Harry and Ginny were in total shock at the realization. All this time they had been working with Nicolas Flamel and had no clue at all. What's more they had been making a Sorcerer's Stone! Harry could hardly believe it as he looked at the palm sized crystal in his hand. Returning his gaze to Christopher, no Nicolas he thought, he found the man beaming at him and bouncing on the balls of his feet as if very excited.
"Congratulations Harry, you figured it out. I would like to reintroduce my wife Pernelle Flamel."
Pernelle was rolling her eyes. "I'm sorry children but these two insisted I go along with their little charade. It just boggles the mind what the two of them come up with when their together."
"Now, now Pernelle we had a very good reason for what we did." Dumbledore said.
Pernelle just rolled her eyes again. "I find it hard to believe that two powerful and wise, though I use the term loosely, wizards such as your selves couldn't have found a better way to protect the process and the stone."
Nicolas continued to smile brightly. "A better way, yes. A more fun way, I don't think so."
Harry and Ginny were finally recovering from their shock and were now snickering at the conversation.
"Ah, you've finally rejoined us. I do hope your not angry at our little bit of deception." Nicolas said.
"No, it's ok. You let us know up front it was a secret so we're not upset." Ginny replied with Harry nodding in agreement.
"Great!"
Harry moved forward extending his hand to give the stone to Nicolas. "Here's your stone."
"No, no, no. That's yours and Ginny's. You did make it after all." he said holding up his hands.
"What?" Harry and Ginny chorused together.
The adults all chuckled at the look of shock that had once again returned to the teens faces.
"That's right the gift of wealth and long life. That is with out a doubt the most powerful magical object you will ever hold. Use it well." Nicolas said in a rare serious moment.
"I don't know what to say." Harry replied.
"Don't say anything then." Nicolas quipped, all traces of seriousness once again gone. "Come on, I'll show you how to use it."
Harry and Ginny nodded and followed him to one of the work benches. Reaching underneath he removed a small bar of lead and placed it on the bench. "It's surprisingly easy and I thank Merlin for that otherwise we would never have realized what we created the first time round. Set the stone on the bar Harry."
Harry did as he was told. Not long after he placed the stone on the bar of lead a red light began to glow from deep within the stone. The light quickly increased in intensity as the magical aura from the stone enveloped the bar of lead. When the light faded away the stone was setting on a bar of gold.
"Wicked!" exclaimed Ginny.
"Exactly." Reaching underneath the counter again Nicolas removed a small pot and set it on the work surface. Using his wand he then filled it with water. "Now drop the stone in to this pot of water."
Having a fairly good idea of what was about to happen, Harry picked up the stone and placed it in the pot. Once again the glowing red aura of the stone expanded to fill the pot before disappearing. When the glowing stopped the pot was only about half as full as it had been and the liquid was a transparent red in color. Nicolas used a pair of tongs to remove the stone and dried it off.
"Here, come here and see this." Nicolas said excitedly.
Harry and Ginny stepped up to the pot with Nicolas and peered inside. Just as had happened with the mirrored surface of the potion earlier only the ceiling was reflected perfectly, Nicolas was a shadowy form and Harry and Ginny were not reflected at all.
"Why does it do that?" Harry asked.
Nicolas seemed to become even more excited. Instead of responding he took a ladle and filled two medium sized test tubes with the elixir handing one each to Harry and Ginny. "This is the proper dose and is taken once a month." he said. Seeing their indecision he urged them forward. "Don't worry, go on."
After sharing a quick look Harry and Ginny downed the potion in one gulp. It was the most wonderful tasting creation either of them had ever had the pleasure of enjoying.
"That taste's amazing!" Ginny said licking her lips.
"Absolutely brilliant" Harry added.
"Yes it is." said a grinning Christopher. "But you need to be careful, too much will make you sick, don't worry it can't kill you but I swear you wont drink too much more than once." A small shudder ran through his body as he said this. "Anyway come have another look." he said his excitement returning full force.
Once again Harry and Ginny peered into the liquid. They were shocked to see that they now had reflections. They were not nearly as solid as Nicolas was but they were there none the less.
"Cool huh? It reflects life force. The life force within a human is actually fairly weak. The elixir greatly bolsters that force which extends life and slows down the aging process. Magical creatures like dragons, unicorns or a phoenix have reflections that are perfectly clear."
Ginny looked confused. "I still don't understand why we weren't reflected before if it reflects life force wouldn't that mean we were dead?"
"Not at all, it takes a very strong life force to be reflected, much stronger than what humans normally possess. As it relates to the elixir death is a product of two things, one the lack of a life force that is strong enough to reflect and two the age of your body. The elixir allows you to over come the second one by giving you an extremely strong life force. So strong in fact that it almost stops the aging of the body. I've been taking it for over six hundred years which is why I show up so much more solid than you. At one time my reflection was almost perfectly clear but I ran out of the elixir three months ago so my life force is slowly fading. Because my body is so old when my reflection disappears I'll pass on to the next place."
"Then you need the stone." Harry said desperately not wanting to loose two more people he had become very close too.
Nicolas smile gently at Harry as he took hold of his hand and placed the stone in his palm wrapping Harry's fingers around it. He then stepped back and wrapped an arm around his wife who had come to stand beside him.
"We've lived a very long life Harry. The stone has allowed us to see and do things most wizards and witches could never even begin to imagine. For a long time now we've been preparing to take the next great adventure as Albus likes to put it but we've waited wanting to find someone worthy of passing our legacy on to. We have no doubts that the two of you are the people we have been looking for all these years."
"Don't be sad children." Pernelle said joining the conversation. "We're not sick or in pain or dieing some horrible death we've simply decided it's time for us to move on. There is a down side to a long life and that is that you have to watch all your friends and family pass on while you stay behind. At first it's very hard thought it does get easier with time as you begin to realize their simply going on to the next place and you will eventually get to see them again. But the pain of loss never completely goes away. It's time for us to go see them again."
Deciding the conversation was getting to maudlin and the mood needed to be lightened as it was the holidays Nicolas conjured four chairs one behind each of them. He sat back in his chair pulling his wife down into hers and waited expectantly for Harry and Ginny to sit down. As they did loud farting noises erupted from beneath each of them causing them to shoot up from their seats in embarrassment and Nicolas to start laughing hysterically. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling brightly and Pernelle was rolling her eyes though she was also grinning with amusement.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it." Nicolas managed to sputter out while laughing.
"You say that a lot." Harry replied grinning as he held up a muggle whoopee cushion.
Unable to get his laughter under control Pernelle took over. "There's another benefit the elixir provides that my husband has yet to mention."
Harry and Ginny looked at Pernelle with great interest.
"Release each others hands and look at us."
Very nervously Harry and Ginny shared a quick look before doing as they were told. No longer in contact with each other they looked and Nicolas and Pernelle and waited for the potion induced feelings to rise up and take hold of them. They didn't.
"They're gone! The feelings are gone!" Harry exclaimed.
Pernelle smiled at him. "The elixir also removes foreign magic from your system. So any spells or potions you might be under the influence of can be countered by taking a dose. If you remember my husband telling you the story of how he was cursed in a similar manor as you, this is the cure he spoke of."
Harry started laughing. "You mean to tell me that you discovered how to make the sorcerer's stone because Nicolas was being seduced by a hag?"
Pernelle nodded and everyone laughed at Harry's statement except Nicolas who had crossed his arms and was pouting though you could tell he was hiding a smile.
The five sat chatting for a while longer and as they did so Nicolas and Pernelle shared a private smile as they realized Harry and Ginny were still holding hands even though they were cured.
The rest of the holidays passed in a flash with Harry and Ginny going back and forth between the Flamel's and the Weasley's. Harry and Ginny decided they liked living together in their apartment so much they wouldn't tell anyone they had been cured yet. Nicolas and Pernelle had thought it a splendid idea and while Albus had been skeptical and not wanting to risk the wrath of Molly Weasley he finally agreed to let them keep their secret, for now.
With the return to Hogwart's Harry and Ginny found themselves sitting in their common room staring in to the fire as they discussed the stone.
"What do you think Harry? What should we do with it?"
"I don't know Gin. It's not like we need any more gold so that's not really an issue. I guess the question is how long do you want to live?"
Ginny sighed as she stared into the flames contemplating the question. "I don't know either, I mean can you imagine watching all of our friends die? Or our kids if they didn't want to take it?" she said causing both of them to share a look and a blush.
"I know what you mean. They said it gets easier but after going through the pain of loosing Sirius and even Cedric who was barely a friend I just don't know if I could do it."
Harry and Ginny talked long into the night thinking about the stone and what it truly meant to have a long life. It was very late at night when they finally managed to reach a decision.
"I agree Harry. I think that's a great idea." Ginny said smiling at her boyfriend.
"Then that's what we'll do."
Harry and Ginny were sitting with Ron and Hermione enjoying breakfast and chatting about their holidays when the air filled with owls. A large brown barn owl swooped by dropping the morning edition of the Daily Prophet in front of Hermione.
Hermione gasped as she read the headline gaining the attention of her friends. After quickly scanning the article she handed the paper across the table to Harry and Ginny.
Draco Malfoy Surrenders
By Rita Skeeter
It appears a life on the run was not to the taste of Draco Malfoy who had escaped Ministry custody in September. He appeared in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic Sunday afternoon and turned himself in to the Auror stationed at the front desk.
Draco Malfoy was taken into custody for…
Harry and Ginny read the entire article in disbelief. They were surprised that he had actually gone through with it. He had told them his plans to turn himself in when they met in Hogsmeade but had not expected him to actually go through with it. Once again they found themselves wondering if he was truly being reformed by the muggle he had fallen for and if he deserved their mercy after what he had tried to do to them.
As they were returning the paper to Hermione a voice greeted them from behind.
"Good morning. I see you have already received the news about young Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said smiling at the teens.
"Morning Professor and yes we just read about it. What's going to happen to him?" Harry replied.
"Actually that is something we need to discuss if you and Miss Weasley would be so kind as to accompany me to my office?"
Harry and Ginny said a quick goodbye to their friends followed the headmaster to his tower. Not long after they entered Professor Snape joined them.
"I've asked Severus to join us as I believe he has insight into Mr. Malfoy that we do not posses and I understand you have already spoken to him concerning your visit with Mr. Malfoy in Hogsmeade."
"That's fine Professor." Ginny replied.
"Good. Mr. Malfoy's case will be tried in court tomorrow though it is only a formality at this point as he has already pleaded guilty to all of the charges against him. Currently he faces sentencing for assault on a minor, two counts of using illegal potions, being an unregistered animagus and eluding custody. For the animagus violation he will receive a fine of five thousand galleons. For his escape he will server one to three years in Azkaban though I believe he will receive the minimum sentence for this charge as no one was hurt during his escape and he returned on his own."
Dumbledore gave everyone a minute to absorb everything before continuing. "Now, as for the other charges he stands to receive between three and twenty years in Azkaban. Because he has admitted to all of the charges you will not be required to attend the trial, however if you would like you may attend or send a statement to be read prior to sentencing. If you are inclined to do either I would recommend sending a statement."
"We can do that." Harry replied.
"You need to think very carefully about what you write as it will most likely be your words that determine the extent of his sentence."
"Professor," Harry said turning to Professor Snape, "what do you think about all this? Do you think Malfoy could really have come around like he said or was he just playing us?"
Snape looked at Harry and Ginny closely finding genuine curiosity as to what his opinion of the younger Malfoy was. "Having not been the one to have met him it's hard for me to say, but I would not rule out the possibility. What neither of you probably knows is that I'm Draco's godfather. I've watched him grow since he was a baby and his life has not been an easy one as you might think. The boy has never really known love and I don't find it beyond the realm of possibility that it could change him profoundly."
Harry and Ginny sat quietly for several minutes contemplating the situation and their feelings about the matter.
"Unless either of you have anymore questions or concerns you wish to voice you may be excused. Please have any statement you wish to have read at Mr. Malfoy's hearing tomorrow in my hand by the end of breakfast."
"Thank you professors, we will."
Leaving the office Harry and Ginny made their way back to their common room where they spent the next several hours working out how they felt and what they should do.
The next morning Harry and Ginny entered the Great Hall for breakfast and rather than take their seats at the Gryffindor table made their way to the headmaster.
"Good morning Harry, Ginny." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Good morning Headmaster." "Good morning." was their reply.
Reaching across the table Harry handed the Headmaster a piece of parchment he was carrying. After accepting the letter Dumbledore spent several seconds looking at the serious faces of his students before reading what they had given him.
To whom it may concern:
During the train ride to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on September the first we (Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley) were the object of an attack masterminded by Draco Malfoy and carried out by Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott. As you are aware of the events of that incident and Mr. Malfoy has already admitted to the charges arising from the attack we will not go into them here.
Rather we would like to say that we believe Mr. Malfoy is truly sorry for and regrets the events that transpired that day. Taking this into consideration we also believe that imposing the maximum sentence would be counter productive to his rehabilitation. However, he is guilty of attempting to commit serious crimes against us and we shudder to think of what the results would have been and how many additional crimes would have been committed had his plans come to fruition. We therefore also do not recommend the minimum sentence.
Thank you for taking the time to consider our opinion in the matter of the sentencing of Draco Malfoy. We trust in and fully support your decision.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley
Looking up from the letter he smiled at the pair. "I think you have made a wise decision and I am confidant justice will be served by it."
With somber faces the two made their way to their seats to have some breakfast.
That evening during dinner a large group of owls delivered a special edition of the Daily Profit. It seemed news concerning the hero's of the wizarding world was still big business.
Daily Profit – Special Edition
Draco Malfoy Found Guilty Of All Charges
By Rita Skeeter
In a special court session earlier today Draco Malfoy admitted to and was convicted of several charges related to his attack on Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley during the train ride to Hogwarts on September the first as well as charges arising from his subsequent escape. The charges he was convicted of included assault on a minor, two counts of using illegal potions, being an unregistered animagus and eluding the custody of law enforcement officials.
Draco Malfoy stood to face a maximum sentence of twenty three years if convicted on all charges. When final sentencing was announced Draco Malfoy received eight years in Azkaban without the possibility of parole. It is this reporters understanding that due to Mr. Malfoy turning himself in, admitting to all charges and a letter written by and read on behalf of Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley his sentence was reduced. The letter in question was read in a private session and is unfortunately not available for public consumption.
For Details of the trial see page 2
For Information on Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley see page 3
As they finished the article on the front page another owl appeared dropping a letter in front of Harry and Ginny. They were surprised to find in addressed to both of them. Opening the envelope they found a short note.
Harry and Ginny,
I just wanted to apologize one more time and thank you for whatever you said in your letter to the Wizengamot. I don't know exactly what it said but I have no doubts that your words saved me many years in Azkaban. Also thank you for killing all of the Dementors.
Draco
Sharing a small smile they put the letter away and left the Great Hall.
Amy was fixing dinner in the quiet of her small home. She found she missed fixing enough for two and especially missed Draco's company. She was startled when a large grey owl started tapping on the kitchen window. Remembering what Draco had told her about wizarding post she opened the window allowing the owl to fly in. After dropping the letter on the counter in front of her, the owl flew back out the window.
Sinking into a chair at her small table she opened the letter with shaking hands.
Dearest Amy,
I can't begin to thank you enough for the time we had together and the gifts you have given me. I miss you with all of my heart and wish I could be there with you but as we both know I have made some bad choices in my life though thanks to you I have found the courage to do the right thing and own up to my mistakes. It is with a heavy heart that I need to tell you after admitting to the charges and being found guilty I was sentenced to eight years in Azkaban prison.
I'm so sorry that I can't be there with you. I wanted to tell you not to wait for me. I love you and only want you to be happy. Please take care of yourself Amy.
All my love,
Draco
Tears began to flow down her cheeks. She had known he would be going away for a long time but it hadn't felt real until now. Running her fingers across the parchment she whispered quietly to herself, "I'll wait for you."
The weekend arrived much to the excitement of Harry and Ginny who had been looking forward to spending the weekend in the country with Nicolas and Pernelle. Finishing with their last class of the day the pair practically ran back to their rooms to drop off their things. After grabbing a small bag they had packed the night before they set Harry's ring to the Flamel's living room and disappeared.
"Ginny! Harry!" Pernelle greeted them as they appeared.
A moment later Nicolas entered the room and more greetings were exchanged.
"We're glad you could both make it this weekend we have something we wanted to give you." Nicolas said as they all took seats in the living room.
"You don't need to give us anything and it's no longer the holidays so you can't use that excuse any more." Harry replied.
Nicolas and Pernelle shared a smile. "This is nothing like that. As you know we'll be taking the next great adventure soon and we want to give you our things."
Seeing their uncomprehending looks Pernelle handed them a large thick book and began to explain. "That book contains the deeds and certificates to everything we own. This house, the property, businesses, everything we've accumulated over the years. We've spent a lot of time at Gringotts working with the goblins lately and it's all yours now."
It took several minutes but Harry and Ginny finally managed to recover from their shock. "No, we don't want it, we want you to stay."
Nicolas started to respond but was cut off by Harry who had removed a small package from within the bag they had brought. Handing it to Nicolas and Pernelle he said, "We brought you a present."
Carefully unwrapping the package Nicolas and Pernelle revealed a small ornately carved wooden box. Inside the box they found the Sorcerer's Stone.
"Harry, Ginny, this is yours, we can't thank you both enough for the gesture but it's our time."
"Why? Why does it have to be your time right now? You've lived over six hundred years why can't you stay around another twenty or thirty or fifty? We love you, why can't you stay long enough to get to know our kids?" Ginny said not blushing even a little when she asked her last question.
Harry could see the wheels turning in their minds. He realized they love him and Ginny as well and could see their resolve slipping under a combination of Harry and Ginny's logical arguments and the teens wanting and begging them to stay a little longer. Deciding it was time to use Nicolas's mentality and humor against him he brought out the big guns.
"If you leave now we'll have to go back to taking potions with Snape." Harry said.
Nicolas stared at Harry completely dumbstruck by his unexpected comment for several seconds until the flash of a camera went off pulling him from his trance and his gaze shifted to a grinning Ginny. "And if you stay I promise not to give a copy of this to Albus."
Shaking his head Nicolas broke down laughing and after sharing a look with his wife looked back to Harry and Ginny with an extremely large smile locked in place. "Then I guess you really aren't giving us much of a choice. We'll stay."
"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Caitlyn, Happy birthday to you." the small group of party goers sang.
"Go on. Blow out your candles sweetie." Harry said.
Taking a deep breath the little girl managed to blow out all four. Looking up at Harry she grinned very excited. "Daddy, that means I get my wish!"
"Yes it does sweetie, yes it does. I hope you didn't wish for a dragon though because you're not getting one."
"Daddy! Stop being silly." the little girl said shaking a finger at her father. It was a habit she had picked up from Minerva McGonagall that amused the transfiguration teacher to no end.
"Honey, could you take Christopher so I can cut the cake?" Ginny said to her husband as she passed the toddler to Harry.
Taking his son in his arms he began tickling the child receiving giggles and gurgles in response.
"Oh, can I hold him for awhile?" Pernelle asked as she and Nicolas appeared in the kitchen.
"Of course." Harry said before turning his attention to his son. "Do you want to go to grandma?"
Christopher held his arms out toward Pernelle who immediately scooped him up and began smothering him with affection.
"Harry," Nicolas said pulling him to one side and looking into the young mans eyes with an honest smile on his face, "thank you for making us stay."
- FINIS -
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AN: A special thanks to 'the DragonBard' who found a huge error that I thought was worth coming back to fix. I misnamed Nicolas Flamel's wife. Thanks for the catch and the review.