Chapter 10 - Philosopher's Stone

Suddenly, there was a strange sound that we all heard.

"What is that?" Hermione asked as we all turned to where we thought the sound was coming from. Harry answered,

"I don't know."

"Sounds like wings," I added. The five of us walked into a room with what looked like a bunch of golden birds of some kind. There was also a big door that I noticed across the room. We all tilted our heads toward the ceiling when Hermione spoke,

"Curious. I've never seen birds like these."

"They're not birds," Harry told us, "They're keys."

Squinting, I noticed that Harry was right and turned to point at the door I noticed,

"And I'll bet one of them fits that door."

Walking further into the room, we came up to a broomstick suspended slightly in the air.

"What's this all about?" Eric asked, to which my brother replied,

"I don't know."

As Ron pulled out his wand and walked over to the door, Harry moved his hand over the broom, "Strange."

I then heard Ron rattling the door handle and looked up as he tried the unlocking spell,

"Alohomora!"

It didn't work, and Ron turned back toward us with a shrug, "Well, it was worth a try."

Hermione grew frustrated,

"Ugh! What're we going to do? There must be 1000 keys up there!"

"We're looking for a big old-fashioned one," I spoke softly, not wanting to give up yet. Ron agreed, adding,

"Probably rusty like the handle."

We all looked back up at the flying keys, trying to find one that looked right. After a moment, Harry shouted,

"There! I see it!" My brother pointed toward one of the keys, "The one with the broken wing!"

I spotted it and turned my head to give Harry a proud smile, only to see him eyeing the broom with a concerned expression. Eric must have noticed, too and asked,

"What's wrong, Harry?"

"It's too simple."

Ron shook his head and encouraged,

"Oh, go on, Harry! If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest Seeker in a century!"

Eric and I smiled and nodded in agreement, causing Harry to nod before grabbing the broom. However, as soon as Harry's hand wrapped around the broomstick, all the keys suddenly flew in one direction and right toward Harry. As my twin quickly climbed onto the broom, swatting at the keys, Ron frowned, "This complicates things a bit!"

Harry pushed off into the air and flew off after the key we needed. All of the other keys followed and surrounded him, making it a bit difficult to reach the right one. Harry was soon able to grab the key and turned to fly by and toss us the key, shouting,

"Catch the key!"

My brother zoomed past, throwing the key to me before I caught it and ran for the lock on the door while Harry flew off to distract the rest of the keys. Quickly, I put the key in the lock as Ron urged with a stressed tone,

"Hurry up!"

Thankfully, the lock opened, followed by the door, and Eric, Hermione, Ron and I rushed through. As soon as I turned around, Harry flew through the door on the broomstick, and Hermione and Ron shut the door just as the keys slammed up against it. I helped Harry off the broom as we let out breaths of relief.

"Great job, Harry," I smiled, and Harry smiled back. After a moment or two, we started walking before entering a dark room with big, broken pieces of something.

"I don't like this.," Hermione said quietly, "I don't like this at all."

Harry then questioned,

"Where are we?"

"A graveyard?" I offered, but Ron corrected me,

"This is no graveyard. It's a chessboard."

Ron walked forward onto a floor that looked to be marble when flames suddenly lit up the room, illuminating the chessboard and giant chess pieces. I was astonished by the giant chessboard as Harry, Hermione, Eric and I stepped up beside Ron when Eric exclaimed,

"There's the door."

Hurridly, the five of us started walking across the board and toward the door. But when we reach the line of white pawns, the pawns brought their swords up, blocking our path and causing us to jump with surprise and back up.

"Now what do we do?" Hermione asked.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Ron answered, "We've got to play our way across the room. All right. Harry and Eric, you take the two Bishop squares. Hermione and Ella, you'll be the Queen's side castles. As for me... I'll be a knight."

Everyone nodded at Ron's instructions before we all took our places. When we were all stood in the right spots, Ron sitting on the black horse, I asked,

"What happens now?"

"Well, white moves first, and then... we play."

One of the white pawns across the board moved forward, and Ron started studying the game when Hermione spoke up,

"Ron, you don't suppose this is going to be like... real wizard's chess, do you?"

I looked over at Ron to see him ponder for a moment before he instructed one of our pawns to move,

"You there! D-5!"

The black pawn did as asked and moved forward, stopping diagonally to the white pawn. Not even a second later, the white pawn raised its swords and smashed the black one, causing all of us to jump, "Yes, Hermione, I think this is going to be exactly like wizard's chess!"

I gulped while Ron thought about his next move. As the game went on, lots of pieces smashed each other, making me jump every time at the loud noise. Ron continued to dish out instructions with deep thought, making me proud of him, "Castle to E-4!"

Smash. "Pawn to C-3!"

Another loud smash, and it wasn't long before the game was evidently coming to an end. The White Queen turned, smashing one of our pieces and causing all of us to wince once more. The White Queen turned again, going back to its resting position as Ron started studying the game again. However, it seemed as though Harry and Eric were also studying the game when they both said,

"Wait a minute."

Ron turned to my brother and friend with a grim expression,

"You understand right, Harry and Eric. Once I make my move, the Queen will take me... then Harry'll be free to check the King."

Now understanding what his plan was, I protested,

"No!"

"Ron, no!" Eric said as well, causing Hermione to plead,

"What is it?"

Harry looked toward our bushy-haired friend with a frown,

"He's going to sacrifice himself!"

"No, you can't! There must be another way!"

Ron swiftly turned to face Hermione,

"Do you want to stop Snape from getting that stone or not?" Ron then turned to Harry and me, "Harry, Ella, it's you two that have to go on. I know it. Not me, not Hermione, not Eric, you two."

I glanced at Harry, and we shared a look before nodding. Ron sent us a curt nod in response before turning back to the game, "Knight... to H-3."

Ron's horse moved forward, sliding across the board before stopping to check the white king. "Check."

The White Queen turned and advanced toward Ron. I watched worriedly as the queen stopped in front of Ron and planted its sword into Ron's horse. The sound of the smash was worse than any of the other ones since I heard Ron scream as he went flying off the horse and landed on the floor, unconscious. "Ahhhh!"

"RON!" Harry and Eric yelled as I screamed,

"NO!"

I noticed Hermione start to step toward Ron, but Harry stopped her,

"No! Don't move! Don't forget, we're still playing."

Hermione moved her foot back with a frown as Harry started walking diagonally to stand in front of the white king. "Checkmate."

The white king's sword fell onto the ground, signalling our victory. We all waited a moment before sprinting to Ron, bending beside him. I frowned at the sight of my best friend unconscious and squeezed his hand. I then felt Harry take my other hand and turned to see him looking toward Hermione and Eric, "Take care of Ron. Then, go to the owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right... we have to go on."

I gave a curt nod in agreement, hesitant to leave Ron but knowing I had to. Hermione smiled encouragingly,

"You'll both be okay, Harry and Ella. You're a great wizard and witch. You really are."

"Not as good as you," I sheepishly smiled, causing Hermione to do the same,

"Me? Books and cleverness? There are more important things. Friendship, and bravery."

"And Harry, Ella," Eric spoke up, "Just be careful."

Harry and I nodded before standing and walking away to find Snape. The two of us eventually came to a staircase, and as we made our way down, it seemed to be very long. When Harry and I got to the bottom, we came to an empty room with pillars around it. I spotted the Mirror of Erised in the middle and a man that stood before it. All of a sudden, my scar started hurting, as well as Harry's, causing us both to grab them with yelps. When we got close enough, Harry and I could see that it was Professor Quirrell standing in front of the mirror.

"You?" Harry questioned, causing Quirrell to turn around. "No. It can't be... Snape. He was- He was the one?"

Quirrell sneered,

"Yes. He does seem the type, doesn't he? Next to me, who would suspect, 'p-p-poor s-stuttering Professor Quirrell?'"

Harry and I started walking toward Quirrell.

"B-but, that day, during the Quidditch Match, Snape tried to kill me."

"No, dear boy. I tried to kill you! 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 counter-curse."

I questioned,

"Snape was trying to... save Harry?"

"I knew you both were a danger right from the off. Especially after Halloween," Quirrell explained as he glanced between me and my brother.

"Th-then you let the troll in," I realized.

"Very good, Potter, yes. Snape, unfortunately, wasn't fooled. While everyone else was running about to the dungeon, he went to the third floor to head me off. He, of course, never trusted me again. He rarely left me alone." Quirrell turned back to the mirror, and my scar started hurting again. "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?"

Suddenly, we heard a raspy voice speak,

"Use the twins."

Quirrell whipped his around to us and shouted,

"Come here, Potters, now!"

I glanced to my left at Harry before holding his hand and shakily walking forward with him. Once we warily stood in front of the mirror, Quirrell ordered, "Tell me. What do you see?"

Harry and I both looked in the mirror and only saw ourselves only, in the reflection, we weren't holding hands. Suddenly, Harry's mirror self had his right hand in his pocket and took out a red stone. Our reflections winked at us before Harry's mirror self put the stone back in his pocket. Subtly, the real Harry dropped my hand and reached toward the same pocket that his mirror self had. I glanced to see a lump, causing us both to gasp, which caught Quirrell's attention. "What is it?! What do you see?!"

Quickly, Harry came up with a lie,

"I-I'm shaking hands with Dumbledore. I've won the house cup."

"He lies," I heard the raspy voice say, causing Quirrell to yell,

"Tell the truth! What do you see?!"

"Let me speak to them."

"Master, you are not strong enough."

I furrowed my brows and glanced at Harry with confusion as we still faced the mirror but backed away from Quirrell. The raspy voice replied to Quirrell,

"I have strength enough for this."

After a moment, Quirrell started to unwrap his turban, turning so the back of his head was facing the mirror. As the last of his turban was removed, I could see the reflection of a face on the back of Quirrell's head in the mirror. "Harry and Ella Potter," the face spoke with the raspy voice, "We meet again."

Harry and I instantly knew who it was and simultaneously spoke,

"Voldemort."

"Yes," Voldemort said, "You see what I have 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!"

With wide eyes, Harry and I quickly turned to run. "Stop them!"

I heard Quirrell snap his fingers when fire suddenly erupted all around the room. We were trapped. I turned back to face Quirrell, along with Harry, still seeing Voldemort's face in the mirror as he spoke, "Don't be a fool! Why suffer horrific deaths when you can join me and live?!"

My twin and I shook our heads,

"Never!"

"Haha. Bravery. Your parents had it, too. Tell me, Harry and Ella, would you like to see your mother and father again? Together, we can bring them back."

In the mirror, beside the reflection of Voldemort's face, Mum and Dad appeared. "All I ask for is something in return."

I saw Harry take the stone from his pocket, and we both looked at it with contemplation. Desperate to see our parents. "That's it, Harry and Ella. 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!"

When we looked up at Voldemort, Mum and Dad vanished from the mirror. Harry shouted,

"You liar!"

"Kill them!" Voldemort said, causing Quirrell to soar into the air and smash us to the steps, a hand on each of our throats. The stone had fallen out of our reach as Quirrell put pressure on our throats, choking us. My brother and I both strained to reach the stone and get out of Quirrell's grasp, but it was too hard. I saw Harry try to push Quirrell's hand away in my peripheral vision when, suddenly, smoke furled from under Harry's hand.

Quirrell screamed,

"Ahh! Ahh!" The evil professor backed away from us as his hand started crumbling into a mountain of black ash. "What is this magic?"

Harry and I stared at our hands in shock. As Quirrell's hand disintegrated, Voldemort scolded him,

"Fool! Get the stone!"

Quirrell walked forward, but Harry and I put both of our hands on his face, causing him to scream,

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"

Again, Quirrell backed up as his horrendously burned face started to crumble. For a second, he looked up at us and tried to reach for us, but Quirrell's whole body then crumbled and turned to ash as he fell forward. Harry and I gasped, looking at our hands again with wide eyes, not understanding what we had just done. After a second, I quickly remembered the stone and hurried over to pick it up. As Harry came to stand beside me, we both heard something. Turning, Harry and I saw a dust cloud that suddenly had Voldemort's face. The cloud rushed forward, shrieking,

"Arrrhhhhhh!"

"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Harry and I screamed as the Voldemort cloud flew right through us. We both fell to the ground before everything went dark.

All of a sudden, I woke up, lying in a bed. After a moment, I remembered what had happened, sat up and put on my glasses before looking for Harry. It didn't take long for me to spot my brother in the hospital bed on my right, also sitting up and looking at me. Harry was covered in a few bandages, and I looked at myself to see some bandages on me as well. When I turned my head to Harry again, I saw that he was smiling while looking at the end of our beds. I looked at the end of my bed and spotted all of the cards and candy before smiling. It was then that Professor Dumbledore approached us and spoke,

"Good afternoon, Harry and Ella." Dumbledore noticed everything at the end of our beds, "Ah. Tokens from your admirers?"

"Admirers?" Harry and I questioned simultaneously.

"What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows."

Harry, Professor Dumbledore and I shared a smile before Dumbledore noticed the empty chocolate frog boxes, "Ah, I see your friends, Ronald and Eric, have saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs."

My eyebrows furrowed as Harry asked,

"Ron and Eric were here?"

"Are they all right?" I added, "What about Hermione?"

Professor Dumbledore put up a hand,

"Fine. They're all just fine."

"But, what happened to the Stone?" Harry asked.

"Relax, dear children. The stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best all around."

I frowned at that,

"But Flamel, he'll die, won't he?"

Our headmaster sat down on Harry's bed in between our beds,

"He has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order. But yes, he will die."

"How is it we got the Stone, sir?" Harry said, "One minute we were staring in the mirror, and the next..."

"Ah. 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 both and me, that is saying something."

We all smiled until I spoke again,

"Does that mean-"

"-with the Stone gone, that is," Harry finished for me, "That Voldemort can never come back?"

"Ah, I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return," Dumbledore frowned, causing me and Harry to nod solemnly. "Harry and Ella, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him?"

I shared a glance with my brother before we both shook our heads. "It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you, and that kind of act leaves a mark."

I went to touch my scar along with Harry, but Professor Dumbledore shook his head, "No, no, this kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."

Harry and I questioned,

"What is it?"

"Love, Harry and Ella, love." Dumbledore pat my head, then Harry's, before standing up. Harry and I gave each other small smiles when we heard Dumbledore speak again, "Ah. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit-flavoured one, and since then, I'm afraid, I have lost my liking for them. But I think I could be safe with a nice toffee..." Professor Dumbledore took a brown bean and ate it. After a moment, he told us what the flavour was, "Mm. Alas. Earwax."

Harry and I both giggled, and then Professor Dumbledore said goodbye to let us rest.

Later that day, Madam Pomfrey released us from the hospital. Harry and I went to look for Eric, Ron and Hermione, deciding they'd probably be near the Great Hall for dinner. As my twin and I were walking the halls, we found our three friends talking on a staircase. Hermione, Ron and Eric stopped their conversation and leaned over the railing when they noticed us.

"All right there, Ron?" Harry asked first, and Ron replied with a shrug,

"All right? You two?"

Harry and I glanced at each other, then shrugged and turned back to Ron,

"All right."

"Eric? Hermione?" I questioned, looking at my other two friends. Eric also shrugged with a small smile,

"All right."

Hermione smiled brightly at Eric's reply, then looked down at me,

"Never better."

I mimicked her smile before Hermione, Ron and Eric came down the stairs, and we all hugged. It was then dinner time. Everyone was in the Great Hall enjoying their food as green banners with snakes hung from the ceiling around the room, signifying that Slytherin had won the House Cup. As Eric and I were talking, we heard the sound of Professor McGonagall dinging her glass, stopping the chatter. Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat and spoke,

"Another year: gone. And now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding, and the points stand thus. In fourth place, Gryffindor with 312 points."

There was a bit of clapping around the room, and I looked to see Harry and Hermione hiding their heads as Ron sulked. I frowned at how miserable they were. There was more clapping and cheering as Professor Dumbledore announced third and second place, "Third place, Hufflepuff, with 352 points. In second place, Ravenclaw, with 426 points. And in first place, with 472 points, Slytherin House."

The entire Slytherin house stood and started immensely cheering,

"Whoo! Yeah!"

I looked over at the table and spotted Malfoy. He must have noticed me looking since he looked in my direction before sending me a smirk. I rolled my eyes before Professor Dumbledore started speaking again,

"Yes, 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. To Miss Hermione Granger, for the use of cool intellect when others were in great peril, 50 points."

There was applause as I smiled for Hermione. "Second, to Mr Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years... 50 points."

I applauded, excited for my two friends getting more points for their house. "Third, to Mr Eric Underwood, for remaining loyal and aiding those in need, even in the face of danger... 30 points."

"Well done, Eric!" Thomas smiled at his little brother. I gave Eric a hug as the applause died down once again. "And fourth, Mr Harry and Miss Ella Potter, for pure nerve, outstanding courage and excellent determination, I award Gryffindor house and Hufflepuff house 60 points each."

There was immense cheering at that, causing me to sheepishly smile as I glanced at my brother. Harry smiled back at me with a look that told me he was proud of us.

"Hufflepuff is second!" Eric realised.

"And finally," Dumbledore continued, Iit 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 10 points to Neville Longbottom."

There was immense cheering as I applauded for Neville with a big smile. "Assuming that my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of direction is in order." Professor Dumbledore clapped, causing the green banners to change to the Gryffindor red and yellow. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!"

The whole Gryffindor table was standing as they cheered, jumping up and down in excitement. Eric and I clapped and cheered for our friends in Gryffindor. All of the students in the Great Hall threw their hats in the air. I continued to watch with a huge smile as everyone in Gryffindor applauded Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville for their extra points. As I was clapping, Harry looked toward me with a warm smile that I happily returned.

The school year was over, and it was time for everyone to go home. Harry and I had packed our trunks the night before and were now waiting for them to be put on the train. Other students were walking around us, getting on the train, as Harry handed Hedwig to one of the trainmen. The two of us then walked to an open door on the train with Hermione, Eric and Ron. Hermione stepped on the stairs first but stopped to wave to Hagrid before getting on the train. Ron and Eric got on after Hermione, but Harry and I hesitated for a second.

"Come on, Ella and Harry," Eric urged, but Harry said,

"One minute."

Together, Harry and I walked over to Hagrid, who smiled down at us,

"Thought you were leaving without saying goodbye, did ya?"

I smiled at my giant friend before he took a red book out of his coat pocket and handed it to Harry. "This is for you both."

I leaned closer to my brother as he opened the book to see that it was a photo album filled with pictures. The first picture was one of Harry and me as babies with Mum and Dad. I smiled warmly before looking up at Hagrid,

"Thanks, Hagrid."

Hagrid offered his hand for us to shake, and we did before hugging him tightly. After a moment, Hagrid sniffed,

"Oh. Go on... on with you."

Harry and I let go and were about to go to the train when Hagrid remembered something, "Oh, listen, Harry and Ella, 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."

"But Hagrid," I started with the same furrowed eyebrows as my brother, who finished,

"We're not allowed to do magic away from Hogwarts."

"You know that."

Hagrid sent us a mischievous smile,

"I do. But your cousin don't, do he? Eh?" Hagrid chuckled, then ushered us to the train, "Off you go."

I walked away with Harry, smiles on our faces as we went back to the train door where our friends were waiting.

"Feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?" Hermione asked, but Harry and I shared a smile before shaking our heads.

"We're not going home," Harry said, and I added,

"Not really."

The train then whistled, and we climbed aboard before the train started to leave the station. Before we went to find a seat, Harry and I waved to Hagrid out the window as our giant friend waved back to us and the other students saying goodbye on the train. I couldn't wait until next year.