PB8

Disclaimer – I don't look anything like JKR – and my bank account looks nothing like hers, either.

Chapter 8

Severus watched the Gryffindors and Slytherins enter his classroom from down the hall, while he was enveloped in a cloud of darkness to prevent them from seeing him. It had been an interesting week, so far. Harry had appeared at breakfast the first day of classes, beaming at everyone. Harry was followed by Draco – who was flanked by Dean and Seamus, who were each trying to convince him of the superiority of their favorite Soccer team.

The Headmaster and McGonagall had watched Harry and the Gryffindors carefully to see how Ron and Hermione were faring in winning over Harry. Ron spent a lot of time trying to get the other boys to talk Quidditch instead of this 'football'. Once Ron saw that verbally attacking Draco simply pushed all four of the other first year Gryffindor boys away he had started his 'magic games are best' campaign.

Dean and Seamus were tolerating Ron, mostly because Draco continued to keep a tranquil and tolerant face in place no matter what Ron threw at him. It was not easy for Draco, but he kept in mind his father's instructions and the thought of what would happen if he failed. Having the Dark Lord triumphant would mean total disaster – and having Dumbledore win would be as terrible. Draco continued to tell himself he would have the last laugh – and that made the insults trivial to him.

Harry turned a lot of Ron's sniping about Draco's Slytherin roots back on him, bringing up the fact that all houses had good points and all had turned out excellent witches and wizards. Mentions of 'Malfoys having too much money to be nice' were turned back with the reminder that 'Harry had money, too'.

Through the week Hermione had tried to show off her vast knowledge to Harry and draw him into conversations to show him that having her as a best friend would benefit him scholastically … and that others (Draco) were leading him down the wrong path. The only problem was that Draco seemed to be as well – read as her on magical theory and as far as the wizarding world went … well he seemed to be able to disprove much of what she said about the 'backwardness' of magical traditions or beliefs. Worse, many times Harry countered what she said as well.

The twins and a puzzled Percy tried to back Ron at times, but seemed at a loss as to how to influence a knowledgeable and serenely happy Harry Potter who was being trailed around by a nice, polite, muggle - loving Malfoy. Weasleys tended to only rarely send letters to parents – they were usually busy ducking howlers from home, but several were sent to the Burrow with flight enhancing spells on the owls that week.

Now it was Friday and his first double potions class was about to begin – Slytherins and Gryffindors. Harry and Draco had been preparing Seamus and Dean for the class – telling them what to study … and what to expect. Seamus – already trying to be a 'lady's man' had passed the information off to Pavarti, Lavender … and Hermione as well, although she seemed skeptical that Seamus had anything to off academically.

Ron had looked horrified at the idea of studying ahead, he barely opened the books to do the bare minimum when all four of the other dorm mates did and would yell at him for not keeping quiet so they could do their work.

Harry and Draco had laughingly told Seamus and Dean … in the middle of the common room, where everyone was likely listening in … that Professor Snape 'had a flair for the dramatic' and to not let his theatrics frighten them too badly.

"All that unrelieved black he wears and the whirling robes … I'm pretty sure he's borrowing the whole persona from muggle movies about vampires. It is pretty effective." Harry smiled as Dean visibly mulled that thought around in his head.

"He's always said he absolutely must keep order in the potions class because the class can be so dangerous. The easiest way to keep order is to have the class too scared of the teacher to mess up by being stupid." Draco had said complacently. He'd already memorized a good part of the potions texts and he'd always enjoyed helping Narcissa with her greenhouse and garden – he knew his plants.

Angelina and Katie – both third year girls had looked doubtful. They and been listening in on their conversation quite unabashedly. "I don't get that – yeah, exploding cauldrons can be painful … but dangerous? And Professor Snape goes beyond scary and into terrifying." Katie had said with a frown.

"Potions class is quite dangerous – if you look at the yearly statistics that the wizarding schools put out only the senior classes in Dark Arts in the schools that offer that class equal it in serious injury and accidental deaths." Draco said positively.

The entire common room was listening, now, and not even trying to pretend they weren't. The older students rethought some of the strictness they'd been subjected to and felt maybe the Professor had at least some reason for it. It didn't make them like Snape … he strayed too far into the sneering, hateful area at times.

Percy had nodded at this. He was wary of the information Malfoy was spreading this week, but this at least was true. "Professor Snape has been the teacher for Potions for almost ten years … the school has never had a death in potions during that time and the number of injuries is much less than other schools. It's one of the reasons that Hogwarts is one of the premier wizarding schools. A lot of the other schools have Potions as an elective starting in third year to cut down on injuries."

The twins had glanced at Percy in irritation. Finding ways to make cauldrons explode in an interesting manner was one of their favorite pastimes. They had always figured that Snape was just a spoilsport when he 'over-reacted' to their pranks. This information had sobered them a bit. Maybe they should be really careful in future.

Severus shook his head and smiled, remembering Draco telling him of the conversation. He then did his usual dramatic entrance into the Potions classroom, striding down the aisle between desks and whirling around, making his cloak flair theatrically. He was a bit surprised when all the children were smiling at him. The Slytherins knew they had nothing to fear as long as they behaved – but the other Houses usually reacted with nervous alarm. He sighed, that conversation in the Gryffindor common room perhaps had been too effective.

He gave his usual melodramatic speech but was met with appreciative grins from the Gryffindors and was greeted with applause at the end by them … the Slytherins hesitantly joined in and looked almost as puzzled as Severus. Severus would have suspected a prank – but the bright-eyed innocence in their gazes said not. He glanced at the cheerfully beaming Draco and Harry and knew who to blame for the sudden drop in his fearsomeness factor.

To counteract the boys' work he gave a follow-up speech detailing the detentions with disgusting potions ingredients they could expect if they did anything remotely dangerous in his classroom. To his surprise the children all nodded solemnly … except for Weasley, who looked bored and sullen.

Severus did his usual 'pop quiz' to show the students that, yes, he expected them to read ahead. Draco prompted Dean to answer one question, Pansy answered one, and then the irrepressible Miss Granger answered the last of the three questions. He knew he would need to do something about her before she started just shouting answers out. Still, by the glint in Albus and Minerva's eyes, he knew they were banking on either Miss Granger or the youngest Weasley still managing to befriend Harry. Luckily the boys were expected 'to visit Draco's godfather' that afternoon.

Severus had long ago secured his office against Albus. True, the Headmaster could enter anywhere he wished in the school, but there were no eavesdropping portraits and everything in the room had been meticulously checked for listening charms. Lucius and Narcissa had 'dropped by' and done some checking as well. Narcissa had left a rather cute porcelain lion in red and gold that she had said would negate any listening charm for a hundred feet on all directions – in case any had been cast on the boys. It wasn't fool-proof, but it should be enough.

Severus let Harry and Draco crow a bit about their successes so far … they were young enough to need the positive reinforcement to prop up their courage. It was early in the year, so nothing was really expected to be accomplished as yet other than dodging Granger and Weasley's attempts at swaying Harry away from Draco and his family.

Severus eventually interrupted them to give them a warning. "Something is definitely wrong with Professor Quirrell … and it's been confirmed by the fact that Albus poo-poo's the idea with a twinkle in his eyes … that means he already knows and wants the man here. He's built this gauntlet to get to the Sorcerer's Stone specifically to attract the Dark Lord and to train Harry. He says the Stone is safe – and that much I believe … he wants that for himself, most likely."

Severus and the Malfoys had discussed several scenarios. The most popular had been that Albus would have the stone "get stolen" and then blame the disappearance of the stone on the Dark Lord and keep it for himself "for the greater good".

Severus intended to use that scenario for his own plot – let Albus think he was getting away with something.

Severus looked at the boys seriously. "Quirrell reeks of the Dark Lord's magic …" The boys looked abruptly much more serious as Severus began. " … I'm not sure if he is merely in league with him – or if he is possessed by him …" the boys looked alarmed at the thought – as well they should. "So I need you to never be alone with him, and keep your eyes wide open for any signs of his real motives or goals."

Harry snorted. "No matter which it is his motives and goals are obvious – bringing the Dark Lord back and conquering the wizarding word one country at a time – and destroying muggles and muggleborns."

Severus glared and then smirked, "Perhaps I should have said, 'short term goals'. He wants the stone, obviously, but he'll be interested in Harry – and his friends. He may try to get information from one of you … especially you, Draco, as you are my godson he may hope I have let slip some information to you."

"Won't he try to recruit you? My father is outed as a traitor, now – he's been telling everyone that will listen about the sheer numbers of muggles and that we need to learn to co-exist with them and perhaps learn to counteract the things we've been complaining about instead of sitting back and whining – like pollution and all that." Draco looked anxious for his godfather.

Severus nodded with a faint smile, hiding the flare of anxiety that question caused. "Yes, and you know that if pressed, I will need to appear to be loyal to him … in fact, for my plan to work that will occur very soon. Plus - you need to start 'bonding' with your Head of House - McGonagall."

The boys were dismayed, but nodded in agreement. They could endure the meeting with her if necessary. And as long as Severus could be exonerated of all wrong - doing after the Dark Lord's … and Dumbledore's defeat, they did not care if he had to pretend to be evil.

The three conspirators plotted until the dinner bell chimed and they made their way to the great hall – walking in together, Severus in the middle with a hand on each boy's shoulder. He gave a scheming smile and a faint nod to Albus, giving him the agreed upon signal that he'd managed to talk Harry into coming to Minerva for stories about his parents.

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The following weeks fell into a rhythm. Draco, Seamus and Dean were seen together almost as often as Harry and Draco. Draco was dispersing information at a rate that had never been seen before – mostly by inducing Dean and Seamus to talk about the muggle world. The muggle studies class had swelled to triple in size with all the late sign-ups that were allowed in the first 2 weeks of classes. Charity Burbage tried to stem the tide of information to what Albus wanted, but the muggleborns and half-bloods constantly corrected her and they now mostly ran the classes – the half-bloods knew what information the wizard-born needed explained and the muggleborn could explain anything the half-bloods might be confused about, themselves.

Oddly, the Slytherins – almost every single one – had signed up for the course, to Albus' horror. They listened closely in class, saying nothing in derision – though there was an occasional sneer. They asked astute questions and even on occasion would corner a muggleborn to have some point or other explained in greater detail. They were always scrupulously … if coldly … polite.

Lucius had disseminated information on the muggles to great effect. The purebloods had reacted in many different ways. Some panicked and tried to find areas of the world with 'fewer muggles' only to find that those were now in short supply. Some had sent flocks of owls to Lucius for ideas on how to deal with the overwhelming odds they suddenly realized they faced.

Lucius had numerous plots that he started planting in their head. Most – for now - involved storming the ministry with demands that security be updated … a lot.

The darkest families reacted with disbelief at first, then when Lucius' information proved true they sulked, got drunk, went muggle baiting (while drunk) and got arrested, and in one case simply committed suicide.

None the less, the pureblood – and some half-blood - children at Hogwarts received explicit instructions from parents to cause no trouble and to learn all they could about the muggles and muggleborn and 'to report back to them over the Yule holidays'.

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Quirrell tried to stalk Harry Potter with little success during this time. Malfoy and those other two – Thomas and Finnegan were constantly with him, and those four were stalked by that mudblood Granger and the blood traitors – the Weasleys – not only Ron, but the twins and the prefect Percy as well.

It would have been amusing to watch if it wasn't thwarting his own efforts. He was very curious as to how he'd been bested by the boy and his mother. Of course, the boy would have no idea of how it had occurred, but he was curious none the less. He wouldn't mind leaving Harry Potter's corpse behind for Dumbledore when he left with the stone – that would be a nice little payback, he felt.

It was Halloween now and he had almost no clue as to how to get through the gauntlet. Some of the traps would be ridiculously easy for him … others, not so much. He was sure that his old school adversary Minnie McGonagall knew all the traps … but Severus Snape very well might as well. He'd remained tight with the Headmaster even after Voldemort had been 'defeated', staying at his post as ordered. Of course that was also the safest place for someone bearing the Mark.

Still he wouldn't begrudge Snape his refuge … not when it meant assistance for him, now. As long as Severus was cooperative … and if not, he would arrange a tragic fate for his old spy.

He considered his options and decided to go ahead and let the troll loose, creating chaos and headed toward the third floor, meeting Severus there – and chuckled. He had always admired Severus' quick mind and resourcefulness.

Severus hovered over him menacingly, but Voldemort – completely in control of Quirrell at that time said, "Nice to see you again, Severusss. I'm glad you kept to your post, I have a task for you."

Severus paled and wilted a bit. Even though he knew Voldemort was using Quirrell in some way, being confronted with his old master was daunting. "Master? I knew you were near … I did not guess that Professor Quirrell was helping you …" He broke off, unsure of how much to give away.

Voldemort merely snickered making Severus a little queasy. Quirrell's lips weren't moving and his eyes were glassy – the voice was coming from somewhere behind Quirrell. Severus didn't like thinking about why that was.

"You know the Headmassster has the Sorcerer'sss Stone." Voldemort said. "I need you to assist me in acquiring it."

Severus had known this was coming and was a little prepared. "I will get the information on the traps out of the other professors – and any tricks on getting through easily. It will take time, so that they are not suspicious, but we will get the stone." Severus thought swiftly. They would need to find all the Horcruxes before the gauntlet's riddles were solved or he would have to redo his own plans. That would be unfortunate, but he did have back-up plans – B, C, D, E … and if necessary F as well, though that was a rather desperate 'get out alive' plan.

"Professor Quirrell and I will find a way past the Cerebus – you work on the others." Voldemort ordered, and the two Professors parted ways.

Severus returned to the Great Hall to find an eager Ron, irritated Draco and indifferent Harry being awarded points for rescuing a triumphant looking Hermione Grange from a mountain troll. Minerva was smugly smiling at her lions and insisting they all come up to tea the next day. She was scheduling teas several times every evening – she had to include the other first years, to keep up appearances and some of the other Gryffindors who wished to speak with her. But she managed to get Harry there at least weekly, now 'to talk about his parents, etc.'

Albus looked satisfied with things and that relieved Severus … keeping Albus believing all was well with Albus' plans was imperative for now.

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November was passing swiftly, but Lucius reported that he and Narcissa had destroyed the diary – fiendfyre worked admirably. Narcissa had retrieved the cup and it was identified as having the same dark magic as the diary. It, too, burned quite nicely. They had heard further talk of Ravenclaw's diadem and the Slytherin necklace, reinforcing what he had heard from Albus. The ring Albus wished to go after must be the last piece as long as the snake remained as she was.

Severus wondered at times where Nagini was, but it didn't really matter, he thought. He had other worries. Ron Weasley assumed that he was now Harry's bestest ever friend and simply started behaving like he was. Hermione and Ron flanked him whenever they could, trying to edge Draco out, Hermione talking non-stop into Harry's ear. It was well into November, now and Severus was sure that either Draco or Harry was going to break and tell off the two of them.

Draco and Harry still managed to talk to Severus on their free Friday afternoons – mostly because they were right after potions and Severus simply kept them after class. Hermione would sniff and look at Professor Snape and Draco with suspicion. Ron merely glowered with anger … resentful that he could not keep Harry from them.

They had lunch together first those Fridays – this gave both Draco and Harry time to vent their deep frustration over not only Ron and Hermione, but Professor McGonagall as well. She felt there was now a chink in Harry's armor and pounded at it whenever she could. Her teas had become attempts at brainwashing sessions with the Malfoys and the Slytherins her targets. She left Severus alone at the present, but they all felt that once they'd pried Draco away from him, Severus would be next.

Draco cold hardly wait for the Yule holiday – less than a month away. The expectations that had been heaped on him – to be polite in the face of such scorn, disrespect and hostility from the Weasleys and a few others – it was almost unbearable at times. He fully expected to be compensated with a really fast broom for Christmas.

"Most of the Gryffindors are okay." Harry said at this latest Friday meeting. "Everyone but Ron and Hermione in our year like Draco. The other years don't pay that much attention to us, except for the twins." Harry smirked at that.

The twins had done their best to impress Harry with their pranks. Harry had let off a lot of anger with counterplots against them. When the twins 'got someone' he and Draco would help them with an even meaner revenge. At times he would hear about it ahead of time and they would booby trap the prank against them. He always felt better after the twins were well-hexed by their own pranks.

Severus and Draco smiled at that as well. Draco was often the target of the twins 'fun', though they had let up after their last spell had hexed them bald. Professor Flitwick had let them stay that was for two days before 'finding' the counter-spell. They would be more careful to find the cure themselves before they used hexes, he was sure.

"Quirrell has gotten his hands on a large stack of books about magical animals. He'll likely find the information he needs to get by Fluffy. I won't be able to hold him off a great deal longer after that unless I reveal his plans to Albus so that he'll move the stone … I'll do that if necessary, of course. Unfortunately he seems to think that Harry should rescue the stone – he's quite put out that Harry isn't responding to any hints dropped in front of him by Minerva, Ron or Hermione."

The boys nodded and snickered. It had been difficult to act as dense as a rock while Hermione was constantly on about the Cerebus she had 'stumbled on' was guarding something important. Minerva had let slip that Flamel was a friend of Albus' and was doing him some favor or other. And Ron harping about how it was likely that Draco and his family would do anything to bring back 'He who must be named'… and as Draco's godfather, Snape was not above suspicion. All three were all but dragging him to the third floor and shoving him down the trapdoor.

Harry smirked. His blanket response was "Surely the great wizard who even 'He who must not be named' feared did not need his help to keep safe whatever it is being guarded." It seemed to drive them absolutely batty.

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Hermione sat pouring over a book in the library, Ron sitting opposite pretending to study charms – but she could see the Quidditch magazine tucked inside it. How did anyone expect her to make headway on things with such an anchor around her neck. It was only two weeks now before the holidays and she was now making little headway on Harry.

For a time she thought she could sway him – after he'd helped rescue her he had tolerated her presence as well as Ron's a bit more. Their Head of House had arranged all those teas and managed to have many of them without Draco. Harry seemed oblivious to the tales of evil Slytherins and Malfoys of the past and Harry's own parents fight against the Dark Lord. Harry would just smile and sometimes counter with the fact that a Gryffindor had betrayed them. That always made McGonagall flush with humiliation.

Ron was not even as subtle as that … he outright called Professor Snape evil and Draco a Death Eater in training when Harry would laugh at Ron's speculations about 'the greasy git likely trying to steal … 'whatever is was' below the trapdoor.' Unfortunately that would make Harry's well hidden temper flare.

Hermione shuddered; Harry's temper was chilling at times. The last time Ron had insulted Snape Harry had turned pale in fury and returned fire with viciousness. "I'd rather hang around a 'greasy git' than a loudmouth who shows his stupidity with every breath he draws." Harry's eyes had narrowed with malice and the whole common room had held their breath waiting for what would come next. Harry could be quite inventive with insults – likely the result of 'hanging around' Snape. "If a zombie looking for brains to eat happened by, he'd walk right past you, wouldn't he?"

The common room had roared with laughter and Harry had gone upstairs with an air of triumph. Ron wasn't speaking to any of his roommates, now because they had all laughed. Harry didn't seem likely to ever apologize and make up with Ron. That was a week ago and Hermione was tired the standoff – since she was expected by their Head of House to stick by Ron and get them reconciled. A hopeless task, she knew.

At last Draco and Harry arrived, along with Dean and Seamus. Dean and Seamus sat next to Ron, Harry and Draco on the other side of them, away from Ron.

Hermione took out the pens she'd sent to her mother for and yelped in disgust. The ink had run out everywhere and the plastic looked like it was melting. There were titters of laughter from around the library when they saw what had happened.

Harry looked sympathetic, "Didn't you realize that pens from the muggle world won't work here – the magic destroys things that are so very … unnatural, like plastic. Besides, if you don't like dipping the quills in ink, never-out quills are just as good."

Hermione flushed with anger. "I don't understand why magic accepts some things from the muggle world and not others." She muttered. "The books just say that 'things that are artificial' tend to be 'undone'. But it doesn't explain why some things seem to be accepted and not others."

Cedric Diggory and Angelina Johnson were talking about Quidditch plays a bit farther down the table and Cedric answered. "It depends on how 'artificial' they are. Things made of that 'plastic' fall apart immediately … other things like something made of a mix of artificial material and, say, wool will just wear out quicker than normal. There are books that explain it in detail – for some reason they don't have them in the library here – but you can order them."

Draco and Harry looked at each other … those books were of paramount importance to muggleborns – books that explained why they could have some things and not others. There were probably books on how to shield things so they would work around magic … at least a little. More than one muggle – born likely ran back to wherever they came from because things weren't explained.

A pretty Ravenclaw girl with long curling hair sitting next to Percy leaned forward to talk. "I had trouble understanding all of it – and I'm a half-blood. Luckily my mother was able to find books on getting around a few things. She had adapted pretty well in using only magical things, but she wanted me to know how muggle stuff worked as well. Anything electronic – and wiring for electrical stuff has to be shielded with lead at least six inches thick all around – but it can be done. My mother just lined one entire room and all the muggle stuff is in it."

Penelope Clearwater … as her name turned out to be - had an entire list of books, she made copies of the list for everyone. She answered a lot of questions they all had while Draco grabbed his copy of the list and started scribbling off a letter to Lucius – these books might be invaluable for them as well.

Ron had been listened with a sulky look, but he narrowed his eyes at the letter Draco was writing. "Running to your father with information, little spy?"

Draco glared right back while those at the table listened. "Yes – I do have information for him. He'll be very interested in these books … we might be able to bring a few muggle comforts to Harry's Uncle and cousin with them. Not everything is about the Dark Lord you know."

Most at the table nodded in agreement and approval. Ron looked sulky again. Hermione picked up on the name, though.

"You shouldn't call him that … only Death Eaters call him that from what I've read. You should call him by his name … Voldemort." She frowned at the flinching and gasps from around the table, even Harry looked startled. "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." She added rather pompously.

"You don't know … do you?" Harry answered her with irritation. "You really think people call the Dark Lord by all those ridiculous names 'Lord Thingy' … 'He who must not be name' and all that rot because they are cowards or stupid or something?"

Hermione looked confused at this, but she was receiving a lot of glares from everyone within hearing of them and suddenly thought that maybe she hadn't looked deeply enough into things, perhaps. "The Headmaster calls him Lord Vo…" Hissing from everyone at the table cut her off.

"Of course he does – the Dark Lord fears him." Harry answered calmly. "The Dark Lord made his name 'taboo' … he cast a spell that made his name a locator … if you said his name it summoned either him or one of his followers and they would apparate to your side … and kill you or take you to him to be tortured and killed. The Headmaster knows he can say the name ... and they are unlikely to take up the challenge."

Hermione was stunned … why had no one said this? She sighed – another one of those things that everyone just 'knew' and didn't explain. Still, she felt foolish at not having asked about it before giving a lecture. "Sorry, I didn't know." She said in a small voice. She was relieved that most nodded in acceptance.

It was a few minutes before anyone thought to wonder why the Headmaster seemed to encourage muggleborns to say the Dark Lord's name … and never explained the terrible danger he was inspiring them to go into. Did he want them to die at the Dark Lord's hand?

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A/N – That's all for now. Spending a lot of time at festivals and the beach, so the updates are slower.