Alright, after this chapter there's only one more for year one. No point in dragging out first year. I'm really going to try to keep everything moving for you guys. I'm super excited about this story. I've got some great stuff worked out for further on, and I can't wait to share it with you guys.


Harry swallowed hard as he followed the rest of the Slytherin team onto the Quidditch pitch. They were playing against Gryffindor. Harry was a little afraid that he would through up before he could get him broom in the air.

"Just relax Potter," said the Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Captain. "You've been brilliant in practice. Our beaters will keep the bludgers away from you. Just concentrate on the snitch."

Harry nodded mutely. When Madam Hooch blew her whistle, Harry took off. The wind against his face soothed his frayed nerves as the broom few higher.

Draco watched Harry circle the pitch from high in the air. The rest of the Slytherin team was playing ruthlessly. If they didn't at least try to be subtle with their cheating, they'd be penalized. The Gryffindor team was quite good, but Draco doubted that their Seeker would do them any good against Harry.

"Something isn't right," Blaise said, squinting up at Harry.

Draco's eyes darted back to Harry. His best friend was clinging to his broom as it shuddered and bucked. Draco stood up, fear clogging his throat.

The broom unseated Harry and he ended up hanging from it by one arm. Draco eyes scanned the ground. Was someone preparing to catch Harry when he fell? A commotion from the stands on the opposite side of the pitch drew his attention, but he couldn't tell what was happening.

"Look!" Blaise shouted, pointing at Harry. He had swung himself back onto the broom and was flying normally.

Draco heaved a sigh of relief only to gasp again when Harry went into a dive. He had one hand out stretched, reaching for the snitch. But he got a bit too close to the ground and tumbled onto the grass. Then Harry sat up and spit the snitch into his hands.

The Slytherins cheered as their team landed to congratulate their seeker. Draco and Blaise hurried down from the stands to meet Harry.


Once Harry had changed out of his Quidditch gear, he walked with Draco and Blaise to Hagrid's hut. They found Ron and Hermione already there, arguing with Hagrid.

"I know a jinx when I see one," Hermione was insisting. "You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking."

"Professor Snape made my broom nearly throw me off?" Harry asked.

"That's ridiculous," Draco snapped.

Hermione scowled. "Well then, it's amazing the way Harry regained control as soon as I set Snape's robes on fire," she said sarcastically.

"You set him on fire?" Draco yelped.

"Just his robes," Hermione replied with a dismissive wave. "It was just a distraction. I didn't injure him."

"You're completely mental," Blaise said, staring at Hermione in awe.

"Why would Professor Snape try to hurt Harry?" Hagrid asked, exasperated.

"Why did he try to get past that three headed dog?" Ron countered.

"Who told you about Fluffy?"

"Fluffy," Blaise echoed, looking horrified by the name.

"That monster has a name?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"Of course, he's mine," Hagrid responded. "I loaned him to Dumbledore to guard the... Er- No more questions," he said, looking panicked.

"But-"

"No," Hagrid said firmly. "You're meddling in things that ought not be meddled in. What that dog is guarding is between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flammel." He groaned when Harry's face lit up. "Go on now," he said, waving the students away.

"Who's Nicholas Flamel?" Harry immediately asked Hermione. If anyone would know, surely it would be the one that always seems to be reading.

"I don't know," Hermione replied, looking thoughtful.

"I know that name," Draco muttered. "How do I know that name?" Blaise just shrugged.

"We'll just have to do some research then," Hermione said brightly. No doubt she enjoyed the idea of combing through the school's library. The boys were less enthusiastic.


The Christmas holiday was wonderful for Harry. He'd been delighted to leave school and spend time with Remus.

He could still remember the last Christmas he'd spent with the Dursleys. He'd mostly been ignored and had received a pair of old socks as a present. That memory only served to make him even more grateful for his unorthodox family.

Remus was attentive to Harry and thrilled to spend time with him. Minerva even spent most of the holiday at home with them. They talked and laughed together. They made biscuits and hot chocolate. Remus told wild stories about the mauraders and their ridiculous pranks at school while Minerva shook her head fondly.

Since Harry was on the Slytherin Quidditch team, Minerva had been allowed to bend the rules a bit. So, Harry was given a Nimbus Two Thousand as a gift. He was so excited. Draco was going to be rather jealous, but perhaps he wouldn't be difficult when Harry allowed him to try it out.

The day before returning to school, Harry received one extra gift. It was sitting on his bed when he went to change into his bed clothes. He'd unwrapped it as Remus stepped into the room.

Remus had stared in shock at the slippery fabric as Harry ran his hands over it. Remus had them explained that it was an invisibility cloak that had belonged to James Potter.

Harry returned to school and decided that he wanted to try the cloak on his own the first time. So, he didn't mention it to his friends right away.

But on the next night, he couldn't resist dragging Draco out with him. It was a relief when Draco followed him to the common room without any resistance.

"Are you going to show me what you've been so worked up about?" Draco asked, smothering a yawn with his hand.

"Look," Harry said, holding his new cloak up.

Draco suddenly looked much more awake. "An invisibility cloak," he whispered reverently, stroking the fabric. "This is brilliant."

"I tried it out last night," Harry explained. "I found a mirror and saw my parents in it. I want you to see."

Draco eagerly agreed to go, but refused to wander the castle in bed clothes. Once they were dressed, he ducked under the cloak and pressed close to Harry's side as they slipped out of the common room.

It took Harry quite a while to find the room that he'd stumbled upon the night before. But eventually he found it and eagerly removed the cloak to step in front of the mirror.

In the glass, he could see himself standing between a lovely woman with vibrant red hair, and a man that had dark, untidy hair and glasses. Just behind them, he could see Monny and Minnie. "That's my mum and dad," Harry said pointing at the mirror.

"I only see you Harry," Draco said carefully.

"Come look properly," Harry said, waving Draco over. He stepped to one side and guided Draco to stand directly in from of the mirror.

Draco's eyes widened. He didn't see Harry's parents. He saw his own parents, smiling and looking proudly at a grown up version of Draco. Next to Draco was Harry. He looked older as well and his fingers were interlaced with Draco's.

"Draco?" Harry asked uncertainly.

"I don't see your parents Harry," Draco said softly, unable to tear his gaze away from the mirror. "Could- Could this mirror show the future?" he asked, before immediately regretting the stupidity of the question.

"It's getting late boys."

Harry and Draco gasped and turned around to see Albus Dumbledore standing near the door, smiling at them. "Like so many before you, you've discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised," Dumbledore said placidly. "What do you think it does?" he asked.

"It shows what we want," Harry answered. "Whatever we want."

"Yes and no," Dumbledore replied. "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts." He peered at the boys. "Harry, while you are loved by your guardians, you see yourself with the parents that we're taken from you. And Draco..." He paused and tilted his head to one side, looking at Draco expectantly.

"I see my parents being proud of me," Draco said softly. "Accepting me as I am." He cast another look at the mirror, the adult version of Harry smiling sweetly at the older Draco while Malfoy Senior reached out to squeeze his son's shoulder.

Dumbledore smiled a little sadly. "It's important to remember that this mirror doesn't offer knowledge or truth. Men could waste away having into it, or driven mad. It doesn't do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." He guided them back to the door gently. "The mirror is going to be moved, and I must ask you not to go looking for it again," he said, his tone gentle but firm.

"Yes sir," Harry and Draco answered. To their surprise, the headmaster winked at them before draping the invisibility cloak over them.

"The headmaster is weird," Draco whispered as they made their way back to the common room.

Harry giggled softly, agreeing with Draco's assessment. He desperately wanted to ask what Draco had seen in the mirror, but he didn't. It seemed to have startled Draco a little and if the blond wanted to discuss it, he'd come to Harry.

Draco climbed back into his bed, his thoughts on the image that he'd seen in the mirror. He didn't usual think much about how badly he wanted his father's approval. During the break, Draco's father had expressed pleasure with the fact that Draco and Harry were friends. But, he used words like alliance, useful and appearances. His father wanted benefits for the Malfoy reputation, and seemed to think that having Harry on their side would be important later. Draco didn't want that. He knew by the look his mother gave him that it wouldn't be good for Harry. Harry wasn't like Lucius Malfoy.

Draco couldn't bring himself to voice his fears to Harry just yet. Harry had returned to school with a happy smile and Draco didn't want to spoil that. All that mattered was that Draco wasn't willing to give Harry up. The memory of seeing them holding hands as adults made him feel oddly warm. They'd never held hands, not really. The closest they'd come was when Draco would grab his hand when they were little to drag him off somewhere. Draco was sure that holding Harry's hand now would feel rather different.


A few weeks later, they figured out who Nicholas Flamel was. Hermione had come to the library with the largest book Harry had ever seen and dropped it onto the table. She quickly found the passage she wanted and allowed the others to read over it.

Nicholas Flamel was the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone. It could turn any metal into gold and was used to make the elixir of life, which would make the drinker immortal.

They approached Hagrid with what they knew, but he wasn't pleased with their continued interference. He tried to assure them that Professor Snape was one of the people protecting the stone, and that of course he wouldn't try to steal it. This didn't absolve Snape at all in the minds of Ron and Hermione.

Their attention was temporarily redirected when they saw Hagrid pull on a pair of pink oven mitts. He reached into a cauldron that was being heated in the fireplace and pulled out a large egg. Harry wasn't sure of the egg's color since the room was so dimly lit, but it was very dark.

"That's a dragon egg," Ron said, edging away from the table as it began to crack.

Draco's eyes widened. "Where did you get a dragon egg?" he demanded, his voice much higher than usual.

"I won it off a feller down a' the pub," Hagrid explained. "Seemed glad to be rid of it actually," he added with a frown, as if he couldn't imagine why someone wouldn't want to carry a dragon egg around in their pocket.

Draco took a step back as they egg cracked open. He caught Harry's arm and pulled him back as well. A moment later, a dragon emerged. His scaly body glistening in the fire's warm glow and his eyes peered around at them.

"Hello Norbert," Hagrid chuckled, attempting to tickle the dragon under its chin. The dragon bit his finger and then nearly set his beard on fire. "Little tyke," Hagrid cooed.

"Your house is made of wood!" Hermione shrieked.

Hagrid only shushed her, not wanting to scare the baby dragon. Draco buried his face against Harry's shoulder to muffle his laughter at the absurdity.

They left Hagrid's hut, a little concerned that it would be nothing but a pile of ash the next morning. But, they found something else to worry about soon enough. They stepped into the castle only to run right in to Filch.

"Students out of bed after curfew," Filch muttered with a nasty grin. "Right this way."

The four students followed the caretaker right to Professor McGonagall's office. The door opened and her stern glare settled on the students as they were ushered inside. She spoke with Filch briefly before shutting the door and moving to stand behind her desk.

Harry dropped his gaze to the floor. He hated to make Minnie angry. Even at school he thought of her like a parental figure. Calling her professor didn't change that. He couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes, knowing that he'd see disappointment there.

"Nothing gives a student the right to wander the grounds at night," McGonagall said sternly. "I'm taking fifty points from each of you and you will serve detention tomorrow night."

A one hundred point loss for Slytherin and Gryffindor. Their housemates we're going to be furious. "Return to your dorms Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger," McGonagall snapped. "Immediately. Mr. Malfoy, step into the hall for a moment."

Ron, Hermione and Draco stepped out of the room, leaving Harry alone with McGonagall. She sat down on top of her desk, eyeing Harry with pursed lips. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked with a shake off her head.

"I'm sorry," Harry said softly. "We were visiting Hagrid and meant to be back before curfew."

"So what kept you?" she asked.

Harry winced, knowing that he'd never get away with lying to her. And he was honestly worried about Hagrid. "He had a dragon egg," Harry admitted, feeling as if he'd just betrayed Hagrid. "We saw it hatch and..." His breath caught in his throat. He wasn't going to cry. He was a student at Hogwarts and too old to cry over every little thing.

"Harry?" McGonagall asked, tilting his chin up so he's meet her gaze. "Did it hurt you?" she asked, alarmed by his distress.

"No, but I'm afraid it'll hurt Hagrid," Harry said, his voice wavering. "And I don't want to get him into trouble." To his surprise, McGonagall hugged him. For a moment, she was just Minnie instead of his strict Transfiguration teacher.

"Hagrid will be fine," she assured him. "I'll take care of it." She pulled back to cup his face in her hands. "Behave yourself young man. Now off to bed."

Harry gave her another quick hug and then left the office. Draco whirled around to face Harry, his features pulled into a worried frown. "Are you alright?" Draco asked. "You didn't get into more trouble?"

"No," Harry answered with a little sigh. "But I had to tell her about the dragon."

"Probably for the best," Draco said reasonably, linking their arms together and keeping Harry close to his side as they walked towards their common room. "Dragons are not good pets. Someone could get hurt with a creature like that around. I know you said he's always wanted a dragon, but that's just silly," he added, giving Harry a little poke in the ribs, making Harry smile reluctantly.

Detention the next night found the four students being led by Filch toward the Forbidden Forest. They met Hagrid near the treeline. The gamekeeper was mopping his eyes with a comically large handkerchief. Norbert the dragon had been picked up by Charlie Weasley to be transported to a dragon reserve in Romania.

Filch sternly commanded Hagrid to pull himself together before going into the Forbidden Forest.

"We can't go in there!" Draco yelped, his eyes wide with anxiety. "Students aren't allowed. And there are dangerous creatures in there... werewolves, I heard."

Filch looked unimpressed. "There's a lot worse than werewolves in them trees. You can be sure of that," he added ominously, before turning and limping away toward the castle.

Hagrid cleared his throat and picked up a crossbow, not noticing the growing alarm on the students faces. He led the way just inside the woods and stopped to run his fingers over a silvery substance on a fallen tree. He held his hand up for the students to see.

"This is unicorn blood," Hagrid explained. "A few have been killed, and this one's been hurt bad. So we're going to find the poor creature. Ron and Hermione, you're with me. Harry, you're with Draco."

"And we get Fang," Draco said hastily, gesturing to the boarhound at Hagrid's side.

"Course," Hagrid nodded distractedly. "He's a bloody coward though. Send up red sparks if you find the unicorn." He started off into the woods with Hermione and Ron trailing after him.

"Great," Draco said flatly, eyeing the dog with disappointment.

"Let's go," Harry sighed. He picked his way across the forest floor, wobbling a bit on the uneven ground.

Draco muttered continuously as they walked. It was mostly complaints about doing servants' work and stupid trees blocking the moonlight. The sound of a fallen branch cracking under Harry's foot startled him pretty badly, prompting Harry to grab hold of his hand and urge him along.

They finally came to a small clearing and found the unicorn, lying lifelessly on the ground. His pure white flesh was torn and there was someone, or something, crouched over it and drinking the blood.

Draco squeezed Harry's hand tighter, his entire body trembling with fright. He tried to pull Harry back, but twigs snapped underfoot, drawing the creatures attention.

Whatever it was, it's face was obscured by the hood of its cloak. He rose from its crouched position and began gliding toward the two boys as Fang took off in a panic.

Harry and Draco stumbled backward, clinging to one another fearfully. Harry's scar suddenly began to burn horribly. He gasped and fell to his knees. Draco crouched at Harry's side, panic surging through him. He couldn't protect Harry from that monster. But, before the creature got to them, another creature leapt into the clearing, chasing it away.

"It's a centaur," Draco whispered, still shaking. He managed to wrap both arms around Harry and didn't seem inclined to let go any time soon.

The centaur had the body of a large brown horse and the torso of a man. His skin was dark and his eyes were a pale blue. His hair was white-blond.

"Thank you," Harry said shakily. Draco nodded his agreement.

"The forest is not safe. Especially for you, Harry Potter," the centaur said solemnly.

"What was that thing?" Harry asked.

"A monstrous creature," the centaur responded gravely. "To kill a unicorn is a terrible crime. Drinking the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive even if you're an inch from death. But at a terrible price. You've slain something so pure, that the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half life. A cursed life."

Harry swallowed hard. "Who would choose such a life?" he asked. "Who would be that desperate?"

The centaur have him a pointed look. "Can you think of no one?" he asked. "Who would be willing to to accept a curse just long enough for them to drink something else?"

Harry considered the question, his stomach lurching when the centaur's gaze flicked to the scar on Harry's forehead. "You're saying that thing... That killed the unicorn to drink its blood... It was Voldemort," Harry said, Draco shuddering violently against him.

"Come," the centaur said kneeling and coaxing the two boys onto his back. Draco climbed on behind Harry, resting against Harry's back wearily. Firenze galloped through the trees, taking them back to Hagrid.

"Hello Firenze," Hagrid said warily, watching Draco and Harry slide down to the ground. Draco's hand slid across Harry's back and then down his arm to grasp Harry's hand tightly again.

Firenze nodded to Hagrid before looking back at the boys. "This is where I leave you," he said. "You're safe now."

"Blood hell," Ron breathed out as Firenze galloped away.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, her gaze drifting to Harry and Draco's hands.

"No," Draco blurted out in agitation. "We found the bloody unicorn and the hideous creature drinking its blood. It came right at us..." His voice trailed off in a whimper and he shivered as he looked back the way they'd come.

Harry led Draco back out of the forest while explaining what they'd seen to the others. Draco remained silent. Hagrid walked them to the castle entrance before returning to his hut. The four students stood together for a moment, not eager to make the trek to their common rooms.

"You don't think you-know-who is going to try to kill you, do you?" Ron asked Harry.

"I think he would have killed me tonight if Firenze hadn't run him off," Harry said quietly.

Hermione patted Harry's arm comfortingly and then did the same to Draco. "It'll be alright Harry," she said. "Dumbledore is the only wizard that you-know-who ever feared. As long as Dumbledore's around, you can't be touched." She gave a little wave and headed to Gryffindor tower with Ron.

Draco sighed heavily, finally pulling his hand away from Harry's. They made their way to the Slytherin common room, both of their minds preoccupied. Was it really Voldemort in the forest draining blood from unicorns to stay alive? Was he after the Sorcerer's stone? And was Snape helping him? Draco didn't want to admit it, but he was starting to worry that his godfather was involved. He didn't want Hermione and Ron to be right about that.

"We'll figure this out Draco," Harry murmured.

Draco nodded tiredly and quickly changed for bed. He had no doubt that Harry would find the answers. Draco was just afraid of what they would be.


Harry was quiet for the next few days. Draco didn't push him to talk, but Hermione couldn't seem to resist nagging him. Blaise had been informed of what happened in the forest and had taken to helping Ron try to lighten the mood. But, Blaise had also overheard Snape threatening Quirrell one evening in a seldom used corridor, which did nothing to ease Harry's mind.

One afternoon, Harry kept wincing and rubbing at the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. "What's wrong?" Draco asked him, tugging Harry's hand down to peer at the scar.

"It keeps burning," Harry said, his body tense. "I've got a bad feeling..."

Draco exchanged an uneasy look with Blaise as they stepped through the castle doors and onto the grounds. Hermione and Ron were sitting near the black lake waiting for them, but hurried over when they saw Harry's pained expression.

Harry wasn't particularly interested in Hermione's fussing, so he drew in a deep breath and tried to keep his expression neutral. He glanced toward Hagrid's hut and froze. "Oh no..." he murmured.

"What?" Ron asked.

"We should have thought of this sooner," Harry said, shaking his head in dismay. "Why would anyone wander around with a dragon egg in their pocket? Hagrid has always wanted a dragon, and he meets someone mad enough to just carry one with him?"

Draco's eyes widened in alarm and he caught Harry's arm, propelling them toward Hagrid's hut. The other three followed hastily.

Hagrid was sitting on the front steps of the hut, using a knife to strip the bark from a tree branch. He smiled at the students and set his knife aside to give them his attention.

"The man you got the egg from," Harry began eagerly. "Did you see what he looked like?"

"No, he kept his hood up," Hagrid responded, looking a little confused by the question.

"Did you talk at all?" Harry asked.

"Sure, he wanted to know if I could handle a dragon," Hagrid shrugged. "Course, I told him after Fluffy, a dragon wouldn't be any trouble."

"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry pressed, feeling Draco shift restlessly next to him.

"Well of course," Hagrid replied with a grin. "How often do you come across a three headed dog, even if you're in the trade? But I told him, the trick with any beast is to know how to calm 'em. Take Fluffy, for example... You play him a bit of music and he falls straight to sleep."

Hermione gasped sharply and Ron winced. Blaise groaned and gripped at his hair. Draco and Harry were staring at Hagrid in shock.

"I shouldn't have told you that," Hagrid muttered. Then he sputtered when the students abruptly turned and ran back to the castle.

"We have to tell Dumbledore," Harry gasped, clutching at his own hair as skidded to a halt just as the reached the castle doors. "This is so bad."

"Keep it together Potter," Blaise sighed, giving Harry a push to urge him forward. They made their way through the castle. The paused as they passed one of the doors, hearing a voice from within. "That sounds like Quirrell," Blaise murmured.

"Please n-n-no," came Quirrell's muffled sob. "P-p-please, not again."

Harry bit his lip, his heart slamming against his rib cage. Who was in there with poor Professor Quirrell?

"Alright," Quirrell choked out. "Alright, I'll d-d-do it."

At the sound of footsteps, the five students scurried into an alcove. They watched as Quirrell hurried past them, his face ashen.

Harry moved around to peek into the room that Quirrell had just left. He didn't see anyone else there, but there was another open door on the opposite side of the room.

"It was Snape," Ron said firmly. "I bet you anything it was Snape."

"We don't know that for sure," Draco retorted. "But I think it's safe to assume that someone is going after the Sorcerer's Stone. And soon."

Harry groaned. "Let's move," he muttered. He drew in a deep breath, dread welling up in him. "We've got to talk to Dumbledore."