Chapter 43: The Challenge - Part 1
Chapter 43: The Challenge - Part 1
"See, what did I tell you?" Harry whispered. "Snape has already made it past Fluffy." Seeing the half-open door, they seemed to have a clearer understanding of what lay ahead.
"Anyone who wants to leave now, I won't blame them", Harry said. "You can take the Invisibility Cloak; I don't need it anymore."
"Since we've come this far, I'm not backing out now", Liam said. "Don't be ridiculous", Ron added. "We're in this together", Hermione said. Harry pushed the door open.
As the door creaked, a low, fierce barking immediately filled their ears. The Three-Headed Dog couldn't see them, but its three noses were frantically twitching and sniffing in their direction. "What's that thing at its feet?" Hermione whispered.
"Looks like a harp", Ron said. "It must have been left by Snape." "Obviously, it wakes up as soon as the music stops."
Harry was about to take out the flute Hagrid had given him, but Liam pulled something from a small pouch on his belt and started playing a tinkling tune.
As soon as the music began, the Three-Headed Dog's eyes started to droop. Slowly, its barking ceased, and it swayed unsteadily before collapsing to the floor, fast asleep.
The sound came from a Music Box, something Liam had made to practice while studying the Winter Home Industrial Manual.
"This Music Box can play for three and a half minutes once wound up", Liam told Harry and the others. "This should give us enough time to do what we need to do."
"It's unbelievable", Hermione said, looking at the sleeping Three-Headed Dog. "Books say that Cerberus can even challenge a Dragon. Now it's been put to sleep by a simple Music Box. Could it be that something as ordinary might also work on a Dragon?"
"Let's not get sidetracked by that now. The dog will wake up soon. We need to take this opportunity to get past it."
With that, Liam approached the trapdoor and pulled it open.
Below was a pitch-black void, with no place to step and no ladder as they had imagined.
Liam cast Lumos and peered down, but he still couldn't see anything. Fortunately, he knew what was down there from the original story.
Liam turned and climbed into the opening, then clung to the edge and said to Harry and the others, "I'm best at the Levitation Charm, so I'll go first. If I don't move or make a sound, come get a professor to help me."
With that, he let go and fell into the darkness. The drop was considerable, at least four or five stories high. Midway, Liam cast the Levitation Charm on himself to slow his descent. In the end, he landed on something soft, which must have been Devil's Snare.
While Harry and the others were still above, Liam used a potion that inhibits magical plants (he had saved a bit while helping Professor Sprout). He coated a small knife and, using the faint light from the entrance, quickly cut a thin branch about the size of a chopstick and placed it in a Crystal Vial. Thanks to the potion, the Devil's Snare didn't react violently.
After quickly doing this, Liam realized his ankle had been wrapped in Devil's Snare. He immediately shouted up, "There's a large Devil's Snare down here. It will cushion your fall, but be ready with a fire spell. Otherwise, you'll get entangled."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Liam saw three black dots descending almost simultaneously. He tried to move to the side, hoping to avoid being hit. However, one of the Black Shadows still came hurtling toward him. Reacting quickly, he aimed at the Black Shadow and cast the Levitation Charm. Fortunately, with the spell's cushioning, he only felt a slight tug on his arm when he used the Black Shadow.
Two thuds followed, and everyone had landed safely.
At that moment, the Black Shadow Liam had just caught spoke up. "Sorry, Liam, are you okay?"
It must have been Hermione. After Liam reassured her that he was fine, Hermione's wand began to emit a series of Blue Flames. The Vines retreated, shrinking away from the light and warmth of the flames, releasing their hold on the group. The Plants twisted and writhed, automatically loosening the tendrils that had entangled them.
"Thanks for taking the lead, Liam. Encountering these things suddenly can be quite a headache", Ron said, looking at the retreating Vines. "But why did you catch Hermione?"
"Whoever was closest, of course", Liam replied. Before he could finish, Harry pointed in a direction and said, "This way."
Liam followed the direction Harry pointed and saw a Stone Corridor, the only path available.
With no other choice, the four of them left the area dominated by the Devil's Snare and began walking down the corridor. It was eerily quiet inside, and they could hear the sound of their own footsteps mixed with the dripping of water droplets slowly sliding down the walls.
Liam even wondered if they had ventured deep into the lake. As they walked further, a new sound emerged. From the other end of the corridor, they heard a gentle rustling and the tinkling of coins.
It sounded like a group of Gold Coins with wings flying around. Following the sound, they continued forward until they reached a brightly lit room with a High Arched Ceiling. Countless Gem-like Birds flapped their wings, flying around the room. On the opposite side of the room was a heavy wooden door, fitting the description of a dungeon entrance in adventure stories.
"Will these birds attack us?" Ron asked.
"I'll check", Harry said, stopping the others. He ran toward the wooden door, shielding his head with his hands.
Harry reached the door, and the birds showed no reaction, indicating they wouldn't attack.
Seeing this, Liam and the others emerged from the tunnel, crossed the room, and approached the wooden door.
Once at the door, they tried to open it, but pushing and pulling had no effect. Hermione tried her Alohomora spell, but it didn't work either.
Liam took a steel rod, about the length of a palm and flat on one end, from his waist pouch. He pried at the door's seams, hinges, and lock, but to no avail.
Finally, he used the steel rod to bang on the wooden door and the surrounding walls. He then turned to Harry and said, "This door and the walls around it must have a Protective Charm. Otherwise, there would be some marks on the door and walls."
Harry carefully examined the birds above and said, "It seems we have to follow the designer's intentions to open this door."
(End of Chapter)
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