"You, my dear, seem to have a knack at Potions."
Aria's eyes widened at her head of house's statement. Professor Snape stood next to the Herbology professor and Professor McGonagall stood on her other side. Why Aria needed an entire audience for ju...
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~*~
Snape was indeed the bad guy, and Harry had convinced Aria of it. After another match against Ravenclaw (Hufflepuff had lost), and a match against Gryffindor (this time Hufflepuff had been close and had only lost by the catching of the Snitch), Harry had shared the news he, Ron, and Hermione had found. The reason that Snape had been snooping up on the third floor was to find the Sorcerer's Stone.
Hermione slammed the book down in front of Aria when she sat down at their table in the corner of the Gryffindor common room. Thankfully, Fred and George had been out with Lee so they weren't snooping around. The book was open to a page that Aria recognized. She had probably skimmed over it once or twice.
"Right here," she said, pointing to a specific entry. "This is why Snape has been snooping. We think that he's getting it for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
Aria furrowed her eyebrows. "But Voldemort is dead."
Ron and Hermione reacted harshly. Harry seemed indifferent.
"Sorry," she quickly apologized. "It's not so big in America. But what does this have to do with me?"
Harry shared a look with his two friends. "Just read it."
Aria did as he said, bending her head and reading the following passage:
The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.
There have been many reports of the Philosopher's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Parenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).
Aria looked up again. "You really think that Professor Dumbledore would leave something so important within Hogwarts instead of in a vault? And how do you really know if it's the Stone or not?"
"After someone broke into Gringotts, do you really think it's the safest place?" Ron asks. "Besides, Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard in the world. Of course he can keep it safe."
"And when we asked about what Hagrid and Harry got at Gringotts, he let it slip that it had something to do with Nicolas Flamel," Hermione added. "This is the only thing that makes sense."
"I still don't see what this has to do with me," said Aria.
"We think that, since you're so close with Professor Snape, maybe you can keep an eye out on him. Make sure he doesn't do anything suspicious. After Halloween, the curse, and the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, it has to be him."
