Author: Lily Rose Evans
DISCLAIMER:This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N:One more thing! Just to let you know, this story of mine takes place in 2003. I think it's waaaay too confusing if it was in the year 1995...or something.
George, Ron and Hermione were walking in their part of the maze for what seemed to them as hours. And all the paths that they have taken seems to have taken them back to where they started, which they can't really tell since wherever they look, it's the same old moldy wall and rough road all round them. They can't really help it as this particular maze was designed to exhaust them of their physical energy.
While the three were walking, Hermione was just fidgeting and concentrating on how they can escape from this maze. George on the other hand was looking bored; it seems to him like the monotonous atmosphere was there to drain him of his lively spirits. While Ron...Ron was just complaining rather loudly that, he wanted to go home above anything else. Hermione was very mad at Ron for complaining so she decided to hit Ron squarely in the chest to make him finally shut up.
"Yeowch!!What'd you do that for?" Ron said rubbing his chest that was feeling like it was on fire.
"I don't know...to make you quiet?" Hermione said in an innocent sort-of-way tone.
"Thanks Hermione, you spared me the trouble of doing it myself. I was actually on the verge of hitting him because all his ranting was incredibly annoying!" George groaned.
"Okay! Okay! I'll shut up but please let's take a rest; my feet are like killing me. I don't even care if you guys decide on still going but I SERIOUSLY need to take a rest" begged Ron.
"I second the motion! I can't stand it much longer on these heels that I'm wearing!" said Hermione after plopping down to the ground not waiting for George to answer but George took the cue and even managed to close his eyes, clearly trying to sleep.
After all has relaxed, Ron was the first one to break the eerie silence that was hanging in the air.
"So why didn't you just wear regular sneakers 'Mione? That would have made your life easier." mumbled Ron nonchalantly.
"Mmm...let me see, I was hoping that a certain person would notice me finally." said Hermione while scooting over to Ron.
"Who? Harry? Fat chance 'Mione, Fleur clearly appears to have smitten Harry and from
the looks of it, there's no turning back." Ron blurted out almost laughing.
'Ah, the stupid git is clueless as always. How will he ever propagate his genes this way?'Hermione said in her mind almost frowning.
However, Ron's next question would spark another piece of hope in Hermione's entire being, as her patience with Ron is running incredibly low.
"So did you go to Krum this summer?" said Ron but somewhere at the back of his mind, what he really wanted to say was 'Did that Quidditch jock lay his slimy fingers all over you?' because you see, Ron actually likes Hermione but is only playing it cool… so cool in fact he's turning out to be rather cold.Ice cold if truth be told.
"And why would you want to know? Hmmm?" asked Hermione with sparks glittering in her eyes at Ron's question.
"I'm just being curious… that's all" said Ron casually yet if he could just voice out what he was really thinking, it would go a little something like this, 'Because if he did touch you, I'm gonna Avada Kedavra him into smithereens!'Ron's mind was actually picturing himself using the Killing Curse on Viktor Krum.
'Darn it! This wizard is sending out signals that are confusing me'said Hermione in her thought with only her pout reflecting what she is currently feeling.
"What if I said 'No, i didn't go'? Would that make you feel better?" retorted Hermione, fishing for anything that would paint the picture on how Ron really feels for her. She'd better play it hardball because serious talks like this between her and Ron only comes every once in a blue moon.
This was clearly a surprise that Ron never expected and was not prepared on how to answer it.
"I...I don't know...I guess...uhm, no...,no that's not what I meant...really, which means...huhuhhhmm(yawns)...oh my! I'm soooooo sleepy, catch ya later 'Mione!" and in one fluid yet decisive but rather forceful motion, Ron was lying there on the ground...like a tree that just fell from a logger's axe and then just a few moments later, light snoring could now be heard from his direction.
Even if Hermione was slightly disappointed that Ron didn't answer her question, and the fact that she now can't afford to sleep since somebody has to stay guard until everyone awakes, there is one thing on her mind that pertains to the red-headed boy now scratching his head like a monkey, this boy has a crush on her and with that, she blew him a flying kiss while muttering:
"Gotcha, Ronniekins!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A couple of hours later, they continued on their journey, when suddenly they stepped into an area that they've never recognized from what they have seen before in the maze.They came into the conclusion that this was clearly another part of the maze.
The flooring, ceiling and walls were pitch black, it was like being inside a very large auditorium, and it was glittering wildly, like that of the outer space. Looking closely...it was the outer space. A very intricate model of the sun and the planets with all their moons, the asteroid belt, foreign objects and even the various comets. It was like entering the very solar system that we live in. Everywhere around them, planets slowly circles around the sun, looking very much alive, not merely a model and comets zooms all over the place.
For them, it was a sight to really relieve them of all the weakness that they've encountered.
When they reached the model of the sun, two pathways now opened before them. Now they must face the decision with which path to go on.
"Do we flip knuts then?" suggested George.
"That's too much reliance on luck! What if one of these led to danger?" Hermione said, scolding George for his child-like behavior.
"What if both of them led to danger then?" hinted Ron.
"Oh good one Ron! Completely drain out the possibility that we can ever get out of this maze...there must be something here...ahm, wait! Something is glowing on the floor! It must be a clue! Let's all read it!" shouted Hermione, almost a general ordering the two boys to come closer.
The writing goes as...
"Hmmm…that's quite a long clue don't you think?" was all that Ron could say but the other two just ignored him and continued reading the writing again and again until Ron found himself dozing. Until an earth shattering scream from Hermione woke him from his deep slumber.
"This is hope less!" She cried. "It's way too confusing!"
"Let me have a look." Ron said, lazily rousing from where he was sleeping, pushed Hermione and George aside, and forced himself to really read the writing and after some thought where the only words that can be heard from him was:
"Great….Jupit….Golde….Sat….North…hmm"
This went on for another minute until he finally stopped pacing about and proudly announced that:
"Ok, I've finally figured it out! The way that we need to go is to the left." Ron said looking rather pleased with himself.
"What? You just scanned it once and then you already know the answer? What kind of magical deduction did you use then?" Hermione asked.
"Divination actually, ahem, the North Star is the diamond, It is one of the best basis for introducing divination, because of the many prophecies associated with it…"
"Your point being?" asked George irritably.
"I thought you weren't listening to all that crap?" added Hermione
But Ron just continued in a dignified monotone "…and then Great Giant is Jupiter, Golden Rings is Saturn, when they align, they signal a time of good fortune throughout the world.
"How does that help us?" chorused George and Hermione
"You see, the time that they align can be foretold, this happens once a year or twice a year. However, the time that Jupiter, Saturn and the North Star will align is extremely rare…make that next to impossible. And you can't expect what is the very good fortune that will happen."
Go on then…I'm listening" urged Hermione, somewhat interested by the topic that Ron was discussing. Even George was hanging at Ron's every words.
"The last recorded alignment happened fourteen years ago… do you know what happened at that time? The most significant event to date? That every wizard knows? That it was recorded in history?" asked Ron, as if this was a riddle that only he can answer.
"You're not saying…that…that…" stuttered Hermione
"What?" asked George, clearly very slow on the uptake.
"Yes, Harry Potter became the most famous young wizard in the whole world, earning him the title of The-Boy-Who-Lived." finished Ron for Hermione.
"That still doesn't help us with this maze." George pointed out even though he was amazed at what he just heard, the pressure of reality around them was just incredibly strong.
"But, this alignment even though they happen so sporadic in occurrence, they have one common denominator, they always occur three hours before midnight. It has always been, and will probably be in the future." continued Ron, he didn't want this opportunity to gain an advantage over Hermione in terms of knowing the answer.
"Which means, when you look at a muggle clock like the one that dad has, 9 o'clock is at the left and so the hour when this particular event is observed is the way we go!" and Ron whooped for joy.
"Some times you're smarter than you look." Hermione said.
"Gee thanks Hermione." Ron said. "Come on, let's go!"
They all followed Ron and went through the left side. The environment that was surrounding was just plain creepy and none of them even dared to mutter a single word. Hermione was the first to break the eerie silence that was dominating the group.
"Have you heard of the band called T.a.T.u or some thing?" Hermione asked.
"No clue." George said.
"Oh well…" Hermione said.
The conversation stopped there and the three kept on walking. The wind began to blow harder as they reached further into the maze. A small humming sound came. It was so small yet it shook the ground. And the ground shaking is not your average little windstorm, a little more intensity and they could have sworn that they would be tossed and tumbled all over the place.
"It's a Pix-Windy! They can control wind, and weather. And they're not very nice…" Hermione panicked.
"What would we ever do without you Hermione?" Ron said, this earned him a minor yet thoughtful from Hermione as the girl clearly considered it as a compliment.
"How are we gonna defeat that thing, Hermione?" George asked.
"The book said something about…" Hermione closed her eyes thinking hard. "Confusing it! That's what it said…"
"I know, we all run in a circle and keep on changing directions." George replied.
"Yeah, but how do we know it's the Pixy thingy? There's way too much wind." Ron complained.
"We have to wait until the wind gets a heavy feeling. Then we start running." Hermione answered.
The wind, like Hermione had predicted; stared getting heavier so the three started running in a circle. They were changing directions every now and then.
Soon the Pix-Windy started to stop the wind. It screamed a horrifying, screechy scream: "You're no fun!" And left.
"A job well done you guys!" George congratulated Ron and Hermione
"We couldn't have done it without any of us." Ron said.
"Come on-" As George was walking, an invisible wall hit him.
Hermione stiffled a giggle.
"Nicely done George. You hit an invisible wall." Ron snickered.
"It wasn't my fault! I couldn't see it!" George complained.
"Ron, stop it. This is getting silly. I wonder how the others are doing?" Hermione questioned.
"Well, I hope that nobody there hit an invisible wall." George said.
Hermione walked over to the wall and started to feel the wall. She walked all over until she found a small sort of hole in the wall. Hermione pushed something out of it.
It was a small key. It had words on it that said: "Voima ei riitä. Vapaus on tärkeämpää"
"Does anybody know what that says?" Hermione asked.
"No clue, but I do think it's some weird language." George said.
"Come on, try the wall again Hermione to see if we can go through!" Ron replied.
George touched the wall and to his surprise-
"It's gone! Let's go on!" Ron cheered.
Hermione rolled her eyes and they continued walking.