Chapter 4: Thieves, Traps and Talks

"It makes no sense that the Headmaster's office is hidden away behind a locked gargoyle!" Harry yelled fists clenched. "How the bloody hell are people supposed to reach him in an emergency if they can't even knock on his stupid door?"

"Language, Harry," Hermione absently chastised her friend. She tugged on his arm to pull him away from the recalcitrant stone guardian. "Though I do have to agree – Magicals seem rather short on common sense at times don't they? Come on. Neville you too. There's no point arguing with this thing. Let's go try talking to Professor McGonagall instead."

"Good idea, Hermione, she'll definitely help." Neville said nodding with confidence.

"Well, at least she'll probably be able to get in to talk to Dumbledore," Harry grumbled. He stopped fighting Hermione, casting a dark glance back at the gargoyle before turning and quickly stalking ahead of the other two. Their hurried pace had them knocking on McGonagall's office within only a few minutes.

The Deputy Headmistress blinked in surprise at the trio of students standing outside her door as she answered the knock door. "Yes? Mr.'s Potter and Longbottom, Miss Granger? It is quite close to curfew. How can I help you at this time of evening?"

"Professor we – " Hermione began but was cut off as Harry started speaking over her.

"Snape is going to try to steal the Philosopher's Stone!"

McGonagall blinked again. She turned to stare at each student in turn before twisting to Hermione. "Miss Granger, you…you believe this as well?"

"I know it seems far-fetched, Professor," Hermione said nodding, "but we are almost certain of it. Most of our evidence is hearsay and extrapolation but it is the only conclusion that makes any sense."

"I do not know how you three found out about the Stone," McGonagall sighed. "I assure you however that it is perfectly safe. Several different members of the staff have added their own unique protections and no one save the Headmaster has knowledge of the entire scheme. There is no need to worry."

Harry gave a low growl. 'Ignored yet again. How typical,' he thought.

"Please, Professor," Neville said quietly, "if we could at least speak with the Headmaster…"

"The Headmaster was called away to an emergency meeting at the Ministry. He left via broom and is unreachable for the next several hours." She frowned, thinking. 'Could it be possible? Would someone really be daring enough to attempt a theft in the middle of Hogwarts with dozens of adult wizards and witches right there? No, no one was that daring! Not for over a decade.'

"But – "

"Please, I understand your concerns but again, I assure you, the Stone is perfectly safe in Hogwarts and that Professor Snape has no intention to attempt a theft. If you still feel this strongly about it then we can discuss this in the morning when the Headmaster returns. For now, please return to your dormitory before curfew."

"But – " Hermione said.

"Hermione, forget it," Harry muttered. He grabbed her arm and started pulling her away. "Let's just go." Neville narrowed his eyes at Harry before nodding and hurrying along to follow.

"Alright, Harry, what gives?" Neville asked the other boy after they had moved far enough away to avoid being overheard.

"Yes, it's not like you to just give up like that, Harry," Hermione added with her brow drawn in worry.

"There's no way she's going to believe us. I'm telling Shiva instead. Should've gone to her first," Harry said hurrying towards the Ancient Runes classroom.

"You really think she'll believe us when Professor McGonagall won't?" Neville asked with a slight quaver to his voice. McGonagall had evidently sapped at least part of his confidence.

"Worth a try. But yeah I do." Harry pulled up outside his mentor's door and quickly knocked.

"One sec!" came the muffled reply from beyond the threshold. "Just give me a – " Shiva huffed pulling open the door, "minute. Harry?" The young teacher was dressed in a too large T-Shirt and had on a tousled pair of pajama pants. "You know what time it is? What's going on you three?"

"Shiva we need your help!" Harry said with his fists clenched.

Shiva frowned and glared at him. "Harry…"

He waved the rebuke off impatiently. "I know, I know, private! So not important at the moment! We've already been to McGonagall – she ignored us! And Dumbledore is gone which means that Snape's going to try to steal it tonight!"

The older woman opened her mouth to say something before floundering and trying again. "Maybe you three better come inside." She sighed. The trio walking in and collapsed into the nearby chairs as Shiva sat down in front of them with her arms crossed. "Let's try this again. Start from the beginning this time, yeah?"

Harry took a deep breath before leaning forward and starting to speak. "Snape has been acting shifty all year, more so than just his grudge against me. We've noticed a lot of little things and we know that the Philosopher's Stone is hidden in the school underneath Fluffy."

"Fluffy?" Shiva asked, her arms spreading wide for more information.

"Hagrid's Cerberus," Neville supplied.

"Why does it not surprise me he named his monster dog, Fluffy…" Shiva muttered. "Alright, go on."

"I like Hagrid," Harry continued, "he's really, really nice. But everyone knows he's not exactly all that good at keeping a secret, and we just found out that he accidentally mentioned to someone shady how to get past Fluffy, and with the attempt earlier this year with the troll, and now with Dumbledore gone for the night the thief has got to be planning to try again tonight!"

"Breathe, Harry," Hermione muttered from beside him.

Shiva frowned and stared between all three of them. "And you told this to Professor McGonagall as well?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, ma'am. But she just said that the Stone was safe and told us to go back to bed and discuss it in the morning."

"Well, I was assured that the protections were sufficient when I offered to add some wards to it…but this does sound a bit suspicious." Harry's heart fluttered a bit. Would she really help them? "Okay. Here's what we're going to do. I'll go get Dumbledore and we'll check the defenses to make sure that everything is still secure while you three – "

"I thought Dumbledore was gone?" Hermione asked.

"He is, but he should be arriving at the Ministry by the time I get to the ward line to Apparate over there. We should be able to get back within a half hour tops." Shiva replied. "Now I want you three to go back to Gryffindor Common Room. Wait for me there, after Dumbledore and I check it out, I'll come and let you know what happened okay?"

"I…" Harry floundered. She was helping yes, but...shouldn't someone be watching the door until they get back?

"Harry…" the teacher shot Harry a glare. He wilted.

"Okay," he finished with a grunt.

"Great. Now go on you guys, I'm just going to grab a pair of jeans and head out. If I'm not up to talk to you in two hours then go to McGonagall again, and this time don't let her out of your sight until she comes with reinforcements, yeah?"

"We can do that," Neville nodded.

"Yeah, sure. Come on guys. Thanks, Shiva," Harry said as he led the others back out into the corridor.

Harry stopped on the landing to the third floor twisting to look down the corridor.

"Harry?" Hermione said from behind him. She pulled on his sleeve. "We have to keep going. It's past curfew now and we don't want to get caught by Filch even if Professor Babbling gave us permission." She shuddered a little. That caretaker was almost as bad as Professor Snape.

"What if he's already there?" Harry asked so low the other two could barely hear him.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"What if Snape is already trying to steal the Stone right now?" Harry asked again louder. He was still staring down the empty hallway in front of him. "What if by the time Shiva and Dumbledore get back it's too late?"

"I think we should listen to what Professional Babbling said to do..."

"He might be right, Hermione," Neville said. He stepped up beside Harry. "Maybe we could just go and guard the door? You know, just to be safe?"

Hermione's mouth snapped shut. "But – we're – oh for Heaven's sake! Fine!" The girl threw her hands up in the air and glared at the two boys. "If either of you get me expelled I will kill you, dig up your grave to spit on your corpse and eat your soul. You understand that, yes?" She got two fearful, hurried nods in reply. "Excellent. Well let's not dally then." She stalked off leading the way to the door with Fluffy and the Stone beyond. "Stupid boys," she muttered.

When the trio reached the door Hermione stopped so suddenly that Harry nearly ran into her back. "Ugh oh…" he said as he noticed the door was slightly open.

"He's probably still down there," Neville said, a small quaver creeping into his voice. "Should we stay up here and try to slow him down when he comes back up or should be try to run to McGonagall?"

Hermione shook her head. "She's not likely to believe us quickly enough to make a difference. Not after earlier."

"We go down after him," Harry declared squaring his shoulders.

"We what?" Neville squeaked.

"Harry," Hermione stopped, steeled herself and started again. "Harry, do you have any more of your…volatile…runes on you?" He shook his head. "Damn. Well, we'll just have to figure it out as we go. Come on, boys." She strode towards the door without looking back.

Neville turned to stare at Harry mouthing a silent "wow" at him. Harry just snorted and turned to follow his friend.

Fluffy was loudly snoring inside the threshold. An enchanted harp strumming along in the corner of the room appeared to be the piece of music that had lulled the beast. Harry pointed towards the trap door laying open near the great dog's paw and the trio carefully walked towards it.

"Looks pretty far…" Neville whispered.

"There's likely a cushioning charm or something at the bottom," Hermione whispered back. "Are we sure we want to do this?"

Harry moved up to the edge. "I'll go first. Hermione, you follow behind me and Neville you're after her." And then he jumped into the darkness of the trapdoor.

Harry had just enough time to worry about whether or not there really was a cushioning charm before he landed on something soft and squishy. A few seconds later he heard soft thuds as Hermione and Neville also landed near him. "Well," Harry said, "that wasn't so bad."

"Shite!" Neville suddenly yelled causing Harry to jerk his head around towards the sound. "It's Devil's Snare!"

Harry squinted into the darkness before squeezing the spongy material under him. His eyes widened and he gasped in shock as he realized just what his Herbology inclined friend had said. Devil's Snare. A nasty carnivorous plant that enjoyed strangling its victims and slowly digesting the corpses. "What do we do?!"

"Fire! It doesn't like fire!" Neville yelled back.

"But we don't have any wood!" Hermione moaned from nearby.

"Are you a witch or not?!" Harry screamed at her. He jerked his wand towards the plant curling around his legs and yelled out, "Incendio!" A small flame burst from his wand followed shortly by two others from his friends nearby. The reaction from the plant was nearly immediate as it uncoiled everything around the three and pulled back towards the wall. Harry, Neville and Hermione hurriedly ran to the door into the next room pulling it closed behind them and letting the flames die out. This room was thankfully perfectly well lit.

"Well," Hermione puffed, "that was certainly interesting. Good job, Neville."

" 'We don't have any wood.' That's a good one, Hermione," Harry chuckled.

The girl glowered at him. "Well excuse me for panicking a little. It's the first time I've been almost strangled by a plant."

"At least we didn't land on a troll," Neville snorted beside her.

"Ugh, let's just keep going. Anybody see a way out of this room?" Hermione glanced around the large room they had found themselves in. It was completely empty with the exception of a large set of doors opposite where they had come in and a flock of small flying creatures above them. "You don't think those things are going to attack us if we step out into the center do you?"

"Those – They're keys…" Harry said looking up at the flying items in shock.

"Keys?" Neville squinted upwards. "Wow. Guess you're the Seeker for a reason. I guess we have to pick the right key then."

"There are brooms here." Hermione pointed to the side where two brooms lay against the wall hidden near the door in.

"I got this," Harry said striding over to the brooms. "You guys go wait by the door out in case they attack and we have to run." His friends nodded and hurried over. When they were in position, Harry swung a leg over the broom and pushed into the air.

Nearly immediately the flying keys turned towards Harry and started trying to dive bomb the boy. Harry put his Quidditch practice to the test and dodged, ducked, dived and dipped between the attacking keys until he managed to pick out the one with a bent wing reaching out to pluck it from the air just like a Snitch. Barreling towards the door with his prize Harry threw the key to Neville before performing some aerial acrobatics to dodge the attacking keys and follow his friends through the opening. As soon as he skimmed through, Hermione and Neville slammed the door shut again behind him and a staccato series of thumps sounded through the wood accompanied by tips of keys poking through to their side.

"I don't like how we've almost died twice in five minutes," Hermione said with a shudder.

Harry just shrugged and let out a nervous chuckle. "Did you expect it to be easy?"

Neville just shook his head and sighed. "You know sometimes I hate you guys. So, chess this time?" he said jerking his head to what lay ahead of them.

"Looks that way." Harry nodded. "Anyone have a preference for the King and Queen?"

Hermione walked over towards the board. "Harry you should be the King. You're the one who really has to make it across all this." Before Harry could even begin to protest Hermione held up a hand. "You're the one who can quickly talk to Professor Babbling, Harry. So, ergo, you're the important one here."

"You guys are important too, Hermione!" Harry scowled.

"All the same, you're the King, Harry. Now stop arguing!" Harry glared at Hermione as she finished yelling at him, but nodded agreement all the same. She really could be bossy when she felt like it!

"Hermione, you be the Queen," Neville said. "I was always better with Knights anyway."

The three pieces the friends had claimed bowed and walked to the side of board while the group took the empty places. Using input from Hermione and Neville, Harry directed the chess pieces in their game. Considering how awful at chess he was it was definitely a good thing that Neville stepped up and took charge of the strategy of the movements. Within less than ten minutes the other side had been checkmated and the trio was walking through the open doors into the next room.

"Ugh, someone mentioned another troll?" Harry asked holding his hand over his nose.

"This one looks even bigger than the last," Neville said in a soft voice. Thankfully this troll was quite dead seeing as a large section of its head was caved in.

Harry honestly couldn't bring himself to care much this time. It didn't help his compassion that Hermione was wrapped tightly around his arm, shaking and making quiet whimpering noises. "Come on, guys. We've got to be catching up."

As soon as the trio passed over the threshold into the next room, flames sprang up covering both the way in and the way out. One set of flames burned purple and the other was jet black.

"Well," Neville said swallowing nervously and staring between the two walls of fire, "this could be a problem."

"Look," Hermione unwrapped herself from Harry's arm and strode over to a small table in the middle of the room. "Harry, Neville, come here. This looks like a riddle of some sort."

"Hermione, is this a logic puzzle?" Harry asked looking over her shoulder at a note placed in front of the series of potion bottles.

"I believe so," Hermione commented absently reading over the list of clues several times. "Give me a minute."

Neville ran a hand through his hair. "That's a really good idea actually…we wizards aren't exactly known for our logical abilities are we?"

"Not from what I've seen," Harry muttered. His eyes widened and he looked at Neville stricken. "S-sorry, Neville! I, um, I didn't – "

"It's fine, Harry. I've been hanging around you two long enough to figure out that much at least," his friend replied with a sad chuckle. "I'm trying to work on it."

"Got it!" Hermione crowed. She pointed out several of the bottles. "This bottle will take us back the way we came. These three are poison. These two are the wine, and this one," she held up the smallest bottle, "will take us forward."

"It looks like only one dose…" Harry said taking the bottle from Hermione.

"Well considering none of the bottles appear to have been used already, they likely refill after several minutes." She paused and chewed her lip. "Or…Professor Snape used a flame freezing charm."

"Okay." Harry nodded. "You two take the one the other one and head back to meet up with Shiva and Dumbledore. I'll keep going and try to delay Snape."

"Maybe we should all just wait here," Neville said with a frown. "I don't like the idea of you going ahead alone."

Hermione's lips were quivering and her eyes were watering. "There's nothing we can say that will make you wait is t-there?" Harry shook his head with his mouth set in thin line. Hermione threw her arms around him and crushed him in a huge hug. "You come back you h-hear me! You come back!"

"I'll do my best, Hermione," Harry said squeezing her back. "Nev, make sure she stays safe."

"I will, Harry." Neville clapped a hand onto Harry's back and gently pulled Hermione off him. "Be careful, mate." Harry nodded in reply, tipped back the potion bottle and strode through the flames into the next room.

"Professor Quirrell?" Harry blurted out incredulously as he saw the man standing in the middle of the final room. Quirrell was scowling at a mirror set up dead center in the small room and barely even took notice of Harry entering behind him.

"Potter. I really shouldn't be surprised about this. You and your little friends have been rather annoying this year," Quirrell sneered, all traces of the usual stuttering gone from his voice.

"But – but – no! This isn't right, Snape is the one who's trying to steal the Stone!"

"Yes, he really does seem to fit the mold doesn't he? Who would ever suspect poor traumatized Quirrell when the sneering bat is making himself such a tempting target? I would've probably thanked him had he not made this so difficult!"

Harry had his wand on Quirrell but he had no idea what he should be doing at this point. While Professor Flitwick had taught him the basics of the disarming and stunning spell Harry still wasn't particularly good with them and he knew he would stand no chance against a fully qualified adult wizard. 'Shiva is coming soon,' Harry thought. 'All you have to do is stall!'

"But…Snape was trying to kill me at the Quidditch game!" Harry managed to yell out.

"Oh no, I was the one trying to kill you, boy," Quirrell laughed. The sound was hollow and it sent chills down Harry's spine. "Severus was trying to save you. Muttering his annoying little counter-curse. He certainly hates you just like your father before you. I don't expect he wishes you dead though. Or at the very least he wishes to do it himself."

'Neville knocked Quirrell over to try and distract Snape.' Harry's mind was spinning. He cast about trying to find something else, anything else, something to keep him distracted.

"What about the troll? Did you let that in the castle too then?"

"Oh course. I even managed to place some bait near that foolish little girl. Shame the Muggle-born survived. I surely would've had more than enough time to retrieve the Stone before this addition had she been a good little girl and died like she was supposed to."

Harry's vision tinged with red and his hand clenched on his wand. This…man…had deliberately tried to kill Hermione! Harry's rage built and with a roar he yelled out, "Expelliarmus! Stupefy!" Two jets of red light burst from Harry's wand in quick succession. Quirrell twirled as Harry first opened his mouth and erected a shield. His face jerked in surprise as Harry's second spell shattered the shield but he flicked his wand at the student before Harry could take advantage of the opening. Ropes wrapped around him and Harry snarled incoherently at Quirrell.

"Let…me…speak with…the boy," a hissing voice sounded throughout the small room. Harry stopped struggling and felt his scar start to burn.

"But, Master, you – "

"Silence, Quirinus!" Quirrell immediately shut his mouth and turned his back to Harry. With a muttered, "Yes, Master," the man began unwrapping his turban. As the cloth fell away, Harry recoiled in horror and pain as his scar beat a drumbeat of pain through his skull.

Protruding from the back of Quirrell's head was a face from a nightmare. Narrow, red eyes. Slits for a nose, a too wide mouth. It was vaguely snake-like and a name drifted up through Harry's memory. "Voldemort," he breathed out.

"Very good…boy. I admit…you are…stronger than I had…expected."

"How is this…?"

"My servant has failed me…one too many times…he needed to be watched…more closely…after his failure at…Gringotts. Too long have I…remained weak…thanks to you and…your mother. But now…with the Elixir…I will regain my body. Quirinus…use him."

"Come here, boy!" Quirrell shouted flicking his wand at Harry. Harry flew towards Quirrell and stopped directly in front of the mirror. "Tell me what you see!"

'Lie! Lie!' Harry thought desperately as he looked into the mirror. A quick glance up and he found the familiar markings of the Mirror of Erised stenciled into the frame. 'How does this help? I couldn't get the Stone from this thing even if I wanted to!' Harry hadn't even finished the thought before his gaze from drawn back down to the Mirror by a quick movement. His phantom self in the reflection was unbound and holding up a hand. That hand was clenched around a blood red stone that almost seemed to pulse from within. The Phantom-Harry smiled at him and dropped his hand into his pocket before vanishing. Harry felt a weight settle against his leg as the images of his dead family again floated into view in the reflection.

"Well! What do you see, Potter!"

"I see…my family," Harry whispered. "I see my mum and my dad and sisters and grandparents."

"Too…easy. He…lies!" Voldemort hissed.

"Tell me where the Stone is, Potter!" Quirrell yelled and flicked him around to stare at the older man again.

"Come…Potter. Tell me where it is. Do not be like…your mother," Voldemort breathed out. "I gave her the chance…to stand aside. All I wanted…was you. I would have spared her then. I will spare you now. Just tell me…where is the Stone!"

"Bullshite! I'll never tell you!"

"He has it on him! Seize him, Quirinus!"

Quirrell lunged at Harry. As soon as the man's hands touched Harry's skin, the ropes dissolved, an acrid burning smell spilt into the air and both Harry and Quirrell screamed in pain. Quirrell fell back, holding up his hands in shock as his skin was burnt black. Harry collapsed to his knees and dropped his wand but, thankfully his own skin was unmarred. "Master, I cannot touch him!" Quirrell whimpered.

"Then kill him you fool and take the Stone from his corpse!"

"No!" Harry snarled at Quirrell and Voldemort. He didn't have time to lunge for his wand – it had rolled too far away. Instead he jumped forward and wrapped his hands around Quirrell's throat. Both screamed in pain and this time Voldemort's shriek joined in as well. Harry felt Quirrell's skin under his hands boil and his scar felt like it was almost going to split in two but he held on. He held on as the man beneath him flailed. He held on as his vision darkened.

The last thing Harry heard as his hands finally slackened were three distinct cries of, "HARRY!"

Harry awoke to bright sunlight streaming in through a nearby window and a sterile smell. Groaning he shifted in the bed he was lying in noticing most of the decor was a stark white. Fumbling for his glasses from the table beside him, Harry finally figured out he was in the hospital wing and stretched out on one of the beds near the corner. Hermione was sleeping curled up on a chair nearby and there were a pile of cards and snacks on the nearby table. Harry smiled down at his friend but before he could try to move Madame Pomfrey, the Mediwitch, bustled out and shook her head at him.

"Well it's good to see you awake, Mr. Potter. How are you feeling?"

"Actually," Harry paused to take stock, "really good. My head is still a little sore but I feel fine, ma'am. What happened?"

"You'll have to ask either Professor Babbling or the Headmaster that question. All I know is they came bursting in here with Miss Granger and Mr. Longbottom in tow. You were already out and quite poor off." Pomfrey fixed him with a hard stare. "I don't like students visiting me like this, Mr. Potter. I hope we will not be having a repeat performance?" she said with an arched eyebrow.

Harry gulped. "No, ma'am. I certainly have no intention of doing that again."

"Good," Pomfrey took out her wand and began casting several diagnostic charms over his body. "You appear well enough off that you may leave after the Headmaster comes to speak with you. Take this potion for your headache." She nodded at him and, leaving a potion by his bed, walked off back to her office.

Harry drank the potion with a grimace at the horrid taste. He had twisted to wake Hermione when there was a quiet throat clearing behind him. Turning back, Harry saw Professor Dumbledore taking a seat beside his bed. "Professor."

"Good morning, Harry. I trust you are feeling refreshed?"

"I've been better, Sir, but…yes."

"Excellent." The teacher's eyes twinkled and he gave a grandfatherly smile.

"Professor, what happened? The last thing I remember is burning Professor Quirrell and blacking out."

"Well, Harry, it appears that dear Quirinus was…unable to abide your touch. You see, your mother's sacrifice left a lingering…protection…within your blood. Her pure love saved you as a child, that leftover mark on your forehead from Voldemort's curse is proof of that. Her love watches over you even now. Someone like Professor Quirrell, whose heart was filled with hate and envy and who allowed himself to be possessed by Voldemort, was unable to withstand your touch. That is why he was injured so badly."

Harry frowned. That was wrong. His mother's love may have helped jumpstart a ritual or something but the 'mark' on his forehead was a Protection rune. It was definitely not a remnant of a curse gone wrong. It was some sort of focus of what his mother had accomplished when he was a baby. Harry may not fully understand what she had done but he had recognized the rune component right off. Professor Dumbledore was over a hundred years old and supposedly well versed in many arcane branches of magic…there was no way he had missed something like that. Harry shook his head. He could worry about that later; there were more important questions for the moment.

"So, did I kill him?"

Dumbledore sighed and laid a hand on Harry's arm. "What happened to Professor Quirrell was not your fault, my boy. He killed himself when he allowed Voldemort to possess him. His body lasted but a few moments when the wraith deserted him."

"So Voldemort got away then?" Harry scowled. Of course the monster got away. If he could survive being killed once then he could probably survive being semi-killed.

"Yes. Voldemort is no kinder to his servants than to his enemies. He abandoned Quirinus as soon as he was no longer a viable host."

"And the Stone, Sir?" Harry asked with a sigh. "How did I get it out? What happened to it after?"

"Ah, a clever bit of enchanted if I do say so myself," Dumbledore said, the twinkle back in his eyes. "Only someone who wished to find the Stone but not use it could retrieve it. I daresay not many would fit that description and certainly not Professor Quirrell or Voldemort."

"And after?"

"I have spoken with Nicolas and he has agreed that the Stone had to be destroyed. The danger of another attempt was simply too great. Nicolas and his wife Perenelle have enough Elixir remaining to set their affairs in order before the end."

"That doesn't seem very fair," Harry frowned.

"Life, unfortunately, is rarely fair, my boy." Dumbledore sighed and the twinkle left his eyes before he looked back up with a soft smile. "Now, do you have any other questions, Harry?"

Harry considered for a moment. "Voldemort said that Snape hated my father while they were in school together…"

"Professor Snape, Harry," Dumbledore corrected. "And yes, your father and Severus severely disliked each other. Then, to make matters even worse your father saved Severus' life. I do not believe he could ever forgive James for that event."

Harry frowned. That made no sense whatsoever. "Can you at least tell me why he hates me then?"

"I am sure you over exaggerate, Harry. Professor Snape may not favor you, but he certainly does not hate you."

"Could've fooled me." Harry muttered with a snort.

"Yes, well, I believe I should be off, Harry. It was good to – "

"Wait! Professor Dumbledore, I need to know one more thing." The older man nodded down at Harry. "Voldemort said that he was only there that night for me. That he gave my mother a chance to leave and let him have me. Why was he coming after me? Why did he care about a baby?"

A grimace crossed Dumbledore's face but he hid it quickly and merely sighed. "Alas, my boy, I cannot answer that question at the moment. You are far too young, far too innocent for me to answer that. I know you do not like to hear this, but when you are older I will inform you what he meant by that."

Harry scowled at the man. "I've lived with the Dursleys for ten years, Professor. I haven't been innocent since I was five."

Dumbledore simply gave him a patronizing smile and stared at him with that damnable twinkle. "Be that as it may, I will not burden you with this. Have pleasant day, Harry."

As Dumbledore left the hospital wing Harry snorted and flopped back into his pillow. "Typical adult," he muttered. Continuing in a slightly louder voice, "You can stop pretending now, Hermione."

Barely a second later a bushy brown bullet had engulfed him in a hug so tight he could barely breathe. "I – was – so – scared!" The girl sobbed into his chest. "You – were – screaming – and – you've – been – out – for – two – days!"

"Shh," Harry patted her head and pushed her back slightly, trying to both get some air and to look her in the eyes. "I'm fine now. See?" Hermione's head bobbed slowly. "Did you guys meet Shiva and Dumbledore on the way out?"

"No," Hermione shook her head wiping her eyes and finally calming enough that she wasn't choking out sobs. "No, Neville and I waited in the potion room. We were hoping the vial would refill and then one of us was going to go after you. But after a few minutes Professor Babbling ran into the room with Dumbledore on her heels. When she saw us she started cursing…well cursing you really…and she launched a flame freezing charm at the other doorway. She ran through it with the rest of us following and that's when we saw you – we saw you – " She gave another sob before taking a deep breath and continuing. "You collapsed and Professor Babbling and Professor Dumbledore took you back up here. Neville and the twins along with the other members of the Quidditch team have been in a few times. Some of the others from the tower stopped by as well. I think Lavender was the one who left the hair charms book…I might actually borrow that one if you don't mind."

Harry chuckled at that. Hermione may be babbling but at least she wasn't crying anymore. "I don't think you need it but sure, go ahead. Your hair is part of what makes you, you after all." Hermione's eyes widened as Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "So, what do you think the odds are that the Flamels pop up again in a few decades after this whole thing is over?" Harry asked with a smirk.

Hermione snorted. "I don't know if Professor Dumbledore actually believes he truly did destroy the Stone or if he just wanted you to believe that, but I would certainly never take that bet. You don't survive for six centuries without having some backups and dealing with attempted thieves every now and then."

"My thoughts exactly," Harry laughed.

"Harry," Hermione sat back, suddenly very hesitant. "About what you said about your family…"

"My relatives," Harry stated tonelessly. "The Dursleys are my relatives. Not my family."

"Yes, your…relatives…"

"I don't really want to talk about it, Hermione. Please," he pleaded, "please, just…let it go?"

"I…" Hermione frowned but nodded jerkily. "Okay. But we really are going to have to talk about it at some point, Harry."

"Just not now." Harry turned to look at the tower of sweets nearby. "Soo…you want to help me eat some of these?"

"Minerva," Shiva said as she slipped into her colleague's office, "we have to talk."

"Shiva," McGonagall greeted her young friend. "Please take a seat. How can I help you?"

"It's about Harry." Shiva said crossing her arms and sinking into the seat.

"Ah. I suppose I should have expected this. Tea?"

"I think this is more of a whiskey conversation, Min."

Minerva grimaced but moved to her special cabinet. "Have I really acted that terribly?"

"I think it's more that a lot of little things have piled up but…yeah, Min. You kinda screwed the pooch on this one." Shiva sighed and accepted the glass, taking a sip. "Look, have you noticed that I seem to be one of the only members of the faculty he comes to talk with?"

"He did speak with Filius and me shortly after Halloween…" Minerva trailed off as her brow furrowed trying to think of any other time the boy had stopped in to speak with the staff outside of classes. "And I know that Harry has taken several after class instructions on basic dueling spells…"

"But that's it. Min," Shiva leaned forward and stared into McGonagall's eyes, "he doesn't trust any of you. He barely trusts me and I think half that is because I practically beat him over the head to think of me as someone his age instead of a teacher."

The older woman narrowed her eyes at Shiva. "That is – "

"Not appropriate. Yeah, yeah I know. I don't care, Min! That kid could've blown up half a classroom because he didn't have anyone to tell him the dangers of what he was working on for fun. You were there when I almost killed Hestia and myself! I was working on something downright tame in comparison! If I have to lose some professional respect to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to Harry then I damn well will!" Shiva downed her drink and poured herself another glass. "But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I got that handled. He's consulting me on stuff and I already got him some of the basic equipment to safeguard any experiments months ago. I'm here to talk about his trust issues." She blew out a breath of smoke from the firewhiskey and leaned back. "I think he was a bit better about it before his talk with you after Halloween sent his trust into a downward spiral. And from some flippant comments throughout the year...I'm guessing whatever you two talked about had to do with his relatives?"

"His family?" Minerva rubbed her chin. "Yes. I believe I mentioned that Albus and I were the ones who brought him to his family."

Shiva scowled. "Relatives, Min. Not family. Relatives. Harry is always exceedingly careful to correct anyone who says differently. I don't know what is going on at the Dursleys but whatever it is it's not good. And he blames you and Dumbledore for it."

Minerva's mouth dropped open. She tried to say something several times before giving up and tossing back another glass. "Just how bad do you think it is?"

"I don't know. I won't push him on it because if I do I'll lose him. My money right now is on Granger eventually finding out first and then coming to one of us. I don't think they are actively beating him but I imagine they might as well be. I already spoke with Albus about moving him to a wizarding family or perhaps letting him stay with the Grangers for a few weeks, but he was…rather insistent that Harry stay where he is." Shiva practically growled. "I swear, if that boy comes back with any injuries I am going to tear that old man a new hole."

"Yes. I'll likely end up joining you at that. I was assured placing him with the Dursleys was for his protection and that James and Lily would not have objected but now...and supposedly their wills specified not to leave him with those people..." Minerva sighed. "I imagine I did not help things with my reactions to Harry, Hermione and Neville's concerns. Nor that said concerns proved to be perfectly correct."

Shiva shook her head. "No, you really didn't. I talked to him before coming up here. Apparently once they found the door open they didn't head back to the dorms like I told them to because they were worried that Snape would come back up before Dumbledore and I got back. I asked him why they didn't go find you again and Harry said that they had already spoken with you and didn't think you'd believe them if they tried again."

Minerva threw back another glass of whiskey. "I left them with the impression I would ignore their concerns?"

"Seems that way, yeah. Apparently even our resident genius, Hermione, thought so."

Minerva held her head in her hands. "Perhaps I have been juggling too much lately...Tell me, Shiva, do you think I can still fix this? The last thing I want is to have forever lost those three due to shortsightedness and stupidity."

Shiva gave her colleague a small grin and light chuckle. "I wouldn't be here otherwise, Min. Give him the summer to cool off. When he gets back, apologize, don't brush off any opinions or criticisms and you should be well on the way to mending fences. I wouldn't worry about Hermione too much. She'll likely come faster than Harry. It's not like you're Snape here!" Both teachers laughed at that comment. "And Neville is fine. I think. I haven't had much of any interaction with him honestly. The biggest advice I can give is try not to appear to favor Dumbledore over Harry."

"But, it's Albus," Minerva said in a pleading voice. "I realize he may have made mistakes but surely Harry cannot have lost that much – "

Shiva held up a hand and shook her head. "Min, he caught the old man in another half truth or outright lie earlier. He mentioned it to me to make sure and I have to say it does raise some questions..."

Minerva flinched back. "What?!"

"His scar." Minerva just furrowed her brow and Shiva sighed. "It's some variant form of a defense or protection rune. I've never seen something quite like it, but once Harry pointed it out I couldn't not see it. It looks like it's tied into something but I have no clue what. He said that Dumbledore implied the scar was a leftover from the killing curse...Look I'll be the first to admit the old man is a fantastic wizard and is on the right side but something about this whole Potter situation just smells funny you know?"

"I don't believe we have enough information to truly judge this matter. I think we will just have to wait and see where things lead," Minerva said rubbing her temples with one hand.

"Agreed. But just so we're clear, if it comes down to battle lines at some point in the future...I'm most likely going to be with Harry. That kid is looking more and more like the precocious little brother I always wanted. I'm not going abandon him for some nebulous Greater Good or other such bullshite."

"I can drink to that, Shiva. I can drink to that." Holding out their drinks, the two friends clinked glasses and moved onto less troublesome topics.

"Promise you'll write, Harry?" Neville asked as Platform Nine and Three-Quarters came into view from their window.

"I promise, mate," Harry replied with a smile. "Make sure you do the same."

"Harry, you're sure you're going to be alright?" Hermione asked staring hard at him and taking in the clothes that were far too large for him.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Harry replied with an evil grin. "Just because I know that I can't do magic or activate runes at the Dursleys doesn't mean they know that."

Neville laughed. "Harry, I think you've spent too much time with the twins!"

Hermione didn't appear convinced though. "Well remember, my parents are Muggles so if you need us to stop by or anything just send a letter or give me a call."

"I promise, Hermione." The train puttered to a stop and the whistle blew. "I'm going to miss you guys. It was nice having someone to hang out with."

"I know what you mean," Neville said quietly. "But hey, it's only a few months till we can all meet up again! And I'll ask Gran about you guys coming over for a day or two at some point. The Longbottom manor can get kinda empty sometimes."

"Sounds like a plan!" Harry stood up and clapped Neville on the back. He grinned then turned to Hermione and accepted her bear hug. "Have a great summer, Hermione."

"You too, Harry, Neville."

The trio smiled at each other and stepped off the train headed back towards their lives outside of Hogwarts.