Disillusionment Charms
Chapter 14: Disillusionment Charms
“Mr. Malfoy, please demonstrate for me how to perform a Disillusionment Charm,” Professor Flitwick chirped.
“Wh-what?” Draco stuttered in shock, “But that’s a fifth year spell!” Panic was growing in his gut and quickly filling his chest.
“Mr. Malfoy, if you cannot perform the charm, you will fail your examination, and have to remediate the class.” The short wizard was buzzing around the classroom at an extreme speed, marking other students’ papers, and shifting books around haphazardly.
Draco ran his free hand through his hair, trying to find some semblance of control in all the chaos going on around him. A large book flew past his face, missing his nose by only an inch. Draco gripped his wand tightly in his fist.
“Tick tock, Mr. Malfoy, I have a line of students waiting to complete their final exam.”
Draco frantically tried to recall reading anything about the Disillusionment Charm—a wand motion or incantation, anything. Nothing came. A blank white wall in his mind.
He cast the first thing he could think of, and accidentally set one of the stacks of books on fire in front of him. Professor Flitwick clucked his tongue at Draco and rushed to put out the fire, but it could not be extinguished. Quickly, the fire consumed everything in its path—stack after stack of books, desks and chairs, feathers and baubles on shelves around the room—
Professor Flitwick was nowhere in sight. Had the fire taken him too? Draco’s heart beat rapidly and he felt sweat drip down his brow and form a sticky slick over his hands. The room was impossibly hot as the fire raged around him.
Water. He needed water.
Draco looked up as he felt a drop of water fall onto the tip of his nose. In quick succession, more drops fell, smattering his face. Before he could rejoice, a downpour fell from above. The fire was quickly put out, but the room was getting smaller and filling up. The water was rising, nearly to his ankles. Sloshing to the door he tried the handle, pulling hard. Nothing. He tried again, this time using all of his strength. Still nothing. Draco grabbed his wand, pointing it at the handle.
Alohomora.
Nothing again. The water was rising too fast, it was up to his waist. His movements were too slow and fumbled, trying to wade around, looking for an exit.
The water was at his chest.
His neck.
His mouth.
His nose.
Draco jumped, trying to float, but only sank back to the bottom. He jumped again and gulped as big of a breath as he could manage.
Sinking.
Sinking.
Sinking.
…
Draco shot upright gasping for breath, clutching his chest. It was still dark out and the rest of his roommates were still sound asleep, snoring loudly. He grabbed his wand and quickly lit it to look around his bed. He was drenched in sweat and so were his sheets.
His adrenaline was still coursing through his veins at top speed and his heart was hammering in his chest—it had all felt so real. He was going to drown. Draco threw the covers back and did a quick Scourgify on them. He grabbed his shower things and softly crept to the bathroom.
He spent a long while in the shower—letting the water drench his hair and run down his back. It was soothing. Nothing like his dream. How could water be so relaxing and terrifying at the same time? Draco had quickly realized it wasn’t the water he had been afraid of, but the feeling of not breathing.
Once he felt the tension finally release from his chest and shoulders, Draco towelled off and tip-toed back to his bed. Unfortunately, the sun was beginning to rise, and Blaise had sat up to start getting ready for the day. Giving up on any renewed sleep, Draco too, dressed for the day and joined the boys for breakfast.
…
The Slytherin boys are heartily, trying to eat away the stress of the exams they were about to begin. Most of their exams were being held in a large classroom, which was rather hot with stagnant air. Each of them felt confident with their work, and surprisingly even Crabbe and Goyle seemed to do alright.
For their few practical exams, they stood in line at the professors’ classroom doors, waiting to be called in individually. Professor McGonagall required them to turn a mouse into a snuff-box (the prettier it appeared, the more points the student received, but if it had a tail you lost points) and Draco’s snuff-box was a shiny silver with an intricate pattern around the edges. Professor McGonagall showed a look of shock and admiration for a moment before going stoic and nodding that his exam was complete. He knew did not like him and his marks would somewhat show that—she would be fair, but no extra points were going to be awarded that was for sure.
Returning to the corridor to wait for the rest of his friends, Draco continuously aimed transfiguration spells at the snuffbox until it eventually turned tarnished and grew a pair of sharp fangs trying to nip at Draco’s fingers. Theo was next to slink out of the Transfiguration room, a lazy grin in place, and Draco quickly shoved the angry silver trinket into his robes pocket so they could walk to their next exam.
The Charms exam was what had Draco’s anxiety skyrocketing. He knew it was silly to believe that Professor Flitwick would ask him to perform a fifth-year spell, but he couldn’t help but look up the details of the Disillusionment Charm. If done correctly, it would feel like raw eggs dripping over him. He did not have time to practice, however, as his exam was scheduled in ten minutes.
Draco made it to Professor Flitwick’s office just as his name was being called, and he skiddishly entered the room. The tiny wizard was smiling up at him, excitedly—at least someone was enjoying the exam week.
“Now, Mr. Malfoy, for your exam I would like you to—“
Please, not a Disillusionment Charm. Please, please, please…
“—make this pineapple tap dance across the desk!” Flitwick looked giddy with enthusiasm and humor. Draco’s face flashed in confusion momentarily, but he obliged and pointed the Hawthorne wand at the pineapple and swished up, over, and down.
Tarantallegra!
The pineapple grew legs, and they wildly tap-danced over Professor Flitwick’s cleared off desk. The professor clapped his hands together wildly, exclaiming, “Oh! How wonderful! Absolutely marvelous!”
He quickly ushered Draco out, ending the spell with a Finite , and called in the next student. Out in the hall, Draco sighed in relief.
At the end of the last exam of the week, the students all cheered loudly, ready to be done with their revisions and enjoy the summer.
…
The young Slytherin posse, even including the girls, made their way outside, looking to soak up some sun and find a breeze if one could be found. The girls skipped ahead, twirling and giggling giddily, with their hair all whipping around behind them.
The boys strolled lazily behind them, unconsciously heading toward the Black Lake. A worn walking path circled the shore, a little over two and half kilometers from start to finish. The girls turned down the path and slowed to allow the boys to catch up.
“We’re finally finished!” Daphne called excitedly, throwing her arms wide and spinning in a circle.
“Whoooo!” Theo called back, equally glad to be done with classwork.
“So now what do we do?” Pansy flashed a smile at the boys, “An end of the year party?”
The boys all shared nervous glances, they had never been to a real party that their parents hadn’t put together or hosted as a formal event.
Tracey, Pansy, Millie, and Daphne all broke into laughter at the boys’ unwillingness to commit to the casual social event.
“You guys have until the end of the loop to figure it out,” Tracey said in a sing-song voice. The girls continued to skip and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Trailing behind, the boys began to whisper.
“What kind of party d’you think they mean?” Theo voiced all of their concerns.
Draco shrugged. He had heard whispers of older students holding an end-of-term party in the commonroom later that night. First years weren’t exactly invited, Draco was sure there would be alcohol served and other various things they wouldn’t be allowed to participate in. He didn’t have much interest in those parties just yet anyway.
“I’m sure they just want to have a party since we won’t be invited to the one in the commonroom tonight for the older years,” Draco said relaxed.
“ WHAT?!” Theo was outraged. He loved parties, secrets, and doing things he wasn’t supposed to be doing. Crashing the party tonight would be the ultimate pastime for him.
“Don’t worry, Theo, we’ll get you into the party,” Blaise chuckled.
The boys joked around a bit more before catching up to the girls. They all conspired about their own party—Draco had collected a large amount of candy that his mother had been sending throughout the year. Crabbe and Goyle were going to contribute their stash of stolen goods, and Theo and Blaise had made friends with a House Elf from the kitchens who could smuggle them some extra pumpkin juice and possibly some giggle water.
The party details were being finalized when Draco happened to look over, he could just make them out, but he spotted three heads of hair, one black, one red, and one wild, bushy, and brown, running down the hill to Hagrid’s hut. Draco elbowed Theo and Blaise, jutting his chin over to the Gryffindor trio. They couldn’t risk being caught snooping again, so they stayed with their friends, following them up to the castle while taking turns casting glances back down to the hut.
…
Once back in the castle, Theo was talking animatedly about their ‘alternative First-Years-only party’ when he tripped over his robes and nearly fell face-first onto Professor Snape. Unfortunately for Theo, Snape side-stepped him at the last second and Theo hit the floor, landing on his forearm with a SNAP !
Blaise quickly helped Theo up off the hard floor, and checked his arm.
“I think it might be broken, Draco, I’m going to take him to Madam Pomfrey. Meet us there after you talk to Professor Snape.” The blonde nodded, turning to their Head of House.
“What did you need to speak to me about, Mr. Malfoy?” Snape drawled, looking somewhat disgusted at Theo’s clumsiness.
“Potter and his friends were running down to Hagrid’s hut in a huge hurry just a few minutes ago. It didn’t appear to be a friendly visit,” Draco looked at Snape as if trying to convey another meaning behind his words.
Snape eyed him closely, then just turned and walked away as if Draco hadn’t said anything at all. The young Slytherin wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to the man’s cold demeanor.
…
Draco caught up with the rest of the First Year Slytherins in the Hospital Wing, where Madam Pomfrey had put Theo in one of the beds. She was bandaging up his left arm as he winced and made a number of whinging sounds.
Draco shared an eye roll with Blaise. Theo’s theatrics were commonplace in their dormitory, but he didn’t often employ them around any one else.
Pansy smacked Theo’s other shoulder in a chastising manner, and he quickly stopped with his excessive sound-making. She smiled triumphantly, and the girls bid them farewell to make the arrangements for the party.
…
Theo had been released from the Hospital Wing not more than an hour later. His wrist was bruised, but he would be fine as long as he rested it for a week or so. Draco and Blaise escorted him back to the dungeons, they had planned to help the girls get ready for the party, when Professor Snape strolled down the corridor toward them.
“Mr. Malfoy, since Mr. Nott will not be of any use this evening, I suggest you and Mr. Zabini get him settled in the commonroom and join me in my office in five minutes,” Snape demanded.
Draco and Blaise nodded fervently, but Theo just frowned, kicking at the stone floor.
“You guys are gonna go do Dumbledore’s secret mission without me…” Theo looked as though he would cry.
“We don’t know that,” Blaise tried to placate him.
“Snape said ‘tonight’, you guys are going to get to go down the trapdoor tonight. You know it and I know it,” Theo pouted. Before Draco could try to comfort him, Theo pulled him into a hug first, then Blaise next. “You guys are gonna owe me big time ! Plus good luck explaining where you were to the girls, because I am not covering for you.” He smirked and walked through the entrance to the commonroom, muttering the password, Grindylow .
…
Snape had, in fact, asked Draco and Blaise to stake out the third-floor corridor that night. Draco had spent the rest of the afternoon trying to perfect the Disillusionment Charm. He had read and re-read the section on it in the book he borrowed from Marcus Flint. The older Slytherin was all too eager to have a Malfoy owe him a favor, even if Draco was only eleven.
After three full hours of practicing, Blaise felt comfortable enough to let Draco try to Disillusion him. He held his nerves in check as he tapped the end of his wand on top of Blaise’s head. He could see it working as Blaise slowly blended into the wall behind him, starting from his head down, until eventually his feet disappeared as well.
It wasn’t perfect, or even great, really, but it would work for their purposes. They just had to stand still and keep watch for Potter, Weasley, and Granger. If they didn’t move, it would easily fool other first-year students.
Once the parties were in full swing, Draco and Blaise moved to the entrance of the commonroom and Draco Disillusioned Blaise, then himself when no one was looking. They quietly left and made their way up the multiple sets of stairs.
At the third floor, they turned down the right side corridor, and waited near the door they knew housed the three-headed dog, Fluffy , Hagrid had called it. Draco rolled his eyes at the half-giant’s fondness for creatures ready to kill him.
Draco only had to renew the Disillusionment Charm once on each of them before they heard footsteps coming toward them. They hoped it wasn’t Filch and his cat. Draco was sure she would be able to see through his charm easily. He hoped it was Potter finally showing up.
When a body turned the corner, it was neither Filch nor Potter. A purple turban sat atop Professor Quirrell’s head as it always did, however, this time Draco and Blaise both shivered at the sight. They tried to freeze and hold as still as the statue they were standing behind.
Quirrell made quick work of the lock, leaving the door ajar. He had his wand at the ready and conjured a harp, playing a soft tune. The beast settled back down onto the stone floor and laid its large heads down, drifting to sleep. The two Slytherins could feel its hot breath puffing out of the door.
They weren’t sure what to do. Quirrell had gotten there first, and how could they be sure Potter would even come tonight? They were basing this off of assumptions that Potter had noticed Dumbledore was gone and he had guessed that was when Voldemort would try to get the Philosopher’s Stone.
Draco and Blaise waited there in the corridor for only another twenty minutes before they heard the Witless Wonders whispering to each other. Granger must have learned the Disillusionment Charm as well because the three Gryffindors were essentially invisible and kept whisper-yelling at each other about stepping on toes and elbowing themselves.
They saw Potter, Weasley, and Granger appear once inside the door. An Invisibility Cloak?! How did Potter get one of those—and he just left it on the floor there? What if Voldemort kills him down there and he just basically handed him a rare Invisibility Cloak. Potter really is the dullest sod.
Draco shook his condescending thoughts away. He was here to give Potter backup, not point out how stupid he was. Draco and Blaise crept into the room as soon as Potter dropped down the trapdoor. Granger was playing a flute to keep the giant dog asleep.
She was the last one down the trapdoor and for some reason, that irritated him. Of course she shouldn’t go first, but once Potter had known what was down there, she shouldn’t have been left alone with this giant three-headed dog!
The moment she stopped playing the flute, Fluffy started to growl and bark. Luckily Blaise had been waiting for that very moment. He scooped up the flute and began to play just as she had. The giant dog only barked once more as its eyes drooped shut for the third time that evening.
Draco pulled open the trapdoor and peered below. He could no longer hear them. Knowing what lay ahead for them, Draco and Blaise jumped together and landed with a THUMP .
The vines immedia began to coil around their ankles and legs. Draco grasped his wand tightly and cast the flaming spell Snape had suggested that afternoon. Light flashed from his wand and the Slytherins were quickly released from the Devil’s Snare and they clambered over to the wall.
Once free of the wrangling vines, they moved down the stone passageway to the next task. By the time they reached the next chamber, they could hear a soft rustling and clinking. The Gryffindors were already on the broomsticks and circling after the old key flying above them surrounded by hundreds of other glinting winged keys.
They all dove for the key at once, and Potter ended up smashing it against the stone wall of the chamber. The three dunderheads cheered raucously before dropping back to the ground and running for the door ahead. Draco moved to follow when Blaise grabbed him by the elbow and dragged him back.
The Disillusionment Charm was fading—Draco’s legs were nearly visible and the rest of him was appearing quickly. Blaise was already completely visible. Draco tapped the end of his wand over Blaise, and he slowly disappeared into the background again. Draco was now completely visible and he heard a soft gasp behind him.
Turning to see her looking at him, mouth agape.
“We’re here to help, I promise,” Draco held his hands up in surrender as he whispered almost inaudibly. She eyed him warily but said nothing as she moved into the next room, leaving the door open just enough for one of them to grab it. Draco quickly Disillusioned himself and the two Slytherin boys quietly snuck through the door.
They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were the white pieces. Draco and Blaise took great care to not step onto the actual chessboard, as they had been instructed by Professor Snape.
“Now what do we do?” Potter whispered.
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Weasley said. “We’ve got to play our way across the room.”
Behind the white pieces was another door. Draco nudged Blaise—this would be his room to deal with and Draco would go ahead to the next when the game was over.
“How?” Granger asked nervously, but Draco was sure she already knew the answer.
“I think we’re going to have to be chessmen.” The Weasel deduced as he walked up to a black knight and put his hand out to touch the knight’s horse. At once, the stone sprang to life. The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned his helmeted head to look down at the ginger. “Do we – er – have to join you to get across?”
The black knight nodded and Weasley turned to the other two.
“This wants thinking about …” he said. “I suppose we’ve got to take the place of three of the black pieces … Now, don’t be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess –“
“We’re not offended, just tell us what to do,” Potter jumped in quickly.
“Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, you go there instead of that castle.”
“What about you?” Potter inquired.
“I’m going to be a knight,” Weasley looked so sure of himself.
The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these words a knight, a bishop and a castle turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the board leaving three empty squares which the three Gryffindors took.
“White always plays first in chess,” said Weasley, peering across the board. “Yes ... look …”
A white pawn had moved forward two squares, and Weasley started to direct the black pieces. They moved silently wherever he sent them. Potter looked like he was about to hurl. He was visibly shaking.
Don’t screw this up Potter. Your friend is just fine at playing chess, calm yourself or you’ll end up dead before Voldemort even gets a crack at you.
“Harry – move diagonally four squares to the right.”
Their first real shock came when their other knight was taken. The white queen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board, where he lay quite still, face down.
“Had to let that happen,” said the Weasel, 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, Weasley almost let her and Potter get smashed to bits before he realized they were in danger. He himself darted around the board taking almost as many white pieces as they had lost black ones.
“We’re nearly there,” Weasley muttered suddenly. “Let me think – let me think …” The white queen turned her blank face towards him.
“Yes …” the redhead said softly, “it’s the only way ... I’ve got to be taken.”
“NO!” Both Potter and Granger shouted.
“That’s chess!” snapped Weasley. “You’ve got to make some sacrifices! I’ll make my move and she’ll take me – that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!”
Oh, how noble of you . Draco rolled his eyes at the ginger’s declaration of ‘bravery’.
“But –“
“Do you want to stop Snape or not?”
Blaise was barely able to stifle a laugh. Of course they thought it was Snape all along. Their professor is rather aloof and loves to pick on Potter…
“Ron –“
“Look, if you don’t hurry up, he’ll already have the Stone!”
Bloody unlikely. Snape had explained the only was to get the Philosopher's Stone was to want it but not to use it—Quirrell obviously wanted to use it. So he could sit there for eternity and never get the damned thing.
“Ready?” Weasley called, his face pale but determined. “Here I go – now, don’t hang around once you’ve won.”
Granger looked around frantically. She kept looking along the stone walls pausing every few meters to make an emploring face or a pout. Draco knew she was looking for him so he made a quiet sniffling sound. She zeroed in on him with her gaze and he knew she was asking him to take care of the Weasel if he got hurt.
Lucky for her, Blaise was already on it. He had been standing on the side of the chessboard where Weasley was stationed and was waiting to drag him back out to the Hospital Wing.
The red-headed boy stepped forward and the white queen pounced. She struck him hard around the head with her stone arm and he crashed to the floor – Granger screamed but stayed on her square – the white queen dragged him to one side. He looked as if he’d been knocked out.
Shaking, Potter moved three spaces to the left.
The white king took off his crown and threw it at Potter’s feet. They had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. With one last desperate look back at their friend, Potter and Granger charged through the door and up the next passageway. Draco followed as Blaise began to hoist Weasley onto a flat broken piece of stone.
Just before the door closed behind them, Draco heard a whispered Wingardium leviosa.
“What if he’s –?” Granger looked sick with worry, and Draco placed his hand softly in hers and gave a gentle squeeze before releasing. She twitched at the contact like she might try to turn around and find him again, but the smart witch she was, she realized that would be foolish at this point.
“He’ll be all right,” said Potter, clearly trying to convince himself that he didn’t just get his best friend killed. “What do you reckon’s next?”
“We’ve had Sprout’s, that was the Devil’s Snare – Flitwick must’ve put charms on the keys – McGon- agall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive – that leaves Quirrell’s spell, and Snape’s …”
They had reached another door. “All right?” Potter whispered. “Go on.”
He pushed it open.
A disgusting smell filled their nostrils, making both of them pull their robes up over their noses. Eyes watering, they saw, flat on the floor in front of them, a gigantic troll out cold with a bloody lump on its head.
“I’m glad we didn’t have to fight that one,” Potter whispered, as they stepped carefully over one of its massive legs. “Come on, I can’t breathe.”
He pulled open the next door, finding just a table with seven differently shaped bottles standing on it in a line.
“Snape’s,” said Potter. “What do we have to do?”
Potter and Granger stepped over the threshold and immediately a fire sprang up behind them in the doorway. It wasn’t ordinary fire either—it was purple. At the same instant, black flames shot up in the doorway leading onwards. They were trapped.
Draco stood behind the purple flames watching her take action. This would be her task, he knew.
“Look!” Hermione seized a roll of paper lying next to the bottles. Harry 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.
Granger let out a great sigh and Potter looked at her amazed. Draco could see she was smiling, and he was proud, no, that wasn’t the right word. He was in awe of her ability to approach a problem—with such a level of stress and possibility of death weighing on her—and still smile because she loved puzzles.
“Brilliant,” she said. “This isn’t magic – it’s logic – a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven’t got an ounce of logic, they’d be stuck in here forever.”
“But so will we, won’t we?” Potter asked dumbly.
He doesn’t know her at all. Why is she friends with these gits? They use her and treat her like garbage then expect her to do everything for them. Not only that, but they have no faith in her when it counts!
“Of course not. Everything we need is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire and one will get us back through the purple.”
“But how do we know which to drink?”
Idiot Potter.
“Give me a minute.”
Draco realized in that moment, that he enjoyed watching the cogs in her brain begin to turn. Her eyes sparkled in the light and she looked overall glowing.
Granger read the paper several times, then walked up and down the line of bottles, muttering to herself and pointing at them. At last, she clapped her hands.
“Got it,” she said. “The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire – towards the Stone.” Potter looked at the tiny bottle.
“There’s only enough there for one of us,” Potter said. “That’s hardly one swallow.”
They looked at each other. Yes, well done, Potter—now send her back safely through.
“Which one will get you back through the purple flames?”
Hermione pointed at a rounded bottle at the right end of the line.
“You drink that,” he said, but she started to protest. “No, listen – get back and get Ron – grab brooms from the flying-key room, they’ll get you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy – go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him. I might be able to hold Snape off for a while, but I’m no match for him really.”
Potter, you wouldn’t last one bloody minute! What do you mean, ‘hold him off for a while’? You couldn’t hold off a snake with a stick!
“But Harry – what if You-Know-Who’s with him?”
“Well – I was lucky once, wasn’t I?” Potter responded, pointing at his scar. “ I might get lucky again.”
Oh yes, let’s just hope for the best, shall we? I’m so glad I was assigned to help you—you make it just so easy .
Granger’s lip trembled and she suddenly dashed at Potter and threw her arms around him.
“Hermione!” He shouted in surprise. Draco felt a pang of jealousy course through him and he wasn’t entirely sure why.
“Harry – you’re a great wizard, you know.” She told her friend.
“I’m not as good as you,” said Potter, very embarrassed, as she let go of him.
“Me! Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – oh Harry – be careful!” She said fearfully.
“You drink first,” said Potter. “You are sure which is which, aren’t you?” Draco scoffed from across the chamber.
“Positive,” she said. She took a long drink from the round bottle at the end and shuddered. “It’s not poison?” Potter asked anxiously.
Some friend you are!
“No – but it’s like ice.”
“Quick, go, before it wears off.”
“Good luck – take care –“
“GO!”
Hermione turned and walked straight through the purple fire.
Draco grabbed her the moment she was through.
“You’re a clever witch,” he whispered to her.
“Did you help Ron?” She asked in a concerned tone.
“You can’t tell Potter or Weasley that we were down here with you. Promise me?” Draco grabbed both of her shoulders. He was fully visible again by now.
She nodded, looking up into his steely gray eyes. “‘We’? So did you help him? Is he okay?”
“Blaise took him to Madam Pomfrey. Dumbledore is on his way back, and will be briefed by Snape the moment he arrives.”
Her relief disappeared at the mention of Snape.
“You don’t honestly believe he’s the one who—“
She cut him off, “it wasn’t Snape, it was Quirrell!”
Draco beamed at her, “ now you get it! Finally!”
She shot him an annoyed look, but it was playful. “You knew? How?”
“Snooping, spying, and Snape told us everything when we put it together with Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher’s Stone just before Christmas.”
“Wait, you figured it out before Christmas ?! So were you…you were the one who sent me the book, weren’t you?”
“No offense, Granger, but I need you to head back and stay with Weasley in the Hospital Wing. I have to go in after Potter. I can catch you up on the rest once this is all done with, yeah?”
She looked hesitant but did as he asked. Once she was safely back through the door, Draco took two small phials out of his pocket. The first was orange in color and made his chest burn like ice, but it allowed him to walk through the purple flames that were still lit ahead of him.
He then renewed the Disillusionment Charm once more and took the second phial and drank the white, creamy-looking potion. It warmed his chest momentarily then filled again with an even deeper icy feeling. He walked through the black flames, then he was on the other side, in the last chamber.