So sorry for the long wait. What with moving back home, enrolling in school, and job searching, it's been a tough two months. But hopefully I can turn my attention to this again.
A/N: The dragon/Malfoy/detention scene will be from the movie, not the book, as it's easier to fit in here. That is all.
They waited until nightfall, and after retrieving Hermione from the Gryffindor portrait hole, the three students crept down the stairs and out onto the grounds. At first, Colt had stared in awe of the invisibility cloak, and Hermione had given him a look that meant "you really shouldn't use that to break rules." But in the end, it was their saving grace past Filch and his cat.
They knocked softly, and soon Hagrid filled the doorway. "Who's there?" he rumbled, and Harry threw the cloak from their shoulders, momentarily startling his large friend.
"It's just us," he replied, but Hagrid didn't budge.
"I'm in no fit state to entertain tonight," he said matter-of-factly, making to shut the door. But Harry was not going to be put off that easily.
"We know about the Sorcerer's Stone!" he said hastily, causing the large man to pause and stare blankly. Finally, he stepped aside and the trio scrambled inside.
After several rounds of tea and explanations, Hagrid was shaking his head. "You don't understand! Snape's one of the people protecting the Stone; he's not about to steal it."
"One of the people?" Hermione interrupted.
"There are other things protecting the Stone, aren't there?" Colt put in, "spells and things!"
"Yep, an' you can get all this nonsense about Professor Snape out o' yer heads right now. 'Arry, you of all people…"
"I know, Hagrid," Harry raised his hand, "I didn't want to believe it either. But we have to look at every option, and every piece of evidence we have points to my uncle."
"Um, what is that?" Colt asked suddenly, pointing at the rattling kettle pot that was sitting over the fire. Hagrid moved quickly and pulled something out of it with his mit; something that looked very much like an egg. He set it on the table and let the three students crowd around it.
"What is it?" Hermione asked. As if in answer, it began to hatch, and a small scaly reptilian creature poked its head through.
"That's a dragon!" Colt yelled before Hagrid placed his overly large hand on his face to quiet him down.
"I won him, I did; off a stranger in a pub. Seemed mighty glad to get rid of it actually." Hagrid knelt down so his face was almost level with the table and peered at the small dragon. "He's a Norwegian Ridgeback, he is. One o' the most beautiful creatures I've ever laid eyes on." Harry could only stare at the small, but dangerous, creature in front of him. Suddenly, movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He whirled, only to see a flash of silvery blonde hair dart toward the castle.
"Oh no! Malfoy's seen us! We have to get back to the castle, now. Let's go." He shoved his friends back under the cloak and they sprinted back to the castle. They dropped Hermione off and made their way back to the common room, but they found that their entrance was blocked by Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape. Professor Flitwick was making his way down the hall toward them, his face tired but determined.
"We're done for!" Colt whispered. Harry put a finger to his lips and cast a silencing charm on them. When Professor Flitwick gave the knight the password, Harry and Colt were nearly on top of them. As the doorway opened, they dashed inside, nearly knocking Malfoy aside. They darted up the stairs and to their room, only seconds in front of the teachers. Colt managed to slip under his covers fast enough, but Harry had a harder time with the cloak. He dispelled the silencing charm and stashed the cloak in his trunk as the doors opened; his uncle bearing down on him.
"Do you care to explain yourself?" Snape said in a low, menacing tone. Draco Malfoy stood to the side, smirking gleefully at the sight before him. Harry knew it was no use, but he tried it anyway.
"Sir?" he asked innocently.
"Mr. Malfoy tells me he saw you, Mr. Boot, and Miss Granger at the gamekeeper's hut. Now what would you be doing all the way down there when you're supposed to be here in bed?" His uncle's tone never rose, and Harry knew he was done for if he tried to lie.
"Sir," he began, "I was there, but they weren't. Hagrid had some friends from out of town over to see his new, erm, pet; a cat from the Hansley Mountains. They're said to be very rare, and each contains a different magical power."
"And his friends look exactly like yours?" Snape said menacingly, "I was not born yesterday, nor did I raise you to lie to your superiors. I'm very disappointed in you, Mr. Potter. And you might as well stand up, Mr. Boot; I know you are not asleep." Colt slowly extricated himself from his blankets and moved to stand beside Harry. "Fifty points will be taken from each of you, and you will serve detention, to be set by your Head of House." With one disappointed look at his nephew, Snape whirled and exited the room. Malfoy moved to follow when Flitwick's voice stopped him.
"Mr. Malfoy," he said solemnly, "you will accompany Mr. Potter and Mr. Boot to a detention with Mr. Filch. Miss Granger, too, I'm afraid."
"What?" he drawled, unable to contain his tone. Harry shot a smirk over to Colt, who returned it knowingly.
"You, too, were out of bed after hours, I believe. You will join your classmates in detention." Draco shot Harry a venomous look before storming out of the Ravenclaw dormitories. Professor Flitwick turned his attention back to his charges.
"I am very disappointed in both of you. You could have been injured, or killed. It is not safe to wander around at night." Both of the boys stared at the floor as their Head of House reprimanded them. When he left, Harry and Colt breathed sighs of relief.
"Way to lose a hundred points, you dolts!" a voice from behind them called. In the midst of the incident, everyone had completely forgotten about the others in the room.
"Yeah, now we'll never win the house cup! Ravenclaw hasn't won in over thirty years, and we were ahead!"
"Yeah, thanks to Harry and his Quidditch skills!" Colt shot back, but Harry placed a hand on his shoulder.
"No, they're right. We messed up, and we paid for it. I'm sure this isn't the last we'll hear of it either. But, Gryffindor and Slytherin were dropped as well, so we're all even really." Harry tried to soften things up, but he could see that his roommates were not in an appeasable mood. He sighed and climbed into bed, dreading Potions the next day.
Harry finished his classes the next day feeling worse than he'd ever felt. Every one of his teachers leveled a disappointing stare at him the moment he entered the classroom; but the worst was his uncle. Professor Snape had transformed somehow; no longer was he merely nasty to non-Slytherins. Now he was down-right cruel. He took points from Harry for so much as looking at another student oddly. Ravenclaw ended the day with thirty points less than what they had started it with. In fact, the only house which did not lose points that day was Slytherin.
So by dinner time, Harry was receiving glares from everyone, to include his Quidditch team mates and the whole of Gryffindor. Hermione didn't look better off, and she, Colt, and Harry huddled near to one another away from everyone else.
Filch met them at the door as they left, and they waited for Malfoy. He scowled at the trio as they all followed the caretaker through the halls and out the main doors. As they approached Hagrid's hut, the four students saw the giant man loading a huge crossbow.
"Here you are, Hagrid," Filch hissed. "Four for the forest, tonight." Malfoy's eyes bugged as he turned to the caretaker.
"The Forest? We can't go in there! There are…" a howl interrupted him, and Harry looked warily into the darkness. "…werewolves!" Draco finished hastily, his face whiter than his hair.
"There's worse than that in there, boy. You can be sure of that." With one last evil grin, Filch stalked off, leaving four frightened children in the care of the gamekeeper. Harry swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at Hagrid.
"What are we doing in there, Hagrid?" he asked shakily.
"I'll show ye," he said grimly, and sniffed once.
"What's wrong?" Colt asked.
"Dumbledore's taken Norbert! Sent him off to a colony." Harry's face scrunched in thought; who was Norbert? Then it dawned on him. Dragons lived in colonies in Romania; he'd heard Ron Weasley talk about his brother who worked there.
"That's good though," Harry put in as they began walking, "He'll be with other dragons."
"What if he don't like Romania?" Hagrid bellowed, causing Malfoy to snort. Harry whirled on him.
"You just shut your mouth, Malfoy! If it weren't for you, none of us would even be here." Without waiting for an answer, Harry turned back around, stepping up to a very pale Hermione. "You alright, Mione?"
"No," she whispered back. "This is not alright."
"Scared, are you?" came a drawling voice from behind them. "Shouldn't even be here, filthy –" But before he could finish his sentence, Hagrid stopped suddenly at a fork in the trail and knelt down. The four students crowded around him and gazed at the silvery substance before them.
"What is it?" Colt asked.
"That's unicorn blood, that is," Hagrid answered. "This one's been injured, and it's our job to find it and help the poor beast." He rose to his full height and gripped his crossbow. "It'd be best if we split up. Hermione and Colt'll come with me. Harry, you take Malfoy and Fang." Harry grimaced as he looked at the fear-stricken boarhound, then at Malfoy.
"We should meet here in ten minutes," Harry said. "I don't really know the forest."
"True," Hagrid said, "Ten minutes it is. Be careful, and if you find anything, send some sparks up." Harry nodded and pulled his wand, watching as Malfoy did the same. They took the right fork and continued on for a few minutes. It became darker, and Fang scooted closer to Harry.
"This is insane," Draco spat suddenly, "Wait till my father hears about this!" Harry smirked to himself and held his lantern a little higher.
"What's he like?" Harry asked softly, looking around casually.
"What, Potter?" Draco snarled.
"Look, Draco, you're the one who left on the train; I invited you to sit." Harry was getting tired of Malfoy's superior attitude.
"Like I said, Potter, I don't associate with riff-raff. You shouldn't either. I'm surprised Professor Snape allows you to remain friends with Granger." Draco said Hermione's name as if it were a curse and Harry's wand hand clinched tighter.
"The professor doesn't tell me who I can be friends with; he's not like your father." Draco whirled and pointed his wand at Harry's throat.
"Don't ever talk about my father, Potter! You don't know anything about him." Harry stared calmly back at the silver-haired boy.
"Uncle Severus told me a few things about the pureblood families left; the Malfoys are the richest and most powerful. So it only stands to reason that you're only allowed to associate with the same type of people." Harry catered to the boy's ego, trying to coax him into a less hostile position. Thankfully, it worked, and Malfoy lowered his wand.
"Don't you forget it, Potter." Without another word, Malfoy turned and continued down the path. He didn't get very far, however, because the scene ahead stopped him in his tracks. Fang whimpered and ran back down the path, most likely in search of his master. Harry crept up next to Draco, staring at the sight before them.
A dark human-like figure was hunched over a silver-white horse, its blood. Suddenly, Draco screamed, and ran away toward the fork to call for Hagrid. The hooded creature stopped its feast and turned to Harry. A blinding pain shot through Harry's forehead, and he pressed his left hand against his scar. As the creature got closer, the pain increased twofold, and Harry fell to his knees. Just as his vision began to tunnel, he heard galloping from behind him, and large beast leaped over him, nearly landing on the advancing creature. The hooded figure backed away from the horse-like creature's attacks, and soon it retreated into the forest.
Harry just stared at the centaur, as if expecting it to turn and attack him next. But instead it offered a hand and helped him to his feet.
"Harry Potter," it began in a regal voice. Harry could only nod in response, still very wary around the supposed haughty creature. "It is not safe for you in the forest. You must leave at once." Harry nodded again, unable to find his voice for the lump in his throat. With a sad look, the centaur turned and gazed at the fallen unicorn. "It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Anyone who drinks the blood of a unicorn is doomed to live a cursed life…a half-life."
"But," Harry started, his throat still dry, "who would choose such a life?"
"Can you think of no one?" Harry's brow furrowed before he jumped backwards.
"You can't mean…Voldemort?" Harry dropped his voice at the last for fear of offending the large thing before him.
"Yes, the unicorn blood keeps him alive, but just barely. I cannot stress to you the imperativeness that you not return to the forest."
At that point, Hagrid came barreling down the path with three students and a boarhound in tow.
"Firenze," Hagrid said in greeting.
"Hagrid, it is good to see you. But you must get Harry Potter out of the forest. Dark things lurk here that he should not be exposed to." With a look skyward, the centaur galloped into the foliage, leaving Harry pale and short of breath.
"You alright, Harry?" Hermione asked timidly from behind Hagrid's massive frame. Harry nodded, shooting an impassive glance at Malfoy. He seemed to be studying the scene that had just played out, running it over in his mind. Great, Harry thought, if he figures it out, he'll go running to daddy to tell him the Dark Lord is lurking in the forest outside Hogwarts.
"Let's go," Hagrid said gruffly, "Detention's over." Wordlessly, they made their way out of the forest and up to the castle. Without so much as a glance, Malfoy broke off and headed for the Slytherin common rooms in the dungeons, and Harry led the way upstairs. Once out of range of the Entrance Hall, Harry pulled them into an empty classroom.
"What's going on Harry? What happened out there?"
"We found it, the unicorn I mean. But something was on it, sucking its blood out." Hermione grimaced and Colt gaped.
"But drinking unicorn blood…" Colt couldn't finish the sentence for the sheer horror of it.
"It was Voldemort," Harry said simply, cutting his friend off. Hermione gasped and Colt tapped Harry's shoulder lightly.
"Don't say his name, mate! But how could he be out in the forest? You destroyed him 10 years ago."
"I don't think so; I think he was just hurt badly. Not dead, but close. He's been living off the unicorns."
"You-Know-Who's living out in the forest? Do you think he'll try to come after you?" Colt asked.
"I think if he'd had the chance, he'd have killed me tonight," Harry answered. Hermione's eyes lit up suddenly, as if remembering a long-forgotten fact.
"But it's alright, though. Ten years ago, there was only one wizard the Dark Lord was afraid of. Dumbledore! As long as he's around, you're safe." That thought did make Harry's heart lighter, but something was still nagging him. Voldemort couldn't possibly be surviving on his own; someone had to be helping him. The same someone who tried to kill him at the match, the one who was after the stone.
"I think I should see my uncle; he should know." His friends reacted instantly.
"But Harry –"
"I know, you think he's the one after the stone. And I can't for sure say he isn't. But if I tell him about this, I can find out."
"Or he'll discover that you know about it and it'll be all over." Harry sighed at Hermione but conceded.
"Alright, but the first sign of trouble and we go after the stone ourselves. Voldemort can't be allowed to get that stone."
"How are you not in Gryffindor mate?" Colt asked, clapping him on the back. Harry merely smiled slyly. Colt and Harry bid goodbye to Hermione, waving at her as she made her way to Gryffindor Tower.
"I can't believe she's telling us to study for exams!" Harry smiled at the outburst from Ron at the Gryffindor table, then grinned as Hermione shot the red-head a dark look from across the food.
"Well maybe if you did, you'd score a little higher in your classes. Honestly Ron –" but she was interrupted by Harry clearing his throat, and she blushed. He winked at her as she left Ron alone and buried her nose back into her Transfiguration text. Ron, however, didn't seem to notice that she'd left him alone, and he continued rambling.
"If I wanted someone to tell me what to do all the time, I'd have invited my mother to live in Gryffindor Tower." Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas laughed, but Harry didn't. Feeling someone's gaze on him, Ron looked over around the Great Hall until his eyes landed on Harry's venomous look. Ron gulped, remembering his promise to the other boy, and looked back at Hermione, who was now completely in her book, shielding her face from view.
"Sorry, Hermione," he mumbled. She nodded infinitesimally without looking up, and Harry turned back to Colt's explanation of their latest charm. He was about to ask a question on the principles of "swish and flick" when a hand fell on his shoulder. Harry turned and looked up into the face of his uncle.
"Mr. Potter, a word," he delivered coolly, and Harry nodded. Shrugging to his classmates, he stood and followed the potions master out of the Great Hall and down to the dungeons.
"Sir?" Harry began, but was silenced by a hand from his uncle. They entered the potion master's office, and Snape shut the door behind him. Harry sat down in the chair in front of the desk as his uncle took his own.
"Harry, I've been worried about your behavior of late," Snape began. Harry's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean, sir?"
"What I mean, dear boy, is the fact that you, Mr. Boot, and Miss Granger seem to be withdrawing, only consorting with each other, not talking to others. Your teachers tell me that you barely talk in class unless called upon to answer a question."
"That's good, isn't it?" Harry asked. "I'm not supposed to talk in class."
"Perhaps if you were older I would say so. For eleven year old boys, however, that seems to be innate behavior. So can you tell me why you are suddenly acting so strangely?" Harry only blinked once before answering steadily.
"Sir, end-of-year exams are coming up. I've never had to study for them before, and the older students have us all scared. Is Professor Quirrell really going to make us battle a troll?"
"Of course not, Harry. Dumbledore wouldn't allow it. Are you sure that's all it is?" Snape scrutinized him carefully, watching his movements. Harry, however, had come accustomed to this over the years and merely nodded.
"Yes sir. Now if you don't mind, Uncle Severus, I have to go study." Harry stood up and smiled, waiting for his uncle's nod of dismissal before walking calmly out of the classroom. Snape watched him go warily, still concerned for his nephew's behavior. He would have to watch the boy more closely.
"Absolutely dreadful," Harry said as they exited their Herbology exam. Hermione walked between him and Colt, browsing her text worriedly.
"Oh no! I didn't add that the Zarria root is also a useful additive in potions for clearing up a complexion. I do hope Professor Sprout doesn't count off." Colt peered over her shoulder and pointed to the paragraph above the one she was reading.
"She only asked for the main properties and two uses. You should be alright if you basically put this paragraph here." Hermione smiled at him and Harry rolled his eyes at both of them.
"I don't really care for that class. When's the earliest we can get out of it?"
"Sixth Year is when we start specializing," Colt said. "I think I might try for Dueler. Professor Flitwick made it sound brilliant." Harry nodded, recalling his Head of House's explanation of becoming a Dueler and the world-wide competitions he had been to. They found themselves in the courtyard, and a soft melody floated across the grounds. Harry looked up and smiled at Hagrid before turning back to his friends.
"Let's sit down. We have a while before dinner." Hermione nodded and sat down on a low wall encompassing a fountain. Harry and Colt took their customary places on either side of her and dove into some sweets Colt's mother had sent. Colt began chatting with a Hufflepuff on his other side while Hermione continued reading.
Harry's thought began to wander as the flute's melody filled his mind. His scar began burning slightly as he thought about all that had happened this year. He recalled the conversation they had had with Hagrid about Fluffy, then he smiled as he remembered the dragon egg that had gotten them into trouble. Something in Harry's stomach gave a little lurch as he asked himself how Hagrid had gotten the egg, recalling that Hagrid had won it off a stranger. But who walks around with dragon eggs? Suddenly, Harry jumped out of his seat and bolted for Hagrid. Hermione and Colt quickly gathered their things and ran after him. His hand shot to his scar as a surge of pain shot through him.
"Wait up, Harry!" Colt called, shouldering his bag.
"What's happening?" Hermione added, struggling to stuff her book in her bag while she ran.
"Don't you think it's strange that the one thing Hagrid wanted more than anything was a dragon, and someone turned up who just happened to have one?" Hermione shook her head and made to answer, but Harry started again. "I mean, who walks around with dragon eggs in their pockets? Why didn't I see it before!" As he finished, he stopped in front of Hagrid, who abruptly stopped his flute playing.
"Hello, how were exams?" he asked cheerfully.
"Hagrid, the stranger in the pub, what did he look like? The one who gave you the egg," he added at Hagrid's confused look.
"I don't know. He kept his hood up."
"You and he must have talked, though?" Hermione added.
"Well, he wanted to know what kind of creatures I looked after. I told him after Fluffy, a dragon's goin' ta be no problem."
"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked. Hagrid seemed a little fazed by all the questions, but he answered anyway.
"Of course he was interested! How often do ya come across a three-headed dog, even in the trade? He asked where I kept him, and I says the Headmaster borrowed him to guard somethin'. He just stands on that trap door guarding, but he gets cranky, see, because he does nothing but stay in that room. But I told him, I says the trick with any beast is to know how to calm him. Take Fluffy for instance. Play him a little music and he falls right asleep." Harry shared a look with his friends before they turned and bolted into the castle.
"My scar's been burning all day," Harry explained. "I think it means something's happening; we need to speak to someone." Hermione took the lead and ran to McGonagall's office. They ran into the open door of the deputy headmistress' office and stopped at her desk, out of breath.
"We need to speak to the Headmaster, ma'am," Hermione breathed. The Head of Gryffindor House eyed them like a cat through her spectacles, reminding Colt of his first Transfiguration class.
"I'm afraid the Headmaster is away on business; he received an urgent summons from the Ministry." Harry's heart pounded harder in his ears.
"But it's an emergency!" he yelled, not caring that this was his teacher, "It's about the Sorcerer's Stone!" McGonagall's stare turned to ice as she addressed them curtly.
"I do not know how you children know about the stone, but I assure you it is quite well protected. Now kindly return to your dormitories…quietly." She dismissed them with a look and they walked out dejectedly.
"Now what?" Hermione asked as they grouped outside the doors.
"We go down the trap door…tonight."
"Mr. Potter," came a cool voice from behind them, "Exams are over." He leveled a knowing glare at his nephew, and Harry gulped. "You should be outside celebrating, no?" Harry nodded as his uncle nodded curtly at them and turned around.
"I still don't think –" Harry began as his friends stared after Snape.
"Oh, and Mr. Potter," Snape called, turning back around, "please see me after dinner." He stalked away, scattering what students had gathered in the halls. Colt raised his eyebrows at Harry.
"Do you think he knows what we're up to?" he asked.
"He can't," Harry said, "unless he can read minds." With that, they made their way to their dorms, preparing themselves for the unknown that lay ahead.
"Take my cloak," Harry instructed Colt at dinner. "Go get Hermione and make your way to Fluffy. I'll meet you there after my uncle gets done with me, and then we'll get the stone to McGonagall." Colt nodded, finishing his dinner. Harry stood after draining his goblet and exited the Hall, making his way down to the dungeons.
He knocked once, calling through the slightly open door. "Sir?"
"Come in, Harry." The boy opened the door quickly, making his way to the rather uncomfortable chair in front of his uncle's desk.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Harry. I have some business to attend to this summer, and I'm afraid I won't be able to get back to the Manor much. You can go back if you like, stay there by yourself most of the summer."
"Yes sir, that's fine. I've stayed there alone before." Harry had to fight not to fidget in his seat as his uncle watched him.
"Of course, Harry," he said strangely. "However, I suppose if you want your friends over, I see no harm in letting them come for a week or two. Provided, however, that Miss Granger's room is in the East Wing." Harry smiled, shrugging, and moved to get up.
"Thank you, Uncle Severus. I'm sure they would like that, but Colt might find it a bit strange to be at a professor's house over the summer." Snape gave Harry a sly smile and waved him away playfully.
"Go Harry, have fun with your friends for one last day. Do you want to ride the train to King's Cross and back?"
"Can I ride there and then floo to the Manor?" Harry asked hopefully, not wanting to ride the large express all by himself.
"Certainly not by yourself. You can, however, catch a train from King's Cross to Raineshold. I will ask Mrs. Goldstein to pick you up." Snape replied. Harry nodded at the compromise, excited at the thought of seeing the old witch that lived down the road. She had been like a grandmother to Harry, and he was eager to tell her about his first year.
"Well, run along," Snape said, and Harry waved as he shut the door behind him. He walked normally until he was well out of the dungeons, then took off at a run towards the third floor. As he approached the door to the room that held Fluffy, Colt and Hermione materialized.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked them, and when they nodded, his hand found the doorknob.
Alrighty, there we are. We're almost done. One chapter, maybe two and then the summer. I do apologize for the excruciatingly long wait, but I should be able to write more often now. I have a job, enrolled in school, and have a working schedule now. I should just slot some time for writing. Ah well.
Okay, now for the million dollar question…what about Malfoy. It seemed that he and Harry reached some sort of "agreement" in the forest, but you never can tell. Not that it would be any time soon (say after book 5), but should he and Harry come to a truce? Or should he be the resident bad guy for good? I'm debating both, and I can come up with good points for both sides.
Thanks to all who are sticking with me.
Rickman's Girl