A/n Hi guys! I'm so sorry it's been a while since I posted. I've been super busy and I started co-writing a novel with a friend so it's been taking up a lot of my time. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and followed. You guys are rock stars. For those of you who are new, if you leave a review you get a sneak peek of the next chapter. So all of you should review! Thanks and enjoy!

Ch. 14

Quidditch

"Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up."

-Rocky Balboa

Saturday morning would hold the first quidditch match of the season. Slytherin versus Gryffindor. I decided to have breakfast with the Gryffindors because Harry needed the support more then my housemates did. Besides, they didn't want me there anyways. After losing points on Halloween and my overall behavior towards them, I wasn't the most popular among the Slytherins.

Draco's influence only reached so far.

I was sitting by Harry who was pushing his eggs around on his plate when Snape, in his billowing black robes, came to wish him luck.

"Good luck today, Potter." Snape said silkily. "Then again, now that you've proven yourself against a troll, a little game of Quidditch should be easy work for you...even if it is against Slytherin."

I was proud of him, despite his hatred he had put it aside because of his love for Lily. Even If he tried to pass of his well wishes as an excuse to antagonize Harry, I knew his true motives on the subject. And, well, that just warmed the cockles of my heart.

Snape limped away and I beamed at Harry. "How nice was that?"

Harry looked befuddled. "You're having a laugh, right?"

"You're having a laugh if you don't see that as the compliment that it is." I shook my head. "I've known Snape for a while and he doesn't dole out concern for the well being of others easily. Yes, he may be slightly passive aggressive—"

Ron snorted into his drink and I glared at him.

"But he just about told you that he is looking out for you." I finished.

"And how do you get all of that from one comment?" Ron crossed his arms.

"I told you," I sniffed. "I've known him for quite sometime."

"Never mind that," Hermione huffed pushing away her plate. "Did you see that he was limping?"

Harry's face filled with surprise. "That explains the blood!"

"Blood?" Ron asked.

"Listen, last night, I'm guessing Snape let the troll in as a diversion so he could try and get past that three headed dog. But, he got himself bitten, that's why he's limping." Harry explained.

"You think he's after whatever that dog's guarding." Hermione frowned.

"Exactly." Harry nodded. We were interrupted by the screeching of owls as the post came in. A rather stunning grey owl dropped a letter on my lap and landed next to Ron's plate to have a bite of his toast.

"Hey!" Ron complained shooing the owl away.

I opened the letter, which was written in dark blue ink. It said:

Dear Lucia,

I have yet to introduce myself to you formally. Due to the circumstances of your arrival here and my busy schedule over the summer I regret that I had no time to explain anything properly. I promise you that an explanation will be given but not yet. It is a rather long story, one better told in person.

I shall be retrieving you from King's Cross for winter break, which you will be spending at my home. You have yet to be acquainted with most of it but I'm sure that your stay with me shall be pleasant enough.

On another note, Dory has told me about your progress with making alliances and with all the things you've managed to accomplish in the short time you've been here. I am very pleased and I urge you to continue on your trajectory. We shall discuss it in length when I see you in six weeks.

Enjoy the rest of term.

Sincerely,

Alastair Aimes

P.S. Burn this letter after reading it. We wouldn't want it falling into the wrong hands.

I was stunned. Frozen in my seat. I didn't know how to react to the letter so I didn't. I silently stowed it in my pocket and threw out a half formed explanation about my fake parents wanting to know if I was alright after the troll incident.

I was, in case you were wondering. All right, that is to say. The cut I had sustained to my temple was just that. A cut. And as most head injuries go, it looked worse than it was. Madame Pomfrey set me right in minutes. It didn't even scar.

But, back to the matter at hand, I finally had a name to give my mysterious benefactor. Alastair Aimes. I remembered the two monogramed a's on the towels in my room back at the estate. Mr. Aimes said that I would accompany him for winter break and that he would explain the whole situation, finally. It frightened me to realize that I hadn't thought about my life, my real one, in quite some time.

I hadn't thought about my flat mates, my parents, my school, my job, François, anything. This world was starting to feel more real than the one I truly belonged to. I was even starting to forget how exactly the people in my life looked like. I mean I of course knew what they looked like. If I saw them in the street I would recognize them instantly but I couldn't conjure up a clear picture of their faces no matter how hard I tried.

"…if we want to get good seats. Are you ready?"

"Hmm?" I looked up to see everyone waiting for an answer to a question I hadn't heard.

"Are you ready to go to the stadium." Ron repeated.

"Oh yes," I shook my head. "Of course. Let's go." After I took the fall for him on Halloween, Ron had silently allowed my presence in their friend group. His behavior towards me never exceeded polite civility but it was more than I ever expected from him. And just as they were supposed to, Hermione, Harry, and Ron, had become fast friends, which of course was a welcome sight. I wanted to change things for the better and having the golden trio…not be the golden trio was NOT a change for the better. Not in the slightest.

And so we traipsed down the rolling lawn to the quidditch stadium in high spirits despite the letter and its contents weighing at the back of my mind. Hundreds of students were following our lead and soon after we were situated the stadium was packed.

I kept receiving strange looks that varied from wary to hostile from the other Gryffindors. I wondered if perhaps today was the wrong day to wear my Slytherin scarf. Then again it was absolutely frigid and I wasn't going to freeze just to avoid making other people uncomfortable. In fact, I wanted them to see what I was, to see that I wasn't prejudiced like so many of my housemates, to prove that there were in fact Slytherins who could and would be amiable with the other houses.

We weren't all made the same and I was going to prove it one way or another.

When the players walked onto the pitch the crowd went ballistic. I refrained from cheering because I still had a duty to my house as well as my friend to remain loyal. And if I cheered for one and not the other I was breaking that loyalty. So silent I remained. Not to mention I was watching something much more important than a quidditch match.

I had acquired a set of binoculars in preparation for the day's events. I wanted to keep a close eye on Quirrell and Snape, knowing that they would soon be battling to either kill Harry or save him, respectively. I wanted to be ready the second it happened so I could go disrupt Quirrell's jinx when it began.

The match continued quite brutally for some minutes with the Slytherin team pulling ahead using less than fair game play. Wood was already down and Alicia Spinet was knocked into one of the stadium boxes.

For a moment there was the faintest glint of gold and Harry was speeding through the air when he abruptly stopped and was almost dismounted. His broom then started to buck violently in an effort to throw of its rider.

Hagrid, who had opted to sit with the Gryffindors instead of in the faculty box, peered through his own set of binoculars. "It looks like Harry's lost control of his broom!"

Hermione quickly asked to borrow my binoculars and she scanned the faces of the Professors in search of one man.

"It's Snape!" She said harshly in my ear. "He's jinxing the broom!"

"What? Let me see." I ordered. I made a show of looking for Snape and then gasped. "Look at Quirrell!" For I knew that it was he jinxing that broom, not Professor Snape.

Hermione frowned and then yanked at my sleeve. "Quick, we have to do something!" We raced down the steps and then climbed under the wooden bleachers as we raced towards the professors.

"You distract Quirrell." She whispered. "I've got Snape." And so she crept further beneath the risers and pulled out her wand. I followed suit and she counted silently to three. "Lacarnum Inflamare." We whispered and conjured Hermione's famous blue bell flames.

The effect was instantaneous. "Fire! You're on fire!" We heard someone yell in surprise. There was a cacophony of voices yelling in surprise and panic as the two Professors struggled to put out the flames.

"Finite Incantatem!" Snape said calmly putting out the conjured flames. He knew in advance that they were there by magic thanks to my warning.

"C'mon." I whispered to Hermione. "Before they find out we were here." She nodded and we scurried back to our seats in time to see Harry almost swallow the snitch.

"Harry Potter has caught the snitch!" Lee Jordan announced we Harry held up the small golden orb up to the crowd. "A hundred and fifty points are awarded to Gryffindor. Gryffindor wins!" He cried triumphantly.

The sound around me was deafening. I couldn't help but letting the smallest of smiles on my face when I saw Harry lifted up by his teammates.

Hey, I was proud of the guy. Sue me. One little smile wouldn't change anything. As we walked back up the lawns for lunch after the game, I was invited, by the Weasley twins, to a victory party in the Gryffindor common room.

"Sorry boys, no can do."

"Why not!" They frowned together; they really were the most adorable pair ever.

"I've already antagonized my housemates enough today. I have a duty to go wallow in defeat with them. Besides we're having a party of our own." I explained.

"You are—?" Fred asked bewildered.

"—why?" George added just as confused.

"Well when you win you party hard, but when you lose you party harder." I couldn't help but smirk at the memory of the sports parties I'd gone to. This mantra was shouted at the top of everyone's lungs right before the first shot of the night.

"Alright," Fred acquiesced. "Have fun—"

"—If you can." George snorted which earned him a glare.

"See you two later." I rolled my eyes.

"Definitely." They grinned and I left. While I was walking towards the Great Hall I was hit with a wave of nausea. The room spun and my legs felt weak, I thought for a moment that I might faint, and then it passed.

I shook it off slightly perturbed but continued regardless. I had work to do before I went to the party tonight and no time to waste.

Firstly, I needed to know what Professor Snape made of Quirrell's stunt today at the match. Second, I needed to find a way to become closer friends with the Weasleys. I needed to get close to Ron so that I could capture Peter Pettigrew.

I made my way to the dungeons to debrief with Snape first. When I reached the door to his office I felt a presence shift behind me. I spun around to see Quirrell come out of the shadows hesitantly.

"M-miss A-Anderson," He stuttered. "What are y-you doing in the d-dungeons on a day like t-this?" He gave a nervous chuckle but I couldn't help but feel threatened by his question. Did Voldemort suspect me?

"Professor Quirrell!" I said loudly, but hopefully not too loud to arouse suspicion from the two faced man. I needed to warn Snape. "I just needed to speak with Professor Snape about my potions homework. I'm having some trouble with the properties of moonstones." My voice reverberated in the stone corridor.

"Ah, y-yes. Professor Snape is n-notorious for his d-difficult assignments." Quirrell smiled nervously like he was trying to bond with me over a mutual dislike for Professor Snape. Unfortunately for him I liked Snape, also, I knew he had a dark wizard sticking out of the back of his head, which wasn't doing too much for his chances.

"Yes," I smiled. Just because I had all of the disdain in the world for Quirrell didn't mean he had to know that. "How did you enjoy the quidditch match professor?" I asked innocently.

Quirrell's features went from dark rage to pained fear in moments. The violence of his emotions startled me and I couldn't help put take a step back putting me flush against the door to the Potions classroom.

"Mr. Potter was lucky to have escaped harm. Quidditch is a very dangerous sport." Quirrell said darkly, a tight smile on his lips.

"Yes," It was my turn to smile nervously. "It is quite dangerous, it justifies my aversion to flight in general, don't you think?" I tried not to think about how Quirrell's stutter had vanished completely and what that meant.

The door behind me flew open and I would have tumbled to the floor if a pair of hands hadn't caught me.

"Why are you lurking outside of my—" Professor Snape saw who I was speaking to, pulled me firmly, but gently, to the side, and stared down at Quirrell. "Professor, to what do I owe this," Snape sneered, "pleasure." I had to stifle a laugh. Snape was saying pleasure, but it sounded suspiciously like displeasure.

"S-Snape! I was j-just having a c-conversation w-with M-miss Anderson." Quirrell's stutter was back with a vengeance.

"I was on my way to speak to you about the properties of moonstone, sir, and I ran into Professor Quirrell." I explained, I shot Snape my 'save me' eyes and he cocked an eyebrow.

"Very well, come in. We will speak later Quirrell." Snape dismissed him and led me inside. The heavy wooden door clanged shut and I whispered a silencing charm over it for good measure. I didn't need Quirrell or Voldemort listening in on my conversations with Professor Snape.

I found myself thoroughly unsettled when I realized what might have happened if Snape wasn't in his office. I didn't think Quirrell, or Voldemort for that matter, suspected what I knew. But then again, they could. Voldemort was a master Legilemens. If he had wanted to he could have sifted through all of my inner most thoughts and secrets in moments with me none the wiser, unless…

When Snape tried to invade my mind I got the most vicious headache I'd ever had. I knew he'd been rifling through my mind. Maybe the same would be true for anyone else who tried to read my thoughts.

But I wasn't going to hinge my safety on those odds. After giving it considerable thought during one of my sessions with Snape, I realized that I couldn't have him teaching me Occlumency. Everything I knew was too volatile and I had no idea how he would react to my knowing all these things; to knowing that I wasn't even from this world. I doubted it would sit well with him.

I needed to find someone else to teach me how to close my mind. But who?

"I assume you haven't come here to just stare of into the distance, Miss Anderson." Snape drawled sifting through a pile of assignments he had been grading before he'd been interrupted.

I shook myself and approached his desk. "No, sorry. I'm just a little…" I puffed out a breath in an effort to reign in my emotions. I needed more security. This shaky relationship with Snape was not going to cut it.

"You're frightened of Quirrell." Snape's tone was a mixture of surprise, incredulity, and intrigue.

"Can you blame me? He tried to kill my friend today." I deflected. I had yet to make Snape aware of the fact that the Lord Voldemort was currently sharing a body with the DADA Professor. I suspected that if he found out he would immediately go to Dumbledore with the information.

"Lucky you were here to rescue me, huh?" I said.

"Yes, quite." Snape narrowed his eyes. I could tell that he sensed I was hiding something.

"Thank you for doing your part in saving Harry today." I started in and effort to draw the topic of conversation away from me.

"It seems that Mister Potter can't help but draw trouble wherever he goes." Snape sneered.

"You know why Quirrell attacked him though, right?" I asked. Snape cocked an eyebrow.

"If you're asking if I've figured out who's after the Stone, then yes. I have realized that it is Quirrell. Though to what end, I'm not sure." Snape's eyebrows furrowed. "There is always the allure of immense wealth and immortality, but it wouldn't explain why he attacked Mister Potter today at the Quidditch match. The only thing that would make sense would be that he—" Snape's eyes widened imperceptibly and his jaw clenched.

"No, that can't be it." He shook his head and began pacing across the room.

"What is it?" I knew he must have put two and two together. He suspected the truth. Damn. I'd wanted this to unfold differently. I needed him to know that Quirrell was after the stone but I hadn't wanted him to figure out why until much later. I'd miss-stepped and now I was paying the consequences.

Snape pursed his lips. "The Headmaster predicted…that's why he wanted to move the Stone in the first place. But I didn't think that…not so soon." Snape gave a frustrated growl. I'd never seen him so agitated before.

"You mustn't tell Professor Dumbledore." I pleaded. It would ruin all my plans; the whole timeline would be in shambles. All I could hope to do now is damage control.

"Foolish girl." Snape sneered. "The Headmaster already knows."

I blanched. "What? How?"

"The Headmaster knows everything that goes on in this castle. He probably knew the second that Quirrell walked in on the first day of term." Snape said through gritted teeth. He was livid. It made me nervous.

"Why would he let the Dark Lord into this castle?" It made no sense.

"I don't pretend to know what the Headmaster is thinking." Snape gave a long-suffering sigh, which made me smile slightly. Dumbledore's eccentricity seemed to always elicit those types of reactions from other adults. "But he is a master strategist. If he hasn't ousted Quirrell it must be for good reason."

My mind was racing. Dumbledore knew. He knew! The most likely reason for turning the other way would be to have both Voldemort and Quirrell somewhere he could keep an eye on them. I couldn't help but feel the beginnings of an uncontrollable rage pumping through my veins. Dumbledore would let a dark wizard, potentially the most dangerous of all time, freely room the halls of Hogwarts to suit his machinations.

A little voice in the back of my head whispered: How are you any better? I immediately dismissed the thought. I was making the best with what I had. I knew how to defeat Quirrell because of what I had read in the books. Dumbledore's plans and what had already happened was all I had to go on. It was all I had to try and fix the mistakes that would happen before they were made. I was better than Dumbledore because I wouldn't let any true harm come to anyone I cared about. I knew everyone would be fine. That was the difference. He didn't know. He only guessed.

I squashed the anger down; it was no use to me right now. It would only serve as a distraction. Mistakes were made when I let my emotions get the better of me.

"You haven't told Dumbledore about me have you?" I asked. It was time to make my move. Snape stopped his pacing.

"Professor Dumbledore." He corrected. "And no, I haven't."

"Make the unbreakable vow with me." I all but ordered. Snape's head snapped up.

"What?"

"I need assurances." My fists clenched at my sides. "I can't have anyone knowing about me; about what I know. It's too dangerous."

Snape stuck his chin up. "You don't trust me to keep your secret."

"I know you trust Dumbledore more than you trust me. I'm a random, impertinent, eleven year old who knows too much for her own good." I snapped. "It wouldn't be a stretch to think that you might decide that you know better. You might think that I'm a liability. I can't have that." I shook my head.

"And the unbreakable vow will make you feel more secure?" Snape cocked an eyebrow. He looked at me like I was a silly little girl who didn't know what she was talking about. I felt like he was laughing at me. "And what if I refuse?"

I couldn't stand people laughing at me.

"I'll obliviate you." I said callously. I had been practicing the spell in my free time. I was confident I could perform it properly.

"You'll obliviate me." He repeated.

"You doubt I can do it? You've seen my learning curve yourself, Professor. You should know better than to underestimate me." I sneered. Something in the atmosphere shifted. Both of our wands were drawn in an instant, both aimed at the other's chest. This was not going the way I'd hoped.

"You dare threaten me?" Snape growled. "You may be a quick learner but you are no match for a fully realized wizard."

"I will not be backed into a corner!" I yelled. "Not with so much to lose."

"Incarcerous!"

"Protego!" I deflected his jinx and it collided with the wall opposite me. The effort it took to deflect his spell startled me. I didn't think I'd have the energy to fight him for long if he kept up this level of intensity.

We stood with are wands raised, calculating. I cursed myself for doing exactly what I knew I shouldn't have. I lost my temper and put myself in a sticky situation. I didn't see an easy way out of this mess and if worse came to worse I would have call Dory and have her apparate me to the mansion.

But then Snape did something I wasn't expecting. He lowered his wand. I frowned as he stowed it and took a step forward.

"Fine." His expression was smooth and composed.

"Fine?" I returned warily. Something about this didn't sit well with me.

"Do you know how to make an unbreakable vow?" Snape asked me, I lowered my wand. He was giving in? I decided to go along and see what he did.

"Yes." I answered. I had been studying it, just in case this situation ever arose.

"Very well." He held put his arm, palm open. I grabbed his forearm hesitantly and he did the same. I thought carefully for a moment the requirements of the vow. I made sure to phrase them carefully in my head.

"Severus Snape, do you promise to keep my identity a secret?" I began.

"I do."

A tongue of flame shot out of my wand and wrapped around our joined hands.

"Do you promise to never reveal anything I share with you in confidence without my express permission?"

Snape's jaw twitched. "I do." Another tongue joined the chain.

"Do you promise to not try and find a loophole to the vow and exploit it?" I smiled a little at myself. Sometimes I was just too brilliant.

"I do." A final flame joined the chain and burned brilliantly. I could almost feel it burn through my robes- to my flesh. The light died and we pulled our arms back.

"Thank you." I frowned. "You didn't have to make the vow. Both you and I knew you had the upper hand."

"Calculated risk, Miss Anderson." Snape crossed his arms. "A skill you need to hone. Imagine if I hadn't decided to take the vow. Yes you deflected my first spell, but we both know you wouldn't have lasted long. You posture and a think yourself very cunning," He sneered. "But you have no idea what arena you've walked into. You are pitting yourself against some of the greatest minds in a century."

I felt chagrin flush my cheeks.

"You are going to have to do much better if you want to stand a chance."

I nodded stiffly. He was right and I felt like an utter fool for thinking otherwise. I had to be smarter than this. I knew I could be smarter than this.

"Now get out," Snape dismissed me with a wave of his hand. "I have things to do and so do you."

I nodded and left his classroom. My next goal would be to befriend Ron. I was already making progress with the twins but I knew it would be difficult to win Ron over. He was wary of me. Rightly so, of course, but that wasn't going to make it an easier for me. I decided to look for the trio and start small by hanging out with them. Luckily I had time to befriend Ron. I had the entire rest of the year.

I found them walking up from Hagrid's hut talking in furiously excited whispers. Hermione caught sight of me and quickly closed the distance between us. She began prattling away excitedly. "You'll never believe what we've discovered. Fluffy—"

"Fluffy?" I stopped her.

"That's the name Hagrid gave the three headed dog," She waved my question off carelessly.

"Wait Hagrid?" I sounded stunned. Ron rolled his eyes. "Let me explain." He started.

He told me how they had discovered Hagrid owned the Cerberus, how the learned that the mystery object had to do with someone Nicolas Flamel, and that at the end of the day they trusted Quirrell over Snape.

"I thought about it." Harry said. "Hermione told us that either Snape or Quirrell—

"Professor Snape." I corrected.

Harry continued as if he hadn't heard me. "Was casting the jinx, the other must have been casting the counter curse. If I had to bet I would say that Snape was the one jinxing my broom."

The other two nodded and I pursed my lips. I'd made a mistake mentioning Quirrell to Hermione. It seemed that I was making a lot of those today. They thought that he was the good guy now, which was bad, very bad. They could put themselves in danger if they tried approaching him in some way about the quidditch match.

"I don't know, we shouldn't mention anything until we have more evidence. We shouldn't do anything either." I added for good measure when I saw Harry's wheels turning.

Hermione nodded. "She's right. We'd better figure out what's under that trap door first. We need to find out who Nicolas Flamel is."

P/n So you guys finally get to meet Alastair Aimes, well not meet but hear from. You WILL meet him next chapter *spoilers* so get geared up for that. Leave a review and tell me what you think! Everyone that reviews gets a sneak peek of the next chapter.

Until next time

-Lucy