A/N This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but that's because there is some very detailed work coming in the next few chapter. Who else is excited for the return of Sirius? Because honestly, I can't wait to write him. His attitude and behaviours overall remind me of Gabriel, but raw, and certainly darker after Azkaban.

Chapter 13- A Most Productive Day

The beginning of the term went as smoothly as possible. The next morning, a Wednesday, saw everyone back in the Great Hall for their first breakfast back at school. This was the only breakfast of the entire year where students were required to sit at their house tables, in order to receive their class schedules for the year. This however did not seem to stop a downtrodden, yet still stubborn Ron from sitting at the Gryffindor table. Hermione had anticipated this, and had taken a seat next to Harry, with Neville on his other side. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil had sat across from them, unaware that they had perfectly blocked Ron from sitting anywhere near Harry. So, Ron had sat near his siblings, complaining about what an awful night he had had. It seemed that Snape had honed in on the boy very quickly, bunking him down with Crabbe and Goyle. Harry supposed that was a good thing for Draco at least, not having to deal with any of those three.

Breakfast was pleasant. Lavender and Parvati were yet to discover their passion for gossip, and so the two girls were more than happy to simply enthuse about the upcoming year with Harry, Hermione and Neville. Dumbledore was missing from breakfast, a change in the timeline. Percy had no doubt managed to let the Weasley matriarch know that Ron had been sorted into Slytherin, so it was possible that the Headmaster was dealing with the fallout that was likely occurring, and potentially inspecting the Sorting Hat.

All too soon, Professor McGonagall announced that the schedules were about to be passed out. All was good until Harry noticed that Snape was marching towards the Gryffindor table in a billow of black robes. Attempting to stifle their amusement, the Gryffindor trio sat silently as Snape stood behind a clueless Ron.

"Mister Weasley," the potions master practically purred in contempt. "It appears that you are lost. 10 points from Gryffindor."

This made Hermione bristle, but she didn't want to agitate the man before classes had even begun. Thankfully Professor McGonagall was in earshot.

"Severus! Need I remind you that the young Mister Weasley is not a Gryffindor, but a member of your own House?" She said with a disappointed tone.

Snape scowled at that, a mild twitching visible on his temple. "Fine, I reverse my points."

Hermione could see that the words seemed to almost physically pain the potions master. "Bewitched," She heard in her mind. "They're all bewitched in some way or another," Hogwarts whispered sadly. Hermione could see that Harry and Neville had also heard the castle. It was shocking, to say the least, but not entirely unexpected.

After receiving their schedules, the Gryffindors met Draco nearby the castle doors, and walked down to Black Lake. They didn't have classes until tomorrow, so they wanted to spend the day planning and relaxing while they could. Making sure that no one was around to see her performing magic she shouldn't know yet, Hermione transfigured several leaves into a picnic blanket and some large cushions.

Draco wasn't all surprised that Snape was bewitched. "In the entire time that I've known the man, I've never witnessed him take away points from Slytherin, and obviously his vendetta against Gryffindor is well known. The fact that Weasley has been sorted into his House is probably confusing whatever charm is on him, sending conflicting messages about penalising all Weasleys since Dumbledore intended for them to all be in Gryffindor. But the spell seems to prevent him from penalising his own House. Mind you, Slytherins still get detentions from him, but never points taken away. Dumbledore will probably have to adjust the spell in some way to keep everyone happy. If Snape gives Weasley too many detentions, then his mother will complain. But if he gives too little, it will put stress on the spell.

A silence came over the group as they all contemplated the bewitching of their teachers, and how it could be affecting all of them. Some were obvious, like Snape. Others would be subtle. "Like Madam Hooch leaving the first years alone when Neville hurt himself in the original timeline. And, no offense Neville, but you were a terrible flier the first time around. But that broom… something wasn't right with it at all. In fact, thinking back on it with what we know, I think it was bewitched. That whole incident really cemented the rivalry between Harry and Draco, and landed Harry his seeker position. What were the odds that Professor McGonagall would see the incident, and rather than punish Harry like she should have, reward him with a seeker position based on nothing but one catch? It's unheard of," Hermione supplied, clearly intrigued by the invisible web of lies that was appearing before them.

Draco had already written a letter for his father, asking about the House of Black Lordship ring. In fact, he had set up a conversation in the Slytherin Common room the night before about Lordships, under the guise of determining which of his fellow students were heirs to Houses. It had actually been Theodore Nott that had mentioned the House of Black, creating the perfect cover for Draco to send a letter to his father. And, if Slytherin gossip worked as it should, other members of Slytherin would mention it to their parents. Draco had sent an owl off with the letter in the morning. With some luck, there would be a letter in response in the evening mail.

By that point it was lunch. Just as the group was preparing to pack up to go back to the hall, a picnic basket appeared on the blanket. Initially Harry thought that Gabriel had taken pity on them, but after looking at the Hogwarts crest on the basket, it was obvious that the castle had provided the meal.

As they finished up the meal, Neville presented an interesting idea. "So, we know that Dumbledore already has the Philosopher's stone right? And that it's already underground chambers guarded by the professor's puzzles? We know that the Mirror of Erised isn't there yet, but other than that everything else should be the same. What's stopping us from taking the stone this weekend and sending it away to Potter Manor for safe keeping?"

Hermione lit up at that. "Brilliant Neville!" she beamed. "If we go about it right, no one would even know that the stone was missing until early next term, maybe later if Dumbledore puts off moving the Mirror of Erised. And Dumbledore would have no idea about who could have done it. After all, we are just innocent first years with no clue about anything." She said sarcastically.

"How do we go about it though?" Harry asked. "Do we wait again until we have the cloak and the map? Or do we attempt it with some simple invisibility charms and hope no one pays too much attention?"

They all knew it was a risk, but the sooner it was done, the sooner they could tackle other issues. It was decided that they would use invisibility charms, and go down into the underground chambers on the upcoming Sunday. While they didn't have Ron for the chess segment, Neville was a very competent player, and should be able to easily get them through that puzzle. And considering the ease of all the other puzzles, it was obvious that Dumbledore had set it up specifically for a first year Harry. In fact, any competent student could have solved any and all of the puzzles with no issue. A scheme that would make Gabriel proud was plotting itself out in the mind of one Harry Potter….

The afternoon was lovely. The Giant Squid could be seen in the distance, playing with a large branch that had fallen into the lake. All seemed to be good in the world for now. The group dozed for a bit, and lazily played a game of regular cards after Hermione taught the muggle rules to Draco. The young wizard took it up quickly, and just as quickly developed a remarkable poker face.

Draco bought up the final issue of the day- How soon does he abduct Wormtail? It was such a simple matter that the method didn't even matter. It was the timing. In the end it was decided that Draco would take the man rat that night, and place him in the soundproofed and unbreakable jar that Hermione had found at Potter Manor. James had refused to say why they had owned such a jar for some reason. It even had breathing holes in it. Odd.

They finally packed up and left when dinner time was approaching. They were all eager to see if there would be a response from Lord Malfoy. There was a chill in the air, hinting at the cold Scottish winter that was to come.

Dinner was a relatively quiet affair, as much as it could be with so many students in one place. Ron had once again seated himself at the Gryffindor table, but there was nothing that said he couldn't this time. It seemed that the Gryffindor trio would simply have to tolerate his presence at meals. Perhaps, once it was deemed socially acceptable for them to do so by the Slytherin cohort for them to join Draco at meal times, Ron would attempt to sit at his own houses table. Or perhaps not.

Draco did indeed receive a letter during the evening mail drop. His face betrayed nothing, but he gave Harry a very slight nod. Now all that was left was to wait and see how quickly Lord Malfoy could ask all the questions that they knew he would ask.

A very productive day indeed, Hermione thought proudly to herself.