Chapter Sixteen - Behind the Scenes (Interlude)

Draco took a seat, politely declined Snape's ritual offer of tea, and smoothed down the non-existent creases on his robes.

The office was as usual: orderly, dark, and cold. Draco found comfort in its familiarity, although he didn't know how Snape would react to what he had to say.

"I hope your revision is going well," Snape said, taking a seat. "There is only a week remaining, but if you need any assistance…"

Draco shook his head. "Thank you, Professor, but I think I'm on track."

Snape nodded. "I am pleased to hear it. If your work in your other subjects approaches the effort you have been putting into potions, I have no doubt that you shall acquit yourself admirably."

Snape could tell he was nervous, Draco was sure. He'd simply misdiagnosed the reason to be the upcoming exams. Compliments like these didn't come without purpose.

"How is your father doing, Draco? It's been a few months since our correspondence"

Draco smiled, "Father is doing quite well. Right now he's preparing a counter bill against the Misuse of Magical Artefacts proposal for the summer assembly."

Snape smiled politely, nodding. "And your mother?"

Draco gave the same response he always did, she was missing Draco but otherwise fine.

His regular meetings with Snape, a transparent result of his parent's influence over the Professor, followed the exact same pattern each time they met. Snape would ask how Draco was doing, he would inquire about his family, and would offer his help if Draco was struggling with anything or anyone. Draco knew that it was mostly an opportunity for his Father to keep an eye on him, but Draco endured it, because it was clear that Professor Snape was leaving some significant things out of his reports.

"I really think someone is trying to kill Harry, Professor."

Snape sighed, sitting back in his chair. "I expressly warned you to stay clear of this issue, Draco."

"Neville saw him coming back to the common room with holes in his robes during the Easter holidays," Draco said.

Snape frowned, "Was he injured?"

"Well, no, but he could have just come from the hospital wing."

"I am well informed on who requires treatment at the hospital wing, and Mr Potter has not been a patient for quite some time."

Draco huffed, slouching in his chair. "Well I'm not making things up."

"I don't think that you are, Mr Malfoy. However, Mr Potter was likely just studying. He is quite advanced in his charms work, and may have simply damaged his robes accidentally. I've certainly done so myself on occasion. Have you asked him what happened?"

"Harry says the same thing as you," Draco said, sullenly, "to stay out of it. Except he's a bad liar. We know something is going on with the Philosopher's stone. I found out from Father over the holidays who Nicholas Flamel is. You're looking after the stone, aren't you?"

Snape levelled a dark look at Draco, but when he refused to back down, Snape sighed again, muttering to himself. Draco thought he heard the name Dumbledore.

"Indeed, you are not entirely mistaken," Snape finally said, pausing to level a stern finger at Draco's smug smile. "But I trust you're aware, you are to maintain absolute silence regarding this matter to your fellow students. It is, after all, intended to be a secret."

"I'm not stupid," Draco muttered.

"But you are still hanging around with those Gryffindors."

Draco wrinkled his nose. "Granger was quite good at piecing things together, even if they've jumped to the idiotic conclusion that you are trying to steal the stone."

"You don't agree?" Snape said, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Draco snorted, and covered his embarrassment with a cough. "Uh, no. Obviously. If you wanted Harry dead you'd have just poisoned him."

Snape seemed to wrestle with himself before speaking. "But, you do believe someone else is trying to steal the stone?"

"Yes, and Harry is somehow involved, alongside Black. Weasley thinks Black might have overheard something in Azkaban that tipped him off. Maybe that's why he escaped after all those years."

Snape sat back, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "It is curious that Black has involved himself."

"So you agree?" Draco pressed. "Someone is trying to kill Harry and steal the stone."

Snape gave Draco an unamused glare. "I said no such thing."

"I just don't understand who it could be." Draco continued, knowing he was mostly talking to himself now, and Snape had humoured him as much as he was willing. "Who could curse Harry's broom in front of you, get a troll into the castle, and set the giant squid on Harry?"

Snape's head snapped up to look at Draco. "The squid was set on Harry?"

Draco blinked. "Uh, yeah? I'm pretty sure, anyway. It's hard to say for certain, I suppose, because we were all in the way, but I was in the boat with Harry and we were the only ones hit at first. The squid definitely seemed to be chasing him in particular."

Snape was no longer looking at him, thoughts clearly racing in his mind. "Thank you, Mr Malfoy."

Draco hesitated, before realising he was being dismissed. "Uh, thanks, Professor."

Draco made his way to the door, but was interrupted before he could leave.

"Draco," Professor Snape said.

Draco turned, "Yes, Professor?"

"Avoid unnecessary time with Professor Quirrell. Do you understand?"

Draco understood, heart-rate spiking. "Yes," he said, slipping through the door and into the dim corridor of the dungeons. His steps turned into a run as he made it to the stairs. He had to tell Harry's friends.

He found them in the library.

"Malfoy? What are you doing here?" said Weasley.

He was breathing heavily, and he took a moment to look around before responding in a hoarse whisper. "Quirrell. Quirrell's after the stone."

A shocked silence followed his declaration.

"How do you know?" Granger finally said, softly.

Draco winced, "Professor Snape told me."

Hermione glared at him and Ron threw his hands up in the air. All sense of tension was lost and Draco tried to reign in his growing frustration.

"Snape would say that," said Longbottom. "He's probably just trying to throw you off his scent."

"Obviously," Ron said, looking at Draco like he was an idiot.

"I told you not to keep talking to him, Malfoy, it's dangerous!" Hermione said. "You're just letting him know that we're onto him."

"We need to tell Quirrell," Ron said, suddenly. "We know Snape's after the philosopher's stone now, anyway. We need to let one of the professors know."

"You only know because I told you." Draco pointed out. "It's not Snape."

Hermione looked at him with pity, "Look, you don't have to come with us, but we're going. Quirrell is the only one we can trust now that Snape's told you to stay away from him. He'd never put the blame on someone he was working with."

Draco resisted the urge to pull out his hair as he watched them file out of the library, heading to Quirrell's office.

Draco closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. These idiots were going to get him killed.

He reluctantly made to follow them, keeping his distance. If he heard the sound of screams through the office door, he could always run and get Professor Snape.

Draco loitered nervously, just around the corner of Quirrell's office as the door shut with a click behind Neville, Ron, and Hermione.

Draco waited for what seemed like an age, and just as he was about to crack, and run to get Professor Snape, the door opened.

Ron, Hermione, and Neville emerged, looking pleased and whispering to each-other. They spotted him and walked over.

Draco regarded them cautiously, they could be imperiused.

"Look," said Weasley, waving his hands, "we're fine."

Longbottom gave Draco a smile. "Professor Quirrell listened to us and told us to let him know if we see anything. He also said Snape wouldn't try anything as long as Professor Dumbledore is in the castle."

"We're going to trail Snape, just in case," Hermione said. "Exams are over in a week, so we'll have plenty of time."

Draco simply turned and left, too stressed to formulate a response. He didn't know what Quirrell was up to, asking the three Gryffindors to keep an eye out, but Draco was sure it wasn't good. If they were going to trail Professor Snape, then Draco would just have to trail them.