7

7. The Philosopher's Stone

By the help of some chocolate frogs we found out about Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone. Harry was under the impression that Snape would steal the stone because he saw him threatening Professor Quirrel when he came back from the mirror. Besides Snape was injured from Fluffy, Hagrid's three headed dog. By passing there we found out about it guarding a trap door. Unfortunately, Hagrid had told a dark cloaked person how to pass Fluffy so we went to Professor McGonagall.

"What are you three doing inside?" It was Professor McGonagall.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore." Said Hermione, rather bravely.

"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic." She said coldly.

"He's gone?" Said Harry frantically.

"He is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on this time-"

"But this is important! It is about the Philosopher's Stone. Someone is going to try to steal it."

She eyed him with a mixture of shock and suspicion:" I don't know how you found out about the stone, but you can be assured that the stone is well protected." With those words she left us standing rather astonished.

"He knows how to pass, Snape will go tonight! That's for sure." Harry said, his gaze following Professor McGonagall's back.

"Harry what if she is right? What if we are wrong about… Snape being the one to steal the stone?" I said carefully, well knowing his hatred for Snape. Ron and Hermione looked at me with disbelief.

"You're serious?! We know he's the one. Besides, why would you defend him if he's being a git to you – to us all? And supposed he isn't the thief than it would be Voldemort. But I believe that he is sending his servant than to go by himself." Harry said with emphasis.

"Well, I'm not so sure anymore that Snape is his servant," I said whilst having the picture of Severus and myself in mind.

"Whatever. Someone is going to steal it and we have to prevent him. We're going through the trap door tonight!" Hermione said certainly.

So we did. After curfew we slipped under the Invisibility Cloak and found Fluffy already deep asleep.

"Damn, we are too late. Snape was here already." Harry said eying the harp playing by itself.

We jumped through the door just to find ourselves in Devil's Snare. Thanks to Hermione we managed to pass it more or less unhurt. The next task was Harry's because he had to catch a flying key on a broomstick. The next task was a chess game. By Ron's talent for chess we managed to pass it too. Walking through a door we were in a nearly empty room. On a table were some potions.

"What do we have to do?" asked Harry.

Hermione seized the roll of paper lying next to the bottles. We looked over her shoulder to read it:

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 for evermore,

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 onwards, 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.

(J.K. Rowling "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone")

I smiled and let out a great sigh. "That's easy." I exclaimed happily. That surely was my task.

"That is logic. Everything we need is this paper." Hermione said excited.

"Hermione, I can figure it out quicker by analyzing the potions." I told her.

"And what if you're wrong?" she asked warningly. "Someone of us could get killed."

"Trust me. I can do it. Potions are easy for me." I said reassuringly. Not waiting for an answer, I opened each bottle and smelled. After the second round I turned around.

"The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire. The rounded bottle at the right end of line will get us back through the fire and out of here." I said pointing at the two bottles.

"You are absolutely sure Arya?" asked Harry.

"Positive."

"Hermione and Ron, you are drinking the second one. Ron you need to get to the hospital wing and Hermione you need to tell Professor McGonagall. Arya and I will share the small bottle and prevent Voldemort or Snape from stealing the Stone." Harry said giving Hermione the rounded bottle.

"Please be careful you two." Hermione said.

"We will. I promise." I assured her smiling slightly.

So Harry and I watched them going back through the purple fire. Then we drank the potion and passed the black fire - we were in the last chamber. But there was already someone – neither Snape nor Voldemort. It was Professor Quirrell. He told us about him being the one to release the troll as distraction. Snape had tried to find out how far Quirrell had found out about the Stone.

"Snape tried to prevent you from getting the Stone?" Harry asked stunned.

"Yes he certainly did. That did not please my master. He is a great wizard and I am weak. He is with me all the time and he wishes to speak with you. I can't get the stone even though I see myself holding it in the mirror."

He asked Harry to come and tell him what he sees. He lied about it, I could sense it. And so did Quirrell.

"Let me speak to him… face to face…" came a high voice from somewhere. I was paralyzed, I knew the voice. Quirrell started to take off his turban.

"Voldemort is here. It's him Harry." I warned him. Harry stumbled back to my side, but it was too late. When Quirrell turned his back to us we could see the face on his back of the head – or at least where it should be. I stood there, staring at my father's face.

"Harry Potter…" He whispered. He threatened him to join the death eaters if he didn't want to die like his parents, but Harry refused.

"You know that you won't survive tonight. Quirrell and Arya, they are both stronger than you. She is even the strongest in this room." Harry looked at me questioningly.

"If you are talking about her being a fairy's daughter then I know about it, equally about her wandless magic." Harry said confidently, looking at my father again.

"You came here with my daughter. It seems like you didn't tell the-boy-who-lived who you truly are Aryanna. I want you to take the stone from his pocket NOW." He commanded. Harry was shocked but tried to contain the surprise.

"I won't do anything you say. I hate you! You killed her, you killed my mother. You're a killer." I said enraged. With a pleading look I turned to Harry. "You know me Harry. You know that I am not like him. I'm a Gryffindor, I wanted to be. I would never kill anybody. I'm not like him, please!" I begged for his understanding.

I don't know if he was convinced. Nevertheless, he faced Voldemort again. "You won't get me or her in your ranks. We are not like you, we are Gryffindors!"

"How touching," my father hissed. "I always value bravery, but you must know everybody who does not wish to join me has to be killed. SEIZE HIM!" He screamed and suddenly Quirrell lunged at Harry. Because I was standing behind him, they fell on me which caused me to bounce my head on the stone floor and I could feel my arm getting hurt. Quirrell wanted to seize Harry but as he did so his hands got burned.

"Kill him you fool!" screeched Voldemort but Quirrell couldn't stop the burning. He rolled of Harry who tried to help me up, but I couldn't feel my body. Quirrell was on Harry again and started strangling him. I tried to move but I could feel the darkness coming over me… I couldn't hear the screams… nor the burning fire anymore…