Harry was running along with Ron while they continued to follow Cora, since this one had gone out almost inmediately towards the girls bathroom, where Hermione was, foreign of the danger of the troll. When the boys came to the corridor that was preceding the baths, they found the redhead hidden behind one of the corners. When Cora saw them, she did a quick gesture to them so that they hid with her. Harry and Ron did what she asked them, and after a few seconds they could observe what was that Cora saw a few moments ago: the troll was not in the dungeons anymore.

—It's going to the girls bathroom! —exclaimed Harry on a worried way.

While, in the bathroom, Hermione had just gone out of one of the baths after she finished crying. At the same moment in which she was drying the tears, the girl saw with light fear and horror two enormous feet right in front of her. She looked up, and met face to face with the horrible and dangerous troll that had just entered. Hermione, scared, began to step back towards the baths, with the hope to be able to go out there alive. On having seen that the eleven-year-old girl was stepping back, the troll advanced towards her. As soon as it raised its right arm (in which it was holding a big mace) to hit her, Hermione was quick enough as to enter the bath that it had to her back, to try to protect herself from the blow. The troll destroyed the top part of all the baths with the powerful blow of its mace, and threw the rubble on the defenseless girl. In this critical moment, Cora, Harry, and Ron entered the baths, remaining almost petrified by the fear towards that being. Harry saw that Hermione was between the rubble, and shouted.

—Hermione, get away!

The small witch tried to crawl up to other of the baths, but the troll gave another big heavy blow to the baths, almost destroying them completely, therefore it was impossible for Hermione to escape from there. Cora took then one of the wooden matchwood that had fallen down to the ground and threw it towards the troll.

—Help! —Hermione was shouting with big fear—: Help!

—Hey, you! Stupid monster! —the redhead shouted, with the hope that the troll would keep his attention away from Hermione.

The two boys did the same as their friend, and they began to throw the troll everything that they were able to find at their feet.

—Hey! Pea brain! —exclaimed Ron before throwing a wooden piece with enough aim, since this one struck the troll in the forehead, distracting him enough so that Hermione managed to crawl up to the sinks. Nevertheless, the troll reacted quickly and observed where Hermione had been located, to what he lifted its mace once again. Hermione had the right time to shelter under another sink, since if she had not moved, the mace of the troll might have killed her.

—Help! —the eleven-year-old girl exclaimed once again, utterly terrified.

Without thinking too much, Harry and Cora ran up to the troll and jumped to its enormous mace (which he had raised once again to strike Hermione), clutching on it strongly. On having released it, both fell down in its nape, for what the troll began to turn around to be able to catch them. Cora managed to beat him until the spawn himself threw her in the air, making her to hit the wall with a dry noise, which made worry Hermione, since this blow had resonated like that of hundreds of bones breaking to the unison. Harry was still in the troll's neck, and while he was trying not to fall down, he put its wand in one of the nasal orifices of the troll. Nevertheless, the horrible monster son caught him with his left hand. Turning its attention away completely from Hermione, the troll began to try to strike Harry with its mace, the child avoiding it nearly.

—Do something! —Harry exclaimed to Ron.

—What!?

—Anything! —Harry answered while he avoided the blow again—. But hurry!

Ron pulled out his wand of his tunic and aimed with her at the troll. Cora, on the other hand, had got up from the hard ground and was approaching with slow steps towards Ron, standing beside him.

—Swich and flick. —Hermione reminded Ron.

—Wingardium Leviosa! —said Ron, the spell working and levitating the mace of the troll, taking it from his hand without he noticing it.

Cora looked at the troll and pulled out her wand within a few seconds. As soon as she did it, Hermione discerned that her eyes shone lightly with a much more crimson glow. The redheaded girl simply pointed at the mace with her wand and this was transformed into a golden mace all of a sudden.

—Now, let it fall on his head. —said Cora in a somewhat gloomy and satisfied tone.

The troll, who had just realized that he did not have his mace when he tried to hit Harry, looked up, and just then the golden mace hit him in the head, making him fall to the ground, releasing Harry in the process. Hermione came out of her hideout and approached Cora, for it seemed that the crimson gleam of her eyes had vanished.

—Is it... dead? —Granger asked.

—I don't think so, just unconscious. —Harry answered her while he recovered his wand from the nose of the troll—. Puaj, snots of troll... —he mentioned on a disgusted way while he cleaned his wand.

—Cora! Your chest is bleeding! —exclaimed Hermione slightly scared, while she looked at the jersey that the redhead was wearing, and that in spite of being dark, began to be dyed slowly of a red brilliant colour.

—I must have broken some bone due to that blow... —said Cora with some irony while she placed a hand in her chest, trying to stop the bleeding.

In this moment, three of the teachers came running to the bath: Professor McGonagall, Pofessor Snape, and Professor Quirrell.

—My god! —Professor McGonagall exclaimed—. You can already go giving me an explanation of this!

Snape directed an inquiring look to the three children and these lowered its faces, shamed. None of them dared to say not even a word of what had happened. In this moment, a light voice was noticed.

—Professor McGonagall... They were looking for me.

—Hermione Granger! —exclaimed surprised McGonagall.

—I went in search of the troll. I have read a lot about them and I thought that I could have beaten him. —said Hermione to the teacher, making that both Ron and Harry widden their eyes, since they were not expecting that Hermione was lying to teacher—. If they had not found me, perhaps I would be dead. Harry stuck his wand on his nose, Cora transformed the mace into one of gold, and Ron made him hit with it. They did not have time to go to look for help. It was on the point of killing me when they came.

—If it has happened as you say so... it has been a real madness. —Professor McGonagall said still without breath.

While she was speaking, Harry noticed a wound that Professor Snape had in his right leg, who, on having realized that he was observing it, quickly covered it.

—I expected a much more rational behavior on your part. And I am very disappointed with you, Miss Granger. —pronounced herself McGonagall with a certain annoyance voice—. 5 points will be removed from Gryffindor for your serious lack of judgment. — she added while Hermione crouched her head—. As for you three... I hope you value how fortunate you are: not many first year students have faced a giant troll and have lived to tell it. —the witch lectured them—. You gain 5 points... each one for Gryffindor. Professor Dumbledore will be informed about this. You can go. — the teacher commented before turning around, ready to leave.

—Teacher McGonagall wait! I think that Cora has got broken ribs! —Hermione exclaimed suddenly, remembering the blow that the trol had given to the redhead.

Cora's POV

Really Hermione? Thanks! You didn't need to say that... I'm perfectly fine. It just hurts a little. This is great... Now all the professors are looking at me.

—Miss Avery? Is that true? —asked me Professor Snape—. How has it happened? —inquired with a serious and unkind voice.

—Harry and I had climbed up to the neck of the troll, when suddenly, this one managed to throw me against the wall. The blow was quite strong, therefore it took me some amount of time to get up from the ground. —I answered him with some indifference, since I did not feel like giving too many explanations—. Nevertheless it is not serious at all.

—That is not true. I have listened to the blow myself, and it has been horrible: it has sounded like a pile of bones breaking to the unison. —Hermione commented.

—Hermione! —I mumbled angered between my teeth.

—If that's true, if it's nothing serious, remove your hand from your chest and abdomen. —Professor Snape commanded earnestly as he took a threatening step towards me, which made me realize that he was limping and had a wound in his right leg.

I did what he had asked, and as soon as I withdrew my hand, the blood fell back in a coup, staining part of the ground. The professors looked at me horrified, McGonagall and Snape approaching me quickly.

—Let's take her to the hospital wing. —said Professor McGonagall—. Without complains, Avery. —she added in a serious voice after looking at my face, and noticing that I did not agree with her plan at all—. Severus, you should carry her in your arms. I'm afraid she might faint if she walks in her condition.

Professor Snape looked at me very unenthusiastic about that task, and reluctantly took me in his arms. Within a few seconds of doing so, his eyes widdened slightly, to which he began to walk quickly to the hospital wing, advancing Professor McGonagall in the process.

—Severus!? —inquired the teacher, surprised he walked so fast.

—I'm afraid Miss Avery has not only the bones of the ribs broken, Minerva. —explained Snape—. The bones have broken the skin and have gone out of the body.

The two professors quickly took me to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey began her task of healing me. First of all, she took off my tunic and sweater, leaving me with the white shirt, which was dyed red and in which you could see several lumps. As Professor Snape had said, the bones of my ribs had broken the skin and were protruding.

Within a few hours, after withstanding a great pain for the reconstruction and positioning of my bones, I was resting quietly in one of the nursing beds. While I tried to not to move too much, I began to remember what happened with the troll, and I was somewhat perplexed to remember that without even casting a spell, I had turned the mace into a gold one. And that I could remember... I hadn't learned any spell that would allow me to do such a thing. In one of those moments, I was able to listen without any trouble steps that were going towards me. After a few seconds, Harry, Ron and Hermione were right next to my bed.

—Hey Cora, how are you? —asked Hermione with a smile.

—I'm fine. Something sore, but good. —I answered.

—Thank you for coming to rescue me with Harry and Ron.

—Don't mention it. You are my best friend. —I replied with a smile.

—And you're also mine.

After saying those words, Hermione hugged me with care not to hurt me.

—Do you know how long you're going to be here? —Harry asked me in a concerned way.

—Maybe a week or just a few days. It depends on how I recover. —I explained to him calmly.

—We will come every day to see you. —said Ron.

—Thank you guys.

3rd person POV

When the month of November began, the time became very cold. It all began to acquire a greyish and white tone, since winter was already in the atmosphere. The lake seemed to be frozen steel, as its surface looked grey. That month the Quidditch season was about to begin. Cora had already recovered largely and was again wandering through the halls of Hogwarts with her friends. From time to time she encountered Malfoy trough the hallways, but only slight glances were directed before each one of them continued their respective ways. That Saturday, Harry would play his first Quidditch match, after weeks of training: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin.

The big day came, and Harry seemed to have no appetite. The day had dawned very bright and extremely cold. The Great Hall was flooded with the excited murmurs of the students, as they hoped to witness a good Quidditch match.

—You have to eat something Harry... —said Hermione, noting that Harry didn't eat.

—Even if it's a toast. —added Cora.

—Cora's right. You're going to need strength today. —said Ron.

—I'm not hungry... —Harry answered them.

Without any of the children noticing it, Professor Snape had approached their table, and was behind Harry.

—Good luck today, Potter. —he told the child—. After demonstrating your capacity in front of a troll, a Quidditch match will be insignificant. Although it is against Slytherin... —he commented with a certain air of superiority.

After saying those words, the potions professor walked away limping.

—That explains the blood! —cried Harry in a low voice.

—Blood? —asked Hermione.

—Listen: I think the day of Halloween, Snape himself let the troll loose to distract attention, and pass by the dog of the three heads. But, he was bitten and that's why he limps. —Cora explained, who had spoken to Harry about that theory.

—And why would he want to get close to that dog? —inquired Hermione.

—The day I went to Gringotts Hagrid took something out of a camera. —explained Harry—. He said it was a very secret Hogwarts affair.

—Are you implying ...?

—That's what the dog keeps, and that's what Snape wants. —concluded the child with the scar.

At that moment, an owl flew into the Great Hall. He wore a large wrapped object and seemed to be quite heavy. When he approached the Gryffindor table, Harry caught the packaged object on the flight.

—Too soon for mail... —muttered Hermione.

—Mail? It says it's for me... —said Harry somewhat stupefied.

—Let's open it. —suggested Cora.

The four Gryffindors began to open the package hastily and without contemplation.

—It's a broomstick! —cried Harry.

—That's not a broomstick, Harry. —said Ron—. It's a Nimbus 200!

—But who ...? —Harry asked before he looked at the teachers table, proving that he had been Professor McGonagall, the one who had given him that exceptional broom.

Later, the Quidditch match began. The two teams, Gryffindor and Slytherin were in the stadium where the match would be held. Harry was with his companions, among them: The Guardian, Oliver Wood, the Hunters, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinet, and the Weasley brothers (Fred and George), beaters. After trying to calm his nerves, the child went to the playground, where he was placed at a certain distance from his companions, because Wood had advised him to stay out of the danger area, and only act if he saw the golden snitch.

—I remind you that I want fair play. —said Professor Hooch, who was in charge of being the party's referee—. On everyone's part.

—The bludgers are in the air. The golden snitch follows. Don't forget that the snitch is worth 150 points. The seeker that is done with the snitch wins the game. —said Lee Jordan, friend of the Weasley twins, who was in charge of commenting the match, under the attentive gaze of Professor McGonagall.

Professor Hooch took the quaffle and threw it in the air, starting the game.

The game started quickly with players from both teams disputing the quaffle and trying to score the first goal. The possession of the ball was quite close until Angelina Johnson managed to get near enough and throw the quaffle through the central ring of Slytherin.

—Angelina Johnson scores! 10 points for Gryffindor! —exclaimed Jordan before changing the marker.

Harry, who was at a slight distance, was celebrating that first goal, when a bludger almost hit him, being later beaten by Fred Weasley.

Slytherin took possession of the quaffle and captain Marcus Flint decisively tossed the ball to the Gryffindor rings, just so that Oliver Wood deflected it. After a few passes, Gryffindor players were able to score one more time.

—10 more points for Gryffindor! —cried Jordan.

The game went on, but it didn't last long until things started to twist. After Oliver Wood cleared another shot of Marcus Flint, he picked up a bat from his team and threw one of the bludgers against the Guardian, who fell unconscious to the arena (among the laughter of the Slytherins), leaving the rings unprotected.

—10 points for Slytherin! —exclaimed Jordan after observing how they marked in the unprotected rings—. Another 10 points for Slytherin! —he added after observing how after they knocked out Angelina Johnson, they scored once more—. Of course they score... With the rival rings unprotected... Cheaters...

—Jordan! —exclaimed Professor McGonagall.

By the time Harry thought that everything was lost, the golden snitch suddenly appeared in front of him, so he darted for her at great speed. However he did not arrive far, since his broom began to give prancing and to spin in an uncontrolled way. The situation was so desperate that Harry was now hanging from the broom with only one arm.

—What's the matter with Harry's broom? —asked Hagrid, who was in the Gryffindor tribunes.

—It's Snape! —cried Cora, who was watching with her binoculars—. He's hunting the broom!

—Hunting the broom? —asked Ron—. What should we do?

—I'll take care of this. —said Hermione, before she left.

Hermione walked behind the grandstands and managed to reach the teachers ones. Calmly, she approached the place where Snape sat and made a single enchantment.

—Lacarnum Inflamari.

Instantly, Snape's robe began to burn, so there was a great tumult among the professors as they tried to extinguish the flame. Meanwhile, Harry had just regained control of his broom, and was returning to seek the snitch. He fought with the Slytherin seeker, but managed to win and in an effort to catch the snitch with his hand, he stood on his broom. Unfortunately, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. As soon as he got up, he felt he was going to trow up, but after he coughed, the only thing that came out of his mouth was ... the snitch!

—Harry Potter gets 150 points for catching the snitch! —cried Jordan.

—Gryffindor wins! —exclaimed Professor Hooch before giving the game as finished.

After leaving the game, the four friends were with Hagrid.

—Nonsense! Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom? —inquired the keeper of Hogwarts.

—Who knows ... why did he try to outwit the three-headed dog on Halloween? —said Harry.

—Who told you about Fluffy? —asked Hagrid.

—Fluffy?

—Does that thing... have a name? —inquired Ron.

—Well of course he's got a name. He's mine. —replied the keeper—. I lent it to Dumbledore to guard the...

—Yes? —inquired Cora, desirous that he should continue.

—I shouldn't have said it... no more questions! It's top secret...

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

—Nonsense. Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher.

—Hogwarts teacher or not, I recognize a spell when I see it. —said Hermione.

—You've got to keep eye contact, and Professor Snape wasn't blinking. —added Cora.

—Exactly. —said Harry.

—Listen up. I tell you to the four: you are meddling in things that are not of your concern. —Hagrid said in a grave tone—. It's dangerous. What that dog is keeping strictly concerns Professor Dumbledore, and Nicholas Flamel.

—Nicholas Flamel? —inquired Cora with a slight smile, for they had managed to make him speak more tan he should.

Hagrid was made a fury, angry at himself for telling them that information. He walked away as he muttered "I should not have said that" over and over again.

—Who is Nicholas Flamel? —asked Harry.

—No idea... —said Hermione.

—The name is familiar to me... —Cora said as she pondered—. I'll try to search my books: I'm sure I read it somewhere...

Christmas came sooner than the children expected, and many students prepared to return to their homes, however Cora could not do it that time, as her parents had written to her, explaining that they had to resolve certain important matters after her last letter, but that they would not forget to send her her Christmas present. The redhead was very saddened, because she wanted more than anything to feel that her parents supported her, even after all that happened the last two months. However, the little one was slightly comforted to learn that Ron and Harry would stay there too. Although she would miss to talk with Hermione at night...

When Hermione was about to say goodbye to her three friends, who were in the Great Hall, she observed that the boys were playing magic chess. A game similar to muggle chess, but in which the pieces were moving alone, breaking each other.

—You've already packed... —Ron said after observing Hermione.

—Unlike you.

—Change of plans: My parents are going to visit my brother Charlie in Romania. —the child informed her—. He's studying dragons there.

—Then you can help Harry and Cora. They have to go to the library to find information about Nicholas Flamel. —said Hermione.

—We've looked everywhere... —complained Ron.

Cora and Hermione looked at each other and nodded, before saying in unison:

—But not in the Forbidden Section.

—Merry Christmas. —Hermione said before she left.

The days passed, arriving the expected 25th of December. Harry woke up by Ron's sharp voice, who called him.

—Harry Wake up! Come on, Harry! Wake up!

The child of the scar peeped from the bedrooms to the Common Room, where it was Ron.

—Merry Christmas, Harry. —Ron said with a smile.

—Merry Christmas. —said Cora, who was also downstairs.

—Merry Christmas, boys. —Harry said to them—. What are you wearing? —he asked after observing Ron's sweater.

—My mother did it to me. I think you and Cora have one too. —Ron answered.

—I also have gifts!? —cried Harry before he descended at full speed down.

Cora smiled as she saw the sweater that Mrs. Weasley had made for her.

Cora's POV

How kind of her... She doesn't even know me, but she sent me this as soon as Ron has mentioned that he has a friend who goes cold at Christmas... I'm glad she made me this sweater. It's very nice.

—Cora, what have they given you as a present? —Ron asked me.

—Oh... —I said somehow suprised, for I did not find my gift—. I don't know yet. I must find it.

I began to look for my gift among the heap that was, and I managed to find a small bag with a letter in which was written my name. Calmly, I opened the envelope and started to read. It was my mother's handwriting.

"Dear Cora, we're so sorry we can't be with you at Christmas, but we hope you can forgive us. We received your letter the other day: you faced a giant troll!? Dear, we thought we told you clear enough to not to get in trouble. Your father's still a little upset about that. You told us that you had made three friends: the son of the Weasleys, Ronald, Hermione Granger and... Harry Potter. Cora, you shouldn't get close to that kid: horrible things could happen to you if you do so. The troll is an example of this. As soon as the school term is over we will have a severe talk about this topic. We were told that at first they had not selected you for a house... how worried we were! But in the end they chose you for Gryffindor. I'm glad you're at least in the house I was in. I hope you continue to maintain a friendship with the son of the Malfoys, you know that his father is very close to your dad, and could make things easier if at some point we have any sort of trouble...

Well, honey, you told me what happened with the troll mace, and we thought of sending you these special stones. They're from the family. Each generation has one. They serve to create your own spells. Isn't that great? All you have to do is think of some purpose for the spell, and keep pouring your ideas into one of the stones. When you have completed the spell, the stone will shine with its corresponding color, and you can pass the spell to your wand for later use.

We love you sweetheart,

Mom and Dad."

I see that my parents aren't too happy since I'm friends with Harry. Well, they'll have to accept it because we get along very well! As for the stones... I accept that it is a special gift and I hope that it really serves me to create new spells, because what happened with the troll mace was too strange. Perhaps I have already begun to create a spell without knowing it.

—Cora? Is everything all right? —Harry asked me.

—Huh? Oh, yes. Everything is fine. —I answered with a smile—. It's from my parents. They sent me a present.

—And what is it? —Ron asked.

—Magic stones. —I answered—. With them I can create my own spells.

—I've heard of them! They are really special... How lucky you are! —cried Ron.

—I'm happy for you. —said Harry with a smile—. When you manage to create a new spell you must tell us, so we can see it!

—Of course I will! —I said smiling.

After sighing I opened the bag, observing the stones inside it: There were seven in total. All of them had different colors and hues: One was red, another gray, the third green, one violet, one blue, another yellow, and the last was a reddish-pink color. The yellow one caught my attention instantly, for it was of the same hue as the mace that had transformed into gold. I decided which spell would be the first to create, and I thought I'd found a name for it: Deauro.

I hope you liked this chapter! I'm really sorry it took me this huge amount of time to update, but I've been thinking about how to introduce some plot ideas that I have. The first one is here: the magic stones. I hope you support somehow this idea, so don't be shy and comment if you liked it or not! Depending of how much votes and comments I receive I'll update sooner!

Look out for the next update!

CoraIzumi123