Ron was exhausted, but ready to see more. They had spent the entire day in the London Museum of Natural Science and History. They explored medicine, ("So those stitch-things actually work?") space, (Why in the world would you need one of those silly suits to go into space?") wars, ("I still don't get why guns are necessary…") inventions, (So electricity is like artificial magic?) and much more.
"Time to go, Ron," Hermione said, after a hard day traipsing through a museum with an excited wizard.
"Wait, what's this?" Ron said.
"What's what?" Harry asked, impatiently. His legs ached from walking around the museum. "There's nothing there Ron, let's go."
But there is something there, Ron thought. There's a little glimmer of light, like there's a light behind the wall. He walked closer. As he did, the wall began to become translucent. He could faintly see a chamber with torches in the wall and a stone dais in the center of the room.
"There's definitely something here, you guys. Come look, Hermione," Ron said.
Hermione approached the wall and her eyes widened. "He's right, Harry. Take a look at this," she said.
Harry too got closer. He touched his hand to the wall. It went straight through.
"Whoa," Ron gasped.
Hermione turned back to her parents. "Can you see this, or is it just us?" she asked.
"We can only see a wall," Mrs. Granger said.
"All right, I'm going in," Harry said.
"Wait, Harry," Hermione said. She turned to her parents once again. "Watch and make sure that no one sees us go out or come in. We don't want any suspicious Muggles." Her parents nodded.
The three stepped through the wall together. Once on the other side, they noticed something strange. They turned around and the wall seemed to have disappeared. They called to Hermione's parents, but they didn't seem to hear. They turned back to the room again. Ron had been right, there was a stone dais in the center.
The dais reminds me of the place…the place where Sirius fell behind the veil, Ron thought.
"What is this place?" Harry wondered.
"Looks like a more civil version of Snape's dungeons," Ron snorted.
"What are these stones on the ground?" Hermione asked. She had gone closer to the dais and was kneeling next to a perfectly round, golden stone. There were 11 others like it around the edge of the circle. But the most mysterious of all was the black stone in the very center. Harry and Ron came closer. Ron reached out to pick one up when Harry suddenly through out his arm and stopped him.
"Wait," Harry said. "Remember what happened the last time."
Ron remembered. Because Harry had reached out and touched the prophecy, that horrible night at the Ministry of Magic had occurred.
"I think it's okay," Hermione said. She reached out and tried to pick up the stone, but it wouldn't budge. "It's not moving."
"Let me try," Ron said. He picked it up swiftly. "Gosh Hermione, I thought you were stronger than that. This isn't heavy at all."
"I don't think that's it," Harry said, suspiciously. "Put it back down again." Harry tried with all his might to pick up the stone but it was firmly set into the ground.
Ron picked the stone up and tried to hand it to Harry, but as soon as it touched his hand Harry dropped it. "Why'd you do that?" Ron asked.
"It burned my hand. I couldn't hold it," Harry explained. He and Hermione went around to each of the stones attempting to pick them up. They each found that there was only one that they could each hold.
"Look at this!" Hermione exclaimed, pointing to something on the stone.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Hermione held up her stone and pointed to a small symbol engraved in the stone shaped like this an m combined with a p.
"Someone's initials?" Ron said.
"No wonder you two are failing astronomy? You should at least know this from Divination, not to mention Defense Against the Dark Arts!" Hermione groaned.
"Tell us what it is, already," Ron snapped.
"These have got to be the Zodiac Stones," Hermione said. "That symbol is the symbol of Virgo, the constellation I was born under."
"So what does it do, then? Tonks said that they each had some specific power," Ron said.
"You were paying attention?" Hermione said, in mock-surprise.
"Shut up, Hermione," Ron grumbled.
"Anyway, I don't know. I'll have to do some research," Hermione said. "What's your sign, Ron?"
"I'm a Pisces," Ron said. "Harry?"
"Leo," Harry said. "But what about that one?" He pointed to the black stone in the center. "There are twelve stones on the rim of the circle. Who can control that one?"
"Only one way to find out," Ron said. He went over to the stone and attempted to lift it. No luck. Hermione tried her hand at it. No dice. Harry grasped the sphere in his hands and lifted it easily.
"What sign is on it?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked and almost dropped the ball when he saw what it was.
A/N: How's that for a cliffhanger?! Mwahaha!
Reviews:
HPfanExcalibur: Aww, you are so sweet…putting my story on your favorites list and all…blush…what will Ron buy Hermione…haven't thought of it yet…me too!
Warm as Ice: Thanks…ice, I'll be sure to write more!
AmandaWho: Tip #1: The author never reveals her secrets.
Raven-Padfoot-Marauder: Me and Chrys are at the same camp…we don't have access to a computer on the weekends L…but yes…Ford Anglia was a nice touch, wasn't it?
Possom2009: Yes Possom, you will…tear…you made my story a favorite…fans her eyes
VoldemortsVeela: Interesting name…Thanks for the generous comments! I heart you!
KawaiiFryingPanChick: I luv pancakes! Correction…MY muffin…anyway…Yeah, he was dead sexy in this movie. Ron shopping, indeed. That will be fun to write…although I'm thinking of just ending this story right here…