Coughs broke through the rumbling echo that filled the dust infested tunnels as the heavy mud barrier at last gave way. A stream of light burst from the tip of a wand, spreading out to created a translucent film that fit the exposed opening. Moments after a hiss turned into a shattering POP as florescent red and green sparks sprang forth. Hitting the magical barrier they promptly fizzled and died.
"Quick thinking, Weasley." A diamond sharp voice applauded as the debris cleared. A wiry man with sharp eyes stood up tall as he cast a proud glance at the young redhead behind him. "No wonder they sent you to me straight off!"
Bill Weasley, after only a year of serving the Grigotts main branch, was sent to be a part of a seasoned team headed to Egypt. The local curse breakers had come up against a formidable series of ancient enchantments. Now that he was here, the excitement and awe imposed by the land around him had tinkled away when the dangers of his profession began to sink in. The adrenaline from the experiences before him were arousing and humbling all at the same time.
"Thank you, sir." Bill said to his supervisor.
"Alright!" The expedition leader yelled behind him to the small crew in his presence. "We've now passed further then any other team. But don't whoop and yell yet. We still have the worst ahead of us. So keep your eyes sharp." A chorus of recognition sounded.
"Weasley." The sharp voice stopped Bill as he stepped forward. "This last trap is going to be a dozy if recordings can be trusted. I want you to be the one assisting me with It.."
Bill's eyes widened at the suggestion. This tunnel they were in was supposed to be a gateway to a precious medicinal growth hidden away since it was gobbled up in its discovery. Teams had been trying for months to unlock the way to it, all failing. Most of them had come back with horrible injuries. His heart pumped furiously.
The team stopped when they came to large barrier. Ancient Egyptian wizards had been known to mingle with muggles. They adapted most of their creations to look commonplace as not to alert others to their traps. Copper, corroded green from aging, stood as the base was heavily imprinted with flowered gold vines.. Nearly all apparent traces of magic had been obliterated.
"The leaves." Bill observed. "The remaining magical pressure is focused most sharply on the leaves. This would indicate both the source of the trap and the code. Given the spread of the points it's probably only split magic, or many people could even begin to open this. Whatever it is… It won't be pretty if we mess this one up."
"Right." The leader agreed. "You heard him. I want everyone else to step back. Partha, I want you to be prepared to create a shield for the others just in case this goes wrong. Jonas, I want you to back her up. The rest of you watch and learn."
Along side of his on-site trainer Bill worked to figure out the trick. The leader beat him to it. Bill had been right in one of his assumptions. It was going to take seven of the twelve leaves to be activated. Using the logic gained in his arithmancy classes and the style of the past obstacles in the tunnel they devised an activation sequence and the proper spell to use. Or, at least they hoped they did.
"Ready?" Bill nodded to the question put to him. With a deep breath and the count of three they shouted their spells towards each designated leaf. The jet of energy sizzled as they hit their targets.
The leaves retracted and with a heavy rumbling the rock began to dissolve. The others on standby cheered. Their excitement was premature.
From the hole a coiled creature sprang forward. It leaped with incandescent claws towards the project leader. Without blinking Bill lunged forward with a displacement spell on his lips. The animal's claws caught onto Bill's arm making the man hiss and cling his steaming appendage but not in vain. The magically conjured beast howled in pain as the workers behind them cast vanquishing words.
Bill leaned heavily against the closest wall. He could hear the man he protected speak to him. Then came the black.
"Your awake." The room slowly came into focus as Bill opened his eyes. Above him stood the leader and his teammates.
"You're lucky it didn't hit you straight on. You had us worried. I owe you one, Weasley. I would have been a goner," said the leader.
"Did you find them?" Bill asked.
"Sure did! They-" the leader chuckled as Bill dozed back to sleep.