Once Harry turned away from the secret door, he realized how dark, damp, and dismal the place really was. Hermione was hugging herself over in the corner while Ron was looking down the long staircase. There was no point in just standing there, when what they've been waiting to do for months was down those steps. Harry walked over to Ron and looked down with him. Ron had this determined look on his face, yet he also looked blind by the bravery that wasn't there. They look at each other, sigh, and then take the first few steps down.
Hermione comes out of her little corner. "You two can't be serious."
"Actually, we are." Ron says.
"He's not a bad person, I know it." Hermione shakes her head. "It's only a memory. Who says it has to be the truth?"
"Ask the people in the hospital wing."
"Harry, let's just leave it to someone else." Hermione says.
"But, Hermione, we're the only people who know about this except for Dumbledore." Harry replies.
"And what's wrong with leaving it to him? He's one of the best wizards out there."
"She's got a point, Harry." Ron says.
Harry turns to Ron. "I'd think you of all people would want to continue. What about all we've been through this year? We should be able to at least throw in a good punch or two."
"Then Laurel deserves to be here just as much as we do." Ron looks back at the door.
"She's not used to this stuff." Harry says. "It's not like I felt bad shunning her. She might get hurt."
Ron pauses to think for a second. "Hermione, you stay up here then. If Malfoy knows you're getting better, he'll probably try to pull the same act he did on you to begin with."
"You crazy?" Hermione steps closer to Ron and looks into his eyes. "I'm not going to sit here and watch you two walk into danger. I wouldn't do that. Something, deep down, is telling me that this isn't the first time you two have stuck your neck out for me."
Both Harry and Ron open their mouths to say something but Hermione stops them.
"Please don't leave me here. Alone. In the dark." She sobs. "I've been in the dark a lot lately. I can't remember my own life! This is all so confusing. But if what you said happened actually did, I want to face it as well."
"Okay." Harry says. "Let's go."
Harry starts to go down the steps first. Hermione follows him and Ron bring up the rear as they all give a last look to the landing behind the hidden door. Everything was a murky gray mixed with eerie blue. The clinking of their shoes against the stone echoed off the stairway walls as they slowly descended into the chamber. Though they wore their thick robes, goose bumps gradually invaded their arms and legs as the hair on the back of their necks stood up.
The steps progressively curved to the left as they went father down. It seemed as though they had been walking for hours. Nobody talked and all you could hear were gentle breathing sounds and an occasional sniff of a nose. As dim like trickled onto the steps, the three reached into the robe pocket for their wand. They were getting closer.
The chamber was bigger than Harry and Ron remembered. It still smelled of apothecary goods and putrid vomit. The stones that built the floor were slowly turning green on the edges. Torches on the walls blazed an awkward auburn, leaving the lair dimly lit. As their eyes adjusted, Hermione slowly crept behind the two boys. Her eyes were wide and her face pale.
"This place…" She says softly. "It looks familiar."
"It should." Harry whispers.
"Why are you whispering?" Ron asks.
"I'm not sure." Harry replies. "But I am sure that Malfoy is somewhere in here."
"What about that secret room he had?" Ron looks over in the direction of the far wall.
Harry nods. "Yeah. That's where he does everything."
"Is it really his fault?" Hermione asks from behind them.
Harry and Ron turn to her and nod.
"It doesn't make sense." Hermione says softly. "I remember waking up in the corridor just outside that door. He was standing next to me. He asked me if I was alright and if he could help me get back on my feet. If he did this to me, why would he be nice to me then?"
Ron rolls his eyes. "To get you on his side."
"Don't worry, Hermione. We'll get you fully back." Harry says.
Hermione looks down at the ground. "But, how? Is that even possible?"
"You're almost there." Harry reassures. "You know our last names…but for some reason it's our first names that will make the potion complete."
"Exactly. That's what makes watching you three so much fun…This dilemma certainly shows off your stupidity."
Malfoy's voice rebounded throughout the chamber.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione look all around but can't find him.
"Famous Harry Potter…what will you do now?" Malfoy questions. "You've only gotten this far because of that little mouse DeGrope."
"You're a coward, hiding like this." Ron mumbles.
"You may think that," Malfoy says. "Go ahead, Weasley. But, I bet you're as confused as your little scar-head buddy. It may look idiotic, to make a potion to have Granger loose her memory. Futile though it may seem, I'm not only destroying a friendship…I'm destroying the one person who believes he has to be the hero of Hogwarts. Without your friends, you're nobody, am I right? That way, with you three out of the picture, I'm free to go."
"Dumbledore knows about you." Harry replies.
"So?" Malfoy spits. "That old fart can't do anything to me. When Father hears that he threatens me, he'll probably be thrown out of Hogwarts. But what does that matter? For now, it's just you and me."
The torches on the wall grow bigger flames and the three finally focus their eyes on Malfoy, standing on a small platform towards the far end of the lair. He had his arms crossed across his chest and in his right hand he held a flask, obviously filled with a new potion. Gazing at them with those snake-like eyes he smiled maliciously and tossed his blonde bangs out of his eyes. Hermione whined a little bit behind the two boys.
"Why?" She whispered to herself.
"Stop asking yourself that, you little mudblood." Malfoy sneers. "You're more of a muggle than I thought you were. Sitting there, crying to yourself like a little baby. Pathetic. Grit you teeth and deal with it you big loafer!"
Malfoy suddenly yelped in pain and dropped the flask. He quickly held onto his hand and cradled it to him. On it was a large, deep red, burn mark. Next to Ron, Harry stood with his wand raised. A simple burn charm, nothing too fancy, but it was something to at least shut the bastard up. On the same note, it made Malfoy drop the flask.
"Challenge accepted." Malfoy says after brushing his hands off on his robes. "But try getting to me."
Malfoy points his own wand and the ground and it suddenly felt like an earthquake. They all tried running toward him, but the shaking to worse. Suddenly, dust started raining from the ceiling as rocks came loose and plummeted to the floor. A large one pinned Harry to the ground by the legs. Hermione stopped to help him, but it was no use. He couldn't get free. She continued to follow Ron by Harry's order, only to get pinned down herself by another boulder. Ron was the only one left free.
Malfoy snickers. The earthquake subsided.
"Looks like you're in a spot of trouble… aren't you, Weasley?" Malfoy laughs. "You got the Hero and the Brain both unable to help you."
"Oh, I got enough anger to pound you to hell any day." Ron answers.
"Big talk, but can you back it up?"
Ron takes his wand and performs the simple levitation charm on a nearby rock and throws it at Malfoy who easily dodges it. Just then, Ron thought of using that charm on Harry and Hermione to free them. But…with rocks that big, if the charm failed, they would fall back on them and possibly crush them. He was all by himself on this one, even though he didn't want to be. It was either stand and fight, or loose everything, including his dignity.
Through a jumble and clutter of attacks and hexes, the two boys duel and crusade around the chamber. Dodging and blocking, running and leaping, cursing and groaning. Ron was surprised with himself how well he was doing. Maybe he paid attention in class without realizing it. Those thoughts got to his head and Ron let he guard drop. The next thing he knew, Malfoy had the mind-control curse on him and he was struggling just to stand under his own will.
"Not so big now, are you, Weasley?" Malfoy asks as he advances on Ron.
All Ron could do was look up at him with a furrowed brow.
"On your knees."
Ron dropped.
"Head up."
All he could see was the black ceiling.
"No!!" Hermione's voice called across the room. She wriggled and squirmed under the rock, trying to free her legs.
"Don't try to force it, Hermione." Harry says, although he was also trying to free himself feverishly.
"I can't just lay here and watch it!" Hermione moans.
"You think I want to?" Harry asks out of frustration. Fight it, Ron! Harry thinks.
Malfoy looks over at the two for a second, only to turn back to his victim. "Open your mouth."
Ron's jaw dropped.
Malfoy walks away to retrieve the flask that flew from his grasp.
Ah, shit!! Harry could just watch as Malfoy picks it up and takes out the cork. Everything he feared was coming true. First he lost Hermione, and then Cho, and how Ron was next. Everybody he cared about; everything that was Hogwarts was being taken away by this Pale Little Imp. He tried to pull himself out from under the boulder, but it only hurt worse. He looked next to him and Hermione was continued to struggle against the rock. She looked as if she was going to explode.
"Cheers." Malfoy says in a deep voice as he put the lip of the flask against Ron's lips and began to pour. "Swallow."
The Adam's apple in Ron's throat moved up and down.
"Damn it." Harry curses.
"…No…" Hermione whimpered beside him.
Harry looks over at her. She was laying flat against the cold stone floor. With her palms down, she pushed herself up and opened her eyes. They glowed with a new light that Harry hadn't seen since the beginning of the year. Tears flowed down her cheeks and into the crevice of her lips. She closed her eyes and was shaking as if trying to vomit.
"Hermione?" Harry asked quietly.
Hermione's eyes burst open once more as another river erupted from her hazelnut eyes. "NO!! RON!!"
Malfoy's head quickly turned toward her with a look of odium in his eyes. He threw the flask to the ground. Ron falls over on all fours and coughs, trying to heave.
"How did you break it?" Malfoy yells in irritation. "There's no possible way!"
"You're just upset that we outsmarted you." Hermione replies. "Once again."
"Die, bitch." Malfoy raises his wand.
Out of nowhere, his eyes go wide and he falls flat on his face. Ron stood behind him, his weight balanced on one side like a drunk man. His eyes were half closed and a little bit of vomit was left on the side of his mouth. Without saying anything, he uses a minimizing charm on the boulders that trapped Harry and Hermione so all they had to do was remove a tiny pebble from their back.
Hermione got up and ran after Ron, lacing her arms around his neck. Harry got up himself and went to join them, but didn't give out any hugs. Hermione remembered Ron. She hasn't said his name yet. It left him somewhat sad. But, hopefully, it was an all exclusive package. One where you remember one guy, the other comes with it.
Hermione unlatches herself from Ron and turns to Harry. "Thank you for believing in me. It's all because of you guys."
She gives Harry a hug too.
"Thank you, Harry."
Harry smiles. "It's great to have you back, Hermione."
He couldn't wait to get back up to the fifth floor corridor. There, with a bit of luck, Laurel was waiting for him. Then, he could thank her endlessly.
The three leave Malfoy's unconscious body to lay on the cold stone as they all began to climb the steps that led them down here. Everything was looking up, and now that Malfoy was stopped, the people in the hospital wing could recover without worry. It was only about a short hour ago when they stood at the top of the landing looking down, fearing for the future. Now, as the three stood there once more and gazed down the stone steps, they felt as if they left all their fears behind. There was no more threat…therefore; there shall be no more uncertainties.