Chapter 40 - Treasure Hidden in Hogwarts
Harry returned to Hogwarts at the end of Spring Break, making his way to the Great Hall during breakfast. As soon as he entered the Great Hall, he was caught by a rather anxious Hermione, walking up and dropping a book into Harry's arms as she led Draco and Harry back out of the doors.
"Nicholas Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone. I believe that Dumbledore is protecting the Philosopher's Stone in the Third Floor Corridor. And what's worse, I've noticed both Snape and Quirrell going to the corridor. I think they're after the stone!"
Harry sighed. "Hermione, have you told anyone else? What about Dumbledore?" Harry asked curiously.
"I tried bringing it to Filtwick, but he told me that the corridor was well defended and no one could get in. And he mentioned that Quirrell was one of the teachers who is protecting the stone."
Harry idly mused over the stone that he had seen Hagrid grab and was now around his neck as a pendant. Did he have the Philosopher's Stone? Of course, if he did, he couldn't possibly tell Hermione. He couldn't tell anyone; he had effectively stolen the stone from Hagrid, after all. His mind wandered, thinking of a trial and being thrown in Azkaban—"
"Harry!" Hermione shouted, catching his attention again. "We have to make sure nothing happens to the stone!"
Harry sighed, as Draco spoke up, "Granger, you were told by your Head of House the stone is safe. Why don't you believe him?"
"But Harry is the Boy Who Lived! He should investigate if it's Voldemort trying to come back. There wererumors that something attacked a unicorn, and mysteriously Snape was sick for a week after the rumor. What if Snape is trying to help the Dark Lord, and Quirrell is too?" Hermione asked.
"Snape wouldn't do something like that. He's just overly strict." Harry sighed. "Besides, I was with him when the unicorn was attacked, and-"
Hermione immediately bombarded Harry with questions. "You were? Why didn't you tell me? What attacked the unicorn? Did you meet the unicorn? What did Snape do?"
"Snape fought off some sort of weird creature and protected the unicorn. Simple as that." Harry shrugged. "He used too much magic at once though and passed out after the creature left." Harry didn't want to mention the centaur or the fact the man passed out before the creature was defeated, wanting to keep those secrets to preserve Snape's image.
"Well then what if he's trying to stop whoever is trying to steal it then?" Neville suddenly spoke up, having walked out of the Great Hall to join his chatting friends.
Harry's face was a mask of astonishment, but started to think. Touching his chin, he mused, "That makes sense. Quirrell and Snape could both be going to check on the stone and make sure it's safe. See, Hermione? There's nothing to be afraid of."
"But—" Hermione started, but Harry placed a finger to her lips.
"Hermione, shush. We're friends and I appreciate the interest in the mystery, but I don't think it'd be a good idea to go sticking our noses into it. What business is it of ours?"
There was a scoff, as the group suddenly noticed Ron trailing behind them. "What's the matter, Potter? I guess you really are a Slytherin, since you're such a coward."
Harry looked at Ron, blinking in surprise. Neville stepped up and interjected, "Um… not wanting to mess with stuff that adults say is dangerous isn't being a coward, Ron. It's being smart."
Ron scowled at Neville, seeming like he was going to say something but stopped, instead switching tracks, "Fine then. I'm going to go with Hermione and check it out and make sure that the stone is safe. That's what a true Gryffindor would do. You know, like your parents." Ron crossed his arms, glaring at Harry.
Harry felt his magic whip around inside in anger at Ron's low blow, barely managing to control it as he looked at Draco and Neville. "Those two are going to get themselves killed by that beast of a dog! If being that stupid is being a Gryffindor, I'm glad I'm not one!" Harry turned to Hermione and Ron angrily, "Listen. If you are really set in stone about this, we'll all go together. Just not tonight, okay? Draco and I just got back and we need some time to settle in. Can you wait? Just for a day or two?" Draco nodded in agreement, as Neville looked like he was about to faint. Neville's face betrayed his apprehension, as he shuddered with fright. However, with a deep breath, he steeled himself and nodded.
Hermione and Ron both looked at each other and nodded as well, before the topic moved to the upcoming exams. Crabbe and Goyle soon joined the small group, and they started discussing how they'd review for the end-of-year exams.
A few days later when supper was served in the Great Hall, Harry noticed that Hermione was missing from her normal spot at the Ravenclaw table.
"Have you seen Hermione?" Harry whispered to Draco and then Nott, the two shaking their heads. Crabbe and Goyle didn't either, as Harry got up and headed to the Ravenclaw table. One of the prefects, Penelope Clearwater, quickly mentioned she had seen her.
"Professor Quirrell seemed to be talking with her for some reason. I wonder if she got in trouble. After they finished talking, he grabbed her arm and started escorting her down the hall and out of sight," Clearwater said and shook her head. "I haven't seen her since that happened right before lunch."
Harry's heart sank a bit. Quirrell? What would he want with Hermione? Unless—
Harry's mind thought of what Hermione had said a few days previously. What if she was right? What if Quirrell was trying to get the stone? His thoughts were suddenly diverted by a gray Hogwarts owl flapping overhead, the large owl landing on Harry's shoulder. A small note was on its leg, as Harry accepted it and unraveled the string around it.
"If you ever want to see your Mudblood friend again, come to the Third Floor Corridor as soon as you get this message. If you fail to come, I can't guarantee her continued survival."
Harry went pale as the note burst into flames in his hands and turned to ash. It didn't take long before his panicked mind immediately kicked into high gear. Leaping from the table, he gestured at Neville at the Hufflepuff table. With a snap of his fingers, he got the attention of his friends at the Slytherin table before he heading over to Ron.
The Gryffindors, as always, scowled as he approached, but with adrenaline coursing through his veins Harry found he didn't care. "Ron, Hermione needs help. You coming?"
Ron sniffed a bit, wiping some food from his mouth. "Eh? Now? During supper?"
"Yes, now." Harry asked, gaze flicking to the Head Table. Professor Dumbledore was conspicuously absent. Where could the old man be? Ron got up, heading to join the group at the entrance.
"S-should we get a Professor?" Neville asked for a moment as the group formed and hurried from the Great Hall. Harry breathed out, allowing the adrenaline pumping through him to allow the tension built up to ease slightly. Neville was right; they needed to notify the teachers about this. Giving a nod, he pointed at Crabbe and Goyle.
"Crabbe, Goyle, go and get Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick. Tell them someone, possibly Professor Quirrell, sent me a threatening letter saying Hermione was taken hostage and if I didn't come then they'd hurt her. We'll head to the third floor corridor ahead of you two." Harry sighed, the boy ruffling his own hair to try to control the panic in his chest.
The two nodded, Crabbe and Goyle hurrying to the Head Table as the rest of the group rushed towards the stairway.
It took mere minutes to reach the third floor corridor, and much to Harry's dismay, the door was ajar. Inside, Fluffy appeared to be sleeping on the floor with all three heads having their eyes closed.
"How is it sleeping? Cerberi don't sleep." Neville asked curiously. Ron moved forward, and before Harry could stop him, he poked the massive dog.
"I-it's dead… H-harry… I-it's dead!" Ron stammered out, his body trembling in fear.
Harry felt a bit of a tightness in his chest for the poor creature. Harry noticed the creature's magic was fading; something he should have seen when they entered the room.
"What's going on here?"
The group turned around, seeing Flitwick and Snape hurrying down the corridor. As they did, there was a sudden surge of magic as sickly black runes appeared on the ground in front of them, followed by a barrier of twisted black energy that made Harry's stomach threaten to empty its contents.
"Professors, Stop!" Harry shouted, reaching out with his raw magic and shoving them back from the runes on the floor. The two Professors skidded backwards, joined by Crabbe and Goyle behind them.
"What in blazes are you doing, Potter? You'd best have a good explanation for this. What is going on?" Snape glared at Harry, who quickly gestured at the floor, and the wicked-looking black runes carved into the stone. "T-there's some sort of ward setup right here. It's priming to react as you get closer."
Snape looked over, taking only a moment before noticing the runes that Harry point out. The Professor flicked his wand, before frowning.
"This is a decay barrier ward. Anything attempting to cross that isn't the person who put it down will wither into dust. How in Merlin's name did you get across it, Potter?" Snape asked, as Filtwick looked down and nodded as he confirmed the Potions Master's words.
"I-I don't know, sir! But Fluffy's dead!" Harry pointed behind him.
"Hagrid's mutt is dead? Blast it all, I should have known." Snape snarled. "Potter, listen to me. I don't know how you and your friends got through the ward, but stay there. Do not do anything foolish. Flitwick and I will get Bathsheda Babbling to come bring down these wards, and we will solve this problem.
"Harry, he has Hermione! We can't just sit here and wait; Hermione could be in danger!" Ron shouted.
Snape sneered at Ron's panic as Flitwick stood up. "And you are just a first year student, Ronald Weasley. You and your friends are naught more than children. What would you be able to do? Let us adults come and do our jobs and protect our charges. Mister Weasley, do not be foolish!"
"Foolish? I bet that greasy git helped whoever took Hermione! If you aren't going to save her, I will, Harry!" Ron shoved past Neville, rushing into Fluffy's room and out of sight.
Harry turned to follow Ron, as Snape snarled, "Potter! Don't you dare!" With an apologetic sigh, Harry shook his head. "I can't just wait, Professor. At the very least I can help him a little if he gets in trouble. After all, it's not like I'm the next coming of Merlin, right?" Harry's tone was teasing, with an air of nervousness under it. "Draco, Neville, I won't make you follow, but more wands would help."
"You saved my life, Harry. I'm with you no matter what." Neville said, nodding as his hand clutched his new wand. Draco nodded too, "Slytherins have to stick together. You heard what Professor Snape said at the start of the year."
"Mister Malfoy, Mister Potter, Mister Longbottom?" Flitwick's voice spoke up, causing the three boys to turn and look at the Professor.
"One hundred points each for a stunning display of unity. I should not be condone you rushing into danger, but until these wards are removed I cannot stop you either. Good luck, to all of you."
Harry nodded, as the three friends rushed into the room and out of sight. A livid Snape was left with Crabbe, Goyle, and the small half-goblin Professor who now was at the top of Snape's shit list.
"How could you say something like that, Filius? Those boys are going to get themselves killed!" Instead of trying to justify himself, the half-goblin Flitwick grinned. "Well then, we'd best break through these runes quickly, shouldn't we?"
Snape growled in response as he pointed at Crabbe and Goyle. "You two go and find Professor Babbling immediately and bring her back here while we attempt to overpower the ward. Hurry!"
Snape's gaze went to the door where the boys had disappeared into. He hoped they wouldn't be too late, as he raised his wand and started blasting his magic at the runic barrier, illuminating it to the naked eye as the spells started to make cracks appear upon it.
"Seems Ron's already gone through the trapdoor." Harry said as he hurried to it. "Let's try to jump down too." Draco nodded in agreement as Neville gave a worried look. Harry noticed that even with his new wand, he didn't seem to really be sure of himself yet.
"Neville, I need you to be brave in here, okay? It could be dangerous, but we'll have each other's backs no matter what." Harry placed a hand on Neville's shoulder, causing him to gulp. Steeling himself again, Neville took a deep breath and switched to a serious look.
"Alright, Harry. I'll go first." Neville said, stepping forward as Draco yanked open the trapdoor.
The three thought they could hear something muffled, but before they could say anything Neville had jumped in. There was a wet-sounding squelch as Draco jumped in next, followed by Harry.
Harry saw they landed in a mass of squirming vines, causing Neville to gasp. "It's Devil's Snare! We need to remain calm. It's weak to light and fire." As he spoke, there was a lump inside of the vines writhing and wiggling to no avail.
Knowing that the lump could very well be Ron made Harry think fast. "Good job, Neville! Draco, on three, we cast Bluebell Flames. Neville, you try too." Harry said, knowing the non-dangerous flames were one of the first-year spells they had learned.
Draco nodded, raising his wand. Harry counted down, and as he finished the spells flickered from their wands. The magic flowed around their wandtips, glimmering and sparking into a trio of shining sapphire fireballs that pushed against the magical vines. The Devil's Snare immediately reacted to the light and fire, recoiling and sending the three to the ground, joined by a fourth seconds later.
"BLOODY HELL!" Ron screamed, coughing. "That ruddy vine had me completely grabbed! Why would they put something so dangerous in a school!" Neville hurried over to help him up as he spat out some of the vines he had swallowed.
Draco snorted, rolling his eyes. "I'd wager the same reason they had a Cerberus, Weasley. Keep up, will you?"
"Why you—" Ron started, but Harry's rough glare made him flinch. "Ron, we're down here to help Hermione. Now's not the time to be fighting each other. Draco, you shut it too. We need to be watching each other's backs, not be at each other's throats."
Draco looked admonished as Ron grumbled. Neville quickly spoke up, gesturing at the passage to the next room. "Let's hurry! Hermione needs our help!"
Walking together, the four entered the next room, finding a huge mass of keys in the air. They were flying on gossamer wings like fairies, moving together in large groups. The multitude of sounds made by the beating of thousands of wings echoed in the stone room, as Harry moved to the door opposite of the entrance and checked the handle.
When it rattled without moving, Harry clicked his tongue. "Locked. So one of them is the correct key. It's definitely that one there, it looks like it's been grabbed" Harry pointed towards a key with a broken wing, before looking around the room. His eyes soon fell upon a pair of brooms beside the door, walking up and grabbing one before Neville stopped him.
"Harry, there's an even easier way to do it. I know you're the youngest Seeker in a hundred years, but why don't you do the thing that you did when you saved me?" Neville grinned, looking proud that he remembered.
Harry's eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Oh! Good point, Neville. Good thinking. Accio Key to the door!" Harry allowed his magic surge forward, reaching the key with the broken wing and grabbing it. It yanked the key forward with such speed that the other keys never noticed the missing member of their flock.
The key sped through the air and landed in Harry's palm, quickly hurrying to the door. Draco snorted, "A magical creature that can die from a single curse, a plant that can be bested by a first-year spell, and a key that can be grabbed by a third-year spell? Some defenses."
Neville shook his head. "I bet the next one is super difficult or something! Besides, I don't think anyone expected someone to use the Killing Curse in a school."
"Or else Dumbledore put this stuff here to act as an obstacle course for someone." Draco sniped back.
"Dumbledore would never! He's the greatest wizard in the world!" Ron interjected, looking furious at the very thought of Dumbledore doing wrong.
"Whatever the case, the door's open. Let's go, you two." Harry said, Neville already moving to his side. Ron and Draco quickly ended the argument and soon the four were heading forward.
The next room seemed to be a checkerboard or chessboard at one time, but the amount of raw magic in the air made Harry twitch. "There was a pretty big battle here." Harry said quietly, looking around. Rubble was scattered everywhere, powdered and destroyed remains of some sort of statues, and even slashes on the floor scattered like leaves in the wind.
"Quirrell had this much power? He always looked like an idiot to me." Draco snarked half-heartedly in fear at the sight of the destruction as he kicked a pebble. "This is more like something the Dark Lord would do, according to my Father. During the later parts of the war whenever he saw something he couldn't remove with a single spell, he often got angry and blew everything up with bombardment spells."
Harry shook his head. "You think the Dark Lord is here with Quirrell?" Draco paled considerably, shaking his head as his shoulders trembled as Ron piped up, "Of course not. The Wards of Hogwarts would have spotted him immediately."
"But Dumbledore isn't here. The wards wouldn't be able to alert him." Harry piped up as the group hopped over a large destroyed statue of what looked like a queen.
"Wards don't work like that, Potter. They'd warn you no matter where you are." Draco explained. Neville nodded. "My grandmother said that once I get old enough to handle the power of the wards, I'll be given control of them. She says it's kind of like having a scrying spell active at all times."
Harry nodded with a thoughtful look on his face. "I see. If that's the case then Voldemort wouldn't be able to enter Hogwarts without the wards telling Dumbledore; it must be just Quirrell then. But that doesn't make this amount of destruction any easier to see." Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end at the implications, gesturing for his friends to follow him and continue on.
They entered the next room, finding what used to be a large toll. Not even the body was salvageable, splattered against the wall in a mess of gore. Neville looked pale, and Ron retched, Draco looking not that far behind the red-haired boy as his face turned a ghastly white.
"Quirrell is definitely stronger than we thought. M-maybe we should wait for the Professors." Ron muttered after he stopped retching from the sight of the mangled troll corpse.
Harry moved forward to the awaiting open door, about to respond when there was a girl's scream. "Hermione!" Harry exclaimed, the thought of stopping instantly banished from their minds. At the same time, Harry's mind was remembering something; a vague thought at the back of his consciousness trying to jog his memory of something.
The four hurried into the next room, finding it filled with purple flames. What was once a table was blasted into splinters, the remains of potions scattered about and emitting thick magical fumes.
"Seems this was Professor Snape's addition." Harry frowned, seeing the shattered potions. His gaze fell to the other side of the room, which was completely covered in ice. The flames were bare from that side, revealing an open doorway. He could feel a sickly, evil presence inside, as Harry shuddered.
"Can you guys feel that?" Harry said softly. Draco pulled his arms around himself, trembling heavily as he responded, "That can't be Quirrell. It just feels… wrong."
The magic flowing from the door was similar to what Harry felt in the forest - pulsing, evil, and sickly. A magic that had no kindness to it; it was shackled and forced into obedience until the very magic itself seemed to have gone mad.
Ron stammered. "W-we're no match for something like that! How did Quirrell get a Dementor in Hogwarts?!"
"A Dementor? From Azkaban? Are you daft?" Draco's voice was tinged with worry and panic as he continued, "That's not a dementor, that's something worse! No Dementor feels like that!"
Harry noted Draco knew what a Dementor felt like, but filed it away as something to ask later. Focusing instead on the magic, Harry could feel that the magic was wrapping around them, making him and his friends feel nauseous and ill. Instinctively, he reached to the necklace, and decided to focus his magic through it to fight the feeling running through him.
A glimmering, powerful sensation flowed around him and his friends, as suddenly the sickly aura was forced back. Draco, Neville and Ron's shivering stopped, as they looked at Harry. "What did you do, Potter? I feel better." Draco asked.
"Something I got from my family vaults." Harry lied, removing his hand from the necklace and hoping they wouldn't notice. Neville, however, spared a glance at Harry's neck, and then quickly looked away.
"Whatever you did, thanks, Harry. Come on. We need to work together to face off with Quirrell. He can't take all of us at once! A stupid hound may have been killed, but we can take him, I know we can!" Ron held his wand tightly, as Harry could see that Griffindor bravado at the forefront.
The word "Hound" made something within Harry click, and words spoken to him in the Forbidden Forest came rushing to the forefront of his mind.
"When the Hound of Three rests its head and the Childe of The Raven seems to be in danger, sometimes the best thing to do is to wait."
"I think we should wait." Harry said after a second of thought. "I— just think it'd be wise."
Ron turned a shade of violet that Harry had only seen on beetroot vegetables before. Whipping around, he snarled at Harry, "You filthy, slimy snake! I knew it! You just want to leave her to rot! Hermione is being held captive, and you're telling us to wait?! You're nothing but a dirty coward! How could I ever thought that I could rely on a sneaky, underhanded, conniving, cowardly snake like you!"
Harry saw Ron's rant for what it was; a friend panicking over their other friend in a life-threatening situation. Taking a breath, he stood tall and slowly approached Ron. The redhead, his nose suddenly remembering the blow it took earlier in the year, flinched back a bit.
"Ron, I know you're worried about Hermione, but think about it. I had to use a family magic spell to protect us, and the only reason it worked is because we're not in the same room! Whatever that thing Quirrel has is, it feels like the creature that took on Professor Snape and I in the forest. And we were only able to get out of it because of a Centaur! If we rush in there, we could end up dead. And then what happens to Hermione? The absolute best case scenario is she'll simply end up dead. But whether the real Dark Lord is in there or Quirrell is masquerading as one, Dark Lords don't really take too well to muggleborns and are known to torture them when they're no longer useful! So sit down, shut up, and wait for the Professors or Merlin help me I will knock you out myself. And I don't know the stunning spell or petrification spell, so you know how I'll do it, Ronald Weasley!"
Draco, Neville, and Ron all looked surprised at the normally quiet and jovial Harry Potter suddenly being so vocal. Not only that, but he genuinely looked like he was going to pop off, his magic swirling around him so thickly that the three boys could taste it.
"R-right, s-sorry Potter. I'll calm down." Ron stammered out, raising up his hands in a placating gesture. Harry allowed himself to relax looking at the doorway. "At the very least, I can try to stop the magic from flowing from there. My family magic stopped it, so maybe I could use that family magic to power runes…?" Harry trailed off, thinking. Could the Philospher's Stone be used to power runes? It seemed to be able to fight off that wicked magic.
Harry took out his rune knife and knelt down to the door, scraping at the stone. He felt the troll tusk knife slice through the stone like it was clay. Making a few basic runes, he reached up and touched his necklace, pouring his magic through it and into the runes. All the while, Harry never noticed Neville's eyes at his neck, watching him during the process.
The runes glowed, as a shimmering silver and crimson wall sprang forth from the runes, glowing and locking into place like a wall around the door. "Bloody hell." Ron muttered, as Draco was quick to speak up as well.
"Potter, that's a full on runic ward. That's fourth year material!" Draco practically shouted.
"It's—" Harry paused, before continuing, "—just a little something I've been researching for the past few months. The book your father let me borrow helped me along." Harry blushed, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Neville looked deep in thought, not saying a word.
It was mere moments later that Snape and Filtwick rushed in, Professor Babbling right behind them. Babbling took one look at the wall of magic and hurried over, kneeling down to examine the carved runes and leaving Snape and Filtwick to speak to the boys.
"Professor! The sensation that I had when the thing attacked us in the forest— it's in there." Harry pointed. "I-I made a runic ward to keep the aura of the thing out, but Hermione is in there!"
Snape frowned, the hand on his wand holding it tighter. "Filius, we'd best go in there together. Last time I faced that creature I passed out after a single cast. I'm unsure how well I'd be able to assist here."
Flitwick nodded, and looked at Professor Babbling as he held his wand up, pointed at the door. "Are you able to stay here and watch the students, Bathsheda?" Even as he spoke, the half-goblin's eyes never once moved from the door.
The woman nodded, but seconds later there was a roar of sheer rage, followed by a man's scream of pain. Harry saw a flicker of movement as something magical shot out of the room, before impacting with the ward he had created.
The effect was immediate; there was an unholy screech as the sickly, evil presence slammed against the ward Harry had put up. It was like a starving man suddenly attacking silver knights, or a legion defending against a beggar; the ward was like an immoveable force that the creature couldn't even scratch. It wasn't long before the wispy magical creature shot upwards, large portions of its magic sliced away by the ward as it fled through the ceiling.
As soon as it fled, the presence was gone. Harry turned to the Professors, pointing where the creature had disappeared, "Professor! Whatever that thing was, it just fled! It tried to get out to us through my ward, but it was repelled."
Snape looked like he wished to question the boy, but nodded. "We all saw, Potter; you do not need to describe it to us. Calm yourself before you end up being a liability. Stay here, Potter. Filius, let's go." The half-goblin Professor nodded as the two rushed through the ward into the next room.
After a few more moments of tense silence, Professor Babbling spoke up. "Mister Potter?"
"Yes Ma'am?" Harry asked, stepping forward.
"You said you made these runes yourself. At first they looked very basic, but on closer inspection they are very advanced. I've never seen such skill and power applied to runes in this manner before. This is unlike any rune ward I've ever seen; you've lined up a series of four runes, adding a fifth that changed what would normally be basic shielding and protection and into a bastion of light magic." Professor Babbling said, tracing a fingertip around the runes.
"Well, I kind of found a book on Atlantean runes, Professor. It didn't say the names of any of the runes, but I was able to guess some of them by comparing them with several Rune encyclopedias. That one there, of the four, is one I guessed." Harry pointed to a specific rune.
"Atlantean Runes?" Professor Babbling's eyes widened "Wherever did you find that, Mister Potter? Most of those books have been destroyed by the Ministry due to them being linked to Dark Magic."
Harry saw Draco shift uncomfortably out of the corner of his eye, before speaking up. "It was in my family's vault. Lucius Malfoy allowed me to go to Gringotts, and inside I was able to enter my family vault as long as all I removed were books." Harry said. Another lie; he didn't even know if he had a family vault but with how he had an Account Manager, he had a feeling he did. Still, he felt horrible with the lie. He silently promised himself that he'd only lie like this when he absolutely had to.
"I see. I'd like to see that book if at all possible. A genuine Atlantean Rune book is something that I've always wanted to look at."
Harry shook his head. "I'm sorry, Professor. It's protected by family magic." Harry frowned. His thoughts went to what would happen if the Professor tried to read a book belonging to the Black Family. The mental image made him shudder.
"Ah, I see. Pity." The woman sighed, "But this still affirms my suggestions to Dumbledore at Halloween. Mister Potter, if you're willing, I would love to have you in my Runes class. I would personally teach you beyond the basics; basics that obviously you already know the fundamentals of, thanks to your talent"
Harry looked a bit sheepish at that. "Um… about that, Professor. I've been sneaking into your class all year. I'm sorry I didn't say anything."
Professor Babbling was about to say something, but her train of thought viciously derailed, leaving no survivors. "Uhhh… ahhh… ummm…" The witch looked positively speechless as it took a few minutes for her brain to reboot. When it did, she took a deep breath. "Mister Potter, I've always heard of students sneaking OUT of classes, but you are the first I have ever seen that actually snuck INTO one. This confirms my thoughts. I would be honored to have you join me next year."
Harry beamed, happy he wasn't getting into trouble. "I'd really like that, Professor!"
Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick slowly entered the final room of the defenses Dumbledore had them set up in the school. Their wand tips glowed with magic as they headed inside, only to relax as they found the room mostly empty.
In the middle of the room was a pile of black ash beginning to blow away in an unseen wind. Next to it, Hermione Granger had collapsed, a burn on her right wrist from the tip of a wand poking into her.
Snape was the first to react, rushing over and taking out a potions kit he always kept in an expanded pocket of his robes. A balm found its way to his hand in an instant, the Professor quickly and professionally applying it to the girl. Once it was finished, he quickly followed it with a quick Enervate spell that brought her back to consciousness.
The small, brown-haired girl sat up, immediately screaming at the top of her lungs and making the raven-haired Professor wince and shout over her scream, "Calm yourself, fool girl. You are safe now."
Flitwick glared at Snape for his callousness, but returned to his own task; casting diagnosing spells on the black ash.
"Professor! Professor, oh god. It was even scarier than the Troll." Hermione sobbed, clinging to the Snape's robes. "He said— he said he was going to kill me as soon as Harry entered t-to break his spirit. P-Professor Quirrell— h-he was covered in b-black cracks a-and t-the worst smell I had ever smelled in m-my entire life was pouring f-from him."
Hermione was in hysterics, as Snape took out another potion. Putting it to her lips, he looked at her sternly. "Drink, Miss Granger, or you'll wind yourself up so that nothing can be done."
Hermione drank the potion, her entire body suddenly relaxing in Snape's arms. The balm was slightly glowing on the burn mark as Hermione took a deep breath, her voice far steadier than before.
"Now, Granger. Start from the beginning. How did this all start?" Professor Snape asked, taking out a few more potions as his wand flicked about and organized them. He wasn't a Healer, but his Potionmaster accreditation allowed him to do basic first aid.
"It all started when he caught me spying on him as he was heading to the Third Floor Corridor. We—" Hermione quickly corrected herself, "I was curious about what he was doing, and had seen him go down the corridor once before."
Professor Snape could easily tell the girl was fudging the truth, but at this point he didn't care. She was a Ravenclaw, not one of his Slytherins. It wasn't like she would be taught how *to correctly do such things and thus couldn't fault her for doing a poor job at lying.
"He grabbed me and told me that mudbloods shouldn't snoop. And then… and then a huge chunk of his face fell off! I heard a voice from behind him, almost like a hissing as he bespelled me wandlessly and dragged me off. When I tried to escape, he pressed his wand to my wrist and burned me."
Snape let Hermione stop and breathe for a bit, as the traumatic experience seemed to have shaken her even through the calming potion. "Continue when you are able, Miss Granger. Take your time; there's no rush. You are safe now," Snape repeated softly.
Hermione trembled softly, and nodded before continuing. "He wrote something down on a parchment, and then called a small big-eared creature to take it and mail it. I've never seen anything like it, it was wearing a pillowcase, and called him 'Professor Garlic'. I saw Harry's name on the note, I think he sent it to him."
Snape thought carefully about that. The professor had called a Hogwarts house elf and sent a threatening note to Potter. Potter, of course, went rushing off to try to save his friend, but actually stopped to notify adults. Severus felt a bit of pride in being someone the boy could trust in a crisis.
"He then brought me into the Third Floor Corridor… and… and he murdered that Cerberus with an Unforgivable! It died right in front of me!" Hermione said, the calming potion doing its utmost to keep her lucid. "He took us through the Devil's Snare by blasting the part under us with light, then he used a summoning charm on the key, and blew up an enormous chess board! After that, he murdered the Troll that was in the next room, and he used a gigantic freezing spell on a room with several potions."
Snape frowned as he heard that. He and the other Professors had done their best to make the enchantments lock down the area if it was attempted to be passed by force. Had Quirrell somehow gotten enough power to break through their enchantments as well? How was he that powerful?
Hermione took a deep breath, and continued. "His body w-was falling apart by that p-point… his skin was… was dropping off l-like it was rotting and s-seemed to turn to a-ash before it hit the floor… a-and I could see bones i-in a few places. He dragged me into this l-large room with a mirror a-and told me to look in it."
This made Snape pause, holding up a hand. "You say he was falling apart? As if he was an inferi?"
"I-I don't know what an inferi i-is, Professor." Hermione stammered. Severus noticed the calming potion wearing off, giving her another to drink. Hermione calmed once more as he spoke.
"Muggles call them zombies, but they're made using black magic; they are stronger and resistant to everything except fire. Was he like a zombie, Granger?"
Again, Hermione shook her head. "N-no, Professor. He s-seemed lucid and very very angry. I was so scared… I looked into the mirror and saw myself wearing a Nobel peace prize, and also wearing an Order of Merlin, in the middle of a huge library—" Hermione proceeded to describe the library in great detail, stopping after Snape motioned for silence.
Snape barely controlled himself, or else he'd have let out a snort. Of course that'd be the Ravenclaw bookworm's deepest desire. Keeping up his Occlumency barriers, the mind magic held strong and kept his emotions in check. With a nod, he gestured towards her and motioned her to continue, "What happened next, Granger?"
"Well, the mirror version of me reached up and took the Philospher's Stone from its pocket, and showed it to me. At least I think it was the Philosopher's Stone."
Taking another breath, Hermione continued the story. "After I got the Stone, Professor Quirrel put his wand to m-my forehead… a-and said that if I didn't give it t-to him he'd curse m-my mind t-to be nothing but a b-babbling idiot. I-I'm s-sorry P-professor… I-I didn't w-want to become l-like that… a-and he took it, and s-screamed. He l-looked so angry I-I thought he w-was going to curse me anyways b-before his b-body turned t-to the black ash a-and some s-sort of spirit flew back t-to the entrance of the r-room." Hermione stammered, her body trembling as it was obvious she was remembering something traumatic. Not even the calming potion could soothe her stammering as she recalled it.
Snape placed his hands on her shoulders. "Hermione Granger, more powerful wizards and witches than you have been forced to hand over things to people of far less power than Quirrell. You did the right thing. No object is worth your life." Snape said softly.
Hermione, on the verge of tears despite the calming potion, sniffed. "I-I'm s-sorry, P-professor. I-I never thought— I n-never thought of y-you as a person l-like that." Hermione said, her voice trembling.
Snape gave a half-hearted sneer. "And If I hear that you've spread completely baseless and unfounded rumors about me, I'll give you so much detention that Potter's streak will seem like a relaxing school year."
That managed to defuse the tension in the room. Hermione's sobs shifted, tears lessening as she gave a soft giggle.
Snape let out a breath. The girl wasn't traumatized, at least, but he'd make sure she spent some time in St. Mungo's during the summer just in case. As for the Philosopher's Stone, whatever happened, it was obvious that the stone didn't work for Quirrell. But the spirit… could it be?
Looking over at Flitwick, Snape continued sitting with Granger as the half-goblin looked back at him. "Magical decay. I'm completely certain that Quirrell was being possessed by a spirit of extreme magical power and malice. And the stone Granger mentioned is just a small rock… some chalk, which is from deep beneath London."
"More than likely the rock was a trick, used to trap the thief. I never expected it to be Quirrell." Snape gestured to the mirror, shaking his head.
"If it truly was Quirrell. Such a death leads me to believe it may have been someone using him as a puppet." Filtwick said, standing up. "Leaving the only question as to what possessed him—"
"Not what. Who." Snape cut the Charms Professor off, a feeling of dread deep within his stomach.
Harry was soon reunited with Hermione, the girl seeming like she was about to pass out. Snape and Flitwick returned behind her, the Charms Professor creating a large door to seal the room.
"Bathsheda, we'll have to call the Aurors. A Professor is dead, and he took a student hostage." Snape said, looking at the group as they reunited.
Harry hugged Hermione gently, the brown-haired witch gently returning the gesture and crying against his shoulder from the harrowing events. Draco stood back, but it didn't take long before Ron and Neville joined the hug. There were a bundle of questions from all of them as Hermione looked a bit overwhelmed. Professor Snape couldn't help but notice the irony of Hermione being bombarded with questions much like she did her friends.
Leading the group back out of the Third Floor Corridor, Flitwick, Babbling, and Snape all levitated the kids back up through the empty passage that once held the Devil's Snare. Harry smelled ashes around him, and noticed no trace remained of the plant.
Once they left the trapdoor, closing it behind them they suddenly found themselves looking at none other than Professor Dumbledore, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Headmaster! You're back!" Flitwick said with surprise.
"Professor!" Hermione said. "I-it was horrible! Quirrell tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone!"
Suddenly the group exploded in conversation as everyone tried to speak at once. The grandfatherly old man raised a hand, his eyes twinkling. Harry thought he could see a bit of disappointment at the gaze towards him as his eyes flicked over the Professors.
"Now now. It seems everyone is alright, but I insist that you all go to the infirmary to be checked over. It sounds like you have had quite an evening." Dumbledore said, gesturing.
"Headmaster, the Aurors must be called to the castle. Quirrell is dead." Flitwick said, as Snape holstered his wand. Dumbledore shook his head gently. "The loss of Quirrell is a blow to our school, but I see no reason to get the Aurors involved. Especially not after the events with the Troll earlier this year. We shall discuss more of this later, Filius."
Harry noticed Filtwick open his mouth to say something, but closed it after a second. "I agree, now is not the time to discuss it. I will wait for you in your office, Headmaster. Severus, Bathsheda, I would appreciate you coming as well when the children are safe with Madame Pomfrey."
With that, the small Professor headed down the hallway, leaving Dumbledore, Snape, and Babbling to lead the children to the Infirmary.
Pomfrey immediately took to diagnostics as the group were made to sit in the beds, Dumbledore walking up to them after a moment. "Harry my boy, you have done an incredible service to the wizarding world today—"
"I didn't do anything, Professor. Quirrell abducted Hermione, and I waited for the Professors before confronting him. By the time they entered, something had happened and Quirrell was gone." Harry said.
Dumbledore's gaze fell on Harry, as Harry couldn't help but feel that the Headmaster was disappointed in him. "Harry my boy. Your parents would be very disappointed that you left a friend to the mercy of someone who intended them harm. I'm sorry to say that I will have to punish you and Mister Malfoy both for such cowardice. Not only that, but I am forced to remove the exception for the two of you to play Quidditch for the rest of the year. This will unfortunately disqualify Slytherin from winning the House Cup, which instead will go to the runner-up. Mister Longbottom will be getting a letter sent home, and Misters Crabbe and Goyle both will have their parents notified as well." Dumbledore said, sorrow in his voice.
"Headmaster, I must object-" Snape moved up, before Dumbledore looked over at him. "They broke many school rules, and in the end didn't save their friend, which could have cost her her life. While I will not issue detentions due to it being so close to the end of the year and I certainly will not expel them, this many rules being broken has forced my hand. The punishment will be announced at the Leaving Feast."
Harry looked uncomfortable, as Draco looked like he was going to start shouting, only stopped by Neville clapping a hand over his mouth. "I-I'm sorry sir. It wasn't because I was afraid, b-but—"
Dumbledore shook his head. "I understand, Harry my boy. But sometimes you must set everything aside to protect your friends and loved ones. I hope that you understand in time." Dumbledore's hand reached out, gently patting Harry's own.
"Now, with that finished, I will have to go and explain to my old mentor in a letter that his decoy stone worked perfectly. The thief has been apprehended, and all is well." Dumbledore smiled. "I hope to see all of you with excellent scores on the exams!"
Dumbledore turned to leave, as Professor Babbling nodded to Snape. "I'll stay with the students, Severus. You go and join Filius."
Snape nodded reluctantly, turning to Harry and Draco. "Rest assured, Malfoy, Potter, that if I was able to I'd give you both a hundred points each for informing a teacher before things got out of hand. But my hands are tied. Rest assured, both of you are fine examples of Slytherin pride." Snape nodded to both of the surprised children, before leaving to follow Dumbledore.
After Snape and Dumbledore rounded the corner out of sight, Professor Babbling shook her head. "I'm very sorry that the Headmaster removed points from each of you. Unfortunately, none of the teachers can go against him for assigning points. This will stand, I am sorry to say." Professor Babbling said, as Draco opened his mouth to speak.
"This is outrageous! My father will hear about this!" Draco said, crossing his arms. Madame Pomfrey walked up, starting to cast diagnosis charms on him, having finished with Hermione.
Pomfrey sighed, shaking her head as she looked Draco over. "I understand your frustration, Mister Malfoy, but nothing can be done. Something tells me that the Slytherin's streak at winning the House Cup will be ended this year."
Harry had remained silent since Dumbledore had spoke, causing the witch to move forward and look at him. "Mister Potter, I believe the Headmaster is wrong. Your parents would be proud of you. Headmaster Dumbledore may have been an old friend of theirs, but I refuse to believe that they'd want you to endanger your life any more than you already have this year. I believe you made the right choice."
Harry took a deep breath. "T-thank you, Professor… I just… it kind of hurts, hearing it from the Headmaster. I'll try to be braver in the future."
"I think that all your parents would want is for you to be yourself. Don't try following too closely in their footsteps; they will be proud of you as long as you are who you want to be." Professor Babbling said with a smile.
Harry quietly nodded his response as the Professor moved over to discuss with Madame Pomfrey. Hermione was sound asleep in her bed, as Neville hopped out of his own and moved to Harry's side, speaking up as he did.
"Harry, You've saved both me and Hermione this year, not even counting this. You even warned Hermione not to dig too deep, but she did anyways. I think the Headmaster was unfair, especially to say that about you."
Harry smiled weakly. "Thanks, Neville." Harry said simply, before sighing, "Well, there's not much to do about it now, right?"
Neville nodded, before returning to his bed as Madame Pomfrey started to scan Harry with diagnostic charms.
-Author's Notes-
And so the penultimate chapter is finished. I hope this story's been a good one, and just a reminder, after the next chapter (the final chapter of Book 1) is released, we will be going on a 1 month hiatus for me to build up my backlog so as to not miss an update for you guys.
During that hiatus, I might give a bit of a bonus chapter here and there during the intermission, as excerpts of books that Harry has read such as his History of Magic lessons, but there is no promise and thus they are "bonus" chapters.
Book 2 is well underway, with the synopsis complete and 12 chapters finished. Harry's story will continue, with its many twists and turns.
If you're interested in helping proofread before full release, send me a message! The invite code to the reddit HPfanfiction discord is on my Fanfiction profile, as well as my discord link. If you're on Ao3, you can simply leave a comment expressing interest.
Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling, not me.