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

Chapter 15

My stomach sinks. McGonagall gasps while Dumbledore rises from his chair.

"By whom Poppy?" he asks the healer.

"I don't know Albus," she replies. "One of the students came to get me when they found him."

"Go tend to him," Dumbledore instructs. "We will sort this out," he says, gesturing to McGonagall.

Pomfrey nods then exits the room. Dumbledore turns back to us.

"Could we perhaps continue this another time?" he asks.

McGonagall nods then heads for the door.

"Wait, Professor," I call out.

She turns to look at me. I take a breath.

"I think I know who did it," I say.

McGonagall and Dumbledore stare at me in shock.

"Who?" Dumbledore asks.

"My brother," I say. "And Ron and Hermione."

McGonagall draws in a breath.

"Please don't tell me…" she trails off, not wanting to believe it.

"I'm sorry Professor. I tried to talk him out of it. But he wouldn't listen."

I don't mention that I was going to go with him. Dumbledore looks confused.

"What are you talking about Isobel?" he asks.

I look at him.

"They're going after the Stone. To try and stop whoever is trying to steal it."

He looks momentarily shocked. Then he recovers and takes the lead.

"Right, well, we better go make sure they don't get themselves hurt."

With that, he strides past McGonagall and opens the door, ushering us out. We rush off towards the third floor. I pull slightly ahead of them, using the golden trail to try and find a shortcut. Behind me, I hear the two professors talking quietly.

"Albus," McGonagall says. "Shouldn't we send Isobel back to her Common Room. Or at least keep her in my office."

"I don't think that will keep her away Minerva," Dumbledore replies.

I agree with him. If any of them are hurt, I'm going to be there. Suddenly, up ahead, I the path light up in a shortcut.

"Follow me," I tell them. "There's a shortcut this way."

McGonagall hesitates a little, but Dumbledore tugs on her arm.

"She's right," he says quietly.

I vaguely wonder how he knows, but the thought quickly leaves my mind. I follow the new path, solely relying on the trail. Finally, we find ourselves in front of the door. I reach for the door when suddenly Hermione and Ron burst through it. When they see us, they stop. They look relatively unscathed, but Ron is a little unsteady on his feet, leaning on Hermione for support.

"Professors, Harry's in trouble. You have to help him."

Dumbledore holds up his hand and she cuts off.

"Professor McGonagall and Miss Potter will go with you to the hospital wing while I retrieve young Harry. Do not worry Miss Granger."

I'm about to protest, but he cuts me off with a look. Hermione nods, pulling out of the way. Dumbledore walks inside and the door shuts behind him. McGonagall turns to face us.

"Let's get you three out of here," she says.

Dumbledore POV

I walk inside, shutting and locking the door behind me. I take a deep breath, steadying myself. The three-headed dog inside recognises me and doesn't stop me from passing through. I climb through the trapdoor, using a cushioning charm to soften my fall, and quickly get through the devils snare. I make my way down the stone passageway and summon the battered key when I reach the third level of protection. I swiftly unlock the door, stepping into Minerva's enchantment. I expect to see Harry lying somewhere, unable to get through this. But I'm astonished to see broken chess pieces lying all around the board. Somehow, they had managed to get through. Much like Fluffy, when the transfigured chess pieces see me, they move aside, allowing me to pass. I push through the next door and gag from the smell. The troll lays unconscious on the ground and I get rid of the smell and banish the troll out of the room. As I reach Severus' test, I notice one of the potions completely emptied, and the other has been drunk from. That means Harry has found the Mirror, and if they were correct, whoever's trying to steal the Stone. I look at the black flames that will let me move forward. Through there, evil awaits, and Harry is in trouble. For a second, I fear that I'm too late. I push that thought aside though and steel myself. I create a gap in the fire, moving on to the last chamber. The sight I see inside is not welcoming. Quirinus Quirrell stands over Harry, raising his hand. I am about to intervene when Harry reaches up and grabs the mans face. Quirinus yells in pain and rolls off of Harry, his face blistering. I stare in amazement at Harry, my theories being proved right in front of me. Then Harry jumps to his feet, and catches Quirinus' arm, holding tight. The man screams, trying in vain to throw Harry off. The boy holds on though, even when Quirinus yells threats at him. Then my blood runs cold as a new, but terrifyingly familiar voice speaks. I search for the origin of the speaker, finally noticing Quirinus' turban has fallen away, and on the back of his head, is the face of Voldemort. I freeze.

"KILL HIM! KILL HIM!" he yells.

His words shake me out of my daze and I rush forward to take Quirinus away. I wrench him out of Harry's grasp just as the boy starts to fall.

"Harry! Harry!" I cry, catching him just before he hits the ground.

I barely notice Quirrell still yelling in pain as he slowly burns away. I focus on Harry, lying unconscious. My heart pounds as I check him for any immediate signs of danger, praying he's alright. But luckily, there doesn't seem to be any. However, I know there could be other non-visible injuries. Making a quick decision, I remove the Anti-Apparation jinxes laid upon the chambers and the hospital wing, then I scoop Harry up in my arms and apparate us out of here.

Isobel POV

McGonagall leads us to the Hospital. I help Hermione support Ron, wrapping my arm around his waist and putting his arm around my shoulders. No one speaks until we get there. Madame Pomfrey immediately comes up to us, then instructs Hermione and me to place him in one of the beds. With a little difficulty, we set him down. The matron asks us questions, most of which Hermione answers. She casts a few spells then gives him a potion to drink. Soon afterwards, he falls asleep. Looking around, I notice Neville in one of the other beds. A pang of guilt goes through me even though I know it wasn't my fault. Hermione sits in a chair next to Ron, watching him carefully. I sit on the other side of him, but my thoughts wander. Fear strikes me as I think of Harry. I pray that Dumbledore reaches him quickly. Nearby, McGonagall paces up and down the aisle in between the beds. Worry lines etch her face and I realise she's worried about Harry as well. I find myself standing up and walking over to her. When she sees me, she stops in her way. She tries to school her face into a neutral expression, but I can still see the concern in her eyes.

"Isobel – " she starts.

"He'll be okay," I interrupt.

I blink, not knowing why I had to reassure her. Or maybe I'm reassuring myself. McGonagall's eyes soften as she looks down at me.

"I know."

I nod, trying my best to believe her. McGonagall leads me back to my chair, and she seats herself next to me. We wait for a little while as Madame Pomfrey tends to Neville. I find myself twisting the ring on my finger. I don't know how it works, but it always seems to appear when I'm worried. I guess it's magic. It always appears on my left hand on my middle finger. The ring is just a gold band without any engravings. I don't know how long we wait, but I get more worried as time goes on. Then suddenly, Dumbledore appears, carrying Harry in his arms. I leap up, rushing over to him. McGonagall and Hermione follow my lead.

"Harry!" I cry as I notice he's unconscious.

Madame Pomfrey comes up to Dumbledore, guiding him to the bed next to Ron. He gently sets Harry down, then Pomfrey starts casting diagnostic spells on my brother.

"What happened?" I ask frantically.

Dumbledore studies me, then looks at Hermione and McGonagall. Both of them are looking at Harry, identical expressions of worry on their faces. Dumbeldore sighs.

"He met Professor Quirrell," I start.

Realisation dawns on me. This whole time we had thought it was Snape because he was threatening Quirrell and hurting Harry. But it was actually Snape protecting Harry from Quirrell. I see Dumbledore studying me before looking away. I frown slightly but don't comment. Hermione gasps, looking confused as she turns away from Harry. McGonagall also looks away from him and faces Dumbledore.

"What happened?" she repeats me.

"The last enchantment was my own," Dumbledore explains. "It was the Mirror of Erised. I made it so that only someone who wanted to obtain the Stone but not use it could see it in the Mirror, and it would appear in their possession. Quirinus could not find it, but Harry could."

He pauses to make sure we're following. I listen as my mind turns. He takes a deep breath before continuing.

"Professor Quirrell was housing Voldemort."

I gasp, unbelieving. Hermione goes pale, and McGonagall goes weak and falls into Dumbledore. He grabs her arm to steady her, wrapping his other arm loosely around her back. I watch the motion carefully, not helping but noticing the look he gives her. Despite the situation, I see concern in his eyes as he looks down at McGonagall. I expect her to push away or steady herself in an attempt to be 'strong', and she does. But not before briefly covering Dumbledore's hand with her own. My eyes widen as I understand the interaction. I barely manage to stop another gasp as I glance at Hermione, noting she didn't see the exchange. I flick my eyes back to the couple and catch a guilty look on Dumbledore's face. It disappears quickly though and I don't have time to process anything more before he continues.

"Somehow Voldemort merged with Quirrell and used him. He found out Harry possessed the Stone and attacked him. I got to them just before he fell unconscious."

"And Quirrell?" Hermione whispers.

A sombre crosses Dumbledore's face.

"Voldemort left his body, leaving him weak and defenceless. He's…dead."

A feeling of dread settles in my stomach. Madame Pomfrey chooses that moment to say her piece.

"Mr Potter will be alright," she says.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

"He just needs rest. As does Mr Weasley. Mr Longbottom should be right by the morning as well," she adds, glancing at Hermione.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione apologises. "I didn't want to, I just –"

"Miss Granger," McGonagall interrupts.

Hermione's' mouth snaps shut.

"Twenty points will be taken from Gryffindor, and you will have detention with me tomorrow night. But otherwise, you are not in trouble," McGonagall says.

It's now Hermione's turn to breathe a sigh of relief. She nods gratefully, trying to conceal a relieved smile.

"You two should try to get some sleep," Dumbledore suggests.

"I'm not leaving Harry," I say immediately.

"I wasn't implying that," Dumbledore says gently, looking to Madame Pomfrey.

The matron frowns disapprovingly. I see an argument forming on her lips, but seeing the look on Dumbledore's face she sighs reluctantly.

"You have permission to stay with your brother," she says.

"What about me?" Hermione asks. "I want to stay as well."

Pomfrey looks at Dumbledore to see his expecting his look. A frown on her face, she gives Hermione permission to stay.

"You will both be in classes tomorrow though," McGonagall puts in. "Mr Longbottom as well, and Mr Weasley if he's alright."

We nod our understanding. Dumbledore and McGonagall then leave the Hospital Wing, leaving us with Madame Pomfrey. She instructs us to get her if anything happens, then leaves us as well. I move my chair so that I'm next to Harry. There are just a bedside table and a bit of space between where Hermione sits next to Ron and where I sit. Our chairs are turned slightly so we can to each other.

"What happened down there?" I ask her, grasping Harry's hand as he sleeps.

Hermione sighs, glancing down at Ron before facing me. She then tells me about how they used the flute Harry got from Hagrid at Christmas to get past Fluffy. She explains how they got past the Devils Snare and used the brooms to capture the key. When she gets to the part about the chess game and how Ron sacrificed himself so that she and Harry could continue, I feel an overwhelming amount of gratitude to Ron.

"The troll had already been taken out by Quirrell and the next test was rather simple. It was logic," Hermione explains. "There were seven potions and we had to figure out which ones would get us through the fire that stopped us from going on. There was only enough for one though. Harry told me to drink the potion that let me go back, and he took the one that let him continue. I should have done something. I shouldn't have let him go on alone. I –"

"Hey, hey!" I interrupt. "Hermione."

I shift in my chair to completely look at her.

"There was nothing else you could have done. Plus, Harry never would have let you go. He's too stubborn for that."

Hermione laughs a little.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I just feel terrible," she says.

"I know. But it's alright," I reassure her.

I shift a little uncomfortably in my seat.

"You did more than me," I say.

She looks at me guiltily.

"Why didn't you wait for me, like we agreed?" I ask.

"I tried to get Harry to. But he wouldn't," Hermione explains, looking down at her hands. "He didn't want you to get hurt."

I sigh, not so much angry as I am annoyed.

"I didn't want to go, but I would've. I wish he could've trusted me," I say.

"Oh, Isobel," Hermione cries. "He did trust you. He does. We all do. But he loves you too much to put you in danger. I mean, he didn't even want us coming. It's not your fault Harry's hurt."

"I could've kept him safe," I say.

"You did," Hermione says. "You made him realise just how dangerous it was. He would've gone in there blindly without your warning."

I scoff, trying to blink tears back.

"That's nothing. I was angry, and we were arguing."

Hermione tries to interrupt but I talk over her.

"For so long, Harry's been the one to protect me. When we got here, I thought, maybe, it was finally my time to protect him. To make sure he didn't do anything stupid and ruin the one good thing in our lives. But this whole year it's just been him doing the same thing as always. Looking out for me. And don't get me wrong, I love him for that. I just wish for once he would let me keep him safe."

"Isobel…"

"I'm sick of him viewing me as his little sister he has to keep safe. I can look out for myself."

It's only when I notice the potion on Harry's bedstand shaking, that I cut off. I take a few deep breaths to calm down.

"He doesn't see you like that Isobel," Hermione says quietly. "He knows you can. But if there's one good Gryffindor thing about him, apart from bravery, it's his loyalty. He would quite literally die for you. It's who he is. No matter what you say, he's always going to worry about you and try to protect you. Just like you will for him. I know you don't like it, but there's nothing you can do about it."

I sigh, knowing she's right, but not wanting to accept it.

"I just feel like I should have done more," I say.

"I know. But there's nothing you can do now except wait for him to be okay," Hermione says. "Both of them."

She looks down at Ron and squeezes his hand. I turn back to Harry. He has a few cuts and scratches on his face and arms, but otherwise, he looks alright. But I know something bad must've happened that Dumbledore didn't say. I sit there, watching Harry until eventually, I fall asleep holding his hand. But something weird happens in my dreams.

Dumbledore and McGonagall stand in the Headmaster's office, a wide range of emotions on their faces.

"They could've been killed, Albus!" McGonagall yells, enraged.

Dumbledore sighs. He sits down in the chair at his desk.

"I know Minerva," he says. "I know."

McGonagall sighs, her expression falling. She walks over to Dumbledore and perches next to him on the desk. She reaches up and cups his cheek with her hand.

"I'm sorry," she whispers.

They stay like that for a moment before Dumbledore pulls away.

"I should've known. I should've been there to stop them. I –"

"You couldn't have known Albus," McGonagall cuts in. "Those four students seem to be capable of breaking every school rule if they put their minds to it. And they'd be damned if they let themselves get caught. Don't let it weigh you down."

"But Minerva! They're students at my school. I should be able to keep them safe. I should be able to keep the school safe. But instead, I allowed Voldemort himself to enter the school and harm my students. I've failed in my duties as Headmaster."

McGonagall slides off the desk and conjures a chair to sit next to Dumbledore. She draws it in close so their knees touch. Then she takes his hands in hers.

"You haven't failed, Albus. Yes, not everything went right this year. But that doesn't mean you failed. Harry's still alive, isn't he? You made sure of that. Voldemort didn't harm anyone else. You did a good job. Next year, I know you'll learn from your mistakes, and do better. We might not be students here anymore, but we still learn more and more every day."

Dumbledore smiles sadly at McGonagall.

"Thank you, Min. You always know what to say."

I wake up to Madame Pomfrey gently shaking me. I blink to clear the sleep out of my eyes. I push the dream to the back of my mind. Hermione is awake, talking to Ron. I realise with a start he must have woken up during the night. Neville is nowhere to be seen, so I assume he's already gone back to Gryffindor Tower. Harry's still asleep though. I take one last look at him before going over to the other two.

"How are you feeling Ron?" I ask.

He smiles slightly.

"Been better."

I wrap him in my arms and hug him. Slightly startled, he hugs me back. When I pull back, my eyes are slightly watery.

"Thank you," I tell him. "For keeping my brother safe. And Hermione. They couldn't have done what they did down there without you."

He shrugs his shoulders a little.

"Well, I'm sure they would've been al –"

I cut him off with another hug. I stay there a moment before letting him go. He smiles at me.

"We should get going," Hermione says softly.

I nod, and we head out of the hospital wing together. We clean up before heading to breakfast. It looks like no one knows what happened last night. Neville sits a little further away from us than normal, but otherwise, the absence of Harry doesn't bother anyone. We go through our morning lessons like normal, but when lunch comes around, people start asking questions.

"Where's Harry?"

"Why're you all scratched up?"

We don't answer them until Fred and George come up to us.

"Where's your other half?" Fred asks me.

"Yeah, we noticed you weren't quite complete," George adds.

I glance at Ron and Hermione, silently asking whether to tell them or not. They shrug, so I turn back to the twins.

"He's in the hospital wing," I tell them.

"What happened?" they ask.

With the help of the other two, we explain to them what happened. A few other Gryffindors around us listen in.

"Bloody hell!" Seamus says when we finish explaining. "I don't know whether to be impressed or outraged."

"I do," Dean says. "I'm definitely impressed."

"Definitely!" the twins agree.

I roll my eyes, turning away from them as Ron keeps talking. I try to talk to Neville, so Hermione reluctantly stays in the conversation with the others.

"Hermione's really sorry about what happened you know," I tell him.

Neville sniffs a little.

"I know. I just didn't want Gryffindor losing any more points than we already have," he says.

"You were so brave, you know? Not many people can stand up to their friends like that," I praise him.

Our last class of the day is Transfiguration. The lesson goes by normally enough and at the end, McGonagall calls me back.

"As we didn't finish our conversation last night, I would like to meet with you in the Headmasters office tonight. Eight o'clock," she informs me.

I get the feeling that's not all she wants to talk to me about, but I don't comment. When I catch up with Ron and Hermione, I tell them what McGonagall asked. As exams are over for the year, we don't have any major amount of homework, so we visit Harry in the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey informs us he hasn't woken up, so we just sit around him talking. When the time to leave comes around, we head back to Gryffindor Tower. We complete the homework we were given in a much shorter time than normal, and head to dinner a little later. When eight o'clock comes around, I bid goodbye to the two of them, and head to Dumbledore's office. When I enter, I see the both of them are already here.

"Miss Potter," Dumbledore greets. "We'd like to talk to you."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. There should only be two or three chapters left of the first book. Thank you for reading!