As soon as the clock had hit midnight in our bedroom, Lydia and I sprang up and put on our robes at the lakes light. It truly was beautiful, having a bedroom under the lake with a mirror looking straight into it. Heading quietly and cautiously to the Common Room, wands in hand and sights set, we saw Draco waiting on the couch, twirling his wand through his fingers.

He looked up at us and nodded, then stood up and stared down at my wrist, pointing at it with his wand.

"You can't bring that!"

Confused, I glanced down and realized he was talking about the bracelet Aletta had given me.

"Like, why?" Lydia questioned.

"Because it'll give away when we're going to betray the stupid three." Draco said, rolling his eyes.

"Here." He said, taking my hand and slipping it off. "We'll just tuck it into the couch so we can start heading out."

"Alright, its not like anyone's going to be searching through them...and we'll be back before anyone will." I said, assuring myself no one will take it.

"This," He smirked, walking to the door, "is going to be brilliant."

"Make sure no ones, like walking around out there." Lydia whispered, peeking her head out.

We followed him out; he wore a smug expression as if he'd been preparing for this moment all year. We exited the common room without saying much more. Like the simpleton Draco can sometimes be, he lit up the hallway with his wand.

"Boy, what did I say about you putting that light out?" The painting shook his fist threateningly.

"Alright, alright don't get your knickers in a twist…"

"Don't make me come out of this painting boy..."

"Go on ahead, my father will be hearing about this-"

"Draco we don't have time for your nonsense." I hissed, dragging him down the hallway.

"The nerve of him!"

"Dracey it was like, only a painting..."

"Will you both shut up, they aren't here!" I growled, staring at the empty spot beside the stairs.

"Why those filthy, scheming-"

"Actually we're right here." Interjected Potter, removing a shimmering silver cloak.

"And watch your tongue Malfoy." Threatened Weasley.

I saw Granger tucking the cloak into her bag. It was then the realization dawned upon me; it was an invisibility cloak. Sensing another Perfect Potter rant coming on, I squeezed Draco's arm. Instead of proceeding he took the hint and only narrowed his eyes maliciously.

"Well like, what are we waiting for?"

"Nothing, let's go." Potter said, leading us to the Third Floor Corridors.

At the foot of the first set of stairs, Lydia spotted Mrs. Norris skulking near the top.

"It's that stupid cat!" She hissed, giving it a glare.

"Oh, let's kick her, just this once," Weasley whispered, but Potter shook his head.

As we climbed carefully around her, Mrs. Norris turned her lamplike eyes away from us and scampered away, apparently not hearing us.

We didn't meet anyone else until we reached the staircase up to the

third floor. Peeves was bobbing halfway up, loosening the carpet so that people would trip.

"Who's there?" he said suddenly as we hid behind some statues.

As I hid with Draco, I gave him an apologetic look, knowing he was going to say something for accidentally stepping on his shoe.

"I know you're there, even if I can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?"

He floated around, rubbing his chin with his hand.

"Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen."

Then I had a sudden idea and elbowed Draco, whispering it into his ear.

"Peeves," he said, in a hoarse whisper, "the Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."

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

"So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, Sir," he said greasily. "My

mistake, my mistake - I didn't see you - of course I didn't, you're invisible - forgive old Peevsie his little joke, sir."

"I have business here, Peeves," croaked Draco. "Stay away from this

place tonight."

"I will, sir, I most certainly will," said Peeves, rising up in the air again. "Hope your business goes well, Baron, I'll not bother you."

And he scooted off.

"Brilliant!" whispered Lydia.

"That was actually quite clever." Granger commented.

"Of course. The Bloody Baron is feared immensely by that stupid Peeves." I snapped.

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

"Well, there you are," Potter said quietly, "Someone's already got past

Fluffy."

Seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress upon all six of us what we were facing. Then Potter turned to look at us.

"If you want to go back, I won't blame you," he said. "I don't want you guys to get hurt."

"Don't be stupid," said Ron.

"We're coming," said Granger.

"Slytherin's don't back out of anything." The three of us said in unison, crossing our arms.

Draco voice had a hint of annoyance and I held his hand, hoping it would calm him down. Instead he flushed, making him look down and around.

"Let's wear the cloak, I don't want to take the chance of Fluffy seeing us if he's awake." Granger said, taking it out and draping it over us.

It barely fully covered all six of us.

Potter pushed the door open. As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met our ears. All three of the dog's noses sniffed madly in our direction, even though it couldn't see us.

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

"Looks like a harp," said Granger. "Whoever is ahead of us must have left it there."

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," said Potter. "Well, here

goes..."

He put Hagrid's flute to his lips and blew. It wasn't really a tune, but

from the first note the beast's eyes began to droop. Slowly, the dog's growls ceased - it tottered on its paws and fell to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep.

"Keep playing," Draco ordered to him as we slipped out of the cloak and

crept toward the trapdoor.

We could feel the dog's hot, smelly breath as they approached the giant heads, and Lydia began to make faces.

"Like ew, so gross..."

"I think we'll be able to pull the

door open," said Ron, peering over the dog's back. "Want to go first, Hermione?"

"No, I don't!"

"How about you, Malfoy?" He sneered.

"Forget it, Weasley."

"All right." He gritted his teeth and stepped carefully over the dog's legs. He bent and pulled the ring of the trapdoor, which swung up and

open.

"What can you see?" Lydia said anxiously, playing with her locks.

"Nothing - just black - there's no way of climbing down, we'll just

have to drop."

Potter, who was still playing the flute, waved at him to get his attention and pointed at himself.

"You want to go first? Are you sure?" said Ron. "I don't know how deep

this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."

"Or Vanice can sing." Draco scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Like yeah. Vanice sounds better than that." Lydia sneered.

Harry handed the flute over to Granger then gave me a skeptical look.

In the few seconds' silence, the dog growled and twitched.

"Alright you can sing while Hermione plays." Potter said frantically.

The moment Hermione began to play, it fell back into its deep sleep. She began to play a lullaby and sang along, hoping she wouldn't mess up.

"Lovely willow, blossoms of thee. Flowing in the wind, so carefree. Looking from, the tips of your roots. You carry love, ignoring violence from brutes."

As I continued to sing, I looked over and saw Potter lowering himself through the hole until he was hanging on by his fingertips.

Wish he'd fall.

And then he let go.

"It's okay!" he called up to us a minute later, sounding far away,

"it's a soft landing, you can jump!"

Ron followed right away. Then Lydia, who was pushed in by Draco.

"Vanice go ahead, I'll be behind you." He said, smirking at Lydia's fall.

Stopping in mid verse of the song, I nodded and looked down, questionably.

"Does it seem- Ah!"

Cold, damp air rushed past me as he pushed me, down, down and - FLUMP. With a funny, muffled sort of thump I landed on something soft. Sitting up and feeling around, I saw Lydia beside me. It felt as though we was sitting on some sort of plant.

"What is this stuff?" She asked me.

"Dunno, some sort of plant thing. I suppose it's here to break the fall. Come on, Draco!"

The distant music stopped. There was a loud bark from the dog, but both of them had already jumped. She landed on Potters's other side and Draco landed on top of Lydia.

"Ow! Nitwit!" She exclaimed, pushing him off.

"We must be miles under the school Granger said.

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really," I said.

Suddenly the feeling came over us all as we finally realized that the plant had started to twist snakelike tendrils around our ankles. Lydia's, Potter's and Weasley's had already been bound tightly in long vines without their noticing.

"Stop moving!" Granger 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," snarled Draco, trying to break free and ignoring her.

"Devil's Snare? Devil's Snare...They like hate the light!" Lydia gasped as the plant curled itself around her neck.

"Then light a fire!" Potter yelled, struggling to breath.

Taking out my wand with my free hand, I muttered under my breath and sent a jet of bluebell flames towards the plant.

In a matter of seconds, it felt as if it was loosening its grip and it cringed away from the light and warmth.

Wriggling and flailing, it unraveled itself from our bodies, and they were able to pull free.

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

"Yeah," said Granger, "and lucky Crypton doesn't lose her head in a crisis."

"Thank you." I said through clenched teeth.

"This way," said Draco, pointing down a stone passageway, which was the only way forward.

"I wouldn't have guessed." Said Weasley.

"Zip it!" Lydia and I snapped in unison.

All we could hear apart from their footsteps was the gentle drip of

water trickling down the walls. The passageway sloped down, and we held onto the rocks along the walls to keep from slipping.

"Can you hear something?" I whispered.

A soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead.

"Do you think it's a ghost?" Lydia asked.

"I don't know... sounds like wings to me." Potter said.

"There's light ahead - I can see something moving." Granger pointed out.

We reached the end of the passageway and before us saw a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Draco asked, looking up at them.

"Probably," said Harry. "They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if

they all swooped down at once... well, there's no other choice... I'll

run."

Rolling our eyes, Lydia and I watched as he took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms, and sprinted across the room. Expected sharp beaks and claws tearing at him any second, we watched him reach the door untouched.

We saw him pull the handle, but it was locked. Following him, we tugged and heaved at the door, but it wouldn't budge, not even when we tried the Alohomora charm.

"Now what?" said Weasley.

"These birds... they so can't be here just for like, decoration," said Lydia, looking up.

They watched the birds soaring overhead, glittering - glittering?

"They're not birds!" Lydia exclaimed suddenly. "They're keys! Winged keys -look carefully. So that like must mean..."

She looked around the chamber while the rest of us squinted up at the flock of keys.

"Duh - look! Broomsticks! We've got to like catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!"

Lydia examined the lock on the door.

"We're like looking for a big, old-fashioned one - probably silver, so like the handle."

"How do you know?" Granger challenged.

"Look, unlike you two, I totally have money to spare on shopping. And since I do that like 24/7, I know what certain things match up with. Got it?" Lydia hissed, glaring at her.

Smirking, we each seized a broomstick and kicked off into the air, soaring into the midst of the cloud of keys. The Gryffindor's grabbed and snatched, but the bewitched keys darted and dived so quickly it was almost impossible for them to catch one.

Then an idea dawned upon me.

"Lydia, Draco! Modified Quidditch!" I called, and they nodded at me, spreading out.

Back flipping and front flipping on my broom, I whacked the keys in their direction. They went flying into their hands, being hit too quick for them to change direction.

Suddenly Lydia dropped all the ones she had in her hand and pointed to a key.

"That one!" She called to us. "That big one - there - no, there

- with bright pretty blue wings - the feathers are like all crumpled on one side."

It was a large silver key that had a bent wing, as if it had already been caught and stuffed roughly into the keyhole.

Weasley and Draco went speeding in the direction that Lydia was pointing, crashing into the ceiling and each other, nearly falling off their brooms.

"We've got to close in on it!" Potter called, not taking his eyes off the

key with the damaged wing.

"Right!" I called, seeing everyone begin to circle around it.

Draco and Weasley dived, Granger and Lydia rocketed upward, the key dodged them both, and Potter streaked after it. As it sped toward the wall, Potter leaned forward and with a nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone with one

hand.

Weasley and Granger's cheers echoed around the high chamber.

I landed quickly, and Harry ran to the door, the key struggling in

his hand. He rammed it into the lock and turned - it worked. The moment

the lock had clicked open, the key took flight again, looking very

battered now that it had been caught twice.

"Like, poor key." Lydia sighed.

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

We were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than we were and carved from what

looked like black stone. Facing us, way across the chamber, were the

white pieces. Lydia, Ron and I shivered slightly - the towering white chessmen had no faces.

"I hate chess." Said Draco.

"Now what do we do?" Potter whispered.

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

the room."

Behind the white pieces we could see another door.

"How?" Lydia asked nervously.

"I think," said Weasley, "we're going to have to be chessmen."

He walked up to a black knight and put his hand out to touch the knight's horse. At once, the stone sprang to life, making Draco and I jump. The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned his helmeted head to look down at him.

"Do we - er - have to join you to get across?" The black knight nodded.

Weasley put his hand on his chin.

"This needs thinking about," he said. "I suppose we've got to take the

place of six of the black pieces..."

Harry and Hermione stayed quiet, watching Ron think, while Lydia clicked her tongue with impatience.

Finally he said, "Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at

chess -"

"We're not offended," said Potter quickly. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione next to him instead of that castle... Malfoy be bishop, Lydia be queen and Vanice pawn."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to be a knight," said Ron.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Weasley." Draco sneered.

The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these words six of our pieces turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the board, leaving six empty squares that we all took.

"White always plays first in chess," said Weasley, peering across the board.

"Yes... look..."

A white pawn had moved forward two squares.

"This is confusing." Lydia sighed, tapping her foot.

He started to direct the black pieces, and they moved silently wherever he

sent them. My knees were trembling. What if we lost? What if we let down Snape, The Dark Lord...

"Harry - move diagonally four squares to the right."

The first real shock came when our other knight was taken. The white queen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board, where he lay still, facedown.

"Had to let that happen," said Ron, looking shaken. "Leaves you free to

take that bishop, Hermione, go on."

"Will we have to be lost?" Lydia asked, her hands shaking.

"If need be." Wesley responded.

Every time one of our men was lost, the white pieces showed no mercy. Soon there was a huddle of limp black players slumped along the wall.

Twice, Weasley only just noticed in time that Lydia and Hermione were in

danger. He himself darted around the board, taking almost as many white

pieces as we had lost black ones.

"We're nearly there," he muttered suddenly. "Let me think let me

think..."

The white queen turned her blank face toward him.

"Yes..." said Weasley softly, "It's the only way... I've got to be taken."

"NO!" Harry and Granger shouted.

"That's chess!" snapped Ron. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me - that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But -"

"Do you want to stop whoever is there or not?" I snapped, beginning to worry.

"Ron -"

"Look, if you don't like hurry up, we could've totally missed the Stone!" Lydia exclaimed.

"She's right. Ready?" Weasley called, his face pale but determined. "Here I go - now, don't hang around once you've won."

He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard

across the head with her stone arm, and he crashed to the floor. Granger screamed but stayed on her square - the white queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as if he'd been knocked out.

Shaking, Potter moved three spaces to the left. The white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry's feet. We had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. We charged through the door and up the next passageway.

"What if he's -?"

"He'll be all right," I said, trying to keep everyone calm. "What do

you reckon's next?"

Draco spoke up.

"We've had Sprout's, that was the Devil's Snare; Flitwick must've put

charms on the keys; McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell, and Snape's."

We had reached another door. Lydia groaned and rubbed her arm.

"All right?" Harry whispered.

"Go on."

Potter pushed it open. A disgusting smell filled our nostrils, making all of us pull their robes up over our noses. It was dark and damp, and as soon as we stepped in, torches along the walls were lit.

"This is totally disgusting! It like smells so bad!" Lydia whined.

"I think I'm going to be sick..." Granger muttered.

Eyes watering, they saw, flat on the floor in front of them, a troll even larger than the one that had gotten in the school, out cold with a bloody lump on its head.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Potter whispered as we stepped carefully over one of its massive legs.

"Come on, I can't breathe." Draco urged.

I pulled open the next door, and we were all surprised to see just a table with seven differently shaped bottles standing on it in a line.

"Snape's," said Harry. "What do we have to do?"

We stepped over the threshold, and immediately a fire sprang up behind them in the doorway. It wasn't ordinary fire either; it was purple. At the same instant, black flames shot up in the doorway leading onward. We were trapped.

"Really?! Like, really?!" Lydia exclaimed angrily.

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

Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,

Two of us will help you, which ever 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 bidden 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 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.

"Brilliant," said Draco. "This isn't magic - it's logic - a puzzle. I'm not bad with those."

Lydia nodded.

"Like believe it or not, Dracey does pretty well with those."

"Everything we need is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire, and one will get us back through the purple."

"But how do we know which to drink?" Potter asked.

"Give me a minute." Draco and Hermione said in unison.

Sharing, they read the paper several times. Then he walked up and down the line of bottles, muttering to himself and pointing at them, while Granger kept the paper. At last, he looked at us and smirked.

"The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire - toward the Stone." Said Draco.

Lydia and I looked at the tiny bottle.

"He's...right." Granger said in disbelief.

"Of course I am, you twit." Draco snapped.

"There's only enough there for one of us," Potter said. "That's hardly one swallow."

Quickly I took out the vial Snape had given me. It was the same.

"Here, I have another. Professor Snape gave it to me. I told you he was innocent."

Granger and Potter looked at each other.

"Which one will get the two of you back through the purple flames?"

Hermione pointed at a rounded bottle at the right end of the line. It was big enough for at least three swallows.

"You, Vanice and Lydia drink that," said Harry.

"No, I'm going." I said, looking at Harry fiercely.

Draco was about to protest but Lydia held his arm, shaking her head.

"All three of you go back and get help." Potter said, then looked at the three of us. "And even though we don't get along, thanks for your help. We really did need it."

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

"Hermione!"

"Harry - you're a great wizard, you know."

Rolling our eyes, I gave Lydia a hug, then leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"It's time... Draco and you drink first, then drop the rest of it on the floor."

She nodded and smirked. I looked at Draco and smiled.

"Would you like a hug now?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips.

"Uh, I mean...you don't have-"

Cutting him off, I wrapped my arms around his neck and giggled.

"Really, you should control that stuttering." I said once I let go.

He was bright red but looked down immediately, mumbling under his breath.

"You drink first," said Potter, looking at Draco and Lydia. "You are sure which is which, aren't you?"

"Of course," said Draco, still looking down. He snatched the bottle and took a quick drink from the round bottle at the end, and shuddered, then passed it to Lydia.

"Potter drink yours and let's go, we can't wait any longer." I urged, grabbing mine as he took his.

I took a deep breath and drained the little bottle in one gulp along with Potter.

It was as though ice was flooding through my body. I walked forward and braced myself, and Potter walked ahead.

I saw the black flames licking his body, but he didn't seem to be in any pain. I didn't dare look back, but as I walked into the fire, the flames licking my body without heat, I heard the crack of glass, the fake cry of Lydia and real cry of Granger, and then I had made it into the last chamber.

There was two pillars near the entrance and we both dove to hide behind one, peeking around them to manage to see who was there.

"I told you!" I hissed at Potter as I saw his face fall into shock.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

SO MUCH ACTION. Hah(: sooo... I hope you all liked so far! Remember to R&R, F&F, PM me and Never Tickle A Sleeping Dragon! byee!(: