A/N Chapter 11 will be the wrap up for book 1, thank you so much for all the follows on this cant thank you all enough! chapter 11 will be posted in the next few days, but the upload schedule is going to be every weekend from now on so keep an ear out for chapters then!
By the time the week was up Hermione and Draco had found everything they could about Nicolas Flamel, including his feat in creating the Philosopher's Stone. Harry and Ron quizzically inquired how they had found such things when they were looking all holidays themselves and all they got back was a shared look between the two that said, these two are idiots.
Now that the conclusion had been made they realised that inside that room and under the trapdoor lay the Philosopher's stone which, for reasons unknown, was being kept guarded by Fluffy, the three headed dog with jaws that could swallow them whole, and possibly other magics lying within. There was also the question as to why Snape of all people was trying to get to the Stone; did he want the power of the stone to himself? Or was he working for someone else who wanted it?
The quartet sat in the library murmuring with each other as they discussed this. No one had come to a definite solution yet as to Snapes objective.
"What if he wasn't trying to get to the Stone, but making sure that Fluffy is good enough to protect it?" Draco interjected. Harry nodded his head understanding but Ron frowned in disagreement.
"Draco, look, I get that you trust Snape, but ever since we got here he's been nothing but a bully to every kid not in his own house, that man reeks of suspicion."
Draco sighed and slumped back into his chair with defeat, he knew that there was no way he was going to be able to get Ron to see the way that he saw Severus. However he did have to admit that the man did show favour to those of Slytherin house, which was something that he had tried to convince Severus to stop doing multiple times to no avail.
"Well look, we have no hard evidence against him right now and I don't think we'll be able to go to Dumbledore without it, so let's just sit tight and keep an eye on him, can we all agree to that?" Hermione determined, giving each of them a stern look to ensure they wouldn't keep arguing further. All the boys nodded their heads in unison, they had learnt by now not to push Hermione's buttons.
When Draco packed up his homework along with the others, he gave Harry a lingering look that he knew Harry would be able to read; that he wanted to speak alone with him. Harry nodded his head in understanding and smiled at his best friends with that bright yet deceptive smile of his.
"I'm just going to take Draco back to his dorms, catch up with you guys later?"
Ron gave a frown but Hermione quickly nodded. "Of course, see you later." She waved them off and dragged a still frowning Ron along with her, murmuring something to him that Draco couldn't quite catch. Now that they were alone, Draco turned to Harry who was giving him an indecipherable look.
"What is it?" Draco asked, tilting his head to the side, perhaps there was something wrong with his hair?
"What oh nothing!" Harry rushed, shaking the thoughts out of his head. Draco shrugged and quickly finished packing up his things, giving Harry a moment to collect himself from wherever he had gone up there.
They walked together silently, Draco unsure why he had wanted to be alone with Harry, but they had such few short moments like this that whenever the opportunity arrived itself Draco latched onto them.
"So how do you feel about them?" Harry began, hesitating slightly.
"Who?" Draco asked, confused.
"Hermione and Ron."
"Oh…" Draco paused thinking carefully about his answer.
"Well I like Hermione okay, she's smart which I like, but a bit of a know it all. And Ron may be a git most of the time, but I like that he's protective of you and just wants the best for you. If he could control his temper more I think we would get along a bit better," Draco finished, hoping that he had not offended Harry too much with his honest opinions. However as he looked at Harry, he didn't seem to mind at all, just a small smile curling his lips upwards.
"Yeah he is a bit of a git isn't he? But I love him anyway," Harry chuckled, fondness softening his eyes.
They continued to walk towards Slytherin house, the silence wrapping around them like a warm blanket on a winter's day. When they got to the stairs descending to the dungeons, Harry turned to him with a hesitant expression.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked. Although they had only known each for a short time, he felt he could read Harry like a book with a moment's glance.
"I don't know, I just…don't want to say goodbye yet," he replied sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.
Draco quickly felt the blush run up his neck, splotching his pale cheeks red. Draco looked away now feeling sheepish himself.
"You know I've always wanted to explore the castle after curfew," Draco replied, giving Harry a mischievous look.
Harry's eyes widened in realisation and a giddy smile grew on his face.
"Are you saying that the Draco Malfoy wants to get up to no good with me?"
"If you don't want to, then don't come," Draco sniffed, turning away from Harry.
"Nooo, I do, here, I even brought this with me." Harry slung his bag towards him and shifted around in it before bringing out something that Draco instantly recognised.
"How do you have that?" Draco exclaimed. Even his family didn't own one, they were that hard to come by.
"Got it for Christmas. It was my father's, a family heirloom," Harry explained, draping the invisibility cloak over his shoulders, leaving him as a floating head.
"This is bad, I can't imagine all the no-good you're going to get up to with this." Draco leaned forward and brushed his fingers against the fabric of the cloak, it felt softer than all the silks that he had ever owned.
"I know right? It's going to be great!" Harry smirked and Draco returned it with a warning glare.
"Come on, let's go somewhere." Harry lifted his arm up and beckoned for Draco to go underneath the cloak. With a spot of hesitation, Draco obliged and tucked himself under Harry's arm, their hips flushed together.
"Where are we going to go?" Draco asked, trying to not think about how close he and Harry were.
"Wanna see Fluffy?" Harry asked, that glint in his eye again.
"Um, sure?" Draco replied, he wasn't sure if he was all that keen at facing a ginormous three headed dog that could eat him in half.
"Come on we'll be fine as long as we don't get too close; he's chained up and everything."
"If I die, I'm haunting you for the rest of my life," Draco deadpanned.
"Promise you won't die." Harry dramatically placed his hand over his heart with a very serious expression and Draco couldn't help but huff out a laugh.
"Fine fine, lets go see this big stupid dog."
It took a few metres for the two to get used to walking together in harmony in a way where neither would expose themselves outside of the cloak, but by the time they made it to the third floor corridor, they were walking swiftly together.
Harry reached for the door and the handle stuck; it had been locked.
"Damn, it's locked," Harry whispered, disheartened.
"Here, let me." Draco quickly took out his wand and with a quick whisper of Alohomora the lock on the door clicked open.
"Nice," Harry whispered, trying the handle again and this time the door gave way, opening silently. Draco leaned tentatively into the room and nearly gasped, the descriptions of Fluffy from Harry had been marginally understated.
"Merlin, he's massive!" Draco said in a rush. The large three-headed dog lay on the floor, chained as Harry had said and creating large pools of saliva where its heads lay. Draco couldn't tell if he was fascinated by this dog or deeply terrified. Harry shuffled forward and stepped more into the room, Draco stayed back; he didn't think he wanted to get any closer to the beast.
"It's fine Draco, he's asleep."
"Yeah, I think I'm good," Draco replied, shaking his head.
Harry shrugged, saying, "suit yourself," and stepped closer to Fluffy. The dog seemed to be in a deep slumber and didn't awaken even when Harry left the safe confines of his cloak.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Draco hissed, he was getting far too close to the beast.
"What? He's asleep, surely one pat won't hurt me." Harry gave him that playful smirk of his that Draco dreaded. His heart raced quicker and quicker each step Harry took towards Fluffy. Draco desperately wanted to step forward and stop him, but the horror of it all glued his feet to the floor.
"Harry, I really think you should come back now," Draco begged, this was going too far.
"I'll be fine Draco." Harry rolled his eyes as if he was overreacting, but Draco felt his reaction was quite sane for this situation.
And then Harry was touching the beast. Draco kept from gasping, in fear that the noise would awaken Fluffy, Harry, hopefully finding his sanity, quickly made his way back to Draco. Draco grasped his wrist and forced him out of the room, closing the door as quickly and quietly as he could.
"Please never do that again," Draco rushed out, his heart was beating so fast that he could feel it pounding in his throat.
"Draco it's fine, although it is a bit weird how soundly he was sleeping, maybe I should bring it up with Hagrid?" Harry momentarily became lost in thought and Draco realised just what he had gotten himself into becoming friends with an adrenaline junky.
"Come on, lets go before you do something even more stupid," Draco sighed, throwing the cloak over their heads and wrapping his fingers around Harrys wrist again, tethering him to himself to make sure he didnt try anything else heart attack inducing that night.
Harry allowed it, a smirk still placed on his lips, but Draco could tell from that look in his eyes that he still felt concerned about the sleeping Fluffy.
"Harry, let's go to Hagrid tomorrow and ask about it, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," Draco reassured him and Harry nodded his head, losing that look in his eye.
"Yeah, no classes tomorrow, so we can go first thing in the morning."
Draco agreed, nodding his head.
"Promise you won't try that again though, please." Draco had to use his arsenal of puppy eyes which he only ever used on someone when he desperately wanted something and Harry sighed, relenting.
"Fine, I won't, I'll just do it when you're not looking." He smirked and Draco punched him in the arm.
"You're an arsehole," Draco murmured under his breath.
"Says you," Harry replied, rubbing his arm.
Harry dropped Draco off outside the portrait to Slytherin house dormitories, Draco waved goodbye as he whispered the password and stepped into his common room, Harry waved back making sure he made it in before replacing his cloak and hurrying off to his own house. Draco rushed to his bedroom, a few seventh years looked up from their late night studying, but they didn't care enough to ask and put their heads back to their work.
Harry made it back to his dormitory without any delay and quickly changed out of his uniform before slithering under his sheets. The adrenaline still rushed through his veins, but that quickly became overshadowed by the worrying question still in his brain.
Why had Fluffy not woken up?
In the morning, Harry was rudely awoken by Ron shaking him awake. Harry grumbled something incoherent and rolled over away from Ron.
"Harry, wake up, Draco's called for you," Ron spoke and Harry shot up.
"What?" He almost shouted, groping around for his glasses so that he could see Ron clearly, not quite believing him.
"Yeah, he said something about Hagrid. What did you two get up to last night by the way?" Ron stepped away and gave Harry some room to rush around and change into some clothes.
"I took him to see Fluffy," Harry replied, hopping on one foot as he pulled on some jeans.
"What?" Ron exclaimed.
"Yeah, but the weird thing was that Fluffy was sleeping…sleeping too soundly, so I'm going to Hagrid to ask about it."
"Well, we're coming too." Ron crossed his arms, looking slightly offended.
"Of course you are, I was gonna tell you at breakfast but it seems I overslept."
"Sure sure. Well, Draco's waiting all awkwardly outside the portrait like a fish out of water, so we better go save him."
Harry nodded and quickly slipped on his sneakers. Hermione was waiting patiently for them by the exit.
"I suppose you'll explain on the way?" she asked, greeting Harry.
"Yep, let's go," Harry replied, ducking into the hole the portrait swinging open.
"Finally, I look like a criminal out here or something," Draco whined, and Harry quickly gave his apologies.
The quartet made their way to Hagrid's hut and Harry updated them on the events as they walked. Hermione, now all caught up, had a worried frown on her face that Harry now mirrored. Ron and Draco gave each other confused looks, they didn't understand what there was to be concerned about.
Harry picked up the pace as soon as they made it outside of the castle, Hermione quickly following. By the time that they made it to the hut everyone was out of breath, their warmth breathing condensing in the cold air. Harry knocked on the door as soon as he began to breathe normally again which was much quicker than the rest of them. Harry really needed to talk to Hagrid, dread brewing in his stomach.
There was a lot of shuffling around—too much shuffling around Harry thought—before Hagrid finally opened the door and he looked down to the four awaiting first years, a frown forming on his brow.
"Well look at you, why back so soon?" Hagrid asked, not moving aside for them to enter his hut as he used to do.
"Hagrid, I really need to ask you something; it's about Fluffy… will you let us in?" Harry rushed, trying to peek around Hagrid but his physique took up the entire door frame.
"No, it's not a really good time, A'rry, maybe some other time?"
Harry gave Hagrid a measured look, the half giant was hiding something and Harry was going to find out what.
"Let us in, Hagrid, or I'll tell Dumbledore that you used magic that one time at my birthday party."
Hagrids eyes widened in shock. "You wouldn't dare," he murmured, giving Draco a worrying side glance. Harry said nothing, but his serious face said everything and Hagrid stepped aside to let the now shivering children into his hut.
The fire was blazing as they stepped in and instantly they were all sweltering.
"Hagrid, don't you think you have the fire too hot?" Hermione spoke, going to the fire to examine it but Hagrid quickly rushed forward blocking her view from it.
"It's the perfect temperature, 'Mione." Hagrid rushed, his face obviously showing he was concealing something.
Harry gave him that measured look again.
"What is it, Hagrid? What do you have?" Harry sighed, stepping past the sweating half giant and finding a large obsidian rock sitting on the fire.
"Hagrid is that a…?" Harry couldn't even finish his sentence, shock taking over his expression.
Everyone else bustled past Hagrid now and stared at the large dragon egg sitting on the fire.
"A dragon egg? Hagrid, that's illegal and you live in a wooden house," Hermione chastised, staring at the egg with a mixture of wonder and disapproval.
"Blimey Hagrid, how did you get that?" Ron asked, the fire dancing in his eyes making the astonishment shine brighter.
"How did you get it?" Draco echoed with a frown. What he did know about Dragon eggs, which wasn't much, was just how rare they were to come by.
"Some old Greek chap at a bar." Hagrid beamed, seeming to feel better now that his secret had been found and he no longer had to hide it.
"A Greek chap? What for free?" Draco replied, still giving the egg a hard look.
"No! I won it of course."
"You won it?" Harry repeated, his eyebrows creasing into a frown. Something smelled fishy.
"Well, yeah, we were playing cards and he was asking me about what I did for a livin', and I told him I'm the gamekeeper 'ere at hogwarts, he had the egg and was willing to play with it if he knew it was going to a good 'ome an'all." Hagrid scratched the back of his head, an expression of concentration scrunching up his nose.
"Did you tell them anything else, Hagrid?" Harry asked, trying to keep his voice calm.
"I…I don't know, he kept giving me drinks and the memory is kinda hazy, he kept asking me about the sorta beasts I've looked after to make sure I could handle the dragon—you know I've always wanted a dragon—so I told him about Fluffy and all you have to do is play a bit of music to put him right to sleep."
Hagrid suddenly stopped, giving the first years a horrified look.
"I…shouldn't have told you that," he blurted out. Harry and Hermione shared a look of clarity along with Draco. Ron took a moment to catch up.
"Hagrid, you told someone you don't know at a bar whilst drunk how to get past the guard dog?" Harry quickly got up. This wasn't good. They had already put Fluffy to sleep but it seemed they had not gotten past the other tests yet, maybe they were waiting for the right opportunity?
"We've got to go, Hagrid, we'll be back later, this dragon business isn't finished yet." Harry along with the others rushed out of his hut. Harry began the trek back to the castle but a loud crack echoing from the forest paused his stride. He turned to the forest's trees, swaying menacingly in the breeze. Harry's eyes took a moment to adjust to the forest that seemed to repel any sort of light and found a shadow staring back at him. The scar on Harry's forehead seared, the pain had been unexpected and Harry stumbled, smacking his hand to his forehead. The shadow had disappeared by the time he looked back.
"Harry, what is it? Are you okay?" Hermione rushed to him, taking his arm.
"I'm fine, just saw something in the forest." Harry shook his head, the pain was already gone.
"Is your head okay?" Draco asked softly.
"Yeah, it's fine." Harry gave him a reassuring smile then his expression firmed.
"Come on, we have to find Dumbledore."
By the time they made it to Dumbledore's office, which Draco led them to, the gargoyle stared at them unmoving.
"Uh…does anyone know the password to Dumbledore's office?" Harry asked, but they all shook their were they going to tell Dumbledore now? This was more than an urgent situation. As if the heavens could see their stalling in this crucial moment in the story, Professor McGonagall strode by, pausing by the group staring at the gargoyle with anxious expressions.
"Is there something the matter, first years?" McGonagall spoke terseley, catching the attention of the quartet, their expressions curdling into shock.
"Professor, just in time! We need to get into Dumbledore's office!" Harry rushed desperately.
"And why, pray tell?" McGonagall spoke stiffly, but Harry could tell that she was curious.
"It's sort of a secret," Harry replied sheepishly, McGonagall stiffened.
"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she replied coldly. Harry's face fell into despair, Dumbledore gone? But why?
"He's gone?" Harry replied frantically. "Now?"
"Professor Dumbledore is a very busy wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time—"
"But this is important," Draco interrupted, desperation transfiguring his usually cool exterior.
"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Mr Malfoy?" They could all tell McGonagall's patience was wearing thin and their time was running out.
"Look, I know about the Philosopher's Stone," Harry sighed, throwing caution to the wind.
McGonagall's annoyed expression morphed into surprise. "Ho– how?" she stuttered.
"Professor, we think someone is going to steal the stone." Hermione stepped in now, her anxiety about the current situation overtaking her anxiety of angering her superiors.
McGonagall quickly rearranged her features into a schooled expression eyeing all of them severely.
"That stone is well protected, now I don't know how you found out about it but I can assure you that it is safe and well."
All of their expressions fell with their hope.
"I suggest you all go enjoy the sunlight while it lasts." And with that she hurried off, her chin sharper than ever.
"This isn't good, with no Dumbledore here they are sure to strike tonight." Harry anxiously wandered off, his friends quickly following.
"What do we do now? What about if we try Snape instead?" Draco asked, clutching the hem of his sleeve tightly in his fist.
"What no don't be stupid!" Ron nearly shouted, wincing as he gained a few looks from passerby students.
"Ron's right,"—Draco glared at Harry as he said it—"Oh, er, not about the stupid part, but about Snape, we cant know if he is involved in all of this yet."
Draco still held that glare, but thankfully averted it from Harry.
"What are we in Gryffindor house for Harry? Let's get it ourselves!" Ron gave him a tremendous smile, but Harry could see the hesitation in his eyes.
"It won't be safe, sure, and we know how to get past Fluffy now, but what about the other traps that the professors have set?" Harry replied, however everyone knew looking at Harry that he had already made his decision, he would go through that trapdoor tonight.
"I don't know Harry, this could be a trap for all we know." Hermione's voice was laced with anxiety, heightening their own.
"I thought you promised not to do things like this again," Draco murmured, just low enough for Harry to hear and Harry's heart panged painfully in his chest.
"I promised I wouldn't, not without you," Harry replied, but that worried expression did not leave Dracos piercing grey eyes.
"Okay well first we need a plan, I don't have anything to play music with, do you guys?" Draco turned to Hermione and Ron, who both shook their heads.
"Let's go to the library and plan, they won't strike until tonight, too many students around during the day," Harry concluded, already beginning to walk towards the library.
By the time that the sun had exited from the sky, the quartet had a firm plan at the ready. Ron was the best to be found who could carry a tune whilst whistling so he would be the music man, putting the guard dog to sleep and allowing safe passage under that trapdoor—however from there their plans began to shake.
Hermione concluded that there was most likely a room for each of the professors; so a room for Professor McGonagall related to transfiguration, a room for Snape related to potions, Professor Sprout related to Herbology, then Professor Flitwick for his charms. Hermione had crossed out Quirrell, he was too new for Dumbledore to trust him with something like this. Draco seemed to think this the most likely situation too, however all they most likely knew was the subjects of these rooms, not the specific traps that would be stopping them.
Harry turned to Draco. "I really think you guys shouldn't be coming, I'm the one that dragged you through all of this," Harry said, frowning.
Ron placed his hand on his shoulder. "Harry, we're your best friends, of course we are coming. Through thick and thin right?" He smiled with that typical Ron smile of his and Harry felt slightly better. A quick look at Draco showed that Draco was determined to stay too.
"Alright, but if it starts to get too dangerous you have to promise to turn back." Harry gave them all a stern look. They nodded their heads in agreement. He trusted Ron and Hermione to listen, but when he looked to Draco to ensure he would listen, Harry could see something, something that said Draco would follow him into fire if he had to.
Slytherins and their stupid loyalty, Harry thought.
They all headed back to their own dormitories to ward off any suspicion that they were up to something, Draco promising to meet them in the corridor by midnight. The now trio tried to remain calm and relaxed as they walked through the common room. Soon Neville walked up to their whispering group, going back over the plan.
"Hey are you guys alright? You all seem kind of tense."
They all looked back to Neville, giving him startled looks.
"Uh yeah we're fine," Harry chuckled tensely and Neville just gave them a suspicious look.
"Yeah right…" Neville sat next to them, this wasn't good, they weren't meant to catch the attention of others. If Neville tried to stop them from leaving… Harry didn't think about what he would have to do to his friend. He had to get to the Stone tonight before whoever was trying to get it did.
They tried to talk about other things with Neville, such as homework and classes, but Neville still gave them knowing looks. He knew they were planning something, but what was Neville planning?
"Why did you guys miss dinner?" Neville asked suddenly, his eyes calculating.
"Oh we were studying in the library, lost track of time, you know how it can be," Hermione chuckled, but her eyes looked frazzled.
"You're all up to no good aren't you? You know we can't afford to lose house points, we're tied only a couple points ahead of Slytherin at the moment!" Neville finally burst out. Relief seemed to flood between all of them.
So he was just worried about winning the House Cup.
"Look Neville, we aren't getting up to no good, I promise. No house points are being lost before the House Cup," Ron assured him, companionably smacking him on the shoulder.
Neville seemed to relax a little at this, and finally yawned. "Right, well, early start tomorrow. I'm heading to bed, you boys coming?" They nodded, deciding it best to go with him now and wait for him to sleep to leave. They went all to their beds, Neville seeming appeased now and stopped looking at them with suspicion.
By the time that Harry was sure that Neville and the rest of their dorm mates were asleep, he signalled for Ron to get ready. They threw their cloaks over their pyjamas, quietly shuffling out of the room with their shoes in their hands.
Hermione was waiting for them in the empty common room, shoes on and school robes thrown over her pyjamas as well. They quickly shoved their shoes on.
"Ready?" she asked. They all nodded, anticipation crackling in the air.
Harry took out his invisibility cloak from his pocket and put it on over their shoulders, thankfully they were all small enough to just fit underneath it together.
They made it to the third floor corridor without interruption, not even a peep from Mrs Norris. They opened the door which was unlocked and at the end of the hallway. A black cloaked figure leaned against the wall, his blond hair reflecting the candlelight giving it an orange tinge. His eyes turned to them and Harry had to stop himself from being taken aback at how stunning they suddenly looked.
"You guys are on time. Ready?" Draco asked, pushing off the wall.
"Yep, let's do this." Harry nodded. They walked to the door and Harry was the one to open it with a calming breath. What they had expected was an angry Fluffy to immediately start snapping at them, however their expectations were not met; Fluffy was soundly sleeping, the door perfectly available.
"It's like before, they must have tested if music worked the day I took Draco here, that must mean they're here already," Harry whispered. Fluffy snored a snot bubble as they tiptoed towards the trapdoor. Harry was the first to reach it, and, with intense concentration, he lifted it as quietly as he could, sighing in relief when it opened soundlessly.
"Okay, Ron first, then Hermione, then Draco," Harry whispered. He wasn't sure why he put Draco last but no one seemed to question it. Ron leaned over the trapdoor, darkness the only thing greeting him.
"Harry, are you sure about this?" Ron whispered, voice shaking..
"You can go back, Ron, nothing's stopping you." Harry gave him a gentle look but this seemed to only firm his resolve.
"I would never do that." And with that, Ron jumped down.
Hermione gasped, but she was next. She gave Harry a confirmation nod and jumped down too. Harry tried to see if he could see them but all he could see was darkness.
"See you down there." Draco smiled rigidly, Harry suddenly didn't want Draco to jump, his heart squeezing.
"Yeah see you." He smiled in reply, his heart dropping to his stomach as Draco leapt down.
Harry gave one more look to Fluffy, still soundly snoring away, before he jumped down, the trap door slamming its goodbye.