Realty Check

- Yes, hate me, I don't care. I know I haven't written anything in so long, infact, it's been so long that I even forgot how I format my own chapters. Oh well, you get that. My boredom has returned my state of mind to when I used to write, and I figured I'd pick up where I left off. See, over the past year I've gotten a life! I never used to have one, but now I do so there you go. Well, you're probably all wondering how this little AU story ends… -

Chapter 21 - The Man With Two Faces

The small man was standing with his back to Harry. He was facing the Mirror of Erised. Harry immediately recognised his turban, the man was Professor Quirrell. For once, Harry felt entirely alone.

'You!' Harry gasped. Quirrell spun around with a sly grin on his face.

'Yes, me. I wondered when I'd be meeting you here Potter,' Quirrell sneered.

'But I thought - Snape -'

'Severus?' Quirrell laughed in such a way that made Harry feel even more uneasy. It wasn't his regular quivering laugh, but a cold and sharp one. 'Yes, Severus does seem the type, doesn't he? So useful to have him swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?'

Harry couldn't take it in. This couldn't be true, it couldn't.

'But Snape tried to kill me!'

'No, no, no, I tried to kill you. Your friend Miss Granger accidentally knocked me over as she rushed to set fire to Snape at that Quidditch match. She broke my eye contact with you. Another few seconds and I would have gotten you off that broom. I'd have managed it before then if Snape hadn't been muttering a counter-curse, trying to save you.'

'Snape was trying to save me?'

'Of course. Why do you think he wanted to referee your next match? He was trying to make sure I didn't do it again. Funny, really… he needn't have bothered. I couldn't do anything with Dumbledore watching. All the other teachers thought Snape was trying to stop Gryffindor from winning, he did make himself unpopular… and what a waste of time, when after all that, I'm going to kill you tonight.'

Quirrell snapped his fingers. Ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped themselves around Harry.

'You're too nosy to live, Potter. Scurrying around the school at Halloween like that, for all I knew you'd seen me coming to look at what was guarding the stone.'

'Wait a minute… you let the troll in?' Harry was flabbergasted.

'Certainly. I have a special gift with trolls - you must have seen what I did to the one in the chamber back there? Unfortunately, while everyone else was running around looking for it, Snape, who already suspected me, went straight for the third floor to head me off - and not only did my troll fail to beat you to death, that three-headed dog didn't even manage to bite Snape's head off properly.' Quirrell said. 'Now wait quietly, Potter, I need to examine this interesting mirror.'

Quirrell paced around the Mirror of Erised a few times, muttering to himself about how he saw himself presenting the stone to his master. Harry thought he was about to give up when…

'Use the boy… use the boy…'

Harry looked around, desperately wondering where the voice had come from, but then he realised… it was coming from Quirrell's turban.

--

'I have to get in, Hermione, you simply don't understand! For a smart witch, you have no grasp on the friendship Harry and I have!'

Caprice ran at the door again, lowering her shoulder as she barged against it. Hermione was knelt beside Ron.

'Caprice, I told you, the door is sealed and will not open. I have a fair understanding of your friendship with Harry, but -' At that moment, Caprice turned and glared at Hermione.

'You have no idea!' She yelled. 'None at all!' Hermione was shocked. Ron stirred.

'What?' Hermione asked meekly.

'You don't know what it was like for us, growing up in that horrible muggle school! We were so heavily picked on because of our glasses, and that stupid fat cousin of Harry. You can have no possible grasp on the situation! We had no one but eachother! I cannot and will not stand by and do nothing while he is in there up against Voldemort!' Caprice roared. Hermione said nothing, and the Slytherin slammed herself against the door once more.

'I knew it was some kind of mistake to bring you down here.' Hermione muttered. Caprice snapped her head towards the girl.

'What?' She growled.

'We've done all we can do, we helped Harry get to You-Know-Who, and now the rest is up to him.'

'That's not fair! Why should he have to face Voldemort alone?' Caprice yelled.

'He is a powerful wizard! More so than all of us three put together! We can do nothing to help him against You-Know-Who, only hinder him.' Hermione sighed.

'Stop being such a pig-headed bitch!' Caprice spat.

'No wonder you're a Slytherin…' Hermione muttered, and turned her full attention to Ron. Caprice glared at Hermione with utter hatred in her eyes, and then turned back to the door.

--

Quirrell turned to Harry.

'Of course, Potter, come here.' He clapped his hands and the ropes binding Harry fell off. Harry slowly got to his feet. 'Come here.' Quirrell repeated, 'Look in the mirror and tell me what you see.'

Harry walked slowly towards the mirror. I must lie, he thought desperately. I must look and lie about what I see, that is all.

Quirrell moved close behind him. Harry breathed in the funny smell that seemed to come from Quirrell's turban. He closed his eyes, stepped in front of the mirror and opened them again. He saw his reflection, pale and scared-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 into the pocket - and as it did so, Harry felt something heavy drop into his real pocket. Somehow - incredibly - he'd gotten the stone.

'Well,' Quirrell said impatiently. 'What do you see?'

Harry screwed up his courage. 'I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore, I - I've won the house cup for Gryffindor.'

'He lies… he lies…' It was that voice again. It made Harry's blood run cold.

'Potter, come back here!' Quirrell shouted. 'Tell me the truth! What did you see?'

The high pitched voice spoke again. 'Let me speak to him… face to face…'

'Master, you are not strong enough,' Quirrell argued.

'I am strong enough… for this…'

Harry felt as if Devil's Snare was rooting him to the spot. He couldn't move a muscle. Petrified, he watched as Quirrell reached up and began to unwrap his turban. The turban fell away, Quirrell's head looked strangely small without it, and then he began to turn around. Where there should have been the back of Quirrell's head, there was a face. The most terrible face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake.

'Harry Potter…' It whispered.

Harry tried to step backwards, but his legs wouldn't move.

'See what I have become?' The face said. 'Mere shadow and vapour… I have form only when I can share another's body… but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds… Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks… you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the forest… and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own… now… why don't you give me that stone in your pocket?'

So he knew. The feeling suddenly surged back into Harry's legs and he stumbled backwards.

'Don't be a fool,' Snarled the face. 'Better save your own life and join me… or you'll meet the same end as your parents… they died begging for mercy…'

'Liar!' Harry shouted suddenly. Quirrell was walking backwards at him, so that Voldemort could still see him. The face was now smiling.

'How touching…' It hissed. 'I always value bravery… yes, boy, your parents were brave… I killed your father first and he put up a courageous fight… but your mother needn't have died… she was trying to protect you… now give me the Stone, unless you want her to have died in vain.'

'Never!' Harry sprang towards the flame door, but Voldemort screamed, 'SEIZE HIM!'

The next second, Harry felt Quirrell's hands close on his wrist. At once, a needle-sharp pain seared across Harry's scar; his head felt as though it was about to split in two; he yelled, struggling with all his might, and to his surprise, Quirrell let go of him.

The pain in his head had lessened - he looked around wildly to see where Quirrell had gone and saw him hunched in pain, looking at his fingers - they were blistering before his eyes.

'Seize him! SEIZE HIM!' Shrieked Voldemort again and Quirrell lunged, knocking Harry clear off his feet, landing on top of him, both hands around Harry's neck - Harry's scar was almost blinding him with pain, yet he could see Quirrell howling in agony.

'Master, I cannot hold him - my hands - my hands!'

And Quirrell, though pinning Harry to the ground with his knees, let go of his neck and stared, bewildered, at his own palms - Harry could see they looked burnt, raw, red and shiny.

'Then kill him, fool, and be done!' Screeched Voldemort. Quirrell raised his hand to perform a deadly curse, but Harry, by instinct, reached up and grabbed Quirrell's face -

'AAAARGH!' Quirrell rolled off him, his face blistering too, and then Harry knew: Quirrell couldn't touch his bare skin, not without suffering terrible pain - his only chance was to keep hold of Quirrell, keep him in enough pain to stop him from doing a curse.

Harry jumped to his feet, caught Quirrell by the arm and hung on as tight as he could. Quirrell screamed and tried to throw Harry off - the pain in Harry's head was building - he couldn't see - he could only hear Quirrell's terrible shrieks and Voldemort's yells of 'KILL HIM! KILL HIM!' and other voices, maybe only in Harry's head, crying, 'Harry! Harry!'

He felt Quirrell's arm wrenched from his grasp, knew all was lost, and fell into blackness, down… down… down…

--

Dumbledore rushed through the trapdoor, using his wand to abolish all the different curses and charms protecting the Stone. He came to Hermione, Ron and Caprice, noticing Caprice was slamming her broken body against the sealed door.

'Miss Jenkins, if you would please stop doing that before you inflict some serious damage on yourself.' Dumbledore said as he rushed past, unlocking the door in a split second. Caprice wanted to collapse, she wanted to crawl up and sleep, but she knew that Harry was on the other side, waiting for her. She rushed in behind Dumbledore, Hermione staying with Ron.

'Harry! Harry!' Caprice yelled out as she rushed onto the scene of Professor Quirrell attacking Harry. Quirrell had his turban off, and there was a pasty white face on the back of his head shouting out 'KILL HIM!'

Caprice noticed Quirrell screaming in pain, and Harry barely conscious.

'Harry!' Caprice screamed. Dumbledore raced over and wrenched Quirrell's arm from Harry's grip. Voldemort released himself from Quirrell's body and his misty form fled. Caprice stood terrified, but she regained herself quickly and rushed to Harry's side.

--

The whole three days Harry was in the hospital wing, Caprice left his side only to eat and use the bathroom. She slept in the chair next to his bed, hoping to be there when he awoke. Hermione wandered in on the second day with Ron. Caprice glared at the two, not wanting them anywhere near Harry. Ron looked from Hermione, to Caprice and back to Hermione, wondering what had gone on between the girls while he was unconscious.

'Caprice -' Hermione began, but she was cut off.

'He doesn't want you here.' Caprice snarled.

'Look,' Hermione said, beginning to get quite annoyed with the girl. 'We're his friends too, and although we understand that you are his closest friend who was there for him in his younger years, we are entitled to his friendship as well.' Ron caught on.

'Just because you were the only friend he had back in the muggle school, doesn't mean that you're the only friend he has here.' Ron said. 'Don't you think it's better that Harry has more friends, and less people who pick on him?'

Caprice said nothing, but the glare on her face said plainly; 'I don't want to share.'

Hermione sighed. 'Look, Caprice, you have to stop protecting him from us. We aren't the people who you have to worry about. I mean, look at your friends, people like Draco Malfoy, he's Harry's real enemy, not us.'

Still, Caprice kept her silence. Ron and Hermione placed their cards, chocolates and flowers around Harry's bedside table.

'Caprice, we did nothing to you, why are you treating us as though we're scum?' Ron asked, demanding an answer from the Slytherin.

'You are Gryffindors -'

'SO IS HARRY!' Hermione roared. Ron was shocked, he had never seen her this enraged. 'If you're going to pull the whole "Slytherins and Gryffindors are sworn enemies" thing, then you can't be Harry's friend, because he, like us, is a Gryffindor!' Hermione's fists were clenched together in tight balls by her sides. Caprice jerked up and had her wand at Hermione's throat.

'Don't make me do it, witch.' Caprice growled in a low voice. Ron tugged at Hermione's arm.

'Come on, Hermione. Let's go.' He said slowly, his voice shaky with fear at what Caprice might do.

--

Caprice was asleep beside Harry when he woke. She heard him stir in her subconscious state, and she woke in a flash, handing him his glasses.

'Harry,' She said gently. 'How are you feeling?' Harry groaned.

'The Stone! He has the Stone! Quirrell…'

'Shh…' Caprice soothed. 'It's okay, Professor Dumbledore arrived back in time, and he destroyed the Stone. You're lucky you were knocked out, Voldemort fled…' Caprice told him.

'And Quirrell?'

'He died Harry.'

Dumbledore must have heard the voices, because at that moment, he entered the hospital wing. For the first time in the three days, Caprice felt it best to leave Harry's side. She left the hospital wing to be greeted by her fellow Slytherins, Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. She didn't like the look on Draco's face.

'What is the ultimate betrayal, I wonder…' Draco said in a voice which scared Caprice.

'What are you talking about, Malfoy?' Caprice asked.

'Oh don't play games with me, Jenkins, you know exactly what I'm talking about.' Malfoy spat. 'Who in this school doesn't know that the Slytherin has been at the bedside of the sick Gryffindor for three days straight?'

'You say it like it's a bad thing.' Caprice said with no expression in her voice.

'Oh Jenkins, you have much to understand my dear, Slytherins have pride, we do not associate ourselves with lowly Gryffindors.' Draco spat.

'What's wrong with Gryffindors?' Caprice argued.

'Shut up!' Draco hissed. 'You are no longer considered a true Slytherin, I -'

'Leave her alone, Malfoy.' The four Slytherins snapped their heads to see who had spoken. It was Blaise Zabini, and with him was Theodore Nott, fellow Slytherins. Neither of the boys had really been in the tight Slytherin inner circle.

'What do you know, Zabini?' Draco said coldly.

'I know that you have no right to act like the leader of Slytherin House. We have free wills, and we can associate with whom ever we like, in which ever House. You do not own our spirits! You cannot control us!' Blaise said, stepping up beside Caprice. Theodore stepped on her other side. At that precise moment, Hermione and Ron walked around the corner. They stopped dead in their tracks, watching the scene before them.

'Fine, don't follow my lead, disgrace Slytherin House, but let me assure you, you three will be outcasted, looked down upon, treated at Hufflepuff scum, never accepted into Slytherin. You will be Slytherins only by label, never will you be truly Slytherins. You are freaks.'

'Good! I wouldn't want to be one of your minions, or as you call them, true Slytherins, anyway!' Caprice yelled to Draco's retreating form. He didn't turn around or make any gesture of response. Caprice, Theodore and Blaise all wore hatred on their faces as they watched Draco, Crabbe and Goyle walk off.

'Good grief,' Hermione whispered to Ron. Caprice must have noticed their presence. She turned around to face the two Gryffindors.

'Don't you two go getting any ideas that I'm going to be nice to you now.' She hissed, and walked away, Theodore and Blaise following.

'Now she has her own fan club.' Ron said dryly.

'So it would seem.' Hermione replied.

--

Harry had somehow allowed Madam Pomphrey to release him from the hospital wing in time for the end of term feast. Dumbledore had gone into vast explanation of what had gone on that night down the trapdoor, but Caprice wasn't interested. She was only concerned that Harry was safe and well. So Harry walked to the Great Hall with Hermione and Ron. The whole school now knew that Caprice, Theodore and Blaise were Slytherin outcasts, which was relieving for Caprice who could now talk to Harry whenever she pleased, without worrying about whether anyone would see her.

The two of them still kept their rings, incase they needed to contact eachother at night after dark.

Caprice, Theodore and Blaise sat well away from their housemates at the Slytherin Table during the end of year feast. The Great Hall was covered in Green and Silver decorations to celebrate Slytherin's winning of the House Cup for the seventh year in a row. Caprice wondered how the nasty Slytherins managed winning the cup. A huge banner showing the Slytherin serpent covered the wall behind the High Table.

'Another year gone!' Dumbledore said cheerfully. 'And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink out teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were… you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts…'

Some people laughed at this.

'Now, as I understand it, the House Cup needs awarding and the points stand thus: in fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third place, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two, Ravenclaw have four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy two.'

A loud cheer rose up from the Slytherin table. Harry could see Draco banging his goblet on the table, and then he saw Caprice and her two friends sitting there looking bored while their housemates celebrated.

'Yes, yes, well done Slytherin,' Dumbledore said. 'However, recent events must be taken into account.'

The room was very still. The Slytherin's smiles faded a little.

'Ahem,' said Dumbledore. 'I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes… first - to Mr Ronald Weasley…'

Ron went purple in the face; he looked like a radish with bad sunburn.

'… for the best played game of chess Hogwarts has ever seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points.'

Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling; the stars overhead seemed to quiver. Percy could be heard telling the other Prefects, 'My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!'

At last, there was silence again. Draco scowled.

'Second - to Miss Hermione Granger … for the cool use of logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor House fifty points.'

Hermione buried her face in her arms; Harry strongly suspected she had burst into tears. Gryffindors up and down the table were beside themselves - they were a hundred points up!

'Third - to Mr Harry Potter…' Said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet. '… for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty points.'

The din was deafening. Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew that Gryffindor now had four hundred and seventy-two points - exactly the same as Slytherin. They had drawn for the House Cup - if only Dumbledore had given Harry just one more point…

Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.

'Fourth, to Miss Caprice Jenkins -'

'NO!' Caprice stood in her seat, seeing where this was going. All eyes fell on the small girl with glasses and brown hair. She suddenly felt so intimidated and insignificant. 'Um, Professor,' She said meekly, looking at Dumbledore. 'I didn't do anything to merit points for my house, not really.'

Every Slytherin except for Blaise and Theodore were glaring at Caprice with such hatred that the tension was unbearable, but still, Caprice stood her ground. Dumbledore gazed down at her over his half moon shaped glasses.

'Well, I suppose if Caprice believes she did nothing to merit points, that leaves me with my last batch of points to award. There are many forms of courage, it takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but just as much to stand up to your friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom.'

Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor table. Harry, Ron and Hermione stood up to yell and cheer as Neville, white with shock, disappeared under a pile of people hugging him. He had never won so much as a point for Gryffindor before. Harry, still cheering, nudged Ron in the ribs and pointed at Malfoy, who couldn't have looked more stunned and horrified if he'd just had the Body-Bind curse put on him. Many Slytherins were still glaring at Caprice as she tried to shrink down inbetween Theodore and Blaise.

'Which means,' Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, for ever Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were celebrating the downfall of Slytherin, 'We need a little change of decoration.'

Dumbledore clapped his hands, and in an instant, the green hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold. The huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place. Snape was shaking McGonagall's hand with a horrible forced smile. He caught Harry's eye and Harry knew at once that Snape's feelings towards him hadn't changed one jot. This didn't worry Harry. It seemed as though life would be back to normal next year.

It was the best evening of Harry's life, better than winning Quidditch or Christmas, or knocking out mountain trolls… we would ever, ever forget that night.

Caprice came to see Harry after the students had all piled out of the Great Hall. She was alone, without Theodore and Blaise. Harry motioned to Ron and Hermione to leave, and they left the two friends alone.

'You didn't have to do that.' Harry said.

'Yes I did. You didn't really think I would let Slytherin win the House Cup if I could help it, did you?' Caprice said with a smile. Harry wrapped his best friend in a hug. When they broke apart, Caprice was crying.

'Don't be sad Caprice,' Harry said, wiping her tears away with his thumb. 'We have the whole summer together, and if the Dursleys try and stop us from hanging out, I'll threaten them with magic!'

'Don't be silly, you aren't allowed to use magic outside school.' Caprice said.

'Ahh, but the Dursleys don't know that!' Harry replied slyly.

'Oh you big idiot!' Caprice smacked him on the chest, and then she turned serious. 'I'll miss you on the train!'

'What do you mean, you don't have to sit with Malfoy, so why don't you sit with my friends & I?'

'Erm, well, your friends and I really don't get along… I'm sorry Harry, but that's just how things have worked out. I'll never get along with Ron and Hermione.' Caprice said.

'Oh.' Was all Harry could say.

'Don't worry… we're still friends, and it shouldn't matter whether I'm friends with them or not.'

'Yeah,' Harry smiled. 'You're right! Now get lost!' Caprice smiled and hugged Harry once more before heading down the stairs to the Slytherin Dungeons.

--

Before they all knew it, the students of Hogwarts were on the train, headed home to London. It seemed like such a short journey before the train pulled into platform nine and three quarters. It took quite a while for them all to get off the platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticked barrier letting them go through the gate in twos and threes so they didn't attract muggle attention by all bursting out a solid wall at once.

'You must come and stay this summer.' Said Ron. 'Both of you - I'll send an owl.'

'Oh, I don't know Ron, I was hoping to spend this summer with Caprice.' Harry said.

'Well…' Ron paused, and sighed heavily. He knew that if he was to be friends with Harry, the effort would have to be made. 'Bring Caprice.'

'Thanks!' Harry hugged Ron, but then stepped back quickly, feeling awkward. As they all emerged from the platform, Harry scanned the station for his relatives. They were nowhere to be seen. Just as he was giving up, Caprice grabbed his arm and led him to her parents.

'You're coming back home with us.' She said.

'Okay, just give me a minute.' Harry headed back to Ron and Hermione.

'Going so soon?' Hermione asked, eyeing Caprice.

'I'll see you both over the summer,' Harry said.

'I hope you have a good holidays Harry,' Hermione told him.

'Oh I will,' said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin which was spread across his face. 'They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer…'

With that, Harry turned away from his friends, and went with Caprice.

-----------------------------------------------------

- The end? Yeah, I've never finished a story before, I'll have to say this is the first one. I regret that it has taken me so long, but that's what happens I suppose. I hope everyone enjoyed reading this, although there wasn't much storyline different to the actual book. I'm a little sad that its over, but also a little relieved. Now I have one less story to worry about finishing. That sounds horrible, but oh well. Umm, if anyone wants me to continue the storyline with the second book just give a review or something. That's about it! Bye! -

- Gryffindor Gal -