while Neville just looked a bit confused. Harry frowned as he watched the older girl return to the Ravenclaw table. Ron suddenly gasped. "Flamel!" He whispered, handing the card to Harry. Hermione quickly leaned over the table to get a look.
"Known for his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. He's an alchemist!" Harry read. He grinned. "Well, now we know where we need to look." As they collected their things, he briefly saw Tulip give a glance their way. He glanced at her, and for the briefest moment, their eyes met. He could have sworn he saw a small smile cross her face, but she was already talking again with her friends.
They searched through recent alchemical discoveries, starting with Dumbledore, yet aside from a few mentions, they found very little about Flamel himself. Harry finally sucked it up and asked Madam Pince. At first the woman was cautious about the subject, but when he explained they'd found his connection with Dumbledore from a chocolate frog card and were now interested in the history of the man, she relented. She eyed the pile of cards Ron was steadily working into his new card book, but she said nothing upon not seeing so much as a speck of chocolate.
Harry returned with a small pile of books. "Madam Pince says these are all the books that detail Nicolas Flamel's public history and accomplishments." Hermione immediately reached for a book from the pile. Neville took another. Ron kept sliding his cards into their protective slots.
Harry pulled a book to him and began to read. A few chapters later, he paused. "Take a look at this!" He put the book flat on the table. "But the greatest accomplishment of Flamel has to be the fact that he is currently the only known maker of a Pholospher's Stone: a stone capable of transmuting any metal that touches it into silver or gold, and can also be used in the creation of the Elixir of Life, which of course is an elixir that not only extends the life of the drinker but also restores youth." He looked up at his friends. "Of course. That's what's being guarded here, at Hogwarts."
Ron placed the last card into a sleeve and gently closed the book. "Well, I think we can say that Tulip seems to know we know. Or at least, that we have our suspicions. But if whatever group she and Daphne are involved with, it does seem they're goal is to help you. But do they really expect you to go up against…him?"
Harry scoffed. "Well, it's not really my intention to go after him in any way."
"Well, I think we'd be safe in saying his goal is to steal the Philosopher's Stone." Neville said. "So, we know that there's a series of chambers, each with a different form of challenge. It's been set up like one of the Dungeons of old."
"Dungeons? Wizard prisons used to be set up with a series of challenges?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"No, not a dungeon like a prison. A Dungeon. Labyrinths. Strange, magical mazes that would appear, full of all kinds of monsters and promises of great treasure. They're not as common nowadays, but they do still appear from time to time." Harry answered. "I think there's a muggle game that deals with things like that."
"There are several. My dad loves playing them." Hermione said flatly. "I just never figured they'd actually be real." She sighed and closed the book she had. "I'll help you put these away, Harry."
"Ah, there you are Miss Granger!" They jumped at Professor McGonagal's voice. Another woman walked alongside her. She was a little shorter than the professor, long black hair trailing down her back, yet her proud, almost haughty, features were disarmed by the warm smile she wore.
"You must be Hermione." She held out a hand. Hermione hesitantly took it. "My name is Andromeda Tonks. Perhaps you've already gotten your parents' letter?"
"Just this morning." Hermione answered. "Though I wasn't expecting to see you so soon, Healer Tonks."
The woman raised an eyebrow and smiled at Harry, Ron, and Neville. "Well, I see your friends have been getting you well informed on the ways of wizards. Good. Then you understand why I'm here?"
"I believe so. It has to do with my sister altering memories?" Hermione asked. "I kinda began speculating it after talking with Harry."
Andromeda nodded. "Yes, my cousin, his godfather, did have a similar occurrence with his daughter. She's a year older than your sister."
Hermione smiled. "I believe Harry said she'll be starting Hogwarts next year, alongside his own sister, as well as Ron's."
"If you do not mind, Hermione, I would like to have a talk with you, privately. Just to see how you've adjusted here at school. To the wizarding world. Would that be alright?" Andromeda asked, her tone kind and gentle.
"Yes, I suppose that would be alright." She looked to her friends. "What will you all do? You don't have to wait around for me."
Ron shrugged. "Might see if I can hunt down Tulip to help me get those books."
Neville thought for a moment. "Should really go check on my project for Herbology."
Harry thought for a moment. "Might head down to the clubroom."
Professor McGonagal picked up one of the books from the table. An eyebrow rose. "If I may ask, why the sudden interest in alchemy? That subject is still a bit too advanced for first years, even for you four."
"Oh, well, Ron was working on his collection of chocolate frog cards," Harry gestures to the book of cards, "and we came across Dumbledore's card. It mentioned how he'd worked on alchemy with a man named Nicolas Flamel. I'd heard of the 'Immortal Alchemist' before, but we were curious about his achievements. May be a complex subject, but alchemy is a very interesting topic." Harry answered before the other's could speak.
McGonagal nodded slowly, seeming satisfied. Andromeda looked at him with interested curiosity, but she didn't comment. He gathered up the pile of books and parted ways to put them back.
With free time to himself, Harry left the library, wandering aimlessly through the castle. He had every intention of heading to the clubroom, but with his friends off doing their own things, it gave him a rare moment to think and get his thoughts aligned. Moments of clarity, his mother sometimes called them. Time just to yourself to clear the head.
He found himself along a passage on the seventh floor right in front of a tapestry he found funny. It depicted a wizard attempting to teach trolls ballet. The trolls blundered around, and one would bash the wizard with its club every now and then before repeating the whole process over.
His thoughts drifted over everything he'd experienced upon arriving to school. He loved his classes, even Potions. Despite Professor's Snape's mild dislike of him, the man was an excellent teacher, constantly pushing him to improve. Defense was a fun class that he loved, but his Professor…there was something odd about Quirrel. Something that his encounter last night had brought to the forefront, and he made a note to go back to the library.
The room of dark blue green marble crossed his mind, and he began to pace slowly. Every time he had strange dreams, they always ended with the room. And the mirror.
A sound drew his attention, like stone grinding on stone. He stared in wonder. There, set in the wall across from the tapestry, lay a door where he was absolutely sure had been blank wall. He walked up to it, turned the nob, and pushed it open on silent hinges. Cool air blew over him from the room within. It couldn't possibly be…
Harry walked into the room slowly, taking in the smooth dark marble walls. It was though. He wasn't at all certain how, but he had found it! The door quietly shut behind him.
The room wasn't dark by any means. The light that filtered down from above lit the room perfectly, though it still gave the impression of being deep beneath water. His eyes fell on a strange sight. A wand hovered in the center of the room, outside of his reach. It looked like bleached bone, the handle curved and hooked. His breath caught. Surely that couldn't be…
"Yes. The wand of Tom Riddle. Though I suppose you'd be more familiar with his chosen name: Voldemort." A somewhat familiar voice spoke.
Harry turned and found the mirror. The dragon was curled around the frame, biting its own tail. A man stood within the mirror, inside a tidy yet cluttered study. Books towered all around him. The man himself was even more intriguing. A dark green cloak covered his whole body, a plain wooden mask covered his face entirely. Even so, Harry knew the man was smiling at him. He frowned. "Tom Riddle? That's Voldemort's true name?"
"Indeed it is, Harry. I know you as well, of course. Harry James Potter. Eleven years, almost three months. Born to James and Lily Potter. Elder brother of Miriam and Patrick. Best friends are Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom, though a certain Hermione Granger has become something of a close friend." The man pulled a chair to him, sat down, and crossed a leg. "And to be honest, I wasn't expecting you to find the Room of Requirement so soon."
"The Room of Requirement? Is that what this marbled room is?" Harry asked.
"Of course. It's not just the room you see. Whatever room you are in need of, the Room can become. To an extant. It's more accurate to say the Room will be become the closest thing to what you need it to be. A place to hide things. A place to study in peace and quiet. A bathroom. Even a kitchen, though you'd have to procure your own food. Be easier to pilfer the kitchens. The house elves would be so delighted to meet you." The man rambled. "The marbled room you see came about due to one particular student needing access to secrets. And so, the Room of Requirement created the room and summoned the mirror you see. I say summoned because the Room did not create it. It asked me permission to create the portal, and I granted it."
Harry could only blink at him. "Who are you?"
"Ah! A very interesting question. A very good question, too. I'm less of a who and much more of a what. I am a Sage of Knowledge, and currently nothing more. Certainly nothing less either." The Sage replied. "A Sage is what and who I am. It's a whole thing, you know?"
"I honestly don't know, sir." Harry said. He was honestly questioning having found the room now. "Are you trapped within the mirror? Or is the mirror a door?"
"The mirror is just a door. Technically, I told Tom that I would 'trap' myself within the mirror to destroy his physical body, but…honestly, what does being 'trapped' really mean?" The Sage used air quotes. "The truth of the matter is…I'm not trapped at all. I can come and go as I please, as I always have done. However, I did seriously have some paperwork backed up, so I've been just been doing that part of my job I usually put off for later. Though, as you see, later finally arrived. I will enunciate that I currently cannot step physical foot within your world, in order to facilitate being the being 'trapped' clause of the deal bargained."
"I…I'm not sure I follow any of that logic." Harry said, feeling completely out of his depth.
"Naturally!" The Sage continued. "But you will come to understand in part eventually. All you need to understand right this moment is that I am absolutely on your side. Tom Riddle will come for you. What do you know about prophecy?"
"Well, I know and understand what a prophecy is, and that true prophecies aren't mere predictions. They can be difficult to interpret, and many have been fulfilled by people trying to avoid them. I also know there is a prophecy concerning myself and Voldemort. Er…Tom Riddle." Harry said. He frowned. "So, if Voldemort is actually Tom Riddle…what was it Tom Riddle did to get an award for services to the school?"
"Framed an innocent classmate for murder." The Sage answered immediately. "Naturally, Tom committed the murder himself. Well, not personally, but it was by his command. Such a sad thing. The boy was given all that potential. Wasted."
"You don't hate him? For all the evil he's done?" Harry asked.
"Do you? He planned to kill your family. Your brother and sister would never have been born. Two lives would have been cut short, one cut before it could even be born, and the last denied the chance to exist." The Sage asked. "Hatred is a poison that festers within your own soul. You want my advice? Never hate anyone, for anything. Incredibly hard to do. Perhaps the hardest thing anyone could do, but one of the most vital goals to strive for. So no, Harry Potter. I do not hate the man himself. I pity him. I abhor the things he's done, and were I able to, I'd cut him down myself."
"Then why can't you? Before you went back through the mirror. Why couldn't you have stopped him?" Harry asked.
"I did stop him. A temporary measure, certainly, but I stopped him if only for a time. Stalled him. If you are actually asking why I couldn't kill him…I could have. There was and is nothing physically preventing me from killing him. But I will not. For a being such as myself, and all who are at my level, there are greater…restrictions put in place. Because if we just killed all those who opposed good, we would be righteous tyrants. You would have no say in anything you did. Little more than a slave. Even worse, your culture wouldn't thrive. Wouldn't even really exist. So instead, I aid where I can and how I can."
"Are you implying that I have to kill Voldemort?" Harry couldn't help but stare at him. He couldn't even fathom the thought. Didn't want to think of it.
"That is a discussion for another time, Harry. For when you need to know the fullness of the prophecy. As to when that will be…when you have come face to wraith Tom, then we shall reapproach this topic." The Sage replied.
Harry thought for a moment. "Do you know anything about the Order Daphne Greengrass and Tulip Kurasu are part of?"
"I dare say that I know quite a bit about it. If you are wondering whether or not you can trust them, I give you my word that you can absolutely trust them as much as you can trust me. So really, the question is whether or not you feel you can trust me. Or not. Either way, I continue to help you. As I already have." The Sage answered.
Harry fingered the pendant. "Through this? What all have you been doing? Have you been giving me the dreams?"
The Sage straightened, and Harry could tell the smile had vanished. "Dreams? Tell me about these dreams. The only thing the pendant would have shown you is this room, and eventually the tapestry of a wizard teaching trolls ballet. That's all."
Harry told him everything he could. Every detailed he could remember from every dream he could remember. When he was done, the Sage continued to sit in silence for a time, deep in thought.
"Very interesting. Yes, very interesting. These dreams are certainly visions, Harry. But whether they show you what could be or what will be is hard to say. I don't think I need to tell you there's some warning in there as well. You know who the serpent is. Or at least, what it represents." The Sage nodded.
"The night I took Hermione flying, after I'd taken her back to her dorm and I was returning my broom, I was caught by Madam Hooch and Professor Quirrel." Harry gulped. "Quirrel's hand shone with a strange silver. And I think…I think it was unicorn's blood. There've been a couple attacks on some in the Forbidden Forest. But why would Quirrel attack unicorns? Why would he need unicorn blood?"
"Those questions, Harry, are the correct questions to be asking. What do you know about unicorns?" The Sage steepled his fingers before him.
"Well, we use their horns in potions. Their hair too, especially by wand makers. They're said to be magically pure creatures, but I'm not entirely sure what that means." Harry answered.
"It means that unicorns are one of the few creatures to be considered inherently Good. Older unicorns are very rarely seen by mortals. The herds you might see or glimpse in the forest are all young. Periodically, they shed their horns when they reach certain age markers. They have remarkable inherent powers to purify things tainted by evil. By dark magic. So. Why would Voldemort, a being you and I would certainly call evil, seek out something so pure? To forcibly take their blood?"
Harry frowned. "That's what I was planning to look into right before I found out how to get into this room. Their blood must have some magical property, right? Right now, Voldemort has no physical body. You said as much, and it explains why he disappeared. So he's…he's trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone to regain his body. But he can only do so much without a body. So he…would have to have…help…You think Professor Quirrel is helping Lord Voldemort?"
"Not much of 'lord', is he? But you are on the correct track with your line of questioning. Research unicorns, Harry. If you have the chance to save one, do so. But do NOT put yourself needlessly at risk! If Quirrel is in fact aiding Tom Riddle, be wary! As a teacher, he'd have access to the school. Access invaluable to Voldemort. As for Daphne and Tulip, let it lie for now. Let them approach you. It's unfortunate, but my influence is waning. The mirror will close soon, for a time. You'll know when it reopens. It may seem like I've not really given you any answers, but the fact is, answers will inevitably always lead to more questions. Never stop questioning." The mirror shimmered, and the Sage's study vanished. All Harry could see in the mirror was his own reflection, standing in the strange dark marble room. He wondered what other uses the Room of Requirement had. The Sage had said it could summon almost whatever type of room he needed.
But first, he was going to brush up on his knowledge of unicorns.