Summary: Harry travels back in time to change the future, but something doesn't go exactly the way he planned. Neville is the boy who lived.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Words in this chapter: 7,363
Chapter 7
Every second I waste is more than I can take
"I will try to get Quirrell to make a mistake next class" Harry said.
"If you could do it in the Great Hall it would be better. The bigger the audience, the better" Daphne told him.
Quirrell hadn't been seen outside the classroom since they had come back from the Holidays. Harry was beginning to think he should expose him there instead of the Great Hall where Daphne had suggested. Of course Harry hadn't stop making Quirrell's class a joke. Though at first Quirrell had reacted with shock and nervousness, now he reacted annoyed and angrily. Harry knew that could be dangerous.
A frustrated and annoyed Voldemort was a very dangerous thing to have, especially in a school.
He was beginning to miss the visions. It would be helpful to at least know his emotions, though Harry was very grateful not to have the headaches.
He had to stop stalling and get to the stone. He couldn't wait until Voldemort decided to go for it. Harry had to get it first.
He was grateful for the slytherins help, but they confused him.
Why did they change their minds about him?
Flashback
"When are you seeing… your big friend?" Daphne asked Harry.
"Hagrid" Harry stated "We are seeing him today"
"Be subtle about it. If you demand answers you will just get him suspicious" Blaise told him.
"I'll let Hermione handle it then" Harry told them.
"No offense. She can be a big brainiac, but she knows nothing about how to act. A book can't teach her that" Daphne told him.
"Meaning?" Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Don't take her with you" Daphne told him, clearly not afraid of him.
"I get to decide that" Harry told her and walked towards Hermione.
"Ready?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Ready for what?" Hermione asked confused.
"We are supposed to meet Hagrid, remember?" Harry asked her smiling.
""Oh, I forgot! I'm sorry Harry, I have to finish this" Hermione showed her the books and parchment she was holding.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'll go" Harry told her, a little disappointed.
"I really am sorry" Hermione whispered and walked away.
Not wanting to keep Hagrid waiting, he went by himself.
"I'm coming" Hagrid called from inside, Fang barking in the background, after Harry had knocked on his door.
"Oh, hey Harry, I was expecting you. Where is Hermione?" Hagrid greeted moving aside to let him pass.
"She had homework" Harry told her.
"Tea?" Hagrid offered.
"Please" Harry answered and sat down on Hagrid's table "How was your holiday"
"It was wonderful" Hagrid told him beaming, "Spent it with some really good friends"
"I am glad" Harry meant it.
"How about yours?" Hagrid asked.
"Great" Harry smiled.
Hagrid put a cup in front of Harry and filled it with steaming tea.
"Thank you" Harry said, sipping from his cup "I would like to have a pet" Harry said in what he hoped was an innocent topic for a child.
"Anything in mind?" Hagrid asked, obviously liking the topic.
"A dog" Harry said excitedly.
"Good choice" Hagrid told him.
"I am just scared I will do a poor job" Harry acted sad.
"You won't" Hagrid try to console him "You just have to know what your dog will like and not"
"How would I know that?" Harry asked widening his eyes as if he was very interested in the answer.
"You just know. For example, Fluffy, you play a little music and he falls asleep" Hagrid said, not noticing he had given confidential information.
Harry already knew the answer Hagrid had given him, but he didn't want to make the same mistake he had made about Fluffy with Hermione.
Especially since the slytherins had proven to be very observant.
End of Flashback
He hadn't notice where he was going until he saw it.
He wondered what he would see this time?
In front of him, the door to an unused classroom was open, just enough for him to see the mirror of erised. The mirror that shows you your true desire. What your heart wants the most.
Curiousity getting a hold of him, lately he could control less and less, strong emotions, like curiousity. He walked towards the door and opened it.
The room wasn't empty.
Neville Longbottom was there.
Sitting in front of the mirror with his legs cross. Wearing pajamas and a light blanket around. Harry was sure it wasn't the first time Neville has been here.
What could have him so entrance?
For Harry it had been the desire to have a family, but Neville had one, Voldemort hadn't robbed him of that opportunity. What could he desire so much to get him to have that longing in his face.
Harry walked in and Neville finally noticed he wasn't alone anymore.
Shocked as if being caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing, he quickly looked in Harry's direction.
"Is after curfew" Neville said as if his throat was dry.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked concerned.
"You shouldn't be here" Neville narrowed his eyes.
"You shouldn't either" Harry pointed out "Are you alright?" he asked again.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Neville asked him "You don't have your friends with you, are you sure you can take the boy-who-lived by yourself?" he taunted.
"When have I ever tried to pick up a fight with you?" Harry asked annoyed.
"You are a Slytherin" Neville stated.
"And you are a Gryffindor" Harry stated back "If we are going by that, then I should be the one that should not want to be near you"
"Huh?" Neville was confused.
"Gryffindors are the ones that act first and ask questions later. Slytherins think ahead" Harry explained with a smile.
"Slytherins only care about anything if they have something to gain" Neville told him.
"I consider that smart" Harry said, in a very low voice for an eleven year old.
"How can being selfish be smart?" Neville asked narrowing his eyes.
"Being selfish isn't smart" Harry said, in his usual, eleven year old, voice.
"But you just said it was" Neville told him.
"I would never say that" Harry said.
"You just did" Neville accused.
"You shouldn't be here Longbottom" Harry changed the subject and his tone.
"You shouldn't be here either" Neville stated.
"You can go crazy by looking at the mirror for so long" Harry stated.
"How would you know?" Neville asked in a defensive manner.
"What do you see when you look into it?" Harry asked, walking closer to the mirror, not taking his eyes of it.
"That is none of your business" Neville acted childish.
"You see something you truly want" Harry didn't ask, but stated.
"Why do you say that?" Neville asked.
"It is what the mirror does" Harry looked at how confused Neville was "Someone once told me, the mirror of erised" Harry pointed at the mirror "it shows you your deepest and most desperate desire, from your heart"
Harry walked closer to the mirror not looking into it and read the inscription from left to right "I show not your face but your heart's desire"
"What do you see when you look into it?" Harry asked again, looking him straight in the eye.
"Why would I tell you my deepest desire?" Neville mocked.
"I could help" Harry told him.
"Why do you think I need help?" Neville asked in disbelief.
"I understand what you are living through more than anyone else. I can help you" Harry told him.
"Have you ever been attacked by Him?" Neville said.
"The Dark Lord, and yes, I have" Harry said.
"You have a huge imagination Potter. You-know-who has been dead for 10 years, you couldn't have faced him, let alone live to tell the story. Maybe you are as crazy as everyone thinks you are" Neville told him.
"You shouldn't say no to friends" Harry smirked "You never know when you are going to need them"
"I already have friends. True friends" Neville said a little scared.
"This mirror will be moved soon" Harry stated looking back at the mirror, careful not to look into it.
"Scared of what you would see?" Neville taunted.
"I am not scared of anything" Harry stated, moving his eyes towards him again.
"How do you know it will be moved?" Neville asked.
"It has a purpose" Harry stated.
"A mirror has a purpose?" Neville mocked.
"Everything has a purpose, or destiny, whatever you want to call it. You should know that, better than anyone" Harry told him.
"Leave me alone!" Neville ordered.
"I would like to be your friend" Harry said, back in his normal eleven years old voice.
"I think I am smart enough to decide who are my real friends" Neville told him.
"Why don't you trust me?" Harry asked hurt.
"Why should I?" Neville asked confused "One minute you are crazy, another you are a scared, clingy boy and another you are frightening" Neville told Harry "Pick a personality and stick with it"
"What are you talking about?" Harry was truly confused.
"That one doesn't go with you" Neville told him, if it was possible Harry got even more confused.
"I don't know what you are playing at Potter, but don't drag me into it" Neville threatened and walked out the room.
"What was that about?" Harry asked himself out loud "We barely exchanged a few words"
Harry looked straight into the mirror, which got completely black and didn't show anything to Harry.
"Do I already have everything I want?" Harry asked himself still confused.
Harry looked at the end of the room, where it was too dark to distinguish anything, before he left the room and closed the door behind him.
Dumbledore came out of the shadows, confused at what he had just witnessed.
"How does Harry know so much?" Dumbledore ask himself a little scared.
That boy reminded him of another eleven year old he had met a long time ago.
"He can't ever be close to Neville" Dumbledore promised himself.
Not much scared Dumbledore.
It would be difficult to forget those eyes.
Daphne's POV
"Do you hate me just because I am muggleborn?" Hermione asked shyly.
"I dislike you because you are muggleborn, I hate you because you are Hermione" Daphne told her, without a hint of sympathy on her voice.
For some unknown reason to Daphne, she was spending some quality time with Granger, in the library at 8am on a Sunday.
Well, there was her answer.
Obviously no one else but Granger would be here at this ungodly hour; Daphne was only here for extraordinary reasons.
There was something wrong with Potter, which every one of her friends loved, but Zabini and her. There was a true Slytherin in him; she knew that. She couldn't really explain it, but Harry wasn't a true Slytherin, he had a true Slytherin in him.
She didn't understand it herself.
She wasn't as daft as a Ravenclaw, she knew books wouldn't give her the answer she was looking for, but silence and solitude could.
Thinking was the best way to understand something. What better place than the library for that?
Granger had ruin it for her, now the only thing Daphne could think about was getting rid of the annoying girl. Why Potter liked her was beyond her understanding.
Daphne wasn't dark, she would never even think of hurting someone just because of their blood or where they come from, she was raised to appreciate people for who they were.
Hermione was just an overachiever, bossy and annoying girl.
"You don't like me because of my name?" Hermione said a little hurt, but not buying it.
Daphne laughed.
"I know that is not the reason" Hermione said clearly.
"I don't care about your name Granger, or your blood. You are just not likeable" Daphne told her.
"Harry likes me" Hermione said, trying to sound confident.
"Yes, but Harry isn't the normal kind, is he?" Daphne made a rhetorical question "I have nothing against you Granger. It looks like we have to tolerate each other for now, but not all the time"
With that Daphne stood up and walked out the library. to annoy her even more, Hermione ran after her.
"Fine, but I still need your help" Hermione stopped her.
"Why my help?" Daphne asked her, letting no emotion out.
"Parkinson likes me even less than you, Zabini tries to never look at me, Malfoy only is civil when Harry is around, and Nott acts as if I don't exist" Hermione explained, rushing her words.
"You haven't explained why me?" Daphne got frustrated.
"I already said…" Hermione started explaining.
"You told me why every other of MY friends wouldn't help you, you haven't told me why do you think I would" Daphne patronized her.
"Because you pay as much attention as myself" Hermione stated.
"Paying attention is not the same thing as reading books Granger" Daphne said getting bored.
"I read books, get over it" Hermione began "But I do pay attention to what goes on around me. And I've seen how you look at Harry"
"So now I have a crush on Potter?" Daphne mocked.
"No, I think you've noticed something is not right" Hermione said in a calmer voice. It got Daphne's attention, though she tried not to show it.
"With Potter, nothing is right" Daphne mocked, not really feeling it.
"You never know which Harry you are going to get, the sarcastic one, the playful one or the immature one…" Hermione began.
"Which means you are not really that observant Granger" Daphne interrupted. It confused Hermione.
"If you have seen a sarcastic, playful and an immature Potter then you don't pay attention" Daphne said and Hermione tried to interrupt. Daphne didn't let her. "You haven't figure out what sarcastic, playful and immature means or hides, and I'm not holding your hand through it" Daphne told her seriously and walked away.
"I would have never thought of Granger noticing anything" Draco said surprised.
"You called her Granger" Daphne singsong, which annoyed Draco.
"She can't investigate further" Draco said, trying to ignore Daphne's smirk.
"Why not?" Blaise asked curious.
"She may actually find something" Draco said.
"What could she find?" Daphne pressed, wanting to know the answer to that question more than anything.
"It is not time for you to find out" Draco told her.
"Why can you know and we can't?" Daphne asked annoyed.
"We should trust Drake" Pansy stated.
"Why should we?" Blaise asked, actually curious.
"He obviously knows something we don't" Pansy said.
"Which is exactly why we shouldn't trust him" Blaise said.
"They do have a point" Nott pointed out.
"You are having doubts?" Draco asked Nott.
"No, I know I should trust your word" Nott said "This time" Nott emphasized "Because I know, that even if I don't have the full story, it will benefit me. Why should they be so sure as I am?"
"Why are you so sure it will benefit you?" Blaise asked before Draco could say anything.
Nott just smirked.
"Why are you so sure it will benefit you?" Draco asked Nott, receiving a smirk for an answer just like Blaise.
"My father knew exactly what he needed to do to become the wizard he is now, since he was 11" Daphne started saying "He didn't knew because of hunches or because he trusted other 11 year olds"
"Putting full trust into someone else, is nothing but foolish. It will only put you in the backseat for life" Blaise said.
"I am not prepared to follow you or Potter. You either see us as equals or not see us at all" Daphne told Draco.
"If you want our full support, you are going to confide in us" Blaise stated.
"I can't" Draco told them.
"You can't or you won't?" Daphne asked.
"I can't" Draco told her again.
"That is interesting" Nott said, "You can't"
"So there is something that doesn't allow you to say anything" Blaise started musing.
"Now you have our attention" Daphne smirked.
"What exactly does Potter wants us to do?" Blaise asked Draco.
"I don't know yet" Draco said.
"So what are we doing now?" Daphne asked.
"We are waiting" Nott answered.
"Waiting for what?" Pansy asked confused.
"Just waiting" Nott smirked.
"You know something I don't" Draco told Nott.
"I am just better at finding out what I need to know" Nott stated.
Nott's POV
"Where were you?"
Nott knew he was late for this meeting.
He was supposed to be in this room an hour ago.
"I had a meeting with the other Slytherins" Nott answered.
Nott came from a very respectful pureblood family. Being in a place so filthy and being treated as if he wasn't worth much, wasn't something he liked.
"What was it about?"
"Potter" Nott answered.
He was feeling like a filthy common half-blood or worst, mudblood, for doing these menial tasks.
"Why would you have a meeting about Potter?"
"Some of them had issues" Nott said.
Nott knew how to think in the future, if he had to do this to ensure his position in the future, he would have to keep his thoughts to himself.
"Don't be so cryptic Nott"
"Daphne wanted to voice out some of her thoughts" Nott said.
"Slytherins trusting other Slytherins with their thoughts? That is new"
"They all did" Nott explained.
"What did you find out?"
"Granger doesn't trust Potter and neither does Daphne nor Zabini" Nott said.
Nott didn't know why Granger was as important as Daphne or Zabini, but he wasn't about to question it.
"Why is that?"
"They think something is off with him" Nott explained.
"They are observant"
"Is there something really off?" Nott asked.
"You don't get to ask questions"
He knew not to ask questions, Why did he just do exactly that?
"They don't trust Potter" Nott went back to the original theme of the conversation.
"But you have a plan to change that don't you?"
"At least they are now interested in going through with it" Nott said with a smirk.
"Don't be so arrogant. Take pride about something until you achieve your goal, not when you are in the process of it. I don't like mistakes"
He knew he had to find a way to make them all trust him completely, by trusting Nott, they would trust him to follow Potter.
"I am sorry my Lord" Nott bowed.
Potter's House
"Albus. What a surprise" Lily exclaimed, once she had seen who was on the other side of the door "Please, come in"
Albus, with a twinkle in his eye as always, smiled and nodded. He walked inside the Potter's house when Lily offered.
He loved the Potters, they were a respectful light family, and they were once members of the Order of the Phoenix.
A group, Dumbledore himself had organized, to fight against Voldemort.
"Thank you Lily" he said after coming in "Is James here?"
"He is, and so are Sirius and Remus" Lily answered "I'll let them know you are here"
Dumbledore made himself comfortable in one of the sofas in the living room, while he waited for Lily and the boys to come meet him.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Albus what a surprise" James exclaimed when he saw him.
"Professor it is great to see you again" Remus greeted.
"Old man! It has been too long" Sirius greeted.
"Please call me Albus, or old man" Dumbledore chuckled.
Lily glared at Sirius.
"Please sit down Albus. Would you like some tea?" Lily offered.
"Tea would be lovely. Thank you" Albus said.
"How about some firewhiskey?" Sirius wiggled his eyebrows.
"I am making tea for everyone" Lily stated and left the room.
"To what do we owe this honor?" James asked curious.
"Just wanting to see old friends" Dumbledore smiled.
"Thank you, for seeing us as friends" James said.
"Of course my boy, you, your lovely family, which includes Mr. Lupin, Mr Black and Mr. Pettigrew" Albus said sincerely.
"How is Harry?" Remus asked the Headmaster.
At that moment, Lily came back with several cups of coffee, which she gave to each of them, receiving a thank you from everyone.
"Lily, this is simply delicious" Dumbledore praised her.
"Thank you, Albus" Lily blushed.
"Mum! Dad!" Danielle yelled from upstairs.
"Danielle don't yell!" Sirius yelled back.
The nine year old slided down the stairs with an excited yell.
"Danielle, you could get hurt" Lily reprimanded, "Say hello to Professor Dumbledore"
Danielle blushed at seeing the Headmaster in her living room, and quickly composed herself, walking towards the living room.
"Such a lovely lady" Dumbledore greeted "It has been a long time since I've seen you last, you were maybe one or two years old"
"It is a pleasure to meet you, sir" Danielle greeted politely.
"Are you looking forward to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, I am, only one more year" Danielle couldn't contain her excitement.
"Maybe be sorted into Gryffindor just like your family?" Dumbledore asked.
"Or Slytherin, like my brother" Danielle smirked, for a second the twinkle in the Headmaster's eyes vanished, only Danielle noticed.
"Oh no! What have you done?" asked Sirius dramatically "I blame you!" he pointed at James.
"Such a lovely girl" Dumbledore forced a chuckle out.
"Why don't you live the grown ups to talk?" Lily asked Danielle
"Sure" Danielle said unsure, and left the room.
"Slytherin?" Dumbledore asked to no one in particular, with a forced smile.
"They were such cute babies" Sirius said with a fake cry.
"I wouldn't have thought of Harry ever being in Slytherin, but Danielle…" James said.
"Why not Harry?" Dumbledore asked curious.
"He has always been a prankster, loud and gets into more trouble than he can get out of" Remus said proudly.
"True Gryffindor" Sirius said with a wide smile "Or at least, he was" the smile vanished.
"Stop being so dramatic Sirius" Lily reprimanded, "He has traits that can be known for a Slytherin"
"Like what?" Dumbledore asked.
"He can be subtle in his pranks, he can lie his way out of anything…" Lily started to say, and Dumbledore chuckled.
"We could always do that and we were Gryffindors" James pointed out.
"That is not something to be proud of" Lily stated.
"And yet, you fell madly in love with me" James put an arm around his wife.
"It only took you seven years" Lily said smiling.
"That was Snivellus fault" Sirius pointed out.
"His name is Severus" Lily narrowed her eyes, "And it was your fault" talking about the marauders.
"How is Harry?" Remus asked again, noticing Dumbledore had effectively ignored his question the first time.
"How is my baby?" Lily asked "We miss him already"
"You had a good Holiday then?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, we did" Sirius beamed.
"Large family gathering on Christmas and boring New Year's at the ministry" James said.
"It wasn't boring" Lily said.
"Yes, it was" Sirius stated.
"We get to see several of our old classmates, every year, in those balls" Lily said.
"Only the ones from pureblood families. The majority of them, I can't swallow" Sirius said.
"That is actually a good thing, how would you explain swallowing, Lucius Malfoy for example?" James teased.
"Someone put him on my food. I could even sue" Sirius played along.
"And you didn't noticed the awful taste?" James wrinkled his nose.
"I just thought something was rotten" Sirius said.
"And you ate everything, even if it was rotten?" James asked in disbelief.
"It was food" Sirius pointed out.
Dumbledore started chuckling at James and Sirius antics.
"I must get going" Albus said, standing up.
"You really must?" Lily asked.
"I am sorry to say, I do. I would have loved to spend more time with you, but I do have a school to get to" Dumbledore smiled.
"How awful!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Thank you for visiting us" James told Dumbledore.
"Of course my boy" Albus answered.
Everyone said their goodbyes and Dumbledore left.
Remus noticed Dumbledore had ignored his question, two times, effectively.
Gryffindor's Common Room
"What is so interesting about a mirror?" Ron asked bewildered.
"It wasn't just a mirror. It showed you what you want in life" Neville said excited.
"Can we go see it?" Dean asked excited.
"I tried going back, but the mirror wasn't there anymore" Neville said.
"Who could have moved it?" Seamus asked.
"The only other person who knew about it was Potter" Neville said fiercely.
"Why would Potter move it?" Ron asked.
"I don't know, but he didn't want me to go near it" Neville said.
"Potter has something against you" Seamus stated.
"He hates the boy that vanquished his master" Ron said.
"His parents weren't You-know-who's supporters" Neville pointed out "The Potters are, a well known, light family"
"He obviously doesn't share his family point of view" Dean pointed out.
"That is true" Neville said.
"Why do we care so much about the mirror?" Ron asked, "Why don't we talk about the three-headed-dog?"
"Dumbledore said the dog was here to guard something, he just didn't say what" Neville said.
"It must be important" Dean said.
"It must be valuable" Ron said.
"Whatever it is, Dumbledore said not to go near it" Neville stated, making the other boys pout.
"Why is it in Hogwarts? whatever it is" Seamus asked.
"Someone might be trying to steal it" Ron answered.
"Wouldn't Gringotts be safer?" Dean asked. Ron just shrugged.
"We shouldn't concern ourselves with it" Neville stated.
"But, what could it be?" Ron asked curious.
"It is not for us to know" Neville said again.
"Aren't you curious?" Ron asked.
"I don't want to get involved in something that could kill me" Neville said.
"How do you know it could kill you?" Ron asked.
"It has a giant three-headed-dog guarding it" Neville stated.
"You did vanquish You-know-who" Ron pointed out.
"I was one" Neville pointed out.
"Which means you are much more powerful now" Ron said.
"No, it means I can't remember what happened" Neville said.
"Why do you act as if everyone ought to kiss your feet if you don't believe it?" Dean asked.
"Dumbledore says, it gives people spirit" Neville shrugged.
"You survived the killing curse" Ron pointed out, not giving up.
"I don't know how" Neville defended.
"You still did" Ron said.
"How can you be so sure?" Neville asked.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked back.
"How are you so sure I survived the killing curse and not any other curse?" Neville asked.
"You have the scar" Ron pointed at his forehead.
"How do you know it is not just a scar?" Neville asked.
"Everyone says..." Ron started saying.
"Exactly, everyone says, but no one really knows" Neville pointed out, interrupting Ron.
"You are the boy-who-lived" Ron pointed out.
"But who lived after what?" Neville asked. Ron didn't answer
"We should get the mirror back from Potter" Neville changed the subject.
"How?" Seamus asked.
"I don't know yet, but it is not for him to keep" Neville stated.
"We figured that since it is in the school, all the professors must have helped in the protection of the stone" Zabini said.
"So there must be something that has to do with potions, plants, transfiguration and charms at least" Daphne stated.
"Draco is the best at potions, Nott is great in Transfiguration, Zabini is great in charms and Granger is acceptable at Herbology" Pansy said "If there is anything else, I have an extended knowledge in spells"
"So we will go get it now then?" Harry asked.
"Of course not, we are only first years, even if we are the best in our year, we need to know more to be able to get pass the professors protections" Draco said.
"Shouldn't Hermione be here?" Harry asked.
"Why?" Pansy asked.
"You did say she was great in Herbology" Harry stated.
"I said acceptable" Pansy told Harry, "You can brief her later"
"Draco can maybe get something out of Snape" Daphne looked at Draco, he nodded.
"Snape is going to help us?" Harry asked.
"He just won't know it" Draco stated.
"You are planning on outsmarting the Head of Slytherin?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I am" Draco stated confident.
Harry didn't believe Draco would be able to pull that off, but he was curious to see it happen.
"Then you are saying we should all study in the field we are supposed to be best, to be able to get through what we think the protections could be?" Harry asked.
"Of course not" Pansy snapped.
"Why do you keep thinking like a Ravenclaw?" Zabini asked him.
"How are we supposed to learn if we are not going to study?" Harry asked incredulous.
"Why are you in Slytherin?" Pansy asked annoyed.
"I honestly don't know" Harry said.
"We are going to get the information we need from the professors" Draco stated.
"Why do you think a professor is going to tell us what they did to protect the stone?" Harry asked, "We are not even supposed to know about the stone"
Daphne, exasperated, slapped Harry in the back of his head.
"Honestly Potter, the only reason you are coming is because you already know about it, otherwise we wouldn't include you" Pansy snapped, getting a glare from the Malfoy heir.
"Why don't you go find Granger while we get the information from each professor?" Daphne advised, not letting room for argument.
"So my input in this will only be, getting Hermione know what you just told me, which is basically nothing?" Harry asked.
"You are smarter than you look Potter" Pansy smirked.
"Stop it!" Draco ordered before a fight could break.
"I'm sorry Potter, but you aren't really the best in any subject nor you are that good in logic or anything really, you are just average" Zabini stated, leaving Harry shocked, he had never been called average in his life. He thought he had always wanted to be average, but now knew he hadn't really liked being called just that.
"I figured out how to get pass Fluffy" Harry defended himself.
"Congratulations Potter! You are smarter than the half-breed" Pansy exclaimed, still a smirk firmly on her face.
"That is enough!" Draco was getting frustrated with Pansy.
"We are supposed to be eleven, not five" Daphne snapped and glared at Pansy.
"This is enough!" Harry snapped venomously, making everyone to look at him, with shock on their faces.
"I don't really need your help for this, so either you do it my way or don't interfere" Harry threatened.
"Who made you our leader?" Pansly glared, not appreciating being threatened by someone she considered to be worthless, compared to her.
"Either do as he says , or leave" Draco told her in an emotionless voice.
"But Drake…" Pansy started whining.
"Don't call me that!" Draco snapped.
Pansy not wanting to be on Draco's bad side, shut up and sat down, keeping her glare directed at Harry.
"Anyone else has problems with the new arrangement?" Harry asked, not expecting anyone to answer.
He was right. At least no one voiced any problems.
Nott had a blank mask, Draco's eyes held some glee, Daphne and Zabini's eyes held curiosity and Pansy kept glaring, if anything, it only intensified.
"So what is the plan?" Daphne asked curiously to Harry, showing a little more respect towards him than before.
"I am getting that stone" Harry stated "If you come, you are to follow everything I say, never questioning me. Understood?" Harry's eyes changed color for less than a second. No one was able to distinguish to what color, yet it had given all of them chills.
"Hermione wait!"
Harry had been trying to catch her for some time now, yelling after her, but she didn't seem to hear him.
Finally after a while, he reached her, and touched her in the shoulder to let her know he was behind her. Hermione turned towards him and quickly turned back, not stopping.
"I'm sorry Harry, I don't have time right now" Hermione accelerated her pace.
"We need to talk about Fluffy" Harry whispered for only her to hear.
"I don't have time for that, sorry" Hermione said not sounding sorry at all.
"What is wrong?" Harry asked confused, blocking her was to make her stop walking, almost jogging.
"There is a reason why Professor Dumbledore asked us not to go to the third floor, we are not supposed to be there, we are not supposed to know anything about what is in there" Hermione explained, as if Harry was a two year old "it is against the rules"
"The rules are more guidelines, you can't go through life only doing what other people tell you what you can and cant do" Harry tried to reason with her.
"Rules make society work" Hermione tried to go around Harry, but he kept blocking her.
"What is really wrong Hermione?" Harry asked, knowing there was something else she didn't want to talk about.
"You have been a good friend" She started saying.
"Have been?" Harry asked, not liking where this was going.
"I don't belong with your friends, they don't like me" Hermione could look him in the eye, and he knew she must have been very close to tears, only her pride keeping her from crying.
"You are more my friend than they'll eve be" Harry made her look him in the eye, lifting her face gently, "If they don't like it, I don't really care"
"How can you exchange their friendship for mine?" Hermione asked.
"What I have with them is not exactly friendship, they want something, I just haven't figured out what" Harry explained.
"That sound awful" Hermione exclaimed.
"It really isn't, it's just what slytherins are known for" Harry stated, "They have connections, not friends" Harry shrugged.
"That is sad" Hermione said almost in a whisper, but Harry heard her.
"It is" He told her "But it is important for politics, it's what purebloods are raised to be"
"They don't get to choose?" Hermione asked, scandalized.
"It is the only thing they know" Harry explained.
"I would like to work in the ministry some day" Hermione looked as if she was daydreaming.
"Maybe you could be the first" Harry stated, believing Hermione capable of anything she set her mind to do.
"The first?" She asked.
"Ministry jobs are inherited more than anything, you would have to fight for it with a pureblood, it will be hard, but not impossible" He explained.
"That doesn't sound fair" Hermione pouted, reminding Harry she was only eleven years old.
"Life isn't fair kid" Harry laughed and Hermione pouted harder.
"Are you feeling better?" Harry asked her after calming down.
"I guess" Hermione shrugged, looking a little insecure.
"What is it?" Harry asked again.
"Why is it being muggleborn so bad?" Hermione asked, with hurt evident on her eyes.
"It is not bad" Harry explained, "It is just different, people don't like what they don't understand"
Harry could see Hermione was feeling a little beter.
"What was it you wanted to talk about Fluffy?" Hermione asked him, with a small smile.
"We figured that since they are using the school to protect the stone, the professors must have something to do with it" Harry stated.
"You mean that the professors must have put their own protections around it?" Hermione asked.
"Yes" he answered.
"That would mean that no professor would be wanting to steal it" Hermione stated.
"Why so sure?" Harry asked.
"They all must know what the protections are, it would be fairly easy for any of them to do it" Hermione explained.
"Not unless they didn't tell each other what they were doing" Harry stated.
"You could be right" Hermione said "I still don't think Quirrel capable of doing it"
"I think he is the most obvious one" Harry tried to reason with her.
"He is frightened of his own shadow" Hermione said exasperated.
"Or he is a really good actor" Harry said.
"Snape is a more suitable candidate" Hermione said.
"I don't think he would want the philosopher stone" Harry said.
"Why not?" Hermione asked.
"Gold is really not his color, he loves black to much. And, why would he want to be a teacher forever? He hates us" Harry smirked and Hermione chuckled.
"Fine, Quirrel then" Hermione relented.
"We should study spells most of all, to be able to get through the professors protections" Hermione exclaimed dragging Harry towards the library.
"Come in"
"Good afternoon Professor Snape" Draco greeted his head of house after being let in into his office.
"Mr. Malfoy, why are you here?" Snape asked.
"I've read a couple of books on potions, and I feel I am a little advance than the rest of the class" Draco explained.
"To the point Mr. Malfoy" Snape said.
"I hoped I could have some extra classes with you, so I could learn more from you" Draco said.
"What exactly do you want to learn?" Snape asked.
"Are potions used for protection?" Draco asked curiously.
"Sometimes, but is not common. Wards are better for that" Snape explained.
"But no one would suspect potions, so wouldn't they be better?" Draco asked and Snape smirked.
"And what do you want to protect, and from whom?" Snape asked not really expecting Draco to give him an honest answer.
"It is just curiosity professor, you never know when it can be useful" Draco said innocently.
"Come tomorrow evening, we can continue this discussion then" Snape dismissed him.
Random Facts:
Date: 11th, 12th, 24th, 30th January 1992
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