"Hermione. Hermione," Harry yelled.
Hermione turned around and found Harry and Ron running down the corridor after her. Ron stopped behind Harry, panting and clutching his side.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked confused.
Exams were over and they only had a week left before they went home for the summer. Things had been quiet at Hogwarts during that time.
"The stone, the Sorcerer's Stone… Voldemort is after it," Harry said quickly. "We need to stop him."
"How do you know that?" Hermione asked.
"Do you remember when Ron and I had detention?" Harry questioned. Hermione nodded. They had been caught trying to sneak a dragon out of the castle. "Voldemort was in the forest, drinking blood from a unicorn." Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "Look I know I don't have proof but I'm sure Voldemort is going to steal the stone. Please help us stop him."
Hermione sighed. She was going to regret this. She was sure of it. "Fine. We will go tonight, just before curfew. I'm assuming you know how to get past the three-headed dog?"
Harry nodded. "Hagrid named it Fluffy," Ron snorted. "Stupidest name I've ever heard."
"Hagrid said to play it some music," Harry inputted. "After that I'm not sure what to expect."
Hermione mentally groaned. Harry was going to be the death of her. She was sure of it. She needed a backup plan. She needed something in case this went wrong. She didn't want to tell Draco. He would go to Professor Snape and she wasn't sure about that. Then an idea hit her.
Morgana. Morgana had come to Hogwarts once and saved her. Perhaps Morgana could do it again. She would tell Morgana where she was going before they went through the trapdoor and hope she didn't die in the process of saving the stone.
When eight came Hermione knew it was time. She pulled out her journal. Hermione took a deep breath.
I don't know where to begin. Harry thinks Voldemort has returned and is trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone that Dumbledore hid in the school. I told Harry I would help him get it first. I don't know why I agreed, probably because I know Harry won't be able to do it on his own. The entrance on the third floor, behind a door with a Cerberus. Harry said music will put it to sleep. Please don't be mad at me. Hermione
Hermione closed the journal and sat it down. She couldn't bear to look at it and see what Morgana's response was.
When she got to the common room, she found Harry and Ron sitting together, playing chess. Or it looked like they were playing chess. Hermione knew better.
Harry looked up when Hermione approached. "You came," he said in surprise. "I thought you weren't going to come."
"I made a promise," Hermione told him. "How are we supposed to get there without being caught?"
Harry looked around, making sure the few people in the common room weren't paying attention to him. He pulled out a cloak from his robes. "It's an invisibility cloak," Harry explained. "I got it for Christmas along with a note that said it belonged to my dad."
"That's how you got the dragon to the astronomy tower," Hermione gasped. "I wondered about that."
Harry grinned. "It's the secret to our success." He turned to Ron. "Are you ready?"
Ron sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Hermione?"
Hermione took a deep breath. She glanced toward her dorm room. "Let's go."
It turned out fitting the three of them under the invisibility cloak was a bit easier than Hermione expected. Hermione figured there were some enchantments on the cloak that none of them knew about.
The corridors were surprisingly empty as they slowly made their way to the third floor. Hermione expected to see at least one professor, or even a prefect, but there was nothing. Not even Filch or his cat.
"Alohomora," Hermione muttered at the door. She mentally scoffed at how easy it was to unlock the door leading to the trap door where the stone was held. Surely Dumbledore knew better? Perhaps he didn't think anyone would defy him and come here.
Hermione charmed the flute to play music while they snuck down the trap door. Hermione tensed slightly when they reached the bottom of the trap door. This wasn't normal. Harry and Ron landed beside her before she could warn them.
"Bloody Hell," Ron exclaimed fighting against the plant.
"Stop moving," Hermione hissed at him. "This is Devil's Snare. The more you move the tighter the vines get." Hermione struggled against the vines however it wasn't fear of the vines, or her trying to get away. She was trying to get ahold of her wand. "Ah ha. Incendio!"
The vines caught fire and dropped the three Gryffindors to the ground. "Bloody Hell," Ron said rubbing his shoulder.
"Come on. We need to keep going," Harry said pulling out his wand.
They walked through the door. "What is that noise?" Hermione asked. It was a fluttery sound, almost like birds.
"Sounds like wings," Harry said with a frown.
"Why would there be wings?" Ron questioned confused. Hermione was equally confused.
The young witch squinted at the things flying above them and found Harry had been right… sort of. There was wings but they were attached to keys. "Keys," Hermione muttered. She watched the keys fly around. After a few minutes she saw one that was slower than the rest, like it had been grabbed before. "Harry, it's that one."
Harry grabbed one of the brooms and flew up to the key. As soon as he got into the air the keys started flying away. Hermione cringed as she watched Harry attempt to fly around on the school brooms. It wasn't going too well. The brooms were jerky and hard to control.
It took far long than it should have for Harry to catch the proper key. He threw it to Hermione and jumped off the broom. Hermione opened the door and they quickly moved onto the next room.
Hermione groaned when they reached the next room. It was a giant chess set and Hermione was not good at chess. Ron, on the other hand, was happy to see the chess set. Chess was his specialty.
Ron looked at his two friends. "No offense to you two but neither of you are good at chess."
"We are not offended," Harry said quickly. Hermione nodded in agreement. "What do we need to do?"
Ron studied the chess pieces. "Alright, Harry you take the bishop spot. Hermione, the queen side castle and I'll be the knight."
Hermione cringed as she watched the most brutal game of chess. Unfortunately for them this was exactly like wizard's chess, which meant the pieces were destroyed and dragged off the board. Hermione didn't want to know what would happen to them if they lost.
The game was almost over. Most of the pieces were scattered along the side of the board. Only a handful of pieces were left, including the three pieces that Harry, Ron and Hermione took over. Ron and Harry were having a conversation that Hermione paid no attention to.
"Ron no," Harry exclaimed. That got Hermione's attention.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked looking back and forth between the two boys.
"Ron wants to sacrifice himself," Harry said with the shake of his head.
"It's the only way," Ron insisted. "If I allow myself to be captured then you can checkmate the king Harry."
"But—"
"We're here to stop You-Know-Who," Ron pointed out. "This is the only way. You have to face him. It sucks but it's true. I'm not needed here."
Hermione didn't disagree. Ron may be brilliant at chess and some strategy but he was kind of dumb in every other sense. Harry was a lot smarter but tended to follow Ron's lead. It was why she preferred her Slytherin friends. They were smart and they never tried to hide it.
Harry looked at his friend, his first friend, and nodded. A few tears fell down his cheek. Hermione wanted to roll her eyes. It wasn't like he was going to die. At least Hermione didn't think he would die.
Hermione winced slightly as Ron was knocked off the knight and dragged off to the side of the board. Hermione understood now. That had to be painful.
Harry walked over to the king. "Checkmate," he said confidently. The king dropped his sword and Harry and Hermione took that as a sign that they won.
Harry ran over to Ron to check on him. "He's still breathing," Harry said relieved. Harry looked back and forth between Ron and the door.
"We have to go Harry," Hermione said trying to pull him away from Ron. "Ron wanted us to continue, to stop You-Know-Who. Come on." Harry allowed himself to be dragged away from Ron's body. He vowed to come back after they saved the stone.
The next room was more to Hermione's liking. It was a logic puzzle. If they got it wrong, they would be dead. But if they answered it correctly, they would move on. This was likely the last chamber before they got to the stone but Hermione didn't know for sure.
"Can you solve it?" Harry asked. He had read over the puzzle but had no idea.
"I can," Hermione confirmed. "Give me a minute."
Hermione read and reread the puzzle. She paced in front of the potion bottles. The ones she knew to be wine were set aside. All that was left was the two that would get them through the flames and back, and the poison.
Another five minutes had passed and Harry was worried it was taking too long. Harry was convinced Voldemort already at the stone.
"I got it," Hermione announced. She held up two vials. It wasn't much but it was just enough for both of them to continue further. "This one," she held up her right hand, "is the potion to go further. The other," she waved her left hand, "will allow us to come back."
"Us," Harry said with a frown.
"Of course. I am going with you," Hermione said firmly. She wasn't about to let Harry talk her out of it. She knew more spells than he did. She needed him.
"Fine," Harry agreed. "Are you sure about this?"
Hermione uncorked the potion. "I am," she said before taking a sip of the potion. She handed the vial to Harry and he finished the rest of the potion.
Together they stepped through the flames.
Hermione did not know what she expected when she stepped through the flames. Well that wasn't completely true. She expected Voldemort, though she had no idea what he looked like. What she didn't expect was Professor Quirrell. The stuttering mess of a professor.
"You," Harry gasped.
"Me," Quirrell said with a grin. He eyed Hermione curiously. "And Ms. Granger, what a surprise. I expected Mr. Potter to be alone."
Hermione wasn't sure what was going on but she knew it wasn't good. For one, Quirrell wasn't stuttering. Hermione was certain he was faking the stutter. But did that mean… she couldn't finish her thought.
"You can't have the stone," Harry shouted at him.
Quirrell flicked his wrist and Harry was thrown into a wall and knocked unconscious. "Let me see the girl," a voice said.
Quirrell removed the turban and turned around. To Hermione's shock, and horror, there was a face on the back of Quirrell's head. "So, you're the one my most faithful has chosen," Voldemort said. "I have to say I wasn't impressed at first, but now, now I can see it."
"What did you do to Harry?" Hermione asked. Her wand was limp in her hand. This was the most feared dark lord in recent history. She had no chance against him.
"He will live to see another day," Voldemort promised. "Today he is not my focus. Today, you are."
"Me," Hermione squeaked. What had she done to attract a dark lord's attention?
Voldemort moved toward Hermione. "You want answers, don't you? You want to know why your mysterious savior protected you that day."
Hermione frowned. She was using Occlumency, how did he know that? Unless… her barriers weren't enough to keep him out. She should have known better. "Yes," Hermione said. There was no use in denying it. He already knew.
"Your shields are impressive for someone your age," Voldemort complimented. "But not quite good enough."
"Dumbledore," Hermione acknowledged.
Voldemort nodded. "Yes, Dumbledore," Voldemort agreed. "I can give you those answers, however you must do something for me first."
"What is it?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"The stone," Voldemort said. "I require the stone. I know it is in the mirror and I know Dumbledore has made it impossible for me to obtain the stone. Get it for me and I will tell you what you wish to know."
Hermione was torn. On the one hand she really wanted answers and Morgana was not forthcoming with them. On the other hand, this was Voldemort. The Dark Lord. Could she really help him to get the answers she wanted?
"Do you promise Harry and I can leave unharmed?" Hermione questioned.
Voldemort laughed. "Of course. I mean no harm to you Ms. Granger and as I said, Mr. Potter is not my target today."
Hermione turned to face the Mirror of Erised. She didn't have a clue on how to get the stone out. All she knew was she wanted the stone. She didn't care about using the stone. Immortality didn't seem appealing to her. No, she wanted the stone but she had no desire to use it.
She watched as her reflection held the stone in her hand and then placed it into her pocket. Hermione reached up and felt the stone in her in actual pocket. Somehow, she had managed to get the stone!
She pulled the stone out of her pocket and turned to Voldemort. His eyes widened at the sight of the Sorcerer's stone in her hand. She handed it over to him. "Now tell me," she demanded.
"I won't give you her name," Voldemort said tucking the stone away. "That is to protect her," he added before Hermione could protest. "But I will tell you this. Look up soul bonds and your pendant. That will give you the answers you seek." He held up Quirrell's wand. "Now, I can't have your remembering all of this or it will jeopardize my plans." Before Hermione could say or do anything, he raised his wand at Hermione. "Oblivate."
