Chapter 9: Down the Trapdoor
Words: 4,329
Total Words: 33,468

After dinner, at which Hermione did not eat very much due to her nerves, she stayed in the Gryffindor common room, skimming through her notes to try and think about what they might need to know to break the enchantments they would face that night. None of the other Gryffindors were speaking to her or Harry, still because of all the points they had lost, but she was so buried in her own thoughts that she didn't much care. She, Ron, and Harry didn't even say much to each other; they were all nervous about what they were going to try and do tonight. Slowly, the common room emptied as the rest of the Gryffindors went to bed.

"Better get the cloak," Ron finally said as Lee Jordan went to bed. He and Hermione waited in the common room as Harry ran upstairs to grab it and then came back down to them.

"We'd better put the cloak on here, and make sure it covers all three of us - if Filch spots one of our feet wandering along on its own - "

"What are you doing?" came a voice from the other side of the room. They hadn't realized that Neville was still awake and in the common room. Hermione's heart skipped a beat. Before she could try to explain, Harry hid the cloak behind his back and addressed Neville.

"Nothing, Neville, nothing."

Something about their guilty faces made Neville realize something was up.

"You're going out again."

"No, no, no," Hermione said, trying to sound convincing. "No, we're not. Why don't you go to bed, Neville?"

"You can't go out," Neville insisted. "You'll be caught again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble."

"You don't understand, this is important." Harry said, but Neville wasn't listening. He seemed to be getting ready to do something important... like maybe try and fight them. Hermione began to fret.

"I won't let you do it," Neville hurried over to the portrait hole, blocking their path. "I'll fight you!"

"Neville," Ron chimed in, sounding irritated, "get away from that hole and don't be an idiot - "

"Don't you call me an idiot!" Neville retorted, his face reddening slightly. "I don't think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!"

Normally, Hermione would have taken Neville's side, but tonight they really did have important things to do and Neville was just slowing them down.

"Yes, but not to us," Ron was exasperated now. "Neville, you don't know what you're doing."

Ron took a step towards Neville, who dropped Trevor the toad and raised his fists. Hermione was trying to think of a way to stop this nonsense without hurting Neville; she couldn't believe that he was trying to stop them. But, then again, he had no idea what they were about to do.

"Go on then, try and hit me! I'm ready!"

"Do something," Harry said, turning to Hermione. In that moment, she had an idea and stepped forward towards Neville.

"Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this," she said, raising her wand and pointing it at the red-faced boy in front of them. "Petrificus Totalus!"

Neville's body went rigid and his arms and legs snapped together. He fell flat on his face, stiff as a board. Hermione ran over to him and turned him over. His jaws were closed tightly, but his eyes were still moving. He looked scared. Hermione felt a pang of sadness; she wished it hadn't come to that, but they needed to get out of Gryffindor Tower. Harry then spoke from behind her.

"What've you done to him?"

"It's the Full Body-Bind. Oh, Neville, I'm so sorry."

"We had to, Neville, no time to explain," Harry said, coming to stand next to he and Hermione.

"You'll understand later, Neville," Ron said as the three of them stepped over his unmoving body and put the invisibility cloak on.

They had to walk carefully through the corridors, making sure none of their feet were showing and that none of them made any noise. It was critical that they get through to Fluffy's door unnoticed and uninterrupted. Hermione wondered if Snape had made it through all of the protective enchantments yet; were they already running out of time?

They ran into Mrs. Norris at the top of a set of stairs. Hermione didn't think it was a good omen, but said nothing.

"Oh, let's kick her, just this once," Ron moaned, but Harry just shook his head. Hermione was glad he did; they had important things to do and kicking the cat would probably raise hell. They had a clear path all the way until they reached the final staircase up to the third floor - it was Peeves, loosening the carpet in hopes of making the students trip.

"Who's there?" he called out; Hermione's nerves were beginning to fray. What if Peeves raised the alarm? They would have no defense! And how did he know they were there at all? "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."

Hermione was surprised he couldn't hear her heartbeat, it was ramming against her ribcage. What were they going to do to get out of this one? Suddenly, Harry spoke, but his voice was hoarse and very unlike his normal one.

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

Harry, you're a genius! Hermione thought to herself, but not daring to tell him. Peeves almost fell out of the air; clearly, he wasn't expecting to hear that.

"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. Stay away from this place tonight."

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

And he hurried away. Hermione felt positively faint with relief.

"Brilliant, Harry!" Ron whispered to him. Seconds later, they were outside the third-floor corridor that was out-of-bounds... and the door was already open slightly.

"Well, there you are," Harry said. He didn't sound surprised. "Snape's already got past Fluffy."

Hermione's heart began to beat hard and fast again; somehow, the door being open was really forcing her to understand what awaited them and what they were going to be facing. Harry turned to Ron and Hermione.

"If you want to go back, I won't blame you," he said. "You can take the cloak, I won't need it now."

"Don't be stupid," Ron answered.

"We're coming," Hermione seconded. There was no way she would let Harry venture into this dangerous unknown alone. She was also glad that Ron was on the same page. It felt complete when they were all together... kind of like they could actually make it through whatever they were about to face. Harry pushed the door open, but no loud barks met their ears. Instead, there was loud sniffling, as if the dogs were trying to smell them, even though it couldn't see them. As they entered the room, there was something glittering on the floor.

"What's that at its feet?" Hermione said, unable to make the shape out.

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

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

He put a wooden flute to his lips (it was a Christmas gift from Hagrid, he had told Ron and Hermione after he had gotten it) and began to play. As soon as the first note reverberated around the room, the dog's eyes got droopy and he began to fall asleep. Soon, the dog stopped growling and slumped to the floor, finally asleep.

"Keep playing," Ron said as they took the cloak off and quietly made their way to the trapdoor. Hermione felt a shiver run through her as they felt the dog's hot breath on their skin when they got closer. "I think we'll be able to pull the door open. Want to go first, Hermione?"

"No, I don't!"

"All right," Ron gritted his teeth and stepped over one of the dog's huge paws. He pulled the ring to the trapdoor, which opened easily.

"What can you see?" Hermione asked, feeling more anxious than ever.

"Nothing - just black - there's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop."

Hermione didn't like what she was hearing. She noticed Harry waving to Ron and then pointing to himself - he wanted to go first.

"You want to go first? Are you sure? I don't know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."

Harry handed Hermione the flute and she began to play a rather clumsy tune, but it still kept Fluffy asleep. She listened and watched as Harry climbed over the dog's paws and met Ron. He lowered himself down and, before he let go, said, "If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?"

"Right," Ron answered. Hermione continued to play, though her heart was beating very fast now. What was waiting for them down that trapdoor?

"See you in a minute, I hope..." Harry said, letting go. Hermione almost stopped playing but caught herself just in time. She needed to keep Fluffy asleep, no matter what happened next. She waited to hear something - anything -

"It's okay! It's a soft landing, you can jump!" Harry's voice sounded very small and rather far away. Ron jumped after him and he must have landed because Hermione didn't hear anything to say he wasn't okay.

"Come on, Hermione!" Harry's voice again. She stopped playing the flute a second before she jumped and heard Fluffy bark on her way down, glad she had kept playing while she made her way to the trapdoor where Harry and Ron had disappeared down.

"We must me miles under the school," she said after she had landed, taking a look around. She immediately recognized what they had landed in and, struggling slightly, managed to fre herself from the tendrils that were trying to wrap themselves around her and had already started on both Harry and Ron.

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

"Lucky!" She cried. "Look at you both!"

The plant had been sneaky enough to get a decent grip on the two boys and all Hermione could do was watch in horror as they fought and began to lose the battle against it.

"Stop moving! I know what this is - it's Devil's Snare!" Hermione said, twisting her hands together.

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," Ron said sarcastically as he moved back, trying to keep the plant from winding around his neck. Hermione's brain began to work very fast, trying to remember her Herbology lessons.

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

"So light a fire!" Harry's voice was slightly choked, as the plant had started on his neck.

"Yes - of course - but there's no wood!" Hermione said, wringing her hands even more tightly and almost losing her head completely.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron yelled at her. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"

I forgot about my wand! Hermione thought, grabbing it immediately. "Oh, right!" She muttered an incantation and blue flames shot at the plant, which loosened its grip and let Harry and Ron go.

"Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione," Harry panted as he and Ron got themselves free.

"Yeah, and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis - 'there's no wood,' honestly." Ron's face was rather pink.

"This way," Harry said before Hermione could retort.

He led them down a stone passageway; the only way forward. There was no noise except for water trickling off the walls, and it gave Hermione a sense of foreboding. She didn't like what they had met already - what could possibly be waiting for them next?

"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered suddenly.

The three of them stopped to listen; there seemed to be a soft rustling and clinking coming from somewhere ahead. Hermione had never heard anything like it.

"Do you think it's a ghost?"

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

"There's light ahead - I can see something moving."

Finally, they reached the end of the passageway and came before a large, brightly lit chamber. The ceiling was arched high above them and it was full of small, very bright birds fluttering about the room. There was a large, heavy-looking door at the other side of the room.

What on earth... Hermione thought.

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

"Probably. They don't look very visious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once... well, there's no other choice... I'll run," Harry answered. He ran across the room, but the birds didn't attack. After he reached the door, Hermione and Ron followed him. It was locked. Hermione pulled out her wand.

"Alohamora!" She cried. Nothing happened.

"Now what?" Ron asked. Hermione looked up, examining the birds.

"These birds... they can't be here just for decoration," she said. Were they... glittering?

"They're not birds!" Harry burst out, making Hermione jump slightly. "They're keys! Winged keys - look carefully. So that must mean... yes - look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!"

Ron examined the lock on the door for a moment before speaking.

"We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one - probably silver, like the handle."

They each grabbed a broomstick, mounted it, and took off, looking for the key that would fit. Hermione was very nervous about this, as flying still was not her strong suit. Every key that she grabbed failed to match the one that Ron said they would be looking for, and she was starting to get anxious. They didn't exactly have time on their side; Snape could have the Stone right now! Suddenly, Harry called out.

"That one! That big one - there - no, there - with the bright blue wings - the feathers are all crumpled on one side."

Hermione saw the one he was talking about, but Ron was already speeding towards it. With a mighty crash, he hit the ceiling and nearly fell off his broom.

"We've got to close in on it! Ron, you come at it from above - Hermione, stay below and stop it from going down - and I'll try and catch it. Right, NOW!"

Hermione turned upwards at the key; it dodged her and Ron, speeding towards the wall. Harry went after it and pinned it with a rather sickening crunch. Hermione, though she felt bad for the key, cheered Harry on.

"Ready?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione once they had landed and were at the door. They both nodded. Harry put the key in and pulled the door open. After they stepped through, light filtered into the room to reveal what was in it.

It was a life-sized chessboard. But the chessmen were much taller than the three of them and were made of what looked like black and white stone. Hermione looked closer and saw that none of them had faces.

"Now what do we do?" Harry asked.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Ron responded. He was the best chess player of the three of them, presumably from playing against his brothers all these years. "We've got to play our way across the room."

Hermione wasn't quite sure she liked the sound of that. She looked across and saw the door, closed and a bit of a ways behind the white pieces. Ron was right.

"How?" she said anxiously.

"I think we're going to have to be chessmen," Ron said. He sounded a little nervous as he walked up to a knight and reached out to touch its horse. At once, it sprang to life; the horse pawed at the ground and the knight turned its helmeted head towards Ron. "Do we - er - have to join you to get across?"

The knight nodded and Ron turned towards Harry and Hermione.

"This needs thinking about... I suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces..."

Harry and Hermione were quiet while Ron mulled things over. Hermione was now quite anxious. These pieces were not only big enough to kill them, but they didn't have any reasoning capabilities, so they would probably have to win the game in order to make it through alive. She was glad at that point that they had Ron with them. He really was an excellent chess player, and their only hope of making it across.

"Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess - "

"We're not offended," Harry said while Hermione nodded in agreement. "Just tell us what to do."

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

"What about you?"

"I'm going to be a knight."

The chessmen must have been listening, because as soon as Ron had finished speaking, a knight, a bishop, and a castle turned and left the board, leaving three blank spaces for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to fill. Hermione took her spot tentatively, hoping for the best and glad Ron had taken charge.

"White always plays first in chess... yes... look..."

A white pawn moved forward two squares. Ron began to direct the black pieces and Hermione couldn't help but be in awe of how good he was.

"Harry - move diagonally four squares to the right." Ron commanded. The game seemed to be going well.

Hermione almost screamed when the other knight was taken - the white queen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board. What if that had been one of them? Hermione didn't think they could survive something like that.

"Had to let that happen," Ron said, sounding confident but looking quite shaken. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on."

Twice, Ron just barely noticed that she or Harry were about to be in trouble and saved them, and every time they lost a piece, the white players would drag the limp black ones off the board. Hermione was getting more anxious as the game went on. Would they be able to make it out alive? She was thankful that they had made it this far.

"We're nearly there," Ron said suddenly. "Let me think - let me think - "

The white queen turned to face him.

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

"NO!" Both Harry and Hermione cried.

"That's chess. 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!"

Hermione was in shock at what Ron was saying. How could he let himself get hurt like that? The white pieces had shown no mercy, and she didn't want Ron to be killed trying to stop Snape.

"But - " Harry began.

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?" Ron retorted.

"Ron - "

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

Ron was right, it was the only way. Hermione choked on the lump in her throat as she braced herself for what might happen to Ron.

"Ready?" Ron's face was pale, but the glint in his eyes showed his determination. "Here I go - now, don't hang around once you've won."

The white queen pounced on him as soon as he stepped forward. She hit Ron in the head hard with her arm and Hermione screamed, wanting to move but frozen - they were still playing the game. The queen dragged Ron to the side; he looked unconscious, but alive. Harry then moved three spaces to the left and the white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry's feet. They had won. The white chessmen parted and bowed, letting both Harry and Hermione through. Harry and Hermione ran through the door and up the passageway.

"What if he's - " Hermione began, knitting her eyebrows together.

"He'll be all right," Harry sounded like he was trying to convince himself as much as Hermione. "What do you reckon's next?"

"We've had Sprout's, that was the Devil's Snare; Flitwick must have put charms on the keys; McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell, and Snape's..."

There was a door in their path.

"All right?" Harry asked in a quiet voice.

"Go on."

Harry pushed the door open. Immediately, Hermione wrinkled her nose; there was quite the disgusting smell that met them. They saw through the tears in their eyes they saw a troll rather like the one they had dealt with on Halloween but larger lying flat on the floor, a lump on its head. It was unconscious.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Harry said quietly as they stepped over its legs. "Come on, I can't breathe."

The next door opened easily and Hermione wondered what was coming next, but there was just a small table with seven different bottles on top of it in a straight line.

"Snape's," Harry said. "What do we have to do?"

As soon as they stepped over the threshold, two fires sprang up; one behind them, which was purple; the other in front, and was black. They were trapped here.

"Look!" Hermione grabbed a piece of parchment that was lying next to the bottles. It read:

Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.

Hermione realized what this was at once. It was a puzzle! She had always enjoyed them and was excited that Snape had chosen to test brains over brawn with his enchantment.

"Brilliant," she said. "This isn't magic - it's logic - a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic, they'd be stuck in here forever."

"But so will we, won't we?"

"Of course not," Hermione answered. She just needed a moment to think... "Everything we need is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire, and one will get us back through the purple."

"But how do we know which to drink?"

"Give me a minute."

Hermione read over the paper a few more times and then walked around the table, muttering to herself. Finally, she figured it out and clapped her hands.

"Got it. The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire - towards the Stone."

"There's only enough there for one of us," Harry said. "That's hardly one swallow."

They looked at each other.

"Which one will get you back through the purple flames?"

Hermione pointed at a round bottle at the right end of the table. It, too, was only big enough for one person.

"You drink that - " Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Harry cut her off, " - no, listen, get back and get Ron. Grab brooms from the flying-key room, they'll get you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy - go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him. I might be able to hold Snape off for a while, but I'm no match for him, really."

"But Harry - what if You-Know-Who's with him?"

"Well - I was lucky once, wasn't I?" Harry pointed at his scar. "I might get lucky again."

For a second, Hermione thought she might cry out of fear and admiration, but she rushed at him instead and gave him a huge hug.

"Hermione!"

"Harry - you're a great wizard, you know."

"I'm not as good as you," Harry said. Hermione saw that his face was rather red.

"Me! Books! And cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery and - oh Harry - be careful!"

"You drink first. You are sure which is which, aren't you?"

"Positive," Hermione answered, finally getting a grip on her emotions. She couldn't bear the thought of Harry possibly coming face-to-face with You-Know-Who again, but she didn't have a choice but to let him go on alone. There wasn't even enough potion to share. She picked up the round bottle and drank from it. It was like ice going down her throat and she shuddered.

"It's not poison?"

"No - but it's like ice."

"Quick, go, before it wears off."

"Good luck - take care - "

"GO!"

Hermione turned, took a deep breath, and walked straight through the purple fire, expecting to feel it burn but only warmly licking her sides as she went.