The countdown to extinction
Hermione opened her mouth to say something but her words were chucked out of window by a loud sound of something heavy falling on the floor. Turning to the source of the sound Harry spotted Neville fallen on the floor, his legs locked together oddly. Hermione let out a muffled gasp and drew her wand, "finite" she squeaked and at once Neville's legs snapped apart and he managed to sit.
"Who did it" Harry asked in his mind he had a very good idea who would find it funny to torture a boy.
"Mal...Malfoy" Neville managed to speak he looked scared still. Ron let out a string of angry curse words that made Harry wonder where he learned them and the girls glare at him. Daphne cringed inwards she knew a 'Harry cane' was heading towards her in terrible speed but her best dorm mate saved her from her best friend. Hermione's face was resembling a recently erupted volcano her eyes seemed burn, "that wretched creature that bloody bully, if I get my hands on him I will rip him apart." She spat out
The boys whistled as she finally realized what she just and turned red this time from embarrassment. "That was" Ron began "bloody awesome" Harry finished. The said girl blushed red. "Harry, I wonder" Ron started but this time his eyes held a look often seen in Fred and George, "what if we unleash the dogs of hell on the blonde ponce." Seeing the questioning glances of the others he elaborated, "Fred and George are the best pranksters the school has produced in a decade, unleash them and the target won't know what hit them."
As the boys left for their dorms their previous argument forgotten Daphne turned to face a still fuming Hermione, "thanks for the save 'Mione" Hermione scowled at the girl she considered to be her best friend alongside Ron and Harry. "I made Harry promise that he would avoid Malfoy while in the school and today he was going to give me hell for making him promise you just saved me from that outburst." she elaborated. Hermione smiled at her.
The next few weeks were a blur for Harry he had reduced his sleeping time and lost focus from his classes; while he still aced charms and transfiguration the theory oriented classes had taken the hit. But truth be told he could not care less for him all that mattered was stopping his parents murderer. He remembered the sad look that adorned Remus's face every time he mentioned his dad; he remembered the loneliness of the Dursley household and his rage fueled his magic.
Daphne was worried for her friend and possible crush she knew they would accompany Harry to the plan but she hated it. While they were to fetch the teacher's Harry planned to fight Quirrell alone. She knew why Harry wanted to do it alone. 'Stupid prat, you think just because your parents are dead no one will care if you die, don't realize what I feel for you.' She had her decision made she was fighting too.
The exams were a daze in their group no one but Hermione had managed study the rest were simply too nervous to study. The last day it seemed held a shock for them as in the lunch Harry noticed a throbbing pain in his scar like as if an alarm going on.
Daphne and the others had also noticed the irritation Harry's scar was causing him. "Are you alright mate" Ron was anxious for his friend but confused nonetheless. "He is coming to get the stone get the professors... I will hold Quirrell off till you get help. Now GO" Harry yelled his emerald green eyes burning he was not sure what the result will be if he fails.
Tracey ran with Daphne to get her head of the house and currently their best bet of a believing teacher. Daphne was torn in two she wanted to be with Harry to make sure he doesn't get hurt but at the same time she needed to be with Tracey if just to make sure that help was coming for them. There was no talk well there was no need to talk both knew what their target was they were determined to succeed.
At the same time Hermione and Ron were searching for Professor Dumbledore the only wizard whom the dark lord fears. "Hermione do you even an idea where Professor's office is?" the red headed teen asked for the fifth time in last ten minutes. But before Hermione could start yelling at her companion she froze in front of them with a curious expression stood Professor McGonagall.
"Why are you here? Specifically in this time of the day." Her left eyebrow arched in curiosity. 'This is bad, this is very bad' Hermione was trying to think of an excuse a good one but was drawing blank. It was when Ron Weasley decided to interject, "this is about the philosopher's stone." The normally stern professor was shocked to her core she dropped the books she was holding, but she didn't pick it up. Her nostrils flared, "how do you know about the stone?" Hermione pleaded rather bravely as Ron was speechless by then, "please professor we know that Qui that someone is trying to steal it, and we need to inform Professor Dumbledore of this."
McGonagall took a deep breath to calm her raging thoughts, "headmaster has left for the ministry about ten minutes ago, I don't know how you have found out about the stone but I ensure you, the stone is perfectly safe. I will check on it later and I strictly order you not to mention it to anyone. Am I understood?" both Ron and Hermione nodded solemnly.
"Fuck" exclaimed the youngest male Weasley, "I bet its Quirrell he knows he can't steal it with Dumbledore here." Hermione thought for a second and tugged Ron as she ran towards the owlery.
Tracey and Daphne stood before their potion's master. Snape was pacing the room his brows quenched in deep thought, " let me put it straight, you two not only know about the stone you also know something only two of the staff knows, I don't know whether be shocked or award you points." Daphne was seething with every second lost Harry was getting into more and more danger, her Harry was getting in more danger and that's unacceptable she spoke, "Professor Snape, Harry has gone to stall Quirrell but you need to go now." Snape snickered to himself 'just like that foolish James always thinking he can be a hero'. But his thought process was drowned under another voice, 'Lily's son is in danger'. And the trio set off, after a minute Snape ordered them to fetch McGonagall while he went to get Professor Flitwick.
Tracey could feel the fear rolling off Daphne in waves, and she knew Daphne was worried sick to get back to Harry. Daphne was running towards her head of the house when Tracey's arm stopped him, "go, you need to check on him go." Muttering a hasty thank you she ran full speed towards the third floor corridor.
With Harry
Harry reached the third floor still no sign of Quirrell but his gut feeling was screaming to him danger and he, as always went with his gut feeling. Wrapping himself in his invisibility cloak he closed on a wall leaning against it. 'Now all I need to do is waiting'
Fifteen minutes or so later Harry picked up a sound of footsteps coming he waited and saw Quirrell coming into his view. He drew his wand stealthily and was about to cast the body binding hex when a hissing voice froze him on his track. "Come out, come out where ever you are baby potter?" the voice was literally reeking of evil. But what really terrified Harry was the fact while the voice was coming from Quirrell he himself was not moving his lips. Harry thought of his options he could not back out now and soon Quirrell will find him and his element of surprise was lost already. Flinging the cloak off him he yelled, "Patrificus totalus" while Quirrell gave his wand a simple flick and dome of golden color blasted and redirected Harry's attack to a wall nearby. Harry casted spells after spells pushing forth all the magic he has in his disposal. Reductor, bombarda, expulso the curses rained on Quirrell while dodging the purple curse Quirrell kept sending at him. Finally he roared stupefy and as the jet of red light hit the weakened shield it gave in but he dodged it and sent a stunner at him then it all went black.
When Harry came to his senses he found he was tied up in a chamber and Daphne was lying beside him also stunned and tied. He tried to move closer to her but found himself unable to. Quirrell was in front of him staring intently at a glass mirror and growing more frustrated by the moment. "I can see it giving to my master but where is it?" he screamed all kind of stuttering lost. And once again the snake like voice came "use the boy, use the boy." Quirrell snapped his fingers and the ropes around Harry vanished he was dragged in front of the mirror. Harry was already pushing forth every fiber of his mind to pull his wand towards him and after a while he felt his wand coming to his hand still tied behind his back.
'Did I just do wand less magic that too about something I have not learned yet.' Harry whispered finite and the ropes around his wrists disappeared. 'If the mirror is the key to find the stone then I will see where it is and then I got to destroy the mirror.' Deep in his thought he didn't notice the reflection of his where he saw himself and Daphne holding a ruby red stone nor did he notice the sudden weight in his pocket. His entire concentration was focused on Quirrell seeking his lack of concentration. His chance came soon as a groan from behind distracted Quirrell momentarily. Harry took his chance taking aim he yelled, "Reducto" and the mirror blasted in pieces. "No you bastard" Quirrell screamed and backhanded Harry to the wall with a surge of magic. "I am sorry master, please forgive me" Quirrell started groveling to an unseen person. And the hissing voice replied again, "he lies… let me talk to him face to face."
With a flash of understanding dawned up on Harry, the voice was of Voldemort's and he was here with him. Quirrell begged again, "master you are not strong enough." "I have strength enough for this; the unicorn's blood gave me power enough to do this."
Quirrell was taking back steps his wand pointing down he reached and unfurled the turban. And turned around revealing the most gruesome looking face Harry has ever seen. It didn't resemble a human face more like some snake. Red eyes glowed within sunken chambers snake slits were in pace of the nostrils he had no hair on his face no eyebrows nothing. He sneered at Harry, " you see what I have become Harry, it was you who made me like this. Still today you have shown courage and skills beyond your age without my knowledge and powers Quirrell would have been hard pressed to defeat you. For that matter I will give you a choice." It paused before continuing again, "give me the stone in your pocket and I will give you parents back." Blind hatred surged through out Harry's body reacted on his own he drew his wand cast reducto caught in unaware it threw Quirrell against the wall, "kill him" Voldemort's voice hissed. But before Quirrell could cast the killing curse the door exploded and the cavalry entered. The three teachers started fighting and surely Quirrell found himself in back foot.
Snape dodged the killing curse Quirrell sent at him and slashed his wand at him a deep slash appeared at Quirrell's chest. Quirrell knowing he has lost pointed his wand at Harry who was cradling now conscious Daphne in his arms what happened next no one imagined. Time slowed as Harry lunged at Quirrell the only active thought was to get the wand. As his fist closed around Quirrell's wrist he felt his scar splitting open and he screamed out loud his other hand delivering a punch to his face. Quirrell could feel his body burn and melted right before his eyes he screamed in pain and horror.
Harry sat shocked as he saw his punch literally turned the victim to ash, but the next moment he felt agony unparallel as the ghost like visor of Voldemort came to view and he went unconscious.
i am sorry for being late but i hope this chapter does the gap justice and please tell me how i did? next chapter will show the relationship development between Daphne and harry