The Three Brothers: The Cure

Famous Five

4th June 1992

"Where are you going now?"

Harry winced and cursed inwardly as Neville's voice carried across the common room. Nothing seemed to be going according to plan.

Once they had realised that the Stone was in real danger, the three of them had tried to keep an eye on Fluffy's door and Snape. Under the pretence of meeting Professor Flitwick, Hermione had hung around the staff room to try and keep an eye on Snape. But Snape had noticed her and dismissed her to come back later. Harry and Ron had tried to stay close to the entrance to Fluffy's room in the forbidden third-floor corridor, periodically checking to see whether the three-headed dog was still awake. But Professor McGonagall had found them and driven them off after threatening to take off House points. Thus, even though they had intended to watch the entrance to Fluffy's room and keep a track of the Potions Professor, they had failed to manage either.

Having no plan to check up further on the situation, they had decided to go and stop Snape themselves. Actually, Harry had decided that he would go alone, but both Ron and Hermione had refused to stay back. They had stayed awake in the common room late enough for the students to empty, before heading out. But again, to their rotten luck, it was not.

"Nowhere Neville. It's nothing. We—We are just stretching our legs," Harry said, trying to sound casual. His companions nodded quickly, but the guilt was evident on their faces.

"You're going out again. You'll be caught, and Gryffindor will be in trouble again," the normally shy Neville spoke angrily. "Haven't you done enough?"

"Why don't you go to bed, Neville? We aren't—" Hermione tried to placate her fellow Housemate, but was interrupted immediately.

"Don't lie to me. You sneaking out for some stupid joke has cost us already —"

"You don't understand, Neville," Harry pleaded. "This—this is important."

Neville was not convinced and took a few steps towards the portrait hole.

"I won't let you do it," he said, reaching in front of the exit, "I'll — I'll fight you!"

"Don't be an idiot!" Ron exploded. "What do you think you're doing? —"

"I think I'm stopping you from breaking any more rules! And don't you dare call me an idiot!" Neville retorted, his fists shaking in anger.

Hermione seemed to be getting impatient and decided to cut the argument short.

"I'm really sorry about this, Neville," she said drawing out her wand and pointing it at Neville. "Petrificus —"

"Petrificus Totalus!" came the rapid cry from behind them, and the spell hit Hermione before she could complete hers. She went rigid, tumbling onto the floor. Harry twisted quickly, his hand reaching for the wand in his robes, but the voice warned them.

"Oh no, you don't." It was Mark, standing below the stairs to the boy's dorm. "Any of you draw your wand, and you'll be down before you know it."

Mark walked towards Harry, his wand still pointed towards the two boys. Neville seemed both angry and relieved at the intervention of his friend.

"Now will you tell me exactly what it is you're going out there for you to justify hexing Neville for?" Mark demanded.

Harry tried to evaluate the situation he was now facing. He was quickly losing time, and Snape would probably have reached Fluffy already. There was no way they would be able to give Mark the slip. Should he tell the truth?

"It's none of your damn business!" yelled Ron. "Why do you have to poke your nose where it doesn't belong?" Harry could make out that Ron was getting distressed, and Mark was quickly losing his patience. Coming to a decision, he spoke.