"How's your Christmas celebrating, Severus". ask Dumbledore. "I'm looking for you that night. And you weren't there".

"I was with my mother that night, the Headmaster. She is happy to see me".

"Spinner's End? Yes. yes. Of course. Where would you be going if it wasn't for mum".

Dumbledore sighed in a smile. "I remember your mother, Severus. Eileen. I met her in 1941 and she was sorted into Slytherin. She's the captain of the school Gobstones teams, concurrently president. Then she met your father, Tobias Snape, she married him. Until on January 9,1960 she gave birth to you".

"My childhood was plagued by tumultuous, explosive atmosphere in home. My parents often with fighting until he began abusive her. In 1971 she accompanied me and watch me leave on the Hogwarts express. She knows, I read her thoughts, no matter where I Am, I was exhilarated to leave for Hogwarts".

Dumbledore nods. Snape continued. "Too poor to care for me. My clothes were mismatched and did not fit properly. Lily's never doubting me".

"Have you recently visited her, Severus?"

Snape turns to Dumbledore. "Always.."

Library. Day. "How could I be so stupid!" As the book hits the table with a loud thud. "I checked this out weeks ago for a bit of light reading".

"This is light?" ask Ron.

Hermione eyes Ron, and flips through the pages as Harry and Ron look down the book.

"Of course! Here it is!" She whispers dramatically. "Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's stone".

"The what?" Harry and Ron glance at each other, then Hermione.

"Honestly, don't you two read?" Hermione reads. "The Sorcerer's stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will transform any metal into pure gold and produce the Elixir of life, which will make the drinker immortal".

"Immortal".

"It means you'll never die".

"I know what it means.."

Harry shushes Ron. Hermione continued. "The only stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist, who last year celebrated his six hundred and six-fifth birthday".

She looked up from the book. "That's what Fluffy's guarding on the third floor. That's what's under the trapdoor. The Sorcerer's Stone!"

"So Flamel knows someone's after the Stone.. gives it to Dumbledore to keep safe at Hogwarts.. not realizing that the one who's after it.."

"Teaches at Hogwarts".

"So, Snape wants piles of gold and to live forever. Who wouldn't?"

Hermione closes the book, troubled by something. "What is it, Hermione?"

"I don't want to scare you, Harry. It's just.. if all Snape wants is the Stone.. Why did he try to kill you that day on the Quidditch pitch?"

Harry ponders this, but doesn't have an answer.

"Other students say you and Snape are together". said Ron. Hermione blinks. "They say you and Snape".

"I don't know what you are talking about, Ron. Me and Snape?"

"True. Sometimes Snape looks for you, then you look for him. What exactly between you two.. really".

Hermione scoff. "Student and Professor. Besides I have a reason why, and he has his own reason too. I ask if Snape really wanted to kill Harry but he didn't".

"So you two really are together. If Snape wasn't, then why do you say that he jinxed Harry's broom".

"His lips muttered as his eyes opened up on Harry's. When I start a fire on his robes, he stops and Harry is safe".

Harry rose up. "Come on. We have to see Hagrid".

Snape rushed into McGonagall's classroom. She gave Harry, Ron, Hermione and Malfoy a detention into the Dark Forest.

Reason is, Harry, Ron and Hermione got out of bed and met Hagrid in his hut that evening. Malfoy too.

The forest was a very old place that held many secrets and housed many creatures, some dark and dangerous, others friendly. The trees in the forest were considered ancient, they were dense and rough looking from years of exposure to the elements.

The forest strictly limits students, except in the case of detention. Of course, with the various dangerous creatures living in the forest, few students would even want to venture into it.

"Are you out of your mind, Minerva!" She looked up. Severus faces her. "Dark forest wasn't a place to explore! Especially not for students".

Minerva lowered her glasses down to her crooked nose. She said, "Since when you care for students responsible, Severus. They're out of beds, wandering around the castle, and see Hagrid for the dragon".

"It's just a bloody dragon, not something important!" Snape snarled at her. "Fifty points taken from the house doesn't matter to me. But sending them into the dark forest wasn't a choice".

"Is it because, Mr. Potter you care about.. Severus".

"NO!" Snape breath. "I don't". Of course it is Harry but mean time is.. Hermione in his mind. "Malfoy there too, Minerva".

McGonagall shakes her head in a smile. She knew Severus wasn't mean to Harry, not even Malfoy. It's Hermione. Dumbledore told her. and it's forbidden for teachers and students to find their love.

"I'm sorry, Severus. This is my final decision. They will receive detention tomorrow night. Accompanied by Filch and Hagrid".

Snape eyed her for a moment. He turns his feet, robes flowing behind him, walking out from her class.

Gryffindor's common room. Night. After receiving the detention, Harry met them. Harry paces before the fire while Ron and Hermione watch.

"You mean.. You-Know-Who's out there, right now, in the forest!"

"But he's weak. He's living off the unicorns. Don't you see? We had it wrong. Snape doesn't want the stone for himself. He wants the stone for Voldemort. With the Elixir of Life Voldemort will be strong again. He'll.. come back".

"But, if he comes back, you don't think he'd try to.. kill you? Do you?"

"But if he'd had the chance, he might have tried to kill me tonight".

Ron looks vaguely sick. "And to think I've been worrying about my potions final".

"No. We're forgetting one thing. Who's the one wizard Voldemort always feared?"

As they turned, Hermione spoke back. "Dumbledore. As long as Dumbledore's around, you're safe, Harry. As long as Dumbledore's around.. you can't be touched".

"That's right. Hermione is right".

Hogwarts Castle. Day. Students flock onto the sunny grounds, finished with exams.

"I'd always heard Hogwarts' end of year exams were frightful. But I found that rather enjoyable. Weren't you stunned not to be asked about Elfric the Eager?"

"I'm stunned my head didn't explode. Alright there, Harry?"

"My scar. Keeps.. burning".

"It's happened before.." ask Hermione.

"Not like this.."

Harry glanced across the grounds at Hagrid, sitting in his front garden playing flute. At his feet, Fang's eyes droop.

Corridor. Moments later. Snape wandering around the castle. First year students still fear him. That doesn't bother him.

Actually he was searching for Hermione. Today she had exams. And he wanted to know how she was doing in the dark forest. Snape also hears from Firenze about You-know-who, drinking unicorn blood and Harry sees it that night.

Snape petrified as he heard that. Lucky Hermione wasn't there to see it. Afraid You-know-who will hurt her.

"Sorry, Pro-professor Snape".

Snape looked down. "How many times have you bumped into me, Mr. Winston? Are you blind or something, or are my robes so dark that you couldn't see me in daylight".

"I-I'm sorry. How many points you will take from Hufflepuff house, Professor Snape".

Snape snarled, just walked past the boy. From his eyes, he saw his witch stood middle of the corridor with Potter and Weasley.

Smirking, sneaking behind them.

"We've met Hagrid. And Hagrid slipped his words. Then we ran to Professor McGonagall about the Sorcerer's stone. With Dumbledore gone someone will try to steal it".

Harry leads the others down the corridor. "That was no stranger Hagrid met in the village. It was Snape. Which means he knows how to get past Fluffy".

"And with Dumbledore gone.."

"Good afternoon". They freeze. Up ahead, Snape stands, studying them. "Now what would three fine Gryffindors such as yourselves be doing inside on such a lovely day?"

Hermione stutters. "We were just.."

"You want to be careful. People will think you're.. up to something". Snape eyes Harry, then to Hermione. "Miss Granger, I would like to see you in my office".

He turns away. "NOW!" Hermione jolted. Ron turned to her.

"What did you do wrong this time?".

"I wasn't. I don't know. What do we do now?"

"Go through the trapdoor. Tonight". Harry and Ron walk. "We'll see you tonight, Hermione".

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you two left me with Snape!" They didn't hear it. "Urgh!" She turns to walk to Snape's office.

"Professor Snape, please. You can't do this! What will my friends say about this, as they look at us? I'm the students and you my Potions teacher".

"There's nothing wrong about it, Miss Granger. Because they know you're in trouble".

"I'm not!"

"Then tell me what kind of dragon you, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley see in Hagrid hut, that makes you three including Mr. Malfoy receive a detention from Professor McGonagall".

Snape's silky voice makes Hermione shut her lips. She doesn't want anything to be revealed.

"No.. you protect your friends but don't think of yourself". Snape stood in front of her. "I expect something good from you, Miss Granger, and you disobey it".

Snape breathing. His eyes study his witch. "Are you alright, Miss Granger?"

"I should go, Professor". She bolts out from Snape's office. He wanted to stop her, and she was right. He can't.