To save Hagrid from getting in trouble, Ron plans to have his brother Charlie take the dragon into his care in Romania. Harry and Hermione, using the invisibility cloak, struggle to carry Norbert the baby dragon to the top of the tower, where CharlieÂ’s friends will pick him up. At the top of the tower Harry and Hermione successfully make the drop off and enjoy seeing McGonagall catch Malfoy for being out past curfew. But when Harry and Hermione descend to the bottom of the stairs, Filch catches them because they forgot their cloak at the top of the tower.

Harry and Hermione are caught by Filch for roaming around at night (they were getting rid of Norbert the dragon and Ron was in the hospital wing with a dragon bite wound). Malfoy, who had gone out to catch Harry in the act, and Neville, who had gone out to warn Harry, were also caught. As punishment, McGonagall assigned them all detentions and took 150 points from Gryffindor. The Gryffindors are thereafter very angry with Harry for losing them so many points and Harry is shunned by many of his friends, except for Ron and Hermione. The three consider asking Dumbledore to help them stop Snape but they realize they have no proof to back up their accusations.

The night of the detention comes and Filch leads Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Malfoy down to HagridÂ’s cabin. Their detention is to be going with Hagrid and his dog Fang into the woods to track down whatever has been killing the unicorns. The group runs into Bane and Ronan the centaur shortly after hearing some kind of creature stalking around through the bushes. Harry, Malfoy, and Fang come upon the dead unicorn and its killer, and Malfoy and Fang run away. The hooded creature drinking the unicornÂ’s blood is about to attack Harry when Firenze, another centaur, comes and drives it away. Firenze takes Harry to a clearing, where he hints to the boy that Voldemort is behind the unicorn killing and that Voldemort is trying to steal the Stone.

Harry finishes exams but is still worried about the Stone being stolen, especially since his scar has been hurting since his excursion into the Forbidden Forest. Harry suddenly realizes how odd it is that Hagrid chanced upon a stranger in a pub who had a dragon to get rid of. Upon questioning Hagrid, Harry discovers that Hagrid accidentally told the hooded stranger how to get past Fluffy (playing music).

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione find out that Dumbledore has been called off to London and that Mrs. McGonagall will not help them, they realize that only they can stop Snape from stealing the Stone. They wait until nightfall, don the invisibility cloak, and get past Neville, Mrs. Norris, and Peeves on their way to the third-floor corridor that houses Fluffy.

The three get past Fluffy and through the trapdoor by playing the flute Hagrid gave Harry, only to find themselves ensnared on the DevilÂ’s Snare plant they land on. Hermione fends off the darkness-loving plant with a fireball and the three escape into a room full of flying keys. Harry uses his Quidditch skills to catch the key they need to move on, and they arrive in a room that is dominated by a giant chessboard. Ron uses his chess skills and sacrifices himself to win the game and allow Harry and Hermione to move on. Harry and Hermione pass a knocked-out troll to find themselves in a room of fire and potions. Both the exit and entrance to the chamber are blocked by fire, and Hermione solves the logic riddle to discover which potion will allow them to escape. However, there is only enough of the potion for Harry to drink, so Harry drinks it and makes his way through the magical fire and into the final chamber.

Harry walks into the last chamber to find Quirrell examining the Mirror of Erised and trying to use it to find the Stone. Quirrell ties Harry up, answers HarryÂ’s questions about why it seemed Snape was the guilty party, and recounts how he was possessed by Voldemort while traveling the world. Quirrell, frustrated by the Mirror, makes Harry look at his own reflection and tell what he sees. Harry lies and tells Quirrell that he sees himself winning the House Cup, when in reality Harry sees himself finding the Stone and putting it in his pocket. Suddenly, magically, the Stone is in HarryÂ’s pocket. Harry tries to escape, but VoldemortÂ’s voice roots him to the spot.

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