Note: Chapter 12 got a little editing in late November as I wasn't completely happy with the final result. If you read it prior to that it may be worth re-reading before continuing on.

GREAT THINGS

Chapter 13

The first few weeks after the winter holidays passed easily and quietly. The first years mimicked the older years and soon fell back into the routines they'd formed before the break of classes, meals, games and studying. The teachers - Snape excluded - marked their holiday homework rather kindly, accepting that the first years wouldn't have managed anything exceptional in their first break of the year. Hermione and Anthony were most put out by this, as were Harry and Ron who had worked so hard to get theirs done!

The biggest diversion of those early weeks turned out to be Wizards Chess. Hermione had received a board and set of players from Anthony for Christmas and returned happily enthused by the game. Her first match back at Hogwarts was with Ron who surprised everyone by soundly trouncing her. The shock of that startling victory stirred the competitive nature of most of the first years, leading to a sudden surge in the popularity of the game. Many inter-house matches were arranged, with some of the upper years being convinced to loan their sets to the suddenly keen youngsters. Even the Slytherins participated, although they mostly played each other. Millicent Bulstrode showed perhaps the most talent of their posse, coming the closest of any first year to beating Ron Weasley. Ron himself was delighted with this new opportunity to show off his skills. The Ravenclaw girls, barring Hermione, were politely but firmly excluded from the fun. No one had forgotten their earlier treatment of the bushy haired girl.

One of the other interesting developments of the new term was Morag Macdougal's non-appearance amongst the returning students. Although her suspension had ended with the Christmas holidays her family had chosen to hold her back a year. It made sense, as she'd missed close to two months of classes. With the speed of the first year curriculum, that would be hard to catch up from.

"I'm relieved, actually," Hermione said when Harry asked her about it. "I mean, it's unlikely she would have started up again, what with the punishment she faced the first time, but it would have been incredibly awkward to share a dorm with her. This way once she comes back she'll always be in different classes from me and in a different dorm, too."

"Do you think she's learnt from this? Do you think they all have?"

Hermione shrugged.

"Possibly? They certainly leave me alone now. But… the damage is done I guess. I'm not likely to be friends with them now."

That was true, Harry thought sadly. Hermione was facing six and a half years of standoffish roommates she wanted nothing to do with, who in turn felt excluded by the rest of their year mates. Perhaps it was time they stopped ignoring them? Would they want to be included now? He asked Hermione as much.

"I think so," she said. "And I really don't need to see them punished anymore. Besides, Padma, Sue and Lisa aren't that bad. Or at least, not anymore."

The pair resolved tit had been enough. They couldn't make anyone else want to be friends with the three girls, but they could make it clear that Hermione didn't need to see them punished.

The attention of the whole school was soon diverted by the continuation of Quidditch season. The first game back after Christmas was Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff, and Oliver Wood was clearly nervous. He doubled the amount of practice sessions, insisting on them being at the pitch by 5:30 every morning, well before the sun arrived to warm the winter air.

"Beating Slytherin doesn't mean we can relax," he informed them all. "If anything, it means we need to work harder. We finally have a shot at winning the cup this year, and I'll not lose it just because you lot want a lie-in."

"He's gone mental," George - or Fred - grumbled as they all sleepily strapped on their gear.

Harry couldn't help but concur. The human body was not meant to be awake at this hour! He had to admit, though, that a few weeks later when it came time for the match, he really did feel better prepared as a result of all the practice. His first match had been pure instinct, but now he had some actual plays he could use, and a solid awareness of what the rest of the team would be doing. On the day of the match as both teams entered the pitch, Harry looked at the Hufflepuffs and actually felt… confident. This was going to be fun.

Two and a half hours later, Harry's opinion of fun had significantly changed. Gryffindor were winning, yes, but neither he nor the Hufflepuff seeker had even glimpsed the snitch. The score was 140 to 80, but even the crowd was tiring. The game had been tame and uncontroversial, with Madam Hooch only having to call one foul so far - a clear accident on the part of one of the Hufflepuff beaters. Harry was continuing his loops of the pitch, following the tactics that Wood had been drilling him on. He attempted to disrupt Hufflepuff plays and help his team's chasers a few times, but in general he focused on his search.

The one good thing so far was that there was no sign of sabotage or 'unusual incident'. Remembering his first match, Harry was overly wary of the bludgers flying about. Fred and George were doing an admirable job of batting them at the Hufflepuff team and so far the other beaters had only directed them at Harry a couple of times. It was a small blessing, but it wasn't making the game anymore interesting for him.

Finally, finally, there was a hint of gold just above him. Harry's small frame darted across the grey sky, drawing the attention of the crowd below who all perked up once more. The other seeker was rushing upward too, but Harry was far too close for anything to be done. The game ended as uneventfully as it had played, with Harry easily snatching the snitch out of the air and holding it up in triumphant relief. The crowd cheered and jumped about happily, with even the Hufflepuff's taking it well. They were good sports, of course, just by virtue of being Hufflepuffs.

The two teams landed, feeling tired and ready to rest. Hands were shaken and compliments exchanged as the quaffle and two bludgers were easily corralled and chained up by Madam Hooch. Harry breathed a sigh of relief seeing that achieved, before heading back to the castle with his team. This would be the first time he could actually join in the celebrations.

o

Quidditch parties, Harry soon learnt, were absolutely bonkers. Oliver was literally dancing on one of the tables, while the three chaser girls were challenging all the Gryffindor boys to arm wrestling matches. Harry and his friends had been firmly forbidden from partaking of the firewhiskey that their older housemates had smuggled in, but they were at least given butterbeer - a rare treat for the young first years. Oddly enough, the twins actually weren't their usual rowdy selves. Sure they played a few pranks and had distributed a fair amount of tainted candy, but they seemed far more caught up in their own dramas than in creating havoc for everyone else.

Harry catalogued this unusualness before letting himself get carried away with the excitement of the evening. He, Dean, Seamus and Ron spent half the night trying to change the colour of Lavender and Parvati's hair, while Neville simply laughed at them all. Eventually they turned their attention to Ron's rat and finally succeeded in changing his fur to a horrible green shade. Ron was promptly horrified and spent the next half hour begging older students to remove the charm that had "turned Scabbers into a slimy snake". Everyone seemed greatly amused.

"Oi Harry," Lee Jordan shouted out at one point, waving his arms in the younger boy's direction. "I've got a bone to pick with you."

Harry raised an eyebrow, amused by the effect firewhiskey was having on his older classmates.

"Why," Lee began, pulling Harry close to him, "Are you always so damn well behaved?"

"Perhaps because he's not stupid," Parvati replied on his behalf, somewhat defensively. "You've seen how much attention he gets from the teachers. Do you think they wouldn't immediately notice if he started acting like you and the twins?"

Lee shrugged and wandered off to bug somebody else.

"I know a way you could avoid getting noticed," Ron whispered to Harry, having given up on his rat and rejoined the group.

Harry's eyes widened and he shoved his friend firmly.

"We are not using the cloak to sneak about," he hissed.

"Please Harry? We could go anywhere! They'd never bust us."

"Professor Dumbledore gave me the cloak, Ron. Use your head. Don't you think he'll have something in place to monitor how we use it?"

Ron just shrugged.

"Maybe," he said. "Or maybe not."

"What are you two whispering about," Parvati asked, having noticed their quiet conversation.

"Uh, we'll tell you later," Harry mumbled awkwardly and turned to ask Dean about quidditch's comparative advantages over football.

Eventually the party started to exhaust itself. Oliver fell asleep on the floor, clutching his quidditch gloves and mumbling some sort of acceptance speech with a beaming grin on his face. All the girls retired themselves and the Weasley twins had left hours ago, talking quietly about something. Ron's yawning soon triggered the other first year boys and they headed off to the dorm, leaving the last few revellers behind. The next day might be a Sunday, but they did want to wake in time for some breakfast.

Ron gave Harry a look as he climbed into bed that clearly indicated they were still going to talk about the cloak. Harry rolled his eyes. Once laying down, though, he couldn't help but imagine the fun they could have with it.

He'd received a letter a few days into term from Mister Ollivander explaining the true origins of the cloak. What he'd thought was an immensely generous gift from the headmaster was actually the return of a Potter family heirloon. Professor Dumbledore had always been very nice to Harry over the years, but it paid to be reminded sometimes that he was a little manipulative and controlling. Harry could still remember how many of his childhood experiences had required extensive negotiations with the old man to be permitted. Goodness knew how much more controlling her would have been if Mister Ollivander hadn't been given custody.

A small and rebellious part of Harry's mind started to needle him about the cloak then. It was a Potter heirloom after all, so why shouldn't he use it? Ron was right. He should start having some more fun.

o

"Stop it Harry, you're stepping on my feet!"

"Well if they weren't so big, maybe I could avoid them!"

Ron elbowed him solidly for that one.

It had taken a full week to think of a way to utilise the cloak that Harry didn't immediately veto as "not worth it". He was highly paranoid about it getting confiscated. Then, though, the perfect opportunity had arrived.

A mid February storm had brought with it a heavy dumping of snow, carpeting the school grounds with thick white powder. It was of course not the first snow they'd had of the season, but waking up to that pristine sight on a Saturday morning had immediately captured the fancies of every first year student. Their happy shrieks from each dorm had instantly annoyed their older counterparts, who summarily chased them out of their respective houses.

An excited early breakfast followed with almost every first year present, chatting happily about their plans for winter fun. Ron and Harry, though, were looking at each other rather more mischievously than any other students. This was their chance to try the cloak out properly.

The pair expertly manoeuvred the conversation towards snowball fights, before eventually an all-out war was being suggested. House versus house. The few older students foolish enough to enter the Great Hall too early that morning were soon roped in to help magic up some defensive snow walls and all the first years were soon running out towards the grounds, shouting excitedly as they went. Harry and Ron made excuses of forgotten scarves and gloves and headed back to the tower, cheeky smirks on both faces.

"So there's nothing actually in the school rules about being invisible," Ron said as the pair ran back to the tower to get the cloak. "We're not trying to get into restricted areas, or sneak out after curfew."

"Precisely," said Harry. "And cheating in a snowball fight is hardly a punishable offence either."

The pair exchanged wicked grins. They burst into the common room shortly after, earning glares from the older students there. Ignoring them all, they ran upstairs and were soon dragging the cloak out of Harry's trunk. A little finicking and they'd managed to settle it over both of them, covering them entirely. It did make for an awkward walking style, but soon enough they were carefully making their way back through the common room, avoiding notice from anyone.

The pair made their way through the Hogwarts corridors, carefully avoiding other students and trying valiantly to avoid treading on each other's feet. What they were quickly learning, though, was that walking under the invisibility cloak was a little disorienting. If a fold of the cloak fell over their faces they immediately lost sight of the other one and were liable to bump into them. Reaching hands out in front of them meant their arms vanished completely from view, making spacial awareness a big problem as they tried to adjust to this. The other issue was leaping out of the way of passers-by. The first time they had to do it they tripped over their own legs and tumbled noisily to the floor in a tangle of limbs. It was sheer luck the cloak hadn't come off. Their secret was kept but the commotion left one very confused third year looking around for Peeves.

After that they inched carefully along the very edge of the corridors, prepared to duck into the closest classrooms if they heard anyone coming. The sounds of happy yelling from outside kept their attention and they endeavoured to make their way towards the Entrance Hall as fast as possible. Soon, though, the appearance of Filch and his cat ahead of them had them pausing, worried.

"Dirty little buggers will traipse water in when they come back," he was muttering to Mrs Norris. "And no one's got detention yet to help. We'll have to change that, my sweets."

Ron drew in his breath a little sharply, then held it in horror when Mrs Norris turned to look in their direction. As one, he and Harry began walking slowly backward, towards the last door they'd passed. Reaching it, they opened it slowly and slipped inside, closing it silently behind them. Turning around, they immediately had to duck to avoid spell fire.

"Really Severus," came the amused voice of Professor Quirrell, "Firing spells at a colleague? What has come over you."

Harry and Ron gaped at the scene in front of them. A very sour looking Professor Snape had his wand brandished in the direction of Professor Quirrell, who looked entirely too pleased about the whole situation.

"You did something over the holidays, Quirinus. I know it and Dumbledore knows it. I will figure out what you're up to."

"Now why would you think I'm up to something?" Quirrell asked mildly. "Is there something exciting going on?"

"Do you think I'm a fool?" Snape asked him.

Quirrell laughed.

"Naturally."

Snape snarled at him and fired off another spell that Quirrell easily batted away, luckily not near the two hidden boys. He didn't return fire, but simply swayed on the spot and watched Snape carefully.

"Leave this school," Snape hissed.

"No," Quirrell said simply. "And truly, what in Merlin's name led you to think you could force me?"

Snape went to move again, but Quirrell was quicker. His wand snapped out with phenomenal speed and whatever he'd cast struck the potions professor directly, sending him flying backward across the room.

"How embarrassing," Quirrell commented, examining his fingernails. "Is this why they won't make you defence professor? How infuriating that must be for you."

Quirrell pocketed his wand and turned away from the other professor as Snape scrambled back to his feet. Harry and Ron quickly moved out of the way as Quirrell approached the door.

"Good talk, Severus," he called over his shoulder. "Now do stay out of the way."

He closed the door after himself, leaving Professor Snape to glower at it hatefully. He soon turned and made his own exit out a door on the other side of the room, leaving Ron and Harry standing, shocked, against the wall.

"Bloody hell," Ron eventually said. "What was that about?"

o

"I can't believe you have an invisibility cloak and you didn't tell any of us," Lavender cried out, looking highly indignant.

"What's more, I can't believe you used it to spy on people," Susan followed this up, looking reproachful. "Not to mention you cheated today."

"Hey, none of the rules about the snowball fight said no invisibility cloaks," Ron defended piously.

Susan rolled her eyes.

Harry and Ron had continued their journey outside and used the cloak to absolutely thrash Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin in their snowball wars. Once finished, though, and once the pair had triumphantly pulled the cloak off to claim their victory, they had hustled their group of friends off to an empty classroom to tell them what they'd witnessed. In front of them now all the Gryffindors, the two Hufflepuff girls, Hermione, Anthony and Daphne were looking at them with varying expressions. Some were outraged and reproachful. Most were contemplative.

"I think we can all agree that Gryffindor's victory today was a travesty," Daphne said, causing the Gryffindors to begin spluttering protests, "But that appears to be the least significant part of Harry and Ron's day. Our focus should really be on what's going on between Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell."

"Agreed," Hermione said. "I think it's clear now at least that Professor Quirrell is the bad one."

"No it's not," Harry said, immediately upset. "Snape was casting spells first. Quirrell just beat him."

"Yes, but think, Harry," Daphne replied. "You said Quirrell told him to stay out of the way. That sounds as though Snape is trying to stop him doing something."

"Probably trying to stop him doing something good," Seamus said hotly. "Snape's an evil bastard. Everyone knows it."

"Maybe it's a misunderstanding," Hannah tried, diplomatically. "Perhaps they both think the other one is in the wrong, but maybe neither of them is?"

Most of the room scoffed at this.

"I suppose you can all take comfort in the fact that it's now obvious what you need to do," a voice near the door spoke up.

The room's occupants turned as one in shock to see Draco Malfoy leaning against the doorframe. He sneered at them all.

"What?" he said. "You lot weren't particularly subtle when you rushed off."

"You can't just spy on us, Malfoy, you slimy sneak!" Ron shouted at him.

"It doesn't sound like you're one to talk, Weasley," Malfoy spat back.

"What is it you think we need to do, Malfoy," Harry finally said.

Malfoy rolled his eyes as though it were obvious.

"Tell a teacher."

"They're not gonna do that," Seamus scoffed, but Neville nudged him looking worried.

"M-maybe they should."

A few others around the room nodded at this.

"You both said earlier that the invisibility cloak wasn't against any school rules," Anthony reminded the pair. "Pick a teacher and go tell them."

Ron and Harry exchanged glances, then nodded.

"We'll go tell Professor McGonagall," Harry said.

o

Harry and Ron took the cloak back to their dorm first, burying it in the bottom of Ron's trunk. Hopefully if their head of house tried to confiscate it this would at least delay the process while they argued. They then slowly made their way back out of the tower, towards Professor McGonagall's quarters. As uncomfortable as this would be, Malfoy was definitely right. This went beyond a group of first years. Professors were fighting in the school!

"Maybe we don't have to mention the cloak," Ron suggested. "We just say that we happened to see them."

"Unless she asks," Harry clarified.

"Unless she asks," Ron agreed.

Arriving, they exchanged one last glance before Harry reached up and knocked on the door.

Ten minutes later they were nursing cups of hot chocolate and trying to convince the professor how serious this was.

"Boys, I agree with you that this is a serious incident," she replied, nodding at them both in turn. "Professors absolutely shouldn't bring their personal differences into the school, and there should never be open fighting anywhere in Hogwarts, but I assure you this is more minor than you think. Both Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell have the headmaster's complete trust. And mine."

"But Professor McGonagall," Harry protested, "We know one of them is plotting something bad. It's probably Professor Snape but-"

"Really Mister Potter," Professor McGonagall interrupted him firmly. "I would have thought better of you than to be listening to anti-Slytherin gossip. Professor Snape has taught here for a decade without incident. Mistrusting him over rumours is highly inappropriate."

"But… but…"

The professor softened, looking at the boy she'd known for years from Ollivander's shop.

"I will look into it, Harry," she assured him. "Truly I will. I'll inform Professor Dumbledore, too, in case he has more information than me and thinks this warrants further attention. But I assure you, this will be a minor personal difference and nothing more."

Both boys were soon shooed from the room, even as they tried to convince her again that this was very serious. She nodded and smiled gently at both of them, but neither felt particularly reassured. The pair were soon walking slowly back to the room where they'd left their friends and Draco, feeling more than a little downcast.

"Should have known a suggestion from Malfoy would be rubbish," Ron said, trying to cheer his friend up. "At least we didn't have to mention the invisibility cloak."

Harry just shrugged.

Reaching the room, they soon relayed the encounter to their friends, eliciting different responses from each.

"I'm sure Professor McGonagall will handle it," Hermione protested. "She's brilliant, and she's a teacher. If she thinks it's minor, well… maybe it is."

"Honestly, Granger, you can't possibly agree with that," Daphne said, giving her a mild scathing glance. "At best she didn't take them seriously. At worst the school is sweeping this under the rug."

"Father's is always saying this institute's been going down hill for years," Malfoy declared, but was ignored by the others as they tried to figure it all out.

"Perhaps we should go straight to Dumbledore," Susan suggested.

"No," Harry said. "I mean yes, if we have to, but he's… manipulative."

His friends pressed him for more details, but Harry shook his head.

"Later," he said, with a glance towards Draco.

"We should send letters home," Hannah said. "Or at least, Harry and Sue should."

"That makes sense," Anthony agreed. "Mister Ollivander is magnificently clever, and Susan your aunt should definitely be able to help if things get bad."

Harry and Susan quickly agreed to write letters home that evening. The room soon fell quiet as each student contemplated the day's events.

"It's strange, isn't it, to think that we can't trust all our teachers," Parvati commented.

"Not to mention that we can't rely on the other teachers to do anything about this," Lavender agreed.

"Well then," Harry said. "I guess it's still up to us."

o

Happy holiday season everyone. I hope 2016 has held some joy for all of you.