Ch 31: Trap Doors and Tasks
Tabatha slowly winded a dark corridor in Hogwarts castle. This time of night the halls were basically empty and she could have time with her thoughts and over the past few weeks she had felt the need to do so most regularly. Night after night she would turn her mind over and over as she paced the corridor trying to remember anything of her life before Hogwarts, before magic, before Severus. Tabatha's mind stuck on the thought of Severus. Her dark brooding friend whom she had grown to care for so much and desired deeply to be able to express her emotions to their fullest. She had noticed that in past weeks he had altered slightly, his ice cold eyes often looked softer, warmer whenever his gaze caught hers. Tabatha smiled to herself, at the sweet though of Severus looking upon her with love but quickly that smile faded. Perhaps she was only seeing what she wanted to see, how could she even know the difference.
A low sound broke into Tabatha's thoughts and suddenly her mind was brought back to the hallway and the moment at hand. Hearing the low sound again Tabatha looked down at shaking but growling pup.
"Keir, what's the matter boy?" She asked concerned as she kneelt down and stoked his head.
Looking around at first she saw nothing, and then as she looked down the hall she noticed it, the door to the third floor corridor. Her eyes froze on the door and again the centers of her hazel eyes started to glow golden. Stand up slowly she walked towards the door, Keir following closely behind. Unlocking the door and pulling it open she did not notice that someone further down the hall was watching her from behind a pillar.
Once she entered she again came face to face with the large dog, which three heads greeted her very happily.
"Thank you, I am glad to see you too" Tabatha kindly spoke to the large beast as she stoked one of their ears.
After a moment of enjoyment the beast looked down at Tabatha again with a more frantic look then down to a trap door between its legs. Tabatha's brows furrowed as she listened intently to unspoken words.
"Great importance….must not fall into evil hands….Someone's been here tonight?" Tabatha's eyes widened.
Something, some stone was hidden down in that chamber. A very strong magical stone that in the wrong hands could do horrible things and so far three times this evening someone had attempted to pass though the trap door, luckily to no avail. Tabatha again looked up at the three heads.
"Fear they might succeed….Oh I don't think I am capable…. Yes I understand how important this is!... I could go back for…. Ok... Ok fine! I'll try."
Tabatha gave an exasperated look at the dog but was instead met by a happily wagging tail as the dog moved out of the way and allowed the trap door to be open. As Tabatha looked down the opening and readied herself for a leap her head shot back up to the massive mongrel.
"Security measures? What do you mean Security measures?... What kinds of…. Oh that not helpful at all!" Frustrated Tabatha looked back at her small companion/
"Keir you stay here, I have no idea what I'm gonna run into." Tabatha smiled as the dog sat down dwarfed by his fellow canine and cocked his head as he watched his friend leapt into a dark abyss.
It seemed like she fell for quite a while before she landed in a soft pile. As her hands reached out around her she felt what seemed like coils of thick soft rope strewn around her.
"What in the world is this" Tabatha mused as her hand wrapped around one of the coils. However, no sooner than she applied her own grip the coils themselves returned the gesture, wrapping themselves around not only her hand but all of her body.
Tabatha gasped as fear and confusion raced through her mind, the constriction getting worse and worse until she could hardly breathe. Unable to move her hand to her wand she was caught, helpless in the dark. The coils moved higher finally they encircled her neck, the push steady and constant until she could feel the pressure of the lack of air choking her brain. As her eyes started to roll back she focused on one thought as a figure formed in her minds eyes, her Severus. He was reaching out, his hand extended towards her calling out her name as a soft golden glow illuminated him from behind. The louder his voice got the brighter and brighter the light got, and soon it was so bright it whited out the vision of Severus. As the glow grew to a brilliant flash Tabatha felt a whoosh of air in her lungs and the effect of gravity as she tumbled down though the coils as gold light repelling the long tendrils, until she finally reached the ground.
Once on the ground she reached for her wand and cast the Lumos charm, looking back up at the twisted vines of an extremely large plant she finally got her first good look at it.
"Devil's Snare! I should have known" Tabatha gasped as she thought how terribly lucky she was to still be standing there. "I guess when they say security measures around here they are not kidding."
Turning around she headed down a long corridor until she heard an odd metallic sound coming from beyond at large heavy door. As she pulled the door open and looked up she saw a sea of keys fluttering around like mechanical butterflies, and across the wide room was a large door. As she walked over it to it she touched the shiny metallic handle and lock.
"For every lock there must be a key.." Tabatha whispered as she looked back up at the school of flying keys. "Trick is this is like trying to find a needle in a haystack."
Her eyes then darted over to broom hovering in the corner. "Oh I knew I should have taken up Madam Hooch on those lessons, I'm gonna break my neck!" Tabatha sighed as she bit her bottom lip making a mental note to do so if she ever got out of here.
Exasperatedly she let herself slide down the door and continued to look up at the keys. Feeling defeat wash over her she turned her head and took another look at the door's lock.
"The lock!" She cried to herself as she jumped up, and aimed her wand towards it. "Metallumos" she called out as a wispy orange hue flowed from the tip of the wand and enveloped the lock. Swirling around the lock the wisps formed a faint but distinct NI before it evaporating into thin air. A large half grin formed on Tabatha's lips as she flung around she pointed her wand up at the flying keys.
"Magneticus Maximas!" she spoke loudly as a soft light spread out from the tip of her wand encompassing all the all keys.
In a flash the matching nickel key zipped down in the spells magnetic pull, but as the key reached her hand suddenly the sea of keys became a violent storm, whirling and heading towards her. Quickly Tabatha turned around and unlocked the door, moved though it in lighting speed and slamming it behind her.
As her chest heaved she started to laugh to herself. "And who said the periodic table will never be useful in real life." Her laughter was cut short as her gaze fell upon a larger than life chess set sitting before her. "Oh you must be kidding me, really!" Looking across the board she saw the next door.
Tabatha sighed again; evidently she would have to play this match to cross the room. Though she was not very versed in chess, she had played Severus once or twice and though he did win, she always gave him a good run for his money. Hopefully this time the winning bet would be on her. Slowly she made her way to the board, but at the first tentative step on the checked floor all the pieces turned towards her. Above her disembodied icy whispers filled the room speaking over one other in a garbled heap.
"Can it be...it is really her… she has return… make way for the first…"
Tabatha looked around completely perplexed as she watched the chess pieces move to form to rows on either side of her, making a path directly towards the door. As she stepped forward on the board the piece gave a reverenced bow as she passed before them until she had completely crossed the room.
"I have no idea what's going on but I'm not going to look this gift in the month." She whispered as she reached out and grasped the door handle. Still confused she looked around cautiously as she pulled open the door and stepped through it.
Once though the door she was hit with an awful smell, a smell like none she had ever smelt before. Gaging she covered her mouth with her hand as before her stepped a large hideous creature. Tabatha looked up at the over twelve foot high troll. Looking at the creatures eyes she could tell intellect was not a strong suit of the species. However, her observations were short lived as she darted out of the way of a large club that proceeded to smash the wall behind her. Raising her wand fast she called out the Stupefy spell, hitting the Troll in the shoulder. The troll was knocked back a bit but quickly regained its footing and started towards her again. Tabatha moved fast, running under the troll's legs, and as the troll looked around in a confused manor from behind him Tabatha cast the Confundus spell causing the troll to spin around in a dizzy haze. Quickly Tabatha aimed for a loose looking stone above the creature, "Bombarda" she called out as a small explosion caused the stone to fall knocking the troll to the ground in an unconscious heap.
Tabatha held on to the chambers walls as she breathed deeply catching her breath. "I have to learn how to do this better!" she chastised herself "If that thing wasn't so stupid that would have been it for me". After a few moment and a few more deep breaths Tabatha walked over to the next door.
As she passed through the door she came to a long table with many different bottles placed on it. Suddenly both behind and at the door ahead purple and black flames respectively shot up efficiently making her captive in the room. Tabatha walked carefully to the table and picked up a piece of parchment. After only reading the first few words a bright grin flashed on her face, it was Severus' handwriting, she would know it anywhere. As she continued to read the instructions on how to survive this task, Tabatha carelessly rested her hand one of the bottles and her body filled with the knowledge that Severus had been here, suddenly the room filled with a gold glow. Before her the bottles had vanished and instead she was watching Severus standing over a cauldron carefully adding ingredients to the potion. After a moment he took a ladle and scooped some of the contents into a very small bottle.
"Let's see someone try to work out this is the way to the stone" Severus silently sneered with a small curled lipped smile.
Suddenly the image faded away and again Tabatha was looking down at the same small bottle, full with the trust and faith in her friend Tabatha picked up the bottle and brought it to her lips drinking the contents. Her veins filled with and icy chill and she walked confidently though the black flames into the next chamber.
The chamber before her was empty except for a large mirror that stood in the center of the room, and Tabatha cautiously walked over to it. As her eyes moved up and down the gilded frame they caught and inscription at the top, "The Mirror of Erised". Tabatha's mind worked trying to remember when she had heard that name before perhaps in a dream she puzzled. As she mused her eyes looked down into the glass, before her was not her reflection but an image of her and Severus. They were facing each other, Severus arm wrapped around her waist pulling her slightly towards him, as his other hand stroked her check. She was gazing up into his black eyes, which held none of the cold iciness he was so known for but looked warm and lovingly down to her. Slowly his head dropped lower and their lips grew closer together, however before their lips could touch, from behind her a noise caught Tabatha's attention and she spun around.
Standing at the doorway laughing a deep chuck and giving a slow steady applause was Professor Quirrell.
"Well done, Miss Rewolf, Well done indeed. Thanks to you I only had to put the insufferable beast to sleep. Your talents got us past all the tasks, though I might say rather unconventionally".
Tabatha looked at Quirrell for a moment as the weight of the situation sank in. "You're the great evil trying to steal a stone?" She asked almost unbelieving.
"No Tabatha! I am the vessel for that evil, the loyal servant of the Dark Load!" Quirrell boomed at her. "And you my dear have assisted my Lord very well this year. My master is quite intrigued with your seemingly unique abilities."
Tabatha felt rage rush through her as her eyes flashed gold and she made a movement towards the laughing professor. "Assisted some Dark Lord did I? More like was used by some power hungry brute that can't seem to do anything on his own so he needed a school teacher and unbeknown venerable women to do his bidding!"
Quirrell stopped laughing and his features went hard. "How DARE you insult Lord Voldemort you stupid girl! With one command he could destroy …"
"Quirrell look yes she glowing again…" a bodiless voice boomed from the same direction Quirrell was standing. "I must know what power she has!"
Suddenly Quirrell pulled his wand and shouted "Probeoulas!", and a large flash of yellow light hit Tabatha full force.
Tabatha felt her body brace as the magic hit her, some force was trying to purge her mind, trying to find her well hidden secretes. As the pressure from the spell pushed Tabatha to her limits her own body responded, glowing more and more golden she repelled the assault on her mind. Images flashed incoherently in her head, memories that she had no recollection of making were flooding her synapses.
"ARRRRRRGGHH!" Tabatha screamed but held fast as wave after wave of the yellow light hit her body. Suddenly Tabatha mind felt something, no someone else close by actually more than one someone. It was also apparent that Tabatha was not the only one to feel this as Quirrell turned his head to look back at the door. "Get what I need from her and hurry!" the evil disembodied voice boomed, and Quirrell let one more strong wave of magic hurl itself at Tabatha.
Tabatha, who was still distracted from the other presents she felt, took this blow at almost full force. Her mind suddenly felt like it was cracked down the middle, images and forgotten memories poured into her and she was flung back hard landing behind the "Mirror of Erised ".
Quirrell took a step toward her body with a sly grin. "She is our now my Lor.."
"You idoit! The Potter boy is coming! We will deal with Miss Tabatha Rewolf after, now go and wait for the-boy-who-lived".
Tabatha felt like her strength and most of her mind was gone, however she had heard that voice say that the Potter boy would be there soon. Tabatha felt a tear roll down her face as she closed her eyes and silently spoke out into the abyss. "Severus, help me Sev… I need…we need you.. Help me Sev." With one pulse of a golden glow Tabatha fell back in unconscious heap behind the mirror, as a young Harry Potter entered the last chamber.
On the other side of the Hogwarts Castle Severus Snape shot up from his slumber, he was shaking and covered sweat. Quickly he jumped out of bed, grabbed his robes and raced to the door.
"Hold on my love I'm coming" Severus feverously spoke to the empty potions chamber.