An Exclusive Meeting

Severus looked at the professors that had gathered in the Headmaster’s office. There were Pomona Sprout, Rubeus Hagrid, Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwitck, and himself. This, in itself, told him that the meeting was going to be unusual. When the professors assembled, it was usually an assembly of all of the professors.

“Thank you all for coming,” Dumbledore said, sitting down behind his desk. “Please, have a seat.” He waited for them to sit down before going on. “As I know that you are all busy preparing for the coming year, I will make this brief. I have recently spoken to Nicolas Flamel, and we have decided that the Sorcerer’s Stone is no longer safe at Gringott’s.”

There were murmurs from everyone in the room with the exception of Hagrid and Minerva. Looking over at the half giant, Severus wondered what he knew about it.

“I have gathered you here because I have moved the Sorcerer’s Stone here, and I am looking to you to help me to protect it. As you know, the Sorcerer’s Stone is very powerful, and it would not do to have it fall into the wrong hands.” At this, Dumbledore gave Severus a pointed look.

“I can offer yeh Fluffy,” Hagrid spoke up. “Not many that can get past him.”

He could almost see the wheels turning in Minerva’s head, but she didn’t say anything out loud.

“I would like to have the Stone secured before the start of term.” Dumbledore did not say anything more, but his point was clear.

Once the meeting was adjourned, Severus went right to the dungeons. He thought that the extra precautions that the headmaster was taking were pointless, but as Dumbledore had given him a chance, he would do what he could to help him. Even if he thought that it was unnecessary.

He sorted through his stock of potions, picking up vials and discarding them, then picking up others. He needed something that would be difficult, if not impossible, to solve. Finally, he came up with the perfect idea. He knew that this might be able to delay anyone who was after the Sorcerer’s Stone long enough to be stopped. He doubted that it would ever be needed, but needed or not, it would do the job.