The four friends come down the stairs and begin to walk across the floor. They stop when they hear croaking. "Trevor." (Y/N) said. "Trevor shh! Go, you shouldn't be here!" Ron scolded. Neville appears behind a chair. "Neither should you. You're sneaking out again, aren't you?" He asked. "Now, Neville, listen. We were-" (Y/N) tried to explain. "No! I won't let you!" He stands. "You'll get Gryffindor in trouble again! I-I'll fight you." Neville holds out his fists. "Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this." Hermione takes out her wand. "Petrificus Totalus." Neville is frozen and falls backwards onto the ground. Hermione puts her wand back. "You're a little scary sometimes...you know that? Brilliant, but scary." Ron said. "Let's go." Harry said. The four apologies to Neville as they walk past him. The four are under the Invisibility cloak, sneaking along the corridor. "Ow! That was my foot!" (Y/N) said. "Sorry." Ron apologized quickly. A flame lights. Hermione draws out her wand and points it at the door. "Alohomora." The door opens and they go in. "Wait a minute...he's...." a blow of air, and the cape flutters off them. "Sleeping." (Y/N) finished for Ron. "Snape's already been here. He's put a spell on the harp. He's probably taken my sisters with him." They approach the sleeping dog.

"Uh. It's got horrible breath!" Ron said. "We have to move its paw." (Y/N) said. "What?!" Ron asked. "Come on!" Harry grabs the paw, which is blocking the door. "Okay. Push!" They strain and move it. They open the door. "I'll go first. Don't follow until I give you a sign." Harry said. Fluffy's eyes open. "If something bad happens, get yourselves out...Does it seem a bit...quiet?" He asked. "The harp. It stopped playing." (Y/N) said. Drool from one head comes down on Ron's shoulder. "Ew! Yuck! Ugh." All four kids look up and see Fluffy standing there. Fluffy barks and growls, thrashing. It breaks the harp and dives at the four. "Jump! Go!" (Y/N) shouted. They all jump through the trapdoor. "Ahh!" Ron gasps as he lands on some mushy black ropelike vines. "Whoa. Lucky this plant-thing is here, really." Ron said. "Whoa!" The plant begins to move towards them. "Oh. Ahh!" The plant ties them up. "Stop moving, both of you. This is Devil's Snare. You have to relax. If you don't, it will only kill you faster." (Y/N) said. "Kill us faster?! Oh, now I can relax!" Ron shouted. (Y/N) and Hermione manage a smile as they are sucked down below.

"Hermione!! (Y/N)!!" Ron and Harry shouted. "Now what are we gonna do?!" Ron panicked. "Just relax!" (Y/N) shouted. "(Y/N), Where are you?!" Harry asked. "Do what I say. Trust me." She said. Harry relaxes and is sucked through. "Ahh! Harry!" Harry falls through and lands on the hard ground. (Y/N) goes over to him and he stands up. "Harry!" Ron shouted. "Are you okay?" (Y/N) asked. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." He said. "Help!" Ron shouted. "He's not relaxing, is he?" Hermione asked. "Apparently not." Harry said. "Help! Help me!" Ron shouted. "We've got to do something!" (Y/N) panicked. "What?" Harry asked. "Uh! I remember reading something in Herbology." She said. "Um Devil's Snare, Devil's Scare," The snare shuts Ron's mouth. "It's deadly fun...but will sulk in the sun! That's it! Devil's Snare hates sunlight!" (Y/N) takes out wand and points upwards. "Lumus Solem!" A beam of light shoots out. The Snare shrieks and recoils. Ron falls below. "Ron, are you okay?" (Y/N) asked. "Yeah." He said. "Good." (Y/N) said as she helps him up. "Whew. Lucky we didn't panic!" Ron said. "Lucky (Y/N) pays attention in Herbology." Harry said.

They suddenly hear something. "What is that?" Hermione asked. "I don't know. Sounds like wings." Harry said. They enter into a room filled with golden "birds."  "Curious. I've never seen birds like these." Hermione said. "They're not birds, they're keys. And I'll bet one of them fits that door." Harry said. They come upon a broomstick, suspended in the air. "What's this all about?" Hermione asked. "I don't know. Strange." Harry said. Ron creeps over to the door and takes out his wand.  "Alohomora!" Ron then shrugs. "Well, it was worth a try." He said. "Ugh! What're we going to do? There must be 1000 keys up there!" Hermione said. "We're looking for a big old fashioned one. Probably rusty like the handle." (Y/N) said. "There! I see it! The one with the broken wing!" He looks at the broom. "What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked. "It's too simple." He said. "Oh, go on, Harry! If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century!" (Y/N) said. Harry nods and grabs the broom. All the keys suddenly go one direction, right at Harry. He climbs on, swiping at them.

"This complicates things a bit!" Ron said. Harry pushes off into the air. He flies off, after the key. The others follow him. Harry grabs the key. "Catch the key!" He zooms by and throws the key to (Y/N), who catches it and heads for the lock while Harry distracts the other keys. (Y/Nj puts it in the lock. "Hurry up!" Ron panicked. The door opens, and (Y/N), Hermione and Ron rush through, followed by Harry. They shut the door just as the keys slam up against it. They enter a dark room, with broken pieces all around it. "I don't like this. I don't like this at all." Hermione said. "Where are we? A graveyard?" Harry said. "This is no graveyard." (Y/N) said. Ron nods in agreement with her. "It's a chessboard." He finished. (Y/N) walks out onto the marble board and flames light, illuminating the board and GIANT players. Ron, Harry and Hermione come up with her. "There's the door." Harry said. They walk across the board, towards the door. Suddenly, as they reach a line of pawns, the pawns bring up their swords. The four jump and back up. "Now what do we do?" Hermione asked.

"It's obvious, isn't it? We've got to play our way across the room. All right. Harry, you take the Bishop's square. Hermione, you'll be the Queen's side castle. (Y/N), you take the empty Rooks square. As for me, I'll be a knight." Ron said. They all take their places. "What happens now?" Hermione asked. "Well, white moves first, and then...we play." A pawn on the other side moves forward. Ron studies the game. "Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like...real wizard's chess, do you?" (Y/Nj asked. "You there! D-5!" A black pawn moves forward, diagonal to the white pawn. The white pawn raises its swords and smashes the black one. The four jump. "Yes, (Y/N), I think this is going to be exactly like wizard's chess!" Ron said. The game continues. Pieces smash each other. "Castle to E-4!" Ron shouted. "Pawn to C-3!" The Queen turns, and smashes a piece! (Y/N), Harry, Ron and Hermione wince. The Queen turns again. Both Ron and (Y/N) study the game. "Wait a minute." The girl said in realization. "You understand right, (Y/N). Once I make my move, the Queen will take me...then you'll be free to check the King." Ron said. "No, Ron! No!" The girl screamed. "What is it?" Hermione asked. "He's going to sacrifice himself!" Harry said.

"No, Ron, you can't! There must be another way!" Hermione shouted. Ron turns to face her. "Do you want to stop Snape or not? Harry, it's you and (Y/N) that has to go on. I know it. Not me, not Hermione, you two." Harry looks over at (Y/N) and they share a look, then both nod. "Knight...to H-3." Ron's horse moves forward, slides and stops. "Check." Ron said. The Queen turns and advances. Ron breathes faster, clutching the steel reins. The Queen stops. SMASH! Ron goes flying off the horse and lands on the floor, unconscious. "Ahhhh!" "RON!" (Y/N) and Harry shouted together. Hermione starts walking to him. "NO! Don't move! Dont forget, we're still playing." (Y/Nj said. Hermione moves back. Harry walks the diagonal in front of the King. "Checkmate." The Kings sword falls onto the ground victory. Harry breathes out and then the trio run to Ron. They bend beside him. "Take care of Ron. Then, go to the owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right... We have to go on." Harry said. "You'll be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard, you really are." Hermione said. "Not as good as you or (Y/N)." Harry said. "Us? Books and cleverness? There are more important things. Friendship, and bravery. And guys, just be careful." Hermione warned. Harry nods and stands, then looks at (Y/N). "Are you ready, (Y/N)?" he asked. The girl nodded. Hermione then watches the two until they are out of sight.

Harry and (Y/N) walk down the stairs slowly. Halfway down, Harry winces, feeling his scar burning, and they see Professor Quirrell standing before the Mirror of Erised. "You?" (Y/N) asked. Quirrell turns around. "No. I-it can't be. Snape, h-he was the one—-" Harry began. "Yes. He does seem the type, doesn't he? Next to him, who would suspect p-p-p-poor st-stuttering Professor Quirrell?" He asked. "But-but that day, during the Quidditch match, Snape tried to kill Harry." (Y/N) pointed out. "No, dear girl. I tried to kill him!" Both kids look at him surprised. "And trust me, if Snape's cloak hadn't caught fire and broken my eye contact, I would have succeeded, even with Snape muttering his little countercurse." Quirrell said. "Snape was trying to save me?" Harry asked. "I knew you were a danger to me right from the off. Especially after Halloween." Quirrell explained. "Then-then you let the troll in." (Y/N) said. "Very good, (L/N), yes. Snape, unfortunately, wasn't fooled. While everyone else was running about the dungeon, he went to the third floor to head me off. He, of course, never trusted me again." He turns towards the mirror again; Harry winces as his scar burns again. "He rarely left me alone. But he doesn't understand. I'm never alone, never. Now, what does this mirror do? I see what I desire. I see myself holding the stone. But how do I get it?" Quirrell asked.

"Use the girl." A voice hissed. The two kids looked around, wondering where the voice came from. Quirrell turns to her. "Come here, (L/N), now!" He shouted. The girl slowly walks down the stairs, towards Quirrell and the mirror. "Tell me... what do you see?" (Y/N) looks into the mirror, and for a few seconds, sees her standing next to Quirrell, then her reflection reaches into its pocket and pulls out a gleaming red ruby, the Philosopher's Stone; (Y/N) stares in amazement as her reflection smiles and winks, then puts the stone back in its pocket; (Y/N) feels her pocket and realizes the Stone really is in his pocket, then looks up again. "What is it? What do you see?" Quirrell asked. "I-I'm shaking hands with Dumbledore. I've won the House Cup." She said. "She lies." The voice said. "Tell the truth! What do you see?!" Harry glared at him, not liking him shouting at her. "Let me speak to them." The voice said. (Y/N) backs away back to Harry. "Master, you are not strong enough." Quirrell protested. "I have strength enough for this." The voice said.

Quirrell reaches up and starts unwrapping his turban as he turns so his back is to the mirror. Harry turns toward the staircase into the room, wondering whether he should try to escape, then turns towards Quirrell again. He is almost finished unwrapping his turban, save for a piece covering the back of his head. Finally, he removes the turban, revealing a scary-looking chalk white face, Voldemort. He cranes around and opens his eyes. "Harry Potter, and (Y/N) (L/N), we meet again."  "Voldemort." Harry said. "Yes. You see what I've become? See what I must do to survive? Live off another, a mere parasite. Unicorn blood can sustain me, but it cannot give me a body of my own. But there is something that can, something that, conveniently enough, lies in your pocket." realizing Voldemort is referring to the Philosopher's Stone, Harry grabs (Y/N)'s hand as the two turn and run back up the stairs. "Stop them!" Quirrell snaps his fingers, instantly causing fire walls to block all the exits, trapping Harry and (Y/N) in the room. "Don't be a fool! Why suffer a horrific death when you two can join me and live?" Voldemort asked. "Never!" (Y/N) shouted angrily.

"Haha. Bravery. Your parents had it too. Tell me, (Y/N), would you like to see your mother and father again? Together, we can bring them back." In the mirror, her parents appear in the reflection. "All I ask for is something in return." (Y/N) takes the Stone from her pocket. That's it, (Y/N). There is no good and evil. There is only power, and those too weak to seek it. Together, we'll do extraordinary things. Just give me the stone!" Her parents fade from the reflection. "Don't listen to him, (Y/N)." Harry said. The girl shakes her head. "I will never join you, Voldemort!" She shouted. "Kill her!" "NO!" Harry shouted. Quirrell soars into the air and grabs hold of (Y/N) with one hand on her throat. They fall to the steps, causing the Stone falls out of her reach as Quirrell chokes her. (Y/N) strains and squeaks. Suddenly, Harry puts his hand on Quirrell's hand in an attempt to get him off. Smoke furls from under his hand as Quirrell winces. "Ahh! Ahh!" He backs up away from the two kids. His hand is crumbling into ash and dust. "What is this magic?" His hand disintegrates. "Fool! Get the stone!" Voldemort shouted. Quirrell walks forward towards (Y/N), Harry then touches his face with his hands, causing Quirrell to scream in pain, and especially Voldemort to wince. Harry looks on horrified as Quirrell backs up with his face horrendously burned. Quirrell crumbles as he walks forward, turning his body completely in ash and dust, and falls to the floor, leaving only his clothing. (Y/N) gasps, as she looks at her own hands and hurries over to the stone. She picks it up and sighs. However, from behind, dust clouds form from Quirrell's corpse, causing Harry and (Y/N) to turn around as the dust clouds with Voldemort's face rushes forward screaming and goes through the two who also scream. Voldemort flies away, as Harry and (Y/N) fall to the ground, unconscious. (Y/N) holds the Stone in an outstretched hand.

In the hospital wing the next day, Harry and (Y/N) are lying in bed. They awaken, and Harry puts on his glasses, and sits up. There are cards and candy all over. Dumbledore approaches them. "Good afternoon, Harry. (Y/N). Ah. Tokens from your admirers?" He asked. "Admirers?" Harry asked. "What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows." Dumbledore said. The two smile. "Ah, I see your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs." Dumbledore said. "Ron was here? Is he all right? What about Hermione?" (Y/N) asked worriedly.  "Fine. They're both just fine." Dumbledore said. "But, what happened to the Stone?" Harry asked. "Relax, dear boy. The stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best all around." Dumbledore said. "But Flamel, he'll die, won't he?" (Y/N) asked. "He has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order. But yes, he will die." Dumbledore said as he sat on her bed. "How is it I got the Stone, sir? One minute I was staring in the mirror, and the next..." she asked. "You see, only a person who wanted to find the Stone, find it, but not use it, would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you and me that's saying something." Dumbledore said.

"Does that mean, with the Stone gone, I mean, that Voldemort can never come back?" Harry asked. "Ah, I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return. Harry, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him?" Harry shakes his head. "It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you, and that kind of act leaves a mark." Harry touches his scar. "No, no, this kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin." Dumbledore said. "What is it?" Harry asked. "Love, Harry, love." He pats Harry's head gently and stands up. "Ah. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit flavored one, and since then I have lost my liking for them. But I think I could be safe with a nice toffee.." he takes brown bean and eats it. "Mm. Alas. Earwax." (Y/N) smiles at him. Harry with his arm still bandaged enters a corridor with (Y/N) where up on a stairwell balcony, Hermione and Ron are talking. They stop when they see Harry and (Y/N) and lean over the railing.

"All right there, Ron?" (Y/N) asked. "All right? You and Harry?" Ron asked. "All right. Hermione?" (Y/N) asked. "Never better." Hermione smiles. The Great Hall is full of students eating and talking with each other. There are green and silver banners with the Slytherin symbol above their heads, already indicating the house with the most points. Dumbledore gives a slight nod to professor McGonagall, who then clinks her spoon to her glass, to ask attention from the students. The crowd falls silent. Dumbledore stands up and speaks with his magically magnified voice. "Another year, gone! And now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarded and the points stand thus. In fourth place: Gryffindor, with 312 points!" There is a medium applause from the crowd. "In third place: Hufflepuff, with 352 points!" The applause for Hufflepuff is slightly louder than the clapping for Gryffindor. "Second: Ravenclaw, with 426 points!" Applause again, this time with a slight cheer from some students. "And in first place, with 472 points: Slytherin house!" A loud roar rises from the Slytherin table, as students stand up and clap for themselves. Hermione scowls with her hand to her cheek; Snape applauds the students of his house.

"Yes, well done Slytherin, well done Slytherin. However, recent events must be taken into account and I have a few last minute points to award." Some faces at the Gryffindor table rise hopefully. "To Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool use of intellect while others were in grave peril: fifty points!" Hermione looks surprised, while the other Gryffindor students applaud her. "Good job." (Y/N) said as she pat her on the back. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle don't like what's happening. Hermione looks at Hagrid, who looks back to her with a proud smile. "Second, to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years: fifty points!" Ron looks even more surprised than Hermione did and the Gryffindor table is applauding even louder. And third, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure love and outstanding courage, fourth, to Ms. (Y/N) (L/N), for admirable generosity and immense compassion, even towards those who deserve it the least, 50 pointsI award Gryffindor house: sixty points!" The Gryffindors cheer again, this time even louder than before. Malfoy has a cringing look on his face, while Harry sees a proud, smiling professor McGonagall at the teacher's table. Hermione, who has done some quick math, whispers to her fellow students.

"We're tied with Slytherin!" Now, the Gryffindors look really hopeful, as Dumbledore hasn't finished talking yet. "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 can't believe what he just heard and the Gryffindors that heard Hermione's whisper are cheering the loudest. Malfoy looks quite uncertain now. "Assuming that my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of decoration is in order!" He claps and motions his hands towards the Slytherin banners, where they flap heavily, until the banners have changed completely to red and gold with the Gryffindor symbol. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!"The Great Hall explodes with applause, not only from the Gryffindors, but also from the Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs, because they are glad that, for the first time in seven years, someone other than Slytherin has won the House Cup. Hagrid can't help himself to also cheer, and all students except the Slytherins throw their hats in the air, while Malfoy angrily throws his on the table in defeat. The Gryffindors around (Y/N) are all congratulating her and she smiles to Hagrid, who smiles back.

The outdoor train station. Students are walking around, getting in the train. "Come on now, hurry up. You'll be late. Train's leaving. Go on. Go on. Come on. Hurry up." Harry hands Hedwig to a train man, and walks to an open door of the train with Hermione. (Y/N) waves to Hagrid, who waves back. She gets in the train. "Come on, Harry." She said. "One minute." He walks over to Hagrid. "Thought you were leaving without saying good-bye, didja?" Hagrid takes a red album out of his coat pocket and hands it to Harry. "This is for you." Harry opens the album and sees a picture, moving, of him as a baby with his parents. They are all smiling and waving. Harry smiles. "Thanks, Hagrid." Harry shakes Hagrid's hand, then hugs him tightly. "Oh. Go on...on with you." Harry lets go. "Oh, listen, Harry, if that dolt of a cousin of yours, Dudley, gives you any grief, you could always, um, threaten him with a nice pair of ears to go with that tail of his." Hagrid said. "But Hagrid, we're not allowed to do magic away from Hogwarts. You know that." Harry said. "I do. But your cousin don't, do he? Eh?" Hagrid winks. "Off you go." Harry walks away, back to the train door where (Y/N), Hermione and Ron are waiting. "Feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?" (Y/N) asked. "I'm not going home. Not really." The train whistles and they climb aboard. As the train starts to leave, (Y/N) waves out the window to Hagrid, who waves back and then waves more to other students.