Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.

Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar, but again, Nott's name got changed ... this is the last time I mention the fact that the boy previously known as Lucas Nott is now called Theodore Nott.

Chapter 6 - Why Can't You Just Stay Dead?

I was thinking over my conversation with Granger, the next day, in DADA class. So, there IS something painful and deadly in the Forbidden corridor. There is something to do with Nicolas Flamel hidden there, too - probably the Philosopher's Stone. If you follow basic logic, the something-painful-and-deadly is probably guarding the Philosopher's Stone, or whatever-it-is. Interesting.

"N-now, if you w-would all t-turn to p-page one-h-hundred and f-fifty-th-three, you w-will see w-why it is a b-bad idea t-to stick s-someth-thing up a t-troll's n-nose." Quirrell said. There was a rustling of paper, as students turned pages. Nice illustration - and the caption said 'A troll's nose is not a good place to stick things, because all it will do is annoy the troll, and that will result in a rampage that you do not want to be near'. Cute. But I really wasn't thinking of that. Trolls. Quirrell. Forbidden Corridor. Connection, maybe? I am a firm believer in the non-existence of co-incidences. I've known Quirrell was up to something for a while now, but surely he wasn't brave enough to try something like that.

As the offending teacher walked past my desk, I started coughing, "Why don't you wash that turban, once a decade, or so?" Cat asked impudently, from the table across from me.

Quirrell turned on her, with a vicious glare that I hadn't thought he was capable of. Cat cringed. But as quickly as he had changed, he had turned back to his stuttering self, "Now, n-now, Miss Feral. It's n-not v-very nice to ins-sult a teacher. Five p-points from S-Slytherin." he stuttered fearfully.

As he walked on, I looked at Cat. She made eye contact and gave me a did-you-see-that-or-am-I-going-nuts look. I returned the expression, before turning my attention back to Quirrell. I pointed my wand at him, and whispered, "Vi-deo." it's the spell to link someone to the Spy Ball (which I carry around with me, in case I feel like casting the link on anyone - you need to be holding the Spy Ball, to cast the link). My lip twitched, but I forced down the smirk, as I returned to our work on how to survive a troll-attack (apparently, he thinks that Slytherin first-years aren't up to the same standard as Gryffindor first-years - yes, I heard about the troll-in-the-girls-bathroom incident, too).

* * *

That very evening, Cat cornered me. "I'm not going crazy. Quirrell turned scary for a moment, tell me I'm not imagining it," she said desperately.

"I saw it." I said, carefully detaching her clawing fingers from my shirt, "I don't think anyone else did, but I've had some suspicions about him for a while, now."

"So. What was the curse you cast on him? I didn't hear it," she asked, with a hopeful tone that told me she wanted me to have done something nasty and painful to him.

"It wasn't a curse. It was a spying spell." I said, smirking, "I want to know what's up with him. How about a deal, Cat? I let you see whatever I find out about Quirrell, and you tell me what you and Blaise have been up to, since the Snakes-and-Lions Quidditch match."

Cat thought about that, "I really ought to ask Blaise about that ... but what the hell. Deal. We've been working on finding out what's in the Forbidden Corridor. So far, we know that there's some sort of treasure, and an awful lot of traps to keep people out. I went up to the door of the corridor, and I'll swear I heard something growling in there."

"Nice. Well, I doubt anyone's stupid enough to go in there." I said, not entirely believing what I was saying. Gryffindors are known for acting first and thinking later - what does Hermione want to do with it, if she didn't even know what it was down there? Come to think of it, if I could confirm it was a Philosopher's Stone, I'd probably try to get to it - who wouldn't want one of those? Infinite money and eternal life ... so what if I've already got one of those, I could always do with the other.

"So, let's see what Quirrell's really up to." Cat said, grinning.

"Right. Follow me." I said, leading her into the boys' dorm. "Theo, I'd like you to leave, now. And if you see the Stupid Squad, tell them I'm busy."

"Pansy'll kill you, you know?" Theo said, grinning.

I glared at him, "This has nothing to do with romance ... you can start accusing me of that after puberty." I snarled.

Cat giggled, but didn't add to my statement.

When Theo was gone, I took out the glass globe, set it on the desk, and tapped it with my wand. It turned from clear glass to misty white, "Samel Quirrell." I stated clearly, to the Spy Ball. Almost immediately, an image appeared. Cat leaned over my shoulder, to see it.

I could see Professor Quirrell, in a small room, with a mirror. He was starting to take off the turban, and muttering, "It doesn't smell that bad, My Lord. Really. She's just a bit of a troublemaker. Trying to go for what looked to her like an easy target. If only she knew." Not a single stutter. Cat seemed to notice that, too.

"She will pay for her insolence." another, bone-chilling voice said. I examined the entire image, but saw no one else.

"She did not know who she was talking about, My Lord. I doubt she would have insulted you, had she known." Quirrell said fearfully, but still not stuttering.

"Stop." the cold and as-of-yet-unidentified voice said, just before Quirrell took the last layer of the turban from his head. "Someone is watching us."

Quirrell looked around, moving through the entire room, checking the doors and window. "My Lord, there is no one here." he said nervously.

"We are being watched," the cold voice said. "Let me see." and Quirrell immediately dropped the turban, to reveal a horrific sight. Cat shrieked when she saw it. I was just thankful I hadn't eaten anything recently, or I'd have been sick. There was a second face on the back of Quirrell's head ... a deformed, inhuman, almost serpentine face, with red eyes. I had never seen it before, but I knew what it was. There was nothing else it could be, really. But He was dead, ten and a half years, now. The boy-who-eats-Snitches was supposed to have killed Him. Still ... the stories I've heard ... that's exactly what his face was supposed to look like. It couldn't be him ... surely.

"It's not Him." I whispered, more to myself than to Cat, "It can't be Him."

Cat didn't speak, just stared at the horrific sight, as Quirrell turned around to allow the demonic face to see the room. "Just because we cannot see our voyeur, does not mean there is no one watching," the face, which was the source of that icy voice, said. Then, in a sing-song voice that made 'creepy' seem cute and cuddly, "Come out, come out, wherever you are. No way out. Room's locked. Nowhere to run. Can't hide for long." I shivered. I felt almost like he might actually find me, even though I'm not in the room.

"My Lord. I cannot find anyone." Quirrell said fearfully.

"Someone is watching us." the demonic face hissed, "But you are right - they are not here. Whoever you are, wherever you are, know this, spy - no one crosses Lord Voldemort and lives. If I ever find who you are, you will regret the day you were born."

I tapped the Spy Ball with my wand, and it turned clear again. "Bloody Hell!" I said loudly.

"You said it." Cat squeaked.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Theo's face appeared, "What are you two doing? I heard her scream, now you're yelling swear-words ... what's up?"

I looked up at Theo, and sighed … but it was Cat who spoke, "We've seen the devil's face, and it's not a pretty picture."

"What the Hell?" Theo asked. I pointed to the what-looked-like-a-crystal-ball. Theo stared at it for a second, "You've been trying Divination? But that's third year stuff."

Cat smirked, "And I predict terrible things will happen ... unless someone does something about it."

I nodded dumbly, before asking, "Theo - what is your opinion, from what you've heard, of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"Evil git. Good riddance." Theo said simply.

"Right answer." I said, shaking slightly. "Problem. He's not really gone."

Cat nodded and took up the line, "We saw him ... he's here, in the school. And I am skiving off DADA class, from now on."

I frowned, "But he'd get suspicious. You heard what he said - if he finds out who was watching him ... I don't even want to think what might happen."

Theo sat down, on the chair by the door, "You're saying evil-snake-face, who tried to take over the world, and used my parents as pawns for his cause, is back?"

"Yes. And you're not the only one whose parents joined him. My father was one of Them, too ... he told me that he only joined because You-Know-Who threatened to kill my mother if he refused." I said, staring at the floor.

"My dad's in Azkaban, for joining You-Know-Who, and killing a load of Muggles." Cat said, looking from Theo to me, and back again.

I looked up from the stone floor, to see the two of them - they both knew how bad this was. I was amazed that they would take my side - I thought they'd probably side with You-Know-Who ... I know for a fact that Crabbe and Goyle would. "One minor detail. What are we supposed to do about it?"

"Tell someone who can do something." Theo said.

"Who'd believe us? 'Oh, Professor Dumbledore, did you know your trusted DADA teacher is sharing his body with the greatest Dark Wizard of our time, who was supposed to have died ten and a half years ago?' I can just see that." I said, sarcastically.

"Good point." Theo said.

"One thing, you should know, though. Crabbe and Goyle are pretty much big into the idea that You-Know-Who was really a great leader who was cut down in his prime, and should be restored ... so I wouldn't tell them you hate the thought of Lord Evil-Git." I said, doing my best to think up new insulting names for Him - it'd be almost as much fun as thinking up insults for Potter and Weasley.

"Right. So noted." Theo said in an efficient tone, "So what now?" he asked.

"We keep an annoyingly close eye on Quirrell, and maybe I'll help Potter with his little crusade." I said, smirking.

"You? Help Potter? How? And more importantly ... huh?" Cat said.

"I wouldn't go to him directly, but I know his little clique is interested in the third-floor corridor ... you know, the one that's got something being kept safe in it?" I said, looking at Cat, who nodded. "I think there's a chance Quirrell might be trying to steal it ... makes sense, in my informed opinion. So -"

"Informed?" Cat and Theo both asked. "What do you know?" Theo added.

"I'm pretty sure I know what's being guarded, there." I said, straight-faced, while they gawked at me, "I know at least two damned good reasons why the Snake-Who-Won't-Die would want it ... one stands out particularly sharply." I added, thinking of the properties of the Philosopher's Stone ... wouldn't it be beneficial to Lord Loser, to get his undead mits on some Elixir of Life? And it just so happens that the Stone can make the Elixir of Life, which would bring Lord Sadistic-Snake back to life ... to eternal life. That'd be a bad ... a BIG bad.

"So?" Cat asked, "What is it?"

"Something that could restore Him. We can only hope he meets the 'very painful death' Dumbledore mentioned, at the start of term, before he get to the 'treasure'." I said, "There really isn't much we can do."

"Yeah." Theo said sadly, "It's not like we're Gryffindors ... I'd bet if they knew what was going one, the whole house would storm the DADA classroom, and chop Quirrell to pieces."

"Maybe we should tell the Gryffindors?" Cat suggested.

"And they would believe us when Hades takes a snow-plow to work." I said icily.

* * *

The next few weeks passed far too slowly. Cat, Theo, and I all kept watch on Quirrell, but in order to remain inconspicuous, we couldn't keep up a constant 24-7 surveillance. Quidditch matches provided some light relief, and fistfights with Weasley can really take your mind off the troubles of the impending Apocalypse. Problems arose, however, when Theo came up with the bright idea of hitting Quirrell with a mild flu-curse. It didn't work ... O.K., Quirrell looked a bit pale, but it wasn't noticeable ... and Theo ended up with a detention.

He came back in the middle of the night, muttering death threats on Filch, and something about never wanting to see the Trophy Room again, for as long as he lived.

"Had a good night, then, Theo?" I asked, in a cheerful voice.

"Drop dead." he replied.

"Not in the mood." I responded, "Seriously ... what did they make you do for detention?"

"Polish ... Trophies ... I stink." he noted - well the smell of polish was a bit strong, "Quirrell gave me that detention. Now I have another reason to want him dead."

"Calm down. Think rationally. Plan your retaliation carefully, Theo. Rule 43: 'Tantrums are good. A systematic and brutal revenge is better'." I said, watching as he slowly reigned in his anger.

"You're right. Let's bribe the Beaters to do him in, next match." Theo said, sounding much calmer, yet still with the homicidal tone creeping into his words.

"May as well try it. Any plan is better than sitting around and doing nothing, especially one that involves bribing someone else to do the dirty work." I said, grinning. "Now get to sleep ... DADA in the morning. I want to stay awake in that class ... gods only know what he'd do to us, in our sleep."

* * *

Blaise somehow managed to get in on our loop. Cat talked to her, and swears she's trustworthy. "I've known her all my life. She was my next-door neighbour. She's like a sister to me."

"I have a sister." Theo said, eyeing Blaise with suspicion, "She'd sell me out for next-to-nothing."

"Blaise." I said, looking her in the eyes, "Tell me. What is your opinion of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

Blaise quailed at the thought of Him, but recovered her composure quickly, and answered, "He's bloody terrifying. I'm glad he's gone - I'd be afraid to sleep at night if he came back." she held my gaze the whole time she was speaking, and didn't blink once. If she was lying, she was better at it than my father.

"That's a good enough answer." I said, "Satisfied, Theo?" I asked. Theo scowled but nodded.

Cat smiled, "Good. Now we can actually tell her?"

"Yes." I said, making it sound like a sigh, "Blaise, you're not going to like this. But You-Know-Who isn't dead. He's not exactly alive, either. From what we can tell, he's only surviving in symbiosis with a willing servant." Blaise looked like she'd just seen a Gorgon. She stared at me in abject horror.

Cat picked up where I left off, a little too smoothly for my liking, "Said willing servant just happens to be Professor Samel Quirrell. The turban smells for a reason, and you don't want to know what's under it," she shuddered, at the memory of what we'd seen in the Spy Ball.

"Plus - that stuttering." Theo put in, "It's all an act, to throw people off the scent. Whoever would suspect p-poor st-st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?" he asked, in a fair impersonation of Quirrell's stutter.

"You're kidding." Blaise finally managed to say, "This is some elaborate joke, right?" she asked hopefully.

"No joke." Cat said, shaking her head.

"Wish it was." Theo added.

"It's true. Big, Bad, and Butt-Ugly is back." I added. Well, at least I was still able to add some humour to the situation.

"Well. I heard someone saying they saw Quirrell heading out into the grounds, a few times ... for the Forest." Blaise said. "Maybe he's up to something in there?"

"That might prove useful. But I'm not going out there." Theo said firmly.

"Me neither." I added promptly.

"Nor me." Blaise and Cat said synchronously.

We all looked at each other for a moment, "We could check out the grounds, in general." Cat suggested, "Don't need to go in there. Might find something outside the Forest."

The united gasp of relief was audible.

* * *

End of chapter 6