Disclaimer: Don't own RWBY or Harry Potter
Special thanks to my P atreons: Shadow Driver, Shannon and Sabrina
Saturday was filled with training for teams RWBY and JNPR. At sunset, they dragged their aching bodies into team RWBY's dorm with stacks of pizza to regain their calories. The only one who wasn't tired was Ruby, who happily picked up the Harry Potter book to start the next chapter. "It's mine turn to read now right?" she asked.
"Yep," Yang said getting started on her pizza.
Ruby opened the book to where they last left off. "Alright! This chapter is called Nicolas Flamel," she announced.
"So we finally get to learn who this guy is," Weiss said.
"Well don't keep us in suspense Ruby. Get reading," Nora demanded.
Dumbledore had succeeded in convincing Harry to not look for the mirror and so his father's cloak sat at the bottom of his trunk.
"Well that's good news," Pyrrha said.
Nora wasn't as enthusiastic. "Yeah but he could still use the cloak to check out the rest of the castle. It doesn't deserve to sit in the bottom of his trunk."
"Harry's been out three nights in a row," Ren reminded her. "Harry needs a break especially not that school's likely back in session."
Harry wanted to forget about the mirror. But his dreams won't let him. He's been having nightmares about his parents. Vanishing in a flash of green light while a high voice cackled with laughter.
Ruby's grip on the book tighten and she started to shake. Yang placed an arm around her sister's waist. "You okay there Rubes?" she asked.
"Yeah," Ruby said. "It's just scary to think about."
"Indeed," Weiss agreed. "That mirror did not do him any favors."
Harry confided into Ron and Hermione (who came back the day before term started) about the dreams. Ron agreed with Dumbledore about the mirror driving him mad. Hermione was torn between the horror of Harry being out of bed three nights in a row and disappointed that he didn't find anything about Flamel. They were on the verge of giving up on finding anything about Flamel. Though Harry was convinced he heard the name somewhere before. They still continued to search during their breaks but Harry didn't have as much time as the other two as Quidditch practice had started back up as well. Wood had them training through the endless rain that had replaced the snow.
"Is he trying to get them sick?" Weiss asks.
"He is becoming rather fanatic," Pyrrha said.
The Weasley twins were starting to complain that Wood was becoming a fanatic.
"If the twins are agreeing with something Pyrrha says then there is something wrong," Yang said.
"You make it sound like I don't like the twins," Pyrrha joked. In truth she found those two a breath of fresh air. Seeing no harm in their jokes.
Harry was siding with Wood though. Not only would winning against Hufflepuff earn them enough points to overtake Slytherin in the House Cup, he found he didn't have enough nightmares after a day of training.
"Well there's that at least," Weiss said.
However, there might be more to Wood's attitude than just winning the cup as he scolded the twins harshly for goofing around. Dropping the bomb that Snape was referring their next match and would likely look for any excuse to favor Hufflepuff.
"WHAT?" everyone cried out.
"Snape's referring?" Jaune cried out.
"Is he even qualified?" Nora wondered.
"Why would he even want to referee?" Yang asked.
"Maybe he wants to keep a better eye on Harry," Ruby suggested. "So nothing happens to him like in the last game."
"Or just trying to make Harry's life even more miserable," Weiss figured.
The others started to complain but Wood said there was nothing he could do about it. All they could do was play a fair game so Snape doesn't have an excuse to pick on them.
"Well at least they're playing against Hufflepuff and not Slytherin," Ren said looking on the bright side.
"That's true," Jaune said. "I doubt any of the other houses are going to go out of their way to cheat.
Harry however, was concerned about something else. That night at the common room he found Ron and Hermione playing chess with Ron, of course, winning. Though Harry and Ron agreed that Hermione loosing at chess would do her some good.
Pyrrha shrugged. "I mean, no one is perfect at everything."
Ron was quick to notice how shaken Harry looked and Harry told his friends quietly about Snape playing the next match. Both of them insisted that Harry come up with some excuse to not play.
"I'm all for leg breaking but if Madam Pomfrey healed up Neville's wrist quickly I doubt Harry breaking his leg is going to get him out of the match," Nora said.
Harry refused though as there isn't a reserved seeker.
"That's stupid," Weiss said. "What if there is a legit reason that Harry can't play? Then the other team would just win by default."
The conversation was interrupted by Neville climbing into the common room. With his legs stuck together. Harry instantly recognized that as the Leg-Locker Curse.
"Woah, what happened?" Ren asked.
"Someone must have jinxed him as a joke," Yang said.
"The twins?" Weiss wondered.
"They wouldn't do something like that to one of their house mates," Pyrrha countered.
"Five Lien says it's a certain blonde Slytherin," Jaune said.
Everyone in the common room started to laugh save for Hermione who quickly performed the counter curse and asked him what happened. Neville answered that it was Malfoy.
"Universe owes me five lien," Jaune said.
They met outside the library and apparently Malfoy had been looking for someone to practice on. Hermione insisted that he report this to McGonagall but Neville didn't want any more trouble.
"How is going to a teacher going to cause more trouble?" Ruby asked.
"Cause Malfoy would want to get back at Neville for getting him in trouble," Jaune answered.
Ron told Neville that he needs to start standing up for himself. Malfoy is already use to walking all over people and Neville should lie down and make it easier for him. Neville said not to tell him he isn't' brave enough to be in Gryffindor as Malfoy already did.
"Ron could have worded that better," Pyrrha said.
Harry gave Neville a Chocolate Frog and told Neville he's worth twelve of Malfoy. The hat put him in Gryffindor for a reason after all. Neville accepts the frog and decides to turn in for the night. He offers Harry the card, knowing Harry collects them. Harry accepted the card and saw it was another Dumbledore card. He told his friends that that was the first card he ever got... Harry trailed off reading the back of the card.
Jaune smacked himself on the forehead. "Of course. That's where we heard the name before."
"Who? Dumbledore's?" Weiss asked.
"No Flamel," Jaune answered. "It said on the back of the card that the two used to work together in something. Oh what was it."
"Your joking?" Yang asks.
"He's not," Ruby said having read a little ahead.
Harry exclaimed that he found Flamel and read the back of the card out loud. Stating that Dumbledore was famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald, the uses of dragon blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner NICOLAS FLAMEL!
"That's what it was!" Jaune exclaimed.
"This entire time and he was on the back of a trading card?" Blake asked in disbelief.
Hermione shot up stating that she'll be right back and hurried up the girl's dormitories. She came back down with a rather large and old looking book. She couldn't believe she never thought to look in this book, having checked it out weeks ago for some light reading. Ron questioned her definition of light considering the size of the book but Hermione just shushed him. Finally finding the name, Hermione explains that Flamel is so far the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone.
"So he made the stone," Pyrrha said. "That must be why it's at Hogwarts now. He must have known someone was going to steal it and asked Dumbledore to protect it."
"Yeah but what does it even do?" Blake asked.
"Give me a minute," Ruby said skimming the book.
Of course Ron and Harry had no clue what she was talking about so she showed them the passage. The Philosopher's Stone is said to be a legendary substance which can turn anything into pure gold and will make whoever holds it immortal. While many stories of the stone have been told, the only confirmed owner of one is Flamel who is 665 years old and his wife is 658.
Nora let out a low whistle. "That's impressive."
"The abilities of the stone or Flamel's age?" Ren asked.
"Both," Nora answered.
"Still to live forever. That sounds like a rather disturbing prospect," Pyrrha said.
"It would make sense why the person who broke into that vault at Gringotts would want it though," Jaune said.
"Question is, who would that be?" Weiss asks.
"Voldemort," Blake answered without hesitation. "We may not know what happened to him after he failed to kill Harry, but if he's looking to regain his strength, than the Philosopher's Stone would be a possibility."
"But Hagrid said he doesn't like going anywhere near the school since he's afraid of Dumbledore," Ruby said.
"True but he could have an agent in the staff," Yang said.
"And you think it's Snape?" Ruby asks.
"We can't rule out anyone Ruby," Weiss said. "Who knows who Voldemort could still have in his pocket." Ruby nodded and returned to the book.
Hermione says that that's what Fluffy is guarding under the trap door, figuring Flamel asked Dumbledore to keep it safe since their old friends. Harry isn't surprised Snape would want it. A stone that can turn anything to gold and keep you from dying. Anyone would want something like that. Ron realized that Flamel's age was why they couldn't find him in Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry.
That cause the Beacon students to snort. Typical Ron.
The next morning during their Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Harry and Ron were privately talking about what they would do if they had their own Philosopher's Stone. Ron said he would buy his own Quidditch team which reminded Harry of Snape refereeing their next match. He decides to play despite the risk. Even so, his nerves started to get to him slightly as the match drew nearer. This would be the first time in seven years that anyone would even have a chance to beat Slytherin in the House Cup. Would their house head allow such a thing to happen?
"Okay I doubt he's that petty," Ren said.
"Plus I doubt he'd want Hufflepuff to beat his house," Blake pointed out.
It might have been Harry's imagination but it seemed like Snape was everywhere. Could he be following Harry? And Potions class was turning into a weekly torture. Harry wondered if Snape knows that he and his friends know about the stone. It seemed unlikely but Harry was certain Snape could read minds.
"Is that possible in this world?" Ruby asked.
"Hard to say," Yang answered.
The next day was the match. Ron and Hermione wished him luck but Harry could tell that they were wondering if they were ever going to see him alive again.
"Very reassuring," Ren said.
Harry barley heard a word of Wood's pep talk as he pulled on his Quidditch robes and grabbed his broom. Up in the stands, Ron and Hermione sat next to Neville, who didn't understand why they were looking so grimm. Or why they brought their wands.
"Didn't Hermione have her wand the last match?" Weiss asked.
"Maybe students don't usually bring their wands," Jaune suggested.
Little did Neville know, Ron and Hermione had been practicing the Leg-Locker Curse Draco used on Neville. Ready to use it on Snape should he show any sign of wanting to hurt Harry. Hermione kept telling Ron how to pronounce the spell to Ron's irritation.
The Beacon kid laughed. "Glad to know those two have a plan," Pyrrha said.
"But will that do anything if he's floating on a broom?" Ren wondered.
"Only one way to find out," Nora said.
Back in the locker room, Wood pulled Harry aside and encouraged him to catch the snitch fast before Snape can favor Hufflepuff too much.
"Good plan," Weiss said.
Fred looked in the crowds and saw that Dumbledore was in attendance.
"Dumbledore!" everyone cried out.
"Looks like Ron and Hermione weren't the only ones who wanted to make sure Snape didn't try anything," Yang said.
"He wouldn't have allowed Snape to referee if he was concerned," Ruby countered. "Maybe he wanted to make sure whoever jinxed Harry's broom in the last match wouldn't have a second attempt. Just like Snape."
"Ruby has a point. No one would be dumb enough to try anything under Dumbledore's watch," Weiss said. "But I still doubt Snape would want to referee just to keep an eye on Harry."
Harry looked out into the stands and indeed, the headmaster was in the stands. His silver beard making him easy to spot. Harry almost laughed in relief. No way Snape would try anything with him here. Which was probably why Snape looked to be in such a bad mood when they got on the pitch. Something even Ron noticed.
Ruby gave a shrug. "Dumbledore probably forgot to tell him he was going to watch the match if the two had the same idea."
Ron then gave a yelp of pain as something hit him in the back of the head. It was Malfoy, who gave a fake apology, saying he didn't see Ron there.
"Yeah right," Blake said.
He started asking for bets about how long Harry would stay on his broom this time, including Ron into the wager.
"Harry didn't fall off his broom last time," Jaune remembered. "Though it was a close call."
"Malfoy's just being a bulling idiot," Weiss said. "But what else is new."
Ron just ignored him and focused on the game. Snape awarded Hufflepuff a penalty because George tried to hit him with a Bludger. Hermione had her eyes fixed on Harry, who was scanning for the Snitch.
"George what were you thinking?" Nora demanded.
"He likely wasn't aiming at Snape. Snape just assumed that," Ren said.
Malfoy went on saying he figured how they picked people for the Gryffindor team. They pick people they feel sorry for. Like Harry, who has no parents. Or the Weasleys, who have no money.
"Wow, haven't heard that one before," Jaune muttered.
He then suggested Neville join as he has no brains. Neville however stands up and stammered what Ron told him earlier. Ron gave him encouragement even though he still kept his eyes on the game. Malfoy didn't stop though claiming that if brains were the same as gold than he be poorer than Ron. Which is saying something.
Everyone just rolled their eyes.
Between Harry's match and Malfoy's words Ron's nerves were about to snap. He warned Malfoy to back off but Hermione cut him off by pointing out Harry who just dove down. Malfoy figured Harry had spotted some gold for Ron.
"Or he just saw the snitch you dolt!" Weiss shouted. Honestly how stupid can one get?
That pushed Ron past the breaking point and dove at Malfoy. Neville hesitantly joined in.
"No way?" Jaune cried.
"Go Neville!" Nora cheered.
Hermione kept cheering for Harry, not knowing about Ron and Malfoy rolling under her seat or the fist fight between Neville and Crabbe and Goyle. Harry streaked past Snape and clasped the Snitch in his hands.
"That was fast!" Pyrrha cheered.
"How long was that?" Blake wondered.
The stands erupted into cheers. Harry had just set a personal record. No one has ever caught the Snitch that fast. Hermione was asking where Ron was cheering that Harry won and Gryffindor was in the lead while hugging Parvati in the front row. Harry landed on the ground in disbelief. He already won the game. It barley lasted five minutes.
"He caught the Snitch in under five minutes?!" Yang cried out in disbelief.
"That's insane," Blake said.
Snape landed looking peeved. Dumbledore came down to congratulate Harry and was happy the boy wasn't still obsessed with the mirror.
"That is a good thing," Ren said.
Harry left the locker room on his own sometime later to put away his broomstick. This was the happiest he's ever felt. He was more than just a famous name now. He was reliving the past few minutes where his team was carrying him on their shoulders. Ron and Hermione were cheering in the background with Ron having a bloody nose.
"Ouch. Looks like Malfoy was able to get a good hit on him," Jaune said.
"Nothing the school nurse couldn't fix," Yang assured.
Harry leaned against the wooden door of the broom shed and admired Hogwarts. He really had done it. He got Gryffindor in the lead. And he had shown Snape. Speaking of which...
Harry spotted a hooded figure descending the castle's steps. Even though the person wanted to hide who they were, Harry recognized the prowling way the figure walked. Why was Snape heading to the forest while everyone else was at dinner?
"Time for some snooping," Nora cheered.
Harry mounted his Nimbus 2000 and took off. Silently following Snape from the sky to the forest. But he had a hard time finding out where Snape went with how thick the trees were. He flew lower and lower. Brushing the tips of the trees until he heard voices.
"Voices?" Ruby questioned noting the plural.
Harry glided towards the voices and landed silently on a tree branch trying to peer through the leaves. He was able to find Snape alongside Quirrell.
"Quirrell?" Everyone questioned.
"Why is he there?" Ruby asked.
"Snape must be threating him," Weiss believed.
"Would Quirrell know something about the stone?" Nora wondered.
"Well Hagrid seems to know about it," Pyrrha said. "And he's not really the best at keeping a secret."
"Maybe the rest of the staff knows," Ren thought. "If he was to put a dangerous artifact in the school and have a giant three-headed dog to protect it then the teachers would have to know about it at least."
"Still doesn't explain their conversation then," Jaune said.
"One way to find out," Ruby said going back to the page.
Quirrell was curious why Snape would want to meet him all the way out here. Snape wanted to make sure their conversation stayed private. After all, students are not suppose to find out about the stone. He then asked if Quirrell figured out how to get past Fluffy. Quirrell tried to stammer out an answer but Snape interrupted assuring Quirrell that he doesn't want Snape as his enemy. Quirrell tried to deny knowing anything but Snape wasn't buying it. Nearby an owl hooted and nearly startled Harry off the branch he was on. He managed to steady himself enough to catch Snape say something about Quirrell's hocus-pocus.
Ruby was gripping the book rather tightly. "It-it can't be. Could Snape really..."
Yang wrapped her sister in a hug. "I'm sorry Rubes. But some people are just pure evil."
"I just don't understand. Being a bad teacher is one thing but why would he want to hurt people?"
"Hopefully this book will give us the answers," Blake said.
Quirrell could barley get a word out. Snape decided to continue their talk another time. Let Quirrell figure out where his loyalties lie. He threw the hood back over his head and walked back to the castle. Quirrell just stood there utterly petrified.
That line prompted Ren to raise an eyebrow. Loyal to who? he wondered. He kept his thoughts to himself though. There were still a lot of unanswered questions but only a few more chapter left in the book. He's sure he'll figure it out soon enough.
Hermione and Ron found Harry outside the common room. Hermione asking where he's been and Ron cheering not only their victory but the fact that he gave Malfoy a black eye.
"Nice one!" Yang cheered.
And Neville tried taking on Crabbe and Goyle all by himself.
"No way!" Jaune cried.
"Please tell me he's alright," Pyrrha said.
He's still unconscious in the hospital wing but Madam Pomfrey says he'll be fine. Harry dismisses all of that and pulls his friends into an empty room. Making sure Peeves wasn't around he filled the two in on what he heard. Confirming their earlier suspicions about the stone and deduced that there are other things guarding it besides Fluffy with Snape's comment on Quirrell's 'hocus pocus'. He likely set up a trap Snape needs to get past through as well. Hermione realizes that, so long as Quirrell stands up to Snape, the stone will be safe. Ron believes it will be gone by next Tuesday.
"I give him until the weekend," Nora said.
"I'm honestly surprised Quirrell didn't give in by now," Weiss said.
"Snape probably didn't approach him till now," Pyrrha figured.
"Well, let's see how long he lasts," Blake said. Ruby handed her the book who passed it to Weiss who handed it to Pyrrha so she could read the next chapter.
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