Chapter 31

Once the new term started, Harry found himself busy once again. Wood started back up to 5 practices a week. Harry was practically living in study hall to get what work he could done before practice as he was exhausted after them.

Ron and Hermione, meanwhile, kept searching the library for Flamel.

One evening towards the end of January found Harry working on his astronomy homework while Ron and Hermione played chess when Neville hopped into the room, having been cursed by Malfoy.

It was then, thanks to a chocolate frog card, that the trio found Nicolas Flamel and figured out what the three headed dog was guarding.

As the match loomed closer that Severus was supposed to referee for, he became a lot more irritable. As a result, Longbottom blew up twice as many cauldrons.

Every once in a while Potter would be about to turn in a near perfect potion when one of his Slytherins' would sabotage it. It was partially amusing to see Potter's face afterwards.

The day of the match finally arrived mid-February. Severus woke up with a slight headache.

"Not a good start," he grumbled to himself.

Once the game started he awarded Hufflepuff a couple of penalties simply because he could. 'May as well take advantage of the situation,' he thought as he smirked.

Five minutes into the game saw a red blur fly past him, inches away from his body. Severus was almost unseated. Before he had a chance to figure out what had happened, he saw Potter holding up the snitch.

Scowling and sending Potter his best death glare, he landed and headed for the castle.

On the way back in, he saw Quirrell lurking about.

"Quirrell, meet me in the forest near Hagrid's hut in 45 minutes."

Severus hung in the shadows as he stalked towards the Forbidden Forest. Making his way into the trees, he saw Quirrell waiting for him.

"Why d-did you w-w-want t-to meet h-here of all p-places Severus?"

"Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," said Snape, his voice icy. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone, after all."

"D-Don't k-know why y-you'd t-think I w-was interested in it any w-way."

Severus raised a brow. "Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"

"B-b-but Severus, I -"

"You don't want me as your enemy Quirrell," said Snape, taking a step towards the quibbling Defense professor.

"I - I don't know w-what you -"

"You know perfectly well what I mean. Now, I don't know who you're working for, but while I am bound to Dumbledore for many reasons, my real loyalties lie elsewhere. I just happen to know of someone that could use that stone." Snape took another step towards Quirrell. "So tell me who you're working for and about your little bit of hocus-pocus down there. I'm waiting!"

"B-but I d-d-don't -"

"Very well," Snape cut in. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and have decided where your loyalties lie."

Snape threw his cloak over his head and strode out of the clearing and back straight towards the castle.

As the school year progressed so did the amount of homework. Harry did however realize that the more tired he was at night, the less chance he stood of having nightmares.

Easter holidays had Neville, Harry, Ron, and Hermione staying at the castle. The rest of the first year Gryffindor's went home.

They spent the entire week studying and doing homework, which annoyed Ron.

Saturday night found Harry reaching for his journal.

Wonderful! On top of worrying about Snape and the Sorcerer's Stone along side of homework and Quidditch, now I gotta add Hagrid and his illegal dragon egg into the mix.

According to him it's a Norwegian Ridgeback and it's rare. He doesn't even seem to be bothered by the fact that he lives in a wooden house.

H. Potter

The dragon hatched. It was actually cool to watch. The problem now is Malfoy saw the dragon. He's walked around almost all week with a smug smile on his face.

We finally convinced Hagrid to send it off to Charlie and it leaves tomorrow night. Ron's in the infirmary. Norbert bit him. We think that his fangs are probably poisonous.

Hermione and I decided to do it alone under the cloak. As soon as Hagrid steps foot in the castle, Mrs. Norris stalks him, so it wouldn't be safe for him to do it.

Not to mention the fact that he would probably back out at the last minute. He's way to attached to that blood dragon.

H. Potter

Severus had been reading when a knock at his door came. He cast a quick tempus charm and furrowed his brow when it revealed that it was about 15 minutes to midnight.

Casting a revealing charm at the door, he silently fumed when it showed McGonagall and Malfoy standing in the hallway.

"I'm sorry to bother you Professor Snape but I found Mr. Malfoy up in the Astronomy tower. I deducted twenty points and gave him a detention to be served later. You can deal with him now."

Snapes' voice took on an icy edge. "Don't worry, I will."

Once he made sure McGonagall was out of ear shot, he held up his hand to silence Draco.

"I'm very disappointed in you Draco. Out after curfew and caught. I'm going to be writing to your father in the morning. In addition I'm taking another 10 points from Slytherin and you will also serve a detention with me."

With each word, Severus noted that the boy got both paler and angrier at the same time.

"Now, pray tell, why were you out after curfew and on the astronomy tower? You know that you are only allowed up there on nights you have astronomy."

"Sir, I was trying to catch Harry Potter and his dragon."

"Excuse me?"

"Harry Potter was getting rid of the oaf's dragon tonight. I was trying to catch him at it."

"Dragons are illegal Mr. Malfoy. Now, I want you to head back to your dormitory and in the morning, after breakfast, I want the truth."

"But -"

"Now!" Severus pointed in the direction of the Slytherin dorms and watched as he stormed off.

"Dragons. Honestly," muttered Severus under his breath.

The next morning, as Severus strode into breakfast, he eyed his Snakes. They were ordered to appear at every meal during the week, hungry or not.

As his eyes rested on Malfoy, he saw that he had a smug expression on his face.

When Severus caught his eye, he raised an eyebrow at him. Draco then nodded towards the house point counter in the Great Hall and Severus stared in disbelief.

Gryffindor had 150 points less than yesterday.

Eyeing the Gryffindor table, he saw Potter, Granger, and Longbottom being ignored by the rest of their house mates.

Glancing at the staff table, he saw that Minerva was frowning and that Albus had a confused look on his face.

After breakfast, Draco appeared in his office with a note in his hand.

"My proof, sir."

Severus read it and shook his head in disbelief.

"Very well. The detention that you're serving with me will be on Monday. Report to me after dinner."

"I don't understand, sir. I just handed you the proof of my statements. Why are you still punishing me? It's bad enough, sir, that I have to serve McGonagall's detention."

"Professor McGonagall, Draco. Surely your father taught you respect. And you are being punished because not only did you break the rules but you were caught."

Draco thought for a moment then nodded. "I understand, sir."

That evening, after dinner, Severus appeared in Albus' office.

He was going to have a good time with this.

"Sherbert lemon drop?" offered Albus.

Going for the grand effect, he said, "Yes. Don't mind if I do."

He took the candy and was pleased to see a pleasant shock on the man's face. Severus was then even more pleased to realize that the Headmaster hadn't laced the candy yet.

"So, per chance, have you talked to Minerva or Hagrid today?"

Albus shook his head. "No. She wouldn't tell me why the house points dropped so drastically and now that I think on it, I've not seen Hagrid out and about for around 2 weeks. Did you come to find out about the sudden Gryffindor point loss ... or did you cause it?"

Severus smirked. "I didn't cause it, but I do know what happened."

Severus abruptly stood and fire-called for some tea from the kitchens. He let the Headmaster squirm while he made both of them a cup.

After taking a sip, Albus finally said, "Well?"

Severus smirked again.

He slowly raised his cup to take another drink as he said, "It seems that the reason Hagrid has been missing is because he has been taking care of Norbert. (Severus had eaves dropped on Hagrid's moping to catch the name.) And the reason that Gryffindor is 150 points less than yesterday is because Granger and Potter got rid of Norbert. I'm actually not sure how Longbottom fits in the picture," admitted Severus.

Albus raised one of his own eyebrows as he prepared to take a sip of his own tea. "Who - or what - is Norbert?"

As the Headmaster took a sip, Severus struck.

"His Norwegian Ridgeback dragon of course."

The Headmaster sputtered into his tea. "Dear Merlin. Really!"

Severus grinned. It wasn't often he got one over on Albus. He handed Albus the note Draco had presented to him and watched as he read it.

"My, my, and right under my very nose. That doesn't happen often." Albus had a bright twinkle in his eyes.

An hour later they parted ways but instead of going to bed, Albus headed up to the astronomy tower to fetch Harry's cloak, which he must have inadvertently dropped.

And sure enough, it was still there.

Author's Note:

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update. I'm still working on the story. I hit a bit of a writer's block for something in the second book but I've recently worked my way around it and will be starting on the third soon. (I like to keep a couple chapter's ahead of what I will be posting.)

Someone said that this is pretty much what was in the book's. I agree, some of it is, and some of it is different. I thought about starting out where Severus and Harry first found out about Lily's little secret (like most stories do) but decided I'd start at the beginning. There are some events that are different (one of which you'll be seeing in a chapter or two) to fit into my view of the Harry Potter world and some events are the same but just a different view point on them. Either way, I hope you all enjoy reading it. I know that I enjoy writing (even if I am slow to post lol)!

A/N: Warning, Harry will be powerful, but he won't be super powerful. He will still have to struggle with certain things as well as deal with other childhood issues. Harry is going to be incredibly smart, but don't worry about him out-doing Hermione ... to an extent anyway. (Evil smirk) And to alleviate some fears, he won't all of a sudden wake up and realize woah, I can take on the world! It will be a slow on going process. (Smile)

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!)