The following morning, all of them had received notes at the breakfast table.

"What's this?" Parker picked her's up.

Harry scanned the note,"Our detention."

"Oh for goodness sake." Neville put it down.

"It's our own fault." Erica shrugged.

"My gran's gonna kill me."

"Mum's gonna kill you." Ron pointed at Erica.

"Everyone will kill us." Parker held her head

"Nothing we can do about it now." Erica sighed, having practically accepted it already.

"Ron, can't you just take our place?"

"Wh- No! You're the ones who got caught." Ron raised his hands.

"I don't want to spend it with my brother."

"I'll stand in between you two to create distance." Erica told her.

"He doesn't like you though." Parker turned to him.

"So? I can kick him. Nobody will notice." Erica whispered.

Parker laughed and shook her head.

"I don't think kicking Malfoy will gain us any favours at the moment." Harry sighed.

"But you'd love to do it." Parker smiled.

"I can't lie, really would." Harry nodded slowly,"But I'm trying to avoid more trouble than I've already caused myself."

"Well, I guess I'll see you all at Detention." Parker got up from her seat.

"Bye Parker." Erica waved.

"Bye." Parker waved and walked off.

*********************************

Just before eleven o'clock that night, the four of them, Harry, Hermione, Neville and Erica, said goodbye to Ron and made their way to the entrance hall.

Already awaiting them in the hall was Filch along with Parker and Draco.

"Hi guys." Parker smiled.

"Hi, Parker," Hermione waved and Erica smiled.

"Follow me." Filch instructed, walking ahead of them with a lantern in hand.

"I don't see why I can't walk with them." Parker whispered to Draco.

"They got us into this mess, Parker. Draco hissed.

"Well you got yourself into trouble." Parker muttered.

"Why were you helping them?" Draco glared at the Herd.

"Because they're my friends."

"They aren't deserving of being your friends." Draco scoffed.

"Then who is?" Parker crossed her arms.

"Me." Draco crossed his arms as well, There's Blaise and Pansy. You know, Pureblood Slytherins."

"I don't care about blood-"

"Well father does."

"Well father isn't here." Parker rolled her eyes.

"But he knows, Parker." Draco shook his head.

"Only cause you're a snitch."

"He asked me to watch you, I'm just doing what was told."

Parker uncrossed her arms and walked on ahead, leaving Draco behind. Erica noticed and sped up so she could walk beside her best friend

"Hey." Parker looked at her.

"Hi." Erica smiled at her.

"Sorry, Draco dragged me with him." Parker sighed.

"He smells." Erica crossed her arms.

"I know." Parker laughed.

Erica chuckled but stopped when Filch glared back at them.

"Buzzkill." Parker whispered.

"He smells too." Erica whispered back.

Parker smiled as she walked.

"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started." Hagrid shouted from a bit away.

"This won't be too hard if we're working with Hagrid." Erica whispered.

"He wouldn't punish us anyway." Parker shrugged.

"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf?" Filch turned to them,"Well, think again. You lot are going into that forest, you'll be lucky to get out in one piece."

Draco stopped, turning to Filch, "The forest? We can't go in there at night, there's all sorts of things in there- Werewolves, I heard."

"You scared of the forest, Malfoy?" Erica asked.

"Shut up, Weasley." Draco glared.

Erica smirked, she wasn't scared.

"Abou' time." Hagrid walked up,"I've bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Herd?"

"I wouldn't be too kind too them Hagrid." Filch glared at them,"They're here to be punished all."

"That's why yer late, is it? Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."

"I'll be back at dawn... For what's left of them." Filch scoffed as he turned, heading back towards the castle.

"I'm not going in that forest." Draco turned to Hagrid quickly and spoke, almost... Panicked.

"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," Hagrid shook his head,"Yeh've done wrong an' now yehve got ter pay fer it."

"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if our father knew I was doing this, he'd-"

"Tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts." Hagrid cut him off,"Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or Yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on."

Draco didn't move, continuing his glare at Hagrid, only to stop when Parker nudged him.

"Right then," Hagrid began,"Now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment."

Everyone walked with Hagrid, the Herd knew that he wouldn't bother them... Unlike Draco. Erica squinted as she tried to see into the forest but all she could see was darkness.

Hagrid then led them to the very edge of the forest,"Look there, see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."

"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" Malfoy questioned him.

"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang. An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diffrent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least." Hagrid sighed.

"I want Fang." Draco pointed quickly.

"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a bloody coward." Hagrid laughed,"So, me, Harry, Erica an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Parker, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other. Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an' practice now that's it. An' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh so be careful, let's go."

The group then entered the forest, although it was practic ally pitch black and hard to see. After coming to a fork in the road, the two groups split up.

"It's alright Nev, I'll make sure you don't get scared." Parker walked with Neville.

"T-thanks Parker." Neville smiled her eyes but Draco just rolled his eyes.

"What's your damage?" Parker looked at her brother.

"This. Why are you being so nice to Longbottom?" Draco poked him.

"Hey, knock it off." Parker pushed him away,"He's my friend."

"I can't possibly see why." Draco scoffed.

"Because he's nice."

"Nice? That's all it take for you?"

"What should it take?" Parker rolled her eyes.

"Literally anything! He's nice, what's so good about that."

"That he's better than you." Parker smirked.

Draco's eyes widened and he clenched his fists yet he remained silent.

"How are you feeling, Nev?" Parker turned to him, ignoring Draco.

"I'll be alright." Neville assured her,"It's not so bad."

"I can always make you some cupcakes, with red icing. I'm an alright baker, right Dray?" Parker hummed.

"Mhm." Draco nodded absentmindedly.

"See? Good treats." Parker smiled.

"That sounds nice." Neville smiled back.

"Good. I'll make them once this detentions over."

"Thank you, Parker. It means a lot-"

"Enough, okay? Both of you." Draco spoke.

"A-alright." Neville immediately silenced himself.

"Don't listen to him, Neville." Parker sighed.

Neville looked between the two and stayed quiet.

"He's just being stupid."

Neville nodded slowly.

"Hey Longbottom, do you think your gran would be proud of you if she knew you got a detention?" Draco turned to him.

Neville's hands shook but he turned to Draco,"W-well, how proud will your dad be of yours?"

"At least I have a dad." Draco smirked.

"Draco!" Parker pushed him.

Neville looked down at his feet, quickly rubbing his eyes.

"You had no right saying that." Parker shook her head.

"I only said something true." Draco crossed his arms.

"You're so nasty at times." Parker scoffed,"Let's just go."

Draco rolled his eyes and just to make matters worse, he stepped on a twig that let out a surprisingly loud crack.

"Ah!" Neville shouted and sent red sparks from his wand to the sky.

Draco burst out laughing.

"They're gonna think we're dying." Parker held her head.

"Whoops." Draco winked.

"God Draco." Parker sighed.

That's when Hagrid rushed over with Harry, Hermione and Erica.

"It's a false alarm." Parker assured them.

Hagrid sighed and Erica glared at Draco, he got her worried about all three of them for nothing.

"What's that look for Weasley?" Deaco spat.

"Nothing."

"Malfoy stepped on a twig." Neville held his chest

"I knew it was his fault." Erica muttered to Harry, pointing at Draco.

"Always is." Harry whispered.

"We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you two were makin'. Right, we're changin' groups. Neville, you stay with me an' Hermione. Erica, you go with Parker, Fang an' this idiot. I'm sorry." Hagrid added in a whisper to her,"But he'll have a harder time frightenin' you, an' we've gotta get this done."

"At least I have you now." Parker smiled at Erica.

"Now we both have to deal with that one." Erica sighed.

"I give you permission to slap him."

Erica smiled as Hagrid walked off with the others.

"I don't see why we need Weasley." Draco scoffed.

"Well Draco, if you hadn't scared Neville then wouldn't be here." Erica out her hands on her hips.

"He deserved it. Besides, I didn't do it on purpose." Draco shrugged.

"Well, you shouldn't have because now we're stuck with each other."

"I didn't think he'd switch us." He rolled his eyes.

"Idiot." Erica muttered.

"Say that again." Malfoy turned to her.

Erica smirked,"Idiot."

"You little-" Malfoy went to grab her but Parker quickly pushed Draco to the tree.

"I could've handled him." Erica mumbled.

"You shouldn't need to handle him. Draco is nasty." Parker sighed.

"But I could."

"You can hit him another time."

"Fine." Erica sighed.

"And you, need to shut it." Parker pointed at her brother

Draco scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Now come on." Parker hummed.

Erica nodded and glared at Draco before following after Parker. They had walked for a bit more before they walked to a clearing.

"Look." Parker pointed.

"Where?" Erica looked.

Parker pointed to... The unicorn. It was dead, laying on the ground in front of them with a puddle of silvery liquid around it.

"Oh... Wait." Erica stopped,"What's that beside it?"

"What?" Malfoy crossed his arms.

"That thing?" Erica pointed at... A cloaked figure.

The cloaked figure reached for the unicorn, it then lowered it's head over the cut that had killed the unicorn and began to drink its blood...

Erica covered her mouth, resisting the urge to gag. That was... Horrible.

"AHH!" Draco screamed and bolted away, Fang chasing after him.

"So helpful." Erica muttered.

When the two girls looked back, the hooded figure was flying towards them. Erica quickly covered her face and Parker closed her eyes.

Nothing came... The two of them expected to be eaten by now, but nothing happened. When they opened their eyes there was a half man, half horse in front of them. A centaur!

"Are you all right?" He asked them.

"I'm... Yeah, I'm good." Erica nodded, surprised.

"Thanks... What- What was that thing?" Parker pointed.

The centaur did not answer as he looked down at them with striking blue eyes.

"What's your name then?" Erica asked slowly.

"My name is Firenze." He bowed.

"Yeah- But what was that?" Parker pointed again.

"You're that Black girl." Firenze turned his attention to Parker,"You'd best get back to Hagrid, the forest is not safe right now. Can you ride? It'll be quicker this way."

"I can ride." Parker nodded and looked at Erica.

"I can ride a broom, could probably ride a centaur." Erica shrugged.

"Can you carry both of us?"

"Of course I can, you are both small enough." Firenze lowered himself into his front legs so they could climb on.

"I'm taller than Erica." Parker smiled as the two girls got on his back

Then two other Centaurs came running down, Erica had already met one. His name was Bane.

"Firenze!" Bane shouted at the top of his lungs,"What are you doing? You have a human on your back! Have you no shame? What are you? A common mule?"

"Bane, do you not recognize who this is?" He gestured to Parker,"This is the Black girl, the sooner she leaves this forest the better, right?"

"What have you been telling them?" Bane sighed, shaking his head dismissively,"Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?"

"The Black Girl?" Parker whispered to Erica.

Erica shrugged and whispered back,"Don't look at me."

"I'm sure Firenze thought he was doing what's best." The third centaur, Roman, nervously pawed the ground.

Bane kicked up his front legs,"For the best? What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold. It is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!"

"Can you not see that unicorn? Do you not understand why it was killed?" Firenze snapped, rearing up on his back legs, Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must."

Firenze then ran off, the girls on his back.

"Why's Bane so angry? What was that thing you saved us from, anyway?" Parker asked.

Firenze slowed down,"You'd best keep your head down in case there are any low hanging branches."

Parker looked over at Erica and bent her head down. Erica shrugged as a low hanging branch passed right over her.

"You don't need to bend down." Parker smirked.

"Shut up." Erica rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, its funny." Parker laughed.

"Not for me." Erica huffed.

"For me." Parker smiled.

Erica rolled her eyes,"I'm not talking to you anymore."

Parker laughed and looked around.

"Girls, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?" Firenze asked.

"Uh... No." Erica shook her head,"We've only used the horn and tail hair in potions."

"It is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn." He shivered,"Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. 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 pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."

Erica was quiet, looking between Parker and Firenze.

"But who'd be that desperate?" Parker asked,"If you're going to be cursed forever, deaths better, isn't it?"

"It is," Firenze agreed, "unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink some thing else - something that will bring you back to full strength and power-something that will mean you can never die. Ms Black, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"

Parker thought for a second before she gasped,"The Sorcerer's Stone. Of course, the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who-"

"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power,who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?" Firenze questioned.

Parker looked over at Erica, she didn't have a clue.

"Do you mean... That was Vol-" Erica began.

"Girls! Are you alright?" Hermione ran up to them.

"Oh, we're just fine." Erica told her, But the unicorn's dead, back in that clearing."

"This is where I leave you both." Firenze let the girls off his back while Hagrid hurried off to examine the unicorn,"You are safe now."

"Thank you, Firenze." Erica smiled at him.

Firenze smiled at the girls before he ran off.

"I like Firenze."

"Me too... I don't get why he called me Black, it's Malfoy." Parker crossed her arms.

Erica shrugged,"Maybe he got confused."

"I think mum's maiden name was Black."

"Well... Maybe he got you confused with her? Or didn't know her married name?" Hermione suggested.

"Maybe." Parker shrugged,"We should get back. Draco ran off."

"Now why am not surprised?" Harry sighed.

"He was a big wuss... Then again, so was Fang."

"I did warn 'im." Hagrid shrugged.

*********************************

"Right. That's us here. What's the plan?" Parker asked.

"I wasn't paying attention." Erica shrugged.

"Harry?" Parker turned to him.

"Well, we're going to use the cloak to get us down to the trapdoor." Harry began,"Once we're there, we'll get past Fluffy and we'll be able to stop Snape... After getting through whatever traps the teachers have set."

"Well that seems... Easy enough." Parker nodded.

"Right, I'll go get the cloak." Harry hurried off.

"He didn't have it already?" Ron groaned.

"It's Harry." Erica shrugged,"He's a bit forgetful."

"True." Ron agreed.

Soon enough, Harry ran back with the cloak,"We should probably put it on here, just so what happened last time doesn't happen again."

"Right, let's go." Parker nodded before they heard footsteps.

"What are you doing?" Came a voice from behind, a familiar voice at that.

"Ah!" Ron jumped.

"N-nev?" Erica stammered,"We're uh... Not doing anything."

"Then why wasn't I invited?" Neville asked in an innocent voice.

"Because uhm, it's very... Dark?"

"I-I can handle the dark."

"Hey Nev, maybe you should go to bed." Erica walked towards him.

"No, You can't go out. You'll be caught again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble. Not to mention Hufflepuff and Slytherin."

"Neville, you don't understand." Harry began.

"I won't let you do it." Neville moved in front of the portrait,"I'll- I'll fight you!"

"Neville, don't be an idiot. Just move away from the hole-" Ron tried.

"Don't you call me an idiot!" He pointed,"I don't think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!"

"Yeah, but not us- You don't know what you're doing." Ron pointed back.

Neville stepped forward, dropping Trevor and putting his fists up,"Go on then, try and hit me! I'm ready!"

"I'm not fighting Nev: Erica shook her head.

"Neither." Parker sighed and looked at Hermione,"Do something?"

"Neville, I really sorry about this." Hermione stepped forward, wand out,"Petrificus Totallus."

Neville's arms snapped to his sides, his legs slamming together before he swayed where he stood and then fell flat on his face, stiff as a board.

"I'm sorry as well!" Erica told him.

"You'll understand later, Neville." Ron sighed.

And with that, the Herd slipped under the cloak and began moving through the halls, all very on edge. A few minutes later, they were outside the third floor corridor, and the door was already open.

"If you want to go back now, I won't blame you." Harry turned them,"Take the cloak, I won't need it now"

"Don't be stupid." Parker scoffed.

"We're coming." Hermione nodded.

"And you're never getting rid of us!" Erica grabbed onto him.

Once they had gotten inside the room, they saw Fluffy, growling and sniffing.

"What's that at its feet?" Ron pointed.

"It's a... Harp?" Erica raised a brow.

Sure enough, a golden harp was sat by Fluffy, playing a soft melody.

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing." Parker realised,"Well, here goes."

Harry took out a flute given to him by Hagrid and he began blowing into it.

"Keep playing." Ron urged him as they walked.

Harry did as he was instructed as the group apprahhes the trapdoor.

"Want to go first, Hermione?" Ron hummed.

"No, I don't." Hermione nudged him.

"All right." Ron rolled his eyes and stepped over the dog, pulling the trapdoor open.

"Well? What do you see?" Erica asked him.

"Nothing... Just black." He sighed

"There's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop." Hermione nodded slowly.

Harry, still playing the flute, waved at Ron to get his attention and pointed to himself.

"You want to go first? Are you sure?" Ron raised a brow before he shrugged,"I don't know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."

Harry passed the flute over to Hermione. At first, Fluffy twitched and growled but as soon as Hermione began playing, it fell back into its deep sleep.

Harry lowered himself down, hanging onto the trapdoor by his fingertips,"If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?"

"Right." Ron nodded.

"But we won't need to because you'll be fine." Erica pointed.

"... I hope." Parker muttered.

"See you in a minute, hopefully."

Harry let go and dropped into the darkness below.

Parker waited a minute before she looked down,"... You dead?"

"N-no!"

"Oh. Then that's good." Parker nodded.

"Right, who next?" Erica looked around.

"I will." Ron nodded before he jumped down.

"Oh, me next!" Erica jumped down after the boys.

"Go on." Parker stood back for Hermione.

Hermione stopped playing the flute, quickly handing it to Parker before jumping down. Parker played it for a few moments, pulling the trapdoor closed before she jumped down after Hermione.

"What is this stuff?" Asked a panicked Ron.

"I know what this is... It's Devil's Snare!" Parker gasped as they all were sinking.

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that helps a bunch!" Ron struggled.

"Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" Hermione shouted.

"Well, hurry up. I can't breathe!" Harry gasped for air.

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... What did Professor Sprout say? it likes the dark and the damp-"

"So light a fire!" Erica called to her.

"No wood!"

"Hermione, you're a witch!" Erica reminded her.

"Right." Hermione cursed, saying a spell as she pointed her wand.

Once cast, the five of them fell to the ground.

"Thanks." Erica got to her feet.

"This way." Harry walked to the hallway.

"Can you hear something?" Parker asked

Ron nodded slowly,"Do you think it's a ghost?"

"I don't know... Sounds like wings to me." Hermione shrugged.

"There's light ahead- Wait, I see something moving." Erica pointed.

When they walked ahead, they saw birds, flying around the room.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Parker bit her cheek.

"Probably, but the don't look that vicious." Harry nodded slowly,"But if they all swooped down at once... Well, there's no other choice. I'll run."

Harry ran over to the door, pulling the handle but it was locked

"Try Alohamora." Hermione called to him.

Harry tried the spell but... Nothing.

"Now what?" Ron sighed.

"Well, these... Birds... Can't just be here for decoration." Erica crossed her arms.

Parker crossed her arms and looked at the birds, studying them,"They're not birds. They're keys! Winged keys. Look carefully. So that must mean... Yes look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there's hundreds of them!"

"We're looking for a big, old fashioned one, probably silver, like the handle!" Ron pointed.

"Well, let's start looking." Erica sighed.

"That one! That big one- No, there with bright blue wings with the feathers are all crumpled on one side." Harry jumped.

"Someone's already found it." Erica mumbled.

"So who's riding?" Parker gestured fo the broomsticks.

"Well, we do have the youngest seeker in a century right here." Ron looked over at Harry.

"Off I go then." Harry jumped on the broom.

"Good luck!"

"Ron, Erica, you come at it from above. Parker, Hermione, stay below and stop it from going down and I'll try and catch it. Right?" Harry chased the key.

"Alright!" Erica hopped on a broom and flew up.

Ron chased after his sister and got on a broom himself before they all worked together. In the end, Harry managed to pin the key against the wall and take it.

They all landed quickly and Harry ran to the door, practically shoving the key into the lock.

"Well?" Parker raised a brow.

Harry twisted the key and luckily, the door swung open. They all ran through the door, closing it behind them before they looked and they were... On a giant chessboard?

"Oh great." Erica groaned,"My worst enemy. Chess."

"We have to play our way across the room?" Parker groaned.

"How?" Hermione asked nervously.

"I think... We have to be chessmen." Ron nodded slowly as he looked at the board.

"Well Ron, guess you're in charge." Erica told him.

"Right." Ron sighed and walked forward.

"So... What do we do?" Harry asked,"I know you've tried teaching me but I'm just not that good at, well, wizard chess."

"Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, you go next to him instead of that castle. Girls, you stand on the side and ill tell you when to come in."

"Whatever you say, Ronnie."

"Fine by me." Parker hummed.

Harry took his position, looking ready

*********************************

"Ron will be okay." Parker assured her friend.

Erica looked away, still quite shaky.

"Trust me." Parker nodded.

"Okay.."

"Right, what's next?" Parker turned to Hermione.

Hermione peered into the room ahead and turned back with a sigh,"Potions."

"Oh! I'm good at that." Parker smiled.

"Well, you can be in charge." Erica told her.

"Me? In charge?" Parker looked.

"You. In charge." She repeated.

"Right." Parker nodded as she went over to the piece of paper and read it.

"What does it say?" Harry questioned.

"Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, which ever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Three among our number hold only nettle wine,
Four of us are killers, waiting bidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight." Parker read out.

Erica stood and blinked,"But... What does that mean!"

"It's logic, a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic, they'd be stuck in here forever." Parker shrugged.

"Good thing we've got someone with more logical thinking. Harry smiled at her.

"Everything we need is here on this paper. Ten bottles: four are poison; three are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire, and two will get us back through the purple fire." Parker nodded

"Right.." Erica nodded slowly.

"But how will we know what to drink?" Harry looked between the girls.

"The... Riddle?" Erica asked.

"Give me a minute." Parker bit her cheek.

Erica looked over it but she couldn't make any sense of it.

"Got it." Parker pointed "The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire, towards the Stone."

"This one!" Erica picked it up.

"Yeah." Parker hummed.

Erica smiled and set it aside.

"There's only enough there for one of us." Harry pointed, "That's hardly one swallow."

"I'm no mathematician but bet we could figure something out." Erica shrugged.

"Which one will get you back through the purple flames?" Harry asked.

"This one?" Erica guessed and pointed.

Parker nodded,"Yeah, Erica, The one at the end?"

"Yeah, the one at the end."

"You two drink that. Get back and get Ron and Hermione. Grab brooms from the flying key room, they'll get you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him. I might be able to hold Snape off for a while,but I'm no match for him, really." Harry ordered.

"But Harry- What if... What if You-know-who is with him?" Erica asked, worried.

"Well I was lucky once, wasn't I? I might get lucky again." Harry shrugged.

Erica quickly ran over to Harry and hugged him tightly.

"Erica?" Harry raised a brow.

"You're a great wizard, Harry."

"Me? So are you."

"I'll believe it when I see it." Erica sighed, letting him go.

"You two drink first... You are sure which is which, aren't you?" Harry turned to Parker.

"Postive." Parker took a small drink from the bottle at the end.

Erica picked up the bottle next and took a sip as well.

"It's not... Poison?" Harry slowly asked.

"Well, I'm not dead yet." Erica shrugged.

"It's like ice." Parker nodded.

"Nice ice." Erica added.

"Quick! Go before it wears off." Harry pointed.

Erica sighed softly and held her hand out,"Come on, Parker."

"Coming." Parker hummed and put her bottle down, taking her friends hand before they left.