Harry and Ron wake up late Wednesday morning.

Ron says, "Change of plan, I've got an idea."

Harry asks, "What?"

Ron says, "Think small, not big. Trust me."

Ron reaches for the closet door when Harry has a brain wave and says, "Get those robes, we need to wear them."

Harry removes the Death Eater robes from Sunday.

Ron says, "I don't want to put this on. Besides, we're wanted."

Harry says, "We won't stand out with these."

They put these on and exit the broom closet.

* * * Chasity * * *

Harry asks, "Where to?"

Ron whispers, "Dungeon level."

They pass a pair of sleeping Death Eater recruits. Ron snatches their insignia and puts it on.

Harry whispers, "What?"

Ron says, "Blend in, we're now slaves of Nott if I understand these properly."

They blend in fairly nicely as they descend the castle. They hide behind some armor in the Entrance Hall. In comes Hagrid and Nott.

Nott says, "You will wrestle during lunch. Some need the entertainment."

Hagrid does not object. Nott and Hagrid enter the Great Hall. When the doors open, Harry and Ron see some trolls that are chained inside. Harry and Ron descend into the dungeon. Ron drags Harry into Snape's office.

Harry says, "This is not where I want to be."

Ron says, "I know, but we need a potion." Ron rummages into Harry's backpack and removes the The Romantic Wizard.

Harry says, "The girls are captured, that's of no use."

Ron does not reply, instead he thumbs through and lays the book open to Chasity Potions.

Harry says, "We do not know where they are."

Ron says with a grin, "We do know where Draco's girls are."

Harry and Ron steal the supplies from Snape's private stores. They brew this potion hoping that Snape is busy elsewhere.

Harry says, "Besides irritating Draco, I don't see..."

Ron says, "Think small, this will work."

Harry and Ron finish the potion. They do not clean up bur rather make it look like some poison was made. Ron grabs several of Snape's recruit insignia and puts them on.

Harry says, "I do not..."

Ron says, "Who else to claim you?"

They head out and up the stairs for the Gryffindor Tower. It is late in the afternoon when they are able to enter and slip past the guards stationed about the entrance. They carefully head up to the girls' dormitory and enter with their hoods. Their wands are drawn.

One naked girl says, "More sex?"

Ron says, "No. Drink, one mouthful."

Ron gives them the potion.

Another asks, "Why? Who are you?"

To the astonishment of Harry, Ron replies, "Lucius Malfoy. My son, Draco brought you here and it's making him too hot headed. This Chasity Potion will put a stop to his sex craze. Crabbe here has the same opinion for his son, Vincent Crabbe."

Harry and Ron proceed to each of the dormitory, give the potion, and retell a variant of Ron's story. They slip out of Gryffindor Tower. They walk across a recruit alone. Ron stuns the man.

Harry asks, "What are you up to? First claiming something on Lucius' behalf, and now this?"

Ron gives Harry a silencing look. Ron switches the recruit's insignia for Avery for Nott's insignia.

Ron and Harry continue walking along. Ron keeps swiping the insignias where he can. In the evening, they walk across Filch's office with only Peeves in it. They enter and close the door.

Ron says, "Peeves, we can use your skills."

Peeves says, "Potty Potter and the Weasley Weasel."

Ron says, "Whatever, we need you to irritate Avery, but claim to be doing it on the behalf of Lucius Malfoy."

Peeves says, "Will this help rid these intruders?"

Ron says, "Yes, irritate Avery. Make Avery think that Malfoy is after his authority and power."

Peeves says, "Happy to do that!"

Ron says, "Prank away on Avery. It will be more fun than Filch."

Delightfully, Peeves exits Filch's office.

Harry says, "Can you please explain?"

Ron says, "What does a Death Eater value?"

Harry says, "Power and Greed."

Ron says, "Then we threaten those, not their lives. Think small and redirect the blame."

Harry realizes the plan and says, "Good, that may work. The girls?"

Ron says, "Right now, Voldemort sees them of value. Hopefully that gives us time."

They walk along and encounter a pair recruits taking a brief dinner break on the fifth floor. Harry and Ron join them.

One asks, "You are?"

Ron says the first name to come to him, "Seamus Finnigan."

Harry replies, "Oliver Wood."

The other asks, "Are you hungry?"

Harry and Ron grab several of the sandwiches from the platter.

Ron asks, "You are?"

The first one replies, "Ludwig."

The other replies, "Mosley."

Ludwig says, "You know, you could get in trouble for socializing like this."

Harry replies, "Yeah."

Ron says, "It's nothing. Have you heard about the Malfoys?"

Mosley says, "Not too much. We heard about Malfoy Jr's catch from Glascow."

Ron says, "Well, Malfoy Sr is apparently not too happy with Malfoy Jr. Sr is about to use the Imperius Curse on Jr, permanently if possible."

Ludwig says, "We need to get to our lookout positions."

Ludwig and Mosley get up and they head off. Ron and Harry get up and resume walking. They proceed to pass that rumor onto each suitable party they can. Shortly past midnight, Draco Malfoy approaches. Harry and Ron hide behind statues.

Draco complains, "I can't believe father would do that! It's so humiliating to have one's dick do that! The blackened balls are not attractive either!"

Greggory asks, "Are you certain?'

Draco says, "Crucio ... Of course I am! Each girl said something similar. My father gave them a Chasity Potion. I didn't believe the first girl."

Vincent says, "What are you going to do?"

Draco says, "A little visit to father is in order. Humiliation requires him getting what he deserves. Then we need another lot of them."

Vincent says, "We got practice though on the Power Curse."

Draco says, "The girls will provide for a feast for the recruits. I wonder what girl meat tastes like?"

Greggory says, "We now have plenty."

Draco, Greggory, and Vincent walk out of range.

Harry says, "Did they just imply?"

Ron says, "Disgusting, that's for certain."

Harry says, "Our sandwiches?"

Ron says, "Don't even think about it, but probably yes."

Harry doubles over and vomits.

* * * Ghosts and Fights * * *

Harry and Ron continue walking around performing these minor acts. They spread a rumor here and mess with insignias there. This becomes their standard activity along with going days without sleep.

It's nearly dawn on Thursday when they walk past the open but empty office of McGonagall. They enter and close the door. Ron walks to the desk and peruses the stacked papers. He comes across one of interest.

Harry says, "That's just a list of names and their slave assignments."

Ron grins and says, "Yes, for this afternoon. That gives us time to alter this."

Harry says, "I don't get it."

Ron says, "Two rolls. You rewrite one dividing them evenly between Avery and Nott. I'll do the same with the other. Toss in some others Death Eaters, but keep the majority between Avery and Nott."

Meticulously, Harry and Ron rewrite the rosters. When they finish, they place them back to where the original rosters were. They exit the office and leave the door open. They walk up to the second floor and stop. Inside one classroom is a very gloomy Sir Nick. Harry and Ron enter the classroom and close the door.

Sir Nick says, "So, you two have joined them?"

Ron says, "No, but we need to blend in. These robes do that and allow us to move about more freely."

Harry says, "Are we glad to see you. The first friendly face in a while."

Sir Nick says, "Thank you. Still, you two have not expelled the intruders."

Ron says, "We intend to or die trying."

Sir Nick says, "Do not talk to me about death."

Harry says, "Sorry."

Ron asks, "Do you still want to help?"

Sir Nick says, "Of course."

Ron says, "Observe the Death Eater called Wormtail. If Wormtail asks, tell him that Nott is forcing you to observe Wormtail's activities."

Sir Nick asks, "Just observe?"

Ron says, "Yes. Just watch and be careful not to get eradicated."

Harry says, "Please? Make Wormtail think Nott is scrutinizing every move."

Ron asks, "Will you do it?"

Sir Nick says, "Certainly. I hope you two are up to the job at hand."

Ron says gloomily, "So do we."

Harry says, "We are going through with this regardless of the consequences."

Sir Nick wanders off in his ghostly fashion. Ron and Harry cautiously exit the classroom. In the afternoon, Ron pulls Harry into the out-of-order second floor girls bathroom.

Ron asks, "Myrtle? Myrtle?"

Myrtle stands in front of them and asks, "Going to break another U-bend?"

Harry says, "Myrtle, it's us!" Harry walks over and uses his wand to repair her favorite U-bend.

Ron says, "We need your help."

Myrtle asks, "Why should I?"

Harry asks, "Would you like to see Hermione again?"

Myrtle says, "Is she that girl that hangs around you two?"

Ron says, "Yes and she has been captured."

Harry says, "Find Hermione for us. Protect her and tell us where she is. Please?"

Myrtle asks, "Why should I?"

Harry kisses Myrtle on her cheek, as best as he could without falling through. Myrtle blushes.

Harry says, "Another when you return with news. It also gives you something to do."

Myrtle plunges into her toilet with a great splash.

Ron says, "I guess that's a yes."

Thursday evening, they come across a fight between two scantily clad teenage boys. A Nott recruit and an Avery recruit are duking it out in front of a crowd. Harry and Ron hide behind a statue and can only watch.

Avery says, "It's nice to have plenty to spare."

Goyle says, "Because you two altered the damn rosters!"

Nott says, "If you wish to discuss this accusation, I suggest you send one of your recruits forward."

The Nott boy gives the Avery boy a very hard punch with a long knife to the head. The head of the Avery boy splits open a bit. The Avery boy falls backward and some of his brains ooze out.

Nott says, "That settles it. The new Hogwarts will have the name at the top, not the bottom."

Avery says to his recruits, "Carry him to the kitchen."

Nott says, "Glad we don't eat the sandwiches. Bloodshot meat tastes horrible."

Avery says, "These recruits are a bunch of cannibals anyways so they don't care."

Avery and Nott walk off.

Harry and Ron walk in the other direction. Ron notices the distraught look on Harry's face. Ron says, "Come on Harry. The harder we work, the sooner this bloodshed will be put to an end."

Friday morning, Harry and Ron come across a skirmish on the third floor. They hide behind some statues and watch the ensuing argument between Lucius and Draco Malfoy. They are each flanked by the Crabbes, the Goyles, and some of their recruits. Eric Miller is among Lucius's recruits.

Draco shoots off a Killing Curse and hits Eric Miller. Draco demands, "Why did you sabotage the girls?"

Lucius says, "Why do you accuse me? You know that I only act in your best interests."

Draco shouts, "You call blacken balls in my best interest? You love to boss me around."

Lucius shouts, "You are getting very insubordinate, you malcontent!"

Lucius kills one of Draco's recruits. Each one knocks off a recruit before the shouting resumes.

Draco says, "You impotent traitor. If you fuck the maids then I can fuck a flock of girls! You are as much a fool as Potter is."

Lucius says, "Do not insult your father like that."

Draco says, "You are not my father, just a fool. Don't even think of using the Imperius Curse! Unless you want another hour of Crucio!"

Lucius cringes but replies, "Another hour Crucio!"

Draco and Lucius finish off the remaining recruits. Harry and Ron seize their opportunity with their wands drawn. Quickly, they stun each of them leaving the Malfoys, Goyles, and Crabbes laying on the floor.

Harry and Ron walk away. Harry yawns. Ron pulls Harry into a remote broom closet on the fourth floor.

Harry asks, "What?"

Ron yawns and says, "We need sleep. It's been more than two days."

Harry doesn't argue. Instead, they clear out the rear, lay down, and fall to sleep.

* * * (TBD) * * *

Harry and Ron wake up late Friday afternoon to a bunch of footsteps outside the broom closet. They peak out to see Draco parading a bunch of girls past.

Draco says, "Lovely replacements, don't you think?"

Vincent says, "Yes. What about your father?"

Draco says, "Do you think I'd tell him? Crucio!"

Greggory asks, "When can I..."

Draco says, "Tonight while my Father is out on his 'errand'."

Vincent asks, "Why Gryffindor Tower? How about the Slytherins?"

Draco says, "You are slow. Potter has already turned Gryffindor into a brothel so we will leave the good name of Slytherin untouched."

They fade into the distance. Harry and Ron smarten up before exiting. They walk down the staircases to the dungeon level and enter Snape's office. Snape is there.

Snape says, "You two again? In those robes?"

Ron says, "We need another potion."

Snape says, "Will you two ever bother to clean up? You leave a mess and it is rather difficult to explain why a freshly brewed poison is missing."

Harry says, "We'll clean up if we have time."

Ron opens the The Romantic Wizard to the Chasity Potions and starts to work.

Snape says, "let me get this straight. Your answer to retaking Hogwarts is to brew a love potion or something?"

Harry says, "Have you noticed the Malfoys?"

Snape says, "Excuse me, I will not be a party to this."

Harry says, "If you find out where Dumbledore is, let us know."

Snape exits the office.

Harry says, "So which one?"

Ron says, "This castration one."

Harry cringes at the thought, "Oww. That will hurt."

After an hour, they finish the potion and clean up. They walk out and up the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower. They reach the Gryffindor tower and enter. Again, they administer the potion under the name of Lucius Malfoy. They leave Gryffindor Tower and walk along. They find three recruits taking a brief meal break on the sixth floor. Harry and Ron join them.

Ron asks, "Who are you?"

One says, "You know that we're not supposed to socialize. I'm Frederick."

Harry removes some snack things from his backpack.

Another says, "You get real food?"

Ron says, "You're enslaved to?"

Frederick says, "Lucius Malfoy."

Ron says, "Know what I heard? Macnair has captured Potter."

A third says, "What? Why haven't we heard?"

Fredrick whips, "Kohl, they never give us news! You know that."

Ron says, "Macnair isn't disclosing this. I've personally seen Potter near Macnair."

Harry says, "Finnigan, you know better than to talk about that. It could get us killed."

Draco walks up and recognizes Ron and Harry. Draco says, "You!"

Quickly, Harry stuns Draco.

Ron says, "Sorry, we have to." Ron stuns the three recruits.

Harry says, "Why?"

Ron says, "Get the other robes, quick."

Harry and Ron remove the other two robes from their backpacks. They drag Draco near the three and lay down the other two robes. Ron snaps on the insignia of Lucius Malfoy.

Harry says, "That will look bad."

Harry and Ron hide behind some statues as more footsteps approach.

Lucius is saying, "I told Draco to return to our quarters, but he slipped. Undoubtedly, he is after his ill-gotten girls."

Lucius Malfoy, Crabbe Sr, and Goyle Sr round the corner. They see Draco and the recruits.

Lucius exclaims, "I knew it! He lets my recruits get out of control ... He let two slip!"

Lucius quickly grabs Draco and drags him away. Crabbe Sr and Goyle Sr drag the recruits along and out of sight.

Harry and Ron exchange smiles. They walk off and continue their set ups.

Harry and Ron are interrupted Saturday morning when Draco strolls by. Harry and Ron hide around a corner.

Draco is grumbling, "Father did it again!"

Vincent says, "How soon?"

Draco says, "Soon. Good thing I had my recruit test her first, otherwise I would have last my balls. Your first thought Greggory."

Greggory says, "Thanks."

Vincent says, "Why did your father..."

Draco says, "Probably thought it punishment, he has become rather cross. He will pay for it."

They drift out of range.

Harry and Ron resume making their trouble.

* * * Pomfrey * * *

Early Sunday morning, Ron yawns so they use a fifth floor broom closet. They are awaken Sunday afternoon by squabbling outside the closet and nearby. Ron peeks out and shows it's a bit down the hall.

Lucius, Draco, Avery, and allies seem to be in a three way argument. They are using their recruits for armies in close quarter combat armed with small knives and swords. Demeantors are flanked nearby.

Draco is shouting, "You asshole! I hate you!"

Lucius shouts, "Do you think I give a damn?"

The recruits are slaughtering each other. Draco casts some more Imperius Curses and gains control of several more recruits. The demeantors are feeding on the numerous recruits, consuming them right before death.

Vincent Crabbe steals some of his father's recruits. Lucius reclaims some of the recruits. Avery summons in more recruits. Nott, allied with Avery, steals some recruits from Draco. Nott summons in another pair of recruits. One is Frank McMillan who is quickly killed. Blood and other fluids are flowing across the floor, pooling, and cascading down the stairs at the end of the corridor.

This battle continues until Wormtail runs across it. Wormtail is irate and screams, "Bloody hell! Realize how hard it is to keep supplying the recruits? Until the Ministry is captured, conserve your battles! We are still on the look out for Potter!"

Avery says, "I heard that Macnair has Potter."

Lucius says, "I heard that Potter perished trying a rescue."

Wormtail says, "Either way, the corpse of him and his accomplice have not surfaced. Until then, we will assume they are alive and loose. I will speak with Macnair. I shall report this!"

Lucius says, "You wouldn't dare! Telling him that you stopped some cleansing of some Mud-bloods!"

Wormtail says, "Like you wouldn't tell the ghosts to keep an eye on me?"

Lucius says, "Hogwash!"

Avery says, "He's told Peeves to harass me! Unfortunately, the demeantors can't seem to get close."

Wormtail says, "Come or I summon Master!"

That quiets them. Wormtail points and his recruits start removing the corpses littering the corridor. Wormtail, Avery, and the remaining Death Eaters march down another staircase.

Harry starts muttering, "All that blood, all those deaths..."

Ron shakes Harry a bit and says, "Hold yourself together man! Come on."

Harry and Ron smarten up and exit the broom closet. They carefully tip toe across the floor to avoid stepping in the blood. Harry studies the hundred fifty or more dead corpses laying about including many teenage boys and some demeantors.

The one teenage recruit present notices them and says, "You're lucky being under Snape. He's smart enough not to get into these quarrels.

Harry says, "Yeah, Snape is really smart."

Ron says, "So, how long until the Death Eaters kill each other?"

The recruit says, "Don't mention them! If I'm lucky, I'll survive until tomorrow."

Harry and Ron start up the stairs. Harry whispers, "I recognize him from those proposals. He's from Oxford."

Ron says, "Don't start."

Harry goes quiet. They climb the stairs to the sixth floor and resume their trouble making. They make their way around the castle and keep this up until early Tuesday morning. They enter a fourth floor broom closet and sleep.

Sometime later, Ron is awoken by Harry having a more aggressive nightmare. Ron soothes Harry back into a peaceful slumber.

They awake Sunday afternoon to a skirmish outside the closet. Harry and Ron peek out.

This time, Macnair and Travers Jr are having a spat. They let thirty recruits battle it out until only Travers has one recruit standing.

Travers says, "Next time, don't lie to me."

They walk off leaving the corpses just laying there. Harry and Ron smarten up and exit the broom closet.

Harry is looking very mournfully at the dead recruits laying on the floor mingled with a couple of dead demeantors.

Ron says, "I didn't anticipate it being this bloody. Still, it's only a matter of time until they go after each other's necks."

One of the bodies twitches so Harry goes over to inspect. He says, "This one's still alive!"

Ron conjures up a stretcher and they lift the person onto it. They cast their SEPs and head for the Hospital Wing. They dodge the lookouts and enter. Pomfrey is not in the ward. Ron and Harry set the body down on the bed. They enter Pomfrey's office. She is just laying on her bed, nearly comatose. Harry and Ron release their SEPs. Harry shakes Pomfrey.

Harry says, "Madam Pomfrey, we need your help."

She just replies, "Only Wormtail can authorize treatment. You are not Wormtail, I must report."

She sits up and Ron casts an Imperius Curse onto her. It's weak but enough.

Harry says, "You should not have done that."

Ron says, "Lay down." Pomfrey lays down. Ron breaks his curse.

Pomfrey asks, "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, what are you two doing here? You should have evacuated with the students!"

Harry says, "You were under the Imperius Curse from Wormtail. There is a patient in your ward that can be saved."

Ron quickly explains the situation and how dangerous it is. Pomfrey gets up and exits into the ward. Harry and Ron cast their SEPs and exit the Hospital Wing.

Harry and Ron continue making their trouble until around lunch time on Wednesday. They run across and hide from another skirmish on the second floor. This time it is between Wormtail, Avery, and Lucius. They have recruits and demeantors present.

Avery says, "I am sick of you sticking Peeves onto me!"

Wormtail says, "I am sick of Sir Nick watching me under your orders!"

Lucius says, "I am sick of your unfounded accusations. Avery is after your post Wormtail!"

Avery denies, "I am not!"

Wormtail says, "By telling lies about me? Those rumors about me adopting Potter?"

They send in their dozen recruits to be slaughtered but this is not satisfying. They start dueling with regular jinxes and hexes.

Snape walks by and sees Harry and Ron. Snape continues and says, "Stop! I have thieves stealing supplies from my private stores. Where is the security you promised?"

Voldemort enters the hallway and says, "People are stealing from your stores? This is serious Severus."

Snape says, "Yes, nothing serious. Just some poisons and the like."

Voldemort says, "Which one of you would like to explain?"

Wormtail says, "I know nothing. These skirmishes are draining my ability to maintain our defenses."

Avery says, "I know nothing, but these skirmishes are slowing my progress on that high security guest suite for those girls."

Lucius says, "I know nothing."

Voldemort applies the Cruciatus Curse to Wormtail, Avery, and Lucius. Harry grabs his scar.

Voldemort says, "I sense the presence of Potter!"

Harry and Ron make a quick withdrawal into the out-of-order girls bathroom.

Myrtle says, "There you are!"

Harry says, "Hi Myrtle! Any luck?"

Myrtle says, "Maybe."

Ron asks, "Have you seen Hermione?"

Myrtle says, "Yes."

Harry asks, "Where?"

Myrtle says, "Below the normal dungeon level."

Ron asks, "Below?"

Myrtle says, "Never been there before."

Harry asks, "Is she alive?"

Myrtle does not have time to ask because people are approaching the bathroom. Harry and Ron put all of their strength into casting SEPs. They duck behind the door. It opens and in comes Voldemort and Wormtail. Harry and Ron use the opportunity to exit the bathroom.

They climb down to the dungeon level. They wander about the level until they find a new looking staircase. It looks a bit rough in the rock finish. They climb down the many stairs.. They pass an poorly lit opening to their left but the keep on climbing down the stairs. They are sweating heavily from sweltering heat and humidity when they enter a long room bending as it goes along. Some doors are on both sides of this room. People are present and bringing in a bunch of covered tanks. In one tank not covered, they see some turtles. A light chiseling noise is present but out of sight.

Avery comes out of one doorway out of Harry and Ron's sight. A reverberating echo of his footsteps is heard until he meets up with Lucius. The door sounds like it closes.

Lucius asks, "Are you certain this will work?"

Avery replies, "As you can see, this way is well guarded. The one above is a death trap."

Harry and Ron climb the stairs. They reach the small and poorly lit opening, now on their right. They turn in.

* * * The Water * * *

Harry and Ron enter a small tunnel from the stairs and approach an opening with a ledge that is accompanied by a vertical drop off. This small opening is perhaps ten feet wide, but it opens at into a very huge cavern spanning some three hundred yards in diameter to a hundred fifty yards below them. In the middle is a dome spanning some two hundred yards in diameter. Between the dome and the vertical rock wall of the cavern is a blue pool of water. There is a door near the base that is visible and close to the opposite side of the cavern.

Ron says, "Blimey, it's enormous! Suppose we could levitate ourselves down?"

Harry tries to levitate to no luck. He curses, "Bugger!"

Harry gets out his wand and tries to levitate a rock.

Ron says, "This is not good." Ron tries to levitate the rock.

Harry says, "Okay, sparks!" Harry tries but nothing happens.

Ron says, "This is really bad."

Harry replies, "What?"

Ron says, "Anti-magic barrier or something. It's useful for prisons, keeps wizards and witches from using their magic. It requires some powerful Dark Magic to do this. Even Ministry doesn't use them very often."

Harry says, "Well, if we can't use magic, we must climb down."

In utter disbelief, Ron says, "You can't be serious? It's a sheer drop off."

Harry crawls and peers over the edge. He says, "Ron, there is a ledge below us, we can head for that first. Worry about the water after that."

Ron says, "I'm not jumping down there!"

Harry says, "I'm not asking you to."

Harry reaches into his backpack and removes some chocks. He places them into a couple of fissures in the rock.

Ron asks, "Huh? I don't get this."

"We rappel down and climb back up."

"No magic, remember."

"Ron, this is the Muggle technique. Brian.." Harry pauses.

"When did you learn this?"

"The last hike, learned from Brian."

Harry removes the remaining rock climbing gear.

Ron says, "I didn't expect this."

Harry says, "Damn! Don't have those shoes, too late to worry."

"I don't mean to burst your bubble, but I've never done this."

"Now is a good opportunity to pick up the sport. Okay, leave the backpacks here and lighten up."

"Why leave them?"

"Ron, we don't know what shape the girls will be in. These are light but extremely awkward if you're carrying Hermione on your back."

Ron smirks, "Not that I would mind carrying her."

Harry fits Ron up with a harness and the rest. Harry puts his on. They approach the ledge.

Harry says, "Pull tight on the rope, make sure it's secure. Then follow."

They pull and it holds. Harry leans back over the edge and stops about four feet down. Ron is still standing on the ledge.

Ron says, "I dunno about this, it's crazy!"

Harry says, "Would you rather let Voldemort keep Hermione? She'll never doubt your balls after this. Now just walk backward over the edge."

Reluctantly, Ron starts to step backward but he hesitates a bit. He slips and is dangling next to rock several feet below the ledge.

In a higher pitch voice, Ron exclaims, "Blimey! You call this safe?"

Harry says, "Ron, raise your feet flat onto the rock and lean back. Let the rope carry your weight."

Ron does this and says, "I don't like walking backward."

Harry replies, "The other option is face downward and that takes a lot more nerves than I can coach you through right now."

Ron catches up with Harry. They continue to descend. Harry comments, "I see what Brian was talking about with the crotch and the harness."

Ron asks, "Didn't you figure that out last time?"

"No, we were naked so the harness didn't present as much of an issue. Thus you get dangling instead of scrunching."

"I can't believe you'd actually do this dangerous sport."

"It's not dangerous, in fact its quite safe according to the literature."

Ron says, "Funny, I never recall needing to rock climb in Hogwarts before."

"Ron, didn't you realize? This is a new addition courtesy of Voldemort. Interesting what slave labor can accomplish."

"This cavern in a week? I mean, Dumbledore would have picked up on new corridors."

"Well, they could have started on the cavern much earlier and just connected it after they captured Hogwarts. They might have added another entrance."

They reach the bottom ledge next to the water. The ledge is perhaps six feet wide and ten feet long.

Harry looks at the water and remarks, "This radiant blue from the water looks nice. Fancy a dip?"

Harry is about to jump in when Ron grabs him. Ron says, "Wait! This is a prison and that water looks bad."

Harry says, "What do you mean?"

Ron says, "It's likely fatal to swim in."

Harry says, "I don't get it."

Ron says, "Harry, it's standard for high security Wizard prisons. Azkaban is the only one that doesn't need to use them due to its location and the demeantors. This stuff is used where ever you want an escape to result in death."

"We've gotten this far."

"This water is dangerous, but with a boat, it can be done."

Harry says, "We lack magic and there's that wall extending down into the water."

Ron says, "An arch that is free underneath. That forces swimming, hence the trap."

"So, how are these measures normally employed?"

"Well, the prison or whatever you wish to guard would be set afloat in the middle of this water. The walls of this dome will force people to swim."

"So, the water?"

"Lethal to swim in, that is before the beasts get you."

"Wait a minute, if a beast can swim, why can't I?"

"It's lethal after you get plunge into it."

"Ron, if a beast can survive, so can we. The question is why. What sort of beasts?"

"All sorts of things that swim like alligators and the like."

"Ron, this water is clear to those scattered bones and skulls on the bottom. I don't see anything swimming in it. Maybe that is what they plan on introducing later."

"Perhaps, but this water is lethal to us."

At this moment, they are distracted by some doors opening out of sight in the cavern. Somebody is pleading.

The man is pleading, "Please, I swear I used a number six chisel, not the number five. Please, I've got a wife and kids."

A snarled voice says, "You should've thought of that before!"

A lady screams. The man yells, "Barbara!" Something hits the water. The man emits screams of pain and agony for a moment before stopping.

The lady is yelling, "Nasby! Nasby!"

The snarled voice says, "Averting another problem!"

Another splash and the doors close. The lady emits screams of grief and agony for a moment before ceasing.

Harry says, "Ron, there has got to be a way. Are the beasts normal or Magical?"

"Both usually."

Harry says, "That means that this is primarily water based. Now, to discriminate between a wizard and a beast requires something. Any clues? Could they enchant it identify wizards and witches and kill them?"

Ron says, "Too complex for a prison, I mean you have to include the possibility of Muggles trying. A prison isn't something you want to expend a lot of maintenance on."

Harry says, "Something simple that differentiates between the beast and the human. We've got this sheer cliff so it must be possible to survive the water."

Ron thinks a bit, "Probably, but what is the difference between a beast and human from the water's perspective?"

Harry gets a brain wave and acts before Ron can stop him. Harry strips naked and plunges into the water.