If it matters, for the most part I'm basing events off how they went in the movies, because I've seen them a million times and have read the books only like four times.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize here, it all belongs to J.K Rowling.
Thank you guys for all your reviews! I love them!
In response to one, I wouldn't say they are into each other yet. I would say that they are definitely very close friends, and that they are important to each other. They just show it differently because of the secrecy to their friendship. This is the last chapter for their first year, and I'm not sure how many chapters I have planned. I expect years two and three to be about this length, but after that, perhaps a bit longer. I'm kind of winging it.
Leave a review if you enjoy!
"I expected the exams would be harder, but they were quite easy. I am glad I decided to review the different plants in the weed family though," Hermione said to Draco following the exams. They were sitting in their favourite spot by the Quidditch pitch, hiding from everyone.
"I am too. Thanks for forcing that on me. I would have failed for sure if you didn't make me."
"Glad to help." Hermione checked the time. "I really have to run though. We are going to try to see Hagrid again, and hope we have one more chance to figure out how to get past the dog."
"Still no luck?" Draco asked.
"Nope," Hermione sighed. They had been pestering Hagrid, and trying to make him tell them about how to get past Fluffy for six weeks, but to no avail. Hagrid was determined that they wouldn't find out.
"Be careful. I don't care about Potter and the Weasel, but just, watch yourself. This is serious."
Hermione nodded. Over the year, she and Draco had become really close. She would easily say he was a better friend than Harry and Ron, because he more similar to her in many ways. His thirst for knowledge rivalled hers, and they had made something of a competition between themselves to see who would get better marks. They made a bet for who would win top student at the end of the year.
They were always able to have intelligent conversations. They could debate anything now, unlike at the beginning of the year when they usually stuck to school topics. Draco had read the books Hermione gave him for Christmas, and he often brought them into conversation, demanding to know more about muggle literature. Hermione always laughed when he wanted to learn about something muggle.
She thought it was funny, ironic perhaps, that he came from such a strictly pureblood family, but he was so interested in muggle things, and had no problems being friends with her. Even if it was in private. It was a matter of being disowned that caused him to hide. He cared about his reputation, and he wasn't at a position to live alone yet. She understood his position, and even she knew that her own Gryffindor reputation would be jeopardized if their friendship became common knowledge.
But more than all that, Draco always asked how her day was. He took a real interest in her life outside him. Maybe it was because most of her time was spent with Harry and Ron that they didn't need to ask. But it still made her feel good when he asked her things. He always listened when she talked, and she felt like she could be completely herself with him. They read over each others homework and gave each other tips, something that Harry and Ron refused to do. He never asked her to do an assignment for him, unlike Ron.
"I'll be fine," Hermione reassure the blond boy in front of her. "You know me. I'm too smart to get myself killed."
"Exactly. I'll see you tomorrow then, before the feast?" Draco said with a look in his eyes that Hermione couldn't quite place.
"Tomorrow," she said, standing up. She gave him a wave, and bounced back up to the school.
She found Ron and Harry exactly where they said they'd be, in the courtyard near Hagrid's. "Bloody thrilled to be done with those exams," Ron said when she approached. "Hardest thing I've ever had to do."
Hermione had a there you go moment, because Ron had just proven the difference between the Gryffindor boys and Draco.
"I had no trouble. Now, how do we figure out how to get past that dog?" She switched the subject quickly before she began comparing her friends too much.
"I think we should go down to Hagrid's and just talk to him," Harry suggested, slipping easily into his role as a leader. "Maybe start off pretending it's a normal visit? Make small talk, and pretend to like those rock cakes he tries to force us to eat. The, when we have him comfortable, we sneak it in."
"That's probably our best bet," Hermione nodded.
"Think it'll work?" Ron wondered as the trio began their walk down the hill to Hagrid's.
"It has to," Harry said confidently. It was a false confidence, because all three of them knew the chances of Hagrid telling them were minimal.
"Hey Hagrid!" Harry called as they approached. The half giant was working on something in his garden, and Fang wasn't far from him.
"Hello you three! Done your exams?" Hagrid stood up, rising to his full height to tower over the students.
"Yes! We finished this morning. The results will be posted tomorrow, before the feast," Hermione said.
"Well good for you. How's it feel to be done your first year at Hogwarts?"
"Strange," she continued. "It doesn't feel like it should be done. It's going to be odd going home, to no magic for the summer."
"I bet," Hagrid nodded. "Why don't you come in for some tea then? I did some baking this morning."
There was a look exchanged between Ron, Harry and Hermione. Their plan was working. Hagrid was in a good mood and if they could smile through the baking, then their chances would go up, just a little.
"Hagrid, have you heard from Charlie about Norbert lately?" Ron asked.
"As a matter of the fact, I have," Hagrid said as he placed a large tray of baked goods on the table in front of the three kids. He then proceeded to pour them each a large mug of tea.
"Remind me how you got the dragon in the first place?" Harry asked, mischievously. Hermione wondered what he was up to, as she tried to eat one of the treats from the platter.
"Oh, the man in the pub?"
"Yes. I was wondering if he just gave the egg to you, or if he made sure you could take care of a dragon?"
"Of course he asked what kind of creatures I work with, and what I've done in the past. Seemed really interested to find out that I've got the colony of giant tarantulas tamed." Ron squeaked when he heard that there were giant tarantulas in the forest.
"Was he interested in learning how you did that?"
"Course he was interested! How often do you come across a tamed giant tarantula? Not very. I told him, it's like with any creature. You've got to know exactly what to do to tame it, and make it trust you. If all else fails, you've got to make it sleep. Like Fluffy."
"Did you tell him about Fluffy?" Harry asked carefully. Hermione held her breath, and Ron focused on his cake.
"I did mention it. Seemed really interested, but I guess you would be. Three headed dogs, I told him, are curious beings. Have to amuse three heads, you know. Easiest way is to play a little music and he'll fall right asleep!"
Harry grinned, and couldn't help but whip his head around to look at Hermione.
Hagrid, on the other hand, dropped his kettle in alarm. "I should not have told you that. No more questions!" He yelled, realizing what the three kids where doing to him.
"Did you tell the man in the pub how to get past Fluffy?" Harry asked as the three kids stood, rock cakes and tea forgotten.
"I did. I think you lot should go back to the castle, and don't get into any trouble! Don't you try getting past that dog, you hear?"
They nodded as they bolted out of the house.
"That was easy!" Ron said loudly.
"Don't question it!" Harry said seriously.
The trio spent the remainder of the day deciding how they were going to tackle the problem of playing music for Fluffy, but before they knew it, it was already eleven, past curfew, and they had to go.
"There has to be a spell!" Hermione cried.
"Not unless you have an instrument,; we've checked a dozen times," Harry replied.
"It's too late to look for anything else. We have to go!" Hermione groaned, stood from the stairs outside the first year boys dormitory, and went through the common room. The boys followed.
Hermione had to put a full body bind on Neville, but that only took a minute, and soon the trio was hidden under the invisibility cloak, sneaking to the third floor corridor. To Fluffy.
When they made it past the door, they stopped dead in their tracks. Hermione cursed in her head.
Draco Malfoy was standing there, a smug look on his face and his arms folded over his chest. What's more is that behind him was a sleeping Fluffy. Hermione noted the enchanted harp in the corner was playing a soft melody. Had Draco done this?
"Well, well, well. It would appear that the Golden Boy has an invisibility cloak. What wonderful information to behold," Draco said, sauntering aimlessly towards where the Gryffiindors stood hidden. He came precariously close, almost as if he could see them. Hermione deduced that he could probably hear Ron breathing heavily in fear. "Or am I mistaken? Do doors just decide on a whim to open and close themselves. It is a magical castle, after all."
Harry sighed, knowing they were caught. Hermione grimaced as he removed the cloak from the three of them. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Harry asked.
This was when Hermione began to panic. Draco knew they would be here because she told him. If he was here to bust them, to tell Dumbledore that they were doing this, it would be her fault.
Draco saved her though, thinking quick and coming up with a lie that wouldn't be too unbelievable. "I was out for a stroll, earlier today, and I overheard one of you mention the third floor corridor, sneaking past a dog, and something about tonight. My solution? Wait here for you."
"Why?" Ron asked. "So you can turn us in?"
Draco shook his head. "Only if you get one of us killed." Seeing the confusion on everyones face, Draco scoffed. "I'm coming with you, of course."
Brilliant Hermione thought sarcastically. Though thinking more, his brains might come in handy.
"Absolutely not!" Harry said.
"Why not Potter? Want all the glory for yourself?"
"Harry, it might not be a bad idea," Hermione said slowly. She was met with three faces of shock, confusion and wonder. "I mean, what if we need to make a sacrifice?"
Draco laughed once. "Yes, Potter. What if you need to leave someone behind? Surely you won't sacrifice your beloved Weasel, nor the girl."
"Stop arguing," Hermione said suddenly.
"Why? I was just-"
"Shut up Harry! Listen." The four first years were silent. "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Ron asked, looking at Hermione like she had eleven heads.
"Exactly," She said, looking to the harp. "The music stopped."
"Can you turn it back on?" Harry asked.
"I don't remember the spell," Hermione shook her head. It was unlike her to forget things once she had read them.
"What do we do?" Ron wondered.
"Run?" Harry suggested.
"It's still asleep," Draco pointed out.
"We can go down the trap door if we go quickly," Hermione said.
"Let's go," Harry said. He took a step forward, making the wooden floor under his feet creak.
Fluffy cracked open an eye. The kids froze. "Now what?" Ron squeaked.
"Go!" Harry said, dashing for the trap door. The result was immediate. The minute he began to move, the dog woke up completely, all of it's heads barking and snapping. Harry dodged them, and opened the trap door. Without hesitation, Ron dove down the hole, followed by Harry. Draco shoved Hermione down next, and then he went. Just in the nick of time too, because a giant paw landed on the spot he had been standing, and a head tried to follow him down.
"Merlin," Ron breathed once everyone was down and settled. "Good job this plant thing broke out fall."
"What is this?" Draco asked.
Hermione poked a vine. It began to move. "I think this is Devil's snare."
Hermione was right. AS soon as she spoke, the plant began to attack. It's vines reached out and grabbed onto everything it could find. Legs, arms, torsos and heads became enveloped in the plant.
"It's going to kill us!" Ron shouted.
"You have to relax! It'll only kill you faster of you move!" Hermione yelled. She and Draco were the only ones calm enough to remember learning about the plant. They stayed still, allowing themselves to slip down below.
"Harry, Ron, you have to relax. It's okay!"
Harry listened, and he slid down through the plant. Ron was still actively freaking out.
"Oh what was the rhyme?" Hermione said, exasperated. "Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare. It's deadly fun…"
"But will sulk in the sun!" Draco finished for her.
"That's it! Devil's Snare hate's sunlight! Lumos Solem!" Hermione pointed her wand to the spot where she could see Ron's feet, and bursts of light shot out from her wand. The plant recoiled immediately, and Ron dropped down to the floor.
"Lucky we didn't panic!" Ron said, rather stupidly.
"Lucky Hermione -and Malfoy- pay attention in Herbology," Harry said with a pointed look,
"Petition to change our sacrifice to be Weasley?" Draco said. Hermione couldn't tell if he was joking or not.
"Shove it, Malfoy" Ron sneered.
"What's that sound?" Harry asked. Everyone looked around, until above them they saw something flying, and buzzing around.
"Those are some strange birds," Hermione commented. Draco nodded in silent agreement.
"Those aren't birds," Ron said fearfully.
"They're keys," Harry gasped in realization. "Probably to that door!" He pointed to the door across the room that had to lead out. "We need to use this broom to get it."
"Which one is it?" Hermione asked.
"Probably old and worn, like the door. None of these shiny gold ones," Harry reasoned.
"There," Draco said as he pointed. "That one. The broken one."
Hermione couldn't see it, and she looked to Ron who shrugged. He couldn't pick it out either.
"I'll get it," Harry said. He mounted the broom, and immediately all of the keys went into attack mode. Harry expertly flew through the keys, using his seeker skills to follow the desired one.
"Get to the door!" Draco said to Ron and Hermione. They didn't hesitate, running across the room to the wooden door.
"Got it!" Harry shouted. He flew past the door and dropped the key down. Hermione caught it before it fought flutter off again, and she hastily opened the door. Draco shoved her through after Ron went, and then when Harry looped around back to the door, they moved so he could fly through. Draco slammed the door closed and for a few seconds the only sounds were the rest of the keys hitting the door,and the four kids panting.
"That was insane!" Harry said, dismounting the broom. As soon as he was standing on his own two feet, the broom disappeared.
The four looked at each other for a few seconds. "I wonder what else this place has to kill us," Draco sighed. "Also, now that Potter has proven useful, can we please agree that Weasley is our sacrifice?" Hermione smacked him
They turned to move forward, and suddenly the room lit up with magical torches on the walls. "What is this?" Hermione wondered.
"It looks like a graveyard," Harry commented.
"It's no graveyard, Harry. It's a giant chess board," Ron gulped.
"Chess?" Draco scoffed. "Well, there's the door. Let's go."
Shrugging, the three Gryffindors followed the one Slytherin across the board. As they reached the pawns on the other side of the board, the white stone men rose up and barricaded them with their weapons.
"I think we have to play our way across. And win, I would assume." Harry looked between the three others. "Ron, what do we do?"
"Weasley? Really?" Draco sneered. "What does he know?"
Hermione smacked him. "Ron's brilliant at chess. Don't be rude."
Harry and Ron ignored the exchange. "Harry, go be the bishop. Hermione and Malfoy, the castle square. I'll be a knight."
"Don't glorify yourself Weasley. You're not actually a knight," Draco smirked as he followed Hermione to the corner square.
"What do we do?" Hermione asked, standing as far away from Malfoy as she could.
"Well, white moves first," Ron said. He got this strange look of determination in his eyes. "And then, we play."
The white side moved a pawn, and soon they were involved in a violent game of wizard chess. There were pieces exploding upon contact and several times, the kids had to duck to avoid being hit.
Soon, Ron realized they were just a few moves from winning, and it was entirely possible. He looked at the others. "Do you guys see it?"
Harry was the first to recognize what move Ron was talking about. "Ron, no!"
"What is it? What's happening?"
"Weasley's realized he has to finally be our sacrifice," Draco said.
"What? Ron!"
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I'll move, the queen will take me, and then Harry, you'll be able to check the king!"
"There must be some other way!" Hermione cried.
Ron shook his head. "We know it has to be you who goes on, Harry. Not me, not Hermione, not Malfoy, you. You win, and you can keep going."
"Do it Ron," Harry nodded. Hermione winced as Ron made the move.
Almost in slow motion, Ron was knocked off his piece by the Queen. "Ron!" Hermione screeched, and without thinking she began to run towards him. Draco caught her by the arm and yanked her backwards. She stumbled against him, but righted herself as Harry reminded her that they were still playing.
Finally, with an anticlimactic finish, Harry won the game for them, and they were free to move from their spots. Harry and Hermione rushed immediately to Ron, who was still unconscious on the floor.
"Hermione, you have to get Ron to the hospital wing. Have Malfoy help you, and get him there. Then tell Dumbledore that I've gone in after Snape." Harry looked at the bushy haired brunette with fear in his eyes.
"You'll be great Harry, I know you will."
"Thanks 'Mione," Harry said, standing. "Get him upstairs."
With that, Harry moved beyond the chess board, and disappeared behind another elaborate wooden door.
The minute he was out of view, Draco rushed over to Hermione and pulled her into a strong, bone crushing hug. She returned it without question, collapsing into his hold. They sat there, holding each other in a friendly way for a few minutes before Draco spoke. "WE should probably save Weasley's life, shouldn't we?"
Hermione nodded. "Can we lift him? Between the two of us?"
It took some effort and some maneuvering, but eventually they were able to find a position to carry Ron with. They figured out how to get out of the labyrinth beneath the trap door, and they emerged to find a sleeping Fluffy. They didn't question it, they just kept going.
"Were you trying to get yourselves killed?" Draco asked as they approached the hospital wing.
"Apparently," Hermione replied.
"Good work then," Draco commented. "Madam Pomfrey?"
The mediwitch appeared from behind a curtain, and told them to put Ron on a bed. She didn't ask questions right away. It wasn't until Hermione asked for Dumbledore that she paused.
"Why do you need the headmaster?"
"It's important! It's to do with Harry Potter!"
Draco nodded in agreement, and Madam Pomfrey called for Dumbledore.
When he finally arrrived, Hermione launched into a long, run on sentence explanation for what had happened. Dumbledore nodded, following along. When she finally finished, Dumbledore thanked her.
"I do think that now, you and Mr. Malfoy had best be off to bed. Mr. Weasley will be released come the morning, and someone has to go save Mr. Potter," Dumbledore shooed the two supposed enemies away. They left, Hermione somewhat reluctantly with a look back at Ron.
"Granger, you know this doesn't change anything, right?" Draco said when they were out of earshot. "I still hate Potter and Weasley, and we can't go public about being friends. If anyone asks why I was involved, I'm going to say I went to make sure you got in trouble, and because I didn't want Potter to get all the glory. That's partly true, though I mostly went to make sure you'd be ok. I'm glad you are."
"I think that was completely idiotic of you, Malfoy. But thanks. You helped."
"See you around, Hermione," Draco said. He waved once at his best friend, glad she was alive, and turned down the corridor that would eventually take him to the Slytherin common room. Hermione grinned, and headed back to the Gryffindor common room. She literally ran into Professor Snape near the bottom of the moving stairs.
"Miss Granger, I suppose you have an excellent explanation for being out of bed at this hour," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Or can I guess? I would assume you were involved in whatever I am being summoned by Professor Dumbledore for. Yes? Twenty points from Gryffindor."
Hermione didn't get to object before he swooped away, his robes billowing behind him like a cape. She was in shock. If Snape was here, then who was it in the Labyrinth with Harry? She supposed she would find out in the morning, but she did find it impossible to sleep that night.
She rose out of bed the minute she could, and was in the abandoned Great Hall by six-thirty. Draco walked in a few minutes later. Seeing that nobody else was around, he went over to the Gryffindor table where Hermione sat.
"It wasn't Snape," Hermione said as a greeting after a few minutes. Draco too looked like he hadn't slept well.
"Well then who was it?" Hermione shrugged in response. She really wanted to know.
"I think I'm going to go see if Ron can be released, and hopefully Harry will be there too."
"Right. I'll see you later," Draco said, standing as she did. "I want to see you before we go home tomorrow, okay?"
Hermione nodded her agreement. "I'll meet you by the lake tonight? After the feast?"
"Sounds good. Oh, and don't forget to check your grades after lunch," Draco winked once, before turning on his heel and walking in the opposite direction that Hermione did.
Ron was ready to be released when she got there, so together they went across the room to Harry's bed. "Glad he's okay," Ron said, reaching for a chocolate frog. Heaven knows when they had arrived since it was so early in the morning, but with magic, anything was possible.
"It wasn't Snape," Hermione said, still in shock.
"What?"
"She's right, Mr. Weasley." Ron and Hermione turned to see Professor Dumbledore standing behind them. It was not Professor Snape who wanted the Philosopher's Stone. It was, as it turns out, Professor Quirrell."
Upon seeing the confused expressions on both faces, he elaborated. "Professor Quirrell wore the turban to cover the face of He Who Must Not Be Named. He wanted the stone, for Voldemort." Dumbledore explained everything else that had been discovered. Voldemort was still alive, though he was a parasite. He needed to live off another, and he wanted the stone for himself.
"We had everything right," Hermione said in frustration. "Everything except who wanted the stone. How could we have missed that?"
"Fret not, Miss Granger. The situation has been rectified, and I'll be speaking to Nicolas Flamel in a short time to clear it up. The stone must be destroyed."
"That's good," Ron said.
"Indeed it is, Mr. Weasley. Now, off you two go. Clean up before breakfast. There will be several important announcements, and then you may return to see your friend."
Ron and Hermione complied, heading upstairs to have a shower. They visited Harry several times throughout the day, and each time, there were more and more piles of candy at the foot of his bed. Ron did indeed help himself to a few more chocolate frogs.
They left in the afternoon to check their marks, and Hermione was delighted to see she had passed everything with flying colours, and the only thing that Draco beat her at was Flying. They tied in potions and History of Magic, whig happened to be their worst, but Hermione heath him everywhere else. She grinned evilly, highly anticipating rubbing it in his face later.
They went back to see Harry again before the feast, but stopped outside the hospital wing when they heard voices. Harry was awake, it seemed, and was talking to Dumbledore.
A few minutes later, Harry finally emerged from the Hospital wing, and the three friends embraced each other before going to enjoy the feast.
"Another year, gone," Dumbledore announced. He awarded some points that Hermione questioned the legitimacy of, and then had to change the decoration from green and silver to red and gold when Gryffindor surpassed Slytherin, winning the house cup. Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table, and everyone at the Slytherin table could be seen complaining. Hermione, in her happiness looked over at Draco. He wasn't looking at her, but rather at the table. He looked so upset, like he might cry. Hermione figured his father would be very upset about the loss, but she was too happy to think about that.
After enjoying the end of year feast, Hermione slipped out to go to the lake. Draco was already there.
"Good job on beating me everywhere, except for three things, Granger." Draco was bitter, but Hermione couldn't blame him.
"I do think it was unfair for Dumbledore to do what he did at the end there," Hermione said as she sat beside the blond boy.
"Really unfair. You lot gained a hundred and sixty points for breaking thirty school rules!"
"Theres always next year," Hermione offered. Draco sighed.
"Anyways, I beat you in flying," Draco grinned.
"Everyone beat me in flying!"
"Not Longbottom."
"Madam Hooch has it out for him."
They both laughed at that.
"What about the summer?" Hermione asked when they sobered up.
"What about it?"
"Will we be able to write?"
"We should be," Draco thought for a minute. "Just, don't sign as yourself. Don't sign as anything. I know your writing."
"I don't have an owl," Hermione pointed out.
"Just use mine. I'll write first. Then you can respond. Just be sure to tell him to take it directly to me, and not to let anyone else near it."
"Sounds kind of dangerous," she said skeptically.
"Not dangerous. Just… sketchy," Draco smirked.
"I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."
Draco wrapped is arm around her shoulders, pulling his best friend against him. "Don't you worry about me. I'll be fine. Besides, you're worth it."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, but Draco stayed firm in his words.
"Alright. Let's go inside though. I still have to pack."
Draco helped her up, and the pair walked together through the fading light of the summer evening.
