THROUGH THE TRAPDOOR
In years to come, Natasha would never quite remember how she had managed to get through her exams,when she half expected Voldemort to come bursting through the door at any moment. Yet the days crept by, and there could be no doubt that Fluffy was still alive and well behind the locked door. It was sweltering hot, especially in the large classroom where they did their written papers. They were given new quills that were cheating proof. Natasha wrote all of her theory exams really well. They even had practical exams. Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. Natasha performed it perfectly, earning a smile from the Professor. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox- points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was, but taken away if it had whiskers. Professor Snape made them to prepare a forgetfulness potion, which Natasha perfected. Earning what looked like an outstanding in the notes of the Professor. Natasha was having her scar get hurt many times during the exam days. This was very unusual as it had happened before only when Professor Quirrel was nearby. Natashakept being woken by her old nightmare, except that it was now worse than ever because there was a hooded figure dripping blood in it. Maybe it was because they hadn't seen what Harry had seen in the forest, or because they didn't have scars burning on their foreheads, but Ron and Hermione didn't seem as worried about the Stone as Natasha. The idea of Voldemort certainly scared them,but he didn't keep visiting them in dreams, and they were so busy with their studying they didn't have much time to fret about what Quirrel or anyone else might be up to. Their very last exam was History of Magic. The exam went smoothly,for Natasha but she was confused about a particular question.
That was far easier than I thought it would be," said Hermione as they joined the crowds flocking out onto the sunny grounds. "I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager." Hermione and Natasha wanted to discuss about the question paper,but Ron said this made him feel ill, so they wandered down to the lake and flopped under a tree. The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were tickling the tentacles of a giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows. "No more studying," Ron sighed happily, stretching out on the grass. "I am feeling very good as, i have got one more week to know how bad I have done in the exams. Natasha was rubbing her forehead. "I wish I knew what this means!" , she burst out angrily. My scar keeps hurting - it's happened before, but never as often as this. "Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested. "I'm not ill," said Natasha. "I think this is a warning for impending danger.". Natasha ,I am sure that the stone is safe. Dumbledore must be doing a good job. As long as he is here at the castle, the stone will be safe. Anyway, we've never had any proof Quirrel found out how to get past Fluffy.",Hermione said. Natasha nodded, but she couldn't shake off a lurking feeling that there was something she'd forgotten to do, something important. Then something sparked in her mind. Natasha suddenly jumped to her feet.
"Where're you going?" said Ron sleepily. "I've just thought of something," said Natasha. She had turned white, "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now.". "Why?" panted Hermione, hurrying to keep up. "Don't you think it's a bit odd," said Natasha, scrambling up the grassy slope, "that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket. How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?". "What are you talking about?" said Ron, but Natasha, sprinting across the grounds toward the forest, didn't answer. Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; his trousers and sleeves were rolled up, and he was shelling peas into a large bowl. "Hullo," he said, smiling. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?". Ron was about to accept it, but Natasha knew she had to hurry. "No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?". "Dunno," said Hagrid casually, "he wouldn' take his cloak off.". He saw the three of them look stunned and raised his eyebrows. "It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head - that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up.",Hagrid said.
"Did you mention about Hogwarts, Hagrid?",Natasha asked. "Mighta come up," said Hagrid, frowning as he tried to remember. Yeah... he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here... He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I took after... so I told him... an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon... an' then... I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks... Let's see... yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted... but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home... So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy...", Hagrid continued. "Did he seem interested in Fluffy?", Natasha asked. "Well - yeah - how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts?", Hagrid said. "So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep -" Hagrid suddenly looked horrified. The trio turned pale. Though unknowingly, Hagrid had divulged the information. "I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" he blurted out. "Forget I said it! Hey - where're yeh goin'?". The trio didn't speak to each other at all until they came to a halt in the entrance hall, which seemed very cold and gloomy after the grounds.
"We've got to go to Dumbledore," said Natasha urgently. "Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Quirrel or Voldemort under that cloak - it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?". The problem was that none of them, had the slightest of idea. "I think we should go to McGonagall. She can say where Dumbledore is.",Hermione said. "Good idea, Hermione.",Natasha said and the trio ran into the staff room. ""What are you three doing inside?" It was Professor McGonagall, with a large pile of books on the table. "We want to see Professor Dumbledore," said Hermione, rather bravely, Natasha and Ron thought. "See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to want to do, "Why?". Natasha had no idea what to say. "It's sort of secret, Professor", she said, but she wished at once she hadn't, because Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared. "Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she said coldly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once.". Natasha was shocked, she knew this was trouble. "He's gone?" said Natasha frantically. "Now?". "Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Natasha, he has many demands on his time - ". "This is really important!",Natasha said. "Is this more important than ministry work, Natasha?",Professor asked. "It's about the Sorcerer's stone!",Hermione said. Whatever Professor McGonagall had expected, it wasn't that. The books she was carrying tumbled out of her arms, but she didn't pick them up.
"H-How do you know about the stone?",the Professor asked. "Professor, I think - I know - that Qu- that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore!" She eyed her with a mixture of shock and suspicion. Natasha knew that ,it was difficult to make her believe it. "Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow," she said finally. "I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected.". Natasha's heart sank. She could see that even Ron and Hermione mirrored her expression. "But Professor, Please believe us!",Hermione pleaded. "Ms Granger, I know what I'm talking about," she said shortly. She bent down and gathered up the fallen books. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine. They knew they had lost the battle, and they went out of the staff room. "We need to go through the trapdoor now! I am sure that Quirrel must have already gone.",Natasha said. "Will you both come with me? I am surely going to need help.". "Of course, Natasha. We will come with you.", Ron and Hermione said. Natasha was really happy with her friends. She knew that she could trust them. "We can't go now Natasha, someone will try and stop us. We need to go at night.",Hermione said. "Even Quirrel will not dare to do it at daytime. I am sure that he will wait till the night falls.". Natasha nodded and said,"Good thing that I got my invisibility cloak back.". Natasha had got it back the day after the incident in the forest. "We can use it to go there tonight.".
After dinner the three of them sat nervously apart in the common room. Nobody bothered them; none of the Gryffindors had anything to say to Harry any more, after all. Hermione and Natasha was skimming through all their notes, hoping to come across one of the enchantments they were about to try to break. Natasha went to take her cloak, when all the people went to sleep. She also took the flute,to use it on the three headed dog. "We'd better put the cloak on here, and make sure it covers all three of us - if Filch spots one of our feet wandering along on its own -",Natasha said. "What are you doing?" said a voice from the corner of the room. Neville appeared from behind an armchair, clutching Trevor the toad, who looked as though he'd been making another bid for freedom. "Neville, we can explain everything. But we cannot do it now. There is something urgent to be done.",Natasha said. "You're going out again," he said. "Neville, please, we have to do it now.",Ron said. Natasha knew they cannot waste any more time. Quirrel must be getting closer to the stone, as they were wasting more time. "I won't let you do it," he said, hurrying to stand in front of the portrait hole. "I'll - I'll fight you!". "Neville, "Ron exploded, "get away from that hole and don't be an idiot -". "Don't you call me an idiot!" said Neville. "I don't think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!". "Neville," Hermione said, "I'm really, really sorry about this." She raised her wand. "Petrificus Totalus!" she cried, pointing it at Neville. Neville fell on to the floor, unable to move. Natasha knew it was the full body bind charm.
Hermione ran to turn him over. Neville's jaws were jammed together so he couldn't speak. Only his eyes were moving, looking at them in horror. "Oh, Neville, I'm so sorry.",Natasha and Hermione said. "You'll understand later, Neville," said Ron as they stepped over him and pulled on the invisibility cloak. At the foot of the first set of stairs, they spotted Mrs. Norris skulking near the top. "As they climbed carefully around her, Mrs. Norris turned her lamp-like eyes on them, but didn't do anything. They didn't meet anyone else, for the rest of their walk. They saw that the door was already open. Seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress upon all three of them what was facing them. Natasha pushed the door open. As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met their ears. All three of the dog's noses sniffed madly in their direction, even though it couldn't see them. They saw that there was already a harp playing in the room, and deduced that Quirrel must have left it there. "It must wake up the moment you stop playing," said Natasha. "Well, here goes...". She started playing the flute, and the beast slowly went to sleep.
"Keep playing," Ron warned Natasha as they slipped out of the cloak and crept toward the trapdoor. They could feel the dog's hot, smelly breath as they approached the giant heads. "I think we'll be able to pull the door open," said Ron, peering over the dog's back. "Want to go first, Hermione?". Hermione stared at Ron angrily, so Ron agreed to go first. He bent and pulled the ring of the trapdoor, which swung up and open. He jumped into the darkness below. "We have a really soft landing down here.",said Ron' voice. Natasha and Hermione were relieved. Then Natasha passed the flute to Hermione and she jumped. With a funny, muffled sort of thump she landed on something soft. She sat up and felt around, her eyes not used to the gloom. It felt as though she was sitting on some sort of plant. Within seconds Hermione joined them. "We must be miles under the school," she said. "Hermione, is this plant what i think it is?",Natasha asked. "Lucky this plant thing's here, really," said Ron. "Lucky?" shrieked Hermione. "Look at you!". Natasha's worst fears were confirmed. "This is the Devil's snare isn't it?",Natasha asked. "Yes, Natasha it is.",Hermione said. Ron turned pale. Natasha leapt up and struggled toward a damp wall. She had to struggle because the moment she had landed, the plant had started to twist snakelike tendrils around her ankles. Even Hermione and Ron were in same position. Natasha and Hermione managed to free themselves a little. But Ron was still struggling. "Stop moving!" Hermione ordered Ron. "Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" said Hermione. "Hermione, I think the plant hates, light. Both your hands are free. Can you start a small fire?",Natasha asked. "Yes - of course - but there's no wood!" Hermione cried, wringing her hands. "HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?". "Oh, right!" said Hermione, and she whipped out her wand, waved it, muttered something, and sent a jet of the same bluebell flames she had used on Snape at the plant.
In a matter of seconds, the three of them felt it loosening its grip as it cringed away from the light and warmth. Wriggling and flailing, it unraveled itself from their bodies, and they were able to pull free. "Yeah," said Ron, "and lucky Natasha doesn't lose her head in a crisis - 'there's no wood,' honestly.". Natasha pointed them to the next hallway, and they started going. All they could hear apart from their footsteps was the gentle drip of water trickling down the walls. The passageway sloped downward, and Harry was reminded of Gringotts. With an unpleasant jolt of the heart, he remembered the dragons said to be guarding vaults in the wizards' bank. If they met a dragon, a fully-grown dragon - Norbert had been bad enough... "Can you hear something?" Ron whispered. Natasha listened. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead. "Do you think it's a ghost?". Natasha knew it was not. "I think it sounds like wings.",Natasha said. They reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door. "Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" said Ron. "I don't think so, Ron. Look at those things, they look like keys. I think one of them opens up to the next room.",Hermione said. "Hermione's right, they are keys.",Natasha said. "But how do we get it?",Ron asked. "... yes - look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!", Natasha said. "We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one - probably silver, like the handle.", Hermione said.
"They each seized a broomstick and kicked off into the air, soaring into the midst of the cloud of keys. They grabbed and snatched, but the bewitched keys darted and dived so quickly it was almost impossible to catch one. Natasha spotted the key fast and rushed towards it. Natasha leaned forward and with a nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone with one hand. Ron and Hermione's cheers echoed around the high chamber. They landed quickly, and Natasha ran to the door, the key struggling in her hand. She rammed it into the lock and turned - it worked. The moment the lock had clicked open, the key took flight again, looking very battered now that it had been caught twice. "Ready?",Natasha asked the other two, her hand on the door handle. They nodded. She pulled the door open. The next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anything at all. But as they stepped into it, light suddenly flooded the room to reveal an astonishing sight. They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were the white pieces. Natasha, Ron and Hermione shivered slightly - the towering white chessmen had no faces.
"Now what do we do?",Hermione whispered. "It's obvious, isn't it?" said Ron. "We've got to play our way across the room. Natasha,we both will direct the pieces.". Natasha nodded but said,"You do it, Ron. You have more experience than me.". "I think," said Ron, "we're going to have to be chessmen.". He walked up to a black knight and put his hand out to touch the knight's horse. At once, the stone sprang to life. The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned his helmeted head to look down at Ron. "Do we - er - have to join you to get across?" The black knight nodded. Ron turned to the other two. "This needs thinking about," he said. "I suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces...". Natasha and Hermione stayed quiet, watching Ron think. "Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, You stand next to him instead of that castle.", Ron said. "What about you?",Natasha said. "I'm going to be a knight," said Ron. The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these words a knight, a bishop, and a castle turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the board, leaving three empty squares that Natasha, Ron, and Hermione took. "White always plays first in chess," said Ron, peering across the board. "Yes... look..." A white pawn had moved forward two squares. Ron started to direct the black pieces. They moved silently wherever he sent them.
Natasha watched the game closely, and was trying to figure out what Ron's plan was. Their first real shock came when their other knight was taken. The white queen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board, where he lay quite still, facedown. "Had to let that happen," said Ron, looking shaken. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on.". Every time one of their men was lost, the white pieces showed no mercy. Soon there was a huddle of limp black players slumped along the wall. After many moves Natasha knew of a move by which they could win, but was hesitant to do it,as he had to sacrifice himself. Natasha was not sure what the consequences will be. "Yes..." said Ron softly, "It's the only way... I've got to be taken.". Natasha was horrified. "No! Please don't do it!",Natasha cried. "There has got to be another way!". Tears were falling from Natasha's eyes now. Even Hermione was crying. "That's chess!" snapped Ron. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me - that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Natasha.!". Natasha wanted to argue more, but Ron said,"Do you want to stop Quirrel or not? Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone!" There is no alternative.".
"Ready?" Ron called, his face pale but determined. "Here I go - now, don't hang around once you've won." He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard across the head with her stone arm, and he crashed to the floor - Hermione and Natasha screamed but stayed on their squares - the white queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as if he'd been knocked out. Shaking, Natasha moved three spaces to the left. The white king took off his crown and threw it at Natasha's feet. They had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. With one last desperate look back at Ron, Natasha and Hermione charged through the door and up the next passageway. Natasha still had tears in her eyes, and felt bad about leaving Ron there. But she knew she did not have much time.
She pulled open the next door, both of them hardly daring to look at what came next - but there was nothing very frightening in there, just a table with seven differently shaped bottles standing on it in a line. " Professor Snape's",Natasha said. They stepped over the threshold, and immediately a fire sprang up behind them in the doorway. It wasn't ordinary fire either; it was purple. At the same instant, black flames shot up in the doorway leading onward. They were trapped. "Look!" Hermione seized a roll of paper lying next to the bottles. Harry looked over her shoulder to read it:
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, which ever 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 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.
Natasha knew she nearly solved the riddle. Hermione also must have thought the same as she had a smile on her face. "Brilliant," said Hermione. "This isn't magic - it's logic - a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic, they'd be stuck in here forever.". "I know, Hermione. It is really simple.",Natasha smiled."The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire - toward the Stone.", Natasha looked at the tiny bottle. "There's only enough there for one of us," he said. "That's hardly one swallow." They looked at each other. "You drink the one at the right end of the line," said Natasha. "No, listen, get back and get Ron. Grab brooms from the flying-key room, they'll get you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy - go straight to the Owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him. I might be able to hold Quirrel off for a while, but I'm no match for him, really.". "Natasha, I think you are a really brilliant witch. Sometimes even I am jealous of you.",Hermione said,she had tears in her eyes. "You drink first," said Natasha. "Be careful.",Hermione said and drank the potion. Hermione turned and walked straight through the purple fire. Natsha took a deep breath and picked up the smallest bottle. She turned to face the black flames. "Here I come," ,she said, and she drained the little bottle in one gulp. It was indeed as though ice was flooding her body. She put the bottle down and walked forward; she braced himself, saw the black flames licking his body, but couldn't feel them - for a moment she could see nothing but dark fire - then she was on the other side, in the last chamber. As expected someone was already present at the chamber.