Disclaimer: I hope that the previous 3 chapters have gotten through to you, if they haven't then you should know that I own nothing resembling Harry Potter. I just own Doriel and Alexander.
Thank you so much those of you who have taken the time to review. I love reading what you think; it's one of the highlights of my day. So please, tell me what you think about this part. I've been trying to get these chapters out as quick as I can for you. So without further ado, here's the next chapter.
Chapter 4
Break in at Gringotts. Harry scowled at the headline in the Daily Prophet. This was definitely new. Apparently Vault 713 had been broken into; nothing was stolen, because the vault had been cleared out the previous day. He was skimming the rest of the paper, not finding anything else interesting, when the headmaster approached.
"Harry, I would like to speak with you for a moment." He smiled at him kindly.
Harry raised an eyebrow and got to his feet, "Alright sir." He replied, following him out of the Great Hall.
"How do you like school so far?" He questioned, "I heard about what you and Mr. Malfoy did, impressive."
"I'm enjoying myself." He smiled slightly, "What is it that you would like to speak with me about sir?"
He didn't answer for a moment, "How are the Dursleys treating you?"
Harry blinked, "The Dursleys?" He questioned, "I'm afraid I don't know who you're talking about."
His words made the headmaster stop in his tracks, "Haven't you been living with the Dursleys?"
"No sir, I've been living with my father, Doriel."
Harry saw him swallow, "Doriel Lior?"
"Yes, that's my father." He paused, "Excuse me sir, is there something wrong?"
"No, no, nothing at all." He swallowed again, "Thank you for speaking with me Harry."
He smiled, "Of course. I'll see you again." He waved, walking back the way they came, heading to class. He rolled his eyes, "Dursleys? They sound like Muggles." He stated, heading to Charms. He took a seat next to Draco, "There was a break-in at Gringotts, do you think it might have something to do with what's in the third floor corridor?" He asked softly, "Apparently the vault had been cleared out the day before."
Draco looked thoughtful, "Maybe, we should see if we can find out what's there."
Blaise was on the other side of Draco, "We can sneak up there tonight and if we get caught we'll just say we got lost."
Harry smiled, nodding as the lesson began. By the end of the day the three boys had decided on a plan of attack and headed towards the third floor corridor, "It's locked." Harry stated, trying the handle once more.
Blaise sighed, "Step back." He pulled out his wand, pointing it at the lock, "Alohomora." There was a click as the lock disengaged.
"Remind me to make you teach me that." Harry said, opening the door.
A cry of surprise escaped his lips as he came face to face with a three headed dog. Draco jerked him back, slamming the door before the snapping jaws could find purchase. Immediately they turned and ran back the way they had come, not wanting to risk their skin anymore than they already had.
"I swear I just saw my life flash before my eyes." Harry panted, leaning against a wall once they were suitably far away.
"Who keeps a Cerberus in a school of all places?" Draco asked, trying to catch his breath.
"Dumbledore obviously." Blaise replied.
"I don't know about you but I'm going to try to find out where that thing came from and how we can get past it." Harry said, determined.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Are you sure you shouldn't be in Gryffindor?" He teased.
Harry glared at him, punching his arm. The blonde rubbed where he hit, "Serves you right." Harry sneered, "Let's get some dinner before trying to dig up some more information."
Little did they know but the further information they sought would come from one Ronald Bilius Weasley. The three were on their way down to dinner when they heard him talking to someone quietly, "I went out to see Hagrid earlier, when I asked him about the third floor corridor he said that it was between Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel."
"So that dog is guarding something having to do with what was taken from the vault." The other voice was female and they realized who it was, Granger, "We should go to the library and find out what we can about Nicolas Flamel, I swear I've heard that name before."
"Fluffy." Weasley said.
"What?" She asked.
"The dog's name is Fluffy."
The three Slytherin looked between each other as she spoke, "Are you serious?"
They didn't wait for an answer, choosing that moment to interrupt them, "What's this about a dog named Fluffy?" Harry questioned.
"None of your business Potter." Weasley sneered.
He was silent for a moment, "You know something Weasley? You're not too bright. At least Granger is smart enough to keep her mouth shut and she doesn't know what you do. I think you're rather foolish, provoking people who probably know more spells then you do. After all, by your manners you weren't raised in a proper home."
Weasley's hands clenched in anger, "Ron, calm down, let's go." Granger said, tugging on his arm, "It's not worth it."
"I can see why you're in Ravenclaw Granger." Blaise said.
Draco sneered, "For a mudblood you're actually intelligent."
"Take it back!" The word mudblood inflamed Weasley's anger and he almost launched himself at the blonde, Granger barely holding him back.
Harry raised an eyebrow, "As much as I love this verbal bantering I'm hungry." He paused, "You know Weasel, when you get flustered you can't tell the difference between your hair and your face." He brushed past him, showing no fear at being physically accosted even though the red head had shown he was more then willing to resort to violence when provoked.
"I wonder why those two are talking to each other? They're not even in the same house." Blaise questioned as they continued on their way to the Great Hall.
Harry shrugged, "I have no idea. What does it matter anyway? It's not like it involves us."
"True but it's odd. Usually people remain within their own house when it comes to friendships." Came the reply.
"There could always be some ulterior motive." Draco interjected, "Perhaps some outside force had to do with it."
Harry nodded, "Perhaps." They walked into the Great Hall and sat down.
They ate a quick meal before heading to the library to do a quick search for Nicolas Flamel before heading to bed. An hour later, they still had no leads, and hadn't finished their homework. Harry was disappointed and vowed to discover this on his own without asking Doriel or Alexander to give him the answer.
It was Halloween and they were well into their feast when Professor Quirrell came running into the Great Hall, "Troll! Troll in the Dungeons! Thought you ought to know." The last statement was rather calm compared to the rest and he promptly passed out.
Dumbledore got to his feet, "Prefects! Lead your houses back to you dormitories!" He raised his voice over the din of near panic that had descended on the Great Hall.
"Wait, our dorms are in the dungeons." Harry hissed.
"That old coot's trying to get us killed!" Draco growled as Harry grabbed his and Blaise's arm and tugged them off to the side.
Harry scowled, "And what would Quirrell be doing in the dungeons?" He pulled them back to the Great Hall and peeked inside. Their teacher was getting to his feet and brushing off his robes, "He's fine the sneaky bastard." They ducked back around the corner so they could avoid being seen.
"Do you think there's even a troll out at all?" Blaise questioned as they headed for the 2nd floor.
Draco shrugged, "He could have been trying to play us for fools but if there wasn't a troll he would be suspected." The sound of porcelain shattering cut him off. Immediately the three boys ran in the direction of the sound, intent on finding out the source, "Does that answer your question Blaise?" Draco asked, a troll was smashing up a girls bathroom.
Blaise looked inside, "It's Granger." He looked surprised, "Looks like the mudblood got herself in trouble."
Acting quickly, Harry quietly picked up a piece of broken glass and slit his palm, letting out a hiss of pain. As the blood welled up he jerked a small vial from around his neck and poured its contents over his wound. Doriel had given Harry a small vial of his blood for emergencies. When mixed with his own he could perform vampiric spells.
The creature looked over at the three boys, turning its attention to them, "Avorem." He stated, holding his bleeding hand towards the troll.
A black light enveloped the creature and it fell to the ground, letting out a grunt of pain as it fell forward. Harry fell to his knees, panting heavily, pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapping his hand. Granger slowly moved towards them, "Thank you." She said softly as their professors came around the corner.
Blaise and Draco were silent; surprised at the spell Harry had performed. They had heard about vampires having their own brand of magic but no one had ever seen it, "Is everyone alright?" Dumbledore questioned, "Why aren't you in your dorms?"
Granger spoke up, "It's my fault professor. I wasn't feeling well so didn't make it to the feast. If they hadn't come by when they did I-I would be dead."
Dumbledore looked at the three Slytherin, waiting for them to speak. It was Draco who opened his mouth, "We apologize for not following our prefect sir but Quirrell distinctly stated that the troll was in the dungeon and that's where our dorm is. We had no desire to run into the creature but it seems as though we did anyway."
"Mr. Potter, is there something wrong with your hand?" Snape questioned.
Harry looked up at him, "I'm alright sir, just a little cut." He got to his feet.
"Severus, please take the boys to their dorm." Dumbledore said quietly, his eyes taking in the room.
He nodded, motioning for them to follow. Once they were out of earshot of the headmaster he spoke, "What were you really doing?"
"Quirrell didn't faint sir." Blaise said.
"I know." He looked at Harry, "What killed the troll?" He asked as they headed into the dungeons.
Harry looked away from Snape's probing black eyes, "Don't worry about it sir." He said softly.
Snape stopped, "Mr. Potter, you will tell me what spell you used that requires blood to cast."
He glared at his professor, "Something Doriel taught me, it doesn't matter though does it? No one will be able to find out what it is so leave it be!"
Snape's eyes narrowed, "20 points to Slytherin for saving a fellow student." He stated before leaving them at the wall to their common room.
Harry blinked, he had expected losing points for talking back like that, not gaining them, "Sanguine angelus." Draco said, pulling Harry inside, "You look horrible, go to bed." He stated, pulling him into their dorm, Blaise following after with a soft laugh.
"Yes mother." Harry grumbled, pulling on his pajamas and crawling into bed.
Draco cuffed him upside the head, "Sleep." Harry grumbled again before falling asleep, his hand still wrapped in the handkerchief.
"Found it!" Blaise exclaimed, waking the other two boys.
Draco groaned and rolled over, burying himself further into his blankets while Harry jerked awake, "Huh?"
"Flamel made the Philosopher's Stone." Blaise looked proud of himself.
"You mean that thing that grants eternal life?" Harry questioned, rubbing his eyes.
"Exactly. That must be what that dog is guarding."
He flopped back in bed, "We'll just have to keep an eye on him."
"You going home for Yule?" Blaise asked, Draco covered his head with his pillow.
"Of course, I can't wait." He stretched, "We need to get Draco up." He looked over at the bed next to his.
Blaise smirked, going into the bathroom for a moment and coming back with a bucket of water. With a smirk on his face he dumped it on the sleeping blonde. Draco leapt out of bed cursing.
"I will get you for that Blaise!" He shouted, pulling out his wand.
Blaise yipped and ran into the bathroom, closing the door and locking it, "Time to get up Draco." Harry said, stifling his laughter.
The blonde glared at him, "Don't you start Aurel."
"I think we need to get ready for class." He crawled out of bed, pulling on his uniform.
Draco sighed, getting dressed, "I'll get you later Blaise, come out and get ready."
"I think I'll just stay in here until you two are gone." Came his muffled reply.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Let's go Draco." He pulled him out of the room as he was brushing his hair. Together they headed for the Great Hall to get some breakfast before heading to class.
Next Chapter: Yule.
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