The exams were over and it was now one week before the students were set to return home. Everyone else was cheerful and celebrating the end of exams, first years did not have much pressure to begin with so they were just celebrating a successful first year, the OWL going students were still nervous and could be constantly seen still discussing their performance, Harry did not see the NEWT students and everyone else was just simple happy about the end of their exams.
The atmosphere was so joyful at the end of every term because results would always be delivered through post a month after exams. Harry had met with the twins after their exams and they had decided to explain their father of their intentions to stop Hogwarts after next year and they were sure that their father would provide them with enough space from their mother so that the JOKER business does not have a hindrance.
Daphne had finished her exams and the first thing next day was a day out with Harry. They had met early morning, had breakfast in the kitchens while chatting with the elves and a small picnic by the lake till evening. While they were sitting by the lake Daphne asked harry to meet her during the holidays as much as possible, write a letter every day and made him promise that when he goes shopping for the next year he would inform her beforehand. Harry promised her and also told her that whatever she hears the next few days, she should not show excess worry and be patient as he knew what he was doing.
Daphne got worried instantly but she understood that harry was a smart guy and because of her love for him she would never go against his instructions unless he would be in severe danger. They returned to the castle before the sun set and Harry met with Hermione so that they could began their plan.
Harry and hermione ran towards professor McGonagall's office with a very worried expression and just like the previous time they perfectly acted out knowing about the philosophers stone and how they suspect Snape to try and steal it for his previous master. Professor McGonagall was very angry on their baseless acquisitions on a teacher and told them to not pry into such matters and expressed her disappointment on how two hard working students were getting distracted. Harry and hermione tried to convince her once more but after being shot down they accepted and asked to talk to the headmaster, professor McGonagall informed them of his absence from school due to ministry matters and had them leave the topic.
Harry and Hermione moved back to the common room and decided on their course of action, unlike last time they did not have Ron to get past McGonagall's magical chess and Harry not being so on point with his practice on the broom to get past Flitwick's magical keys. As they were already aware of their upcoming adventure They had looked up and practiced the spells to overcome the various obstacles.
Bombarda the exploding charm, a highly advanced spell for any first year was learned by Hermione to perfection in a short three days. This was the spell they were going to get past McGonagall's trap. Immobulus the freezing charm, another OWL level charm was perfected by Hermione in a week. This was the charm that would get them the keys in professor Flitwick's trap. After getting through these two obstacles the rest were not much of a problem and like last time Harry would reach the mirror alone.
It was now midnight, Harry and Hermione were under the invisibility cloak and heading towards the third floor corridor, they passed by a wandering Mrs. Norris and make their way forward in a hurry. Once they reached the room and were standing in front of the door they paused for a minute to calm their nerves. After everything was said and done it would be Hermione's first witnessing a terrifying magical creature in this time and she had not undergone the attack of the troll either so Harry had no idea how she going to react to everything but he still held her and promised to be her support, this seemed to have a good affect as her face turned calm and determined.
The door opened and there it was, a peacefully sleeping three headed cerberus, the calm music was still playing in the background by the harp. Harry signaled hermione to use the levitation charm on its paws and opened the trap door. He urged her to jump fast because the magical harp would soon stop and any negligence could turn fatal. Once they jumped the fall was a good fifteen feet and they landed on the Devil's snare. They already knew about it so they kept their calm and were soon engulfed by the plant and reached the room underneath it.
They opened the chamber door and met with the countless flying winged keys. Harry knew that as soon as he touched the broom they would all treat him as the enemy and attack, this time it was going to be a two pronged attack with harry on the broom and Hermione casting Immobulus on the keys. It turned out to be pretty easy and they soon reached the giant chess board. The strategy was the simplest of all, casting the Bombarda spell on any chess piece that stands in the way. One thing harry had in abundance was power and it was going to help him today.
They both safely reached the trap placed by Snape, it was something he had already passed so he was sure that Hermione would definitely solve the riddle and he would pass safely, so he just stayed while Hermione solved it in front of him once again. Before taking the potion he told Hermione to return back and when she meets Dumble's on the way back she should carefully sort her memories as the headmaster would surely use Legilimency on her. They had already made the relevant memories and all that was left was to show the old guy that dear young Harry was following the plans he created.
Hermione wished Harry luck and turned back to return. Harry too took the potion, gulped it in one go and moved past the flames and opened the door to meet the second greatest dark wizard he had seen.
In the centre of a circular room was a huge mirror with intricate carvings and a man with a turban standing in front seeming as if he was speaking to himself and searching for something. As Harry entered the room the man turned and you could see confusion in his eyes. This time around everything had gone differently for harry, he was not escorted by Hagrid to Tom's bar where he would encounter professor Quirrell, Harry did not hear the quarrel between quirrell and snape and misjudged him because of Ron's weird talks, Harry did not participate in quidditch and thus was not targeted by Quirrell and lastly had not served detention in the dark forest where would see Voldi drinking the Unicorn's blood, add that to the fact that he did not roam about the school giving any chance to quirrell to act, it was not surprising that Quirrell was surprised by the visitor.