Ron didn't like leaving Neville behind. His stiff body was unnerving to say the least. And they were friends. He hoped they still would be after leaving him on the floor though. But the three continued on, like one of his dad's missions. Only, far less prepared and no arrows. Just magic.
Harry had led the two through the castle towards the third floor corridor passing Ms. Norris who they quickly passed, not wanting to get caught. They had climbed a set of stairs near the corridor when a familiar spectoral individual appeared before them. His well known cheshire grin glowing softly in the dark castle as he loosened rugs for people to trip on.
Despite the invisibility cloak, it seemed they were still noticed. Ron held his breath as Peeves looked through them. Hermione just about choked herself, her hand instinctively grabbing the the invisibility cloak with an iron grip.
"Now who could be here?" Peeves asked in a sickeningly sweet and mocking tone, "I can't see you. But I know you're there. A wee ghostie? A sad Ghoulie? Maybe a little student beastie?"
There was an odd sense of delight at the last notion. His black eyes seeming to recall something for a moment before refocusing on the hall they were hiding in.
"You know, maybe I should call Filch! Dangerous things shouldn't be wandering the halls at all hours after all. It would be the right thing to do," he sang. It was then Harry had a brilliant idea.
"Peeves," he hissed out in a scratchy voice. It sounded similar to the Bloody Baron. Even Peeves thought so if his worried face was any indication, "The Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."
It was amazing how he seemed to fall just by the possibility of the presence of the Bloody Baron. Harry had wasted no time in making sure he would leave them alone for the night, the poltergiest for once complying and flying off without issue.
"Nice one Harry."
"I'm surprised that worked as well as it did," Hermione said with enthusiastic joy as she loosened her grip on the cloak.
"Thanks guys," he said in earnest.
Harry then led them to the door, Ron whipped his head around to see if anyone was approaching. Thankfully, with Peeves gone and Ms. Norris patrolling another part of the castle, it seemed rather... dead. Well, that was a bit more morbid than he liked.
"Alhomora," Hermione casted quietly into the door. The door unlocked easily making Ron the slightest bit concerned that Harry was more right than he thought he was. If Hermione could so easily unlock the door leading to a powerful relic that could possibly grant immortality, wasn't the world kind of in trouble?
He saw Harry reach into his pocket and pull out some crude wooden object.
"Harry? What is that?" Ron asked rather confused.
"A flute. The one Hagrid gave me for Christmas."
Honestly Ron had no recollection of such an item but for all he knew Harry could have recieved Disney World for his Christmas and he probably wouldn't have remembered given how chaotic it had been that day.
"Alright then."
"I don't think any of us will really want to sing," he said as a growl of a large beast could be heard. Well, it sounded like more than one. Quickly, Harry put the flute to his lips and played just a few simple notes. It wasn't a song really, and it wasn't something Ron would listen too over and over again, but it seemed to do the trick as the growling seemed to vanish entirely, only to be replaced by deep breathing. Harry slipped in first, followed by Hermione, both of whom had already seen the beast. Ron followed after, holding the invisibility cloak in his arms.
"Whoa," he said staring at the largest sleeping dog he had ever seen, "That's a big puppy."
"Ronald," Hermione hissed, "That is most certainly not a puppy."
"All dogs are puppies Mione," he said with a serious tone of voice.
Harry loudly tapped his foot on the ground to get their attention. Ron turned his head and saw Harry nudge the Cerberus's foot, indicating that that was the location of the trapdoor. The entrance towards the Philosopher's stone. Ron wasted no time in pushing the foot off to the best of his ability. He did note though, that the fur was really soft and he would so want to pet the Cerberus later. That, and it really did seem to live up the name, Fluffy.
He and Hermione lifted the trap door and saw nothing but darkness.
"So... who'll go first?" Hermione asked warily. Harry tapped his foot again getting their attention. It took them a moment to understand what he was trying to say.
"You want to go first?" Ron asked. Harry bobbed his head. Ron shook his head.
"I'll go first. This'll be like going through the vents again. I know how to land safely. Or at least, safer than you two."
"Ron-"
"It'll be fine Mione. I'll call up once I hit bottom. If you can't hear me... Go get help?"
"Ronald!"
"It's a bad idea Mione. But it's the best bad idea we've got!"
With that, he jumped down the trapdoor before Hermione could say anything more. He heard her yell after him about how he was being an idiot. But he focused on the tunnel, having his legs slightly bent and relaxed to try and avoid breaking anything.
He was more than a little surprised to find he landed, not on hard stone, but something softer. Something springy.
"It's okay you two!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, "The landing is soft!"
Soon, Harry appeared followed by Hermione, all of them landing in a low light location.
"What the-?"
"Amazing, that must've been a mile drop at least!" Hermione said. Ron shrugged his shoulders.
"Not quite, but the first time can be a bit off putting. Felt more like a hundred meters or so."
"And how would you know that?"
"Vents with my dad. There were some wild drops. Had a broken leg once because of one."
"Um guys," Harry broke in. His eyes were wide and he was trying to stand up, only-
"What is that?" Ron yelled, concern ebbing through. His legs were covered in what looked like thick and dark green vines. In fact, so were his and Hermione's legs. Ron began to struggle as recognition sparked in Hermione's eyes.
"Guys, this is Devil's Snare," she said clearly.
"Devil's what?" Ron snapped, a bit distressed.
"Really? We learned about it Herbology."
"So what do you know?" Harry pleaded.
"Um, uh. Devil's Snare likes dark and damp places. And oh! We need to relax."
"Relax? This plant is trying to kill us!" Ron hissed. Hermione remained as still as she could as she explained.
"Devil's Snare acts like a Venus Fly trap. It's movement that lets it know we're here. We'll be dropped if we can relax."
Ron stared at her in disbelief. He screamed when she seemed to disappear into the mass of vines. Tears pricked at his eyes. This couldn't be how they would go.
He looked desperatly over to Harry who seemed to be holding his breath, staying as still as possible before disappearing as well. Ron cried out for his friends, flailing desperatly trying to break loose. To get to where they were and drag them away from the entanglement of vines his mind imagined them being trapped in. He couldn't let them get hurt. He couldn't lose his friends.
The vines tightened around his body, inch by inch he was being wrapped up. From his hands, to his own mouth, he never stopped struggling. He had to make it to them. He just had to.
Suddenly, a bright light seemed to burst between the vines from below. He could feel the vines thrash violently as he was suddenly dropped. His back side landing, not on more vines, but cold stone floors. He took in deep gasping breaths and looked upward to see Harry and Hermione looking over him, a bit worried.
"Are you alright?"
"As I'll ever be. What happened?"
"You paniced. Thankfully Hermione paid attention in Herbology."
"And thank you for reminding me I'm a witch."
Ron looked at the two confused.
"You two are giving me the full story later," he said.
"Can do," Hermione agreed. The three continued down a narrow hall when a strange noise came to their attention.
"Do you guys hear that?" Ron asked.
"I did. It sounds kind of like... wings."
"Come on Bruce. It'll be great. You and me in Europe," Clint began with a smug grin on his face.
"You seem rather excited."
"Why wouldn't I be? It's almost time for Ron to come home," he said with no hidden happiness. Rather than a cocky smirk, he actually had a smile on his face. Much like he did around Christmas with all the gifts, "Him and Hermione will no doubt have a lot of stories to share."
Bruce sipped at his tea, not wanting to really talk. Clint could respect it. He was a quiet man with some rather extreme anger issues. Still, he could only imagine Bruce's own anxiousness awaiting the return of his family member and ward.
And another chapter. I hope you guys noticed and enjoyed the jabs I have made at myself for things like forgetting to mention the flute on Christmas. Whoops!
Anyway, this was so not planned to be ready now. But the floodgates were opened. You can all thank my beta-ish sister Mysticarts for this onslaught. She made me get the last chapter ready and by extention, this one came out violently. It would not leave me alone. I think it was waiting in the shadows. Now isn't that just the slightest bit terrifying. Anyway... just like the last chapter, I do hope you all review and let me know what is on your mind with the holiday rush upon us.
