(Y/N)s POV

It was Christmas, I was exhausted, all of us have been trying to research Flamel with no luck, I even tried to use my advanced charms lessons as an excuse to check out the restricted section, I asked Professor Flitwick for permission, but he wasn't happy with my excuse and said no.

Hermione had left Hogwarts for the holiday, I had to stay this year because my father had been ill so I couldn't visit him for the holiday and my mother had been sent out of the country by the Ministry. Not that I minded, Mum said Christmas at Hogwarts was brilliant. I'm just happy I wouldn't be alone, the Weasleys and Harry were staying too.

A few days before Christmas I made sure my gifts were delivered by owl, a book on Puffskeins for mum, a book on wizards for dad that was written for muggles, both wrapped in green as usual. a signed copy of Hogwarts: A History for Hermione, and finally a Magical creature's book for Hagrid, I made sure that one was more pictures then words.

A lot of books I know but to be fair my only options were delivered to me via the school, Mum had tried to check if I used owls to peak at her presents early, so I had to act like I bought them for personal reading so that nobody caught on they were gifts. 

And with the amount of time I had spent in the library I had books on the brain. I couldn't just "pop out to the local corner shop." as dad put it, so I improvised.

I awoke on Christmas day and I was still tired, so I rolled over. Harry and Ron were already up as I had decided to lay in today and relax. Unfortunately, some people weren't as patient as me. "Get-up-you-great-bloody-lump."

Ron was shaking me and pointing at the presents at the end of my bed. I immediately lumbered towards the stack of presents with all the energy I could muster as I held in a yawn. "G'mornin' guys, Merry Christmas" I said sitting down. 

I picked up Bones who had been at my bedside and started stroking her, she loved the attention. Harry returned the sentiment; Ron was too excited and had already started to open his presents. I followed his lead, placing Bones down to open them.

My first present was red. it was neatly wrapped with tape, as I opened it I discovered it was a huge box of chocolate frogs, looking at the colour of the wrapping paper I realised who it was from "FROM DAD, I hope you like them, I'm not sure if they are the ones you told me about."

I was grinning from ear to ear, I had told my father about wizarding sweets during an offhand conversation we had after Mum had taken me to Diagon Alley for the first time.

Next up was a sparkling yellow gift, I opened it to find a copy of a rare charms book from mum. "I guess great minds think alike" I said out loud, I read her note "For my little Auror" I blushed crimson and quickly hid this note in my pocket so nobody would find it. She had a bad habit of calling me by this pet name ever since I got my wand.

Wanting to continue the theme I had going I scanned my presents for a blue box as usual, then I stopped myself "Idiot" I reprimanded myself, in my excitement I had looked for a gift that I would never receive, A gift from my brother.

To get over my own glumness I quickly moved on, I found a small box, wrapped with brown paper very messily. I opened it and found some rock cakes from Hagrid and a scrawl of a note I believed to be a recipe. "Merry Christmas" it had at the bottom. I made a mental note to thank him later.

I moved on to a very lumpy parcel that seemed out of place, as I picked it up Ron explained. "That's from mum, I told her about you in a letter and she insisted" he went pink at the ears. "Awesome!" I said, after a pause I realised "But I didn't get her anything" I panicked.

Ron dismissed me with a wave of his hand, but I had already made another mental note to send her a thank you. I opened it to reveal a sweater, it looked very warm and had the first letter of my name on it, I was very happy with this, at my size I went through clothes very often, so I was chuffed to receive it. 

I put it on immediately. It was my favourite colour. "I love it" I said to Ron who had moved on, no longer paying attention to me. He had just opened the pack of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans I had got him, the same as what Hermione had got him. 

He put one in his mouth and spat it out almost immediately, "Earthworm" he cringed. Harry was laughing hysterically at this, he had opened his gift from me, gloves, specifically designed for better grip on a broomstick.

He looked over at me with a smile as I smirked and said "Just in case you feel a bit peckish" as I stuck out my tongue playfully. I moved on to my last few gifts. I got a few random gifts from other family members.

Finally I opened Hermione's present to me, it was neatly wrapped, with a bow and everything, even from a first glance I could tell what it was. It was simple, a book of course, I expected nothing less from the resident bookworm herself.

"Where There's a Wand, There's a Way" I read aloud. There was a note stuck to the cover. "Hope it helps, Merry Christmas." I heard a gasp behind me and turned around slowly to see the commotion.

My eyes almost popped out of my head. Harry was a floating head. "What" is all that slipped out of my mouth. "That's an invisibility cloak, they are really rare" said Ron. I shook my head, "That's impossible, there is no way its real, it must be from Zonko's or something."

"Is there a note Harry?" He read it aloud "Your father left this in my possession before he died, it is time it was returned to you, use it well." "No name" he said glumly. "This is perfect!" "You can use it to find Flamel" I said, he was immediately cheered up again.

 "Maybe I do have books on the brain" I thought. Fred and George came in wearing sweaters and everyone was about to make their way to the feast, I quickly said I would catch up as I had to feed Bones.

As soon as I put food in her bowl, a little more than usual, it was Christmas after all, she came sauntering over from her usual napping spot and nuzzled against my leg. After she was finished eating, she began to paw at my gifts, which I had placed on my bed.

Apparently this was her new napping spot and they were in the way. She then knocked them off the bed and looked at me, she had an almost smirk on her face and looked very pleased with herself. She then occupied the space they were in and sprawled over the bed.

Deciding it was best to leave her there I picked up my gifts to put them in my trunk, that was when I saw the letter I had left there around Halloween and forgotten about. I quickly opened it, still just as curious about its contents.

My heart sank in my chest as soon as I saw it, I knew it immediately, but still I read it to see if there was a clue as to who sent it, hopefully my new books would give me a creative method of cursing them into oblivion.

It was a news clipping, A headline of the daily prophet, from 3 years ago spliced with a story underneath. "Bogwood Sinks; Tragedy or Opportunity?" was the venomous headline. I read on, scanning through it for anything that stood out.

"In a surprising turn of events (B/N) Bogwood, the up and comer on the Quidditch scene met a tragic end at the age of 18, after injuries suffered after a nasty tumble during a match against the Appleby Arrows, who I'm sure took the much-needed win despite the circumstances."

"Despite the best efforts of Mediwizards, Bogwood was committed to St. Mungo's and later died of his injuries" I grit my teeth but read on "His family make no comment on the tragedy and are likely fleeing from the public eye."

"Bogwoods mother, an auror, has taken leave from the ministry in a clear effort to avoid scrutiny and perhaps inquiry. She has no doubt seen her fair share of dark magic, perhaps she picked up something in her travels?" 

"She has been stated to have connections to Antonin Dolohov, who we all know can be very persuasive." "Speculation and controversy now surround the family, there are even claims of involvement"

"Perhaps she made sure her sons career bolstered her own, and her magic got out of hand, argues this reporter." I couldn't stomach anymore, I had read it before, but I was younger, so the barbs and comments made didn't really sink in back then as they have now, but I did commit the name of the author to memory. "Rita Skeeter."

At a final glance I looked above the text to a picture of my brother, he was about the same size as me, but being older than me it wasn't considered freakish like my height, in the picture he was posed with his broomstick on his right, he was leaning on it like someone would lean against a wall.

He had (H/C) hair like me and dad, he always kept it cropped short, "Wont blow in my eyes that way, dummy", he had mums' eyes, same as me but they had the same mischievous glint in them that only he and mum had. In the picture he stuck out his tongue and gave a wink.

This brought me back to the last time I saw him, before his last match he had done the same thing to me as he looked up at me in the stands, our way of saying "Don't worry, everything will be fine, I got this."

In my anger I burned the letter in the fireplace, except the picture which I hung above my headboard. I wasn't very hungry anymore; I was content with spending my Christmas curled up in my bed with Bones reading my new books.

As soon as I awoke the next day Harry started to harass me and Ron about some sort of mirror. He told wild stories about what the mirror showed him and told us about his attempt to use the restricted section. 

He promised to lead us to the mirror and show us, although he could only lead one of us at a time so that Filch didn't catch us. "I should have known it wouldn't be that easy." I remained in the common room that night as Ron and Harry went off on their travels.

Not that I cared, I had books to keep me busy, "Oh god she's rubbing off on me", with this thought I closed my book and went to bed. Ron woke me up the next day and told me how brilliant the mirror was.

"Can you lot stop bothering me when I'm trying to sleep." I said through a yawn, still, I was excited, I couldn't wait to see what I would find, so after some gruelling potions classes I waited for Harry in the common room so that he could lead me to the mirror. 

Only he was nowhere to be found, I checked his bed figuring he was tired and had delayed our trip, but he wasn't there, after hours of waiting up I decided to get some rest yet again.

Harry explained to me the next day that he couldn't take me to see the mirror, honestly, I was in a foul mood after that, I had gotten my hopes up, hoping to see my future, or my family.

He said he was caught by Professor Dumbledore and the mirror was to be moved, but I was still up for it. "We can just go to it before it gets moved, you can use the cloak" I pleaded.

"We can't, I'm sure Dumbledore has moved it by now, and even if he hasn't, he would be looking for us, and he told me not to so we would get in trouble." "Fine, did you figure out what it does yet?" I said trying not to sound too let down

"It shows you what you want, your deepest desire, at least that's what Dumbledore said" explained Harry. I suddenly lost all interest in the mirror, a mirror that showed desire wasn't useful to me, I already had something to tell me that, it was hung above my headboard.

As the week went on Hermione returned and we all moved back onto our task of finding Flamel. After hours of pouring over books in the common room as per, I was forced to look up by a loud thumping noise.

Neville had hopped into the room, his legs stuck together by a curse. I rushed to his side and freed him from the curse. "What happened Neville?" I asked but I feel I already had a good idea. "Malfoy" was what I could make out, and suddenly I was seething with anger.

Hermione said something first. "Report him Neville, go to Professor McGonagall." "I don't want more trouble" he mumbled. "You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" said Ron. "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, Malfoy's already done that" Neville choked out. Suddenly all my anger and hatred towards Malfoy increased tenfold, I wanted to get him back for making Neville feel like this, no I would get him back. 

But now I had more worrying issues. "Neville, that's not true, remember when you told us that story at the sorting ceremony about Blackpool pier? And your great uncle?" He nodded "Someone who wasn't brave couldn't do all that and then still come to Hogwarts could they?"

""But I didn't do anything" he said in confusion. "You got back up... after bouncing a few times, that sounds plenty brave to me" I said with a smile trying to cheer him up but he didn't seem convinced.

"You are brave, brave in your own way, the Sorting Hat doesn't lie" I said as I gave a wink and put my arm around his shoulder. "Besides, Malfoys just jealous of your good looks, he looks like a sickly weasel most of the time" this finally got a giggle out of him.

It wasn't my best speech, but I was pretty proud of my on the fly inspiration. Harry gave Neville his chocolate frog to cheer him up. Neville gave a weak smile and said. "Here Harry, for your collection" handing him the card.

Harry looked at it and after a brief pause his eyes widened. "Flamel, I've found him" he said looking at us. "That was how I knew the name, Harry said it on the train" I said as the realisation hit me.

"Neville you're a genius" I shook him harder than I meant to, and he almost choked on the chocolate frog. He scurried away after that with a confused look on his face. Hermione quickly dashed to her room and brought back a book.

After some comments from Ron she told us about Nicolas Flamel and the philosophers stone "Blimey" was all I could say, she then explained in more detail what it was. 

The next few weeks went by very fast; Harry had a quidditch match that I was forced to attend, during the match I had a few fights with Malfoy, I had given him a busted lip and had knocked Crabbe unconscious, after that I watched as Gryffindor won another Quidditch match.

To be honest I didn't see much of the match as I was trying to punch lumps out of Goyle as he fought with Ron and Neville. But we were still no closer to finding out what else guarded the stone. Not that I was really worried about it anymore. I had more pressing concerns.

Hagrid had somehow gotten himself a dragon, it was named Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback. I was happy for him, he had always wanted one, but it was causing some problems. Hermione put it best.

"Hagrid you do know you have a wooden house. Right?" Unfortunately, that wasn't the worst of it, Malfoy, being the creep he was. had followed us to Hagrid's hut, luckily, we got Norbert out of the castle before Malfoy could tell, with help from Ron's brother Charlie. 

Ron had to stay behind because of a dragon bite earlier in the day so me, Harry and Hermione had to take the dragon to the astronomy tower so that Charlie could take it off our hands.

Having done that, we were in high spirits and tried to quietly creep back to the common room. Everything was going well until a greasy hand gripped my shoulder. "Well well well, we are in trouble" said Filch.

By the time we reached Professor McGonagall my heart was in my throat, I was going to be expelled I just knew it. McGonagall looked furious. Neville was at her hip looking at us timidly, apparently, he had tried to warn us about Malfoy, who had been caught as he attempted to get us into trouble. 

She addressed each of us individually. "Well I would have thought you would have more sense Miss Granger, and as for you Mr Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you then this."

She then looked at me and I felt like I would throw up, I was terrified, I was clammy and I'm sure I had gone pale. "I wish I could say the same for you Mr (L/N), It seems trouble tends to find you wherever you go."

Suddenly I found my voice. "Professor I-" "No excuses, all four of you will receive detention" Neville went pale, I'm sure he was about to start sobbing, Professor McGonagall turned to us "Fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor."

"Fifty!" said Harry in disbelief. "Each." said McGonagall sternly. I was stunned into silence, Harry tried to protest but I had swallowed my voice again.

The worst thing about it wasn't the punishment we had received, it was the look on Neville's face, he had tears in his eyes and looked as if we had tricked him, it was a face I never wanted to see him make again.

We made our way back to our dormitories after being dismissed, I tried to talk to Neville, but he brushed me off, I just hoped he knew we didn't get him in trouble on purpose. I tried to get some sleep and forget today ever happened.

Unfortunately, this wasn't something that was forgotten easily, Slytherins clapped me on the back and called me an "Honorary Slytherin" and cheered for me whenever I saw them, Gryffindor's ignored me and whispered about me, they even ignored me to my face in classes and in the common room.

As the post was dropped off, I got a message from Professor McGonagall that my detention was tonight. But that was nothing, my heart sank, and I felt like crying when another letter dropped in front of me, carried by a very tired looking owl.

I got a letter with a pink envelope; it wasn't a howler but somehow that felt worse "I'm very disappointed, try to make up for it" was all it said.