In years to come, Harry would never quite remember howIhe had managed to get through his exams when he halfexpected Voldemort to come bursting through the door at anymoment. Yet the days crept by and there could be no doubtthat Fluffy was still alive and well behind the locked door.
It was swelteringly hot, especially in the large classroomwhere they did their written papers. They had been givenspecial, new quills for the exams, which had been bewitchedwith an Anti-Cheating spell.
They had practical exams as well. Professor Flitwickcalled them one by one into his class to see if they couldmake a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. Professor McGona-gall watched them turn a mouse into a snuff-box - pointswere given for how pretty the snuff-box was, but takenaway if it had whiskers. Snape made them all nervous, breath-ing down their necks while they tried to remember howto make a Forgetfulness Potion.
Hlarry did the best he could, trying to ignore the stabbingpains in his forehead which had been bothering him eversince his trip into the Forest. Neville thought Harry had a badcase of exam nerves because Harry couldn't sleep, but thetruth was that Harry kept being woken by his old nightmare,except that it was now worse than ever because there was ahooded figure dripping blood in it.
Maybe it was because they hadn't seen what Harry hadseen in the Forest, or because they didn't have scars burningon their foreheads, but Ronand Hermione didn't seem asworried about the Stone as Harry. The idea of Voldemortcertainly scared them, but he didn't keep visiting them indreams, and they were so busy with their revision they didn'thave much time to fret about what Snape or anyone else mightbe up to.
Their very last exam was History of Magic. One hour ofanswering questions about batty old wizards who'd inventedself-stirring cauldrons and they'd be free, free for a wholewonderful week until their exam results came out. When theghost of Professor Binns told them to put down their quillsand roll up their parchment,Harry couldn't help cheeringwith the rest.
'That was far easier than I thought it would be,' saidHermione, as they joined the crowds flocking out intothe sunny grounds. 'I needn't have learnt about the 1637Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric theEager.'
Hermione always liked to go through their exam papers afterwards, but Ron said this made him feel ill, so theywandered down to the lake and flopped under a tree. TheWeasley twins and Lee Jordan were tickling the tentacles of agiant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows.
'No more revision,' Ron sighed happily, stretching out onthe grass.You could look more cheerful, Harry, we've got aweek before we find out how badly we've done, there's noneed to worry yet.'
Harry was rubbing his forehead.
'I wish I knew what this means!' he burst out angrily. 'Myscar keeps hurting - it's happened before, but never as oftenas this.'
'Go to Madam Pomfrey,'Hermione suggested.
'I'm not ill,' said Harry. 'I think it's a warning ... it meansdanger's coming ...'
Ron couldn't get worked up, it was too hot.
'Harry, relax, Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long asDumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proofSnape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his legripped off once, he's not going to try it again in a hurry. AndNeville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid letsDumbledore down!'
Harry nodded, but he couldn't shake off a lurking feelingthat therewassomething he'd forgotten to do,somethingimportant.When he tried to explain this, Hermione said,'That'sjustthe exams. I woke up last night and was halfwaythrough my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'ddone that one!'
Harry was quite sure the unsettled feeling didn't haveanything to do with work, though. He watched an owl fluttertowards the school across the bright blue sky, a note clampedin its mouth. Hagrid was the only one who ever sent himletters. Hagrid would never betray Dumbledore.Hagridwould never tell anyone how to get past Fluffy...never...but-
Harry suddenly jumped to his feet.
'Where're you going?' said Ron sleepily.
T've just thought of something,' said Harry. He had gonewhite. 'We've got to go and see Hagrid, now.'
'Why?' panted Hermione, hurrying to keep up.
'Don't youthink it's a bit odd,' said Harry, scramblingup the grassy slope, 'that what Hagrid wants more thananything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who justhappens to have an egg in his pocket? How many peoplewander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law?Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see itbefore?'
What are you on about?' said Ron, but Harry, sprintingacross the grounds towards the Forest, didn't answer.
Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; histrousers and sleeves were rolled up and he was shelling peasinto a large bowl.
'Hullo,he said, smiling.'Finished yer exams? Got time fera drink?'
Yes, please,' said Ron, but Harry cut across him.
No,we're in a hurry. Hagrid,I've got to ask you something.
You know that night you won Norbert? What did the strangeryou were playing cards with look like?'
'Dunno,' said Hagrid casually, 'he wouldn' take his cloakoff.'
He saw the three of them look stunned and raised hiseyebrows.
'It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog'sHead-that's one of the pubs down in the village. Mighta bina dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept hishood up.'
Harry sank down next to the bowl of peas.
'What did you talk to him about,Hagrid? Did you mentionHogwarts at all?'
'Mighta come up,' said Hagrid, frowning as he tried toremember. 'Yeah... he asked what I did, an' I told him I wasgamekeeper here ... He asked a bit about the sorta creatures Ilook after... so I told him... an' I said what I'd always reallywanted was a dragon ... an' then ... I can' remember too well,'cause he kept buyin' me drinks ... Let's see ... yeah,then hesaid he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if Iwanted... 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?' Harryasked,trying to keep his voice calm.
Well-yeah-how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet,even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cakeif yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o'music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep -'
Hagrid suddenly looked horrified.
'I shouldn'ta told yeh that!' he blurted out. 'Forget I said it!Hey-where're yeh goin'?'
Harry,Ron and Hermione didn't speak to each other at alluntil they came to a halt in the Entrance Hall, which seemedvery cold and gloomy after the grounds.
'We've got to go to Dumbledore,' said Harry. 'Hagrid toldthat stranger how to get past Fluffy and it was either Snapeor Voldemort under that cloak - it must've been easy, oncehe'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us.Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where'sDumbledore's office?'
They looked around, as if hoping to see a sign pointingthem in the right direction. They had never been told whereDumbledore lived, nor did they know anyone who had beensent to see him.
We'll just have to -' Harry began, but a voice suddenlyrang across the hall.
'What are you three doing inside?'
It was Professor McGonagall, carrying a large pile ofbooks.
We want to see Professor Dumbledore,' said Hermione,rather bravely,Harry and Ron thought.
'See Professor Dumbledore?' Professor McGonagallrepeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to want todo.'Why?'
Harry swallowed-now what?
'It's sort of secret,' he said, but he wished at once he hadn't,because Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared.
'Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago, she saidcoldly. 'He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magicand flew off for London at once.'
'He's gone?' said Harry frantically. 'Now?'
'Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, hehas many demands on his time -'
'But this is important.'
'Something you have to say is more important than theMinistry of Magic, Potter?'
'Look,' said Harry, throwing caution to the winds, 'Pro-fessor- it's about the Philosopher's Stone -'
Whatever Professor McGonagall had expected, it wasn'tthat. The books she was carrying tumbled out of her arms butshe didn't pick them up.
'How do you know -?' she spluttered.
'Professor,I think-I know-that Sn-that someone's goingto try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to ProfessorDumbledore.'
She eyed him with a mixture of shock and suspicion.
'Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow,' she saidfinally. 'I don't know how you found out about the Stone,but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too wellprotected.'
'But Professor -'
'Potter, I know what I'm talking about,' she said shortly.She bent down and gathered up the fallen books. 'I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine.'
But they didn't.
'It's tonight,' said Harry, once he was sure ProfessorMcGonagall was out of earshot. 'Snape's going through thetrapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs andnow he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note,Ibet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock whenDumbledore turns up.'
'But what can we -'
Hermione gasped. Harry and Ron wheeled round.
Snape was standing there.
'Good afternoon,' he said smoothly.
They stared at him.
'You shouldn't be inside on a day like this,' he said, with anodd,twisted smile.
'We were -' Harry began, without any idea what he wasgoing to.say.
You want to be more careful,' said Snape. Hangingaround like this, people will think you're up to something.And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points,can they?'
Harry flushed. They turned to go back outside, but Snapecalled them back.
Be warned,Potter-any more night-time wanderings andI will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day toyou.'
He strode off in the direction of the staff room.
Out on the stone steps, Harry turned to the others.
'Right, here's what we've got to do,' he whispered urgently.'One of us has got to keep an eye on Snape-wait outside thestaff room and follow him if he leaves it.Hermione,you'dbetter do that.'
'Why me?'
'It's obvious,' said Ron. 'You can pretend to be waiting forProfessor Flitwick, you know.' He put on a high voice, 'OhProfessor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got questionfourteen b wrong ...'
'Oh, shut up,' said Hermione, but she agreed to go andwatch out for Snape.
'And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor,'Harry told Ron. 'Come on.'
But that part of the plan didn't work. No sooner had theyreached the door separating Fluffy from the rest of the schoolthan Professor McGonagall turned up again, and this time,she lost her temper.
'I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a packof enchantments!' she stormed. 'Enough of this nonsense! If Ihear you've come anywhere near here again, I'll take anotherfifty points from Gryffindor! Yes, Weasley, from my ownhouse!'
Harry and Ron went back to the common room.Harry had just said, 'At least Hermione's on Snape's tail,'when the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and Hermionecame in.
I'm sorry, Harry!' she wailed. 'Snape came out and askedme 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'tknow where Snape went.'
'Well, that's it then, isn't it?' Harry said.
The other two stared at him. He was pale and his eyeswere glittering.
T'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and getto the Stone first.'
'You're mad!' said Ron.
'You can't!' said Hermione. 'After what McGonagall andSnape have said? You'll be expelled!'
'SO WHAT?' Harry shouted. 'Don't you understand? IfSnape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back!Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying totake over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelledfrom! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the DarkArts! Losing points doesn't matter any more, can't you see?D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone ifGryffindor win the House Cup? If I get caught before I canget to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleysand wait for Voldemort to find me there. It's only dying a bitlater than I would havedone,because I'm never going overto the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonightand nothing you two say is going to stop mel Voldemort killedmy parents,remember?'
He glared at them.
'You're right,Harry,' said Hermione in a small voice.
Tll usethe Invisibility Cloak; said Harry. 'It's just lucky Igot it back!
'But will it cover all three of us?' said Ron.
'All -all three of us?'
'Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?'
'Of course not,' said Hermione briskly. 'How do youthink you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better goand look through my books, there might be somethinguseful...'
'But if we get caught, you two will be expelled,too.'
Not if I can help it,' said Hermione grimly. 'Flitwick toldme in secret that I got a hundred and twelve per cent on hisexam. They're not throwing me out after that.'
After dinner the three of them sat nervously apart in thecommon room. Nobody bothered them; none of theGryffindors had anything to say to Harry any more, after all.This was the first night he hadn't been upset by it. Hermionewas skimming through all her notes, hoping to come acrossone of the enchantments they were about to try and break.Harry and Ron didn't talk much. Both of them were thinkingabout what they were about to do.
Slowly, the room emptied as people drifted off to bed.
Better get the Cloak, Ron muttered,as Lee Jordanfinally left, stretching and yawning.Harry ran upstairs totheir dark dormitory. He pulled out the Cloak and thenhis eyes fell on the flute Hagrid had given him for Christmas.He pocketed it to use on Fluffy -he didn't feel much likesinging.
He ran back down to the common room.
We'd better put the Cloak on here, and make sure it coversall three of us-if Filch spots one of our feet wandering alongon its own -'
'What are you doing?' said a voice from the corner of theroom.Neville appeared from behind an armchair, clutchingTrevor the toad,who looked as though he'd been makinganother bid for freedom.
'Nothing, Neville, nothing,' said Harry, hurriedly puttingthe Cloak behind his back.
Neville stared at their guilty faces.
'You're going out again,' he said.
'No, no, no,' said Hermione. 'No, we're not. Why don'tyou go to bed,Neville?'
Harry looked at the grandfather clock by the door. Theycouldn't afford to waste any more time, Snape might evennow be playing Fluffy to sleep.
You can't go out,' said Neville, 'you'll be caught again.Gryffindor will be in even more trouble.'
'You don't understand,' said Harry, 'this is important.'
But Neville was clearly steelinghimself to do somethingdesperate.
'I won't let you do it,' he said, hurrying tostand in front ofthe portrait hole. 'Tll - I'll fight you!'
'Neville,'Ron exploded, 'get away from that hole and don'tbe an idiot'
'Don't you call me an idiot!' said Neville. 'I don't think youshould be breaking any more rulesl And you were the onewho told me to stand up to people!'
'Yes, but not to us,' said Ron in exasperation. 'Neville, youdon't know what you're doing.'
He took a step forward and Neville dropped Trevorthetoad, who leapt out of sight.
'Go on then, try and hit mel' said Neville, raising his fists.T'm ready!'
Harry turned to Hermione.
'Do sometbing,' he said desperately.
Hermione stepped forward.
'Neville,' she said, 'T'm really, really sorry about this.'
She raised her wand.
'Petrificus Totalus!' she cried, pointing it at Neville.
Neville's arms snapped to his sides. His legs sprangtogether. His whole body rigid, he swayed where he stoodand then fell flat on his face, stiff as a board.
Hermione ran to turn him over. Neville's jaws were jammedtogether so he couldn't speak. Only his eyes were moving,looking at them 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,' said Harry.
'You'll understand later, Neville, said Ron, as they steppedover him and pulled on the Invisibility Cloak.
But leaving Neville lying motionless on the floor didn't feellike a very good omen. In their nervous state, every statue'sshadow looked like Filch, every distant breath of windsounded like Peeves swooping down on them.
At the foot of the first set of stairs, they spotted Mrs Norrisskulking near the top.
'Oh, let's kick her, just this once,' Ron whispered in Harry'sear, but Harry shook his head. As they climbed carefullyaround her, Mrs Norris turned her lamp-like eyes on them,but didn't do anything.
They didn't meet anyone else until they reached thestaircase up to the third floor. Peeves was bobbing halfway up,loosening the carpet so that people would trip.
'Who's there?' hesaid suddenly as they climbed towardshim.He narrowed his wicked black eyes. 'Know you're there,even if I can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or weestudent beastie?'
He rose up in the air and floated there, squinting atthem.
'Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creepingaround unseen.'
Harry had a sudden idea.
'Peeves,' he said, in a hoarse whisper, 'the Bloody Baron hashis own reasons for being invisible.'
Peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. He caughthimself in time and hovered about a foot off the stairs.
'So sorry,your bloodiness,Mr Baron, sir,' he saidgreasily. 'My mistake, my mistake-I didn't see you-of courseI didn't,you're invisible -forgive old Peevsie his little joke,sir.'
I have business here,Peeves,' croaked Harry. 'Stay awayfrom this place tonight.'
'I will, sir, I most certainly will,' said Peeves, rising up in theair again. Hope your business goes well,Baron,I'll not botheryou.'
And he scooted off.
'Brilliant, Harry!' whispered Ron.
A few seconds later, they were there, outside the third-floor corridor-and the door was already ajar.
'Well, there you are,' Harry said quietly. 'Snape's alreadygot past Fluffy.'
Seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress uponall three of them what was facing them. Underneath theCloak, Harry turned to the other two.
'If you want to go back, I won't blame you,' he said. 'Youcan take the Cloak, I won't need it now.'
'Don't be stupid,' said Ron.
'We're coming,' said Hermione.
Harry pushed the door open.
As the door creaked, low,rumbling growls met their ears.All three of the dog's noses sniffed madly in their direction,even though it couldn't see them.
'What's that at its feet?' Hermione whispered.
'Looks like a harp, said Ron. 'Snape must have left itthere!'
'It must wake up the moment you stop playing,' said Harry.Well,here goes ...'
He put Hagrid's flute to his lips and blew. It wasn't really atune, but from the first note the beast's eyes began to droop.Harry hardly drew breath. Slowly,the dog's growls ceased-it tottered on its paws and fell to its knees, then it slumped tothe ground, fast asleep.
'Keep playing,' Ron warned Harry as they slipped out ofthe Cloak and crept towards the trapdoor.They could feel thedog's hot,smelly breath as they approached the giant heads.
'I think we'll be able to pull the door open, said Ron,peering over the dog's back. 'Want to go first, Hermione?'
'No,I don't!'
'All right.' Ron gritted his teeth and stepped carefully overthe dog's legs. He bent and pulled the ring of the trapdoor,which swung up and open.
'What can you see?' Hermione said anxiously.
'Nothing - just black - there's no way of climbing down,we'll just have to drop.'
Harry,who was still playing the flute, waved at Ron to gethis attention and pointed at himself.
'You want to go first? Are you sure?' said Ron. 'I don't knowhow deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so shecan keep him asleep.'
Harry handed the flute over. In the few seconds' silence,the dog growled and twitched,but the moment Hermionebegan to play, it fell back into its deep sleep.
Harry climbed over it and looked down through thetrapdoor.There was no sign of the bottom.
He lowered himself through the hole until he was hangingon by his fingertips. Then he looked up at Ron and said, 'Ifanything happens to me,don't follow.Go straight to theowlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?'
'Right,' said Ron.
'See you in a minute, I hope ...'
And Harry let go. Cold,damp air rushed past him as he felldown,down,down and-
FLUMP.With a funny, muffled sort of thump he landed onsomething soft. He sat up and felt around, his eyes not used tothe gloom. It felt as though he was sitting on some sort ofplant.
'It's OK!' he called up to the light the size of a postagestamp which was the open trapdoor. 'It's a soft landing, youcan jump!'
Ron followed straight away. He landed sprawled next toHarry.
'What's this stuff?' were his first words.
'Dunno, sort of plant thing. I suppose it's here to break thefall.Come on,Hermione!'
The distant music stopped. There was a loud bark from thedog, but Hermione had already jumped. She landed on Harry'sother side.
'We must be miles under the school,' she said.
'Lucky this plant thing's here, really,'said Ron.
'Lucky!' shrieked Hermione. 'Look at you both!'
She leapt up and struggled towards a damp wall. Shehad to struggle because the moment she had landed,the plant had started to twist snake-like tendrils aroundher ankles. As for Harry and Ron, their legs had alreadybeenboundtightly in long creepers without theirnoticing.
Hermione had managed to free herself before the plantgot a firm grip on her. Now she watched in horror as the twoboys fought to pull the plant off them, but the more theystrained against it, the tighter and faster the plant woundaround them.
'Stop moving!' Hermione ordered them. 'I know what thisis-it's Devil's Snare!'
'Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a greathelp,' snarled Ron, leaning back, trying to stop the plantcurling around his neck.
'Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!' saidHermione.
'Well, hurry up, I can't breathe!' Harry gasped,wrestlingwith it as it curled around his chest.
'Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare...What did Professor Sproutsay? It likes the dark and the damp -'
'So light a fire!' Harry choked.
'Yes-of course-but there's no wood!' Hermione cried,wringing her hands.
'HAVE YOU GONE MAD?' Ron bellowed. 'ARE YOU AWITCH OR NOT?'
'Oh,right!' said Hermione, and she whipped out her wand,waved it,muttered something and sent a jet of the samebluebell flames she had used on Snape at the plant. In a matterof seconds, the two boys felt it loosening its grip as it cringedaway from the light and warmth. Wriggling and flailing,itunravelled itself from their bodies and they were able topull free.
'Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione,' saidHarry as he joined her by the wall, wiping sweat offhis face.
'Yeah,' said Ron, 'and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in acrisis-"there's no wood", bonestly.'
'This way,' said Harry, pointing down a stone passagewaywhich was the only way on.
All they could hear apart from their footsteps was thegentle drip of water trickling down the walls. The passagewaysloped downwards and Harry was reminded of Gringotts.With an unpleasant jolt of the heart, he remembered thedragons said to be guarding vaults in the wizards' bank. If theymet a dragon, a fully grown dragon-Norbert had been badenough...
'Can you hear something?' Ron whispered.
Harry listened. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to becoming from up ahead.
'Do you think it's a ghost?'
'I don't know... sounds like wings to me.'
'There's light ahead - I can see something moving.'
They reached the end of the passageway and saw beforethem a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high abovethem. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering andtumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of thechamber was a heavy,wooden door.
'Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?' saidRon.
'Probably' said Harry. 'They don't look very vicious,but I suppose if they all swooped down at once ... Well, there'snothing for it... I'll run.'
He took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms andsprinted across the room. He expected to feel sharp beaks andclaws tearing at him any second, but nothing happened.Hereached the door untouched. He pulled the handle, but it waslocked.
The other two followed him.They tugged and heaved atthe door, but it wouldn't budge, not even when Hermionetried her Alohomora Charm.
'Now what?' said Ron.
'These birds ... they can't be here just for decoration,' saidHermione.
They watched the birds soaring overhead, glittering -glittering?
'They're not birds!' Harry said suddenly, 'they're keys!Winged keys-look carefully.So that must mean ...'he lookedaround the chamber while the other two squinted up at theflock of keys. '... Yes-look! Broomsticks! We've got to catchthe key to the door!'
'But there are bundreds of them!'
Ron examined the lock on the door.
We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one -probablysilver, like the handle!'
They seized a broomstick each and kicked off into the air,soaring into the midst of the cloud of keys. They grabbed andsnatched but the bewitched keys darted and dived so quicklyit was almost impossible to catch one.
Not for nothing, though,was Harry the youngest Seekerin a century. He had a knack for spotting things other peopledidn't. After a minute's weaving about through the whirl ofrainbow feathers, he noticed a large silver key that had a bentwing, as if it had already been caught and stuffed roughly intothe keyhole.
'That one!' he called to the others. 'That big one - there -no,there -with bright blue wings -the feathers are allcrumpled on one side.'
Ron went speeding in the direction that Harry waspointing, crashed into the ceiling and nearly fell off hisbroom.
'We've got to close in on it!' Harry called, not taking hiseyes off the key with the damaged wing. 'Ron,you come atit from above-Hermione, stay below and stop it goingdown-and I'll try and catch it. Right, NOW!'
Ron dived, Hermione rocketed upwards, the key dodgedthem both and Harry streaked after it; it sped towards thewall,Harry leant forward and with a nasty crunching noise,pinned it against the stone with one hand. Ron and Hermione'scheers echoed around the high chamber.
They landed quickly and Harry ran to the door, the keystrugglingin hishand. He rammed it into the lock andturned-it worked. The moment the lock had clicked open,the key tookflightagain, looking very battered now that ithad been caught twice.
Ready?'Harry asked the other two, his hand on the doorhandle.They nodded.He pulled the door open.
The next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anythingat all. But as they stepped into it, light suddenly flooded theroom to reveal an astonishing sight.
They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard,behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than theywere and carved from what looked like black stone. Facingthem,way across the chamber, were the white pieces. Harry,Ron and Hermione shivered slightly - the towering whitechessmen had no faces.
'Now what do we do?' Harry whispered.
'It's obvious, isn't it?' said Ron. 'We've got to play our wayacross the room.'
Behind the white pieces they could see another door.
'How?' said Hermione nervously.
'I think,' said Ron, 'we're going to have to be chessmen.'
He walked up to a black knight and put his hand out totouch the knight's horse. At once, the stone sprang to life.The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned hishelmeted head to look down at Ron.
'Do we-er-have to join you to get across?'
The black knight nodded. Ron turned to the other two.
'This wants thinking about ...' he said. 'I suppose we've gotto take the place of three of the black pieces...'
Harry and Hermione stayed quiet,watching Ron think.Finally he said, 'Now, don't be offended or anything, butneither of you are that good at chess -'
We're not offended, said Harry quickly. Just tell us whatto do.'
Well,Harry, you take the place of that bishop, andHermione,you go there instead of that castle!'
'What about you?'
'T'm going to be a knight,' said Ron.
The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because atthese words a knight, a bishop and a castle turned their backson the white pieces and walked off the board leaving threeempty squares which Harry, Ron and Hermione took.
'White always plays first in chess,' said Ron, peering acrossthe board.'Yes...look...'
A white pawn had moved forward two squares.
Ron started to direct the black pieces. They moved silentlywherever he sent them. Harry's knees were trembling. What ifthey lost?
Harry- move diagonally four squares to the right.'
Their first real shock came when their other knight wastaken. The white queen smashed him to the floor and draggedhim off the board, where he lay quite still, face down.
'Had to let that happen,' said Ron, looking shaken. 'Leavesyou free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on.'
Every timeone of their men was lost, the white piecesshowed no mercy. Soon there was a huddle of limp blackplayers slumped along the wall. Twice, Ron only just noticedin time that Harry and Hermione were in danger. He himselfdarted around the board taking almost as many white piecesas they had lost black ones.
We're nearly there' he muttered suddenly. 'Let methink-let me think...'
The white queen turned her blank face towards him.
'Yes...' said Ron softly, 'it's the only way... I've got to betaken.'
'NO!' Harry and Hermione shouted.
'That's chess!' snapped Ron. 'You've got to make somesacrifices! I'll make my move and she'll take me - that leavesyou 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!'
There was nothing else for it.
'Ready?' Ron called, his face pale but determined. 'Here Igo-now, don't hang around once you've won.'
He stepped forward and the white queen pounced. Shestruck Ron hard around the head with her stone arm and hecrashed to the floor-Hermione screamed but stayed on hersquare-the white queen dragged Ron to one side. He lookedas if he'd been knocked out.
Shaking, Harry moved three spaces to the left.
The white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry'sfeet. They had won. The chessmen parted and bowed,leavingthe door ahead clear. With one last desperate look back atRon,Harry and Hermione charged through the door and upthe next passageway.
'What if he's -?'
'He'll be all right,' said Harry,trying to convince himself.What do you reckon's next?'
We've had Sprout's, that was the Devil's Snare-Flitwickmust've put charms on the keys-McGonagall transfiguredthe chessmen to make them alive-that leaves Quirrell's spell,and Snape's...'
They had reached another door.
'All right?' Harry whispered.
'Go on.'
Harry pushed it open.
A disgusting smell filled their nostrils, making both ofthem pull their robes up over their noses. Eyes watering, theysaw, flat on the floor in front of them, a troll even larger thanthe one they had tackled, out cold with a bloody lump on itshead.
'T'm glad we didn't have to fight that one,' Harry whispered,as they stepped carefully over one of its massive legs. 'Comeon, I can't breathe.'
He pulled open the next door, both of them hardly daringto look at what came next - but there was nothing veryfrightening in here,just a table with seven differently shapedbottles standing on it in a line.
'Snape's,said Harry.'What do we have to do?'
They stepped over the threshold and immediately afire sprang up behind them in the doorway. It wasn't ordinaryfire either; it was purple. At the same instant, black flamesshot upinthe doorway leading onwards. They weretrapped.
'Look!' Hermione seized a roll of paper lying next to thebottles.Harry looked over her shoulder to read it:
Danger lies before you, while safety lses behind,2wo of us wil help you, whichever you woulif find,One among us seven will lef you move ahead,Another will transporf the drinker back instend,2wo among our mumber hold only neftle wine,Ihree of us are kilters, waiting hidden in lime.Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore,Lo help you in your choice,we give you these chues fowr:First,however slyly the poison tries to hisdeLou will ahways find some on neftle wine's leff side;Second, different are those who stand af either end,But if you would move onwards, neither is your friemd;Ihird, as you see clearly, all are different size,Neither dwarf nor ginntholds death in their insides;Fourth,the second left ansd the second on the righitAre twins once you taste them, though differentaf first sighit.
Hermione let out a great sigh and Harry, amazed, saw that shewas smiling, the very last thing he felt like doing.
Brilliant,' said Hermione. 'This isn't magic - it's logic - apuzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce oflogic, they'd be stuck in here for ever.'
'But so will we, won't we?'
'Of course not,' said Hermione. 'Everything we need ishere on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two arewine; one will get us safely through the black fire and one willget us back through the purple.'
'But how do we know which to drink?'
'Give me a minute.'
Hermione read the paper several times. Then she walkedup and down the line of bottles, muttering to herself andpointing at them. At last, she clapped her hands.
'Got it,' she said. 'The smallest bottle will get us throughthe black fire-towards the Stone.'
Harry looked at the tiny bottle.
'There's only enough there for one of us,' he said. 'That'shardly one swallow!'
They looked at each other.
Which onewill get you back through the purpleAlames?'
Hermione pointed at a rounded bottle at the right end ofthe line.
'You drink that,' said Harry. 'No, listen - get back and getRon-grab brooms from the flying-key room, they'll get youout of the trapdoor and past Fluffy-go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him. I might beable to hold Snape off for a while, but I'm no match for himreally.'
'But Harry-what if You-Know-Who's with him?'
'Well-I was lucky once, wasn't I?' said Harry, pointing athis scar. 'I might get lucky again.'
Hermione's lip trembled and she suddenly dashed at Harryand threw her arms around him.
'Hermione!'
'Harry - you're a great wizard, you know.'
'T'm not as good as you,' said Harry, very embarrassed, asshe let go of him.
'Me!' said Hermione. 'Books! And cleverness! There aremore important things -friendship and bravery and-ohHarry - be careful!'
'You drink first,' said Harry. 'You are sure which is which,aren't you?'
'Positive,' said Hermione. She took a long drink from theround bottle at the end and shuddered.
'It's not poison?' said Harry anxiously.
'No-but it's like ice.'
'Quick, go,before it wears off!'
'Good luck-take care-'
'GO!'
Hermione turned and walked straight through the purplefire.
Harry took a deep breath and picked up the smallestbottle. He turned to face the black flames.
'Here I come,' he said and he drained the little bottle inone gulp.
It was indeed as though ice was flooding his body. He putthe bottle down and walked forward; he braced himself, sawthe black flames licking his body but couldn't feel them-fora moment he could see nothing but dark fire-then he was onthe other side, in the last chamber.
There was already someone there - but it wasn't Snape. Itwasn't even Voldemort.