The Slytherin Princess and the Gryffindor Prince: The Sorcerer's Stone

8. New Dilemmas

January 6th, 2007
Harry's POV

"I can't believe I was so stupid! How did I not remember reading this? Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!" Hermione slammed a heavy book down in front of the three of us and huffed. "That has to be it."

Unfortunately, we had found nothing on Flamel at the Manor and were back to sifting through every book in the library.

"The Sorcerer's Stone? What's that?" I went to open the book, but she slapped my hand away and opened it to the page herself.

"Honestly, you were raised in this world. I don't know how you and Ron never heard of it." She pointed at a paragraph, but didn't give us enough time to read before summarizing herself. "The stone produces the Elixir of Life and can turn any metal into pure gold."

Jade shifted so that she was a little closer to Ron and examined the page, brow furrowed and her chin resting on her fist. "Living forever...I don't understand. Professor Snape is so miserable, why would he want to live longer than he has to? Why would anyone want that?"

"Maybe he just wants it for the gold." Ron flipped the page to see if there was any more information on the stone and then pulled back. "I know I would."

Jade didn't speak. The part about living forever really seemed to bother her.

"'Arry, Hermione, Ron, Jade." Hagrid's booming voice startled all of us, causing us to stare up at him with wide eyes and racing hearts. "Y'all 're awful jumpy."

"We weren't expecting you to be here." Jade quickly shut the book and smiled up at him. "Hey, what...why do you have books on Dragons?"

"Shh!" He hissed. "Can't explain righ' now. Come ter my hut tonigh' after classes, I've got somethin' real fascinatin' ter show yeh!" He fiddled with the books in his hands for a moment as the four of us exchanged looks with sinking feelings in our stomachs. "Well, did ya find anythin' on Flamel?"

"Oh, yes." It was Ron who spoke up, looking smug as Hagrid's look turned to horror. "We found that he's the only known maker of the--"

"Shhhhhhhhhhhh!" At a sharp look from Madame Pince herself, Hagrid spoke at us in a harsh whisper. "Y'all're messin' in things ya ought not to be messin' in!"

"Seems like you are, too." I nodded at the books in his hands before he huffed and stomped off.

"Please tell me he doesn't have an actual dragon." Hermione grimaced, and Ron shook his head.

"He's lost his mind if he has."

Jade, however, looked slightly intrigued. "I mean, a little one couldn't hurt..."

"Jade, they get bigger." Ron reminded her, gathering up his books. "Come on, we're going to be late for potions."

Jade sighed. "I hate potions."

"Oh, Snape likes you." I shoved my books into my bag a littler harder than I should have. "Quit whining, it's not torture for you."

*~*~*

Jade's POV

A dragon. A real, live dragon sat in front of me, pretty little eyes gazing into mine as if it knew me. My friends stared at one another, horrified, while Hagrid and I admired the baby.