Christmas was fast approaching, as the cold month of December came to an end. Everyone was unwinding, knowing that the cheerful holiday was around the corner.

Draco was still very bitter about Slytherin losing the Quidditch game, and made it his own personal vendetta to taunt Harry about not having a proper family. I felt horrible once I had heard and said that I would stay with him over the holidays, but Ron and his siblings were staying anyway. Apparently, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to Romania to visit Charlie.

We were just leaving the dungeons which were freezing when we found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. I noticed two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and knew that Hagrid was hidden behind it.

"Hi, Hagrid, want any help?" Ron offered, moving the branches so Hagrid could see his face.

"Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron."

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" Draco said in his entitled drawl. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose — that hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to."

Ron dived at Draco before I could pull him back, "He's not worth it Ron!"

"WEASLEY!" Snape's voice grabs all of our attention as we turn to see him. Ron lets go of Draco's robes with a sheepish grin, patting him on the head.

"He was provoked, Professor Snape," Hagrid defended, making himself seen. "Malfoy was insultin' his family."

"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," Snape smirked. "Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more. Move along, all of you. And before you leave Miss Ambrosio, I would just like to deduct another fifteen points for every day you broke dress code this year."

I shrug, fixing my red cape on my shoulders. My mother made it clear not to remove it and I haven't, except to wash it and shower. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle pushed roughly past Hagrid making the leaves of the tree fall down, leaving a huge mess on the floor Hagrid would no doubt have to clean later.

"I'll get him," Ron swore, curling his fingers into a fist, "One of these days, I'll get him —"

"I hate them both," Harry pushed his glasses higher, "Malfoy and Snape."

"Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas," I tell them, skipping happily to Hagrid.

Hagrid smiles, patting my back "Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat."

We all nodded and followed Hagrid to the Great Hall, where we were supposed to meet Hermione. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were busy decorating the trees. "Ah, Hagrid, the last tree — put it in the far corner, would you?"

The hall looked sensational. Garlands of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls, and I counted twenty Christmas trees splayed around the room, all uniquely decorated.

I sat down at the end of the table, where Hermione was reading her book.

"How many days you got left until yer holidays?" Hagrid asked Hermione and me.

"Just one," said Hermione. "And that reminds me — Harry, Ron, Ella we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."

"Oh yeah, you're right," Ron agreed although he was distracted by Professor Flitwick, who was manifesting golden bubbles from his wand and was trailing them over the branches of the tree Hagrid just brought in.

"The library?" Hagrid questioned, following us as we made our way out of the Great Hall. "Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?"

"Oh, we're not working," Harry told him brightly.

"Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is." I smile up at him.

"You what?" Hagrid looked shocked and slightly angry at himself. "Listen here — I've told yeh — drop it. It's nothin' to you what that dog's guardin'."

"We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, that's all," Hermione defended.

"Unless you'd like to tell us and save us the trouble?" Harry added, with his puppy dog eyes. "We must've been through hundreds of books already and we can't find him anywhere — just give us a hint — I know I've read his name somewhere."

"I'm sayin' nothin'," said Hagrid flatly.

"Just have to find out for ourselves, then," Ron shrugged, and we left Hagrid looking displeased and hurried off to the library.

We began our usual cycle, of looking through all the books that could possibly have anything to do with Nicholas Flamel. I swear it was the most I have ever seen Ron read. I had tried Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, Notable Magical Names of Our Time, Important Modern Magical Discoveries, A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry, and the entire F section. Of course, the Hogwarts library was indeed humongous. 

Mom was right when she assured me I wouldn't have to bring any books of my own. I have barely made a dent in the literature section of the library alone, and I have been checking out a book every week.

Hermione and I both agree that his name must be in the Restricted Section, but to go there you needed a specially signed note from one of the teachers, and we knew that we could never get one. Although I did try to ask Dumbledore during one of our evening teas.

I heard screaming from Madam Pince, the librarian, and looked up to see Harry being dragged away. Hermione groaned looking at Ron, "I wonder what you two did this time."

I silently laugh at Ron's offended face, "For your information, we come up with our brilliant plans, individually!"

I roll my eyes before staring at Ron for the answer. After a few seconds, he surrenders, "The Restricted Section."

I shake my head. We had all agreed that we couldn't ask Madam Pince for help because she would probably tell Snape, and although I trusted him, it would be better if he didn't know.

After reading for another half an hour, we all decided to leave for lunch. Harry was waiting for us outside. He seemed a bit disappointed to learn we hadn't found anything. We all began to head for lunch.

"You will keep looking while we're away, won't you?" Hermione turned her head to the boys. "And send us an owl if you find anything."

"And you could ask your parents if they know who Flamel is," said Ron. "It'd be safe to ask them since they are muggles."

"Very safe, as they're both dentists," Hermione joked.

↤|🌊|↦

Hermione and I left for the holidays the next day. The train ride was quiet since we were both exhausted from having to wake up so early in the morning. Once we made it to London, we said our goodbyes and exchanged gifts before leaving to be with our families.

Po and I used an airplane to get back home to California. The sunny sands of the coast was a welcome sight after spending months upon the cold snowy Hogwarts campus. We spent the ride catching up. 

Once I made it back home and Po left to spend the holidays with her own family, I met mom at her office. She was glad to know I kept my cape on, for some strange reason.

The days spent before Christmas were mostly spent with me playing with Bluebelle on the beach while Mom's bodyguards watched over me. It didn't take long before I began to regret leaving Hogwarts.

On Christmas day, I had run downstairs to open my gifts. The small pile under the tree was wrapped in different papers and ribbons. I was instantly reminded of the candies that I had gifted the boys and the book I got for Hermione, as well as the collar I gifted Hagrid for Fang.

Christmas was always my favorite holiday because it was the only day I knew I would have mom all to myself. 

I handed my mom the gift I got her, which was a small daisy flower that I crystalized with water and strung on a thin chain I bought from the store.

She tightly smiled, "It is beautiful", mom then grabbed another parcel, beautifully wrapped in teal blue paper, before handing it to me, "For you."

I smiled and opened the gift to find a silver charm bracelet adorned with an alexandrite charm, the same stone as my wand. I smiled, "I love it."

Mom smiled, her eyes already darting to her cell phone, "That way you can fill it with memories. And you should start wearing more jewelry anyway."

The second gift I opened, was from Hagrid, it was a wooden charm that appeared to be Hogwarts. It was obvious Hagrid whittled it himself. I put the charm carefully back in the paper, not wanting to lose it before I attached it to my bracelet.

I laugh when Bluebelle played in the leftover paper. She seems to believe that it is an amusement park, made just for her.

The second gift was also a small parcel from Dumbledore, I opened it to see a tea charm hanging from it. I smiled, realizing that Hagrid and Dumbledore both knew about my bracelet and quickly attached the two before asking my mom to place it on my wrist.

The last gift was a lumpy parcel I knew all too well, every year Mrs. Weasley knitted me a white sweater with a yellow C on it. She always said that I was a part of the family, therefore, should receive the traditional sweater. I also found her delicious homemade fudge, which mom always threw away before I could enjoy it myself, insisting that I should not be eating so many sweets. I hoped she enjoyed the cookbook I found for her.

Just as I placed the sweater on the floor to ask mom what she wanted to do for the day, I saw her standing outside the main room closer to the foyer. She had the phone to her lips and I could tell my the serious look on her face, she was talking to someone in the office.

Letting out a deep breath, I turn to Bluebelle, "Merry Christmas, Bluebelle."

↤|🌊|↦

Fortunately, the Christmas break ended sooner than I planned, and Hermione and I were back before the term started. The good news was, over the break, I had been able to get my cast off, so I didn't have to walk around in crutches anymore.

I made sure the first thing I did when I got back, however, was gift Dumbledore the fluffiest socks I could find on Sunset Boulevard. I knew how much he complained that he always received books, so I made it my personal goal during the break to find his the fluffiest wool socks imaginable for his Christmas gift.

Once I returned to the Gryffindor common room, Harry informed Hermione and me of all we had missed. Apparently, he had been gifted an invisibility cloak, which he used to sneak into the forbidden section of the library, where he did not find a book on Nicholas Flamel before almost getting caught. He said he also saw Snape threatening Quirrell once he left. Which started to scare me since the evidence was now pointing towards Snape. He also told us about how he happed upon the Mirror of Erised where he saw his parents. He said that he was getting nightmares from the thought.

I frowned and thought of my own encounter with the mirror while Hermione scolded him for being foolish. I had seen the most peculiar thing, it was almost as if the mirror didn't know what I desired. It continued to change and take different forms. It was always people but it switched between a group of individuals I couldn't recognize to a tall boy whose features were unrecognizable.

↤|🌊|↦

As the term began, we all continued our search for Nicholas Flamel. We skimmed through books for ten minutes during our breaks.

Hermione and I were learning how to play chess with Ron on a particularly rainy. Hermione was furious with the game because it appeared she kept losing, no matter how hard she tried. Ron seemed to be taking a sadistic pleasure to watch her. I had just moved my Queen to break Hermione's King when Harry ran into the common room, dressed in his Quidditch practice uniform.

"Don't talk," Ron told Harry who sat down next to him, "I want to see-"

Ron stopped when he caught sight of Harry's distraught face. "What's the matter with you? You look terrible."

Harry leaned in and whispered to us what Wood just told him in practice. Apparently, Snape was going to referee the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch game.

"Don't play," Hermione automatically responded.

"Say you're ill," Ron added helpfully.

"Maybe an injury", I inquired. I believed Snape was innocent, but I also believed that SNape hated Harry.

"Pretend to break your leg," Hermione suggested.

"Really break your leg," said Ron.

My eyes twinkle in delight, "I read a spell, in one of the library books!"

"I can't," Harry looked at me with a bit of fear before shaking his head. "There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all."

At that moment Neville tumbled into the common room. How he had climbed through the portrait hole was beyond me, because his legs are stuck together. I figured it was the Leg-Locker Curse, which was one of the few curses we were taught in Quirrell's class.

I immediately pulled out my wand to perform the countercurse. Neville's legs immediately broke apart.

"What happened?" Hermione helped him up, leading him over to sit with Harry, Ron, and me.

"Malfoy," said Neville shakily trying to calm his breathing. "I met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practice that on."

"Go to Professor McGonagall!" Hermione urged Neville.

I nod my head, "Report him!"

"I don't want more trouble," Neville shook his head.

"You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" Ron fought. "He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier."

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

Harry pulled out a chocolate frog and gave it to Neville, "You're worth twelve of Malfoy. The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn't it? And where's Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin."

I wrapped my arms around Neville who looked about ready to cry, "He's right. You wouldn't be here if you weren't meant to be...and I believe that you are everything a Gryffindor should be", I smile slightly swaying him to make him feel better. 

Neville's lips twitched into a small smile, he opened the chocolate frog box, "Thanks, Ella and Harry...I think I'll go to bed...Harry, D'you want the card, you collect them, don't you?"

As Neville walked away, still seeming upset.

"Dumbledore again," Harry groaned looking at the card, "He was the first one I ever —", He gasped. Harry read the back of the card before handing it to Ron, Hermione, and me.

􏰀"I've found him!" Harry whispered to Ron. "I've found Flamel! I told you I'd read the name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here — listen to this: 'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel'!"

Hermione jumped to her feet, turning to me, "Ella, come with me."

Hermione pulled me up the stairs of girls' dormitories, "Remember that book you got me for Christmas for some light reading?"

I nod before my eyes widen; Hermione is right. I found a book on the sorcerer's stone and thought it would interest her.

Hermione was looking at the stacks of books that lined the corners of our beds, "I don't see it. Where could it be?"

I get on my knees before looking under my bed, knowing that Bluebelle, liked to hide things under my bed frame when I was in classes. Indeed, there it was, the thick book lined with leather. I pulled in out of my bed, to find that Bluebelle was sleeping on the cover.

I roll my eyes before grabbing both the book and my cat and standing up, "Hermione, I got it."

She looks up and sees the book in my hand with Bluebelle on top, "Perfect. I can grab Bluebelle for you."

Hermione grabbed her off without waiting for my response. She loved Bluebelle and was always playing with her. I offered her a cat of her own but apparently, her dad was allergic.

We hurried down the stairs before sitting back on the floor next to Harry and Ron.

"I never thought to look in here!" Hermione whispered excitedly, hugging Bluebelle closer to her while I plopped the book on the floor. "Ella got this for me weeks ago for a bit of light reading."

"Light?" Ron looked at us as if we were mad, but Hermione simply told him to be quiet until she'd looked something up, and started flicking frantically through the pages, muttering to herself until she found the page she had read.

"I knew it! I knew it!"

"Are we allowed to speak yet?" Ron asked me with a glower. I roll my eyes stroking Bluebelle's fur after she had crawled over to me.

"Nicolas Flamel," Hermione read aloud, "is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!"

"The what?" said Harry and Ron in unison.

"Oh, honestly, don't you two read? Look read that, there." She pushed the book toward them and showed them the paragraph, and Harry and Ron read for what felt like hours. Finally, they looked up.

"See?" said Hermione, taking the book back.

They still look confused so I explain it for them in detail, "The dog must be guarding Flamel's Sorcerer's Stone! I bet Flamel asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!"

"A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!" Harry said with a smile. "No wonder Snape's after it! Anyone would want it."

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