Title: The Peverell Curse

Author: The Oddness

Summary: A strange curse or some say a blessing has been passed down the Peverell line since its name began. The young boy Harry Potter has carried this curse since the day he was born. Unknown to almost everyone including the emerald eyed child.

A/N: Hello readers! Why don't you accept my gift of chapter six? I'm sure you'll like it.

I must give credit where credit is due, my wonderful beta 'FallForYourType' is doing an amazing job saving you all from the anger caused by my many typos and grammatical errors.

(Italics) mean Parseltongue. And in other cases, spells casted.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Harry Potter belongs to J.K.R and not me.

Recap: "None of you move while I take this girl to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch!" Called Madam Hooch, her face set in stone at the seriousness of her words, yellow eyes narrowed making Harry feel like a preyed upon rabbit.

Madam Hooch then proceeded to conjure a stretcher which she laid Daphne on. Levitating the stretcher with Daphne on it back up to the school, Madam Hooch and the injured girl soon became no more than two faceless specks in the distance.

Once he was sure that Hooch and Daphne were out of ear shot, Weasley burst into laughter.

"Did you see her face, the crybaby?" Some of the other Gryffindors joined in with the jesting.

"Why don't you shut up Weasley," Snapped Blaise.

"Oooh, sticking up for Greengrass?" Called Lavender Brown, a hard-faced Gryffindor girl, "Never thought you'd like whiney little crybabies, Blaise."

"Look!" Exclaimed Weasley, darting forwards and snatching something out the grass, "It's that stupid thing Greengrass' family sent her!"

Harry decided that this was getting out of hand, and he was sure that Weasley would probably break the clock-necklace purely out of spite.

"Hand it over Weasley." Said Harry in a calm, quite voice, his pale hand outstretched.

Weasley smiled maliciously.

"I think I'll leave it somewhere for Greengrass to collect – how about – up a tree?"

Harry let out a sigh, "Don't be a fool Weasley; come on and give it here. Stop being a prat."

Too late for Weasley had leapt onto his broomstick and taken off. The boy hadn't been lying when he said he could fly well. Currently he was hovering at the level of the large oak trees' top most branches. "Come and get it Potter!" yelled Weasley.

Harry scowled; he'd never been on a broom before so there was no way he was getting on one. He'd probably break his neck, anyway being a Slytherin mean self-preservation was rather high up on his list of priorities. So Harry drew out his wand instead.

Harry sifted through his knowledge on various spells and charms that might allow him to retrieve the clock-necklace. Harry thought of two, the Accio summoning spell he had read upon and the Wingardium Leviosa levitation charm. Harry had figured that he might have an eidetic memory for he had no problems with recalling information; he could practically see the page of the charms text book floating in his mind. Harry thought for a moment…. he had cast the hover charm before but the summoning charm would be a lot quicker and more efficient. Plus Weasley probably could yank the necklace back out in the air if he used the levitation charm.

Harry moved his wand in sharp crisscross movement and muttered the incantation under his breath. The twinkling, gold necklace shot out of Weasley's hand and darted towards Harry. The ginger haired youth tried vainly to grab hold of it again while in the air.

Harry caught the jewelry in one hand while Draco gave him a pat on the back while most of the other Slytherins just smiled. As Harry was tucking the necklace into his pocket to give to Daphne later, a piercing shout caught everyone's attention; even Weasley who was still in the air.

"RONALD WEASLEY!"

Weasley's face went form a flushed red to the grayish colour of wallpaper paste in a matter of seconds.

"Never – in all my time at Hogwarts - " Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her eyes flashed furiously,

"How dare you fly without a teacher present and yes, I saw everything from my window… even the necklace incident!"

Harry's face also paled slightly at that; just his face went china white instead of an ugly grey. They weren't supposed to do magic without a teacher present, it was a minor rule which you didn't really get punished for but McGonagall looked furious. Harry's elation at the fact he mastered a fifth year charm evaporated as quickly as it came.

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, could you please follow me?" Bit out the Transfiguration Professor.

McGonagall led the two first year boys up to her office and closed the door behind them. She turned to face Weasley; an outraged expression had made itself at home on her face.

"Mr Weasley I am very disappointed in you! You flew without a teacher, and then threatened to hide another students belonging up a tree! You're in my house so I shall choose your punishment; a weeks' worth of detentions with Mr. Filch and thirty points from Gryffindor and I will owl your parents! Now leave and return to your lesson. Chop chop!" Once the first year Gryffindor had left the room McGonagall turned to Harry.

Harry was surprised when her face softened and McGonagall didn't look angry anymore, "Potter, what spell did you make use of to retrieve your house-mate's necklace?"

"Accio, Professor." Harry muttered trying to look anywhere except at McGonagall.

"Potter, you do know that's a fifth year charm? Some adult wizards can't even accomplish it." Harry heard some rustling as McGonagall sat down at her desk.

"I do know it's a fifth year charm but I didn't know it was that hard to learn." Harry shuffled where he stood; he wanted to leave. Harry felt a bit claustrophobic being shut up in the transfiguration professor's office.

"Potter do sit down, I'm not going to punish you. I was merely wondering how a first year student could accomplish such a difficult piece of magic." McGonagall's lips twitched into a faint smile.

Harry quickly sat down in the chair facing McGonagall's desk with a whoosh of his school cloak.

"Oh." Was all Harry said in reply, his face blank of any emotions.

"I have been thinking Mister Potter that you and Miss Granger could do with a bit of extra tuition. Your both very intelligent and are excelling with all your school work. You being a Slytherin and not in my house, I cannot choose this for you but I implore you to raise this issue to Severus. I will also speak with Miss Granger." McGonagall said this was enthusiasm which Harry rarely got to see in lessons.

Being a Slytherin, a challenge was his forte, "Yes Professor, I would like that." Harry gave his professor a small, shy smile.

"Good Mister Potter, now run along. I think that your flying lesson is probably over and I do believe you have my class next."

Harry nodded and left the room in a hurry.

…

"You're joking!"

It was dinner time and Harry had just finished telling Draco what happened when he had left the grounds with Professor McGonagall. Draco had a forkful of pasta halfway to his mouth, but he'd forgotten all about it.

"Extra tuition?" he said, "Wow you must be really smart. I mean I knew you got good grades and stuff but still!"

Harry allowed himself a proud smile, "Yeah, Hermione and I are going to have after school lessons so we can work to our full potential."

Draco's face previously stunned expression morphed into a scowl at the mention of the Hermione's name. Ever since he had found out that the Ravenclaw's parents were both muggles he had given her the cold shoulder.

"You're having lessons with that... that muggleborn!" Draco, despite Hermione being a muggleborn, couldn't bring himself to call her a mudblood. Before he found out about her parentage, he had gotten on quite well with the Ravenclaw. To say that Draco didn't care about losing her friendship would have been a lie.

Harry's brow wrinkled into a frown, "I don't understand why you don't like her. Just because she was brought up in the muggle world doesn't mean she's any less of a witch. I was brought up in the muggle world; does that make me less of a wizard?"

Draco didn't answer.

Harry's frown deepened, "Does it Draco? Am I too little of a wizard for you to answer me now?"

There was still no answer from the starlight blonde.

Harry slammed his fork down on the table, a torrent of emotions erupting inside him, disappointment the most prominent "Fine if I don't reach up to your standards, I'll leave!" True to his word Harry left his half eaten dinner and the stunned Slytherin prince behind as he retreated to the common room.

As Harry was leaving the Great Hall he heard the quick patter of running footsteps. Turning Harry was tackled with a face full of bouncy honey-brown curls as Hermione hugged him. Harry stood still, awkwardly stiff as a statue as Hermione embraced him. He'd never been hugged before.

"Oh Harry, I heard what you said at dinner, that was so brave of you standing up for me like that!" The Ravenclaw girl gave Harry one last squeeze and drew back from the embrace.

Harry smiled slightly, "It was worth it Hermione, to keep your friendship and hopefully make Draco see sense."

Hermione nodded vigorously making her hair fly all over the place, "Its great though isn't it, extra lessons!" Hermione nearly squealed in delight.

Harry nodded, "Yeah it's great, this means we'll be able to learn all sorts of stuff we would be able to learn about for years!"

Hermione agreed and Harry walked her back to the Ravenclaw common room and said good bye.

As Harry was making his way back to his own common room he was intercepted by Weasley and his usual gang of Gryffindorks.

"Having a secret meet up with your girlfriend Potter? I bet your Blonde Slytherin isn't too happy about you making friends with a muggleborn."

Harry sighed, he thought that Weasley had learnt his lesson when Cleo had bitten his hand, "You're a lot braver now you're back on the ground and you have your little friends with you." Harry said coolly; sweeping his inky-black hair over one shoulder.

"I'd take you on any time on my own." Said Weasley. "Tonight if you want, we could have a wizard's duel? We'll use wands only and no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel, I suppose?"

Harry had obviously heard of a wizard's duel it was talked about on page two hundred and thirty three, fourth paragraph down, line seven of their charms text book. Harry blinked for a moment, stunned at his memory once again.

"Of course I've heard of a wizards duel. Hermione will be my second, who's yours?"

Weasley turned to look at Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom, sizing them up.

"Seamus," he said, "Midnight alright? We'll meet in the trophy room, that's always unlocked." Weasley gave Harry one last sneer and pushed past him, Finnigan and Longbottom following in his wake like two lapdogs.

Harry sighed and turned back around again, heading for the Ravenclaw common room to find Hermione and tell her about the duel. Harry asked a second year Ravenclaw boy with ginger hair to get Hermione for him, the boy agreed and a few minutes later Hermione appeared.

"Harry, missed me already?" Joked the bushy haired Ravenclaw.

Harry smiled, "Yes yes I always miss you, but that's not why I'm here."

Hermione nodded for Harry to continue. Harry explained about Weasley and the duel, Hermione just sighed and muttered something that sounded like, "Boys, honestly how thick do they get?"

"Well then Miony will you be my second?" Harry questioned.

"Of course I will, we need to make sure we don't get caught though. I'll meet you here at quarter to twelve then?"

Harry nodded, "Well, see you then."

The dark-haired Slytherin departed with a wave and disappeared around the corner.

…

Harry mooched about the common room waiting for midnight to finally creep up on him. It was half nine when Sal sidled back into his portrait, he looked oddly disheveled. The man's usual sleek ponytail was untied and his hair hung around his face and shoulders, Slytherins clothes looked rumpled– like they had been put on very quickly. Despite his tousled appearance he looked happy; Salazar's dark green eyes gleamed like polished emeralds.

"Hey Sal," Said Harry.

Salazar sat down in his arm chair and pulled back his hair, "Good evening Harry."

"So where have you been? You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards." Harry slumped onto the sofa facing Sal's portrait.

Harry was surprised when a faint tinge of pink coloured Salazar's high cheekbones, "I went to visit Godric."

Harry just nodded, being only eleven and his mind totally innocent; he thought they must have been dueling.

"Harry I've been thinking…. how about I start giving you lessons on Parselmagic every weekend?" Salazar had righted his hair, smoothed his clothes and was looking like his impeccable self again.

"Sure!" Harry grinned like a mad man.

"I've also been suggested to take extra lessons after school by the other professors as well. They say me and my friend Hermione are exceeding everyone in our year." Harry told the portrait.

"Congratulations, you really are turning out to be quite the child prodigy." Sal had put his feet up on the table just out of his portrait again, musing over the fact that this little Slytherin reminded him rather strongly of a previous student who could also speak with snakes.

Harry talked with Salazar until Cleo reminded him about the duel.

"A midnight duel you say hatchling?" Questioned the house founder.

Cleo nodded.

"Pray tell why you are having a midnight duel Harry?" Slytherin leaned forward and glared sharply at the first year.

Harry shifted on the spot restlessly, "Well you see, there's this boy who hates me just because we're in different houses, and he challenged me to a duel at midnight - one on one. Basically I think I can beat him and want to make him understand I don't want him bothering me anymore." Harry waved his arms about enforcing his point as his said this.

"Is this boy a Gryffindor?"

Harry nodded.

"Well then, make sure you win! Otherwise I might consider disowning you as a Slytherin." Sal was grinning mischievously.

Harry laughed and waved at the portrait as he hurried off to the Ravenclaw dorm to meet his second. Hermione was waiting just outside the common room entrance with a little jam jar of bluebell flames lighting her way.

Harry who had a knack of practically melting into the shadows made a pssst sound to get the curly haired Ravenclaw's attention. Hermione jumped in surprise but soon caught sight of Harry who had stepped out of the shadows.

"Merlin's beard, Harry you almost gave me heart failure!" Hermione whispered sharply through the darkness.

Harry just smiled, his white teeth standing out in the gloom. Harry grabbed his friend's hand and led her down the hallways in the direction of the trophy room.

The pair flitted along the corridors striped with bars of silver moonlight from the high windows. At every turn Harry expected to run into Filch or Mrs. Norris, but they were lucky. They sped down a staircase to the third floor and crept towards the trophy room. Harry could hear faint chatter as they got closer; Weasley and Finnigan were obviously already there.

Harry slunk through the door first, concealed in the shadows with Hermione following closely behind him. She had extinguished the portable flames and was also totally concealed in the inky blackness.

The trophy room winked silver and gold in the darkness, the crystal trophy cases glimmered where the moonlight caught them. Harry and Hermione edged along the wall towards Weasley and Finnigan.

"Pssst Weasley!" Hissed Harry from the shadows.

The redhead jumped about a foot in the air from surprise, it was a miracle he didn't send all the trophies tumbling like dominoes.

"Potter!" The Gryffindor glared at him which wasn't very effective seeing as the boy was wearing tatty, maroon pajamas, which were far too short for him.

Finnigan had joined them by now and was also glaring at the Slytherin.

"So," Said Weasly, "You ready Potter?" Ron pulled his wand out of his trouser pocket.

Harry nodded, his black hair almost turned silver when the moonbeams caught it.

"Alright then," Continued the maroon pajama clad boy, "Show me what you've got Potter."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "We have to bow first."

Weasley made a pfft sound of dismissal and clumsily bent as the waist. Harry did the same but slightly more fluidly.

"Okay," Started Harry, "May the best man win." The grin that flashed across Harry's face was positively vulpine.

"Rictusempra!" Spat Weasly and a jet of silver light shot straight at Harry, who quickly yelled "Protego" and the spell bounced off narrowly missing Finnigan. The Slytherin retaliated with a Densaugeo but Weasley dodged it, the yellow light reflected off a trophy case and went bouncing around the room like a frightened rabbit. Harry quickly grabbed Hermione and cast Protego around them to protect them from the rouge spell.

Weasley and Finnigan managed to avoid the spell and it soon fizzled out. Harry dropped the shield charm and sent a strong Expelliarmus at the ruffled Gryffindor and his wand went shooting out of his hand and into a large golden trophy with a loud clang. Harry winced hoping that the loud sound hadn't caught the attention of a patrolling teacher or even worse, Filch.

Fortunately there was no sound of disturbance and Harry plucked Weasley's wand out of the golden trophy, vaguely noticing a name on the plaque. It read, Tom M Riddle for Special Services to Hogwarts, and soon Harry dismissed it and handed Weasley back his wand, handle first.

"I win Weasley," Smirked Harry.

There was no arguing about Harry's point; the Slytherin had won fair and square. But that didn't mean Ron was a good loser.

Weasley shot a quietly muttered spell at Harry's back when the boy turned to face Hermione. The Ravenclaw's brown eyes widened and she pushed Harry backwards and ducked behind a large wooden case full of medals.

Harry went tumbling into a carefully placed display of quidditch trophies with a deafening crash. There was no way somebody hadn't heard that. And sure enough the raspy sound of Filch's voice mumbling to his cat caught their ears. Harry quickly sprung to his feet and grabbed Hermione by the hand and pulled her out of the trophy room, the Gryffindor's hot on their heels as they galloped down the corridor with no idea where they were going. They ripped through a tapestry and found themselves in a hidden passage way. The group of first years hurried along it and came out near their charms classroom, which they knew was miles from the trophy room.

Harry pressed himself up against the cool stone wall panting rapidly, hoping to cool his overheated body down a bit. Hermione joined him, clutching at a stich in her side. Ron had collapsed on the floor in a sweaty heap while Finnigan was bent double wheezing and spluttering.

"You - you," Hermione rounded on Weasley, her expression merciless, "You foolish idiot! If it wasn't for you casting a spell behind Harry's back we wouldn't be in this mess!"

Weasley frowned, his face scrunched up making him look like he had a bad case of constipation, "No it wasn't! It was your fault for pushing him into that pile of trophies!"

Hermione and Ron bickered while Harry and Finnigan caught their breath, the argument came to a dead stop when there was a popping sound and Peeves flickered into sight after watching the whole escapade while being invisible.

"Wandering around at midnight, ickle firsties?" Leered the poltergeist, "Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty!"

"Not if you don't give us away, Peeves, please!" Begged Hermione, who was looking up at the poltergeist with large, innocent molten-brown eyes.

The floating man hesitated, "Should tell Filch, I should," said Peeves in a saintly voice, but his eyes glittered wickedly. "It's for your own good, you know."

"Get out of the way!" Snapped Ron, taking a swipe at Peeves – that was a big mistake.

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeved bellowed, "STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"

Harry and Hermione ducked under Peeves and ran for their lives; Harry absentmindedly noticed the thump-thump of the Gryffindors tailing them.

Harry slammed against an old wooden door and frantically fiddled with the door handle trying to open it. It was locked.

"Oh were done for!" Moaned Ron, who was a strange mix of beet root red from the running and a pasty white from fear of being caught; this resulted in an angry pink colour.

"Oh move over," snarled Hermione, she grabbed Harry's wand and tapped the lock whispering, "Alohomora!"

The lock clicked and the door swung open. The group of first years piled through it and shut it quickly.

Harry pressed his ear against the key hole listening for Filch; Harry could hear him arguing with Peeves, but the caretaker's footsteps became dulled as he walked away in the opposite direction.

"I think we'll be okay," Said Harry, relived.

"Umm Harry?" Whimpered Hermione.

"Wha-" Harry swiveled on the spot, and saw quite clearly what had Hermione worried. For a moment Harry thought he had walked into a living nightmare. They weren't in a room as he had supposed, they were in a corridor. The forbidden corridor on the third floor, and now Harry knew why it was so very forbidden.

They were looking into the eyes of a monstrous dog – a Cerberus to be precise. The giant three headed dog filled the whole space between the ceiling and the floor. It was standing quite still, all six, mad eyes staring at the first years. Harry knew the only reason they weren't all very dead was that their sudden appearance had taken it by surprise, but it was quickly getting over that. There was no mistaking what those growls meant.

Harry groped for the door knob, between Filch and death; he'd take Filch any day. The door fell open and the group of four first years went tumbling backwards into a pile of struggling limbs. Finnigan had managed to kick the door closed stopping the Cerberus from poking one of its massive heads out the door and devouring them all.

Harry and Hermione practically flew down the corridor, this time the Gryffindors didn't follow them and sped off in the opposite direction. Harry and Hermione parted ways when they reached the stairwell; in too much of hurry they didn't dare say good-bye to the other. Harry shot down the stairs while Hermione scrambled up them. Harry reached the common room's secret entrance in record time and spilled out the password.

"Basilisk!" The wall slid open and Harry flopped onto the leather sofa facing Salazar's portrait.

Harry was too busy trying to catch his breath to notice that Sal wasn't in his frame alone. There was a tall, broad-shouldered man in a crimson silk shirt also in the portrait; he had wavy, tawny hair that reached his ears and his eyes were a soft brown.

"Well look what the kneezle dragged in," Mocked Slytherin as he stared down at Harry collapsed on the sofa.

"Huh?" Harry turned his attention to the portrait and blinked in surprise at seeing another person.

"G-good evening." Harry panted, quickly sitting up straight.

"It's good morning brat, it almost two am. I thought you'd been caught by the caretaker." Grumbled Sal.

"Oh, no we didn't get caught. Just escaped. I won though." Harry grinned, wondering who the other man was.

"Congratulations Harry! I will not disown you on this fine if not absurdly early morning." There was a pause in the conversation and the man in the red shirt gave a quite cough to get Sal's attention.

"Ah yes, where are my manners." Salazar had only just remembered that he had a guest, "This is Godric Gryffindor."

Harry blinked stupidly for a bit then remembered his voice, "It's a pleasure to meet you sir."

Gryffindor smiled like a goofy child and nodded his head, "Pleasures all mine! Is this the child genius you were talking about Sal?"

Salazar nodded.

"Amazing; you must be one smart child to get this old dragon's approval!" Gryffindor slapped Salazar on the back making the green eyed man lurch forward in his frame.

Harry smiled demurely, "Thank you Sir."

Sal sighed, "Harry I think you should be going to bed now. You'll be absolutely shattered in the morning."

Harry yawned, "I do believe you are right." Harry turned to wave as he descended into the boy's dormitory.

Gryffindor gave Harry a toothy grin while Salazar just face-palmed.

…

Despite his late night; Harry still managed to be the first awake in his dorm. Blinking away his sleepiness, Harry pulled back his bed hangings. Sitting cross-legged in the darkness of the Slytherin boy's dorm, Harry had time to think about last night's escapades properly.

He had noticed that the monstrous Cerberus was standing over a trapdoor. Being the observant child he was Harry didn't often miss things, even in life threating situations. He rarely forgot things either; in fact Harry's suspicions at having an eidetic memory were growing.

Maybe he would ask Professor Snape if there was a test or maybe a spell to test such things. The little Slytherin then returned his ponderings back to the trapdoor. Severus had taken something out of Gringotts when he had first been introduced to the magical world.

What did that goblins say again? Harry strained his memory, and almost like a film playing out inside Harry's mind, he heard the goblin telling his potions professor about the security of Gringotts and Hogwarts.

"I advise you to keep it in Gringotts Mr. Snape; this is the safest place in the wizarding world. Except perhaps Hogwarts," Said the Goblin in a sharp, biting tone.

Snape leaned in a fraction, his face merely inches away from the goblins, "That," He whispered, "Is where it is going."

The Goblin let out an exhalation, "Ah I see, do you wish us to provide extra security?" There was a cruel smile playing on the Goblin's lips at the thought of thinking up ways to keep out intruders, hopefully the headmaster would allow some of the more dangerous protections.

Snape gave a curt nod and waited as the goblin scrawled some things down on a piece of parchment with a long quail feather quill.

"Well then, Mr. Snape. This should be in order, provided the headmaster is willing to pay." The goblin slid the parchment across the desk he was sitting at, towards Severus.

Snape's black eyes scanned the writing, flicking back and forth, "This all seems to be in order; Dumbledore will send the fee via owl."

Snape folded up the parchment and slipped it into his front pocket. They then went to retrieve the grubby package wrapped up in brown paper and string from vault seven hundred and thirteen.

That must be it, thought Harry. How could something so small be so dangerous or expensive? Perhaps it was a diamond or another rare jewel. Harry then listed off as many things in his head as he could, right from ancient relics to powerful wizarding artifacts.

Why did the Headmaster want it moved though? A flash of a memory popped up in Harry's mind; it was a clipping of a newspaper.

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN – Latest investigations into the break-in at Gringotts on the 31st of July, widely believed to be the work of dark wizards or witches unknown. Gringotts' goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.
'But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out of it if you know what's good for you,' said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.

Dumbledore must have known there would be an attack on the vault! Harry was busy thinking about the package, it's significant and the fact that Dumbledore knew it would be stolen when he heard the rustling of his fellow Slytherins.

Harry looked up to see Draco's bed stirring, a scowl graced Harry's features. Draco was being a right prat at the moment. Honestly that boy had weird views on muggleborns. Couldn't he see that Hermione was no different than a pureblood? Yes their mannerisms and culture are different, but if he just looked past that he would see the sweet, clever, caring girl that was Hermione.

Harry got off his bed and slipped off to the boy's bathroom to have a shower. Once he was clean and dressed, Harry made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Harry sat down at the far end of the Slytherin table and let Cleo slither out of his sleeve and onto the table. Harry cut some haddock up for her and the sea krait started to tuck into the fish with enthusiasm. Harry opted for some plain toast; his stomach still wasn't used to all the new foods. So Harry kept his diet simple.

As Harry was finishing his toast he heard somebody call his name. It was Hermione.

"Good morning Harry!" Hermione ran over to the Slytherin table and sat down next to Harry, pointedly ignoring the disgusted stares from the dark-haired boy's house mates.

"Hello Hermione." Harry smiled best he could around his toast.

Hermione started to absentmindedly stroke Cleo as she engaged Harry in conversation, "Harry, guess what happened to Weasley and Finnigan!"

Harry raised a singular eyebrow in questioning and soon Hermione exclaimed, "They were caught by Professor Snape last night!"

Harry had to cover his mouth to avoid spraying toast everywhere. Once he swallowed his bite of toast, Harry giggled madly.

"Do you know what their punishment was?" Harry laughed.

Hermione nodded her honey-brown curls flying all over the place, "According to Padma Patil, they both got detention for a week and thirty points taken away… each!"

Harry laughed and stood up noticing the sour looks Weasley and Finnigan were sending his and Hermione's way. Hermione and Harry then walked off to Care of Magical Creatures with each other conversing about last night's adventure.

Harry filled Hermione in on the package that had seemed to have been moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts, and they both spent a lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection.

"It's either really valuable, or really dangerous," said Hermione.

"Or both," replied Harry.

But all they knew for sure about the mysterious object was that it was about two inches long. They didn't have much chance of guessing what it was without further clues.

Once the topic of the package and the trapdoor lost its interest, Harry and Hermione started to think up ways of trying to win back Draco's affections. He was a worthwhile friend and Harry really missed having him around, and he could tell Hermione missed him too, even though he gave her the cold shoulder. Despite his behavior and ideals, both first years knew that all they needed was to have Draco reconsider their friendship or at least try… keyword being try.

Harry and Hermione's efforts went in vain until Halloween. Harry was sitting at the Ravenclaw table when he saw Draco cornered in the Great Hall by a gang off Gryffindorks, including Weasley. Harry stood and rushed over to help with Hermione hot on his heels.

"Hey leave him alone!" Harry yelled out.

Weasley kept his wand trained on Draco but turned towards Harry to reply, "Why should I Potter? He's a slimy snake and deserves what he's going to get!"

A jinx was on the tip of Weasley's tongue when Harry cast the disarming spell, "Expelliarmus!"

Weasley's wand went flying and landed in Neville Longbottom's bowl of cereal.

"Why you!" Weasley launched himself at Harry who didn't have any time to react. His small more fragile frame was pushed to the stone floor with a sickening crack. Cleo hissed menacingly and reared back ready to bite Weasley, but luckily Snape got there first.

"Weasley unhand Potter this instant!"

Ronald rolled off Harry and stood up. Harry lay on the floor with his eyes scrunched up, his head hurt… badly.

"Weasley thirty points from Gryffindor for attacking another student! And detention with Filch!" Snape scolded at the Gryffindor first year. Snape then turned his attentions to his injured Slytherin and knelt down beside him. Most of the hall was looking on in a mixture of awe and amusement.

"Can you sit up Potter?" Said Snape softly.

Harry sat with some help from Hermione who was by his shoulder. He could feel a trickle of warm blood run down the side of his face.

"Hold still," Said Snape, "Episkey."

Harry winced as he felt the cut on his head close up, "Thank you Professor."

"You're welcome." Snape stood, "Well then if everything is fine, I suggest you get off to your next lesson."

"Yes Sir," said Hermione, who then hauled Harry to his feet and dragged him off to the Slytherin and Ravenclaw Herbology lesson.

Throughout the lesson with Professor Sprout Harry noticed that Draco was giving him odd looks. They bordered on the line of gratitude and sadness. Harry avoided Draco's eye; he wasn't going to speak with the boy unless he apologized to Hermione first. After a while Draco appeared to have given up on trying to catch Harry's attention and resignedly went back to repotting his aconite seedlings, with a horribly broken look on his pale face that made Harry want to rush over to him and give him the world's biggest hug. But the little dark haired Slytherin held back and waited patiently.

By the end of the class the air of sadness around Draco seemed to have intensified and Harry almost found it physically upsetting to be around him. He started to wonder if he was being too harsh on the youngest Malfoy.

As Harry left the lesson with Hermione, he saw Draco practically run past him. Harry caught a glimpse of his pale face – and was startled to see that he was in tears.

Harry was about to run after his house mate when Hermione grabbed his arm, "Harry, let him be for a while. I don't think he'll want you to see him in such a weak state at the moment."

Harry gave a silent shrug and left for the common room.

Draco didn't turn up for the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon. On their way down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry and Hermione overheard Blaise telling Daphne that Draco was locked up in the boy's dormitory and was refusing to come out.

Harry was practically dragged to the Great Hall by Hermione when he heard that, as he wanted to go and apologize to Draco.

But when the pair of first years entered the Hall, the decorations distracted them from the upset Slytherin.

A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. The food appeared suddenly on the golden plates, and just as Harry was putting some salad on his plate, Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face.

Everyone stared as he reached Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table and gasped.

"Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know."

Then sank to the floor in a dead faint.

…

PHEW, for some reason that chapter was hard to write and took ages but nothing really happened.

Again, there were loads of massive scary riots where I live the past few days, London has gone crazy. A car was set on fire on my road and a couple of streets away shops were smashed and looted. I just wanted to say that I am OK! I will be posting my story as per usual! (which is very slowly xD)

Once again, I must thank my wonderful, amazing, magical beta 'FallForYourType'.

Also she has a message for you guys, please read and take into consideration.

"Readers and reviewers for "The Peverell Curse", I just wanted to remind you all to read the author notes not just only on here, but on every story you read. These authors put them there for a reason for you to read. I wrote this because when I went to review Odd's reviews for this story, many of you wrote the same thing, even though Odd said he did not have this chapter beta'd and he has dyslexia. Hell, even I can't write perfectly and make many mistakes. I might even miss a couple on here and I apologize to Odd and the rest of you as well. But please for goodness sakes, read what the author's put because they do have important information on them. I hope you continue reading Odd's story and if you don't agree with how he is writing his characters and plot, then I ask you kindly to stop reading the story and go on to another one. This is FF for a reason; if you don't like, don't read. Thank you and I apologize if I offend anyone. I am just over protective of Odd."