Chapter 15 - The Cerberus and the Stone

                                    

                                          
The next two months passed by relatively quietly. Harry continued being the top student in the year and continued supporting his friends, tutoring them through any subjects they struggled with. After the incident with Quirrell, Harry received word from Amelia that Voldemort managed to separate himself from Quirrell, killing him in the process. Therefore losing them any information they may have gained.
Harry continued researching into why the Cerberus was in the school. He went back to the third floor corridor a few more times to investigate. He noticed that it was guarding a trap door and so the research shifted to figuring out what Dumbledore would hide in the castle as bait for Harry. 
One Saturday afternoon however, while him and Daphne were walking threw the castle from the library to the room of requirement, he came across a room which had something else interesting, a mirror.
"Huh, this is odd. Why have a room with just a mirror inside?" Daphne said as they walked in.
"I don't know, look it has writing along the top." Harry said.
It read 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'
"What language is that? I don't recognise it." Daphne said confused.
"I don't kn- wait, it's not another language, it's backwards. It really says 'I show not your face but your hearts desire' interesting." Harry replied.
"I wonder what it means." Daphne said.
"Well, I imagine, if you stand in front of it, instead of just showing your reflection, it will show your hearts deepest desire." Harry said clearly fascinated, stepping towards it. Standing exactly in the middle, Harry closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and then opening them. He was very surprised by what he saw. Harry imagined he would see him with his parents, however what he really saw was him and Daphne standing together. They looked older, with Daphne holding a baby in her arms. Surely not, his deepest desire was to grow up and have a family with Daphne?
"What do you see Harry?" He heard Daphne ask. He couldn't tell her this could he? He decided he would have to lie so he didn't lose his friend.
"Myself, standing with my parents. Getting a hug from my mum." He said sadly.
"Oh Harry." Daphne said as she pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry."
"Why are you sorry? You've done nothing wrong." Harry said with a chuckle. "It's not like I've had a difficult life Daphne, I grew up with a loving family in a mansion and now I have the best friends anyone could ask for." He said quietly as he separated from Daphne giving her a smile, one which she returned. "Come on, why don't you have a look?" He asked.
"Okay." Daphne said hesitantly as Harry guided her to the centre of the mirror.
"What do you see?" Harry asked.
"I'm a successful alchemist and spell crafter. Being awarded for inventing new spells and potions." She said, little did Harry know, but Daphne had seen a very similar reflection to him and also lied.
"Alchemist?" Harry muttered quietly.
"What Harry?" Daphne asked.
"Alchemist!" He exclaimed. "Daphne, you are amazing." He said excited, quickly kissing her cheek without thinking. "Come on." He said pulling her out and towards the room of requirement, totally missing the bright red blush on her cheeks.
                          
"Harry, what are you so excited about?" Daphne asked.
"I think you just solved it Daphne." Harry said giddily.
"Solved what?" She asked a little irritated.
"What the Cerberus is guarding." He replies smiling.
"I'm still confused Harry." Daphne said
"I'll explain fully to everyone at the room of requirement okay?" He asks, stopped to face her. Daphne just nodded as they began climbing to the seventh floor.
On the fifth floor however, Harry and Daphne were cut off by three people.
"There he is. The next Dark Lord himself." Said Ron Weasley, who was flanked by two other Gryffindor boys.
"What did you want Weasley?" Harry asked irritated.
"Someone needs to deal with you Potter. You're a parselmouth and a Slytherin. You're clearly a future dark wizard." Weasley replied as the three boys raised their wands at Harry and Daphne. 
Harry, subconsciously stepped in front of Daphne flicked his own wand to his hand.
"You don't want to do this. I won't fire the first spell but I can promise you I'll fire the last one." Harry said menacingly.
"Yeah right Potter, it's three against one." The short Irish boy said confidently.
"Please, you're forgetting my lovely friend here. She could probably take all three of you by herself. Oh and you're forgetting my other friend." Harry said with a smile as Daphne raised her own wand and Ruby appeared on his shoulders, hissing at the three boys threatening her master.
"So I suggest you back off, before you end up in the hospital wing." Daphne said coldly.
"Really Weasley? We've all seen you in class, you can barely cast the simplest of spells. What makes you think you could take on the top two students in the year?" Harry said confidently. Weasley clearly pales when he said that. Harry was right of course. Weasley apparently blew up his feather when practicing 'wingardium leviosa', while Harry had killed a troll single handed. At this point Weasley nodded to his friends and they simply took of down a corridor, away from Harry and Daphne. Ruby sank back in as Harry turned to his friend.
"You alright?" He asked concerned.
"Of course I am. Like you said, I'm the second best student in the year. And of course I had you to protect me." Daphne replied with a smirk. "Thank you for being so concerned though." She said as they continued heading to the room of requirement.
When they arrived, all of their friends were in the room chatting around the table while doing homework. 
Harry immediately rushed to the bookshelf and started searching for something specific.
"Hey guys, what took so long?" Blaise asked.
"Boy do we have an interesting story to tell." Daphne said with a smile.
"What do you mean? And what's up with him?" Susan asked.
"I honestly have no idea what's gotten into him." Daphne sighed.  
"Harry! What are you doing?" Hermione asked.
"Daphne might have figured out what the Cerberus is guarding." He said not looking away from the book we was scanning through.
The group then turned to Daphne in surprise.
"Don't look at me. This is all him." She said defensively.
"Ah! Got it." Harry shouted making everyone jump.
"Got what?" Tracey asked irritated.
"The Cerberus is guarding the philosopher's stone." Harry said walking over to the table.
"The what?" Neville, Tracey and Blaise asked. Of course, the others knew about it from the amount they read.
"What makes you think that Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I remember seeing something once about Dumbledore knowing and working with renowned alchemist Nicolas Flamel. Now presumably, Dumbledore placed whatever it is that the Cerberus is guarding. And the stone is the only thing that makes sense." Harry explained.
"Sorry, for the people who do things other than read. Can you please explain? Who is Nicolas Flamel and what stone do you mean?" Tracey asked a little annoyed.
"Nicolas Flamel, is a six hundred year old French alchemist who created the philosopher's stone. The stone produces the elixir of life and can transform any metal into pure gold." Daphne explained.
"But how would Dumbledore get it and why would he put it in Hogwarts guarded by a Cerberus?" Neville asked.
"I think it's for me." Harry said quietly.
"What do you mean Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I've told you all before about how my godfather and I believe Dumbledore will try and craft me into his perfect weapon to fight Voldemort when he returns. This could be a test. I mean, the room that houses the Cerberus can be opened with a first year spell for Merlin's sake." Harry reasoned.
"That may be true Harry. But how can we be sure." Susan asked.
"Well, we could always send a letter to Mr Flamel and his wife and ask." Harry said.
"It's worth a go." Blaise replied.
"But Harry, the Flamels probably have very strong anti-mail wards. How will you do it?" Daphne asked.
"Well, the Flamels have tutored many a student over the years, including some of my ancestors. There may be a way to contact them written down at Potter manor." Harry replied.
"But you can't leave the school." Hermione said.
"Well, maybe I can. If I wear my cloak and go down the one eyed witch passageway to Hogsmeade, I could floo from the three broomsticks. Or maybe-" Harry was then interrupted as the fireplace in the room of requirement flashed green. "I love this room" he said with a smile.
"Harry, are you sure about this?" Daphne asked sounding concerned.
"Definitely, I simply need to talk to the painting of Fleamont Potter, he's the oldest painting in the manor, if anyone knows how to contact the Flamels, it's him." Harry said confidently.
"Can we at least come with you?" Blaise asked.
"I'm afraid not, only Susan has the permission to floo to the manor out of you all. That will obviously change for the summer." Harry replied. "Look, I'll be an hour or two at most." 
"Okay Harry. I hope you find what you need." Daphne said with a small smile.
Harry nodded and walked to the green flames, "Potter manor" he said as he stepped through and the flames engulfed him, going back to normal afterwards.