Enjoy the newest installment!
The morning after Harry discovered the Mirror of Erised, he found himself thinking of it in his every waking moment. He was so preoccupied by it that he found himself returning to the empty classroom that night. And the next night. And the next.
A few days before classes were about to start, Harry found himself under his cloak, walking the now familiar path. Before he knew it, he was in front of the mirror again, looking upon the faces of his parents and 'S'. They were smiling happily, even though 'S' still remained hidden. It didn't bother Harry that he couldn't see the man; just knowing he was there was enough for the eleven-year-old.
"Back again, Harry?"
Harry jumped as a quiet voice broke the silence. He looked behind him and his stomach knotted as he spotted Professor Dumbledore sitting at one of the desks. How could Harry not have noticed him? Luckily, Harry could assume he wasn't in too much trouble as the Headmaster was smiling. Harry smiled sheepishly back.
"So," said Dumbledore, "I see you, like countless others, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised. I expect you've realized by now what it does?"
Harry nodded.
"It shows me my family," he replied. "So I guess it shows us want we want the most."
"Yes," said Professor Dumbledore, "it shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth, Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible."
The Headmaster paused and gave Harry an indiscernible look.
"The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?"
Harry stood up but before he left, he had one question to ask.
"What do you see when you look in the mirror, sir?"
Dumbledore looked surprised that he had been asked such a question but then he smiled.
"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks."
Harry stared. He didn't believe the man for one second, but it had been a personal question.
The next morning, Harry was still preoccupied by the Mirror of Erised, but his conversation with Professor Dumbledore stopped him from going to look for the mirror's new location. He would never forget what he was seen in the mirror, but he would have to just rely on those memories. He couldn't risk Professor Dumbledore finding him again and bringing him to Professor Snape, who would surely expel him for being out of bed after hours. Well, maybe he wouldn't be expelled but the man would surely be disappointed in him and could possibly say something to 'S', if he wasn't 'S' himself. That was the last thing Harry wanted—'S' being disappointed in him.
A few weeks into the new semester, Harry ended up being dragged to the Quidditch game by his Slytherin yearmates. They knew he didn't like Quidditch all that much but they still insisted on bringing him to the games.
"You live with Muggles all summer long," Pansy Parkinson said one time in a scandalous voice. "You need as many wizarding experiences during the school year as you can get. Besides, Gryffindor is going to lose horribly this time. Professor Snape is refereeing."
"Professor Snape is refereeing?" Harry repeated. He couldn't imagine the man doing anything like that. "Is that normal for him?"
Pansy shrugged.
"I don't think so," she admitted, "but I think he doesn't want a repeat of the last match, where the Bludger was tampered with. The Gryffindor team definitely won't be happy." She said the last sentence with a malicious grin on her face.
Watching the game, Harry could definitely see why. Professor Snape was using every opportunity and loophole he was given to penalize Gryffindor.
Soon bored by the match, Harry looked around the stands to see who had all turned out for the game. Gryffindor was currently in second place for the House Cup but they would have to win by a very large margin to overtake Slytherin. It seemed that many students were hoping for that to happen, judging by the turnout. Even a majority of the teachers were there, including Professor Dumbledore. Between Professor Dumbledore being there and Professor Snape refereeing the match, Harry instantly felt safer. No one would even attempt anything now.
From his spot near the stairs, Harry could see Draco Malfoy hassling some Gryffindor first years closer to the railing. He wanted to tell the blonde to knock it off, but he didn't want to go anywhere near the railing. He was still fairly traumatized from his first match. Instead, the green-eyed boy had to settle for rolling his eyes.
Shockingly, Gryffindor ended up winning the match, but not by the margin they needed to overtake Slytherin. Once the match had ended, the Slytherins slipped back to their dorm where one of the prefects had arranged a quiet celebration remaining on top. The house-elves certainly outdid themselves with the small feast.
It seemed that as soon as Christmas break had ended and classes had restarted, that the Easter holidays and exams were bearing down on them. Everyone found himself or herself struggling with the added work that the teachers were handing out. Even the study groups the Slytherin first years had formed weren't enough. Harry tried to remain on top of the work like he had done earlier in the year by trying to finish everything the night it was assigned but it got to the point where he was falling behind and having to put off assignments until the next day or even the day after that. Harry spent most of his free time in the library, where one day he came across an unusual visitor.
"Hagrid! What are you doing here?" he asked as soon as he spotted the large man. Hagrid looked up and shuffled over to where Harry was sitting alone, hiding something behind his back.
"Jus' looking," he said in a suspicious manner.
"Looking for what?" Harry inquired.
"Er—" said Hagrid and abruptly changed the subject. "What are yeh up to?"
Harry pretended not to notice.
"Studying," he replied and tried to peer around Hagrid to see what the man was hiding. Hagrid shifted, but not before Harry had caught a glimpse of the book's title.
"Why do you need a book about dragons?" he asked Hagrid, who turned a ruddy red.
"Shhh!" said Hagrid, looking around nervously. "I can' say anythin' in here. Come an' see me later, if yeh really need ter know."
"See you later, then," Harry replied with a small nod. Hagrid shuffled off. Harry wouldn't have been concerned about Hagrid reading a dragon book as he knew the man like the creatures but the suspicious way he had been acting intrigued the boy. Harry quickly finished his assignments and trotted his way down to Hagrid's hut about thirty minutes later.
Harry knocked on the door to Hagrid's hut, noting immediately that all the curtains were closed and that heat was emitting from under the door. Hagrid was definitely up to something.
"What's going on, Hagrid?" the boy asked as soon as he was inside the hut and the door was closed behind them. "Why do you have a fire going?"
The fire was definitely odd, as it was a really warm day. Harry peered at it closer and saw, in the very heart of a fire, was a huge, black egg.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Ah," said Hagrid nervously, "That's—er—"
"A dragon egg?" Harry guessed. "Where did you get it?"
"Won it," said Hagrid proudly. "Las' night. I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest."
"But what are you going to do with it when it's hatched?" asked Harry.
"Well, I've bin doin' some readin'," said Hagrid, pulling out the book he had gotten from the library. "Got this outta the library—Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit—it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here. See here—how ter recognize different eggs—what I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them."
He looked very pleased with himself, but Harry got a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had a feeling that this was going to end—badly.
A few weeks later, one breakfast time, Hedwig brought Harry a note from Hagrid. He had written only two words: It's hatching.
Harry didn't know what to do. On one hand, he didn't want to skip classes and miss out on important information that he might need for exams, but on the other hand, how many other times would he get to see a dragon hatch? In the end, Harry decided to run down during morning break. Then, he could at least say that he had seen part of a dragon hatching, which is more than his classmates could say.
"It's nearly done," Hagrid said as he ushered Harry inside.
Looking at the egg, it was very obvious. There were deep cracks in it and Harry could see something moving inside the egg. It was a marvelous sight. He held his breath as he watched.
It happened all at once. The egg split open and a baby dragon flopped onto the table. It was one of the uglier things Harry had ever seen but yet, it was strangely adorable, especially when it sneezed and coughed up sparks.
Hagrid was fascinated with the baby dragon, to the point where he didn't notice that Harry just snuck away at the end of break without even saying good-bye.
As amazing as seeing the dragon Hagrid eventually named Norbert hatch, schoolwork once again began to consume Harry's free time. He wasn't the only one. Harry found himself regularly surrounded by Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Millicent Bulstrode, and Pansy Parkinson in the common room as they prepared for exams. Goyle and Crabbe continued to follow Malfoy around, who didn't concern himself with studying as much as the others. In fact, the boy rarely studied. It was irritating to Harry who needed to study twice as much as the blond to achieve the same grades.
"Psst! Potter!" Harry looked up from his book in the library to see Draco gesturing for him to come over. Sighing, Harry got to his feet, shrugging at the questioning looks his study mates were giving him. It was Draco Malfoy. That was usually all the explanation that was needed.
"What do you want?" Harry demanded, crossing his arms as he came up to Draco.
"You're friends with that oaf, Hagrid, right?" Malfoy asked.
"He's not an oaf," Harry's voice adopted a slight growl. He didn't like where this was going.
"Whatever," Malfoy said. "Did you know he has a dragon in his house? I saw Granger and Weasley going down there and saw it through his window."
"So?" Harry tried to play calm and ignore how his insides had turned ice cold.
"So? It's illegal!"
Harry gave Malfoy a blank look. That couldn't be the only thing this was about. Usually Malfoy wanted more reason to get someone in trouble. At Harry's look, Draco sighed.
"Weasel and Granger also know," he said.
"How did they find out?" Harry asked. Draco snorted.
"They're right old buddies with that great oaf. I'm surprised you haven't run into them on your visits to him."
"Hagrid's not an oaf," Harry snapped.
"Whatever," Draco said. "They're planning on getting rid of it at midnight in a week. I overheard them talking about it in the hallway. We should point a teacher their way and get them in trouble!"
"No," Harry said flatly. Draco looked taken aback, as if he couldn't believe Harry wasn't up for getting Gryffindors into trouble.
"Why not?" he demanded.
"Because knowing you, that means being out after curfew and sneaking around at night to see where they're going. I don't want to get caught, which we undoubtedly will. I don't need the trouble."
"You never want to do anything that could get you anywhere near trouble," Draco said. "Why don't you just loosen up a bit?"
"In case you haven't realized, exams are coming up and I want to study," Harry snapped. "I'm not going to do anything that might get me expelled which, if Professor Snape catches us, is what will probably happen."
Draco Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Oh, please," he replied, "he'd never expel me."
Harry didn't respond. Instead he just turned and walked away.
Sunday morning, it was all over the Slytherin common room. Draco, along with Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and Ron Weasley had been caught out of bed after hours by Professor McGonagall. One hundred and fifty points had been taken from Gryffindor and forty points had been taken from Slytherin. Draco had also ended up with two detentions, one from Professor McGonagall and one with Professor Snape."
"It could have been worse," Pansy tried to reassure the embarrassed boy. "At least Professor Snape only matched the punishment McGonagall gave and not something more. Besides, now Gryffindor has no chance of catching up to us in the House Cup."
Her words didn't help. Draco still looked miserable and flushed when he caught Harry watching on. It was really tempting for the green-eyed boy to say 'I told you so,' but Harry did his best to not say anything about the entire incident.
When Monday morning came along, Harry was very glad he wasn't among the three Gryffindors who had been caught. Had the Sorting Hat placed him in Gryffindor, he might have been. Once rumors had started to spread, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and Ron Weasley had become three of the most hated people in the school. Gryffindor had been so close to overtaking Slytherin and now they had no chance. Even the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs shunned the three.
"So typical," Millicent Bulstrode muttered under her breath once she noticed what was going on. "People will blame whoever they can for the most minor things."
Her words were wise but they were lost behind the smug grin she was wearing. A few of the more vicious Slytherins were going out of their way to congratulate the miserable three. It was a most humiliating experience.
After a few days, Draco had mostly forgotten he had even been involved in the whole incident. He had served his detention with Professor Snape (and had come back around midnight, looking absolutely miserable) and nothing more was said about it—until a week before exams. Then a note was delivered to Draco, Hermione, Neville, and Ron stating:
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight.
Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor McGonagall.
Everyone winced as they read the note.
"Good luck," Theodore Nott said, patting Draco on the back as he prepared to leave that night.
"Don't let that squib do anything to you," Pansy sneered.
"Squib?" Harry asked. The word was foreign to him.
"Someone born into a magical family without magic. It's such a disgrace when something like that happens," Daphne Greengrass explained as Draco left through the portrait hole, also giving a minute sneer. Harry liked to forget that he was in the house where blood purity seemed to matter the most, but moments like this made it hard.
Harry was still studying when Draco stumbled in, finished with his detention. He looked horrified.
"Never again!" Draco spat out as Harry looked up.
"What did Filch make you do?" the other boy asked.
"Nothing. I had to serve detention with that great oaf—"
"Hagrid's not an oaf," Harry sighed.
"Whatever," Draco waved a hand. "He made us go into the Forbidden Forest—at night—to find a dead unicorn!"
"Did you find it?" Harry asked. "Do you know what killed it?" He didn't know much about unicorns but he always wanted to see one. They were supposed to be very beautiful.
"Yes!" Draco said. "I was almost killed! It was the most traumatizing thing ever!"
It was clear to Harry that the pale boy was exaggerating but he let Draco ramble on about what had happened without saying anything. He was sure he would be hearing this story until term ended. After Draco had carried on for more than fifteen minutes, Harry found himself wishing that someone else was still up for Draco to complain to. Unfortunately, most had gone to bed and those who hadn't were studying in their rooms.
Finally it was exam week. Harry had never been so relieved and terrified at the same time. Exams took place on what seemed to be the hottest days of the spring, where all the first years were locked in a large classroom with Anti-Cheating spelled quills and rolls of parchment where they were to write their written papers. Harry wasn't sure which was worse, the written exams or the practical exams. With the written papers, there was the chance that a student could write a bunch of nonsense and hope that it was close enough to get them credit but the practical exams weren't as long. The exams Harry found easiest were Charms and Potions. He had a knack for Charms and Harry enjoyed Potions. It was one of the subjects he found the most interesting. His last exam of the term was History of Magic, which was, in Harry's opinion, complete torture. He couldn't help but cheer when Professor Binns told them to put down their quills. They were free for an entire week now until results were posted.
The only thing that had made the exams harder than they should have been was the stabbing pain in his forehead, which had started soon after Draco's detention in the Forbidden Forest. Once exams were over and the stabbing pain remained, Harry decided to go to the hospital wing to see if it wasn't something more serious. On his way there, he came across Ron and Hermione, who had just left Hagrid's hut and overheard something that deeply disturbed him. When they turned around the corner and were stopped by Professor McGonagall, Harry remained in the connecting hallway, hidden from view but able to hear everything.
"What are you three doing inside?"
"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," said Hermione, rather bravely, Harry thought.
"See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to want to do. "Why?"
"It's sort of secret," Ron said.
"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she said coldly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."
"He's gone?" said Hermione frantically, "Now?"
"Professor Dumbledore has many demands on his time, Ms. Granger—"
"But this is important," Ron interrupted.
"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Weasley?"
"But, Professor—it's about the Sorcerer's Stone—" Hermione tried to explain.
There was a thudding sound as if books had fallen to the ground.
"How do you know-?" Harry heard Professor McGonagall sputter.
"Professor, we think—that Sn—that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. We've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."
Funny, it sounded as if Hermione was about to say Snape. Did they believe that Professor Snape was going to steal the Sorcerer's Stone? That was absolutely ridiculous. The professor would never do something so risky! It would be very un-Slytherin like.
"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow," Professor McGonagall said after a moment's silence. "I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected.
"But Professor—"
" I know what I'm talking about," Professor McGonagall said shortly. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."
It was an order but from the lack of footsteps Harry heard after the encounter, it wasn't an order that was obeyed.
"It's tonight," said Ron. "Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."
"But what can we—"
Hermione cut herself off suddenly.
"Good afternoon."
Harry would recognize Professor Snape's voice anywhere.
"You shouldn't be inside on a day like this," the professor continued. Harry could tell from the Potions Master voice alone that the man knew the two students had been talking about him.
"We were—" Hermione began, but was cut off.
"You want to be more careful," said Snape. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?"
Ron and Hermione were silent.
"Good day to you," Professor Snape said quietly and strode off. Harry waited for Ron and Hermione to head outside before trying to catch up with the Potions professor.
"Professor, wait!" Harry called, right before the man reached the staffroom. Professor Snape turned sharply and raised an eyebrow as Harry approached him.
"What is it, Mr. Potter?" he asked.
"Ron and Hermione—they believe that the Sorcerer's Stone is going to be stolen tonight—" Harry panted out.
"And what, pray tell, does that have to do with me?" Professor Snape questioned.
"They think you're the one who's going to steal it!"
If Harry was expecting a reaction, he was severely disappointed. The professor didn't even blink.
"I see," he said after a few seconds. "Mr. Potter, I suggest you return to your common room. There is nothing you need to worry about."
Harry could only watch as the professor turned away and strode into the staffroom. Now, his planned visit to the hospital wing was all but forgotten.
Severus Snape was in quite the dilemma. Harry Potter had just provided him with some troubling information. Oh, he had well been aware of Granger and Weasley's suspicions about him. He had never tried to be the good guy. However, if Quirrell and Voldemort were really going to steal the stone tonight—yes, he knew Voldemort was behind everything—then he had to do something. He couldn't let two students risk themselves against a madman and his servant. He also couldn't go and stop Quirrell himself. He had a chance of survival if Voldemort came back to pretend ignorance but if he took an active part in stopping the Dark Lord from coming back, he would be dead within hours once Voldemort had regained his body.
There lied his dilemma. He needed to protect the students, even if they were Gryffindors, but he needed to survive and remain in his son's life, however minor his part in it was.
With a sigh, Severus leaned forward and rested his head on his hands. He knew what he had to do. He just didn't want to do it.
Sneak Peek (of later on in this story):
"How can you stand it?" Harry asked quietly.
"It's something that you could not even begin to understand, Potter," his father replied.
I hope you enjoyed and please, please, please review!
