Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The hype surrounding the incident with the Troll did die down eventually, once everyone figured out I was not going to talk. As it turns out there was other news spreading about Harry. The flying class affair resulted in Harry becoming the Gryffindor Quidditch Seeker. An unexpected result of that was Xander’s interest in me flying and decided to not only buy me my broom— a Nimbus 2000 like Harry’s— but also some quality time with the Gryffindor Chasers, Angelina Jonson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell as well as the Beaters, Fred and George Weasley, and Hufflepuff seeker Cedric Diggory once a week to improve my flying. Xander didn’t want Harry to help with the ‘fancy flying’ as he said since Harry is so new to flying.
I spent time with Cedric first. Cedric is nice and his version of training involved me watching him perform certain maneuvers, then sitting on the back of his broom while he did them to get a feel for it, and then doing them myself. We discovered that while I did have an aptitude for flying my abilities as a slayer put me at a distinct advantage.
My time with the Weasley twins consisted of them hitting the bludgers at me with the intent to knock me down. Again, my instincts put me ahead, knowing just when to turn and dodge. They both tried to convince me to be a reserve for the team, but Xander easily stepped in and explained that it would be flat-out cheating.
Now when I was with the Chasers my time spent with them was dodging as well, but with the three of them coming at me. Dodging human bodies is very different from dodging bludgers, but it was still relatively easy. The girls said they would talk to some of the other chasers from other houses to add more dexterity to my training.
Today, however, is the Gryffindor Quidditch match against the Slytherins. I decided to sit with Xander and explain the game as I had read Quidditch through the Ages—which I loaned to Harry as well— before my flying lessons with my tutors. “Can you tell me why that banner says, ‘Potter for President’? That doesn’t even make sense?” Xander asked.
“I honestly couldn’t tell you, but I was the one to charm it to change colors,” I reply. The captains of each team shake hands and they’re off.
“Captain Oliver Wood must be doing something right because Gryffindor is on fire this year!” Lee Jordan, the commentator says.
“More like training with you has given them an edge,” Xander leans to whisper. “I stand by my statement even more about the flight training. This is pretty intense and could be a big advantage in battle.” I quickly agree and point to where Harry is making a dive for the snitch, but before he can reach it, he is slammed into by the Slytherin captain, Marcus Flint, knocking him off course and almost off his broom. “Oh, come on! That’s gotta be a foul, right?”
“Yes, but here it’s a penalty like basketball.”
“That Jordan kid is hilarious.”
We continued watching the game when I noticed Harry acting strangely on his broom. “Xander, you didn’t plan something did you?”
He looks at me curiously, “No what are you talking about?”
“Watch Harry. He’s not in control of his broom. They put a lot of magic into brooms, so if he is not in control, it could only be…” I searched the stands looking for someone who was not breaking eye contact with Harry. I spot both Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell not breaking eye contact with Harry and muttering under their breaths. I point out the two professors discreetly, “One of those two. I’m assuming one is doing the hexing and the other must be performing a counter. You need direct eye contact for spells like that.”
Xander gives me a nod, “Take care of it discreetly. I’ve been told about Snape’s past, but I’ve learned not to trust a book by its cover. We’ll figure it out when we have more context.”
I take off under the stands the two Professors are on and get right to where they are sitting and set two small flames on the spot where their robes lay on the stands. I make my way back over to Xander when I hear that Harry caught—or almost swallowed— the snitch winning the game 170 points to sixty.
Later that evening while visiting Hagrid with Harry and Ron, I told them about what happened at the match. “I’m not accusing anyone, but I searched the stands. It could have only been one of them,” I say.
“I bet one of them is trying to get whatever that three-headed dog is guarding,” Harry states.
Hagrid asks, “How do you know about Fluffy?” Eyeing Harry suspiciously.
“Fluffy?”
“Yeah—he’s mine—bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub last year—I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the—”
“Hagrid! Enough!” I shouted. “Harry, you need to drop this. No, I won’t tell you what I know.”
“But someone is trying to steal whatever it is, Hermione!”
“You're meddling in things that don’t concern you, Harry. You forget that dog, forget what it's guarding, That’s between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel—”
“Hagrid!” I shouted. I stand and say “Thank you for the tea, but we’ll be leaving. I would like to come back later to discuss Fluffy and that project with Professor Harris.”
“Of course, Hermione. I’ll send an owl,” Hagrid replies, and we take our leave.
Walking back to the castle I turned abruptly in front of Ron and Harry. “I’m not going to tell you to stop looking for information because it’s not my place and I’ve been taught an outside perspective is sometimes a good thing, but I will say keep me in the loop. This is dangerous stuff and if need be, I’ll have Headmaster Dumbledore declare it my business.”
Harry takes a moment to think, “Hermione, how can you just make it your business? What exactly is it you do?”
“You know I can’t talk about it, Harry. I’ll talk to Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Harris about possibly letting you two know because you are my friends, but for now, let’s drop it and get back,” I reply turning on my heel and continuing to the castle.
During the Christmas Holidays, I got the chance to spend time with my parents. I also got to spend time with Xander and the scoobies again. Xander acquired a portkey to America for a few nights and let's just say my flight training doesn’t hold up as well when it’s slayers throwing balls at you, but I did get better at it slowly. I spent time with Willow telling her about my classes and time with Dawn for normal girl time, it was fun, but all good things must come to an end.
I came back to Hogwarts with Xander a day early. We met up with Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid at the door to the forbidden third floor. Professor Dumbledore steps forward, “Miss Granger I’ve placed each teacher at each task to instruct you on how to get past them quickest. I’ve spoken with Professor Harris, and we’ve decided should the stone be put at risk you will be notified and authorized to act in any way you deem necessary to protect the stone.”
“Basically, you get cheat codes to get to the end quickest to guard the stone,” Xander chimes in.
“Hagrid if you would?” Professor Dumbledore motions to Hagrid.
“You already know about Fluffy. He’s a sweet boy just play a bit of music, and he’ll go right to sleep,” Hagrid says. “He’s already asleep, so go ahead. I’ll head back to my hut.” With that Hagrid takes his leave. Professor Dumbledore, Xander, and I step through the door to see a massive Cerberus sleeping off to the side of the room.
“If that’s what he calls a sweet boy, I don’t want to know what he considers an angry boy,” Xander comments. We move to the trap door where Professor Dumbledore lowers us into a room through a hole of what appears to be vines, a light shining right on the hole. Once we reach the floor, where Professor Sprout is waiting, the vines close up making a net of vines through the middle of the room.
Professor Sprout steps forward, “Miss Granger, do you know what that is?”
“Devil’s Snare, Professor,” I reply promptly.
“How do you get through it?”
“Light.”
“10 points to Gryffindor. Just make your way through that door there.”
I nod and our party of three moves to the next room with Professor Flitwick. It's a large room with a high ceiling, a broom floating near another door, and what appear to be flying keys.
“I know, Miss Granger you can see my intention with this task, but for you, I’m going to charm the trap not to respond to you and the door will automatically open at your touch. Please step forward so I can cast the charm.” I step up and with a few waves of the professor’s wand, myself and the door glows momentarily. “Go ahead and proceed.”
The next room holds what appears to be a giant chess set and Professor McGonagall. “As you can tell, this is a giant version of wizard’s chess. The objective is to play across the room. There are two passphrases to bypass this obstacle. Simply walk up to the pawns and state, ‘Slayer Code Gold’ and it will allow you through.” I follow her instructions to the letter and the white chess pieces divide down the middle making a path to the next door.
Next is a room holding a giant sleeping Troll. Professor Dumbledore just keeps walking to the next door and says, “I believe you can handle this, Miss Granger. The charm for knocking out a troll is too complicated for first years, so handle this as you see fit.”
The following room holds seven differently shaped bottles and Professor Snape. Once we make it into the room a set of purple flames sprout up blocking the way back and black flames block the door forward. “Pretty fire!” Xander exclaims.
“It’s cursed fire. A spare vial of the potion to allow you to move forward will be in the hollow leg of the table, just ignore the rest, drink the potion, and go. These,” he says handing vials he pulled out of his robes to each of us, “will allow you to move forward now.” Professor Snape then pulls out a string of rope and says, “Lemon drops” and disappears with a pop.
“I wondered how they were getting out of here. Portkey?” Xander asks.
“Yes, only the headmaster can make them, and I only gave them one use to get in and out.” Professor Dumbledor replies. “Shall we move on to the final room?” We all drink our potions and move through the black fire into the last room. This room holds nothing but a large mirror with a gold frame standing on two clawed feet. Along the top of the frame is an inscription that reads ‘Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on woshi’. Professor Dumbledore speaks up, “I would not look into this mirror unless you are prepared.”
“I show not your face, but your heart’s desire,” I muttered, seeing the strange words for what they were. Backwards.
“Exactly, Miss Granger. Many wizards have wasted away looking upon the Mirror of Erised, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what is shown is real or even possible. There is, however, a trick which I have played. Those who seek the stone—to find it, not to use it— will be able to get it, otherwise they’d just see themselves making gold or drinking the Elixir of Life.”
“What if she just breaks the mirror?” Xander asks.
“The Mirror of Erised is unbreakable and also a very old artifact. Luckily this works in our favor due to there being only one way to get it out. Also, I made sure there was plenty of room for Miss Granger to act if needed.”
“Professor, I was wanting to ask if I could tell Harry and Ron about my Slayer status?” I ask.
“I believe that in the end all will be revealed to your friends before too long. I have heard Harry is investigating the stone.”
“Yes, I’ve told him that he should drop it, but as Xander told me, sometimes an outside opinion can be helpful.”
“Look at you, Mia!” Xander exclaims. “Collecting your own Scoobies! Once they know you can bring them to class with you.”
“That would be fun,” I reply and with that, we take a portkey and land just outside the third-floor door where we started.