I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANYTHING AFFILIATED WITH IT. I ONLY OWN DEVYN AND HER PARENTS.

Chapter 25

"This way," Harry said. He lead them through the tunnels but Devyn couldn't help but wonder where exactly they were headed, and when they would get there.

She also wondered how big this place actually was.

"What's this?"

Devyn was shaken from her thoughts when she heard Ron's voice and she looked up. Her eyes were met with the sight of what appeared to be an insanely, impossibly long snake skin. The thing that shed it must have been...at least 60 feet long.

That was a big serpent, all right.

"It looks like a...snake," Lockhart said. Harry walked up to it and ran his hand over it. Devyn just stared at it and then moved back to stand with Neville. Although she wasn't afraid of snakes, she didn't like being near that thing - even if it wasn't the actual Basilisk.

"It's a snakeskin," Harry corrected him.

"Bloody hell," Ron said. "Whatever shed this must be sixty feet long...or more!"

Evidently, the thought of a 60 foot plus snake was too much for Lockhart, because he collapsed onto the skeletal ground. Devyn rolled her eyes and they all looked down at him.

"Heart of a lion, this one," Ron commented. Devyn noticed something though. His eyes were moving around. He wasn't unconscious. He was faking.

"Ron, get away from him!" Devyn exclaimed, but she was too late. Lockhart had already jumped back up, having stolen Ron's wand.

This, at least, held some comfort - he clearly didn't realize that Ron's wand was broken, and therefore any spells he tried to fire at them probably wouldn't work properly. They would most likely backfire completely.

"The adventure ends here, kids. But don't fret," Lockhart said, pointing the wand at all of them. Devyn walked over in front of him and he said, "Try it, missy. Go ahead, I'll curse you before you even -"

"Before I even what, Lockhart?" Devyn snapped. "Attack you? I'd have your arm ripped off before you can even utter the first syllable."

"Really? Why don't we test that theory?" Lockhart threatened. Devyn raised her eyebrows coolly and Lockhart faltered for a moment. "Go...stand next to your friends. I don't want you anywhere near me."

Devyn rolled her eyes but she and Neville walked over to Harry and Ron, nonetheless.

"Now, don't you worry. The world will know our story. How I was too late to save the girl," Lockhart said. Devyn never hated him more than she did just then. He didn't deserve to mention Ginny, or even think about her.

"How you four tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body. So, you first, Mr. Potter, Ms. Murphy. Say goodbye to your memories."

Lockhart was clearly trying to frighten her just as much as she frightened him, but it wasn't going to work. He wasn't scary at all - merely really annoying.

"Obliviate!" Lockhart shouted.

Two seconds later Devyn was dodging rocks and laughing her head off. She had been right; Lockhart's spell backfired and sent him rocketing into the tunnel ceiling. She couldn't breathe for laughing so hard, but then found herself trying to avoid being squashed by the falling rocks. Harry pulled her out of the way just as the rocks cascaded into a solid wall, dividing her and Harry from Neville, Ron, and Lockhart.

"Harry! Harry!" Ron called out. "Devyn!"

"Ron, are you okay?" Harry shouted through the wall.

"I'm fine," Ron replied.

"Neville?! Neville, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Are you okay?" Neville's voice sounded, concern lacing it.

"Yeah, all good."

She heard Neville sigh a breath of relief, which was slightly interrupted by Lockhart groaning and saying, "Hello. Who are you?"

Devyn quirked an eyebrow at the sound of this, just as Ron said, "Um...Ron Weasley."

"Neville Longbottom," Neville said to him.

"Really?" Lockhart replied. "And, uh, who...who am I?"

Devyn rolled her eyes and said to herself, "You've got to be kidding me."

"Lockhart's memory charm backfired!" Ron shouted through the stone barrier. "He hasn't got a clue who he is!"

Devyn snorted and shook her head.

"Poetic justice at its finest, that," Devyn said to Harry. He nodded and then Lockhart said, "It's an odd sort of place this, isn't it? Do you live here?"

"No," Ron said. Devyn peered through a small hole in the wall and watched Ron wallop Lockhart over the head with a small stone, knocking him out again.

"Ha! Thank you, Ron. I've been hoping someone would do that!" Devyn exclaimed. Ron smiled at her and Neville rushed over to the miniscule opening.

"What'll I do now?" Ron asked out loud.

"You really are okay?" Neville asked her. Just being able to see Neville's face gave her an enormous sense of relief.

"Yeah, I'm fine. And you're okay?" Devyn replied. Neville nodded and said, "So what do we do now?"

"You two wait here and try and shift some of this rock so we can get back through. Devyn and I will go on and find Ginny."

"Okay..." Ron said.

"We'll bring her back, Ron," Devyn told him. Ron nodded and Neville looked at her meaningfully.

"Do I need to tell you to be careful?" Neville said. She shook her head in reply.

"Well, I'm gonna do it anyway; please, be careful. Please, Devyn."

"I will, Neville. I promise."

As she and Harry walked off, her ears picked up something.

It was very faint, but Devyn heard it clearly.

She smiled to herself when she heard it, but didn't stop walking. Neville said very, very carefully:

"Come back to me, Devyn."

I will, Neville. I'll always come back.