Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.


Book 1 – Part 9: Norbert

The moment Hermione and Neville got back, and they found a secluded place to talk, Ron and Harry told them what they had found that night in the library and what had happened with the creepy mirror.

Neville squeaked and Hermione gasped when Harry told them what he saw.

After that, Harry's friends were even more closer to him, afraid what he saw could have been some kind of bad omen, or worse.

In spite of this, the weeks that followed went by quickly, and they all worked diligently in improving their Occlumency. After Ron and Harry had skimmed through that book in the library, they were sure they were getting a handle on it.

Their studying not only included Occlumency and their classes, but dipped into more advanced magic, including some nice spells Hermione had found after borrowing a book from a third year. They figured that with Quirrell, they couldn't be too careful.

It had taken a bit of work, but they had gotten down a fair bit of the spells down, including Lumos, Stupefy (poor lake fish), and Accio.

The game with Ravenclaw, which had been refereed by Snape, had gone by very quickly. When they looked back to it, it was hardly significant when compared to everything else going on. The only memorable things concerning that day included Dumbledore coming to watch, Snape flinching as Harry shot by with inches to spare, and Harry diving after and catching the Snitch in record time.

One day, while sitting in the library, quietly practicing their Occlumency and doing homework, Hagrid went by.

"Hey, Hagird," Ron said, glancing at a book in the large man's hands, the title coming into view.

Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit.

"Oh, uh, hey," Hagrid said, attempting to hide the book. "What are yeh guys doin'?" he asked, trying to look innocent as he went to them.

Harry leaned forward and whispered, "practicing Occlumency."

"How's it goin'?" he asked, kneeling beside them.

"Pretty good, I've thought about trying Legilimency, you know, to make sure Ron and the others are getting it, but I don't think that's a good idea…" Harry trailed off.

"Prolly a good idea not to touch that stuff if you can help it, Harry," Hagrid said darkly.

Harry and the others nodded.

"Hagrid, do you think you should start practicing Occlumency? I mean, with Quirrell around and stuff—" Ron began, the thought suddenly coming to him.

"Nah, me being half giant and all, someone would have tuh really work at it ter get ter me mind," Hagrid said proudly.

Hermione looked back to the book in his hand by his side.

"What are you reading, Hagrid?" Hermione asked.

"Nothin'," Hagrid said quickly.

At that, they knew he was hiding something.

"Alright, if yuh must know…" Hagrid looked around, making sure no one was listening or nearby. "I have a dragon," he whispered happily.

"Hagrid, how did you get one?" Ron asked, his eyes wide.

"Come, we'll talk at my place, want ter show you him anyway," Hagrid said, as if he was a dad about to show off his first born.

- - -

"A dragon egg…" Ron whispered, staring at it as Hagrid removed it from the fire.

"Yes, isn't it wonderful?" Hagrid asked. "It should—"

He put it on the table, just as…

Crack

"Hatch soon…"

"Oh, wow," Ron whispered, "I know what that is, it's a Norwegian Ridgeback."

The little dragon shook himself from his shell, and turned to Hagrid.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid murmured. "Bless him, he knows his mommy!"

Hagrid took a small shell off of the little dragon's head.

"Hagrid, where did you get him?"

"I won him, off of a stranger in the pub," he said, nonchalantly. "He was an odd fellow, but nice enough, he kept buyin' me drinks."

"So, he just had a dragon egg in his pocket?" Hermione asked, skeptically. Red flags were going up for her all over the place.

"Well, he said he needed to get somethin' off his hands, but wanted to make sure it would go ter someone who could handle it. I asked him what it was, and he told me. Well, I've always wanted a dragon, so I told him I watched after Fluffy, so a dragon would be no problem. And I told him, 'the trick with any beast, is to know how to calm him'," Hagrid said proudly.

"Did he ask how to calm Fluffy?" Harry asked, dreading the possible answer.

That dog was guarding that stone for goodness sake!

"Well yes, who wouldn't? But I told him, 'sorry, can't tell you. Hogwarts' secret.' Then I joked, 'if I told yeh, I'd have to kill yuh.' He left soon after that, and gave me the egg. You can never be too careful, especially after everythin's that's been happenin', eh, Harry?"

Harry and his friends gave a silent sigh of relief.

Hermione focused back onto the dragon.

"Uh, Hagrid, how fast do these types of dragons grow?" Hermione asked, already foreseeing possible problems.

Small wooden house, fast growing fire breathing dragon, and well meaning man who didn't understand the danger….bad combination.

"Well, that's why I've got these books, they'll tell me everything I need ter know," he said, sounding confident.

Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione looked uneasily at each other.

"Uh, what are you going to call him?" Neville asked, deciding one of them should say something, even though his voice was shaky and betrayed their nervous feelings.

"Norbert," he declared. At that, Norbert raised his head, as if proud of his newly christened name.

"Well, I shouldn't be keeping yuh here late, off yer lot go, wouldn't want yuh ter get into trouble," he said, giving a pat on Norbert's head.

They bid him an early good night, and were off, catching each other's eyes, knowing Norbert could not stay, no matter how much Hagrid wanted him to.

- - -

The weeks that followed included more homework, all of the teachers getting them ready for the end of year exams.

Quirrell was as odd as ever, and Harry could have sworn he had caught a few glares from the smelly garlicky man; and a few times in class, he had felt someone tapping his mind, but he had his shields up, and they weren't going to give.

He had been tempted to shoot out that Kadavra memory again, but didn't want to risk lowering his shields, not even for a moment.

Draco and his friends were civil with him, and even decreased their bullying activities, at least when he was around. Harry might go as far to say Draco was becoming a friendly acquaintance, but to call him 'friend' at this point would be foolish, and to trust him would be dangerous. He was still the son of a Death Eater.

Harry didn't know what it would take for Draco to become a friend, but it would have to go beyond just this current respect they had formed, it would have to include something called loyalty.

The Occlumency lessons continued, but they were all sure they had it down pretty well, or at least as well as they could get with the minimum instruction they were able to receive.

Hermione had been unable to get anything on Occlumency during the break. When she and her family went to Diagon Alley, she had received a few odd looks for looking at the books, and decided then was not a good time to buy them. That, and she didn't want to have to explain to her parents why she wanted to purchase books well beyond the material covered at Hogwarts.

Harry's dreams had calmed a bit, but still made themselves known on occasion. This had only happened a few times, Ron and the others being good about it, waking him up, making sure all was well, and going back to sleep.

Everyone's main concerns now were the upcoming finals, and Harry and his friends' concerns also included Norbert.

He was growing at least an inch a day, and Hagrid was either oblivious or in denial about the imminent outcome.

"Hagrid, just let him go, set him free," Harry said one day, seeing the dragon beside Fang chowing down on a slab of meat.

"I can't, he's too little. He'd die," Hagrid said.

"Hagrid, he can't stay here," Hermione said, stepping forward.

"I—I know, but I can't jus' dump him, I can't."

"If only we knew someone who could take him," Neville said absently.

Harry turned to Neville, thinking, before suddenly facing to Ron.

"Charlie!" he said.

Ron was at first clueless, but then it dawned.

"My brother is in Romania!" Ron shouted.

"Studying dragons," Harry said, a grin growing on his face.

It didn't take long to break Hagrid down into agreeing to send Norbert to the caring hands of Charlie. Soon after, they wrote a letter to Charlie, hoping they wouldn't have to wait long for a reply.

A week trudged by until they finally received a letter back, an ecstatic Charlie very happy to take the illegal dragon off of Hagrid's hands. The letter held all of what they would need to do and when, for friends of his would be dropping by the following week to pick Norbert up, all Harry and his friends had to do was deliver the valuable package.

"Alright, with the invisibility cloak, two of us can go to take Norbert," Harry said, the four of them secretly having gathered to plan this.

"I think I'm out, I'm physically not that strong," Hermione muttered, disappointed.

"Hmm, yeah, I guess you're right," Harry apologetically agreed with her.

"I don't think I should, Norbert seems to like me too much…" Ron said, lifting up his slightly swollen hand.

"Yeah, that would not be good, we deliver the dragon who ate Charlie's brother to Charlie's friends," Harry stated. "Well, then I suppose it's me and you, Neville."

"Me?" he asked, clearly not sure or confident.

"Yeah, look at you, you could probably carry the crate all by yourself, I'm pretty much only there for moral support," Harry said encouragingly.

"We-well, if you're sure, Harry," he said.

"I am," he said, and that settled it.

If they hadn't been in such a hurry, they might have felt obliged to allow Hagrid a longer goodbye, but time was of the essence, and they couldn't risk missing Charlie's friends. Neville definitely proved Harry's statement earlier about strength. Harry barely had to exert himself to help carry the crate up the stairs while holding the cloak over them.

Finally, they got to the top, finding Charlie's friends waiting for them.

"Harry, great to finally meet you," one of them said, the others behind him getting Norbert situated for flight.

"Hello," Harry said, Neville standing shyly behind him.

"Thanks for getting the dragon to us," the young man said.

"Oh, Neville did most of the work, if it weren't for him, I doubt the crate would have made it up here so quickly," Harry said, beckoning Neville forward.

"Neville Longbottom?" he asked, taking hold of his hand for a shake.

"Yes, sir," Neville said.

"Goodness, man, I'm only a few years out of Hogwarts, no need to be formal," he said playfully. "Well, best be off, nice meeting you both," he said, turning to his friends who were ready.

Harry and Neville left, getting under the cloak again to head back to the dormitories.

On their way back, they were thankful they had the cloak with them. Filch was on patrol, as was Mrs. Norris. If it hadn't been for Harry and Neville's heightened awareness and caution, they might have gotten caught.

When they finally were in the safety of Gryffindor tower, they breathed a sigh of relief, Hermione and Ron impatiently waiting for them.

"So? How'd it go?" Ron asked.

"Where there any problems?" Hermione asked.

"It went well, glad I have this cloak," Harry said.

"We would have gotten caught without it," Neville admitted.

"Filch?" Ron asked, slightly ominously.

"Yeah, and his cat," Harry said.

"Does that man ever sleep?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, have you seen that man? I would bet he doesn't sleep or bathe," Ron stated.

"That was a little harsh," Hermione replied, though no hostility present.

"But true," he continued.

Neville and Harry managed not to laugh, before they all realized the time and headed to bed.

- - -

The end of year exams came faster than what they had wanted, but they were here, and they could do nothing else about them but to study and hope it would be enough.

Neville was stressing about the potions final, and even with the guidance of Hermione and Harry, he was sure he was doomed.

"Well, just take comfort in the fact that everyone else feels this way as well," Ron told him.

"Still doesn't make me feel any better," Neville muttered.

"Hey, at least you know you're going to ace one exam, Neville," Harry said. "Herbology."

"Thanks," Neville said.

They were reviewing for the History exam, which Harry was dreading; he had seen enough of those lessons for a life time…

Well, at least I know my history…he told himself as he closed his history book and went onto studying Charms.

"Well, we either know it or we don't at this point," Ron said finally, hitting his head against the cover of the Transfigurations book.

"Giving yourself a concussion will not get you excused from your finals, Ron," Hermione said.

"What if I hit my head so hard it causes memory loss?" Ron asked.

"They might think about giving you more time to study," she replied.

Ron rolled his eyes, before they got up to march pathetically to their first exam.

- - -

The tests were going reasonably well, Hermione was of course fretting over having possibly missed one of the problems, while the others were just glad it was over.

"Your scar hurting again?" Ron asked quietly.

"Yeah, and it's really weird, I could almost swear Quirrell is the reason. I think it's warning me or something," he said, trying to rub the irritation away.

Harry was dreading the test in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He still could not understand why Dumbledore allowed the man to continue to teach even though he clearly wanted Harry dead. Hopefully nothing happened to make Dumbledore regret his decision.

Harry and the others went into the smelly classroom to take the test. The moment Harry entered the room he felt his scar prickle with something more than just pain or irritation. He could feel anxiousness, eagerness, and excitement coming from it.

This is beyond weird, why can't I just be normal for one hour, especially during a test? Harry asked himself as he took his seat, the others sitting as well.

He looked up at Quirrell, who was looking as innocent and dorky as ever. Harry just wanted to be sick. The man's disguise was a good one, that was for sure.

Harry met his gaze, and for an instant it was just like the time after he had taken out the Troll mixed with the time on that broom.

The red stone.

It quickly shifted to something else entirely, Harry's hand grasping on the edge of the desk as he rose his mental shields well beyond the point necessary, but better safe than sorry.

The dark forest was before him, the unicorn coming into view once again…

RRRRAAAHHHHRRRR!

Harry nearly fe1l out of his seat as the being he was seeing through the eyes of rushed and attacked the unicorn.

"Whoa, Harry, this test isn't going to be that bad," Ron said, trying to make it seem like Harry was just overreacting instead of having some kind of attack, which Ron was certain he was having.

Harry looked at Ron and the others; they knew something had just happened.

"You're right, let's just get this test over with," Harry said, grabbing his quill and beginning his test that was already laid out on the desk before him.

Harry and the others had never finished a test so quickly, not that they just put in nonsense as their answers; they just hurried through and put down their responses in record time. It was also nice that they knew the material well, no thanks to Quirrell, but thanks to their own instruction and studying.

When they got out of the class and entered breathable air once again, they gathered at the side of a corridor well beyond the Defense Against the Dark Arts class and Quirrell.

"What happened in there, Harry?" Ron asked, Harry's back to the people walking past in the hall.

"Let's talk about this later, somewhere else," Hermione said wisely, since there were people about, and they needed to get ready for the Potions test that was next.

"I'll tell you guys after Potions," Harry said, wishing he could share it with them then, but knowing they couldn't risk Quirrell overhearing, even though he was still in that classroom.

"Potions is next, huh?" Neville asked, changing the subject and losing pigment at the same time.

"I'm just glad Defense Against the Dark Arts is over," Harry said.

"So am I, I think that was the most boring test I have ever taken," Hermione said.

"Yeah, and was it just me, or was over half of the stuff that test covered completely pointless?" Ron asked.

"Yeah. That's one thing I'm glad about Potions," Harry said, not knowing a particular set of footsteps were approaching as he continued. "I mean, Professor Snape might be hard, and I swear he purposely picks on me sometimes, but at least we learn something important in his class; though, I wish he would cover certain things a little more in detail. But you know what? Sometimes I wonder what Defense Against the Dark Arts would be like if Professor Snape taught it. He looks like one who would know those types of things. I think, no, I know, if I had a choice between Professor Severely-Strict Snape or that pathetic disguise of a man who should go by 'Garlic Head' instead of 'Professor', I'd pick Professor SS Snape every time—"

Harry stopped his rant suddenly, seeing the faces of his friends.

Can't be Garlic Head…Harry thought.

"Good afternoon," 'SS Snape' said smoothly.

Harry turned slowly, and looked up to the darkly cloaked man, meeting his even darker eyes.

"Hello, sir," Harry said, hoping his voice wasn't shaking too much.

"'Professor SS Snape'? Glad my efforts to endeavor in being such a professor has been reached," he stated, his face completely neutral, his voice emotionless.

Well, at least he hasn't taken any points so far, Harry thought.

Snape came closer, secretly making sure no one was being too curious nearby as his eyes narrowed. Neville gulped.

"Potter, I think you and your friends would be wise to tread a great deal more cautiously concerning 'Garlic Head'. As you had said, that is just a disguise; his real nature has yet to be revealed. Five points from Gryffindor for carelessness. One point gained for seeing beyond an outward appearance," he said, before turning and going on his way to prepare the dungeon for their Potions exam.

They watched him leave, not daring to say a word until he was out of sight.

"Harry, you are the luckiest and the most unluckiest guy I have ever known," Ron said.

"Has Snape ever given points?" Hermione asked, still staring off where she had last seen Snape.

"No, I don't think so," Harry said, thinking. "At least not to non-Slytherins."

"I think we should listen to his advice…" Neville muttered, looking behind them to make sure Garlic Head wasn't near before continuing. "After what he said, I think Quirrell is a lot more dangerous than what any of us had initially thought."

"Neville, after what I saw today, I think you're right," Harry said.

- - -

The Potions final went by rather well, and even Neville was confident he didn't fail.

Snape had been his normal Severely-Strict self as they took their test, but Harry could swear that the hostility that usually immersed the room when Snape entered had faded a noticeable amount, which helped them in taking their tests.

Draco and Harry had exchanged their subtle nods, respectfully regarding each other as they started their tests.

After leaving the dungeons, and going to the Gryffindor Tower, Harry and the others found a secluded spot to talk, and due to the end of year exams, most people were elsewhere studying for their tests.

"Okay, what happened earlier, Harry?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, I saw a red stone, and, I think Quirrell attacking a unicorn," Harry fumbled out. He had been holding in these two things for over three hours.

"A stone, as in the stone?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded. "He wants it, really bad," Harry said.

"And you saw him attacking a unicorn? Does that mean he wants to or what?" Hermione asked.

"I've seen the dark forest and unicorn from him before. I think he either has or really wants to," Harry said. "He's a dangerous man."

"It's a good thing he didn't overhear that garlic thing earlier then, huh?" Ron said.

Harry shrugged. "I knew he wasn't anywhere near us. My scar would have been tingling like mad if he was close."

"It's that bad now?" Hermione asked. "You can feel if he's close?"

Harry nodded, unconsciously placing two fingers over his scar.

"Is it hurting now?" Neville asked, quickly looking around them and sniffing the air for any hint of garlic.

"Yeah, I think he's up to something," Harry said, trying to rub out the unnerving feeling in his scar.

- - -

A/N: Sorry it has taken me a little longer than I had expected to post this part, real life has popped up recently, but the next part is in its final stages and should be up within the next week.

If any of you have questions (such as character developement or why Potter is the way he is), feel free to ask.

As for critism, I welcome it, as long as it has useful statements/opinions said in a tactful way with what I can do to improve my writing or my story. It's your choice to read or not, and if you can't say something nice (or useful) don't say anything at all. Okay, with that said, if any of you have any suggestions or anything that could truly benefit my story, hopefully I haven't scared you off because that was not my intention.

It has been brought to my attention (which I am thankful for, I just wish I would have been told in a different manner) that the Longbottoms were tortured after the fall of Voldemort. I don't know how I spaced that, but since this is my story, I am making that one of the differences between this universe and the original.

Again, for those of you who review (kindly and honestly), -thanks- each of you help me improve and type faster. :)

Next part: Confrontation