Through the trapdoor.
Harry was still conscience-stricken as he followed Ron and Hermione out to the Entrance Hall. Should he really do this?
"Mr. Potter, a word, please!" called Professor McGonagall as soon as they left the Great Hall. With hurried footsteps she caught up with her students. Uncertain, Harry looked up. Did she know what he and his friends were planning to do?
"Professor Snape asked me-"
"He's here?" Harry cut her off with rising hope.
McGonagall looked displeased at the rude interruption but went on, "No, he is not. But he contacted me right before dinner and asked me to check that everything was all right with you."
Harry sighed in frustration. "Where is he?" he demanded and was shocked to realize that he sounded like a whining baby.
McGonagall arched her eyebrow suspiciously, but then she took Harry by his shoulders and led him a few feet away from Ron and Hermione.
"Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore are visiting your relatives," she said in a low voice.
Harry stared at McGonagall, utterly shocked. "They're… Why?"
"As far as I know, they're there to discuss your summer arrangements," McGonagall explained.
"Summer arrangements?" Harry repeated in a whisper. What summer arrangements? Didn't Snape promise me, I wouldn't have to go back there? So what was there left to arrange? Harry was confused. Snape is talking with the Dursleys. This can mean just one thing: I have to go back. Vernon is going to kill me for causing two professors to visit him. Harry groaned inwardly.
"Everything all right?" McGonagall asked, concerned at Harry's horrified face.
"Yeah. Everything's perfect," Harry muttered bitterly, then turned around to head back to his waiting friends.
"What did she say? What about Snape?" Ron asked.
"Don't ask. Let's go!" Harry covered his hurt feelings about Snape's betrayal with a newfound determination to go right where he promised, he wouldn't go. If Snape could break his promises then Harry could as well.
While they headed to the Gryffindor Tower to get Harry's invisibility cloak, Hermione asked in a whisper "Are you all right?"
"No. I'm not. But I don't want to talk about it right now," Harry answered in a low voice, so that just Hermione could hear him.
-xox-
"Do you really want to do this?" Hermione asked Harry, her wand pointing at the door before her.
Harry nodded. "Whoever is behind trying to steal the stone, it's up to us to prevent it from getting into the wrong hands. And since the teachers don't believe us, we just have to do it on our own, don't we?"
"I'm with you," Ron said and nodded towards the door, signaling Hermione to go on.
Harry took out his flute and also nodded to Hermione in agreement.
"Alohomora!" the girl whispered.
-xoXox-
"Oh, thank Merlin, there you are!" Minerva said relieved as Albus and Severus finally entered the Entrance Hall. She had called the headmaster via her patronus as soon as she noticed the empty beds in her house.
"How long have the children been missing?" Albus wanted to know.
"I don't know exactly. I saw them after dinner." Minerva turned to Severus, "Harry seemed to be concerned about your absence so I told him where you were, but somehow he looked more troubled by the news."
Snape closed his eyes and shook his head. No wonder Harry had vanished. But he had really hoped the boy would trust him more.
While the teachers headed to the forbidden corridor, and McGonagall continued, "I kept watch at the third corridor. But then I suddenly heard Fluffy howl angrily and as I opened the door, I saw the open trapdoor. I'm not sure but I suspect the children went through somehow. Mr. Potter and his friends told me earlier this day that they believe that the stone would get stolen. I of course assured them that the stone is well protected, but obviously they didn't believe me."
"Well then, let's see how far they got," Albus said enthusiastically.
"Albus!" Severus and Minerva were both shocked by this statement.
"What? Isn't it interesting that the children found out a way to pass Fluffy?"
"Interesting? No wonder you were so unsurprised to learn that Harry and his friends could extract information out of that idiot half giant," Severus ranted.
"They are very clever," Dumbledore agreed happily.
"If they're that smart, why didn't they trust us when we explained to them that the stone would be safe?" Minerva asked.
"Children's curiosity and the wish for adventure," Albus answered easily. "As a child I was worse. I never trusted adults in anything until I saw it with my own eyes."
"Just because you were even more of a fool in your younger years doesn't excuse other children from punishment for thinking they can run wild. I never understood why you are so tolerant towards your students even when they got themselves in danger. It's our responsibility to show the children how far they can go and when they cross the line. What's the meaning of rules without consequences?"
"Ah, Severus. I have my heads of houses for good reasons," Albus said with twinkling eyes.
Severus grumbled to himself. Even Minerva shook her head in disapproval.
"You make our job impossible when you give children such things as invisibility cloaks," Severus muttered under his breath, but Albus just chuckled.
Albus is an incorrigible fool, Severus thought to himself. How can he stay that calm, when Harry and his friends could be in mortal danger? Severus knew Albus cared about Harry, so why was he so damned unconcerned?
But Severus was also angry at himself. He had felt that Harry was bothered by something. He should have come back immediately and not sent Minerva. That had been a bad mistake. Harry was unused to trusting or relying on adults, thanks to those damn muggles. And the small amount of trust Severus had gained from Harry wasn't enough to keep the boy out of danger.
Severus wondered if he could have stopped the boy if he had been there.
As the professors reached Fluffy's room, the dog was furiously barking and lunging with his three heads.
"Isn't that Quirinus' harp over there?" Mc Gonagall asked.
"It is," Severus confirmed. "So I was right about that!"
Severus pointed his wand at the harp, and it started to play. It took the enraged Fluffy some time to cool down, but finally it fell asleep.
"Right about what?" Minerva wanted to know.
"That our likeable, stuttering professor is trying to steal the stone on behalf of the Dark Lord."
"We don't know that yet," Albus said.
"Oh, come on! How much more proof do you need?" Severus asked angrily. "First the troll, then the incident at the quidditch match, let alone Potter's burning scar. He may not have been a Death Eater, but he is somehow in contact with the Dark Lord. All this stuttering, that's just an act, I bet."
"Albus, is that true? You two suspected Quirinus before?"
"We still have no evidence," Albus emphasized.
Severus just hissed in disbelief.
-oxo-
Severus and Minerva were relieved that the children didn't end up in the Devil's Snare, nor did the door with the flying keys stop the children. But Severus noticed some drops of blood and after an analysis charm he said, worried, "It's Harry's blood. The boy is hurt."
The three adults exchanged worried looks. Even Dumbledore's eyes were no longer twinkling. Minerva spotted the old key with broken wings near the door, unable to fly anymore. She picked it up and the three went on.
The next room held the human sized chessboard. There they finally found two children.
"Ron! Ron? Can you hear me? Please wake up!" Hermione cried desperately. She didn't notice the approaching professors until she heard their voices calling her name. She started violently and looked up. Relief washed over her face at the sight of the teachers, and she stood up and ran into Professor McGonagall's open arms.
She tried to explain everything, but her words came thick and fast and between all the sobs it was impossible to understand anything.
Severus took the girl by both shoulders, asking slowly but clearly: "Where is Potter?"
Hermione gulped and then took some breaths to pull herself together, before answering clearly: "He went on… with the potion… through the flames. He… he drank it and told me to go back and get help." More tears ran down the girl's face. "I'm sorry, Professor!" she sobbed.
Minerva pulled the girl into another hug.
"Mr. Weasley is unconscious. His left arm may be broken but he is generally all right. All he needs is a full day's rest in Madam Pomfreys care," Albus stated.
Minerva stayed behind with the children, while Severus and Albus went on.
-oxo-
As soon as Albus and Severus stepped through the flames a terrible scene met their eyes. There were horrible screams, but it was hard to say if they came from Professor Quirrell or from Harry. Professor Quirrell's face and hands were boiled, red and blistered. Harry on the other side had a death grip on his professor, determined not let Quirrell go.
Even as the two fell to the ground, Harry didn't lose his grip. The screams seemed to come from both, but there was a third voice screaming too. Finally a dark mist left Quirrell's body and everything went silent except the angry growl coming from the misty shadow.
Before Albus or Severus could react, the shadow glided towards them and vanished in the flames. Severus felt a painful stab in his left forearm as the shadow glided right through his body. The sudden pain was nearly unbearable, and Severus went to his knees. It was the same pain he had felt when he had got his Dark Mark.
"Severus, are you all right?" Albus asked, concerned.
"Don't worry about me. Check the boy!" Severus growled angrily.
When Albus turned Harry on his back to check the boy's vitals, something rolled out of the boy's pocket. Severus stood up and went towards it. As he picked it up, he recognized the Philosoper's Stone. As soon as he touched the stone, the pain in his forearm vanished.
"What is it?" Albus asked. He noticed Severus' movements out of the corner of his eye.
Severus held the stone up, and Albus arched an eyebrow. Then they both looked back at the boy. "How is he?" Severus wanted to know.
"He is magically drained. I believe he will sleep for some time, but except for some scratches he is fine."
"And what about Quirrell?"
Albus ran a diagnostic spell and then shook his head. "There is nothing we can do for him."
Severus had never liked Professor Quirrell but to learn that he was dead was still a shock. "It could have been easily the same for Harry. I'm sure the stone saved his life."
Albus just shook his head.
"Do you have any ideas what happened?" Severus wanted to know.
"I'm not sure. But I suspect Harry noticed that Professor Quirrell could not touch him without being burned, and that's why Harry kept his strong hold on the man. But I'm sure that so long as Voldemort possessed Quirinus, Harry must have felt that pain in his scar. That's why both of them were screaming."
"But why would a touch cause the Dark Lord so much pain?"
"Because of the love that ran through Harry's body: Lily's love."
"How could Harry bear so much pain?" Severus muttered more to himself.
"Perhaps that's the only good thing that came from Harry's stay at his relatives." Albus said in a regret-filled voice.
Severus' anger flared up again at the mention of the Dursleys. He had argued over and over with Albus against this stupid plan to place Harry back there, even if for only two weeks.
"Let's get out of here," he grumbled and scooped Harry into his arms. Albus nodded and the three of them left the room.
-oxOxo-
When Harry finally woke up, several days later, he didn't know where he was or what had happened. He felt weak and drained and he had a bad headache, but he couldn't fall back to sleep. So he rubbed his eyes and slowly tried to sit up. His hand automatically felt for his glasses on the nightstand.
As he found them and put them in his nose the infirmary became clear. Harry groaned. Why am I in the infirmary? he asked himself, trying hard to remember what had happened. And then his memory came back.
The stone. Professor Quirrell. Voldemort… his hands. Appalled, he looked down at his hands. They looked normal now, but how had it been possible to hurt Quirrell so much just by touching him. Quirrell's skin had burnt right under his touch. How? Why? Was he dead now? And what was about Voldemort? Fear, hope and confusion filled his mind.
But they all vanished again, as the door of the infirmary opened and Professor Snape entered. Harry knitted his eyebrows and folded his arms, watching his professor approach.
Professor Snape didn't show any emotion. His concern about the boy and his relief that Harry was awake were well hidden behind a neutral mask.
"Mr. Potter, you are again among the living?" he asked.
The boy pressed his lips together, turning his gaze away and staring instead at the opposite wall.
"I hope your anger is about your unbelievable stupidity in going for the stone on your own," Snape said.
Harry shot his teacher an angry look. "There was no one left who would have stopped Quirrell, was there?"
Now Severus knitted his own eyebrows together. "It wasn't necessary to stop anybody. The stone was perfectly safe until you got yourself involved."
Harry looked away again, growling to himself. It was silent for a while. Severus studied the boy before him until he finally asked: "You do realize that Professor Quirrell would never have been able to obtain the stone?"
"Did you realize that it wasn't just Quirrell? That Voldemort was poking out of the back of his head?" Harry shot back.
"Don't call him by that name!" Severus growled, furious.
Harry and Severus glared at each other.
"Dumbledore calls him -" Harry started but was interrupted by Severus.
"But you are not Professor Dumbledore!"
Harry sighed, frustrated, and Severus took some deep breaths to calm himself. It wouldn't help to yell as it would only cause Poppy to throw him out.
"Why did you go, Harry?" Severus asked and Harry noticed that he sounded somehow sad.
"Why did you go?" Harry answered back, challengingly. "I thought I could trust you, but you went and talked with my uncle behind my back."
"I did nothing-" Severus started to explain but Harry interrupted.
"I trusted you!" he yelled with tears in his eyes.
"Yes. And I trusted you!" Severus clarified.
"Then why did you break your promise?" Harry asked, hurt.
"I didn't. I promised you that I would do whatever I could to take you away from there and I did all in my powers, but unfortunately I don't have the final say." Severus explained.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.
"Professor Dumbledore doesn't want to cause a public stir, so we cannot press charges against the Dursleys. But that means that you have to go back-"
Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Severus held up his hand. "Please, Harry. Let me finish."
Harry nodded reluctantly and Severus went on, "As I said, you have to go back to the Dursleys for two weeks. Two weeks where you just have to sleep in your bed. During the days you are free to come over to Mrs. Figg's house, where I will stay during the two weeks. After this time we will get a house where we will stay for the rest of the summer holidays."
Harry was speechless for the first moment. Was it possible? Professor Snape still believed him and not uncle Vernon? But why? Everybody who talked with uncle Vernon believed that Harry was a liar. Nobody was on Harry's side after meeting with Vernon Dursley.
"So… you still believe me?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Of course I do. Why wouldn't I? I have seen with my own eyes what this uncle of yours did to you. Nothing he said could have changed my mind", Severus assured.
Harry closed his eyes and tears streamed down his cheeks. "I'm sorry" he sniffed.
Severus sighed. "Yes, now you are."
"You're going to punish me, aren't you?" Harry asked timidly.
"I promised you I would, didn't I?" Severus answered.
Harry closed his eyes and nodded his head resignedly. Professor Snape had promised him a spanking if Harry went near Fluffy again. Harry hadn't thought about that before he and his friends went through the trapdoor, but now he remembered Snape's words clearly and he shuddered. Nothing will ever change. Somehow I always get myself into trouble.
Severus also didn't like the idea. He had promised Harry a spanking, and if it had been any of his Snakes he would have administered it without a second thought. But this case was far more complicated. Harry didn't break his promise just because he had felt like it. He was concerned about the stone and his own safety and because the only person he had started to trust had disappeared without a word.
Severus realized he would have to think things through before he made a decision, so he said to the boy, "First of all, it is important that you regain your full strength. Then we will discuss this incident and its consequences."
Harry nodded unhappily, and Severus stood up to get Madam Pomfrey.