CHAPTER 29
January quickly blended into February which melted into late March. Harry sat looking at his imaginary window, showing him the last signs of snow glistening in the moonlight. He didn't want to write another word about The Goblin Wars, he couldn't think of a single reason why History of Magic was important. It was already two in the morning; he should be curling up in bed like Draco and going to sleep.
"Draco, wanna go have a snowball fight?" Harry whispered in his brother's ear.
"You insane," Draco mumbled.
"I thought you were asleep," Harry remarked.
"You keep flipping through pages in that damn book and bitching about stupid Goblins. Do enlighten me," Draco leaned up, "what is a bloody twat."
"A female git," Harry decided that was a good enough answer.
"We could get into a lot of trouble for doing this," Draco said sitting up.
"Dads been such a grumpy prick setting up things for this terms test..." Harry began and Draco added: "You think if he bitches at us for sneaking out, he'll be in a better mood on Monday."
"If he is, then we would have so many appreciative people we probably would have to do our own homework for the rest of the year. Not that I really want us to get caught sneaking out," Harry winced.
"I don't want to spend the Easter Holidays grounded," Draco scowled at Harry.
"Why, it's not like we'll be going anywhere," Harry laughed.
"True," Draco said and began getting dressed.
They couldn't believe how easy it was to slip out of the castle during the wee hours of the morning. Draco showed Harry how to make snowballs with a wand and the war was on. Harry of course, decided Draco needed a lesson in deception, and while he manually threw a volley of snowballs, he made a few levitate above Draco's head. While Draco was busy avoiding the manual ones, Harry let the levitating ones land on Draco's head. Harry fell back in the snow laughing. He realized that Draco screamed more like a girl then Ron had when he saw the spider webs.
Harry didn't notice Draco come scurrying across the ground towards him. Draco quickly placed his hand over Harry's mouth and whispered in his ear: "I just saw someone or something moving near the main doors, but I didn't see where he went."
Harry turned enough to see the look on Draco's face, Harry knew in an instant that Draco was not playing.
"We need to get back inside," Harry whispered.
"Stick to the shadows and keep your wand ready," Draco told Harry as he crawled towards the walls of the castle.
The two of them kept their backs against the walls as their eyes surveyed the surrounding area.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" it was Harry's turn to scream like a girl when a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"Petrificus Totalus," Draco yelled, pointing his wand at the form holding Harry's shoulder.
Snape's body went stiff as a board and he fell backwards into the snow.
"Oh Shit!" Draco yelped when he saw Snape go down.
"Fix him, Draco," Harry demanded.
"How?" Draco squeaked, kneeling down next to Snape.
"You cast a spell and don't know how to undo it," Harry scowled.
"I heard a guy use the spell against another guy that was trying to start a fight. I never heard them end the spell," Draco explained. "I was trying to protect your stupid ass," Draco yelled at Harry.
"Hold my hand," Harry ordered Draco as he held on to his dad.
"What?" Draco scrunched up his face with confusion.
"Just hold on to me," Harry demanded and pulled out his Portkey.
"Lemon Sherbet," Harry called out.
Draco was shocked to find himself in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was more shocked then Draco when the three appeared in his office.
"What happened?" Dumbledore jumped to his feet when he saw Snape lying motionless on the floor.
"He scarred me, I screamed, Draco did this to him and he doesn't know how to fix it," Harry explained as Dumbledore scrambled over to them.
"Is he going to be okay?" Draco asked with great concern in his voice and his eyes.
"Did you use a curse?" Dumbledore peered over his glasses at Draco. Draco's response was a rapid nod of his head.
"Can we run and hide before you fix him?" Harry peeked up through the fringes of his hair at Dumbledore.
"You do realize his body is petrified, but he is aware of everything that's going on around him," Dumbledore looked at each of the boys.
"Is there a potion that can bring someone back from the dead?" Draco mumbled and let out a deep sigh.
"What?" Dumbledore was stunned by such a comment, especially at this moment.
"After he kills me, I don't want him to bring me back and do it again," Draco moaned.
Dumbledore gave a little snickered before he pointed his wand at Snape and said: "Finite Incantatem."
"I'm really, really sorry," Draco whimpered as Snape got to his feet. "I thought you were trying to hurt Harry.
"Home," Snape ordered.
The boys ran.
"You look amused," Snape sneered at Dumbledore.
"The thought of the son of a Death Eater protecting The-Boy-Who-Lived, is rather amusing. If Lucius was dead, he'd be rolling over in his grave," Dumbledore chuckled.
"I'm glad my boys could entertain you," Snape scoffed coldly. "But I find little amusement in them having a snowball fight at three in the morning."
"The stress of end of term tests affects many students in odd ways. I think a good night sleep will help," Dumbledore smiled.
"That is precisely what I plan on doing. Good night Headmaster," Snape gave a little bow of his head.
The boys raced into the apartment, dashed into their room and quickly got into their pyjamas.
"He better be in a wonderful mood on Monday," Draco groaned. "Cause he certainly wouldn't be in one tomorrow."
"I can't believe you petrified him," Harry let out a quiet little laugh.
"I can't believe you talked me into going out there in the first place," Draco remarked with a shake of his head.
"Thank for trying to save my ass," Harry giggled a little louder.
"Go to sleep," Draco responded.
"Do you two plan on staying in bed until breakfast, or should I put a locking charm on your door?" Snape's snidely commented dripped with cold ire.
"We're going to sleep," Harry said timidly.
The room went dark as the bedroom door closed.
"Up," Snape barked standing centre of the boys' bedroom, arms crossed over his chest. "Breakfast is on the table."
Harry and Draco both sat up sharply when they felt their covers being magically ripped off them and their dad's voice boom through the room.
Harry was the first to move after his dad left the room. He swung his legs over the bed and slip into his slippers. Then he grabbed his robe as he made his way to the bathroom.
Draco and Harry came into the dining room and noticed there was only place setting for them. They quietly eat their breakfast, and then took their dishes into the kitchen. On their way back, their dad called from his study area: "Both of you, come here," he ordered, pointing at the floor beside his desk.
Once both the boys were at the spot indicated, their dad gave his chair a quarter turn, so he was facing them: "Since the two of you were spending the weekend here. Last night indiscretion was family related and not school related; therefore I will not be notifying your head of house or deducting any house points. However, your mother and I discussed the matter and have decided that the two of you are grounded until after the Easter Holidays. You will be staying here during that time. At the end of your last class you will both come straight home. I will not accept any excuses for not coming straight home, which includes detentions, so I would advise you not to get any. Lunch will be in the Great Hall, breakfast and dinner will be eaten here. Your friends are not allowed here. If you need to use the library for studying or help with your essays, you will inform your mother and be supervised by her," he dictated. "And you," his attention was directed at Draco, "I am proud of the way you immediately reacted to protect Harry. I will admit I was irate at the fact that you petrified me, but why you did it and how fast you reacted waned my anger very quickly."
"I really am sorry," Draco said softly.
"I know," Snape gave a little grin.
"Go fetch your homework and work on it in the living room, where I can keep an eye on you," their dad ordered and turned his chair back.
Monday morning Harry and Draco were standing outside their Charms class waiting for the rest of their class mates to join them.
"Today's the written test, right?" Ron asked Harry as they walked into the class.
"Yeah," Harry replied.
"You're gonna help me practice doing Charms after school, right?" Ron said to Harry.
"I think you'll have to work with Hermione," Draco snickered.
"Harry you said you'd help me." Ron scowled at Harry.
"That was before we ended up grounded till after the Holidays," Harry sighed. "Grounded as in staying at the apartment, straight there after last class and no friends over."
"I leave you alone with Draco for a weekend and look what happens," Ron scowled across the room at Draco.
"Snowball fight wasn't my idea," Draco yelled across the room.
"Today is your written test, so no one is throwing snowballs at anyone," Professor Flitwick commented. "And there's no need for talking," he added as rolls parchment floated to everyone's desk.
"You got grounded for having a snowball fight?" Ron questioned Harry at the end of class.
"I think it was the fact that we were having the fight at two in the morning," Harry chuckled.
"How many points did we lose?" Hermione said crossly.
"My dad said that since we were staying at the apartment for the weekend, it was a family matter and no house points would be lost," Harry grinned.
"You have to bring me the baby monitor during lunch," Harry told Hermione. "It's the only time I'll be able to see you other then in class."
"I think whoever is after the stone is going to wait until summer, then the school is basically empty," Ron remarked.
"That does make sense," Hermione nodded to Ron. "But the thief has to be sure that Dumbledore doesn't get a hold of Nicolas before the end of the year."
"Then why didn't he take it at Christmas?" Ron scoffed.
"Dumbledore stayed here for the holidays," Hermione noted with a scowl.
"The school will be almost empty again next week during the Easter break," Ron told them.
"But Dumbledore will be here," Harry responded. "I don't think any of the Professors leave during Easter break."
"You're not going to Keir Korbin?" Ron questioned Harry.
"No. Draco and Cissy are going to Cissy's mother's for two days. Her mum wants to see Draco, Cissy wanted me and my dad to go. But dad said it would be better if Cissy went and told her mum everything that has happened, Her mum's been on a world yachting tour for the last year and a half," Harry explained.
"I doubt anything is going to happen until the end of the year, or maybe during the summer," Ron frowned.
"It does make more sense to take it when there are less people around," Hermione said, smiling at Harry.
"Draco and I will still take our turns with the monitor," Harry told his friends. "But you'll have to bring it to me at lunch.
Harry figured this was the perfect time to soak in a bath with a book; tests were all finished until finals in June, Draco and Narcissa had left earlier in the day for Narcissa's mothers and his dad was at a meeting with Dumbledore. Harry climbed out of his bath when the water became chilly, and his toes looked like prunes. He slipped into his pyjamas and robe and flopped down on his bed to finish reading his book. He quite enjoyed reading Muggle books that depicted their idea of witches and wizards. Whenever Dumbledore went somewhere and ran across such a book, he would bring it to Harry; usually after reading it himself.
Harry found himself laughing frequently throughout the book. During a good bout of the giggles, Harry heard what sounding like a harp being played off in the distance. It took several minutes for him to finally realize the music was coming from the baby monitor.
Harry dropped his book and stared at the monitor, unsure what exactly he was supposed to do.
"Clothes," he yelled, as he ran around finding his jeans.
Once dressed, Harry ran out of the apartment. Grounded or not, he needed to get to Dumbledore's office.
Harry didn't even bother to knock; he barged into the room and was greeted by a very surprised Professor McGonagall: "What is the meaning of this?" she snapped, scowling over at Harry.
"I need to see Professor Dumbledore," Harry panted as he tried to catch his breath.
"I'm afraid he and your dad received an urgent owl from the Ministry and they left moments ago," she told Harry.
"But it's about the Philosopher's Stone. Someone is going to steal it," Harry spouted.
"I don't know how you found out about that, but I assure you it is quite safe," she continued scowl, but also looked flustered.
"But..."
"The stone is safe. Now off to bed," she ordered. "No detours, I know you are still grounded."
Harry left and did go back to the apartment, but only to get his cloak. The invisible Harry raced up to the Gryffindor tower, giving the Fat Lady the password, then hiding back up his cloak. Harry found Ron, obviously frustrated, at trying to give Hermione chess lessons.
"There's music coming from the monitor," Harry whispered to Ron.
"Harry?" Ron whispered in the direction of the voice he had heard.
"There's no one else in the room," Hermione mentioned and Harry slipped the cloak down off his head.
"Whoever is after the stone is not waiting for school to end? My dad and Dumbledore have left the school and there's music being played to Fluffy. I told Professor McGonagall that someone was going to take the stone and she told me it was safe and to go to bed," Harry huffed angrily.
"Let's go check it out," Ron said, jumping to his feet.
"How are the three of us supposed to stop this person?" Hermione asked, but got to her feet.
"We took out a troll," Ron laughed. "Now get under the cloak and let's go," he tugged at her arm.
"I think we need more than a club," Hermione quipped.
They slipped into Fluffy's room and found the dog fast asleep; his snoring blew the cloak off the kids.
"Help me move his paw," Harry told the other two as he gave the paw a push.
With the paw out of the way, Ron lifted the trap door and the three of them looked down, but could see nothing but darkness.
"We can't just go down there, we don't know what's there," Hermione mentioned.
"What are we going to do?" Harry asked.
"The music stopped," Ron told them.
Fluffy took a snap at Ron and missed.
Hermione got knocked into the hole when Ron moved from the snap of the dog. "Jump down," Hermione called from the dark.
Harry and Ron did as Hermione said, moments before the dog took another snap.
"What is this?" Ron questioned as a vine began to slither across his body.
"I think it Devil's Snare," Hermione replied. "You have to relax, or it will kill you faster."
"Kill us faster," Ron screeched.
The boys watched and Hermione slipped through the vines and disappeared.
"Hermione," the boys screamed.
"Just relax," Hermione ordered from somewhere under the boy location.
"Hermione," Harry said softer.
"Relax," she said again.
Harry did as Hermione requested and he too slipped through the vines, joining Hermione on a lower level, causing Ron to scream and fight the plant.
"I don't think he's relaxing," Harry quipped.
"Do you remember the poem Professor Sprout told us about Devil's Snare?" Hermione questioned Harry, but she began saying the poem before Harry could even answer: "Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... I can't remember," she stated and stamped her foot. "It sulks in the sun," she spouted all of a sudden. "Lumos solem."
The planet released its hold on Ron and Ron fell to the ground at Harry and Hermione's feet.
"Good thing one of us pays attention in Herbology," Harry patted Hermione on the back.
"This way I guess," Harry remarked pointing down a dim corridor.
"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered. "It sounds like wings."
"There's a light down there," Harry noted and they picked up there walking speed.
"Do you think they'll attack us?" Hermione asked as they all stood in the archway of the room before them.
"Run for that door," Harry said and led the way.
Even an Alohomara spell wouldn't open the door.
"Those aren't birds," Harry mentioned, "they look like winged keys."
"Maybe you're supposed to use that broom and fly up and get the key for this door," Hermione told Harry. "You need to find one that looks old and probably silver."
"That one with the broken wing," Harry pointed way up and studied the broom in front of him. "This is too easy," he said quietly.
"Come on Harry, you're the youngest Seeker in a century. You're the only one of us that can do it," Ron said proudly.
As Harry had thought, it wasn't easy. The minute he mounted the broom, the flying keys began to chase him.
Harry soared up, catching the wanted key, then diving towards his friends, he yelled to Hermione: "Catch."
Hermione grabbed the tossed key and quickly opened the door. Harry flew in after his friends made it into the next room. Ron and Hermione slammed the door behind Harry and could hear the flying keys embed themselves into the door.
"I can't see a thing," Ron moaned. Then suddenly lanterns flared to life, revealing a massive chess set.
"Now what do we do?" Harry queried.
"That door," Hermione pointed across the chess board between a few of the white chessmen.
But the pawns drew their swords when the trio approached.
"I guess we have to play our way across the board," Ron grinned.
"You're the chess player," Harry said to Ron, "tell us what to do."
Hermione let out a little panicked squeak when she saw the first chess piece get beheaded like Ron's little wizard chess set.
After many pieces had been destroyed, Harry realized what Ron's next move would be.
"No Ron there has to be another way," Harry bellowed.
"You have to stop the thief before he brings You-Know-Who back," Ron stated. "As soon as I make me move, you have to check the king."
The white queen quickly descended on Ron, slapping Ron on the head with her stone hand. Ron slumped to the floor and Hermione screamed and was about to step out of her square.
"Hermione, wait," Harry yelled his order. Then he moved his required three steps and checked the white king.
The king let his sword fall to the ground in defeat and Harry and Hermione raced over to Ron.
"He just knocked out," Hermione told Harry. "Let's see what's in the next room and then come back and get Ron," she suggested.
The minute they stepped into the next room they were trapped by a black fire ahead of them and a purple flame behind them.
"What the hell!" Harry spouted.
Hermione ignored Harry's ranting as his neared one fire and then the other, watching the flames become more intense as he neared them.
Harry noticed Hermione smiling as she read a piece of paper she had picked up off the table full of vials that was in the room.
"This isn't magic, its logic all you have to do is read the clues in the message and drink the right potion," she continued to grin.
Harry remained quiet as Hermione paced up and down the length of the table muttering to herself as she read the paper over and over. "I've got it," she bounced with great pride showing on her face.
"The smallest vial will get us through the black fire and closer to the stone," she told him.
Harry looked at the vial: "There's barely a swallow in here. Which one gets us back?"
Hermione pointed at a bottle near the end of the table.
"You drink that one and go help Ron," Harry told her.
"But..." her lip shook. "What if Vol..."
"I'll be okay," Harry gave her a smile. "I have another way out." He swallowed the potion in his hand.
"I have to go before this wares off," Harry said to her and stepped through the black flame.
