The next weeks before the end of term were a madhouse in their own right. Never mind that, after Harry told them about the conversation with Firenze, save Draco of course, the little group kept wondering if Voldemort would pop up somewhere in the school. Harry was particularly on edge most of the time and it didn't help that Hermione was pushing everyone to study everything from day one all over again, just in case.

Staros had little time to look into his project with the History, nor set up the meeting with the goblins that he wanted. While he wasn't as concerned with the idea of Voldemort as the others, the shade being present bothered him, but for different reasons. In between study sessions, he had written to his father, grandfather, and Keeper about the night in the forest. Keeper had not bothered to reply while his grandfather had informed him that the Queen expected him to gather more information on the supposed ghost or wraith of the former Dark Lord. His father simply told him to remember why he was in Britain and to do what was necessary to overcome this roadblock.

Temperatures rose towards the close of the month. Not as warm as California, which Staros was quick to point out quite often when others complained about the heat, but warm enough. Finally, exams were done. One stifling classroom of intense concentration after another, plus the practicals in which spells had to be demonstrated to some degree of proficiency, and everyone was finally allowed to relax.

Staros had distanced himself from the others a bit. Mainly because Harry still had issues with the unicorn's death, but also to avoid any misunderstandings within Slytherin. With tensions high for exams, no one wanted the extra problems of who associated with whom causing more arguments. It certainly didn't help that Ron was back to his 'hate all Slytherins' routine.

The last day of exams, Staros noticed Hermione acting oddly. She had said she was waiting for Professor Flitwick, yet when Professor Snape went to get him, she ran off. Staros followed along, staying back far enough to not be noticed. When she met up with Ron and Harry, Staros stood behind the corner nearby where he could listen, but not be seen.

"… and I've only just got away, I don't know where Snape went," Hermione was saying.

"Well, that's it then, isn't it?" Harry said. "I'm going out tonight and I'm going to try to get the Stone first."

"You're mad!" exclaimed Ron.

"You can't!" Hermione said. "After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'll be expelled!"

"SO WHAT?" Harry yelled. "Don't you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was 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 of the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, don't you see? D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the house cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there. It's only dying a little later than I would have, because I'm never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through the trapdoor tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?"

Harry was glaring at them. Staros wondered if they realized just how loud they were being.

"You're right, Harry," said Hermione in a small voice.

"I'll use the invisibility cloak," Harry said. "It's good that I got it back."

"Will it cover all three of us?" asked Ron.

"All? What?" Harry spluttered.

"Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?"

"Of course not," said Hermione briskly. "How do you think you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better go a look through my books, there might be something useful…"

"But, if we get caught, you two will be expelled too."

"Not if I can help it," Hermione said flippantly. "Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and twelve percent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that."

Staros silently agreed with her. He moved off down the corridor, lest he be caught eavesdropping. It looked like he too would be taking a late night stroll.