Those- Who- Lived
Chapter Two
The one thing that Harry was certain was the crowning complement of his first week was that he had Potions with the Slytherins. He'd just barely gotten the path from the dorms to the Great Hall figured out, and now he was stuck into the dungeons. Worse yet, Ron held them up as he stuffed a last few crisps into his mouth, and they ended up showing up late. Snape glared them down, and then carefully made a point of looking down his list. Harry bristled. Snape knew very well whom they all were and from the looks of things he hadn't yet taken roll. He couldn't be unfair to them on their first day! They'd nearly gotten lost coming down there.
"Ah, glad to see the children of our fighters are as diligent in their arrival as their parents. Weasley, please take the seat two in front of you, and Longbottom and Potter …" He paused, as Ron settled with a grimace next to Granger. She'd been absolutely obsessive about her homework this week, and Harry was fairly certain her time under the hat had been spent talking her way out of Ravenclaw. However, there were only so many seats left, and an odd number of students. That left only two options, the dark desk in the very back, or the bench next to Alan Prince.
"Potter, Longbottom, you will be working with Prince." Snape announced.
Harry stifled a groan and sat down, glaring up at Snape. He then did a double-take; Snape looked regretful! Feeling Prince moving beside him, Harry spared him a glance and saw him shrug, looking back at the teacher. Feeling both put-off and cheated that Snape apparently sympathized with the student, Harry quickly got out his own things and scattered them in front of him as Neville did the same. Next to him, he heard Prince hiss and growl under his breath before he leaned over and hissed at them.
"Would you put those things in order? I'm not going to lose a grade because I'm stuck with two unneeded, inept fools!"
Harry glared at him, and purposefully scattered his things once more as he added a small knife set. Prince growled in the back of his throat, but they were cut off.
"Unnecessary conversation will not occur in my classroom." Harry glanced up and met a stare that told him that were Prince not involved, he'd have lost points. Harry just glared back, and Snape sneered. "Five points for disrespecting a teacher, Potter. Do not make any unneeded expressions towards me again." He then turned to his papers and called roll once more, about the only time Harry thought he'd address the houses on equal grounds ever.
Snape finished the roll and looked over the class with a fierce stare as he locked his hands behind him and began to pace the front of the class. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of a softly simmering cauldron with it's shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses … I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death … if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Granger was bouncing in her seat in front of them, making Ron edge away, while Harry was wondering why he felt the need to be so melodramatic. Neville elbowed him, and Harry scowled over at him before following his finger to look at Prince. Prince's expression was rather priceless: He was watching Snape as though he'd never seen his like before, when previously he'd been so knowledgeable. Harry snickered into his hand, and jumped as Snape addressed him.
"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of Asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry paused and sat back. He knew he knew that but it just wasn't coming. Next to him, Prince was giving him a strange look. Harry just shook his head carefully, and Prince looked disgusted.
Snape merely sneered. "Prince?"
"A basic neutral conducive to the Draught of Living Death, sir." Prince recited.
Harry made a face. What the hell was a 'basic neutral'? Snape looked at him, mildly curious, and Prince coloured.
"I knew a meticulous Potions Master who was fond of experimenting, sir."
Snape just nodded. Harry still felt confused, but Snape then returned his attention to him, and Harry grimaced.
"Longbottom," Harry blinked, and then glanced to Neville like the rest of the class, "Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Neville blinked twice, then smiled. "The stomach of a goat, sir."
Prince, next to Harry, rolled his eyes.
Snape looked like he was sucking a lemon. "Well then. Potter, can you tell me the difference between Wolfsbane and Monkshood?"
Harry glared. "It's nothing, sir. They're the same plant."
Snape once more made a face, but he turned back to the board and waved his wand, as writing appeared. "It is also called Aconite. Well? Everyone should be writing. As for a bezoar, it is a stone that will protect you from most poisons."
Snape continued his lecture, and then told them they would be working in pairs to make their potion. He made sure, however, that Harry and Neville knew they were working with Prince. Again, Harry saw him cast an infuriatingly apologetic look at Prince, and when Harry came back with the ingredients with Neville he placed them unnecessarily hard. Prince levelled a scalding glare at him as he organized their ingredients, shuffling them around to no point Harry could see.
"Potter, please crush the snake fangs – make sure it's fine – And Longbottom, hand me the nettles you put out of reach." Prince ordered, concentrating on adding a spoonful of salt to their boiling water as he calmly stirred the potion without seeming to really pay attention.
Harry glared down, and noticed that the snake fangs he was supposed to be crushing were right in front of him. A quick reference to the board showed that Prince had organized the ingredients as they would come up in the potion. Harry glared as Prince took the nettles from Neville and began to add them smoothly.
"You're not working, Potter." Prince said.
Harry jumped and glared, but he nearly upset the mortar when Snape spoke from behind him.
"I don't believe it's fair to make Prince do all the work, Potter. Please make sure you do your share or else it will be points from Gryffindor."
Harry glared at him as he swept past, but he quickly set about crushing the fangs. Prince checked over his shoulder once more, and then shook his head.
"They need to be finer."
Harry turned and snapped at him, "Do it yourself, then!"
Prince turned up to him, and then raised his eyebrow.
Harry snarled and began grinding again with a vengeance. It wasn't fair! But then again, he knew it was fair. A glance over again, proved that Prince was waiting patiently for him to finish; the potion was stable and waiting. No matter how frustrating it was.
The fangs went into the potion, and Prince once again delegated to them to prepare the ingredients. He was clearly unhappy with several of the preparations, but he did the work anyways. However, Harry objected when he was asked to stew the horned slugs. Prince was pouring in the porcupine quills, and he rolled his eyes.
"Will you just stop whining, Potter? I didn't ask to be your partner!"
"I didn't ask to get stuck with you either, Prince. Stop ordering me around, and why don't you just do it all yourself?"
"I'm supposed to be working with you-"
"Well I don't want to work with a spoiled rotten brat!" Harry shouted. The class was staring at them, but Prince was furious. Angrily, he reached over and tossed a handful of something into the cauldron, which subsequently sent a huge plume of stinging orange smoke to the ceiling. Snape snarled into the mess.
"Damn you, child! Everyone, leave the classroom now, but walk carefully. You aren't in immediate danger; don't race! I will not have you trampling each other like fools."
Harry grabbed Neville's hand, but he couldn't seem to find his balance and they both stumbled into the other students as they walked out. Once outside, Harry slumped against the wall and Ron immediately came over to check on him.
"You all right, Harry? That looked nasty; I can't believe he did that."
"I have no clue what was going through his head!" Harry returned. "He did that on purpose! I don't know what he did, but hell. That wasn't cool."
All of the students jumped as Snape came out, helping along a coughing Prince who clung to him, hunched over and rubbing his eyes. He levelled a stony glare at Harry and Neville and then addressed the class. "Classes are cancelled today, thanks to a stupid mistake. We will repeat this assignment at a later date. Prince, Potter and Longbottom, you three will go to the Hospital wing now. Weasley, go with them. I'm not sure that smoke was exactly healthy, and you will be checked out. I'm sure Prince can tell Pomfrey what happened." Snape's glare was unforgiving at the boy he was helping stand, and Prince looked down at his feet, still rubbing his eyes. "Your things will be brought up to you later. Get moving. Everyone else, wait here while I air out the classroom. If any of you start anything, you will be facing serious consequences."
Harry glared at Prince as he staggered over, and he coughed without looking at him, still worrying his eyes. Ron waved them on up the corridor, and Harry pulled Neville with him as they diligently followed. They didn't get far when Ron looked back, and stopped.
"Hey, Prince!" He called.
Harry looked in time to see Prince trip and fall against the wall, hacking into his hand without looking. Harry thought back and scowled. Prince had been directly over the cauldron: he would have gotten a face full of whatever that smoke had been.
'You would do well in bridging that gap'
Harry scowled as he remembered his sorting, and shook his head before he stalked back over to Prince and grabbed his arm. Prince twitched away, changing from looking pained to being annoyed in moments.
"You can't even walk straight, Prince. Just let me help you get to Madam Pomfrey already." Harry insisted.
"I don't need help, Potter." He growled. His tone was rendered rather ineffectual as he collapsed coughing once more. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Neville, Ron, come help me. He can't walk."
"I said I don't need help!" Prince snarled once more. He pulled his arm free and then staggered into the wall. Ron came up beside him, and grabbed his left arm as Harry once more seized his right.
"Well tough." Ron said. "You're getting it anyways. We don't need to take even longer getting up there so come along. It's your own damn fault."
Prince looked ready to snarl at them once more, but he dissolved into hacking once more, grimaced, and submitted.
It was a relatively long trip to the hospital wing, as Harry and Neville started coughing as well. Prince's eyes had begun to stream, and his pale face was rapidly turning red as they came in, and Madam Pomfrey immediately set about scolding them.
"Good grief, children, what took you so long? Absolutely foolish of him to send you up here like that, you shouldn't have exerted yourselves. Sit down; sit down, all of you. Who's worst off?"
"Prince." Ron coughed.
"Oh dear," Pomfrey tutted as she looked him over, scowling at his red face and the rapid wheezing quality of his breath. "What happened?"
"Snape said Prince knew." Harry offered. "He did it, after all, and on purpose too." The spite wasn't missing from Harry's tone. Pomfrey scowled at him, but Prince offered his answer.
"Tossed lettuce teeth in early," Prince coughed again, and stretched slightly, as though to ease his breath. "We'd just added porcupine quills to our boil cure. There would have been a contamination of hen's teeth in our stuff as well; else the smoke wouldn't have been caustic. Probably got added with the snake fangs when someone put them back wrong." Prince coughed again and Madam Pomfrey tutted once more.
"Nasty, that. Let me get something for your throats, poor thing. All of the students should get one, really, but it should go away by itself within a few hours. You, however …"
Pomfrey bustled off and fetched the phials as Neville and Harry settled themselves on a bed just off to the side, Ron sitting next to them. Prince ignored them completely, and Pomfrey returned, handing everyone a phial, with a second for Prince
"This actually shouldn't taste bad, really, so drink up and it'll keep you until the irritation wears off on its own. Drink up!"
Harry downed his and grimaced, but he handed it back easily. It wasn't really bad; it just wasn't good. Prince got a wash for his face, and he thanked Pomfrey shortly before heading out the door once cured. Harry, Neville and Ron followed. Harry watched him go, irritated.
"He didn't even say thank you." Harry grumbled. "Git."
IIII
The next week was much better, in Harry's opinion. Neville may have nearly killed himself on his broom but Harry was now on the Quidditch team early. Prince hadn't seemed to care about it happening, though; Harry remembered he seemed completely disinterested in the flying up until Harry had caught a glimpse of him afterwards: he'd been looking at him with absolutely calculating eyes. He'd then turned to address Malfoy, calling him what Ron later reported being a 'petty, worthless disgrace to Slytherin lacking any cunning, originality or prestige. The only reason your thick head gets off the ground is because it's filled with nothing but hot air.'
Harry had to admit, he was pretty impressed with Prince's ideas for insults. He just wouldn't ever tell him that. Then again, Harry wasn't sure he wanted Prince interfering as he was, because Harry clearly saw him stop Malfoy from leaving the Slytherin table, and forced him back into his seat. Prince then looked straight across the hall and stuck his tongue out at Harry when he saw he was watching.
Acting every year of his age, Harry returned the gesture.
IIII
Quidditch practice was the highlight of the next few months for Harry, save for Ron nearly getting himself expelled for being caught out late. He'd been lost, though, so whatever the misbehaviour, McGonagall pardoned it. He did, however, have the most fascinating story, involving the locked door on the third floor and a rather loud snarling behind it. It was certainly the most curious thing possible to have in a castle, but then again, this was Hogwarts. Such things weren't exactly unprecedented.
Of course, when the troll got in on Halloween, Harry felt that such things shouldn't be part and parcel of a magical castle. Especially when he really needed to not feel so guilty about one Ms. Granger that he ended up risking his life for her.
That morning, Harry had been in his Charms class, playing around rather boredly with his wand. Sirius, his godfather, had taught him just about anything he needed to know about the spell they were practicing when he was six, much against his mother's wishes. Thus, listening to his classmates not figure it out was a tad bit frustrating.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron incanted, to absolutely no effect.
Hermione hissed next to him, "It's win-gar-dium levi-o-sa, make the gar nice and long."
Ron turned on her, "If you're so great at this, you do it!"
Hermione fluffed up and glared at him before she turned to her own feather, "Wingardium leviosa" Her feather floated easily off the desk to hover near the ceiling.
Harry, feeling mischievous as he was prone to considering who his parents were, aimed his wand discretely at her and murmured the spell they were practicing. Entirely without warning, Hermione's pointed hat floated off her head and went to hover right by her feather. Grinning, Harry hopped the hat overtop of the floating feather and cancelled the spell, sending both to the table in front of Hermione. Flitwick saw who had been using the spell and tutted over at Harry.
"Mr. Potter, while I am impressed with your handle on the spell, please do not use it to cause disruption in class and interfere with other students. I won't take points today, but no more of that from you."
Harry hung his head in what looked like proper shame, but he was smiling underneath it, as were Neville and Ron. Hermione glared at them all, and formally returned her hat to her head, sending a withering glare Harry's direction. While Harry tried to look innocent, it didn't really work out too well with the smile that kept tugging its way onto his mouth.
On the way out, Ron immediately began to gripe about Hermione and the way she acted.
"Honestly, she's a nightmare! It's no wonder she doesn't have any friends!"
"Well, I dunno …" Harry offered. "Maybe if they were deaf so they wouldn't hear her –" He stumbled as someone ran into him, and Harry snarled. "Watch it!"
The student spun, and Harry froze as he saw Hermione looking at him with tears on her face. She included in the spin a vicious slap, and Harry stumbled backwards and clapped a hand to his cheek. He looked up to see her racing off, and Ron was watching him with a slightly pale expression. Neville came up behind him, and drawled,
"I think she heard you."
Harry frowned uneasily, and silently brushed past his friends to keep walking, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach that told him he really shouldn't have said that.
Hermione didn't show up at all in the next classes, and Harry had forgotten her well enough, up until the Halloween feast and the troll. Then, on the way up through the school, he froze in place and grabbed Neville, Ron stopping with them as he hissed in their faces.
"Hermione! She doesn't know! I'm not going to leave her like that!"
Neville paled and followed Harry immediately as Ron vacillated for a moment. Seeing that the rest of the kids had passed along without them, he raced after Harry and Neville to find their way down the corridor towards the girl's bathroom. Harry ran with the others, but he overheard footsteps behind them. Waving his hand, Neville and Ron ducked into the corridor nearby, and Harry hid behind a statue. Snape went past, and Harry watched him go suspiciously. This was definitely not the way to the dungeons. As Neville and Ron came out, Harry looked over at them and chewed his lip. Neville, anticipating Harry's action, shook his head.
"I'll go; you go with Ron and find Hermione, alright?"
"Thanks Neville. C'mon, Ron." Harry led the way towards the bathroom once more, and between Harry's nervous energy and Ron's long legs, they arrived and found the bathroom. Harry was the one who ran inside.
"Hermione!" Harry called. "There's a troll in the castle, we have to get back to the dorms!"
A shocked gasp came from the far stall, and Hermione poked her head out, wiping away her tears. "What do you mean, a troll?"
"A troll!" Harry repeated. "C'mon, don't tell me you don't know what a troll is!"
"I know what one is!" She hissed. Harry backed off nervously; she looked scary when she did that. "I'm wondering how it got in here!"
"Can we stop wondering and start leaving?" Ron called, his voice shaking. "Because I don't think the troll's still in the dungeons!"
Harry stopped and listened, and he heard a strange grunting. Thinking back to the door, Harry ran out and grabbed Ron before shoving him inside and pulling the door shut on them.
"Now quiet! It'll pass by if there's nothing to interest it here, promise. Probably won't be able to figure out the door anyways." Hermione nodded faintly, looking ill, as Ron paled far enough to make his freckles look painted on. Harry turned back from them, and then faced the door with conviction. However, that paled slightly as he heard heavy breathing pause outside the door. "Er, Hermione?" He breathed. The bushy-haired girl looked up at him, and he gave a weak smile back. "Do you know any spells to lock doors?" When she shook her head, Harry faintly mouthed 'oh' just before he turned and threw her to the ground beneath the sinks.
Not seconds later, the door exploded, forced inward by an angry troll. Harry rolled to his feet and stared palely at the huge, pebbly grey-skinned monstrosity and felt that he knew why kids weren't heroes; they didn't know anything about how to fix a problem this bad. Hermione screamed, and so did Ron, and Harry frantically tried to remember anything that might help. The great lumpy brute stared stupidly around the room as it slouched inside, fixing beady eyes first on Ron, then Hermione and finally, himself. Harry swallowed painfully as it turned to face him.
'Oh, right. Of course it would pick me, the unprotected. This can't be happening! Please?'
Finding no respite as the horny feet shuffled closer, Harry clambered to his feet and edged past the stalls towards the door, the troll following his every move and shifting closer once more. Harry waved frantically to Ron, and then his back was out of the door and moving closer to the hall, the troll following right behind him. He felt a vague sense of elation as it slouched back out of the room, and then Harry felt a sinking feeling as it glanced between him and the nonexistent door once again. Needing something else to keep the trolls attention on him, Harry yelled, wordlessly. The troll glanced back, and faster than Harry had thought a troll should be able to move, it swung its club at him. Harry barely ducked beneath it, and then he heard Ron yell from behind,
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
The troll's club leapt from its hands and hovered blankly next to the creature, floating slowly towards the ceiling. Harry scrambled to his feet and then pointed his own wand at the beast. He didn't know quite what he was doing, but as he concentrated, the troll suddenly yelped loudly, grabbing its leg and toppling to its side with a loud thump. Harry scrambled back to his feet, wondering what had happened, and then he looked straight to Ron and Hermione and stopped.
"Ron, Hermione, let's go!"
Ron didn't ask questions; he stopped his spell and began to follow Harry. Harry saw the issue before Ron did, but Hermione incanted "Wingardium Leviosa" before he could, catching the club when it would have dropped plum on Ron's head. Harry ran over to him and dragged him out from under it, giving his now blushing and shaking friend a fierce glare.
"Hermione, can you drop that on the troll?" Harry asked. Hermione blinked, and floated the club over and higher, before cancelling the spell and dropping the club to the effect of a rather hollow thud. Harry smiled at her faintly, and then flinched as he heard several footsteps coming from further off. Harry turned to face the swarm of teachers and swallowed his nervousness as he faced them, wishing he could just hide. As Hermione and Ron came to stand next to him, however, Harry felt several times better. He'd actually had a reason for getting in trouble, unlike his dad. He would get through this.
Fifteen points later, and a rather blistering lecture, though, Harry found himself in the tower feeling more than a little deflated. McGonagall had not been impressed to hear that he had first sent Hermione off crying and then had decided to go fetch her without telling anyone older and leaving that to them. The only bright spot he could see was that Neville was waiting, bouncing in place, when they arrived in the tower. Percy immediately drew McGonagall aside, but Harry started for Neville immediately. He paused, remembering Hermione, and turned to pull her along. They found themselves seats, Ron quickly snagged a plate of food, and then waited with bated breath for Neville's tale. Neville gave it as he bounced in his seat.
"Hey, I see everything worked out for you, Harry." Harry nodded, and kept his gaze fixed firmly on Neville. Neville flushed and continued. "Snape went up to the third floor corridor. Up there, Quirrel was trying to get past that snarling. You know what that was? A giant three-headed dog. Quirrel and Snape both got run off, but Snape was cursing Hagrid as he went."
Harry blinked once and then, frowned. "Hagrid … he's obsessed with dangerous creatures."
Ron snorted. "He's barmy."
"But he's also prone to talking." Harry returned. "Can't keep a secret worth beans. We could get something out of him if we asked, you know."
Ron froze, and Hermione stared at Harry with her mouth slightly open. Neville had a wry smile on his face. Hermione stuttered out,
"That's … so Slytherin, though."
Harry flinched, and glanced away. "It works, doesn't it?"
Neville shook his head. "Harry, face it, I'll bet the whole time you were under that hat you were arguing your way out of there." At Harry's dull flush, Neville laughed and patted him on the back. "I suppose we should just consider it best for Malfoy and Snape's health that you got your way in here."
"I'm not going to change, just because I'm in a different house." Harry muttered.
Neville just grinned wider. "Course not. This means we'll get out of even more trouble with your help and we're less likely to be caught. I like having classes with you."
Harry just shrugged into the camaraderie and then, glancing at Ron's plate, stood to get his own.
IIII
The first Quidditch match left Harry ecstatic; they'd won by an amazing margin, and although Harry never wanted to perform that catch again, as having the snitch trying to fly in one's mouth was rather unpleasant, it still was most shocking! Everyone seemed enthralled by it. However, on the way back into the castle, Harry heard from Neville later on that Neville had detoured out of the procession of happy Gryffindors when he'd overheard a loud shouting match down one of the hall ways. He'd recanted it for them in the common room when he'd come back up.
Snape had been lecturing Quirrel, and beside them, on the floor, unconscious, had been Prince. Neville had never seen Snape so livid: Quirrel had been pressed against the wall, white-faced and trembling worse than ever. He couldn't even seem to form a coherent sentence. From what Neville overheard, though, it was with good reason he couldn't. He remembered one line distinctly.
"If I ever catch that type of hocus pocus around the boy again, you will never be found unless Filch gets it in his head to clean out the lower levels of the dungeons. Do you hear me? You will not touch the boy again."
Harry supposed it was only natural for Snape to defend his Slytherins, but something about the attitude he'd had for Prince made him wonder if there wasn't a bit more reason than that.
However, Harry wasn't going to spend too much time wondering about what was happening with Prince. After the match, and the party, when Harry next found free time, he dragged Ron, Neville, and, as a bit of an afterthought, Hermione down with him to Hagrid's. Hermione was really smart; she'd be able to think up plenty of answers to their problems.
Hagrid happily allowed them inside, and Harry smiled and thanked him profusely.
"I've never had any visitors down 'ere for a long while. What are you little brats up ta?"
"Well, I wanted to see what was in this hut down here, and you seem like someone fun to talk to. I'll bet you get to see loads of stuff as groundskeeper!" Harry returned, looking like he was just bubbling with excitement. Ron was watching him as though he'd never seen him before, and Hermione herself looked shocked. Neville was snickering quietly, and Harry sent him a dark look from the corner of his eyes but Hagrid didn't seem to notice. He was ecstatic that Harry had expressed his interest.
"Why, there're loads of wonderful creatures in the forest, but I wouldn't want you going in there. Some of 'em might think you're a snack with how small you are."
"Really?" Harry widened his eyes and leaned forward. He certainly wasn't disinterested in the contents of the forest. "What alls in there?"
Hagrid gave Harry a surprisingly shrewd look. "Are you gonna be like your father and try and haul yourself in there, little 'arry?"
Harry sat back and repeated, "My father?" He then put his head in his hands. "Why am I not surprised?"
Neville laughed softly. "Because your dad's a right hellion and your godfather's no better?"
Harry chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. However Neville caught the calculating look in his eye as he spoke. "Well, there is that. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd try and tackle that big dog we found in the castle."
Harry heard Hagrid's chair squeak as he sat up in alarm. "Here now, what big dog in the castle?" He looked worried, and Harry flicked his glance to Hermione. She caught it, and worried her lip before answering.
"The big three-headed dog in the third floor corridor."
"What do you know about Fluffy? You're not supposed to go there." Hagrid scolded.
Ron squeaked. "That monstrosity is named Fluffy?"
"Why am I not surprised?" Harry murmured to Neville. Neville snorted delicately.
Hagrid flushed with indignation. "Fluffy's mine. I bought him off a Greek chappie down in Hogsmeade, and mind you, don't you bother with him. He's in there with Dumbledore's full knowledge."
"Does that include knowing about what's under that trapdoor too?" Neville asked.
Harry grinned and added, plucking the paper from the table. "And is it related to this article as well?" The paper was the report of the break-in at Gringotts, and Harry smiled tightly. He may have looked relaxed, but he really didn't like this gamble.
However, Hagrid quickly flushed with indignation and huffed. "That's not your business now, and don't you come down here asking about this again. The matter is between Dumbledore and – an old friend of his. An old friend. Come now, you get back to the castle then, will you. You don't need to be wandering about poking yer noses where they'll be bit. Shoo." Hagrid shushed them out the door, and Harry turned around, his innocent expression on once more, but trying not to overdo it.
"Can you come back to chat sometime, though? I really would like to hear what sort of stuff's in the forest." He turned to a wry smile then. "And I'd like to hear what sort of stupid stuff my dad got up to, you know."
Hagrid tried to maintain his irritated look, but he crumpled and smiled weakly. "Sure ye can, kid. And bring yer friends. Just don't be pushing after what ye shouldn't, alright?"
"We won't sir, we won't." Harry reassured him, and then, turning, he led the others back up to the castle.
"That was pointless!" Ron whined. "We hardly got anything with your 'innocent look'"
"Quiet Ron." Hermione scolded. "We got a lot of information. We know the dog is indeed guarding something, we know that Dumbledore is involved, and that it relates to the Gringotts break in."
"And we know that Nicholas Flamel is the most likely conspirator." Harry added.
Hermione froze in the entrance hall, and grabbed Harry's shoulder. "How do we know that?"
Harry turned and gave her a smile. "Hagrid emphasized that Dumbledore's friend was old. The only person really older than Dumbledore that would count as a good friend is either Griselda Marchbanks, who my mom says tested Dumbledore on his NEWTs, and Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel. Alchemists. Surely you know about alchemy, and what is most likely being guarded now."
Hermione squeaked her eyes huge. She grabbed Harry's shirt and pulled his face up to her own. "You're joking! Not – You're joking!"
Ron glanced between them, bewildered. "Joking about what? What's alchemy anyways?"
"Advanced Potion making, Ron." Neville returned. "Or at least, that's how you'd see it. Besides, let's continue this upstairs." He gave a clear glance around himself at the students surrounding them, and Harry smirked at Hermione. Hermione glared back, and then hauled him up the stairs to the dorms, making Ron and Neville trail behind, stifling their laughter much as the rest of the student body was at the sight of Hermione dragging Harry off by his collar.
I decided to take pity upon those reading this, and send up a second chapter. One chapter isn't very interesting, so I'll give you this one two weeks early. I am hoping to garner some interest from people, so please review if you enjoyed it. At … ten reviews, I'll post the next chapter, or in, once again, one month from this update.
Toodle-pip!
Fire and Napalm