Chapter 16:

Down the Trapdoor

Dinner the following evening was tense and silent. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in a little cluster away from the other Gryffindors, who were still actively ignoring them.

Harry couldn't eat, as there was a tight knot in his stomach. He could tell Ron and Hermione felt the same. Ron, who normally went back for seconds, was picking idly at his food.

Harry kept sneaking glances at the Great Table. Professor Snape was staring at him. It wasn't quite the look of hatred Harry had become used to, but those dark eyes gave him a chill down his back. Snape suspected something.

For once, Harry wasn't bothered by the fact that no one was speaking to him, Hermione and Ron. It gave them a chance to plan. Because it was time to act.

"Are you sure about this?" Ron whispered as they walked to their common room.

"What if we're caught?" Hermione asked nervously. "We could be expelled."

"I don't care," Harry retorted. "Don't you remember hearing about what it was like when Voldemort was in power?"

"Shh!" Ron cautioned.

"If he comes back, being expelled won't matter then," Harry said. "There won't be any Hogwarts to be expelled from. If he gets the Stone, it'll be over."

"You mean…?" Ron breathed.

"I do. If he could have killed us in the forest, I think he would have."

The trio were the only ones left in the corridor. A pair of voices reached their ears.

"B-b-but, Severus, I really d-don't-"

"Yes, you do, Quirrell. You know very well what I mean."

It was Snape.

Ron sucked in air and grabbed Harry and Hermione, pulling them quickly behind a statue as the voices drew closer.

The Potions Master swept down the hall with Quirrell directly on his heels. Snape's face was red and he looked ready to commit first degree murder.

Harry flattened himself against the statue.

"I have nothing more to discuss on the subject," Snape growled. "We shouldn't even be speaking of the Stone where students could hear."

"But, S-Severus-"

Snape suddenly twisted around and grabbed Quirrell's robes, pushing him against the wall. Quirrell's turban just stopped his head from slamming into the stone.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stopped breathing.

Snape moved in close to Quirrell and lowered his voice to an ice cold whisper.

"Not another word," Snape hissed, pointing a finger at him. "You don't want me as your enemy, Quirinus. And if you forget it, we might have to have another little chat soon, once you decide where your loyalties lie."

Snape dropped Quirrell's robes and strode off. Quirrell stood quite still, then he straightened his turban and also left.

Harry crept out from behind the statue. He looked back at Hermione and Ron. Their faces were pale, but their lips were set, eyes bright.

"You're right, Harry," Hermione said.

"We'll go tonight," Ron said firmly. "Better bring your invisibility cloak."

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Snape's worry did not decrease as one day turned into another. Even his threat of being thrown out of Hogwarts hadn't had any effect on Harry Potter. The boy was almost as stubborn as Snape was, which made Snape aggravated. If being expelled or punished made no impression on the boy, it could only mean the situation was serious.

Snape spoke to no one, ate little at dinner and kept his eyes intently on the Gryffindor table. He was inattentive to everything else but that one black-haired boy sitting off with his two friends. Just the three of them, three small children plotting something very dangerous. Something Snape had to prevent.

Snape was on his way to his office when Quirrell cornered him. Snape had no patience left. He couldn't deal with the stuttering professor and told him off, sincerely hoping he wouldn't have to deal with him ever again.

The rest of the evening Snape spent pacing the stone floor of his office, letting the candles on his desk burn low.

What was Harry Potter up to? He already knew about the trapdoor and the three-headed dog. Was it possible he also knew of the Philosopher's Stone? Of course it was. Harry was that kind of boy. So what did Harry want with it?

Snape continued to ruminate even after the candles had become little stubs of wax.

Then it hit him. Harry thought he, Snape, wanted to steal the Stone. And Harry was going to prevent the theft.

Snape swore to himself and threw on his outer cloak.

Dumbledore hadn't returned. His office was empty.

On the urge of a sudden impulse, Snape took a shortcut and went down a few staircases.

Quirrell's room was vacant.

Snape's heart skipped a beat. His suspicions were confirmed.

He ran to the owlery and threw open the doors, startling the few owls who were not out hunting. Screeches and indignant hoots greeted him. Snape barely paused to get his wind back.

"Hummel!" he called.

A ruffle of feathers and the large barn owl was perched at his elbow. Snape hastily scribbled out a note and tied it to the owl's leg.

"Find Albus Dumbledore," he told the owl. "He's somewhere between here and the Ministry of Magic. Fly as fast as you can."

The owl took off immediately.

Snape retraced his steps. His path took him by the corridor where the entrance to the Gryffindor common room was. The Fat Lady was snoozing in her frame. As Snape passed, she startled awake.

"Who's that? Oh, Professor," she yawned. "Isn't it late?"

"Very," Snape replied, ready to move on. Then he stopped. "Did any students leave the common room within the last few hours?"

The Fat Lady shook her head. "No, I don't think so- but I was bothered a little earlier when my portrait swung open for no reason. I didn't see anyone- why, is something wrong, Professor?"

Snape was already halfway down the corridor. He hiked up his robes and ran, his feet echoing in the silence.

There was no time to lose. Every second counted. He couldn't stop, not even to get backup. They could already be dead.

Snape reached the third floor and he bolted for the forbidden corridor, only pausing to get a flaming torch off the wall.

His worst fears were realized. The door stood wide open.

Fluffy was on his feet, all three heads growling and jaws dripping drool. The trapdoor between his paws was broken and shattered, and on the floor lay a harp and Harry Potter's invisibility cloak.

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