A Snake, A Rock And A Witch
Did Ssspeaker not go there and come out sssmelling older but no one was wissser?
Those words… they should have meant something. They should have shook her, made her brain shut down and automatically throw the possibility of returning to that hellhole away.
But because she was dying, they had meant nothing. She supposed one could forgive her for not realizing their portents given the circumstances, but in all honesty, she couldn’t excuse herself.
Riddle had set the wards such that she couldn't leave— not yet, and it seemed not anytime soon without attracting more attention than she could handle in her present state. So she had been looking for a safe place within the territory encapsulated by the hostile wards, accessible to only her, and, perhaps, Professor Snape.
Blessed with another chance at life, there was little she thought she wouldn't do to make it out safe, and so it hadn't occurred to her that Treeslider might just have suggested her worst nightmare as a means of survival. She had heard an option, and considered it an out. Dom had even affirmed it, told her to take it.
So really, it was her fault that she now stood in a very gruesomely familiar clearing off the edge of the forbidden forest, staring down at a hole that to her seemed to lead to a place of no return.
I'm past that now, Harry told herself, ignoring the alarming tremors running through her body. I'm past it, and this is just a… nice vacation spot.
Good lord, she was going mad.
At least she had written about where she was heading in the notebook linked to Snape, she thought to herself. He'd know where to find her, should things go to hell, so she told herself to take some comfort in the fact.
The pounding in her chest did slow a bit, at that. Breathing came easier, though never easy enough.
Let's just get on with it.
The desire to flee was never higher, and she turned into a raven even as a few tears slipped out at her reasons for it.
The stale air hit her all too suddenly, but Harry didn't flinch. Instead, her wings seemed to droop just a little bit more, and head bow a tad more easily, and she made her way in.
It was going to be alright.
It had to be.
The staleness slowly turned into a putrid stench; a noisomeness of so much disgusting rot mixed together that one couldn't even pen a common cause, and the first thing Harry did upon transforming back was cast an overpowered air-freshening charm. A bubble-head charm felt too stifling, and Merlin knew she didn't need to feel any more contained.
The first thing she noticed was how dark it was. She considered just letting it be; perhaps it was best to avoid looking at what was sure to be a lifetime's worth of nightmares, but the darkness had its own way of digging itself into her, and she realized belatedly that it had always been dark during her detainment, for her. Pettigrew had rarely given her the privilege of light.
Catching her breath, she whispered a lumos charm.
The chamber proved better than she remembered. Sure, it was still a claustrophobic's nightmare and a dreary, haunting prison, but after all her fear it seemed surprisingly… plain.
Her memories had always painted it red.
You alright, kid? Dom inquired quietly.
Harry wiped her eyes on her sleeve, and then stared at it, momentarily shocked it wasn't grimy like in the past.
Yeah, I'm fine. This is not too bad, honestly. I think it'll work out.
If Dom thought she sounded a bit too forceful, he didn't comment.
Can I… can I come in there? Harry prodded, in my mindscape? If it doesn't disturb whatever you're doing to restore it to shape.
She felt the mental equivalent of a grimace on his end. Probably not the best idea.
And all too suddenly, the beating in her chest felt very, very loud. Dom knew how much she needed a distraction right now. How much she needed an escape. What on earth had happened to her mindscape that he was so reluctant to let her in?
I really think it'll be better for you to keep out for the moment, kid.
It almost sounded like a plea.
Harry took a deep breath, and told herself not to think about it.
It didn't help one bit.
Deep breaths, Harry. She snapped at herself. Think of relaxing things.
Dom pushed the mental image of a platinum cauldron in front of her, and a list of random ingredients by the side.
Make of it what you will, he said, and she thought she heard a smile in there before he headed back into the depths of her mind.
She tried to retain the list of ingredients in that image, and cook up a possible brewing idea she could explore. It wasn't a distraction for long; her head still hurt, for one, and thinking too much was harder than she'd thought it would be.
She sighed and resigned herself to staring at the walls until she fell asleep. There was nothing else she could do now; her mindscape needed to recuperate, and she desperately needed rest. Although she was in enemy territory, she had bought enough time, she hoped, for Snape to reach her and help.
I'm bothering him again, Harry thought, morose and tired. I'm always bothering him.
His obsidian black eyes flashed upon her inward eye, something strange and warm and sharp.
"Have you forgotten what I said?" His words seemed to reach her through time, wrapping her in comforting embrace, "Even if what you have kept from me is blatantly wrong or foolish, I won't leave you standing alone. I have, and will only try to help you, you dimwit."
A soft smile crept up her lips.
Maybe I'm the kind of trouble he doesn't mind.
It should be okay, this once, to rely on another.