Author's Note: Here's chapter nine. Sorry for the delay. As soon as I finally got the free time to update more frequently, I lose the inspiration. However, now I'm in a writing mood again so I should be taking a whole month to update any more.

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Harry Potter'.


September 12 1991, Hogwarts

It was an unusually lively day at Hogwarts and the first years were all buzzing with excitement. It was the second Thursday of term and everybody in Harry's year was looking forward to the first flying lesson which was going to take place that afternoon at half past three. Of course, the excitement was mixed with an aura of anxiety. Nobody was willing to admit it, but the majority of the year group was nervous heading into their first flying lesson. They had never flown before and as far as they knew, they could either prove be a natural, the next Gwenog Jones, or a complete disaster on a broom. Having already gained some experience on a broom, Harry wasn't nervous. On the contrary, he was eager to get back on a broom. He looked around the Great Hall, finding the mixture of emotions very comical. Ron was keenly telling Dean Thomas about the rules of Quidditch while Hermione frantically read through a book from the Hogwarts Library called Quidditch Through the Ages, hoping that the knowledge it provided would help her in the lesson.

Harry wasn't the only first year to have some experience on a broomstick. Draco Malfoy, the blonde Slytherin who Snape always seemed to favour, never stopped bragging about his remarkable flying skills. He boasted day and night, telling stories about how he narrowly missed colliding with Muggle aircrafts. Harry thought that Malfoy's stories were completely ridiculous. The pale boy with the pointed face wasn't just exaggerating the truth. He was making up white lies to make himself look good and Harry hoped that he would see Malfoy embarrass himself when the lessons arrived.

Hermione was lecturing Neville about everything she had learned about flying, when the mail arrived. Several Gryffindors crowded around Seamus, who received a copy of the Daily Prophet, which detailed some sort of break in at the Wizarding bank, Gringotts. As usual, Harry received no mail. He felt disappointed because he had hoped that he would have received a letter from Peter by now. He assumed that there was a very good reason for Peter's lack of communication with Harry. Perhaps it was too dangerous sending the letter from Murray Manor? Maybe the owls were being intercepted by someone who had figured out that Harry and Peter were still alive? Eventually, Harry accepted that he was just being paranoid and that he would hear from his guardian eventually. His thoughts on the matter were interrupted when a small package landed on the Gryffindor table, right where Neville was sitting. The owl that delivered the package left as a befuddled Neville opened the package to reveal a spherical object made of glass. The object seemed to contain some sort of white smoke, almost like a miniature cloud.

"It's a Remembrall," the boy explained excitedly. "My gran sent me it because she's knows that I can be forgetful sometimes. Look, you squeeze it like this and if the smoke starts to turn red, then it means that- Oh!"

Neville's sentence was interrupted when he noticed that the smoke in his Remembrall faded to a scarlet colour. He placed his chin in the palm of his hand, starting to think deeply about something.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry, who had never heard of such thing as a Remembrall before. "What does it mean when the smoke turns red?"

Neville looked at Harry with panic in his eyes. "It means that I've forgotten something."

"Really?" asked Harry. "What have you forgotten?"

Neville spoke very slowly, "I've forgotten that... I've forgotten to... I've forgotten... I've forgotten what I've forgotten!"

Moments later, Draco Malfoy walked up to the Gryffindor table and grabbed the Remembrall from Neville's hand. Neville's hand moved towards Malfoy, as if attempting to take the object back from the narcissistic bully. However, he hesitated as soon as he noticed that there were two more Slytherins behind Malfoy. Vincent Crabbe, the boy who was Malfoy's partner in Professor Snape's Potions class, was there along with another Slytherin by the name of Gregory Goyle. These two students were so big that Harry found it hard to believe that they were first years. They had huge, long arms that resembled those of a gorilla and their faced showed no expression whatsoever.

"That's mine," protested Neville shyly. It was obvious to Harry that Neville wasn't planning to go out of his way to get his Remembrall back. He was too intimidated by Malfoy and his cohorts.

"Relax," started Malfoy, "I'm just looking. Although maybe I should keep it. It's not like it would do you any good, Longbottom. You're a lost cause. You'll forget things with or without a Remembrall."

Harry suddenly felt an urge to stand up and fight Malfoy, but he managed to control that urge. The last thing he needed was to make a scene in the Great Hall. Drawing attention to himself in any way could lead to Dumbledore figuring out Harry's true identity. Harry forced himself not to involve himself in this conflict and luckily, Professor McGonagall came to resolve it before it went out of hand.

"What's going on, dare I ask?" the Transfiguration professor asked. As always, her voice sounded stern and authoritative.

Neville was quick to explain, "Malfoy took my Remembrall, Professor."

Malfoy scowled visibly as he placed the object back into Neville's hand. He clearly didn't want to get on the bad side of Professor McGonagall. Harry certainly couldn't blame him. The stern professor could be quite intimidating to any troublemaker, especially when the wrongdoer is a first year. Since Malfoy didn't have to deal with the fearsome side of Professor Snape, Harry realised the Malfoy probably considered Professor McGonagall to be the most intimidating teacher in the school.

"Just looking," explained Malfoy. This response seemed to satisfy Professor McGonagall, who turned around and returned to the staff table. The three Slytherins then took a page from the professor's book and rejoined the other Slytherins at their own table.

Most of the first year students experienced some difficulty in concentrating during the classes that day. All anyone could think about was their first flying lesson. Three-thirty seemed to arrive very quickly and the students were all whispering amongst themselves in anticipation when an old woman with short, grey hair led them to their first broomsticks. The school brooms, Harry noticed, were old and certainly not the most efficient models on the market. However, Harry assumed that the students who earn a place on the house teams would have their own brooms. Since they were all in second year or above, there would be no rule forbidding it.

The students were instructed to leave the brooms on the ground and stand beside them. The instructor introduced herself as Madam Hooch and told the students to hold their hands over the brooms. Harry knew exactly what she was planning. Harry had done this exercise with Peter four years ago. It was a test to see who has natural flying ability. Luckily, Harry had no reason to worry as the other students did. The last time he did this exercise, it revealed that he had inherited his father's amazing flying abilities.

"Stick your right hand over your broom," instructed Madam Hooch, "and say 'up' until your broom moves upwards to your hand. Go on."

Harry did so and like last time, the broom instantly zoomed to his right hand. He looked around to see if anyone else had achieved this. Much to Harry's dismay, Draco Malfoy's broom also shot straight to his hand. Ron Weasley's broom almost made it to his hand, but started to hover at waist level and eventually fell back down. However, Ron's second attempt was more successful. Harry looked at Hermione, who was standing beside him. She was having trouble with her broom. She managed to get it off the grass, but it refused to reach her hand. Harry gave her a reassuring smile and she eventually managed to get the broom into her hand. Neville, on the other hand, was unable to make his broom move at all. When everyone began to stare at him, he shyly bent down and picked his broom up as Malfoy let out a loud, boisterous laugh at his expense.

"When I blow my whistle," began Madam Hooch when the class had calmed down, "I want you to gently kick off from the ground and rise a few feet into the air. Don't go up any further though. After a few seconds, lean forward to slowly hover back down to the ground."

The class prepared themselves as Madam Hooch counted down. "On my whistle... three... two-"

Before Madam Hooch could continue, Neville's broom began to rise. The broom rose higher and higher into the air taking the frightened boy with him. Neville let out a yelp of fear as the broom took him further away from the class. The class looked on, some afraid for Neville and some amused by the situation. Neville began to panic and shout for help, but nobody knew what to do.

"Come back boy!" ordered Madam Hooch, but it soon dawned upon her that Neville was now rising by choice. She let out a shout. "Mr Longbottom!"

Eventually, Neville fell sideways off the broom and gravity sent him straight to the ground. His broom continued to rise into the air of its own accord and it also drifted towards the Forbidden Forest. Eventually, it raced out of sight. Everybody's eyes looked over at Neville, who was lying on the ground and whimpering. Madam Hooch approached the boy and looked at his hand. Neville let out a quiet sob as soon as Madam Hooch touched the hand, suggesting that his hand was probably injured.

"Hmm... Broken wrist," the instructor tutted. "Get up boy, we'll have to take you to Madam Pomfrey."

As Neville used his good hand to wipe the tears off his face, Madam Hooch turned to the class. "I am taking this boy to the Hospital Wing. If any one of you thinks about flying while I'm gone, you will regret it. If your toes leave the ground even for a second, I'll see to it that you will be on the train home from Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch'. Come along, Neville."

Neville and Madam Hooch walked into the castle as the class watched. As soon as the class was out of Madam Hooch's line of sight, Malfoy began to snicker.

"Did you see his face, the great lump?" Malfoy said with an amused grin on his face.

"Shut up, Malfoy" snapped one of the Gryffindors, Parvati Patil.

"Defending Longbottom, are we?" teased Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin who was one of Malfoy's associates. "I never thought fat little crybabies were your type, Parvati."

The war of words between Parvati Patil and Pansy Parkinson continued, but Malfoy paid it no attention. Instead, he crouched down and looked at a glass object that lay on the grass. It was Neville's Remembrall.

"Look!" shouted Malfoy. "It's that Remembrall thing that Longbottom's grandmother sent him."

Harry was disgusted by Malfoy's lack of respect for other people's property. What really made Harry angry was that Malfoy seemed to know that he was being a bully. He just didn't seem to care about it. Harry decided that he needed to be taken down a peg and Harry certainly wanted to be the one to do it.

"Give it here, Malfoy," said Harry, trying to make his voice sound authoritative.

"Nobody tells a Malfoy what to do," responded Malfoy. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find it. On top of a tree, maybe?"

"Give it here!" demanded Harry.

Malfoy mounted his broom. "Come and get it, Owens."

As soon as he finished speaking, Malfoy zoomed into the air. It was obvious that Malfoy was not lying when he claimed to be good at flying. Even on the old, cheap brooms that the school provided, Malfoy made flying look easy. Harry was annoyed that someone as selfish as Malfoy had so much talent. Luckily, Malfoy didn't know that Harry was just as talented as he was.

Harry mounted his broom and prepared to kick off the ground, when Hermione stopped him.

"No!" she shouted. "Madam Hooch told us to stay on the ground. You'll get us all in trouble."

Harry honestly didn't care about getting detention or losing house points at this point. He just wanted to teach Malfoy a lesson. However, he did care about drawing attention to himself. He realised that showing off his flying skills, putting Malfoy in his place and possibly getting into serious trouble for disobeying Madam Hooch would make him the centre of attention. Harry needed to stay in the shadows and be seen as a perfectly ordinary boy. That way, nobody will suspect that he might actually be the famous Harry Potter, the one who defeated the most dangerous Dark Lord of all time. Harry dropped his broomstick onto the floor as the Slytherins cheered.

"Too afraid to come after me, Owens?" teased Malfoy. "Or have you decided that it isn't worth it just to defend a brain dead idiot like Longbottom?"

Before Harry could react, Ron Weasley mounted his broom and kicked off the ground. He seemed to wobble on the broom at first, much to Malfoy's enjoyment, but he soon managed to get the hang on it. Ron flew towards Malfoy as the other Gryffindors cheered him on. Harry was just glad that it was Ron who was getting all the attention and not him.

"Malfoy, give me Neville's Remembrall!" Ron shouted.

"If you insist... Catch!" shouted Malfoy as he threw the Remembrall as far as he could. Ron zoomed after it, but it was clear that he wouldn't be able to catch it. As the sphere fell down to the ground, Ron dived after it and reach out with his hand. He came surprisingly close to catching it, but ended up hitting the ground and falling off his broom. Ron rolled on the ground in pain as Malfoy landed on the ground. The Slytherins gathered around Malfoy, who gave a bow of victory. Just at that moment, Madam Hooch returned from the Hospital Wing. All she saw was Ron lying on the ground with a broomstick next to him. By the time she looked at Malfoy, he had placed him broomstick on the ground and there was no evidence to suggest that he was flying moments ago.

"Mr Weasley, what did I tell you before I left?" Madam Hooch asked furiously.

"You told us not to fly, but-" Ron began.

"Then why were you flying!?" demanded the flying instructor, interrupting Ron.

"Malfoy was-" Ron

"I don't want to hear it!" shouted Madam Hooch. "Are you injured?"

Ron shook his head nervously.

"Then go straight to Professor McGonagall," ordered Madam Hooch. " You can explain to her why you were disobeying my instructions."

"But-" started Ron.

"Go! Now!" interrupted Madam Hooch.

Ron glumly walked into the castle while Malfoy smiled nastily. Some of the Gryffindor's tried to point out that Malfoy was flying during Madam Hooch's absence as well, but the flying instructor refused to listen. The flying class was relatively uneventful from that point on, although Harry felt uneasy taking part in the lesson without Ron or Neville there. Madam Hooch had placed enchanted rings around the grounds and she led the students through them. Harry had no problem with this. The only student with flying skills that could rival Harry's was Malfoy. However, while Malfoy when through the rings as quickly as he could, determined to finish the course before anyone else, Harry stayed at the back of the line of students. He was helping Hermione, who was having trouble on her broom. She may have been academically gifted, but flying wasn't her area of expertise.

"The problem is the way you're holding onto your broom," Harry explained to his best friend. "You need to hold it closer to the end to give yourself more leverage."

Hermione shyly thanked him as Madam Hooch awarded five points to Gryffindor for helping a fellow student. Malfoy, being at the other side of the grounds by this point, wasn't there to witness it, but Harry was satisfied with the fact that he would have been absolutely appalled. It was only now that Harry realised that he was forming somewhat of a rivalry with this boy. Then again, Malfoy had that kind of relationship with just about every Gryffindor student in the entire year.

Hermione eventually became slightly better at flying and she took pride in the fact that she wasn't the very last person to finish. Instead, that place went to Gregory Goyle. When Harry landed on the ground, he noticed that he was standing right next to where Neville's Remembrall had landed. When Malfoy wasn't looking, Harry picked the Remembrall up and slipped it into his pocket, deciding to give it back to Neville the next time he saw him.


September 28 1991, Hogwarts

Peter Pettigrew ran as fast as his little feet could carry him. He was being chased by a cat, which Peter assumed was brought to the school by one of the Hogwarts students. This wouldn't be a very serious problem if it weren't for the fact that Peter was currently in the form of a rat. When Peter stowed away on the Hogwarts Express and sneaked himself into the school, he never considered the possibility that some of the students might let their pets out of the dormitories at night. Peter considered changing back to his human form just for a second, so he could scare the cat away. However, he decided against it. If anybody saw him and recognised him, people would realise the truth and Peter would lose everything.

The cat chased Peter across the school. Peter had no idea where he was because the vision of his rat form was significantly more blurry than that of his human form. Eventually, the cat had him cornered and he realised that he had no choice. People looked in all directions, checking that there were no people nearby. He then transformed back into his human self and ran up a flight of stairs. When the cat followed him, Peter kicked the cat, which caused it to flee. Peter then heard footsteps coming towards him, so he hastily reverted to his rat form.

"I know there's a student there! I heard you! It's after curfew!" came a voice.

Peter realised that it was Argus Filch, the Hogwarts caretaker. It dawned upon Peter that the cat didn't belong to a student. It was Filch's cat. Filch was caretaker back in Peter's school days and Peter remembered that Filch's cat never left his side. Of course, taking the average lifespan of a domestic cat into account, it probably wasn't the same cat that Filch had in Peter's days.

"Which way did they go, Mrs Norris?" asked Filch. Peter assumed that Filch was talking to the cat, which was a bit strange.

Peter was in his rat form, so he knew that he was safe from Filch. However, he didn't want to become the next victim of Filch's cat. Peter ran through a hole in the bottom of a nearby door, but he stopped when he saw what was on the other side. His rat vision was blurry, but Peter knew what he was looking at. It was a huge dog that looked like a vicious attack dog. However, the startling thing about the dog was that it had three heads. Peter ran back out of the room and went as far away from the vicious dog as he could. As he rushed past Filch and his cat, the cat tried to lunge at him. Luckily, Filch picked her up before she could do so.

"It's only a rat, Mrs Norris," Filch said as he stroked his cat. "I only want you eating quality cat food, not whatever you happen to find crawling around the castle."

Peter decided that he had to talk to Harry about this. The three-headed dog looked more like a guard dog than anything else. Peter remembered what he overheard Dumbledore saying a few weeks ago. I cannot leave Hogwarts for long. Not while we're keeping the stone hidden here. Was the dog here to guard this stone, whatever it was? Peter needed a second opinion and Harry was the only person he could talk to. However, getting Harry alone would be difficult and it would mean revealing to Harry that he sneaked into Hogwarts with him. He had no choice though. If Peter wanted to get to the bottom of this, he needed another pair of eyes.