Silver could smell salt and hear rushing waves; a light, chilly breeze ruffled his quills as he looked out at moonlit sea and star-strewn sky. He was standing upon a high outcrop of dark rock, water foaming and churning below him. He glanced over his shoulder. A towering cliff stood behind them, a sheer drop, black and faceless. A few large chunks of rock, such as the one upon which Silver and Locke were standing, looked as though they had broken away from the cliff face at some point in the past. It was a bleak, harsh view, the sea and the rock unrelieved by any tree or sweep of grass or sand. "What do you think?" Locke asked. He might have been asking Silver's opinion on the whether it was a good site for a picnic "They brought the kids from the orphanage here?" asked Silver, who could not imagine a less cozy spot for a day trip. Locke chuckled "Not here, precisely. There is a village of sorts about halfway along the cliffs behind us. I believe the children were taken there for a little sea air and a view of the waves. No, I think it was only ever Sam Tund and his youthful victims who visited this spot. No Muggle could reach this rock unless they were uncommonly good mountaineers, and boats cannot approach the cliffs, the waters around them are too dangerous. I imagine that Sam climbed down; magic would have served better than ropes. And he brought two small children with him" "Was he planning on hurting them?". Locke paused "That I cannot say. He could have simply brought them along to show off and what happened in the cave could have been an accident. I hope I've made it clear by now Silver that Sam Tund was always a difficult child to read". Locke beckoned Silver to the very edge of the rock where a series of jagged niches made footholds leading down to boulders that lay half-submerged in water and closer to the cliff. It was a treacherous descent and Locke, hampered slightly by his withered hand, moved slowly. The lower rocks were slippery with seawater. Silver could feel flecks of cold salt spray hitting his face. "Lumos" said Locke, as he reached the boulder closest to the cliff face.
A thousand flecks of golden light sparkled upon the dark surface of the water a few feet below where he crouched; the black wall of rock beside him was illuminated too. "You see?" said Locke quietly, holding his hand a little higher. Silver saw a fissure in the cliff into which dark water was swirling. He smirked "You will not object to getting a little wet?" "No" "Well, then we shall take the plunge". And with the sudden agility of a much younger man, Locke slid from the boulder, landed in the sea, and began to swim, with a perfect breaststroke, toward the dark slit in the rock face. Silver followed and immediately regretted not staying at Soleanna. The water was ice cold. Taking deep breaths that filled his nostrils with the tang of salt and seaweed, he struck out for the shimmering, shrinking light now moving deeper into the cliff. The fissure soon opened into a dark tunnel that Silver could tell would be filled with water at high tide. The slimy walls were barely three feet apart and glimmered like wet tar in the passing light of Locke's spell. A little way in, the passageway curved to the left, and Silver saw that it extended far into the cliff. He continued to swim in Locke's wake, the tips of his benumbed fingers brushing the rough, wet rock. Then he saw Locke rising out of the water ahead. When Silver reached the spot he found steps that led into a large cave. He clambered up them, water streaming from his soaking clothes, and emerged, shivering uncontrollably, into the still and freezing air. Locke was standing in the middle of the cave, his lit hand, examining the walls and ceiling "Yes, this is the place" "How can you tell?" Silver spoke in a whisper. "It has known magic" said Locke simply. Silver could not tell whether the shivers he was experiencing were due to his spine-deep coldness or to the same awareness of enchantments. He watched as Locke continued to revolve on the spot, evidently concentrating on things Silver could not see "This is merely the antechamber, the entrance hall. We need to penetrate the inner place. Now it is Lord Finitevus' obstacles that stand in our way, rather than those nature made".
Locke approached the wall of the cave and caressed it with his blackened fingertips, murmuring words in a strange tongue that Silver did not understand. Twice Locke walked right around the cave, touching as much of the rough rock as he could, occasionally pausing, running his fingers backward and forward over a particular spot, until finally he stopped, his hand pressed flat against the wall "Here. We go on through here. The entrance is concealed". Silver did not ask how Locke knew. He had never seen a wizard work things out like this, simply by looking and touching; but Silver had long since learned that bangs and smoke were more often the marks of ineptitude than expertise. Locke waved his hand. For a moment, an arched outline appeared there, blazing white as though there was a powerful light behind the crack. "You've d-done it!" said Silver through chattering teeth, but before the words had left his lips the outline had gone, leaving the rock as bare and solid as ever. Locke looked around "Silver, I'm so sorry, I forgot". Another wave of his hand and Silver felt a great rush of warmth, his fur quickly dried. "Thank you" said Silver gratefully, but Locke had already turned his attention back to the solid cave wall. He did not try any more magic, but simply stood there staring at it intently, as though something extremely interesting was written on it. Silver stayed quite still; he did not want to break Locke's concentration. Then, after two solid minutes, Locke said quietly "Oh, surely not. So crude". Silver was alarmed to then see Locke pull out a dagger "Professor?" "I rather think, that we are required to make payment to pass. Blood, if I am not much mistaken". Silver glanced at the knife "Blood?" "I said it was crude" said Locke, who sounded disdainful, even disappointed, as though Finitevus had fallen short of the standards Locke expected. Locke began to cut into his hand "The idea…Clearly is to weaken any intruder" "You should have had me do it, Professor".
Locke let a few drops of his blood hit the wall and smiled "Very kind of you, Silver, but your blood is worth more than mine. Ah, that seems to have done the trick, doesn't it?". The blazing silver outline of an arch had appeared in the wall once more, and this time it did not fade away. The blood-spattered rock within it simply vanished, leaving an opening into what seemed total darkness "After me, I think". They walked through and an eerie sight met their eyes. They were standing on the edge of a great black lake, so vast that Silver could not make out the distant banks, in a cavern so high that the ceiling too was out of sight. A misty greenish light shone far away in what looked like the middle of the lake; it was reflected in the completely still water below. The light from their hands were the only things that broke the otherwise velvety blackness, though their rays did not penetrate as far as Silver would have expected. The darkness was somehow denser than normal darkness "Let us walk. Be very careful not to step into the water. Stay close to me" Locke said. He set off around the edge of the lake, and Silver followed close behind him. Their footsteps made echoing, slapping sounds on the narrow rim of rock that surrounded the water. On and on they walked, but the view did not vary. On one side of them, the rough cavern wall, on the other, the boundless expanse of smooth, glassy blackness, in the very middle of which was that mysterious greenish glow. Silver found the place and the silence oppressive, unnerving "Professor, couldn't we just try a Summoning Charm?". But he was much keener than he was prepared to admit on getting out of this place as soon as possible. Locke stopped so suddenly that Silver almost walked into him "Certainly we could. Why don't you do it?" "Me? Okay".
Silver had not expected this, but cleared his throat and said loudly with his hand out "Accio Core Shard!". With a noise like an explosion, something very large and pale erupted out of the dark water some twenty feet away; before Silver could see what it was, it had vanished again with a crashing splash that made great, deep ripples on the mirrored surface. Silver leapt backward in shock and hit the wall; his heart was still thundering as he turned to Locke "What was that?" "Something, I think, that is ready to respond should we attempt to seize the Core Shard". Silver looked back at the water. The surface of the lake was once more shining black glass. The ripples had vanished unnaturally fast; Silver's heart, however, was still pounding "Did you think that would happen, sir?" "I thought something would happen if we made an obvious attempt to get our hands on the Shard. That was a very good idea, Silver; much the simplest way of finding out what we are facing" "But we don't know what the thing was," said Silver, looking at the sinisterly smooth water. Locke watched the water as well "What the things are, you mean. I doubt very much that there is only one of them. Shall we walk on?". Silver's fur stood on end "Do you think we're going to have to go into the lake?" "Into it? Only if we are very unfortunate" "You don't think the Shard is at the bottom?" "Oh no. I think the Core Shard is in the middle". And Locke pointed toward the misty green light in the centre of the lake "I think we'll have to cross the water to get to it". Silver did not say anything. His thoughts were all of water monsters, of giant serpents, of demons, kelpies, and sprites. Locke kept walking around the water before stopping and raising his hand.
Immediately a thick coppery green chain appeared out of thin air, extending from the depths of the water into Locke's clenched hand. Locke tapped the chain, which began to slide through his fist like a snake, coiling itself on the ground with a clinking sound that echoed noisily off the rocky walls, pulling something from the depths of the black water. Silver gasped as the ghostly prow of a tiny boat broke the surface, glowing as green as the chain, and floated, with barely a ripple, toward the place on the bank where Silver and Locke stood. Silver was astonished "How did you know that was there?" "Magic always leaves traces, sometimes very distinctive traces. I taught Sam Tund. I know his style". Silver still felt uneasy going near the water "Is-Is this boat safe?" "Oh yes, I think so. Finitevus needed to create a means to cross the lake without attracting the wrath of those creatures he had placed within it in case he ever wanted to visit or remove his Shard" "So the things in the water won't do anything to us if we cross in Finitevus's boat?". Locke nodded "Although, I think we must resign ourselves to the fact that they will, at some point, realize we are not Lord Finitevus. Thus far, however, we have done well. They have allowed us to raise the boat" "But why have they let us?" "Finitevus would have been reasonably confident that none but a very great wizard would have been able to find the boat. I think he would have been prepared to risk what was, to his mind, the most unlikely possibility that somebody else would find it, knowing that he had set other obstacles ahead that only he would be able to penetrate. We shall see whether he is right. Now, you first this time, and be careful not to touch the water". Locke stood aside and Silver climbed carefully into the boat. Locke stepped in too, coiling the chain onto the floor.
They were crammed in together; Silver could not comfortably sit, but crouched, his knees jutting over the edge of the boat, which began to move at once. There was no sound other than the silken rustle of the boat's prow cleaving the water; it moved without their help, as though an invisible rope was pulling it onward toward the light in the center. Soon they could no longer see the walls of the cavern; they might have been at sea except that there were no waves. Silver looked down and saw the reflected cyan of his hand sparkling and glittering on the black water as they passed. The boat was carving deep ripples upon the glassy surface, grooves in the dark mirror. And then Silver saw it, a bloodied corpse lying at the bottom "Professor, there's someone in the water" "More than one. I think we're surrounded by EXEs". Silver gulped "How many?" "I'm not sure. But we won't have to worry about them at the moment". Silver's heart was beginning to speed up "At the moment?" "Not while they are merely drifting peacefully below us. However, once we take the Core Shard, we shall find them less peaceable. But like many creatures that dwell in cold and darkness, they fear light and warmth, which we shall therefore call to our aid should the need arise. Fire, Silver" Locke added with a smile, in response to Silver's bewildered expression. Silver said nothing, he could not pretend now that he was not scared. The great black lake, teeming with the dead. It seemed hours and hours ago that he had met Pyjamas, that he had given Razor and Coral the E-77. He suddenly wished he had said a better good-bye to them, and he hadn't seen Blaze at all. "Nearly there," said Locke cheerfully. Sure enough, the greenish light seemed to be growing larger at last, and within minutes, the boat had come to a halt, bumping gently into something that Silver could not see at first, but when he raised his illuminated hand he saw that they had reached a small island of smooth rock in the centre of the lake.
"Careful not to touch the water" said Locke again as Silver climbed out of the boat. The island was no larger than Locke's office, an expanse of flat dark stone on which stood nothing but the source of that greenish light, which looked much brighter when viewed close to. Silver squinted at it; at first, he thought it was a lamp of some kind, but then he saw that the light was coming from a stone basin which was set on top of a pedestal. Locke approached the basin and Silver followed. Side by side, they looked down into it. The basin was full of an emerald liquid emitting that phosphorescent glow "What is it?" "I am not sure. Something more worrisome than blood and bodies, however". Locke removed the glove from his blackened hand, and stretched out the tips of his burned fingers toward the surface of the potion. His hand then stopped and shook slightly "I can't touch it. I cannot approach any nearer than this. You try". Staring, Silver put his hand into the basin and attempted to touch the potion. He met an invisible barrier that prevented him coming within an inch of it. No matter how hard he pushed, his fingers encountered nothing but what seemed to be solid and inflexible air. Locke held out both his hands and began murmuring an incantation. Nothing happened, except perhaps that the potion glowed a little brighter "The Shard is in here". Locke looked concerned "But how to reach it? This potion cannot be penetrated by hand, Vanished, parted, scooped up, or siphoned away, nor can it be Transfigured, Charmed, or otherwise made to change its nature". Almost absentmindedly, Locke raised his healthy hand again and then caught the crystal goblet that he had conjured out of nowhere "I can only conclude that this potion is supposed to be drunk. Only by drinking it can I empty the basin and see what lies in its depths". Silver stepped forward to try and stop Locke from doing anything "Sir, you can't. What if it kills you?" "Oh, I doubt that it would work like that. Lord Finitevus would not want to kill the person who reached this island".
Silver couldn't believe it. Was this more of Locke's insane determination to see good in everyone "Sir, this is Finitevus we're talking about" "I'm sorry, Silver; I should have said, he would not want to immediately kill the person who reached this island. He would want to keep them alive long enough to find out how they managed to penetrate so far through his defences and, most importantly of all, why they were so intent upon emptying the basin. Do not forget that Lord Finitevus believes that he alone knows about his Core Shards". Silver made to speak again, but this time Locke raised his hand for silence, frowning slightly at the emerald liquid, evidently thinking hard "Undoubtedly, this potion must act in a way that will prevent me taking the Core Shard. It might paralyze me, cause me to forget what I am here for, create so much pain I am distracted, or render me incapable in some other way. This being the case, Silver, it will be your job to make sure I keep drinking, even if you have to tip the potion into my protesting mouth. You understand?". Their eyes met over the basin, each pale face lit with that strange, green light. Silver did not speak. Was this why he had been invited along? So that he could force-feed Locke a potion that might cause him unendurable pain? Locke stared at him "You remember, the condition on which I brought you with me?". Silver hesitated, looking into Locke's eyes "But what if-" "You swore, did you not, to follow any command I gave you?" "Yes, but-" "Well, then, you have my orders". Silver couldn't end it there "Why can't I drink the potion instead?" "Because I am much older, much cleverer, and much less valuable. Once and for all, Silver, do I have your word that you will do all in your power to make me keep drinking?". Silver sighed "Couldn't-" "Your word, Silver" "I…All right". Before Silver could make any further protest, Locke lowered the crystal goblet into the potion. For a split second, Silver hoped that he would not be able to touch the potion with the goblet, but the crystal sank into the surface as nothing else had; when the glass was full to the brim, Locke lifted it to his mouth and drained it.
Silver watched, terrified, his hands gripping the rim of the basin so hard that his fingertips were numb "Professor? How do you feel?" he said anxiously. Locke shook his head, his eyes closed. Silver wondered whether he was in pain. Locke plunged the glass blindly back into the basin, refilled it, and drank once more. In silence, Locke drank three goblets of the potion. Then, halfway through the fourth goblet, he staggered and fell forward against the basin. His eyes were still closed, his breathing heavy "Professor Locke? Can you hear me?" Silver yelled. Locke did not answer. His face was twitching as though he was deeply asleep, but dreaming a horrible dream. His grip on the goblet was slackening; the potion was about to spill from it. Silver reached forward and grasped the crystal cup, holding it steady. "Professor, can you hear me?" he repeated loudly, his voice echoing around the cavern. Locke panted and then spoke in a voice Silver did not recognize, for he had never heard Locke frightened like this "I don't want. Don't make me…". Silver stared into the whitened face and didn't know what to do "Don't like…Want to stop" moaned Locke. Silver's hands trembled "You-You can't stop, Professor. You've got to keep drinking, remember? You told me you had to keep drinking. Here". Hating himself, repulsed by what he was doing, Silver forced the goblet back toward Locke's mouth and tipped it, so that Locke drank the remainder of the potion inside. "No!" he groaned, as Silver lowered the goblet back into the basin and refilled it for him. Locke desperately shook his head "I don't want to. I don't want to. Let me go" "It's all right, Professor. It's all right, I'm here" "Make it stop, make it stop". Silver raised the full goblet "Yes, yes, this'll make it stop" lied Silver. He tipped the contents of the goblet into Locke's open mouth. Locke screamed; the noise echoed all around the vast chamber, across the dead black water "No, no, no, no, I can't, I can't, don't make me, I don't want to" "It's all right, Professor, it's all right!" said Silver loudly, his hands shaking so badly he could hardly scoop up the sixth goblet of potion; the basin was now half empty.
"Nothing's happening to you, you're safe, it isn't real, I swear it isn't real. Take this, now, take this". And obediently, Locke drank, as though it was an antidote Silver offered him, but upon draining the goblet he sank to his knees and cradled back and forth like a scared infant "It's all my fault, all my fault. Please make it stop, I know I did wrong, oh please make it stop and I'll never, never again". Silver's voice broke as he said "This will make it stop, Professor". Locke almost knocked the goblet out of Silver's hands as he desperately flailed his hands as he moaned "Don't hurt them, don't hurt them, please, please, it's my fault. They didn't do anything! Hurt me!" "Here, drink this, drink this, you'll be all right," said Silver desperately, and once again Locke obeyed him, opening his mouth even as he kept his eyes tight shut and shook from head to foot. And now he fell forward, screaming again, hammering his fists upon the ground, while Silver filled the ninth goblet "No more. Help me! KILL ME!" "Just drink, Professor, just drink". Locke drank like a child dying of thirst, but when he had finished, he yelled again as though his insides were on fire "I…Trusted you!" he sounded betrayed. Silver scooped up a tenth goblet of potion and felt the crystal scrape the bottom of the basin "We're nearly there, Professor". He supported Locke's shoulders and again, Locke drained the glass; then Silver was on his feet once more, refilling the goblet as Locke began to scream in more anguish than ever "I want to die! I want to die! Make it stop, make it stop, I want to die!". Silver had to force him to drink the next "Kill me!" "This-This one will! Just drink this. It'll be over!". Locke gulped at the goblet, drained every last drop, and then, with a great, rattling gasp, rolled over onto his face.
"No!" shouted Silver, who had stood to refill the goblet again; instead he dropped the cup into the basin, flung himself down beside Locke, and heaved him over onto his back; Locke's mouth agape, his eyes closed "No, Professor wake up! You said it wasn't poison, wake up, wake up". Locke's eyelids flickered; Silver's heart leapt "Sir, are you okay?" "Water. Water, Silver" croaked Locke. Silver leapt back to his feet and seized the goblet he had dropped in the Basin. As he picked it up he noticed what was now in the basin, a locket. Silver quickly took the locket "Aguamenti!" he shouted. The basin refilled now with clear water instead of the potion. Silver dipped the goblet into the basin but when he lifted it out no water was inside "What?". He tried again, still nothing "Aguamenti!" he said his hands now directed to the goblet itself. The water appeared and then drained out like there was a hole in the goblet. Silver knew, instinctively, the only way left to get water, because Finitevus had planned it so. He flung himself over to the edge of the rock and plunged the goblet into the lake, bringing it up full to the brim of icy water that did not vanish. Silver ran back to Locke "Sir, here" he fed it to Locke even though half the water was lost due to Silver's trembling. Silver returned to the water to get more but before his hand touched the water a bloodied hand burst out and grabbed his wrist. Silver screamed and pulled his hand free. He fell back and was met with a terrifying sight. The surface of the lake was no longer mirror-smooth; it was churning, and everywhere Silver looked, heads and hands were emerging from the dark water, men and women and children were moving toward the rock: an army of the dead rising from the black water. Their eyes were a glowing red and blood was running down them.
They all had horrible, sadistic grins as if killing someone gave them the greatest of pleasures "Petrificus Totalus!" yelled Silver at the nearest EXE. It fell back into the water with a splash; he scrambled to his feet, but many more were already climbing onto the rock, their bony hands clawing at its slippery surface, their blank, frosted eyes upon him, trailing waterlogged rags, sunken faces leering. "Petrificus Totalus!" Silver bellowed again, backing away as he swiped his hand through the air; six or seven of them crumpled, but more were coming toward him "Impedimenta! Incarcerous!". A few of them stumbled, one or two of them bound in ropes, but those climbing onto the rock behind them merely stepped over or on the fallen bodies. Still slashing at the air "Sectumsempra! SECTUMSEMPRA!". But though gashes appeared on their bodies they had no blood to spill. They walked on, unfeeling. Silver had no where to go, he felt arms enclose him from behind, thin, cold as death, and his feet left the ground as they lifted him and began to carry him, slowly and surely, back to the water. The few that held him dragged him below the surface as he desperately struggled. He knew there would be no release, that he would be drowned, and become one more dead guardian of a fragment of Finitevus' shattered soul. Then it happened. A bright, warming light could be seen above him. The light grew and separated. A small projectile flew out of it and into the water. It hit the EXEs holding him and Silver was released. He shot back out of the water and breathed a lungful of air. He felt a geat heat on all sides, there was a wall of fire around the island. At the centre was Locke, standing tall. His good hand was held high spinning like he was holding an invisible lasso and the fire obeyed the movements, swirling around the island. The EXEs were screaming as they scrambled over each other to get back into the water. Silver climbed back onto the island and as he got closer he saw how frail Locke looked despite his control of the fire "Silver". Locke stumbled forward and Silver helped him "Back to the boat! Partis Tempuris!". The wall of fire splits allowing the two to sail back across the water. They reach the other side and Silver helps Locke out "I'm sorry, sir. I forgot about the fire. I panicked" "Quite understandable" Locke said very weakly. Silver felt very helpless as he led Locke back out the main door "Don't worry, sir. I'll-I'll get us out of here" "I'm not worried, Silver. I'm with you".