Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Chapter 13 - Nicolas Flamel
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Chapter 13
Nicolas Flamel
Harry takes Dumbledore’s advice: he does not try to find the Mirror of Erised. And he does not use the invisibility cloak, either. But Harry cannot forget what he has seen in the mirror. He starts having nightmares again. Over and over he dreams about his parents. He sees them disappearing in a flash of green light, and he hears that high, cruel laugh.
Harry tries to forget about the mirror by discovering more about Nicolas Flamel. He and Ron and Hermione and Neville spend as much time as they can between classes searching in the library. But they have no luck at all. With Quidditch practice, Harry has even less time to devote to his investigation.
Their next Quidditch game is against Slytherin. The whole school is excited to see the game. If Gryffindor wins, they move into first place in the House Championship. Harry is already nervous. But during one practice, Oliver Wood, the team captain, gives the team some bad news. “I know the next game is going to be a difficult one, but I thought I would tell you this: Professor Snape will be refereeing the game.”
The whole team complains loudly, but Harry is a bit worried. “We’re going to have to play a clean game, guys. Snape is looking for any chance to take away points from Gryffindor,” Wood continues. Harry might be worried about Snape being ref, but he has another reason he doesn’t want Snape to be near him - the last game, Snape tried to knock him off his broomstick!
When Harry tells his friends about Snape, they try to convince him not to play. “Pretend you broke your leg!” Ron says. “Say you’re sick,” Hermione suggests. “But I have to play,” Harry says, “I’m the only Seeker on the team. We don’t have a backup Seeker. The team is depending on me. If I don’t play, Gryffindor will have to forfeit the game, and we will lose our position in the Cup.” Harry is almost desperate.
Ron feels sorry for Harry. He wants to try to cheer him up. So he gives Harry a piece of chocolate from the collectible wizard cards he received as a gift from his parents during Christmas. Harry takes the package and opens it. Inside is a delicious chocolate candy and a collectible wizard card. Harry has been collecting the cards since he arrived at Hogwarts.
Harry looks at the card: it is Dumbledore. “Here, Neville,” Harry says, handing Neville the card, “you can have this. I already have Dumbledore in my collec -” Harry looks at the card, and then he says suddenly, “I’ve found him! I’ve found Flamel! I knew I had seen his name somewhere.” Harry turns the Dumbledore card over. There is a picture of Dumbledore and an explanation about him. “Listen to this!”
Harry begins reading the card: ‘Dumbledore is particularly famous for his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel’!” Hermione jumps to her feet and cheers! Ron smiles a big smile, and Neville… Neville still looks a bit confused. “Stay there!” Hermione says. She runs up the stairs to the girls’ side of Gryffindor. She returns almost instantly. She is holding a large, thick, heavy book in her arms.
She opens the book and turns a few pages, and then, “I knew it! I knew it!” she yells. “Nicolas Flamel,” she reads, “is the only known maker of the Philosopher’s Stone!” she finishes dramatically. The other children look at her with no expression on their faces. “The what?” says Ron. She gives the book to Ron and tells him to read more.
Ron reads, “‘The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher’s Stone. The Philosopher’s Stone is a substance that has incredible powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life. The Elixir will make the drinker immortal. There are many stories about the Philosopher’s Stone, but the only Stone that exists today belongs to Nicolas Flamel.’”
Ron closes the book slowly. “See?” Hermione says. “The three-headed dog must be guarding Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone! Dumbledore probably put it there to keep it safe. He knew someone wanted to steal it. That’s why he took it out of Gringotts!” “A stone that makes gold and stops you from dying!” says Harry. “No wonder Snape is trying to get it,” Ron says. “Anyone would want it.”
They spend the next few days discussing what to do about the Philosopher’s Stone, but they still do not have a solution. And today they have no time to think about it. The big Quidditch game between Gryffindor and Slytherin arrives. Harry is very nervous, and his friends worry that they will not see him alive after the game.
“I don’t want to worry you,” Oliver Wood tells Harry, “but this is your most important game. We’re all counting on you. Everyone’s here to watch - even Dumbledore!” Dumbledore is here? thinks Harry. If he’s here, then I’ll be safe. There’s no way Snape will try anything while Dumbledore is watching. Harry’s friends are not as certain. They are in the stands, watching Snape carefully.
“Look!” yells Ron, “the game is starting! Ouch!” Someone has hit Ron in the back of the head. It is Malfoy. “Oh, sorry, Weasley,” Malfoy says, “I didn’t see you there. I wonder how long Potter will be able to stay on his broomstick. Does anyone want to make a bet? How about you, Weasley?” Ron does not answer.
Hermione is watching the game closely. She is keeping one eye on Harry and the other on Snape, and she is trying to ignore Malfoy. High above the other players, she can see Harry circling the sky, looking for the Snitch. “Do you know how they choose people for the Gryffindor team?” asks Malfoy. “The team chooses people they feel sorry for. See, there’s Potter. He has no family. And there are the Weasleys. They don’t have any money. You should be on the team, Longbottom. You don’t have any brains.”
Neville changes color from white, to red, to purple almost instantly. He turns around and faces Malfoy. “I may not have any brains, Malfoy, but at least I have real friends!” he says. Malfoy, and the ever-present Crabbe and Goyle, all laugh. “You tell them, Neville,” Ron says in solidarity. “Longbottom, if brains were gold, you would be poorer than Weasley here!” continues Malfoy, laughing again at his own cruelty.
“I’m warning you, Malfoy,” Ron threatens, “one more word from you and…” “Ron, look!” yells Hermione. “What is it? Where?” Harry suddenly falls down from the sky, in a spectacular dive. The crowd cheers and gasps. Hermione stands up, she is covering her mouth with her hands. Harry moves faster and faster towards the ground, like a speeding bullet. “Looks like Potter has found some money on the ground,” says Malfoy.
Ron cannot stand it anymore. Before Malfoy even knows what is happening, Ron is on top of him, punching and pinching and hitting him. Hermione hesitates, but Neville jumps over his seat and joins the fight to help Ron. Hermione looks back to the game. “Come on Harry!” she screams, jumping up and down. Harry is speeding down towards Snape. Snape turns just in time.
Harry misses Snape by centimeters. The next second, Harry pulls up from his dive, and raises his hand in triumph: he is holding the Snitch tightly in his hand. The crowd goes crazy! It is a new school record. No one can even remember the last time the Snitch was caught so quickly. “Ron! Neville! The game’s over! Harry has won, we’ve won! Gryffindor is in the lead!” yells Hermione.
She is dancing up and down on her seat. She does not even see the pile of kids behind her. Malfoy has a big, black eye. Ron’s nose is bleeding heavily, but he has a big smile on his face. And Neville is on top of Crabbe and Goyle - all of them are unconscious! All three had hit their heads together at the same time and fell in a big pile, completely knocked out.
The game lasted less than five minutes. Harry cannot believe it. Snape looks furious at Harry, but then suddenly, Dumbledore is there, congratulating him. “Well done, Potter.” says Dumbledore quietly. “It’s nice to see you have not been spending your time looking for the mirror.” Snape walks away angrily.
Harry stays in the locker room after the game. He is alone. And he is happy. He has never been happier. He has done something that he can be very proud of. As he leaves the locker room, the sun is setting behind the castle. It is getting dark. He is thinking how angry Snape will be when suddenly… Harry sees a dark shape coming quickly down the front steps of the castle. The person is wearing a dark cloak and a hood over his head. He obviously does not want to be recognized.
But Harry recognizes the person from the way he walks - it is Snape! He is sneaking into the Forbidden Forest, while everyone else is at dinner. What is he doing? Harry climbs onto his Nimbus 2000 and flies quietly into the air. As Harry climbs higher and higher, he can see Snape entering the forest far below. He follows him.
It is difficult to see Snape because of the trees. But soon, Snape appears in an open space in the woods. Harry can hear voices in the darkness below him. He slows his broomstick down and he climbs quietly onto a tree branch to watch and to listen. Below in the clearing, he can see Snape. He is not alone. Professor Quirrell is with him. Harry listens but he cannot hear everything.
“... d-d-don’t know why you wanted t-t-to meet here in the forest, Severus…” stutters Quirrell. “Oh, I wanted this to be very private,” Snape replies, in a cold voice. “Students are not supposed to know about the Philosopher’s Stone, after all.” Harry misses something Quirrell says, then he hears Snape again, “Have you discovered how to get past the three-headed dog yet?”
“B-b-but Severus, I…” continues Quirrell. “You don’t want me as your enemy, Quirrell,” says Snape. Snape moves closer to Quirrell, in a threatening manner. “I d-d-don’t know what you…” Quirrell says. “You know exactly what I mean,” responds Snape. “I’m running out of patience, Quirrell. You need to decide where you place your loyalties.” Snape quickly covers his head with his dark hood and walks quickly back towards the castle. Quirrell stands there as if he were a petrified tree.
When Harry finally gets back to Gryffindor, he calls all his friends to a quiet corner and tells them everything he has seen and heard. “So, we were right. It is the Philosopher’s Stone. And Snape is trying to force Quirrell to help him get it. He asked Quirrell if he knew how to get past Fluffy.” Harry continues, “But if Snape needs Quirrell’s help, there are probably other enchantments guarding the stone.”
“Quirrell is an expert in the Dark Arts, after all.” Hermione has a concerned look on her face. “So,” she says, “the Stone will only be safe as long as Quirrell refuses to do what Snape tells him to do. But what are we supposed to do in the meantime?” Harry responds, “That’s what we have to decide.”
