Hey everybody! I know that it's been almost six months since I've updated, and I've neglected this story. But, here's another chapter! I've recently felt inspired to write this story again especially since I've been getting more ideas about it, and it helps that last week I went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Which was AMAZING! So, I hope you guys like it! Enjoy! (disclaimer in prologue)
Chapter 8: Couldn't Back Out Now
The room was empty expect for two old, worn chairs and an old, dusty table. The window was covered by a torn, hole covered drape that reflected the spider webs on the window. The spider web reflection didn't take away from the young lady's beauty who was sitting in one of the worn chairs. Her light blue eyes were staring at the young man pacing in front of the window. The lady was fighting back tears while the man's face was covered with tears.
"How could you do this to me?" the man basically yelled, turning to face the girl. His eyes were full of angry and disappointment. "I should've had a say in this! How could you be so selfish?"
The lady didn't flinch at his questions but merely looked down at the wooden floor. "I had no choice."
"There's always a choice! You didn't even let me see her!" he responded, not afraid of showing the lady he once loved his tears.
"You have no idea what would happen if I didn't let her go," she replied, gripping the table's end as hard as she could. "Everyone we know would have made it miserable!"
"Why do you always put what everyone else thinks first? Think of yourself for once in your life!" he cried, falling to his knees. Minutes of silence passed by until the man got back on his feet. "Doesn't matter now. I'll never stop looking for her. What about you?" He directed his cold stare at the lady and was even more disgusted at the emotionless expression on her face.
"It's best I leave her alone," she answered in monotone, still looking down.
It took all of his willpower not to curse her. "Well, I hope you for your sake you can live with yourself. Where's the girl I once knew who had a heart?" he coldly asked as he walked out of the room. The girl sat there in silence for a few minutes before putting her head on the table and crying her emotions out.
Susanna sat up in bed, feeling beads of sweat falling down her face. The scene seemed so real, so lifelike, as if it had really happened. Leaning against the bed rest, she brought her knees to her chin and just sat there. Similar dreams, like the one she just had, always left her spooked and confused. Susanna tried to convince herself that it was from the relief of the final exams being through, but something in the back of her mind told her that was false. She glanced out the window, with the full moon shining bright over the Black Lake. She thought she saw a mermaid tail flipping in the water but wasn't sure.
"Hermione, when do…" Susanna began asking when she turned to Hermione's bed but was shocked to find her friend's bed empty. The bed was neatly made but there were books all over the sheets. One of the large books was still open, and her curiosity got the best of her as she leaned over to read the book.
The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with the making of the Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera-lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).
Wow, I'm sure he looks amazing, Susanna thought to herself when she finished reading. She wondered why Hermione randomly had this book out opened to that page on her bed. The twelve-year-old quietly got out of bed and walked out the door, wondering if her friend was getting in a late night reading by the warm fire.
She mentally kicked herself for not putting on socks as she walked down the cold steps and into the common room. The room was extremely dark without the fire going. Where could she possibly be? Susanna wondered when she saw no sign of her bushy-haired friend. She saw something lying on the floor and slowly tiptoed over to the red chairs. Her eyes widened when she saw Neville lying stiff with a scared expression. He seemed to be alive but still as a rock. Susanna, after thinking through all the spells she knew, realized he had been hit with Petrificus Totalus and tried thinking of the counter spells.
Susanna ran up to her bed and grabbed her wand. Once she got back to standing in front of Neville, she took a deep breath before lifting her wand and aiming it at Neville. "Finite Incantatem," Susanna spoke and within a few seconds Neville's body returned to normal and he was breathing very loudly.
"Thank you so much!" Neville spoke as he stood back up. "That was awful!"
"Who jinxed you, Neville?" Susanna questioned. "Why are you down here anyway?"
"It was Hermione," Neville answered.
Susanna was instantly confused. "Hermione! Why would she do something like that?"
"I was trying to stop her, Harry, and Ron from sneaking out again and get Gryffindor in trouble again," Neville explained, reminding Susanna of her friend's first detention. And how many points Gryffindor lost. "They kept saying they had to get out. I…I told them I would fight them. Then Hermione jinxed me."
Susanna couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her best friend purposefully jinxing another friend? Something was definitely wrong. She had to tell someone.
"Neville, you should go back to bed," Susanna suggested as she began walking toward the portrait.
"Where are you going?" Neville asked.
She didn't really hear his question as Susanna walked out of the common room and into the Grand Staircases. She didn't care that she was still in her pajamas with extremely messy hair and walking around barefoot in the middle of the night. She continued down the hallways, not exactly knowing where she was going. Susanna wanted to go to Professor Dumbledore's office but had no idea what she would say to him.
After about five minutes of wandering down the hallways, Susanna found herself in front of a gargoyle staring at her. She began tapping her foot against the stone floor, wondering how she was supposed to get inside. She stood there for a couple more minutes when the gargoyle began turning around and someone appeared walking down the stairs. Suddenly feeling extremely nervous, she backed up as the person came into full view. Professor Dumbledore stood in front of her in his usual robe attire, looking at her with a curious expression.
"Ah, Ms Gates, out of bed I see," the headmaster started. Susanna was really nervous that she was now in trouble and was going to receive detention- at the end of the school year. But, she saw a twinkle in his eyes and sweetness in the small smile he gave her that said she was fine. "You seem troubled. What is bothering you at this hour of the night?"
"Sir, I think Hermione, Harry, and Ron are in trouble," Susanna quietly told.
Professor Dumbledore slightly nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, I came back from the Ministry when I realized something was wrong. I'm currently heading to the third floor now. How did you know something was wrong?"
Susanna took a deep breath before telling of how she woke up, found Hermione missing, went to the common room, found Neville, and decided to come there.
"Good use of the counter-curse, Ms Gates," Dumbledore complimented, and Susanna knew he really meant it. "Please come with me. I might need your skill," he told as he began walking away. Susanna quickly caught up with him but was growing nervous at what she would find.
The castle was mysteriously quiet, even the portraits were asleep. She couldn't help but wonder what drove her friend to wander the castle at night. The two walked in silence when they finally arrived at the third floor. Dumbledore quickly opened up the door and led Susanna down another hallway to another door.
"Be warned, what you might see may be frightening," Dumbledore warned as he opened the door.
The twelve-year-old slapped her hands over her mouth to muffle her scream. In front of her and the headmaster was a gigantic, black fur three-headed dog. It reminded her of Cerberus from Greek Mythology, but she never thought they actually existed even though Hermione told her about the three-headed dog. It scared the wits out of her, but she was surprised to find it asleep. She was confused when she saw a harp that was enchanted to play itself.
"Now, we must find a way to move Fluffy's paw and open the trapdoor," Dumbledore told the first year. Susanna glanced at the headmaster as her mouth opened.
"Fluffy!"she whispered to herself, glancing back at the monster. That thing does not look like a Fluffy, Susanna thought to herself. Who in the world would name that thing? She looked under one of the large paws to see a small, metal circle attached to a wooden board that didn't match the rest of the stone floor. Professor Dumbledore drew his wand and with a quick whisper levitated the paw away from the trapdoor.
His eyes turned to Susanna, who was still staring in awe and fright at Fluffy. "Susanna, would you be so kind as to lift the trapdoor for me? Bad back; I'm afraid I wouldn't have the ability to get back up," Dumbledore kindly asked. Nodding her head, Susanna bent down and quietly as she could lifted the trapdoor open, gently placing it against Fluffy's body. She slightly leaned over the hole, and was even more frightened. She quickly scooted away from the trapdoor and backed against the wall.
"Don't worry, you will not be harmed," the headmaster calmed, offering his hand to her. She slowly took it as she stood back up, and the two walked over to the trapdoor. Susanna again leaned over the entrance, thinking of all the worst possible horrors that awaited her best friend, the two boys, the Hogwarts Headmaster, and herself. "Just relax," Dumbledore told Susanna. "That is the key." She looked back at the professor, and he gestured his hands toward the opening, telling her to go in.
Susanna did not want to go in there, thinking of the worst things that awaited her. Wasn't she supposed to be a Gryffindor with nerve, courage, and chivalry? So much for that. She needed to just turn back around and sprint back to the Common Room and climb back into bed as if nothing was wrong. She was too much of a coward to jump in and face things unknown.
But, the idea of Hermione, her first real friend and best friend, in danger, and even Harry and Ron, also in danger, made her shudder. She couldn't back out now. Even though their headmaster could offer so much more assistance than she ever could. But, maybe she could help. Susanna took a deep breath before jumping into the hole. Surprisingly, she landed on something very soft that filled the whole room but became very worried at what she landed on. She suddenly felt something slimy sliding over her body. It continued tightening around her, not letting her grab her wand. "Devil's Snare!" Susanna shouted, realizing what it was. She remembered hearing something about it in Herbology, and it was right on the tip of her tongue.
Just relax, that is the key ran through her mind, understanding what Professor Dumbledore had told her. But it was almost impossible to get calm when a plant was choking her to death. Susanna then tried clearing her mind and closing her eyes, imagining that she was back in the common room wrapped up in a book or remembering a lullaby that she had always known. Suddenly feeling calm and relaxed, Susanna felt the Devil's Snare loosening its grip on her body and her falling through the plant. Within a few seconds, she found herself sitting on a stone floor with the Devil's Snare above her.
"Thank goodness!" she basically yelled as she fell back against the floor, relieved it was over. What in the Wizarding World would bring Hermione, Harry, and Ron down here? she wondered to herself, still staring at the Devil's Snare.
"Excellent job, Susanna," Professor Dumbledore complimented as he basically floated down to the floor. Susanna leaned back up, surprised that she, a first-year, received a compliment from one of the most powerful wizards. She just hoped all the dangers were gone. She stood back on her feet, looking around at the stone walls. "Let's continue. They shouldn't be far ahead," he told as he continued walking.
Taking a deep breath, Susanna walked behind the headmaster as they continued down the hallway. She wanted to believe that there were no more dangers, but common sense told her that was not true. At least the Hogwarts Headmaster was in front of her.
"Sir, what's down here that requires all these traps?" Susanna asked. Dumbledore stopped in his tracks but did not turn around to look at the Gryffindor. Susanna instantly wished she had kept her mouth shut, realizing she probably was not allowed to know the answer. "Sorry, sir, I shouldn't have asked," she apologized, lowering her head and slightly rocking back and forth on her feet.
"No, no, it is alright," Dumbledore corrected. "Since you are down here, you have the right to know." Dumbledore then turned around to face her with a serious but still light-hearted expression on his face. "However, for your protection it is better than you only know that it is a valuable and powerful object that does not need to fall into the wrong hands," the headmaster explained. His light blue eyes were shining behind his half-moon spectacles even though the hallway was dark. "But, you did not here that from me." A small smile appeared on his face before he turned around and continued walking.
Susanna tilted her head slightly, surprised at what she just heard. She sighed before walking again. After a few minutes, the two walked into a chamber with a very high ceiling so high Susanna couldn't see the ceiling, and a wide column in the very center of the room. In the middle, a broom just floated stationary. On the other end of the chamber was another door with a lock on it. Susanna heard buzzing in her ears and looked up. There seemed to be birds flying around on all heights. But, something was off about the birds. The more she looked at them, the less they looked like birds. And more like…keys. This just keeps getting weirder and weirder, she thought to herself as Dumbledore again withdrew his wand.
With a flick of his wrist, a large key with a torn up wing flew to his hand and he walked to the door that was on the other side. He placed the broken winged key in the lock, turned it, and opened the door. He glanced back at Susanna and gestured into the next room with his hand. She quickly followed him in, still wondering about the random broom. But once she turned to face the new room, it was even more puzzling.
The room was lit with torches all along the sides of the room. The floor in the center of the room was raised a few inches above the ground along the walls, and the tile seemed to be like a black and white checkerboard pattern that was covered with dust. Susanna was shocked to see broken pieces of clay scattered into small piles of rubble all across the floor. Some looked like swords, some like shields, and others like helmets. Susanna felt that the pieces were familiar and was surprised to see pieces that were still standing intact. They reminded her of wizard chest pieces, just larger, life size. Then it clicked and her eyes widened when she realized she and Dumbledore were standing on the side of a life-size wizard's chess game. Every time she heard someone playing, she would wince and flinch whenever she heard the smacks and breaks of the pieces killing each other, if someone consider a game piece smacking another one to bits 'killing'. Margie would laugh at her whenever Susanna flinched, but it was something she couldn't help.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Susanna heard someone yell, drawing Susanna's attention away from the scenery. She saw Hermione, dressed in normal clothes, facing her and the Headmaster while standing next to a body that was lying on the ground. The body laid still but the person's chest was rising and falling, so at least the person was alive. Susanna was shocked when she realized it was Ron, and that there were bleeding cuts all over his and Hermione's faces.
Susanna quickly rushed over to her friend, gaining a shocked look from Hermione. When she got closer, Susanna could see bits of rubble in Ron and Hermione's hair. Hermione's eyes widened when she saw her best friend. "Susanna! What are you doing here?" she questioned.
The blonde girl moved her bangs behind her ear so she could see her friend. "I woke up and saw you weren't there. Then I went to the common room and found Neville. He told me about you, Harry, and Ron, and I ran to Dumbledore's office. He was walking out anyway, and he told me to follow him here," she told her friend.
"Oh, I hope Neville's not angry with me," Hermione expressed before looking back at Ron. She then looked back up at the headmaster. "Professor Dumbledore, Harry's gone on ahead. He might be in danger!"
Professor Dumbledore walked over to the first years and bent down to look at Ron. "Mr. Weasley just needs some attention from Madame Pomfrey, and he will be fine," Dumbledore told the girls. "I will go on ahead and find Mr. Potter. I must ask you two ladies to bring Mr. Weasley to the Hospital Wing."
"But sir, how will we get back with all the traps?" Hermione asked.
"There's more than one entrance and exit to this corridor, if one knows where to look," Professor Dumbledore answered before standing back up and walking to the next room.
Susanna and Hermione sat there in silence, unsure of the Headmaster's words. They sat there deep in thought, trying to think of what it meant. "Have you seen anything unusual in these traps?" Susanna asked her friend.
"Besides a three-headed dog named Fluffy, crushing Devil's Snare, keys flying like birds, a life-sized wizard's chess game, a knocked out troll, and possible death potions, nothing that provided another exit," Hermione answered, all in one breath.
Susanna was shocked to hear all the things Hermione, Harry, and Ron had dealt with, and even more scared when she heard the other dangers that she hadn't even encountered yet. "Why are you down here anyway?" she continued asking.
"We had to stop Snape from getting the Sorcerer's Stone and giving it to Voldemort," Hermione informed.
"So, that's why you had that book out on your bed," Susanna commented and Hermione gave her a confused look. "Oh, I saw that book and read the part about Flamel and the Sorcerer's Stone. How did Ron get hurt?"
"He sacrificed himself when we were playing Wizard's Chess so we could win the game," she answered.
"Well, we've got to get him to Madame Pomfrey. I don't understand how there can be more than one exit," Susanna began. "Why would the professors create another exit if they just wanted to catch the thief?" Something then seemed to click inside her. "That's it! They had to create another exit so they could catch a thief easier without having to go through all the traps. They probably made it look like an optical illusion so the thief wouldn't think there was an exit!" She tried thinking anything that appeared out of the ordinary, well according to wizardry.
"I never could see the ceiling," Susanna whispered, remembering the very high ceiling of the key room. And there was a broom. But, would that fit three people on it, with one who was knocked out.
"What Susanna?" Hermione questioned, confused at her friend's statement.
"The key room! I couldn't see the end of the ceiling, so the secret exit must be up there. And we could use the broom!" Susanna excitedly said; ready to get out of the corridor.
"But will it fit all three of us?" Hermione asked in a worried tone.
"We won't know until we try," Susanna corrected. "It's the best chance we've got. Come on, Hermione, let's get Ron up." She got back on her feet and gently took one of Ron's arms as Hermione stood up and took the other. They stood up and let Ron's head hang as they stood walked out of the game room and back into the key room. The key-birds were still flying around at all levels, and the broom was still floating stationary. The two girls carried the injured boy next to the broom.
Hermione stared at the broom with an unsure and extremely worried expression. "Susanna, are you sure it will work?"
"No, not sure at all," her friend quickly answered, also staring at the broom. They stood there in silence. "So, you flying the broom?"
"Susanna, you know how terrible at flying I am, you have to," the bushy-haired girl corrected. Susanna knew she was right; Hermione was not good at flying. She had to fly the broom. Taking a step closer to the broom, Susanna began reaching toward the front. "Wait!" Hermione cried. Susanna turned to her friend who was now trying to stand up straight since all of Ron's weight was now on her. "As soon as you touch the broom the keys are going to go after you."
Susanna sighed, figuring it wouldn't be that easy. If someone considered flying a broomstick with two other people riding while trying to get out of a booby-trapped corridor that protected a stone that gave immortality which a professor was going to give to sadistic, blood-hungry wizard easy. What more could a few hundred bird-looking keys do? Yep, not that easy, Susanna thought to herself as she moved her hand closer to the broom.
"Get ready to get Ron on," Susanna reminded Hermione. Hermione then grudgingly lifted one of Ron's legs up and over the broom, making sure his leg didn't touch the broom. She nodded her head at Susanna, telling her she was ready. "Okay, three…two…one!" Susanna shouted as she grabbed the broom with her hand and hopped on the broom. Immediately, she could hear the keys turning their attention to her. She immediately began directing the broom into the air, trying to out fly the keys.
"Hermione! You and Ron on?" Susanna shouted as she directed the broom in circles around the column as they rose higher. She wanted to glance back and look for herself, but she was scared that she would run the broom into the wall if she looked away. The broom felt heavy to her, and she knew she was pushing their luck by having three people on a broom. Good thing we're first-years, she thought to herself, tightening her grip on the broom.
"Yes! Susanna, they're right behind us!" Hermione warned, trying not to look down. She had faith in her friend to fly them out, but she still couldn't help but worry.
Susanna leaned forward on the broom, as the broom continued circling. The wings of the keys were one loud buzz in her ears. She was frightened when she saw that there was a ceiling above them, but also an opening just big enough for a broom and its rider. And beyond the opening was the midnight sky. I was right! Susanna thought to herself, really surprised she was right about it. She mostly expected to fly the broom into a ceiling. "Hermione! We're almost out! Hold on tight! It's going to be close!" she shouted as she stopped the broom from circling when they were below the opening and began tilting to where it was almost was sticking (or flying) straight up.
The opening was getting closer and closer, and Susanna sure hoped she positioned them correctly. It took all her willpower not to close her eyes as they flew through the opening, and into the nighttime air, free of any walls. The broom continued rising through the sky, the castle growing smaller. Finally registering that they made it, Susanna leveled out the broom and glanced down at her school. The only lights were the fires spaced out in the halls that shined through the windows. "Beautiful," Susanna whispered to herself. "I did it," she said, surprised she had actually flown out of a trap.
She then noticed the buzzing had stopped and looked down to see no keys below them. "I hope I never see them again." She turned her head and laughed when she saw that Hermione had her eyes shut and Ron was leaning against Hermione. "You can open your eyes, Hermione." The bushy haired girl slowly opened her eyes then marveled at the sight below. Susanna let the broom just slowly fly over the castle. Then she remembered where they needed to go. "Hermione, where's the Hospital Wing?"
In less than five minutes, Susanna had positioned the broom in front of a window that let them see into the Hospital Wing. Hermione was still nervous at flying, Ron was still knocked out, but Susanna felt calm. She just hoped Madame Pomfrey could hear them as she began knocking on the window. Madame Pomfrey quickly walked over to the window, and the girls could see her shriek with fright when she saw them riding a broom outside her window. The nurse quickly opened the window. "Oh my! What are you doing?" she began questioning when she saw Ron. "What happened to Mr. Weasley?"
Hermione then quickly explained all that had happened, and when she finished the nurse rushed the trio into the Hospital Wing. She let Susanna sit on a bed since she suffered no cuts or injuries while she attended to Hermione and Ron. Susanna sat on the bed, suddenly feeling very tired. And amazed at what she had just done. It didn't seem like her at all, taking charge over a situation, acting recklessly. It was almost like someone had switched her personality with someone more brave and reckless.
Maybe I do have some Gryffindor in me, Susanna thought to herself as sleep started overcoming her. She leaned against the hospital bed, not really caring if Madame Pomfrey got onto her. And ready for a good-night's sleep.
Glad you made it down here! I hope that wasn't extremely far-fetched or stupid. I've always been confused on how Dumbledore knew about Neville standing up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, so I decided to answer that question in my story. As I was reading over this, I realized Susanna might seem to be acting OOC, so I tried touching on that by making her think about it. I hope this chapter wasn't stupid. One more chapter in Year 1 then it's off to summer and Year 2! I'm excited! I'm going to write the next chapter of this before anything else so I can finish Year 1. So, that's all I have to say except click on the review button and tell me what you thought (kindly if you're criticizing me)! See you next time! Thank you for reading!