Chapter 12

In the weeks that followed their adventures and secret transporting away of Norbert. Harry and his friends kept their heads down. Not that they were worried that someone would find out and punish them, as the proof was now long gone. But rather to give time for everyone to calm down.

Draco was beside himself with fury, even if he could not act on it for fear of bringing Professor Snape's own anger down on him. His calling Snape so late, and not catching Harry and Elsa out of bed had made Professor Snape so anger Draco had received a detention and had cost their house some points. And everyone in Slytherin knew that to be able to pull off something like that meant you had to do something exceptionally stupid.

There was now also the aided annoyance that Draco, had lost much of the support from the rest of the house as well. Even those that supported the belief that pure blood was all important, were giving Draco looks of great dislike for his loss of points. The only ones who seemed to hang out with Draco willingly were Crabbe and Goyle, though Harry personally wondered if this was because they had been ordered to.

"Just goes to show you, popularity is a double edged sword," Hermione said, when they noticed Draco eating alone once more.

Harry nodded in understanding. His on popularity had been shifting about with the public opinion. Mostly it seemed people were in general happy with him, though many of them were cautious as he was still was in Slytherin house. Not that Harry cared really, unless it made him a target of their anger.

Though as things were, the teachers were beginning to pile on the homework as their tests drew ever closer. Piles of homework, though not nearly as much as some of the older students, the Fifth years in particular seemed close to freaking out. The Seventh years on the other hand seemed much more relaxed about the whole thing, though they were still studying long into the night.

Harry, and Elsa were enjoying themselves thoroughly. Hermione was becoming increasingly touchy as exams got closer, but they were able to keep her in check. At least for the most part, as even the older students, and those who cared only for blood purity soon learned not to annoy Hermione when she was in her study mood.

The only thing that was bugging them outside the exams was Fluffy and the Stone. But as of right now there was nothing anyone of them could do about it. So far as they could tell Quirrell had not caved into Snape's demands about information. Nor did he seem to be moving forward to trying to get the stone himself.

It was not till the day before exams began did Harry hear something that caused him to pause. He had had to slip away part way through class to use the toilet and on the way back he heard someone whimpering and crying. Looking around Harry noticed a door to a nearby classroom, as he stepped closer he heard Quirrell's voice, and someone else's. He could not make out the second person's voice but he could heard Quirrell's voice.

"No! No!" Quirrell was saying, "It is not my fault."

Harry in spite of his own better judge meant edge closer trying to make out what the second voice was saying. But before he could, Quirrell let out a yell of anguish that caused Harry to leap back.

"Fine! I will do it, but don't hurt me," Quirrell cried.

Before Harry could move closer to the door again, it burst open. Quirrell came hurrying out. He was shaking and there was a panic look in his eyes, however he did not seem to notice Harry. However before Quirrell ran off down the hall, Harry noticed his turban, was off center and rather clumsily done up.

Harry waited till Quirrell had vanished down the Hallway before turning and glancing into the room Quirrell had just left. It was one of the many unused classrooms around the school. Across it Harry saw a door leading into a secret passage out of the room that was partway open. Looking about himself, Harry saw no one.

Crossing the room, Harry turned and peered down into the passages depths. It was too dark to see down. Harry listened closely for the sound of footsteps or the swish of a cloak, but nothing reached his ears. Yet, as Harry turned and made his way back to class, he could not help but wonder if Snape had just left the room.

It was after class, as Hermione, Elsa and Harry went down to the library did Harry explain what had just happened. Elsa was more interested than Hermione, as Hermione's biggest worry were the exams. None the less both of them looked worried about what Harry had seen.

"Do you think he will steal the stone tonight," Hermione asked quietly her potions book halfway open in front of her.

"Which one?" Harry signed, referring to the fact both Snape and Quirrell seemed to be after the stone.

"Quirrell," Hermione answered.

Harry shrugged, as Elsa said, "I don't think he would, at least not with Dumbledore still about."

"Why do you say that?" Harry signed out, looking a little confused.

Elsa smiled and answered, dropping her voice lower as some people moved past them, "Well, Albus Dumbledore is considered to be the Greatest Wizard of this age. Even Voldemort was said to fear him. I doubt very much Quirrell, let alone anyone else, would try and take the stone with Dumbledore around."

Harry nodded, it made sense. Anytime anyone mentioned Dumbledore, it was always with great respect, even if the person personally disliked him. Only a few people did not seem to believe Dumbledore to be so great, but those were mostly like Draco Malfoy who did not learn easily.

"So as long as the Headmaster is here, then the stone is safe," Hermione said.

"Indeed," Elsa said, as Harry nodded in agreement.

They fell silent as they heard someone nearing them again, this time it was Madam Pince, the Liberian. She gave them a sharp piercing look, as if the fact they were in her library was an insult. It reminded Harry forcefully of Professor Snape's own looks. Thankfully she did not find anything wrong with them, and soon left, following the group that had passed by Harry and the others a few moments earlier.

Feeling it would not be a good idea to continue the discussion with Madam Pince sneaking around. They shifted their focus to their books. And as tomorrow were tests, Harry was sure no one was going to try at the stone, not with all the teachers and students on edge.

Indeed, as the next day rolled around, a rather unnatural hush fell over Hogwarts. Everyone was either taking tests or trying to grab some last minute studying. Those in Fifth or Seventh year were taking some of their most important tests. All looking worried.

But as each test got out. Everyone started talking to each other, discussing their exams. How they felt they had not done as well as they could have. Hermione was one of the very few who felt she had done something incorrectly, by not following the instructions correctly, or had forgotten to add some sort of fact, that others would not even bother to think about.

Harry listened to it all, Hermione mostly, with a small smile on his face. While Elsa would every now and again tell Hermione off for fretting over something. Personally he felt he had done rather well, his written exams probably would not get prefects, but they would be good. And his practicle exam. Well considering he was just able to cast spells silently, he felt he would at least get a passing grade.

"I hope we get through our exams soon," Elsa said, during their lunch on the second day.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"Because I am getting all stressed out," Elsa commented, a little anger and annoyance in her voice.

Harry let out a little sigh at this, and then placed a hand on Elsa's own distracting her for a few moments. Harry then gave Elsa a small smile and mouthed the word breath. Elsa sighed, and did as she was told taking a few deep calming breaths. Once she had calmed down, sure turned to Hermione again.

"I just don't always do well with stress. And the teachers are making it out like these are the, be all end all tests," Elsa said.

"I better make sure we have some calming potions then, when we get to later years," Hermione said thoughtfully.

Elsa gave Hermione a look of exasperation, and decided that for her own continuing sanity. Eating was better than talking. And as such began loading each of their plates with food.

As it was, even Hermione was glad to be down with exams, by the time the week had ended. Everyone looked worn out and tired and many had gone outside to relax. Even the Fifth and Seven years who had been looking rather dead from the level of testing they had gone through, were enjoying some time swimming in the lake.

However even as Harry relaxed his back to a tree he could not help but feel something was off. It was something that had been bothering him for a little while now. But he could not put his finger on the reason as to what it was. Hermione and Elsa were sure it was something to deal with exams, and the feeling would fade by tomorrow. But Harry was not so sure, though he admitted it was indeed possible.

However as Harry looked over the lawn. He spotted Hagrid and Harry felt his stomach do a small flip as several memories came rushing to his mind. Quirrell and Snape, Quirrell caving in to someone. Then those few memories of Hagrid's pet Norbert and how he had won Norbert.

The idea was rather crazy Harry had to admit. But weirdly also made sense, having a dragon egg was rare, and extremely dangerous to the owner if they were caught. And what were the chances of Hagrid randomly meeting a guy selling Dragon eggs, and the man not asking for money, but rather willing to risk the egg in a bet. People who sold black market goods did not after all just part with them, they cared only for what they could earn from them.

Finally Harry knew he could not hold back it any longer. He had to ask, he had to know. Who was it Hagrid had got the egg from.