Chapter Eight
A/N: I OWN NOTHING AND I'M STILL ALIVE!
Simba whirled around to see Professor McGonagall in the doorway.
"Professor McGonagall!" he exclaimed. "I didn't see you."
He got ready for the points she was going to take off of Gryffindor, but to his surprise they never came.
"It's the holidays," McGonagall said. "Funny thing about the holidays is that points can not be taken for rule breaking. School is not in session."
Simba gave her a small smile, which he thought he saw her return. Going back to the tower, Simba hoped his nightmares would not return. Without the mirror, he had nothing to prevent it.
"Password?" the Fat Lady asked.
"Pride," Simba responded. The portrait swung open and Simba hopped onto one of the near by couches. He didn't remember falling asleep but he woke up to the face of his brother.
"Didn't hear you come up last night," Harry said, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Yeah, slept down here," Simba shrugged. He hated that it was so awkward now with Harry but it was better that they were apart now rather when his brother found out that he had caused the death of his own father.
"Wish you hadn't," Harry said with a small smile. "Look Simba, I'm sorry I that I haven't spent much time with you. I just don't want to drive away Ron and Hermione."
"So you'd rather drive me away?" Simba asked. Harry shook his head violently.
"No Simba!" Harry said, getting down to Simba's level. "You're my brother. You were there when I was seven; terrified that Timon was going to reject me after I caused him to levitate. I'll never drive you away. "
Simba looked at Harry with hopeful eyes.
"You mean that?" Simba asked.
"No, I'm just taking out my rear end," Harry snorted. "Of course I mean that."
Simba grinned and nuzzled Harry's head.
"Thanks little brother," he said. "You know, that was almost mature of you."
Harry started and then chased Simba around the common room, which is how Ron found them three hours later.
"I don't want to know," Ron shook his head; glad that his friend had worked out whatever issues he had with his brother. It was an odd relationship, Ron had to admit. But Harry was his friend, so was Simba.
"Hey," Harry said with excitement, "why don't we fill Simba in on what we've found out about Flamel?"
"You mean nothing?" Ron asked.
"You two are worse than newborns at times," Simba said, shaking his head in amusement.
"Thanks!" Harry grinned, knowing that it wasn't a compliment.
"You are so weird," Simba said in a deadpanned voice. Ron snorted in amusement.
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It turned out that Harry had also discovered that mirror, as he told Simba that night as they went to bed.
"It's the Mirror of Erised," he said.
"The mirror of what?"
"Erised," Harry said. "It shows us what we most desire."
"Oh," Simba said and in a way that sort of made sense. Then again, what did he know? He was just a lion in a world he didn't understand. "So, what did you see?"
Harry hesitated, and then sighed. "My parents," he said with a faint smile. "I saw my mum and dad."
Simba didn't know how to feel about that. While he was glad that his brother had seen his parents, he also felt sad for an unknown reason. He fell asleep before Harry could ask him what he had seen. He wished he hadn't though. His nightmares returned, making him seem more ragged than he really was.
"Simba?" Harry asked the night before the start of term. "You sleep alright last night?"
"Yeah," Simba nodded. He wished though that he had the mirror. Harry frowned but set his head on the pillow. Simba hopped off the bed and looked out the window. Looking at the stars, he said softly "Good night father."
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Term moved on quickly and although both Ron and Hermione were surprised at Simba joining them, they weren't opposed to it.
"So just how do you eat grubs?" Hermione asked when Harry told her. "I thought lions needed to eat meat?"
"It's good," Simba shrugged. "Besides, Timon and Pumbaa eat it, so I don't see why I shouldn't. Harry does it too."
Hermione turned on Harry, causing him to groan. "Thanks Simba!"
"Any time," Simba said with a smirk, shaking the bit of red mane out of his eyes.
"How can your body support the grubs in your system? That's got to be very unhealthy for you, did you get vegetables as well?"
"Hermione, breathe!" Harry said, mimicking said movement. "I've been eating grubs since I was five; I doubt it could damage me now."
Hermione sighed and was going to retort when the portrait hole opened and Neville hopped in. Literally hopped as his legs were glued together.
"Neville!" Hermione exclaimed and preformed the counter curse. "What happened?"
"Malfoy," Neville sighed and Simba growled. He honestly couldn't stand that ferrety looking boy.
"Go to Professor McGonagall!" Hermione urged. "Report him!"
"I don't want trouble," Neville muttered and Simba scoffed. How would making his life easier be making trouble?
"You've got to stand up to him Neville," Ron said. "He's used to walking over people, so don't make it easier by lying down like a doormat!"
That could have been phrased better, Simba frowned as Neville seemed to grow even more distraught.
"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough for Gryffindor," he almost squeaked. "Malfoy's already done that!"
Harry leaned forward and gave Neville something. "You're worth twelve of Malfoy," he said. "The Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor and where is he? In Stinking Slytherin."
"T-thanks Harry," Neville smiled. "Do you want the card?"
Neville walked off and Harry looked at the card.
"Dumbledore," Harry shrugged. "He was the first one I ever…"
He trailed off, and looked at the card in amazement.
"Mate?" Ron asked.
"I found him!" Harry exclaimed and both Ron and Hermione crowded around the card. Sure enough, Nicholas Flamel was written on the card.
"Wait here!" Hermione said as she jumped up and rushed up to the dorms. She came down carrying a huge book.
"I checked this out weeks ago for a bit of light reading," Hermione said in a tone that sounded to Simba as if she was calling herself an idiot.
"This is light?" Ron asked but Hermione shot him a dirty look.
"See? Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!"
"The what?" Simba, Ron and Harry asked. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Oh honestly? Don't you three read?" she asked as she pushed the book towards them. Simba honestly couldn't read, but he pretended to. He didn't want to be too much of a bother. Other wise Harry might try to avoid him again.
"See?" Hermione said as they finished. "That's what's Snape's after! I wonder how one gets past Fluffy?"
"Well there's only one place to find out," Ron said. "Let's go to Hermione's second home!"
Hermione looked affronted at the idea but let the matter drop. "Come on, we've got to study for exams anyway."
Simba tried to help them but he didn't understand anything in the books, therefore he curled up under the table and yawned. He didn't sleep well last night, nor any previous night since he stopped going to that mirror.
"Hagrid!" Ron exclaimed. "What are you doing in the library?"
Simba peered up and sure enough, the giant man was standing there. He seemed out of place in the library, but then so did Simba.
"Just lookin'," Hagrid said. "What are you three doing in here? Don't tell me yer still lookin' for Nicholas Flamel."
"Oh we found out who he is ages ago," Ron said. Simba raised an eyebrow. Since when was half an hour ago ages? "And we know what that dog's guarding. It's a Sor—"
"Shhh!" Hagrid urged. "Don't go shouting it!"
"But we just want to know what else is guarding the stone other than—"
"Shh!" Hagrid urged again. "Alright, I'll answer your questions tonight but don't go shoutin' them in the library!"
He left and Simba snorted. That was some good advice.
"I'm going to see what section he was in," Ron said and Simba rolled his eyes. He was right; both boys were worse than newborns at times. Ron came back and was shocked.
"Dragons! He was looking up dragons!" he exclaimed.
"But Hagrid can't possibly have a dragon?" Hermione frowned. "Can he?"
Simba frowned and tagged along with the Trio as they ran across the yard to Hagrid's Hut.
"Come in," Hagrid said and hurried them in. Simba smiled at the heat, it reminded him of home. The humans, it seemed, didn't fare too well in extreme heat.
"Now, you wanted to ask me somethin'?" Hagrid asked.
"Yes," Harry nodded. "We want to know what guarding the stone other than Fluffy."
"Can't ya that," Hagrid sighed. "Beats me how you even know about Fluffy."
"Oh Hagrid," Hermione said with a warm smile. "We just wanted to know who Dumbledore would trust to protect the stone, other than you of course."
Oh, she was good, Simba thought as he saw Hagrid melt at her words.
"Well, I guess it can't hurt to tell ya," Hagrid said. "Sprout, Flitiwick, McGonagall did somethin' I think. Quirrell oh and Dumbledore threw in somethin'. Oh, and Professor Snape!"
"Snape!" Harry exclaimed.
"You're not still on about him are ya?" Hagrid asked. "Snape's one of the teachers protecting the stone."
Hagrid turned to tend to the fire and placed an egg like object on the table, not noticing Harry's look of confusion.
"Hagrid?" Harry asked. "What is that?"
"That, well that—"
"I know what that is!" Ron exclaimed. "But Hagrid, how did you get it?"
"I won it," Hagrid said proudly. "From a stranger I met down at the pub. Seemed rather glad to get rid of it as a matter o' fact."
The object seemed to be ticking and Simba was ready to run just as it began to break. An arm stuck out of the object and Simba realized that it was an egg.
"Is that…a dragon?" Hermione asked.
"That's not just a dragon," Ron said in awe. "That's a Norwegian Ridgeback! My brother Charlie works with these."
"Aww, bless him he knows his mummy!" Hagrid exclaimed. Simba seriously wondered if Hagrid had a firm grasp on his sanity. "Hello Norbert."
"Norbert?" Harry asked.
"Well, he's got to have a name, don't he?" Hagrid asked and then his smile faded as he looked out the window. "Who's that?"
Simba turned to the window and saw a familiar face. Locking eyes with Harry, he knew that his brother had seen him too.
"Malfoy," Harry said and Hagrid sighed. The Trio and Simba hurried back to the castle.
"Hagrid's always wanted a dragon," Harry said. "Told me the first time I ever met him."
"And worse, Malfoy knows!" Ron moaned.
"I don't understand," Hermione said. "Is that bad?"
"It's bad," Ron said but they all paused as they saw Professor McGonagall and Malfoy coming out of a classroom.
"Good evening," McGonagall said evenly, though Simba could tell that she was upset. She led them all into a classroom.
"Nothing and I mean nothing gives a student the right to walk about the school at night," she said. "As a result of your actions, fifty points will be taken."
"Fifty!" Harry exclaimed.
"Each," McGonagall continued and Simba couldn't help but gape at her. Fifty points for just being out past curfew? "Along with that, all four of you will receive detention."
"Excuse me Professor," Malfoy said, "perhaps I heard you wrong? I thought you said the four of us?"
"No you heard me correct Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall said. "You see, as noble as your intentions were, you too were out of bed after hours. You will join your classmates in detention."
The Trio walked back to the common room, dreading the dawn. When the rest of Gryffindor house found out who had lost the 150 points, they treated the Trio—and Simba as well—like dirt. A week later, Harry got a note informing him of the time of his detention.
"So you're having a detention after hours as a result of you being out of bed after hours?" Simba asked.
"Yep," Harry nodded.
"Odd," Simba said and hopped off the sofa. "I'm coming with you."
"Why?" Ron asked. "You didn't get detention."
"But I was there with you," Simba said. "Plus I want to see Timon and Pumbaa."
"Fair enough," Harry chuckled and ruffled Simba's mane. Simba whacked away Harry's hand and went up to take a nap before their detention. It didn't work and he ended up waking up panting once more due to nightmares.
"You ready Simba?" Harry asked from the stairs.
"Coming," Simba shouted back. He ran down the stairs and yawned.
"Oh don't do that!" Harry groaned as he yawned as well. Hermione shook her head at them.
"Come on," Ron said and they went to the entrance hall. Malfoy was waiting there.
"Too scared to walk around without your pet?" Malfoy sneered.
"He volunteered," Harry said coolly, "and he's not a pet."
"Enough chit-chat!" Filch snapped. "I'm here to lead you to your detention!"
Filch began to lecture them as they walked across the yard. Simba honestly began to tune it out.
"Oh god man you're not still on about that dragon are you?" Filch asked and Simba realized that they were at Hagrid's.
"Norbert's gone," Hagrid said. "Dumbledore sent him to Romania, to live in a colony."
"But that's good isn't it?" Hermione asked. "He'll be with his own kind."
"But what if he don't like Romania?" Hagrid asked. "What if the other dragons are mean to him? He's only a baby after all."
"Oh pull yourself together man!" Filch rolled his eyes. "You're going into the forest after all! Got to have your wits about you."
"The Forest?" Malfoy asked and Simba was glad to see some fear on his face. "I thought that was a joke! Students aren't allowed and there are…werewolves!"
"Oh there are more than werewolves in those trees," Filch said. "Nighty-night!"
"Well, that wasn't creepy at all," Simba muttered and Harry snorted in amusement. They walked into the Forest and Simba gulped. The Forest was creepy enough in the day; it was worse in the night.
"Hagrid?" Harry asked as they came across a silver substance. "What is that?"
"That's what we're here for," Hagrid said. "See that? That's unicorn blood that is."
Simba gasped; he thought about his friend Desdemona and hoped she was alright.
"I found one dead a few weeks ago, and this one's been hurt bad by somethin'," Hagrid said. "It's our job to go and find the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, you're with me. Harry, you're with Malfoy."
"What about me?" Simba asked.
"You stay with Harry," Hagrid said and Simba nodded.
"Fine, then I get Fang!" Malfoy insisted.
"Alright, but just to let you know, he's a ruddy coward," Hagrid said and led Ron and Hermione off in another direction. Simba listened to Harry and Malfoy bicker.
"Wait," Harry said and held back Malfoy. Simba stuck out a paw and held back Fang. There was a beautiful unicorn, dead. Simba gasped when he realized that it was his friend. But there was a dark, cloaked figure and it began to drink her blood.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Malfoy screamed and ran away, Fang following close behind.
"Harry, come on!" Simba urged, but he found his brother trapped in some roots. Grabbing the back of his cloak, Simba began to pull as much as he could. Suddenly there were hoof beats and Simba was amazed to see a creature, which was half man and half horse.
"Thank you!" Harry said to the creature. "But what was that thing you saved me from?"
"A most dreadful creature," the man-horse said. "It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death. But at a terrible price. For you have slain something so pure, that from the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half-life. A cursed life."
"But who would choose such a life?" Harry asked.
"Can you think of no one?"
"You mean to tell me that that thing you saved me from? That was drinking its blood? That was Voldemort?"
Simba gasped; he knew very little about Voldemort but Harry had told him all he knew.
"Do you know what was hidden in the school at this very moment Mr. Potter?"
"The Sorcerer's Stone!" Harry gasped and Simba swore he was going to have a word with Dumbledore when he looked a little more intimidating.
"Harry!" Hermione cried.
"Hello Firenze," Hagrid said. "See you've met our friend Mr. Potter. Alright Harry?"
Harry nodded.
"Harry Potter, this is where I leave you," Firenze said. "You are safe now."
Harry and Simba both looked back at the unicorn and Simba swore that he would get revenge for her death.
"You mean You-Know-Who is out there right now? In the forest?" Hermione asked when they were back in the common room.
"Yes," Harry nodded. "But he's weak. He's living off the unicorns. Don't you see? We had it wrong! Snape doesn't want the stone for himself; he wants the stone for Voldemort. With the elixer of life, Voldemort will grow strong again. He'll…he'll come back."
"You don't think that he will try to…kill you, do you?" Ron asked.
"I think that if he had the chance he might have tried to kill me tonight," Harry said simply. Ron gulped.
"And to think! I've been worried about my Potions final!"
Simba rolled his eyes.
"Wait, we're forgetting something," Hermione said. "Who's the one wizard Voldemort always feared?"
Did she just say the name? Simba thought in confusion.
"Dumbledore!" Hermione said after a few seconds of silence. "With Dumbledore here, Harry, you're safe! With Dumbledore, you can't be touched."
Harry smiled at the idea of being safe and Simba relaxed. They spent the next few weeks studying and taking their final exams.
"I heard that Hogwart's end of the year exams were dreadful!" Hermione said as they walked from their last exam. "But I found they're rather enjoyable."
"Speak for yourself!" Ron groaned. "Hey Simba."
"Last exam?" Simba asked. He'd been spending most of his time with Timon and Pumbaa, enjoying the outdoors.
"Yep!" Ron grinned. Harry kept rubbing his forehead.
"Are you alright Harry?" Hermione asked.
"My scar! It keeps burning," Harry hissed. Simba frowned; his uncle had a scar and it never burned.
"It's happened before," Hermione offered.
"Not like this," Harry shook his head. "I think it's a sign. I think danger's coming."
They continued to walk to Hagrid's hut when Harry stopped.
"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Don't you find it curious? That what Hagrid wants more than anything is a dragon and a stranger comes along and just happens to have one?" Harry asked as he sped to Hagrid's hut. "Why didn't I see it before?"
Simba was confused, and judging by their faces, so were Ron and Hermione.
"Hagrid! That stranger you drank with, did he tell you his name?" Harry asked.
"I dunno, never told me," Hagrid said. "I also never saw his face."
"But this stranger," Harry continued to press. "You and he must have talked!"
"Well sure," Hagrid nodded. "He wanted to know about the creatures I looked after and I said, well after Fluffy, a dragon will be no problem."
"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked.
"Well o' course he was interested in Fluffy!" Hagrid said as if Harry had mortally offended him. "How often do you come across a three headed dog, even if yer in the trade? But I told him, I said, the trick to any beast is to know how to calm him. Take Fluffy for example. Just play him a bit of music and he'll fall straight to sleep."
Harry, Ron and Hermione shared panicked looks.
"I shouldn't have said that," Hagrid said in realization. The Trio ran up to the castle, with Simba at their heels. They ran into Professor McGonagall's classroom, startling her.
"We've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore! Immediately," Harry said.
"I'm afraid that Professor Dumbledore is not here," McGonagall said. "He got an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and left straight away for London."
"He's gone? Now?" Harry asked. "But this is important! This is about the Sorcerer's Stone!"
"How did you—?"
"Someone's going to try and steal it!" Harry interrupted her.
"I don't know how you four found out about the stone but I assure it is perfectly safe," McGonagall said. "Now please return to your dormitory. Quietly."
They left the classroom but they gathered into a circle.
"That was no stranger Hagrid met at a pub," Harry said. "That was Snape."
"And with Dumbledore gone…" Hermione said but gasped when she saw a figure looming over them.
"Good afternoon," Snape drawled. "Now what would three young Gryffindors and a young lion be inside on a day like this?"
"We…we were just…" Hermione tried to come up with an excuse.
"You want to be careful," Snape said. "People might think you were…"
He looked at Harry, who was glaring at Snape with all his might. "Up to something."
Snape turned and walked away.
"What are we going to do?" Hermione asked.
"We go down the trap door," Harry said. "Tonight."
Simba wondered if his little brother was a little insane but Ron and Hermione seemed to agree with him. They sat around in the common room and were the first ones to go to bed. At around midnight, Harry nudged Simba with his foot.
"Come on," he whispered and did the same to Ron. They met Hermione outside of the Girl's dorm and went down the stairs. A familiar croak broke the silence.
"Trevor! Shh!" Ron whisper-shouted at the toad. "Go, you shouldn't be here!"
"Neither should you!" Neville said, getting out of his chair. "You're sneaking out again aren't you?"
"Now Neville—"
"No! I won't let you! You'll get Gryffindor into trouble again!"
How does one get a House in trouble? Simba thought.
"I'll…I'll fight you!" Neville finished his little speech.
"Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this!" Hermione said. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Neville snapped together and fell down like a board. Simba gulped a little; he officially did not want to get Hermione Granger mad at him.
"Sorry Neville," he said as he left and he could hear Harry and Hermione apologize as well.
"It's for your own good," he heard Ron say and snorted. How could it be for his own good if he was petrified? The walk down was difficult; Ron had to slouch and they had to walk extra slowly to keep Simba under the cloak. Hermione unlocked the door once more.
"Hang on," Harry said. "Is he….snoring?"
"Apparently," Simba said.
"Ugh! He's got terrible breath!" Ron groaned. Simba rolled his eyes; he was a dog, what did Ron expect?
"Look, if this gets dangerous," Harry said once they opened the trap door, "get yourselves out."
Simba noticed that the harp in the corner had stopped playing and gulped. Harry seemed to notice this as well.
"Does it seem quiet to you?" he asked.
"The harp," Hermione said. "It stopped playing."
"UGH!" Ron exclaimed as he realized that he had drool on him. All three looked up to see the three heads of Fluffy growling at them. Harry and Hermione had jumped but Ron was prevented by one of the three heads.
"Ron!" Simba heard Harry shout from where ever he landed. Fluffy was determined to get Ron, and it was then that a song from his childhood came to the forefront of his mind.
"Chimps are going ape," Simba began to sing. "Giraffes remain above it all. Elephants remember, though just what I can't recall. Crocodiles are snapping up fresh offers from the banks. Showed interest in my nest egg but I quickly said, "No thanks!" We haven't paid the hornbills and the vultures have a hunch not everyone invited will be coming back from lunch! This is the morning report! Gives you the long and the short. Every grunt, roar and snort, not a tale I distort! On the morning report!"
Fluffy began to fall asleep again, so Ron and Simba took that time to jump through the Trap Door
"Finally!" Harry grinned at the two of them.
"Sorry bout that," Simba said.
"You two okay?" Harry asked his best friend and brother.
"Yeah," Ron nodded. "You?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "Lucky this plant thing's here, really."
Simba was about to agree when he noticed that the 'plant thing' was starting to move around. He felt his paws become entangled with the vines.
"Stop moving, all three of you," he heard Hermione lecture them. "This is Devil's Snare! You have to relax! If you don't, it will only kill you faster."
"Kill us faster?" Ron asked. "Oh, now I can relax!"
Hermione shot him a look before sinking down into a pit below.
"HERMIONE!" they all shouted.
"Just relax!" Hermione's voice came from somewhere.
"Hermione, where are you?" Harry asked.
"Do what I say! Trust me!"
Harry did what she asked and he too sunk down into the pit.
"HARRY!" Simba and Ron yelled. Simba struggled to get free; to make sure that his brother was fine. Suddenly, there was a bright light and Ron and Simba fell down.
"You okay? Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron nodded. "Lucky we didn't panic."
"Lucky Hermione pays attention in Herbology," Harry corrected. They continued on and saw that there was a broom in the middle of the room, with odd birds flying around.
"Strange," Hermione said. "I've never seen birds like these."
"They're not birds," Harry said. "They're keys, and I bet one fits through that door."
Ron walked across the hall.
"Alohamora!" he tried the door on the other side. "Well, it was worth a try."
"Oh, what are we going to do?" Hermione moaned. "There must be a thousand keys up there!"
"We're looking for a big old-fashioned one," Ron said. "Probably silver, like the handle."
"There!" Harry shouted. "The one with the broken wing!"
"What's wrong Harry?" Ron asked, noticing Harry's worried look.
"It's too easy."
"Oh go on Harry!" Ron urged. "If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century!"
Harry nodded but the moment he touched the broom, the keys began to attack him.
"This complicates things a bit," Ron gulped. Simba watched in worry as Harry struggled to catch the right key while the other keys kept pecking at him.
"Catch the key!" Harry shouted as he threw it at Hermione. Hermione caught it and struggled to unlock the door.
"Hurry up!" Ron yelled. They finally opened the door and Harry flew threw the opened door, closing it as the keys followed. The next room was so creepy, Simba wouldn't be surprised if it took the place of his nightmares.
"What is this?" Hermione asked.
"Looks like a graveyard," Harry replied. Ron shook his head.
"This is no graveyard," he said. "It's a chess set."
The lights turned on just as he said that.
"There's the door!" Harry pointed out. They walked towards it but were stopped by the chess pieces.
"Okay then," Simba gulped.
"Isn't it obvious," Ron said. "We've got to play our way across the room! Harry, you take the queen side bishops square. Hermione, you'll be the queenside castle. As for me, I'll be a Knight!"
"What about me?" Simba asked.
"You stay to the side," Ron said. Simba nodded and watched in horror as the game began. Chess pieces on both sides began to be blown to smithereens. Ron was a great chessman though. He made it so that Hermione and Harry were never in danger.
"Of course," Ron exclaimed as the White Queen turned towards him.
"No!" Harry yelled.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"He's going to sacrifice himself!"
"No you can't! There must be another way!"
"Do you want to stop Snape from getting that stone or not?" Ron asked. "Look Harry, it's you that has to go on. Not me, not Hermione, not Simba. You!"
Harry nodded and Simba looked away, not wanting to see Ron get hurt. He heard Harry shout at Hermione but didn't look until he heard Harry shout checkmate.
"Ron!" he gasped to see the red-head lying there as if dead.
"Take Ron to the infirmary," Harry told Hermione. "Then write a letter to Dumbledore. Ron's right; I've got to go on."
"You're a great wizard," Hermione said.
"Not as good as you," Harry said.
"Me? Books and cleverness? There are more important things. Like friendship and bravery, and Harry do be careful!"
Harry nodded and looked over at Simba. Simba walked over and brought Harry into a hug.
"Be careful little brother," he whispered. He watched Harry go into the other room and sighed.