When Rigel had got out of the infirmary wing it was finally time for the exams to star. he wouldn't mind so much if it wasn't for the heat. he felt like he was going to die from heat stroke. especially in the large classroom where they did their written papers. They had been given special, new quills for the exams, which had been bewitched with an Anti Cheating spell.They had practical exams as well.

Rigel was in for his Charms exam just before Fred and George who actually looked nervous. the Exam was to charm 100 chairs to dance and place them self's at the table.by the end of the exam Professor Flitwick looked incredibly pleased of Rigels results. as Rigel left the room he saw the twins still looking nervous "good luck boys" he said to them before leaving. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was, but taken away if it had whiskers. Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness potion. Rigel was able to complete the exams and he hopped he had done well on all of them.

Their very last exam was History of Magic. One hour of answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented self stirring cauldron sand they'd be free, free for a whole wonderful week until their exam results came out. When the ghost of Professor Binns told them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, Rigel couldn't help but sigh with relief and relaxation ."That was far easier than I thought it would be," said Hermione as they joined the crowds flocking out onto the sunny grounds. "I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."Hermione always liked to go through their exam papers afterward, but Ron said this made him feel ill, so they wandered down to the lake and flopped under a tree. "im just glad this over it was so boring" Rigel said. "you finished 3 minutes early" Harry said. "yeah and i got bored waiting" Rigel said.

The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were tickling the tentacles of a giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows. "No more studying,Ron sighed happily, stretching out on the grass. "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 was rubbing his forehead."I wish I knew what this means!" he burst out angrily. "My scar keeps hurting it's happened before, but never as often as this.""Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested."I'm not ill," said Harry. "I think it's a warning... it means danger's coming...."Ron couldn't get worked up, it was too hot."Harry, relax, Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around" Rigel said. 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." Rigel continued.

Harry nodded. "your probably just exhausted from all the studying one time when i was studying i almost ate some of my fair thinking it was food" Rigel said. Ron giggled at that. "yeah that was really funny" Ron said. "for you maybe" Rigel said pouting.

Harry suddenly jumped to his feet."Where're you going?" said Ron sleepily."I've just thought of something," said Harry. He had turned white."We've got to go and see Hagrid, now.""Why?" panted Hermione, hurrying to keep up."Don't you think it's a bit odd," said Harry, scrambling up the grassy slope, "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?"

"What are you talking about?" said Rigel, but Harry, sprinting across the grounds toward the forest, didn't answer. Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; his trousers and sleeves were rolled up, and he was shelling peas into a large bowl."Hullo," he said, smiling. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"Yes, please," said Ron, but Harry 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 casually, "he wouldn' take his cloak off."He saw the three of them look stunned and raised his eyebrows."It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head that's the pub down in the village. Might a bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."Harry sank down next to the bowl of peas. "What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?""Might a come up," said Hagrid, frowning as he tried 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 took 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....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, hedidn' 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?" Harry asked, 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' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight offter sleep "Hagrid suddenly looked horrified."I shouldn't a told yeh that!" he blurted out. "oh but you did" Rigel said.

"Forget I said it! Hey where're yeh goin'?"Harry, Ron, Rigel and Hermione didn't speak to each other at all until they came to a halt in the entrance hall, which seemed very cold and gloomy after the grounds."We've got to go to Dumbledore," said Harry. "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 stophim. Where's Dumbledore's office?"

They looked around, as if hoping to see a sign pointing them in the right direction. They had never been told where Dumbledore lived, nor did they know anyone who had been sent to see him."We'll just have to " Harry began, but a voice suddenly rang across the hall."What are you four doing inside?"It was Professor McGonagall, carrying a large pile of books."We want to see Professor Dumbledore," said Rigel, rather bravely,Harry and Ron and Hermione thought."See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to want to do. "Why?" she asked. "It's sort of secret," Rigel said, but he wished at once he hadn't, because Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared."Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she said coldly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once.""He's gone?" said Harry frantically. "Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time"But this is important." Rigel said. "Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic,Potter."Look," said Harry, throwing caution to the winds, "Professor it's about the Philosophers stone"

Whatever Professor McGonagall had expected, it wasn't that. The books she was carrying tumbled out of her arms, but she didn't pick them up."How do you know ?" she spluttered. "it doesn't matter someone is going to steal it and we need to talk to Professor Dumbledore" Rigel said.

She eyed him with a mixture of shock and suspicion."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 began "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 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 "Hermione gasped. Harry and Ron and Riguel 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 an odd,twisted smile."We were " Harry began,

"You want to be more careful," said Snape. "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?"Harry flushed. They turned to go outside, but Snape called them back."Be warned, Potter -any more nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."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 the staff room and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, you'd better do that.""Why me?""It's obvious," said Ron. "You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know." He put on a high voice, "'Oh Professor Flitwick,I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen b wrong....'""Oh, shut up," said Hermione, but she agreed to go and watch out for Snape.

"And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor," Harry told Ron and Rigel."Come on."But that part of the plan didn't work. No sooner had they reached the door separating Fluffy from the rest of the school than Professor McGonagall turned up again and this time, she lost her temper."I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments!" she stormed. "Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you 've come anywhere near here again, I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor! Yes, Weasley, from my own house!" Harry and Ron and Rigel 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 Hermione came in."I'm sorry, Harry!" she wailed. "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?" Harry said.

The other three stared at him. He was pale and his eyes were glittering."I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get to the Stone first.""You're mad!" said Ron."You can't!" said Hermione. "this is beyond dangerous" Riguel said. "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 three say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?"He glared at them. Rigel crossed his arms. "i remember Harry and i also lost my parents because him to remember" Riguel said. "its different" Harry said. "not really im never going to meet my parents they are stuck locked up until they die" Rigel said looking away. "i dont want him to come back i dont want anyone else to suffer like i suffer" Rigel said.

"You're right Harry," said Hermione in a small voice."I'll use the invisibility cloak," said Harry. "It's just lucky I got it back.""But will it cover all four of us?" said Ron."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 took through my books, there might be something useful..." "But if we get caught, you three will be expelled, too." "ill take the fall again i dont mind" Rigel said. " your the most talented Wizard in our year they'll never throw you out," said Hermione grimly. " "plus if you left i-i would leave to" Ron said firmly Rigel couldnt help but smile at Ron's statement

"After dinner the four of them sat nervously apart in the common room.Nobody bothered them; none of the Gryffindors had anything to say to Rigel anymore any more, after all. This was the first night he hadn't been upset by it. Hermione was skimming through all her notes, hoping to come across one of the enchantments they were about to try to break. Rigel was looking at the empty gryffindor hourglass and for once not feeling guilty about anything. he saw Ron and Harry looking slightly nervous probably thinking about what they were about to do. Slowly, the room emptied as people drifted off to bed."Better get the cloak," Ron muttered, as Lee Jordan finally left,stretching and yawning. Harry ran upstairs to their dark dormitory. "you ok ron" Rigel asked. the ginger haired boy. "oh y yeah just a little nervous" Ron said. Rigel stood next to Ron and took his hand and rubbed it trying to calm him down. Hermione saw this and went wide eyed.

Harry came back down the stairs not 3 seconds later Harry came back down the stairs. "We'd better put the cloak on here, and make sure it covers all three ofus if Filch spots one of our feet wandering along on its own" Harry said. "What are you doing?" said a voice from the corner of the room. Nevilleappeared from behind an armchair, clutching Trevor the toad, who lookedas though he'd been making another bid for freedom."Nothing, Neville, nothing," said Harry, hurriedly putting the 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't you go to bed,Neville?" Rigel said. Harry looked at the grandfather clock by the door. They couldn't affordto waste any more time, Snape might even now 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 steeling himself to do something desperate.I won't let you do it," he said, hurrying to stand in front of theportrait hole. "I'll -- I'll fight you!""Neville, "Ron exploded, "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 bebreaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up topeople!""Yes, but not to us," said Ron in exasperation. "Neville, you don't knowwhat you're doing." Rigel said. He took a step forward and Neville dropped Trevor the toad, who leaptout of sight."Go on then, try and hit me!" said Neville, raising his fists. "I'mready!" Rigel sighed "Neville," he said, "I'm really, really sorry about this." he raised her wand."Petrificus Totalus!" he cried, pointing it at Neville.Neville's arms snapped to his sides. His legs sprang together. His wholebody rigid, he swayed where he stood and then fell flat on his face,stiff as a board.Hermione ran to turn him over. Neville's jaws were jammed together 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 Rigel . "Neville, I'm so sorry.""We had to, Neville, no time to explain," said Harry."You'll understand later, Neville," said Ron as they stepped over himand pulled on the invisibility cloak.But leaving Neville lying motionless on the floor didn't feel like avery good omen. In their nervous state, every statue's shadow lookedlike Filch, every distant breath of wind sounded like Peeves swoopingdown on them. At the foot of the first set of stairs, they spotted Mrs.Norris skulking near the top.

"Oh, let's kick her, just this once," Ron whispered in Harry's ear, but Harry shook his head "no way Ron" Rigel whispered pulling Ron away. As they climbed carefully around her, Mrs. Norris turned her lamp like eyes on them, but didn't do anything.They didn't meet anyone else until they reached the staircase up to the third floor. Peeves was bobbing halfway up, loosening the carpet so that people would trip."Who's there?" he said suddenly as they climbed toward him. He narrowed his wicked black eyes. "Know you're there, even if I can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?"He rose up in the air and floated there, squinting at them."Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen." "Peeves," harry said in a hoarse whisper, "the Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."Peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. He caught himself in time and hovered about a foot off the stairs.

"So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, Sir," he said greasily. "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 again. "Hope your business goes well, Baron, I'll not bother you."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 already got past Fluffy."Seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress upon all three of them what was facing them. Underneath the cloak, Harry turned to the other three."If you want to go back, I won't blame you," he said. "You can 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, Riguel went wide eyed at shock at the sight of the three headed dog."What's that at its feet?" Hermione whispered."Looks like a harp," said Ron. "Snape must have left it there.""It must wake up the moment you stop playing," said Harry. "Well, here goes"He put a flute to his lips and blew. It wasn't really a tune, 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 paw.

"Keep playing," Rigel warned Harry as they slipped out of the cloak and crept toward the trapdoor. They could feel the dog'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 over the 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 get his attention and pointed at himself."You want to go first? Are you sure?" said Ron. "I don't know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."Harry handed the flute over. In the few seconds' silence, the dog growled and twitched, but the moment Hermione began to play, it fell back into its deep sleep.Harry climbed over it and looked down through the trapdoor. There was no sign of the bottom.He lowered himself through the hole until he was hanging on by his fingertips. Then he looked up at Ron and said, "If anything happens tome, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?""Right," said Ron. "you can count on us" Rigel said.

See you in a minute, I hope...And Harry let go. Cold, damp air rushed past him as he fell down, down,down and FLUMP. With a funny, muffled sort of thump he landed on something soft. He sat up and felt around, his eyes not used to the gloom. It felt as though he was sitting on some sort of plant."It's okay!" he called up to the light the size of a postage stamp,which was the open trapdoor, "it's a soft landing, you can jump!"Ron followed right away. He landed, sprawled next to Harry."What's this stuff?" were his first words."Dunno, some sort of plant thing. I suppose it's here to break the fall. Riguel jumped down and landed right next to Ron "you ok Rigel" Ron asked. "Yeah im fine Come on, Hermione!"The distant music stopped. There was a loud bark from the dog, but Hermione had already jumped. She landed on Harry's other 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 toward a damp wall. She had to struggle because the moment she had landed, the plant had started to twist  snakelike tendrils around her ankles. As for Harry and Ron, their legs had already been bound tightly in long creepers without their noticing .Hermione had managed to free herself before the plant got a firm grip on her. Rigel went wide eyed in horror realizing what they've landed in. "OH MY MERLIN ITS DEVILS SNARE" he shouted ""Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," snarled Ron, leaning back, trying to stop the plant from curling around his neck. "Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" said Hermione. "Well, hurry up, I can't breathe!" Harry gasped, wrestling with it as it curled around his chest."Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... what did Professor Sprout say? " she asked looking to Riguel "it likes the dark and the damp So light a fire!" Rigel choked."Yes of course but there's no wood!" Hermione cried, wringing her hands."HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?""Oh, right!" said Hermione, and she whipped out her wand, waved it,muttered something, and sent a jet of the same bluebell flames. In a matter of seconds, the three boys felt it loosening its grip as it cringed away from the light and warmth.Wriggling and flailing, it unraveled itself from their bodies, and they were able to pull free."Lucky you two pay attention in Herbology, ," said Harry as he joined her by the wall, wiping sweat off his face."Yeah," said Ron, "and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis --'there's no wood,' honestly."

"This way," said Harry, pointing down a stone passageway, which was the only way forward.All they could hear apart from their footsteps was the gentle drip of water trickling down the walls. The passageway sloped downward,"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered.Harry listened. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead."Do you think it's a ghost?" "I don't know... sounds like wings to me." Rigel said "There's light ahead -- I can see something moving." Hermione said. They reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small,jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room.

On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door."Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" said Ron."Probably," said Harry. "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." "ill go first" Rigel said. Rigel took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms, and sprinted across the room. He expected to feel sharp beaks and claws tearing at him any second, but nothing happened. He reached the door untouched. He pulled the handle, but it was locked.The other three followed him. They tugged and heaved at the door, but it wouldn't budge, not even when Hermione tried her Alohomora charm."Now what?" said Ron."These birds... they can't be here just for decoration," said Rigel. 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 looked around the chamber while the other two squinted up at the flock of keys. ". yes look!Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!""But there are hundreds of them!"Ron examined the lock on the door."We're looking for one that stands out, one that different from the others" Rigel said.

They each seized a broomstick and kicked off into the air, soaring into the midst of the cloud of keys. They grabbed and snatched, but the 225 bewitched keys darted and dived so quickly it was almost impossible to catch one. Rigel began to look around trying to spot a key that stood out.After a minute's weaving about through the whirl of rainbow feathers, he noticed a large silver key that had a bent wing, as if it had already been caught and stuffed roughly into the keyhole."That one!" he called to the others. "That big one -- there -- no, there-- with bright blue wings -- the feathers are all crumpled on one side."Ron went speeding in the direction that Rigel was pointing, crashed into the ceiling, and nearly fell off his broom. "RON" Rigel shouted. he raced next to Rons broom. "are you all right he asked his friend. "yeah but im pretty sure ill have a head ache" Ron groaned rubbing his head. "you have no one to blame but yourself then" Rigel said smiling at him.

"We've got to close in on it!" Harry called. Rigels attention went back to the key with the broken wing. "Ron, you come at it from above Hermione,stay below Rigel come from the side and I'll try and catch it. Right,NOW!" Harry called.

Ron dived, Hermione rocketed upward, the key dodged them both, Rigel dived to the left of the key but the key barley doged in time.and Harry streaked after it; it sped toward the wall, Harry leaned forward and with a nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone with one hand. Ron and Hermione's and Rigels cheers echoed around the high chamber.They landed quickly, and Harry ran to the door, the key struggling inhis hand. He rammed it into the lock and turned -- it worked. The moment the lock had clicked open, the key took flight again, looking verybattered now that it had been caught twice."Ready?" Harry asked the other three his hand on the door handle.

They nodded. He pulled the door open.The next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anything at all. But asthey stepped into it, light suddenly flooded the room to reveal anastonishing sight.They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from whatlooked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were thewhite pieces. Harry, Ron and Hermione and Rigel shivered slightly -- the towering white chessmen had no faces.

"Now what do we do?" Harry whispered."It's obvious, isn't it?" said Ron. "We've got to play our way acrossthe 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 to touch the knights horse. At once, the stone sprang to life. The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned his helmeted head to look down at Ron."Do we have to join you to get across?" The black knight nodded. "ill take that as a yes" Riguel said.

Ron turned to the other three."This needs thinking about he said. I suppose we've got to take theplace of three of the black pieces...."Harry and Hermione and Riguel stayed quiet, watching Ron think. Riguel smiled a little. this must be a dream come true for him he thought .Finally he said,"Now, don't be offended or anything, but Harry, Hermione neither of you are that good atchess and i dont know about Rigel" Ron said. "ive never played chess "Rigel said. Ron went wide eyed. "ok ill deal with that later" he said looking at Rigel like he had just lost arm and grown a tentacle. "And we're not offended," said Harry quickly. "Just tell us what to do." Hermione "Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, YOU next to him instead of that castle and Riguel take your spot next to the queen your the king." Ron said to them

"What about you?" Riguel asked "I'm going to be a knight," said Ron.The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these words aknight, a bishop, and a castle turned their backs on the white piecesand walked off the board, leaving three empty squares that Harry, Ron,and Hermione took."White always plays first in chess," said Ron, peering across the board."Yes... look..."A white pawn had moved forward two squares.

Ron started to direct the black pieces. They moved silently wherever hesent them. Riguel was slightly nervous but for some reason when he saw Ron looking so confident and in charge it made him feel calm.

"Harry move diagonally four squares to the right."Their first real shock came when their other knight was taken. The whitequeen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board, where helay quite still, face down."Had to let that happen," said Ron, looking shaken. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on."Every time one of their men was lost, the white pieces showed no mercy.Soon there was a huddle of limp black players slumped along the wall.Twice, for some reason Riguel began to feel a lot more scared at the thought of being taken "We're nearly there Ron," he said nervously . "Let me think let me think..."The white queen turned her blank face toward him."Yes..." said Ron softly, "It's the only way... I've got to be taken.""NO Harry and Hermione and Rigel shouted."That's chess!" snapped Ron. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!". "NO RON PLEASE DONT" Rigel said feeling tears leave his eyes. "Rigel if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone!"There was no alternative."Ready?" Ron called, his face pale but determined.

"Here I go now, don't hang around once you've won."He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard across the head with her stone arm, and he crashed to the floor -Hermione screamed but stayed on her square - the white queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as 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's feet. They hadwon. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. Rigel ran next to Ron as soon as the match was over

"is he alright Hermione asked. Rigel checked around for a pulse and sighed in relief. "hes alive". "you two go on ahead ill take him to Madam Pomfrey" Riguel said. "what but we need you" Harry said. "you dont you've got Hermione i may be smart and talented in some areas but with some other things shes better than me" Rigel said sending Hermione a friendly smile. Hermione smiled back at him. as Harry and Hermione left the room Rigel picked up Ron carefully and left the room with him. "man Ron i think you need to loose a few" he groaned.

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When Ron woke up he saw he was in the infirmary and it looked like it was still night time. "glad to see your up" a voice said. he turned and saw Rigel sitting in a armchair fling his nails. "d-did you bring me here" Ron asked. "well i couldn't leave you to die could i" Rigel said. Rigel walked over and hugged him. Ron started blushing and hugged him back. Rigel was the one to end the hug. "well Madam pomfrey said that when you woke up you could come back to Gryffindor Tower it took some persuading but i did it" Rigel said.

Ron couldn't help but smile at Rigel. as the two left the infirmary they started to hold hands and walked back to Gryffindor Tower. when they got back to their dormitory. when they got back they went into their respective beds and tried to sleep. "hey Rigel" Ron said. "yeah" Rigel asked. " c-can i sleep with you" Ron asked. "sure" Rigel said moving over to make room for Ron. Ron came over and got under the covers with Riguel. "R-Rigel" Ron said. "yeah" Rigel said. "Thanks for saving me and uh being my friend" Ron said. Rigel smiled at him. "no problem" he said. it didn't take long for both boys to fall asleep after that. as they fell asleep they both smiled thinking of each other