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Chapter 27 - House Elves, Dragons and Traps

-my-friend-tom-

"Harry! Harry!"

Harry yawned and looked up from his homework as Hermione came dashing into the room.

"What's wrong?"

"I knew it. It's not that they don't want to speak about it. It's that they're not allowed to speak about it! I knew it!" Hermione was almost jumping up and down in excitement.

Harry blinked in confusion. "Eh… what? Who?"

"The house elves, Harry. The house elves! They're not allowed to speak of how they were enslaved. I'm pretty sure they actually wanted to tell me but they have to follow all these rules so I had to almost trick them into speaking, well not really trick, but just ask in a very specific way that allowed them to answer and I'm pretty sure that they really wanted to tell me even when they were telling me they couldn't." The jumping had stopped and she was busy pulling books from her bag now.

'Close your mouth Harry.' An amused Tom interjected.

Harry did so and shook his head as he tried to make sense of Hermione's words.

"The house elves what?"

"I really think they do want to be free but they aren't allowed to say it nor are they allowed to talk about how it happened. They use different words to answer questions about it than they use to answer about things they don't know or don't want to talk about, like who won the football grand final last year and eating stale bread."

"Hermione, slow down. You're not making any sense."

"Oh Harry. It's the first evidence that I've got that means I'm on the right track. I really think that the wizards bound them a long time ago and then forbid them ever discussing what happened or how to free them. It's great isn't it Harry?"

Harry's smile had a hint of a grimace, but he nodded anyhow though Hermione didn't noticed as she was already nose deep into a book, her right hand and pencil poised above her notebook.

'Actually Harry. She might be on to something there.'

"About the House Elves? I thought we weren't going to worry about them?"

'That was before we worked out that Hermione is the only one of us free of the influence of compulsions.'

"I know. But…"

Tom cut Harry off, 'Harry. Look at it this way. If I asked you to investigate the issue of house elf slavery would you?'

"Of course Tom. But…"

Tom cut him off again, 'And is Hermione any less of a friend to you than I am?'

"Well no…" Harry trailed off on his own that time.

After a few moments Harry nodded to himself, and shifted his chair closer to Hermione so he could look at the book she was buried in.

"Explain it to me again, Hermione. But slower please." He asked with a real smile.

-my-friend-tom-

'And was it nice?'

"Well. Yes. I guess."

'Then what are you complaining about?'

"I'm not complaining."

'You sure sound like it.' Tom was almost laughing.

"I just wasn't expecting it. Hermione said a cheek kiss and then Katie, well, you know."

'I do know. I am you-know-who after all.'

"Oh stop that. That wasn't funny the first time you said it."

'It was a simple kiss Harry. Nothing to get so excited about, wait 'til she starts involving tongue.'

"What?" Harry froze, and a student made a noise as he only just avoided walking into Harry's back.

'Keep walking Harry. Lunch is an important meal and come to think of it, you might need to eat a little more than usual today.'

"Oh? Why is that?" Harry grasped at the opportunity to change topics.

'Don't forget you are escorting that dragon up to the roof of the astronomy tower tonight.'

Harry groaned as he started walking again this topic wasn't that much better after all, "Unbelievable. I should never have let Ron arrange the pickup location."

'I do believe it was his brother that was the one who suggested that location.'

"Whatever."

Harry entered the great hall and found a seat in between Neville and Hermione.

Hermione raised her eyes and watched as Harry started frantically piling food onto his plate. "Everything okay Harry?"

"Fine." He answered shortly before stuffing a forkful of mashed potato into his mouth.

Hermione gave a little smile, "So how was your first kiss."

Harry almost choked. "What? How?"

"Katie got back first and she wasn't shy about letting those close to her know that you kissed her."

Harry looked up and noticed that way too many people at the table were looking his way. His eyes snapped back to his plate. He decided he wasn't going to look up again till lunch was over.

"But she was the one…"

Hermione laughed lightly, "I guessed as much. Eat up Harry. Big night tonight."

Neville, who had been listening with an amused smile up to that point, groaned, "Don't remind me. I'm going to punch Ron as soon as he gets out of hospital."

Hermione gave Neville a reassuring smile over Harry's bowed head. "Don't worry Neville. It's all under control. Just stay with Harry, and wait till I send you an all clear signal before you move. What could go wrong?"

-my-friend-tom-

They were all gathered around Ron, who was sitting up in his hospital bed nursing his heavily bandaged hand.

"Right, so what happened next?" Ron asked.

Hermione took over the story, "Professor McGonagall and Malfoy. That's what happened. I was at the base of the steps under Harry's cloak, and Malfoy comes along with a furious Professor McGonagall who obviously didn't believe a work of what Malfoy was saying. Why he brought her instead of Snape I'm not sure. Maybe she caught him before he found Snape or something. His quarters are quite close to Professor McGonagall's after all so he would.."

Harry gave a little snigger.

"Ehh.. yes... well anyhow, I'd just sent the all clear signal up the stairs." A slightly embarrassed Hermione continued.

"You didn't!"

She sighed, "Well it had been all clear till that moment. I didn't expect her to come around the corner. She was moving so quickly. She was too close before I had the chance to send the danger signal. She would have seen it."

"So what did you do?"

Neville and Harry started sniggering.

Hermione mumbled, "I cast wingardium leviosa on the leg of a suit of armor behind Malfoy and it fell on him."

"You what!" Ron laughed.

"Well I had to do something and if I had cast a spell up the stairs she would have seen it so I cast it the other way. I didn't mean for the whole suit to land on him. It was an accident."

"A really good one though." Harry sniggered.

"Couldn't have happened to a more deserving person." Neville added.

Ron sighed, "I wish I had been there. So what did McGonagall do?"

Hermione sighed, "Dragged him away by the ear berating him. He lost fifty points and got a weeks detention with Filch."

The boys shared high fives.

"And Norbert?"

Harry grinned. "Should already be with Charlie by now. You'll probably get a letter later today. How about you don't give this one to Malfoy?"

Ron rolled his eyes, "Bloody hell. That wasn't my fault. Must admit I'm glad to hear Norberts gone. I like spending time with Hagrid but some of his pets. I sure won't be forgetting Norbert anytime soon. Pomfrey tells me it'll scar." He waved his bandaged hand in the air for emphasis.

"How much longer till you can get out of here?" Neville asked.

"Tomorrow morning. Pretty much healed but she wants to make sure there is no trace of the venom in my blood cause it could interfere with my magic."

"Oh yes. It's well known that dragon venom can interfere with magic, especially transfiguration magic. Though it's usually self transfiguration magic that is most affected. I wonder if it's due to your age that Pomfrey is concerned. I think I read something in… now where is it?"

The boys exchanged grins as Hermione started rummaging in her book bag.

-my-friend-tom-

Hermione slammed her fist down on the table, "I hate this! I think you are right. It really does look like its meant to make it so they would die if they were freed."

Harry glanced over her most recent notes. "Another trap?"

Hermione nodded and sighed. "Yeah. Not as bad as the last one, if it was the only one you would have enough time to counter it before the damage became irreversible. Doesn't really help us at the moment though."

"Was that the last compulsion you found?"

Hermione shook her head, "No. Only the last one that I could get a solid reading on. There are more that I don't understand and I think there are a few more that are either buried under the others or concealed in some other manner. I also think the house elf magic is interfering with some of the charms as well."

She yawned.

Harry gave her a small smile, "I think it's time we got some sleep. We can…." He stopped suddenly his eyes opening wide.

"Tom I just felt the potion room ward dropping."

'Check the others.'

"What's wrong Harry?"

"Sorry Hermione, just a sec. I need.." Harry trailed off as he concentrated on his active and tracked wards.

"I can't feel the ward on the troll room or on the chess room. The others seem okay. Why didn't I feel them falling or being bypassed?"

'I'm not sure. He shouldn't have been able to. Unless… no. No, I don't know. It's not important at the moment anyhow. He's at the potion room and we just have to hope the trap worked.'

"Harry?"

"Umm... sorry Hermione. I've got something I just remembered I need to do. Really sorry, can we continue this tomorrow." Harry had already stood and stuffed his belongings haphazardly in his bag before he had finished speaking.

"Okay. Do you need—" Hermione asked hesitantly.

"No. I'm fine. Thanks Hermione." Harry said as he disappeared racing up the steps to his dorm.

'Slow down Harry. Nothing we can do right now.'

"But what if he's bypassed the ward to the mirror room as well. We won't know. He could be in there right now. Do you think he could work out I have the stone?" Harry dumped his bag on his bed and grabbed his invisibility cloak ignoring whatever it was that Neville said to him.

'I doubt it Harry but even so there is nothing we can do right now.'

"We could go down and face him and—"

'And do what Harry? He's too powerful and he'll be prepared. Not much chance of surprising him right now. No, the best thing to do is get a couple of hours rest and then we'll go down and check on him.' Tom seemed to be speaking way too slowly and calmly for Harry's liking.

"But what if Dumbledore gets there first? He could accidentally wake him or free him or something?"

There was a small pause as Tom considered that.

'That is a concern. I did think we would have more notice that Voldemort was trying for the stone. Time we could have used to get into position. Okay. Head down to the third floor but carefully and slowly.'

"Right." Harry left behind a bewildered Neville and was silenced, scentless and wearing his invisibility cloak by the time he reached the common room.

Hermione was still carefully sorting out her notes and putting away her books when the now invisible Harry went past.

-my-friend-tom-

Harry could see Quirrell laying sprawled ungainly in front of the table staring blankly at the roof. The smallest bottle had been moved but it, like the others and as expected, was still full. Refilling charms had that effect.

"Do you think he's faking?"

'I doubt it.'

"Should I cast a diagnostic on him?"

'What do you think?'

"That a diagnostic spell would leave me open to counter attack."

'So?'

"I should cast a stinging hex and see if he flinches?"

'Good boy.'

Harry would have rolled his eyes if he hadn't been so frightened. Remaining mostly concealed by the doorway he freed his hand and wand from the invisibility cloak and fired off an overpowered stinging hex at Quirrell's prone form. It hit, but there was no reaction.

"Nothing."

'Indeed.'

"Think you can hang on if I get closer?"

'No. I can barely hear you as it is. You'll have to do the rest by yourself. Try not to come in contact with him if possibly. I'd prefer to spend as little time in the dark as possible.'

"Okay. Thanks Tom. I'll try and get him hidden away quickly."

'Just be careful Harry. Your safety is the priority.'

Harry nodded and moved forward using his magic to put his cloak back into his backpack. He didn't want it interfering with his wand movements.

His first spell confirmed that Quirrell was well and truly under the thrall of the Draught of Living Death. His second spell came up negative to Harry's surprise. He paused in thought for a moment before casting a spell on the professor's turban.

"There you are. Let's get you off so I can check properly." He muttered to himself.

It took four spells before Harry was finally able to loosen the magic holding the turban onto Quirrell's head. A fifth spell levitated the wrapped cloth off. A whiff of something very unpleasant found Harry's nose, and Harry almost choked. He had thought Quirrell had smelt bad before but with the turban off it was even worse.

He almost missed the faint noise that came from beneath Quirrell. It sounded like Quirrell had fallen on top of something.

Harry cast the levitation charm and rolled Quirrell over slowly. He was ready to release the spell at a moment's notice and attack whatever was underneath him. There was nothing under Quirrell but there was something on the back of Quirrell's head something that made him gasp and take a step back his wand shaking.

The spell released and Quirrell rolled the rest of the way on to his front and the eyes of the hideous pale snake like face melted into the back of Quirrell's head snapped open.

"You! What did you do to Quirrell?" The voice from the face was high pitched and pained.

Harry stuttered. "I. wha.. what.."

"Ah… Draught of Living Death. Yes I can feel it. But how… a switching spell wouldn't have worked as it had a … of course… the refilling charm. Smart idea boy. Do you know who I am?"

Harry nodded but said nothing.

"Then you know better than to defy me. Feed Quirrell the antidote and I will let you live."

Harry shook his head half in refusal half in denial at what he was seeing and hearing.

"I will only ask you one more time. Refuse, and I will make you pay. Do not cost me my faithful servant. If you refuse he dies and I will escape. You can't stop me, mere shadow and vapor I may be now, but still I command more power than anyone else. Revive Quirrell, and I will let you live; refuse and I will return and make you, your friends, and whatever family you have left suffer. Now! Feed Quirrell the antidote!"

Harry shook his head and raised his wand up though he had no idea what spell he could cast that would help him. "I won't."

"Sadly I have no time to teach you better. You are as stubborn as your parents and you will die just like them." Voldemort snarl turned into a agonised scream.

There was an awful tearing sound, and Harry's stomach leapt to his mouth as the back of Quirrell's head seemed to tear and stretch until finally the face ripped free. As it rose and turned to face Harry the torn flesh began to melt and drip. Within seconds all that remained was a shadowy face of vapor hovering over a pool of melted flesh.

The lips spoke and Harry only just heard the whispered words, "You will pay Potter!"

Then the face dived forward, and try as he might Harry was unable to dodge fast enough. It flew right through him and then continued past, but Harry was only barely aware of that. As soon as it had touched him he was hit with unbelievable pain. It was like his whole body was on fire. Agony like he had never imagined wracked his body, and he fell to his knees and then barely managed to control his descent so that he fell on his side as the strength left his limbs. His wand fell from his limp fingers.

The worst of it was over after just a few seconds, but it faded so slowly and Harry could feel his body fighting to shut down but he knew that was the worst possible thing that could happen right then.

With trembling fingers he fumbled for his emergency potions. Spilling a little he still managed to get most of a pain relief potion down. It helped a little. A pepperup followed. It also helped a tiny amount. Harry wondered if that was what a cruciatus curse felt like, he remembered Tom telling him that the pain of that was one of the few things that couldn't be fully healed by normal pain potions.

Then Harry felt all the wards and alarms in the Devil's Snare room fall at the same time. Dumbledore, Harry thought. He knew he didn't have much time. He needed to hide. He needed… what did he need he asked himself?

He felt one of the wards in the key room get dispelled.

He struggled to his feet thinking. What were the two things he had needed to do? Hide Quirrell, and replace the the Draught of Living Death. There was nothing he could do about the body right then, but the potion he could still replace.

He stumbled to the wall, and used it to support himself as he moved to, opened, and then entered the adjoining antechamber which held the large bottles that were linked via the refilling charms. It was agony switching the jars and he panicked when he discovered he was missing his wand.

A ward in the the chess room fell.

Then he remembered it falling from his hands when he fell. He almost started forward before he mentally kicked himself and summoned his wand back to himself. It flew through the small concealed door separating the two rooms.

One spell fixed the refilling charm.

A ward in the troll room fell.

One spell vanished the potion in the smallest bottle.

He pushed the small concealed door closed just as fast moving footsteps entered the potion room.

Harry slid down the wall into the corner of the antechamber and with fumbling hands drew his invisibility cloak over himself. He was so tired. He wrapped his arms around his legs and rested his head on his knees. He so much wanted to not be there and not be in such pain.

-my-friend-tom-

Dumbledore whispered, "You poor boy."

Harry froze. He was still in agony. His muscles ached his head throbbed and his knees and hip were badly bruised. He really didn't need this.

"I thought something was wrong but this? No. I didn't expect this. I am very disappointed."

Harry almost groaned he really didn't want to look up but there was no helping it. He lifted his head and turned to face Dumbledore. But Dumbledore wasn't there.

"Did you meet him in Albania, Quinius? I imagine his aura dragged you in and you listened to his talk about there being no good or evil. Just power. He's wrong you know."

Harry listened to the sound of Dumbledore moving around the chamber on the other side of the hidden door.

"Thestral blood. Crude but effective."

He heard the whisper of various spells being cast, and the bottles being examined.

"Draught of Living Death, Quinius? Was he using that to keep you under control? Were you perhaps fighting his control towards the end? Is that what led to your death? Surely he knew that mixing potions sometimes leads to a strengthening of their effects."

Harry heard the tinkle as a bottle was placed back on the table then footsteps coming closer. The small door opened. Harry stayed as still and as quiet as possible. The room was so small that if Dumbledore entered it there was a good chance he would be stood on. Harry waited until, finally, he heard the door closing and the footsteps moving away.

"What to do with you my poor boy? No, don't worry Fawkes, I'll take care of him. Fly back to the Devil's Snare and return to my office. No point in ending the wards in here."

Harry heard the sound of flapping wings, a few more spells being cast and then footsteps leading away.

He waited a long time before he moved. It was still extremely painful. He very slowly opened the hidden door and found the room looking just like it had the day before. No body, no mess, just a table, the note, and the potions.

It took a long time leaving the gauntlet. Without Tom's advice he made triply sure that what he was casting was correct before modifying the wards Dumbledore had replaced. He didn't bother replacing those of his that Quirrell had destroyed. There really didn't seem to be any need now.

When he finally arrived back at his dorm he spent a few minutes calling for Tom knowing already that it would be hopeless. Then he fell asleep with a whispered, "Good night Tom."

-my-friend-tom-

Author Notes: Thanks to FreelanceBum for proofreading the chapter and fixing the numerous errors. Any remaining errors are probably due to my last minutes edits. Thanks to those that commented on or answered my question about the Dumbledore encounter. They all helped get my own thoughts in order. Finally, thanks to everyone else that has read this far.