Back to Finals
Chapter 23
The end of the year came faster than Draco expected, and exams were right around the corner. Draco and Potter spent most of their time trying to find ways to get past Fluffy and stop whoever it was from trying to get the Stone. Though with all the time they spent looking, they came up empty every single time.
Draco could tell Potter was becoming nervous about Voldemort, but he didn't blame him. Even he was a bit scared the madman would pop out at any moment. It became a common occurrence for the two boys to fall asleep next to each other. Draco realized he could barely get a full night's rest without being next to Potter and the same went for the other boy.
Their nightmares only happened occasionally and Draco always made sure to get out of Potter's bed before the others saw them together. They didn't talk about their sleeping arrangement. They didn't need to. It brought them both comfort in their lives and that was all that needed to be known.
When Draco would get frustrated with his research, he spent most of his time in the common room with Granger and Neville. Granger's worry for the upcoming exams started to rub off on Neville and the two somehow found a way to rope Draco into helping them study.
Draco didn't mind though. The more he helped them study the more he felt confident in his knowledge of the subjects. Even the really fine details that most decided to skip over, but not Granger. He helped them mostly with their Potions work because it was their worst subject and his best.
Draco thought over his past year at Hogwarts and his past eleven year old self would have probably killed him. Partnering up with Neville for potions was a decision he didn't have to think twice about, even with Neville's history in the class. Not only was he one of Draco's only friends at the time and stood up for him when no one else did, but he was a challenge that Draco wanted to take on.
Part of that logic might sound bad, but Draco knew, in Potions at least, that the class would be a breeze to pass. He was always looking for a way to improve his potion skills, and teaching Neville the subject was definitely one way to do it.
Neville had actually come a long way with Draco's help, and their Potions were always the best in the class. Now he wasn't as good at Potions as he was with Herbology, but he wasn't blowing cauldrons up every class.
Draco even found ways to get Potter and Weasley to join them sometimes. It usually involved getting Dobby to bring them up snacks during their study sessions.
The first exams they had were their written ones. They had entered large classrooms and were given charmed quills to detect cheating of other students just like they did every time Draco had taken these exams. As Draco looked through the questions on the exams, it put him more at ease. Draco flew through the exam faster than all the other witches and wizards, which came to him at no surprise.
Even though Draco had taken these exams before, he was still nervous with the outcome. He knew he needed to do well on the exams or his father would be livid. He thought back to what happened last time he didn't meet his father's expectations with his school work. He couldn't walk for days.
After their written exams were their practical exams. This part of the exams Draco was most confident in. This is where he got to show how much he understood the basics of the classes he had studied for years. Draco had made it through this part of the exams easily as well. He was able to transform the mouse into a snuffbox even better than before and make his pineapple tap dance with little effort.
When it came to Potions, Draco could feel the nerves of his classmates radiate off them. Draco wasn't surprised when he found out the potion they were brewing was different than in his past life. Severus did always try to keep him on his toes in any way possible. As Draco brewed his Strength Potion, he wanted to take a different approach to it than he normally would.
Instead of adding the snake fang and fanged geranium separately, he added them at the same time. Draco knew now wasn't the time to start experimenting with potions, but he couldn't help himself. If his logic was right the change would make the Potion ironically stronger and would work faster.
By the time Draco had finished brewing the potion, it looked identical to the original. Severus was making his way around the classroom and stopped in front of godson's station. He inspected the potion and looked at Draco before saying, "See me after this exam Mr. Malfoy."
Draco nodded and watched as his godfather continued to walk around the classroom. His nerves grew and he started to doubt his work. Why did he change the potion? he thought, Everything would have been fine if you would have just stuck to what you know and now father is going to be furious. His mind raced as images of his father beating him kept playing in his head, You'll deserve what he does to you. Why don't you ever listen?
Draco sat in silence as his classmates finished their own potions. When the exam ended, Neville and Potter looked his way as the class started to empty. Draco mouthed to them, "Go on. I'll be out soon," and sighed knowing he would eventually be punished for his risk.
Potter and Neville exited the class and Draco was left alone with his godfather. "Tell me Draco, Why did you change the potion?" Severus asked as he sat at his desk. Draco sighed, "I'm sorry really. I know I should have just brewed the potion as it should have been and I really intended to do so, but I just - I just thought if I changed it, the potion would be better."
Severus sat silent, thinking over what his godson had just said. "What you did was a huge risk especially on a final year exam. But I guess there was a reason for you to be sorted into Gryffindor. Your potion was brilliant, Draco. When I saw you add those ingredients, I knew exactly what you were thinking. You remind me a lot of myself in that way. Finding a way to use ingredients, to make even the simplest Potions better."
Draco watched as his godfather opened one of the drawers in his desk and pulled out a book. "When you told me about what happened this summer, I started to look for one of my old potions books from when I was in school." Severus handed the book to his godson, and Draco recognized it as the book they needed for their sixth year class.
"I want you to study my work and start to write down your own thoughts, not only with Potions, but with other subjects. The other teachers have been talking about your work in their classes over the year and are very impressed with your exams, so far. Though I would hope you would excel with all of your previous knowledge still with you." Draco looked down at the book stunned. He didn't know what to think, "I-I thank you." Draco stuttered as he looked up at his godfather.
"Now Draco, I need you to understand that you are to only study this book and not perform what lies between the lines. There are some very dangerous things within that book. If there is really something you want to try, come to me first and I will decide if it is a good idea, okay?" Severus stated seriously. Draco nodded and started to skim the pages already excited at what he was going to find.
"You may leave now. Your next exam should be starting soon." Severus dismissed him and Draco quickly walked out the door.
The next exam Draco had was the last he had to take. He entered the History of Magic class and found an empty seat amongst the others. It was another written exam and Draco felt better than ever on the subject. This class had always been one of his best, with his parents making sure he knew the history of their kind.
Once the class was dismissed, Draco hurried out of the classroom with the rest of the Gryffindors. The corridors were filled with cheers as students exited classrooms. Draco couldn't help but smile along with them. Dean, Seamus, and Neville started to walk towards the common room to celebrate.
"I'm going to go up with Dean and Seamus. Do you want to join?" Neville asked his friend. Draco thought for a moment. He wanted nothing more than to go with them, but he knew there were bigger problems to worry about. "I'm going to stay here with the others, but you have fun."
Draco walked with Potter, Granger, and Weasley down to the lake and they sat down under a tree with lots of shade. Draco leaned on the trunk next to Potter and they all took a moment to relax now that their coursework was finally finished.
"Finally, no more studying for the rest of the year!" Weasley exclaimed and looked over at Potter and saw his foul expression, "Come on mate. Cheer up. The exam results don't come back for another week, so no need to worry now."
Potter groaned and grabbed his forehead, "It's my bloody scar. It's been hurting way more than usual and it gets more painful each day." Potter looked up at the group with worry written all over his face, "I think it means danger is coming and fast.
"Harry, you need to stop worrying about this. It's like Hermione said, the stone is safe as long as Dumbledore is here. And besides you and Draco have been looking for a way to get past Fluffy for weeks, but haven't found anything yet so who says that Snape has." Weasley pointed out and Granger nodded in agreement.
Draco though shared Potter's concerns about the safety of the Stone. He knew Voldemort would stop at nothing to get the stone and he knew how loyal his followers were. They too would stop at nothing to bring their Dark Lord back and in power once more.
Potter tried to express more of his concerns on the topic, but they were quickly dismissed. Draco looked off towards the castle and saw many groups walking around the grounds. He looked over at the boy beside him and noticed he was in deep thought.
Draco was about to shake him out of it when Potter jumped up. "It all makes sense," Potter started to walk away from the tree and shouted back towards his friends, "Come on! We need to visit Hagrid."
Draco and the others ran to catch up with the Gryffindor. "What are you on about, Potter?" Draco asked as they hurried into the direction of the gamekeeper's hut.
"Isn't it odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger just happens to have an egg in his pocket?" Potter questioned as he climbed up the hill, "How many people wander around with a dragon egg in their pocket when it's against wizarding law to own one? How did we not see this before?"
Draco and Granger came to the same realization Potter had, but Weasley was still left in the dark. "What do you mean by that?"
Draco and the others ignored the question as they approached Hagrid's Hut. The gamekeeper was sitting on the steps leading up to the door and messing with a flute in his hands.
Hagrid looked up at the group and smiled. "Hullo, finished yer exams have yeh? Yeh want any tea?" "Sorry Hagrid but were in a hurry," Potter started, "You know that night when you won Norbert? What did the stranger who gave you the egg look like?"
Hagrid thought for a moment. "I dunno. He had on a cloak hiding his face the whole time, but that's not unusual. There’re many weird folk in Hog's Head."
"What did you talk to him about? Anything about Hogwarts?" Potter continued.
"Maybe," Hagrid said as he tried to remember more about that night, "He was askin' me what I did an' I told him I was the gamekeeper here. . . He asked what type of creatures I looked after. . . I told him I always wanted a dragon an' he said he had one. . . said I could play cards for it if I wanted. . . but he had ter be sure I could handle it. . . I told him after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy."
"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Potter questioned. Hagrid chuckled, "Of course he was, how many three headed dogs do yeh meet? So I told him Fluffy's a piece of cake once yeh know how ter calm him down, jus' play him a bit of music an' he'll fall fast asleep-"
Hagrid looked at the students in front of him, horrified with what he had just said. "I shouldn'ta told you that! Wait- where are yeh goin'?"
Draco, Potter, Granger, and Weasley all ran off towards the castle. Once they got to the entrance, they halted and took a second to catch their breath.
"We need to find Dumbledore!" Potter exclaimed, "Does anyone know where he lives?"
"It's this way, come on!" Draco said and led them off towards their Headmaster's study. Before they could get far, a voice stopped them. "What are you four doing inside right now?" Professor McGonagall questioned as the group turned towards her.
"We need to speak with Professor Dumbledore! It's urgent." Granger tried to explain. McGonagall looked the four up and down, "What's so important you need to speak with him right this moment?"
"Well. . . umm, you see, it's kind of a secret. We can't really speak of it," Potter fumbled with his words. McGonagall's eyes grew cold at the response, "Well Professor Dumbledore isn't at Hogwarts right now. He has important business with the Ministry to deal with, so whatever it is you need to speak to him about will have to wait."
Draco saw Potter start to panic and stepped in. "Professor, this has to do with the Sorcerer's Stone. We have very good reason to believe someone is trying to steal it and with the Headmaster off school grounds now it would be the perfect time for them to strike."
McGonagall's face was covered with shock. "I have now idea how you found out about the Stone, but Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow and will take care of it then."
"But-" Potter tried but was cut off by his Professor, "I know what I am talking about. Best if you all just go back outside and enjoy the sunshine while you can."
Draco watched as McGonagall walked off, leaving them alone. He started to get ticked off with her response. What was happening was serious and the whole school and every the world could eventually be endangered, and she just dismissed it as a problem for tomorrow.
"It's tonight. It's got to be," Potter stated and Draco could tell he felt the same way about the situation as he did, "Snape's going to go through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. I bet he even sent the note to get him out of the castle.
Weasley was about to speak up when Granger let out a gasp. Draco turned to what she was looking at and saw his godfather towering over them. "Good afternoon," Severus said politely.
Draco tried to read his face while the others stayed silent. "You shouldn't be inside on a day like this," Severus said with a slight smirk, "You ought to be more careful, hanging around like this, people will think you are up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?"
Before any of them could reply, Severus left with his cloak floating behind him. Potter turned back to the others "Here's the plan. Hermione and Ron you're going to wait outside the staffroom for Snape to come out and follow him if he does. Draco and I are going to wait outside the third-floor corridor door in case he goes there at some point."
Draco knew from Potter's tone that the plan he had wasn't up for discussion. Potter dragged Draco to the third floor, claiming he wasn't moving fast enough. They camped out for a bit, but it didn't last long.
Professor McGonagall decided to show up and pulled them away. "I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments!" she shouted as she shook her head, "If either of you come near this door again I will take fifty points away from you both!"
Draco knew better than to fight her and lead Potter back to their common room. When he entered, he was surprised to see Granger and Weasley already sitting by the fireplace.
"I'm so sorry Harry!" Granger exclaimed, "Snape went off to find another Professor for me and we tried to follow him but he got away. I don't know where he went."
Draco knew Potter wasn't happy with this information. "Well that only leaves one option. I'm going to have to get the Stone tonight before Snape does," Potter sighed.
"But Harry you can't. It's too dangerous. You could be expelled!" Granger tried to reason with him.
"So what?!" Potter shouted and Draco could see the fire in his eyes, "Don't you understand that if Snape gets the Stone, Voldemort's coming back? Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? If I get caught I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have, because I'm never going over to the dark side! I'm going through that trapdoor and nothing you three say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents! I'm not letting him kill anyone else without a fight."
Draco was stunned. He had never seen Potter blow up like this and there had been many times he had pushed the boy's buttons for fun. "You're right Harry," Granger agreed.
"I'll use the invisibility cloak," Potter assured.
"But will it cover all four of us?" Weasley asked. "All four of us?" Potter questioned as he didn't understand what Weasley was saying. "You can't be that daft, Potter," Draco started to explain, "We're coming with you of course."
Draco waited as Potter thought for a moment then nodded. "Then it's settled. Tonight we are going through the trapdoor."