Reality Check

Don't have much to say here, so I'll get on with writing that chapter. Thanks to all who are still keeping up with this fiction.

Chapter 19 Through The Trapdoor

The hooded figure raised its head and looked directly at Harry. His scar burned horrifically, sending a searing pain throughout his entire body. The figure got to its feet and swiftly glided towards him, Harry couldn't move for fear. He heard hooves behind him, galloping, and something jumped clean over him, charging at the figure.

The pain in Harry's head was so bad that he fell to his knees. It took a minute or two to pass, and when he looked up, the figure had gone. A centaur was standing over him, not Ronan or Bane; this one looked younger, with white blonde hair and a palomino body.

'Are you alright?' Asked the centaur, pulling Harry to his feet.

'Yes, thank you, but what was that?' Harry replied, brushing some twigs off his robes. The centaur did not answer. He looked at Harry carefully, eyes lingering on his scar which stood out vividly on his forehead.

'You're the Potter boy,' He said. 'You had better get back to Hagrid, the forest is not safe at this time.'

'The forest isn't safe at any time,' Harry said, attempting a joke. The centaur did not even smile.

'Can you ride? It will be quicker this way.' He made a gesture to his bare back. 'My name is Firenze by the way,' He added as he lowered himself onto his front legs so that Harry could climb onto his back. There was a sudden sound of more galloping from the other side of the clearing as Ronan and Bane came crashing through the trees.

'Firenze!' Bane thundered. 'What are you doing? You have a common human on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?'

'Do you know who this is?' said Firenze. 'This is the Potter boy, and the sooner he leaves the forest the better.'

'What have you told him?' Bane growled. Ronan pawed the ground nervously.

'I'm sure Firenze acted as he thought was best.'

Firenze, apparently, did not want to stay and get in conflict with the other two centaurs, as he turned and galloped off away from the clearing. Harry didn't have a clue what was going on.

'Why's Bane so angry?' Harry asked. Firenze stopped.

'Do you know what unicorn blood is used for?' He asked.

'No, we've only used unicorn hairs and their horns in potions,' Harry replied.

'That is because it is a monstrous crime to slay a unicorn. Only one who has nothing to lose and everything to gain would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenceless to save your own life and you will have a half life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips.'

'But who would be so desperate as to do such a thing?' Harry wondered aloud.

'Mr Potter, do you know what is hidden at the school at this very moment?' Firenze asked.

'The Philosopher's Stone, of course, but what does that have to do with it?' Harry replied in confusion.

'Can you think of no one who would want to get their hands on that stone? Somebody who has been waiting many years to return to power?'

'Are you saying that the figure back there was Vol-'

'Harry! Harry! Are you alright?' Caprice sprinted over and lept up over Firenze's back, tackling Harry to the ground in a hug.

'Caprice, where are the others?' Harry asked as he tried to push Caprice off his stomach.

'They were right behind me a minute ago, I guess they don't have the stamina for cross country!' Caprice let out a small giggle as Hagrid, Malfoy and Neville rushed into the area.

'The unicorn's dead, Hagrid,' Harry began.

'I know, we went through there on our way ter find you.' Hagrid replied sadly. Harry gave Firenze a look of gratitude before he galloped off into the forest.

Caprice turned back to Harry, a concerned look in her eyes.

'What happened?' She asked, pulling her glasses off as they were smashed and useless. Harry took his wand out and muttered a spell.

'Hermione has done that to my glasses so many times,' He muttered.

'Thanks,' Caprice said, realising that Harry wouldn't say anything while the other three were around.

'C'mon the lot of yer.' Hagrid grunted leading the four first years out of the forest. Neville stuck with Harry, while Caprice allowed herself to be dragged away by Malfoy.

'Jenkins!' Bellowed Malfoy when they arrived back at the Slytherin common room. Caprice slunk back, she knew that Malfoy had been bottling up his anger until they had returned to the common room, and now she was going to get it. 'How dare you be concerned about Potter!'

Caprice drew herself up to full height, which was still about four inches shorter than Malfoy, and puffed out her chest trying to look tough. Malfoy laughed at the petty sight.

'Why do you treasure him so?' Malfoy asked.

'I don't,' Caprice said stubbornly.

'Don't lie to me Jenkins, I don't like liars,' Malfoy hissed dangerously. 'I saw the way you were acting with Potter back there, and he was the same. You were both worried about eachother, and when I came and said that a thing was after him, you almost cried.'

'You look too deeply into such matters,' Caprice said, brushing off the accusations like they meant nothing.

'No, I'm definitely right on this, and I suggest that if you value your house loyalties at all, stay away from Potter,' Malfoy growled and stalked off to bed. Caprice pouted at his back as he retreated. Nevertheless, Caprice didn't go to the girls dorms, instead she hurried out of the common room and up the many flights of stairs to the seventh floor, where she knew the Gryffindor common room was. She rubbed her ring and urged Harry to hurry.

Seconds later, the portrait swung open to reveal nothing. Caprice looked confused, until she was pulled under Harry's invisibility cloak.

'I thought we left this in the astronomy tower?' Caprice asked.

'Yes, but I found it under my bed sheets with a note which said Just in case.' Harry told her. Suddenly, Caprice started to cry. Harry looked down at her, with a concerned look on his face.

'What's the matter?' He asked.

'Oh, it's awful!' Caprice sobbed.

'What is?'

'Putting up with … him.' She said. 'He yelled at me as soon as we got back to the common room, and he accused me of being to worried about you when he said that something was after you.' Harry gave her a hug, attempting to comfort his friend.

'It's okay,' Harry said.

'No, it's not, and it never will be!' She wailed. 'Why do I have to be in Slytherin!'

'You'll be fine, don't worry,' Harry reassured her.

'I don't want to live with him for the next six years! This year's been bad enough,' Caprice said. Harry didn't know what he could say which would make things right.

'You're a Slytherin at heart Caprice, or else the hat wouldn't have put you there.'

'I don't want to be one of them.' Caprice said stubbornly.

'Then by the end of Hogwarts, you will be a very good actor.' Harry told her with a smile. Caprice wiped her eyes and laughed a small bit.

'Thanks Harry, you can always make me feel better,' She told him.

'Besides, there isn't long now before the holidays start, and when we get back home we'll be together again for the whole time! No Malfoy, Ron or Hermione to worry about.' Harry said to her. 'But before the end I might need your help with something.'

'Anything,'

'Well, tonight, I learned that Snape might be after the stone not for himself, but for Voldemort. So I'm thinking that I might have to go down the trapdoor and stop Snape from getting his hands on that stone.' Harry said.

'You're only a first year! What are you going to do to stop Snape if he wants to take the stone?' Caprice asked.

'I don't know, but I'll think of something. Right now I'm sure that I need to stop him from taking the stone and getting Voldemort eternal life.'

'So what do you need my help with?' Caprice asked, already knowing the answer to her question. Harry looked in her soft brown eyes, twinkling with excess tear drops behind her fragile glasses.

'I want you to come with me down the trapdoor.' Harry said softly.

'You're joking?' Ron exclaimed after Harry had finished telling Ron and Hermione about the previous night's events.

'No Ron, I'm serious,' Harry said.

'Well, what are we going to do?' Hermione asked.

'We have to go and stop You-Know-Who from getting his hands on the You-Know-What,' Ron mocked.

'This is serious Ron!' Harry cried. 'What if Snape succeeds? What if he does come back?'

'This isn't our problem Harry, this should be handled by teachers, not three first years,' Hermione reasoned.

'Correction; four first years,' Harry said. Hermione and Ron narrowed their eyes.

'All the more reason not to go,' Ron scowled.

'If you two won't help me then Caprice will,' Harry threatened.

'We don't want to hear about her,' Hermione said in a low tone of voice.

'She's a Slytherin, Harry, Slytherin! Does that mean nothing to you?' Ron said.

'No, because I know the real Caprice, not a girl labelled by her house.' Harry told them.

'You have to accept that Gryffindors and Slytherins are not made to get along!' Hermione insisted.

'Well we got along for years before coming to this school, and I'm not going to let social standards get in the way of our friendship.' Harry insisted. 'If you got to know her you'd know what I mean.'

'Well we don't have time for Slytherins,' Ron pouted.

'No, Ron, wait, he's right you know, we shouldn't judge her,' Hermione said. 'What we should do is trust that Harry's judgement wouldn't lead him to befriend someone who is like Malfoy, and that Caprice is really different.'

Ron preceded to make a noise of disgust. Hermione turned back to Harry.

'I might not like the girl, but you have your choice of friends.'

'You've gone crazy Hermione,' Ron shook his head, but he stopped arguing.

'So will you both come down the trapdoor with me and Caprice? I could really use your help, both of you.' Harry said.

Reluctantly, Hermione and Ron nodded their heads.

In years to come, Harry would never quite remember how he managed to get through his exams when he half expected Voldemort to come bursting through the door at any moment. Yet the days crept by and there was still no doubt that Fluffy was still alive and well behind the locked door.

Harry did the best he could on his exams, trying to ignore the stabbing pains in his forehead which had been bothering him ever since his trip to the forest. Neville thought Harry had a bad case of exam nerves because Harry couldn't sleep, but the truth was that Harry kept being woken by his old nightmare, except that it was now worse than ever because there was a hooded figure dripping blood in it.

Ron and Hermione certainly didn't seem as worried about the stone as Harry did, but they were still scared by the idea that Voldemort could return. They were so busy with revision and exams that they had no time to worry about what Snape or anyone else might be up to.

The last exam for the Gryffindors was History of Magic, one hour of answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented self-stirring cauldron and they'd be free, free for a whole wonderful week until their results came out. When the ghost of Professor Binns told them to put their quills down, Harry couldn't help cheering with the rest.

'That was easier than I thought it would be,' Hermione said as they walked out onto the grounds with the flock of students rushing away from exams. They wandered down by the lake and flopped under a tree. The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were tickling the tentacles of a giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows.

'No more revision,' Ron sighed happily, stretching out on the grass. 'You should look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet.' Harry was rubbing his forehead.

'I just wish I knew what this means!' He burst out angrily. 'My scar keeps hurting - it's happened before, but never as often as this. I'm not ill, I think it's a warning… it means danger's coming.'

'Nah mate, it's probably your imagination,' Ron said, too relaxed to get worked up.

'The Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. We've never had proof that Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not going to try again in a hurry.' Hermione said.

'And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down,' Ron added sleepily.

But Harry couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he'd forgotten to do, something important. Hagrid would never betray Dumbledore, Hagrid would never tell anyone how to get past Fluffy… never… but -

Harry suddenly jumped to his feet.

'Where are you going?' Ron asked.

'I've just thought of something,' Harry said frantically, he had gone white. 'We've got to go and see Hagrid now,'

'Why?' Hermione panted as she tried to keep up with Harry's much longer strides than hers.

'Don't you think its odd that the one thing Hagrid wants most is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if its against Wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see this before?'

'What are you on about?' Ron asked, but Harry, sprinting across the grounds towards Hagrid's Hut, didn't reply.

Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his hut, his trousers and sleeves were rolled up and he was shelling peas into a large bowl. Harry was shocked to see Caprice was there, sitting cross-legged on the grass, talking to Hagrid.

'Hullo,' Hagrid said, seeing Harry, Ron and Hermione. Caprice spun around, and offered a small smile. Neither Gryffindor returned the gesture.

'Care to join us?' Caprice asked casually.

'No, we're in a hurry,' Harry answered quickly, and turned to Hagrid. 'I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?'

'Dunno,' Hagrid said casually. 'He wouldn't take his cloak off.' Ron, Harry and Hermione looked stunned. Caprice stared at each of them, confused.

'What's going on?' She asked. Harry ignored the question and continued to talk to Hagrid.

'What did you talk to him about? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?'

'Yeah… he asked what I did, an' I told him I was a gamekeeper here… he asked about the sort of 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 buying me drinks… Lets see… yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted… but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn't want it ter go ter any old home… So I told him, after Fluffy a dragon'd be easy…'

'Did he seem interested in Fluffy?' Harry asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

'Well - yeh - how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece of cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep -' Hagrid suddenly looked horrified, and Caprice's face dawned in realisation. 'I shouldn'ta told yeh that!' He blurted out. 'Forget I said it! Hey - where're yeh going?'

Harry, Ron and Hermione had taken off, Caprice following close behind. None of them spoke until they reached the Entrance Hall, which seemed cold and gloomy after the grounds.

'We have to see Dumbledore,' Harry said. 'Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy and it was either Snape of Voldemort under that cloak - it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him.'

'Will you guys please explain what just happened?' Caprice asked, looking from Harry to Ron to Hermione, and back to Harry again.

'Hagrid told either Snape or Voldemort how to get past Fluffy while he was gambling for the dragon egg,' Harry quickly explained as they briskly walked to Dumbledore's office.

'What are you three doing inside?' It was Professor McGonagall, who, obviously, had not caught sight of Caprice. She slunk behind a suit of armour and stayed out of sight.

'We want to see Professor Dumbledore,' Hermione spoke out.

'Why?' She asked with an accusing tone.

'It's sort of secret,' Harry said timidly, at once he wished that he hadn't. Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared.

'Professor Dumbledore left half an hour ago,' She said coldly. 'He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once.'

'He's gone? Now?' Harry said frantically. 'Look, Professor, it's about the Philosopher's Stone -' Whatever Professor McGonagall had expected, it wasn't that.

'How did you find out about that?'

'Professor, I think - I know - that Sn - that someone's going to try to steal the stone,' Harry said.

'Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow, I don't know how you found out about the stone, but let me assure you, it is well protected and perfectly safe.' Professor McGonagall said. 'Now I suggest that you go back outside and enjoy the sunshine.' She walked off. They didn't go outside.

'It's tonight,' said Harry once he was sure Professor McGonagall was out of earshot. 'Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way.' Caprice stepped out of hiding.

'Did you see the look on her face when you said about the -' Caprice immediately stopped talking. Harry, Ron and Hermione wheeled around to find Snape standing there.

'Good afternoon,' He said smoothly, then noticed Caprice. 'Why, might I ask, is a Slytherin hanging around three troublesome Gryffindor's inside on a day like today?' Snape asked suspiciously.

'We were -' Harry began, with no idea what to say.

'You should be more careful,' Snape said. 'Hanging around like a bad smell, people will think you're up to something.'

They all turned to go outside, but Snape called Caprice back. She gave Harry a look that said she would be fine, and the three Gryffindors continued to go outside.

'I have a plan,' Harry said.

'What might that be?' Hermione asked.

'I'm going to try and get the stone before Snape does.' Harry told his friends.

'You're crazy!'

'You'll get expelled!' Hermione uttered.

'If Snape gets that stone, Voldemort will return, and there won't be a school to be expelled from!' Harry exclaimed. 'I'm going through that trapdoor tonight, and there's nothing either of you can say to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember? I'm not about to let him come back.'

'You're right, as usual,' Ron said.

'I'll use my invisibility cloak, it's just lucky I got it back.' Harry said.

'But will it cover all of us?' Hermione asked.

'All of us?'

'Oh come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?' Ron said.

'Of course not,' Hermione said briskly. 'How do you think you'd get the stone without us? I'd better go check in my books and see if there's anything useful in them.'

'But if we get caught, you two will get expelled as well as me and Caprice.' Harry warned.

'Oh, right, Caprice…' Ron muttered, clearly he had forgotten that she was also to go.

'Hush up Ron,' Hermione warned.

After dinner, the three Gryffindors sat in the common room nervously. No one spoke to them. Harry was used to being ignored by now, the Gryffindors had stopped talking to him after he and Neville had lost Gryffindor one hundred points. Hermione was skimming through her noted, hoping to find something that could be of use to them down the trap door.

'When are we meeting her?' Ron asked bitterly.

'You'd better start being more civil about Caprice,' Harry snapped nervously.

'Sorry mate.' Ron replied.

'We're meeting her at the third floor corridor at midnight.' Harry said. Slowly but surely, the common room emptied, and as the last Gryffindor, Lee Jordan, headed off to bed yawning, Ron turned back to Harry.

'You'd better go get the cloak, we'll put it on before we leave the common room, if Filch spots us wandering around, we'll be in so much trouble.'

Harry hurried upstairs, grabbing the cloak and the wooden flute Hagrid had given him for Christmas before hurrying back downstairs into the common room to find Hermione and Ron faced off with Neville.

'I'm not letting you go, you'll get Gryffindor in trouble again.' Neville said, with a shaky, but clear voice. Harry glanced up at the grandfather clock, ten minutes to midnight. He hated keeping Caprice waiting, and Snape could have already gone through the trapdoor.

'You don't understand, Neville. This is important.' Harry said, trying not to let his anger show through.

'I wont let you go out!' Neville rushed over to the portrait hole. 'I'll - I'll fight you!'

'Neville, don't be a fool!' Hermione said calmly.

'Don't be an idiot! Get away from that portrait hole!' Ron exploded.

'Don't you call me an idiot, I don't think you should be breaking any more school rules, and you're the ones who told me to stand up to people.' Neville said, his voice becoming more confident.

'Yes, but not to us, you don't know what you're doing!' Ron said in exasperation.

'Back down Neville,' Harry warned, taking a step forward. Neville dropped Trevor the toad, who hopped to safety.

'Go on then, try to hit me,' He raised his hands into puny fists.

'Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this.' Hermione said, stepping forward and raising her wand. 'Petrificus totalus!'

Neville's body went rigid, his arms and legs snapped to his sides, and he fell flat on his back, stiff as a board.

'What have you done to him?' Harry whispered.

'It's the full body bind, oh Neville I'm so sorry.' Hermione whimpered.

'It's his own ruddy fault for standing in our way, now let's go save the world.' Ron said haughtily.

Caprice looked around the corner again, making sure Filch wasn't looming around. She was cold and nervous, hoping not to be found. Luckily, she wasn't. Harry, equipped with Ron and Hermione, showed up not long after midnight, and Hermione unlocked the door.

'Um, is it just me, or is that dog supposed to be asleep on the job?' Caprice whispered as they crept into the room. There was a harp magically playing by itself in the corner of the room.

'Dammit!' Harry cursed. 'Snape's already down there!'

The four of them opened the trapdoor using the large iron ring.

'You go first, Hermione.' Ron said nervously. Hermione's eyes widened.

'Are you kidding me?' She whined. 'I can't see a thing down there!'

'Oh bloody brave Gryffindors…' Caprice pushed past Ron and Hermione who were still bickering over who would go first. She graciously jumped down the trapdoor, watched by three wide-eyed, staring Gryffindors. A loud thud could be heard as Caprice hit what appeared to be the bottom.

'Are you okay?' Harry called down.

'I'm fine, what are you all waiting for?' Came the response. Harry immediately jumped down after Caprice, not wanting to wait for something bad to happen to her. He was closely followed by Hermione, and finally, Ron.

'What's this?' Harry asked, landing on something soft.

'It's a plant.' Caprice answered. 'Ahhh!' She screamed. 'It's got me!'

'Oh! Me too!' Harry whined. 'Get out you two!' Harry shouted at Ron and Hermione, who stumbled off to the side, away from the nasty plant.

'It's devil's snare!' Hermione mused. 'I read something about this plant! Oh… what was it!'

'Think fast Hermione!' Caprice yelled, her entire body almost covered by the plant.

'No need to rush me, I'm trying!' Hermione snapped back.

'Hurry up, I can't breathe!' Harry gasped, wrestling with the plant as it curled around his waist.

'Devil's snare… devil's snare… what did Professor Sprout say? It likes the dark and the damp -'

'So light a fire you idiot!' Caprice choked.

'Yes, of course, but… there's no wood!' Hermione cried, wringing her hands.

'Have you gone mad?' Ron bellowed from beside her, causing Hermione to cover her ears. 'Are you a witch or not?'

'Oh, right!' Hermione shot a flame of fire at the plant through the tip of her wand. In a matter of seconds, Harry and Caprice fell free as the plant cringed away from the warm flames.

'Owch!' Caprice yelped as the flames singed her robes.

'That was for calling me an idiot.' Hermione said, folding her arms across her chest. Caprice shot her a glare, which was returned from Hermione. Harry stepped between the two.

'Let's get going, Snape could already have the stone by now.

I cut this chapter into two, because otherwise it would be way too long. The next chapter won't be far away.

Gryffindor Gal