Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply.
A/N: For anybody who might be wondering, there's not going to be any romantic relationship between Harry and Hermione.
Chapter 4
Harry was taking his clothing out of his trunk and putting them away. His roommates Michael and Terry were busy doing the same. His other two roommates who introduced themselves as Simon Hurst and Sean Birkin had already finished unpacking and were reading their textbooks in preparation for their classes tomorrow. He heard a tapping on the window across from his bed and opened it. Hedwig flew in and landed neatly on her perch. "Dad must have just sent you here, huh girl?" Harry asked stroking Hedwig's head. He suddenly noticed the note attached to her leg and took it off. It was, not surprisingly, from his dad.
Harry,
I am very pleased you were sorted into Ravenclaw. I was not surprised either as your mum once told me that the Hat had given her the choice of Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Sleep well and I will see you at breakfast tomorrow.
Love,
Dad
Harry smiled, folded the note and placed it in the drawer of his bedside table. His dad was the best! He got ready for bed as he was surprisingly tired. It had been an exciting day meeting new people and making new friends. His roommates seemed really nice and while they were curious about him being the Professor Snape's son, they didn't seem all that interested in Harry Potter, thankfully. He suspected the Gryffindors would have been bragging that he'd been sorted into their house. He wished his roommates a good night, got into bed and dosed his light.
The next morning Professor Flitwick led them down to breakfast in the Great Hall. Severus was waiting outside the doors having just escorted his snakes in. Filius nodded at Severus. "Professor, if you do not mind, may I speak to my son for a moment?"
"Not at all, Professor," Filius replied genially. He led the rest of the Ravenclaw first years into the Great Hall leaving Harry alone with his father. "Did you sleep well, Harry?" Severus asked.
"I slept good, dad. Ravenclaw Tower is so cool! Do you know that the entrance asks you a question and you have to give it the right answer before it lets you in? Have you ever been up there?"
"No, but perhaps you could give me a tour some time."
"My roommates are really nice too. I mean they don't give a hoot about Harry Potter."
"I suspected the Ravenclaw's would not care one way or the other that Harry Potter was sorted into their house so I was happy when you were sorted there."
"Thanks for the note you sent with Hedwig last night. Do you have time to talk with me today?
"Of course. Filius provided me with a copy of your schedule and Potions is your last class of the day so we can talk after that."
"Okay, Dad. I'll see you this afternoon in Potions,"
The Gryffindor first years were entering as Harry turned to leave. "Well, if isn't the snake traitor. Who would have thought Harry Potter would agree to be adopted by the Head Snake?" It was the same loud-mouthed red haired boy that had made the crack about Hermione last night. He was followed by two other Gryffindors Harry recognized as Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.
"Why don't you shove it up your arse, Weaselby?" Draco snapped coming to stand beside Harry.
"You shove it, Malfoy. Your father's You-Know-Who's right hand man."
Severus came out again. "Mr. Malfoy, return to your house table. Mr. Potter-Snape, please go sit down and Mr. Weasley, if I hear one more unpleasant remark I will have plenty of cauldrons that will need scrubbing by the end of the day. That goes for you also Mr. Finnigan and Mr. Thomas. Now all three of you find your house table and sit down."
"Git!" Weasley muttered as the three moved away.
"Shut up, Ron!" Finnigan ordered. "We have Potions with him tomorrow and he hates Gryffindor enough already. No point in giving him any reasons to take points."
Harry was midway through his breakfast and was talking with Michael, Terry, and Hermione when a shadow fell over his plate – three shadows to be exact and they were all dressed in Gryffindor robes and all had red hair. Two of them were identical right down to the last freckle.
"Hi, Harry!" One of the twins said. "I'm Fred Weasley; this is my brother, George and our older brother, Percy the Perfect Prefect." Percy frowned at Fred's joke, but didn't say anything. "We just wanted to introduce ourselves and let you know that were not all gits like our younger brother."
Harry smiled and shook all their hands, "I'm pleased to meet you and your brother is sort of a git."
"Well, don't worry if he gets out of line again, we'll just ask Percy to stomp on him," the other twin, George joked.
"If he doesn't behave I can take points," Percy announced proudly. "Prefects are allowed to take points."
"Better than that though Perce can owl mum about Ron and she'll send him a Howler – believe me, one thing you never want is a Howler from our mum!" Fred joked.
"We know, we've had plenty of them," George muttered.
"We'll let you get back to eating your breakfast," Percy said taking an arm of each twin and steering them back towards the Gryffindor table. Fred turned back and yelled, "See you around, Harry."
Harry waved at them. It was nice to know the entire Weasley family wasn't a bunch of gits like Ron.
He walked to his first class, Transfiguration with Hermione, Neville, Vince and Greg. Draco was headed to Charms with the Gryffindors and waved at him as they passed in the hallway.
"I've heard Professor McGonagall is really strict," Hermione whispered as they sat down in class
"I don't think she's as strict as my dad," Harry said.
"But he has to be strict because Potions is dangerous and people in the class could be injured if somebody's cauldron explodes."
Professor McGonagall came into the room just then and everybody immediately quieted down. She called roll first to make sure everybody who was supposed to be there was and hadn't gotten lost. She started off their lesson by giving them a basic definition of Transfiguration. "Transfiguration is a branch of magic that focuses on the alteration of the form or appearance of an object by manipulating it molecular structure. Transfiguration can be done to most objects and as with most forms of magic it includes, but is not limited to Transfiguration spells." She quickly changed her desk into a pig and just as quickly changed it back into her desk as the class gasped in surprise. "You won't of course be able to do this particular transfiguration for many years yet, but it is an example of transfiguring one object into another and back again. Please turn to Page 10 of your textbook and read the first chapter. When you have finished, I'll pass out matches and you will attempt to turn them into needles."
Everybody settled down, opened their textbooks and begin to read the assigned chapter. After a half-hour, Professor McGonagall handed out the matches and instructed them on focusing their magic. "Learning how to focus your magic will make leaning spellcraft much easier."
Nobody had managed to turn their match into a needle by the end of class. Some were pointy and some were still plainly matches. Harry thought his match looked more pointy and slimmer, but it clearly wasn't a needle yet.
Their next class was double Herbology with Professor Sprout. Harry really liked the motherly looking Professor. She sorted them into teams of three. He was teamed up with Hannah and Greg while Neville was teamed up with Vince and Susan. Hermione was teamed up with Justin and Morag. They all worked amicably repotting Siamese Sipapodds under Professor Sprout direction. Harry knew from from what his dad had told him that Sipapodds were the main ingredient in nutrient potions because they were loaded with vitamins and minerals.
At lunch everybody talked about their classes and what their favorite one was. They would have Charms, History of Magic, and Defense Against the Dark Arts tomorrow. Harry was really looking forward to double Potions after lunch.
"There goes the bookworms," Weasley sneered as they left the table to head to the dungeon. "You know what they say about Ravenclaw's, don't you?" He asked Thomas and Finnigan who were walking with him.
"No, what?" Seamus grinned.
"They say they have to look in a book to see how to wipe their bums after they take a dump!" Finnigan and he cracked up, laughing hysterically. Dean Thomas looked embarrassed as if he wanted to be anywhere else but with those two.
"You know what I heard about Gryffindors, Weasley?" Greg asked. "They're too stupid to know how to wipe their bums and have to ask somebody to do it for them."
Weasley's face turn bright red in anger and it looked for a minute as if he was going to fly at Greg and punch him, but the other boy's size gave him pause.
"I guess he's not as dumb as he seems," Vince said to Greg.
Harry already knew his dad would make a startling entrance into the Potion's classroom. Severus came in, slamming the door and standing, watching the students jump before he strode up to the front, his cloak billowing out behind him. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. As there is little foolish wand waving, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses …I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."* He picked a roll of parchment and began calling out names. When everybody was accounted for, Severus began firing out questions.
"Miss Granger, what would I get if I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"A powerful sleeping potion called the Draught of Living Death," Hermione answered confidently.
"Good. Ten points to Ravenclaw. Mr. Crabbe, where would I find a bezoar?"
"In the stomach of a goat, sir."
"Good. Ten points to Hufflepuff."
"Mr. Potter-Snape, what's the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"They're the same plant, Professor. It also goes by the name aconite."
"Good. Another ten points to Ravenclaw."
Severus sorted them into teams of two. He put Neville with Harry, knowing the boy didn't have a lot of confidence. "This will be a permanent arrangement for the entire year." He waved his wand and brewing instruction appeared on the board. "This is a simple cure for boils. Do not add the porcupine quills until you have taken your cauldron off the fire."
As the class brewed the Boil Cure Potion, Severus walked around the classroom peering into cauldrons and checking the students' progress. They all seem to be doing well and Severus congratulated himself on his decision to partner the houses.
"When you are finished, please decant your potions into vials, put your names on the label, and bring it up to my desk."
After all the students had brought up their sample vials, Severus said, "Please spend the remaining time reading the next chapter. I want three feet of parchment on the uses of Siamese Sipapodds in potions, due on Friday. Please use specific examples in your essays."
When the second hour was up, Severus dismissed the class and called, "Mr. Potter-Snape, please stay behind if you would."
"I'll see you at dinner," Harry called to his friends.
"You and Mr. Longbottom did very well on your potion," Severus remarked as Harry followed him into their quarters. Severus called Blinky and requested tea and biscuits.
"Thanks, Dad," Harry said. "I think Neville could be really good at stuff, but he doesn't have a lot of confidence I don't think."
"Not surprising," Severus replied as he poured the tea. "He has been raised by his paternal grandmother, Augusta and she is quite the stern matriarch. I think unfortunately she sees Neville as she wishes him to be and not as he really is, but it is good you have become his friend."
"He's really nice and he knows a lot about Herbology. In that class he seems like a different person than he does in our other classes."
"Perhaps Professor Sprout can help him in becoming more confident along with you and your other friends. I noticed the Weasley's talking with you at breakfast this morning."
"They wanted to let me know they weren't gits like their brother. Fred and George were really funny and Percy seemed a little …I don't know."
"Pompous?"
Harry laughed. "Yeah, but he's still nice."
"The older Weasley's are. They don't hold the same house prejudices as their younger brother seems to. What did you need to talk to me about?"
"I had a dream the night before last …"
"A nightmare?"
"No, but it was weird. You were seeing me off on the Hogwarts Express, but it just looked like a regular train; it wasn't anything like the real one. You were standing waving at me as the train pulled out and mum was standing right beside you waving too. She looked just like the pictures you showed me." Harry paused and looked confused. "I didn't see James though. He wasn't there and I wondered why. Wouldn't he have come to see me off?"
"Do you know how I knew where to find you when I bought you your Hogwarts letter, Harry?"
Harry shook his head. "How?"
"Your mum came to me in a dream and told me where to find you and even showed me a picture of the where you were."
"She did?"
"Yes, she told me your aunt and uncle were not treating you right and they were not going to let you come to Hogwarts. It is entirely possible that she would come to see you off to Hogwarts with me."
"Wow!" Harry said. "But what about my father."
"That I cannot answer," Severus said. But why should the git show up to see his child off to Hogwarts? Until Lily and he were forced to go into hiding he barely had anything to do with Harry. Too busy trying to make a name for himself catching dark wizards.
Harry frowned, but then smiled and said. "Well, you were there to see me off so that's what's important." He frowned again. "I had another question, Dad about something the Sorting Hat said to me."
"What did it say?"
"It said it wouldn't sort me into Slytherin because even though I had qualities that Slytherin values they weren't my own. What did it mean by that?"
"I think when Voldemort tried to kill you he unintentionally transferred some of his talents to you."
"What were his talents, Dad? I mean I don't want to turn into a dark wizard."
"You will not be - of that I am certain. Voldemort or Riddle as his name was when he was attending Hogwarts was a parselmouth …"
"What's that?"
"It means he can talk to snakes. He was descendant of Salazar Slytherin who also was a parselmouth."
"I can talk to snakes. I talked to a python at the zoo once; it said it had heard about, I think he called it a speaker, but never met one. I didn't even know I was talking to it in its language I just thought I was talking normal."
"That is probably one of his talents he transferred to you, but it is best not to mention it because it is considered a trait of dark wizards even though it is no different than being able to speak French."
"I used to talk to the garden snakes and tell them to leave the yard so Aunt Petunia wouldn't spray them with poison and kill them."
"I think the Hat saw that you love to read, study, and learn new things and that's why it gave you the choice of Ravenclaw."
"I asked it to put me there for that reason," Harry agreed.
"You see if you those other traits were really your own, you would have asked to be put in Slytherin."
"So in other words nothing's for sure except the choices we make."
"Yes," Severus nodded.
Harry got up, gave Severus a hug and a huge smile. "Thanks, Dad. I won't worry about it anymore." He picked up his book bag and slung the strap over his shoulder. "I've got study group tonight with Michael, Terry, Hermione, and Morag. Tell Draco we can get together this weekend sometime if he's free."
"I will let him know."
"I'll see you at dinner, Dad. I'll remember my nutrient potion tonight."
"Do not worry if you forget it because I will always remember it," Severus replied. True to his word Severus slipped a vial of the nutrient potion into his pocket before he went upstairs to dinner just in case Harry forgot it. As he passed Draco on his way to the head table, he stopped and passed Harry's message along.
Harry didn't forget his nutrient potion that evening. Severus smiled as he watched Harry pour it into his pumpkin juice.
Dumbledore looked disapproving. Severus was going to have Harry so spoiled he wouldn't care if the rest of the wizarding world was suffering under Voldemort. He had placed Harry with the Dursley's for a reason because he knew their mistreatment would toughen him, yet make him malleable enough to be influenced by anyone showing the slightest interest in him such as the Weasley's or himself.
Severus ignored the looks Dumbledore was sending him and kept his eye on his snakes and on Harry. The old barnacle could pout as much as he wanted to, but he still was not getting his mitts on Harry.
Minerva leaned over and whispered to Severus, "Albus seems rather upset with you."
"Only because I will not let him treat Harry like a sacrificial goat," Severus sneered, but then chuckled, "I was so hoping to see him streaking out of here last night with his bony arse on fire!"
"He continues to try and manipulate Harry into something he's not, you may see exactly that!" Minerva hissed. "I believe he has plans for Harry regarding the stone."
"He will be sadly disappointed then because I plan to warn Harry about what is on the third floor and to stay away."
"That would be wise, Severus," she replied nodding. "Head him off at the pass as my father used to say."
Harry was talking to Hermione and Terry about the classes they'd had today when a large shadow loomed over him and he looked up to find his dad standing behind him. "Hi Dad," Harry greeted him.
Severus stooped down so he was eye-level with Harry. "After your last class tomorrow would you please stop by my office?"
"Sure," Harry replied.
"Good. Have a good night and I will see you at breakfast tomorrow."
Severus returned to the staff table under Dumbledore's watchful eyes. The other professors were gossiping about how pleasant Severus was to be around since he'd adopted Harry.
The next day's classes were as interesting to Harry as the previous days although potions was still his favorite. They had Double Charms with Professor Flitwick who told him that his mum was studying with him to be a Charms Mistress before she'd been forced to go into hiding.
Defense Against the Dark Arts might be interesting, but Quirrell definitely wasn't. He lecture was so disorganized that Harry could barely follow it and that ridiculous purple turban he wore that reeked of garlic made him give serious consideration to tossing his textbook at Quirrell's head and knocking it off. Harry didn't mind the garlic; he'd always liked cooking with garlic, but something made him suspect Quirrell never took the thing off or allowed the laundry elves to wash it.
After lunch they had History of Magic that was boring and most of the class almost fell asleep. Professor Binns lectured in a monotone voice and got pissy when anybody interrupted him to ask a question. Fortunately Greg enjoyed it and took a lot of notes.
They had a two hour Astronomy class concluding the afternoon. They learned about the stars, constellation, and planets in class and then tomorrow night at midnight they would be out on the Astronomy Tower trying to locate them through their telescopes. Professor Sinistra was nice, but no nonsense in her treatment of the class. Vince shown in this class and earned Hufflepuff twenty extra points.
Severus' NEWT class was just concluding as Harry arrived. He waited outside until the students had left and then went inside. "Hi, Dad! Harry called charging into the classroom. He raced over to Severus and gave him a tight hug.
Severus put his arms around Harry's shoulders and gave him a hug. "How were your classes today?"
"They were interesting except I don't think Professor Quirrell knows much about defense and he's trying to teach it. Professor Binns is boring, but I liked Charms.
"Professor Binns was boring when I was a student here. Quirrell may improve, but he has never been the same since he took that sabbatical to get some real experience."
"Why does he wear that turban? It always smells like garlic. I don't think he ever lets the laundry elves wash it either."
"He said an African Prince gave it to him in gratitude for ridding their village of a vampire and the garlic is because the vampire was very persistent and he was afraid it might follow him back to England," Severus snorted.
"Professor Flitwick told me mum was studying with him to be a Charms Mistress. Vince won a lot of points for Hufflepuff in Astronomy today."
"Yes, Lily was quite brilliant at Charms when she was at Hogwarts and Mr. Crabbe should be congratulated for working hard in Astronomy. Speaking of which, you will need to sleep for a few hours after dinner tomorrow night in preparation for your practical lesson at midnight."
"I'll remember," Harry promised as he followed his dad into their quarters.
Severus asked Blinky to bring them tea and biscuits while Harry settled on the couch and Severus in his favorite recliner. Blinky returned with the tea and a plate of delectable smelling chocolate biscuits obviously freshly baked by the elves.
"Now, there is something I would like to discuss with you Harry. Do you recall the third floor corridor the Headmaster mentioned at the welcoming feast?"
"The one he said was off limits to anybody who didn't want to die a horrible death? Everybody's talking about it and wondering what's up there. Some kids think it's a troll and others think it a banshee or a hag."
Severus rolled his eyes. He knew the students would be extremely curious about what was up there once they were told it was off limits. "It is actually a Cerberus and it is the first line of defense in protecting the Sorcerer's Stone."
"Cerberus? Sorcerer's Stone?"
"A Cerberus is a huge three-headed dog and it can take you out in one bite. It guards a trapdoor in a third floor room. The Sorcerer's Stone was invented by Nicolas Flamel in the 16th century. When drunk it grants the drinker immortality."
"Wow! So that's what this Cerberus is protecting?"
"The Cerberus among other things. Below the trapdoor are other protections that are just as deadly as the Cerberus. I don't want you anywhere near there. Most of the professors objected to having the stone hidden inside Hogwarts, but the headmaster went ahead with it despite our objections. The door can be unlocked and opened by a simple unlocking charm. The door should be warded, but again the headmaster is against it."
"Warded?" Harry asked.
"It means having special spells cast on and around the door to keep anyone from getting through it. I am a certified Wardsmith and am able to do it. I received my warding certification shortly after I received my potion's mastery."
"Wow, Dad, you're really smart!"
"I am smart enough to know that stone is very dangerous and does not need to be hidden in a school full of children. Harry, if you hear anyone discussing trying to break into that room, please let me know. It will not be tattling because it means saving a life. Nobody can handle that Cerberus except Hagrid and that is only because it belongs to him and he is bigger than it is," Severus stressed.
Harry frowned. "Actually, I did overhear Weasley telling Finnigan and Thomas that they should break in and find out what's there, but I think he was only bragging."
"Most likely you are right, but you might want to let Percy, Fred or George know. I suspect one Howler from Mrs. Weasley will stop him dead in his tracks. I do not wish even Mr. Weasley to be torn apart by a Cerberus."
"I'm glad you told me about this, Dad. I'm glad you trust me enough with the information."
"I do trust you, Harry, but please do not tell anyone what I have told you unless there is danger that somebody may be trying to get into the room and then you are to tell me or one of the other professors."
Harry gave his dad a hug. It gave him a warm feeling to know that he was trusted. "I'm going to go to the library and work on my homework before dinner."
"Okay. I will see you at dinner then."
After Harry left, Severus smiled. If Albus was planning on trying to involve Harry some way with the Sorcerer's Stone he was doomed to failure.
Quidditch tryouts for Slytherin and Ravenclaw were this weekend and Gryffindor and Hufflepuff the next weekend. Flying lessons for the first years would start tomorrow with Madam Hooch. Severus had a free period during that time and plan to watch it out of sight. He just wanted to make sure that nobody tried to harm Harry while he was flying.
Severus had drawn the late patrol at eleven o'clock for the first night and last night. Both nights he had found Quirrell lurking about the third floor corridor. When questioned, Quirrell stammered that he was making sure nobody was trying to break into the room, but something about his demeanor sent up red flags for Severus.
The next morning before Harry's first flying class; Severus shrank his Nimbus, put it in his pocket and waited on a parapet overlooking the grounds where the flying lessons were held. It was too close to the Whomping Willow for his comfort and he just had an uneasy feeling. He remembered how Lily used to tease him about 'his uneasy feelings' and call it his radar. He had lived many years with an alcoholic father who had a hair-trigger temper so that may be when his 'radar' developed, but he also always listened when it was warning him about something.
He watched as the Ravenclaw's and the Hufflepuff's and lined up facing one another. He spotted Madam Hooch coming and watched as she strode between the students wishing them a good morning as she passed. She turned and stood at the head of the two lines with her hands on her hips and said, "Good morning, Class."
"Good morning, Madam Hooch," they answered.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Choose a broom! Come along, hurry up! Put your right hand over your broom and say up."
They did as she told them. Severus noticed Harry's broom jumped into his hand straight away. She gave them their instructions."Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground hard. Keep your broom steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle – three – two –"** Madam Hooch blew her whistle. Harry did as she instructed, but instead of rising just a few feet, his broom shot up into the air ten feet and took off, heading for the Whomping Willow. "Mr. Potter-Snape, come back here!" Madam Hooch shouted, jumping on her broom to go after him, but it threw her off.
Severus resized his Nimbus and kicked off, going after Harry's broom. He leaned forward slightly to increase his speed.
Madam Hooch understood without being told that something was wrong with the brooms and ordered all the children to drop them and move completely away from them.
Harry was pale and holding onto his broom for dear life. He couldn't seem to do anything with it, turn it around or slow it down. It was like it had a mind of its own. He could hear his year mates and classmates yelling and screaming below. He suddenly saw his dad on his Nimbus flying beside him. "Dad! I can't get it to stop or slow down and I'm heading right for that huge tree!"
"Harry, do exactly as I say, all right? Lean sideways towards me," Severus ordered. He flew as close to Harry's broom as he could, steadying his broom with one had while he reached out for him. Harry used his father's arm as leverage and was able to pull himself over onto Severus' broom. Severus put his arm around Harry, turned his broom around in a wide circle heading away from the Whomping Willow. Harry's broom went flying into the tree and was smashed by it into a million pieces.
Severus was heading down to land when he caught sight of the purple turban. What in the hell was Quirrell doing here when he was supposed to be in class? Severus pulled out his wand and yelled, "Stupefy!" Quirrell slumped to the ground. If he was wrong he would apologize, but it was better to be safe than sorry especially after catching Quirrell in the third floor corridor two nights in a row. He knew that the headmaster, Filius, whose responsibility it was to place the safety charms on the school brooms, and the Defense professor were the only ones who were able to take the safety charms off the brooms. Even Madam Hooch couldn't. If someone were intending to kill Harry they would need to take the safety charms off all of the brooms because they wouldn't know which broom he might choose.
He landed, helped Harry off of his broom and made sure he was all right before sending a Patronus to Dumbledore and another to Madam Pomfrey. "Wait here," he said and ran over to Quirrell. Just as he approached him he saw something that could only be described as a black mist rise up out of Quirrell's unconscious body and flee.
Madam Pomfrey followed by Dumbledore came running out and stopped suddenly when they saw Severus bent over Quirrell. "What happened, Severus?" Dumbledore demanded.
"I'll explain inside. Professor Quirrell needs to taken to the Infirmary," Severus said to Madam Pomfrey. "Professor Flitwick will need to recast the safety charms on all the school brooms. Somebody has taken them off." He held out his arm to Harry who ran over to him. "Go on to your next class and I will see you at lunch."
Harry gave him a tight hug. "Thanks for saving me, Dad."
"That's what fathers are for, Harry," Severus replied. He watched as Harry and his year mates and his friends went back inside the castle.
Madam Hooch strode over and began berating Dumbledore. "Headmaster, I've told you for years that the school brooms need to be locked up securely and now look what has happened! If all the children had kicked off at the same time as Harry, we'd probably have dead children because neither I nor Severus would have been able to save all of them!"
Dumbledore held up his hands. "Please come to my office after lunch, Madam Hooch and we'll discuss the incident then."
She stormed over to where the brooms lay strewn about and gathered them up with a wave of her wand.
Severus and Dumbledore walked back inside. "I don't understand what you were doing there, Severus."
"I have a free period and I wanted to see my son's first broom flight. It is a good thing I was there because his broom took off, speeding wildly and would have crashed into the Whomping Willow most likely killing him. Rolanda mounted her broom to try and help him, but it threw her off."
"What happened to Quirinus?"
"I stunned him. He is supposed to be teaching class yet he was skulking about where the first years are having their first flying lesson. The last two nights I've caught him lurking in the third floor corridor when he wasn't scheduled to patrol."
"Are you suggesting he's tried to harm Harry or steal the stone?"
"Both! That is not all. When I went over to check him after I stunned him I saw this black misty, smoky substance rise up out of his unconscious body and flee," Severus explained as they walked down the hall towards the Infirmary. When they were in arm's length of the door, they suddenly heard Madam Pomfrey scream and rushed inside; Severus ahead of Albus.
Madam Pomfrey had Professor Quirrell lying on his stomach and had taken off his turban and what Albus and Severus saw stunned them. There, on the back of Quirrell's head, was what looked like the sagging remains of what might have been another face.
*Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, pages 136-137, Arthur Levine Books, 1997.
**Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, pages 146-147. Arthur Levine Books, 1997.