Chapter 6 - Philosopher's Stone

That night, I had a difficult time trying to fall asleep, as per usual lately. I just desperately wanted to be with my brother and decided I'd send Harry a letter asking if he was doing any better. It wasn't long before Hedwig flew back in through one of the windows in my dorm with a letter from Harry. He didn't seem to be doing well with the separation either and suggested we speak to Professor McGonagall in the morning to see if she had anything that could help us. In my reply, I told him that I agreed, and the next morning, the two of us said goodbye to our friends to find the Gryffindor Head of House.

"Good morning, Professor," Harry and I greeted when we found McGonagall.

"Oh, good morning, Potters. How can I help you both?"

"Well, the thing is..." I started but suddenly got shy, allowing Harry to continue for us both,

"See, Professor, growing up, we've always had each other. We've never really been apart. But because we were sorted into different houses, we are not adjusting to the separation very well."

"We've tried sending letters with Hedwig, but I'm worried we're going to bother someone with her eventually."

McGonagall sat with a look of thought on her face for a moment,

"I see. I can understand how you both must be feeling, but I've never had a pair of twins be sorted into different houses before."

Harry and I frowned at the realization that Professor McGonagall probably didn't have any solution for us and that we would probably have just to get used to being apart during school. That was until the professor said, "However, I do believe I have a spell that is easy enough to teach you that may help."

I turned my head toward my brother with a smile that he returned. "We can start today after classes if you would like?"

"Yes, please," I said with Harry, grins etched onto our faces. Professor McGonagall smiled and waved goodbye as Harry and I went to our classes.

After all of our lessons, Harry and I met up to head toward McGonagall's office. I was excited and relieved to be learning something that would help Harry and me with the separation. The professor was waiting for us at her desk and greeted us with a smile,

"Good evening, Potters. Are you both ready?"

"Yes, Professor," Harry and I nodded.

"Good. Now, if you could both take a piece of paper, please."

Curious, we did as we were told, taking a piece of paper each. "Alright, you can leave those on the desk while I teach you the incantation. Ready?"

"Yes," we both nodded at the Professor.

"Repeat after me: Mithis Litteris,"

"Mithis Litteris (Mee-this Lee-teris)," my brother and I repeated.

"Excellent. Once more."

"Mithis Litteris."

"Well done. Now, take your pieces of paper and write your own names on them, please."

We both did as McGonagall asked, and once we were done, we looked back at her for the next instructions. "For this spell, you must simply say the incantation and think of the person you wish to send the letter to before softly blowing on it. Watch closely."

I paid close attention as Professor McGonagall placed her folded piece of paper in the palm of her hand. She then whispered the incantation before blowing on the letter. Within seconds, there was a rolled-up piece of paper suddenly landing in front of my face. I caught it in my hand and, with a nod from McGonagall, opened it to see the sheet of paper she had written her name on. Astonished, I looked at Harry with wide eyes and a huge smile on my face.

"Brilliant!" Harry and I announced excitedly.

"Now, your turn, Potters. Mr Potter, you may go first."

My brother nodded and did exactly as the professor had done. He placed the paper in his hand, whispered the incantation then blew on the paper. However, the first time, the piece of paper ended up landing on the other side of the office. "Not to worry, Mr Potter. I didn't expect you to get it on your first try. Try again, but make sure to really focus on your desired receiver."

Harry nodded and tried again. It took him three more tries until, finally, the rolled-up piece of paper appeared in front of McGonagall and landed in her outstretched hand.

"Well done, Harry!" I smiled at my twin, who looked very pleased with himself.

"Indeed, Mr Potter, well done. Miss Potter, you may try now."

"Ok," I nodded, then repeated all of the steps. It only took me two tries to successfully get my piece of paper to appear in front of Harry. I was overjoyed by our success and excited to use the spell when I felt lonely without Harry.

"You both did very well, Potters. Now, we must be getting to dinner. I will see you both in the Great Hall."

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall," Harry said, and I added,

"Have a good evening, Professor."

§ 1 Month Later §

We were in charms class with Professor Flitwick. Eric and I had the class with Harry, Hermione and Ron, but the two of us sat closer to the Slytherins. Which unfortunately included Malfoy. The professor was short and stood on a big pile of books. I worried that he would fall over but trusted that Professor Flitwick, most likely, was not new at it.

"One of a wizard's most rudimentary skills is levitation, the ability to make objects fly. Uh, do you all have your feathers?" Professor Flitwick asked the class, and we all nodded our heads except for Hermione, who raised hers with a smile before shyly lowering her hand. "Good. Now, uh, don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practising, hmm? The swish and flick. Everyone."

The whole class did the wand movement the professor instructed. "The swish and flick. Good. And enunciate. Wingardium Leviosa. Off you go then."

Just as I raised my wand, ready to try it for myself, I stopped at the sound of Malfoy loudly saying the incantation. Incorrectly, might I add.

"Wingardium Levio-saaa," Malfoy said, waving his wand about ridiculously. I rolled my eyes before looking back at my feather. I went to try again, but once more, I was interrupted. This time, however, I was very pleased to see that Hermione had been able to do the spell.

"Oh, well done! See here, everyone! Miss Granger's done it! Oh, splendid," Professor Flitwick happily announced, causing everyone to watch as Hermione's feather floated in the air. I smiled and then moved to try myself. While ignoring everyone else starting to try again, and with a deep inhale, I waved my wand the right way while saying the incantation,

"Wingardium Leviosa."

My feather then started to float, just as Hermione's did, and I couldn't help but smile widely. My floating feather seemed to catch my professor's attention, causing him to turn from Hermione to me,

"Oh! Miss Potter! Fantastic work!"

"Good job, Ella!" Eric proudly smiled beside me, to which I beamed at my friend,

"Thanks."

"Please," I heard Malfoy say, turning in his direction only to see him roll his eyes. He was clearly jealous, and I couldn't help but glare at him until there was a loud boom. I knew exactly who it was and turned toward where Seamus and Harry were sitting. The poor boy, who sat beside my brother, had burn marks all over his face, while Harry looked very shocked.

"Whooaaa! Ooh," Professor Flitwick gasped, causing Harry to state,

"I think we're going to need another feather over here, Professor."

Eventually, most people were able to complete the spell successfully, including Eric, Harry and, unfortunately, Malfoy. After class, Harry, Eric, Ron and I were walking through the courtyard with Neville and Seamus as Ron told us about what Hermione had said during Charms Class.

"It's Leviosa, not Leviosar," Ron mocked. "Honestly, she's a nightmare. No wonder she hasn't got any friends!"

Suddenly, Hermione bustled past, shoving Ron's shoulder and sniffling. We all stopped walking for a second as Harry stated the obvious,

"I think she heard you."

I instantly felt bad for the girl and turned to glare at my ginger friend lightly,

"Ron! That was mean!"

Ron's face fell as he looked to the others for backup but only got a chorus of shaking heads.

That evening, in the Great Hall, Jack O'Lanterns were floating for Halloween as everyone enjoyed their dinner. For dessert, there were various candies to choose from as we all chattered. It was about the fifth time that night that I had looked over to the Gryffindor table to try and see Hermione, only to be met with different faces I wasn't looking for.

"I haven't seen Hermione at the Gryffindor table with everyone else all night," I finally said to Eric, who frowned,

"I hope she's alright. Ron went too far."

I nodded with a frown of my own when Professor Quirrell suddenly came flying into the Hall, screaming,

"TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! T-TROOLLL IN THE DUNGEON!!" The man stopped in the middle of the room as silence ensued. "Thought you ought to know." Professor Quirrell then fainted and fell to the floor before everyone started freaking out and screaming. Eric and I with them.

"SILLLLLEEENNNNCEEEEE!" Dumbledore shouted after a moment, causing all of us to stop. "Everyone will please, not panic. Now, Prefects will lead their houses back to the dormitories. Teachers will follow me to the dungeons."

"Hufflepuff, this way!" our prefect spoke, followed by our other prefect,

"Stay together!"

We all followed the two prefects, who seemed to be leading us in the same direction as the Gryffindors. The two houses walked down a hall side by side, allowing Eric and I to stand near Harry and Ron as we walked.

"Gryffindors... keep up, please. And stay alert!" Percy said before Harry questioned,

"How could a troll get in?"

"Not by itself," Ron answered, "Trolls are really stupid."

"Probably people playing jokes," Eric concluded with a nod. But Harry and I suddenly realized something. My twin and I both stopped, pulling Ron and Eric with us.

"What?" Eric asked, causing me to quickly answer,

"Hermione! She doesn't know!"

With expressions of realization, the four of us ran off down the corridors, following Ron and Harry, who seemed to know where to find the bushy-haired girl. At the sound of a loud grunting noise, we stopped until Harry and I pulled Ron and Eric behind a doorway at the sight of a large shadow. Not a second later, a large, ugly troll thunked by, going into a room that I recognized,

"He's going into the girl's bathroom!"

"That's where Hermione is!" Ron worriedly whisper-shouted.

"What do we do?" Eric asked frantically until the four of us heard a scream and instantly went sprinting into the bathroom. The sight we were met with was half of the wooden stalls smashed with Hermione crouched on the floor under the remaining ones. Unfortunately, the troll wasn't done with his destruction and lifted his club to smash the other stalls.

"Hermione, move!" Harry warned with a shout, allowing Hermione to crawl just in time away from the troll's smashing.

"Help!" Hermione called out. Not having any other ideas, the boys and I started throwing the smashed wood pieces at the troll.

"Hey, pea-brain!" Ron shouted, causing the troll to turn toward us before Ron threw a piece of wood, hitting the troll on the head. With the troll focused on us, Hermione was able to escape the stalls and move under the sinks, but the troll seemed to notice and lifted his club to smash her. My eyes went wide with panic as Hermione screamed and moved just in time away from the sink that was obliterated.

"Ahhh! Help!" the intelligent Gryffindor cried, and Harry pulled out his wand. My brother ran forward, grabbing the troll's club before being lifted up. The troll shook his club, trying to get rid of Harry, only to have him land on the troll's head. Aggravated, the troll shook, trying to get rid of my brother once again as Harry was hurled forward and back,

"Whooa! Whoa, whoa!"

As the troll was distracted with Harry, I ran over to Hermione and crouched under the sinks with her for cover. Still holding onto his wand, Harry looked as though he was about to try a spell. But before he could utter anything, the troll shook some more, causing Harry's wand to accidentally go up the troll's nose.

"Ew," Ron cringed with Eric. The troll snorted and started whipping around as Harry still held on tightly,

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

After a moment, the troll was able to get Harry off his head and held my brother by one leg, upside down. The creature geared up its club before taking a swing at Harry, who was able to do a quick sit-up to barely avoid the club. The troll swung again, and Harry repeated his action to save himself.

"Do something!" I yelled, panic lacing my tone as I held onto Hermione's hand. The troll swung his club at Harry again, and he ducked once more.

"What?" Eric and Ron questioned as they both looked around the bathroom for something to use against the troll. The troll took another swipe at my twin before he yelled,

"Anything! Hurry up!"

With nothing else, Ron and Eric pulled out their wands and pointed them toward the troll but hesitated for a moment. As encouragement, Hermione and I waved our hands as Hermione reminded the boys,

"Swish and flick!"

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron and Eric announced, following the wand movement we had shown them. Right as the troll was about to take another swing at my brother, his club lifted out of his hand and hovered above his head. Confused, the troll looked up just as the club came crashing back down.

"Cool," the boys happily said simultaneously as the club hit the troll's head, causing the creature to waver and drop Harry. My twin crawled away toward Ron and Eric as the troll came crashing down hard. Slowly and carefully, Hermione and I moved from under the sinks and walked over to the boys.

"Is it... dead?" Hermione questioned, to which Harry replied,

"I don't think so. Just knocked out." My brother crouched to grab his wand from its place in the troll's nostril, only for it to be covered in bogies. "Ew. Troll bogies."

Ron, Eric and I all cringed in disgust,

"Ew."

Suddenly, Professors McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell came rushing in, gasping at the sight of the knocked-out troll, destroyed bathroom and the five of us.

"Oh! Oh, my goodness! E-Explain yourselves, the five of you!" Professor McGonagall stuttered in shock.

"Well, what it is..." Harry and Ron tried but failed, so Eric and I spoke unsuccessfully,

"See, we..."

"It's my fault, Professor McGonagall," Hermione spoke up, causing all of us to gape at her.

"Miss Granger?" McGonagall questioned.

"I went looking for the troll. I'd read about them and thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. If Harry, Ron, Ella and Eric hadn't come and found me... I'd probably be dead."

"Be that as it may... it was an extremely foolish thing to do."

As Professor McGonagall spoke, Harry and I noticed a large cut on Professor Snape's leg. When he noticed us looking, Snape moved his robes to cover it up before glaring at the two of us. "I would have expected more rational behaviour on your part, Miss Granger. 5 points will be taken from Gryffindor for your serious lack of judgment. As for you three gentlemen, and lady, I just hope you realize how fortunate you are. Not many first-year students could take on a full-grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale. 5 points... will be awarded to each of you."

Ron, Eric, Harry and I all smiled at one another. "For sheer dumb luck."

With that, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape left.

"Perhaps you ought to go... M-might wake up... heh,"

Following Professor Quirrell's instructions, the five of us all left to go to our dormitories. As we were walking down the hall, Harry and I turned to Hermione,

"Good of you to get us out of trouble like that."

"Mind you, we did save her life," Ron argued.

"Mind you, she might not have needed saving if you hadn't insulted her," Eric defended, to which Ron turned to Hermione with a small smile,

"What are friends for?"

The next morning, the five of us sat together at the Gryffindor table, eating breakfast before the first Quidditch match of the year. However, Harry was simply twirling his food on his fork instead of eating it. Eric, Hermione, Ron and I all shared similar frowning expressions, silently communicating when Ron spoke up,

"Take a bit of toast, mate. Go on."

"Ron's right, Harry," Hermione agreed, "You're going to need your strength today."

"I'm not hungry," Harry shrugged, causing my frown to grow,

"Harry-"

Before I could say anything, Snape walked over and stopped to speak to Harry,

"Good luck today, Potter. Then again, now that you've proven yourself against a troll, a little game of Quidditch should be easy work for you... even if it is against Slytherin."

I watched as Professor Snape walked away when I noticed his limp.

"That explains the blood," I simultaneously said with Harry, who seemed to have noticed as well.

"Blood?" Eric questioned, a puzzled expression crossing his features.

"Listen," Harry said, turning toward our friends, "Last night, I'm guessing Snape let the troll in as a diversion so he could try and get past that three-headed dog. But he got himself bitten. That's why he's limping."

"But why would anyone go near that dog?" Hermione asked.

"The day we were at Gringotts," I recalled, "Hagrid took something out of one of the vaults. He said it was 'Hogwarts' business', very secret."

"So you're saying..."

"That's what the dog's guarding. That's what Snape wants," Harry finished, and we all slightly nodded, agreeing with the logic. It was then that an owl screech could be heard, causing our attention to turn toward Hedwig carrying a large, long parcel. When she flew over us, she released her hold on the package, allowing it to fall and land in Harry's grasp.

"Bit early for mail, isn't it?" Eric asked thoughtfully.

"But I-I never get mail," Harry said, clearly as confused as I was that one of us had received something.

"Let's open it," Ron excitedly suggested before we all leaned over to help unwrap the package.

"It's a broomstick!"

"That's not just any broomstick, Harry," Eric started, allowing Ron to finish with him,

"It's a Nimbus 2000!"

"But who...?" Harry began to ask until he and I looked over to see Hedwig perched beside Professor McGonagall at the teachers' table. The transfiguration professor smiled as she stroked our owl.