“Shiva, we need your help!” Harry said, fists still clenched.
She frowned and fixed him with a pointed look.
“Harry…”
He waved the rebuke aside impatiently.
“I know, I know—private. Not important right now! We’ve already been to McGonagall. She ignored us. And Dumbledore is gone, which means Snape is going to try for the Stone tonight!”
The young professor opened her mouth, closed it, then tried again.
“Perhaps you three had better come inside.” She sighed and stepped back.
The trio filed in and collapsed into the nearest chairs while Shiva sat opposite them, arms crossed.
“Let’s start over. From the beginning this time, yes?”
Harry drew a deep breath and leaned forward.
“Snape has been acting shifty all year—more than just his usual grudge against me.
We’ve noticed a lot of little things, and we know the Philosopher’s Stone is hidden in the school underneath Fluffy.” “Fluffy?” Shiva’s arms opened in a silent request for clarification.
“Hagrid’s Cerberus,” Neville supplied.
“Why does it not surprise me that he named his monster dog Fluffy…” she muttered.
“All right. Go on.”
“I like Hagrid,” Harry continued.
“He’s genuinely kind. But everyone knows he’s terrible at keeping secrets. We just found out he accidentally told someone shady how to get past Fluffy. Combined with the troll incident earlier this year, and now with Dumbledore gone for the night… the thief has to be planning to try again tonight.”
“Breathe, Harry,” Hermione murmured beside him.
Shiva frowned, looking from one to the next.
“And you told Professor McGonagall all of this?” Hermione nodded.
“Yes, ma’am. She only said the Stone was safe and told us to go back to bed and discuss it in the morning.”
“I was assured the protections were sufficient when I offered to add wards of my own… but this does sound suspicious.” Harry’s heart gave a hopeful flutter. New chapters come out on novelping.com first.
“All right. Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll fetch Dumbledore and we’ll check the defences together while you three—”
“I thought Dumbledore was gone?” Hermione interrupted.
“He is, but he should be arriving at the Ministry by the time I reach the ward line to Apparate. We ought to be back within half an hour at most.” Shiva’s voice was firm.
“I want you three to return to the Gryffindor common room and wait for me there. Once Dumbledore and I have checked everything, I’ll come and tell you what we found. Understood?”
“I…” Harry hesitated.
She was helping—yes—but shouldn’t someone be watching the door until they returned?
“Harry…” The teacher fixed him with a sharp look.
He wilted.
“Okay,” he finished with a reluctant grunt.
“Good. Now go on. I’m just going to pull on a pair of jeans and head out. If I’m not back to speak with you within two hours, go to McGonagall again—and this time don’t let her out of your sight until she brings reinforcements. Clear?”
“We can do that,” Neville nodded.
“Yeah. Sure. Come on, you two. Thanks, Shiva.” Harry led the others back out into the corridor.
Harry halted on the third-floor landing and turned to stare down the empty corridor.
“Harry?” Hermione said from behind him, tugging at his sleeve.
“We have to keep moving. It’s past curfew, and we don’t want Filch catching us—even if Professor Babbling gave us permission.” She gave a small shudder.
The caretaker was nearly as bad as Snape.
“What if he’s already there?” Harry asked, so quietly the others almost missed it.
“What?”
“What if Snape is already trying to steal the Stone right now?” he repeated, louder this time, still fixed on the darkened hallway.
“What if by the time Shiva and Dumbledore get back it’s too late?”
“He might be right, Hermione,” Neville said, stepping up beside Harry.
“Maybe we could just go and guard the door—just to be safe.”
Hermione’s mouth snapped shut.
“But—we’re—oh for heaven’s sake! Fine!” She threw her hands up and glared at both boys.
“If either of you get me expelled I will kill you, dig up your graves, spit on your corpses and eat your souls. Do you understand?” Two hurried, fearful nods answered her.
“Excellent. Then let’s not waste any more time.” She stalked off toward the corridor that led to Fluffy and the Stone.
“Stupid boys,” she muttered under her breath.
When they reached the door Hermione stopped so abruptly that Harry nearly collided with her back.
“Uh-oh…” he breathed, noticing the door stood slightly ajar.
“He’s probably still down there,” Neville said, a faint tremor in his voice.
“Should we stay up here and try to slow him when he comes back up, or should we run for McGonagall?”
Hermione shook her head.
“She won’t believe us quickly enough to make a difference. Not after earlier.”
“We go down after him,” declared, squaring his shoulders.
“We what?” Neville squeaked.
Harry
“Harry—” Hermione stopped, steeled herself, and began again.
“Do you have any more of those… volatile runes on you?” He shook his head.
“Damn. Then we’ll simply have to manage as we go. Come on, boys.” She strode toward the open door without looking back.