This chapter is rather surreal, as the next one will be too as they deal with only one very odd storyline. That's what happens when you combine a lack of plots with an abundance of chocolate.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of JK Rowling's characters, or the Perseus and Andromeda of Greek mythology. I do, however, own Andromeda Green and the story of the pendant and chain, as I made them up.
It was very early morning. Andromeda and Harry sat by the lake in the cool sunlight, gazing across the surface at the fascinating amber ripples passing across its surface. Andromeda leaned against Harry's shoulder and he looked into her eyes, those eyes like the night with their constellations of silvery stars. Suddenly she was gone, and he was left clutching a silver chain. On the end of the chain hung a droplet-shaped deep blue pendant dotted with bright white specks. He lifted it so that it glinted in the light. A few of the tiny stars flew from the contained galaxy and stopped against the unnaturally blue sky, spelling Andromeda's name.
Harry woke with a start and knew that he must get the chain and pendant for Andromeda. But where to start? Andromeda was a galaxy, he knew that much. So he must find out all he could about it.
It was two minutes past seven and he left the common room, his hair still tousled and his glasses slightly askew. Harry headed for the library, where Madam Pince was setting things up. She eyd him suspiciously but he ignored her and headed straight for the Astronomy section.
He perused stacks and stacks of books, finding many references to the galaxy that bore Andromeda's name but never a mention of a perfect, incredible chain and pendant. Then, finally, when it was close to lunchtime and many of the small tables were occupied by busy students, he came across a paragraph that told him what he wanted to know.
The galaxy Andromeda was thought my ancient wizards to share its power with an earthly object, namely a silver chain and pendant. This item of jewellery was created by the Ancient Greek hero Perseus who loved Andromeda, and given to her as a gift. But the pendant was lost and the chain set forever in a block of stone, believed to dwell now beneath the lake at Hogwarts School. The pendant itself was made from blue onyx, the rarest type of precious stone, and flecked with crystal. It is thought to only be visible to one who is willing to seek out the chain and give it to someone who is worthy of his love.
Harry looked up, panic beginning to set in. He had to have this for Andromeda, and he knew that if he was to find the chain, the pendant would make itself available to him – but how to get to it? He only had two days. Hurriedly copying down the relevant passage into a notebook, Harry headed to the Gryffindor common room. Ron was there, but there was no sign of Hermione. He rushed over to his friend.
'Ron, I need your help,' said Harry in a hushed voice.
'Harry, what's wrong?' Ron looked concerned. 'Where have you been all morning?'
Rather than reply, Harry produced the notebook, opened it at the right page and gave it to Ron to read. Ron's eyes widened. 'Don't tell me you're going to try and find this,' he said flatly.
'Don't you think I can?'
'I'm sure you could. I can just see you getting yourself killed trying to find it.'
'I'll be all right,' said Harry stubbornly. 'But you won't tell An, will you?'
'Of course I won't. But how do you plan to get to the bottom of the lake?'
'I've done it before.'
'Oh, no!'
But there was no point trying to argue. Harry had only needed Ron's aid in getting Gillyweed to help them, but Ron insisted on joining him beneath the water as well. 'We should find Hermione,' Ron said suddenly. 'She'll want to be included, and besides, she's bound to think of something we don't.'
Hermione was to be found outside the Slytherin common room, chatting to Andromeda and Helena. 'Hermione, can I talk to you?' Ron demanded, levering her away by her arm. Harry stayed out of sight. He didn't want Andromeda to know they were up to something. Hermione allowed herself to be led away while Helena whooped behind her.
'What do you want, Ron?' Hermione asked, slightly annoyed. 'Oh, hello, Harry.'
'Harry's going to go under the lake to find an ancient locket for Andromeda and I'm going with him. Want to come?'
Hermione frowned. 'Oh yes, that sounds like a fun day out.'
'Come on, Hermione, we didn't want to leave you out.'
'Oh, all right then. But you'll need a lot of equipment – we don't want you getting drowned. And I'll need to read up on this before we go down there. It's no use jumping into these things head first, you know.' And she marched off ahead of them as Ron winked at Harry.
They decided to go under the lake the next day, which would be Sunday. Hermione was going to get the Gillyweed out of Snape's stores. Ron was about to suggest that he and Harry could create a diversion for the Potions master when he remembered and fell silent. It wouldn't be difficult to get to the store cupboard. No one was guarding it now.
Hermione joined them with bundles of the rubbery green plant before ten o'clock on Sunday morning. 'You only had about a handful last year, Harry, didn't you?' she asked, and on his nod she went on, 'So about this much each should give us two or three hours.' She handed an enormous amount of Gillyweed to the others before separating out her own portion. 'Now, what are we waiting for?'
They made their way down to the lake after changing into bathing things and putting their robes back over them. Though the weather was still warm, the lake was consistently freezing. Harry wasn't looking forward to stripping off and diving in.
Standing on the edge apprehensively, Hermione eyed the water and said, 'I've read about this, you two. According to the Greek legend the stone that the chain was hidden in is roughly heart-shaped and about the size of a man's head. You can tell if it's the right one because a tiny glint of the chain can be seen sticking out. There are a lot of rocks in the lake, but from what I can figure out this should be somewhere relatively light and pleasant – it is a symbol of love, after all.'
'How are we going to find our way around?' Ron asked doubtfully.
'I know it a bit,' said Harry with equal quandary, but Hermione was looking confident again.
'You can follow me,' she said. 'Harry, if you know where to look then by all means go that way, but make sure we can see you. We don't want to get separated. Otherwise, just come after me. I'm OK at navigating on land – why not underwater too?'
On the count of three they stuffed handfuls of Gillyweed into their mouths and chewed with difficulty. Finally it all went down, and they stepped one by one into the water, having pulled off their robes and placed them on the bank. It was just like what had happened to Harry during the Triwizard tournament – they stood there for a few moments, feeling silly. Eventually all three felt the sharp pains on either side of their necks, and dived beneath the water.
Ron and Hermione were looking around with a mixture of worry and awe, but Harry felt slightly more at home. He did a couple of somersaults, propelled by the water, which was surprisingly deep after the steep slope of the bank. Then they were off.
The waters of the lake housed all manner of strange creatures. There were the Grindylows, a pack of which attempted to waylay Harry, Ron and Hermione. There were the merpeople, which glared at them but let them pass without interruption. But there were other things as well – enormous jellyfish like transparent balloons which could have engulfed one of the friends with a single flick of its tentacles; flat speckled fish which folded in two and blinked as they glided past; miniature people, water sprites, which pointed and cackled at Harry and his friends. They were the most unnerving; it was as though they believed the three friends to be doomed.
Eventually they entered a wide, warm pool of light. It was a lovely place, and Harry was sorry he hadn't encountered it before. The water was so deep the surface could not be discerned, but the floor was clearly visible – yellow sand decorated with hundreds upon hundreds of rocks and pebbles. There were massive boulders, shaped roughly into seats, and at their feet sat carpets of brightly coloured tiny stones like marbles, worn shiny by the water. Colourful fish swam about, too, coming close to Harry, Ron and Hermione and winking inquisitively before swimming off in glittering shoals.
'This is lovely,' said Hermione, and her voice was audible if bubbly. 'I could just live here, couldn't you?' She reclined happily on a long stone bench. But then, as if remembering her task, she rose slowly, moving sideways and beginning to examine rocks that looked the right size. The boys did the same.
Harry was dismayed. There were so many; and even though only a third or a quarter were anywhere near the right size, there were still a lot of rocks to be checked. He sat lightly on the lake bed and began to pick up stones.
After an hour, Harry was in despair. Ron, beside him, had stopped placing the unsuitable rocks neatly in a pile and begun tossing them over his shoulder, where they dropped slowly to the sandy floor. Even Hermione was looking frustrated.
Suddenly Harry thought he saw a glint of silver. He scrabbled through the stones on the ground, moving his head to catch sight of the glitter again; and then he saw it. Protruding from an oval rock, which he could see now had a cleft in the top, like a heart shape, was a single chain link. Filled with glee and relief, he lifted it above his head and spun around.
All at once, he felt the familiar sting at the side of his neck again. Dropping the rock and grabbing his throat, he looked, panicked, at his friends; Hermione swam speedily over and grabbed him around the waist. 'We've got to get out, Ron… get that rock…' He gasped for air, but found only water. He knew no more.