Chapter 11: The conundrum

H.J.P

It was dinner time and Harry was sitting with his two friends, who were arguing about something but Harry honestly was not in the mood to play peacemaker.

So instead he just toyed with the food on his plate.

Harry was exhausted, not only from their Quidditch match earlier but also from his housemates.

He was constantly getting clapped on the back because of their victory but Harry was not used to any positive kind of touch, so he was flinching left and right.

He tried his hardest to move away but most people didn't even notice his distress and had continued to make him feel uneasy.

Much to Harry's relief, dinner was almost over when he felt something hit the back of his head. He turned to see a piece of crumpled up parchment on the floor.

Curious, Harry picked up the note and smoothed it out. It read

Come to Charms classroom after dinner. I have something important to tell you.

Recognising the elegant cursive writing, Harry was intrigued by what was so important. It would be a good time to tell him about what we found out at Hagrid's.

Shrugging, he stuffed the note in his robe pocket.

Turning back to his friends, he noticed they were looking at him strangely.

"What was on the note mate?" Ron asked.

"Oh, just Malfoy being his jerk-like self as always. Making fun of how I almost fell off my broom." He quickly made up.

"I reckon he would've screamed like a little girl if he had been in your position," Ron stated.

Surprisingly, Harry found it quite easy to imagine that actually happening.

He could barely suppress his laughter at the mental image.

"Anyways, how about we head back to the common room," Hermione asked while looking around at their housemates who were leaving.

"Yeah, let's go," Harry replied.

And with that, the trio left.

As they left through the doors of the Great Hall, Harry piped up "I'm going to go for a walk. I'll meet you back in the common room so we can complete that DADA essay."

His friends nodded and left in the direction of Gryffindor tower.

It was a valid excuse since Harry often went for evening walks to escape from everyone. The peace and quiet meant he was safe and that was comforting to Harry.

When growing up, he was often shut in his cupboard for many hours and even days. Yes, he often felt lonely and unwanted but it was his safe place where he could dream up other worlds to escape from the harsh reality of the world.

After a quick walk up to the classroom, Harry opened the door to find Draco pacing.

"Hey, Draco," Harry said as he closed the door.

Draco threw him a relieved look and muttered "Muffliato," while waving his wand at the door. Harry hadn't heard that spell before but assumed it was some kind of privacy spell.

"Look Draco, I know you had something important to tell me but I found out a few things I wanted to tell you first."

"Hmm, alright go ahead."

"Well after the Quidditch match, Hermione, Ron and I went to Hagrid's and he let slip a few important pieces of information regarding what's on the third corridor."

"And?"

"We found out the Cerberus is named Fluffy."

"Who on earth calls a terrorising three-headed dog Fluffy? Of all the bloody names." Draco ranted while looking at Harry in disbelief

"We also found out there is a guy called Nicolas Flamel involved with this whole business."

"Wait," Draco interrupted, "You said Nicolas Flamel, right?"

At Harry's nod, Draco continued "I've heard that name before but for the life of me I can't remember." He finished with a scowl.

"Well we can research later and hopefully we find something," Harry said

"Will do."

"Lastly at the quidditch match, Hermione and Ron saw Snape casting a jinx on my broom. So Hermione snuck over to the teacher's stand and set fire to his robes. Causing my broom to still so I could climb back—" Harry trailed off while narrowing his eyes at Draco, "Why are you smirking?"

True to Harry's word, Draco was smirking.

"Because you're wrong, wait no Granger and Weasley are wrong."

"But—" Harry started but was cut off by a sharp Snape-like glare.

"I was there obviously and I witnessed the event too. Except I was more observant than your Gryffindor friends. By the way, don't you ever do that again-"

Harry gave a small smile. It seemed like Draco cared.

Draco glared but continued "-Anyway I saw two teachers muttering incantations. Quirrell and Snape. I know Snape hates you and all but I know he wouldn't put a student's life in danger."

Harry bit his lip, mulling over what had been said. Then it came to him.

"I think you're right.."

"Of course I'm right. I always am." Draco scoffed.

"Git."

"Prat."

"Hear me out. You see I've been having these weird headaches but my scar, in particular, seems to ache worse. Although it only occurs when I'm in the DADA classroom or from what I'm guessing, near Quirrell. I know that I'm probably being paranoid and it's a coincidence but something just seems off."

Draco eyed Harry warily and began slowly "I think you're doing the right thing by being cautious. You could be on to something but the question is what is his motive?"

They stood in silence for a while. Trying to piece the puzzle together, although it seemed there were many missing pieces to this certain puzzle. How far would they have to go to obtain it?

Laughter and loud chatter could be heard all throughout the corridors as students walked to their respective classes.

The Christmas holidays were drawing closer and many conversations revolved around holiday plans and gift shopping.

It was a joyous time.

Even the teachers were getting into the festive spirit. With decorating classrooms with floating angels and holly. Even the amount of school work had gone down considerably for the first years in light of the upcoming break. Well except in Snape's class but that was nothing new, according to the older students. He continued to set many assigned readings and essays, which most definitely would turn into holiday work.

But apart from that, the students were buzzing with excitement and filled with eagerness for the holidays to come.

Harry was also excited for Christmas, like his classmates. That morning McGonagall had come to the common room with a sign-up sheet for those who wished to stay over the break. Of course, as soon as he heard the words come out of his head of house's mouth, he made a dash for the sheet and hastily signed his name on the form.

There was no way in hell Harry would willingly go back to the Dursleys for the break. Not when he could stay at Hogwarts and actually enjoy the holiday for the first time in his life with Ron and his brothers. It was a shame Draco was going home but you couldn't have it all. That was a lesson Harry knew all too well.

The night before the holidays, the Gryffindor golden trio could be found studying in the library. Not for homework but for their detective research on one Nicolas Flamel. Although their efforts felt futile since the last few weeks of searching came up with nothing, but they were not prepared to give up yet.

Many people were in the library that night, more or less trying to get a head start on their holiday work.

It was peaceful until one Gryffindor decided to break the silence.

His name was Cormac McLaggen.

McLaggen was one year above Harry but unlike the majority of their house, he loathed Harry. He had blond curly hair and walked around with his mates with a swagger, basically voicing he thought he was better than everyone else.

Harry never really had any reason to interact with Mclaggen but he often heard McLaggen whispering snide comments about him to his friends. Harry wasn't sure why he disliked him but Harry couldn't care less since he didn't outright bully him like most of the Slytherins and his cousin. So Harry for the most part just ignored Mclaggen and his rude comments.

But this comment made Harry's blood boil with fury.

"I pity those who are forced to stay at Hogwarts over the break. That they are unwanted by their own families at Christmas time. It's a shame really." McLaggen whispered loudly to his cronies who were sitting by him.

Harry was furious. He felt like he had taken a punch to his stomach. McLaggen's comment angered him even more so than Ron who was stewing beside him because he knew it was true. The Dursleys despised him because he was just a freak and a slave to them. Why would they care? If they suddenly treated him like a decent human being, it would be a sign that the world was coming to an end or they were clearly out of their small selfish minds.

Disrupting him from his troubling thoughts, a voice from a table behind him was heard. "That was supposed to be my line." As Harry peeked out the corner of his eye, he saw that it was Draco who had muttered that line, causing Harry to choke from disbelief. Sometimes he wondered if his excellent hearing was a curse or a blessing.

"Can't believe he had the guts to say that. I'm gonna—oh look at Malfoy. Probably smirking because he agrees with McLaggen." Ron said, causing Harry to almost choke again.

Had Draco planned that or was that purely accidental?

Who knows but Harry was grateful because otherwise, Mclaggen might've received a fist in the face as an early Christmas gift. Oh, Harry wished he could've seen McLaggen's face, it would've been priceless!

Soon the next morning came and Ron and Harry bid farewell to Hermione, with a promise to continue their research. Harry also gave a sneaky glance at Draco's way and gave him a quick smile and to Harry's delight, his friend smiled back with a small wink. So with that, Harry watched his two friends board the steam train and with Ron, they watched the train until it was all but a speck in the distance.