Hello. Welcome to what possibly might be the last chapter for their first year. I'm usually taking this from the movie, but there might be a scene from the book. I'm going back to school tomorrow, so I might not update often. Especially since we're going to state finals for marching band. First time since 2002! Enjoy!

Autumn's P.O.V

I jumped down the trapdoor. What I landed on made me gag. It was dark vines of some type.

"Ew. This is disgusting.," I complained.

"Elsa? Is that you?," I heard a voice from below ask.

"Yes?," I answered. It was more in the form of a question. Suddenly, I felt something wrap around my legs. I screamed in surprise.

"It's Devil's Snare!," they said. I recognized the voice as Hermione.

"Quick question, Hermione. Is Harry and Ron down there too?," I asked. I needed to know if my twin brother and friend are alright.

"Well, of course we are. Why wouldn't we be?," I heard Ron answer.

"Because you never pay attention in Herbology.," I sassed.

"Just get your butt down here.," Ron sassed back. In this short amount of time, I've been wrapped in Devil's Snare and being dragged down. I stopped moving completely, closed my eyes, and slowed my breathing. I began to feel myself going down. I opened my eyes only to find myself landing on the ground. Luckily, my feet were down, so I didn't exactly fall.

"You okay, Elsa? What happened?," Harry asked.

"I gave Fluffy his treats. He was happy after I gave him the treats. I'll ask Dumbledore if I could do that more often.," I smiled walking into the next room. I can already tell what they are thinking, and it's hilarious to think about. I walked into the next room hearing something like wings. The room was big! When I looked up, I saw millions of FLYING KEYS!

"Curious. I've never seen birds like these.," Hermione stated.

"They're not birds. They're keys.," I stated.

"And I'll bet one of them fits that door.," Harry said. I looked down at Harry, even though he was a bit taller than me, and looked to where he was. There indeed was a closed door, most likely locked. I don't think we can use Alohomora for this one. We all stopped in front of a broom.

"What's this all about?," Hermione asked.

"I don't know.," Harry whispered. Ron got out his wand and walked to the door. Hermione followed.

"I don't think that'll work, Ron!," I yelled.

"Well, it's worth a try, isn't it?," Ron asked.

"If you want to waste time and magic, then be my guest.," I said still staring at the broom.

"What're you thinking about?," Harry asked.

"I think I might know what to do.," I answered.

"There must be a thousand keys.," Hermione groaned.

"It'll be like the door. What's it look like?," I asked looking up.

"We want a big, old-fashioned one. Probably rusty like the handle.," Ron answered. A key flew into my line of sight.

"There! Found it! The one with the broken wing!," Harry exclaimed. It's also short in size. Harry moved away from me towards Hermione and Ron. I looked back at the broom. If they gave us a broom, they probably want us to use a broom here, but I wonder if I could do this my way.

"What's wrong, Elsa?," Hermione asked.

"It's too simple. Plus, I'm thinking if I can do this my way.," I answered.

"What's your way?," Ron asked.

"Remember that day at the beginning of the year when we had Flying lessons?," I asked.

"And when you got Seeker on the Quidditch team. And?," Ron asked confused.

"Hermione, do you get what I'm saying?," I asked.

"Yeah, and I think it's worth a try. If you can't, you can use the broom, but still do it your way, so technically it's a win-win.," Hermione answered. I smiled and jumped up into the air. The keys still flew like they were before, and I wasn't hurt or anything, so I smiled wider. I looked for the small, broken key. I found it in less than 10 seconds and made a fly for it. I grabbed it and held onto it tightly. I flew slowly and back down to the door and to the guys. They looked amazed at me. I guess since I play Quidditch on a broom usually, that seeing me do this will leave you speechless. I moved past them to the door and put the key in. I was careful twisting the key. I didn't want to damage it as much as it already was. After a few minutes, I heard a click and opened the door. I pulled it open and I let them go first. I pulled the key out and let it fly away. I then followed the others out the door and into the next room. It was dark and spooky. There were statues on each side of the room, in 2 rows facing each other. It looked sortof like a graveyard, but I knew it wasn't that. Ron looked around in awe.

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all.," Hermione whimpered.

"Where are we? A graveyard.," Harry asked.

"It looks like it, don't it?," I smiled.

"This is no graveyard.," Ron said. He walked forward to see what this was. I followed him out. We both looked around and our footsteps were echoing. As we got to the middle of the room, our eyes widened.

"It's a chessboard.," I breathed. Fires lit up around the room, finally showing us the chessboard in all its glory. Harry and Hermione joined us.

"There's the door.," Harry exclaimed pointing to the other side of the room. Oh, god. Not of those where you have to play the game to continue! Harry, Ron, and Hermione started to walk towards the door, but got stopped by the pawns brandishing their swords. They backed up and joined me again as the pawns put their swords back into place.

"Now what do we do?," Hermione whispered.

"We've got to play our way across the room.," I answered. I looked back and saw 3 empty squares.

"Since there's only 3 squares, I'll sit out on this one. Ron, you're better at this than me, so you're in charge.," I said getting ready to jump.

"Can I get that in writing, please?," Ron asked. I glared at him.

"Since I can fly and also know a bit at chess, I'll fly up above and oversee this while giving you some tips and strategies.," I said flying up.

"Alright, Harry, you take the empty bishop's square.," Ron ordered Harry. Harry nodded.

"Hermione, you'll be the queen-side castle. As for me, I'll be a knight.," Ron finished. They walked up and took their places, Hermione on the far white square, Harry on a black square by the king, and Ron climbed up on the horse by Harry. Now, all that happens is for white to move.

"What happens now?," Hermione asked.

"White moves first, and then it's on.," I answered. The fourth pawn from the left started to move upwards 2 spaces. I hope this won't be like wizard's chess, but it just might be. Ron and I studied the board.

"Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like...real wizard's chess, do you?," Hermione asked scared. I'm not surprised really.

"Well, let's find out, Hermione. Pawn to D-5.," I ordered. As the pawn closed onto the space and stopped, the white pawn removed its swords again and cut the pawn in half. Oh, god.

"Yes, Hermione. I think this is going to be exactly like wizard's chess.," Ron breathed. Now, I've got to make sure that my friends and brother don't get killed! Me and Ron were the only ones ordering our team around and avoided putting them out on the board. I flew down to Ron to talk battle strategies and suggests some moves, and then I fly back up. This goes on forever until I see something that makes my heart and breath stop. The queen just destroyed one of our castles, but if Ron moves to check the king, the queen is right there, ready to take him.

"Wait a minute.," Harry said realizing.

"You understand right, Harry. Once I make my move, the queen will take me. Then you're free to check the king.," Ron said.

"No. Ron, no!," Harry yelled.

"What is it?," Hermione asked.

"He's going to sacrifice himself.," Harry answered.

"No, you can't. There must be another way!," Hermione yelled to Ron. Then Hermione looked at me.

"Isn't there another way, Autumn?," she asked. I looked at the board desperately, trying to find a way to protect my brother as well as the others. I looked down at Hermione.

"Unfortunately, there's not. He has to do this in order for us to win.," I said sadly.

"Harry, it's you that has to go on. I know it. Not me. Not Hermione. Not Autumn. You.," Ron said sternly to Harry. Harry nodded.

"I didn't want you to get hurt. Do you think I can pick you up in the air before the queen knocks you off?," I asked starting to cry. Ron looked up at me.

"I'm sorry, Autumn, but no. Won't that be considered cheating?," he asked. He looked back forward and held onto the reigns of the black horse tightly. He took a deep breath.

"Knight to H-3.," Ron commanded. The horse slowly moved forward. It's as if time wanted me to suffer. I really hate this right now. The knight finally moved to the left 1 space to H-3. One more move and the king would be dead.

"Check.," Ron whispered. He looked to the queen. It turned to him and slowly moved to him. I could tell Ron's breath was going faster and faster, and so was mine. Actually, my heart was stopping seeing him in this situation.

"Ron, look away.," I advised. He nodded and looked away. The queen finally got to him and pulled out the sword. The queen jabbed the sword into the horse, making Ron fall to the ground screaming and the horse fall apart. Some pieces fell on Ron as he fell and seemed to have blacked out.

"Ron!," Harry and I screamed. Hermione was about to move towards him while I was flying to him.

"No, don't move! Don't forget, we're still playing.," Harry ordered. We nodded, and I was still crying, but I saw the next move the will put the king in checkmate. Harry seemed to know too, as he was headed in the kings direction. I looked at Ron, who was lying on the ground, motionless. I noticed Hermione looking between me and Ron.

"Checkmate.," Harry exclaimed. The kings sword from its hands fell in front of Harry. We stood in our spots for a few seconds before I dove towards Ron, Hermione and Harry following. I lifted his head into my hands while I listened for any sign of life. I heard his heartbeat.

"Oh, thank god.," I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Take care or Ron. Then go to the owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right. I have to go on.," Harry said.

"You'll be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard. You really are.," Hermione complimented.

"Not as good as you two.," Harry dismissed. I looked up, wiping my eyes.

"Us? Books and cleverness. There are more important things. Friendship and bravery. And, Harry, just be careful.," Hermione said. Harry nodded and went for the door. I followed after him, running.

"No, Autumn. Don't you want to be by Ron? Your twin brother?," Harry asked stopping and turning to face me.

"I think he's fine in Hermione's hands. Besides, I want to get you as far as I can before leaving you.," I stated.

"You're not going until you do this, aren't you?," Harry asked after a few minutes in silence.

"Nope.," I answered.

"Fine. Come on.," Harry said going into the next room. I followed after him. Harry pushed open the next door when a disgusting smell filled our nostrils, making both of us pull our robes up over our noses. Eyes watering, we saw, flat on the floor in front of us, a troll even larger than the one we had tackled on Halloween, out cold with a bloody lump on its head. I felt sortof bad for the troll.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one.," Harry whispered as we stepped carefully over one of its massive legs.

"Come on, I can't breathe.," I urged pulling open the next door, both of us hardly daring to look at what came next, but there was nothing very frightening in here, just a table with seven differently shaped bottles standing on it in a line. This must be Potions, Snape's defense. We stepped toward it and fires sprang up behind in the doorway. It wasn't ordinary orange fire either, it was purple. In that same instant, black flames were trapping us inside the room. We walked up to the table and I saw a piece of parchment.

"Look!," I exclaimed grabbing the parchment. I began reading the parchment aloud.

"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 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 wines 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.," I finished reading.

"Wow. That's a long riddle.," I stated.

"We're going to be stuck here forever, won't we?," Harry asked.

"No. Of course not. Hermione might be the brightest witch of the year, but we both know I'm just as good.," I assured. I walked up and down the potions repeating the long riddle in my mind. Finally, after what seemed to be ages, I finally got it!

"I got it! Okay, ow. Brain hurts now.," I exclaimed. It was true, my brain did hurt now. I think I used it too hard and too often.

"Well, which one will get us through?," Harry asked impatiently.

"You mean which one will get YOU through. The smallest bottle is the right one, and it only has enough for you. The rounded bottle at the right end will take me through the purple flames and back.," I pointed out. I took the 2 bottles and gave the smallest one to Harry.

"Thanks. For staying with me and not giving up.," Harry said as I gave it to him. That broke me. I put my arms around Harry and hugged him tightly.

"Harry?," I asked when we separated. Harry looked me in the eye.

"Yeah?," he answered.

"Be careful when you get in the last room. Whether it's Snape, Quirrell, or Voldemort, just be careful, and don't die.," I said to him. Harry gave me a small smile in response. I uncorked my bottle and lifted it up.

"Well, here goes nothing.," I breathed. I drank a sip of the potion and shivered.

"Feels like ice running in your body.," I answered Harry's confused look.

"Now go through before it wears off.," Harry urged.

"Okay. Good luck.," I wished as I ran through the purple fire.

Done. Thank god. Okay, NEXT chapter will be the last one. This is my longest chapter in this story, not ever because I once wrote a chapter that was over 3,000 words. See you later. Review?