It was decided that Harry would focus on Quidditch, with Ron acting as his personal cheerleader, while Setta and Hermione kept a firm eye on Professor Snape. The potions master and Head of Slytherin House didn't seem to suspect a thing, but Hermione and Setta knew they would have to be very careful in order to be successful in this operation. Using the invisibility cloak, the trailed the greasy-haired professor, but nothing untoward seemed to be taking place, much to their mutual annoyance.

January bled into February, and the day after Valentine's Day was marked by the Great Hall boasting streamers in pink, red, and white. Setta and Hermione didn't mind the decorations, but could see that Harry and Ron were fighting to urge not to vomit up their breakfast. Both girls twittered and tutted at the boys' antics.

"Honestly, you two," Hermione said, shaking her head as she brushed away a heart decoration attempting to invade her porridge. "It's not too terrible."

"Easy for you to say," Ron muttered, his mouth full of sausages and rashers. "Girls are supposed to like pink."

Setta promptly kicked Ron's shin from underneath the table. "What a negative stereotype," she said hotly, as Ron bemoaned his sore leg. "I don't want to hear you saying something like that again, Ronald Weasley. Your mum raised you better than that, about how to be more sensitive and considerate and caring."

"She's right, mate," Harry put in, straightening himself up to make a grab another piece of toast, on which he slathered a healthy amount of butter and blackcurrant jam.

Setta primly picked up her cutlery again, and stabbed at one of her sausages, proceeding to cut it into bite-sized pieces with her knife. Surrounding the sausages were potatoes and fried eggs, all of which were Setta's favorite breakfast items. "What we really have to worry about here is Fred and George," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

Ron nodded, agreeing with that, turning his head to the opposite end of the Gryffindor table, where Fred and George were sitting, dressed in warm clothes, and chatting animatedly with their best friend, Lee Jordan. "Right," he said quietly, considering it, and shoving another rasher into his mouth. "First Hogsmeade weekend for them."

"You know they'll be buying pranks from Zonko's," Hermione said softly, shaking his head. "I know they'll be giving Peeves a run for his Galleons because of their shopping."

Setta turned and looked at Hermione. "You don't think Filch will catch them sneaking dung bombs and whatnot into the castle?"

Ron shook his head. "Nah. They've been practicing Concealment Charms."

"Underage magic," Harry reminded him.

"Not within the wards," Hermione said softly. "If they get into the wards quickly and cast them, then things might go off without a hitch."

"Let's just hope Filch or Mrs. Norris aren't patrolling the entrance to the school," Ron muttered with a shudder.

"You know he will be," Setta told him. "Especially with it being Fred and George's first foray into the village itself. You know he'll be hyper vigilant."

The library called Setta and Hermione's names once the third-years and above had cleared out, and Harry had secured permission to fly around the Quidditch pitch, underneath the watchful eye of Madam Hooch. Ron had decided to watch Harry practicing his Seeker reflexes, anything to get out of studying, and Hermione and Setta had merely rolled their eyes at that. They certainly wouldn't hold his hand when their final examinations came up.

In the late-afternoon, all the students who went to Hogsmeade returned, and everyone gathered in the Great Hall as scheduled. Sett and Hermione held their breath as Fred and George moved to join them, and Harry and Ron seemed to be at the edge of their seats. Headmaster Dumbledore signaled for the feast to begin, and wondrous platters of various foods appeared before them all, and it was still quite a marvel to behold.

"It was amazing, especially because the snow was still around," Fred reported, serving himself a generous helping of mashed potatoes.

"Honeydukes was mobbed, but that's quite typical, really," George explained, reaching for a gravy boat. "We got you all something."

Setta crossed her arms, her plate of roast chicken momentarily forgotten. "Oh?" she asked. "Is it something that will get house points taken by Filch?"

Hermione pursed her lips, moving her smothered pork chops around her plate. "Please don't tell me it's on the banned items list."

"Now, now, you wee hens," George consoled.

"No need to fret," Fred continued, reaching into his pocket and producing a rather small parcel, before he took out his wand. "Finite," he uttered, and it grew in size to around a small table, and he looked quite pleased with himself.

George reached out and took ahold of the parcel, opened it, and proceeded to hand out various purchases, all from Honeydukes. "Treacle fudge for Harry," he said, and Harry's eyes brightened as he took ahold of it. "Cauldron Cakes for Setta... Drooble's for Ron, and Sugar Quills for our dear Hermione," he finished, and handed off the sweets in turn.

"And that's not even the best part," Fred said persuasively, as George re-shrunk the bag and put it into his own pocket. "We saw Percy at Madam Puddifoot's!"

"At where?" Harry asked, and Ron nodded.

"It's a lovely tea parlor," Hermione said fondly.

"They do it up for every holiday... Dad took Mum there for Valentine's Day their seventh-year, you know, because she finally agreed to go out with him," Setta said softly.

"Anyhow," George went on in a sing-song voice, "Percy was there was a chit!"

"Please," Setta said, clicking her tongue. "Kindly use a more attractive word."

"Perhaps 'young woman' would be more appropriate," Hermione put in.

"Who was he with, then?" Ron asked, practically bouncing up and down on the bench.

"Tell us everything!" Harry begged.

"We couldn't see her face," Fred said, his tone riddled with disappointment.

"All we could make out is that she had long, blonde hair," George went on.

"It was different than all the other girls in Gryffindor who are blonde, so we know that she's a blonde from another house," Fred concluded.

"I don't see much of Percy, other than those times where he has to walk us back to our common room, and that was mainly because of the troll," Ron replied.

"And, if she's not a Gryffindor, we wouldn't have seen them studying in the common room itself," Harry put in.

"They likely would study in the library, then," Hermione sniffed.

"Not that you'd ever see them do so, since the four of you barely ever study as it is," Setta said rather bluntly.

"Oi!" George complained.

Fred rolled his eyes at her. "I'll have you know that we have two more years before our OWL's, thank you very much, Rosetta."

Setta gritted her teeth. "Don't call me that," she growled, her magic rippling so dramatically that it came onto the surface of her skin.

Hermione pressed a hand onto Setta's shoulder, calming her down. "And the pair of you should know better than to gossip about your own bother," she scolded.

"It's likely why Percy hasn't said anything to you about this potential girlfriend of his. Until or unless he decides to do so, it's nether of your business," Setta said primly.

"You really should respect your brother's privacy, all of you," Hermione put in.

"Come off it, Hermione," Ron whined.

"Don't listen to them," Harry urged his brothers. "Tell us more."

Setta turned to Hermione and rolled her eyes. "Absolutely incorrigible."

"No need to inform me of that very obvious fact," Hermione replied.

~*~

Sunday nights in the Great Hall always boasted a plethora of roasted meats for dinner—roast beef, roast turkey, roast chicken, and roast duck, among others. Ron always helped himself to either giant turkey legs or small roasted chicken legs, while Hermione delicately ate with her knife and fork, something Setta did as well. They would frequently roll their eyes at Ron insistence to eat with his hands, while Harry attempted, and mostly failed, to play the peace-maker between them all.

"I think we should go and see Hagrid," Hermione whispered to Harry and Ron that evening, the latter of whom was chewing his chicken legs happily.

Setta nodded, having formulated the plan alongside Hermione. "It's a good plan," she went on, as Harry took a bite of his mashed potatoes. "I mean, you know as well as I do that Hagrid can't keep a secret. Maybe there's something he can tell us, especially given the mysterious object he picked up for Dumbledore at Gringotts."

"Which we've guessed to be the Sorcerer's Stone," Hermione put in.

"And it likely is," Setta finished.

Harry considered this for a moment, while Ron just kept on eating. "I think the cloak can fit four people under it," he said quietly.

Setta grinned at him. "We'll meet in the common room after curfew and go then."

On schedule, they trooped down to the common room, with all of them wearing much warmer clothes due to the late-winter temperatures. Harry had the cloak draped over one arm, and they all put themselves beneath it before slipping out of the Gryffindor common room. Stealing down the corridor and towards the staircase, they made their way through the silent castle—mercifully not running into Filch or Mrs. Norris—and towards the Entrance Hall, which led them directly to the main doors and out onto the ground of the castle.

Once they'd cleared the stone steps of the school, Harry took off the cloak and pocketed it, before they all made a run for Hagrid's hut. It was dark and cold, and Setta was more than happy for the invention of jumpers and warm boots as they ran. There was no snow on the ground, thankfully, but freezing rain had occurred the last several nights, making it difficult to have flying lessons during daylight hours.

They clamored onto the rickety steps leading to Hagrid's hut and rapped on the door, hoping that the giant was in. There was a rumble from within and the door came open, bathing them in light, and the half-giant stood there, gazing down at them all.

"Oh, 'ello," he said cordially. "I'm afraid I'm not up to havin' visitors this weekend. Perhaps you could come back another time?" he asked quickly, and moved to shut the door.

"We know about the Sorcerer's Stone," the quartet said in unison.

Hagrid let out a small sigh before pulling the door open again. "Oh," he said in defeat, before stepping back and away from the door. "Well, you may as well come in."

Setta, Harry, Ron, and Hermione trooped inside the hut, with Hermione and Setta sharing a large upholstered chair beside the fireplace, and Harry and Ron taking the bench along the wall. Fang, Hagrid's dog, bounded up to Harry and Ron, subsequently delivering sloppy kisses onto Ron's cheek and drooling on Harry's pants.

"What exactly do yer know abou' th' stone, then?" Hagrid asked.

Setta noticed that Hagrid was wearing a horribly-patterned apron and matching oven mitts, but thought it was too late to be baking something. "Well, we figured out that the headmaster trusted you to bring it from Gringotts and to the castle," she said softly.

Hagrid made a face, obviously wondering how they'd guessed that, but decided against asking her directly. "No one knows where it is, except me and ol' Dumbledore." He cut himself off then with a shake of his head. "I shouldn't have told yer tha'..."

"We think Snape wants to try and steal it," Harry said then, wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery, before they were caught out of bed.

"Codswallop," Hagrid said, shaking his head at them all. "Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher, loyal to th' school and to Dumbledore. Besides, he wouldn't want anythin' to do with th' stone in th' first place."

"Well, it certainly is valuable," Hermione said from beside Setta. "I read about it in the library with Setta, and we found out all about Nicholas Flamel. Even if Snape isn't interested in stealing the stone, someone apparently wants it, considering someone broke into Gringotts to try and find it."

"It was all over The Daily Prophet," Setta continued. "I mean, we know good and well that the paper is a rag, but they have to be right some of the time. By process of elimination, it had to have been an attempted theft on the stone, wasn't it?"

Hagrid sighed. "It was," he said, and shook his head, obviously wishing that he could stop revealing information like that. "Thankfully Fluffy's guardin' it."

"Fluffy?!" Ron demanded.

"That thing has a name?!" Hermione cried out.

"O' course 'e's got a name—he's mine!" Hagrid declared. "Won it off a gentleman I met down in th' pub. Loaned him to Dumbledore to protect th' stone..."

"Protect?" Harry asked.

"So, you're saying it actually needs protecting?" Setta asked, inching forward.

Hagrid's eyes widened then. "I shouldn't 'ave told yer that... No more questions! Don't ask any more questions!"

The half-giant turned and bent to look into a pot in the fireplace, which he opened, bringing out a brown, oblong-shaped thing, which made him gasp as he carried it past the quartet and towards the large table in the center of the room. Scrambling to follow, Setta, Harry, Ron and Hermione all grouped around the table, watching as Hagrid rested the object—smooth-looking to the touch and reflecting the light of the hut marvelously—on a large dishtowel.

"Hagrid, what is that?" Harry asked softly.

"I know what that is!" Ron declared, his excitement turning to curiosity as he turned to look up at Hagrid then. "But, Hagrid, wherever did you get it?"

"I won it!" Hagrid said, almost as if that was an answer for everything, sitting down at the head of the table. "Down at th' pub. Gentleman I won it off of seemed to want to get rid o' it right quick..."

Everyone peered closer as the shell was suddenly pierced, a crack forming along the center of it, which grew in size until whatever lay within burst forth, scattering pieces of what turned out to be an egg all across the table and the small hut. From the egg came forth a sea-green creature, with intelligent-looking yellow eyes, leading Hagrid to gasp fondly.

"Is that...a dragon?" Hermione asked.

Setta gave a short nod. "Seems to be."

"That's not just a dragon," Ron said, clearly impressed. "That's a Norwegian Ridgeback. My brother Charlie looks after them on the dragon preserve."

"Isn't 'e beautiful?" he asked, just as the small creature hobbled towards him. "Oh, look! Bless 'im, 'e knows 'is mummy."

"Aren't they illegal?" Harry asked, his tone curious.

"Yes, they're beasts," Hermione said quickly.

"Classified as Beast XXXXX," Setta said, inching closer to Hermione. "They're known as wizard killers..."

"Impossible to train or domesticate," Hermione breathed, gripping onto Setta's hand, and looking back and forth between Hagrid and the dragon.

Hagrid, meanwhile, wasn't listening, and was gently stroking the baby dragon beneath its chin in a fond manner. "'Ello, Norbert," he said with a light chuckle, and the dragon let of a soft trilling noise of happiness.

"Norbert?" Harry asked, wrinkling his nose.

"Well, 'e's got to 'ave a name, don't he?" Hagrid asked, continuing to tickle the dragon when, suddenly, it coughed, causing a burst of flame to escape from betwixt its thin lips, singing Hagrid's beard quite expertly. Hagrid grunted in discomfort, patting at his beard with his free hand, the smotes bouncing off the coarse hair. Looking up, he caught a glimpse of something by the window then, and squinted towards it. "Who's tha'?" he demanded.

Harry, plus the rest of them, followed Hagrid's gaze towards the window, and Setta felt a rather large lump forming in the pit of her stomach. "Malfoy," Harry declared, the dislike permeating his tone.

"Oh, dear," Hagrid said quietly.

Setta convinced everyone that they should leave Hagrid's hut immediately, and attempt to get back to the castle and into their dormitories before they were caught out by Professor McGonagall, for they were positive that Malfoy would report them straight to her. Shaking their heads as they moved quickly, back towards the darkened castle, conversing among themselves as they did so.

"Hagrid's always wanted a dragon," said Harry quietly.

"Of course he has," Setta put in. "He told us himself the first time we met him."

"It's crazy," Ron breathed. "And worse, Malfoy knows."

"I don't understand," Harry replied. "Is that bad?"

Setta affixed Harry with a look. "Why wouldn't it be bad?" she asked.

"It's downright illegal, which is the definition of bad," Hermione said impatiently.

"It's bad," Ron declared, stopping right there, and looking across the corridor, causing the other three to stop walking as well, as Professor McGonagall stepped into their midst, looking beyond angry, with Malfoy smirking behind her.

They were ceremoniously taken to the Transfiguration classroom, and ordered to keep silent along the way. Setta felt goosebumps prickling along her flesh, and it had nothing to do with the cold temperature of the castle. It had, however, everything to do with Professor McGonagall, who seemed to be the worst-tempered they'd ever seen her.

"Nothing," their Head of House said sternly, as she gazed at the quartet from behind her desk in the Transfiguration classroom, "I repeat, nothing, gives a student the right to walk about the school at night. Therefore, as punishment for your actions, fifty points will be taken."

"Fifty?!" Harry and Setta demanded together.

"Each," Professor McGonagall declared. "And," she continued, speaking over the mutual gasp that Harry and Setta gave, "to ensure that it doesn't happen again, all five of you will receive detention."

Malfoy looked confused then, and promptly stepped forward. "Excuse me, professor. Perhaps I heard you wrong. I thought you said, 'the five of us'."

"No, you heard me correctly, Mr. Malfoy," she declared, a small smile on her lips. "You see, as honorable as your intentions were, you too were out of bed after hours. You will join your classmates in detention." Turning to the quartet again, she resumed looking stern, ignoring the look of anger Malfoy was flashing them. "Next weekend, you will serve detention, and Mr. Filch will escort you."

~*~

Next weekend, as scheduled, the quartet, plus Malfoy, waited in the Entrance Hall after curfew for Mr. Filch to arrive. Surprisingly, Mrs. Norris was not with him this evening, as the caretaker informed them all that her pretty little feet couldn't possibly abide the cold of the grounds in such late-winter. Trudging outside, wrapped in their cloaks, they made their way outside, and were all mutually surprised when Hagrid's hut came into view. Save for mealtimes, they hadn't seen the half-giant since their ill-fated night visit to him a week previous, as they had kept to their dorms and classrooms since then.

"A pity they let the old punishments die," Filch was saying in his growling tone as they walked through the darkness. "There was a time detention would find you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. God, I miss the screaming," the man declared, and Malfoy appeared uncomfortable, while Hermione and Setta gripped each other's hands in the darkness. "You'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight," the man continued. "He's got a little job to do inside the dark forest," he said, just as Hagrid appeared outside his hut, sniffling and holding a crossbow. "A sorry lot this is, Hagrid. Oh, good god, man, you're still not on about that bloody dragon, are you?!" he demanded, his tone unkind.

Hagrid continued sniffing for a moment before facing the quartet, not even sparing Malfoy a second glance, likely because he blamed the Slytherin for his sadness. "Norbert's gone," he said softly, his voice trembling. "Dumbledore sent him off to Romania to live in a colony."

"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Hermione asked.

"He'll be with his own kind," Setta put in.

"Yeah, but what if he don't like Romania?" Hagrid cried out, ignoring Filch rolling his eyes from opposite him. "What if the other dragons are mean to him? He's only a baby, after all..."

"Oh, for god's sake, pull yourself together, man," Filch growled impatiently. "You're going into the forest, after all. Got to have your wits about you."

"The forest?!" Draco squawked. "I thought that was a joke! We can't go in there," he went on, his tone snooty. "Students aren't allowed. And besides, there are..." He broke off then, as a howl sounded from somewhere in the forest. "Werewolves!"

"There's more than that in those trees, lad," Filch said quietly. "You can be sure of that." He gave a grin to Draco's frightened expression. "Nighty-night," he said, and slipped back towards the castle.

"Right," Hagrid said gruffly. "Let's go."

The six of them ventured into the dark forest, lit only by the large lantern that Hagrid carried, with Fang hurrying behind them, not wishing to be left behind. They came to a clearing about a quarter of an hour later, and Hagrid bent down within it, peering closely at something. He dragged his finger through the shimmery liquid, which was silver in color, and quite reflective, even in the darkness.

"Hagrid, what is that?" Harry asked softly.

"What we're here for," Hagrid replied. "See that? That's unicorn blood, that is," he continued, and Setta and Hermione looked up at the man sadly. "I found one dead a few weeks ago. Now, this one's been injured bad by something," he went on, and Harry and Setta turned then, seeing a cloaked figure within the shadows of the forest, before turning back to look at Hagrid. "So, it's our job to find the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, you'll come with me."

"Okay," Ron said softly, his voice filled with uncertainty.

"And Harry, Setta, you'll go with Malfoy."

Harry and Setta ignored Malfoy's sneer and merely nodded up at the half-giant.

"Okay, then I get Fang!" Malfoy said quickly.

"Fine," Hagrid replied. "Just so you know, he's a bloody coward."

Harry put his arm around Setta's shoulders, the pair grimacing as Draco took ahold of a second lantern that Hagrid provided them, and dragged Fang along with his free hand. Setta rushed forward then, shoving Malfoy off the dog.

"What's the bloody hell is the matter with you?!" Malfoy demanded, rounding on Setta.

"You were hurting Fang!" she yelled back. "Don't drag him, you don't need to do that. Just tell him to come and he will."

Malfoy advanced upon Setta then, glaring at her. "If you think I'm going to take orders from a filthy Half-Blood, then you've got another—!"

"Oi!" Harry said, stepping purposefully in between them, and glaring at Malfoy. "Don't talk to my sister like that, Malfoy! Plus, you know Setta's right; don't drag Fang. Just ask him to follow us, all right?"

Malfoy sneered, but turned on his heel and kept walking.

Harry sighed. "Come on, Fang," he said, and Fang rushed to keep pace with them all.

"You wait till my father hears about this," Malfoy said, whining as they kept walking. "This is servants' stuff!"

"If we didn't know better, Draco," Setta said, glaring over at him, still miffed about their argument about Fang, "we'd say you were scared."

"Scared Potter?!" Malfoy demanded with a scoff, before stopping in his tracks as a howl let off in the distance. "Did you hear that?" he whispered, his tone slightly excited, and kept on walking. "Come on, Fang," he ordered. "Scared," he muttered under his breath.

They continued walking through the darkness, the lantern only illuminating a few feet ahead of them with its powerful light. They approached some gnarled tree roots then, and Fangs stopped walking then, growling at what he saw directly ahead of them.

"What is it, Fang?" Harry whispered to him.

There was a cloaked figure in the swirling mist, just ahead, bent over the prone body of a white unicorn, lying upon the forest floor. It looked up, just enough so that dangerous-looking teeth showed, its lips dripping with the blood of the unicorn. Setta and Harry, at the same moment, doubled backwards, gripping their foreheads, as pain radiated through their scars.

Malfoy stumbled backwards then, letting out a shout of fear. He turned on his heel and ran, stumbling through the branches, Fang barking and running after him, and Malfoy shouted, for all to hear, "Help!"

Harry and Setta watched the figure, which suddenly managed to float above the unicorn it had just slain. Stumbling backwards as Malfoy had done, they tripped on the gnarled branches behind them, their senses dulled from the pain in their scars. The figure loomed closer but, just then, another creature appeared, rearing upwards, its legs that of a powerful horse, causing the cloaked figure to retreat and fly off.

"Harry and Setta Potter," said the creature, turning around, its face vaguely human. "It is an honor to meet you both at last."

"Who are you?" Setta whispered, awestruck.

"I am Firenze, a centaur," he said, his voice kind. "You are known to many creatures here, but the forest is not safe at this time, especially for the both of you. You must both leave it."

"But what was that thing you saved us from?" Harry asked.

"A monstrous creature," the centaur declared. "It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something so pure that the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half-life. A cursed life."

"But who would choose such a life?" Setta asked softly.

"Can you think of no one?" Firenze asked.

Harry blinked. "Do you mean to say...that that thing that killed the unicorn..."

"...that was drinking its blood...that was Voldemort?" Setta whispered.

"Do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?" Firenze whispered.

"The Sorcerer's Stone," Harry and Setta whispered together.

Fang barked from somewhere nearby, and, turning, Harry and Setta spotted Ron, Hermione, Malfoy, and Hagrid all standing there.

"Setta!" Hermione cried out, and Setta rushed forward, throwing her arms around her.

"Harry!" Ron yelled out then, clearly still frightened, and Harry and Ron scampered towards one another, embracing as well.

"Hello there, Firenze," Hagrid said softly. "I see you've met Harry and Setta." He turned and regarded the twins. "You all righ' there, you two?"

Harry and Setta nodded up at him.

"Harry and Setta Potter," said the centaur, occupying their attention again, "this is where I leave the two of you. You're safe now. Good luck," he said softly, and turned around, trotting in between the trees and beyond.

Harry and Setta did their best not to look at the dead unicorn again, but Hagrid decided that enough excitement had been had for one evening. He told them he would make his excuses to the headmaster, and encouraged them all to hurry back to the castle and go straight to bed. The quartet dodged all of Malfoy's questions, and were relieved when the Slytherin begrudgingly stomped down to the dungeons, while Harry, Setta, Ron, and Hermione made their way up the staircases and to the seventh floor.

The common room was dark, save for the firelight, which illuminated along the stones surrounding it, as well as danced upon the walls. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Setta all gathered around it, with Harry and Setta taking an armchair, Hermione sitting opposite them on another, and Ron sat upon the couch in between them. All were made from soft, red velvet fabric, and were terribly comfortable, which put Setta's mind at ease, given their brush with death just moments previously.

"You mean, You-Know-Who's out there, right now, in the forest?" Hermione asked, finally breaking the silence.

Harry pushed himself to his feet, proceeding to pace around the small space. "But he's weak," he said, his tone desperate. "He's living off unicorns."

"Don't you see?" Setta asked, shaking her head. "We had it wrong. Snape doesn't want the stone for himself, he wants the stone for Voldemort. With the Elixir of Life, Voldemort will be strong again. He'll...he'll come back..."

At this, Harry promptly moved at sat beside Setta then. "We just can't let it happen," he vowed, and Setta promptly leaned into him.

"But, if he comes back," Ron asked, looking and sounding concerned, "you don't think that he'll try to kill you guys, do you?"

Harry wound his arm around Setta's shoulders. "I think, if he'd had the chance, he might have tried to kill us tonight."

Ron gulped audibly. "And to think, I've been worried about my potions final!"

"Hang on a minute," Hermione said, straightening up in her seat. "We're forgetting one thing here. Who's the one wizard that Voldemort always feared?"

Setta sighed from her position, still curled into Harry. "Dumbledore," she said softly, and Harry and Ron nodded at her answer.

"Exactly," Hermione replied. "As long as Dumbledore's around, you two are safe. As long as Dumbledore's around, neither of you can be touched."

~*~

The next few weeks brought Ron's twelfth birthday, in which Molly sent a giant cake for him to share with Harry, Setta, and Hermione. Sirius and Remus came at the end of the month, but Setta wasn't about to be too friendly with them, due to the fact that they were on James' side in his technical parenting. Then came end-of-term exams and Professor McGonagall informing the student body about the headmaster being needed by the Minister of Magic, and would be out of the school for the foreseeable future.

On the final day of exams, they attempted to inform her about the plot to steal the stone. Even though their Head of House was amazed that they seemed to know about it, she didn't take their claims seriously. She informed them that the stone was in no danger and, therefore, none of them needed to worry about it.

Trudging out of the Transfiguration classroom came an encounter with Snape, which drew up their suspicions twofold. Once the man correctly deduced that they were up to something, he made a hasty exit, making himself appear all the more guilty. They watched him retreat in the opposite direction, knowing that the time had come.

"Now what do we do?" Hermione whispered.

"We go down the trapdoor," Setta told her.

Harry gave a stiff nod. "Tonight."

Being squashed underneath the invisibility cloak was another matter entirely, however, as they made their way to the third floor corridor. Hermione unlocked the door, and they each recalled how Hagrid had whispered about Fluffy falling asleep to a pleasant tune of music. There was an enchanted harp on one side of the room, and they quickly held open the trap door, and dropped down into the darkness below.

Trudging through the corridor, they came to an open space, where a broom was hovering in mid-air, and keys, clearly enchanted, were flying across the ceiling. Harry promptly got onto the broomstick and dove through the keys, which suddenly became quite vicious and wasp-like, until he got the correct key. Tossing it down to Hermione, who used it to open up the door at the end of the space, Ron grabbed Harry as he jumped down and Hermione dashed through the door ahead of them, they keys attempting to follow.

"Immobulus!" cried Setta, getting nicked on her cheeks several times for good measure, before she slipped through the door behind the rest of them, and slammed it shut.

The next hallway they encountered was dark, however, when they seemed to reach the middling point, several fire pits erupted to life, and they could see what the space held. It was quite a shock to them to look about the space, which had a chessboard, and they all of them looked around, trying to figure out what could be done next, especially when the pawn pieces held up massive swords, preventing them from crossing to the older end of the space.

"Now what do we do?" Hermione whispered.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Ron replied. "We've got to play our way across the room. All right, Harry, you take the Bishop's square. Setta, you be that empty Pawn there. Hermione, you'll be the Queen's side castle. And as for me, I'll be a knight," he declared, and advanced upon his chosen horse, climbing up upon it, and began directing the game, making sure to never put Harry, Setta, or Hermione into harms way, although he couldn't held the trajectory of where the stone pieces were flying.

It was when the Queen turned suddenly that Setta felt something within her shift, and she turned, locking eyes with Harry, before they turned and regarded Ron. The Queen would be coming directly for Ron once its path was chosen.

"Wait a minute," Harry said softly.

"You understand right, Harry," Ron said. "Once I make my move, the Queen will take me. Then you're free to check the King."

"No!" Setta cried out.

"Ron, no!" Harry yelled.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, looking back and forth between them all.

"He's going to sacrifice himself!" Harry cried.

"No, you can't!" Hermione screamed, almost on the verge of tears, trembling from within her square. "There must be another way!"

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?" Ron asked, turning briefly to Hermione, before he looked over at Harry and Setta. "Guys, it's you that has to go on, I know it. No me, not Hermione, you two," he declared, and Harry and Setta nodded stiffly at that, and Ron turned to face the Queen once more. "Knight to H-3," he said, and the knight began moving forward, directly in the path of the Queen, who promptly shattered the knight, and Ron let out a scream, before he crashed to the stone floor.

"Ron!" Harry cried out.

Hermione promptly moved to save him, but Setta stopped her.

"No! Don't move!" she told her. "Don't forget, we're still playing," she reminded her, and Hermione nodded, returning to her place.

Harry reached out his hand to Setta, and, once they joined, the fire pits seemed to calm considerably, and they walked together towards the King, who seemed to be waiting for the two of them to approach.

"Checkmate," they said together.

The King released its sword then, which fell with a clatter onto the stone floor beneath them, a fair amount of dust collecting along with it. Then, the three ran to Ron together, and were quite relieved to find that his pulse was beating as normal, but the cold of the floor wouldn't help with his likely concussion.

"Take care of Ron," Harry whispered.

"Then, go to the owlery," Setta continued. "Send a message to Dumbledore."

"Ron's right," Harry said softly. "We have to go on."

"You'll both be okay, you know," Hermione said, and there was so much truth in her voice as she addressed them both that Setta smiled. "You're a great witch and wizard."

Harry huffed slightly. "I'm not as good as you or Setta," he replied.

Setta grinned at him. "I'll take that as a compliment," she replied, before turning to face Hermione again. "But Hermione's the brightest witch of her age. Anyone with eyes and ears can see that."

"Me?" Hermione asked, a short giggle escaping her lips. "Books and cleverness? There are more important things. Friendship, and bravery. And Harry...if you and Setta don't be careful, I'll never forgive you."

Harry nodded, and Setta did as well, permitting Harry to pull her to her feet, and they left the chessboard together, slipping into the next section of the bowels of Hogwarts.

There was another door somewhere along the way, which led straight to a trio of wide, stone staircases, all done up in a square shape. Massive pillars were built along the spaces in between the staircases, and, at the base, was the Mirror of Erised, which Setta remembered Harry finding during the Christmas holidays when she had been at the Granger residence. Standing in the center of the base of the room, with the mirror, much to their shock, was none other than Professor Quirrell himself.

"You?" Setta whispered.

"No," Harry said, obviously wanting to backtrack. "It can't be...Snape. He was the one..."

"Yes," replied the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor with a positively evil smirk, "he does seem the type, doesn't he? Next to me, who would suspect, p-p-poor s-stuttering Professor Quirrell?" he asked.

"But that day at the Quidditch match," Setta said, determined to get to the bottom of this. "Snape tried to kill him!"

"No, dear girl. I tried to kill him!" he declared angrily. "And trust me, if Snape's cloak hadn't caught fire and broken my eye contact, I would have succeeded. Even with Snape muttering his little Counter-Curse."

"Snape was trying to save me?" Harry whispered in awe.

"I knew you were a danger from the off," Quirrell continued. "Especially after Halloween."

"Then you let the troll in," Setta said, her tone accusing.

"Very good, Potter, yes," Quirrell said, nodding in approval at Setta. "Snape, unfortunately, wasn't fooled. While everyone else was running to the dungeon, he went to the third floor to head me off. He, of course, never trusted me again. He rarely left me alone," he said softly, and turned back to the mirror.

The resulting movement had Setta clutching her forehead, and knew that Harry was clutching at his as well.

"But he doesn't understand," Quirrell was still murmuring. "I'm never alone. Never. Now...what does this mirror do? I see what I desire. I see myself holding the stone. But how do I get it?" he demanded of the mirror.

"Use the twins," replied a hissing-like voice.

"Come here, you two! Now!" Quirrell suddenly bellowed.

Harry and Setta stumbled down the staircase, still partially blinded by the sudden pain in their respective scars.

"Tell me," Quirrell demanded, as soon as they faced the mirror. "What do you two see?"

Locking eyes with their reflections, Harry and Setta were amazed when Harry's reflection reached into his pocket, producing the stone. Then, he smirked, handing it over to the reflection Setta, who placed it into her pocket. Harry minutely turned to look over at Setta, who felt in her pocket, and was amazed to find that she sensed the stone within.

"What is it?!" Quirrell suddenly demanded again. "What do you see?!"

"We... We're shaking hands with Dumbledore," Harry said quickly.

"Gryffindor's won the House Cup," Setta said, knowing how lame it sounded.

"They lie," came the hissing voice again.

"Tell the truth!" Quirrell yelled. "What do you see?!"

"Let me speak to them," the voice hissed.

"Master, you are not strong enough," Quirrell said, his tone deferential.

"I have strength enough for this," the hissing voice declared.

Quirrell reached upwards then and unwrapped his purple turban, revealing a horrifying sight on the other side of his head—a snake-like second face.

"Harry and Setta Potter," came the voice. "We meet again."

"Voldemort," Harry and Setta whispered together.

"Yes," he wheezed, looking quite uncomfortable. "You see what I've become? See what I must do to survive? Live off another, a mere parasite. Unicorn blood can sustain me, but it cannot give me a body of my own. But there is something that can. Something, conveniently enough, my dear Setta, lies in your pocket!"

Setta made a grab for Harry's arm and proceeded to drag him towards the staircase, but they didn't even make it to the first landing.

"Stop them!" Voldemort hissed, and Quirrell raised his arm, causing fire to erupt from all corners of the room, effectively blocking them in. "Don't be a fool, either of you! Why suffer a horrific death when the two of you can join me, and live?"

"Never!" Harry and Setta yelled at him.

Voldemort laughed aloud at that. "Bravery. Your mother had it, too. Tell me, you two, would you like to see your mother again? Together, we can bring her back," he whispered, and Lily Potter appeared in the mirror, staring up at her children. "All I ask is for something in return," he went on, and Setta felt herself reaching into her pocket, drawing out the stone. "That's it, Setta," the face of a man continued, and Harry turned to look at his twin. "There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it. Together, we'll do extraordinary things. Just give me the stone!" he cried out.

Setta felt something awaken within her then as her mother disappeared, and she joined hands with Harry, holding the stone between them.

"You're a liar!" they growled at him.

"Kill them!" Voldemort demanded.

Quirrell flew upwards then, flying at the pair of them, and wrapping his hands around Harry and Setta's throats, their grip upon the stone faltering to the point where it fell from their joined hands and clattered onto the stairs beneath them. Crashing down, Harry and Setta mutually struggled beneath their professors' hands, writhing back and forth in an attempt to escape his grip upon them. Reaching up together with the last of their strength, they gripped, hard, onto the hands which attempted to kill them.

Quirrell screamed then, as both his hands proceeded to crumble into dust. "What is this magic?!" he demanded, as Harry and Setta looked down at their hands in shock.

"Fool!" Voldemort growled. "Get the stone!"

Quirrell turned to where the stone had fallen, and hesitated for a moment, now that his two hands were now gone. "Acc—" he began.

Setta charged forward as Harry went to retrieve the stone, and shoved her hand into the man's mouth, wincing as his teeth came down, hard, upon her. However, he was soon screaming once again, as Setta expertly wrapped her hands around his tongue, preventing him from casting spells forevermore. Then, yanking her hands out of his mouth, placed both hands onto his face, causing both Quirrell and Voldemort to scream in pure agony, before crumbling to dust, leaving only Quirrell's robes behind.

Setta stumbled backwards then, facing Harry, and sighed with relief at the sight of him holding onto the stone. However, Harry suddenly looked terrified and, turning around, they caught sight of what remained of Voldemort, who darted through the air with a scream most evil. It flew forward then, entering and passing through both their bodies, before flying off to find another follower once more, and Harry and Setta fell backwards onto the stairs, blackness enveloping the both of them, the stone within their joined hands once more.

~*~

Setta felt benevolent light above her eyelids then, and, slowly permitting herself to open them, realized that she was in the hospital wing. Her throat ached from the combination of yelling and smoke inhalation, and, pushing herself upwards, helped herself to a glass of cold water. Turning, she saw that Harry was waking up himself, and pushed his glasses onto his face.

"All right?" he asked.

Setta sighed. "As well as I can be," she replied. "Are you?"

"Yeah, I think so," Harry told her.

Setta was about to speak further but, upon looking up, saw the headmaster trooping into the hospital wing and regarding them over his half-moon spectacles. "Headmaster," she whispered, finding that she was relieved to see him.

"Good afternoon to the both of you," the headmaster said warmly. "Ah. Tokens from your admirers? Treacle fudge for Harry, Cauldron Cakes for you, Setta..."

Setta blinked. "Well, they are our favorites..."

"Indeed, my dear girl, indeed," the headmaster replied.

"What admirers, sir?" Harry asked.

"What happened in the dungeons between the two of you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows," he said, smiling at the pair of them, which the twins immediately returned. "I'll have you know that I received Miss Granger's owl quite quickly, thanks to your hasty thinking, Setta..."

"Hermione's owl?" Setta asked, sitting up. "Is she all right?"

"What about Ron?" Harry demanded.

"Fine," Dumbledore told them. "They're both just fine."

"But, the stone," Harry said quickly.

"What happened to it?" Setta wanted to know.

"Relax, my dear children," the headmaster said softly. "The stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best all around."

"But Flamel... That means he'll die, won't he?" Setta asked.

Dumbledore conjured a chair and placed it in between the beds. "He has enough Elixir to get his affairs in order," he responded. "But yes. He will die."

"How is it we got the stone, sir?" Harry wanted to know.

Setta nodded. "One minute, we were staring in the mirror, and the next..."

"Ah," Dumbledore said with a nod. "You see, only a person who wanted to find the stone, but not use it, would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you two and me, that's saying something."

"Does that mean, with the stone gone, I mean, that Voldemort can never come back?" Harry asked, his tone filled with relief.

"Ah, I'm afraid there are many ways in which he can return," Dumbledore said gravely. "Do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have the two of you touch him?" he asked, and both Harry and Setta shook their heads. "It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for the two of you, and that kind of act leaves a mark," he said, and both Harry and Setta almost automatically reached towards their scars. "No, no, it is the kind of mark that cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."

"What is it?" Setta breathed.

Dumbledore turned and regarded her fondly. "Love, Setta. Love."

They were released from the hospital wing by the end of the day, just in time for the Leaving Feast, and quickly found Ron and Hermione waiting for them. Automatically turning and grinning down at them when they spotted them, Harry spoke first.

"All right there, Ron?" he asked.

"All right," Ron replied. "You guys?"

"We're all right," Setta responded, and turned to Hermione. "And you, Hermione?" she asked, smiling up at her best friend.

"Never better," Hermione replied.

~END OF YEAR 1~