Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, no matter how much I wih I did.

Chapter Eighteen, The Lake

After a large breakfast, Harry, Theodor, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle walked down to the lake. Harry stared out at it's glassy surface for a few moments, as though expecting something to jump out at him. A light breeze rippled the surface, but that was all.

"We have to wait for it to warm up. It likes to bask," said Draco. He lead them over to a large beach tree that cast it's shadow out over the lake in the morning sun. It was still slightly chilly, an Harry had his scarf wrapped around his neck. It was only going to get colder, thought Harry, inwardly sighing.

"So did anyone else visit you? Or just us?" asked Theo.

"Oh, well, Weasley stopped by," said Harry, and Draco pulled a face.

"They let slime like that wander the castle? Eugh," said Draco, and Theo laughed.

"It was ok, apparently he's on a short leash," snickered Harry, "His two twin brothers showed up and dragged him off." Harry gave a dreamy kind of sigh, reflecting back on it, and Draco snorted.

"The twins? You mean the short, stocky ones?" asked Theo.

"Yeah," said Harry. Their names are Fred and George. They bill themselves as Pranksters Extraordinaire. Wouldn't want to get on their bad side, truth be told."

"What house are they in?" asked Draco. "Gryffendor, no doubt."

Harry nodded. "But, I mean, they aren't total twits, and they seemed kind of nice..." He trailed off at the look Draco shot him.

"They're Gryffendor's, Harry. The whole house is a bunch of bullies and arses who pretend like their 'noble' and 'brave.' All brawn, no brains. Besies, I bet they were only nice because, well, you're you."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" asked Harry, eyes narrowing.

"Oh, don't get offended," said Draco. "You know what I mean. People stare at you all the time. Surely someone in the school would try to kiss your arse."

Harry felt his shoulders droop. Was Draco right?

"Any homework left, Harry?" asked Theodor. Blaise looked like he were napping.

"No, I've finished it all. Really boring in that Hospital wing," said Harry, snapping out of his reverie.

"Even when we were around?" teased Theo, and Harry stuck out his tongue.

"You know what I mean. Besides, you weren't allowed in all that much."

"Just don't go turning into a Ravenclaw, what with all this "doing Homework," said Draco, ruffling Harry's already ruffled hair. Harry batted Draco's hand away and yawned. It was slowly turning into one of those sleepy days, and when the squid emerged, Harry felt it doubly so. Watching the giant thing below the waves, lazing about sluggishly, made Harry want to take a nap.

Through his sleep dredged mind, he realized that he wasn't being curious. "Goodnight," he said, to rectify that, and just as suddenly found himself using Theo's shoulder for a pillow.

Harry awake a an hour or two later or so later, when Draco shook him awake. "Come on, it's time for lunch," said the blond. Harry got uneasily to his leaden feet and used Draco and Theo to support himself. Blaise snickered as Harry nearly tripped over.

By the time they got into the Castle, Harry was more or less fully awake. The smell of food drew him onwards. He sat down, flanked by Draco and Theo, and they were flanked by Crabbe an Goyle.

"Are you my body guards?" half accused Harry. Draco shot him a winning smile.

"We don't want to lose you, mate." He gave Harry a one armed squeeze while the black haired boy blushed into his meal.

After a few minuets, Draco gave Harry a soft prod in the ribs. Harry, who had been focused on his meal an nothing else, gave a little jump."What is it, Draco?"

"It's Professor Snape," said Draco, nodding to the approaching figure of their Head of House. "Wonder what he wants."

"Ahh, there you are, Mr. Potter. I was wondering where you had gotten off to," said Snape as he drew level with their seats.

"We went down by the lake, sir, to watch the Giant Squid," explained Harry.

"Well, we watched it," said Draco, looking sideways at Harry. "He napped."

Harry stuck his tongue again.

"Pull that tongue back into your skull before I cut it off and use it in a potion," hissed Snape, who did not like his students, no matter how young, acting infantile.

"Sorry, sir," said Harry, blushing and ducking his head.

"No matter. I assume that, since you've been enjoying the day, you've got no homework?"

Harry shook his head. "It's all finished, sir," said Harry while Draco, Theo, Crabbe and Goyle all looked anywhere but at Snape.

"Well, if you have some free time, I'd like you to come by my office. I'll be there all day, so it doesn't matter when," replied Snape, who then turned on his heel and walked away.

Harry watched as Snape's billowing robes whipped out of sight around the door, and he turned to Draco. "Well, that's what he wanted. To be cryptic." He returned his attention to his meal while Draco and Theo talked around him.

Harry got in one more bite before his nagging sense of curiosity got the better of him. "I'd better figure out what Professor Snape wants sooner rather than later," he said, putting down his fork.

As Harry got up to leave, Draco asked, "Will you be alright? You know, by yourself?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "No one is going to jump out and attack me, Draco." He looked across the Hall to see Ron, wrapped up in his meal,a nd generally being a slob about it. "At least, no one I should worry about."

Draco and Theo snorted, and Harry waved goodbye to them, and exited the hall. He had his head down and he was walking quickly, lost in thought. What could Snape possibly want? To check up on him? He was so lost in thought that he walked headlong into someone. It took him a few seconds to realized that someone was a teacher.

A turban-headed teacher.

"M-Mr. P-p-p-potter, are you a-al-alright?" asked the be-turbaned Professor Quirrell.

"Er, yes sir. Sorry sir. I was just thinking. I'm on my way to Professor Snape's office sir." Harry explained this all very quickly, ducking his head and blushing in embarrassment. When he looked up, Quirrell was rubbing his stomach as though in a good deal of discomfort.

"Very sorry, sir," said Harry, looking down again.

"N-not a p-p-p-problem," stuttered Quirrell. "U-u-u-upset s-stomach. H-Hogwarts f-f-food, you kn-know." Quirrell gave a fleeting smile. "W-would y-you l-l-like to come u-up to m-m-my office f-f-for a m-m-moment?"

Harry thought about Snape waiting for him down in his office, but remembered he had just walked headlong into Quirril, and didn't want to seem rude. "Er, yes sir, I suppose."

AN: Dun-dun-dun! That's all for now, folks. I'll try and post more regularly, but no promises. Everything is still iffy with my internet.