Underground Chambers

The Philosopher's Stone Chambers were a series of chambers underneath Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that contained the Philosopher's Stone. Several chambers led to the hiding place of the Stone, and each one had an obstacle designed to defend the Stone from being stolen. The only known accessway was from a trapdoor in the Third Floor Corridor, which was guarded by the three-headed dog, Fluffy.

After going through the trapdoor, a long drop led to a chamber filled with Devil's Snare, planted by the Herbology teacher, Professor Sprout. The Devil's Snare was designed to ensnare and tangle up any intruders, and only a spell that produced light could free an intruder from its grasp.

A downward sloping passage led to another chamber filled with flying keys, charmed by Professor Flitwick. A large wooden door led to another chamber, and only the correct key would open the door. To pass, one must use a broomstick to catch the correct key. However, once airborne, the other keys will try and attack the pursuer.

The next chamber contained a Giant Wizard's Chess set, enchanted by Professor McGonagall. To defeat the game, one had to play themselves across the board to checkmate the King according to the rules of Chess.

The next chamber contained a Mountain Troll that needed to be defeated in order to pass. Professor Quirrell provided the Troll to guard the Stone, since he had an affinity with them.

The next obstacle guarding the Stone was a riddle that one had to solve in order to progress, set by Severus Snape. Upon entering the chamber, the doorway through which one entered is blocked by a purple flame. The only other exit, the one leading to the Philosopher's Stone, is blocked with a black flame. A table with seven bottle of differing shapes sat in the middle of the room.

Each bottle contained a liquid, but the bottles were not labelled with their contents. Three were poison, two contained wine, one contained a potion to safely traverse the black flame, and the last contained a potion that allowed passage back through the purple flames. The riddle, when properly worked out, revealed the contents of each bottle, and which one was safe to drink to allow onward progress.

"Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind," "Two of us will help you, whichever you would find," "One among us seven will let you move ahead," "Another will transport the drinker back instead," "Two among our number hold only nettle wine," "Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line." "Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore," "To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:" "First, however slyly the poison tries to hide" "You will always find some on nettle wines left side;" "Second, different are those who stand at either end," "But if you would move onwards neither is your friend;" "Third, as you see clearly, all are different size," "Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;" "Fourth, the second left and the second on the right" "Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight."

- Riddle for the Potions obstacle

The potion contained in the smallest bottle allowed a person to traverse the black flame and carry on into the chamber containing the Philosopher's Stone.

The final chamber contained the Mirror of Erised, and the Philosopher's Stone. Arranged by Albus Dumbledore, the Stone could only be obtained by one who wanted to find the Stone, but not use it. In 1992, Lord Voldemort was unable to recover the Stone, but Harry Potter was able to. A brief struggle ensued, which led to the death of Professor Quirrell, and, by extension, the destruction of the Philosopher's Stone.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)