Back to visit Fluffy
Chapter 24
Draco, Potter, Granger, and Weasley all went down to dinner with everything, but food wasn’t on their minds. When they entered the Great Hall, Draco felt nauseous with all the food in his sight.
With his nerves pilling up over Voldemort and his final exams, he wasn't surprised when he wanted to leave the Great Hall immediately. Draco sat down at the Gryffindor table with the others and looked at the options for dinner that night.
The main course was roast with carrots and potatoes, but there were other dishes laid out like corn and desserts. Draco's stomach started to hurt worse the longer he looked at the food.
Everyone around him had already filled their plates and were simultaneously eating and talking about random subjects. Draco decided he didn't even want to try and eat anything, not wanting to risk upsetting his stomach even more.
Draco was staring down at his lap when Neville nudged his shoulder from the side. "You going to eat anything?" Neville asked, concerned. Draco shook his head, "I don't feel very well. My stomach's a bit upset. It's probably just post exam nerves."
Draco watched as his friend turned and started to rummage through his bag. When he found what he was looking for, Neville held out a package. "Here, try and eat these. They're plain crackers. My Nan always makes me eat them when my stomach's upset, so I thought since you seem to have an upset stomach a lot I would carry them around, so you could eat something."
Draco stared at the package for a moment before slowly grabbing it out of his friend's hand. "I- thank you," he said softly looking up at Neville.
Neville smiled, "No problem," and turned back to his own food.
Draco didn't know what to think. The only other people who had done something that thoughtful for him was Blaise, Pansy, Theo, and his godfather. He trusted Neville greatly, even could talk to him about Severus, and the boys had been friends since the day they sat together on the train, but it wasn't till now that Draco truly realized how much Neville meant to him.
Guilt flooded Draco's thoughts. In the past, Draco would go out of his way to pick on him. He always would take advantage of how gullible he was. He regretted it all. All the bullying he had done and people he tormented.
Draco had to keep telling himself he would do better in this lifetime and he would deal with his regret later. His hand instantly went over his wrist and with the slight pressure, he could feel a tiny bit of pain from his recent cuts.
He knew he couldn't think about his cuts now. There were much greater things ahead of him.
Draco moved his hand and opened the package. Throughout the rest of dinner, he slowly ate the crackers and had to admit, they did help settle his stomach.
When dinner ended, Draco walked with Neville up to the common room while Potter, Weasley, and Granger trailed silently behind. "Do you feel any better?" Neville asked as they walked through the portrait.
"Yeah, much actually. I'll have to ask Dobby if they have any of those in the kitchens," Draco replied and sat down by the fire with Neville. Potter, Weasley, and Granger had sat opposite to them, starting their own conversation.
As it got later and later, more and more students started to leave the common room. Midway through the night, Draco excused himself to go to the bathroom. He was happy to find it was empty.
Draco rolled up his sleeve and unwrapped the bandages he had placed on his wrist days before. Draco thought back to what happened to the golden trio the last time they supposedly went down this trap door. Both Weasley and Potter ended up in the infirmary. He looked down at his wrist and saw there were many scars, some still red, covering it.
As much as Draco hated to do what he was about to, he needed to do it if his secret was going to stay hidden. He pointed his wand at his cuts and performed a healing charm. The ones that were red instantly matched the others.
He knew if he was sent to the infirmary and had a bandage over his wrist or these scars not hidden, Madam Pomfrey would find them, so he pointed his wand towards his wrist once more and placed a glamour over the scars.
Draco looked down at the smooth skin of his wrist. It has been months since the skin was scar free, and before that it had been years. He pulled his sleeve down and casted an "Incendio" at the bloody bandages laying on the sink. He watched as they broke out in flames and the only thing left was a cloud of smoke. He put the thoughts that were haunting his mind to the back of his head and walked to the common room.
For the rest of the night, Draco only talked to Neville, but when he was the only Gryffindor left other than himself and the three across from them, he knew he needed to find a way to get Neville to head up to the dorm.
"Hey Nev, it's getting pretty late, we should probably head up and get some sleep," Draco said, trying to plant the idea. Neville agreed and said, "Yeah, I guess we should."
Draco watched as friend started to get up and walked towards the stairs, but before he walked up he turned back around. "Aren't you going to come too?"
"No, I'm going to talk to Granger for a second and then I'll be up, but you go ahead," Draco encouraged.
Neville hesitated and thought for a long moment. "You guys are going to sneak out again aren't you?" he accused and walked back towards them.
Draco couldn't lie to him, not now at least. "Nev, this is really important. I promise we wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't."
"Do you know how many points Gryffindor has lost because of you four? And know you're going to get caught again and lose us even more points?" Neville practically barked out.
Potter stood up then. "No offense mate, but we're going whether you approve or not."
Neville then walked closer, "Then-then I'll just have to fight you." He stood in front of his four friends and held fists up prepared.
Before anyone could do anything else, Granger pointed her wand towards Neville and said, "Petrificus Totalus!" Neville fell to the ground with a thud and Draco felt guilty again.
The rest of them were stunned for a moment, before Granger said, "Sorry Neville."
"We should probably try the cloak on now to make sure it fits all of us," Weasley said. Potter grabbed his cloak out and the four Gryffindors squeezed under.
Draco was surprised when they all fit under the small cloak, but it seemed to grow to the exact size it needed to be.
The group walked quietly down the corridors, not wanting to alert Filch. Draco knew they didn't have much time, and even thought about using the tunnels before remembering it was the one place no one else knew about.
The rest of the walk was tense. Every sound that wasn't the patter of their footsteps, made all four Gryffindor's breath hitch slightly.
Once Draco and the others finally entered the third floor corridor, Granger unlocked the door that Fluffy hid behind. She lead them through the door, and Draco could hear soft music playing in the background
Draco stepped out from under the cloak and saw Fluffy sleeping soundly as the harp in the corner continued to emit soft tunes into the air.
“If you guys want to go back to the common room, I understand. I can do this myself," Potter told the rest.
“Don't be daft, Potter. We’re coming whether you like it or not," Draco explained and walked closer to the trap door. “Come on, we can't keep standing here for the rest of the night. We have a mission to complete.”
The others nodded in agreement. Weasley stepped forward and opened the trap door. "So,who's going down first?”
Draco looked down, but all he saw was a bottomless black pit. Now isn't the time to be scared, he thought. “I’ll go.”
“Are you sure?” Granger asked. “Yeah, yeah I'm sure," Draco replied. He stood on the edge of the pit and took a breath before jumping.
For a few seconds, Draco was falling through the air and actually found it slightly relaxing. In those seconds, Draco didn't know what lies at the end if anything at all.
Those seconds were short lived, and Draco landed onto a thick pile of what seemed to be a plant. “I’m alright. You guys can come down,” Draco called up. He realized he couldn’t hear the harp playing when Potter landed next to him.
Weasley was next and then suddenly Draco heard a large growl from above. The music had stopped. "Granger, jump!" Draco shouted. He heard a loud bang and then saw Granger falling through the air.
When Granger landed with the rest of them, Draco realized the plant had started to move around him. First it was his arms and he couldn't grab his wand. Then the plant wrapped itself around his legs and chest. "This is Devil's Snare. You need to relax or it will only become tighter," Granger told them and then fell through the plant.
Potter was next, falling too only a few seconds after her. Draco knew this wasn't the time to panic. He needed to relax or they would never stop Voldemort. He closed his eyes and tried to think of something peaceful.
His mind went to flying. Not Quidditch just flying around on a broomstick for fun. Those were the times Draco truly let go of all his stress and enjoyed the ride. The wind hitting his face and flowing through his hair. Making laps around the Pitch when no one else was around. The butterflies in his stomach when he made a deep di-
Draco's thoughts were cut off with a thud. He stood up and dusted his robes off before looking towards Potter and Granger. Weasley's screams for help filled his ears. "He's not relaxing!" Granger pointed out, "We'll have to think of another way to get him out."
Draco wished he knew more about this specific plant. There were a lot of things he remembered, but how to get out of Devil's Snare wasn't one of them.
He was becoming irritated at the thought that he had lived through this moment before, but he was just in another part of the castle sleeping, oblivious to what was going on. If only he could have known what would happen he would've been more prepared.
"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare. It's deadly fun but will. . . Ugh! What's the rest of it!" Granger exclaimed, trying to think.
Draco had heard that before, but where? A light went off inside his head and remembered Neville rambling that same rhyme months ago. His friend's voice filled Draco's head Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare. It's deadly fun, but will sulk in the sun. That's it!
"We need sunlight!" Draco and Granger said at the same time. Draco held up his wand and quickly casted a spell. Golden light sprung out of his wand and in a matter of seconds Weasley was on the ground next to them.
Weasley smiled sheepishly at the three as he got to his feet. "Good thing we didn't panic." Potter wasn't amused. "Good thing Hermione and Draco pay attention in Herbology."
"Come on, we need to go this way," Potter said and started to walk down the stone passageway. Draco, Weasley, and Granger followed behind.
Draco traced the stone as he walked and felt water drops fall onto his hand. The only sound he could hear was their footsteps until a small buzzing rang through their ears.
"Do you hear that?" Weasley asked, looking around for what could be making the noise. "Yeah, but I don't know where it's coming from," Potter replied.
As they continued to walk the buzzing sound only grew and Draco saw a light ahead. Once they got closer, he realized it was a chamber, and the noise was coming from inside.
Potter was the first to step inside and waved when he thought it was safe for the rest of them. Draco looked around the room and saw what looked to be butterflies flying in the air. On the side was a door, but when he tried to open it, it was locked.
Granger applied some unlocking charms on the handle and was disappointed when they didn't work. "How are we going to get out of here?" she questioned.
"Wait! Those aren't bugs. Look," Potter pointed to the flying objects ahead, "Those are keys. One of them must unlock the door." Draco looked at the butterflies more closely and saw that Potter was right. They were keys charmed to have wings.
"And look, we can use those brooms to catch them!" Potter exclaimed and then his smile dropped, "But there's only three brooms."
Granger was quick to speak up, "I'll stay down. We all know I'm rubbish on a broom anyways."
So it was settled. Draco, Potter, and Weasley all mounted their brooms and started to fly up towards the swarm of keys. "You're looking for an old fashioned key. Probably bulky and silver like that lock." Granger called up to them.
Draco looked quickly around trying to find a key that matched Granger’s description.
“It’s that one! With the bent wing,” Potter shouted and pointed towards the exact key they were looking for.
I guess there is a reason I’m a chaser these days, Draco thought to himself.
The three boys all dove for the key, but each time they got close the keys flew faster and dodged their attempts.
“This isn’t working!” Draco groaned in frustration, “We need another plan.”
Potter thought for a moment before shouting out instructions. “Draco, you stay up top and Ron you stay down below. I’ll stay in the middle and when I say go both of you fly to the middle, and we can try to trap it.”
Draco flew to the top of the room and waited for Potter’s instruction. They waited for a moment and then Potter shouted, “Go!”
Draco dove down while Weasley shot up. Potter waited for the right moment and then reached out his hand and caught the key.
“I got it!” Potter exclaimed and gave the key to Granger to unlock.
Draco and Weasley joined the other two on the ground. Granger placed the key into the hole and unlocked the door.
A dark pathway was revealed once the door was opened. They all hesitated going through it before Potter said, “We need to keep moving. Who knows what lies ahead and we don’t have much time.”
Again, Potter was the one to lead them down the pathway. It wasn’t long before they entered the next room and Draco was surprised by what he saw.
There was no mistaking what their next challenge was this time. A chess board with pieces double the size of him loomed in front of him.
Draco watched as Potter walked across the board and tried to pass the pieces on the far side. He smirked when the boy was met with two swords blocking his path.
“How are we supposed to get across?” Potter sighed.
“Merlin, how daft can you be Potter?” Draco asked, “You figured out those keys weren’t bugs, but can’t realize we have to play to get across?”
“I-oh I guess that makes sense,” Potter said, slightly embarrassed.
Draco then turned towards Weasley. "Are you leading this or are you just going to stand there?"
"Me?" Weasley said surprised, "But you're just as good at chess as I am"
Draco rolled his eyes. "We both know you're the better chess player out of the two of us. You've beaten me loads of times."
Weasley didn't argue with that and walked up to one of the knights. Once he placed his hand on the piece, it sprung to life. "Ok, Draco you go over to that bishop over there."
Draco did what he was told and looked back at the red head for confirmation. "Yes, that's the one," Weasley said and then turned towards Granger and Potter, "Mione, you go to that castle and Harry, go over to the king."
"What about you?" Granger asked as she climbed onto her piece. Weasley turned to them confidently, "I'm going to be the Knight!"
Once they were all on their pieces, Potter looked towards Weasley and asked, "What happens now?"
"Well, white moves first and then we play," Weasley replied and watched as a white pawn made its first move.
"Is this going to be like real wizard's chess?" Granger asked quietly, not wanting her thought to be true. Weasley looked across the board and shouted, "Pawn to D5!"
Draco watched as white made its next move, smashing the black pawn into pieces. "Hermione, I think this is going to be exactly like wizard's chess," Weasley replied with a grimace.
Weasley led the game, giving out orders to pieces all over the board. As the game got closer to the end, Draco realized there weren't very many options left for them to win. Within the next few moves, Draco knew one of them wasn't making it across.
Weasley studied the board for a moment and came to the same revelation. He looked towards the others, "Once I make my move Harry, you'll be free to check the king."
Potter shook his head, "No! Ron no!" Granger looked at them confused, "What is it?"
"He's going to sacrifice himself. It's the only way we can win," Draco explained. Granger turned towards Weasley, "No, you can't! There must be another way!"
"Do you want to stop Snape from getting that stone or not?" Weasley looked over at Potter, "It's you who has to go on. I know it! Not Draco! Not me! Not Hermione! You!"
They all stayed silent for a moment. "Knight to H3!" Weasley said clearly. Draco watched as the piece moved towards the queen. In a matter of seconds the queen attacked quickly and smashed the knight into pieces, knocking Weasley to the ground in the process.
Granger screamed and started to move towards her friend's limp body, but Draco stopped her before she touched the board. "Stop! Remember, we're still playing."
Draco watched as Potter walked across the board, sending the game into checkmate. The white dropped his crown and the three Gryffindors ran over to Weasley.
"Is he going to be okay?" Potter asked as Granger kneeled beside him. "Yeah, you two go on. I'll take him to Madam Pomfrey."
"Are you sure?" Potter asked. Granger nodded, "Ron's right Harry, you're the one who needs to go on and it doesn't hurt to have the best wizards in our year go with you." Draco gave Granger a smile at the compliment and followed Potter as they walked through the passageway on the far side of the room.
This time they went straight into another room, but to Draco's relief it looked like their task was already completed for them. On the ground laid a giant mountain troll just like the one they faced on Halloween night all those months ago.
"We need to head on," Draco told Potter as he stared at the troll, "Whoever wants that stone is moving fast and we should keep moving if we want to stop them."
Potter nodded, "Guess it's a good thing we don't have to fight off another troll this year." Draco chuckled as they stepped around the massive troll trying not to wake it. "Yeah, we don't need you standing around dumbfounded again."
As they left the room with the troll, they once again entered another room. This room was smaller and darker than the others and once they both got past the doorway purple flames shot up and blocked their way back. At the same time, black flames blocked the doorway in front of them.
"Okay then," Draco thought out loud and looked around the room. The only thing inside was a table with bottles and a scroll of paper. He walked over to the table and grabbed the scroll.
When Draco opened the scroll, he glanced over it and recognized the hand writing immediately. "This is Severus's obstacle," He told Potter. "What are we supposed to do?" Potter asked, looking down at the bottles laid out on the table.
Draco looked closer to what the scroll said. "It's a word puzzle. We have to figure out which potion will get us through the flames. Potter nodded, "Okay, so what does the scroll say?"
Draco read what the scroll said out loud, "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 forevermore, 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 onward, neither is your friend; Third, as you see clearly, all are different size, Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides; Fourth, second left and the second on the right Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.”
Potter looked at Draco with wide eyes, “That was a lot of information.”
Draco rolled his eyes, “That’s the whole point, Potter. To use a lot of words to confuse morons like you.”
He then focused on the bottles in front of him, “Let’s see. If dwarf nor giant hold death and the second left and second right are twins that would make those the nettle wine because second from the right is the giant.”
Potter hummed at what Draco was saying, trying to make sense of what was going on in his head.
”And the ones to the left of the wine are poison and the other poison has to be the one in the middle because it’s the only one not touching a wine which makes the smallest bottle the one that’ll let you through the black flames and the round bottle on the end is the one that will let you back through the purple flames.”
”I’m just going to have to trust you on that one. You lost me a while ago,” Potter said, giving Draco a bright smile.
Draco picked up the smallest bottle and saw there was only a little of the potion left. “I don’t know if we can both move on.”
Potter’s smile dropped, “What do you mean? I can’t do this alone!”
”I know, but look, there isn’t that much potion left.”
Potter looked inside the bottle and saw the little amount inside. “I’m sure that’s enough. We each can just take little sips, okay?”
Draco took a second to think. He knew that it would be a risk, but two people fighting off a madman was better than one. And if Severus really made this potion then it should be more than strong enough to get them both through the fire.
”Do you really want me to go with you?” Draco asked before making his final decision.
Potter looked directly into Draco’s eyes. “It’s not that I don’t think I can do this by myself. I just think I won’t be as scared if you go with me.”
Draco nodded, understanding where Potter was coming from. “I think there’s just enough for the both of us, but once we drink it we have to run straight through the fire. There won’t be time to hesitate, okay?”
”Yeah, I understand,” Potter replied, willing to do anything to have Draco move on with him.
Draco handed Potter the bottle. “You’re going to take the first sip and then go straight through the fire. I’ll be right behind you.”
Potter put the bottle up to his lips and drank a tiny amount of the potion. Draco quickly took the bottle from him and watched as the Raven haired boy ran through the black flames.
Draco took a deep breath and followed in suit. As he ran through the flames, he felt the warmth surrounding him, but it wasn’t painful.
Potter was waiting for him on the other side and they walked through the next door together. Now Draco liked to think he could piece things together very well, but he would have never guessed what was hidden behind that door.
Draco cursed himself for looking over it. There were so many clues, but he just let them go straight over his head because who would ever think Professor Quirrell would be capable of something like this.
From the moment Draco walked through that door, he recognized those god awful purple robes instantly.
”Professor Quirrell?!” Potter exclaimed, just as shocked as Draco.
The man in front of them turned to look at the two boys. “Ah, I was wondering if I would see you here. Though I thought there would only be one.”
”I thought- but- Snape,” Potter stammered, trying to find the right words.
”Severus?” Quirrell said, and pondered, “He does seem the type doesn’t he? Next to him, who would ever suspect p-poor, st-stuttering P-professor Qu-Quirrell?”
Draco had yet to speak to his Defense teacher and started to think back to all the unusual things that had happened to them this year.
“But-but Snape tried to kill me!” Potter pointed out.
”You’re the one who tried to kill him,” Draco realized. “Ah, yes,” Quirrell chuckled, “And I would have done it if Snape wasn’t muttering a counter curse as soon as he saw something was wrong. And then your little friend had to set his cloak on fire and break my eye contact.” “Snape was trying to save me? Like Snape, my Potions Professor?” Potter questioned in disbelief.
“What other Snape goes to this school?” Quirrell sighed, “And why do you think he refereed your next game? Not that it mattered. I couldn’t do a thing to you with Dumbledore watching the game.”
The expression on Quirrell’s face darkened. “Tonight though, I’m done playing games. Tonight, I’m going to kill you.” Every exit out of there lit up in flames.
That got Draco’s attention fast. He stood in front of Potter and whipped out his wand, pointing it at his defense teacher.
Quirrell smirked at his attempt. "And what do you think you're going to do? Stop me? I've given up too much to let some little first year get in my way."
Quirrell lifted his wand and was about to speak when Draco cut him off first. "Dolorignis!" Draco shouted. A purple flame shot out of his wand and flew towards Quirrell. Quirrell flattered as the curse hit him.
Draco was about to throw out another curse when a voice filled the room. "Show me the boy," the voice said. Draco looked around but didn't see anyone else other than Potter and Quirrell.
"But you aren't strong enough yet," Quirrell countered. The voice sounded again and Draco held his wand tighter. "I have enough strength," it pressed.
Quirrell sighed and started to unwrap his headdress. He threw it to the ground and Draco could believe what he was seeing. The mirror behind their professor showed another face on the back of his head.
It all finally clicked for Draco. Quirrell worked for Voldemort and Snape was trying to stop him in his own way. Quirrell turned around, and for the first time in almost a year, Draco saw the man he hated most once again.
"You look just like your father, Draco," Voldemort smiled, "Lucius has always been one of my most loyal followers. I remember the night you were born. I had a special task for Lucius, but he got word that Narcissa had gone into labor and couldn't complete it. I visited your manor a few days later. You were so little then. Even got to hold you with distaste from your mother though, but Lucius insisted.
Draco just stood there, not knowing what to do. He needed to stay calm, but how can you do that when the man who made your life hell is standing in front of you.
Voldemort didn't wait any long for a response from Draco. "Now, Draco, I need a favor from you. You see I'm not strong enough to live on my own, so I have to live off another. I need to get a stone out of that mirror over there and then I will be able to live on my own again. By doing this for me you will surely make your father very proud. You don't want to disappoint him do you?"
Potter turned towards Draco. "Draco, don't listen to him!"
Draco stayed silent for another moment. There was no way he was going to help this man even if it would make his father happy, but he needed to act like he was at least contemplating the idea.
He let out the breath he was holding and before Quirrell could stop him raised his wand and shouted, "Impedimenta!"
Quirrell flew back onto the ground and groaned at the impact. He didn't let it affect him though and stood right back up.
Potter joined Draco's side and they worked together to block Quirrell's spells. It was mostly Draco's work, but Potter did all he could to help.
Through all the noise the three wizards were making, Voldemort's voice cut clear to Draco's ears. "Don't harm, Potter. We need him. Get the other one out of the way,"
That voice alone was enough for Draco to hesitate for a mere moment, and that moment was all Quirrell needed. "Stupefy!"
The spell hit Draco fast and before he knew it, he was knocked back into the wall and his vision went black.