Chapter 13: philosopher's stone

Harry had a sickening feeling it was true, and he needed to find his brother, he was not about to lose Draco for anything They were more then brothers, they were each other's best friends since they were five years old, and he would not lose him now. He knew he was not allowed up there, and had no idea what he would face, but he needed to go, Draco would do the same for him. He should have gone for his Uncles, but he wasn't sure there was time; he had no idea who had his brother

The twins saw his look, and knew he was going, and also knew he would try to send them for help. Harry could not go alone, besides they would not be left out of all the fun either, and they would be going with him.

They drew straws before he could argue, and Fred won. "I am coming with you, George will go for help."

Harry knew better then to argue. "Head to the dungeons and get my Uncles, tell them what is happening."

If George thought it was odd he called the men Uncles, even after only Christmas and Easter, he said nothing about it. The twins always had a sense there was more to Harry then they knew, but he was cool by them, and they would help. Fred did not mind going into the restricted area, they had been looking for a way to sneak in there and see what it was, and Harry was the best reason. The fact their prat of a brother was involved in what ever this was, was even more incentive.

They found a door and they knew they needed to go through, holding their breath as they did, not knowing what was waiting. They both looked in terror at a huge three headed dog but he seemed asleep, but before they backed out, they noticed a trapdoor open and headed for it.

Fred looked around when they landed. "This place stinks."

Harry looked around. "He used fire instead of light. Who ever has Draco, is lucky he did not kill them both"

As they made their way Harry had the sick sense it was even more of a trap, the different defences were not bypassed, and they had been obliterated. The troll was dead, the wings on the only keys not in the door, were shattered, and the giant chess pieces had been blown up. Who ever had Draco, wanted to make it easy for Harry to follow, and he was starting to think they should turn around, and wait for his Uncles. He had come too far, and when Fred knew he was thinking of sending his friend back to safety, he refused, he was not about to leave Harry alone down here.

They found a table of potions bottles, but before they had to read the riddle, Harry saw the flames were frozen. The two shared one last look, before they went through the flames, and they both knew there was no turning back.

Harry was shocked when he saw Draco, pinned to some kind of column, relieved he was conscious. "Draco."

Draco spotted them and called. "Harry get out of here now. Now."

Too late, Harry dodged a curse, but Fred was floored by a full body bind. Before Harry could react, he found himself snagged, and he found himself face to face with the most unlikely of people, Professor Quirell. He had never liked the man before, he stunk among other things, but Harry never thought he was a danger like this.

The man pointed a wand at his neck. "I knew you would come, for your little friend, over there. You are far too noble for your own good."

Harry tried to pull away from him."I don't know what you want, but don't hurt them."

The man who had lost his stutter simply laughed, and forced Harry over to some odd mirror, which all the defences seemed to be for. The man demanded Harry look into the mirror and see what he could, and Harry was confused, all he saw was Viktor and him, and their families. The man was irate and kept screaming at him, Harry looking at his brother and Fred, wishing he knew what the man wanted from him.

The man pointed his wand at Draco and hit him with a cruciatus."You find it boy, you find me that stone. Or your little friends will pay."

Harry jumped between his brother and the next curse, and he went down to his knees in pain. "Stop this. I don't know what you want."

The man turned his wand on Harry intentionally this time and Harry felt fire run through his arm, as the man cast a severing charm at his chest. The man had summoned Harry's wand, but he forgot he sent Draco's. Harry knew using someone else's wand was never a good thing but as the man walked towards his brother, threatening to slit Draco's throat, he knew he had to try. He would risk it, to save his brother.

"No." Harry shouted and sent a stunner at the man, but passed out from the backlash of the wand.

Harry slowly started to come around, not sure what happened, but wishing he was back asleep. His body ached all over, and when he tried to open his eyes, the entire world seemed to spin, and he had to close them, or he surely would have been sick. Memories came flooding back to him, and fear for his brother and Fred flooded through him, and he desperately tried to sit up. He did not register he was in a soft bed, all he could think of was what happened, and the other two.

A set of hands were on him and were trying to make him lay back down, but he could not see who, and his panic was growing ten fold. He fought the hands, especially when he felt a bottle to his lips, not knowing what would happen, but was scared what would happen.

His Uncle Severus' voice calmed him. "You're safe Harry, come on prince, calm down. Take the potion, it will help."

Harry let himself be lowered back. "Uncle Sev?"

He allowed himself to be fed the potion, and helped with his glasses, and he realized he was in a bed in the infirmary. Albus and Minerva were there, but his dads and the Weasleys as well, and though very shaken, Draco and Fred were perched on the next bed.

Albus spoke. "The other two told us what happened down there. It was foolish for you boys to go alone, but you saved the school."

Sirius kissed him on the head. "It turns out the man was a Death Eater, and he was after the stone. He has been sent to prison."

Though Albus didn't look like he wanted them to know, the boys were told about the stone, even Minerva agreed after all of this, they deserved to know. The stone had been destroyed, Albus convinced it was too dangerous, and Quirell was looking at a black cell, for life. The three boys were awarded 50 house points each, and since they had been excused from the last of their finals, it seemed they were all going home.

Molly came over to Harry. "My sons assure me you tried to send them both back many times. And you protected Fred. Thank you.'

Harry shook his head. "I was the reason he was there."

The couple assured him they knew the twins too well, and would have gone one way or another, they were too much like her brothers. He had successfully stunned the man, but not a bad blow, but it was enough time for his Uncles to come. Harry had been out for over a day, from blood loss, the cruciatus, and using Draco's wand.

Lucius was relieved. "You boys will come home this afternoon. You would be in no shape for the feast, and I want you home."

Albus shook his head. "Harry needs to recover, and he should be at the feast. Besides we have not discussed this summer."

They ignored him, and had Poppy check Harry over, so he could be released into their care. The man actually believed that he could have Harry sent back to the muggles, but he was a fool, their son was going no where but home. Albus was done keeping them apart.

Sirius handed him forms when Harry was released. "We adopted our godson. He will be going home with us, where he always belonged."