Disclaimer: Anything in which you recognize is J.K. Rowling's and the things you don't perhaps belong to me.
Chapter 12: Sacrifices
All four of the them were on edge as the exams finally arrived. With all the studying, actually taking the exams and taking turns for Snape surveillance, they were beyond exhausted. Dorinda and Hermione were like drill sergeants, uniting their intelligence in a time of great need and more often then not, you could hear the sad attempts of Ron Weasley trying to complain. Harry, Rose and Julian were use to their sister's perfectionist attitude and they also valued magic perhaps far more than Ron did. Ron having grown up in a Wizarding household, was use to the wonders of magic, the Potter's were still being constantly amazed at its capabilities.
The exams turned out not to be as hard as they had learned to expect. With all the reviews and notes they had between them, they were more prepared than most of the other First Years. A fact that did not go unnoticed by the Professors.
Professor McGonagall had made them transfigure a mouse into a snuffbox. Dorinda, who excelled at Transfiguration more than her siblings and any other subject, had gained extra points for her beautiful designed snuffbox. Professor McGonagall had been more than slightly impressed.
In Potions, they had been ordered to complete a Forgetfulness Potion. Harry himself struggled in Potions, more from Snape breathing down his neck than his actual knowledge. Thankfully, Harry had the class with the Slytherins and Julian was more than adept at Potions, which helped his Gryffindor brother because it took Snape's attention away from the nervous Harry. The Professor often found himself scrutinizing Julian Potter's potions more than any other First Year. The boy begrudgingly had talent.
Their Defense Against the Dark Arts exams, both practical and theory, were jokes. They needn't have even studied. It was all basic questions and the practical was canceled due to Professor Quirrell being sick. In Charms, Professor Flitwick asked them to charm a pineapple to tap-dance across his desk. He was in awe when Rose's pineapple not only tap-danced but then moved into a tango, waltz and salsa. Harry had laughed at his sister's vibrant red glow, it wasn't often Rose found herself to be a show off.
By the time their last exam rolled around, History of Magic, most of the First Years were beginning to look more cheerful and less stressed. The same however couldn't be said for the Potter's. Ever since the night they had discovered that Voldemort was attempting to return, their scars had begun to hurt again. They had hurt before growing up but not like this and the pain was starting to steadily get worse. Harry was actually having dreams filled with not only the green light, which his siblings also saw, but now his dreams also held the hooded figure with unicorn blood dripping from its shrouded mouth.
However, when the History of Magic exam was over, they all couldn't help but cheer along with the rest of the First Years. They had survived their first set of exams, only six more years to go before they would be fully trained wizards and witches. It amazed them at how fast this school year had actually gone. Though they had learned an incredible amount, there was still copious more knowledge out there that they hadn't even dipped their minds into.
"Exams are over!" Julian sang as he and Draco arrived at the mixed group of First Years. Harry was there with Ron and Hermione, Rose had brought along Blaise Zabini and Dorinda basked in the sun next to a dark eyed Padma Patil. "Time to relax."
"What are you playing at brother?" Dorinda opened a bleary eye lazily and smiled. "You never stopped relaxing. Won't be singing if you fail the exams, will you?"
"Ah Dorinda, how little faith you have in me!" Julian laughed, plopping down next to the Ravenclaw. Draco uncomfortably took a seat next to his friend, a scowl on his face due to the present company. "Might have even done better than you."
"Highly unlikely." Rose spoke up, earning a playful glare from her longer haired brother.
"You doubt me as well Rose?" Julian made a sad face. "My sisters, what a pathetically disloyal lot you are."
"Sorry mate but you never stood a chance." Harry patted his brother on the back lovingly. "There is always next year."
"To right you are Harry." Julian brightened up. "Dorinda, my lovely sister, next year it is you who will not stand a chance."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah Julian." Dorinda waved his antics off, amused. Rose smiled at them before looking out into the distance, Hagrid's hut wasn't far away.
"Anyone been to see Hagrid?" Rose asked. "Been a bit lonely I bet with only Fang there. I meant to go myself."
"Can't say I've had the chance myself." Julian said grimly while the rest of the group threw glares at Malfoy. "Fancy a visit much?"
"I think he would like that." Rose replied honestly, getting up to wipe her robes off eagerly. It had been too long since they had visited their gigantic friend. "Coming Harry? 'Rinda?"
"Yes, I think so." Dorinda nodded as she too got up. "See you back at the common room then?"
"Naturally." Padma excused herself and left back up towards the school quickly. Blaise excused himself as well. Everyone except Julian was glaring at the innocent looking Malfoy.
"Well mate, suppose your not invited?" Julian chuckled, slapping his good friend on the back. Malfoy smirked at his friend and shrugged off his hand.
"Like I would go anyways." Draco retorted cheekily, before nodding at Julian and taking off as well.
"Finally." Ron muttered in relief. "Don't see why you hang out with the likes of him after he tried to get Hagrid in trouble."
"Don't see why my brother hangs out with the likes of you at all." Julian spat out in defense of his friend before smiling kindly at his siblings. "But lets not ruin our time together. Exams are over!"
"It is very exciting isn't it?" Dorinda laughed as she linked arms with her obnoxious brother.
"Barmy snake." Ron whispered to Harry, his eyes not leaving the back of Julian. Harry rolled his eyes at both his endearing brother and his fiery friend. Julian was always trying to bait the Gryffindor, and true to his house, Ron always bit.
"Buncha misfits if I ever did see 'em!" Hagrid greeted them in a grumbling laugh. He was sitting on his stoop, whittling away on a piece of elm wood. "How yer exams been going?"
"Done, finally." Dorinda sighed and took a seat next to the much larger Hagrid. "I think I might have missed a question on the Charms exam though."
"The exams are over Dorinda." Julian rolled his eyes. "Lets not relive them all over again."
"Hagrid?" Rose questioned, her eyes were blank. Her mind was obviously somewhere else as her eyebrows scrunched together in horrified revelation.
"Somethin' wrong Rosie?" Hagrid set his knife down on the stoop. Rose bit her lip, obviously contemplating the question.
"Hagrid that night that you won Norbert? The guy, what did the guy you were playing cards with look like?" Rose asked slowly, perhaps trying to word her inquisition just right as to not offend Hagrid.
"Dunno." Hagrid said honestly, his own eyebrows scrunching together. Dorinda and Hermione were looking at Rose curiously. "Wouldn' take his cloak off."
"Hagrid!" Rose gasped, her hands covering her mouth in horror. Harry looked confused, as did Ron and Julian.
"Mighta been a dragon dealer, s'not unusual fer a man ter keep his hood up at the Hog's Head. A bit of a shady place." Hagrid tried to explain to Rose.
"What did you talk to him about, did you talk to him about Hogwarts?" Dorinda suddenly asked, seemingly catching on to what Rose was getting at.
"Mighta came up." Hagrid allowed, trying to remember. "Yeah, he asked what I did up here an' I told him I was the gamekeeper. He asked a bit bout the sorta creatures I had took after. I told him, kept buyin' me drinks he did. Told him bout Fluffy but said that what I always wanted was a dragon."
"Then I suppose he pulled out the dragon egg?" Julian muttered, already sure of the answer. He too had caught on to the drastically dwindling situation.
"Yeah he did." Hagrid looked at them all curiously. Not sure what they were getting at. "Said we could play cards fer it, wanted ter make sure I could handle it yeh know." Hagrid laughed. "Told him after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy."
"Did he seem interested in Fluffy, Hagrid?" Hermione inquired, her hands pulling at the hem of her sleeve nervously.
"Course he did. How many three-headed-dogs do yeh normally come across. Even at Hogwarts. Told him, Fluffy is a piece of cake if yeh know how ter calm him. Just play him a bit of music and he falls right ter sleep he does." Hagrid looked happy with himself for a split second before he looked quite horrified. "I shouldn'ta told yeh that!"
"Harry, wait up!" Julian yelled as he hurried to chase after his sprinting brother. The group ignored the horrified calls of Hagrid and followed after the bespectacled Gryffindor. Could it really have been that easy to get the answer out of Hagrid? A man that was completely and utterly loyal to Dumbledore? It was preposterous. "Where are you going?"
"We've got to tell Dumbledore!" Harry yelled, reaching the large front doors of the castle. They all hurried in after one another.
"But you haven't a clue as to where he is!" Dorinda puffed, trying her best to keep up with her athletic brother.
"We have to find him Dorinda!" Harry spluttered as he came to a stop, his head swiveling around in every direction. "Don't you get it! That had to be Snape or Voldemort under that cloak. Dumbledore might not believe us but we can get Firenze to back us up if we have to!"
"What are you three doing inside on a day like this?" Professor McGonagall came up to the out-of-breath group, her arms filled with books.
"We want to see Professor Dumbledore." Hermione blurted out to everyone's astonishment. Dorinda's jaw dropped half way to the floor as McGonagall raised a stern eyebrow.
"I'm afraid that isn't possible Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall sent them all suspicious looks. "Why?"
"It's a secret." Rose muttered, her eyes to the floor in embarrassment. McGonagall's lips pursed into a dangerous line.
"Well I'm afraid Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago." Professor McGonagall paused at the surprised First Year's faces. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic, flew off at once."
"He's gone." Julian ran a hand through his ever shaggy locks. "At a time like this."
"And what sort of time would that be?" The Professor asked skeptically. "Surely you don't think that whatever you six are on about is more important than the Ministry's problems?"
"Professor, its about the Sorcerer's Stone." Harry let it out. Dorinda smacked herself in the forehead and let her hand slide down her face. If McGonagall thought them suspicious before! The books in her arms toppled out, as shock spread across the Transfiguration Professor's face. "I think that someone is going to steal the stone. I've got to warn Professor Dumbledore."
"Look, I don't know how you six found out about the stone but I can assure you that it is perfectly safe." Professor McGonagall began to compose herself. "The Headmaster will be back tomorrow."
"But Professor-" Julian began in a smooth voice but McGonagall wouldn't have any part of it.
"Not today Mr. Potter, I know what I'm talking about." The bespectacled witch waved him off. "Now, I advise you to go back outside and enjoy such a day as this."
None of them moved however. They waited as Professor McGonagall spelled the books back into her arms and nervously looked about before heading off towards her classroom. They huddled in the corner for a moment, staring at one another. They all knew what was going to happen, yet none of them was properly prepared for it. Not yet.
"It's tonight." Harry said simply. "Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out what he needs to pass the other enchantments the Professors set up."
"And now Dumbledore is out of the way." Dorinda noted. " Bet Snape sent that note himself. The Ministry of Magic should get a real shock when he shows up I bet."
"But what can we-" Rose started but she let out a squeak as Snape came up behind her. He was as silent as he was deadly. He had a sick sort of smile on his face as he surveyed the guilty looking group, Rose herself refusing to turn around.
"Good afternoon." Snape said softly. "You shouldn't be in on a day like this."
"It's not that bloody nice out." Julian muttered. "Wish everyone would stop acting like its Christmas out there!"
"Calm yourself Mister Potter." Snape smirked, perhaps amused at the Slytherin. "Better be careful. Inside, people might think you're up to something. And Gryffindor can't really afford to lose anymore house points now can they?" Snape raised a malicious eyebrow at the three beat-red Gryffindors. They all turned to go outside but Snape stopped Rose by the shoulder. He spun her around to face him, her red hair whipping around like a fan.
"Professor Snape?" Rose questioned, her voice fearful. Black eyes stared suspiciously into the glistening emerald orbs.
"Be a messenger- let you all be warned that anymore night time wanderings from any of you." Snape hissed out, his syllables sharp and stern. " And I will have you all personally expelled myself. Good day to you." Rose watched as he turned away and took off in a flurry of robes.
"He's mad." Dorinda acknowledged as Rose joined them on the stone steps. Harry nodded along side his sister.
"Right, here's what we've got to do." Harry began in a whisper. "One of us has got to keep an eye on Snape. Hermione would be good for that."
"Why me?" Hermione asked, confused at the assigned post. Snape hated her just as much as any of them.
"It's obvious isn't it?" Ron replied. " You can be pretending to wait for Professor Flitwick." He put on a high voice. "Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried I think I got question fourteen b wrong."
"That's true." Dorinda laughed, not caring that Hermione was glaring at her. Their intellectual truce was rocky at best.
"Shut up." Hermione retorted. "Its just as likely a situation for you to be caught in."
"Quit it already." Julian muttered something about girls underneath his breath. "I will watch for Snape. If he finds me, I can just pretend I was looking for my dear Head of House."
"Good thinking Julian." Harry nodded. "Ron and I will go check out the third-floor-corridor. Make sure Snape hasn't already put Fluffy to sleep."
"Alright, Rose and I will be at the library then." Dorinda gave Harry and Julian an encouraging stare before bounding off towards the grand staircase.
"Good luck then brother." Julian smiled through the tense atmosphere, before he too took off.
"Be needing more than luck." Ron muttered. "Coming Hermione?"
"Yes I suppose so." Hermione nodded thoughtfully. The three Gryffindors took off towards the staircase as well. It wasn't long however before they met back up with Professor McGonagall. Just outside the Forbidden Corridor.
"I suppose you three believe yourselves to be harder to get pass than a bunch of enchantments do you?" McGonagall laughed in anger. "Enough of this nonsense already, if I see you three anywhere near here again then I won't hesitate to take away another fifty points!"
"Professor!" Ron spluttered. "Have you no heart! This is your own house!"
"Do not test me Mister Weasley!" McGonagall shooed them out of the corridor. "Stay clear of this corridor. This is your last warning."
"What are we to do now?" Hermione asked as they walked back towards the staircase. All three of their heads hung low, defeated.
"We can't give up yet." Ron said but it sounded futile. Dumbledore was already gone, hope was surely already lost.
"I'll meet you two back at the common room." Harry said suddenly.
"Harry?" Hermione questioned him, his whole demeanor had shifted.
"Just go, I will be there soon." Harry waved their concern away and took off towards the library.
He had just had a brilliant idea, reckless but brilliant all the same. If he could just get his siblings in on it, it just might stand a chance. The stone just might stand a chance. But it would be difficult to convince Dorinda and she was without a doubt the intellectual of the four Potters. But Harry knew it had to be done, the Stone could not end up in the hands of Voldemort.
"Harry I thought you were going to check on Fluffy?" Rose inquired as soon as Harry sat down at their table. It was just Rose and Dorinda, both were reading rather large tomes. Harry explained what had happened earlier in the third floor corridor.
"I'd take McGonagall at her word if I were you." Dorinda advised, her eyes never leaving the page of her book.
"I'm going to sneak out tonight and try to get to the stone first." Harry declared in a sudden fit of bravery.
"Are you barmy?" Dorinda's eyes finally rose to look into an identical set of emerald orbs. "How can you possibly believe that you can pass all of the enchantments set out to protect the stone?"
"I dunno but I have to try don't I." Harry whispered fiercely. "If I fail then at least I know that I did what I could to protect it."
"Harry you can't." Rose murmured in terror at her brother's heroics. Dorinda sighed and closed her book but not before marking her place.
"It's not a matter of if Harry." Dorinda was sullen. "You will fail alone."
"Dorinda if Voldemort gets a hold of the stone, he will return. And if he returns then he will probably turn Hogwarts into a school for dark arts and more than likely he will have us murdered." Harry struggled to get the words out. "Voldemort killed our parents. I will never go over to the dark side. I'm going through the trap door tonight and you two cannot do anything to stop me."
"Oh, I'm sure we could manage to stop you." Rose let out a small laugh. "But you won't be having any trouble from me, seeing as I will be going with you."
"I knew I could count on you." Harry grabbed his sister's smaller hand and squeezed it lovingly. "We better go and find Julian then?"
"Wait just a minute." Dorinda spat angrily. "You can't honestly expect me to let all three of you go on some heart-stopping adventure without me can you?"
"Well I suppose you're invited too." Harry teased his dark haired sister. Dorinda glared in amusement.
"No talking you out of this then?" Dorinda packed her books away. Harry shook his head as he smiled. "Just let it be known that I'm only coming along to make sure you don't get yourself killed."
"We'll all be expelled if were caught you realize." Dorinda muttered as Harry met her just inside the deserted Ravenclaw common room. They didn't wish to alarm the portraits.
"Yes but better all of us than one of us." Harry whispered back before throwing the cloak over her as well.
"Better none of us in my opinion." Dorinda whined. "Did you remember the flute for Fluffy?"
"Yes it's in my pocket." Harry told her before they fell silent. They slowly made their way towards the Hufflepuff dorms. They were careful not to trip over the hem of the cloak or each others feet.
"Was getting a bit worried." Rose greeted them with a relieved smile. Her auburn locks were braided into two identical braids. "Thought you might have been caught."
"Kind of wish we had." Dorinda admitted nervously. The closer they got to going towards the third-floor-corridor the more nervous they all got.
"Come on we best hurry up." Harry ushered Rose underneath the cloak. It was a close fit with all three of them in already. They still had to get Julian.
"Shh do you hear something?" Dorinda whispered. Rose and Harry stopped walking and listened. The echo of footsteps could be heard. They were currently on the fourth floor on route to the dungeons. Silently as they could they edged their way over to the corner. To their surprise a moment later, Julian turned around the corner. He was sweating and looking around nervously, his mouth muttering words they couldn't hear.
"Julian!" Dorinda whispered urgently before taking the cloak off. "Hurry get under the cloak."
"What are you playing at?" Harry tugged the cloak down as they all squeezed closer together. "Walking around without protection!"
"I heard that Peeves was going to be hanging around the third floor corridor tonight." Julian explained as he ushered them to keep walking. "It was last minute so I hurried off to give him another distraction. A Slytherin Seventh Year has been meeting up in the Astronomy Tower with a Ravenclaw Sixth Year. Peeves was absolutely thrilled by the possibilities."
"Where we you heading too?" Dorinda asked confused as they ventured down the stairs slowly. One of their shoes kept popping out of the cloak.
"I knew Harry had already probably been to the Ravenclaw dorm so I thought I might catch you getting Rose."
"Master I smell an animal." A black head poked out from under the sleeve of Julian's robes. "Coming up from the top of the stairs, few yards out still."
They all heard Devious's warning and hurried to finish descending the stairs. At the bottom they wasted no time in heading for the forbidden corridor. The door was already ajar when they reached it. Quietly they entered, not giving one another a chance to back out of the seemingly impossible adventure. The door creaked and the low growls of Fluffy hit their ears, if they wanted to turn back, now was the time.
"Look Snape must have used a harp." Rose pointed to the harp that was no longer playing music. It looked oddly less majestic standing next to the gigantic Fluffy.
"He must automatically wake up once the music stops." Dorinda noted in horrid fascination.
"Well give it a go Harry." Julian urged his brother. Harry nodded, his eyes not leaving the growling dog, as he took out the flute. He blew into it, it wasn't in any sense pretty to the ears but it seemed to do the trick. At the first note, Fluffy's eyelids began to droop and soon he was passed back out on the floor, drool hanging from all three of its mouths.
"Keep playing Harry." Dorinda told him. "Julian help me get this door open." Slowly they crawled over the dog's large legs. The trap door opened easily. Inside however was a black abyss, one that they were certain to have to fall straight into.
"Suppose we'll have to just drop." Julian chuckled before he blindly jumped straight into the hole. Rose gave off a terrified scream as Dorinda attempted to snatch the back of his robes but she missed. Harry stopped playing the flute at Rose's scream but hurriedly began playing again once Fluffy gave off a low growl.
"Come on down!" Julian's voice called up to them. "There is something here to cushion the fall."
Harry gestured for Dorinda and Rose to go ahead and he would follow. Dorinda closed her eyes and leaped into the dark hole. Rose looked a bit less sure and sought encouragement from Harry who patted her shoulder with his free hand before pointing to his wrist. She nodded in understanding, they were strict on time, and with a deep breath she too plunged into the dark abyss. Harry stopped playing but wasted no time in seeing if Fluffy would awaken before taking his turn into the hole.
"What is this stuff?" Harry asked as a long green tendril wound itself around his wrist. Dorinda and Rose were struggling to battle it off but the plant held them tightly.
"Stop it!" Julian told them frantically. "Its Devil's Snare, the more you fight it, the stronger it will hold on." Julian wasn't struggling at all and at his declaration, Dorinda had stopped immediately as well.
"Well how do we get out of it!" Harry asked as he clawed at the tight tendril around his wrist. His circulation was being cut off.
"I'm thinking!" Julian yelled as he ran his hands roughly through his long hair. "Ah I can't remember!"
"Lumos Solem." Dorinda whispered. Her arm was being held tightly by the Devil's Snare but her wand was still in her hand. She had grabbed it from her robes pocket before she had jumped. A bright light came out and instantly the plant began to recoil. Soon Dorinda was able to pull herself free enough that she could direct the charm at her wand-less brothers and sister. "Lucky I had my wand out and ready, perhaps you three will do the same."
"Lucky Julian pays attention in Herbology." Rose muttered as she freed herself and went to join her sister by the stone passageway. She pulled her wand out as she did so.
"Come on you guys." Harry urged as he and Julian joined their sister's. "We need to hurry."
The walls were leaky, a steady dripping sound could be heard as water made its way down the stone walls around them. Their footsteps echoed loudly even when they tried to walk quietly. The passageway sloped downward, much like Gringotts long winding passageways had. Their senses were on edge as they waited for a full grown dragon to pop around the corner, teeth bared and flames erupting from its mouth.
"I think I might have heard something." Rose whispered, hurrying her pace up and listening more intently. It was a clinking sort of sound, one that she wasn't familiar with. "It sounds a bit like wings."
"There's a light ahead!" Julian exclaimed, pointing towards the end of the dwindling passageway. "I see something moving."
"Are those birds?" Harry asked as they entered a brightly lit chamber. There were many little jeweled like birds flapping around the room loudly. A wooden door was at the other side of the chamber.
"I think they might be keys." Dorinda observed. "I bet one of them opens that door."
"You suppose the keys will attack if we attempt to cross the room?" Rose asked curiously. "They don't look particularly vicious but perhaps it is some sort of illusion."
"Well the door might not be locked anymore at any rate." Julian suggested before recklessly running the length of the room. The others quickly followed him but it was no use. The door was locked.
"Alohomora!" Harry tried the unlocking charm but it didn't work. Dorinda angrily tried as well. "It didn't work for me Dorinda, what makes you think it might've worked for you?"
"Only checking." Dorinda bit back in defense. They all turned back to the glittering keys.
"Their charmed to fly around like that." Rose noted. "One obviously opens the lock."
"Broomsticks!" Julian suddenly yelled. "We must have to catch the little buggers!" They all went over to the broomsticks and climbed on. They wasted no time in beginning to chase down the keys, however the minute they had boarded the broomsticks, the keys had begun to fly much faster.
"It's probably going to be an old-fashioned one just like the handle." Dorinda told them, her breathing heavy. She didn't give Harry enough credit at being able to play Quidditch so well.
"Look there!" Harry shouted. "The one with the blue feathers, they're slightly crumpled! It's wing is bent a bit. We'll have to close in on it!"
"Rose watch out!" Dorinda yelled as Harry caught the key. It was too late however as Rose crashed into an oblivious Julian. With the Slytherin being a bit more sturdy than his sister, he managed to stay atop his broom. Rose however, already feeling quite awkward on a broom, didn't manage to keep her balance and landed roughly on the floor. "Rose!"
"I'm okay." Rose muttered as she tried to push herself up. She cried out in pain however when her arm protested. She had tried to brace her fall but had instead landed right on top of her right arm. "I think my arm might be broken."
"Rose!" Julian huffed as he jumped off his broom and hurried over to his teary-eyed sister. "I'm so sorry Rose, I didn't see you. I turned around and you turned your head and then-" Julian mumbled incoherently.
"It's okay Julian, I'm fine." Rose lied trying to comfort her sorrowful brother. "Did you get the key at least?"
"Yeah." Harry muttered, looking at the key pitifully and then back at his sister. How many more of them would get hurt before they reached Snape? "Maybe we should just turn back."
"What no!" Rose protested instantly. "We have to save the stone Harry, I will be fine." As if to contradict her statement, the pain in her arm intensified. She struggled to not cry out. "Go on, see if the key works."
Harry stared at Rose, she was obviously in pain. Surely her arm was broken but her face was defiant. She wanted them to continue on. Harry fought himself internally, his family meant everything to him but Voldemort was attempting to return. If he succeeded then perhaps sooner or later he would no longer have a family to love anyway.
"Brother?" Julian whispered, standing up as he helped Rose off the ground. The Hufflepuff was cradling her arm close to her chest. She was pale but otherwise alert. Julian clasped a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder.
"I didn't break my arm for nothing Harry." Rose said bravely. "We cannot turn back now not after we have made it this far."
"Rose is right Harry." Dorinda agreed. "We will get her help as soon as we make sure the stone is safe."
Harry sighed but nodded his acceptance. They had to continue on. No one else was here trying to protect the stone. No one else knew that it was in any danger. Many didn't even know of its existence inside the school. Even more didn't know that Voldemort was not dead and that he was attempting to return. It was up to them now, only they could stop Snape and consequently prevent Voldemort's return.
Dorinda joined Julian and put her own hand on Harry's other shoulder, a small comfort. Rose smiled encouragingly at Harry as he put the key into the lock and all sighed in relief when a small unlocking click was heard.
"Ready?" Harry asked them, they all nodded. He pushed the door open and took a step in the much darker room. It was pitch black but the moment they stepped in, lights turned on to reveal a life sized chessboard. "What do we do now?"
"I suppose we have to play chess." Dorinda laughed cynically. "I've never really played much Wizarding Chess."
"Ron is great at Wizarding Chess." Harry mumbled guilty. He hadn't told his best friends what he had been planning to do. He had waited for Ron to follow asleep before leaving. He just didn't want to put them in any danger. He knew they would be mad when they found out he had left them behind.
"Well that's awesome, where's he when you actually need him?" Dorinda asked sarcastically. "What are you smirking at?"
"Draco." Julian answered happily, prancing over to whisper to the large black knight. The black knight nodded to whatever he had said and Julian turned back to them.
"What about the prick?" Dorinda spat, she wasn't in any mood to hear about the arrogant Slytherin.
"Draco is from a pureblood family, he grew up playing Wizarding Chess." Julian explained. "He's been teaching me, I reckon we might stand a chance."
"I've played a few games myself but I'm rubbish." Harry told his brother. "I doubt I'll be of any help."
"Just listen to me." Julian said confidently.
The chess game soon begun. Julian had instructed Harry to be the bishop, Dorinda was a castle and Rose was the Queen. Julian himself was a knight. White went first, which was customary in any chess game, wizarding or muggle. It came as quite a shock however when their first player was taken, the other knight. The white Queen showed no mercy and smashed him brutally over the head and dragged him off the board. However, it left Dorinda free to take the white bishop. Julian was silent throughout the game, he was concentrating intensely on only the chessboard before him. It was when he spoke therefore, that they all knew something was wrong.
"It's the only way." Julian muttered. "It's the only way we will win."
"Julian?" Harry questioned, his eyes suspicious as he too analyzed the chessboard. He knew enough to know what his brother was about to do.
"That's chess I suppose." Julian muttered. "It's life too, you have to make sacrifices."
"What is going on!" Dorinda asked hysterically, she hadn't a clue what was happening. She wasn't much for games, that was perhaps the only reason she hadn't spent time learning the logical game of chess. But she was sure that after this, she would spend hours if need be, to learn. She hated not understanding.
"I will be taken." Julian announced dramatically, trying to make light of the situation like always. He put his hand over his heart and nodded at each of his siblings. "Save the stone."
Julian took a step forward and the Queen wasted no time in hitting him hard over the head. Julian went flying and the Queen went over and dragged the Slytherin's unconscious body off of the board. Rose cried out for her brother, her own pain forgotten as she felt her Julian's. She went to take a step towards him but stopped at Harry's yell.
"Don't. We are still playing." Harry reminded her, tears were coming out of Rose's eyes. Harry made the final move and the white King threw his crown at Harry's feet. "We've won!"
They cheered lightly before they rushed over to Julian's limp body. His head was bleeding slightly, most likely he had a concussion. Dorinda pulled out her handkerchief and Rose used the aguamenti charm to wet it. It was excruciating to cast the spell, considering her right arm was also her wand arm. Her wand felt as if it weighed nearly three times as much as it truly did.
"You guys go on, I will stay here with him." Rose told them. "I won't be much help with my wand arm broken. I will make sure he is alright."
"We'll be back for you." Harry promised her fiercely before grabbing Dorinda's hand and running through the next door.
"We're nearly done, we've already passed Sprout's, Flitwick's and McGonagall's. That leaves Quirrell's and Snape's." Dorinda explained logically as they made their way through another darkened passageway. At the end a stench filled their noses. "And it looks as if Quirrell's is already done for us."
"I'm glad, I don't fancy fighting another one of those." Harry replied. They carefully stepped over the creature's massive legs. Trolls were inherently ugly creatures.
"Nor do I." Dorinda agreed. "Hurry up Harry, my nose is beginning to hurt from the smell."
"Snape's." Harry acknowledged as they walked into the next room. Inside was a table with seven different bottles lying on top of it in a row. They stepped over the threshold and immediately a purple fire sprang up behind them. A black fire sprang up in front of them as well.
"And now we're trapped." Dorinda said cynically. "Is that a piece of parchment?"
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 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.
"Another one of Julian's strengths. Potions that is." Harry sighed, looking at the bottles. He wasn't dreadful at potions by any means but he was no Julian when it came to them. He just didn't have the passion it took to be good at the subject.
"No Harry, this is a puzzle." Dorinda smiled gleefully. "It's not magic at all, its all about logic. My strength!"
Dorinda went about muttering to herself and walking up and down the table. She looked the same as she did when she was reading the map to Diagon Alley so many months ago. That was when they had first found out they were wizards before they had known their parents had been murdered. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Many wizards only rely on their magic and haven't got a bit of logic in them." Dorinda explained stopping in front of the smallest bottle. "They'd be stuck in here forever."
"I'd imagine I would be without you." Harry commented with a deep breath. Dorinda nodded her head in agreement, her face playful. She picked up the smallest bottle and handed it to her brother. "There's hardly a swallow left."
"Yes I know." Dorinda replied, frowning. "I suppose one of us will have to go back instead of forward." She went over to the rounded bottle at the right end of the line.
"Drink that and go help Rose and Julian." Harry agreed bravely. "I will go on ahead."
"I won't fight you on it." Dorinda promised. "But what if Voldemort is with Snape?"
"We've fought him off before haven't we?" Harry said pitifully, trying to reassure her. "I'm not much a match for Snape but I might be able to hold him off for awhile."
"Try expelliarmus it's a disarming charm." Dorinda suggested in encouragement. "We'll try to owl Dumbledore if we can get back through."
"Thanks good luck." Harry hugged his sister tightly. She kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"It's you who will be needing the luck brother." Dorinda said seriously. Her eyes glistening in the light of the chamber. She took a long swig of the round bottle and gagged lightly. "It's like ice."
"Go now, before it wears off." Harry gave her a little push. He didn't want her to have the chance to change her mind. Dorinda gave him one last loving look before she went through the purple fire and disappeared. "My turn."
Harry picked up the smallest bottle and drained the remains of its contents quickly. He took in a deep breath before he stepped into the black flames. It was indeed a feeling like ice and consequently he did not feel the flames licking his body. All he saw was the dark fire for a moment before he was suddenly on the other side. He wasn't prepared for the sight that met him. Dorinda had been right after all.
It was Quirrell.
AN: Well guys, here we are nearing the end of this story, finally! We have one more chapter to go! If I have any followers, you should be happy to know that I have every intention on finishing this series. I have many good ideas for the plot that I want to use. If you failed to notice I am redoing the chapters slightly and editing a little bit. I've done the first two and will finish the all the previously done chapters before I start the next story. It shouldn't take me too long. Thanks for the support and if you could read and review please.
TeoBlaise