Chapter5:Into The Dragons Lair

                        We stopped as the sun hid itself behind the mountains. In the fading twilight we could see the approaching clouds. The wind had begun to pick up making it suicide to fly anymore. Using magic and what we had on hand we made a shelter large enough for us and put charms and spells to repel the elements. While flying Hermione had noticed several orchards and had the foresight to gather some of the fruit. We transfigured piles of leaves into blankets and started up a fire. Harry and Hermione went to bed shortly after eating but I stayed and watched the fire.  I shivered against the deepening cold and  pulled the blanket tighter around me. Thunder rumbled in the distance and the trees whispered eerily. The clouds blocked out the moon casting everything into darkness around the fire. I didn't notice any of this.

            Chandra was out there somewhere, would Voldemort torture her? How long did we have until he tiered of his game and killed us all?

            Fatigue finally forced myself to sleep. When or if it ever rained I don't know.

The next morning began at dawn, like every morning for the next six days until finally and castle loomed in the distance. Evil seemed to hang over it like a dark cloud. Lightning flashed in the distance, another storm was on its way. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. The evil dark lords castle, made of the blackest stone an eerie green glow and filled with horrors unnumbered.

            I shivered despite myself. We exchanged looks then we all set forward in determination.

For days my consciousness waned in and out. Every time I woke up it was to see red glowing eyes then hear low murmuring that sent me back into oblivion. When I finally awoke it was from the cold and loud rolls of thunder. I sat up slowly. My body felt heavy and my vision swam in and out of focus.

            I pressed my hand to my forehead and blinked several times. I reached out and using the stones of the wall pulled myself to my feet. I leaned heavily against the wall, my body trembled from the effort of supporting my weight.

            How long had I been down here? I wondered. I remember falling,  then nothing

             I slid down against the wall and sobbed. I was scared, scared of what Voldemort would do to me, and scared for Ron, because I knew he was coming.

 The pain in Harry's scar had increased as we came closer to the castle. But once we had passed the front gate Harry had collapsed from pain. He couldn't go on, but I couldn't go back. They went back into the forest. Hermione said they'd find a place to hide until they could come. I didn't want to leave them, but I didn't know how much time I had. I left my friends under the invisibility cloak.

                The castle was cold. I wasn't surprised by the lack of guards. Something told me this was all a game to Voldemort. An eerie green light seemed to fill the maze halls. I kept my wand out and I listened intently for any sounds. I knew it wouldn't be simply finding her. Voldemort attracted evil, and I knew something would try to stop me.

            It seemed like hour I wandered the castle until I heard anything besides my footsteps. The air seemed to turn sour and I stopped. Harsh breathing and a hissing sound came from ahead. Lifting my wand and preparing a spell I continued on.

            I came upon a round room. To my horror the ceiling was a giant spider web. Human skeletons were littered throughout it and some even piled on my right . I shivered and looked around. Whatever made that was huge. I gripped my wand tighter and moved forward.

            "Lumos." I whispered.

The green glow that seemed to fill the castle allowed for to many shadows in this room. I gulped. The walls were sticky looking, I wasn't sure what it was that covered them, and I knew I didn't want to find out. I hurried through the room and reached to open the door when I heard something clatter behind me.

            I whirled around, sure of what I was going to face. Then sighed in relief.

            "Harry, Hermione. You guys scared me!" I cried.

"Sorry Ron." Hermione said softly, "We weren't sure if there was something alive in here or not we didn't want to wake it."

            I nodded, "You alright Harry?"

"Yeah." He said. I was about to turn back around when there was a sudden roaring cry from above us.

            We all screamed and dove away. I though Arogag had been big, this thing was huge! It was half the size of the room and in full use of its eight eyes.

            " I hate spiders." I mumbled as I prepared to hit him with a spell.

One of its eight legs reached out and hit me full force sending me flying back against the wall.

            Spells were flying out of Harry and Hermione's wands. I stood up and prepared to use as spell as well when I heard Harry yell, "Stun it, NOW"

I sent the stunning spell at the spider.

            It stopped.

            "Do it Again!" Harry yelled.

Stupify rang out again, this time the spider toppled.

            "It won't hold long, lets get outta here!" Harry  called.

We all hurried through the door and right into another mess. Within a few steps the floor had disappeared from under me.

            I heard Hermione cry out. My back hit something solid knocking the air out of me. I coughed then gagged as a horrible stench filled the air. I stood up, my feet sunk into the floor. My wand was no longer in my hand.

            "Ron?" I heard above me.

I looked up, Hermione and Harry stood several feet above me. I had fallen into some sort of pit.

            "Is my wand up there!?" I called up.

Hermione's face disappeared from view.

            "Are you alright Ron?" Harry asked.

            "Yeah."

"You must have dropped it on your way down, "Hermione said coming into view again, "It's not up here."

I sighed and looked around. The floor was covered in muck and colonies of things I didn't want to identify. Something glinted in the corner. I pulled my feet out of the muck and moved forward enough to pick it up.

            It stuck, when it's hold gave way I yelped in surprise. I skeleton hand fell away and sunk into the floor.

            "You okay Ron?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said shakily. I stumbled away from the bones and barely kept my balance.

            "Guys?" I looked up, they weren't there.

"Just a minuet Ron. We're trying to find a way to get you out."  Harry said.

            I sighed and looked around. My head was beginning to pound from the weird echoing noise that filled the pit.

            I blinked, Wait, echo? I turned sharply, in time to see long sharp claw and equally sharp fangs bare down on me before I fell back into the muck. I heard the grunt of the beast as it hit the wall and I quickly stood up facing it.  The beast was large it's fur short and purple. It looked like a cross between a lion and a house cat. I stumbled back again as the cat began to advance on me. It moved through the muck as if it were grass that tickled it's feet. Looking closer I realized the muck moved away from it's paws. I gulped, this cat had magic and all I had was a dagger!!

            The cat lunged. Fire spewed from its fanged mouth. I held up my arms in a futile attempt to block the flames. As the flames engulfed me the dagger in my hand began to vibrate gently. I blinked and lowered my arms. The dagger glowed a dark purple color. The fire surrounded me but did not touch me.           

            When the last lick of fire was gone. The cat  was in front of me with a very disgruntled look on it's face. I took a fighters stance, though I couldn't remember where I had learned it. The cat began circling me. I followed it, moving as little as possible to keep from losing my balance.

            Again the cat lunged. I threw you the dagger ripping open it's shoulder as it's claws tore into mine. The blow caused to me once again lose my footing and I found myself eagle spread in muck and my shoulder throbbing.

 Get up!! Something seemed to yell at me.

            I stumbled to my feet and through out my dagger. I felt the weight of the cat and I fell back. The cat landed on top of my knocking the air out of me once again. It made a few noises then seemed to collapse. I shoved the beast off me and , using the wall for support stood up. Blood now stained my shirt and robe. My shoulder throbbed from the beasts claws. I glanced down at the dagger still clutched in my hand. The blade was a little less then the length of my forearm and runes were etched into it's length. The hilt was adorned with emerald and rubies and the gripe threaded with gold. It still tingled with magic, but not as before.

            It was then I realized my friends were calling for me.

"Ron!, Ron! Are you alright?!" Hermione's voice called franticly.

            "Yes, I-I'm fine." I looked over at the cooling corps of the beast and shuddered. I should be dead. I was a wizard! Not some medieval knight. I wouldn't know one end of a sword from the other. I looked back at the dagger. It was enchanted, or charmed. Whatever it was, it saved my life.  I walked over the skeleton. A chain belt with a metal sheath dangled from a rib cage.

            Whispering my apologize I took the belt sheathed the dagger then slipped it around my waist. I looked back up at the entrance.

            Harry was talking to Hermione both looking helpless.

            I sighed, "Hermione! Wingardium Leviosa!"

She blinked and a look of surprise the nodded, She pulled out her wand. I took a step forward and sent something skidding away from me.

                        "My wand!" I cried picking it up.

           I was suddenly floating up. Hermione was using her wand. When my feet touched solid ground again I sighed.

            Hermione gasped in horror, "Oh RON! What happened."

I looked down at myself and grimaced, well I was a mess. Harry tapped my shoulder and the distant throbbing went away. I smiled gratefully at him.

            "Common. We should hurry. Whose to tell what we'll face just standing here." I said.

            " I have a feeling that what ever we face will find us whether we're moving or not!" Harry said with dry humor as we hurried down the hall.

            I laughed, "Yes well, you do have a tendency to attracted a shady bunch of characters."

            Harry shot me a death glar.