Chapter 12
Trial by Fire
Hermione fell through the air barely managing to twist her body before landing on her left shoulder with a soft thump and letting out a cry of pain. Hermione winched in pain as she rolled away from whatever she had landed on hoping that she hadn't landed on one of the boys.
Hermione pulled herself to her feet and called out to the boys, "Harry, Ron are you two okay?"
Before the boys could answer her, Hermione felt something beginning to wrap around her ankle. She reacted instantly severing whatever had grabbed her with magic and jumped back, casting Lumos shedding some light on the situation.
If Harry and Ron's lives were not in danger the scene before her would have been hilarious. Ron having gone first had managed to land on his ass but, due to his slow recovery had become ensnared by the massive Devil's Snare plant that appeared to be consuming the room. Ron was valiantly struggling against the plant and failing just as valiantly. Harry had landed on his back and directly on top of the main mass of the plant, and while this had prevented major injury it had also quickly led to him being covered in plant mass. Harry was clearly panicking but unable to do much else.
Hermione wasted no time in casting a Lumos Maxima spell pointing her wand in the direction of her previous Lumos light ball. It expanded rapidly glowing like a miniature sun and letting off a wave of heat causing the Devil's Snare the shrivel and shrink into the darkness freeing Harry and Ron.
"Thanks Hermione, you really saved us there." Harry said as he made his way to where Hermione was standing.
"Ya, You really saved our bacon. Thanks Hermione" groaned Ron as he stood and pointed towards a door in behind Harry and Hermione and said "I think that door is our way forward."
Harry and Hermione turned and looked at the door before nodding at each other and moving towards and opening the door and moving into the next room. The sound of hundreds of tiny wings assaulted the trios ears as they saw the swarm of flying keys bolting around the room. Hermione and Harry's eyes scanned the room as Ron made his way across to the next door which he attempted to open. He failed and noticed the keyhole and as he turned and shouted.
"Hey guys I think we're going to need one of these keys to open the door!"
Harry acknowledged Ron's remark with a thumbs up and turned to Hermione.
"Any ideas on how to figure out which key we need to open that door?"
"Yes, I can see a damaged key hovering near the ceiling of the room it must be the one whoever came before us used. The real question is how is one of us going to get up there to get it." replied Hermione
Harry who had spotted brooms floating in the center of the room smiled as he quickly replied "I think I know a way." before running to mount one of the brooms. Before Hermione could get a word out Harry was already in the air his eyes locked on the needed key. It did not take long for the trio to realize this trial was harder than it looked as soon as Harry got off the ground the keys in his vicinity turned and began to fly in his direction. The keys swarmed like wasps as they flung themselves at Harry trying to prevent him for reaching his goal. However, Harry would not be so easily deterred and he managed to surprise Hermione with how agile and swift Harry was on the broom. Despite his talent and skill it was clear that several of the keys were getting in some good hits and that Harry would probably have some nasty bruises tomorrow.
Harry landed with a great deal of velocity as he jumped off the broom and threw the key to Ron who barely managed to catch it and fumbled a little to get the door open but managed to achieve it just as Harry and Hermione reached the door and the three pushed their way through into the next room as the swarm of keys closed in. Harry quickly shut the door behind the group and they all breathed a sigh of relief as they heard the keys slam into the closed door in mass. Harry and Ron both sank to their knees as they let the adrenaline of their most recent experience run it course. Hermione however remained vigilant as she scanned the room and she found that the trio were resting on the edge of a giant chessboard with black and white piece in their starting positions. Once Ron and Harry had caught their breath they too took in the new room they had found themselves in and for the first time in in Hermione's new life Ron spoke up.
"It's a giant game of wizard's chess, I play the miniature version of this all the time with my brothers."
"Do you think you can win this game it is probably the only way for us to move forward?" asked Harry
"Probably but, I don't think it will be that easy it seems we have to be on the board as well and it seems we are are going second." replied Ron "Harry you will have to take the place of one of the bishops, Hermione please take one of the castle's places, and I'll take over for one of the knights." Ron ordered
Hermione always knew Ron had an amazing knack for tactical processes even in her old world Ron was talented when it came to knowing which pieces needed to be placed where to be their most effective. Hermione decided she would place her trust in Ron and moved to take her place on the board, Harry followed suit and Ron took his place as well. The game began and was relatively quiet right up until one of the white bishops took one of the black pawns in an incredibly violent manner. This caused Ron to turn pale before he returned his focus to the game. The game continued as pieces fell on both sides of the board, that was until the board ended up in a near stalemate from Hermione's position she could see a way to victory but it would require a painful sacrifice notable from Ron who was the only one in a position to do anything. Hermione saw Ron look around the board before he took a deep breath as he turned to Harry and said
"Harry I'm going to take the rook and then the queen will take me, after which Hermione can take the queen and put the king in check. After which you can move to end the game with a checkmate."
Before Harry could respond Ron's knight began to move to take the white rook and as soon as he managed to take the rook the white queen turned and began moving towards Ron. The next few seconds were tense as Harry yelled out and the white queen raised her blade and struck down Ron without mercy. The following silence was deafening as Ron and his knight were swept off the board by the white queen, and Hermione could see Harry holding back tears as he saw his best friend's broken body moved.
Hermione quickly took control and had her rook take the white queen avenging Ron and placing the white king in check forcing it to move and allowed Harry to move his bishop and place the white king into checkmate and as soon as the game ended and the door to the next room opened Harry ran to Ron's side and began to look him over. To Harry's great relief Ron was still breathing but badly wounded with what looked like several lacerations and a broken bone or two but, he was alive. Hermione cast a few small healing spells that she knew but could see that Ron would need proper care sooner rather than later.
"Harry we need to get Ron help as soon as possible…" Hermione said
"I know, I know but, we also still need to stop Snape. If we move quickly we can stop Snape and get Ron the help he needs." replied Harry
"If you're sure Harry then we need to get going now." Hermione said as she stood and began moving towards the door at the far end of the room.
Harry took one last look at his injured friend and followed Hermione into the next room. The second both Harry and Hermione stepped through the door fire shot up from the ground sealing off the exit and in front of the pair was a table with seven different potions lined up and the doorway to the next room also shrouded in flame. There was also a note on the desk with a puzzle written on it.
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, which ever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting bidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
Hermione sighed and thought to herself.
Of course Snape would do a potion puzzle.
Hermione read the note a couple more times before she settled on the right potion to drink in order to move forward which she grabbed and gave to Harry.
"Here Harry this potion will allow you to move through the flames and into the next room." Hermione said
Harry looked at the potion "Is it possible to share the potion?" Harry asked
"No the amount is far too small for both of us to get protection from it" replied Hermione
"Okay, well here goes." Harry replied as he uncorked the potion and downed it in one go. "I don't feel any different. Are you sure this is going to work?" asked Harry
"That is not how this potion works, Harry, just trust me and get going the potion's effects won't last that long." replied Hermione
Harry nodded and made his way through the fire into the next room leaving Hermione alone with the silence and a growing sense of unease, her eyes wandered to the burning flame Harry had walked through. Hermione moved to stand right in front of the flames. She could feel the heat coming off the fire, she took a deep breath and steeling her resolve and stepped through the flames.