DOWN THE TRAP DOOR
Alex had agreed to meet her friends in front of the great hall. It was night time when she walked down the bedroom. She was about to get out of the common room, when she heard someone calling her from behind.
- Where the bloody hell are you going at this time? – Draco was standing in front of the stairs. He was dressed.
- What about you? Shouldn't you be in your pyjamas?
- I was going to follow you, like the other night.
- Wait, you followed me the other night?
- What else would I be doing in Hagrid's hut? I'm worried about you.
- Well, don't be. I'm fine, it's just… - she didn't know what kind of excuse she could give him.
- Whatever it is, you know you can tell me, right? I mean, I know sometimes I'm not…nice, but, I'm your friend. Before those Gryffindors…So if there's something you're going through, you should tell me. – he looked hurt and worried. He wasn't following Alex around because she was friends with some Gryffindors. He was worried, and jealous, that she had something on her mind and she was confiding in them instead of him.
- Draco…It's not about me. I'm…fine. If this had something to do with me or…my parents, you'd be the first to know. I can't tell you about it but, it's a Gryffindor thing, not mine.
- Is that so?
- Yeah. When have I lied to you, huh? – Alex had a grin on her face. Draco seemed content.
- Fine. Just…don't get in any more trouble. And don't lose more points. We need to win the house cup.
- I can't promise anything, but I'll try. – she smiled. Draco couldn't be mad at her, even if he tried. She had a beautiful smile. He smiled too. He turned around, and headed upstairs. - Nighty night, Draco – Alex waved at him, and exited the common room.
She met Harry, Ron and Hermione in front of the great hall. Harry had a cloak in his arms.
- What's that for? – asked Hermione.
- You'll see – said Harry, covering the four of them with it.
Apparently, it was an invisibility cloak. Alex had never seen one, but Remus used to read her the tales of Beedle the Bard when she was younger, and there was a mention of the invisibility cloak. They walked around the halls. It was difficult to move without stepping on each other's feet. When they arrived at the door, Hermione got her wand out, and pointed at the door.
- Alohomora. – the door opened, and the four walked in.
Alex was impressed when she saw the three headed dog. They had talked to her about it, but one thing was hearing about it, and another thing was seeing it. He was terrifying, but also cute, in a way.
- Wait a minute, he's sleeping… - Ron said.
- Snape's already been here. He's put a spell on the harp. – Harry said as they all approached the dog.
- Uh. It's got horrible breath! – Ron covered his nose, with a face of disgust.
- We have to move its paw. – Harry pointed at the trap beneath the dog's paw. - Come on!
They all grabbed the paw blocking the door. They strained at the same time and managed to move it. Harry opened the door.
- I'll go first. Don't follow until I give you a sign. – Harry started saying. - If something bad happens, get yourselves out…Does it seem a bit…quiet?
- The harp. It stopped playing. – said Hermione. All of them held their breaths. They looked up and saw Fluffy standing there. Fluffy barked and growled. He broke the harp and dived at the four kids. Before the dog reached them and they could do anything, Alex grabbed her wand and pointed at him.
- FASCINAVIT SOMNUM! – suddenly, the dog fell to the side and started snoring again.
- …How did you do that? – whispered Ron, completely terrified.
- It's the bewitched sleep spell. I read about it at charms class. – Alex was out of breath. They could have died.
- Lucky us to have two smart witches with us. – said Harry relieved. – C'mon, let's get inside before he awakes.
The four of them jumped without second thoughts. In other circumstances, they would have jumped one at a time. But after what just had happened, anything and anywhere was better than staying up there with Fluffy. They landed on some kind of plant.
- Whoa. Lucky this plant-thing is here, really. – suddenly, the plant tied them up.
- Whoa! – Alex was able to recognize the plant. Both Hermione and her had read about it in one of their study hours. She knew moving was a bad choice, but Harry and Ron didn't.
- Stop moving, both of you. – said Hermione to the boys. - This is Devil's Snare. You have to relax. If you don't, it will only kill you faster.
- Kill us faster?! Oh, now I can relax! – Ron was completely out of his mind. Both Hermione and Alex looked at each other. They took a deep breath, and got sucked down below.
- Hermione! Alex! – Harry screamed.
- Now what are we going to do, Harry?!
- Just relax! – Alex screamed from down below. Both Hermione and her were on the floor, safe and sound.
- Alex! Where are you?! – Harry looked around.
- Do what we say. Trust us. – Hermione said this time. Harry listened and obeyed. He relaxed and was sucked through. However, that had Ron more afraid.
- Ahh! Harry! Help!
- He's not relaxing, is he? – Hermione looked up.
- Apparently not. – said Harry standing up from the floor.
- Help! Help me!
- We've got to do something! – Alex was starting to get worried.
- Uh! I remember reading something in Herbology. Um Devil's Snare, Devil's Scare…
- …it's deadly fun… – Alex remembered as well.
- but will sulk in the sun! – both girls said at the same time, smiling at each other.
- That's it! Devil's Snare hates sunlight! – Hermione took out her wand and pointed upwards. - Lumus Solem! - A beam of light shot out. The Snare shrieked and recoiled as Ron fell.
- Ron, are you okay? – Harry helped him up.
- Whew. Lucky we didn't panic!
- Lucky they pay attention in Herbology. – said Harry.
- Maybe this will serve both of you for the future, you know? To start paying attention in "every" class. – Alex gave both boys a severe look. Suddenly, they heard some noises coming through the next door.
- What is that? – asked Hermione.
- I don't know. Sounds like wings. – Harry walked in followed by the other three students. The room was filled with what looked like some weird golden birds.
- Curious. I've never seen birds like these. – Hermione looked around her.
- They're not birds, they're keys. And I'll bet one of them fits that door. – said Harry as they came upon a broomstick, suspended in the air. Ron crept over to the door and took out his wand.
- Alohomora! – the door didn't open. – Well, it was worth a try.
- What're we going to do? There must be 1000 keys up there! – Alex was desperate.
- We're looking for a big old fashioned one. Probably rusty like the handle.
- There! I see it! – Harry pointed up - The one with the broken wing! – he looked at the broom, worried.
- It's too simple.
- Oh, go on, Harry! If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century! – Harry nodded and grabbed the broom. Suddenly, all the keys started going after Harry.
- This complicates things a bit!
- You think so, Ron? – Alex said with irony.
Harry was flying around, following the rusty key, trying to catch it as the rest of the keys were after him. He managed to grab it, and he threw it at Hermione.
- Catch the key! – Hermione grabbed it and put it in the lock.
- Hurry up! – Ron rushed her. The door opened and Alex, Hermione and Ron rushed through, followed by Harry. They shut the door right before the keys started to slam up against it.
- That was close… - Alex looked at her friends.
The four of them kept on walking. They entered a dark room, with broken pieces all around it.
- I don't like this. – whispered Hermione, clearly frightened. – I don't like this at all…
- It's okay…It can't be worse, right? – Alex looked at her with a sympathetic look.
- Where are we? A graveyard? – Harry was wandering around.
- This is no graveyard. It's a chessboard. – Ron looked at his friends, as they kept on walking. He was right. It was a marble board, black and white, filled with giant chess pieces.
- There's the door! – Harry said. The four of them tried to reach it, but suddenly, the pawns brought up their swords.
- Well, it seems like we can't walk through… - Alex looked around, trying to look for another way.
- Now what do we do? – Hermione asked Ron.
- It's obvious, isn't it? We've got to play our way across the room. All right. Harry, you take the bishop's square. Hermione, you'll be at the Queen's side castle. Alex, you'll be the other Bishop. As for me, I'll be a knight. – they all took their places. Lucky for them, Ron knew how to play.
- What happens now? – asked Hermione.
- Well, white moves first, and then…we play. – Ron said from the top of the horse. Suddenly, a pawn on the other side moved forward.
- Mmm, hey, Ron… - said Alex – You don't suppose this is going to be like real wizard's chess, do you? – Ron studied the board, and then he talked.
- You there! D-5! – a black pawn moved forward, diagonal to the white one. The white one raised its swords and smashes the black one. The four jumped. – Yes, Alex, I think this is going to be exactly like wizard's chess.
That meant danger. If any of them happened to be hit by the pieces, it would end up pretty bad…However, they decided to trust Ron. After all, out of the four of them, he was the one who played better. The game continued. Pieces smashed each other all over the board. Alex and Hermione looked at each other all the time, worried about themselves and their friends. Suddenly, both boys talked.
- Wait a minute.
- You understand right, Harry. Once I make my move, the Queen will take me…then you'll be free to check the King.
- Wait! Are you saying what I think you're saying, Ron? – Alex's face was a poem.
- What is it? – Hermione, who didn't know much about the game, asked.
- He's going to sacrifice himself! – Harry said.
- No, Ron, you can't! There must be another way! – Hermione started looking around, thinking of a solution. But there was none.
- Do you want to stop Snape or not? Harry, it's you that has to go on. I know it. Not me, not Hermione, not Alex…you. – they all nodded. – Knight…to H-3. – Once the knight was in front of the king, Ron spoke. – Check.
The queen turned around and advanced towards Ron. Suddenly, the queen smashed the knight, and Ron flew off the horse, landing unconscious on the floor.
- Ron! – Hermione started walking to him.
- No! Don't move! Don't forget, we're still playing! – Alex said to Hermione, as she went back to her place. Then she looked at Harry and nodded. He moved diagonal in front of the king.
- Checkmate. – the king's sword fell to the ground. They had won. The game was over. They all rushed towards Ron, who was on the ground. - Take care of Ron. Then, go to the owlery. Send a message to Dumbledore. Ron's right…I have to go on.
- You'll be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard, you really are. – Hermione tried to comfort him.
- Not as good as you. – he said, looking at both girls.
- Us? Books and cleverness? There are more important things. Friendship, and bravery. – Alex smiled at him. As he stood up and started walking away, she spoke. - And Harry, just be careful.
The boy nodded and disappeared through the next door. Hermione and Alex found themselves alone with Ron.