"Where did the boys go? Parker looked around.

"I don't know." Erica sighed.

"Well we need Harry's cloak or we'll get caught." Parker groaned.

"Untrue, I'm very sneaky." Erica assured her.

"You knocked over a vase five minutes ago."

"It didn't break."

"It was very loud."

"Shh!"

Parker hummed and walked about. Erica continued forward and walked straight into a door which creaked open.

"Where you off to?" Parker skipped after her.

"It wasn't intentional." Erica rubbed her nose.

"Is your nose okay?"

"I walked into the door, what do you think?"

Parker held Erica's shoulders and checked her nose.

"Does this hurt?" She poked it.

"No, it's fine." Erica shook her head.

"Good. Because... I can fix small things, but not noses."

"I could've fixed it myself."

"What are best friends for?" Parker smiled.

"Being amazing." Erica continued and stopped herself before she walked into something else.

A large... Object covered by a deep, purple curtain.

"What's this?" Parker raised a brow as she pulled the curtain off.

A... Mirror? Parker raised a brow and shrugged, not taking notice of it while she put the curtain down.

"Does your hair look good?' She joked.

"I don't need a mirror to tell me that my hair looks great." Erica rolled her eyes.

Parker giggled and stood beside her,"Woah, this mirror doesn't show you."

"What does it show then?" Erica asked quickly.

"It shows... A young girl, she has her body turned though, I can't see her face. And it's just... Figures around her." Parker spoke slowly, confused.

"Uh huh..?"

"I don't know, they're all just standing." Parker shrugged.

Erica looked in the mirror and saw... It was her. Her and Percy. He was holding her, and the words he said... Had she heard them before? Even if she had... She knew Percy never meant it...

'I love you!

Parker turned her gaze towards the top of the mirror.

"Erised stra ebru oyt I've cafru oyt on woshi." She read out.

"I show not your face but your hearts desire." Erica spoke calmly.

"So... It shows us what we desire most in the world?"

"I'd assume so." Erica nodded slowly.

"Well I don't know what I desire." Parker scoffed.

"The heart wants what the heart wants."

"We need to tell the boys about this." Parker nodded.

"That's if we can actually find them."

Parker opened her mouth to shout for the boys but shut it when she seen them walk into the room.

"Well, that was easy" Erica shrugged.

"Where have you been?" Parker pointed.

"Hiding from Filch." Harry shook his head,"And trying to avoid Snape and Quirrel."

"They're about?" Parker blinked.

"Yeah, Snape was... Well, I think he was threatening Quirrel." Harry nodded.

"What else did you hear?"

"Not much, but Snape knows something about Quirrel... Or the other way around." Ron shrugged.

"Ans you both didn't hear what it was?" Parker sighed,"I might be able to ask Draco."

"Or maybe- Hang on, what the bloody hell is that mirror doing here?" Ron blinked.

"It shows us.." Parker pointed before she did jazz hands,"Our greatest desires."

"What?" Harry glanced at the mirror,"Wait, my parents... They're there!

"What?" Ron turned.

"In the mirror!" Harry pointed.

"I don't see 'em!"

"Well, what do you see then?" Erica turned to him.

"Me as Head Boy. And Quidditch Captain too!Oh, I've won the house cup. And my god, I'm bloody handsome." Ron smiled smugly.

"I can guarantee, uh..." Erica counted on her fingers,"Maybe one of those happening."

"Me being handsome, right?"

Erica glanced away,"Uh-Yeah T-totally!"

Parker and Harry gave a small laugh as Ron clapped.

"Y'know, maybe we should go back to bed now." Erica told them.

"Yeah, I'm kinda tired." Harry agreed as he grabbed his cloak.

As everyone began leaving, Erica slowly crept into one of her passageways and, with the help of her map, arrived in the empty Gryffindor Common Room.

Erica had managed to sneak her way up to the boys dormitories by... Doing something no one had thought of. She had climbed ontop of the banister and pulled herself up there.

She happily skipped over to Percy's room and knocked on the door. Well, there were probably other people inside but she needed to see her brother.

"Give me a minute." She could hear Percy speak as he opened the door and looked above Erica,"Hello?"

"Percy!" Erica hugged him.

"What is-" Percy jumped and looked down,"Oh, hello Erica."

"Percy, I can't sleep." She tugged on his sleeve.

"What time is it?"

"Late O'clock." Erica answered.

"Late o'clock... Right. Well then you should be used to it by now. It's Christmas." He sighed.

"But Percy..." Erica sighed,"Would you rather me sleep here or wander the halls?"

"... I would rather you sleep here but this-"

"Thank you." Erica smiled up at him.

"Well hold on a minute, Erica I never said-"

"I love you!"

"Yes.. Yes.. I love you too, come on. Percy sighed.

Erica happily hugged Percy's arm, half-asleep.

Percy led her into his room and let her take the bed, "Comfy?"

"Mhm.." Erica yawned.

"Right. Goodnight, Er." Percy put the blankets over her.

"Night Percy... I love you." Erica whispered as she drifted off.

"I love you too, Erica." Percy rubbed her arm and grabbed a few pillows before he went and lay on the couch.

*********************************

The Herd was all sat in Gryffindor Common Room, discussing the Mirror and the previously mentioned, Nicholas Flamel.

"What's the matter with your face?" Ron asked Harry.

"Nothing's wrong with my face." Harry shook his head.

"You have a... Worried expression." Parker crossed her arms.

"Well, Dumbledore did tell me that the mirror can drive you crazy."

"Well, I'm not crazy." Parker hummed.

"Me either." Erica added.

"Neither." Ron held his arm out.

"Debatable." Hermione shrugged.

"She has a point." Erica studied her brother.

"I don't like how you gang up on me." Ron crossed his arms.

"Aw, you know love you."

"No you don't."

"I do!" Erica hugged him.

"Aw." Parker smiled.

That's when Neville hopped over to them, his legs seemingly bound together with invisible rope.

"Oh my- Neville?!" Hermione gasped.

"What happened?" Erica asked as she helped him sit down on the couch.

"Malfoy." Neville shook his head,"I met him outside the library, he said he was looking for someone to do practice this on."

"I'm gonna kill him." Parker got up.

"Not if I do it first." Erica was already halfway towards the entrance.

"Wait! We just need to report him. Neville." Hermione sighed.

"No, I don't want anymore trouble." Neville shook his head, looking down.

"You've got to stand up to him, Neville. He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier." Parker put her hand on his shoulder.

"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done that," Neville choked out.

Erica walked back over to Neville and wrapped an arm around her friend, she hated having to see him upset and now, he sounded like he was going to cry.

"You're worth twelve of Malfoy," Erica told him, rubbing his arm,"The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin... No offence, Parker."

"None taken." Parker shrugged.

"I think... I might go to bed." Neville sighed as he leaned into Erica.

Erica held him close before getting up and walking out, fists clenched

"Erica." Parker quickly chased after her,"Wait.

"He's asking for it." Erica continued.

"He'll hurt you too!" Parker held her arm.

"I don't care about me! I need to teach him a lesson." Erica struggled to keep going.

"Please Erica, I'll talk to him."

Erica stopped struggling and looked down at the ground. Wow, shoes. You look very shoesy today.

"Please, I don't want him hurting anyone else." Parker shook her head.

"Fine.." Erica crossed her arms and looked away.

"Thank you." Parker sighed and hugged her.

Erica was still stubborn, she still really wanted to hit Draco.

Parker thought for a second before she spoke,"You can hurt him... Later."

"Fine." She stubbornly agreed.

"Like- After I talk to him later." Parker nodded.

Erica turned away and began walking.

"I'll see you soon." Parker pointed before she ran to the Slytherin Common Room,"Draco?!"

Draco looked up from his book,"Parker? What's gotten you so upset?"

"What do you think?" Parker pointed at him.

Draco rolled his eyes,"Is this about Longbottom?"

"Of course it's about Longbottom!"

"Seriously? I'm just trying to reach him not to be so weak, toughen him up, y'know?" Draco stood up.

"He's just a shy boy." Parker pointed.

"He's a crybaby, Parker."

"So are you if I fucking hit you."

"You wouldn't.."

"I want you to apologise." Parker took a step forward.

"I'm not going to-" Draco stopped and sniffed the air,"Do you smell that?"

"Stop trying to distract me!"

"No, I'm serious!"

"I can't smell anything Dray, I have a cold." Parker shrugged.

"Parker! The dorm is on fire!" Blaise ran out.

"What?" Parker turned, immediately listening to Blaise.

"Oh, come on!" Draco sighed.

"Whose dorm?"

"Mine and Draco's, well, mainly his side." Blaise shook his head.

"Oh good. At least it wasn't-" Parker stopped herself.

"Parker!" Draco dashed into his room.

"What?" Parker groaned.

"Did your freaky friend do this?"

"Well, you hurt her friend."

They could hear Draco's noises of frustration from the other room as Erica fell out of a portrait, laughing.

"Hi Erica!" Parker waved.

"Hey Parker... And Blaise."

Blaise waved slightly,"Did you... Start the fire?"

Erica giggled,"I started the fire."

"I can tell." Blaise nodded.

Erica smiled happily,"I bet he's so happy!"

"Help!' Draco yelled from upstairs.

"So happy!"

"Erica." Parker blinked.

"What?"

"I really don't want the fire spreading to the girls dorms... Can you please put it out?"

"Ugh, fine.." Erica sighed and got into the burning Slytherin Dorms just like she did with Percy's.

"Please Erica! I'm sorry! I won't tell my father about this!" Draco shouted as he stood on the bed away from the fire.

"I suppose I could forgive you." Erica rolled her eyes as she began to put out the fires with a towel.

"Thank you." Draco whined.

"Couldn't even put put out a little bit?" Erica asked

"Not at all."

"And you call Nev weak?" Erica smirked as she skipped towards the exit.

"Shut up!" Draco pointed.

"Make. Me."

Draco looked over at Erica,"Do you want me to hurt Neville?"

Erica hesitated,"I-if you even think about touching him-"

"Then suggest you keep your mouth shut, Weasley." Draco spoke.

"Next time I'll let you burn." Erica spat as she grabbed the nearest object to her and threw it at the wall before leaving.

*********************************

The Herd were sitting at the library, trying to figure out some things.

"I had you looking in the wrong section! How could be so stupid? I checked this out a few weeks ago for a bit of light reading." Hermione slammed down a large book.

"This... Is light?" Ron blinked.

"Of course! Here it is." She pointed,"Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone!"

"The what?" Harry asked quietly.

"Honestly, don't you two read?" Parker looked at the two boys.

"The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will turn any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal." Hermione explained.

"Ooh." Erica nodded slowly.

"Immortal?" Ron raised a brow.

"It means you live-"

"We know what it means." Ron spoke quickly.

"The only stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel, the noted alchemist, who last year celebrated his 665th birthday. That's what Fluffy's guarding on the 3rd floor. That's what's under the trapdoor... The Philosopher's Stone!" Hermione turned to her friends.

"No wonder Snape's after it, it it's this amazing." Harry shook his head.

"And no wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?" Ron pointed.

"Definitely not." Erica nodded.

"Right... I think we need to ask Hagrid."

"You think he'll tell us?' Ron asked.

"Maybe." Harry shrugged.

"He honestly might." Erica agreed.

"Well, let's go." Parker clapped and got up.

"Alright!" Erica stood up.

*********************************

"So, yeh all wanted to ask me something?" Hagrid asked as he quickly closed the door behind the Herd.

"Yes, it's really important." Erica nodded.

"We were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Sorcerer's Stone, apart from Fluffy." Harry sighed.

"O' course I cant." Hagrid frowned,"Number one, I don' know meself. Number two, yeh know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if could. That Stone's here fer a good reason. It was almost stolen outta Gringotts- s'ppose yeh've worked that out an' all? Beats me how yeh even know abou' Fluffy."

"We only wondered who had done the guarding, really... We wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you." Parker hummed.

"Pretty please?" Erica looked up at Hagrid.

"Well, I don' s'pose it couldn't hurt ter tell yeh that, let's see... He borrowed Fluffy from me... Then some o' the teachers did enchantments... Professor Sprout... Professor Flitwick... Professor McGonagall... Professor Quirrell an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course. Hang on, I've forgotten someone... Oh yeah, Professor Snape." Hagrid snapped his fingers.

"Snape?" Harry raised a brow.

"Yeah? Yer not still on about that, are yeh? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not about ter steal it." Hagrid sighed.

"You're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy aren't you, Hagrid?" Harry asked anxiously,"And you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Not even one of the teachers?"

"Not a soul knows except me an' Dumbledore." Hagrid nodded proudly.

"Well, that's something." Ron mumbled.

Parker fanned herself with her hands,"Hagrid? Can we please open a window? I'm boiling."

"Can't, Parker, sorry." He glanced at the fire.

Parker looked towards the fire,

"Hagrid.. What's that?"

"Ah... That's, er-"

"Where'd you get it, Hagrid?" Erica questioned, already kneeling by the fire,"It must've cost you a fortune!"

"Won it, las' night. I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest." Hagrid chuckled.

"But what are you going to do with it when it hatches?" Hermione raised a brow

"Well, I've bin doin' some readin'. Got this outta the library. Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit. It's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause their mothers breathe on I em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An' see here how ter recognize diff'rent eggs... What I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them."

"Hagrid. You live in a wooden house." Hermione pointed out.

Erica looked around,"So?"

Hagrid didn't answer, he was humming along as he stroked the egg.

*********************************

The next day, during breakfast, Hedwig flew down with a note for Harry.

"What's that?" Ron leaned over.

"It's from Hagrid, the egg is hatching!" Harry told him, trying to keep his voice quiet.

"Let's go." Ron shot up,"I'm not going to Herbology, not when this is happening!"

"I mean, I don't really want to miss Herbology but if this is happening-"

"No, we're all going to class." Hermione cut Erica off.

"But this... Is a once in a lifetime experience 'Mione." Parker pointed out.

"We have classes to attend, we'll get in trouble and that's nothing compared to what's going to happen to Hagrid when someone finds out what he's doing!" Hermione shook her head.

"Shut up!" Parker covered her mouth as she glanced at her brother who was just at the table behind them.

On the way to Herbology, Ron and Hermione argued all the way there, Hermione eventually being convinced to go to Hagrid's during morning break.

As soon as they all arrived, Hagrid let them in with a smile on his face,"It's nearly out."

The egg was laid on the table with deep cracks through it, something was moving on the inside and making a strange, clicking sound.

Everyone pulled a chair up and sat near the table, watching as a scraping noise was heard and the egg split wide open, the dragon flopping out of it's egg.

It's spiny wings were massive compared to the rest of its jet black body. It had a long snout, wide nostrils, stubs that would soon become horns and a pair of bulging, orange eyes.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid reached his hand out to stroke it but soon retracted his hand when the dragon snapped at him,"Bless him, he knows his mummy!"

"So beautiful." Erica agreed, getting on her knees to see him better.

"Um- Hagrid... How fast exactly so Norwegian Ridgebacks grow?" Hermione asked, looking down at Erica.

"I'd say it depends on the circumstances like their diet and stuff but- Hagrid?" Erica raised a brow, noticing his face pale,"What's wrong?"

"Someone was lookin' through the gap in the curtains... It's a kid- He's runnin' back up ter the school." Hagrid cursed.

Parker quickly opened Hagrids door and looked at the kid running... Of course it's Draco.

"Hagrid, I think you should just let him go." Hermione suggested.

"I can't, he's too little. He'd die!" Hagrid pointed.

The Herd sighed and looked down at the dragon with smoke furling out of his nostrils.

"I've decided to call him Norbet. He really knows me, don't ya? Watch. Norbet! Norbet! Where's mummy?"

"He's lost his marbles." Rob muttered.

"Hagrid. Give it two weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house. Draco could go to Dumbledore at any moment." Parker sighed.

"I know I can't keep him forever but can't jus' dump him. I can't." Hagrid bit his lip.

"Charlie." Harry turned to the Weasleys.

"Now you're loosing it too, I'm Ron." Ron sighed.

"No, Ron! He means our brother Charlie, he's working with dragons in Romania, remember?" Erica shook her head,"We could just send Norbert to him and Charlie can look after him and release him when he's old enough."

"Brilliant, how about it Hagrid?" Ron clapped.

Hagrid nodded slowly, "Send him an owl."

"I will, he likes me more." Erica smiled happily.

*********************************

"I managed to save us some spots for the match." Parker nodded as The Herd, minus Harry walked, although Neville had joined them.

"Thanks." Erica smiled.

"And... Ignore behind us." Parker muttered as she saw Draco, Crabbe and Goyle walk in the row behind them.

"Bleh." Erica shook her head.

"Neville, are you alright?" Hermione asked.

Neville bit his lip as he looked up at Draco. Draco just took a small step forward, a threatening pose towards him. Neville, this time, didn't hesitate or flinch back.

"Atta boy." Ron patted his back.

Draco flicked the back of both Ron and Erica's heads,"Oops, sorry Weasley. didn't see either of you there."

Ron just shook his head at Erica, telling her not to react.

"You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team? It's people they feel sorry for. See, there's Potter, who's got no parents, then there's the Weasleys, who've got no money. You should be on the team, Longbottom, you've got no brains." Draco continued.

"I-I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy." Neville pointed.

All 3 of the Slytherin boys just laughed.

"You tell him Neville." Parker nodded.

"Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something." Draco went on.

Erica was already incredibly anxious about Harry and her own team on the field and Draco's comments weren't making it any better.

"I'm warning you, Malfoy. One more word-" Ron warned.

"Guys- Harry!" Hermione spoke suddenly.

"Where?" Erica's eyes darted around.

Harry had went into a dive, straight towards the ground like a bullet.

"You're in luck, Weasley, Potter's obviously spotted some money on the ground!" Draco laughed.

"Draco, enough-" Parker began.

Before Draco could react, Erica had grabbed onto him and forced him to the ground.

"What the?!" Draco crused

Neville turned once he saw what happened and quickly went to help Erica, although Crabbe and Goyle were helping Draco.

"Go on! Talk bad about my family!" Erica glared at him as they fought.

"Y-Yeah! What she said!" Neville pointed.

"Get off me!" Draco shouted.

"No!" Erica refused.

After a small while, Parker turned and seen the chaos behind her, quickly leaping over and pulled Erica away. Erica wiped away the blood from her nose with her sleeve, looking down at Draco.

"Freak!" Draco wiped the corner of his mouth before he ran off with his boys.

"Erica, Neville. Are you okay?" Parker panicked.

"I'm fine." Erica crossed her arms, although her hands were shaking slightly.

"Neville?" Parker asked as she rubbed Erica's back.

"I'll be fine." Neville rubbed his arm,"T-that was cool though."

"Oh Merlin, we need to get you cleaned up." Parker sighed

Erica rubbed her eyes and nodded.

"Come on you two." Parker nodded for them to follow.

"Coming.." Erica nodded slowly.