Chapter Twenty-One – Crests of Danger

The entrance to the chamber belonging to Voldemort and his Death Eaters seemed like something out of an Indiana Jones movie: it was out in the desert dunes, sand blowing around so violently, that at times it began to bruise the skin. Blazing sun caused Ron's freckles to burst of out of his skin, Draco's fair skin burned harshly. Hermione's eyes were hurting so badly from the sandstorms, that she had buried her head into Ron's shoulder, keeping her eyes safe.

Draco had taken them there with Floo Powder. They traveled from the Gryffindor's fireplace to an old, abandoned house, which was located in the middle of the desert. Draco had informed Ron and Hermione that the building had been placed there over forty years ago, when Voldemort found the cavern to use as his hideaway. When Ron asked why they had built it so far away, Draco answered that it was to fool any Aurors: they would naturally expect that they cave would be near the house, not some twenty miles away. Ron commented on how idiotic and inconvenient this seemed, when Draco replied, "Well? Ministry hasn't caught him, have they?"

Hermione asked where exactly where they were. It was impossible to be somewhere in Europe: they had no such deserts. Draco told her that he wasn't quite sure himself. He had asked his father, but he never answered in detail. All he knew, was that they were somewhere in Africa.

A sidewinder suddenly crept up behind the trio, and Hermione let out a shriek.

"Oh, quiet," Draco growled, changing coarse to follow the snake. "He's going to show us the way in. The entrance is always a challenge to find: Voldemort has trained this snake to lead us to it."

Ron put an arm around Hermione, trying to get her to calm down a bit. "How does it know if you're a Death Eater or not?"

Draco blinked at him. "Who else would be out here?"

They continued following the sidewinder, until suddenly, it stopped. There was nothing in front of them: no cave entrance, no building of any kind.

"Malfoy, what—" began Ron, but he was cut off when he watched Draco bend down, and begin digging away at the sand. Ron opened his mouth again, but stopped short when he saw a door in the ground. The door was like a hatch: much like the one he, Hermione, and Harry had come across in their first year which had been guarded by Fluffy, the three-headed dog. But, in this door, there was a skull with a snake through it, carved elegantly into the thick wood. The Dark Mark.

Draco lifted the latch, and the door was released, allowing them to enter. Steep, twisting stairs led the way down to the earth beneath them—to the cavern where Voldemort was. He lifted his head, and smiled at Hermione. "Ladies first."

"Oh no," Ron said, glaring down at Malfoy. "You go first. We'll follow."

Draco shrugged, and began to step down the stone steps carefully. He frowned deeply, wanting a railing to hang on to. He never did like the stairwell that much.

He got off the last step, after accelerating a bit near the end. He yelled up, "Come on down!" to Ron and Hermione, and waited coolly by another door for them to join him.

As soon as they did, he gave his orders.

"Now, you two listen here, this isn't going to be a picnic. There is a...situation you'll have to get through first, before actually entering the chamber. Just listen to my instructions, and you'll survive this."

"Survive this? Situation? You never mentioned this, Malfoy," Ron spat, crossing his arms. "What kind of 'situation' are we going to have to beat?"

Draco glared back. "One that only I can get you through. If you don't listen, you won't make it. Got it Weasley?"

A push on the door opened it, and a great corridor was presented in front of them. Draco whispered, "Lumos!" and the torches lit up magically, sending an eerie green light throughout the hall. Markings of an old, ancient language covered the walls. Draco informed Hermione and Ron that the language was Sanskrit, contrary to Hermione's idea of it being the Egyptian language of hieroglyphics.

After a few minutes walk, they came to the middle of the hall, where a large crest was carved into the floor. Holes were driven into the ground, and walls. Ron asked what the holes were for.

"The situation. You have to get across the crest."

A snort came from Ron, and Hermione asked, "What's the catch?"

"During your crossing, spears will be flying in at you from all directions. Stay low, be fast. That's the only advice I can give you." He smiled at them. "I'll go first, shall I?"

Hermione nodded uncomfortably, and Ron did the same.

Draco backed away a few paces, and then bolted forwards, running at an amazing speed. He suddenly ducked: a spear flew right where his head had been a split second before. He rolled onto his back and stood again: he just missed some spears coming from the holes in the ground.

Hermione squealed, and covered her eyes, too frightened to watch Draco cross safely. He waved to them from the over side, and cried, "Come on, Ron! Let's see what you got!"

Grinding his teeth, Ron backed up just like Draco had before starting across the crest. He noticed Hermione biting her teeth with worry and smiled at her. "Don't worry, Herm. Just a bit of running." She smiled back, though weakly, and he took off, running with all his might.

Jump! A spear came from below. Duck! A spear from above. Wham! A sudden pain in the left side of Ron's upper chest caused him to trip, and fall to the ground.

He saw Malfoy run over to him, and felt himself being dragged across a spear-less floor. He looked up to see Draco inspecting his wound, but blacked out before he could see the damage that had been done.