After listening to the echoing sounds of barking, Chloe sighed. "It's no use, Andrew; Timmy could be anywhere by now…"
"Listen!" Andrew held up a hand.
"I don't hear anything," Alexander looked around.
"That doesn't sound good!" Chloe gasped when she heard something rumbling.
Andrew heard the same thing, and he suddenly gasped. "Get down!"
The three ducked just as rocks fell around them. "Chloe! Alex!" Andrew shouted as he emerged.
"I'm okay…I guess," Alexander said as he came out.
"Well, that was fun," Chloe said dryly. "The catacombs must have been abandoned since present-day Jameslandia was founded." She looked around, seeing the path behind them was blocked. "And we can't go this way anymore."
"Do you guys hear that?" Alexander looked ahead.
"It's a chariot," Chloe agreed.
"How could there be a chariot driving around here?" Andrew asked.
"Maybe it's overhead," Chloe suggested.
"Or in another tunnel close by us," Alexander agreed.
"Or right in front of us!" Andrew cried out as they saw a chariot appear in front of them. However, he couldn't see horses.
Andrew, Chloe, and Alexander scrambled on top of the rocks. "There's no way out!" Chloe cried out. "We're trapped!"
Suddenly, the chariot stopped. "We're still alive?" Alexander gasped.
"You're going to wish you weren't," a new voice came from the vehicle.
"Driving a thestral-drawn carriage, no doubt," Chloe mused.
"Nichols!" Andrew shouted. "And it's no wonder Alex and I couldn't see them."
"Oh yeah; you can only see thestrals if you've seen someone die," Alexander recalled something the knights told him and Andrew.
Nichols aimed his wand at the trio. "Well, aren't we well read? All aboard! NOW!"
Meanwhile, back in Jameslandia Castle, Duke Herbert, Evelyn, and Julie were still waiting for another Patronus message from Andrew. "Andrew should have checked in by now," Julie said worriedly.
"What if something happened to them?" Evelyn asked.
"I'm sure they're fine," Duke Herbert assured her, "Andrew can handle anything thrown at him." He paused, then added, "We'll give him another ten minutes. If he doesn't check in after that…"
"What if they're in trouble now?" Evelyn broke in.
"I'll get the guards to track him," Duke Herbert replied.
Back in the catacombs, the chariot had pulled up to where Professor Lestrange was looking at a table with several bottles on it. "I've got them, Professor Lestrange!" Nichols cheered.
Lestrange looked up and gave them a cold smile. "Welcome, gentlemen, and lady," he added, bowing to Chloe. "How did you like your trip?"
"Professor Lestrange," Andrew acknowledged him just as coldly. "I can't say it's nice to see you again."
"Neither can I, Prince Andrew," Lestrange smirked. "Give me the formula."
"What formula?" Andrew asked.
"Don't play games with me!" Lestrange shouted. "I know you have it, and I want it! You did exactly as I thought and fell into my trap. I knew you'd follow that stupid dog, and all I had to do was wait." He turned to Nichols. "Take them to the coach."
"Yes, sir," Nichols nodded, and prodded Alexander, Chloe, and Andrew forward.
"You have ten minutes to tell me where the formula is, or you'll wish you'd never found that stupid dog!" Lestrange said as they walked past.
'You think I don't regret finding him? I'm worried like crazy about him, but I have this thing about dogs!' Andrew thought, but he didn't dare say anything out loud.
"Hey! Watch it!" Alexander cut into his thoughts as he, Chloe, and Andrew were pushed into the empty coach and the doors were locked.
"How much do you want to bet that the brakes don't work?" Chloe asked.
"Or that the trap doors are sealed shut," Alexander agreed, finding a trapdoor in the floor of the coach.
"It's not looking good either way," Andrew murmured.
"Andrew! Over here!" Alexander motioned him over to a blanket in the corner that was covering something large, which moved feebly.
Andrew uncovered it, and Elisa Millezar slowly looked up. "Ms. Millezar?" he asked.
"Please…get out…I've told you all I know," she murmured.
"It's okay," Andrew said softly, "We're here to help you. I'm Andrew Harmon."
"You can get me out of here, Your Highness?" Elisa asked hopefully.
"There's a little problem with that," Andrew admitted.
"We're trapped here too," Alexander added as he and Chloe came up.
"Professor Lestrange wants to invade Jameslandia Castle. He's bent on using the strength potion I've invented. However, I hid it," Elisa explained.
"We know," Andrew nodded, recalling the paper in Timmy's collar.
"He plans to kidnap several people in Ambertown and use the potion on them to make his own personal army to overthrow King Wallace. He's going to use another potion to weaken the castle defenses." Elisa went on.
"It's okay, Ms. Millezar, you can just rest," Andrew said as he draped a blanket over her. "We've got to get out of here."
"How do you plan to do that?" Alexander asked.
"Like this," Andrew said as he found the belt from Chloe, and felt the ring on his finger. He aimed the ring in front of the guards, and made a fist.
"He escaped!" a guard yelled, seeing the hologram of Andrew. They charged the figure, only to fall through it.
"Now to release the brake," Andrew aimed the belt buckle at the brake, while at the same time Chloe released the horses.
"We're moving!" Alexander cried.
"We're breaking out of here!" Andrew shouted as the chariot crashed through the wall.
When the chariot stopped, Andrew yelled, "Let's go!" He, Alexander, Chloe, and Elisa escaped the wreck.
"He's getting away!" Lestrange shouted.
"Stay where you are!" another voice rang out.
"The Jameslandia guards!" Lestrange yelled. He saw Andrew and his friends sprint past. "Get them!"
"This way!" Andrew shouted at the same time as he, Chloe, Alexander, and Elisa made it to the hole.
"I see light up ahead!" Alexander called.
"Stop right there!" Lestrange shouted, holding up a jar of liquid. "I was going to use this potion to destroy Jameslandia Castle…but that plan's no good now. Still, I don't want to waste a perfectly good potion. And this one can weaken anyone it comes in contact with!"
"What good could hurting us possibly do?" Elisa asked.
"At least I'll finally be rid of Prince Andrew," Lestrange smirked. "You've ruined my plans for the last time!"
Suddenly, they heard growling and barking as Timmy came up behind Lestrange and pounced. Lestrange let out a yell and dropped the jar. "NO!" he shouted, watching as the potion disappeared.
"Nice job, Timmy! Good boy!" Andrew cheered.
Hearing his friend's voice, Timmy turned and jumped on him.
"Xavier! Stop!" Elisa cried out.
In the middle of the excitement, Nichols and Lestrange ran into the catacombs and made their escape.
"Timmy, stop! Stop!" Andrew was laughing under the dog just as another voice called out.
"Mom! Xavier!" Amanda ran up to them and watched the guards lead some of Lestrange's men away. "You're safe!"
"Amanda!" Elisa smiled as she hugged her and Andrew sat up. "Sweetheart, I was so worried!"
"It's okay, Mom," Amanda smiled. Timmy barked at her side, and Amanda scratched him on the head. "Good boy, Xavier!"
A short time later, a chariot pulled up to Jameslandia Castle, where Duke Herbert, Julie, and Evelyn were waiting for them.
"So you were following us the whole time?" Andrew asked as he helped everyone out.
"I'm really an apprentice to the guards, as well as my mother's assistant in potion making," Amanda explained. "I was searching for her when I saw Xavier with you. I knew you'd lead me to her. As soon as you entered the catacombs, I summoned backup with my own Patronus." Amanda smiled as she produced a silver rabbit.
"Okay, but how did you manage to find us?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah!" Alexander agreed. "Those tunnels went on forever!"
"Xavier was responsible for that," Amanda smiled.
"So it's Xavier, huh?" Andrew asked, kneeling next to the dog and scratching his head. He reached into his pocket. "I've got something for you!"
Julie grinned as her brother fastened the collar around Xavier's neck. "I knew it all along! Andrew loves that animal!"
"Well…maybe…" Andrew admitted.
Xavier didn't let him finish, because he jumped on him
"Hey!" Andrew yelped as the dog licked him again. He couldn't help laughing as he sat up. "I guess…even I know when I've been licked!"
Author's Notes
Thestrals are courtesy of Harry Potter
Chloe does come up with some neat things!
Timmy's real name is Xavier.
Well, now we know how Amanda fits into all this! And Clover kind of got in on the action too, as a Patronus.
One chapter to go!
