"After you." Cho said smiling.
Neville grinned at the moment of levity. "Ladies first." He said, but he reached for the door latch. He felt a thrill of nervousness and dread, but he pushed it away. They had to do this, they had to get out. Do or die, as Cho put it.
"I got your back." Cho said, arm extended and wand pointed straight at Neville's back. She smiled nervously, Neville was glad he wasn't the only one scared at the moment.
"Just don't curse me instead." Neville took a deep breath, hefted his candlestick which was beginning to feel like a foolish choice for a weapons, and then yanked open the iron door. It swung open smoothly, revealing a dark hall.
Neville lunged forward, candlestick extended. It met with no resistance. He yelped with surprise and stumbled forward, nearly falling. Cho cursed, but not the magical kind.
"Where is it?" She asked looking around warily.
Neville looked down the long dark hall and then up toward the non existent ceiling. "Could be anywhere." He said. Neville walked forward, with each step something inside him was screaming to go back. To run, to hide, but he continued forward. They needed to do this.
"Careful." Cho warned. Neville nodded in agreement, his candlestick raised and ready to strike.
When it came, it came fast. Neville thought he was prepared. He would distract the monster while Cho wore it down with spells and curses. He could hold it at bay, he would do all he could. But his plans were dashed as the monster seemingly flew by him, incredibly fast, and straight for Cho.
Neville swung, but all he got was air. Cho staggered back, a curse flaring from her wand. The creature seemed to shift in mid air, moving out of the way of the spell and scampering up the wall. Neville ducked just in time as a blast of light flashed past him. He could feel the tingle of the near missed spell.
"Above you!" Neville cried.
Cho pointed her wand upward, but the monster was on top of her before a spell could escape her lips. Cho screamed and Neville charged. With all his strength he swung his candlestick into the back of the creature.
It gave a hiss and Neville suddenly staggered back, his wind knocked out of him and stars appearing in his vision. Something hard and something heavy smashed into him again and he fell upon his back, the candlestick clattering out of his grip. The world seemed to become suddenly muted and a dull roar filled his ears. He lay there blinking for a moment, trying to remember what was going on. Then it all suddenly came roaring back.
Cho! Neville jumped to his feet and then fell back to the floor again. The creature flew above him, it's screech of pain filling the narrow confines of the hall. Cho got to her feet, an arm clutched to her side and the sleeves of her robes torn. Her face was contorted into rage and she aimed the wand directly at the monster.
"Stupefy!" She yelled.
Neville could feel the power of the spell as it roared like the Hogwarts Express above him. He wished he could have burrowed into the stone floor as fire danced along his exposed skin. Never before had he felt such force behind a spell.
The monster screamed, trying to dodge the curse, but not fast enough to escape the full effects. The creature tumbled end over end down the hall. It hissed and sputtered, weakly rising to it's long thin legs. Cho leaned against the side of the wall, panting and looking exhausted.
"Expelliarmus!" Cho cried, but the monster moved faster. It danced out of the way of the blast and then seemed to run along the walls, heading straight for Cho.
Neville reached out and grabbed the candlestick and threw it. The long piece of metal bounced off the hide of the monster, causing it to suddenly swirl and roar at Neville. Pure animal fear filled Neville as he stared into those red tinged eyes. He could almost see it tearing him limb from limb.
Suddenly it lurched forward, propelled by a curse Cho sent at it. The monster roared, forgetting Neville and rounding upon Cho. Neville shook off his fear and lunged for the candlestick lying upon the ground. Cho aimed the wand at the monster.
Neville didn't know if the monster knew it was losing or if it was just tired of the fight with prey that could defend itself, for whatever reason it suddenly lunged past Cho and for freedom. The only thing was that it was heading straight for the Tower.
The cool feel of the candlestick filled Neville's hand and he scampered to his feet running toward the Tower. He pushed past Cho, not catching what she was screaming at him. The monster made it past the open door and looked around confused for a moment as it saw no escape. Then it saw Damon lying upon the floor, food that didn't fight back.
Neville yelled, the creature turned to him, ignoring Damon for the moment. The door was close, if he could just…
Suddenly the creature's tail snapped out, the deadly end flashing in the weak light. Neville realized he couldn't stop, not in time to avoid that tip. Instead of impaling him on it's tail the creature used it to slam the door shut. Neville cursed as he slammed into the door as it swung out and met him.
Pain flashed through him, everywhere and blindingly hot. He fell back, gasping. He heard his name being called, but it sounded far far away. He tried getting to his feet, but none of his limbs seemed to be responding to orders. When they did every limb felt thick and heavy and every movement sent a nauseating flash of pain through him. He felt the brushing of robes and looked up to see Cho rushing past him and into the Tower. Her face set into a determined snarl and wand still in her hands. Neville felt an overwhelming relief that she was still alright and still in the fight.
There was a ringing in his ears but it was not loud enough to block out the sounds of terrified screaming. Not female, but a male's voice. Damon. Neville slapped the ground, fumbling for his candlestick. Through a dazed fog he could feel panic rising, fear and terror trying to burn away the fog of pain.
Neville felt a suddenly blast of hot air, then the stench of something horrible. He coughed raggedly, still trying to get to his knees. The world suddenly seemed to tilt and the stone floor came up and slapped him. Then there was darkness.
XXX
Until Next Chapter!!!