Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.

A/N: I have had a number of people ask me how close this story is going to keep with the canon. Here's my answer since I know there are probably more people wondering about it than just those who asked.

I followed the canon in the beginning closely because I wanted a good base to go off of, (especially since this is my first HP fic) and because it was easier to develop the characters since I didn't have to focus a great deal of my time on the storyline. Now that I have developed the characters, the circumstances around them have obviously changed (and because I have now gotten a hold of this world ), the rest of the story is going to move further and further from the canon as it progresses. (Especially when I get into book 2 and beyond...heehee)

Rubs hands together

I have big plans... and the beginnings of these plans are seen in motion in this part...Well, enough of my monologing. Enjoy :)

Book 1 – Part 10: Confrontation

It was late, and the darkness that had gathered in his office was oddly calming. Snape watched the candlelight flicker across the walls, his dark robes blending into the shadows around him.

What is wrong with me? This is James' son!

Snape took a relaxing breath, collecting his thoughts.

"But he is also Lily's…" he whispered in the empty room.

Severus leaned back in his chair, letting himself mentally drift.

He thought about his exchange with Potter before the Potions' exam, recalling how utterly surprised and privately pleased he was upon hearing the boy's words.

No matter how much he had wanted to hate him, he couldn't. From day one, his hate had been forced. He tried so hard to despise the son of the man who had tormented him in his youth, but found himself unable to.

Harry James Potter. Despite his appearance being so like his father's, he got his mother's eyes, and despite having his father's ability and love of Quidditch, he got his mother's heart.

Harry confused Severus, and his attitude and actions helped to confuse him even more. He could not fathom why or how Potter was befriending Malfoy, but he was. There was mutual respect between them now that he would have never thought possible between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin.

He knew Draco had gotten into trouble because of this during Halloween, but since that time, for whatever reason, the Slytherins accepted his peaceful interaction with Potter. It was probably due to that troll. Somehow Harry had earned a strange respect for destroying a troll and protecting a Slytherin. And from Draco's tale, it seemed to have convinced the Slytherins, and most others, that Draco, Harry and his friends had worked together in taking out that troll.

What was really getting to Snape was why Potter and his friends weren't letting the truth be known. Draco hadn't held the troll off; he was lucky they had gotten there in time to find him with just a broken leg. Potter and his friends had saved Draco's life, and if it hadn't been for Potter's freakish display of magic, Draco and the others would have been in serious trouble.

And why did Potter and his friends visit Draco the next day in the hospital wing? What words had been exchanged? Was that when this true mutual respect began? Or was it then that it was understood and accepted by both of them?

Snape did not have the answers to these questions, but he was beginning to get a a vague idea of certain parts of them.

He knew Harry and his friends had been looked at oddly for a time after that as well, but he also knew that the Gryffindors and the other two houses respected Potter, due to how he dealt with the trouble Malfoy and his friends brought about during the beginning of the year, and especially now after the troll.

Harry Potter was an enigma, that much was certain.

Most of the staff knew of his nightmares; after needing to cover for him, it was necessary. Dumbledore had not gone into detail about what condition he had found the room in, but by the look in his eyes and the expression on Minerva's face, he knew it had to have been serious.

A part of him had been surprised when the Headmaster had not requested him to make a large batch of Dreamless Sleep Potion, but then he realized why. It wasn't safe, not with a nutter like 'Garlic Head' running about.

And how did these children know about Quirrell? What had Garlic Head done to tip them off? And why were none of the other students aware, especially the older students? Surely if a Prefect had suspected something they would have told.

Dumbledore had told him of Potter and his friends' suspicions, and how Hagrid had come to him and said that Potter and the others suspected Quirrell of trying to kill him during that Quidditch game. Snape had no doubt now of Quirrell's loyalties, and how dark the man truly was. It had taken everything he had to counter the curse placed on Potter's broom, and a part of him suspected that it hadn't only been him fighting for Potter's life that day, but that he had help from an unknown source, especially when he realized whose robes had mysteriously caught fire.

There was a lot going on that he could not explain, but at least he knew one thing. Quirrell wanted that stone, hated Harry, and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

The other thing he could not figure out was this new side of Hagrid. He had changed since meeting Potter. He no doubt cared for the boy, and Snape was certain he was keeping something from them, even the Headmaster. What did he know? It clearly involved Potter in some way. What did he know that he wasn't telling any of them? What secret could be so important that even the bumbling gentle giant could keep it from Albus Dumbledore, the greatest Wizard of their time?

Did this secret involve Potter's nightmares?

Potter was powerful, there was no doubt about that, no matter how much he wanted to deny that such a young boy and the son of his childhood enemy could possess such shear strength. This fact having been proven when he had killed the Mountain Troll with one spell.

How did Potter know that spell? It certainly isn't in any books he should be able to get to, and finding it in the Restricted Section in the Library is highly unlikely.

And not only having knowledge of such a spell, but to actually be able to use it, and to use it perfectly against an enemy that should have been the victor, instead of the conquered…

There is something more to Potter than just being the Boy Who Lived…

Knock Knock.

Snape got up, being torn from his thoughts, wondering who would be knocking this late at night. Who he found was one of the last people he would have expected.

Draco Malfoy.

"Mr. Malfoy, what brings you to my office at such a late hour?" he asked.

"Professor, I would like to have a few words with you, without the other… um… without anyone else knowing," he said, hesitantly.

"Certainly, come in," Snape said, letting him in and shutting the door behind him.

"What is this about, Mr. Malfoy?" he asked.

"Well sir, about a few things actually, mainly what you think about them," he said. "I respect you, and know I will get straight answers. I especially need them with these things."

"Alright, what things?" he asked, motioning Draco to sit down, while he leaned against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms calmly.

"Harry Potter. I know it is sort of pointless now, since it's nearly the end of the year and all, but he'll be here next year. What is expected of me? How should I really be treating him? Should I even associate myself with him?" he asked. Clearly these things had been laying heavily on him for sometime, and he just wanted to lay it all out for his mentor.

Snape took a long hard look at Draco before forming his answer to his lips.

"Draco, who should dictate your life?" Snape asked, causing Draco to look at him in wonder and surprise, not only with his question, but the fact he called him by his first name.

"Your father? Me? Tradition? No. You. You choose how you act, you select who your friends are, and you decide what kind of person you become. There is nothing wrong with having acquaintances or even friends with those of other houses. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, which is why it is good to associate with those who are different from ourselves.

"You see me and Professor McGonagall with our differences and with our disagreements, and yet we still work together and tolerate each other's company. I respect her, and she respects me.

"Do you understand?" he asked.

Draco nodded, appearing more at ease, and happy he had come.

"Thank you, sir," he said, standing.

Snape was now standing straight as well, no longer leaning on the desk.

Draco turned to the door to leave.

"Mr. Malfoy."

"Yes, Professor?"

"Don't ever repeat what I said or what I am about to say."

"Alright, sir."

"Count yourself lucky that you have found a worthy Gryffindor to befriend, hopefully more will follow. You have realized something that took me decades to see," he said, his face shaded in candlelight and shadow.

"And what's that, sir?"

"What a mighty force a Slytherin and Gryffindor can become when friends. Goodnight, Mr. Malfoy."

"Goodnight, Professor."

- - -

Harry had trouble going to sleep that night. He was anxious, as if he was waiting for something to fall, and fall hard.

When he finally went to sleep, it was not restful at all.

The darkness was as thick as the trees, and the air was heavy as his sight focused.

There was a dead Unicorn below and slightly beside him; he was levitating…

"You…you will tell me," a voice hissed. A hand was out in front of him, a large man before him.

"No, I'll tell yeh nothin'," the man said.

"Fine, then I'll take it," he whispered dangerously, raising himself the next foot to get to the man's eye level.

Hagrid.

"Hagrid!!!"

Harry shot up to find Ron just getting out of bed to try to wake him.

"Harry? What did you see?" Ron asked, seeing that Harry was rubbing his scar.

"We need to get to Hagrid. Quirrell has him right now, he's using Legilimency I think," he said, getting his shoes on, putting his robes on and grabbing his invisibility cloak.

Ron didn't need to hear anything more. He woke Neville up, thankful the others were still sleeping, being accustomed to random outbursts from Harry in the night by now.

Neville and Ron quickly got ready, and were right behind Harry when they left the dormitory.

"Hermione, we need her," Ron said, stopping in the Common Room.

Harry nodded, about to run up the stairs to get her, but then remembered that boys could not go up, unless they wanted a very nasty curse to fall upon them.

"Hedwig!" Harry said suddenly, Neville quickly grabbing some torn parchment on the side table and finding a quill under a chair, knowing what should be done.

Either by some miracle or very good hearing, Hedwig came flying down. Thankfully, Harry hadn't locked Hedwig's cage.

She landed on Harry's arm, Neville handing him a note he had quickly jotted down.

GET DOWN HERE NOW. ALONE.

HAGRID'S IN TROUBLE. QUIRRELL.

-NEV, H.P., RON

"Alright, can you wake up Hermione, and only her?" Harry asked.

Hedwig nodded, as if that instruction had been obvious and hadn't needed to be said, while she took the note from Harry's hand.

"Okay."

At that, Hedwig flew up to get Hermione.

They didn't have to wait long. In less than one minute, she was down and dressed, her hair in a ponytail, a wand in her hand.

"Alright, what's happening?" she asked as they all got under the special cloak.

"Harry had a vision thingy. Quirrell has Hagrid right now in the forest, he's using Legilimency we think," Ron said as they went out into the hall.

Several thoughts were going through Harry's head while they left Gryffindor Tower.

Should they get help? Would they believe them? Did they even have time?

Harry and the others had thought they were going to have the corridors to themselves, but quickly found they weren't.

Draco Malfoy.

"What's he doing up?" Ron asked, slightly suspiciously.

But before any of the others could speculate, Harry left the protection of the cloak, and was dashing towards Draco.

"What's he doing?!" Hermione asked, the three of them still invisible.

"Draco!" Harry shouted, scaring Draco half to death who was on the other side of the corridor.

"Potter! What are you doing up?" he asked, turning to Harry as he tried to calm his pounding heart.

"I need your help, we need your help," he called, stopping a good distance from him, urgency bleeding through his every word, praying Draco would understand he couldn't explain at the moment, and would help. "Get help, get Professor Snape! Hagrid's in trouble, tell Snape Quirrell has him in the Forbidden Forest, trying to get the secret to get the Stone. He'll know what to do. Tell him!" Harry said, beginning to run away from Draco and towards the closest exit of the castle, his three friends suddenly appearing and joining him.

"Alright, Potter!" Draco yelled back, turning back towards the way he had just come, both Potter's words and Snape's ringing in his mind as he rushed to Snape's office.

- - -

Harry and the others made it outside very quickly, Ron having handed Harry his cloak on the way since they no longer needed it. Harry stashed it in his robes as they approached the forest.

"Come on, this way," Harry said, all of them with their wands out.

The forest was just as dark as it was in his dream, but using his scar and memory as a compass, they cut through the forest, staying close together and weaving around and under trees and branches.

Harry slowed, the others doing so as well.

Harry motioned them to stop, pointing to a spot a few yards ahead of them beyond some trees.

"They're there," he whispered, taking a breath before laying out the plan. "Alright, when I give a quick 'Lumos' and 'Nox', Ron, Neville, you get Hagrid out—Neville stun, Ron levitate or whatever needed to get Hagrid away. Hermione—distract, cut around to the right; do something fancy. I'll get Quirrell. Got it?" Harry asked.

"After Hagrid's out?" Neville asked.

"Get out of the forest—Go to the castle—Tell Dumbledore—Guard Fluffy."

"All of us?" Hermione asked.

"You three. Guarding that stone is top priority. It's the Elixir of Life. I'll keep Quirrell busy as long as I can. 'Kay?"

The others nodded; knowing there was no point in arguing, time was ticking.

They moved forward, knowing their tasks.

Ron and Neville went to the left, Hermione went to the right, Harry going up the center as they all zeroed onto their target.

Hermione held in a gasp, as did the others, when she saw Hagrid body-locked before a hovering Quirrell, only there was something even more wrong…

Quirrell's right side was facing Hagrid, and his face was turned to his left, blankly looking in the direction of Harry, and yet…there was another face on the other side, focused on Hagrid.

A sickly gray face with ruby red eyes…

Ron, Neville, and Hermione looked back to Harry, knowing where to find him.

They saw the quick blink of light from the tip of Harry's wand, and acted, still taking refuge in the brush and overgrowth of the dark forest.

"Stupefy!" Neville shouted as Hermione shouted some spells of her own, raining down pandemonium throughout the clearing with impressive firework spells that would no doubt make the Weasley twins want to recruit her.

Neville's red stunning spell shot forward and hit Quirrell's arm.

"AHH!"

Hagrid fell, landing on the ground on his side as if he was a log.

"Wingardium Leviousa!" Ron shouted, before adding, "Accio Hagrid!"

Ron and Neville, now side by side, grabbed the floating Hagrid by the thick clothing on his broad shoulders as he shot towards them, his frame brushing against a few protruding branches and limbs. Taking hold, they ran, hauling him away, vowing to complete the task Harry had given them, Hermione continuing to give them cover—red, white, blue, gold and silver spells raining down all over.

To say Quirrell was mad would be a vast understatement, but it was beyond understanding of how angry the gray face was on the back of his head.

The red eyed face turned, Quirrell still standing as he had been when the stunner had hit his arm.

"Stupefy!" Harry shouted, just moments after Ron and Neville had grabbed Hagrid. Harry charged forward out of the brush as Hermione's spells eased up.

Harry knew Hermione had followed his order and was now running to the castle to help guard the stone, running to safety.

The gray face narrowed his eyes as Quirrell waved his wand and blocked Harry's curse, despite his face looking the other way.

Harry stopped; now close enough to make out the hideous face as he raised his wand, ready to cast another curse.

"Harry Potter…" the gray face whispered. "See what I've become? Mere shadow and vapor…I have form only when I share another's body…but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds.… Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks, and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own…."

"We won't let you, Voldemort…" Harry said, squeezing his wand firmly, ignoring the rising pain in his scar.

"Bravery?" Voldemort asked, raising Quirrell's wand, and swished it hard to the right.

Harry's wand flew out of his hand, despite how hard he had been holding it, and landed somewhere into the bushes to his right just as Hermione's voice boomed through the trees, screaming, "Expelliarmus!"

Quirrell/Voldemort's wand was flung away, the Dark Lord having been completely caught by surprise.

"Hermione, RUN! RUN!" Harry shouted, turning to run as well, hoping to lead Quirrell away from her and the castle.

"KILL HIM!" Voldemort shouted.

Harry braced himself as Quirrell charged, Voldemort's face turning away to let Quirrell see properly.

Harry brought his hands up as Quirrell plowed into him, knocking him hard onto the ground. He felt Quirrell's hands go around his neck, but Quirrell quickly let go.

"Master, my hands—my hands!"

"KILL HIM!!"

Quirrell struggled to obey, bringing his hands down again, but this time he attacked differently.

His right hand landed hard on Harry's chest, over his heart, as his left went at Harry's throat again. Harry responded by grabbing Quirrell's face with one hand, his other taking hold of the thing on the side of Quirrell's head that was supposed to be an ear.

"AAAAAAAARGH!"

Everything was so confusing now.

Harry's chest began to throb as he felt and heard a multitude of things around him.

He felt Quirrell's breath close to his face; the smell of garlic rank as he heard harsh mumbled words coming from Quirrell between the man's cries. All the while Voldemort continued to scream, "KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"

The sound of rolling thunder roared towards him as he heard more voices shouting over everything.

"GET OFF HIM! GET OFF HIM!"

He then felt himself being torn away from Quirrell by two pairs of hands.

"HARRY!" someone called, just before all went silent…and dark…

- - -

[A/N: This is an overlapping scene happening during the scene above. Should be self explanatory.

Draco ran to Snape's office as fast as he could and didn't bother to knock as he simply barged in.

"Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, slightly surprised.

"Sir, Potter—just ran into him. He told me to get you—something about Quirrell having Hagrid in the Forest, trying to get the secret about a stone."

Snape immediately went to him, quickly guiding him out.

"Tell Professor McGonagall this and that I'm heading to the Forest; owl the Headmaster, tell him he's needed here, and briefly mention 'stone'; he's at the Ministry. The Gryffindor password is Virtutis. Go," he said, both of them now jogging down the corridor.

"Yes, sir," Draco said, turning and heading to Gryffindor Tower.

Snape didn't waste any time as he sprinted out to the Forbidden Forest. Cutting across the grass, he saw something exiting the forest at a decent pace.

Ron and Neville, towing a floating Hagrid behind them.

"Professor! They're back there, deep in the forest," Ron shouted, pointing but not slowing as they continued towards the castle and Snape.

"Get to the castle, and don't stop. More help is on the way," he stated, running past them, his wand out.

Neville and Ron nodded quickly, never having seen Snape with his wand out, nor an expression of such intensity.

"Come on," Ron said, pulling Hagrid harder.

Snape continued forward, entering the forest and running as fast as he could towards where Ron had pointed.

He was several dozen yards in when he saw Hermione running towards him.

She was close to tears, her hand tightly clasping her wand.

"Granger," he said as she stopped before him. He steadied her with his hand and was about to give her orders, but the sound of hooves came to his ears.

He turned to his left, finding several centaurs.

"Severus," one said, trotting forward.

"Ronan," Snape said.

"I will ensure Ms. Granger gets to the castle. Go," he said, taking hold of Hermione's arm, and promptly lifting her up, swinging her onto his back.

"Severus!" a voice called somewhere behind him.

Snape turned around to find Professor Dumbledore running towards him.

"Come, this way," Snape said, turning back and leading the way; Dumbledore right behind, centaurs alongside them.

They dashed forward, screams, shouts, and words coming to their ears.

"AAAAAAAARGH!"

"KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"

They saw Quirrell on top of Harry, no doubt performing Dark Magic through his pain filled shrieks.

The sound of thundering hooves whirled around them as Snape and Dumbledore came to Harry's aid.

"GET OFF HIM! GET OFF HIM!" Snape roared.

Both he and Dumbledore took hold of Quirrell, just as a dark mass pulled itself free from Quirrell's body.

Voldemort.

He shot away from them, into the darkness of the forest…

Snape and Dumbledore quickly removed the now limp Quirrell from Harry's grasp, finding Quirrell's skin badly burned where Harry had touched him. Pushing Quirrell's body aside, it was clear that Harry's strength was melting away.

Dumbledore pulled Harry up into his arms, kneeling beside him.

"HARRY!" he shouted as the boy's eyes closed. Dumbledore put his hand over Harry's heart, quickly mumbling spells under his breath, and praying it was not too late…

- - -

A/N: If any of you have questions (such as character developement or why Potter is the way he is), feel free to ask.

Again, for those of you who review (kindly and honestly), -thanks- each of you help me improve and type faster. :)

Next part: Formation