Cold, yes, very cold. It reminded Harry of when he was floating in that place. If Harry couldn't see, he would've thought he was back there. But no, Harry was on the third floor. His hand was on the door that Fluffy stood behind.
Harry tried to tell himself this would be fine but fear still pooled in my stomach. He pulled himself together and turned to the doorknob. It wasn't locked, even though it was supposed to be forbidden. It creaked open ominously, Harry shuddered. He swore he wasn't a wimp, but this was honestly creepy.
Harry did have a good sense of self-preservation and not nearly as much courage as before. He stepped into the room; Fluffy had all six eyes on him. The giant dog growled deep, a warning sign to Harry. He had to ignore it, against all common sense.
Harry had brought a flute with him; Harry had learned to play an easy song just so he could put the big dog to sleep. Fluffy seemed to know Harry's plan because all three heads showed their razor-sharp teeth as soon as he noticed the instrument.
Harry's hands shook as he moved the flute to his lips; the first note echoed through the room. The heads already looked a little less agitated. Harry steadied himself and started to play, he didn't play great, but he did well enough. Peaceful, if slightly off tune, music came from the instrument.
He winced when he messed up a note, but still Fluffy was slowly falling asleep. Harry continued playing as he crept toward the door, his heart pounding. His hand was on the handle; he opened it. The music was wavering with Harry's nervousness; the beast was getting restless.
Harry stopped playing, he felt beastly eyes on him, but he had already jumped down into the dark depths. The wicked vines of the Devil's Snare are on him, but he doesn't struggle like before. He knows that will only make them tighten their grip on him.
"Lumos Solem." Utters Harry, pointing his dark wand to the plant. The flames scorch the Devil's Snare, and it lets go of him. He moves against the wall and spots the stone passageway. It's damp and smells like something unpleasant, but Harry still goes through.
Harry found himself remembering Norberta, the little dragon Hagrid had been bribed with. Hagrid hadn't spoken to him since his sorting. Harry was hurt realizing that, was Hagrid avoiding him? Well, even if he was, Harry hoped Hagrid was doing alright and hadn't gotten in trouble for Norberta.
He still cared for all his previous friends, even though technically they weren't his friends anymore. But Harry couldn't change the place in his heart they had. After all, he'd known them for the best seven years of his life. They had their bad moments, but Harry loved them still.
He was getting sentimental, in the middle of a musty passageway. How stupid, Harry laughed; the noise reverberated off the walls. He heard his own laugh. Was it always so lonely sounding? It's because he used to laugh with his friends, now he laughs with himself.
Harry saw a bright light up ahead and a fluttering of many wings. There were keys of all sorts, small ones shiny and gold, and even huge and blue ones. Harry moved his eyes away from them; there were broomsticks he could use near the old door.
The wood felt weird under his fingers. As he hadn't cleaned in a few months, his calluses had faded some. He hopped onto it. He was up in the air in seconds, wind running through his hair as he swooped around. He had to ignore the soaring feeling in his chest so he could focus on his task.
The key that matched the door wasn't battered this time; it might be harder to catch. Harry spotted it quickly though, he still was a seeker at heart. Harry zoomed past all the other keys; they fled away from him, making it slightly easier.
The old-fashioned key was fast, though, maybe faster than the others. Harry saw an opening then; the key flew alone and unhurried. Harry went as fast as he could on the outdated broom. The key noticed him too late; his fingers were around the wiggling thing.
It fluttered and squirmed but failed to escape. He flew down and jumped off the broom, shoving the key into the door. He stared down at the struggling key and wondered if he should leave it. But if he got the stone, there would be nothing for Voldemort to find. Harry let the rumpled key go.
When he opened the door, at first, all he saw was darkness. Only when Harry stepped fully into the room did it light up. There was a wonderous sight before him, a giant chessboard will faceless human-sized pieces. He'd almost forgotten about the chessboard; Ron had saved them with his skill.
Harry couldn't rely on that; Ron wasn't there. Harry searched his memory for how they had played the game the first time. The board looked the same. Undoubtedly if he played it like Ron did, he'd be fine. Harry would have to hope what he remembered was correct.
Harry took the bishop's place like before; his legs were shaking even though he told himself he'd be fine. Every piece Harry lost was a mini heart attack, and every piece gained was a breath of relief. When the queen finally stood before what would have been Ron's place, Harry was ready.
He watched as the queen took down the knight, thankful that this time Ron wasn't in the knight's place. Harry moved three spaces to the left where the king stood.
"Checkmate..." Harry whispered to the white king as he threw the crown to the ground. Triumph bloomed in his chest; he'd done it. He speed-walked through the next door, not wanting to stick around here for too long. There was no troll in the next room; it still reeked, though.
Harry wondered why they hadn't put a troll in here. Maybe they were looking for it or something? If anything, he was glad though, he didn't really want to deal with a stinky troll. He felt something was off though, something was watching him in the shadows of the room.
Harry's palms were sweating; something was lurking in the darkness. Something landed behind him; a heavy thud gave it away. Harry turned quickly, only to see something horrifying coming for him. The ugly human face, lion body, and scorpion tail identified it as a manticore.
"Well, well, well...What do we have here?" The deep voice had Harry shaking like a leaf, it sounded distorted, yet Harry felt a strange calm wash over him anyway.
"What's a little boy doing here?" The manticore started to circle Harry, its tail pointed threateningly at him. Harry couldn't have moved if he wanted to; he was being forced to stay in place. Harry had his eyes fixed on the creature, though, not wanting to let that thing out of his sight.
"I guess it doesn't matter, though; food is food after all..." A nasty grin appeared on its face, razor-sharp teeth and claws gleaming. Harry was not prepared for this creature. What was he supposed to do? He'd been expecting a troll, not a manticore.
He knows they're incredibly resilient to magic, so he might have to rule that out. But what else could he do? Run? Harry wasn't going to die here, not now, not like this. As much as Harry liked Fate, he didn't want to see her again so soon.
An idea popped into his head then, maybe he could have a distraction and try to book it. Manticores were intelligent, but they had an easily distracted catlike nature. Harry disliked the idea of using a living being so he could escape, but his fear was powerful enough to push that dislike aside.
"Serpensortia!" It took a lot of effort to even say it, Harry's jaw seemed glued shut, but he managed. The being's brow raised, wondering what spell this kid tried. A confused green mamba had appeared from nothing by Harry's feet.
"I know you're confused, but I need you to do me a favor." The snake stared up at Harry with puzzlement and distrust. Tongue snaking out to taste Harry's fear and desperation. Harry's eyes were practically popping out of their sockets as he stared down at the snake.
"What will I get from this agreement, speaker?" Harry could tell it was a girl by her voice, but her tone was cold and suspicious. Her head looked raised and ready for attack, her posture protective. It reminded him of when a mother was protecting their young.
"I don't know...What would you want?" She seemed to think about it for a minute. Harry was getting very stressed by this point; the manticore was turning its attention back to Harry now. He knew it wouldn't be long before the manticore decided to stop being curious about the mamba.
"Security, protection. I've lived a rough life, and I'm sick and tired of it. I've seen people keep snakes as pets before, maybe not as dangerous as me, but you're a speaker. Let me live out my next few years in comfort, and I'll do what you want me to." Harry wanted to agree straight away, but he hesitated.
Where would he keep her? What about Rio? Wasn't she a warm-weather snake? But then again, so was Rio. He really wanted to say no, but he didn't have a better idea to get out of this situation. The mamba's stare was unwavering; she wouldn't take anything else.
"Fine, you've got yourself a deal. Now, can you distract this creature while I escape through that door? Once I'm through either hide or go through that passageway, I'll get you on my way out." The mamba studied the creature and nodded at Harry.
She took off, slithering as fast as she could. The manticore's interest in Harry was lost as soon as it saw the slithering creature rush by. Harry bolted for the door, hoping she'd be okay. He'd feel guilty if she was hurt or worse because of him.
He flung the door open and shut it behind him, Harry was exhausted by this point, but he knew he had to continue. Sweat dripped from his brow, and he wiped it away; he stared down at his moist palms. Harry tried to get rid of some of the sweat on his worn jeans, but it was hopeless.
Harry stepped over Snape's threshold, and fire sprung up where his feet had just been and up ahead of him, creating a barrier so Harry couldn't turn back or go forward. Potions were lined up on a table and a paper right next to them. Harry already had some idea of what it said, but he picked it up anyway.
Nothing he read seemed unfamiliar; he considered the smallest bottle for a moment. Harry realized it was probably wise to duplicate it so he could return once he got the stone. He pulled out his black wand to perform yet another spell.
"Geminio!" And just like that, another identical bottle was next to the first. Harry wasn't sure if the potion replica would work like it should, so he downed the replica first and put the original into his pocket. He'd know if he burned, and if he burned, he'd have to find a different way in and out.
Maybe he could brew a fire resistance potion? That's what Harry assumed was in this bottle. He chugged it, then readied himself to possibly get crispy. The black flames touched his skin, but he felt no pain. He sighed, some tension leaving him.
There was no Voldemort on the other side; thankfully, it was just that damned mirror. Harry's nightmare came back to him, but he pushed it to the back of his head. Harry never explored like he did previously, so he never saw his most profound desire in this mirror.
He cautiously approached it. Even after all Harry faced today, he was still the most scared of what he would see. Indeed not his parents; he had grown past that. Harry was in front of it now, but he didn't see himself, but rather a man.
He had dark, messy hair and round glasses like Harry, the same curse green eyes and faded scar. This man didn't have bags beneath his eyes though, this man was young and healthy. He didn't look behind him at all times in fear Voldemort would be there.
He had his arms wrapped around a woman, and they laughed together. The woman was chestnut skinned and had honey-blond tendrils, but Harry knew who it was by her vivid blue eyes. Xira in the mirror was in her early twenties, just like the man beside her.
And her stomach was round with what Harry could only guess was a child. Harry had to tear his eyes away from the heart aching sight. That wasn't him; that would never be him. Wanting and wishing and false hopes only led to pain.
Harry never thought of Xira like that; he thought of her as a kind of nuisance that sometimes you didn't mind. But there, he'd seen love and friendship on both the man and Xira's face, rings on both their fingers and a child on the way. Was that what he wanted?
If he pushed away his destiny and had nothing to hold back from Xira, who would she be to him? Being around Xira always made him comfortable and content, but Harry always looked at it as a bad thing. Thoughts of 'what ifs' were filling his head rapidly; it was suddenly dizzying.
Harry had to focus all his attention on something, so he chose to want to keep the stone safe. He felt something fill his pocket, but he was too much in a daze to care. He was relieved that it was winter break; because now he had a million more thoughts to mull over.
Okay Okay there's a couple things I might need to clear up lol. 1) Ya'll may be like that's dumb why would Harry summon a snake of all things? Idk maybe cause he can talk to them and cause he wasn't really thinking straight? 2) I know I know "Not ANOTHER snake Lemon!" but I asked three people and they were like "Snakes? Heck yes!" So yes snakes, Harry will be the snake overlord if I have my way. 3) "What, lemon, you clearly don't have Xira and Harry shipped in the tags!" Well thats because they don't have a romantic realtionship rn...but I admit that will change. Anyway sorry lovelies for the wait, but this chaps extra long so...Thanks for reading!
-Lemon Nugget
