The Stone

Chapter Twenty-Four

We're getting close to the end of this book! 

I have the perfect way to end it as well and I'm so excited for you all to read it! 

Enjoy this chapter!

**********

Bella left the changing room alone sometime later, to take her Nimbus Two Thousand back to the broomshed. Even though she was happy about Gryffindor winning the game and taking over Slytherin, the image of her and Harry in the mirror clouded her thoughts. She was struggling acting normal in front of him knowing what she does. Half of her wanted it to happen, the other half wasn't so sure. It was a constant battle between her thoughts and her heart.

The evening air had never smelled so sweet. She walked over the damp grass, distracting her thoughts by thinking the last hour in her head. Gryffindor running to lift Harry onto their shoulders, she, Fred, and George chanting 'Go! Go! Gryffindor!' over and over, Ron and Hermione in the distance, jumping up and down, Ron cheering through a heavy nosebleed.

Bella had reached the shed. She leant against the wooden door and looked up at Hogwarts, with its windows glowing red in the setting sun. Gryffindor in the lead. Harry had done it, he'd shown Snape...

And speaking of Snape...

A hooded figure came swiftly down in front of the steps of the castle, clearly not wanting to be seen, it walked as fast as possible towards the Forbidden Forest. Bella's happiness faded from her mind as she watched. She recognised the figure's prowling walk. Snape, sneaking into the Forest while everyone else was at dinner - what was going on?

Bella jumped back on her Nimbus Two Thousand and took off. Gliding silently over the castle she saw Snape enter the Forest at a run. She followed.

The trees were so thick she couldn't see where Snape had gone. She flew in circles, lower and lower, brushing the top branches of trees until she heard voices. She glided towards them and landed noiselessly in a towering beech tree.

She climbed carefully along the branches, hoping her clumsiness wouldn't make her slip and fall, she held tight onto her broomstick, trying to see through the leaves.

Below, in a shadowy clearing, stood Snape, but he wasn't alone. Quirrell was there, too. Bella couldn't make out the look on his face, but he was stuttering worse than ever. Bella strained to catch what they were saying. 

"...d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus..."

"Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," said Snape, his voice icy. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Philosopher's Stone, after all"

Bella leant forward. Quirrell was mumbling something. Snape interrupted him.

"Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"

"B-b-but Severus, I-"

"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," said Snape, taking a step towards him.

"I-I don-t- know what you-"

"You know perfectly well what I mean."

An owl hooted loudly and Bella nearly fell out of the tree. She steadied herself in time to hear Snape say, -"your little bit of hocus-pocus. I'm waiting."

"B-but I d-d-don't-"

"Very well," Snape cut in. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie."

He threw his cloak over his head and strode out of the clearing. It was almost dark now, But Bella could see Quirrell, standing quite still as though he was petrified. 

*

"Bella, where have you been?" Harry asked.

"We won! Harry won! We won!" shouted Ron, thumping Harry on the back. "And I gave Malfoy a black eye and Neville tried to take on Crabbe and Goyle single-handed! He's still out cold but Madam Pomfrey says he'll be all right - talk about showing Slytherin! Everyone's been waiting for you in the common room, they wouldn't start without the full team there, we're having a party, Fred and George stole some cakes and stuff from the kitchens"

"Never mind that now," said Bella breathlessly. "Let's find an empty room, you wait 'til you hear this..."

She made sure Peeves wasn't inside before shutting the door behind them, then she told them what she'd seen and heard.

"So we were right, it is the Philosopher's Stone, and Snape's trying to force Quirrell to help him get it. He asked if he knew how to get past Fluffy - and he said something about Quirrell's 'hocus-pocus' - and I reckon there are other things guarding the Stone apart from Fluffy, loads of enchantments, probably, and Quirrell would have done some anti-Dark Arts Spell which Snape need to break through-"

"So you mean the Stone's only safe as long as Quirrell stands up to Snape?" asked Hermione, in alarm. 

Harry groaned. "We need to make sure he keeps standing up to him,"

"It'll be gone by next Tuesday," Ron said. 

*********

Shorter chapter than usual, sorry!

Also, I'm in an updating mood which means ALL my stories will be getting updated today so if you have them in your library, keep an eye out on that notification!

Love ya all!