Harry's mood got worse, once he was down the trapdoor, along with the two Gryffindors. Allies, he corrected, though he wanted to throw them into the next trap he could find. In the next room were flying keys. And brooms. Harry's eyes slitted at that. Was this something that Hooch had come up with? At any rate, what kind of a task was it when two of three first years could get past?

The next challenge was chess. Harry sighed. It was almost as if they were trying to make this EASY for three first years. No. For the three first years that were here. Harry felt a sudden swoop of dread in his stomach.

Ron had stepped onto the chessboard, before Harry could say a word. When Hermione went to join Ron, Harry's arm barred the way. "It's a trap," Harry spoke quietly.

"Admiral Ackbar!" Hermione gasped. Her eyes weren't nearly as merry as the quip warranted.

Harry's green, somber eyes found her, "We'll fly across."

"And what, leave me here?" Ron said, trying and failing to get off the board.

"You fell into the trap." Harry said, "I'm sorry mate, but at least it isn't spiders."

And that, as Harry had expected, did the trick. Harry hurriedly flew Hermione across the chessboard and into the next room.

In turn, it was empty, but stunk of troll. Harry made sure to close the door to Ron's room, no matter his protests. Then Hermione and himself started casting spells at the doorway.

Nothing.

Tentatively, they approached, and then entered, hand in hand. Harry didn't want to admit how clammy his hand was. Nerves.

Suddenly, fire erupted, from the doorway in front of them - black fire. And Harry felt a distressing heat from behind them. He whirled, looking into the purple fire.

We're trapped.

Hermione, meanwhile, had approached the table. "It's a riddle!"

"Do we trust whomever wrote it?" Harry said, "Or that Quirrel hasn't rewritten it?"

"What other choice do we have?" Hermione said, already reading it. "Besides, only two of the seven are poison."

"We could, I don't know, just wait for help. Three missing students should cause some alarm, eventually." Harry said, sighing. He already knew that his protest wouldn't work. If he'd actually thought it would, he'd have made it earlier. Cautious Hermione might be, but she was also stupidly brave. At least the mention of poison means someone probably hasn't tampered with the riddle.

[a/n: Harry was going to let Ron have his moment in the sun. And then he remembered it was Wizard's Chess. Unhurt ron hurt ron. Leave a review!]