The Cowardly Lion (Book 1)

13: Of the Forbidden Forest and Quirinius Quirrell

Draco hugged Harry tightly from the back, evidently afraid as they flew over the Forbidden Forest, following Snape's movements. Harry didn't mind Draco's latching onto him as he flew lower and lower over the Forbidden Forest, finally coming to a halt hidden behind a tree above a shadowy clearing, where Snape had chosen to meet Professor Quirrell, of all people.

"...d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus..." stuttered Professor Quirrell, and Snape took several menacing steps towards Quirrell.

"Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," he said, in an icy voice. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone, after all."

Draco gave a sharp gasp, which thankfully neither Snape or Quirrell noticed.

"Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?" demanded Snape, glaring at Quirrell.

"B-b-but Severus, I - "

"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," snarled Snape, taking yet another step towards Quirrell. Draco was shaking on the broom behind Harry, who tried to focus despite the shaking. An owl hooted loudly, and Harry grabbed onto a branch in order to stay put from where he was in the tree. He steadied himself and made sure Draco was okay just in time to hear Snape say, " - your little bit of hocus-pocus. I'm waiting."

"B-but I d-d-don't - "

"Very well," Snape cut in. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie."

He threw his cloak over his head and left, and Harry and Draco looked at Quirrell, down below, looking absolutely terrified.

"You realize what this means, don't you?" Harry whispered once Quirrell had gone, too. "Hermione was right - it is the Sorcerer's Stone, and Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help him get it."

"No, Harry, it isn't him," Draco tried to tell Harry; his conversation with Professor Snape after Potions had been vague, but it had been enough to convince Draco that his godfather was still looking out for Draco in his own way, and that meant he wasn't the one trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone. Harry turned to face Draco with a heavy sigh.

"I know, it's hard to believe someone you love would do something so horrible," Harry, and Draco frowned at him - his voice sounded like he'd had far more experience with troubles than he'd like to admit. When Harry realized that Draco was still looking at him, he sighed.

"Once, when I was seven years old," Harry said, staring at the broomstick in front of him, "I did some accidental magic - of course, I just thought it was a strange happening, as I didn't know what magic was - and my Uncle Vernon locked me in my cupboard. I'd never been locked in the cupboard before, that was my first time, and - and it was so dark, and so scary, and I was so afraid to sneak out for food, because he'd been so angry with me, and so I sat there, for three straight days, absolutely terrified of coming out." Harry paused. "I've been claustrophobic ever since, and after that, I realized I ought to sneak out for food, but every night I spent in that cupboard, every time I was locked in, I prayed for somebody - anybody - to come and let me out. But if they even remembered I was in there, all they did was either yell at me or laugh at my misfortune. And even though I knew they didn't like me too much, I thought to some degree they still loved me." Harry sighed, staring at his broomstick. "But when they locked me in my cupboard, I finally gave up on them."

Draco hugged Harry tightly; it had gotten dark by now, and Harry offered Draco a small smile. "See, Draco, everybody's scared of something," Harry said as they flew back to the castle to inform Ron and Hermione of the night's events. "And bravery isn't the absence of fear, it's doing something even though you're afraid."