Chapter 21
As Harry fixed his mask he glanced around at his friends, smiling as they all got ready. The others didn’t have any sort of a real costume, but they had at least gotten into something other than their robes.
Draco had changed into fairly simple casuals. A pair of deep blue jeans, an emerald, green t-shirt, and a slightly lighter jean jacket. Around his neck was one of Harry’s chokers with nothing dangling from it. His hair had been growing out over the year, and how reached his chin in slightly choppy waves.
Hermione was in a black crop top, with no sleeves held up by the collar. The center had a small heart cut out. This was with a pair of black jogging pants, her hair pulled up in a bun.
Last was Nevil who was dressed somewhat similar to Draco- having been the ones to offer him clothes to wear for the time being. He was in more grey tones, black jeans and a dark jacket decorated with green leaves, and yellow and red flowers. Holstered at his hip was a beautiful cross bow that Harry’s father had sent, as well as a quiver of arrows.
“Is everyone ready?”
Alyssa glanced up from their preparations and nodded. It was clear that they were a bit nervous about things, the situation actually starting to hit them. But it was clear to Harry that they were in control. They were ready to finish this, to take down the person who had caused them so much trouble.
“You three have the cloak, and we are going to be using my magic, but we should stick close still.” They said, gently stretching and taking a few deep breaths. “We need to be smart about things, and there is no reason to go in two groups.”
“Of course. The main trouble would be Peevees.” Hermione said, forming a few more crystals up her arms. “We don’t actually have any answers for him.”
“I have my shadow, but I doubt that Peeves would care much about that. I know that Peeves respects the Bloody Barron, it’s possibly that my own abilities might be able to connect into that.”
“That’s not a bad idea. But isn’t pass without a trace concentration?”
“I can do other things.” They gave a nod, watching as Draco wrapped the cloak around the three. “Now we should get going, I doubt that we have much time.”
Quickly the group headed into the halls, Alyssa and harry falling behind as they slipped into the shadows. They very quickly headed forward, making their way towards the third floor once again.
Everything was going smoothly, until they reached the required corridor, the rattling of a door handle hitting their ears.
“Who’s there?” Peeves called, appearing in the hallway. “Know your there even if I cant see you.”
Harry glanced over at Alyssa as they closed their eyes, the shadows reaching out across the floor as Peeves went to speak again; falling silent as his eyes went wide. Harry watched as Alyssa’s shadow appeared, eyes glowing white as they met Peeve’s own. Nothing waws said between the two but eventually peeves floated off and Alyssa’s shadow turned to them.
“Let’s get going.” Hermione whispered from behind them, but Alyssa’s eyes had gone white as they tilted their head, their young shadow mirroring the action. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure.” Harry admitted, watching the psychic exchange end. “Alyssa?”
“It’s nothing to worry about, Peeves won’t be bothering us at all tonight.” They responded, taking a few deep breaths. “Let’s get going, we don’t have much time. Quirrel is already ahead of us.”
Quickly the group headed into the room, dropping their spells before turning to the soft sound of music coming from deeper in.
“Alright, that’s definitely enchanted.” Alyssa mused, creeping forward towards the large dog. “You pour thing, I wish you great safety when all this is done.”
Quickly they gently opened the trap door, smiling as the others headed up. Quickly Harry jumped down, the others soon following.
They didn’t have to fall too far before they reached the devils snare, Alyssa cutting their hand, allowing their blood to burst into flame. Quickly the vines recoiled, dropping them the rest of the way to the path below, the group landing fairly easily. The path winded deeper and deeper into the castle, the only remaining sound other than their feet was the water dripping down the walls around them.
“We don’t know what is beyond, but we do know the remaining classes. Charms and Transfiguration.” Alyssa said, putting their hand against the door in front of them. “Of course, that’s assuming that Fluffy also partly fell under Quirrel. So, I guess probably DADA as well, but that shouldn’t be too hard.”
Quickly they pushed the door open to the sound of fluttering wings of every color, strange birds flying around above them.
“Those aren’t birds, are they.” Hermione whispered, Draco and harry scanning the air.
“Keys.”
“I don’t think they are going to attack us, but we would have to find the right one.” Draco gave a nod as Alyssa and Harry scanned the air. After a bit Alyssa headed over to the door, taking in the nod before nodding. “Old, large, and… Silver. Sorry Draco, you’re not going to be that much help on this one.”
“It’s quite alright, I get it.”
Quickly Harry, Hermione, and Nevil climbed onto the brooms starting to scan the sky. It only took a few minutes of searching for Harry’s eyes to land on it, and the quickly rushed forward, his two friends following his lead Hermione from below, with Nevil a bit behind. Quickly he managed to get past it, picoting and catching it with a slightly sickening crunch before the three landed.
“Alright, that’s two out of six. I would say Astronomy for one, but like. We are so fucking far under ground that would be genuinely stupid.” Alyssa said, unlocking the door, holding it open for the others before closing it behind them. Quickly they found themselves in front of a large chessboard that sent chills running up and down Alyssa’s spine.
It was massive, basically the size of the entire room, black directly in front of them, white on the other side of the board. Alyssa made their way forward, smirking slightly at the situation.
“Oh dear oh dear what do we have here?”
“A puzzle?”
“No just a flat game of chess. I’m good at puzzles and riddles, but this. I’ve never been good at the entire game.”
“I know how to play.” Draco gave a nod. “My mother taught me.”
“Are you any good at it?” Nevil asked, and Draco shrugged. “I mean Professor McGonigal set this up, and she has a set in her office, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard she’s really good to if she enchanted this then it won’t be an easy game.” Alyssa noted, letting out a heavy sigh as they scanned the pieces. “Me and Nevil managed the first room; not counting Fluffy, Harry, Hermione, and Nevil managed the second, I think that this was just a general test to see if we could. Its hardly a complex trap if Quirrel made it through.”
“I’ll take the lead.” Draco nodded, heading up to the pieces. “Excuse me, are we meant to join you in this?”
The Knight nodded and he scanned the board. “We don’t have all that much time. We just have to play this out and hope that the Mirror is enough to hold them off for a bit. Harry, you’re a Knight, Nevil you as well.” The two Knights left, and Harry and Nevil took their places. “I don’t think all of us should play.”
“I’m going to hang back, guard the exit so to say. That should make things a bit easier.” Alyssa gave a small nod. “The four of you keep going.”
“Well, I mean so long as we take the king we should all be able to pass.” Draco said, glancing over at the other king who just kind of shrugged. “We can guard past there, I think we should only replace three pieces. A knight, a Rook, and a bishop.” As the three pieces left Draco gave a nod. “Harry you’re the knight, I’ll be a Rook, Hermione is Bishop.”
As the three took their places, a white Pawn moved forward and the game began, Draco giving the black pieces orders on where to move.
Harry watched as pieces on both sides fell, heart racing slightly as the game drew on, watching as the white pieces showed no mercy to the pieces that they took.
“Only one move left, I don’t see another move.” Draco mused and Alyssa shifted slightly in visible discomfort. I have to be taken so that Hermion can take the king.”
“Draco.”
“He’s right, that’s the only way this game is being won. You guys go ahead, and I’ll tend to whatever happens.”
“I’ll help.” Nevil gave a nod and Harry took a few calming breaths, watching as Draco headed forward. He couldn’t watch as the queen took a step forward, a crack filling the air. All he did was take the few necessary steps, the white king tossing his crown at Harry’s feet.
“Draco!”
“He’ll be fine.” Nevil called and Hermione nodded, quickly following Harry through the next door. A rancid smell hit their noses and Harry’s eyes landed on the troll in the center of the room. It didn’t seem dead as Harry approached it, just unconscious with a large lump on his head.
“That means that Quirrel has already been through here.” Harry said, shooting the troll in the back of the head before heading forward. “Come there is only the potions riddle left and then the mirror.”
“Quirrel.” Harry’s voice was cold as he scanned the room, easily rolling out of the way of a large rope. Drawing a trick arrow from his quiver. As the rope sprung at him, he released the arrow, a net catching it and carrying it into the black flame that blocked the entrance.
“You don’t seem surprised to see me. Though I suspect that you wouldn’t be.” The man’s voice was cold and cruel, but Harry felt no fear as he pulled another arrow opting against heading forward. “I wonder, how much have you figured out?”
“Quite a few things, and yet I have some questions. I know that the stone has to be here, that it would grant Voldemort eternal life, and that you’ve become connected to him one way or another.” Harry nodded, eyes flickering a few times to the mirror.
“I’ve been sensing monsters-“
“So you know that the Mirror is the key?”
“Of course, this entire fucking maze was a pathetic joke for an old man with a god complex, working for some pathetic excuse of the greater good to groom a child into being a pawn in some game.” Harry gave half a nod. “Not that things don’t at least somewhat work like a game. Now I answered a question, I expect one answered in return.”
“Why would I help you?”
“Not help. I’m just wondering what types of immortality you know about?”
“What are you getting at?”
“He means the Lazurus Pit-“Harry felt a cold chill run down his spine as the voice came from the back of Quirrell’s head. “-Protected by Ra’s al Ghul longer than I have been alive.”
“Hm, so Alyssa was right. You wouldn’t mess with the Deamon’s Head and the League of Assassins.” Harry noted, eyes catching a faint glowing in the mirror. Quirrel seemed to catch it as well as he reached forward, only for it to fade and begin pulsating. “Let me speak with you, face to face. I have questions, probably answers as well.”
“My lord, you’re not strong enough for this.”
“I have strength enough for this.”
Harry could feel his blood run cold as Quirrel reached up, unraveling his turban, the fabric falling to the ground as Harry took in the monstrous face. It grew out of the back of Quirrel’s head, serpentine in shape, with glaring red eyes and slit nostrils. It’s mouth held several fangs, and harry had to steel himself for what he was going to do.
“Harry Potter.”
“Not quite.” Harry shook his head. “James isn’t my birth father. Honestly you of all people at this point should know that, you’ve been connected to one of my teachers. I must wonder how much you know about Alyssa though, what they are. Was the hole garlic thing to throw them off or what? Because they just suspected you even more.”
“You are quite the arrogant boy aren’t you?”
“I’m sikeing myself up. Only one way I know to truly prevent anyone from getting that stone” Harry glared then shifted his aim. “You and Albus. I just wonder how much of you can even come out of this.”
Before Voldemort could respond Harry released the arow, watching as it soared forward towards the mirror. Quirrel tried to reach out to stop it but was too late, the tip making quick contact before the glass let out a sickening crack. As the fractures ran across the surface a ear piercing howling filled the air, waning and growing louder with every pass, flakes of rust floating up and away from every surface. Harry had to force his eyes shut for the screening of the siren.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself face to face with not Riddle but Quirrel. Blood poured out of his eyes, and he took harsh, ragged breaths.
“My lord. Why? My body- What are you doing to my body?”
No response came as his head began to rotate, not like an owl, but like a clock. His neck cracked and snapped hauntingly. Harry partly regretted what he had done as Quirrel let out a loud scream, body twitching and convulsing.
A hissing hit his ears from behind him a slithering shadow as Quirrel’s arms snapped and popped, bones breaking as his limbs expanded to horrifying, spider like legs, his fingers marching and expanding into massive metallic claws. The man’s legs quickly fused together, snapping, and growing. Quickly a long, snake-like tail, several arms and legs sprouting from it at an uncomfortable angle.
“Harry Potter.” The hissing came from all around, and a chill ran down his spine. “Harry Potter.”
Quickly the creature that was once Quirrel lunged, jaw unhinging as it went to snap at Harry. The boy quickly lunged out of the way, launching several arrows at the monster. The beast took the attacks, its speed incredibly frightening. As it whirred around on Harry his foot latched onto something sending him to the ground.
The creature let out a screech, pulling its arm back before swinging down towards Harry. Quickly he held up his bow, arms trembling pain as he fought to keep the claws from reaching his face. Gritting his teeth he gave one final shove, rolling out and taking his bow.
Harry’s breath was trembling as he shot several more arrows at the creature, carefully working to keep his distance while shooting at the monster. At this point it had several arrows stuck in it like a pin cushion. It didn’t help that there wasn’t that much room between him and the massive thing that was trying to murder him. Part of him regretted his choice to fight the thing instead of just shooting Quirrel through the head, but he also knew that there was literally no going back.
That at least this way he wasn’t shooting at any truly sentient being. That it fell well within the exceptions to the no killing rule that allowed them to operate within the law.
Thinking quickly Harry decided to swap to his trick arrows, over charging the top before shooting the creature, narrowly managing to roll out of the way of another swig. As the arrow hit the beast screamed in pain, allowing Harry to start charging a second charge.
“Harry Potter.” The shadow pulled Harry to the ground, through the arrow still managed to find perch on the man’s chest, partly running down into his own body. Pain burned through his chest, muscles growing tight. His elbows groaned slightly with the pressure, though he managed to shove it off.
Stumbling back Harry took in the beast. It seemed to at least be fairly injured at that point, but it was still impressively strong. Fast.
Angry.
As Harry continued his work he felt his heat racing, a few more overcharged arrows landing on the beast. At this point he wasn’t shooting nearly as often, mainly to try and avoid getting himself electrocuted. It felt like the fight was drawing on for ages, Harry’s body drawing more and more sore. It had been a lot easier fighting Ace than this being.
“Give up Harry Potter.”
Gritting his teeth, Harry shot the shadow on his ankle with a charge arrow, gritting his teeth at the pain as it streamed, slinking away. The massive monster also let out an agonized scream, bits or rust peeling away from it as it scrambled forward again, one of its claws finding slight perch in Harry’s back. Tears burned in his eyes as it tore through his poly-kevlar sweater, rather deep into his flesh. Pivoting Harry shot one final arrow into the monster’s mouth, the monster letting out one final scream before collapsing, rust flaking away from it as the sirens started once again, this time knocking Harry out as well.