Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

34

Hermione and Harry scurried onto the next room, concerned for Ron but knew they needed to stop Snape. They reached the next room which was filled with the most disgusting smell she had ever smelled in her lift. She glance over to find that it was a troll, who was a bit taller than the one at Halloween. They were thankful that this one was out cold. They quickly rushed out, unable to handle the stench and walked into the next room. This room was empty except for a table full of seven differently shaped bottles of potions. 

"Snape's what do we do?" Harry asked. Before Hermione could say something, the two doorway's were consumed in fire. The one that lead forwards blocked by black flames and the other was blocked by purple flames. Hermione gazed over the table as she spotted a piece of parchment. 

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, the second left and the second on the right
are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight. 

Hermione grinned. This was logic, not magic. It was brilliant of Snape to do since a lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic. She glanced over the potions, trying to remember the poem while looking at the bottles. 

"Got it," she said, grabbing the smallest bottle, "This will get us through the black fire." 

"That's hardly enough for the both of us." Harry pointed out. Hermione suddenly gasped as her hand reached down into her pocket to grab the potions her Grandma got her. 

"The potions! My Grandma gave me. She said one will help me through black fire while the other will help me through purple. Harry, my Grandma somehow knew I was going to be needing these!" Hermione said as she opened silver bottle and drank it while Harry drank from the small bottle. It felt like ice was rushing through her veins. Hermione put the bottle into her pocket before following Harry into the black flames. The flames licked their bodies, but she couldn't feel them. They walked through the fire and made their way into another room. There was someone standing into front of the Mirror of Erised. But it wasn't Snape. 

"You!" Harry gasped as they watched Quirrell turned around. Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. 

"I wondered whether I'd be meeting you here, Potter. Forgive me, Miss Granger when I say, I'm not entirely surprise you're here. I knew you would aim for power and greatness,  your family came from a long line of witches and wizards aiming for it." Quirrell stated to them. 

"But-- Snape--" Harry mumbled. 

"Yes, he does seem like the type, doesn't he?" Quirrell laughed, "Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?" 

"But Snape tried to kill Harry?" Hermione blurted out. 

"No, no, no-- I tried to kill you. Had you forgotten how you accidentally knocked me over, Miss Granger? When you went to set fire to Snape at the match? You broke my eye contact with you. Another few seconds and I'd have got you off that broom. Even with Snape muttering that countercurse, trying to save you." 

Hermione gasped. Of course, she did knock over Quirrell when she went to set fire on Snape's cloak. She was now starting to feel a bit bad for her mistake as she remembered Quirrell had his eyes focused on Harry, but she figured it was due to being shocked to the incident. 

"Of course," Quirrell voice cut off her thoughts, "Why do you think he wanted to referee your next match? He was trying to make sure I didn't do anything against you. He needn't bother. How could I with Dumbledore watching. All the other teachers thought Snape was trying to stop Gryffindor from winning, not thinking there was something more going on. He did make himself very unpopular. But it was a waste of time, since I'm going to kill you tonight." 

Quirrell snapped his fingers as ropes appeared around both Hermione and Harry. 

"You're too nosy to live, Potter and it's sad to see Miss Granger tangled in all this when she could have achieved so much more. But you were scurrying around the school on Halloween, for all I know, you'd seen me coming to look at what was guarding the Stone." 

"You let the troll in?" Harry gasped. 

"Certainly. I've a special gift with trolls-- and so does Miss Granger as I recall. Unfortunately, while everyone was about looking for it, Snape went straight to the third floor to head me off. The troll was supposed to beat you to death, but obviously Miss Granger used her unique gift on the troll. Something your family has always been proud off. That special gift with animals whether magical or not," Quirrell stated before turned towards the mirror, "Now wait quietly you two, I need to examine this mirror." 

"The mirror is the key to finding the Stone-- I see myself holding it and I'm presenting it to my master... but where is it!" Quirrell growled. 

"But Snape always seemed to hate me so much." 

"Oh he does," Quirrell causally said, "He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn't you know? They loathed each other unlike with your Grandmother, Miss Granger. Those two they got along just nicely. But he never wanted you dead." 

Quirrell gazed over the mirror, trying to figure out how to get to the Stone. Harry was moving around so much that Hermione was having a hard time staying on her feet. 

"What does this mirror do? How does it work?" Quirrell growled at himself. Then to Hermione's and Harry's horror, a voice answered him.

"Use the girl..." 

"Come here, Granger!" Quirrell shouted. The ropes loosen from around her. She shrieked as Quirrell pulled her towards the mirror. Hermione stood there, trying to figure out what she was going to do. Suddenly she saw walking from behind herself was Betty White in her lovely robes of gold. Betty grinned as she reached her hand up her sleeve. Hermione's eyes widened as Betty pulled from her sleeve a blood-red stone. She winked at Hermione before scurrying over to Harry. Betty bent down and placed the stone into Harry's pocket. Harry's head suddenly gazed down at the pocket and Hermione knew, he had the stone. 

"Well? What do you see?" Quirrell shouted at her. 

"I-- I-- see myself shaking hands with the famous Betty White as we are having a tea party." Hermione lied to him. 

"She lies--" the voice spoke again. 

"Tell the truth! What do you see?" Quirrell yelled at her. 

"Let me speak to her..." The voice spoke up. 

"Master you are not strong enough," Quirrell turned to talk to whoever it was. Hermione quickly took her chance and ran back to Harry. She was helping Harry to his feet and removing the ropes when she saw Quirrell taking off his turban. As the wrapping came falling to the ground, Hermione froze in her spot as she stared at the face popping out of the back of Quirrell's head. 

"Harry Potter... Hermione Granger..." It whispered, "See what I have become? See what I must do to survive?" 

Hermione's eyes widened as she knew who was talking to the. 

Lord Voldemort himself.