CHAPTER TWELVE: SORRY NEVILLE
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ALEX WAS CALLED UP to McGonagall's desk after class, which got a collective 'oohs' from her classmates. She shook her head and once class ended made her way up to McGonagall, who was seated at her desk still. She watched all the other students leave before she looked up at Alex.

"Miss Thornbury-" She paused. "Would you rather me refer to you as Miss Thornbury or Riddle while we're talking privately."

She shrugged. "I don't mind Professor." She told her. "Um... did you need something?"

She nodded. "How are your other classes going?"

She looked confused, but just answered the questions anyways. "They're fine." She said.

She gave Alex a warm smile. "You know, I'm going to be honest with you, I was a bit lenient when Headmaster Dumbledore mentioned you'd be joining us for this school year, but I am beyond impressed." She told her. "You're exceeding in transfiguration all your professors seem generally impressed with the work you have given in, despite your situation."

"Thank you," Alex said, unsure of where she was going with this.

She nodded. "You're very welcome." She said. "However, I have noticed some similarities between the homework of yours and Mr. Weasleys, so I have to ask, have you been giving him answers?"

Alex shook her head quickly. "No, I promise I haven't. I do help him a lot, he seems to struggle in your class and I understand if, so we do homework together sometimes."

She nodded. "Okay, I believe you, don't make me regret it." She said. "You can be on your way now."

She nodded slowly and left the classroom. Despite McGonagall's suspicions, Alex couldn't help but smile. Nobody had ever complimented her like that, nobody had ever been impressed by anything she did. If anything, she had always disappointed the people in her life.

Tianna had been waiting for her outside McGonagall's classroom. They started to walk beside one another. "What was that about?" She asked.

Alex just shook her head. "I think she thought that Ron had been cheating off my work, it's not that big of a deal." She said.

"Has he been?"

She shrugged. "He's tried but he makes it pretty obvious when he's trying too." She took a deep breath and looked over at Tianna. "Do you want to come with me tonight?"

"Where?"

"With Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I'm meeting them by the Gryffindor Common Room tonight." She explained. "They wanna try and get past the trap door."

She thought about it. "Would they want me there?"

"I dunno doesn't matter to me." She admitted. "I've been telling you about it since I was dragged in so why not?"

She gave Alex a small smile. "Will it be dangerous?"

She shrugged. "Probably."

"Then I'm in."

—

Alex and Tianna made their way in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room. "They should be around here somewhere," Alex whispered to her. Suddenly she heard footsteps and she could only pray it was the other three.

When Ron came into view she finally sighed with relief, they paused, seeing Tianna. "Why is she here?" Ron blurted out, getting a nudge on the side of Hermione.

"I told her- she knows and she's only here to help," Alex explained.

Ron stared at her and sighed. "Bloody Neville almost got us caught."

"What do you mean?" Alex asked.

He looked at her. "He wanted to stop us, didn't want us to get into trouble again so Hermione... did something to him."

Her eyes shifted to Hermione. "I just petrified him, he'll be okay." She explained.

She nodded slowly, trying to believe what Hermione said. How did Neville even get wrapped up in all of this?

—

The four of them made it to the trap door, they were underneath Harry's invisibility cloak. They stared at the three-headed dog, and Tianna, finally realized Alex was telling the truth.

"Wait a minute," Harry said as he slipped the cloak off. "He's snoring." He said as he continued to look around. "Snape's already been here, he's put a spell on the harp." The harp was playing soft music.

They stepped closer to the dog and Ron groaned. "Ew, it's got horrible breath."

Its paw was covering the trap door. "We have to move the paw," Alex said quietly.

"What?" Ron asked.

"Come on," Harry told him as he kneeled and pushed the paw over with the help of the others, being careful not to wake Fluffy up.

He lifted the trap door and they all looked down. "It's so dark," Tianna whispered.

"I'll go first." Harry volunteered. "Don't follow until I say something. If something bad happens, get yourself out. Does it seem a bit quiet to you?"

Alex's eyes widened as Hermione spoke up. "The harp? It stopped playing." She pointed out. Suddenly, drool dripped onto Ron's shoulder.

"Ew!" He exclaimed. "Yuck!"

They all looked up and Fluffy was staring at them, he let out a small growl before Harry leaped into the trap door. "Jump!"

The others quickly followed after him. The dogs started barking and trying to follow them. Alex screamed as she fell but something broke her fall. She looked around, it was some sort of plant.

"Woah..." Tianna mumbled.

"We're lucky this plant is here," Ron said, looking around. The plant started moving and wrapping around their arms and legs.

Alex struggled to try and get the plant off of her. "Stop moving! This is Devils Snare. You have to relax." Hermione told them. "If you don't, it'll only kill you faster."

Alex continued to struggle as she looked over at Tianna for approval, she just nodded to what Hermione was saying.

"Kill us faster!" Ron exclaimed. "Now I can relax!"

Hermione rolled her eyes as suddenly she fell. "Hermione!" Harry yelled.

"Now what are we going to do?" Ron asked, struggling the most out of all of them.

"Just relax!" Hermione shouted from below. Tianna began to relax and she was the next one to fall under, then Alex, following both Hermione and Tianna's move.

"Where are you guys?" Harry called out.

Hermione just shook her head. "Do what I say! Just trust me!"

Harry fell under a few seconds later. "Harry!" Ron cried out.

Harry quickly stood up from the ground. Hermione was grabbing her wrist "You okay?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded. "Yes! I'm fine!"

Ron continued to scream as Hermione looked up. "He's not relaxing is he?"

Alex looked up and in an attempt to calm him down, she spoke. "Ron, you need to calm down, listen to Hermione."

Hermione looked around. "I remember learning something in Herbology! Devils Snare, Devils Snare, it's deadly fun but will sulk in the sun!" She exclaimed. "That's it! Devils Snare hates sunlight."

Hermione quickly put her wand up, casting Lumos which created light from her wand, killing the Devils Snare, Ron came falling down. "Ron you okay?" Harry asked as Alex helped him to his feet.

He nodded. "Luckily we didn't panic." He said.

Harry rolled his eyes. "You're lucky Hermione pays attention in Herbology."

They made their way through a door into a large room. Above them was something flying. "I've never seen birds like these," Hermione whispered.

"They aren't birds, they're keys." Harry pointed out.

"Flying keys?" Alex questioned. "For what?"

Harry pointed toward a door. "The door." He said. There was a broom in front of them.

"What is this about?" Tianna asked.

"I don't know," Harry admitted.

Alex pointed up in the air. "Look at that one." She pointed out. "It looks different, its wing is broken."

Harry's face dropped as he looked around. "What's wrong Harry?" Tianna asked.

"It's too simple."

"Oh, come on! Go on Harry!" Ron exclaimed. "If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century!"

Harry nodded and the moment he touched the broom, all the flying keys flew toward him, besides the one they needed. He flew up in the air, the keys still swarming him as he tried to catch the key they needed. He grabbed a hold of it and flew down. "Catch the key!" He shouted, tossing it to Ron, who caught it.

They ran and tried to unlock the door. "Hurry up!" Ron shouted. They opened the door and rushed into the next room, holding it open for Harry, who flew through the door and they slammed it shut behind him. The sound of the keys slamming into the door was heard.

The next room was larger, full of large statues and a fancier floor. "I don't like this," Hermione whispered. "I don't like this at all."

Tianna nodded. "Me either."

"Where are we?" Harry asked. "A graveyard?"

Ron slowly shook his head. "Not a graveyard." He said as he walked around to get a better look. "It's a chess board."

Suddenly the lights became brighter and Alex could see, each individual piece of the chess board. The five of them walked toward the line of paws and their swords pulled out, stopping them from even trying to leave. They slowly backed away and the swords were put away.

"What are we going to do?" Hermione asked, exchanging looks with them, specifically Ron.

"It's obvious isn't it?" Ron asked. "We're going to play our way across the room! Okay, Harry, you take the empty bishops square. Hermione you'll be the queen sides castle, Alex you'll take that empty pawn square and as for me, I'll be a night."

Tianna looked up at him. "What about me?"

Ron looked around, practically shooing her off. "That's the only empty squares. You can stand aside." Tianna frowned slightly but nodded.

They all got into position in their individual squares. "What happens now?" Alex asked.

"Well white makes the first move," Ron said, taking a deep breath. "And then we play."

Alex watched one of the whites pawns move forward two squares. Hermione's eyes widened, "Ron, you don't think this is like real wizards chess, do you?"

He bit his lip and looked around. He pointed at one of the pawns. "You there! D5!" The pawn moved forward two squares and the white paws hit it with its sword, destroying it. Alex's eyes widened in fear. "Yes Hermione, I think this is going to be exactly like wizard chess."

The game continued, pieces getting destroyed one after another as Ron picked where each piece went. Tianna just watched and Alex tried to stay clear of the falling rubble.

It was awhile until finally Ron froze and realization came to his face. At first, he didn't look like he was going to say anything, but Harry did. "Wait a minute..." Harry mumbled, looking up at Ron.

"You understand right Harry?" Ron asked. "Once I make my move, the queen will take me. Then you're free to check the king."

"No! Ron! No!" Harry shouted.

Alex glanced at Hermione, confused about what Ron was getting to, but Hermione looked just as clueless as she did. "What is it?" Hermione asked.

"He's going to sacrifice himself!"

"No, you can't!" Hermione yelled. "There must be another way!"

Ron sighed deeply. "Do you want to stop Snape from getting that stone or not?" Ron asked. "Harry, it's you that has to go on. Not me, not Hermione, not Alex or Tianna, you. I know it."

"Ron..." Alex started to say but went quiet when Ron glared at her. She wanted to stop him. He couldn't do this.

Harry just nodded slightly and Ron took a deep breath, gripping onto his knight. "Knight to H3." He said the knight began to move toward the queen, stopping at H3. "Check..." Alex's heart was pounding as the queen moved closer to Ron. The sword was pulled out and it stabbed the knight, causing Ron to tumble to the ground with a scream.

"Ron!" Alex screamed, both she and Hermione were about to rush toward him but Harry stopped them.

"No!" He told them. "Don't move! Don't forget, we're still playing." They stopped. Harry moved toward the king. "Checkmate!" The king dropped his sword in front of Harry. Then the three of them rushed toward Ron, followed by Tianna.

"Take care of Ron," Harry told them. "Then go to the owlery and send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right, I have to go on."

Hermione sighed softly. "You'll be okay Harry." She reassured him. "You're a great wizard, you really are."

"Not as good as you," Harry mumbled.

She scoffed lightly, but a small smile was on her face. "Me?" She questioned. "Books and cleverness, there are more important things; friendship and bravery. And Harry, just be careful."

The three of them watched Harry walk off and once he was out of sight, Alex looked back down at Ron. He had a small cut on her face and he was covered in soot. She sighed softly at the sight of him, but she understood why he did it. Either way, she couldn't help but be worried for her friend.

authors note

i love this chapter so much. just shows how much alex has grown to care for ron.