Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but my OC's are mine.


Chapter Nine

That night in the forest left a memory Ira couldn't shake. She tried not to get distracted by it, considering exams were already here, but she couldn't stop thinking about Firenze's words and that thing they saw in the forest. Not just a thing – but a person.

Voldemort.

Ira didn't like to think about that man too much. He hardly had a hold on her conscience. The only thing that bothered her is the fact that her father followed him. She liked to believe that never happened, that it was all just a rumor, but deep down she couldn't deny it. Her father had been a Death Eater. He was part of the greatest uprisings of all time. He was dark in ways Ira would never understand. Her only hope was that he left his past behind him.

The sound of Anti-Cheating quills against parchment brought Ira back to reality. She was sitting in History of Magic, taking her second exam of the day. Her first was Charms; where instead of making a pineapple dance across Professor Flitwick's desk, it stayed in place. Charms weren't her strong suit.

After History of Magic, Ira had another test in Potions. She was excited because she knew she'd be able to pass with flying colors.

Snape set them to work on a Forgetfulness potion. Ira read the directions carefully before running to the cabinet to grab the key ingredients. Lethe river water, valerian sprigs, standard Ingredient – Ira's thoughts were interrupted when Draco bumped into her shoulder, trying to get to the same ingredient she was.

"Do you mind, Malfoy?" Ira hissed quietly.

"This is an exam, Soares. No chit-chat." He flashed his teeth, turning around and running back to his station.

Ira tried not to get fussy, not with Snape watching her like a hawk. Mistletoe berries. She forced a smile and waved an ingredient in the air slightly, watching as Snape looked satisfied that she knew what she was doing.

The rest of the day flew by in the same pattern. Get to class, take an exam, and then go to your next exam. Ira felt like she hadn't passed in Charms, Transfiguration, or Herbology. She felt more confident in the other classes, however.

Ira joined Hermione, Ron, and Harry after exams commenced. They basked in the sunshine under a tree near the lake.

"No more studying," Ron said happily, looking at Harry. "You could look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet."

Harry had been rubbing his forehead a lot since the night in the forest.

"I wish I knew what this means!" Harry yelled. "My scar keeps hurting—it's happened before, but never as often as this."

Ira frowned.

"Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested.

Harry gave her a look. "I'm not ill. I think it's a warning... it means danger's coming..."

Ron stretched out against the grass. "Harry, relax, Hermione's right. The Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once; he's not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."

"I feel like I forgot to do something important today," Harry said, rubbing his forehead some more.

Hermione laughed. "That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one."

Harry then got to his feet at once, the rest of them following.

"What? What's going on?" Ira asked.

"I've just thought of something." Harry turned white as he spoke. "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now."

"Why?" Hermione asked, trying to keep up with Harry's fast pace.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd," Harry continued, "that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"

Ira didn't understand. She could see the giant sitting in an armchair by the time they got to the bottom of the hill.

Hagrid smiled on a chair outside his house. "Hullo. Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?" Harry asked.

"Dunno, he wouldn' take his cloak off."

Well, this was odd.

"It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head— that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up." Hagrid was shelling peas into a giant bowl, keeping himself busy as he explained this.

Harry was full of questions. "What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"

"Mighta come up." Hagrid frowned while trying to remember. "Yeah... he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here... He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I took after... so I told him... an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon... an' then... I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks... Let's see... yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted... but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home... So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy..."

"And did he—did he seem interested in Fluffy?"

"Well—yeah—how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep—"

Ira's mouth dropped open and the rest of them were stunned. Harry was the first to turn on his heel and retreat back to the castle, the three of them following in line.

"I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" Hagrid yelled. "Forget I said it! Hey—where're yeh goin'?"

When they got to the entrance hall, Harry was the first to speak. "We've got to go to Dumbledore. Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak—it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?"

None of them knew where his office was as they all glanced around, expecting it to just appear out of thin air.

"What are you three doing inside?"

Their heads whipped around, watching Professor McGonagall maneuver her way down the corridor with a stack of books in her frail arms.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," Ira said, watching as the older woman narrowed her eyes.

"See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall was obviously suspicious. "Why?"

"It's sort of secret," Harry admitted.

"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," McGonagall said stubbornly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."

Harry, horrified, looked between the three of them. "He's gone? Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time—"

"But this is important."

"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Potter?"

"Look, Professor—it's about the Sorcerer's Stone—"

McGonagall's books fell from her hands, a look of shock on her face that she tried to mask with a suspicious look. "How do you know—?" she stumbled out.

"Professor, I think—I know—that Sn—that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow," she assured. "I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected."

"But Professor—"

"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," she added, while grabbing her books from the floor. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."

Once McGonagall was safely away, Harry began again, "Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note; I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."

"But what can we—"

Ira gasped suddenly as she spotted her Head of House making his way over to them, a sinister look on his face.

"Good afternoon," Snape said.

All they could do was stare at him.

"You shouldn't be inside on a day like this."

"We were—" Harry dropped off, unable to piece together a reasonable excuse.

"You want to be more careful," Snape said. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?" He slid his eyes over to Ira, his dark look only deepening.

They didn't want to be there any longer, so all at once they turned on their heels to leave.

"Be warned, Potter—any more nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."

Outside, after their odd confrontation with Snape, Harry turned back to his three friends.

"Right, here's what we've got to do," he whispered. "One of us has got to keep an eye on Snape—wait outside the staff room and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, Ira, you'd better do that."

"Why us?" Hermione groaned.

"It's obvious," said Ron. "You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know." He tried mocking Hermione's voice. "'Oh, Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried; I think I got question fourteen b wrong... '"

"Oh, shut up."

"And Ira, you're in Snape's house so maybe you could talk to him about…I don't know…Slytherin stuff?"

Ira rolled her eyes.

"And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor," Harry said to Ron. "Come on."

While Harry and Ron took the upstairs, Hermione and Ira walked to the staff room that was guarded by two gargoyles. They looked down them sinisterly as they strode along.

"Those things are so creepy," Hermione said quietly, pacing around waiting for Snape's appearance.

Ira could agree, but she didn't say anything.

Soon, the gargoyles parted and Snape walked into the corridor with a mixture of confusion and annoyance on his face.

"What are you two doing here?" he asked at once.

Hermione straightened. "I need to talk to Professor Flitwick."

Snape eyed Ira. "And you?"

"I just came with Hermione so she wouldn't get lost."

Hermione winced at Ira's blatant lie. Snape didn't question it, however, as he walked away to actually go find their Charms professor.

"Well, that went well," Ira commented. "Now we don't know where Snape is."

Hermione agreed. They would've stuck around but they found it pointless the longer it took for Snape to reappear. Instead, the two girls gave up and went to the Gryffindor common room. Ira frowned as Hermione invited her inside. She was going into a territory that was off limits to her. If any other Gryffindor saw her, she'd be in deep trouble.

When the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open, Ira saw that Gryffindor Tower was quite exquisite. It was decorated in a beautiful shade of maroon with gold accents. The couches were plush and the fire roared loudly, basking the room in warmth that Ira didn't have in Slytherin's common room. There was also a giant window overlooking the outside that Ira marveled at. It was a stunning view.

"I'm sorry, Harry!" Hermione yelled, spotting them by the fireplace. "Snape came out and asked us what we were doing, so I said I was waiting for Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and we've only just got away, we don't know where Snape went."

Harry frowned. "Well, that's it then, isn't it?"

It was quiet for a while before he spoke again.

"I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get to the Stone first."

"You're mad!" Ron said.

"You can't!" Hermione added. "After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'll be expelled!"

Ira stepped forward. "Harry, think about what you're doing—"

Harry moved back, anger bubbling at the surface. "SO WHAT! Don't you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the house cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have, because I'm never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you three say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?"

Ira glanced away, knowing full well Harry was right. Hermione voiced this, allowing Harry's glare to diminish slightly.

"I'll use the invisibility cloak," Harry said. "It's just lucky I got it back."

"But will it cover all four of us?" Ron asked.

"All—all four of us?"

"Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?"

"Of course not," Hermione said. "How do you think you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better go and took through my books; there might be something useful..."

"But if we get caught, you three will be expelled, too."

"Not if I can help it." Hermione looked around at them. "Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and twelve percent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that."

They all looked at each other pointedly. She had a point.

That night, Ira ducked out of the common room in search of her Gryffindor friends. She had Lady arching between her legs through strides. She tried leaving her kneazle back in their dorm, but the feline insisted on following. Lady was persistent.

"Listen to me, I need you to stay by my side the entire night, got it?" Ira asked quietly, turning a corner. "I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."

Lady meowed in response.

Ira smiled.

"Are you seriously talking to your cat?" Ron's voice came from in front of her and she smiled as she found Harry, Ron, and Hermione huddled together.

"Kneazle," Ira corrected, taking her animal in her arms. "She can communicate with me like I do with you guys." Lady blinked at her. "Kind of."

"Well, we better get going," Harry reminded them, throwing the cloak over them.

Ira was surprised they all fit together beneath the thin fabric.

After passing by Mrs. Norris and having Ira chide Ron for having the bright idea of kicking the animal, they moved to the staircase leading to the third floor. They halted when they spotted Peeves milling about.

"Who's there?" Peeves asked, narrowing his eyes. "Know you're there, even if I can't see you. Are you a ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie? Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen."

Ira didn't know what Harry had planned until the boy opened his mouth.

"Peeves," Harry said hoarsely, "the Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."

Peeves stopped, shock washing over him. "So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, Sir. My mistake, my mistake—I didn't see you—of course I didn't, you're invisible—forgive old Peevsie his little joke, sir."

"I have business here, Peeves," Harry wheezed. "Stay away from this place tonight."

"I will, sir, I most certainly will," Peeves said while rising into the air. "Hope your business goes well, Baron, I'll not bother you."

They finally made it past Peeves onto the third floor corridor. The door was slightly ajar when they arrived, giving them the notion that Snape already arrived.

"Snape already got past Fluffy," Harry said, turning back to his friends. "If you want to go back, I won't blame you. You can take the cloak, I won't need it now."

"Don't be stupid," Ron said.

Ira nodded. "Yeah, you're not doing this alone."

Harry pushed the door open and they saw the large three-headed dog staring in their direction. It growled at their intrusion.

"What's that at its feet?" Hermione whispered, pointing towards something in the dark.

"Looks like a harp," Ron said. "Snape must have left it there."

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," Harry said. "Well, here goes..."

Harry pulled an instrument from his cloak—a flute. Ira didn't have time to question why he had a flute, and allowed the boy to play a god-awful tune that didn't have much rhythm to it. It worked anyway; the dog stumbled over its paws and fell backwards, snoring. Ron took the lead, shimmying out of the invisibility cloak and moving around the dog towards a trapdoor.

"Keep playing," Ron said as they grew closer to the beast. "I think we'll be able to pull the door open. Want to go first, Hermione?"

The bushy-haired girl croaked. "No, I don't!"

"I'll go first," Ira offered, bravery stinging her veins.

"Be my guest." Ron stepped aside.

When Ira opened the door, she was met with an abyss. There didn't appear to be a bottom, which worried her. She bit her lip and shared a look with her friends.

"Here, Ira, I'll go first." Harry could see the apprehension on her face. "If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?"

He handed off the flute to Hermione and lowered himself over the edge, grasping the stone floors with sweaty hands. "See you in a minute, I hope..."

Harry let go and Ira felt fear crash into her. She didn't want to imagine what would've happened if he landed the wrong way.

Seconds felt like hours until they heard his voice again. "It's okay! It's a soft landing, you can jump!"

Ron nodded to Ira before following his friend close behind. Ira didn't want to take the chance, but she leapt anyway into the unknown. She clutched Lady tightly to her chest and fell softly on a plant.

Hermione came after, amazed that they survived the fall. "We must be miles under the school."

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really," Ron pointed out.

"Lucky!" Hermione wailed, jumping away. "Look at you guys!"

Ira glanced at her ankles, feeling a slimy vine work its way up her legs. She shrieked while shaking them off of her, yet it was no use. Harry and Ron were the same, their plants taking over their chests and restricting their breathing.

"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered. "I know what this is—it's Devil's Snare!"

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," Ron pierced, trying to get out of the plants grasp.

"Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" Hermione ordered again.

Lady mewled, swatting at a vine that tried grabbing her tail.

"Well, hurry up, I can't breathe!" Harry gasped.

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... what did Professor Sprout say? It likes the dark and the damp."

Ira tried to help, thinking about what their Herbology teacher had taught them. "So light a fire!"

"Yes—of course—but there's no wood!" Hermione cried.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron yelled in disbelief. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"

In a few moments, Hermione's wand ignited with blue sparks, the tendrils slithering away from their bodies like a snake.

They didn't stick around to ponder what just happened. They were too busy following a passageway to their destination. There was a sound of water trickling down the cave walls and if you listened closely enough, you'd hear something rustling from up ahead. Ira halted.

"Do you hear that?" she asked quietly.

Everyone stopped.

Ron gulped. "Do you think it's a ghost?"

"I don't know... sounds like wings to me."

Harry pointed. "There's light ahead—I can see something moving."

The entrance came into view and they entered a chamber with birds flying around the ceiling. Ira beamed, it was beautiful. Straight ahead of them was a large wooden door.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Ron asked.

"Probably," Harry said. "They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once... well, there's no other choice... I'll run."

So, that's what they did. The four of them ran.

After trying the door and finding it locked, they looked around quickly to see if there was anything around that could help them. That's when Harry pointed towards the birds and realized they weren't birds, but keys—keys with wings. They'd have to find one that's silver like the lock with an ancient, old fashioned design.

There were brooms nestled against the wall. Each of them straddled one and lifted off to the sky. Ira set Lady down by the door to wait.

The keys were hard to grab for. They dipped and dived whenever your fingertips grazed them. Ira was stressing out because she couldn't manage to get the right one. Until finally, she spotted an older looking key with a bent wing out of place near the closest wall.

"Guys, I found it," Ira said.

"Well, you won't be able to get it alone," Hermione said, coming to her side.

Ira snorted. "Oh really?"

"Ira, you're not—"

Ira didn't stick around, she zoomed off in the keys direction and snatched the key right from the air as it tried to drop away, feeling it writhe in her hands. Her three friends eyed her with shock, Harry appearing a bit envious under his stare.

"How did you—?" Ron stared in awe while they dismounted on the ground.

Ira grinned, putting the key in the lock. "I've been practicing." Lady jumped into Ira's arms quickly.

"Practicing what?" Harry asked as the door clicked open.

The key flew back into the air once it did its job. Ira looked at Harry, her grin widening.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out."

The next room was darker than the last, but light appeared from above when they took a few steps closer to their next challenge. It was a huge life-size chessboard. Ira wasn't good at chess.

"Now what do we do?" Harry whispered.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Ron asked. "We've got to play our way across the room."

There was another door past the white, human-like chess pieces across the board.

"How?" Hermione asked nervously.

"I think," Ron began, "we're going to have to be chessmen."

Ron walked to one of the black chess pieces and put his hand on its arm. Instantly, the stone sprang to life. He asked it if they'd have to play to get across, and it was true. They were to take over spots on the chessboard.

"This needs thinking about... " he said. "I suppose we've got to take the place of four of the black pieces..." He thought quietly. "Now, don't be offended or anything, but none of you are that good at chess—"

"We're not offended," Harry said. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, you next to him instead of that castle. Ira, you'll be a pawn."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to be a knight," Ron said.

The chess-pieces listened and four left the board, leaving the spaces open for them to stand on. Ira was nervous as she took her place. She was horrible at chess. She knew very well how this was going to end.

"White always plays first in chess," Ron said, looking across the board. "Yes... look..."

A white pawn moved.

"Harry, move diagonally four squares to the right," Ron directed.

When Harry moved, one of their knights had been taken down by a white queen over the board. He was dragged off the board. Ira gulped while petting Lady's silky fur.

"Had to let that happen," he said. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on."

More chess pieces moved. Miraculously, Ira survived the game so far. Unfortunately for Ron, he wasn't the lucky sort.

"It's the only way... I've got to be taken."

Harry, Hermione, and Ira gaped. "NO!"

"That's chess!" Ron snapped. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me—that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

At least Ron wasn't a coward.

"But—"

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?"

"Ron—"

"Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone!"

There wasn't anything else for them to do.

"Ready?" Ron didn't wait for an answer. "Here I go—now, don't hang around once you've won."

The queen smashed into Ron. The boy fell backwards like deadweight. Hermione screamed, but not before Ira felt her vision go blurry, her body going cold like ice. Lady pawed at Ira's chest, she could sense something was wrong.

A flash of light came out of nowhere, and Ira saw she was no longer in the chamber. She was standing outside with blood covering her hands, her body, matting her hair. Her pulse raced when she heard someone bellow for her to come back.

Ira, Ira, Ira. It whispered in her ear over and over again. She couldn't take it.

Something was wrong. Why was she covered in blood? What happened?

For a second, everything paused, and Ira regained her breathing. The world came back and she was in reality. She felt an animal purring against her collarbone. Lady.

Ira opened her eyes and saw emerald green above her. She was in her dorm, lying on her bed.

"And she's awake!"

Ira smiled. Sally and Lily were sitting on her bedside, asking a bunch of questions at once. She sat up when she felt a pain shoot down her back.

"Ooh, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Sally chided.

"What happened?"

The two girls glanced at each other quickly. They didn't need to speak, because realization finally dawned on Ira.


The end-of-year feast was all that they talked about that day. After meeting up with Theo in the common room, the four friends went to the Great Hall in search of great food and the award ceremony they'd all been waiting for. From what Ira heard, Slytherin was going to win tonight.

As Ira took her seat at the Slytherin table, she looked around for her Gryffindor friends. She spotted only Hermione and Ron together. She waved in their direction the same time Harry burst through the door. There was a great silence that came over the hall at Harry's appearance. It died down when he took his seat, smiling in Ira's direction afterwards. Ira would catch up with them later.

Slytherin had obviously won the cup already. Green and silver banners strung from the walls and a banner behind the High Table showed their signature serpent coiled into a ball. Ira was excited for their house.

Ira's smile faltered when she couldn't spot Rhys by the other seventh years. She hadn't seen him all day, so it made her wonder where he was.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore's voice boomed over the students. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts...

"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."

Everyone at Slytherin cheered triumphantly.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore congratulated. "However, recent events must be taken into account."

Ira saw Draco's smile dim at this statement.

"Ahem…I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes…first—to Mr. Ronald Weasley for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Gryffindor cheered happily, each looking at Ron with appreciation.

"Second—to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points." He allowed the cheering to go on before continuing. "Third—to Mr. Harry Potter…for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."

Slytherin and Gryffindor were tied for four hundred and seventy-two points. Ira frowned when she realized she wasn't mentioned.

"There are all kinds of courage," Dumbledore smiled. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

Ira slammed a hand on the table, yet nobody but those around her heard it. Where were her points? She helped Harry, Ron, and Hermione that night. She deserved some recognition.

Theo nudged Ira as Gryffindor broke out in fits of glee. "Shouldn't you be awarded points, too?"

Ira grew stony. "It doesn't matter."

"Which means," Dumbledore called over, "we need a little change of decoration."

The banners were replaced by those fitting for Gryffindor. Even Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws cheered as Slytherin was brought to their knees.

The feast continued. Ira poked at her food without eating it. She was angry. She deserved something, didn't she? She's the one that found the key, she was a part of the reason why the stone was reclaimed and destroyed. Ira was numb. It was all because she was a Slytherin, and they were Gryffindor. That was always the case.

A strong hand fell on Ira's shoulder. She rolled her eyes and turned, wanting to find Dumbledore to award her with something, but instead found Rhys. His eyes were glazed over, as if he'd been crying. Ira's heart dropped. The Slytherins around them had hushed while the rest of the hall went on with their festivities.

"Rhys, what's wrong?"

"Ira…I…" he was clutching a letter in his hand. "I was going to tell you sooner but—"

Ira grabbed the paper, reading the contents as a sick feeling swarmed in her belly.

"Rhys…"

"Ira…" Rhys sniffed. "Mum's gone."

And just like that, the feast, the house cup, everything that Ira had been selfishly thinking of before disappeared. Her body shook as tears fell from her eyes, sobbing uncontrollably. She felt arms wrap around her, but she didn't acknowledge them. Her eyes stayed glued to the letter in her hand.

That's when her world started falling apart.


Writer's Note:I am so sorry for not updating sooner! I've been swamped with so much stuff lately and I've been working a lot so I was unable to have time to write. Hopefully, this chapter makes up for it. I'd also like to point out that we're going to be jumping ahead into the future come next chapter. Things are going to get more exciting around Hogwarts for Ira. So, please leave something for me to look forward to. I'll try posting more often, but it all depends on my work schedule and what I have going on. Until next time!