Megan and the others told Hagrid about what had happened at the match. He, however, agreed with Hermione. Snape was a teacher, he wouldn't kill a student. And while Hermione had rethought her judgement since the incident, he hadn't.

"Why would Snape want to kill Megan, I ask yeh?" Hagrid asked.

"Well, why did he try and get past the three headed dog on Halloween?" Megan asked.

"Who told you about Fluffly?"

"Fluffy?!"

"You gave that monster a name?" Ron exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yeah, he's mine. Bought off a chap in the pub last year, lent 'im ter Dumbledore for – uh, some stuff."

"Hagrid, whatever it is, Snape's trying to steal it."

"Rubbish. Now you kids stay away from that dog. That business is between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel."

"Who's that?" Megan asked at once.

He froze.

"Shouldna tol yeh that. Forget it." he said gruffly.

"Who is it, Hagrid? It might be impor-"

"Never you mind. Hurry along now, you'll be late for class."

They did, but Hagrid's words were stuck in their minds.

The weeks went by quite fast, and easily for Megan. Despite the repeated taunting from Malfoy, Megan found she got through her classes rather well. Except for Potions, but she had a feeling it wasn't just because she wasn't too good at it. Snape always seem to eye her with displeasure, and she wasn't sure whether it was related to the match or something else. But Megan was so absorbed in getting her work done properly she barely noticed the holidays were coming until Professor McGonagall handed them a list saying whether they stayed at Hogwarts or not. Between another dire Christmas at Privet Drive and a much more cheerful one with her friends at Hogwarts, Megan's mind was made up before she even asked herself what she wanted to do. Ron and Harry stayed too, but Hermione was going home.

"You can help Megan then," Hermione said as they watched the boys play wizard chess, which was like muggle chess except the pieces moved.

"Hermione, we looked everywhere." Ron groaned. "Knight to E6."

"Bishop to F4." Harry said.

"Queen to E5." Checkmate."

"Oh, man..."

Hermione looked disapprovingly at the game as Ron's queen smacked Harry's King and dragged it off the board.

"If you ask me that game is absolutely awful. It's positively barbaric!"

"It's wizard chess." Ron shrugged.

"Going back to Flamel though," Harry said, "he's right we looked everywhere."

"You didn't look in the restricted section," Hermione said in a low voice. "Well, got to go, have a nice Christmas!" she added brightly.

"You too, Hermione," Megan said, squeezing her.

They had become very tight over the weeks.

"Good luck with your search. I'll ask my parents if they know anything about him. It can't hurt, since they're dentists. Bye!"

And she was off.

The following Saturday, Megan was woken by Ron's shouts

"Megan! Wake up!"

She did, and smiled.

"Happy Christmas Ginny, and you Ron, Harry. What are you wearing?"

"Our mom makes these every year." he said, sheepishly. "It looks like she did you one too... I told her you didn't expect anything..."

"I have presents?"

"Well, yeah!"

She laughed and hurried down. There they were, neatly piled under the tree.

There was a fiery red jumper with a hood behind. With that was a box of chocolate from Hermione, a book on Quidditch from Ron ("Ron, you shouldn't have, it must have been horribly expensive." "No, don't worry, It's been at home for years." but she suspected he was lying because the cover was brand new), a little carved dog from Hagrid, a pretty wizard watch from Cedric and a small, soft package.

"What's that?" Ron and Harry asked, as they sat down to look while Ginny went up to get changed for breakfast.

"I don't know..."

She pulled the paper off carefully, and a long of piece of material slid into her hands.

"I think I know what it is..." Ron said in awe. "If I'm right, it's the coolest thing there is!"

"What is it?"

"An Invisibility Cloak!"

"Was there a note saying who sent it?" Harry asked curiously.

She found it pinned to the wrapper.

"Your father left this in my possession before he died," she read aloud. "It is time it was returned to you. Use it well."

"Who could it be from?"

"I don't know..."

She slid it through her hands. It was silky and light. She then slid it around her shoulders.

"I knew it! It is an Invisibility cloak!"

"What?"

She looked down at her feet... But they were gone!

"My body! It's... I feel it but it's gone!"

Indeed it had. She could feel her feet, the sole of her shoes, and her jeans, but could see nothing. It was very odd. But also oddly exhilarating. She could search for hours for Nicholas Flamel, and no one would know! She decided to look that very night.

"You sure? If you're caught..."

"Listen, I don't particularly like breaking the rules, but if we don't find more about Flamel, we can't go any further and we don't have much time. If Snape knows how to get past the dog, he could get whatever... Fluffy's guarding, and then he could do whatever he intends to do with it, and we may not be able to do anything. So, if we find what Flamel's got to with all this it could help."

"Okay, then..." They said, but didn't sound too convinced.

So, that night, after a few games of wizard chess, which was the same as ordinary chess except the pieces moved, Megan prepared to head to the library. While the others were asleep, she slipped out of bed, pulled the cloak from her trunk, and slid it over her shoulders. The Fat Lady was asleep too, when she opened the portrait hole. So, she carefully closed the portrait and walked down the corridor, silent as she could. There was no one around so far, but she knew better than to relax. She was almost sure Filch would be patrolling. She reached the library and quietly opened the door. The lights were out but that didn't mean Madam Pince wasn't around. She ignited her wand by whispering "Lumos" and looked around for the restricted section. She found it, unlocked the door and stepped inside.

As soon as she did, she instantly felt a change in the air. It was like she could feel the magic emanating from these books. There were many with strange symbols and titles, but she dared not touch any. Then, she finally found one about famous witches and wizards. Maybe he was in there... she pulled it out carefully and slipped it onto her knee. But when she opened it, a face appeared and let out an ear-splitting scream. She managed to snap it shut but the damage was done. She heard Filch's voice calling Mrs Norris. She shoved the book into the shelf, and threw the cloak over herself. Making sure she had left nothing, she hurried out of the room. But she had to skid to a silent halt because Filch was walking in that direction. She backed away and headed toa door at the far end when something made her stop.

"Have you found how to get past the three headed beast yet, Quirell?"

Megan crept closer and had to fight back a gasp. It was Snape and Quirell. The later was backing against the wall, terrified.

"D-don't know w-what you're t-t-talking about, er... S-Severus..."

"You don't want me as your enemy."

"Wh-at d'you m-mean?"

"You know well what I mean. And I think it is time to decide where your loyalties lie."

And he swept away in a swish of black material. Quirell hurried away too, and Megan only just had time to back away so he didn't crash into her. Her cloak still firmly around her, she looked around for the door she had seen. She needed to get back to her common room. Maybe Hermione had been wrong, maybe Flamel wasn't in the restricted section of the library after all. She slipped through the door and looked around. But all she found was an empty room with a large mirror. It had strange words carved along the frame. Megan looked down at it, and gasped.There, standing on either side of her, was a red head woman and a tall young man with untidy hair. But she immediately saw the green eyes. And they were smiling at her. Then, it hit her. They were the couple from her dreams... they were her parents.

"...Mom...? Dad...?" She whispered.

They nodded, still smiling. Megan couldn't believe it. She could finally see what they looked like! Because she never remembered them in her dreams. Just the green light and the screams... She wished she could touch them... on a wild impulse, she reached out and put her hand to the mirror. And to her amazement, they reached out and put their hand against hers. She felt tears sting her eyes, and the mirror showed her a suspicious gleam in her eyes. She heard footsteps outside. She looked away, and turned back to the mirror.

"I have to go... I'll be back."

And, vanishing under the cloak, she slid back into the main hall and to her common room.

She didn't dare tell anyone about the mirror, the next morning, so she only told them she hadn't found anything about Flamel, and the conversation she'd heard with Filch. She knew it was silly to want to look at a reflection, but they were the closest link she had had with her parent since they'd died. So the next night, when everyone was asleep, she slid the cloak back on and hurried silently down the corridors, narrowly missing Filch twice. She reached the mirror room and sure enough, her parents were there, as if waiting for her to come home. She realised how much she wished it were true. She sat down in front of the mirror, watching them, wishing she could talk to them, try and catch up a little on the long years she'd lost.

"Back again, Megan?"

She gasped and jumped to her feet.

"... Professor Dumbledore...?"

"I see you discovered the mirror of Erised. Do you realise what it does?"

"... It shows us what we want...?" Megan suggested.

"Yes, and no. It shows us the deepest desire of our hearts. So the happiest man on earth will see himself exactly as he is. You, who have never known your parents, see them standing beside you, where any parent should be."

Megan turned to the mirror.

"Is it so very wrong?" she asked. "I mean... I'll never have a Mum and Dad, any more... I lost my childhood because they were killed... is it so wrong to want them back...?"

"Oh, no, dear girl." Dumbledore said. "But it does not do well to live in dreams, Megan. And this mirror shows neither knowledge or truth. Many have gone mad, trying to bring what they saw to life. Which is why it will be moved tomorrow. And I ask of you not to go looking for it. Can I count on you for that?'"

"Yes, sir." she said.

She was starting to realise she would get caught if she kept crossing the hallways at night, even under her cloak. If she sneezed, fell over, or anything. She had been foolish. She looked one more time at her parents.

"I know you must find this unfair, Megan. But it is for the best."

"I understand, sir... but... I just know things would have been really different if I had had my parents..."

He said nothing, but there was a tiny hint of glimmering in his eyes.

"Now, why don't you get that cloak on and hurry back to bed? Mind for Filch, he's on the fourth, at the moment."

"Thank you sir..."

And so, she went.

She didn't manage to tell the others what she'd seen. She knew Hermione would be disapproving and the boys wouldn't really know what to say about it. By the time the holidays had ended, they were too busy to look up Flamel anyway. However, luckily, Megan found him quite unwillingly. She had just opened a chocolate frog, and had bitten into it, when she noticed the card she had; It was Dumbledore. She was about to toss it away, when she froze, wide eyed.

"Of course!"

"What?"

"Here's Flamel! Here, look!"

She read out the card:

"Work on alchemy with his partner Nicholas Flamel!"

"Hold it, I've just remembered something!"

Hermione hurried upstairs to the dormitory and came back down quickly with a large book under her arm.

"I took this out weeks ago, I can't believe I didn't see it sooner..." she said, dumping the book with a heavy thud.

"What's that?" Ron asked.

Hermione ignored him opened the heavy volume and flicked through it's pages until she found what she wanted.

"There, here it is. Nicholas Flamel is only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone."

"You're joking!"

Megan was looking horrified.

"What's the Philosopher's stone?" Ron asked.

"It's a powerful object that can turn any metal to gold, and produce the Elixir of Life, which makes the drinker immortal." Hermione read on. "The only stone currently in existence is in the possession of Nicholas Flamel, who celebrated last year his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday. He is currently living a quiet life with his wife Perenelle in Devon."

"A stone that makes you immortal...! No wonder it's being so well protected!"

"Yes, and it all makes sense, now, doesn't it? That's what Hagrid took from Gringotts that was almost stolen the same day, and that's what Fluffy's guarding!"

"So now what?"

"Snape still hasn't got past the three headed dog," Megan reasoned, "so, as long as that stays true, we can figure out a way to expose him."

Later that day, they decided to go visit Hagrid that afternoon.

"Sorry, can't really, uh... let you in, a bit busy..."

"Hagrid, we know about the stone."

His eyes widened.

"Get in quick before someone sees ye," he said roughly, ushering them in.

"We think Snape's after it." Hermione said.

"Not still on abou' that, are ye? He's one of the people protecting the stone, he won't steal it."

"One of the people...? So there are other spells and things protecting the stone besides Fluffy?" Megan asked.

"Well o' course, you think just one little three headed dog is enough to protect something that valuable? Still, it's the best protection, no one'll get past him, no one else knows how. 'Xept me and Dumbledore. Aah, shouldn't said that."

"Who else is there?" Ron asked.

"Well, there's me, o'course. I lent 'em Fluffy. Then, there's ol' professor Flitwick, McGonagall, and Sprout, Snape... Quirell did something too... oh, and professor Dumbledore did somethin' too. So you see, it's perfectly safe."

"Not if Snape's the one after it, he'll know how to get past the other defences, won't he?"

"They kept it secret from each other, as an extra precaution. Dumbledore's the only one who knows the whole extend of it, and he's too powerful for anyone to pick his mind. So even if Snape did want the stone, which he doesn't, he'd never get past Dumbledore."

Megan wanted to believe that, but she just didn't trust Snape. He was creepy.

"And they'd have to get past Fluffy, too and no' a sol knows how to, except for me and Dumbledore... Ah, shouldna said that..."

"Hagrid, that's not what I think it is, is it?" Ron said suddenly.

They turned to where he was pointing, and noticed something that looked a lot like a huge egg in the fire. It was black and red, and Hagrid was extremely excited about it. Megan also suspected he was happy to change the subject.

"It is, Ron. I won it off some chap the other night in the pub." He said. "He seemed pretty happy to get it off his 'ands, actually."

Megan was about to ask what it was, when it answered for itself. It started crackling and Hagrid quickly pulled it out and plopped it onto the table. It wiggled and crackled until it burst, revealing a dragon.

"Whoa...!"

It was small, greenish grey, and didn't look too friendly.

"Isn't he beautiful?"

"He's..."

"Beautiful" wasn't exactly the first word that came to mind. It wasn't ugly, more... strange.

"Hagrid, do you realise this is illegal?" Hermione said.

"He's just a baby, I couldn't leave him!"

"Hagrid, that's a Norwegian Ridgeback, they're not the most friendly of beasts." Ron said.

"Ah, he's only a baby, he's harmless."

"What about when he grows up? It'll be bigger than you, soon!"

"Hagrid, your house is made of wood! Not to mention the trouble you'll be in if you're caught!" Megan said.

She'd spent several days in the library over the holidays, reading as much as she could. She'd learned lots of fascinating things about the wizarding world, including several laws.

"Well, as long as he's in me 'ut, he'll be fine."

He was right in assuming they wouldn't tell on him but he could get hurt!

"Hagrid, this is really not a good idea...!" Hermione pleaded.

"Ah, c'mon, you four, how many chances am I goin' to get, eh?"

They exchanged a worried look. Just then, Hagrid went pale.

"Someone was at the window!"

Megan bolted to the door and looked out. And her heart sank. No one could have been worse.

"It was Malfoy, Hagrid." she said, turning around. "And there's not a chance in the world he's not going to tell on you."

Hagrid's face fell. They weren't supposed to be out after dark, and they had lost track of time trying to talk some sense into Hagrid. So they tried to head to their common room without being seen; But they couldn't help but discuss the topic as they walked.

"Hagrid's full of heart but he just doesn't see when things are dangerous..." Hermione said.

"And the worse part is Malfoy knows..." Ron says.

"And so do I."

They froze. A few feet ahead, stood Malfefoy... and professor McGonagall.

The four Gryffindors knew only too well they were in a very sticky situation. They stood before the head of Gryffindor house, fully aware of Malfoy's gleeful sneer behind them.

"Nothing gives a student, especially not a first year, the rigth to wander about at night."

"We weren't wandering, professor, we-"

Megan quickly nudged Ron to silence him.

"Yes, I heard your little tale. Malfoy was telling it to me just before you arrived. Ridiculous, and all five of you will receive detention."

"What?"

"Yes, Malfoy. I believe you were out of bed after hours also, were you not? As for the four of you..."

She sighed:

"Miss Granger, given your admirable results on yesterday's test, I will remove only thirty. However, the three of you, will each be taken forty points from Gryffindor."

Megan couldn't look up. They had lost one hundred and fifty points. That meant they were no longer in the lead. And they all knew how badly everyone Slytherin wanted to lose... At least Malfoy'd lost his grin... but she would have preferred that any day to get those points back...

"Now all of you, off to your dormitories this instant."

She looked thoroughly disappointed.

"That old bat! How could she!" Ron snarled as they walked back up.

"No, she's right. As nobly intentioned as we were, we should have been more careful..." Harry said. "I just wish she hadn't taken quite so many points... they're going to hate us in the morning..."

"I just hope we didn't get Hagrid in trouble..." Hermione said.

"Me too... if we hadn't gone down there," Megan said. "Malfoy wouldn't have followed us...! He's always trying to set us up for expulsion... Come on, let's hurry before Filch catches us..."

They reached the long hallway leading to the fat lady.

"Where in the world have you been?" she asked.

"Don't ask..." Ron said.

"Windflower." Megan said.

All in all, they weren't in the brightest spirits when they headed up to bed.

The next morning proved Harry right. The others, after the confusion at discovering a hundred and fifty point gap in the hourglass, found out the truth and were deeply unimpressed. But the four of them couldn't help worrying about Hagrid. He hadn't been at breakfast and wasn't there at lunchtime either. And they had a feeling they knew what McGonagall would say if they dared to ask her.

"You should have thought of that before you got out of bed after hours, now shouldn't you?"

Even though Malfoy had lost forty five points for Slytherin, none of them seemed too unhappy about it.

"C'mon, you guys, we lost loads of points, everyone still loves us!" said the Weasley twins in an effort to cheer them up.

"Never lost a hundred and fifty in one go, have you?" Megan asked.

"Uh... well... no..." they admitted.

Later that day, they were informed they were to meet Filch outside the entrance hall after dinner. Megan just hoped Hagrid wouldn't hate them too much for getting him into trouble. She was just coming down from picking up her book for Charms, when she almost bumped a boy in front of her.

"Oh, sorry..."

She meant to head away before they recognised her and chastised her, but:

"Megan?"

She froze, and looked round. Then, she straightened up, though without totally relaxing.

"Cedric..."

"It's okay," he said. "I'm not going to insult you or throw anything at you."

She relaxed.

"You're probably the only one..."

"Ah, don't worry, you'll catch up. I'm sure."

"A hundred and fifty points... we'll have a hell of a time doing that... we'd need ten points a day, and the teachers won't give them out so easily to avoid us catching up..."

She sighed.

"At least Hufflepuff have still got a shot... you're second place, now."

"It won't be the same as if it were Gryfindor." he said.

"Say, come to think of it, why aren't you furious with me?"

"Well," he looked serious now. "That depends. Did you have a valid reason for being out last night?"

"Yes... but I can't tell you what... All I can say is, I was doing it for a close friend. He needed help."

His face brightened.

"That's all I need to know. No rule is more important than helping a friend."

"I just hope I haven't caused them more trouble..." she said.

"If they're real friends, they'll know you didn't mean to cause them trouble." he said, laying a hand on her shoulder.

Just then, the bell rang, so they hurried off to their separate classes.

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

Aaw is Cedric the sweetest or what? Tell him with a star! What would you see in the Mirror of Erised? Tell us all in a comment!

Megan certainly ran out of luck here! What more is in store for her? And what of this strange name, Nicholas Flamel, or the Philosopher's Stone? Let's find out with the next chapter!