Chapter 17: Salazar's halls
"You intrigue me Merlin. All this time and you've never once done anything for praise." Morgana stated. "You know, after all this time, I still wonder what you do it for."
"What have you done to her?" Merlin growled.
"Oh, the girl?" Morgana replied, smiling at the unconscious Ginny, "Don't worry about her, it's just the effects of the spell; it will wear off with time… You see, I needed her body because I knew you wouldn't cooperate with me looking like myself… well it looks, unfortunately, like that plan failed. So here I am… will you cooperate with me now, Merlin?" She slowed those last words, tilting her head ever so slightly to the side as if she were talking to a child.
In answer, Merlin fixed his eyes on a certain piece of stone floor that seemed to have caught his attention.
"I see," she sighed. "Well then, we'll have to do it the hard way won't we?" She lifted a hand, pulling it downward, as if yanking something stuck fast free from that which held it.
A cracking emitted from one of the giant snake heads, and unexpectedly a tooth was jerked from its jaw by some invisible force. It rushed toward Hermione, stopping just centimetres away from her heart.
It all happen so quickly, Merlin was unable to stop it, but now he lifted a hand toward Morgana, intention clear. He readied himself, straightening his palm, then…
"Stop!" The order came loud and clear, and without quite knowing why, Merlin did as it asked, he lowering his palm so it rested at his side. Morgana smiled slyly "Make any attempt against me, Merlin, and that will go straight through your friend's heart. Understand?"
Merlin gulped, but, exhaling, he nodded reluctantly.
Morgana smirked, content, but did not remove the tooth from Hermoine's chest. "So then, now we have an understanding. What, I ask again, do you do it for?"
"Because it's the right thing to do." Merlin stated moodily.
"And what, may ask, is 'the right thing to do'?" Morgana stepped closer as she spoke, heels clicking yet again on the stone floor.
"You wouldn't understand Morgana, all you want is power and wealth and what is right for you… when was the last time you did something for someone else?"
Morgana smiled thinly, ignoring his last question. "Let me try and understand, my dear friend. What. Are. You. Doing. It. For?" She asked for the second time, flexing the fingers of the hand holding the tooth aloft. Merlin's eyes flicked from Morgana to Hermione, before he realised the purpose of the movement—Hermonie's life rested on the answer to this question.
"The Old Religion is preparing to leave this planet, and when it does, earth will die… and everyone, you and I included, will perish. Is that what you want Morgana?"
"What I want is none of your business. But," she dropped her hold over the fang and it toppled to the floor. Hermoine gasped for breath when it did, and Merlin realised she must have been holding it without realising, "I've heard enough" Morgana continued, turning and walking away.
Merlin raised his eyebrows in astonishment. "Don't you understand? We're all going to die, you included!"
"Have fun getting out of here!" She threw over her shoulder with a snarl, leaving the four of them—with the unconscious Ginny—stunned and confused.
To Harry's relief, Ginny awoke around an hour later; dazed and confused, she seemed to have no memories of any events since the fight in the forest and though he thought she should be checked over first; she insisted she was fine and they all apprehensively walked along the dripping chamber until they met the circular door that announce the end of Salazar's halls.
Harry examined it; it looked much the same, if a little greener from the moss or whatever foul growth lived down here in these forgotten rooms. Made from what looked like iron, the door still had the same snakes slithering divergently away from its edge. Still the same bolts dotted around those snakes in a circle that made the door look even more impregnable than it already did.
He shrugged and, stepping back, he opened his mouth… only to realise he no longer knew a single word of Parseltongue. He inhaled sharply, then slowly turned to the others, lowering his head in sign of defeat.
"What?" Ron asked, obviously forgetting just as Harry had done.
Hermione smiled understandingly. "It's not your fault Harry." She looked around "Does anyone remember any Parseltongue?"
"Why can't Harr…" Ron began to question, but then: "Oh, you mean Harry forgot how to speak parselmouth when Voldermort killed that part of him…" Ron trailed off in understanding.
"Do you think you remember Ron?" Hermione asked "After all, you got the two of us in here all those years ago."
"Sorry," Ron muttered "I'd never expected I'd need it again." He too, looked around to see if anyone else had a clue. "Great!" he huffed after a while "So how do we get out of here?"
"I could have a go." Merlin suggested, "I mean I've blown out things like this before."
"It's worth a try," Harry supposed, stepping back, and letting the others—apart from Merlin—follow in his wake.
"Okay," Harry heard Merlin mutter under his breath. He watched the other man ready himself; balancing his weight evenly on both feet, Merlin lifted his hands as if about to push a great weight forward. All at once Merlin threw his arms out, throwing the spell with them. But nothing happened, Harry stood there, watching; waiting for something to occur, but nothing did, the door didn't even twitch.
Then, suddenly, Merlin was thrown off his feet, his body flailing uncontrollably as it soared through the air, landing hard on the grey-green cobles with a 'thwack' sound.
Harry grimaced, but watched in slight awe as Merlin managed to pull himself up again; Harry had half expected him to be fit for the A and E department, and yet there he was, picking himself up as though he was merely bruised… thinking about it though, Harry couldn't say he was surprised—after all, Merlin was the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk this earth, not to mention immortal, so why should a little trip hurt him?
Merlin walked back over to the rest of them, limping slightly and groaning he said almost jovially; "Well… I guess that's a no. Does anyone have any better ideas?"