Sorry this took so long. This chapter was suppose to be out a week ago, but that's what happens when your weighed down with eighteen credit hours of work. So here is a nice lengthly chapter for your enjoyment and the next one should be out in a week or two (hopfully).

Chapter Four: The Island

In the distance an enormous island came into view. They had been in the open water for over thirty minutes. According to the map the island was about twenty miles from the mainland. The sun was high in the sky showing that it past noon.

Snape slowed the boat down and came to a complete stop. Harry turned to see what was going on from where he was sitting on the side of the boat. He watched the Headmaster stand up and move over to where Snape stood inside the cabin in front of the wheel. They stood close to one another conversing quickly. Harry narrowed his eyes wanting to know what was going on and not to be left out of the decisions once again. He stood up and brushed his pants off and hurried over toward the two men.

He stood behind then waiting for them to acknowledge his presents. After a few moments they wrapped up and turned their attention to the boy.

"Yes Harry?" Dumbledore asked politely.

"Why are we are we stopping? The island is right there" he gesture toward the landmass.

Dumbledore adjusted his spectacles. "We were discussing some complications that await us once we step foot on the island."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Complications?"

Snape sighed loudly.

"Severus!" the Headmaster warned.

Snape turned away grumbling to himself.

"What you must understand Harry, there will be no magic allowed on the island."

Harry stared up at the man in confusion. "No magic?

"Yes, the place is allows no magic. Before you asked me why, the answer is unclear."

"So if we can't use our wands, how do we defend ourselves if we come across something on the island?"

Right on cue Snape pushed past both men. He bent down over one of the many black bags and unzipped one. Harry leaned over and took a closer look and gasped when he saw the content within. Inside the bag were multiple muggle weapons guns, knives and explosives and more stuff that he couldn't make out. Snape stood zipping up the bag.

Snape stepped back over to the wheel and turned the boat back on. He then proceeded to move forward. As they came closer toward the island, Harry still had a burning question.

"Do you know how use those muggle weapons?" he asked thinking Snape didn't have a clue of what he was doing.

"Really Potter, do try and shut up until we get to the island" Snape snapped. Harry sat back down muttering to himself.

Ten minutes later they pulled up to the small dock that was connected to the shore of the island. Snape jumped out of the boat and on to the old wooden walkway. Dumbledore threw him a large thick brown rope while Snape tied it off. Once finished they began unloading the yacht. They each carried two bags and headed towards the shore. As soon as their feet hit the sand they felt a painful jolt run through their bodies.

Snape stopped walking and took a look around. There was nothing but sand and a whole bunch of jungle in front of them. He looked up at the sky and saw it was clear. He then glanced at his two companions. He dropped the bags he was carrying and pulled out his wand that was hidden in his sleeve. He gave it a light flick and watched and waited but nothing happened.

Harry looked over at his professor. "I thought you said there was no magic on the island."

"The book said there is not."

"Well is there?"

Snape turned and looked down at the annoying boy. "Did you see anything happen?"

Harry pulled out his wand and tried to do a spell but attained the same result. Snape looked at Harry with a smirk on his lips. "Did you really think that you would achieve something that I could not?" Harry was about have a comeback but a warning look from the Headmaster made him shut his mouth. Snape picked up his bag and began heading across the sand toward the overwhelming trees.

As they began to head into the thick jungle was when Dumbledore began to speak. "It's about after three o'clock." He said looking up at the sky. "It would be good for us to look for a campsite for the night and head out first thing in the morning" he suggested.

"Right" Snape said digging in his pocket and pulled out a small compass. He held it out in front of him and watched the dial moved back in forth. He waited until the dial cease to move. "This way."

They headed west further into the deep jungle. After about twenty minutes of walking they came upon a clearing. It was down a little hill surrounded by tall trees and five huge boulders. There was no grass on the ground just thick dirt and scattered sticks.

"This seems like a good spot to camp for the night" Harry spoke up.

"No one asked your opinion Potter" Snape snapped pushing past him.

They carefully maneuvered down the hill trying to keep themselves from falling. They finally made it down to the small clearing. Snape dropped his bag first and began to sort through it. Dumbledore stood over look up once more at the sky.

"I don't think will need the tent tonight" mostly speaking to himself. He then turned to his employee. "What do you think?"

Snape looked up at the sky from where he was crouched on the ground. "No, I think the sleeping bags should be efficient, but you can take Potter and gather wood."

The Headmaster looked down at the dark haired man in confusion. "Gather wood? For what purpose?"

Snape blew out a frustrated breath. He pushed his bag aside and stood up. "Did you not read the book I gave you about living like a muggle?" he questioned.

Dumbledore avoid his gaze and looked down at his shoes. "I take that as a no" Snape answered for him. He sighed again shoulders slumping in defeat. "Can you at least get the sleeping bags and get us setup, while I take Potter to get some wood for the fire?"

Dumbledore thought about it for a moment then nodded. Snape moved past him and began to head through the tress. "I don't have all day to wait for you Potter" Snape called back over his shoulder. Harry made a face. He dropped his back to the ground and gave the Headmaster on final glance before he headed after the Potion Master.

They had finish collecting the wood and were back at the campsite. Snape organized the fire wood, while Harry stacked the extra ones into a pile so it could be used later. When they had returned to the clearing twenties minutes ago, the Headmaster had setup the sleeping bags for each of them as well as three camping chairs.

Harry finished his stacking the wood and turned towards Dumbledore to see what else he could help with. There wasn't much for him to do. They had gotten everything sorted out only thing left was to organize the bags and Snape was going to do that.

The sun was almost set when Snape lit the fire. He had a large pot cooking over the crackling fire. He stirred the beans counter clockwise making sure they were nice and cooked. Once the beans were stewing nicely he placed the lid on the pot and stood up. He walked past the two men and sat down in his camp chair. He pulled out their guide book and began to skim through it.

Dumbledore sat up in his chair as he watched his potions master opened the book. He stood up and pulled his chair closer to the fire; it was starting to get a little too cool for his old bones to handle. "Severus, will you enlighten us to what you have learned about are mission?"

Snape glanced up from his book and surveyed the two men. He sighed quietly and sat up and firmly place his feet on the ground. "I've have been learning the history of the Aurea Stone" he began. "The stone has a long history between wizard and muggles alike. The first mention of the stone is around 12th century. The French, Germans and even the English have gone in search of it, all coming up empty handed. Not until the late 1500's was the Stone rumored to be hidden on this island. Then the Spanish came here in search of it, over a thousand men were never seen or heard from again. That was the last expedition recorded in this book. If there were any more trips after the Spanish I can't tell you; but apparently for a while Kings were tired of losing thousands of men."

Dumbledore sat running his hands through his long white beard pondering what he had just heard. "But you do believe the Stone is here on this island?"

"I do Headmaster" Snape answered with confidence.

"Wait a minute" Harry said chiming in. "You just said that no one has ever found it and that over one thousand men were lost seeking it."

Snape crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow. "Wow, I'm impressed Potter you do pay attention" he stated sarcastically.

Harry just frowned. "What makes you so sure?"

Snape rolled his eyes and leaned forward his chair. He stretched out his hand and started tacking points with his fingers. "One Potter we had the map, two the book, three thugs in the bar were confident the stone was here, four the Dark lord has mentioned this place and five the dark enchantment over the island. If there is nothing here why is there no magic allowed? This place is guarding something and I want to find out what."

"We want to find out" Dumbledore corrected.

"Of course" Snape said stand up from his chair. He grabbed on the flashlight and a small black bag and began to head into the forest. "Don't wait up." He called back.

Harry glared after Snape until his form disappeared into the darkness. He then turned back to the old wizard sitting a few feet away from him. Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Severus means well."

Harry just looked away muttering to himself. The Headmaster chuckled to himself hearing what Harry had said. He cleared his throat.

"Come now don't fret my boy. Come and eat your dinner before its gets old, we have long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Snape, Harry and Dumbledore trekked through the thick jungle trees and bushes; going deeper and deeper into the unknown. Snape was out front with the map in hand stopping and rechecking the map to see if they were heading the right direction. Harry was in the middle carrying his small pack. (Snape not trusting him with any of their supplies and Dumbledore brought up the rear.

They had been walking for the past two hours in the hot Peru sun. They had come across a small stream which they walked right through the water only coming up to their ankles. They had walked another thirty minutes when Snape suddenly stopped. Harry hadn't been paying attention and ran smack right into the man clad in all in black.

Snape turned around and narrowed his eyes. "Watch where going Potter." He then turned back to the map. "We are close, it's just up here."

Snape pushed on. A moment later he pushed aside a large bush and stepped into a clearing. In front of them were about ten twenty foot high stone columns. They looked to be hundreds of years old or maybe even a thousand. They were a rusty brown color and thick grass was growing out of them. Vines ran up and down the ancient columns making the jungle look like they were swallowing them up.

"This is" Snape announced check the map to make sure. They walked further into the clearing checking out their surrounding a little bit more.

"I was expecting something better than this" Harry said disappointed. "Like a huge building or—"

"Then how would this place be hidden Potter?" Snape barked. "If you want to hide something you don't build something huge so all the world can see."

"You know Snape I'm am really getting sick and tired—"Harry began.

"Enough both of you!" demanded Dumbledore. "Now how do you suppose we find a way to the entrance?"

Snape took a quick glance around. "How about I climb up to one of those stones and see what I can find." Snape unhooked his pack and handed to Dumbledore. He then walked over to a large piece of stone that had fallen away and that was low enough to step on. He climbed on top of it. He then processed to jump to the next stone. He managed to catch the ledge and pull himself and got ready to leap to the next one up.

"Please be careful my boy" Dumbledore called from below.

"I'm fine." He then jumped to the next and the next. He was standing on the last column and looked around. He glanced down and saw something out of place.

"I found it."

Harry and the headmaster walked over to where Snape was pointing too. Dumbledore strolled over to the piece of thick sand that was covering the ground. Dumbledore place his foot over it and pressed down. "It's hollow."

"Exactly, it's not supposed to be there "Snape said triumphantly.

"We need to find a way to smash through this" Dumbledore said.

"I'm on it."

Snape looked at the ledge that was directly across from him. There was a huge boulder sitting on the end. Snape jumped across to the other column. He then leaned up against it and pushed with all his might. The rock moved and tipped and began to fall. It smashed right into the hollow ground breaking in right open.

As the dust cleared Snape climbed down and joined the others. They looked down to where the hollow ground had been and saw a hidden entrance.

"Like I said there is something on this island" Snape said. He pulled out his Bersa Thunder 380 and stepped through the dark entrance.