NICHOLAS FLAMEL!

DECEMBER 1991

1st Year

• • • •

Harry, Hermione, Annabelle and Ron were walking along a path with Hagrid, talking about their theory on Snape. 

"Nonsense. Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?" Hagrid asked.

"Who knows. Why was he trying to get past that three headed dog on Halloween?" Harry countered.

"Who told you 'bout Fluffy?" Hagrid asked them, confused.

"Fluffy?" Ron exclaimed.

"That thing has a name?" Hermione asked him.

"And of all things you called him, Fluffy?" Annabelle asked, incredulously.

"Well, of course he's got a name," Hagrid said, "He's mine. I bought him off an Irish feller I met down at the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-" He cut himself off.

"Yes?" Harry and Annabelle pressed.

"Shouldn'ta said that. Don't ask any more questions. That's top secret, that is," Hagrid ordered.

"But Hagrid, whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it!" Harry cried.

"Codswallop. Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher," Hagrid shook his head.

"Hogwarts teacher or not, I know a curse when I see one," Hermione told the half-giant, "I've read all about them. You have to keep eye contact,"

"And Snape wasn't blinking," Annabelle added.

"Exactly," Harry nodded.

Hagrid sighed, "Now, you listen to me, all four of you. You're meddlin' in things that ought not to be meddled in. It's dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel," He stated.

"Nicholas Flamel?" Harry asked him.

"I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that. I should not have said that," Hagrid mumbled, rushing away from the first years.

"Nicholas Flamel...," Harry muttered, before turning to his sister and friends, "Who's Nicholas Flamel?"

"I don't know," Hermione shrugged, the others doing the same.

***

"You know the offer still stands," Hermione told Annabelle, as the pair made their way to the Great Hall, the bushy-haired brunette wheeling her trunk behind her, "My parents won't mind,"

"I know," Annabelle nodded, "But I think my first Christmas as a witch should be spent here, with Harry," She told her friend - who nodded with an understanding smile.

"I get it," She said as they entered the Great Hall - where students were leaving and ghosts are singing - approaching Ron and Harry - who were playing chess, "Maybe next time?"

"Definitely," The redhead nodded.

"Knight to E-5," Harry commanded the piece, which moved across the board.

Ron thought for a moment, "Queen to E-5," He smirked, and his queen walked over to E-5 and smashed the knight away with it's chair.

"That's totally barbaric!" Hermione exclaimed.

"That's wizard's chess," Ron told her.

"Doesn't mean it's not barbaric," Annabelle muttered, sitting down next to Harry.

"I see you've packed," Ron commented, nodding at the brunette's packed trunk.

"See you haven't," Hermione shot back.

"Change of plans," Ron said, "My parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother, Charlie. He's studying dragons there!"

"Good. You can help Harry and Annabelle, then," Hermione told the boy, "They're going to go the library for information on Nicholas Flamel,"

"We've looked a hundred times!" Ron cried.

Hermione leant forward, "Not in the restricted section...," She told them, lowering her voice, "Happy Christmas," She smiled, starting to leave the Great Hall.

"I think we've had a bad influence on her," Ron told the twins.

"I'd say," Annabelle chuckled, standing up to chase after her best friend, "Let me walk you to the train?" She asked, after catching up to the surprisingly fast girl - who smiled.

"Please," Hermione nodded.

***

"I'll owl you your present," Hermione told Annabelle, giving her a hug.

"Oh, I don't need a-"

"Nonsense," Hermione cut the girl off, "It's Christmas," She said, making the redhead break out into a grin.

"Merry Christmas, Hermione," Annabelle smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Annie," Hermione told her, before getting onto the train, sending one last smile and wave to Annabelle, before going to find herself a compartment.

"You alright there, Bella!" Fred's voice asked the girl, as he swung his arm around her shoulder.

"I'm alright thanks," She smiled up at the older boy, "Just saying bye to Hermione," The girl said, before looking at the packed trunk beside him, then back up at his face, "I thought your parents were going to Romania with your brother, Charlie?" She questioned him.

"Oh, they are," Fred smiled, "Georgie and I are spending Christmas with Lee,"

"And Percy?" Annabelle asked.

"Going to Romania with them," Fred answered, "So is Ginny,"

"Your little sister, right?" Annabelle smiled up at him.

"That is correct," The older redhead smirked.

"I hope you have a good Christmas with Lee and your brother, then," Annabelle told him.

"You too," Fred smiled, "Oh, which reminds me," He said, reaching into the inside pocket of his coat, pulling out a small, messily wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper, box, with a bow tied around it, "Merry Christmas," The boy grinned, holding it out for the girl to take.

"I didn't know we were doing gifts," Annabelle muttered, licking her lips, gently taking the object out of the boy's hands.

"Oh, no, I was at Hogsmeade last week and thought, uh...," The older of the two trailed off.

"Thanks, Fred," Annabelle grinned.

"Oi, Fred!" George's voice echoed throughout the station, "There's plenty of time to flirt after Christmas! We gotta go!" He cried, "Oh, and hi Anna!"

The pair chuckled, as Annabelle gave the boy a wave, before turning back to the boy in front of her.

"Uh, Merry Christmas," She smiled, before tentatively giving him a hug.

"Merry Christmas, Bella," Fred muttered, before they pulled away and Fred left to get on the train with Lee and George, sending the younger girl one last smirk and wink, before clambering on, leaving Annabelle and some of the other students who were staying at Hogwarts for Christmas standing on the platform.