The Boy The Snake and The Stone

Chapter 24: Secrets and puzzles

The day after the New Year's party, Harry and Severus left Malfoy Manor to head back to Hogwarts. Severus needed to head back to make sure that his schedule for the next semester and all the supplies he needed were all set. He did give the choice to Harry to either stay with the Malfoy's for rest of the holiday, or to come back to the castle with him. Of course, to Severus it would seem the child would like to stay with his friends instead of going back to the castle where there was nothing to do, and none of his friends were there at the time. Harry, not wanting to leave his new Father just yet, and much to Severus's surprise, chose to go back with him, to enjoy having a castle all to himself. This would be a good chance to explore all the empty classrooms, and maybe ask his father help on some of the homework, or at least proofread it. So with that settled, they both said their good-byes to the Malfoy family thanking them for opening their home to them, Harry promised that he would see Draco in a week's time, and they left.

A surprise was there on Harry's bed when he entered the Potion Master's quarters, a brown parcel with a note sat there unopen. He took the package to Severus, he intended to find out if it was from his new father.

"Sev?" Harry called out, poking his head through the door way.

"In the kitchen Harry." The deep voice called back from inside their quarters. Such a strange thing to think, it's mine and Severus's quarters now, Harry thought to himself with a smile. He walked into the kitchen with the brown parcel in hand. There sat Severus, sipping on some tea as he looked over a pile of papers on the table.

"Did you place this on my bed?" Harry asked, holding the package out to Severus. Severus just raised an eyebrow and shook his head, placing the cup down on to the table. "If it wasn't you, then who was it?" Harry asked, titling his head to one side like a dog would when thinking.

"I don't know Harry here let me check to make sure that it is safe before we open it." Severus said, taking the package from his son and casting spells to make sure there has been no tampering done. When it showed nothing, he handed it back to Harry. "Well since it is safe, I will let you open it." Seeing that there was nothing to fear from it, Harry removed the card from the top of the package and read it.

Your Father left this in my possession before he died.

It is time it was returned to you.

Use it well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Harry found the note odd, and handed it over to his Father then proceeded to remove the wrappings. Inside was a cloak that felt much like water in his fingers and that had a silvery misty color to it. He looked at Severus which had his eyes narrowed at the object, but hasn't said anything about it. Harry then wrapped the cloak around himself. A gasp from Severus made him look at himself, what he saw had him in shock. His body has seemed to disappear! Harry began spinning around, making himself look like a fool doing so.

"So that is how that bastard got away from me," Severus mumbled under his breath. "Harry that is an invisibility cloak, it's something that, in the wrong hands, can be very dangerous. I should confiscate that from you right now," Severus said, narrowing his eyes at the child who was staring at him with an open mouth, "but as long as you do not get into trouble or found doing things you shouldn't then I'll let you keep it."

Harry just nodded, this was the first thing that Harry has ever had that belonged to his real Father, if only now he had something from his Mother, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

It was fun moving around the castle unseen by all, of course it wasn't much use when the castle was already mostly empty, but none the less it had been fun. Harry had just removed his cloak after running away from Peeves, when a figure stepped out from around the corner. It was the smell of garlic that caught Harry's attention first, Professor Quirrell. Harry was just about to turn around and go back from where he came, he would rather face peeves than Quirrell any day. It seemed that today was not Harry's lucky day at all.

"P-P-Potter!" Quirrell stuttered out, noticing the fleeing boy. "I-I-I thought t-t-that you went h-home." Harry silently thought of running from the Professor so that he wouldn't have to talk to him, but forced himself to smile before turning around.

"I did sir, but I came back early with permission, so I am here to finish the rest of the Holiday here at Hogwarts." Harry said, thought it would be better not to mention Severus or anything of the nature to anyone just yet.

"W-w-well Mr. P-P-Potter, seeing that you are f-f-free, w-w-would you like to j-j-join me for t-t-tea?" The Professor offered Harry, looking at the young boy wringing his hands together with nerves.

"I would like to Sir," Harry said quickly thinking up a lie, "But Professor Snape asked me to stop by his office to show that I have done my homework." He really didn't want to go with Professor, nor did he think his Dad would like that he would spend any extra time with him either. So with that the boy turned around and was ready to leave, when he felt a hand hold to his shoulder. Harry held back a violent flinch, when that happened, reminding himself that he was not at the Dursley's, and that this was not his Uncle either.

"I-I-I don't think that y-y-your Head of House w-w-would mind." With that the Professor led him back to his quarters. Harry was freaking out thinking, this might be like his Uncle, but he was powerless to stop anything from happening.

They entered the classroom, the door slamming shut behind them, making Harry flinch, his eyes darting everywhere, looking for a way out.

"Now Mr. Potter, we welcome you," said a whispering voice, which wasn't his Professor's. Harry turned and looked at the Professor eyes wide.

"All we want is to have a nice little chat if you will, and this time is better than any to get this done." Said the voice which seemed to echo about the room, but seemed to be coming from Quirrell but his lips weren't moving. "Please have seat so that we can talk, face to face."