meant to be (1)

59

"Sir, the Stone!"

"It was Quirrell!"

"He's got the Stone!"

"Quick!"

These were some of the things Harry and I had said, before Dumbledore cut us off: "'Calm yourselves, you are a little behind the times. Quirrell does not have the Stone!"

"Then who does? Sir, I-" I said a little too annoyed, waiting for an answer.

"Julie, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have me thrown out"

Even though I was very impatient and wanted to argue something in me told me to relax. I looked at Harry, who was looking around the room.

'Tokens from your friends and admirers." said Dumbledore, beaming. "What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows."

Harry and I exchanged quick looks, grinning at each other.

"I believe your friends Mister Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a lavatory seat. No doubt they thought it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be very hygienic, and confiscated it"

At this, I started laughing.

"How long have we been in here?" Harry asked

"Three days. Mr Ronald Weasley and Miss Granger will be most relieved you have come round, they have been extremely worried!"

"But sir, the Stone-" I said

"I see you are not to be distracted. Very well, the Stone. Professor Quirrell did not manage to take it from you. I arrived in time to prevent that, although you were doing very well on your own, I must say!"

"You got there? You got Hermione's owl?"

"We must have crossed in mid-air. No sooner had I reached London than it became clear to me that the place I should be was the one I had just left. I arrived just in time to pull Quirrell off you-"

"It was you"

"I feared I might be too late!'"

"You nearly were, I couldn't have kept him off the Stone much longer-"

"Not the Stone, boy, you - and Julie! You were in a terrible state. The effort involved in casting that spell nearly killed you. For one terrible moment there, I was afraid it had. It's a miracle how you even stayed conscious for so long, Julie." Dumbledore said. "I have a question for you, but you have to answer completely honestly. Before casting the spell at Quirrell, did you feel any different than usually, Julie?"

"Well.." I started, amazed at the fact that he knew. "I felt this extreme need to protect Harry and my whole body was tingling."

"Thank you, Julie. That's all I need to know for now." he smiled. I was confused. Why would that matter ans what does it mean? "As for the Stone, it has been destroyed!"

"Destroyed?" Harry and I said blankly at the same time. I forgot all my thoughts about what Dumbledore just asked me.

"But your friend - Nicolas Flamel-" I continued.

"Oh, you know about Nicolas?" said Dumbledore, sounding quite delighted. "You did do the thing properly, didn't you?" Well, Nicolas and i have had a little chat and agreed it's all for the best."

"But that means he and his wife will die, won't they?" I asked.

'They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in order and then, yes, they will die!"