enchanted • draco malfoy

Year 1: Christmas!

Felicity's POV

Ron, Hermione, Harry, and I walked with Hagrid down to his hut; we were explaining our theory about Professor Snape when he interrupted us. "Nonsense," Hagrid said dismissively, "Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?"

Harry shrugged. "Who knows?" he asked, "Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?"

Hagrid cast him a sideways glance, brow furrowed. "Who told you about Fluffy?" he asked gruffly.

"Fluffy?" I questioned, incredulous. "That thing has a name?" Hermione asked with distaste. "Well, of course he's got a name! He's mine!" Hagrid replied indignantly, "Bought him off an Irish fellow I met down in the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the..." Hagrid trailed off.

"Yes?" Harry asked expectantly. "Shouldn't have said that, nope," Hagrid muttered, "No more questions! Don't ask anymore questions, ya hear me? That's top secret, that is."

"But, Hagrid," Harry said earnestly, "Whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it!" Hagrid grumbled, "Codswallop, Snape's a teacher here at Hogwarts, he wouldn't be breakin' into nothin'!"

"Hogwarts teacher or not, I know what I saw," Hermione insisted, "Hagrid, I know a spell when I see one. I've read all about them. You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking!"
1
"Exactly," Harry and I confirmed in unison. Hagrid sighed. "Now you listen to me, all four of ya. You're meddlin' in things that ought not to be meddled in! It's dangerous! What that dog is guarding is strictly in between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel!"

There was silence.

"Nicholas Flamel?" Harry said, interested. Hagrid's eyes widened.

"I shouldn't have said that," he muttered, "I should not have said that." The four of us watched Hagrid's retreating figure before Harry spoke.

"Nicholas Flamel... who's Nicholas Flamel?"

Ron, Hermione, and I all shook our heads. "I don't know," Hermione replied quietly.

***

I walked with Hermione down the halls full of crowded students, all of them waiting for the carriages to take them back to Kings Cross Station for Christmas Break. Neville and I told Gran we wanted to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas, and she grudgingly agreed. Hermione, unfortunately, had chosen to go back to her parent's home for Christmas, which I supposed I understood.

We walked toward Ron and Harry, who were sitting at the Gryffindor table, playing Wizard's Chess. "Knight, to E5," Harry commanded. Ron examined the board before smiling. "Queen, to E5," he said smugly. His queen piece moved forward, before stepping off her chair and swinging it at the knight's head, busting him in half.

Hermione shook her head. "That's totally barbaric," she commented, her eyebrows furrowed together. "That's Wizard's Chess," Ron corrected, before looking Hermione up and down. "I see you've packed," he stated. "I see you haven't," Hermione retorted, a hand on her hip.

"Change of plans; my parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother, Charlie. He's studying dragons there," Ron bragged. "Good," Hermione shot back, "You can two can go help Felicity look in the library for information on Nicholas Flamel."

Ron rolled his eyes. "We've looked a hundred times," he groaned. Hermione leaned over the table. "Not in the Restricted Section," she whispered secretively. She pulled back as if nothing had been said and smiled. "Happy Christmas!"

Eventually, Hermione and I walked down to the carriages. I pretended to sob, sniffling and wiping fake tears from my eyes. "I'm gonna miss you, Mione," I cried. She rolled her eyes and pulled me into a hug. I laughed and hugged her back tightly.