The news that Snape was refereeing the match could only make Harry nervous. Not only was Snape almost certainly going to be extremely biased against Gryffindor but also Harry couldn't get rid of the nagging suspicion that Snape was trying to kill him, no matter how ridiculous it seemed. However, he was determined to play, not only because he was determined to show all the Slytherins he wasn't scared of Snape and help win the House Championship, but he also hadn't forgotten his promise to get Malfoy back on behalf of Neville. Winning at Quidditch would go some way to fulfilling that promise. The idea that Snape was trying to kill him seemed to him more and more ridiculous in his Potions classes. His Potions classes weren't his favourite lesson but Snape seemed to have leant to live with whatever grudge he held. Harry's performance in Potions had improved without Snape forever breathing down his neck, which made them both happier.

Snape shifted uncomfortably. He hated Quidditch and usually avoided matches, even when Slytherin played. However, he had to make sure Quirrell didn't make another attempt on Potter's life since he was the only one, apart from Dumbledore, who had realised the incident with Potter's broom was Quirrell's doing. Although, he thought bitterly, since Dumbledore had come to the match himself, Quirrell didn't have a chance to hurt Potter. The only thing he was doing here was making himself even more unpopular. Not that he cared about popularity, he had never cared about popularity, or at least, he had taught himself not to care.

Snape relieved some of his tension by doing what everybody expected him to do and favouring Hufflepuff. He could practically feel the hatred coming off the Gryffindors in waves, and from the Ravenclaws, and even the Hufflepuffs. Snape snorted, it was just like the Badgers to believe that a victory was only a victory if it was a fair victory. Couldn't they at least be grateful for the help he was giving them?

In retrospect he had to admit that refereeing like he did was not the wisest thing he could've done if he wanted to prove to people that he was more than a bad tempered, biased, ball of spite, but it made him feel better.

Then Harry Potter, who had been circling above the game, suddenly went into a spectacular dive which drew gasps and cheers from the crowd. Snape didn't know whether he wanted Potter to catch the Snitch or not. On the one hand he wanted Gryffindor to lose on basic principle, on the other, if Potter caught the Snitch now then the torture would soon be over. Potter sped past him, missing him by inches, which Snape had to concede, after a moments anger, was probably not deliberate. Then Potter rose, the struggling Snitch grasped in his hand as he basked in the cheers and adulation of the crowd and the rest of the team gathered around him. Snape sighed. At least it was over now.

Snape strode from the pitch with one thought forming clearly in his mind. He needed to have another 'little chat' with Quirrell. While he didn't even begin to imagine that he could scare a confession out of Quirrell since, even if Quirrell was serving the Dark Lord out of loyalty rather than fear, he would still be petrified of the Dark Lord. Even the insanely devoted lunatics like Bellatrix Lestrange were afraid of him. Snape knew that the Dark Lord was infinitely more terrifying than he was. No, the reason for the 'little chats' was to keep Quirrell distracted and less likely to attempt to steal the Stone whilst Dumbledore worked to deal with Quirrell once and for all. Snape didn't know why Dumbledore couldn't just inform the Ministry and have Quirrell thrown in Azkaban and Dumbledore had refused to tell him when he asked, but he still obeyed Dumbledore's orders.

What Snape didn't know was that Harry Potter overheard his 'little chat' with Quirrell and drew completely the wrong conclusions. Just as Dumbledore had planned, though, of course, neither of them knew that.

Quite apart from worrying whether Snape was going to steal the Philosopher's Stone their end of year exams were approaching. Although Harry and Ron were insistent that ten weeks was ages away and there was no point getting worked up about them yet, Hermione was still nagging them to revise. Remus had also sent a note reminding Harry to revise, although Sirius had also sent one telling Harry that if he was anything like his dad, and he was, he would breeze through the exams without any problems. Not surprisingly, Harry decided to take Sirius' advice. Unfortunately, the teachers seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione and Remus. They piled so much work on them that they barely had any time to spare, let alone contemplate the safety of the Philosopher's Stone. Fortunately, it seemed to still be safe and Fluffy was still growling happily every time they put their ears to the door on the third floor corridor.

"I'll never remember all this," Ron burst out one afternoon, throwing down his quill. Hermione drew a breath, presumably to tell Ron exactly how to revise in order to remember 'all this', but Harry shot her a warning look. The last thing Ron needed was a lecture from Hermione, no matter how well intentioned it was. He was distracted by the sight of Hagrid looking completely out of place in his moleskin coat, never mind the fact that Hagrid wasn't much of a reader.

"Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?"

"Jus' lookin'," he replied in a shifty voice that got their attention at once. "An' what are you lot up ter?" He looked suddenly suspicious. "Yer not still on abou' Flamel are yer?"

"Oh no," said Ron loftily, "we found out who he is ages ago. And we found out what the dog's guarding, it's the Phil-"

"Shhhh!" Hagrid gave a panicked look around the empty library, then sighed with relief. "Don' go shoutin' about it, what's the matter wi' yeh?"

"We wanted to ask you a few things, as a matter of fact," said Harry, "about-"

"SHHHHHH!" said Hagrid again. "Listen – come and see me later. I'm not promisin' I'll tell yeh anythin' mind, but yeh can't go shoutin' abou' it here. Students aren' s'pposed ter know. They'll think I've told yeh," and with that he shuffled off, muttering to himself frantically.

Harry was just staring thoughtfully after Hagrid, wondering what exactly what he was doing in the library when something much more interesting came into view. Malfoy. Harry grinned and nudged Ron and Hermione. Ron grinned back, but Hermione, who had given up trying to convince Harry not to try and get Malfoy back, just sighed and hissed, "Its Petrificus Totalus remember. I suppose it would be useless to try and convince you not to do this?"

"Now you're getting it," he whispered back and pointed his wand at Malfoy, "Petrificus Totalus." Malfoy's legs and arms snapped together and he fell flat on his back.

When they were far enough away Hermione rounded on Harry, "What if he's stuck like that for ages and he misses classes?"

"He's in the middle of the corridor, Hermione," Harry replied, "somebody's probably already found him by now. Besides, I did it for Neville, remember? He deserves to be scared a little. C'mon, let's go to the kitchen, I could do with some food before we go and see Hagrid." Hermione rolled her eyes, but said nothing and followed Harry to the kitchen. Even Hermione had to admit that she wasn't nearly as strict about breaking rules now she was friends with Harry and Ron.

"Y'know, the people you live with, whoever they are, they're really cool telling you where the kitchen is and everything," said Ron, slightly envious,

"Yeah, they are," Harry agreed happily.

Hagrid sat fidgeting in his overheated hut. Now, as well as worrying about anybody finding out about his illegal dragon, he had to worry that his three favourite kids knew too much and that people would think he told them. Hagrid heard a knock at the door and jumped, "Who is it?" he called, trying to keep the quaver out of is voice and failing.

"It's us Hagrid. Harry, Ron and Hermione," came the slightly confused voice of Harry, "can you let us in?" Hagrid opened the door and ushered them in.

"So, yeh wanted to ask me somethin'?"

"Yes," replied Harry and Hagrid was worried it had something to do with the Stone. He was right. "We were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Stone apart from Fluffy." Hagrid had to admire their sheer cheek. It was one thing to go sneaking around trying to find things out, but to just come out and ask about things they knew they weren't supposed to know about.

"O' course I can't. Number one, I don' know meself. Number two yeh know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if I could. That Stone's here fer a good reason. It was almost stolen outta Gringotts – I s'ppose you worked that out an' all. Beats me how yeh even know abou' Fluffy."

"We took a wrong turning when we were running from Filch once," Harry told him, completely unashamed. Hermione shot Harry an annoyed look then turned on Hagrid.

"Oh, come one, Hagrid, you know everything that goes on around here. We were only wondering who had done the guarding really. We wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you." Hagrid felt a warm feeling flow through him. He was one of the people Dumbledore trusted the most, despite him being part giant and even after he'd been expelled. He looked at the three kids in front of him, all looking so hopeful. What harm could there be in telling them? It wasn't like they could do anything about it.

"Well, I don' s'ppose it could hurt to tell yeh that…" And so he told them almost everything he knew. It was only after they were gone that Hagrid realised he had been completely and utterly had.

Malfoy was feeling supremely smug. He had just overheard Potter, Weasley and Granger talking about the oaf Hagrid. Hagrid had, somehow, got himself an illegal dragon egg and, being the complete and utter maniac he was, he was trying to raise the fire-breathing monster. In a wooden hut. Malfoy allowed himself a small smirk; this was the perfect way to strike a blow to the idiotic Gryffindor trio and this time he would not fail.

Dear Canis and Moony,

Hagrid has gone insane and is trying to raise a dragon (which is, in case you didn't know, illegal) in his wooden hut. I know Hagrid has a monster fixation but this time he's really flipped, he's treating a bloodthirsty monster like a cute little kitten. The dragon, by the way, is called Norbert. Oh, and we think Malfoy knows about the dragon but Hagrid still refuses to get rid of it.

Please help.

Harry

Dear Harry,

Firstly DON'T PANIC. Secondly you need to, of course, convince Hagrid to get rid of Norbert. We're not sure how you're going to do that (of course, if you don't manage that you'll have to kidnap him and set him free into the Forest). Thirdly (assuming you don't turn Norbert free into the Forest) you need to find someone who will take an illegal dragon. If we remember right, one of the Weasley brothers works with dragons, so you might try there.

Good luck.

Canis and Moony

Unfortunately Hagrid refused to part with Norbert, despite Harry telling him that Malfoy knew about the dragon and could go to Dumbledore at any time. Harry decided that they had no choice. They had to kidnap Norbert before Hagrid got into trouble and if they made Malfoy look stupid in the process then it was all the better for them.

Hermione had found and performed a charm that made sure they made almost no noise when they walked. Harry, obviously, had the Cloak and was in charge of the expedition. Ron went to Fred and George for advice, which they happily gave, pleased that their little brother might yet turn out a great troublemaker. And so, with everything prepared, they set off at midnight to do possibly the stupidest and most dangerous thing they'd done yet. They were going to kidnap a dragon.

A/N Just a little note, the reason I didn't have Hermione start up S.P.E.W in her first year, after Harry had shown her the kitchen, is that Hermione has no reason to believe that there is anything wrong with the way house-elves are treated since they're all insanely happy to be working and Hermione has no reason to ask about pay and holidays and things.

Also, I'm going on holiday for two and a bit weeks without internet, so I won't be able to update until I get back. Sorry.