Once they'd led Ron to the three headed dog on the third floor, Harry and Hermione had to find a way to reveal what exactly the dog was guarding. Luckily, Ron's curiosity was well and truly piqued and he couldn't stop talking about what the dog could be guarding. Unfortunately, Harry and Hermione weren't really sure how to lead Ron to discovering the dog was hiding the Philosopher's Stone.
They were still struggling with what to do when Halloween rolled round, but the pair decided to relax and enjoy the magnificent feast on offer. Dinner was always good at Hogwarts, but the Halloween feast appeared to be something special. The Great Hall was decorated festively and there was even more food on offer than normal.
"This is great," Ron enthused as they settled down at the Gryffindor table. "It should be Halloween every day."
"You'd soon get sick of celebrations like this every day," Hermione remarked.
"No, I don't think I would," Ron replied as he eyed up the vast array of food on offer.
Harry and Hermione exchanged eye rolls, before turning their own attention to the feast. For a while the pair were content to enjoy the celebrations, but the festive atmosphere was disturbed by a frantic looking Professor Quirrell running into The Great Hall.
"There's a troll in the dungeons," He called. "Just thought you ought to know," He added shakily before collapsing to the floor in a dead faint.
Quirrell's announcement was met by screams and yells all around The Great Hall. Everyone was in such a panic that it took Dumbledore nearly five minutes to quiet people down enough so he could talk.
"Prefects, get everyone back to the house dormitories," He ordered. "Professors, come with me."
Harry and Hermione got caught up in the crush of panicked Gryffindors, so they couldn't really talk. They both instinctively knew Voldemort was behind whatever was going on, and they knew they needed to get to the third floor. However, they were halfway up the main stairs before they were able to draw Ron's attention.
"Ron, we need to go to the third floor," Harry hissed, pulling Ron to one side of the stairs.
"Are you crazy?" Ron asked. "There's a troll knocking about somewhere. We need to get up to Gryffindor Tower where we'll be safe."
"And how did the troll get into the school?" Hermione questioned. "Trolls are stupid, they don't have the knowledge to break in."
"Meaning someone let it in," Harry added, filling in the blanks to a confused looking Ron.
"Why would someone let a troll into the school?" Ron asked disbelievingly.
"To cause panic," Hermione replied, gesturing to the chaos surrounding them.
"With everyone in a panic, the coast's clear for someone to get a good look at the third floor," Harry said. "That's where we need to be going. We need to know what's going on."
"But who would know something was being hidden in the school?" Ron asked as the trio started to climb the stairs again.
"I'm sure all the staff know," Hermione said. "And some of the students might be suspicious. I doubt this corridor on the third floor is out of bounds every year."
At the third floor, the trio slipped off the main staircase and quietly made their way towards the out of bounds corridor. With everyone heading back to their common rooms they had to be careful not to be seen, but finally they arrived in the deserted corridor.
"It doesn't look like anyone's here," Ron remarked.
"They could be inside with the dog," Harry replied.
"There's only one way to find out," Hermione said. "Let's take a peek."
The trio hadn't even managed to take more than a few steps towards the door, when it opened and Severus came hobbling out. The second he spotted the three first years, he straightened up and glared at the youngsters.
"What are you three playing at?" He snapped. "Don't you know there's a troll on the loose?"
"We got lost," Harry offered.
"Really?" Severus raised a sceptical eyebrow at the trio. "You got lost on the third floor when Gryffindor Tower is on the seventh. Even for first years, that's a bad mistake to make. It looks to me like the three of you were snooping somewhere you know is out of bounds."
"We're sorry," Hermione said, trying her best to sound sincere. "We had no idea it was out of bounds."
"So now you don't listen to Professor Dumbledore," Severus tutted. "This is just getting worse for the three of you. I think a spot of detention will do you all good. I'll see you down in my classroom tomorrow evening after dinner. Now get to Gryffindor Tower, immediately."
Turning around the trio, trooped out of the corridor and found the nearest staircase and began to climb. They were aware of the Potions Professor watching them leave, so they didn't speak until they spotted him turning around and slowly making his way back down to the dungeons.
"We have our answer now," Ron muttered, glaring over his shoulder at the retreating figure of the Potions Professor. "Snape's after whatever Dumbledore is hiding. And if he's after it, you can bet it's something dangerous. He's probably trying to get it for You-Know-Who."
"We need to work out what Dumbledore is hiding," Harry said, choosing not to respond to Ron's theories about his father. While it was handy that Ron suspected Severus, Harry wasn't sure how impartial he could remain if they started to discuss his role in things and Ron started to get personal with the insults.
"I doubt he's going to tell us," Hermione remarked as an idea began to form in her head.
"I'm sure he won't," Harry agreed with a sigh. "We need to think of some other way to get to the bottom of things."
Hermione and Ron nodded in agreement as they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. Shortly after arriving in the common room, Ron headed off to the bathroom, giving Hermione a chance to speak to Harry. Pulling him into the corner of the room, she whispered her idea to him. She wasn't sure if her idea would reveal what Dumbledore was hiding in the school to Ron, but she was hoping it would give them a clue they could work on.
C.O.T.D.
The following lunchtime Harry put Hermione's plan in to action. After quickly dropping into The Great Hall to grab a sandwich, he led Hermione and Ron outside. Despite grumbling about only having a sandwich to eat, Ron followed Harry until he stopped not far from the hut where Hagrid lived on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
"What are we doing here?" Ron asked. "I don't mind visiting Hagrid, but we could have done it one time when it's not our lunch break."
"Last night I was thinking about the three headed dog," Harry said, ignoring Ron's complaints about food. "And I thought, it can't be easy to find a three headed dog. Even in the magical world, they have to be pretty rare."
"Yeah, they are," Ron agreed. "I didn't even realise they still existed."
"Since they're so rare, I got to thinking about who could find a creature like that," Harry continued. "And I realised, we know a man who's passionate about animals."
"Hagrid," Ron exclaimed in understanding.
"Hagrid," Harry agreed with a nod. "The very first time I met him, he was telling me all about various creatures. If anyone knows about three headed dogs, it'll be him."
"What we're waiting for, let's go," Ron said, leading the charge to Hagrid's hut.
When they arrived at Hagrid's hut, they heard sounds coming from the back of the house. Heading around the hut, they found Hagrid sitting on a log next to Fang, his large but loveable dog.
"Harry, Hermione, Ron." Hagrid beamed widely as he caught sight of the trio. "Pull up a log."
"Thanks Hagrid," Harry said, smiling at the half giant as they all perched on logs that were positioned along the back wall of Hagrid's hut. "We want to talk to you about a three headed dog."
"Fluffy?" Hagrid frowned. "What do you want to talk about Fluffy for?"
"The dog's name is Fluffy?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"Why on earth would you name a beast like that, Fluffy?" Ron queried.
"How do you three know about Fluffy?" Hagrid asked suspiciously.
"We've seen him," Harry answered. "And we know he's hiding something."
"I won't tell you what he's protecting," Hagrid vowed. "That is between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel."
"Aha, Nicholas Flamel. I know that name," Hermione mused.
"I shouldn't have said that," Hagrid muttered.
"It's okay Hagrid we won't tell anyone," Harry reassured the worried half-giant. "We're just worried that someone is after whatever the dog if protecting."
"Yeah, we think Snape is after whatever it is," Ron added.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hagrid scoffed. "Professor Snape is one of the Professors protecting the stone." Immediately Hagrid frowned and shook his large head. "I probably shouldn't have said that either."
"We won't tell a soul," Harry promised as he got to his feet. "Thanks Hagrid."
"Are you off?" Hagrid asked, bemused by the abrupt way Harry had jumped to his feet.
"Yeah, lessons start in five minutes," Hermione replied.
"See you later, Hagrid," Harry called as the trio headed off back to school.
"Well that was a waste of time," Ron grumbled. "We're no further forward."
"Of course we are," Hermione retorted. "Hagrid mentioned Nicholas Flamel and a stone. A bit of research should be able to fill in the blanks. We can get started tonight."
"I think you mean tomorrow," Harry said. "Tonight we have detention."
"I'd forgotten that," Hermione replied.
"I wish I had," Ron muttered. "I've been dreading it all day."
C.O.T.D.
Much to Ron's dismay it soon rolled round to detention time and the trio made their way down to the dungeons once they'd finished eating. When they entered the Potions classroom they found Draco standing at the teacher's desk, talking quietly to Severus.
"What do we have here?" He asked with a chuckle. "Three naughty Gryffindors."
"Thank you Draco, that will be all," Severus drawled. "You can head off to enjoy the rest of your evening."
"I will," Draco vowed. "And thanks for the advice."
"Any time," Severus replied. "My door is always open, except when its shut and I don't want to be disturbed."
"Have fun," Draco called to the Gryffindor trio as he exited the classroom in buoyant spirits.
"Git," Ron hissed as the blond boy shut the door behind him.
"Mr Weasley, you can scrub the cauldrons at the back of the classroom," Severus ordered. "Miss Granger, I want you to take the inventory from my desk and check the supplies in the cupboard. Mr Potter, I have some vials that need sorting at the front of the room. I expect the three of you to work quietly so I can get on with my marking. Any questions?"
"What do I clean the cauldrons with?" Ron asked.
"There's a bucket under the sink," Severus answered. "Fill it with water, and there should also be a bottle of cauldron cleanser down there as well. Using the cleanser and water you should be able to scrub the cauldrons spotless."
While Harry and Hermione settled down to start their tasks, Ron pulled open the cupboard under the sink. He easily found the bucket and some cloths, but he couldn't locate any cauldron cleaner. When he raised the problem with Snape, the Potions Professor merely ordered him to go and get a fresh bottle from Filch.
"Harry, keep an eye out for Ron returning," Hermione hissed once Ron had departed the classroom.
Harry quickly made his way to the classroom door, while Hermione perched herself on her brother's desk. Severus didn't seem at all bothered by his sister's actions and she suspected he'd deliberately made sure that Ron would have to leave the room so they would have an opportunity to talk.
"I thought you didn't know where the stone was," Hermione said, jumping straight into what she wanted to discuss with her brother.
"I didn't, not until yesterday evening," Severus answered. "I followed someone I don't trust, and they led me to the stone."
"Is that the person working for Grandpa?" Harry asked. Even though he was listening to the conversation, he didn't dare leave his post beside the door in case Ron returned quicker than they thought.
"I think so," Severus replied. "But just in case, I'll keep an eye on them."
"Are you going to tell us who it is?" Hermione demanded.
"No."
Hermione glared at her brother, but didn't bother arguing the point as she knew he wouldn't budge. Instead, she changed topic and asked another question that had been bugging her for some time.
"Wouldn't it be better if Father actually got hold of the stone? We're supposed to stop that from happening, but is the right thing to do?"
"It's what Father wants," Severus answered. "He thinks it's the best way for you and Harry to gain Dumbledore's unwavering trust. After this, he won't think twice about anything you ever do."
"I understand that, but the stone could help Father," Hermione argued. "It could help restore him to full power."
Even though it was years after Dumbledore had stripped him of his powers, Voldemort still wasn't at the peak of his powers. He took a potion every month that kept him physically fit and helped with his magic, but without the potion he would be nothing more than an old man with very weak magic.
"Father knows how to restore his powers permanently," Severus confessed. "He's known for some time."
"Why hasn't he done it?" Harry asked. "He could have taken control by now."
"Taking control isn't that easy, it needs time and plenty of careful planning," Severus said. "Father knows what he's doing, and when the time is right he's going to restore himself to full power and announce to the world that he's back."
"And when will that be?" Hermione asked.
"When's he satisfied you two are above suspicion and firmly wedged in Dumbledore's good graces," Severus replied. "You two are the reason he's taken things so slowly. He didn't want to risk a repeat of what happened with Dumbledore when you were both children. Now you're growing up, it's time for him to make his return and pick up where he left off."
Hermione and Harry were both touched by the revelation that Voldemort had settled for taking a potion every month so he could be there for them as they grew up. He could have easily returned to full power years ago and waged a second war on Dumbledore and the Order, but instead he'd put his family first.
"Ron's coming back," Harry suddenly called.
By the time Ron entered the classroom, Harry and Hermione were back doing their detentions and Severus was doing his marking. As Ron settled down to scrub cauldrons he had no idea he'd just missed a very informative conversation between his two friends and the Potions Professor. A conversation which would have made him rethink everything he thought he knew about Harry and Hermione.