A/N The cliffy to end all cliffies is at the bottom of this. You have been warned!

Ann Jinn - Credit to Blackadder (Beer episode) for that one! I heard it on stage and when I was writing this it just fit so perfectly I had to use it!

magitech - Hermione actually didn't want to go. You'll see more in this chapter and the next. I don't want to spoil it for you. But rest assured Poppy will not be pleased!

Chapter 23

Nicolas placed his hand on the castle wall and spoke softly for a few minutes. When he had finished he came back over to Hermione and gently escorted her from the room.

"Hogwarts has a plan." Nicolas said as they made their way through the corridors. "It is, as I thought, a very good plan."

"What is it sir?" Hermione queried.

"Ask no questions and I'll tell you no lies, young one. Did Harry tell you about the Stone?"

"Yes sir. Professor McGonagall is like an auntie or a grandmother to Harry. He told us, what she told him."

"Everything?"

"I don't think he held anything back sir, but if he didn't want to tell us anything, then there's no reason why I would know that he knew more!"

Nicolas let out a hearty chuckle. "You truly are a bright witch Hermione. I see I shall have to be more specific with you. Did he tell you about the Stone being moved?"

"Yes sir," Hermione answered "that was his main reason for not wanting to come with us to the third floor. Madam Pomfrey had apparently told him that it was a lot more secure with Professor Snape than it ever was where Professor Dumbledore had put it and that he shouldn't go looking for it."

Hermione suddenly put her hand over her mouth and gasped. "Harry asked us not to tell anyone about that! Oh I'm such a bad friend, I can't even keep one secret for him!"

"Calm down Hermione please. You know the Stone belongs to me, correct?" Hermione nodded. "So don't you think I would have been informed if it had moved location? I knew Severus had it, Poppy told me herself. I was asking merely to work out whether you knew that going down that trapdoor would have no results at the end."

"I did sir; but Ron didn't believe Harry about the Stone being safe. As soon as Harry mentioned Professor Snape, Ron started yelling about Death Eaters and greasy dungeon gits and all sorts. Neither Harry nor I could calm him and he was convinced that he had to save the Stone himself. In the end, I agreed to go with him so that he might make it out alive."

They had approached the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office and now Hermione faltered.

"Come Miss Granger." Nicolas said encouragingly. "Thankyou for telling me that. I will make sure Albus is not too harsh with you. You would not have been there, if not for your friend's stupidity."

Nicolas took Hermione's hand in his and looked the scared eleven year old in the eye.

"It will be fine. Trust me."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For the second time that day, another door had appeared in Minerva's office. She stepped through it more calmly this time, expecting to be in Severus's living room again, but found herself instead in a stone chamber. Her wand was drawn instantly.

Her footsteps echoed loudly as she surveyed the room. It was empty, save a large mirror. An unsettling feeling came over Minerva as she inspected the mirror more closely.

"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. I show not your face but your heart's desire." Minerva mumbled to herself. "Albus did use it then."

A noise from above her made her spin round with wand pointed. Black flames had sprung up in the doorway and she could see a shape moving behind them. Minerva quickly disillusioned herself and stepped behind the mirror, wand pointed at the doorway. This was why Hogwarts wanted her here. It didn't help the bad feeling she had though.

Ten minutes or so later, a turbaned wizard stepped through the flames, completely unharmed. As he approached the Mirror, Minerva almost gasped. Quirinus Quirrell, the wizard frightened of his own shadow, was after the Stone? She was about to apprehend him on what and why he was exactly doing here when she heard him speak.

"I see the Stone. I'm presenting it to my master. But how do I get it?" There was a pause. "It must be inside the mirror my lord. This is the last challenge. This must be Dumbledore's protection. Should I break it?"

The answer made Minerva's blood run cold. It came from nowhere and it was a hiss. It was a voice Minerva hoped she would never hear again.

"Doubtless the old fool made it so that only someone who didn't want to use it could actually find it. Breaking the mirror could break the Stone as well."

"The Stone is not here." Minerva's voice boomed through the chamber, courtesy of a Sonorus charm. Surprise was the best form of attack here, so she was going to use it for all it was worth.

She made her way behind Quirrell, as if she had come through the flames herself before she snapped her wand up and bound him. Knowing that that would give away her position, she then lifted the disillusionment and the Sonorus charm.

"Good evening Quirinus" she greeted him. "I didn't see you at dinner tonight, have you eaten?"

"Y-yes, th-thankyou Minerva." He looked almost fearful. There were beads of sweat forming as he struggled against the ropes.

"I see, maybe you should see Poppy then."

"W-w-why do you say that, M-Minerva?"

"You appear to be talking to no-one and receiving replies. That is a distinct symptom of hallucinations."

"Thissss is no time for ssssmall talk" came the chilling voice. "Let me ssssspeak to her."

"Master, she took me by surprise and I am bound with ropes." Quirrelll's voice had no hint of a stutter in it.

"Ropes can be removed. I am displeased with you Quirrell. Crucio!"

When Quirrell managed to stand up again, he had no turban and no ropes, although his body still shook.

Minerva and Voldemort stared at each other. Then the parasite uttered two words. "Kill her."

"But my lord, she said the Stone was not here. Do you not want to question her?"

"Lord Voldemort commands absolute obedience. Crucio!"

"Yes my lord. Of course my lord." Quirrell squeaked.

Minerva looked at the two wands she held in her hand and smirked. Whilst Quirrell had been under that Cruciatus curse, she had silently summoned his wand. She had no idea why she had just stood there during that, but she knew things were likely to get a lot worse before they got better. If she wanted a chance to see Harry again, she had to think. Fast.

"You do know that the killing curse cannot be cast by someone unwilling to kill don't you? By the very nature of its magic, the caster must want to end the life of another, want to kill. It also takes a lot of magic to cast. Have you ever killed, Quirinus? Do you know what it feels like to take a life?"

"I do not need a lesson from you, blood traitor! I have heard enough! Kill her, fool!" hissed Voldemort.

Quirrell suddenly lunged at Minerva, knocking her off her feet. As his hand tightened around her throat, she thought of Harry. The little boy he had been with his parents and now the boy that he had turned into under Poppy's guidance. She was glad that he had got a loving home after all he had been through. Miraculously, as she thought of the time he had first called her auntie, she felt the pressure begin to subside. It appeared that Quirrell had burnt his hands somehow.

She coughed several times as she stood up and then sent a barrage of spells at the other wizard. If he would attempt to strangle her, then she would not hold back. She would fight for Harry. This evil had robbed him of his parents, this evil would pay. If she had to play dirty, so be it.

Spell after spell she sent at him. He ducked and dived to avoid them, but after he had been caught by a third cutting spell to the face he lunged at her again, managing to grab the wand she had confiscated earlier. They traded curses for several minutes, the stone chamber flashing with the reds, oranges, blues and silvers of spellfire. They each took their fair share of hits but suddenly Minerva found herself backed into a corner. She could see anger and hate pouring off him and knew the end had come. If she was going to die, she was going to die proud, she would die standing and with her wand in her hand.

"So Minerva" Quirrell said menacingly as he advanced on her. "Any last words? Any begging for mercy? You will die knowing that you helped Lord Voldemort to return." His eyes had turned from brown to red and the voice, when it spoke again, was a familiar hiss. "I have only to kill you to take full ownership of this body. Quirinus Quirrell is as good as dead and Lord Voldemort will have a body back tonight." He smiled evilly.

Minerva sighed. She was tired, she was injured and she could barely stay on her feet. As blood dripped down her face and her legs and arms shook with exertion she stared into the red slits in front of her. She would force him to look at her when he killed her. She would make him see that she was not afraid of death.

"I'm so sorry Harry" she whispered.

"Avada Kedavra!"