Chapter Ten

May 6th, 1992

Hogwarts grounds

Hermione

Hermione held onto the tray of chocolate and vanilla biscuits she took from the Great Hall. Neville, Draco, and Ron trailed behind her as they went toward the hut near the edge of the Forbidden Forest. "Just act nice. I hear he isn't fond of Slytherins, but if we're nice and we butter him up then we will get the information on that dog. Draco, stop biting your nails, you're nervousness will tip him off."

A pink hue stained the blond's cheeks as he dropped his thumb from his mouth and curled a fist around it, so he wouldn't be tempted. "What if he doesn't have a clue on how to stop it? Then what will we do? Magic doesn't work, food doesn't work. Short of killing it, I have no idea."

She shook her head and glanced over her shoulder at him. "We're not going to kill a dog. We're Slytherins, not animals. We'll find a way. Now, shhh, you three be quiet. I'll do the talking." They stepped up to his hut. Smoke puffed out his chimney. Making a fist, she pounded on the door.

"Hold yer horses, I'll be 'ight there."

Thundering steps moved toward the door before he opened it. His eyes widened as he took all of them in. They lingered on Neville, who stared back, hands shoved into the pockets of his black trousers.

"Err, yes, do ye need something?"

Hermione held up the platter of biscuits. "I've heard around the school you'll be the new Care of Magical's Creatures professor next year, and we're working on a History project together, all about great beasts through the decades. We were wondering if we could ask you some questions, so we can get more insight and detail than what the books in the library offer. Now, I know we won't be taking your class until our Third year, but it's always good to get to know our Professors."

His burly beard covered most of his visible face, but from what they could see red filled his ample cheeks. He stepped back from the door. "Do come in, Of course, I can help ye on yer project. I'll put the kettle on. Have a seat."

He motioned to the massive table in the centre of his hut with five just as large chairs. It took them a second, and Hermione putting the platter on the table in order for them to climb onto the chairs. Hagrid left the hut to get water before he returned and put a steeper of something in it. "I hope you don't mind plain black. I need to Hogsmead to stock up on my teas again."

Hermione shook her head. "Oh no, that's perfect. We love black tea, right?" She peered around the table.

The boys nodded before Ron cleared his throat. "Black is our favourite kind."

The giant beamed at them. "I'm so glad to hir that." He took a seat at the table. "So, what creatures are ye researchin' for yer project?"

Hermione searched her mind quickly for possible other creatures. "The phoenix, the unicorn-we saw mention of a three-headed dog in one of our texts but we can't find the name of it. It was used in the Battle of Rockstead for the Goblins-and the Gryphon. It's that second to last one that's really stumping us. But I just have a feeling if we turn some information in on it Professor Bins will give us all O's. We like being the top of our year, you see." She rattled on, hoping he didn't see through her lie and didn't have extensive knowledge of war, because she'd pulled that out of her arse.

"A three-headed dog has to be a Cerebus. Dumbledore would have more information for ye on the phoenix, he owns one, he does. As for unicorns and gryphons. If you drink the blood of a unicorn you'll be cursed, I know that much. They're impossible to catch, and if caught or hurt, they won't live long after. Gryphons are feisty things, used to raise them when I was a lad with my papa. They're strong, fast, and have good aim with their talons. Perfect for war and fighting. Err, shouldn't ye be taking notes?"

Her eyes widened, how could she forget to bring parchment and a quill? Ron held up his hand and then reached into the bag, she'd wondered why he carried it, at least he thought ahead. "Sorry, that was my job, I'm slacking today." He pulls out a blank piece of parchment a refillable ink quill he nicked from Potter when he wasn't looking. He then scribbled. "Unicorn blood equals cursed life. They don't live long after. How do you think unicorns could be used in the battle? We read that they were used in the battle of Greenhurst when the Trolls we're fighting the Goblins. But we don't see how that's possible with them being such peaceful creatures?"

Her eyes shifted between them. Did the giant know that he blew that out his arse, too? They knew he didn't finish his schooling, but they didn't know how far he'd gotten.

Hagrid frowned. "I think that subject is a bit dark for wee First years like yerselves."

Ron egged him on. "Please, sir? It would really help make our essay one of the best."

Draco went back to basically chewing on his thumb and Hermione kicked him under the table. Neville rolled his eyes at both of them.

"Well, okay. But don't tell anyone ye hird it from me."

They all nodded and leaned over the table, eyes wide with a true interest in knowing something dark about unicorns. "We won't," they said in unison.

"If a unicorn mother loses a foal, she'll git depressed and her coat will turn from white to black. During this time, the unicorn is violent and will attack anything in its sights. Goblins will secretly kill unicorn foals when the mother is her coat turns, they're able to capture the unicorn and take her to the battlefield where she'll spear anything that moves. It can be troublesome for their side as well and hasn't been practiced in a long time."

Ron's mouth hung open, as he went to jot down the information. "That's wicked!"

Hagrid nodded. Not catching his use of slang. "It is."

"Well, that's almost everything. What about the, what did you call it? Cerebus? What can you tell us about them, have they ever been used in battle?" Hermione glanced at Draco, who turned his attention fully to the giant.

Hagrid got up to grab the kettle and poured it into four over-sized mugs. They all looked at their own, the liquid steamed so much they dare not try it yet, for fear they would lose their tongues to blisters. "Careful, it's hot. I always leave it on too long. Sorry bout that."

Hermione waved him off with a smile. "Don't worry about it, we can dip our biscuits in it still, right guys?"

They looked at her with wide eyes, before they joined her in taking a biscuit from the tray, and dipped the edges of the biscuits in the steaming black pools. It almost broke apart, but she still took a bite. Her eyes watered. "Mmmm, delicious tea, sir." She swallowed the bite.

He beamed at her. "Thank you, err, I'm sorry, I don't know your names. Well, except for Mr Longbottom, everyone knows who he is."

Neville grimaced. "Pleasure to meet you, sir."

Hermione put a polite smile on her lips. "I'm Hermione Prince, sir."

Ron took a bite of biscuit that hadn't touched his tea. "Ron, sir."

And then Draco tilted his chin up a little. "Draco Malfoy, sir."

"Pleasure to meet all of ye!" He chuckled, his laugh shook the table, threatening to topple the tea. "Now about Cerebus. They're rarer than they used to be. Only a couple hundred in existence. They used to be used in war, but they can be hard to train. Honestly, I don't see why anyone would want to use them fir somethin' bad. They're such gentle creatures by nature."

They all glanced at one another. Gentle would not be on the top of their list to describe the beast.

Ron pretended to take more notes. "So, sir, what are some ways people defeated Cerebus in battle."

His face grew grim. "Only way to take down a Cerebus is to use an unforgivable, the killing curse. Which is such a shame. Play them a bit of soft music and they'll go out like a candle flame. Not a thing in this world will bother them."

Draco frowned. "Music, sir? Really?"

Hagrid nodded. "Yup, that always works on Fluffy."

They all frowned and he became flustered. "I shouldn't 'ave said that. I should not 'ave said that. You four should be off playin' on the weekend. 'Ave ye got all the information ye need?"

Sliding off their chairs, Ron grabbed the parchment. Hermione smiled at him. "Yes, sir, thank you for your help! We'll be sure to get O's in Professor Binns class."

Hagrid smiled. "That's good to hir. He pushed open his door for them. "Have a fun rest of yer day!"

**Draco**

They all hurried back to the castle. "I can't believe that thing's name is Fluffy, and that all it takes to get past it is a bit of soft music. Where are we going to get music?" Draco looked over at his three friends. They all frowned.

Ron's eyes went wide. Percy has a flute. But there's no way he'll give it to me."

Hermione sighed. "Doesn't this school have a music program, or room, something?" They entered the castle just as Sir Headless Nick floated by. He looked at her. "Yes it does, dear girl. Fourth-floor corridor."

They didn't even think about it before they all darted for the stairs, robes billowing behind them.

"Oh c'mon!" Draco growled as another set of stairs decided to change direction while they were on it.

Soon, they made it the fourth floor and burst through the only dusty door there. Hundreds of old musical instruments laid around, all in pristine condition, but with no one to play them. Hermione looked around. "I bet we could find a spell in the library to make them play themselves. Set it to some classical lullaby or something."

Draco picked up a violin case. "Let's go research, I want to get down there tonight, and see if that giant was right."

**Neville**

After a few hours of pouring through Fifth-year charms books, they found a spell that would make an instrument play Dancing in Moonlight like by Agatha Squelch, a classical witch composer. Neville was sure any of it would work, but he knew that they had to try. Draco needed the stone to save his life, and Draco was the key to learning all about his enemy before he killed her himself. There was no way he would allow the Mistress of Dark to resurrect the Dark Lord. He killed him as a babe when he killed his mother, and he was going to make sure he stayed dead.

Dinner went by quickly, they were too excited about the evening's upcoming event to eat much of anything. The hours of waiting for their fellow Slytherins to turn in, however, nearly killed all their sanity. All with top marks in their year, they didn't have any homework to busy themselves with, and Exploding Snap lost its kill-time appeal after the sixth round.

Ron balanced a quill on his nose. "I'm going to lose my mind if time doesn't go by faster."

Hermione nodded from next to him where she'd been staring at the same page in her Herbology book for the last hour.

Draco had chewed through is thumbnails and moved onto his other fingers, no matter how many times Hermione kicked him for it. He didn't seem to care at all about pristine image anymore. Neville knew once they had the stone, he would go back to his normal snooty self. Having his own life depend on whether he got a stone or not, a took a lot out of him. Finally, the last Prefect looked at them as he headed toward the dorms. "Don't stay up too late, you lot. Tomorrow is school."

"We won't!" they coursed. They waited for several minutes after they heard the door close before the looked to each other, and then the clock.

"Professor Lupin should be at the other side of the dungeons now." Draco looked at them. "We need to make a break for it now."

They all got up and ran as fast as they could through the dungeons. Not once did they see Lupin. Draco had mastered the art of sneaking out of the dungeons. Neville smirked, proud of his friend for being so cunning.

Once at the trap door, they looked at each other. "I'll go first." Neville stuck his lit wand between his teeth and made his way down the ladder. Draco followed. Much to his enjoyment, he was able to help Hermione off the ladder before she fell, and Ron came up the rear.

Neville looked at them all, their wands lit at the tip. "Right, so the plan is for us to get the violin out just before that room. Then I'll charm it to play. Once Fluffy is down, we'll sneak past it and get the stone."

They all nodded in agreement before they made their way down the long hall. Like usual, the dog's eyes appear before them, and it barked with its rancid breath.

Draco got the violin out and Neville charmed it to play. Its soft harmonies filled the hall with a sweet, slow song. Almost romantic. It played on repeat until the three-headed dog moved out of the way of the hall and over to a massive bed. He collapsed and was out like a light.

They took their chance, Neville went first. Barreling across to the double doors, "Alohamora." They opened. He couldn't believe it was that simple. All four of them went through the doors. Only to find a massive, moving plant blocking their path.

Hermione gasped."I know what this is, I just read about it in my Herbology book. It's Devil Snare, it hates Sunlight!" She pointed her wand at it. "Lumos Solem!" Light burst forth from her wand and struck the plant. It shrunk to the sides, forming a path they could go through. She kept her wand trained ahead of her as they went through first and she came up the behind. Once on the other side, the plant melded back together.

Before them stood a massive chessboard. Ron cracked his knuckles. "I got this one, guys."

He climbed the King. "You guys stay there."

They watched as he competed against the other side. Easily cornering their Queen and taking out the king in ten moves, he didn't even break a sweat. A set of hidden double doors opened as the enemy's queen fell and smashed into pieces. Ron left the King and smirked at them. "Told you."

Neville clapped him on the shoulder. "That was a bloody good match, mate. If I were a professor I'd give Slytherin points for that."

Ron beamed and looked at Hermione. She smiled at him. "You did amazing, Ron. Thank you for getting us past that."

Draco nodded, as he looked at the double doors. "Thanks, Mate, I owe you all life debts, I swear."

He sprinted off toward the doors, unable to wait anymore.

**Ron**

They followed him, not wanting him to do something like a rash Gryffindor before they could assess the situation.

Before them a massive granite room circled a single standing mirror. Draco peered around. "Shouldn't it be here?" They went up to the mirror. Ron was the first to stand in front of it.

His eyes widened. "Whoa. Do you guys see what I see?"

"Your reflection?" Neville laughed.

Ron shook his head. "Bloody hell. I'm older, and I look good. My pockets are full of Galleons and my mum is crying, begging me to help them pay for things."

Hermione pointed to the top where it said something strange. "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi." I could be wrong, but if you rearrange the letters to reverse it, it talks about how it shows you your desire."

Ron pulled her in front of him. "You try it out."

She looked into the mirror for a long second before her cheeks grew pink. "I'm older. Married, and it looks like I'm pregnant."

Ron's curiosity peaked. "Who are you married to?"

The pink in her cheeks turned red. "I can't see their face."

Ron nudged her in the shoulder. "Liar."

Neville rolled his eyes as they began to play fight. "Draco, you should stand in front of it. Maybe it'll show you where the stone is hidden."

**Draco**

Draco would try anything at that point. All he wanted was not to die before his twelfth birthday in the coming month. He stood in front of the mirror. It didn't change. His reflection also bit at his nails. All he wanted was the stone. He wanted to live.

Suddenly his reflection did something different from him. He took his thumb from his mouth and placed his hand in the inner pocket of his robes. Something hard weighted against his chest at that moment.

"No bloody way." He reached into the pocket on his side, to find a warm stone. He pulled it out and the others gasped.

Hermione came closer. "Is that it? Is that the stone you need?"

He gulped. "I think so."

**Neville**

Neville held out his hand. "Let me see it, I learned of a curse that will reverse the healing properties, but it's dangerous."

Hermione stared at him with her big brown eyes. "Then don't do it! We'll find a different way."

He shook his head. "No, we have t make sure that the Dark Lord never comes back to life. Hand it over Draco, I promise she won't be able to tell anything is wrong."

"What if we make of copy of it and give her the copy?" Ron looked between them.

Neville shook his head. "She'll be able to sense that the copy has no magical signature. It has to be the real stone, just modified. I have no choice it has to be this way. Draco, the stone."

Draco hesitated for only a moment before placing the warm stone in his palm. He positioned it in front of the mirror on the floor. "Stand back, I don't want any of you getting hit with this. I learned about this spell last summer from a dark shop my Nan didn't know I went to. Who knew it would come to be useful information." He pointed his wand at the stone and thought of all the hate he had for the Dark Lord and his wife. He brought the hate up to his chest and forced it out through his wand arm. "Languorem!"

Black liquid spilled from his wand as he fought to keep control. His arm shook. It fell to the floor and crawled along the granite to the red stone, enveloping it in its slimy darkness. The stone jumped in the grasps of the evil force.

He couldn't hold on to the power of the curse, he could feel himself losing, his magic draining from his body.

Draco put his hand on Neville's first, feeding his own magic to him before Ron and Hermione did the same. They worked together to push the curse out until The black mass sizzled and bubbled away into nothing, leaving behind the stone. Neville swayed as he tried to take a step forward, but his legs didn't budge.

Hermione stepped forward to pick it up. She held it up to the torchlight in the room. At the very centre of the stone, a pinprick of black marred it.

"I think it worked. It looks tainted." She held it out to Draco. He peered at it, too.

He nodded. "It's different and she shouldn't be able to notice."

Neville felt himself falling, he was too tired. "Good."

Next chapter will show the end of their first year and the problems that arise for the silver girl. How will they manage? So sorry for the late update. I actually finished this on Thursday, but I also worked all day and was too knackered to edit it well, and there were a lot of mistakes, so I'm glad I didn't put it up with all the mistakes. You guys would've hated it. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter. If you did, please leave a review. They give me energy. Thank you!

GC