The weeks leading up to final exams Professor Quirrell seemed to be getting paler. Try as Abby might to trust Snape she was having trouble believing in him. She had gone completely over board that her mind was putting stories together. At one-point Abby convinced herself Snape wanted Quirrell to get the stone, so he could revive Voldemort. Hermione of course shot this idea down by pointing out he cared too much for her.
When Abby woke up the next morning she found a note on her bedside table with her invisibility cloak. It read:
Keep it with you. Just in case.
As the exams came and went Abby was just as nervous as anyone to take them. Hermione was another story all together. She had gone completely mental about the exams. The last exam of the day was Potions. Abby was not looking forward to it. A whole hour stuck in a classroom with Snape. As Snape told everyone what to make each student set to work. He swept in between work station after work station checking in on the students. The hardest part was not telling the students to pay attention to their potion. Once the students finished or got as close as they could by the time the exam was up vials appeared in front of them.
The students were leaving when Snape called for Abby. "Yes Professor?" "I know you know about fluffy and the trap door, but I am asking you as a favor not to go near there tonight under no circumstances alright," said Snape. Abby never answered just ran out of the classroom. Hermione, Ron, and Draco were waiting for her. "So, what did he want?" asked Hermione. "It's Snape he is after the Stone and I think he's going after it tonight," said Abby.
"Relax Abby the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around," said Hermione. "Well what if he isn't?" "If it will put you at ease lets go find a teacher to find Professor Dumbledore for us," said Draco. She nodded as they went to the closest classroom. The first three were empty, but the next one held Professor McGonagall. They approached the Scottish witch carefully. As she looked up at to see the four McGonagall looked at each of the sternly.
"What can I help you four with?"
"Can we see Professor Dumbledore please?" asked Hermione politely. "I'm sorry, but Professor Dumbledore has left and likely won't be back until tomorrow." The looks on their faces was utter terror as they ran out of the classroom. "That's it then he is planning on stealing the stone tonight," said Abby. "So, what do we do?" asked Draco. "We go down the trap door tonight"
They rest of the day seemed to drag by. When dinner was finally over the four went to Blackstarks' common room to wait for Ten P.M. to roll around. When at last all the students had cleared the dorm, Abby came back only to find Fred Weasley. "Fred what are you doing?" asked Ron. "I could ask you the same thing Ron, Hermione, Abby, and Draco," said Fred. "Fred it doesn't concern you," said Abby. The four started to leave when Fred grabbed Abbys' wrist and pulled her into a hug. "I don't know what you're doing, but I know whatever it is you have to do it. Just promise me that you will come back to us safely," said Fred. Abby nodded and hugged him back.
The four put the invisibility cloak on and headed over to the door that held Fluffy. They pulled the cloak off and Abby turned to the other three. "I understand if you guys don't want to come. I don't want to pressure you." "Honestly Abigail we've stuck with you this far we will stay with you until the end," said Draco. She nodded and pushed the door open to reveal a sleeping dog. The sleeping dog though wasn't as big as they remembered in fact, it seemed that Snape had shrunk Fluffy.
The four pulled the trap door up since there was no need to worry about the dog they all jumped right down and landed on something soft. Looking around they could see it was a plant. "What is this stuff?" asked Abby. "Devils Snare. Stay relaxed if it's a test like I think it is we will fall through," said Hermione. Both girls relaxed and fell through, but the moment that happened the boys started to freak out. "Why can't boys just do what I say for once," sighed Hermione.
"I don't know, but do you know how to help them?"
Yes, give me a moment. Lumos Solum!"
Draco and Ron fell through to the ground. After making sure there wasn't any sprains the four moved on. As they walked they heard what sounded like wings. Draco entered the room first and stopped dead in his tracks "What is it Draco?" "Flying Keys," he said. They moved around him and looked around. "Do you think we'll have to catch one of them?" asked Ron. "I don't think that will be necessary. Look," said Hermione. She had pointed at the door on the other side which was opened. Moving on the next room was simple. It held four different objects on a table along with a note. It read:
Here are four objects only one correct order will allow you to pass. The greatest invention of the muggles is the telephone. Place in the correct order they were invented. If you fail, you will be blasted back to the beginning.
"How are we supposed to know what is first?" asked Draco.
Abby and Hermione burst out laughing. "What?" "It's so simple Draco we lived in the muggle world this was part of our history," said Hermione. She quickly set to work pulling each one off the pedestal. The first one to be placed was the original one before telephone the telegraph, then the original telephone, next the spin dial telephone, and lastly the first cell phone. They head a door click and ran through the door, but the moment they did they wished they hadn't. Standing before them was a troll. "What do we do now?" asked Abby. Abigail you and Hermione get to the next room we have to stop Snape. Ron and I will take care of the troll." "But…" began Abby. "GO!" they both shouted. Hermione and Abby ran to the next room as Draco and Ron distracted the troll only to be trapped by fire.
"This has to be Snapes' look. There was a piece of parchment rolled up next to a line of bottles it read:
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting bidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
As Hermione set out to figure out the riddle Abby stared at the door noticing a small engraving on the door. She decided to inspect the door, but as she neared it her charm bracelet lit up and the fire disappeared. "Hermione come on!" Hermione looked up surprised but ran after Abby. They entered the biggest chamber yet, but Snape wasn't the one who was waiting for them.