Here's the next chapter of 'It's A Twin Thing', thank you for all of the reviews and hope you enjoy this!
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*Last Time*
"Hermione?" Severus asked, as an angry 12 year old burst into his quarters.
"I hate him," Hermione seethed, pacing up and down the room, in front of Severus, who had previously been marking essays in his arm chair.
"Hate who?" Severus asked calmly, trying to be rational about the whole situation until he knew what had happened.
"Dumbledore," She spat, stopping in front of he father and glaring at him crazily.
...
"Will you tell me more about mum?" Hermione asked.
"Of course, what do you want to know?" Severus asked, a smile gracing his lips.
"Did she have any talents? Like any cool tricks that she could do?" Hermione questioned excitedly, eager to learn more about her mum.
"Well she could sing amazingly, she never really liked to sing in front of strangers though. It gave her the shivers," He chuckled, Hermione giggled along to, glad to know that her mum had some fears.
"Anything else?" She asked.
"Well ... I could tell you but you can't repeat it," He warned her.
"Who am I going to tell?" Hermione joked.
"Okay, your mum is an unregistered animagus," Severus admitted.
"Really? Wow, that's so cool, What form did she take?" Hermione asked.
"A Squirell," Severus said, laughing at the thought, "She's a light brown Squirell and the fur on her tail was kind of curly, to match her human hair."
...
"Bloody hell," Hermione whispered in amazement.
"What? What is it?" Severus asked, eager to know what Hermione had been thinking of.
Ideas were swirling around Hermiones mind ... Dementors sense and feed on the positive emotions of human beings ... you can still remember everything but a small part of your brain has become almost animalistic ... unable to distinguish one person from another if both are in similar physical or mental condition ...
"I know how to get mum out."
Chapter 9
"We're going in tonight," Harry said from across the table. It was now the beginning of June, and the last day of exams. A lot had happened since Christmas. There was the whole situation with Norbert ... now Norberta, where Ron had gotten bitten and her, Harry and Neville got caught on their way back from taking the dragon to Charlie's friends, losing them 150 points in the process; needless to say Gryffindor were not happy with the three of them at all.
It had been Rons birthday in March, they hadn't done much for it as they were preoccupied with school and trying to figure out how to stop the philosophers stone from being stolen.
Surprisingly, Hermione had started a friendship with Theo Nott, obviously she had kept this from the boys, but they were having study sessions in the library in preparation for the first year exams, Hermione was thinking about inviting Neville along, she knew he wasn't confident with magic but felt that the sessions would really help him improve.
Speaking of Neville, Hermione had realised that ever since the night they encountered the Mirror of Erised he'd been acting strange around her. At first she thought it was just the memories of Aunt Alice and Uncle Frank that had him being so weird but when she observed closer she realised that he was watching her constantly and always kept a close eye on her. She was having second thoughts about whether he'd heard her almost call Harrys' mum Aunt Lils, she was praying that it wasn't the case and he was just going through something else, because she really didn't want to lie to him about this.
As usual Harry had to pick the most awkward day to decide to do something heroic, he wanted to go after the philosophers stone. Not to mention that they had the History of Magic exam this morning and needed to have a clear mind if they ever wanted to try and stay awake in the exam, it was bound to be just as boring as the actual lesson.
"Tonight?" Hermione asked, she thought they'd choose tonight but she had to act surprised.
"Yeah, Dumbledore's gone off to the ministry so it's the perfect time for Snape to steal the stone!" Ron said excitedly, he really wanted to find out what was down there and what the stone actually looked like.
"Snape isn't the one stealing the stone Ronald." Hermione sighed exasperated, she'd try to steer both Harry and Ron off of their assumptions, but Ron still seemed adamant, while Harry seemed unsure over who the culprit was.
"It doesn't matter who's stealing the stone, all that matters is that we make sure it doesn't get stolen in the first place, no matter who it is that tries to take it," Harry told both of them, although he himself was curious as to who thethiefwas.
"Fine, we'll go tonight," Hermione agreed, "we're taking Neville though."
"Neville?" Ron asked, "he doesn't know anything about the stone, why would we bring him into the loop now?"
"We may need an extra hand Ron, would you rather I asked Theo to come with us?" She demanded, glaring at Ron, he really could be insensitive sometimes.
"Of course I don't want a Slytherin coming with us," Ron hissed, trying to keep his temper down.
Harry simply watched the two as they bickered over Slytherin not being evil, although he had learnt to accept Hermione being friends with Theo, it didn't mean he had to accept the fact that he was a Slytherin. He was coming around to the fact that Slytherin weren't as bad as they seemed, he was trying his best for Hermione because he really didn't want to lose her over something so stupid as what house her other friends were in.
"Cut it out you two," Harry sighed, "Ron, Hermione is friends with a Slytherin, deal with it. 'Mione, Neville is welcome to come with us, but only if he is willing, don't force him into anything." He warned.
"And why oh why would I do anything like that my dear Harry," Hermione chimed innocently.
"Says the girl who forced me to eat a bogey flavoured Bertie Botts," Ron scoffed, as Hermione and Harry both burst into laughter at the memory.
"What's so funny?" Neville asked, walking over to the trio and sitting himself down next to Hermione.
"They're laughing at my pain," Ron muttered, his face pale at reliving the memory of the day.
"He - He ate - B ... Bogey - Bean," Hermione chocked, her eyes filled with tears of laughter as her and Harry were bent over each other, laughing so hard they could hardly breath.
"Did Hermione force you?" Neville chuckled, a cheeky glint in his eyes.
"Hey! I didn't force him, I guided him in the right direction," She denied, before bursting into laughter once more at the look of mortification on Rons face.
"You forced him 'Mione, don't deny it," Harry laughed, finally sitting up and composing himself.
"Yeah well he picked me out an earwax one to eat, I thought it was butterbeer!" She exclaimed, pointing her finger at Ron accusingly.
"You made me eat a bogey one!" Ron retorted back.
"Karma is a bitch," Hermione said, winking at Ron mischievously before she turned to Neville and started talking about the upcoming exam.
"She swears worse than you Ronnikins," Fred chuckled from a few seats down.
"Tell me about it," Ron mumbled.
...
"Hermione!" came a voice from down the corridor, Hermione had just finished her history of magic exam, while Harry and Ron were talking to Neville about the plan for tonight she was walking through the dungeons on her way to go and talk to her dad. Turning around Hermione saw Theo running towards her from the other end of the corridor, a stupid grin plastered on his face.
"Hey Theo, everything alright?" Hermione chuckled, as Theo bent down to catch his breath.
"Yeah, just wanted to ask how the history of magic exam went?" He asked.
"That's all you wanted to talk about?" Hermione asked again, raising her eyebrow in question, knowing that Theo wasn't just here for that.
"Well, no, but I am curious," He replied sheepishly.
"Well I thought it was alright, question 12 caught me out but once I remembered the weapons the Goblins used it was a piece of cake. So what did you really want to ask me?" She asked.
"I was wondering if you wanted to maybe meet up in the holidays," He muttered.
"Really?" Hermione shrieked, surprised at how excited she was, then a thought struck her, "My um - parents, are muggle though, won't your dad not approve?" Hermione asked, aware that his dad was a Death Eater - or would be if Voldemort was alive.
"Oh he'd hate that I'm hanging out with a muggleborn, I don't care though, he doesn't have to know," He replied defiantly.
"Oh so I'm just your dirty little secret am I?" Hermione dead-panned, trying not to laugh at the look that passed across Theo's face.
"I - what? No - no of course not ... I didn't - No," He stumbled, his eyes wide with shock and face turning red with embarrassment.
"I was only joking Theo," Hermione choked, trying to control the laughter pouring from her mouth.
"Haha very funny," Theo said, his eyes glistening with mirth as he tried to pretend to be annoyed with Hermione.
"Sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, what's the plan then?" Hermione asked, the laughter having died away.
"Well my father's going on a business trip one week, he usually leaves me at home so I was thinking you could come around then, maybe I could come to yours?"
"It would probably be best if I came to yours," Hermione mumbled, not wanting to have to explain to Theo why the Grangers treated her like they did.
"Okay, great. We'll sort it out soon, why are you down here anyway?" Theo asked, only just realising that she was in the dungeons by herself and seemed to actually know where she was going.
"Oh - um - I was just ..." Hermione stuttered, trying to come up with a good excuse.
"There you are Miss Granger, you're 5 minutes late for your detention." drawled Severus, who'd just stepped out from the shadows and was now towering over the two students.
"I'm sorry Sir, I lost my way, Theo was just directing me in the right direction."
"No matter, 5 points from Gryffindor. Mr Nott you may go back to the common room, Miss Granger follow me."
"Yes Sir, bye Theo we'll talk later," Hermione called, following behind her father as he lead her to his quarters.
"Did you really have to take points from Gryffindor Dad?" Hermione wondered, annoyed that they'd lost 5 points.
"Did you want Mr Nott to get suspicious?" Severus replied, looking down at her expectantly.
"No, I suppose not," Hermione pouted, "You can call him Theo you know, he's my friend."
"Mr Nott is a student, therefore, I will address him as such."
"I'm a student too," Hermione protested.
"Do I not call you Miss Granger when appropriate?" Severus asked.
"Yeah,"
"There we go then."
"Wish I wasn't called Granger though," Hermione mumbled, looking down as she scuffed her feet along the floor.
"What was that?" Severus asked, having caught what she said but not wanting to push her if she wasn't ready to share.
"I said I wish I wasn't called Granger," She repeated, her voice stronger this time. Severus sighed, luckily he'd just reached the door and motioned for Hermione to go in before him. Hermione perched herself on her armchair, before waiting to see how her father would respond.
"Poppet, I know you might want to change your name but we can't, not at the moment."
"Why not? I'm proud to be the daughter of a Potter and a Snape, I want to be recognised as the person I am, I want to stop pretending daddy!" Hermione sobbed, all of the emotions she was keeping under wraps finally rising to the surface, to the point where it all became too much and her emotions overflowed like a treasure chest.
"Poppet, don't cry. Come here," Severus cooed, reaching his arms out to capture his daughter as she flung herself into his arms.
"I - don't want to be Hermione Granger - the - the mudblood. I want to be Hermione Potter-Snape, The daughter of - of Severus and Olivia." Hermione bawled, trying her best to get her sentence out.
"You have no idea how bad I want the world to know that you're my daughter, you're the most amazing, beautiful, intelligent, stubborn witch and I love you so much."
"I know why I can't change my last name but I can't help but want it so bad, i want it so bad it hurts."
"I know Poppet, I know," Severus responded, cradling her in his lap and just holding her. The two of them sat there for what felt like hours but in reality had only been 20 minutes.
"Are you okay now?" Severus asked her softly, receiving a nod from Hermione who was still buried in his robes.
"I'll be alright," Hermione sniffled, standing up and walking into the bathroom to sort her face out. Severus waited for his daughter to reemerge and smiled sadly as she walked back out, looking as if everything was fine.
"You're too young to be using makeup charms," Severus told her, though his heart really wasn't in it.
"It helps to hide the black circles," Hermione told him, shrugging her shoulders as if it were no big deal.
"You still not sleeping well?" Severus asked, concern lacing his voice.
"No, I keep having dreams about everyone, about mum and Uncle Padfoot, about Aunt Lils and Uncle Jamie. I miss them all so much," Hermione sighed, willing herself not to cry again.
"We'll sort it all out poppet, I promise we'll be happy again," Severus reassured her, reaching over to squeeze her hand.
"I love you dad," Hermione said, giving Severus a kiss on the cheek and smiling at him.
"And I love you Poppet, more than you could ever know."
...
"You guy's ready?" Harry asked, looking to the three people who were walking next to him. The four of them were on their way to the third floor corridor, Hermione had learnt how to play a soothing song from her wand to send Fluffy to sleep and they felt like they were prepared to take on the dog.
"Yes Harry, can we hurry up please?" Hermione asked impatiently, in all honesty she really wasn't in the mood, her visit to see Severus had drained her emotionally and physically and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep. While Ron didn't seem to realise her mood, Harry and Neville had definitely noticed.
As they were walking Harry caught Nevilles' eye and motioned towards Hermione who was walking slightly behind them, her head downcast and her eyes dead. Neville got the hint and slowed down a bit to walk beside her.
"Hey 'Mione, what's up?" Neville asked, keeping his voice low.
"Nothing Neville, I'm just a bit tired is all," Hermione assured him, trying to give him a reassuring smile which obviously failed.
"I know you're not Hermione, ever since the night we saw the mirror you've been sad. Nobody else may have noticed but me and Harry have been watching you retreat into your shell more, you spend more time in the library and searching for things we don't understand. We hardly see you anymore," Neville told her sadly, trying to convey to her how he and the others were feeling.
"Neville, what I saw in the mirror, it shook me up. I know you saw Aun - your mum and dad, I saw mine too," Hermione replied.
"That's another thing I've noticed, you keep slipping up on names. you almost called Harrys mum Aunt the other day and you keep nearly calling my mum Aunt as well, why? What are you keeping from us?"
"Neville please, can we not talk about this now? I know you're confused, that you don't know some things about me, I really don't want to lie to you but if you keep asking I'm going to have to." Hermione pleaded, not wanting to betray his trust by lying.
"If that's what you want," Neville said, realising that this was more than she was letting on and that she'd tell them in her own time, "In case you were wondering Harry and Ron haven't picked up on the slips and I won't tell them until you're ready."
"Thank you Neville, you really are the best," Hermione whispered, pulling him in for a hug.
"I don't understand why you're keeping this a secret, it must be important and I know you'll tell us when you're ready. I trust you 'Mione, don't forget that." Neville told her, squeezing her arm before the moment was interrupted by Ron exclaiming that they'd made it to the third floor corridor.
"The two of you alright?" Harry asked before they went into the corridor.
"Everything's great Harry," Hermione replied, this time her happiness was genuine. She was elated that Neville had reacted that way towards her keeping her secret, it gave her hope and ignited the little spark of happiness that was dying in her heart.
"Good," Harry replied, smiling warmly at Hermione and sending an appreciative look towards Neville, who simply inclined his head in acceptance.
"Okay, let's go then." Harry said, opening the door before ushering the other in before him.
"Okay, so I'll start playing the music now, I'll open the door a smidge and Fluffy should fall asleep, if not then plan B is I'll sing and see if that works," Hermione explained, getting her wand ready to play the music.
"Wait," said Ron, putting his hand up to signal everyone to stop, "do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Neville asked, curious as to what Ron was going about.
"It's music," Hermione said, quickly hurrying to door which held Fluffy and gasping in shock, her face turning pale.
"No," She muttered, "No, no no no, this can't be happening."
"'Mione?" Harry called, running over with Ron and Neville following, freezing when he too saw what Hermione was staring at. A harp was playing soft music, while Fluffy lay asleep on the floor and the trapdoor was wide open.
"Quick, let's go!" Hermione said, rushing towards the trap door and jumping down.
"Did she just -" Ron muttered, in awe that she would just jump down without any idea what was there.
"She did." Neville replied, watching as Harry too didn't hesitate as he jumped down after Hermione.
"Well we better get going then," Ron said nervously, edging towards the trap door.
"Oh just hurry up Ron," Neville sighed, pushing Ron down the trap door when he wouldn't budge, "here goes nothing," Neville said to himself as he jumped down the trap door, his fall broken by something soft.
"Guys?" Neville called, looking around to find Hermione, Harry and Ron struggling against what looked like vines.
"What the bloody hell is this?" Ron screeched, trying - and failing - to escape from the vines that were tightening around him.
"It's devils snare," Neville shouted, "everyone needs to calm down, the more you struggle the tighter they will attach themselves."
"Ronald!" Hermione yelled, "stopped moving!"
"Why the bloody hell would I do that, they're strangling me!" Ron hollered, obviously not having heard Neville. Just as Hermione was about to explain Neville disappeared beneath the devils snare, seeming to just melt into them. Hermione knew that they'd let him go because he kept still but, alas, Ron had no clue.
"Neville! Neville! Where'd he go? Neville!" Ron screamed, a look of terror taking over his features as he realised Neville had disappeared.
"Ron! Relax, the vines will let you go!" Neville cried from somewhere above them.
"How the bloody hell am I supposed to relax?!" Ron shrieked, struggling even harder when he saw both Harry and Hermione melt into the vines.
"Neville he's not going to calm down," Hermione sighed, looking at Neville who was trying to scream at Ron and tell him what to do.
"They're sensitive to light," Neville told her, "try casting something that will make them let him go."
Hermione racked her brains for a spell, whipping out her wand when one came to mind, "lumos solem" she cried, pointing her wand towards the vines wrapped around Ron.
"Finally, where the hell did you three go? You scared me half to death!" Ron screamed, waving his arms around in a panic.
"Ron! We told you to calm down," Harry said, patting his friend on the back to try and calm him down.
"I know , but all of you disappeared, I panicked, I couldn't calm down," Ron said, his voice getting higher and his breathing more erratic. Hermione quickly walked over to him and pulled him into a hug.
"We're fine Ron, we're fine." Hermione assured him, not saying anything when she felt a tears splash on to her shoulder. Luckily, Ron was facing away from Harry and Neville so they couldn't see him cry - Hermione was sure he'd feel embarrassed.
"Sorry, I just panicked," He repeated, looking Hermione in the eyes and smiling at her graciously.
"It's alright Ron, how about we get going?" Harry said, grabbing Neville and leading him towards the next door while Hermione wiped away a tear from Rons face before taking his hand and taking him the same way as Neville and Harry.
"Wow," Harry exclaimed, while the other three had to stifle a gasp at the sight in front of them. As they entered the room they were met with the sight of what must've been a thousand keys flying around above them, the sound of their wings a rhythmic beat. As the four of them made their way across the room they noticed two broomsticks propped up against the wall and a large door next to them.
"Someone left the door unlocked," Hermione said, in awe of how stupid the thief could be.
"They must be really unhinged, did they think no-one would try and follow them?" Neville questioned, shocked at the revelation that the thief could be so idiotic.
"Snape is so arrogant, to think that he believed nobody would find out what he was up to and follow him," Ron said, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
"How many times do I have to tell you that it's not Snape!" Hermione hissed, storming off into the next room. When she entered, she stopped and had to refrain from gagging, the smell that imprisoned her senses was overwhelming. As the others walked in, they too had to stop themselves from gagging, although Ron seemed unable to hold it in.
"Over there," Neville gasped, noticing the carcasses of two dead mountain trolls in the corner.
"Let's get out of here," Harry coughed, grabbing Hermiones hand and dragging her towards the door on the other side of the room, Neville and Ron behind them.
"Oh my god that was vile," Hermione spluttered, rubbing at her nose as if it were infected.
"Tell me about it," Harry said, taking gasping breaths and savouring the clean air.
"Guys, I think Ron's in love," Neville sniggered.
"In love?" Hermione asked, turning around and trying not to laugh at the expression on Rons face. There in front of them was the biggest chess board ever, Ron was currently stood in front of it, his mouth open wide and eyes transfixed on the chess set.
"Are you in love Ron?" Hermione sang, skipping up to him and laughing when he shook his head and jumped at the sight of her; he obviously wasn't aware of her presence, all of his attention being on the chess board.
"It's just so - I mean - bloody hell," Ron muttered, running his hands through his hair - earning him another snigger from the others.
"It seems we have to play if we want to cross," Neville said, motioning to the guards which stood in front of the next door.
"Well Ron, it looks like your time has finally arrived, lead the way," Harry said, grinning at his friend as he surveyed the board.
"Okay, so three pieces are missing off the board. The bishop, the knight and the queen side castle." Ron told them, his voice commanding and confident, he was most definitely in his element. "Harry you're going to be the bishop, Neville the knight and 'Mione you can be the queen side castle."
The three of them moved to the spaces Ron had given them and proceeded to play the game with Ron telling the pieces - and themselves - where to go in order to win the game. It seemed that the white queen was winning, she'd just taken out three of their men and she could tell that Ron was battling with something.
"Ron do whatever you need to win this," Hermione called, noticing the stress lines on his face at the decision she was certain he was about to make.
"Neville, mate. We need you to get taken out, if you go then Harry can get check mate and we'll win," Ron called over to Neville, who had a brief flash of fear cross his features before they were quickly morphed into that of determination.
"Tell me where to go and I'll go," Neville said, his voice like steel.
"Knight to H3," Ron shouted, watching in horror as the Queen moved towards the newly placed Knight. In a rush of movement the Queen had obliterated the knight, sending Neville flying onto the floor. Luckily, after hearing Neville and Ron shout at each other, Hermione had taken out her wand and placed a cushioning charm on the floor beneath Neville; softening his fall.
"Good thinking 'Mione!" Harry called, happy that she had the brains to think of that, if she hadn't then Harry dreaded to think what injuries Neville may have sustained.
"Thanks 'Mione," Neville shouted from his place on the floor.
"Let's finish this Ron!" Harry said, nodding at Ron in determination. Ron called out his final move, Harry moved and cried out in excitement when the guards on the door moved aside. Hermione, Ron and Neville ran over to stand by his side as they looked at the door.
"How many more do you think are left?" Neville asked, staring at the door in painful anticipation.
"Not very many," Hermione told them, "I think the teachers had a protection each."
"Professor Sprout must've been the devils snare," Neville said.
"Flitwick the keys," Ron mumbled.
"Quirrell the trolls," said Harry.
"This was transfiguration, so that's McGonagall," Hermione finished.
"So we have Snape and Dumbledore left?" Harry asked, thinking of the teachers that would be in on this.
"Yeah and Fluffy would've been Hagrids protection," Neville inputted.
"Okay so we have one, possibly two protections left." Ron said, still hooked on the idea that Snape was the one trying to steal the stone.
"We best get going then," Hermione sighed, quite fed up with all the tests at the moment.
As the four of them entered they took hold of each others hands, the room was pitch black, the only thing visible was a table in the middle of the room, on it were a collection ofbottles. As they all walked over they jumped at the sudden whoosh of noise that enveloped the room.
"Great, we're trapped," Ron moaned, looking at the walls of flames which had erupted in front of the entrance and exit.
"It's a riddle," Hermione called out, showing the boys the piece of parchment that had just shown up when the flames sprang to life.
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.
"'Mione?" Harry asked, knowing that she was the only one capable of figuring out the riddle they were presented with.
"Since the giant bottle is not poison and it is a twin to the second from the left, we know these two are nettle wine ... therefore two of the poisons are to the left of these ... the ones at each end are different and since we know the left end is poison, both nettle wines have been found, and it will not help you move onwards, so that means that the - the rightmost bottle sends you back ... this leaves 2 bottles and we know the dwarf is not poison, so it must be the one to move ahead" Hermione said, proud of herself for thinking of the solutions so quickly.
"The seventh one sends us back from where we came and the third one send us into the next room," Hermione tells them.
"I'm not going back," Neville says, "I won't leave any of you,"
"Me neither," Ron agrees, knowing that if they had to pick it would've been Hermione and Harry that went forward and him and Neville back.
"There is only enough for two people to drink each potion," Hermione says regretfully, wishing that they could come with her and Harry.
"Why don't you just use a doubling charm?" Neville asked.
"Merlin, of course! Neville that's genius, I can't believe I didn't think of that," Hermione cried, shocked that the thought hadn't crossed her mind.
"No worries 'Mione," Neville replied, blushing at her praise.
"Gemino" Hermione muttered, pointing her wand at potion number three, watching as the bottle duplicated, Harry catching the double in his hand.
"Bottoms up," He joked, as he took a sip from the bottle, before handing it to Neville. Hermione doing the same with hers before handing it to Ron.
Without a word the four of them moved towards the door, Harry going first as they walked through.
"Guys no!" Harry called, but it was too late. Hermione, Neville and Ron were hit with a blinding light as they made their way into the room. It all happened in a flurry and before they knew it the three of them were against the back wall, bound tightly in ropes, their mouths gagged and wands on the floor by the thiefs feet.
"Let them go!" Harry screamed, rushing over to his friends only to be propelled back by a spell from the thief.
"Come along Potter, we can't have your friends interfering," A sneering voice said, Harry turned around and recoiled in disgust and anger.
"Quirrel?" Harry asked, watching as the man smirked at him, before raising his wand as if to attack.
"No, let me speak to the boy," came another voice, this one muffled and high pitched. It sent chills down Harrys' back and the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"But master you are not -"
"SILENCE! I said let me speak to the boy, are you disobeying your master Quirrel?" shrieked the deadly voice.
"Of course not master," Quirrel muttered, reaching around to untie the turban from his head and moving his body so that he was no longer facing Harry. A gasp escaped Harrys' mouth and Hermione could be seen struggling in her bonds, her face red with anger and her eyes blazing with an icy fire.
"Harry Potter, we meet again," Voldemort sneered, his red eyes boring into Harry, looking into his very soul.
"You!" Harry screamed, his hands balled into fists at his side as he tried to control the imminent rage that was bubbling up inside of him.
"Yes, it is I, Lord Voldemort, did you think I could be defeated by a mere boy Potter?" He spat.
"Master, the stone," Quirrel muttered, trembling with fear at his masters reaction to his interference.
"Ah, but of course. I almost forgot what we were here for," Voldemort smiled, his smile a sickly poison that ingrained itself in your mind and reminded you of all your darkest memories.
"The stone Potter, where is it?"
"Stone? I - I don't know what you're talking about," Harry told him, grasping his wand tightly in anticipation of his attack.
"You know where it is! Tell me!" Voldemort screamed.
"I - I don't, I swear it."
"The mirror Master."
"Stand in front of the mirror boy," Voldemort snapped, getting impatient and wanting the stone for himself. Harry looked over at Hermione helplessly, she merely nodded, letting him know that he should do what he's told for the time being. She was working on undoing her magical bindings and had nearly gotten rid of them all, she just needed a bit more time.
"NOW!" Voldemort seethed. Hesitantly, Harry made his way over to the mirror and was surprised when he didn't see his family but instead himself placing the philosophers stone in his pocket. He almost jumped when he felt a weight suddenly appear in his right pocket but managed to refrain himself from reacting.
"Well! What do you see?"
"I see my family, we're all together, we're happy."
"LIAR!"
"No, it -it's true," Harry assured him, trying to sound as truthful as possible.
"Don't lie to my master Potter, expelliarmus," Quirrel shouted, and Harrys wand came flying into his outstretched hand. Hermione knew what was going to happen next, she'd just broken the magical bonds that had restrained her and before she knew it she was up and running towards Harry just as the words left Quirrels mouth.
"Crucio"
Harry watched as the light came speeding towards him and closed his eyes, waiting for the pain to hit him; yet it never came.
An ear-splitting scream echoed around the room, Harry looked down and tears sprung to his eyes as he saw Hermione on the floor, her body writhing in pain and her eyes wide with fear.
Hermione felt like her whole body was on fire, she couldn't breath and the pain that ripped through her body was like a thousand tiny needles that wouldn't stop. She couldn't hold back the scream that tore through her throat, tears streaming effortlessly down her face as the feeling of fire felt as if it would never cease.
Finally the pain subsided but the scars were clear for everyone to see, Hermione felt helpless, the only thing keeping her going was the fact that Harry didn't have to endure what she just experienced.
"Oh dear, did your mudblood get in the way? Maybe I'll just have to curse her again, you seemed to enjoy her screams so much."
The last thing Hermione saw before blacking out was the look of fury on Harrys face as he ran towards Quirrelmort and burnt him with his bare hands.
Thank you so much for reading this chapter, I hope that you enjoyed it! If you have a few seconds I'd love it if you'd let me know what you thought of the chapter! REVIEWS WOULD BE APPRECIATED :)