During the week of exams, we all seemed tense, knowing that Voldemort was in the woods near us. Studying seemed to help us calm our nerves a bit but not enough. Every day we made sure Fluffy was still guarding the trapdoor.

The classrooms were burning hot where we were tested, and we had to use special anti-cheating quills which were old and would sometimes be hard to write with.

Our practical exams were better because we only had to do a few spells before being allowed to leave. Professor Flitwick made us charm a pineapple to tap-dance across a desk while Professor McGonagall told us to turn a mouse into a snuffbox (bonus points for how pretty the snuffbox was). Snape's was the hardest because we had to remember how to make a Forgetfulness Potion, a hard potion to remember because the fumes affected the potion maker.

We had just finished our last exam in History of Magic and were walking to lunch when Hermione smiled, "That was far easier than I thought it would be. I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."

We all listened to Hermione review the exam we just took, as we plopped down on the grass narthex lake, basking in the sun. I had unclipped my cape used it as a blanket. I noticed the twins and Lee Jordan tickling the tentacles of a giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows. I really have to bring a swimsuit next year.

"No more studying," Ron sighed happily, stretching out on my large cape, next to me. "You could look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet."

Harry rubbed his forehead. I wonder if he was still having headaches.

"I wish I knew what this means!" Harry burst out angrily, a few minutes later. "My scar keeps hurting — it's happened before, but never as often as this."

"Go to Madam Pomfrey," I tell him.

"I'm not ill," said Harry. "I think it's a warning...it means danger's coming..."

Ron sighed, not wanting his relaxation to be ruined, "Harry, relax, Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."

Harry nodded but didn't seem too convinced. He kept saying he felt like he forgot something.

I rub his arm, "It's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one."

Harry still seemed unsettled, but, I couldn't think of anything else to say. I rolled on my stomach and reached my hand out to summon a stream of water to play with. I began to bounce it from one hand to another when Hedwig flew to us. I threw the water back into the lake before turning towards the white owl with an envelope in-between its beak.

Harry jumped up, grabbed his books.

"Where're you going?" said Ron sleepily, as he had begun to take a nap on my cape.

"I've just thought of something," Harry said. I was worried because he seemed almost white. "We've got to go and see Hagrid now."

He then took off towards Hagrid's leaving Ron, Hermione, and I to run after him, "Why?"

"Don't you think it's a bit odd," Harry asked us running across the grounds, "that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"

I stop realizing what Harry had put together, it was all planned. I began sprinting to Hagrid's with the same urgency as Harry, if not more.

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked behind us, seemingly out of breathing. Harry and I didn't respond, however, because we knew we had to get to Hagrid and explaining everything to Ron would only waste time.

Once we reached Hagrid, we immediately sat down, exhausted.

"Hullo," Hagrid smiled, whittling what looked like a flute. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"Yes, please," Ron greedily said but Harry, thankfully cut him off, "No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"

"Dunno," said Hagrid carelessly, "he wouldn' take his cloak off."

I looked at him, stunned. How foolish could he be? Even I knew that seems off.

Hagrid cooly continues, "It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head — that's one o' the pubs down in the village. Mighta bin, a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."

"What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"

"Mighta come up," Hagrid rubbed his beard trying to remember. "Yeah...he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here...He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I look after...so I told him...an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon...an' then...I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks...", I facepalmed, "Let's see...yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted...but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home...So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy..."

"And did he — did he seem interested in Fluffy?" I asked him, trying to remain nonchalant.

"Well — yeah — how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep —" Hagrid looked at us horrified "I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I all looked at each other before dashing to the castle. "Forget I said it! Hey — where're yeh goin'?"

Once we reached the entrance hall, we stopped.

"We've got to go to Dumbledore," Harry panted. "Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak — it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?"

"I know where it is, follow me," I told them before turning around to run into Professor McGonagall. "What are you three doing inside?"

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," said Hermione confidently.

"See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated, as though we were mad. "Why?"

"It's sort of secret," Harry said, at the same time I said, "I just wanted to introduce him formally to my friends."

"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," Professor McGonagall coldly stated glaring at Harry and me.

"He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once." Of course, he did.

"He's gone?" Harry looked frantic. "Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time —"

"But this is important."

"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Potter?"

"Look. Professor — it's about the Sorcerer's Stone —"

This seemed to shock Professor McGonagall since she probably didn't expect that. She backed away, almost like we hurt her before spluttering, "How do you know — ?"

I frown, not wanting to answer that question and get in any more trouble, "Professor, I think — I know — that Sn— that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Dumbledore."

"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow," she said finally. "I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected."

"But Professor —" Harry begins.

"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," I frown. No, you don't. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."

"It's tonight," said Harry, once he was sure Professor McGonagall was out of earshot. "Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."

"But what can we —" I said before pausing hearing Hermione's gasp.

"Good afternoon," I hear Snape's voice.

We all stared up at him, eyes wide as saucers "You shouldn't be inside on a day like this."

"We were —" Harry began having no idea how to finish that sentence.

"You want to be more careful," Snape made a twisted sort of smile. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?"

We turned to go back outside when Snape stopped us, "Be warned, Potter — any more nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."

"Right, here's what we've got to do," Harry said urgently Ince Snape left "Tonight, one of us has got to keep an eye on Snape — wait outside the staffroom and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, you'd better do that."

"Why me?" Hermione asked, hurt.

"It's obvious," said Ron. "You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know." Ron put on a fake Hermione voice, " 'Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen b wrong. . . .' "

I burst out in laughter, his voice was horrible. The funniest part, though, was that Hermione had in fact, asked Professor Flitwick that question after lunch yesterday.

"Oh, shut up," Hermione snapped.

"And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor," Harry looked at Ron and I. "Come on."

Our plan, however, failed when Professor McGonagall caught us guarding the door. Her nose flared and I knew we were in for it "I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments! Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you've come anywhere near here again, I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor!", Ron opened his mouth, but McGonagall cut him off, "Yes, Weasley, from my own House!"

When we returned to our common room, Harry plopped on the couch, "At least Hermione's on Snape's tail."

A few minutes after he said that Hermione came in, "I'm sorry, Harry! Snape came out and asked me what I was doing, so I said I was waiting for Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and I've only just got away, I don't know where Snape went."

"Well, that's it then, isn't it?" I sighed, not knowing what else to do.

Harry shook his head before getting off the couch, "I'm going out of here tonight, and I'm going to try and get to the Stone first."

I shrug my shoulders, "Okay."

"You're mad!" Ron laughed.

"You can't!" Hermione cried. "After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'll be expelled!"

"SO WHAT?" Harry shouted. "Don't you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? 

D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the House Cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have because I'm never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight, and nothing you two say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?"

He glared at the others before storming off to the door.

"You're right, Harry," Hermione said in a small voice, walking to stand near me.

"I'll use the Invisibility Cloak," Harry turned around. "It's just lucky I got it back."

"But will it cover all four of us?" Ron asked.

Harry looked at him, confused, "All — all four of us?"

"Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?"

"Of course not," said Hermione briskly. "How do you think you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better go and look through my books, there might be something useful. . . ."

"But if we get caught, you two will be expelled, too."

I smile, giving Harry a side hug, "We are with you, Harry, no matter what."

"And we won't get expelled," Hermione grimly said. "Flitwick told me in secret that Ella and I got over a hundred and ten percent on his exam. They're not throwing us out after that."

Hermione and I used all the time we had to review all our notes, as well as reading a few books with helpful spells. Harry and Ron were trying to come up with a plan. Bluebelle meowed around us, not understanding why few were so tense.

Once the common room emptied, Ron turned to Harry, "Better get the cloak."

Harry quickly ran up before returning with his cloak in hand. "We'd better put the cloak on here, and make sure it covers all four of us — if Filch spots one of our feet wandering along on its own —"

"What are you doing?" Neville asked, clutching on to his frighted, Trevor, who seemed to be trying to escape again.

"Nothing, Neville, nothing," I gently told him.

"You're going out again," Neville frowned.

"No, no, no," I laughed. "No, we're not. Why don't you go to bed, Neville?"

"You can't go out," Neville said, "you'll be caught again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble."

"You don't understand," Hermione said, looking at the grandfather clock on the wall, "this is important."

"I won't let you do it," Neville stuttered before running to block the porthole. "I'll — I'll fight you!"

I laughed, not trying to be mean, but unable to contain my laughter.

"Neville," Ron exploded, getting angry, "get away from that hole and don't be an idiot —"

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

"Yes, but not to us," whined Ron in exasperation. "Neville, you don't know what you're doing."

"Go on then, try and hit me!" Neville said, raising his fists. "I'm ready!"

"Do something," Harry turned to Hermione and me with urgency in his eyes.

Hermione stepped forward before pulling out her wand, "Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this", she waved her wand reciting, "Petrificus Totalus!"

The spell worked immediately, snapping Neville's arms to his sides and gluing his legs together. His entire body goes rigid, he sways then falls flat on his face, stiff as a board.

Hermione ran to turn him over, Neville's eyes moved around in horror.

"What've you done to him?" Harry whispered.

"It's the full Body-Bind," said Hermione miserably. "Oh, Neville, I'm so sorry."

"We had to, Neville, no time to explain," Harry tells him before stepping over Neville's frozen body.

"You'll understand later, Neville," said Ron as stepping over him, next with the invisibility cloak in hand.

We draped the cloak over ourselves before carefully walking to the third-floor corridor. We paused when we saw Mrs. Norris creeping along the walls.

"Oh, let's kick her, just this once," Ron whispered in our ears, but Harry shook his head. We all walked around her, making sure to not let go of the cloak.

We didn't run into anyone else until we reached the top of the staircase to the third floor. Peeves was already at the top, writing something vulgar on the walls.

"Who's there?" Peeves must have heard us somehow because he turned his head. "Know you're there, even if I can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?"

"Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen." Peeves began swiping at the air for us.

"Peeves," Harry said in a hoarse voice, "the Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."

Peeves seemed ready to pass out when he heard Harry.

"So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, sir," he said. "My mistake, my mistake — I didn't see you — of course, I didn't, you're invisible — forgive old Peevsie his little joke, sir."

"I have business here, Peeves," croaked Harry. "Stay away from this place tonight."

"I will, sir, I most certainly will," said Peeves, rising up in the air to leave. "Hope your business goes well, Baron, I'll not bother you."

"Brilliant, Harry!" whispered Ron, once Peeves left.

A few seconds later, we were in front of the door.

"Well, there you are," Harry said quietly, "Snape's already got past Fluffy." The door was ajar.

"If you want to go back, I won't blame you," Harry turned towards us. "You can take the cloak, I won't need it now."

"We aren't leaving."

"Don't be stupid," said Ron.

"We're coming," said Hermione.

Harry pushed the door open, and we saw Fluffy. He was awake and sniffing the air, trying to find us.

"What's that at its feet?" Hermione whispered.

"Looks like a harp," Ron said. "Snape must have left it there."

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," said Harry. "Can anybody play?"

I roll my eyes before pulling out my wand, "Lintrumere Musicorum."

The cello began to play a slow song, and Fluffy's eyes drooped until he was asleep.

We took off the cloak before walking over to the trapdoor.

"I think we'll be able to pull the door open," Ron said before turning to look at Fluffy. "Want to go first, Hermione?"

"No, I don't!"

"All right." Ron gritted his teeth before stepping carefully over Fluffy's legs. He bent down and pulled the ring of the trapdoor up, opening the door.

"What can you see?" I asked, peering into the dark hole.

"Nothing — just black — there's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop."

Harry stepped up, "I will go first." None of us objected as he sat down and lowered himself down until he was just hanging by his hands. He looked up at Ron and said, "If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?"

"Right," said Ron.

"See you in a minute, I hope. . . ." After that, Harry let go, and all we heard was a thump until "It's okay!" Harry called, "it's a soft landing, you can jump!"

Ron didn't hesitate to jump into the hole next before calling, "Come on!"

Hermione and I looked at each other, hesitant. I reached my hand out for hers, and she smiled, grabbing it tightly before we both jumped down at the same time.

When we landed, we were on some sort of plant. I looked at the small hole above us, "We must be miles under the school."

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really," said Ron.

"Lucky!" shrieked Hermione. "Look at you both!"

Hermione let up and struggled towards the wall. I followed her, curious about what she was running from, but I realized as I tried to get up and found my ankles tied together by the vines. I used all my might to get out, but it only seemed to grip me tighter. The boys seemed to be having the same problem, although the vines had covered them much more than me.

"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered. "I know what this is — it's Devil's Snare!"

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," snarled Ron, leaning back, trying to dodge another tendril.

"Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" Hermione said, clutching her head in frustration.

"Well, hurry up, I can't breathe!" Harry gasped, I turned to see the vines wrapping around his neck.

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

"So light a fire!" I tell her, still trying to free my feet.

"Yes — of course — but there's no wood!" Hermione cried, looking around.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Harry bellowed, swatting a few vines away. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"

"Oh, right!" Hermione smiled, taking out her wand before muttering a few incantations. In a matter of seconds, a blue flame emerged from the tip, which scared away the Devil's Snare.

I quickly moved my legs away and ran up to the wall, just to be sure Devil's Snare wouldn't trap me again.

"Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione," Harry said, wiping the sweat off his face.

"Yeah," Ron rolled his eyes, "and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis — 'there's no wood,' honestly."

"This way," Harry pointed down a stone passageway, which was the only path.

"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered.

I moved my head to listen, and heard a soft rustling and clicking noise. "Do you think it's a ghost?"

Hermione strained her ears to listen, "I don't know . . . sounds like wings to me."

"There's light ahead — I can see something moving."

We followed Harry to see a brilliantly lit chamber which was full of beautifully jeweled birds, fluttering in the room.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Ron asked, watching the birds in fear.

"Probably," Harry looked up. "They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once . . . Well, there's no other choice . . . I'll run."

Harry took a deep breath before covering his face and running to the door.

I waited for something to happen, but nothing did. Harry pulled on the handle, and the door didn't budge. Hermione walked up next and tried to charm the door open. I frown, realizing that we need to use one of the birds to open the door. Life was never easy.

"Now what?" Ron banged on the door.

"These birds . . . they can't be here just for decoration," I told them. "They're keys. Winged keys — look carefully."

"So that must mean . . ." Harry looked around the room until he saw a pair of broomsticks, "Yes — look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!" Ron cried, lazily looking at the birds.

Hermione looked at the handle, "We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one — probably silver, like the handle."

Harry and Ron peached grabbed a broom before trying to find the key. The keys began to dart all around the room, going in all different directions. It felt like every time one of them grabbed a key, it would be the wrong one.

"That one!" Harry called, staring at one key in particular with broken wings. "That big one — there — no, there — with bright blue wings — the feathers are all crumpled on one side."

Hermione and I tried to find the key Harry was speaking of but couldn't see it. I guess that is why Harry is such a good Seeker.

Ron speeded to the key and ran straight into the wall, nearly falling off his broom.

"We've got to close in on it!" Harry called out. "Ron, you come at it from above — Hermione, Ella, stay below and stop it from going down — and I'll try and catch it. Right, NOW!"

Ron dived at the key, and Hermione and I tried to grab it as to come down, but we both missed it. I felt a breeze and looked to see Harry holding the key. I cheered before rushing to the door, waiting for him to open it.

Harry ran to the door and rammed the key into the lock and opened the door.

"Ready?" Harry asked as he turned to us, his hand on the door handle. I nodded and waited for him to open the door.

The next chamber was so dark I couldn't see anything. But as we stepped into it, the light suddenly flooded the room to reveal a colossal chessboard. We all saw the door and walked towards it only to be stopped by multiple swords, we backed away.

"Now, what do we do?" Harry whispered.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Ron said, happy to be the smartest one in the room. "We've got to play our way across the room."

"How?" I ask him, looking at the huge chess pieces.

"I think," Ron looked at the board, "we're going to have to be chessmen."

Ron walked up to the black night and tapped the horse. It immediate;y sprang to life in a neighing fit. Ron moved back, "Do we — er — have to join you to get across?"

The black knight nodded.

"This needs thinking about..." Ron tattered "I suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces..."

Ron turned to us, "Now, don't be offended or anything, but none of you are that good at chess —"

"We're not offended," said Harry quickly. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, you go there instead of that king. Ella, you take the spot of the queen."

I move to the spot as the queen leaves her area, "What about you?"

"I'm going to be a knight," Ron puffed out his chest. This is who we are trusting our lives to.

"White always plays first in chess," Ron said as the white pawn moved forward two squares. "Yes . . . look . . ."

"Harry — move diagonally four squares to the right."

Harry does so, and the white pawn moves. Ron then directs for a black pawn to move next to the white one. I jump seeing the white pawn move forward and smash our black pawn that had just moved. The pawn then dragged the other's remains off the board. Hermione and I look at each other wide-eyed before turning to Ron.

"Had to let that happen," Ron said, looking a little shaken himself. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on."

Hermione hesitantly stepped to her next place. It appeared that every time one of our men lost, the white chess pieces showed no mercy in killing them all off.

Ron looked miserable when he noticed that Harry, Hermione, and I. "We're nearly there," he muttered to himself. "Let me think — let me think...Yes..." Ron looked up, "it's the only way...I've got to be taken."

"NO!" I shouted, realizing what he was about to do.

"That's chess!" Ron barked at me. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I make my move, and she'll take me — that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But —"

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?"

"Ron —"

"Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone! Ready?" Ron asked his face pale but determined. "Here I go — now, don't hang around once you've won." I look around for any water to protect him with but, I can't find any.

Ron stepped forward, and the queen struck him hard on the head with her stone arm. I screamed, moving as close as I could to Ron while staying in my square.

Ron seemed to be knocked out as the queen moved him to the side. Harry stepped up before calling, "Checkmate!"

The white king let his sword fall to Harry's feet. We won.

We all dashed towards Ron. Hermione put his head on her lap "What if he's — ?"

"He'll be all right," I told her, trying to convince myself the same. Although I don't always show it, Ron is like an older brother to me, and I couldn't bear losing him.

Harry stood up, walking to the door, "What do you reckon's next?"

Hermione lightly put Ron's head down before walking with Harry and me through the door, "We've had Sprout's, that was the Devils Snare; Flitwick must've put charms on the keys; McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell, and Snape's . . ."

Hermione stopped probably affected by the horrible smell coming from the room, I quickly blocked my nose with my red cape. I looked down to see a troll even bigger than the one from Halloween passed out on the floor with a bloody lump on his head.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Harry whispered. "Come on, I can't breathe."

I stepped over the troll's massive legs before opening the next door to see a table with seven differently shapes bottles.

"Snape's," Hermione stated.

Harry asked, walking up to the table, "What do we have to do?"

I looked at the door to see it engulfed in black flames. I turned to the entrance to find purple flames coming from that door as well. We were trapped.

"Look!" Hermione called before grabbing a sheet of paper on the table and handing it to Harry and me:

Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,

Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,

One among us seven will let you move ahead,

Another will transport the drinker back instead,

Two among our number hold only nettle wine,

Three of us are killers, waiting hidden 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

"Brilliant," I smiled, thrilled to solve the puzzle. "This isn't magic — 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."

Harry looked confused, "But so will we, won't we?"

"Of course not," Hermione said before turning to me. "Everything we need is here on this paper. Ella, you are amazing with these. You would be the fastest to solve it."

I smile before taking the paper from Harry and walking up to the table. "Seven bottles: three are a poison; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire, and one will get us back through the purple."

Harry looked scared, "But how do we know which to drink?"

"Give me a minute."

I reread the paper before smiling and rearranging the bottles in the order of the riddle, "The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire — toward the Stone," I hand it to Harry, "There's only enough there for one of us. It's hardly one swallow."

Harry looks hesitant, so Hermione grabs the bottle and hands it to him, "It has to be you, Harry."

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

I point to a green bottle with a white cap.

"You drink that," Harry says, looking at Hermione, who was ready to object. "No, listen, get back, and get Ron. 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."

"But Harry — what if You-Know-Who's with him?" Hermione looked at the door before turning back to Harry.

"Well — I was lucky once, wasn't I?" Harry moved his bangs to show us his scar like it was a good luck charm. "I might get lucky again."

Hermione's lip trembled, and I knew tears were already falling from my eyes as we dashed at Harry and threw our arms around him in a group hug. "Harry — you're a great wizard, you know."

"I'm not as good as you, two," Harry said embarrassed once we let go of him.

"Me!" Hermione and I said in unison. We both laughed, "Books! And cleverness! Or special powers", Hermione waved her hand towards me, "There are more important things — friendship and bravery. Be careful, Harry."

"You drink first," Harry says to Hermione, who took a long drink from the round bottle at the end and shuddered.

"It's not poison?" said Harry anxiously, looking at me.

Hermione shook her head, "No — but it's like ice."

"Quick, go before it wears off."

"Good luck — take care —"

"GO!"

Hermione ran straight through the purple fire. I turned to Harry holding his potion towards him, "Your turn."

"Here I come," he muttered, before taking a gulp of the little remains. He shivered before walking through, leaving me alone in the potions room.

I tried to strain my ears to listen in on Harry and Snape's conversation, but, I couldn't hear anything they said. It felt like I was sitting there for hours trapped until I heard a ground shattering howl.

It didn't sound like Snape; however, I was worried and moved closer to the door where I heard yet another scream, this time it was Harry's, and I didn't hesitate to run straight through the door. Flames or not, I was not going to let my friend die.

I feel a wave of heat as I walk through then nothing. I checked to see if I was burned, but I was shocked to see I was okay. I looked at my robe to see the flames dissolving into its velvet cloth. I smile.

I looked around the room and noticed Harry on the floor, with Professor Quirrell on top of him, trying to pin him down. That wasn't what shocked me, however. The sight that had me grounded was the disgusting face attached to the back of Quirrell's head. I never knew what he looked like, but I had a feeling in my gut that it was Voldemort.

When I finally gained my voice, I could only mutter one word, "Ew."

Voldemort sneered at me, "Ella Colette Ambrosio", I felt sick as he said my name, "This was not how our first meeting was supposed to be, dear."

I feel my stomach turn in disgust. Harry looked up at me before putting his hands on Quirrell's wrist. Quirrell screamed in agony as his hand burned to ashes. "What is this magic?!" Quirrell yelled fear in his eyes.

"Get.The.Stone." Voldemort screeched. Quirrell walked in agony towards Harry.

My eyes widened in shock, and I moved to stop him, but Quirrel quickly muttered a spell rooting me in my spot.

Harry looked at his hands, before running to Quirrell and putting his hands on his face, burning that to ashes as well. Quirrell's body fell to the ground as it crumbled into ashes and disappeared with the wind. Harry ran to grab the stone before turning to help me.

"Harry!" I warned him, pushing him down as Voldemort's spirit floating in the air, straight through me. My heart feels constricted, and then everything is black.