Part IX
They moved past Fluffy by playing the wooden flute Hagrid had gotten Harry. They overcame the Devil's Snare an unlocked the door using the charmed key. They progressed through the chess set, though they had to leave Ron behind. Hermione managed to solve Snape's potion riddle.
"Harry," she said as she handed him the smallest round bottle, "You will be careful, won't you?"
Harry nodded determinedly
She hesitated. "Harry, you're a great wizard, you know. And if you give him time, I'm sure your father will see it too."
Harry looked down, before saying, "Go on, Hermione, before I do."
She hugged him one last time, swallowed the potion in the bottle that would take her back to Ron and left.
Once she was safely gone, he held his own bottle in his hand for a moment before swallowing the potion and stepping through the black flames. Quirrell was standing in front of the Mirror of Erised. "Potter," he said, "I knew I'd be meeting you here."
He waved his wand and ropes appeared out of nowhere, binding Harry tightly.
Harry struggled against the ropes, desperately trying to get free.
"It's useless to struggle, Potter," Quirrell smirked and turned back to the mirror. "I see myself holding the stone, but I don't know how to get it," Quirrell muttered.
"How did you know I'd be here," Harry called out, desperately stalling for time.
"I am not a fool, Potter. I knew you suspected me. I was quite surprised you didn't naturally assume the one trying to steal the stone was Snape but then I realized that you two had a special relationship. Snape was always the one to save you when I was this close to killing you once and for all."
"I knew it was you trying to kill me!"
"Yes, Potter. I suppose I could have been more subtle but it was so tempting to get rid of you."
"Why?" Harry asked still stalling.
"Surely you have figured it out by now. I did it for my master. Now keep quiet, Potter and let me concentrate."
"Use the boy," came a whispery voice from somewhere in the chamber.
Harry's scar tingled with pain. He looked around startled but before he could make sense of the situation, the ropes tying him had dissolved and he was pushed in front of the mirror.
"What do you see, boy?" Quirrell asked eagerly.
Harry looked in the mirror and saw his reflection the same way he had seen it the first time he had looked into the Mirror of Erised, with his father standing behind him.
"I see myself playing Quidditch," he finally told Quirrell.
"He lies," came the same whispery voice, "but he will not be able to give us the stone, no. The boy is a fool. Let me see him, face-to-face."
Harry watched in horror as Quirrell unraveled his turban to reveal the face of… "Voldemort," Harry whispered.
"Yes, Potter. See what you have done to me? But it is no matter. I will soon have what I seek and once I have destroyed you, no one will be able to stop me. In fact, I have no use for you now at all without the stone."
Harry gasped and began to take a few steps back.
"Quirrell," Voldemort commanded, "Kill hi–"
"My Lord!"
Harry's neck whipped around and, with a sense of relief, saw the black looming figure of his father at the entrance, walking towards them.
Severus entered the chamber just as Voldemort began to tell that fool Quirrell to kill Harry. He felt a tightness in his chest at the words and before he could come up with a plan of approach he burst out with, "My Lord!"
Voldemort immediately turned his attention to Severus and a smirk appeared on his face. "Ah, Severus. How nice of you to join us."
"My Lord, you have returned," Severus said, "We all presumed you to be gone. But it was foolish of us to believe so."
"Yes it was, Severus," Voldemort said softly, "All these years I expected at least one of my faithful followers to realize that I could not truly be gone but there was no sign of any of my Death Eaters."
"Forgive me, Master," Severus said. He walked in front of Harry up to Voldemort, effectively blocking Harry from view.
"Am I really still your master, Severus? Or do you serve another now?" Voldemort said, "Perhaps Dumbledore?"
"My Lord, I only served him on your orders. It is only you to whom I am loyal," Severus said reverently. He swept slightly to the right, trying to guide the boy with him so he was positioned in front of the doorway.
"Do not lie to me, Severus. I have watched you this year. You are loyal to Dumbledore."
"I assure you, My Lord – "
"There is also your soft spot for the Boy-Who-Lived. You are keeping me from focusing my attention on him now. He is your son after all. Yes, Severus, I know. I was quite surprised until I remembered you and that Mudblood. Didn't you ask me to spare her life in exchange for her son?" Voldemort chuckled.
Severus drew his wand, knowing deception was useless at this point. "Run, Harry! Now!" he said shooting a spell at Quirrell, who dodged.
For once, Harry decided to listen to him and ran towards the entryway.
"Kill them both!" Voldemort shouted.
Quirrell shot a spell over Severus's head and flames appeared along the edge of the room, blocking the way out. Severus immediately shot spell after spell at Quirrell, trying desperately to buy Harry enough time to leave. One of his spells finally hit Quirrell, incapacitating him temporarily and allowing him to quench the flames.
Voldemort was quick to take advantage of his distraction. "Use the mark! We'll get the boy later," he hissed at Quirrell.
Quirrell pulled back his sleeve, revealing the Dark Mark branded on his forearm. He pressed his finger onto it and immediately, the mark on Severus's arm began to burn. He doubled over in pain, clutching onto the mark.
"You will die right now, Snape," Voldemort said softly, "and be an example to all those who dare to defy me."
As soon as Snape's spell dissipated the flames blocking the entryway Harry ran towards it. Just as he was about to reach the door, he heard a cry of pain coming from his father. He turned around and saw Snape on the floor in front of Quirrell's feet clutching his forearm in pain. They were going to kill him!
Without stopping to think, Harry ran back and slid to the ground where Snape was.
"Potter, what are you doing? I told you to leave!" Snape was in too much pain for his words to be forceful enough.
"I'm not going to leave you," Harry said determinedly.
"How fortunate," Voldemort said, "the boy can die with his father. I already killed your mother in front of you, Harry Potter. How she begged for mercy. Are you ready to see your father die as well?"
Harry looked up at him, "You're a liar! And you're not going to kill him! I'm not going to let you!"
"Why do you care for him?" Voldemort asked, "He loathes you. He will never accept you as his son."
Harry looked at his father and instinctively grabbed his arm where the Dark Mark burned and pressed his hand onto it to help lessen the pain.
The moment he touched Snape's mark, Snape and Quirrell began screaming. Harry's scar started hurting and he gasped as he quickly removed his hand. The mark on Quirrell's arm was smoking.
"Master what is happening?" Quirrel asked fearfully.
"It does not matter, you fool! Kill Snape!"
Quirrell pressed his hand back onto the Dark Mark though he seemed to be in considerable pain. Harry looked down at his hands and without thinking, grabbed Snape's arm again. This time, it was obvious to see that Quirrell was in pain. His arm started burning and although Snape's mark was getting hotter, Harry refused to let go. Snape seemed to have passed out since he was no longer writhing in agony. Harry just hoped he would be alright.
By now, Quirrell was howling as he burned and Harry could feel his own scar nearly exploding in pain.
"Kill him!" Voldemort was screaming.
Harry's eyes were getting heavier and he could hear a voice screaming in his head. He thought he heard the sound of a new pair of boots enter the chamber and a spell that he could not make out before he drifted off into unconsciousness.
A/N: Phew. I know it's been a while but I wasn't able to complete the chapter until now. Even now I know it isn't as long as usual and unedited but I also know you're all waiting so I decided to get it out quickly and edit later. Any suggestions for improvements are welcome. Thank you all for the support.
