Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, it belongs to J.K. Rowling, I don't make money out of this, and all characters in this fanfic are of legal age.

Warnings: Slash, homosexuality, EWE, AU, ignores DH

A/N: Someone stop school alskdnlsdg for just a while ;;; :D;; Anyway, so sorry for the long delay again :( But here's the ~*ADVENTURE*~ I promised you and possibly more UST between our two boys. ;) /not a sadist Enjoy this chapter! :D Much thanks and love to my beta, Dreaded Fate!

Chapter 11
Third Floor Corridor

Before the war escalated, no one really knew where Pansy and Blaise's loyalties laid. Everyone knew that Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater though, and since Pansy and Blaise still hung out with him, they all assumed that they were rooting for the Dark Lord as well. Then Malfoy stopped going to school after a few months, and rumors spread that Draco Malfoy was actually a spy working for the Order and that Death Eaters were ordered to kill him on sight.

Pansy and Blaise had sat out the war, only having to fight when the war reached Hogwarts.

Against the Death Eaters.

The morning after Voldemort died, Draco – cradling his bloodied arm where the Dark Mark had been just a few hours ago – had looked at the remains of Hogwarts and asked his friends why they fought against the Dark Lord.

Blaise had answered in a weary but firm voice. "We believe in blood-purity, Draco. Not murder."

"He said they were called safety rooms," Draco said, recalling the conversation he and Harry had the other day. "The Patching Team's been installing them all over Hogwarts. Still on the trial stage though, so students have been falling through them," he continued, rolling his eyes. "Reckless."

"Potter often goes off on his own, doesn't he?" Pansy asked, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe he just went to the loo?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, we –"

"It's because of the map you were holding earlier, isn't it?" Blaise cut in, looking at Ron who simply shrugged.

The Marauders' Map was now safely tucked in Ron's pocket, after he had tapped it with his wand and whispered a 'mischief managed' when everyone else had turned to go back inside the infirmary.

"We already told you, it's not ours to tell."

"The main thing is," Hermione intercepted quickly. "Harry's not there. It's either he's not in Hogwarts – which is very unlikely – or he's in a part of Hogwarts that's not shown on the map."

"That's why Weasley was going on about the Chamber of Secrets earlier. It's not in the map, is it?" Draco said quietly, looking straight at Ron with a thoughtful expression. He was starting to realize the seriousness of the whole situation, and his heart was thumping against his ribcage way too loudly for his liking. Beside him, Pansy glanced at him surreptitiously as he continued talking. "And the third floor corridor."

Draco knew about the event during their first year, which students had secretly dubbed as the Golden Trio and the Third Floor Corridor, as did everyone else but just like everyone else, he had no idea about what had really transpired in there that had Weasley and Granger wounded and Potter unconscious in the Hospital Wing.

("Draco, you're not worried about Potter, are you?" 11-year-old Pansy Parkinson asked, eyes narrowed as 11-year-old Draco Malfoy immediately whipped around from his pacing to sneer at her.

"Of course not! Are you daft?"

Pansy sniffed, sulking because she had wanted to spend time with Draco tonight but not likethis,with the boy trying to kill himself by pacing all over the common room, ranting about Potter this and Potter that. Why did Potter have to go and hospitalize himself anyway? And tonight, of all nights!

"You've done nothing but talk about him ever since we came here!" Pansy knew she was whining, but she even made sure that that Greengrass girl wasn't going to disturb them tonight, too.

Draco turned red at that, and Pansy would have found it cute, had he not been glaring at her.)

Just then, the door opened suddenly with a loud bang and something slammed into Ron, knocking him to the floor. Draco almost whipped out his wand in shock, before he realized that the 'something' was actually a 'someone'.

Someone who was currently bawling her eyes out and soiling Weasley's sweater.

Someone who was very Hufflepuff.

Unfortunately, Draco had no idea who she was.

"P-Penny," Ron wheezed.

Ah. Well, at least Draco now knew her name.

Three minutes and two glasses of water later, the girl could finally breathe properly somewhat. Her face was still as red as the root of a young mandrake, but she could at least already give them yes or no answers.

"Do you need Madame Pomfrey?" Granger.

The girl shook her head no.

"Oh, well, then –is there something you need?"

The girl nodded her head yes but otherwise remained silent, save for the occasional hiccups.

Draco resisted the urge to groan. They had no time for guessing games! Potter was somewhere in this blasted castle probably injured and Draco really, really wanted to find him, preferably right now–

Just then, Penny let out a great sob. "Harry – I know where—" and the two glasses of water meant to calm her down served futile as the girl fell into hysterics once again, crying and sniffling against Hermione's shirt.

Draco's head immediately snapped up at that. "Where's Harry?" he asked her, probably more forcefully than he should have.

"I—I don't know—" Penny wailed, wiping her nose on her sleeve.

(Pansy very discreetly put some distance between her and the girl, just in case she decided to soil Pansy's robes next.)

"What do you mean you don't know? You just said –" Ron started, but shut himself up at Hermione's look.

"Penny," Hermione started gently, making the girl face her, mainly so that Penny wouldn't have to look at Ron and Draco's agitated faces. She took Penny's hands in hers, squeezing it to provide some comfort. "Do you know where Harry is?"

Penny hiccupped. "No, b-but I know – Harry fell –"

And the eighth years all shared greatly alarmed expressions.

Draco stared fixatedly on the light around Penny that shone a bright gold.

It took all of Hermione's willpower to keep her voice even and reassuring, despite being 'reassured' was the last thing she was right now.

"Can you show us where?"

As Penny led them out of the Hospital Wing, Draco became extra conscious towards the light surrounding her. He didn't want to be so suspicious but old habits die hard, and he told himself to be ready if the light around Penny suddenly turned black. There was a chance that this was just some sort of elaborate plot to trap them.

Ron and Hermione shared one meaningful look as Penny Coulby took all of them straight to the third floor. They half-expected her to go straight to the third floor corridor. As soon as she had stepped down the last step of the staircase though, she suddenly stopped and looked back at them, nervous and still on the verge of tears.

"Here," she said, sniffling. "He just – fell –"

"Thanks, Penny," Hermione said quickly, before Penny started bawling again. They all spread out, eyes on the floor, nervously tapping it in intervals with their foot.

"Well, this is embarrassing," Ron muttered to himself. He felt like he was doing some sort of chicken dance.

Draco shared the same sentiment. He went back to the Hufflepuff third-year and tried desperately to remember her name. "Penny," he finally said, with great difficulty because he could not remember her last name and it felt weird calling her by her first.

Nevertheless, Penny's cheeks colored a rosy hue, because Draco Malfoy was talking to her. Draco Malfoy!

"How did Harry fall?" Draco asked. "He just – fell? The floor opened up and swallowed him whole?"

Penny sobered. Now was not the time for foolishness, she reminded herself firmly. Not when Draco was so very worried at what might have happened to his lover! Oh, she knew that despite Draco ignoring Harry earlier during breakfast, he really did love him! So very much!

She nodded vigorously. "You see, I was walking towards the Great Hall, when I saw Harry come out. He was in a hurry, and I, well –" At this, she blushed prettily. "I thought that he was crying."

All eyebrows rose. Ron blinked. "Crying," he said dryly.

Penny sniffed. "Well, Draco was ignoring him!" she cried, glaring at the blond. Draco looked undignified. "So I thought – that Harry couldn't take it anymore, and I wanted to comfort him…"

Oh, Pansy was starting to like this girl. She was a bit annoying, but if she could guilt-trip Draco like that, then Pansy was going to have to start befriending Hufflepuffs more. Think of the possibilities!

"So you followed him?" Hermione asked calmly to get the story going. Pansy noticed her lips twitching upwards though and grinned.

Behind the girls, Ron and Blaise were coughing in their hands, shoulders shaking with restrained mirth.

Penny, bless her, nodded smartly at Hermione. She was a girl with a mission! "I did, and as soon as he reached, well, maybe right about there –" She pointed to the middle of the floor but did not dare go near it. "That tile suddenly disappeared!"

"I see," Draco said and walked right over to it, ignoring the snickers that came from Ron and Blaise, and Hermione and Pansy's grins. Wankers, the lot of them.

Penny's eyes watered. "Oh, you must be so worried, Draco!"

Well, that did it. Ron lost all sense of social grace and didn't even bother to stifle his snickers.

Draco took a deep breath. "I am, very much," he said quietly, as earnestly and as emotionally as he could.

Penny gave a great sob and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. While she was turned away, Draco discarded the solemn look and smirked triumphantly at Ron, who was already red at trying not to laugh out loud.

It wasn't a lie, really. Draco really was worried but best let the Gryffindors think that he was just joking. He didn't like the searching stare that Granger was giving him though. He also did not like Pansy and Blaise's knowing smirks at his public declaration of affection towards Potter. (Even though it was meant to be a joke…)

"I'm sure he's fine!" Penny said, smiling at Draco with her bright, watery blue eyes. "You'll see!"

And Draco found it ironic how a Hufflepuff was comforting him about Potter, and how he – Merlin forbid – suddenly and actually felt reassured somewhat.

"I know," he said, trying to look and sound nonchalant as he shrugged. "He's Harry Potter, after all and –"

And the tile underneath him suddenly disappeared and he realized stupidly half a second later that he was falling, through the darkness with the wind whipping at his skin and his heart feeling like it was suddenly up his throat. Above him, he heard voices calling his name and a distant "Penny, tell Professor Snape!" that was probably Granger and then more shouts that echoed in the darkness.

He wasn't falling through air though, he realized even as his heart was beating frantically against his chest. Blood was rushing in his ears, and he told himself to be calm, calm down, damnit. He could still hear Ron's lingering yell that consisted mainly of the letter A, and Pansy's string of curses. They had probably jumped in after him.

It was an awfully long fall. He had time to make out that the surface underneath him was smooth and cold, probably metal. He wasn't falling; he was sliding.

He shut his eyes tight, fearing the moment when he'd reach the end of this slide and really start to fall.

That was it – oh, God, there was light and shite, he really was going to fall down somewhere –

Frantically, he grabbed his wand from his pocket and barely managed a quick Cushioning Charm before the slide ended abruptly and he fell – straight towards a cobbled floor –

…which didn't really hurt as much as he was expecting it to.

Immediately, he let out a deep, shaky breath.

No broken bones. Still alive. Still breathing.

Thank Merlin for Cushioning Charms.

Harry supposed Ron and Hermione were probably worried sick over him now, but he also supposed that they probably wouldn't think of finding him… here… wherever this was. Probably under the third floor corridor. After looking around (mainly to make sure that the Mirror of Erised was nowhere to be seen. What? He was curious.), he had decided to suck it up and save himself because no one was going to find him there.

(Half of him hoped that no one would. If there was anyone who would find him there, it would probably be the one who first put him in this fucking predicament. Harry wasn't really in the mood to fight a life-or-death battle right now.)

Draco probably wouldn't even notice.

Not that Harry expected him to.

Or wanted him to.

Actually, Harry didn't even know why he was thinking about Draco. It's not like Draco had any obligations to worry about him after all. Not that Ron and Hermione do, but that's what friends do, and okay, so Draco was his friend but they weren't that close, maybe, especially now since Draco was ignoring him and Harry had no idea just what it is that he did and – well –

Ouch, there goes his ankle. Okay, so no sudden flailing about due to unwelcome and farfetched thoughts. Check.

He did not know how long he'd been there since he did spend a considerable amount of time lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling and feeling very sorry for himself. He also spent a few minutes remembering past events which included Quirrell's turban and Voldemort's almost shapeless face. It was unavoidable, really.

Still, everything was done and over with now.

Time to move on.

Preferably upwards, although he hoped that Fluffy was still in the Forbidden Forest and very far away.

He didn't really expect his escape would be an easy one, swollen ankle and all the different traps that the professors gave to protect the Philosopher's Stone and all.

He just wished someone would've warned him of the ceiling opening up and dumping Ron Weasley on him.

"Harry! Mate! I'm so glad to see you!" The Weasel had exclaimed, too consumed with his excitement to remember to stand up from his position of sitting on Harry's back.

"Nice to see you too, Ron," Harry wheezed against the cold marble floor, the air having been knocked out of him by the impact. Draco felt sorry for him, being subjected to Ron's weight like that.

Still, first things first. He quickly scanned Harry up and down, looking for any injuries other than the obvious back problem. No glaring injuries. Good. He let out a collective sigh of relief.

All around, Hermione, Pansy and Blaise pick themselves up primly, seemingly unhurt and undamaged. Harry thought it terribly unfair how easily they cast Cushioning Charms that weren't half-assed in that pressured situation.

"As far as I recall, we did not look for Harry to choke him to his demise," Draco said, before pausing for effect. "Or did we?"

Apparently, Harry had just become aware of his presence if the joyful surprise on his face and voice was anything to go by. "Draco!" he said when he could, which was when Ron had finally gotten off him and given him space to breathe.

Draco smiled wryly. "Harry," he said smoothly, trying to rein in the emotions and the worry that had threatened to consume him just a few minutes ago.

It confused him when Harry slightly but visibly wilted.

"You alright?" Ron asked Harry, looking down at him and searching for injuries.

Harry shrugged. As he spoke, the light around him suddenly turned black. "I'm fine –"

"Episkey!"

Harry gasped sharply when his bones suddenly snapped into place and he fell forward, wheezing as he grasped at his knee, not daring to touch his now fixed ankle. "Hermione!" he rasped out accusingly, eyes watering at the sudden pain.

Draco's eyes widened and he fought not to throw himself towards Potter in worry. Horrible, how he was acting like a Hufflepuff.

"Must've hurt," Blaise muttered to himself as he looked at Potter's hunched form on the ground with fascination.

"Better than anticipating it," Hermione said matter-of-factly, tapping her wand against her palm like a teacher.

Pansy looked like she was seeing Hermione at a new light, if the proud and gleeful smirk on her lips was anything to go by.

"How'd you know his knee was broken?" Ron asked confusedly.

"His ankle was, not his knee," Hermione replied off-handedly, now surveying the surroundings. "I did some spells on him while you guys were talking, and besides, Harry always breaks something."

Harry glared at her.

Draco did not know whether to be amused or alarmed that the light around Hermione stayed gold.

Ron shrugged and held out a hand to help him up. "She's right, mate."

Also gold.

Alright, so Draco was alarmed. It seemed that Harry did not know how to take care of himself and while Draco knew that, he didn't know that he was this hopeless.

"Speaking of always being right," Blaise commented idly, looking up at the hole in the ceiling from where they came from. He raised an eyebrow at Hermione. "You don't suppose that you know a spell that'll take us back up there?"

Hermione pursed her lips in thought.

"There's no need," Harry said, remembering his first year in Hogwarts. He let Ron haul him up and balance him, since he still couldn't put one of his feet down on the floor since his ankle was still swelling.

Draco's fingers itched to reach to him, if only to thwack his head for being stupid.

"There's a way to reach the third floor corridor," Harry finished with a heave.

Hermione looked at him strangely. "Harry," she said slowly. "Just where are we?"

It was Hermione's tone that gave Draco the idea that he should be very, verycurious.

Harry paused. Draco couldn't blame him. Obviously, Potter did not know whether to reveal the secret while Draco, Pansy and Blaise were in earshot. Draco could understand that. That didn't mean that it didn't sting a bit though.

"Do you guys remember the Philosopher's Stone?" Harry said suddenly.

Hermione and Ron nodded.

Pansy, bless her, cleared her throat loudly. "Should we cover our ears for this?"

Harry blinked at her, confused, then realization dawned and he quickly shook his head, surprised. "Oh, no, no. It's alright. I didn't mean it like that."

It was Draco's turn to be confused when the light around Harry didn't change into black.

"Did you guys hear anything about it during our first year? You know, when I was suddenly sent into the infirmary at around the end of the year?" Harry asked politely.

Blaise shook his head. "We knew that Quirrell was a nut. Well, we've always known, but it just kind of got confirmed. Didn't hear anything about a stone."

Harry nodded, and then paused again. His eyebrows furrowed. Finally, he turned to Ron and Hermione, pleading for help. "I've no idea how to start."

Ron immediately took over. "Do you know what was under Quirrell's turban?" he asked, resisting the urge to grin. It wasn't funny, he knew, but everyone had their own theories about what was really under Quirrell's infamous headdress that Ron felt compelled to provide the world The Truth.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Pansy shook her head. "We've always assumed that he had hair frizzier than Granger's."

Glaring, Hermione exclaimed, "Hey!"

Pansy shrugged. "Sorry, but we were first years," she said, not sounding apologetic at all.

Hermione's glare turned sullen.

"Actually," Ron said loudly, wanting to go back to his own personal joke and resolving to comfort his girlfriend later. "Quirrell had Voldemort under his turban."

Draco flinched slightly at the name.

Harry scrunched his nose up at the way it was said. That was like saying Quirrell had Voldemort down his pants.

Blaise looked at Ron funny. "Really," he said dryly.

"He's telling the truth, Blaise," Draco cut in, speaking for the first time in a long while. He could understand Blaise's disbelief though. If Draco couldn't currently see the gold light sparkling around Ron, then he would've snorted and muttered something like 'yeah, and Harry Potter's chained to my bed waiting to be shagged.'

Hm, that was guaranteed to make Potter blush. He should save that sentence for later use.

Harry looked at Draco thoughtfully, which made the latter raise an eyebrow in confusion. He seemed to be confused a lot today. Did not bode well for his image. Finally, Harry looked away. "Voldemort was after the Philosopher's Stone," he continued.

"Nicolas Flamel's stone," Draco said suddenly, remembering the history books he was forced to read as a child when he would rather be flying a broomstick. "Capable of turning metal into gold and…" He blanched. "Producing the Elixir of Life, which can make the drinker… immortal."

Blaise had turned pale as well, thinking of the possibilities had Voldemort gotten the stone. "I thought that was just a myth," he muttered. "I mean, I knew it must've existed but –"

"Not anymore," Hermione cut in, voice soft. "Dumbledore destroyed it during that year."

"All this talk about stones are well and interesting and all," Pansy said loudly. Not unexpectedly, the light around her flashed black. "But why are we talking about it again?"

"That year, the Stone was transferred here in Hogwarts to be hidden," Harry continued slowly, unsure of how to explain. "We had to get to it before Quirrell did. It was hidden here, in this room to be exact," he murmured, remembering the Mirror of Erised.

Now realizing where they were, Hermione took over the story for him. "You guys remember that the third floor corridor was forbidden for students then. That was because there was a door there that led to a series of traps meant to protect the stone. Those series of traps ends with this room. What Harry's saying is that we can go backwards this time, from this room to the third floor corridor."

"Series of traps," Pansy repeated, her voice going higher.

Hermione quickly realized her mistake. "But with the Stone gone, the traps shouldn't be working anymore." The light around her turned black.

Draco frowned. That meant that Granger was lying… or wasn't telling the whole truth. Or, perhaps, she didn't know what the truth was. "Shouldn't?"

Hermione looked at him, frowning as well. Draco knew that it did not escape her that he could tell if she was lying. "Most of it," she said. "Besides, we've already been through it once, when we were eleven. It's not too hard," she said, not boasting.

Alright, maybe a bit.

She looked at Draco inquisitively. "In fact, you'd probably get through them in a snap," she murmured thoughtfully, going through the traps in her head.

Draco did not know what to reply, since the light around her glowed a brilliant gold.

Harry agreed with Hermione, who turned to him. "Fluffy's in the Forbidden Forest and the troll should be gone by now," she told him.

Ron shrugged. "So? What are we waiting for?"

"Trolls," Pansy muttered to Blaise, turning pale and voice going squeaky. "Merlin's balls, Blaise. Trolls."

Blaise patted her shoulder sympathetically.

Harry let go of Ron's shoulder and tried to put his foot with the swollen ankle on the ground.

"Alright there, mate?" Ron asked, looking at him carefully.

Harry shrugged. "Alright."

Ron nodded, satisfied. "Well, lead the way."

Harry put one foot forward, trying very hard not to wince. He could walk, yes, but that didn't mean that it didn't ache anymore. He knew that it would go away soon though.

"Oh, for Merlin's bloody sake –" Draco let out suddenly and exasperatedly, making everyone else jump. He stomped over to Harry, who looked at him in surprise and a bit of alarm at how forcefully and quickly he was nearing.

Not Looking at Harry, Draco took the other's arm and heaved it over his shoulders. Then he placed his own arm around Harry's waist.

"Draco –" Harry started, face a bit red.

Hermione had turned red as well, whereas Ron had turned green.

"You are not alright, Potter," Draco said, rolling his eyes. "Believe me, I know." He narrowed his eyes at Harry, whose light shone gold but was black just a few seconds ago. "If you want that ankle of yours to heal then I advise you not to put unnecessary pressure on it. Honestly." He huffed, cheeks pink as he Not Looked at Harry again, whose face had seemingly overcome its surprise and confusion and had broken out into a warm smile.

"Right," Harry said, letting himself lean on the other boy.

Draco did not tighten his fingers around Harry's waist. He did not.

Alright, so he did. But that was just so that he could hold Harry up more steadily.

And Harry really was the perfect height, shorter than him but not that short so they easily moved forward and out of that room.

Hufflepuff, Pansy mouthed to him with a smirk when no one was looking.

Draco ignored her.

The next room was a dark chamber, built by stone blocks that looked like they were older than Flamel. The room was cold and dreary, and Pansy actually sneezed. The only thing that the room contained was a table in the middle with seven empty flasks.

"Each trap was made by a teacher. This was Professor Snape's," Hermione explained, even though no one asked.

Draco, with Harry still leaning on him, walked to the table where a piece of paper lay.

"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 for evermore,
To help you in your 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 would move onwards neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds 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."

Draco blinked. He sighed dramatically. "I'm going to have to talk with Severus after this."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"He needs to make harder riddles if he's going to prevent Dark Lords from achieving immortality," he muttered, looking at the paper as if it did something horrible to him.

Harry grinned at him.

Ron neared them, took the paper and read it.

After a while, he made a noise of disgruntled confusion. "I don't understand a thing."

Hermione patted his shoulder comfortingly, took his arm and pulled him towards the next room.

"Take deep breaths, everyone," she said, too cheerfully. "You won't be breathing for the next twenty seconds or so."

The troll was indeed gone.

Unfortunately, the room still smelled like troll gas, as it did seven years ago.

They quickly passed through it, not daring to talk and risk opening their mouths.

When they reached the next room, the first thing they did was breathe.

"You'd think they'd have cleaned it up by now," Harry gasped out, head resting heavily on Draco's shoulder.

"I think they're saving these traps for future use," Hermione replied, still breathless. "You know. When they need to hide something again."

"If ever we need to go back down here in the future," Ron muttered from his collapsed position on the floor. "You can just leave me here again with the chess pieces and I'll wait for you."

Confused with that statement, Draco looked up –

And his eyes widened.

There, in front of him, was a gigantic chessboard with chess pieces taller and bigger than them. They were made of stone and looked very intimidating but also very –

"Wicked," he breathed out, eyes bright and a wide grin on his face.

Ron grinned. "Yeah, that's what I thought too."

Hermione and Pansy both rolled their eyes.

Harry looked at them, amused. "Never expected I'd see you two agree on something," he said, looking at Draco mainly because he couldn't not look at him. It was the first time he'd seen Draco so childishly happy like that… like he was, when he first got his own broomstick.

It was… nice.

And contagious.

Hermione walked towards the chessboard, eyebrows furrowed. "If I'm right, the magic should already be gone by now – Oh!"

The chess pieces moved suddenly, their actions making sounds of stone grinding against stone that echoed in the room. Pawns and knights brought out their swords, bishops their scepters and rooks their shields. Even the King and Queen brandished their swords, blatantly denying them entry.

"Bloody awesome," Draco murmured, eyes still wide.

"Wanker beats me in every game," Blaise muttered to Harry, who looked at him sympathetically.

"Trust me, I know the feeling," he said, ignoring the smug smirk that Ron sent in his direction.

"Alright," Hermione said nervously, remembering the last time they played this gigantic game. "Apparently, they really are saving these traps for later use."

Pansy frowned. "Feels like a graveyard."

"Right," Ron said, rubbing his hands together. Despite having been knocked out – literally – by the white Queen last time, he wasn't one to refuse a chess game. A giant one, at that. After all, it's not like this kind of thing comes around every day. "So who's playing?"

"I think all of us have to," Hermione muttered, lips thinning. She looked grim. "Increases the chance of someone getting hurt," she said unhappily.

Pansy blinked, suddenly going stiff. "Hurt?" she asked meekly. "I don't like what you're saying, Granger. I have low tolerance for pain."

Harry was also unhappy with this set-up. More players meant more sacrifices.

Then, he perked up suddenly, realizing something. "Cushioning Charms, 'Mione!" he exclaimed, grinning. "We know how to cast them now."

Hermione didn't find his revelation assuring though. She shook her head. "Professor McGonagall probably thought of that. The magic inside the board will probably neutralize whatever spell we cast."

Harry deflated.

No turning back then.

"Malfoy and I will be Knights," Ron announced.

Pansy turned to him sharply. Her eyebrows furrowed. "What? Why?"

Ron shrugged. "Well, Hermione doesn't know how to play –" Hermione glared at him sullenly. "— and Harry sucks at it –" Harry glowered. "— and I don't think you know how to play –" Pansy shrugged at that. It was true. "— and Malfoy kicks Zabini's arse."

Blaise huffed.

"And as much as I hate to admit it," Ron continued, muttering. "Malfoy's a good player."

Draco smirked, more so when the light around Ron flickered black but in the end burned a bright gold. "Just good, Weasley?" he asked smoothly.

Harry elbowed him.

"Just a warning," Hermione piped up loudly before Ron could retort. "This isn't your normal Wizard's chess. Well, it is, but that's the bad part about it. It gets rather… violent."

All Slytherins' eyes widened as the implication of it dawned on them. Pansy paled, and moaned pitifully. "I told you I have a low tolerance for pain!"

"Parkinson, you be the king then," Ron said.

Pansy turned to him, horrified. "What, and have all the black pieces aim for my neck?"

"You're the king, Pansy," Draco told her dryly. He raised an eyebrow. "You don't think that I'm actually going to lose,do you?"

Pansy shut up grudgingly. "Git," she muttered. Draco was the best in Wizard's chess and he knew it.

"Harry, Zabini. Bishops alright with you?" Ron asked.

Both boys looked at each other and then shrugged. The white bishops stepped off the board and Blaise stepped up to take the Queen's bishop's place.

"Can you stand?" Draco asked, too gently for his liking.

Harry nodded, and – after only a small hesitation – extracted himself from Draco's side. "I'm fine," he said reassuringly, grinning a bit as he took the place of the King's bishop.

Draco frowned and looked away from how the light around Harry turned black.

Without waiting for Ron, Hermione stepped forward and took the Queen's place.

Ron's lips thinned. "Hermione, no. You'll get –"

Hermione smiled at him, not worried. "Then you'll just have to be careful, won't you?"

Ron snapped his mouth shut. He didn't look happy, but let it go anyway.

He let out a big breath. "Let's do this," he said and then mounted a horse.

A/N: Just in case anyone's still wondering, I'm using the version of Giant Wizard's Chess from the movie, not from the book :D Mainly because it's more dramatic and stuff. /sadist Also, I feel kind of accomplished somewhat. It's like my dream to write an HPDM fic where they go back to the chambers of the Philosopher's Stone, so *_* Do you guys know other fics where Harry and Draco encounter the chambers again? :D;; I've been looking for ages alknlskdg

And I do hope that no one plays chess professionally here :D;; Feel free to point out my mistakes during the game XD;

Anyway, the ~*ADVENTURE*~ continues in the next chapter :D Hopefully with more discussion of ~*FEELINGS*~ too. Thank you again for the reviews! :) You're all so kind! Please review this chapter and tell me what you think! Comments and concrit are very much appreciated! :)