It was Quirrell.
"You!" gasped Potter, blowing our cover.
Quirrell smiled. His face wasn't twitching at all.
"Me," he said calmly. "I wondered whether I'd be meeting you here, Potter...and Crypton, what a lovely surprise."
"But I thought - Snape -"
"I told you it wasn't him, nitwit!" I hissed, looking at Quirrell, trying to let him know I was on his side.
"Severus?" Quirrell laughed, and it wasn't his usual quivering tremble, either, but cold and sharp.
"Yes, Severus does seem the type, doesn't he? So useful to have him swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?"
"Brilliant..." I mumbled, and Quirrell looked up at me and smirked.
Potter didn't hear me, it seemed he couldn't take it in.
"But Snape tried to kill me!"
"No, no, no. I tried to kill you. Your friend Miss Granger accidentally knocked me over as she rushed to set fire to Snape at that Quidditch match. She broke my eye contact with you. Another few seconds and I'd have got you off that broom. I'd have managed it before then if Snape hadn't been muttering a countercurse, trying to save you."
I smirked, knowing he was covering for Professor Snape.
"Snape was trying to save me?"
"Of course," said Quirrell coolly.
"Why do you think he wanted to referee your next match? He was trying to make sure I didn't do it again. Funny, really... he needn't have bothered. I couldn't do anything with Dumbledore watching. All the other teachers thought Snape was trying to stop Gryffindor from winning, he did make himself unpopular... and what a waste of time, when after all that, I'm going to kill you tonight."
Quirrell snapped his fingers. Ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped themselves tightly around Potter, but left me unharmed and untied.
"Vanice...come here..."
I approached him carefully, walking down the steps.
"Vanice, what are you doing?!" Potter cried, struggling in his ropes.
"She has been Confunded, Potter. The poor girl doesn't know what she is doing...and to think she tried to help you." Quirrell said, and I hid my smirk.
"You're too nosy to live, Potter. Scurrying around the school on Halloween like that, for all I knew you'd seen me coming to look at what was guarding the Stone...Now, wait quietly, Potter. I need Vanice here to help me to examine this interesting mirror.
I nodded as if in a trance and looked at the large mirror, a bit confused.
"This mirror is the key to finding the Stone," Quirrell murmured, tapping his way around the frame. "Trust Dumbledore to come up with something like this... but he's in London... I'll be far away by the time he gets back..."
"I saw you and Snape in the forest -" Potter blurted out.
Let him focus!
Taking out my wand, I looked at Quirrell and signaled silence, looking at Potter. All he did was nod and look away.
Quirrell came back out from behind the mirror and stared hungrily into it.
"I see the Stone... I'm presenting it to my master... but where is it?"
He turned to look at me.
"What do you see, girl?"
I looked in and was surprised to see myself, looking very power driven, taking the stone from Potter and handing it to Quirrell.
"Taking the Stone from Potter...and giving it to you..." I responded in a monotone voice.
Quirrell cursed under his breath.
"I don't understand... is the Stone inside the mirror? Should I break it?"
"I wouldn't recommend it..." I mumbled.
He was still talking to himself.
"What does this mirror do? How does it work? Help me, Master!"
And to my surprise, a voice answered, and the voice seemed to come from Quirrell himself
"Use the boy... Use the boy..."
Quirrell and I rounded on Harry.
"Yes - Potter - come here."
He clapped his hands once, and the ropes binding Potter fell off. Harry got slowly to his feet.
"Come here," Quirrell repeated. "Look in the mirror and tell me what you see."
Harry walked toward him, and I knew he was going to lie. As he looked in the mirror, his face was perfectly still, yet his eyes told a different story. He was astonished.
"Well?" said Quirrell impatiently. "What do you see?"
"I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore," he said. "I - I've won the house cup for Gryffindor."
Quirrell cursed again.
"Get out of the way," he said.
Then a high voice spoke, though Quirrell wasn't moving his lips.
"He lies... He lies..."
"He lies..." I mumbled, knowing it was true.
"Potter, come back here!" Quirrell shouted. "Tell me the truth! What did you just see?"
The high voice spoke again.
"Let me speak to him... face-to-face..."
"Master, you are not strong enough!"
"I have strength enough... for this..."
Looking up at him, I watched as Quirrell reached up and began to unwrap his turban. Very confused, I saw the turban fell away. Quirrell's head looked strangely small without it.
Then he turned slowly on the spot.
I couldn't help as my eyes widened, yet I didn't make a sound. Where there should have been a back to Quirrell's head, there was a face, the most interesting face I had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake.
"Harry Potter..." it whispered.
"See what I have become?" the face said. "Mere shadow and vapor ... I have form only when I can share another's body... but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds... Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks... you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the forest... and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own... Now... why don't you give me that Stone in your pocket?"
I spun around, prepared to jump on him to snatch the stone.
"Don't be a fool," snarled the face. "Better save your own life and join me... or you'll meet the same end as your parents... They died begging me for mercy..."
"LIAR!" Potter shouted suddenly.
Quirrell was walking backwards at him, so that The Dark Lord could still see him. The evil face was now smiling.
"How touching..." it hissed. "I always value bravery... Yes, boy, your parents were brave... I killed your father first; and he put up a courageous fight... but your mother needn't have died... she was trying to protect you... Now give me the Stone, unless you want her to have died in vain."
"NEVER!"
I saw Potter spring toward the flame door, but Voldemort screamed "SEIZE HIM!" and the next second, Quirrell's hand closed on his wrist.
At once, Quirrell let go and clutched his hand, hunched in pain, looking at his fingers - they were blistering before his eyes.
"Seize him! SEIZE HIM!" shrieked Voldemort again, and this time, I lunged, knocking Potter clean off his feet, landing on top of him.
"Vanice! No! Don't do this! You're stronger!" He yelled, trying to push me off.
"His pockets - it's in his pockets!"
Right then, I shifted my weight and swung my arm into his robe pockets, searching for the Stone.
"NO!" He yelled, and turned around so we both fell down the stairs.
We both hit our heads as we bumped down, and by the time we had reached the floor, I could barely see ahead of me. I was close to passing out.
"Kill him, fool, and be done!" screeched Voldemort.
I looked to my left and saw Potter sprawled on the floor, trying to sit up and run. Imitating him, we heard a piercing scream and we both fell to the floor at the exact same time, knocked unconscious.
...
"She's waking up!"
"Be quiet, what if she has a headache?"
"She seems fine."
There were six blurry faces surrounding me. One had long pretty locks of blonde hair. Another had short, shoulder length black hair.
"What year is it?" I heard a voice ask.
"I dunno...check a calendar." I said, trying to open my eyes.
There were chuckles and suddenly a pair of arms wrapped themselves around my neck, and the whiff of lavender came to my nose.
"Lydia?"
"Oh Vanice, I'm so glad you're not dead!" She exclaimed, letting go.
Finally, I opened my eyes and my vision cleared. I slowly realized that I was in the hospital wing, lying in a bed with white linen sheets. On the table beside me was what looked like an incredibly large pile of sweets, tarts and flowers. Sitting in chairs beside that table was Professor Snape and Archidia, with Goyle and Crabbe to their sides. Lydia was on the opposite end of the bed, and Draco was standing next to her.
"Dead...? Why would I be..." I stared at them for a while, then the memories started flowing back at a rapid pace. "The Stone! Potter, and The Dark Lord and-"
"Vanice, relax and lower your voice, or Madame Pomfrey will kick all of us out." Archidia said calmly.
"Quirrell does not have the Stone." Snape said.
"I met him. I tried my best. He was in pain, and-"
A tart in my mouth cut me off, and Draco smirked, raising a raspberry one threateningly.
Hiding my smile, I swallowed and looked around.
"What happened?"
"You did extraordinarily well. But we cannot discuss here...your parents will fill you in." Snape replied, unwrapping a candy.
"How long have I been in here?"
"A good chunk of the week!" Archidia said. "Everyone has been so worried, as worried as they are for that wretched Potter..."
"But the Stone...we betrayed..."
"All everyone knows is that you were under Quirrell's spell, but that you were courageous until the end, helping Potter defeat him." Draco explained, winking. "As for the Stone, it's been destroyed."
"Destroyed?" I asked blankly.
"Dumbledore." Crabbe filled in, nodding.
"He's going to try other ways of coming back, isn't he?" I asked, looking at Snape.
"Of course. He will return to power... but that time has only been shortly delayed."
"Oh Vanice! You totally missed the Slytherin Quidditch match! We won! And we're like first place for the House Cup!" Lydia squealed, laughing.
"When's the feast?" I asked, smiling at her enthusiasm.
"Like, tonight. You like
have a good few hours before that." Then she jumped and began rummaging through her pockets. "Oh! Here's your Mood Displayer."
"Thank you." I said smiling, putting it on.
The hours dragged on once they had left. Draco and Lydia had promised to come get me before the feast started, and all I had to entertain me were the candies, especially Bertie Botts Beans.
Madame Pomfrey came in as I popped a blue one in my mouth and smiled, giving me my robes.
"Go ahead and change, Vanice dear. Your friends are on their way."
Excitedly, I dressed in my emerald robes and fixed myself up using a nearby platter as a mirror. Seeing as there was no point in waiting for them, I dashed off to the entrance door, placing a hand on the handle, when a voice stopped me from moving any further.
"Do not tell her Lydia."
It was Draco.
"And if I do?"
"You don't want to know. I didn't even fully say it, and you're here making assumptions!"
And he was angry.
"Am not. Like, the way you look at her, the way you talk about her, the way you, like, care, the way-"
"It's normal!"
"Dracey, we both so know it's not. I'm telling you I can totally help you-"
Note to self: Ask Lydia what exactly they were talking about.
"I'm going to kill Goyle for telling you this."
"Like, let me finish my sentences."
"We're going to go get her for the feast, and you will keep your mouth shut. I'm...begging."
"Alright, fine. But if you don't like do something about it, watch Rower-"
"Shut it!"
I opened the door and saw Draco and Lydia glaring at each other, but jump as they saw me. Waving, I made no indication that I had heard what they were previously talking about.
"You guys are late." I said, praying I wasn't blushing.
"Sorry Vanice. We were just talking and like, got carried away." Lydia apologized, smiling and taking my arm.
"Let's get going. I can't wait to get away from the Hospital Wing." I sighed, beginning to walk. "I really want to talk about what happened down there...but we can talk on the train."
"Right." Agreed Draco.
"Everyone thinks I was Confunded...right?" I asked as we stopped at the giant doors.
"Let's just go." Lydia giggled, nodding and opening the doors.
At first no one payed attention to us, but slowly everyone began to speak and face us, and all the Slytherins ushered us over quickly. Making our way, we sat down and Crabbe hurriedly began to speak.
"Everyone is saying that we might be tied for House Cup...Potter is already looking cheerful and when he walked in everyone was talking."
Then Dumbledore walked in as all the babble died out. My head was still a bit dizzy, so I made myself comfortable between Draco and Lydia, tapping my fingers on the table.
"Another year gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts...
"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy- two."
A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from our table. Potter looked sick from across the table and we slammed our goblets down in triumph. Whatever had happened down there was the past and we we're enemies once again.
"Yes, Yes, well done, Slytherin," said Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into account."
The room went very still. Our smiles faded a little and I tapped my foot in agitation.
"Ahem," said Dumbledore. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes... First - to Mr. Ronald Weasley...for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling; the stars overhead seemed to quiver.
I bit my lip in worry.
"He can't be doing this..." Lydia muttered darkly. "We deserve points as much as they do..."
"Second - to Miss Lydia Serpance... for her keen eye when in peril, I award Slytherin... fifty points."
I jumped on Lydia, hugging her and cheering, along with other Slytherin girls. She was blushing furiously red but began to fix her hair once we had gotten off of her.
"Wicked!" I cheered.
At last there was silence again.
"Next - to Miss Hermione Granger and Mr Draco Malfoy... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor and Slytherin house fifty points."
If it wasn't for our quick thinking, Lydia and I would've been crushed under all the Slytherin boys that had tried to hug Draco all at once. Pansy Ramsey had managed to push herself through, but Crabbe managed to keep her away from him.
"Third - to Mr. Harry Potter and Miss Vanice Crypton..." said Dumbledore.
The room went deadly quiet.
"for pure nerve and outstanding courage and ambition, I award both houses sixty points."
I was immediately buried under piles of Slytherins, cheering and screaming. Because of us, we were still ahead of the Gryffindors and we were still in first place. The sound was deafening and my ears pounded, along with my head that was still supposed to be healing. Yet I didn't care. There was too much joy and excitement going on for me to worry about some pain.
"Vanice, you're pure brilliance!" Aria cried, jumping up and down.
Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.
"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."
Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor table.
"I don't get it. They still lost." Lydia mumbled, rolling her eyes.
"It doesn't matter! We won!" I exclaimed, grabbing her hands and jumping around. "For the seventh year in a row!"
The green and silver hangings waved around in the celebration. Our huge Slytherin serpent was proudly placed and the feast began. At the High Table, we saw Snape shaking Professor McGonagall's hand, and she had forced smile on that I could see from my seat.
I had almost forgotten that the exam results were still to come, but they did. To my great surprise, both Crabbe and Goyle passed with good marks. Draco, Lydia and I had the exact same marks, which we proudly showed to the rest of the Slytherin first years.
And suddenly, my wardrobe was empty, my trunks were packed, and the year ended. Notes were handed out to all students, warning us not to use magic over the holidays.
"Like boring!" Lydia huffed.
The Gamekeeper was there to take us down to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake and this time we managed to get five in a boat.
As we boarded the Hogwarts Express, I spilled every detail to my friends, of what happened with the Stone, what happened in that very last chamber. They all hung onto every word, and once I had finished, we relaxed and started talking and laughing. The countryside became greener and tidier and we ate all the sweets we could as we sped past Muggle towns.
When it was time, we began pulling off our wizard robes (pushing the boys into a corner as Lydia and I changed, then vice versa) and putting on jackets and coats. We had just finished when we began pulling into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station.
"Look!" Draco said, pointing to the window. "There's our Mum's!"
It took quite a while for us all to get off the platform. Everyone was moving about and blocking ways out. I saw Mother with Aletta, speaking to Mrs. Malfoy and Mrs. Serpance. They were wearing a serious expression, but as soon as they saw us they smiled and welcomed us back.
"You totally have to come and stay this summer," said Lydia, "I'll send you an owl. Right, Mummy?"
Mrs. Serpance laughed and nodded.
"Of course, dear. I would never dream of keeping the two of you apart!"
"We have much to discuss anyways." Mother said, smiling.
"We really do." All five of us said, looking at each and grinning. "Because it's not over yet."
THE END