Title: Jade Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: Queen Serenity
Fandom: Harry Potter
Chapter: Fifteen – Blood-Flavored Lollipops and Trust
The exams weren't as hard to get through as Jade thought… Although, she had to concentrate to ignore the stabbing pains from her scar that had been bothering her since the encounter in the forest.
Her easiest subject, all in all, was Potions. She actually enjoyed taking that exam, because when she lost herself in concocting the Forgetfulness potion she was able to forget, at least temporarily, about the frightening information which she now felt constantly looming over her.
The test for History of Magic had to be the hardest, but it was, thankfully, made much easier by the fact that Jade had beforehand studied the book which Hermione had gifted her with the past Christmas.
After that final test, Lisa and Hermione wanted Jade to go with them to hang out with Ron, but she refused, saying she wasn't feeling well.
It hadn't exactly been a lie. She truly wasn't feeling well, especially since now that the exams were over, she had nothing to distract her really from the foreboding shadow in her mind that something really, really bad was approaching.
Lying on her bed on her belly, kicking her legs slightly up in the air, she thoughtfully sucked on a blood-flavored lollipop from that candy box Lisa had gotten her as she contemplated the situation. As strange as it seemed, Jade had been determined to be open-minded when she'd tried that particular candy, and had been surprised when she found that she liked the slightly coppery-tasting candy. It was now her favorite out of all the wizard sweets she'd tried.
…Hmm… She thought, projecting her thoughts so that Solluna, who was beside her, could hear. Even if… if that creature in the forest really was Voldemort, and even if he could, by some miracle, get into the school, then he still shouldn't be able get past Fluffy, right?
Other than Dumbledore, only Hagrid should know how to get past that three-headed beast. Solluna didn't even both to open her eyes as she said this, by all appearances looking to be half-asleep.
Jade nodded. And he's so loyal to Dumbledore, he wouldn't ever give up the secret.
At this, Solluna opened her eyes and shot a crimson sideways glance to her companion. Yes. We all know that Hagrid is so very adept at keeping secrets.
Jade's emerald eyes widened as something occurred to her. Oh "bloody HELL!" The exclamation which had started as a thought ended as a shout, the lollipop falling to the floor. Without a matter of seconds, the girl had bolted from the room, Solluna following.
Jade ran all the way down to Hagrid's hut, and was severely out of breath by the time she got there. She found Hagrid outside his hut, shelling peas.
"Hullo, Jade," he said, smiling. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"
Jade took several moments to catch he breath, clutching the stitch in her side. "I'm sorry, Hagrid, but no… I'm in a big hurry. I came down here because I have to ask you something. You remember that night you won Norbert?"
Hagrid nodded.
"Well… the stranger you won it from, he didn't happen to be wearing like a hooded cloak, did he?"
Again, the big man nodded. "As a matter of fact, he was. It's not that unusual, though, there's a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head – that's the pub down in Hogsmeade. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up. He was a nice enough chap, though. I only had to pay for my first drink that night . . . after we started talkin', he was kind enough to have my mug filled whenever it was even near empty. Nice chap, he was."
Trying to keep the horror from her face, Jade sat abruptly on the ground. "What did you two talk about, Hagrid? Anything interesting?"
Hagrid shrugged. "Jus' ordinary stuff, I reckon." He frowned as he tried to remember. "He asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here . . . He asked a bit about the sorta 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 buyin' me drinks . . . Let's see . . . yeah, 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' want it ter go ter any old home . . . So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy. I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep–"
Suddenly, Hagrid looked horrified. "I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" he blurted out. "Forget I said it!"
By the time he finished saying this, Jade was already running away, back towards the castle.
Oh no, oh no, oh bloody hell…
Solluna's voice sounded in Jade's head. As kindly and loyal as he is, you must admit… Hagrid's tongue is loosened a bit too easily.
Jade ran down to the only place she could think of; the Potions classroom. She knew for a fact that Snape wasn't holding class or anything right now, and could only hope that he would be there.
When she came bursting through the classroom door, her hair all wild-looking from her running everywhere, her eyes frantic, Snape looked up quickly from where he was checking exams at his desk. His coal-black eyes looked, needless to say, surprised to see her, and Jade knew she must be a sight to see.
"Jade-, Miss Potter, what is it that you need? What's wrong?"
Jade struggled to get the answer out, gasping for breath. "I…need to…see…Professor…Dumbledore…please… where's his… office?"
"What do you need to see the Headmaster about that is so important?"
Jade had finally been able to catch her breath by now. "I..." She searched for an answer, knowing that if she told the whole truth she probably would not be taken seriously. "…need to tell him something," she finished, a bit lamely.
One of Snape's eyebrows rose at this. "Right."
A look of innocence worked its way onto Jade's face, looking anything but with her hassled appearance. "It's true."
"I'm sorry, Miss Potter, but, whether or not it's true, whatever you want to speak to him of will have to wait. Professor Dumbledore left just ten minutes ago. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic summoning him to London at once. But if you want to, you can tell me…" He trailed off, staring in astonishment as Jade bolted from the room once more, gone as quick as she had come.
What in the world is wrong with her? The dark-haired professor wondered. He hadn't seen her this worked up at all since she'd come here, so it had to be something…
Jade was frantic. She knew, she knew that that owl hadn't really been from the Ministry of Magic. It had been just a way to get Dumbledore out of here. She saw Draco in the dungeon's corridor, and he'd raised a hand to wave, but she'd kept on running right past him, leaving him with a baffled expression on her face.
Jade knew what she would have to do. She was only eleven, but she would have to do this… There wasn't any other option, really, if you stopped to think about it.
In the Entrance Hall, she ran right into Lisa, Ron, and Hermione. She tugged Hermione after her, and the other two ran behind them, curious as to what was going on. As she ran, Jade spoke.
"Dumbledore… he got called away! He's going after the stone now, I know it! We've gotta stop him, Hermione!"
Ron sped up, caught up to the two girls, and grabbed both of them to pull them to a halt. "Wait just a bloody minute! Stop who? Who are you two talking about?"
By now, Jade was too out of breath to answer, so Hermione did. "We've gotta stop Snape from grabbing the Sorcerer's Stone beneath the trapdoor. If he gets it, he's gonna take it to You-Know-Who!'
Jade rolled her eyes. Whatever, she wasn't going to try to explain it, there wasn't time! She started walking again at a fast pace, climbing the stairs towards the third-floor corridor. "Ron, do me a favor, please?"
"What?"
"Go now to the owlery and send Athena to Dumbledore. I'm really gonna need his help… I'll only be able to hold him off for so long, I'm sure, and time really is of the essence."
Ron grew rather red in the face. "Are you an idiot?"
This surprised Jade so much that she stopped for a moment and shot him a strange look before she started climbing the stairs again. She didn't bother giving him an answer.
"You must be. Do you really think I'm gonna let two girls and a … werecat … go face off against a dark wizard all alone? You must be mad!" He turned and looked at Lisa. "Lisa, you go. I'll go with these two."
Lisa nodded and started heading back down the stairs.
Meanwhile, they had reached the third floor… and the door to the corridor was ajar.
"I told you…" Jade said. "He's there."
Staring at the open door, Jade felt a shiver run down her spine. She was doing this… she was really doing this. It wasn't just some freaky nightmare.
Honestly, it felt as though Death itself was waiting beyond the door.
And, for all any of them knew… perhaps it was.
Jade stopped short of the door and looked at those with her. First, she looked at Ron, who looked determined even as his freckles stood out from his white-as-a-ghost face.
Second, she looked at Hermione, whose bushy hair looked even wilder than usual. Her face looked similar to it had the night the troll had been around… completely and utterly petrified.
Lastly, she looked at Solluna, whose fur was raised as she looked towards the door, obviously fearing the three-headed dog.
Her eyes sad, Jade swallowed and spoke, forcing a confident smile onto her face. "You guys… you should go back. I can hold him off myself until Dumbledore gets here. If you come, you might get hurt."
Hermione shook her head. "No. If you go, I go, too."
Ron looked mad at the very idea of what Jade had said. "Don't be stupid. If I turn back now, and let either of you go without me, I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you."
Solluna narrowed her eyes. I will not back out this time, Jade. I went to get help in the forest, but not this time. I am going with you. Wait a moment before we go through, though.
Solluna's form seemed to blur and then, in the next moment, she was crouched on the ground in her humanoid form. She wore a sort of sleeveless top showing her midriff, and a skirt that fell to just above her knees, a slit on each side. Both articles of clothing seemed to be made of her own ebony fur, edged in silver fur. When she got to her feet, her height now reaching to Jade's chin, Jade could see that Solluna was clutching a short dagger. Her silver tufted tail, which was still there, twitched slightly, and Jade could see a dangerous glint in the werecat's eyes.
"Remind me not to ever get her really mad," Ron murmured to Hermione.
Jade turned back towards the door and pushed it open.
As it opened, the sight before their eyes was terrifying. Fluffy was there, as expected. At its feet was a harp. All three of Fluffy's heads growled low, but it didn't move from its spot over the trapdoor. Jade could see sweat beading on Solluna's brow when she glanced over at her.
Jade pointed at the harp. "That's how he got through."
Ron was, if possible, even whiter than he had been before. "And how in the world are we supposed to get through?"
Jade took a deep breath. "I'll handle it."
She started singing something she'd written about a year ago, when she'd started writing a language of her own just for fun. At first, her voice quavered with fear, but then it was strong, as she knew that everyone was counting on her. Once she got past the first line, the rest was automatic, as it had been when she'd sang it so many times when she was alone, singing first her own language, then the translation.
"Tay kar logoth jai ra
Tay kar logoth jai ra
Kaia logoth…
Kaia logoth…
I am waiting for you
I am waiting for you
Always waiting…
Always waiting…"
The tune was haunting and pretty, but rather sad. When she was just starting the part in English, the dog slumped to the ground, pretty much dead to the world.
As she kept singing the song, Jade headed over to the trapdoor, and the other three followed behind her. At a gesture from her, Ron opened it, then Solluna, obviously grateful to be away from the three-headed dog, jumped into the darkness first.
The landing is soft, Jade.
Taking a quick breath so she could continue singing, Jade nodded to Ron and Hermione to let them know it was okay. Ron jumped in first, then Hermione. Glad to be able to stop singing, Jade jumped in. Cold, damp air rushed past her as she fell down some distance, and then FLUMP! She landed between Ron and Solluna.
It was only a moment before Jade felt the plant's vines tightening around her. "Oh, bloody hell."
Solluna was the most tangled in the plant, and she was snarling viciously, cutting at the vines with her dagger. Each time one was cut, though, two replaced it before she could get loose.
Ron cursed fluently as he struggled to get loose of the vines.
Hermione, who had landed a little nearer the edge of the plant, managed to free herself. Meanwhile, when Jade found she couldn't reach her wand, she simply stopped moving. She'd figured out what this was.
"Hermione, I know that this is… it's…"
Hermione nodded. "I know, it's Devil's Snare. Ron, Solluna, stop moving! The more you struggle, the tighter it'll get!"
Jade thought for a moment, trying to fight back panic and the urge to struggle as she could feel her breath becoming short, the vines tightening painfully around her. "Hermione, I can't reach my wand… We need fire."
"But there's no wood!" Hermione wrung her hands, looking frantic.
"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"
"USE YOUR BLOODY WAND!" Jade couldn't help but feel…slightly… irritated at the situation.
"Right!" Hermione whipped out her wand and, as she muttered something, a jet of bluebell flames shot at the plant. It worked, and, as the plant unraveled itself, the three captives were able to free themselves.
"This way," Jade said, leading the way down a stone passageway that was the only way to go.
The only noise was that of their footsteps and the gentle drip of water trickling down the stone walls.
Can you hear that? Solluna asked Jade. It sounds rather like… birds.
Jade could hear it. "I wonder what that sound is, guys. Maybe owls?"
Hermione shrugged. "I don't know… owls under the school?"
They reached the end of the tunnel and came to a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side was a heavy wooden door.
"I wonder… do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Ron asked.
Those are not birds, Jade. Birds are good to eat. Those would not be good to eat at all… I do not have a taste for metal.
"Metal?" Jade said quietly, squinting up at the winged things. "OH!" She looked at her friends. "They won't attack us. I'm willing to bet that door is locked."
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked.
Jade smiled and pointed up at the fluttering things. "Because those, my friends, are keys."
They saw broomsticks. "But there are hundreds of keys!" Hermione practically wailed. "How are we to find the right one in time! By the time we find it, Snape will already be back out here, the Sorcerer's Stone in his hand!"
Ron, who had wandered over to the wooden door, spoke up. "We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one. Probably silver, like the handle.
Jade, Hermione, and Ron each grabbed a broomstick. Meanwhile, Solluna eyed one, and gave a twitch of her tail. I think I shall just wait for you three down here, she said.
As the others darted around, desperately grabbing at different keys, Jade simply hovered in placed, staring about her in concentration. Suddenly, Jade spotted her target, a large silver key with bright blue wings, one of them bent as though it had already been grabbed and roughly stuffed into the keyhole.
Without even pausing, Jade darted towards it. After a few desperate maneuvers on her broom, she was getting frustrated at not being able to catch it. The key dived towards the ground in an attempt to get away from her, and Jade dived after it.
At the last moment, though, there was a dark blur and Jade pulled up abruptly. She let out a loud chuckle.
Solluna, in her werecat form, stood there, holding the struggling key in her mouth, distaste apparent on her face. She's leapt up seven straight feet in the air to catch the key, an amazing feat.
After all three friends had landed, Jade went over and thanked Solluna, taking the key from her. The werecat nodded and changed back to her humanoid form. She looked a bit smug at having been able to catch the key.
Jade ran to the door and unlocked it with the struggling key, then she pulled the door open. There was no time to lose.
The next room's challenge was life-sized wizarding chess. They all took the places of certain pieces, and it was Ron that directed them through the game, since he was obviously best at it. Several times, he saved Jade, Hermione, and Solluna when they were in danger.
After a while, Ron muttered, "We're nearly there. Let me think – let me think . . ."
The white queen turned her creepily blank face towards the red-haired boy.
"Yes . . ." Said Ron softly. "It's the only way . . . I've got to be taken."
"NO!" Jade and Hermione shouted.
"That's chess!" Ron snapped. It was obvious that he didn't like this any more than they did. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me – that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Jade!"
Miserably, Jade nodded. "You're right. I hate it, but you're right."
"Ready?" Ron called, his face pale but determined. "Here I go – now, don't hang around once you've won."
He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. Jade wanted to turn away, but didn't; Ron was doing this to help her. The white queen struck Ron across the head with her stone arm, and as he crashed to the floor Jade and Solluna both flinched and Hermione let out a scream. The white queen dragged Ron to one side… he looked as if he'd been knocked out.
Trembling, Jade moved three places to the left.
The white king took off his crown and threw it at Jade's feet. They had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door clear. Jade ran quickly to Ron and kneeled by his prone form to check if he was okay. Her eyes teared up slightly as she saw the large lump rising on his head.
She looked up at Solluna, her eyes pleading. Solluna, I know that you will hate me for asking this of you… I know you don't want to have to worry about me… but please…
Solluna looked disgruntled. Alright. You know that I do not like doing this, Jade, but I will stay behind with him. Just…
What? Jade asked.
Just remember what I told you when we met.
Jade and Hermione went on ahead, leaving Solluna kneeling beside Ron.
Jade looked at Hermione. "All that's left is Quirrell's and Snape's."
When they reached another door, they opened it quickly instead of prolonging the moment. They found a disgusting-smelling troll even larger than the one they'd seen before, knocked out with a bloody lump on its head.
Holding their breath, disgusted, both girls made their ways past it and through the next door. When they entered, black fire shot up in the doorway they'd come from and the doorway ahead, blocking both exits.
This room had a table with seven differently shaped bottles all standing in a line. Next to them was a paper with a riddle on it.
Reading it, both girls let out slight chuckles.
"This is brilliant," Jade said, smiling in relief at the ease of this last thing.
Hermione nodded. "Simple logic. Most wizards don't even have that."
Working together, they were quickly able to figure out which bottle was which.
Jade looked at the tiny bottle that they'd figured out would let them ahead. "There's only enough there for one of us. Hermione, you have to drink the one to go back… I'll go on alone."
Hermione gasped. "But… but, Jade, you can't face Snape alone! What if you-know-who's with him?"
Jade felt herself trembling inside, and fought back the urge to cry. She was terrified, but this… this was what she had to do…
"Hermione, I can't explain it…" She said. "But I have to do this. When it gets right down to it, I don't have a choice. Just…" She hugged Hermione, hoping this wasn't the last time she'd see her. "…Trust me."
And with that, before Hermione could protest, Jade had grabbed the small bottle, gulped down its contents, and dashed through the black flames.
There was already someone there, on the other side.
Jade wasn't the least bit surprised.
QS: Oh, man, I'm a way-too-emotional person. Just last night, I watch the season finale of season five of Buffy again, where she dies to save Dawn and the world, and, as I wrote this, the sad background music was playing in my had. Seriously, I'm on the verge of tears!
By the way, if any of you happen to read Christopher Paolini's books where Solluna was inspired from, I wanted to say… the type of werecat she is was inspired by Solembum, but that's all. What I'm saying is the species of werecat in my story is different from the species in those books, with different powers, etc.