Chapter 7 - Philosopher's Stone

 As we all started to stand, before Harry left the Great Hall to meet up with his team, I remembered to ask,

"Oh! Harry, I was wondering if I could borrow something of yours to show my support for the Gryffindor team."

"Sure, El, you can borrow my scarf. I've got it here," Harry smiled as he took his red and gold scarf out of his bag. I took my brother's scarf with a wide grin, wrapping it around my neck and kissing Harry on the cheek.

"Thanks, Harry. You'll do great, I'm sure of it. Good luck."

"Thanks, Ella." Harry placed a quick kiss on my temple before leaving the Great Hall with a wave to everybody.

"We should go find a spot in the stands," Hermione suggested, to which we all nodded and followed her to the Quidditch pitch.

Both teams flew out onto the enormous pitch on their brooms. Everyone cheered. Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, Eric, and I clapped for Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors. As the players flew around, Lee Jordan, Gryffindor and friend of the Weasley twins, commentated from one of the towers surrounding the pitch,

"Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts' first Quidditch game of the season! Today's game is Slytherin versus Gryffindor!"

We all cheered even louder, Neville and Seamus shouting along with a few other students,

"Gryffindor!"

The players started taking their positions in the air in a circle, and I spotted Harry as Lee spoke,

"The players take their positions as Madam Hooch steps out onto the field to begin the game."

I could see Madam Hooch speaking and looking at each of the players but couldn't hear what she was saying before she kicked the trunk beside her, causing two balls, the bludgers Eric told me, to zoom out. "The bludgers are up... followed by the Golden Snitch. Remember, the Snitch is worth 150 points. The seeker who catches the Snitch ends the game."

I watched Harry move his head around while what looked like a tiny sparkle flew around his and the Slytherin seeker's head. Madam Hooch then grabbed the biggest ball before tossing it up. "The Quaffle is released... and the game begins!"

The Gryffindors took possession of the Quaffle as one of their chasers, Angelina Johnson, I think, zoomed past the Slytherins and toward their goal. With a powerful throw, she scored, and we all cheered as a ding signalled the point. "Angelina Johnson scores! 10 points for Gryffindor!"

"Well done!" Hagrid cheered as we all clapped for the first score. Lee continued to comment on the action as I excitedly watched the game,

"Slytherin takes possession of the Quaffle. Bletchley passes to Captain Marcus Flint."

The Slytherin player, Marcus Flint, dodged all of the Gryffindor players flying toward him as he made his way to the Gryffindor hoops. Flint took a shot at the goal, but Oliver Wood was able to whack the Quaffle away with the end of his broom. I cheered alongside my friends then continued watching as Angelina and Katie Bell, I'm pretty sure, passed the Quaffle back and forth. Once they got the Quaffle back to the Slytherin hoops, Angelina was able to score for the Gryffindor team once again.

"Yay!" Ron and Seamus shouted as Eric, Hermione and I all cheered some more,

"Whooooooo!"

"Another 10 points to Gryffindor!" Lee happily announced as another ding could be heard.

"Yay!" all the Gryffindors roared, smiles on all of our faces. The game continued, and the Slytherins started to get more aggressive as they continued to try and score, only to be thwarted by Oliver's constant blocks. I was very proud of Oliver and the Gryffindor team and couldn't wait to see Harry in action once he spotted the Golden Snitch. However, my excitement was quickly overtaken by concern when I saw Flint grab one of the Slytherin beater's bats and whack a bludger right at Oliver. I gasped as the bludger hit Oliver in the stomach, causing him to endure a long fall to the ground. The whole crowd booed except for the Slytherins, who had the nerve to laugh.

"I hope he's alright," I said to my friends when I felt Hagrid place a hand on my shoulder,

"I'm sure he'll be alright, Ella."

I nodded hesitantly and turned back to the game. With Oliver down, the Slytherins were able to score as the Slytherin stands filled with cheers. The game went on, and the Slytherins boxed Angelina in as they flew, eventually sending her into the capes covering one of the towers. She fell down, seemingly knocked out. I was even more worried for the players and the game as most of the crowd booed, and the Slytherins scored once more. Despite my concern, it washed away when I noticed my brother finally starting to fly in a specific direction. I grew excited until he suddenly started bucking and turning randomly.

"What's going on with Harry's broomstick?" Hagrid asked, causing Hermione, Ron and Eric to turn their heads in the same direction as us. Hermione used her binoculars and then suddenly concluded, speaking so Hagrid couldn't hear,

"It's Snape! He's jinxing the broom!"

"Jinxing the broom?" Eric and Ron repeated at the same time, causing their eyes to widen at one another as I worriedly questioned,

"What do we do?"

"Leave it to me," my bushy-haired friend nodded determinedly before handing the binoculars to Ron and leaving. I turned back to Harry, who continued to be knocked and shaken around. The bucking became so intense that Harry suddenly fell, causing everyone to gasp as my twin dangled from his broom with one arm. My hands flew to my mouth in shock and worry as Eric spoke with an anxious tone,

"Come on, Hermione!"

After a bit longer of Harry's broom bucking as my brother held on as much as he could, the broom stopped, allowing Harry to climb back on. Once he felt secure, Harry took off after the Snitch as we all cheered him on,

"Go!"

"Go, Harry!"

"Go, go, go!"

When Harry caught up with the Slytherin seeker, he rammed him before getting butted out. Swiftly returning, Harry rammed him again before they both dove to follow the Snitch, approaching the ground quickly. The Slytherin seeker backed out, but Harry pulled his broom up strategically as he followed the flying golden ball a few feet above the ground. I grabbed Ron and Eric's hands and squeezed as we watched Harry balance himself on his broom while standing, reaching his hand out and slowly taking steps forward. Abruptly, he toppled off his broom, tumbling to the ground and causing the crowd to gasp before he stood up. I let out a sigh of release, knowing he was ok, until he lurched forward.

"Looks like he's going to be sick!" Hagrid noted with a concerned tone, and Harry lurched again, this time bringing his hands in front of his mouth. The Snitch popped out of Harry's mouth and landed in his hands. Ron, Eric and I jumped and cheered as Lee announced,

"He's got the Snitch! Harry Potter receives 150 points for catching the Snitch!"

Madame Hooch blew her whistle before shouting,

"Gryffindor wins!"

"YAY!" everyone in the Gryffindor stands applauded, with Hagrid praising,

"Yes!"

Harry raised the Snitch into the air in his hand, causing more cheers to erupt from everyone around me and the rest of Gryffindor's team. I hugged my two friends before we started chanting with everyone else,

"Go go Gryffindor! Go go Gryffindor! Go go Gryffindor! Go go Gryffindor!"

After Eric, Hagrid, Ron and I had made it to the grass outside the Quidditch pitch, we found Hermione. I gave her the biggest hug, that she returned with a smile.

"You did it, Hermione!" I appreciated, squeezing her tightly.

"It wasn't too hard," Hermione beamed. We all shared a happy laugh before the four of us said goodbye to Hagrid and went to wait for Harry to get changed. While we waited outside the Quidditch change rooms, Malfoy and his goons walked by.

"Not satisfied with your house, Baby Potter? Or are you simply following your brother like a lost puppy?" Malfoy sneered with a smirk, referring to Harry's scarf still around my neck, causing Crabbe and Goyle to laugh behind him.

"I'll have you know I am very pleased with my house and just wanted to support my brother," I explained, a glare apparent on my face. Before Malfoy could retaliate, Harry spoke up as he walked over to us,

"Leave my sister alone, Malfoy."

"Aw, look, Baby Potter, your big brother is sticking up for you," Malfoy taunted, causing Ron and Eric to step up as Hermione took a hold of my hand in hers.

"Shove off, Malfoy," Ron said, while Eric added,

"There's no need for you to be a sore loser."

Malfoy, Goyle and Crabbe all glared, and with one last glance in my direction, Malfoy scoffed before the three of them left. I gave the two boys a thankful smile before turning to give Harry a hug and congratulate him on his first win.

A few days later, the five of us met up with Hagrid, walking along a path with him as we talked about Snape jinxing Harry's broomstick during the match.

"Nonsense. Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?" Hagrid asked, shaking his head.

"Who knows. Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?" Harry countered, causing Hagrid to look down at the five of us, shocked,

"Who told you 'bout Fluffy?"

"Fluffy?" Ron questioned, followed by Hermione,

"That thing has a name?"

"Well, of course, he's got a name. He's mine," Hagrid explained, "I bought him off an Irish feller I met down at the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-"

"Yes?" Harry and I simultaneously tempted.

"Shouldn'ta said that. Don't ask any more questions. That's top-secret, that is."

"But Hagrid, whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it!" Eric urged.

"Codswallop. Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher."

"Hogwarts teacher or not, I know a curse when I see one. I've read all about them," Hermione reasoned, "You have to keep eye contact. And Snape wasn't blinking."

"Exactly," Harry spoke with a nod. Hagrid sighed, looking down before facing each of us,

"Now, you listen to me, all five of you. You're meddlin' in things that ought not to be meddled in. It's dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel."

"Nicholas Flamel?" I asked, causing Hagrid to realise his mistake,

"I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that. I should not have said that."

With that, Hagrid turned away, walking to his house. Pondering, Harry and I both muttered in thought,

"Nicholas Flamel..."

"Who's Nicholas Flamel?" Eric questioned with a curious expression, turning to Hermione specifically. But Hermione shrugged her shoulders and shook her head,

"I don't know."

§

It was finally Christmas time. Harry and Ron sat in the Great Hall playing wizard's chess while Eric and I watched and sat beside them. There weren't many people in the Great Hall other than a few groups of students preparing to leave for the holidays, some ghosts singing Christmas carols, and Professor Flitwick floating decorations to cover the huge Christmas tree that Hagrid had brought in. At the sound of footsteps drawing nearer, I turned my head to see Hermione coming over with her trunk. I gave my friend a warm smile before shifting back to watch Harry make another move,

"Knight to E-5."

Harry's knight moved across the board, and Ron started thinking. After a short moment, I saw a smirk cross my red-headed friend's lips as he spoke,

"Queen to E-5."

Ron's queen walked over to the square where Harry's knight resided before clinking the knight away with her chair.

"That's totally barbaric!" Hermione declared with a frown.

"That's wizard's chess. I see you've packed," Ron said, nodding to Hermione's trunk.

"See you two haven't."

"Change of plans. My parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother, Charlie. He's studying dragons there!"

"And my parents decided to spend their Christmas in Paris for their anniversary, so Thomas and I can stay here for the holiday," Eric explained with a smile.

"Good," Hermione nodded, "You can help Harry and Ella, then. They're going to go to the library for information on Nicholas Flamel."

"We've looked a hundred times!" Ron whined, causing Hermione to lean closer to the four of us,

"Not in the restricted section... Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas, Hermione," I beamed before she turned to leave the Great Hall.

"I think we've had a bad influence on her," Eric snickered, causing Harry, Ron and I to nod and then return to the game.

On Christmas Eve, with permission from Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout, Eric and I joined Harry and Ron in their dormitory, seeing as everyone else had gone home for the holiday. Ron and Eric were super excited as we all hopped into our beds, but Harry and I didn't think we had anything to be excited about. The Dursleys had never really included the two of us in their Christmases besides having us serve them dinner. The only thing we always got was two shortbread cookies each. After Eric, Ron, Harry and I all said goodnight, the lights were turned off, and the four of us went to sleep.

The next morning, I was woken up by distant shouting.

"Harry!" I heard Ron yell, followed by Eric's voice,

"Ella! Wake up!"

"Come on, you two, wake up!" Eric and Ron both shouted from the common room as Harry and I sat up, putting on our glasses and looking at one another with tired faces. Not wanting to keep our friends waiting, Harry and I got up and ran to the balcony overlooking the Gryffindor common room to see Ron and Eric standing beside the small Christmas tree.

"Happy Christmas, Harry and Ella," Ron and Eric smiled, both clad in sweaters, one sporting an E and the other an R.

"Happy Christmas, Ron and Eric," I replied with Harry simultaneously, our lips stretching into smiles at the sight of our happy friends.

"What are you wearing?" my brother questioned the two boys with a furrowed brow, causing Ron to explain,

"Oh, Mum made them for us. Looks like you've both got one, too!"

"We've got presents?" I asked, shocked by the mere thought.

"Yeah!" Eric encouragingly grinned, beckoning my brother and me down with a wave of his hand.

"Oh!" we exclaimed, turning to run down the stairs.

"There they are," Ron pointed, sitting on the arm of the couch eating jelly beans. Eric offered me a chocoball that I happily accepted as Harry picked up a silver-wrapped package. Eric sat beside Ron as I moved to sit beside my brother as he took out the card attached to the package.

"'Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you both. Use it well,'" Harry read, causing me to tilt my head in confusion. My brother and I furrowed our brows at our friends, who simply shrugged before the two of us opened the box

"What is it?" Eric asked, and I answered as Harry stood to hold it up,

"Some kind of... cloak."

"Well, let's see then. Put it on," Ron urged, causing Harry to look at me, silently asking if he could try it first. With a nod from me, Harry pulled the cloak on, and my eyes went wide as all of him disappeared except for his head.

"Whoa!" Ron and Eric exclaimed, putting their sweets aside.

"Your body's gone!" I told my twin, causing his eyes to widen as he looked down in shock.

"I know what that is!" Ron declared, "That's an invisibility cloak!"

"I'm invisible?" Harry questioned, looking down at himself again and doing a spin.

"They're really rare," Eric stated, moving to look at the card that came with the box, "I wonder who gave it to you."

"There was no name," Harry said as he came over to us, "It just said, 'Use it well.'"