"Music soothes the savage beast, but don't ever put a Cerberus guarding a Hellgate to sleep. In the tales of Merlin the Magnificent, his newest apprentice, an untrained seer, went mad. Apparently, he could hear the cries from the souls that had gathered on the other side. The presence of a Cerberus and its howl usually mutes this."

-Marietta Edgecomb

Chapter 22: A Glimpse into Hell

Clack…..clack….clack…clack…

The halls were really very quiet today. Not all the older kids had class Fridays, so it was quite surprising to see the halls so empty. Giggles and squeals could be heard from outside on the grounds while some played in the first snowfall this mid-November. My footsteps echoed as a couple of paintings spared me a curious glance but otherwise said nothing.

I was doing a very bad thing today. I was skipping class.

It was my DADA class. Ever since Halloween I couldn't stand to be around Professor Quirrel. He always seemed to be trying to corner me and get me alone whether during classes or in the hall. My savior came in an unlikely form.

Professor Snape always seemed to be nearby. He always happened to urgently need my attention, or Quirrel's, any time it looked like he might want to talk to me. It seemed, he said, I was so good at cleaning cauldrons during my last detention that he absolutely couldn't find anyone else to help him do it any better. That he must insist that I, specifically, clean each and every class issued test cauldron and, as a student aid, I may receive points for Hufflepuff House for my efforts. The…the…incentive…the incentive wasn't needed as I would have jumped at the opportunity to get away from two faced creepy Quirrel. Professor Snape, wasn't exactly warm, welcoming, friendly, talkative- he definitely was not talkative, but I suppose I wasn't really looking for someone to talk to lately.

You see, Snape's sudden demand on almost all my free time helped me to avoid two other people. Dean and Daphne were, in the beginning, patient. They seemed to get that I was in no mood to speak, especially after Leanne was sent to St. Mungo's. She hasn't returned yet.

But as days went by, Daphne became more and more demanding for answers. Dean seemed to be a good buffer for her pestering in the beginning, but soon even he echoed the same sentiments. That they deserved the right to know after having risked their lives to do something for no specific reason? I really wanted to tell them. Really, I did. But each time I worked up the nerve to maybe reveal, even a little of what was going on, my throat would close. Alarm bells would ring in my head and I'd suddenly feel dizzy or queasy.

So, I began avoiding them too.

It was easy enough. Student aid duties in the potions dungeon, WMAC meetings, flying lessons with Cedric, and after class Hufflepuff secret lessons, it almost felt like I was genuinely too busy to have a chat with them.

The cherry on top was Cedric and his increasingly watchful eye. I didn't always see him, but it was like I could feel that he was around a corner or behind a tapestry watching me. His attitude had changed somewhat. He was a little more…approachable. He didn't seem so quick anymore to dismiss what I had to say and was less condescending. When we returned the baby troll to Mah Mah that day, and I gave her back her birth totem, the older mother troll smiled at me. The brothers had a strangely violent family reunion of punches and kicks to their missing little brother, who laughed through the abuse. Mah mah approached only as far as Cedric allowed for her to and held out something to me. It was a club, almost shaped like a carnival mallet. I had to hold it with two arms, as it was a bit heavy. "A gift from my family. It is Un's baby raddle. This sort of thing can be useful to little Magi's such as yourself. Choose wisely." The little troll had bowed and led her family away. "Well done, Mary," Cedric smiled with a pat on the back. He made me carry the raddle all the way back to the dorms.

All of Hufflepuff house were awake and lounging about the common room. One sixth year girl stood in awe, immediately walking over and gliding her palm across the raddle. "A troll relic! This is Blessed wood. Where did you get this?" It was Kiwi Scamander. She had a couple of friends but generally kept to herself. Cedric told me her grandfather's brother is Newton Scamander. He was a Hufflepuff many years ago but he's been cast out of the Cete. Cedric never told me what he did but apparently it was so bad, he was kicked out of school. No one would ever say what. Just that you should be wary to get too close to a Scamander because they've got traitor's blood. Cedric had steered me away from the girl, into Professor's room and ordered me straight to sleep.

A cold draft blew into the corridor, causing me to wrap my yellow and black badger scarf a bit tighter. I stuck my ungloved hands into my pockets. "Oh!" A Papercut! I completely forgot! After licking my finger, I pulled the small letter out of my pocket. Today, I had received a reply from Mr. Ollivander!

Nothing had come from Miss Tonks but I figured it was weird to write her in the first place. We were strangers. And she was a woman. I was just a kid she had to babysit a little so why would she write?

I turned another corner, smoothing out the crinkled paper, hopscotching my way down the hall.

Dear Miss Smith,

It is peculiar to receive a letter of gratitude for an item that was purchased outright, but I thank you for the sentiment. Once more, thank you for giving that particular wand a home. I was beginning to think there would never be a wizard or witch born that wand would be satisfied with.

I appreciate your sentiment, but I have grown accustomed to the dust. Temperamental things these wands are. So much so that I cannot use magic to get them clean. Doing so could set off a chain reaction that could, and would, level my shop again.

I thought, 'again'?

If ever you find yourself in need of a wand polishing, the first one is free. Stop by any time.

-Garrick Ollivander

"Polish it?" I mumbled to myself. I didn't know my wand would need polishing. I didn't know much of anything about my wand really. I pulled it out of the deep pocket of my robes and examined it. Did it look dusty? I didn't think so. There was no wear on it either. How old was this wand before I received it? It looked like Mr. Ollivander made it yesterday. But he very clearly told me his grandfather made it. And Mr. Ollivander himself, was very old. So, this wand might even be older than him.

A small part of me felt guilt at the idea that this old man was used to inhaling so much dust. Didn't he have kids to help him? I would write him another letter and ask- no. That was bad manners. I thought to myself as I turned a corner. Maybe I could ask my cousin Mrs. Finnegan for some Floo so I could get my wand polished? That sounds like a good idea.

Speaking of idea, I had no idea where I was. I looked up and around. I think I had instinctively circled the classroom where Cedric and I meet, but I had never walked this far down the third-floor corridor. There was a door, a door I needed to open. I had to open it. I was going to open it. My wand vibrated a warning in my palm. Not a warning to me but a warning to anything that would wind up on the wrong end of it. There was a small question whispering in the back of my mind asking why I was doing this. Even that we shouldn't do this.

My hand shot out like lightening under a power that wasn't my own. The bobble on my wrist glowed bright. What was on the other side of this door. A low threatening growl met me.

I swung that small battered door open and entered, wand at the ready, thrumming in my tightly closed wrist.

And before I could blink, I was lifted off my feet and knocked into the far wall of the room. "OOF!" I smacked shoulder first, unable to breathe for just a moment. Something wet, thick, and sticky dripped down onto my left leg and, after looking up to investigate, I discovered the source. A dog larger than I had ever seen in my life stood above me, one large paw it probably used to strike me, lifted and waiting.

I immediately thought of Clifford the Big Red Dog. He was large and friendly and loveable, but I think maybe that wasn't reasonable. This was the real version. The witch version. As I looked into its large golden eyes, I couldn't stop picturing them on fire. He looked wrong, like it had three other faces more menacing than this. "Now…there there…easy…Clifford?"

All three heads barked in offense. A loud boom of a bark that vaguely sounded familiar. This was the noise on the third floor! Just how long had this beast been here?

The door that had never completely closed behind me banged open and in stepped Daphne, looking around frantically before settling in on me. "Mary," she whispered harshly. "Mary get away from that thing!"

The dog's paw came down on my lap. One claw pierced my cloak, my last cloak since the other had been fashioned into a harness for Leanne. "Daphne? Why are you here?"

"Is that really what you want to be asking me right now?" The dog's left head reared back toward the door and spared a growl in warning. "I followed you okay! What are you doing this time? Another crazy thing I can't ask about?"

"This wasn't on purpose! I didn't know this was a…a thing's room!"

"Oh a likely story-"

"Just help me!"

Daphne stood there in the entry way, staring blankly for a moment. She seemed to be stuck in her own head until she finally opened her mouth. The most beautiful sound, like the soprano in a church choir.

All three heads whirled on her and away from me.

The melody was smooth and even with highs and somewhat chirpy bird sounds. It was beautiful. I didn't know Daphne could sing, especially this well!

I was just as lost on her singing and the beast. It laid low to the ground and rested its heads on its paws. I was so awed by the scene I almost missed Daphne's stern finger pointed at the door.

That's right. We were meant to escape.

I slowly stood to my feet and tiptoed around the dosing Clifford. Just as I edged toward the doorway, there was a chill that swept into the room. I froze in my tracks and looked back over my shoulder, back over the resting animal. The back wall seemed to vibrate. Or was it my eyes? I wasn't moving but it almost felt like I was being shaken back and forth. I reached out a hand to steady myself. I squeezed Daphne's thin shoulder to stop from falling. I could still hear her singing.

"Daphne…do you see that Daphne?" Her face was a blur half warping into the wall, but I have grown accustomed to her "are you an idiot" expressions. Whispers that seemed to start inside my head and seep out into the room grew into wails. I cupped my hands over my ears which only seemed to make the screams louder. They echoed and bounced around my head. "WHAT IS THAT?!" I attempted to shout over the noise.

My fingertips felt cold. It was spreading up my arms. I could see my breath disappear into a mist of vibrations. "Mary! MARY!"

I could no longer hear any singing.

Instead two hands pressed to my chest and pushed, forcing me to tumble down three small steps where I'm sure I hit the floor. There was a loud growl and the sound of a door slamming.

"Mary! Mary what's wrong?! Mary your ears!"

My vision finally settled. Daphne's worried face finally came to view. "Daphne. Daphne, thank you! You saved me!"

A violent blush spread across her face. "Shut up you idiot. Your ears are bleeding. We have to get you to Madame Pomphrey." I frowned but stood with her help. "What are you mixed up in?" She nagged, "How many life-threatening situations do you plan to involve me in?"

"I'm not sure," I mumbled. I didn't like making my friends upset. "But I promise next time will be my turn to save your life." She snorted at that but didn't say anything. "Someone was calling my name in there. I could hear it in all the screaming."

"That was me you idiot."

"Oh? That makes sense."

"And what screaming? The only thing in there was that Cerberus and us."

Confused, I stopped walking, effectively stopping her. "What's a Cerberus?"

(Lidia: Hey guys! Sorry. I was sent to another property to work while I wait for my own to be ready to open and didn't have my personal laptop. But I've picked it up on a visit :) The second site I used to post on has sadly closed. But I guess the silver lining is that I can post here as quickly as I want without having to wait for chapters to be verified there.

Reviews:

Alice – Thank you so much for the review and following the story. I thought carefully about who to use as primary secondary characters to my OC. I considered Neville and Pansy for a while but they didn't fit in the same way.)