Hailey was surprised that she managed to get through the exams while half expecting You-Know-Who to come through the doors.
Even though Hermione told her that Dumbledore is the only one that You-Know-Who was afraid of and Hermione had told her that she believes that seeing the future is fortune-telling and an imprecise branch of magic.
As the days crept by, there was no doubt Fluffy was still alive and well behind the door.
It was sweltering hot in the classrooms where they did their written papers, and had been gave new quills that had been bewitched with an Anti-Cheating spell.
They had practical exams as well. Professor Flitwick had called them one by one into his classroom to see if they can make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox—points were given for how cute the snuffbox looked and were taken if it had whiskers. Snape made them nervous because he breathed down their necks when they tried to brew a Forgetfulness Potion, which didn't help Hailey.
What really weren't helping were the stabbing pains in her head and the old nightmare, which now had a hooded figured dripping blood.
Maybe it was because they hadn't seen what she saw, but Ron, Mandy, and Hermione weren't as worried about the Stone like Hailey was. Terry had asked Hailey what happened in the forest because Michael was having nightmares every now and then, but not to the extent of Hailey's.
Their very last exam was History of Magic. One hour of answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented self-stirring cauldrons and they'd be free for a whole wonderful week until their exam results came out.
After Professor Binns told them to put down their quills, Hailey actually sighed in relief as she rolled up the parchment. The Ravenclaws meet up with Hermione and Ron.
"That was easier than I thought," Mandy said.
"Easy for you to say," Ron said. "You're in Ravenclaw."
They wandered down to the lake and flopped under a tree, although Michael backed up to be near the tree trunk.
Hailey looked up at him, "what is up with your fear of the lake?" She looked at the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan tickling the tentacles of the giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows.
"When I was around six, my parents and I went to a lake. Something dragged me underwater and the next thing I know I was waking up to my mum telling people that it was some seaweed. I think my dad didn't believe her. When we found out she was a witch, I guess he found what really happened that day, but I still have no clue what dragged me underwater." Michael explained and looked away.
It looked like Hermione was sympathetic over it.
"I think my dad had that job. Said something about how some poor kid nearly got eaten by a kelpie," Mandy said. "But he found it confusing when his mother told him to use a spell on her kid."
Ron looked at Hailey, who was rubbing her forehead, "what's wrong?"
"I wish I knew what this means," Hailey replied. "My scar keeps hurting—it's happened before, but never as often as this."
"Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested.
"I'm not ill," Hailey replied. "I think it's a warning…I think it means that danger's coming…"
Ron stretched out the grass, "Hailey, relax. The Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's aaround. Besides, we don't have proof that Snape knows how to get past Fluffy. He almost got his leg ripped off once; he's not going to try it again. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."
Hailey nodded, "I feel like I'm forgetting something, but I don't know what it is, but I feel like it's something important."
"That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remember I'd done that one," Hermione said.
Michael gave Mandy a weird look at what Hermione said.
Hailey was positive that the feeling didn't have anything to do with exams. She watched as an owl flutter toward the school, a note clamped in its mouth. She was reminded that Hagrid was the only one who ever sent her letters.
Hagrid would never betray Dumbledore. He would never tell anyone to get past Fluffy…never…but…She thought and stood up suddenly. It startled her friends.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked.
"I'm just thought of something. We got to go see Hagrid, now," Hailey said. She started walking towards Hagrid's hut and her friends were trying to catch up.
"Why?" Mandy panted, trying to catch up.
"I find it a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people do that when it's against the wizard law? How lucky they are on finding Hagrid. I can't believe I didn't see all of this before," Hailey explained.
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, but Hailey started sprinting across the grounds toward the hut.
Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; his trousers and sleeves were rolled up. He was shelling peas into a large bowl. "Hullo," he smiled. "Finished yer exams? Got time for a drink?"
"Yes, please," Ron replied, panting.
"No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something." Hailey asked, "you know that night you won Norbert? What did the strange you were playing cards with look like?"
"Dunno," Hagrid answered. "He wouldn't take his cloak off." Hailey was stunned at that and she looked at her friends, who seemed stunned too. "It's not that unusual, yeh got a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head—that's one o' the pubs down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."
Hailey sat in a chair next to the peas. The Stone is doomed.
"What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?" Michael asked.
"Mighta come up," Hagrid answered. He was frowning, like he was trying to remember. "Yeah…he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here…He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I look after…so I told him…an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon…an' then…I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks. Let's see…yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted…but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter ge ter any old home. So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy…"
"And did he—did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Hermione asked.
"Well—yeah—how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told, 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—" Hagrid looked horrified. "I shouln'ta told yeh that!" He looked at them, "forget I said it!" They started running to Hogwarts, "hey! Where're yeh going!"
They didn't speak until they came to a halt in the entrance hall, which seemed very cold and gloomy after the grounds.
"We've got to go to Dumblefore," Hailey stated. "Hagrid told the strange how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or You-Know-Who under that cloak. It must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Do you know where Dumbledore's office is?"
They looked around, trying to see if there was a sign pointing them in the right direction, but they never been told where Dumbledore lived nor did they know anyone who had been sent to see him.
Hailey started, "we'll just have to ask—"
"What are you five doing inside?" Profess McGonagall demanded, carrying a large pile of books.
"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said.
"See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated, as if that was a fishy thing to do. Hailey frowned, wondering why asking to see the headmaster seemed like an odd thing to do. Professor McGonagall asked, "Why?"
"It's about the Philosopher's Stone," Hailey blurted out.
The books Professor McGonagall was holding feel to the floor. "How do you know—?" she spluttered.
"I think—I know—that someone is trying to steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore," Hailey said.
"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow. He received an urgent owl ten minutes ago and he flew off to London at once. I don't know how you five found out about the Stone but rest assured it's to well protected," Professor McGonagall explained.
Hailey started, "but Professor—"
"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," Professor McGonagall said sternly. She started picking up the fallen books. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."
They waited until they were sure that Professor McGonagall was out of earshot.
"I'm sure Snape is going to steal the Stone, tonight," Hailey said. "He found out about everything he needs, and now he got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note and I'm sure that the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."
Mandy started, "What can we—?"
Hermione gasped and they turned around to see Snape standing there.
"Good afternoon," he said, smoothly. They just stared at him. Snape had an odd twisted smile, "You shouldn't be inside on a day like this."
"We were just going to—" Hailey started.
"You want to be more careful," Snape interrupted. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. Ravenclaw really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?"
Hailey felt her face warm up and they started heading to the door. "Be warned, anymore nighttime wanderings and I will personal make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."
Hailey wasn't sure who Snape was talking to. Her, Ron, or Michael? Michael was the other person who got in trouble for walking around at night. Snape didn't hate Michael as much as Snape despised her. So, why would Snape personally expel Michael?
Michael seemed to be thinking along the same lines as they headed outside.
"Okay, here's what we've got to do. One of us has got to keep an eye on Snape—wait outside the staff-room and follow him if he leaves it. Michael, I think you should do that," Hailey said.
Michael seemed even more confused, "Why me?"
Hailey looked at him, "you fell into unicorn blood. You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick. You can claim it traumatized you and he can give you those cupcakes while you talk about it. Robert Hilliard did say that he's always there to listen to us if we're in a state. We'll stay on the third floor corridor."
"I think I'll wait for Dumbledore to show up. Like, I'll keep a look out for him just in case he turns up," Mandy said.
"Good idea," Hailey said.
Michael agreed with the plan and Hailey and the two Gryffindors went inside. When they reached the door separating Fluffy from the rest of the school, Professor McGonagall turned again.
"I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments!" she stormed, losing her temper, "Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you've come anywhere near here again, I'll take fifty points from each of your Houses!" Ron looked like he was going to say something, but Professor McGonagall interrupted him, "yes, Weasley, from my own House!"
They went to the entrance hall, hoping that at least Michael's part of Hailey's plan was working. Michael returned, looking sheepish. "I'm sorry. Snape came out and asked me what I was doing, so I said I was waiting for Flitwick because I wanted to talk about the unicorn blood incident, and Snape went to get him, but I left because I have no clue where he went and I was sure that I would've got in trouble if he noticed that I was following him."
"Its fine," Hailey said. "I'm going to the corridor, tonight. I'm going to get to the Stone first."
"You're mad!" Ron exclaimed, "The Ravenclaw Tower had warped your brain."
"You can't," Hermione said, "After what McGonagall and Snape said? You'll be expelled!"
"To hell with that!" Hailey shouted, "Don't you understand? If Snape gets a hold of the Stone, You-Know-Who is coming back! Haven't you heard what is like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? Do you think he'll you and your families along if Ravenclaw or Gryffindor wins the House Cup? No, I don't bloody think so! If I get caught before I get the Stone, I don't care! I'll go back to the Dursleys and I'll just wait for him to find him me there! It's dying early that I would've liked, but I'm never going to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight and you would have to tie me down, because there's nothing you can say to stop me. You-Know-Who killed Susan's family, my parents, and who knows how many people's families, remember?"
"You're right, Hailey," Hermione said in a small voice.
"I'll just use the Invisibility Cloak," Hailey said, mostly to herself.
"Will it cover all four of us?" Michael asked.
"All—all four of us?" Hailey asked confused.
"Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?" Ron asked.
"How do you think you'd get the Stone with us? I'd better go and look through my books. There might be something useful in there," Hermione said.
"If we get caught, you will be expelled, too," Michael pointed out.
"Not if I can help it," Hermione said in a grim tone. "Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and twelve percent of his exam. They're not throwing me out after that."
Michael looked a little impressed, "Damn. He told me I got a hundred and five percent."
Michael and Hailey went to the Gryffindor common room entrance under the Invisibility Cloak. She had pocketed the flute that Hagrid had made her for Christmas, which she found a little odd, but she pushed that thought to the side.
They had agreed to meet up with Hermione and Ron at a set time in front of Gryffindor entrance, so they wouldn't run into Filch who may be prowling the corridor for more students who may be out of bed.
They showed up right on time as Hermione and Ron were leaving the common room. Hermione was saying sorry to someone and Hailey threw the Cloak over them. They moved slowly, trying to keep hidden and trying not to make much noise. They didn't run into anyone and they came up across Peeves in front of the staircase leading up to the third corridor. Peeves was loosening the carpet so students would trip over them. They walked slowly and Peeves turned around.
"Who's there?" Peeves demanded. "Know you're there, even if I can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?" He rose in the air and floated there, squinting at them. "Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen."
"Peeves," Michael said in a hoarse whisper, nearly startling Hailey. "The Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."
It looked like Peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. "So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, sir," Peeves said in a greasy tone. "My mistake, my mistake—I didn't see you—of course I didn't, you're invisible—forgive old Peevsie his little joke, sir."
"I have business here, Peeves," Michael croaked. "Stay away from this place tonight."
"I will, sir, I most certainly will." Peeves agreed, rising in the air again. "Hope you business goes well, Baron, I'll not bother you." He scooted off.
"That was bloody brilliant, Michael," Ron whispered.
They were outside the third-floor corridor and they noticed that the door was ajar. The open door seemed to impress all four of them.
"Snape's already got past Fluffy," Hailey said. She looked at the three, "If any of you want to leave, go ahead. I won't make fun of you for it."
"Don't be stupid," Ron said.
"We're coming," Hermione said.
"I'm all in," Michael stated.
They opened the door and Hailey removed the Cloak. She folded it as quickly and as small as she can and stuffed it in her pocket.
The low rumbling growls were distracting. All three of Fluffy's noses sniffled madly in their direction even though it couldn't see them.
"What's that at its feet?" Hermione whispered.
"It looks like a harp," Ron stated, "Snape must have left it there."
"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," Hailey stated and took the flute out. "Well, here it goes…" She put the flute to her lips and blew. It wasn't a tune, but the dog's eyes began to droop at the first note. The dog's growls ceased slowly and it tottered on its paws and fell to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep.
"Keep playing," Michael warned and Hailey rolled her eyes. They crept toward the trapdoor and they felt the dog's hot, smelly breath as they approached the giant heads. Michael and Ron pulled the trapdoor open, while Hailey kept playing the flute.
"Want to go first, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"No I don't!" Hermione responded.
"All right," Ron said.
"I'll go first," Michael said and jumped through the trapdoor. After a few seconds, "It's okay! It's a soft landing, you can jump!"
Ron went second and Hermione went third. Hailey kept playing the flute as she moved to the trap door, but somehow tripped and fell through it.
Hailey frowned, "What is this stuff?" It felt like some sort of…plant. She looked at Michael and Ron, "Look at you both!" They had snakelike tendrils around their legs. Hermione jumped up before the plant got a firm grip on her.
Ron and Michael started fighting against it, but the plant wound faster around them.
"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered. "I know what this is—it's Devil's Snare!"
"I'm so glad to know what it's called, that's a great help," Ron said, leaning back to stop the plant for curling around his neck.
"Shut up," Hermione ordered. "I'm trying to remember how to kill it."
"Hurry up, I can't breathe," Ron said. Hailey wrestled with a vine that was trying to curl around her chest.
"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare, what did Professor Sprout say?" Hermione said to herself.
Michael was pulling at a vine that curled around his arm. Hailey and Michael shouted at her, "Start a fire!"
"Of course—but there's no wood!" Hermione cried, wringing her hands together.
Michael looked at her, "Are you kidding me!"
"Have you gone mad?" Ron bellowed at her, "Are you a witch or not?"
"Oh, right!" Hermione said, whipping out her wand. She waved it around and muttered something. Jet blue flames like the ones she used on Snape came shooting out of the wand.
They felt the vines loosen their grip as it moved from the light and warmth. Wriggling and flailing, it released the four first years and they scampered off of the Devil's Snare. The floor was made out of some sort of stone and they walked down a stone passageway, which sloped downwards.
"Do you hear something?" Ron asked.
There was a soft rustling and clinking sound from up ahead.
"It sounds like…wings to me," Hailey responded.
"There's light up ahead—I can see something moving," Michael stated.
They reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door.
"Would they attack if we cross the room?" Hermione asked.
"They don't look vicious, but I suppose they would be if they attack as one if we tried to cross the room," Hailey said. "I'll go first." She covered her face and ran across the room, and slammed into the door. She tried the doorknob, but it was locked. The other three ran up, and Hermione even tried the Alohomora Charm, which didn't work.
"Now what?" Ron asked, and they looked at the birds. They were soaring high and glittering—glittering?
Hailey looked closely, "I think they're keys! Winged keys!" She looked around the chamber, "that must mean—yes look…a broomstick!" She pointed at one.
"There are hundreds of them. How do you know which one goes to the door?" Hermione asked.
"You'll be looking for a big, old fashioned one. Possibly silver, like the lock." Ron stated, examining the lock.
She nodded, "got it." She got on the broomstick and took off on it. It took a few minutes for her to spot the key with a crumpled wing.
It took a little long for her to get the key, but she did. She landed and crammed the poor winged-key in the lock. The lock clicked open and the key took off, looking more battered. She pulled the door open and looked at the others. "It's not too late to turn back now."
"Let's keep going," Hermione said.
The corridor was dark and when they walked in, it light suddenly flooded the room. They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were taller than they were and looked like they were carved from black stone. Facing them where the white chessmen, but they had no faces.
Michael looked at the pieces, "Now what?"
"We have to play our way across the room," Ron said, pointing the other door. He walked up and placed his hand on the knight's horse and it sprang to life. The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned to look down at Ron. Ron asked, "Do we—er—have to join you to get across?"
The knight nodded and Ron turned to the other three, "This needs thinking about…I suppose we've got to take the place of four of the black pieces." He was thinking. "Now don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess—"
"We're not offended," Hailey said.
"I never played," Michael responded.
"Just tell us what to do," Hermione said.
"All right, Michael, you'll be that bishop over there." Ron said, pointing, "Hermione you go take the castle's place, and Hailey, you're going to be the rook."
They took the squares, which the pieces moved out of the way.
"White always goes first in chess," Ron said. "Yes, look."
The white pieces started moving and Ron started directing the black pieces which did as they were told.
Hailey was trembling, what would happen to her if she had to lose? The white pieces were decimating them, but Ron was going around taking the pieces as well, trying to avoid them getting in danger.
The white queen turned to Ron, who said, "Yes—it's the only way."
"No!" The other three shouted.
"That's chess! You've got to make sacrifices!" Ron snapped back.
"There has to be a different way," Michael said. "Maybe you can…"
"Do you want Snape to steal the Stone or not?" Ron replied, "she'll take me and you'll be free to checkmate the king." He stepped forward and Hailey covered her eyes. She heard the shatter of the horse, heard Hermione scream, and the slide of the queen moving Ron off the board. She kept her eyes closed and soon there was a slide of the pieces parting. She opened them and went to check on Ron who was unconscious, with Hermione and Michael.
"I'll stay here with Ron and wait for help," Hermione said. "You two go on."
"Are you sure?" Michael asked.
"Yes, someone needs to make sure he's all right," Hermione said. "You two are Ravenclaws, you'll figure out the rest."
"Stay safe," Hailey said.
"You two better be careful," Hermione replied and they two left in the next room. There was a taller troll, unconscious, with a bloody lump on its head.
They covered their noses with their robes.
"I'm glad I don't have to fight that one," Hailey said as they went to the next room. It wasn't very threatening since it had seven different shaped bottles on a table.
They stepped over the threshold and a purple fire instantly sprang up behind them in the doorway, while in front of them, there was a black fire.
"Look. There's a roll of paper next to them," Michael said. They walked forward and Hailey picked up the paper. She looked at it. "What is it?"
"It's…it's a puzzle," Hailey said. "You've got to use logic to solve it." She read it out loud:
"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 in line.
Chose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give 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 onward, 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."
"Okay, so there's two wines, three poisons, and two we use to go back and to go forward," Hailey said.
"Right," Michael said. "The fourth clue says the second left and second on the right are twins. So the twins are nettle wine. The first clue says that the poison is to the left of the nettle wine. So the first is poison, second is wine. The fifth is poison and the sixth is wine."
Hailey looked at the paper, "It says that neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides. So, those two aren't poison."
"Okay, we got two poisons, two wines; we need one more poison and the two potions," Michael said. "The two on the ends aren't matching. The first is poison, but the last one is a giant, but it doesn't hold poison. The dwarf also doesn't hold poison. So, the last one must mean that it goes back. The third one is a dwarf but it also doesn't hold poison. The third one and the last are the potions that we need."
Hailey grabbed the smallest vial and Michael took the giant bottle. Michael handed her his wand, "Okay, here. If Snape is in there, he might not fight fair. If anything happens, use the full Body-Bind."
Hailey nodded. "I got it. I'll be fine." She handed him the Invisibility Cloak. "Here, take this."
He grabbed it and he hugged her, which was a little startling and she patted his back twice. Hailey felt her face heat up in embarrassment. He released her, "Good luck."
"Thanks, you too." Hailey replied, and realized her mistake. "You go first."
He drank from the round bottle and shuddered. He went through the purple flames and Hailey looked forward.
"Here goes nothing," Hailey said to herself. She drank from the small bottle and it felt like ice flooded her body. She walked through the black flames, but they didn't burn her. She saw nothing but darkness and stepped into the last chamber. She was expecting to see Snape, even You-Know-Who, not Professor Quirrell.
A/N: Just two more chapters to go.