Alright, I'm back guys. I told myself I would update this two weeks ago and it would be the last chapter. I failed, and this isn't the last chapter. I'm really sorry it took me this long to finally update, and I love every one of you who is still reading this. Again, I'm sorry I procrastinated for so long, but life decided to come around and smack me in the face. So, I'm telling myself to write this because it may help me pull myself out of this depression.

Thanks so much if you actually read all of that,

~Bella

Through the Trapdoor

Nico POV

Nico was coming back from catching up with Severus when he saw the trio trying their best not to look suspicious as they whispered hurriedly, walking quickly down the hallway. He angled his gait towards the oblivious group and quickly fell into step beside them. "So, what are you planning to do after hours tonight?" he asked slightly jokingly and slightly not.

Ron jumped about a foot in the air and Hermione answered, "I have no idea what you're talking about!" Her darting eyes and mostly all her body language was portraying a lie and Nico audibly sighed at her reaction.

"You know, if you want to keep something a secret don't be so obvious that you're trying to keep it secret. Besides, Hagrid and most of the other teachers have told me you've been poking around about the Philosopher's Stone. I'm curious about the stone and probably know more than you, so why don't you let me help?" Nico offered, realizing he only had a couple of weeks to finish his quest.

The trio exchanged a hesitant look. Harry spoke up after the silent conversation, "Sure, as long as you can swear not to tell anyone about this before we tell you about it."

"I swear on the river styx not to tell of whatever you are plotting," Nico said solemnly and thunder rumbled outside causing a few students to look outside and frown at the clear sky.

"Bloody hell, what did you do?! I swear that must have been dark magic," Ron accused as he too looked outside.

"Nope. Just an ancient swear that you can't break. Sorta like that unbreakable vow thing but less difficult."

"Okay, tonight we are going to retrieve the stone from the corridor. Snape's trying to steal it!" Hermione stated matter of factly, effectively changing the topic.

Nico stopped walking as he snorted before chuckling quietly. "You think my godfather is- That he's trying to-" was all Nico managed before he doubled over cracking up at how stupid they were being. He had to grudgingly admit his godfather gave off that evil vibe, but that was no reason to think if him as evil.

"What's so funny about that? He's obviously a dark wizard, so he must support you-know-who," Ron said this with so much conviction Nico didn't find the earlier thought so funny.

"Wow. Okay, I'm going to pretend that didn't make me want to kill you. Anyway, what's the plan?"

"Meet us at the third floor corridor as soon as your common room empties tonight. We'll see you there," Harry told the pale boy.

"Will do," Nico responded before turning to walk off like the conversation had never happened. That night after the common room was completely emptied Nico stood up to leave. He pulled the shadows to himself and traveled to the room completely oblivious to the wide eyes of a certain blond boy. Reaching the shadowy corridor he greeted Fluffy and sat down to wait with the middle head drooling all over his robes with its weight in his lap.

He didn't have to wait long as he felt the presence of Death and Harry. "Nice cloak," he commented as the three pulled off the silvery cloak. "Should we do this thing?"

The three jumped as they noticed Nico practically melting into the shadows. "Ya… Let's do this," Harry answered hesitantly. Fluffy fell asleep contently as Harry put the flute he had brought with him to his lips. Harry was awful at playing the flute and Nico jumped through the trapdoor before there could be anymore discussion just to end the awful noise. As he was sinking into the roots the other three jumped down.

Hermione noticed what was happening with the roots the second she touched down. Jumping away and staying out of reach of the roots she screamed at them to stop moving. The trio was obviously panicking and Nico was about to yell at them it was alright when Hermione 'saved' them with her obsessive studying. Not that they needed saved, but it was nice to know she cared and had some purpose.

As the roots shied away from the cold fire she'd made with a nifty spell the four were dropped unceremoniously to the ground. Hermione and Nico landed on their feet while Harry and Ron landed flat on their bums with pained grunts. They pushed themselves to their feet and rushed to the next door before Nico could get there first. Quickly casting the 'Alohomora' spell the trio dashed through the door unceremoniously. Nico followed a bit slower, waiting for one of them to learn what the next test was and possibly learn their lesson to look before running into a potentially dangerous room. That plan failed epically as he saw the next challenge.

The room was filled with beautiful glittering birds. Nico blinked and looked closer even as the trio seemed to forget about him and fly up into the air. As they snatched and grabbed Nico realized the glittering things were actually keys. He shrugged, as there were no broomsticks left –not that he minded- so he couldn't help. He approached the door and inspected the lock. It could have been easily broken, but there was probably some spell on it. Or wizards just shouldn't have magic black swords that can cut through anything and the lock could in fact be broken, but Nico waved that off thinking that he should let the three be stupid heroes.

He looked up as Harry pinned the key against the wall with a 'crunch' that made them all wince. "I got it!" Harry exclaimed even as Ron and Hermione landed and stood by the door.

"Really? No!" Nico answered sarcastically. Hermione shot him a glare that screamed, 'shut up'. Harry ran over and threw open the door violently. A huge troll was inside with a bump on its head and was lying out cold on the floor. The four covered their noses against the foul stench and snuck over to the other side of the room. The door on that side opened without any trouble this time.

On the other side was a sight that shocked even Nico. A giant chess board with what looked like piles of broken stone on either side dominated the room. Ron and Harry looked excited while Hermione looked tentative to say the least. Harry tried to step over to the door and was stopped by the chess pieces. Nico jumped slightly as the pieces moved, he was still getting used to the whole magic thing and its extent.

"We'll have to play our way across the board," Harry announced as though that definitely wasn't obvious. Biting back a response Nico turned to look at Ron who had taken charge and was giving them orders like he was born to play magic giant chess. As Nico stepped into the other open knight square he found himself developing a new respect for the scrawny redhead. Ron was a great chess player and found the best ways to manipulate the game, ways that even Nico couldn't see until the other team was pulverized.

At the end of the game, fresh white and black stone littered the edges of the board. As Ron realized his piece had to be sacrificed to win the game and Harry started arguing, Nico took charge. With a sigh he just shouted out the place for Ron to go so he was forced to move and the game could be won without stupid hero complexes interfering. Harry and Hermione glared daggers at him as Ron walked slowly across the squares, as though to his doom.

The queen hit Ron across the head before dragging his unconscious form off the board. "Ron!" Hermione screamed at the limp form and glared at Nico again. Harry walked forward and stood in front of the white king. "Checkmate," he said simply. Hermione ran to check on Ron as the white pieces moved to create a passage for them. She joined them and looked on the verge of tears. Nico thought about saying something, then deciding to pretend to not notice anything was a better reaction.

Before they could open the next door Nico realized with glee that he had complete control over the shadows again in this area and he could travel into the last room. "Hey, I'm going to go back out and make sure no one it on our tail," Nico told them, the lie rolling easily off his tongue. He felt guilty about leaving them, but they could handle whatever was in the next room.

"Oh, okay," Harry answered, not seeming too upset about Nico leaving after the chess game. They left Nico standing there as they stepped through the door. Nico focused on what he could tell was the last room and traveled there with little trouble on his part. He stepped out of the shadows clinging to the wall and saw none other than Quirell standing there staring at a large mirror.

Nico felt the familiar sick feeling in his stomach as he drew his sword and slowly approached the man staring into his reflection. Before Nico could get close enough to attack the purple robed man he whirled around and had his wand in hand. "My master told me one to collect souls would be coming, and like always he was right," Quirell stated and his spare hand drifted towards the turban on his head almost unconsciously.

Nico looked at the turban and realized that whatever the man was referring to as master lived on or in his head. Nico shuddered, he'd never get used to some of the strange things in this world. He started to back up, when he felt the presence of Harry at the door behind him. He turned and heard more then felt the curse shot at him during his moment of distraction. He was hit by the burst of magic and felt himself falling until his mind went blank.

Okay my pretties! I'm sorry I ended there and that this chapter is a little worse for wear, but think on the bright side! Next chapter is the last chapter and then I'll start the next book! I'm sorry this chapter is very poor, and I'll try to make the last chapter something worthy of you guys, my wonderful viewers.

I love you all,

~Bella