A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any character thereof. Only the story line is mine so please don't sue! I don't own anything!

Chapter 26

Thursday afternoon found Severus returning from taking one of his 4th year Slytherin's to the hospital wing after a cauldron fell on his head (assisted by one of the Gryffindor's from the class). As he passed through the outdoor corridor, he saw Madam Hooch leading Longbottom away from a bunch of first years that she was giving flying lessons to.

"Boy's a menace in other classes as well," muttered Severus.

As he continued back to his classroom, he saw Malfoy and Potter arguing. He then saw Malfoy hop on the broom. That's all Draco needed was to get expelled when Hooch returned, which is what would happen if she came back and found him airborne. Lucius would kill both of them.

The next thing he saw was Potter on a broom. He looked like he had been flying for years, which he shouldn't have been considering he was raised by muggles.

"Fantastic," he muttered, "a mini James 'Bloody' Potter gracing us with his flying abilities." Severus was sure that next year he would try out for the Gryffindor team just to show off.

He watched for another minute. Draco threw something and watched as he landed. Potter on the other hand flew to catch whatever Draco had thrown.

He saw that the boy was going to hit the castle wall. He already had his wand raised to soften the blow but instead of casting a spell, he gasped in disbelief when he flipped - twice - to catch it and landed smoothly.

Tucking his wand away, he started to stalk out there to give the boy a piece of his mind and deduct a whole slew of points when he saw McGonagall approaching them, and she looked livid.

He stole back to the shadows as Potter was led away and smirked.

He then scowled as he realized his Potions classroom was probably in shambles now and stalked off.

During dinner, Severus watched as Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sauntered over to the Gryffindor table to pester Potter and Wesley.

His years as a spy had proved useful if anything because it had let him become a semi-decent lip reader.

So he watched as Malfoy challenged Potter to a duel with - dear Merlin - Crabbe as his second.

It was also during dinner that Severus heard a curious rumor among the staff and the twinkle that Albus currently had in his eye was full of mischief and pride. That could not be good.

So he decided to confront McGonagall.

As he swooped up to her office after dinner, he came upon Malfoy and Filch whispering and smirked. 'How very Slytherin of you Mr. Malfoy,' thought Severus.

He strode straight into the office and slammed the door shut. She didn't startle. She never did, which annoyed him. He was itching to catch her unaware one day to see if it could be done.

"Please tell me that you just made up those rumors I heard during dinner about Potter and your Quidditch team? First years are not supposed to make the team!"

"Hmm ... I actually hadn't meant for that to reach your ears ... but the rumors are true. The boy is a natural. We might actually give you a run for your money this year, Merlin knows you've made off with mine the past few. In regards to first years not making the house teams, it's because most first years are not very good flyers. There isn't a rule that says a first year can't participate."

Severus scowled. "Why on earth did you reward his behavior this afternoon. All your doing is telling him that rules are beyond him and inflating his already swelled head." Severus huffed at her.

She narrowed her eyes. "If you saw his behavior, I'm surprised that you did not punish him yourself."

"I was well on my way to when I saw you. I assumed that you would punish him appropriately enough. Obviously I was wrong in that regard. How do you know that the boy won't simply fall off of the broom once he's in the air and that today wasn't a fluke?"

"Today was his first time ever on a broom and he pulled off a move that Charlie Weasley couldn't have performed unharmed, yet there wasn't a scratch on him. Like I said, he's a natural."

He scowled as he stormed from her office.

Severus had an internal debate with himself for 30 minutes. He eventually found himself stalking toward Minervas' quarters with a bag full of money. He pounded on the portrait (who took major offense) and when she opened the door he thrust the bag at her then stalked back to his own sanctuary where he could brood over what he had just done.

Minerva turned and closed the door. She was slightly startled by Severus' behavior.

Albus was currently there having tea with her.

"What's that?" he inquired as she sat down in a chair opposite him.

"I'm not sure. Severus all but threw it at me and stormed away." When she opened the pouch, she saw that it was money. She also found a note.

Minerva,

After much thought, I've decided that you should use this money to buy Potter a decent broom. I believe the Nimbus 2000 is the latest model. When I win your money this year, I'd hate to hear you moping about saying that you only lost because your seeker had a pitiful broom, which is what all of the school brooms are - pitiful.

I wish to remain anonymous. Make him think that either you or Albus got it for him. And do not tell Albus about this either.

All the damn twinkling will drive me insane.

S. Snape

"Well, what is it?"

She glanced up and saw that he was indeed extremely curious. "Oh, nothing Albus. Severus is just paying me some money that I won from a bet a few weeks ago. Excuse me for a moment."

She then sent off for the broom along with two notes. One note told the store what she wanted and another was to be sent with the broom itself when it was delivered.

The next morning, Severus watched as Draco blatantly stared in disbelief that Potter and Weasley were still there. It seems that they either did not go or somehow escaped the wrath of Filch.

He was surprised (along with Potter it seemed) when the broom was delivered so quickly. Potter opened the note first then glanced between Minerva and Albus and beamed an award winning smile.

Potions class found the brat turning in his homework and a near perfect potion again. After assigning new homework, everyone fled.

On Sunday, he was surprised to see Potter in the library alone again. He was beginning to wonder about the boy. James sure never lived in the library. Lily did, but not James. He quickly cast a disillusion charm on himself as he watched the boy in fascination.

Severus could tell that he was having issues with his transfiguration work again. He then felt chills go up his spine when he saw Potters wand drop into his hand and stare directly at him.

After a minute or two, the boy when back to work.

On his way out of the library, Severus saw Quirrell on the opposite side in the section that dealt with animals. There was something not right about that man, so he decided to stay and keep a watch on Potter while under the charm so that he could continue to be unobserved. As Potter worked, he kept one eye on Quirrell making sure that he didn't do anything.

Eventually, the boy finished his homework.

As Potter started to walk away, Severus was surprised to see the boy turn back and send a thoughtful look straight at him.

Un-nerved, Severus headed back to his quarters trying to figure out how Potter knew he was there - twice - and how he knew where he was both times.

Wednesday was the next encounter with the boy who lived. He had entered the study hall that he was proctoring. He noticed the boy looked tired.

On Saturday, he met with his first years again. They seemed to be doing pretty good in their classes so far. No one seemed to be suffering from homesickness. That actually surprised him, because there is normally at least one per year.

Sunday was the weekly staff meeting. As it broke up, Severus started to leave when he heard Flitwick and McGonagall chatting. Catching the Headmaster's eye, they both edged their way to them to eaves drop while having a quiet conversation of their own.

"The entire floor Minerva! Then he told me that he barely put any power behind it, or at least as far as he was concerned!"

"Oh, with that and what I saw, we can definitely expect great things from him."

Flitwick nodded his head in agreement then narrowed his eyes once he realized that they were being listened to. Minerva turned and saw the two trying to look as inconspicuous as possible and laughed as both her and the tiny charms professor left the room.

Severus and Albus just stared at them.

Albus looked thoughtful. Severus glared at him and realized that he wasn't going to speak any time soon, so he went to his office to finish grading his papers.

On Thursday, he found Quirrell heading towards the third floor again. However, once he saw Severus, he headed in a different direction.

"This potion is extremely volatile and is normally found on your N.E.W.T.S." He flicked his wand at the board. "Directions." He then flicked it at the cupboard. "Ingredients. Begin."

He watched as the 7th years began their work. Thankfully nothing exploded or melted.

He didn't have the same luck during his first year Gryffindor / Slytherin class. He had just watched Potter bring a perfectly brewed potion to his desk when Longbottom's cauldron melted. He was slightly impressed with Potter's actions of getting everyone in harms way away, but he was still annoyed that he was doing so well in his class. After all, he wasn't supposed to.

So he did the only thing that he could do. He deducted points and gave him a zero for the day. He was amused by the glares that the Gryffindor side of the room sent Potter when he had started to talk back. Evidently they didn't want any more points deducted.

By mid-October, Severus was having to fight for the Quidditch pitch between the other 3 houses, but Gryffindor seemed to hog it the most. He was quite pleased with his team this year and he assumed that the reason the Gryffindor's were hogging the pitch was that they were trying to get in shape because they were so bad.

Every time that Severus had tried to sneak down to watch them practice, he was caught by Albus, which got on his nerves. He had a suspicion that Minerva had told Albus to keep him away from the field during those times.

As Halloween approached, he started sinking into a depression as he normally did. There were days that he just wanted to go straight to Azkaban to kill Black for betraying Lily.

From a distance, Albus watched. He knew there was nothing that he could do to cheer him up. Last Halloween Severus had actually hexed the Headmaster's robes so that they itched dreadfully because he had tried to pull him from the depression. He hoped that this year would be better.

He hated seeing the man that he had come to love as a son like this.

A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews so far! They encourage me! (Grin)

A/N: This story will stick mostly to canon of the Sorcerer's Stone book, and some quotes are from the book directly. However, every once in a while, a scene or two from the movie may sneak in. (All that of course aside from the fact that a lot of scenes from my own mind are sneaking in as well - evil cackle!)

A/N: Some of what's written in the Sorcerer's Stone will change to suit my whims for my own story! Don't hate me! (Evil smirk!)