A/N Hallo! I realized I haven't really been doing disclaimers, so I don't own Fairy Tail characters or Harry Potter characters! All I own is the plot of the story.

I hope you guys like this, and forgive me for not updating in such a long time.

Chapter 8

"You know, I've always wondered what's so dangerous in the third corridor," Hermione thought aloud to the other three boys. They were in the Sanctuary, practicing their individual magics.

Ravenclaw frowned, "How do you know about the third floor being dangerous?"

"Well, Professor Dumbledore told us to avoid it or die a horrible death," Hermione deadpanned.

Slytherin raised an eyebrow, "Really? Are you sure he wasn't telling you to check it out?" Harry, who was still trying to master the last few levels of Mind Magic, snickered and lost concentration. "Stay focused, Mr. Potter!"

Harry stopped snickering, and huffed, sitting down on the carpeted floor. He pouted slightly, "Sorry…"

"In a battle of minds, you can never lose your concentration or else there will be severe consequences," Slytherin warned.

Harry nodded, "Yes, I know. You've told me about ten times now." He elaborated when Slytherin raised an eyebrow, "You said that my mind would be traumatized because before losing concentration, my opponent and I would be pushing against each other, and once I get distracted, the other person's attack would pierce right into my mind. Also, if I was trying to destroy another person's mind and became distracted, then our two minds could become permanently intertwined, or both could be destroyed."

Slytherin nodded stoically, but his green eyes were proud, "Yes, very good. Now, do it again."

"So what is Professor Dumbledore guarding?" Hermione pressed, undeterred from her goal.

The Four exchanged looks, and after a moment of silence, Godric decided to speak. "He might be allowing you to practice Earthland magic and be let in on this secret, but what he is guarding in the third corridor has nothing to do with you."

"But we can help protect it if we know about it," Ron said eagerly.

The Four exchanged looks again, and for a longer time. "Even though you are learning Earthland magic, you would not be able to protect yourselves against the people who would want to steal what is being guarded."

Harry raised an eyebrow, storing away that piece of information. So this thing that's being guarded is dangerous and sought after by very dangerous people. "Would I be able to help protect it?" Harry wondered quietly. He was part of a dark guild and had gone on missions with Ultear. He wasn't helpless.

Slytherin pierced him with a look, "Mr Potter, you may be more experienced then the rest of them, but you are still a child."

"You don't know half of what I did in Earthland with Grimoire Heart," Harry muttered, slightly upset at being dismissed as a child.

Helga smiled softly, "We are not dismissing you, Harry. We want you to be safe, no matter what you are capable of. The adults should be the ones handling these sort of situations. You'll have your turn in a few years."

"Can we at least know what it is?" Hermione pleaded, curiosity getting the better of her.

Ravenclaw just smiled fondly, "Talk to Albus."

The next day, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco walked up the stair leading to the Headmaster's office, and knocking on his door. "You may come in." Once seeing who the visitors were, Dumbledore smiled, "How are the lessons?"

"They're great!" Hermione gushed. "I've learned so much, and Earthland magic has such a different feel to it… It's beautiful!"

Dumbledore smiled, "That's wonderful. I was never able to learn Earthland magic myself, but it certainly does sound wonderful. But I don't suppose you only came here for that, did you?"

"No, actually we were wondering what's being guarded in the third floor corridor," Harry asked bluntly. "The Four wouldn't tell us."

Dumbledore chuckled, "Yes, I was wondering when you would ask about that. I was surprised it wasn't earlier."

"So, are you going to tell us?" Harry pressed. "We could also help guard it. Even though I'm only eleven, I'm helped out my guild with a lot of things, and I'm not powerless. None of us are."

Dumbledore sighed, "Mr. Potter, I appreciate you volunteering to help protect it, but I believe if I were to allow any of you to help guard, I would only maybe let you do it. No offense intended, but Ms Granger, Misters Malfoy and Weasley are not well trained enough to defend it. I know you've learned Spatial Magic, Mr Potter, and with Ice Make, that would be sufficient to help protect it. But that would be it. And I don't like the idea of putting any of you in danger."

"Can you tell us?" Hermione begged, eyes shining. "We won't tell anyone else, and we won't try to interfere with anything. We just want to know!"

"You'll have to find out what it is yourself," Dumbledore said pleasantly. At the four children's protest, he smiled, "I'll give you one clue. This thing can turn anything into gold, and can prolong life."

Ron blinked, and slumped, "But that's such a vague clue!"

"Just try. I know you can figure it out."

Harry leaned over his cauldron, inspecting the color, "It's not the green the book described… It's too light."

Ron nodded, "So I guess just keep stirring then."

Harry leaned back, stirring the potion. He sighed, "Once we get the chance, we need to go to the library."

Ron groaned, "The library?"

Harry laughed, "We do have to check it out you know. That room is huge, it must have a ton of books. At least one should tell us what can make gold and prolong life."

Once the potion turned a leafy green, Harry stopped stirring and grabbed the chopped up snorck's liver. "Ugh this is so slimy," he gagged as the liver squished in his hand.

"Just drop it in then!" Ron grumbled, looking green. "Don't need to squeeze it like that!"

Draco leaned over from his station, "Hey, I think I might know what it is. But we need to talk in a more private area."

"After you guys are done with Transfiguration, meet me in the Sanctuary then," Harry decided.

Snape glanced at them, suspicion clear in his eyes, but he stayed silent and continued to roam the room. He stopped next to Neville's station, and sneered, "Do you think this is a leaf green, Longbottom?"

Neville squeaked, "U-um, it seemed leaf green before!"

With a swish of his wand, Snape vanished the potion. "A 0 for today, Longbottom, and maybe you'll do better next time."

Hermione growled under her breath, "He's so unfair! He never gives constructive criticism!" She looked at Draco, "Since you would do well on your own, will you be okay with me being his partner next lesson?"

Something flashed in Draco's eyes, before he said reluctantly, "Sure I guess."

Harry blinked, and then smirked, elbowing Ron who also snickered. Draco turned to glare at them, hissing, "Shut up!"

Hermione smiled, "Great!" She hugged Draco briefly, before turning to their potion. Draco froze, dazed with a light pink dusting his cheeks. He blinked, then flushed red with a small smile, turning to shoot a warning glare at Harry and Ron, who just smiled at him innocently.

In the Sanctuary, Harry informed the Four about what had occurred and the conclusion that they had reached through the clues Dumbledore had given them. Slytherin rolled his eyes, "It seems apparent that Albus wanted you to know. Those clues were too obvious."

Godric sighed, "As for your question of who the Stone is being guarded against…"

"It is being guarded against Voldemort," Dumbledore said softly, as he walked into the room. As the room's occupants turned to stare at him in surprise, he chuckled, "I am the one who introduced this room to Mr. Potter."

"Wait, but You-Know-Who is dead!" Ron cried out, eyes wide.

Dumbledore and the Four exchanged looks, before Helga said gently, "He's not dead, dear."

Harry just smiled viciously.

"Albus, what are you thinking?" Helga said softly. "You said yourself that they are too young."

Dumbledore shook his head, "They need to know. Voldemort will be targeting Harry, and all of you know it. Harry needs to be cautious."

"Thank you, Headmaster," Harry said gratefully. He hated when Ultear and Master Hades didn't tell him about whatever plans they were working on.

It was a Saturday, and the castle was quiet as the older students were out in Hogsmeade, and the younger ones outside in the beautiful day. Harry however, was inside, hovering near the third floor corridor. The Headmaster had informed them that a notice had come from the Ministry, demanding his assistance and presence. Wary and cautious, Dumbledore asked the four students to just keep watch on Professor Quirrell and if he were to pull anything, immediately contact him. "Do not confront him though," Dumbledore had warned them. "If anything dire happens, let Professor Snape or Professor McGonagall handle it. You are too contact me immediately. Do not engage in battle with Voldemort."

Hermione was sent to ask Quirrell about some questions they made up about defense, and Draco was with her just in case. Harry and Ron lounged about on the fourth floor, near the staircase, alert and ready to teleport to the third floor if needed.

"Hey, Harry, do you really think Quirrell will do something today?" Ron asked worriedly.

Harry sighed, but admitted truthfully, "I think he will. It's the first time this whole year that Dumbledore is away from the school. He's going to have to take advantage of this opportunity."

Ron gulped, suddenly uncertain and frightened. Harry smiled warmly, "It's ok, Ron. When I first went on a more dangerous quest from our guild, I was also really scared."

Ron dropped his head into his hands, groaning, "But I feel like I'm going to throw up! And if Quirrell does show, I don't think I'll be able to actually fight!"

"Who says we're going to fight Quirrell?" Harry asked, unsurprised. "We're not fighting anyone."

Ron gaped, "B-but, I thought you-"

"Like Professor Dumbledore said, it's too dangerous for us to fight against a fully trained wizard, especially one as powerful as Voldemort. I might like fighting, but we shouldn't be hasty or reckless," Harry reasoned. He did not want to have any of his friends hurt.

"But you sent Draco and Hermione to watch Quirrell," Ron questioned.

Suddenly, a movement caught Harry's eyes. He turned to see Draco's house elf materialize before their eyes. "Dobby? What happened?" Harry demanded, hoping nothing happened to Draco and Hermione.

"Mister Harry Potter sir! Professor Garlic is heading towards the third floor corridor! He has Draco and Hermione locked into a room unconscious!" Dobby exclaimed, eyes wide and round. Racing over to the wall, he began to bash his head into the wall, shrieking, "Bad Dobby! Dobby allowed Master Draco to get hurt! BAD DOBBY-"

Harry wrenched Dobby away from the wall, "Dobby! Calm yourself! Go get Professor Snape immediately!" Turning to Ron, he sighed, "We'll have to go and hold Quirrell off until Snape gets here."

Dobby nodded and left with a POP! Ron gulped, "We have to go face him?"

Harry gritted his teeth, "Just leave it to me. I have more experience than you." Ron nodded, too eager to not confront Voldemort.

Harry gripped Ron's arm, and stepped forward, picturing the third floor corridor, appearing in front of the door that led to the Stone. "Ice Make Shield!" he uttered, covering the door with a shield of ice.

"M-metal Make Shield!" Ron stuttered, stomach rolling with fear. A thin shield of metal appeared, but faded away. Ron blushed red in embarrassment, but before he could say anything, Harry stopped him.

"It's ok, Ron. Leave it to me. Just make sure I'm not killed and keep yourself safe," Harry said, soothing his own nerves and excitement.

"Oh? Mr Potter, and Mr Weasley. I understand why Dumbledore would allow Mr Potter to help him guard the Stone, but Mr Weasley? What an unwise decision," a mocking voice drifted over.

Harry whirled around, eyes narrowing as he caught sight of Quirrel, who strolled into view. "Quirrell." Where was Professor Snape damnit?

"Step aside, Mr Potter, and I will not harm you and your friend," Quirrell leered, an amused smirk on his lips. Catching sight of the ice shield, he laughed aloud, "Oh is that what your shield looks like? It looks solid. I had wondered what would be strong enough to shield against a full grown mountain troll. You should remove it."

"Like hell I am!" Harry drawled, lounging casually. "Tell me though, what are your goals in your quest to conquer the Wizarding World? No one's ever really explained to me, and I hope your goals aren't to destroy all the nonmagicals."

Quirrell raised an eyebrow, "The Dark Lord certainly does want to the Muggles gone, Mr Potter."

Ron glanced at Harry, alarmed, "Harry what-"

Harry interrupted Ron, ignoring his friend. "Well, first, did you know your name rhymes with squirrell?"

Quirrell blinked, then glared, answering shortly, "I know that." Ron also stared at Harry, wondering if his friend had finally gone off his rockers.

"Then, why would you want the nonmagicals gone?" Harry asked, as if he hadn't just randomly insulted Quirrell.

Quirrell frowned, before replying, "Muggles are useless. They do nothing and do not contribute to this world. They also make our magical blood impure."

"Well, where I live, nonmagicals live perfectly well with mages," he said. "Magic is a normal part of life. And even if nonmagicals and wizards reproduce, their offspring can still do magic, so what does it matter?"

Quirrell raised an eyebrow, but didn't answer, instead dismissing him. "Now, Mr Potter, I'm getting impatiently. Move aside and take down your shield, before I force you to."

Harry stood in front of the door defiantly, "You can try."

Quirrell whipped out his wand, "Crucio!"

"Ice Make Shield!" "Ice Make Hammer!"

"Reducto!" "Bombarda!"

Dodging, Harry snarled, "Ice Make Cannon!" "Ice Make Dragon!" His animated Ice Make wasn't as strong as his inanimate version, but it still did its job.

Quirrell smirked, impressed, "I'm certainly impressed, Mr. Potter. Are you sure you don't want to come over to the Dark Lord's side? That type of talent could certainly be utilized fully."

"No thanks, I've got my own goals," Harry declined, grinning. "Ice Make Sword!" A sword shot out of his palm, racing for the professor, who flicked his wand and batted away the sword. Another flick of the wand sent a sickly yellow colored curse flying Harry's way.

With a snap of his fingers, the curse vanished in front of Harry, and then reappeared in front of the professor, who jumped back in surprise. "What-" Quirrell spluttered, eyes wide.

Harry leaned into his battle stance, eyes hard and calculating, "You can give up on getting the Stone. I'm not letting you pass."

"Don't underestimate me, boy. I might just be a vessel, but you're no match for a Dark Lord!" Quirrell snarled, eyes bleeding red. A fit of rage, he let out a barrage of curses.

Harry gritted his teeth, struggling to keep his shield up against the high-powered curses. Where the hell was Professor Snape? It's been way too long. Dooby should've been able to return in an instance.

Quirrell laughed suddenly, "Oh are you waiting for Severus? He's not going to come."

"What?" Ron demanded, so pale his freckles stood out like splashes of paint. Harry felt his heart sinking. They were alone. No way to get to Professor McGonagall, and Draco and Hermione were incapacitated. Everything was left up to him and Ron. He glanced at Ron, who gave him a fearful look.

"That doesn't matter," Harry insisted, trying to calm the fear roiling in him. "We will stop you. No matter what." He took a ready stance as Quirrell raised his wand again.

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