The Other Side Of The Story
Chapter 13 - Never Miss with My Friends Again...

Christmas passed quickly and we were soon back to Hogwarts for the rest of the semester, but can't say that I didn't miss the place while I was away, Hogwarts actually seemed like another home to me

I was sitting in the great hall with Harry, Ron and Hermione, we Ron was actually playing with his chocolate frogs cards

Then Harry's owl came flying in and stood on some books on the table

"Hi, Hedwig" Harry spoke as he patted it on the head and so did I, but soon enough we both turned back to our books

"look at you playing with your cards ,pathetic" Hermione snapped at Ron who was surprised at first but then went on playing with his cards and ignoring her as she went on "we have got final exams coming up soon"

"I'm ready, ask me any question" he exclaimed as he smirked at Hermione

"Alright" she replied and I saw the evil look in her eyes, knowing that she was about to ask him a question he would never be able to answer

"Come on Hermione, give him a break" I told her but she simply shrugged me off "Alex, he asked for it"

"What are the three most crucial ingredients in forgetfulness potion?" well it wasn't that hard of a question but as I guessed Ron had no idea

"I forgot" he replied as he looked down at his cards in shame while I noticed Harry trying to cover a smile but failing

"And what may I ask, do you plan to do if this comes up in the final exam?" she pressed and I was starting to pity Ron

"Copy off you" and just like that my pity was gone

"No you won't" she glared at him "besides according to Professor McGonagall, we're to be given special quills bewitched with an anti-cheating spell" she spoke proudly

"That's insulting; it's as if they don't trust us! Dumbledore again!" he yelled as he threw the last card in his hand on the table

And just as they both shut up and I thought I was finally going to be able to study in peace

Neville toppled into the Great hall his legs had been stuck together with what they recognized at once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to bunny hop all the way here

Everyone fell about laughing except Hermione and me and so I leapt up and performed the counter-curse. Neville’s legs sprang apart andhe got to his feet, trembling

"What happened?’" Hermione asked him, leading him over to sit with Harry and Ron

‘"Malfoy" said Neville shakily "I met him outside the library. He said he’d been looking for someone to practice that on"

"Go to Professor McGonagall!’ Hermione urged Neville. "Report him!"

Neville shook his head

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 frontof him and make it easier"

"He's right Neville, you can't just let them do this to you" I supported Ron

"There’s no need to tell me I’m not brave enough to be in Gryfreplaceor, Malfoy’s already done that," Neville choked

"Nobody meant that, we know you are brave, but you just have to show everyone else how much strong you can be" I encouraged him then Harry handed him a ChocolateFrog, who looked as though he might cry

"You’re worth twelve of Malfoy" Harry said "The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryfreplaceor, didn’t it? And where’s Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin"

Neville’s lips twitched in a weak smile as he unwrapped the Frog

"Thanks, Harry ... I think I’ll go to bed ... Do you want the card you collect them, don’t you?"

As Neville walked away Harry looked at the Famous Wizard card.

"Dumbledore again" he said "He was the first one I ever…"

He gasped and stared at the back of the card, and then he looked up at us

"I found him!" Harry shouted to up "I’ve found Flamel! I told you I’dread the name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here – listen to this: “Professor Dumbledore is particularly famousfor 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” the trio have explained to me about their little talk with Hagrid and how he spilled some stuff mistakenly to them while I was at the hospital wing so I was up-to-date with the whole search for Nicolas Flamel person

"Follow me" Hermione whispered and ran out of the Great hall with all three of us behind her

We ended up at the library sitting in one of the tables while Hermione was searching for some book, a couple minutes later she came back with a very big book in her hand, She thumped it onto the table and we all jumped a little

"I had you looking in the wrong section! How could I be so stupid? I checked this out a few weeks ago for a bit of light reading" she spoke to herself

"This is light?" Ron asked surprised and I patted him on the back "you have no idea mate"

Which earned us both a glare from her and a shush, then she started flicking frantically through the pages, muttering to herself

At last she found what she was looking for "I knew it! I knew it"

"Care to share it with us" I spoke catching her attention and she quickly apologized

"Nicolas Flamel" she whispered dramatically "is the only known maker of the Philosopher’s Stone"

This didn’t have quite the effect she’d expected

"The what?" said all three of us

"Honestly, don't you three read? The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will turn any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal" she explained

"Immortal?" Ron asked

"It means you'll never die" I answered him and he looked at me as if I was crazy "I know what it means"

"Shh" Harry quickly shushed him as I glared at him along with Hermione

"The only stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel, the noted alchemist, who last year celebrated his 665th birthday!" That's what Fluffy's guarding on the 3rd floor. That's what is under the trapdoor...the Philosopher's Stone!" she said as she turned to the three of us

"A stone that makes gold and stops you ever dying!" said Harry "No wonder Snape’s after it! Anyone would want it"

"Come on guys, not again with the whole accusing Snape thing" I told them as I rolled my eyes, they were actually getting on my last nerve with that thought

"Well, who else would want it, Alex?" Harry asked turning to me

"I don't know there is more than a thousand person in this school who might want to take it, who knows why, but as for Snape I'm sure he would never do so" I answered being genuinely honest

"Why do you keep defending him? It's as if you know something we don't" Hermione pushed at me as she frowned her eyebrows

"Cause Hermione every time you guys accuse him of something he does the complete opposite" I retorted

"Yeah like what?" she pushed again "when have he ever done any good?"

"seriously you want to go there ,okay , when you guys accused him of releasing the troll , he was actually trying to stop it and when you guys were sure he was jinxing Harry's broom , he was actually trying to save him and finally he could have left me death when I fainted but he didn't , he did what any good rational person would do he took me to the Hospital wing and saved my life if that's not enough for you, then you are mad" I spoke then stood up and walked away , ignoring their calls for me to come back

I was walking through the school hallways trying to calm down , I really lost it at them and I was starting to feel guilty at how I spat it at them , but thanks to my stubbornness I wasn't going to just go and apologize just yet

So I decided to head to potions I still needed to thank Snape for saving my life when he took me to madam Pomfrey

When I got there I knocked lightly on the door then entered

"Well you know you're supposed to wait till I allow you to enter before you do" Snape said without looking up from the papers on his desk

"I didn't think you would let me" I answered "but anyway I came to thank you"

"What for?" he asked seeming suddenly interested, as he finally looked at me

"For saving my life, I know it's been a while, but I didn't get a chance to thank you then" I told him

"There is no need; I did what I had to do"

"No you didn't have to do so, you could have just left me there, but you didn't, you're not as bad as you drew yourself to be" I told him and he just looked at me for a minute then turned back to the paper in his hand

"Well if that's all" he spoke without looking at me and gestured to the door and I turned to leave but stopped dead in my track

"Why did you lie?" I asked him

"What?" he asked

I turned back to him "why did you lie about where you found me? You said you found me in the Hallway when we both know that I fainted while I was in here talking to you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about" he shook his head at me" but I know that person with a concussion would suffer from a bit of confusion and delusion, Ms. Miller"

"I know what I'm talking about, it wasn't a delusion and we both know that"

"Ms. Miller if you may" he gestured to the door once again" I have some Home works to mark"

"This isn't over" I told him knowing that he was hiding something and I was going to replace out what, with that I stalked out of the classroom

A couple of days passed and I haven't talked to the trio yet , but during the classes I noticed that Harry was more and more Nervous maybe it was because of the Quidditch match he was going to play today , so I made it upon me to get over myself and go wish him luck after class

When class was done I couldn't replace harry so I decided to wait for him in front of the changing room when he finally showed up he seemed surprised to see me

"Alex!! What are you doing here?" he asked as he looked around him

"Well I came to apologize" I started but he cut me off "you don't have to…"

"let me finish, I over reacted it's okay you guys don't see things the way I do and that's fine, but more importantly I came here to wish luck Harry you are great at Quidditch and I see how nervous you are, but you don't have to, I'll just do great out there" I told him and he pulled me into a hug

"thanks, Alex I really needed that" he told then we pulled apart and he turned to enter the changing room but I stopped him "take care and most importantly don't forget to have fun, isn't that what Quidditch all about" he turned to me with a smile which I gladly returned and once he was in, I headed to the stands, to replace Hermione and Ron

It didn't take me long to replace them standing beside Neville who was the first to notice me "Hey, Alex"

When Hermione and Ron heard that they jumped a little in surprise

"Alex!!" they said

"Guys I'm sorry about the way I over reacted" I told them

"We are sorry too" they said

"So are we friends again?" Hermione asked nervously

"When were we not?" I replied and was immediately pulled into a bone crushing hug by her

"I was really scarred you wouldn't want to be friends any more I couldn't even sleep knowing so, I'm really glad we are okay again" she rumpled

"Hermione, can't breathe" I managed to shock out and she immediately let go and apologized

"look they are off" Hermione declared and we all turned around Hermione , Ron and Neville were cheering for Gryfreplaceor me on the other hand cheered for my friends , including Cedric who was playing as the Hufflepuff seeker

"Ouch" Ron spoke as someone poked him in the back of the head we turned around to see non other that Malfoy

"Oh, sorry, Weasley didn’t see you there" He exclaimed as he grinned at Crabbe and Goyle

"Wonder how long Potter’s going to stay on his broom thistime? Anyone want a bet? What about you, Miller?"

"Watch it Malfoy or the next thing coming out of your mouths will be your teeth" I threatened but he didn't seem to take it seriously

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 Gryfreplaceorteam?" said Malfoy loudly a few minutes later, as Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty for no reason at all.

"Its 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" Malfoy spoke bitterly and 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 himNeville"

"Longbottom, if brains were gold you’d be poorer than Weasleyand that’s saying something" oh no he didn't

"Watch it Malfoy" I threatened

"Oh or what?" he asked with a smirk

"Ron! Alex!" said Hermione suddenly "Harry"

"What? Where?" I turned back to the game to see Harry had suddenly gone into a spectacular dive, which drew gasps and cheers from the crowd. Hermione stood up, her crossedfingers in her mouth, as Harry streaked towards the ground like a bullet

"You’re in luck, Weasley, Potter’s obviously spotted some moneyon the ground!" said Malfoy

Ron snapped, Before Malfoy knew what was happening, Ronwas on top of him, wrestling him to the ground

I tried to pull Ron off him, even so i knew that Malfoy deserved it but I didn't want Ron to get in trouble

"Come on, Harry!" I heard Hermione scream

I was standing between Ron and Malfoy when Hermione suddenly called "Alex! Ron! Where are you? The game’s over! Harry’s won!"

"We’ve won! Gryfreplaceor are in the lead!" she shrieked, dancing up and down on her seat and hugging Parvati Patil in the row in front

We won I was both surprised and irritated because of Malfoy so I simply turned around and punched him in the face and he dropped to the ground holding his eye

"Aw!! Aw!!" he screamed and both Crabbe and Goyle rushed to his side

"I warned you, didn't I? Miss with me or my friends again and next time it will be worse than a simple bunch" I threatened and turned around helping Ron of the floor

"My Dad will be hearing of this and he won't be Happy" I heard Malfoy yell

"Well I don't care what your father would be like" with that me and Ron headed back to where Hermione was

"Nice punch" Ron complimented me "remind me never to get in a fight with you" I laughed at that

"I'll keep that in mind" we both laughed again then turned back to the pitch cheering for Harry