Chapter 4 – Helping Harry
I walked with my father through the halls and noticed his demeanor change when he saw Harry, Ron and Hermione talking.
"And with Dumbledore gone-"
"Good afternoon" My father interrupted, making them all turn to face us. "Now what would three young Gryffindors such as yourselves be doing inside on a day like this" he asked them, looking to each of them for an answer. It was Hermione that spoke first.
"I-I-I, w-well" she stuttered. "we-we were just."
"Be careful. People will think you're…up to something" he said, eying Harry. There was a moment of silence before my father turned on his heel and walked away. I took a few steps to follow, but stopped when I heard Hermione.
"Now what do we do" I heard Hermione whisper to Harry.
"We go through the trapdoor…tonight" he told her. I whirled around and walked over to them.
"What trapdoor" I asked, making them all look to me in a panic.
"N-nothing. We didn't say anything about a trapdoor" Ron said quickly. I gave a quick glare his way and he gulped.
"I'm not an idiot" I told him. "I heard you."
"Don't tell Snape" Hermione pleaded, making me glance her direction.
"Tell me what you're planning or I'll tell my father what I overheard" I warned. The trio looked between each other and then Harry spoke up.
"Snape's trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone" he told me, sounding so sure of himself. I frowned. My father had no use for the Stone, but I'd heard him mention protecting something at Dumbledore's request.
"My father isn't trying to steal the Stone. He's protecting it" I told them, but Harry shook his head.
"He tried to shake me off my broomstick during my first Quidditch match, then he tried to get past the three-headed-dog when the troll got loose in the castle and now he's sent Dumbledore away so he can get to it. Snape isn't who you think he is" Harry argued. Ron and Hermione both looked ready to back him up, I sighed.
"I can prove that you're wrong" I told them. "I won't tell my father about your little excursion tonight if you let me come with you" I said, matter-of-factly. They looked between each other again before Harry nodded.
"Fine" he said, "but you have to make your own way through the castle to where Fluffy is." I nodded in agreement. I knew the only person Filch was afraid of was my father, he wouldn't pick on me if he caught me in the halls after curfew – he would still tell my father though. Peeves would be my only concern; the poltergeist loved to cause trouble. He would likely try and get the attention of any and all Professors.
I slowly tiptoed through the castle that night, making my way to the third-floor corridor where Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting outside Fluffly's room.
"And where do you think you're going" I heard the familiar voice of Peeves. I sighed and turned around to see him floating right behind me, close enough to touch. "It's well past bedtime" he grinned. I could see he was about to shout that I was in the halls.
"Please Peeves, please stay quiet or I'll – I'll tell the Baron that you called him a fatty" I tried, half-pleading. I was definitely not sounding as confident as I needed to be, but Peeves still hesitated.
"Little Hufflepuff has guts; you would threaten poor Peeves?" he said, trying to seem innocent. I straightened up and squared my shoulders.
"Try me" I taunted. Peeves opened his mouth to say something but then closed it.
"You get by me this time and this time only, little Hufflepuff. Only because you have guts" he said before floating off and through the ceiling. I quickly ran then rest of the way to Fluffy's room only to find it empty.
"Harry" I called out softly. I jumped when I heard the door close.
"Wait a minute" I heard someone say, then Harry, Ron and Hermione appeared out of nowhere.
"It's snoring" Harry said.
"Where did you come from" I hissed to them.
"Invisibility cloak" Harry held it up. "Snape's already been here. He's put a spell on the harp" he noted. We all stepped closer to Fluffy, and Ron groaned.
"He's got horrible breath" Ron stated, we all held our breath when Fluffy snored once more.
"We have to move it's paw" Harry said, stepping forward.
"What" Ron asked.
"Come on" I said and moved forward to help. The four of us pushed the paw off the trapdoor, watching to make sure Fluffy didn't wake up. We then opened the trapdoor and knelt down to look. It was pitch-black and we couldn't see the bottom.
"I'll go first. Don't follow until I give you a sign. If something bad happens get yourselves out" Harry told us. I was the first to notice how quiet the room was.
"Does it seem a bit quiet to you" I asked the others.
"The harp, it stopped playing" Hermione noted as we turned to look. We all turned ot Ron when he groaned in disgust, he was wiping drool off his shoulder.
"Yuck" he exclaimed. We looked up and notice Fluffy growling down at us.
"Jump" I told them. Harry went first, then me, Hermione and finally Ron.
It was a soft landing. I looked around to see plants all around us. This seemed like something my head teacher Professor Sprout would use to deter someone. I recognised it immediately as the Devil's Snare.
"Lucky this plant thing is here really" Ron said, looking around.
"Whoa" Harry exclaimed as the plant began moving. I relaxed immediately and it let me drop.
"Stop moving" Hermione told the boys. "Both of you. This is the Devil's Snare, you have to relax. If you don't, it'll only kill you faster" she explained.
"Kill us faster, oh now I can relax" Ron groaned sarcastically. Hermione dropped down as soon as Ron finished his sentience. I helped her to her feet and we looked up.
"Hermione" the boys yelled.
"Now what are we gonna do" Ron asked.
"Just relax" I yelled back.
"Hope, Hermione, where are you" Harry asked.
"Do what we say and just relax" I called back.
"Trust me" Hermione added. Harry dropped down a few seconds later and then Ron screamed again.
"No, Harry" he called.
"Are you okay" Hermione asked Harry.
"Yeah, I'm fine" he told her as he got to his feet. We all looked up for Ron now, who was yelling, and it sounded like he was squirming in the Snare.
"He's not relaxing is he" Hermione asked.
"It doesn't sound like it" I replied.
"We've gotta do something" Hermione said.
"Like what" Harry asked.
"I remember reading something in Herbology" Hermione said, trying to remember.
"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare, it's deadly fun, but will sulk in the sun" I said, remembering the class.
"That's it! The Devil's Snare hates sunlight" Hermione told Harry before turning up to the Snare. "Lumos Solem" Hermione cast. There was a flash of light and the Snare made a load noise as it moved away, letting Ron fall at our feet.
A/N ~ two chapters in one hit. I'm on a roll! I'm hoping to finish the first movie/book today