They were done with exams and were walking outside.
"I always thought Hogwarts exams would be frightful. But, I found that rather enjoyable." Hermione said.
"Speak for yourself, alright there Harry?" Ron asked.
"My scar, keeps burning!" he said.
"Perhaps you should see the nurse." Ron said.
"I think it's a warning, think it means danger's coming. Ah." he said.
Then they say Hagrid playing his flute.
"Oh, of course." Harry said.
"What?" Neville asked and sped up with him.
"Don't you think it's a bit odd that Hagrid always wanted a dragon. Then someone comes and just happens to have one? Why didn't I see it before?" he said.
"Hagrid!" Harry said.
He looked up.
"Who gave you the dragon egg, what did he look like? Surely he must have talked."
"Well he'd asked me how I like kreacher. He wanted to know how to take care of Fluffy." he said.
"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Neville asked.
"Of course he was interested in Fluffy, who wouldn't be if they run across a three headed dog? I told him the is to know how to calm it. Take Fluffy for example, just play him music and he'll fall strait to sleep!"
They looked at each other.
"Shouldn't have told ya that. Where you going? Wait!"
They ran to McGonagall and found her in her office.
"We have to see Professor Dumbledore, immediately!" Harry said.
She looked up. "I'm afraid Professor Dumbledore is not here, he received and errant owl from the ministry and immediately left for London."
"He's gone? Now? But this is important, this is about the sorcerer's stone!" he said.
"How do know?" McGonagall said shocked.
"Someone's going to try and steal it!"
"I don't know how you four found out about the stone but I assure you it is perfectly well protected. Now why don't you go back to your dormitories, quietly." she said.
So they left and headed to their common room.
"That person had to be someone from school." Harry said.
"And with Dumbledore gone-" Hermione started.
"Good afternoon. Now what would four young Griffindor's be doing inside, on a day like this?" Snape said.
"Ah, we, we were just-" Hermione started.
"Best be careful. People will think you're," he turned and looked at Harry and Tracey. "Up to something."
Then he left and Harry saw the same thing he saw at the forest.
"Now what do we do?" Hermione asked.
Harry turned around and looked at Neville, Ron and Hermione.
"Go to the trap door, tonight."
Later that night they were headed to the third floor under the invisibility cloak. When they got there Hermione took out her wand.
"Alohalora." she said.
When it opened they got inside and heard something.
"Wait a minute, he's, snoring." Harry said. Then the invisibility cloak flew off of them. "Who ever's after the stone's already been here. Put a spell on the harp."
"Ulg, it has horrible breath." Ron said.
"We have to move it's paw." Harry said.
"What?" Ron said.
"Come on!" Tracey said.
So they pushed his hand the best they could.
"I'll go first, if something bad happens, get yourselves out. Does it seem a bit, quiet to you?" Harry said.
"The harp, it stopped playing." Hermione said.
Suddenly Ron's shoulder was wet. "Ulg, yuck!" he said.
"Ulg." Harry said then looked up. "JUMP!"
While they did that Fluffy barked and biting his teeth.
They were yelling for a second and fell.
"Woa, lucky this plants here really." Ron said.
Suddenly they started moving.
"Woa!" Harry said."
"Stop, this is devils snare, you have to relax. If you don't, it'll only kill you faster." Neville said.
"Kill us faster? Oh now I can relax!" Ron said.
Suddenly Neville and Hermione started to fall.
"Hermione!" Harry and Ron yelled.
"Now what are we gonna do?" Ron asked.
"Just relax!" Hermione yelled.
"Hermione, Neville where are you?" Harry asked.
"Do what I say, trust me." she said.
So Harry calmed down and started to fall.
"AHH, Harry!" Ron yelled.
"You OK?" Hermione asked while they stood up.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Harry said.
They heard Ron yelling help me.
"He's not relaxing is he?" Neville asked.
"Patently not." Harry said.
"I remember reading something in herbology, devils snare, devils snare. Deadly fun," Hermione started.
"But will sulk in the sun!" Neville said.
"Lumos Hermès!" Hermione said.
Then light appeared and let Ron down.
"Ahh!" he yelled.
"Ron you OK?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, wo, lucky we didn't panic." he said.
They all looked at him.
"Lucky Hermione pays attention in herbology and Neville is great at it." Harry said.
"What is that?" Hermione asked when they heard something.
"Sounds like wings." Harry said.
When they got to the next door they saw things flying.
"Curious, I've never seen birds like these." Hermione said.
"They're not birds," Harry started.
"They're keys. And I'll bet one of them fits that door." Harry finished.
Then they saw a broom stick and Harry studied it for a second.
"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked.
Then he looked at his friends.
"It's to simple."
"Oh go on Harry, If whoever it is can catch it on a broom stick you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century!" Ron said.
So he took out his hand and put it on the broom. While he got on keys started to fly at him.
"This complicates things a bit." Ron said.
"You think?" Neville said.
Harry looked around and saw it. While he tried to get it he was covered in keys. Finally he got it in his hand.
"Catch the key!" he yelled and let go.
"Got it!" Neville said.
While he tried to open it Harry kept the keys busy.
"Hurry up!" Ron said.
Then he finally got it. When Neville, Hermione and Ron were in the next room Harry flew quickly and Hermione shut the door.
"What is that, a graveyard?" Harry said.
"This is no graveyard, it's a chess board." Ron said.
"There's the door." Harry said.
So they walked across the board but were cut off by a few pawns.
"Now what do we do?" Hermione asked.
"It's obvious isn't it? We have to play away across the room." Ron started. Then he looked at his friends. "Harry, you take the empty bishop square, Hermione you'll be the queen side castle, Neville take the king side pawn. As for me, I'll be a knight."
So they headed to the place they were told.
"What happens now?" Neville asked.
"Well, white moves first. Then, we play." Ron said.
Then a pawn started to move.
"Ron, you don't suppose this supposed to be like, real wizard chess, do you?" Hermione asked.
He thought for a second and said, "You there, D5!"
When it got there it was destroyed by the other pawn. They all jumped.
"Yes Hermione, I think it's going to be, exactly like wizard chess." he answered. Harry, Neville and Hermione looked at him.
"Castle to E4!" Ron yelled.
Then it destroyed the white knight.
"Pawn to C3!" he yelled next.
Throughout the game Harry, Neville and Hermione would jump. Harry was getting scratches and Neville was getting bruised.
Finally Harry saw what was happening next.
"Wait a minute."
"You understand right Harry, once I take my move, the queen will take me. Then you're free to check the king." Ron said.
"No, Ron no!" Harry yelled.
"What is it?" Neville asked worried.
"He's going to sacrifice himself."
"No you can't, there must be another way!" Hermione yelled.
"You wanna stop them from getting that stone or not? Harry, It's you that has to go on, I know it! Not me, not Hermione, you!"
He nodded. Then Ron called out his move.
"Knight to H3." So he headed to his spot. "Check."
Then the queen came and got him.
"RON!" Harry yelled.
And Hermione started to move towards him.
"No! Don't move, don't forget, we're still playing." he said and she nodded.
So Harry started to head to the king.
"Check mate!"
Then the King dropped his sword and the three of them ran to Ron to check on him.
"Take care of Ron, Neville go to the owlry, send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right, I have to go on." Harry said.
"You'll be OK guys, you're a great witch and wizard, you really are." Hermione said.
"Not as good as you."
She laughed.
"Books and cleverness. There are more important things. Friendship, bravery. And Harry just be careful."
He nodded and split up.