HARRY POTTER AND THE PEVERELL'S CURSE CHAPTER 64: THE MIRROR OF NOCTIS, a harry potter fanfic

CHAPTER 64: THE MIRROR OF NOCTIS

It was pitch dark. Correction. It was pitch dark, and oddly enough, they could see things perfectly.

Harry was immediately reminded of the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder Sirius had shown him during the summer. Sirius had shared tales of how the Marauders frequently used it to evade Prefects while pulling pranks. Even as a Hit-wizard, Sirius found it invaluable for creating distractions or making quick escapes. Considering the trouble Harry often found himself in, Sirius had insisted he always carry a pouch of the powder. More importantly, Sirius had also taught him an obscure charm that allowed him to see through the darkness as if it weren't there at all.

In mere seconds, Harry had crossed the area and stood next to Daphne, who was gazing down at a vast chasm engulfed in the strange darkness.

"Eh, I think we should walk away," Harry suggested, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "Maybe this used to be the basilisk's lair. There might be other entrances around?"

"No," Daphne said firmly, her tone surprising him with its resoluteness. "This is the right place."

"And how do you know?" Harry asked, curiosity mixed with apprehension.

"Because of that," Daphne responded, pointing at her feet. Or rather, the slab right in front of her feet. Inscribed on it was something in Latin.

"To Ascend to the Highest Light, One must willingly fall to the Down Below," she translated, her words echoing eerily in the hollow space.

Then all was quiet.

"What's Down Below?" Harry asked, trying to peer into the darkness but seeing nothing beyond the edge.

Daphne took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving the inscription. "It's a test, Harry. The kind of test that measures one's faith and resolve. Salazar Slytherin was known for setting up such challenges. To reach the highest light, or the ultimate truth, one must first embrace the darkness. It's a metaphor for facing one's fears."

Harry frowned, thinking it over. "So, you're saying we need to jump into this... abyss?"

Daphne nodded slowly. "Yes. I believe that's exactly what we need to do."

Harry glanced at the chasm again, then back at Daphne. "Have you done anything like this before?"

"No," she admitted, a trace of fear flickering in her eyes, quickly masked by determination. "But I've read about it in some of the older texts. Ancient wizards often created these kinds of trials to guard their most precious secrets."

Harry took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation. "Alright. If you think this is the way, then I'm with you."

Daphne looked at him, gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thank you, Harry. I know this is dangerous, but... I have a feeling this is where we need to go."

Without further hesitation, Harry reached out and took her hand. "Together, then?"

She squeezed his hand tightly. "Together."

With a final glance at each other, they stepped forward, plunging into the chasm. The sensation of falling enveloped them, the darkness swallowing them whole. Harry felt a rush of air and a sense of weightlessness, but he kept his grip on Daphne's hand, their shared resolve giving him strength.

Suddenly, the fall ended. They landed on a soft, spongy surface that absorbed the impact. Harry looked around, his eyes adjusting to the dim light that began to filter through the darkness.

Daphne stood up, brushing herself off. "We made it," she said, a note of awe in her voice.

Harry followed suit, scanning their surroundings. "Where are we?"

Daphne pointed ahead. "Look."

Before them stood an enormous door, intricately carved with serpentine figures and ancient runes. It radiated a faint, eerie glow.

"This," Daphne said, her voice filled with wonder, "is what we've been looking for."

Harry nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation. "Let's find out what's behind it."

Together, they approached the door, ready to uncover the secrets it held. Daphne scrunched her face as she considered their surroundings.

"In the olden days, people believed that the netherworld or the underworld lay beneath the earthly terrain. Like Hades and his realm, or Irkalla if you consider the Sumerian god-kings. It was where souls went after they died and where demons dwelt," she explained.

"That's not creepy at all," Harry deadpanned. "Still wanna go ahead?"

"You don't?" Daphne shot back, raising an eyebrow.

Muttering about crazy women, Harry took a step forward and pointed his wand downward at the seemingly endless chasm. "LUMOS MAXIMA!"

A burst of dazzling white light erupted from his wand and descended down the chasm. It went lower and lower until the only thing they could see was a single point of white amidst a sea of darkness.

"Huh, that's Down Below alright," he said, turning to her. "How good are you with Arresto Momentum?"

"I can cast it," Daphne shrugged. "Though, we really need a way to know exactly when to slow down during the fall. Maybe we can constantly cast Lumos while falling down?"

"I'm supposed to be the Gryffindor, you know," Harry remarked.

"You get lost in the silliest of things." She waved him off dismissively. "Seriously, any other ideas? I know my idea sounds risky, but I don't know anything else that could help."

How about not going in at all? Harry wondered. Surely Daphne wouldn't continue her journey without him? He had promised Sirius not to get into trouble this year, but he had never expected that his Slytherin fiancée would turn out to be more adventurous than he was.

Adventurous? Scoffed a part of him that sounded suspiciously like Fleur. You're like a stupid puppy that just keeps falling into trouble.

For a second, he thought about walking away. Some part of him wondered what the Bahamas were like this time of year. For a minute, it seemed like an awesome idea to go find out.

But then he looked at Daphne, who was watching him with a mixture of determination and trust. He couldn't leave her to face this alone.

"Alright," Harry said, sighing. "Let's do this. We'll cast Lumos continuously while we fall and use Arresto Momentum when we see the bottom."

Daphne nodded, relief evident in her eyes. "Thank you, Harry."

He took her hand again, squeezing it reassuringly. "Together, right?"

"Together," she affirmed, gripping his hand tightly.

They stepped to the edge of the chasm and, with a shared glance of resolve, leapt into the darkness. The sensation of falling enveloped them once more, but this time, they were prepared. Harry cast Lumos, illuminating their descent, and Daphne did the same. The twin beams of light pierced the darkness, giving them a sense of direction.

As they fell, the chasm's walls seemed to close in around them, creating an eerie, claustrophobic feeling. The air grew colder, and the sound of their breathing echoed off the unseen walls.

Harry focused on the light, watching for any sign of the bottom. "Keep your eyes peeled," he shouted over the rush of wind.

"I'm on it!" Daphne called back, her voice steady despite the circumstances.

Minutes seemed to stretch into an eternity as they fell, but then Harry saw it—a faint glimmer of something solid below them. "I see it!" he yelled. "Get ready!"

"Arresto Momentum!" they both shouted in unison, their wands aimed downward.

Their fall slowed abruptly, and they landed gently on a stone platform. The air was thick with the scent of earth and ancient magic.

"Well, that was exhilarating," Daphne said, catching her breath.

"You could say that," Harry replied, looking around. The platform they stood on was part of a larger underground chamber, its walls covered in runes and ancient carvings.

Daphne moved to one of the walls, tracing the runes with her fingers. "This place... it's incredible. We must be close to something important."

Harry nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Let's find out what it is."

Together, they explored the chamber, their wands illuminating the path ahead. The sense of anticipation grew with every step, knowing they were on the verge of uncovering secrets long buried in the darkness.

But only for a second.

Then Harry swallowed, gripped his wand tightly, and slipped his left hand into his pocket. "I have a better idea."

...

Thirty minutes later, Daphne was staring at him with a dry expression. "Do you expect me to ride on that behind you?"

Harry looked at his beloved Thunderbolt broomstick and shook his head. "You don't have to. I can always pull you down by… well, the express route."

Daphne cursed under her breath. "Scoot."

She sat behind him, her arms loosely around his chest.

"Hold tight," he said with a teasing tone before suddenly lifting off the ground. He cast another lighting charm, and the brilliant orb of light sunk into the darkness. Harry swooped downwards at full speed, eliciting a shocked scream from Daphne. She tightened her grip around his chest, stiffening initially. Luckily, as a Quidditch player, it didn't take her long to get used to the broom's acceleration and his crazy maneuvers. Soon, she was laughing alongside him.

The Thunderbolt boasted an acceleration of two hundred miles an hour in ten seconds, nearly a thirty percent improvement over the Firebolt. It took them roughly eight minutes to reach the bottom. Granted, he hadn't gone full speed, but the pit was terrifyingly deep. There were small indents on the way down that he could only describe as rest areas. Perhaps in Salazar's time, brooms were uncommon, and this descent was meant to be navigated through magic.

As they approached the bottom, Harry slowed the broom, allowing them to land gently on a stone platform. The air was thick with the scent of earth and ancient magic.

"Well, that was exhilarating," Daphne said, catching her breath.

"You could say that," Harry replied, looking around. The platform was part of a larger underground chamber, its walls covered in runes and ancient carvings.

Daphne moved to one of the walls, tracing the runes with her fingers. "This place... it's incredible. We must be close to something important."

Harry nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Let's find out what it is."

They moved deeper into the chamber, their wand lights casting long shadows on the ancient stone. The atmosphere was heavy with anticipation. Suddenly, Daphne stopped, her eyes widening.

"Harry, look at this," she said, pointing to a particular set of carvings.

Harry stepped closer, examining the runes and symbols. "What do they mean?"

"It's a spell," Daphne whispered, her voice trembling with excitement. "A powerful one. It speaks of unlocking hidden knowledge and summoning the wisdom of the ancients."

"How do we activate it?" Harry asked, feeling a surge of anticipation.

Daphne traced the symbols with her wand, muttering incantations under her breath. As she finished the spell, the carvings began to glow with an eerie, green light. The chamber trembled, and a low rumble echoed through the darkness.

"Something's happening," Harry said, gripping his wand tightly.

The glow intensified, and the stone wall before them began to shift, revealing a hidden passageway. The air grew colder, and the sound of whispering voices filled the chamber.

"Ready?" Harry asked, turning to Daphne.

She nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "Let's go."

Together, they stepped into the passageway, the whispers growing louder with each step. The path led them to a large, circular room filled with ancient relics and tomes.

"This must be it," Daphne said, her voice filled with awe. "Salazar Slytherin's hidden chamber of knowledge."

Harry looked around, feeling a sense of reverence. "We've found it."

The room was filled with a soft, ethereal light, and the air buzzed with ancient magic. They moved carefully, examining the relics and books that lined the shelves.

"Harry, look at this," Daphne called, holding up a dusty, leather-bound tome.

Harry joined her, peering at the book. "What is it?"

"It's a journal," Daphne said, opening the cover. "Salazar Slytherin's personal journal."

Harry's eyes widened. "This could be the key to understanding everything."

But only for a second.

Then Harry swallowed, gripped his wand tightly, and slipped his left hand into his pocket. "I have a better idea."

...

Thirty minutes later, Daphne was staring at him with a dry expression. "Do you expect me to ride on that behind you?"

Harry looked at his beloved Thunderbolt broomstick and shook his head. "You don't have to. I can always pull you down by… well, the express route."

Daphne cursed under her breath. "Scoot."

She sat behind him, her arms loosely around his chest.

"Hold tight," he said with a teasing tone before suddenly lifting off the ground. He cast another lighting charm, and the brilliant orb of light sunk into the darkness.

Harry swooped downwards at full speed, eliciting a shocked scream from Daphne.

She tightened her grip around his chest, stiffening initially. Luckily, as a Quidditch player, it didn't take her long to get used to the broom's acceleration and his crazy maneuvers. Soon, she was laughing alongside him.