Year One: Chapter 12: Obstacles

*Hermione's Point of View*

"Right so Fluffy goes to sleep because of music…" Ron spoke but more like asked. I rolled my eyes as I turned my head to face the cheating scumbag- sorry first year. Wasn't he in the room when Hagrid said that?

"Yes, Ron, I will set this," I motioned to the radio in my hand, "On the floor just in case there is no music there. The music will play and hopefully that'll put Fluffy to sleep," Ron nodded, pleased that he wouldn't be doing the work.

We entered the corridor and I took a deep breath as I set the radio down. The harp was enchantedly playing and I rolled my eyes since I knew that it would turn off in a few moments. Harry asked, "Hey, Hermione, why turn music on when the harp is playing?"

"Because, we don't know how long it'll magically be on. It could have an alarm or be set off by our voices," I spoke simply as I pressed the button on the bulky music machine. Harry nodded, seeing my point, and I opened the trap door.

"I'll go first," I spoke as I jumped down the trap door into the familiar plant, Devil's Snare. It of course made my skin crawl but not as much as Harry's and Ron's will I bet, "I'm all good," I called as the plant started to suffocate me. I calmed my breathing down and fell through to the ground below with a THUMP.

"Hermione… Is this thing trying to kill us?" I heard Ron's wavering voice and I smirked happily. He deserves- no! I have to save them, and quickly, but it wouldn't hurt to have him freak out a little right?

"Stop struggling, it'll only kill you faster," I heard Ron's cry of panic and Harry's questioning, but calm, voice.

"Hermione, how did you get- oh," He spoke as he slid through onto the ground below. He stood up and brushed off his pants before looking up at Ron, "He's not going to calm down is he?"

"Nope,"

"HARRY? THIS THING ATE YOU TOO OH MY MERLIN IT HAS MY NECK," I sighed as I thought of what I said in first year. The spell that reflects light, that's it.

"Lumos Herem," I called and a light enveloped the room as the plant let out a shriek causing it to let go of Ron. I smiled triumphantly as I kept my wand out, "It'd be wise to get your wands out boys,"

Ron and Harry gulped and brought out their wands, "Hey Hermione," Harry asked, "Why are you so calm? Most girls would be freaking out or nervous like Ron and I are," Good. Harry's smart.

"Well, I don't know, I guess it's not really that scary. It's kind of ridiculous if you think about it," And I led the way into the next room. It was the room of keys with a broom directly in the center. I flinched away from it and Harry noticed my hesitance.

"What do I do Hermione?" He asked and I shook my head, clearing my thoughts.

"Do you see that key right there towards the roof? All of the keys have perfect wings but that one has a crumpled wing. The person before us used the room to catch that key; I believe that's the reason why it's crumpled," I spoke after trying to unlock the door, even though I knew it would not work.

"Well alright then," Harry clutched the broom and the minute he touched it all of the keys except the one with the crumpled wing went to attack Harry. Harry tried to fight them off as he rose into the air and sped towards the key we needed. I hurried towards the door and ushered Ron over.

Harry grabbed the key and flew towards the door as he dropped the key into my hands. I fumbled the key a bit as I unlocked the door in haste, Harry running in last minute before I slammed the door shut, breathing heavily.

"Is this a giant chess board?" Harry asked, confused, and I grinned knowing Ron would be knocked out. Man, I really needed to stop thinking about hurting Ron.

"It's quite simple actually," I pursed my lips, "Ron, since he's the better chess player of the three of us, will have to fight to get us through," Ron nodded quickly, his eyes dancing with glee.

"But wait, Hermione, aren't you the best one at chess here?" I mentally groaned, I forgot that I was better than him at chess now since he was only a first year. But I'm a first year now.

"You go ahead Ron, you're pretty good," He nodded, now he was practically jumping up and down.

"Alright then, Harry you be a bishop, Hermione be a castle, and I'll be a knight," We took our places and the game started. Eventually Ron gulped and I looked at him quickly.

"Ron, don't do it," I faked.

"Ron please don't do it," Harry.

"Well, one of us has to. You two go ahead and Harry, defeat Snape," Ron told and I muttered under my breath.

"It's not Snape; I think it is Quirell,"

"Whatever Hermione," Ron smiled and I quirked my lips up. Ron called out a command and the queen knocked Ron to the ground, but Harry checkmated them. I grinned, we made it through.

"Come on Harry, I'm sure he'll be fine," I urged, seeing Harry's hesitance, "We'll come back for him," Harry nodded quickly before moving forward towards the door. I followed right behind and we were in the room with a troll.

"Well," Harry sighed, "That's one less obstacle, I didn't want to fight a troll," I laughed at the irony of it. He actually fought a troll in the original first year which makes us become friends. We entered the next room which had all of the potions vials.

"Oh a riddle, I like riddles," I murmured as I grabbed the wrinkled, aged piece of parchment and read the riddle aloud.

""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," And Harry sighed.

"I can't do this one Hermione, can you help?" I nodded as I looked at the seven potions that were sitting in a straight line. I knew it was the third one off of first sight now but originally I didn't.

"It's the third one," I spoke matter of fact but this time instead of enough for only one to go through there was enough for two. I guess it knew that I was coming, huh?

"Okay, there's enough for both of us. You first Hermione, you're not as nervous," I laughed at his conclusions and grabbed the vial swigging my little bit down. Harry then went to drink his portion but dropped the vial on the ground, sending the glass shards splattering everywhere.

"Okay, that's not good," I murmured and he nodded quickly.

"Which was the one to send me back?" I pointed at the seventh one, "Alright, well you'll have to go ahead; I'll get Ron and send for help alright?" I nodded, gulping quickly before making my way to the mirror or erisid.

At first I saw Quirrel with his back to me, hands clasped and turban up. I glared at the back of his head. He spoke without looking at me, "I knew you would come, Harry Potter,"

"I'm not Harry Potter," I spoke, clutching my wand with my right hand. Quirell turned around, "And of course it's you," He glared at me.

"You, the first year who snapped my master's wand, are going to stop me? You're the one who stopped me from letting in the troll on Halloween," He snarled, "He will destroy you,"

"He can try," I twirled my wand between my fingers, "But aren't you looking for the Sorcerer's Stone (Okay I know for some of you it is the Philosopher's stone but in America it is Sorcerer's)?"

"How did you- never mind, do you want me to destroy her now?" He asked quickly to his turban and I crinkled my nose in disgust. How weird is that, talking to a turban?

"No, let's see what she can see in the mirror," Quirell grabbed my sleeve and pulled me to the mirror. Knowing that it would tell me the stone was in my pocket I merely didn't really try.

"What do you see?" Quirell whispered, standing behind me.

"Well I don't know, you're in my way," I snapped irritably and Quirell clenched his fists before moving out of the view of the mirror. I saw myself dropping the smooth stone in my pocket.

"What do you see?"

"I see getting the new Barbra Hills book "You and I" from my parents," I spoke simply and Quirell looked at me confused.

"She lies," Hissed the voice, "Show her to me, SHOW ME HER," Quirell quickly unwrapped the turban on his head and turned around to show me the back of his head, Voldemort.

I glared at him and clenched my wand before I shot the spell "Reducto" silently at his head. He ducked and reached for me, pushing me down on the steps. Wincing as my head slammed on the steps I felt the blood rushing from my head.

"Give me the stone," He hissed as he went to grab it from my pocket but I thrust my hands against his face, causing him to wail as his face burned away. Slowly Quirell dropped to the floor, dead, but Voldemort's soul emerged from the body.

The last thing I saw was blue eyes.

There you guys go, pretty intense chapter huh? Sorry I haven't updated for two weeks I've been… Busy but don't worry! I'll be working on this story a lot more since I have a ton of inspiration! Review?

-Holly