Chapter 9
When the group of first years headed to breakfast on Halloween morning, the ceiling of the great hall was covered in dark clouds, perfectly mirroring the sky outside the castle. Harry and his friends parked themselves at the end of the Hufflepuff table, knowing that the friendly Hufflepuffs wouldn't mind the three Slytherins sitting with them. Harry had been excused from everything for the day as part of the arrangements that had been made with the school, he personally detested the holiday. Bad things always happened on Halloween, and it had all begun with his parents.
A few minutes after they sat down, they were joined by another person in a Slytherin uniform.
"How are my favorite little firsties doing?" Loki asked reaching across the table to help himself to a pile of pancakes.
Harry laughed and handed him the syrup, "What mischief are you up to?"
He smiled around a mouthful of food, "Just here to keep you company Harry. Fred and George told me that you don't have to go to classes today so I figured that you could spend some time with me."
Harry watched as the god of mischief plowed through a large plate of pancakes. "I have a few hours, Professor McGonagall arranged things so that Dean and Sam can visit for a couple of hours later, but you're welcome to come along when they get here." Harry told him.
"We're all going to meet in the transfiguration classroom." Neville said pushing his empty plate toward the center of the table.
Loki looked at each of them, "Do you really think that's a good idea?"He said. "Not that I don't want to meet them, but aren't your uncles hunters? Won't they want to kill me, no questions asked?"
Harry laughed and put an arm over Loki's shoulders, "I already told them about you. I explained how Fred and George summoned you and that you've only helped them with a few simple pranks. They won't try to kill you unless you try to kill someone."
"Don't think that we don't know that it's you that's keeping Quirell away from us." Hermione told him. "Professor Snape told us never to be alone with him, and every time he tries to get one of us alone, something happens to him." She stood up and leaned over his one shoulder, "Thank you." and she kissed him on the cheek.
A bright blush lit up Loki's face. "I have a lot of fun with you guys, I'm not going to let the possessed one do anything to you."
"Possessed?" Harry asked. "I hate to ask, but will you come and talk to Professor Snape? The more he knows, the better he'll be able to protect the students."
Loki looked at the group with a pout, "What if he kicks me out because of what I am?"
Ron stood up and the rest of the group followed, "We'll just summon you back. You've been keeping him busy, too busy to go after the stone. We'll explain it all to the Professor."
Loki got up from the table slowly, "You guys are going to owe me, I want two bars of Honeydukes best for doing this."
Harry laughed and motioned for Fred and George to join them. "I'll even throw in a dozen chocolate frogs."
After talking to Harry, Fred and George headed off to Honeydukes while the rest of the group tromped down to the dungeons.
After they had explained everything to the potions Professor, he agreed to allow Loki to stay with one condition. He was not allowed to prank Professor Snape or Professor McGonagall, Loki agreed.
Most of the group headed off to class, leaving Harry and Loki alone. The two walked the short distance to Harry's common room and up the stairs to his dorm.
When they opened the door, they found an extra bed had been brought in for Loki. On it they found a note.
Loki,
I have put a bed in here for you. I would feel much more at ease after today's revelation, if you stayed with the boys as much as possible. I will speak to Harry's Uncle Bobby on your behalf, letting him know that you have been protecting him from the evil that is possessing our Defense against the Dark Arts Professor. Choose a name to go by, and I will arrange with Professor McGonagall to have you added to all of Harry's classes. Just write the name on a slip of paper and call for Tipsy, she will deliver it to me and everything will be arranged by the feast tonight.
Professor Severus Snape
Loki just stared at the paper, a gobsmacked look on his face.
Harry laughed and dropped onto Loki's new bed. "I told you that he wouldn't banish you."
Loki dropped onto the bed next to Harry and started laughing too.
The entire group, including Fred and George met in front of the transfiguration class room. George handed Loki a large bag with Honeydukes on the front. "Harry insisted that we go back and get you more than you asked for after you talked to Professor Snape." he told the deity.
A few minutes and several chocolate frogs later, Professor McGonagall walked up to the group, Sam and Dean following close behind her. As soon as Sam saw Harry he rushed forward and threw his arms around Harry's middle.
"Harry, I can't believe that you get to go to school in a castle. It's just so cool." Sam babbled as Harry hugged him back.
They all shuffled into the class room, closing the door behind themselves.
Harry introduced them each to Dean and Sam, Dean blushing a dark red when Harry introduced him to Hermione in person.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and informed the group that Dean and Sam would be attending the feast, so they had better get a move on if they expected to get any of the treats that were being provided for the students.
The group laughed and joked around all the way to the Great Hall.
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