AN: So sorry for the long wait, I had to get my things ready for college, here's a long chapter to make up for it!

It was the day of the first Quidditch match; Gryffindor versus Slytherin and Harry was nervous, a fact all his friends could see.

"Have a bit of toast mate," Ron coaxed, pushing the plate closer to harry who was pushing his breakfast around his plate.

"Ron's right Harry, your gonna need your strength," Hermione agreed, the bushy haired girl having become friends with the two boys after they had saved her, though Skyler was her best friend. The girl in question had headed down to the Quidditch pitch before breakfast, stating a surprise would be there, and Hermione was dying to see it.

"I'm not hungry," Harry replied, placing his knife and fork down with a clang and reached for his pumpkin juice.

"Good luck today Potter, although now that you've proven yourself against a troll a game of Quidditch shouldn't be so hard, even if it is against Slytherin," Snape stated to Harry, before leaving the great Hall, his black robes billowing behind him, although limping slightly.

"That explains the blood," Harry whispered to his friends, having noticed the potion Masters limp.

"Blood?" Hermione asked confused, wondering what he was on about.

"Listen, last night I'm guessing Snape let in the troll as a diversion, so he could try get past that three headed dog, but he got bit, that's why he's limping."

"Why would anyone go near that dog?" Hermione asked, still confused as to why Harry though someone would go willingly near that dog.

"When I went to Gringotts Hagrid took something out of a vault, said it was Hogwarts business"

"So you're saying." Ron trailed off, tuning into the conversation having finished eating.

"That's what the dogs hiding, that's what Snape wants," Harry replied seriously, looking at his friends to see their shocked faces.

Overhead an owl squawked and the trio looked up to see Hedwig, Harry's owl flying towards them with a long package, dropping it into Harry's waiting hands.

"Bit early for mail isn't it?" Hermione commented, looking at the package inquiringly.

"Let's open it," Ron exclaimed, smiling at Harry who quickly tore the paper off to reveal a Nimbus 2000.

"It's a broomstick! More importantly a Nimbus 2000," Ron gushed running his hands over the sleek broom.

"But who…?" Harry asked in confusion before looking for Hedwig, who was being stroked by Professor McGonagall at the head table, the transfiguration professor giving Harry a slight smile.

Picking up the broom, the trio made their way down to the pitch, their mouths dropping open as they looked at the sky over the Quidditch stadium. There in the sky made out of clouds was a lion and a snake, the lion growling and snapping its jaws at the snake, while the snake hissed and lurched forward, though never reaching the lion, seeming to crash into a invisible wall.

"Oh my gosh," Hermione whispered, shocked at the two figures in the sky before running off to find Skyler, Ron wishing Harry good luck before running after the bushy haired girl.

XxxX

"Welcome to the first match of the year between Gryffindor and Slytherin, as if you didn't already notice from the Lion and Snake in the sky! Which is done by Miss. Skylar James, odd girl, quite pretty if I do say so myself and-"

"Jordan! Stay on track!" Professor McGonagall shouted at Lee Jordan, the Weasely twins best friend who did the announcing for the Quidditch matches, who had the slight tendency to go off track.

"Fine professor, and here come the Gryffindor team, new seeker Harry Potter flying on a sleek new Nimbus 2000, rumored to be the broom of the Quidditch world cup-"

"Jordan!"

"Sorry professor, and her comes Slytherin!" Jordan stated as the Slytherin flew onto the pitch taking their places. "The players get into their positions as madam Hooch steps out onto the field to begin the game!"

"Now I want a nice clean game, from all of you." Madam Hooch shouted out to the players, before kicking open the trunk.

"The Bludger's are out, followed by the golden snitch, remember the snitch is worth 150 points and when it is caught the game stops." Lee announced as Madam hooch threw the Quaffle into the air. "The Quaffle is released and the game begins!"

"Johnson with the Quaffle, dodging the Slytherin team and Angelina Johnson scores! Ten points to Gryffindor!" In the air the lion slashed at the snakes face before darting back out of its reach.

"Slytherin takes possession of the Quaffle, Fletchly passes to Captain Marcus Flint who shoots and Wood deflects it! Nice save there by Oliver Wood for Gryffindor!"

"Johnson passes to Bell, who passes back, who sends back to Johnson who scores! Another ten points to Gryffindor!"

Marcus flint took the beater bat of his teammate, hitting a Bludger at Oliver Wood, who fell backwards through a hoop and falling to the ground below. The Slytherin chasers taking advantage of this and scoring ten points, making Harry grind his teeth in anger, scanning the field for the snitch. Flint and Fletchly boxed Angelina between themselves before sending her into the stands where she fell to the ground, while Slytherin scored another ten points. Harry spotted the snitch, diving after it before stopping it as his broom began to jerk around wildly, stopping to hold onto it tightly to avoid being bucked off.

"What's going on with Harry's broomstick?" Hagrid asked to him self, looking up at Harry through his binoculars, as Hermione did the same, scanning the stadium before noticing Snape muttering something under his breath, his eyes locked on Harry.

"Its Snape he's jinxing the broom!" Hermione whispered to Ron and Skyler, who looked over to the teachers stand to see Snape still muttering.

"Jinxing the broom what do we do?" Ron asked anxiously, watching Harry hold onto his broom for dear life.

"Skyler do something!" Hermione pleaded with her best friend not sure of what to do as she clung onto Skyler's arm, as the bushy haired girl was beginning to think of Skyler as her older sister.

Skyler nodded, whipping her wand from her combat and running away from Hermione who bit her lip nervously and watched the teachers stand. A few minutes later Hermione saw smoke starting to form next to Snape before a fire sprang up, making the potion master leap up and stamp out the fire making all the teachers look towards him and help. Harry's broom stopped moving and he was able to climb back onto it as Skyler popped up next to Hermione, who launched herself at Skyler and hugged the girl's arm to her, Skyler smiling down at Hermione before looking back at the pitch.

Harry spotted the snitch against, as the Slytherin seeker raced along beside him, the two of them diving towards the ground, the Slytherin seeker pulling up before hitting the ground, while Harry went on, jumping off his broom and crashing to the ground.

"Looks like he's gonna throw up!" Hagrid exclaimed worriedly, as Harry got up and seemed to gag, before a golden ball fell from his mouth into his hands.

"He's got the snitch! Harry Potter's got the snitch! Gryffindor wins!" Lee shouted, the stadium roaring with cheers from Gryffindor as the lion clamped its jaws down on the snake and threw it down onto the pitch, where it evaporated as the lion let out a loud roar, only to be followed by the Gryffindor's happy screaming.

XxX

"Nonsense, why would Professor Snape jinx Harry's broom?" Hagrid asked the quartet as they walked towards his cabin, Harry having changed from his Quidditch robes.

"Who knows, why was he trying to get past that three headed dog on Halloween?" Harry replied, looking up at the half giant who looked sharply back down at him.

"Who told you about fluffy?" Hagrid asked angrily, looking down at the first years though his eyes seemed to melt when he saw Hermione hugging Skyler's arm like a younger sister would do.

"Fluffy? That thing has a name?" Ron asked outraged, shuddering slightly at the thought of the large three-headed dog.

"Of course he does he's mine," Hagrid replied, "I bought him off an Irish fella I met down the pub last year, gave him to Dumbledore to guard the."

"Yes?" Harry interrupted, learning forward slightly.

"Shouldn't have said that. No more questions!" Hagrid stated, looking sharply down at the quartet. "Don't ask anymore questions, its top secret that is!"

"But Hagrid whatever fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it," Harry protested, his friends nodding fiercely behind him.

"Codswallop, Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher."

"Hogwarts teacher or not, I know a spell when I see one, I've read all about them, you've got to keep eye contact- and Snape wasn't blinking."

"It's the same for counter curses though," Skyler mused out loud, looking off to the sky, her nose wrinkling slightly as she thought hard about something, ignoring the affronted stares of her friends, before tuning back in. "Though evidence points to Snape cursing Harry's broom."

"Exactly." Harry said with a nod, smiling at Skyler who smiled back.

"Now you listen to me, all four of ya, your meddling in things that aren't meant to be meddled in! Its dangerous, what that dog is guarding is between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel." Hagrid stated gruffly, staring down at the four of them.

"Nicholas Flamel?" Harry asked inquiringly, looking up at the half giant.

"I shouldn't have said that, should not have said that." Hagrid mumbled before continuing down to his cabin alone as the group stood still.

"Nicholas Flamel," Harry whispered slightly, before turning back to his friends, "who's Nicholas Flamel?" Ron shook his head, as Hermione looked up at Skyler inquiringly; the slightly older girl shook her head as well.

"I don't know," Skyler, replied, her accent seeming to become thicker as she looked off into the sky again thinking.

XxX

It was now a few days before Christmas and the grounds at Hogwarts were covered in snow, which made the castle glow even more in its ethereal beauty. Hermione walked into the great hall dragging her trunk behind her as she walked towards her friends, Ron and Harry who were playing wizard chess and Skyler who was writing things down on parchment, which Hermione guessed was their holiday work.

"Knight to E5" Harry instructed his chess pieces, his knight moving instantly.

"Queen to E5," Ron replied with a smirk as his queen marched along the board, picked up her throne and smashed it into the knight, which crumbled to pierces.

"That's barbaric," Hermione said disgusted, yet intrigued.

"That's wizards chess," Ron replied with a grin as his queen removed the pieces of Harry's knight off the chessboard before moving back in place. "I see you've packed," Ron said, noticing Hermione's trunk.

"I see you haven't," Hermione replied, commenting on the lack of Ron's trunk.

"Change of plans, my parents are off to Romania to see Charlie so I'm staying here, he's studying dragons there," Ron replied, which made Skyler's ears perk up as she finished her homework placing it neatly in her bag, before taking out a thick catalog and scanning through it.

"Good, you can help Harry then, he's going to look in the library for information on Nicholas Flamel." Hermione stated, wrapping her scarf around her neck tightly.

"We've looked a hundred times," Ron complained.

"Not in the restricted section. Happy Christmas." And with that Hermione walked out of the great hall with the other students leaving for Christmas break.

"I think we've had a bad influence on Hermione," Ron said in a hushed tone to his friends, making Skyler burst out into peals of laughter, the boys joining in. Harry noticed the catalog in front of Skyler and turned to his friend.

"Why have you got a catalog its not like you could buy anything," Harry asked confusedly, making Skyler shoot him a grin.

"It's a Wizarding catalog Harry, you order things from it via your wan, money is taken from your Gringotts account and then your gifts are right in front of you within seconds," Ron replied, "Though the catalogs are a lot of money as they upgrade themselves instantly if something new comes out."

With that the boys turned back to their chess game, and Skyler back to her catalog.

XxxX

"Harry wake up! Wake up!" Ron shouted up to the dormitories, rousing Harry from his sleep, who grabbed his glasses and stumbled downstairs into the common room, where Skyler was sat down in an arm chair by the fire and Ron sat on the floor in front of the large Christmas tree.

"Merry Christmas Ron, Skyler."

"Merry Christmas," they replied back, smiling at the green eyes boy who joined Ron on the floor.

"What are you wearing?" Harry asked, staring at the warm looking sweater Ron had on.

"Oh my mum made it seems like you've got one too."

"I've got presents?"

"Yeah," Ron replied, passing one to Harry, which turned out to be an emerald green sweater with a gold 'H' on the front.

"Looks like you and Skyler have one as well then," Ron stated, looking over to Skyler who was now wearing a white jumper with a black S on the front. Harry took the note of another present, reading it out loud.

"Your father left this in my possession before he died, it is time it was returned to you. Use it well."

Harry opened the packaged up to reveal a shimmering black cloak with silver swirls, which he put on, his body disappearing.

"Whoa, its an invisibility cloak!" Ron exclaimed, pointing at where Harry's body should have been which had disappeared, only his head remaining. "They're really rare, wonder who gave it to you."

"There was no name," Harry replied, taking the cloak off and placing it besides him as he looked at his other presents.

He got a wooden flute from Hagrid, some fudge along with his sweater from Mrs. Weasely, some chocolate frogs from Hermione, and broom servicing kit from Skyler.

"Thanks Skyler!" Ron shouted suddenly after having opened his present, a signed Chudley Canons poster, which was Ron's favorite Quidditch team.

"Your welcome," Skyler replied with a grin, before the three of them walked down to the great hall for lunch, Skyler carrying her bag and seeming to struggle slightly.

When they got to the great hall they saw that the four house tables had disappeared and the other three students that had stayed over for Christmas, two Ravenclaw's and a Hufflepuff had joined the teachers at the top table. Harry and Ron sat down, leaving Skyler to sit in the middle, the girl in question was digging through her bag, shoulder deep, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, before pulling out a large sack with a grin and began to hand out presents to all of the teachers, including Snape though his was a lot smaller than the others.

Filch got a new collar for Mrs. Norris, Professor Flitwick got a new bowtie that changed theme to whatever your feelings, Hagrid got a new coat that had been charmed to repel water, and keep warm during cold days and cool during hot, Professor McGonagall got a collar and a new tartan cloak in the colors of her clan, the collar making her blush, madam Pomfrey got a plant that sung to patients to give them a restful sleep while professor Sprout got an Abyssinian Shrivelfig and Professor Dumbledore got pair of socks that matched a persons outfit when put on and lastly Professor Snape was given a vial of Exploding Fluid, a rare potion ingredient.

XxxX

"Ron! You've got to see this! You've really got to see this!" Harry shouted bursting into the boy's dorms and pulling the sheets off his friend's bed, waking the red headed boy up.

"Huh?" Ron asked blearily, barely having enough time to shove on his slippers before Harry dragged him from the common room, half way through the castle until they ended up in the room with the mirror of Erised.

"Come look it's my parents," Harry stated, pointing at the mirror where he saw his parents standing behind him.

"What are you talking about, all I can see is you," Ron said sleepily, yawning slightly.

"Maybe you have to stand right in front of it," Harry mumbled to himself, before dragging Ron in front of the mirror.

"Whoa, only I'm head boy and Quidditch captain. Hey Harry do you think this mirror shows the future?"

"How can it, my parents are dead." Harry replied with a grim smile.

The next night Harry was sat in front of the mirror, with Skyler by his side, the younger girl staring at the mirror, her nose slightly wrinkled before it smoothed out.

"Does your mother have red hair, and is your dad literally like you but much older?" Skyler asked suddenly, her pale green eyes steadily turning white as she stared at the mirror.

Harry whipped his head around to stare at his best female friend in shock, how did she know? He hadn't told her what his parents look like.

"How did you know?" Harry whispered surprised, the same look on Harry's parents face in the mirror.

"I can see them, they look very shocked," Skyler replied with her lilting Jamaican accent as her now white eyes stared at the mirror. Harry looked back at the mirror and saw what Skyler said was true; his parents were looking shocked as they stared at the odd girl beside their son.

"Back again Harry? And this time with Miss. James." Dumbledore commented from behind them, Harry turning around in shock while Skyler seemed to know he had been there and turned around with a soft smile. "I see that you like so many before have discovered the delight of the mirror of Erised. I hope by now you know what it does, though I will give you a clue. The happiest man alive could stare into the mirror and see himself exactly as he is."

"So it shows us what we want, whatever we want." Harry replied, standing up along with Skyler who was still looking into the mirror, eyes white.

"Yes and no. It shows us our most deepest and desperate desires of our hearts, now you Harry have never known your family, you see them standing beside you, but remember this Harry this mirror gives us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away in front of it, even gone mad. That is why tomorrow it will be moved to a different place and I must ask you not to go looking for it. It is not good to dwell on dreams."

"Professor why can Skyler see my parents?" Harry asked suddenly, remembering his friend seeing them as well.

"Ah Harry now that is a good question, Skyler can see your parents because of who she is. What I mean by that is she cares for other people rather than herself, her deepest and most desperate desire is for everyone to be happy and to have what they deserve." Dumbledore replied, his sparkling pale blue eyes slipping to the still form of Skyler who was staring into the mirror with a serene smile on her face, eyes white.

Harry nodded and walked towards the door, waiting for Skyler, just out of hearing distance. Dumbledore turned to the strange girl, his eyes sad as they looked at her.

"It is starting isn't it my dear," Dumbledore stated, his eyes locked onto Skyler's now white eyes, no sign on the pale green they used to be.

"It seems so headmaster, it seems so." Skyler replied taking her eyes from the mirror and up to the headmaster who was standing besides her. "You'll get that back you know, things we lose have a way of finding their way back to us, even if they seem to be lost forever."

Dumbledore smiled down at the young witch, who smiled back before she left the room, leaving him to stare into the mirror a happy smile on his face.

XxxX

"I had you looking in the wrong section," Hermione announced, walking into the library a thick book under her arm that she had borrowed from Skyler. It had been a few weeks since school had started again after Christmas break. "How could I be so stupid," Hermione moaned, staring at Skyler who gave her a bright smile back, her white eyes glowing with the smile, they hadn't changed back yet from the mirror incident. "I borrowed this from Skyler weeks ago for a bit of light reading."

'Light reading?' Ron mouthed at Harry, who muffled a laugh behind a cough under Skyler's glare.

"Here it is, Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the philosophers stone," Hermione announced proudly having found the part she was looking for.

"The what?" the boys asked in confusion.

"It doesn't say," Hermione said sadly, closing the large book with a thud.

"The Philosophers stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It can transfer any metal into pure gold and produce the elixir of life, which will make the drinker immortal." Skyler said softly, looking up from her book on Herbology.

"Immortal?"

"It means you'll never die," Hermione piped up helpfully.

"I know what it means," Ron snapped back, opening his mouth to spit out an insult though thought not to when Skyler turned on his her white eyes glowing with anger.

"It's the only stone currently in existence and it belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel the famous alchemist, he last year celebrated his 665th birthday." Skyler continued, putting her book back in her bag, and looking towards Hermione who seemed ready to burst and nodded.

"That's what fluffy's guarding on the third floor, that's what's under the trap door." Hermione breathed out quickly, slamming her hand down on the table lightly. " The philosophers stone."

The quartet looked at each other and nodded, they had to go see Hagrid.

XxX

Harry knocked on the door of Hagrid's cabin, which was quickly opened by the half giant himself.

"Oh hello, sorry don't wish to be rude but I'm in no fit state to entertain today." With that the giant closed the door, only to be interrupted when a combat clad foot stuck its self in the way of the door.

"We know about the philosophers stone," the four chorused.

"Oh, you'd best come in then."

The four walked into the cabin, Harry and Ron onto the large sofa, while Hermione and Skyler both sat on the large armchair, which was big enough for the both of them and more.

"We think Snape's trying to steal it." Harry stated right away.

"Blimey, your not still on about him are ya?" Hagrid asked frustrated as he poked the coals in the fireplace.

"Hagrid we know he's after the stone, we just don't know why."

"Snape is one of the teachers protecting the stone, he's not about to steal it." The half giant replied, adding more coals to the fire.

"Right come on now, I'm a bit preoccupied." Hagrid said, trying to usher them out of the cabin.

"Wait a minute, on of the teachers?"

"Of course, there are other things guarding the stone, enchantments and spells" Hermione stated.

"That's right, waste of bloody time if you ask me, ain't no one gonna get past Fluffy. Ain't a soul knows how, except me of professor Dumbledore. I shouldn't have told you that." Hagrid mumbled, once again trying to get them out of his cabin.

"Hagrid, may I ask why you have a dragons egg?" Skyler asked softly, staring at the fire, white eyes glowing warmly.

"Should have known you'd know Skyler," Hagrid said with a soft smile at the young witch, who smiled back, eyes trained on the fire. The pot over the fire began to rattle and Hagrid put on some oven-mitts and took out a amber colored egg and placed it on the table, Harry, Ron and Hermione moving away, while Hagrid and Skyler moved closer.

Skyler reached out her right hand, ignoring Hagrid's warning look and traced a symbol over the eggs hot, surface, seeming not to notice the heat. Suddenly the egg cracked open, revealing a small dragon with large yellow eyes that stared up at Hagrid and Skyler with wonder. Skyler smiled at the dragon, holding out her index finger to it, white eyes glowing with warm when it latched onto her finger, sucking slightly while wrapping its body around her hand.

"Hagrid, how did you get one?" Ron asked in awe of the dragon, knowing they were illegal to have outside of dragon reserves.

"I won it of a guy down the pub, seemed quite glad to be rid of it in fact." Hagrid said with a soft frown that turned to a smile when he looked at the dragon wrapped around Skyler's hand. The half giant passed a fluffy towel to Skyler, who then began to gently wipe of the goo that was covering the dragon's skin, as scales hadn't developed yet.

"That's not just a dragon," Ron said looking at it more closely, "It's a Norwegian Ridgeback, my brother Charlie works with these in Romania."

"Isn't he beautiful? Oh look he knows his daddy," Hagrid cooed at the baby dragon, which turned to look at him, still wrapped around Skyler's hand. "Hello Norbert."

"Norbert?" Harry asked exasperated slightly at the half giants unusual names for his animals.

"Yeah well he's got to have a name doesn't he?" Hagrid replied, scratching under the dragon's chin, which in turn let out a squeal of delight.

"Hagrid, you cannot keep this dragon. I know you will miss him, but think of it this way you live in a wooden house and Norbert will be able to breath fire soon. If someone found out you had a dragon Dumbledore wouldn't be able to let you stay here anymore because having a dragon is illegal. If we take Norbert to Dumbledore now he will be taken to a new home, if not Norbert might be killed." Skyler said calmly, smiling at the half giant softly. Hagrid nodded, his eyes misting over at the thought of Norbert being killed, he would rather know Norbert was being taken care of than killed.

"Let's go to Dumbledore then Hagrid," Skyler stated softly, walking out of the cabin with the half giant beside her, her trio of friends beside them as they walked up to the castle and in front of the stone Gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office.

"Acid Pops," Hagrid said gruffly, his eyes still misted over with tears as they walked up the spiral staircase and knocked on the headmaster's door.

"Come in."

Entering the large office, the four first years were surprised by the amount of books and odd items the headmaster had.

"What do you need?" Dumbledore asked them softly, though his blue eyes were twinkling madly.

"Hagrid found a man with an egg at the pub, he then won it off the man fearing for the safety of the egg as the man was trying to crack it open. He then found out that he dragon was close to hatching and being the knowledgeable man that he is knew that eggs shouldn't be moved when they are close to hatching, so he looked after it until it hatched a few minutes ago. Were here to see if you could send Norbert to a dragon reserve so he could live there happily." Skyler stated calmly, her voice not wavering and giving any intention to lie she just spun, though she knew Dumbledore knew she lied as the twinkling of his eyes just got brighter.

"Of course, it is good we have such a knowledgeable keeper of keys here at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said with a smile at Hagrid, making the half giant flush at the praise. Skyler handed over Norbert who curled up in Dumbledore's hand and the quartet and the half giant went to leave. "Though all four of you will have detention with Hagrid Friday night as you were all out after curfew, along with Mr. Malfoy."

XxxX

"It's a shame they got rid of the old punishments," Argus Filch mused, as he led the five first years to Hagrid's cabin. "How I miss the screaming. You'll be serving detention in the forest tonight." With that he disappeared back up to the castle as Hagrid came out of his cabin, crossbow over his shoulder.

"Tonight were going into the forest, Harry, Malfoy and Skyler will go with Fang, while Ron and Hermione come with me." Hagrid instructed, swinging the crossbow over his shoulder as Fang bounded over to Skyler wagging his tail like a puppy when the young witch patted his head.

"The forest? I though he was joking, we cant go in there! Students aren't allowed. And there are…" Draco struggled for an answer, just as a wolf howled. "Werewolves."

"That wasn't a werewolf , if it was you would be crying from the loneliness of its howl, along with the fact it's not a full moon." Skyler stated softly, hugging Fang around the neck as the boarhound growled towards the forest.

"Right lets go." Hagrid said, walking off down a path, the first years following him.

"Hagrid what are we looking for?" Ron asked as they walked alongside the half giant.

" A Unicorn has been attacked by something, we need to go see if it's alright. If you find any puddles of silver liquid follow them, it will lead you to it, when you find it send out green sparks, if you're in trouble send out red sparks. Ron, Hermione follow me." With that Hagrid walked off, leaving Harry, Skyler and Draco along with Fang.

"Come on," Skyler said softly. "Lumos." The end of her wand lit up the way they were walking as they followed the trail of silver blood.

"Wait till my father hears of this, its servants stuff." Draco complained, following Skyler as she had the light.

"If I didn't know any better I would say you were scared Malfoy," Harry stated from beside Skyler, looking over his shoulder at the ice blonde.

"I'm not scared Potter," Draco spat back, cringing when another howl echoed through the forest. "Did you hear that?"

"They will not hurt us," Skyler stated calmly, white eyes glowing as she stared in the direction of the wolfs howl.

They continued on walking until Fang growled and Skyler let out a sound close to a hiss. In front of them was a figure shrouded in black cloaks standing over a dead Unicorn and was walking towards the foal.

"Oh no you don't," Skylar hissed, grabbing her wand and pointing it at the figure. "Mucusad-Nauseam."

Black figures erupted from the ground and sprung at the attacker chasing it into the bushes as Skyler walked towards the skittish foal. Bending down to its level, Skyler placed a hand on its muzzle, smiling when it nuzzled into her hand. Skyler brought up her wand again as she heard hoofs coming towards them, lowering it when a centaur walked towards them, snow white in color with long silver hair.

"Harry Potter, you must leave you are known to many creatures here." The centaur stated as he walked towards the trio, smiling at Skyler when he passed, bowing his head slightly. "The forest is not safe at this time, especially for you."

Draco suddenly fainted, falling to the ground with a soft thump.

"But what was that thing?" Harry asked ignoring the fact Malfoy had fainted, dividing his attention between his best friend and the centaur in front of him.

"A monstrous creature, to slay a Unicorn. Drinking the blood of a Unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death. Though there are drawbacks, since a unicorn is a creature of purity, once its blood touches your lips you will live a cursed life."

"But who would want such a life?" Harry asked confused, raising an eyebrow at Skyler who now stood beside him, the Unicorn foal at her side.

"Can you think of no-one Harry?" Skyler asked, turning to Fang, patting the large dog that had been whining at the sight of the centaur.

"You mean to say that thing that killed the Unicorn was Voldemort?" Harry asked, eyes wide.

"Do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment Mister Potter?" the centaur asked.

"The philosophers stone." Harry whispered, before hearing footsteps coming towards them, quickly turning around to see Hagrid, Ron and Hermione walking towards them.

"Hello there Firenze," Hagrid greeted, picking up Draco and throwing the ice blonde over his shoulder. "See you've met out young Mister Potter and Miss Skyler."

"Harry Potter, this is where I leave you. Your safe now, good luck." Firenze said before galloping off.

XxxX

"You mean you know who, is out there right now in the forest?" Hermione asked afraid, clinging onto Skyler's arm for comfort.

"But he's weak and living off the Unicorns. Don't you see, we had it wrong, Snape doesn't want the philosophers stone for him self he wants the stone for Voldemort." Harry shouted, before remembering to keep his voice down as the rest of Gryffindor were asleep. "With the elixir of life, Voldemort will be strong again, he'll come back."

"But if he comes back you don't think he'll try to…kill you do you?" Ron asked with a lump in his throat.

"If he had the chance he might have killed me tonight."

"And to think, I've been worrying about my Potions final." Ron moaned sadly.

"Hang on a minute, were forgetting one thing. Who's the one wizard, Voldemort always feared?" Hermione asked, looking at her friends.

"Dumbledore," Skyler said softly. "As long as Dumbledore's around Harry, your safe. As long as Dumbledore's around, you can't be touched."

XxX

Exams had just finished and the quartet were walking towards the great lake, the boys looking rumpled while Skyler and Hermione looked as if a hair wasn't out of place.

"I heard Hogwarts exams were hard, but I quite enjoyed myself." Hermione stated happily, clinging onto Skyler's arm.

"Speak for yourself," Ron groaned, before looking at Harry to see him holding a hand against his scar. "You alright there Harry?"

"My scar, it keeps burning." Harry replied, hissing as the pain increased.

"It's happened before," Hermione replied.

"Not like this," Skyler stated, her white eyes observing Harry closely.

"Perhaps you should see the nurse?" Ron suggested, concerned about Harry.

"I think it's a warning." Harry replied, "means dangers coming." Harry went to continue but look as if he'd had an epiphany as his eyes were locked onto Hagrid who sat on the stone steps leading into his cabin, playing on a wooden flute, not much unlike the one Harry received off him for Christmas. "Of course." Harry stated, walking towards Hagrid.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd that all Hagrid's ever wanted is a dragon and a stranger turns up that just happens to have a dragon. I mean how many people run around with dragon's eggs in their pockets. Why didn't I see it before?"

The ran forwards in front of the large dragon, Hermione still clinging onto Skyler for comfort.

"Hagrid who gave you the Dragon's egg?" Harry asked quickly.

"I dunno, never saw his face."

"This stranger, you must have talked. What did he say."

"Asked about what creatures I had, to see if I could handle a dragon, I said after fluffy a dragon would be a piece of cake."

"Did he seem interested in fluffy?"

"Well of course he was interested in fluffy, how often do you come across a three headed dog, even if you're in the trade? But I told him; the treat to taming any beast is to know how to calm him. Take fluffy for example, just play him a bit of music and he falls straight asleep!" Hagrid stated happily before noticing his mistake as the quartet looked at each other before running off towards the castle. "Should not have said that!"

The four ran straight to Professor McGonagall, wheezing slightly from the long run, as they hadn't stopped.

"We have to see professor Dumbledore, immediately!" Harry demanded, staring unwaveringly at the transfigurations professor.

"I'm sorry to say professor Dumbledore isn't here, he received an urgent owl from the ministry he wont be back for a few days."

"He's gone? But this is important, it's about the philosophers stone!" Harry exclaimed in shock that Dumbledore had left.

McGonagall's lips thinned dangerously as she stared at her four students, her lips turning white. " I don't know how you four found out about the stone but I assure you it is perfectly well protected. Now go back to your dormitories. Quietly."

The four walked out of the transfigurations classroom, their heads close together.

"That was no stranger Hagrid met that night, it was Snape which means he knows how to get past fluffy." Harry stated angrily.

"And with Dumbledore gone…" Hermione trailed off as a shadow loomed over them.

"Good afternoon. Now what would four young Gryffindor's be doing in on a day like this?

"We just came from the transfiguration classroom to see if we could get help on the homework and dragged Ron and Harry with us," Skyler replied calmly, staring Snape in the eyes.

"You'd better be careful, people will think your up to something." With that Snape walked the opposite way, black robes billowing behind him.

"Now what do we do?" Hermione whispered.

"We go through the trap door. Tonight." Harry decided, looking to his friends who nodded in reply.

AN: There is a reason Skyler's now white eyes are mentioned so much, it will be revealed in the sequel.