Gryffindor's common room. Night. Empty. Dark. Two doors ease open. Hermione slips out the one, Harry and Ron the other. They creep toward the pink lady when-Croak!-they freeze. Look. Breath a sigh of relief.

"Trevor".

Trevor the toad blinks up at them. CROAK!

"Trevor! Shh! Go! You shouldn't be here". said Ron.

"Neither should you". They all jump. Neville rises from an armchair. "You're sneaking out again, aren't you?"

"Now, Neville, listen.."

"No! I won't let you. You'll get Gryffindors in trouble again I'll.. I'll fight you!"

Neville raises his fists. Unfortunately, his teddy bear pajamas somewhat undermine the intended effect.

"Neville. I'm really, really sorry about this". Hermione raises her wand. "Petrificus Totalus!"

Instantly, Neville's arm and legs snap to his sides. He sways.. then falls flat.. only his eyes moving, staring at them in horror.

Harry and Ron look a little horrified too. "You're a little scary sometimes, you know that? Brilliant. But scary".

"That's how I always fight with Snape!"

Third floor corridor. Moments later. "Ouch! Ron. You step on my foot!"

"Sorry..."

Forbidden corridor. As they enter, Harry takes a flute from his pocket. "Suppose we won't be needing this now. Look, it's obvious Snape's already got past Fluffy. If you two want to go back-"

"Don't be stupid".

"We're coming".

"Right then. All together now".

Straining mightily, they put their shoulders to the massive paw that lays across the trapdoor. Once done, Harry flings it open. Below lies only darkness.. a faint whistling wind.

"I'll go first. Don't follow until I give you a sign. If something.. bad happens.. get yourselves out-" Stopping. Harry feels weird surrounding them. "Does it seem a bit.. quiet.. to you?"

"The harp.. what happened to the-"

Splat! Something wet and sticky hits Ron's shoulder. "Yuck! What's this ruddy stuff-"

Slowly, they look up. A monstrous, drooling shadow darkens their faces. Fluffy. Awake. Hungry. Each head ponders its own particular snack, then, with a mighty crowl, swoops.

Instantly, the trio pitches themselves into the darkness...

Devil's Snare. Seconds later. Harry plummets down a glittering shaft, tumbling head over heels, down until.. FLUMP!

He lands in something soft and yarenlik, followed quickly by Ron and Hermione. Harry adjusts his glasses, looks up. A tiny square of light-the trapdoor glimmers far above.

"That was.. cool".

"We must be miles under the school".

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really".

"Wo!"

Twin creepers encircle Harry's chest. "Stop moving! Both of you! This is Devil's Snare! You have to relax".

"Uh, Hermione, it's a bit difficult to relax.." As a vine encircles his neck. ".. Given the circumstances".

"I know, Harry. But you must. If you don't, it'll only kill you faster".

"Kill us faster? Oh now I can relax".

As they watch, Hermione manages a smile as she is sucked down below.

"Hermione!"

Panicking, Harry and Ron begin to struggle anew, but the vines only wrap more tightly around them.

"What are we going to do now!"

"Just relax!"

Harry glanced about. "Hermione, where are you?"

"Do what I say! Trust me!"

Harry takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. Slowly, like witch fingers.. The vines draw him beneath the surface.

Harry drops through the ceiling onto the ground next to Hermione. From above, Ron can be heard screaming for help.

"Are you okay?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine".

"HELP!"

"He's not relaxing, is he?"

Ron's voice bellows again. "Apparently not".

"Help! Help me!"

Hermione furrowed her brow, thinking aloud. "We've got to do something!"

"What?"

"Uh! I remember reading something in Herbology". Ron's screaming above them. "Um, Devil's snare, Devil's snare. It's deadly fun.. but will sulk in the sun! That's it! Devil's snare hates sunlight!"

Hermione takes out her wand, and points upwards. "Lumus Solem!" A beam of light shoots out. The Snare shriek and recoils. Ron falls below.

"Ron, are you okay?"

"Yeah". He stands. "Whew. Lucky we didn't panic!"

"Lucky Hermione pays attention in Herbology".

Just then.. they detect a sound.. a rustling, a clinking. The three exchange a glance, and begin to descend the staircase.

"What is that?"

"I don't know.. it sounds like a wing".

Harry, Hermione and Ron enter a brilliantly lit chamber where hundreds of jewel bright birds flutter below a high arching ceiling.

On the opposite side is a heavy wooden door floating in the center of the chamber, a single broomstick.

Ron and Hermione begin to cross to the door, gazing in wonder at the strangely beautiful creatures overhead.

"Curious. I've never seen birds like this.."

"They're not birds.."

Ron and Hermione turn, see Harry standing by the floating broom in the center of the room, looking up.

"They're keys. And I'll bet one of them fits that door".

Hermione tests the doorknob, nods. "Locked".

"Alohomora!" Hermione turns, sees Ron waving his wand at the knob. No good. It's still locked. He shrugs.

"Well, it was worth a try".

Hermione peering up. "So, what do we do? There must be a thousand keys up there.."

Ron points. Fluttering within a pocket of brass keys is a larger silver one. "What's wrong with its wing?"

"The feather's pinched. Probably from Snape catching it before us".

Hermione nods, and sees Harry still staring at the broom. "Harry?"

"It's.. too simple".

The door opens, and Hermione and Ron rush through, followed by Harry. They shut the door just as the keys slam up against it.

They enter a dark room, with broken pieces all around it. Utter darkness. Hermione's voice pierces the darkness.

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all".

"Where are we? A graveyard?"

"This is no graveyard". Ron's signs. "It's a chessboard".

Ron walks out onto the marble board and flames light, illuminating the board and giant players. Harry and Hermione come up with him.

"There's the door".

They walk across the board, towards the door. Suddenly, as they reach a line of pawns, the pawns bring up their swords. The three jump and back up.

"Now what do we do?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? We've got to play our way across the room. Alright. Harry, you take the Bishop's square. Hermione, you'll be at the Queen's side castle. As for me, I'll be a knight".

They all take their places. "What happens now?"

Ron aboard a horse. He looked at Hermione then to marble board chess.

"Well, white moves first, and then... we play".

A pawn on the other side moves forward. Ron studies the game. "Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like... real wizard's chess, do you?"

"You there! D-5!" A black pawn moves forward, diagonal to the white pawn. The white pawn raises its swords and smashes the black one.

The three jump. "Yes, Hermione, I think this is going to be exactly like a wizard's chess!"

The game continues. Pieces smash each other, boom! Boom!

"Castle to E-4!"

Smash!

"Pawn to C-3!"

Smash! Boom! The Queen turns, and smashes a piece! Harry, Ron and Hermione wince. The Queen turns again. Both Ron and Harry study the game.

"Wait a minute".

"You understand right, Harry. Once I make my move, the Queen will take me... then you'll be free to check the King".

"No, Ron! No!"

"What is it?"

"He's going to sacrifice himself!"

"No, Ron, you can't!" Ron closes his eyes. "There must be another way!"

Ron turns to face Hermione. "Do you want to stop Snape or not? Harry, it's you that has to go on. I know it. Not me, not Hermione, you".

Harry nods. Ron breathed. "Knight...to H-3". Ron's horse moves forward, slides and stops.

"Check".

The Queen turns and advances. Ron breathes faster, clutching the steel reins. The Queen stops.

SMASH!

Ron goes flying off the horse and lands on the floor, unconscious. "Ahhhh!"

"RON!" Hermione starts walking to him. "NO! Don't move! Don't forget, we're still playing".

Hermione moves back. Harry walks the diagonal in front of the King.

"Checkmate".

The King's sword falls onto the ground. Harry breathes out and then the two run to Ron. They bend beside him.

"Take care of Ron. Then, go to the owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right... I have to go on".

"You'll be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard, you really are".

"Not as good as you".

Hermione smiled. "Me? Books and cleverness? There are more important things. Friendship, and bravery. And Harry, just be careful".

Harry nods and stands, walking away.

Hogwarts. Days later. Snape rushed into Dumbledore's office as he knew what happened to Hermione. She dared disobey his order.

Yet. She did it again. "Headmaster. Is it true Miss Granger is involved?" ask Snape. Dumbledore nod yes. "Where is she now?"

"Miss Granger is fine, Severus. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter to". Snape looks worried. He can't sleep because of this witch. "You care about Miss Granger. I understand. Quite stubborn isn't she?"

Dumbledore chuckles. "Ah, Miss Granger. She is brilliant like Lily's".

"You don't have to involve Lily's into this, Headmaster".

"But her boy, Severus. Lily's boy. Harry". Dumbledore stepped forward. "It's like.. I confused to know, how exactly your feeling towards these girls you love, Severus".

Snape eyes on him. Dumbledore nods. "Love? Isn't it?"

"I.. I can hide my feelings toward Miss Granger, Headmaster. She's everything to me, she already stole my heart. I love Lily's too.. but.. she breaks my heart".

"Could be a young boy. Try to catch Miss Granger's heart while you can". Dumbledore smile, wink at Snape.

Marble staircase. As Harry limps down the staircase, he can hear the good cheer of those feasting beyond the doors of the great hall.

Harry approaches a room where up on a stairwell balcony Hermione and Ron are talking. They stop when they see Harry and lean over the railing.

"All right there, Ron?"

"All right? You?"

Harry shrugged. "All right. Hermione?"

Hermione smiled. "Never better".

Hogsmeade Station. Train compartment. "It feels strange, doesn't it? To be going home". says Hermione.

"Mum's gonna kill me if she finds out. Trying to be a hero.. end up in hospital wings". Ron gulped.

"Me too. We should keep a secret. I should.. from my parents".

"While you can. While I'm not".

Hermione smiled. Distance Hogsmeade station to Hogwarts castle.. still.. she can feel Snape eyeing her from his window office.

Her thoughts were right about Snape.. he did. Snape sees Hermione get inside the compartment. As the train leaves, he lets out a sigh.

Snape is gonna miss his little witch. Gonna miss her around the castle, messing up with her and missing her around him.

He can't wait until the school breaks end quickly, so then he can meet his little witch.. again.

Goodbye.. I'll see you again.. my little Witch.

THE END.