chapter: 22

If you want to read ahead by 10 chapters from her you can visit my Patre-on.

{P} {A} {T} {R} {E} {O} {N}

https://patreon.com/Playerfanfic

-----------

"Do you know what trouble you're getting me into? If anyone learns that two of Hogwarts priceless artifacts are in my home, I would get sent to Azkaban for sure!" Nicholas exclaimed as he waved his hand indicating the Fat Lady who was chatting amicably with the Sorting hat. Nicholas placed a modified one way privacy ward so that the painting couldn't see beyond five feet to protect Harry's identity.

"You didn't like it?" Harry asked as he frowned.

"It was a lovely gift Harry" Perenelle said. "Though I wish your next gift would be obtained through legal means."

Harry's face blanched at hearing the word legal. "But that's boring! Where's the fun in doing that?" The boy who lives complained. "There's no thrill..."

Penny sighed as she smiled at the young boy. At least his intentions were pure, but the manner of how he acquired his Christmas present was hilarious. The boy had a twisted sense of what was right and what was wrong, and she knew it would take a long time to correct that.

"By the way... did you finish the potion?" Harry asked.

"I just finished this last night." Nicholas said as he fished out a bottle from his pockets and handed it out to the young thief. "That potion would let you pass through the fire unharmed."

Harry smiled and nodded in thanks. He enjoyed solving the challenges that the Headmaster placed as protection for the Philosopher's stone. However, the last barrier proved difficult as he didn't trust the indicated potion that he was supposed to drink in the last protection since he was sure Severus Snape brewed it.

He would never drink anything the man made.

"So Hagrid... is the stone safe? Is the Cerberus doing well?" Albus asked in a loud voice, knowing well that Harry was reading in the corner of the library. "I know he likes to sleep after hearing music."

Hagrid stared dumbly at the Headmaster, wondering why he was asking such a thing and not in his office. "Errr Yes Professor, Fluffy's doing well... I was worried after his fight with that mountain troll, but he seems fine."

"I am sure Nicholas Flamel would be happy to learn that his stone is safe." Albus said aloud, discretely peering between the bookshelves where he knew the boy who lived was on the other side finishing his assignments.

"Errr sure Professor Dumbledore" Hagrid said, wondering where this was going.

"And I had recently inserted the stone inside the Mirror of Erised." Albus continued. He was getting desperate as it was nearing the end of the school year. He noticed Quirrell was acting more strangely than usual and knew the man was about to steal the stone.

"Quirrell would never figure out that to retrieve the stone, one has to find it, not use it." The Headmaster said again. "But if he manages to obtain it... Voldemort will come back again to power."

"Professor, shouldn't we discuss this in your office?" Hagrid whispered. "And why are you talking to the book case?"

"Perhaps you are right Hagrid" Albus said. Confident that the boy who lived had all the information the headmaster headed back to his office.

Harry sighed as he continued writing his assignment for Transfiguration. This was getting ridiculous... and it seemed the Headmaster had abandoned all pretense of being discreet.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" Hermione said as she put her bag full of books opposite the chair Harry was sitting on.

"Really?" Harry asked.

Hermione sighed as she sat across her friend. "You agreed to study together after lunch, but you suddenly took off as soon as you finished your meal. You didn't even wait for me and Padma!"

"You were taking too long" Harry shrugged as he finished writing his assignment. Carefully rolling the scroll, he placed it on his bag and pulled out his new toy to play with.

Hermione by now was used to her friend's strange habits and only gave the strange object in Harry's hand a passing glance, but the strange glint caught her eye. "What's that Harry?"

"It's just a paperweight." Harry said as he made the 'paperweight' spin around the smooth desk. It made a strange noise and the young thief admired it as it sparkled against the light. "So where's Padma?"

Hermione stared at the strange red stone and looked back at Harry who was looking at her intently.

"It looks like a ruby..." Hermione observed then she remembered Harry had asked her a question. "Anyway Padma and I decided to split up to look for you. She headed to the common room while I searched the library. She'll probably head here soon."

Harry nodded and leaned back on his chair, looking around for something to do.

"Harry, Is that Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked when she spotted the Headmaster and Hagrid walking towards the exit.

"Yeah" Harry said as he stared at the Headmaster's back.

"What are they doing here? Surely the Headmaster has his own private library." Hermione said. "I read from Hogwarts, a history that Dumbledore's personal collection is among the most extensive in Europe. Surely he's not looking for a book here."

"Maybe he's getting desperate." Harry said as a smile crossed his face.

"Catch!" Harry said as he tossed the package towards the old man. The boy who lived was happy since he was able to complete his first mission.

"Oh Good!" Nicholas beamed at his young friend, his irritation with the boy vanishing in an instant.

Nicholas inspected his Philosopher's stone for any sign of damage, and satisfied that everything was fine he glanced at the boy who lived. "You did well Harry, I'm proud of you."

"Thanks." Harry grinned as he sat down on the chair in front of the desk.

"Did you find the last defense after the fire difficult?" Nicholas asked.

"Not really... it was tricky at first but I manage to figure it out." Harry said. "The stone was hidden inside a magical mirror."

"A mirror?" Nicholas asked.

"Yeah... it shows your heart's desire." Harry grinned.

"That's the mirror of Erised... it's an old artifact, and very, very dangerous." The old man said. "How did you remove the stone from the mirror?"

"I was excited that i would finally complete my first mission... and getting my hands on the most valuable thing that I have acquired so far that I was solely focused on finding the stone." Harry explained.

-----------

If you want to read ahead by 10 chapters from her you can visit my Patre-on.

{P} {A} {T} {R} {E} {O} {N}

https://patreon.com/Playerfanfic