Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Chapter 16 - Through the Trapdoor
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Chapter 16
Through the Trapdoor
After that night in the Forbidden Forest, Harry has been feeling the pain in his forehead. And during the nights, Harry wakes up frequently because of the old nightmare he has. The flash of green light, and the cold, cruel laugh. But now, the nightmares are worse - he sees the hooded creature in the forest. He sees the unicorn blood dripping from his face.
Ron, Hermione and Neville do not seem as concerned about the return of Voldemort, or protecting the Philosopher’s Stone. And they say the Stone is safe because Dumbledore is at the castle. And because of the exams, they do not have time to think about other things. But Harry cannot think of anything else. Something has been bothering him very much. So one day he convinces Ron and Hermione to go to Hagrid’s with him.
“What is the best way to get rid of Hagrid?” he asks them as they walk towards Hagrid’s house. “What are you talking about, Harry?” asks Hermione, confused. “Don’t you think it’s strange,” Harry says to them, “that the one thing Hagrid wants is a dragon? But it’s illegal - it’s against wizard law to have a dragon. You’re expelled if you’re caught, right?” Hermione and Ron look confused. “So?” asks Ron.
“So…” Harry continues, “so then suddenly, someone appears with a dragon egg? And Hagrid wins the egg in a card game? And because he wants a dragon so much, he’ll keep it, and he’ll definitely be caught, and then expelled?” They arrive at Hagrid’s door, and knock. Hagrid answers, and he looks confused that they are there to see him. “Come on in. To what do I owe the honor of your visit?” he says. He is a little suspicious.
“Hagrid, I’ve got to ask you something,” says Harry immediately. “Do you remember the night you won Norbert, your dragon, in that card game? Do you remember what the stranger looked like?” “I couldn’t see what he looked like,” answers Hagrid. “He never took off his hood. What’s this all about, anyway?” “Do you remember what you talked about with him?” Harry asks, worried.
“Did you say anything to him about Hogwarts, or Fluffy?” Harry asks. Hagrid thinks hard. “He kept buying me drinks. So, er, yes, maybe, I might have said something about Hogwarts, or Fluffy. I might have said that Fluffy would be much easier to take care of than a dragon, especially if you know how to calm him down. You just play him some music and he’ll go right to sleep…”
Hagrid suddenly looks horrified. “I shouldn’t have told him that, should I have?” Hagrid yells. “Forget I said anyth - hey, where are you all going?” Harry, Ron and Hermione run as fast as they can back to the castle. “We’ve got to tell Dumbledore,” Harry says, as they arrive at the front stairs. “If that stranger was Snape or Voldemort, then they know how to get past Fluffy!”
As they are coming up the stairs, “What are you four doing out here?” It is Professor McGonagall! She is coming outside to receive a letter from an owl that has just arrived. She is holding the letter in her hand. “We want to see Professor Dumbledore,” says Hermione, with more courage than any of them feel.
“What business do you have with Professor Dumbledore?” she asks suspiciously. After all, why would four of the most disobedient children in the school want to see him? “Em… it’s kind of secret,” Harry answers. “Secret?” says Professor McGonagall. “Professor Dumbledore has no time for secrets. He has just left for an important meeting with the Ministry of Magic. He will be back in two days.”
“He’s gone?” cries Harry, frantically. “But this is importan - ” “Do you really think that what you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic? I will hear no more of it. Off you go! On your way. Out of my sight, before I take off more points from Gryffindor!”
The children return to the Gryffindor common room. They are more worried than ever. “Look, it’s going to be tonight,” Harry says. “Snape is going to try to get past Fluffy tonight. Dumbledore is gone, Snape knows how to put Fluffy to sleep. I can’t let that happen.” Harry pauses, and gathers what little courage he has. “I’m going through the trapdoor tonight. I’m going to get the Stone before Snape does.”
“It’s too dangerous!” yells Hermione. “If you’re caught, you’ll get expelled for sure this time!” “SO WHAT?!” Harry shouts. “Don’t you understand? If Snape gets the Stone, Voldemort will come back! If he returns and takes over, everything will be lost. There won’t be a Hogwarts to be expelled from! He’ll destroy it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts!”
“If I get caught, and if I get expelled, that’s fine. I’ll go back and live with the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to kill me there. But I am going to try to get that Stone before he does. Voldemort killed my parents, remember?” Harry is almost crying with emotion. “You’re right, Harry,” Hermione says in a small voice.
“I’ll use the invisibility cloak,” says Harry. “But will the cloak cover all of us?” asks Ron. “What do you mean, ‘all of us’?” asks Harry. “Do you really think you’re going alone, after all we’ve been through? You must be crazy!” Ron smiles. Harry looks at his friends. He feels very happy to know that they are with him. “You can count me in!” says Hermione. Neville, however, says nothing.
Later that night, the children are prepared to leave the common room and head to the third floor door. Hermione and Ron are there, but they do not see Neville. “Where is Neville?” asks Harry. “Have either of you seen him?” Hermione and Ron both look at each other. They shake their heads, no. Suddenly, there is a voice from one of the dark corners of the common room. It is Neville. “I can’t let you go, Harry.”
“Neville, what are you talking about?” Harry asks. “You’ve lost too many points for our house. There is too much at risk for me. I don’t think you should go,” Neville says. “Neville, we don’t have time to waste,” Hermione says. “I’m so sorry…” she raises her wand and… “PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!” she cries, pointing the wand at Neville.
Neville’s arms stick to his side. His legs close suddenly. His whole body becomes rigid, like a plank of wood. He loses his balance and then falls flat on his face. His mouth is fixed shut. He cannot speak. Only his eyes are moving. He is looking at them in fear and anger. Ron laughs, “It’s the full-body bind! Well done, Hermione! Sorry, Neville, we’ll let you know how it goes when we get back!”
After evading Mrs. Norris and a couple of ghosts, they finally arrive at the door on to the third floor corridor. It is already open. “Snape has already gotten past Fluffy, I guess!” Harry says. The open door makes Harry realize the significance of what they are about to do. “Look, I will understand if you want to go back,” he says, “I won’t blame you.” “Don’t be stupid, Harry,” says Ron, a little angry, “we’re with you!” Harry smiles and walks through the open door.
As they enter the chamber, they can hear a deep, low rumbling growl. GRRRRRRRRR… All three of the dog’s noses sniff the air. Fluffy cannot see them under the invisibility cloak, but his noses tell him something is there. “Look, on the floor,” whispers Hermione. “It’s a harp.” “Snape must have left it,” says Harry.
Harry has remembered to bring Hagrid’s flute he received at Christmas. He puts it to his lips and blows. He does not play a clear song, but the notes begin to have an effect on the dog. Its eyes become heavy, and begin to close. It lowers its body to the floor and lies down flat. Then its eyes close all the way, and Fluffy begins to snore loudly.
“Keep playing,” Ron says. They remove the cloak and approach the trapdoor. Ron opens the door slowly and quietly. “What do you see?” asks Hermione. Harry continues playing the flute. “Nothing - just black,” Ron says. “There’s no way to climb down. We’ll have to jump. Who goes first?”
Harry points to himself. “You want to go first?” asks Ron. “Okay, but I don’t know how far down this goes.” Harry stops playing the flute and moves towards the dark opening. The dog begins to twitch and shake. He is waking up. There is not much time. Harry quickly lowers himself through the opening, until he is hanging from his hands. He closes his eyes and lets go.
He falls, and falls and - FLUMP. He lands on something soft!! “It’s okay!” he calls up to the opening above. “Hurry!” Ron follows quickly. “What is this stuff?” he asks when he lands. “I have no idea. It feels like a plant or something. Come on, Hermione!” They see Hermione climb through the hole, then fall and land safely in front of them.
Suddenly, there is a loud bark from the dog! “Whew! That was close!” says Ron. “What now?” Suddenly, Hermione screams! “My legs! This thing has my legs!” While they are standing under the trapdoor, the plant has begun to wrap its branches around their legs, like tentacles. They begin to struggle to try to escape.
“It’s crushing me!” yells Harry in fear. “Wait! Stop moving,” Hermione yells. “I know what this is - it’s Devil’s Snare!” “Oh, I’m glad you know what it’s called!” says Ron. “At least I’ll know what kills me!” One of the branches is wrapped around his neck. “Shut up! I’m trying to remember how to kill it!” says Hermione.
She starts talking to herself, as if she is reading through her classroom notes, “Devil’s Snare, Devil’s Snare, what, what did the book say? It likes the dark and the damp… Fire… A fire! Light a fire!” Ron takes his wand and waves it in small circles and says some strangled words. A jet of blue flame flies from the wand. Immediately the plant begins to let go. They free themselves and run for the safety of the wall.
“I’m glad you paid attention in Herbology, Hermione!” says Harry. “That was too close for comfort.” Harry looks up and sees a corridor ahead. It is the only way out of the room. “This way,” he says. They move off down the dark corridor. They walk forward for some time, then, “Do you hear that?” Ron whispers. They stop and listen. It sounds like the clinking of metal. The sound is coming from just up ahead.
“It sounds like wings,” says Hermione. “There’s a light ahead.” They reach the end of the passageway. There is a chamber that is full of light. And all around them are little birds flying, as bright as jewels. On the other side of the room there is a door. “I’ll try to run for the door. You wait here.” Harry covers his head, sure they will attack him. He reaches the door safely. He pulls on the door handle, “It’s locked,” Harry shouts to them.
Hermione is looking up, and she notices something strange about the little flying creatures - “They’re not birds!” she yells suddenly. “They’re flying keys! You have to catch the right key for the door! Look, over there! Broomsticks! This is a job for you, Harry! Look for a big, old-fashioned key, probably silver, like the door handle” she shouts. “But there are hundreds of them!” complains Harry, as he reaches for a broomstick.
Harry is not the best Seeker in a century for nothing. He has the ability to notice things others can’t. And quickly he notices a large, silver key. One of its wings looks like it is broken, as if it has already been caught!! Harry shoots up high into the darkness near the ceiling. He watches the key from above, then dives suddenly. He takes the key completely by surprise! He has it!
Hermione and Ron cheer loudly for Harry. “Quick!” yells Hermione. “Open the door!” Harry jumps off his broomstick and runs to the door. Hermione and Ron follow. He pushes the key hard into the lock and turns - CLICK! Harry lets the key go and pulls the door open. The poor key flutters away and is almost unable to fly!!
The next chamber reveals an astonishing sight - they are standing on the edge of a huge chess board. They are standing behind the black chess pieces, which are taller than they are. On the other side of the board are the white chess pieces. “Now what do we do?” Harry whispers.
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” says Ron. “We’ve got to play our way across the room. Look!” Behind the white pieces there’s another door. Ron walks up to the black knight and touches his horse. Immediately, the piece comes to life. The knight's head turns to look at Ron. “Do we need to take the place of the black pieces?” he asks the black knight. The knight nods, yes.
“Hemione, you take the bishop there, and Harry you take the castle next to her,” says Ron. “I’m going to be a knight. Don’t take offense, but neither of you know how to play chess very well.” “No offense taken,” says Harry. “Just tell us what to do.” It seems like the pieces understand what they are saying. Three pieces turn in their squares and walk off the board. The children fill the empty squares.
“Well, white always plays first in chess,” says Ron. “Yes… look…” A white pawn moves forward two squares. Ron starts directing the black pieces. They move silently wherever he sends them. Harry is terrified. What if they lose? “Harry, move diagonally four squares to the right.” Harry’s question is answered when their first knight is taken.
The white queen smashes him to the floor and drags him off the board. The black knight does not move after that. “We had to sacrifice him,” says Ron, not looking too confident. “Hermione, you’re free to take that bishop. Go get him!” The players dance and move across the board with Ron’s directions. When a black piece is taken, it is smashed to the ground and pushed off the board. There is a pile of black pieces against the far wall. Harry and Hermione are only in danger a couple of times, but Ron is able to save them.
“We’ve almost got them,” he says. “Let me think… let me think…” The white queen turns her blank face towards him. “No, Ron!” yells Hermione. “Yes,” says Ron, “it’s the only way… I’ve got to be taken.” “NO!” Harry yells. “That’s chess! Sometimes you have to make sacrifices! After I move, you can checkmate the king, Harry!”
“But…” “Do you want to stop Snape or not?” Ron says. “He may already have the Stone. Just do it!” There is no alternative. “Ready?” Ron asks.
“Here I go.” He steps forward to the square, and the white queen attacks. The queen hits Ron hard across his head with her stone arm. Hermione screams. Ron crashes to the floor. The white queen drags Ron off the board and pushes him against the wall.
Shaking, Harry moves three spaces to the left. The white king takes off his crown and throws it at Harry’s feet. They have won. The pieces bow and move aside. The door is clear. Harry and Hermione run to Ron. He is alive, but barely. “Hermione, what do we do?” asks Harry in desperation. Hermione puts her hand on Ron’s forehead. Then she feels his wrist for a pulse. Ron’s pulse is very weak. “Is he dying?” asks Harry.
Hermione does not answer immediately. “Harry, you’ve got to continue on,” she says. “You don’t have much time.” “But what about Ron?” asks Harry. “I’ve got this, Harry! Remember, I’ve done a lot more reading than you have,” she smiles. “I assume you haven’t read Warlock Woundsworth’s book ‘Scrapes, Scratches, Bumps and Broken Bones: A New Wizard’s and Witch’s Guide to the Healing Arts’, have you?” Harry shakes his head, no. “Well, I have,” continues Hermione, “Twice. I can help him. You go on.”
Harry does not want to continue on by himself, but he has no choice. He opens the door and leaves Hermione behind. As soon as he closes the door, Harry smells a disgusting smell! He covers his nose and mouth with his robes. There, on the floor in front of him, is a huge cave troll. It is unconscious! Harry is happy he does not have to defeat another cave troll, and all by himself!
He squeezes past the stinking troll and he quickly opens the door at the end of the chamber. He is on the other side, in the last chamber. He takes a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Harry is not alone in the room. There is someone there already - but it is not Snape. It is not Voldemort, either.
