❝ Walking Into Traps ❞

       I tried to figure out the words Firenze said. Hundreds of questions ran in my mind. Why did he call me a princess? Why are the stars against me? I concluded that Firenze knew I was a Daughter of Astraeus. He must've known, but how?

The words of the Centaur kept ringing in my mind, keeping me wide awake. I was desperate to find out what he meant. My curiosity didn't let me stop. All I knew was that something strange was going to happen or dangerous, destructive. Only fate knows.

Harry said his scar was hurting, he never felt any pain before. He suspected it must do something with Voldemort.

"We've got to go to Dumbledore," said Harry. "Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak —it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?"

I looked around as if hoping to see a sign pointing me in the right direction. We had never been told where Dumbledore lived, nor did we know anyone who had been sent to see him.

"We'll just have to —" Harry began, but a voice suddenly rang across the hall.

"What are you four doing inside?"

It was Professor McGonagall, carrying a large pile of books.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," said Hermione, rather bravely,

"See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to want to do. "Why?"

"It's sort of secret," I said, but I wished at once I hadn't, because Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared.

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

"He's gone?" said Harry frantically. "Now?"

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

"But this is important." Harry expressed. He can't possibly talk back like that to a professor, okay maybe except for Snape.

"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry Magic, Potter?"

"Look," said Harry, throwing caution to the winds, "Professor — it's about the Sorcerer's Stone —" oh Harry, why did you say that?

Whatever Professor McGonagall had expected, it wasn't that. The books she was carrying tumbled out of her arms, but she didn't pick them up.

"How do you know —?" she spluttered.

"Professor, I think — I know — that Sn— that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

She eyed him with a mixture of shock and suspicion.

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

"But Professor —"

"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," she said shortly. She bent down and gathered up the fallen books. I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."

But we didn't.

"It's tonight," said Harry, once he was sure Professor McGonagall was out of earshot. "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."

"But what can we —"

Hermione gasped. I wheeled around.

Snape was standing there. Oh no.

"Good afternoon," he said smoothly.

I stared at him.

"You shouldn't be inside on a day like this," he said, with an odd, twisted smile.

"We were —" Harry began, without any idea what he was going to say.

"You want to be more careful," said Snape. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it? or Ravenclaw."

Harry flushed. We turned to go outside, but Snape called them back.

"Be warned, Potter — any more nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."

He strode off in the direction of the staffroom.

"Bad day to you too, Snape," I muttered once he was out of sight. Harry turned to us.

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

"Why me?"

"It's obvious," said Ron. "You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know." He put on a high voice, "'Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen b wrong....'"

"Oh, shut up," said Hermione, but she agreed to go and watch out for Snape.

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

"You coming with us, right, Aquila?" Ron asked. I had to consider that. The last time I received detention was when I helped Norbert to Romania. Roger would bury me six feet under if I lost any more house points. The third-floor corridor was forbidden for students, I would be in so much trouble if I got caught, but Snape or Voldemort cannot have the sorcerer's stone.

"Yes, I'm in," I said, nodding at Harry.

"Come on then,"

But that part of the plan didn't work. No sooner had we reached the door separating Fluffy from the rest of the school than Professor McGonagall turned up again and this time, she lost her temper.

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

Harry and Ron were standing outside the Gryffindor common room I joined them.

Harry had just said, "At least Hermione's on Snape's tail," Hermione ran towards us.

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

"Well, that's it then, isn't it?" Harry said.

I stared at him. He was pale and his eyes were glittering.

"I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get to the Stone first."

"You're mad!" said Ron.

"You can't!" said Hermione. "After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'll be expelled!"

"SO WHAT" Harry shouted. "Don't you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the house cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have because I'm never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?"

He glared at us.

"You're right Harry," said Hermione in a small voice.

I see both of their points, but Harry's making sense

"I'll use the invisibility cloak," said Harry. "It's just lucky I got it back."

"But will it cover all four of us?" said Ron.

"All — all four of us?"

"Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?" I asked.

"Of course not," said Hermione briskly. "How do you think you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better go through my books, there might be something useful...."

"But if we get caught, you three will be expelled, too."

"That's alright, there's no way we're letting Voldemort come back," I said.

"Don't say his name, Aquila!" Ron winced at Voldemort's name.

"Oops, sorry." I apologized.

"Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and twelve percent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that," I nodded in response.

"Okay we'll send an owl when we are going sneak out of Ravenclaw common room we'll wait outside," Harry said.

I nodded and gave a thumbs-up.

After dinner, I sat in my dorm waiting for others to sleep, time passed quickly and something struck me— if Voldemort was going to be there, then I should be powerful enough. Lumos or Wingardium Leviosa isn't going to help much. I might have to use my sword or demigod powers. It seemed like a good time to reveal my true identity. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were trustworthy, I could trust them.

I sneaked out and saw Harry, Hermione, and Ron waiting for me. Well, they were invisible, but I could see their feet. I joined them inside it was hard for four of us to stand under one clock, but we managed.

A few seconds later, we were there, outside the third-floor corridor — and the door was already ajar.

"Well, there you are," Harry said quietly, "Snape's already got past Fluffy."

Seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress me with what was facing us. Underneath the cloak, Harry turned to us.

"If you want to go back, I won't blame you," he said. "You can take the cloak, I won't need it now."

"Don't be stupid," I said, shifting slightly because we were practically standing on each other's feet.

"We're coming," said Hermione.

"This looks fun," Ron looked at me as if I was mad however, Harry and Hermione smiled. Harry pushed the door open.

As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met my ears. All three of the dog's noses sniffed madly in our direction, even though it couldn't see us.

"What's that at its feet?" Hermione whispered.

"Looks like a harp," said Ron. "Snape must have left it there."

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," said Harry. "Well, here goes ...."

Harry put Hagrid's flute to his lips and blew. It wasn't really a tune, but from the first note, the beast's eyes began to droop. Harry hardly drew breath.

Slowly, the dog's growls ceased — it tottered on its paws and fell to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep.

"Keep playing," I warned Harry as we slipped out of the cloak and crept toward the trapdoor. We could feel the dog's hot, smelly breath as we approached the giant heads. It looked like a mini Cerberus.

"I think we'll be able to pull the door open," said Ron, peering over the dog's back. "Want to go first, Hermione?"

"No, I don't!"

"All right." Ron gritted his teeth and stepped carefully over the dog's legs. He bent and pulled the ring of the trapdoor, which swung up and open.

"What can you see?" Hermione said anxiously.

"Nothing — just black — there's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop."

Harry, who was still playing the flute, waved at Ron to get his attention and pointed at himself.

"You want to go first? Are you sure?" said Ron. "I don't know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione so she can keep him asleep."

Harry handed the flute over. In the few seconds of silence, the dog growled and twitched, but the moment Hermione began to play, it fell back into its deep sleep.

Harry climbed over it and looked down through the trapdoor. I snuck a glance, There was no sign of the bottom. Dark and deep, two of my fears.

He lowered himself through the hole until he was hanging on by his fingertips. Then he looked up at Ron and said, "If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?"

"Right," said Ron.

"See you in a minute, I hope ..."

And Harry let go. After a few seconds of silence

"It's okay!" he called up "It's a soft landing, you can jump!"

Ron followed right away. He landed, sprawled next to Harry.

"What's this stuff?" I heard him say.

"Dunno, some sort of plant thing. I suppose it's here to break the fall. Come on, Hermione!"

The music stopped. There was a loud bark from the dog, I grabbed the flute and started playing. I had no idea how to play the flute. I could play piano though.

Hermione had already jumped. She landed on Harry's other side.

"We must be miles under the school," she said. Her voice sounded far away which only increased my fear.

I dropped the flute and jumped down, squeezing my eyes shut. Cold, damp air rushed past me as I fell down, down, down, and flump I landed on something soft. I sat up and I could see there was some kind of root-like plant below us. It was soft and firm.

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really," said Ron.

"Lucky!" shrieked Hermione. "Look at you both!"

She leaped up and struggled toward a damp wall. She had to struggle because the moment she had landed, the plant had started to twist snakelike tendrils around her ankles. As for Harry and Ron, their legs had already been bound tightly in long creepers without their noticing. And the plant went straight for my neck and started choking me. I struggled to breathe and before I had time to unsheath my sword it twisted itself around my wrists. I immediately knew what this thing was...

"Devil's snare!" I muffled as it choked me more. Hermione however, heard it.

She had managed to free herself before the devil's snare got a firm grip on her. Now she watched in horror as we fought to pull the plant off us. But the more we strained against it, the tighter and faster the plant wound around us.

"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered us."I'm trying to remember how to kill it"

"Well, hurry up, I can't breathe!" Harry gasped, wrestling with it as it curled around his chest.

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare...what did Professor Sprout say? — it likes the dark and the damp."

"Light! It hates light and fire!" I coughed, starting to gasp for air.

"Yes — of course — but there's no wood!" Hermione cried, wringing her hands.

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"

"Oh, right!" said Hermione, and she whipped out her wand, waved it, muttered something, and sent a jet of bluebell flames. In a matter of seconds, I felt it loosening its grip as it cringed away from the light and warmth. Wriggling and flailing, it unraveled itself from our bodies, and I was able to pull free. I coughed and heaved, my lungs begging for air.

"Luckily you both pay attention in herbology," said Harry.

"Yeah," said Ron, "and lucky Aquila doesn't lose her head in a crisis — 'there's no wood,' honestly."

"This way," said Harry, pointing down a stone passageway, which was the only way forward.

All I could hear apart from their footsteps was the gentle drip of water trickling down the walls. The passageway sloped downward.

"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered.

I listened. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead.

"Do you think it's a ghost?"

"I don't know...sounds like wings to me."

"There's light ahead — I can see something moving."

We reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above us. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" said Ron.

"Probably," said Harry. "They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once...well, there's no other choice...I'll run."

He took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms, and sprinted.

We followed him and tugged and heaved at the door, but it wouldn't budge, not even when Hermione tried her Alohomora charm.

"Now what?" said Ron.

"These birds...they can't be here just for decoration," said Hermione.

I watched the birds soaring overhead, glittering — glittering?

"They're not birds!" I said suddenly. "They're keys! Winged keys —look carefully. So that must mean..." I looked around the chamber while the others there squinted up at the flock of keys. "...yes, look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!"

Ron examined the lock on the door.

"We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one — probably silver, like the handle."

We each seized a broomstick and kicked off into the air, soaring into the midst of the cloud of keys. They grabbed and snatched, but the bewitched keys darted and dived so quickly it was almost impossible to catch one.

Not for nothing, though, was Harry the youngest Seeker in a century. He had a knack for spotting things other people didn't.

"That one!" he called to the others. "That big one — there — no, there— with bright blue wings — the feathers are all crumpled on one side."

Ron went speeding in the direction that Harry was pointing, crashed into the ceiling, and nearly fell off his broom.

"We've got to close in on it!" Harry called, not taking his eyes off the key with the damaged wing. "Ron, you come at it from above — Hermione, stay below and stop it from going down and I'll try and catch it. Right, NOW!"

Ron dived, Hermione rocketed upward, the key dodged them both, and Harry streaked after it; it sped toward the wall, Harry leaned forward and with a nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone with one hand. Ron and Hermione's cheers echoed around the high chamber.

We landed quickly, and Harry ran to the door, the key struggling in his hand. He rammed it into the lock and turned – it worked. The moment the lock had clicked open, the key took flight again, looking very battered now that it had been caught twice.

"Ready?" Harry asked us, his hand on the door handle. We nodded. He pulled the door open.

The next chamber was so dark I couldn't see anything at first. But as we stepped into it, a light suddenly flooded the room to reveal an astonishing sight.

We were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than we were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing us, way across the chamber, were the white pieces. Harry, Ron, and Hermione shivered slightly – the towering white chessmen had no faces.

"Now what do we do?" Harry whispered.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" said Ron. "We've got to play our way across the room."

Behind the white pieces, they could see another door.

"How?" said Hermione nervously.

"I think," said Ron, "we're going to have to be chessmen."

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 Ron.

"Do we — er — have to join you to get across?" The black knight nodded. Ron turned to us.

"This needs thinking about..." he said. "I suppose we've got to take the place of four of the black pieces...."

Harry and Hermione stayed quiet, watching Ron think. Finally, he said,

"Now, don't be offended or anything, but any of you is that good at chess—"

I was decent enough at chess, but Ron was talented.

"We're not offended," I said quickly. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, Aquila you take the place of the queen and Hermione, you next Harry instead of that castle."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to be a knight," said Ron.

The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these words a knight, a bishop, the queen, and a castle turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the