The first thing that Harry noticed as he jumped down were the vines that he had landed on. At first he was relieved by the softened fall, however when the rough cords began to tighten around him the panic set it.
"It's Devil's Snare! Stop moving!" Hermione yelled out in a direction that Harry couldn't place. Harry quickly listened, for Hermione was usually always right. As soon as Harry stopped struggling against the Devil's Snare, their grips loosened on him, but not enough for him to get away.
Harry's eyes soon adjusted to the darkness and he could just make out a body near his, lying still. Their chest was rising and falling with rapid breathing, but other than that he couldn't make who they were.
"Okay, if only I can get my wand," Hermione's voice strained in the darkness. Harry's arms were already pinned down by the vines so there was no way he would be able to get to his wand which he wished he had clutched in his hand before he had jumped.
"Hermione, please hurry," Ron begged with urgency.
Hermione didn't reply, but soon made a noise that sounded like she had managed to get a hold of her wand.
"Devils' Snare is afraid of fire, and thankfully I know exactly the spell to use." With that, her blue fire, that she had practised on Snape's cloak with, flew into the air. Their flames washed the room in a blue hue, the Devil's Snare receding. Harry thought they even might be hissing but suspected that was just his imagination.
The figure close to him had turned out to be Draco, who looked much paler than he usually did.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked as he struggled out of the retreating vines. He stood and instantly gave Draco a helping hand who took it quickly.
"Yeah, just…I don't like dark places is all." He murmured it so quietly that Harry thought he had heard wrong, but instead of asking Draco to repeat himself, he gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"As long as I'm here, I'll keep the dark away," Harry whispered, staring into those shining grey eyes that reflected the blue flames, lighting the room like a calm pool of water reflecting the moon.
Draco returned his words with a gentle smile, and Harry suddenly hoped that he wouldn't ever have to share that smile.
Ron stumbled up next to him and the moment broke. Harry looked away almost feeling awkward. Maybe the adrenalin was making him say weirdly intense things.
"I assume this was the first room, so our theory was right; each professor has a specialised room. I can't make out the order yet, but I think Professor Flitwick is next." Hermione spoke with that calculative look in her eye, she had a large scratch up her arm that Harry nearly winced at, but she didn't seem bothered by it and the blood that had bloomed was already dry.
"Glad you paid attention in Herbology," Ron chuckled, but he was eyeing the cut with a frown.
"Oh will you two stop looking at my arm like I'm going to die, it's just a shallow cut," she huffed, but her cheeks slightly brightened and Harry didn't think she was as mad as she looked.
"Okay, well we can't stand here forever, looks like the room leads this way." Harry pointed towards the corridor.
They walked in pairs of two, Harry and Draco first with Ron and Hermione close behind them down the stone corridor. They all gripped their wands tightly now having learnt their lesson about forgetting about them.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Draco whispered to Harry. Harry listened and he too could hear something. There was a soft rustling and a light clinking coming from the end of the corridor. Harry's heart raced with anticipation. They sped up now, a light beginning to leak down the hallway. Suddenly, before them a bright lit chamber opened up. A chamber bustling with glistening flying birds.
"What do we do?" Hermione asked, staring at the birds with apprehension.
"Look, there's the door on the other side. I guess we just have to get through the birds."
Draco stared at the birds closer, his eyebrows knitting together. "These aren't birds Harry, they're keys," Draco stated. Harry looked closer and found that Draco was right, these weren't some abnormal birds as he had assumed, they were keys with wings that just held up their metallic glittering bodies.
"Keys?" Ron said, then he looked to the door and the flying keys.
"I bet this is Flitwick's work, so I guess we have to find the key for that door?" Ron gathered and the others nodded; that made the most sense.
They observed the room and Harry quickly found some old brooms leaning against a wall, there were only three, so Hermione volunteered to stay on the ground. The boys quickly mounted their brooms. Harry wasn't sure what key they should be looking out for, but he knew his Seeker brain wouldn't take too long to find it.
"Look Harry, over there! That key has a broken wing." Draco pointed towards it, it seemed he had a Seeker brain too.
They bee-lined for the key, using a crowding technique to force the key into a corner. Harry reached out, going as fast as the old, rickety broom would allow. His hand clasped over the cold metal and he whooped in victory.
They landed quickly, rushing to the door, the key thrashing wildly in Harry's hand. With a harsh grip, Harry slammed the key into the keyhole and turned it, feeling slightly bad for the now crumpled wings.
"Come on." Harry ushered them into the room. It gave them all slight whiplash at how different the room varied from the brightly lit chamber they had previously just occupied. The room was a similar shape, with a high ceiling and domed shape, but seemed to be more dilapidated and scattered with moss. In the middle of the room a life sized chess board occupied the space, the pieces the sizes of greek statues, emitting off cold auras that caused them all to shiver.
"What do you think we have to do here?" Draco asked, not daring to step closer to the menacing pieces that seemed they could come alive at any second.
"Play of course," Ron said, his face finally serious.
Ron was eyeing the chess pieces the same as he would when playing himself; this was Ron's time to shine now.
"I don't know a thing about chess," Draco replied.
"Lucky we have Ron here then," Harry replied, clasping Ron on the shoulder.
He replied with a tense smile.
"Well let's not stand around!" Hermione spoke impatiently.
"Okay, er, I guess we have to take the place of the pieces." Ron was the first to stand on the board, he placed his hand on the black knight, and suddenly it reared to life, the stone moving as if it wasn't a solid at all. Ron took in a deep calming breath and turned back to his friends.
"You all take the place of a black piece. Hermione, take the castle, Harry the bishop and Draco… you take the other bishop." They all nodded and quickly made their way to their pieces. With this, the pieces they had all replaced turned and walked off the board, leaving them defenceless.
"What now?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide with fright.
"Now we wait for white, white always goes first," Ron replied, his answer echoing throughout the room.
White perhaps taking this as their que to begin, made their first move. A white pawn slid forward to place.
With this, Ron took charge, Harry could feel fear beginning to curl in his stomach, however, he also had great trust in his friend who he had never seen lose a game of chess in his life, even against Remus.
"Harry, move diagonally four spaces," Ron ordered.
Harry nodded, moving with care and anticipation.
The first shock came when their knight was taken, smashed mercilessly into pieces by the queen. They all gasped, they had not thought that this would be so violent. They hadn't known the danger, but now they knew.
"Had to make that happen, that leaves you free to move and take that bishop, Hermione." Ron pointed to the bishop and Hermione nodded, gulping and slightly shaking as she walked to the bishop. The bishop moved off the board peacefully and Hermione breathed out in relief.
Ron moved them about the board slowly and meticulously, occasionally he realised that they were in danger and hurriedly moved them out of harm's way. Ron played chess knowing that his pieces could be replaced, but now they could not.
Draco never once disagreed with a decision of Ron's, taking each order as seriously as the others, which for some reason seemed to give Ron a slight confidence boost. By the time it came down to a few pieces on each side, Ron gave the white queen a determined look. A look that said he had made his decision.
"Yes, it's the only way, I must be taken." Ron nodded, staring at the queen with an expression of someone who couldn't be convinced otherwise.
"No!" They all shouted.
Ron sighed and turned to them. "This is chess, you sacrifice pieces to get a checkmate, and I have to sacrifice myself. I take the queen, and Harry, that leaves you free to checkmate the king. Do you want to get to the Stone or not?!" Ron snapped, his face pale but firm.
"But—" Hermione began, but Ron stopped her.
"We don't have time for this, they could have the Stone for all we know. Look, I'll be okay, I promise." He gave Hermione a soft look, but tears still bloomed in her eyes.
"Okay, ready?" He gave them all a determined look, avoiding looking at the crying Hermione and stepped towards the queen. The queen reacted instantly. With a white stone hand dulled by the candlelight, she struck Ron across the head, instantly knocking him out. Harry could already see the blood streaming down his face. Hermione screamed and went to move, but Draco quickly yelled at her to stay. She sobbed harder. The queen dragged Ron off the chess board and Harry breathed out a sigh of relief when he saw his chest rise and fall.
Harry quickly did as Ron told him and moved to checkmate the king. The king took off his crown and threw it to the floor.
"Checkmate," Harry whispered, staring at the crown on the ground. Hermione quickly rushed to Ron, the pieces now no longer moving. She leant down and cradled his head in her lap, tears still steadily running down her face. She wiped the blood away from his face with the sleeve of her cloak, her hands shaking violently.
Harry rushed to Ron's side, his heart pounding manically. He leant down to determine the damage. It seemed that he would be okay, maybe just a mild concussion. Hermione must have come to this conclusion too as her tears had slowed down.
"He'll be okay, Hermione," Harry whispered, squeezing her shoulder.
"I know." She sniffed, but his head was still bleeding and Harry could tell that she was hesitant to leave him.
"You stay here, Draco and I will continue. Go get Dumbledore if we aren't back in an hour."
Hermione gave him a teary eyed look, then looked to Draco. "Keep him safe," she said.
Draco gulped and nodded. "Of course," he replied.
"Come on," Harry said, and with one last look at Ron and Hermione, he charged to the next room. By now the pattern was known and he knew this would be Snape's room.
"I hope you know your potions," Harry said to Draco before opening the door and stepping into a small room. He took a moment to take the room in, lit by a single candle placed in the middle of a table lined with seven different bottles.
Draco stepped in after him and surveyed the room too. He walked towards the table and picked up a scroll curled up by the candle. When he lifted the scroll, flames burst to life in the doorway, blocking their path of retreat. Harry watched the purple flames with a mixture of shock and panic, then the sound of flames igniting again turned him around. Black flames licked the cold stone that marked their doorway onwards.
"Looks like we have to solve this," Draco said, waving the scroll at Harry. Harry made to take the scroll but Draco jerked it away.
"No way is your brain going to figure this out, just give me a moment. I've known Severus my entire life, this simple riddle wont get by me." Draco stood by the bottles, examining each one carefully along with the riddle, muttering under his breath.
"Severus really didnt think too hard on this did he?" Draco sighed. He placed the riddle down and picked up the smallest bottle.
"This will get you through the fire." Draco clutched the bottle tightly in his hands and Harry became nervous.
"There's only enough for one of us," Harry stated the obvious and Draco clutched the bottle tighter.
"Is there a bottle to get out?" Harry asked and Draco nodded, pointing to a bottle on the right end of the line.
"Good, you drink that and go get Ron and Hermione. Get the brooms and fly past Fluffy. We need to warn Dumbledore." Harry stepped towards Draco, extending his hand out for the bottle.
"I promised…promised I would take care of you, and now you want me to leave you?" Draco asked, voice lost. "Leave you to face whatever is waiting in that room alone?" His eyes glossed and Harry suddenly felt like he had been punched in the gut. "You promised you wouldn't get into trouble without me," Draco finished, keeping his head turned away from Harry, but that didnt hide the worry that was etched into Draco's face.
"Draco, I have to do this. What if this is something much worse than we thought? What if this is a situation where the wizarding world is in danger?" Harry stepped closer, close enough to feel Draco's breath on him if he wasn't turned away.
"You don't have to be the hero, you know. That scar doesn't mean you have to be the one to burden the responsibilities," Draco's voice warned.
"I know I don't, but I'm here now and I can't walk away. I have to do this, Draco."
Draco sighed and turned to Harry now. They stared into each other's eyes for what felt like forever but was only mere moments.
"If you die, I'm going to hate you forever," Draco grumbled, shoving the bottle into his chest.
"I won't. I promise." Harry smirked, then he wrapped his hand around Dracos shoulder and pulled into a hug. Draco gasped in surprise, but he melted into the hug almost instantly, wrapping his arm around Harry's.
"I'll come back," Harry promised.
Draco nodded into Harry's shoulder. Harry didnt comment on the wetness he could feel seeping into his shirt as Draco pulled away from the hug.
"Don't be too Gryffindor in there," Draco sniffed, quickly wiping the tears away.
"Don't worry, I think I learned a Slytherin trick or two from you to make it through."
Draco laughed wetly, tears springing into his eyes again.
"Hurry up and go before I change my mind." He lifted his chin up, trying to set his face into the Malfoy mask that had dissolved away so long ago.
"Keep Ron and Hermione safe for me okay?" Harry turned away and moved towards the black flames. He swallowed the mouthful of potion and felt it come to rest in his stomach heavily. With one more deep breath—
He stepped through the flames.
The new room that Harry stepped into consisted of stairs. He stared around the room, his wand clutched in an iron grip against his thigh. He kept alert for any sort of movement, but most of all he kept alert for the Stone.
A shadow so suddenly passed by him that he didn't even have a moment to react before a figure clad in a dark cloak stood before him. The hood over their face shadowed by the flickering candle light concealed the intruder's identity, but Harry's scar pained him again. It was the most agonising pain that he had felt yet. He fought the feeling, his knees shaking, threatening to buckle. Then the figure moved and Harry brought his wand up through the blinding pain.
The figure did not reach for Harry, instead they lifted their hood away, revealing the person beneath.
Harry gasped.
It was Professor Quirrell.
"You!" Harry exclaimed. The pain had subsided slightly with the shock, adrenaline having begun to rush through his veins.
"Me," Quirrell replied, his sunken face no longer strained with fear, rather, it had no emotion whatsoever. "I wondered whether I would be meeting you here, Potter."
"But I thought—Snape—" Harry started, but Quirrell just laughed.
"Severus? Yes, Severus made my job quite easy, swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would suspect old st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?"
Harry couldn't take it in! This couldn't be true…he hadn't suspected him one bit.
"But—Snape tried to kill me!" He had to be right, surely?
"Ha! That old bat was protecting you. I was trying to throw you off that broom, but he kept countering my spell. Then that Granger girl lit his cloak on fire which interrupted me."
"You should give the old fool more credit, Potter, he's been trying to save your arse all year. Bit of a wasted effort. It is not like I could do anything with Dumbledore watching me like a hawk."
"Dumbledore suspected you?" Harry felt even more shock from this conclusion.
"Of course he did, why do you think he accepted me for this position? To keep a closer eye on me of course. But none of this idle chatter anymore. My master is very happy that you are here now; it's the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one Stone." A maddening glitter brightened Quirrell's lifeless eyes and Harry's scar lit alight with pain once again.
He hissed and pressed his palm against it, hoping the pressure would take the pain away, rather it seemed to amplify it.
Quirrell took out his wand from the sleeve of his cloak and, without a moment's hesitation, murmured a charm on Harry, casting binding ropes around him. Harry hadn't the time to react or counter it, the ropes wrapped tightly around him and Harry felt like a fool for letting his guard down. He darted his eyes around the room, searching for anything to get him out of his bindings, this was when he noticed the Mirror of Erised in the room.
Quirrell followed his line of sight. "Ah yes, the Mirror of Erised. It's the key to finding the Stone. The key to pleasing my master." Quirrell stepped towards the mirror, tapping his wand against the frame.
"I can see myself handing the stone to my master, but why? Why wont it show?" He hissed, then pain shuddered over his face and a voice that resounded pure fear and dread washed over Harry.
"Use the boy…use the boy," The voice hissed.
Harry instantly became paralyzed with fear.
A realisation rang through him…Quirrell's master was Voldemort.
"Yes, the boy!" Quirrell flicked his wand at Harry, who levitated to the mirror and was placed in front of it.
"Tell me, what do you see?" Quirrell looked at him hungrily now, desperation crawling into his tone.
Harry stared at the mirror, the fear on his face reflecting back at him for a moment. Then his face morphed into one of determination as his reflection placed his hand into his pocket and withdrew the Philosopher's Stone.
"Quick boy, what do you see?" Quirrell pressed the tip of his wand against the side of his throat.
Harry had to think fast.
"I see myself with my parents, my parents are with me," Harry somehow managed to force out, the previous reflection he had seen in the mirror flashing in his mind.
"He's lying…lying," Voldemort hissed.
"Tell me or you die," Quirrell spat. He was more than desperate now, he was frantic.
"I'm not lying, it is what I see," Harry rushed out. Suddenly he noticed a weight in his pocket, the widening of his eyes was the only thing that portrayed his realisation.
The Stone was in his pocket.
"I don't understand, Master, are you sure we need him? Can I just kill him now?" Quirrell fidgeted nervously, the wand against his neck shaking.
"Let me speak to him," Voldemort replied. Harry felt petrified to the spot.
"But master, you aren't strong enough," Quirrell rushed nervously. All he got was a hiss in reply and pain flashed through his eyes.
"Very well master." Quirrell, with bone pale hands, unwrapped the purple turban bound to his head.
Harry watched on in petrified terror, his face plastered to the ground, his eyes open wide as Quirrell unwrapped the horror hidden beneath. Too quickly, Harry was faced with his worst nightmare. The bane to his existence. The murderer of his parents.
Voldemort.
Harry wanted to run away but nothing in his body would respond to him. Quirrell turned around so that the creature on the back of his head could face him.
"Harry Potter," The voice hissed, instilling even more fear in Harry.
"The fear you emit excites me Harry, for I've longed for this first meeting. It's a shame it had to be in this form of shadow and vapour, only being able to exist in the forms of others. But soon, with that Stone in your pocket, I will have my own form again. I will be able to finish the plans that I started all those years ago. Now Harry, why don't you give me that stone. Do this and I might just let you live."
Harry suddenly found the will to move. He wouldn't let him get to this Stone. He had gone through too much to stop now!
He stumbled backwards and the face distorted into anger. "Don't be a fool Harry! Give me the Stone and join me, or die begging for mercy like your parents."
"LIAR!" Harry roared. How dare this monster talk of his parents! He continued to stumble backwards, but Quirrell advanced onwards, walking backwards to keep Voldemort facing him.
"How touching…you remind of your father, brave to the bitter end. You know I killed your father first; a courageous battle he fought, but in vain. Your mother did not have to fight me, I was not going to kill her…but a mother's will was stronger than I had anticipated."
Harry wanted to turn away from Voldemort's face, but he couldn't, so he continued on stumbling backwards.
"Hand me the Stone, Harry."
"NEVER!" Harry shouted back and pain flashed through his scar again. Somehow Harry fought through it.
Harry sprang towards the flaming door, but Voldemort screamed, "SEIZE HIM!" and Quirrell flung himself towards him, tackling him to the ground.
Harry yelled out, struggling against the larger man's restraint, excruciating pain searing through his scar. He struggled with all of his might until suddenly Quirrell was shooting off of him like he had been burned.
"What…what is this?" Quirrell howled in pain, he looked down to his hand which were bursting into hot red blisters,
"Master, I can't!" Quirrell sobbed.
Voldemort replied venomously, "Then be done with him!"
Quirrell lifted his wand to perform a deadly curse.
Harry reacted the only way he thought he could, he lunged at Quirrell, placing his hands on his face. Quirrell screamed out in agony as his face burned. He threw Harry off of him, but the damage had been done. Harry watched as Quirrell scratched at his face, skin tearing at the blisters forming, blood beginning to run like tears down his face. Harry watched, horrified, as Quirrell shrieked with pain on the ground, Voldemort shouting at him to kill Harry, kill him quickly, but Harry knew that Quirrell would no longer listen to his master, for pain was his master now.
The pain in Harry's head doubled and his vision blurred with a fuzzy blackness edging in. He stumbled to the floor, the echoing screams of pain the last thing he remembered as he succumbed to the pain in his scar.
Harry awoke with gold glittering in his vision. He groaned and swatted away the annoying glint. His effort was rewarded with a chuckle.
Harry slowly blinked his eyes open, his vision unfocused without his glasses, but he could just make out the face leaning over his, those too wise eyes twinkling down at him.
"Good morning, Mr Potter," The fuzzy face said and Harry made a conscious effort now to wake up.
"Where am I?" Harry groaned, attempting to sit up, but his head throbbed in protest.
"In the infirmary, my dear boy. Quite an adventure you've had."
Then Harry really woke up. "Professor Dumbledore, the Stone! Quirrell has the Stone."
Harry was not given the concerned look that he had expected, instead he was given a smile.
"Calm yourself, my dear boy, you are behind the times. Quirrell does not have the Stone, you made sure of that."
"If he doesn't, then who does?" Harry asked, perplexed. Had he actually managed to stop Quirrell?
"You don't have to worry yourself about that Stone anymore Harry, it is being taken care of. Melted down as we speak, to never be used again."
"What about Quirrell?" Harry's mind raced along with the dull throbbing. He leaned down to pick up his glasses which helped a little. He took in his surroundings as Dumbledore composed his answer. Madame Pomfrey was watching from her desk, giving Dumbledore a frustrated look, but she stayed composed and let Dumbledore take his time with Harry, for now.
Dumbledore's face went serious. "Quirrell died, Harry, his body could not take the strain of being Voldemort's vessel any longer, and being in such close proximity with you ended what was left of him. For Voldemort, I'm afraid he still exists, hunting out the next vessel that will take him."
Harry soaked in the information and suddenly wished that he had waited to ask when the pounding in his head wasn't so extreme.
"So he still lives then?" Harry asked, rubbing his temple.
Madame Pomfrey stood.
"Yes that would be correct, but thanks to you and your friends' efforts Harry, he does not have his full power back, giving us the much needed time to prepare." Dumbledore's face softened now.
"I think you should rest again, your friends have been spending every second they have in here. I suspect you would want to be well rested to see them."
Harry nodded, agreeing. He didnt think he could deal with Ron's badgering right now.
"I'll let you be then before Madame Pomfrey hexes me out of the room. Sleep well, Harry."
Dumbledore walked gracefully out of the room, and as he opened the door he could see a worried Draco and Hermione hovering by the door, but Madame Pomfrey closed the curtain before they could spot him.
Harry gratefully took the dreamless sleep potion that Pomfrey offered, chugging down the cold, bitter liquid and quickly settled down for a peaceful sleep.
Harry awoke with no more pounding at the front of his temple and muscles that no longer protested movement. He sat up slowly, afraid to start the throbbing again and breathed out in relief when he received no pain.
Madame Pomfrey was nowhere to be seen and Harry put back on his glasses, finally noticing the piles of gifts and flowers on a desk at the end of his bed.
He stood up, feeling unsteady but okay, and examined the table. Most of the flowers and gifts were from people that he didn't know or had only vaguely heard about, and gifts that he knew who they were from he opened. A sweater from Mrs Weasley, along with chocolate and a prank box from the Weasley twins, more candy from his first year classmates, and a beautifully written card from Neville. Nothing from Ron, Hermione, or Draco, but he knew why they hadn't sent him gifts, for they had been by his side the entire time he was resting, which was all the gift that he needed.
The door to the infirmary opened and in stepped his adopted father Remus, the bags under his eyes darker than usual and his scruffy clothing scruffier than ever. Remus was caressing a cup of coffee and hadn't looked up yet to see Harry awake. When he finally did he nearly dropped his cup.
"Harry!" Remus cried, rushing to his son and pulling him into a rib cracking hug.
"Remus…! Too tight." Harry gasped out, and Remus instantly released him. Tears brimmed Remus' dark brown eyes and Harry's heart squeezed in his chest.
"You are just like your father and Sirius, running into the first sign of trouble," Remus sniffed, wiping the corner of his eye with his well worn handkerchief.
"Had to learn it from somewhere didn't I?" Harry smiled, his love for his adopted father exploding in his chest.
"I'll never forgive Sirius," Remus grumbled, but there was no malice in his tone. Harry pulled Remus in for another hug, more gentle this time, and Remus burst into tears.
"I was so worried about you, I kept thinking all the worst things even though Pomfrey kept reassuring me you would be okay, just needed to sleep it off—but you looked so pale, so lifeless, that I didnt know what to think. I thought I was losing you."
"I'm sorry, Remus, I really didn't mean to hurt you like that." Harry began to feel the burn of tears in the back of his eyes, he wiped them on Remus' shoulder.
The door to the infirmary opened again and quickly another set of arms wrapped themselves around them.
"Scared the shit out of me Harry," Sirius murmured, his arms tightening around them.
"Sirius, language!" Remus barked, but his throat was still clogged with tears.
They slowly separated from each other, Remus wiping the last of his tears away, then wiping away Harry's. He let Remus coddle him for the moment, he deserved it.
"Listen Harry, if you're going to do this again, at least send a warning next time?" Sirius sat beside Remus, wrapping his arm around his shoulder and bringing him close.
"I'm sorry, I really did want to send a letter, but it all happened so suddenly that I just didn't have the time."
Sirius gave him the sternest look that he had ever given him.
"Harry, you know the participation we had with the war, and I never, never would wish that upon my child, but it seems inevitable for you. Just, promise me this; be a child while you still can. Worry about girls and boys and homework. Worry about sneaking into Hogsmeade and into the kitchens. Don't worry about You Know Who. Please…just be a child while you still can."
Harry felt the tears reemerge. "I promise," he croaked out, and Sirius pulled him back into a hug, rubbing his cheek against his hair.
"I love you, my son," Sirius murmured and Remus burst into tears again.
"Love you so much, Harry," Remus sobbed.
"I love you both too," Harry replied, his smile wet with tears.
By the time they had all calmed down and Harry had recapped most of that night, his friends arrived, bustling and murmuring together. They all looked exhausted and Harry instantly felt guilty. When they finally noticed Harry was awake, Hermione was the first to fling her full body onto Harry. He barely caught her and they tumbled back onto the bed, Harry drowning in bushy hair, but he didnt mind.
"You're awake!" Ron gleamed, helping Hermione get off of Harry, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Yeah, been awake for a while, how's your head?" Harry asked, remembering the unconscious Ron on the cold stone floor.
"Just a slight concussion, only had to spend the night before Madame Pomfrey let me go."
"I'm sorry I dragged you all into this." Harry frowned, guilt enveloping him.
"Hey, don't be sorry, we all could have said no at any point, it was our decision to follow you and I would never regret it," Ron reassured him, patting Harry on the shoulder and pulling him quickly into a light hug.
"Did scare us for a minute though, you were heavily sedated for the first two days. Pomfrey was worried she might have to take you to St Mungo's if you didn't wake up by the third day."
Harry's eyes widened, he didnt know that he was out that severely.
Draco finally stepped forward. Harry could tell that he had a mask on to hide his vulnerability, but when he took Harry's hand gently, Harry could see through that mask in an instant. He squeezed Draco's hand.
"I promised I would be okay," he said gently. Draco nodded, keeping his eyes down to their adjoined hands. The room seemed to shrink to just the two of them until Sirius cleared his throat bringing them back to reality.
"Draco has been the most diligent in seeing you I hear. You've made another loyal friend," Sirius spoke, eyeing Draco with a knowing look.
"I've made two new best friends this year, two friends that I couldn't be more thankful for," Harry replied, squeezing Draco's hand again. Hermione teared up.
Harry sat at Gryffindor table for the last feast of the year; the feast that would determine who would win the House Cup. Currently, Slytherin and Gryffindor were head to head, but professors liked to add points during the feast, giving last congratulations to students. They tallied the points in their head as professors stood and made their speeches. Finally, it was Dumbledore's turn to speak, the hall was alight with murmuring. If they had done their maths right, Slytherin and Gryffindor were tied.
"As we all know, there have been great rumours circling around the castle in the last week about a certain group of students.
"First, for Ron Weasley, I give you twenty points for the best game of chess played in the history of Hogwarts. For not only saving your friends, but for sacrificing yourself to protect them."
Ron went positively red.
"Next, to Hermione Granger, another twenty points for being the decisive glue to your little group, keeping their heads turned on with your intelligence and logic."
Hermione beamed.
"Of course, last but not least, to Harry Potter, embracing one's Gryffindor side is something that takes not only bravery but tenacity; Although you throw yourself in head first without thinking, your bravery is to be rewarded. Twenty points."
The Gryffindor table cheered wildly, the cup was to be theirs!
"Ah, now I am not finished. Now, this last person I shall not name, but they showed that loyalty and decisiveness is a virtue that shouldn't be disregarded. That staying side by side with those you love, even through the most precarious of dangers, is the greatest strength of all. Sixty five points to Slytherin."
The hall went silent. A pin drop could be heard.
Harry beamed as he found the shocked and astonished expression of Draco who had sought him out. Then utter chaos broke out on the Slytherin table, the colours of the hall washed green and silver. Gryffindor had been stunned silent, however they didn't seem to be too upset, and soon began cheering for Slytherin, a house unity that Harry had not expected.
They all celebrated that night, the festivities continuing to the dorms, even if Gryffindor had not won, they still felt as if they had. Harry snuck off and walked through the halls towards Slytherin, hoping he would be able to find Draco.
Harry found Draco at the stairs heading towards the dungeons, a bright smile glowing in his cheeks, his hand cradling a butterbeer.
"My father's going to be furious with me when I get home," Draco laughed, chugging down more of the butterbeer and Harry frowned.
"Why?" he asked, feeling concerned, but Dracos smile was catching.
"Because I'm in cahoots with you. Oh not to worry Harry, I'm a Slytherin, I'll slither my way out of it somehow."
"Can we send letters this time? I don't think I can not talk to you all summer, I might actually die." Harry sidled up to Draco, who had moved to lean against the wall.
"I think you should go by a code name, in case my father reads the letters."
"Promise you won't tell anyone this? even Ron doesn't know," Harry began, giving Draco a serious look, Draco straightened nodding his head feverishly.
"When I was little, I used to cry a lot whenever Remus or Sirius would leave so they began to call me Snuffles. I guess you can use that in your letters to address me." Harry looked away from Draco, his face reddening with embarrassment.
"Snuffles, got it." Draco nodded, his mouth lifting into a smile.
"Don't laugh," Harry grumbled but Draco's smile just widened.
"Why would I laugh? I think it's cute," Draco replied and Harry groaned in embarrassment.
"I can't believe it's been a year already," Draco said, finishing the last dregs of his butterbeer.
Harry sighed. "I know, right, it feels like we have known each other for forever."
Draco nodded in agreement. He then pushed off the wall, shoving his hand not holding the cup into his pocket. "I better go. See you on the train?"
"Yeah, see you on the train."
"Bye, Harry."
"Bye, Draco."
"Wanker," Draco smirked.
"Tosser," Harry replied.
They both laughed as they walked back to their dorms, already looking forward to their summer letters to be written.
and thats it for book 1, look forward to start of book 2 for this series next week, thanks for all the follows and favourites :)