Chapter 76: Playtime
The four of us make our way to the third floor under the cover of my Invisibility Cloak, with Arianna laying across my head since she's too small to keep up. Why are we going to the third floor? Obviously to talk some sense into the trio of idiots who want to steal the Stone to prevent someone else from stealing it first.
Well, I am. Tracy said that it seems like it will be interesting so she wants to join in. And Draco is here because he wants to show Weasley that he and Harry are terrible at hiding things. And also for the chance to hex him or something. But either way, I'm going to talk to them about their plan.
It's a completely nonsensical action that I could absolutely get behind if they actually thought it through. Mainly how I doubt they have any idea what to do with the Stone once they have it. Or how they think it's Professor Snape who wants to steal it. Hell, if they wanted to steal it for themselves I would probably help them!
But nope. They decide to go with a boring and nonsensical plan. And judging by how the door is open once we get to the platform, they're already ahead of us. Sighing, I look at my group. "The first obstacle is Hagrid's three-headed dog, Fluffy-"
Tracey snorts and I look at her. She just waves me off with a chuckle though. "Sorry, but its name doesn't really fit, now does it? You mentioned that the dog that stays in the hut with him is called Fang? That sounds like a name this dog should have."
I can't say that she's wrong, but… "Have you ever touched it before?"
She blinks at me and I smirk. "Watch and learn, young one. I will show you the power of a true animal enthusiast, even if I prefer cats."
And while she looks at me in confusion I toss the Cloak aside and stroll confidently through the door. Much to the surprise of my two friends. Inside the room, Fluffy looks at the door with a growl, one that quickly disappears once it catches sight of me. From two of the heads at least. The left head doesn't like me despite how often I come to visit.
I mean, come on. Why wouldn't I visit? It's locked in the castle all the time, and based on what I've heard from Hagrid it hasn't been allowed outside for the entire year! That's just animal abuse!
Added on to the fact that Hagrid can't spend much time with it due to his duties as the groundskeeper, and it just becomes sad. So I've been coming up at least once a week to play with it. Sometimes tug-of-war, sometimes catch, though that's mainly me tossing an oversized ball and watching each of the heads trying to snatch it out of the air since there's not enough room for it to run. Or even chase it, really.
But as I pull out a ball to grow and throw, I make note of the harp laying on the floor by its paws. "Music puts him right to sleep…" I mutter, remembering what he said when we went to the Forbidden Forest. I shudder goes down my spine as my mind briefly alights on the thing that was hunting the unicorn but I shake it off.
'I have Confringo now, so I can actually put up a fight. More than that, it's not like I'm going to run into it inside the castle. It would have to have pretty horrible security to be able to get in.' My mind briefly flashes back to the wizards who'd come to grab the dragon. 'It's not bad enough that it would be able to get in…? Hopefully?'
Either way, I push that thought away for the moment while I toss the enlarged ball at Fluffy and watch the heads struggle against each other to be the ones to hold it. Even the head that doesn't like me. When one proves the victor they drop it at my feet, where a quick burst of magic cleans it so I don't get covered in dog slobber throwing it again. Feeling someone's eyes on me, I look back and see Tracey and Draco with wide eyes and mouths hanging open. I think I know what they want to say so I hurry to assure them.
"Don't worry, we'll continue on to the Stone in a few minutes. Just have to make sure Fluffy doesn't get upset with us for only passing through."
"That's hardly the concern here!" I ignore Draco's shout of outrage and continue playing catch with Fluffy. It's getting close to when I judged we've played long enough when I hear the door move, startling me. I fumble the next throw and the ball bounces on its way to Fluffy, making a hollow thud echo in the room as I turn around.
And there I see an unexpected sight. Harry with his Cloak in hand and mouth hanging open. Hermione, also with her mouth hanging open but with tired acceptance in her eyes. And finally, Weasley, whose mouth is actually moving but has no words coming out. Though for once his expression isn't unpleasant, just bewildered.
Exchanging glances with my group, I can tell that we're all confused. "Weren't the three of you supposed to be ahead of us?" I gesture at the trapdoor next to Fluffy as the right head drops the ball behind me and nudges me with its snout. Instead of continuing though, I absently reach out and start scratching it along its jaw.
While it stays like that, with the other two heads looking at it with clear jealousy, I continue to stare at the three Gryffindors in front of me. Predictably, Hermione is the first to come to her senses, and proves herself the most adaptable by asking her own question.
"What do you mean by us being ahead of you?And what are you doing here in the first place!?"
I chuckle, motioning towards the middle head as it nudges the right head away and replaces it for scratches. "I'm here to give Fluffy some attention. The headmaster doesn't let it leave the castle since it needs to guard the Stone, y'know. As for you three being ahead…" I shrug. "I heard that the three of you are planning to rob the school of the most valuable thing here, so I wanted to know what your plan was for that. I thought you'd all been ahead of us since the door was open."
Hearing my explanation, Harry hisses, "Snape!" under his breath, resulting in eye rolls from all the Slytherins.
"Seriously? You're all still on that? I mean, I guess you were right about someone wanting to steal the Stone, but your fixation on Professor Snape just because he doesn't like you is honestly over the top at this point."
He glares at me. "If you're so sure, then how about we just see who's trying to steal it! In fact, let's make it a bet!"
I nod. "Sounds good to me. Winner gets to use a full half of our inheritance for whatever they want, with no complaining from the other." I wait for him to nod, making note of Weasley's continued confusion. "Plus I want to see what other defenses are in place. Fluffy," the left head shoves the middle aside and lets out a small growl as it tilts so I'm scratching behind its ear, "isn't much of a guard dog."
Weasley sighs. "It looks like we won't be needing your flute, Harry."
I quirk an eyebrow. "Flute? Since when do you have a flute, much less know how to play one?"
He makes his way towards me, intent on the trap door and proving to me that Professor Snape is evil. "I got it from Hagrid for Christmas, so I've been practicing on it."
My hand freezes, much to the displeasure of Lefty. But I have bigger concerns now. As he pulls open the door, and before the others gather around us, I let my thought out slowly. "So you're telling me that Hagrid, who knows you have an interest in the Philosopher's Stone, gave you a musical instrument for Christmas."
He nods, tense from my serious look. "And he knows that the first obstacle to the Stone is Fluffy, who'll be put to sleep once he hears music." Another nod, and I can see that he's started thinking of the 'coincidence' as well.
I shake my head and step up next to him. "I'm starting to think that the 'protections' aren't meant to be protections at all…" I mutter.
Before he can ask what I mean, I push him and listen to his scream as he falls down the hole. Turning to the others, I give them a salute before stepping back, the lingering words I leave behind having them scrambling to jump in.
"Fluffy doesn't know any of you, so with me gone don't expect him to be as pleasant."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Nartleb
Nartleb p atreon.com/Nartleb2
And so begins the trials of the Stone! What will they find at the end? If you're reading a Harry Potter fic then you better know! But how will it end? Well... That's what you're here to find out.
Also got a new poll on my patreon if y'all are interested in joining.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone