Chapter Five
Bogart's and Wind Magicians
"SNAPE, YOU TRAITOROUS BASTARD!" Harry screamed at the top of his lungs rushing to the door, wand drawn ready to shoot the first spell that came to mind at the door.
"Potter," a sharp voice that resounded threw the room silenced him, "this is a test Potter," it was Snape; "I need to see how well you can protect yourself with magic not with sheer dumb luck."
Harry bit the inside of the cheek to keep from responding.
"It's a maze, you have to find the end, and throughout the maze there are enchantments and obstacles you must defeat to get past. ALL three of you must make it to the end at one time. If you are not out in four hours I will let you out, good luck," there was almost sarcasm in those last uttered words.
Harry fumed at the closed doors and spun around glaring at Hermione.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"You're the smart one, get us out of here," he snapped. He didn't care if he sounded like a toddler having a temper tantrum, he was pissed Snape had NO right locking them in here.
Hermione looked surprised and then angry, "No, I am not doing these lessons to get us out of a situation YOU have to help, and if you don't we are going to be stuck here for four hours when Professor Snape releases."
………
Severus leaned back in his chare as he watched the magically projected screen. He was silently applauding Hermione for finally standing for herself and telling Potter and Weasley that she wasn't going to be used like a slave for her brain. He hated seeing the two of them take advantage of her like that. He knew of course that they were good friends and she was the smarts of the group, but still, they could use the little brains they have everyone once in a while.
He watched the screen curiously again. Hermione was trembling slightly with anger and wind seemed to pick up around her rustling her hair, robes whipping around her ankles. Wind magic, he new the study, it was a rare gift that mostly purebloods or half-bloods got from an ancient ancestor. Seeing a muggle born have signs of it was rare. Severus smiled to himself; she was more powerful than he thought.
………
Harry and Ron watched Hermione wide-eyed.
"Whoa, Hermione," Ron said walking up to her, "we didn't mean to make you mad,"
Hermione took a deep breath and felt utterly embarrassed for loosing her temper in front of Harry, Ron AND Professor Snape, she felt like an absolute idiot.
"Alright," she said softly, "deep breath," she took another deep breath allowing herself to relax and clear her mind, "first off," she started, "if we are going to do this we have to work together, not just depend on me," she sent a warning look towards Harry who was looking very guilty.
"Fine," Ron and Harry said in union.
"So," Hermione said walking to one door, "this is a maze; there are four possible ways to get started."
"Wait a minute," Ron said looking at the doors, "there are symbols above each door," indeed there were. Above the first was a snake with four stars, all different colors. Above the second was a griffin with three stars, again all different colors and so on and so forth using the other two house mascots, "what do you think it means?"
"I don't know," Hermione said.
"What a minute," Harry stepped up, "4 stars didn't we learn something about stars in DADA? There are four star characteristics. One star means, home, one star means, strength, and another means…..means….I can't remember!"
"Oh yes, in Demon History and Spells, chapter 13 in last years books," Hermione screeched, "go figure we would actually learn something," Hermione drew her wand and conjured up parchment and a quill.
She wrote:
Star 1 – Confusion – Blue
Star 2 –Calmness – Red
Star 3 – Home – Purple
Star 4 – Danger – Green
"Look," she said, "above the Hufflepuff Door is Star 1 – Confusion and that star color is Blue. Above Ravenclaw are Star 1 and Star 4 – Confusion and Danger. If I am thinking correctly, the stars above the doors show us what is behind the doors." She pointed to Ravenclaw, "Ravenclaw – behind the Ravenclaw door lays Danger and Confusion. So we automatically say no to that door."
"And same to Hufflepuff," Harry added, "because only Confusion lies behind that door,"
"But what about Gryffindor and Slytherin, behind both doors it says lies Home AND calmness?" Ron looked at Hermione for answers, "And Slytherin has ALL four."
Hermione squinted at the doors for a minute, "I think we should go to Slytherin,"
………
Silver eyes, glistened….Slytherin…..interesting choice……it's a pity it's the wrong door.…..
The figure chuckled softly running a pale, yet elegant and graceful hand through silver streaked green hair, "they are a smart group," he whispered softly to the silver-eyed panther next to him, "and soon," he dropped his hand to the panther's head, "they will have all the power….imaginable,"
………
"This is taking forever, Hermy," Ron moaned, "and its so boring, are you sure you picked the right door?"
"Well, RONALD, this is the door marked under the star of Calmness and Home, is it not, would you rather go through the door Danger and Confusion? That wouldn't make it quite as boring," Hermione sent Ron a withering glare silencing him.
Harry just shook his head. That was a typical two line argument for the two of them.
"It's so cold," Ron whined again.
Hermione bristled with annoyance, "get over it Ronald Weasley, or use a warming charm."
It was true, they were walking down winding, yet brightly lit, corridor. Thankfully, they hadn't run into any forks, it just kept turning, and twisting. The floor was dirt and there were torches everywhere, but there was a cold draft that caused them to shiver despite there warm wizard robes.
Ron did the necessary charm, teeth chattering overdramatically. Hermione just rolled her eyes with utter disgust.
A rattling noise caught the trio's attention. Harry froze, "what was that?" he drew his wand and the three automatically formed a circle backs to one another protecting all sides.
Another rattle sounded, "there," Harry pointed to a corner. A desk of some sort was shaking and the trio relaxed, "A Bogart," he said simply letting his defensive stance fall, "I'll handle it, Alohamora," a dementor rose from the desk, sending shivers up and down Harry's spine, "Ridiculous," a gust of wind exploded from the tip of his wand accompanied by the silver stag.
The dementor collapsed and the Bogart was locked back up in the desk.
"Whoa," Ron breathed, "bloody hell, Harry, what was that?"
"I don't know…"
………
Severus eye's widened, wind magic again, impossible….Severus ran a slender finger along his bottom lip and then sat upright as a thought hit him, how could I've been so stupid….Granger didn't have all the power, her anger combined with Potter's and Weasley's fear of….well, her, triggered wind magic in…all of them….interesting….Three Wind Magicians in one area is a rarity, interesting….very interesting indeed.
………
The dark hit them without warning.
"Everybody stay CALM," Harry said grabbing Hermione and Ron by the shoulder so they didn't get lost.
"Oh no," Hermione breathed, "I realize it now, all the signs have been pointing to it, but I didn't heed the warnings,"
"Hermione, quit babbling," Ron snapped, "what signs, what warnings, what did we do wrong?"
"WE TOOK THE WRONG DOOR!"
End Chapter Five
TBC
