Lucy Jones 1: The beginning of a tale (HP fanfiction)

15 The Cold

The four friends spend all their free time in the library to try and discover who Nicolas Flamel is. They want to figure out what Fluffy is protecting. Hagrid told them almost nothing.

Winter starts, and they're not any closer. It's cold everywhere; Lucy does her homework with a blanket. Ron stares out the window to watch the snowflakes way too often. Harry and Lucy try to ignore it, but Hermione keeps telling him to keep reading. It bothers her that she cannot find out who Flamel is. She thinks she already saw his name somewhere but doesn't remember where.

Time flies. Christmas is around the corner. It frustrates everyone that they didn't find Flamel's name anywhere. It's not that they gave up, but it's discouraging.

Hermione is going home during the holidays. Lucy, Harry and Ron are staying. Ron's parents are going to visit one of his older brothers. The three of them put their names on a list that Professor McGonagall hung up. They decided to keep searching during the holiday. Hermoine also promised to try, but she didn't know how well she would do away from school and the library.

During the last lesson on potions, Malfoy mentions that some had no parents to go home to. He doesn't get a comment from Snape. Lucy gives him an angry stare before continuing her potion. She warms her hands at the caldron; the dungeons are almost the coldest place in the castle. The hallways are even colder, and all the students run between classes, the library and their common room.

Lucy and Hermione leave the great hall and see Harry, Ron and Hagrid. Hagrid is bringing in all the Christmas trees. They still have to be decorated.

'How many days till the holidays?' Hagrid asks.

'They begin tomorrow', Lucy says.

'That reminds me, we still have a half hour. We should be in the library.' Hermione says, sighing at the boys with her eyes: 'Maybe we'll find it today.'

'Oh yeah', Ron says. He stops looking at Professor Flitwick, who has just started decorating.

'The library on your last day. That's very persevering', Hagrid says.

'It is not for schoolwork', Harry says: 'Since you dropped the name Nicolas Flamel, we are trying to find who he is.'

'It's none of your business what that dog is guarding', Hagrid comments.

'We just want to find out who he is,' Lucy says.

'Or you can tell us now, then we don't have to go to the library', Harry comments.

Hagrid stares at them.

'Then we go to the library', Ron says, and with that, they leave him standing by himself.

In the library, they start searching, each with their own method. Harry and Ron appear to randomly take books out of the bookcases, while Lucy and Hermione use a technique. Hermione has a list she follows, and Lucy just goes by subject.

After half an hour, they aren't any wiser. They're just tired.

'You'll keep looking, right?' Hermione asks us.

'Yes.' 'Of course.' Ron and Harry replied together.

'We're going to keep searching', Lucy promises.

It's not entirely what happens. Harry and Ron spend most of their time in front of the fire. Lucy watches when Ron teaches Harry wizard chess. She gives it a go and plays against Ron, who teaches her some tricks. Lucy can play against Harry, and Ron lets her play with his set, but the chess pieces don't like that. They shout to her, 'Don't send me there, that place will be better. Sometimes they even refuse to move, and she has to keep repeating her command.