Chapter Eleven

The next day Harry sat at the back of his Defence Against the Dark Arts class doodling in the corner of his parchment. His headache was back and he was bored out of his mind.

There was a loud knock on the door and Professor Quirrell jumped a foot in the air.

"Come in." He squeaked

The door flew open and a panicked, well Harry could tell he was panicked to everyone else he looked perfectly calm, Snape stood on the other side, "I need to speak to Mr Potter, if that's alright with you." he said smoothly.

Quirrell nodded, "Yes. Of course." He adjusted his strange purple turban.

Harry shoved his school stuff into his bag and walked out the class room. He's barely had the chance to close the door when his mother's arms flew around his neck.

"Oh Harry. Gods, I was so worried." She mumbled. Harry hugged her tightly.

"I'm OK Mum." He said. He felt someone grab hold of his leg, "I'm OK Danica; really I am. Barely a scratch."

Lily let him go and pulled Danica off Harry, with some difficulty, and into her arms.

"This is the second time you've been attacked." Lily said willing herself not to cry, "What's Dumbledore doing about this?"

"And both times when I've been off campus." Snape put in.

"I don't think the troll was for me." Harry said looked around him. The corridor looked empty but you could never really tell; Harry had started to suspect a lot lately, "Lets go for a walk down by the lake."

They wondered through the castle and out the impressive entrance. Harry took them down to the little spot by the lake where the rock jutted out, where he and his friends often went.

"Me and Draco found the three-headed dog." Harry said settling himself down on the grass. Danica wondered off to play with the giant squid, bored with all the grown up talk. Lily and Severus sat with Harry.

"You mean Fluffy?" Snape asked, "Harry you shouldn't have been there!"

"I know, we didn't mean to be. The staircase moved. While we were still on it!" he explained, "Anyway I think the troll was let in to be a distraction. It was just a coincidence that we ran into it in the corridor. It was heading up to the main bit of the castle. Gryffindor actually got to the doorway first but Howard made Weasley let us go first. If we'd been those few minutes later we wouldn't have run into it." Harry explained.

"Ok but you can't say that about the Quidditch game Harry, that was aimed at you." Lily pointed out.

"Well yeah, but I think that...I think that Professor-"

" 'Arry!" Hagrid boomed from behind them, "And Lily what are you doin' 'ere?" Hagrid asked Danica waved goodbye to the giant squid and ran into Hagrid's arms, " 'ello Dany, 'ow's you?"

Danica giggled and buried her face in Hagrid's coat.

"Hello Hagrid, it's lovely to see you again." Lily said giving him a hug, "We're just here to check on Harry. I was very worried after the game."

"Aye it was a shock for all 'o us." Hagrid said ruffling Harry's hair.

Harry gave him a quick smile, "As I was saying I don't think it was an accident. Professor McGonagall was hurt after Halloween and she showed up later than all the other teachers and she was staring at me during the game. I think it was Fluffy that hurt her."

"Why would Fluffy hurt a teacher?" Lily asked.

"Because I think she's after whatever it is Fluffy is guarding." Harry said exasperated.

"Why do you think Fluffy is guarding anything?" Snape asked slowly.

"And Professor McGonagall is one of the teachers helpin' to protect the stone 'Arry." Hagrid said before Snape shot him a 'be quiet' look, "Sorry 'Arry, you shouldn't know about that."

Harry nodded thoughtfully, "It's OK I wont tell on you." he grinned making Hagrid laugh, "I'm going to head back to class." Harry told them hugging his parents and little sister goodbye. There was only a few minutes of the lesson left but Harry was hopping to be able to arrange a meet up with his friends to pass on this new bit of information.

"Harry wait a moment." Snape said catching up with Harry, "I don't want to keep you from class but I just wanted to reassure you."

Harry let Snape guide him into a small passageway, "What's up?"

"Professor McGonagall isn't trying to steal anything, we may not see eye to eye over everything but she would never go against Dumbledore. You don't have to worry about that." Snape told him before wrapping him in a hug, "Now go on off to class."

Harry smiled and walked quickly down the corridor. So McGonagall wasn't trying to steal the stone but someone was? Maybe it was McGonagall and she just had the wool pulled over Snape's eyes. There was always a frosty chill in the air when Dumbledore was mentioned between his parents, could he be the one after the stone?

No, Harry decided, Dumbledore would have been able to get the stone easily if that's what he wanted. Something just wasn't adding up and it was playing on the back of his mind, driving him crazy.

Snow swirled around the castle the day before the Christmas holidays began. Harry was already packed and ready to go. He and Draco had taken Harry's birthday chess set down to the Great Hall so they could meet up with Pansy to play a few rounds.

It also meant they could talk with minimal risk of being over heard with the din of other conversations and Neville could join them if he got the chance.

"Take us over everything we have so far Daphne." Pansy said expertly moving her piece, smashing one of Harry's. Harry sighed; he should have spotted that.

"Not a lot is the answer there," Daphne sighed, "We know that whatever 'it' is it's being hidden in the castle behind, or rather underneath, Fluffy and that there are other things guarding it. Did Hargrid give you any more clues as to what the defences are or even how many?"

"Nope." Harry said as Pansy beat him at chess, again, "Just that McGonagall was 'one' of the teachers guarding it. Dad is convinced that it's not McGonagall though."

"You can't be sure your dad is right though." Draco pointed out.

Harry shrugged, "I know. I just don't know what to think."

"We need to find out who Flamel is." Neville said coming over and sitting with them, "Once we know that we might be able to work out what it is that Fluffy is guarding and that's a step in the right direction."

They nodded in agreement.

"Longbottom, you aren't allowed to sit at the Slytherin table!" Ron shouted stomping over, "Do I need to get my brother?" he said smugly.

"Weasley what's the problem?" Neville asked, "I'm just sitting here with my friends."

"The problem is your friends!" Ron snarled, "Percy!"

"I'm going!" Neville snapped back at him standing up and stomping as loudly as he could over to the Gryffindor table.

Ron gave them a satisfied smile and left as well.

"We'll be able to talk to him tomorrow at least on the train." Harry sighed, "I do wish I could throw that Weasley out the bloody window though. They're all as bad as each other as well, if it's not Ron it's Percy and if it's not Percy it's the twins." Harry rested his head on the table. He'd had a non-stop headache for weeks now.

"Well the Weasley's aren't going home for Christmas." Pansy informed them, "Their parents are going to Romania to visit one of their older sons."

"How do you know?" Harry asked surprised she knew so much about their plans.

"I spoke to the twins. I ended up sitting next to them at study the other day and it would have been rude not to talk to them." Pansy explained.

"You spoke to a Weasley?" Draco asked shocked.

"The twins aren't so bad." Daphne said with a smile.

Harry shrugged his shoulders, his head was hurting to much to think about it right now.

They barely saw Neville on the train back, just in passing long enough for them all to remind each other that they needed to ask their parents about Nicholas Flamel and Draco reminded them they were all invited to his parents new years party.

Harry all but jumped into his mothers arms when he saw her waiting at the train station. He wouldn't admit it but he'd been more than a little home sick.

Danica greeted him with a large lick and a picture she'd painted showing them all at Hogwarts.

Harry took it gratefully and gave her a big kiss hoisting her into his arms.

Sirius wrapped him in a hug, "You had us worried a couple of times this year, kid."

"Had myself worried to." Harry grinned, "I assume Remus is..."

Lily nodded, "Yeah it'll be over after tonight though so he'll be OK in time for Christmas. He's looking forward to seeing you."

Harry smiled, he liked the family always being together. Having everyone around him made him feel safe; it always had.

At home Krecher had made a huge meal with all of Harry's favourites; clearly Harry had been missed here as well.

"Welcome home Master Potter!" Krecher said jumping down the stairs two at a time to greet Harry, duster still in hand, "I have much missed you!"

Harry knelt down to give him a hug, "Missed you too Krecher. Dinner smells amazing."

Krecher broke from the hug to grin and give a bow, his ears wiggling proudly, "It's ready now if you's like it."

"That would be lovely thank you." Lily said moving towards the dinning room. Harry ate until he felt like his stomach was going to explode before he made his way early to bed. Hogwarts food was amazing but it just wasn't the same as home cooking.

The sun shone through his open curtains the next day. He rolled over and cursed himself for not closing them the night before. He'd missed seeing the stars from his window at night as the Slytherin dorm windows looked out to the lake.

He got up and pulled on some scruffy old clothes planning on unpacking his trunk later. Breakfast smells were drifting though the house making his stomach growl hungrily.

He met Sirius on the stairs and they walked down towards the dinning room together.

"Sirius... have you ever heard of someone called, Nicholas Flamel?" Harry asked as innocently as he could.

Sirius laughed, "Is this about the you-know-what in the you-know-where?" He chuckled.

Harry shook his head, "No." He lied badly.

"I can't tell you Harry; your mum made me promise not to. Severus hasn't even told her what Fluffy has. They had a screaming row over it when they came back from seeing you. Your mum is really worried." Sirius stopped and looked at the wall deciding whether or not he should tell Harry, "Sit down a moment."

Harry sat next to him on the step.

"There is someone in Hogwarts who wasn't ever very happy about your mum and Snape getting together. They thought you might be better raised away from the wizarding world and having your mum re-marry was just one step closer to a stable family for you. They tried to cause a lot of trouble between them" Sirius told him in barely a whisper.

Harry had always knew there was something that had caused a lot of trouble in the early days after James's death, argument after argument and Snape leaving. No one had ever told him what had been said and the thought that it was someone at Hogwarts that caused all those problems made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

"Who was it? Are they trying to cause more trouble now?" Harry asked.

"I can't tell you who it was; that's not my place but yeah I think they're trying to cause more trouble now. Just watch your back. If anyone ever says not to tell someone you love unless it's a surprise birthday party it's not good. Severus has always struggled with who's side he feels he should be on. He is a very loyal person but not always the best judge of character."

"Harry!" Lily called up the stairs, "Breakfast is ready!" ending the conversation.

"I was just on my way." Harry called down.

They stood up and made their way down the last staircase to the hallway. Harry took his place at the table and piled his plate with bacon and eggs before buttering three bits of toast.

"You didn't tell me." Sirius said looking at Severus..

Snape sipped his coffee, "Tell you what?" he asked confused.

"That they'd stopped feeding students at Hogwarts." Sirius grinned looking at Harry's plate.

Harry pulled his tongue out at him, "Haha very funny." Harry said stuffing a rasher of bacon into his mouth whole. Lily came over and sat down before pouring herself some tea. Danica sat between her parents with an eggy in the basket for breakfast.

"Will Master Lupin be coming over for the celebrations?" Krecher asked taking his place.

"Yes in a couple of days. I'll let you know the exact date when I do." Lily smiled.

Krecher placed his own breakfast on a plate and took a mouthful of tea, "I'll make his room up ready after breakfast."

"I'll do the dishes today." Harry offered, Krecher smiled at him and nodded.

"You're still not getting to take that broom to Hogwarts, Harry." His mother warned him jokingly "How did flying go by the way? I don't remember you telling me."

Harry shrugged, "Ok I guess. Pretty basic stuff, kick off, hover, land. I've been doing it for years. I guess I'm just too practised for beginners lessons they have to cater it for people who have never flown before after all."

"I'm sorry honey I know you were looking forward to it." Lily said patting his hand over the table, "Maybe it would be worth trying out for the Quidditch team next year."

Harry perked up, "Yeah I'm going to. They're only really going to have one spot open though. Seeker. And possibly a chaser or keeper. Be worth a try though. And they have a better range of flying lessons next year."

"I was very displeased to here that Gryffindor cheated so badly at the beginning game." Lily frowned, it was her disappointed mother look, "I expected better of them."

"They didn't really cheat." Snape pointed out somewhat reluctantly.

"They should have stopped." Lily said.

Harry nodded, no one could argue with that one, even a couple of the Gryffindor's had been rather ashamed at the situation. They finished their breakfasts with only a small amount of chatter.

"We're going to the Malfoy's party at New years right?" Harry asked as he began to clear the dishes.

Lily nodded, "Of course. I've even got a new dress!"

Harry laughed as Danica helped him carry the last plate into the kitchen. She held it very carefully out in front of her watching the ground with every step she took.

"Why is Uncle Remus not here?" She asked Harry when they were alone in the kitchen, "Mummy says he's sicky again but I doesn't understand."

Harry looked down at the small girl, she was growing quickly though, her hair was at least half an inch longer that the last time he'd seen her. Every instinct he had screamed at him to protect her.

"It's the whole wolfie thing. It makes him sick." Harry explained.

Danica still seemed confused, "Why does make him sicky? Wolfies are awesome." she said letting out a howl.

"I don't really know," Harry admitted, "It just does."

Danica was seemingly unimpressed with this answer and let out a long sigh of frustration before getting distracted and leaving the room.

Harry washed and put away the dishes before giving the counters a once over with a wet cloth. Once the kitchen was looking fairly presentable he went upstairs to unpack.

There hadn't been a big shopping trip this year for Christmas; he couldn't go while he was in school and it was agreed that Diagon Ally would be far to busy now to go with Danica, even though Sirius had offered to take him alone.

Harry had instead made presents, as best as he could, for the family. He carefully removed them from his trunk happy to see that they had all survived the journey and set about wrapping them. He stashed them in the normal place under the Christmas tree before unpacking the rest of his trunk.