"I'd heard Hogwarts' final exams were frightful, but I found that enjoyable," Hermione says as we walk through the courtyard.

"They were actually pretty easy," I say.

 "Speak for yourself," Ron says.

"Well maybe if you studied with us," I suggest. Hermione looks at Harry with worry in her eyes. 

"All right there, Harry?" Ron asks. Harry had his hand over his scar.

"-My scar. It keeps burning," He says.

"- It's happened before?" Hermione asks.

"- Not like this," Harry says.

"- Perhaps You should see the nurse," Ron says.

"Yeah," I say.

"I think it's a warning. It means danger's coming," Harry says.

"And you're not worried because?" I ask.

"-Of course!" He yells looking at Hagrid's hut.

"- What is it?" Hermione asks.

"Isn't it odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything is a dragon....and a stranger just happens to have one?" Harry asks, "How many people wander around with dragon eggs? Why didn't I see it before?" We run up to Hagrid who was outside playing a song. "Who gave you the egg? What did he look like?"

"I never saw his face. He kept his hood up," Hagrid says.

"You and this stranger though must have talked," Harry says.

"He wanted to know what sort of creatures I looked after. I said, 'After Fluffy, a dragon's gonna be no problem.'" Hagrid says.

"- Was he interested in Fluffy?" Harry asks.

"-Of course he was interested. How often do you come across a three-headed dog?" Hargid says,  "But I told him, 'The trick with any beast is to know how to calm him' Take Fluffy, for example. Play him music and he falls straight to sleep. I shouldn't have told you that." We look at each other and we turn to leave. "Where are you going? Wher-" He yells after us. We sprint off to Professor McGonagall's classroom.

"We have to see Dumbledore," Harry says.

"Immediately!" I add.

"I'm afraid he's not here," she says, "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and left."

"He's gone? Now! But this is important!" Harry says, "This is about the Sorcerer's Stone!"

"How do you know...?" She asks.

"-Someone's going to try and steal!" Harry exclaims.

"I don't know how you know, but I assure you it is well protected," She says, "Now would you go back to your dormitories? Quietly." We turn to leave and get outside.

"That was no stranger Hagrid met. It was Snape," Harry says, "Which means he knows how to get past Fluffy."

"- And with Dumbledore gone..." I mumble.

"- Good afternoon," Professor Snape says to us.

"Good Afternoon Professor," I say quickly.

"What would three young Gryffindors and one from my own house...be doing inside on a day like this?" He asks.

"We were just..." Hermione says not able to come up with anything.

"- You ought to be careful. People will think you're...up to something," He says. 

"Now what do we do?" Hermione asks.

"We go down the trap door. Tonight," He says.

"Tonight?" I ask.

"We have to," Harry says, "it'll be our only chance."

*****

 I stood quietly outside the door. Waiting for the three of them.

"-You stood on my foot!" I her Hermione whisper. I couldn't see them. They had the invisibility cloak out.

"-Sorry," Ron says back.

"There you are," I say.

"Get underneath here," Harry says lifting it up. I get beside Ron as Harry moves by Hermione.

"Alohomora," She says pointing her wand at the door. It unlocks and opens for us. We walk in to see the dog quiet and peaceful.

"Wait a minute. He's..." Ron says as it blows the cloak off of us, "...snoring."

"Snape's already been here. He's put a spell on the harp," Harry says.

"It's got horrible breath," Ron says. I look at the dog then the door.

"-We have to move its paw," I say.

"- What?" Ron asks.

"Come on!" Harry says, "Okay. Push." We move the large paw off. Harry open's the door. It was deep and dark. 

"Great," I mumble.

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

"The harp. It's stopped playing," Hermione says. I large drop of slobber lands on Ron's shoulder.

"Ew," I say.

"Ugh Yuck!" He says. We all look up together to see Fluffy's three heads staring at us.

"Jump!" I yell hoping into the tunnel. One by one we all go and land on a plant below.

"Whoa, Lucky this plant thing's here, really," Ron says.It ensnares us more and more. I start to pull away.

"Stop moving, both all of you," Hermione says, "This is Devil's Snare." Shit. Shit. I remember this stuff from Herbology. "You have to relax. If you don't, it will only kill you faster."

"Kill us faster? Oh, now I can relax!" Ron exclaims. I take a deep breath and stop moving. Hermione disappears.

"Hermione!" We yell. I shut up and calm myself. Finally I go through the plant.

"Y/n!" The boys yell. I land underneath and Hermione hold her hand out to help me up.

"Thanks," I say.

"-Now what are we gonna do?" Ron exclaims.

"-Just relax!" Hermione yells.

"Hermione, Y/n , where are you two?" Harry asks.

"Just Relax you gits!" I yell.

"Trust us," Hermione yells. Soon Harry is through and he lands.

"Harry!"

"Are you okay?"  Hermione asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine," He says.

"He's not relaxing, is he?" I ask.

"-Apparently not," Harry says.

"We've gotta do something," Hermione says.

"- What?" Harry asks.

"I remember reading something in Herbology," I offer, "Devil's Snare It's deadly fun..." I struggle to remember.

"...but will sulk in the sun!" Her and I yell.

"That's it! It hates sunlight," Hermione says, "Lumus Solem." Harsh light emits from her wand and the large plant releases Ron and he lands with a thud.

"- Ron, you okay?" Harry asks. I offer him my hand to help him up and he takes it. I quickly get him to his feet. 

"- Yeah," He says, "Lucky we didn't panic." We all glare at him.

"Lucky Hermione and Y/n pay attention in Herbology," Harry says. I hear a harsh beating from ahead.

"What is that?" Hermione asks.

"I don't know. Sounds like wings," Harry says.

"Great just great," I say, "now we get to deal with things that can fly." We walk into the next room to see keys flying around.

"Curious. I've never seen birds like these," Hermione says.

"They're not birds. They're keys," Harry says, "And I'll bet one of them fits that door." We stop in front of a broom hovering in the middle of the room.

"- What's this all about?" Hermione asks.

"-I don't know," Harry says.

"Strange," I whisper.

"Alohomora!"Ron screams, "Well, it was worth a try."

"They're not going to have a lock that will open with a simple spell if they're protecting the stone genius," I say.

"What will we do?" Hermione groans, "There must be a thousand keys."

"We want a big, old-fashioned one. Probably rusty." Ron says.

 "There I see it! The one with the broken wing," Harry says.

"Hmm," I say. As Harry looks at it questioningly.

"What's wrong?" Ron asks.

"It's too simple," Harry says.

"Go on! If Snape could catch it on that old broomstick, you can. You're the youngest Seeker in a century," Ron says. Harry gets on the broom and the keys swarm him. "This complicates things a bit," Ron says.

"Jeez," I groan stepping back. We watch as he flies through them.

"Catch the key!" Harry yells. I jump up and grab it. I hand it too Hermione he runs to the door.

"Hurry up!" Ron yells. She gets it open and we run in. Soon Harry flies in and we slam the heavy door behind him. 

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all," Hermione says.

"Me either," I say.

"Where are we?" Harry asks, "A graveyard."

"This is no graveyard. It's a chessboard," Ron says. The fires light up revealing the room.

"There's the door," Harry says. We start to walk towards it when the knights hold their swords blocking it.

"Now what do we do?" Hermione asks.

"It's obvious, isn't it? We've got to play our way across the room," Ron says, "Harry, you take the empty bishop's square. Hermione, you'll be the queen-side castle. Y/n you take the Rook spot. As for me, I'll be a knight." We take our places on the board.

"What happens now?" Hermione asks.

"Well, white moves first," I say.

"And then...we play," Ron says. One of the pieces move.

"Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like...real wizard's chess, do you?" Hermione asks.

"You there, d5," Ron demands. A piece moves then stops at its place. While the other knight draws it swords out slices the piece. My eyes go wide as I look at the others. "Yes, Hermione. I think this is gonna be|exactly like wizard's chess." We move and pieces on both side get smashed as Ron barks out orders.

"Castle to e4!" 

"Pawn to c3!"

"Wait a minute," Harry says.

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

"- No. Ron, no!" Harry says.

"Yeah what Harry says!" I exclaim.

"-What is it?" Hermione yells.

"- He's going to sacrifice himself," Harry says.

"-No, there must be another way!" Hermione yells.

"Ron you can't!" I scream.

"Do you wanna stop Snape from getting that Stone or not?" Ron says, "Harry, it's you that has to go on. I know it. Not me. Not Hermione. Not Y/n. You." He takes a deep breath, "Knight to h3. Check." The other piece moves slowly but towards Ron and stabs his piece. Knocking him to the ground.

"Ron!" Harry yells.

"No, don't move Hermione!" I yell and she stops, "Don't forget, we're still playing." Harry moves to the King.

"Checkmate," He says.

"Take care of Ron. Then go to the owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore," Harry says to Hermione and I, "Ron's right. I have to go on."

"You'll be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard. You really are," Hermione says.

"Not as good as you," He says, "either of you."

"Me? Books and cleverness. There are more important things. Friendship and bravery, And, Harry, just be careful," Hermione says.

"Good luck Harry," I say, "I have faith in you." He moves on and leaves her and I with Ron. "Lets get him upstairs."

"Are you sure?" She asks.

"Yeah you get one side I'll get the other," I say, "but help me get him up."