Author's notes:
Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Except where I might use some song lyrics which I will call out at the time and give proper credit. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.
Also, if you have not read my story, Harry Potter and the Muggles' Daughter, you are going to be lost. That is the prequel to this. But hey, if you haven't, BONUS! You've got a whole story you can go read before coming back here!
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE
Fools' Folly: Part II
HPHPHP
It took ten minutes for Luna and the rest to cover the distance back to Hogwarts and as they dismounted she was no closer to finding an answer.
"What should we do with our brooms?" Hermione asked.
Harry sent his away in its case and stuffed it in his pocket. "Keep them. I'd have been out of the forest hours ago if I'd had a broom." He pushed the doors open and they slipped inside. "Anyone got a clue how to get past a cerberus?" he asked.
"Orpheus played his lyre to get past Cerberus in Greek mythology," Hermione offered tentatively.
"Right," Harry agreed. "To save his wife. But he lost her again when he looked back to see if she was following before they were both safely out of the underworld, right?"
"Yes," Ginny agreed.
"So then we just need a lyre and someone who can play it," Harry muttered. "A Lyre is like a harp, right?"
"I don't think it needs to be a lyre, Harry," Luna said. "It just needs to be music. It was the beauty of Orpheus' playing that put Cerberus to sleep."
"Alright," Harry agreed. "Now would be a good time to have not broken my guitar, I guess."
"Erm," Ginny ventured, "you could try singing."
"Oh," Luna said. She clapped her hands excitedly. "That's a brilliant solution, Ginevra." She darted up the stairs. "Come on then."
Harry was left with Hermione and Ginny. "Erm, that's a really good idea, Ginny," Hermione said. "I'm glad you thought of it." She darted up the stairs after Luna.
Harry glowered down at Ginny. "What?" she demanded.
"You are so going to pay for this."
"You have a beautiful singing voice, Harry. I don't know what you're upset about."
"Hurry up you two," Luna called down. "Before Filch or that cat of his finds us."
Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her along. "I hate you. You know that, right?"
"Don't worry, Harry," she retorted. "I'm not all that fond of you either."
Harry pressed his ear to the door he'd last seen with Ginny many months ago. "Do you hear it?" Ginny whispered.
"There's definitely something on the other side," Harry said. A sudden crash had the door rattling on its hinges. "GAH!" the foursome cried, stumbling back.
"I think it knows we're here," Luna observed.
"Ya think?" Harry retorted.
"Yes, yes I do. I'm quite certain of it. Dogs are known to have an excellent sense of smell and it does have three heads. That is three noses you know." Harry stared at his friend. There were times he really did just want to grab her by the arms, shake her and ask her if she really was crazy or if she was just messing with him.
"M–maybe you should start singing before we open the door," Ginny offered.
"Maybe I should start singing," Harry muttered. "Maybe you three should go take singing lessons and we'll come back in six months."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Harry," Luna said, "But I'm happy to take lessons if you like anyway."
"If I like?" Harry asked his voice rising. "If I like. I've just spent close to three hours running for my life from a dragon that was intent on turning me into plant fertilizer, practically had my hand burnt off and now I'm about to serenade a bloody damn Hell Hound and you're on about singing lessons?"
"Well you brought it up!"
"Stop!" Hermione snapped. "Luna, hush. Harry you need to calm down."
"Calm down," Harry muttered. He began pacing back and forth. "Right, calm down. Why we have to get the bloody damn stone instead of the omnipotent demigoddess… makes perfect sense to me. Calm down. Calm down."
Ginny grabbed his hand. "Harry, stop." He drew up short. "Think of a song," she said.
"A song?"
"Yes. Something soft, maybe a bit sad."
"Soft and sad," he repeated. "Soft and sad."
"Something with love," she added, blushing.
"Love. Yeah. Ok, yeah. Soft, sad, love."
"Do you have one?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I heard my mum playing on the piano one day."
"Do you remember what it felt like?" Harry closed his eyes. Did he remember what it felt like? It felt like his insides had been torn out. That's what it felt like. He could still feel it. "Just remember what you felt then and sing." Harry nodded slightly, allowing the memory to wash over him. Silently he found the beat and drew a breath.
"You build it up and tear it down.
There's no reason to follow you."
For the first few lines, the others just listened. "He could serenade me any time," Luna sighed dreamily. Ginny shot her a dirty look but Luna didn't notice.
Hermione pressed her ear to the door. "I don't hear anything," she whispered.
Ginny drew her wand. "Go ahead and open it. If it tries to come through, I'll blast it back so you can shut the door again."
"Right," Hermione agreed. She pointed her wand at the latch. "Alohomora," she whispered. The door cracked open and a low growl spilled from behind it.
Luna caught her hand, preventing Hermione from slamming the door shut again. "Wait," she hissed. "Let it hear him." After about a minute, the growling diminished somewhat and a loud thud was heard to come from behind the door. Cautiously, Luna let the door swing open. The hinges squeaked and the growling grew again. Luna froze.
"Do you know a Lubricating Charm?" Ginny whispered.
"No," the other two answered.
"Right, well I think it's wide enough I can peek through."
"Be careful," Hermione urged.
"Trust me," Ginny said. "I've already been up close and personal with this thing once." She positioned herself at the edge of the door, took a deep breath and poked her head around. The cerberus was sitting in the middle of the room, staring straight at her with all of its heads; including the cobra that was its tail. "Meep!" she squeaked. The cerberus' heads perked ever so slightly but then lolled again. The cobra was swaying back and forth like a snake charmer was playing a flute in front of it and as she continued to watch the left head fell with a resounding thud to the floor. She backed out quickly. "It's working," she hissed. "Keep singing." A moment later another thud came from the room. "That's two," Ginny whispered.
"Two?" Hermione asked.
"Two heads sleeping," Ginny answered.
"Oh," Hermione mouthed. Another thud signaled the third head had fallen. Ginny poked her head back in. Only the cobra-tail of the beast remained awake and it was slowly settling lower and lower till it fell limply over the left dog head. Ginny pushed the door open a bit further, stilling when the hinges squeaked and the middle head snorted. But other than that, the beast didn't move. She slipped fully into the room and waved the others in. "Don't stop, Harry," she ordered.
"Do you see the stone?" Hermione hissed.
"No, but there's a trap door in the floor," Luna said. The other three followed to where she was pointing. "Of course we'll need to move its foot," she observed.
Hermione and Ginny exchanged a look. "You first," Ginny said.
"Why me?" Hermione demanded.
"Gryffindor, duh," Ginny retorted. "Besides, I was the one who poked my head through the door. I'm full up on my bravery quota for the day."
Harry, who was getting a bit tired of singing, plus his throat was getting dry and he was going to need water very soon, pushed past them and nudged the beast's foot with his own. There was no response at all from the thing. He motioned frantically for the girls to move the foot, pointing at his throat as well. They sprang into action and heaved the foot off the door. The cerberus let out a snort and flopped to its back. "Meep!" they squeaked and clapped their hands over their mouths. For a half second, Harry stopped singing. The middle head shook.
"Quick!" Harry hissed and started singing again. But the spell was broken and the cerberus was rapidly waking. Harry dove for the trap door. In one motion he yanked it open and shoved Luna in.
"AIEE!" she screamed. Ginny pushed Hermione in and jumped after her. Harry jumped just as the cobra struck. It missed him by mere inches, but he was safely through and plummeting down with the screaming girls.
"But they're children," Wilhelmina protested. "They can't possibly be expected to deal with something like this."
"No," Kai agreed, "they cannot. Regardless, all other paths lead to ruin."
"How can you possibly know that?" Minerva demanded.
"Because I have lived them… And it is but this, one, narrow path that allows hope to live." She stopped and stared off into the distance. A smile creased her lips. "That is one trial survived."
"OFFHA! OFFHA! OFFHA! OFFHA!" They all came to an abrupt, but soft landing.
"Is everyone ok?" Harry asked.
"Yes/Fine/Define ok," came the response.
Harry flopped to his back. "Good. I'm just going to lay here for a bit till my heart stops trying to tear a hole in my chest."
"Good idea," Ginny agreed.
"Not sure if I'm on heart attack five or six tonight," Harry muttered.
"It was really nice of them to provide us with a soft landing, don't you agree?" Luna observed.
"What is it, anyway?" Ginny asked.
"Some kind of plant, I think," Hermione said. She raised her wand over her head. "Lumos."
"Guess you were right," Harry said, observing the mass of vines they'd landed in. He tried to stand up and realized one of the vines was wrapped tightly around his ankle. He gave a tug and another vine snaked around his thigh. "Um guys?" he asked.
"It's moving," Ginny said.
A vine wrapped around Harry's chest. He grabbed at it but another grabbed his wrist. He was quickly being wrapped up like a mummy.
Luna smacked a vine that tried to catch her hand. "Now you stop that!" The vine snapped her across the face, drawing blood.
"LUNA!" Hermione and Ginny cried, lunging for her. The vines yanked them back and they began to struggle mightily.
"STOP!" Luna shouted. "Stop. You're only making it worse. Don't you remember? Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare, hiding in your dank and dark lair. Devil's Snare, Devil's snare, pretend to sleep you might avoid its snaking vines' creep. Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare, if, in its grip you've slipped, best ignore a dare, and – ignite – its – lair.
"Your flame, Hermione!" Harry cried.
"I can't get my wand to release," she cried.
"Relax," Luna said. "You have to relax. It's the only way it will loosen its grip."
Harry did his best to do as Luna was telling him, but even she was slowly being wrapped up by the plant. What he wouldn't give for the dragon to find him now.
"Hermione!" Ginny cried. Hermione didn't answer and with the vine over his eyes, Harry couldn't see. He tried getting his wand to release, but couldn't make the movement to do so. They were well and truly cooked this time.
"GOT IT!" Hermione cried. Almost instantly the vines began releasing them. "Let him go!" Hermione screamed, kicking at a vine still wrapped around Harry's eyes.
"Down here, Hermione," Ginny said, tugging on a vine around his ankle. A few seconds later Harry was free. He scrambled to his feet, giving a last kick at a vine still trying to reach them. Hermione directed a bit of flame at it and it scrabbled away from them.
"Thanks," Harry gasped.
"Had to pay you back for the dragon," Hermione said. She shot a bit of flame at another overly aggressive vine.
"Let's get out of here," Ginny said.
Harry grabbed Luna and kissed her cheek. "Thanks for paying attention in Herbology," he said.
"Oh!" Luna gasped, surprised.
"Yes, thank you," Hermione and Ginny agreed giving her quick kisses as well.
"Now let's get out of here," Ginny said. She grabbed Harry's hand and set off for the only door visible. She paused before opening it. "Ready?"
The all drew their wands. "Ready." She pushed the door open.
"PROTEGO!" they cried together. When nothing happened, Ginny edged her way into the room.
"What is it?" Luna asked.
"It looks like birds," Hermione said. And indeed it was; hundreds and hundreds of them flitting about a chamber as big as the great hall.
"There's the door," Harry said. He edged into the room another few steps. With a look at the other three, he said, "Nothing for it," and bolted. Whatever was supposed to happen, Harry didn't appear to have triggered it. He skidded to a stop in front of the door and gave a tug. "Locked," he muttered.
Ginny, Luna and Hermione slid to stops around him. "Don't do that!" they exclaimed.
"That's exactly how you almost got eaten by a dragon, Harry," Luna went on. "I should think you'd have learned a bit of caution from it."
"I am being cautious," Harry retorted. "I haven't tried to magic the door open."
"What do you think we're supposed to do?" he asked, examining the lock.
"I can't tell anything," Hermione said after casting the lone diagnostic spell she and Harry knew.
"Should we try unlocking it?" Harry asked.
"Be my guest," Hermione answered.
"You go ahead," Harry answered. "After all, it was your spell that saved us in the last one." Hermione glowered at him. "Hey, I'm just being cautious."
"Oh – Fine," Hermione sighed. "Alohomora!" She gave the handle a tug. "Finite Incantatum," she tried. "Nothing," she said when the door refused to budge.
"Let me see," Ginny said, pushing past the others.
"Harry, I don't think those are birds," Luna said. "They look like keys. And look," she pointed. "Brooms."
Harry eyed the brooms. "Those don't look like they could lift a butterfly," he said dubiously.
"Still," Hermione said, "I think we need to find the correct key. And we have other brooms. You and Ginny should be able to manage it easy."
"BOMBARDA!" Ginny cried. There was a massive explosion of noise and Harry, Hermione and Luna spun around to find the door hanging by a single hinge. They stared at Ginny. Ginny grinned at them. "Bill's curse puzzles. I couldn't find anything other than a locking spell. There was no reason not to blast it away."
"Brilliant," Harry sighed.
"And you say I have violent tendencies," Hermione muttered. She stepped past them into the next room. The others followed. The next chamber was completely dark but as they stepped in, it was flooded with light.
"Oh dear," Hermione said. Spread out before them was the largest chessboard Harry had ever even imagined. Far across the room he could see the white pieces all set and ready for a game while right in front of them were the backs of the black pieces. He stepped close to one. It looked to have been carved of solid stone.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Ginny said.
"Well it's obvious, isn't it?" Luna asked. "We have to play our way across." She tapped a bishop on the shoulder. It turned to her. "Are we meant to take your places?" The bishop nodded. "Well, that's it then. Easy, Peasey, Hermione will get us across."
"Me!" Hermione cried. "But – but."
"But what?" Luna asked.
"But you're better than I am."
Luna shook her head. "No. As I recall I beat you the first three times we played. We then drew two and you've won the last twelve. I am fascinated with all the possible variations, but it's still far to liner for me. Frankly, it gets boring."
"But this is wizards chess," Hermione hissed.
"Exactly," Luna said. "You'll be able to get us across. I'm rather afraid I'd lose at least one of us. It's best to know one's limitations after all, isn't it?"
"She's got a point, Hermione," Ginny said.
"But what if one of you gets hurt?" Hermione protested softly.
Harry took her hand. "You can do this, Hermione," he said. "I know you can."
"I can't lose you," she sniffed.
"Then don't," Harry answered. "We need you, Hermione," he pleaded when she still hesitated.
"Ok," she whispered. "Just let me think for a minute."
"Bril," Harry agreed. Hermione closed her eyes. Her lips moved, but she didn't make a sound and Harry knew his friend was going through a thousand scenarios he couldn't even think of while she settled on a plan. After a minute or so she blew out a breath. "Alright, Luna, take the place of that pawn. Ginny, you're the queen-side bishop. I'm the king-side knight. And Harry… you're the king."
"What? Why?"
"Because I said so, that's why. Now quit arguing with me and get in place."
"Alright, already. Yesh. Ask a simple question." Harry stepped to the king and tapped it on the shoulder. "Take a hike," he jerked his thumb. The king took its crown off and set it on his head before handing Harry his sword. "Thanks." The king turned its back on the white side and left the board. Harry quickly surveyed the game. Luna, Ginny and Hermione were already in place.
"White always goes first," Hermione said, peering across the board. "Yes, there." She pointed to a white pawn moving on the board. The pawn settled in place and a great grinding noise filled the chamber while the massive timer affixed to the wall was flipped over. "Harry," Hermione said, "time how long that lasts for me. Luna, I want you to move forward two squares, but I want you to wait till just before the sand runs out."
"Ok," Luna agreed.
"Looks, like three minutes," Harry said when Luna settled in place. White was quick to move; bringing a knight out from the back faster than the timer could be flipped. Hermione countered quickly as well, moving herself out from the back. White countered by moving a bishop all the way out to threaten her. If Hermione didn't move, white could take her with its next turn.
"Ruy Lopez," Hermione whispered. She took a breath and blew it out before commanding her other knight to move out from the back.
"WHAT!" Harry shouted. "Are you insane? A knight for a bishop is a fair trade."
"Harry," Hermione said.
"What?"
"Shut up… You. Move." The second black knight moved and it was white's turn. Harry was utterly astonished when white didn't take Hermione but instead moved a pawn. A number of moves later, Hermione was still at risk by the same bishop when she drew first blood and directed one of her pawns to take a white pawn. The black pawn drew a stone sword and moved onto the white pawn's square. It viciously decapitated the other piece and unceremoniously dragged the body off the board. As the black pawn returned to its spot it kicked the head of the white pawn, sending it in a high arc to crash against the wall. Harry and the rest stared in horror that only grew when white countered by using a knight to destroy the very same black pawn. The horse trampled the head of the pawn to dust while it waited for the knight to remount after dragging the body of the black pawn from the board.
"Was that really necessary?" Luna asked, looking up at the knight towering over her. The horse snorted angrily. The game progressed for some time with both sides losing a number of pieces. Being careful not to move from his square, Harry slid to the side as a particularly violent attack by the white queen sent the arm of a black bishop tumbling his way.
"Had to do that," Hermione muttered. "Only way."
"Only way what?" Harry demanded.
Hermione ignored him. "Luna, you see it right? I move. The queen takes me. You take the rook. That's check. White only has one defense. Then Ginny takes that pawn and puts white in checkmate."
"WHAT?" Harry and Ginny shouted.
"Hermione, no!"
"It's the only way, Harry!" Hermione shouted back. "Anything else and the only one who gets across is you."
"But if it's checkmate in three moves, then ask him to yield! You there," Harry shouted at the other king. "Do you yield?" The white king moved its head left and back right once before settling to stare straight ahead. "You son of a bitch! Fine, the hell with the stone. We su—"
"Silencio!" Hermione cried, waving her wand at him. "Petrificus Totalus." She hit him with a full body bind as well. "I'm sorry, Harry." She moved and the white queen turned. "Finish it, Luna," Hermione said. The queen struck and Hermione was thrown from her horse. She crashed down on the board, hitting her head and didn't move.
"NO, GINEVRA!" Luna screamed. "We're still playing. She quickly moved to take the white rook. White countered by sliding a pawn forwards a square. "Now you, Ginevra," Luna said.
Ginny rushed forward and slammed the pawn blocking her with her staff. "Checkmate," she said. The white king dropped his sword and the remaining pieces moved aside. Ginny dropped her staff and ran to Hermione.
"Finite Incantatum," Luna said, waving her wand at Harry.
He bolted to Hermione, crashing down on his knees beside her. "She's breathing," Ginny said. "I think she just hit her head." Luna knelt beside them. "I'll stay with her. You two go."
"I can't leave her," Harry croaked. "She'll die. Like Kaa."
"You have to. You and Ginny are the most powerful. Go. I promise I'll keep her safe."
Harry smoothed the hair back from Hermione's face. "I can't. I can't." Hermione moaned and rolled her head to the side.
"See, she's waking up already. Go. I'll stay till she can get up and we'll go for help."
"Harry?" Hermione whispered. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Right here, Hermione," Harry blurted.
"Get stone," she whispered. "Take Ginny."
"Forget about the stone."
"Muggle. Kill if come back. Need s–stop."
"Ginevra," Luna said, "take him."
Ginny stood up, pulling Harry with her. "Come on, Harry."
"But."
"Come on, Harry," Ginny urged.
"Go," Luna said.
Harry allowed himself to be dragged away, not looking away from Hermione till he and Ginny had passed through the next door. "Come on," Ginny said. "The faster we stop Snape, the faster we can get back to her."
Harry gave himself a shake. "Right, Snape, Dead Man Walking," he growled and broke into a jog. Ginny hurried to keep up. "What do you think is next?"
"Not sure. We know the cerberus was from Hagrid. The Devil's Snare was Sprout. The keys were probably Flitwick, and McGonagall was the chessboard. Who knows how many more of the professors are part of protecting it."
"At least, Quirrell and Dumbledore, right?" Ginny asked.
"Probably. Ergh, what is that smell?" The two eased around a bend in the passageway to find a troll at least as big as the one from Halloween night unconscious on the floor. Its club was lying next to it and there was a massive bruise on its misshapen head. "Bad year to be a troll," Harry muttered as they quickly made their way past it. They ran down a long hallway and skidded to a stop at a small room with a table set in the middle of it. Just as they entered the room the hallway they'd come from filled with purple flames. The only way out, another hallway opposite of where they'd come ignited with black flames.
Harry unconsciously flexed his recently burned hand. "Not more fire," he muttered.
"Harry, look at this." Ginny pointed to a blackboard beside the table. He quickly read it and turned his attention to the table and the bottles set on it.
"Snape," they grumbled together. "Well he'd certainly know which potion to drink to get past his own trial," Ginny said. She turned back to the board. "Ok, let's see if we can figure this out."
"Don't bother," Harry said.
"What?"
"If you came through here, would you put them back where they belong or would you mix them up?"
Ginny dropped her head. "Bugger."
"Besides, I already know which one we needed to drink to move forward." He picked a bottle up from the table and tipped it over. "The empty one.
Ginny glanced between the two hallways. "Well this is a problem. We can't go forward and we can't trust that he put the bottles back where they belong after he went through, so we can't find the potion that would let us go back either."
"What do we do?" Harry asked.
"No idea."
Harry scowled and racked his brain for a solution. It was actually starting to get uncomfortably warm in the room. "Think we can run fast enough?" he asked.
"Sure," Ginny said. "If it was ten feet. That looks more like a hundred. And it's magical fire; much more dangerous than normal flames."
"I've got it! Get on your broom."
"You're insane."
"If you hadn't noticed it's starting to get a bit warm in here. I don't think we've got much choice."
A bead of sweat took that moment to roll down Ginny's brow. "Good point." She pulled her broom out and mounted it.
"Ginny."
"What? Arrgh! What are you doing," she spluttered, fending off the drenching Harry was giving her.
"Fireproofing you," he said cheekily. Utterly soaked, Ginny glowered at him. "Would you mind?"
Ginny pointed her wand at him. "Fine, but this doesn't count as revenge."
"Save a girl's life and what do I get?" Harry retorted. Water pouring off him, he floated into position. "Here goes." Ginny blasted after him. It only took about twenty feet before steam began rising from her soaked clothing. By forty, she was growing warm and by sixty it was as warm as any bath she'd ever been in. By seventy it was scalding and by eighty she was pretty certain she was beginning to cook. She streaked out of the flames into a stream of freezing water. "Hot, hot, hot," she chanted, fumbling to release her wand so she could douse Harry again.
"Damn, damn, damn," Harry whimpered. He should have wrapped his hands in something. It was nowhere near what the dragon had done to him but it still bloody hurt.
Ginny crawled over to him. "Are you alright?" She examined his hands. They didn't appear to have blistered, but the skin was an angry red. His face also looked like he'd gotten a bad sunburn.
"I'll live. You?"
"I'm fine. I think it might not have been as bad following you."
"Don't suppose you know a Numbing Charm, do you?"
Ginny grinned. "I'm a redhead. We're born knowing how to cast Numbing Charms on sunburn." She pointed her wand at his face and then his hands. "It won't heal it, but at least it won't hurt."
Harry sighed blissfully. "At this point, I'll take it." He climbed to his feet and offered her a hand up. "Ready?"
"Not really."
"Me either." They set off up the stairs for whatever came next.
Kai appeared in the chamber beside Luna. The blonde girl was knelt on the floor cradling her friend's head in her lap. "Did I get it right?" Luna asked upon spotting the tiny fairy. Kai floated over Hermione where she rubbed her fingers together. A small sprinkling of fairy dust floated down and settled on the angry bruise to Hermione's temple. Hermione let out a soft sigh and her limbs stopped trembling. Kai flew up and sat on Luna's shoulder where she leaned her tiny head against the girl's cheek. "I've missed you too," Luna whispered.
She didn't ask her to go help Harry and Ginny. Kai had saved Harry once tonight; given her a riddle that might have saved the world, and had just set Hermione's injury to begin healing. Even a goddess had limits. If she could be of further help she would do so without asking. If she couldn't, then it meant she had already done all that could be done. Luna smiled down at Hermione and brushed the hair back from her face. "It's almost over," she said softly. "Harry and Ginny will get the stone and Sirius will be here soon. I promise."
"Well, now this is a surprise."
"You!" Harry gasped.
"Yes, me, Potter. I must say I rather expected it would be Miss Granger with you. No matter though, Miss Weasley, Miss Granger, it hardly matters which dies first."
"But Snape?" Ginny said.
"Yes, he does seem the type, doesn't he? Who would suspect p–p–poor st –stuttering prof–ffesor Quirrell next to him?"
Harry glanced at Ginny. She was as stunned as he was to have found it was Quirrell trying to steal the stone and not Snape.
"But it was Snape who tried to kill Harry at the quidditch match," Ginny protested.
"No. No. No, dear girl. I tried to kill him at the quidditch match. I must admit being shocked that your friend Miss Granger would light someone on fire… But it was certainly effective. The commotion knocked me over and I lost eye contact. Another few seconds and I'd have managed it. I'd have managed it anyway if Snape hadn't been muttering his little counter curse."
"S–Snape was trying to save me?" Harry stammered.
"Indeed. Too bad he managed to avoid getting killed the night I let the troll in. But then I did manage to see your familiar killed and we can't win them all, can we Potter?"
"YOU BASTARD!" Harry roared, lunging at him.
"Quirrell snapped his fingers. Ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped tightly around Harry and Ginny, binding them together. "I'll kill you," Harry snarled.
"Yes, yes," Quirrell retorted flippantly. "Now be quiet while I examine this interesting mirror." Harry struggled to get free, but the bindings were far to tight to break loose.
It was then that Ginny realized the Mirror of Erised was standing behind Quirrell.
"This mirror is the key to finding the stone," Quirrell muttered, tapping his way around it. "Trust Dumbledore to come up with something like this… but he's off chasing dragons in the forest… I'll be far away by the time he gets back.
"You set the dragon on us?" Ginny asked. With the revelation that Quirrell had set the troll loose in the school, Harry seemed to have lost the ability for coherent thought and all she could come up with was to keep Quirrell talking.
"Yes. I'd tricked that oaf Hagrid into taking the egg down at the village pub. He was so excited he didn't even realize he'd confirmed how to get past the cerberus for me. Frightening creature really, but simply dealt with if one knows a bit of history.
"Harry saw you and Snape arguing in the hall," Ginny accused.
"Yes, well Snape always suspected me. Tried to frighten me — as though he could with Lord Voldemort on my side…"
Quirrell came back around the front of the mirror and stared angrily into it. "I see the stone. I see myself presenting it to my master… but how do I get it?"
"Why would Snape save Harry?" Ginny asked. "He seems to hate him."
"Oh, he does. Heavens, yes. He and Potter's father were at Hogwarts together, didn't you know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead."
"I know all about what Snape did," Harry retorted. "He betrayed my mother and because of him my parents are dead."
For the first time Quirrell seemed taken aback. He cocked his head slightly. "Yes. He did, didn't he? My Lord has been most curious as to the source of some of your knowledge."
To Harry and Ginny's utter horror, a new voice, raspy and cloaked with malevolence, laughed softly. "I have indeed."
Harry and Ginny frantically searched the chamber. Voldemort was here already? But how?
"Enough," the voice snapped harshly. "I will deal with this."
Quirrell stopped in his examination of the mirror. "Master, you are not strong enough." He seemed to be searching the chamber for Voldemort as well.
"Silence!" Quirrell froze in place like he'd been petrified. "I will speak with him."
"Yes, Master." Quirrell quickly began unraveling his purple turban. The fabric piled at his feet and Harry got a whiff of the stench of garlic mixed with something a bit like brimstone.
"Urgh," he gasped. Quirrell turned around and there, growing out of the back of his head, was a face. A hideous face, chalk white with glowing red eyes and slits for nostrils just like a snake.
"Meep," Ginny squeaked. Harry couldn't even manage that.
"Harry Potter," it rasped. The smell of brimstone washed into the chamber and Harry and Ginny nearly retched. "We meet again." The ropes binding the two shifted, separating them from each other. The instant he lost contact with Ginny, Harry's scar exploded with the same pain he'd felt in the dark forest. It would have drove him to his knees had he not been so tightly trussed up. That didn't stop him from hurtling across the floor to stand directly in front of Voldemort though.
"HARRY!" Ginny shrieked.
Voldemort ignored her. Instead he bent lower so he was eye to eye with Harry. It looked very strange indeed as Quirrell looked like he was doing a back bend exercise. Harry knew what was coming. He tried to turn his head but found he couldn't even close his eyes to stop Voldemort invading his mind. If Harry felt his scar had hurt before, it was nothing to know. His entire head felt like it was in a vice with white-hot pokers randomly plunging into his brain. "AAAARGGGHH!" he screamed.
Ginny frantically struggled against the ropes; there was a tiny gap on her left side and if she could just force her hand through it she might be able to make the motion to release her wand. She gave a last twist and shove and was able to wiggle her fingers through. She wasn't supposed to let anyone know she had this wand. The only time she ever used it was late at night in her bed with the hangings drawn. But she loved it. Not even the nasty scorch mark she couldn't polish away could take away from its beauty. She'd often wished she knew whom the wand had belonged to, but Sirius said he wasn't certain; only that it had belonged to a Potter long ago. She did feel a bit guilty for thinking it suited her even better than her actual wand did. But not much; yes, she had learned a used wand could be better than a new one, but only if it chose you. This one had, grandmum Prewett's hadn't. Ginny gave a last push and she was able to trigger the release for her wand. It only slid about half way into her hand, blocked by the ropes binding her, but it was enough. Dealing with binding ropes was basic curse-breaker knowledge and all those nights spent sitting behind the closed hangings of her bed had been spent trying to actually perform the spells she had learnt from Bill's curse-puzzles. This one was easy enough for her now; at least when she could perform the wand movement for it.
"Būdi nanna baiṇḍiṅg seṭ," she said as loudly as she dared. It wasn't enough to free her entirely but the ropes nearest her hand turned black and loosened. A glance up told her she hadn't been noticed. Closing her eyes she concentrated as hard as she could and cast the spell again. This time a good portion of the ropes turned black and those impeding the movement of her arm fell to ash, freeing her to make the proper wand movement for the spell. She cast the spell a third time and the rest of the ropes fell away. Switching the wand to her good hand she took aim.
Through exhale and inhale, Harry screamed in one long wail that left his throat raw and little sound coming from him. Voldemort was ripping into his mind, mercilessly shredding his defenses and he could do nothing to stop it. Suddenly it ended. He spilled to the floor, utterly incapable of doing anything to stop his head smacking the stone with a dull sounding splat.
"BOMBARDA MAXIMA!" Ginny screamed. The spell slammed into the Quirrell/Voldemort creature and sent it flying across the chamber. She raced to Harry, crashing to her knees at his side. She grabbed his head and rolled him to her. "Harry… Harry! Can you hear me?"
Peace, blissful peace. Harry floated in a river of peace. He didn't know what had stopped the pain and he didn't care. He only wanted to stay where he was and never move again.
Ginny shook him. "Harry! You have to wake up!
Ginny, Harry thought. She was with him. That was nice.
"KILL HER!" Voldemort shrieked. Quirrell leveled his wand on Ginny and blasted her back across the chamber. She flew into the wall and smacked her head. Stars dancing in her vision, she slid down the wall and lay, unmoving on the floor.
"Harr," she slurred.
"No," Harry croaked. The pain was back. Not as bad as before, but his head felt like it was being crushed again. And Ginny was gone. There were voices pounding at him, each word like a club slamming into his skull.
"Foolish girl," Quirrell snarled, looming over her. "Did you actually think you could attack my master and live?" A flick of his wrist sent her wand skittering away. Ginny managed to flop to her back. Shakily she raised her right arm and triggered the release for her other wand. "Please," Quirrell sneered. Another flick of his wrist sent that wand flying away as well.
"KILL HER!"
"A last word?" Quirrell taunted. Ginny gathered herself enough to spit at him.
"NOW!"
"AVADA—"
"NO!" Harry screamed. He tackled Quirrell from behind. A tangle of limbs, they toppled on top of Ginny. For a brief moment the pain in his scar flared beyond anything he'd yet felt, but then it receded. Replaced instead by a burning that seared in every place his skin touched Quirrell. Four voices shrieked in agony and they rolled away from each other. Harry stared at his hands. They were red and angry and blisters were forming on them.
"Harry?" Ginny gasped. He focused on her. She had a nasty burn on her face and neck. He reached for her. She flinched, but when they touched the pain receded slightly. He drew back sharply.
"Master?" Quirrell cried. "What is this magic?" Harry and Ginny turned in time to see Quirrell's right hand crumble to dust and fall to the floor, leaving behind nothing but a stump. A blackened bit on his face was slowly flaking away too.
"FOOL! KILL THEM!"
Harry and Ginny looked sharply at each other. He grabbed her hand and they dove at Quirrell. They went for his face and the sound of four people screaming filled the chamber as Quirrell/Voldemort staggered back under the onslaught. They crashed into the mirror knocking it over. It shattered into a thousand razor sharp shards that sliced into their skin. Quirrell thrashed and shrieked, but Harry and Ginny wouldn't let up and after about a half minute, his whole body crumbled to dust. Hands and arms badly burnt, Ginny passed out from shock. Harry wobbled unsteadily beside her. A rushing sound, like a gathering wind filled the chamber and a swirl of greenish mist formed into a wailing apparition. Two embers of red, eyelike, focused on him hatefully. With a hideous wail it swooped down on him. The apparition passed through him like a ghost, but instead of feeling as if he'd been plunged into ice water, it felt as if every pain and injury he'd ever suffered in his life hit him all at once. It was too much for his brain to process and he slumped, bonelessly down on top of Ginny.
"Lily, Wait!" Remus cried. She ignored him and plunged down the hallway. Flames recoiled from her as she sped past. They quickly filled in again, blocking Remus from following her.
"How?" Sirius gasped.
"It's the damn Heart's Shield," Remus snarled. "Magic can't touch her." He trained his wand on the flames. "Help me get rid of this."
Lily flew up the steps into the last chamber. It took only a half second for her eyes to land on Harry and Ginny and she raced to them. Sliding on her knees through ash and broken glass the cuts she received went unnoticed. Magic couldn't touch her, but razor sharp glass was still razor sharp. "Merlin no," she whispered. She grabbed an arm each and frantically searched for a pulse. "Please, James, help me," she pleaded. There was nothing at their wrists so she moved to their necks. She found Harry's first, weak but steady. Focusing on Ginny she finally registered the ghastly burn her fingers were probing at. She bent and placed her head on the girl's chest. "Please, please, please," she whispered. It was soft as well, but her heart was definitely beating and she'd just felt Ginny take a shallow breath. "Thank you," she gasped. She sat up and pulled phials of stabilizing potion from her pocket. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." She raised Harry's head and carefully poured the potion into his mouth before doing the same for Ginny. "REMUS!" she screamed. "I NEED YOU!"
"I'm here," he gasped. A wave of his wand banished much of the glass and mess around the two students and Lily. "Let me in, Lils." She shifted so he could begin examining them.
"Are they alright?" Sirius asked.
"Eventually," Remus answered. "Just make sure no one sneaks up on us."
"Trust me," Sirius said, "my eyes are open."
After a few minutes, Remus conjured stretchers and levitated Harry and Ginny onto them. "Let's go. Sirius, take Harry." He set off, floating Ginny in front of him.
"Got him," Sirius said, following with Harry. Lily started to follow but stopped. Underneath Ginny had been a large red stone. She quickly scooped it up and put it in her pocket.
Kai let out a slow breath. Worlds split, realities fractured, in one Luna perished from the bite of the cerberus' tail. In a second, Hermione was no more. In another Harry was slowly being digested within the belly of a dragon. That one was terrible indeed; Voldemort was risen and already laying waste. But in this reality, hope yet remained. Ginevra's brother, William… she could do nothing "You may go," she said. In the time it took to blink she was gone from the clearing. Leaving Albus and the rest to stare blankly at the place she had been. In another blink she was back. "If the cerberus is not brought I will be most displeased." Another blink and she was gone again.
HPHPHP
Author's notes:
The song Harry sings to get past the cerberus is called, Never is a Long Time, by the group Roxette.
I always wondered why Ron didn't make Harry the King on the chessboard. On the one hand, yes, it is the most dangerous piece for Harry to be. On the other, it is the one piece you protect at the cost of all the others; and, if you win, it is the one piece you are guaranteed to still have on the board.
The spell Ginny uses to get free of the bindings in the fight with Quirrell/Voldemort comes from the ancient language,
Kannada:
I am far from any kind of language expert. But according to what I found on the internet, Kannada was in use by a wide and stable population earlier than the 3rd century B.C. I thought it worked as a good language for an advanced magical population that has since went out of favor for the mostly latin based spells JKR gives us, but remains in use by curse-breakers because it is exceedingly effective.
Ginny's spell,
Būdi nanna baiṇḍiṅg seṭ
Translates to english as
Set my bindings to ash.