"Harry, hurry up! You don't want to get left behind, do you?" Hermione shouted from ahead. The bells for dinner had already rung twice, if we left it much longer, it's possible we could end up going to bed with no supper. A sad thought; one that I couldn't help but say I already had some experience with. At the best of times in the Dursley house, I was given the scraps off of Dudley's plate. Not that he ever left much… Certainly not enough to be called a proper meal. Eventually they deigned to give me a small portion under the condition that I cooked breakfast for the entire Dursley family. Those days; I got a single egg and one rasher of bacon, possibly a piece of bread if Aunt Petunia was in a particularly good mood. How old was I when that started? 5? 6? I still had faint scars along my fingers from those times, never taught how to use a knife or the kitchen, it was obvious. A small, clumsy child would make errors…
That was nothing like now. I was practically living like a king. I didn't have to do those chores, I could eat as much as I wanted in the Great Hall. I didn't even have to prepare the food. It was too good.
Every night I woke up in the boy's dormitories. Immediately prepared for everything from; the arrival of my Hogwarts' acceptance letter, to Hagrid taking me, to the existence of Hogwarts itself. Prepared to admit that they were the delirious mutterings of a child taken by hunger and despair. To wake up once again under the Dursleys' stairs, in that cramped dusty cupboard with no hopes or dreams again. Only to be surprised each and every day that this was reality. A reality that I never wanted to end.
A few days had passed since the 'troll incident' as it was now being referred to. Life in Hogwarts castle was practically back to normal in a flash. Unless troll's invading the castle are a common occurrence… That didn't seem to fit with everyone's reactions though. The dining hall was in chaos, a teacher fainted, McGonagall specifically said that it was unlikely first year students could take one on and survive.
Precisely because life was creeping back to normal, I couldn't shake this strange feeling of superstition. Like something was lurking around the corner at any time. I still couldn't answer the one question in my mind; how did that troll get in the castle?
In a moment of intrigue, I had completed some additional reading on trolls. They were stupid creatures, one of their defining features. That along with monstrous strength. On our way to the bathroom I don't remember seeing any other damages. No walls were cracked or anything like that. The incident also took place in the dungeon… I'm sure there are plenty of hidden pathways in this school, that I don't doubt. But they should have all manner of methods to prevent large creatures that could pose a threat to students, from wandering in. I couldn't help but feel as if it were intentional…
"Damn stairs! Seriously, you'd think in a magic school there'd be better ways of getting around." Ron's shouting quickly forced me out of my thoughts.
"No choice, we'll just have to take this one. We're in enough of a rush as it is!" Hermione replied. At this rate there'd be no food left in the Great Hall. My tummy gurgled with anticipation, I was beginning to get used to three square meals a day. Show a person heaven then he'll yearn for it to the ends of the earth.
"Know where this leads?" I could barely grasp my left from right in the muggle world, I didn't have a shot at understanding this place. Especially with only a week and some change in the castle.
"Who knows? This place is a maze at the best of times. We can just ask for directions if needed."
Ascending the stairs we arrived at a hallway lit with large stone sconces, blazing fires lit atop them. It's pretty quiet here, but the lights were already on. I can only assume someone else has already been in the area.
We continued down the corridor, bounding around a few corners.
"…Is anyone else worried that it's remarkably quiet around here?" I'm probably overthinking it… Everyone's just at the lunch tables already.
"Strange. The torches were all activated before, that should mean someone else has been here, probably not much earlier either."
"How come we haven't seen anyone 'round?"
"I don't know, Ronald. Maybe think about it yourself?"
"Please, do not call me Ronald. It sounds ridiculous."
"Well, if the shoe fits. Ronald."
"Is this because you didn't manage to win a single game of wizard's chess?"
"…Nothing of the sort. Besides, it's a barbaric game, the kind of thing that only savage people could get enjoyment out of. I'd much rather lose at the game and limit the number of pieces that get destroyed." Hermione turned away from my redheaded friend with a huff and an undeniably sour look covering her features.
"Sounds like the whining of a loser." A devilish grin creeped its way onto Ron's face. Even without any experience with chess, I knew that he was ridiculously good at it. What surprised me more was that Hermione never managed to beat him, over the last two days they had maybe 20 separate games… I suppose there really was a difference between book smarts and intuition.
"I am not a loser."
"…Whatever you say. My winning streak begs to differ, however." Whenever Ron was given an inch… well, he'd take several miles.
"Will you give it a-!?" Before Hermione could begin her hysterics, I could hear something nearby.
"Guys, quiet. I think I hear something." Not a moment too soon either. Even though Hermione and Ron had been 'friends' for all of a few days, they resorted to arguing between each other at the drop of a hat. I couldn't stand it personally. For them they gained some strange form of entertainment from these verbal spars, I for one couldn't see the appeal. Words were to communicate literal meanings or beat someone down, from my experience that's all they were used for. But these two had some strange secret language that emerged beneath the surface. I admit, at times it often made me feel left out.
"-this way." A small, gentle girl's voice reached out from the darkness.
"How do you even know which way we're supposed to be going?" The monotonous droning voice of a familiar boy replied to the other.
"Hmm, can't figure it out?"
"No, absolutely not. I'm in awe of your excellence." The sarcasm was palpable. Two people, one girl and one boy. And that voice if I'm not mistaken…
"That voice, that's Taka ain't it? Finally, can ask for some directions."
"Wait!" Hermione grabbed the sleeve of Ron's robes and whisper-shouted to stop him. What's the big deal?
"Wha?"
"Nothing… Who is that with him?"
"Ehhh what's this, some stalking going on? 'Mione you're already his study buddy, you shouldn't be so jealous, y'know?"
"It isn't that you dolt. It's just… No, never mind."
A small butterfly fluttered across my vision. Strange, I haven't seen many bugs within the confines of the castle before. Did it just follow other students? Or maybe it escaped from one of the class laboratories? It could be an alchemical component used for potions… Why am I thinking about this?
"Ah, seems we have company as well." The second, a more feminine voice said to her companion. How did she know? My eyes immediately narrowed in on the small butterfly again… it was flying around the same as before. Not particularly in a rush, nor did the movements appear to be artificial. I was used to insects. Aunt Petunia often had me manage the garden, it was a necessity to be comfortable around them. After a certain amount of time I had even come to enjoy them, watching their strange movements, the fleeting freedom of such small critters. It was enjoyable.
A certain staff appeared in my mind. Well, I say staff, but it was actually a cane. The intricate patterns carved into the handle were rather strange considering a girl was the one that used it. And at the very core of the staff, where her hand was placed was a single butterfly encased in amber. No wonder the other voice sounded familiar. There were hardly any other girls that were as strange as her. That girl being…
Arisu Sakayanagi. Well, she told me to just call her Alice. Much easier to pronounce. Though, I did wonder why she had given me that privilege. Can't imagine it was because she was particularly friendly or even liked me much. Maybe, it just wasn't of much consequence to her. Either way, she was my study buddy. Not that we had talked much when meeting for those sessions. All that was directly asked of us students entailed the English speaking and writing skills of the transfer students kept to a certain level of proficiency. As embarrassing as this is to admit, hers were probably better than mine. I chalk it up to a particularly shoddy education at the expense of the Dursleys. Still, being outclassed in my own language by a girl the same age who speaks more than one was more than slightly shameful. The regret and shame was even harder to swallow when she had offered to tutor me… in my own language. Nevertheless, I accepted. That didn't make me any less ashamed of it.
"May I ask; what are you three doing here? This isn't the best place to be wandering around." She had a familiarly haughty tone that bordered on smarmy, despite her attempt to appear well-mannered.
"You two are walking around just fine." Hermione stated, painfully aware of the contradiction in Alice's words.
"That's because we don't fear a death most painful and horrible." Alice said with an even tone. Taka rolled his eyes in response. I had thought she was just joking, but…
"What are you- That's where we are?! Harry, Ron, we need to get out of here right now! This is the third floor." Connecting the dots inn her head, Hermione turned and grabbed onto our cloaks.
"Huh?" I could only utter the same thing as Ron beside me. Are they crazy?
"Why are you two walking around here without a care in the world? Are you trying to get yourselves killed?!" Hermione doubled back and begun reprimanding the two on the spot.
"Ms. Granger you really shouldn't be shouting so freely, you'll bring all sorts of trouble to yourself." For two people risking their lives, they were awfully calm.
A silhouette grew against the illuminated stone walls, that of a huge animal with a likeness of a cat.
"We should get moving." Taka said, despite never looking towards said wall, instead his gaze was focused on the dark passage to our left. The only other direction left on this crossroads we had found ourselves at.
"This way if you'd please. Reducio." She gestured her cane towards the lit sconces that quickly diminished behind us.
After walking a distance from the crossways, we reached a door. A locked one at that.
"Hell's bells, are we trapped here? What if that big thing comes chasing us?"
"Indeed. Filch and his feline friend are truly worrying apparitions." Alice bit back.
"Huh? That's all it was? Thank god. Thought we were about to kick the bucket."
"Forget that for a minute, what are we supposed to do now? If he catches us, we might get detention for a year." In comparison, I was more worried about a potential punishment.
"Easy, you're a wizard, aren't you?" She gestured towards the door.
"It's fine, I'll do it!" Hermione jumped in front of Alice as she approached the locked door. "Alohomora." She really did get overcompetitive over the smallest things. Alice just smiled, I couldn't tell whether that was because she already predicted Hermione's behaviour or just didn't care in the slightest. Judging by the fact that she was here, risking her life on a whim, I'd say it was probably the latter.
Now, I do worry why this door was locked in the first place…
A huge corridor expanded ahead of us, the darkness looming, reaching as if to suck us in and never allow escape.
Ron audibly gulped, so loud that it slightly echoed throughout the corridor in front. "L-Ladies first and all that!" He muttered, moving aside from the frame of the door.
"Oh my, how kind." Alice walked through with little hesitation, Taka quickly following alongside her.
Hermione levelled a strong glare at Ron as she walked past him.
I couldn't quite blame him. After all, who wanted to suffer a most painful and gruesome death? Boy or girl, those kinds of things hardly mattered when the possibility of death was on the table. If anything, his strict adherence to chivalry right now was admirable. Even if it was utterly cowardly.
We wandered through the dim corridor, the darkness sweeping, we could barely see the entire group let alone the rest of the room.
"Shouldn't we get a light or something?" I posed to the more experienced witches of the group. The only thing I knew so far was levitation, hardly useful in this dark abyss.
"That's the first thing you'd think of in this situation, so no." Alice's familiar voice rebutted that idea immediately. That stung a bit.
"That's the first thing you'd think of; because it's a bloody good thought to have!" Ron was quick with backup.
"Don't cast anything." She stated once again, this time sharper than the last.
"Why not, what's the worst that could happen?"
"Painful and horrifying death, remember?" Out of all her sentences this was the creepiest. Because she treated it like a joke. Her tone was jovial, it almost felt like she were about to burst out laughing, completely forgetting where we were.
"Urgh… I wanna go home." I second that… Actually, so long as we're assuming the boy's dormitories are home… I'd still take this place over the Dursley's.
"Come to think of it; why's a place like this even in the school?"
"That's an interesting question. Why do you think, Mr. Weasley?"
"There's no reason to endanger students, that'd be a nightmare for the staff if anything happened… Probably to protect something, that's what I'd guess. What that is though, no idea." Protect something? On the day Hagrid had taken me to Diagon Alley and then Gringotts'… Could it be a coincidence? He said specifically that it was business with Headmaster Dumbledore.
Then there was the incident that happened after, Ron had given me his newspaper in the Great Hall. Without any mail to look forwards to, I immediately turned to the newspaper. The same vault had an attempted break-in. What could possibly be that valuable? Was it the same thing on this floor? I couldn't picture any other possibility, however, I also couldn't say with a certainty that it was the same thing.
"10 points to Gryffindor. Now, we just need to find out what that is."
"I'd much rather… you know, not do that." Ron remarked coldly to Alice's enthusiasm.
"Shh. Can you hear that?" She continued nonplussed.
"Sounds like breathing." Taka said almost instantly. His eyes laser-focused in front. His usual lackadaisical attitude was nowhere to be seen. It was the exact same way he had acted when…
Saliva gathered in my mouth, it felt like it was drowning me from the inside. I swallowed harshly to flush it all down. Scenery flashed by my eyes, that club hurtling through the air at me, the destruction laden after it… I could feel my vision getting a bit hazy. The rhythmic breathing that echoed through the corridor changed drastically. A single snort. The lazy, barely restrained whines of something just out of vision.
The sound of something pitter-pattering against the cobbled ground was nearby, just ahead. I could tell, barely concealed by the darkness of the tunnel. If we stepped forwards it would reveal itself.
Was it a single step? Two? Four? Ten?
I could feel my heart trying to escape from my mouth, the beats of each chamber battering against my chest begging for escape. I wanted to run… but at the same time a strong compulsion to look at whatever it was. To see the cause of my fears with my own two eyes. That feeling kept gnawing at me as the group continued further into the darkness.
One more step at a time.
Creeping forward, ever forward.
Sudden lights flickered through the tunnel. Immediately the walls were covered in brilliant orange light. Casting a huge shadow against the opposite wall, instead of feline features. It was the opposite in every way.
Canine.
And right before us…
A huge three-headed dog.
A real one. Not some shadowy falsehood. The type of creature that had enough room to swallow each and every one of us in a single bite, leaving nothing behind.
Each of the heads had a collar that we could easily use as a belt, nasty pronged iron spikes protruding from their leather bases.
That singular snort changed to a snarl within a moment. The sound of chains rattling moved in accordance with the gargantuan hound.
"Crap!" Ron turned immediately on his heels almost falling over and scrambling to his feet. Attempting to run as fast as he could in the direction of the exit.
"Don't!" Alice shouted.
Too late.
Fweeeeep!
The familiar tweet of a whistle echoed through the tunnel. The collars around each of the dog's necks disappeared with a glint. A single mechanical click followed, chains rattling as they rushed towards the opposite wall.
A resounding howl and the sudden scratching of the hound's razor-sharp claws were the only sound in the tunnel. Sparks flittered as the blades slid across the cobbles, the hungry maw of the hound opening wider and wider as all we gazed into the abyss that was its stomach.
"WE'RE FUUUUUUU-!" Ron screamed.
I couldn't help but agree!
My legs were quivering, but they took me as quickly as they could in the opposite direction, sprinting as fast as I could ever hope to achieve. Faster than any time I had ran from Dudley and his friends. Faster than when I had run from my Uncle and Aunt in the past.
Faster still, to escape the hungry hound that chased us endlessly.
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Word count: 3112
I feel like I've left Harry to the wayside for a bit too long. So, for those that were awaiting more of the HP cast's POV, hopefully this makes up for it. The next few chapters will be from his POV. I plan to bring more differences like this to freshen up the story e.g. the setup of Fluffy's room is quite a bit different than in the books. I think things will become boring if everything progresses as they do in canon, so these changes will be more common, hopefully that's a welcome event for you all.
Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, let me know any of your thoughts in the comments below.
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