The American Enigma

I've Got A Bad Feeling About This

Y/N POV

We finished our exams, and got excited for summer to begin. Ron was moaning about the finals, while Hermione was going over everything until I saw Quirrell. Hermione squeezed my hand softly, but I just shook my head.

I refused to tell her anything out of fear that she'd try to stop it. Her safety was paramount to me, so when I walked towards the turbaned Professor, all of my focus went on figuring out how to delay him.

"Tonight, you help me get the Stone. Otherwise Miss Granger is going to meet a terrible fate. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Yes, what!?" I winced.

"Yes, master" I finally said. His fascination with being called that a way to remind me that I was forced into this position. Because had Dumbledore been there that night, we would've been protected from punishment because he'd have seen the dragon. Had he seen the dragon, he'd be able to explain to McGonagall that we were helping him.

Swallowing back the bile in my throat, I tried to think of happy thoughts. But nothing came, save for when Hermione and I spent time together.

Which were bittersweet memories. Cause at best, Dumbledore would have reason to expel me, or be pressured into such an act. At worst? Voldemort returns, makes me watch as he kills Hermione, before killing me.

Nothing could prevent the tears from falling this time. I can only hope that my actions tonight will let Hermione live a long, fulfilling life with someone worthy of her brilliant mind.

Insert time skip here

Quirrell had charmed a harp to put the Cerberus to sleep. From there, we got through the Devil's Snare due to him shoving me down and having me break my nose on the cold floor.

"Go get the key." He ordered, handing me one of the brooms. I tried to stall, but he realized it too soon and sent a curse that caused agony to tear through my body for a brief second. Reminding me of his ability to cause me pain.

So after I gave him the key, he felt like leaving a little reminder of his power. By using something to cut the back of my hand before healing it.

"We'll have to play our way across." The traitorous DADA teacher sneered. He gave me the position of knight surprisingly, before becoming the king. As he played, I found creative ways to prolong the game by playing up the fact that it would work better this way.

Up until the last suggestion.

"You're going to be taken."

"Why not move me into a position of check on the king!?"

"Consider this your repayment for trying to stall me." As I tried to struggle, he played the ultimate trump card. "If you don't, I'm sure that my Master has some supporters who'd enjoy forcing you to watch as they had their way with her. Of course, I can't help but wonder how she'd react, knowing that you had the chance to prevent such actions."

A growl escaped my lips, but I complied. Anything to protect Hermione.

Fitting, as she was the last thing I thought of before smashing to the ground and feeling a couple of bones break.

Harry POV

We arrived at a large chessboard, but our attention was on the phone figure by the side of it. Y/N, and he was bleeding pretty heavily. Ron guided us through the trap, sacrificing himself in the process. Hermione screamed, but I couldn't do anything except checkmate the king.

"Checkmate." The king threw his crown down and we rushed to our fallen friends. "They're both okay," I said, fingers pressed to his neck. "Unconscious, but all right." Hermione let out a sigh of relief.