Everything he was doing to protect the stone was somehow messing up the whole thing! Just because of his stupid listening device, Quirrell was going after the stone now!
But Quirrell told the Dark Lord to sleep, which had to mean that Voldemort was probably not with Quirrell, but somewhere else, supervising the mission! That was good! That was one less massively dangerous wizard he was going to have to fight.
Buoyed be deducing at least a single piece of good news from this entire mess, Harry put on his invisibility cloak and prepared to go off to the third floor corridor to do his best to stop Quirrell from getting his hands on the Stone.
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Protect the Philosopher's Stone.
Stop Voldemort and Quirrell,
Don't die,
Rewards,
100,000 exp
?
?
Failure,
You guessed it, death
Destruction of modern wizarding and muggle worlds . . . no pressure
YES/NO?
With a deep breath to steel himself, Harry accepted the quest. This was his home now, and nobody would be destroying it anytime soon.
With a sudden idea popping into his head, he turned to Hedwig and spoke, "Hey Hedwig, can you get Fawkes to help out?"
The phoenix trilled a mournful negative. Harry felt a sinking feeling in his stomach
"He's gone with Dumbledore isn't he?"
Another trill, this time an affirmative.
"Alright," he said with a deep breath "We need to make sure someone comes after us. We need to get someone to help."
They both spent a few moments thinking before Hedwig let out a sudden tweet
She flew over to the stack of books he had on his bedside table and pushed off a few on the top before picking up a book and flying over to drop it on Harry's lap.
It was a Potions textbook.
"Potions? You want me to tell Snape? We don't have time to go to the dungeons girl, Quirrell must be getting to the stone right now!"
Hedwig let out a noise of frustration. She flew over to his book bag and fished out a piece of parchment before repeatedly pecking the parchment that held the timetable Hermione had made and pointing at the Potions book with her beak.
It was a few seconds before Harry understood what she meant. "You want Hermione to go get Snape?" The phoenix let out a trill of victory.
"Hmm" Harry mused, actually considering the plan, "That's not a bad idea at all. She would be safe with him and if I fail, she'll be far enough in the dungeons to not be harmed."
Fishing out his Invisibility cloak and his wand, Harry grabbed Hedwig's tail feathers. "To the girl's dorms Hedwig." They disappeared in a burst of flames, reappearing right beside what Harry hoped was Hermione's bed.
Hiding Hedwig in his pocket and hoping to all heavens that Hermione didn't have some sort of sleeping naked habit, he parted the curtains on her bed.
She was lying in her jeans and blouse in an uncomfortable position, with stacks of open books all around her. It was a testament to the seriousness of the situation that Harry didn't even break a smile at the snot bubble that was forming in one of her nostrils.
Carefully trying not to scare her, he gently shook her. Her eyes fluttered open before taking a second to focus.
"Harry!" She said in a hushed tone, suddenly wide awake.
Harry put a finger on his mouth and gestured towards the door to the common room. Nodding, Hermione got out of her bed, arranging a few pillows and covering them before tiptoeing out into the common room with Harry.
"What happened Harry?" she asked when they reached the common room "And how'd you even get up into the girls dorm?"
"Jumped the stairs." Harry replied, "Listen Hermione, Quirrell is going after the stone. Now."
"WHAT!?"
"SSSSHH"
"Sorry" Hermione said, dropping her voice to a whisper. "How do you even know that?"
"Listening charm. Listen Hermione there's no time! I need you to go to Snape and tell him that Quirrell has gone after the stone and that I'm going after him. Just get him to tell Dumbledore somehow. He's in the Ministry now but I know Snape can get to him!"
"You're not going after him! No!"
"We don't have time to argue Hermione! If Voldemort gets his hands on the stone then we're done for, another Wizarding World war will break out! I have to delay him!"
Hermione's expression was nothing short of terrified.
"Just get help and we'll both be fine alright?" Harry tried to calm her.
Getting a nod in return, he turned to run out of the common room door, when suddenly Hermione grabbed his hand. "Stay safe Harry," she said, pulling him into a hug before dashing out of the common room towards the dungeons.
Harry let out Hedwig before grabbing on to her tail feathers. Together they flashed to the third floor corridor before Hedwig flapped her wings and alighted on Harry's shoulders.
"You aren't coming Hedwig." Harry said.
Hedwig chirped indignantly.
"No." Harry said, his tone final. Hedwig fell quiet. "I can't risk you getting hurt by Quirrell. You're my best friend. Please Hedwig. No."
With a mournful trill, Hedwig nipped his fingers, giving in.
"Listen carefully" Harry instructed, "Stay in the forest. If you need anything, the centaurs will help you. Eat healthy. Don't just keep on gobbling apples. I'll call for you as soon as I'm out. Got it?"
She trilled a yes, headbutting Harry's cheek before rising into the air and flaming away.
Taking a deep breath, Harry readied himself. "ID Create," he intoned. A window popped up.
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