Chapter 031 I hope in the wake of this pandemic you all are in house arrest, safe and sound. What started in a single country has spread across nations covering the whole world with over 140 million registered cases and casualties approaching 3 million. You all must be wondering why am I telling you the numbers. It's all because I want you all to understand the seriousness of the situation. I hope you follow the guidelines issued by your respective governments and be safe. Well, I can only hope that you will heed my advice, the rest is your willingness. * * * * * The next day, In the Library. Alex was doing his homework with Daphne when Hermione walked up to them and sat beside Alex. "What is it now?" Alex asked. "Have you heard? Professor Snape is going to be the referee in Gryffindor's next game". Hermione asked with seriousness dripping out of her face. "I know, it's being spread by the Gryffindors in the school like fire". Alex said sarcastically. "Alex, don't you think, looking at all the evidence till now there is a high chance that professor Snape is targeting Harry?" Hermoine ignored the sarcasm and asked. "Why would he?" Daphne who was silent till now asked. "I don't know, maybe there is something". Hermione said. "Let me tell you one thing for the last time. Professor Snape is not going to do any harm to Potter. Even now, if you don't want to trust him, then so be it, I can't go around convincing people. And from what I can see, two teams are playing the match, not just Gryffindor". Alex said as he gave up explaining any more. "Don't be angry, I believe you. Now can you tell me one more thing?" Hermione said as she saw the annoyed look on Alex's face. "What?" Alex said as he flipped through his book. "Who is Nicolas Flamel?" Alex wanted to refuse to tell her about Nicolas, but Daphne beat him to it. "You see that big old book? There in that section" Daphne said as she pointed towards a certain corner. "Yeah" Hermione nodded. "You will found about him there," Daphne said. "I have read that book once," Hermione said and stood up leaving the two of them to get that book. "Why did you do that for?" Alex asked with his brows raised. "It was only a matter of time before they find out. Why make things hard for them. They are just looking about him to kill their curiosity". "Whatever". By then Hermione was back with the book and was shuffling through the pages. It was after a while that she exclaimed, " Here it is, Nicolas Flamel". And the paragraph which followed, was as follows, '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. Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!'. "What is the Sorcerer's Stone?" Hermione asked. "Go on read it you will find out". Daphne said. 'The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight). Hermione was left agape after learning about the Sorcerer's Stone. How can such a powerful thing exist in the world? Daphne chuckled, looking at Hermione staring at the book with her mouth wide open. "I will see you later guys, I need to go now" Hermione grabbed the book and rushed out of the library. "Hey girl, where are you taking the book?" Madam Pince yelled from behind. "Sorry, madam Pince, can you please issue this book?" Hermione came back and apologised. After getting the book issued Hermine dashed out of the library. Next day, Alex was having breakfast, Erebus was also with him munching down almost everything on the table. Daphne, who found Erebus quite cute was busy patting him. On the Gryffindor's table Ron, Harry, Hermione were also busy in their own discussion. Nicole was sitting beside Hermione minding her own business, she didn't want to take part in their discussion. Ron's face was still all swelled up, he was going to visit Madam Pomfrey in the infirmary. Hermione has told them about Nicolas Flamel and the Sorcerer's Stone. "It's clear that the three-headed dog is guarding it," Hermione said. "But the question is why does Snape need it?" Potter asked. "Right now what is more important is tomorrow's match. Snape is going to be the referee, he will surely use underhanded means to make sure Gryffindor loses" Ron cut in between. "Guys I think we are overthinking here, I don't think professor Snape will do something like this in front of so many people. But if you still feel uncomfortable, why don't you just drop out of tomorrow's match" Hermione said. "It's hard to find my replacement, there is no reserve seeker in Gryffindor," Potter said. Ron turned his face to look towards Malfoy and Alex. The disgust he felt for Malfoy was nothing compared to the hatred he felt towards Alex. He turned towards Harry and said," You need to play, mate, we need to show those Slytherins that we are not afraid of anything they throw at us". Harry could feel the rage in Ron's tone. The poor lad has suffered a lot because of Alex and Malfoy. "I will, don't worry". Harry assured Ron. Today was the match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, The stands were filled with students way before the match even started. Alex was in the Slytherin's stand along with Daphne. He saw Dumbledore in the teacher's stand and was surprised, but when he thought about how much importance Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape placed on Harry, it was not that surprising. When the two teams appeared on the ground, the stands erupted with constant cheers as well as jeerings. Soon the match kicked off. While everyone was busy with the match, Malfoy appeared in Gryffindor's stand along with Crabbie and Goyle. Soon an argument broke with Malfoy, Crabbie and Goyle on one side and Ron and Hermione on the other. Alex was amazed as to how much Malfoy loved provoking Potter and his friends, what was he even doing in the other party's stand? Malfoy came back to Slytherin's stand but the constant bickering between him and Ron did not stop. "Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on his broom this time? Does anyone want a bet? What about you, Weasley?" Malfoy asked out loud so that Ron could hear it. Ron didn't answer; Snape had just awarded Hufflepuff a penalty because George Weasley had hit a Bludger at him. Hermione, who had all her fingers crossed in her lap, was squinting fixedly at Harry, who was circling the game like a hawk, looking for the Snitch. "You know how I think they choose people for the Gryffindor team?" said Malfoy loudly a few minutes later, as Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty for no reason at all. "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." Neville went bright red but turned in his seat to face Malfoy. "I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy," he stammered. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle howled with laughter, but Ron, still not daring to take his eyes from the game, said, "You tell him, Neville." "Longbottom, if brains were gold you'd be poorer than Weasley, and that's saying something." Ron's nerves were already stretched to the breaking point with anxiety about Harry. "I'm warning you, Malfoy — one more word —" "Then what? Come out and say what I just said is a lie". Malfoy provoked Ron a bit further. Ron snapped, he came running to the Slytherin's stand. He grabbed Malfoy by his collar and threw him to the ground before sitting on top of him. Now Ron, who was in rage mode and was beating Malfoy black and blue. The Slytherins rushed towards the two of them to help Malfoy but Alex stood between them. He did not allow any one of them to help Malfoy. * * * * *