Chapter 4

'What do you mean it's locked?' Ron asked hurriedly.

'Well what do you think I mean when I say it's locked?' Harry responded.

'Look stand back guys,' Fred ushered them aside as he pointed his wand at the door, 'Alohomora.'

'No good, it won't open' said Harry trying to open the door once again. 'Any ideas what we should do?'

'I can only really think of one'

The others followed George's gaze and looked back up the room, through the swinging blades to the door on the other side.

'Er… any other ideas?' Ron said, his voice sounding a lot higher then usual. 'And don't say that's our only choice.'

'Ok we won't say it.' Fred said, his eyes fixed firm on the door opposite.

'Even if it is true.' George concluded.

'I've got it!' Fred exclaimed his face breaking into a relieved smile.

'Well we should probably get you to Madam Pomfrey as soon as we can, she'll have some kind of ointment that will sort it out for you.'

'You joke now George but once I solve this… trivial matter,' Fred waved his hand dismissively at the room full of blades,
'you'll be praising me until the end of time itself. Now give me some room and prepare to call me Sir Fred.'

The other three moved back, andwhile Harry knew that both Fred and George were very experienced in not only getting themselves into trouble but also getting back out of it again, he still couldn't help feeling a little anxious as he watch Fred get ready for whatever impressive display of magic he was about to perform.

'Immobilis!'

A shimmer of magic shot out of the end of Fred's wand and stuck the first swinging blade. As he put his wand away he turned back to the other three with a broad smug grin on his face.

'Er… Sir Fred?'

'Yes little brother.' Fred put his hands on his hips and struck what he no doubt thought was a heroic pose.

'It didn't actually stop the blade.' Ron said pointing behind his brother.

'In fact I think you made it swing faster' Harry added watching the blade.

Fred dropped his heroic pose and turned back around. He looked again at the first swinging blade and saw that rather then the desired effect of the spell it had in fact done the opposite, and was now swinging back and forth at a much faster speed.

'Ahem… well as mum would say there's more then one way to blow up a cauldron.' Said Fred putting his hand back into his pocket and once again pulling his wand out.'

'That's true, so far I think we've managed just over fifty.' George whispered to Harry.

'Petrificus Totalis.' This time Fred continued to watch the blade to see what happened before his started bragging. Harry remembered Hermione using the same spell on Neville in the Gryffindor common room, that time Neville became encased in a thin layer of ice as he was quite literally frozen in place, unfortunately the result of the spell on the swinging blade wasn't quite the same.

'You really like a challenge don't you Sir Fred' George said as the four of them looked at the blade that had now burst into flames.

'Hang on, I think I know another spell that might work.'

'It's probably not a good idea to try anymore. It looks like they are supposed to react badly to magic.' Harry said.

'Well what else can we do?' Asked Fred.

'There is a space behind each blade, if we can time it right we can take it in turns to run past one of them and stop in the gap. As long as we are careful I reckon we can make it.' Harry looked at Fred seeing if he thought this idea was good as well.

'I've got to admit Harry, you certainly have guts.' Said Fred slapping Harry on the back.

'Yep, and if we time it wrong we'll be able to see them. So who should go first?' George said looking around at his brothers and Harry. 'Ron, are you ok? You look a bit pale.'

'Ok? OK! How the hell am I suppose to be ok? Can none of you see the swinging blades of death, one of which is now on fire thanks to Fred!' Ron shouted.

'I think Ron should go first, anyone else with me? Raise your hands.'

'Look Ron… Fred put your hand down.' Harry turn to Ron 'There isn't another way, we can't go back, we can't wait for someone to come and find us because no one knows where we are, and we can't use magic to get past them. If you can think of anyway around it then let us know because I would rather do anything then try and get past those blades.'

'Fine.' Sighed Ron 'From tomorrow I'm gonna start to act more like Percy.'

'Oh God Ron things aren't that bad are they? I mean sure we are all about to run through a series of very sharp blades one of which is on fire, thanks for that Fred by the way, but there is no need to go say something you'll regret tomorrow' George joked trying to lighten the mood. 'So who's first?'

'I'll do it.'

'You sure Fred?'

'Yes Harry, I set the damn thing on fire, which you have all been good enough not to point out,' Fred said sarcastically 'so I think I should be the one to lead the way. To be honest swinging fiery blades are nothing compared to trying to steal a freshly baked scone from the oven when mum's not looking, now that takes timing, reflexes and nerves of steel. This should be a walk in the park in comparison.'

Despite his exterior of calm bravado Harry could tell that Fred was apprehensive about what he was going to do. Fred walked over to the far left of the room, placed one hand on the wall to steady himself and slowly began to inch forward. Soon he had to use his other hand to shield his face from the flames on the first blade. Fred studied the movement of the blade to get the timing just right. He waited for it to swing in front of him, and as it swung back he sprinted forward only just remembering to stop himself before he got to the second blade. Again and again Fred did this until he had got past all the blades and was safely on the other side.

'What did I say? Walk in the park!' Fred shouted back to them whilst doing a victory dance.

'Guess I'm next.' George stepped forward and took up the same starting position as Fred did on the left. It wasn't long before he too had made it across the room and had joined Fred in his prancing.

Harry was next. As he got closer to the blade he could feel the heat emanating from it and like Fred used his hand to shield his face. He could feel his heart pounding faster and faster as he studied the blade. It's just like dodging a bludger he thought to himself. He took a deep breath, waited for the right moment and dived forward.

As he stopped in the gap between the blades he let out a huge sigh as a feeling of relief flooded his body, the hardest part was over and compared to the speed of the first blade the remaining ones were a lot easier. Harry was soon over the other side with the twins who were now shouting encouragement back to Ron.

'Come on, you can do it!' Fred shouted to a very pale looking Ron.

'I bloody can't, why don't you guys go on and send some help when you get out?' Ron shouted back in a rather shaky voice.

'Hey we aren't going to leave our favourite brother behind. We're all in this together!'

Harry could see this statement had an effect on Ron, who was now moving over to the side and was studying the blade like the others had done. As Ron's face screwed itself up in deep concentration, Harry could feel his own heart once again pounding hard, he was actually more nervous for Ron then he was when he had done it.

Harry watched as Ron rocked himself back and forth with the swing of the blade, he could see him take the same deep breath he had done and suddenly Ron had dived forward, only just narrowly missing getting sliced in half by the next blade. The twins let out a huge cheer and Harry could see Ron break into a smile as he looked over at them.

As with the other three Ron took the remaining blades in his stride, and soon there were all over the other side slapping Ron on the back.

'Well done Ron, you had me worried there for a moment but I knew you could do it.' Fred said ruffling his little brother's hair.

'Thanks Fred,' Ron said grinning 'so I'm really your favourite brother?'

'Of course, after Charlie, Bill and George.'

'But that only leaves Percy.'

'Don't forget Ginny.' George said smiling at Ron's obvious annoyance, as he turned the handle of the door and moved into the next room. 'Hey this one doesn't look so bad.'