Chapter 17

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN1: Thank you for the support. PLEASE REVIEW.


May 27th 1992

It has only been a day since Harry promised himself that he wouldn't get involved in anything he has no right being involved in and he already suspect that he is going to break that promises. As, about two hours earlier Harry, Hermione and Neville left for their detention with Hagrid, a detention they shared with Malfoy.

During the detention the four students split into two groups, at first it was Harry, Hermione and Hagrid and Neville, Malfoy and Fang. Those groups didn't last long, though it was long enough for Hermione to use a 'I've read about it' lie as the reason why she knew a lot about Werewolves as Malfoy played a prank on Neville causing him to switch places with Harry.

The purpose of the detention was to try and find an injured unicorn, but instead, when he was on his own Harry found something very different.

Having only just arrived back in the common room, where Ron was sleeping as he was attempting to wait up, Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron sit in the chairs near the fire. Harry, Hermione and Neville all look quiet shocked scared and Harry is rubbing his scar.

"So, what happened? Malfoy just came running back to us, looking afraid and not making much sense." Hermione says to Harry.

"We were looking for the unicorn and we found it, but someone was standing over him, a man. He bent over the unicorn and drunk its blood, that's when Malfoy went running." Harry reveals, and the other three look horrified, "My scar burned and I thought I was dead, but then another centaur came, Firenze. He saved me. He told me that drinking a unicorn's blood will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death, but at a price, you'll have a cursed life." Harry explains.

"Who would choose that?" Ron asks, not understanding but as she does Hermione gasps.

"No…." She says looking horrified.

"We should have seen it." Harry says, looking right at Hermione as he knows she's realised, "We should have realised."

"Realised what?" Neville asks, being almost positive that he doesn't want the answer.

"Snape, he doesn't want the stone for himself." Harry says standing up, "He wants the stone for Voldemort and Voldemort is waiting in the forest and all this time we just thought Snape wanted to get rich."

"Stop saying the name." Ron says, sounding terrified.

"It's just a name. Being afraid of it just gives Voldemort more power." Hermione comments.

"That's easy for you to say, you didn't grow up hearing stories of what he did! You didn't lose family to his insane followers!" Ron says, sounding angrily, and as he does he doesn't notice a look of pain flash on Hermione's face.

"Firenze saved me." Harry says, not listening to what Hermione and Ron are saying, "Bane, another centaur was furious. He was talking about interfering what the planets say is going to happen. They must show that Voldemort is coming back. Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me. I supposed that's written in the stars as well." Harry says, as he paces back and forth.

"Will you stop saying his name." Ron once more hisses.

"So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the stone." Harry says, acting like he hasn't heard Ron, "Then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off, well, I suppose Bane'll be happy." Harry says and as he does Hermione and Neville exchange looks, both being afraid as they know what that will mean, they've seen the price, they've experienced it, but despite her fear Hermione manages to find words of comfort.

"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore is the only one Voldemort was ever afraid of with Dumbledore around, Voldemort won't touch you." Hermione says.

"Mione's right." Neville says, his voice shaking, "I once heard Gran talking to… some people." Neville says, having to improvise on the end as the conversation that he and Hermione eavesdropped on, that they really shouldn't have, involved Remus, Albus, his gran, Minerva and Mad-Eye Moody, not that he and Hermione meet Moody, and that would be tough to explain, "About how You-Know-Who was always too afraid to do anything to Hogwarts because Hogwarts has Dumbledore, you're safe here." Neville tells his friend.

"Plus who said the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic." Hermione says.

"I don't know, they sounded pretty sure, Hermione." Harry admits, looking worried.

"They could still be wrong." Hermione says, standing up and walking over to Harry, "And you know now, you can prepare more." She comments, "We just have to watch Snape more closely, wait for some sign that he is going after the Stone, or that he's got it, then we act." Hermione says, really hating that she can't put any of this in a letter to her Papa as it would be too dangerous.

"We?" Harry asks, sounding surprised.

"You're not alone, Harry." Hermione tells him.

"You're really not." Neville adds.

"And you never will be." Ron adds and as they do Harry hugs Hermione while giving the other two grateful looks.


June 4th 1992

It has been a week since Harry came fast to face with Voldemort in the forest and since then he, Hermione, Neville and Ron have been panicking, but they have also been taking exams so they couldn't worry about the stone all the time too.

Having finished their exams half an hour ago Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron thought that they would finally get a chance to relax, but as they sat by the lake Harry's scar started to hurt and he realised something so the foursome made another trip to Hagrid's where not only did they learn how to get past Fluffy, but they learnt that Hagrid told a person with their hood up in the Hogs Head too, the person who gave him Norbert's egg. The second Hagrid told them that the foursome went running back inside as they all realise how bad that is.

"We've got to go to Dumbledore." Harry says as they arrive in the entrance hall, "Hagrid told the stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak. It must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us." Harry comments.

"Right now it doesn't matter if he does, he'll check things out anyway, just to be on the safe side." Hermione says, knowing that, "He can't risk not doing so."

"How do you know that?" Ron asks, but before Hermione can think of a lie a voice rings out across the hall.

"What are you four doing inside?" Professor McGonagall asks, walking over to the foursome, carrying a large pile of books.

"I need to see Professor Dumbledore." Hermione says, speaking before the others can as she knows that Minerva is most likely to tell her where Albus is without any questions rather than the others

"Is something wrong?" Minerva asks, looking at her surrogate niece in concern.

"Yes, Please Minnie, I need to see him." Hermione says, not even thinking about what she said as she knows how dangerous things are at the moment.

"Minnie?" Ron whispers to Neville in confusion.

"Later." Neville responds, knowing that they really don't have time to get into Hermione's real identity.

"I'm sorry Hermione, but he left ten minutes ago. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off to London at once." Minerva explains, wondering what could be so bad that Hermione risks exposing her secret.

"He's gone?" Harry says, sounding frantic, "Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time…." Minerva starts to say.

"But this is important." Harry, Hermione and Neville say together, Ron on the other hand is trying to figure out why Hermione would call McGonagall Minnie as he just doesn't understand.

"Is it something more important than the Ministry of Magic?" Minerva asks, looking at Hermione, Harry and Neville individually

"Yes." Hermione, Harry and Neville once more answer and once they do they exchange looks and Hermione gives Harry an encouraging nod.

"Look, Professor, it's about the Philosopher's Stone." Harry reveals.

Out of all the things that Professor McGonagall was expecting, it wasn't that. The books she was carrying tumble out of her arms, but she didn't pick them up.

"How do you know about that?" Minerva asks, clearly shocked.

"It doesn't matter how we know." Hermione quickly says, "What matters is that we know that someone is going to try and steal it." Hermione says, feeling that saying someone is a better choice than Snape.

"We need to talk to Professor Dumbledore." Harry adds, causing Minerva to look at him and Hermione with a look of shock and suspicion.

"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow." Minerva says, after looking at Harry and Hermione for a good thirty seconds, "I don't know how you found out about the stone, but rest assured, no one can possibility steal it, it's too well protected." Minerva reveals.

"But Professor…"

"But Minerva…."

"But Minnie…." Harry, Neville and Hermione respectively say.

"I know what I'm talking about." Minerva informs them, sounding short as she bends down and picks up her fallen books, "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine." She says before walking away.

"Why did you…." Ron starts to ask once Minerva is out of hearing range.

"Not now." Harry says, causing Ron to frown, "It's tonight. Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."

"But what can we…." Neville starts to ask, but before he can finish asking Hermione gasps, turning all three boys to turn around, to see Snape standing behind them.

"Good afternoon." Snape says, "You shouldn't be inside on a day like this." He says with an odd, twisted smile.

"We were…." Harry begins to say, having no idea how he is going to finish that sentence.

"You want to be more careful." Snape says, "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?" he asks.

Realizing That they don't have another option Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron all turn around and start to walk but then Snape calls them back, "Be warned, Potter, Granger, anymore nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are both expelled." Snape says, giving them the looks of loathing that they have become all too familiar with, "Good day to you." He says before walking off in the direction of the staffroom.

Once he is out of hearing range Harry turns to the others.

"Right, here's what we've got to do." Harry whispers urgently, "At least one of us has got to keep an eye on Snape, wait outside the staff room and follow him if he leaves it." Harry explains, "Hermione, you better do that."

"Why me? If Snape sees me I wouldn't put it past him to expel me on the spot." Hermione points out.

"No he won't, you can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know." Ron says before putting on a fake high voice, "Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen B wrong."

"Oh shut up." Hermione says annoyed, "I'll go but Nev should come with me too, just in case plan A doesn't work." She suggests.

"Sounds good." Harry says, approvingly, "Ron and I will stay outside the third floor corridor, come on." He says and the group of four splits up into two groups of two and go in different directions.


But, as it turns out neither of their plans work out as ten minutes later Harry and Ron are back in the common room, after meeting up with an angry McGonagall, and seconds later Hermione and Neville walk in, both looking disappointed.

"I'm sorry, Harry." Hermione says, "Snape came out and asked me what I was doing so I said I was waiting for professor Flitwick and Snape went to get him I've only just gotten away." She explains.

"I followed Snape." Neville says, sounding terrified as to him that is terrifying, "But he somehow realized and took twenty points from Gryffindor and threatened me, and I don't know where he went after that." Neville explains looking disappointed in himself.

"Well, that's it then, isn't it?" Harry says causing Hermione, Neville and Ron to look at him.

"I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get the Stone first." Harry reveals.

"You're mad." Ron says.

"You can't!" Neville says.

"After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'd be expelled." Hermione reminds him.

"SO WHAT." Harry yells, "Don't you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone Voldemort's coming back! I know you've heard what it was like when he was trying to take over. If he gets the Stone there won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Loosing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? Do you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the house cup? If I get caught before I can get the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have, because I am never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through the trapdoor tonight and nothing you three say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents remember?" Harry asks, glaring at his three friends.

"You're right Harry." Hermione says.

"I'll use the invisibility cloak." Harry says, "It's just lucky I got it back." Harry comments.

"But will it cover all four of us?" Ron asks.

"All, four of us?" Harry asks shocked.

"You're not the only one who will never go to the Dark Side because of something that happened in the last war." Neville comments, sounding braver than Harry and Ron have ever heard him sound, "I'm going too." Neville says, knowing that he has to, for his parents.

"Yeah, same, you don't think we'd let you go alone?" Ron asks, being confused about what Neville could be talking about.

"We never would." Hermione adds, "How do you think you'd get the stone without us? I'd better go look through my books, there might be something useful." She comments.

"But if we get caught you three will be expelled, too." Harry says, being completely thankful for his friends but wanting to be sure that they have thought this through.

"Not if I can help it." Hermione says, "Flitwick told me in secret that I got one hundred and twelve percent on is exam. They're not throwing me out after that." Hermione comments.

"And like you said, if we do get thrown out it doesn't matter, trying to stop this is more important." Neville says, "It's the right thing to do."

"That it is." Ron says, nodding in agreement.


Half an hour later, still feeling nervous about their decision Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron are exiting the common room to head down to dinner, a dinner that none of them are sure they'll be able to eat.

"I'll meet you down there." Hermione tells Harry, Neville and Ron.

"Why? What are you going to do?" Harry asks confused.

"I retuned a book to the library yesterday that I think will help, I want to have a quick look." Hermione lies, "I'll be at dinner as soon as I can." Hermione explains.

"You better be, if you're not then McGonagall and Snape are going to throw a fit." Ron tells her.

"I'll be there promise." Hermione assures him as she knows that what she has to do won't take that long.

"See you soon." Harry says and while He, Neville and Ron go in on way Hermione goes in another, a way that doesn't lead to the library.


A few minutes after leaving the Common Room Hermione gets to the owlery and she pulls out a piece of paper, parchment and quill and begins to write,

Dear Papa,

I'm sorry. The four of us did exactly what you asked me to not to do and we figured it out. I know everything about Fluffy and what you were trying to protect me from. You were right, it is dangerous, but we don't have a choice.

We figured everything out and tonight it's going to be stolen. The four of us went to Minnie but she didn't believe us and Albus is gone. So, we're going to try to stop him.

I don't know when you'll get this letter, I just know that it will be too late to stop us. We're doing this because someone has to, and we're the only ones who can, we're the only ones who know.

I love you Papa, more than anything,

Hermione.

Once she finishes the letter Hermione reads through it a couple of times to make sure that she was vague enough and even though she knows that it is still a risk to send the letter Hermione attaches it to an owl and lets it go, hoping that she can tell her Papa everything she wants to say in person once this is all over.


A few hours after Hermione sent the letter to her Papa Hermione, Neville, Ron and Harry, who had to wait until everyone was in bed before making their move, are walking, very close together as well as very slowly so that their feet aren't seen below the cloak, into the forbidden corridor, where the door is already ajar.

"See, Snape's already been here." Harry whispers to the others, and as he does he turns so that he can look at his three friends, "If you want to go back, I won't blame you." Harry tells them, "You can take the cloak, I won't need it now."

"Don't be stupid." Ron says.

"We're coming." Hermione says.

"We told you that." Neville adds and once he does Harry pushes the door open, causing it to creak and a low, rumbling growls meet their ears. Even though it can't see them all three of the dogs' noses sniffs madly in their direction.

"What's that at its feet?" Hermione asks the others in a whisper.

"Looks like a harp." Ron realizes.

"Snape must have left it." Neville adds.

"It must wake up the second you stop playing." Harry realizes, and so he pulls out the flute that Hagrid gave him for Christmas out of his pocket and he starts to play. From the second he does the dogs eyes begin to drop and slowly, the dogs growls ceased and it stumbles on it's paws before falling to it's knees, and then to the floor, fast asleep.

"Keep playing." Ron says as the foursome slip out of the cloak and creep towards the trapdoor.

"We should be able to pull the door open." Neville realizes, trying to focus on what they have to do rather than the desire he has to run in the other direction as fast as he can.

"Want to go first, Hermione?" Ron asks curious.

"No, I don't." Hermione tells him in an annoyed tone of voice.

"All right." Ron says, looking afraid, he steps carefully over the dogs legs, and pulls the ring off the trap door, causing it to swung up and open.

"What can you see?" Hermione asks, sounding worried.

"Nothing, there's just black, no way of climbing down. I think we'll just have to drop." Ron explains. Hearing that Harry, who is still playing the flute waves at Ron to get his attention and once he does have it he points to himself, "You want to go first are you sure? I don't know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."

As quickly as possible Harry hands the flute over and in the few seconds of silence the dog growls and twitches, but the second Hermione begins to play it falls back into its sleep. Once it does Harry climbs over and looks down the trap door, seeing no sign of bottom. Knowing what he has to do Harry lowers himself through the trap door until he hanging by his fingertips, "If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?" he says, looking between Ron and Neville.

"Right." They both responds.

"See you in a minute, I hope." Harry says before letting go. As he lets go he falls, down and down, before landing with a FLUMP on something soft, something that feels like some sort of plant, "It's okay." Harry yells at the tiny light, the only light, "It's a soft landing, you can jump." Harry yells and seconds later Ron and Neville both land either side of him.

"What is this stuff?" Ron asks, but Neville is already on is feet, looking panicked.

"Get up! get up both of you!" Neville tells them, hurrying to his feet as the distant music stops and Hermione jumps down.

"Why? What is this thing?" Harry asks, sounding confused and the second Hermione lands Neville pulls her to her feet too.

"Just trust me, move!" Neville yell as he and Hermione hurry over to the damp wall.

Hearing Neville's worried voice Harry and Ron both try to move and they find that they are being heled with snakelike tentacles.

"It's too late." Hermione says to Neville in a quiet voice, "It's got a firm grip." She realizes.

"Okay, now you need to stop moving." Neville tells them, "this is Devil's Snare." He explains.

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called." Ron say sarcastically as he fights to get free.

"Shut up." Hermione and Neville both snap.

"Do you remember how to kill it?" Hermione asks Neville as she tries to remember everything that Professor Sprout told them.

"It likes dark and damp places." Neville tells Hermione, "Fire will kill it." He realizes.

"Yes, of course, but there is no wood." Hermione comments.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron yells, "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"

"Oh, right." Hermione says and she quickly uses the same spell she used to set Snape on fire. In seconds the two books felt the plant loosening it's grip as it cringed away from the light and warmth. With a little bit of effort both Harry and Ron manage to pull themselves free and move over towards Neville and Hermione.

"Lucky you two pay attention in Herbology." Harry says to his two friends.

"Yeah, but seriously, 'there's no wood' really?" Ron asks Hermione.

"It was an honest mistake." Hermione says in her defense as while she grew up around Magic she and Remus do a lot of things the muggle way so in a lot of ways that's her instinct.

"This way." Harry says, pointing down a stone passageway, which is the only way forward. Moving in silence the group of four walk into passageways that sloped downwards, passages that see a lot like the ones in Gringotts.

"Do you hear something?" Ron whispers to the other three, as soon as he speaks they all hear a soft rustling and clinking sound, "Do you think it's a ghost?" he asks.

"I don't know, sounds likes wings to me." Harry admits.

"There's a light ahead." Neville reveals.

"I can see something." Hermione adds and as they reach the end of the passage way they saw a brilliantly lit chamber with a ceiling that arches high above them that is full of jewel bright birds, fluttering and tumbling around the room. On the other side of the chamber was a wooden door.

"Do you think they'd attack us if we cross the room?" Ron asks

"Probably." Harry answers, saying what they are all thinking, "They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once… well, there's no other choice. I'll run." Harry says before any of the others can say anything he takes a deep breath covers face with his arms and runs across to the room. To his complete shock he reaches the door untouched, pulling the handle Harry is annoyed to find that it is locked.

A few seconds later Hermione, Neville and Ron join him and no matter what they try they can't get the door open, not even Hermione's Alohomora charm worked.

"Now what?" Ron asks.

"There's birds, they can't be here just for decoration." Hermione realizes.

"You know I don't think they're birds." Neville realizes, sounding uncertain.

"I think you're right." Harry says, looking at Neville, "They're keys!" he realizes, "Winged keys, look carefully. So, that must me." Harry says as he looks across the chamber while the other three squinted up at the flock of keys, "Yes, look! Broomsticks we've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!" Neville tells the others.

"We're looking for a big, old fashioned one, probably silver, like the handle." Ron realizes and after exchanging a look the four of them each grab a broomstick and kick off the ground an into the air, even Neville who still isn't the most comfortable flyer. All four of them each grab and snatch, but the bewitched keys dart and dive so quickly it was almost impossible to catch one.

Thankfully Harry, being the youngest Seeker in a century, has a knack for spotting things other people don't. After a minute of weaving about through the whirl of rainbow feathers he noticed a large silver key that had a bent wing, as if it had already been caught and stuffed roughly into the keyhole.

"That one!" Harry calls and he points out where the key is and as seeing where he is pointing Ron goes speeding in the direction that Harry's pointing and in attempt he crashes into the ceiling, and nearly falls of his broom.

"We've got to close in on it." Harry tells the others, "Ron, you come at it from above, Hermione, stay below and stop it from going down, Nev, stay by the door, and I'll try and catch it. Right, NOW!" he yells and Ron dives, Hermione flies upwards and Neville flies to the door and the key dodges them all and heads towards the wall. Seeing that Harry leans forward and with a nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone with one and hand and Hermione, Neville and Ron cheers echoed around the high chamber.

Quickly all four of them land and Harry runs to the door, the key struggling in his hand the entire time. Ramming it into the lock he turns and it worked. The second the lock clicks open, the key takes flight again, looking very battered now that it had been caught twice.

"Ready?" Harry asks the other three, his hand on the door handle and they nod. So, Harry pulls open the door and the foursome walk through.

The next chamber is so dark that they can't see anything at all, but the second they step into it, light suddenly floods the room to reveal an astonishing sight. They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard. Together the foursome realizes that they are standing behind the black chessmen, which are taller than them and carved out of black stone. Facing them, way across the board is the white chess pieces. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville can't help but shiver at the sight.

"Now, what do we do?" Harry whispers to the other three.

"It's obvious, isn't it." Ron says, "We've got to play our way across the room." He explains.

"How?" Hermione and Neville ask, both sounding nervous.

"I think," Ron says, "We're going to have to be chessmen." He says and he walks over to one of the knight's horse which he touches, the second he does the stone springs to life, causing the knight to turn and look at Ron while the horse pawns the ground.

"Do we, er, have to join you to get across?" Ron asks and the Black knight nods, as he does Ron turns to the other three, "Now, don't be offended or anything, but none of you are that good at chess…"

"We're not offended." Neville quickly says.

"Just tell us what to do." Harry says and Ron does just that.

It only takes a couple of seconds for Ron to explain what places they are going to take and as he does the chess places listen and the pieces that Ron say the four of them are going to take walk off the board.

Within a few seconds the game has begun and as it does it becomes clear to Hermione, Neville, Ron, and Harry that the game is going to be exactly like real wizard's chess.

For a little while the group of four follow Ron's instructions to play the game. As pieces are taken Hermione, Harry and Neville follow Ron's instructions, all three of them wonder what will happen if they lose as Ron protects them. While protecting his three friends Ron darts around the board, taking almost as many white pieces as they have lost black ones.

"We're nearly there." Ron suddenly mutters, "Let me think, let me think." He says and as he does the white queen turns her black face towards him.

''Yes." Ron suddenly says "It's the only way, I've got to be taken." He comments.

"NO." Harry, Hermione and Neville yell.

"That's chess." Ron snaps at them, "You've got to make some sacrifices! I make my move and she'll take me. That leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But…." Harry starts to say.

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?" Ron asks.

"Ron…" Neville and Hermione start to say.

"Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone!" Ron tells them and the others realize that there is no alternative, "Ready?" Ron calls, his face pale, but determine, "Here I go, now don't hang around once you've won." Ron tells them before he steps forward and the second he does the Queen punches and she hit Ron hard across the head with her stone arm, causing Hermione to scream, but she doesn't move, as the queen drags Ron off to the side, looking like he has been knocked out. Once that has happened Harry moves three spaces to the left.

Once Harry stops moving the white king takes off his crown and throws it at Harry's feet. After that the chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. With one last desperate look back at Ron Harry and Hermione run towards the door while Neville runs over to Ron.

"NEV?" Hermione calls when she realizes her friend isn't following behind them.

"I'll STAY WITH RON. MAKE SURE HE'S OKAY. YOU TWO GO! GO NOW!" Neville yells and after exchanging a look Hermione and Harry charge through the door and up until the next passageway.

"What if he's….." Hermione start so say.

"He'll be all right." Harry says, trying to convince himself, "What do you reckon's next?"

"We've had Sprout's, that was the Devil's Snare; Flitwick must've put charms on the keys; Minnie transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell, and Snape's." Hermione guesses as they arrive at another door.

"All right?" Harry asks as they arrive at another door.

"Go on." Hermione tells him and Harry pushes it open.

From the second they walk in a disgusting smell fills their nostrils, making both of them pull their clothes up over their noses. Eyes watering, they see, flat on the floor, in front of them, a troll even larger than the one they have tacked, out cold with a blood lump on it's head.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one." Harry whispers to Hermione as they step over one of its massive legs, "Come on, I can't breathe." Harry say to Hermione and he pulls open the next door, both of them hardly daring to look at what comes next, but there I nothing frightening in the room, just a table with seven different bottles standing on it in a line.

"Snape's," Harry realizes, "What do we have to do?" he asks as they step over a threshold, and the second they do a fire springs up behind them in the doorway. The fire that springs up isn't an ordinary fire either, it's purple and the second the purple fire springs up and back flames shoots up the doorway, leading onwards, trapping them.

"Look." Hermione says as she seizes a roll of paper lying next to the bottles. Unrolling it Hermione reads the word and finds instructions on what they have to do to be able to move on.

It takes her a couple of minutes to read it once she does Hermione lets out a sigh and she can't help but smile.

"Brilliant." Hermione tells Harry, "This isn't magic, it's logic, a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic; they'd be stuck here forever." Hermione explains to Harry.

"But so will we, won't we?" Harry asks, becoming worried.

"Of course not." Hermione answers, "Everything we need is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire, and one will get us back through the purple." Hermione explains.

"But how do we know which to drink?" Harry asks, being confused.

"Give me a minute." Hermione requests and she reads the paper several times, wanting to make sure that she picks up on everything. Then once she finishes reading Hermione walks up and down the line of bottles, muttering to herself as she goes, pointing at the them. Finally, after a couple of minutes' hose claps her hands, "Got it." Hermione informs Harry, "The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire, towards the stone."

"There's only enough there for one of us." Harry realizes, "That's hardly one swallow." He comments, causing both of them to exchange looks, "Which on will get you back through the purple flames?" He asks and Hermione points at the rounded bottle at the right end of the line.

"You drink that." Harry tells her.

"No, no way, I'm not leaving you." Hermione says, forcibly.

"You have to." Harry tells her, "Get back to Neville and Ron. Grab brooms from the flying-key room, they'll get you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy, go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him.." Harry comments.

"He might already be on his way." Hermione says and Harry give her a confused look, "I sent a letter to my Papa, but with how long it would take to get to him I knew that we couldn't just wait for him to get it so that's why I didn't tell you."

"Good, that was a smart decision." Harry says, giving Hermione a smile, feeling glad for her foresight, "I might be able to hold of Snape for a while, but I'm no match for him, really." Harry comments

"Harry, what if Voldemort is with him?" Hermione asks.

"Well, I was lucky once, wasn't I?" Harry asks, pointing at his scar, "I might get lucky again." Harry says and hearing that Hermione's lip trembles and them she suddenly runs at Harry and throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Hermione." Harry says shocked,

"Harry, you're a great wizard, you know." Hermione tells him.

"I'm not as good as you." Harry says, being embarrassed as Hermione lets go of him

"Me!" Hermione says shocked, "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things, friendship and bravery and, oh Harry, be careful! Please, just be careful!" Hermione requests.

"You drink first." Harry says, "You are sure which is which, aren't you?" Harry asks Hermione, wanting to be sure.

"Positive." Hermione says and she takes a long drink from the round bottle at the end and shutters.

"It's not poison?" Harry ask worried.

"No, but it's like ice." Hermione explains.

"Go, before it wears off." Harry tells her.

"Good luck, take care Harry." Hermione tells him.

"GO!" Harry encourages and with one last look at Harry, Hermione walks through the purple flames, but with every step she takes Hermione wants to turn back around, she wants to be able to help Harry, but as she knows she can't she just starts to run, knowing that even if he can't help Harry then she'll make sure he gets some help.


PLEASE REVIEW

PLEASE REVIEW

PLEASE REVIEW