Author's Note: I don't own the story or the characters of Harry Potter, this work is entirely fan-made. The rights to everything Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling.

To the guest who gave the review 'You do know chapters 4 and 5 are exactly the same, right?', I didn't know that before your review and have subsequently changed this so that chapter 4 is back to the actual chapter 4. Sorry to those including yourself that had to deal with that mistake, as it does introduce a pivotal character in the story, in my own way of course. I shall try to avoid that kind of mistake in the future.

Thanks for the continuous support on the story, especially as Year 1 nears it's close. It means so much to me that you have stuck with the story this far and it amazes me how many people like it.

Without further ado, here is chapter 22


After Harry had told them all the secret, that he had never known, all four of them got closer as they all held common secret. Zoe also found out about her abilities, yet she asked Madam Pomfrey to tell no-one about them unless she specifically had to. After Zoe had learned of Dumbledore's treachery and sneaky behaviour, she especially didn't want the matron to tell him, as she didn't know what he would do with the information. Ron Weasley had indeed tried to apologise for his earlier behaviour but had followed that up with a thought containing the word Mudblood. Zoe was still angry about this and told those that weren't the bushy-haired witch what the ginger had said in his mind. This made them all fall back into their old and simple ways of opposing Ronald Weasley again.

The end-of-year exams were brutal. The practical tests in each class were easy enough as they were tested in their classes, on the desks, all at the same time. The written and theory test for each subject was another matter entirely. The quills they were using were anti-cheat and would not help with spelling. This, of course, wasn't a problem for most, like Hermione, who scored 112% on her charms written test and beat everyone else in the year on everything else but defence against the dark arts and transfiguration. These were Harry's and Zoe's talents. His practical had also been great, despite the scalding-hot scar every time he looked towards Quirrell. He wanted to do well in this, as he wanted to become an Auror, like his father and his auror partner, Frank Longbottom. Neville's father had been extraordinary, somehow managing to keep James in line from rushing into fights with his wand first, and his brain about a mile behind.

Hermione wasn't upset about being beaten in two tests, as she knew Harry put most of his work into making his parents proud, especially his father and that Zoe was her near equal in intelligence. This was one of the reasons that the sorting hat had considered putting Harry in Slytherin, his ambition to be like his father. Zoe had aced her charms and Transfiguration tests, beating Hermione in the latter, by making the cushion they had transfigured from a hedgehog personalised to Professor McGonagall by embroidering the initials of her name onto it. The elderly witch hadn't seen skill like this from a first-year for many, many years. Neville had scored highest in the year and higher than even some in second-year on his Herbology exam, for his ingenious use of the many plants in medicinal potions and the amazing attention-to-detail.

The four had spent so much time revising that they had all next to forgotten about the Philosopher's stone. They remembered about it when the results buzz was over and Hermione had figured out any possible mistakes she had made on the tests, despite setting a record for the highest grade in charms for the last century. The hall was a pleasant place to be again, without the heaps of books or panicking students. The glare from Quirrell was still fixed on Harry and Snape's fixed on Quirrell. During the final week of term and of the Hogwarts year, Quirrell had rushed out of the Great Hall by the end of lunch. Harry and Nevile were quick to notice this and told the girls what was happening.

The look of determination on Harry's face was almost worrying as the four sprinted to the common room to grab the cloak and to drop off their robes for their casual wear, letting them move faster. After the frantic run to the third-floor corridor, they went over the plan and listened through the door. All four heard the distinct sound of the trap-door opening and subsequently shutting. The music stopped too, meaning the beast was awake. Zoe knew how to calm a dog like this, music was the simple key. She led them through the door, and thankfully, Fluffy wasn't on it. The young witch murmured "Chorus" the Choir spell. It sent a musical tune, pleasing enough for the dog's massive, shaggy, black ears and instantly put the animal into a deep slumber.

The wooden block was pulled up and Neville went first, casting a cushioning charm as he fell. After he was out of the way, the rest followed and relaxed their bodies to escape the deadly clutches of the Devil's Snare. The Herbology prodigy proudly thanked them for their compliments on defeating the flora and decided to hurry to the next obstacle. The giant chess match was up but instead of bringing himself to play the boring game, Harry simply told the others to stand back. He mustered all his strength and will into the one spell and unleashed an exploding curse to rival the force of a landmine. The granite and marble structures stayed intact for a short moment, then Harry let out a small breath, intending to blow the rock away. The enchanted pieces shattered into a thousand shards and then were carried to the side by a cold draught in the room.

The four rushed through the next door and heard a small fluttering of wings as if a million tiny birds were chattering saying "Turn back now, while you have the chance". They ignored the charms obviously put on by Professor Flitwick and noticed the next wooden door on the opposite side of the room. They ran over to it and Harry yanked on the handle. It was stuck shut. "Great, now what do we do? We're stuck here with no way to get through and some really annoying bir-WILL YOU SHUT UP!" Harry said, bellowing the last bit at the tiny creatures above them. Zoe then noticed that they weren't birds or even creatures at all. They were glimmering, winged keys, varying from ancient bronze to archaic gold with ornate inscriptions, on closer inspection. Hermione, in her infinite wisdom, suggested "We have to look for a key that matches the colour and pattern on the lock. The metal on the door in question sported a silver sheen and an etching of an eagle, confirming that this was in fact, the work of their diminutive charms Professor.

Zoe used her keen eyesight to spot a key, wearing the same colouration and detail of the lock. A broom was spotted hovering in the air, just two feet away and above them. The youngest Potter grabbed the broom, feeling the hard, ridged wood on her hands, and shot off the ground towards the jingling mass of keys. A minute later, she had caught the correct opening tool and sped towards the ground, being tailed by a crowd of silvery menaces. She dropped the key to Hermione, who deftly slid it into the lock and turned. Zoe followed them through the oak door and the remainder of the party shut it, hearing the many bangs of the other keys, slam on the door. They turned around and Zoe hopped off the broom, welcoming the congrats on her flying skills. Then the putrid odour hit them like a speeding dragon. A troll, not unlike the one from Hallowe'en, was lying, face-first on the cold, cobbled floor, lying in a pool of greyish-red liquid by its head.

The troll was more than knocked out this time, it was utterly murdered. Brutally, savagely, killed, no-doubt by the other person on the trail of the Philosopher's Stone. The door was free to walk over to, avoiding the troll's puddle of blood and its massive, grey head. After reaching the door, the one-room left contained only a table, some bottles and a note on a piece of parchment. This logic puzzle was Hermione's chance to shine even more. The parchment contained a riddle, nothing to do with the actual potions, but which one they should drink. The other bit of common sense told Hermione that the fire was enchanted as it was black in colour. She read the note again carefully analysing the right phial to drink from. She finally spoke, "So the smallest bottle gets us through the flame and the purple one will get us back." She pointed at the smallest bottle and muttered the doubling charm. The bottle didn't react, so she tried it on the one to go backwards and two more sprouted from them.

Harry spoke up and stated what seemed obvious to him, "Go to Professor McGonagall, take the broom up through the trap-door and let me deal with Quirrell. Get her to get Dumbledore, I know he's practically senile but we need him. I know what has to be done." Harry grabbed the potion and gulped it down in one. Hermione then grabbed his arm, turned him around and gave him a nervous kiss on the cheek. "You will come back to me Harry James Potter. We need you to come back. I need you to come back." With the gesture of good luck, Harry took a step back through the black flames and turned to open the door, taking one, hopefully not last look, at his friends, his family and said "Always".


The next chapter Will be the last of year 1. If you want to read more, for the following years of the story, let me know if you want to see them, as I have plans already for them.