Harry frowned as he sat across from Hermione in the library.
"So Quirrell is after the Philosopher's Stone," Harry deadpanned. "But why?"
"I can imagine loads of reasons," Hermione told him. "It can turn any metal into gold and make someone immortal."
"So you just read," Harry reminded her. "But it has to be more than that. He's risked so much and he's tried to kill me! What'd I ever do to him?"
"I don't know," Hermione admitted. "But maybe that's not what we should be focusing about. Maybe we should focus on getting him caught before he gets to it."
"Hagrid knows about it," Harry stated. "We should see if there's anyway he can help Fluffy guard the stone better."
"You'll have to wait until after the match with Hufflepuff," Hermione argued. "There's no way you'll be able to get down there if you're not allowed to wander anywhere without supervision."
"So we'll meet up with Hagrid at the Quidditch Pitch and we'll walk with him down to his hut," Harry shrugged. "No big deal."
"Sure," Hermione mumbled, but she didn't sound convinced.
Harry stared at the baby dragon sitting on the table and then looked up at Hagrid.
"Oh, boy," was all he could think to say.
As the days passed, the more Harry worried about Hagrid's rapidly growing Norbert and the problems owning a dragon could potentially cause. Things got bad when Hermione was bit by the creature and had to go to the infirmary. Harry begged her not to tell the truth, but she had apparently been unable to lie. The next day, Norbert had been confiscated and sent away.
Harry found himself in Snape's office.
"You should be disappointed with yourself, Potter," Snape chided as he glared at Harry. "You put a fellow student as well as yourself and Hagrid by not informing another staff member of the dragon living in the groundskeeper's hut!"
"He's not getting sacked, is he?" Harry asked in worry.
Snape gave an exasperated sigh, but answered, "No, he is not getting sacked."
"Oh, good."
"You're in trouble, Potter," Snape reminded him. "Don't forget that. I'm taking thirty points from Slytherin and assigning you a detention. You are dismissed."
A week before exams, Harry had just passing a classroom when he heard what sounded like someone threatening Professor Quirrell. Alarmed by what he was hearing, Harry rushed off towards Snape's office, only to get stopped by a student with a note informing him his detention would begin at eleven. He'd be escorted to the entrance hall by Filch. With a great sigh, he continued down to the dungeons and to Snape's office.
"I'm not going to change the date," Snape growled upon seeing Harry. "If that's what you're here to ask about."
"I'm not, sir," Harry replied. "I just wanted to let you know that I overheard Quirrell and it sounded as if he was being threatened by someone."
Snape's lips thinned. "I thought I warned you to stay away from Professor Quirrell."
"I'm sorry, sir," Harry mumbled. "I didn't mean to overhear."
Reprimanding Harry for his tone, Snape ordered Harry to go to his dormitory.
"But what if Quirrell goes after the stone?" Harry asked.
"Stone?" Snape's tone was dangerous and Harry realized too late his blunder. "I thought I told you to stop with this ridiculously Gryffindor behavior."
"I'm sorry, sir!" Harry insisted. "But I'm worried!"
"Stop worrying!" Snape was almost shouting and his skin had turned an awful pale yellow. "It is not your job as a student to worry about the concerns, which are your professors'. Focus on your school work and leave this task to the staff!"
He took ten points from Harry and sent the boy on his way.
Harry went with Filch that night in a foul mood, glaring at Hermione where she stood waiting for him.
"Sorry," she mumbled to him as they headed down towards Hagrid's hut. "I didn't mean to..."
"Sure," he snapped. "Whatever."
Hermione didn't speak to him again. Hagrid told them what they were about to do and they headed into the Forbidden Forest.
"That was Voldemort," Harry whispered to Hermione as Hagrid walked ahead of them leading them up to the castle. "You heard what Firenze said."
"I did..." Hermione hesitated. "But he couldn't be! He's dead!"
"Maybe," Harry muttered. "But not everyone believes that. I bet Quirrell is trying to help him come back to power. He's trying to steal the stone for Voldemort and then Voldemort will come back to power."
"But why would Quirrell help him?" Hermione argued.
Harry gave an irritated huff.
"If you're going to question me about it then don't help."
He marched ahead of her and was almost relieved Snape was standing at the hall to escort him down into the dungeons.
"I need to talk to you," Harry stated as he reached the man and watched as the Professor's brow lifted slightly. "Please, sir."
Snape turned and started walking down to the dungeons. Harry quickly said goodbye to Hagrid and Hermione before rushing after him.
"Sir, it's about Quirrell," Harry started as they started down a flight of stairs.
"I believe I made it clear, Mister Potter, that you were not to investigate into the matter further."
"But he's trying to get to the stone for Voldemort!"
Snape turned around so fast that Harry nearly ran into him.
"Do not say that name!"
Harry stared at the man, almost unable to continue for how surprised he was.
"But...why?" Harry finally managed.
Snape straightened and glared down at Harry.
"Tell me why you suspect Professor Quirrell of now working with the Dark Lord, because I'm fairly certain he's far too young to have ever served the Dark Lord before now."
"I'm not sure," Harry answered honestly. "But he was in the forest tonight. He's feeding off the blood of unicorns. He's trying to get to the stone to become whole again and he's using Quirrell to do it."
The Potions Master's face seemed all the more stiff as Harry finished his statement.
"I am going to say this only one more time." There was a quiver, though barely noticeable, in Snape's voice. "You will not meddle in these affairs again. Do you understand, Mister Potter?"
"I..." Harry hesitated and then relented. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir."
They didn't speak to each other again that night.
The week of exams Harry noticed an increase in teacher surveillance. He couldn't go anywhere without someone other than Quirrell tailing him around. Even the prefects and Head Boy and Girl seemed to find excuses to follow him from class to class. It caught the attention of Malfoy and Weasley, both of whom teased him about the added attention. He was amazed he was able to take his exams without breaking from the stress. Voldemort was trying to kill him. Quirrell was trying to kill him. The Philospher's Stone was at risk. Snape was irritated at him. Hermione and him were no longer on speaking terms. Ronald and Draco were harassing him. He wanted nothing more than to hide in an empty classroom.
Instead, he found himself down at Hagrid's hut questioning the man about who had given him Norbert. Fears confirmed he rushed back up to the castle and down into the dungeons to speak with Snape.
He hesitated at the door, realizing how angry Snape would be about him investigating into this further when there was no need.
Deciding this was more important then angering his teacher, he knocked on the man's office door.
"Come in," came the sardonic reply and Harry nervously entered the office he was becoming all too familiar with.
Snape was scowling at him from across his desk, apparently already figuring out what Harry had come to say to him.
"If you say one word about Quirrell, the Dark Lord, or the Sorcerer's Stone," Snape ground between his teeth. "I will take fifty points from Slytherin and believe me when I say I try my hardest to never dock points from my own House."
Harry swallowed hard and reconsidered for a second before plucking up his courage.
"Hagrid says he got his dragon from a hooded man and let slip how to lull Fluffy to sleep using music."
Snape opened his mouth, a punishment on his lips, but then shut it upon realizing Harry had actually obeyed him. A sneer formed on his lips as he stood from his chair.
"I will inform Dumbledore when the Headmaster returns."
"Returns?" Harry asked in alarm. "Returns from where?"
"He received an urgent owl from the Ministry and has left for the night," Snape stated, but even as he spoke he seemed to realize what he was saying. "Potter."
"Yes, sir?"
"You are not to try and stop Professor Quirrell. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir."
They both knew Harry was lying.