Harry allowed himself a small, satisfied smile as he hurried down the
corridor. He knew that there would be a door down here, just as he knew
that he would see a scar on his forehead if he looked in the mirror. It
was as if the knowledge had been there all along, like it was a part of
him. All he had to do to find it was to look. Seek and ye shall find.
Darkness yawned and swallowed the hallway to the front and rear of him. Only a few more steps and he would be there. He panted, breaking into a run now. Cold sweat beaded on his pale forehead and on his upper lip. He licked it off as he ran, savoring the salt of it across his tongue.
Ahead, there was an indentation in the wall on the right that he had never noticed in six years of morosely trudging towards his Potions classes or merrily retreating from them. Harry stopped just short and regarded it with astonishment. His eyes widened and he set his jaw to keep from letting his mouth flap open. Swallowing tightly, he peered around the corner and into the indentation itself.
To his exquisite joy, there it was: Ten slightly worn steps leading down to a simple, wooden door with a rough iron handle. Without a thought in his head, Harry dashed down the steps and reached out for the handle. His hand had just touched the cool metal when he froze.
"Harry? Harry? Look, mate, I'm sorry 'bout what I said. Where are you? Harry?" Ron's voice trailed plaintively down the hall. The sound of his footsteps followed soon afterwards. Harry panicked. He was so close now; Ron was not going to ruin this for him.
Without any further hesitation, he grabbed the handle and tugged the door open. There it was. Harry took a deep breath and stepped forward into the velvety night that lay spread before him.
"Harry?"
He was gone.
Darkness yawned and swallowed the hallway to the front and rear of him. Only a few more steps and he would be there. He panted, breaking into a run now. Cold sweat beaded on his pale forehead and on his upper lip. He licked it off as he ran, savoring the salt of it across his tongue.
Ahead, there was an indentation in the wall on the right that he had never noticed in six years of morosely trudging towards his Potions classes or merrily retreating from them. Harry stopped just short and regarded it with astonishment. His eyes widened and he set his jaw to keep from letting his mouth flap open. Swallowing tightly, he peered around the corner and into the indentation itself.
To his exquisite joy, there it was: Ten slightly worn steps leading down to a simple, wooden door with a rough iron handle. Without a thought in his head, Harry dashed down the steps and reached out for the handle. His hand had just touched the cool metal when he froze.
"Harry? Harry? Look, mate, I'm sorry 'bout what I said. Where are you? Harry?" Ron's voice trailed plaintively down the hall. The sound of his footsteps followed soon afterwards. Harry panicked. He was so close now; Ron was not going to ruin this for him.
Without any further hesitation, he grabbed the handle and tugged the door open. There it was. Harry took a deep breath and stepped forward into the velvety night that lay spread before him.
"Harry?"
He was gone.
