Disclaimer: Harry Potter & it's characters belong to JK Rowling
Credit also to JK R for the riddle of the potions that appears in this chapter
A/N:
Apologies to everyone as I said this chapter would be the last one of first year but I didn't realise the write up on this would run to over five thousand words already and so the actual end of first year will be in chapter eleven in order not to make this chapter overlong.
Chapter Ten
Over a week had passed since the incident in the Forbidden Forest during Harry and Hermione's detention and ever since the pair of them with help from Ron and Neville had been trying to convince their Professor's (save for Snape) that someone was going after the stone, that person was Snape and that they needed to act to stop it being stolen.
To the frustration of Harry and his friends however they were seen as nothing more than four foolish kids who were either making it up or had got it wrong.
No matter what Harry, Ron, Hermione or Neville said the teachers insisted that the stone was safe and they should just get on with their work and enjoying themselves.
It was now the 4th of June. As it was a Thursday Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville had just finished morning class and taken a few sandwiches and some juice from the hall for lunch as they walked down through the sunlit grounds in the sweltering heat to Hagrid's Cabin.
Harry had in his mind a question that had been nagging at him for awhile but which he had been unsure how to voice.
They ate as they walked and Harry went over the question with the others "we need to know whether Hagrid told the witch or wizard he bought the egg from about Fluffy or not. If he didn't then the stone is safe but if he did..." Harry left the end of the sentence unsaid as they finished off their sandwiches and juice with the goblets immediately vanishing.
They reached the door to the cabin and knocked loudly enough to gain Hagrid's attention.
From inside came the sound of heavy booted feet moving across the room and the door was opened to reveal a smiling Hagrid "come in!, come in!" he said sounding even more cheerful than usual.
"You sound very happy today Hagrid" Hermione noted.
"Yeah Hagrid, did you win the wizarding lottery or something?" said Ron as the four students sat down.
Hagrid shook his head still smiling and bustled around in the kitchen bringing over tea...and an opened letter.
As he sat down and handed cups around to the four of them he said "it's from your brother Charlie in Romania Ron".
Ron frowned as he clearly thought that if Charlie was going to send a letter to anyone it would have been one of his brothers and not Hagrid "it's about Norbert err I mean Norberta" he said grinning "she's settled in wonderfully and even has a partner apparently".
The four students gave varying happy replied to this good news but inside it just made Harry remember the question they had come down to ask.
After taking a few sips of tea Harry decided it could not be delayed and so he just started in "Hagrid, that man who you bought the dragon's egg from, you didn't tell him about Fluffy did you?".
Hagrid frowned "I...dunno. I might have done" he replied looking confused on seeing their horrified faces "I had a bit too much ta drink see" he told them sounding embarrassed.
"Think Hagrid" said Harry desperately "did he ask about Fluffy?".
Hagrid scrunched up his face thinking hard "well as a matter of fact" he said "he did ask about me job, what sort of work I did and if I would be able to handle looking after a dragon. I told him, I said that after Fluffy a dragon would be a doddle and then he asked how I handled Fluffy and I said just play him a bit of music and he falls right ta sleep".
Harry and his friends exchanged exasperated looks for it clearly had not occurred to Hagrid that this man or woman or whoever they were had merely given him the egg to let his guard down.
It was obvious to Harry by now that this person had wanted information and he had got it and no doubt either he had been Snape or had given Snape the knowledge to get to the stone.
Harry and his friends finished their tea and headed up to Greenhouse One where they were having Herbology that afternoon with the Hufflepuff's.
"So Snape knows how to get past Fluffy and he helped with one of the other traps" said Harry "there's nothing stopping him now".
"Except Dumbledore" Ron noted causing Harry to pause as did the others.
Harry turned to his best friend "what did you just say Ron?" he asked thinking he may have misheard.
"I said, except Dumbledore" Ron replied not seeing what the big deal was in his words.
"That's it!" Harry shouted causing his friends to jump "if the other Professor's won't listen then we need to take our information to the only one who will. My uncle said Dumbledore is a great man and always acts on information about things".
"We should go after class today" said Hermione.
Ron and Neville nodded as Neville said "it can't hurt".
And so after that afternoon's double Herbology the foursome headed back into the castle itself and enquired from a passing prefect as to where the Headmasters Office was.
The boy had looked suspicious but had directed them there nonetheless with Harry and the others wasting no time in racing on up there.
When they arrived however they were met by Professor McGonagall coming from the opposite end of the corridor.
Upon seeing the four of them she stopped in her tracks next to one of the stone gargoyles. She looked furious with them as she said "for heaven's sake! I told the four of you to leave it, the stone is perfectly safe and the Headmaster doesn't need to be told!".
"But Professor the thief knows about Fluffy!" Hermione burst out causing the Professor to look at her in shock.
"How did you know...never mind, off you go out into the grounds and enjoy the sunshine" she said sternly "and forget this whole business".
"But Professor please, if we could just speak to Professor Dumbledore..." Harry began.
"I'm afraid the Headmaster is on his way to London at this precise moment" McGonagall informed them seriously "he received an important message from the Minister of Magic himself and is on his way to help".
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville were all staring at her now giving equal looks of shock and horror at this news "but...but he can't be" Neville stuttered.
"Well he is" the Professor said severely "and that's an end to it. Now get going outside!".
The four dejected students left the fourth floor corridor and headed out down the stairs and into one of the third floor corridors. Not the one that housed the stone but one that had several old and disused classrooms in.
As they were walking along Harry pondered the new and terrible information. Dumbledore was the only one who Snape would have been scared of. Now there would be nothing stopping him from stealing the stone. Unless...
Before Harry could voice his thought he heard a voice from within an old classroom on their right "wait up guys" he said quietly as he beckoned them back to where he was standing.
Ron, Hermione and Neville walked over looking politely puzzled as to why he was hanging around outside the classroom.
"Harry what...".
"Shhh Ron!" Harry hissed as he pointed to the door and whispered "Snape".
They understood at once and no one said anything as they listened in.
"Tonight's the night...what do you mean am I sure? of course I am!" Snape snapped "there is no better time for it. It must be done tonight...very well I will see to everything...yes tonight at midnight".
There the sound of movement inside the room and in a show of quick thinking Harry shoved his friends along urging them to walk normally and make it look like they had just been passing by and not listening.
the door opened and a voice behind them said coolly "hold up there".
The four of them froze in place while Harry used hand signals to indicate not to give the game away.
Snape reached the four of them and sneered for a brief moment before he drawled "and what would four upstanding young Gryffindor's such as yourselves be doing inside on such a fine day as this?".
Quick as a flash Hermione jumped in "homework for Professor Sprout, Professor. She wanted us to read up on the properties of the mandrake root for the next school year so we can write an essay on it".
Snape looked annoyed at this answer as he had obviously been trying to catch them out on something "very well" he drawled "you had best get back to the library then".
Before any of them could say anything further to the man he swept past them, his cloak billowing out behind them and to Harry he really did look like an overgrown bat.
"That settles it" he said as Snape disappeared around the corner "he's after the stone and he's going after it tonight".
"We need to go after him" Ron said at once and Harry nodded.
Neville looked nervous but added "don't know what use I'll be but I'm in" Harry clapped him on the shoulder in appreciation of his support.
Hermione frowned. She didn't like breaking school rules. Eventually however she sighed "you're right" she said simply "Professor Dumbledore isn't here, the other adults won't listen and someone needs to stop Snape. No one should have that kind of power".
Harry put his hand out and in quick succession three other hands found their way on top of his as he said "all for one...".
"And one for all!" the other three finished as Harry reflected that it was a good thing he'd lent his copy of The Three Musketeers to Ron and Neville or they'd never have known what he was talking about.
That night the four friends waited up in the Gryffindor common room passing the time playing games of wizards chess, exploding snap and playing top quidditch, the quidditch cards game similar to top trumps as they waited for everyone to go to bed.
Unfortunately they were unable to leave the common room until ten past twelve thanks to Fred and George staying up even later than usual in the common room with their friend Lee Jordan.
Once those three had headed off to bed Harry and the others sprang into action getting the invisibility cloak from Harry's pocket and heading for the portrait hole.
They ignored the Fat Lady's protest about students being up and out this time of night and threw the cloak over themselves as they picked their way carefully down stairs, along corridors and up other stairs until they reached the off limits corridor on the third floor in which contained the room with the trap door.
The foursome wasted no time as they raced down the corridor to the door at the far end only to find that the door was already ajar and hear the distinct sounds of grunting and snoring coming from within as well the sound of a harp.
As they tiptoed cautiously into the room they gaped at the sight ahead of them for Fluffy the giant three headed pet of Hagrid was lying fast asleep on the floor as next to him a harp, no doubt enchanted, played a calming tune by itself.
"Damnit he's already been here!" Harry swore.
"What do we do now?" asked Neville.
"Simple Nev" Ron replied for everyone "we need to get down that trap door".
The four of them tiptoed past the sleeping Fluffy towards the revealed trap door.
Everything seemed to be going well as Ron pulled open the trap door for them until, that is, the harp ceased to play and movement could be heard near them.
Moments later there was a loud snarl and gnashing of teeth.
Harry and his friends looked up into the face of a slobbering and angry Fluffy "jump!" Harry yelled.
His friends didn't need telling twice as they leapt one by one through the open trap door and down to gods alone knew where.
Harry was the last to jump and just barely missed being swiped by one of Fluffy's massive claws which inside shattered the door of the trap door into splinters.
Harry landed with a thud on something that felt soft and squishy. He had little time to wonder what it was for as Ron murmured "lucky this was here" the thing or things started to tighten around them restricting their arms, legs and torso's.
"What the hell is this stuff?!" Harry shouted as he tried to wriggle free.
"It's devil's snare" Neville answered promptly "and we need to relax or it'll kill us faster".
"Kill us faster?!" Ron said irritably and then added sarcastically "oh good...now I can relax".
Harry didn't doubt for a second that Neville was right about this as he was always the one who paid the most attention during Herbology lessons due to how fun he found the subject to be.
"So how do we get away from it?" Harry asked as Ron began to struggle.
"You have to act natural" Hermione supplied "I know it sounds crazy but if you stop struggling and let go you'll wind up free".
"Hermione's right. Trust us both and do what she says" Neville agreed as Hermione vanished.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled sounding scared.
Neville went down next "Neville!" Ron yelled again.
"Ron, do what they did and relax" said Harry as he relaxed and began to slide under the plant more and more until... "Harry!".
He landed with the thud on the stone flooring of a corridor.
As Hermione and Neville pulled him to his feet he took in his surroundings and wondered just how far below the main castle they truly were.
"Argh get these bloody things off me!" Ron shouted from somewhere above them.
They all looked up and Hermione muttered in frustration and worry "he's not relaxing!".
"We need to do something!" Harry exclaimed "what about that spell we learned to deal with devil's snare. What's it called again?".
Hermione thought for a moment "devil's snare, devil's snare, it's deadly fun...but sulks in the sun!".
"So we need to use our sunlight spell?" Neville queried and received a nod from Hermione.
The three of them pulled out their wands, aiming them up towards the plant above them "on the count of three" she instructed "one, two, three...lumos solem!" they all cried out at once as the three of them together produced a blinding flash of sunlight from the tips of their wands.
In a moment they heard "argh!" followed by the sound of someone falling and were soon joined by a grumpy Ron who was helped up as he muttered "you could have given a heads up" before he looked up and said "lucky we were all relaxed eh?".
Harry and Neville raised their eyebrows as Harry said "lucky Hermione and Neville pay attention in class you mean".
Ron looked embarrassed as the four of them began to walk along the corridor towards an old wooden door at the end which looked scraped and chipped from centuries of use.
As they reached the door they found it to be locked "he must have locked it behind him" Ron muttered as Hermione took out her wand and said "alohamora" the lock clicked back and they pushed the door open hearing as they did so the creak of it's ancient hinges and sound of many fluttering wings.
"What are they, birds?" Neville said in puzzlement as the four of them looked up.
Harry shook his head "no. They look more like...keys". He looked round the room and saw a door not far away from them that looked as ancient and battered as the one through which they had just come. He also noticed that this door had a keyhole.
He flicked his eyes back up to the ceiling now sure of what they needed to find "look out for an old key, probably with a damaged wing. That's the one we need to open the door".
The four of them searched the ceiling as high as they could look for any sign of the aforementioned key.
For some time they seemed to be having no luck until Ron shouted "up there near the rafters!".
The others looked up into the rafters and Harry managed to spot one that did indeed have a damaged wing "that's the one!" he said feeling relieved only to now realised that somehow, one of them would need to go up there through the mass of keys and retrieve it.
As he turned his gaze down he noticed an antiquated broomstick and pondered it thoughtfully for a moment before telling the others "when I get the key I'll toss it to one of you. Be ready to unlock the door and slam it shut the second I fly through. I get the feeling these keys won't be any too happy about what I'm going to do".
What followed was an intense and at times hair raising feat as Harry managed to outfly all of the angry winged keys that had been charmed to follow him and managed to snatch the old key out of the air before zooming down and tossing it to Neville who promptly dropped it.
Once Hermione had it she fiddled around with it trying to unlock the door "hurry up Hermione!" Harry shouted as he passed by for the second time being pursued by hundreds of keys.
"Aha!" she shouted triumphantly as the key turned and the door opened.
Harry's friends piled into the room just beyond as Harry zoomed down and through the open door which was hurriedly slammed shut behind him.
He landed his broom carefully, set it against a wall, turned and gaped in surprise as the sight of a life-size wizards chess board complete with pieces, met his eyes "what the hell!" he exclaimed.
"Wow, a life-size board!" Ron shouted in delight.
Harry and the others were less enthusiastic and as Hermione pointed out "if this is down here it must be one of the traps to stop thieves".
Ron turned to the three of them "if it is then we have to take the place of some of the pieces he informed them".
"You don't think it'll be like..." Hermione gulped "real wizards chess...do you?".
Ron nodded solemnly "yes Hermione I think it'll be exactly like real wizard chess".
"What positions do we take?" Neville asked him.
Ron faced away from them for a moment and seemed to be surveying the board before he looked back at them and said "Nev you stay off the board. We need someone to be okay in case we all get hurt".
Neville nodded and did as asked, stepping back to watch as Ron turned to Harry "Harry you'll be a bishop".
Harry moved to take up his position as Ron spoke to Hermione "you'll be a rook Hermione and as for me...I'll be a knight".
Once the three of them were in position the game began and was a brutal back and forth affair which came down to only a few remaining chess pieces of either side plus the three friends. Ron moved to the edge of the board after checking the white king and Harry shouted "Ron no!".
"What is it?" Hermione asked sounding both worried and confused.
"He's going to sacrifice himself to the white queen so I can checkmate the king and win the game".
Hermione looked horrified and turned to stare at Ron "Ron no you can't!" she shouted as tears began to form in her eyes.
"Look Hermione I don't have a choice" the redheaded friend said matter of factly "I realised it back when Harry got the key. It's not down to us, it's down to Harry. I can't explain how I know I just...I just do. He has to face Snape and save the stone, we were just clearing his path".
"There has to be another way!" Harry shouted in despair. This was the last thing he wanted, to have his best friend hurt because of him and this stupid stone.
Ron shook his head and replied "there isn't...do you want to stop Snape? do you want to save the stone?".
Harry and Hermione nodded "then you have to let me do this!" Ron said fiercely and before either of them could argue the point further he got into position and closed his eyes.
The white queen moved down to face him, flicked up her sword and smashed it into him forcefully. The redhead was sent flying screaming all the while before he landed in a heap near the far wall, not moving "Ron!" Hermione shouted as she attempted to run across the board.
"Hermione no!" Harry shouted just as loud "we're still playing remember?".
Hermione nodded and hesitantly returned to her place as Harry called across to Neville "Nev..." but Neville was already making his way over to Ron in any case and checking him over.
"He's unconscious but he'll be alright" Neville called back "I'll stay with him".
"Nice work Nev" said Harry who turned his attention back to game "and now to finish this" he said calmly before he made his final move and walked into position in front of the white king "checkmate" he said.
The king immediately dropped his sword to signify that Harry and his friends had won the game and beaten the chessboard.
Without hesitating Harry and Hermione ran over to their friends and Harry said to Neville we've got to go on "stay with Ron until help comes alright?".
"Alright Harry" Neville replied seriously before adding "you two be careful ok". They nodded and after patting his shoulder they ran over to the next door wondering as they did so what they would find.
In the next room just beyond the chess room they found a table with seven vials of potions stood upon it and a note in front of them.
As they reached the table a wall of flames sprung up in front of the door they had just walked through as well as the one of the opposite side of the room. Harry frowned as he looked at the note "I'm no good with riddles" he said simply "what do you think Hermione?".
She took the note from him and read it through carefully several times "danger lies before you, 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 hidden in line.
Choose unless you wish to stay here forevermore, to help in your choice we give these clues four;
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide you will always find some on nettle wine's 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 hold death on their insides; fourth, second left and second right are twins once you taste them though different at first sight".
Hermione looked up from the text and Harry could tell she was thinking it all over "going by the clues 7th must move you back while 3rd takes you forward" she said after a long while.
Harry gaped in astonishment at her deductive reasoning feeling quite sure that he'd never have got the answer even if he'd lived to be a hundred "that's...incredible" he said.
She smiled looking please at the compliment "well I do have my moments I supposed" she said causing them both to laugh.
Harry frowned at the the two vials "there's only enough in these for one vial each" he said.
"You take the one to move forwards" she said to him though Hermione looked for all the world like she wanted to stay at his side.
Harry nodded "alright" he said. Before they picked up the vials Harry and Hermione looked into each other's eyes "you're a really good friend Hermione. You know that right?".
She grinned "I've been told once or twice" she replied "come here you!" she said as she teared up and the two fell into each others arms as they hugged deeply for several minutes with neither wanting to let go.
"You be careful Harry Potter" she said mock sternly "I don't want to have to tell your aunt and uncle you got yourself blasted to bits".
Harry mock saluted "understood captain" he replied as he unstoppered his vial at the same time Hermione readied hers.
At the same time they downed the vials of liquid which tasted absolutely foul to Harry though he thought 'at least I can finish this now'.
The flames dissipated from both doorways and Hermione left after throwing one last glance at Harry and murmuring tearfully "good luck".
"See you soon" he murmured back as he pushed open the door leading to an uncertain and no doubt dangerous final encounter.
As Harry entered what looked like a tall chamber with many stone columns and several elaborate stone carvings on the walls he noticed down ahead on him in the main chamber below was a person wearing robes in dark purple with a turban wound round their head.
Harry was nonplussed as he knew that Professor Snape only ever wore black robes and he never wore a turban with his greasy black hair alway being on show. Not to mention that this person, whoever they were were a lot more slender than Snape.
As he walked further down the steps he was sure the person was staring into a familiar object. The mirror erised stood resting against the far wall.
Harry was halfway across the main chamber before he decided to speak "who are you?" he said "you aren't Professor Snape".
After a moment the figure turned to reveal... "Professor Quirrell!" Harry shouted in disbelief.
The thin, pale teacher smiled evilly at him "at your service Potter". Harry noticed that both his twitches and his stutter were gone now and had the feeling that it had all been an act...an act that everyone had fallen for.
"Oh Severus?" the man said in surprise before chuckling "yes he does seem the type to steal things doesn't he? so useful for me to have him wandering around the castle like an overgrown bat".
'So someone else noticed it too' Harry thought idly before snapping back to the conversation as Quirrell said "next to him who suspect p..poor s..stuttering P..P...Professor Quirrell" he laughed coldly.
"But Snape wants the stone. I heard him!" Harry protested.
But Quirrell shook his head "no dear boy I am after the stone".
"Then why did he try to kill me?" Harry asked in bewilderment. Again there was the cruel smile and the calm reply "oh he didn't try to kill you Potter...I did".
Harry gaped at him "but...but why? why do you want the stone? and why try to kill me?".
"For my master" Quirrell replied simply.
Harry's eyes widened "it was you...you tried to steal the stone from Gringott's!".
"Yes I did" Quirrell said "and if it weren't for those blasted goblins I'd have succeeded" he sneered.
A sudden horrible thought arose in Harry's mind. Snape wasn't working for Voldemort...Quirrell was.
"You're working for Voldemort!" he shouted.
"Indeed Potter and he has been a harsh but fair master" the man replied calmly.
Harry turned and tried to run only for a wall of flames to spring up in front of him "no you don't Potter" Quirrell said.
Quirrell turned back to the mirror and began to mutter "I can see the stone in the mirror...but how do I get it?".
Harry now felt very scared despite himself. He was only eleven years old after all and it wasn't like situations such as this happened EVERY day of the week.
'It must have taken a lot of magic to do that' he thought as he gazed at the roaring flames and knew he had no way out.
"Should I break the glass?" Quirrell kept muttering only for a new voice to begin speaking and cause the blood in Harry's veins to freeze as the voice had not come from a regular person.
He looked around wildly but saw no one in the room save for him and Quirrell "use the boy" the voice said hoarsely "use the boy!".
"Boy come here!" Quirrell snapped.
Knowing he had little choice Harry walked over to him and stood beside him looking in the mirror "tell me what you see" Quirrell instructed.
Harry concentrated hard and had to struggle not to stare in surprise when his mirror self held up the stone, winked and placed it in his jeans pocket just as he felt a heavy thud there.
"Tell me what you see now!" Quirrell shouted.
Harry jumped and his mind went to the first thing he could think of "I'm shaking hands with Dumbledore" he invented "Gryffindor have just won the house cup".
"He lies!" the hoarse voice hissed angrily "let me speak to him".
Quirrell sounded concerned as he replied seriously "master...you are not strong enough".
"I have strength enough for this" the voice insisted.
Quirrell nodded and turned to face Harry as he started to unwind his turban.
As more and more of the turban was peeled back Harry became anxious wondering just why Quirrell would remove his turban like that.
All his thoughts however and all his reasoning flew out of the window as Quirrell finished unwinding the turban and threw it carelessly aside.
Harry let out one of the loudest screams he had ever uttered in his entire life as old memories of his parents, his bedroom and a sickly green light came flooding back.
As Quirrell turned around Harry found himself face to face with a man everyone thought dead. None other than Lord Voldemort himself...