It was finally time for students to deal with their exams and the library was crowded with Ravenclaws hoarding books like goblins, almost hissing every time somebody spoke louder than a whisper. Hermione had joined Rohini and Padma inside but the boys had refused, saying they turned into nasty harpies when they were studying.
The days were getting hotter and the library reeked atrociously, even with the windows opened. Everybody thought Miss Pince was going to murder Seamus Finnigan when he accidentally enflamed the feather he had been practicing on with Dean. She had refused to let the Gryffindors inside her library until Professor McGonagall personally came down her office to have a talk with her.
They had written papers and practical exams and each student had been given a new anti-cheating quill. Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. Rohini was so nervous about doing her best that she managed to make her fruit sing along as it dance. Professor Flitwick had looked absolutely delighted and gave Ravenclaw five points, winking at her and telling her to keep it secret.
As for Professor McGonagall, she expected them to turn a mouse into a snuffbox and the prettier the box, the more points you got. Once again, Rohini did an excellent job and she could have sworn she saw McGonagall smile.
Snape asked them to brew a Forgetfulness Potion and Rohini was creeped out by how he breathed in everybody's neck while watching them. Rohini thought she did well, but wasn't sure she'll managed to get a nice note since Snape hated them. At least, she didn't make her cauldron explode like Neville.
Their last exam was History of Magic. When the ghost of Professor Binns told them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, they all cheered loudly, finally free. Rohini felt like it was the first time she was able to breathe properly in months.
"I'm not against studying but thanks god it's finally over." Rohini sighed as they all lay down in the grass, savouring the warmness of the sun against their skin. "I don't want to hear about mice until September the first." She added, sitting up and snorting as she watched the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan tickling the tentacles of a giant squid swimming in the Lake.
"Since when do we have a squid at Hogwarts?" Padma asked as a tentacle began to tickle the three troublemakers too.
"Considering all the creatures in the Forbidden Forest, I feel like a squid is the most normal thing living here." Rohini pointed out and the two girls giggled, feeling carefree.
"You could look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet." Ron told Harry who indeed looked pretty gloomy.
"I'm sure you did well." Rohini assured him, but Harry grunted and jumped on his feet, walking away. Frowning, Rohini told Padma she will be back and went after her brother, followed by Ron and Hermione. Harry was rubbing his forehead.
"I wish I knew what this means!" he burst out. "My scar keeps hurting since the accident in the forest."
"Do you think it might be reacting to Voldemort's presence here?" Rohini asked him, glancing at the Dark Forest.
"I think it's a warning, it means danger's coming…" Harry said. Rohini would have loved to call him dramatic, but she knew he was right.
"Harry, relax, the Stone's safe for now. We've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once; he's not going to try it again in a hurry." Ron pointed out.
"Maybe Hagrid would want Fluffy back now that Norbert is gone." Rohini joked and Harry froze. He was looking at Hagrid, sitting outside his hut.
"Of course!" Harry said before rushing towards him.
"Where're you going?" Rohini shouted. "Harry!"
"I've just thought of something," said Harry, scrambling up the grassy slope. "Don't you think it's a bit odd 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 Rohini turned pale, realising what Harry had in mind.
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? I just made some limona-"
"Hagrid, I've got to ask you something." Harry cut him. "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. Why?"
"You wouldn't happen to have talked about Fluffy, did you?" Rohini asked slowly, exchanging a glance with Harry. Hagrid frowned, looking at them both.
"Well, I just mentioned that after Fluffy, a dragon's gonna be no problem for meh."
"Oh no…" Hermione moaned and Rohini could tell where this was going. She asked Hagrid if the stranger had been interested by the three headed dog and Hagrid gave her a look as if she had said something silly.
"Of course he was interested in Fluffy! How often d'yeh come across a three headed dog? 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 and so did the four of them.
"I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" he blurted out. "Forget I said it! Hey—where're yeh goin'?" He yelled but they were already running towards the castle.
"We- need- to tell- Dumbledore." Rohini panted as they came to a halt at the entrance hall. She was all sweaty and her bangs were sticking to her forehead. Harry was going to add something when a shadow stood behind him.
"Well, well, well." Snape said slowly and they all gulped. "Now, what would three young Gryffindors and a Ravenclaw such as yourselves be doing inside on a day like this?"
"It's too hot outside." Rohini improvised. "We, huh, got sweaty and wanted to cool down a bit. The castle is, well, fresh." She said, resting her hand on the wall to demonstrate her argument. Snape's eyes narrowed, as he obviously didn't buy it.
"You want to be careful. People will think you're…up to something." Snape said, staring at Harry.
"We're probably not the only one." Rohini couldn't help but say. Snape glared at her, lips pinched. "I mean, I thought I heard Peeves saying he was gonna do some ruckus in the dungeon. Hope he will not mess up with your potions." She said innocently and Snape rushed towards his office, his cape floating behind him.
"That was both bloody stupid and brilliant." Ron said. "Wish Peeves is really messing up with his stuffs."
"We should ask McGonagall to see Dumbledore." Harry said and the three others followed after him. They rushed inside her classroom, startling her. Putting back her glasses over her long nose, she raised an eyebrow as they stopped in front of her desk, all panting and looking worried.
"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," said Hermione, rather bravely, Harry and Ron thought.
"See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated with a frown. "Why?"
"It's sort of secret," Ron said which was probably the wrong thing to do for 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."
"He's gone?" said Harry frantically. "Now?"
"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time—"
"But this is important." Rohini moaned.
"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Potter?"
"Professor—it's about the Philosopher's Stone—"
"How do you know—?" McGonagall spluttered, looking troubled.
"Professor, I think—I know—that Sn—that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore." Harry insisted. She eyed him with a mixture of shock and suspicion.
"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."
"But Professor—"
"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," she said shortly. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine if you do not wish to get another hour of detention."
Rohini grabbed Harry by the arm and forced him to follow her outside, Ron and Hermione right behind them.
"It's tonight," said Harry, once he was sure Professor McGonagall was out of earshot. "Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I'm sure."
"We can't let him win, we've got to do something!" Rohini said. "Fluffy was probably more dangerous than any enchantments and now that Snape knows how to go past him, we're doomed!"
"Not if we get the stone before him." Harry said. "I'll use dad's Invisible Cloak and get down that trapdoor."
"Are you crazy?" Rohini squealed, waving at him. "Look at you! What can you do on your own against Hogwarts teachers' protection spells?"
"I will go with him." Ron said.
"Then I'll come too." Rohini said, crossing her arms and Harry opened his mouth to protest but she didn't let him. "Yes, you heard me right Harry James Potter. I'm not gonna let you die because you wanted to be a mighty hero. We either do it together, or not at all."
"Rohini is right, Harry." Hermione said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I will come, too."
"Alright." Harry finally sighed and Rohini smiled at Hermione. "We act tonight; McGonagall is probably suspicious now and she will go after us if she doesn't see us for dinner."
"You should lend me your cloak; I'll hide under it at the end of the meal while the Ravenclaws walk back to our tower. I'll wait for you outside the Gryffindors common room." Rohini said and Harry nodded. They went to a deserted corridor where he lent Rohini their father's Invisible Cloak. Then they went back outside, acting all innocently every time McGonagall or Snape looked at them suspiciously.
"We're totally going to get expelled." Hermione sighed and Rohini felt her heart sink at the idea of never coming back to Hogwarts. Hopefully Hermione was wrong. Well, they will know the answer tomorrow… Assuming they will survive the night.
Xxx
While waiting for her brother and friends, Rohini sat right next to the portrait of the Fat Lady, thinking about spells she had learn over the past months, hoping they will come in handy. She had been wearing Padma's pearl bracelet for luck and was playing with it when Harry, Ron and Hermione finally came out of their Common Room. They looked a bit nervous and explained to her that Neville had tried to stop them.
Rohini praised Hermione for thinking so quickly to use 'Petrificus Totalus' and thought they might need it again overnight. They tried to sneak out all together under the Invisibility Cloak and hoped nobody will notice the pairs of feet walking in the corridors. In their nervous state, every statue's shadow looked like Filch, every distant breath of wind sounded like Peeves swooping down on them. They didn't meet anyone and reached the third floor safely.
Harry took off the cloak and folded it.
"Ready?" He asked and they all nodded before entering the room. A bad surprise was waiting for them; a giant harp was playing alone in a corner and the three heads of Fluffy were snoring loudly.
"Snape's already got past Fluffy." Harry said and Rohini cursed. They kneeled next to one of its huge paws and pushed it away from the trapdoor.
"If you want to go back, I won't blame you," Harry said. "You can take the cloak, I won't need it now."
"Don't be stupid," said Ron. "Urg, its breath stinks as much as Malfoy!"
"How would you know how Malfoy smells like?" Rohini asked, confused.
"We fought at the last Quidditch game, remember?"
"Shut up you two!" Harry said. They did and silence fell on the room. Rohini frowned.
"Hey, isn't it a bit too quiet?"
"Oh no…" Hermione said, and they all knew what she was thinking: the harp had stopped playing. Drool began to fall on them and slowly, they looked up and met Fluffy's yellow eyes. Screaming, Harry opened the trapdoor and they all jumped inside right in time before Fluffy's fangs closed on them.
They fell down a tunnel and Rohini felt something funny in her stomach as the walls vanished and she felt like she was floating for a second before falling into something soft.
"Huff!" She said as Harry fell on her, followed by Ron. It was dark around them and Rohini grimaced as she patted what they were lying on. "It feels… squishy." She said.
"What's this stuff?" Ron asked, sitting up.
"Dunno, some sort of plant thing. I suppose it's here to break the fall." Harry said.
"I'm not so sure…" Rohini said, pointing at the tendrils that were slowly ramping towards them. "Oh no!"
She leapt up and struggled toward a damp wall as the plant started to twist snakelike tendrils around her ankles. As for Harry and Ron, their legs had already been bound tightly in long creepers without their noticing. Hermione told them to calm down, though she sounded just as panicked.
"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered them. "I know what this is—it's Devil's Snare!"
"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," snarled Ron, leaning back, trying to stop the plant from curling around his neck.
"No, she got a point!" Rohini said, standing still. "Do as she said, don't move!"
"If you don't, it will only kill you faster." Hermione said and Ron seemed to jiggle more frantically.
"Wrong thing to say, Hermione!" Rohini said before the plant sucked her down below, quickly followed by Hermione and Harry. They had land on hard ground, in an empty cave. Ron however was still screaming above them.
"He's gonna get himself killed if he doesn't relax!" Rohini panicked, crushing Harry's hand as she helped him on his feet. "Devil's Snare hates fire, but we can't burn it without hurting Ron."
"It also hates sunlight!" Hermione said, pointing her wand upwards. "Lumus Solem!"
A beam of light shot out of her wand, blinding them. The plant shrieked and recoiled and Ron finally came crashing on the hard floor.
"Ron, are you okay?" Hermione said, helping him back on his feet.
"Whew. Lucky we didn't panic!" Ron said and Rohini slapped the back of his head. "Now, what?"
"This way," said Harry, pointing down a stone passageway, which was the only way forward. All they could hear apart from their footsteps was a soft rustling and clinking sound.
"Sounds like wings. Hope it's no nasty pixies or something…" Rohini said, pointing her wand forwards, ready to protect herself.
They reached the end of the passageway where a single door was waiting. Taking a deep breath, they stepped inside and gasped. A hundred jewel-bright birds were fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door.
"What a strange kind of birds." Hermione breathed.
"It's not birds, those are keys! Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" said Ron.
"Let's see." Rohini said, crossing the room without a single key trying to attack her. She pulled on the handle. "It's locked."
"Alohomora." Hermione tried, but the door didn't bulge.
"Now what?" said Ron.
"These birds… they can't be here just for decoration," said Hermione.
"There's a broomstick!" Rohini said, pointing at the old thing floating a few steps away.
"But there are hundreds of keys!" Hermione pointed out. "How do we know which one to catch?"
Ron examined the lock on the door.
"We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one—probably silver, like the handle." He said. "We have the same kind of lock at home."
"Harry, you're a seeker. Seek for our key." Rohini tried to joke and Harry rolled his eyes before looking at the flying keys. They waited for two minutes, before he finally spot it.
"That one!" he called to the others. "That big one, with bright blue wings—the feathers are all crumpled on one side."
"Hold on, let me try something." Rohini said, pointing her wand at the needed key. "Petrificus Totalus!" To her surprise, the key did stop though the others didn't. "It should be easier for you to catch it." She told Harry who nodded before grabbing the broomstick. Instantly, every key dived and went after him.
"This complicates things a bit!" Ron said and Rohini nodded, unable to look away from Harry who hurried to catch the petrified key and zoomed by to throw the key to Hermione, yelling at her to open the door.
"Hurry up!" Rohini screamed as she held the door opened for Harry to fly in before slamming it shut, hearing the keys colliding against it in the previous room. "Wow, the teachers weren't joking when they set these enchantments."
"That's the whole point." Hermione reminded her and Rohini rolled her eyes.
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.
"Oh no…" Hermione said.
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 stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were the white pieces, looking like ghosts. Rohini shivered.
"Now what do we do?" Harry whispered.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" said Ron. "We've got to play our way across the room."
As if it was reacting to Ron's words, a few figures moved out of the chessboard.
"I think," said Rohini, "we're going to have to be chessmen." She could tell Hermione was scared and decided to keep for herself the fact they'll probably get badly hurt if they made a wrong move.
"Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess." He told Harry and Hermione.
"We're not offended," said Harry quickly. "Just tell us what to do, you or Rohini."
"Ron is a better player, let him decide." Rohini said, nodding at Ron who smiled awkwardly before looking around, thinking.
"Well, Harry, you'll play the bishop, and Hermione, you go there instead of that castle."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to be a knight," said Ron.
"And what about me?" Rohini asked.
"Well, you'll be our Queen."
"Great." Rohini lied, stepping on the chessboard and putting her hand on Ron's shoulder. "I trust you on this, champion." Then, she leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "You're aware of what might happen if it's like wizard chess, right?"
"I do." Ron said and they all get into position. Rohini glanced at Harry and saw in his eyes that he knew what she had just discussed with Ron. Rohini gave him a weak smile before looking in front of her as a white piece moved forwards.
Ron started to direct the black pieces. They moved silently wherever he sent them. Every time a piece was taken, the other one smashed them brutally. Rohini closed her eyes, putting all her faith into Ron's skills.
"Harry—move diagonally four squares to the right." Ron said before pointing at Hermione. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on. We can't let them get close to our King."
Every time one of their men was lost, the white pieces showed no mercy. Soon there was a huddle of shattered black players slumped along the wall but Ron didn't lose his calm and took a few white pieces off too.
"We're nearly there," he muttered suddenly. "Let me think—let me think…"
The white queen turned her blank face toward him.
"Yes…" said Ron softly, "it's the only way… I've got to be taken."
"NO!" Hermione screamed and Rohini clenched her fists; she had seen it coming but had refused to believe it, hoping for a miracle.
"That's chess!" snapped Ron. "You've got to make some sacrifices!"
"But what's the point of getting to the stone if you die?" Hermione screamed. Ron's lips were trembling but his decision was made.
"Do you want to stop Snape or not?"
There was no alternative. Rohini refused to watch it and closed her eyes again.
"Here I go." Ron said and then he stepped forward. "Check." The white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard across the head with her stone arm, and he crashed to the floor—Hermione screamed but Rohini told at her to stay on her square for the game wasn't over yet. She nodded at her brother. Shaking, Harry moved three spaces to the left.
"Checkmate." He said. The white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry's feet. They had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. Rohini, Hermione and Harry ran to Ron and Rohini checked his pulse.
"He's alive. Thanks god, he's alive!" She said, tearing up. Hermione hugged her, her tears soaking Rohini's sweater. Relieved, Harry stood up.
"Take care of Ron. Then, go to the owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. I'm gonna stop Snape."
"We're gonna stop Snape." Rohini corrected him, standing up. "I will not leave you alone, Harry. We'll do it- together." She said, determined as she took Harry's hand.
"I believe in you." Hermione said, giving them a weak smile as she rubbed her eyes. "Be careful."
"See you later, Hermione." Rohini said before Harry and she went to the last door. They took a deep breath and glanced at each other.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Then, they stepped inside and they had barely passed the door that it slammed shut behind them. Rohini stopped breathing, eyes wide opened in shock. They were right when they thought somebody was already there, yes. But it wasn't Snape.
"You!" She shouted, and the man smiled at them. No, it definitely wasn't Snape. An unfamiliar smirk on his lips, wearing the same old purple turban was Professor Quirrell.
That was a twist they had never expected.