Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Halloween

[Page 175 - Harry filled Ron in about the package that seemed to have been moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts, and they spent a lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection...Neither Neville or Hermione showed the slightest interest in what lay underneath the dog and the trapdoor.]

"You got nearly killed and all you two can think of is what that package might be? Are you serious?" Seamus openly gaped at him, incredulity clear in his tone. The two blushed deeply, not even having a chance to defend themselves as the others voiced their agreements as well.

"Well, at least some people have common sense." Ginny muttered, shaking her head slowly. "Neville and Hermione have already lost interests - not that anyone should find interest in a gigantic, three-headed dog that almost bit their head off, mind you - and their top priority is to never go near that dog ever again. Which is good, a normal thing to do as a person with healthy amount of fear and concern of their own safety."

"Are you calling me suicidal?" Ron demanded, finally breaking free of his very panicked mom, scowling at his sister. "'Cause I'm not. Harry is."

"Hey!"

"What? I wasn't the one to suggest going to the huge, man-eating spiders!"

"How was I suppose to know following normal, tiny spiders led to those? And from what I remember, you also agreed to the idea!"

"Only because you forced me to!"

"I never did! Stop lying!"

"Oh, are you calling me a liar? Well, at least I'm not as insane as you who decided that tackling a fully grown troll head-first was a great idea."

"I take offence to that!"

"It was meant to be offensive!"

"Well, do I need to remind you whose bright idea it was to drive a flying car over muggles in a broad daylight without any spells to keep them from seeing us?"

"That wasn't my fault!"

"Uh huh, because I am the one with red hair and freckles."

"Well, you-"

"Alright, that's enough, you two!" Hermione cut in, whacking their head lightly for emphasis. "I think that you've given enough heart attacks for a day, yes?"

Indeed, over half of the students were staring at them with their mouths hanging open. Some people looked like they were on verge of fainting, if their paleness and the quickness of their breathing was anything to go by. Sheepish, the two Gryffindors gave an awkward laugh, fidgeting nervously under Hermione's exasperated look. "Uh, we were joking?"

"I'm starting to think that the only way to keep you lot safe is to lock you in a room." Lily sighed, burying her face into her hands, groaning softly. "Why do you have to get yourselves into so dangerous situations?"

"We've been trying to find out the answer to that for years. Still have no idea, though."

[Page 176 - 'DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE. It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand...']

"You gave him a Nimbus Two Thousand?" James nearly squeaked in excitement, to much amusement of his friends. "Oh, I knew you were actually a softie under all that strict act, Minnie, and my son managed to charm his way into your heart! We should all celebrate!"

"You didn't even see a Nimbus Two Thousand yet, James." Remus rolled his eyes at his friend, watching fondly as the messy-haired adult waved him off with a scoff, bombarding his poor son with questions about his flying skills. Even after all those years that separated them, it felt so natural to relax around his best friends, joking and bickering. It was as if nothing had happened and it was great to have his friends back, friends who had stood by him throughout their whole school years despite the fact that he was a werewolf. Even though he didn't know if this will last forever, he would be damned if he wasted even a second of this.

"So? From what I gather from their reactions, it's something fabulous and if it's not, well, that's my son who's riding it so that makes it fabulous." James declared and Remus had to chuckle at his antics. He had been dead for years and it seemed like he didn't even change the slightest. In fact, he was even more lively now and he bet his entire fortune that he had pranked other unfortunate souls during his 'death'.

"James, you are not giving our son an ego as big as yours." Lily spoke up, grabbing her hyperactive husband's arm and stopping him from continuing to bounce around in excitement, well used to his antics by now. "You are much more than I can handle and Merlin forbid if I have to take care of another one."

"Oh, come on, Lily-flower, I know you love me." James countered easily, giving her a light peek on her cheek. "But seriously, I need to see him fly as soon as possible or I might just die from curiosity. Why don't we go out during the next break? Yes, that's a great idea! We can finally see our son fly on a broom! Oh, I can just cry right now."

"Ignore him, dear. He's just excited." Lily whispered to Harry, chuckling fondly as she watched James ramble on and on. Harry couldn't help but grin as well, perfectly content with his life at the moment as he was surrounded by his family and friends.

[Page 184 - "It's no wonder no one can stand her. She's a nightmare, honestly."]

"Ronald Bilius Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley yelled, completely appalled by her son's behavior. "How could you say such things about her! Apologize right now!"

"But I already did say sorry ages ago!" Ron protested, yelping loudly when his mother smacked his head. "Ow! Alright, alright. I'm sorry for bad mouthing you and making fun of you, Hermione. There, happy?"

"Do it sincerely!"

"Ow! What was that for? Ouch! Okay, fine! Hermione, I'm so sorry for saying oh so terrible thing and ruining your reputation. Do you think you could ever forgive me for my terrible sins?" Ron asked in mock-seriousness, looking up at her while he was on his knees on the ground. Hermione stifled her giggles and replied in equal solemnity, playing along.

"Though you have broke my heart by saying those foul things, I shall graciously accept your apology since you had asked so nicely." She declared dramatically, taking his offered hand. Not able to hold back any longer, the two of them burst into laughter, doubling over and gasping for breath.

"I still can't believe how they became friends." Neville sighed, shaking his head. "I mean, when they were first years, they were at each other's throats constantly and one day, poof, they are best buddies. How is that even possible?"

"Pay attention to the book and you'll understand." Harry answered, then added as an afterthought. "Or not. I don't think any of you became friends the way we did so you might think we are crazy."

"Might?" Hermione snorted inelegantly, raising her eyebrow.

"Most likely would."

"Most likely?" This time, it was Ron who objected, grinning.

"Fine. 99% would." Harry huffed crossly as everyone stared at him. "What? Do I need to remind you that I'm not he only one who did that? Those two were also in it, you know."

"That's it. I need more Calming Draughts." Remus announced then proceeded to snatch some from his friends, ignoring their yelp of protests.

[Page 185 - "Troll - in the dungeons - thought you ought to know."..."Hermione. She doesn't know about the troll."]

"Trolls?" Lily shrieked, her hands once again having a vice grip on Harry who was starting to lose the feeling of his arm she was holding. "How did a troll get into a school full of children? Hogwarts was supposed to be the safest place on Earth!"

"The key word being 'supposed to be'." Harry mumbled, trying to pry off his mother's fingers off him so his blood could flow into his arm like it was supposed to. "It's not like that was the most dangerous thing I've done until now. I didn't even get injured that time and it wasn't entirely my fault since it was because of Ron that Hermione stayed in a bathroom."

Of course that was the wrong thing to say and it only agitated her even more, causing her to grab some Calming Draughts for herself. She pointed her wand at her husband when he tried to take them back, glaring. "Don't you dare, James. You already had dozens of them and I need it more than you do."

Having enough sense to see arguing will only result to his pain, he wisely turned away and started wrestling his friends to steal some. They weren't the only ones causing a scene, as other professors - though more discreetly - were fighting each other to secure theirs as well, Madam Pomfrey sighing in relief as she subtly took out one of her hidden potions. She knew she would need them at some point of time and she was infinitely glad that she listened to her instinct and hid some for herself. Otherwise, she would have had to fight for some like her colleagues.

The only ones unaffected were Umbridge, Fudge and Snape. Umbridge and Fudge because they didn't care whether the boy got killed or not because of his own recklessness and Snape because he knew he had got out alive. But he had to rub his temple as he felt headache coming just by thinking of the amount of Calming Draughts he would have to make. Really, why did they have to consume so much? Couldn't they see the brat sitting right next to them, perfectly alive and healthy?

"Still, why did you have to go all by yourselves? Couldn't you have just told a professor or something?" Ernie asked weakly, wincing as he thought about what would happen to the book-Gryffindors. None of the outcomes were pleasant though, in fact, it only got worse as his imagination gradually went wild, and he could only hope the troll didn't beat them into pulp so they wouldn't have to listen to the gruesome details. He didn't think he could stop his lunch from coming up if he had to listen to it.

"What I want to know is why was Professor Quirrell in the dungeons in the first place? Shouldn't he have been in the Great Hall with the rest of the professors?" Terry wondered out loud, frowning as he mulled over that thought.

"Maybe he was in a guard patrol?" Lisa suggested but she didn't seem to be entirely convinced either.

[Page 186 - Peering around it, however, they saw not Percy but Snape..."He's heading for the third floor."]

"Why was Professor Snape there?"

All students - minus the Slytherins - stared suspiciously at the said professor who was outright ignoring and occasionally sneering at them. So the Potter and Weasley saw him there, huh? That would explain their suspicious looks and wariness during their first year. He thought they suspected him of stealing the Philosopher's Stone - Merlin knew how those three managed to figure that out - out of mere hunches. Turns out he was wrong and they did have some proofs to suspect him. It didn't change the fact that they were too nosy for their own good, though. He knew they would some day get killed because of their curiosity. It was just like the muggle saying, 'curiosity kills a cat'.

"Wait, Harry said he was heading to the third floor, didn't he?" Padma realised, her eyes widening. "Maybe he's heading for the forbidden corridor!"

"But why would he go there?" Parvati pointed out reasonably, shuddering as she wondered why would anyone go there intentionally and risk getting bitten off by a giant cerberus.

"I don't know, it was just a guess." Padma shrugged, frowning as she thought what motives the Potions Professor would have. "Doesn't matter. Harry would find out the reason."

"Why does everyone expect me to find out an answer to every mystery?"

"Stop complaining, Harry. You know as much as your luck and decision sucks most of the time, you are absolutely fantastic at solving mysteries." Ron answered, rolling his eyes at his pouting friend.

[Page 187 - With one great leap, Harry managed to grab the key, slam the door and lock it.]

"That was you guys?! Do you even know how terrified I was when the door didn't open? I thought I was going to die!" Hermione scowled, glaring at her friends. Ron immediately pushed Harry in front of himself, yelling, "It was Harry's idea!"

"Gee, thanks a lot, Ron. This is what a true friendship looks like."

"What? It's true! You were the one who suggested locking the troll in."

"We wouldn't have been put into that situation if you kept control of your mouth!"

"Hey!"

"That's enough." Hermione sighed, successfully stopping the argument. "I'll forgive you two for that, okay? Now be quiet."

"Thank you!" They exclaimed, grinning widely. The bushy-haired witch huffed, half-irritated and half-amused. "You did that on purpose, didn't you? To make me forgive you?"

Their widening grins were only answers she got.

"Oh, why do I even bother to put up with you?" She sighed, shaking her head.

"Aw, come on, Mione. I know you love us." Harry teased, laughing when she half-heartedly sent hexes in their direction. "Yeah, I love you, too."

[Page 188 - He took a great running jump and managed to fasten his arms around the troll's neck from behind.]

"So that's what you meant by becoming friends by wrestling a troll!" The Weasley twins exclaimed, breaking into huge grins. "Man, that's so cool!"

"No, that is definitely not cool." Ginny muttered, her freckles standing out from her stark white face. "They could have been crushed to death! What were you thinking? No, don't answer. I know what you were thinking. You were thinking nothing, that's what you were thinking. Do you have any idea how many heart attacks you gave me these past hours?"

"No, but I know I'll go completely deaf if anyone else screams right next to my ear again." Harry answered, rubbing his ears. Honestly, one would think being adults they had more self-control. But no, they didn't even try to contain themselves and let out a stream of rambling about how he should stop diving head-first into those kind of situations. How many times did he have to say that the troubles kept coming after him like a pack of hungry hyenas? Hell, his top wish was to live normal for once. It wasn't like he wanted an evil, psychopath Dark Lord out for his blood.

"Good thing you learned levitation charm." Remus said weakly, looking worse for wear. The first years look at each other, silently vowing to themselves to master the spell as quickly as possible. "Who knew such a simple spell could be so useful?"

James and Lily were too busy lunging at the potions to answer and Sirius was torn between following their examples or making sure his godson was alright. He settles on the latter, draping an arm over his shoulder tightly, saying, "You better not pull that stunt again or I'll ground you for a year."

"Make it two." James grunted from where he was engaged in furious battle with his wife for only remaining potion.

"Two years, then." Sirius amended, sighing. "You really do have the worst luck, huh, pup?"

"Well, at least that event will definitely make a strong bond between the three of them." Neville pointed out, laying his head onto the cool surface of the table. "You sure have the weirdest way of making friends, Harry."

"Well, I did befriend a House Elf who was trying to save my life by almost killing me, so I guess that's a fair judgement."

Neville stared, proceeded to open his mouth only to shut it again. "You know what? I don't want to know, so don't tell me."

"The book will tell you anyways."

"Ugh. See, this is why I hate books. They are dangerous and bad for your health!" Sirius exclaimed and Remus grimaced as well. "For once, I agree with you. I hate reading this."

Hello, dear readers! I am so sorry this chapter took so long but I was caught up between homework, projects and reading fanfictions. But I promise I'll write the next chapter faster.

Thank you for all of you who've read this and any suggestions or comments are welcome! Please read and review!