"Killing such a bright girl as you? I think not, I'll let you live, it will show the world that those who submit can be spared. Though your brother on the other hand..."
"Please don't..."
"Sarah."
"Not Harry, please don't H..."
"Sarah!"
I woke up to someone shaking me, and looked up to see the worried faces of Cho, and Penelope.
"Where...what?" I asked, looking around and noticing the sun coming in through the windows, and people filing out of the dorms, and I remembered that I fell asleep on the sofa last night.
"Breathe." Penelope told me, as she helped sit up. I looked around and noticed housemates starting to make their way into the common room.
"What time is it?" I asked nervously.
"Almost 7:30." Cho answered, and I nodded.
"Why were you laying on the couch?" Penelope asked, and I shrugged.
"I had detention last night, got back late, didn't want to wake anyone up." I replied, and the pair shared a look.
"Yes, I remember Professor Flitwick mentioning..." Penelope replied, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
"May I ask...what happened?" Cho asked, and I tilted my head.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't mean to sound rude...but you look horrible." Cho told me bluntly.
"Yeah, you look pale white, and your hands have been shaking since we got you up." Penelope added, and I looked down to indeed see my hands shaking.
I didn't really know what to say...Voldemort is roaming the forest after a Stone that none of the student's are supposed to know about, I sighed shaking my head.
"It's nothing..."I lied, trying to stand up.
"You were muttering in your sleep." Penelope added, and I looked back and forth between the pair.
"Muttering?" I asked.
"Yeah, it sounded like you were remembering..." Cho said, the color draining from her face, and I nodded.
"Yeah...sometimes I have nightmares of that night." I admitted, and the girls looked at me, a mix of sympathy and horror.
"Are you okay?" Cho finally asked, and I waved it off.
"Fine." I lied, then slowly stood up. "I'm just glad last night is over." I said softly, then walked to the dorm for a change of clothes.
"Are you sure you don't want to get to the hospital wing?" Lisa asked me as we made our way down to breakfast, I just sighed in response.
"Like I've said, I'm just tired." I replied, and Lisa and Anthony both glanced at me with disbelieving looks.
"Well, at least let me carry your bag..." Anthony offered, and pulled the bag back protectively.
"No." I replied firmly, and the two shared a quick glance, then both shrugged.
"If you say so..." Anthony replied worriedly as we all sat down at the breakfast table.
"I wish you would tell us what happened last night." Lisa said, and I just shook my head.
"It's over." I replied, and she crossed her arms annoyed.
"Whatever." She replied.
"Morning everyone." Padma said as she, Mandy, and Morag came walking towards us, and sat down. "Who's ready for exams?" She asked.
"I am, though I hope my essay on on Binns is detailed enough." Anthony replied confidently. "What about you?" He asked.
"Other than Defense, I'm pretty confident." Padma replied, as both Mandy and Morag nodded behind her. Padma then turned to me and Lisa "What about you t...what happened to you?" She asked.
"She won't say." Lisa answered and Padma looked at me worriedly.
"Does she need to go see Madam Pom..."
"Anthony!" I was thankful when Terry's voice interrupted Padma, and we all turned to see Michael and Terry running over from the entrance hall.
"Yes?" Anthony asked raising a eyebrow.
"We were just wondering if you had the Transfiguration notes from last week, neither one of us can find ours." Terry said, rubbing the back of his neck, while Michael looked down at his feet.
Anthony sighed. "Yeah let me find it..." He replied, then started looking through his bag.
"Did you two even do it?" Padma asked, crossing her arms and tapping her foot on the ground.
"Of course we did." Michael replied.
"Yeah, not our fault we've got so much homework that it got l...what happened to you?" Terry asked, looking directly at me.
"Merlin Potter, you look like a ghost." Michael added as he looked at me as well.
I turned to Lisa. "Do I really look that bad?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Yes." She replied, and I sighed.
"If I don't look better by dinner, I'll head to Madam Pomfrey." I said, and Lisa nodded.
"I wish you'd go sooner, but it's better than nothing." She said, worry creepy through her annoyance.
"You still haven't why you look so..." Michael began.
"Wretched?" I replied, and he nodded.
"Yeah."
"Bad night of Detention." I replied, and Michael and Terry both shared a look.
"She won't tell us either." Anthony said, as he pulled out his notes and handed it to Terry.
"Thanks mate." Terry said to Anthony, then both turned to be. "Was it Smith?" Terry asked, and I looked at him in surprise.
"You know about that?" I asked.
"Everyone here know." Padma replied. "I mean, after he burned you in potions class, we've been watching him...I guess we can't catch him every time."
"It wasn't him." I answered and everyone turned to me confused.
"Then what was it?" Mandy asked.
"...bad nightmare, after a long detention." I eventually replied, deciding for a half truth instead of a all out lie.
"Oh, well I hope you get feeling better." Terry said, Michael nodded in agreement, as the two scurried off to copy Anthony's notes.
"Those boys." Padma said, sighing and shaking her head.
"They're quite the characters." Lisa said smiling.
"Agreed." I replied, for the first time since the forest, allowing myself a small smile.
Our first class of the day was Herbology. When we arrived. Professor Sprout explained that, for the rest of the week leading up to exams, we would be going over everything that we learned the past year, which was difficult but I still felt confident I'd do good on the exam.
That class itself wasn't what made me nervous though. What made me nervous was the fact that Draco, whom I only know remembered had been in the forest to, was looking at me every chance he got...and I was worried he would say something, let my friends know what happened.
Luckily he didn't say anything in class, and we all started to head off to lunch when...
"Potter." We turned to see Draco coming to us, though his usual confident sneer was replaced with a worried, nervous, expression...in fact he looked a lot like me.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Anthony asked, and a bit of Draco usual demeanor returned.
"Shut it Goldstein." He said, rolling his eyes. "I just want to talk to her for a moment." He added, nodding at me.
"Can't you see she's not feeli..." Lisa began, but I raised my hand.
"It's fine." I said, and Anthony looked at me worriedly. "I need to talk to him as well." I explained, Anthony and Lisa both looked at me confused, but then nodded.
"Fine, see you at lunch." Anthony said, as the two walked off, as I turned back to Draco.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Merlin Potter...last I saw of you we were in the forest, and that...thing was there, and I ran, I thought you two would follow...and next thing I know, you show up today looking like..."
"A ghost?" I asked, with a slight smirk, and he nodded.
"Yeah, what happened?" He asked, and I sighed.
"I really don't want to talk about it...suffice to say, me and Harry both made it back in one piece." I answered, and the boy looked at me raising his eyebrow.
"Do you know what that thing was?" He asked.
My mind flashed back to the forest, to Firenze telling us...who that thing was, and I shuddered at the thought.
"Potter?" Draco asked, and I realized I was shaking again.
"Something horrid." I finally answered, and the boy just sighed.
"I wish you'd give me more than that." He replied, and I shook my head.
"I haven't told any of my housemates, why would I tell you?" I asked, and Draco gave a small smirk.
"Because I was there." He replied, and I gave a small laugh.
"Yeah, then you ran...that was the smart thing to do."
"Why didn't you." He asked, and I shrugged.
"Harry." I answered, and Draco scowled.
"Just like him, trying to take on something stupidly." Draco spat.
"It wasn't like that..." I replied, and Draco looked at me with an annoyed expression.
"Why didn't he run then?" Draco asked, and again I debated if I should say anything about Harry's scar hurting.
"He tripped." I eventually answered. "I couldn't just leave my brother."
"Hmph..." Draco replied, crossing his arms. "Idiot." He murmured.
"My brother's not an idiot." I replied, and Draco just rolled his eyes again.
"Whatever you say." He replied, then began to turn away. "I'll see you later Potter." He said.
"Wait." I said, and the boy turned back to me, a eager look on his face.
"Yes?" He asked, clearly hoping I was about to tell him more.
"Why did you break your promise?" I asked, and he frowned.
"What are you tal...oh yeah." Draco said, suddenly remembering, then smirked. "I didn't." He replied, and I looked at him in confusion.
"But... you promised not to tell anyone about the dragon." I said, and the boy shook his head.
"No I didn't, I promised not to tell on Hagrid, I didn't promise anything about telling on your brother." Draco replied, and I looked at him...frozen.
"You...you tricked me." I accused, and the boy gave a small laugh.
"How did I trick you? I promised not to tell on Hagrid, you never mentioned not telling on your brother." He replied confidently, and I thought back...
"You're...right." I admitted, and Draco shrugged.
"See, I never break promises." He told me, and I mentally slapped myself.
"I can't believe I was that stupid." I said, and Draco frowned.
"Don't blame yourself, if you had asked me not to tell on Harry, I wouldn't have accepted. At least you protected the fat oaf." Draco said, and I frowned at him.
"Don't call Hagrid that." I said sternly, and he just rolled his eyes.
"He literally took us into the forest, I wouldn't be surprised if it was his idea in the first place."
"Just...don't...please." I said, and Draco frowned seemed to soften.
"Fine, but I still don't like him" Draco replied, and I shrugged.
"Well I do." I replied.
"I don't see why..." Draco replied, and I sighed.
"Please, just let it go." I replied, and he smirked.
"Fine." Draco replied, then turned and walked away. I gave him one last glance, then turned and started my way to lunch. Looking nervously around the corridor as I went.
"Sarah." I jumped, then turned and saw Harry, like so many times before, in a empty classroom with Ron and Hermione. He motioned me inside, and I sighed and did what he said.
"Harry." I said tiredly, as he shut the door.
"You look horrible." Ron told me, and Hermione hit him in the arm.
"OW."
"Ron." She scolded, as Ron rubbed his arm.
"I've had multiple people tell me that today." I said. "Not that I've looked in a mirror."
"Are you okay?" Harry asked me worriedly, and I shook my head.
"The best I could be after yesterday." I answered, and Harry gave me and understanding nod.
"Yeah...today's not been easy for me either. " Harry admitted.
"Well, considering what happened last night, I think it would be odd if you weren't at least a little nervous." I answered, and Harry nodded.
"Yeah, actually, that's why we wanted to talk to you." He explained, and I raised an eyebrow.
"What's there to talk about? You know who's after that Stone, and he's in the forest right now." I replied, nearly choking on the words.
"The fact that Snape's after it, and only Fluffy's left to stop him." Ron interjected, and I turned to him.
"Hold up." I replied holding up my hand. "I admit that you know who is after the stone, Firenze made that abundantly clear, but to say Snape's after it for him, without any solid evidence..."
"We've got plenty of evidence." Hermione burst out, and I turned to her surprised. "From the Quidditch match, to him trying to get by Fluffy, to reffing the next match, to threating Quirrell...it's him." Hermione said, and I sighed, and shook my head.
"If Snape was after the stone, Dumbledore would have acted." I replied firmly, and the three looked at me with disappointment.
"Just because he treats you decently, doesn't mean he's not after the stone." Ron said surely.
"Yeah, clearly he's just using you as a excuse, to show Dumbledore he's not evil." Hermione added, and I sighed.
"Whatever." I replied, not wanting to argue. "Even if he's after the stone, if being the key word, he's still got Fluffy to deal with, and Hagrid won't tell him anything." I said, and Harry nodded.
"I hope so...I hope the centaurs were wrong." Harry said, and I turned to him confused.
"What are you talking about?" I asked confused.
"Remember how Bane and Ronan were so upset?" Harry asked, and I nodded. "Clearly the planet's said I was to die last night, Firenze stopped him, but he wasn't supposed to...clearly they also show Voldemort..."
"Don't say that name!" I said sternly, and Harry sighed.
"Fine, but they also show you-know-who coming back, and then...you know what he'd do." Harry said, and my nerves got even worse.
"D...don't say that." I said. "Dumbledore is here, he wouldn't let that happen." I said, more to myself.
"That what I said." Hermione said, and I turned back to her. "Also, don't forget that fortune-telling is very imprecise, Professor McGonagall said so herself."
"I dearly hope so." Harry muttered, and I nodded.
"Yeah, because if you know who comes back...let's just hope that never happens." I replied, my nerves even worse than before. "
"I wish yesterday hadn't happened. If we weren't stupid enough to get caught..." Harry began, a look of bitter disappointment on his face. "...speaking of which, why were you there?" He asked.
I thought for a moment, should I tell Harry what I'd done? If I did he'd want to go deeper, and in the end he'd want to hex Smith himself...and Harry was already dealing with so much, and I didn't want him to get into any more trouble on my behalf...
"I did something stupid." I finally said.
"Something stupid?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. "What?"
"It doesn't matter, it's done." I replied.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at each other, and Hermione looked at me worriedly.
"It didn't involve any...cauldrons?" She asked, and a small smile crept onto my face.
"No, not this time." I replied, and Harry and Ron looked even more confused.
"What are you two talking about?" Ron asked, and I had to chuckle.
"Oh, another stupid thing I...well not just me, did. But that was ages ago, towards the beginning of term." I noticed Harry and a disappointed expression on his face. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"It's just...I just realized that I don't even know what you've been up to this year." Harry said, looking down at the ground.
"Nothing as exciting as battling trolls, or playing Quidditch, or getting a invisibility cloak." I replied, trying to cheer him up.
"That reminds me." Harry said suddenly ."Someone gave me the cloak back." Harry said, and I looked at him in surprise.
"Who?" I asked, and he shrugged.
"No idea." Harry replied. "Must have been who ever gave it to me in the first place."
I sighed. "More way's for you to give me a heart attack." I joked.
"Don't worry, we've learned our less..." Harry began, but stopped and grabbed his scar and I looked at him worriedly.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"It's...been hurting." Harry explained, and I looked at him in terror.
"Do...you need to go to the hospital wing?" I asked, and he shook.
"I'm...fine." He said, and even if I didn't believe him, he gave me a sure look. "I'm fine." He repeated.
"If you say so." I replied unsurely then turned to the door. "I'll see you guys later." I said, then turned and made my way to lunch.
"Where have you been?" Lisa asked me worriedly as a sat down at the table for lunch.
"Harry wanted to talk to." I answered.
"Oh...I was just worried Smith tried something again." She said.
"Luckily he didn't." I replied. "Why?" I asked.
"You look worse." She answered honestly.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes." She replied, and I shook my head.
"If I may ask, what exactly do I look like?" I asked.
"You have bags under your eyes, your hands have been shaking off and on all day, and you're been looking around like someone might jump you in the halls." Anthony replied, and I nodded.
"Yeah, sounds about right." I answered.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital wing, I'm sure Madam Pomfrey could help you." Lisa implored, and I shook my head.
"After class." I promised and the two nodded at me.
"Fine."
Our next class was Transfiguration, which was a worse struggle than usual. After class Lisa insisted I go to the hospital wing, and I shook my head.
"I don't need to." I replied.
"Yes you do." Lisa demanded. "You've looked horrid all day, you need something." She said, trying to pull me in the direction of the hospital.
"I don't need..."
"Miss Turpin." The voice of Professor Snape made Lisa freeze, and turn nervously.
"Sir?" She asked, nervously.
"Why are you trying to pull Miss Potter's arm off?" He asked, a scowl on his face.
"I...I just wanted to..." Lisa stammered, but stopped when Snape turned to me, and his scowl was replaced with a deep frown.
"Hospital wing." He ordered, and I opened my eyes in surprise.
"But Sir, nothing's wrong..."
"The lack of color on your face suggests otherwise. Hospital wing." He ordered, then turned back to Anthony and Lisa. "Get her there, then head straight for dinner, no...experiments." He said his eyes lingering on Anthony. Then, with one final scowl to the pair, he strode off.
"Well, now you don't have a choice." Lisa said, as she began to lead me to the hospital wing, and I shook my head.
"No I don't." I replied, defeated, and let the girl lead me to the hospital wing.
When Madam Pomfrey saw me, she instantly ordered me to sit on a bed, and ordered Anthony and Lisa to dinner.
"You should have come sooner." She scolded me, and I shrugged.
"I didn't think being tired was something I needed to see you for." I replied, and the healer gave me a stern look.
"You're are not just tired, clearly something happened that was traumatic for you." She said, and I looked at her nervously.
"How did you..."
"You're not the first student sent into that forest dear." She told me, and I nodded.
"Oh."
"Though whatever you encountered, must have been horrid." She added, and I looked down at the floor.
"It was." I admitted, and the Mediwitch sighed.
"Drink this." She said, and handed me blue potion. "It's a calming drought, it should help you...well calm down." She explained as I drank.
When I finished she took the vile, then ordered me to lay down. "How long will I be staying this time?" I asked.
"Seeing as you came so late, all night." She told me, and raised her hand before I could object. "Don't even try it." She said, and I knew nothing could convince her otherwise. I laid down and pulled the covers over myself.
It wasn't as bad as I thought, the calming drought worked quickly soon enough I noticed I wasn't shaking, though I noticed I was exhausted.
"The potion is working then." Madam Pomfrey said when she looked at my tired face. "besides, a good night of sleep will do you good."
I closed my eyes,and for the first time since the forest, I felt...at peace as I fell into a long, deep, sleep.
Madam Pomfrey's potion did indeed work, and the next day I exited the hospital wing feeling like my old self, just in time to, because after months and months of extra homework, extra study sessions, and just general cramming, exams had finally arrived.
Their were two exams per class, a practical, and a written test. For the written test's we were given anti cheating quills, and crammed into large rooms lined with desks. The worst part was the heat, summer was in full effect, and the castle was sweltering hot.
However the written exams wasn't what worried me, no what worried me was the practical exams. For charms, Professor Flitwick called us in one by one and had us make a pineapple dance across his desk, for potions we were told to make a Forgetfulness potion.
By far the hardest exam, written and practical, for me was Transfiguration. Luckily I had studied hard, and I felt like I did decently on the written test, but the practical test of turning a mouse into a snuffbox was by most difficult and stressful part of the week. Luckily, hours of study and hard work had payed of, and I was able to barely able to pass, still, my Transfiguration grade would be far below my others.
The only class to deviate from the practical, written test, formula was History of Magic. Like every other class we had a written test. However the practical exam was replaced by the essay's Professor Binns had assigned to us weeks ago. But seeing as I'd written a ten page biography on Gellert Grindelwald, I wasn't surprised when I passed with flying colors.
"That was insane." Lisa said me as we walked out of Professor Binns classroom.
"Yeah, I thought my essay was long." Anthony added, rubbing the back of his head.
"Don't feel bad...I went overboard."
Our final exam was Defense, and after suffering through Professor Quirrell's almost incoherent directions on when to expect our results, we were done.
"First year complete!" Anthony said happily as we made our way out of Quirrell classroom.
"Finally." Lisa added. "All's that left to do now is relax, and wait for our results."
The three of us decided to take advantage of the summer weather, and made our way down to the lake. When we arrived, we saw Fred, George, and Lee Jordan tickling the giant squid, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione all relaxing under a tree.
"Harry." I said, rushing up to him excitedly. "We did it, made it through first year." I said, and Harry gave me a smile, before grunting in pain, and grabbing his scar.
"Ugh." He said, and my smile turned to a worried expression instantly.
"It's still hurting?"
Harry's scar had supposedly been hurting since the, incident that I refused to speak of, in the forest. I had hoped it was just exam nerves...but now that they were over.
"Yeah." Harry said in pain, as me, Lisa, and Anthony all looked at each other worriedly. " "I wish I knew what this means!" he suddenly burst in anger "My scar keeps hurting — it's happened before, but never as often as this."
"Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said.
"Yeah, she really helped me after...what happened in the forest. "I added, and Harry shook his head.
"I'm not ill," Harry replied. "I think it's a warning… it means danger's coming…"
"Come on Harry." Anthony interjected. "What danger could possibly be coming?"
Harry gave me an annoyed look. "You haven't told them?" He asked in a whisper, and I shook my head.
"I haven't told anyone." I admitted, and Harry sighed.
"Harry, relax." Ron suddenly interjected. "Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."
"You're still on about Snape?" Lisa asked frowning and Harry closed his eyes in pain.
"Haven't...done anything." He defended, as Lisa's face softened from annoyance to worry for Harry. "Still, I feel like we've forgotten something." He continued, and all of us looked at each other.
"That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one." Hermione answered first and I scowled at the mention of Transfiguration.
"Yeah, you should have seen her last night." Lisa said, smirking and patting me on the shoulder. "She was convinced she hadn't done enough for her History Essay but she had ten pag..."
Lisa stopped as Harry suddenly stood up, a look of terror on his face.
"Where're you going?" Ron asked sleepily.
"I've just thought of something," Harry replied, looking even paler than I did a couple days ago. "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now." He said, turning back to Ron and Hermione, who both shot up, and followed. Me, Lisa, and Anthony then exchanged looks, and I shrugged.
"Guess we better go to." I said, Lisa nodded and we began to follow.
"But we just got here!" Anthony said, groaning as he was forced to stand up.
Ron and Hermione followed Harry, and we followed Ron and Hermione, as Harry started to Hagrid's.
"Why?" Hermione asked, panting, as she tried to keep up.
"Yeah why?" Lisa added, as we ran to catch up to the quick moving Harry.
"Don't you think it's a bit odd," Harry replied, making his way up the grassy slope, "that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, but Harry didn't answer.
"What is he talking about?" Lisa asked me.
"I have no clue."
Harry led our odd procession to Hagrid, whom was sitting outside his house, shelling peas.
"Hullo," he told us smiling "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"
"Yes, please," Ron replied, but Harry cut him off with the wave of his arm.
"No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?" Harry asked, and once again me, Lisa, and Anthony exchanged confused looks.
"Dunno," Hagrid replied casually, "he wouldn' take his cloak off."
The three Gryffindor all looked at him with stunned expressions, while I, Lisa, and Anthony were still totally lost.
"What does any of this have to do with anything?" Lisa asked, but Harry held out his hand then turned back to Hagrid, who raised his eyebrows at the worried faces.
"It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head — that's one of the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up." Hagrid explained.
"Yeah, my dad coworkers wear hood's all the time, it's not the uncommon." Anthony added, and Harry didn't looked convinced.
"Still, What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?" Harry asked eagerly, his voice dripping with worry.
"Mighta come up," Replied Hagrid, who frowned, and seemed to think. "Yeah… he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here… He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I took after… so I told him… an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon… an' then… I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks… Let's see… yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted… but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home… So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy…"
"Oh." I whispered, seeing what Harry was insinuating. "He think's Snape's the man in the cloak..." I whispered, and both Anthony and Lisa went from confused, to understanding.
"And did he — did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked, seemingly trying to stay calm.
"Well — yeah — how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep —" Hagrid stopped, a horrified expression on his face.
"I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" said, realizing what he'd admitted. . "Forget I said it! Hey — where're yeh three goin'?"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't stop as they ran to the entrance hall, and I sighed.
"They think the man in the pub was Snape." I told Hagrid, who frowned in annoyance.
"Rubbish, wha' is it with those three." Hagrid replied sighing, as the three of us looked at each other.
"You don't think they're right?" Lisa asked nervously.
"No I don't." I replied firmly. "All year they've been on the Snape is evil train, and I...I just can't see it, especially after he sent me to the hospital wing the other day, if he was really after us he'd have sent us to dinner, not forced me to get better." I explained, and my friends nodded.
"Yeah, doesn't make sense."
"Should we...follow them?" He asked.
"No, I'll talk to Harry later, see what crazy plan they've come with now." I said, suddenly very tired of everything Harry and company had done. I turned back to Hagrid who was scolding himself "Hagrid?"
"Wha'" He jumped then turned to me. "Yeah?" He asked me, clearly concerned what Harry and the others were doing.
"You said something about drinks?" I asked, and he nodded.
"O' course, i got some o' the finest pumpkin juice, all from the pumpkins I harvested las fall." Hagrid explained, and Nodded.
"Good, I'll have one." I said, and Hagrid looked to Anthony and Lisa who both nodded.
"Here yeh are." He said, handing us mugs, and looking at the castle worriedly. "I hope they don' do summat stupid" He added, and I gave him a reassuring look.
"Don't worry, I'll find them later, and make sure Harry doesn't do anything...extreme."
The next time I saw Harry, Ron and Hermione was at dinner, and it was obvious that they were planning...something. All three wore pale, nervous, faces, and all of them ate dinner quickly and tried to leave without being seen.
I quickly got up, Lisa and Anthony giving me knowing looks, and followed them. Finally catching up to them in an empty corridor.
"What are you three up to?" I asked, and all three seemed to jump at my voice.
"Just...ah...going back to our common room." Harry said, and I instantly doubted that.
"What are you three planning?" I again asked, and I crossed my arms, and tapped my foot. The three of them seemed to shrink, and neither Ron, or Hermione looked at me. "I'm waiting." I said, and Harry finally sighed.
"We have to stop him Sarah." Harry replied firmly, and I rolled my eyes.
"I assume you mean Professor Snape." I said, and he nodded.
"Yeah, he, or Volde..."
"Don't say that name." I shrieked in horror, and Harry stopped, and again sighed.
"He, or You Know Who was the cloaked man, and Hagrid told him how to get by Fluffy...so the only way to stop him...is to get the stone first." Harry said, and my mood went from worried, and annoyed...to horrified instantly.
"You...you've got to be kidding me." I said, but the looks of the Gryffindor's made it clear, they intended to go down that trap door...tonight.
"We have no choice." Harry replied firmly.
"Yes you do." I replied, and Harry seemed stunned at the steel in my voice. "Stop acting like idiots, and let this whole thing go." I practically begged.
"Dumbledore's gone." Harry replied softly, and my eyes widened in shock.
"What?" I asked.
"He was called to the Ministry." Harry continued. "He...he can't protect us from him. I have no choice, we have no choice."
"Harry...Snape is not after that Stone." I replied surely.
"You heard what Hagrid said, you really think he told some random stranger how to get by Fluffy? No, all of this can't be a consdicne...it was Snape."
"Harry." I begged. "Please, I can't lose you." I noticed tears starting to roll down my face, and harry firm glare softened.
"We have t..."
"Please..."I begged, and there was silence in the hall. "Not again."
"...Fine." Harry said, and both Ron and Hermione looked at him in shock.
"But Harry." Ron tried to say, but Harry raised his hand.
"I promise...we won't go after the stone." Harry said, and I felt a huge weight lifted.
"Thank you...thank you." I said, engulfing Harry in a massive hug. "You'll see, tomorrow you'll see this was all nothing." I assured him, and he smiled.
"If you say so...know, we do need to get back to the common room." Harry said, and I looked for any signs he was lying...but he seemed genuine.
"Okay, I'll let you three go. Good night." I said, turning and heading back to dinner.
"Good night." Harry called, and I rounded a corner.
"Good night." Harry called, as he watched Sarah's back disappear around the corner.
"But Harry, what about..." Ron said in shock, but Harry instantly shushed him.
"Not here, common room." Harry said, and both Ron and Hermione nodded. The trio scurried through the corridors, past the Fat Lady, and into the empty common room.
"Where still going." Harry explained, guilt etched in his voice.
"But you just promised Sarah you're not going to." Hermione replied, and Harry gave a very small smirk.
"I said where not going after the stone, and where not." Harry began, and both Ron and Hermione looked at him in total confusion. "Where preventing someone else from getting the stone...technically something different." Harry explained, and Hermione gave him a disapproving look.
"You lied to her." She said, and Harry sighed.
"I did, but only because I had to."
"Had to?" Hermione asked, crossing her arms.
"Yes. Listen, I love my sister, but...she's stubborn. She's never going to admit Snape is helping Voldemort, and if she knew we were still going tonight, she'd tell." Harry explained.
"You don't know that." Hermione replied.
"She would." Harry replied firmly. "You've heard her, this whole year, no matter how much evidence we give her...she just doesn't accept the truth." Harry sighed, and Ron placed a understanding hand on his shoulder.
"To be honest, no one has." He said, and Harry nodded solemnly.
"I can't let Voldemort come back." Harry said firmly. "And if lying to her helps prevent it, then I had to."
Both Ron and Hermione were silent, but eventually nodded.
"Besides, it's probably better that she didn't know." Hermione admitted, and Harry nodded.
"If everything goes well, Snape will be outed, and Voldemort won't be able to come back." Harry said, trying to muster all the confidence he could.
"So, you yell at them yet?" Lisa asked as I sat back down at the dinner table.
"Yeah, I think I've talked some sense into them." I replied, and both Anthony and Lisa raised there eyebrows.
"Really?" Anthony asked.
"Really...at least I hope so." I said, and turned back to my meal.
"What were they going to do?" Lisa asked.
"Something really stupid." I replied, and Lisa couldn't help but smirk.
"How stupid?"
"Worse than anything they've done before." I admitted, and Lisa shook her head.
"Gryffindor's." She said sighing.
"Yeah, at least I was able to talk them out of it..." I replied.
"Are you sure?" Anthony asked, and I nodded.
"Yeah, unless Harry lied to me, and he's never been a good liar...Anyways." I said, changing the subject. "How does everything think they did? My only worry is Transfiguration..."
Quirinus Quirrell stared at the mirror before him. No doubt it was an...ancient relic, something clever enough that only Dumbledore could come up with. Damn that man, always the tricky one, always watching him, always messing with his plans. Not to mention the man's allies, including the dreaded traitor Severus Snape...damn both of them, damn this entire school.
He'd been staring into this dreaded thing for hours, he saw him presenting the stone to his master, to his master being restored to full power, to himself be rewarded with power...with respect that he long sought, he was so close, but...how to get it.
He glared at the mirror, tempted to break it, but dare he risk it...what if that lost the stone forever? How could he get it?
The sound of footsteps behind him made him smirk, and he turned to face the fool who stood before him, sure enough his master was correct...
"You!" The foolish, so called boy who lived, gasped, the shock evident on his face, and Quirrell couldn't help but smirk.
"Me," Quirrell replied, enjoying the boys reaction. "I wondered whether I'd be meeting you here, Potter."
"But I thought — Snape —" The boys replied, and Quirrell could help but notice the irony, Potter was the stutter now.
"Severus?" He laughed, no sign of his usual fear present. "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?"
Quirrell watched as the boys seemed to take it all in, he enjoyed it, watching the shock, the realization that he'd been so easily fooled.
"But Snape tried to kill me!" The boy accused, and Quirrell couldn't help himself.
"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."
"Snape was trying to save me?" The boy asked, shock still prevalent in his voice.
"Of course," Quirrell replied 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 finger, and ropes sprung out of nowhere, and the foolish boy was contained.
"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."
"You let the troll in?" The boy asked, and Quirrell had to admit, the question were becoming repetitive.
"Certainly. I have a special gift with trolls — you must have seen what I did to the one in the chamber back there? Unfortunately, while everyone else was running around looking for it, Snape, who already suspected me, went straight to the third floor to head me off — and not only did my troll fail to beat you to death, that three-headed dog didn't even manage to bite Snape's leg off properly."
"Sarah...Sarah trusted you!" Harry accused, the boys shock now replaced by anger. "She said you were her favorite Professors."
"Yes." Quirrell admitted, and for the first time a glimpse of the normal Quirrell returned. "Obviously she was deceived as well. You couldn't imagine the...details the girl has provided, she was quite useful."
"You used her!"
"Unfortunately, I did. Though I did grow to...appreciate her. She was the only student in the whole school who was endearing to me, the only one to not once laugh at my supposed stutter, or take my classes as a joke, to show me respect. Even If you must die, I do hope she can live, that my lord...is merciful. He has told me she may live...if she accepts her fate, her new life of service. " Quirrell explained, looking down at the ground. "Enough talk..." Quirrell suddenly looked up again. "Now, wait quietly, Potter. I need to examine this interesting mirror."
Quirrell turned back and gazed at the mirror, his annoyance returning.
"This mirror is the key to finding the Stone," Quirrell explained, as he tapped 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…"
Quirrell began to inspect the mirror closer...how? HOW?
"I saw you and Snape in the forest —" The boy suddenly blurted out.
"Yes," Quirrell replied idly, walking around the mirror. "He was on to me by that time, trying to find out how far I'd got. He suspected me all along. Tried to frighten me — as though he could, when I had Lord Voldemort on my side…"
Quirrell finished his walk around the mirror, then once again stared into it.
"I see the Stone… I'm presenting it to my master… but where is it?"
He heard the boy struggling against his ropes, and smirked, the boy as persistent, he had to give him that.
"But Snape always seemed to hate me so much." The boy again said suddenly, and Quirrell had to resist the urge to roll his eyes.
"Oh, he does," Quirrell replied casually. , "heavens, yes. He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn't you know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead."
"Why didn't he hate Sarah then?" The boy asked.
"No idea, maybe he saw the same thing's I saw in her. The desire to learn, to grow. That clearly she was far more talented than you, the ability to show respect to superiors, to show respect to me, that she would have been a much less...annoying foe."
"What about a few days ago, I heard you sobbing — I thought Snape was threatening you…"
For the first time, Quirrell didn't look angry, or annoyed, he looked scared.
"Sometimes," he explained, "I find it hard to follow my master's instructions — he is a great wizard and I am weak —"
"You mean he was there in the classroom with you?" The boy gasped.
"He is with me wherever I go," Quirrell replied softly "I met him when I traveled around the world. A foolish young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it… Since then, I have served him faithfully, although I have let him down many times. He has had to be very hard on me." Quirrell shivered suddenly. "He does not forgive mistakes easily. When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts, he was most displeased. He punished me… decided he would have to keep a closer watch on me…"
Quirrell turned back to the mirror, confusion, and fear of failure not settling in. "Damn." He said under his breath
"I don't understand… is the Stone inside the mirror? Should I break it?"
He noticed the boy struggling, how he fell over in his vein attempt to escape, but even the boys pitiful resistance couldn't bring him joy...he needed the stone.
"What does this mirror do? How does it work? Help me, Master!"
"Use the boy… Use the boy…" His master answered, and Quirrell immediately nodded.
"Yes..." He whispered before turning to Harry. "Yes — Potter — come here."
Quirrell clapped his hands, and the rope's disappeared, and the boy struggled to stand.
"Come here," Quirrell repeated. "Look in the mirror and tell me what you see."
The boy approached, and Quirrell slowly backed up as to be a safe distance, he rounded the boy, blocking his escape, as the boy approached the mirror.
"Well?" Quirrell asked impatiently. "What do you see?"
"I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore," The boy said "I — I've won the house cup for Gryffindor."
"Get out of the way," Quirrell said moving Harry a safe distance away with wandless magic, and stared into the mirror again.
"He lies… He lies…" His master's voice boomed, and Quirrell turned around and glared at Harry.
"Don't take another step Potter!" Quirrell shouted, and Harry stopped instantly. "Tell me the truth! What did you just see?"
"Let me speak to him… face-to-face…" His master commanded, and Quirrell nervous face returned.
"Master, you are not strong enough!" Quirrell replied.
"I have strength enough… for this…" His master replied, and Quirrell needed no further direction.
Quirrell slowly unwrapped the turban from the back of his head. Harry watched, a mix of horror, and curiously keeping him rooted to the ground. As soon as it was off, Quirrell stuffed the turban into his robe pocket, then slowly turned, and allow the boy who lived, to meet his master.
"Harry Potter…"Lord Voldemort whispered, and the boy couldn't respond, in fact he couldn't even move.
"See what I have become?" Voldemort explained. "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…you and your sister, 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?"
Harry finally was able to move again, and stumbled backwards
"Don't be a fool," Voldemort chastised. "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!" Harry shouted at him, and Voldemort smirked.
"How touching…" Voldemort 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!" Harry roared, and tried to run.
"STOP HIM!" Voldemort commanded, and with the snap of his fingers, walls of fire blocked the exit. "NOW GET THE STONE!" Voldemort ordered.
Quirrell pulled out his wand and pointed his hand at Harry.
"Accio Sorcerer's Stone!" Quirrell shouted, the stone didn't budge.
"FOOL! THE STONE IS IMMUME TO SUCH SPELLS!" Voldemort roared at Quirrell.
"I'm sorry master." Quirrell replied nervously then shot a curse at Harry, who barely managed to dodge it.
"GET IT! GET IT!" Voldemort commanded, and Quirrell launched a endless wave of spell after spell, only stopping if Harry got to close. He seemed to notice this and tried to get closer, only for Quirrell to quickly back up.
"No, stay back." Quirrell said, seemingly losing composure anytime he got to close. So Harry kept zig zagging, trying to stay close enough to do something, to keep the man off balance.
"HURRY YOU FOOL THE STONE! GET THE STO..."
"Quirinus!" A new voice shouted, and both Professor, and student turned to see who it was.
"Professor Dumbledore." Harry said in relief, and sure enough, clad in purple robes, and half-moon spectacles was the esteemed Hogwarts headmaster.
Harry ran over to him, and Dumbledore waisted no time in stepping in front of Harry, and pulling out his wand.
"What have to done to yourself Quirinus?" Dumbledore asked in pity, and the man just growled in disgust.
"KILL HIM!" Voldemort ordered, and the two Professors launched spells at one another, a brilliant display that memorized Harry.
"You won't stop us old man!" Quirrell said as there two spells met.
The two staff member's dueled, but it was becoming quickly apparent that Quirrell was no match, not even with the presence of Lord Voldemort to guide him.
"M...Master? What do I do?" Quirrell asked, realizing that he would lost this duel soon enough.
"We, no you, have failed Quirrell." Voldemort said in disgust, and Quirrell began to panic.
"P...please master. I am loyal!" Quirrell begged, and the dark lord growled in response.
"We shall see...meet me where we first met, many moons ago." Voldemort said, and Quirrell started to feel his master...leave him.
"Master?" He asked, feeling the back of his head become lighter.
"Use this opportunity the great Lord Voldemort gives you to escape." Lord Voldemort commanded.
"But...Dumbledo..."
"NOW!" His master roared, and with all his fury the ghostlike presence of Voldemort rushed towards Harry.
"Harry, get behind me!." Dumbledore ordered, as he tried to block the Dark Lord's spirit, which forced him to disengage Quirrell.
Quirrell understood, and also disengaged as his master's sprit went through Harry, causing the boy to faint. Dumbledore rushed over, worried for his student, giving him the opportune moment. He sprinted past the old man and hurt child, past the troll, and devil's snare, past the sleeping dog, and past the gates, and off the Hogwarts grounds.
And with a pop, Quirinus Quirrell, had escaped.