Plans
Sirius was proud of Harry. The boy had been half terrified that Voldemort would pop up and kill him, yet he still managed to get through his exams. Though, he was annoyed that his friends weren't as worried about the Stone as he was. His scar kept hurting and he frequently complained to Sirius.
"I know it's a warning, Shadow. I just don't know what it's warning me about." He sighed, "I can't make it stop if I don't know why it's happening."
Sirius hoped that Harry wouldn't go after the Stone because of his "warning." He didn't get his hopes too far up, this was James's son, after all.
The day of the last exam Harry and his friends sat out by the Lake, talking about how well, or poorly, they thought they'd done. Lee Jordan and the twins insisted that the first years had nothing to worry about.
"No one really cares about how you do in first year." Fred told them.
"They make a big deal about it, but exams only really start influencing your future in fifth year." George added.
"Until then you can relax and coast."
Lee rolled his eyes at them, "Don't tell them that. If you want them to be pranksters like us they can't be suspicious. No one suspects the kids with good grades. Er, not at first, anyway."
Draco laughed, "You almost sound like a Slytherin with that thinking, Lee."
"Since it's coming from you, I'll take that as a complement."
"Your scar bothering you again, Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry had been rubbing his forehead, scowling.
"I can't figure it out." He groaned.
"Relax." George insisted, "It'll come to you."
Harry sighed, glaring at the ground for a moment before his head snapped up, eyes wide. He jumped to his feet and started walking towards Hagrid's hut.
"Harry?" Ron called, "Where're you going?"
His friends hurried after him.
"Don't you think it's weird that want Hagrid wants more than anything is a dragon, and then a stranger shows up that just happens to have one in his pocket? Ron, you told me it's against the law, so how many people would do that? Anyone else see something wrong with that picture?"
"Told you it'd come to you, Harry." George grinned.
Harry flashed a smile at him and ran up to Hagrid, who was sitting in an armchair outside his hut, shelling peas.
"Hullo." Hagrid said, smiling, "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"
"Yes, please." Ron answered. The twins smacked him upside the head.
"We're in a hurry." Harry said, "I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"
"Dunno," Hagrid shrugged, "he wouldn' take his cloak off."
"Really?" Draco frowned.
"It's not tha' unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head-- tha's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."
Harry looked a little desperate. "What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"
"Mighta come up." Hagrid frowned as he tried to remember. Sirius hoped he wouldn't, he knew where Harry was going with this and didn't want his godson in any more danger. "Yeah... he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here... He asked a bit abou' the sorta creatures I look after, so I told him... an' I said I'd always really wanted a dragon... an' then... I can' remember too well, cause he kept buying me drinks... Let's see... yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted... but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home... So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy...."
"And did he-- did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked. Sirius noticed how hard Harry was trying to stay calm.
"Well-- yeah-- how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how ter calm him down. Jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go striaght off ter sleep--"
Sirius wanted to shake Hagrid. He really appreciated what Hagrid had done for Harry, he really did. The man was kind and invited Harry and his friends over just to chat, he was there when Sirius couldn't be and the Marauder was very grateful for that. But how could he be so stupid! Honestly, telling strangers how to get past the guard dog for the Sorcerer's Stone. Granted, he had been drunk, but still!
"I shouldn'ta told yeh that!"
'No kidding!' Sirius wanted to scream.
The kids ran back towards the castle, Sirius running alongside them, as always.
"We've got to tell Dumbledore." Harry said. "I'll bet Shadow that it was Voldemort or Snape under that cloak. It must've been easy for them to get Hagrid to tell them how to get past Fluffy once he was drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us."
"Do you know where Dumbledore's office is?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked around, frowning. "No. We'll just have to--"
"What are you all doing inside?" McGonagall's voice rang across the hall.
"We want to see Professor Dumbledore." Draco said.
"Really? Why?"
Lee stepped forward, "It's kind of personal, Professor. We thought that, since Draco's involved, it would be best to speak with the Headmaster, instead of the Head of House."
McGonagall frowned, "Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry and flew off to London at once. If it's truly that urgent, you can speak with me."
"He's gone? But this is really important!" He insisted. "It's about the Sorcerer's Stone."
The professor dropped the books she'd been holding, "How did you--"
Fred and George jumped in, "Look, Professor- Lee wasn't telling the whole truth when he said this was a personal matter."
"Fact is, we know someone's planning on stealing the Stone."
"So we really need to talk to Dumbledore."
"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow. I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it." McGonagall said shortly.
"But Professor-"
"I know what I'm talking about." She gathered her fallen books, "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."
Sirius started to walk outside, hoping that the kids would wait for Dumbledore. Harry jerked his leash to make him stop. Once McGonagall was a ways out of earshot he spoke, "It's tonight. Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now Dumbledore's out of the way. He probably sent that note not the Ministry."
Draco frowned, "I know you're convinced that Professor Snape's behind this, Harry, but I've known him my whole life and I don't think he would do something like this."
"Maybe You-Know-Who possessed him or something." Lee suggested, "Was he always so-"
Hermione grabbed his arm, "Good afternoon, Professor."
Snape was walking towards them, "Good afternoon. What are all of you doing inside on a day like this?"
Harry gripped Sirius's fur.
Snape eyed the twins, "Not planning some misguided prank of yours?"
"Who us?" Fred asked.
"Why, Professor, would we do something like that?" George grinned.
Snape rolled his eyes and swept off.
"He does seem a little colder than normal." Draco muttered.
"Keep an eye on him." Harry said, "You're in Slytherin. See if he does anything suspicious. Try to keep him away from the third floor."
"Actually, I think we'd be better suited for that bit." Lee smirked.
"No problem." The twins chorused.
Naturally, their plan did go as they'd hoped. Draco couldn't watch Snape all day, and the prank Lee and the twins were planning was stopped by McGonagall. They ended up with detentions for the next month. They met up in the library just before dinner. With the exception of Lee and the twins, who were studying for the last of their exams.
"I have to try to get the Stone before Snape does." Harry sighed.
"Are you mad?" Ron hissed, "You'll get expelled for sure."
"So? If Voldemort gets the Stone he'll come back. You heard what he'd done last time. There won't be a Hogwarts anymore! Not like this. It'd'll be a school for the Dark Arts, if it stays standing. I'd rather be expelled trying to stop this than to sit around doing nothing."
"We'll go with you." Draco said.
"Do you think the cloak will fit all four of us?" Ron wondered.
"You don't have to--" Harry started.
"Don't be absurd." Hermione said briskly, "Of course we're going with you. I'll see if I can manage a Disillusionment Charm, in case the cloak won't fit all of us."
Draco snickered, "The twins are going to be furious that they can't come."