After the Dawn: The Philosopher's Stone

Chapter Nineteen: Trouble

"Snape's refereeing your match?" Neville whispered when Harry told his two Gryffindor friends what had happened. "I didn't even know he flew! You're in trouble now, aren't you?"

Harry nodded sadly, "I am," he replied, "Snape hates me for what I said to him at the Welcome feast, and because I'm in Gryffindor." He didn't add that he knew Snape had tried to kill him at the last match. An owl bearing a message from him was flying to Potter Mansion as he spoke, conveying the news to Sirius. Sirius would have a plan.
"You could not play, couldn't you?" Hermione asked, looking at him worriedly. Her mind didn't believe that Snape would deliberately hurt Harry, but her heart knew that it was possible. Snape was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, he might have gotten wind of their attempts to find out how much he knew.

"No, I can't," Harry replied, "I'm the only decent Seeker Gryffindor has, without me they don't stand a chance at success and you know it."

Neville nodded. He didn't fly himself, but like most Wizarding children, he knew more than enough about Quidditch to know that Harry needed to play.

"You'll do fine Nemo. I'm sure he won't hurt you," Hermione said.

'I wouldn't be so sure,' Harry thought to himself, but did not speak aloud to Hermione – he knew that it would only worry her. The only reason that he had even told his friends was so that they wouldn't think he was keeping secrets from them when they went to the match on Saturday.

Blaise, when she heard about it, was also sympathetic, but she told Harry that Snape would not be able hurt Harry in the middle of a Quidditch match. She knew full well the less than desirable relationship between Harry and Snape.

Sirius's reply came back on Wednesday, and told Harry that he would be coming to watch the match, but would keep hidden from sight, only there to make sure Snape behaved himself.

More than the responses of any of his friends, it was Sirius's that made Harry stop worrying altogether. His godfather wouldn't let anything happen to him. Sirius would keep him safe, as he had in the last match.

And so it was that Harry approached the match more calmly than he had thought he would. On the night before the match, Harry went to bed with the Quidditch team and Neville when Wood ordered it, but he did not sleep. Sirius had said he would come, but he had not come to Harry yet, and the boy would not be able to sleep well until he did.

It was nearing midnight when a feather-soft touch roused Harry from a semi-doze. He woke to see his godfather standing quietly over him, a gentle smile on his face.

"Sirius, you came after all," Harry murmured softly.

"Of course I did," Sirius replied. "I wouldn't leave you to face that terror alone. Sleep now, Harry, and I'll see you after the match. I won't hang around for long though."

Harry bowed his head, "I know you won't," he replied. "I'll point out Blaise for you, if I see her."

"You do that," Sirius replied, and shifted form. The dog that took his place was comfortingly black and huge, and hid quickly under the bed. Harry was asleep in seconds, now that he knew his godfather had come after all.

He was roused by Neville at seven thirty. Everyone was up and moving, excited by the days entertainment. Harry dragged himself out of bed and dressed, then followed Neville down to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall for breakfast, not getting the chance to make sure that Sirius was still there, and last nights meeting had not been a dream.

"Nemo come on, we need to get down to the Pitch," Wood said after Harry had eaten what little food he thought he could keep down. "So we can get changed and maybe have a warm-up flight before we start the game."

Harry nodded quickly and stood up, not at all regretful to leave what remained of his pitiful breakfast behind. If all went well, he would end up celebrating half the night away in the Gryffindor tower, as he hadn't wanted to do the last time. This time, however, he was in a far more social mood, and therefore happy to party with the rest of his house, and for a little while forget his troubles.

He and the team changed and listened as the crowd began to fill the stadium. Harry was feeling far more nervous this game than he had last, mostly because Snape would be present again.

Fred looked around the door and out at the crowd, "Looks like the entire school is here," he remarked. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen Dumbledore at a match that wasn't the Quidditch Final."

"Dumbledore is here?" Harry asked, hopeful.

"Sure is," George agreed, checking his twins statement. "And you're right Fred, I've never seen him at a game that wasn't the Final!"

"Albus – what are you doing here?" Minerva asked as the Headmaster took his seat beside her. The Headmasters seat was always kept in the box, out of respect, but it had been a long time since a Headmaster, or Mistress, of the school had come to every game.

"After what you've told me of Mr. Protectium's flying, I found I couldn't bare to miss out on the opportunity to see him in action this time," Dumbledore replied. "Quite extraordinary, I hear."

In the shadows of the teachers box, Sirius Black pulled his godsons invisibility cloak tighter around himself and gripped his wand tightly. He didn't think that Snape would misbehave while Dumbledore was present, but with Snivellus, one never knew for certain… he remained where he was, ready to do anything to defend his godson, even if it meant exposing himself.

He watched with a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as the Gryffindor Quidditch team made its way onto the field. There was Harry, in his disguise as Nemo, didn't seem at all out of place, with sleek black hair hanging down to his shoulders, and, though Sirius could not see them, blue eyes dancing with anticipation.

Sirius's eyes, however, turned quickly from his godson to watch the Referee, not noticing the Hufflepuff team as they joined the Gryffindors on the pitch.

Grey eyes focused coldly on Severus Snape, ready to move at a hint of unsportsmanlike behaviour. If Snape gave him in the slightest reason, the other man would be dead.

"I must admit, I'm a little surprised that Severus volunteered to referee the match," Minerva remarked to Dumbledore, "And I'm not at all sure I'm in favour of you allowing him to do so, Albus. You know what he's like when it comes to Gryffindor students."

"Oh, I know what he's like," Dumbledore agreed. "He wished to referee the first match, but as that was Gryffindor against Slytherin, I had to decline … he was, however, quite insistent that he be allowed to referee this match, and I could not disappoint a second time."

"Still …"

"I'm afraid there is nothing that can be done now, Minerva. I will bring up your arguments should he ever wish to referee a match again," Dumbledore said firmly. "Done is done, and if he behaves himself …"

"As if that is likely to happen," McGonagall muttered, but Dumbledore ignored the comment.

So, Sirius was not the only one with concerns about Snape reffing the match. And he had wanted to oversee the first match also. Well, he had done a good job of trying to kill Harry without being close to him …

Dumbledore should have never allowed Snape into his councils, Sirius had never trusted the other man, and he wasn't at all sure that he was trustworthy.

Well, that much was out of his control at present, and didn't really matter any more. He was hardly likely to be listened to if he went to Dumbledore about it now, he would more likely be killed, or at the very least, arrested, on the spot if he dared.

Snape blew a whistle and the two teams were off. Sirius's eyes sharpened on Snape as the man rose into the air. There was no way this was going to be a fair match.

He was right. When one of the Hufflepuff Chasers fouled, Snape didn't call them up, but when Fred Weasley batted a Bludger too close to him, Snape blew the whistle to give a penalty to Hufflepuff.

Catch the Snitch Harry, you need to catch it, Sirius thought, wishing that his godson could hear him, but knowing he could not. Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty for no reason at all.

Suddenly Sirius spotted the Snitch. He wished again that he could yell out and alert his godson to it, but he knew that he couldn't. Then he saw his godson diving, and knew that Harry had seen it too.

Harry shot straight down past Snape, who looked more than a little startled, and was about to raise the whistle to give Hufflepuff another penalty when Harry pulled out of his dive, Snitch clasped in his fist, which he had thrust into the air, a triumphant expression his face.

Sirius smiled and slipped quickly from the teachers box, heading down to the bottom of the stands and then out to wait for his godson near the broom shed. He knew that Harry would come eventually.

After awhile, his godson did, managing to escape the ecstatic Gryffindor crowds to put away his broom. "I borrowed your cloak, hope you don't mind," Sirius murmured as Harry was about to leave the shed and go back to the Gryffindor common room.

Harry gave a slight start, then stepped into the shadows near the Forbidden Forest. "Sirius!" he exclaimed quietly, "How are you?"

"I'm just fine kiddo," Sirius replied, "You played really well out there."

Harry gave a slight blush, "Thanks," he muttered quietly. "You were watching?"

"Of course – spent more time watching Snivellus to make sure the bastard wasn't up to anything, but I can always spare time to watch you fly," Sirius replied.

"Speaking of Snivellus," Harry muttered and pointed. Severus Snape had just come out of the Hogwarts doors and was stalking down towards them, or the forest.

"Either he knows you're here or he has some business in the forest, whatever that might be," Harry whispered to Sirius, keeping his voice low even though Snape was still a long way away.

"Get under the cloak, no sense in taking chances," Sirius replied, and Harry quickly joined his godfather beneath the folds of the invisibility cloak.

They needn't have worried, as Snape walked straight passed them without sparing the slightest glance in any direction but straight ahead. He entered the Forbidden Forest without even a pause.

"I'm following him," Sirius said immediately.

"Sirius, are you sure that's wise?" Harry asked.

"I won't get caught. I want to know what the slimy little git is up to," Sirius replied. "Go to Hagrids hut, he'll probably want to escort you up to the Gryffindor tower since its after dark. Say you just dropped by to have a quick chat about the game."

"I'll leave the cloak here then," Harry replied. "If you want to talk to me when you get back from following Snape, take my broom from the shed and fly up to the dormitory, OK?"

"Gotcha," Sirius changed form and a huge black dog slithered into the forest without another sound. Harry watched him go for a minute, then let the cloak slide from his shoulders into a pool on the ground, and walked the short distance to Hagrids' hut.

"Nemo!" Hagrid exclaimed in quiet greeting. "How are ye? Watched the game t'day – ye were fantastic!"

"Thanks Hagrid," Harry replied, coming into the room. "I'm good, by the way."

"Thought ye might be. Neet catch earlier," Hagrid sounded very enthusiastic.

"Again, thank you. How have you been?"

"Oh, getting through, getting through," Hagrid replied. "Now, why are you out here? It's dark, an' late …"

"I was putting my broom away and thought I may as well come and say hi," Harry replied.

"Well, I'd best accompany ye back up t'the castle then," Hagrid said, heaving himself to his feet, "There's somemat not quite right going on, and I don' like it at all."

Harry nodded, glad for the company. He did not fear the dark, and he didn't think he ever would, but in the middle of the magical world, it was easy to fear those things that might walk hidden in nights shroud. Also, Sirius had thought it would be the best idea if he was accompanied back up to the school.

"So anyway," Hagrid said as he grabbed his jacket and got ready to walk Harry up to the castle, "How's things with Neville and Hermione?"

"Oh, it's going great," Harry replied, "We've all made friends with a girl in our year from Slytherin, her name is Blaise."

"Really? Who's initiative was that?" Hagrid asked, interested.

"Mine," Harry confessed, looking away from the giant-like man. "I've realised that I can't keep pushing people away, and I want to make friends again."

"Good fer you," Hagrid replied, his long legged strides eating up the ground at such a rate that Harry was forced to jog slightly to keep up with him.

The night was chilly, but clear now. Harry wondered where Sirius was, and if he was OK. If there was something wrong, then Sirius could easily be in the thick of it, out in the forest, alone.

He shivered, then shook himself. Sirius was a grown wizard and could take perfectly good care of himself. He and Hagrid reached the front doors of the school, and Hagrid pushed them open easily.

The pair of them entered the Entrance Hall. "Thanks for walking me up here Hagrid," Harry smiled.

"I'll be keepin' you company a little ways further," Hagrid replied, "Bin wanting to have a little chat with the Headmaster about the state o' the forest … somemats not right, like I told yeh."

Harry shivered again, but nodded, and walked onwards with Hagrid. Eventually they parted and Harry went his own way, heading up towards the Gryffindor Common room, hoping against hope that Sirius was alright still, and beginning to wish that he had argued against his godfather going into the forest.

He gave the Fat Lady the password and walked into a scene of merrymaking that now went completely against his mood. "The man has arrived!" George cried, spotting Harry. He and Fred immediately came over to help Harry through the Portrait hole.

"The party may begin," his twin agreed happily. They guided Harry to a place of honour by a table full of food, and Hermione and Neville came to join him.

"Great catch," Neville grinned at him, "We checked when we came by the Hourglasses, and Gryffindors in the lead now! All thanks to you winning so quickly!"

Everyone else seemed to have something to say, and Harry tried to put his worries about his godfather aside and simply enjoy the attention … but he found it hard.

He still only picked at his food, as he had at breakfast, and wished that he could escape and try to find Sirius. At seven thirty he started yawning, and almost immediately the twins were back beside him.

"Can't you see he's tired?" George demanded.

"Can't have our Seeker getting tired … Why don't you head up to bed, Nemo?"

Harry nodded, feeling both sleepy, since he hadn't slept properly until midnight the night before, and anxious, because he was worried about Sirius.

"We'll just come up," George said decisively, "Make sure nothing happens to you!"

He and his twin steered Harry clear of the rest of the Gryffindor students, who were all protesting about having their hero taken away. "We wanted to talk to you anyway," Fred added as they reached the boys dormitories. "Apart from saying great match. We were hoping to discuss a prank …"

"How about we talk tomorrow?" Harry suggested. "I'm a bit tired now …"

"Where?" Fred asked.

"Same place as last time?" George suggested.

"Sounds good to me. See you there around noon?"

"See you!" the twins nodded and hurried back downstairs, obviously happy to have scored an appointment with their new prank player. Harry wondered how the Weasley twins could be so different from their older brother Percy, who lived for rules, and from their younger brother Ron, who was far to judgmental for his own good.

He went over to his bed and lay down on his back, staring up at the canopy above his bed, waiting for Sirius. "Waiting for someone?" a soft, delightfully familiar voice.

"Sirius!" Harry hissed in delight, "You're OK!"

"Of course I am!" Sirius replied, "Listen, I followed Snivellus for you," he continued even softer than before. "In the depths of the forest he met up with Quirrel … they spoke. Snivellus definitely wants the Stone, and from what I gathered, Quirrel knows the last part of the puzzle."

Harry ached an eyebrow, "Well, it's worse than I had thought," he said, "Quirrell's a coward and a weak-minded fool, from what little I've seen of him. We'll be dead before you can say Quidditch."

"He will last longer than that, I'm sure," Sirius replied. "A weak-minded fool he might be, and Snivellus is a strong-minded idiot, but they are within Hogwarts, and no one here will be able to steal the stone for so long as Dumbledore is here. Snivellus will make his move just before he knows Dumbledore won't be here, otherwise he runs the risk of Quirrel going to Dumbledore and confessing what he's done."

Harry nodded, "I can see your point," he agreed. "So we just have to make sure Dumbledore stays in Hogwarts and the Stone is safe?"

"For the time being," Sirius replied. "Snivellus will undoubtable grow bored of waiting eventually … and when he does, he will be very unpredictable."

"Do you think that is likely to happen soon?" Harry asked, now worried.

"No, he has other things to worry about until the end of the year grows close. Once that happens, he'll move so that he has the stone to leave Hogwarts easily," Sirius replied. "I'll try and come back then, and keep you company, keep an eye on him."

"Thanks Sirius."

"You're welcome. Now, I'd best be heading back home to the Mansion – I'll see you in the holidays, if not before."

Harry nodded and bid farewell to his godfather, then he lay down on his bed without bothering to undress, he was asleep in seconds.

Well, there's the longest chapter we've seen in awhile. I hope you liked it! OK everyone, I need an idea for a prank to be played on Malfoy after the leg-locker incident (yes, I'm going to have that!) I need the prank before I can post the next chapter, because I need to write it in. It needs to be good, people – think you can do it? Leave suggestions in a review, thank you!

Thanks:

Surarrin, katepotter13, grand admiral chelli, kraeg001, torifire126, Nefertiri Riddle, athenakitty, Nasser Himura, Xyverz, Musicstarlover, Ferdia, NateP, Laen, Shadowface, xyvortex, IceSugarHigh, Puckstar, I Have Sirius Problems, Empress Sarah-sama, cantfindagoodname, Misthea, kittyelah, Nerwen Elendil, Jeanne2, azntgr01, JeanieBeanie33, gaul1, Cyblade Silver, Samara-Morgan-101, Flamming Wolf, cyress, Leeanna-Maria-Malfoy, Siri Kat.

Xyvortex: I know that it's nice to make Draco a good guy, but Harry needs some enemies in the student body, and Draco is unfortunately perfectly positioned to play that enemy. He won't be turning good in this fic, I'm sorry to say – you will probably notice that in the rest of my stories I have made him good, or at least better.

WolfMoon