A/N: Just a re-edit of my last chapter.

"Severus, do you realise that Albus does not take decisions lightly," Minerva McGonagall muttered to him on a side glance, while they both sat next to each other in the staff quarters, "I've seen time and time again that the plans he has executed have always been for the best, if not the lesser evil."

"I have realised that, Minerva" Severus said in a tone that was just loud enough for her to hear, he didn't want to discuss anything even remotely connected to the plan where they could easily be overheard from staff that were not of the Order, "However, it doesn't mean that I have to agree with it."

"You cannot let personal feelings and unforeseen circumstances rule your personal judgement. Not at a time like this."

From the moment that Harry had sat on the stool to be sorted, they could see that Evans was not Potter's son and began to suspect him based on what they could remember of himself as a boy. His colleagues were far from dim or naive. Although there was no way that they could prove it without crossing serious boundaries, so they would have to bite their tongues. Many of the other Order members such as Hagrid, Flitwick and Minerva, whose respect he had to earn slowly over the years, began to hold him in much higher suspicion than before. It was also clear that although Minerva had described Harry as 'clever and independent for a boy his age', she was distrustful of him as well. Severus used the highest strength of his legilimency skills to gather that she thought of the boy as a kind of 'chip off the old block'. But he didn't need legilimency to know that she was looking forward to seeing a young Potter so much and was just disappointed.

Severus turned to face her, frowned and said without expression, "It is my retribution to do what is right for him before for anyone else. I owe him that as you know. I also don't care how much of an angel you thought Potter was. He's dead."

Minerva's face contorted into an expression of offense, "How rude."

As if he cared two shits about what she thought.

Harry found it hard to adjust to doing normal school work after the incidence in the Forbidden Forest. He found it an intense struggle to concentrate on his upcoming exams when he knew that there was a real danger around him, waiting for its opportunity to attack him directly.

"Harry," Hermione frowned, "You've only eaten two bites of your toast. We have a big day today, remember."

Harry shrugged, "I know, Hermione. I'm just not hungry at the moment."

"Come to think of it," Ron joined in; it was rare that he and Hermione agreed on something, "You haven't been eating much since what happened in the forest. I don't blame you, but you've just got to eat."

Hermione started to read the letter from her parents that had arrived that morning. Harry couldn't help but admit that he was slightly jealous when his friends received mail but he was used to it. Hermione would get a letter every week from her parents and sometimes even a chocolate bar or magazine if she had done well on an exam. Mrs Weasley would send her sons delicacies that she had baked in her free time to share with their friends or send supplies like quills if they needed them. At least Hermione and Ron's parents weren't like Malfoy's who regularly sent him lollies and other treats, regardless of whether or not he had done anything to deserve them. If only he could find out whom his mysterious gift giver was for Christmas. He also wondered if the gift giver would come next Christmas or even on his next birthday.

He couldn't help but feel the usual loneliness.

Severus had always kept an eye on Quirinus Quirrell and his stuttering, mumbling presence but ever since the incidence in the Forbidden Forest; Severus was determined to never let him out of his sight. He now had an idea of exactly what he was dealing with. Even for someone who has had his fair share of dealing with the Dark Arts, Severus was disgusted that Quirrell had freely permitted Voldemort to live in his body as a parasite. Even in the days where he was most loyal to the Dark Lord, there were boundaries Severus knew he would never cross no matter how much power and influence he was offered. Severus knew that there were things that were not worth being the Dark Lord's current favourite for. Quirrell had readily sold Voldemort much more than his body and possibly more than his soul. Severus could fathom that only a person who truly believed that they were completely worthless would do such a thing. The man was weak.

Albus' assurances that everything would go according to plan were of no comfort to him. Severus knew that the sooner Quirrell was sorted out the better. Quirrell was becoming more careless, his increasingly eccentric behaviour and inconsistent background stories were becoming more and more pronounced. It was no longer just the other professors that were involved with the protection of the stone that were concerned about Quirrell but surprisingly, a decent proportion of Hogwart's more alert students were as well. There were a few magic sensitive students who felt that he was habouring an evil vibe. Some of his NEWT students asked him a few days ago on how Quirrell could have received his turban from an African prince for defeating a zombie if zombies only reside in South America. He also remembered Marcus Flint telling his friends how he overheard Quirrell having an argument with another voice about finding 'the stone' but found out that he was talking to himself. Luckily, for secrecy's sake, his friends found the story too disturbing and farfetched to believe him.

He had a conversation with Quirrell a while ago in the Forbidden Forest. Being around Voldemort, Quirrell would know that he was supposedly the Dark Lord's secret agent to spy on Albus and he had hoped that Quirrell would possibly come clean with him.

"I don't know why you wanted to meet here of all places, Severus." Quirrell said in his usual timid tone.

Snape replied back in his iciest voice, "Oh, I thought we'd keep this private, students aren't supposed to know about the Philosopher's Stone after all."

Quirrell started mumbling something inaudible.

"I know what the Dark Lord has sent you here for." Severus interjected, "I am a servant of his as well, and I can help you. That is if your loyalty to him is true. I'm not sure it is, considering how you have been so foolish in your attempts to retrieve the stone. Have you found out a way to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"

"But Severus, I-I-I-I…" Quirrell stuttered, even though it was obvious that simply feigning ignorance when Severus clearly knew the truth was a big mistake.

"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," He muttered and took a step towards him.

"I don't know what you-"

"You know perfectly well what I mean."

"I know the reason for your little bit of hocus pocus recently. I'm waiting."

"But I don't-"

Severus was growing increasingly irate with him. The man still insisted on using the ploy of being a timid, weak idiot. His mind was decided.

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

Quirrell mumbled something incoherently then scampered away but only before Severus took time to gaze into his eyes. The man's eyes were dead; Severus could tell that the light of life that he could usually see in a person's eyes was gone. The man didn't have a complete soul anymore. From the moment unicorn blood touches one's lips; they had a half-life, a cursed life as an incomplete human being. A life that was not worth living. Even some of the more sinister dark wizards and witches Severus had come across during his life shunned unicorn blood on pure principle. The price of using unicorn blood was not worth the potential benefits. It was a sign that Quirrell was truly desperate and careless.

Severus decided to leave Quirrell, he would simply have to wait until Quirrell's mental state had deteriorated further in the hope that he could extract some information from him. This wasn't what he wanted to do. Time was running out.

Harry let out a huge sigh of relief, exams were over. He didn't think that he could have survived but he had and now he was simply relaxing with Ron and Hermione. It was great to have some free time where he could stop worrying for at least five minute about either possibly dying or failing his exams.

He was still thinking about the safety of the stone. What if Voldemort already had his hands over it? It would be more trouble than anyone in the Wizarding World had ever known. He was also concerned about other things that had happened around the school. Ghosts whispering to each other more frequently. The Forbidden corridor. A troll escaping from the Halloween Feast. He even heard older students say the school was changing in strange and rather unpleasant ways with bizarre happenings.

"I think I did well." Ron shrugged.

"I'm not so sure I did as well as I could have. I mean I would have gotten more study done if it weren't for the whole Norbert fiasco and the night detention."

"Hermione," Ron said, "You're the best in our year, only just in front of a stressed out Harry and an absentminded Anthony Goldstein – you would have done fine. Bloody hell, don't worry about it. You look more nervous now after the exams than you were after being caught smuggling Norbert to Charlie."

Suddenly, something had just clicked in Harry's mind.

"Speaking of Norbet, doesn't it strike you as odd that what Hagrid wants a dragon more than anything else and a random stranger just happens to have one to give to him? I'm sure most wizards don't just hoard dragon eggs in their pocket regularly. I mean, I'm pretty sure possession of dragon eggs is restricted."

Both of them just looked at him. It was odd.

Harry frowned, "I think we better talk to him."

They found Hagrid sitting on the chair outside his hut playing his flute with not a care in the world.

"Hagrid, we need to talk to you!" Harry blurted.

Hagrid gave them a baffled look; it wasn't every day that some first year students started him by demanding to speak to him.

"Well, what can I do fer ye?" Hagrid said cheerfully as ever.

"That man who gave you the dragon egg at the pub, what did he look like?" Hermione asked.

Hagrid merely shrugged, "I dunno. Don't remember his face, he was wearing a cloak."

"You must remember something about him," Harry said, "What did he want?"

"Oh, we just had a few drinks. We were talking about Hogwarts and he was curious about three headed dogs."

The trio just looked at each other. They all remembered the three headed dog they encounter in the forbidden corridor.

"Well?" Ron said, "What did you say?"

"I told him that I had a dog called Fluffy and that he's such a dear. Just play him a bit of music and he'll fall straight asleep."

The trio started looking at each other. This really was the worst possible scenario. Voldemort was so close to getting the stone.

Hagrid frowned as he realised the impact of what he had just told them, "I shouldn't have told you lot that."

The three of them ran back into the castle, they had to do something, anything to stop Voldemort from grabbing a hold of the stone.

"We have to go in there!" Harry exclaimed, "Tonight!"

A/N: Thanks for reading. Reviews, favourites and follows are always welcome and appreciated.