Author note: Hey! I'm hyper, so inspiration struck! You can thank a Guest named Nicki Spade and for pretty much getting me going. Oh yes, Nicki if you are reading this….It's going to get worse :} You're Welcome.
Disclaimer: Nope, still just…no…Damn…anything recognizable does not belong to me.
Chapter 7
All the Queens Men
He made a face, reaching back to find the source; his fingers brushed slimy teeth and steaming breath huffing against his hand. The boy froze, the large creature making a hissing coo as it nuzzled into his small hand. Harrys neck cracked with how fast he whipped his head back to look at the unknown creature and he froze at the strangely familiar –motherqueenlayerofeggshischildofmagic- creature. He couldn't help but smile up at it –hershemotherqueen- as she carefully released him from both sets of arms. The Queen watched him protectively as Harry gazed around in amazement at the slightly familiar cave from what seemed like months ago. It had only been a couple of weeks.
The cave was hot and humid, making the young wizard sweat in his torn pajamas. The walls were coated with a strange hard looking material that shone in the dim light, –thereisnolightyouarechangedihavemadeitso-, and strange egg looking things were scattered densely next to what appeared to be a broken pipe and only entrance and exit. Adult sized creatures with many legs and short tails seemed to scurry across the floor, ceiling, and walls as a few more long legged –incubatedinstrangehornedthingcarefulcareful- blurs seemed to be gently working near the Queen and walls. Harry squinted, trying to make out more detail but it only seemed to make the cave darker and the Queen gave a grumble at his attempts –noeyesdon'tuseeyes-. The Queen's magic swirled around the boy, coaxing him to nestle close and sleep again as the spiderborn workers brought a struggling and confused man into the cave, "What is going on? Is this part of the treatment that nice old man told me I'd get? Am I dreaming? He said I might dream of my past, is that what's happening? Is this an adventure I didn't write about? Please tell me this is a dre-" She growls contently as her silvery horseborn guided a facehugger to the annoyance and cut his babble off.
Ron frowned in concern, his friend is in the hospital wing, he isn't allowed to visit him, and the strange black creature he had been sneaking food to as it grew was gone too. Hermione had nagged at him not to feed the little thing with the ornate crest but something about it reminded of his poor best friend. Besides, the cute bugger seemed to like him well enough and its rapid growth kept him busy trying to feed it and kept his mind off Harry and the horrible things that seem to happen to him. But now, that distraction was gone and the teachers had them doing theory work while they hovered nearby. Ron didn't think anything of it at first, but he began to doubt as he overheard the nurse chattering anxiously on how Lockhart was missing as she ran back to her infirmary with the Headmaster in tow. The redhead frowned thoughtfully as he continued to Potions class with the rest of his class, not really thinking of why Professor Sinistra was watching the students travel the dungeon corridors with her wand drawn.
Ron had just sat in his usual seat when the bony elbow of Hermione jabbed into his side, "Ow! Hermione, that hurt!" he pouted and rubbed his side pointedly.
She gave him an exasperated look, "Professor Snape isn't here, and if you were listening you would know!"
The boy just gave her a confused look as he glanced to the front," What do want me to do 'bout it? Not like I can do anythin' 'bo-"He was abruptly cut off as she shoved her elbow into his side again, sliding some parchment in front of him. Ron glared at the witch but quickly read through the note.
I overheard Hagrid saying that something has cursed the animals in the Forbidden Forest and that Fang was missing. He said the animals chests had exploded. Shock flickered over his face as he read the short note again, he quickly scribbled a reply as Professor Sinistra strode into the room, That's really weird, and Pomfrey was running to the infirmary with Dumbledore and saying that Lockhart had disappeared. He shuffled the parchment back to Hermione as the watching Professor patrolled along the aisles, a sinking feeling of dread over coming him as he saw her walk by with her wand out.
Severus Snape dropped down into the exposed pipe, glaring up at the two standing on the edge, "Whatever has taken Misters Potter and Lockhart did not seem to harm either, try not to harm them unless needed." The headmaster called softly before turning and waltzing out of sight, Madame Pomfrey hesitantly following.
The spymaster silently snarled at them as he slunk down the pipe, muttering a quick and heartfelt, "Bloody buggering balls." He held his wand defensively in front of him, mentally wishing he could have worn his robes but his common sense had him leaving it behind as to not be grabbed by it. Snape crept along the damp pipe, following a humid and, out of place, hot breeze. As he continued the light began to fade and a strange resin material creating strange patterns on the curved stone walls, faint sounds of busy movement had the dour man straining his ears.