Veneficus Verum: Sorcerer's Stone
Rated: T for blood, violence, and swearing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Tales of the Abyss. Too bad for me, huh?
Warning: Just some little mentions of blood. Nothing really that bad.
AN: Well, we're nearly done. Another chapter and the epilogue(which'll have some info about some stuff), and the sequel will be started.
Chapter 10
Just Be Friends
Harry leaned his head against the wall behind his four poster bed. He once more resisted his urge to throw up. Ever since that horrible detention, he had had nightmares of the blood covered figure which would later change to a tan-brown haired man with a large, thick sword covered in red blood.
"Harry?" The soft question nearly made the boy jump. The dark haired student turned to see Ron and Neville peering at him from between the curtians around the four poster bed. Without an answer from the other first year, they moved onto the bed, hiding behind the same red covering.
Neville and Ron stared at him for a long time. The trio sat quietly for a long while before Ron looked up at Harry, "Are you okay?" Harry looked up at them, "I dunno. I really don't know."
It was silent for a few more long minutes before Harry looked up, "Guys. I'm going to go and get the stone. I'm going to get it and save it from whoever is after it." Neville and Ron watched him before, "We're helping." The dark red-head frowned, "You can get really, badly hurt."
"Hermione's gotten really good at Healing Artes. Granted, she can't do the Yulia Hymn healing artes, but she can do most of the others."
"Still, she can't revive you if you get knocked out or something worse."
Ron rolled his eyes, "I doubt the teachers would make so easy for students get through, let alone first years. But we're also different then normal first years. We can do it, Harry. But only if we're all together!"
The first year sighed, "That's just it, though. I feel like we aren't all together. Not yet."
The next few days were tense, most of which was cased by them testing out how well the teachers were guarding the entrance to the stone. "If we're lucky," "Which I doubt, `Mione." "Shut up, Ron. If we're lucky, they'll be sart enough to keep a close on the way into the chambers for the stone. And if I'm right, which I'm pretty sure I am," "You're almost always right, Hermione," "Thank you Neville, well, If I'm right, then the stone will be removed at the ed of the school year. If the teachers can defend it till then, than we don't have to interfer. Otherwise..."
Harry had agreed to this. So, just to make sure they were keeping an eye on the place, All four would pass the area to keep an eye on it, and see if any teachers showed up. The only teachers that did show up in the first week after Easter Break was Snape, Quirrel, and McGonagall. The group agreed that it was impossible for it to be McGonagall, and Ron grudgely admitted that Snape had no sign of having any silver blood, even the faintest of stains, on any of his cloaks.
"Blood like a Unicorn's blood would have left a trace," She had snapped. Ron cringed away when the busy dark haired blond had gotten to close in her rage, "There's no way he would have been able to get it all out. And his teeth aren't sharp enough to tear into flesh and be able to tear it apart like Harry said the guy did. Quirrel does!"
So, Quirrel had become their prime suspect, with Snape an even weaker then before secound.
After this quiet arguement(which was amazing-When Ron and Hermione argued, it got very loud, very fast), Harry had remarked quietly to Neville thaat the two were very much like an old married couple. Neville had laughed in a equally quiet tone and mused that they had to have been married in a past life. "Or something," He had added as an after thought.
That day had probably been the most care-free of their next few weeks, as when they approached exams, the four were stressed out more then even the fifth and seventh years, both of who had their OWLs and NEWTs exams each. On the top of the exams and worry for the stone, Neville and Hermione had set out to be masters in their respective fonic arte paths.
Despite Neville's initial worry about the attack artes, he decided it might be useful one day to know them. Likewise, Hermione thought her healing and defense artes would be very useful in the future, whether it be the near of far future.
Ron was nervous about the whole thing, but, seeing as the two were his best friends, he decided to keep an eye out whenever the two got into their debates on which type of artes were better. Harry had long sice decided to keep his nose out of these arguements, because the last time he had gotten invovled, he'd nearly been cursed by Hermione.
Which was a bit ironic, as she was the group's healer.
On the day after their exams ended, Harry remembered something. Something that Hagrid had mentioned during one of their many visits to him when Norbert had been around. Got him off a man in the `Og's `Ead...Had his cloak on the entire time...interested in Fluffy...
"Oh, Damn." His three friends turned to him, "What's wrong, Harry?" "Don't tell me you're going to pull a Hermione on us, mate." Ron recieved a light smack, but the dark red haired first year shook his head, "No, I just realized something. We need to see Hagrid."
Harry hadn't gone to see Hagrid seen the disaster in the Forest, as both were either traumatized or guilty of the event that took place. The other three, because of this, were surprised by Harry's sudden desire to see the large man. "Why...?"
"I'll tell you later!"
The quartet(with the other three lagging behind) arrived to the hut to see Hagrid hummig quietly while he carved out a whistle. When he saw the group in front of him, he nearly beamed, until he say the worried look on Harry's face, "Hagrid-When you got Norbert...The man you got him from...You said he was interested in Fluffy."
The large man nodded slowly, "Well, he asked me lots of things, like how hard he was ta take care of. I told him he wasn` too much trouble, especially when you can just lull him to sleep with a bit a` music-Oh, no." The four's eyes went wide. Oh, crap.
They rushed off before Hagrid could take back what he had said. "Crap, crap! If that was Quirrel or Snape, then-!" "One of them can get through to the main tests to the stone...And both of them can-" "found out what the other teachers did to guard it!" Neville looked to them, "Is Dumbledore here?"
The group froze. They all knew that if Dumbledore was here, then whoever it was wouldn't make a move for the stone, as it was too much of a risk...But if he was gone...
"We need to find McGonagall!"
To their luck, they found here carrying several books in the Entrance hall. She seemed surprised to see the quartet, "What are you four doing inside during such a nice day?" "W-well, Professor," Hermione panted, "We're were wondering if Professor Dumbeldore was busy with anything, and if he wasn't, if he could please see us?"
The Professor raised an eyebrow, "He is indeed busy. The Headmaster went out to the ministry earlier today. Why?" "O-oh...Uh, It wasn't that important, We're sorry for bothering you, Professor." McGonagall watched them go with a faint frown; What were they up to now?
"Damn!," Harry cursed, "If Dumbledore is gone-" "Then, the guy who wants to steal the stone has free reign for the next 24 hours, at least!" Neville finished, looking grim. "He'll go after it tonight," Ron murmured, "So we need to go stop him!" Hermione said, her eyes blazing with determination.
The four looked at each other and nodded; For now, they'd act like nothing was wrong, and then, tonight, they'd go after whoever was after the stone.
After this decision, the rest of the day was uneventful. They had a run in with Snape, who seemed upset about something. This, to Ron, was suspicious. Why would he be upset? And did it have something to do with the stone? Neville mused that if it did, he'd most likely be upset about the fact that Dumbledore was gone...Which pretty much blew their theory about him out of the water.
Sadly, they couldn't be sure, and so avoided the man for the rest of the day. Once it was time for bed, most people were still up, as for the last celebrations for end of exams. All the fifth and seventh years still seemed a little tense, but also looked a lot better, as most of the stress from the OWLs and NEWTs were gone.
Occasionally, they'd get odd looks, as most of the first and second years had gone to bed already. Thankfully, none came to question them, but Fred and George had asked if they wanted to celebrate with them. Their answer was a firm 'No but maybe next time' which cheered the twins up. After all, the four were known as the Trouble Four. Though, how they got such a cheesy name, Harry and the other would ever know.
For awhile, people celebrated some more, until, finally, as the last embers in the fire disappeared, so did the older students. The quartet were relieved-It meant they could get a move on. Neville gave his toad, Trevor, a final frown as it bounced off towards the dormatory staircase.
Harry pulled out his invisiblity cloak, which had mysteriously reappeared a week before. The four were going to go as far as they could with it, and then take Fluffy out. After that, it was going to be all guess work. Even so, their two spell-geniuses, Hermione and Neville, ended up learning as many spells as they could do, for a 'just in case' measure.
The way to Fluffy was shockingly unguarded. They only came across Peeves, who Harry got rid of with an amazing impression of the Bloody Baron. "Though," Neville muttered, "I've never actually heard him speak."
Once they got to the door, Hermione once more unlocked the door with ease. The four snuck closer to the three headed dog, look at the still-playing harp in the corner of the room. "Now, I know it can't be Snape," Ron snorted. "Why is that?" "He'd look like such a prat playing one of those." The other three snorted quietly and Harry pulled out his whistle.
"Let's do this."
Getting the trap door open was easy once you had the dog asleep. Well, except for the whole paw on it. Whatever the case was, Harry ended up being the first to go in. Ron and Neville followed, with Hermione going last. The latter two soon realized what the four had landed in, and had gotten out very quickly.
"Ron, Harry! Don't move, relax, and, most important of all, breathe." Ron snorted again, finding this advice idiotic while Neville was trying to remember the spell his uncle had used on the Devil's Snare in his grandmother's greenhouse. He clapped his hand sand then waved his wand, grinning widely. An Arc of blue-green flames shot out in a spiral and hit the plant, making it squeal. Within seconds, it had let Harry and Ron out.
The light red-head hurried out ahead of Harry, gasping, "That was way too close." The dark red-head rolled his eyes, "I told you it'd be dangerous." Ron snorted, "Won't stop me! Never, you're one of my best friends, Harry. I'd never, ever let you do such a dangerous thing on your own."
The next challenge was flying one. Hermione and Neville were both a little uncomfortable with the whole flying thing, but were able to suck it up, if only to catch the key they needed. Ron, pulling through, was able to identify what the key they needed looked like.
Harry was able to find it very quickly with his description and he got the other three into a formation that would make sure that it couldn't get away. After several minutes of chasing, they stuffed the already rumbled looking key into the door's lock and let it go, hurrying through to the next test.
"These tests aren't too hard." Ron mused, "Expecially if a bunch of first years can get through." Unfortunately, the others thought that this comment may have jinxed them. Mainly because the next test was perhaps the hardest of all; The Chess Set.
Ron took charge, telling the other three what to do, and saving them from many of their 'certian doom' situations. The white pieces gave them a shock when they took out of their black pieces, mainly because of the fierceness of the attack. "Well," Neville muttered, watching the piece fall, "This really brings things into prespective."
Soon enough, they had taken at least two thirds of the entire enemy's pieces. Right when they thought they'd win without injury, Ron said, in a very grim voice, "I have to be taken." The other three almost immediatly screamed a furious "NO!"
But before they could go any further, Ron had already moved, and The queen raised her sword. Harry closed his eyes before he heard the sharp 'THUNK' anda quieter thud. When he opened his eyes, Harry swore he saw blood on the queen's sword as she brushed the unmoving body of Ron off the board. He looked around and suddenly realized his spot-He had the perfect point to checkmate the king.
And so he did.
Almost right after the white king threw his crown to his feet, Hermione rushed forward to Ron. Harry, however, reached forward and grabbed her. "No, `Mione. We need to go on, as quick as possible. The sooner we stop Quirrel, the sooner we can make sure Ron's okay." Hermione whimpered and Neville muttered a quiet agreement.
The now three left the room quickly, entering the next room. They knew exactly what was in there, as the overpowering stench belonged to a mountian troll. It was knocked out cold, thankfully. "Glad we didn't have to fight that one." Neville muttered as they moved on.
The next room was one with seven small glasses on a table, with a paper lying in the center. As soon as they approached the table, flames sprung up at the entrance and exit of the chamber. Hermione closed her eyes, breathed in, and then grabbed the paper.
The riddle there was rather easy, at least for Neville and Hermione. With a few minutes the two had found out the potion bottle to go beyond the entrance and the one to leave through the exit. Unfortunately, the one to go beyond had barely a mouthful in it. Hermione closed her eyes once more. Neville stared. And Harry grabbed the bottle.
"I'm going alone...And you need to go and check on Ron, `Mione." The girl looked horrified, but also torn between two of her three best friends. Neville sighed, "I'll take her...Good luck, Harry." He suddenly seized her and forced her to drink the exiting potion, and the red-eyed first year took a quick swig himself before grabbing Hermione's wrist and dragging her out of the chamber.
Harry sucked in a breath. Here I go.
He drunk all the liquid in the bottle with a single swig, and turned to the firey door. It was time to find out if it Quirrel or Snape who had done so much against the school and eveyr student inside it...
The first year went through.
The dark red-head only had to go forward a few steps before spotting the figure thaat had plagued his dreams for the past months...
"So, it was you..."
Ick, sucky cliffhanger. Ah, well. You'll be getting the next chapter within the next few weeks...
Hey wait a second, this story is not even two months old yet, and I'm almost done? When I have yet to finish even part one for Darkest Intentions? WTF, Dreamer, WTF.
Ah, well. Hope you liked this chapter.
