174

Through the Trapdoor

Chapter 13

Much to my surprise, the exams were easier than I thought they would be. Well, at least the written ones were. The ones where you had to use magic were harder. Like in Charms when we had to see if we could make a pineapple tap-dance across a table, and in Transfiguration when Professor McGonagall watched us turn a mouse into a snuffbox. I had somehow managed to turn the mouse into the snuffbox, but had points taken away for not being able to get rid of its whiskers.

Snape's exam was the hardest. He paced up and down the classroom, watching as we wrote down how to make a Forgetfulness potion. I hadn't finished his exam when class was over. "Not finished?" Snape said snatching my paper after class had finished. "Pity. I guess that'll be a couple of points taken from your exam."

"No, Professor, can you please let me finish?" I begged. "My dad really wants for me to get a good grade."

Snape rolled his eyes when I had mentioned my father for some reason. He let out a long, troubled sigh and then said, "Fine. You can come to my class and finish it after the end-of-term banquet on the last day of school."

"Thank you so much, Professor!" I said gratefully. He didn't answer. He just walked over to his desk and said nothing, letting me know to leave. He'd used this signal many times this year. I was so thankful to him since he was gonna let me finish my exam that I'd almost forgotten that he was trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone.

"That was far easier than I thought it would be," Hermione said as we joined the crowds out on the sunny campus. "I needn't have learned about the 1673 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."

We went down to the lake to relax. Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were tickling a giant squid. "Haha," I said to Ron. "Your brothers are really funny."

"Well, I guess they can be," Ron said with a shrug. "No more studying," he sighed happily, stretching out on the grass. "You look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet."

Harry was rubbing his forehead. "I wish I knew what this means!" he yelled angrily. "My scar keeps hurting- it's happened before, but never as often as this."

"Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested.

"I'm not ill," said Harry. "I think it's a warning… it means danger's coming."

"Harry, relax," Ron groaned. "Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once; he's not going to try again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."

Harry nodded. "I just can't help thinking there's something important I've forgotten to do," he said to me and Hermione.

"That's just the exams," Hermione assured him. "I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one."

We saw an owl with a note in its mouth fly toward the castle.

Suddenly Harry jumped to his feet. "Where are you going?" Ron asked in an exhausted tone of voice.

"I've just thought of something," said Harry. He was pale in the face. "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now."

"Why?" Hermione panted as we hurried to keep yet.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket?" Harry asked as we climbed up the grassy slope. "How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.

"I'm tired of guessing games, Harry," I said out of breath.

Harry ignored me. He sprinted across the campus toward the forest. We arrived at Hagrid's hut. Hagrid was sitting on an armchair outside his house, his trousers and sleeves rolled up, and he was shelling peas into a bowl. "Hullo," he said smiling. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"Yes, please," said Ron.

"No, we're in a hurry," Harry said. "Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards look like?"

"Dunno," said Hagrid. "He wouldn't take his cloak off."

The four of us gasped. Hagrid didn't get it. "It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head- that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."

Harry sank down next to the bowl of peas. "What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"

"Mighta come up," said Hagrid, frowning as he tried to remember. "Yeah… he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here… He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I look after… so I told him… an' I said what I'd always wanted was a dragon… an' then… I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks… Let's see… yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted… but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home… So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy…"

"And did he-" Harry began, "Did he seem interested in Fluffy?"

"Well- yeah- how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep- I shouldn'ta told yeh that! Forget I said it! Hey- where're yeh goin'?"

We ran toward the castle and came to a halt in the entrance hall, which suddenly seemed very cold after having been out in the sun. "We've got to go to Dumbledore," Harry said. "Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak- it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop us. Where's Dumbledore's office?"

We looked around, hoping to see a sign that might point us in the right direction. But none of us knew where Dumbledore lived or where he worked or anything like that. Harry said, "We'll just have to-"

"What are you four doing inside?" McGonagall suddenly asked.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," said Hermione.

"See Professor Dumbledore?" McGonagall repeated looking a bit surprised. "Why?"

"It's sort of secret," Harry said timidly.

"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," McGonagall said. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once.'

"He's gone?" Harry asked frantically. "Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter; he has many demands on his time."

"But this is important."

"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Potter?"

"Look, Professor," Harry said. "It's about the Sorcerer's Stone."

Professor McGonagall dropped the books she'd been carrying. "How did you know-?"

"Professor, I think- I know- that Sn- that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow. I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected."

"But Professor-"

"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," she said leaning over to pick up the books she'd dropped. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."

She walked away.

"It's tonight," said Harry quietly. "Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note; I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."

"But what can we-" I began.

I was interrupted by a gasp from Hermione.

Harry, Ron, and I all turned around and saw Snape standing behind us. "Good afternoon," he said smoothly.

"G-g-good afternoon, Professor," I stuttered.

Snape raised his eyebrow suspiciously at me. "I think you've been around Quirrell too much, Miss Perry." Then he turned to Harry. "You shouldn't be inside on a day like this," he said, with an odd, twisted smile.

Harry gulped and said, "We were-"

"You want to be more careful," Snape interrupted. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose anymore points, can it?"

The four of us hurried past him to go outside, but Snape said, "Be warned, Potter- anymore nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."

Out on the stone steps, Harry turned to us. "Right, here's what we've got to do," he whispered urgently. "One of us has to keep an eye on Snape- wait outside the staff room and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, you'd better to do it."

"Why me?" Hermione wanted to know.

"It's obvious," said Ron. "You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know. 'Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried I think I got question b wrong'," he added in a mockingly high voice.

"Oh, shut up," Hermione said. "Fine, I'll go." So she did.

"And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor," Harry told Ron and me. "Come on."

That didn't work out too well. When we'd reached the door separating Fluffy from the rest of the school, Professor McGonagall showed up and this time, she lost her temper. "I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments!" she stormed. "Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you've come anywhere near here again, I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor! Yes, Weasley, from my own house!"

"What are we gonna do?" I asked as we headed to the common room. "There are teachers everywhere you turn. How are we gonna protect the Stone without getting in trouble?"

"Well, at least Hermione's on Snape's tail," Ron pointed out.

We waited an hour for Hermione and then she burst into the Gryffindor common room. "I'm sorry, Harry!" she wailed. "Snape came out and asked me what I was doing, so I said I was waiting for Professor Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and I've only just got away, I don't know where Snape went."

"Well, that's it then, isn't it?" Harry said, looking very pale. We just stared at him so he said, "I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get the Stone first."

"You're mad!" said Ron.

"That's unheard of!" I agreed.

"You can't!" said Hermione. "After what McGonagall and Snape said? You'll be expelled!"

"SO WHAT?" Harry shouted. "Don't you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard of what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the house cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have, because I'm never going to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you three say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?"

"You're right, Harry," said Hermione in a small voice.

"I'll use the invisibility cloak," said Harry. "It's just lucky I got it back."

"But will it cover all four of us?" Ron asked.

"All- all four of us?"

"Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?"

"Of course not," said Hermione quickly. "How do you think you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better go and look through my books, there might be something useful…"

"We're sticking with you, Harry, every step of the way," I said.

"But if we get caught, you three will be expelled too," Harry pointed out.

"Not if I can help it," said Hermione. "Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and twelve percent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that."

That night after all the other Gryffindor students had gone to bed, Ron said, "Better get the cloak," after Lee Jordan finally got up and walked away. So Harry ran upstairs and came back with the cloak.

"We'd better put the cloak on here, and make sure it covers all four of us," said Harry. "If Filch spots one of us on our feet wandering along on its own-"

"What are you doing?" said a voice from the corner of the room. Neville appeared from behind an armchair, clutching Trevor the toad.

"Nothing, Neville," said Harry as he and I hid the cloak behind our backs.

"You're going out again," Neville said frowning.

"No, no, no," said Hermione. "No, we're not. Why don't you go to bed, Neville?"

"You can't go out again," said Neville. "You'll be caught again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble."

"You don't understand," said Harry. "This is important."

"I won't let you do it," said Neville, hurrying toward the portrait hall. "I'll- I'll fight you!"

"Neville," Ron said angrily. "Get away from that hole and don't be an idiot-"

"Don't you call me an idiot!" Neville snapped. "I don't think you should be breaking anymore rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!"

"Yes, but not to us," said Ron rolling his eyes. "Neville, you don't know what you're doing." He took a step forward toward Neville, who dropped his toad, which leapt away.

"Go on then, try and hit me!" Neville said. "I'm ready!"

"Do something," Harry said desperately to Hermione.

Hermione stepped forward. "Neville," she said. "I'm really, really sorry about this." She raised her wand. "Petrificus Totalus!" she cried. Neville's arms snapped to his sides. His legs sprang together. His whole body swayed where he stood and then fell flat on his face, stiff as a board.

"What've you done to him?" Harry asked as Hermione ran over to Neville to turn him on his back. Ron and I stood there in shock.

"It's the full Body-Bind," Hermione explained miserably. "Oh, Neville, I'm so sorry."

"We had to, Neville, no time to explain," said Harry.

"You'll understand later, Neville," said Ron.

We quickly stepped over him and pulled on the invisibility cloak. When we got to the first set of stairs we saw Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat. "Oh, let's kick her just this once," Ron whispered. I slapped him on the arm.

"You sicko!" I scolded him. "Who wants to kick an animal?"

"It's just Mrs. Norris," Ron pointed out, rubbing his arm. We climbed carefully past the cat and got down to the staircase on the third floor. Peeves was messing with the carpets, so someone might trip.

"Who's there?" he asked suddenly as we passed him. "Know you're there, even if I can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?" He rose up in the air and squinted at us. "Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen."

"Peeves," Harry said in a hoarse whisper. "The Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."

Peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. He caught himself in time and started off. "So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, sir," he said. "My mistake, my mistake- I didn't see you- of course I didn't, you're invisible- forgive old Peevsie for his little joke, sir."

"I have business here, Peeves," said Harry. "Stay away from this place tonight."

"I will, sir, I most certainly will. Hope your business goes well, Baron, I will not bother you." And with that, he disappeared.

"That was amazing," I said happily, patting Harry on the back.

"Brilliant, Harry!" Ron added.

A few seconds later we were outside the third-floor corridor- and the door was already ajar. "Well, there you are," Harry said quietly. "Snape's already gotten past Fluffy. If you three want to go back, I don't blame you. You can take the cloak. I won't need it now."

"Don't be stupid," said Ron.

"We're staying together," I said.

"We're coming," said Hermione. Harry pushed the door open. As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met our ears. All three of the dog's noses sniffed madly in our direction, even though it couldn't see us. "What's at its feet?" Hermione whispered.

"Looks like a harp," said Ron. "Snape must have left it there."

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," said Harry. "Well, here goes…" He put Hagrid's flute to his lips and blew. It wasn't really a tune, but from the first note the beast's eyes began to droop. It slumped to the ground and fell asleep.

"Keep playing," Ron warned Harry. They slipped out of the cloak and crept toward the trapdoor. "I think we'll be able to pull the door open. Want to go first, Hermione?"

"No, I don't!" Hermione snapped.

"Fine," Ron said making a face. "Carly, how 'bout you? Ladies first, like they always say."

I smirked. "In that case, you'd better go first, Ron," I said, giving him a little push. He frowned at me.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he wanted to know. "Alright." He gritted his teeth and stepped carefully over the dog's legs. He bent and pulled the ring off the trapdoor, which swung up and open.

"What can you see?" Hermione asked anxiously.

"Nothing," said Ron. "Just black- there's no way of climbing down; we'll just have to jump." Harry waved at Ron, trying to get his attention, while still playing the flute. He pointed to himself. "You want to go first?" Ron asked him. "Are you sure? I don't know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."

Harry handed the flute to Hermione, who immediately played it.

Harry climbed over the dog and lowered himself through the hole until he was handing by his fingertips. Then he looked up and said, "If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?"

"Right," said Ron and I at the same time.

"See you in a minute, I hope…" And he let go. I wanted to scream when I couldn't see him anymore, but Ron grabbed my hand and squeezed it, letting me know it was okay. "It's okay!" Harry's voice suddenly called up to us. "It's a soft landing, you can jump!"

"I'll go next," I told Ron. I wanted to get this over with. He smiled kindly and nodded. I climbed over the dog and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath. It took me a moment before I let go of the trapdoor. I never liked high heights, especially when you had to drop from them. But I let go, and soon it was over. I landed near Harry. Next Ron landed between us.

"What's this stuff?" were his first words.

"Dunno, it's some sort of plant thing," Harry said. "I suppose it's here to break the fall. Come on, Hermione!"

The distant music stopped. There was a loud bark from the dog, but Hermione had already jumped. She landed on Harry's other side. "We must be miles under the school."

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really," said Ron.

"Lucky!" shrieked Hermione. "Look at the three of you!"

I looked down and gasped. The plant had started to twist snakelike vines around my ankles! I struggled to get free, but couldn't. Hermione was the only one who was able to free herself right away. My heart pounded loudly and sweat trickled down my back. I squirmed to get free.

"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered us. "I know what this is! It's- it's Devil's Snare!"

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," snarled Ron, leaning back, trying to stop the plant from curling itself around his neck. It had already gotten that far on me. I just hoped it wasn't going to strangle me to death.

"Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" said Hermione.

"Well, hurry up, I can't breathe!" Harry gasped.

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare… what did Professor Sprout say?- it likes the dark and the damp," Hermione said to herself.

"So light a fire!" Harry choked.

"Yes- of course- but there's no wood!" Hermione cried.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"

"Oh, right!" Hermione said, taking out her wand. She waved it, muttered something, and sent a jet of a blue flame toward the plant. I felt the plant loosen its grip and I was free. Ron and Harry were free too.

"Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione," said Harry.

"Yeah," said Ron. "And lucky Ron doesn't lose his head in a crisis- 'there's no wood', honestly."

"This way," said Harry, pointing down a stone passageway, which was the only way forward. We could hear water trickling down the walls. The passageway sloped downward.

"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead.

"Do you think it's a ghost?" I asked.

"I don't know… sounds like wings to me," said Ron.

"There's a light ahead- I can see something moving," said Harry.

We reached the end of the passageway and saw a lit chamber, its ceiling high. It was full of jewel-bright birds, fluttering around the room.

On the opposite side of the chamber was a wooden door. "Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Ron asked.

"Probably," said Harry. "They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they swooped down at once… well, there's no other choice… I'll run." He took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms, and sprinted across the room. He reached the door and pulled the handle, but it was locked.

Ron, Hermione, and I ran after him. We all pulled and tugged at the door, but it wouldn't budge, even after Hermione tried several spells on it. "Now what?" Ron asked.

"These birds…" said Hermione. "They can't be here just for decoration." We watched the birds overhead. They were glittering!

"They're not birds!" said Harry. "They're keys! Winged keys- look carefully. So that must mean…" He looked around the chamber while we squinted up at the flock of keys. "…Yes- look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!" I pointed out.

Ron examined the lock on the door. "We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one- probably silver, like the handle." We each grabbed a broomstick and kicked off into the air, soaring into the midst of the keys. I felt nervous. I hadn't tried flying since flying lessons, since I'd never been too good at it. Ron flew a little below me, ready to catch me if I fell. We grabbed and snatched at keys, but they were almost impossible to catch.

"That one!" Harry called to us. "That big one- there- no, there- with bright blue wings- the feathers are all crumpled on one side." Ron went speeding in the direction of that one, but crashed into the ceiling and nearly fell off his broom. "We've got to close in on it!" Harry called. "Ron, you come at it from above, Hermione, stay below and stop it from going on- Carly, go to its right- and I'll go to its left and try and catch it. NOW!"

The bird dodged Ron, Hermione, and I, and Harry sped after it. He leaned forward and pinned it against the wall with one hand! I sighed with relief. Ron and Hermione cheered. We landed quickly. I almost fell off the broom before I landed, but Ron grabbed me before I hit the ground. "There you go," he said. I smiled away. He quickly let go of me and flushed red.

Harry ran to the door, the key struggling in his hand. He rammed it into the lock and turned- it worked. The moment the lock had clicked open, the key took flight again, looking very battered. "Ready?" Harry asked us, his hand on the handle. We nodded. He pulled the door open.

The next chamber was so dark we couldn't see anything at all. But as we stepped into it, the lights went on and we were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were extremely tall. Facing us, across the chamber were the black pieces. "Now what do we do?" Harry whispered. I'd been wondering the same thing.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" said Ron. "We've got to play our way across the room." Behind the white pieces was a door. I gulped. I'd never learned how to play chess before. I guess I'd never cared enough to learn.

"How?" said Hermione nervously.

"I think," said Ron, "We're going to have to be chessman."

He walked up to a black knight and put his hand out to touch the knight's horse. At once, the stone sprang to life. The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned his helmeted head to look down at Ron. "Do we- er- have to join you to get across?" The black knight nodded. Ron turned to us. "This needs thinking about… I suppose we've got to take the place of four of the black pieces… Now don't be offended or anything, but Harry and Hermione, neither of you are that good at chess, and I'm sure you, Carly, have never even played before-"

"We're not offended," said Harry. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Harry," Ron began. "You take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, you go next to him instead of that castle."

"What about you and Carly?" Hermione wanted to know.

"I'm going to be a knight," Ron said bravely. "Carly, just wait."

The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these words a knight, a bishop, and a castle turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the board, leaving three empty squares that we took.

"White always plays first in chess," said Ron, peering across the board. "Yes… look…" A white pawn had moved forward two squares. Ron started to direct the black pieces. He told Harry to move four squares diagonally to the right. I just waited nervously for further direction.

"Had to let that happen," Ron said when the white queen smashed their other knight down to the ground and dragged him off. Then he turned to me. "Carly, feel free to take his place."

I slowly walked over to where the knight'd been and took his place.

Every time one of our men was lost, the white pieces showed no mercy. A bunch of our players were slumped against the wall. Harry, Hermione, and I had been in danger several times, but he'd stopped us from getting hurt. "We're nearly there," he muttered suddenly. "Let me think- let me think…" The white queen turned her blank face toward him. "Yes…" said Ron softly. "It's the only way… I've got to be taken."

"NO!" Harry, Hermione, and I all shouted at once.

"That's chess!" Ron snapped. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me- that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But-"

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?"

"Ron-"

"Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone! Ready?" Ron called, his face looking pale but determined. "Here I go- now, don't hang around once you've won."

He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron across the face with her stone arm, and he crashed to the floor. Hermione and I both screamed, but we stayed on our squares. The white queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as if he'd been knocked out. Shaking, Harry moved three spaces to the left.

The white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry's feet. We had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. We looked back once more at Ron, and then charged through the door and up the next passageway.

"What if he's-" I began, still worried about Ron.

"He'll be alright," Harry assured me. "What do you reckon's next?"

"We've had Sprout's, that was the Devil's Snare," Hermione began. Flitwick must have put charms on the keys; McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell and Snape's…"

We'd reached another door. "Alright?" Harry whispered.

"Go on," Hermione said. Harry pushed it open.

A disgusting smell filled the air, making us pull our robes up over our noses. My eyes started watering. We saw, flat on the floor in front of us, a troll out cold with a bloody lump on its head! "EW!" I shouted.

"Shh!" both Harry and Hermione snapped at me. "I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Harry whispered to Hermione. "Come on, I can't breathe." He pulled open the next door. We didn't want to see what was next. But there was nothing very frightening in here, just a table with seven differently shaped bottles standing on it in a line. "Snape's," said Harry. "What do we have to do?"

We stepped toward them, and a fire suddenly sprang up behind us. It was purple fire! At the same instant, black flames shot up in the doorway ahead of us! We were trapped. "Look!" Hermione cried, seizing a roll of paper lying next to the bottles. We went over to it to read it.

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 inside,

Two among our number hold only nettle wine,

Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.

Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,

To help you in your choice, we give these clues four:

First, however slyly the potion 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.

Hermione let out a great sigh. She was smiling for some reason. "Brilliant," she said. "This isn't magic- it's logic- a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic; they'd be stuck in here forever."

"But so will we, won't we?" I asked.

"Of course not," said Hermione. "Everything we need is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison, two are wine, one will get us safely through the black fire, and one will get us back through the purple."

"But how do we know which to drink?" I wanted to know.

"Give me a minute," Hermione said, rereading the paper several times. Then she walked up and down the line of bottles, muttering to herself and pointing to them. She clapped her hands. "Got it," she said. "The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire- toward the stone."

"There's only enough there for one of us," said Harry. "That's only one swallow." We all just looked at each other. I had no idea what was going on. "Which one will get you back through the purple flames?"

Hermione pointed to a rounded bottle at the right end of the line. "There's less inside this one than the other one. I'm going to have to take this one, and, Harry, you must take the other. All the others are killers, or just plain old wine. Those won't get us anywhere."

"Oh, great, that's just great, Hermione," said Harry, seeming a bit stressed out over something. "We just have a teensy problem: there's two of the potions and three of us."

"Oh, goodness," Hermione said after a pause. "I didn't even think about that." She walked in circles, deep in thought. "Carly, you and Harry are going to have to share the one that gets you through the black flames. If you take as small possible of a sip, there'll be enough for both of you."

"Alright," Harry said nodding. "You drink the one that gets you through the purple, and go back and get Ron. Grab brooms from the flying-key room. They'll get you to the trapdoor and past Fluffy- go straight to the owlery and send Hagrid to Dumbledore, we need him. Carly and I might be able to hold Snape off for a while, but we're no match for him, really."

"But Harry, what if You-Know-Who's with him?" Hermione asked.

"Well- I was lucky once, wasn't I?" said Harry, pointing at his scar. "I might get lucky again." Hermione's lip trembled, and she suddenly threw her arms around Harry, giving him a huge hug. "Hermione!" he gasped.

"Harry- you're a great wizard, you know," she said.

"I'm not as good as you," said Harry. His cheeks flushed pink as Hermione let go of him.

"Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things- friendship and bravery and- oh Harry- be careful!"

"Girl, you don't think that's enough?" I asked in shock. "Books and cleverness? Man, I would be complete if I had any of that."

There was a long pause. Harry and Hermione both started laughing. But it wasn't at me. It was with me. And then just then I burst into laughter too. It was such a happy moment. We were all together, and we were happy together. With the circumstances that we were having at the moment, I wasn't sure whether we'd have another moment like this again. Hermione walked up to me and threw her arms around me.

"You be careful too, Carly," she said warmly. "Cause remember: you're not the brightest light bulb in the tool box. But I'm only saying that because I'm your best friend and I can get away with it."

"Haha, that's okay," I said. "You're right. You've always been right."

"You both be careful," Hermione said one last time.

"You drink first," Harry told her. "You are sure which is which, aren't you?"

"Positive," said Hermione. She took a sip from the bottle at the end and shuddered.

"It's not poison?" Harry asked anxiously.

"No," Hermione assured him. "But it's like ice."

"Quick, go before it wears off," I told her.

"Good luck," Hermione said, starting off. "Take care."

"GO!" we told her.

"Oh, alright," she said. She turned around and walked straight through the purple fire.

Harry took the smallest bottle and squinted nervously at it. "I don't know how we're going to divide this…?" he said. Then he opened it and took the smallest sip possible. "You drink what's left of it," he told me.

I took it from him, and took the last sip. "I'm ready," I told him.

"Good," he said smiling. We turned around to face the black flames. We both reached for each other's hand at the same time. "So, you're really ready?" he asked me.

"Yes, I'm ready," I said taking a deep breath.

"Alright, then…" Harry said, squeezing tighter. "Here we come."

We closed our eyes and walked into the fire. It felt as though ice was flooding through my body. I could feel the fire touching me, but I didn't feel any pain. Suddenly we were on the other side. In front of us was a door. It was a big door. I couldn't believe it was going to be this simple now to get through the door. This was it… this could be the end…

Harry put his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath.