The dedication of this chapter goes to Joanne Rowling on her birthday, July the 31st. I will try to keep this short as i could go on for pages. Jo, without you, i would not be writing this story. You have given me light when i needed most, you have given me a home i can always come back to, you have given me friends who never turn their backs on me. You have also shaped the person I am, each of your characters have taught me different lessons about life and love which i don't think i could have learnt anywhere else. I would not be the person i am today if you hadn't picked up your pen and began scribbling a story about a boy wizard. There are not enough words in the world to show you my gratefulness, so all i will do is wish you a very Happy Birthday with this Chapter. Jo, Thank you.

Chapter Twelve – Daring Nerve and Chivalry

Hermione had all her notes in front of her and was feverishly skimming through them, she knew that there was little hope that she would come across one of the enchantments they would be facing tonight but, anything was worth a shot. It took quite a while for the common room to empty but finally Harry ran upstairs to fetch the cloak. Hermione put down her notes on the table beside her armchair and stood up, Ron did the same.

"Come across anything?" Ron said, faking casualness.

"No," Hermione said sadly, shaking her head.

"We'll be fine," Ron said firmly. Hermione couldn't tell if he was saying it to himself or her.

Harry arrived back in the common room "We'd better put the cloak on here, and make sure it covers all three of us – if Filch spots one of our feet wandering along on its own …."

"What are you doing?" Said a voice from an armchair in the corner of the room. They all turned to see Neville appear, clutching Trevor the toad.

Hermione's breathe caught in her throat; they had all thought the common room was empty.

"Nothing, Neville, nothing," Harry said briskly, putting the cloak behind his back

Neville gave them all a hard look.

"You're going out again," He said, it was not a question.

"No, no, no. No, we're not," Hermione said, quite harshly, she softened her tone as she finished "Why don't you go to bed, Neville?"

"You can't go out, you'll be caught again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble." Neville said, raising his chin

"You don't understand, this is important." Harry implored

Neville's eyes narrowed as he locked eyes with the three of them "I won't let you do it," He said, moving to stand in front of the portrait hole. "I'll – I'll fight you!"

"Neville," Ron yelled suddenly "get away from hole and don't be an idiot…."

"Don't call me an idiot!" Neville said back, loudly, his face a mask of determination. Underneath her annoyance Hermione felt quite proud of him standing up for himself so well. "I don't think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!"

"Yes, but not to us," Ron said in an exasperated voice, despite herself Hermione frowned at what he had said. "Neville, you don't know what you're doing."

Ron stepped towards Neville as he spoke and Neville dropped Trevor and clenched his jaw.

"Go on then, try and hit me!" He said, raising his fists. "I'm ready!"

Harry turned to Hermione, who was watching with a slack jaw "Do something," He said desperately.

Hermione closed her eyes for a second and stepped forwards, hating herself for what she was about to do to poor Neville. He was her friend who just wanted to do the right thing, he shouldn't have to be punished for that. But Hermione knew that she had to do this.

"Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this." She said raising her wand.

Neville gave her fleeting, confused look before…

"Petrificus Totalus!" She said, pointing her wand at Neville

Hermione watched with sadness as Neville's arms snapped to his sides and his legs bound together, his whole body was stiff as he swayed, then fell flat onto the carpet, face down. Hermione rushed forwards and knelt down next to him, carefully grabbing his shoulders and turning him over. His whole face was rigid apart from his eyes, which looked at Hermione in utter horror and hurt. Hermione felt her throat catch.

"What have you done to him?" Harry whispered from behind her.

"It's the full Body-Bind," Said Hermione, not looking around. "Oh Neville, I'm so sorry." She half-whispered hoping he would understand how she wished she hadn't had to do that. She hoped he would see the apology in her eyes.

"We had to, Neville, no time to explain," Said Harry

"You'll understand later, Neville," Ron said.

Hermione stood up and went over to the boys so they could pull the invisibility cloak over all three of them. She hated leaving Neville helpless on the floor, but what else could she have done?

OOO

All three of them stood looking at the slightly ajar door with a growing terror in their stomachs.

"Well, there you are," Harry said softly. "Snape's already got past Fluffy."

Harry turned around underneath the cloak so he was looking at Ron and Hermione. Hermione noted the steely look in his eyes.

"If you want to go back, I won't blame you. You can take the Cloak, I won't need it now."

Hermione felt a mixture of amusement at the fact that Harry actually thought they would leave him and sadness at what Harry was prepared to face alone. Before she could reply Ron had shot out.

"Don't be stupid,"

Hermione nodded "We're coming."

Harry pushed the door open. As it creaked they all heard the ominous growls of Fluffy, who was sniffing loudly in their direction. Hermione spotted something odd.

"What's that at its feet?"

"Looks like a harp," Said Ron squinting. "Snape must have left in there,"

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," Said Harry "Well here goes …"

Out of his pocket he brought out a roughly chiselled flute. Hermione had never seen it before. He put it to his lips and began to blow, despite the fact it wasn't really a tune the dog began to fall asleep straight away. Within a few moments it had slumped to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Keep playing," Ron warned as they took off the cloak and crept towards the trapdoor.

"I think we'll be able to pull the door open," Ron said, peering around the dog. He looked up at them "Want to go first Hermione?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him "No, I don't!"

"All right." Said Ron, gritting his teeth. He carefully stepped over the dog's legs and pulled the ring of the trapdoor, it swung open immediately.

"What can you see?" Hermione asked

"Nothing – just black – there's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop."

Harry, who was standing nest to her, waved wildly at Ron and then pointed to himself.

"You want to go first?" Ron said slowly. "Are you sure?" I don't know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."

Harry turned to her and handed her the flute. In those few seconds the dog growled and its paw twitched. Hermione quickly put the flute to her lips and played the first tune that came into her head. It took her a second to recognize what she was playing; it was 'Fast Car' By Tracy Chapman, her mother's favourite song. Hermione watched as Harry climbed over the dog's paw and looked down into the trapdoor. He then lowered himself down until Hermione could no longer see him.

"If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?" Came his voice, miraculously steady.

"Right," Ron answered.

"See you in a minute, I hope …" Were his final words as he dropped down.

Hermione almost stopped playing the flute as she waited in horror, finally a voice floated up to them, sounding incredibly far away.

"It's OK! It's a soft landing, you can jump!"

Ron gave her a fleeting look of determination before jumping down out of sight. Hermione, still playing the flute, carefully climbed over the dog's leg and stood at the edge of the trapdoor. From a distance she heard 'come on, Hermione!'. She felt a fierce clench of fear in her stomach as she took the flute out of her mouth and jumped into nothingness. Cold, stale air whipped her hair above her head as she fell down and down. Suddenly she landed with a flump onto…whatever it was she had landed on.

She looked around her, at the damp walls and endless ceiling "We must be miles under the school," She said.

"Lucky this plant thing is here, really," Ron said, looking down

As he spoke Hermione too looked down at what they had landed on and immediately shrieked in horror.

"Lucky! Look at you both!"

Hermione leapt up and tried to move herself. She found it extremely difficult as the plant she had landed on had begun to twist strange tendrils around her ankles. They were trying to grip her tightly but Hermione kicked outwards until she reached the wall. Then she turned to Harry and Ron whose legs were both bound tightly vines. Hermione watched in utter horror as the boys struggled against the plant, but the more they moved about, the tighter the plants grip became. Suddenly she realised what the plant was and she called out to the boys.

"Stop moving! I know what this is – It's Devils Snare!"

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," Ron shot at her as he tried to lean away from the plant, which was attempting to curl round his neck.

Hermione panicked when she realised she couldn't remember how to kill it. Ron yelling at her was not helping.

"Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!"

"Well hurry up, I can't breathe!" Harry gasped, Hermione blanched at the sight of the Devil's Snare wrapping around his chest.

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare…what did Professor Sprout say?" Hermione muttered desperately "It likes the dark and damp….."

"So light a fire!" Harry managed to choke out

"Yes – of course….." Hermione looked around the room frantically for something to start a fire with "But there's no wood!" She cried desperately, almost in tears at the sight of her two best friends being suffocated with nothing she could do to help.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron suddenly bellowed at her from across the room. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"

"Oh right," Said Hermione, wanting to hit herself. She pulled her wand out of her pocket and waved it in a circle.

"caeruleumflammula" She muttered quickly, holding her wand out for longer so that the jet of her bluebell flames shot out, rather than fell as a small clump.

She watched with relief as the Devil's Snare loosened its grip on the boys, after struggling for a bit they both managed to pull free.

"Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione," Harry said as he joined her by the wall.

"Yeah, and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis – 'there's no wood', honestly." Ron said, shaking his head whilst giving her a look that clearly said 'you utter moron.'

Hermione cringed, not believing her own stupidity. How had she forgotten she could use magic! The boys could have been seriously hurt because of her. She felt quite idiotic.

"This way," Said Harry, pointing to a stone passageway in front of them.

They walked for a short while, the passageway gently sloped downwards and Hermione could here the sound of water dripping down the walls. Finally Ron whispered.

"Can you hear something?"

Hermione now listened, she could here a soft rustling a soft rustling sound with the occasional clink in the background.

"Do you think it's a ghost?" Ron asked quietly

"I don't know …. Sounds more like wings to me," Said Harry

"There's light up ahead – I can see something moving," Hermione breathed

The passageway ended and they found themselves in a brightly lit chamber. Flying serenely around the room were hundreds of jewel coloured birds, flying right up to the high arched ceiling above them.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Said Ron, looking at a heavy wooden door on the other side of the chamber

"Probably, they don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once … we'll there's nothing for it …. I'll run," Harry said, covering his face with his arms.

Ron and Hermione watched with bated breathe as Harry began to sprint across the room. To their surprise, nothing happened, Harry reached the door unscathed. Ron and Hermione walked across the room and joined Harry at the door where they all pulled with all their might. It did not work, even after Hermione tried 'alhomora' from the Standard book of spells chapter 7, the door refused to open.

"Now what?" Said Ron, throwing up his arms.

Hermione turned her face up to the ceiling and began to think.

"These birds ….. They can't be here just for decoration,"

"They're not birds!" Said Harry suddenly, making Ron and Hermione jump. "They're keys! Winged keys – look carefully. So that must mean…."

Harry trailed off as Hermione stared upwards. Harry was right; if you squinted you could just make out the shape of a glittering key between the wings of each creature.

"…..Yes – look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

Hermione followed Harry's pointed finger.

"But there are hundreds of them!" She said, frustrated.

Ron was now looking at the lock on the door. "We're looking for a big, old fashioned one – probably silver, like the handle,"

All three of them walked towards the broomsticks that were propped up in the corner. The two boys grabbed their brooms with enthusiasm, but Hermione was more hesitant. She hated flying, her lessons this year had mostly consisted of her going extremely slowly and not very high up, avoiding corners at all costs. She didn't understand how it could be enjoyable, there was nothing holding you up but a thin piece of wood! Nevertheless she grabbed a broom and kicked off into the air with the other two, trying not to shriek every time she had to lift her hand off of the broom to grab at a key. After a few minuets of futile attempts Harry yelled out.

"That one! That big one – there – no there – with bright blue wings – the feathers are crumpled on one side." Harry was pointing to a key near the top of the room.

Seeing Harry pointing Ron went speeding off and promptly crashed into the ceiling, he managed to catch himself before he fell of his broom but Hermione still nearly screamed.

"We've got to close in on it" Harry called, still watching the key. "Ron, you come at from above – Hermione stay below and stop it coming down – and I'll try and catch it. Right, Now!"

With a faint moan Hermione pointed her broom upwards so she shot towards the ceiling, she felt as if she were going to slip off the end and fall, her knuckles had gone white from holding on so hard. Hermione barely noticed as the key dodged past both her and Ron, causing them to almost crash into one another, they both managed to get their brooms steady just as Harry pinned the key against the wall. Hermione and Ron both cheered with happiness. They all landed quickly and Harry ran to the door. He shoved the key into the lock and Hermione heard the click of it opening. The key then zoomed out of Harry's hand to rejoin its companions.

"Ready?" Harry asked, glancing back.

Hermione nodded with Ron and they watched as Harry pulled the door open. Inside it was dark so it looked like the door opened to nothingness. However as they stepped into the room, light flooded from every corner. They were standing, astonishingly, on a gigantic chess board. In front of them stood the black chessmen, all a lot taller than the three of them. On the other side, Hermione could see the white chessmen, none of them had faces.

"Now what do we do?" Whispered Harry

"It's obvious isn't it? "Ron said. "We've got to play our way across the room."

"How?" Asked Hermione, her voice shaking with fear, she didn't like this at all.

"I think, we're going to have to be chessmen."

Hermione watched as Ron took control of the situation, something Harry had been doing so far this evening. Ron walked up to a black knight and touched the horse's nose. At once it came alive, the horse pawing the ground and the head of the man looking down at Ron.

"Do we – er – have to join you to get across?"

The knight nodded and Ron turned back to Hermione and Harry.

"This wants thinking about …. I suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces …."

Ron stood thinking for a moment and Hermione was reminded forcefully of all the times Ron had sat across from her when they played chess, a very similar expression on his face as he worked out his strategy. Although now is face was a lot paler and his jaw was clenched tight.

"Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess…."

Hermione, for the first time, wasn't offended at being called not very good at something.

"We're not offended," Harry said quickly. "Just tell us what to do,"

"Well, Harry you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione you go next to him instead of the castle,"

Hermione nodded "What about you?" She asked quietly

"I'm going to be a knight," Ron said, lifting his chin bravely.

As soon as Ron had finished talking the chess pieces he had mentioned sprang to life and walked off the board. Harry, Ron and Hermione all walked to their places with slightly trembling legs.

"White always plays first in chess," Said Ron, staring at the other side of the board. "Yes …. Look …"

Hermione watched as a white pawn moved forwards to squares. With this, Ron started to direct the black pieces, his face a mask of concentration that none of them dared to break. In some ways Hermione was reminded of the games they played in the common room, on happier nights before they had lost Gryffindor all those points, but she could see the differences in hundreds of other ways. How when chess pieces were taken by the other team, they could feel the vibrations through the flaw as the heavy stone crashed down, how Ron had to play the game with the added problem of not getting Himself, Harry and Hermione taken, how Hermione felt physically sick every time she had to move. Ron barely spoke but to move the pieces until,

"We're nearly there. Let me think – let me think…"

At his words the white queen turned to face him.

"Yes…." Ron said softly, "It's the only way … I've got to be taken."

Hermione heart almost stopped cold at his words.

"NO!" She and Harry shouted.

"That's chess!" Ron said angrily. "You've got to make some sacrifices!" I take one step forward and she'll take me – that leaves you free to checkmate the King, Harry!"

"But…." Harry began

"Do you want to stop Snape of not?"

"Ron….." Hermione pleaded

"Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone!"

There was nothing more they could say so they both fell silent, but Hermione heart was beating to erratically she wanted to scream and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. Ron was going to sacrifice himself, so they could carry on.

"Ready?" Ron called back to them, his face was deathly pale but his chin was raised and his jaw clenched. "Here I go – now don't hang around once you've won."

He took one step forward at the white queen leapt at him, striking him around his head with her stone arm. Hermione screamed in terror as Ron crashed to the ground, still as the chess pieces had been when they had first walked in. the queen then grabbed his arm tightly and dragged him across the board, leaving him motionless next to the other lost pieces. Harry walked three spaces to the left, pale as the King who stood before him, who took of his crown and threw it at Harry's feet. Hermione looked over at Ron, wanting to run over to see how badly injured he was but his words rang in her ears. 'don't hang around once you've won.' So she hurried out of the door with Harry.

"What if he's…?" Hermione trailed off, not wanting to finish her sentence.

"He'll be alright," Harry said, although he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anything. "What do you reckon is next?"

Hermione tried to push thoughts of Ron to one side, "We've had Sprouts, that was the Devil's Snare – Flitwick must've put a charm on the keys – McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive – that leave Quirrell's spell, and Snape's…."

She stopped talking as they reached another door.

"All right?" Harry whispered

She didn't feel it was alright, so she just whispered back, "Go on,"

Harry pushed open the door and a horrendous yet familiar smell reached Hermione's nose. In front of them they saw a Troll, unconscious with a huge, bloody lump on its head. They both pulled their robes up to their noses and stepped over the troll's legs.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one. Come on, I can't breathe," Harry said as they walked across the room.

He pulled open the door and Hermione began to turn away, not wanting to look what horror could be in the next room. But all she saw out of the corner of her eye was a small table with seven differently sized bottles sitting on it.

"Snape's," muttered Harry. "What do we have to do?"

Together they stepped over the threshold, instantly a bright, purple fire sprang up in the doorway behind them. At exactly the same time, black flames shot up from the doorway opposite. Hermione cast her eyes back down to the table.

"Look!" She called, grabbing a roll of parchment that lay on the table. It read.

"Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,

Two of us will help you, whichever 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 hidden in line.

Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore,

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 onwards 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."

Hermione smiled as she finished reading and looked up at Harry.

"Brilliant," She said. "This isn't magic – it's logic – a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards in the world haven't got an ounce of logic, they'd be stuck in here for ever,"

"But so will we, won't we?" Harry asked, looking scared

Hermione almost snorted, "Of course not, everything we need is right here on the bit of paper. Seven bottles: three are poisons; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire and one will get us back through the purple,"

"How do we know which one to drink?" Harry asked, still not understanding the point of the puzzle.

"Give me a minute,"

Hermione re-read the scroll a few times, her mind already wiring, then she began to walk up and down the line, muttering to herself.

"Three poisons, two nettles. Poisons have to on the wines side….meaning one poison left over…. On either side they're different but they won't get you forward…..could be move back, a wine or the spare poison….dwarf is that one" Hermione pointed to the third from the left. "And giant is second from right….neither are poison…second right are the same…second right isn't poison and must have a match so must be wine…so third right is poison because it's on wine's left…..second left has to be wine as well…so poison is one the left end…..leaving third left, middle and right….left is different from right and won't move you forward so has to be move back and…. Dwarf can't hold death so it's move forwards!"

Hermione clapped her hands together in glee, "Got it" She told Harry, "The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire – towards the Stone,"

"There's only enough for one of us," Harry said, looking at the bottle. "That's hardly one swallow,"

Hermione looked up at Harry and saw the battle going on behind his eyes.

"Which one will get you back through the purple flames?"

Hermione pointed out the round bottle at the right end of the line.

"You drink that," Harry said, Hermione began to protest but Harry cut her off. "No listen – get back to Ron – grab brooms from the flying-key room, they'll get you out the trapdoor and past Fluffy – go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him. I might be able to hold off Snape for a while, but I'm not match for him really,"

Hermione eyes widened at what Harry was preparing to do.

"But Harry what is You-Know-Who is with him?"

"Well – I was lucky once, wasn't i?" Said Harry, indicating to his scar, "I might get lucky again,"

Hermione felt her throat thicken and her lip tremble, Harry was preparing to die if he had to. Hermione rushed across the room and threw her arms around him, breathing in his now familiar scent to her. She had noticed that Harry always smelt very slightly of baking bread, it wasn't as strong as Ron's smell but whenever they had been under the invisibility cloak she could just smell it.

"Hermione!" Harry said, surprised

"Harry…." Hermione had no idea what to say to her best friend as he went off to face something to eleven year old should have to face. "…..you're a great wizard, you know,"

Hermione let go of him now and looked up into his now red face.

"Not as good as you," He muttered

"Me!" Hermione snorted, "Books! And Cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery – oh Harry – be careful!"

"You drink first," said Harry, "You are sure which is which aren't you?"

"Positive," Said Hermione, although she was still nervous as she picked up the round bottle and took a long drink. The sensation was horrid, like ice filling her body, she shuddered.

"It's not poison?" Harry said worriedly

"No – but it tastes like ice,"

"Quick, go, before it wears off," Harry urged

Hermione took a long look into his face and said, "Good luck – take care….."

"GO!" Harry said commandingly

So Hermione turned around, took a deep breathe and walked into the purple flames.

! another cliffhanger, but, it is not just Jo's Birthday today, it is also our great and good wizard Harry. Therefore to celebrate this i will be doing a DOUBLE POST (cheer) It won't be up until quite late this evening (my time) so be patient. I hope you enjoyed this even though it just followed the book. Oh and the potion bit was 100% correct, i know it was very confusing as i wrote it as Hermione muttering but i promise you that is how to get to the solution. If anyone is interested i can give them a proper explanation in a PM, just ask. Please review to let me know you are reading and enjoying (if you are enjoying, if you're not them give me some constructive criticism) because in the words of beautiful Jo 'No story lives unless someone wants to listen.'

Hannah x