A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any character thereof. Only the story line is mine so please don't sue! I don't own anything!

Chapter 33

Up in the boy's dormitory that evening, Harry paced back and forth as he tried to explain to Ron and Hermione why he needed to get the stone before Snape did.

"Don't you understand? If Snape gets a hold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! I seriously doubt there will be a Hogwarts to get expelled from. It will be turned into a school for Dark Arts. I don't think that we would be spared simply for the fact that we won the house cup."

"Harry, you'll get expelled!" exclaimed Hermione for the tenth time, seemingly ignoring what he just said.

"If I do, then the worst that will happen is that I'll get sent back to the Dursley's and then he'll go there and kill me. I refuse to be swayed to the Dark side and that's what Voldemort will try to do to everyone if he takes over."

Harry glared at his two best friends.

"That cloak should cover all three of us," commented Ron non-chalantly.

Harry did a double take. "Excuse me?"

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

"But then you two will be expelled as well if your caught. No. You can't."

Hermione grinned. "Then we won't get caught."

Harry and Ron exchanged looks that quite clearly said that they had created a monster.

Before they left, Harry thought of Hedwig and a few minutes later, his familiar flew in through the open common room window.

Harry tied the note that he had written to her leg then whispered to her, "Hedwig, that's for Professor Dumbledore. If we haven't returned by midnight, please take that to him."

She hooted that she understood but instead of flying away immediately, she perched herself on the back of a chair, listening to the three plan what they were going to do.

Finally, the common room emptied around 10pm, which really was early for a Friday night. Harry figured that it was because of the exhaustion caused by the exams. As they were leaving the room, Neville ambushed them. "You can't go out again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble."

They argued for a few minutes when Harry finally shook his wand out of his sleeve then quickly aimed it at his other friend and said, "Petrificus Totalus."

"Harry what did you do?" demanded Ron as Harry leaned over to check on Neville where he had fallen.

"It's just the full body bind. We'll free him when we come back." Not wanting to leave Neville on the floor, he said, "Mobilicorpus", and levitated him to the couch.

Hermione nodded her approval. They donned the cloak and after making sure he had the flute that Hagrid had given him for Christmas, they quietly left the common room.

None of them saw Hedwig give an alarmed hoot and fly out the window to begin her journey towards the Ministry of Magic.

After dinner, Severus found himself in his office grading some of his exams. While he was working, there was a knock at the door. He had asked Quirrell to meet him at 8:00 pm and he had every intention on detaining him - by force if necessary - the whole night, or at least until Albus returned. He needed to keep him from that stone.

Just as he called, "Enter", the door swung open and Severus' world turned black.

When he woke, he found that he was silenced and bound. He also saw Quirrell staring at him quite gleefully.

"So sorry about that, Severus. Now, I know that you've somehow figured out who I'm working for and before I go and retrieve the stone for my master, I thought that I would make a pit stop to make sure that you didn't detain me, as I'm sure that's what you were planning to do. After all, I'm the one that wants the credit for giving the stone to my master. I'm the one that deserves the credit after all that I've done for him. You don't deserve the credit. You don't deserve anything. Ta! Ta! Stupefy!"

Stunned again, Severus lost consciousness.

As Quirrell left, he put a locking charm on the door to keep anyone from accidentally finding the unconscious potion's professor.

It was around 9pm before he was finally able to head to the 3rd floor undetected.

"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered them. "I know what this is - it's Devil's Snare!"

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," shouted Ron as he fought the plant still.

"Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" said Hermione. "I remember it likes dark and damp places -"

"So light a fire!" choked out Harry.

"Yes - of course - but there's no wood!"

"Have you gone mad?" Ron bellowed. "Are you a witch or not?"

"Oh, right!" Hermione conjured up a ball of flame and directed it to the middle of the plant and watched as it shrank away from Harry and Ron, who were also near the flame.

"Lucky you paid attention in Herbology, Hermione," said Harry as he joined her by the wall, wiping sweat off his face.

"Yeah," said Ron, "and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis - 'There's no wood', honestly!"

Hedwig was trying to fly as fast as she could towards London to deliver her letter. She knew that if she didn't fly fast, she would get there after midnight. As it was, she could sense her master in danger.

Dumbledore was currently sitting in on an impromptu Wizengamot meeting. It was running late, as most of them did. After all, a trial shouldn't be rushed.

That didn't mean he wasn't bored though, that and he had a horrible feeling in the back of his mind about something.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just left the key room and had entered the chess room.

Harry eyed the room. They tried to cross but were met with resistance by the white chess pieces.

Ron eyed his surroundings. A person could smell the glee radiating from him. He touched one of the black knights and asked if they had to play their way across.

The piece nodded its head.

Harry looked at the piece. "Have you already played once tonight?"

The piece nodded again.

"The board must reset after the person steps off of it," said Hermione.

"Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess -"

"We're not offended," said Harry quickly as Hermione nodded in agreement. "Just tell us what to do."

Quirrell, having successfully solved Severus' riddle with the help of his master (who was slightly peeved at the moment) rearranged the bottles and tore up the note so that no one could follow.

Downing the potion, he stepped through the flames towards the next obstacle.

As soon as he cleared the other side of the fire, the note reappeared, the bottles righted themselves, and the little one refilled itself - just as it was spelled to do.

Back in Snape's office, Severus was still mostly unconscious but seemed to be slowly starting to awake.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Harry whispered as him and Hermione stepped around the massive troll. It was bigger than the one they met previously. "Come on, I can't breathe."

The smell was horrible.

As soon as they entered into the next room, purple and black flames sprung up.

"Look!" Hermione seized a roll of paper lying next to the bottles. Harry looked over her shoulder to read it.

"This is a puzzle," said Harry baffled slightly. It would take him ages to figure that out, if he could even do it.

Then he noticed Hermione already looking over the bottles and saw her smiling. "A lot of the greatest wizard's haven't got an ounce of logic. They'd be stuck in here forever. It's brilliant."

Hermione rambled on for a few minutes before she picked up 2 vials. One to go forward and one to go back.

Hermione handed Harry the smallest bottle. "This will get you through the black fire - towards the stone."

"There's only enough here for one person to go through," commented Harry quietly.

"I'll take this one," she shook another vial, "to go back and find Professor McGonagall. I'm not sure how to get through the trapdoor though."

Harry grinned at her. "Use the brooms from the key room. As soon as you and Ron are underneath the door, play Fluffy to sleep."

Hermione grinned then threw herself into Harry's arms.

Flummoxed, Harry patted her slowly on the back.

"Harry please be careful," she said pulling herself away.

"I'll be fine Hermione. Go check on Ron and then go wait for Dumbledore. If he's not back soon, go to McGonagall. I might be able to hold Snape off for a while, but I'm really no match for him."

"What if You-Know-Who is with him?"

"Well, I was lucky once wasn't I?" He pointed to his scar. "Maybe I'll get lucky again."

She bit her lip then nodded. "You really are a great wizard you know." He opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off. "I'll hurry and check on Ron then go get help. You'll be fine. I have faith in you."

He eyed her warily and hoped she was right.

After she drank her vial and cleared the purple flame, he drank his and cleared the black.

Dumbledore eyed his watch. It was just after midnight. The trial had finally ended. He gathered his items and began heading out the door when a colleague hailed him.

Slowly, they walked through the ministry to head outside.

Harry opened the door then stood rigid, in shock.

It wasn't Snape. It wasn't even Voldemort.

It was Quirrell.

"You!" gasped Harry.

Quirrell smiled. His face wasn't twitching at all.

"Me," he said calmly. "I should have known you'd try to stop me from taking the stone."

"You? But I thought - Snape -"

"Severus?" Quirrell laughed. "Yes. Severus does seem the type, doesn't he. It was quite useful to have him swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would ever suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?"

Harry stood still, trying to wrap his mind around the situation.

"But Snape tried to kill me!"

Quirrell laughed again. "No, no, no. I tried to kill you. Your friend Miss Granger accidentally knocked me over as she rushed to set fire to Severus' robes during that Quidditch match. It, unfortunately, broke my eye contact with you." He huffed in irritation. "Another minute and I'd have had you off that broom. Even with Snape muttering his little counter-curse."

"Snape ... tried to save me?"

Quirrell then pointed his wand at Harry and conjured ropes which held him in place so that he couldn't escape.

As Albus left the ministry, Hedwig swooped down and landed on his shoulder. He immediately recognized her and felt his stomach drop. He quickly took the parchment off of her leg.

Professor Dumbledore,

Professor Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. I know I'm not supposed to know about what it's guarding but I do. Other than Ron and Hermione, I've not told anyone.

With you gone from the school, I'm afraid he's going to try to steal it tonight. We tried to tell Professor McGonagall but she didn't believe us.

So we're going after it to keep Snape from getting it. While this is probably going to get us expelled, we're okay with that if it means Voldemort can't come back.

I told Hedwig to deliver this if we're not back by Midnight. Please make sure everyone is okay. I doubt I can fend him off for very long so you may end up needing to come help us down in the chamber where you hid the stone.

Harry Potter

Dumbledore read the paper twice, tucked it in his robes, and hurried to the apparition point. He thanked Hedwig as she flew off.

Before he turned on the spot to return, he briefly realized that since Hedwig just got here and it only a few minutes after midnight, that that meant that she probably left just as they headed towards the Stone.

He grimaced as he vanished into darkness.

"Yes, he tried to save you ... among other things. But he won't be trying anything like that anymore."

Harry felt his stomach clench. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing permanent, I assure you. My master wouldn't let me. He was displeased I done anything at all." Quirrel turned his back on Potter to focus on the mirror. "But I'm the one who is to remain in his good graces - not him," he muttered so low that Harry didn't hear him.

Looking around now for the first time, Harry saw the Mirror of Erised. Quirrell was concentrating on it but he knew he couldn't let him.

"But Snape always seemed to hate me so much."

"Oh, he does. He was at Hogwarts with your father. They loathed each other." Quirrell walked around the mirror as Harry struggled to get out of his bindings. "Leave it to Dumbledore to use a mirror to hide the stone. Do I need to break it to get it out?"

Hermione had finally managed to rouse Ron. The chess set had yet to reset itself since Ron had still been lying on the board.

"Ron, stay here. I'm going to go find help."

"Wait, I'll go with you."

"No. If we both step off of this board, it will reset. While I'm sure Professor Dumbledore can bypass it without needing to play, I'm afraid I might have to bring another teacher down who won't be able to do the same."

Ron pondered that then nodded. He went and sat in the middle of the board.

As Hermione headed out the door, she put a piece of marble in place so that it wouldn't lock again. She didn't think she could manage to catch the key like Harry had done.

Eventually, she extracted herself past the sleeping three headed dog, which had not been easy while playing the flute simultaneously.

She ran towards the entrance hall first. If Dumbledore wasn't there, she would have to find McGonagalls's quarters. All she knew is that it was near her office.

Luckily though, Dumbledore ran in through the doors just as she reached the entrance hall.

Momentarily, his eyes saw relief when he first saw Ms. Granger. Then he realized that she was alone.

"Professor, Harry is down trying to get the -"

She was cut off as Dumbledore said, "He's still there? Go to the infirmary now. I'll go get him."

He took off towards the 3rd floor. Once there, he realized that the girl was still behind him.

"Ms. Granger, I thought I told you to head to the infirmary."

"I'm not hurt Professor. Besides, Ron is sitting on the chess board so it doesn't reset."

"I'll send him along when I get there. Tell Madam Pomfrey that two more will be joining you shortly."

She looked like she was about to protest but headed off in the direction of the hospital wing none-the-less.

"He lies!" The voice was cold and eerie.

"Tell me, Potter. What did you see?"

"Let me talk to the boy."

"But Master, you're not strong enough yet."

"I am strong enough - for this."

As Quirrell slowly unwrapped his turban, Harry ran through and quickly discarded a dozen escape scenarios. He had already somehow managed to get the stone, but now he saw no way out of the room.

And sadly, he knew no defense spells, thanks to his wonderful Defense professor. Harry mentally scowled.

He dropped his wand into his hand and yelled "Petrificus Totalus!"

He watched in horror as Quirrell easily deflected the spell even though he never paused to unwrap his turban.

Then to his greater horror, he saw what lay underneath.

Dumbledore ran into the chess room and true to Ms. Granger's word, Mr. Weasley was indeed sitting in the middle of the chess board.

"Professor!" he said standing up. "Harry ..."

"I know. I need you to leave. Head up to the hospital wing. Fluffy has been put into an enchanted sleep. Are you well enough to use a broom to fly through the trap door?"

Ron nodded.

"Good. Go on. I'm going to Harry."

Ron too looked like he was about to protest but changed his mind and left.

Albus then saw the troll knocked out and wondered briefly who done it as he ran through the room.

Once the fires sprung up, he murmured some Latin and the fires vanished.

As soon as he opened the last door, he stopped out of pure shock and horror at the scene before him.

Quirrell was pressed up against the wall, Voldemort was sticking out of the back of the Professor's head and was screaming, "Kill him! Kill him!"

And Harry had his hand in Quirrell's face, which was causing it to blister.

Albus saw that there was no fear in the boys eyes. Just sheer determination.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, he raced forward just as he saw Harry starting to lose consciousness. He noticed then that while his eyes showed determination, his face was scrunched up in pure unadulterated pain.

"Harry! Harry!" He pried his hands off of Quirrell.

He immediately checked the boys pulse. To his horror, it wasn't there.

But then it was. It was faint, but present.

He turned and eyed Quirrell just as a shadowy form rose from his body and literally fled before Albus could cast a spell to catch it.

However, there was no mistaking who or what it had been. Another look at Quirrell showed that he was dead.

As he scooped Harry into his arms, he wondered how on earth he had missed Quirrell's possession.

Disillusioning Quirrell, Albus levitated the body behind him. As he entered the hospital wing, he heard Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley cry out.

"He's alive," he quickly reassured them.

"Albus, what on earth is going on?" the medi-witch, Poppy Pomfrey demanded to know.

"I'll tell you later. I need to go check on Severus."

Hermione looked up sharply when she heard that. "Professor Snape wasn't trying to steal the stone. He was one of it's protector's. It was Professor Quirrell that was after it."

Hermione gasped as Ron groaned.

"Albus ... this stone?" asked Poppy as she handed it to the Headmaster.

Dumbledore's eyes glinted in amusement. "Harry managed to get it? Well ..."

He took the stone, placed Quirrell on a bed and directed the drapes around it. He explained what was behind the curtain quietly to Madam Pomfrey then he rushed off after excusing himself again to go find Severus.

After searching Severus' quarter's, he headed towards his office. He discovered a different locking ward from what was normally used, therefore he assumed that Severus was inside.

Disabling it, he rushed in and was met by a very irate looking, bound, and silenced Severus Snape.

With a wave of Albus' wand, everything was removed.

"Albus, Quirrell is going after the stone."

"It's alright. Harry stopped him."

Severus froze mid-step. "Pardon me?"

"Let's get you to Madam Pomfrey then we can talk."

"I'm fine Albus. Is the boy okay?"

"He's alive. Let's go to your quarters. I could use a drink and I'm sure you could as well."

He eyed the Headmaster warily but agreed. They used the floo network.

After the drinks were made, Albus began talking.

"I don't know all the details. I was worried about you. I knew that if you weren't around that something was wrong. So until I question all 3 children, I can only guess what happened."

"Three?" Severus groaned. "Are the other two alright and what did you mean earlier when you said that Ha-Potter was alive?"

Albus let him read the note that Hedwig had brought first.

"He thought he could fend me off?" Severus snorted. "Why didn't Minerva believe them?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll ask her in the morning."

They talked for a while. Albus then headed back to check on everyone else.

The next day, he managed to talk to Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley about all they knew.

Severus hid himself from the two as he listened in.

All that was left was for Potter to wake up so that he could bask in all his glory for what he had somehow managed to do.

Severus was still having a hard time comprehending that he had managed to survive the Dark Lord a second time.

But there was no denying it because less than 3 feet away from the snarky Potions Master lay an unconscious but very much alive, Harry Potter.

A/N: Warning, Harry will be powerful, but he won't be super powerful. He will still have to struggle with certain things as well as deal with other childhood issues. Harry is going to be incredibly smart, but don't worry about him out-doing Hermione ... to an extent anyway. (Evil smirk) And to alleviate some fears, he won't all of a sudden wake up and realize woah, I can take on the world! It will be a slow on going process. (Smile)

A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews so far! They encourage me! (Grin)

A/N: This story will stick mostly to canon of the Sorcerer's Stone book, and some quotes are from the book directly. However, every once in a while, a scene or two from the movie may sneak in. (All that of course aside from the fact that a lot of scenes from my own mind are sneaking in as well - evil cackle!)

A/N: Some of what's written in the Sorcerer's Stone will change to suit my whims for my own story! Don't hate me! (Evil smirk!)