A/N: I'm going to make this clear. I don't own the Harry Potter series or it's characters. That right goes to JK Rowling

Journey to the Sorcerer's Stone

It turned out Hermione's persistence to study for the exams came in handy when the exams did come, because without it, Harry would of felt that he rather fight Voldemort than go through them.

In the days following since Detention, Harry and his friends made sure to check the three headed dog in the third floor corridor, to make sure it was still alive.

As for Quirrell, he agreed to only an in-school vacation, as he didn't feel any safer anywhere else. But with exams coming up, Dumbledore assigned the position to James for exams from first years third year, and Snape handle fourth and sixth years since OWLs and NEWTs exam takers had their own set of examiners for their exams.

The students had to take the written exams in a large sweltering hot classroom with special exam approved anti-cheating bewitched quills.

Then they were called individually to do the practical exam in front of a professor, where they must perform a certain spell depending on the class. Professor Flitwick had his class try to make a pineapple tap-dance across his desk. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox—points given for how pretty the snuffbox was, but taken away if it had whiskers. Snape made many of his students nervous by breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetful potion.

Harry would have done better on each exam if his scar didn't cause stabbing pain on his forehead. It been bothering him since his trip to the Forbidden Forest. After a day of exams, Harry would end up staying in his dad's living quarters using a simple muggle remedy James picked up from Lilly during their time together of placing a cool towel on Harry's forehead. Amazing enough it seemed to be the only thing that eases the pain from Harry's scar.

Still, it got to the point James had to get approval from McGonagall and Dumbledore to let Harry stay with him during exam week, so Harry can get some peace and quiet from the loud Gryffindor Common Room.

And if the pain from his scar wasn't bad enough, the dreams about the night Lilly died started again. Only this time, instead of a sinister laugh, Harry saw the hooded figure standing over him.

Their last exam was History of Magic, which mostly consist of an hour of answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented self-stirring cauldrons and they'd be free until the exam results.

"That was far easier than I thought it would be," said Hermione as they joined the crowds flocking out onto sunny grounds. "I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager. How about we go over our exam papers before we leave."

"No," Ron and Neville said.

Harry was only half listening as he rubbed his forehead as his scar been hurting.

"Your scar is hurting again, isn't it?" Neville asked.

Harry nodded. "And I can't shake this feeling it's warning me of something."

"Warning about what?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. But it's been hurting since the encounter in the Forbidden Forest," Harry said before thinking about something. "Of course, Norbert…"

"What about the dragon? He's in Romania," Ron said.

"Yeah, but how did Hagrid end up with Norbert in the first place," Harry said. "Come on!"

…

Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; his trousers and sleeves were rolled up and he was shelling peas into a large bowl.

"Hello," he said smiling. Finished your exams? Got time for a drink?"

"Yes, please," said Ron, but Harry cut him off.

"No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. That night you won Norbert—what did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"

"Don't know," said Hagrid casually, "he wouldn't take his cloak off. It's not that unusual in a place like Hog's Head—that's one of the pubs down in the village. Might have been a dragon dealer, for all I know. I never even saw his face. He kept his hood up."

"Did he asked anything about Hogwarts?" Harry asked.

"Yeah… he asked what I did, and I told him I was gamekeeper here… He asked a bit about the sort of creatures I looked after… so I told him," Hagrid said. "He even seem interest when I told him I always wanted a dragon, and after a few drinks he offered me a dragon's egg as a wager."

"He just wager a dragon's egg," Harry said.

"Well, not at first. He had to be sure I could handle it. He didn't want it to go to any old home. So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy…"

"Fluffy?" Harry asked.

"Another dog I owned," Hagrid lied.

The three headed dog, Harry thought before asking "And did he—did he seemed interested in Fluffy?"

"Well—yeah—how many three-headed dogs do you meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece of cake if you know how to calm him down, just play him a bit of music and he'll go straight to sleep—"

Hagrid suddenly looked horrified. "I shouldn't tell you that!"

"Don't worry, we won't use it to get into trouble," Harry promised before they left.

"Hey where are you four going."

They didn't respond, nor talk to each other until they reached the entrance hall.

"We've got to go to Dumbledore," said Harry. "Whoever that stranger is, I bet you they're working for Voldemort."

"But where is Dumbledore's office?" Hermione asked.

"This way," Harry said.

"How do you—wait don't tell me—one of the perks of visiting your dad?" Hermione asked.

"Yep!"

Harry haven't visited Dumbledore's office for years, but Harry knew where to find it. They found a statue of a gryphon standing in a built in pedestal.

"Chocolate Frog!"

Nothing.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Ron asked.

"The password to Dumbledore's office is always one of Dumbledore's favorite sweets," Harry said. "Licorice Wands!"

Nothing.

"Try Berry Botts." Neville said.

"That won't work. He doesn't like those," Harry said. "Cauldron Cakes."

Nothing.

"Harry, we stand here forever trying to solve the mystery password," Hermione said.

"What are you four doing?"

They turned to see Professor McGonagall, carrying a large pile of books.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," said Harry. "I thought he would like to know my scar been feeling better, and Ron Hermione and Neville tagged along since they never saw the Headmaster's office before."

Professor McGonagall seemed to ease at the news. "Well, that's good to hear. Sadly Professor Dumbledore isn't here. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."

Harry's heart sank. "Oh, I see."

"If it makes you feel better, I be sure to tell Dumbledore the good news for you," Professor McGonagall said.

"Thank you, ma'am." Harry and his friends left.

"Your scar didn't stop hurting, did it?" Ron asked.

"No, but I need an excuse to see Dumbledore," Harry said. "Come on."

"Where are we going now?" Neville asked.

"If Dumbledore isn't here to help us, we need to talk to my dad!" Harry said.

Harry headed to the teacher's living quarters to a locked door marked Potter. Normally it was open incase students need to visit, but if James wasn't there he locked it. In this case, it made Harry worried since there was no reason for the door to be lock. Fortunately, the door unlocks by password, which Harry knows. "Mischief Manage!"

There was a click sound and Harry opened the door.

Sure enough, the quarters was empty. There was a letter posted on the wall. Harry took it and read:

Harry,

There was an emergency at home where I had to leave. Don't worry, it's nothing too worry about, and I should be back by tomorrow. Stay good, and be careful.

Dad

"This can't be a coincidence." Harry said. "Dad being called away the same day Dumbledore is gone… Voldemort has to be behind this. He must be planning to get what he needs tonight."

"But what can we do?" Hermione asked.

"We intervene, tonight," Harry said.

"But Harry, we don't know what else is protecting the stone," Hermione said, "For all we know Fluffy might not be the only thing that protects the stone."

"I agree," Harry said. "Knowing Dumbledore, he might have asked his most trusted employees to help with it: the head of houses—Flitwick, McGonagall, Sprout, and I would guess Snape. We also know Quirrell had set something up, and I wouldn't be surprise Dumbledore added the last obstacle to the stone himself."

"So other than Dumbledore, the trials would have something involve, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and clever magic," Ron said. "I'm getting a headache just thinking of it."

"Pack everything we might need, we're leaving tonight," Harry said.

That night after dinner Harry packed everything he needed: his wand and holster, his communication Mirror incase he needs to contact his dad, the magical knife Sirius gave him that unlocks almost any lock, the flute Hagrid had given him, and of course, his cloak of invisibility. Good thing James gave him back the cloak after he escorted Harry and Hermione back to the Gryffindor Common Room the night Tonks and three friends took Norbert to Romania where Charlie was waiting for the Dragon.

"Are you sure your cloak can cover all of us?" Hermione asked.

"Certain," Harry said. "Dad said the cloak can cover up to three to four third years."

They put on the cloak and left together.

Everything went well until they spotted Mrs. Norris skulking near the top of the first set of steps. How they manage to get around Mrs. Norris without alerting her was a miracle.

Then when they thought they were in the clear, Peeves was bobbing halfway up the staircase to the third floor—loosening the carpet so that people would trip.

"Who's there?" he said suddenly as they climbed toward him.

Harry put up his best hoarse whisper. "Peeves, what have I told you about bothering me while I'm floating invisibly. Do you want to find out the hard way how I got the name the Bloody Baron."

Peevpes almost fell out of the air in shock. He caught himself in times and hovered about a foot off the stairs.

"So sorry, our bloodiness, Mr. Baron sir," he said greasily. "My mistake, my mistake. Please forgive Peevsie his little joke, sir."

"Get out of my sight," croaked Harry. "I don't want to see you here for the rest of the night."

"Yes sir!" Peeves scooted off.

Once Peeves was off, Ron whispered, "Brilliant, Harry!"

Harry grinned. "I been wanting to do that since Peeves first pranked me."

"That's great and all, but we should keep going," Hermione said.

"Right," they agreed.

A few seconds later, they were outside the third floor corridor-and the door was already ajar."

"Well, there you are," said Harry quietly. "Someone must have already got pass Fluffy."

He then turned to his friends while staying under the cloak. "If you three want to go back, I won't blame you. You can even take the Cloak since I won't be needing it now."

"I'm going with you," said Neville.

"Same here," said Ron.

"We won't leave you behind," Hermione said.

Harry nodded and pushed the door open.

As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met their ears. Inside was a monstrous dog that filled most of the room. All three noses were at their direction even though it couldn't see them through the cloak.

"What's that at its feet?" Hermione whispered.

"Looks like a Harp," said Ron. "The intruder must have left it there."

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," said Neville. "Look! There's a trap door underneath his foot. That must lead to the next obstacle."

"Then it's a good thing I came prepared." Harry took out the flute and put it to his lips and blew. It wasn't really a tune, but from the first note, the beast's eyes began to droop. Harry remembered the flute lessons Hagrid gave him as a kid during his visits and started playing one of the songs he remembers. Fluffy started to tottered on its paws and fell to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep.

They slowly crept to the trap door.

Ron slipped out of the cloak in order to open the trap door. "I can't see anything," Ron said. "Not even a way to climb down. I guess we have to drop down."

"I'll go first," Neville offered. "If you don't hear from me, get help."

Neville jumped down. At first they heard nothing. Then they heard a FLUMP—as if Neville landed on something soft.

"What on earth!" they heard Neville cried. "Help!"

Harry Ron and Hermione froze at their friend's cry.

"We got to go!" Ron said.

He jumped through then Hermione. Harry quickly put away the flute and jumped before.

It was a long drop but the landing was soft as they landed on plants.

"Neville where are you?" Ron asked.

"Over here!"

They looked to see Neville tangled in plants. They tried to move toward him, only to find that the plants had already started snaking around their ankles.

"Hermione, quick! This is Devil's Snare!" Neville yelled. "We need fire!"

"Right!" Hermione drew out her wand waved it, and muttered something, and sent a jet of the same blue flames she used to keep them warm during the winter. In a matter of seconds, they were all free from the roots.

"Good call, Neville," Harry said.

Neville nodded. "Hermione isn't the only one who can get good marks in Herbology."

Then he picked up his wand that was on the ground.

"Yeah, but next time, keep a better grip on your wand," Hermione told Neville.

"So where now?" Ron asked.

"This way." Harry pointed down a stone passage way, which was the only way forward.

All they could hear apart from their footsteps as the gentle drip of water trickling down the walls. The passageway sloped downward, and Harry was reminded of Gringotts.

"Do you guys hear something?" Ron whispered.

Harry listened. He heard a soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead.

"It sounds like wings," Harry said.

"There's light ahead—we can see what's moving," said Hermione.

"Yeah, sure," Neville agreed.

They reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lt chamber, it's ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jeweled winged keys of different shape and sizes flying around. At the center of the room was a broom stick waiting to be used. And on the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy door.

They manage to get to the other side of the room without an attack by the keys.

"Alohamora!" Hermione waved her wand at the door but nothing happened.

"I guess we have to catch the key," Ron said.

"Hold on, I want to try something first," Harry said as he draw his knife.

"What is that?" Hermione asked.

"An enchanted knife. It's capable of unlocking locks that not even the Alohamora can't unlock," Harry said, "My uncle Padfoot gave it to me for Christmas but this is the first time I'm using it."

Harry jabbed his knife at the key hole and twisted. Sure enough they heard a click and the door opened.

"Blimey Harry, your uncles sure give the best gifts," Ron said.

"I know," Harry said, "Let's go."

…

The next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anything at all. But as they stepped into it, light suddenly flooded the room to reveal an astonishing sight.

They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were the white pieces who had no faces.

"Now what we do?" Neville asked.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" said Ron. "We've got to play our way across the room."

Behind the white pieces they could see another door.

"How?" said Hermione nervously.

"I think," said Ron, "We're going to have to be chessmen."

"Well what should we do?" Harry asked.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"Come on, Ron, you and I both know you're better at playing wizard chess than any of us," Harry said.

"Okay, give me a minute." Ron started thinking carefully. "Okay, Harry, you'll be the king. Neville, take the place of that bishop and Hermione, you'll be one of the castles. I'll take place of the knight."

"Wait why am I the king?" Harry asked.

"There's a chance some of us will be hurt playing in this game and if that happens, it's important one person makes it through," Ron said, "And let's face it, Harry, with your mother's protection spell, you have a better chance surviving against Voldemort a second time than the rest of us."

Harry agreed reluctantly.

At Ron's words, a black knight, castle, and bishop piece moved.

"I guess we take the black side," Neville said.

Harry walked up to the king piece who seemed to be waiting for him. The king piece took off his crown and placed it on Harry's head before leaving the board. Harry remembered from playing wizard chess that when the king is checkmate, instead of being knocked out, the king piece would drop his crown. Normally this made Harry feel better, but it actually made Harry feel worse as it meant his friends were in greater danger than him.

"White always plays first in chess," said Ron, peering across the board. "Yes… look…"

A white pawn had moved forward two squares.

Ron started to direct the black pieces, which moved wherever he sent them.

"Neville—move diagonally four squares to the right."

After Neville did that, the white queen smashed their knight to the floor and dragged him off the board, where he lay quite still, face down.

"Had to let that happen," said Ron, looking shaken. "Hermione, take the bishop."

Hermione took a shaky breath and did what she was told.

Harry was forced to stay put and watch their men be taken. Harry didn't have much of a choice since the King normally doesn't move unless facing check.

One time he came close to being checked, but Harry was able to take a white pawn to avoid it.

"We're nearly there," Ron muttered suddenly. "Let me think—let me think…"

The white queen turned her blank face toward him.

"Yes…" said Ron softly. "it's the only way…"

"Ron, no!" Harry responded.

"What?" Neville hollered.

"Ron is sacrificing himself to win the game," Harry said.

"He can't!" Hermione said.

"I have to!" Ron snapped. "Neville, when the Queen takes me, use the moment to take the king."

Before anyone could protest, Ron stepped forward and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard across the head with her stone arm, and crash the floor. Hermione screamed but stayed on her square as the white queen dragged Ron to oneside.

Neville stood frozen in place.

"Neville! You need to move!" Harry said. "Three squared to the left."

Neville took his time, but he did indeed do what Harry told him.

The white king took off his crown and threw it at Neville's feet, indicating that they have won.

"Neville stay with Ron. Make sure he's okay," Harry said. "Hermione come with me. I might need your brains for the final trials."

Hermione and Neville nodded as Harry and Hermione headed off toward the door at the other end of the room.

"Devil's Snare was Sprout's, the keys must have been Flitwick's doing, McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive," Hermione recounted. "It looks like you were right about the Head of Houses helping Dumbledore protect the stone."

Harry nodded, "That just leaves Quirrell, Snape, and Dumbledore's protections."

They reached another door and opened it, ready to face whatever was on the other side.

What they weren't ready for was a disgusting smell that filled their nose when the door was open. Harry and Hermione had to pull their robes up over their noses. Eyes watering, they saw, flat on the floor in front of them, a troll even larger than the one they had tackled, out cold with a bloody lump on his head.

"For once I'm glad this one was already tackled," Harry said. "Come on."

They pulled open the next door, both of them hardly daring to look at what came next—but there was nothing very frightening in here, just a table with seven differently shaped bottles standing on it in a line.

"Potions—this must be Snape's doing," Harry said.

They stepped over the threshold, and immediately purple flames sprang up behind them in the doorway. At the same instant, black flames shot up in the doorway leading onward. Harry and Hermione were trapped.

"Look!" Hermione seized a roll of paper lying next to the bottles and read 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 hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
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 onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf or giant hold 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.

"It's logic," Hermione said. "A puzzle with no magic. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic, they'd be stuck in here forever."

"Sounds like something Snape would do," Harry said. "So which one is what we need?"

"Give me a minute."

Hermione read the paper to herself several times before walking up and down the line of bottles, muttering to herself and pointing at them. At last she clapped her hands.

"Got it," she said. "The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire—toward the stone."

Harry looked at the tiny bottle.

"There's only enough there for one of us," he said. "Which one will get you through the purple flames?"

Hermione pointed at a round bottle at the right end of the line.

Harry took out the communication mirror and handed it to her. "This is a magical mirror that works like a muggle's walkie-talkie—but more face to face. My dad has the other mirror. I want you to drink the potion that will get you through the purple flames. Find Neville and Ron, contact my dad, and then use the brooms from the key room to get out of the trap door past Fluffy. Meet up with him and get him to me. I'll go through the black flames and deal with whoever is at the otherside."

"But Harry—what if You-Know-Who is back there?" Hermione asked.

"When I was little, missing my mum, my dad would calm me down by saying that even though she's dead, she's still watching over us," Harry said, "If it's true, maybe she can protect me from Voldemort once more."

Hermione's lip trembled, and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around him in a hug.

"Hermione!"

"Harry—you're a great wizard, you know," Hermione said, "You're cunning, loyal, brave, and I hate to admit it, wise. You have all the good traits of all the houses of Hogwarts and—oh Harry—be careful!"

"I will," Harry said. "You should rink first. The sooner you Ron and Neville can meet up with my dad, the better."

"Okay." Hermione took a long drink from the round bottle at the end, and shudder. "It's like ice."

"Quick, go, before it wears off."

"Good luck—take care—"

"GO!"

Hermione turned and walked straight through the purple fire.

Harry took a deep breath and picked up the smallest bottle. He drank the little bottle in one gulp.

It was indeed as though ice was flooding his body. He put the bottle down.

"Okay, Voldemort, time for us to meet once more," Harry muttered as he walked through the black flames.

To his amazement the black flames didn't hurt him as it licked his body. At first he couldn't see anything but dark fire. But then he reached the other side in the last chamber.

Sadly, someone was already there, and it wasn't Voldemort.