Sirius woke because somebody was shaking him. "Fallen asleep, Black?" Severus said over him. "You were supposed to have the watch, if I remember that right."

"You do", Sirius yawned. "I should smoke Mandrake leaves the next time maybe." He sat up and shook off his blanket. In the East the first reddish beams of the sun were creeping over the dark line of the horizon and found their way down to the very ground of the gloomy forest - though much diminished. High time to get up!

Soon the two Duellists went on again. Neither of them had slept much, and they were weary and wished for some more rest. Yet a bodyless voice somewhere in the back of their heads urged them onward. They were definitely climbing through the foothills of some mountain range now; the ground was steep and rocky. Still the woods wouldn't fail as far as they could see, and the trees became darker and higher the further they went.

After about two hours they came upon a pillar placed on a sheer rock tooth, bearing a carven hand, whose forefinger was pointing ahead. Beneath it they found rough runes cut into the stone. They both knelt down to examine the writing more closely, but Sirius found that he didn't know the script. "I've never seen anything like that", he told his comrade. "Neither with the merpeople nor with the goblins. What about you? Didn't you have Ancient Runes at school?"

"Actually yes", Severus replied without looking up, "but these ones are different. Some now half forgotten signs Dark Wizards used a thousand years ago."

"But then you're just the man for that stuff!" Sirius cried triumphantly. "Aren't you a Darksider?"

"I think I know most of them", Severus said thoughtfully, more to himself than to his former classmate. "My father used to teach me such things when I was very young still. I only hope I can remember them all." He frowned down at the writing. "That's a T, an H, an I... I've got it, it says THIS... THIS WAY, I think... Man, what's that, that forked broom or whatever? Z, I think..."

No, my friend. You amuse me. It's an L.

"You could have told me before", Severus growled. "Why don't you read it?"

Go on, I'll help you.

"I'm highly honoured", Severus muttered. "THIS WAY LEADS... LEADS TO... To hell, if it chooses to! If I could just remember all that stuff! TO THE... FORTRESS... Hey, that's good, I like the sound of that!"

"You mean they put up a hint for us?" Sirius asked. "Don't you think that it might be a trap?"

"We'll see about that", Severus told him grimly. "But we're going to have a nice showdown for sure."

"I do like your kind of humour", Sirius said sarcastically.

After several minutes and with a bit of help from the mysterious voice Severus was finally able to decipher the inscription: THIS WAY LEADS TO THE FORTRESS OF THE HOUSE OF SHUDDERSTONE, MOST WORTHY OF ADORATION OF ALL. DO NOT CHOOSE THIS WAY. YOU ARE UNWANTED. WE HAVE SECRETS TO KEEP. LEAVE US ALONE, OR WE WILL BE VERY ANGRY AT YOU INDEED.

"Doesn't sound too scary, if you ask me", Sirius meant. "And what's that talk about secrets? Do they think we're interested in their love letters and underwear or what?"

"Nobody asked you. Sucks to their secrets."

"Sucks to you as well. Have you ever heard of any House of Shudderstone? Sounds like they're an old family."

Severus shook his head. "Never. I know the House of Redmoon and the House of Hyrne and the House of Sawdust - sorry, it's Sorgast - and the House of McDarren and the House of Malfoy - at least that Lucius Malfoy believes so, sucks to him just as to you - and the House of - Just forget it, there are so many. Yes, and the House of Snape, of course. Very old family." He grinned up at his comrade. "Notorious troublemakers throughout the History of the Magical World."

"Your sires would be very proud of you indeed, noble heir of a noble house", Sirius said mockingly. "There are many old clans, you're right. But this one - D'you think it actually exists?"

Severus shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. All we can do about it is to go on and see what awaits us."

"Go and find out some nasty little secrets, yes. And your showdown. I just hope for you we'll find that as well. Something worth for Prince Sevy, the brave knight of the House of Snape, eh?"

"Oh, shut up, you common lout."