Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone: Take Two

by MysticSong1978

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot switch and any original characters I may add in as I deem necessary. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling. Should any other literary references be used, they will be so noted at that point.

Dialogue is in double quotes ("") and Thoughts are in single quotes ('').


Chapter Fifteen:

Later that day, Professor Snape swooped into the Slytherin Common Room to talk with Harry.

"Madam Hooch told me about your excellent flying skills during your first lesson the other day. I'd like you to meet with Marcus and myself tonight on the pitch and see if you'd make a good seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team. Our seeker graduated last year and we haven't found a good replacement for him yet. I don't want to lose the House Cup – we've won it for several years in a row now."

Harry nodded. "Yes, sir, I'd love to see what else I can do on a broom. It came so naturally to me. What time should I be there?"

Snape turned and called over to Marcus who was sitting by the fire. "Mr. Flint, is seven o'clock good for you?"

"Yes, Professor, I'll have everything ready."

"Good, we'll meet you then." He turned back to Harry. "Don't be late."

"No, sir."


That night Marcus practiced hard with Harry. He wouldn't let him practice with the actual snitch – Madam Hooch would kill them if they lost it – but he threw tons of other balls that were approximately the same size as the snitch as high and fast as he could into the night sky. Harry didn't miss one of them.

"Now you have to understand, Harry," said Marcus after he'd landed, "it will be much harder during an actual game because of all the other players; the other team's seeker vying for the snitch with you, the bludgers, which the other team's beaters will whack at us, and so forth. Do you have a good grasp of the rules?"

"I believe so," said Harry. "Ron went on and on and on about them on the Hogwarts Express. It was a bit tedious since I couldn't really picture what he was talking about at the time, but now, combined with his diatribe and this workout tonight, I think I'll be fine."

Marcus nodded at Professor Snape. "He'll need his own broom, sir."

Snape nodded. "I'll take care of that." He turned towards Harry, a slight smirk evident on his lips. "Your . . . father would be very proud, Harry. He was quite a chaser for Gryffindor."

Harry grinned. It was lovely hearing positive things about his parents - even when they were delivered in Professor Snape's snarky, dour tone.


The next morning at breakfast, a large eagle owl swooped down in front of Harry, leaving a large but slim, rectangular package in its wake. It was quickly followed by a small barn owl that dropped a letter on top of it. Luckily Harry opened this first for it read:

DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE.

It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, but I don't want everybody knowing you've got a broomstick or they'll all want one.

Remember, First Years almost never get to play and you're the youngest player in nearly a century so I want to hear that you've been training hard. Don't let us down.

Professor Severus Snape

Harry had difficulty hiding his glee as he let Draco subtly read the note.

Draco grinned. "Wow, that's even better than what I have at home!"

"Couldn't bully your Dad into letting you bring your broom, eh Draco?" whispered Harry, remembering their conversation at Madam Malkin's.

"No, he talked me out of it." Draco paused. "Can I ride yours sometimes, Harry?"

Harry smiled at his unlikely friend. "Sure! We can take turns. Maybe you can give me some tips on flying strategies."

Draco smiled a genuine smile at this. "Sure, Harry," he said, "If Marcus doesn't wear you out in practice!" Marcus, who was sitting across from them, smirked. His training sessions were rough, but they got the right results.

Draco and Harry left the Great Hall shortly after that, wanting to unwrap this new treasure in private before their first class rolled around, but partway through the entrance hall on their way to the dungeons, they found Ron and his brothers standing in their way. Draco repressed the urge to make fun of the trio, knowing full-well that he didn't wish to be on the receiving end of a Weasley Prank . . . and he realized with some surprise that he didn't want to give Harry any reason to think badly of him either. He was starting to enjoy this new, easy-going friend of his.

Ron grabbed the package from Harry and felt it.

"That's a broomstick," he said, tossing it back to Harry, obviously jealous. "You'll get in trouble for sure. First years aren't allowed to have them."

Draco couldn't resist one small jab. "It's not just a broomstick, Wea—Ron," Draco announced, "It's a Nimbus 2000!" He surprised everyone with his next comment. "It's even better than what I have at home, but Harry said he'd let me ride his!"

Ron scowled at Harry. At that moment, Professor Flitwick happened by. "Professor, Harry has a broom," exclaimed George. Or maybe it was Fred; Harry didn't know them well enough yet to be sure.

Professor Flitwick grinned. "Yes, Severus told me! Harry is the new seeker for Slytherin! It's most exciting, eh, Harry? You're the youngest player in nearly a century. Your father was quite an excellent chaser. I'll be interested to see if you fly as well as James did."

Harry smiled, a bit nervously. It seemed he would have a lot to live up to.

Flitwick smiled at the boys and continued on his way. The Weasley brothers still looked a bit put-out; by their way of thinking, Harry should have been in their House, and therefore should have been their Seeker.

Harry caught Ron's eye. "Perhaps you'd like a go on the broom as well, Ron?" Harry asked tentatively.

Ron was caught. He couldn't see himself being friends with Harry the Slytherin, much less any spawn of the Malfoy family, but the urge to ride a really good broom was strong. He shifted from foot to foot, reminding Draco of a nervous horse. Finally Ron nodded. "I'd like that, Harry, I really would."

"That's great, mate! I'll let you know when I'm taking it for a luxury ride. I'm not sure when the training sessions are – plus I think Marcus has to give me extra ones since I didn't grow up knowing anything about the game. The stuff you told me about Quidditch on the train was really helpful though."

Ron smiled at Harry, nodded at Draco, and the group split apart, the Weasleys heading in one direction, and the Slytherins back into the bowels of the castle.

And with that, a tentative truce between Gryffindor and Slytherin had begun.


That evening before sunset, Harry, Draco, Ron and Hermione met on the Quidditch Pitch. It was an unlikely foursome, but Harry had invited Ron, and Ron had brought along, rather grudgingly, Hermione. He was still irritated by her bossy manner, but he had to admit it was helpful having a friend who could tutor you in every subject. After their first lesson, Hermione had decided flying was definitely not for her, but she was still curious to see what a really decent broomstick could do.

Harry had long since unwrapped the gleaming broom and now held it eagerly. At Draco's command, Harry eagerly mounted up and kicked off. He hovered over their heads while Draco offered several tips on flying. Ron found himself joining in, mentioning various moves that the Seeker for the Chudley Cannons often used. In the back of his mind, Ron knew he was giving tips to the enemy as far as the House Cup was concerned, but the balance between friendship and enmity with Harry was still too fragile to risk messing it up over this. Besides, he really did want to ride Harry's broom.

Hermione smiled to herself, pleased at how Draco and Ron were getting along in their efforts to befriend Harry.

After about thirty minutes, an exhausted but exhilarated Harry swooped to the ground and dismounted. "That was fantastic!" exclaimed Harry. "Alright, how do we want to decide who goes first; Draco or Ron?"

Hermione transfigured two blades of glass into a black pebble and a clear one. She mixed them behind her back and held her hands out. "Each of you pick a hand," she instructed the boys in front of her, "the one with the black pebble goes first."

Ron drew the black one, and with a smile, mounted up and soared around the pitch. After several laps he landed and offered the broom to Draco. "Thanks, mate! That was the best ride I've ever had!"

A few minutes later, Draco had to concur. The Nimbus 2000 was absolutely fabulous. He could fly all day on that and never get bored.

Back in the main hall, the foursome separated as Ron and Hermione headed back to Gryffindor Tower. When they were out of earshot, Draco said, "That was truly awesome, Harry. The Cup is ours for sure this year! The other Seekers will never be able to catch you!"


The next day was Halloween. The first years could barely believe they had been at Hogwarts for two months. Harry in particular was amazed at how quickly the castle had become home to him; something Privet Drive never was in all his years there.

All through the corridors, even wafting down to the dungeons, came the most wonderful smells of special Halloween treats that the house elves were preparing for the festivities for that evening. Harry and Draco could hardly wait and were some of the first ones at the Slytherin table that evening. Unfortunately, the feast was abruptly cut short when Professor Quirrell raced into the Great Hall to announce that there was a troll in the dungeons. The highly-strung man then promptly passed out on the floor and pandemonium erupted.

The Headmaster cast sonorous on himself and called for "SILENCE!" When everyone was calm, he cast finite incantatum, and continued. "There will be no panicking, please. Will the prefects lead their students back to the common rooms? The feast shall continue there." He signaled the other professors to follow him. Snape directed a suspicious look at the unconscious professor on the floor and slipped out a nearly hidden door behind the High Table.


Once Harry and Draco were in the labyrinth of the dungeons, they slipped away from Marcus. Harry had confided to Draco about the mysterious pain he had experienced around their DADA professor and about what Professor Snape had said to him after that day in Potions. The two boys wanted to see if Quirrell really was unconscious or if he was faking it, especially after Draco pointed out that Quirrell had mentioned that trolls were one of his specialties.

Before they could get very far, they ran into Ron who had evidently slipped away from Percy.

"Ron!" Draco hissed, what are you doing down here?"

"The Gryffindors were the last out of the Great Hall and Hermione and I made sure that we were the last of our House out of the Great Hall. We stayed behind to keep an eye on Quirrell because Hermione thinks there's something off about him. . . . besides his complete lack of personal hygiene."

Harry looked at him.

"He smells wretchedly awful!" exclaimed Ron. "Hermione always makes us sit in the front; I don't know how she can stand to be so close to him!"

Harry and Draco exchanged a glance.

"Why did you come down here?" asked Harry, curiously.

"Hermione heard something about you being suspicious of Quirrell too and said we should let you know what we saw," explained Ron.

"Well, did you see anything?" Draco asked trying to keep his voice down and hoping Ron would get the hint.

Apparently he did for he stepped closer to them. "As soon as Quirrell thought we were all gone, he got up and escaped out that same door that Sn—Professor Snape did," Ron said quietly.

Ron continued, "I thought Professor Snape might be involved in whatever Quirrell is wrapped up in. He treats us bloody awful . . . but I saw the way he looked at Quirrell tonight and I figured, he may be a git, but I'm pretty sure he's trying to stop Quirrell from whatever he's up to."

"What exactly do you think he's up to?" asked Draco, curiously. "And where's Hermione?"

"She headed back to the Tower as soon as we saw what was going on; I told her since our room is so far away it would be easier if just one of us got caught out later on." Ron paused for a moment. "You remember on the train, you said Professor Snape took you to Gringotts and everything?" Ron asked Harry.

Harry nodded.

"Well, Hermione subscribed to The Daily Prophet and we found an article that says a high security vault was broken into that same day but it had already been emptied. Hermione and I were down visiting Hagrid – he's ever so glad there aren't any more twins in our family – and he had the same article cut out on his table. He was awfully uptight about the whole thing, didn't want to say anything about it, but he did leak that Hogwarts is protecting whatever the item is and that several professors are involved in the protection charms," finished Ron.

Harry pondered this. He knew Professor Snape had retrieved a small, rather grubby item and had tucked it carefully – if a bit distastefully – away that day. Harry had no idea what it was though; the look on the man's face had left no room for discussion.

"Thanks for telling me this, mate. I agree, there's something off-putting about Quirrell, but Draco and I just aren't sure what it is yet. You better get back to Hermione before anyone notices we're not in our common areas."

Ron nodded to the two Slytherins and headed back down the corridor. He had just turned the corner and Harry and Draco were heading back to their room when they head a scream and a roar.


The two boys turned and ran in the direction Ron had gone. They found him in a corner with a fully grown, quite smelly, furious mountain troll.

"Bloody hell!" exclaimed Harry.

Draco cast a critical eye on the beast. "Poor, stuttering, nervous Quirrell is an expert in these things?"

"Hey, pug-face!" Harry called out, trying to distract it from advancing any further on Ron.

The troll halted and turned around "Grrragh?" 'New prey!'

The troll lumbered back in the direction it had come from, heading for Harry. "Run, Ron!" called Draco. Ron sprung from his crouched position and looped around towards Draco.

"Harry can't take that thing on, Draco! We've got to distract it!"

Harry was walking backwards, trying to lead the troll out of the dungeons.

Draco watched them nervously. "Do you know expelliarmus, Ron?"

"Yeah . . . I haven't really used it, but we practiced on it in class; nothing big though."

"If we cast it together we might have enough power behind it. One the count of three, cast and aim it at the troll's club," Draco decided.

"1 – 2 – 3!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The massive club flew out of the surprised troll's hands and headed towards the young wizards.

'Whoops!' thought Draco as he threw himself over Ron to get the other boy out of the way of the massive missile. It crashed to the ground right behind them.

They still, however, had a large, even angrier troll facing them.

While they were trying to decide what to do, Professors Snape, McGonagall and Quirrell rounded the corner. Quirrell took one look at the troll and slid down the wall in a dead faint. McGonagall and Snape looked at him indignantly and cast a quick, powerful stupefy on the troll who promptly crashed to the ground.

"Explain yourselves," said McGonagall, her lips drawn into a thin, disapproving line.

The three boys looked at each other uncomfortably. Harry glanced at Quirrell who was coming around. "Professor Snape, can we discuss this just with you and Professor McGonagall since you two are our Head of Houses?" asked Harry reasonably.

The two adults looked at each other and nodded. Professor Snape hadn't missed the look Harry had given Quirrell and suspected the explanation had something to do with the man.

The two Heads motioned for the boys to follow them to a more private room to discuss the matter at hand. It was then that Harry realized that Professor Snape was limping. He made a mental note to ask the man about it at a more appropriate time. He wondered if Quirrell had had anything to do with it. It'd be another black mark against Quirrell, Harry thought absently.

Although neither Professor was pleased at the boys taking matters into their own hands, they had to admit that between smarts and, as Professor McGonagall called it, 'sheer dumb luck' they had done quite well when faced with such a creature. Far better than Quirrell who was supposedly a troll expert.

The gigantic sand-glasses which hung in the Great Hall, showcasing the House Points, reflected the results of the discussion the next day. Both Slytherin and Gryffindor had, to the majority of Hogwarts, inexplicably gained 20 points over night.


Updated 27 January 2017