I've gotten some really great feedback on this story so far. Thank you so much guys. It really means a lot. I'm always a little afraid to take on something this big. I'd really hate to bomb this and disappoint all of you. Also, I apologize for typos and such. This is written mostly on my phone... And that's a little tricky at times. I try to catch errors on my laptop before posting but, stuff gets missed. If you see a problem, let me know and I'll fix it. It's tough to use proper grammar while attempting to fill in plot holes.

Again, thanks for the support guys. I'll try to update pretty frequently for you. And as always, I love to hear from you guys.


Harry was enjoying going to classes. Draco was in all of his classes but Ron only shared Potions class with them. It was a shame. They could have used the extra company in History of Magic. That class was painfully dull with Professor Binns, the only ghost teacher, droning on and on.

Harry had been nervous about Potions class. Snape was intimidating and strict. He was rumored to favor his Slytherins, but Harry doubted that even the Slytherins would get away with much.

For their first potions class, they'd worked on a very simple potion for curing boils. Harry was paired with Draco and was pleased to find that the blond was decent at potions already. Even better, he kept Harry from making any big mistakes. Some of the others weren't so lucky.

Neville managed to melt the cauldron that he and Ron had been using. Seamus set fire to his and Dean's work table. Crabbe and Goyle's potion belched out copious amounts to black smoke.

Hermione Granger and Parvati's potion had been perfect, but Snape had merely deemed it "acceptable" before sweeping away. Draco eyed their potion with a disgruntled sigh. "I know I could have beaten them," he grumbled.

"Sorry," Harry muttered sheepishly.

Draco sighed softly and then smiled at Harry. "Don't worry about it," Draco said. "I'll work with you so you get better at this."

Overall, the class hadn't been as much of a nightmare as Harry anticipated. Snape had snapped at Harry only once for talking, while completely ignoring the fact that Draco had been talking as well.

After lunch, Harry was going to visit Hagrid. He's received an invite for tea and Harry was looking forward to seeing his friend. He'd loved visiting Hagrid when Minerva brought him to the castle during the summer. Minerva seemed reluctant to let Hagrid supervise Harry on his own, but she'd allowed it.

Draco wasn't especially interested in Hagrid, but had accepted Harry's invitation to tag along. He was a little annoyed when Ron was asked to join as well.

Draco hadn't realized how very large Hagrid was. He had to be half giant. And that wild hair! He looked feral. But Hagrid smiled so brightly when Harry greeted him and introduced his friends. Draco sighed inwardly. He was already associating with Weasley, however reluctantly. What would his father think of him socializing with a half-breed groundskeeper?

Despite Draco's reservations, he found Hagrid to be a decent enough fellow. So, he quietly sipped at the tea Hagrid offered while Harry and Ron chatted to the half-giant. Draco's gaze drifted to the table where he saw a newspaper clipping that was partially hidden under a rock cake. He picked up the paper and looked it over, frowning.

"Whatcha got there?" Hagrid asked him.

"Just part of a newspaper," Draco muttered. Then he paused thoughtfully. "They still haven't found the person responsible for the break in at Gringotts?" he asked.

Harry remembered hearing about that. It had happened on his birthday. Luckily the vault had been emptied earlier that day and so nothing had been taken. Still, Gringotts had never been broken into before.

"I wonder what they were after," Harry mused.

"Must have been pretty good to do something so mad," Ron commented. "I hear there's a dragon guarding some of the vaults."

Draco nodded his agreement, though he noted that Hagrid had gone quiet and was no longer looking directly at any of them. Harry caught his eyes and then glanced back at Hagrid curiously.

Shortly after that, the three boys were dismissed with a promise to have them back over for tea. Hagrid had looked a little uncomfortable as he waved them off though.

"That was weird," Ron muttered, glancing back at Hagrid's hut as they made their way back to the castle.

"I think he's hiding something," Draco said bluntly.

"You're just being a prat," Ron snapped defensively.

"Stop," Harry snapped, before Draco could retort. "I thought Hagrid was acting a bit odd too. But let's not accuse him of anything just yet. He's my friend."

"I was only showing my concern," Draco grumbled, giving Ron a resentful look.

Harry sighed and shook his head. Then he had an idea. "Want to see my animagus form?" he asked Draco excitedly.

Draco grinned, eagerly turning his gaze to Harry. He knew that Harry could transform, but he'd not been able to watch. Honestly, he'd forgotten about in the excitement of their first week of school. The fact that Ron had seen it was infuriating.

Harry glanced around briefly before transforming. His cat form was still small but he'd definitely gotten bigger. His fur was long, full and soft. He looked up at Draco expectantly, fuzzy ears flicking as the wind brushed over them.

"Oh you're gorgeous," Draco crooned, reaching down and scooping the cat up. He laughed in delight as Harry began to purr. "This is brilliant," he said, his fingers stroking over the fur. He turned to Ron. "We have to pick out a name for him."

"He's got a name," Ron retorted, looking unimpressed.

"Don't be daft," Draco sniffed haughtily. "Harry is fine for a human, but we need a different name for the cat."

"Mental," Ron huffed under his breath.

Draco set Harry back down and watched as the cat stilled and then pounced on something hidden in the grass. "I could call you Salazar," Draco mused.

"Like Salazar Slytherin?" Ron scoffed. "Not likely."

"Harry's in Slytherin," Draco snapped.

"But I'm helping with his name," Ron objected. "You don't here me suggesting Godric."

Draco wrinkled his nose. "Point taken. House neutral then?" he suggested.

Ron nodded his agreement and Harry stretched out in the grass to watch them. This was the most conversation that Ron and Draco had managed on their own.

"Merlin?" Ron suggested with a little shrug. He glanced at the cat and shook his head. "No, that's not right either."

"Maybe we should give it some thought," Draco said, kneeling and reaching out to scratch lightly at the cat's furry belly when he rolled over. "We'll each come up with a few names and pick the best one."

Ron nodded in acceptance and then looked up to see Blaise approaching them.

"What on earth are you doing?" Blaise demanded. "It's nearly time for dinner. And where's Po- Harry?"

A loud meow was the response.

Blaise blinked in surprise at the cat and then looked between Ron and Draco. "Is- Is that Harry?" he asked incredulously.

"He's an animagus," Draco laughed, stroking the dark fur gently. "He's registered and everything."

"He's eleven!" Blaise yelped, completely shocked.

"And one of his guardians is an animagus," Ron explained. "Plus Dumbledore loves Harry. He got lots of training and they helped him through the whole thing."

Harry returned to his human form and stretched languidly. "It's not difficult exactly," he told Blaise. "It's more time consuming and annoying. Holding a Mandrake leaf in your mouth for a month is awful. Everything else is about timing and focus. And pronouncing the incantation correctly," he added.

Blaise just stared at him for a moment and then shook his head. "I knew you'd be a weird one," he said. "Come on then. It's time for dinner."

They started off toward the castle together, enjoying a breeze that swept over them. "I didn't know you liked cats," Harry told Draco.

"It's not cats specifically," Draco said quietly. "Father would never let me have a pet. I always wanted one."

Blaise grinned. "Now you have a cat. Sort of. Happy birthday."

Ron and Harry snorted with laughter.

Draco rolled his eyes. "So stupid," he muttered, shaking his head.


The next week they got the chance to practice flying. Draco and Ron seemed to be trying to out brag one another on their flying abilities. It was one thing that Harry had never done, and he was quite looking forward to it. Slytherin and Gryffindor would be learning at the same time.

As Madam Hooch called out instructions, Harry listened intently. Unfortunately, Neville had kicked off the ground in a fit of nerves. His broom rose higher and higher as Madam Hooch shouted at him to come back down. Neville wobbled dangerously and slid off the broom, landing on the ground hard.

Harry watched as Neville was led away by Madam Hooch. They rest of the students were given strict instructions to stay on the ground while she was gone.

Draco bent down and picked up a round object from the grass. He turned it over in his hand with a frown. "It's a Remembrall," he said, glancing at Harry. "Longbottom must have dropped it."

Pansy reached over and plucked the orb out of Draco's hand. "Did you see that fat lump's face?" she cackled unkindly. The other Slytherins laughed while Draco snatched the Remembrall back.

"Very classy," Draco said sarcastically, smirking when Pansy scowled at him.

"Defending Gryffindors now Draco?" Pansy sneered.

"Stop being such an arse Pansy," Blaise snapped, nudging Draco aside. "There's no point in arguing with that silly bint," Blaise told Draco quietly.

"I wasn't going to argue," Draco retorted. "I have dignity."

Blaise resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

They were able to resume their broom training when Madam Hooch returned. But this time, Professor Snape had come along to observe. Soon, everyone was on a broom in the air.

Harry loved it. He instinctively knew how to maneuver the broom, guiding it in wide circles around his class mates. He and Draco got caught up in a game of catch with the Remembrall. When one of Draco's throws went over Harry's head, Harry took off after it. He went into a dive and snatched up the sphere before pulling up to prevent himself from crashing.

He landed neatly before rolling onto his back and staring up at the clouds, wearing a silly smile. A moment later, Draco and Snape were looking down at him. Draco was beaming, but Snape looked thoughtful. "I love flying," Harry said, unable to stop grinning.

"You nutter," Draco laughed.

"Do you like Quidditch Potter?" Snape asked.

"I guess," Harry said with a little shrug. "I've never played, but Moony took me to a match once."

Snape nodded, still eyeing Harry. "I want you to try out for the Seeker position," he said stiffly.

"You're joking," Draco gasped. He grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him to his feet. "First years never make the team."

"It's not against the rules," Snape responded dismissively. "First years simply aren't likely to out perform older students in tryouts."

Draco looked excited. "You've got to Harry," he insisted eagerly. "You'd be the youngest Seeker in... probably a century."

"Alright," Harry agreed, offering Snape a tentative smile.

"Tryouts start tomorrow Potter," Snape said, moving away to speak to Madam Hooch.

Tryouts were nerve-racking for Harry. But, Snape had attended to be sure that the older Slytherins didn't brush him off. He wasn't particularly fond of the boy, but he'd learned tolerance. Honestly, his only real objection to Harry Potter was his father. But Harry's personality was much more like Lily's.

It would be a bit stupid to ignore the talent that Harry displayed on a broom. Snape knew from speaking to Minerva that Harry had never flown before. The boy had managed a catch that much older students wouldn't attempt.

In the end, Harry was welcomed to the team with enthusiasm. The other teams' Seekers were going to have a difficult time keeping up.


Harry pressed his back against the cool wall, panting heavily. Draco was leaning against him, gasping for breath. Ron was taking deep breaths and glaring at Hermione who was clutching at a stitch in her side.

Ron had gotten into a heated argument with Theo Nott and brashly agreed to a duel. The fact that he didn't really know any spells for dueling didn't enter his mind until after he'd accepted the challenge. Harry had been chosen as his second, and Draco had insisted on going with Harry.

Hermione had caught Ron sneaking out of the Gryffindor common room after curfew and followed him out to lecture him, only to end up locked out. The fat lady that guarded the common room had wandered off to another painting.

Instead of finding Nott, they found that Filch had been alerted to students out of bed. The caretaker and his cat were searching the trophy room when the group arrived for the duel, and had given chase when the students ran away.

"I hear him," Draco hissed, catching the sound of hurried footsteps on the stone floors.

"Run," Harry urged, leading the way up the nearest stairs. He turned right and seized the door handle of a large door, pulling hard. The door didn't budge.

"We're done for," Ron groaned, glancing around. They'd never find a hiding place before Filch got to them.

Hermione snatched Harry's wand and tapped the handle with it. "Alohamora," she said quietly.

There was a soft click and they pushed through the door hastily, slamming it behind them. Harry pressed his ear to the door, trying to quiet his breathing so he could listen for Filch.

"Isn't this the third floor?" Hermione panted.

Draco's eyes widened and he turned around. He remembered Dumbledore mentioning the third floor corridor during the welcome feast, but he hadn't paid much attention to it. He gasped in horror at the sight before him and backed up toward the door. "Oh Merlin," he choked out.

Harry turned and saw an enormous black dog with three heads. It was snarling, displaying disturbingly large, pointed teeth.

The four students cried out in alarm as the dog lunged toward them. The door was yanked back open and they ran out, slamming the door behind them. Filch was nowhere to be seen.

Badly shaken, they hurried away. "What are they doing keeping a thing like that in a school?" Ron hissed.

Hermione shot him a scathing look. "Didn't you see what it was standing on?" she asked impatiently.

"I wasn't looking at his feet," Ron snapped. "Didn't you notice he had three heads?"

"He was standing on a trapdoor," Hermione said. "It's guarding something."

"Guarding something?" Harry asked, frowning thoughtfully.

"That's right," Hermione confirmed huffily. "Now, I'm going to bed before you three get us killed- or worse, expelled." She marched away toward Gryffindor tower with her nose in the air.

"She needs to sort out her priorities," Ron commented, shaking his head. He gave a quick wave and followed reluctantly after Hermione.

"Granger's a lunatic," Draco decided, looping his arm through Harry's and pulling him along toward the dungeons.


Theo Nott seemed a little surprised that Harry and Ron hadn't got caught by Filch. Of course, he regretted his underhanded move when Draco spent nearly an hour ranting and complaining about it. The Malfoy scion had a powerful family, and it wouldn't be wise to get on the wrong side of them in first year. Theo had clearly underestimated the friendship between Harry and Draco.

Harry didn't bother getting angry with Theo. It was rather hilarious to see Draco get all worked up about the incident. Theo had backed away slowly as Draco snarled his displeasure. Even funnier was when he lapsed into an exhausted sort of pout while Vincent and Greg chased Theo away.

Harry was able to coax Draco out of his sulk and they went to class like nothing had happened. Neither could forget what had happened though. What could the dog be guarding?

Hermione mostly avoided them. When she did make eye contact, it was too frown disapprovingly. As if they cared what she thought.

After class one day, Ron met Harry, Draco and Blaise in the hall. The red head looked rather irritable.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Hermione," Ron growled. "I can't stand her."

"What happened?" Draco asked as they continued on their way down the hall. He was looking forward to enjoying the crisp autumn air. Weasley could complain outside if he needed to.

Ron launched into a description of the Charms lesson he'd just had. Hermione had corrected everything he did and nagged him relentlessly about proper pronunciation. "She's a nightmare," Ron insisted. "It's no wonder she doesn't have any friends."

Harry stumbled a little as someone knocked against his shoulder as they passed. A quick glance confirmed that it was Hermione and that their were tears on her face.

"I think she heard you," Blaise said.

"Well-" Ron cut himself off, looking a little uncomfortable. "Did you lot finish the potions essay?" he asked, eager to change the subject.

It was shortly before dinner that they overheard some of the Gryffindor girls talking about Hermione. Apparently, she'd been in the girl's bathroom crying all afternoon. Ron looked rather guilty but didn't comment.

Dinner was interrupted as Quirrell suddenly burst through the doors of the Great Hall. He was screaming about a troll in the dungeon before he passed out.

Chaos erupted but Dumbledore called out in a thunderous voice, silencing the panicked students. Prefects began leading their houses back to the common rooms while the teachers went after the troll.

"The Slytherin common room is in the dungeon with the troll," Harry said apprehensively.

"I'm sure the prefects know a way to get there safely," Blaise said, though he was rather tense.

They followed the others out of the Great Hall, walking a little closer together than they usually would. And then Harry stopped and grabbed Draco's arm. "Hermione," he said anxiously. "She doesn't know."

Draco groaned but allowed himself to be led away. Blaise hesitated, but followed them. They bumped into Ron, who had the same realization. "We'll just warn her and then go back to our dorms," Ron said, wringing his hands.

Their plan was abruptly changed when an awful smell hit their noses. A moment later, they heard the thud of the troll's feet as he lumbered down the hall and through a doorway. The four boys raced to the door and closed it.

"Did we just capture a troll?" Blaise asked breathlessly.

Before they could be pleased with themselves, they heard a terrified scream.

"Crap," Draco groaned.

"We shut it in there with Hermione," Harry yelped, yanking the door open. They ran into the bathroom, and gasped.

Hermione was standing with her back against the far wall, her terrified gaze locked on the troll. Ron shouted, getting the troll's attention. It swung its heavy club angrily, destroying one of the bathroom stalls. Harry darted around the troll to get to Hermione, but she was too frozen with fear to move.

Draco, Blaise and Ron had begun chucking pieces of the ruined stall at the trolls face. It howled in rage when Draco hit it in the eye with a rock. When it started toward them, Harry ran and jumped onto its back, shoving his wand up its nose. That was one way to get the troll's attention.

"Are you insane?!" Draco screeched hysterically.

"Just do something," Harry shouted, clinging to the troll as it swung its club wildly.

Ron pulled out his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!" he cried. The club slipped from the troll's grip to levitate over the troll's head. Ron released the spell and the club fell with a heavy thud.

Harry leapt back as the troll collapsed. He looked around and saw that his friends were shaken but unharmed.

McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell rushed into the room just as Draco rounded on Harry looking furious. "What were you thinking?" Draco demanded. "No, don't bothering answering. You clearly weren't thinking at all. That troll could have killed you, you moron."

Harry found himself backed into a wall as Draco closed in on him. "Don't you ever scare me like that again Harry Potter," Draco commanded, his eyes suddenly wet. "I'll never forgive you."

And then they were hugging tightly, unsure which of them had initiated it. Harry sighed softly and patted Draco's back, while Draco kept up a steady stream of mumbled insults and threats. Blaise rolled his eyes.

"Explain yourselves," McGonagall said finally, scowling at the wayward students.

"It's my fault," Hermione spoke up, finally moving away from the wall.

"It's not anyone's fault," Blaise said, giving Hermione an impatient look. "Granger didn't know about the troll because she wasn't at dinner. We wanted to warn her, but the troll got in here with her."

"If they hadn't found me, I'd probably be dead," Hermione added, her voice shaking.

"Not many first years could take on a mountain troll and live to tell about it," McGonagall said, eyeing the troll. "Five points will be awarded for each of you boys. For sheer dumb luck," she added with a little shake off her head.

Harry sighed in relief, glad that they weren't going to be punished. His gaze caught on Snape, noticing that the surly professor's trousers were torn and his leg was bloody. Unfortunately, Snape caught him looking and shifted his robes to hide the injured leg.

"Go straight to your common rooms," Snape commanded. He turned and sneered at Quirrell before walking out.

The students shuffled past the troll and into the hallway, eager to be away from the stench. Professor McGonagall paused to hug Harry tightly before turning to deal with the unconscious troll. Harry returned the embrace gladly.

Just before they parted ways, Hermione looked around at the four boys. Thank you," she said softly.

They boys nodded to her. "See you tomorrow Hermione," Harry said with a little wave.

Ron nodded to the three Slytherins before walking Hermione to Gryffindor tower.

"Rescuing damsels in distress," Blaise chuckled as they made their way to the Slytherin common room. "Not very Slytherin at all."

"We won't be making a habit of it," Draco said sharply, giving Harry a stern look.

"I can't ignore it if someone needs help," Harry argued.

"You can think it through and not jump onto the back of a troll," Draco snapped.

"I'm sorry Draco," Harry blurted out. "It's not like I can go back and do it differently. I'll try to be more careful."

Draco didn't say anything in response, though he relaxed a little. When they got to the common room, the other students asked a lot of questions. Blaise stayed behind to explain what happened while Harry and Draco went on to their dorm room.

They didn't speak as they got ready for bed. Harry knew that Draco was worried and probably embarrassed about his surpringly emotional response in the bathroom. It was wonderful that Draco cared about him so much.

Harry climbed into bed and turned so that he was facing Draco's bed. Draco was curled up facing Harry. "Sorry I made you worry," Harry said sincerely.

Draco smiled slightly. "Good night Harry," he murmured, finally relaxing.

Harry went to sleep with a smile on his lips.


Draco was a bit horrified to find that some people thought that saving someone from a troll made them your friend. Hermione was now often tagging along whenever Ron spent time around Harry. Which meant that Draco kept finding himself in the company of the red head and the know-it-all muggleborn that had the audacity to get better grades than himself. Her grades weren't much higher than his, but it still annoyed him. His father would be furious to learn that a muggleborn was getting better grades.

Draco's brooding was interupted when Harry nudged him with his elbow. They were studying in the library with Blaise, Ron and Hermione. "I've just thought of something," Harry said quietly. He'd just seen Snape leave the library, limping slightly. "I think Professor Snape tried to get past that three headed dog."

Draco frowned. "Why would he do that?" he asked.

"To get at whatever it's guarding," Ron suggested.

Hermione bit her lip, brushing her quill against her chin absently as she thought.

"I can't think of a single thing that would be worth facing a giant three headed dog," Blaise said quietly.

Draco nodded his agreement and then remembered something. "What about the Gringotts robbery?" he asked. "Nothing was stolen because the vault had been cleared out. And Hagrid acted a bit oddly when we talked about it."

"So that might be the thing that the dog is guarding," Hermione murmured. "But why would Professor Snape try to get it?"

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation," Draco said, not liking the accusation against his godfather. "We need more information."

"So let's talk to Hagrid after the Quidditch match," Ron suggested.

Harry groaned but agreed. The next morning would be Harry's first Quidditch match. His friends were much more excited about it than he was.