''𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙘𝙝, 𝙍𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙠𝙞𝙣'𝙨.''
Tʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ Tʀᴀᴘᴅᴏᴏʀ
𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. Harry, Hermione, Ron and I would be going through the trapdoor tonight, in search of the Philosopher's Stone, and to keep whoever from stealing it. They still think it's Snape, but Hagrid specifically said that it wasn't Snape, because he's protecting the Stone. Yet, they still don't listen sometimes.
''Y/n, are you awake?'' I heard Hermione whisper from beside me. I was resting with my back faced towards her, looking out the window in the tower. The moon was full tonight, and the sight out the window was a perfect view of the forest and Black Lake, which the moon reflected off of it.
''Yeah. Is it time?'' I whispered back, sitting up on my elbows. She nodded, throwing her blanket off her and hopping from bed. I followed her actions, grabbing a crimson red hoodie before leaving the room with her. Thankfully, the other girls had awoken, otherwise it would've been a huge conflict.
Downstairs, we had met up with Harry and Ron, who were shoving each other out of the way to make it down the stairs first. Hermione was becoming impatient, putting her hands in her hips as she waited for them both to quit shoving each other. I thought it was a little funny, and even funnier when Ron had fell down the stairs because he missed a step to push Harry.
I pull Ron up to his feet while Hermione gestures us to follow her to the Common Room door, only, we stopped when we heard the croaking of a toad.
''Trevor.'' Harry whispered.
''Trevor. Shh! Go, you shouldn't be here.'' Ron tried shooing the road away, only for the toad to stare at him and stay in it's spot. If Trevor was down here then that means. . .
''Neither should you.'' Neville pops up from behind the chair. He gets up and stands in-front of us. ''You're sneaking out again, aren't you?''
''Now, Neville, listen. We were-'' Harry tried, but Neville cut him off.
''No! I won't let you! You'll get Gryffindor in trouble again! I- I'll fight you!'' Neville holds up his fists shakily.
''Neville, please.'' I pleaded, looking towards the boy. He gave me a sorry look, which was quite adorable.
''Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this. . .'' Hermione holds up her wand, pointing it towards Neville. ''Petrificus Totalus.'' She casts the spell, making Neville freeze and fall to the ground. I gasped and ran over to the boy, making sure he hadn't been hurt.
''You're a little scary sometimes. . .you know that? Brilliant, but scary.'' Ron comments, gulping.
''Thank Merlin, Hermione. He isn't hurt.'' I exhaled, thankful that Neville was perfectly fine. Well, almost. He was frozen at the moment.
''Let's go.'' Harry ushered, passing by Neville. ''Sorry.''
''Sorry.''
''It's for your own good, you know.'' Ron commented towards Neville.
''I'm so sorry, Neville.'' I kissed his forehead, before getting up and following the other three out the door.
Harry brought his invisibility cloak with him, so we could travel up the stairs an ddiwn corridors to get to where Fluffy was, without being seen. We still had to whisper and try not to make a noise though, because this cloak doesn't block out sound. Ron stepped in Hermione's foot, making her smack his arm and scold him.
''Alohomora.'' Hermione whispered, unlocking the door. When we entered, we thought Fluffy would be growling at us, but surprisingly, he was asleep.
''Wait a minute. . .he's. . .'' Ron started. ''Sleeping.''
''Snape's already been here. He put a spell on the harp.
''Ugh! Horrible breath!'' Ron commented, waving his hand in-front of his nose. We got closer to the dog to see the trapdoor under his paw.
''His paw is on the door.'' I pointed out.
''We have to move it's paw.'' Harry stated, moving forward.
''What?!'' Ron whisper shouted at Harry.
''Come on!'' We all move and grab onto the dog's paw, moving it slowly off the trapdoor. Harry opens the door and looks down towards the bottom. ''I'll go first. Don't follow until I give you a sign. If something bad happens, get yourselves out. . .Does it seem a bit. . .quiet?'' Harry asked.
Now that Harry had said something, it does seem a bit quiet. Though, none of us had noticed until Harry brought it up because we were all focused on either Harry's talking or the trapdoor that was open in-front of us.
''The harp. It stopped playing.'' I stated, looking over at the harp.
''Ew! Yuck! Ugh!'' Ron groans, looking at the substance that landed on his shoulder. We all looked up, to see Fluffy was awake and growling at us, saliva dripping from his mouth.
''Jump! Go!'' Harry shouts, Hermione, Ron, Harry and then I jump through the trapdoor. Just before Fluffy could get to us.
As we all fell down the trapdoor, Ron's screams were the loudest between all four of us. I also felt him grip onto my arm at some point. Our screams stopped as we landed, not on the ground, but on some plants. Vines more like it.
''Whoa! Luck this plant-thing is here, really.'' Ron commented, exhaling and relaxing a bit.
''Whoa!'' Harry shouted, the vines started moving around us and slowly killing us. They tightened themselves tighter and tighter, vines coming around our throats, arms, and legs. We were all struggling against the vines, trying to rip them from whever they came from, or free ourselves. All of us, but Hermione.
''Stop moving, all of you. This is Devil's Snare. You have to relax. If you don't, it'll only kill you faster.'' Hermione explained the situation, only making Ron freak out more then he has to.
''Kill us faster?! Oh, now I can relax!'' Ron shouts, continuing to struggle against the vines. I look over at Hermione, to see her smile before she gets sucked through the vines.
''Hermione!!'' We all shouted.
''Now what are we going to do?!'' Ron asked, still shouting and restraining.
''Just relax!'' Hermione shouts, sounding like she's below us.
''Hermione? Where are you?!'' Harry asks, looking around the room frantically.
''Just do as I say. Trust me.'' Hermione reassured us. Harry relaxed and fell through, as did I.
''Harry! Y/n!'' Ron shouts, seeing us get sucked into the plants just like what had happened to Hermione. Harry and I both hit ground below, me falling on top of Harry.
''Ow.'' Harry mutters.
''I'm so sorry, Harry.'' I apologized, getting off the boy and helping him up.
''I-It's fine, Y/n.'' He spoke, flustered, scratching the back of his neck.
''He's not relaxing, is he?'' Hermione asked, looking at the vines above us. Ron was shouting for help, probably thinking that we all died.
''Apparently not.'' Harry answered.
''We've got to do something!'' Hermione shouted, thinking over the things she had learned in class and through books. Ron continued shouting for help, now relaxing whatsoever. ''I remember reading something in Herbology.''
''Better hurry, Hermione.'' I ushered her.
Hermione was thinking hard, pacing around the small room in a little circle. She recited a little poem, as I kept looking up to see Ron struggling against the vines holding him down. Suddenly, a bright light came from the end of Hermione's wand, making my cover my eyes. It thought I went blind for a moment.
The vines shriek and let go of Ron, making him fall down and land on top of myself.
''Ron, ow.'' I spoke, barely able to get the words out.
''Sorry.'' He replied, standing and holding his hand out towards me. I gratefully took his hand as he helped me stand up, wiping dust off his clothes afterwards.
We all continued on our way, Ron saying something about how none of us freaked out. Though, I'm sure he wanted to just have a part of the glory for the vines. If he ever goes to re-tell this story, he is for sure going to say that it was all his idea to use the spell he doesn't even know the name of.
As we continued, we heard a sound. It sounded like wings, or birds.
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Tʜᴇ Kᴇʏs
''What is that?'' Hermione asked, no one in particular. Ron and Harry also heard the noise, but they couldn't tell what the noise was either. Walking further down the dark corridor, an old oak door stands, Harry pushing it open before looking up towards the ceiling.
''Curious. I've never seen birds like these.'' Hermione wonders, trying to get a closer look at the flying objects.
''They're not birds. They're keys, and I'll bet one of them fits that door.'' Harry gestures to the other oak door in the other side of the room.
''Well, well, Hermione got something else wrong. That's what, two now?'' I teased. Hermione gave me a glare while Harry laughed under his breath, Ron walked towards the door with his wand held out and pointed towards the door.
Harry finds himself standing in-front of a broom hovering above the ground, waving his hand slowly over the broom.
''Alohomora!'' Ron tried casting, only for the spell not to work on the lock. We all look at him as he shrugs and pockets his wand. ''Well, it was worth a try.''
''Ugh! What are we going to do? There must be 1000 keys up there!'' Hermione complained.
''It sounds like you're giving up, 'Mione.'' I commented towards the girl.
''Maybe I am! We don't even know what key we need for the door.'' She points at the door, where Ron is inspecting the lock.
''We're looking for a big old fashioned one. Probably rusty like the handle.'' Ron explained, looking towards the three of us. I gave Hermione and look, she huffed and looked up towards the keys.
''There! I see it!'' Harry shouts, pointing to a key with a broken wing. ''The one with the broken wing!'' Harry then looks down at the broom, a concerned look on his face.
''What's wrong, Harry?'' I asked the boy. He turned around to glance at us then looking back at the broom.
''It's too simple.'' Harry states.
''Oh, go on, Harry! If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century!'' Ron finishes.
''Nice motivational speech, Ronniekin's.'' I nudged the boy, making him groan and scowl at the name his brother's use for him. Harry grabs the broom, and all the keys turn towards him.
''This complicates things a bit!'' Ron shouted, running towards the door with Hermione and I following.
Harry hops onto the broom and flies away from the keys, trying to catch the one that fits into the door while he is doing so. Soon, he catches the key with the broken wing.
''Catch the key!'' Harry shouts, throwing the key down towards us. I caught the key and unlocked the door, opening it for Hermione and Ron to come through.
''Hurry up!'' Ron ushers.
''Shut up, Ron!'' I shouted back. He muttered a small 'ouch.' in reply. As Harry flies towards the door we start to close it, giving Harry just enough time.to slide through the door without any of the keys getting through. The noise of the keys hitting the door were the only thing happening on the other side.
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Tʜᴇ Gᴀᴍᴇ ᴏғ Cʜᴇss
I couldn't decide if this room was better or worse then the one's we were previously in. Only because, I really had no idea where we were. It was dark and only lit by torches, which only came on when we stepped into a black and white tiled floor. Broken pieces of stone where surrounding the square shaped floor, making it seem a little like a grave.
''I don't like this. I don't like this at all.'' Hermione muttered, holding onto my arm.
''Where are we? A graveyard?'' Way to answer your own question, Harry.
''This is no graveyard.'' Ron speaks up. I couldn't tell what he was feeling, but if he knew then he knew something. ''It's a chessboard.'' When the torches lit, there were huge stone statues surrounding us, some on each side, both black and white.
''There's the door.'' Harry points towards the door. We all try to walk over, but were blocked by swords coming in our way from the white prices.
''Now what do we do?'' Hermione asked, looking scared.
''It's obvious, isn't it? We've got to play our way across the room. Alright, Harry, you take the Bishops square. Hermione, you'll be the Queen's side castle. Y/n, you'll play the Queen. As for me, I'll be the knight.'' Ron spoke, a prideful look and aura radiating off him after his last sentence.
We all move to our spaces, quite spread out.
''What happens now?'' Harry questions, looking at the stone statues in-front of him.
''Well, white moves first, and then. . .we play.'' After Ron explains that part, a pawn from the white side of the chessboard moves forward. Ron starts to study the game, until Hermione speaks.
''Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like. . .real Wizards Chess, do you?'' Hermione asked. She did have a point, any of us could possibly die from this game, get smashed to bits.
''You there! D-5!'' Ron commands, the pawn moves forward. As the black pawn stops on it's spot, the white pawn smashes it to bits. Leaving us four – humans – horrified. ''Yes, Hermione. I think this is going to be exactly like wizard's chess!'' Ron retorted to Hermione's earlier question.
As the game continued, bits and pieces of stone flew all around the board. I even had to duck or move over to make sure I didn't get him by any. Ron had made sure that he didn't play any of us, thankfully, because I have a whole life ahead of me. Watching this game, I actually learned quite a bit about Wizard's Chess, not as much as Ron though.
''Wait a minute. . .'' Harry trails off, looking at the board again.
''You understand right, Harry? Once I make my move, the Queen will take me. . .then you'll be free to check the king.'' Ron explains. The only part I really heard was him, sacrificing himself.
''No, Ron! No!'' Harry shouted at the boy.
''What is it?'' Hermione asked.
''He's going to sacrafice himself!'' Harry informed the both of us.
''No, Ron, you can't!'' I shouted.
''There must be another way!'' Hermione added. Ron closed his eyes.
''Do you want to stop Snape or not? Harry, it's you that has to go on. I know it. Not me, not Hermione, not Y/n. You.'' Ron finishes, opening his eyes to face us.
''Another inspiring speech, Ron.'' I smile at the boy, making him reciprocate the action.
''Knight to H-3.'' Ron speaks, taking a deep breath. His pawn moves a few spaces forward before stopping. With another deep breath, Ron speaks: ''Check.''
The Queen for the other side turns and moves closer to Ron, making him breath faster and clutch onto the reins of his pawn, tighter. The Queen picks up her sword and stabs it into the pawn, making the pawn fall to pieces and Ron fall to the ground, backwards. Unconscious.
''RON!'' Harry shouts. Hermione tries to walk to him. ''No! Don't move! Don't forget, we're still playing.'' He reminds us. Hermione moves back into her square, just wanting the game to be over. Harry walks diagonally, and stands in-front of the king. ''Checkmate.'' He says.
The king's sword falls to the ground, meaning victory for us. He let's put a breath that he had been holding, then turns to face Ron. Hermione and I run to him, Hermione dropping onto her knee's beside the ginger boy.
''Take care of Ron. Then, go to the Owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right. . .I have to go on.'' Harry spoke, looking down at his best friend, unconscious on the floor.
''You'll be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard, you really are.'' I told the boy, making him smile at me.
''Not as good as you and Hermione.''
''I said wizard, not witch. But that works too.'' I shrugged, making Harry and Hermione laugh.
''There are more important things then books and cleverness, Harry. Like friendship and bravery. Be careful, Harry.'' Hermione stood up to hug the boy, I followed.
Harry nods at us both, before walking through the door that had been opened from the chess game. Hermione was still sat on her knee's next to Ron, who had gotten the side of his face scratched from the stone pieces that flew earlier.
'''Come on, Hermione. Let's get him to the Hospital Wing.'' I put a hand on her shoulder, making her nod and stand. ''You grab one arm, I'll get the other.'' I picked up Ron's right arm as Hermione got his left.
With that, we walked to the Hospital Wing with Ron between us. I went and sent an owl to Dumbledore, using Faris to take it there, knowing he was quick about these things. The whole time, I've wondered, what was past that last door. And I'd love to see the face on Harry's face when I told him that I was right.
Hermione was also worried, but she was sitting next to Ron, waiting for him to wake. Madam Pomfrey kicked us out sooner then we though, because Ron needed rest without being crowded. Hermione wasn't very injured, just a small bruise on her forehead. I had a scratch on my jaw, so Madam Pomfrey helped heal that for me.
People asked where we were and what had happened. Though, we couldn't say anything because the story wasn't finished. Harry was still down there, and Dumbeldore had finally returned with Faris perched on his arm. I wonder if Fawkes would be jealous?
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Wɪɴɴᴇʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Hᴏᴜsᴇ Cᴜᴘ
''Don't worry, Hermione was scared. She thought you were going to die.'' I told Ron, while Hermione wasn't listening. Well, I thought she wasn't.
''No, I didn't!'' She defended.
''Be quiet, Hermione. I'm sharing your true feelings at the moment, let me do my job.'' I shushed her, turning back to Ron. ''She really missed you. Thinking you were going to die, right there in her arms. It would've been a tragic, tragic experience.'' I dramatically said, putting my arm around Ron's shoulders.
''Always the dramatic one, are you, Y/n?'' I heard a familiar voice from below where Hermione, Ron and I stood, on the staircase balcony. Harry was down there, smiling without a scar or open wound in sight. Well, there was a bandage on his arm, but that was about it.
''Always.'' I replied, smirking at the boy.
''Alright there, Ron?'' He asked the ginger.
''Alright, you?'' Harry shrugs at a response.
''Alright. Hermione?''
''Never better.'' She smiles.
''What about me?! I just told the dramatic backstory of Hermione's pain and tears when Ron sacraficed himself.'' I turned to Ron, whispering: ''Amazing, by the way.'' Then continued. ''And now I'm not being acknowledged for my amazing talents. That hurts Harry, real bad.'' I fake pouted.
Harry smiled at me as Ron laughed, Hermione sighed, shaking her head before facepalming at my outburst. What can I say? That's just how I am.
''Alright, Y/n?''
''Brilliant, Harry.'' I responded with a smile.
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Everyone was gathered in The Great Hall, for the last feast of this year. The House Cup was going to be awarded to the house with the most points, and no doubt, that house wasn't going to be us. I was talking with Fred and George, along with Lee, when Dumbeldore stood and started speaking.
''Another year, gone! And now, as I understand it, the House Cup need awarded and the points stand thus. In fourth place: Gryffindor, with 312 points!'' The hall applauds, Gryffindor's looking glum as ever due to their loss of points.
''In third place: Hufflepuff, with 352 points!'' Another applaud.
''Second: Ravenclaw with 426 points!'' Applaud.
''And in first place with 472 points: Slytherin House!'' This applaud was the loudest, especially the Slytherin's. I couldn't blame them, they had beaten Gryffindor. If I was a Slytherin, that would definitely be one of my greatest achievements.
As I look around, Fred, George and Lee were slumping in their seats with small pouts on their faces. Hermione was clapping slowly, until she stopped and held her head up by her hand, her elbow in the table and the palm of her hand in her cheek. Ron and Harry both also slumped in their spots, groaning like Fred and George had done.
Neville was sad, looking down at the table as he fidgeted with his fingers. Seamus had a scowl on his face as he glanced towards the Slytherin table. Dean was patting Seamus and Neville's shoulders, telling them that they would win the House Cup next year, for sure.
The Slytherin table, were jumping around and congratulating each other. Patting other Slytherin's on the bag and giving them high-five's. They were practically screaming, which almost broke my ears. Myself? Well, I couldn't care less. I had six more years at this school, and that was good enough for me.
''Yes, well done Slytherin. Well done, Slytherin. However. . .'' The Headmaster trailed off.
Wait, excuse me?
''. . .recent events must be taken into account and I have a few last minute points to award.'' Everybody looked taken aback, especially Slytherin. ''Too Miss. Hermione Granger, for the cool intellect while others were in grave peril: fifty points!'' The room applauds, except Slytherin. I hug Hermione as she hugs back, everyone congratulating her.
''Second, to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years.'' The room applauds again. Ron smiles as I give him a high-five.
''Third, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure love and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House: sixty points!'' The room applauds again, everyone coming up to congratulate Harry on the extra points.
''And fourth, to Miss. Y/n Granger, for loyalty through thick and thin.'' Now it was my turn to be praised, Fred and George ran around the table to the side that Lee and I were sitting on, hugging me and yelling my name every now and then.
''And finally: it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award ten points to Neville Longbottom!'' Neville's eyes had widened, he couldn't believe what he had just heard. But in all honesty, he deserves it.
I got up from my seat to hug the boy, him giving me a tight hug back. I was definitely going to scold Hermione more later for leaving him on the floor of the Gryffindor Common Room.
''Assuming that my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of decoration is in order!'' Dumbledore claps, waving his hands toward the Slytherin banners hanging from the ceiling, before they flap around and become Gryffindor colors. ''Gryffindor wins the House Cup!'' He announces.
Gryffindor's are going frantic, standing and running around the table. Pushing and shoving people playfully, it's a normal Gryffindor thing. Some were sitting while others were being carried upon the taller students shoulders. As all the commotion went on, I couldn't help but glance at the Slytherin table.
They deserved to win.
They worked hard for this.
We only got points because of Dumbledore.
Sighing, I sat down at the table, my back against the table and my feet hanging off the bench. Now, I really looked depressed. I didn't feel right, stealing the cup from Slytherin just because we saved the Stone. I'm sure if they knew, they would help. Maybe. I covered my face with my hands, feeling like I was about to cry, but I didn't.
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Tʀᴀɪɴ Cᴏɴғᴇssɪᴏɴs
I told Hermione and Ron that I would go ahead without them and find a compartment, because they were waiting for Harry, who was talking with Hagrid before we had to leave for home. I didn't know about the other's, but I was quite happy to be going home, just because the bed in the dorms are so small it hurts.
As I walked down the isle to find a compartment, I ran into an all too familiar group.
''Watch it, pig!''
''Funny, coming from you.'' I retorted, just trying to walk around the group. Parkinson opened her mouth to say something else, but was quickly denied by Malfoy giving her a stern look. Parkinson looked at him with a bewildered look.
''You stole the cup from us.'' Malfoy seethed.
''I know.''
''Just because Dumbledore favors Potter and- wait, what?'' Malfoy did a retake on what I had said, finally processing it.
''I said, 'I know'. I don't like it either.'' I trailed my eyes from the group ahead of me to the compartment they were standing next to. They didn't have their baggage or anything, so I'm guessing they already had a compartment. Pushing my way past Malfoy, I slid into the compartment and put my baggage up on the rack above the seat.
I also let Faris out of his cage, he never liked being in there longer then he had to be. He also likes to watch Ron's rat all the time, so he'd either have to keep him in the cage or keep his hidden away from Faris. When I looked back at the door, I saw it was only Malfoy standing there now.
''Yes?'' I asked, sitting down on the left seat, the spot closest to the window.
''Why aren't you basking in success? Like the rest of the Gryffindor's do.'' He asked with his arms crossed, glaring at me.
''Because I saw what he did. I was there. Dumbledore favors Gryffindor's, yes. All Harry and the rest of us did was stop someone from getting some artifact that couldn't fall into the wrong hands. I'm sure if any of you Slytherin's knew about it, you'd also be there to help.'' I explained. Malfoy looked quite shocked.
''I thought you'd be defending Gryffindor.'' He mumbled.
''Yeah, well, you deserved the cup this year. Not us. Don't tell anyone I said that.'' Those we're my last words to Malfoy, before I looked out the window while petting Faris' head. Malfoy had eventually walked away, back to his compartment.
Harry, Hermione and Ron eventually found me, too. Harry got a photo album from Hagrid. The first page was him of his parents, before they died, of course. The second page was of us four. Harry was in the middle with his arms wrapped around Hermione and Ron's shoulders, while Ron had his arm around my shoulder and I leaned into his side.
For the first year of magic school, it was very eventful. Maybe next year will be the same?
Might as well look forward to it.