A/N - hey everyone. Thanks again for all your lovely comments. Every time I post a chapter, I worry that I've done a horrible job and will get found out, then are wonderfully surprised. But with this chapter - I really have trouble with action and suspense. After reading such wonderful stories by Lynney and Lorien (I think I've spelt their names right) I realise that my ideas aren't as unique as other authors, and for that I apologise. But I hope you enjoy this any way. Oh, and I also realise that when you write a serial, you find things that you miss that otherwise would be picked up if you wrote it as a book. I've seemed to have forgotten about the breading dementors, the fake locket and a few other things. Sorry. I guess my main excuse is that I'm not JKR. Oh, last thing, the opening paragraphs are pretty much word for word from HBP…Thanks for reading.
Chapter 10 - The Cellar
"Ginny, listen, I can't be involved with you any more. We've got to stop seeing each other. We can't be together." Harry watched for her reaction, some reaction - she just smiled.
"It's for some stupid noble reason, isn't it?" she said, still smiling.
"It's been like…like something out of someone else's life, these last few weeks with you," he continued, "but I can't…we can't…I've got things to do alone now." She just looked at him and kept smiling - he powered on, "Voldemort uses people his enemies are close to. He's already used you as bait once, and that was just because you're my best friend's sister. Think how much danger you'll be in if we keep this up. He'll know, he'll find out. He'll try and get to me through you."
"What if I don't care?" Ginny snarled, her hair now pulled up like it was at Bill and Fleur's wedding, her face no longer smiling.
"I care," he carried on, slightly confused but he had to finish what he needed to say, "how do you think I'd feel if this was your funeral…and it was my fault…"
"You're going to leave me behind?" Hermione asked, hurt and anger in her voice. Harry frowned - Hermione wasn't supposed to be here!
"It's to keep you safe - you said you understand! You agreed it was for the best!"
"No, I didn't," Hermione yelled at him, "Ginny did and I'm not Ginny! I'm not going to leave you Harry Potter! I've always been there and I always will be! We'll get through this together, remember?"
"But you're in danger!" he yelled back, "let me help you! Save you!" Harry watched in horror as the scene around him changed and he was no longer by the lake at the funeral but on top of the Astronomy Tower, immobile against the wall watching Hermione, dressed in the dress she wore to the wedding, face Lord Voldemort.
"But we're not even boyfriend and girlfriend!" Hermione pleaded to the dark wizard, her eyes filled with fear. Harry needed to get to her but he couldn't move, he couldn't even shout to her to say that he desperately wanted to be her boyfriend. Now it was too late, now she was going to die because of him, not even knowing how he felt.
"I don't care," Voldemort said, his voice sounding a lot like Draco Malfoy, his wand raised.
"No!" Harry screamed as he saw the now familiar green blast of light…
Harry opened his eyes to see the blurry image of Ron hovering over him, cautiously holding out his glasses, which he took gratefully. Pulling himself to a sitting position, he took a deep breath, willing the image of Hermione dying to leave his brain.
"Was it the same as the previous ones?" Ron asked, concerned.
"Yeah, pretty much," Harry replied wearily.
"Mate, you need to tell her," Ron continued, going back to his own bed, "this is the seventh time you've woken up screaming and according to you, it's always the same dream."
"Right, well, I can see how that conversation would go," Harry said as he swung his legs out of his bed, "'hey Hermione, just thought I'd tell you that I've been dreaming about you being killed by Voldemort because you won't listen to me about staying behind like Ginny did.' Yeah, that will go down really well."
"I actually meant how you fancy her," Ron muttered, "I reckon that's really what the dream's about. Something will happen to one of you before you get the bollocks to tell her how you feel."
"I don't fancy her Ron," Harry bit back, glad it was still dark.
"Whatever Harry," Ron replied, lying down once more, "I'll see you in a couple more hours."
Harry didn't say anything more but instead got his clothes and headed for the bathroom. It was five in the morning and he knew he wouldn't get anymore sleep so instead he had a shower and got ready for the day - the day. The day they go after the next Horcrux.
He put on his pants and peered into the mirror for his daily inspection for facial hair. He rubbed his hand over his chin and felt the slightest bit of stubble. Quickly putting on his glasses, he looked a bit more carefully at his reflection and yes - there was the faintest hint of hair. Smiling as he finished dressing, he took this as a good sign. It wasn't enough to warrant a shave, but he definitely felt a bit more - manly - when he went back into the dorm.
Ron was once more snoring away, having fallen back asleep without a problem. Taking his shoes and socks in his hands, Harry left the bedroom and went down to the common area - stopping in his tracks when he saw Hermione sitting in her favourite spot on the couch going over her notes, Crookshanks curled up next to her.
"Hermione," he called out, continuing to walk down the stairs, "what're you doing up?"
"Couldn't sleep," she replied, turning to watch him, "you?"
"Pretty much the same," he responded, "Ron doesn't seem to have the same problem though."
"That boy could sleep through an earthquake," Hermione grinned, her eyes twinkling as she watched him go to his favourite chair, "why are you looking so pleased with yourself?" she asked before he was able to sit.
"I finally managed to grow facial hair," Harry said proudly, jutting out his chin as if to accentuate the point.
"Really?" she questioned with a smirk, "let me feel!" He stooped down slightly so she could reach, her hand gently running over his cheek leaving burning hot trails in its wake. Suddenly realising what he was doing, Harry abruptly stood and went to his chair opposite her, a blush tainting his face.
"You're right," she laughed, seemingly ignoring his withdrawal, "I felt stubble. So, Mr Potter, does this mean you are now a man?"
"Are you questioning my manhood, Miss Granger?" Harry joked back, immediately forgetting his previous embarrassment, "I assure you that I'm all man!"
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Harry realised how stupid it sounded and how he was treading into very dangerous and unfamiliar territory. He watched as Hermione blushed, dropped her eyes before looking shyly back up at him - Harry melted.
"I have no doubt Harry," she said softly, before returning to her notes.
He sat there looking at her for a moment, his shoes and socks forgotten in his hands. He had gone from being embarrassed to feeling comfortable and natural to being embarrassed once more then being hit with a desire to…kiss her? It was quarter past five in the morning and he was already confused. But there was something else, a feeling he was getting from her, something that she was trying to hide…it just added to his confusion.
"What are you doing?" he asked finally, trying to get things back on track.
"Going over my notes," she answered, not looking up at him "making sure I remember everything, covering all our bases." Harry nodded even though she didn't see it and started to put on his socks then shoes. They sat in silence for a little while - she reading her notes, he staring into the fire - until she sat back and looked at him.
"Does Ron ever talk to you about his relationship with Luna?" she asked, taking Harry totally by surprise.
"Er, no, not really," he answered, thinking, "just once, I 'spose, on the train here. He wasn't sure if he could handle the rest of the school thinking he was barmy for going out with her. I told him not to be so thick, that she's really nice and she makes him happy so who cares what people think. That he was bloody lucky to find someone that actually made him happy."
"You had someone that made you happy Harry, and you turned her away."
Harry looked at her with a frown. Over a week ago, Ginny had been told of Malfoy's warning and it had gone exactly how Harry had imagined it - she had told him he had no reason to break up with her now, that she was in danger anyway, they might as well be together. Trouble was, he no longer wanted to be with her.
"She did make me happy, you're right," he sighed, "but I keep remembering what she said at the wedding, how she really didn't seem to understand what was happening, what I'm going through. Ultimately, I don't think we would have stayed happy. Besides, Neville really likes her and I said I wouldn't stand in his way."
"You've given Neville permission to date Ginny?" Hermione questioned, shocked, "oh Harry, I hope she never finds out you two had that conversation."
"I know," Harry chuckled, "can you imagine it - 'how dare you two! I'm not a piece of meat to be traded!'"
"You do a Ginny very well," Hermione laughed as she gathered up her notes, "do you know that Ron and Luna have been talking about a future together?"
"Future?" he said with a frown, "you mean like marriage and children and stuff? Ron?"
"Yep," she replied, sitting back in the couch, "which I thought was pretty intense but Luna said that in the wizarding world, most get married before they're twenty. When I explained to her that most Muggles don't get married until they're in their mid to late twenties, she was quite appalled."
"Ron? Married?" Harry repeated, unable to get that thought out of his head, "but, he's just broken up with you! Isn't this like…rebounding, or something?"
"Harry, Ron and I were never together, so we never broke up therefore he isn't on the rebound…"
"He's only seventeen!" Harry exclaimed, before his mind caught up on Hermione's last comment, "just a minute, you can't tell me that absolutely nothing went on between you and Ron. If I recall, it was 'complicated' - you guys must have had a relationship of some sort!"
"If you must know," Hermione began, sounding exasperated, "Ron fancied me because he thought he couldn't get anyone else, that girls didn't find him attractive. I thought, last year, that I wouldn't get anyone else either, and I knew he liked me so when he went for Lavender for no apparent reason, it hurt. I've since found out that he got angry because you told him I kissed Viktor, which is still a poor reason to do what he did. Anyway, after Professor Dumbledore's funeral, we had a chat and we realised we were trying for a relationship for the wrong reasons, that there was someone who worshiped the ground he walked on, Luna, and that it would be better that we remained just friends. Which we are. Are you satisfied?"
"Ron asked me if you had kissed Krum and I…" Harry tried to explain.
"I know Harry."
"You'll find someone too, Hermione."
"I know that too, Harry."
They looked at each other and Harry felt it again, the feeling she was hiding something from him, something important. She smiled.
"Do you want to play cards?" she asked, "it's been a while."
"It most certainly has," Harry replied, already reaching for the pack that hid in the draw underneath the table, "and I seem to recall the tally being ninety-four to me and eighty-nine to you."
"Prepare to be beaten Mr Potter," she laughed, moving towards the table.
"Bring it on, Miss Granger," he laughed back and seemed to continue to laugh throughout the friendly and not-so-friendly card competition. When Ron finally came down and joined them, their good mood rubbed off on him and all three were smiling when they entered the Great Hall for breakfast.
But as the morning progressed, Harry's smile began to disappear, as did the smiles of Ron and Hermione. Harry noticed that Ron kept glancing at the Ravenclaw table and every time afterwards, looking a bit more miserable. But wasn't until he saw Tonks suddenly step down from the teachers table that Harry stopped smiling all together. He watched as the Auror strode past them to the back of the hall where Remus was waiting. McGonagall and Hagrid also left their breakfast and soon the whole hall was quiet, wondering what was going on.
Harry looked at Hermione and then Ron, who nodded grimly before standing and the three of them began to walk past their classmates to the group of adults standing just outside the doors. Luna quickly joined them, walking at Ron's side, her hand clasping his. But they didn't get too far as their way became blocked by Ginny Weasley.
"Are…are you going off to save the world?" she asked Harry nervously, her eyes darting between the Golden Trio.
"Er…" Harry began, not really too sure how to answer that question. Ginny just nodded.
"Be careful," she continued, quietly, "all of you." And then she was gone. Harry took a deep breath and continued walking, glad when the Great Hall's doors were closed behind him, shutting out all the curious stares.
"Can I have a minute?" Ron asked, referring to Luna, whose large eyes were swimming in tears.
"Sure Ron," Harry replied and watched with a frown as the couple stepped away, Ron looking like he was trying to reassure the usually unflappable Luna. Harry looked over at the group of teachers a few steps away from them, an argument of some sort was taking place. Sighing, Harry looked down at Hermione, who was still watching Ron and Luna with concern.
"They'll be alright," Harry whispered as he took her hand in comfort, "let's go." He led her to the others, who stopped talking pretty much immediately. Hagrid looked at them with a scowl, before his face dissolved into a worried smile.
"You'll be careful, now," he said gruffly, "whate'r this mission is, you take care of each other, y'hear?"
"We will Hagrid," Harry said purposefully, letting himself be enveloped into one of his friends bone crushing hugs.
"Oh, come 'ere 'Ermione!" Hagrid exclaimed and soon Hermione was being squashed right next to Harry. He looked at her with resignation and she smiled (somewhat painfully) back, both grateful when they were released and breathing was once again easy. With one more scowl in Remus and McGonagall's direction, Hagrid left with a friendly pat on Ron's shoulder (which nearly brought him to his knees).
"I'll go too," Tonks said solemnly, looking directly at Remus, "I'll see you in a bit, I hope," she carried on before turning her attention to Harry and Hermione, "you all take care and I hope what ever you're up to, it works out. Can't loose my top three students in one go now, can I?"
"We'll do our best," Hermione smiled, returning her teachers hug as Ron and Luna joined them. When Tonks drew Harry into a hug, he was beginning to get quite uncomfortable - it was like they were being sent out to war, that the people they were leaving behind weren't sure they would see them again, which of course, was the truth. It finally struck Harry the life and death nature of what they were about to do.
He had been in similar situations before, but he hadn't chosen to be there or he hadn't thought things through before rushing off - like the whole Ministry of Magic debacle. But this time it was different. This time they had researched, come up with strategies and planned. This time, people knew they were going and cared whether they would come back or not.
"Miss Lovegood, I think its time for you to return to the Great Hall," McGonagall said kindly and Harry watched as the Ravenclaw gave Ron one last kiss before turning her huge, watery eyes onto him and Hermione.
"Come back whole," was all she said before turning and returning to her breakfast, Ron watching her go.
"We should make a move," Remus said finally to the headmistress who nodded briefly.
"We have prepared as much as we can," she reiterated to the three teenagers, "and I trust you have discussed your options between yourselves."
"Yes Professor," Harry replied automatically.
"If anything happens that requires you to be removed from your environment for any reason, do not hesitate to initiate the emergency beacon," she continued to instruct.
"We won't Professor," Hermione assured.
"Remember that there will still be variables that we haven't been able to account for, so…"
"Constant vigilance," Ron interrupted with an awkward grin, "we understand Professor." McGonagall nodded primly.
"Take care," she finished, before turning to Remus, "regular reports and I will relieve you at seven tonight."
"As agreed," Remus replied. The professor nodded once more, then she too was gone.
"Sure glad she didn't get emotional," Ron muttered under his breath as they began heading for the main door.
"Actually, Minerva is not as tough as she seems," Remus said conversationally, "loosing Albus has been a terrible strain for her in more ways than one. They were very close…"
"They weren't, like, dating, were they?" Ron asked, horrified - Harry chuckled at the mental picture of Dumbledore and McGonagall sitting at one of Madam Puddlefoot's romantic little tables.
"Well, I wouldn't like to say either way but they had known each other for over forty years," Remus replied solemnly, "even loosing your friends is quite difficult…" His words hung in the air as the trio exchanged looks. Harry knew Remus was talking about his own losses but his words brought to home just how devastated he would be if he lost Ron or Hermione.
"Isn't it strange," Hermione said thoughtfully, "I knew they had known each other for a long time, and their respect for each other was obvious - you could see quite clearly they were friends - but I didn't even think about how upset Professor McGonagall must be right now."
"And she wouldn't want it any other way," Remus confirmed as he stopped, his way barred by a number of backpacks floating in mid air. Harry looked at the sight puzzled until he saw a pair of skinny legs beneath the pile.
"Dobby?" he questioned.
"Hermy told Dobby that Harry Potter would need some food," the little elf said, his voice muffled behind his load, "so Dobby made some good food for sir and his friends." Harry took two of the bags to expose the familiar face.
"Thanks Dobby," he acknowledged, handing one bag to Ron and went to give the other to Hermione.
"No!" Dobby yelled, snatching the bag away abruptly - much to the surprise of Harry.
"Something the matter Dobby?" Ron asked, amused.
"Oh, Harry Potter sir, please, please forgive me!" the elf pleaded, looking as if he was about to cry, "but Hermy's bag has healing potions. This is her bag." With a small smile, Hermione took her bag while Harry hung onto the other one in his hands, also grinning. However, as soon as he was free from his load, Dobby quickly ran over to the door jam and began to hit his head on the wooden frame.
"Dobby - no!" Harry shouted, running over to his little friend, frantically trying to stop him hurting himself. Already a black mark had begun to form on the elf's forehead as he swayed uncertainly on his feet.
"Dobby must discipline himself, he was rude to Harry Potter!"
"I forbid you to discipline yourself, okay?" Harry told him, trying not to smile which for some reason was threatening to expose itself, "thank you for the bags."
"You are too kind and great," Dobby replied, tears welling up in his large eyes, "Kreacher is wrong about what he says about you!"
"I'm sure he is," Harry smiled, "bye Dobby." Dobby just looked up at Harry before throwing himself onto Harry's legs, hugging them tightly. Unsure quite what to do, Harry looked at his friends for inspiration and saw Ron grinning absurdly while Hermione just smiled.
"We need to get going," Remus chuckled and with a pop, Dobby was gone.
Though nothing much was said during the journey to the gates so they could Apparate to the orphanage's cellar, the mood was definitely lighter than during all the farewell's outside the Great Hall. But the moment they all appeared in front of the cellar's concrete wall, things once again became serious.
"Right, let's go over what we know," Remus instructed, "the room has been sealed for over twenty years so the air will be stale…"
"We will use the Bubblehead charm until the air is deemed fresh enough to breathe," Hermione confirmed, Harry could see her mentally check that off her list.
"…there is some form of invisibility cloaking so disorientation and direction will be an issue until…"
"I decipher what the charm is and cast a counter charm…" Hermione once more confirmed.
"In the meantime, we attach ourselves to each other and move only forwards," Ron interrupted, his eyes downcast and focused on his own internal list.
"…there is no sign of life within the chamber," Remus continued, "and the only other magic that can be detected is some form of duplicity…"
"But that doesn't mean there isn't any other magic involved," Hermione intoned, still staring at the ground as she made sure she remembered everything, "and although we know of no creatures that can live without food, water or air - that doesn't mean there isn't anything…"
"…there because inferi can survive on nothing," Ron recited, finally looking up at Harry, his eyes deadly serious.
"The building is empty with the tenants either at work or having the desire to spend the day somewhere else," Remus carried on, "so if anything happens…"
"We'll only kill ourselves," Ron put in helpfully, making Harry smile.
"Right," Remus finished off with the smallest of grins. Hermione finally looked up and the three teenagers held their old professor's gaze, "either Minerva or I will be here and monitor what we can regarding what's taking place. If you get into trouble, activate the beacon and we will endeavour to come and get you." Harry felt for the small disc on the chain that lay around his neck. It was like the coins they used for the DA meetings in their fifth year except either Ron, Hermione or himself can activate it with the message going to a parchment that Remus and McGonagall will watch, "if we see the life signatures of either one or all of you disappear…"
"You will wait until we signal you for help," Harry interrupted, speaking for the first time.
"Harry…" Remus started, frowning.
"Promise me that you will only enter if we ask you to," Harry accentuated, "and if you see no life in the cellar at all, you seal it up and put up a plaque. Under no circumstances do you try and get us."
"I can't…"
"Yes you can!" Harry snapped, "if there is something in there that kills all three of us, then more will die trying to retrieve our bodies which is pointless. Promise me you will only enter if we ask you to." Harry stared at the ex professor, determined that he would understand how important this was to him. He was already putting the lives of his friends at risk and it didn't want to do that to anyone else unless he really had to. After a few moments, Remus nodded.
Harry turned to Hermione and Ron, who looked at him with the same determination he knew was showing on his own face.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Ron replied, a small quiver exposing his true feelings - Hermione just nodded. No one spoke as Remus attached a rope around their waists, Harry first, Hermione in the middle with Ron at the end. With wands drawn, they followed Remus as he felt along the wall, looking for the gateway to the chamber bellow - the sight reminded Harry so much of Dumbledore looking for the entrance to the cavern in the cave that he gulped hard, as if trying to swallow the memory to the depths of his stomach. The doorway was located two thirds of the way down the concreted wall and with a wave of his wand, a plain wooden door was exposed. The trio grouped together in front of it, Remus slightly to the side, his hand resting on the door handle.
"I guess I'll see you all soon," he said, his voice tense, "good luck." Harry just smiled and nodded - the three activated the Bubblehead charm as Remus opened the door then Harry walked into the nothingness inside.
The disorientation was immediate as although he knew his eyes were working, all he could see was white, never ending, dulling white. It wasn't bright, like snow, but a dirty lifeless white of faded cloth. He heard the door close behind him, sealing them off to the outside world, and was only aware of his friends presence by the slight movement of the binds that connected them and sound of them breathing.
"Hermione, will you be able to work this cloaking spell out while we're walking?" he asked, knowing that the sooner she started, the sooner the unnerving blankness will be gone.
"I think so Harry," her disembodied voice coming from his right, slightly muffled from the bubble he knew was covering her mouth.
"Great, lets go then," Harry instructed, "and remember, only go forward, one step in front of the other." He began to walk and the tug on the rope told him the others were doing the same, but the concept of time and distance had disappeared and every step felt useless. His mind was telling him that he was moving at the same time as it told him he wasn't going anywhere.
"The air is breathable," Hermione informed them after a few minutes, "this mustn't be as sealed as we thought." Harry was thankful do get rid of the irritating restriction around his mouth but said nothing and kept on walking.
"This is bloody strange," Ron muttered from just behind Harry after a few more moments, before a jarring on the rope told him Ron had stopped.
"Ron, what is it?" Hermione asked, both fear and annoyance in her voice.
"Something else is here," Ron answered, tense.
"No creature can live in here, it's been sealed for…" but she stopped her lecture quickly as she must of felt the same thing Harry had just done. It wasn't a touch and there was no sound but there was definitely a presence of some sort.
"Ron, get back to back with Hermione," Harry ordered tersely, "I'll protect her from the front. Hermione, you need to get rid of this cloaking spell, we need to see what we're up against." Harry felt along the portion of rope between himself and Hermione until he touched what he guessed was her waist.
"Ow! Ron, that is not my back," Hermione growled at the same time Harry felt her hand snake its way around his waist, up his back and onto his shoulder. Even as terrified as he was, somewhere in his brain noted how amazing her touch was before he registered that she was now behind him, with Ron on her other side.
"Sorry Hermi…argh!" Ron's scream echoed through the chamber, sending a shiver down Harry's spine. As his mind began to process the fact that what ever was in with them had attacked Ron, he felt the rope that attached him to the others tauten and when he heard Hermione's startled yelp, he realised that the attacker was now taking his victim to its lair, he and Hermione along with him. The pace was quick, but Harry remained on his feet and it seemed, so did Hermione.
"Hermione! The spell, we need the spell!" Harry cried, knowing it was a lot to ask, but she was their only chance of breaking the white blindness to see what they were dealing with. Hermione remained silent, which Harry took as a good sign as it meant she was concentrating, but Ron's yells were making thought difficult.
After what seemed hours, they stopped and frantically Harry felt along the rope to touch Hermione once more. He could hear her muttering to herself as she tried to work out how to get rid of the charm so he left her to it and continued down the line of the rope so he could get to the length leading to Ron; which was no longer waist height.
"Ron?" he called out, "Ron, can you hear me?"
"Help me!" was the strangled reply, "my leg!" Harry could hear no other sound other than Ron, nothing that could indicate the size of the thing that had attacked them or what it was actually doing.
"Ron, what is…" but Harry didn't need to finish the sentence as the blindness disappeared and he could see exactly what was happening to Ron.
He was on the floor with a creature that looked like a large mole-rat type rodent chewing furiously at his leg, which was already exposed to the bone. The thing seemed totally oblivious that the environment around it had changed or that it had two wands pointing at it, falling immediately when the stupefy spell hit it. Both Harry and Hermione rushed over to Ron who was laying pale and shaking on the floor.
Harry removed the creature and cringed when he saw the wound it had left behind. Hermione quickly took her backpack off and started getting out potion bottles while looking at Ron's damaged leg and the creature that caused the damage.
"How do you feel?" she asked briskly, gingerly touching the huge gash.
"Oh just brilliant," he replied sarcastically, "how do you think I bloody feel Hermione?"
"I mean, do you feel dizziness, how far does the pain reach?" she explained, using a salve of some sort to clean away the blood and start the healing - Harry watched as it sort of glowed once it hit the open wound, "can you move your toes? Your foot?"
"I…I can move my toes, that's good right?"
"Yeah, that's good," Hermione confirmed, cutting away Ron's trousers to expose the wound more, a frown touching her face.
"What? What is it?" Ron asked quickly.
"The redness," she said absently, "I mean, there should be swelling and redness, but the salve should have stopped that…" She moved away from Ron and turned to the still stunned creature.
She turned it over and Harry flinched - it was one of the ugliest things he had ever seen and wondered if Hagrid had ever had one as a pet, or had ever wanted to have one as a pet.
"Do you know what it is?" Harry asked, inspecting the animal along with her.
"No, but it seems to be mammal," she said thoughtfully, "but how? This room was sealed - no air, food or water…we saw no other entrance ways other than the one in the concreted wall. So how can this animal survive?"
"Does that matter right now?" question Ron, who was now sitting up and looking at his damaged leg, "I mean, can't you just fix me up and we can carry on looking?"
"We need to know where this thing came from," Hermione accentuated, "so we know if more are on their way. And I don't know if its bite is poisonous or not…"
"Poisonous?" Ron interrupted, worried. Harry looked at his friend and thought hard. Ron should go back, but at this stage they didn't know where back was - the creature had dragged them away from where they had entered. Standing and looking around him, he saw they were in a heavily concreted cellar that seemed to be the size of the orphanage plus some - he couldn't see the far wall clearly it was so far away. The animal's lair was by another wall and it seemed that it had been in hibernation - probably waiting for food to awaken it, but hibernation for twenty plus years? It seemed bizarre but where Voldemort was concerned, it wouldn't surprise Harry that the Dark Lord could find a creature somewhere that could do just that.
He looked back down at Ron, who, besides the wound, seemed fine.
"Hermione, can you heal the leg well enough for Ron to walk?" he enquired.
"Yes, though it looks deep, I don't think it has damaged any major blood vessels, nerves, bones or muscle" she said confidently, "Madam Pomfrey showed me how to heal things like this. I'm just worried about infection or the presence of poison."
"Is there nothing that can prevent any poison from spreading?"
"There is, but it requires the patient to be bed rested and the poisoned appendage raised." Harry looked at Hermione as he tried to think of the best thing to do.
"It might not even be poisoned," Ron put in, "if Hermione can heal it, lets heal it and move on, find the Horcrux and get out of here. Now we can see where we're going, surely that will make things heaps quicker."
"Hermione?" Harry asked, knowing that her thoughts would decide Ron's fate - for him to carry on with them or go back to Remus as soon as they found the way out.
"I think Ron should be okay once the healing spells take effect," she said after a few moments, "but only for the short term. We need to reassess the situation when we work the way out and where the Horcrux is."
"Right," Harry emphasised with a smile, "you fix Ron, I'll deal with the animal and then we track back to where we started." Harry went back to the still comatose beast and tried to work out what to do with it. He didn't want to kill it, in fact it might prove useful later on. But it was an unknown and its strength was obvious as it was easily able to drag Ron some distance quite quickly even though it was obviously malnourished from its years in isolation. Harry nudged it with his toe and wondered what it exactly was and how could it have survived all this time? The other thought that plagued him was why didn't it go straight for the kill? Why go for the leg when the prey was blind and unaware of its presence? It was this thought that concerned him the most.
As Harry stared down at the strange creature, something in its position made him frown and cautiously he crouched down next to it and looked closer.
"Be careful Harry," Hermione warned, helping Ron to his feet to test out his healed leg.
"I think its dead," Harry replied, confused. He stood and motioned the others to stand behind him, "one way to find out," he said, more bravely than he felt, "Ennervate!" The animal didn't move.
"Do you think its just playing with us?" Ron asked, "you know, playing dead?"
Hermione pointed her wand at the creature and silently cast a spell, making it roll over with a deathly thump.
"Its dead but I think we should tie it up anyway," she said calmly and so the three removed the rope around their waists and tied it around the legs of the animal, binding its limbs together tightly.
"Where to now?" Ron questioned, looking around him curiously. Harry looked around as well, wondering once again just how far they had gone off target but the blank walls gave him no sign on how to proceed.
"When Professor Lupin and I began deciphering this place, we could isolate two separate major magical signatures," Hermione stated, her wand drawn, "one was the disillusion charm that is now gone, the other was duplication of some sort. If I can trace where the duplication signature is coming from, then that should be the direction we go to."
"Which is great," Ron continued, still looking around him, "but how to we get out?"
"Blood," Harry blurted suddenly.
"What?"
"Blood," Harry repeated, pointing to the floor, "there's a trail of Ron's blood." And sure enough there were drops of blood on the stark white floor.
"Well, glad my injury and loss of important bodily fluids is of some assistance," Ron grumbled as he began limping away. Harry and Hermione shared a look of amusement and followed their friend, both smirking.
"Brilliant job of getting rid of the blinding whiteness, by the way," Harry remarked to Hermione after a few moments, startling her from her revere, "whatcha thinking?"
"Thanks," she said absently, looking at him briefly before turning her attention back to Ron, who was quite a bit before them, "I was wondering about that creature and why it didn't kill Ron straight off. It obviously was hungry and had a clear shot at us - it doesn't make sense."
"Yeah, I was wondering about that myself," Harry said, "any ideas?"
"Yes, and none of them good," she replied with a sigh and within moments they had caught up with Ron who had stopped at the trails end. Harry saw the small wooden door to their left, thankful that hadn't disappeared and once more looked around him, looking for any other signs - it was still blank and lifeless.
"Ron, are you alright?" Hermione asked, worry tainting her voice.
"I'm fine," he grunted, but Harry could see he was anything but fine. In the short time between the attack and the walk, Ron was sweating profusely, though he was deathly pale. And the bandages that covered his shin were once again red with blood, with a new redness now reaching his exposed knee - an infection was spreading.
"You're not fine," Hermione snapped, "you shouldn't be walking. Ron, you need to get to a hospital."
"I can't," Ron objected, "we have a Horcrux to get…"
"You're in no state Ron," Harry insisted, putting a steady hand on his friends shoulder as he swayed unsteadily in front of them, "the door is right here, you should get back to Remus."
"But, I need to help!"
"You can help with the next one," Hermione soothed, "come on, lets get you out of here." Ron seemed to run out of objections and made no complaint as he leant on Harry and let himself be led back to the door. When there, Hermione went to turn the doorknob but withdrew her hand quickly.
"Ow!" she yelped, and Harry could see her hand begin to blister.
"What happened? Are you alright?" Harry asked, now getting extremely worried.
"The doorknob is burning hot," she replied, slipping her backpack off her back and rummaging once more through the bottles of potions, "it burnt my hand!"
Harry gently placed Ron down, resting him against the wall and went to see Hermione, her hand now red and weeping. Seeing her struggling to open the top of the jar of salve, he took it from her and began to cover her hand in the cooling solution. Immediately, the redness seemed to diminish and not look as angry.
"Does this mean we can't get out?" Ron questioned groggily from his spot against the wall.
"I don't know," Hermione answered with a frown, "Harry, you'll need to bandage my hand." He looked at her and saw no sign of pain or discomfort. But his worry began to grow with scary ease - both of his friends were injured and they hadn't even found the Horcrux yet. What was to come? Will they be able to get out? With shaky hands, he began to wrap a bandage around Hermione's blistered hand before turning once more to Ron.
"Look, you two stay here and I'll go and find the Horcrux," Harry decided, avoiding Hermione's eyes, "you'll need to work on the door and get yourselves out…"
"No." Her voice was soft but hard and with a deep breath, Harry looked at her.
"Hermione, you're hurt…"
"I can still hold a wand and I'm not letting you go on without me," she announced.
"What about Ron?"
"I can look after myself," Ron responded weakly but with determination, "and I can work on the door. Just leave me with some pain killers and the 'stop the poison' charm - I promise I'll stay off my feet." Hermione nodded and quickly began preparations, her injured hand held closely to her chest.
Harry just watched, torn. He didn't want to put Hermione in further danger but he also knew it would be quicker with her by his side. By the time they left, Ron was looking a lot better, the flow of poison thwarted just above the knee. With his leg raised slightly and his food within easy reach, they said their goodbyes and Harry and Hermione began walking once again, heading toward the wall to their right.
They walked in silence as Hermione concentrated on the spell she was using to detect the magic signature that told them where they should be going. It felt like the room was never ending but eventually Harry noticed a change in their surroundings.
The blank white walls began to turn into grey brick and stone, while the ceiling had started to descend, making the space smaller. It didn't take long for the source of the magic to become visible as rows and rows of the same sort of cup lined the walls and covered the floor - each cup identical, each cup looking like the one Harry had seen at Hepzibah Smith's house seemingly a lifetime ago.
"There must be thousands of cups here," Hermione gasped, "and they all look exactly the same! Is this what we're looking for Harry?"
"Yes," Harry replied, awe struck, "this is Hufflepuff's cup. But how do we find the real one? They all look exactly the same!"
"I…I don't know," Hermione said, dejectedly, "I need to think about this for a moment."
"I'm not sure we have a moment, Hermione," Harry stated tensely, "Ron looked in a pretty bad way."
"I know!" Hermione snapped at him, "but I'm not an expert at everything Harry! I'm not Dumbledore!"
Harry looked at her in shock before realising guiltily that she was right. Hermione had worked out what was in here, got rid of the disorientating screen that would have prevented them getting this far as well as healed Ron - she had done everything.
"You're right, and I'm sorry," Harry apologised, "I guess I just rely on you…"
"To come up with the answers," Hermione interrupted, "I know. Just give me a minute. You said the cup had all sorts of powers and our research has shown that Helga's cup was mainly used for ceremonial purposes. The duplicates couldn't all have the same level of powers as the original, but the sheer volume of them means I can't distinguish one source of power over the multitude."
"There must be a unique power though," Harry thought out loud, "something that only the Hufflepuff cup could have…"
"Of course there is!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly, "Helga was a Hogwart's founding member which leaves a different signature than anyone else! A book in your grandmother's library said that because each of the founding members were powerful witches and wizards in their own right, their signatures were distinctive and well known ever since!"
"Do you know how to recognise it?" Harry asked, just as excitedly.
"Yes, I made a point of remembering," she smiled and then with a frown of concentration, she turned from Harry and looked out into the multitude of cups. Harry watched amazed as she bit her lower lip the way she always did when she was absorbed in doing something. But his amazement turned to concern has beads of sweat began to appear on her brow and the colour seemed to go from her face.
"Hermione?" he questioned worriedly, "Hermione, are you okay?" She didn't answer him and a little trickle of blood seeped out where her lower lip was caught between her teeth - Harry began to feel afraid, "Hermione, stop!"
He shook her roughly, standing in front of her and blocking her sight of the cups, but her face didn't change. Suddenly, he heard a noise behind him and as he turned to see what it was, he felt her go limp in his arms. Grabbing her before she reached the ground, he saw her eyes regain their focus and her lip released from her bite.
"Did it work?" she asked wearily. Harry looked back at the cups and saw that one was glowing and a smile crossed his face.
"Yes, it worked," he said proudly, helping her stand, "do you think it's safe to just go and get it?"
"I didn't sense anymore warding magic around it just now," Hermione replied, taking a deep breath and gently stopping the blood from her lip with her bandaged hand.
Harry didn't wait for any more encouragement and began to make his way through the fake cups to get to the glowing vessel on one of the shelves about shoulder high. With a grin of accomplishment, he reached out and grabbed it just when he heard Hermione scream out his name from behind him.
The pain was excruciating and severe - his shoulder bursting into thousands of daggers worth of agony. He looked down to where the pain was coming from and saw the shaft of a spear piercing his shoulder, the head facing the shelf where his hand was still clasped around the Horcrux. And then there was nothing but darkness.
A/N - ah, another cliffy. Hope you enjoyed it and sorry for any grammical errors but, well, thems the breaks.