29Ch#32(Philosopher's Stone)
Harry, Raven, Susan and Hermione sat upon the bed of their shared accommodation. The moon was rising, all worried eyes were on Harry; he was hunched over, glaring at the wall ahead of them. The past few weeks had almost been like a pleasant break for the young hybrid, no longer tormented by the pounding hearts of his peers, no thoughts of tearing open a vein to sate his primal hunger but in the past few days he could feel the toxic substance within his blood dissolving, his movements more fluid and no longer sluggish, his strength returning and when it was silent he could hear a faint drumming of nearby heats. But now…
Harry's hands balled into fists atop of his lap, his eyes taken over with a golden hue, her fingernails sharpening into claws. It was like someone had opened the floodgates.
"Are you okay Harry?" Raven asked; her tone timid and filled with fear. Raven felt her own hands ball, she hadn't felt like this since the Dursleys and the early days that had followed.
"I'll be fine." Harry answered through gritted teeth.
Finally the duo felt the familiar sensation of the change overtake them.
Hermione watched on in fascination.
Once the transformation was finished Harry seemed to calm, the tension escaping his body. The large black wolf plodded over to Hermione and lightly nuzzled her stomach until the Ravenclaw girl proceeded to stroke his head, rubbing him behind his ear. The dark red furred wolf plodded over, pushing her muzzle into Susan's side, eliciting small giggles from the redhead who set about making a fuss over her as Hermione did Harry.
"They're so cute." Susan giggled, earning herself a playful nip from Raven.
The group remained in the room for some minutes, just hanging around and enjoying each other's company before Harry and Raven ran off down a newly opened passage with a bag on their backs, to the Dark Forest, planning to spread the word of a safe heaven to the creatures inhabiting it, Harry carrying an old tattered book in his large maw, which was enchanted to act as a portkey. Leaving Susan and Hermione alone in the room.
Susan nervously looked towards Hermione, shifting back into her true form, allowing her scaly tail to surround Hermione, encasing her within her coils, giggling as the girl shivered within them, instinctively tightening her hold on her.
"I'm still not use to that." Hermione muttered as she eyed the scaly, muscular tail.
"You can touch it you know…just not the tip." Susan felt her cheeks burn at the last part.
"The tip?" Hermione questioned as she reached out and traced her fingers over the slimy tail, shivering at the touch much to Susan's amusement.
"Yeah…it's kind of…sensitive." Susan felt her blush spread.
Harry and Raven raced through the forbidden forest, they have been able to convince Unicorns and Thestrals to move to a forest in Gryffindor Lands, Ever since they awakened the memory of Godric's Hollow, they are able to see Thestrals, now they were moving towards the only centaur colony in the forest, they had waited for sunrise to meet centaurs and now the time was almost up, As sun appeared, Harry and Raven changed back, they proceeded to dress in clothes they brought with them. They than proceeded to move towards the Centaur settlement.
There way was blocked by two centaurs who looked ready for battle,Harry instantly responded with steel in his voice,"We are here to meet your leader, Lower your weapons." Raven instantly understood what Harry was doing, as centaurs only respected power, She let a little of her wolf side out, her eyes glowed yellow. Centaurs were taken back and after few minutes of glaring, they finally relented.
The bigger of two said, "Follow us, we will take you to elder."
Harry and Raven nodded and started following them at high speeds. They reached a settlement, there were no permanent houses as tents had been set up, many female centaurs were cooking on burning fires, children were racing around, while many males were sparring. As the twins passes, they recieved many distrustful looks but managed to ignore them.
They reached an open ground where two centaurs were waiting for them, the first one had long black hair, while the second one had white hair and a long beard. The first one introduced himself,"I am Magorian, the leader of centaurs." The second one continued,"I am Dorian, an elder of centaurs."
Harry and Raven taking the initiative,"I am Harry James Potter, currently a Lycan, a well wisher of centaurs",
"I am Raven Lillian Potter,currently also a Lycan, a well wisher of centaurs."
Magorian asked, "So what brings you here."
They knew getting to the point would be essential, so Raven startred, "As you would have noticed, No one in the forest is safe as of now, so we are here to give you an alternative to consider."
Mogrian asked impatiently, "And what would that be?"
Harry continued, "We can help you relocate your homes in a secluded forest, where you won't be disturbed and won't be in any kind of danger."
Mogrian shouted in outrage, "You want us to abondon our home."
Harry replied with visible anger, "I am not asking you for anything, I am giving you an option that can prove to be beneficial for you, I do not have any reason to help you, I am doing it out of the goodness of my heart, Do not test my patience."
Harry's predatory gaze was making even the leader of centaurs sweat.
Dorian tried to ease the situation, "The stars foretold about you, hybrids who are going to change the world, For better or worse, one cannot say, In any case you are Friends of centaurs as told by the stars, we are thankful for your generosity but we do not wish to leave our home, so we decline your offer, but know this Harry James Potter, if you ever need our assistance you shall find it in us, by the grace of stars."
Harry replied, "I do not know, what have been foretold by the stars, but I do know, that if your family ever need my assistance, all you have to do is ask. I will also have to warn you to not to tell about this meeting to anyone."
Mogrian replied, "You have our word, No one will come to know of this meeting."
Harry and Raven were made honoured friends of centaurs and were then escorted by centaurs to entrance of Forbidden Forest, Using a secret passage they returned to their chamber where Hermione and Susan were waiting for them as it was a weekend.
As soon as they saw them, Hermione hugged Harry, Raven and Susan joined too, She then asked, "So how did it go."
"Pretty good, unicorns and thestrals moved away, while we also got centaurs as our allies." Raven explained
"But the most important discovery was that someone was attacking unicorns and drinking their blood, we believe it was Quirrell," added Harry
"Why would someone risk drinking Unicorn blood and risk getting Cursed?" inquired Susan
"As we know, Quirrell body is possessed by something we did not know of, but if you look closely, you find the answer, We know that it is a Soul of someone as Quirrell's body is deteriorating and he needs Unicorn's blood to survive, It is someone that hates me and Raven as Quirrell tried to kill her, To survive as a soul, you need anchors, and if you remember Raven, mom told us we were once anchors" explained Harry
Raven's eyes went wide as she too figured it out and voiced, "Voldemort!"
Hermione and Susan froze, "What, didn't Voldemort died the night you were attacked."
Raven began, "Mom feared, he had survived as we were his soul containers or horcuxes for a little while until we were treated, Mom always feared we became horcuxes because Voldemort soul was unstable as he had made more horcuxes, it seems she was correct."
"So Voldemort is back", Susan exclaimed.
"Not yet, but Quirrell needs something which is in that corridor that Dumbledork wants us know about" claimed Harry
"So you think Dumbledore knows about Voldemort." inquired Raven
"Most probably, have you seen how, he looks at our scars sometimes, he most probably knows about the horcuxes too." answered Harry
"But why won't he help you guys." asked Hermoine
Raven explained,"Most probably, the same reason, he bound our cores, he is afraid we will become stronger than him, so he wants us to die in a battle with Voldemort."
"So what do we do, about the object Quirrell wants." asked Susan
"We take it before Quirell can." declared Harry
"Me and Raven will go and get it" ,said Harry
"Not a chance," chorused Hermione and Susan
"We promised to stand by your side so we will go with you," said Hermione
"We cannot change your mind," confirmed Raven
"Not a chance," said Susan
"Fine you can come too." said Harry
"Hogwarts." called Harry
Lady Hogwarts appeared,"Is entrance to Forbidden corridor warded?", asked Harry
"Yes, it is Master Harry, but I can break any wards in castle's territory." replied Hogwarts
"Don'd do it, just make sure we are not detected"
"As you wish, Master."
The four of them reached third floor corridor, a quick alohomora and they were in. Here there way was blocked by a three headed dog. Harry exclaimed, "I will draw his attention, cast your strongest spells.", said Harry as his eyes shone yellow, he attacked the dog with a quick kick to the face, the dog became enraged and tried to bite Harry's head off, but Harry was faster and was dodging him, after delivering precise punches and kicks, his Martial arts training helping him greatly, the dog was steadily taking damage and becoming slower and slower until a Reducto courtesy of Susan blew one of his head, he roared in pain, in next moment a jelly brain jinx followed by a confringo by Raven blasted another head, while Hermione was constantly stupefying the dog, Harry moved closer and with raw strength pulled out Dog's final head ending his misery. Raven casted a spell and put the dog's carcass on fire to destroy any proof.
After that the group moved towards the trapdoor, they opened it up and jumped inside, after a long and dark fall, they entered a mass of soft vines and tendrils, these quickly entangled everyone, Harry and Raven were tearing apart the Devil's snare and keeping it away from others while Hermione powered a Blue bell's flame to drive away the snare, as soon as Susan got free she powered a Lumos Solem, effectively driving away the snare, they saw another drop which they took,
A downward sloping passage with stone walls took them to a brightly lit chamber. The ceiling was very high, full of glittering winged keys. They saw a large, old-fashioned wooden door with a silver lock. They moved towards it and upon reaching it, Hermione casted an alohomora spell but the door did not open.
"It seems we need the correct key." stated Hermione.
"But how are we going to find the correct one?" questioned Susan.
There was a broom nearby which Harry picked up stating, "Let's find out."
Harry took to the sky, all the keys stared moving in a circle producing a tornado like effect, Harry with his keen eyesight spotted a key with just one wing, he realised that this was the key for the look, so he took after it. With his seeker reflexes Harry was able to reach the top but before, he could catch the key, the key went for a death drop which Harry followed. Harry was going faster and faster during the drop and just before reaching the ground, he caught it and pulled up. All the other keys started attacking Harry, he threw the key to Raven who opened the door, and they all pass through.
As Harry got off his broom he was punched in gut by Hermione who shrieked, "What was that, you almost gave me an heart attack."
Harry was confused and asked, "What?"
Seeing confusion on Raven's face, Susan explained, "She is taking about the stunt, you pulled on Broom."
"Oh!" ,said Harry.
Hermione asked Susan, "Why are you and Raven unaffected."
Susan shrugged, "When they both fly, these stunts are nothing, you get used to scares and heart attacks, I guess."
The group followed the tunnel and came into a dark room with a chess set in middle of room, "It seems like we will have to beat them in chess huh, so who is going to be the King." asked Raven
"Go on Hermione." suggested Harry.
"Won't one of you will be a better choice."
"Nah, we believe in you."
With vote of confidence Hermione took the King's place, Raven became the queen, with Harry becoming a Knight and finally Susan became a bishop, and the chess started, It was a tough match as Hermione was playing while protecting her friends but, In the end they were able to win without a casuality. The opponent chess pieces were destroyed and another tunnel was revealed, which they followed.
As they came closer to the next door, the foul scent became stronger which was instantly recognized, before any comment could be made, Raven said, "I have some unfinished business, this one's mine. " They opened the door and came face to face with another troll. Raven charged towards the troll, who swinged his club, Raven dodged it, her eyes gained a yellow shine, she took the troll's wrist in both her hands and with a sickening crunch broke it in two, Troll tried to swat her with other hand but she jumped over it, she punched the other wrist and the troll lost hold of his club which was sent flying. With inhumane speed, she was behind the troll and with precise hits on achilles tendon, brought the troll was on his knees, She jumped on his back and took hold of his neck, she dug her sharp nails in his flesh and with an almighty tug supported by her leg, pulled out the troll's head, the troll dropped like a sack of potatoes. A spell courtesy of Harry set the troll on fire.
"Seems like, I am not the only one going through Puberty." exclaimed Harry
"Yeah." said Raven
"When were you going to tell us."
"You already have your own problems to deal with, beside mine can still be easily ignored."
"You know you don't have to hide things, we are family."
"Hey, I was going to tell you."
"Fine we will talk later." finished Harry
The tunnel lead them to another exit,upon entering the chamber, the entrance was blocked by purple flames, whilst the exit was covered by black flames. A table holding seven label less potion bottles of differing shapes and sizes sat in the center of the room, with a riddle. Three were poisons, two contained nettle wine, one contained a potion to safely traverse the black flame, and the last contained a potion that allowed passage back through the purple flames. It was stated the riddle, when properly worked out, revealed the contents of each bottle, and therefore which one was safe to drink to allow onward progress.
The group started solving the riddle, with Susan giving facts about the Potions. The group deduced the correct potion to drink, Everyone wanted to take the first sip so nut before things could escalate, Harry took a sip. he placed the flask down, and it refilled, everyone took the potion and safely passed through the flames.
"How much more, I am getting tired." complained Raven
"Technically due to importance of magical number seven, this could be the last room." said, Harry
The group entered the room and it had the Mirror of Erised in it, after a lot of thinking and head scratching Harry stood in front of mirror and desired to have the secret object, His shadow placed a ruby like object in his pocket which magically appeared in reality. Taking the stone from his pocket Harry returned to the group and question, "What's this?"
Raven replied, "I think its the Philosopher's Stone."
"Whats that." questioned Susan
"The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary alchemical substance with magical properties. This ruby-red stone can be used to create the Elixir of Life, which is said to make the drinker immortal, It is also said to transform any metal into pure gold. This is the only known Stone to ever exist and is created by the famed alchemist Nicolas Flamel." explained Raven
"Wow, but what is it doing here." asked Hermione
"Nicolas Flamel is said to be Dumbledork's teacher in alchemy, so maybe he gave it to him."
"So Voldemort needs it to get himself a body." inquired Harry
"Yeah seems like it" replied Raven
"So what to do with it." asked Susan
"I think since Voldemort needs it, we should keep it." suggested Raven
"You are right, but we should keep it a secret." said Harry
"Are you suggesting, we don't even tell Mum"
"This stone is a danger, Voldemort will kill for its location, I won't put anyone in unnecessary danger."
"Maybe you are right."
"Beside if it becomes known, we have it, it would be cause us unnecessary problems."
"Alright we will keep it a secret."
"Thanks."
"What about you guys" questioned Raven
Hermione pulled out his want and recited, "I Hermione Jean Granger vow to never tell anyone about the Philosopher's Stone unless given permission by two others, So mote it be."
Susan repeated the vow, "I Susan Bones vow to never tell anyone about the Philosopher's Stone unless given permission by two others, So mote it be."
Raven did the same, "I Raven Lily Potter vow to never tell anyone about the Philosopher's Stone unless given permission by two others, So mote it be."
Harry then did his own vow, "I Harry James Potter vow to never tell anyone about the Philosopher's Stone unless absolute necessary, So mote it be."
Upon their questioning gazes Harry replied, "It's just a stone, you guys are more important so I wont hesitate to give the stone, if you are in danger". Others just nodded and everyone left the room. THey returned to thir chambers where Hogwarts created a secret undetectable compartment for the stone.