Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

24

Hermione was thrilled when Harry told her he wasn't going to go after the mirror. It seemed Dumbledore hadn't just visited her that night but Harry as well. However, Harry had been having nightmares of his parents vanishing in a flash of green light. Worse, they still hadn't found anything on Flamel. Of course, Hermione also been busying herself in reading the book she had found. 

Hermione found Delores Bickerman a bit harsh and cruel towards people given the book teaches people how to use animals to keep people away from you. Animals, especially predators, were another story. Mrs. Bickerman had stated in her book she had tons of crocs and gators on her property and around her house and just adores each and everyone of them. She even sleeps with a python she named Poppy.  Hermione knew that some people can drive you nuts but Delores Bickerman made it like all people were trash. 

They had almost given up of ever finding Flamel in the library even though Harry was still sure he'd read the name somewhere. Sadly when term started up again, they had to result in shorter time in the library, even shorter for Harry, who had quidditch practice to go to. Poor Harry was being worked harder than before with Wood, who seemed determined to win this years Quidditch Cup more than ever. But it wasn't as bad as when Harry came rushing up to where Hermione and Ron had collected books and were sitting and reading and told them Snape was refereeing the next game. 

"Don't play! Pretend to break your leg!" Hermione shot at him. 

"Say you're ill... or really break your leg." Ron suggested to him. 

"I can't! There isn't a reserved Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all." Harry explained to them. Before Hermione could say something else, they we cut off when Neville toppled into the room in a Leg-Locker Curse. It was clear Neville must have bunny hopped his way to Gryffindor tower. While everyone was laughing their heads off, Hermione jumped up on her feet and hurried to help Neville. 

"What happened?" Hermione asked Neville as she lead him over to Harry and Ron. 

"Malfoy. I met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practice that on." he explained to her. Hermione felt fury filling her system. 

"Go to Professor McGonagall! Report him!" Hermione urged him. Neville shook his head. 

"I don't want more trouble." 

"You've got to stand up to him, Neville! He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier." Ron stated to him. 

"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done that." Neville chocked out. 

Hermione sighed as she lightly patted Neville on the back. Harry walked over and handed Neville a Chocolate Frog. 

"You're worth twelve of Malfoy," Harry told him, "The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin." 

Neville gave a weak smile as he unwrapped the frog. 

"Thanks, Harry... I think I'll go to bed... do you want the car, you collect them, don't you?" Neville asked while he handed the card to Harry. As Neville walked away, Harry looked at the card. 

"Dumbledore again," He said, "He was my first one I ever--" 

Suddenly Harry gasped when he looked at the back of the card. 

"I've found him! I I've found Flamel! I told you I'd read the name somewhere! I read him on the train coming here! Look-- 'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel!" 

The moment he said that, Hermione jumped to her feet as she told the boys to hold on for a minute. She hurried to her dorm room to grab an enormous old book and come right back. 

"I never thought to look in here! I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading!" She stated to them. 

"Light?" Ron asked her. She gave him a dirty look before turning her focus on the right page. 

"I knew it! I knew it! Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!" Hermione cheered. 

"The what?" Harry and Ron asked. 

"Honestly! Don't you two read?" Hermione questioned them, "Here-- the Sorcerer'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... the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera love. Mr. Flamel, who celbrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight)." 

"The dog myst be guarding Flamel's Sorcerer's Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!" Hermione explained to them. 

"A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!" said Harry, "No wonder Snape wants it! Everybody would want it!"  

The next morning in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione could overhear Ron and Harry talking about what they would do with the stone if they had one. It wasn't until Ron brought up how he would buy his own Quidditch team when Harry jolted up in his seat. 

"I'm going to play." Harry suddenly said, "If I don't, all the Slytherins will think I'm just too scared to face Snape. I'll show them! It will wipe the smiles off their faces if we win." 

"Or... we'll be the one's wiping you off the field." Hermione warned him. However, there was nothing Hermione could say to convince Harry to stop him from playing. If she couldn't stop him, she'll sure as hell make sure he was going to be safe.