That night the three of them were walking into the room on the third floor corridor that Fluffy was in. The scene that they had walked into wasn't something they were expecting. The dog was snoring loudly. Harry immediately said, "Wait a minute. He's… snoring. Snape's already been there. He's put a spell on the harp."
"It's got horrible breath," Ron complained.
They walked towards the dog and Harry noticed its paw was on the trap door, he said, "We have to move its paw."
"What?" Ron bewildered. He didn't want to do anything with that dog.
"Come on. Okay, push," he said and all three of them pushed the paw off the trap door. They managed to opened the trap door, Harry started to explain what to do, "I'll go first. Don't follow until I give you a sign. If something bad happens, get yourselves out. Does it seem a bit quiet to you?"
All three of them listened and noticed that it was quiet, Hermione said, "The harp. It's stopped playing." Fluffy had woken up and stood up on its front paws and leaned down. The drool was coming out of one its head and onto Ron. Ron felt it and freaked out.
"Jump!" Harry shouted and jumped in. Hermione followed after him and then Ron.
Once they had landed on a bunch of vines, Ron said, "Lucky this plant thing's here, really." Out of nowhere, the vines started to move and twist snakelike tendrils around their bodies. Hermione managed to free herself before the plant got a firm grip on her. Now she watched in horror as the two boys fought to pull the plant off them, but the more they strained against it, the tighter and faster the plant wound against them.
"Stop moving, both of you. This is Devil's Snare. You have to relax. If you don't, it will only kill you faster," Hermione called out from where she was from.
"Kill us faster? Oh, now I can relax! Now what are we gonna do?" Ron shrieking out.
"Just relax!" Hermione said.
"Hermione, where are you?" Harry asked.
"Do what I say! Trust me," she replied. Harry then listened to what she said and then the vines started to loosen its grip on Harry as he fell down and got up. He stood and saw that Hermione was there.
Ron saw what happened to Harry and shouted, "Harry!"
"He's not relaxing, is he?" she asked.
"Apparently not," Harry answered.
"We've got to do something," Hermione said.
"What?" Harry asked.
"I remember reading something in Herbology," she said, trying to remember what she learned from class. "'Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare. It's deadly fun…'" but she couldn't remember the rest of the rhyme and kept repeating it to herself until she remembered, "'but will suck in the sun!' That's it! It hates sunlight," she answered. She took her wand and pointed above her and said, "Lumos Solem." Light had peered all around Ron and the plants screeched into fear and let go of Ron, who then fell down. He immediately stood up.
"Ron, you okay?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," he said, trying to act cool. "Lucky we didn't panic."
Harry and Hermione looked at him as if he was crazy, Harry then said, "Lucky Hermione pays attention in Herbology." Hermione nodded.
"What was that?" Hermione asking as the three of them heard a soft rustling and clinking to be coming from the next room.
"I don't know, Sounds like wings," Harry answered. They walked into the room and were confused by what they saw.
"Curious. I've never seen birds like these," Hermione said.
"They're not birds. They're keys," Harry said after seeing them more carefully. He saw a broom frozen in midair in the middle of the room. "And I'll bet one of them fits that door."
"What's this all about?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. Strange," Harry said, his left hand open and trying to feel the broom without touching it.
Ron walked towards the other door that was across the room. He took out his wand and said, "Alohomora!" Nothing happened, "Well, it was worth a try."
"What will we do? There must be a thousand keys. We want a big, old-fashioned one. Probably rusty," Hermione asked. She knew that one of them opened the door.
"I see it! The one with the broken wing," he said, after seeing which key they would need to open the door.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked, noticing that Harry was quiet.
"It's too simple," he replied.
"Go on! If Snape could catch it on that old broomstick, you can, too. You're the youngest Seeker in a century," he said, trying to encourage him. Harry then touched the broom, once he touched it, hundreds of winged keys started aiming for him, "This complicates things a bit."
Harry tried to shake off the winged keys. He got onto the broom and kicked off from the ground. He immediately flew after the key with the broken wing. Once he caught it, he shouted, "Catch the key!" He threw it towards Hermione, who jumped up and caught it. She ran towards the door and tried to open it.
"Hurry up!" Ron called out. Once they opened the door, they ran into the other room and held the door wide open for Harry to fly right through. Once he did, they immediately closed the door so that the winged keys couldn't come in.
When Harry got off the broom, they walked further into the new room that was nearly dark, "I don't like this. I don't like this at all. Where are we? A graveyard?" Hermione asked.
Ron took a few steps forward and said, "This is no graveyard. It's a chessboard." The room had lit up immediately after Ron recognized where they were.
"There's the door," Harry said, noticing the door across the room. They were standing on the huge chessboard, in front of the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them were the white pieces. Harry, Ron and Hermione shivered slightly. They began walking towards the door but the white pawns had sprang into life, drawn their swords and block their way. They took several steps back and the white pawns returned to its former position.
"Now what do we do?" Hermione asked.
"It's obvious, isn't it" Ron said. He turned to face Harry and Hermione. "We've got to play our way across the room. Harry, you take the empty bishop's square. Hermione, you'll be the queen-side castle. As for me, I'll be a knight." The three of them took the empty spaces on the black chessman's side.
"What happens now?" Hermione asked.
"Well, white moves first. And then… we play," Ron answered. The white pawn moved forward two spaces.
Ron was thinking about which pawn to move first. "Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like… real wizard's chess, do you?" Hermione asked.
"You there, D-5," it moved and the white pawn came alive and smashed it to pieces. What had happened had shocked all three of them, but Ron managed to say, "Yes, Hermione. I think this is gonna be exactly like wizard's chess." They continued to play the next few pieces. Ron looked around and said, "Castle to E-4!" After that, more pieces were being shattered into pieces. Ron said, "Pawn to C-3!" After another round of unsuccessful moves, Ron saw an opening and sent a side castle to be killed off by the queen.
Harry looked around to see where they were standing and noticed what was going to happen, "Wait a minute!"
"You understand right, Harry. Once I make my move, the Queen will take me. Then you're free to check the King," Ron explained.
"No. Ron, NO!" Harry didn't want Ron to sacrifice himself.
Hermione was confused, "What is it?"
"He's going to sacrifice himself," Harry answered.
"No, there must be another way!" Hermione stated.
Ron looked back at her and said, "Do you want to stop Snape from getting that stone or not?" Hermione stood quiet. Then Ron looked back at Harry and said, "Harry, it's you that has to go on, I *know* it. Not me, not Hermione, YOU." Harry nodded. He held onto the knight's horse rightly and said, "Knight to H3. Check." It moved to its new place slowly. Then the Queen turned to see its new victim and made its approach towards the knight. Then took its staff and plunged it into the horse's neck, throwing Ron off onto the floor.
"RON!" Harry screamed. Once the queen had finished diminishing its target, it went back to its original state. Hermione was going to move but froze when she heard Harry, "NO! DON'T MOVE! Don't forget - we're still playing," Hermione stayed where she was and nodded. Harry then moved 3 spaces diagonally and stood, "CHECKMATE." The King threw down its sword and the game was over. Harry and Hermione both ran towards Ron to check on him. Harry told Hermione, "Take care of Ron. Then go to the Owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right. I have to go on."
"You'll be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard. You really are," Hermione said.
"Not as good as you," Harry praised Hermione.
"Me?" she blushed, "Books and cleverness. There are more important things: friendship and bravery. And Harry, just be careful," Hermione told him.
Harry nodded and walked to the next room. However, there was someone there – but it wasn't Snape, You! No, it can't be. Snape, he - he was the..."
"Yes, he does seem the type, doesn't he? Why, next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor, st-st-stuttering Professor Quirrell?"
"But that day, during the Quidditch match, Snape tried to kill me."
"No, dear boy. I tried to kill you! If Snape's cloak hadn't caught fire and broken my eye contact, I would have succeeded. Even with Snape muttering his counter-curse."
"Snape was trying to save me?" Harry was surprised that Snape was even doing something like that.
"I knew you were a danger to me, especially after Halloween."
"Then you let the troll in!'
"Very good, Potter, yes. Snape, unfortunately wasn't fooled, neither was Ella," he said. "While everyone ran about, he went to the third floor to head me off. He, of course, never trusted me again But he doesn't understand. I'm never alone. Never," he snapped his fingers and then James had moved the mirror towards the side. Harry gasped as he saw Ella on the floor, weakened.
"Miss Cullen! What did you do to her?"
"It wasn't what I did to her… it was what James did," Quirrell said. Quirrell then snapped his fingers again and there was a ring of fire surrounding them in. "I knew that I didn't have the strength to fight her, so I enlisted James' help. He had successfully managed to make her this weak." He stood in front of the mirror, "Now, what does this mirror do? I see what I desire. I see myself holding the Stone. But how do I get it?"
"Use the boy," a voice called out.
Quirrell pointed to Harry, "Come here, Potter! Now!" For some reason, Harry's body betrayed him and he walked towards the mirror and stood in front of it, "Tell me, what do you see?" He stood there for a minute, then saw his reflection smiling at him. It put is hand into its pocket and pulled out a blood-red stone. It winked and put the Stone back in its pocket – and as it did so, Harry felt something heavy drop into his real pocket. Somehow – incredibly – he'd gotten the Stone. Quirrell was impatient, "What is it? What do you see?"
"I'm shaking hands with Dumbledore. I've won the house cup," Harry said. He was lying out of survival.
"He lies," the voice said again.
"Tell the truth! What do you see?" Quirrell demanded.
"Let me speak to him."
"Master, you are not strong enough."
"I have strength enough for this," the voice said. Quirrell began to unwrap his turban. The turban fell away. Quirrell's head looked strangely small without it. Then he turned slowly on the spot. Harry would have screamed, but he couldn't make a sound. Where there should have been a back to Quirrell's head, there was a face, the most terrible face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake. "Harry Potter. We meet again."
"Voldemort?" Harry asked. At that moment, Ella groaned.
"Yes. You see what I've become? See what I must do to survive? Live off another, a mere parasite! Unicorn blood can sustain me, but it cannot give me a body of my own. But there is something that can; something that, conveniently enough, lies in your pocket! Stop him! Don't be a fool. Why suffer a horrific death when you can join me and live?"
Harry looked at Ella and somehow found his courage, "Never!"
"Bravery! Your parents had it too. Tell me, Harry, would you like to see your mother and father again? Together, we can bring them back," he said and the mirror show his parents standing next to him, "All I ask is for something in return. That's it, Harry. There is no good and evil. There is only power, and those too weak to seek it. Together we'll do extraordinary things. Just give me the Stone!"
Harry saw his parents disappear from the mirror and found his full strength, "You liar!"
"Kill him!"
Quirrell reached out to Harry and grabbed his neck. Harry tried to remove Quirrell's hands from his neck but his hand burned, removed it from Harry's neck and took several steps back, "What is this magic?" Harry pulled the stone out of his pocket and looked at it.
"Fool, get the Stone!"
"Miss Cullen!" Harry called out as they made eye contact. Ella stared helplessly at the eyes of the hunter. He reached out to Harry, daring her to intervene. She knew that if she didn't come to Hogwarts, she wouldn't be facing death now. But, as terrified as she was, she couldn't bring herself to regret the decision. Harry realized that she couldn't do anything but noticed that Quirrell's hand had turned into ash. He looked at his own hands and then back to Quirrell's face. Harry touched Quirrell's face, who screamed at the searing pain that he felt. Harry took a few steps back and saw that Quirrell's whole body had turned into ash and he died. Harry turned away from Quirrell and picked up the stone from where it fell after touching Quirrell. He stood up straight and felt a strange presence. He turned around and saw the shadow of Voldemort. The ghost of Voldemort then went through Harry's body. Ella screamed as she saw Harry faint. She managed to gather all of her remaining strength and stood up. James was there but he was paralyzed. He didn't know what to do. The scene unfolding in front of him made him unresponsive to the whole situation. Ella picked up her wand, she magically restrained him. She collapsed onto the floor, took a couple of deep breathes and stood up again. She walked towards where Harry was. She managed to put the Stone in Harry's pocket and held him. She knew that Ron and Hermione was getting help. She just sat there holding him as she had no choice but to wait.
Not moments later, she heard a voice, "Ella." She turned and saw Dumbledore coming down the stairs with Edward, Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Alice, Esme and Carlisle following behind.
"I'm fine, Professor, however, Harry isn't. He needs to be taken to the hospital," Ella said. Dumbledore looked at the ring of fire, "Who created the fire?"
"Quirrell but he was sharing his body with Voldemort," she answered.
Dumbledore nodded and pulled out his wand and water had poured out of it to the ring of fire. The fire dissipated immediately. "What is James doing here?"
"Somehow he managed to subdue me and kidnap me here. I couldn't do anything to help Harry," she said. "After Voldemort had left, he stood there in shock. I magically bound him."
"Undo it," Emmett said, as he walked towards him with Jasper following. She got her wand and waited for their signal. Both Jasper and Emmett nodded and she waved her wand to unbind him. Jasper and Emmett both held onto him. "Professor, what would you like for us to do to him?"
"James, let me ask you something," Dumbledore asked. "Did Victoria help you as well?" James didn't answer. "I thought so. Where is she?" James again didn't answer. Edward went up to Dumbledore and whispered it in his ear. "Ah, thank you, Edward. Emmett and Jasper, do as you please. But if you do decide to kill him, make sure it's away from the castle."
"Of course, Professor," Jasper said. They led him out with Alice and Rosalie following.
"Professor, Harry really needs to get to the hospital," Ella said. "His breathing is quite shallow."
"Oh, yes, of course," he said.
"Oh, Professor before I forget," Ella replied. "The Stone is in Harry's right pocket." Dumbledore smiled and grabbed the Stone from Harry's pocket. "I think it's time to talk with my friend about the Stone."
"Would your friend be Nicholas Flamel?" Ella asked. Dumbledore grinned. "Carlisle, I don't have the strength to carry Harry. Could you do it please?"
"Of course," he said and picked up Harry gently. Edward and Esme helped Ella walk.
Three days had passed and Harry wasn't awake. During that time, Edward had taken Ella hunting in which she regained her former strength. When Carlisle had looked her over, he had given her a clean bill of health. All she needed was blood. She was in the chair reading as she waited for Harry to wake up. The nurse didn't mind her presence near Harry. Ella didn't make a fuss like many other people had. Slowly, Harry was waking up, Ella had put her book aside and waited. She saw him reach for his glasses and looked at the table next to him and at the foot of the bed. They were full of tokens from his friends. He looked over and saw Ella sitting there with a smile on her face. "Miss Cullen," he said, smiling.
"I'm here, Harry," she said simply and smiled back at her.
Dumbledore had walked in, "Good afternoon, Harry. Tokens from your admirers?"
"Admirers?" he asked.
"What happened down in the dungeon between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret. So, naturally, the whole school knows," he said. He saw an open candy box, "I see that your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs."
Harry perked up when he heard Ron's name, "Ron was here? Is he all right? What about Hermione?"
"Fine. They're both just fine," Dumbledore said, reassuring him.
"What about the Stone?" he asked. Ella had to stifle her laughter at Harry's questions.
"Relax, dear boy. The Stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I have had a little chat and agreed it was best all around."
"But then, Flamel, he'll die, won't he?"
Dumbledore walked towards his bed and sat at the edge of the bed, "He has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order but yes, he will die."
"How is it I got the Stone, sir? One minute I was standing in the mirror and—"
"You see, only a person who wanted to find the Stone - find it, but not use it - would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you and me, that is saying something."
"Does that mean, with the Stone gone, that Voldemort can never come back?"
Dumbledore looked at Ella who in turned looked down at her lap, "I'm afraid, there are ways in which he can return. Harry, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him?" he asked. Harry shook his head. "It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you, and that kind of act leaves a mark," Harry immediately touched his scar, "No, no. This kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."
"What is it?"
"Love, Harry. Love," he answered. He stood up and walked towards the table at the foot of the bed and saw an opened package, "Ah, Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit-flavored one, and since then I'm afraid I've lost my liking for them. But, I think I could be safe with a nice toffee," he chewed on it, "Mm, alas, earwax." Harry smiled. He leaned against the headboard and relaxed. Madam Promfrey had walked in and smiled to see that Harry had awoken. She checked on him and told him that he still needed a bit more rest before he could do anything else. Luckily the feast wasn't until the next day and he had no complaints. He asked her if Ella could stay and keep him company. Madam Promfrey granted his wish.
It was the night of the feast and everyone was chatting away. McGonagall had called for attention. Immediately everyone quieted down and listened to what Dumbledore had to say. "Another year gone. And now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding. And the points stands thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor with 312 points. Third place, Hufflepuff with 352 points. In second place, Ravenclaw with 426 points. And in first place with 472 points, Slytherin house. Yes, well done, Slytherin. Well done. However, recent events must be taken into account. And I have a few last-minute points to award. To Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool use of intellect while others were in grave peril, 50 points. Second, to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years, 50 points. And third to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house 60 points," the Gryffindor House was cheering when they heard of all the points being awarded to them.
"We're tied with Slytherin," Hermione told Harry.
"Finally, it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award 10 points to Neville Longbottom," Dumbledore had said. Neville was absolutely in shock that he was awarded points. Everyone around him cheered him on. "Assuming my calculations are correct… I believe that a change of decoration is in order," Dumbledore simply clapped his hands and the decorations changed from Slytherin's green and silver to Gryffindor's scarlet and gold. "Gryffindor wins the house cup." Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff all cheered that Slytherin had lost the House Cup. For the rest of the night, all but the House of Slytherin enjoyed the rest of the night with food, and chatter.
The day before they had to go on the Hogwarts Express, Ella went up to Harry, who was sitting in the Great Hall chatting with Ron and Hermione, "Harry, come and take a walk with me." He nodded and joined her immediately. They walked out of the castle, "Harry, I won't be seeing you off tomorrow at Hogwarts Express. I wanted to sort of say my 'see you next term' now," she explained.
"How come?" Harry asked.
"Well, Victoria is upset that we killed James and she left. My family and I are going to spend the summer finding her and in hopes we can talk some sense into her," she answered.
"But it wasn't your fault, was it?" Harry asked.
"No, it wasn't. James was under the influence of Quirrell and Voldemort. How Quirrell got in control of James, no one knows. That's what my family is going to do. We are going to see if we can get some answers from Victoria if we can find her."
"That's why you're leaving," Harry stated.
"Yes, that's why we're leaving. The sooner we start, the better. I really wish I didn't have to leave you so soon, Harry. I really wanted to see you off tomorrow," she told him.
"Well, it's okay, really because you're here now and I appreciate that," Harry said. "And what Dumbledore had told me, it didn't make sense that Victoria would blame you when it wasn't your fault."
"Well, in a way, she blames me for bringing her here," she said. Harry looked puzzled and she went on, "James and Victoria aren't accustomed to seeing witches and wizards and magic and all of that," she said. "I think that's part of the reason why James didn't really put up a fight when we were down there in the chamber." Harry nodded because he remembered seeing James not do anything except to hold Ella prisoner. "Well, enough of that. I just wanted to say 'see you later' and I did so. I will do my best to keep in touch with you during the summer, okay?" Harry nodded and they hugged before they parted.
It was the day where everyone was boarding the Hogwarts express, in a distance, Hagrid could be heard, "Come on, now. Hurry up, you'll be late. Trains leaving. Go on. Come on, hurry up."
Hermione, Ron and Harry were near on of the train cars to board. Hermione said, "Come on, Harry."
"One minute," he said, and ran towards Hagrid.
"Thought you were leaving without saying goodbye, did you?" Hagrid asked. He pulled out something from his pocket and gave it to Harry, "This is for you."
Harry took it and opened up the photo album, the first thing he saw was a picture of him as an infant being held by his parents, "Thanks, Hagrid."
"Go on. On with you. On with you now. Oh, listen, Harry. If that dolt of a cousin of yours, Dudley, gives you any grief, you could always threaten him with a nice pair of ears to go with his tail."
"But we're not allowed to do magic away from Hogwarts. You know that," Harry told him.
"I do. But your cousin don't, do he?" Hagrid winked at him and Harry hugged him before going back to the train car.
"Feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?"
"I'm not going home. Not really," he said.