Hogwarts a History – Mazes and Monsters
Chapter 01 – Three heads again
…
"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable."
"Yes Hermione."
"I mean what a drama queen, can you believe?"
"Yes Hermione."
"He fell off, fell off the stupid horse. The way he acted you'd think he was the one that got stabbed."
For their first dungeon dive, the three Gryffindor's had been doing remarkably well till the chessboard, all things considered.
"Honestly!"
Having dragged Ron off the board where he would presumably be safe, the now dynamic duo, that being Harry and Hermione not Batman and Robin (although, with the right costumes) … (ehem, sorry).
Harry and Hermione had pressed on determined to stop Snape from stealing the Philosophers stone.
Harry hoped they were getting close. They'd been walking down the same hall for almost five minutes. Just how much space could the whole labyrinth of traps be taking up?
Must be magic, he thought. There really was no other explanation. Which then led him to wonder how many more rooms they'd have to go through.
*Grrrooooommmm*
"Harry! Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
Nervously, they stopped and listened, straining to hear over the frantic thrum of their own beating hearts. It came again, a low distant rumble, like far off thunder or Ron in the next bed snoring.
*Grrrooooommmm*
"What is that?" Hermione whispered.
Something big, Harry thought, "One way to find out."
Slowly they crept forward, struggling desperately to find their inner ninja. The rumbling grew louder with each step, then a glow appeared at the end of the hall.
The darkened corridor gave way to a torch lit room, and the two nearly gasped at what they found in it.
"Harry, that's a chimera."
Another legendary three headed beast. The body was all lion and a big one at that. Snuggled into its rich thick mane was a white goats head with long curved horns and at the tail a glittering black snake.
The two forward heads were settled comfortably snoozing away. The snake however hung over the body, bobbing gently.
Its eyes were not closed, Harry noticed. He wondered if the key hanging around its neck might have something to do with it.
"Let's go around it" Hermione said tugging him forward.
Harry followed his bushy-haired friend, but he found himself looking back at the chimera. He couldn't help it, it was just so cool. Great and terrifying sure, but so cool.
The room wasn't large, so they hadn't far to go before reaching the far door. Predictably, it was locked.
"Where's the key?"
Harry knew, but he wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying. He was still staring at the chimera. The snake specifically, who had watched them circumvent the room and was now staring right back at Harry.
While Hermione fiddled in vain with the lock, Harry quietly made his way toward the chimera. The snake watched him approach, swaying gently back and forth.
He froze mid-step when the goat head snorted a small gout of flame against the lion head. The lion gave a small snarl, flexing its claws. Harry gulped, his life flashing before his eyes.
Is that where I left it?
The chimera gave a great sigh, smacked its lips, then resumed its deep rhythmic snoring.
Harry, after making a quick mental note to get the thing from where he'd left it, took a moment to stop his heart from beating out his chest. He must have been crazy going near that thing.
But there he was, and there it was staring at him, one head anyway.
"I see you" the snake head hissed.
Being the least shocking thing to happen to him all night, he replied, "I see you too."
The snake looked back in interest, bobbing and swaying and examining him from every conceivable angle.
"No, I see you" it hissed back.
"Yeah, I see you too" Harry hissed back.
The two stared at each other, leaning in till they were almost nose to nose.
Suddenly, the snake struck, "Boop" right on his nose.
Harry blinked in shock then, realizing what had just happened, gave a childish scowl.
The snake replied with a hissing laugh, "Smarty snake" said Harry.
This only seemed to amuse the snake further as it bobbed mirthfully, giving its little hissing laugh. It's bobbing caused the key to sway and shake.
"Is that very heavy?" he asked.
"Dreadfully" said the snake, "the old man was supposed to put it on the lion, but he put it on me instead. I bit him."
"Would you like me to take it off?"
"Would you really? I'd be ever so grateful" the snake hissed.
"Are you going to bite me?"
"…nooooo."
Cautiously, Harry reached for the key, lifting the heavy piece of metal and its chain off the snake's neck. It gave an appreciative hiss, followed by a jaw distending yawn.
Feeling brave Harry stroked the snake gently as he quietly cooed, "Nighty night."
"Nighty night" the snake hissed drowsily as it once again began to bob and sway over the lion's back.
Harry slowly backed away, nearly yelping when he ran into Hermione.
"Harry, what were you…"
"I got it" he said, holding up the key.
"Oh!"
Without another word the two were through the door and on to their next challenge.
…
Once the two children had left, the snake glanced back at the closed door, "That was interesting."
The lion gave a yawning roar, "Thought they'd never leave" it said.
"Think they'll catch up to that guy with the stupid turban?" asked the goat.
"Mm, don't care" said the lion, laying his head down and going back to sleep.
The snake shook its head in disgust, "King of the jungle folks. Tremble in fear."
"Rar" said the lion.