When the students finally arrived back at Hogwarts and entered the Great Hall, Harry was already sitting at the Slytherin table, wondering if the house elves had put the Potion in the pumpkin juice. Draco and Blaise immediately sat next to him, taking in the mischievous look on his face.

“Hello, Harry. How are you?” Draco asked.

“Fine, Draco, thanks. And you?” Harry replied with an extremly innocent expression.

“Harry, what’s wrong? Are you up to something?” Blaise asked.

However, Dumbledore had just gotten up and started to talk, so Harry didn’t have to answer. A moment later, the food popped up on the tables, and Harry immediately concentrated on his task at hand. He wished the glasses of his friends and his two Heads of House, as well as his own glass to change into glasses with apple juice instead of the normal pumpkin juice. Then he piled some food on his plate and started to eat, still looking extremely innocent.

Suddenly Harry’s and his friends’ attention was drawn to the other side of the table, where their classmates had started to stutter. Harry grinned and proceeded to watch the Head Table, where McGonagall seemed to be in a livid talk with Dumbledore, who had a very strange expression on his face. Snape, who was sitting on the Headmaster’s other side, smirked and threw Harry a knowing look.

Harry lifted his own glass a little and gave his professor an acknowledging glance, before he drank from the juice, noticing that Severus did the same.

When the meal was finished, McGonagall rose from her seat and addressed the students instead of Dumbledore. Harry, Blaise and Draco had a hard time keeping their laughs at bay.

“Don’t talk too much tonight. Don’t let them know that you are the only ones in Slytherin – except for our Head of House – not to stutter,” Harry advised his two friends before he went over to the Gryffindor table in order to join his other friends for the night.

“Now, Harry, admit it. It was you, right?” Ron asked immediately.

“Hmm? What?” Harry asked back innocently.

“Harry, everyone except for Ron and me is stuttering. And you don’t seem to have a problem talking either – not to mention your extremely mischievous expression,” Hermione told him in a reprimanding voice.

Harry only laughed and told them to join him in his dormitory, where he told them about the book he had received from Draco and the pranks. “And believe me, in the meantime, I have brewed several of these potions, and I’m already thinking about when to use the next one.”

“Where and when could you brew these potions? Wouldn’t Professor Snape know?” Hermione asked flabbergasted.

“Um... You mustn’t tell anyone, but he helped me,” Harry answered, grinning at Ron’s shocked expression.

“He what!” both his friends shouted at the same time.

“Oh, right,” Harry suddenly remembered, “I haven’t told you that I spent the holidays with him. I wasn’t allowed to sleep alone in the dormitories. He took me in, so that I didn’t have to spend the whole time in the Hospital Wing. And he was really nice. I enjoyed my holidays very much, having my first Christmas and everything. It was like having a family.”

-----

On the next day, Severus had to postpone Harry’s Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson until after dinner because of a teachers’ meeting. When they were finished, the teacher asked Harry if he would like to join him for tea in his quarters. “However, Harry, no one should know about this,” the professor warned him.

“Of course, Professor, I know that you have to treat all students alike and cannot invite everyone into your quarters. Don’t worry; I won’t tell anyone.”

They talked for an hour, while they were having tea and biscuits. Harry thought about telling Severus about a prank Draco had decided to play the next day, using one of Harry’s Potions. However, just in time, he remembered that Severus was a teacher, whom he couldn’t tell about playing pranks during lessons.

In the meantime, Draco had gone to the kitchen, where Tipsy immediately came over when she saw him.

“What can Tipsy do for Master Harry’s friend Draco?”

He told her what he was planning and said, “This is for breakfast tomorrow, but it would be best to spare the Head Table. Don’t forget, this is very important. I don’t want everyone to be angry at me for pranking the teachers. Plus I don’t want to put anyone in danger because the professors can’t do magic.”

Tipsy giggled and replied, “Of course. Not for Head table. You doesn’t worry, we does this tomorrow morning.”

Draco gave the kind elf a nod and quickly left the kitchen.

-----

Harry was giggling inwardly while Draco and he were walking up to the Transfiguration classroom.

Today in class they had to transfigure buttons into pink plush rabbits. However, none of the students were able to fulfil the professor’s request. Whenever they raised their wands trying to cast a spell, colourful bubbles came out of the tip of their wands.

Professor McGonagall was slowly getting angry. Pranks could be fun, but wasting a whole Transfiguration lesson because of a prank was stupid beyond imagination. “Mr. Potter, try to transfigure your button please,” she demanded sharply.

Harry took his wand and tried to cast the spell. However, nothing but bubbles escaped his wand. “I’m sorry, Professor,” he mumbled, not daring to look up to the stern teacher. Knowing that the potion would wear off after casting three spells, he tried a few more times, until suddenly a dozen pink rabbits were running around the classroom.

McGonagall turned back to the class. “As you have seen, your wands will recover after trying a few times. Mr. Potter, collect your rabbits and vanish them please.”

‘How could I be so stupid as to let Draco do this prank when we had McGonagall in the first lesson,’ Harry thought while he tried to send Stunning Spells after the fast, moving rabbits.

Fortunately, Draco was nice enough to help Harry after he had managed to transfigure his own button, so that all rabbits were vanished after ten minutes.

The teacher called Harry after the lesson. “Please stay behind for a moment, Mr. Potter,” Harry’s hands began to shake, but he tried to hide it as well as possible and anxiously went to the front of the classroom.

“Mr. Potter, please hand me the potions book that you received for Christmas. You will get it back on the last day of term.”

Harry threw her a flabbergasted glance. “Professor, please let me have my book. I promise that I won’t do any pranks. I will give you all the potions I have already brewed, but please leave me my book.”

The professor took in the hint of shock in the boy’s face and his shaking hands and relented, “Well, that will do. I will believe that you won’t do it again. However, I am a bit disappointed, Mr. Potter. Twenty points from your Houses.”

Harry slowly walked down to the dungeons with Draco, who had waited for him outside of the Transfiguration classroom. Harry was deep in thought. Apart from the Potions lesson when he had come late from Transfiguration, he had never lost house points so far. Today had been the first time, and everyone would know. He was horrified, and he could hardly breathe.

“What happened? What did she want?” Draco asked worriedly.

“She took points of me because of playing the prank and I have to hand over all Potions I’ve already brewed,” Harry answered solemnly.

“You didn’t play the prank; that was me!” Draco nearly shouted.

“But she doesn’t know that. I did play the other pranks, and it was my fault anyway, since I gave you the Potion,” Harry replied, breathing heavily.

“Let’s go slowly, Harry; we’re late anyway,” Draco told him, trying to calm his upset friend.

“But… no, Draco. Severus… will… be… very… angry,” Harry contradicted, wheezing.

When they entered the classroom, Draco addressed the teacher immediately, “Sorry, sir, but Professor McGonagall wanted to talk to Harry after our lesson.”

“And do I assume correctly that she also wanted to talk to you, Mr. Malfoy?” Severus sneered, taking in Harry’s white face, shaking hands and heavy breathing.

“No, sir, but I noticed that Harry wasn’t feeling well and decided to wait for him. I thought that was what a Slytherin should do for a house mate.”

The teacher gave him an acknowledging nod and admonished, “Now sit down and start brewing, Mr. Malfoy, and if you don’t finish your potion until the end of the lesson, you will do it again tonight.” Severus went over to Harry and told him, “You cannot brew potions, breathing in the harsh fumes if you are having trouble breathing from the beginning. Please sit in my office and try to get your breathing under control. When you feel better, you may come back. You can brew the potion tonight. “

-----

A few days later, Dumbledore summoned Minerva and Severus to his office. “I have been thinking about the last End of term tests,” he started. “Except for History of Magic, where Harry only got an ‘A’ and Defence against the Dark Arts, where he got an ‘E’, Harry has gotten ‘O’s in every subject. And if I understood correctly, the ‘E’ in Defence was for the test of the second year.” He glanced at Severus, who nodded impatiently. “I know that he is able to do sixth years’ Transfiguration and you, Severus, have told me how he excels in Potions. Because of this, I have been thinking about letting Harry attend second years’ classes.”

“No, Albus!” both professors protested immediately.

“He has friends in both houses, who are in his class. They are probably the first and so far only friends he ever had, Albus. I don’t want to take that from him,” Professor McGonagall was the first to give a reason.

“Moreover, he has so little confidence in himself personally, that he needs to know that he is at least good in class, and he doesn’t have much knowledge about the wizarding world yet,” Professor Snape followed immediately. “If you suggested that to him, he would be terrified.”

Albus sighed. He only wanted what was best for the boy. Besides, he had hoped this could help his, Albus’, guilty conscience towards the child. For half a year now, he had been keeping knowledge hidden, but yet, he could not bring himself to reveal the truth. He still wanted to watch for a while. He abruptly dismissed the thoughts and turned back to the teachers. “All right, my friends. If you are so sure, then let us just forget the thought.”

-----

Two weeks later, it was time for the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw Quidditch match. At breakfast, Draco told Harry he had heard that Severus would referee the game. Harry was stunned. Why would a teacher do that? Normally Madam Hooch refereed the games. Was it because of the attack on him, which had occurred during the last match he had played in? Anyway, it was good to have Severus nearby. Somehow, Harry felt very safe and ensured, knowing that Severus would be there.

When it came time to play, Harry didn’t care about the game the others were playing. He was frantically looking for the Snitch and managed to end the game after only five minutes.

The Gryffindor team landed in a circle around Harry and cheered. They couldn’t take the Quidditch cup yet, because the final game Slytherin against Hufflepuff was still going to be played in May, and so far it was relatively equal between Gryffindor and Slytherin. The team went to take a shower and change, while the other Gryffindors were going to get the common room ready for the victory party, which lasted until late in the night when McGonagall came through the Portrait Hole and sent them to bed.

-----

The next weeks passed fairly uneventful. In the meantime, Severus had had a few talks with Professor Quirrell and had also tried to use Leglimency on him during the meals in the Great Hall. He was quite sure that Quirrell was possessed by the Dark Lord. However, when he spoke to Albus about his suspicions, the older man told him that there was nothing they could really do about it apart from keeping an extremely close eye on him, alerting all the other teachers, and putting even more protection on the Stone. Moreover, he told him, it was probably that Voldemort would send Quirrell after the Stone, and if he tried to take the Stone out of the mirror, Quirrell would not be able to retrieve the Stone.

“Albus,” Minerva asked with a very concerned expression, “do you think it is safe enough for Harry here at Hogwarts when a combination of Quirrell and Voldemort is running around?”

“He should not be alone,” Severus threw in. “We should ask his friends to never let him alone in the halls. As he has friends in both of his houses, this shouldn’t be a problem. We should also have teachers or prefects escort him whenever possible. Apart from that, I would like to tell Harry the truth. I know that he is already suspicious and therefore, I am teaching him Defence Against the Dark Arts, trying to proceed as fast as possible. However, I think he needs to know the exact danger he is in, so that he can behave accordingly.”

“All right. Minerva and Severus, please tell Granger, Weasley, Malfoy, and Zabini to join me in my office tomorrow after breakfast. Ah, and Harry, too, please.”

On Saturday morning, Dumbledore spoke to Harry’s friends. He didn’t explain about Professor Quirrell or Voldemort, but told them that Voldemort’s spirit seemed to be alive and that there was the possibility that he could possess people in order to harm Harry.

All four of them promised immediately not to leave Harry alone at any time. Harry didn’t know what to say. He was stunned. Although he had heard that Voldemort might not be really dead and that he was after him, and even if he had been a little afraid of Professor Quirrell all the time, it was something else to hear about such a danger directly from the Headmaster. He somehow knew that there was something more to the story, something he couldn’t understand yet.

When the Headmaster dismissed them, Harry addressed Professor Snape. “Professor, do you have any potions to brew for the Hospital Wing? I have already finished most of my homework, so I could help you if you don’t mind.”

Severus gave him a slightly astonished look, but one glance at Harry’s slightly panicked expression showed him that the student probably wanted to talk with him, and he nodded knowingly. “Yes, Mr. Potter, I have a few potions to brew. Join me after lunch today in the Great Hall, and I will accompany you to the Potions lab.”

Harry obviously relaxed a little and said, “Thank you, Professor.”

-----

When they reached the Potions classroom that afternoon, Severus motioned Harry to sit down and took a seat next to him. “Now, Harry, did you really want to brew potions, or did you want to talk to me?” he asked immediately.

Harry fidgeted a little in his seat before he answered in a very small voice, “Both.”

“All right, Harry. I will tell you everything I know about this matter; however, you have to promise that you won’t tell anything of what I tell you to anyone – not even to your best friends! Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Professor. I understand, and I won’t tell anyone. I promise,” Harry replied sincerely.

“After a few talks and a bit of Leglimency I came to the conclusion that Professor Quirrell is probably possessed by the Dark Lord. I have talked to Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall about it, and at the moment, we do not know what can be done about it. However, as you have told me before that you know about the three-headed dog, I suppose you know that the dog is guarding something.”

“Yes,” Harry told the teacher. “I know that he is guarding something of Professor Dumbledore’s and Nicolas Flamel’s. And,” he added in a small voice, “Ron suspects you of wanting to take it.” He blushed terribly after telling Severus this.

Severus smirked amusedly. “So, that’s what Weasley thinks, right? Do you think so too?”

Harry shook his head vehemently. “No, of course not, Professor. Otherwise I wouldn’t have told you. If someone wanted to steal it, it would be Quirrell, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, Harry, that is correct.” He then explained about the Stone, noticing that Harry was listening intently.

“However, the stone is protected by several kinds of magic. Each of the professors has added one difficult riddle, which might be solvable but it is quite difficult. However, in the last step it will be impossible for Quirrell to take the Stone, as only someone who doesn’t want the stone for himself would be able to take the stone. Therefore, in case he tries to lure you or one of your friends who know about the Stone, you must come to me immediately. If Granger knows about Flamel, she will soon know what it is.”

Harry was still listening in awe, as Severus continued, “Anyway, if you notice anything strange or feel like you are in danger, come to me or any of the teachers except for Quirrell immediately. Will you promise me that, Harry?”

“Yes, sir,” Harry assured the teacher, wondering if he had heard something like concern in the teacher’s voice or if it just was his imagination.

-----

“All right, Harry,” the professor continued after a short break, “I have to brew several potions for Madam Pomfrey. Do you want to help?”

Harry’s eyes lit immediately, and he answered, “If I won’t bother you, I would like that very much.”

“You can help me, Harry, and you won’t bother me,” Severus told the boy, trying to keep his voice patient and soft. “We will make a Headache Potion and a Fever Reducer first, as both are very easy potions.”

He handed Harry a book and let him brew the first potion while he tended to his own cauldron next to Harry’s. Only once he had to reprimand the boy to read the instructions more closely, and in the end, Harry had brewed a flawless potion. “Very good, Harry,” he commended the student. “Are you still up to brewing the other potion as well?”

“Yes, of course, Professor,” Harry replied at once. It was so soothing to sit next to the professor, concentrating fully on the simmering potions; he just loved it.

‘Of course, Lily was brilliant at Potions,’ Severus reminded himself when he saw how much Harry seemed to enjoy himself. “You got this from your mother,” he told the boy. “She was very good at Potions. We often brewed together while we were at Hogwarts.”

Harry’s hands stopped to move for a moment. “Um… you?” he asked incredulously. “I mean… you and my mom have brewed potions together?” he elaborated.

Severus threw him a sad smile. “Yes, Harry, your mother and I were very good friends,” – ‘until I made the biggest mistake in my life,’ he continued just for himself and sighed deeply.

Harry was watching him curiously, but the professor didn’t say anything else, so he turned back to his potion. This time he finished the potion correctly without Severus correcting him even once.

Severus examined both potions closely and nodded contently. “If you don’t mind, it would be nice if you could fill the potion in these phials.” Severus quickly cast an unbreakable spell on a batch of phials. “Then you will need to label them accordingly.”

“Yes, of course, Professor,” Harry replied and set to work. When he was finished the teacher seemed to be busy with his own potion, so Harry sat down and waited for a moment.

Finally, Severus looked up and saw that Harry had finished his work and had even cleaned up the working space he had occupied. Severus said, “All right. Let us take the potions to Madam Pomfrey on our way to dinner.”

“What!” Harry blurted out and, seeing that Severus was looking at him curiously, he continued, “I mean I didn’t realise that it was so late.”

Severus smirked. “Time always flies when I am brewing potions. Clearly it does the same for you.” He took one box of potion phials and motioned Harry to take the other one, before he turned to the door.

When they arrived in the Hospital Wing, Severus told Madam Pomfrey that Harry had brewed the potions for her, and that he had checked and approved them.

“Oh, that is very good; then I know whom I can ask when you are too busy, Severus. I appreciate that very much,” Poppy said, smiling at Harry. “However, Severus, only let Harry make Healing Potions or other potions with harmless ingredients that won’t harm his sensitive wind-pipe and lung.”

“Yes, Poppy, I will only let him brew potions with ingredients that won’t harm him.”

-----

After dinner, Harry had his Transfiguration lesson with Professor McGonagall. Very slowly he learnt to control his magic and do easy spells with his wand. When he returned to the Gryffindor common room, his friends nearly jumped onto him.

“Harry, we haven’t seen you for the whole day! Where have you been?” shouted Ron, and Hermione threw him a questioning glance.

“I’ve just come from McGonagall’s office. But I’ve been at the meals in the Great Hall. I’m sorry for sitting at the Slytherin table, but I had to discuss something with Draco and Blaise,” Harry apologized.

Then suddenly the lights went out and the common room turned dark.