Harry grabbed his cloak and rushed out the door. He quickly apparated to Romania; he arrived in the dragon camp Charlie worked at and ran outside. It was a gloomy day. The sun was hidden behind a hoard of chattering clouds. Rain was just dripping from the sky like it would from a loose faucet. The darkness that was descending was joined by an air of coldness as Harry ran to the shore. Then, as he ran, something hit him.

"You said that one would decompose if he touched the book right?"

"No Harry, I said if he touched it with evil intentions."

"Shut up Leo, you know what I meant. Anyway so won't Voldy decay?"

"Not quite; he is a bit too smart for that Harry. He probably knows of the curse, seeing he was a Slytherin."

"So what exactly can he do if he can't touch the book?"

"Many things; don't forget, any of his death eaters could touch the book as long as they had clear intentions such as staying loyal or acting to save their lives. They could open it to the correct page and read the passage aloud. After they did, they would either be killed or have a memory charm placed upon them."

"Damn Slytherin. He couldn't have been a Gryffindor and just rushed in to decay?"

"Come on Harry, what exactly would be so great if it was so easy?"

"Yeah, keep laughing since you're not the one that has a stupid mission and has many he loves killed because of that wild man."

"Yeah, don't play that guilt card with me. I know way too many of your secrets and I admonish you for telling me all of them since you barely got to know me."

"Well know this; I trust you with my life, as Snape was trusted with Dumbledore's."

"That means a lot to me, but this serious mood is killing me. Besides, we have arrived at the shoreline so you might as well figure out how to pass. Actually it wouldn't be smart to transform unless you could disillusion yourself first. Apparating is a no go in a magical prison."

"Or we could do it the interesting way…"

"What could you possibly mean by that Harry?"

"Well, I happened to get a small bundle of Gillyweed from Slughorn the other day, enough for ten minutes."

"And me? I can't exactly use that now can I?"

"Well, actually I was going to cast a levitation charm and levitate you over to the other side, besides you are a natural swimmer and can breathe underwater."

"And here I thought you didn't know me."

"Shut it Leo or I'll strangle you."

"Yeah, of course you will and I'm sure Ginny will declare her undying love to that sixth year… Severus Snape I believe."

Harry snorted. In reality, Leo didn't even know what he had said. Ginny and Snape would be a picture Harry would never forget.

"Alright then let's get going."

Harry ate the Gillyweed and jumped into the water. He began to swim with Leo at his tail. (A/N Leo is Lion's nickname) and he pushed ahead faster; lion was going to lose the implied race they were having. Harry lost by a slither and Leo gracefully turned around to send a smug look at the loser.

"Let's hurry up shall we, we really don't want to get caught."

"Shut up snake boy. I will get in the jail as I damn well please, besides he never gets his hands on the book in the future, so why would he do it now?"

"Ah, interesting question, but you see, HE DOES! He creates his little gems; you only stop him from getting any extra information from the book. Now hurry your lazy ass up!"

"All right; jeez, when did I buy Moody's snake doppelganger?"

"Whatever, just hurry up. We have to find the hidden entrance to the cave that holds the book."

"How do you propose we do that?"

"Hmm… You wizard, me snake."

"Ha very funny. Anyway, I know that how in Merlin's name do I uncover the bloody entrance?"

"Magic always leaves traces Harry, and fortunately, I can see them. Around fifty paces northwest is a slight tone of recent magic. From what I have gathered, the only way of opening the cave is to get past the series of locks imposed on it. To raise the door all you must do is say the incantation."

"What is the incantation?"

"I don't know; who in Merlin's name would put that in the book? That would just encourage people to steal and do evil!"

"Now why didn't I use that book to kill Voldemort?"

"Because it would've killed you. Even though your intentions were honorable, killing is inherently evil. Now stop talking mindless garbage and start thinking of words. We're almost there."

"How the hell am I supposed to know? I can get into DD's office because his passwords are predictable. I can't exactly start screaming names of foods can I?"

"Well Harry, THINK!" It may be quite under your nose and you'll never know. You have to think about all you know about Merlin. Many muggles told his tale as the tale of King Arthur. Think about any words you can recall."

"Umm… I think I got it!"

"Ok, out with it then."

"Ok here goes… Abra Kadabra!"

"The killing curse? WHY would he use the muggle version of the killing curse?"

"Umm, sorry, wasn't thinking; but that is the only word I could think of that I have heard Dudley say."

"Harry, as amusing as this is, you take things too lightly. VOLDEMORT IS IN THERE RIGHT NOW AND WILL GET THE BLOODY BOOK AND MORE IF YOU DON'T HURRY UP!"

"CRUD I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THE TOSSER! Ok now I gotta think… umm… Excalibur! No that's not it… Merlin. Nope that's wrong too. Camelot, round table, dragon, magic, power, sorcery… bloody hell, I give up! What the hell could be the bloody password? I mean why couldn't he make it simple like 'Open Sesame' or something?"

Just as Harry finished his sentence, a door appeared out of thin air. This door wasn't just any old door either. The door was three times taller than Hagrid and eight times wider. There were no doorknobs, but a huge lock with a dragon's face snarling at him. A second later the dragon's orange eyes stopped glowing and a clicking sound swept the area as the door unlocked. As the doors opened, a bright light slipped through, blinding the boy and his snake. When both opened their eyes, they were standing in a huge entrance hall with no exit in sight.

"Bloody Hell, this is amazing… This hall is great; I bet Mione would love to research it. And this place looks like a palace!" Harry said (A/N until they leave the castle, all conversations will be in Parseltongue. I really don't wanna italicize them all).

"Yes it is, but it is after all called the forbidden palace. It is ruled by the one and only King Knowledge. He rules over the kingdom we call the universe." Lion said in awe.

The entrance hall was amazing. It was a beige color with designs in red, orange and blue. There was a golden light that seemed to have no source lighting it up. On the ceiling were tapestries, but not of people, but of magical animals. Harry looked carefully and spotted Fawkes. In the center of the entrance hall was a fountain that was circular. It had a small pointed tower in the middle, which spewed rainbow colored water from its tip. On the fountain the words were engraved "Darkness shall never escape here." It intrigued Harry that the inscription was in English.

"Oi Leo, why is this inscription in English rather than Latin?"

"Are you blind Harry? That inscription is written in Parseltongue!"

"No… it's in English."

"Blind now are we?" Leo asked snidely.

"Shut up and let's go. I see sixteen ways to exit so which way do we go?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know Potter? I am an animal after all. My setting is the forest. Take me to a forest and I'll guide you through it, I swear."

"Shut up and help me pick an exit. There are seven staircases and nine doors. Just randomly pick one and we'll go."

"Fine, I'll pick that door over there." And with that, Leo slithered over to a door half hidden by a staircase, a door which Harry had overlooked.

"Wait up snake-face! I wanna be there when we get to snake face."

"Are you calling me Voldemort?"

"No, just maybe his long lost great uncle from a different lifetime."

"Shut up Harry, I swear sometimes you're insufferable."

"True, but this is not one of those times is it?"

"Open the door Harry and shut up."

"Roger that." Harry moved to open the door, but before he could turn the knob, a bright light enveloped him again and the boy and his snake were whisked away again.