The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 26

Harry watched as Draco and Professor Snape marched across the grass, far away from him, Ron, and Hermione. Snape bent down to whisper something in Draco's ear. Harry could tell by the way Snape carried himself that he was certain his threat would work, but Draco never lost his defiant expression. After a few tense minutes, Snape swept to the castle and Draco returned.

''What was that all about?'' Ron questioned as soon as Draco sat down between them. 

''Snape threatened me! Can you believe it?'' Harry could believe it. ''After he asked me to tell him what happened in the forest, when I told him nothing, he told me not to go poking around there or around the Sorcerers Stone anymore or something bad would happen!''

''Why'd he ask you and not me? He is my Head of House,'' Harry reminded.

''He knows my father personally, and told me that he would tell him if I did go back to the Forbidden Forest. Snape was all like, 'Your father will hear about this!' '' Draco scoffed. ''I said that I didn't care. That made him even madder.''

Harry sighed. ''I have a feeling that he'll ask me about that next. My parents are dead so at least he can't hold that over me, but he can do other things since he is my Head of House.''

'' 'My parents are dead so at least he can't hold that over me'? You are so morbid,'' Hermione rolled her eyes.

''You've been awfully quiet, haven't you, Hermione?'' Harry challenged. ''What are you thinking about?''

Hermione took a deep breath before beginning. ''Don't you think it's a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs? I read that it's against wizard law. Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why hadn't I seen it before?''

''Hermione, that dragon thing was ages ago, how are you still hung up on that - '' Ron started to say, but Hermione had leapt up and started walking towards Hagrid's hut. ''Come on,'' Ron groaned, but he stood up and followed her just like Harry and Draco were doing.

Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house with his trousers and sleeves rolled up, and he was shelling peas into a large bowl. ''Hullo,'' he said, smiling. ''Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?''

''Yes, please,'' Ron and Draco said at the same time, but Harry cut them off.

''No thanks, we're in a hurry.'' Draco gave Harry a disapproving look. ''Hagrid, you know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?''

''Dunno,'' said Hagrid casually. ''he wouldn' take his cloak off.''

They all gasped aloud. Voldemort. Could it have been him? Oh no no no no no no.

''It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head - that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, might'n he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up.'' Harry's knees felt weak. Then they gave out. He sank down next to the bowl of peas.

''What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?'' Hermione inquired anxiously. Draco helped a fuming Harry up. I hate hate hate feeling like this. This... helpless. Helplessness is what gets you hurt out there in the real world. A possibility of Voldemort should not have made me crumble this easily.

''Give yourself a break,'' Draco mumbled in Harry's ear, like he could hear his thoughts. Harry sent him a grateful smile.

''Mighta come up,'' said Hagrid, frowning as he tried to recall. Harry couldn't help tuning out the rest of his response, until the last sentence : ''...So, I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy...''

Fluffy! ''And did he - did he seem interested in Fluffy?'' Harry asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

''Well, yeah. So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep - '' Hagrid suddenly looked horrified. ''I shouldn'ta told yeh that! Forget I said it! Hey - where're yeh going?''

Harry, Draco, Ron and Hermione bolted back to the entrance hall, Draco mouthing THANK YOU over his shoulder. ''We've got - to go to - Dumbledore,'' Harry panted. ''Hagrid told that stranger - how to get past Fluffy - either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak - I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Where's - Dumbledore's office?'' Damn, I must have gotten out of shape since arriving at Hogwarts.

They stopped and looked around, as if hoping to see a sign in blinking lights pointing them in the right direction. Harry had never been told where Dumbledore's office was, or who had gone there. ''We'll just have to - '' Ron began, but a voice suddenly rang out across the hall.

''What are you four doing inside?'' It was Professor McGonagall, carrying a large pile of books. 

''We want to see Professor Dumbledore,'' said Hermione, rather bravely, Harry thought.

''See Professor Dumbledore?'' Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a suspicious thing to do. ''Why?''

''Actually, we were... just leaving!'' Harry quickly lied. He knew it wasn't very convincing, but it was the best he could could come up with on such short notice.

She didn't buy it. Her eyes narrowed as she said, ''No, you weren't. But Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once.''

''He's gone?'' said Harry frantically. ''Now? Are you kidding me?''

''Mr. Potter, what is the reason for such an outburst?'' asked Professor McGonagall coldly.

''Look,'' said Draco, throwing caution to the winds and proving why he was a Gryffindor, ''Professor - it's about the Sorcerer's Stone.''

The books Professor McGonagall was carrying tumbled out of her arms, but she made no move to pick them up. ''How do you know -''

''Professor, we think - we know - that Sn - someone's going to try and steal the Stone. We have to tell Professor Dumbledore!'' Ron pleaded.

She eyed him with a mixture of shock and suspicion. ''I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected. Now, I suggest you four all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine.'' She picked up her books and hurried away.

''It's tonight,'' whispered Harry, once McGonagall was out of earshot. ''Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and Dumbledore being away is perfect timing. I bet Snape even sent that Ministry of Magic note.''

''Wow,'' Ron said. ''How do you know all of that for sure?''

''I do! I just do. All the pieces fit into place, so now we come in. We have to try and get to the Stone first at night. Tonight. Be ready.''