As I promised, here is the next chapter! I should have the last one done in a day or two, and then I'm going to put it up! Now that it's my summer, I'll be able to write more often, but that doesn't mean I'm going to update as often. I have a busy summer ahead of me.

Chapter Fifteen: The Professors' Challenges

I could not believe that it was exam week already. My scar was hurting constantly, but Abby and Mandy just brushed it off as exam nerves. Lisa knew that it was my scar.

Exam week had me extremely nervous, and the only things I thought about were studying and my scar. It was very tedious having to go through all of those exams. Finally, the last exam, Potions, was over. Mandy, Lisa, Abby, and I met Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville under a tree by the lake. Lisa giggled as Fred, George, and Lee tickled the tentacles of the giant squid.

"No more studying," Ron said happily. I wish I could be as content as him. I kept rubbing my forehead, trying to make the pain in my scar go away.

Harry suddenly leapt to his feet.

"Where're you going?" Ron asked sleepily.

"I just remembered something," my twin said. His face was paper white. "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now."

Mandy, Lisa, and Abby got up. "Why?" Mandy asked.

"Mandy, didn't you say it was suspicious that a stranger turns up who just happens to have a dragon egg?"

"Yeah."

"How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against the law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked. Harry didn't answer. He only ran faster. We all raced after him as we ran to Hagrid's hut. Said person was sitting in an armchair outside, shelling peas into a large bowl.

"Hullo," Hagrid said, smiling. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"Yes, please," said Lisa and Ron

"No, Hagrid," Harry said. "I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did you talk to him about? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"

Hagrid explained that night, which he couldn't remember very well. He paused here and there, and finally he got to Fluffy.

"And did he – did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked.

"Well – yeah – how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music, an' he'll go straight off ter sleep. I shouldn'ta told yeh that! Forget I said it! Hey – where're you goin'?"

We ran away from Hagrid's hut. I hated doing that to him, but we had to go. None of us spoke to each other until we got to the Entrance Hall.

"We've got to go to Dumbledore," Harry said. "Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under the cloak – it must have been easy once he got Hagrid drunk."

"We just have to see if Dumbledore believes us," I said. "Where's Dumbledore's office?"

"What are you all doing inside?" a voice asked. I turned around: Professor McGonagall walked in, carrying a large pile of books.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said.

"See Professor Dumbledore?" McGonagall asked. She sure did sound suspicious of us. Why?

"It's kind of a secret," Neville said quietly. The professor's nostrils flared. She obviously didn't believe us.

"He left ten minutes ago," she said coldly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of magic and flew off to London at once."

"He's gone?" Harry and I asked. "Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard; he has many demands on his time."

"But this is important!"

"It's about the Philosopher's Stone!" Mandy blurted out.

The professor's books fell out of her arms. "How do you know-?" she gasped.

"Someone's going to try and steal the Stone!" Lisa said. "We've got to see Professor Dumbledore."

Professor McGonagall eyed us all with a mixture of shock and suspicion. "Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow. I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it; it's too well protected."

"But Professor-"

"Potter, I know what I'm talking about." The professor bent down and picked up her books. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine. Miss Potter, a word with you."

What did she want with me? I followed McGonagall into an unused classroom.

"Danielle, how could you believe that someone would try and steal the Philosopher's Stone?"

I chose my next words carefully. "We have reason to believe that someone is after the Stone, possibly a teacher." She looked as if she would interrupt. I continued: "Remember back in November during the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match? Harry's broom went all wacky. Someone was trying to get him out of the way."

"Who do you think it could be?" McGonagall asked me suspiciously.

I took a deep breath before I answered. I was so sure that she wouldn't believe me. "Professor Quirrell." McGonagall paled.

"Miss Potter (I winced. She only called me by my last name when she was serious.) get this foolish nonsense out of your head. The Stone is perfectly safe. Stay away from the third floor corridor."

"Yes ma'am," I said. "I have a question. Where am I going to stay during the summer?"

"I'll ask some of your friends' parents. Go outside and enjoy the sunshine."

"Yes ma'am."

I walked slowly back up to the Ravenclaw common room: I didn't feel like going back outside. As I stepped through the door, Harry's thoughts burst into my head. I'm going after the Stone tonight.

I'm coming with you, and I expect Ron and Hermione want to go as well.

Are you going to tell Mandy, Lisa, and Abby?

No. I don't want them to get hurt, or worse.

I went to bed early so I could get a little bit of sleep. I might have gotten an hour's worth before it was time to go.

I got out of bed, still fully dressed, and picked up the flute I had gotten for Christmas, my necklace, and my wand. I crept down the stairs. The common room was empty, thank goodness. As I neared the door, I heard a quiet voice. "What are you doing?"

It was Abby. She was sitting in an armchair that was facing away from me. Oh darn.

"Nothing," I said.

"You're going after the Stone! Aren't you?"

"No. Why don't you go to bed?"

"I won't. You're not going after the Stone. If you do… I-I'll scream and bring everyone down here."

"I'm sorry about this," I said, raising my wand. "Patrificus Totalus!"

Abby's arms and legs snapped together, and she fell backwards. She glared at me. "I'm so sorry!" I said.

I touched the indention in my necklace and walked out of the common room. I felt so bad about doing that, but that was the price I had to pay. I met nothing on the way to the third floor corridor. Harry, Ron, and Hermione have already been here.

Where are you? I asked.

Right in front of Fluffy's door. You?

I'm coming up to it.

I heard three pairs of footsteps walking through the open door. I followed quietly. I pulled the flute out of my pocket and started playing "Hedwig's theme" from the movies. (I had practiced this three months.) Fluffy's eyes immediately started drooping.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione pulled off the cloak and stopped by one of the dog's legs.

"I think we'll be able to pull the door open," Ron said. "Want to go first, Hermione?"

"No, I don't!"

"All right." Ron gritted his teeth and stepped carefully over the massive dog's legs. He pulled open the trapdoor.

"What can you see?" Harry asked.

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

"I'll go first."

"Are you sure?" Ron asked. "I don't know how deep this thing goes."

Harry climbed over. Be careful, I thought. He lowered himself.

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

"Right," Ron and Hermione said. Okay, I thought. See you in a minute.

You too.

Harry let go of the sides of the trapdoor. A few seconds later, I heard a muffled flump. "It's okay!" Harry shouted, but I still couldn't hear him very well. "It's a soft landing, you can jump!"

Ron disappeared, and then I heard him call for Hermione. She disappeared as well. I climbed over the dog's legs as carefully as I could, which wasn't easy.

"Come on, Dani!"

Oh, gosh! I was scared of heights, yet I played Quidditch! (Oh, the irony!) There was a huge difference between flying and falling! I closed my eyes, stopped playing, and jumped. As soon, as I stopped playing, I heard a loud bark. I fell through the cold, damp air. Finally-

I gasped as I hit the ground. I put the flute back in my pocket, and then I leapt up as vines twisted around my ankles. I struggled to get to the wall. Hermione was doing the same.

"Lucky?" Hermione shouted. "Look at you both!"

Harry and Ron tried to get the Devil's Snare off them, but it kept getting tighter. The vines came at them quicker.

"Stop moving!" I shouted. "This is Devil's Snare!"

"I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," Ron snarled.

"Dani, we need to cast Incendio! Devil's Snare hates light!" Hermione said. She pointed her wand at the vines and shouted, "Incendio!" Blue flames leapt from her wand. I did the same, and soon, the vines around the boys loosened so that they could break free.

"Lucky you two pay attention in Charms," Harry said. "This way." He walked down a stone passageway. I was hard on his heels. The tunnel sloped downwards. Just how far below ground are we?

"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered.

Clinking and rustling noises came from up ahead. At the end of the passageway was a brightly lit room, the ceiling as high as the one in my church back home. The flying keys paid no attention to us.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Ron asked.

"Probably," Harry said.

"I'll go," I said before Harry could say anything.

But Dani-

"I can create a shield, remember? Even if they do attack, they won't touch me."

Be careful, was all that Harry said.

I concentrated hard on the shield that had appeared on Halloween night. I brought my hands to my temples. The blue and purple shield appeared above me. I walked as quickly as I could without losing concentration to the other side. Nothing attacked me, just as I thought. I lowered the shield, and I felt a little tired as I got to the door.

I tried to open the door, but to no avail. I tried Alohamora, but it didn't work. Of course... "Come on!" I shouted. "It's okay."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran to the other side of the chamber. "The door won't open," I said.

"Now what?" Ron asked to no one in particular.

"These birds… they can't just be here for decoration," Hermione observed.

"Birds?" I scoffed. "They're winged keys."

"So that must mean…" Harry muttered looking around the chamber. "… yes – look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!"

"It should be a big, old fashioned one – probably silver, like the handle," Ron said.

"It might have a broken wing," I added.

Harry, Ron and I each got onto a broom; Hermione opted to stay down and open the door. She didn't like flying after her flying lessons.

I flew high above, looking for the key with the broken wing. Finally, I found it. It flew slowly around the chamber, not as quickly as the others. I dove quickly. Harry saw and pursued the key as well. I chased it into Harry's waiting hand. Ron and Hermione cheered.

Harry threw the key to Hermione, who rammed it into the keyhole and turned. The key flew off as soon as the lock clicked. She opened the door hesitantly.

Ron and I landed and tossed the brooms aside. We ran into the next room after Harry and Hermione.

Light had already flooded the room. The giant chess set sat ominously. I looked at the white chessmen – they had no faces. I shivered slightly.

"We might need to play," I said.

"Yeah," Ron said. "I can see the door over there."

He walked over to a black knight and put his hand on it. Instantly it came to life. "Do we – er – have to join you to get across?"

The knight nodded. Ron turned to look at us.

"This needs thinking about… I suppose we've got to take the place of four of the black pieces…" Ron observed the board. "Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess-"

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

"Harry, you take the place of that bishop. Hermione, you take the place of the rook two spaces down. Dani, you can choose any piece you want except the king or queen. I'm going to need your help with defense; It's not my strong suit. I'm going to be a knight.

Those chess pieces stood up and walked off the board. I took my place as the other black rook. Ron stood next to me, and Harry and Hermione stood on the other side. The white pawn in front of the king side knight moved forward two squares.

"Ron, have you ever heard of blitzkrieg?" I asked, a grin forming.

"No, what's that?"

"I can't tell out loud. Just let me take over."

"Okay."

I looked around the board. I pointed at the black pawn in front of the king. "You! Move forward one space!" The pawn did exactly as I told it to. The white queen-side knight moved forward two spaces and to my right one space.

I pointed to the black queen and told her to move diagonally four spaces up and left. I really hoped McGonagall's chess set wasn't very smart. The king side knight dashed my hope; it had moved so that the black queen could be captured. Darn!

"Never mind, Ron. You can take over again."

"I'll still need your help," Ron said encouragingly. I nodded: I didn't want Ron to get injured again… or will get… whatever.

Ron got the queen out of the knight's path. I directed all of the pawns and bishops into a defensive line. If one of our pieces was taken, that white piece would get taken. Soon, though, the sidelines were littered with the remains of black and white pieces.

I looked around the board, wondering if Ron was going to have to be sacrificed. I saw the white queen turn her blank face to Ron. "Oh no," I whispered.

"I've got to be taken," Ron said.

"NO!" Harry and Hermione shouted.

"It's the only way," I whispered. "That's how you play chess: you have to sacrifice some pieces."

"But-" Harry stammered.

"Do you wanna stop Snape or not?" Ron asked.

"For the last time-"

"Dani!" Ron shouted, irritated. His face was pale, but he showed bravery like a true Gryffindor. "Ready? Here I go – now, don't hang around once you've won."

Ron moved one space back and two squares to the right. The white queen moved back/right a few spaces. She turned around and hit Ron in the head with her arm. She dragged the red head to the sidelines.

I moved left three squares and said, "Checkmate!" The king took off his crown. He couldn't move to the right because Hermione was standing right next to me; and it couldn't go left because then Harry could take him by going diagonally.

The three of us rushed to where Ron lay. "I'll stay," Hermione said automatically. "I'll try to wake him up and take him to the hospital wing. Then I'll send Hedwig to Dumbledore."

"Sounds like you already got it figured out," Harry and I said.

Hermione smiled. "Good luck, you two."

Harry and I walked side-by-side, step-by-step, to where the next room lay. As soon as the door opened, I gagged. We were hit by an atrocious odor. I looked around and saw a troll that was about twenty feet tall. The good thing was that it was flat on its back, a huge lump on its head.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Harry said, his voice muffled by his shirt. He stepped carefully over the troll's trunk-sized legs. He opened the next door, and I followed carefully.

Oh, great, the potions challenge! Black fire blocked our way to the Stone Chamber, purple fire blocking the way back. I walked up to the table with the seven potions bottles and picked up the piece of parchment. Let's hope I didn't forget which one the right potion was.

I read the parchment and pulled out my pen that I had stuffed into my pocket. I turned the paper over and drew the bottles on the back, making sure to be accurate. I read the riddle over and over, marking the bottles on the back of the parchment.

"Okay," I said at last, "the smallest one can lead us through the black fire."

"There's only enough for one of us," Harry said. I knew exactly what he meant.

"No!" I said sharply. "There's no way you're facing Voldemort on your own!"

"Then what are we going to do?" I remained silent. "Exactly. Now which one will lead you back through the purple flames?"

I pointed at the round bottle. Then I ran up and hugged Harry. "Please be careful," I whispered. "Even though I'll be with you in your mind, you'll still be virtually alone."

"You drink first." I picked up the round bottle and drank up its contents. I shuddered as it went down my throat. It was like ice cream, except it was much colder. "It isn't poison is it?"

"No," I said. "It's like ice cream, except it's like ten times colder. Take care, be careful-"

"Go, before it wears off."

I reluctantly turned around and walked through the purple fire. I ran back through the troll room and into the chess room. Ron was sitting up against the wall, Hermione sitting right beside him. Ron was pale, but otherwise okay.

"Dani!" Ron said. He looked around behind me. "Where's Harry?"

"He had to go on without me, and now…" I trailed off. "He's going to fight against someone. I need to help him."

"But how?" Hermione asked.

"I'm going to join him in his mind. I just need to sit down and ask Harry to make room for me." I did exactly that. A few moments later, I could feel Harry's confusion and astonishment as if it were my own.

A/N: Yeah, I know, evil cliffie. I just like doing it to you. So, I'll update again in a few days with the very last chapter! Also, I'll give someone a virtual cookie if someone can guess the obvious allusion. (Yeah! Over 3,000 words! New personal record for me!)