Chapter Seven

Questus Interruptus

When they got to the library, Hermione made a beeline for one book in particular. Apparently, she knew exactly what she needed to look up.

The book was called Achievements in Alchemy and it was so heavy she needed Jane and Ron to hold it for her while she paged through it quickly. Jane kept an eye open for Madam Pince, who was always suspicious of students rushing into the library on Friday afternoons.

"Found it!" Hermione announced, when Jane's arms had started to go numb. "Wizards questing after immortality have been seeking the legendary powers of the Philosopher's Stone for centuries. Among other properties, the Stone is said to grant immortality by means of the Elixir of Life. The only wizard known to history to have possession of a Philosopher's Stone is Nicholas Flamel who, along with his protégé Albus Dumbledore, is considered one of the foremost experts on alchemy in the world." She closed the book with a great cloud of dust and shoved it back on the shelf. "Don't you see?"

Jane and Ron exchanged glances.

Hermione made a frustrated sound. "That's what he's trying to steal! The Headmaster is keeping the Stone safe for his friend because he is after it."

"Who's he?" asked Jane.

"You-Know-Who."

A chill shot through Jane. "Are you serious? You think Voldemort's after the Stone?"

"Shh!" Ron hissed. "Don't say the name!"

"Sorry. I keep forgetting."

"Yes," Hermione said. "I really think he's after it. I think…" She glanced over her shoulder and leaned in closer to them. "I think he's the one who tried to kill you and I think it was him in the forest."

Ron looked pale. "You're not serious. You-Know-Who. He… he was in the forest."

Jane rubbed her forehead. "So, Hermione, if you're right…"

Hermione swallowed hard. "If I'm right, we're in an awful lot of danger."

"No," said Ron. "No, we're not. The Headmaster's here. He was the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of, my dad says."

"Yeah, and what did he do when You-Know-Who was in the forest and at the Quidditch match?" Jane asked. "We've got to do it ourselves. We'll just keep an eye on things. Keep an eye on the door. If it looks like anything's going on…" She took a deep breath. "Well, then, we'll just have to get there first."

For the next few weeks, they kept an eye on the door. As long as Fluffy was still there, they figured everything was safe. However, Jane kept wondering if they wouldn't know until it was too late. They needed to do more. However, when she suggesting guarding the door in shifts, Hermione refused.

"We've got exams coming up," she said. "If you don't revise, you'll be in worse trouble."

Jane didn't know that failing her exams would be worse than death, but she and Ron agreed to follow Hermione's revision schedules. It was more and more difficult to concentrate after hearing rumors of more injured unicorns in the forest.

Finally, after what seemed like a year, they were free. History of Magic wasn't Jane's strongest subject, and she didn't think Professor Binns exactly cared how she did either.

"So, the ickle firsties have survived!" George proclaimed, when Jane, Ron, and Hermione had climbed back through the portrait hole.

"Barely," Ron said.

"Want to join us and Lee for some Quidditch?" Fred asked. "We're going to go toss a Quaffle around. Let out some tension."

The three of them exchanged glances.

"Maybe later," Jane said. "We've got something to do."

Ron went to wait outside the door first, while Jane and Hermione sat in the common room. Lavender and Parvati tried to include them in their conversations, but Jane was so worried about the Stone that she answered "Nicolas Flamel" when they were playing Who Would You Rather Kiss?, though her choices had been Oliver Wood and Seamus Finnegan.

Finally, just before dinner, Ron stumbled back into the common room.

"I can't stop," he said. "I've got detention. With Snape."

Hermione looked shocked. "But why?"

"For loitering." He gave Jane and Hermione a significant look; Lavender and Parvati looked puzzled. "So maybe one of you can… do something." He hurried up to the boys' dormitory and then back out again.

"I'll go," Jane whispered to Hermione. "I'll use my dad's cloak."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Of course."

Jane stood up and yawned theatrically. "I think I'm going to take a nap before dinner," she said. She tried to walk at a normal pace over to the girls' stairs but once she was out of sight of the common room, she bolted all the way to the top and into their room, dug through her trunk for the cloak and put it on. She studied herself in the mirror over Lavender's bureau. There. She was perfectly, utterly invisible.

She crept quietly back down the stairs, trying to be careful not to make any noise. Then, she crossed the common room, trying to make sure not to run into anyone. People didn't think anything of making sudden movements into empty air and she didn't want to collide with anyone now. She fell into step behind Katie Bell, who was going to leave the common room and she stepped through the portrait hole right behind her. Once Katie had disappeared down the hall, Jane set out.

When she reached the third floor, she pressed her ear to the door. Fluffy was still inside. Gathering the cloak around herself, Jane sat down to wait.

She'd only been sitting there for barely twenty minutes when she heard footsteps tearing down the corridor.

"Jane, are you there?" It was Hermione. "Jane!"

Jane threw back her hood. "I'm here, Hermione, what's wrong?"

Hermione grabbed Jane's invisible hands, looking terrified. "Oh, Jane, the Headmaster wasn't at dinner! And then when I asked Professor McGonagall, she said he'd had an urgent call from the Minister of Magic and he'd set out for London right away."

Jane's mouth dropped open. "You know what this means, right?"

Hermione nodded. "It's a trap. He's going to do it now, while the Headmaster's not here."

"We've got to stop him, Hermione."

"Shouldn't we wait for Ron?" Hermione looked worried.

Jane sighed. She did want him to be here—three was certainly better than two in a fight. "There's no time," she said. "He'll be in detention for hours; Voldemort could come around that corner any minute."

Hermione paled. "Jane… we should tell someone…"

Jane slipped the cloak off and shoved it into her skirt pocket. "Maybe you should get a teacher. I'm going through."

"Oh no you're not!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'm going with you." Hermione's look was fierce. "I am not letting you face You-Know-Who alone." She was clutching her necklace as she said this and Jane felt a rush of love for her best friend.

"Okay," she said, reaching up to feel her own necklace under her shirt. "We'll go together."

Hermione hugged her tight. "We'll make it," she said fiercely. "You've beaten him before."

Jane didn't know if that meant anything; she didn't remember facing Voldemort the first time. Instead, she thought of her parents, fighting to the last. They were Gryffindors. She was a Gryffindor, and Hermione was a Gryffindor. They could do this.

"I brought your flute," Hermione said. "I hope you don't mind. It was on top of your bed and I just thought…"

"Right. Music." Jane took out her wand and opened the door as she'd seen Fred do. "Alohomora!" Fluffy was on them instantly, snarling and barking. Hermione began to play. She clearly didn't know how to actually play it, but apparently it was enough. Fluffy dropped slowly to the floor and began to snore. The girls rushed over to the trap door and Jane wrenched it open. All they could see was darkness below.

"There's no ladder," Jane said.

"How far down is the drop?"

"No idea."

They heard a sound behind them. Hermione looked down at the flute in her hand. "Oh no," she whispered. She had stopped playing.

Fluffy came charging toward them, spit flying.

"Go, go, go!" Jane threw herself through the trap door, right into empty air. She was conscious of Hermione following her, screaming as she fell.

They fell for what seemed like forever and they landed on something soft.

"Thank God they've put a cushion here," Hermione said.

Jane was looking up at Fluffy. He was still visible through the door, looking like he was miles away. She didn't notice the tentacles wrapping around her ankles until Hermione shrieked.

"Jane! It's not a cushion! It's Devil's Snare!"

A tendril wrapped around Jane's middle. "Then do something!" Hermione's arms were free.

"Like what?"

"Like fire! Remember Herbology?"

"Of course! Flamma frigis!"

Hermione's bluebell flames shot out of her wand, burning the plant, but not Hermione and Jane. As the Devil's Snare drew back from them, they were able to scramble free.

Jane looked around. The only way forward was a long passageway, so she and Hermione set off down it. Neither of them said anything until they'd reached the chamber at the end of the corridor. This one was full of little birds, but as they approached, Jane realized they were keys. Winged keys.

"The door's there," Hermione said, pointing across the room. "You think it'll open?"

Jane looked up. "Or do you reckon we need one of those keys?"

Hermione looked back and forth from the keys to the door, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. "I think it's that one." She pointed to a key that was hovering near the corner, high above their heads. "See, it matches the lock." She looked back at Jane. "But how do we get to it?"

Jane tucked her hair behind her ears. "Brooms. There are brooms." She strode over to them and took two.

"Oh, no."

Jane looked back up at the key. She was a better flier than Hermione, but neither of them was as good as Ron.

"We've got to," she said firmly. "We have to try." She handed Hermione a broom and mounted her own.

Hermione got into the air somewhat more shakily than Jane had. As soon as the girls were airborne, the keys began darting away from them.

"Ooh!" Hermione cried in frustration. "I'll never be able to catch it."

Jane circled the key in question, studying it. Perhaps if she moved slowly… She leaned forward slightly on her broom, but the key seemed to recognize what she was doing.

"Hermione!" she shouted. "I'm going to drive it to you! You've got to catch it."

She saw Hermione nod and she leaned farther forward, increasing her speed. She could feel the air whipping her hair. The sudden movement had spooked the key and it shot away from her.

"Now!"

The key fluttered, panicked, in Hermione's direction and she snagged it by the wing. "Got it!" she cried, sounding satisfied.

They descended, Hermione still looking proud of the struggling key clenched in her fist. As soon as their feet hit solid stone, they dropped their broomsticks and ran for the door. Hermione forced the key into the lock and opened the door. The key returned to its fellows and Jane and Hermione stepped into the next chamber, wondering what they would find here.

"At least it's well-guarded," Hermione commented. "That'll slow You-Know-Who down."

Jane had almost forgotten that Voldemort could be right behind them. "Right," she said. "Onward, then."

There was an enormous chessboard in the center of the room.

"Oh no," Hermione said. "This is… no. We should've waited for Ron."

Jane gulped. This time, Hermione was right. They were both dreadful at chess. Hermione always got too frustrated and Jane couldn't play without Percy whispering tips in her ear.

Jane looked back and forth. "Do we have to tell them what to do? Like wizards' chess?"

Hermione stepped closer to her. "Or do we have to play with them?" She took a step forward. "Er, excuse me. Have we got to join you?" She looked silly talking to the knight, but he nodded.

"Hermione, do you want me to do it?" Jane asked.

Hermione nodded. "Please."

"Right." Jane stepped on to the board. What would Ron do? "I'll take the king's spot. You come take the queen's."

Those two pieces vacated the board and Hermione came to stand next to Jane.

A white pawn moved forward.

"It's our turn now," Jane said. "Er, you go, pawn. One in front of that knight, yeah." It moved forward two spaces. Then, another white pawn came out.

She took a pawn first. The black pawn slammed the white hard into the board and dragged it off to the side, just like Ron's game.

"Can I move?" Hermione asked. She sounded frightened.

"No," Jane said. "We're boxed in, but we're safe." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Hermione."

Ron didn't know how Muggles managed cleaning without magic. An hour of scrubbing cauldrons (and no dinner) and his fingers were numb.

At least Snape had just left to speak with the Headmaster. He'd be gone at least fifteen minutes, probably. Time to rest.

The door to the Potions classroom flew open and Snape stalked in. Bugger.

"The Headmaster was not—What are you doing, Weasley?"

Ron reached for his brush again and stopped. "What did you say?"

Snape looked at him as though he were a bug that had crawled onto his shoe. "The Headmaster was not in. He has left the school on business that is none of your concern."

"He's gone?" Ron jumped to his feet. "He's not here?"

"An astonishing grasp on the obvious. Now resume your detention before I extend it."

"No—Professor—wait." Ron rushed to Snape's desk. "If the Headmaster's not here, he's going after the Stone. You-Know-Who."

Snape's eyes widened. "What are you talking about, boy?" he snapped.

"The Philosopher's Stone. Jane and Hermione—we were going to guard the door, but if he's gone, then You-Know-Who will try and Jane and Hermione, I'm sure they tried to get past Fluffy—"

Snape strode across the room, robes billowing. "Get Professor McGonagall at once, Weasley. Then return to your common room. And for Merlin's sake, keep your mouth shut once there."

Before Ron had even reached the door, Snape was out of sight.

Jane desperately wished they'd waited for Ron. She'd thought she'd been doing pretty well, but then she'd made several stupid mistakes in succession and Hermione was cornered, too far away for Jane to get to one square at a time.

"If I have to be taken," Hermione began. She sounded close to tears.

"NO," Jane snapped. "I told you, Hermione, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. We're going to get out of this.

She turned a full circle on her space, looking for a way out…

"Very noble, Miss Potter."

Jane spun. "Professor Quirrell! You've got to help us!" She didn't know what good Quirrell would be against Voldemort, but he was a teacher, at least.

Quirrell laughed. "I don't think my master would like that very much."

Jane could see Hermione's mouth open in shock. They had to get away, but she wasn't sure if Hermione could move. Jane didn't know she was running until she was slamming into Hermione, dragging her to the edge of the board.

"Come back here, girl!" Quirrell began to chase them. Jane didn't know where to go so she just pulled Hermione off the board, to the side, past the pieces that had been taken. She could barely think with the way her scar was burning. They were cornered, trapped, just like on the chess board; there was no way to get away…

"Let me see, Quirrell," said a voice. It wasn't Quirrell's. Jane looked around for the source of it. "Let me… see… her… before you kill her."

"Master, you are not strong enough!"

Jane could feel her knees knocking together in fear. Behind her, against the wall, Hermione whimpered in fear. Very slowly, Quirrell began to unwind his turban from his head. Jane's heart began to pound and for some reason, Jane thought that she would have to tell Fred and George that it wasn't full of garlic.

Quirrell slowly turned around. Jane reached behind her and grabbed Hermione's hand.

There was a face on the back of Quirrell's head, a face that made Jane's blood run cold. It was like a snake's, with no nose and horrible red eyes.

"Jane Potter…" it said. "We meet again."

Hermione squeezed Jane's hand very tightly.

"You can see what you have done to me, Jane. This is what I am reduced to… sharing a body with Quirrell. But once I have the Philosopher's Stone, I will be able to regain my full powers once again."

Jane bit her lip. She would not look away.

"I come to offer you a choice, my girl. Join me. Help me get the Stone, and more powers than you've ever dreamed of. Now, stand aside. Quirrell, kill the spare."

Quirrell raised his wand.

"NO!" Jane shouted with a voice she hadn't even known she had inside her. She launched herself forward and slammed into Quirrell. The pain in her scar was blinding her now, but she groped instinctively for Quirrell's face. He was howling, an almost animal sound she recognized from the forest when he'd touched her. She pressed harder. She knew she was screaming, too, and so was Hermione but she was conscious of nothing else as she and Quirrell fell hard to the chessboard and into darkness.

Jane jerked awake. "Hermione!"

"Miss Potter, relax." Jane blinked. It was Madam Pomfrey.

She wasn't dead. She was in the hospital wing.

"Where's Hermione?" Jane sat up.

"Miss Granger is perfectly fine, which is more than I can say for you." Madam Pomfrey came over and pressed on her shoulder, urging her to lie down. "She and Mr. Weasley have been trying to get in here for three days."

"Three days?" Jane asked, puzzled.

"Yes. You'll see you've been sent some things. Have some chocolate." She took a bar of Honeydukes Best off the top of the pile and handed it to Jane.

As she was eating, Ron and Hermione came in.

"Five minutes!" Madam Pomfrey called from the other side of the ward.

"Hermione!" Jane exclaimed. She almost dropped her chocolate. "You're all right."

"Thanks to you." Hermione had a funny look on her face. "What happened?"

"Why are you asking me? I was knocked out."

"Well, it was really Ron…" She looked at him.

Ron shrugged. "I just told Snape where you'd gone…" His hand hovered over the pile of candy. "You mind?"

"Help yourselves."

Ron took a chocolate bar and Hermione chose a sugar quill.

"Well, anyway," Hermione continued, "Snape saved your life. He saved both of us. He was wonderful; he came in while you were on top of Quirrell and he…" Hermione paused. "I'm not sure. I fainted."

"Either way," Ron said, licking his fingers, "You-Know-Who didn't get to the stone. It's safe. The Headmaster told us."

"That's good." Jane was beginning to get tired again. "Thanks, you two. I could never have done this without you."

"Don't mention it," Ron said, taking another chocolate frog. "Wow, Agrippa!"

Jane felt her eyes growing heavy. She'd only been awake for a few minutes, but she was already exhausted again. She let the sound of her friends' voices wash over her as she drifted off. It was nice to have friends.

After her nap, Jane thought she felt wel enough to leave, but Madam Pomfrey refused to allow it. This left nothing to do but sort chocolate frog cards when Ron and Hermione weren't allowed in.

"It's good to see you looking well, Miss Potter," said Snape, interrupting her as she sorted the famous wizards by date of birth.

"Thank you, Professor." She hadn't expected him to visit her. "And thank you for saving me."

Snape pursed his lips. "The natural response," he said. "I must insist that you do not go off half-cocked without informing a teacher again—preferably Professor McGonagall."

"Yes, sir."

"Now that I have reassured myself that you are alive, I will bring this to Madam Pomfrey. It is why I came." He indicated the bottle of potion in his hand.

"Thanks again, Professor." She smiled.

Snape turned away very quickly.

Madam Pomfrey finally let Jane leave the hospital wing for the Leaving Feast. The Headmaster was waiting for her outside.

"Miss Potter," he said, "I hope you will do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to dinner. I believe we have a few things to discuss."

This was the first time Jane had ever spoken to the Headmaster. Up close, she could see he had twinkling blue eyes and a kind smile.

"Of course, sir."

He offered her his arm. His robes were purple and covered with moons stars. "Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger told me about the project you three have been working on this year. It was quite a lot of research."

Jane nodded. Somehow, she got the sinking feeling she might be in trouble.

"I had a long talk with Nicolas. We have decided that the world is better off without the Stone. It is to be destroyed."

Jane's face fell. "But that means—"

"Yes, Jane. Nicolas and Perenelle will die. They have agreed that, with the likes of Lord Voldemort in the world, we are safer without it."

"B-but the Stone was his, and—"

"Nicolas has lived quite a long time. It was his decision entirely. I believe the Flamels are looking forward to the change of pace. To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

Jane worried at her lip.

"At your age, it must be hard to contemplate," the Headmaster went on. "But you needn't let it concern you. The Stone is gone and Voldemort is once again in bodiless."

Jane felt a prickling on the back of her neck. "But that means he's still alive."

"No, he is not exactly alive. Not dead either, but not truly alive."

That sounded terrible. "So does that mean I'm in danger, sir?"

"Not at the moment, no." His eyes twinkled. "As long as you call your aunt's house home, you are in no danger from Voldemort. That was why he could not touch you."

"My aunt's house?" Jane was confused. No one wanted her at her aunt's house. Hogwarts felt more like home than Privet Drive did.

"Yes, Jane. I will explain much more when you are older. Right now, we have a feast to attend." They had reached the double doors leading to the Great Hall. He opened them for her and she stepped inside. She supposed this meant the conversation was done, though she wasn't satisfied. She didn't want to wait until she was older. If there had been any other place she could have gone…

She went to sit at the Gryffindor table. She had expected the mood to be glum, given the Slytherin hangings decorating the hall in celebration of their victory in the House Cup, but the Gryffindors were grinning at her.

"Here she is!" George declared. "Woman of the hour! Lady Jane graces us mere mortals with her presence."

"We're not worthy!" said Fred.

Jane smiled sheepishly as she went to sit between Hermione and Ron. She could see Pansy Parkinson shooting her daggers even though they'd won the House Cup.

"How do you two know what happened?" she asked the twins.

"Everyone knows," Fred said excitedly. "Everyone in the school."

Jane felt faint.

"Don't think you could've gotten a few points when you did it?" Lee said. "The Snakes have won again. That's seven years now."

Jane exchanged glances with Ron and Hermione. She didn't feel like she'd done anything.

Jane had hoped the school year would last forever, but unfortunately, it came to an end, as all good things must. Before she knew it, they were on the Hogwarts Express back to London. Jane, Hermione, and Ron were invited by the twins and their friends to share a compartment and they spent the trip back playing Exploding Snap and eating sweets. Jane tried to savor each moment because she knew that, within hours, she would be back on Privet Drive, back in the cupboard.

"We'll write you," Hermione promised, as they gathered their things to leave the train.

"Of course," Ron said, shoving the rest of his last Cauldron Cake into his mouth. "I do wonder if you'll get it before school starts again; Errol's so slow…"

Suddenly, Jane threw her arms around the both of them. "You're brilliant," she said fiercely. "Thanks."

"What'd we do?" asked Ron.

"You were my friends," Jane said, blinking quickly. "My first friends."

"You will be all right, won't you?" Hermione whispered in her ear. "With your relatives? If you need anything, just call." She pressed a piece of parchment with her telephone number on it into Jane's hand. "Any time, day or night. I'm sure my parents won't mind."

Jane was about to say something else, but she noticed Fred and George hovering nearby, so she kept her mouth shut. She knew she wanted to explain to Ron about the Dursleys one day, but she didn't exactly want his whole family to know at once.

There was another round of hugs and good-byes and then they were headed back through the barrier. Jane waved at Ron's sister, Ginny, and his mother, and Hermione's parents. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were standing apart from the others, looking most uncomfortable.

Jane waved to her friends as she approached them, hoping that maybe it would tell them that she wasn't completely horrible, if some people liked her.

Although, she supposed it wouldn't help much if the people who liked her were just as freaky as she was, which seemed to be the very thought that was going through Uncle Vernon's head as he watched the Weasleys depart the station.

Well, if they were freaks, then Jane liked being a freak.

End of Year One