The next few days saw little changes in Harry's schedule, but Snape required rest in the Infirmary. A quick checkup by Madame Pomfrey and she allowed Harry to leave, but not without her giving Harry a bottle of dittany for his minor scrapes and cuts.

Snape's class was called off for the week to allow Professor Snape time to recover. Conicidentally, Quirrel took the time to do the same, citing a horrible cold. When Harry saw the man during supper that evening, Harry thought the man looked ready to pass out, enormous bags under the man's eyes as if he hadn't been sleeping.

"Quirrell looks like he's about to keel over. That cold must be a nasty one." Nott said from across the table. Pansy Parkinson nodded from her seat across from Harry. "I heard a rumor that he is actually a vampire, and because he hasn't drank blood for a while he's nearing his second death."

Harry shook his head. "I don't know, he simply looks ill to me."

Draco snorted. "The man is always ill, at least in the head. His stuttering is horrible. Gives you a headache too, right Potter?" Harry nodded as he speared a bit of chicken on his plate. "Happens whenever I hear his stuttering, without fail."

"Maybe he's trying to cast a spell on you!" Blaise said with a smirk. Harry wiggled his fingers with a grin, making the other first-years laugh as he said, "Of course. He knows I'm strong and wants to steal my magic!"

After supper, Harry and Draco went to send an owl. Draco had finished his letter to his father, and wanted to send it out that evening. The two headed to the owlry, as Harry waited by the door as Draco went to his own private owl. "Hey, Draco?" Harry asked, as the owl took flight. "Yeah, Potter?"

"How would you put some runes on someone's clothing without them knowing?"

Draco walked over, tapping his finger to his chin. "Hmmmm. I would probably put it on the hem of their clothing, if I could get access to their clothes secretly. Why?"

"I have an idea to get the Weasley Twins back, and all I need is some way to get a rune cluster onto their clothes." Draco's grin would put even the Wicked Witch of the West heading for the hills on her broomstick. "Do tell, Potter. I may have a perfect idea on how to get some runes on their clothes."

Harry grinned right back, as he started to explain.

WHUMP

An enormous book landed on the table of the library roughly, making all of the small group jump, all except for Crabbe. "What's with the ruddy massive book, Hermione?" Ron asked from his seat, having been reading a book on Quidditch.

"None of you have any curiosity at all, I swear to Merlin. Haven't you all been at least a little curious about what is down that corridor?" Harry immediately realized what she was talking about. "The Third Floor one, right?" Harry lowered his voice, leaning forward to keep what they were saying hidden.

"I hadn't the foggiest clue what it was, and quite frankly, don't care. I just don't want to be lunch for that ruddy mutt." Ron snapped. Hermione rolled her eyes and spoke up, "Well, we're going to find out what it could be. Cerberi are notorious for being guard dogs. So what is it guarding?"

"Hermione, you got mad at us for going down that way in the first place. Now you suddenly want to research it?" Harry pointed out. "What was it you said again? Oh right. We could be killed, or worse, expelled."

Hermione's cheeks flushed an angry crimson. "Harry Potter, I said what I did because the last thing we want to do is break rules! Knowing what is back there is completely different, and we will find out!" Hermione huffed and stormed off, no doubt to get more books. "Bloody hell, mate. Now you got her riled up." Ron muttered, as Neville looked ready to bolt. Draco rolled his eyes, as Hermione returned with another book, and slapped the top of it.

"This is a book of treasures that Cerberi guard. Surely there's SOMEthing we could get from in here." Just then, Goyle coughed from his seat, which made the others look curiously at him.

"Uh… was thinkin'. Why not ask Hagrid? The dog's probably his, right?" Goyle said, his rough voice actually quite quiet. The group's eyes widened, as a majority of them had never heard Goyle actually talk before.

Harry blinked at the boy. "That's a really good idea, Goyle." Hearing the compliment from Harry made Goyle seem pleased with himself as Crabbe elbowed his side with a grin. However, it didn't take long before Goyle's face soon returned to a mask of indifference.

"You think Hagrid is the one who tends to that beast? You're mental, mate." Ron said as he shook his head. "He'd get thrown out of the castle, he would."

"Still, he would know more about it, wouldn't he? He's trying to get his Mastery in Magical Creatures, after all." Harry pointed out. "Well, I'm not heading back to see the oaf. I've had enough of him for now." Draco grimaced. As Harry whipped around to him, Draco sighed. "I admit he's a nice guy. Sort of. Potter, I just don't like being around him. Don't blame me for it."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Alright, then I'll go down to ask him myself. Does anyone want to come with me?"

Neville shook his head. "I was going to go to the greenhouse and do some extra credit." At the comment, Ron snorted and leaned back in his seat with an incredulous glance at the Hufflepuff. "Blimey. The bookworm's rubbing off on you lot, but I'll go."

Hermione glared at Ron for a moment. "Of course I'll be going. And I'll make sure the right questions are asked." Hermione's bossy tone was getting under Harry's skin, but with a smirk Harry made a spectacle of bowing. "Of course, your Majesty. Right away, Your Majesty."

The group of friends laughed as Hermione threw a nearby small book at Harry, walloping the boy in the face as he fell to the ground.

The group's laughter was loud enough to get them a warning from Madame Pince, but Harry felt it was worth it.

As Harry, Hermione, and Ron were heading out of the castle, Harry could hear a gentle flute in the air. Hagrid was standing beside the pumpkin patch next to his hut, as the three went up to the large man.

"'Arry! 'Ermione! Ron!" Hagrid said as he looked over at the three. "Thank yeh again fer everything yeh did t' help me with Norbert. Turns ou' 'e's a she! She has a pretty little cave in th' Hebrides Preserve, now."

Harry nodded with a grin. "Of course, Hagrid! But we had something we wanted to ask you, that we saw in the school and all."

"Ah? O' course you're welcome t' ask me anythin'." Hagrid said, setting down his flute.

"Did you know there's a Cerberus in the castle, Hagrid?" Hermione asked, looking up at him. Hagrid set his flute down onto his lap, looking at the three with such horror that you'd think they had suddenly burst into flames. "O' Course I know abou' Fluffy! Rais'd 'im from a pup, I did! Isn't 'e a beaut?"

All three of them exchanged pointed glances at one another as they spoke in unison, "Fluffy?" After the exclamation, Ron muttered under his breath, "Ruddy hell, what sort of a name is Fluffy for a thing like that?"

"Well, 'e's such a good dog, 'specially becau' 'e's guardin' fer Dumbledore." Hagrid said. Hermione seemed to be smug at that, grinning at Harry before speaking up. "Guarding? Guarding what?"

"I shouldn' ah told ya tha'..." Hagrid said, eyes going wide. "Nothin'. Nothin'."

"Hagrid…" Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips and looking up at him. She was giving Hagrid one of her patented Hermione Stares; Harry felt pity for the man. However, despite the look, Hagrid shook his head. "'Agrid nothin'! What Fluffy's guardin' is between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel! Ah shouldn' have told yeh tha'." Hagrid frowned, turning back towards his hut.

Hermione's eyes sparkled as she got another bit of information out of the half-giant. Harry was impressed, that was the most Slytherin thing he'd seen the Ravenclaw do all day. "Thanks, Hagrid! Come on, boys, let's get back." Before Hagrid could say anything more, Hermione grabbed Harry and Ron's arms, pulling them back towards the castle.

As they walked away, Hagrid looked confused, scratching his head as he turned and went back inside his hut. "Blimey, Hermione. You're good," Ron said as they walked back down the path to the entry hall of the castle.

"Of course I am. I told you that the dog was guarding something." Hermione said, still having that smug grin. Harry sighed, "I still think we shouldn't bother. Whatever he's guarding is none of our business."

"Harry James Potter! Where's your sense of adventure?" Hermione frowned. "Besides, doesn't it make you curious at all? I've never heard of someone named Nicholas Flamel."

Ron shrugged as he walked forward. "He has his own Chocolate Frog card. My brother Charlie's got a gold print copy of it in his room at home."

Harry seemed surprised. "So he's important, then?" Harry asked. He remembered the jumping treat from the few times he had done things with Ron; the redhead seemed to really enjoy them.

"Iunno." Ron shrugged, making Hermione huff in annoyance. Harry spoke up a moment later, "Alright, well at least Hermione can—"

"No." Hermione said angrily.

"No what?" Harry asked, looking at her curiously. Hermione stamped her foot, crossing her arms as she replied, "I told you, we're doing this together. I'm not doing all the research for you, Harry! You need to participate too."

"I just don't think it's really that import—" Harry started, only to be cut off by Hermione, who didn't seem to be listening to him. "And don't tell the others, either! We need to have some secrets, just the three of us." Hermione gave Harry a pointed look, her hands moving to her hips.

"Alright, Hermione. Stop. Listen. I will tell the others if I want. You really don't have any say in that. They're a part of our group too." Hermione seemed a bit annoyed at that, shouting, "But Malfoy is a… a… slimy snake!"

"So am I. I'm proud to be a Slytherin." The comment made Ron look like Harry had just murdered a puppy in front of him. Cringing back with a look of horror, he practically shouted, "You can't be serious, mate. You'd do far better in Gryffindor. Or at the very least, Ravenclaw."

"The Hat told me I'd do well in any of the Houses, and let me choose. I chose Slytherin, because I have dreams that will change the world." Harry puffed out his chest, as Ron looked even more horrified. "They've infected you with their slimy Slytherin-ness! You're becoming one of them! We have to get you away from them, mate!"

Harry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Stop! Both of you! What's gotten into the two of you today? Didn't we agree that we'd be friends no matter our House? We promised at the start of the year!" Ron and Hermione looked a little uncomfortable, shifting in place before Ron spoke up.

"I didn't think you'd end up a slimy snake, mate. You're a Potter! They've always been Gryffindors."

"Well maybe it's high time that changed. Hermione, if you want to find out about what Fluffy is guarding so bad, you do the research. I'm not going to help at all." Harry said, storming back into the castle, as the two looked at each other in dismay.

Ron wasn't with the group that evening for dinner. Hermione wasn't either; the young witch was sitting alone at the end of the Ravenclaw table. Harry didn't care; he was too angry at the two of them for what had happened earlier.

Besides, tonight was going to be fun.

As the rest of the students filed in, Harry sent his magic slowly across the room, making sure not to use his wand as the magic moved to the stools where Fred and George sat. His magic slid into a pair of runes that he had carved there; the first stage.

As the twins entered the hall, they moved to the Gryffindor table and sat down. The small runes Harry had carved into the seat began to glow, hidden underneath them.

With the runes active, Harry hoped Draco had managed to get the runes onto the hem of their robes. The blonde Slytherin had kept quiet about his idea, instead telling Harry that he should trust him.

With a glance at Draco that was received by a smirk, Harry and Draco nodded imperceptibly to each other. It was go time.

"Potter, you hold yourself far, far too highly! You act like you're some sort of prince, a king of all witches and wizards!" Draco stood up, as the hall quieted down, looking over to the shouting at the Slytherin table. Nott mouthed at Harry, "What?" but Harry merely grinned and stood up.

"Of course! I'm better than all lower witches and wizards! Because I am the Prince of Hogwarts!" Harry stood up and stood atop the table, before raising his hands. "I am the strongest witch in the entire hall! I am the second coming of Merlin!"

Harry could see Snape's face go white as a sheet as his grip on the Head table turned to that of a vice. Harry knew he'd have to apologize to the man later, but for now he would continue, "After all, I am the Heir of Arthur! The Ruler of Albion! I can make anyone do what I want!"

Harry clapped his hands for effect, as Fred and George suddenly started to lift into the air. "What the—" "Put us down, Potter!" The twins said as they floated into the air.

"All simple magics for the Prince of Hogwarts!" Harry shouted and pointed at the two, moving his hand like a conductor's baton as Fred and George started to spin in the air. Harry hopped down off the table, as he moved to the front of the Great Hall where he knew a set of runes were on a specific brick he had carved.

"These two will make excellent servants! Their magic knows who their ruler is!" Harry said as he moved into position, feeling the sole of his shoe touch the carved rune as he fed his magic into it. Fred and George floated forward, as suddenly their clothes turned into coats of sheeplike wool on them.

"Excellent, excellent. Now, bow to me, my loyal sheep!" Seeing Harry's tone being mocking and the grin on his face, the entire Great Hall started to laugh as Harry put on a snooty look. He leaned back as McGonagall stood up, Harry's head rising so high that his back was arched and his face was looking backwards as he pointed at the twins. "What in the name of Merlin are you doing, Mister Potter?" McGonagall was doing her best not to laugh at the ridiculous sight.

"Why, I'm looking down my nose at those beneath me, of course! I'm so important that I had to raise my nose even higher, which meant that I have to stand like this!" This made the entire Great Hall laugh louder, all except for the Weasley Twins. Harry flicked his hand and touched one of the runes on the stone brick under him as he did, making them fall to the ground suddenly.

"Ah, there you are. At your place at my feet. As good sheep should be!"

Fred, or perhaps it was George, opened his mouth to shout at Harry but the only thing that came from his lips was a "BAAAAAAA!"

The entire hall laughed even louder, as Harry grinned. "Such good sheep. Of course, your Prince of Hogwarts is tired, and I believe the weight of the crown is too much for me. So, I have no choice but to abdicate. But not before giving my first, and only decree!" Harry moved down as Fred and George were stuck on the step lower than him, a pair of weight runes keeping them pinned as Harry stepped past them.

"From here out, I am keeping watch on what happens in Hogwarts. And should I see any more rude pranks placed on people, I will be most unhappy."

Harry moved to another stone brick and stepped on it, the rune on the bottom of his shoe pressing down on the one there.

All of a sudden, a series of runes around the Great Hall activated, as gouts of blue fire shot from the edges of the hall, flicking against the ceiling and turned to sparkles, fluttering around the room.

After the spectacle finished, there was a single clap, then more, as Harry grinned, taking a bow. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week. Actually, until June."

Laughter once more echoed in the hall as Harry moved to sit back down. Fred and George were freed a moment later, as the laughter echoed in their ears. They peered at each other, and grinned before heading over to the Slytherin table and mimicked pulling off their hats.

"I do believe…"

"We may have met our match!"

Fred and George grinned at Harry, before giving a bow once more.

"The Weasley Twins give tribute to the Prince of Pranks! We have been bested, Potter."

"You are as good as a Marauder!"

Harry grinned. "Just keep your pranks a little more humane and we'll be even, got it?" Harry said.

"I do believe-"

"-we can do that!" The twins said with a grin.

With that, the two spun around and returned to the Gryffindor table as Dumbledore stepped up.

"Well! What a wonderful performance. With our now ex-Prince safely at the Slytherin table, I do believe it is time to quiet down and eat. Afterwards, Mister Potter, if you'd come and see me in my office?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, and Harry saw the smile on the old wizard's lips.

With that, the great hall, still having some laughter here and there, resumed the normal evening of merriment.

"I must ask, Harry my boy, how you managed such a grand performance in the Great Hall." Dumbledore asked as Harry stepped into his office.

"Oh, um… I used Runes, sir." Harry said as he moved over, sitting down.

"It was a wonderful performance. I suppose it was in no way retaliation for the prank on Slytherin house earlier this year?" Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. Harry smiled, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead. "Oh, of course not, sir! Why would you ever think that? It was merely just fooling around, a simple little prank on the Weasley twins. I'd never retaliate for a mere prank!"

"Of course, of course." Dumblefore's eyes shone with mirth. "But I had to ask, dear boy. You can never be too careful about assuming things." Dumbledore stood, and Harry leaned back in the chair. "Now, Harry my boy, I hear from good sources that you and Mister Malfoy are getting quite close."

"He's one of my friends, sir. Of course we're close."

Dumbledore sighed, giving a small frown. "I must implore you to reconsider, my boy. His family is Dark, and his father even served Voldemort; the man who killed your parents."

"Sir, with all due respect, that was his father, and I was a baby. My parents died and I am unhappy about that, but I don't see why blaming Draco for something that happened when he was a baby as well would do anything."

"Harry, the Malfoys are quite Dark. They even follow the Old Ways! They perform unspeakable rituals each year in worship of dark forces. They are not those you should be associating with."

Harry frowned. "Sir, I want to be friends with Draco. I won't be told who I can and cannot be friends with by anyone; not even you, sir. Besides, I'm a Slytherin. He's my Housemate."

"Of course, Harry. But speaking of that, I believe that the Sorting Hat made a mistake with your sorting. Due to this, I wanted to see if you'd accept a re-sorting; you would fit far better in Gryffindor."

Harry frowned. Why was this topic suddenly coming up so much? "I'm happy where I am, sir." Harry said quickly. Dumbledore had a look of dissapointment that made Harry feel guilty. "Ah. I see. Well, if you are sure, Harry my boy. But remember what I said, I implore you. The Malfoys are not a good family to be near, due to their… history." Dumbledore's sparkle in his eyes were gone, replaced by a mournful look.

"I'll remember, but I won't push Draco away as long as he wants to be my friend." Harry said. "Will that be all, sir?" With another great sigh and another look of disappointment from the old wizard, Dumbledore nodded. "Of course, Harry my boy. You may return to your friends."

Harry stood up, before leaving the Headmaster's office; Dumbledore's gaze was unmoving upon him until he stepped from the room.

-Author's Notes-

I appear to have caught a cold thanks to a polar blast currently hitting the United States. Though, even with my illness, I wanted to make sure you guys got a second chapter this week!

Interested in reading the rough draft? Send me a PM; I'm always looking for people to look it over and point out flaws to correct before public release.

Beta'd by Kaminton and Angie.

Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling, not me.