High above the pitch, Harry gripped his broom tightly, heart pounding in his chest.
The Golden Snitch was right in front of him, fluttering its tiny wings, darting up and down.
The Slytherin Seeker had spotted it too and was racing in from the other side.
Harry dove without hesitation, arm outstretched.
He could feel the delicate tremble of the Snitch just beyond his fingertips,
"Got it!"
He thrust his right hand high into the air, the Golden Snitch squirming between his fingers.
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers. Gryffindor students jumped and shouted with wild joy.
"Gryffindor wins!" Lee Jordan's voice cracked with excitement.
Though he was supposed to be an unbiased commentator, his Gryffindor blood was boiling with pride.
"Final score, Gryffindor 210, Slytherin 60!"
"Slytherin! Practice harder if you're gonna play like that!"
"Ah, sorry, Professor McGonagall! Got carried away!"
Charlie clapped along enthusiastically. It felt just like the thrill of watching his very first match in his past life.
The electric energy of the crowd was infectious.
After the game, Harry found the others. They'd already agreed beforehand to go celebrate at Hagrid's hut.
Charlie hadn't planned on joining them, but then he remembered something Harry once said, that the thing hidden on the fourth floor had been retrieved from Gringotts by Hagrid.
Seemed like a good opportunity to fish for some intel.
That monstrous three-headed dog was a dead end, might as well try a different angle.
So he cheerfully followed the group to Hagrid's hut.
Inside, it was warm and cozy. A roaring fire blazed in the hearth.
Hagrid poured them all steaming cups of tea and proudly presented his homemade rock cakes.
Charlie eyed the stone-like pastries warily and discreetly pulled his hand back.
"Harry, you were brilliant today!" Hagrid beamed, his beard trembling with emotion.
"That move, catching the Snitch mid-dive, you're just like your dad!"
Harry scratched his head shyly.
"Actually… something weird happened. My broom went out of control for a bit."
"What?" Hagrid's eyes bulged.
He hadn't noticed a thing, he'd just assumed Harry was pulling some fancy tricks.
Ron scowled.
"It had to be Malfoy. That git threatened Harry earlier."
Hagrid's beard bristled with anger.
"Filthy scoundrel! Trying to pull something dirty during a match!"
Hermione furrowed her brows, thoughtful.
"We really should report this to a professor. It's far too dangerous."
Harry nodded in agreement.
Just as everyone was brimming with outrage, Charlie leaned close to Harry and whispered.
"Harry, that thing on the fourth floor, you said Hagrid brought it back from Gringotts, right?"
Harry blinked, then nodded.
A mischievous gleam flashed in Charlie's eyes.
"Well, since Hagrid's right here, why don't we try and get him talking?"
"I don't know…" Harry hesitated.
"Hagrid's always been so kind to us…"
But before he could finish, he turned back and asked directly,
"Hagrid, what's the three-headed dog guarding on the fourth floor?"
Hagrid nearly dropped his teacup.
"You, how do you know about Fluffy?!"
His eyes went wide with shock.
"Fluffy?" Ron echoed in disbelief.
"That's what I named him," Hagrid muttered, clearly flustered.
"Got him off a Greek fella. Raised him meself since he was a pup, like a proper mum, I was…"
"Let's focus on what he's guarding," Charlie pressed.
Hagrid tensed up again.
"You lot need to stay away from that thing. Forget about it."
"That's Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel's, "
He stopped mid-sentence, eyes bulging as he slapped a hand over his mouth, horrified.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other, all puzzled, none of them knew who Nicolas Flamel was.
But Charlie's eyes lit up.
"Nicolas Flamel?"
He dug into his pocket and pulled out a Chocolate Frog card.
One he'd scratched off during the Hogwarts Express ride.
On the card was an image of Dumbledore, with a line beneath:
"Famed for his work in alchemy alongside partner Nicolas Flamel, co-creator of the Philosopher's Stone."
Charlie read the description aloud, voice trailing off.
Hagrid's face grew paler by the second, cold sweat dotting his forehead.
"What's the Philosopher's Stone?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Don't ask, Harry, just let it go," Hagrid said, wearing a face of pure regret.
Hermione, ever the researcher, delivered the next blow.
"I've read about it. The Philosopher's Stone holds limitless magical energy… and can make someone immortal!"
"Immortal?" Ron gasped.
"Wait… don't tell me that's what's under the trapdoor?"
Everyone turned to look at Hagrid.
His reaction said it all.
He waved his hands frantically, stammering in panic.
"N-No! You've got it all wrong, ha ha, how could it be the Philosopher's Stone? That's ridiculous…"
His laughter was more pitiful than convincing, and even a child could see through his panic.
"Oh my gosh," Hermione whispered, covering her mouth.
"It is the Philosopher's Stone."
"The real Philosopher's Stone, that grants immortality…" Harry echoed in awe.
"No wonder there are so many protections," Ron murmured.
Hagrid slumped back in his chair like a deflated balloon.
"I'm such an idiot…"
...
After prying the truth out of Hagrid, Charlie lost most of his interest in whatever was under the fourth floor.
Curiosity satisfied. Classic post-discovery letdown.
Sure, the Philosopher's Stone sounded amazing, but it wasn't much use to Charlie personally.
He had a system.
Immortality? Please, that's Tuesday.
[Your Majesty, please don't drag me into your bragging.]
Charlie rolled his eyes.
"Stupid system."
All in all, with something that important under Dumbledore's protection, it wasn't something a first-year could even dream of touching.
Meanwhile, Harry informed Professor McGonagall about the broom incident.
She called Malfoy in for questioning, and after confirming that he neither cast a curse nor asked anyone else to, the matter was quietly closed.
Time rolled forward, and Christmas break approached.
Most students were getting ready to return home, and Hogwarts was filled with the easy air of a coming holiday.
In the dormitory, Charlie was packing his trunk, planning to return to the orphanage for a nice, relaxing break.
He hadn't seen Granny White in nearly half a year, he missed her.
Just then, Billy popped into the room, startling Ernie mid-fold.
"Mr. White, Professor Flitwick is looking for you," Billy said politely.
Charlie paused mid-pack. "Right now?"
"Yes, sir. He's waiting in his office."
Charlie had a guess, Could it be?
Did Gripp finally finish the magic-resistant vest?!
His pulse quickened with excitement.
"Got it. I'm on my way."
At Professor Flitwick's office, Charlie gave a gentle knock and opened the door.
Inside, Professor Flitwick was seated at his desk with a mysterious smile.
"Mr. White, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.
Once Charlie sat down, Professor Flitwick waved his wand. The desk drawer clicked open.
A small cake bounced out, landing neatly in front of Charlie.
"Try this. It's a new release from Hogsmeade," Flitwick said with a grin.
Hogsmeade, the largest wizarding settlement in Britain. Third-years and up could visit, but Charlie hadn't been yet.
Charlie took a bite, it was delicious. Still, his mind was on something else.
He decided to ask directly.
"Professor… did Gripp finish it?"
Flitwick smiled.
"He did. What you requested is ready."
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