Chapter 10 – Through the trapdoor

I was on my way back to the dormitory, when a familiar dark figure blocked my way. Snape emerged from the shadows, resembling vampire more than ever.

Damn it!

"Miss Swan, to my office on a few words!" Snape coldly said. "Now!"

I debated whether I should obey, then decided to better go and figure out what he is up to. Did he somehow found out about our plans? Or that we suspected him in attempts to steal the Stone?

"Have a seat, Miss Swan," Snape gestured to the same chair where I sat, during our talk after the first potion lesson. "It so happens that I'm aware that you, that is, you and your little Gryffindor friends are up to something, and it concerns the Philosopher's Stone."

My eyes widened like saucets. How the hell did he figured that? Of course, I immediately pulled an innocent face. "I have no idea what are you talking about, sir."

"Don't lie to me!" Snape hissed. "Professor McGonagall already informed me that you are aware of the fact that this legendary substance is being kept in Hogwarts. I also know that, according to your mind, someone is trying to steal it. I must ask you, what else do you know."

I merely shrugged. "I still don't quite follow you, Professor Snape."

Now Snape looked totally pissed. "Miss Swan, do not try my patience. You have no idea of where you're getting yourself into. If you don't care about your own future in this school, maybe you should think about your friends?"

"I repeat, I do not know what the hell are you talking about!" I snapped angrily.

Snape took a deep breath, then he pulled another chair closer and sat in front of me. He seemed concerned. "Miss Swan, if you really know anything, I must ask you to tell me. The situation is very serious. Any information you could provide me – "

"Sir, all I know is that someone let the troll inside the school at Halloween, someone has been trying to kill Harry during the Quidditch match by jinxing his broom, someone is killing unicorns in the Forbidden Forest to drink their blood which is unforgivable crime. That's all I know."

I did not told him that this someone might be himself, at least in our minds, however seemed that Snape came to this conclusion on his own. When he spoke again, it was obvious that he is barely holding back his anger.

"There's something you should know. In spite of common belief, I would never do anything to betray Professor Dumbledore's expectations of me. I'd suggest you to remember that before jumping to conclusions. As for Potter, Weasley and Granger, I do hope that you will manage to keep them out of trouble since you're the eldest one among them. Now, go back to the common room or enjoy the day outdoors, just don't forget what I said!"

With that Snape practically pushed me out of his office, slamming the door shut, leaving me totally stunned. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"That was interesting," I murmured under my nose, when I was certain he cannot hear me anymore.

I spent the remaining day, reading my notes, searching for spells that might come useful tonight. Luckily for me, most of Slytherins were enjoying the sunny day, so the dormitory was empty. That allowed me to do a little practice with some particulary tricky charms and hexes, so when the night finally came, I felt ready for and prepared for whatever awaited us on our way to the Stone.

It was almost midnight. Everyone in Slytherin house already went asleep about an hour ago. As soon as I was left alone in common room, I quickly Disillusionated myself and sneaked outside. The corridor was empty, which was a good sign.

I leaned against the cold dungeon wall and closed my eyes for a second, releasing a deep, yet quiet sigh. It was a relief to get out of school robes and change into my old jeans, jumper and sneakers. The wand I once despised, now felt comfortable and even welcomed in my hand. I finally had learned to accept the magic and everything around me. Perhaps it was because I knew that without the magic I would not be able to help my friends. For whatever reason it was, I felt more content with myself than ever.

However after this night I would probably be expelled from Hogwarts.

How ironic, isn't it? Since the day Professor Dumbledore found me in motel to reveal that I'm a witch, and even more since the day I arrived to Hogwarts, I wished I could leave this place for good. I would have done that, I would have runned, screaming, without looking back. And now, when I actually faced a possibility of leaving – my heart sank at the mere thought of it.

I forced myself to get a grip. The night was far from over yet. We were going to protect the Philosopher's Stone from whoever planned to steal it. If we really were dealing with Snape, it will be miracle if I ever see another sunrise.

Snape's private chambers were at the end of the hallway. I stood outside his door and listened carefully. He was inside, I heard his muttered comments and occasional rustle of parchment. Apparently he was dealing with examination papers.

I felt sorry for him. For us, students, this week was free of studying, but only now I realized how bad it could be to remain awake at such late hour, dealing with paperwork, graduating and then probably checking those papers all over again just to make sure the points are earned properly and according to each student's knowledge.

Ten minutes before the midnight, I checked the sound behind the door again. The rustling sound had ceased, but I still could hear his steps as he paced across the room, muttering something in angry voice. Perhaps the exam works had been so bad to get him in this raged stage, however it did not matter right now. The only thing important was that Snape was here, in dungeons, locked up in his office.

I checked the watch and decided to hurry up. The trio probably was already in fourth floor. The sooner we will get through the trapdoor, the better. I run almost all the way up, pausing only when I reached the locked door, panting.

"Hey, anyone here?" I whispered, feeling a bit stupid for talking to an empty air.

"Bella!" Harry's voice sounded right next to me. "We're here!"

"How long have you been waiting?"

"Dunno, twenty minutes, perhaps. Why?"

"Twenty?" I did a quick math of how long it took me to reach fourth floor – no longer than ten minutes. "I have a bad news."

"Oh, no!" Ron moaned.

"Ten minutes ago Snape was in his office when I left. It's not him. Whoever wants to steal the Stone, it's not Snape. He couldn't get past you without being noticed."

"She's right," Hermione said, suddenly sounding nervous. "But, if not Snape, then who?"

"I guess, there's only one way how to find it out," Harry stuck out his arm (it was strange to see nothing but arm in air) and opened the door with Alohomora.

We quickly sneaked inside. This was the first time when I had a chance to see Fluffy in person. This dog was twice of elephant size. I was pretty sure that one head alone could swallow all four of us at once.

Lucky for us it was one problem we did not had to worry about because Fluffy was sound assleep. To his right side a harp played softly all by itself, confirming our suspicions that someone is on his or her way to the Stone indeed.

Together we went on and pushed dog's paw away to free the lid. There was nothing but a deep, black hole. Harry prepared to jump down first when suddenly everything fell silent.

"Houston, we have a problem," I murmured, then moved fast, clutching Harry and Hermione by their hands, pulling them along as I jumped into the pit. Ron too did not hesitated once he realized that Fluffy was obviously mistaking him for delicious dog snack.

There was no way back. Whether we will manage to keep the Stone safe or not, right now I could not bring myself to regret anything. Even if we were condemned to failure, I thought, at least we would give every effort to prevent the thieving.

The traps which were made by Hogwarts teachers, at my opinion were not very safe once we, four first year students, could pass them over.

At first Hermione helped us to deal with devil's snare, prepared by Professor Sprout – it was rather nasty plant which nearly strangled us right after we jumped into the pit and landed straight on it. Then Harry demonstrated his brilliant talent of flying as he caught the winged key to get through the next door (obviously the keys were enchanted by Flitwick). Finally Ron led us through McGonagall's giant chess board, playing the best chess game I have ever seen, but that was where we run out of luck.

In order to give Harry chance to make the ultimate move with check and mate to the king, Ron had to sacrifice himself. I swore to myself to never play wizard chess – all figures not only moved by themselves, but they also crashed in pieces the beaten figure. In this game Ron was lucky enough to be only stunned. Harry and I left Hermione behind – she promised to take care of Ron and then send an owl to Dumbledore.

Leaving chess board behind, we walked into next room where we were surprised to see an unconscious troll sprawled down on floor, very similar to the one we saw in Halloween night.

"Oh, gee, how it stinks!" I covered my nose with sleeve, quickly moving forward to get to the next door.

"Good thing we didn't had to fight with this one," Harry added, one step ahead of me.

"So, we already passed Sprout, McGonagall and Flitwick's traps. The troll was – whose?"

"Probably Quirrell's doing," Harry climbed over one of troll's fat legs.

"Yep, that would be in his style – wait, did you said, Quirrell?" I stopped as a thought struck me suddenly.

"Yes, so?" Harry paused to look back. "What? Bella, what is it?"

"Er – nothing. Just a passing thought. Okay, so what do we have left here, Snape?" I could not supress the shiver. My skills at potion making were above average, but I was half-certain that Snape probably figured out something rather nasty for trap.

As soon as we stepped across the threshold, a wall of purple flames bursted up, blocking the way back. At the same time the door across the room were blocked by another fire wall, only black one. We were trapped.

"Great, now what?" Harry's gaze shot between the flames.

The room itself was empty apart from wood table with lined seven bottles of different size and shape and rolled parchment, which I picked up. Harry came closer and together we read the words, written in neat script:

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 you 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 move onward, neither is your friend

Third as you see clearly, all are different size

Neither dwarf nor giant hold 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

"Wow, I had no idea that Snape is poet," I chuckled, after finishing to read. "I should remember to ask him about it later. Assuming that we will survive the night."

"Are you saying we're trapped here?"

"Nah, I was actually referring to what awaits us there," I nodded toward the black flames. "Now, give me a second here and, please, be quiet. This is logic puzzle, very cleverly made. I need to concentrate."

Harry immediately went silent. I gazed at the bottles, then back at poem. One by one I moved the bottles back and forth from the line as I read the clues and tried to figure out, which one is which. All respect to Snape, he really knew how to make the things even more difficult than they already were. I was almost certain into which bottles are nettle wine and so I also knew where the poison is. The two remaining bottles held a potion to get through the flames, but main question was – which one lead to which way?

Relying on pure instincts again, I carefully examined the liquid into both bottles. The smallest one was nearly empty. I took a closer look at its stopper and then noticed a small scratches around its base as if someone recently had pulled it out. Considering that whoever went through this room, apparently had to use only one of two potions to get through the flames, particulary black ones, I put two and two together in a speed of lightning.

"There," I pointed at smallest bottle. "This one will help us to go forward. And this one," I took a round bottle from the end of right side, "will bring us back."

"There's not enough for two of us," Harry estimated the content. "There's barely a mouthful of it."

We exchanged our looks. I realized what he was up to, and I hated it. What the hell that boy was thinking? He was just a little child, only eleven years old, and he was planning to go there and face Snape or whoever was there all by himself?

"There must be some other way," I shook my head. "Maybe I could try to extinguish those blasted flames somehow."

"No! Bella, listen to me!" Harry grabbed my arm and spoke in a voice that held authority of someone older, more experienced wizard, not the young boy who was standing before me. "Drink from the other bottle and go back! Perhaps Ron and Hermione needs your help back there more than I do."

"This is insane, Harry!" I tried to reason with him, but by the look in his eyes I could tell that this was already lost battle.

Knowing all too well that only one could pass the black flames, Harry grabbed the bottle and emptied it in one gulp. He shuddered as if he got cold, then turned and quickly walked through the black flames untouched.

"Oh, crap!" I swore and slammed the fist against the table. That kid was more stubborn than dozen donkeys. If he expected me to turn around and walk away, he got another thing coming.