--Incendio--

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Don't sue, I'm poor. EXCEPTION: I own the Witches of Trane and the Crystal Orb.

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CHAPTER 10: Doom Drop (Chpater rated PG-13)

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Hermione began to whisper 'Lumos' to light up the dark hallway a bit, but then thought better of it. The creatures could find her in an instant if the hallway lead to somewhere it shouldn't. But then she thought, 'Why would the Orb take me somewhere that I don't want to go?'

She was so lost in thought that she almost fell over the edge of a small cliff. They had reached the end of the hallway. Draco's arm shot out and grabbed her just in time. He turned her around, their faces literally 2 centimeters apart.

Then he kissed her. Just like that. In front of Ron, right next to a cliff, in a dark place, and unknowing if they were about to die or not. Hermione thought the kiss felt like magic, but then she corrected herself. The kiss wasn't magical, she knew what magic was like, and it was nowhere near to how she felt now.

Then, suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around. Ron was standing there glaring at her contemptuously.

She gasped, and put her hand over her mouth. Draco was still holding her other hand, and she dropped it. Ron stomped off, following the Orb that was still floating showing them the way. Hermione saw that they were in a very tall, and obviously very deep, place. The walls were made out of dirt, and she could still hear the water dripping, but none was visible. There were wooden stairs twirling up and down the sides of the place. Ron went up a set of the stairs, where the Orb was leading him, and Hermione rushed to catch up with him to apologize.

Suddenly, the step Ron was on broke, and he fell hurling towards his doom.

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Hermione screamed on the inside, because some part of her brain wouldn't let her make a sound. Then, out of nowhere, Draco practically appeared there and caught Ron's hand. Hermione rushed over, and helped Draco pull him up, grunting with Ron's weight.

"God, Weasley, you really… need... to lay... off... the... chocolate frogs." said Draco between breaths.

Ron snorted, and finally got to the other step. Hermione hugged him as hard as she could, until Draco tapped her on the shoulder and said, "Let him breathe, Granger. He just almost died ya know."

Hermione let go of Ron, and detected a hint of sadness in Draco's voice.

Ron dusted himself off. "No broken bones. Let's go, this place gives me the creeps."

They started up the winding stairs again, this time Ron leading the way, Hermione following, and then Draco bringing up the rear.

They went up the stairs for what seemed like hours, until finally they reached a large platform, and the Orb beckoned them inside.

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Meanwhile...

"Arthur. How nice to see you again." said a voice from behind a very tall, grand, cushioned chair.

Mr. Weasley stood in the entrance of a dark green room. There was a single small chandelier in the middle of the room, lit by flames.

"Who are you?" Mr. Weasley demanded, taking a few steps closer.

"STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" he shouted. "Or I'll cut her throat."

"Who? Whose throat?" asked Mr. Weasley. He became very pale and started to shake violently.

"I think you know very well who I'm talking about. You're thinking about her right now, aren't you Arthur? Right… this… very… moment."

The beast sprang up from behind the chair, and Mr. Weasley stumbled back to the door that was behind him a second ago, fumbling for the doorknob. But it vanished. He turned around to find the door, but it too, was gone. He turned back to face the creature, panting in fear.

"What do you want?" he asked.

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The teens were still walking up the stairs, very very cautiously. Hermione was taking them one at a time, holding onto the wall with her right hand, and her wand in her left, just incase anything happened. She could hear Draco fumble for the steps behind her.

Her mind started to wander. She thought about the kiss she and Draco shared. Ron didn't seem very happy about it. She kind of felt bad for him in a way. He'd never been too romantically involved with anyone. Hermione also felt bad that she told Ron nothing was going on, but she knew that she was falling for Draco.

She sighed, and the incantation she recited for the Orb to work crossed her mind.

'With this charm I untie you guide, Perform the services you defied.'

She halted, thinking of the last line. 'Defied'? Why did it defy its services. Then, like a tsunami wave, the memory hit her. These Orbs weren't good! They showed the way to places of evil!

Hermione stopped in her tracks, and whimpered. The Orb was probably leading them to their death! They had to turn around- before it was too late.

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El Capitulo Diez! The 10th Chapter! Yay. The big 1-0. Haha. It's good, don't you think? Well, review and enjoy it in good health. :)

Roe Merrifield - Haha. I know, I hate short chapters. But sometimes, it feels like I just can't write more or it will be a civil wronging to society. Every good story needs some cliffhangers, right? I once read a book that each chapter was a page, so don't worry, I'm not the only one who does it. Yep, everyone on the train. All the students, that is. They were all supposed to die anyway. And who knows how many more students have died while Ron, Hermione, Draco and the rest of the Weasleys have been away! And they're not death eaters. I'm not sure what they are. Thanks for reviewing!

Flavagurl - Thanks! :-)