"You know," Ron muttered conversationally as they scurried through the night. "I really do think this is the dumbest thing we've ever done."
"We're trying to find Sirius!" Harry snapped. "How can you call that dumb? ARE YOU SAYING-?"
"Shusssh!!!" hissed Ron and Hermione in unison.
They reached the lake. The moon cast a shimmering circle of light across its black surface. It was so still. Still as death, thought Hermione slightly hysterically. Wasn't that what people said?
A noise from behind startled them. They turned, wide-eyed: two tall figures could be seen, striding in their direction.
"Quickly!" urged Harry.
The three picked up their potions bottles, looked at each other, and raised them to their lips.
"I think I see them," Snape said suddenly, lengthening his stride. "Albus, do you..?"
"Yes…" They picked up their pace with the help of a speed-spell, and cursed the ancient charms which made it impossible for people to Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts.
It could only have been moments later when they arrived by the lake. But it was too late.
They had gone.
It was as if they had been thrust under tonnes of icy water. Flattened by it, pummelled by it, they were propelled backwards and downwards: unable to move or see or speak or breathe.
Just as their lungs were burning so fiercely it seemed they must surely drown, they broke the surface of a stormy sea. They did not have time to ask how this could be; they barely had time to take a breath. Plunging towards them across the spray came a herd of white horses. Their nostrils steamed with white foam; and their eyes churned like whirlpools in their heads.
Ron, Harry and Hermione were frantically treading water, still panting for breath.
"Grab – a – mane," Hermione gasped suddenly, reaching towards one of the horses as it flew towards them.
Both startled and puzzled, Ron and Harry nevertheless thew out their arms to do as she said. The horses slowed as they passed to allow them to catch hold. Harry scrambled on to one of their backs with surprising ease. Ron, though was floundering, his freckled face turned upwards in alarm. Harry grabbed him with a desperate hand and thrust him at one of the creatures, which obligingly paused whilst Ron found his seat. It seemed as if the creatures wished to be ridden. It was a better reception committee than Ron and Harry had hoped for.
But Hermione was waving frantically at them. One hand was firmly entwined in her horse's flowing mane; with the other, she had removed her school tie, and was now yelling some charm or other. The tie wound itself into her mount's mouth as if it were reins.
"Place – ment – charm!" she was shrieking.
Still at a loss, Harry and Ron followed her lead. It was more difficult. The horses seemed to have gathered what they trying to do. They bucked and plunged. Only the hours of Quidditch practice on broomsticks enabled the two boys to keep their seats as they removed their ties and performed the charms.
The horses immediately calmed down. Hermione had yelled something at hers; it seemed to be obeying, for it was skimming across the waves towards a distant shore.
"Follow that horse!" both Ron and Harry told their own mounts. The horses did so, their ears flat back and their eyes rolling furiously.
All three were dumped unceremoniously on the shore before the white horses highstepped away.
Ron groaned. "Oh my. What a ride. Hermione, what was all that about?"
"Those weren't horses, Ron," Hermione said. "They were kelpies. You know, kelpies? Don't you ever listen in class?" She did not seem to think this question worthy of an answer, for she carried straight on with her explanation. "Kelpies are water demons. They lure people into riding them, then take them away to the bottom of the sea."
"And, and then-?"
"They eat you."
Ron and Harry gulped rather. Still, thanks to Hermione, they had survived this first part of their travels. Looking around, they saw a featureless shore flanked by great black cliffs. A light mist hung over the landscape. While it was not exactly dark, it was not what you would call bright and sunny either. It was a steely light, bright, but hard and grey at the same time.
"Um – now what?"
"I suppose we try to find a path," Harry replied. He stood up resolutely, and began to head for the break in the cliffs he could just make out ahead. With any luck, there would be some means of climbing to the top there. Hermione and Ron shrugged; this plan was as good as any other.
They had not gone far when a figure loomed out of the mist.
It was tall, very tall, and shrouded in a grey cloak. However hard she stared, Hermione could see no sign of a face within the darkness of the hood. Involuntarily, they all took a step backwards.
"Why do you disturb me?" the voice demanded. It was a liquid voice – musical, yet somehow dangerous all at the same time.
"Er," Harry stuttered. "I'm sorry, sir, er, ma'am. We have no wish to disturb you…"
The being laughed. Or at least, that seemed to be the best way of describing the noise it made. It reminded Harry of water whispering over stones.
"Then what do you propose to do, my young travellers? Without my aid, you will simply wander this shoreline forever. Is that your desire?"
"No. We're – we're here to look for my Godfather!" Harry blurted.
"Your Godfather? Is he one such as you, from mortal realms?"
"Yes – only, only he died…."
"Then," the voice whispered. "He is not here. This is the Land of the Living Dead. It is not the mortal resting place."
"Yes, but," Hermione interrupted in a trembling voice. "He did not die a normal death. He fell through the Veil…"
"The Veil? You speak of Great Mysteries, small one. But if he fell through the Veil, it may be you will, after all, find him here…."
The figure rustled, as if pausing for thought. Then it spoke again.
"I will give you three gifts for free. One for each of you, as a reward for taming the kelpies.
"Firstly: you shall not kill. Hear me, mortal ones. If you kill within the realms of Mag Mell, your fate will pass beyond the writing of the gods. This does not, of course, mean that those who dwell in this place cannot kill you.
"Secondly: take no food and consume no drink from these lands. If you do, this will be your home forever. Perhaps you do not mind this destiny. So it has been for some of your kind.
"Thirdly: remember, everything has a price. Everything. You may only use what is truly your own, and what you take but do no pay for, you will forfeit in the sacrifice of your living flesh."
The being turned. As it began to glide away, Harry suddenly called after it.
"Please! you help us a little more?"
"What wish you, mortal?" the shrouded figure breathed.
"What direction do we need to go? How do I find my Godfather?"
"Direction? There is no such thing as direction in the Land of Mag Mell. However, it may help you find what you seek if you first approach the Three Seers."
As it left, its sliding laughter came to them on the breeze.
Hermione frowned. There was something about this advice she found deeply disturbing….