Kailor: Thank you all for the reviews. Just to clarify a thing or two: though this has followed canon pretty close so far, it will veer very far off course soon. Thus: fanfiction. This is not a slash fic, (though I have no problem with those fics and there will be a gay couple later. Love is love). The main pairing is Harry and Hermione. Any other pairings are for fun.

And! The Fidelius Charm in my story is very simple, though still an extremely difficult spell. It is no little trick. It is a highly complex spell that keeps the secret from EVERYONE and ANYTHING unless the Secret Keeper chooses to divulge it. Meaning Harry could go to Gringotts and the goblins wouldn't know it was him. Meaning the map will have him labeled under his cover name. (Remember, the map is NOT completely foolproof. The Room of Requirement doesn't show up on it) But once the charm is removed or the Secret Keeper tells someone, then that changes. Like Snape not realizing that this boy who reminds him so much of Lily IS Lily's son.

On with the story then. I don't own Harry Potter. I just own the Lachlans and the occasional choice of words. And I am aware that Cedric didn't actually join the Hufflepuff team until later, but whatever. Special thanks to AP Mom. :D

Harry took to carrying the map around in his pocket. He found himself checking it often to see where Quirrel went. The group that had entered the forbidden corridor thought that it was suspicious that Quirrel was unafraid to go and check on a huge monster, but too scared to walk a student back to the dorms. They decided the best time to talk to Hagrid was the weekend. So they spent the rest of the week keeping a close eye on Quirrel and debating quietly what the three-headed dog could be guarding.

Breakfast became very quiet. Ven only attended the meal a few times and she spent those times at the Hufflepuff or Gryffindor tables. Ron was at the Gryffindor table, hounding his brothers about why they hadn't given him the map any time he got a chance. Llyr was struggling with the practical sides of their classes, because he didn't speak the spells, and he spent the mornings practicing in Professor McGonagall's office. So Harry and Hermione ate with Padma, dying to talk about the giant dog and knowing they couldn't. Penny kept dropping not so helpful hints about fighting with siblings. She noticed his sister's absence and seemed to think he and Ven weren't speaking to each other. Harry did nothing to convince her otherwise, since he wasn't exactly sure how to explain what had happened to her without revealing their after hours escapade.

That Saturday, Ven appeared at breakfast. She snatched a bit of Harry's bacon. "Ready?"

Hermione and Harry rose. Before they could leave, Roger clapped a hand on Ven's shoulder. "Ven! Where you been? We've missed you at breakfast!"

Ven shrugged, putting on a too-wide smile. "Eh, the usual places. Better be careful, though." Her eyes flickered across the table to the Ravenclaw prefect listening in. "People will think it's weird if you miss a first year. You've only known me a few months, yeah? You'll survive breakfast without me. And I hate to disappoint you, but us first years are a busy bunch and we must be getting on now. Conquering the world isn't a hobby, lad. It's a way of life!" She said this with so much enthusiasm that Roger whooped loudly and laughed. Penny, however, looked shocked, confused, and a little hurt.

Cutting Ven off before she could say anything else, Harry looped his arm around her shoulders. "Come, sister!" He called dramatically. "To world domination!" And they marched from the hall, humming. Hermione followed, shaking her head.

When they had nearly reached Hagrid's hut, a voice called out. They turned to find Ron and Padma hurrying to join them.

"Ron! What a surprise!" Harry said, glancing at the Ravenclaw beside him.

Ron leaned close to him, pretending to scratch his leg. "She followed me and wouldn't go back. I told her we were just going to chat with the groundskeeper to learn about his job, but she was actually interested in that. What's wrong with you Ravenclaws?"

"Come off it, Ron," Padma snapped. "I know you lot are hiding something from me. I want to know what's going on."

Harry glanced at Hermione, raising an eyebrow. She shrugged. "Do you trust her?" he whispered.

Hermione looked at Padma, biting her lip. The dark-skinned girl drew herself up, chin raised. For a moment nobody spoke. Then, "I trust her." Padma threw her arms around her friend.

Finally Harry realized everyone was looking at him. He shrugged and waved a hand, as if to say, "If you must."

So they quickly filled Padma in, leaving out the Percy and Penny confrontation. "You're all insane," Padma said.

"No, really!" Hermione said. "It really was there! I swear-"

"No, I believe you," Padma cut her off. "I just think you're insane. You thought there was a dog in the corridor and that was your first choice of hiding places, Hermione?"

Hermione opened her mouth, then shut it, blinking. Harry and Ron exchanged a grin behind her back, trying not to laugh. Ven patted Hermione's head sympathetically. When they turned and continued to Hagrid's hut, Hermione was still silent, her brow furrowed and lips pursed.

The large man opened the door, peering over his thick beard at them. "Well, hello. Firs' years? Yeh need somethin'? On'y, I'm kinda busy now." He glanced behind him, keeping a firm hold on the door.

"Mr. Hagrid, I'm Hermione Granger-"

"Oh, jus' Hagrid. Mister sounds weird."

"Well, Hagrid. This is Harry and Ven Lachlan, Ron Weasley, and Padma Patil. We were hoping we could speak with you about something we found in the castle. We heard you were the one to go to, because you're so informed about Hogwarts."

Harry shared a glance with Ven. From the look on her face, he could see she had heard no such thing either. He had heard his parents mention the man a few times and say he had a strange fascination with dangerous creatures, but that was really all he knew of him.

Hagrid's black eyes widened, the only visible sign that he was surprised. "Ah, I don' know where yeh heard tha'. I'm not-"

"We just had a quick question or two about the three-headed dog guarding the third floor." Hermione said, smooth and nonchalant.

What little they could see of Hagrid's face turned pale. "Yeh'd best come in." He stepped back and they filed in. The hut had only one room. Harry glanced around at the huge bed and the large table. He took the seat beside Padma, having to jump to get onto the seat. It was stifling hot in the cabin and he loosened his tie, feeling sweat bead his forehead. Hagrid, however, didn't seem to mind. He sat in front of the fire, his back to the flames. "I know a couple of yeh. Like you, Ron. Yer brothers are always tryin' teh get in the forest. And the Lachlans." He peered at them over his giant beard. "I knew yer dad years ago. Had a talent fer attractin' trouble, jus' like the Weasley twins. Good man though. Harry and Ven, yeh said? Not sure I'm surprised that it was you lot who found out about Fluffy."

"Fluffy?" Ron whispered, obviously mortified that the creature had such a name.

"Yeah. He's mine. I bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub."

"Oh, that's nice," Ven said, straight-faced. "Was his name Hades, by any chance?"

"Ah, I don' know his name..." Hagrid's brow furrowed, his beetle black eyes disappearing in his hair for a moment as he struggled to recall the man's name.

"Nevermind that," Hermione said. "So Fluffy is yours. Why is he being kept in the castle?"

"Oh, tha'." Hagrid waved a hand. "Don' worry 'bout tha'. It's not yer business what Fluffy's doin'. Tha's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel, tha' is."

"Who's Nicolas Flamel?" Padma asked. They all watched as Hagrid's face registered what he'd just told them. He stuttered something, the words tangling on his lips.

"Wait, Flamel." Ven grabbed Harry's wrist across the table. "You know who that is, yeah? Didn't you say something about him on the train?"

"I don't remember-" but he stopped. He did remember now. "Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog card! Flamel was mentioned!"

Before Harry could recall what else the card had said, Hagrid was on his feet. "Well, best yeh get back to the castle. I don' want teh know what else yeh know. I'd be 'spected teh tell Professor Dumbledore." He moved to usher them out and Harry caught a glimpse of the fire behind him.

"Hagrid...is that..." Buried in the embers, sparkling, was a large, round, black object.

But it was Ron that answered. "A dragon egg!" He ducked under Hagrid's outstretched arm and knelt by the fire, studying it closely. "Where did you get this? They're illegal!"

"Well, I-I won it. At the pub."

"Do you get all of your creatures from the pub?" Padma asked, joining Ron by the fire.

Harry looked up at the large man. "How about this, Hagrid. You don't tell anyone we know about Fluffy and we won't tell anyone we know about your dragon."

For a moment the groundskeeper just looked at him, mouthing wordlessly. "That's blackmail," he finally said.

"That's a trade. A mutual helping between comrades, yeah?" Ven corrected him, smiling.

Hagrid glanced at Ron. "Yer brothers woulda said the same thing. Alrigh', I'll keep yer secret and you keep mine. But promise yeh won' go lookin' for trouble, either. What that dog's guardin' is more than the lot of yeh are ready fer."

"We promise," they chorused. Harry wondered if he was the only one that had his fingers crossed behind his back. Hagrid let them out, looking proud at being the one to stop their exploring of things they shouldn't.

XXXXXXX

A few hours after leaving Hagrid's, Harry was climbing the stands between Hermione and Padma. Padma and Penny were discussing Gryffindors' odds of beating Hufflepuff and Hermione was carrying a very heavy-looking textbook. When Harry saw the tome in her hands, he immediately took it. "Oh, Harry," she protested. "I can-"

"I've got it," he smiled, tucking it under his arm. It barely fit. Hermione withdrew her hands and thanked him. When they were nearly to the top of the stairs, he glanced back at her. "So what are we bringing this along for? Not interested in Quidditch?"

"Oh, no, I'm thrilled to see my first Quidditch match!" Hermione said. "But I went to the library today and got this book. I know it mentions Professor Dumbledore's work with alchemy. So I figured it might also mention...well. You know. And I can't seem to stop reading it."

"Smart." Harry found a seat behind Padma and Penny. He was glad to hand the book back over. He'd never admit it to Hermione, but it was starting to hurt his arm. Silently he vowed to work harder at the training his father had implemented when summer came around.

"Where's Ven?" Padma suddenly asked, turning around in her seat.

"Well, she lost the bet, didn't she?" Hermione laughed.

"And my dear sister doesn't do things by halves," Harry said, pointing to the stands across the way.

And there was Ven, standing near the commentator booth. She wore a bright yellow sweater, black pants, and a pair of Quidditch goggles. A Hufflepuff scarf was tied around her waist and a matching tie served as a headband for her. The Hufflepuffs around her were laughing and clapping her on the back as they passed to find seats. Ven caught Harry's eye and mouthed something. He wasn't sure what it was, but when she saluted, he got it, smiling. He saw Professor McGonagall throw a suspicious glance at his twin, but she said nothing, settling beside the commentator.

Harry glanced at Penny as the commentator, a Gryffindor named Lee Jordan, announced the teams. The Ravenclaw prefect was also looking at Ven suspiciously, though he knew she was aware of the bet. He hadn't seen her since breakfast that morning, so she hadn't questioned him, but he felt it was coming soon. She turned to look at him and he quickly focused on the field, clapping loudly for the Gryffindors that had just left the tunnels below. He knew a couple of the members, including Fred and George Weasley. On the Hufflepuff side he only knew Cedric. The teams met midfield and the captains shook hands. Madam Hooch, an older woman with short hair and hawk eyes, released the latch on a trunk at her feet. Two black balls sped up into the air to await the players. These were the Bludgers, designed to go around trying to knock people off their brooms. The golden Snitch followed them into the air before disappearing. Harry traced its path with his eyes for as long as he could. When they had played back home, he'd always been Seeker. Madam Hooch grabbed the large red ball, the Quaffle, and tossed it into the air.

"And they're off! And it's Angelina Johnson with the Quaffle!" Lee Jordan's commentary rang through the enchanted megaphone he held. "She dodges Hufflepuff beater, Maxine O'Flaherty. Heading straight for Keeper Herbert Fleet and-OH! Barely misses a bludger from O'Flaherty. Must not be happy Angelina got past her a second ago! And the Quaffle's lost! Taken by Tamsin Applebee of Hufflepuff! And-no! Jacked by Alicia Spinnet of Gryffindor! That girl is one hell of a flyer! Hey, Alicia! Angelina turned me down when I asked so, how about we go out sometim-"

"JORDAN!" McGonagall's voice called over his.

"Sorry, Professor. So Spinnet gets it past Hufflepuff's defenses and nearly to Fleet...She backpasses to Katie Bell, the new Gryffindor Chaser, and she passes to Johnson and JOHNSON SCORES! Gryffindor, ten! Hufflepuff, zero!"

Harry glanced up at Cedric, far above the other players. The Gryffindor Seeker, Kieran Muirhead, was a seventh year that was nearly as small as Harry. He was hovering a little ways from Cedric, keeping his eye on the Hufflepuff and the game below. Harry saw a glint near his elbow, but neither of the Seekers did. He groaned.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, glancing from the open book in her lap to the game to Harry.

"The Snitch! It was just nearly in Muirhead's lap and he didn't see it!"

Penny turned and looked at him oddly. "You saw the Snitch from here?"

"Yeah, for a second."

"Ever played before?"

"At-at home, yeah. With my brothers and sisters."

"I see." And she turned back to the game before he could ask what her sudden interest was. He shook his head. Gryffindor had scored three more goals already. The Hufflepuff beaters were getting pretty vicious, hitting Bludgers at any Gryffindor in range.

"Applebee in possession. Ducks Bell, ducks Spinnet. Nearly collides with Johnson. Oooh, a nice bludger there from Fred or George Weasley, I'm not sure which. She's nearing Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Keeper. And...Wood blocks easily! Passes it-hey!"

"Ahem, excuse me?"

Harry looked at the commentator stand. Ven had taken the megaphone. Even the Quidditch players paused to see what was happening. Professor McGonagall was trying to snatch the megaphone back, but Ven leaned out over the railing, blocking the Transfiguration professor's attempts. "I am just here to say one thing. I am, in fact, in love."

The stands erupted into laughter and a few "Aww"s from the females present.

"Bet she says Ron." Hermione hissed quickly.

"No way. It'll be one of the players on the field. Fred or George probably. Maybe both." Harry shook his head.

Padma leaned back and whispered, "I was thinking Penny, but I guess we'll see." She didn't notice the uncomfortable glance Harry and Hermione shared.

The Ravenclaw prefect did not hear them. She had crossed her arms and was staring across the pitch with narrowed eyes.

Ven took a deep breath, then said, "WITH DRACO MALFOY!" And she tossed the megaphone back to Lee and dove into the Hufflepuff stands to escape Professor McGonagall. The Hufflepuffs laughed heartily and closed rank around her. A moment later she was gone.

Harry stood to get a look at the Slytherin stands. Malfoy's face had turned pink and he was glaring at anyone who dared to laugh around him or clap him on the back. Harry pointed this out to Hermione and Padma and they shared a good laugh at his expense. Professor McGonagall got Lee Jordan back on track and waved her arms for Madam Hooch to continue. The referee had stopped to hear the announcement as well.

The game ended quickly after that. Gryffindor got a few more goals, but Cedric caught the Snitch and won for Hufflepuff.

XXXXXXX

Back in the Great Hall for dinner, Harry found Ven at the Gryffindor table. She had removed all Hufflepuff gear and was munching happily on a steak.

"Well, I was not expecting that," Harry said, sitting beside her.

Ven shrugged. "Neither was I. I decided I would just say the first person I saw that I knew after I grabbed the megaphone. And his oily blonde hair caught my eye."

Behind them, at the Ravenclaw table, Hermione and Padma were leaned over the large book Hermione had been carrying around. Cedric came to the Gryffindor table to shake hands with the other team, accompanied by Harry's brothers. Harry chatted with them for a few minutes. Then-

"So, Lachlan. You love me, huh?"

Harry stood at the sound of his voice, already feeling heat pool in his stomach. Ven calmly looked up at their unwanted visitor, still chewing her food.

Malfoy smirked. On either side of him, his cronies sniggered stupidly. "I heard you're much more interested in girls."

Hermione and Padma joined Harry, standing. Ven finished her bite of steak. "I sure do. That's why I confessed my love for you, Malfoy."

The Gryffindor table broke down in laughter and Malfoy's ears burned red. "Please," he snapped. "You wish someone like me wanted you. Not even the softest girl here would want that scarred face of yours."

Llyr and Cedric grabbed Albion to stop him from launching himself at the younger boy.

"Malfoy!" Penny exclaimed, rising as well. "Five points from Slytherin!" Roger was right behind her, cracking his knuckles.

Harry, quoting something his mother used to tell them, said, "The knight in shining armor's never had his metal truly tested, Malfoy. Now get out of here before we test yours. I have a feeling you'd break pretty easy."

"Big words for a little man, Lachlan." Malfoy sneered. "You-" He cut off, glancing at the gathered students.

Ron, Fred, and George were on their feet now, looking eager. Even Neville stood, his shaking knees hidden beneath the table. Professor McGonagall was sweeping towards them from the staff table.

The Slytherin glared at Harry, but when Penny took a step towards him, he turned on his heel and left.

Only then did Ven stand. "Thank you," she said to Harry. Then she looked at the rest of the group. "Thank you all."

"Is there a problem here?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking at the group standing before her.

"No ma'am," Harry said. "Malfoy was picking on my sister. Penny took points from him and sent him back to his table."

Professor McGonagall glanced at her Gryffindors, the Ravenclaws, and the three Hufflepuffs. "And the rest of you?"

"Moral support, Professor," Fred said.

"Just in case," George added.

"I see." Professor McGonagall turned to Ven. "I should give you detention for what you did at the match. However..." she smiled at them. "I feel your moral support at the moment would be too much for even me. Take ten points for Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw." She patted Harry's shoulder proudly and left.

Ven threw an arm around Harry's neck, ruffling his hair. "Look at you, little brother. Coming to my rescue."

"Sixteen minutes, Ven. I'm barely your little brother."

"Are you okay?" Penny asked.

Ven looked like she'd forgottent the older girl was still standing there. She glanced at Harry.

He raised his eyebrows and shrugged one shoulder.

Ven turned back to the Ravenclaw prefect and smiled. "I'm okay. Better now. Thanks, Penny."

XXXXXXX

As Harry, Hermione, and Padma made their way up to the Ravenclaw dorms, they saw a dark figure sweeping around the corner ahead. Someone heading towards the forbidden area of the third floor. They ducked behind a suit of armor and Harry pulled the map from his robes. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he said, tapping it with his wand.

He quickly found their location on the map and followed the corridor until he saw the dot that had stopped outside the very door that led to Fluffy. He had expected Quirrel. He would not have been surprised by the dot being Professor Dumbledore or Hagrid. He was, however, surprised to read Severus Snape.

"What's Professor Snape doing?" Hermione asked. "Does he know about the dog too? Is he supposed to? Do all the teachers know?"

"I don't know," Harry said. "We don't even know what the dog's guarding. Until then we can't really be suspicious of anyone, except Quirrel."

"Better get back to reading that book," Padma said, gesturing to Hermione's bag.

The little dot, Severus Snape, left Fluffy's door and headed down towards the dungeons. Harry hurriedly wiped the map, whispering, "Mischief managed."

Kailor: And next chapter is when the action kicks in. I wanted this one to be more about establishing the friendships a bit more and about Hagrid's first meeting with Harry and the others. Review, please!