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Chapter 14

The next morning at breakfast, Neville, Hermione and Harry receive notes from Professor McGonagall, telling them their detention will take place tonight. Neville looks positively distraught, but Hermione and Harry don't say anything. I struggle through the day a little, due to the lack of sleep I got last night. I keep myself busy with school work until 11 o'clock, then bid the others goodnight when they head down to complete their detention. I fall asleep almost immediately, revelling in the comfiness and warmth of my sheets. Unfortunately, Hermione decides to wake me when she returns, saying something about Harry and the Forbidden Forest. I blink the sleep out of my eyes then let her lead me down to the Common Room where Harry's waking Ron up. When he sees us, he immediately launches into the story of their detention. He tells us it was in the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid and they were searching for a unicorn. I gape in shock when he tells us about seeing Voldemort.

"Snape wants the stone for Voldemort…and Voldemort's waiting in the forest…and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich…" Harry says.

"Stop saying the name!" Ron snaps, looking terrified.

Harry didn't listen.

"Firenze saved me, but he shouldn't have done…" he continues. "Bane was furious…he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen…They must show that Voldemort's coming back…Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me…I suppose that's written in the stars as well."

"Will you stop saying the name!" Ron hisses.

Again, Harry ignores him.

"So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the Stone," he says. "Then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off…Well, I suppose Bane'll be happy."

His words are beyond reassuring. I can't believe Harry's even suggesting this. Next to me, Hermione looks terrified. But she takes a deep breath before saying something.

"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of," she says. "With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you. Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."

I desperately want to believe her, but I know Harry's still in danger if the threat of Voldemort is around. We discuss the topic a little further before heading to bed.

By now, exams are closer than ever. The four of us are on high alert because of the threat of Voldemort, but we still study any chance we can get. The days become hot and uncomfortable, and everyone is irritable and tired. I have one more lesson with Dumbledore where we spend some more time on maintaining control. Then, before we know it, the exams are upon us. We're given quills to prevent us from cheating on the written papers, and we are tested on our practical work as well. In the Charms exam, Professor Flitwick calls us into his class to make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. When he calls me in, I perform the charm with relative ease, gaining a smile from the small wizard. I then flick my and the pineapple turns upside down and begins performing cartwheels. Flitwick chuckles, watching it in amusement for a bit before performing the counter-curse. McGonagall grades us all together, making us turn a mouse into a snuff-box. Before we start, she tells us we get more points for the prettiness of the box, but we lose points if there are whiskers on it. As everyone starts trying to transfigure their mouses, I try to think of a design for the box. My mind flicks back to the dream had a while ago when I saw a woman's hand with a ring on it. I remember there was a Gaelic pattern on it. Focusing on that, I point my wand at the mouse and transfigure it just as McGonagall reaches me. Instead of looking pleased like I expected, a look of shock crosses her face. She covers it quickly, picking the box up to study it. The box itself is gold and circular, with the Gaelic design covering it. Scattered all over and settled in the design are tiny diamonds. In the centre, a glittering emerald sits, as I saw in the dream. McGonagall purses her lips before setting it back on my desk with a small nod then walks away. I frown, reaching for the box. There are no traces of whiskers or fur. Maybe she didn't like the design? I sigh, putting it back down, watching the others for the rest of the time. Our potions exam is much more difficult. We have to try to remember how to make a forgetfulness potion while Snape breathes down our necks. I'm not great at Potions in the first place, so with the extra pressure, I get a little stressed. In the end, Snape doesn't glare at me as much as usual, so I don't worry too much. I do well in the Defence Against the Dark Arts exam, but I'm not sure I did very well in the Herbology one. We also have the Astronomy exam; I don't know how well I do in it. Our last exam is History of Magic, where we have to recall old wizards who invented self-stirring potions. When we're finished, Hermione and I go over our exam papers. Meanwhile, Harry and Ron stretch out on the grass outside.

"No more revision," Ron says happily.

I roll my eyes.

"You could look more cheerful Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet," he continues.

I laugh in wonder of his easiness. When I look at Harry though, my smile falls. He's rubbing his forehead like he's been doing a lot recently. He has a small look of pain on his face.

"I wish I knew what this means," he suddenly bursts out. "My scar keeps hurting – it's happened before, but never as often as this."

I look at him worriedly.

"Go to Madame Pomfrey," Hermione suggests.

"I'm not ill," Harry protests. "I think it's a warning…it means danger's coming…"

He trails off, locking eyes with me. I know he wouldn't bring it up unless he thinks something's wrong. He's too proud to admit it. Ron doesn't share my worry though.

"Harry, relax," he says. "Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around."

"Well, something must be wrong if you're agreeing with Hermione," I mutter.

He ignores me.

"Anyway, we've had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."

I frown a little, not all that reassured. I still have the feeling that it's not Snape, but whenever I bring it up, the others just brush it off. Looking at Harry, I can see he isn't completely reassured either.

"I feel like I have to do something," he says. "Something important…" he trails off.

'That's just the exams," Hermione pipes in. "I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one."

A small smile tugs at Harry's lips, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He looks across the grounds for a bit, before suddenly jumping to his feet.

"Where're you going?" Ron asks, sounding sleepy.

"I've just thought of something," Harry says, looking white. "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now."

He starts off, and the three of us rush to catch up with him.

"Why?" I demand.

"Don't you think," he says as we scramble up the grassy slopes. "It's a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket?"

I gasp as the wheels start turning in my mind, what he's saying finally clicking into place.

"How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law?" Harry continues. "Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?" he groans.

"What are you on about?" Ron asks, still not getting it.

Harry starts sprinting though, so we can't answer. When we reach Hagrid's hut, we see him sitting on an armchair outside, shelling peas into a large bowl.

"Hullo," he says, smiling at us. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"Yes please," Ron says.

"No," Harry cuts across him. "We're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"

"Please," I add, glaring a little at Harry's rudeness.

"Dunno," Hagrid says casually. "He wouldn't take his cloak off."

My eyes widen in shock. He never saw the stranger? Looking at us, Hagrid raises his eyebrows.

"It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head – that's one of the pubs down in the village," he says. "Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."

Harry sits down next to the bowl of peas, looking stressed. I crouch down next to him, laying a calming hand on his arm. He looks gratefully at me.

"What did you talk to him about, Hagrid?" I ask, looking up at the giant man. "Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"

I know what Harry's getting at, but I don't want to make it too obvious.

"Mighta come up," Hagrid says, frowning. "Yeah…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 really wanted was a dragon…an' then…I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks…Let's see…yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play card fer it if I wanted…but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go home to any old home…So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy…"

Harry perks up when Hagrid mentions Fluffy. I inwardly groan.

"And did he – did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asks.

I can tell he was trying to keep his voice even.

"Well – yeah," Hagrid says. "How many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts?"

I curse under my breath.

"So I told him, Fluffy's a piece of cake if yeh know how to calm him down," Hagrid continues. "Jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep –"

Hagrid suddenly cuts off, looking terrified. The four of exchange a look.

"I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" Hagrid groans. "Forget I said it!"

It's too late. We're already off.

"Hey – where're yeh goin'?" Hagrid calls after us.

We ignore him, hurrying back to the castle.

"We've got to go to Dumbledore," Harry says when we reach the Entrance Hall. "Hagrid told that 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. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?"

I am just about to lead them away when I remember Dumbledore telling me in our last lesson he's going away for a little while. I'm just about to mention this when McGonagall's voice rings out.

"What are you three doing inside?"

We turn to face her, and I see she is carrying a large pile of books. Before I can say anything, Hermione speaks up.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," she says.

McGonagall gazes at us, looking at me a bit. She's probably wondering if I told them he's away.

"See Professor Dumbledore?" she repeats, looking suspicious. "Why?"

Again, before I can speak, Harry pipes up.

"It's sort of a secret," he says.

I bite my lip, resisting the urge to bury my head in my hands. McGonagall's nostrils flare, and she looks directly at Harry.

"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she says coldly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."

I wonder why she doesn't tell the truth, but I don't say anything.

"He's gone?" Harry says, looking frantic. "Now?"

"Harry!" I reprimand.

'Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter," McGonagall says sternly. "He has many demands on his time –"

"But this is important," Harry cuts in.

I'm now tempted to clamp my hand over his mouth to make him shut up.

"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Potter?" McGonagall counters.

I glance at Harry, silently begging him to drop it. But I see the decision in his eyes as he opens his mouth, and I hold my breath, knowing this could go south quickly.

"Look," he starts. "Professor – it's about the Sorcerer's Stone –"

Shock is evident on McGonagall's face. The pile of books she's carrying drops, and she makes no move to pick them up.

"How do you know -?" she asks, looking flabbergasted.

"Professor, I think – I know," Harry explains, "that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

McGonagall looks my way for a second, looking a mixture of shocked and suspicious. I look back at her with sorriness but certainty. Then she looks back to Harry.

"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow," she decides. "I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected."

"But Professor," Harry protests.

"Potter," McGonagall interrupts. "I know what I'm talking about."

She quickly gathers her books back up again before facing us again.

"I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."

Her tone leaves no room for further protest, so we nod with resigned agreeance. As we turn to go though, she speaks again.

"Miss Potter," she calls.

I turn back around to face her.

"I would like to speak to you later about a certain matter. My office, ten past eight."

With that, she leaves. The other's look at me curiously, but I shrug my shoulders, feigning confusion. But I'm wondering what she wants to talk to me about as well. Something from my exam? My lessons? Or an entirely different matter? Harry waits until McGonagall is definitely out of earshot before talking.

"It's tonight," he says. "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 –" I start.

Hermione gasps, and we turn to see what she's looking at. Or rather, who.

"Good afternoon," Snape says.

We stare at him.

"You shouldn't be inside on a day like this," he says with a twisted smile.

"We were just going," I say.

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

Harry flushes a little, and we turn to go back outside. But Snape calls us back.

"Be warned, Potter," he says, talking to Harry. "Anymore night-time wandering and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."

He then strides off in the direction of the staff room. Harry turns back to us.

"Right, here's what we've got to do," he whispers.

"Hang on," I interrupt. "What if it's not Snape? What if it's someone else?" I ask.

"Well, either way, someone's going to try to steal the Stone," Harry points out.

I want to argue further, but I know it won't get me anywhere for now.

"One of us has got to keep an eye on Snape – wait outside the staff room and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, you'd better do that," Harry suggests.

"Why me?" she asks.

"It's obvious," Ron says. "You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know."

He puts on a high voice.

"'Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen b wrong –"

"Oh, shut up," Hermione interrupts.

But she agrees to watch out for Snape.

"And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor," Harry says.

"No," I say. "If one of the teachers catches us there, they'll know we're up to something. We best just wait until after dinner."

Harry thinks it over, then agrees that's the best plan. We head back to the common room, sitting separately. I take the chance to talk to Harry.

"I don't think this is a good idea," I start.

"Isobel –" he protests.

I hold my hand up to cut him off.

"Harry, I'm serious," I say, looking him in the eye. "What you're planning, it's dangerous. You could get seriously injured. Hagrid said the teachers have put protective enchantments on it to keep adults from stealing it. How do you think a bunch of eleven year old's, who barely know any spells, are going to get past them? Harry, have you even thought about this at all?"

Harry stares at me for a second, and I see him struggling to keep his words back.

"Spit it out!" I say, starting to get angry with him.

"SO WHAT?" he shouts.

A few people look our way but one look from me and they suddenly become interested in their couches and tables.

"Don't you understand?" Harry continues quieter this time. "If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts left to get expelled from. He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter any more, can't you see? D'you think he'll leave our families alone if Gryffindor wins the House Cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find us there. It's only dying a bit later than I would have done because I'm never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you three say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed our parents, remember?"

I take a few deep breaths before responding, knowing it'll do no one any good if I blow him up.

"Harry," I say. "I never said Voldemort would stop. I know you would never go to the Dark Side. And if you think for a second that I've forgotten he killed our parents, you've got another thing coming. All I said is that you could get hurt. I never said nothing had to happen. Take it to McGonagall again, wait for Dumbledore. Let them deal with it. Don't get involved in this."

Harry glares at me. I glare back at him.

"I'll use the Invisibility Cloak," he says.

He gets up to leave the Common Room, despite my protests.

"Harry! Harry, come on," I call after him.

I follow him through the portrait hole. He runs off through the corridors and hallways, probably getting himself lost. At one point, he turns a corner and disappears before I can catch up with him. I remember the golden trail though and use it to find him. I follow it to an empty classroom, where he sits on top of one of the desks. I cautiously approach him.

"Leave me alone Isobel," he says angrily.

"I'm sorry Harry," I apologise. "I didn't mean to get mad at you. I just don't want you getting hurt."

A tear falls down my cheek as I look at him. I lay my hand on his knee.

"You're my brother," I tell him. "And if something happened to you, I couldn't live with myself."

He looks down at me, a small smile on his face. He reaches down and wipes my tear away.

"I know," he says softly. "I won't let anything happen to me."

I close my eyes, shaking my head.

"But you're still going."

It's not a question but a statement. I know nothing I say will convince him to not go. I can just try my hardest to keep him safe. When I open my eyes, I see an apology in his.

"I'm sorry," is all he says.

We stay like for a minute or two before I make my decision.

"We'll wait until after I've spoken with McGonagall. When I come back, the four of us can go," I say.

He looks shocked.

"The four of us?" he asks. "No, you're not coming."

I move away from him.

"Harry, you can't stop us from coming. Hermione and Ron are our best friends, and I'm your damn sister. We're coming with you."

I see the protest forming in his throat. Then he meets my eyes and sees I'm not changing my mind.

"Ok," he agrees. "Ok."

"Good," I say. "Come on, let's get out of here."

He nods, hopping down from the desk. Just as I reach for the door, he pulls my arm back. I look at him questioningly.

"You won't tell McGonagall, will you? Tonight I mean."

I stare into his bright green eyes and see them searching my own. Without looking away, I answer him.

"Of course not," I assure him.

He smiles back, then releases my arm. I open the door and exit the classroom into an unfamiliar corridor. I look around, trying to figure out where we are.

"Uhh," Harry says. "Do you know how to get back?"

"I think so," I say.

I search for the golden trail and finding it, I lead us back to Gryffindor Tower. When we enter the Common Room, Hermione and Ron are waiting for us.

"If you think we're letting you go alone –" Ron starts.

"I know," Harry interrupts. "But if we get caught, you three will be expelled too," he warns.

"Not if I can help it," Hermione states. "Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and twelve per cent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that," she says.

We laugh a little, before sitting quietly down in front of the fireplace. All of us are too wrapped up in our thoughts to say anything. When dinner rolls around, we eat quickly, nervously waiting for the time to come. When dinner ends, I bid a goodbye to the three of them, heading for McGonagall's office. I walk slowly so she has time to get there before me. When I arrive, I knock on the door, and she calls for me to enter. I push the door open, shutting it behind me before walking inside. McGonagall is sitting at her desk, so I walk up, standing in front of me.

"Miss Potter," she greets. "Sit."

I do, pulling the chair in to look at her properly. She doesn't speak, she just stares at me. I try not to shift underneath her gaze. Finally, she talks.

"There are a few matters I would like to discuss this evening," McGonagall begins.

I feel like slouching in my chair, knowing the longer we talk, the less time we have to get the Stone. McGonagall eyes me though, watching to see if I reveal anything. I know even the slightest lapse of behaviour will clue her in, so I focus on keeping my breathing even and my eyes on her.

"What might they be?" I ask politely.

This conversation feels different from normal. In classes, it's always strictly professional mannerisms, and in our private lessons, it is almost polar opposite. Right now though, we are two predators, psyching each other out, waiting for one to show weakness.

"First," McGonagall begins. "I would like to talk about your exam."

I wasn't expecting this, so I falter slightly. I quickly regain my composure though, and McGonagall doesn't acknowledge it.

"What about it Professor?" I ask.

"The design you gave your snuff-box," she explains. "It was quite…particular."

I sense hesitation in her words, and I frown.

"Have you seen that design before Miss Potter?" McGonagall asks.

The whole time, her eyes never leave me. I know it will be impossible to lie to her.

"Yes, I have," I say. "In a dream."

Whatever McGonagall was expecting, it wasn't that.

"A dream?" she repeats.

I nod.

"It was on a ring. The ring was on a woman's figure. I didn't see her face though."

I don't give any more details, like that I saw it as a baby on my mother's finger. There's no reason for her to need to know that.

"I see," McGonagall replies. "It was quite a different design to what I normally see, is all."

I nod, waiting for her to say something else.

"Now," she says, her whole demeanour changing. "On to the matter of the Sorcerer's Stone."

I keep my expression neutral, having expected this. I wait patiently for her to elaborate.

"How did you four find out about it?" she asks.

I decide there is no harm in telling her, so I tell her.

"We came across Fluffy one night, and Hermione and I noticed it was standing on a trapdoor. We did some reading, and we spoke to Hagrid, and we figured it out."

McGonagall looks a little annoyed when I mention Hagrid.

"What gives you the impression someone is trying to steal it? And, by Merlin, who do you think is?"

I choose my words carefully.

"We've seen and heard certain teachers talk about the matter, threats and warnings among them. We think one of them is trying to steal it."

"Which one?" McGonagall asks.

I don't answer straight away. I know that if I tell her, she will most likely call me preposterous for accusing him, and won't believe me. But if I don't tell her, she'll get mad and keep asking me. Just as I am about to answer something, there is a knock on the door. The door opens, and Dumbledore strides in.

"Minerva, dear, are you –" he says.

He stops when he sees me.

"Miss Potter," he greets.

I nod at him.

"Professor."

Dumbledore draws up a chair to sit next to McGonagall. She leans back, accumulating a more casual position.

"Miss Potter," she says, a little nicer than before. "Who do you think is trying to steal the Stone."

I glance at Dumbledore. Upon hearing her words, he freezes, looking shocked.

"Pardon?" he asks, looking between us.

When neither of us answer, he asks again. Finally, McGonagall looks away from me to look at the Headmaster.

"Mr Potter, Miss Granger, Mr Weasley and Miss Potter have reason to believe someone is trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone."

Dumbledore turns his gaze on me.

"Do tell," he says.

I swallow before answering.

"Harry thinks Professor Snape, Sir."

McGonagall gasps but Dumbledore doesn't react straight away. I expect him to frown or punish me for saying that. But he smiles.

"But you don't," he says.

I blink.

"How -?" I ask.

Dumbledore ignores my question.

"Who do you think it is Isobel?" he asks.

For some reason, him calling me Isobel makes it much harder to resist.

"I don't –" I say. "I'm not sure Sir."

Suddenly, Madame Pomfrey bursts into the room.

"Minerva," she says, sounding breathless. "I've just found Neville Longbottom petrified in the Gryffindor Common Room."

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