Ns chapter 15

The following week passed quickly and before they had time to consider what was happening they were on a train travelling to Scotland and their school. Harry, Ron and Neville were in a compartment with all the bags. Hermione and Susan had been dragged off by the other girls again. Valentines day was only 2 weeks away and the girls had a lot to discuss.

Ron had pulled out his battered chess set and badgered Harry into playing.

"Check and mate"

"Fuck me Ron that's the quickest game"

"I know you seem a little distracted"

Harry lent forward as if he was worried someone was listening

"I really want to know what the test is that Pops thinks I would pass"

"I know what you mean a game of chess against an outstanding opponent, would be bloody brilliant"

They both looked at Neville.

"The way I see it, it would be an excellent test of team work. Sue is always looking for an excuse to do something stupid. The one you have to convince is Spitfire, without her it's a definite fail"

Harry conceded that Neville was right, he decided he would work on Hermione. He had got her to go along before.

" I don't see the point Harry, Professor Dumbledore already said we would pass them all why bother"

"I want to see what my challenge is and Ron wants to play chess for the challenge"

"Then go"

"Don't you want to go on an adventure Hermione"

"No, not particularly"

"OK we won't"

"Harry you don't need my permission to do things you want to, I'm your girlfriend not you queen. That wont stop just because there are things you like I don't. I very much doubt you would be interested in our girls only nights"

The confusion on Harrys face was obvious

"But what if I do something wrong and you leave me"

Hermione stood frozen in place, She considered her next comment. She decided that this situation could not be allowed to continue. Sitting on his lap she placed her arms around his neck and looked him in the eye.

"Harry what are my flaws?"

He was trapped she had made sure he could not escape this conversation. His only choice was to refuse to speak. Looking back into her eyes he shook his head.

"OK is your sister or Neville perfect,"

Harry shook his head

"so why are they so happy"

This time he shrugged

"they are happy because they are not perfect but each excepts the others flaws because they are a part of the person they care for. Sue complains Neville is to over protective and sees every confrontation as a battle. But then every morning he kisses her cheek and tells her she looks pretty and makes her feel she is important to him. Don't take this the wrong way you are a pain in my ass at times, you have talked me into doing stupid shit before now. That doesn't make me want to break up with you because I accept you as you are. I know I'm not perfect"

Harry's eyes became wide at her statement

"I'm bossy and I don't stop to have fun as much so the rest of you. It has taken a little while for me to realise you don't care about that and accept me for who I am warts and all. I do the same with my over protective, trouble magnet boyfriend"

She smiled as she felt Harry relax. Now go and play with your friends I want to relax in the library. Watching her walk away Harry felt more at peace than he had been in a long while. Maybe he would try and listen to what she was saying after all she was the smartest person he had met.

Harry stepped through the portrait hole and looked around it being a Saturday the room was busy. He spotted his friends near the dart board fixed to the wall with a sticking charm. Ron was to good with the darts but they had created a game where they all could play. It involved them all taking a turn with three darts and trying to work around the board starting at 1. Double and triple moved you two or three numbers forward. All Neville's were to count as singles. Harry strolled over.

"who's up for some mischief?"

"Miss Granger"

Hermione woke with a start feeling very disoriented.

"Madam Pince I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep"

"Don't fret dear, the relaxation provided by a good book is something very few embrace. It's a little strange I didn't notice you for three hours"

The librarians eyes glazed slightly as she finished speaking. Hermione was suddenly very awake, her senses tingled. Something was wrong she could feel it. Running from the library she called Harry on her mirror and received no response. After trying the others and receiving no reply she headed for the third floor. She arrived at the forbidden door and paused to listen, hearing nothing she eased the door open. Fluffy was asleep on his back with all four paws in the air, a golden harp was playing in the corner.

Hermione quietly crept to the trap door pulled it open and jumped. She landed on a soft bouncy vine, tendrils were already starting to twist around her limbs. Remembering Neville's words she concentrated breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth. This helped her maintain her calm and she felt herself gently drop through the plant.

The next room she entered was littered with door keys with wings. Amongst them a slightly larger brass key with bent wing was flopping about on the floor. She picked it up gently like a you would an injured bird and walked over to the door. After she unlocked the door she gently straightened its wings. The strange key seemed to hover around her head before landing on her shoulder and tucking its wings in.

Entering the next room she was greeted by a giant chess board littered with broken pieces. Amongst the rubble were three bodies, runny over she found Ron locked hurt surrounded by a smashed horse. He was hurt but breathing, Susan and Neville were in a crumpled heap. Pulling her want a speaking the spell to wake someone she started with Neville.

"What happened Neville?"

"Well we came through the first few traps and got here"

"Ron worked out we would have to take the place of some of the peace's. He said he could not guarantee the four of us so we would have to go back and wait in the other room. Then a strange wizard walked through door we had entered from. He already had his want out and pointed at us."

Hermione took his pause for breath as an opportunity to wake Sue. Neville continued

"He ordered us to play, Ron told Harry to stand on the Kings Place, Neville on the Rook, Susan on the Bishop and Ron stood on the knight. Once we were all in place the other peace's formed on the empty squares. Ron was amazing not only was he winning he kept us all safe. But at the end luck ran out. He told Susan he had to sacrifice his Knight so she could check mate the king. He made the choice before we could argue, Harry stepped up to the King called check mate. Then there was flashes of colour and you woke us up"

Hermione face formed one of determination

"Nev, Sue get Ron to the hospital wing. I need to go after Harry."

She then turned and walked across the decimated chess board. Neville and Susan made to follow her. She turned and stopped them.

"It will take both of you to carry him, we don't have time to argue"

Both their shoulders slummed, before she could react Susan pulled her into a hug

"Be safe your my sister as much as he is my brother"

Hermione pulled away, turned a exited through the door. As she entered a small room with a table, fire sprang up over the door she entered through as well as another door on the other side of the room. On a small table in the centre of the room stood a collection of bottles and a parchment. After reading the riddle again she rearranged the bottles, took the stopper out of a small bottle and stepped towards the fire.

Hermione stepped into a room to be greeted by the sight of Professor Quirrell crumbling to dust and a black spector with an ugly face barrelling towards Harry, as it passed through him Harry was thrown back. Hermione rushed over and placed her dazed boyfriends head in her lap. He tried to speak but she silenced him.

"Lay their shut up and wait to be told what to do"

Moments later the headmaster joined by Neville, Susan and the rest of the faculty entered the room.

The headmaster dropped to his knees and waved his wand over both of them. The relief on his face was obvious.

"You can get up Harry"

"Do I have too"

"Yes a trip to the hospital wing and an explanation of the events of today"

Harry was put in a bed next to Ron's, the other three were given chairs. Then the headmaster called for an explanation. After Hermione told him about the library, she was checked for spells and Madam Pince was brought in.

It seems Professor Quirrell carrying the spirit of Voldamort on his head had imperioused the librarian to keep Hermione out of the way just encase the others needed an incentive to continue.

"but why, we were all in the great Hall when you announced that the item at the end of the tasks had been moved"

"You have answered your own question Hermione, I told the whole school that there was nothing there and still poor misguided professor Quirrell had to look behind a locked door"

"what now Pops?"

"The traps were left in place to catch the culprits. They are not needed anymore we will brake them down in confidence that the school is safe. Harry, Neville, Susan and Ronald will be serving detention and loose 10 points each. Hermione you will receive 35 points for shaking off a compulsion charm and going after her friends. An amazing show of will power"

Professor Flitwick spoke

"Miss Granger you seem to have one of my charmed keys stuck on your cloths"

The key stood on two small brass legs hopped across the girls shoulder, over her head and onto the other shoulder away from the half Goblin professor

"I see you have made a friend Miss Granger "

The girl smiled

"It seems so"

The headmaster interrupted

"Minerva I think your idea of a valentines ball is excellent, can I impose on the rest of the faculty to help. They all new they were being dismissed"

After the doors were shut he turned to Harry the boy had been sitting in the bed looking at his hands.

"Harry my boy I can see what you are thinking"

Harry interrupted him

"I'm a monster you should all get away from me"

Hermione grabbed one hand and Susan grabbed the other, both girls climbed onto the bed with him as he started to sob

"Hermione may I enter your mind and see what happened"

The young girl nodded and brought the memories to the front of her very organised mind. Moments later Albus spoke softly to Harry

"Please Harry tell me what happened"

The boy stiffened, Hermione tucked herself close and wrapped an arm around him. Susan climbed off the bed and planted herself in Neville's lap. Hermione whispered in Harry's ear and he seemed to relax a little

"OK pops. The others told you about getting to the chess board. Ron sacrificed himself and then the monster stunned them. He then forced me at wand point forward, the next room had a mirror that showed stuff"

"We can talk about the mirror another day, please continue"

Harry nodded and did as asked

"he asked what the mirror showed I lied and shoved me aside. That's when he started talking to himself"

"you mean mumbling"

"No sir"

Harry shivered and Hermione squeezed him tighter in response

"their were two different voices and then he took that horrible turban off and their was another face on the back of his head. It was him the monster that killed my parents"

At this moment Sirius and Amelia burst in. Hermione tried to get up but was stopped by a hand wave from Amelia.

"You don't need to move because of me"

She waved her wand and the single bed they were sharing expanded. She then climbed on the bed and pulled her son close making sure Hermione was included in the hug.

"Don't stop Harry your sister had her mirror channel open for us"

"Ok, It was in front of the mirror I couldn't see what It could see. it kept saying I'm holding the stone how do I get it. Then the Quirrell voice said, Make the boy do it. If he refuses I have his little friend asleep in the library I'm sure she can be persuaded to help motivate him. Then Hermione walked in and as he turned towards her I jumped and grabbed him. You have seen what happened, I killed him just by touching him"

Harry began to sob into his mother's chest. Dumbledore spoke

"I'm sorry to open an old scar but Harry you are aware that the night he took them your Mum performed some unknown protection on you. I believe it was you Mum and her love that forced the two spirits apart"

Harry looked up in confusion

"But it was me"

"No Harry you were the vessel for Lilly Potters love. That evil creature was held together by hate and dark magic. To simply put love can not survive with too much hate and hate can not survive too much love"

Harry was still confused. It was Hermione's turn to speak

"So professor are you saying a good loving person touching professor Quirrell would hurt him"

"Hermione your mind is amazing I do wish I could lavish you with house points whenever you speak but yes I believe you are correct. The only reason the bond holding the two dark souls together was broken so quickly was the extra love Harry is carrying from his birth Mother. Alas poor professor Quirrell was lost the moment he allowed Voldamort to join his body, sooner or later his magic would have depleted and the body would have died forcing the Voldamort soul to look for a new host. Leaving a deceased professor Quirrell behind"

The tension in Harry seemed to seep from his body

"I didn't kill anyone"

"No Harry Voldamort killed Professor Quirrell. You was unfortunate to see and a the very most bring the moment closer"

"I can live with that"

"I expect you for tea on Sunday for the next few weeks, just so you can talk freely and we can fully banish any worries you still might have. Alas I do have some bad news, Hermione your father has been spending allot of time with an old auror friend of ours. They intend to make sure the five of you are prepared for a future that is looking very unsure at this time"

Madam Pomfret stepped up to the bed

"Now we have cleared that up I would like to check on my patients if it is not to much trouble"

"I'm sorry you were forced to wait Poppy, I felt it important for Harry to deal with the mental side of his ordeal first"

The Matron nodded, after assessing the five students Hermione, Neville and Susan were sent back to the dorms but Harry and Ron would be staying over night. A very reluctant Hermione allowed herself to be dragged away after the Matron offered to have breakfast for all five delivered to the hospital wing in the morning.

Harry was wrapped in him mums arms when the hospital doors flew open, Ron's parents and sister entered.