6 June 1992
Hermione's first year seemed to fly by after Yule break, professors poured on the homework to prepare for their first end of term exams. 5th and 7th years were snappish and angry as they prepared for the exams that would decide their entire futures. Percy glared angrily at the twins whenever they were in the same room, automatically deducting points for so much as breathing too loud. Fred and George charmed his hair and robes to look like Snape for a day with his robes flashing 'DUNGEON BAT IN-TRAINGING' on the back. Hermione joined Eloise in the library for revision as much as possible. She felt kind of bad for ignoring the girl, even if they were barely friends. Eloise tended to ignore everyone, keeping her head stuck in a book. She came back from Yule break with heavy case of acne on her chin that many of the students couldn't help but mock her for.
In April, Hagrid won a dragon egg off some hooded stranger down at the pub. He had the grand idea of raising it in a wooden hut, even named him Norbert. Hermione and Ron, who visited Romania 2 years prior to see their brother at a dragon reserve tried to warn him of the dangers but Hagrid refused to listen. It wasn't until Ron got bitten that Hagrid allowed them to contact their brother about taking the dragon to the reserve. Hermione arranged with the twins to have a distraction on the other end of the castle while they delivered the sleeping dragon to the astronomy tower. Unfortunately, Malfoy somehow knew and brought along their head of house so they were caught just outside the Fat Lady's portrait.
The resulting detention was terrifying, they were lead into the Forbidden Forest with only Hagrid and Fang for protection. Harry was cornered by Voldemort, himself and was rescued by a centaur. Ron figured that Professor Snape must be working for Voldemort to get the Philosophers Stone. Once they realized that Hagrid let slip how Fluffy could be passed they raced to tell Professor Dumbledore, only to find he was gone on ministry business. Then their head of house claimed that it was none of their concern and they should go to bed.
That was how the four first years found themselves battling Devils snare, a murderous chess set, and the potion masters puzzle. Neville was the first to realize that they landed in a nest of Devils snare when they dropped into the trap door, Hermione immediately set it ablaze. Neville sprained his ankle on the fall down and was supported by Ron through the next rooms. Harry easily captured a winged key that would allow them into the next room, which Ron looked at with unconcealed devotion. The life size chess pieces towered over the four children but Ron confidently barked orders to his friends and pulled himself onto the Knights piece. After 12 moves, Ron sacrificed himself so that Harry could win the game, he was knocked unconscious by a hard blow to the head from the white queen. Neville checked him after the game and pulled his head into his lap to make his friend was more comfortable.
"You guys go, my ankle can't take much more. I'll stay with him." Neville said solemnly. "Good luck."
"Thanks Neville." Hermione whispered as she continued on with Harry, finding a dead troll in the next room.
"What next?" Harry sighed as they came into the next room. On a ornate pedestal showed 7 different bottles, all shapes, sizes, and colors. Beside them was a sheet of parchment with a riddle to deduce how to go forward.
"Well, none of the phials are missing." Hermione frowned as she looked from the phials to the parchment in hand.
"You really think some are poison!" Harry asked hesitantly and fingered a large blue bottle.
"Well, if all the professors set these up...this is probably Professor Snape's, right?" Hermione said absently, trying to work out the clue
"We don't have time for this, Snape's probably already at the stone! He might even be on the way to give it to Voldemort!" Harry said in a panic as he reached for the middle phial.
"Wait, I got it!" Hermione exclaimed grabbing his wrist. "Here this will send you through." She picked up the smallest black phial and uncorked it. "There's only enough for one."
"Is there one to send you back?" Harry asked as he took the glass from her hand. Hermione picked up a large purple bottle.
"This." Hermione whispered, not wanting to leave him to go on alone.
"Take it, get back to Professor McGonagall. Make her come down here. Send a letter with Hedwig for Professor Dumbledore." Harry said sternly.
"What if we are wrong...what if it's Voldemort in there?" Hermione asked, tears in her eyes.
"I got lucky once." Harry smirked, trying to sound more confidant then he was as he tapped the scar on his forehead. Suddenly his vision was impaired by red curls as Hermione launched herself into his arms.
"You're a brilliant wizard Harry!" Hermione sighed as she squeezed him tight.
"Got nothing on you, Hermione." Harry wrapped his arms around her, returning the second hug he ever received.
"Me? I was just prepared." Hermione smiled cheekily. Leaning up, she pressed a hesitant kiss to his cheek. "Good luck." Before Harry could react, Hermione downed the potion in the purple phial and was out the door. By the time she got back to Neville and Ron, Ron was sitting up against a wall and Neville was hobbling around, trying to put pressure on his ankle.
"Hermione!" Neville cried and almost fell over in effort to reach her. "Where's Harry?"
"There was only enough potion for one of us to continue. We need to get a letter to Uncle Albus!" Hermione cried.
"Potion?" Ron asked, his eyes unfocused as he looked at his sister from the floor.
"It was Professor Snape's, he had a puzzle and the phials on a-" Hermione stopped, her face flush with embarrassment. Slapping her forehead, she groaned. "I'm an idiot!"
"What are you talking about?" Neville asked.
"I'll explain later, you guys need to get up that trap door! Contact Uncle Albus! Drag Professor McGonalgall down here." Hermione ordered. She whipped out her wand and cast a numbing charm on Neville's ankle. Smiling tightly, she turned on her heel and dashed back to the potions room. Ron stood shakily to follow but Neville caught him as he started to fall back.
"We need to listen to her." Neville said sternly as he wrapped an arm around the red heads shoulders.
"Where did he put it?" Hermione gasped as she came in the room to find the black phial was not on the pedestal. Quickly, she righted the purple bottle and scoured the floor for the small phial Harry had thrown. With a sigh of relief she found that she was right. "Ever filling phials." She smirked and downed the potion quickly, feeling like ice was running through her veins. Stepping through the fire, she was not prepared for what she saw.
"He liesss!" A face hissed from the back of Professor Quirrell's head. He had a hand gripping Harry's collar as they stood in front of the mirror of erised. Hermione ducked behind a pillar and moved closer so she could hear what was happening.
"I've won the house cup I'm head boy!" Harry shouted frantically, trying to loosen his grip. Quirrell's hand slipped, grazing his bare neck. He snatched his hand back quickly, as if burned.
"What is this magic? Kill him!" The face shrieked as Quirrell's hand started to turn to ash. The possessed man lumbered towards the first year, intent to wring his neck. Harry lunged, spreading his hands over the mans face, making him shriek in pain. After Harry pulled himself back, he watched as his DADA Professor slowly turned to dust right in front of him. A black shade was released from the falling body and circled the room, screaming. "This isn't over, Potter!"
"No!" Hermione cried, lunging at Harry. She saw the shade dive and was about to run him through so she tackled Harry to the floor, out of harms way. The shade screeched once more before flying up through the ceiling.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, he couldn't see anything through the haze of red curls in his face. Hermione had him pinned to the floor, watching the ceiling in case the shade came back.
"Yeah, Harry?" Hermione said absently.
"You came back?" Harry said slowly. Hermione turned her head sharply to look at him, she seemed to realize how close they were because her face turned as red as her hair as she jumped off of him quickly.
"Well I- I just -" Hermione was cut off from her stuttering as the purple flames went out and Albus Dumbledore stepped through, looking every bit the fierce warrior of light that was written.
"Was it him?" The headmaster asked with a grim look on his face.
"It was Voldemort." Harry said tiredly as he tried to sit up.
"Let's get you children to the hospital wing." Professor Dumbledore said quietly and waved his wand, levitating Harry behind him.