The rain had now replaced the snow, and spring had sprung. Hermione was doing a bit of light reading, so she called it, when she found something intriguing she thought the others would want to see. The others all came to her immediately and were quite curious when she mentioned Nicholas Flamel and something called the Philosopher's Stone. Suddenly, it all made sense to Harry. He remembered seeing Nicholas Flamel as Dumbledore's partner on his first chocolate frog card. "This philosopher's stone must be what was under the trap door," he told the others, "Dumbledore did work with Flamel, didn't he?" The others remembered this too, and resolved to do something about it.
The next day, there was a quidditch game, and it was Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff, with Gryffindor taking the victory, to the delight of everyone. Oddly enough, Mr. Snape of all people had been refereeing. Speaking of him, he snuck away that evening from dinner. Harry and friends noticed immediately and went after him, keeping a safe distance until Snape reached a clearing. Mr. Quirrell was there too.
"I don't know why you wanted to meet here of all places, Mr. Snape." Quirrell stammered, clearly frightened as all hell. "Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," replied Snape coolly, "After all, the children aren't to know about the philosopher's stone being kept here. Have you found out how to get past Cerberus yet?" "But Mr. Snape, I…" "You don't want me as your enemy, Mr. Quirrell," said Snape menacingly. "But I don't…" "Very well, we'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your true loyalties lie," Snape concluded, and away he went.
"Let me get this straight," muttered Enid, "it IS the philosopher's stone they're after? Snape's trying to blackmail Quirrell into helping him get it?" "That's what we've heard, isn't it?" answered Maud. "There is most definitely something else guarding the stone apart from Cerberus," speculated Mildred, "likely enchantments and puzzles and things of the sort." "Whelp, I know what we're doing over the next few days," decided Ron. They were going to try and beat Snape to the Philosopher's Stone.