Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I repeat, I do NOT own HP. But, of course, you lot know this, right? If not, whack yourself repeatedly in the head with a blunt object until you do.
Chapter 25 – Oh My God
"Open," hissed Harry to the tiny snake carved into the marble at the back of the main staircase. The tiny carving poked out its tongue at him then the entire wall slid aside, revealing a dark tunnel.
"All aboard for the Slime Express," grumbled Draco as he saw the substance coating parts of the wall.
"For that, Malfoy," sneered Ron, "you can go first."
"No, he doesn't," snapped Ethan, grabbing the ginger-haired boy's shoulder. "You get to go first."
"Me?" exclaimed Ron as he was shoved into the tunnel.
"You," replied Harry stonily, following him. He drew his wand and jabbed it at Ron, nodding towards the dark depths of the tunnel. "Get going."
"How about some light?"
Harry frowned then snapped his fingers, saying, "Lumos orbis!" A ball of blue-white light appeared just above his hand and he looked at Ron, only the planes of his face lit, which gave him a gaunt look. "Better?"
"Yeah," replied Ron nervously, looking from the ball of light to Harry. "Much better."
Harry sneered and gave a wave of his hand, which sent the ball bobbing in front of Ron. He followed, wand pointed at the boy's back. Ginny was right behind him, followed by Ethan and Hermione, who both had their wands lit. Draco took up the tail end of the group, waiting at the entrance until it slid closed before he lit his own wand and followed.
"How come he can do that and we can't?" hissed Draco into Ethan's ear, causing the green/black-haired boy to jump.
"Cripes, Draco!"
"What?"
"Don't do that," reprimanded Hermione, glaring at the blond.
"Sorry, your highness," said Draco. "So, dear Uncle, what's the answer?"
Ethan glared at the blond then replied, "There is a major difference between descendant and Heir, Draco."
"'Major difference' meaning what?"
"Meaning he's 1) more powerful than us and 2) more closely related to the bloodline."
"Well," drawled Draco, "how do we know we're not Heir's too?"
"Because the Sorting Hat said we weren't," replied Ethan peevishly. "It would know, having known the Founder's themselves. Not to mention it has seen into our heads. If we were Heirs, it would have mentioned it. But we're not. We're descendants, just normal witches and wizards who've got a dash of one of the Founders bloodlines."
"Who goes there?" came a vast, rumbling voice that made everyone but Harry and Ethan jump.
"What was that!" cried Draco, rubbing his head from where it hit the roof of the tunnel.
"That, "replied Ethan, "would be Salazar. Harry, could you please tell your oh-so-dear ancestor that he is not to do that again?"
"I'll keep that in mind, young Gryffindor," rumbled Salazar, his voice echoing slightly.
"Where are we?" asked Ginny.
"In Salazar's head," replied Harry. "Open!"
A hole opened in front of them and spilled warm, golden light into the tunnel. The ball of light floated through first, followed by Ron and Harry. As the rest clambered out, Harry dispelled the ball of light with a wave of his hand and pointed Ron down towards the ground with the other.
"There's water there!"
"So jump!" spat Harry. "Sal, why have you flooded the whole place?"
"I was cleaning," replied the statue, his stone eyes crossing to peer at Medusa, who was perched on the end of his nose.
"How did the cat get in here?" hissed Draco as he came through.
Ethan rolled his eyes and replied, "Don't ask."
"Cleaning?" exclaimed Harry. "Sal, why in all nine Hell's were you cleaning - like - this? You could have asked me and I'd have asked Dobby to come down here."
"No, thank you!" piped the statue, his voice quavering slightly. "One meeting with that little elf was quite enough for me!"
"Blaggard. WILL YOU JUMP, ALREADY!" snarled Harry, giving Ron a shove. The ginger-haired boy let out a squeak of surprise as he toppled off of the ledge and fell into the water below with a splash! Harry scowled momentarily at the statue's face to his left then leapt off of the ledge, diving cleanly into the pool below.
"Why do I have the feeling he's done that before?" said Hermione to Ethan as Ginny peered curiously over the edge at the pool below.
"He probably has," replied Ethan. "Watch it!" He leapt forward and pulled Ginny back away from the ledge as the girl started to slip, her eyes rolling up into her head. She yelped slightly and struggled to get away from him until he pinned her arms to her sides.
"Ginny, calm down!" exclaimed Hermione, startling Harry below.
"GIN!" bellowed Harry.
"It's alright," whispered Ethan into the redhead's ear, clutching her close. He didn't know exactly what she'd been through in the Chamber (let alone through her possession by Riddle's diary) but he knew it hadn't been good. "You're not eleven-years-old anymore, Ginny. Tom Riddle is gone. He can't touch you anymore."
A shiver ran through the girl's body and her fist banged reflexively against his thigh. Ethan's check twitched at the strength the lithe little girl had. He'd probably have a bruise there by morning.
"Gin!" yelled Harry as he scrambled up onto the ledge, soaked to the bone. Hermione's eyes widened as she noted the vaguely muscular outline of his chest as his shirt stuck to his body. Her mind then strayed to what Ethan would look like in that position and began to furiously berate herself. She didn't need those thoughts right now!
"Harry," sniffled Ginny, sounding lost. Ethan released her and the girl leapt into the dark-haired boy's arms, burying her face in his shoulder and not caring one bit that she was getting wet. Harry clutched her close, lifting her off the ground in his embrace.
"I'm sorry, Gin," he whispered into her ear. "I should have known…"
"I should have told you," snuffled Ginny. "You couldn't have known what would have."
"I should have," insisted Harry, gently pushing her back so he could look into her eyes. "If I'd thought…I was thinking about Ron and – RON!"
"What?" said Ginny.
"RON! Is he still down there?"
"BLOODY SOD!" bellowed Ethan.
"SALAZAR!" roared Harry.
"I can't see everything, lad!" said the statue. "But there's no way he's getting out of here!"
"I don't care about that!" roared Harry. "I want him found. NOW! DUSA!"
"Mrow?" said the cat, and not in her normal nonchalant tone. Now the tiny cat was all serious, her ears perked and almond eyes focused solely on her master.
"Find him," snarled Harry, sending the creature bounding off down one of the tunnels. He then turned to the others and said, "Let's go."
"We're goin' a'huntin'," quipped Draco with a smirk before he leapt off the ledge to the pool below. A wave from the bottom of the statue propelled him to the edge of it and he was up and running in an instant, a longbow and a quiver of arrows appearing in his hands as though out of nowhere.
"How…" began Ginny, only to stop and gape as Ethan and Harry both slung sword scabbards across their shoulders. Ethan silently handed Hermione a staff carved with intricate runes, each end shod in silver.
"I'll explain later," said Harry, grabbing the hilt of the sword over his shoulder and giving it a little jiggle to loosen the blade. He then drew it free of its scabbard, revealing a bright katana that had curved grooves etched into the blade. "First, I want to find Ron and find out if our suspicions are founded."
"Judging from the fact that he's run, I'd say they are," growled Ethan, loosing his own sword from its sheath. Ginny gasped as she recognized it as Godric Gryffindor's sword.
"What do you want us to do?" asked Hermione, looking up from the staff Ethan had placed in her hands.
"Stay here," replied Harry. "And if he runs past, stun him."
"How?"
"Staff's used to be a wizard's weapon of choice," explained Ethan. "Before wands came into good circulation. They fell out of use after a few hundred years however. More's the pity though. They focus power a load more than a wand does."
"So its like a really big wand," said Hermione, looking down at the staff again.
"Exactly," said Harry. He then turned to Ethan and said, "Let's go."
"Right-o," replied the other dark-haired boy and they both stepped off the ledge to the pool below.
* * * *
"Here, Weasel, Weasel, Weasel," called Draco as he slipped down a tunnel, an arrow knocked against his bowstring. He kept the weapon pointed towards the ground but well away from his feet (it would do very well to hit himself with his own arrow, now would it?). "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"
"Yeah, right, Malfoy!" came Ron's voice from down a tunnel to his right. The blond turned that way and started slowly down it, lifting his bow when he came to a junction. Peering head and bow about each corner, he then continued on, not seeing anything.
"C'mon, Weasley," called the Slytherin after a moment. "Give it up. There's only so many places to hide down here. And there's no way out."
"Don't be so sure, Malfoy."
"Great," grumbled Draco as he peered down a left-hand tunnel. "Now he's cryptic."
"Cryptic, yes," hissed Ron as he grabbed Draco from behind, shoving a dagger against his throat. "Stupid, no. Now, let's put down the bow, shall we?"
Draco looked up at the roof of the slimy tunnel and thought, How exactly did I get myself into this again?
Oh yes.
Potter.
* * * *
"RON!" bellowed Harry down the tunnel as he spotted the ginger-haired boy's back. The slightly taller teen turned and Draco scowled furiously at him, a dagger at his throat.
"How nice of you to show up, Potter," sneered the blond. "Remind me to congratulate you later on your marvelously bad timing."
"That's enough, Malfoy," snapped Ron, pushing the dagger closer to the blonde's throat. He turned slightly mad eyes on Harry and added, "Put down the sword, Harry."
"Let him go," replied the dark-haired teen, tightening his grip on his sword.
"Sword first."
"You are not playing me, Ron," snarled Harry, gripping the katana in both hands. "Let him go and I'll consider putting down my sword. After I use it to cut off a few of your limbs, that is."
Ron laughed and took a step back, dragging Draco with him.
"If you can catch me!" he cried and vanished down a tunnel.
"Dammit!" spat Harry and charged after him. "RRRRROOOOOOOONNNNN!"
* * * *
Ethan's head snapped up at Harry's bellow and he peered down the tunnel to his right. The sound of running feet echoed down it towards him, along with the snapping voice of Draco.
How dare he! growled Ethan mentally, a feeling of protectiveness rising within him. That was his nephew that foolish Gryffindor had!
"WEEEAAAASLEEEEYYYY!" he roared as he sprang from his crouch and charged down the tunnel.
* * * *
"I hear them," whispered Ginny as Harry and Ethan's voices echoed out into the main part of the chamber.
Hermione only nodded and leaned on Hufflepuff's staff, her face etched with lines of worry. If Ron really had gone to Voldemort, Merlin knew what sort of things that madman had taught him.
Oh Ron, thought Hermione as bitter tears pooled in her eyes. Why? She remembered the boy who had first thought her a bit mad then had become one of her best friends. God, what had happened to the boy she'd known?
"Do not worry, my dear Phoenix," rumbled Salazar. "All will be well."
"What did you call me?" gasped Hermione, turning about to stare at the statue. But she didn't have time to wait for an answer as Ron suddenly appeared from one of the tunnel's. She and Ginny both snapped to attention and got set to fire stunner's at him.
"NO!" yelled Draco and Ron whirled to grin insanely at the two girls.
"Hello there," he purred softly. "One little spell fired and the poor little Ferret gets a new hole to breathe out of."
"Saints and demons," gasped Ginny. "Ron? Oh, Merlin, Ron!"
"RON!" bellowed Harry again as he charged out of the same tunnel, katana in a two-handed grip and his eyes all black but for a small sliver of emerald about his pupils. Ethan appeared a second later from a tunnel a few feet down. His black eyes flashed with fury as he attempted to burn a whole in the back of Ron's head with his glare. Should glare's have been lethal, Ron would have long been dead.
"Let him go," snarled Ethan, pointing his sword in the general direction of Ron's heart.
"Not just yet," purred the redhead. "I want out first."
"Not bloody likely," replied Harry darkly.
"Oh, I think it is. You see, if you don't let me out, I'll slit the Ferret's throat."
"That won't make Voldemort very happy," said Ethan.
Ron shrugged and sighed, "A burden I shall have to bear. I'd rather not kill him but if I have to, I will."
Harry's eyes narrowed and he spat, "Why?"
"Why?" repeated Ron casually, as though they were having a chat over tea. "Why, indeed? Because I was the fifth wheel. You know what it feels like being a fifth wheel, Harry? Like hell. So I decided to go be a part of something else."
"You foolish, stupid boy!" spat Ethan. "You gave up the friendship of a lifetime just because you thought you didn't belong?"
Ron turned blazing eyes on the black/green-haired boy and snapped, "You shut up, Snape! This all happened because of you!"
"Oh, no you don't!" roared Harry. "Don't you put this on him! This happened because of you. You turned your back on me, Ron, not the other way around. And Ethan becoming my friend did nothing to harm our friendship!"
"Bullshit," spat Ron. "It did everything to harm our friendship. He's your best bud now, isn't he? Hmm? Best friends, you are. Like we used to be."
"Yeah," snarled Harry, "like we used to be. If you think for one instant that this'll make us best mates again, you're wrong." He then turned his face away for a moment and when he looked back, his serpentine eyes were shining emeralds again, tears glistening in their depths. "But you're still my friend, Ron. Even after this, I'll still call you that."
Ron sneered and spat, "You'd do well to rethink that statement, Harry."
"I don't think so," said Harry. "I rather think you'd do well to look behind you."
The ginger-haired boy blinked and slowly turned around only to be faced by the sight of two huge, almond-shaped white eyes glowering at him from the darkness of a tunnel. He yelped and released Draco, sprinting across the chamber towards the heavy metal door. The eyes blinked and then a huge, dark shape sprang from the tunnel, chasing the boy down.
Harry rushed to Draco's side, kneeling down beside the blond where he had collapsed onto the ground. He placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "You okay?"
"Perfectly peachy, Potter," snarled the blond wearily in reply, gracing the dark-haired boy with a small glare. "I just adore having a dagger pressed to my throat."
"He's being sarcastic," observed Ethan.
"Meaning?"
"He's fine."
"I am not FINE!" roared Draco softly, glaring at his uncle.
Ethan smirked and said, "Certainly not." He then looked at Harry and added, "I'll go make sure that cat of yours hasn't eaten that fool."
"You go do that," said Harry, grabbing Draco under his arm and hauling him to his feet. The blond grappled at the taller boy's shoulder and helped to haul himself up, leaning heavily against him an instant later.
"I hate you," he grumbled.
"Yeah, I love you too, Malfoy," joked Harry as he settled his arm about the blonde's waist to hold him steady. He then looked up at the two girl's and waved them down with his free hand, which still held his sword. In a smooth motion, he sheathed it then turned to looked at Draco's neck.
"Hey!"
"Oh, shut up," grumbled Harry as he forced the blonde's chin up. "You're lucky he didn't accidentally cut you."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," snarled Draco.
Harry scowled mildly at him then turned to Hermione as she approached and asked, "Herm, could you go find Malfoy here's bow? He seems to have lost it."
"Sure," replied Hermione and bustled off as Draco began to protest.
"'Seems to have lost it?' Have you lost your bloody mind, Potter?"
"Mayhaps," replied Harry cryptically.
"You, Potter, are the most insufferable excuse for a human being that I have ever met!"
"Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?"
Draco groaned and closed his eyes, lifting one hand to rest against his temple. "I have a headache…"
"Can you stand?" asked Harry suddenly, his eyes not focused on the blonde leaning against him.
"Yes," grumbled Draco, "why?" Not getting a response, he looked up and followed Harry's gaze to Ginny, who was standing about seven feet away. The redhead looked very lost and had her arms wrapped tightly about her torso, which was gently turned to-and-fro. "Oh. Yeah, I can stand."
"Good," said Harry, releasing him so quickly that he staggered. Draco scowled after him as the dark-haired boy approached the lost-looking girl.
"Gin…" whispered Harry as he approached, slowly reaching out to touch her arm. He was taken by surprise when she looked up at him with tears in her luminous brown eyes.
"How could he do this?" she breathed, staring at him. "How?"
"I don't know," replied Harry sadly. He wished dearly that Ethan hadn't been right, that Ron hadn't joined Voldemort. But he'd heard it – he'd heard it from his friend's own lips. How could it be denied? If the Mark wasn't on his arm? That didn't tell a damned thing. "I just don't know."
Ginny nodded slowly then whispered, "Hold me."
Harry obliged her, gently pulling her inside his arms, where she wrapped her own tightly about his waist and clung there like a tick. She buried her face in his shirt and shed tears but only sobbed once. Harry felt tears on his cheeks as well and closed his eyes. He hadn't cried in years.
Crying had always sent Uncle Vernon into a rage. And that had ended up with a much younger Harry being slung head-first into his cupboard.
Harry didn't even know if he could cry anymore. Shed tears? Yes, he could do that. But cry, truly cry? That he was unsure of.
Serpent's, after all, didn't cry, did they?
Hermione, bow in hand, suddenly reappeared. Her expression saddened as she spotted Harry and Ginny then hardened slightly as she handed the bow to the blond.
"Here," she said, wrenching the boy from his gazing at her two fellow Gryffindors.
"Oh," said Draco, starting in surprise. He took the bow carefully from her and slung it over one shoulder. "Thanks."
Hermione started and stared at him. Never in her life would she have she'd have gotten a genial word, let alone a 'thank you' from Draco Malfoy. Maybe things were changing…
"I've got him," declared Ethan as he marched back, eyes flashing. A huge black cat (Medusa, twenty times larger than normal) padded along behind him, a limp figure clutched in her mouth by their shirt. Ron dangled from the big cat's mouth like a rag doll, his lanky limbs flinging all over the place whenever she moved.
"See if we were right," said Harry, not turning to look.
Ethan nodded sharply and grabbed Ron's left sleeve, pulling the dagger the boy had been armed with from his belt. He sawed one bit of cloth through then sliced upward with the blade, careful not to nick skin. As he stepped back, he jabbed the dagger downward, cutting another slit into the sleeve so it dangled loose.
Hermione let out a soft moan and Draco a groan of horror as the black skull and serpent of the Dark Mark winked up at them. Ethan sneered at it and turned away, catching the sight of Ginny's wide brown eyes over Harry's shoulder. A low keening began to come from the girl and Harry turned about so she could no longer see her brother.
The expression on his face was one that would haunt the other three until the day they died.
There was rage there, the bitter rage that comes from betrayal. And there was pain, suffering – torment. Sorrow and loss. Harsh venom and sorrowful solemnity. But most of all there was pity.
Not to mention self-loathing.
Ethan scowled at the boy and thought furiously, This was NOT your fault!
Harry caught the look and smiled sadly. He knew it wasn't his fault.
But he blamed himself for it.
And so he would forever.