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Chapter Seven: The seven task rooms and the Two face man
Christmas break was over and everybody had returned to Hogwarts. Break time was a blast for Vanessa and her friends, though she was a little worried about her cousin. She knew that he used their invisibility cloak a few times to look for Nicklos Flamel in the library at night but she didn't know that he found the Mirror of Erised. In the mirror he saw his parents and his aunt and each night he would see it again and again till Dumbledore stopped and warned him not to see it again. After that he did but he ended up having nightmares about it. He hadn't told Vanessa as he didn't want her to worry about him.
It wasn't long till a few weeks have passed and things have gone from good to bad. They had won their second quidditch match, which wasn't easy as Snape was referee. That was the good news for them. Bad news was when Harry, Ron and Hermione had snuck out of Hogwarts and went Hagrids at night, breaking curfew hours. That put them in a lot of trouble and made Gryffindor lose a lot of points. The three had detention along with Draco Malfoy, which was a plus side. Not to mention they got Hagrid in trouble too as he had a baby dragon, which was illegal to do. Luckily for him the Weasley's second older brother Charlie had came to take the dragon and raise it in Romania. It took many weeks for Hermione and Vanessa to make up for the points that they lost.
It wasn't long till it was time for exams. For Vanessa, Rain and Aramis it was a breeze for them. The twins, Lee and Malcom were having a hard time but did the best that they could. Once it was night she was hoping to relax for a bit but she noticed that Harry and his friends were acting weird again. She knew that they were up to something so she took out the map to see what they were doing. Like she thought the three were up wandering around school at night again. Not wanting them to get in trouble she got up to find them. She had Pickett to go in the boys dorm room to get the twins and Malcom to help her out. When the creature got in he did his best to wake up the twins but unfortunately they were deep asleep. So he went to wake up Malcom which didn't take long.
"Your cousin is very mischief." Malcom muttered as they exit out of the common room.
"From what I hear he gets it from his father." Vanessa whispered
She used her wand to light the way and to read the map. They made it to the third floor and opened the first door. When they got the second door Vanessa had to calm down Fluffy when the three headed dog saw them.
"Fluffy, sit." Vanessa said with order tone.
The three headed dog sat down as he wagged his tail.
"Good boy, Fluffy." She cooed as she scratched one of his heads.
"Hey, Vanessa. Something tells me that they went down here." Malcom said as he looked down the open trap door.
Vanessa sighed as she down looked in the trap door too.
"Harry, what have you gotten into." She muttered "Malcom go get the headmaster and tell him what's going on."
"What? And let you go down there yourself hell no." He said "Who knows what's down there. I'm going with you."
"All right." She said and jumped in.
Malcom jumped in after her and they landed on the Devil's Snare. Of course Malcom freaked out when it started wrapping its vines around but Vanessa remembered what it was and told him to relax. It took some time and the plant let them go. Once they were on the ground Vanessa took out the map and they continued looking for Harry and the others. They went into another room that had keys with wings so they hurried to the other door. It was locked and it was charmed so none of their wands will work so it was up to Pickett. With his skills he was able to unlock the door and they hurried out. When they made it to another room that's where they found them.
"Vanessa." Harry said in surprise.
Then he flinched when she gave him an icy cold glare.
"Harry James Potter, have you lost your minds! All of you!" Vanessa shouted "Do you have any idea how dangerous this is! Why are you even down here?"
The three first years all flinch and looked down in shame.
"W-well we found out what Snape was after. It's the Sorcerer's Stone. He wants the stone so he can give it to Voldemort." Harry started
"Oh for the love of...you still think its Snape! Harry…" Vanessa glared and started pacing around, muttering angrily. She was at the point of pulling her hair.
"Easy Vanessa. Calm down. Calm down. Breathed." Malcom said trying to calm her down.
She stood still and took a few deep breaths.
"Okay. Okay. Harry...Let's say that it is Professor Snape that's after this...stone. What was your plan, hmm? He's a Professor. He knows more spells than Hermione. No offense." She said
"Non taken." Hermione said
"And Harry, Ron I've been teaching your defenses spell but you're nowhere near as ready to face a teacher alone." Vanessa glared "You really think three first years will stand a chance? Have you even thought this through?"
"Well...um…" Ron said
"We had no choice, Dumbledore isn't here and none of the teachers would believe us." Harry said
"And putting yourself and your friends in danger is better." Vanessa said crossing her arms and tapping her foot. Pretty much scowling him. "Harry, something you need to think before you act in these kind of things. You can't dive on in, in a fight. If Voldemort is involved in this how do you know that this isn't a trap to get you alone and kill you. What would your plan be?"
Harry looked down in shame again as she knew that she was right. He really wasn't thinking when he thought about this.
"Okay, now that is all out let's get going and try and stop whoever is taking that stone." Vanessa said as she cooled down.
"You mean you're going to help us stop Snape?" Hermione asked
"I don't believe Snape is the bad guy here but we're already down here and half through the traps. I can't resist a challenge." Vanessa said "Besides now you have two thrids year that are a little bit more experienced than you guys."
When they stepped closer in the room they had step back when a square part of the floor drop. The torches were lit and in the air red letters appeared in the form of a riddle. It turns out that every few steps depends on the weight of an animal. If it's over or under the animal weight a step would disappear. When they get to the lever that's on the other side, pulled it down the floor will returned and they can all head over to the next room.
This is where Malcom stepped up as transform was his game. When Vanessa broke the first riddle she told him to transform into a snake. He was able to slidder his way a few steps till the Riddle change. So far he had to change three times. The second time was a cat, then a goat and then a chicken. He was almost there and the last riddle made him form into a mouse. When he got close to the lever his little mouse form climbed the wall and jumped on the lever before turning into his human form. The floor quickly formed back for all of them to cross.
"I'm the king of transformation." Malcom smiled
Vanessa smiled and patted his shoulder as they enter the next room. The next room was a wizard chess board and they had to play it to get across. Normally Vanessa would take charge of it but she decided to let Ron do it as he was the second best chess player. He made some good moves till they reached the end. The only way for them to win was for Ron to sacrifice himself so Harry could take the king and end the game. There was some debating about it but it was the only way. Ron made his move and he was struck down. It was enough for Harry to take down the king and the back door opened. Not wanting him to be left alone Malcom agreed to take him back to take him to the infirmary and send an owl for Dumbledore. Vanessa nodded in agreement as neither of them wanted to leave Ron alone. So she, Hermione and Harry hurried to the next room.
The next challenge was to defeat a troll and this one was bigger than the one from Halloween. It looked like it had a fight not that long ago which proved that someone else was here. Vanessa decided to take it down as the defense art was her strong point. She was able to handle it but ended up showing her vampire side as the troll grabbed onto her medallion. This made the troll backup in fear as it could feel her powers. Not needing to use spells she used her speed and strength to knocked the troll out. Harry and Hermione were at awe at her new form. Vanessa quickly placed her medallion back on and her normal form returned.
"Wow." Harry said
"We'll talk about this later. Let's finish this shall we." She said
The two first years followed after her to the next room. This time Hermione was up next. The next challenged is with potions. The little girl was able to find which potion that can get through the black fire that was blocking the door, where the Stone was. While another potion can help get them passed the purple flames that was blocked the entrance that they came in. Vanessa and Harry decided to go on ahead to stop whoever is after the stone and have Hermione catch up with Malcom. If Voldermont was with the thief they'll try their best to hold them off. Hermione's lip trembled and she hugged both Harry and Vanessa as she feared and believed in them. She quickly took one of the potions and it let her get passed the purple flames. Harry and Vanessa looked at each other before taking a sip of the small bottle. They held each other's hand and walked through the black flames. When they got to the other room they saw someone that was already there and it wasn't Snape, nor Voldemort.
"I told you it wasn't Snape." Vanessa muttered
It was Professor Quirrell.
"You! But I thought...Snape…" Harry gasped
"Oh, yes. Snape does seem the type. Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell." Quirrell smirked
"I did. I knew something was off about you." Vanessa said as she held up her wand in a defence stance.
"Of course you did, but only because of your other half could smell lies." Quirrell glared
"But that day, during the Quidditch match, Snape tried to kill us!" Harry said
"No, no dear boy. I tried to kill you two. And trust me if Snapes' cloak didn't caught fire and broken my eye contact I would have succeeded. Even with Snape muttering his little countercurse to save his favorite student and the boy that he hates." Quirrel said
"Snape tried to save us?" Harry gasped
"So that's why he was referee the second match. He wanted to make sure you didn't do anything like that again." Vanesse glared
"Clever as always Ms. Potter. But it wasn't like I could do anything with Dumbledore watching me." Quirrell said "I knew you two were a danger to me, especially after Halloween."
"Then you let the troll in!" Harry stated
"Very good, Potter, yes. Snape, unfortunately, wasn't fooled. While everyone ran about in the dungeon, he went to the third floor to head me off." Quirrell glared "He and Dumbledore, of course, never trusted me again. They rarely left me alone. But they don't understand. I'm never alone. Never."
He turned from them and looked at the Mirror of Erised that was in the middle of room. Vanessa noticed that Harry started to wince and he rubbed his forehead.
"Now, what does this mirror do?" Quirrell asked "I see what I desire. I see myself holding the Stone. But how do I get it?"
"Use the boy." a voice said
The voice made Vanessa shudder as she recognized it.
"Come here, Potter! Now!" Quirrell ordered as he turned towards them.
Vanessa tried to pull Harry away but Quirrell quickly snapped his fingers and ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped around her tightly.
"Come here now, Potter. Or I'll kill your cousin." Quirrell threatened
Seeing his cousin in danger Harry knew that he had no choice. He stepped up to the mirror and looked at it.
"Tell me, what do you see?" He commanded
He looked at the mirror wondering what he was going to see and what happened surprised him. His reflection changed to Vanessa's vampire side. She smiled and winked at him as she held up the chain that was attached to her medallion. Instead of the medallion it was the Stone and then put it back in her shirt. His eyes widen a little as he understood what this meant. Quirrell saw this and knew that he saw something.
"What is it? What do you see?" He asked
"I-I'm shaking hands with Dumbledore. I've won the house cup." Harry lied
"He lies." The voice said
"Tell the truth! What do you see?" Quirrell shouted
Vanessa did her best to get out of the ropes. Pickett managed to get out of her pocket and tried scratching and nawing at the ropes.
"Let me speak to him." The voice said
"Master, you are not strong enough." Quirrel said talking to himself.
"I have strength enough for thiss." The voice said
While this was happening Harry backed away from the professor and hurried over towards Vanessa. He was trying to help her while Qurriell his back towards the mirror as he started unwrapping his turban . Harry and Pickett were halfway there when his turban was fully off and reviled his back head. Vanessa and Harry were shocked at what they saw. There was another face on the back of Qurriell's head. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake.
"Harry and Vanessa Potter." It hissed "We meet again."
It didn't take them long to know who it was.
"Voldemort." They said
"Yes. You see what I've become?" Voldemort smirked "See what I must do to survive?Live off another. A mere blood can sustain me but it cannot give me a body of my own. But there is something that can. Something that, conveniently enough, wrapped around your neck Vanessa."
Pickett was able to naw off the last rope as Harry helped her up and they tried to get out. Vanessa reached where her necklace was and felt something heavy hanging around her neck.
"Stop them!" Voldemort ordered Quirrell
Qurriell snapped his fingers again and a ring of fire surrounded the place.
"Don't be a fool. Why suffer a horrific death when you can join me and live?" Voldemort smirked
"Never!" Vanessa and Harry glared
Voldemort chuckled.
"Bravery. Both of your parents had it too." He smirked "Tell me, Harry, Vanessa, would you like to see them again."
Appearing in the mirror Harry saw his parents while Vanessa saw her mother.
"Together we can bring them back. All I ask is for something in return." Voldemort offered
Vanessa couldn't look away from her mother's face as tears started to form in her eyes. She pulled the chain up and reviled the Stone that was connected to it.
"That's it, Vanessa. There is no good and evil. There is only power and those too weak to seek it. The three of us, we'll do extraordinary things. Just give me the Stone!" Voldemort said
Vanessa was almost convince still her other half told her otherwise.
'He's lying, Vanessa. Look at the mirror again.'
She looked at it again and her mother disappeared.
"YOU LAIR!" She yelled
"Kill them! Voldemort command
Qurriell was about to attack till Vanessa other side took over and fought him. Vanessa hissed at him as she used her speed to dodge his spells. When he saw that he could get her he tried going after Harry. With her speed she was able to get to him first and stuck him with a punch. Having enough of this he conjured up some of the Devil's Snare and had it attack her. While she was dodging the Snare's vines Quirrell attack Harry. He grabbed the boy by the neck and tried to strangle him. Harry did his best to pry Qurriell's hand off of him and that's when Qurriel's hands started to burn and turn to ash. Still made Quirrell to let go of him and backed away. Qurriell was in so much pain that lost control of Devil's Snare and it went back into the ground.
"What is this magic?" Qurriell cried
"Fool, get the Stone!" Voldemort ordered
"I don't think so. Let's see how you like being tied up!" Vanessa glared
She conjured up the Devil Snare vine with her wand and had it wrapped around the professor. Once he was wrapped up with nowhere to go Harry hurried over to him and placed his hand on the man's face. He held on to him long enough till the man's whole face was turning to ash. Vanessa got ahold of him and had them back away as the professor's whole body was turning into ash. It wasn't long till the man was nothing but dust. Once the danger was gone Vanessa send the Devil Snare back to the ground and sighed in relief.
"Are you okay?" She asked Harry
All he could do was nod and they hugged each other. Vanessa took the Stone off as they both stared at it.
"Come on, let's get out of here." She said
They got up and was about to leave till they sensed that something was behind them. Looking behind, there was a Voldemort smoke form and it charged at them. Vanessa put herself in front of Harry as it went through them. It knocked them out and the Voldemort smoke left the place, leaving the two unconscious and with the Stone in Vanessa's hand.