I was sitting in a compartment of the Hogwarts Express when Tim and Grant came in. "Hey Eddie" Tim said sitting down. Grant didn't say anything at first but gave me a hug and whispered, "You okay, brother?" I hugged him back and said, "Yeah."
Tim shot us a strange look, "so you all enjoyed your Christmas?" He asked, pulling out some drumsticks and starting to whirl them. He was getting good at that.
"Yeah, thanks for the pick, man and the chocolate", I said. "Oh, and Grant, your dad was right. Vinyl is so much better."
"I think he was happy that, you introduced me to popular music." Grant said "dads got a huge collection of music, mum wasn't happy at first then she saw how much closer we got afterwards." Grant shrugged. "She seemed okay with after that."
"Thanks for the music sheets and the walkman, Eddie. Dad got me a drum set, and I think Mum thought it was the worst mistake he's ever made." Tim chuckled. "I've been yelled at so many times for playing too late or early." Tim was all smiles.
"Yeah, the sheet music was great. I especially love the doors; they have such a unique sound."
Hermonie and Neville joined us at that point.
"Hey guys," I said. "Good holiday?"
"Thanks for the book, Eddie," Neville said.
"Yes, thank you as well", Hermonie added.
"No problem. Thanks for the gifts as well. Oh, that reminds me," I said, digging into my bag. "You said you liked the Doors grant", pulling out the biography on Jim Morrison and passing it to him. "Hermonie got me that for Christmas; it's about the lead singer of the Doors. It's really good."
Grant cracked the book open and started to read.
"So looking forward to term," I asked.
"Yeah, should be good, I got my wand eddie" Neville said. "You where right, I could feel it as soon as I touched it that it will help alot."
"Thanks, great Neville," I said, happy for him.
"So you took the test?" Hermonie asked.
I nodded, "so?" She asked.
"Pureblood", I paused. "American family", I sighed. "Last of the line of Carter."
"Why were you born in England?" Neville asked.
"Don't know, just was, I suppose", I said to Neville. "Not like I have anyone to ask about that." I tapped. "My mother's parents are alive, I think, but I don't think they know I exist."
"Couldn't you write them a letter?" Neville asked.
"And say what?" I asked, "Hi, I'm your grandson, that your daughter dumped in a muggle hospital a few days after he was born. Oh, by the way, I'm in England. Oh, if you don't know, they're dead too." I snapped. I took a few deep breaths. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I don't know anything, and right now, I'd rather focus on Hogwarts and music."
"Don't spread the word around, too", Grant said. "It's Eddie's business; he will tell who he wants, and he told you guys because he trusts you." Grant patted me on the shoulder.
"Why not let Draco know tho, it would get him to stop calling you that foul name."
"Because I don't care what draco thinks, and I was proud to be a muggleborn" I said "I'm better than draco and if I was from muggle parents that just proves his pureblood theroy wrong. Now I'm just ammunition to prove him right."
"But he is wrong," Grant said. "Hermonie and thousands of other wizards prove that."
I nodded.
When we got back to hogwarts it was a few days before term I unpacked everything and went to library to check out the rune books dumbledore suggested. Then, I sat in the great hall reading and making notes, trying to work out how to make The runes on the walkman for Tim's and Grant's walkman and the speaker.
"Hey Eddie" Harry said sitting down across from me "thanks for the photos" I looked up and nodded at him. Then back to my work.
"What are you reading?" Ron asked. He was also with Harry.
"Drawing runes by Nicholas Flamel," I said in a tired voice.
Harry and Ron looked shocked. "Did you say Nicholas Flamel?" Harry asked.
"Yup," I scribbled a note.
"Who is Nicholas Flamel?" I, Harry, asked, and I sighed.
"Nicholas Flamel, is a master alchemists, probably the best, he trained Dumbledore in alchemy. He's about 600 years old, hes the only known creator a philosophers stone." At Ron's and Harry's dumbfounded faces I explained "the philosophers, stone can turn metal into gold, create the elixir of life, that's why he and his wife have lived so long, it can probably do other things too, but thoses are what have been published."
"Thanks, Eddie,", Harry said. "We've gotta go."
I nodded and went back to my notes. A small smile on my face.
In the afternoon I got a surprise, I was summoned to the headmasters office, along with Seamus Dean Neville, Grant and Tim. We all met outside the Griffin statute that led to Dumbledore's office.
"Ah I see you are all here good come with me" Professor McGonagall said as she came down the stairs of the office. She promptly turned around and went back up.
"What's this about?" Seamus asked.
"Probably speed quidditch," I said as I followed Professor McGonagall into the office. Along with Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall, Snape Flitwick, Sprout, and Madame Hooch were there.
"Right, you are, Mr. Carter; it is about speed quidditch", Dumbledore said. "We have all read your proposal, and we think it's an interesting idea."
"Excellent," I said.
"Yes but there is not enough time in the year to have a full tournament" Professor Snape said.
"So what, we wait till next year?" Tim asked
"No, an exhibition match", Madam Hooch said, "in two weeks." She didn't look happy.
"Which teams?" I asked.
"Well that's for you to decide" dumbledore said.
There was a clamour behind me. I raised my hand to stop my friends. "Hufflepuff v Ravenclaw", I said. "We are from Gryffindors and Slytherins." I shrugged. "Can't have people saying the rules a bias for one side or the other."
Professor Sprout and Flitwick looked happy. Snape didn't care. McGonagall had a mixed expression.
"Okay, I'll let the captains know and give them rules", Madam Hooch stormed out.
"She's not happy," I said.
"No she sees it as fixing something that isn't broken" said Dumbledore.
"I think she will actually like the game once it's over", Professor McGonagall said.
"So if this goes forward next year, our proposal for non-house-based teams?" I asked.
"Will be granted, for speed quidditch, we're still thinking four teams however" Dumbledore said. "Now off, you pop for dinner."
After dinner, I stopped by Snape's office and rapped on the door with my knuckles.
"Ah, Eddie, what brings you to my office tonight." He asked.
"A gift, sir," I said with a small smile.
He let me into the office. "I found it after I had sent off your Christmas gift, and you didn't go home for Christmas so that I couldn't give it to you then," I said, pulling out my family's potion book. And sat down in front of his desk. "Sir, I trust you, but I don't want these published." I handed him the book. He read the spine and looked at me.
"Family recipes?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, totally beyond my capabilities or understanding," I said.
He cracked open the book and flipped through the pages, "why give it to me."
"Well, like I said, I trust you, sir, and I thought", I sighed ", that you could tell me if any other them are useful."
"Fine, I always love a new potion", Snape said, reading one.
"I didn't give a copy of this to Harry, sir, but I made one for you", I said as I placed the fourth picture down in front of him. "Have a good night, professor." I got up and left. The picture was just lily and severus standing by a tree a huge smile on lilly face.