Chapter 9- What Now?
Isabella's POV
It's been a month since the incident between Malfoy and me. So far he has kept his promise to keep his arrogant trap shut but I don't know for how long.
Surprisingly, he has been nice to me. At least as nice as a Malfoy can be. Christmas vacation came and went and I decided to go to my home for my annual family holiday.
When I returned to the school, I walked in through the main entrance and bumped into Draco. He nodded to me in greeting and I nodded back. We walked together in silence to the Great Hall for the welcoming feast.
Normal POV
Malfoy and Izzy entered the Great Hall and saw that most of the other students have already arrived. The feast was about to begin. Draco headed straight for his house's table without a second glance to the young Gryffindor.
Instead of being offended, Izzy just rolled her eyes and made her way to Ron, Harry and Hermione. "Hi guys. How was your Christmas?" asked Izzy as she sat next to Harry and across from Ron.
Next to him was Hermione who had her nose in a book only looking away from it in order to say hi to Izzy. Just as she sat down Ron began to talk at a fast pace. "It was amazing! There was barely anyone in the school over the holidays so Harry and I explored most of the time," Ron said with excitement as he told her what happened.
"Then on Christmas day we opened our gifts and Harry got the most amazing-," Ron was cut off by Dumbledore as he started to speak. "I welcome all of you back from your break. I hope everyone's Christmas was a delightful one," Dumbledore said.
"As you all know the Forbidden Forest is forbidden to all students and all students must retire to their rooms before curfew or be punished by their Head of House. Professor Snape will be absent from classes until further notice. With that said I hope you all enjoy the feast," the Headmaster stated.
Harry and Ron looked at each other when they heard the news about Snape.
"That's unusual. Professor Snape never misses a class," Hermione stated. Izzy looked at her, "Maybe he's just ill. Even wizards get sick, right guys?" she asked. Ron and Harry looked away from each other and looked at the girls. "Uh yeah, sure Izzy," Harry said then started to eat.
Izzy gave the boys a weird look. She was about to ask what was wrong but decided against it. 'Whatever they are hiding it must be important. I'll just ask them when we are in the common room' Izzy thought.
The feast had finished and all the students headed back to their houses. The four friends gathered in a corner when there was no one in the common room but them.
It was close to midnight. "Okay, so what were you going to say right before Professor Dumbledore began to speak?" Hermione asked looking at Ron. "Right, well on Christmas day, when we were opening our presents, Harry got something that was simply amazing. Show them Harry," Ron said with excitement.
Harry nodded and went upstairs to get the present. In a few minutes he came down with an old cloak. "You received a cloak? I don't see how that's amazing," Hermione said. "It's not just a cloak," Izzy said with a smile "It's an invisibility cloak."
Harry put the cloak on and disappeared right before their eyes
He reappeared in the same spot. "This is how we are going to get the Sorcerer's Stone," he stated. Izzy looked at him in confusion. "How do you know where it is?" Hermione asked. Ron was the one who answered.
"Remember when I told you that Harry and I explored parts of the castle?" After seeing their nods, he continued. "Well we found this door down in the dungeons that had a giant three headed dog behind it," he said gesturing with his hands how big it was.
"It was asleep and it was guarding a trapdoor. Well, it seemed like it was guarding it since its paw was over it," Harry said.
"So what you're saying is that you think that that dog was guarding the way to the Sorcerer's Stone?" Izzy asked. "Yes I do and also because of Professor Snape," Harry said.
Hermione and Izzy looked at each other. "Professor Snape? What does he have to do with this?"Hermione asked.
Ron looked at them, "When we were walking down into the dungeons one night we had to hide behind a suit of armor because Snape was walking down the corridor. Well, he wasn't walking it was more like limping. There was blood on his leg and he kept muttering about something fluffy or someone fluffy," he stated.
"We think he tried getting past the dog, who we think is named Fluffy, but he ended up getting hurt. That's why he's absent." Harry said with determination.
The girls sat in silence, absorbing all this new information. It was Izzy who broke the silence. "Have you told anyone other than us?" she asked.
Both of the boys shook their heads no. "Okay, then we should think of a plan to get us into that trapdoor Fluffy is guarding," Hermione said with a look of concentration.
"Only three of us will be able to go," Izzy stated. They all looked at her. "Why can't we all go? Wouldn't it be better if we had four people?" asked Ron. "It would be too suspicious if all of us were missing from our rooms. Also we can't all fit under the invisibility cloak. We would get caught and would have to explain why we were out of bed," Izzy explained.
Hermione nodded her head in agreement. "She's right about that. Okay who is going to go?" Hermione asked. "I think you, Ron and Harry should go," Izzy stated. Harry looked at her in confusion. "Hermione is cleverest witch I know and Ron is one of the bravest wizards. It would only be logical for them to go with you Harry. Besides, I can keep Snape away from going back to that door," she said logically. Izzy was looking at Harry for his decision.
He nodded his head, "Okay, so how about a week after our Quidditch game against Slytherin and after mostly everyone is asleep you go down to the potions room and distract Snape. While you do that Ron, Hermione and I will try to get past Fluffy," he said. We all agreed, said goodnight and went up to our rooms.
+++++++3 Weeks Later++++++++
The four first years were walking in the corridors right after their last class. Their Quidditch match was amazing in Izzy's and Harry's opinion.
With their combined efforts the Gryffindor Team was able to beat Slytherin in record time. It's been a week after their match and the four friends are preparing to put their plan into action.
Once entering their common room and seeing it almost empty they sat in a corner in order to discuss what was going to happen.
Harry spoke, "Okay, Izzy you should go and distract Snape after dinner tonight. Don't let him out of your sight or he might beat us to the stone." Izzy nodded her head with determination.
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "The three of us will come back to ours dorms and pretend to go to bed. At midnight we will go down and search for the stone. Is everyone in agreement?" he asked. Everyone nodded their heads.
"All right, now let's go to dinner I'm really hungry," Ron said with his stomach growling. "You're always hungry," Hermione stated.
++++++After Dinner+++++
Isabella's POV
I walked toward the potions room in order to find Professor Snape. I walked up to the door and knocked. After hearing permission to enter I cautiously walked into the room. The room was only lit by the candelabras in the room.
Sitting at his desk with parchment strewn about it was the professor. He looked up at me when I entered. Trying to look as innocent as possible I quietly walked up to the desk. Snape gazed at me with cold black eyes. "Miss Alaverti, why are you not in your dormitory at this hour?" he asked in a cold tone.
I kept my eyes down as a spoke. "I was having trouble with the essay about the boil cure potion you assigned us today in class. I was wondering if you would explain the ingredients once again."
He looked at me and raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Miss Alaverti, you are one of my best students in the class. Do you truly expect me to believe that you don't understand a potion as simple as the boil cure potion?" he asked.
I looked at him with a bashful expression. I could feel my cheeks heating up. "Actually Professor," I said "I was wondering if it would be alright if you could teach me more advanced potions. I understand that I'm still a first year but." I cut off when Snape held up his hand.
I waited for him to speak.
"Miss Alaverti, you are still a first year. No first year has ever been prepared enough or skilled enough to attempt more advanced potions during this period," he stated. I just lowered my head in disappointment. 'Damn, I was hoping that I could distract him by him teaching me new potions. I have to think of something quick.'
I was pulled out of my thoughts by Snape. "Even though you are a first year," he said "I believe you are ready for advance potion making." 'What?' I looked up at him in surprise. "Go to a desk a take out your supplies." I smiled and did as I was told.
Snape got up and went to the closet that held the class ingredients. "I will start you off on a second year potion called the swelling solution. This potion causes something to get bigger. Whether it is an object like a cauldron or the parts of the body," he droned as he took out the ingredients. The explanation went on for a half hour while I was taking notes.
Normal POV
Izzy listened to Snape's explanation eagerly while writing down useful notes. As the professor turned to get some more supplies from the closet, Izzy started to feel ill. Her face turned pale and her vision was getting blurry.
She held her hand to her heart where she felt it grow hot. 'What's happening?' she thought. "Miss Alaverti is everything all right?" Snape asked turning to her. Izzy took out her red moon necklace and held it in her hand.
The half moon was radiating heat and was turning into a darker red color. Izzy blinked her eyes repeatedly in order to try and stop the blurriness. "Miss Alaverti?" he asked again in an irritated voice. 'Something's wrong. Harry is in danger.'
Without another word the young Gryffindor ran out of the room to find her friend leaving a bewildered and yelling professor behind.
Izzy ran down the corridors and stopped behind a suit of armor. She took out her ivory wand and summoned Minarti. The guide's golden color had darkened.
It seems that the condition the young witch was in affected her guide as well. With gasping breathes Isabella spoke, "Minarti, find Harry."
Minarti nodded and headed in the desired direction. Izzy though tired and growing paler by the minute followed closely after. The young Gryffindor broke out into a sweat and felt as if she were going to pass out. She held on to the hot and darkening stone. 'No. I have to find and help Harry' she thought with determination.
Minarti's light had all but disappeared when they arrived at an old looking door. Izzy turned to her guide and said thank you. She opened the door only to see the three headed dog that Ron and Harry had told her about. It turned to her with a snarl on all three of its faces.
Izzy's anger grew within her overriding the illness that came over her. Her eyes turned blue, her canines sharpened, her claws grew and all her senses heightened. She spoke to the monster in a different tongue. "You do not have the right to defy me. You must bow to your alpha insolent pup!" she growled.
The dog lowered its ears and whined as it sensed the power of the young creature in front of it. The dog lied down on its paws and bared its neck to Izzy.
"Yes alpha. Please forgive me. I meant no disrespect." Izzy walked up to it and pet its ears. "It's all right you are forgiven. Please allow me to pass. I must help the other members of my pack." The dog righted itself and revealed the trapdoor in the floor.
Izzy looked at the door and then to the dog. "Thank you Fluffy," she said with a smile. Without waiting for a response she jumped into the darkness while holding the red moon.
