Author's Note: You'd think being in quarantine would help increase my productivity.

It does not.

Anyway, sorry for the long wait. It might be quite a bit longer for the chapter after this one since my creativity is also sorely lacking. But, not to worry! I'm not giving up on this story anytime soon! ^-^

I hope you enjoy!

Danny stared out a random hallway window. He was just so confused. Two days ago, the Gryffindor house suffered a major loss. One-hundred fifty points. Gone.

It was strange how in just two months, Harry Potter went from being the most praised student to the most despised.

Apparently, Hermione and Nevill were also to blame for the loss of points. But why? What had they done? He couldn't help but feel that it must have had something to do with Professor Snape. Had Harry and Hermione been stalking him? Had Nevill stumbled upon them and they all got in trouble? And what about Ron? Why was he in the hospital wing?

Someone tapped him on the shoulder, jerking him from his thoughts.

"Hey, Daniel!" Amilia said cheerily. "Sorry to interrupt your brooding, but you are needed in the Library. Edward and Virginia are already there."

"What? Why?"

"Study group," said Amilia simply as she pulled him away. "We were going to make one before Christmas and I figured with final exams coming up we could actually do it this time."

"Okay. . ?"

Indeed, Ed and Ginna were already in the library, although Ginna seemed to be the only one actually trying to study. Which must have been difficult with Ed constantly speaking to her.

"Thank Merlin you guys are here," Ed cried, "Ginna's a terrible conversationalist."

"So are you," the Slytherin muttered.

"I was speaking plenty!"

"About the most boring things."

"Quidditch isn't boring. And with Potter losing us all those points he needs to make it up for us in his next match."

Ginna leaned closer. "Yes, I did hear about that, so terribly sorry."

Amilia threw her bag rather loudly down on the table. "Alright, break it up."

Ginna smirked and went back to her work.

Ed smiled up at them. "What first? I'm terrible at Transfiguration, but I can help on anything for History."

Amilia whispered an apology to the librarian before addressing Ed. "Transfiguration's easy- it's Defense Against the Dark Arts I need help with."

"Uh," Danny rubbed the back of his neck, "I could use some help with Potions?"

Ginna sighed and set down her quill. "Is there anything the three of you need collectively?"

They stared at each other for a second. "Charms."

Ginna reached into her bag and pulled out her Charms work. "Everybody scoot closer, let's get this over with."

After two hours of studying Ed threw down his quill and declared, in the utmost seriousness, "I want pumpkin pie."

Danny looked up at him and blinked slowly. "Huh?"

He crossed his arms. "I want pumpkin pie."

"What are you talking about?"

Ed rolled his eyes. "I'm talking about wanting pumpkin pie."

Amilia looked very confused. "So?"

He threw his hands in the air. "So, we've been studying for hours! We deserve a break and with that break comes," he smiled, "pumpkin pie."

Ginna sat back and rubbed her eyes. "How do you propose to go about getting it?"

Ed lowered his voice as he leaned forward. "I got a buddy in Hufflepuff, he can hook us up with some pie."

Amilia furrowed her brows. "Are you talking about Ce-"

Ed covered her mouth. "Shhhhh!" He smiled apologetically at Danny and Ginna. "Sorry, but Amilia and I are sworn to secrecy. Can't reveal our sources and all that. You guys in?"

Danny shrugged. "Sure, but can I have pecan pie instead?"

Ed stared at him for a second, then moved on to Ginna. "Ginna? You want any pie?"

She looked slightly uncomfortable but nodded. "Apple."

"Got it." Ed grinned and stood up. "I'll be back here in ten. Amilia, you're coming with me."

She seemed startled by that but went along anyway. "Bye guys!" she said quickly as Ed practically shoved her out of the library.

Danny leaned back in his chair. "I guess we're having a break until they get back."

Ginna smirked. "Maybe with Charms, but not the investigation." she reached down into her bag and started pulling out papers.

He quickly sat back up. "What? Does this mean you're finally gonna tell me what you've been doing for the past month and a half?"

"Yes." She took a deep breath and turned to him. "First, I just want to say that since exams were coming I would not have been able to follow Garlic around everywhere he went. So, I may have gotten some . . . help . . ."

Danny raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Peeves."

Danny blinked. A ghost? She asked a ghost to help her? Not only that, she asked Peeves?

Ginna sighed at his reaction. "I know you don't really like ghosts. But-"

"I never said I didn't like ghosts."

She rolled her eyes. "You didn't have to. You tense every time one is even mentioned and you reach for your wand whenever you see one, especially if they're around other students. Your every action screams of your distrust."

"Oh," he said quietly. He hadn't realized he had been that obvious.

As Ginna studied him her eyes turned sympathetic. "I'm not going to ask why you're afraid of ghosts, but we need to set that aside for this discussion."

"I'm not scared," he muttered.

If Ginna heard him, she didn't comment. "I asked Peeves to help by explaining to him that I wished to pull a large scale prank involving Garlic, once I promised to give Peeves the credit, he agreed."

Danny pulled himself out of his stupor and nodded.

"Thanks to Peeves I was able to figure out who- or rather, what Garlic is." She took a deep breath and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Voldemort."

"What?" Danny breathed.

"Voldemort has been using Garlic as a vessel of some sort. It's similar to a form of possession."

"But he's dead," he said simply.

"I think that during Garlic's travels, Voldemort's spirit, or part of his spirit, attached itself to him." Ginna bit her lip. "And since all of this involves the Philosopher's Stone . . . I think Voldemort is trying to bring himself back to life."

"Oh, great," he grumbled. Danny ran a hand through his hair. "Okay. What are the odds of him succeeding?"

She mulled it over. "High, and increasing every day."

"What? How?"

Ginna stared at him a minute before looking quickly through her papers, pulling out two, and handing them to him. "The short version is that he has figured out how to get past the defenses to get to the stone. He is now simply waiting for the best opportunity to break in and steal it."

"And, why are you giving me these papers?" he asked as he gave them a quick once-over.

She shrugged. "In case you want to read the long version."

Danny put away the papers and ran a hand through his hair. "Okay. So, if this really is all . . . Voldemort, then . . ." he sighed. "We have to tell Headmaster Dumbledore. And probably Harry since, you know, Harry somehow defeated him the first time."

Ginna nodded.

"Hey!" they whipped their heads around to the door. Ed was waving at them. "Come here!" he whispered.

Ginna quickly shoved her things in her bag as Danny stood up and they followed Ed out into the hallway.

"Hey, guys," he said. "Amilia absolutely refused to eat in the library, because it would be, and I quote, 'highly irrational' and 'what if the books are harmed' so, we're having a mini picnic outside." Ed's eyes lit up. "Now come on!" He dragged them both outside.

Amilia smiled as they sat down. "Pumpkin pie for Edward," she handed him the pie. "Pecan for Daniel. And apple for Virginia."

"Ginna," she corrected under her breath.

"And cherry for me!" Amilia smiled happily as she immediately shoved a bite of pie into her mouth.

Ed chuckled before taking a bite of his own pie.

"And we're going back to studying as soon we're done eating, right?" Amilia questioned.

"Of course!" Ed said innocently.

"Uh-huh."

Danny glanced around his friends. They all seemed pretty happy. The threat of Voldemort loomed over their heads, yet Ed, Amilia, and most of the school had no idea. A strange sort of determination grew within Danny. He would protect them. They won't have to fight Voldemort ever again. He would make sure of that.

Danny took a bite of his pie.