THE EXAMS WEREN'T AS BAD AS HARPER thought they would be. She'd have to thank Hermione for that. If it hadn't been for her and her study planning, the exams would have gone a lot worse.

At Charms, they were being called by Professor Flitwick to his class to see if they could make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. That was rather funny after Harper had done the spell perfectly. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox. Potions wasn't as bad as Harper thought it would be. Professor Snape wasn't breathing in her neck like he did with the others, but he kept an eye on her while she was making a Forgetfulness potion.

Their last exam was History of Magic. Harper hated studying for that. Although some things seemed interesting, most of them were not.

Harper sighed relieved when all the exams were finished. The four of them were currently sitting under a tree outside on the grounds.

"That was far easier as I thought it would be," Hermione said, frowning. "I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code if Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."

Harper blinked. "I have absolutely no clue what you are talking about."

"No more studying!" Ron exclaimed happily. "You could look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet."

Harper glanced at Harry who was furiously rubbing his forehead.

"I wish I knew what this means!" he burst out. "My scar keeps hurting—it's happened before, but never as often as this."

"Maybe you should go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested.

"I'm not sick," Harry fired back. "I think it's a warning . . . it means danger is coming."

"Harry, relax," Ron ordered. "Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly got his leg ripped off once, he's not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."

Harper glanced between the three of them. "I agree with Ron but I feel like there is something bound to be happening." She looked at Harry. "I think you're right that it warns you about danger, it means we have to be even more careful."

They sat quiet for a moment before Harry sprang up, his eyes wide open.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Harper asked worriedly.

"I've just thought of something," he whispered and she could see him overthinking everything before paling. "We have to see Hagrid. Now. Come on."

He dashed away and Harper, Ron and Hermione scramled back up, running behind him.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd," Harry began once they were running next to him. "That all Hagrid wants more than anything is a dragon, and a stranger just happens to have one? How people wander off with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Why didn't I see this before?"

Harper's eyes widened in realization as they approached Hagrid's hut.

Hagrid was sitting outside his hut and his eyes lit up when he saw them approaching. "Hullo! Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"No," Harry replied rather harshly. "We're in a hurry, Hagrid. I've got to ask you something. You know that night when you won Norbert? What did the stranger playing cards with you look like?"

"Dunno," Hagrid replied, "he didn't take his cloak off."

They stared at him, stunned, while he just raised his eyebrows.

"It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head—that's one of the pubs down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn't he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."

The four of them sat down.

"What have you two been talking about?" Harper asked. "Have you mentioned Hogwarts?"

"Mighta come up," Hagrid said frowning. "Yeah . . . he asked what I did, an' I told him I was a Gamekeeper here . . . he asked a bit about the sorta creatures I look after . . . so I told him . . . an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon . . . an' then . . . I can't remember too well, 'cause he kept buying me drinks . . . let's see . . . yeah, then he said he had a dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted . . . but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn't want it ter go ter any old home . . . so I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy . . ."

Harper almost facepalmed herself when Harry interrupted him. "But did he seem interested in Fluffy?"

"Well, yeah," Hagrid replied. "How many three headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if you know how to calm him down, jus' play a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off to sleep . . ."

Hagrid looked suddenly horrified.

"I shouldn't have told yeh that! Forget I said it! Hey—where are yeh goin'?"

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Harper sprinted back towards to castle.

"He can't be serious," Harper started. "He practically told Snape how to get past Fluffy!"

"We've got to go to Dumbledore," Harry said. "Does anyone know where his office is?"

Before either of them could reply, a voice behind them spoke up.

"What are you four doing inside?"

Harper turned around to see Professor McGonagall who cared a large pile of books.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," she replied.

"See Professor Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall repeated looking at them suspiciously. "Why?"

"Well," Harry began, "it's sort of a secret."

"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she said coldly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off to London at once."

"He's gone?" Harry said while widening his eyes. "Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time."

"But this is important," Harry interrupted.

"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic?" she asked unbelievably.

"Look Professor," Harper piped in. "It's about the Philosopher's Stone—"

She stopped abruptly when all the books fell from McGonagall's arms.

"How do you know . . . ?" she questioned, shock written all over her face. 

"Professor, I think—I know—that Sn—that someone's going to steal the Stone. We've got to see Professor Dumbledore," Harry explained.

She stared at the four of them and narrowed her eyes.

"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow," she said finally. "I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest reassured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected."

"But Professor—" Harry tried.

"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," she shortly said. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine." She kneeled down, grabbed her books and strode away.

Harry turned to Ron, Hermione and Harper once McGonagall was out of ear shot. "It's tonight. Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now, he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."

Harper elbowed him when she saw Snape striding over to them, a guarded look crossed her face.

"Good afternoon," Snape said smoothly.

When none of them replied, he continued, "Now, why are four first-years doing inside on a day like this?" His eyes went over them to eventually land on Harper.

"We were . . ." Hermione began, trying to find an excuse.

"Careful," Snape warned them. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor can't afford to lose more house points, can't they?"

Harper's eyes narrowed and she turned around to walk outside, but stopped when she saw Snape striding off towards the staff room.

"Okay," Harry began, "here's what we've got to do. One of us has to keep an eye on Snape—wait outside the staff room and follow him when he leaves. Hermione, you'd better do that."

"Why me?"

"Because," Ron replied. "They won't suspect anything if you stand there, you can always say that you have a question for Professor Flitwick about the exam. 'Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen d wrong . . .'" Ron imitated her and Harper tried her best not to burst out laughter. His imitation was accurate.

"Oh, shut up!" Hermione said, her cheeks burning up, but she agreed to go and watch Snape.

"And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor," Harper told Harry and Ron. "Come on."

They were almost at the third-floor but stopped abruptly when Professor McGonagall decided to turn up, and to say she was furious was an understatement.

"I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments! Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you've come anywhere near again, I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor! Yes Weasley, Potters, from my own House!"

Harper pulled Harry and Ron with me to the common room, scared away by McGonagall.

"At least Hermione's on Snape's tail," Harry said when they sat on the couch in the common room.

The words had yet to leave his lips or Hermione came in through the portrait of the Fat Lady, looking defeated.

"I'm so sorry!" she wailed. "Snape came out and asked me what I was doing, so I told him I was waiting for Professor Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and I've only just get away, I don't know where Snape went."

Harper comforted her by rubbing her back, when Harry spoke up. "Well, that's it then, isn't it?"

He stayed silent for a moment before adding, "I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get the Stone first."

"I'm coming with you," Harper quickly replied. "I'm not letting you do stupid things. Alone."

"What!" Ron exclaimed.

"You can't!" Hermione added.

"After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'll be expelled!" Ron continued.

"So what!" Harry shouted. "Don't you understand? If Snape gets the Stone, Voldermort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he tried to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? Do you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the House Cup? If Harper and I get caught before we can get the Stone, we'll, I'll have to go back to the Dursley's and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have, because I'm never going to the Dark Side! Harper and I are going to the trapdoor tonight and nothing you can say will stop us. Voldemort killed our parents, remember?"

"You're right," Hermione said.

"And that's why we'll coming with you," Ron added.

"But if we get caught, you two will be expelled, too," Harry said while looking at Ron and Hermione.

"Not if I can help it," Hermione told us. "Flitwick told me in secret that Harper and I got the highest marks on our exam. They're not throwing us out after that."

"It's settled then," Harper said, feeling rather proud about her marks. "We're getting the Stone tonight."

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May 28th 2022
I hope you enjoy it & tell me what you think of it! :)