Chapter Nine
Bathroom Chats and Devil's Snare
"You and I need to have a chat."
I frowned at my brother as he washed his hands. I was standing in front of the door so he couldn't leave. It was finally my moment. We had been in Potions together when Draco excused himself. I begged Snape to let me go as well. My godfather wasn't impressed at first but after looking at my notes he gave me five minutes maximum. I could work with five minutes.
Draco's surprise at seeing me in the boys bathroom quickly turned to a sneer.
"You can't be in here." He scowled, scrubbing his hands with more vigor than needed. I crossed my arms over my chest.
"What is your problem with me and my friends? Ever since we got back from break you've been a right prick."
"Oh, I've been the prick?" Draco laughed bitterly. "I've been the prick? You're the one who gave me a black eye!"
"That was weeks ago!" I argued back, stamping my foot.
"What were you guys doing with a dragon anyways? Those are illegal."
"That was none of your business! If you hadn't gotten involved we wouldn't have lost a hundred fifty points! We have bigger things to worry about than you!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry I'm such a nuisance." Draco sneered. My heart clenched uncomfortably at that. "I was trying to look out for you-"
"By getting us caught?!"
"Do you realize how much trouble you could get in for transporting an illegal dragon? Is it really worth it for that oaf of a teacher! You could have been expelled!"
"You know, if you really wanted to stop us, you wouldn't have tried to stop us in the act. Come up with a better lie next time Draco. I expected more from you."
Both of us were seething with anger, tight lipped and red faced. My fingernails were starting to bite into my palms.
"Well, maybe your friends should have been expelled." Draco hissed under his breath and my eyes narrowed.
"What did you just say?"
"You heard me. It's only a matter of time. The four of you are always poking your noses into things you shouldn't. They are bad influences. First the troll and now a dragon? This is getting out of hand."
I was shaking with anger at this point. Draco knew how difficult it was being in Gryffindor for me before I befriended the group. He had no right.
"You do not get to tell me who I can and cannot be friends with. You're not my mother."
"That's funny, because you seem to think you're mine." Draco sneered back. "You don't get to tell me what to do."
It took everything in me not to smack my brother. I took a deep breath and gave him a dark glare.
"This isn't over."
Anger flooded me as I stomped out of the boy's bathroom. My plan went south once again. Why couldn't I get anything right?
"I just don't understand why he's acting like such a prat." I complained thirty minutes later to the others as we sat in the Great Hall. I angrily stabbed the sausage on my plate, pretending it was Draco's face. "I mean, he's always picked on people before but never like this."
"You realize your brother is the spawn of Satan right? You can't change him." Ron quipped and Hermione kicked him under the table, not even looking up from her book.
"I know that's how you guys see him but he's usually not that bad. I feel like ever since we got back from break he's been gunning for everyone."
"Well, did something happen during break?" Hermione asked and I paused, thinking on it.
There was the fight with Grandfather and Father… Getting Grounded… The Christmas party… My argument with Snape… Nothing that happened to or with Draco really.
I guess after the party and for the rest of break really, Draco had been quieter than normal. I didn't pay much attention to it though, spending most of my time in my room to avoid further arguments.
"Nothing I can think of." I muttered and Hermione raised her eyebrow at that.
"You need to just ignore him, Lyra." Harry finally joined in. I looked at the raven haired boy. "The more you argue with him, the more he's going to go out of his way to antagonize you."
"How-"
"Dudley, my cousin, is the same way. Eventually he'll get bored and find something else to keep him busy."
All of us fell silent at the reminder of Harry's home life. It was depressing to hear how his Uncle and Aunt neglected him and his cousin bullied him. Harry tried to make light of it if it did ever come up but something about it made a pit form in my stomach.
"Do you really think ignoring Draco will work?" I asked after a moment and Harry shrugged.
"Can't hurt to try." He said through a mouthful of food.
Things did not look up after that. Though Harry and Hermione were able to get Norbert out of the castle, they became the most hated students in Gryffindor. Losing a hundred and fifty points meant that Slytherin was now in the lead to win the House Cup. Even the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were upset about this.
Spirits were low and we had a feeling that it was only a matter of time before Snape made his move on the stone. Harry overheard Quirrell being threatened and as much as we didn't want to meddle anymore… things were not looking good.
Once again, I found myself waiting in the Common Room while the others were out. Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Draco were serving their detention. For some reason my skin was on edge and I couldn't sleep much to my frustration.
They wouldn't be doing anything dangerous… right? It was detention after all.
Nearing one o'clock the Common Room door burst open and I kicked Ron in the side, waking up the snoring boy.
"What happened?" I asked immediately and Harry started to pace the Common Room. Hermione took a shaky seat next to me, pale in the face.
Harry quickly explained that they were searching for a hurt unicorn during detention and had split into groups. Harry and Draco ended up together and actually found the creature… but there had been a hooded figure latched onto it. Draco ran away while Harry almost collapsed due to a pain in his scar. Luckily, a centaur had been there to save him. The centaur drove the creature off and warned Harry against what would be so desperate to kill a unicorn.
You-Know-Who was trying to get the Stone. And he was willing to do anything to prolong his life.
The blood drained from my face as we processed what he said. Harry paced back and forth, his mind going a mile a minute.
"Snape wants the Stone for Voldemort… and Voldemort's waiting in the forest and all this time we thought Snape wanted… to get rich." Ron and I jumped at Harry's use of You-Know-Who's name but Harry just ignored us.
"Firenze saved me but he should have done so. Bane was furious he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen… they must know that Voldemort's coming back… Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me… I suppose that's written in the stars as well."
"Will you stop saying his name!?" Ron hissed and I agreed with the red head, my heart racing in my chest.
"So all I've got to do is wait for Snape to steal the Stone. Then Voldemort will be happy to come and finish me off… Well I suppose Bane'll be happy."
This time he paused enough for Hermione to talk.
"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of and with Dumbledore around You-know-who won't touch you. Anyways, who says centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune telling to me and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic." She said and Harry nodded, his face still pale.
"There are very few who actually understand fortune telling Harry." I added and he just sighed looking exhausted.
The four of us made our way back to our dorms exhausted and I gave Hermione a weak smile before drawing my bed curtains to a close.
There was no way my godfather was trying to bring back You-Know-Who… right?
I couldn't stop myself from staring at Harry as if he were crazy. He was pale, his eyes shining with determination. I wanted to ask him if he were actually daft but I knew that now wasn't the time for it.
Exams had just finished and of course, of course Dumbledore had stepped out of the castle the same day we found out Hagrid let some 'stranger' know how to get past Fluffy. It was time.
"You cannot honestly think that we won't come with you to save the Stone Harry James Potter." My hands were on my hips and I gave him the most stone cold Malfoy look that I could muster. "We have spent the whole year uncovering this plot and watching over the Stone with you. If you think we are going to let you go alone, you need to be chucked into the loony bin."
Harry's mouth snapped shut at my words and I ignored the unnerved look that he shot Ron who was openly staring at me.
"Merlin, you remind me of your brother when you do that." Ron mumbled and I scowled at Ron next.
After arguing for a moment, Harry finally relented. We were all going to check on the stone after curfew. We'd use the Invisibility Cloak to sneak out after everyone went to bed.
"What are you doing?" A voice asked from the corner of the common room as the four of us made our way to the entrance.
The four of us froze. Neville appeared from behind an armchair, clutching Trevor in his hands. My face twisted a bit at his sudden appearance. How long had he been watching us for?
"Nothing, Neville. Nothing." Harry said rather hurriedly, holding his cloak behind his back. The dark haired boy didn't look too convinced. We did not have time for this.
Neville stared at us, his eyes narrowing.
"You're going about again." Neville said, his grip tightening on his toad.
"No no no." Hermione mumbled. "No we're not. Why don't you go to bed, Neville."
The dark haired boy just shook his head. We were all dressed in our school robes, wands at our sides, ready to go out. Not in our pajamas getting ready for bed. There was not much we could say to convince him otherwise.
Harry glanced at the grandfather clock. Time was starting to tick by and we needed to get going. Now.
"You can't go out." Neville hissed his face flushing. "You'll be caught again! Gryffindor will be in even more trouble."
I nudged Harry who just nodded, looking as ready to leave as I was.
"You don't understand. This is important."
Before any of us could stop him Neville rushed over towards the portrait hole looking desperate.
"I won't let you do it! I'll-I'll fight you!"
"Neville, we don't want to fight you!" I hissed wanting to settle this peacefully. Something in my stomach was telling me that this wasn't going to end how I wanted it to though.
"Neville!" Ron exploded, taking a step towards the boy. "Get away from that hole and don't be an idiot-"
The two of them argued and I shot Harry and Hermione a look, both of them looking as desperate as I was. With a huff, I pulled out my wand and waved it at the boy. Guilt filled me as his arms and legs snapped together, his whole body went rigid. Neville lurched forwards only to be caught by Ron who's mouth fell open in surprise.
"What did you do?" Harry hissed at me as Ron grunted, pulling the stunned boy onto one of the couches.
"It was a full body-bind curse." Hermione said and looked over at Neville. "We're so sorry Neville."
"If you just listened to us this wouldn't have happened." I said. "Throw a blanket on him in case anyone else comes down."
Ron nodded solemnly.
This was a rocky start to our potentially fatal adventure.
The door to the third-floor corridor was already open. My heart was in my throat as the four of us stood outside of it, our confidence wavering.
"Well, there you are. Snape's already got past Fluffy." Harry whispered and my grip on my wand tightened. There was no denying the danger we were facing.
This was not good.
"If you want to go back, I won't blame you." Harry said in a low voice. "You can take the Cloak, I won't need it now."
"Don't be stupid."
"We're coming."
His green eyes met mine and I gave a small nod. Harry let out a sigh, before pushing open the door. It creaked open and low rumbling growls met my ears. We all peered into the room to see Fluffy, its eyes half open though unfocused. The harp that was at its feet no longer playing music.
Harry brought the flute Hagrid gave him for Christmas up to his lips and started to play a couple of notes out of tune. Slowly Fluffy's growls subsided and its head lowered to the ground, fast asleep.
"Keep playing." Ron whispered and we pulled the cloak off. The four of us crept towards the trap door.
"I think we'll be able to pull the door open." Ron said as we got to the latched door. "Want to go first, Hermione?"
"No, I don't!"
"All right." Ron grit his teeth and pulled the ring of the trap door.
Ron and I peered inside, only seeing black. My heart dropped as I stared into the abyss. There were no steps, no ladder, nothing. I cast lumos, the tip of my wand lit up but we still could not see the bottom. I glanced at Ron nervously.
"What can you see?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Nothing- just black- there's no way of climbing down. We'll just have to drop."
Harry waved his hand to get Ron and my attention and pointed at himself. I shook my head at that.
"I'll go first." I declared. Harry's eyes narrowed at that but I shook my head again.
"I'll go first." I repeated and started to roll up my sleeves. "One of us has to do it and isn't going to be Harry. We don't know what's down there. If it's something bad then I'll tell you guys and you can get a professor or something. If it isn't then I'll give you the all clear. We can't risk Harry getting hurt from something as stupid as a fall."
The others looked at each other before nodding reluctantly. I took a deep breath and sat down, my legs hanging in the hole. Everything was screaming at me, telling me to run, but I took a deep breath as I stared into the darkness.
"Be safe." Hermione whispered, giving my shoulder a squeeze. I gave her a weak smile.
Taking in another breath I clutched my wind to my side and dropped.
My eyes were shut tight as air rushed around me. All I could hear was my heart beating loudly in my ears.
Down and down I fell.
Thwup!
I laid for a second, trying to catch my breath. Whatever I fell on was soft enough to cushion my fall but still knocked the breath out of me. Gathering my thoughts, I got to my feet and looked up. The light from the opening above was so small it looked like a postage stamp.
"You alright Lyra?" Ron called down his voice so far away. We had to be miles underneath the school.
"Yeah just give me a minute." I called back.
"Lumos."
My heart jumped in my chest as my wand illuminated the room I was in. Large inky snakelike tendrils filled the room, twisting around my legs. I let out a yelp and moved to bat them away- to my surprise they writhed away from the light.
My mouth was dry as I looked around the room. They looked almost familiar. If my suspicions were correct then… along the far wall in the densest part of the tendrils stood the head of the Devil's Snare. Professor Sprout showed us them in Herbology but none this large.
"Lyra! Talk to us!" Hermione called again and I snapped out of my stupor.
They needed it to cushion their fall so I couldn't destroy it now… as long as they stayed calm we would be fine… I moved next to the only exit to the room. The plant kept its distance. For now.
"It's okay!" I called back. I watched as legs blocked some of the light above and with a loud thwump Ron landed in the middle of the room.
"Light your wand, quickly now." I grabbed Ron's arm, pulling him away from the tendrils that were trying to make their way up his legs. He managed to free himself and rushed close to me, looking at the room in horror.
"What is this stuff?" Ron asked.
"Devil's Snare. We've got to move quickly, I'm not sure how long lumos will hold these back." I replied and he looked pale as he lit his wand.
"Hermione, come on!"
Hermione landed in the center of the room. Ron and I quickly ushered her to her feet. The brown haired girl lit her wand and looked around in horror.
"Harry! It's clear!" I called.
The distant music stopped. There was a moment of silence then Fluffy let out a loud bark but it was too late. He had already jumped. Harry landed on the plant in the middle of the room.
"Quickly." Hermione whispered as Ron helped the raven haired boy to his feet.
"What's this stuff?" Harry asked as we freed him from the plant that was trying to twist around his ankles. I pointed at the corner where the head of the plant was hissing at us.
"Devil's Snare." I stated. "It strangles anything it comes in contact with."
Everyone paled at that.
"That's cheery isn't it?" Ron muttered under his breath and I couldn't help but to snort at that.
"This way." Harry pointed down the stone passageway.
The four of us made our way across a stone passageway that was the only way forwards. We were all silent as we made our way through the passageway- all we could hear was our footsteps echoing until…
"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered and we all paused. A soft rustling and clinking noise seemed to be coming up ahead.
"Do you think it's a ghost?"
"I don't know…. Sounds like wings to me…"
"There's a light ahead—I can see something moving."
"Be ready for anything." I whispered and the others nodded, tightening their grips on their wands.
The end of the passageway opened into a large, well lit chamber. The ceiling arched high above us and it was full of what looked like bright birds fluttering around the room. Across the room was a large door.
"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the chamber?" Ron asked, looking at the birds nervously.
"Probably. They don't look very vicious but I suppose if they swooped down all at once…well there's no other choice. I'll run."
Before we could protest, Harry covered his head with his arms and sprinted across the room. The birds kept about their business though paying no mind to him. We quickly joined Harry tugging on the door. Hermione even tried Alohomora but it wasn't budging.
"They're not birds!" Harry exclaimed looking up. "They're keys! Winged keys- look carefully… that must mean…" He looked around the chamber and almost jumped with excitement. "Yes! Look, broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"
"But there are hundreds of them!" Ron groaned and then looked at the lock on the door. "We're looking for a big, old fashioned one. Probably silver like the handle."
The four of us quickly made a plan. Ron, Hermione, and Harry mounted the three brooms while I stood by the door, ready to catch the key if needed. I watched nervously as the three of them circled in the air, trying to spot the one we needed.
Luckily, it didn't take long for Harry to spot it. The three of them cornered the key and Harry pinned it up against the wall with one hand.
They landed quickly and Harry passed me the struggling key. I looked at the others as I inserted it into the lock.
"Are we ready?" I asked and they all nodded.
"Ready." Harry confirmed.
With a deep breath I pulled the door open. For a second the room was dark then light flooded the chamber.
In front of us was a life sized chessboard. Our side had large black pieces that loomed over us while the other had white. A shiver ran down my spine as I stared at the white side. None of them had faces.
"Now what do we do?" Harry whispered and Ron stepped a bit closer to the pieces.
"It's obvious isn't it? We've got to play our way across the room."
"How?" Hermione asked rather nervously.
"I think… we're going to have to be chessmen." Ron said, walking up to a black night. He put his hand on to touch the knight's horse. Almost instantly the horse sprang to life, pawing at the ground.
"Do we… er have to join you to get across?" Ron asked and the knight nodded.
He paced back and for a moment trying to think about who we were going to replace. I glanced at Harry and Hermione.
"Harry and Cassie, you both will replace the bishops and Hermione, you'll be the castle. I'll be the knight."
My respect for Ron grew as he commanded the chess board. While he did his best to keep the three of us safe, he darted around the board, taking as many pieces as possible. The white pieces showed no mercy, smashing our players into pieces then dragging their limp bodies off to the side. Pieces were starting to pile up.
"We're nearly there…" Ron muttered looking at the board. "Let me think- let me think."
I watched as the white Queen turned and faced him. A light shone in Ron's eyes and my blood ran cold.
"I've got to be taken."
Both Harry and Hermione immediately started to argue. I stared at the queen, pale. Their pieces were ruthless.
"That's chess!" Ron snapped. "You've got to take sacrifices. I take one step forward and she'll take me! That leaves you free to checkmate the king Harry!"
Despite all of our protests Ron wasn't changing his mind.
"Ready?" Ron called his face pale. "Here I go- now don't hang around once you've won."
I watched as he stepped forward and the queen pounced. She struck him hard across the head and he fell hard on the ground. Hermione let out a scream but stayed on her square. My hands were shaken as I stared at his ashen face.
I barely noticed as Harry moved three spaces to the left and won us a game.
The other two rushed to the next door but I rushed towards Ron's side, checking to see if he was breathing. Relief filled me as I heard his raspy breath. I felt the back of his head, wincing as I felt warmth start to spread on my hand.
"You two go ahead." I called to Harry and Hermione, concern was written all over their faces as they looked back at me. "I'll get Ron out of here- contact Dumbledore or something."
Harry looked like he was going to protest but I cut him off.
"I need to get him moved now and you need to get to the stone now. Go!"
He nodded and I gave them encouraging smiles. They tried to look confident as they rushed through the passageway. I looked down at Ron trying to think of what to do. Trying not to panic at how much blood there was, I pulled off my cloak and tore at the sleeve. Making a makeshift bandage, I wrapped it around his head putting pressure on his wound.
"You better not die on me now you prat." I hissed under my breath and with a loud grunt, I pulled Ron to his feet struggling under his weight. My mind was in overdrive as I looked around the room trying to come up with a plan.
I struggled to drag the unconscious boy to the room with the bird keys. Cursing under my breath as I looked at the brooms on the ground. Flying was not my first choice but I wasn't sure how else to get out of here. We still had to get past the Devil's Snare after all… then there was Fluffy. How the hell was I going to get past Fluffy?
Ron let out a pained groan and I shook my head, pushing the panic down. Now was not the time to lose it.
I struggled to grab one of the brooms off of the ground and made my way back to the room with the Devil's Snare, dragging Ron with me. Setting Ron down out of reach from the plant, I placed the broom next to him then looked into the dark, writhing room.
Get rid of the head and the body will go.
Hermione's blue flames came to mind. I took a deep breath stepping into the chamber with my wand out. I steeled myself, focusing all of my energy into the tip of my wand.
"Locarnum Inflamari."
With a flash the room illuminated in blue flames- the ball of fire hitting the head of the plant in the corner. The head of the plant let out a shriek, starting to shrivel up into itself. The tendrils hissed and writhed on the floor, starting to catch fire as well. Even if it didn't kill the plant, it was distracted enough for now.
I quickly rushed back to Ron and tried to shake him awake.
"Ron… Ron, please! I need you to wake up." I hissed, shaking his shoulder.
"Mum? I'm not ready yet." Ron groaned, his head lulling.
"Ron please, I just need you to hold onto the broom.
He mumbled something incomprehensible, his eyelids fluttering. Figuring it was good enough I got to my feet, pulling Ron along with me. Ron stumbled but managed to hold himself up with my help. I held the broom up underneath us, taking the front with Ron on the back. After a second of debate I pulled my robe off- using it to tie Ron and I together. He slouched forward onto my back.
Merlin I was hoping this would work.
The two of us lifted into the air unsteadily. I felt Ron's grip around my waist tighten a bit which was a good sign. I was suddenly cursing my fear of heights as I looked up at the hole we needed to reach.
Nausea rose the higher we flew. After what felt like an eternity but was actually just a couple of seconds, we made it. Fluffy was luckily asleep as the two of us landed back on solid ground. I tossed the broom aside and dragged Ron out of the corridor, slouching against the wall trying to catch my breath.
"Malfoy?"
I looked up to see Snape walking down the corridor, dark robes billowing behind me. My stomach dropped as I stared at my godfather. If he was here, who was down there?
"What are you doing?" His eyes glanced at the door behind me then to Ron. "Tell me you didn't."
"Harry and Hermione are down there." I panted. "Please, someone else is down there too. The stone. It's in danger…"
His face paled and he turned to the portraits.
"Wake up McGonagall, Pomfrey, and Flitwick immediately. Tell them to come to the Third Floor Corridor." The portraits nodded then rushed off to find the professors. He then turned his attention back to me. "Stay here until the other professors arrive. Do. Not. Move."
Snape narrowed his eyes at me then pushed his way past the door I just shut. I slumped against the wall, exhaustion hitting me. Merlin, I was just hoping he would get to them in time.
Authors Note
I took inspiration for the Devil's Snare from the Hogwarts Legacy game just to spice things up a bit. The plant in the game is a lil terrifying at first so I thought it was a bit of fun. :)
