Potter Manor: 5 Hours Before
James Potter sat on a chair Lily standing beside him. Behind them a fire was roaring in the fire place, and in front of them in the chair opposite them sat a blond haired woman with bespectacled glasses. She was dressed rather flashy. The woman smiled, "Minister Potter thank you again for agreeing to this interview. Shall we get started."
James simply smiled, "You know Miss Skeeter something has been 'bugging' me." He looked at her.
The woman stiffened at the word 'bugging'. Does he know? But how could he…just because he used to be an unregistered animagus…he can't have figured I'm one as well…She thought. "Really what's that Minister?"
"I have been reviewing your rise in the ranks of the Daily Prophet and something struck me as odd." He said looking at her, his smile not changing.
"Odd? What exactly is odd." She asked.
"Well Miss Skeeter each of your headliner stories involved a you getting the scoop when the people in question were either lock away in a room or had numerous charms to prevent eavesdropping surrounding them. Yet somehow you managed to hear the titillating conversations anyway. Care to explain how you managed that?" James asked curiously.
He knows…She thought. "I have no idea what you mean Minster." She says laughing coyly.
Lily chuckle, "Your very adept at deflection Miss Skeeter." She said as she walked around and sat on the arm of James's chair, "Are you aware the Potter family owns enormous stock in the Daily Prophet. One word from us and you will be out of a job."
The woman looked shocked, "But why would you..?"
"Lets cut to the chase Miss Skeeter." Lily says, "We know how you're getting you scoops there after being questioned one of your victims spoke about an annoying bug that kept flying around their room during their conversation…now tell us how long have you been an unregistered animagus?"
The woman sat there frozen, "I..I….four years…" she replied, "What exactly do you two want from me?"
"See the thing is we have a bone to pick with a specific person…rumor has it you're also investigating this person…we actually called you here to assist you." James said.
"What who?" The woman asked now interested.
"Albus Dumbledore." James said.
Rita Skeeter's eyes widened, "You're after Dumbledore…but why? He's the leader of light why would you want to bring him down."
"As it happens Dumbledore himself has crossed multiple lines. We have evidence that he attempted to orchestrate our deaths in order to remove us from our son's life where he could control him more easily." Lily said.
"Are you serious?!" Rita immediately took out her quill, "Please tell me everything."
"In due time…the public is not ready for that specific story. Dumbledore is still too respected in our community to bring him down. A story like that would only enrage his supporters." James said, "What we need first is a few scandalous stories to break his hold on the people. We want to help you write these stories in fact one will be ready for the public very soon. In return for helping us we will keep your animagus form a secret and provide you with multiple stories to help bring Dumbledore down."
Rita thought about this proposal for a moment, "Very well I shall join you on this endeavor." She extends her hand to James.
James smiled and shock her hand, "We appreciate your assistance, and please be advised when interviewing any of our compatriots we like you to keep that Quick Quotes Quill to yourself save it for Dumbledore."
"Very well." She says and stands, "You'll call me when you're ready for the first article yes?"
"Indeed. Till then have a great evening Miss Skeeter, and remember this stays between us yes?" James said as she nodded firmly then turned and was escorted out by the Potter's House Elf.
"That's one more issue resolved." James said sitting back finally relaxing.
Lily giggled, "That intimidating face you wore was quite the sight."
"Oh hush, you know I'm not much for intimidation tactics but it was all I could do in this case." James said.
Lily smiled and petted his head, "Yes I know, and you did well." She kissed his forehead. "Now we see how this plays out."
"Indeed…Minerva and Severus will keep Harry and his friends safe." James said.
Back at Hogwarts: Deep within the Trap Door
The group entered the last room to find exactly who they thought waiting for them. Professor Quirrell was standing in the middle of the room.
"Professor Quirrell I certainly hope after this you will be turning in your resignation." Minerva said loudly getting the man's attention.
Professor Quirrell turned to them and smiled, "Now isn't this a sight Deputy Head Mistress Minerva McGonagall willingly leading a group of children into danger. Are you certain Dumbledore won't request your resignation after this?"
Minerva scoffed, "Oh please. After the things that man let you get away with this year if he tried I'd ruin him."
Quirrell smirked, "Yes it was astounding watching the fool, I expected him to stop me at anytime but he didn't even flinch not even when I tried to knock the Potter brat off his broom. He simply sat back and watched. It was indeed amusing. Now…" he waved his arm and a wall of flames sprung up between them and all around the room blocking any attempt to reach him. "Wait quietly there quietly I need to examine this interesting mirror."
At that moment everyone finally noticed the mirror behind him. It was the Mirror of Erised.
"This Mirror is the key to getting the stone." He began examining the mirror from all angles, "Leave it to Dumbledore…to come up with a scheme like this…" He said as he moved behind the mirror to examine the back.
Harry sat and watched behind the flame glaring. He knew they must get to the stone first to keep it from Quirrell and Voldemort. Minerva was attempting to break through the barrier when Quirrell reemerged from behind the mirror, "What does this mirror do? How does it work? Help me, Master!"
Then they all heard it a sickening voice, "Use the boy…use the boy."
Everyone flinched as Quirrell whipped around, "Come here Potter." He drew his wand training it on Minerva before snapping his fingers causing a path to open up in the flaming wall. "Stay where you are Minerva you wouldn't want anything to happen to your students would you."
Harry was frozen in place, he couldn't move. He felt a tug on the back of his shirt and a whisper in his ear, "I'm right behind you Harry." His uncle Severus whispered. Harry gulped and stepped forward passing through the hole in the barrier made just for him with the invisible Severus right behind him. The barrier closed once he was safely through blocking anyones interference.
"Come here boy." Quirrell repeated, "Look in the mirror tell me what you see?"
Harry knew what he would see his greatest desire right now was to find the stone and keep it from Quirrell and Voldemort. I must lie! He thought. He stepped in front of the mirror Quirrell moving in close behind him. Harry could smell the strange odor that always came from Quirrell's Turban. He knew his uncle Severus was close by but he was still extremely nervous.
Harry opened his eyes and looked in the mirror. He saw his reflection scared and pale looking at first. But a moment later, the reflection smiled at him. It put its hand into its pocket and pulled out a blood-red stone. It winked and put the stone back in its pocket…and when it did so, Harry felt something heavy drop into his real pocket…He had somehow gotten the stone.
"Well?!" Quirrell snapped, "What do you see?"
Harry snapped back to reality, "I..I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore I've won the House cup for Gryffindor."
Quirrell swore, "Get out of the way!" he said. As Harry moved aside he felt the stone against his leg. He needed to get away but the exits were blocked.
"He lies…He lies." The disembodied voice said.
"Get back here Potter!" Quirrell shouted, "Tell me the truth. What did you see?!"
The high voice spoke again, "Let me speak to him…face to face…"
"Master you are not strong enough!" Quirrell protested.
"I have strength enough for this." The voice spoke.
Harry was rooted to the spot as he watched Quirrell unwrap his turban. When the turban completely fell to the floor Quirrell turn his back to Harry slowly. What everyone there saw was frightening. Harry heard Hermione let out a surprised high pitch gasp. Minerva looked horrified, "My god." Was all she could say.
Where the back of Quirrell's head should have been, there was a face, the most terrible face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with red eyes and slits for nostrils like a snake. "Harry Potter…" it spoke, "We meet again."
"Voldemort." Harry mumbled taking a step back.
Severus had watch the altercation from beneath the cloak near the barrier his eyes widened in shock when he saw his former master. He had never seen him like this…the sight was revolting. But he didn't let that distract him. He had been stealthily tearing a whole in the barrier for Harry to escape. He knew Quirrell wouldn't be able to touch him the effects of the Love Ward they had place on Harry years ago was still in effect, Voldemort and anyone he bound himself too would not be able to touch the boy.
"Do you see what I've become?" the face said to Harry, "Mere shadow and vapor… I have form but only when I share another's body….but there have always been those wiling to let me into their hearts and minds…Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks… you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me that night in the forest…and once I have the Elixir of Life…I'll be able to create myself a new body of my own…Now…why don't you give me that stone you have in your pocket.
He knows! Harry thought, the feeling returning to his legs and he stumbled backward.
"Don't be a fool boy…give me the stone and I swear to leave you your friends and your family alone." The face sneered.
"LIAR! You'll kill us all. Do you think I'm stupid?" Harry snapped back.
The face chuckled smiling evilly, "Foolish boy…one way or another I will have that stone either give it to me then face your death or we'll rip it from your corpse."
"NEVER!" Harry snapped back.
"SIEZE HIM!" the face snapped.
Harry saw Quirrell reach for him but before he could touch him something white shot out from Harry's sleeve. Quirrell howled in pain. To everyone's astonishment, Eve had emerged, and had her fangs sunk into Quirrell's wrist. Quirrell howled as his hand began to freeze solid. Eve released Quirrell's wrist and slithered in front of Harry. She immediately began to grow in size until she was roughly as big as an anaconda. She let out a threatening hiss to the foe in front of her. " Stay back!"
Voldemort's face hissed back, " How dare you! Stand aside!"
Eve hissed again, " You do not command me monster! I take orders from no one but my master!"
" You will defy the heir of Slytherin?" Voldemort hissed.
" I said stay away my master!" Eve hissed back at her foe and with surprising speed, the giant white snake wrapped herself around Quirrell who howled in pain. It appeared his body was burning just from having the snake touch him. The serpent coiled herself around Quirrell slithering her head around his shoulder, " Die!" she hissed before sinking her fangs into Quirrell's neck. The spot where she bit him began to freeze causing Voldemort and Quirrell to howled in pain.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Voldemort's face howled as Quirrell's body began to freeze to solid ice. As he froze the fiery barrier keeping the others at bay dissolved.
Minerva rushed forward and picked Harry up from the ground. She pointed her wand at the frozen Quirrell and flicked it. A spell shot out and shattered the frozen man to pieces. Harry watched as his familiar began to shrink back to her usual size and slithered back to her master, " Master is safe." She hissed.
" Thank you for protecting me." He said to her in Parseltongue. The snake bowed her head and slithered back into Harry's sleeve.
"How did she do that?!" Neville asked, "She was huge!"
"I'm more curious as to why where ever she bit him he would freeze." Daphne said curiously.
"Indeed that was an amazing sight." Came the voice of Albus Dumbledore.
Everyone whipped around seeing the Headmaster standing behind them. Severus scowled and remained under the cloak.
"That is an amazing familiar you have there Harry." Dumbledore said, "I am surprised though to think you parents would let you bond to such a dangerous creature."
"Her name is Eve and she's not dangerous she just saved my life Headmaster." Harry said looking at the old man coldly.
"Hmmm." He then turned his attention to Minerva, "Professor McGonagall, did you accompany these students here?" he asked her.
"Not at all sir. I followed them." She lied immediately, "I only caught up to them after they won against my chess game Miss Greengrass is a rather formidable opponent."
"And you didn't take them back?" He asked.
"Well when I saw what had become of that troll I knew someone was after the stone so I had the children stay with me for their safety while I investigated." She said having an answer ready for all his questions, "I was surprised to see Quirrell was the one after it…and working for Voldemort no less."
"Indeed I assume you dispelled the flames in Severus trap then?" Dumbledore asked her looking around the room.
Severus was still under the cloak but hiding behind a pillar he had a sneaking suspicion Dumbledore would see him otherwise.
"Yes Headmaster. I thought it prudent to catch the culprit." Minerva responded.
Dumbledore sighed, "Very well Harry I'll take that stone now I should return it to Mr. Flamel."
Harry pulled out the stone from his pocket and tossed it to the Headmaster. "I believe I will take these children to Poppy Headmaster they've had a trying night an need rest." Minerva said.
"Very well come along children." Albus turned and started back followed by the children then Minerva. Severus waited for them to create distance and followed them as well.
Up Next: Harry's first year comes to an end.