Harry was confused at how the snitch had come to be caught in his mouth, but as he lowered himself to the ground, the entire pitch quiet with anticipation, he pulled the snitch from his mouth and smiled wide with glee.

He had caught the snitch, although a bit peculiarly, he had caught it nonetheless.

The Gryffindor spectators shouted with victory as Harry held the snitch high in the air for all to see. He had done it, he had won his first ever official quidditch game, even against the notorious Slytherins.

His team instantly flocked him and lifted him onto their shoulders, many clapped him on the back, smiles of victory widening their faces, Harry searched the crowds flocking from the quidditch stands and found the flop of red and bushy brown hair that he was searching for.

"You did it Harry, you won your first game!" Ron yelled happily, he looked perhaps a tad bit even more excited than Harry felt, but he didn't mind, for Ron loved Quidditch just a tad bit more than Harry did.

Harry tapped the shoulders of Fred and George that were carrying him to tell them to let him down, Harry presented the snitch to Madam Hooch. Hooch took the snitch, nodded and yelled.

"A hundred and seventy to sixty, Gryffindor have won their first match!"

The cheers intensified and Harry had to hold back a wince at the loud noise enveloping him. The celebrations continued all the way back to Gryffindor Tower and Harry was constantly surrounded by those congratulating him and telling him they knew that he would be able to win this game for Gryffindor.

Harry took all the compliments and kept on his rehearsed smile. For he wasn't sure how to reply to any of these people now suddenly talking to him, keeping to the customary and polite thank you as a response.

Finally, after hours and a stern order to bed by McGonagall, Harry had a moment to himself.

The match, although had turned out with fantastic results, had been an usual one. For one his broom started to disobey him half way through and he had feared for a slight moment that he would be thrown from his broom still so high up, even if that lurching and uncontrollability had ended only after a short time, it was still unexplainable to why it had happened.

Harry somehow managed to fall asleep, he couldn't remember dreaming of anything, but when he had awoken the next morning, sweat covered his sheets when he awoke.

"Wait, so you're telling me that Professor Snape, the one that so evidently hates me, tried to have me thrown from my broom?" Harry said to Hermione, who had explained to him the weird uncontrollability of his broom at morning's breakfast.

"It had to have been Snape, when I noticed him chanting something whilst you couldn't control your broom I instantly went and used my blue fire to set his robes on fire, and then you had control of your broom again, so it had to be him."

"You, sure it couldn't have been anyone else, Snape although is a right git, he wouldn't try hurting me… would he?"

"I don't know Harry, maybe we should go to Dumbledore about this." Hermione said.

.

.

.

Draco wasn't quite sure how he felt about Harry. On one hand he so desperately wanted to be close to him, call him his best friend, but on the other hand he knew that he had to keep his distance. That there were lines that he could not cross under no circumstances.

The halls by this time were vacant of any people, he slumped to the dungeons, thoughts plaguing his brain. There were so many things that he wanted to be with Harry, but the words of his father echoed throughout his brain.

"That Potter, he will get what he deserves when the Dark Lord returns."

When the Dark Lord returns… did Draco even want to think about the Dark Lord returning? All his life he and his father did not share much of a relationship outside of expectations. He himself did not know much about the Dark Lord except for what he knew from textbooks and newspaper clippings. There was the occasional knowledge he learnt by eavesdropping on his fathers conversations with some of his 'less refined' friends. But after getting caught one day, he never eavesdropped again.

Seeing Harry smile in his company however made him feel lighter than he had ever had in life, knowing that Harry saw him as his friend made him feel giddy with glee. Was this supposed to be normal? He didn't feel this way about Crabbe or Goyle, nor did he feel this way about Pansy or Blaise. Sure Pansy made him laugh and forget about the burdens of his father, but Harry, Harry made him feel like he truly belonged. Like he could be himself without the Malfoy last name dictating everything that he did.

Draco was just about to walk through the portrait to the entrance of the Slytherin house, when a hand materialised from a dark corridor and pulled him forwards. Draco gasped and was about to shout out, but a hand covered his mouth and familiar green eyes blinked at him.

"Harry?" Draco spoke, muffled by Harry's hand. Harry quickly jerked his hand back.

"Sorry I just needed to talk to you, and it probably wouldn't look good for you if they saw us speaking outside your house."

"Harry? Being smart? Where's the Harry I know gone?"

"Haha, very funny." Harry replied, he grabbed Dracos wrist and pulled him into an empty classroom.

Draco's wrist bloomed with goosebumps, but he ignored it… too much to think about right now.

"So why are you harbouring me in a classroom just before curfew?" Draco asked, Harry plopped himself down on a desk and suddenly he looked exhausted.

"I think Snape is trying to kill me… or at least cause me bodily harm." Harry spoke, not looking at Draco.

Draco's eyes widened in surprise, he nearly angrily defended his godfather, however, he also knew that Harry wouldn't make these accusations if he didn't have merit for them.

"What… what makes you think that?" Draco asked, suddenly feeling like he was betraying his godfather.

"Okay so you know during the quidditch match my broom started acting really weird? Yeah Hermione thinks it was Snape because she saw him chanting something whilst it was happening, she set his cloak on fire and as soon as she had my broom went back to normal."

"Also well… okay promise you won't tell anyone this okay?" Harry gave him a piercing look, and Draco nodded his head sharply.

"So you know how at the start of the year Professor Dumbledore told us to not go into the third corridor? Well me and Ron did, they're hiding something there Draco because there's a freakin massive three headed dog guarding a room."

Draco had not expected that to come out of Harry's mouth at all. "Yeah and you know when the troll got out? Well I think Snape tried getting into the room during, he's been limping everywhere lately and I saw a pretty nasty injury on his leg."

"That's… that's a lot." Draco replied not knowing what to say.

"Yeah it is, Hermione thinks we should go to Dumbledore with all of this, but I wanted to ask you first, I know Snape is your head of house, and wanted to ask whether or not you think Snape is up to no good?"

"Harry, Professor Snape is not only my head of house he's my godfather, i've known that man my entire life, and although i know he has a bad reputation here in hogwarts, but back home i remember him as the man who tried his best to shelter me from the dark arts and my father. Who told me that I wasn't a waste of space and that I was wanted here. That i could be whoever i wanted and didn't need to live to my fathers expectations to have a home." Draco exhaled, not expecting to have such an outburst.

Harry's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't seem to think that Draco was lying to him.

"So you think he's innocent then?"

"I think there's more to the story than we know." Draco replied.

Harry and Draco along with Hermione and Ron sat at Hagrids hut sipping on scorching tea and chewing on rock cakes. Although Draco and Harry had hung out a few times over the weeks, they had not all hung out together and Harry could feel the tension in the air.

"Oh Ron, will you stop glaring at him!" Harry huffed, setting down his tea.

"He's a git, how am I not supposed to?" Ron replied, also setting down his tea, thankfully Hagrid was busy getting them more rock cakes and wasn't paying attention to them.

"I apologised already Weasley, you just have to get used to the fact that Harry and I are friends now, and I'm helping you with this… situation aren't i?"

"He did apologise Ron…" Hermione spoke in her soft voice, Ron gave her a glare before deflating.

"Fine I'll play nice, but one slip up and I won't hesitate to slug you." Ron threatened, giving one last glare to Draco before Hagrid turned his attention back to them.

"So Hagrid." Harry began as Hagrid sat down on his large arm chair.

"What can I do for yer Harry?" Hagrid spoke, biting cleanly into his rock cake.

"We think Snape is out for Harry." Draco spoke quickly, and Harry's eyes rose in surprise. Draco did say he would just sit back and help but he hadn't expected this.

"What… thats thats… your lyin to me!" Hagrid promptly set down his tea and rock cake and stood up quickly, looking all the half giant he was.

"Snape tried throwing him off his broom in that quidditch match, Hermione can vouch for it, and we think he got hurt trying to get past that guard dog on the third floor corridor aswell." Harry spoke now quickly, and he suddenly realised why Draco had started with this, they were taking advantage of Hagrid's loose mouth.

"Well Fluffy meant no harm by its, its his job to protect that room…" Hagrid looked furious at himself.

"Uhh so you do know about that room, Hagrid please we think Snape is trying to get whatever's in there please you have to help us." Harry pleaded.

"No, I've said too much already… I want all of yous out now!" He roared and as quickly and gently as he could he evacuated the first years out of his hut and slammed the door shut.

"Well that went as well as can be expected." Ron sighed, heading back towards the castle.

"Okay so this is what we know, there is something being kept safe in that room, a room that is being guarded by a big horrible three headed dog, this something is either trying to be taken by Snape, or Snape is working for someone else to take it." Hermione listed on.

"Doesn't help us much does it?" Harry sighed along with Ron.

"I can ask Professor Snape, perhaps bring it up lightly in conversation, he probably won't tell me anything but it could be worth a shot."

"That would be great Draco!" Harry perked up, giving him a wide smile.

"Okay but if that doesn't work, what should I do? We can't explore the room ourselves unless we find a way to get past… what did Hagrid call him? Fluffy?"

"Well figure it out Ron." Hermione replies.

The weeks float by and the trio soon becomes a group of four. Draco although has to be a bit more incognito, they make time to plan and work together in the library almost three times a week and Harry finds that the more he gets to know Draco and be in his company, the more he becomes confused.

Christmas is spent with Ron, Draco had tried to get out of going home but unfortunately he couldn't, Harry asked if he could send letters, but Draco shook his head, it wouldn't be a good idea he said.

Harry curled his new cloak of invisibility around his shoulders, fascinated by the way that his body disappeared. Sirius and Remus had gifted it to him, saying it what his father would've wanted him to have for his first year of hogwarts, and of course a long note written by Remus to use the cloak responsibly, and a note from Sirius saying to get into much mischievous as he could with it.

Harry missed his family, but Sirius was busy working on something all holidays and the full moon fell on christmas day, they decided it would be best to spend the holidays there as sad as they all felt about it. Ron understood the situation and decided to stay with him too.

The christmas lunch and dinner went above and beyond and the food coma that Harry and Ron put themselves into dulled the home sickness. Harry awoke with a start, he desperately had to use the toilet and noticed that once again he had sweated through his clothes. With a quick and quiet shower Harry emerged from the bathroom and checked the time with a quick tempus charm to see that it was nearly two in the morning. Harry felt restless, in no way was he going to be able to go back to sleep. With one look at his cloak and at Ron's snoring silhouette he decided that this would be the best time to try out the cloak.

Hurriedly but quietly he fluttered out of the room with the cloak making him invisible to all. He wandered down the halls, mischievousness simmering through his system. It seemed that the castle knew that he wanted to find something that shouldn't be found and led him unbeknownst to Harry to a room with a door slightly ajar.

He stepped into the room with little hesitation and found it lightly lit with a flickering lamp on a table. He walked up to the table and found himself standing in front of a mirror. Harry looked around the room to ensure that no one was with him and took his cloak off. His reflection blinked back at him and Harry found himself slightly disappointed that the mirror was just an ordinary mirror. Harry's eyes found some writing on the mirror but the only word he could decipher was Erised which didn't mean much to him at all.

Then when he looked back to his reflection he nearly jumped out of his skin. Standing next to him was his… father? And then his mother by his other shoulder… How? How was this possible? He turned around to see if they really were standing next to him, but they weren't. He looked back to the mirror and found Remus and Sirius standing together behind him, all of them had bright smiles on their faces. They looked so happy.

"What is this?" Harry murmured, reaching out to touch the hard and cold surface of the mirror.

"Hello Mr Potter." A voice spoke and this time Harry did jump out of skin. He turned so quickly that he was sure he strained his neck and found himself facing the headmaster himself.

"Professor Dumbledore." Harry started, trying to find an excuse at all to why he was here.

"Do not worry Harry you aren't in any trouble, I see you have found the mirror as I was sure you would, it calls out to people like you." Dumbledore stepped more into the room, that twinkle in his eyes dancing in the candlelight.

"What… What is this mirror?" Harry asked, turning back to it where his Mother and Father still remained.

"It is called the Mirror of Erised, it shows those who look into it the nothing but the deepest desires of their heart."

"That is why my mother and father are here?" Harry asked, he couldn't look away from his parents, he had seen them in pictures of course, but seeing them almost as if they were here themselves was surreal.

"That would be correct, you desire to have your parents with you, so there they are. But do not be deceived by the mirror Harry, it will show you neither knowledge or truth, simply what you desire the most."

"Can i… come back here again?" Harry, but he already knew the answer.

"This mirror will be finding a new home shortly, i advise you not to go seeking it out again." Dumbedore replied.

Harry tried to keep from showing disappointment, but he took one more look at his parents' happy faces and turned away. He was happy now, even if he desired to have them with him as he always would, Sirius and Remus were everything that he could ask for, even more and he wouldn't wish them away for anything.

Dumbledore nodded his head at Harry's decision and led him partially back to his dormitories. "I'm sure you can find your way back to your rooms Harry?" Dumbledore paused.

Harry nodded his head in confirmation, "thankyou professor." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in reply.

Harry stepped through the hole in behind the portrait and creeped back up to his room, Ron still snoring away.

He crawled back into his bed and closed his eyes, his dreams filled with his parents along with Remus and Sirius. He suddenly missed them dearly.

Ron shook Harry awake, Harry groaned and turned over not wanting to get out his comfortable dream he was having.

"Go away Remus." He murmured, Ron shook him harder.

"Harry, you're going to miss breakfast." Ron shook him again.

"Hmm, I don't care." Harry mumbled, but he was awake now and his eyes flickered open.

"There he is." Ron smirked, he jumped off the bed and rushed to the bathroom, the shower turning on.

Harry, having already showered, changed into some casual clothes and tried to brush through his unruly hair. Today was the day Ron and Harry had to begin on their homework unless they fell behind. Harry was glad for the distraction however, his mind still reeled about the mirror.

The day floated by mostly consumed by homework and planning on how to get past Fluffy, there was a week left of holidays and Harry couldn't be more excited to see his friends again.

Finished with their potions essay Harry and Ron leaned back in their chairs, instantly becoming bored.

"Maybe we should go visit Hagrid again? Surely he's had enough time to cool off?" Harry asked and Ron enthusiastically agreed. They quickly packed up their things and made their way to Hagrid's hut where they hoped to find him. Harry tentatively knocked on the door of Hagrid's hut. First they heard the barking of Fang, then the door swung open with a smiling Hagrid.

The smile fell slightly when he realised who was at his door, but he still greeted. "Harry and Ron! What are ye doing here?"

"Can we come in Hagrid?" Harry asked, Hagrid hesitated only for a moment before letting the boys into his hut. Harry and Ron quickly shuffled in, the air felt tense, but as soon as they saw two brewing cups of tea and rock cakes were placed in front of them suddenly everything felt okay.

"How were your Christmas boys?" Hagrid asked, sitting himself down.

"It was great! I got an invisibility cloak that was my dads and Ron got some chocolates and a brand new cloak for his uniform."

"Invisibility cloak aye? Don't lose it now wont ye?" Hagrid bellowed. Ron and Harry smiled in reply. They continued to talk about their holidays and the exams quickly coming up. Harry and Ron avoided any conversation about Fluffy and the room they were protecting, Hagrid still seemed to be mad at himself for giving away information that he shouldn't have.

"Hagrid?" Harry tentatively spoke now, he really needed to know now what Fluffy was protecting.

"Can you tell us how you found Fluffy?" Hagrid seized up at Harry's question, but Harry gave him the most innocent look he could muster and Harry saw the moment that Hagrid relented.

"I only got him when he was a wee pup you see, traded him for some valuables, he was being sold on the black market and I just had to save him, Dumbledore asked me if he could borrow him to protect that stone of Nicolas's…"

"ARGH you've done it again! A'rry you're gonna make me lose my job!"

"I didn't do anything!" Harry lifted his arms in defence.

"Yeah you're the one that blabbed, Harry only asked about Fluffy not what he was protecting." Ron quickly went to his aid and Harry was thankful for it.

"Well no more questions from the both of you, this is Dumbledore's business and not my own."

"Promise to keep our mouths shut Hagrid, we won't do anything that could compromise your job." Harry assured and Hagrid relaxed.

"Well as long as you all keep your mouths shut and head down then no one will get in trouble." Hagrid grumbled, he picked up his tea and chugged the rest of it.

"It's getting late you two, best be back before curfew."

Harry and Ron both agreed, quickly helping Hagrid clean up the dishes and then shuffling out of the hut, it had started to snow whilst they were talking, Harry and Ron didn't stop to watch the snow fall, their hands reminding them of their lack of gloves and layers.

When they got back into their dormitory with no other ears to hear they began talking about what Hagrid meant about that Nicolas stone.

"I swear I've heard of that name before." Harry began… it felt like the answer was right there on the tip of his tongue but it just wouldn't come to him.

"Wait!" Harry exclaimed and he jumped off the bed diving into his trunk. Ron watched as Harry manically pulled apart his trunk full of belongings, then a glorious face of triumph.

Ron laughed as Harry pulled his stack of frog cards out his trunk.

"Why are you looking for your old as collection of chocolate frog cards?" Ron leaned over Harry as he sifted through them.

"Because I remember Nicolas' name was on Dumbledore's card." Harry replied. Harry read the card to Ron.

"Here! For the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. So they worked together on something, argh wish Hermione was here right now."

"Lets go to the library tomorrow and look around, surely there's something in a book about him." Ron suggested.

Harry and Ron now with nothing to do, got ready for bed and played a game of chess to wind down the night. Of course Ron won the game but Harry could tell that he was getting better. After his queen got beheaded Harry fell back on his bed with a humf and Ron packed up the chess board with a smirk on his face.

They both said their goodnights and Ron soon began snoring away. Harry's mind wandered to the mirror again but after Dumbledore's warning against looking for it again he fell asleep into a fitful sleep.

The last week passed with homework and Nicolas Flamel research, they found different things about him but nothing about a stone of significance. Then the time of school came around, Harry and Ron waited impatiently in the common room. Harry wanted to wait by the entrance to catch Draco too, but Ron had convinced him to wait in the common room with him.

Hermione flung herself into Harry's arms first, suffocating him with her bushy hair but he squeezed her just as hard back, she hugged Ron next, perhaps with a little bit of reservation. They chatted away the morning catching each other up on their holidays, Hermione quickly became intensely interested in Nicolas and had to be stopped from going to the library straight away. The trio made their way to lunch and Harry kept his eyes peeled out for Draco. He spotted the blond sitting down at the slytherin table, holding an animated conversation with Parkinson. They both had smiles on their face and Harry instantly felt a clench in his stomach.

Without a second thought he waltzed over to the slytherin table and plopped himself down at the table next to Draco, catching the attention of the both of them.

"Long time no see Draco." Harry beamed, Draco gave him a slightly shocked look but it soon melted into a smile almost as bright as his own.

"You really must stop stalking me Harry, this obsession is getting too much." Draco replied, a playful smirk forming on his lips. Parkinson knew that Draco and Harry were friends, but as she watched she thought perhaps there was something else going on here. Something that she knew these idiots would take a long time to notice.

"You could just say you missed me." Harry sniffed, trying to act offended.

"And where would the fun be in that?" Draco replied. Then they both laughed.

Merlin, it felt good talking to Draco again, Harry did miss him, more than he realised.

"Also..." Harry dropped his voice only for Draco to hear, "Ron and I figured something out, meet us at the library tomorrow at lunch."

Draco nodded his head seriously. "Okay sounds good, now buzz off before you attract even more attention." Draco shooed off Harry before he could cause even more of a scene, Harry went but not before ruffling Dracos neatly styled hair, knowing it would annoy him.

"Harry!" Draco groaned, Pansy giggled and handed him a mirror that she always kept handy. Pansy thinks she likes this Potter.

Harry shakes his head laughing softly to himself, sitting down next to Hermione she gave him a look that he couldn't understand.

"What?" Harry asked, touching his face, maybe he got something on it?

"Nothing." Hermione replied, looking away from him.

Harry couldn't stop his eyes from roaming across the hall to that blond hair that stood out so much from the rest of Slytherin, sometimes Draco would turn back and their eyes would meet, instantly smiles arising on both of their faces.

Interesting… very interesting.