Not Potter and the Stupid Stone
Chapter 22
Noel
When we got back to the common room, we found Ron asleep in front of the portrait hole, waiting for us to return. Harry reached down and roughly shook Ron causing him to jump to his feet and yell, "in the first ever Quidditch World Cup in 1473 all known fouls were committed."
I glanced down at the book in his lap, Quidditch through the ages, and then decided to ignore everything he had just said.
"Okay," I said, trying to suppress the urge to laugh at Ron. "So, Harry, what were you going to tell me about what centuar said?"
"You met a centuar?" Ron asked, groggily.
The five of us sat down as Harry and Laura began to explain all that had happened in the forest. They discussed the odd figure they encountered, Harry's scar burning, and some centaurs arriving, or, something along all those lines. Honestly, I was way too tired to pay much attention.
"I can't believe you scared Harry and Malfoy!" I said, surprised, after hearing that Laura had managed to pull one over on the two, in the forest. "Like, Malfoy I get, but Harry? I mean you've got to toughen up. Gryffindor and bravery and all that, you know?."
"I can't believe that's what you're focusing on." Hermione rolled her eyes and stared intently. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back."
"I wouldn't say back-back, maybe like half-back," Laura rambled. "But you know, not back."
"Whatever the case," Ron chimed, shoving her off, "we have to do something."
"None of the teachers believe that Snape is evil, and that he is about to let He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named into our school." I sighed, face solemn. "This is up to us."
"Noel's right." Harry said, in agreement. "Voldemort is using Snape, and Snape's a teacher. A teacher is going to let Voldemort into the school," he emphasized. "Voldemort."
I clapped my hands to my ears as Harry uttered the cursed name again.
"Stop it." Ron said, sternly.
"It's not like the name is still taboo." Laura mentioned, seemingly unconcerned.
"He still shouldn't say it." I scolded, "No witch of wizard is worthy of it."
Laura shook her head at me, making me rethink my statement, while Harry plowed on.
"And if Voldemort is back and no teachers will believe us - and Firenze is right - then Voldemort's about to get the stone. Then we have to find a way to stop him; I mean, look it's Volde..."
"STOP SAYING HIS BLOODY NAME!" Ron bellowed, as I felt my body curling in on itself. I couldn't help it, the name just seemed to ignite some deep seeded fear inside of me.
Harry continued, "Voldemort would be able to come and finish me off."
I whimpered as Harry said the name one last time.
"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of." Hermione said, trying to lighten all the moods in the room. "As long as you're in Hogwarts, and Dumbledore's around, he won't be able touch you."
After that, we talked until the sky turned light. None of us wanted to sleep, but, as the first prefect came down the stairs, our eyes simultaneously slid shut.
The next week came filled with exams, of which the five of us were shocked we managed to complete. All week, Harry had complained about the aching pain he was receiving from his scar, that hadn't left since we were in the forest.
After our very last exam, for History of Magic, every student let out a peaceful sigh of relief. We decided to relax in the fields for a while, as a sort of reward. Laura sat, leaned against a tree, as Ron stretched out on the grass. Hermione and I were standing up beside the tree, as Harry held his forehead.
"I just wish I knew what this means!" He groaned, "my scar hasn't stopped hurting since we left the forest – it's hurt before, but never for this long."
"Why don't you go visit Madam Pomfrey?" I suggested.
"I'm not ill." Harry pondered for a moment, "I think it means something. A warning for danger... or, such."
"Relax, Harry." Ron said, nonchalantly. "We've never had any proof that Snape figured out how to get past Fluffy. Plus, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's here."
"I just feel I've forgotten something..." Harry said, staring into the sky.
"That may just be the exams." Hermione explained.
"Yeah," Laura laughed, "I had gotten halfway through studying for our Potions exams before realizing we already completed them."
Suddenly, Harry jumped to his feet and began walking away.
"Where are you going?" I called out.
"I just remembered something." He said, quickly. "We need to see Hagrid, now."
"Why?" Laura asked.
The four of us scrambled to catch up to Harry, as he explained his realization, "don't you think it's a bit odd that what Hagrid wanted more than anything was a dragon, and then a stranger just turns up, having one in their pocket? I mean, how many people just wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Luckily, they spotted Hagrid, too, huh?"
"What are you talking about?" Ron questioned, even more puzzled.
Harry began sprinting towards the forest, running across the castle grounds, without giving an answer. Outside of his house, Hagrid sat in an armchair, shelling peas into a large bowl.
"Hullo." He smiled, "finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"
"We'd love to-" Hermione started.
"No," Harry said, somewhat rudely, interupting her. "We're in a slight hurry. Hagrid, I've got something, rather important, to ask you. The night you won Norbert, what did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"
"Dunno," He shurgged, "he wouldn' take his cloak off."
I raised an eyebrow at Harry, as Hagrid continued, "it's not that unusual. Yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head – that's one o' the pubs down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, but I never saw 'is face, he kept his hood up."
"What did you talk to him about, Hagrid?" Harry said, sternly, panic hidden in his voice. "Did you mention Hogwarts, at all?"
"Mighta come up." He paused, thinking back to the night. "Yeah, he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here. He asked 'bout 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 a dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted. He made sure I could handle it – he didn' want it ter go to just any old home – so I told him, afer Fluffy, a dragon would be easy."
"Did he seem interest in Fluffy?" Harry continued.
"Well, yeah. How many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet? Even at Hogwarts, not many. 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."
The five of us made eye contact, and began walking away, quite quickly. Hagrid suddenly looked horrified and shouted.
"I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" Hagrid panicked, "forget I said it! Hey – where're yeh all goin'?!"
Our whole way back to the castle, not a word was uttered, we were too lost in our own thoughts. Harry ended up, finally, being the one to break the silence, as we stepped into the entrance hall.
"We've got to go to Dumbledore." Harry declared, "Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort. Must have been easy, once he got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Does anyone know where his office is?"
We looked around, seemingly trying to find a nonexistent sign that would point us to his office. None of us had ever been told where the headmaster lived, nor did we know anyone who had been asked to see him. To be honest, Dumbledore might not even live at Hogwarts.
"We'll just have to-" He began.
"What are you all doing inside?" Professor McGonagall cut him off, approaching us whilst carrying a large pile of books.
"We want to see Professor Dumbledore." Laura said, intensely.
"See Professor Dumbledore?" She questioned, a puzzled look on her face.
"Why?"
"It's sort of a private matter." I muttered, trying to come up with an important excuse.
"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she continued, "after receiving an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic."
"He's gone?" Hermione grew nervous, "Now?"
"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard," McGonagall raised an eyebrow, "he has many demands on his time-"
"But this is important." Ron pleaded.
"More important than the Ministry of Magic?" She asked, attempting to get us to stop pestering her.
"Look, Professor," Harry sighed, "it's about the Sorcerer's Stone-"
She stood shocked, as the books she was carrying fell out of her arms, and she bothered not to pick them up.
"How do you know about-?" She stammered.
"Professor, I think," He corrected himself, "I know - that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."
She eyed Harry, suspicious of his intent, then eyed the rest of our the group.
"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow." She said, stiffly, "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-" Harry begged.
"Potter," She interrupted. "I know what I'm talking about. I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."
But we didn't.
Instead, we did the near exact opposite.
"Okay," Harry turned around, "plan B. Hermione, you wait outside the staff room for Snape and follow him, so you can tell us when he's going into the chamber."
"What?!" She asked, a shocked expression on her face. "Why me?"
"It's so obvious." I rolled my eyes.
"Oh, Professor Flitwick," Ron mimicked, "I'm so nervous I got question fourteen D wrong. I just..."
"Oh, can it." Laura said. "She gets the point. Right?"
"Fine," She threw her hands up. "I'm going."
"What are we gonna do?" Laura asked, as Hermione walked away.
"Just wait," Ron chimed. "Hermione's on Snape's tail."
Not half an hour later, Hermione came into the common room, face white as a ghost, and practically kneeled at our feet.
"I'm so sorry." She said, sadly.
"You lost him," I stared at her, "already?
"Snape came out and asked me what I was doing, and, when I told him, he got Professor Flitwick. And... well..." She mustered.
"You lost him." Harry finished.
"He must have snuck away while I was talking to Flitwick."
"Well that's it, then." Harry declared.
"You can't do this, Harry." Laura said, sternly.
"I have to get there before him!" He shouted back.
"What Laura meant is, you can't do this alone." Ron said.
"Yeah!" I nodded.
"We're coming with you." Hermione smiled.
"Tonight." Harry replied.
"Meet us in the common room." Laura said, giving in.
"I'll bring the invisibility cloak." He added..