Chapter 12
The second part of Harry's first year went by in slow motion it seemed like. The war was not going anywhere, other than the rampant reports of the Greengrass murder, it was quiet. It stayed that way until mid June when Harry and his friends were finishing up with their exams. Even Ronald Weasley seemed to be staying out of Harry's way, even though he occasionally got mouthy, it wasn't towards anyone in particular, it was just a Weasley being an idiot. Typical. Quirrel was the unusual thing, he had been keeping his head down so much it was starting to run the rumor mill at Hogwarts. Some said he was turning into a vampire after his attack over the previous summer, but Harry thought the Dark Arts was beginning to conquer not just his soul, but his heart.
The only notable event had been Valentines day, where Harry had received far to many compliments and carnations from secret admirers and not so secret admirers. There was also the Slytherin Hufflepuff game where they managed to pound them down by more than three hundred points.
With school letting out in just five days, and three days remaining till the final Quittditch game Harry was having a problem that many around the country were, finding his father a good gift for fathers day. It seemed like something so trivial, but it was important to Harry that he showed his father his appreciation on this day. In the past he had bought him something what he thought would have sentimental value to the gift, but now Harry felt like he had to up the ante.
Harry was sitting in the empty library with all his friends doing their revisions for exams which would end the next day. Amongst them was Hermione, Mandy, Daphne, Tracy, Blaise, Draco, and Theodore. Things were going well until Harry felt his scar prickle, something he only felt when something really dark was going on around him. It wasn't painful, it was just counter intuitive reaction because of the amount of dark magic that remained in his scar. Not just from the Horcrux, but the killing curse as well.
Harry's eyes shot up. No one seemed to notice the feeling, which should've been an obvious assumption, but Harry could feel something was very wrong. As if on cue a young lady came shooting into the room shouting, "Where is Harry?"
Everyone knew that if Susan Bones was looking for a Harry then it had to be Harry Riddle. Harry stood up and ran over to Susan regardless of Madame Pince who was shushing them. Susan grappled him into a hug sobbing, "The professors are dead."
Harry felt his heart drop and he immediately pushed the girl gently away from him, "Which professors?"
Susan shook her head crying, but now everyone in the library had gone silent, she shook her head tears streaming down her face, "Rookwood...Snape...Harry Regulus...I'm so sorry."
Harry immediately spun around shooting a stunner at Madame Pince with his wand. His friends all stood up staring at Harry, Hermione however was the first to speak, "Harry you attacked a teacher!"
"I had to do it Hermione, she can't know that Susan told me. I am going to clear her mind of the previous five minutes, and when were done talking I will wake her up. Please everyone just focus, we may not have much time. This could be life or death here."
That seemed to silence Hermione, but then he turned his attention back to Susan who was sobbing. He held her chin up, "Do you know what Legillmency is?"
She nodded her head quickly and Harry sighed in relief, "Okay now I need you to focus on the memory of seeing them, anything could help. I swear to you Susan I won't look any further. I don't know if you know Occulmency, but because of your Aunt's position I am going to assume you do?"
With acceptance she nodded her head, "I understand what your asking, I trust you Harry, just do it quickly."
Harry nodded and they stared into each others eyes. Harry wouldn't realize that he forgot to keep pretenses when he casted his wandless legillmency into her eyes. The memory came in front of him clear. They were in the defense room, drinks were strolled out across the tables, but there wasn't much sign of a struggle. Harry studied the body of Regulus Black and Severus Snape, but for some reason neither looked quite dead. Snape actually only looked pale. Neither were breathing, but they weren't dead. It then came to Harry like a bolt of lightning and he backed out of Susan's mind. He brought her in for a tight hug saying, "The professors aren't dead, but they have been poisoned with draught of living death. We won't be able to get them in time, thank you Susan, you have given us a chance."
Before Harry could do more Susan death gripped his arm, "Harry who did this? What are you going to do?"
Harry looked his red headed friend in the eye saying, "Can I trust you Susan?"
She gawked at him in surprise, "Of course you can trust me."
"Even with something potentially illegal, your my friend Susan, but I also know who your aunt is and what she means to you. I won't ask you to lie, but I will ask you to protect me by not telling the whole story."
She gasped, "Harry withholding evidence is a major crime."
"If everything works out then no one outside of this group will ever know what happens tonight. As long as I am not killed, in which case you can tell your Aunt everything, it will never be an investigation."
She seemed to resolve at that, "Harry if your going to do something reckless tell me what I can do to help...You can trust me."
Harry searched for the lie in her answer, but found none, "Quirrel did this, if he went out of his way to poison the three watchers of the stone then he must be making a play for it. I am going to stop him and put him down if I must. Quirrel can not get the stone, at all cost."
Susan cried out, "If three of the best fighting teachers could not stop him what chance do you have?"
"He didn't beat them magically Sue, he cheated, poisoned all of them at once. I imagine he probably casted a temporary confundus charm, but that is all he did. I have dueled with Quirrel before, he isn't that good. If I can get to the stone before him, then I can destroy it and end this."
Harry who actually had no intention of destroying the stone immediately spun around to Draco and Theodore, "Get in touch with my father, go to the floo system in Snapes office and make contact. Do you remember the password Draco?"
Draco shook his head, "I am going with you."
Harry stared dumbstruck at his friend, "Umm, no your not. Quirrel won't be firing stunners like I do during training. When he see's me he is going straight with the killing curse."
His friends all gasped and stared at Harry in awe, but Draco held his resolve, "How can I expect the future to follow me if all I ever did when you rose up was stand on your shoulders. I want to earn my place by your side Harry. Just like my father did for yours."
Harry recognized Draco's choice wording, but his friends except Theo were very confused. Harry sighed stepping forward putting a hand on his best friends shoulder, "There will be time to prove yourself Draco, but your to inexperienced to handle something like Quirrel."
Draco argued, "Harry please, at least let me help you get to Quirrel, I will let you duel him, but the obstacles, we don't know what they are, you could need my help. Two minds is better than one in any situation. Besides remember what your father said, you were not to engage in combat without backup or his permission. Since you don't have his permission nor have time to get it, let me be your backup."
Theodore threw in, "Draco is right, I will follow you down to the lower chambers Harry. At least let us help you get there, once we find Quirrel, we will leave him to you, maybe even provide you some cover fire. The objective is to destroy the stone, but I am guessing it won't be so easy."
Harry finally nodded his head knowing we are short on time, "Daphne, I need you to go to Professor Snapes Office. My fathers direct floo address is Gaunt Manor's Snake Pin. Immediately say my name and then tell him that Professor Quirrel is going for the stone. He will know what to do, or maybe have some instructions for me when I see you next. Daphne you are the only one I can trust with this, since my father has met you before."
Daphne nodded in acceptance, "Just be careful Riddle."
Hermione shrieked, "Harry James Riddle you are not going after that murdering lunatic!"
Harry smiled at his Gryffindor friend, "Sorry Hermione, but I don't have a choice. If he gets the stone and escapes it could change the tide of the war. Creating a third party that no one could defeat. We have to beat him to it. We don't have time to get help. Nor do we have time to raise the alarm. Everyone return to your common rooms, Blaise I know your memory charms are good, so please take care of Madame Pince for me. Mandy, go to Rodger Davies in Ravenclaw, tell him lightning has struck the dungeons. Tracy cover Daphne and help her watch for traps, we don't know how long Quirrel has been planning this so we have to be ready for anything."
Everyone accepted their roll and Harry barked out, "Lets move, we don't have much time."
Harry, Draco, and Theo immediately started sprinting down the hallway, the Library which was already on the third floor allowed the boys to reach their first destination quickly. Harry turned to face his friends, "I will go first, I am going to blast the trap door apart then we will all slide straight down. We are using blitz on this. Just like I taught you guys in training."
Harry reached into his back pocket and took out two rings that he had been holding for weeks now. He waved his wand over them and two mask appeared in his hands. Both mask were identical, they were silver, with a green snake going down each mask. It was a death eater mask, different from Harry's who has the dark mark, but he decided all his followers would wear one similar to it. While his generals would wear something distinguishable, "These are for you two. If we are going to fight side by side we will do so as all death eaters do, in masks."
The boys took the mask in awe and Harry smiled lightly at them, he also pulled his ring and transfigured it into his mask, "Lets go quickly boys, remember the second trap is the devil's snare and that is as far as we have ever gotten. Lets fight dirty."
The youngest Riddle waved his wand transfiguring all their clothes into death eater regalia, which made both boys hold their heads high with pride. Harry then swung the door open to the three headed dog to find it fast asleep. Harry grinned as he motioned for the two boys to step forward slowly. He then was only about a foot from the dog and the trap door, so he non verbally blasted the door to pieces awakening the dogs, but it was to late, Harry was already free falling down to the devils snare, with Draco and Theo right behind him. Harry took a deep breath as the Devils Snare began to tighten around him, he asked out, "Are you both ready, Arresto Momentum, when you start falling."
Both boys nodded through their mask and casted at the same time, "Lumos Solem!"
The light that was so bright it nearly burned, but everyone in Hogwarts first year knew that the devils snare hated Sunlight. When the boys began free falling Harry casted his spell nearly three feet from the ground. He then steadied himself and put himself on his feet. His friends also did so less gracefully, but no one was harmed. Harry counted it up in his mind, Dumbeldores most trusted followers had created traps, that meant that he could expect a potion of some type from Snape, a transfiguration golem or something from Mccgonagal, and a charms trap from Flitwick, and another creation from Quirrel.
As Harry strolled over towards the next door he heard constant flapping sounds, he groaned thinking it was birds, but when he pushed open the door they were actually keys. The boys walked into the room into the room observing the door that was clearly charmed on the other side, and the broomstick in the middle of the room. Harry grinned, "This will be cake, as soon as I take the broom we all three cast immobuli, I already see the key, so that will buy us enough time to get it and go. Are you guys ready?"
Theo and Draco nodded pointing their wands towards the winged like creatures. Harry stood above the broom also aiming his wand straight up. As soon as his body weight was on it three bangs sounded from the room. The green eyed prince looked up to see that it had worked, all the creatures were suspended in mid air. Harry flew at top speeds to grab the key then flew straight back down. He dropped the broom to the floor and ran to the other other door.
With his two best friends behind him they plowed into the next room. Harry expected a golem, but he should've known that was to violent for the ignorantly light minded fools. Instead a beautifully destroyed chess board was in front of him. Harry laughed, "It looks like Quirrel wasn't fancying a game of chess."
Theodore questioned, "If that was the case how come the devils snare was back in place when we got here?"
Harry shrugged, "Its probably got some enchanted regrowth potion. If I had to guess, but that isn't important we have to move with caution, I think there is only Quirrel's and Snapes traps left. That would only leave Dumbeldore's."
Draco shrugged, "This isn't to bad so far, I am just ready to cap Quirrel and call it a night."
Harry moved his hand in a forward motion to give the moving on command. The dark one felt a little disturbed, this was to easy, but then again, he didn't know how long Quirrel had to do each task, this chess board looked rather complex. He must've lost the match before he started blasting things to pieces, Harry pondered.
As they crossed through the next room a dead troll lied at their feet. Harry shook his head in disgust knowing that Quirrel was the little worm that let those trolls in on Halloween and continued his track forward.
Harry half expected something terrifying knowing that Snape was all that was left. But when they entered the final testing room, a table with seven vials were being held. Also on the table was a tablet, that Harry assumed was some type of Riddle.
Upon approaching it Harry was already annoyed with his potions master, he stared at the stone tablet in shock recognizing a riddle:
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, which ever 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 bidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
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 onward, 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.
The boys all groaned, Snape had tested them with this riddle before. Thankfully Harry immediately grabbed the right vial and drank one third of it. Draco and Theo then downed their portion and took steps towards the last door. Before they could cross fire jumped from the ground, but it phased none of them as they knew the potion they actually drank was fire repellant. Harry always knew his fathers inner circle was clever, but the task laid behind him, would've been most difficult if he had only had one chance to succeed.
Harry shuddered a bit as he put his hand on the last door. He growled, "You two have done well so far, neither of you have cowered in the face of danger. From what I have gathered the final room is where the stone lies. Quirrel is down here I can sense him. You are not to step in the open at all cost. You will let me die before you step into the open. Give me some cover fire, I will force Quirrel to his death bed. Do you boys understand?"
Draco and Theo both gulped, but nodded bravely. Harry took off his mask smiling at his friends, "Lets show them what happens when you mess with the next generation of death eaters."
Harry then put his ring back on and marched towards the last door. He swung it open and walked into the next room. Harry knew Quirrel was under a disillusionment charm on his right side, but the mirror that was in the middle of the room was what confused him.
Dumbeldore's final task was to look into your heart maybe? As he stared into the mirror though an interesting image began to form. Next to him was his father on a throne, unlike the throne he sat on in Gaunt Manor, this was a huge public sight, where hundreds were bowing down to him. Harry saw himself older, with his hands behind us back standing next to his father. They were the kings of the magical world, Harry knew what this mirror was now, "Draco, Theo, take a look into the psycho mirror. It is the mirror of Erised. I have read about it once. It shows you what your heart most desires. Just look for a second, then go cover the left flank, Quirrel could be stuck in an alternate room."
The word psycho was out of place, this was to inform them that whatever he just said was a lie. It was a small code that the boys had developed. If you use a word that is out of place in your usual vocabulary then what your saying is not the whole truth. So both boys looked into the mirror in awe and then did as he said. Harry however continued to stare at the mirror. Before he turned to his right, "So Professor Quirrel, I see you are just as big as a coward as you always were. Standing under a disillusionment charm to hide from thirteen year old school children is very brave."
Harry watched as the light seemed to shimmer to his right. He turned his body to face his opponent his wand in hand. Quirrel gave Harry a wicked smile, "The Dark Prince seems to have joined me at last. I had hoped your wits would show you where the stone is. It is here in this room, I can feel it, but I cannot find it."
Harry laughed, "It seems you are as stupid with the dark magic corruption as you were without. The stone is in this room, for I know exactly where it is."
Harry had figured it out the moment he walked in. Had he not desired the stone it would've appeared in his pocket by charm. But since he did desire the stone, it remained inside the mirror. All he had to do was destroy the mirror and get the stone. It was very clever on Dumbledore's part. However the mirror of erised was a well known artifact that was said to be lost to antiquity, it was considered a dark object though. Which explains why Quirrel did not just destroy it immediately.
Quirrel screamed at him, "Give me the stone!"
Harry pointed his wand up at the man, while Quirrel did the same, "Lets make a deal. I give you some information, like where the stone is if you tell me just how you managed to get this far. Your an idiot Quirrel and we all know it. Including yourself. Now tell me, how did you become so powerful, so intelligent."
Quirrel grinned, "That sounds like a deal, put it on your magic!"
"I Harry James Riddle, swear on my heart and magic to fairly exchange the information that Quirnius Quirrel seeks. On the condition that he shares first."
Harry felt the magic flare and the deal was set. Quirrel beamed as he reached up for his turbin. He slowly began to unwind it and Harry watched in confusion. That was until he saw a glimpse of blue underneath it. Harry gasped as he realized what had happened. Quirrel had stumbled upon one of his fathers Horcruxes, he probably had no idea how truly powerful it was either. When the Turbin dropped the diadem of Ravenclaw was displayed proudly on the man's head.
"So you found the diadem? It is said to give its master wisdom." Harry explained.
Quirrel laughed, "wretched child, it is the most powerful dark artifact I have ever stumbled across. It has enhanced my magical core, showed me how to duel with skill, it has made me more powerful than your father ever dreamed of being."
Harry was calculating fast, all this was likely true. His father told him about the Diadem, it is amongst his strongest horcruxes, and it is supposed to grant supreme wisdom, along with giving him a seventh of his magical core, which is still quite admirable. Harry took a deep breath, "A deal is a deal, the stone is in the mirror, you have to blast it from behind though, or you will be entranced by temptation."
Quirrel took a fiend like expression, "I see, then it seems your use it at an end, Avada Kedavra!"
Harry dodged the green light and immediately pulled out one of his best spells, "Fiend fire! Draco, Theo, start firing stunners and shield breakers, don't hit me!"
Quirrel who had seemed to have forgotten about his two friends was immediately forced on the defense. Draco was firing the shield breaking charm, while Theo was firing his best stunners at the deranged man. Harry was amazed that Quirrel was able to keep casting shields, fight the fire, and block Theo's spells. His magical core had clearly expanded with the help of the horcrux. Harry however knew he couldn't keep it up forever, he recalled his fiend fire and returned two spells "Defudio! Confrigno!"
The gouging spells was waved to the side by Quirrel, but the blasting spell caught him in the shoulder causing him to scream. The psychotic death eater then threw up a wall of water that came from his frozen augmentai charm. Harry was impressed, but it wasn't enough to keep him stunned. Harry stepped forward aggressively firing off spells keeping Quirrel on the defensive. Suddenly the tide changed. With a flick of Quirrels wand a shock wave like blast knocked all three boys backwards. Harry had never seen a spell like that. His ears were ringing, and he watched as a jet of black light darted towards him. With two rapid stunners Draco and Theo were both down for the count as well. He didn't recognize the curse that had hit him either, but he had a bad feeling about it. Harry tried to stand up, but Quirrel kicked him the face making him fall over on his back. Quirrel laughed, "You had the drop on me, I will give you that. Your two friends however will be dead in a few short minutes, they are in no shape to fight me, but then again neither are you."
Quirrel shot two orange like curses over Harry that he watched hit and likely kill his two best friends. Harry growled as he tried to stand up, but then the cruciatas curse washed over him, he let out a heart crushing scream as he felt a hundred hot knives be pressed against his skin. When the curse was released he was heaving hard. Harry gasped, thinking, 'this is how its going to end.'
Quirrel strolled up to him with a smile that spoke crazy, he even stomped on his face causing blood to erupt on his frozen state, "You never stood a chance against me Harry Potter. You will die a million painful deaths, then perhaps each of your friends will go the same way, each more painfully then the last."
Harry focused all his magic and prepared for a final strike. The cruciatas curse was flung at him, but this time it never made it. Harry flung his aching body to the side and casted a wandless accio. He then caught his wand and waved it in an intricate pattern as a green light came soaring over to him. Quirrel was to late though, the clock rolled back five seconds, but Harry was still standing exactly where he was when the spell was casted. The torture curse attempted to strike Harry where he had been five seconds before, but he wasn't in that spot any longer. Harry flung his wand forward barking, "Sectumsempra!"
The two sword like strikes gashed Quirrels chest open. Harry felt the man trying to repel the spell, but Harry knew it would be nothing, but feeble. As Harry let the man heave for breath as blood continued to spill, Harry ran over to both his friends casting, "Finite!"
The spell refused to work and Harry placed a hand on Draco's heart. It was still beating. The curse was just lowering their heart rate to a stop. Harry sighed in relief as he fired an electrically charged curse into both boys and they shot up like rockets swearing like sailors. Draco gasped, "Harry, thank God your alive. Did you kill him?"
"Not yet, I thought you two might be dead, but seems to have fired the heart stopping jinx. I was able to recover you both, before the effects set in."
Theo whistled lowly, "That did not feel good."
Harry winced as he lifted up his shirt, "The torture curse didn't feel good for me either."
Draco shook his head, "Your face isn't looking to pretty either mate. Get hit with something?"
"Quirrels boots. Yeah. Come on, get up. We have to finish this."
As Harry helped his two best friends up he strolled over to Quirrel with one arm around each of his friends to help him stay up. The Cruciatas curse was starting to take its toll on him. When they stood above Quirrel he stood on his own two feet pointing his wand at the man, "Quirnius Quirrel, you are charged with treason against the Dark Lord, for conspiring against him...How do you plead?"
Quirrel spat out something that none of them understood and Theo clapped his hands lightly , "Guilty? Good, we thought so!"
Draco shot out, "The only penalty for treason is death."
"Prepare yourself." Harry said evenly.
He then raised his wands and let his hatred fill for the man who had tortured him, "Avada Kedavra."
The green light filled all of their visions as it struck the astronomy teacher in the chest, effectively ending his life. Harry shook his head as he took the crown off the man's head. He took the horcrux and shrunk it down to the size of a coin and slipped it into his pocket. He took a look of concentration as he walked behind the mirror. He pointed his wand forward calmly, and weakly stating, "Bombarda Maxima!"
The mirror itself seemed to try and save itself, probably from some type of wards, but his spell over powered it causing the thing to explode into pieces. Both of his friends jumped about a foot in the air, but Harry paid no mind to it as he walked over to gather the stone. He examined the red like crystal in awe as he could feel its power. Harry turned to his friends, "We must go to Snapes office. He has peace draughts that counter the symptoms of living death. His fifth years just made them. We need to get Alexa and wake them all up if possible. I think we have twenty four hours before Dumbeldore finds out the stone is gone and Quirrel is dead. We have to act quickly."
So that is exactly what the boys did. Harry stole the broom stick out of the charmed room and slowly flew the three boys to the room with the three headed dog. The music had resumed with the dog so they were able to carefully and quietly sneak past it. When they came to the stairs in the great hall Harry smiled with relief. He never thought he'd see these again. He did however know that it was just past curfew so the boys went into a mental mode of stealth in order to avoid every living and dead thing in the castle. They weren't so far from the dungeons, and no one had the strength left to cast a disillusionment charm. Harry however knew they would be in dead trouble if someone saw them, he did not look so good from the beating he received from Quirrel. With barely avoiding Ravenclaws prefects he was thankful beyond words when he saw Alexa and Flint marching through the dungeons. The three boys thundered out from behind their hiding spot to have wands suddenly pointed at them.
Harry growled, "You wouldn't know what to curse me with if you could fling one at me. We need help, quickly!"
Alexa was the first recover and ran over to Harry, "Merlin Harry what happened to you?"
Draco spat, "Quirrel."
Flint growled, "Where is he, we will go settle this right now!"
Theodore spoke a little softer then the rest of the group, "He's dead."
Alexa gasped and Flint paled, Harry spoke with authority, "I killed him, but now is not the time. Alexa, Marcus, if I were to take you Professor Snapes office would you be able to pull the three best draught of peace that you brewed for your last test?"
Flint looked confused, "Harry, you look like hell, we need to get you to the hospital wing, your father would kill us if we didn't take care of you."
Harry shook his head, "We don't have time for that, I will need the head girl to operate on me. We cannot go before the school nurse, because she would tell Dumbeldore. Whatever happens tonight must be kept silent, forever. We have a lot of things that must be done, and little time to do it. You both know who my father really is, if that tells you just how important all this is."
Alexa understood, "Why draught of living peace? Were you poisoned?"
Draco responded, "No, but Snape, Rookwood, and Black were. We have to wake them up to get the ball rolling."
Theodore added, "If someone needs to go wake up Cassie, I will do that. But we only have till morning before things go haywire."
Harry nodded, "I also need to speak to Daphne, she was to start communication with my father so he knew what was going on. If we can get word to Susan, Hermione, and Mandy that everything went well to that would be great."
Flint immediately set things into action by heading off with Theo to find Cassie, while Alexa guided Draco and Harry down into the dungeons. When they made it Harry immediately walked over the potion stores and pulled out the fifth years vials. Harry had helped grade lower experienced potions before so he knew exactly where everything was. Alexa sighed, "Grab Percy Weasleys, he is the best potion maker in our year, grab mine, then grab Penny Clearwaters. Those three will be powerful enough to wake the dead."
Draco spoke, "Perfect, now we just need to get in touch with the Dark Lord."
"We need to get the professors up and awake first, we can wait for my fathers conversation later."
Before Harry could head off Alexa put her hand on his arm, "Harry you need to stay here and wait for Flint and Cassie. You need medical attention, there is dark magic emanating off you. Whatever happened, I want to hear about it later, for now I will go awaken the professors. Draco stay with Harry and watch over him. Something tells me he isn't in the best fighting condition."
Harry grumbled, "I'd kick both of your asses with my eyes closed."
Alexa glared at him and he held his hands in surrender, "Fine, go awaken my godfather and send him straight to me, we need everything to go smoothly over the next few hours or there will be trouble."
Alexa nodded and sprinted out of the room to go across the hall where the professors would undoubtedly still be asleep.
When Cassie came bursting into the room shortly after Alexa left Harry was starting to have tremors of pain and shock as leftovers from the torture curse. She immediately waltzed over to Harry demanding, "Take your shirt off Riddle, you can explain this all to me as I operate."
Harry spoke softly, "Not the most subtle way a girl has tried to get my clothes off, but as a LeStrange I guess you don't believe in beating around the bush do you?"
The girl blushed and glared at the same time, "My mother would kill you for hitting on me and making jokes at a time like this."
Harry chuckled, "But uncle Rabastan would hug me and say how proud he was."
With a stern look and prod with her wand Harry began explaining to his friend the events of the night. He knew the girl would be a death eater in a short few days, and would probably make the inner circle in a year. She was as powerful as her parents, and Harry trusted her.
When Harry finished telling his tale he was done being treated and potions were starting to kick in, "You should've sent someone for me. Your powerful Harry, most likely the most powerful thirteen year old to walk the planet, but if you and I had gone down there together he wouldn't have gotten this far against you."
"He might've also gotten a lucky shot off and killed one of us though. Things worked out, the enemy is dead, and I am shirtless with arguably the most pretty girl in school."
Draco laughed at Harry's ability to be suave in such a time of such distress. Before she could retort Augustus, Regulus, and Severus stomped through the dungeons to check on Harry. Snape was the first to ask, "What is his prognosis Ms. Lestrange?"
Cassie sighed as she down into a nearby chair, "He was hit with the cruciatas curse twice, then he took physical trauma to the face from Quirrels stomping fest. He also took a very dark curse to the chest, I do believe I have removed most of it though. You want a prognosis he is lucky to be alive professor."
Regulus looked torn, "Is he dead?"
Harry groaned, "No I left him up after he offered me a third cup of tea, come on Regulus of course he is dead."
His godfather put his hand on Harry's good shoulder, "I am sorry Harry, when we woke up we all thought since Alexa got us something had happened to you. As your godfather I failed to protect you...again."
The others remained quiet as they observed Harry and Regulus, "Don't worry Reggie. You may have fallen a bit on the job, but we picked up your slack. Quirrel was far more powerful than we realized though. Severus, how did he get the potion past you? Draught of Living Death is not exactly the smell of a pomegranate or a fine wine?"
Snape looked down in shame, "I haven't figured that out yet. I didn't test the drink as it had come from Rookwood, but I did take a long whiff of it out of habit, the smell was just like a single malt whiskey we were drinking. Whatever Quirrel did to remove the smell, was nothing short of mastery level work that he does not have."
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled the diadem of Ravenclaw out making it full size, "I am guessing this had a lot to do with it!"
Cassie gasped, "That, that, th-"
Regulus interrupted, "Is something you never saw."
Cassie saw the serious look on the inner circles death eaters faces and nodded, "Of course professor."
The death eaters then looked to Flint and Alexa who nodded their heads as an oath of silence. Harry continued, "It was what was giving him the knowledge and power. It was how he beat you in the duel Severus. How he seemed to know what spell you were going to cast before you could cast it. It was how he got past all the traps to get to the stone. But the Horcrux even couldn't figure out where the stone actually was."
Augustus asked, "How did you know Harry?"
"I show not your face, but your hearts inner desires. That is what the encryption on the mirror says. Dumbledore had enchanted the mirror into giving the stone to whoever was not seeking it. I wanted it, but knew it still had to be in an object that had enough power to sustain the enchantments, which only left the mirror. So when I blasted it open the stone was destroyed along with the mirror. A final defense from Dumbledore I am sure." Harry explained.
Draco looked at Harry in curiosity, but the sly wink he shot his friend told him it would be explained later. Snape sighed, "I will hold onto the Diadem until the term ends or until I get a chance to deliver it to your father. I will also report to him everything you told us about the stone and the conflict with Quirrel. I am sure he will want to see a memory once you see him next though."
Harry shook his head in agreement, "Of course. Now for my alibi, I was with Augustus, Draco, Theodore, and Regulus for dueling club practice, and for questions on our homework. No one else should need an alibi because the headmaster would not expect them. If everything goes the right way the headmaster won't even find out about Quirrel or the stone until tomorrow night. At which point our Astronomy exam will be given, but with no teacher so there can't be an exam, that is when Dumbledore will find out."
Cassie looked at her young friend in awe, "That is a masterful plan Harry. Everyone is accounted for, which would make the old man think your father came here himself to take the stone. Genius."
Harry grinned at her compliment putting his hands on his head in pain, "Well I do try. Now the only concern we have is keeping my friends quiet. I will see them all tomorrow, and will obliviate them if I must to keep them silent."
The death eaters and prefects all nodded while Harry held out his arm to Draco, "You did good tonight Draco. You do your family proud, and you do me proud. Without you and Theo I don't know if I could've taken him. Thank you Draco."
His oldest friend took his arm in a tight grip of acknowledgment and friendship, Harry gave one last appreciation hug to Cassie for likely saving his life from the dark magic consumption, and then with the help of Flint and Draco, they returned to their common rooms for the night.
(A/N) Big chapter right there. The next chapter is fairly entertaining, but seriously, this was pretty fun to write. We reached 40 a couple hours ago, so I congratulate you all. The next review goal if 45, and if we get it, I will promise I will deliver the update after that in 2 days from the time of the update. Thanks for reviewing everyone, and I hope you enjoyed chapter 12 and the end of the first year of the Dark Lords Rising.
PS. This story is rated M for Sexual content (later), dark themes, language, and vulgarity of violence. I will not write a rape scene in this story, only suggest towards it. IF you can't handle that, stop reading now, because you can't live in what really happens in the world, depicted in simple fiction, you spineless cowards. :)
