Chapter Three
The Third and Final Letter
New Years week passed and their In-School Vacation came to a close. They had one weekend until classes would start up again. This could only spell two things, J-O-Y for Hermione and H-*-LL for Harry and Ron. Hermione was running around in Gryffindor common room grabbing her books so she could get in a little study time, when an owl of massive size flew in the window and handed Harry his final letter from Quirrel.
Potter,
I'm coming to Hogwarts. Meet me this Sunday, at 12:00 in the usual place. DON'T BE LATE, and NO friends. We'll finish what we started in your first year, but I warn you, I'm stronger...
Quirrel
Quirrel
Harry showed the letter to Hermione and Ron ( Ron had walked in). Ron was the first to speak.
"We're coming with you. You could give us the invisibility cloak, and we could walk beside you, and not be seen until we were needed." He said rather quickly.
"Yes, Harry, you can't just go alone to meet your doom. I'll prepare a few hexes and defense spells and we'll all be fine." She smiled.
"I highly doubt that." whispered Ron to Harry.
The day passed and it was dinner time. Hermione was all set and was so confident in her knowledge of the spells, that she refused to talk about it, and indulged in a conversation with Seamus (about 'lord knows what), leaving Ron and Harry to talk with each other.
Ron practiced his Wingardium Leviosa, as the two of them found that it was always a helpful charm. Harry was worried however, what if what Quirrel said was true, and he really was stronger. Hermione and Ron could be in graver danger than him. One thing also bothered him, how was it that Quirrel was writing to him? He had gone over the fact again and again, Quirrel was dead. Dumbledore had told him so. Was this all a prank Peeves maybe?
Just then, Snape, who seemed to come out of no were, ran passed them and dashed out of the hall. Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged looks, and followed.
"That's odd." Hermione said, as they left.
Hermione, Ron and Harry walked to Fluffy's old guard post, above the trapdoor. Fluffy, of coarse was not there, and the trapdoor was open, and dusty, for it had no use for the past year. Harry and Hermione made the jump down, and landed on the rotten Devil's Snare. It was still moving, but had no intention of constricting them.
So, they carried on, down to the Chess Room, the remains of their battle, also still there. Broken bishops and Rooks scattered near the last door.
" Put the cloak on you two, and wands out." Harry whispered, as he himself grasped his wand. When they were all ready, and Harry had confirmed that they were hidden, Harry Potter opened the door, and walked down the massive steps for the second time.
