Students and staff had been gradually gathering in the great hall for the Halloween feast. Floating pumpkins and firepits hung evenly throughout. The soft crackling from the firepits was overshadowed by the thunderstorm that was strengthening outside the walls of the castle.
The storm shuddered the castle walls. Attractive bolts streaked across the sky, and a tremendous grumble echoed through the air. The sound of thunder was echoing in anticipation of the customary feast.
Severus sat stagnant at his accustomed place at the professor's table, lost in his thoughts of what he had heard earlier that evening. After learning that Lily's son had been born in June, it changed everything he came to know to be true about the boy.
The prophecy stated that the one to defeat the dark lord was to be born at the end of July, which may mean that Harry is possibly not the chosen one after all. Severus's thoughts ran through each possible explanation, perhaps the boy was born premature and was predestined to be born in late July, but complications could have arisen. This would still suggest the prophecy could be accurate. It was also conceivable that the boy did not know when he was born, his relatives were not entirely transparent in all areas, and they are not likely to divulge anything of sentimental value to the boy.
Severus felt distressed, alarm crept up inside him as he sat emotionless at the commencement of the feast. A sense of responsibility and disgrace hit him at that very moment. If the boy's birth was not indeed early, and his birth was rightfully in June, then Harry could very well be his biological child. It was more than probable after his and Lily's night in the lighthouse.
It was not such an outrageous statement; Harry had indeed shown no resemblance to James Potter in the slightest during his weeks at Hogwarts. His facial features were undoubtedly Lily's; though, the misplaced locks of dark black hair were enough for Severus to seriously question the boy's parentage. It began to enter Severus's mind that the reason Lily asked Dumbledore to keep Severus safe was for a precise reason.
His frantic mind came to a standstill as he saw Harry enter the great hall. It had only been a short time since he had seen the boy leave his office, and the boy's appearance had transformed significantly in that time.
The boy was now sporting a bold new look. His hair was no longer wavy and of shoulder length, it was now clean cut, and exceptionally short on the sides. He still had considerable curvy lengths on top, overall, the stylish haircut suited the boy very well, complimenting not only his strong jawline and vivid eyes, but his scar. It was no longer hidden and was now on full display.
Harry took a seat in between Goyle and an unfamiliar face, he looked to be at least a fourth year due to his burly size.
"Harry your hair! Where did it all go?" Goyle questioned.
"It was getting in the way, I asked around in the common room if anyone could help, and Daphne said she could fix it."
"You mean Daphne Greengrass? You're lucky she didn't take your head off, she comes from a pure-blood family, her magic is not one I'd trust near my head, it is incredibly strong."
Those around Harry began to snicker, the unfamiliar fourth year began to speak.
"Her family is filled with curses Potter, better watch out you're not next."
"It suits you, now you look much more like a Slytherin," Goyle whispered.
Draco sent an unfathomable scowl towards Harry; Draco was likely to explode with jealousy at the fact Goyle was even acknowledging Harry.
The great hall was now filled with chatter, most were halfway through their meals and the storm was gathering and now at full force. Harry tried to find Hermione among the Ravenclaw table but there was no sign of her.
"You looking for your muggle-born friend? Goyle asked.
"Her name is Hermione, she's more than just a muggle-born. "Harry proclaimed.
"Hey, I didn't mean anything by it, I don't know her name, I doubt she will be in the great hall now after what Weasley did to her, she probably still crying in the girls' bathroom."
Harry's face dropped, the rage he was feeling was present in his expression.
"What are you talking about?" Harry questioned.
"After class, the youngest Weasley was having a go to a group of first and second years about how uptight your Hermione friend is. How she is far too infuriating to have any friends, he went on about how her only friend is a Slytherin and how pathetic it was, I'm surprised you didn't hear all the fuss he was making; he didn't have anything kind to say about you."
"I need to go find her."
As Harry stood from the table a loud crack could be heard from the Great Hall's entrance doors. Professor Quirrell was dashing down the centre of the hall towards Dumbledore.
"TROLL IN THE DUNGEON, TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!" He screamed.
Dumbledore rose from his seat, Quirrell mumbled "Thought you odd to know." Before he collapsed in between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw's house tables.
The hall erupted into chaos, and students began becoming hysteric. Dumbledore swiftly ordered the prefects to lead their houses back to their common rooms, and for the teachers to follow towards the dungeons. Harry looked to see everyone was moving according to the instructions they were given, except for Professor Snape.
Harry locked eyes with the Professor just as he snuck away through a door directly behind him. Curiosity filled Harry, he watched as Snape disobeyed Dumbledore's orders, just as he was about to do the same.
"Goyle, I have to get Hermione, she doesn't know there is a troll running about."
Goyle shouted out to Harry as he dashed past the dense crowd and headed for Hermione.
"Harry you can't, it's too dangerous!"
Harry was closing in on the girl's bathroom, as he was hurrying towards the final corridor, he saw the colossal creature entering the bathroom where Hermione was supposedly last seen. Harry burst in to see Hermione frozen with terror.
"Hermione move!" Harry yelled.
Within an instant Hermione dove into the bathroom stalls dipping down as little as she could, the troll swung its hefty club destroying the tops of the bathroom stalls. Harry began throwing the shattered pieces of lumber at the troll's skull; however, it was producing little to no damage to the troll.
Hermione was able to move to the other side of the room with Harry's small distraction, however, he was going to need to come up with something far more powerful to get Hermione to proper safety.
"Harry your wand! Remember the spells we practised in the courtyard!" Hermione roared.
Harry then acted, taking his wand from his robe as he prepared for battle. It was not swift enough, the troll managed to swing his gigantic club towards Harry. It made contact and erupted Harry through the remaining toilet stalls.
Immense pain hit him instantaneously, his head made full contact with the tile floors resulting in a hefty wound from the top of his skull to below his left eye. Blood began dispensing out of his forehead, spoiling Harry's foresight.
"Harry!" Hermione screamed, she managed to give Harry a chance to get away as she led the troll back towards her, taunting him and spraying the water from the broken faucets in his direction.
Harry saw his wand was now metres away on the other side of the room, he had a plan, not the finest one. The troll swung its club towards Hermione but before it made contact Harry grabbed onto the troll's weapon for dear life. He was now being swung into the air, he managed to seize the troll's neck and was holding on firmly. He pulled the troll away from Hermione like it was a puppet, pulling and punching anything he could, this was still causing little devastation.
Harry was now closing in on his wand, it was directly below him all her had to do was jump down and hope he had enough time to disarm the troll. He took his small window of opportunity and slid down the troll's back.
Hermione was now calling the troll towards herself; she saw Harry grasp his wand tightly. She closed her eyes and fell into a ball underneath the broken sink.
Wingardium Leviosa!" Harry yelled, with his wand pointed at the troll's club.
Sparks flew from the tip of his wand and contacted the troll's bludgeon, the troll was now slightly perplexed, he gazed up at his bludgeon and then watched as it fell, causing an immense blow directly to the face.
Hermione shrieked in celebration, but Harry knew it was far from over, he thought as quickly as he could and remembered another key spell they had learnt together over the last few weeks.
Harry drew his wand and pointed it at the chest of the troll.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
The troll was now stunned and paralysed, it was unable to break free from the spell. Harry gripped Hermione and pulled her over near the bathroom's exit. The gigantic troll was beginning to break free from the spell and began a sprint towards the both of them.
With all the adrenaline Harry had left he pulled Hermione behind himself with one hand and the other was pointed at the troll, his wand now tight in hand, he bellowed the only other spell that he could think of that could help them in this moment.
"Incendio!"
Formidable flames engulfed the room within seconds, the troll was now deteriorating and becoming draped in the wild flames. He was soon to be vanquished, he seized Hermione as she went to move nearer to the troll and made sure the blaze was far from her grasp.
"Is it dead?" Hermione asked, her eyes still closed tightly.
"I think so."
Before either Harry or Hermione could make a run for the bathroom exit, viscous footsteps erupted through the doorway. It was not one but three professors, Professor McGonagall, Quirrell, and naturally the potions master, Professor Snape.
"Oh, my goodness! Explain yourselves, both of you!?" McGonagall cried.
"It's my fault, Professor McGonagall." Hermione blurted out.
"No, professor, it wasn't her fault, she missed the feast because sh- "Harry attempted to plead his reasoning. He began reaching for his scar rather than his bleeding wound and began to feel his body go weak.
Snape watched as the boy was becoming faint, Quirrell's stare was having an unfathomable impact on the boy. Snape acted swiftly and moved himself to directly stand in front of the boy, stopping any direct connection between the boy and Quirrell. he became a mirror of protection from not only Quirrell but also McGonagall's fierce glare.
Snape pulled his wand from his cloak and began to perform an arrangement of non-verbal magic. The flames slowly dissipated and smouldering ash was all that could be seen. Snape's scowl caused Quirrell to glance away, showing his guilt.
"I think Potter needs the hospital wing more than he needs to be interrogated right now." Snape spat.
"Oh yes, of course, Severus! Please see Potter is escorted safely to Madam Pomfrey, as for you Miss Granger, you're coming with me." Hermione gave Harry a final glance goodbye and headed for the exit with Professor McGonagall.
"Oh, and Potter," McGonagall called.
"Not many first-year students could take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale, ten points will be awarded to each of you, for sheer dumb luck."
Severus nodded in agreement and turned his attentiveness to Harry. He went to drop himself down to Harry's level to inspect the damage the troll had inflicted on the young boy's face. The professor winced in pain, just barely enough for Harry to notice.
"Sir, your leg, You're bleeding?" Harry whispered.
Snape quickly shielded his newly obtained wound with his bat-like cloak and pretended to not hear the boy. Snape waited till the room was vacant and only he and Harry remained. He felt he was about to detonate all his frustration and fright on the young boy. He grabbed Harry by the shoulders, not loosening his grip and began his lecture.
"What on earth were you doing down here Potter? You could have been killed; do you not know how to follow any rules? The fact you managed to kill the beast at all is unfathomable! "The panic he was feeling was reflective in his voice.
"I'm sorry sir," Harry sighed in defeat.
Snape released his hold on Harry and in its place examined the damage to the boy's face.
"Well, I must say, Potter, if the haircut wasn't enough, you'll no doubt have another scar to add to your collection," Snape claimed.
Snape signalled for Harry to follow him towards the hospital wing, but their pace was gentler due to Snape's leg causing a minor limp and Harry's blurred vision.
Harry was the first to speak on the journey to the Hospital wing.
"Sir, why didn't you listen to Professor Dumbledore and head to the dungeons?"
Snape stopped dead in his tracks, the boldness of this boy was beyond anything he had seen from a first year, it was infuriating and remarkable all at the same time.
"Now that is none of your concern Potter, had I headed for the dungeons right away I would not have heard the screams of Miss Granger."
Harry knew the professor was hiding his true intentions, it was clear in his irritated composure that he failed tonight, failed at something he had been planning for a while.
Harry took full advantage of the Slytherin approach and thought of a way to gain information from his potion professor.
"Sir, were you afraid of the troll? And that's why you didn't go?"
Snape let out a spiteful groan as they continued their walk to the hospital wing. "Don't insult me Potter, a troll, I could defeat even the most powerful with my eyes closed."
"Well, then you were following Professor Quirrell, weren't you?"
"Silence!" Snape yelled.
They were now at the entrance of the hospital wing, "You'll keep quiet from this moment forward, are we clear?"
"Yes sir."
The boy was far more intuitive than Severus originally thought. He had caught on to his investigation on Quirrell, and worse of all, found a way to get under his skin enough to have him confess it out in the open.
He observed closely as the boy was being treated for his injured forehead. He watched as the boy made pleasant conversation with Madam Pomfrey, discussing his altercation with the large beast as well as his favourite subjects so far.
"I'd say potions Madam, but then I would much prefer quidditch over any study."
Madam Pomfrey chuckled while glancing up at Severus, "I have never had a student tell me they enjoy potions all that much, you must have a special talent for the subject."
"I have seen no such special talent," Severus murmured.
Madam Pomfrey gave Severus a speedy scowl similar to those Professor McGonagall can conjure.
"Ignore him Harry" Pomfrey whispered.
Harry let out a slight laugh and continued on a casual discussion with the magical nurse.
Severus's thoughts became busy, he thought about how his night became problematic. He had indeed failed in catching Quirrell attempting to steal the philosopher's stone. He had trailed him right up until he overheard the cries of a young girl. His primary instinct was to race to the girl, but he had a job to do, be the spy he was originally appointed to be. He knew McGonagall was very close, and the girl would be fine once she reached her. He had watched as Quirrell got past Fluffy and then headed down the ladder, this was his chance to finally nail Quirrell. It wasn't until he heard the young girl scream the word "Harry" that he forfeited the mission and hurried towards the cries. As he came back up the ladder the screams awakened Fluffy and Severus was struck down, his leg seriously injured.
He detested that the boy was unknowingly governing his emotions and actions. Severus hated this newfound feeling of hopelessness and unease; he felt fierce protection for a child he had only just met weeks prior. A child whom he now had a suspicion of possibly being his own.
He watched intently as the boy sat upright and followed Madam Pomfrey's instructions.
"Severus, I was able to treat his wound, it was profound and rather deep, I've given him some blood replenisher, but he will need to stay overnight, looks like you have a serious concussion young man, you took quite the tumble."
"I'll take it from here Poppy, I'll stay and observe the boy, you do not need to stay."
"Very well, Harry, you're in admirable hands, if you need any assistance just contact by floo."
Poppy gathered her belongings and once Harry was established into bed, she did a final check on the boy and then took off for her quarters.
Severus waited until Poppy had left the room before he took a seat by Harry's bedside.
Harry looked at Severus, a thoughtful look imprinted upon his face.
"Sir, who is Floo?"
Severus rolled his eyes and let out a brash groan.
"This is going to be a long night," Severus sighed.