Chapter 11 Warned
The Mavens decided one other person had the right to know what they had found out: Harry Potter. After all, his life was at stake.
Hermione talked with Harry after dinner and told him what Alice had heard. That lead to telling him about everything else they had discovered.
"So Quirrell is after the Philosopher's Stone, and if he gets it he'll somehow bring Vol- I mean, He Who Must Not Be Named, back to life?"
"Professor Flitwick says he just gets 'fancies' sometimes, but I don't believe that for a second," said Hermione. "Anyway, he tried to kill you, so you had to know to protect yourself."
"Thanks. I'll take it from here," Harry said.
"Oh, we'll continue investigating, too," said Hermione.
"I'd rather you didn't," said Harry coldly. He didn't want a gang of girls getting in trouble for his sake.
"Of all the ungrateful..." Hermione went off in a huff.
At Quiddich practice, Oliver Wood told them that Snape would be the referee in their next game with Hufflepuff. He was primarily concerned that Snape would favor Hufflepuff so Gryffindor wouldn't overtake Slytherin. Ron was was more concerned for Harry's safety.
"You'd better not play," said Ron. "Say your back isn't fully recovered yet."
"I'm not worried about Snape any more," said Harry. "It's Quirrell I have to watch out for."
Harry was telling Ron the whole story in the Gryffindor common room when Neville fell into the room. Malfoy had practiced the Leg-Locker Curse on him and his legs were stuck together. After they found Percy and got him to perform the countercurse, Harry and Ron comforted Neville.
"You're worth twelve of Malfoy," said Harry. He gave Neville a Chocolate Frog.
"I'm going to learn the Leg-Locker Curse myself, and get Malfoy back for this," said Ron.
On the day of the match, Dumbledore was there in person, so Harry knew he had nothing to fear from Quirrell. Harry won the game very quickly, catching the Snitch faster than anybody could remember. Griffindor was now pulling up to Slytherin despite the early 150-point loss.
Harry was putting his Nimbus Two Thousand back in the broomshed when he saw Quirrell walking quickly towards the forbidden forest with Snape following close behind. He quickly jumped back on the broomstick and followed. He landed in a tall beech tree near them, and crawled out on a branch to listen. Quirrell was stuttering worse than ever, but Harry now knew it was an act.
"...d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet me here of all p-places, Severus."
"It's a good idea to discuss the Philosopher's Stone in private," said Snape coldly. "The students aren't supposed to know about it."
Quirrell mumbled something.
"Have you found a way around that dog of Hagrid's yet?"
"B-but Severus,.."
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," said Snape. He rolled up his sleeves and came forward.
"I d-don't know what you mean."
Snape leaned one arm against the tree Quirrell was backed up against.
"You know exactly what I mean," he said.
An owl hooted loudly just then, and Harry nearly fell from the branch. He steadied himself in time to hear, "your bit of hocus-pocus," from Snape.
"B-but" said Quirrell.
"You'd better take my advice, and quickly. I'll know where your loyalties really lie if you don't mend your ways," said Snape.
He put his hood up and strode away, saying, "We'll chat again soon."
Back in Gryffindor tower there was a party celebrating the Quiddich victory.
"We won, we won!" shouted Ron. "And I got in a fight with Malfoy and gave him a black eye. Neville got in a fight with Crabbe and Goyle. Madame Pomfrey says he'll be conscious soon."
"Never mind," said Harry. "Listen to what I just heard." He told Ron about the conversation.
"Snape is onto Quirrell, and he was threatening him to stop him going after the Stone," said Harry. "The Stone will be safe as long as Quirrell doesn't stand up to Snape."
"Then it'll be safe forever," said Ron.
"I'm not so sure," said Harry. "Quirrell's timid routine is just an act. He pulled off an attempted bank heist at Gringotts without getting caught. And he's working for Voldemort himself!"
"Please don't say that name!" said Ron.
The Mavens decided one other person had the right to know what they had found out: Harry Potter. After all, his life was at stake.
Hermione talked with Harry after dinner and told him what Alice had heard. That lead to telling him about everything else they had discovered.
"So Quirrell is after the Philosopher's Stone, and if he gets it he'll somehow bring Vol- I mean, He Who Must Not Be Named, back to life?"
"Professor Flitwick says he just gets 'fancies' sometimes, but I don't believe that for a second," said Hermione. "Anyway, he tried to kill you, so you had to know to protect yourself."
"Thanks. I'll take it from here," Harry said.
"Oh, we'll continue investigating, too," said Hermione.
"I'd rather you didn't," said Harry coldly. He didn't want a gang of girls getting in trouble for his sake.
"Of all the ungrateful..." Hermione went off in a huff.
At Quiddich practice, Oliver Wood told them that Snape would be the referee in their next game with Hufflepuff. He was primarily concerned that Snape would favor Hufflepuff so Gryffindor wouldn't overtake Slytherin. Ron was was more concerned for Harry's safety.
"You'd better not play," said Ron. "Say your back isn't fully recovered yet."
"I'm not worried about Snape any more," said Harry. "It's Quirrell I have to watch out for."
Harry was telling Ron the whole story in the Gryffindor common room when Neville fell into the room. Malfoy had practiced the Leg-Locker Curse on him and his legs were stuck together. After they found Percy and got him to perform the countercurse, Harry and Ron comforted Neville.
"You're worth twelve of Malfoy," said Harry. He gave Neville a Chocolate Frog.
"I'm going to learn the Leg-Locker Curse myself, and get Malfoy back for this," said Ron.
On the day of the match, Dumbledore was there in person, so Harry knew he had nothing to fear from Quirrell. Harry won the game very quickly, catching the Snitch faster than anybody could remember. Griffindor was now pulling up to Slytherin despite the early 150-point loss.
Harry was putting his Nimbus Two Thousand back in the broomshed when he saw Quirrell walking quickly towards the forbidden forest with Snape following close behind. He quickly jumped back on the broomstick and followed. He landed in a tall beech tree near them, and crawled out on a branch to listen. Quirrell was stuttering worse than ever, but Harry now knew it was an act.
"...d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet me here of all p-places, Severus."
"It's a good idea to discuss the Philosopher's Stone in private," said Snape coldly. "The students aren't supposed to know about it."
Quirrell mumbled something.
"Have you found a way around that dog of Hagrid's yet?"
"B-but Severus,.."
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," said Snape. He rolled up his sleeves and came forward.
"I d-don't know what you mean."
Snape leaned one arm against the tree Quirrell was backed up against.
"You know exactly what I mean," he said.
An owl hooted loudly just then, and Harry nearly fell from the branch. He steadied himself in time to hear, "your bit of hocus-pocus," from Snape.
"B-but" said Quirrell.
"You'd better take my advice, and quickly. I'll know where your loyalties really lie if you don't mend your ways," said Snape.
He put his hood up and strode away, saying, "We'll chat again soon."
Back in Gryffindor tower there was a party celebrating the Quiddich victory.
"We won, we won!" shouted Ron. "And I got in a fight with Malfoy and gave him a black eye. Neville got in a fight with Crabbe and Goyle. Madame Pomfrey says he'll be conscious soon."
"Never mind," said Harry. "Listen to what I just heard." He told Ron about the conversation.
"Snape is onto Quirrell, and he was threatening him to stop him going after the Stone," said Harry. "The Stone will be safe as long as Quirrell doesn't stand up to Snape."
"Then it'll be safe forever," said Ron.
"I'm not so sure," said Harry. "Quirrell's timid routine is just an act. He pulled off an attempted bank heist at Gringotts without getting caught. And he's working for Voldemort himself!"
"Please don't say that name!" said Ron.
