Kailor: Two hundred reviews! We have hit the two hundreds, my friends! Thank you all so much! Thank you to Hurin3. That line had me laughing when I wrote it! Glad someone enjoyed it as much as I did. MioneGreen, I think you'll be very pleased with this chap. I have found a happy medium. ;) And another thank you to everyone who sends in those lovely reviews. Shooting for three hundred now!
Harry braced himself, wand held out before him, and stepped into the room. His palms were damp. But his grip was tight and steady. Ven's hand touched his back, telling him she was there. He could hear Hermione's breath on his other side.
The spell on his lips died as he realized the dog was laying down, fast asleep. Between its front paws, the trapdoor was open. Soft music was filling the chamber and Harry looked around for its source. A stringed instrument was leaned against the wall, playing all on its own. "A harp?" he whispered.
"Actually, it's a lyre." Hermione's voice was low as she moved closer to the instrument, studying it. "With a harp, the strings enter directly into the hollow body of the instrument, while on a lyre, the strings pass over a bridge that transmits the vibrations of the strings to the body."
"Fascinating," Padma said shortly. "So it looks like it's keeping the beast asleep. Can we go before it stops?"
Harry nodded and moved to the trapdoor. Inside was complete darkness.
"How far do you think it drops?" Ron hissed, leaning over the hole.
"Only one way to find out." Ven glanced at Harry. He nodded.
Behind them, the dog snored, making Neville jump and grab Hermione's arm. Harry quickly spoke. "Okay, I'll go first. I'll call back up if it's safe. If I don't call, all of you get out of here. Got it?"
"Sure, sure, yeah," Ven said, waving her hand impatiently and smirking. She obviously had no intention of listening.
Harry narrowed his eyes at his twin. The others backed away, allowing Harry to sit and slide into the hole. He grasped the edge and lowered himself until he was just hanging by his fingertips. He had a sudden memory of climbing the wall of Castle Stalker, trying to reach his father on the battlements. And here he was again, hanging on by just his fingers, making his way towards the soft-voiced man that had raised him. He couldn't help but chuckle as he let go, falling into the darkness.
Cold, damp air rushed past him, whistling in his ears. He fell, down, down, down, then-FLUMP. He landed on something soft and cold with a muffled thump. His glasses were crooked, but even once he fixed them he couldn't see anything. It was too dark. He looked up towards the trapdoor and saw a small square of light far above him. "It's soft down here! Come on!"
In quick succesion, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Padma, and Ven joined him, all bouncing into place around him. He was finally able to see a bit and looked at the thing they had landed on. It was some sort of plant, made up mostly of thick, black vines. And they were slowly creeping around his legs.
"Whoa!" Ron yelled, obviously noticing the same thing. He began to struggle, trying to stand. But the plant tightened its hold, winding around him even faster. Harry fought the restraints, trying desperately to use his wand. The plant wrapped around his wrist, pasting his hand to his leg.
"Stop fighting!" Neville suddenly yelled.
Harry looked up. Hermione and Neville had managed to escape and make it to the wall, where the plant ended. They were flat against the stone, watching their friends struggle. Padma was slapping at the feelers reaching for her with her one free hand, her legs and torso already bound. Ven had a vine in her mouth and was growling, shaking her head back and forth to try and tear it off before it could wrap around her neck. Ron was nothing but a tuft of red hair and muffled screaming.
"It's Devil's Snare," Neville called to them, as if that explained everything. Harry vaguely remembered Professor Sprout talking about it, but that was it.
Padma, sarcasm dripping from her voice, said, "Well, wonderful. Now we know what to call it. So when we get to the otherside, I'll be able to say, 'Oh, it was Devil's bloody Snare that killed me'!"
"Do something!" Harry choked out, leaning back as a vine slashed at his face.
Hermione opened her mouth, but Neville beat her to it. "Aduro!" He gasped, pointing his wand at the outer edges of the plant. Fire sprang from the tip, dancing along the plant's tendrils. Rapidly, the plant released its captives, slinking away from the heat and light. Harry grabbed Ron and dragged him off the plant. Ven and Padma tumbled after them, slipping on the plant's slippery surface.
The Pack hurried into the stone passageway, the only way forward. When they were out of reach of the Snare, they paused to catch their breath.
"Neville," Harry coughed, rubbing his chest where the plant had squeezed him. "That was brilliant. Thank you. Where'd that come from?"
"I'm good at Herbology. But that's about it." The boy gave a sheepish smile. "And don't thank me. Hermione would have handled it if I wasn't there."
"That doesn't matter, Neville," Hermione said. "Fact is, you saved everyone back there."
He just shrugged, waving away her praise.
Harry saw Ven's ear twitch. "What is it?" he asked, raising his wand again. All he could hear was the steady dripping of water down the walls.
"I don't know. Sounds like...wings?" Ven frowned, the blood stained cloth around her face hiding her expression in the dark. "Come on."
XXXXXXX
The passageway sloped downward, forcing them to watch their step so they didn't slip on the wet stones. They reached the end of the tunnel and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door. It was swinging open, the handle blasted away by a very powerful spell. The walls were spotted with blast marks and streaks of burnt stone. All around them, dead birds lay, wings still. Harry realized with a start that they weren't birds at all, but winged-keys. Three brooms floated in the center of the room, somehow untouched by the battle that had raged there. And lying on the floor near the door, was-
"Professor McGonagall!" Harry gasped, hurrying to her side. She was as unmoving as the fallen keys, her eyes closed, her glasses broken and dangling from one ear. Harry dropped to his knees, holding his hand beneath her nose. Relief flooded his entire being as a puff of air brushed his fingers. "Professor!" he said again, touching her shoulder.
The woman's eyelids fluttered, straining to stay lifted. "Ha-Harry?" Her eyes opened fully, new strength lending her a momentary reprieve. Hermione moved behind the woman, helping her sit up slightly so she could see them all. "Harry, what are you doing here?"
"We came to help if we can." Harry did a quick survey of the older woman's body, not finding any obvious wounds. "Where's my Da and Snape?"
"We-" Professor McGonagall paused to catch her breath, her eyes shutting for a moment. "We caught Quirrel here. There was a duel. But he wasn't...he wasn't normal. I taught the boy. He was never anywhere near that strong. He managed to flee before the duel could really kick off, but he threw a curse back at Lyall. And I-" She stopped again, her chest rising unsteadily. "Faolan would never have forgiven me if..."
"You saved our Da?" Ven whispered, taking the woman's hand.
McGonagall shook her head, then quickly stopped, wincing. "He would have done the same for me. How is your face? And your head, Harry?"
Harry touched the crusted blood that came from his forehead, circling his eye. "It's stopped bleeding."
"I'll just be twice as gorgeous when this is all over," Ven quipped, grinning.
"You need to get out. Get Professor Dumbledore."
"Sorry, Professor, but you'll have to take points off us later," Harry said. "We're going after our Da."
"Harry, no-"
But he stood, moving out of her reach. He felt bad just leaving her there, but he had to reach his father. Quirrel could not get that stone. After what he'd done to Ven...Harry was going to make sure the man was defeated.
"I'll stay with her."
Harry blinked at Neville, his estimation of the shy Gryffindor steadily rising. "Are you sure, Neville?"
The round-faced boy nodded. "I've done what I can, I'm sure. I doubt the other rooms will be full of dangerous plants. I'll be more help here. You guys go on. I'll see if I can get her up and out of here." He took a shaky breath. "But be careful." As an afterthought, he stuck his hand towards Harry.
Smiling, he clasped Neville's forearm, feeling the boy squeeze his own with quivering fingers. "We'll see you soon."
Neville took Hermione's place holding Professor McGonagall and Hermione joined the others at the door. With one last glance at their friend and the professor, who was still trying to stop them, they stepped through to the next room.
XXXXXXX
The next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anything. But as they stepped into it, torches all around the room flared to life. They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black pieces which looked to be made of black stone.
But this was less of a chessboard, and more of a battlefield. Only a few pieces were still standing, in varying places on the board. Chunks of others pieces were scattered everywhere, broken off heads of pawns, the legs of a knight's horse, parts of the rooks' battlements. The black king's crown sat at Harry's feet, chipped and dull in the firelight.
Ron made a small sound, like his heart was being torn out. "Who would do this?" he whispered, his voice higher than normal.
But Harry was looking at the white queen on the other side of the board. She had no face, but the smooth white stone faced him, ominous in the flickering light. And something was moving behind her.
Like his nightmares brought to life, a dark shape rose from behind the queen, huge and grunting. It stood, taller than the one they had fought before. And this troll carried an even bigger club. Its tiny ears flapped in their direction, its head cocking to the side. On its temple was a still oozing wound.
"Oh, Dagda," Ven muttered. "Those who are about to die-" And the troll charged them.
Harry grabbed Hermione, who had frozen, and yanked her out of the way. The troll's club connected with the chunk of black pawn behind them, shattering it. Little bits of stone pelted Harry as he scrambled farther away, dragging the brunette with him. He heard Padma scream.
"Over here, you bugger!" Ron yelled, smacking the wall as hard as he could with a chunk of stone. Harry skidded to a halt, watching the troll turn towards Ron.
A spell he'd heard Professor Quirrel mention sprang to mind. Hoping it worked, he attacked. "Expelliarmus!" He shouted, pointing his wand at the huge creature. The troll's club flew out of its hand, straight towards Harry. He dodged, rolling over Hermione, who had finally had the motor function to duck. He landed hard, with her on his chest. A large rock was stabbing him in the back and he quickly pushed her off, scrambling to his feet. He ducked again immediately as an entire white bishop flew over his head, smashing into the wall. The troll was apparently very upset at having its club taken.
Padma was firing stinging hexes at the troll's legs, trying to trip it up. Ron was racing from one side of the room to the other, screaming at the top of his lungs. But the troll was dead set on Harry and Hermione now. It raged across the board, roaring and flailing its incredibly large arms.
A blur of color leapt from the white queen's head, landing on the troll's shoulders with a 'whoo'. "Ven!" Harry yelled, as his sister attempted to put the troll in a headlock.
She grabbed the troll's ears to hang on as it shook like a dog, trying to dislodge her. "Come on, ugly! I love what you've done with your hair! How'd you get it to come out your nostrils like that!"
The annoying sounds around its head were apparently too much for the troll to handle. It roared again and reached back, grasping Ven's leg. With a yank, it pulled her off its shoulders, and she dangled from the huge, meaty fist, upside down. Harry felt a quick surge of pride that she was still yelling insults. Then the troll gave a vicious shake of its arm and a loud crack split the air. Ven's yelp was drowned out by Ron's scream of, "LET HER GO!" The redhead grabbed up a knight's sword and swung full-force into the troll's knee. The sword broke, the pieces rebounding all directions. Before Ron could move, the troll swatted at him.
The large hand caught Ron dead in the chest, throwing him from the board. He crashed into the wall, sliding down it and lying still.
Harry, Padma, and Hermione attacked with renewed vigor. Harry was casting every spell he could think of. The troll stepped back, dropping Ven. She landed painfully on her side, but was immediately moving. She crawled for cover, dragging her limp leg behind her. The cloth around her face had flown off and the bottom of her face was coated in blood, dried and fresh. Harry left Hermione's side, leaping a fallen knight, and stood over his sister, throwing spells as rapidly as he could at the troll.
Hermione waved her wand, muttered something, and a streak of bluebell flames leapt from her wand and wrapped around the troll's leg. It stumbled, falling to one knee. On the other side of the room, Padma fired a stinging hex, catching it in the eye. The troll screeched, grabbing its face. Harry raised his wand, firing a stinging hex of his own.
With a swish and a flick of her wand, Hermione cried, "Wingardium Leviosa!" The entire white queen rose into the air, trembling. Hermione grunted, trying to keep it moving. Padma suddenly joined her, casting the same spell.
Harry caught on and pointed his wand at the floating queen. "Wingardium Leviosa!" Behind him, Ven did the same.
The queen shot into the air, its base slamming into the troll's face with a sickening crunch. For a moment, it just knelt there, swaying. Then it, and the white queen, crashed to the ground, shaking the entire chamber. The battle was over so suddenly that Harry was still standing with his wand in the air, gaping at the creature.
Ven cursed in Gaelic, falling back. Harry hurried to her side. "How do you feel?"
"Like my leg's broken," Ven said, her voice far too peppy. "But I'm fine. Go check on Ron."
With a nod, Harry moved to the motionless Weasley.
"I thought one troll was bad enough," Padma said. She dropped onto a chunk of white pawn, sighing. "I didn't even fight the last one and I never wanted to see another."
"Ron's completely out!" Harry called from the wall.
"Well, what do we do? Leave him?" Hermione stepped over the troll's arm, careful not to touch it.
"No." Ven grimaced, holding her leg. "Carry me over there. I'll stay with him."
"Ven-"
"Harry, don't argue. I can't go on like this. And I won't leave him alone. He may have been stupid about it, but he made a valiant effort to save me." She hissed through her teeth as a surge of pain hit her. "I'll stay with my knight in dull armor. The rest of you go on."
Harry knelt beside his sister, biting his lip. "Are you sure?"
It took her a few moments of gritted teeth before she could answer. But she locked her honey-colored eyes on his and he knew her mind was made up. It was hard to argue with a girl whose face was split open and who looked like she was wearing a half-mask of blood. "Harry, I had a feeling when we first stepped into Fluffy's chamber that it would be only you that made it to the end. I don't know what it is about you, brother..." she shook her head. "But it's you who has to go on. We were just here to get you through."
"Why me?" Harry's stomach twisted as he eyed her broken leg.
"Why was it you that Snape took a liking to? Why was it you the twin's gave the map to? Why was it you that leapt to accompany Hagrid into the forest? Why was it you that Da wanted to speak privately with earlier?" He suddenly noticed how pale her face was. "It's you, Harry. Something about you. And I can't put my finger on what it is, but I would follow you anywhere. Obviously, I'm not the only one willing to leap into a random trapdoor between a Cerberus's paws with you." Her eyes flicked over his shoulder to the two Ravenclaw girls.
"She's right, Harry." Padma wiped sweat from her forehead. "How many of the other first years would I have come down here with? That's right. Zero. I've barely known you a few bloody months, but I know you're a great wizard. A great friend. It's evident in everything you do. The way you talk to people. The way you stick up for your friends. You were even willing to have a go at Snape for treating Hermione unfairly."
"I'm not-" Harry started.
"But you are," Hermione cut him off. "Saying you aren't just proves it. You are a great wizard, Harry."
"You're better than me. Both of you are." He motioned to Padma as well.
"Us?" Hermione laughed. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things- friendship and bravery and- oh, Harry- we need to get going!"
"Right," he said, standing. "Are you two certain you still want to come? Who knows what else we're going to run into."
"We'll at least get you to your father. Ven's right," Hermione said. "It'll be you that goes to the end. We're going to get you through first."
"Ten Galleons that the next thing we go against is a bloody werewolf," Padma huffed, standing.
The two Ravenclaws were confused as the Lachlans burst into laughter.
XXXXXXX
After moving Ven to Ron's side("You prat. Guess I'll have to thank you later."), they opened the heavy wooden door to the next chamber. Immediately, an intense stench that reminded them of the troll hit them. The room was empty, however. Scorch marks dotted the walls, just like the other chambers. Harry was sure this was where the troll had been kept before. He was glad they hadn't had to fight it in this tiny space. They hurried to the next door, not wanting to linger in the smell any longer.
A long table was overturned in the center of the room. Shattered glass was sprinkled across the stone floor. The next doorway was covered with a shimmering darkness. Professor Snape and Lyall were there, pointing their wands at the darkness and muttering under their breaths.
"Da!"
Lyall spun around. "Harry!" His son leapt into his arms, squeezing him tightly. "What are you doing here? Where's your sister?"
"Her leg's broken," Harry said. "There was a troll-"
His da sighed. "I knew I should have handled the beast more permanently."
"Ron's knocked out in the chess room. We left Ven with him. Neville stayed with Professor McGonagall in the chamber with the flying keys."
Kneeling so his gray eyes were now level with Harry's green ones, Lyall said, "Harry, you need to get out of here. Take your friends and-"
"NO!"
Lyall stopped, staring at his son. Never, in Harry's life, had he raised his voice at his father. "What?"
"I'm not going back," Harry said. "I'm going with you."
"Harry." Lyall shook his head, sighing. "Didn't you promise me that you wouldn't get involved if you didn't have to?"
Harry drew himself up. He had promised that. But that was before Quirrel had attacked Ven. Before Professor McGonagall had taken a spell for Lyall. Before Neville had saved them from the Devil's Snare. Before Ron, Hermione, and Padma had taken on a troll to save him and Ven. If they could do all that... "Da, he hurt Ven. He attacked Professor McGonagall and you. My friends have done their parts down here. It's my turn. You told me once, 'A greater love hath no man, than to lay down his life for his friends'. Well, what about his family? I don't care what's in that chamber. I'm already involved."
"But-"
"And you!" Harry rounded on Snape. The man paused his assault on the darkness. "You told me I remind you of someone. And the way you said it, it sounded like a really good thing. Would they have let you and Da go alone?"
For some reason, Lyall looked like he'd been punched in the gut.
Snape looked away from Harry, his eyes on the floor. "No. She would have been the first through the door."
Harry turned back to his father. "That person Snape thinks of when he looks at me, that person Ven and my friends think I am, that man you are... I want to be them, Da. I may not be much help in there, but I won't let you go alone."
There was silence in the room. Hermione and Padma were both blinking away tears. Finally, Lyall spoke. "I think you're right." He eyed his son. "In a way, I knew this day was coming."
"You knew I'd be demanding to fight a deranged professor with you under Hogwarts one day?"
Lyall laughed. "Something like that. Oh, your mother's going to kill me."
"I'll fight her with you too," Harry said, smiling.
"No one willingly faces your mother. Now I know you're insane, son." Lyall turned to the others. "Fine, Harry will come with me. You two girls, go and get help. Were there still brooms back there?" They nodded. "I'm sure someone's already sent for Professor Dumbledore. But get help for Minerva, Ven, and Ron."
Harry suddenly found his arms full of Ravenclaws. Both girls were crying, hugging him tightly. "I'll be fine," he tried to assure them. "Da will take care of me and I'll do my best to take care of him."
After a few more tearful moments, the girls released him, hurrying from the chamber.
Harry turned back to the dark shield over the door. Snape had resumed attacking it. "Nearly down."
"Harry, brace yourself," Lyall said. He added his power to fighting the darkness. A moment later, it rippled and died away, leaving the door open.
The three of them stepped through, feeling the temperature drop rapidly.
Someone was already there. And it wasn't Quirrel.
Kailor: Oh, look, I have to go. Hmmm. See you next chap folks! Reviews keep me updating, lovelies!