Arashi: Another chapter faithful readers. Hm…wonder what Ridire has up his sleeve this time. ^^

Ch 9: The Stone

Ridire was sneaking around the dark hallways under the invisibility cloak. He saw an unused classroom with its door open. Curious, he snuck in. He immediately sensed Dumbledore's invisible figure, but ignored him to look at the other object in the room. He hid a look of surprise. It was the famed Mirror of Erised. He walked up to it and removed his cloak. He stared at his image. He stood next to his Grandfather with the dead body of Dumbledork on the ground. They were rulers of the world.

He grinned as Dumbledork removed his invisibility spell. Dumbledork spoke. "Do you what this is, Ridire?"

Ridire played confused. He turned to the old man. "No, professor."

"What does it show you?"

"That's private, sir, but it shows me what I want."

"Exactly. It shows what we want most in life. The Mirror of Erised is a dangerous thing though. Men have wasted away before it."

Ridire nodded. He then bid the old man goodnight and left.

SSSSSSSSSSSS

Throughout the next weeks Ridire spent planning how he would get the Stone. He knew that there were traps. He tried to find them out, but he had no luck besides the fact that each teacher had contributed.

It was close to the end of the year and Ridire had given up. He and Draco had decided to go get the stone that night. Dumbledore was also gone so it was a plus. Ridire would bring his sword along with a few knives and his wand. Draco would bring a small flute to calm the Cerberus.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

That night Ridire and Draco were sneaking up to the third floor. When they got there Ridire opened the door with a quiet 'Alohomora'. They snuck in and Draco pulled out the flute. He started to play a low, almost sad tune. The Cerberus slowly drifted off to sleep.

Ridire removed the Invisibility cloak and stuck it in a hidden corner of the room. He then opened the trap door and jumped through. Draco quickly stopped playing and jumped in before the great beast could awaken. They both landed on a soft surface. They immediately stopped moving when the thing below them moved.

Ridire frowned. "Devil's Snare. Hates sunlight doesn't it?"

Draco nodded and they both cast a fire spell. The plant released them and they stood up and brushed themselves off.

They moved cautiously into the next room. They cast shield charms when there was movement above them.

Ridire laughed a moment later. He dispelled the charm. "They're keys!"

Draco laughed too and dispelled his charm too. "We obviously need one. Which one though?"

Ridire was examining the opposite door. "Silver and old-fashioned."

They examined the flying keys. Suddenly Draco shouted. "That one!"

Ridire looked in the direction where Draco had pointed. Draco spotted some brooms. He went to get them but Ridire shook his head. "No. I want to try something first."

He pointed his wand at the key. "Accio!" The key zoomed toward him, but when his hand closed around it the rest of the keys suddenly attacked them.

Ridire quickly unlocked the door. "Hurry, Draco!"

Draco ran towards the door and they both sped through and slammed the door behind them. There were thuds as the keys slammed into the door.

Ridire rested his head on the door. "That was too close. Right, Draco? Draco?"

He turned to his friend who was staring at something behind him. Ridire whipped around to see a beautiful lady sitting at the edge of a pool. She smiled at them and started singing.

Draco went glassy eyed and started to walk towards the pool. Ridire also felt a compelling towards the woman. He started forward, but after a few steps he faltered. Why was he doing this? He needed to get to the stone! He looked towards the singing woman. It was a siren! He slowly pulled his wand out, fighting against the commands of the creature. He then cast a deafening charm. He sighed in relief and quickly cast the same spell on Draco before he fell into the pool and drowned.

Draco looked at him and silently thanked him. The Siren looked angry that they had managed to get away. The two boys quickly went into the next room.

Draco looked around and whispered, "It looks like a graveyard."

Ridire shook his head. "It's a chessboard."

Torches suddenly flared. "We have to play across. You take command, Draco."

"Alright. You take queen and I'll be the knight."

"Aye, aye, Cap'n."

"Shut up."

The two boys took their places and the game started with white moving first. Draco expertly moved them through the game of wizard's chess. It was close to ending when he mumbled, "It's the only way."

Ridire saw what he meant. "You have become to much of a Gryffindor, Dray. Sacrificing yourself? I'll miss you, my friend."

Draco only glared at him and then moved forward. The Queen knocked him out and Ridire took the king.

When it was over Ridire ran over to Draco. When he saw that his friend was only knocked out he moved towards what he suspected to be the last chamber. He entered and he saw the Mirror of Erised. He moved forward and frowned. How would he get the Stone? He circled the Mirror thinking. Suddenly he remembered a dark spell. He pointed his wand at the Mirror and mumbled an incantation. It was a powerful dark Confundus charm.

The Mirror's surface shone black for a sec and then Ridire concentrated on the image of him wanting the Stone to protect it from evil. He grinned when he felt the Stone's weight in his pocket. He then wiped the Mirror of his spell signature.

He hurried back to Draco who was starting to wake. Ridire helped him sit up. "Come on, we have to leave."

He helped Draco to stand and they quickly left through the chambers.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Ridire gave the Stone to Grandfather. Lenox smiled. "Well done."

Ridire grinned. He bowed slightly, "Thank you, Grandfather."

"You have earned a vacation of sorts. Go. You can enjoy the rest of the school term."

Ridire bowed slightly and ran out of the room towards the Slytherin Common room.

SSSSSSSSSSSSS

Draco and Ridire were talking in the Great Hall. It was the end of year feast. The entire was decorated in silvers and greens. Slytherin had again won the House Cup.

Dumbledore stood up. Everyone stopped talking and turned to him. Draco and Ridire hid a smirk, Dumbledore, while smiling, his eyes were dull.

He congratulated the Slytherins and made a few announcements, such as reminding the students that there was no magic allowed out of school.

He sat down and the feast continued until they were released. The students returned to their dormitories.

SSSSSSSSSSSSS

Ridire and Draco sat in a compartment with a few other Slytherins. They were playing Exploding Snap. Suddenly the door slid open. The Slytherins looked up and sneered at the Gryffindors that stood there. "Is there something you want, Potter?"

Austin gave a poor excuse of a sneer. "You better watch out."

Ridire started laughing. "Really now?" His face grew hard. "I heard that you are afraid of the Dark. You had better be the one to watch out, Potter. You never know what kind of "accidents" might occur."

The door then slammed shut in the Gryffindors' faces.

Arashi: Next chapter will jump to the 4th year where more interesting things will happen. Please read and review. ^^